When I fell off my bike I told my mother, “You might as well call me, ‘Old One Eyed Clairie!’ She was mixing the toilet. I said louder, “I fell off my bike and that thing out there landed on me. How would you like it if I had to put one of my eyes in a purse and hang it from my left ear?” She laughed and kept mixing. She didn’t even look up.
This is from my book, IF MRS GREEBY ASKS. When young I was often falling off my bike, and I often watched my mom PLAY IN WATER! I, myself, loved to play in water. Sometimes Mom played in the sink with dishes. Sometimes she played in the toilet and I’d ask, “Are you having fun?” because I knew she must be, but her face didn’t look like she was having fun.
When my children were young we used the words ‘play’ and ‘work’ interchangeably. In the mornings we ‘played’ the piano to practice for our piano lessons; not fun. After school we’d ‘work’ on a puzzle, work at making baskets with our basketball, or work at making mud pies then decorated them with tooth paste.
I’d drive my children home from school with one of their friends coming along for an afternoon visit and I’d say, “Now, you played this morning, so when we get home I want all of you to work!” My children laughed and explained the work/play concept to their friends. I used to love playing in water, I still do!

It was several years ago as my husband and I stood in front of our house saying good- bye to a friend who was getting in his car. I called a, ‘hello,’ across the street to a homeless man and gave him a short wave. Immediately the man veered our way! He made a diagonal detour, crossed the street, and pointed his path straight at me! When he got close he reached forward and took my hand! As he held it he asked, “Why did you say that?”
“Well,” I answered, “…because you’re a person and I’m a person.”
He smiled and replied, “You’re a child of God and I’m a child of God.” and he leaned forward and kissed my cheek. My husband jumped to attention and stepped forward
to provide protection if needed, but the man returned to the other side of the street and resumed his journey.
When my husband returned from the war’s jungles he stayed in a small windowless room for two years before he could gradually reenter the outside life. Luckily that room was within his parents home.
I too had an isolated two year period. Luckily my best friend took me in.
I doubt if this man remembers that afternoon kiss, but I do. I will never forget all he taught me.

What do you like the most: strawberry ice cream or filling out a tax form?
I had always thought my answer would be ice cream, but I slurp it down fast.  A person would think I’d been ordered to consume my ice cream at gun point!
I eat ice cream fast, but an unpleasant job I put off over and over. I spin that terrible job over and over through my head with dread! It’s as if I’m not allowed away from the table until I consume my double childhood nemesis; slimy cooked spinach swimming in cold vinegar or tough stringy fried parsnips!

There’s something wrong when I spent a great deal of extra time SAVORING the unpleasant!

I love Dame Zaha Hadid. Yes I don’t know every aspect of her life and personality but I admire her buildings, interiors, and shoes, sculpture, her jewelry. I’d love to build a statue of her, honoring her skills and vision.
No I don’t want a statue of Zaha Hadid to worship her! I love that we are all different!The statue would say her building skills and imagination are better than mine! I am rich because of Dame Zaha.