A Friend whom I've never met and whom I'll probably never see again

Today, I had some errands to run. As is typical for me, I left the house without breakfast (after taking my meds).

Our local Walmart has a Denny's restaurant in the front of the parkinglot , off our main road (Wickham Road).

So after I did my shopping at Walmart, I decided to stop at Denny's to grab something for breakfast. This is something I seldom do, because, I suppose, like most people, I don't like eating alone.

After parking my car, I was walking up the patio to the front of Denny's when I noticed a woman, who was distracted by the same thing that distracted me. There was a group of (young) men yelling and hooting at each other in a meridian in the parking lot some hundred yards over.

She was an amazing looking woman in a "managerial" style outfit (black pants, black vest, black shoes, some sort of badge), that made me assume she was "going to work" (at Dennys).

I looked over at the (young) men and just said "Weirdness". She said "I thought they were getting into some sort of mischief". But we both walked into the Denny's.

I was very surprised when the waitress looked at us and said "Two". "One." (I corrected her, and then turned to the woman standing behind me and said) "Unless you're joining me.".

She grasped my arms and said to the waitress "We'll be two and she's paying." . At that we kind of laughed and were each led to our separate tables.

I had the impression she was in a "new position", and after I ordered, I sent up a prayer for her. "God please bless her in her new position. Let her feel confident. Let her feel your grace with her. Let her be blessed and blessed and blessed.".

As I waited for my breakfast, I stared out the window at the drizzling grey , that seems to have taken over our skyline this week. The woman, I had entered with walked by my table and said "Stop thinking so hard!". I smiled at her and said "You' should have joined me, I'd have bought you breakfast." (we both laughed).

When I received my breakfast, I gave thanks (as I usually do) and when I finished my breakfast, I asked for my bill and a go-cup for my tea. It took a while, and I didn't know why.

Then the waitress came over and said "A person who wishes to remain anonymous, took care of your bill." I smiled to myself. I knew who it was.

I tipped my waitress and took my cup, on the way out, I waved to my new and anonymous friend as I left.

There is still goodness in the world. We're blessed by people unknown to us.

Angels are sent when we are alone, and believe ourselves to be unseen.

Blessings come, not only when we are desperate for them, but when God wants us to feel loved.

Until next time,

Eat something wonderful

and live a life worth loving.

-Kim

NO MORE NETFLIX FOR ME!

Unlike other (no doubt more noble) causes, this is

not about something that this company is doing to

discriminate against minorities. It’s not about any

kind of religious conviction they've expressed with which

I disagree.

My husband and I have been long time (on and off)

customers of Netflix.

 Honestly, we thought it was the

neatest thing going. I could find lots of older movies and

a jackpot of documentaries.

 Documentaries are like potato

chips to me, I consume them by the bag full.

A few years ago, Netflix lost their contract with Sony,

Reducing the selection but we remained loyal.

It wasn't until a turn in our own finances that we cancelled

our subscription, and when things improved for us, we

rejoined the Netflix fold.

This time, focusing more on the “streaming” side of the service.

Well the last two months have been “lean” involving the streaming offerings

at Netflix, and this morning-as is my custom, I made an error in judgment.

I called. As advertised on their site, it did take only a moment and “Paul” was on the phone. I explained my issue, my circumstance and asked point blank

“What are you going to do keep my business?”

His answer left me stunned.

“We don’t do anything to maintain customer base. I can help you cancel your account”.

I re-iterated. “I’ve been a customer since the service started and you are telling

me that you don’t really care whether or not I remain a customer?”

“No we don’t put any effort into maintaining customer base. People want to decide

to cancel or go to another service we don’t really care about what decisions people make.”.

I asked to speak to his supervisor.

As promised in a short time “Nick” was on the phone with me. Telling me that they can buy a “dvd” from anywhere, but the license to stream was VERY expensive and they do pay that for some movies and not for others. The round about came around again to Nick finally saying to me “What would caring about you as a customer sound like?”

Without hesitation I say “Certainly not telling a long –time customer “we really don’t care whether or not you stay or go—I can help you cancel your account.”.

I said (I’m sure it fell on deaf ears) there may be (and probably are) thousands upon thousands of people willing and ready to take my place in your line up. But my business,

Since you don’t really place any value on it…you won’t have any more.

I remember my parents talking about the decline in customer care and lack of interest in maintaining customer relations.

It pains me to say, they were right.

It pains me to say that for two reasons;

First, it means the status of pride in business in the United States is failing

 at an alarming rate.

Secondly, it probably means I’m getting old.

(sighs).

Until next time,

Eat something delicious,

Live a life worth loving,

-Kim

Ps- If anyone has a streaming service with which they’re happy

please let me know. 

I've been Meaning to: How'd I DO?

If you read my blog of June 2, 2014, you read that I was planning so very many  things for this summer, and I thought it was time (at least for my OWN accounting) to report back.

First, I said I was going to the beach.

Hmmm---ok, I have been, once. Went to a beach across the bridge from us in Canova park. It's a "dog" beach. No, we don't have a dog (save on rare occasions when we dog-sit). But we like to live vicariously though other people who do have dogs. It's fun to watch them romping in the surf (the dogs too).

So, I haven't done so well on that--but summer isn't over here yet, and I'm determined to improve.

Next was rearrange the kitchen, dinette, living room, computer room....the list goes on.

As it happens, one day, Walt and I DID actually take to the dinette with extreme prejudice.

Moved the china cabinets and mini-bar and sideboard and re-oriented our dining room  table.

We now have much more light and navigating room in the dinette.

We've been making plans to address the computer room, living room . We've found the dinette works well for us and we are capable of addressing our home issues in an actionable (is that a word?) manner.

So I've giving myself at least a "B" or "B+" on that one.

I mentioned my dear friend, James passed last year and I had been meaning to give his father a book mark with a purple feather I had worn in my hair (to James' memorial). I did that, and his father was joyous to receive it. I heard one time that feathers , found randomly or given to you are a sign that angels are around you. I pray that is true.

I wrote that I had pictures and the like to go out to my cousin, Jay Morgan, in Ohio. They were mostly pictures of the Morgan clan--including one "tin-type" and pictures of Grandma Morgan in front of her house in Ohio. I actually did that, and maybe expected to hear that identified some of the people. Certainly never expected to see them again.

But here's where another of my "I've been meaning to's" comes in. I also mentioned that I'd been meaning to connect with my family in Ohio--actually go and see them. My mother grew up with this family. I was told of many trips that my grandma midge and aunt Edie took to Ohio (mostly summers, I think).  The last time I saw any of these people was in the early '80's when I attended a family reunion in Shadyside, Ohio.

After visiting the kids in PA, Walt and I drove the one hour to Shadyside (over the impressive Ohio river). It is still a VERY small town.

My lovely and hospitable cousin, Lee-Ann put us up in her comfortable and beautifully appointed house. We spent three days visiting, and laughing and eating---(and eating...and EATING!).  Lee-ann owns the Dairy Queen in Shadyside, and I didn't realize what a temptation that would be.

On Monday we were sitting around the kitchen table, and I was asked if I had any pictures of my siblings and their families and felt ashamed that I didn't. But then, out came all these pictures I had sent and Aunt Jean naming everyone like she was winning at Jeopardy. Just really made me feel that I AM a part of the family.

So "A+" on both of those.

I'm glad to say I have remained in (close) touch with my family since then.

How are you doing with your "I've been meaning to's"?

Until next time,

Eat something delicious

and live a life worth loving,

-Kim

I've been meaning to...

I've been meaning to...

OK Gang, Summer has officially started here in Florida (that means it's June-for the uninitiated).

Last year, after a long and catastrophic illness, Summer became "The Summer of healing" for me.

 For the most part, I took my facebook friends and church friends and my best friend (who am I kidding, it was more like I dragged you all with me) on a journey of my own healing.

Because, I learned, during my illness, that sea air was good for my lungs, I was determined to spend gobs of time at the beach.

 The first thing I learned, was how weak I had become, when wading into the surf, I was overcome again and again by 2 and 1 foot waves.

The second was that the sunshine was healing for me too.

So each weekend , Walt and I (and often times, Tammy) would trundle to the beach--sometimes even Sebastian beach. I had the first genuine tan I'd had in years.

We'd gather sea weed for the garden-a master gardener at church uses sea weed as mulch and he has the best crop of tomatoes I've ever seen.

I'd remember, with longing, running into the surf and body surfing with abandonment of the young.

So this Summer, along with going to the beach, I am planning this to be the "I've been meaning to..." summer. Little and large things that I have found myself saying "I've been meaning to.." (fill in the blank). I've been meaning to call someone. I've been meaning to bake bread for someone. I've been meaning to send someone photos. I've been meaning to sort through my Tarot Cards. I've been meaning to get business cards made. I've been meaning to see my relatives. I've been meaning to wash the cats. I've been meaning to have people over for dinner. I've been meaning to re-arrange my living room, kitchen, dinette, computer room.

I've been meaning to create "I've been praying for you" cards.

So here is where the journey begins, online, anyway.

 My dear friend James passed last year (Christmas, actually) and at his memorial, I wore a purple feather in my hair. He always loved it when my hair was purple for Lent, and I wanted to honor him by having "something purple in my hair".

Since then, I had been "meaning to" laminate the feather and give it to his father, for a bookmark for his Bible. So yesterday I did that.

His father thought it was "cool" and accepted it  with the spirit in which it was given.

About a month ago, I was sorting through photos for THROWBACK THURSDAY and found a bunch of pictures, that really should go to my cousin's side of the family in Ohio.

So those are sorted and should go out this week.

I designed and ordered and received my new business cards (last month).

When we moved IN this house (which, I confess, I do like) , my husband and I were combining my mother's home with ours, so mom could live with us and we would become her caregivers.

I'm sure you all are far too organized to allow this to happen. But we put furniture and the like where it would fit, giving little thought to aesthetics. I've been cramped and unhappy with my dining room ever since. So I had been "meaning to" consider other options for placement for 3 china cabinets and a mini-bar and my dining room since my mother passed in 2009.

This weekend, Walt and I did it. moved cabinets, changed the orientation of my dining table.

It changed the "light" in the room. I really has changed my attitude coming out to the dinette in the morning (our master bedroom is off the dinette).

So, after reading this entire thing, you might be thinking I'm rambling, and I might be doing that too. But I want you, my friends to come with me on the journey this summer, just like I asked you to come last summer.

Starting this week, starting now, tell me one of your "I've been meaning to's".

With me, change it to an "I intend to".

and together, let's see, what the summer brings.

Until next time,

Eat something delicious

and live a life worth loving.

The Great Ryan Rescue Mission-Prologue

I'd like to say that Tammy & Ryan established their lives somewhere in Florida, where they now live as the Rodin-ic lovers that I witnessed in the gravel driveway of that disastrous mobile home that Ryan (and by all accounts 7 other people -at one time) lived. Unhindered and unaffected by the family in Lincoln which held Ryan and his issues captive.

I'd LIKE to say that. But that isn't what happened.

Up to 20 calls per day from Janice, led to Tammy seeking law enforcement intervention.

Janice's family joined Janice in her , in her attempts to manipulate Ryan (and Tammy).

The calls have finally (at this time) died down.

Ryan speaks with Janice's daughter--the one who threatened Tammy.

She has never apologized for the scene she made at Ryan's mother's funeral.

Apparently Ryan's brother-who accepted money (not a small amount of money, btw) from Tammy for

his mother's funeral, blames Tammy for the fact that his mother was going to be cremated and not interred. During the meeting at the funeral,(I later learned) that he proclaimed that "All of you are out of my life" and later sent Tammy a text blaming her further with language I don't usually post in my blog.

Not a long time after Ryan's return, it was learned that years of drinking and Pepsi and unhealthy life style has left him with diabetes.  Tammy is helping him care for his illness.

Ryan is no longer drinking.

Tammy-who was then, looking for another job, still has not been accepted by another company.

She is an amazing buyer, with mad skills and extreme ethics and knows the FAR (whatever that is) by heart. She lacks one thing....a diploma from college. As of yet, she has not found another job, or a Wizard of Oz, to bestow upon her an honorary degree to  honor her wisdom.

She is currently struggling to deal with her own health issues, which are exacerbated by stress, and she's working 60-70 hours a week for a system that doesn't seem to appreciate her.

To quote Stan from Southpark: as for me, I think I've learned some things:

The first is that everything my (other) longtime friend (who is from Alabama) told me about the small town rural areas of Alabama, is true. Horribly and inexplicably true.

2. Three people in two vehicles CAN drive from Alabama to Florida in one 24 hour period, if they are  ( believe that they are) being chased.

3. Apparently cremation is some sort of offense to the deceased, if the deceased is a "Lady" . (if anyone understands this, please let me know).

I have one regret, that I have been unable to contact Shep, in the wake of all of this. He is a dear and tender soul, and I would have liked to have gotten to know him better.

Until next time,

Eat something wonderful and live a life worth loving,

-Kim

The Great Ryan Rescue Mission-Evading Capture

The Great Ryan Rescue Mission-Evading Capture.

Leaving the funeral parking lot at the speed of a scared rabbit, we headed off to the Hotel. We had to pick up Ryan's jeep. Which we did, filled up the cars and headed (at great speed and with the focus of a laser beam) out of town....out of the county.....out of the state.

About 100 phone calls from the family from heck and several hours later, we elected to stop to change from our funeral cloths.

Ryan hopped out of his jeep , with amazingly pleasant demeanor, and teasingly said "That's what they call evading capture".

Tammy and I repaired to the bathroom of the McDonalds where we stopped , to change into more comfortable travel cloths. I remember being nauseous at the thought that anyone would act in such a manner, at the funeral of someone they all professed to love.

After cleaning up, I rejoined them to learn that the phone calls were mostly to Ryan "Tell us where you are and if you're ok" and "We have things to talk about" and "I have something of your mama's to give to you" and the like. Apparently, they expected that Ryan (and company) would stay in repose at the hotel where we had been staying.

I don't know why they would believe that we would stay in a place , where it had been made graphically clear that we were not welcome.

The way home was long and arduous. Ryan was very tired....we all were.

Tammy and I made all kinds of (Inappropriate) jokes about Tammy not being allowed in Alabama ever again, and that there would be pictures of her on Billboards with the title "Jezabel" . (Tammy has , since , been through Alabama. I think she was a bit disappointed to find that no such billboards exist!...I mean, if you can't be welcome, second best is notorious, right?)

But we made it back to my home after midnight. All collapse into bed and safety of Melbourne, Florida.

 At last there would be an end to the abuse and the harassment...or would there be?

The Great Ryan Rescue-Last pieces---at long last.

Several months ago, I had nearly finished this Blog, when....kablooey, some sort of computer glitch wiped out the rest of the story. So here it is, the rest of the story:

After returning from lunch, we saw that Ryan had not been over to the hotel. So we went to go see if he was ok.

As it happened , Janice had been home, accused Ryan of knowing ahead of time that Tammy was in town and they had a painful exchange, which, by Ryan's account ended in him telling Janice he was (and had always been) in love with Tammy.

Janice was not there when we arrived, neither was Ryan's Jeep. Janice drove it to a friend/family member's and left it there.  By accounts, Janice did that quite often.

While I was ruminating and saddened over the situation that this cute dog was finding shelter from the baking sun, underneath a decrepit recliner, rusticating in the front yard, Ryan was explaining all of this to Tammy.

Once again , we mounted the Land Yacht and drove to collect Ryan's Jeep and then headed over to the hotel.

Ryan and Tammy talked and talked and talked some more. They talked about what happened and why Ryan didn't call (he honestly believed that Tammy wouldn't believe that he was trapped by Janice).

They talked about what they wanted to do.

They talked about Tammy's hopes for their relationship.

Things were winding down to a less emotional state when the phone rang and the person at the front desk said that Janice wanted to come to the room .

We came out...Ryan was insistent that he didn't want to discuss things any further with her.

In hindsight...this would turn out to be one of the few cogent choices made during this rescue mission.

I wish I would have listened to him, rather than convincing him to go back to the hotel room and hash things out.

 But hindsight is 20/20.

We did go back to the hotel room and Ryan stated , what he had said before . He was in love with Tammy and (if she would have him) he would be going to Florida.

The things that Janice said during that conversation would have made June (Honey-Boo-boo's mom) blush.

It was made clear to both Tammy and me , that she was (at least one of) the  cause of Ryan's captivity and abuse.

 I would like to believe , after that huge  hump  it was all uphill from there.

It was not.

 After that, Janice's daughter called and threatened Tammy and called her a "jezebel" (I seriously didn't think anyone used that term outside of Bible study any more).

We were informed (and I don't really recall who told us this) that the cemetery plot, where Ryan's mother was to be interred was being rescinded and there would be no funeral the next day.

Also, Ryan's brother , who , the previous day, we had had lunch with and seemed to be appreciative (if not grateful) that Tammy capped the funds for the funeral services to proceed, stopped communicating with us.

 All this was followed by a plethora of stories (from Ryan) about the ill behavior of this family--especially at funerals.  Concern was such that, Ryan called and asked for a police presence at his Mother's funeral.

When we arrived , at the funeral,  they all seemed loaded for bear. Surrounding the distraught Ryan, closing ranks around him. The previously social and appreciative brother not speaking to either Tammy or me.

The police offer was there and pardon the pun but he was big as a bear and vigilant.  

In the midst of this the funeral director needed a meeting with the "family". Tammy was included in the group on Ryan's behest...and me....I was relegated to the LGBT corner, which was interesting and non-confrontational.  I was just beginning to feel a bit at ease, when Tammy, and Ryan walking rapidly toward the door said to me "We're leaving".

I was saying "Hello" and Good-bye", to one of the few people who seems to really care for Ryan , whom I had never met, when , from behind me and urgent "Kim! Get in the Car!" , I got in the car. That's when I saw to my disbelief we were actually being chased, by Janice's family, out of the Funeral Home.

Then there was "the hook". Janice's daughter pulled a box of "Ryan's things" from her truck and Ryan wanted them. We were almost out of the parking lot.  We stopped.

She slung the box into his lap, and pressed her head into the open car door and said "I'm going to get your ass before you leave this county , don't you doubt that , you bitch!" which she spat in Tammy's direction.

Tammy, kept her head down and offered no response. Tammy is no stranger to physical abuse.

As we were on the way out of the parkinglot, Ryan discovered they were all of his and Tammy's wedding pictures (that Tammy had put in an album for him)  . All of these mementos had been torn and cut into pieces.

We made egress with great alacrity, needless to say.