ROLLING THUNDER SUMMER

 

Here in Florida summer doesn't end until November, and even then, not always! After long months of heat and humidity a cold spell is more than welcome.

This summer it rained nearly every day. That's a good thing! I love rain cool, it's a pleasant relief, plus frequent showers are a deterrent to hurricanes later in the season. With a dry summer, nature is more inclined to send a hurricane in the fall.   

Unfortunately, climate change has made everything worse and less predictable. Catastrophic weather has become more prevalent than anything I've seen previously during my lifetime!

Summer was filled with an abundance of scary lightning and resounding thunder that was nearly earsplitting. Frequently it sounded as if a bomb was exploding directly over my house, often with crashes nearby!  Sometimes with little or no rain ensuing. These electrical storms are truly terrifying as well as dangerous! I've heard strikes that made my house shake!

Just two streets over, a home was hit by lightning and caught fire! This occurred in a neighborhood in which I am familiar. My friend Irene (now deceased) lived there and I used to visit often.

A decade ago, a home in THIS neighborhood was struck by lightning and went up in flames! The damage was so severe that the house had to be leveled and rebuilt. I recall neighbors taking up a collection for the family. I donated $10.

When I hear those terrible lightning crashes outside I shudder because I live in a high two-story, wood-frame bull's-eye!

I'll never forget that 4th of July weekend when my cable box was hit. I was without phone, internet, & TV for several days due to the holiday. The repairman brought the burned-up box inside to show me and said that I was lucky. He was astounded my house didn't catch fire!

Knock-on-wood!

FOREVER ALIVE IN MY MEMORIES

 

My friend, Irene Bates Dunjohn, a member of the greatest generation led an extraordinary life. She was an accomplished and remarkable woman who passed from this earth last February.

A memorial service was scheduled for September 16. Afterward her ashes were to be sent to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery. Irene's stepdaughters were flying over from the United Kingdom to attend.

Unfortunately due to the high rate of Covid cases here in Florida the service had to be cancelled. But anyone blessed enough to have had Irene in their lives will treasure her memory for a lifetime.

I met Irene at a luncheon shortly after my father's death. We both arrived early and seated ourselves at different tables, alone. The host put us together.

Irene was hearing impaired as was my father although not to that extent.

My dad was deaf as the proverbial post, but refused to get a hearing aid. I was literally forced to scream the words whenever I spoke to him. And still, he could barely make out a word I said! My natural speaking voice became blaring!

When I met Irene, I was one of the few people she could actually understand. This is how we first clicked and bonded.

Irene and I quickly became close friends and went places together enjoying a variety of activities. However I needed to do a balancing act in public. It required speaking loud enough for Irene to understand, yet quietly so as not to disturb others.

This was not always possible and sometimes proved embarrassing.

One time in particular at a restaurant I was complaining about those male enhancement ads that were constantly popping up in my email. "Can't they see that Dianne is a feminine name?" I said. "And I don't own that particular organ. They needn't tell me how to enlarge my penis!"

"Your what?" Irene asked curiously.

"My penis!" I shouted back. --Every head in the restaurant turned and stared at me. My complexion probably turned every shade of red imaginable.

We both laughed about it afterward.

In retrospect, Irene was a genuine stormy weather friend! She was there for me always and me for her. We were an integral part of each other's lives until she moved back to the U.K. to get married. I was happy for her, yet sad at the same time.

I've always felt that true family are the ones we choose to have in our lives, rather than those forced upon us by blood or marriage. 

After the death of her second husband Kenneth, Irene moved back to Vero Beach. By this time, sadly, age was taking its toll.

A talented writer, Irene long had an idea for a novel with characters loosely based on experiences during her younger years in New York City. However Irene didn't write fiction, so she asked me to ghostwrite it.

Our novel is titled:  SEED OF DECEIT and forever links us together of which I am proud!

LABOR DAY, WHAT'S WHITE OR RIGHT

 

My mother (a transplanted northerner) used to laugh at the rule of no white attire after Labor Day. "Don't they know about winter whites?" she'd say.

I would laugh for a different reason. As someone raised in Florida I've known many a summer, fall, winter, & spring all to blur into one season. The weather remains hot and humid here well into winter months, plus summer seems to arrive earlier every year now and remain longer thanks to climate change.

Labor Day always brings forth memories of new classes along with new school clothes. Strict rules were applied to what a student could or could not wear. Seeing neighborhood kids as they head off to class it's clear this has lapsed! School should never be that casual.

One change I applaud is that designers no longer have the dictatorial power over our wardrobes they once had. Time was, when they declared hemlines 3 inches above or below the knee, or anywhere in-between that's what you were forced to accept. No other choices were available! -- This sucked!!!

I've always felt that hemlines should be determined by the weather and not designers. Ditto for styles, this should be up to the wearer only. (Of course I'm talking about adults here!) However there are plenty who have no idea how to put an outfit together and others who just lack good judgment.

What's with all these shredded clothes? Why would anyone with a functioning brain deliberately want to look like that!

And men in particular dress as if they've just given up, period!

As long as an outfit is clean and neat, wrinkle-free with no holes it's fit to be worn in public. But unless you're performing on a stage it should never be too revealing.

Now I am a strong believer in the old saying, "If you've got it, be proud and flaunt it!" However there's a time and place for everything. And there's a big difference between tease and sleaze. There's a better saying to live by: "An outfit should be tight enough to show you're a woman, but loose enough to show you're also a lady."

Unfortunately, today being a lady has fallen out of fashion. Looking over the styles marketed for teenage girls nearly everything is skin-tight with plunging necklines and backs; tops are low-cut with bare midriffs and shorts display half the derriere.

Had those been around during my teens I would never have been allowed out of the house! All of that would have been considered call-girl attire.

Nowadays I'm a senior citizen and home most of the time due to Covid. I keep my air-conditioner set at 80 degrees to save money and my blinds are drawn. I am free to dress for comfort or wear nothing at all. Sometimes in the privacy of your own home it's best to be naked. This is Florida after all!

A MOVIE MEMORY NOT ON THE SCREEN

 

The mall theatre was my home away from home during the double zero decade. My motto back than was: Movie Hop Till You Drop!

However some of my most unforgettable memories weren't up there on the screen. I've blogged about a few of these and here's another.

This one happened around the middle of that decade. I was in my mid 50's and still had long red hair. My favorite seat was the one way up in the nosebleed section directly under the projector. I always arrived early to claim that spot!

However at one matinee I discovered a man who looked to be in his early 60's seated there. I was annoyed and sat 3 seats over which I felt was a comfortable distance away. 

As I was waiting for the coming attractions I heard someone clearing their throat rather loudly.

I turned and saw a woman similar in age standing beside the man. And she was staring at me with an expression I would describe as nothing short of threatening. For a few long seconds she remained standing while fixedly gazing upon me in this fashion.

Whoa and OMG, did she think I had designs on her guy? I was just sitting there quietly minding my own business! Had I been convivially chatting him up I could see where she might jump to that conclusion.  But there was absolutely no reason for her to resent my presence much less have any level of hostility towards me. 

Just the 3 of us were seated on the top row.

However she was far from attractive. This might have explained her insecurity and why she felt easily threatened.

Afterward, I thought of something comedienne Paula Poundstone would say, "Why don't you pee a circle around him lady!"

About 25 minutes into the movie I heard a commotion beside me. I looked over and almost laughed out loud.

Her leg was across his lap, she was almost on top of him! One of her arms was wrapped around his shoulder while a hand caressed his head. All the while she was noisily going to town on his face and neck with her lips.

Does the phrase "Get a room!" Ring a bell. I needed a pair of blinders.

I would not have been a bit surprised if they were teenagers, but these were old geezers!

And I sort of felt sorry for the guy. He appeared as if just tolerating it while attempting to watch the movie.

Oh well, all I could do was turn my head and giggle.

JUST LIFE

 

My friend Sue with her gorgeous platinum hair is taking charge of her life like a warrior queen and I'm proud of her.

Lots of changes are going on around me!

My buddy Marie & her husband have sold their home up north and are now full-time Florida residents. Because of Covid they spent the entire summer of 2020 here. With the exception of my 70th birthday tea at Rose's, we haven't gotten together since the start of the virus.

Marie's husband is in fragile health so her main focus is protecting him. Before I was fully vaccinated she wouldn't even allow me inside their home due to his vulnerability. This needed to be respected. And now there's the Delta variant.

My friend Rose & her husband have sold their home. Soon they will be moving to the center of the state. I hate to see them leave, but they're making the decision that works best for them.

Life can change fast right along with the weather.

I think back to the old days when my parents and I were living on the St. Lucie River. Two different boats we owned sank inside our boathouse from nor'easters within one decade. After the second, my father declared, "No more boats!"

Later Hurricane David took our boathouse along with most of our 150 ft dock. The dock was rebuilt sans a boathouse. And it was a cool boathouse too with a deck on top. We used to sit up there and gaze in awe at the expanse of the river. The St. Lucie was a mile across behind our house, plus we could see for endless miles stretching in each direction.

Of course by that time my father had lost his high-paying job thru no fault of his own. The corporation he worked for suddenly went belly-up thanks to the shenanigans of the man over him. Our entire lifestyle was pulled out from under us.

Sudden changes are often the most sweeping.

I must keep reminding myself that everything in life is temporary, including our lives on this planet. And the Earth itself is experiencing climate change. We're seeing intense weather with more frequent natural disasters now. 

Every year as the peak of hurricane season arrives I always wonder if I'll still have a house standing by Thanksgiving. If so, it will be more reason to be thankful and celebrate! Life's become all about living in the moment and enjoying what I have while it's still around.

COVID MASQUERADE

 

Fully vaccinated, I had just gotten used to putting on lipstick again. And I was debating whether or not to hang onto all my masks. I decided to save them in the event of another deadly virus. I figured the way the world is going there's bound to be another before I'm dead.

Then I learned the current virus wasn't going away, especially here in Florida thanks to our big Trump turd governor, that fool DeSantis! The idiot is even selling merchandise reading "Don't Fauci my Florida!"

I want a T-shirt that reads "Don't DeSantis our cemeteries, signed the state of Florida!"

But what can be expected of a governor who eagerly licks the ass of the biggest con man the United States has ever known!

Not that long ago I recall Donald Trump labeling the Covid virus a hoax. If a loved one of mine died of it during that time I'd be suing him!!! -- It's a mystery to me why someone isn't.

How can anyone be so gullible as to buy into Trump's lies? I can't imagine! Nor can I imagine any citizen who would put party over country and yet they are out there in staggering numbers!

Those who participated in the January 6 insurrection are traitors and should be treated as such!!!-- No slap on the wrists, at the very least hard prison time and even that is too lenient!!!

But I must remind myself that a bright side exists; unlike the start of the lockdown in March of 2020 I now have a large collection of masks to choose from. Although fully vaccinated, I'll start wearing one again.

And I'll continue to vote in every election, nothing will stop me!!!  DeSantis, I intend to do everything I can to make sure your days in office are numbered!!!

GHOST MALL

 

Early in 2000 I remember a tech whizz stating that in just 10 years shopping malls would be obsolete. Frankly, I couldn't imagine it! Malls are not just for shopping, but social gatherings.

I am not a person who likes crowds or noise, but malls were an exception! These were fun places with a carnival atmosphere filled with lots of interesting eye candy; plus restaurants & cafes in all price ranges plus a nifty food court.

A mall was a wonderful place to meet with friends for lunch and go shopping afterward. And there was a movie theatre with multiple screens too! Everything you could possibly want for a fun filled day or evening! Even going alone always lifted my spirits.

Recently I met a friend for lunch at the food court. I recall when just finding a good parking space was difficult, but now the parking lot had so few cars I had my choice. Most of the stores had moved or closed down altogether.

I was surprised to see the AMC Theatre open since movie times are no longer listed in the newspaper. But I'll bet all 24 screens aren't playing anymore.

Half the eateries in the food court were gone and our choices were limited, but there were plenty of unoccupied tables to choose from. The other people I saw there were either senior citizens or close to it. -- Those of us considered the walking dead by the young.

Well it took more than the predicted 10 years, but sadly I saw it happening even before the corona virus; however this seemed to add the final nail. Such a pity!

Just walking around and window shopping used to be such a delight! All that glorious merchandise and the variety of items spread out before you! Unlike online, you could see it up close and even touch it.

Some merchandise I can see purchasing online only. However others it just doesn't make sense, plus it's far more expensive! There's postage, handling, tax, and now a replacement charge (which used to be voluntary) along with a carrier surcharge which is new. After all these are added in, sometimes it costs as much or more as the item itself! If that's not an incentive to shop at a brick & mortar store I don't know what is!

Once upon a time a customer didn't even have to pay postage, plus most companies included a free gift just for choosing them. Nowadays that seems incredible to say the least! 

Clothing creates a particular problem. I want to try it on before I buy! Yes, I've purchased clothes online and often ended up sending it back! I grit my teeth at having to pay costly postage both ways! Often clothes are manufactured in other countries and are miss-sized.

Usually a medium fits me, but not always. When going by actual size, if an outfit appears baggy on the model I order a size smaller. If it's clingy I go with the next larger size. I've found this method works best.

The virus aside, these days I don't go out that much anymore so I don't require as many clothes or accessories. But I sure miss those wondrous mall visits. Always they felt like a special treat!