REMEMBERING NAMES

I love people! While I'm good at remembering faces, I have a lousy memory for names. I know it's important so through the years I tried most of the tricks.

Like right after Doug and I married, moved to Kinston, NC, and our first ministry at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church, I tried. I really tried. One day at our mailbox the friendly rural mailman introduced himself, "Hi! I'm Mr. Baker, your mail carrier.  Welcome to the south. If you need stamps, just let me know, ma'am."  Impressed with the rural service, I vowed to remember his name. 

As I walked back to the house I thought Memory by association, memory by association.  Mr. Baker, Baker.  Oh! I got it.  Two professions. He's a mailman but has the name of another job, a baker.  I'm gonna remember his name. THIS time I got it!

About a week later I spotted his truck and trotted confidently to greet him. I smiled.  He smiled and nodded back.  I burst out, "And a good morning to you, Mr. Taylor!"  The puzzled look on his face cleared up my fog.  "Oh, I mean, Mr. Baker. . .BAKER! Your name is Mr. Baker" I declared. He nodded again, as his smile faded.

Memory by association. Phfffttt!

Most people learn but here we are 45 years later and I tried it again recently at Sam's Club. Our friendly shopping cart gatherer has autism and is a wonderful employee. He's a hard worker and very friendly.  Doug asked his name and he replied, "I'm Frank."

"You do a good job, Frank!"

He beamed, "Thank you, sir."

A few weeks later, back at Sam's, I spotted him. I'm gonna brag on him this time. I shouted out over the rumbling line of carts he was pushing, "Hi, Ernest!  Ernest? ERNEST?"

He just kept pushing his carts. I wondered why he wasn't answering me until  Doug muttered, "It's Frank."

I just kept pushing my cart too.

Did I mention I'm good at faces? Sometimes.

Last week, visiting our daughter, Kimberly, in Minneapolis I met a pastor friend of hers. We introduced ourselves, shaking hands when Kimberly informed us, "You've met before."  

We both winced in unison.  "Guess we didn't make much of an impression on each other," I laughed.  He chuckled too.  I can't remember his name.  Probably won't recognize his face either when we meet a third time next visit at Christmas.

But I really do love people!

This time we remembered his name!

NOT AS THINGS APPEAR

Today I learned a new word: pareidolia.  It means seeing faces or a semblance of a living thing in inanimate objects.  Before you call the paddy wagon to take me away, let me add two more things.  I read it's quite common for pretty much everyone to do this.  Secondly, I'm NOT hearing voices. . .yet.  

Let's see how long it takes you to spot this one.

POST-IT-ITIS

Post-It-itis:  to be afflicted with a dire attachment to using Post Its.


You won't find this disease in Wikipedia but you will in Kathypedia.  I made up both words.

One can never have too many.

We keep Post Its everywhere--by the phone, on the home piano, in the piano bench at church, in the car, in the desk, in the junk drawer.  How did we ever live before Post Its and hairspray? 

No one got the idea and then stayed up nights to invent it.   A man named Spencer Silver worked in the 3M research laboratories in 1970 trying to find a strong adhesive. Silver developed a new adhesive, but it was weaker than what 3M already manufactured. It stuck to objects, but could be easily lifted off. It was super weak instead of super strong. 

Arthur Fry

No one knew what to do with the stuff, but Silver kept it. Then one Sunday four years later, another 3M scientist named Arthur Fry was singing in his church choir. He used paper markers to keep his place in the hymnal, but they kept falling out of the book.  Then he remembered Silver's weak adhesive. He used some to coat his bookmarks.  Success!  They stayed in place yet lifted off without any damage to the hymn pages. 3M began distributing Post-it Notes nationwide in 1980, ten years after Silver developed the adhesive. Today they are one of the most popular office products available.

I just love that they were born during choir practice.  I have some of my best times there too. Unfortunately sometimes the need to rehearse music cuts into my antics, fellowship and creativity during choir practice!  


Recently I reconnected with an old college friend, Doug Randlett.  He and I used to cut up during college choir where his brother, Professor Dave Randlett, tried to direct us.  We disagree on which of us was the instigator.  They both went on to teach at Liberty University, where my son, Kent, got his masters. One of his professors was my old classmate, Doug Randlett.  (This paragraph is a sidebar, rabbit trail, an example of poor writing with no cohesiveness to the subject.)

My beautifully cluttered cabinet door.

Speaking of cohesiveness, back to Post-it-itis.  (That sentence is a good example of a forced segue.)  My Doug is a romantic and I love that about him.  One way he expresses love is by leaving me little notes.  When I read them and smile, I then put them on the inside of my kitchen cabinets to save and savor.  They then continue to make me smile and feel loved every time I reach for a coffee cup.


I came out of Curves one day and saw a yellow note on my windshield.  The familiar handwriting told me Doug passed by and saw my car.  He still makes me smile.


I leave them tucked away in his luggage, shaving kit, shoes, etc. when he goes on a trip.  He gradually finds them.


Our kids come home to visit and get an occasional touch of Post-it-itis too.  Katy left this one:

Kimberly left this:

Even our newborn grandson, Sean, once left us one:

(Did I mention our grandchildren are extremely gifted and able to write soon after birth?)


If you know of a cure for this disease, keep it to yourself.  I've actually grown very comfortable with the affliction around our house!  We all must suffer some so I gladly bear the Post-it burden!


Sticking around,
Kathy

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUTH

I recently took this Facebook quiz:

After answering the questions, they figured I was a male in my late teens.  Not even close! It did concern me that using nail polish and moisturizer placed me in that category.  In fact, I wouldn't even want to go back to my youth.  I love being my age.  The American mindset, however, seems to be on an endless pursuit of youth.  That quest carries with it a guaranteed failure rate of 100%. 

Growing old is not so bad when you consider the alternative.   Actually the alternative is even better!

Now I might be on a quest to feel younger.  That may be a clue as to the quiz guessing my  age was wrong.  We can control some of the areas that affect how we feel.  Here are some ideas I ran across, most of which I do!

• Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. Don't be a grouch.

• Keep learning.  Learn more about computers, crafts, gardening, whatever you enjoy. Never let your brain get idle.

• Surround yourself with what you love. Your home is your refuge so if it's music, pets, family, plants or hobbies, fill it with enjoyment.

• Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.  If you have a friend who makes you belly laugh, spend lots of time together.

• When tears happen, endure, grieve and move on. The only person who is with us throughout life is ourselves.  So live while you are alive.

• Cherish your health. If it's good, preserve it.  If it's unstable, improve it.  If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

• Try everything twice. Found on a woman's tombstone: "Tried everything twice.  Loved it both times."

• Don't take guilt trips. Try shopping trips, vacation trips, even trips abroad. . .but never take guilt trips.

• Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

• Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance. Lost time can never be found. Let it go!

• Be kinder than necessary.  Everyone is fighting some kind of battle.

While the Hollywood set chases the illusion of looking younger, they often appear more like aliens to me.

Michael Jackson

Melanie Griffith

I prefer to concentrate on things I might be able to accomplish in the areas of feeling younger. Use it or lose it and healthy habits often work.