Reflections From a Country Girl

My family on my mother’s side is British. In fact, my mother is still a British citizen and very proud of it.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, she loves America and has lived here most of the time since she married my father in WWII.

So, when I heard the Queen of England is coming over to the US for a visit a little later this year, my ears perked up a bit. After all, it’s a rare occasion to have the Queen here in America.

As a precursor to the visit, the Queen had a champagne and nibbles reception at Buckingham Palace for a number of Americans working in Britain Tuesday night. Over 300 Americans attended.

So what would you say to the Queen if you were introduced and had the opportunity for a conversation?

Many of us see her as a fairly rigid, unfriendly sort of woman. True or not, she appears to have that demeanor about her. Yet, I hear she has quite a sense of humor. My family in Wales thinks the world of her and says she is a magnificent lady.

Thank goodness women no longer have to curtsy to the Queen. If I had to do that, I would probably fall. Indeed, I hear there are some men, in their nervousness at meeting the Queen, who have attempted a curtsy and failed miserably at it! I suspect she has developed the ability to remain serious during those many, many attempts of clumsy curtsies while inside probably laughing uncontrollably.

If I were to ever have the opportunity to meet the Queen and have time to spend talking, I would want to ask her what brings her the greatest joy in her life, what does she enjoy doing when she is not representing her country, what are her proudest moments with her children and grandchildren, and what is the one thing she would like to do that she hasn’t had the chance to do yet.

None of that small “so nice to meet you” talk for me…

Alas, I am fairly sure I will never meet the Queen…but I sure am ready if it happened by accident.

My wish for you today is that you realize that queens, presidents and other famous people are just human like the rest of us. They happen to have higher profile jobs or work than most of us do. So, if you ever get to meet and talk with a famous person, remember that as you have a conversation. It will make it much easier, and more memorable, for you.

~ Joellen

I love the spring…flowers, budding trees, and milder temperatures. Things look much greener and fresher.

Except, that is, if you live in the south right now.

Yes, I am reminded of the little people in Wizard of Oz who sang the song “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

While most of our roads aren’t brick these days, I think we can say without hesitation that they are very yellow.

Yes, pollen is with us for awhile and it reeks havoc on our system and our environment.

I came back into town the other morning and almost passed my house. The yard, house, and driveway were all covered with thick yellow pollen and I hardly recognized it. While that may be a bit of a stretch to you, it WAS covered with that golden haze. I could hardly believe my eyes as I slowed down.

We all know pollen makes the trees beautiful and that helps to shade us during the summer. It’s just hard to consider it a benefit when we are sneezing, our nose is runny, and we can hardly breathe.

While no doctor wants you to be sick, we know allergists make a fortune during this season trying to help ease our reactions to pollen and other airborne allergens.

I guess it’s just the price we pay in the South this time of year. Later on it will be knats giving us a fit, so the more positive we are about these little irritants of life, the better off we will be.

My wish for you today is that you are not physically affected by seasonal pollen and other allergens. If you are, I hope you find relief quickly so you can get out on the roads – yellow or not – and enjoy life.

~ Joellen

How many smart people do you know?

I’ve been working on a developing project for several months now. Like Sara Evans sings in her song, every effort needs “a real fine place to start.”

I don’t know it all, although I have been accused of thinking I do from time to time, so I decided to gather a team of smart people to serve as resources for projects coming up in the future.

I considered what kind of skills we needed to pull together and started thinking about the people I come in contact with on a daily basis in my work and as part of my personal life.

I began listing the skills each one had as I talked with them these last few weeks.

My goodness.

I was reminded quickly that I am surrounded by smart people who are experts in their field. Many of them are young, energetic professionals while others have had years of experience.

They have one trait in common. They are passionate about what they do.

What a team we have put together.

We are now ready for whatever project comes down our path, and we are enthusiastic about the possibilities.

Are you surrounded by smart people who have made the best of who they can be and look for the possibilities life has to offer?

My wish for you today is that you take an inventory of your friends’ skills and see just how lucky you are to be surrounded by smart and passionate people. Appreciate each one for their uniqueness and celebrate their gifts. It’s a real fine place to start just to see how fortunate you are to be in the presence of your friends and colleagues. Be inspired by them.

~ Joellen

This reflection took a different turn today when someone called me to remind me my reflection was not yet up on the site. She wanted to know if I had forgotten.

Oh, the pressure.

I mean, I do write most every morning and get it on the website before seven.  For some reason, the reflection did not appear as I had set it for today.

I am glad people miss it.  It would be bad if no one read them and no one missed them. I would probably still write, but having people reading them is great.

Today, I chose to concentrate on the song Have You Forgotten? by Darryl Worley.

This song asks if you have forgotten what 9/11 felt like.  He reminds us that he’s been there with the soldiers and he guarantees they remember what they are fighting for.  He wants to know if you have forgotten.

To me – whether I believe in the war or not – it is immaterial.

There are soldiers over there that are loved and cared for deeply by their loved ones back here.  They have sacrificed much to serve their country so we can feel safe and secure in our comfortable world.  I know some of them personally, and their families miss them very much.

When someone does that for me as well as the ones they love, I appreciate it.

While I could defend myself confidently with a rifle, shotgun and pistols if I had to, I am very grateful I don’t have to defend myself day in and day out in my state, community or neighborhood.  The most I have to defend myself for right now is taxes and pollution.

Yes, we are darn lucky over here.

It is critical for our soldiers that we support them and honor their efforts to defend us and our country.

Like Darryl Worley says in his song, the television won’t tell some of what the soldiers see because it is too disturbing for us.  Well, maybe it is for our children, but it is critical that the children of this country know what kind of sacrifices our soldiers are making for us on a daily basis so we can play freely in our yards without fear.  A talk with them about brave soldiers protecting us in foreign lands is important.

It is important that we pray for the soldiers’ safety and healthy return to their family and friends.  It’s also important that we support our soldiers’ families while they are gone.  They are not used to being without that spouse or loved one and a kind word of appreciation, maybe a call or taking a little something over, would be a kind gesture of support and – I suspect – very much appreciated.

My wish for you today is that you do not forget the sacrifices our soldiers and their families have made for us as we deal with the world around us. Don’t forget to be kind and generous to those who are sacrificing.

~ Joellen

I have always loved My Favorite Things that Julie Andrews sang with passion from Sound of Music. What a classic, both Julie and the song.

A friend sent me an e-mail late this afternoon that was about Julie singing this song at a New York benefit for AARP.

After reading it and humming the tune to the words, that song will never quite be the same.

You see, Julie turned 69 on October 1st. She sang the song with new words…and gave it quite a new meaning. Some of the words went like this.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin’,
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinin’,
And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

Can’t you just see her singing those verses with the same glee she did years ago?

So what are your favorite things?

I suspect that, during different parts of our lives, there are favorite things more important and outstanding than others.

My wish for you today is that, no matter how old or young you are, you find your favorite things in each phase of your life and embrace them wholeheartedly with as much humor and joy as possible. You will likely never have any regrets if you do.

~ Joellen