I realize I haven't made any comments on my Blog for several days. I've been trying to understand what I want to post - - and could not come to any conclusions.

But today, I'm just recording what I see - and think about - - and hope and pray this is a good solution.

Today, as I was pushing the outside door to leave the building, I notice a small bug - - maybe 1/2 inch long. I looked at it - - it had transparent wings - - front legs covered with white fuzz - - long antenna from its head - - clean - no fuzz, I went outside and looked at it there - -It had an unusual color - - very interesting. I walked on the the Great Hall. Coming back, I again saw the bug. It had not moved. As I looked at it, I wondered if I could get a picture of it. So I went to my apartment, got my camera, and went back to that door. Yes, it was still there - - motionless. But it is on glass - the camera focusses on the sidewalk or grass. I took several pictures - - none were very good - - this is the best - but you cannot see the unusual markings I could see.

I wondered about life - - and all God had created - and about this bug. Was it 'good' for us - - or 'harmful' to us and what we plant? It's legs - front and back - were so interesting - - God was so amazing in the countless variety of his creation. I just give thanks for this small bug - - and all the thought, wonderment it has created within me.

music

Last night, 8/12/10 I went with a friend to a free (!) - open seating - - concert of the Cleveland Orchestra. It was a taping of a compete symphony of B ------ (I can't remember his name - - I had not heard his music before - - but I seemed to be the only one so ignorant!) being done for WVIZ.

The music was magnificent - - and of course the surroundings of that beautiful concert hall are breath-taking. As I sat there - - I gave thanks for such an offering of spectacular music and overwhelming beauty. How blessed we are at times like these.

I have no picture - - I cannot find my program - - perhaps I'll find it and add the picture later.

Job I wouldn't want !!!

Yesterday I heard a strange noise - and looking up from my reading, I saw a man's face in my third floor window - - yes, the window washers were here doing their once-a-year washing. I know they never look in- - they are too busy trying to see if the window is clean.

I walked up close to the window and waved - - he saw me and waved back.

Then I thought I'd like a picture of that. When he went to my next door neighbor I took this picture. I never realized that he had one foot on the ladder and one foot on the window sill. That is one job I'd never, NEVER want to do.

So, here he is - - hard at work!

Maggie

Animals are such interesting creatures. My cat Maggie are having a slight disagreement over her food. I want to feed her as much as she will eat - - she is so very small - - the last time I tried to weigh her I believe she was only 4 pounds. So I will keep feeding her as long as she eats it.

But after I have given her food for about three - maybe four times, she may not finish what is in her dish. But she still comes to me - mewing as though she wants more food. I go, see food still in her dish - point to it and tell her, she has to eat all of it. She looks at though she doesn't understand. I'll even take my finger, move the food around a little in the dish - and tell her she must eat it before she gets anything more. She still plays 'dumb'. I have left her several times - - all this is over an hour or more period of time.

I went out to my balcony, read some, went and got a little tomato to eat - - Maggie following me all the time - crying. She had not eaten the food yet. I was ready to go to bed - and going to the kitchen to turn out the light, I saw her dish was empty. I exclaimed about how good she was - and got the flavor I knew she liked and gave it to her. She immediately 'pounced' on this new dish of food, eating it as though she had not been fed in days.

She understood all along what I was saying - - and trying, like a young child - to get her way without 'cleaning up her plate'. She finally 'gave up' and did what she had understood. Isn't it amazing what these animals can understand - - and pretend to not know what you want.

This type of incident has happened several times. I wonder when she will decide not to wait so long - - and will do what I tell her to do. I think she really enjoyed the game.

Brains

An article in the Plain Dealer 6/29/10 - YOU DOCS TIP OF THE WEEK:

Older but wiser brain

The article states: "You can't find your car in the parking lot? Your wallet's wandered away again? Etc. Think you are losing it?

EXHALE: Everyday memory lapses may mean your brain's getting older. But it is also getting wiser. ( ! ! ) . . . . . .

Yes, recall gets tougher with age. That's because our brains are taking in more information than ever before. . . . . . .

In new research, seniors absorbed more facts during a memory test than people in their teens and 200s. Plus they were 30% better at using the information later to make decisions. Better decisions ! YES ! ! . . .

Oh, and when you have an opinion, share it. After all, your brain's wiser than ever.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Isn't that reaffirming ! ? ! Many cultures have long recognized this. Their eldest ones are the 'wise ones'. Somehow in the modern era society has lost track of this wisdom. Let us elders reclaim our heritage and recognize that we are truly the 'wise ones'.

We need to do it ourselves. Younger people don't understand - and are too busy to see their own mistakes. Let us become the 'sages' of our time - - and speak up when we understand the situation better than our 20 year olds.

Don't let 'them' put 'us' in the corner. Speak the wisdom you know.

Death

Death is so hard to deal with. Whether it be only a small bird on the walkway, my beloved cat, Peaches, my brother, Hunt, my mother, Martha, my dear husband Ed, or now a wonderful friend, Don.

We know they are all right - the dear Lord has them in his caring presence and everything is

perfect for them

But us, - - -we are still here and there is an empty place where an important living being once was. We hear all the Gospel reassurances - - we believe them with our whole being - - but there is that empty space. That is so hard to face.

We pray that the dear Lord will remain especially close to each person suffering grief - - and understanding each person's grief, will provide the love , caring, and strength that is needed. Thank you Lord, for all these precious beings you have given us - for a time - -and then on into eternity. Thank you.

When I was a child my mother always said before we would start anything, "You have to get your ducks in a row". Here are the geese doing the same thing. That group has usually 14 young ones in it. And as you can see with all the geese on the grass - -we have a LOT of geese - -much to our groundskeeper's despair!