And once all of the presents have been opened, you hear the words...

I just can’t believe it when I hear somebody speak these words! 

The crazy thing is, this is one my goals.

Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a goal. I’ve heard about bored housewives, how does one become that?

I have never in my life been bored. I suppose I probably said that when I was a kid, as a lot of kids do. But certainly not since high school have I ever been bored, there’s just too much to experience and accomplish.

First off, just staying ahead of housework keeps one busy. And, all of the errands that must be completed, and if you have young children there are all kinds of school activities to put on top of “just keeping up.”

But all of that aside, I have always found things that I wanted to do or wanted to learn to keep me busy. I love to read and to spend time writing. I enjoy many shows that provide education. As a child I loved it when Jacque Cousteau or Marlin Perkins would be on television. I enjoy watching Jack Hanna (I was fortunate enough to meet this gentleman), Albert Yu-Min Lin, and many programs on the History Channel, National Geographic, or PBS.

I was thrilled when the internet came into being. I’m a self-described internet gypsy. I’m always looking up something and wandering from page to page to page learning about new things – or old things that I find of interest. I’ve met some really great people this way.

 Every job that I’ve ever had, I had to learn something. My current “day job” is challenging and ever changing, so learning happens every single day. And, I can’t even imagine what career path I might have taken had the internet been available to me in my youth. The possibilities are endless so how could I ever be bored!

(And just in case you are bored, do your own gypsy hop to this site.)

Then there is my DIY side. I enjoy experimenting with many types of crafts. I’ve tried a lot of things; crocheting, embroidery, quilting, paper quilling, painting, kitchen crafts, fudge-making, the list goes on and on. The flip side of “crafting” is doing things in my home, like wallpapering, painting, plaster repair, installing tile, and this list also goes on.

Now, that my circumstances allow, I’m also enjoying some travels. It’s fun to go to new places and learn about those communities. I’ve trained my grandchildren well in these adventures and they’ve learned we are going to do something we can’t do at home, and eat in a “real” restaurant, not a fast-food place. We are going to read a book we’ve not read before, or watch a movie we’ve not seen before. They are beginning to appreciate these experiences over material things.

Back to my goal of being bored … There is always something to do, something to learn, or some place to go so it will take me a very, very long time to reach the point when “I’m bored.” I don’t know if I can even achieve this goal!

 

Contributed by Melody Lowe

“Hot Cross Buns” – it’s a classic!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a “string” concert at our local high school. It involved grade levels 5-12, showing off their skills in the violin, viola, cello, and bass. I hadn’t been to anything like this for a while, and I greatly enjoyed it.

It carried me back to the fourth grade, in the weeks following the city-wide band and orchestra concert.

The image of the young instructor/conductor leading the groups reminded me of my first encounter with the new young instructor/conductor of my day – Steve Miller.

I remember meeting in the small room across from my fourth-grade classroom, and discussing what instrument I wanted to play. I chose the violin, and I remember him measuring my arm to make sure I would even be able to play it. I did, not necessarily well, and my orchestra career was relegated to just the 5^th grade year. (Hey, don't judge me! I’m not musical… I write!)

As the fifth-grade students performed for the first time, I leaned over to my daughter and whispered “I learned that same song when I was in fifth grade,” and she just laughed, while my youngest grandchild gazed in complete awe and wonder, completely mesmerized by the performances. I wondered if the beginner music curriculum had evolved at all, or was “Hot Cross Buns” just one of those classics that every music student learned. Probably so. Wouldn’t it make for a fun event if on a given day and time, all the beginner students across the United States played it together, as a promotional event to maintain music programs in our schools?  It would take a very passionate conductor to coordinate that, but every parent would love it!

Even if you don’t have a school age student involved in the music programs, I would encourage you to attend one of these types of local events. Not only is it fun, it is inspiring to watch the wonder, awe, dedication, and brilliance displayed by these students.

contributed by Melody Lowe