You will not be surprised that the public library here in Hot Springs, Arkansas has more books about people from Arkansas than one would find elsewhere. I am getting an informal history of this State from reading biographies and autobiographies.
One I just read is astounding. It is called “A Virgin at 50” written by a black evangelical woman who is a cosmetologist and Church leader. I am amazed at how this woman, with no Church background in celibacy, nonetheless preserved chastity out of love for Jesus, through thick and thin, including a 12 hour attempted rape by her fiancé!!!! She told all men who wanted to date her that she was determined to be a Christian virgin until marriage and she fought off all attempts of boyfriends to violate her commitment. But this 250 lb. fiancé she was about to marry, she being 105 lbs., decided to rape her in her apartment by force. The only reason she remained with her hymen intact was because she was an exercise freak and she just kept fighting with him all night long. He became so exhausted that he couldn’t have an erection! (I am presuming Jim Ridley will not want to find graphics to go with this!!!!)
Among other things, reading her autobiographical story taught me that I shouldn’t imagine that only strong Catholics believe in virginity before marriage.
Among other things, reading her autobiographical story taught me that I shouldn’t imagine that only strong Catholics believe in virginity before marriage.
Funny and touching teeth incident: As all who know me personally are very aware of, I have upper dentures and maybe 6 teeth left on the bottom of my mouth. Now 2 of these in the front middle were wobbling for about 2 years. I tried to cajole family and friends to just take a plier and jerk these out, pouring maybe vodka down my throat as an anesthetic, but no one volunteered. Duh! They claimed that such an old fashioned method could result in a cracked tooth with some still in the gums requiring the trip to the dentist just the same.
So, I “bit the bullet” (pun intended) and went to the dentist. What I didn’t think of was that with the front 2 bottom teeth gone but 2 fangs still there on either side of them, I would look like a Halloween pumpkin.
When the family saw this look on a video prayer meeting they gasped. “You’ve got’tta get a plate, partial, something!.”
“That’s silly. I’m 81. Who cares if I look funny? I don’t have dental on my plan. It could cost $1,000 for such a partial when that money could otherwise feed the starving in Calcutta.”
My twin, who has always been more refined and conscious of looks than myself, called me up. “Now, Ronda, I am singing ‘all I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth,” and you have to accept it. My Christmas present to you is a partial.”
Now since this old dinosaur doesn’t know how to do “selfie” photos I can’t send Jim one to give you a chance to see if you would side with my twin or myself. In any case, I am off to get my partial next week.
When the family saw this look on a video prayer meeting they gasped. “You’ve got’tta get a plate, partial, something!.”
“That’s silly. I’m 81. Who cares if I look funny? I don’t have dental on my plan. It could cost $1,000 for such a partial when that money could otherwise feed the starving in Calcutta.”
My twin, who has always been more refined and conscious of looks than myself, called me up. “Now, Ronda, I am singing ‘all I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth,” and you have to accept it. My Christmas present to you is a partial.”
Now since this old dinosaur doesn’t know how to do “selfie” photos I can’t send Jim one to give you a chance to see if you would side with my twin or myself. In any case, I am off to get my partial next week.
Idea for feeling better about aging: Instead of counting up the day’s productive activities, at our age, maybe count up everything I could do each day for myself without bothering anyone else!
Years ago, I heard about old Catholic families where they lived on farms celebrating Advent by having each child put in a manger like box a piece of straw for every good deed done each day. For 45 years I have been changing this to piece of yarn and then braiding the pieces of yarn into a “blanket” for baby Jesus. My daughter, Carla, added that the adults in the family should also count up good deeds, told to the assembled family just before lighting the Advent Candle. On Christmas day, during the present opening I sit and sew together the pieces of yarn to add to the huge blanket under the Nativity Scene.
So, this first year with Jenny and Sean and the little ones, Teresa (almost 4) and Julia (4 months old) we will be starting a new blanket.
Years ago, I heard about old Catholic families where they lived on farms celebrating Advent by having each child put in a manger like box a piece of straw for every good deed done each day. For 45 years I have been changing this to piece of yarn and then braiding the pieces of yarn into a “blanket” for baby Jesus. My daughter, Carla, added that the adults in the family should also count up good deeds, told to the assembled family just before lighting the Advent Candle. On Christmas day, during the present opening I sit and sew together the pieces of yarn to add to the huge blanket under the Nativity Scene.
So, this first year with Jenny and Sean and the little ones, Teresa (almost 4) and Julia (4 months old) we will be starting a new blanket.
As a new type of good deed to try for this Advent I am authorizing my dear granddaughter and husband to call me on these bad habits and when I succeed in not doing them, I get a piece of yarn: interrupting others when they are talking, labeling people I am talking about such as calling people by the name of their worst quality – Jan Doe, the bad driver, for example; , gossip (defined as relishing tales of the foibles of others) and speculating about the future as if I were writing a novel and need to decide what each character might do next!
Pray for me!
Pray for me!
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