Small Things Count

It’s been awhile since I shared with you the origin of a common phrase, so here I go.

To “kick the can down the road” means, of course, to put off something unpleasant or hard to deal with until a future time.

In the olden days there was a child’s game called “Kick the Can.”   A kid would kick a can full of pebbles, then run and hide.  If nobody else would play with him, he’d run up to it and kick it again.  And again.  Accomplishing nothing.  Thank to the State Dept., who used the term in the 80s when describing stalled talks with the Soviets over nuclear arms, it looks like we’re stuck with it forever in the political realm.

Take old blankets, fluffy coats, towels, pillows, and fake fur items to the animal shelter for use as bedding for the dogs and cats. This lets the shelter use their funds on other needed items and health care.  Call first to see what they accept.

For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

If you haven’t heard, my new book is out. It’s called The Women in Me: How they Helped Me Survive and Thrive and is available in print and eBook at your favorite online book store (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.). You can read reviews there, too. New Book Authors calls it “an inspirational memoir about the influences of the women in their lives and how women can help each other with healing and coping from trauma. A highly insightful read.” For a description, direct your Web browser to SmThingsCount.com/Women-in-Me.

“Anything I can do…anything at all,” we say to the grieving friend, then leave it at that, telling ourselves we’ll be called if we’re really needed.  A crucial time to care for people is when one of them has passed from this Earth.  Those who are left behind are in too much pain to know what help to ask for, although there is an overwhelming list of tasks that need to be done.  In a way, saying “call me if there’s anything I can do” puts an additional burden on the bereaved, because they may feel they should give you a task so you feel better.  What can you do?  Mainly, be very specific in what you offer—to help make arrangements at the funeral home, go with them to pick up the deceased’s ashes, or, later on, to drop off the loved one’s belongings at the charity they supported.   This conveys the message that you really do care, that you can be depended on for the help and friendship they need whenever they need it. 

As a writer and editor and former English teacher, I’m often asked questions about grammar and punctuation. In fact, I’ve been known as the “Comma Queen,”  mainly because of my insisting that the poor little abused curvy line be respected.  So when I saw this, I couldn’t resist passing it on to you:

Let’s eat Grandpa!

Let’s eat, Grandpa!

Commas can save lives.

Just a little frivolous fun for you today…and maybe a bit of a lesson.

If you have a birdbath in your yard, clean it often by scrubbing it out with non-toxic white vinegar.  It’s healthy for the visiting birds and for the earth as a whole.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

Today’s Thursday Thought quote offers a new kind of business card and trademark:

I’m worried about how ready the next generation will be to run our country. That’s because so many states are passing laws to make it easier to become a teacher. In 23 states, a person can now become a teacher without their ability and temperament for the job being questioned. There’s even less assessment to ensure that they fully grasp the subject they’ll teach, and emergency certification is being given to anyone without even a BA or training.

Why? Because there’s an alarming shortage of teachers in 47 states, leading to cancelled classes and hiring unprepared, inadequate “teachers.”

Teaching is an undervalued profession, in salary, working conditions, and respect. No wonder so many people are leaving it. But the measures described above aren’t working. In fact, those unprepared “teachers” leave the profession at more than 2/3 the rate of fully certified teachers. Clearly, our country’s priorities are misplaced.

And our kids, who are our future leaders, are being cheated.

Finished with those dusty paperback books? Swap them at www.paperbackswap.com or       www.BookMooch.com.

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

POD People (those with obvious disabilities) are often “helped” into a worse situation, causing lost dignity that can be humiliating.  You just want to help.  But how? Here are some suggestions.

If a non-sighted woman needs guiding, let her take your arm.  Allow the stutterer to finish his own word or sentence.  A lip-reader needs you to face him and speak normally (don’t exaggerate your lip movements).  Someone who has fallen or is having trouble getting up a hill or curb in a wheelchair is in danger if you just grab hold without asking what he needs you to do.

The disabled woman in the bathroom has only one stall she can use, so invite her to go ahead as soon as it’s open.  And don’t tie up that stall for changing clothes or potty-training your three kids. The bathroom may be empty when you go in, but a disabled person may come in right after you.

Avoid parking in the handicap space, even “for just a minute,” and stay out of that cross-hatch zone next to it, which is there so people can get their wheelchairs in and out of their vehicles.  Don’t stick your emptied shopping cart there, either, to block the needed space.

Deciding what to do is actually easy: when in doubt, just treat people as you’d want them to treat you.