Miss Ann Says

Category: daily life

• countdown

  Posted at 11:16 pm by missannsays, on September 1, 2015

   

  

  This is a reprint from a blog this time last year. I felt it is worth saying again. This anniversary is fifteen years so the “activities/hype/coverage” will be even greater than a normal year – 3rd, 7th, 13th… I did watch a good documentary on CBNC called “Ground Zero Rising: Freedom or Fear”  Lee Ielpi, founder of the 9/11 Tribute Center, was featured as well as a fellow docent, Matt Crawford. Another documentary being shown on PBS on Sunday September 11 is “The Trees” by Scott Elliott. I was interviewed for that film. I will say the thing that makes the countdown even more difficult for people I know is when the days line up and September 11 is a Tuesday. Thankfully this year it isn’t. Side note: September 11 and Christmas always fall on the same day of the week. I know that is a weird thing to know but I do and I would not be surprised to learn that other members of the September 11 community know that as well. Be kind to yourself and be kind to each other. 🙂

   

  For many, September 1 means the countdown to September 11 has begun. The countdown actually starts much early for members of the September 11 community. Maybe it is in July when the letter to participate in reading the names from the National September 11 Memorial Museum arrives in the mail. Or when the emails from various September 11 organizations announcing their September 11 ceremonies start showing up in my inbox. Or when the actual invitation/credentials to attend the ceremony arrive. There is no escaping it.

  So I will limit my TV watching until September 12. I won’t be surprised when my husband’s photo randomly shows up on my FB feed. I will listen to the radio expecting to switch channels at anytime. I will pray for those who saw things on September 11, 2001 that no one should see. I will pray for the families of those who were killed that day and have died since from illnesses caused by their efforts in the rescue and recovery. I will decide to participate in the things that help in my journey. I will put one foot in front of the other. Don’t get me wrong I am grateful that “we don’t forget” but for many people myself included there is no way we could forget. Oh and in case you were wondering the countdown for us begins on September 12

  Posted in daily life, September 11 | 1 Comment

• Trusted sources

  Posted at 1:05 pm by missannsays, on August 4, 2015

  Recently I misplaced my “hands free” device that I use when I am driving. I assumed it had fallen out at church as I made a quick stop there to drop off VBS stuff before heading out of town for the weekend. I contacted a friend, who is also the church office manager,  to say “if a little silver Bluetooth device shows up, it is mine.”  

  On Saturday I received a text saying “no sign of it.” I decided to see if my Bluetooth settings showed my device as connected. Voila! It was connected so I went out to my car with the confidence of finding my device. My phone was saying it was connected so it must be there. I looked in all the standard spots – the dashboard, cup holders, that extra little compartment for stuff, under the mats, between the seats.  I moved the driver seat all the way forwards, then all the way backwards. I raised the seat. I reclined the seat. I got a flashlight and looked under the seat. Still my phone was saying it was connected. By now, I was a little less confident that my phone knew what it was “talking about” so I went inside and checked my phone in an area I knew was out of range.  Bingo! It showed not connected but as I walked within range it was connected. It must be in the car. I headed back out to my car. I repeated all the driver seat maneuvers. No device. I moved the passenger seat in all the same directions. I found a lipstick but no device. Forget it! 

  On Sunday my phone was still showing my device as connected. Really?!? Oh well, I will just have my daughter look when I get to her house. It must be in plain sight but I can’t see it.  I got in my car to head to my daughter’s house. I reached up into the glasses holder to switch to my sunglasses and what fell into my lap.  You guessed it my hands free device. I laughed. 

  Since then I have been pondering what I trust as reliable sources of information.  My phone kept showing “connected” but the device was no where in sight.  I looked because I believed it was correct. When I doubted I tested whether it was correct. And in the end it was connected (and found). 😉

  “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””  

  ‭‭John‬ ‭20:24-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/jhn.20.24-29.niv

  Posted in daily life | 0 Comments

• The first time we met

  Posted at 1:59 pm by missannsays, on May 2, 2015

  I know exactly the first time we met. It was Wednesday April 29, 2015 around 10:30 am. An early morning telephone call  jumped started my day. Thankfully I had filled the car with gas on Monday and visited the ATM machine on Tuesday so I was ready to go in short order.  A mental checklist helped me pack for a couple of days away, a quick shower, a group text requested prayer for your arrival and I was out the door in just about an hour. Coffee and oatmeal purchased at a drive through establishment, radio tuned to the news channel for traffic reports every ten minutes  and I was good to go. The journey to you was uneventful on my end. No real traffic, beautiful weather, smooth sailing, one pit spot for a restroom break. About 2.5 hours into the journey, the beeping sound on my Bluetooth  signaled a telephone call “ignore or accept”. The voice on the other end said “Mom” and the rest of the words I couldn’t really hear or understand – water break, drugs, how long, don’t know but I understood “would you pray?” So I prayed a prayer for wisdom for all  and then I  said “I am about 45 minutes away but feel free to start without me.”

  After a little wandering around and studying of signs, I found the family maternity unit.  The receptionist asked “may I help you?” I mentioned your mom’s name, a quick phone call informed me to wait in the waiting room. After a few minutes your dad appeared in the doorway. I thought he was ready to jump out of his skin he was so excited. A big hug, a few words and he returned to you and after a little more waiting  my phone rang. “Mom, you can come back. We are in room D for dog”. I proceeded down the hallway, entered the room,  pushed back the curtain and there was  your mom sitting up in bed looking no worse for wear. She was smiling from ear to ear even though I could tell tears of joy and relief were ready to burst forth. We hugged and held each other. Your dad was sitting in the reclining chair staring at your face. Your dad’s look was one of amazement, wonder and love. Your dad stood and placed you in my arms. I looked at you. Awe, wonder, hope, thankfulness, love –  yes, all of the above!

  

  Posted in daily life, relationships | 2 Comments | Tagged family, little things

• A Love Story

  Posted at 9:27 am by missannsays, on April 22, 2015

   

  Today would have been my parent’s wedding anniversary. My Dad died in November 2012. Actually, we lost my Dad much early due to a massive stroke in 2006.  My sister and I have discussed if we are the people we are “because of or in spite of” my parents. We have “played” pop psychologist analyzing and scrutinizing my parents’ relationship and personalities. During one of those conversations my sister commented “their story was truly a love story”. Wait! What! I wanted to ask didn’t she remember slammed doors, raised voices, less than stellar choices on many levels.. Their story wasn’t a fairy tale – American serviceman from Oklahoma meets young British woman during Korean war and they live happily ever after.  No that wasn’t it. Their life together wasn’t perfect or maybe even what they each expected it to be – 4 children, financial stress, mental health issues, miscarriages, moving a lot – Oklahoma, Utah, Arizona and finally New Jersey.*

  However just this week I realized my sister was right my parents’ story was a love story. Because after it was all said and done from April 22, 1953 until November 25, 2012.

  ” I, James, take thee, Margaret, to be my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

  I, Margaret, take thee, James, to be my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

  They kept their vows definitely not perfectly but they kept their vows and something bigger than words makes you keep those vows – love!

   Mom and Dad in Christmas 1988.

   

  *Years ago I realized that my parents did the best they could with the resources (financial, emotional, mental and spiritual) they had. There is a sense of freedom when you come to that point.

  Posted in daily life, memories, relationships | 0 Comments | Tagged family, little things, love story

• Star Trek and my childhood

  Posted at 5:03 pm by missannsays, on February 27, 2015

  Reading about Leonard Nimoy’s death today brought back childhood memories of watching Star Trek with my parents and siblings. There weren’t many shows that we watched as a family but Star Trek was definitely one of them. Growing up we didn’t have a television in our living room so we would all pile into my parents’  bedroom to watch Star Trek.  I remember my Dad telling us my mother included to watch the show or leave but don’t talk expect during the commercials. As I remember my brother, James, was really into Star Trek. James was always challenging me to do that tricky finger thing (which for the record I still can’t do it) and he loved to say “that isn’t logical”.

  James was Mr. Spock for Halloween one year. His costume had been designed by my Dad complete with “pointy ears” and a Starship Enterprise insignia. I don’t remember if James had any kind of phaser or “beam me up Scotty device” but I am thinking he did. Due to the fact that the  Halloween costumes my Dad designed were always amazing and “state of the art”.  Of course “state of the art” in the 1960’s meant  boxes, paint, big batteries, wiring and flashing lights. One year my brother’s robot costume made from boxes, a bucket and blinking lights won my brother a bicycle and his photo in the newspaper. Another year my traffic light costume had lights that flashed green, yellow and red. That same year my sister’s pumpkin costume wasn’t just a pumpkin it was a jack o lantern that lit up. A side story: my sister’s pumpkin costume was perfectly round and looked great. The problem was she was a little girl in this big orange pumpkin costume and at one point she slipped on the walkway and rolled all the way down neighbor’s driveway. She was okay but I can still remember worrying she was going to roll into our “busy” street as we called it. But my Dad’s piece de resistant was the Starship Enterprise he built in our attached one car garage.  Oh, it wasn’t a boxed model or a jigsaw puzzle it was the bridge of the Enterprise. I think my sister and I were allowed to use it but mostly it was for my brother. There was silver painted plywood, blinking lights, computer screens, all kinds of buttons and switches and charts. It was the stuff of childhood dreams and adventures. To be honest I don’t know what happened to it. Eventually the attached garage would be renovated into a family room and then my Dad’s library.

  I don’t remember many of the story lines of Star Trek as they “boldly went where no man had gone before”. The one episode where some tiny creature crawled into people’s ear is still disturbing. Whenever I see a gerbil, the furry tribble  episode comes to mind. I was never a Trekkie but I saw a couple of the Star Trek movies and was delighted when the original Mr. Spock had a cameo. Oddly enough when the signs for the Renaissance Festival are displayed I always think of Star Trek. Some years ago my brother and his family lived in California and he had mentioned that advertisements for the Renaissance Festival in CA stated “no Trekkie time travelers.” 😉

  Rest in Peace! Mr. Nimoy.  Your role as Mr. Spock brought many happy memories to my mind today. Praying that your family and friends may find peace and comfort in the roles you played as friend, father, husband and grandfather. Safe journey.

   

  

  Posted in daily life, kid stuff, memories | 0 Comments | Tagged family, Halloween, Mr. Spock, random thoughts, Star Trek, television

• My year in review. The ABCs of 2014.

  Posted at 11:01 am by missannsays, on December 31, 2014

  A is for arabesque. I taught one ballet class a week.

  B is for book clubs. I belonged to two.

  C is for children’s camp. I directed with the best team ever.

  D is for Dunkin Donuts. I drank a lot of coffee.

  E is for East of Eden. I enjoyed reading this John Steinbeck classic.

  F is for family and friends. Fun, food and fantastic stories.❤

  G is God. He is good.

  H is for home. I accomplished a few items on the “to do list”.

  I is for ice cream. Always a yummy treat.😋

  J is for Japan. Amazing second visit.

  K is for Kansas. Time spent with family.

  L is for library. My daughter completed her masters in library information science.

  M is for Minnesota. I spent ten days caring for my grand-nieces and nephews.

  N is for National September 11 Museum. It opened in May.

  O is for opportunities. I am blessed with many.

  P is for PA. My new secondary residence.

  Q is for quizzing. I teach in my local church and direct on the district.

  S is for speaking. I spoke at 4 events including one all-day conference with my daughter.

  T is for tea with Miss Carol. Always a treat.

  U is for United. The airline I usually use. Flew to San Antonio, Seattle and Minneapolis.

  V is for volunteering at Tribute Center. Lead and supported tours, spoke to school groups.

  W is for writing. I took a writing course and now I need to get busy!

  X is for eXcerise. I need to be more disciplined.😐

  Y is for year. Hard to believe another year has come and gone.

  Z is for zero. The number of regrets I have.

  In 2015- my goals are to read and write more, watch television less, enjoy simple times with family and friends and relish in being a grandma in the near future.😊

  Posted in books, daily life, memories | 2 Comments | Tagged Dunkin Donuts, family, friendship, little things, randomness, September 11, television, travel

• How was your weekend?

  Posted at 4:42 pm by missannsays, on October 6, 2014

  My intention on Saturday morning was to leave the house a little earlier than I needed so I could get cash at the bank and then get gas. My car usually has at least a half a tank of gasoline in it. Mostly because whenever I drive to or through NJ I fill up the tank. Fuel in NJ is cheaper than NY and “they” pump it which is a major selling point for me. I hadn’t driven to or through NJ in the last few days so my gas gauge was registering at less than a quarter tank. I definitely didn’t want to purchase gas in my little hometown. It is too expensive typically gas is at least 50 cents a gallon more than anywhere else. Anyway I left the house a little later than planned and my gas tank was a little emptier than original thought but I realized I had $40 in cash so I could get “some” gas. The part you need to know is unless I get gas in town there won’t be another gas station for at least 10 miles in any direction. Nervously watching the gas gauge and hoping the “you need fuel” idiot light won’t blink on I headed out. No worries, it will be fine! Please, please may that be true. I pulled into the first station in NJ I came upon on my journey. I said “$40 cash, fill it regular.” I hadn’t looked how much it was a gallon so I glanced at the sign and was pleasantly surprised to see it was $2.95/gallon. Wow, I hadn’t seen that price in a long time. Guess what? at that price my tank was filled. The funny thing as I drove rest of the way to my destination and then home every other station’s prices were over $3.03. It was like a secret little Saturday morning surprise for me. 🙂

  On Sunday I posted it on Facebook ”

  “Apple picking, pumpkin picking and fall foliage bring many people to my area this time of year. Plus the first Sunday in October in Warwick, NY is Applefest. If you don’t know what Applefest is, think Time Square meets lovely quaint village for just one day as the Thanksgiving Day Parade is also happening. I am at the iPray/iThrist booth this morning.”

  Applefest is a craft fair, farmer’s market, art show, music event that brings lots and lots of people to Warwick, NY. It is a little difficult to be excited about Applefest due to traffic being horrific mostly because the roads are not equipped to handle the volume of traffic that descent on the area. Actually the streets are wide enough for the number of people walking around. My local church sponsors a booth that has a two-fold purpose. It is called iPray where we take prayer requests and/or prayer with you and we also have iThrist where we sell bottled water for $1 to raise money for building clean water wells around the world. I volunteered to help set up and “man” the booth for a few hours. My goal was get in and out before it got too crazy in Warwick but really two people I met were worth all the traffic and all the crazy.

  As a woman was writing her prayer request I asked “is there something I could pray for right now?” She responded “yes” and proceeded to tell me her request and then she said “the only reason I come to Applefest is you are here to take my prayer requests and pray with me.” Wow!! A little later another woman came over and wrote her request and I asked if I could pray with her. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. I briefly shared with her my breast cancer story and in further conversation realized we have the same doctor. We hugged as she left and I will be praying for her. All that said to say I helped at Applefest yesterday and missed church or did I?

  How was your weekend? Mine was good! 🙂

  Posted in daily life, faith | 0 Comments | Tagged cancer, little things, prayer, randomness

• It’s not just about me

  Posted at 4:25 pm by missannsays, on September 22, 2014

  Over the last week or so I have had a similar conversation with different friends. They stumble through saying something like : “so does September 11 get easier?” “well, I know it doesn’t get easier but …”

  Personally I think  it has gotten harder because now September 11 isn’t just about “my personal loss in the midst of a national tragedy.” Last week I had a delightful lunch with 7 fellow docents and friends  – a mom who lost her son, a widow, three downtown residents, a firefighter and a Port Authority employee. I know their stories and struggles. I thought of them and others on September 11. They commented that this year was harder and they couldn’t understand why. I shared my theory that it was harder because we carry each other’s stories in our hearts.

  So does September 11 get easier with the passage of time:

  Yes, because I don’t worry about people’s expectations.

  No, because I realize how much Bruce has missed and how much I miss him.

  No, because it not  just about me and my family. It is about my Tribute friends and their stories.

  “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”

  C. S. Lewis

  

  Posted in daily life, relationships, September 11 | 1 Comment | Tagged friendship, respect, September 11

• The Star Spangled Banner

  Posted at 4:23 pm by missannsays, on September 14, 2014

  Today is the 200th birthday of the Star Spangled Banner. There is very interesting information to be found at http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/. Whether I hear the Star Spangled Banner sung live at an event or on television, I always cry. It doesn’t have to be sung well. From the first notes my eyes are welling up then the goose bumps start and by the time the words “the land of the free and home of the brave” are sung I am “done.” I have the privilege of living in the “land of the free” but that freedom cost many men and women their lives. “Home of the brave” carries a new meaning for me because my hubby was one of New York “bravest”. Well done, Francis Scott Key!

   

   

  

  Posted in daily life, respect in the real world, September 11 | 0 Comments | Tagged little things, random thoughts, respect, September 11

• Japan 2014 – part 4

  Posted at 8:27 pm by missannsays, on September 3, 2014

  Three random stories from Japan – one is blooper reel worthy (if it had been filmed), one is amusing (at least chuckle worthy) and one is thought-provoking. 🙂

  1. On the seventh morning in Japan, my eyes lit up as I saw applesauce on the breakfast buffet. Breakfast buffets in Japan usually have a “western” section and a “traditional” section. This particular buffet was not divided that way. I wasn’t in the mood for eggs so I took some fruit, made two pieces of toast and took a separate bowl of applesauce. The dining room was crowded. We found a few seats here and there and sat down to eat. I put my tray on the table and went to get some coffee and butter and by the time I came back the table was “just our group”. I was really looking forward to the applesauce. I don’t know why but I was. I scooped up a small spoonful and the moment the applesauce touched my tongue I knew this isn’t applesauce. I knew I couldn’t  swallow it. Okay proper etiquette is however it goes in your mouth is how it should come out of your mouth. So as politely as possible I spit it back unto the spoon and slowly placed the spoon back in the bowl. I glanced around the table to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully, no. I took a quick drink of coffee and a deep breath to stop myself from bursting into laughter. I looked at one of my fellow travelers and said “it wasn’t applesauce” and proceeded to share the story. 🙂

  2. At one moment towards the end of our journey we all had to “pile” into one elevator. Luckily we didn’t have out luggage with us. We were definitely standing too close together. There wasn’t room to breath.I said “if this elevator gets stuck, I am going to need Dr Katz!” To which Dr Katz said “if this elevator gets stuck, Dr Katz is going to need Dr Katz!” Dr Katz is a psychiatrist.

  3. We had the opportunity to visit a high school. School wasn’t is session but some students came to share their 3/11 stories. They presented their stories in English and two of Tribute Center docents myself included shared our stories. When I finished sharing my prepared presentation, I said “I wanted to tell them something I had always said to my daughters September 11 does not define you.” I told them that “March 11 doesn’t define you. It will shape you but it doesn’t define you. You have done a great job today telling us your stories. Keep up the good work. I am proud of you.” Later on the bus one of the Mount Sinai medical students asked if he could ask me a question. “sure” “You told your daughters not to let 9/11 define you but everything you do is about 9/11. Wouldn’t it be easier to just not deal with it. To just move on.” I made a few comments and said “I have to think about what you said and will get back to you.”  I have actually thought about that idea before by doing tours and speaking about September 11, I am allowing it to define me.The next morning at breakfast I said “I have to tell you this right now. It will seem totally random but I am tired and if I don’t say it now I will forget. Remember yesterday and our conversation about all the things I do being allowing September 11 to define me, that is wrong. All I do defines September 11.”
  

   

  

  Posted in daily life, September 11, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Japan, little things, randomness, September 11, telling the next generation, travel

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