From The Mountaintops You Can See Forever

I remember President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” in the 60’s.  My grandmother would pick up government cheese and marvel at how, “They just give it away, honey!”  Although she didn’t really need it, she got it because it was free and the people of those mountains never passed a bargain.  She gave out her share to anyone who needed help, whether they were family or neighbors.

Granny would pick through clothes donated by people from all over the country, and give them away to any and all who asked.  Her front room had piles of used clothing waiting for anyone who wanted to root through them.  Granny was a thrifty, generous soul.  She clothed many more than her own with whatever she found.  But, my grandmother was luckier than many.  She lived on a bluff, overlooking 100 acres of beautiful Cumberland River bottom land.  The view from her back porch was spectacular.  This was the difference.

In the mountains, far reaching views are rare.  Most people look out their front door to see a mountain sitting in their way.  They look out the back door and see an even closer mountain.  Valleys there are not the valleys known to most of us, with gentle streams and little fields.  Valleys in Appalachia are Hollers…with barely enough room for a little garden plot and so deep that the sun is blocked for a good part of the day.

So, what’s Feng Shui got to do with Appalachia?  Without the view, with the mountains so close, the people do not see the world.  They see only their little piece of land.  The mountains block out possibilities, as solidly as they block the sun, while holding the people to them like magnets.  This magnetic attraction keeps them tied to the mountains, and to the poverty that will always be there.

Some have accused companies of taking advantage of these people.  I suppose the coal companies have abused their workers, but on the other hand, jobs in the coal mines have always paid very well compared to jobs outside the mines.  It was a trade-off, and one the mountain people were well aware of.

I remember hearing stories about my grandfather’s brother and his family, how they would spend their money, buying cars and fancy clothes while the coal mines were running.  The pay was excellent and they loved to spend it.  Then when the mines shut down those same relatives would move in with my grandparents because they had nothing saved.  Soon though…the mines would be hiring again and back they would go to the same old routine.  Is this the fault of the coal company?  No.  But, it is directly related to the Feng Shui of the mountains.

These spendthrift relatives of mine could not see a world outside of those mountains.  To them this was all there was.  They saw no future, so they would not and could not prepare for it.

When we look at those who manage to leave these mountains, we find several common factors.

1.  Many were drafted.

2.  A few had a view that awarded them vision into the future.

3.  Some were helped by family members to get out.

4.  Some married well and left with their spouse.

These people didn’t wait for a company to bring them jobs.  They saw a future and took charge of their own lives.

Those who can’t see past the mountains are destined to become a part of them.

Evelyn's Dump Truck

I have a friend who has passed her mid 80’s.  You might think of her as old … until you meet her.  Evelyn has had an amazing life, and continues to look forward to amazing things!   A few months ago she decided she wanted a dump truck.  Imagine that!  Even she had no idea why or what she would do with it.  But, she followed that urge and bought one at an amazing low price.   Soon after, she decided she wanted a backhoe, and sure enough, a fantastic deal came up and she bought one.  Now we’re all wondering what in the world is going on with Evelyn!  Not only is she buying heavy equipment, she’s getting it at unheard of prices!

She explained it this way; These promptings have been coming from God and she’s just going with them.  I have to agree…He must be wanting Evelyn to start a new business.

She’s already got me working.  She and I work together and produce little children’s books.  So far we have them on ebooks for the Nook and Kindle, but we’re growing and they’ll be available soon in print.  So, I was having fun just trying to keep up with her ideas on the little books we are producing.   I have no artistic talent, so I do the artwork … Evelyn claims to have no writing talent, so she does the poetry.  Yes, you read it right.

Anyway, she’s been tossing poems at me faster than I can illustrate them.  Now she’s got another partner who’s starting a mulch business with her and … you got it … they’ll need a dump truck and a backhoe.  Call it intuition if you like … but I think the fact that she listened to the promptings that brought her to own heavy equipment … says a lot for her ability to pay attention when that “still small voice” speaks to us.  Opportunities must be welcomed and nurtured, else they’ll pass by us, never to return.

I’m learning a lot from Evelyn, and enjoying the experience tremendously!

Could You Be Thankful For This?

The first principle of misery is envy…therefore the first principle of happiness is gratitude.  This season of Thanksgiving is the perfect time to thank God for all of your blessings, whether they are the pleasant blessings or not.

In the book “The Hiding Place”,  Corrie ten-Boom gives an important lesson on being thankful.  She and her sister were arrested for helping to hide Jews from the Nazis.   Eventually, they ended up in a concentration camp in Germany.   They had smuggled a small Bible in with them and read it when they could for comfort and encouragement.    Their barracks were infested with fleas and Betsy prayed to God to show them how they could live in such a place.

They had been studying  1^st Thessalonians.   “Comfort the frightened, help the weak, be patient with everyone, see that none of you repays evil with evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Betsy then told Corrie that that was how they could stand to live in such a place; by giving thanks for every single thing about their new barracks. Betsy began counting her blessings.  Can you imagine?  

She’s in a flea infested building…inside a concentration camp and she’s counting her blessings!

She went on to be thankful for many things…and then Betsy thanked God for the fleas.

Corrie decided that was too much, but Betsy reminded her that the verse says to “give thanks in ALL circumstances” and insisted that this included the fleas that were tormenting them constantly.

Then they found out why it was important to be thankful for the fleas.  Their barracks were safer than the other barracks for women.  The guards did not come in to molest them, and they were allowed unusual freedom to read their Bible and talk about their religious beliefs inside their barracks because the guards didn’t want fleas.

This year I will remember the fleas, and be thankful for all my blessings.

This week we’ve had a spider at our front porch.  She’s a beautiful pumpkin color and I couldn’t bear to take down her web.  She’s put it out of our way and unless someone’s deathly afraid of spiders, having her there is not a problem.  I’ve named her “Pumpkin” and I’m fascinated by the bugs she manages to snag in her huge, intricate web.

This is our first Halloween Spider, so I just thought I’d share!

I’ve had a blog for quite a while now and I’ve always had to censor myself in one way or another, for fear of antagonizing one OR another.  That’s changing.

The freedom we have is so important.  If we didn’t have choices…and those choices granted by the Constitution…we’d be no better off than those poor folks in other countries where rights are not so guaranteed.

Freedom isn’t simple.  It’s bought and paid for with blood.  Even you pacifists have had your freedom bought by the blood of patriots.

Think about it for a while.    You owe them big-time.

Bank Owned - CHEAP

Thinking of buying a foreclosure?  Think long and hard.  Some are indeed, great buys.  Others, not so much.

The feng shui of a property has a definate effect on the occupants of the home.

Many foreclosures have feng shui charts with the combination, “Bankruptcy”.  I wouldn’t want to try to live in a house with that tendency.  If you are wondering about the house you have in mind, consult a feng shui master or practitioner for advice.

To tell the truth, there are a lot of mansions that I would refuse to live in, knowing their feng shui.  And, that’s the truth!

Things don’t happen like that as often as they used to.  I looked back and started naming jobs.   Lets see if I can find one I would have wanted to stay with for 30 years.

Grocery Cashier, Milinery Department Salesperson, Print Shop Stripper (no clothing removal involved, thank you), Ice Cream Dipper, Babysitter, Avon Representative, Farmer, Gas Station Clerk, Print Editor, X-Ray Tech, Police Officer, Vet Tech, Demo Sales, Uniform Seamstress, Dog Coat Manufacturer, Catalogue Customer Service Operator, Secretary, Short Order Cook, Car Hop, Waitress, Department Manager,  Screen Print Hat Salesperson, Feng Shui Consultant, Realtor, Wallpaper Hanger, Author, Illustrator, Dowser and Exorcist.  Each one has been a true learning experience!    But to tell the truth, I think the only ones I’ll be doing in 30 years are the last 4 …  Author, Illustrator, Dowser and Exorcist.  It took a while, but I finally found jobs that will keep me interested for a long, long time.

Spin the Head on the Owl

Do you remember when you were little and having fun was as simple as spinning the head on a plastic owl? 

Maybe that’s the biggest job of grandchildren…to remind us how easy it is to have a little fun.

Life is tough.  But there is joy to be found in little things.  

If you don’t have a grandchild to enjoy, I hope you have an owl head to spin.