MINUTE BY MINUTE....

 Not getting too much done: Son L has promised to get my Christmas cards printed and ready for mailing so yours this evening, but his wide and daughter accompanied him this afternoon so Fio has no idea where everyone is.

AHA! The moment your girl said she had no idea where Son is, he and the rest of the family popped in. the door. It's going to to take at least three more days to get Fio's Christmas card (which is really very simple) in the mail. If you haven't seen it or heard about it before, it's Fiorella's musical masterpiece.....

Being alone in the house on a darkish afternoon starts Fio to think about things, worrisome things. Remember, despite your girl having lived herein this neighborhoods a good four years, she really doesn't know anyone in the aria, and her Sonia Dog is gone forever. Thus, Fiorella's single solace was the big black and white cat that wanders the house but sleeps with Fio most of the nights as if he has a crush her.

Fiorella may be facing a food shortage, though, because she didn't grab enough milk, Shredded Wheat, carrots, etc, and Son L can't always be able so be available to fill her coffers. 

By the way, when you wake up, remember to send a mental message to your girl's daughter-in-law to   PLEEEEZE finish washing and drying her clothes because Fiorella is at the bottom of her panties!

TRUDGING ALONG, BUT NOT GETTING MUCH MILEDGE

😕Because of her troublesome left eye which bars her from measuring stupid things like distances and overheads, Fiorella hopes there will be straight-seeing husband waiting for her somewhere down the line.😀

Okay, Fio admits she's trying to get her bedroom in shape by hacking through the wall of tacks, Scotch Tape, and cardboard to preserve everything and anything that she thinks was even half important in her former life.  But...uh...if you'll excuse her, the first thing to do is find that slip of paper that she wrote down her favorite doctor's appointment on. 😕

Daughter and her clan will be visiting tomorrow to celebrate the New Year. Fio never had much of a chance to participate in frivolities like this when she was a child because her family moved from Ohio to  Texas when she was in the second grade and....well...her relatives stayed home.  😒 

Very few people had TVs back then so their accents varied extremely from one side of the nation to the other--and up and down too--which made communication difficult. Yep, you got it: television gradually transformed the way people expressed themselves--but your girl had a head start because her parents were Yankies and spoke the TV lingo. (Think of Mr. Rogers and his friends if you're old enough). 😕

That's enough for tonight, but please stay on the lookout for a piece of paper with Fiorella's favorite doctor's phone number scribbled on it, OK?😟

SHE IS SOOO LONELY......

 page 28 

Fiorella has been yearning for a pair of beige shoes for a long time now, and maybe 2024 will deliver them. She also wants a permanent driver so she can get to her medical appointments on time. But most of all, she wants a friend she can talk to and discuss her feelings with, who will wipe her tears when she cries and clap her hands when she does something brilliant.

Changing the subject, your girl thinks the Austin American-Statesman has lost some of its tread: there seems to be a lot more "slow news" and  "desperate news" than when she last lived in Austin. Also, there are more and bigger illustrations filling the pages...

Yes, daughter-in-law's big black and white cat has still established himself beside JoJo,  Fio's black and whites stuffed panda. (Their relationship amuses Fiorella. She wonders if Cat will sweep JoJo off the bed.)

Sometimes Fio wonders at her cul-de-sac daily walks every day, but then she thinks about her school days: kindergarten, elementary, junior high, senior high, and her college days. It would be a wonder if she WERN'T a good walker!

Where is your girl heading toward? Where will she land? What will she do? PRAY FOR HER!

MOVIN' ON THROUGH CHRISTMAS

 Fio begs your apology for the fact that her Christmas cards won't be out till at least next week plus, but it took her a while to put everything together, and now, Son L won't be able to finish the off photo-coping till next week. Your girl is not happy about it, but there's nothing she can do about it but seethe. And to think, she started all this out two weeks before THE DAY!

Interesting enough though, your girl made some sweet discoveries when she was going through her old papers.....like that she had written a couple of other Christmas songs too....one, in fact, featuring a piano and guitar. Hmm...what else will Fiorella uncover? (No wonder she got an A in that class!)

Did Fiorella tell you about the specialty card she got from her friend in England? Actually, Suzy's  husband wrote it all, but what is the season like if not for every hilarity you can wring out of it?

Friend Paula and husband sent Fio a card from Vermont, which is almost as far as England to your girl, and she especially treasures the picture of their red-headed granddaughter on it. Would love to paint her sometime.

How did Fio get to know these lovely ladies, you ask? We all taught at the University of Texas way back when, and your Fiorella hopes all of our students remember us too....or, more important--our values!

Not a Lot of Fun

 Here your girl is again! She still can't find some of her things, but she did sketch a grandmother and did a really good job on it. Unfortunately, she's also having trouble handling her text, which has been dragging her all over the frame. Whoopie!

Sigh....this is the day that Fiorella takes down her minimal Christmas decorations and packs them down for next year, and also the day she looks at her unfinished art projects and winces. 

Did Fio tell you that the big black cat (alive) and the big black Panda (stuffed) slept beside your girl on her bed while she was frantically trying to finish off the grandmother portrait?

That's all Fiorella is going to say except THANK YOU for fixing her computer again, which pretty much explains everything, dang it!

 

 

TIME OFF

FIO IS TAKING EASTER OFF.  SEE YOU TOMORROW!

A STUCK-TOGETHER EASTER AND FAMILY COMENT

 It's almost time for Christmas and Fiorella can't help but wallow in her childhood memories of pine trees, flickering candles, children bundled up for bed, and if we were lucky, SNOW.....which wasn't too often in Waco, Texas. But. luckily, our Yankee parents were clever enough to continue the charade. (How in the world did they combine Mr. Snowman and the Christ Child?)

As you remember, Fio's holiday cards cards are going to be late this year due to her problem with the local (grrrr) supplier. Your girl will keep you tune in because there's not much else going on right now..... unless you want to know all about Fiorella's utter failure in dropping off the pounds. (Did she tell you that yesterday?)

Ho, hum.... If Santa delivered gifts to adults this very second, Fio would ask for an automatic car that would obey her on command. Hmmm.... even if it weren't Christmas, a car like that would be a good deal,,,,and Fio thinks she's seen something like it in trucks and automobiles "driven" in California....... 

Your girl, as you must have guessed by now, is trying to eat better, and right now, she's replaced her bag of chocolate with a bag of of shaved carrots....AND SHE LIKES THEM!

There will be an egg roll for the children tomorrow, but....ahem....Fio will just stand and watch, and maybe be a little sad. If Husband hadn't died on her, maybe he would have been part of the joyous crowd too......

PS

LATE CHRISTMAS CARDS SHOULD APPEAR WITHIN TWO WEEKS, HOPEFULLY EARLIER

On and Off

What a wonderful early afternoon with my brother and his wife, who took your girl out and treated her with delicious baked salmon. Then, when she got home, Friend Paula, who lives in Vermont, called on the phone so she and Fio could make attempts at a couple of wobbly carols, then ended up talking about old times teaching at University of Texas, where they first met.

 How the times pass. That set of Christmas carols that Fiorella has dug up was composed when she still lived in Georgetown, probably soon after she had taken a music composition class. But she hopes at least one person will see the light of day when your girl finds herself an available photo-copier.

It would be nice if the frog in your girl's frog throat will jump back into the swamp too. 

And, of course, Fiorella's  hopes this year will be her year to attract friends.

Your girl's fingers are growing weary with messing up her messenger so let's close the door. OK?

 

.

BITS AND PIECES.....

 0ooop! Fiorella skipped a day again and her only excuse is that she's working on the upcoming Christmas, which includes, as she's told you, putting together a fake mistletoe strand along her side of the house window. Fio also had to call upon her driver to whisk her off to the local H-E-B so she would food for the upcoming week.

Ah, the memories of Christmas past--the sparkling lights, the overloaded branches, the excitement, the wonder, swwooooon.....

It's also the time to start thinking of next year, 2024, when your girl hasn't really gotten adjusted to 2023 yet. 

What a disappointment that there wasn't a drop of snow this year, at least in your girl's area, but maybe January will drop some down on our rooftops. 

What does Fiorella want to do in the new year, you ask? First of all, she she wants to make a friend, someone talk to and laugh with, and just maybe someone who has a car and is willing to haul your girl around in it. 

ALL ABOUT ME, ME, ME!

 First your girl makes a Christmas card, then she has to get it copied, then provide the envelope, then address and mail it to friends and relatives, and along the way, any tragedy can occur. Pray for Fiorella's cards this year.

Fio's quick eye glanced at the outside of the left side of the house, the part she lives in, and realized she could do something Christmas-like with it so she hauled out her box of fake mistletoe  and added even more decoration to the family trimmings. Then she lost the names her sister-in-law had given her of companies who would who photocopy her Christmas cards.. Then she found the list where she had put it, taped to her bureau door. And if you can follow all of this, you're a better woman than Fiorella is!

Winter, whether it's cold or now, always bring out Fio's memories. She was born in Ohio, where snow was inevitable each year, and then her family moved to Texas where snow was a rare. The ice skates, the heavy coats, the snowballs were only fading memories of her past.

 Changing subjects, did Fiorella ever tell you that she has four orange University of Texas shirts that she still wears? Or that she has a degree in linguistics? Or that she holds not only a Bachelor with High Honers but a Doctor of Philosophy and that when she received her final degree, she was offered a teaching position which Fio (stupid girl) refused because she was tired of school and wanted to take a rest.

Interestingly enough, at least to your girl, she ended up teaching on the college level, and loved it.

Considering.......

Fiorella has had a hard couple of days so she's taking a day off. It's hard to keep pace when you can't drive, but Son has promised to stop by Walgreen tomorrow and pick up two of her major pills. Still can't think of any way to work with the Christmas cards though.

The Chariot people are very nice, but they couldn't rustle up anyone who would drive Fio to her appointed blood draw with a semi-blood doctor. Your girl thinks she's okay, but who knows?

Then there is the sorrow of the Christmas cards, which Fiorella loves to design and pass out. She decided to use an oldie this year because she was entering the game late, but, as it has turned out, it looks like she won't be able to compete at all because the company she usually used had changed and become more expensive and more complicated. 

Nevertheless, Fiorella, with a big white cat purring in her lap, is determined to make some kind of card this year. As she has often said: pray for her.

 

Holiday Jitters

 Had some hard times today. The Christmas cards your girl wanted to-re use as Christmas cards to far-off friends could not be used at all because, as the woman behind-the-desk kept explaining, the way cards are being handled had changed in the past couple of years. What can your girl do now?

 At least the weather is nice--calm and slightly warm. Hmmm....maybe Fio can make up some cute cards by hand and mail them out a "little late."

Ah, the Christmases in times past--waking early in the morning when she was a child eager for gifts, and, as an adult, enjoying watching her children's eyes light up when they unwrapped their gifts.

Hoping we'll have a big family dinner some place along the line. Fio's kids are sort of into that--and so is she because she, being the matriarch, doesn't have to take care of the kitchen.😋

Really wish we had my singing, though. Wouldn't it be nice to have some singers stop on our doorstep--and maybe we could join them?

 

 

 

 

 

DISTRAUGHT......

 Talk about a dull day! Fiorella has been very down, she had a hard time getting a ride and when she finally found one, she learned that the place she needed to go was closed for the day (Sunday, of course). Then she started thinking about how she really didn't have anyone to talk to about her situation because she was alone, alone, alone.

She can't even find good TV/"Remote" shows any more because she's seen them all!

Why doesn't she have a best friend in sight--someone that she can share all her joys and troubles with? How can she get one such creature...or two? Fio used to have an overload. Now, all she has is the cat.

Of course, one big problem is that your girl doesn't drive any more, and Fiorella sees no way to escape that reality. That's all Fiorella has to say because there's nothing more to say.....except that she asks you to talk to God about her.

 

 

 

 

TRYING TO PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER.....

 What to do next? Fiorella has actually--really and truly--pulled all the things that were on top of her bureau together and cleaned the place up, and that now she is eyeing one of the cabinets on the side of her bed. WHOOPEE!

Did Fio tell you that one of Son L's cats ran away two nights ago but the other one stayed put? As expected, the new cat was the one that jumped the fence while the white one (ahem, the one who likes Fiorella) stayed put. After all, it knew that the the food served inside was better--and more regular--than whatever was available in the wide, wide, world.

The city is trying to lure aging artists back to its clutches and Fio is willing to try it out once again, but only if there is a taxi nearby. The first two times she tried, your girl was the only one who made an appearance....except for the clutch of dangerous looking gamblers toward the back of the room.

Your girl is getting tired of watching the same, same movies with her remote, but the game is that we watch only the old, free ones. (Fio had no idea that Goldie Haun is now in her seventies!)

 Please remind Fiorella that she should be composing a carol or a poem or maybe both before Christmas is over. After all, if she has cleaned up her room, what other things can she do?

 

UP TO DATE!

 Hello, hello, hello....did your girl miss something? She's working toward Christmas now, of course but she's also fighting off a cold and deciding on presents. This morning was not pleasant, but she's better now. (Please send your best wishes.)

Has Fio told you that Friend Paula sent a lovely picture of her red-headed grand-daughter for Christmas? Swooooon! Fiorella would like to paint her when she's a little older.

Right now, Fio is all tangled up with the family ranch, which she's never seen but has been in charge of even before her husband died. Her job is to dish out the proceeds to family members, but she also pays the taxes. 

Fiorella has said it before and she's going to say it again: she loves to be part of a caroling group. It used to be so much fun....and joy. But where are my friends now? Fa-a-a-r away, fa-a-a r away...

Your girl's New Year's promise is to finish off the big family painting in her salon that she started out about twenty years ago. What's yours? 😃

 

RUNNING A LITTLE LATE!

 Whuppeeeee! It took half the day to finally get the phone number for the people who arrange your girl's travel for her regulated blood-letting and then Fio was so elated that she dove into her next project....and lost her instructions......

Then, whoopee! She received a fair number of Christmas cards! Maybe somebody remembers Fio from way-back-when after all! Hmmmm....

Fiorella also had another victory: she finally got the address of Chariot, the nice people she uses to "get to the scalpel in time" when it her blood needs checking out, and was able to add to their coffers for everyone.

Neighborhood news: has your girl told you that she has graduated to walking the whole cul-de-sac all around the loop with just a light jacket and jeans to protect her from the wind? (If she's all ready told you, clap again.)

Better go now and design some Christmas cards NOW!

 

 

 

 

 

I'M VERY TIRED AND I'VE ALREADY ACCIDENTALY WIPED TWO OTHER MESSAGES OFF THE BOARD SO ENJOY ME WHEN YOU CAN

,

Guess what! Chariot, your girl was able to get a driver today to get her to and from her blood draw, and she and Fio really jelled. Unfortunately, Fio's draw was a little too high so she'll have to return next week  to be checked again, but who would care if she got the same driver again!

Oh, something else happened when she was getting her blood checked out: Fiorella met another woman whose name was the same as hers, and when the nurse called Fio's name, she answered too--and gave the other patients-in-waiting a good laugh.

Of course, your girl is hoping our visitors will say nice things about her decorations, (1) a paper Christmas tree design inside her large window, (2) six of her homemade Christmas cards in the entryway, (3) paper holly and berries in the hall, and a Christmas song she composed on the piano years ago.

CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS THAN YESTERDAY......

 OOPS, yesterday was supposed to be the tenth and this be the eleventh. Mistakes like that remind you that this blog is being written by a real, live person. In this case, the person is grinding her teeth because she couldn't get anybody to check her blood and probably will be in the same situation tomorrow--or maybe for the whole Christmas season.

By the way, Fio found the birthday check for Son L that she was afraid she had lost and searched the whole morning about, then found it exactly where it was supposed to be.

If you visit me during the season, be sure to compliment your girl on the six Christmas cards of poetry that she composed in latter times and has mounted this years on the door to the piano room. And while you're at it, also at least  glance at the large Christmas design she mounted on the window in the study, and when you come in the door, enjoy the formation of the fake holly.

 Fiorella can't help but remember her Christmas decoration when she was a child because most of them are still being used one way or another--being handed down to another generation😊

Her parents would be pleased.

 

BUILD-UP TO CHRISTMAS!

 Fiorella helped with trimming the Christmas tree this evening, which warmed her heart since she recognized most of the ornaments as being from her own collection and her mother's. Now, just hoping that Son and his wife will maintain and pass on the bags of ornaments like Mom and then your girl did--and that they will be as meaningful to family through the years as they have been for us.

Also hoping some of the ornaments will be shared with Daughter A's and her young family's Christmas.

Your girl has pulled out the Christmas songs she composed way-back-when and will try to engage someone or other to use them caroling. We'll see....or rather, hear. 💖

Tomorrow morning, Fio will take advantage of Cheriot, a free local "taxi" for older people, but because she herself has the money to pay the tab, Fiorella writes out a check when she gets back home, tucks it in a an envelope, skips up the cul-de-sac, and tucks the "overload"into the mailbox. (Every little bit helps the next person.)

Speaking of Christmas, Fiorella is wondering if we're going to have any snow this year. Also if there will be any caroling. Needless to say, your girl used to participate in it and would love to do it again.

 

 

 

 

BE JOYFUL! CHRIST IS BORN!

 Hello, hello! Your girl is falling behind with her Christmas preparations, although most of them will be cash. That's how it goes when you are the oldest in the family. Not that Fio is doesn't have other things to deal with too.

By the way, where did Fio's roll of Kleenex go? And those stacks of toilet paper that were in the washing closet? Surely, Santa isn't going to deliver gifts that are second hand.

Ring-a-ding! Fiorella has contributed her own displays to the front of the foyer: four of her own Christmas cards, complete with your girl's poems. 

And here is one of them:

                        Christmas Fire

The firewood salvaged from our fallen trees

We've dried and heaped upon the fireplace grate

To counteract the deep midwinter freeze

Which lowering temperatures now prognosticate.

Steel strikes flink, the tinder pile is lit,

A quick flame flashes, then is gently fed

Until the fire is burning bright and brisk,

Its finger reaching high, its embers red.

Crackling and raging and roaring with each bite,

The hungry fire consumes the waiting wood,

But after we have gone to bed at night

The flames burn out--untended, unrenewed.

       Yet warmth awakens us upon the morn--

        A Merry Christmas to all! Christ is born!

This, That, Art, Weather, etc.

 Merry Christmas-- Son L's little dogs have started leaving "piles" on the floors and in the bathrooms. Thank goodness that they are too small to leap up onto your girl's bed!

Congratulate Fiorella--her window display is now finished, and it looks great, especially when Fio turns on the lights in the evening  against the dark sky.

Also congratulate your girl for being able to balance on a small wood stool to to go up on her tippy-toes in order to pull up the white shade so the whole design could be seen. And about the design? It's composed of seven paper cut-outs of green Christmas trees--four on the first row, two above them, and four on top of themgold on top. It's stunning at night, even if Fio does say that herself. (And you know she will.)

By the way, the "gold" is four tops of yellow "candles"in a row and one in the middle, then two above it, plus four gold-colored leftovers that end up almost to the top of the window. It's one of the best things your girl has ever done...and probably the cheapest. 

Changing the subject, the wind is swaying the bushes outside so Fiorella better grab her cane and hit the road for her daily walk around the cul-de-sac before the weather gets too cold.

MOVIN' ALONG

 Fio is a-movin' along....she hopes. Not only has she been doing well on her outside Christmas decoration, but she lassoed a driver for her every-two-weeks visit to her medical bloodsuckers. WHEW!

About the inside decoration, they're almost done

Of course, your girl is going to have to get help when she gets to the top of the decoration, but maybe the teenager next door will lend a hand if Son L is not available. Otherwise, Fiorella is restless. She wants to be on the move, to be DOING SOMETHING! TO BE TALKING TO SOMEONE! Maybe, by a miracle, TO ATTRACT SOME FRIENDS!

In fact, Fio is going to hit up her "visiting friend" the next time she drops by and try to get her to teach Fio (1) how to deal with taxis, and (2) how to find friends. (Will report the results later.)

Am also thinking of pulling down some of the orange library-like epistles that your girl has carried with her from home to home. Hmmmmmmmmm................

 

 

 

Same Old, Same Old.......

 Sorry--Fiorella was sick yesterday, a rare thing to happen to her. She's up and about now, though, and working on her outside Christmas display which isn't really "outside," but pasted on an inside window facing the street. Fio will describe it more later on, when she has it finished.

Interesting: when you girl was barely awake this morning, she was contacted by Cheriot, a free ride program  free for older people which she often uses, and told that they couldn't supply her with a driver today. But when Fio was full awake, she realized that she hadn't booked a ride for the day. 

Wonder who's out there somewhere still waiting for his/her ride....and if that means that ride your girl had booked would for next week was floating somewhere out there in the distant universe.

Your girl got an active, a very active letter from a woman she used to teach college with years ago, and   her friend and family have been all over the place. Fio wished her well, but she is jealous. That could have been her if her husband hadn't died on her! 

What Fiorella would like to do is go somewhere that she could make friends and TALK to people!!!

 

 

Christmas Ups and Downs

 Your girl has decided to decorate her window with snowmen this year. Maybe she'll decorate the hallway too, and she's debating whether to add in a few other things, like paper carolers. (Will keep you posted.)

It's settled: Fiorella does not like the new cat, and as far as she can tell, the current cat--the one that  likes Fio--doesn't like the newcomer ether. 

Besides, the intruder has a habit of leaping up onto the dining table while your girl is trying to lay out her breakfast.

As Fio has told you, she's been wearing her mother's heavy mink coat when she takes her usual walk around the neighborhood cul-de-sac. It brings back good memories  of Waco winters and IT'S WARM. 

At the end of the day, your girl went through all sorts of treasures to put together a fake Christmas  tree for her window, then ran outside several times to see if it could be seen from  the inside of the house. It's not the best tree she's done, but she still has almost a month to go. If anyone out there is reading this page, PRAY FOR FIORELLA!

THE SEASON

 Hello, hello, hello--

Your girl has spent a full day fooling around with her Christmas plans....except when she was taking care of her overwhelming pile of adds, mailing out her bills, and making a whirlwind visit to her grocery store to pick up her usual sliced turkey. Fio, feasts on turkey all week long at all years long too!

Fiorella has to make a decoration for her studio room too. How about snowflakes in many colors--this is Texas, remember!!

Of course, Fio would really like to have singing too--for her and everyone else. Hmmm.....maybe, just maybe. In the meantime, your girl will not only brighten things up as much as she can, but also be as merry as she can. 

Blessings upon you and yours....

DECISIONS!

 Fiorella is a little down again. Her mini-fridge is still out of order so her food is limited. Remember, she has strange eating habbits due to her of her formative years during World War II. 

She's also down because because, as usual. she doesn't have any one to complain to because she can't get the address of the nice Cheriot people who drive her every other week to get her blood drawn. GRRRRR! I want to tip them and their organization!

Your girl walked the entire cul-de-sac, watched a couple of "remote" movies, and composed a note to read to her sister-in-law about her idea for Fio to spend most of her day outside the house. We'll see, we'll see.

Forella has always been an active person, a speaker, a composer, someone who help others and had a good time doing it, and she wants to get real self back!

Wish her well!

 

Thinking Things Over

Your girl has spent the past two hours going through her collections of everything that she's put aside for last week and then some. Whoopee--she's spent less--but she still can't get a certain ringing out of her ear. What is it? Something in her closet? Unfortunately, Son, who knows all, will not be available to Fio this week. DANG!

Fio's maid, who helps her with her groceries, etc., is not available either, her miniature frig isn't working right, and she's at all alone. Not a good picture. Luckily, Fiorella has a bottle of Coke to wet her lips'.....but what can she do tomorrow?

How swiftly Christmastime is coming upon us! Now, if your girl can remember her decorations from time past--like the overheard scripture she managed to pull off last year. But, truth to tell, she'd rather work nearer the ground this year. 

AHA! Fiorella's maid, who drives her wherever she needs to go, just reported in, and she can come on Saturday. WHOOPEEE! 

Looking in the mirror yesterday, Fio suddenly realized one of her eye brows is higher than the other one. WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? CAN EVERYONE ELSE SEE IT TOO?! HOW DOES YOUR GIRL GET THEM STRAIGHTENED OUT?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLOOD RUNS WELL, MAMA'S MINK, CHOCOLATE, etc.

 Yea, yea! According to the doctor's office, Fio's blood is running just right! Also she had a good time talking with the young man who was assigned to give her a drive to the blood suckers and another young man who checked her blood out! Hooray for all the nice young men in the world!

 Now if your girl can just replenish her chocolate supply and and get her mini-fridge repaired....

Wearing her mother's mink from a while back, Fiorella tool a full walk on the neighborhood cul-de-sac as the sun went down. It's nice to snuggle down in it every now and then. 

Has Fio told you that she wants to get together or join a nice singing group for Christmas this year? It's four years since she's sung Silent Night or any of the other favorites, and she's lonely for them.

The big white cat is sleeping beside me. She likes me, and has even before we moved into this house, which is odd because Fiorella is more of a dog lover......

INFOR MATION LIFTED FROM PAGES IN AN ANCIENT TABLET

 Fiorella  has  found an old tablet full of comments she should probably get rid of, but not before she pastes some of her former life to the page--like when L and A were both small, and they would observe a reverential silence as we drove down North Lamar Blvd and past "I Dream of Jeanie," a massage parlor. Then one day, I overheard Lee explain to his baby sister. "That's were the television show is being filmed."

My husband called me a mongoose and I corrected him. "NO! I'M A MOMGOOSE!

Have you ever noticed that every woman in the supermarket will turn around when a child calls, even if it's not their own?

Just because people can't give up to our ideals doesn't man we shouldn't have ideals.

When your girl was eight, she decided it was a good age and decided to stay there. 

Some classes intimidated me. They expected the worst out of me....and they got it!

Fio has done so many dumb things in her life, and quite often, she knew as she did them that they were dumb, but in tune with her desire to jump off high heights, she kept on going!

ON and OFF

 Did Fiorella send the check off to the proper place? What if it's a duplicate? Will the receiver note the duplication and apply it to Fio's next bill? Your girl is not good when it comes to numbers....but she's very good at praying!

Tomorrow is Brother's birthday and, the next day, Fiorella will HOPEFULLY be able to pick up a ride to the place where they draw her blood. (Life is hard when you don't have a doctor or whatever on hand or in the family. Brother is a lawyer and Fio is a linguist....or at least, she used to be.)

This is one of the times when your girl really feels the loss of her husband. Why did he have to die?  There's a bit of hope in the air, though. Fio's sister-in-law told her about a place that people in her situation gather during the day. We'll see, we'll see......

What your girl would really like is a gathering with other artists like the city used to sponsor years ago. Any takers? And while Fiorella is dreaming, how about reliable transportation? 

 

 

 

 

UPS and DOWNS

Guess what! Fiorella's brother and his wife treated her to a salmon dinner and we talked over you girl's future. Whoopie!  Fio needed that uplift after her refrigerator somehow unplugged itself overnight and sloshed the carpet.

Your girl is still mourning her failed attempts join a good church. If only she could still drive.....or find someone who remembers her from years back. 

Don't tell anyone, but Fio is thinking about daking up writing again--a romance of course. For those of you who don't know, your girl has published two paperbacks that her mother would have read if she didn't know who wrote them.😁

No, Fiorella didn't work on the large canvas today like she said she would, but she'll get around to it. And by the way, she found out there are a couple of art groups she could join....if she can get a ride to them. When she was a kid, she took buses to places she needed to go to. Are any of them still around?

As your girl wanted to be the perfect parent, she also wanted to be the perfect teacher. She was neither, of course, but the cross-referencing helped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Ready to Weep

One day I saw a ghost-child

With eyes of blue

She roamed around the garden wild

As little children do

     She moved along the flower bed

     Caressing every tree

     Following the path that led

     To the billowing sea

She was scarcely eight years old

With seawead in her hair

Her clothes were  of ocean mold

And tattered with wear

    She walked along the sandy beach

Where the garden's end began  

And the fingers of the ocean reach

Toward the bordering land

     Then she walked into the sea 

    When she went so long ago 

     Before she went, she waved at me--

     Long and slow

 She walked unto the ocean deep

Where the other children are

Where they sleep their eternal sleeo

Beyond the bar 

     She disappeared into the foam

    That lashed into the foam--

    That lashed the shore so wild

    She had  seen what had been her home

    When she was my child      (1956)

Nuggets

 Well! So far, your girl has cancelled the wrong doctor and maybe swallowed the wrong pill. Now, onward to her brother's birthday party to see what other mess she can create. After all, my tablet is a wreck of red pens.  Fio is especially excited today, because she going to stay overnight with daughter's family and their baby, who is getting older by the moment. 

Meanwhile, George the Cat has settled down next to Fiorella on her bed, first looking out the window, then sending a glaring look up to Fio in a way that means he hasn't been petted enough. She's also pondering the blood draw that she had to postpone till Monday.

Fiorella is also starting on her bedroom and maybe she'll find one of her old stories that she can turn into a children's book. Maybe, maybe, maybe......what the heck! Anyone can dream!

Thought you might like to read some more of my sweeter poems from a while back:

       I know that Gold is Spanish

      And here's the reason why 

      Wih sun warmth just departed

      And night cool drawing nigh

      He places a back mantilla

      Of lace o'er the waiting sky

                           *

      In golden shoes my feet are tiny

      In golden net my hair is long

      In golden book, my words are shiny

      My poems become a golden song

                          *

       I stumble, I falter, I fall

       Before the race is done:

       My heart, my joy, my like is in

       The glory of the run

                       *

                    Survivor

      My heart is like a little boat

     That sails upon the sea

     Rocked by waves and ocean float

     Swamped by adversity 

      But still the stanched little boat

     That ever sailed the sea

 

( know... I've got to get the all in a book!)

 

Christmas Plans and Turkey Speculations

 It's near enough to Christmas that Fiorella is remembering all the things she's done or tried to do and not gotten any recognition for: her niceness, her helpfulness, her forgiveness, her poetry and compositions, her patience and encouragement, her everlasting love, no matter what. But Fio being Fio, she will again write a meaningful poem that few will read or understand and will spread out what girfts are expected. If only there were a way for Fiorella to develop friends, to talk to them, to exchange ideas and adventures. She tried her church, but it's way across town and, remember, Fio can't drive any more.

Friend Paula called a half an hour or so after Fio wrote the complaint above, and it brightened your girl's day. We had both been college teachers, although she had gone further up the ladder than Fiorella, but college teaching is treacherous--you never know when you'll be let go, as we both found out --but what the heck--we survived.

After talking to her friend, Fiorella got melancholy for Christmas decor--yes, your girl has made decorations for almost all the holidays but Thanksgiving, which doesn't count because she can't doesn't have the material and buckles to make the hats.

Come to think of it, are there any turkey songs?

 

 

 

MOVING UPWARD, BUT WITH SOME TO GO

 Fiorella is at her wits's end. The doctor didn't give her good directions on his change with the scary red pills, Son brought home a bag of pills from the pharmacy that were for her, but which she has never seen before.  Eeen, meenie, minee, mino....... and Fio can't get to the doctor's office till next week if ever, because Son is heading off to a new job.

WHY, OH WHY, HAS GOD REMOVED FIORELLA'S SIGHT FOR DRIVING!

Fio is sure someone could laugh at all the mistakes, etc,. but your girl is working with NOW!

That's all for today. Hope to be more organized tomorrow. Would LOVE to have friends or a nice big dog beside me.MOVING

Difficulties

 HELLO! FIORELLA IS BACK!

The Texas family gathered together again-- Son L and his wife and daughter, Daughter and her husband and son, and Fio. (Hoping that some day K and his wife will join us, but currently, there are problems on both sides.

Your girl is still not in good shape and she's lost her reserve glasses--hoping not at the restaurant which always makes Fio cry because her late husband and she would go their quite often when they were in college.

Today is a loser: too wet and cold to walk the cul-de-sak, which means all Fiorella can do is (1)stay inside and screw up on the piano or (2) watch another TV show about Kennedy and/or Lyndon Johnson. 

Maybe Fio should start painting again. She's begged off the 4x5 for about a month. Don't ask your girl why--just because she didn't feel like it.

 

 

 

OUT OF TOWN, WILL RETURN ON 19th

 OUT OF TOWN, WILL RETURN ON 19th

Fio is taking another day off. She has a bad nose and needs time to feel sorry for herself.

 

 Fiorella is taking a day off.....

Running Out of Things to say

 Not sure that your girl will come out with a message thus evening. She's been taken hither and thither, both reality-wise and mentally. 

First of all, the good: she tried out her new hair curler and it worked! Also, she made two trips to the mail box today without sweating--although, of course, some of it was due to the weather. 

Now the nervous: Don't tell anyone, but Fio is thinking of taking some of her old scribbles out of storage and seeing if she can get anyone interested in them. Yes, your girl has been writing almost since the day she was born and has even managed to get herself published.....but she thinks she can do better. 

The first book is somewhat modeled after the smallish Texas town she grew up in, and the second one has a lot of Fiorella's college days in it, although your girl was more studious than glamorous (SIGH......)

This is a dull show so Fio will try to dig up more interesting material tomorrow. 💗

 

 

 

 

COMPLAINTS AGAIN

 Fiorella is still alive so she must not have swallowed the wrong pill, and when Son L drove her to her doctor's quarters this afternoon, her nurse ACTUALLY TOLD HER TO CUT HER WARFARIN (a very nasty pill) IN TWO so she will be just swallowing HALF of it each day. Whoopee! Your girl is making progress! Now, if she can just attract a friend....whose still driving.

Fio's been flirting with the idea of finishing off that third romance novel that she started on about five years ago. Maybe she can also rewrite her published books under a new name. Don't tell!

Walgreens called your girl about some pills that she supposedly ordered way back, and Fio will go over there and see if they are any of her current catalogue, but this is the second time around and she's getting suspicious.

Your girl has written so many poems and stories, and even had some of them published, but what she wants is for ALL of them to be published. Any ideas how to do it?  HELP! She doesn't want to end up in the trash bin!

Did Fiorella ever tell you that she had four years of Latin in Waco, Texas? 

Anyone else out there remember Miss Osborne?

 

 

 

 

 

This Is A Short One Because Fio May Have Swallowed the WRONG PILL!

 Uh-oh----Son's little dogs are using your girl's bedroom floor as a bathroom, but guest what? Son and his wife took care of the situation lickity split the second that Fio reported it. (Do you think Fiorella could hire them out?)

Otherwise, it's been a bad day for your girl--overcast, only one person to wave to during her walk, worrying about getting someone drive her over to the Doctor's office to get her blood test taken, etc. IF ONLY FIORELLA COULD DRIVE LIKE SHE USED TO-----or at least have a chauffeur.

For some reason she knows not of, your girl hasn't marked whether or not she's taken her red pill--THE pill that controls everything. Ah well, Fio's visiting the doctor tomorrow and he'll put her in good shapr

Fiorella can only watch The First Wives for a certain number of number of times without switching off the remote, and now she's has met her match, so what can she do till then, but worry about the red pill?

 Oh crap! NOW SHE TASTES IT!!

As your girl often says, PRAY FOR ME!

 

 

 

 

STILL A LITTLE WOBBLE

 Fiorella had a hard time this morning. The driver, whom she had thought would take her to church and guide her through the service, didn't show--despite your girl getting nicely dressed up and putting a healthy check inside her purse.  

Maybe it was because Fio hadn't had church clothes on the first time around, or maybe it was because your girl had been away from the hymns/music so long that she couldn't remember it all.  Whatever, her church-appointed driver told Fio that she would drive your girl to church every fourth Sunday. 

But the woman didn't even appear....and Fiorella, who'd been eagerly antisipating rejoining the congregation, slipped down on her own wet grass and jarred her head. 

Luckily, a neighbor driving slowly down the street, saw your girl wavering, and escorted her to her own home where she and her daughter gave Fio water and encouraged her to rest a little and tell all.

Fiorella is still a bit battered and will tread lightly from now own when the lawn is wet. She'll also give a special thank-you to God and her own lovely and alert neighbors.

**************************************************************************************

Your girl hopes she herself will have a bigger bedroom sooner or later. The only time she's had a room this small was when she and her roommate, Mary Ann, shared their fresh year in the Littlefield Dorm at the University of Texas. (Is the dorm still there?)

For some reason or other, Fio keeps putting off working on her big 4x5 foot painting of the family, but she'll take care of it some time or other.

*************************************************************************************

WARNING FOR CHRISTMAS!

Guess whose gathering together as much of her Christmas poetry, songs, pictures, etc., from years past as possible!

************************************************************************************

One of Fiorella's Best Poems

 Fiorella is getting nostalgia.....

Love Endures

                         LOVE ENDURES

 How long lasts love? Past tomorrows  dawn?

Past hurt and anger, betrayal, desertion, death? 

This weakness of the heart--will it be strong

Enough to last the years, yet be weak yet?

Love ripens in the lusty sun of youth

And is consumed, but blossoms ever-sweet

To be the springtime baby's first spooned fruit,

The sustenance of summer, winter's treat--

The music of the song survives the singer

And echos of itself divinity;

Thus Love and Beauty, Truth, and Courage linger

Long past their actors in eternity...

     How long lasts love? My love is yours

     As long as Love endures; yes, love endures

                                                            1986

 

t

A DULL THIS AND A DULL THAT

 Getting nervous! Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday, the day that Fiorella is supposed to be picked up for church every month, and your girl felt very out of place the last month, the first time she went. She'd thought that somehow she'd get in touch with someone she knew from long ago, but she didn't.

Otherwise, Fio wants to contact someone who can look at her continually runny nose and croaky throat. Yes, your girl is always complaining about them, but no doctor has given her anything but a bottle of Zyrtecs. GRRRRR....

Fiorella walked the cul-de-sac TWICE today. Nothing like boredom to get her muscles working. (She's already watched First Wives Club twice over, and will probably watch it a couple of times more before bedtime. )

One thing Fio would really like to do is work on her languages, and she did attempt to a couple years ago, but with out transportation, she had to try an on-line program.....and she couldn't follow it.

That's all for today, but your girl will try to be more interesting as time marches on.

 

MOVE ON, FIORELLA! YOU NEED TO SAVE THE WORLD!

 Is Fiorella bored? YES! She has no one to talk to, and as you can tell from her blog, she likes to keep in touch with people, and talk, talk, talk. She would also like to go out places more now that Covid is pretty much over and she's recently gotten another shot. And then there are the telephone--that no one but annoying solicitars seem to use. GRRRR....

The weather is fairly cold today and your girl was quite pleased that she had to wear a jacket--a lite one, but it served its purpose. Interestingly, the Halloween decorations of "bloody" hands splashed across the part of the house are still in bloom. Your girl has watched NAME at least ten times. What else can she do? 

Fiorella is still pondering what to wear to church this Sunday. She has one dress from times-gone-by in her closet, but no matching shoes. (Because she hasn't been able to attend church for a long time, she's hasn't kept up with the "styles.")

Hey, hey, hey.....your girl just got back from buying her weekly provisions, mostly sliced turkey, milk, fruit, chocolate, and whatever catches her eye. What Fio likes most about the excursion is seeing all the cute little babies and children. Fiorella would have loved to have more children, but it wasn't in the cards.

Right now, your girl is sort of hanging loose. She wants to move on, but doesn't know how or where to go to.  One thing she does know though is that she wants to work within her four talents: art, music, languages, and literature. WHOOPEE!

OOOPS! FIO FORGOT TO POST!

 

Short Stories

Fiorella can't think of anything to say today except that she's started playing the piano again...or is it playing WITH the piano again, poor thing. That piano deserves better than your girl can give it.

Fio wore her dad's Osceola High School T-shirt today, although she has never been an athlete--but her father was. Your girl took after her mother, the scholar.

The big, white, beautiful family cat has opened Fio's bedroom door, leaped up onto the bed and cuddled against your girl's warmth, which is strange because Fiorella has never fed him. Hmm...maybe he's half dog.

Now that Halloween is past, your girl will be lugging out all her homemade decorations for Thanksgiving. and Christmas. Try it, you'll like it. (By the way, has Fio told you that turkey is her favorite meat?)

Fiorella has been having a bad time lately, but there's always tomorrow.....maybe.

 

REMEMBER THIS POEM?

 George, the big white cat, likes to sneak into your girl's bedroom, lick her nose, then snuggle into her lap and purr like rumbling train. Unfortunately, he also likes to dig his claws semi-lightly into her legs.

Fiorella has just discovered a pack of Christmas poems she wrote a while back that will probably find its way to to Fio's holiday greetings during "the season." (As an aside, does anyone know how to get the attention of some card manufacturers?)

In fact, your girl is getting tired of turning out top quality products and not being noticed. Come to think of it, the situation was often the same when she was teaching. What counted was contacts.

Alone

So many know my name and yet so few

Know me; I'm more and less than what I seem 

To be, called friend by money people who

Know me as I know night by chance moonbeam.

Chameleon-like, I change my psychic skin

 Depending whom I'm with and what the day,

Unending fitting, never fitting in,

Amending how I look and what I say...

Unclothed and mute, inside myself I know

My soul complete, its multiplicity

A whole; but outside actor-like I show

The role I choose, or fate assigns to me....

And as no one can know my entity,

I know no one, but only simile  (1990)

CLIPS FROM TIMES PAST

How about an oldie but a goodie?

Motherhood had has given me a great deal of poise. Nothing can happen to me in public that something worse hasn't happened to me at home--- although I did get a little uneasy several years ago when we were in Safeway and my eldest questioned me about exactly how the sperm got to the egg.

When my eldest was an "only," I scrubbed his sneakers daily before he went to pre-school. My second and third, just nineteen months apart in age, were lucky if we could even find their sneakers.

My mother and I are at different stages in our lives. She stops at an exclusive dress shop in Salado on her way to Dallas..I stop in Abbot and buy turkey wings.

When I was a kid, my other used to drag me around from store to store and I hated it. Now my nine-year old Daughter drags me around from store to store and I still hate it. I think shopping slips a generation.

My teenager is growing up. With a patronizing smile he now passes all the cereal premiums on to his younger siblings (except the really good ones, of course.)

I think my middle child has lost a pen pal. His letter containing "Garbage Pail" cards crossed his Polish pen pal's letter containing pictures of local saints.

Sometimes I get so disheartened: 

     We bought a VCR so the kids wouldn't fight over television programs-- so now, they're fighting over       VCR tapes. 

      My husband gave me a lovely Valentine's bouquet and the cat ate it the next day.

      I overheard my teenager warning his sixth-grade brother to learn to fight so he'll be able to survive    junior high next year.

      On the other hand, my teenager seems to be turning into a safe, careful driver despite my worst worries.

       My daughter and I carried a styrofoam Saturn to school without losing a single ring, and my younger son told his class that the people he admires most are his family because, "When they try, they keep on trying."

SLUGGING ALONG....

 Fio probably got yesterday's message all garbled, and she may be somewhat garbled today because she's still somewhere in yesteryear, although the white cat that loves her is doing his best to drag her back into realty.  After all, your girl has to prepare herself for tomorrow's blood check-up--which may not be too great because Fiorella has skipped a couple of check-ups because she didn't know how to work a cell-phone. (Don't laugh. You know that Fio is charming rather than mechanical.)😞😞

If only there were a nice lady in the neighborhood who would take Fiorella under her wing, but all the women in her area either work in town or stay inside or in the backyard. 

Just noticed that we're the only house on the block with its Halloween decorations still up....including the remains of the bloody hands reaching out the window. Is this a contest?

Fio is very lonely today. Everything is so silent, and she can only watch First Wives Club a certain number of times over before going stark raving mad!

Took a walk around the cul-de-sac and noticed that the white truck which is always sitting off the side of the road down by the highway as if waiting for service wasn't there today. Should your girl call the police?

German: Here's an easy one for you:      Gold

               Be sure to get a hard back on it!

 

REMEMBRANCE OF BAD TIMES

 Yes, Fiorella is crying buckets....a lot about the anniversary's of John Kennedy's death and a little about the loss of Sears. Your college girl, who was working part-time at the retail giant at the time, had been granted an early time off to join her husband's high-class family at the dinner being given for the President and, of course, Lyndon Johnson, who owned the radio station that Husband's father worked for and everyone in the town, city, round-about listened to.

Every one in Sears was all excited two, and one of the TVs (for sale) from downstairs had been  lugged upstairs so the more elite upstairs crew could see the President of the United States gliding down the street in a topless limousine, but, as Fio remembers, all we saw was a car swarming with policemen.

The President of the United States had been killed before Fiorella  had a chance to sit at the table near him or even shake his hand, and your girl will never forget the scene. 

 

Later, of course, I did get to shake President Johnson's hand and even Ladybird's, but I can't remember the situation.

That's all for today......

 

 

KNOCKING AROUND....

 Oops, Fiorella missed a day.  She's been having a hard time keeping track of everything lately. The Halloween capers have cut deep and she's not sure what path would be best for her to take. Strangely, her fingernails have been breaking too.

The basic problem, of course, is that she doesn't have anyone to talk to. She lives in silence now and there's nothing she can do about it.

Can anyone give Fio the name of a good foot doctor in Austin, Texas? Your girl's left foot is failing and the set Fio brought with her from Georgetown four years ago has disappeared....and probably wouldn't fit her anymore anyway.

Well, the good news is that the weather is nice now. The boiling hot days of summer and their leftovers are pretty much off the radar. BUT WHAT CAN FIORELLA TO DO PASS THE TIME AND ENTERTAIN HERSELF?

Jingle Jangle--Having Fun

In days of yore

I was five-foot four

Now I'm five-foot two

What are you?

 

As a child, Fio was usually the tallest girl in the class, but in junior high, the other girls started to catch up with her so that by high school, she was average--and now she is a wisp--someone who has to stand on a crate to reach the top drawer. Ah, well....at least she can still do her own laundry, walk the local cul-de-sac daily, and write, write, write.

Christmas is a-comin' in, which, for your girl, means  she has to whip up a meaningful card and, in due course, a clever card. But does she really have anyone to send them to now? 

Why, oh why, are there horrible people like Vladamir Putin in the world? Is is nature's way of slowing down the warming  of the planet?

 Just found out the exact breed of the big white cat that (when there isn't any food around) visits me in my room. It's a Birman. 😀

(In German, a cat is a Katze.)

 

TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH MYSELF !

 Did you miss Fiorella last night? She was off with the family trick-or-treating, but it was a hard job at first because Sun L didn't want her to accompany them and made her sit in a sort of a baby carriage that he pulled. But the conveyance  was too small for your girl and she wiggled out of it and walked, walked, walked the rest of the time. 

Fiorella has spent most of today packing away her Halloween regalia--the cut-out bats, the stapled moons, etc., but she's a little leery of the big bloudy hands that daughter-in-law has attached across the front room.

All ended well for your girl. She ran into a woman with a big black dog that she had met a while back when she (the woman) just beginning the training the dog...and she was still training him, but Fio got to pat him and tell him what a good boy he was this time around.

Son just walked in and handed Fiorella another handful of envelopes from solicitars--it's that time of the year, but Fiorella has already contributed to her favorites.

 HOW FIO MISSES HER SONIA DOG.....and every dog she has ever had from Fuzzy on up...but mostly the big ones because they cuddle.

 (By the way, remember, dog is Hund in German.)

 

TELLING ALL ABOUT PRE-HALLOWEEN

 In Fio's neighborhood, trick-or-treat is celebrated by a swath of children escorted by their hovering parents as they move from show-off house to show-off house in the dark of night.  It's a contest for adults, of course, of course.

Your girl is finally getting comfortable with her cell phone, but it seems to her that the good ol' telephone was a lot easier ....pray for her.

Fiorella seems to have run out of old movies to watch, movies and all. She'd rather get out-and-about anyway, but being half blind doesn't fill the bill. If only she could drive.....

Has Fio told you that she has, like almost every other woman nowadays, let her hair grow long? My mom would be grinding her teeth if she were still alive. She thought long hair looked "foreign," which was an anathema at the time. But your girl thought it looked sexy.......which may be another reason her mother wanted her daughter to get her hair cut short. 

Son L kindly dragged Fiorella's heavy coat out of storage last night because the winter, it was a comin' in. The next day, your girl turned off the fan in her bedroom because it was too warm. You can never predict Texas weather so it's good to be prepared.

 Can't paint on the big 4x5 right now for some reason. Thinking it's because Son K is in the hospital. Or maybe because yours truly has been so involved with her Halloween cut-outs.

Fiorella is eyeing the stacks of writings she has done through the years and thinking of making use of them somehow, but, as she knows from experience, it's hard to get published unless you already have a name.....and a friend in the business.

 HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY!

Getting up to a Bit of Speed Again

 Happy almost Halloween! It's almost here, and Fiorella has paper pumpkins in her window and a parade of paper bats up and down the hall. Trick or treating is different these days--at least in our neighborhood. Instead of a contingent of kids going up and down their territory, about fifty kids and their parents go from block to block, and rather than pick up goodies, they admire the the ghastly set ups. Ah, well....

It's turning cold now so overcoats and heavy jackets will be the things to wear.

 Meanwhile. your girl is still trying to reserve a driver to take her to the Blood People and get her tested. Chariot, the organization that helped her before, won't take anyone unless they have a cell phone, which Fio does, but doesn't know how to use. She left a message with Chariot and hopes it works. ARGGGGGGGGHHH!

This surprisingly cold weather is somewhat surprising, especially because of the especially hot summer. Ah, well....one against the other. Does it means we will actually get snow this winter? And Fio without anything but tennies?

Your girl has one whole side of her bedroom wall plastered with everything from pieces of the Spanish numerals to pictures of the her favorite doctor's name to all her children's phone numbers, addresses, and birthdays. Then there are some of her favorite pictures and drawings, and everything else you can imagine. Yep, your girl needs a bigger bedroom.

She needs more room for her arts and crafts, sewing, library, files too. But most of all, she needs friends: people who would encourage her, bring out the music, art, linguist, and writer in her. How to do it?  Travel unt Geld.

 

************************************************************************************

God        der Gott

 good      gut

***********************************************************************************

If you spot blood dripping down your girl's hand as she writes, it's from the cat--the one that loves Fio--who kept trying to persuade her to to touch noses the whole time through.

This is one of Fiorella's favorite of her poems, and she has probably posted it before, but it bears repeating:

L'enoi to "Blind"

      In the theater of the mind ,

      The unremitting reels unwind,

        Horrors ceaselessly replay,

        Obscuring now for yesterday

                In the theater of the blind,     

                 Eyes that see too much go blind

MOVIN' A LONG, BUT STILL A BIT SLOWLY.....

 NO SHOW TONIGHT---FIORELLA ISN'T IN THE MOOD........oops, this was supposed to be yesterday!

*********************************************************************************

Our pastor came today and we had a very nice talk about how things have changed since your girl could jump into her car and drive to the church to enjoy herself and her friends at worship. In fact, she's pretty sure that not a single person from her past would remember her anymore.

Other weather is getting cooler faster now----will we actually have snow this year? 😁😁😁

This is going to be another short Forella, but Fio will get up-to-material pretty soon, probably after she's figured out how to manage the cell phone that she's wrestling with.

Oops, wow! While going through a pile of family pictures from the Civil War era, your, girl found one that looked so much like herself that it was frightening! To make it even more scary, Fio recognized it as a picture of her great-grandmother which your girl had painted years and years ago--blue eyes and all.

 Fiorella is getting restless and wants more to do than lie on her bed and watch television shows and movies that she has seen before.

 

 

 

A Short Visit with Fiorella

 Here your girl is again, and she can proudly say that she has contacted the transport people and made tentative arrangements for getting to the blood people at the right time. Wahoo! 

Looking through her language books, Fiorella agrees with Brother and wife that the languages they were encountering in their wonderful holiday visit were Czech and Slovak, which some of our ancestors might have been, but then, there are also the Carpathio Ruseens. What fun to have mixed up genes! God bless America!

Today is Fio's grocery day, when your girl's former maid drives her out to pick up her groceries, etc., at H-E-B, the king of Texas--or maybe it will be tomorrow. Whatever, it's always a joy because we've known each other so long.

How are your Halloween decorations going? Fiorella has finally gotten her pumpkins (all paper) looking good....but even a drop of rain would wilt them. (Luckily, she has always been able to salvage her black bats, paint them green, and use them for for Christmas as holly. 😁)

************************************************************************************* GERMAN, GERMAN.....Fiorella thirsts for das German, but she wants to learn it HER way, not in a classroom. Hmm...maybe she could work with a tutor or two, you think? (Anyone volunteering?)

*********************************************************************************

Fio is tired so she'll beg off for the day. Sleep well!

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This and That.................

 Fiorella is sooooo bored! She's taped and re-taped her paper Halloween pumpkins on her front window, tried (and failed) to get an appointment with her doctor's office, then couldn't find something worthwhile on TV. Even Hercule Poirot is getting old, old, old.

You might suggest that Fio get in touch with her brother, but she called him last night and we had a nice talk, and your girl doesn't want to overuse him. 

What your girl would really like to do is visit with her friends....but the only ones she seems to have are in Vermont and England. What a change from her former life, when she was usually at the head of the tribe.

Ah, well....time marches on and maybe tomorrow will be better. 

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Deutsch is the language

Deutschland is the country 

Deutschstunde is the schoolclass                    

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 This may be an observasion Fio has posted before:

  I watched a laughing child in years gone by

  Below my window gather bits of Spring

  Arbutus whiter than the moon could cry

 The joyous news of life's awakening

 

 The child would touch the vine about my door

 And just as quick, it shed it's coat of frost 

  Her feat had scarcely trod the forest floor

  Before the winter's hard campaign was lost

 

 The seasons roll themselves up into years

 As springtime swiftly burns itself to fall

 A woman clothed in black appears

 And walks the dying world within my wall

FEELING A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL WISHING FOR NEARBY FRIENDS

 Fiorella is bored, bored, bored. She's taped up a cute pumpkin design in her front window, gone through far too many TV shows that she's seen before, and called Walgreens that she'll eventually pick up her bottle of pills that actually, she'll probably never need again. 

What next? Your girl is the action type, and there's nothing for her to do but walk up the street to the mail box.... except that she doesn't have any envelopes to mail.

Maybe Fio will pick up her paint brushes and return to the 4x5 family portrait she started so many years ago--she's pretty sure the rough canvas is dry enough by now that it won't bleed. Maybe she could also go through the build-up on her bedside table again--and the left wall in her bedroom, on which your girl has been tacking all her chuckles, pictures, memorials, important news, and letters, etc.

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        Arbeit.............work      the "ei' is pronounced like English "I"

         Arbeiter..........worker         "                                         "

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We want so desperately to believe there is an order to the universe, a tomorrow that has already been, a purpose, a plot. We want to believe in signs and portents--anything because there is a a security in having a destiny to fulfill, however  minuscule or frightening.

The future is unknown because because it has not yet been. It can be controlled  to some degree, but not seen. It can be determined (decided physically or mentally) to some degree, if one is in tune, but not seen, can be determined (decided), but it can't be neutrally seen because it doesn't exist in that context.

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GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.... AND BETTER!

 Things are looking brighter for Fiorella. Not only are her Halloween decorations mounted inside and out, but Son L took charge of her computer and got her onto a better system--at the same time getting her off of the system installed way back before Husband died. THANK YOU!

Your girl went through some family things and did her own cleaning, inside and out, and she'd like to think that the messages she's taped and pinned on the wall beside her bed are dwindling. Maybe now Fio can hitch a ride with Chariot and get her blood checked out.

Meanwhile, Fio can look through her newly found--and truly loved--German book, to which you will be subjected again. 😊😊😊😊😊

By now, of course, it is evident to you that English is a Germanic language, as are Scottish, Dutch, Swedish, and Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, and more.

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How about our word for the day being  "teacher and student?" student: 

                    Lehrerin..............teacher

                    Schtuudent..........Student

   *****************************************************************************

       Your girl has found some of her old writings worthy of another go-round, so buckle your seats, hold onto the your computer, and enjoy the show!

o 

CATCH--UP COMUNICATION

 Hey, hey, hey! Your girl is off to a roaring start: SHE FOUND HER GERMAN BOOK! It was being hidden by another book in the corner of her bedroom window, and when Fio was was walking by, she caught a glimpse of ORANGE that could be non other!

    Forever

         Up and up and up I go

          Continuing in my self-paced flow

           No one knows when I will stop

            Or drop

 

     L'envoi to "Blind" 

          In the theater to the mind

          The unremitting reels unwind

           Horrors ceaselessly replay

            Obscuring now for yesterday

               In the theater of the mind

                Eyes that see too much go blind  

I write when I am happy

I write when I am sad

I write when I feel good

I write when I feel bad 

    Wherever I go

    Wherever I be 

     I take my pen

     Along with me

 

 

 Fio had a very difficult time yesterday. Hope you did  better. Today has been better for her than the summer, but it's still way too hot.  If she had a pool in her yard or lived near a public pool, she would  pack up a swimsuit, towel, and sunglasses and have a great time. 

 ALARM, ALARM-- your girl has lost her beloved pink straw hat-- again.

On the good side, Son L was kind enough to spend a fair amount of time tending to Fiorella's banks. 

No, Fio has not found her German book yet, and she's scoured her rooms from top to bottom and under the bed.

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Your girl has decided to entertain you with one of Fio's poems which you  or may not have heard before:  

                       Jack-in-the Box

       How to suffocate a clown:

       Fist you push its head way down

       Deep into the shiny box

       Until the mechanism locks

       Then you tuck the box away

       Where to wish for it to stay,

        For jacks are troublesome at best,

        Embarrassing when there are guests

 

        When all that I have said's been done

        Hold your tonge and tell no one

        Tell not a soal what you're about

         For he might let the damn Jack out

  

           And that is how to handle the latter-- 

            But Fiorella-in-the-box is another matter!

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              The pond's o'r froze, 

 

 The pond's o'erfroze, the corn is blight  

           The fields frost silver-white

            The icebound branches of the trees

             Are breaking in the winter breeze

    The ground ishard, the sky is bare

               The sobbing wind alone disturbs the air.   

                And cries alone its grief, unreconciled,

                As Ceres searches for her missing child

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WHERE SHE IS NOW.....

 Fiorella has had a bad day and has sat in pity of herself most of the time. Nothing she seemed to touch or think of worked like it should--including her major bank, which is threatening to close her account unless your girl visits them. Thus, she will be dropping by tomorrow with her eyes flinty and her mouth tight. (Stay tuned for the blow up.)

The German textbook is still in abeyance, which further discontents Fio because, as you remember, she is learning at the same pace you are, although your girl has the advantage of having had a German grandmother way back when..... and a more recent degree in in linguistics.

But what Fiorella would like to see is more people her age and interests. Yes, she likes going home every evening to a safe bed, but she also wants to wake up and slide out of bed in the morning with joy, laughter and determination.

Love, Fiorella

 

 

A MESS OF A BLOG

SAME OLD< SAME OLD LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO What should Fiorella write about for Halloween except that kids dress up in cute costumes and have a great time while their parents hang around their neighbor's front door and hope the treats won't run out.

Your girl isn't feeling too good now. Her trip to the church she truly loved seemed different: bigger and more people than she remembered. But embarrassingly-- no one, it seamed, knew Fio. Also, Fiorella had a hard time keeping up on songs and chants that she'd no doubt heard sung in her mother's pre-natel womb.

HOW, O HOW,  can older adults visit with each other if they don't drive?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

German: Still searching

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That's all for today.....except that I am now alone in the house, which scares me.

WHERE, OH WHERE, HAS MY GERMAN BOOK GONE?

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Fiorella is crying again. Of all people, Chariot, the local transport for older people, let her down, down, down. She was supposed to have her blood checked out today and thought she had everything taken care of, but at the last moment she found out that she had to have a cellphone, which she doesn't.  Son L took the telephone and  we thought everything was okay, but it's an hour past her appointment, and no car has stopped at Fio's door. Sometimes it seems like life isn't worth living.

On the other hand, two people waved at Fio as she walked down the cul-de-sac in the morning, then halfway down and back in mid-afternoon.

Mulling it over, Gethsemane, our old church, seemed much bigger than when Fio and husband were members. Am wondering if additions have been added on.

Actually, Fio was surprised that no one approached to say hello and say "Hello," before or after the service. I recognized them, and surely they recognized your girl.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 YOUR GIRL STILL CAN'T FIND MEINE DEUTSCH BUCH!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 On the other hand, Fio had a lovely visit by phone with long-time friend Paula M, and if anyone else would be kind enough to contact Fiorella, Thank you, thank you, thank you!  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

HERE AND THERE, UNCOMFORTABLE BEGINNING...............

 DONDE ESTA MI GERMAN BOOK? It's been missing for two days now, and your girl has checked all over her room and studio. If you find it (orange on pale brown) please let her know.  Strangely, as you can see, some of her ragged Spanish popped up as she was tearing apart her room looking for the book--is that a message of some sort?

Fiorella's older son is in the hospital now. Please join Fiorella in praying for his full recovery. 

For the first time in years, Fio was able to obtain attendance to her own church--but it looked so different, so very big. Your girl was able to identify some of the people there, but was wondering if it  had been remodeled. (She may have been pulling out memories of her childhood church.)

How strange: three of Fio's finger nails have cracked off, which is quite unusual.  Another bad sign? But what of?

That's all Fio has to say at this time, but she might add more later on......

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 Addition: Fio has started working on her Halloween decorations, making bats, moons, and the like. As you might guess, your girl's decors are more cute than scary.

Her German book is still missing even though Fiorella has checked out her rooms right, left, and sideways.

Strangely, although your girl recognized a fair number of people in the old church she attended, but the church itself seemed somewhat unfamiliar to her. She used to to know every crack of it......

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Not Too Great a Day

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 Hurray! Your girl made it to Gethsemane, her former church. The only problem was that, of course, she could hardly talk because she still has this horrible, unshakable cold that makes her sound like a bull frog. Surprisingly, she also spotted a few people she used to know and waved at them, but what she really wanted to do was take them home with her so to talk with and talk and talk with them. Is it that way with all older people? Do we all end up in the closet?

Fiorella's elder son, who lives in Minesota, is in the hospital. According to his wife, the problem has been going on for some time, and all your girl can do is pray for him, which she does, which she does.....

Now that she's back to her preferred church, again, you'll have to start practicing every day....if her family can stand it.

Fio's stuffed bear, the one that she sleeps with every night, has been very comforting lately. (Translation: too much is happening that your girl is having to handle on her own.)

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 German:  Das Buch......the book

                 the "uch" is pronounced more like "oo" with a heard breath

  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO              

Fiorella has misplaced the book that she was taking intriguing partials from. Hoping to find it tomorrow.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

 

 

Pulling It All Together

 

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fiorella seems to have developed an on-and-off pattern, but that's how her life has been going recently.  The rest of the family is at a zoo while she is lying on her bed and trying to figure our her latest email messages from her banks. Ah well--Son  L will help her wade through everything when the rest of the family returns this evening. Thank goodness that he didn't inherit his mother's wobbly math talents!

Tomorrow will be the day that your girl will finally get to attend church, thanks to a parishener who, as it turns out, lives fairly nearby. Fio has attended church almost all her life, and she isn't going to stop now. Now to figure what to wear. Will the congregation welcome her? Will anyone remember her from times past? Is your girl repeating herself?

Of course, Fiorella has a reason for wanting to get back to church again: a yearning for company. Your girl has always been a people person. Just think of all the plays she's been in and how much she enjoyed performing, singing, and acting. Hey--she just realized that, during her teaching years, she was always performing to keep the students attention, AND IT WORKED....for them and for herself.

She had no idea how much fun it was until she joined the gang--and now, she misses them all!

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 GERMAN:

     Wie is Ihr Name..........What is your name?

       Wie alt bit du? ...........How old are you?                       

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She eased into  the double car garage and cast an evil eye on the pile of luggage and household items that she and her sister had unloaded from the U-Haul trailer when they drove in yesterday evening. God, now they'd have to schlep it all into the house. but maybe a little manual labor would help her clear a certain  redheaded Texan out of her head. 

Damn! Why couldn't she stop thinking about Rafe McAllister?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

COMING UP TO SPEED-----

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAgain, Fiorella is afraid, afraid that our world will come apart, maybe like probably other wolds in the universe have done. Fio understands that, but doesn't comprehend why certain groups are so intent on killing off everyone who doesn't look like them or speak their language. And no, the "religious aspect" is not the cause, but an excuse for those who lust for wealth and power.

George, the gorgeous house feline, just came up to Fio, licked her nose, and curled up against her arm. There's a lot of dog in that cat.

Did your girl tell you she has cut out paper black paper in the shape of bats and orange paper in the shape of a harvest moon and taped them flying upward down the hall? She also has some small REAL pumpkins lining one side of the outside entryway, and she plans to pick up some even smaller pumpkins to line the inside entry.

When you were trick-or-treating, did you yell, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

 GERMAN:  Halloween.......Halloween

                      ghost................der Geist  ("ei") sound like English "I"

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The curtain call line moved forwards one by one, and he heard the audience roaring with applause, probably for Billie Joe, who was always a favorite. Next would come Sersio, after which he himself would march out, clap his palm with his truncheon, and join hands with the rest of the players as Micaela and Phil took their solo bows.

Then there would be a pause as he fetched Moira from the wings so she could thank everyone involved and say a fewwords about the theater guild.

He checked the ring in his pocket.

That's when he'd strike.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Nice Day, Israelites, Church, Problems, etc.

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

Wasn't it a G-R-E-A-T day today? Fio had a wonderful time walking around the cul-de-sac, the sun was behind the clouds, the breeze lifted the air just right, and everyone was smiling.

On the other hand, your girl isn't as happy as she would be if the Palestinians (or whoever they are) would drop their weapons and make peace with the Israelites. Of course, then the planet would become bloated with people--which is why we should figure out how to set up settlements on another planet or two. Volunteers, anyone?

Fiorella is very nervous right now. Can you tell? She has to figure out what to wear later this week when a volunteer member of the congregation will drive her to church for the first time in years. What will everyone be wearing? Will she recognize anyone in the congregation? Will they recognize her? Will they give her a cold shoulder? If everything goes well, how can she get a permanent driver? 

Fio never thought that getting to church would be so difficult, but will do her best to report in on Sunday afternoon.

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

        Easy words:   Blume: flower

                               Gebush: bush

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pray for Fiorella's reappearance at church--that she's got on a nice outfit, that a couple of people at least will recognize her and she will recognize them, that she can figure out how to get a ride every Sunday in some way. (The problem is that her church is North and she now lives South.)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THIS IS A HEAVY LOAD

 Again, Fiorella is begging off. Your girl doesn't like violence, blood, or murder, even in a blog. Also, she's had a bad day and won't be able to get one of two her pills till tomorrow, she can't find a wall to Scotch  Tape her homemade black bat on, she really doesn't have anything to talk about except how worried she is and how none of the TV shows look interesting. THIS IS AGAIN NOT ONE OF YOUR GIRL'S BEST DAYS!

What we have to do is speed up the program that will prepare us to live in outer space. After all, if we have conquered Earth, so we should be able to do the same with one or two planets. 

Forella has never experienced such a frightening Halloween before. Hitler has been thrust into second place--and once the terrorists get the taste of blood, we will all be on a plate at the breakfast table.

Well, your girl had more to say than she thought, and she meant every word of it!

THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY!

Falling Behind in a Puddle of Tears

 Your Fio doesn't think she'll be sending out much of a message today because (1), she's upset about the attack on Israel and (2), when she tried to find her Halloween bats, etc. to take her mind out off the attack, she couldn't find wherever she had put them, if anywhere.

All of which explains why Fio has been on and off all day. 

Israel is dear to her because her best childhood-and-onward friend was Jewish and her family very much embraced your girl. And Fio's paper creations are important to dear to her because they prove her worth as an artist....

__________________________________________________________________________________

German:   der Kunstler  artist 

                 der Freund    friend

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CATCHING UP

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Forgive Fiorella, she is in a mess as to keeping her numbers straight, which means that today is actually "8."  She'll blame it all her television (or whatever they're called) if they're hitched to the wall.

For some reason--maybe a mischievous imp--your girl is having problems writing a blog today.  Maybe all will clear when Fio (AT LAST!) gets a ride to her church next Sunday. Now to figure out what to wear....

Back to Halloween, Fio has some cute cut-out of cats, witches, and pumpkins etc, that she made last year, but she doesn't remember if she packed them away in her room somewhere, in the garage, or piled them together with the rest of the families' loot in the attic. (Son L is also an artist.)

Something very wonderful happened over the past week. Your girl had sent a nice check for Son K's birthday to him, but then got very agitated at the postoffice when he didn't receive it in what she thought was a reasonable amount of time and started investigating. As it turned out, mail travels around a lot slower than your girl thought and (whew) now all is well on both sides of the check.    

 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fio couldn't resist this one:

                  die Kopfschmerzen........headache

                  der Kopf ........................head

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 Rafe introduced everyone rapid-fire . "Moira, come meet Great Uncle Tiny, Uncle Tom, Aunt Miriam, Cousin Miriam, Cousin Julie, Cousin Helen,  Cousin Tom,  and Cousin John. The young-un is Cousin Ryan." Moira nodded and smiled, but for once, her magic could couldn't process so many names and faces at once, especially since each and everyone of them was dresses as as a vampire.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TinyfifirefiOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Rafe