ALERT: This is a real post, not a copy of something I've written for the paper.... LOL

It's been an interesting week or so. I was asked three weeks ago to do an article on a little clothing store here in town where the clothes are free, and I finally got it done. In the process, however, I was told about a fire fighting class that was being held that moment at the firemen's field, so I went down there and ended up with pages of information that I'll put into another story and post when I get it done. I'm also scheduled to meet with the school superintendent, school board president and school principal to do an article on the money being spent, where it's going and why. Add to that my weekly column, and I'm a busy girl. Too bad I don't make more money at it. I only get paid 50 cents and inch (yeah, that's right, 50 lousy cents and inch and it isn't even a real inch!) for the stories I do for the paper.

I have a couple other things going on right now. I'm supposed to be putting together over a hundred photos and setting them to music for a woman who wants a video to give her children. I've had this stuff since November and haven't done much with it. I really need to get going on it, since she's paying me for it!

I volunteer at the library every Tuesday for an hour or two, usually resorting books that have been put back incorrectly. I enjoy it. It's quiet, I can concentrate on the file number of the books and still have time to contemplate.

I've volunteered to enter a chili cook-off! I was calling for information (for an article of course) and was told they had one more spot in the contest. What the heck, it's one pot of chili and I don't have to make it until March. The prize is a trophy (blah). I don't expect to win, but it'll be fun. I'm also going to be in a murder mystery this spring! It was supposed to be an old west setting, kind of like Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty (for my British friends, that was an old western series back in the 50s and maybe 60s [can't remember] on t.v.) and I was going to be a bar room hussy. But turns out, it's more like Gilly's (BIG, modern country bar) and I'll be the local, hmm, trollop (?). I've been told by a couple people it was type casting, but I've changed! Really I have! LOL

I received a package from my dear friend Sue, from England. She had told me she was sending me a Bill Bryson book, but surprised me with two pair of over-the-knee socks, one with neon pink and black stripes, and one black with florescent green hearts. Awesome! I just love them. When I showed the striped ones to my dad, his comment was, "what the h--- are those hideous things?" LOL He adores Sue and when I told him they were from her he wondered what was wrong with her...

It's a whiteout outside. We're expecting 2 to 8 inches of snow, depending on which station you listen to, and the wind is whipping it around so you can't see the road. Lovely. Only one more month of winter, then comes March where anything goes! Have a great day everybody.

This is an article I wrote for the newspaper and appeared on the front page! The editor said it was the best thing I've written (although I don't think he reads my column) and I should save it for my portfolio if I ever want to get a writing job. I thought it was a little dry myself, but hey, compliments are always appreciated!

Noah’s Ark Clothing Store

A little known clothing store called Noah’s Ark has been in operation in Ripley since May 2009. Located in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, and started with money from the church mission fund and donations from church members, the little store that could has grown to bursting in the last eight months under the direction of Pam Acri and Phil Johnson.

“When we first started,” states Pam, “we took up a small area in the church basement and shared the space with several other groups. We’ve grown so much that we’ve taken over the entire basement now.” The store is full of racks of clothing, carefully sorted by size, for everyone from infants to adult men’s and women’s items. Clothing items were initially donated by Ripley residents only but now come from all over the area. “We’ve had donations from Portland, North East, Fredonia and Buffalo, as well as from Ripley,” Pam went on to explain. “We have items from newborn all the way through XXL adult sizes.”

Volunteers come every second and fourth Saturday to sort and hang clothes and visit with the shoppers. “Approximately 30 families use our store,” says Pam, “so there is obviously a need.” Everyone, regardless of income level, is encouraged to stop by and shop. The store has added such items as bedding, books and toys, and would like to carry a few more household items as well. School supplies are carried in the fall.

Phil and Pam agree that the store should be used by the entire community and surrounding areas. “Bring in clothing you no longer want or need, exchange them for other items. Or just come and shop for what you need,” Phil said. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted, but not required. Money is used to buy items that aren’t readily donated, such as winter long underwear or blankets. Pam requested homemade items as well. “If anyone knits or crochets, we could use hats, mittens, scarves, shawls, anything they make and want to donate.”

Current items needed include: men’s casual clothing, including jeans; clothing for kids of all ages, especially toddler, baby and newborn sizes; maternity clothes; blankets, sheets and other clean, good condition bedding; good condition books, toys, DVDs and toiletries. Donations of all kinds are accepted during hours of operation, noon to 2 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month, and by appointment. Call the church number, 716-736-3042, and leave a message for Phil Johnson. The store can be accessed by using the driveway to the back of the church and entering by the ramp into the basement.

The following is my weekly column in the newspaper. It came after a week of story gathering.

Angels Among Us

It has been an eye-opening week for me. I had the opportunity to help volunteer at the Food Express last Wednesday; visited Noah’s Ark, a Presbyterian Church sponsored clothing store/exchange; and watched as new fire fighters from the surrounding area were trained. I often hear on the Buffalo news stations about how generous and giving the people of Buffalo are, the City of Good Neighbors. Evidently it holds true throughout Western New York. There are angels among us, working long hours to help their neighbors, without pay and without fanfare.

The third Wednesday of every month the Food Express, sponsored by the Food Bank of Western New York, delivers a variety of food to the fire hall, where a dozen or more volunteers unload the truck and set up the food to be distributed, free of charge, to area residents. Last week was my first time volunteering for this organization, and let me tell you, it can be hard work. I hauled a 50 pound bag of potatoes, which then had to be divided into smaller portions; I ran boxes and boxes of baked goods from the truck to the tables, where all the rolls, breads, cakes and pies were sorted. Boxes of bananas had to be divided and carrots and onions stacked. Those people waiting for their share of the food may have no idea of the flurry of activity going on once that truck arrives, but the volunteers know time is of the essence, and they scurry. Organizers Liz Stahlman and Nancy McIntosh stress this isn’t a give-away for just the needy or unemployed; it is open to ALL area residents, and everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the food donated. In the past, Ripley had been cut back to every other month due to lack of recipients. You need to show proof of residency the first time you go, a driver’s license or photo ID and a copy of a utility bill or library card, something showing your address, and you may only collect food for your family and one other. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Ripley fire hall. Please bring boxes, bags or laundry baskets to carry your items.

Noah’s Ark is another organization, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, where the public is invited to come shop. Clothes and other items are donated by not only Ripley families but from surrounding communities as well. This is another group where it is stressed that ALL families are encouraged to shop, exchange clothing, donate clothing or dollars. The money collected is used to purchase much needed items that haven’t been donated, such as long underwear, hats or mittens. The volunteers, under the direction of Pam Acri and Phil Johnson, come to help make Ripley a better place. The store is open in the basement of the Presbyterian Church every second and fourth Saturday of the month, from noon until 2 p.m.

Ripley Pride is devoted to bringing the community together. They have no agenda but to sponsor events that promote community pride and bring Ripley residents in contact with each other. Coming up on March 13th they will be sponsoring a Chili Cook-off and Craft Sale. I actually volunteered to enter the Chili contest so you’ll have to come and sample some. This organization has put together some wonderful events, like the Halloween party and the Cruise In last summer. The women and men in this group are dedicated to making Ripley a better place to live, with no thought of personal gain.

The Ripley fire department hosted a training session last week for fire fighters throughout the county. I watched as these men and women were trained to carry the hoses through an obstacle course, learned what 75 to 100 pounds of water pressure feels like to control and which streams of water are necessary to fight different kinds of fires. The gear they wear is heavy, approximately 25 to 30 additional pounds, bulky and hot, the work they do is grueling, and yet they do it willingly to serve their community. These men and women are not paid a penny for the property and life-saving work they do.

These are only four of the many organizations here in town. Volunteerism isn’t a new idea, but it is a resurging one. Many schools now require a certain number of hours of volunteering in order to graduate. I’m proud to say that Ripley Central School has a number of service organization groups including the Kiwanis sponsored Builders and Key Club. Our children are encouraged to give back to their community, in hopes they will continue to make a difference when they have graduated. With the number and scope of organizations here in Ripley, they should have no trouble becoming future angels among us.

A heartfelt thank you to all of you. Where would we be without you?

Ageless Beauty

I am a people watcher, and I love faces. Baby’s faces are precious with their little puckers and pouts and children’s faces are joyous to watch when they are excited and happy. Oftentimes at the mall I look at the faces of the shoppers and try to imagine what’s going on in their heads as they hurry from one store to another. But the best faces are those of the elderly.

I’ve heard several older people say, “I’ve earned every one of these wrinkles,” and it’s true. Each face is etched with signs of happiness and sorrow. If we are lucky enough to live long enough, our faces become a road map of our lives. The frown lines between the eyes tell a story of concentration, or lines around the eyes tell a story of laughter. Each line or wrinkle adds to the character of the person in question.

When we are young, say in our teens or 20s, we don’t worry much about wrinkles or getting old. By the time we’re in our 30s and 40s we women especially, start fretting about the laugh lines around our eyes and spend millions of dollars each year trying to erase them. By the time we’re in our 50s and 60s we’ve pretty much accepted that we don’t look “young” anymore, but we’re still trying to erase the appearance of age. But to me, it isn’t until your 70s, 80s and 90s that the face takes on a wonderful character of its own.

Old age is a relative thing. Now that I’m in my 50s, 70 is still young. I’m sure to someone in their 70s or 80s that perception changes. I think I mentioned in a previous column that inside every “old” person is a young one. Our bodies may let us down from time to time, but happily our spirit remains young if we let it.

Perhaps the current perception of aging beauty is attributable to the Baby Boomers. We are, after all, getting older. I am a Baby Boomer and as I age I look back at how that unique group of people has changed the world around them. Each stage of our lives has impacted fashion, cosmetics, car manufacturing and medicine, just to name of few areas. Ever noticed how many advertisements are aimed at aches and pains, diseases of the aging, or the failings of our bodies? The target market is growing older. Beauty creams and hair color products are aimed at men and women both. But there is nothing more beautiful than a man or woman accepting age with grace.

Really look at the faces around you. Appreciate and find the beauty in them all, including our own. We may rail against growing older, but then, it beats the alternative.

Empathy – The Forgotten Emotion?

We are born with the capacity to feel empathy; that is, the ability to be sensitive and caring about another person’s feelings, thoughts and experiences without actually experiencing them ourselves. Babies and young children show distress when others around them are distressed. Maybe we’ve seen instances when a young child will offer, with a sad look on their faces, to wipe a tear away from someone they know. They are empathizing, understanding and feeling the sorrow of another. Somewhere along the line we seem to lose that capacity.

For example, recently there have been several crimes committed in our small towns – break-ins, fights, shootings. The perpetrators should be caught and punished; there is no question about that. But have we given any thought to the families of those perpetrators? They have committed no crime and yet we oftentimes say or do things to condemn them as well. A myriad of reasons as to why the culprit did what they did are often laid at the parents’ feet. They should stay home more, work less, pay more attention, raise their children differently, etc. etc. There is not one of us who is a perfect parent. We all make mistakes but we assuredly parent to the best of our ability in most cases.

Children do not grow up in a vacuum. They know it is wrong to steal, they know it is wrong to fight, rape, wantonly destroy property or kill. They know right from wrong, unless there is some pathological reason present. We are responsible for the decisions we make, not our parents, not our sisters or brothers, not anyone else but ourselves. So why do we condemn the family?

Put yourselves in the family’s place for a moment. Your child, your sibling, your grandchild has just been arrested. What do you feel? Anger? Fear? Shame? Sorrow? Devastation? Humiliation? Self-recrimination? And how do we, as friends, co-workers and acquaintances, react to the news? Are we supportive and understanding toward the parents or siblings of the perpetrator? Do we offer sympathy and a listening ear when needed? Or are we condemning of the entire family? The brothers and sisters of a crime suspect often experience the hardest time when a crime has been committed. They are sometimes exposed to nasty, vicious comments from their peers. It’s not their fault a law has been broken. Children can be particularly mean to each other. It’s our responsibility to encourage our children to be empathetic and sympathetic.

Stop for a moment and imagine your child or your brother or sister being arrested. Would you feel any of the emotions listed above? Do you need love and support from those around you? The world needs a little more love, and it certainly needs a lot more empathy.

Act Your Age

Long into my adult years I used to wonder when I’d feel “grown up.” I could see people my age, acting like what I thought adults should act like – serious, worried about business and world affairs. I just never felt that ponderous, for lack of a better word.

I often hear parents telling their children to “grow up.” What does that mean exactly? Is being fun-loving, excited about the world and things in it, and full of awe childish? Then forgive me, but I hope I always remain a child. I hear adults say about other adults, “why would they act so childish” or “don’t they realize they’re too old for that?” What are they being too old for?

I enjoy life far too much to “grow up.” Responsibility is a part of being an adult, and lord knows, I’ve had my share of responsibility. I raised two reasonably responsible children of my own; I took in three orphaned teenagers and adopted one of them when I was but 24 years old and did the best I could do to see that they were put on the right path; I spent 23 years of my life being responsible for other people’s children in my daycare; I took care of my mother-in-law who was wheelchair bound, blind with cataracts, hard of hearing and had a tracheotomy tube, during the last year and a half of her life. And yet, I still don’t feel “grown up” if it means acting my age. Someone tell me what my age acts like.

I’m 58 years old (a woman never tells her age, but then I don’t feel like a woman, I’m still a girl at heart!) I shop for sensible but fun clothes, I like my hair in trendy cuts, and I do odd things now and then, like dye my hair pink and wear outrageous eye makeup. Does this mean I’m acting like a child? Gosh, I hope so!

Children are wonderful, aren’t they? They don’t worry if their hair is mussed, they dig in the dirt for treasures, and they wonder at the clouds passing by. They are full of life and energy and fascination. WHY would we want to be anything other than that! And yet we have this unfortunate tendency to want to beat it out of them. – Stand up straight, don’t dawdle, stay in line, come on! We need to get going…

I guess I was fortunate in having parents and teachers who understood the nature of a child to want to explore and discover. I haven’t lost that tendency. And hopefully I haven’t lost the desire to be unique and fun loving.

There’s a joke that makes the rounds on the Internet that goes something like inside every old person is a young person wondering what the heck happened. Someone once said to me, you’re either living or you’re waiting around to die. I’d rather be living, thank you very much.

Working It Out

I always said when I turned 40 and got my head screwed on straight, I’d blow up like a balloon. Up until then I weighed 110 pounds or less, and I ate all the time: breakfast at home, a bagel with peanut butter and coffee when I got to work, 10 o’clock break, lunch at noon, 3 o’clock break, supper. Stop. I didn’t eat after supper; that was my concession to maintaining my weight. And I maintained a size 3 figure. Sure enough, at age 40 I got divorced, remarried, my metabolism slowed down and I started putting on weight. The only correlation I can make with the marriages is that my new husband would lovingly offer me candies and treats, hand feeding me Roman style each night on the sofa as we watched television. It was bound to happen. I got fat.

I am many sizes larger than a 3 these days; I huff and puff going up the stairs and I can’t walk any distance before “pooping” out. I am in sorry shape my friends.

To the rescue, just in time for New Year’s Resolutions, enters Ripley Central School! With a grant, they have converted the old “big” gym (to those of us over 50,) or the old “little” gym (to those of you who are younger,) into a glorious, fully equipped, state-of-the-art exercise room. I was actually working at the school when they started the project. It saddened me to see the old bleachers torn out and the stage boarded up; so many memories there. But now! Oh my! The architects incorporated the curve of the old stage opening into the design and have created a gym area with basketball nets, and a two-story exercise facility that rivals anything the high priced commercial gyms have.

There are, naturally, tread mills, stationary bikes, stair climbers and elliptical machines. In addition, there is an entire section of weight machines along with free weights. Got a muscle that hasn’t been used lately? There’s a machine for that. Got a roll of fat that needs trimming? There’s a machine for that. (My apologies to the cell phone ads.) It is exercise mecca. And here’s the greatest thing about all this equipment – it is open and available to all Ripley residents, free of charge until June! If you’re like me, you’ve been making excuses about why you can’t exercise. Commercial facilities are too expensive. It’s too far to drive. It’s too cold out, etc. etc. etc. All my attempts at stalling have been wiped out. My only excuse now would be pure laziness. I don’t rule that out, mind you.

The Tuesday after Christmas my husband, the bon-bon feeding accomplice to my weight gain, and I went down to the school to try it out. While he rode bicycle and walked across Texas on the treadmill, I ventured to try every weight machine available. Rachael Swan was on duty that day, and although professing little knowledge of fitness programs for others, showed me how to use each piece of equipment. I proceeded to work my abs and triceps, my quads and glutes, my obliques and pecs … in short every muscle and area of my body that I never knew existed. I was exhilarated! I was exhausted. I was foolish. By Wednesday night I could hardly move. I had only done 5 to 10 reps on each machine, but to a body unused to exertion, it was torture.

My New Year’s Resolution is to get back down there, take advantage of the free use of the exercise equipment, get my weight down, my stamina up and become the new improved me. I challenge all of you Ripley residents to join me. I’m sick of seeing skinny, fit people in gym workout commercials. I want to see a bunch of overweight, out of shape people like me in there, trying to make our lives healthier. Evening hours will be available after school resumes. I’m going to go get some buns of steel. C’mon and join me!

*As with all fitness programs, check with your doctor first to make sure it is safe for you to begin an exercise program.