Ending the summer with a very special field trip at “Grandma Camp” was very important to me.  I had planned, budgeted what we could do, and we were packed and ready to go!  After “take off” my grandson read out loud in the car and my granddaughter worked on the balloon flip-flops she was making for her mother and aunt’s upcoming twin birthday.  I had received some calls that distracted my thoughts in and out but was overall focused on the kids.  At the Exit for our destination I stopped to put in the ten dollars budgeted for gas.  My grandson continued reading out loud and a flip flop was passed out the window for me to make an adjustment. My thoughts were distracting me as well.  After several minutes the reading stopped and I heard, “Grandma, did you mean to spend that much money on gas?” Then the gas hose clicked and stopped pumping.  I was paralyzed momentarily by the reality of what just happened.  I filled the tank.  I couldn’t put it back on the shelf- I couldn’t hit delete and start over!  Hiding my worry I just placed the hose on the rack and screwed the gas cap on but continued to stand there.  The money for our day trip plus a few groceries and plans for the weekend were now in my gas tank!  I called a friend for encouragement who expressed how terrible it was, but at the same time couldn’t stop laughing.

Gas prices are not a laughing matter for any of us right now.  I have no friends who are not impacted by the reality of our economy and now another disaster Irene causes mayhem for millions on our East Coast.  Nevertheless we remain human in the midst of the circumstances that surround us- prone to making errors that have a greater impact on our lives than they used to.  No emotion is helpful when the error happens.  Anger- beating yourself up for being so stupid- fear of the consequences- remorse for messing up something special- so I decided the friend was right- laughing was the best remedy to save this day.  Forward motion is all I know- grandmas don’t retreat!  The budget went to survival only spending, but in the end they never knew and we had a great time anyway.  We grilled hot dogs over the weekend and needed no gas.  There will no doubt be more than one opportunity every day of our lives that will stare us in the face as the total at the gas pump did me.  In that moment I pray you will call the friend who will help you laugh and remind you that no matter what happens we can choose joy and have faith that the God who has always seen us through is still here!

Starting the 3^rd cup of coffee and the caffeine still hasn’t kicked in.  A thousand things to do and I can’t seem to get started on one!  My mind is blocking out all reality and I stand there in my “empty box” -a term I learned describing a man on the couch- certainly not Planet Carol!  Recognizing I am in the empty box brings on action and for me there is no other choice.  Where is it?  Not in the office stack or on top of the television so I must get on my knees without spilling the coffee (I can’t seem to give up even for a moment) and dig through the cupboard of DVD’s.  There it is.  Seeing the cover brings hope and I  find the strength to get off the floor, take out the disc, put it in, hit play and press volume up about 6 times.  As soon as the first sound rings in my ears my thoughts begin to organize and by the second scene I am dressed and in action!  My day is moving even better than I could have hoped for.  “White Christmas”.   It is a “White Christmas” day on the rainy, muggy, air alert pollution warning, and heat index  expected over 105 August Wednesday.   For years I have rescued myself from many otherwise dreary days with the movie “White Christmas”.  It has given the energy for housework, paperwork, clutter removal, finishing the project that has been undone for months, and by the end of the movie there is a clear image of completed tasks around me and I am smiling!

I have often shared this discovery when talking to family or friends that need a “White Christmas” day.  Singing and dancing is not for everyone, so it may take a little research to see what causes your emotions to lift.  That is where the battle begins almost every time.  Our emotions are restricting our mind and body from normal functioning.   The movie “White Christmas” always makes me smile and feel good.  Every time I watch it the same adrenaline flows through my veins.  The realization of that is why I go there.  Those of you that know me are probably thinking this sounds very non-spiritual- why not Praise and Worship Music?  The answer is that Praise and Worship music draws me spiritually and though I love it I can’t help being drawn in and so then I have a day of sharing with the Lord which is perfect, but all the things I need to do are still sitting undone!  We are individuals who make choices every day and we make too many of them to appease or impress others rather than follow our true selves.  When we find things that help us along and improve our outlook for any given moment we need to jot that in our memory to bring out of the closet when needed.  I say thank God for whatever works!  

Drinking my first cup of coffee with my eyes still sleepy I googled blackberry.   “Grandma Camp” had been to Huber Farms to pick blackberries and I was expecting two happy campers within the hour ready to tackle jam, pie, and cobblers!  My computer screen responded with a thousand hits on different phones!  When did this fresh delicious fruit loose its name to a phone??   I’ve picked blackberries since I was old enough to walk and hold my own pail.  They stain your hands purple, but oh the cobblers during that season make your mouth water just thinking about them.  The ones we picked were in empty fields growing wild….a sweet delight hidden among overgrown grasses, weeds, and under the trees.  I believe God enjoyed watching us find the blackberries He had hidden there just as parents would watch their kids look for hidden eggs at Easter!  When I hear the word blackberry I will stay true and crave the taste of a fresh picked one before I think of a phone!

Planet Carol loves the experience of life.  I gave in to the cell phone and now am proudly an addict as I love sharing the moments of life as they happen with family or being readily available to encourage a friend.  At the same time I am working on sensitivity to the moment.  When everyone in the car is on the phone we miss developing relationships.  The elderly can’t get a word in and often feel left out.  Yesterday I got lost.  This is not a new thing and having a phone is helpful.  Even so I diffused the worry of my precious passengers by referring to the moment as our adventure ride!  We ended up taking pictures of cornfields.  My granddaughter was mesmerized by a field of wild flowers and saw a purple one she had never seen before.  I pulled over and her brother jumped out and picked her some.  We discovered a well.  Older homes with lots of character were described as doll houses and huge modern homes Barbie houses!  I was sad to have to get directions to the interstate before I ran out of gas knowing the adventure would end.  Technology has taken over and moving so fast I know that I will never keep up.  However I am a living being surrounded by gifts of creation.  I never want to wake up one day and find my best friend is a machine that has never tasted a blackberry!