Count Your Blessings

On Monday, I went to my mom’s like I usually do after my stint at radio station True Country 93.5.  I arrived just after nine. It was very cold and had snowed a couple inches overnight so I thought I would shovel the driveway. You never know what might happen and I wanted to make sure the path was clear for any emergencies.

I left my home at four-thirty to travel the icy highway south and, with my mind centered on the conditions of the roads, I had forgotten my mittens. When I arrived I asked my mom if I could borrow hers. She said I could and rolled her wheelchair into her bedroom to fetch them. After donning her heavy sweatshirt over my already warm jacket for extra protection from the bitter wind, she came back and handed me her mittens.

I thought they were going to be the big black mittens with the white fur inside. Apparently, that pair is long gone because she handed me a pair of blue knitted mittens. I was confused and said “These aren’t your black mittens.” She replied “No, these are my mama’s mittens.”

My deceased grandmother, even though blind, had knitted mittens for all of us for many years. Those blue mittens might very well be the last pair in existence. I took them from her and was proud to put them on.

When I did, there was a big hole in one of the thumbs. She said “I’m sorry about the hole.” I told it was no problem and that I didn’t care because they will keep my hands warm while I shovel.

I went outside and it took, maybe, fifteen to twenty minutes to shovel her small and, thankfully, level driveway. I came back in and handed her back the mittens. I held out my hands and showed her “Look, Ma, nice and warm.” She took my hands in hers to confirm I was indeed warm to the touch. She noticed my bracelet and grabbed that hand.

“See that?” she asked me. “Look at mine.” Her hand with her bracelet around her wrist was holding my hand with my bracelet around mine. She had bought hers after watching a Hallmark movie entitled “The Blessing Bracelet”. She pointed to hers which has 4 beads on it and said “I have had a few blessings in my life but you” pointing to mine “have had so many.” She was referring to the number of beads on mine which was an entire bracelet full.

I disagreed. I told her she had had many blessings in her life including her many children that love her…and a mom that made mittens. That made her smile.

I started thinking about what she had said. This week has been a very trying week for me and my family. Lots of things have been going on and they have been difficult to get through. I wouldn’t be getting through them without people in my life that care about me and my family.

And God put them there.

He has put people in my life in so many situations and most of the time I didn’t even know I was going to need them. Family, friends, coworkers, spouses of friends, children of friends, and friends of my child…they have all come forward this week to offer support. I am so thankful for them all.

The 1954 film “White Christmas” has a scene between Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney where she explains she is having trouble sleeping. He sings to her the lyrics of the song 'Count Your Blessings' written by Irving Berlin:

“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep.

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

When my bankroll is gettin’ small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”

Throughout all that’s gone on in the last seven days, one thing that hasn’t changed is saying my prayers before I go to sleep. And I do fall asleep counting my blessings. And I do feel better. And I do feel peace. And I have been blessed. And I am thankful for all God has blessed me with.

So whether it takes a movie, a bracelet or a trial that nudges you to not forget you ARE blessed, remember you blessings. One of my favorite hymns is “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman Jr in 1897 and set to music by Edwin O. Excell:

                        "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

                        When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

                        Count your many blessings, name them one by one

                        And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

                        Count you blessings, name them one by one;

                        Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

                        Count your blessings, name them one by one,

                        And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Count them. Every day. Give thanks for them. Make a habit of it. You WILL feel better. You WILL feel peace. I can testify that it is true. 

True Tales of a Talker #6: The Birthday Girl

 

When people ask me what my favorite holiday is I always answer the same: my birthday. Mine is October 6^th and I love celebrating it! I guess for one day a year it makes me feel special. In my family it marks the beginning of Christmas. Yes, the holiday is still over two months away from that date but I am the only one in my family with a birthday after July if you don’t count my dad’s which is in August. I get to signal the start of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the decorating it brings.

On this particular day, I was calling Medicare for information on how to fix an MSP claim. That’s when another insurance is primary over Medicare. Things have to be just right in order for it to pay.

Gina, the representative, was very nice. It sounded like she was having a good day already. And, being me, I wanted to find out why.

I asked her flat out “Just what has you in such a great mood today?”

She answered back “It’s my birthday!”

I immediately sang the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to her. I refrained from the “Are you 1? Are you 2?” and so on.

She let out a little squeal and thanked me. I could tell she wasn't working from home as so many employees are doing at call centers during the pandemic. She was using her inside voice.

I inquired as to how she was going to celebrate. She was eager to say she celebrates for an entire week. Last week her family took her out for dinner. Another day, her husband spent the entire day with her going to their favorite places. A few nights before the kids had made her favorite for the family dinner. Just last night she went out for drinks with her coworkers.

I was amazed. "You've had quite the week! What do you plan on tonight?"

She took a deep breath and let it out. "To tell you the truth, I hope we just stay home. It's been a wonderful week but I'm kind of tired. A night in with my family relaxing would be the best thing right now."

Totally get you, girl.

She went on to help me with my claim and when we were finished I, again, wished her a very happy birthday.

I have worked on my birthday before. In fact, I remember a long time ago on my 20th birthday I was working at Ames Department Store and, much like I do now, if work needed me I never said no. Well, I can't say NEVER because I am getting better at saying no for the sake of my family and my own sanity. Back then, though, I didn't miss an opportunity to work because we had no money when my first husband and I got married. Minimum wage in 1995 was $4.25 an hour. We needed to make every penny we could.

On my birthday that year, I remember my manager, Mr. Scott Finnemore, calling me and asking me to work. I knew we had a band practice that night (or so I thought). We needed the money more than I needed to practice. I said yes and I told my husband at the time that I was going in. The person covering the front desk called out sick and they had no one.

While I jumped in the shower to get ready, my husband quietly called my workplace and explained the situation. When I came out of the bathroom I got another phone call saying they didn't need me and that the other person was coming in anyway. I thought nothing of it. I asked if they were sure because I would cover for anyone. I didn't mind. He laughed and said "Enjoy your night off." 

We went to a band member's house and it looked like no one was home. We walked into the house and the lights came on. It was a surprise party! I literally had no idea. My husband said "I had to call Ames and tell them you couldn't work tonight. We all had this planned for you." 

The next day when I walked in Mr. Finnemore wished me a belated happy birthday. I thanked him and asked how he knew. He told me that my husband had called in a panic last night and explained everything. "That's why I called you back and said we were covered." He then said "Sharon, what would ever make you think to work on your birthday?" 

I told him what my father always told me.

When you work hard and give 150% every day you WILL be rewarded. Your boss will recognize this and see the dedication you have to your work. Never slack off. You'll be better off for it.

He just looked at me, nodded and said "Okay...but next year you are not working your birthday."

I have used my father's advice every day of my life. It HAS paid off. I think every supervisor I have ever had has realized the good work ethic my parents installed in me from a young age. From working 4 jobs at once to put my first husband through nursing school to still working 4 jobs...somethings never change. Granted 3 of the jobs I have now are per diem: the radio station Cruisin' Country 93.5, the tv station WABI-TV and my band, Sharon Hood & Dixon Road. I have the best full time job in the entire world here at Maine Veterans' Homes. 

And I now take my birthdays off.

 

 

Christmas and The Little Red-Haired Girl

Looking through my parent’s photo albums is one of my favorite things to do when I visit them. I always go back to the one album that has a very specific Christmas. I believe it was in 1980 when I was 6 years old and my little sister, Jenny was almost 5.

On the eve of Christmas, Santa happened to make a surprise visit to our home in the middle of dinner. You can probably tell how excited we were just by thinking about two little girls hearing sleigh bells and a loud "HO! HO! HO!" coming from the next room. We tried to dash to the living room but our mom told us we couldn't until we finished our dinner. That night's dinner, however, was not very appealing to the two of us. When I think about it now I am thankful we even had a dinner but at the time fish sticks were not very appetizing. We weren't to leave the table until our plates were clean. Jenny and I held out...so long that my mother (who in her heart really didn't want us to miss a visit with Santa) finally released us.

Rushing into the living room and seeing Santa sitting in my dad's recliner and his elf standing over his shoulder, I thought they looked an awful lot like our Uncle Charlie and his son. I asked mom is she saw the resemblance and she said no. Santa was asking Jenny what she wanted for Christmas and after talking with her he handed her a candy cane and set her off his lap. He motioned for me to come forward and I jumped up. With the bellowing "Ho, Ho, Ho" he asked me what I wanted as well. I can't remember what I said but I do remember getting the candy cane, too.

That night we were all sound asleep. At least some of us were. Around two o'clock in the morning, our brother, Ray, sisters Jane and Wendy came into our room and tried waking us both up quietly. Telling us to shush and not to wake up mom and dad, they had us leave our warm beds to go and spy on what Santa had left us!

With flashlights in their hands we followed them down the hall to the tree. It was like going into a bank vault to see the many bars of gold. Our eyes were huge as the lights gazed upon the filled everyday socks we used as stockings hanging on the window stool and then to the presents that piled beneath the tree. We must have been really good that year. With nine kids, seven of which still lived at home, there were so many. Jenny and I didn't know where to look first. We saw Jane shake one of the gifts and then we heard Ray make a noise. It was then were heard the ominous voice of my mother:

"GET IN THOSE BEDS!"

We were back to our beds faster than you can say "Dash away all!" Jenny and I were under our blankets thinking we were in so much trouble! After about fifteen minutes, our siblings ventured up from their basement bedrooms again and told us to come with them. I told them I didn't want to go because if we got caught again we might get the wooden spoon! They convinced me otherwise and again we all ventured stealthily into the living room.

They started to shine their lights on other parts of the room where there set four GIANT boxes! We all looked around them for name tags and could only see one: Wendy. I guess we would have to wait until Christmas morning. Just then, one of them made another noise and there was my mother's voice again:

"I SAID GET IN THOSE BEDS!"

That was it. The tone in her voice said she meant business. After that we all never left our beds for the rest of the night.

Hours later, morning arrived and all of us one by one ventured into the living room. The ONLY thing we were allowed to touch was our stockings. Inside the usual fare of candy, toothbrushes and doodads filled them almost to the top. We all wore knee socks so there was a lot to fill. It wasn't until mom had her two cups of coffee and put on her Santa hat that it was time for presents. She would sit near the tree, take a present and call out the name of whose it was. She would either hand it off to the person, the person would go and get it or she would toss it over to them. That year there were a lot to get through. 

We all had fun and used a giant black trash bag for all of the wrapping paper. The four huge boxes still remained. And for those boxes Dad wanted to be the one to hand those out. Dad called out Wendy's name first and she opened it up and it was a brand new state of the art stereo from Sears. It had a record player, AM/FM radio and cassette deck. She was so excited! Ray was called next and he revealed the same thing. Jane opened her box and, of course, the same exact stereo system was inside. But who was the last box for? There was no name on it.

Many years before, our sister Audrey had made a best friend of a young redheaded girl who lived a few streets away. Ever since, Trish has been a part of our family as well as her siblings. She came by for dinner usually on Mondays. Every Monday was spaghetti night and my mother made a huge metal bowl of it. I remember her taking a massive knife and cutting through the pile of it so it was cut into quarters. It was easier to serve and eat that way. Every now and then Trish would be wearing a white blouse and, inevitably, spaghetti would find its way onto it. They teased her about it but it was done with love. They would tell her “Don’t wear white on Mondays!” Trish was sweet and fun and we all loved her. Still do.

That Christmas morning, our mother called her house and asked her to come over. Trish came by and, being the very polite person she was, said “Merry Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Everlith!” She still greets them the same way. I think my parents thought it was always good to have another kid in the house especially when they were as nice as Trish.

When we were all gathered in the living room my father explained to her that Santa had left one of her presents at our house. It was the last big box. She was so surprised she didn’t know what to say. We all knew what was in it and I remember Jenny and myself giggling because we knew she would love it. Santa had thought of everything!

She ripped the paper and opened the top of the box to reveal the brand new stereo. She had no words. It may have been thirty-nine years ago but I still remember her happy tears. She gave a big hug to our mom and dad and kept saying “thank you”. Audrey says she thinks they carried the stereo all the way back to her house on foot. 

I remember us many times not having a lot but I never remember a time when I ever wanted for anything. My parents taught me at a young age three very important lessons: to be thankful for what I had, never be too proud to ask for help when needed and to give back when I could. Those are lessons that I have never forgotten and all of us have never forgotten that Christmas day.

A Quick Tip In Preparing for Black Friday

It’s the same every year:

You can’t remember that toy you wanted to get for your child. You recall seeing it on the shelf once and saying “I’ve got to get that for little Tommy for Christmas!”

Then on Black Friday you’re racking your brain for that particular item.

Poor Tommy.

It used to happen to me all the time but I have a quick tip that has solved my problem.

Use your cellphone.

I’m not kidding.

When I see something and can’t pick it up right away, I enter it on my cellphone.

On the date of Black Friday, I enter the child’s name and the toy/object/clothing I want to purchase. This way when I am searching the web for the best discounts, I know what I’m looking for. I have even included my husband in the process. I tell him if he sees anything he wants to get the kids or if they tell him something they would really like--to let me know.  I plug it into the date on my calendar and it’s all there! This works for birthdays, too!

Some use their notepad feature or other app on their phone but I find my calendar is the easiest way.

I will make the suggestion of routinely backing up your phone. If it’s good for your contacts, it’s good for your lists!