Kidnapped!!!

Mable is missing. Kidnapped! Can you believe it? This is the sort of thing that you hear about on the 10:00 news. You read about it in the morning paper. It doesn’t happen to someone you know. It doesn’t happen to someone you care about. How could this happen to Mable? How could this happen to us?

I haven’t known Mable long, less than two years. In that short time she has become a trusted friend. We have gone everywhere together. Her familiar voice puts me at ease, and I enjoy her company. Mable does most of the talking when we are alone together. She is always thinking of me. She helps me feel confident and safe. She is great with directions, and since I can get lost in a parking lot, I rely on her whenever she is with me.

Friend-husband always knows where he is going, but my brain does not work that way. I have a wonderful brain, by the way, but I am (gasp) directionally challenged. For that reason alone, I am always delighted to have Mable with me.

Surprisingly, Friend husband made friends with Mable first. I wasn’t very interested in Mable, but he could see her strengths. To me she seemed a little transparent, and maybe a little cocky. I make friends easily, though, and before I knew it, Mable and I were growing close.

Friend-husband and I invited Mable along often. We introduced her to friends and family. They enjoyed getting to know Mable. She became their friend. She loves to travel, and was often invited along. They will be devastated to hear the news, but no one will miss her as much as I will.

Mable has gotten me out of many a tight spot. She was with me in every storm. Her vision was clear. Her advice was flawless. Well almost. I’m not sure how I will manage without her. I will make new friends, but can they take her place? I just don’t know.

You see, I’m on the road a lot, and Mable was our helpful friend. Mable was our Garmin GPS. She was stolen from our car yesterday. Kidnapped. I wonder if she put up a fight. I wonder if she is frightened. Will she feel lost and alone? Will she miss us?

I wish I knew where she was. I suppose she will make new friends. I hope they will take good care of her. Whatever will we do without her? I miss her already.

Recalculating. Recalculating.

Linda Garner

Believe

Not being very sportsy, I haven’t played basketball much. A few days ago I got to watch my 12 years old grandson participate in a basketball camp. It was very interesting to watch. The boys were divided into groups of four with a high school mentor helping them with their skills. There was much attention to detail, such as how to hold your elbow when you shoot; when and how to use your toes; which muscles contribute to the power in your shot. Playing basketball is more than just accidental talent. It takes skills which can be carefully cultivated.

Life takes skills too; skills that can be carefully cultivated. I thought how nice it would be if we could have a little life skills camp. We could divide into groups of four with a carefully chosen mentor and we could practice our skills in classes like Courage For Beginners, Intermediate Trust, or Confidence 101. We could include things like how to deal with disappointment; how to keep trying when we feel like giving up; how to get along with difficult people.

Sometimes life is hard. We may struggle because we have been hurt. Maybe we have been told that we are not good enough. We may struggle under a burden of criticism, doubt, and blame. If we accept this negative programming, the battle will be long and there will be no victors. Perhaps we could learn in our life skills camp how to believe in ourselves; how to enjoy the journey; how to choose again.

Sometimes the enemy is within. We battle our own high expectations, often coming up short. We demand a degree of perfection that we cannot deliver. We may grapple with guilt, feelings of worthlessness, and shadowy fears. We beat ourselves up when we could be building ourselves up. We can be our own worst enemy. Wouldn’t you love a life skills camp that would teach us how to release our negative programming, how to love and support ourselves; how to be true to ourselves; how to remember who we really are.

I once read that most of our programming, both positive and negative, happens by the age of three. It sounds like we have been carrying those negative beliefs for a very long time. Isn’t it time for a change?

Do something kind for yourself today. Be willing to change some of that negative programming. Believe in yourself. Believe that you are good enough. Be your own best friend.

Believe.

Linda Garner

Happy Valentine's Day

Since I will be out of town on Valentine’s Day, Friend-husband and I decided to celebrate last night. Our first choice, Hale Center Theater, was sold out, so we perused the current movie selection and came up dry. We opted for a cozy dinner at home followed by a game night. The games we enjoy are of the old-fashioned non-electronic type. You may find that boring, but we find it comfortable and relaxing. Incidentally, Friend-husband cooked my favorite dinner. Isn’t he sweet?

I love that Friend-husband and I still love spending time together after nearly 37 years together. When Friend-husband retired 2 years ago, we began spending 24/7 together and never got tired of it. Lately we have both filled up some of that together time with things we do separately. We both love what we are doing, but we miss our time together. Today’s softly falling snow reminded me of our first date.

Friend-husband and I were attending what was then called Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. We had met briefly just before Christmas break when my roommate had invited two handsome friends for dinner. She was leaving for good at semester break and wanted to say thank-you to them for their kindness to her. I was instantly attracted to you-know-who, but it would be a few weeks before we would see each other again.

When next we met, it was standing in long lines at registration. College registration at that time did not involve a computer, it involved standing in a line for every class you wanted to take. When you reached the head of the line, you took a card from the stack and that was what you turned in to register for the class. In one of those long lines I found myself face to face with …well, you know, and would you believe it, he didn’t even remember me. I was crushed.

Later that afternoon, he got his memory back and called me for a date. Whoopee!! He invited me to Church in Ashton, where his parents lived. He was singing a solo (Did I forget to mention that he has a wonderful tenor voice?) and I was delighted to join the congregation. Winters in Ashton, a few miles north of Rexburg, can be quite harsh. In January, there is always snow and when the wind blows interesting things happen. After church he took me home to meet his family and we spent a happy evening playing games. Yes, of course, the non-electronic kind. (This was 37 years ago, remember?)

That night, the softly falling snow connected with a not so gentle winter breeze and we were SNOWED IN on our first date. Yes, WE SPENT THE NIGHT TOGETHER on our very first date. Now if you’re thinking something naughty, you can think again, because it was all very clean. That night was the beginning of something wonderful. Friend-husband and I were married four months later. He is my sweetheart. He is my very best friend. He is wonderful to me and I am so happy that he is part of my life.

I hope that you are blessed to have a best friend like mine, and I wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day with someone you love.

Linda Garner