Read it for yourself

So very nice to have an inquisitive and quiet little visitor in the office this Friday afternoon. This jumping spider was exploring the bulletin board behind my computer, checking out my Christmas cards, photos of grandchildren and friends, playing hide-and-seek in my bookmarks, and flashing its green eyes at me. After the bulletin board it moved on to travel the length of the red telephone cord, checked out the desk light, and traversed the top edge of the computer monitor. 

When it hopped down near my empty Solo cup we stared at each other.  "Wouldn't you prefer to be outside?, " I asked by spidey telepathy, and popped the plastic lid over the little guy. 

With the spider safely in the cup and the lid on top, we headed out. But, wait! There on the linoleum  in the next room was another exploring spider the same size. I let my tiny visitor out of the paper cup and the two of them ran off together.

If you are curious, check things out at your local library!

© 2013-2019 Nancy L. Ruder

Chicken house under construction

Scanning, scanning scanning. Another photo album digitized. A grandfather I never knew reduced to pixels in case a future generation might possibly wonder. Adolph Mastalir's chicken house in Pierce, Nebraska under construction, and Adolph with sawhorse and chicken. My dad's writing, "MY DAD Chicken house under construction," makes me a tiny bit weepy.  Enter the Rhode Island Red rooster.



My paternal grandparents, Adolph and Halma Mastalir from the photo album pages.

 

Put a little memorial in your Memorial Day weekend if you are fortunate enough to have time off work.


© 2013-2019 Nancy L. Ruder

Scanning self-compassion

The person I was 25 years ago went through an outer ring of Hades, and I am cutting her some slack.

Mother's Day is a time to appreciate our moms, and thank the daughters-in-law who are amazing moms for our grandchildren. Today I am also sending a little cosmic white light and pink bubbles to the young woman who raised my three sons to be responsible citizens of the world. She made many mistakes and had some skewed priorities. She let the guys eat way to many yogurt-covered raisins and watch an excessive number of Ninja Turtle cartoons. She did not shield them from current events. She let them wear camouflage and play with toy guns. Worst of all, she didn't keep them up-to-date with dental check-ups.

Today I've scanned another two photo albums and a vacation album from the years of her mismanagement. Some pages bring up pain, and some bring up accusations. Over all, though, I see a mother who needs a big dose of self-compassion.

© 2013-2019 Nancy L. Ruder