My Brother Tom's Official Obituary

Moncks Corner, SC - Thomas Emmit "Tom" Batchelor, 77, husband of Jayne Batchelor, passed away peacefully in his home on December 24, 2016, after a long illness.

A native of Blacksburg, SC, Tom was born on October 12, 1939, a son of Robert Thomas and Mabel Giles Batchelor. He was a US Navy Veteran and also a long time employee of the Department of Defense at the Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek, SC.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons,Thomas E. Batchelor, Jr. (wife Cindy) and Robert A. Batchelor, both of Moncks Corner, SC, granddaughters Patricia, Erica, Robin and Nikki and several great-grandchildren. Tom also had three sisters, Miniver, Alice, and Debbie. Two brothers, Howard and Gene, preceded him in death. There are several nieces and nephews.

Tom was a life member of Old Fort Masonic Lodge and was a member of Omar Shrine Temple for many years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

Memorial will be held at a later date.

Services provided by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation and Burial Services.

Remembering My Brother, Tom

My brother, Tom, died today.  Here are some happier of his days to remember.

Two of my brothers, Tom and Gene, and my older sister, Miniver - early 1950s

My brother, Tom, with his son, Tom.

Tom's sons, Tom and Bobby

Two of my brothers, Howard and Tom - 1990s

Two of my sons, Marcus and Eric, and my brother, Tom - Late 1980s

Tom - Early 1980s

My brother, Tom - 2014

Absent Alice

Dear Readers,

My apologies for being absent the past couple of days.  I will be back writing more blogs for you when I can.  

My last living brother is in the process of losing his fight with cancer.  I'll be spending all my free time with him these last days he is with us.  

If you are a praying person, please pray.  If you are not a praying person, please think good and loving thoughts for my dear brother.  I love him so....

Thank you,

-Alice

Movie Clip Today - White Christmas

This is just a short movie clip.  It is the song, White Christmas, from the movie White Christmas.  You can buy the movie HERE if you like, but click below to enjoy the song. 

I love this movie.  It is perhaps my favorite of all the Christmas movies.

Christmas Movie (3)

For the next few days I thought I'd share links to some of my very favorite Christmas movies.  This is the first one.

I watch these movies every year.  The quality of this one today is not that good, but it is watchable.

The movies are all better on DVD or Blu Ray or Netflix, etc.  If you prefer to buy this movie, click HERE.  But if you don't mind lesser quality viewing and you missed it on television recently, click the link below to watch it on YouTube.  Enjoy!

Miracle on 34th Street (1954)


Kris Kringle makes us all believe in Santa Claus.

There are several versions of this movie.  This is the 1955 version and not my favorite.  My favorite version is the 1947 version, but I couldn't find a good video of that one to share with you.  You can buy a DVD of the 1947 version HERE.

Christmas Movie (2)

For the next few days I thought I'd share links to some of my very favorite Christmas movies.  This is the first one.

I watch these movies every year.  The quality of this one today is not that good, but it is watchable.

The movies are all better on DVD or Blu Ray or Netflix, etc.  If you prefer to buy this movie, click HERE.  But if you don't mind lesser quality viewing and you missed it on television recently, click the link below to watch it on YouTube.  Enjoy!

A Christmas Carol: Scrooge (1951)
Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison

Scrooge spends Christmas Eve with three spirits determined to change his life.

There are several versions of this movie.  This is the first and one of my very favorites.

Christmas Movies (1)

For the next few days I thought I'd share links to some of my very favorite Christmas movies.  This is the first one.

I watch these movies every year.  The quality of this one today is not that good, but it is watchable.

The movies are all better on DVD or Blu Ray or Netflix, etc.  If you prefer to buy this movie, click HERE.  But if you don't mind lesser quality viewing and you missed it on television recently, click the link below to watch it on YouTube.  Enjoy!

It's a Wonderful Life

George Bailey wishes he was never born and discovers that his life really did have meaning.

Happy Birthday to My Eldest Son, Dave!!!

It was mid-December. 1973. I was extremely pregnant and still had nearly two weeks until my due date, but that December night it decided to snow, and my baby Dave decided he wanted to see it.

So early that next morning, we made our mad dash to the nearest town where there was a hospital, and by that afternoon we had a son!  A beautiful, tiny, and healthy baby boy, and my life has never been the same.

Dave brought the kind of joy into my life that only a child can bring.  He was so much work!  I had no idea.  I also never knew you could love another person so utterly, totally, completely, and fiercely! A mother's love for her child is a very special thing.

Dave was my first.  My only for just over two years.  He was my world when I was young, and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Today is his birthday!!  My son's birthday!  

I used to do treasure hunts for my sons on their birthdays after they learned to read.  I'd hide little gifts with notes that had clues where they'd find the next gift.  The last gift was the "real" gift, of course, but they sure loved finding all the little things.  I'd wake up those mornings to the sound of little feet running back and forth through the house hunting.  They liked the hunt as much as the gifts most times.  I miss those birthdays.  

I was fortunate enough to be with Dave on his birthday last year, and I hope to be with him next year, but this year I'll have to settle for a phone call today.  

Happy Birthday Dave!!  Don't forget to blow out some candles and make a wish!  Birthday wishes always come true.

I LOVE YOU!!!

Dave's birthday cake one year ago.

Now I have to share one of my very favorite birthday photos of Dave from his childhood.  Just because this picture makes me so happy when I look at it.  (See below.)

Dave is sitting in one of my Mama's red dining room chairs in her old house. We had many many many family meals sitting in those red chairs at that dining room table.  Dave loved going to his Grandmama's house.  

It seemed at the time like those days would last forever, but they were gone all too soon.  (NOTE TO SELF: Be sure to cherish each day.  Life will change again...and again...and again...all too soon.)

On this particular day, the day this picture was taken, Dave turned three years old.  He was overjoyed with his birthday cake I baked him!  Just look at that face.  Precious.

Sometimes it's really good to remember. 

Face Shapes

Most of us have heard of horoscopes and palmistry, but did you know that your face shape also means something? Did you know that face reading is a thing?

I've been thinking about this lately. 

A long time ago I discovered that I like round and/or square faces.  I'm not sure why, but I know it is true.  Maybe it's because my father had such a face. Maybe it's because most of the family members I love best have such a face. Maybe I fell in love with Elvis at a young age and never truly got over it.  Dunno, but I do know I find this shape face attractive. 

So...

I decided to do some research, and guess what I discovered? 

Yup.  Face shape has meaning and face reading really is a thing.

Here are the most common face shapes:

and here's what they mean:

Oblong Shaped Face

1. Philosophical
2. Analytical
3. Adventurous
4. Knowledge seeking
5. Intelligent

Oval Shaped Face

1. Diplomatic
2. Reserved
3. Charming
4. Perfectionist
5. Bold

Round Shaped Face

1. Reflective
2. Smart
3. Caring
4. Dreamer
5. Intuitive

Rectangular Shaped Face

1. Logical
2. Planner
3. Managerial
4. Honest
5. Justice seeking

Square Shaped Face

1. Practical
2. Conservative
3. Reliable
4. Energetic
5. Leader

Triangular Shaped Face

1. Hot-tempered
2. Extrovert
3. People-person
4. Fun loving
5. Creative

Diamond Shaped Face

1. Authoritative
2. Temperamental
3. Confident
4. Unpredictable
5. Perfectionist

Inverted Triangle Shaped Face

1. Quick thinker
2. Self-analytic
3. Sincere
4. Ambitious
5. Independent

Heart Shaped Face

1. Generous
2. Loving
3. Idealistic
4. Responsible
5. Intellectual 

If I like round and square faces, you'd think I'd also like the qualities those people have, but if I had to pick qualities, I think I should like Heart Shaped faces the best because I think I would like to be around people with those qualities.  BUT, alas, I don't really find those face shapes attractive.

Hmm...this may explain why I remain single.  😉

Also, before I go this morning, one last thing:
 
Hand reading is called Palmistry.  Face reading is called Physiognomy.  Did you know this?  

I'm RICH!!! Okay...maybe not...ugh...SPAM.

Today I read some of my spam.  The first one said:

DEBT RECOVERY COMMITTEE
FUND CLEARING HOUSE LONDON

UNCLAIMED FUND NOTIFICATION

I am Mr David Louw of the Debt Recovery Committee (DRC). My committee has the mandate to recover unpaid debts associated with contracts, lottery fund, inheritance fund, loans and grants etc ranging from $1M - $ 19.5m owed to various beneficiaries across the globe (Asia, Europe, USA, Africa, and Australia) and submit the list of the unpaid beneficiaries to the appointed official paying Banks for immediate payment of the fund.

In the course of our investigation, your email address / particulars were listed among the first fifteen yet to be paid hence this email.
However, we received a petition yesterday from one Mrs. Christina Morgan that you are dead. According to her, you died in a plane crash therefore that the fund be paid to her as the heir apparent. She has submitted her Bank account with FNB for the transfer of the fund to her.

To avoid undue delay or paying the fund to wrong beneficiary, I have decided to contact you for confirmation. If I fail to hear from you after 72 hours, it will be assumed the petition of Mrs. Morgan is true and the fund will be paid to her without further delay.

Therefore, if you are still alive, reconfirm your particulars as stated below and send immediately ,

1. Full Name: ____________________________ 2. Address: ______________________________ 3. Nationality: ____________ Sex___________ 4. Date of Birth: ________ 5. Occupation: ___________________________ 6. Phone: _______ Fax: _____________________ 7. State of Origin: _______ Country: _______

Yours Sincerely,
Mr. David Louw.
Reply to this email: iinfo488@gmail.com
Fund Clearing House London
+44 703 194 9292

---

Now. I ask you. Who is this Mrs. Christina Morgan going around telling people I am dead??? AND why in the world would she submit her bank account information to this Mr. David Louw of Debt Recovery committee (DRC) in London?? That seems crazy.

Also, if this David was given my email address and particulars, why does he not know my name?

-sigh-

I'd really like for one of these to be true sometime. If you Google "Debt Recovery Committee (DRC)" the first hits are about SCAMS. Go figure.

Same thing with "Fund Clearing House London." Sad. Just sad.

I do find it interesting that the phone number is in a USA format with +44 plopped in front of it. That is odd. A real London phone number would look something like this +44 (0)20 7646 0400.

---

Sometimes I get real email that accidentally goes into my SPAM folder. That happened today too. I subscribe to Bruce Cameron's column.  It started:

The Cameron Column – An Answer to my Emails

A Free column sent electronically to everyone and also telepathically to a reader in Roswell, New Mexico.

Yes, we would love more subscribers!  Please pass this column along and tell people signing up is as easy as clicking Here. (NOTE: You want to subscribe.)

---

Most of the time  my spam is someone trying to sell me something...or someone trying to get my money for nothing, but I do get the odd Russian mail order bride emails and such.  Those are fun to read.  Then there's the hackers trying to get into my computer stuff.  Always something.

SPAM tip.  NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER answer spam.  Resist!  You'll be glad you did. 

If you answer spam, they will sell your email address to advertisers and other people who want to target you.  Then you'll find your spam mailbox looking like this:

I've learned over the years to just delete everything in the SPAM folder every single day.  You should too.  Look to make sure none of it is real and then delete the rest.  Always.  Everyday.

James Island Country Park Christmas Lights - James Island, South Carolina

Charleston, SC has been my home for over 21 years now, and most of those years I've visited James Island County Park at Christmastime to see their Christmas Lights. 

They call it the Holiday Festival of Lights.  Please go HERE for more information. But here are their hours and admission prices for you:

---

The Holiday Festival of Lights is open every evening - "rain or shine" - from November 11th to January 1st.

Hours

• Sunday - Thursday: 5:30 - 10 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 5:30 - 11 p.m.

Admission

• 1-15 guests: $20 per vehicle, $15 per vehicle Monday-Thursday with donation*
• 16-30 guests: $40 Monday-Thursday, $50 Friday-Sunday
• 31+ guests: $100 Monday-Thursday, $150 Friday-Sunday

*Monday - Thursday, get into the festival for only $15 per vehicle (1-15 guests) with the donation of a canned food item or dog/cat food to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank.

---

Their display grows bigger and brighter every year, and they have shops that sell the cutest Christmas things.  

For the past decade or so I've been going with a group of girlfriends that I used to work with at the Medical University of South Carolina back in the late 1990s.  We always have a good time.  

Here are a few photos, but you'll need to go see it for yourself to really appreciate it.

\

Yes.  This is a sand sculpture!

You can see more and better images HERE.  Enjoy!

McAdenville, NC = Christmas Town, USA

From the time I was a teenager until I was 40 years old, I remember going to McAdenville, North Carolina at Christmastime to see the lights. 

The traffic is horrendous, but the lights are spectacular and worth the wait - especially if you have little ones whose eyes reflect joy along with all the colors and twinkles. 

McAdenville wasn't always a Christmas town. Originally it was just a quiet little mill town in Gaston County, North Carolina.  If you travel from South Carolina on Interstate 85 towards Charlotte, you'll see the exit. I find its history fascinating.  

Back in 1956 they decided to decorate a few outdoor trees.  I've always been told that the mill owners pay the electricity bill for the town during the month of December, but I don't know how true that is.  I do know that the mill owners have always played a part in the decorating of the town.  

Everyone loved and enjoyed seeing the first trees decorated so much that the next year they decorated more...and the next year more...and the next year more...until it has morphed into "Christmas Town, USA" as it appears today.

Some of the trees they decorate are up to 90 feet high!  It is certainly a beautiful sight.  Children of all ages delight in seeing the lights. More and more people go every year, I am told, so expect delays, but go if you can.  It is always FREE, and FREE is always the right price.  For more information click HERE.

I sure hope to go again sometime myself.  It truly is lovely.

Our Christmas Ghost: A True Ghost Story

It was Christmastime in 1977. I had two young sons and was expecting my third.  My husband was working late that night.  My sons were finally asleep, and I was in the living room, a new addition to our home, when it happened.

That year we had a HUGE Christmas tree.  It was too big for a regular stand, so we had it secured in a large container of water and literally wired to the studs in the walls in the corner of the living room.  It was beautiful.

There was no earthquake that year.  No wind inside the house.  No inside cats or dogs to make the tree do that, but I promise you, this happened.

As I was watching the television, I saw that Christmas tree shudder out of the corner of my eye.  I shrugged it off thinking that could NOT have happened, but then it shook!  It stood there and shook of its own accord with nobody touching it.

I stood up and took about two steps, when SNAP!  Something popped LOUD, and that tree fell, just as pretty as you please.  Glass ornaments shattered everywhere.

My first thought was to run and make sure the boys were still asleep in their beds.  I knew it would upset them terribly to see the tree down like that, and they might cut themselves on all that glass.

I checked on them and they were sleeping soundly, which made no sense as the tree falling was LOUD, but there they lay.  Sound asleep.  Thankfully.

I grabbed the broom and started the clean-up.

By the time my husband got home, I had most of the debris cleaned, but I was fairly pregnant and unable to pick up that big tree by myself, so he had to help me with that.  Together we stood the tree back up and he examined the wires that had secured the tree to the walls.  He had at first told me he thought a wire probably just somehow came undone, but that was not the case.  The wire looked like it had been cut.  One end was still attached to the wall and the other was still attached to the tree, but the wire was cut in two right in the middle.

My husband said, "Why did you cut the wire?"  Which, of course, I did NOT do.  He said there is no way that could have happened.  I agreed but reminded him that it did happen.

We proceeded to re-secure and re-decorate the Christmas tree, so our sons would not see it broken.

That was the first crazy thing that happened in that living room at Christmastime.  It was NOT the last.

You see, that living room was built from salvaged lumber from an old house that was torn down in Grover, North Carolina about that time.  My husband got the lumber for free and built the room himself.  He was handy like that.  We thought it was a good deal until the strange things started.  Luckily they only happened around the holidays, so most of the time the room was fine.

The next year my husband lost a favorite glove.  It was very cold that winter.  We looked EVERYWHERE, and I do mean everywhere.  Under furniture.  In drawers.  In closets.  In cabinets.  In the boys' toy box.  Everywhere.  Nope.  The glove was not to be found.

The next morning after we tore the whole house apart searching for the glove, I walked into the living room and there it lay in the middle of the floor.  Totally covered in mud.  All the doors were locked.  All the windows were closed and locked.  No animals in the house.  No clue how the glove got there, but my husband was sure glad to see it.

The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I had goosebumps all over my body when I saw that glove.  There is NO WAY that could have happened.

In 1980 we built a new house on our property, and our old living room became a storage building.

Then one night in the waning of the year that building burned down.  We lost everything we had stored there in the fire.  Baby furniture.  Bicycles. Tricycles. Tools. Clothing. Toys. Etc etc etc.  They were never able to figure out what started the fire.  It went up in such a blaze!  That room was very near the forest.  There were trees within feet of it.  None of the trees burned.  It was the oddest thing.

Years later we heard tales of how that old house in Grover, NC was haunted.  How somebody died there around Christmastime.  Now, whether or not that is true, I do not know, but I do know that strange things happened in that room that was built from the lumber of that old Grover house.

Haunted?  Did the ghost follow all that was left of its home?  You decide.  I don't much like to think about it.  -shudder-

NOTE:  I had already moved most of the gifts to get to the glass bits, and swept up all the broken glass I could find before I thought of snapping a photo, but you can see how the tree fell.  Almost all of the glass ornaments fell off of it.  What a mess!!!

Happy Birthday to My Daddy in Heaven!

Today would have been my father's 116th birthday if he were still alive.  He was born December 9, 1900.

I always remember Daddy on his birthday.

Daddy used to tell me stories of how things were when he was just a boy.  I didn't believe half of them at the time because I just couldn't imagine things like that.  Later in life I realized that he was telling me the truth.

Daddy said when he was little all the roads in Blacksburg, SC were dirt roads.  Just imagine!!  

The first time Daddy told me this we were standing on a hill looking at the two huge dirt roads that cut off the access of our favorite route to Shelby, NC.  Two HUGE dirt roads as far as the eye could see.  

Those dirt roads became Interstate 85 that runs from Charlotte to Atlanta and beyond on both sides of those cities, but at that time in my life I didn't understand the history I was witnessing.  I didn't understand what those dirt roads would bring. I had never been to a big city.  I had never really seen much traffic.

When I was a little girl, Independence Blvd in Charlotte was just a regular two lane street that went through neighborhoods.  I'm guessing if I said that to my granddaughters they'd probably not be able to picture it, like I couldn't picture Blacksburg with only dirt streets.

We live history every day, and most of the time we just don't pay attention, or we don't realize we're witnessing something important.  Hindsight is much clearer than the present. 

My Daddy would be amazed to see Charlotte and Rock Hill today.  

I wish he had lived to see computers.  He would have LOVED computers, and I'm betting he would have been able to fix them with no problems at all.  Daddy could fix anything electronic.  His mind worked that way.  People would marvel at how he understood things like that.  I tended to take it for granted.  Daddy was just like that.

Daddy was the eldest of ten children.  Can you imagine the responsibility that was placed on him as he was growing up?  It boggles the mind to think about it, but I'm sure Daddy took it all in stride.  He was like that too.

Yes.  I'm remembering my Daddy today.  I sure hope he's having a Happy Birthday up in heaven with all his siblings right now!  They are all there with him.  All ten.  I miss them and think of them often.  

Life is like that.  Constantly changing.

Here is a photo of Daddy with his Mama and Daddy and an Aunt and half his siblings.  The other five siblings were not yet born when this photo was taken.  

Daddy is the boy standing beside his Mama behind Aunt Jeanette and Aunt Paulene.  I love this picture.  I never met either of my grandfathers as they both died before I was born, but I can see that I look like this grandfather.  I would have liked to have known him.

I wonder which of Daddy's birthdays was next when this photo was taken?  I wonder....

All these people are in heaven now celebrating today with my Daddy.  It comforts me to think of him surrounded by all the people he loved so much.

NOTE FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTERS: The lady in the dark skirt and white blouse is MY Grandma Alice.

Alone During the Holidays? How to NOT Be Lonely.

The holidays are a time of family and friends, but many many people find themselves alone during the holidays.  

This can be the loneliest and saddest time of the year.  I've seen it so many times.

My dog, Buster, was a registered Therapy Dog.  We visited a nursing home and rehab facility for seven years before Buster's death in December 2013.  Each of those years at Christmastime some of the patients would be very sad and lonely. Buster was really good at cheering them up.  They always had a smile for him and a story for me about the dogs they have loved and the people they missed.

They were happy to see Buster and me, but we were not really the people they wanted to see.  They wanted their family and friends. 

Please take a few minutes to call and/or visit your loved ones this year, especially the ones who are older and alone.  Being alone during the holidays can be a terrible thing.

Me?  I'm almost always alone, but I am seldom lonely.  I have my good dogs to keep me company, but I admit I will always miss my sons.  Always.  Any day that they visit is a very happy day.  

Here are some things that always cheer me up if find myself alone and feeling lonely.  You might want to try a few of these things yourself.  They work any time of year, but are especially helpful during the holidays.

1. Take a walk and say, "Hello!" or "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Holidays!" to all you pass.
2. Visit a dog park.  Watching the dogs in their joy of playing and exploring is bound to cheer you up.
3. Take a drive around nearby neighborhoods and look at Christmas lights.
4. Go downtown or to the mall and window shop.  Smile at other shoppers and ask their opinions.
5. Listen to Christmas music from your childhood.
6. Go to church or visit a church.  Visiting a church of a different denomination or faith can leave you with a feeling of wonder and give you a lot to think about.
7. Attend a Christmas parade and watch the faces of the little children in the crowd.
8. Call an old friend or family member that you have not talked with in a very long time.
9. Read a good book.
10. Watch all your old favorite Christmas movies on TV or DVD.
11. Go see a new Christmas movie in your local theater.
12. Go see a play in a local theater, if possible.
13. Find an organization you want to support and volunteer.  (Examples: your local SPCA, Meals on Wheels, a food pantry, a homeless shelter, etc.)
14. Go to a karaoke bar and sing!
15. Go hear live music.  (ALWAYS a treat!) OR play your own live music if you play an instrument. (Playing my mountain dulcimer is food for my soul.)
16. Enjoy your favorite coffee shop or go enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in your local bookstore.  Being among the living, even if you don't know anyone, should make you feel better.  You might even make a new friend!
17. "Talk" to your Facebook friends.  If you are not on Facebook, open an account!
18. Write a journal.  It will show you how you are feeling.
19. Take a class of your choice.  I love to take pottery classes, art classes, meditation classes, dog training classes, music classes, etc., but academic classes are good too!
20. If all else fails, clean your house.  That will take your mind off your troubles for a little while.

Just keep busy.  Try to enjoy yourself.  Be your own best friend.  I've often found that life sends me the proper people when I need them, and when I really need to be alone (whether I want to be alone or not), I find myself alone and it has always been the absolute best thing.  Always.

Life brings us what we need.  Enjoy what you have right now because it will not last.  Nothing ever lasts.  Life is about change, so we should cherish each experience as it comes, learn from it, and let it go. 

Have a blessed holiday season!  Merry Christmas!  Happy Hanukkah!  Joyous Kwanzaa!  Happy Yuletide!  Happy Holidays!

AND a very Happy New Year!

An Old South Carriage Company Christmas - Circa 1997

I'm still thinking about Christmas parties.

Not too long ago a friend of mine told me I made him very angry at this particular Christmas Party (pictured below) held in the College of Charleston's Blacklock House.  

That friend is a very gifted singer.  He was singing Christmas carols at the party and it seems I decided to join in and sing with him.  He said he was very angry with me for a long time because I did that.  

I said, "So...we were at a Christmas party and you got mad at me for singing Christmas carols."  We both laughed.  I didn't remember that he was mad at me.  Which makes me wonder how many other people are mad at me at any given time.  Hmm....

Anyway, I had a great time at the Christmas party with my friends, so I thought I'd share.

Christmas in Rockville, South Carolina - Circa 1996

When I first moved to Charleston, SC, I met a good many people who had sailboats.  I used to go sailing with friends every Sunday afternoon.  Their boats were kept in the old Navy Base Marina in North Charleston.  It was a fun time.

The sailing people all knew one another.  

Every year there is a big regatta in Rockville, South Carolina in the late summer, but unless I'm terribly mistaken, I think these same sailing people also get together in Rockville at Christmastime for a covered dish party.

The photo below was taken in Rockville around 1996 at such a Christmas party.  That is about all the details I remember about the photo.  I do remember that I was dressed as an elf (hard to forget that).  The little girl is the Grinch's daughter, and the woman who was his wife at the time is still one of my best friends.  The daughter grew up and is now an attorney in Georgia, I believe.  She is still just as beautiful today.

My life has changed so much since this photo was taken.  Sometimes I miss the woman I was then.  I had so much more energy and life was more than work/home work/home.  I feel so blessed to have had the joy and privilege of living those days.  

I sure hope my retirement next year brings happy days like this.

A Wonderful Life

Every year I watch the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," and every year I wonder, "Has my life made a difference?"

It always amazes me when people remember me, but I know they do.  I've worked in education most of my adult life, so I've come in contact with literally thousands of people.  For the most part, they are only a sea of faces that have passed through my life, but some of them stand out.  Some of them have changed my outlook or given me things to think about.

Have I helped them?  Have I somehow influenced them?

Sometimes just the people I pass on the street influence me.  I see their faces.  I hear their voices.  The ones I remember. 

Back in 1995 or 1996 I was in the Charleston Christmas Parade with a lot people who were close friends at the time.  We were dressed in mid-1800s clothing. Hoop skirts and the like.

As we walked along the parade route, a little boy (about 5 years old) touched my skirt and said, "You look good."  It was such a sincere compliment.  It made me smile.  I smile every time I think about it, and it always lifts my spirits.  What a lovely gift he gave me! 

Something as simple as that can change a life.

I wonder if a simple word from me has soothed someone now and then, or do my words generally sting?  

I think to myself, if I had not been born, then my sons would not have been born, and my granddaughters would not have been born.  

Maybe their souls would have been born as different people.  Their lives better or maybe worse. 

At any rate, because I was born, they were born and each life they have touched is because I was born and chose to have and raise children.  This means my life has touched many many many lives through my sons and granddaughters.

The same could be said of all my ancestors.  If not for their choices, I would not be here.

It is a lot to think about.  I'll think about it awhile yet, but right now I'll simply remember the sweet compliment of a little boy, smile, and wonder how many lives that little boy has touched by now.  I'm betting he has done great things so far.

The Citadel's 79th Annual Christmas Candlelight Services at Summerall Chapel

Tonight, Sunday, December 4, 2016, will be this year's final performance of The Citadel's Annual Christmas Candlelight Service at Summerall Chapel on The Citadel campus at 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29401.

Try to go if you missed Friday night's service.  You will be glad you did.  It is a lovely service.

Get there at least one hour early or you will not get a seat.

For more information or to LiveStream the service and watch it from home, go HERE.

This will most likely be the last service I ever attend as I'm moving next summer.  I will miss the service.  I've attended every one of them since 2000.  It makes it feel more like Christmas to hear the Christmas story and hear the carols sung by candlelight.

As I was watching and listening this night, I couldn't help but think of all the cadets I've seen pass through those chapel doors and stand on those risers and sing.  The original cadets I saw that first night I ever attended are in their mid-30s now.

That first choir was very different from the one I saw this year.  It was almost all male cadets.  This year's choir has a good mix of both male and female cadets, as more women today choose to attend The Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

All The Citadel choirs have had much in common though.  They are comprised of young people in their prime working towards their life's goals.  Trying to better themselves. They're sitting on the brink of true adulthood.  Just about to plunge into their lives full force. 

Some will become military officers, teachers, engineers, business professionals, health professionals, scientists, fathers, mothers, and other productive citizens.  Their lives will change exponentially after their graduations, but on this night each year, they are simply young singers raising their voices in celebration of the birth of a Jewish child who lay, wrapped in swaddling clothes, in a manger more than 2000 years ago.  A child who came to give us hope.  A child who came to save the world.

This service always makes me think of who among us may be remembered for generations.  Who will remember me?  What difference has my life made?  Who celebrated my birth? Have I changed the world?

The answers are complicated, of course.  I know I have changed the world of my sons, as I gave birth to them.  I know I have changed the world of all those whose lives I have touched.  I can only hope the change was for the better.  I wonder...

I look around and see so very many friends beside and surrounding me.  I see their faces and feel their joy in hearing the old songs, and it makes me believe we are all here for a reason.  It is good to gather and be thankful and in wonder of the miracle of birth.

The 2016 Christmas Season has officially begun.  I hope you find yourself surrounded by all the things that make you happy, and I hope each day you find a few minutes to truly be thankful for all the things you have in this life.

Love and joy come to you!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

The following video is a LiveStream of Friday night's performance.  Enjoy!

The cadet choir appears at about 53 minutes in the video below.  If you have trouble entering full screen, please click YouTube on the bottom right of the video screen and try from there.

Green, NetZero, Passive/Active Solar, Stick-built, Modular, Energy-Efficient - So much to think about!

I'm planning to move in a few months, so I've been spending some time checking out homes for sale in and around the area where I wish to be.  I've also been thinking of maybe building a new home, so I've been doing some research in that direction as well.

This is what I have learned about building a house so far:

Green Building (aka green construction or sustainable building) - a building practice that emphasizes using only renewable building supplies, reducing waste, being environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and healthy for people, animals, and neighborhoods.

NetZero Building (aka zero net energy (ZNE) building) - a building practice that produces a structure whose yearly net energy usage is roughly equal to the energy produced onsite.  At times the building will use the electric company's energy and at times the building will supply energy to the electric company.

Passive solar building - a building that is designed to collect store and distribute solar energy as heat in the winter and designed to reject solar heat in the summer. Existing buildings can at times be adapted to be passive solar buildings.

Passive examples: -a tree in front of windows (a deciduous tree) -windows (large facing south, smaller facing north)

Active solar building - a building that uses solar panels or other mechanical means to produce energy.

Active examples: -collectors (solar panels) and storage (water heaters)

Energy-efficient building - a building that is well insulated and uses modern technology to reduce energy consumption (Examples: using Energy Star appliances and energy efficient windows) All Green buildings are energy-efficient, but not all energy-efficient buildings are green.

Regular stick-building - may or may not be energy efficient or even have any energy-efficient features.  It is up to you to make sure you're getting the most for your money.

There are also modular house options in addition to stick-built house options.  A modular home is built in a factory to stick-built house standards and then brought to your land and put onto its foundation.  A stick-build house is built in-place on your land. 

NOTE: There is still a stigma to modular houses in some parts of the country due to the less expensive price tag and the confusion about whether or not the modular is a "mobile home" or "double-wide trailer" which a modular is NOT as a mobile home or double-wide trailer is built to much less strict standards.

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I've also learned that most builders want to build larger houses with much larger price tags than I can afford, or they want to build tiny houses too small for me and my big dogs.  The tiny houses have very large price tags considering their square footage.  

I'm still looking.  

Here is what I want with a deck outside the dining room sliding doors and a fenced backyard for my good dogs.  There should be a door in the back of the garage leading to the fenced backyard.  

All flooring should be hardwood or linoleum, as I have asthma and two large shedding dogs.  Carpet will not work for me.

Let's hope I find or can build something similar to this for the right price in the right place when it is time to move!!

Two bedrooms and one bath would work for me too, and I don't really need a basement.  A gas log fireplace would be nice, but not necessary.  Vaulted ceilings would also be optional, of course.

Flood, Hurricane, Fire - Earthquake?

The past couple of years have brought one weather disaster after another.  

• Record high temperatures.  
• 1000 year flood.  
• Hurricane Matthew, and 
• fires in the Appalachian Mountains so large that the smoke came all the way to Charleston, South Carolina.

This leads me to ask, "What next?"

I fear an earthquake.

We've already had wind, water, and fire.  Earth would be next, I think.

Many people don't know that there is a major earthquake fault line on the East coast.  Most people only think of the "San Andreas Fault" on the West coast if they hear "earthquake fault," but the "Woodstock Fault" is located on the East Coast.

On August 31, 1886, the most destructive earthquake ever to hit the east coast, hit Charleston, South Carolina.  The ground rose and fell causing major property damage and claiming 110 lives.  Some say the quake and its aftershocks were felt as far away as Boston and Chicago.  Geologists estimate that the earthquake would have been around 7.7 on the Richter Scale.

The earthquake caused about $5,500,000.00 worth of damage in 1886.

$5,500,000.00 in 1886 → $133,699,250.72 in 2016

Pretty much every building in the city was damaged.  Over 14,000 chimneys fell.  Whole buildings fell.  So many windows were broken. Masonry destroyed.  Foundations ruined.

They used "earthquake bolts" to pull the structures back upright and support them after that earthquake.  Any building you see in Charleston, SC with real earthquake bolts dates back prior to the 1886 earthquake.  I say "real" because some modern buildings have "fake" earthquake bolts installed to better blend in with the cityscape.

Now, the old sayin' goes, Charleston, SC only gets a big earthquake like that once every 100 years.

Hmm...1886?  2016?  Seems we are 30 years overdue.  Not good.

Let's hope the elements have finished with us for awhile and there will be no earthquake, no more floods, no more hurricanes, and no more fires.  Let's hope the next few years bring us brighter, happier and more prosperous days!

Still...I wonder....

Suddenly It's Christmas

Happy December!!

I love the hustle and bustle of December.  The church services.  The music.  The happy people.  The smiling wonder of little children.

My neighbors have outdone themselves decorating this year.  There are already major Christmas displays throughout my neighborhood.

Me?  I've started eating soft peppermint candy.

It has been 80 degrees in Charleston, SC most days this week.  Much too hot to be thinking of Christmas.  I really hate this heat and humidity.  I am so very tired of hot weather and sweating.

I mean perspiring.

I guess I'm just feeling a little Bah Humbug this year, but it's December, so I should snap out of it soon.

I admit.  These soft peppermint candies are delicious and peppermint is good for me too.  The sugar?  Not so much, but that's okay.  Christmas only comes once a year and life is short.

Just looking at this candy feels like a celebration!