The Little Fur Coat (My Christmas Story)

When I had small children, I loved making them something for Christmas every year.  Might be a shirt,  doll, animal or whatever.  I loved doing that.  It was an important thing to me.  I think it started, when, my husband was out of a job, for a long time.  So, we had to do the best we could for the kids at Christmas time.  Every year I try to make something special for them.  

Now the question is, how did the little fur coat come about?!  My daughter, Deirdre, remembered a little gray fur coat I made her, when she was very little.  I was so surprised with her remembering that little gray fur coat. (Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of her in the little gray coat.  Only camera, at that time, was my husband 35 mileometer camera, And he wasn't much on taking pictures of the kids.  I didn't couldn't operate the camera)  And she remembered the muff I made to go with it.  She was very little at the time.  She was just a toddler.  But she remembered that coat.  I made it, out of some fur fabric, I was able to get real cheap.  I couldn't afford a coat for her, so, I made her one.   We may not had a lot of money at the time, but she was the best dressed little girl, and my son had the nicest shirts.  My sister gave me fabric, and I had stocked piled on fabric, before we saw the hard times.

When  Deirdre mentioned to me about the coat one year, it struck a nerve.  I decided to make her a little fur coat.  Times was better for us, by this time.  So I was able to be a bit selective on the fabric. .  I went out shopping and bought the prettiest white fur I could find.  And, I always bargain hunted, so I had gotten the fabric at a good price.  I made her this beautiful white coat, muff and hat for Christmas.  The roses were made out of some red velvet, I had left from a dress I made her when she was little.  To say the least, she was surprise to get it.  And as you see, in the picture, she loved it.

Oh, it doesn't end here.. When she got married,  the night was very cold.   She wanted to wear it that night.  She thought it would look well with her wedding gown.  That it did   No, I didn't make her gown.  I wanted to.   It was her choice to go out shopping for one.  That was okay.  It was her wedding, her gown.   Another thing, I was very sick at the time.  So it all worked out.  But, I did make her Tiara she wore and the veil.  .  She was beautiful that night.  Was like a fairy tale.  Only thing that was missing for that night, was a horse drawn carriage.

What she has done with the coat, I don't know.  In the pictures below, she is wearing the coat, as they are getting ready to leave the church.

There you have it, the Story of the Little Fur Coat.

Mikey

 

Mikey

  By Pauline M. Shaffar

 

When I was in 2^nd grade, there was a little boy in my class named Mikey.  He suffered Polio.  Had to wear special shoes with leg braces.  A cute little guy with dark hair. He would stop by every day to walk to school with me.  He was crazy about me.   Everyday, he always brought me a card.  Sometimes, it was a Birthday card, maybe a Mother’s Day card.  It was always some sort of a card.  Funny to think a boy of that age would be so in love with a girl.  He was in love with me.

Mikey was very entertaining in school.  I will never forget the teacher’s name.  Mrs. Spaulding.  She was a typical little ol’ lady with her hair tied back in a bun and the dated dresses.  And not with the greatest personality. Mikey was always hiding from her, and it was easy for him to do so, because he was so much.  He would hide under the desk closet, or under her desk.  She would always go looking for him.  “Mikey, are you in there?”   Well, one day she went looking for him in his desk, as she bent over, he came out of hiding and kicked her square in the butt. 

His family was poor.  He had about 3 or other siblings.  His parents were alcoholics.  Many times, they would leave the kids home by themselves with very little food in the house.  They had been turned into the authorities several times.  There was a condition at the time.  If there was loaf of bread, jar of peanut butter and/or jelly in the house, nothing was done. 

Monday nights, my mother and sister would go to the wrestling matches in Omaha, that was aired on channel 7.  I love going to those when I could.  I thought they were very entertaining.  A Monday night came along I was able to go with them.  It was a cold night.  My Dad heard something on the front porch.  He went out to see what it was.  It was Mikey sleeping on the front porch.  Hungry and no coat. My Dad picked up and carried him into the house.   Warmed him up, gave him a sandwich, then called the police.  The police came, went to Mikey’s home, found the kids there, alone, dirty, starving, no food.  If I remember right, no heat in the house.  The parents were found at the bar.  Which at the time was not a very hard thing to do.  It wasn’t uncommon to have neighborhood bars at the time.  Mikey and the kids were taken away.

I never heard or saw Mikey again.  Yes, it hurt, didn’t have my friend.  I hope he had a better life.  I often think of him and the cards he brought me every day. I have always wondered what did happen to him.  Children orphanages at that time did not have a good reputation, and many foster parents weren’t any better.  I hope he found someone who could give him and his siblings the love and care they needed.

 Here's to you Mikey, wherever you are.  I never forgot the love I got from a little boy of long ago.  The little time I knew you, has always been in my heart.  Happy Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas.

 

Written by, 

Pauline Marie Shaffar

November 29, 2022

Sarcasm

 This is a post, I thought I had published in the past.   Now I am publishing it.

What is sarcasm?
A sharp, bitter or cutting expression remark, a bitter gibe or taunt, usually conveyed through irony or understatement.  Most authorities distinguish sarcasm as irony, however others that sarcasm may or often does involve irony or employs  ambivalence.

Ok, the pretty much covers as to what Sarcasm means.  But, I have something to say about it.  What Do I think about it?

I think sarcasm is an excuse to be rude  and/or mean.  Sometimes people might ask something, thinking maybe they can start a friendly conversation.  Example, you are getting out of a car.   Someone might say,  "Wow, is that your car?"  Your reply, usually in snide remark, is, "No, its John Smith's from Oregon."  Obviously, you don't want to talk to this person?  Or there is a personality clash?  You just don't like others asking you questions?  You're having a bad day, so take it on this individual?  Etc, etc, etc.  Instead of saying,  "Yes this is my car."  And leaving at that, I guess would be polite thing to do.  And as far as this individual knows, it might be someone else car.  We all have driven somebody else car, at one time or another.  Remember, this is just an example

Maybe you don't like this person.  Come on, don't be rude, just answer the question and walk away.

Many times, when I hear sarcasm come out someone's mouth.  Really at the end, they are the ones being dumb.  You don't know what the person is thinking about at the time they are asking the question.  The sarcastic person ASSUMES, that they know what the person is asking about.   Many times the answer given, does not pertain to the question that was asked.  Then the person that ask the question, has to ask the question again, and draw the picture to explain.   The Sarcastic individual, is standing there really dumbfounded now.

I was at a restaurant, with some friends.  Betty, asked a question, and a sarcastic remark came out of someone's mouth.  Me, seeing that this was wrong.  I politely, did the best I could to answer her question.  She said Thank you.   Now, who is the fool here.

Yea, maybe it is a stupid question.  But once again, the person was trying to start small talk, conversation, whatever you want to call it.  Then you have to turn around with another remark, to add to this individual embarrassment, by saying, "If you don't want a stupid answer, don't ask a stupid question!"   How much more rude can one be?

Self Check Outs

I was in Walmart today, where 6 new Self Check Outs were up and running.  Okay, being new, the attendees were sort of lost.  Shock my head.  What a shame, I thought to myself.  I remember when the Self Check Outs were started in Iowa and Nebraska, about 12 years ago. Yep, it is a shame.

Now you all, might be wondering, what I am talking about.  The attendees, as I call them; otherwise the cashier or cashiers operating the Self Check Out.  I am not referring to them  being oblivious to what their doing.

I remember when they first open in Iowa.  I was in line at a register to check out.  And attendee came up to me, try to encourage to use their new toy, Self Check Out.

I looked at her and said, "Ha,  no thank you".

She asked me why?  And can check out quicker.

So, I told her. " It's taking jobs away from people."  She said no it's not.

I looked at her, as if I was a Math teacher.  I said, "Ok.  How many registers  you are taking care of?"

She said, "Eight."

I said, "Ok.  How many cashiers do you see here?"

She said, "One, just herself."  She still couldn't do the math.
 
"Okay"  I said.  I practically had to draw a picture for this girl.  "Eight Cash registers and one cashier.  Those registers that are taking seven people jobs away.  Seven people that could be working, that aren't."

She had a look on her face,, as if something struck her.  Then said,  "I never thought of that.  Wow.  That's  a very good point."

Also, another thing, that didn't think of before.  If customers are checking out their own merchandise and groceries.  Shouldn't they be getting a discount for using these Self Check Outs?

I realize some of you may think these Self Check Outs are great.  And, they might be fun to play with.  Think about, what this is doing.  Who it is hurting.  Do the Math.  I have more respect for a working human being, than a robot.

So, think about this the next time, you check out at one of these Self Check Outs.  Do the Math.

Pauline's Comment

 Face book is a  place where anyone can make comments, suggestions, ideas, etc.  It is Our choice to read them, or not read them, to share them  or  not share them.

Sometimes, people may put something on FB, that is vague to us.  They are not necessarily  looking for attention, they just want to make the statement.  Examples:  "I love it!"  "Just unbelievable!"    Someone may have a complaint about something.  Or need to get something off their chest, have no one to share  with, that might be understanding or compassionate.  Maybe just to share a happy thought.  May not mean a thing to us, but it does mean something to the one that wrote it.  

I know of someone who just recently put something on FB, was hurting him/her deep inside.  Now this could had stop this individual from going out and doing something horrible.  Maybe taking his/her own life or someone else life.  Sharing with what had gone on, had saved them.   Sometimes, people may have an outcry.  Too many of us ignore these signs of outcries.  Then it's too late, when the damage has been done.

I may see something, I  don't always agree with or like some of the things that are on Facebook.  It is my choice, what I do with it.  I am not going to stop the person that put whatever they wanted on Facebook, because I don't like what they are  complaining about.   I am not going to delete them either, just because how they believe or not believe.  If it is judgement against me, in something that upsets me, then I may rid that person off my FB.

Now if it is something, where some one is doing harm to someone else. I can see a stop put to it.  Such as bullying,  stalking, threats, etc.  We have the right to defend ourselves and protect others. Myself, I had an internet stalker.  I was told to publicize it.  And Facebook was suggested.  I didn't do so.  But I did get the matter taken care of.  I went to the proper authorities.

We are suppose to have the Freedom of speech, and there are those who are trying to destroy that.   I think when those, that are complaining, about others complaint, do they realize, they, themselves are Complaining.  Uh, hello.   We have the choice to read or look at what is on Facebook.  Come on, lets be polite.  If you don't like it, Don't look at it, or read it.

I would like to see this shared.  Now if you have read this.  Thank you for your time.

Life with Endometriosis

No one REALLY, knows what is the cause, just a lot of guessing. So many people don't understand the disease Endometriosis, (I call: the Monster). It is Myth, a hysterectomy gets rid of of the problem. For Many, the Monster is back in about 10 years, maybe not as severe. Maybe for some it does. It is a disease that some women suffer. Starts in the uterus, acts like acne, pops open and spider webs the insides. Attaches to various areas inside. Generally it is in the uterus area. But for someone like me, it went beyond. It wrapped around my stomach, cocooned my bladder, one ovary I had left, wrapped and cutting off my intestines. When this monster has gone beyond the uterus, it continues to return and haunt the body. Just 3 weeks ago, I sat down for breakfast. I wasn't feeling very well at all that day to start with. All of a sudden I felt a tare inside. I try to stand to straightened my body, Skip ran to catch me, because I couldn't stand either. It passed for a less than a minute, the pain was horrible. I sat down again. Oh my God! The Pain The Pain! I had some bleeding from this, not a lot. Ever since then I have been very ill. Because of my insides hurting, it also has hurt my back.

List of how some see Hidden Handy Caps

For so many people if they can't see the handy cap, or disease, its not real.
If they don't suffer the problem you don't either.
Don't understand it, so the problem is not there.
You look healthy, so you're not having problems.
Oh its Mental.
Has to do with what happen in the past. (HUH?)
Doctors don't see it, so it must not be there. (this disease is not seen in ultra sounds, X rays, Cat Scans, etc. The only way this can be seen is by opening the patient.)
I am in Pain, Doctor's comment, " Don't think about it". (What in the Hell?)

This is a start. Please Ladies, those who suffer this, you're not alone, in your hall of loneliness. There are more of us in your hall, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Get the Hang of this, Maybe

Does this work