A TRIBUTE TO MY DEAR FRIEND, DEBRA

Debra

I've mentioned my Book Club many times. One of my favorite women, Debra, is a book club friend.  She is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. She is a retired music teacher. Not only does she teach music she is a wonderful mother, a fun grandmother, she's a dedicated Christian, a quilter, a gardener (her gardens are to die for) and she writes. Her words flow as if they are set to music. I have referred my friends to her blog many times.

I've known Debra for 11 years. I met her for the first time at our first book club meeting. She is an avid reader and gained her love of reading from her Dad.

In all this time of being Debra - being a wife to Danny is what has always stood out the most to me.   [Being women] We often talk in book club about our lives. Our loves. Our heartaches. Our frustrations.  In all of this I could always hear the tone of love in Debra's comments - her love for her Danny.

Her Danny soared into heaven this week. A mere 61 years old. - With many plans in mind of enjoying retirement with his beloved Debra.  Now, Danny - a scientist - is singing and praising God.

He is looking at his farmland that he loved from the heavens. He is wanting to hug his Debra and let her know that it's ok - he's better than ever and waiting on her to join him. - To show her all the wonders he has discovered.

This is my tribute to one of the dearest friends I have,

 Debra Blakley -

 beloved wife of Danny.

The month of May and my unending lists

     I had no idea how busy May was until I was looking at my blog and realized I only have 2 posts for this month! I haven't read much either! So I'm not going to do a book review but talk about the notebook I carry in my purse.

     I carry a small spiral notebook. The kind you can get at any discount store. I keep my notes in it! I seem to forget many things - so I try to remember to jot them in my notebook. I have a grocery list, a prayer list, when I listen to books on CD and hear something I want to remember I pull over write it in my notebook, so I also have a list of quotes. I have a list of books I want to blog about and a list of books I want to read. When someone suggests a book to me, I write it in this notebook. There is a list of blogs I want to check out, a list of pictures to take of relatives tombstones at the cemetery - because Randy has been doing my genealogy - this is so interesting. A list of products Heather uses that I can get for her at  State Beauty Supply and a list of all the things I need to do to my house! - Well, anyway, you get the idea!

     Here is a list of some of the books that have been suggested to me and are listed in my notebook:

               "Three Little Words" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
               "Why My 3rd Husband Will be a Dog" by Lisa Scottoline
               "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
               "The Things They Carried" by Tim OBrian
               "The Sweet By and By" by Todd Johnson
               "90 Minutes In Heaven" - I'm reading this one now
               "We Are All Welcome Here" Elizabeth Berg
               "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner
               "Going to Bend" by Diane Hammond
               "Shepherd of the Hills" - I have this one ordered and am going to read it before summer vacation
               "At Home in the Heart of Appalachia" by John OBrian
               "The Dreamgiver"

     This is a few of my suggested books. If you have read any of them and want to tell me your view - please leave a comment. I love to hear what others think about books. That's one reason I enjoy my book club so much - I get so many different views from my friends. And we have such great discussions.

     Reading is such an important part of my life. 

I'm so very blessed to have this "hobby"

If you're not a reader, think you may like to be one 

but don't know where to begin - 

contact me and I would love to give you some interesting suggestions!!

"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." P. J. O'Rourke

    

Emily Post's Etiquette

Randy. - my friend from Wichita came to visit this weekend. He got the grand tour of Ringwood,  of Indian Creek Winery, and of course Enid. We went to the "Emporium" an antique mall in Enid. I found the most amazing  book! "Emily Post's Etiquette" The Blue Book of Social Usage.  On the front cover it says "To My Readers: I have completely rewritten this new edition of ETIQUETTE because the problems of modern life demand certain changes in the forms of living.  All of the fundamental principles, of course, have been left untouched.  I have omitted certain non-essential customs and old-fashioned ideas; and I have added much new material in the hope that this book will continue to be as useful in its many years to come, as the old editions have been in the past. Emily Post"

This is the 76th printing in 1950. The original edition copyright was in 1922.

I have greatly enjoyed skimming through many parts this evening. I've got to wonder what "old fashioned " ideas Miss Post removed from the book! Here are some of the chapter titles:

• Visiting-Cards and Their Uses
• The Vanished Chaperon and Other Lost Conventions
• Telephone Courtesy
• Smoking Etiquette
• Formal Correspondence
• Manners for Motorists
• Maids' Dining Alcove in an Apartment
• The Tray for a Guest Who Breakfasts in Bed

When was the last time we gave thought to visiting cards, chaperons or courtesy on the phone?? :)
How would you really feel if you had guests and they said before retiring to bed, "Oh, I'll take breakfast in bed at 9:00. I'm up a little late tonight!"
Maybe we should post "Manners for Motorists" on our sun-visors! It surely couldn't hurt, could it?
I am greatly enjoying this book and feel like I got a great bargain at $6.00. Thank you Randy for the joy of looking at "junk"...

Emily Post's Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage 1950 Edition