Bonnie’s Blog
Bonnie B. Matheson
- Thanksgiving!
It is over for another year! Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the entire year, has come and gone. This year was unusual because my broken shoulder is still healing, and my stamina is somewhat impaired as my body uses up energy healing itself. Nevertheless, I pulled it off. My family really pitched in, cooking and helping me in many ways. I also took advantage of professional kitchen help during the party. There were 22 relatives, including an infant great-grandson. I… - Something Has Changed
Clearly, something has changed, and I have decided to live! To thrive instead of just fading away as an old lady. Which is tempting at my age, with the world seeming to be in such turmoil and so many people still asleep. One solution is just to opt out. I discovered lately that I am not done yet. I cannot pinpoint when I changed my mind, but it may have happened last spring when I discovered I have alpha-gal, the… - Why Dogs Bring Joy Amidst Chaos
The news outlets keep telling us that people have become more violent in recent years. Certainly, their manners have deteriorated. Trying to maintain older ideas of proper behavior is becoming more and more difficult. Sometimes I find myself distressed by the lack of consideration shown to customers when shopping, or drivers in traffic, or even on campuses where students disrespect professors and administration in ways unheard of half a century ago. It distresses me and can cause my temper to… - EXITING THE MATRIX
EXITING THE MATRIX, A Journey Towards Truth and Self-Realization The world we live in often feels chaotic, overwhelming, and disconnected from our true selves. From the constant barrage of media to the pressures of consumerism and societal expectations, it’s easy to feel like we’re caught in a never-ending loop. But what if there was a way to break free from these distractions and rediscover who we truly are? In this blog post, I’ll share my journey of “exiting the matrix”,… - The Business of Influence
The Business of Influence: How Big Pharma Shapes Medicine and Policy Growing up, I believed that doctors were larger-than-life people. When we children were sick, just knowing the doctor was on his way made us feel better. Of course, doctors don’t make house calls much anymore. When my mother was 100 and then 101, her doctor would come to the house to see her. But she cautioned me, “Don’t tell anyone I did this!” It was a very nice thing… - Charlie Kirk: A Martyr for Free Speech and Faith
Charlie Kirk: A Martyr for Free Speech and Faith in an Age of Cancel Culture and One-Sided Violence. There has been much written on this subject but I want to add my voice in tribute to this man. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically assassinated at Utah Valley University during the kickoff of his “American Comeback Tour.” Shot in the neck by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a left-leaning and clearly highly disturbed… - The Seeds We Plant with Our Words
Why even the smallest expressions can grow into something powerful and lasting The Power of Planting a Seed As we arrived at my parents-in-law’s house for Thanksgiving many years ago, I saw something extraordinary. A bamboo plant had forced its way up through five inches of black macadam. I could hardly believe it. Only a small green shoot showed itself, but it was an impressive feat. On another occasion, on vacation in the south of France, I came across another… - What is your biggest fear?
I am posting an article I wrote in April of 2023, on an old website called ACactusFlower.com. It was a cry for common sense and an end to the covid madness. That was nearly two and a half years ago. So many people have conveniently forgotten how hateful they became during that time. They were terrified, and I suppose they would say that justifies their hate and rigid imposition of stupid rules upon the nation. I have not forgotten. No… - Blood Pressure, Big Pharma, and the Business of Redefining Health
My doctor told me my blood pressure was high, when I went for a routine visit. It was high because I had been in a life-or-death struggle on the telephone. I was trying to get a refund from one of those Internet entities that I believe are trained to try to drive one crazy. After a couple of hours on the phone with one of those, I was appolplectic! And my blood pressure showed it. I have always had blood… - Edit Your Life, The Power of Subtraction and Addition
Most people think they need to add things to change their lives. They want to form more habits, more goals, more hustle. But what if the real breakthrough comes from doing the opposite? Fundamental transformation often begins with subtraction, cutting out what’s draining you. Start filling the space with what truly matters. Find the solutions by editing. Like a cluttered closet, your life can be weighed down with the unnecessary habits, beliefs, and even the people that drain you instead of building… - Cities in Turmoil: What Next?
What is happening in the cities is disturbing; I am glad I live in a smaller town. I just read that there are “a huge number of gangs, 144 gangs in Memphis”. Memphis! Not Chicago or Philly. Chicago is home to 117,000 gang members.” What are these people doing? Why are gangs growing? Who can stop this? The young people grouping together into gangs most likely need to belong. Humans are herd animals. With families so fractured, young people need… - The Priceless Luxuries of Life We Often Ignore
What do you consider a luxury? In a world that worships speed, noise, and accumulation, we often forget that the most precious luxuries are not things you can buy — they’re moments, feelings, and freedoms that can’t be measured in price tags. Real luxury is: These luxuries are quiet. They don’t clamor for attention. They do not glitter like gold. They don’t need a logo or a receipt. They are not chic, nor do they signal wealth. They are not… - Friends Are The BEST
Surround yourself with people whom you admire for their character.Don’t be fooled by glitter and superficial things. Please pay attention to their values, morals, and simple gestures when interacting with others.Watching how people interact with less powerful or less important people is often extremely informative.Treating other people with respect is a sign of good character. These are the people who you will most likely enjoy over a long period of time. There are so many instances where we are powerless…. - The Power of Perseverance: Why You Should Never Give Up
Most people give up. They do it from childhood, often because their parents or someone in authority tell them to quit. They say, “That will never work.” or they belittle the project and try to force the brave child who is going against the grain to stop it. They believe they are helping. But, there are some people who simply will not quit. They try, they fail, they begin again, and fail again. Yet they simply keep trying one way… - Reclaiming Birth: Voices Against Medicalization
The Myth that the hospital is necessary and helps a woman give birth is a fabrication. But, (almost) everyone believes it. It is profitable for the hospiital and reassures the woman that she is in good hands. Doctors, hospitals, and even nurses have used fear to perpetuate this and attain “compliance”. This idea has infiltrated our society from top to bottom. There is a deep fear among women about their ability to give birth to their babies. “Help! Someone help… - The Importance of Embracing Traditional Family Roles
The wonder of the “NOT Working Woman.” A new friend recently emailed me, saying, “I don’t work. We can meet whenever you like.” That is a rare statement these days. It is such a relief to meet someone who does NOT work… I know that sounds weird. Lately, however, I have been thinking about the harm done to women by the “work culture” and the idea that they MUST have a career. It has been hard on families, hardest of… - The Decline of Manners: Are We Losing Politeness?
Manners seem to be a thing of the past: Who remembers Emily Post? She was once the arbiter of all things “polite.” Now, most people would not recognize the name. Someone who was once so well-known and familiar has nearly disappeared from polite conversation. Of course, the other thing that has disappeared is polite conversation. People no longer know how to have a conversation. They text or perhaps FaceTime. Due to constant screen viewing, young people are growing up with… - Help! I Am Drowning in Photos
For two years, I have been trying to get organized. Help!!! Is the constant refrain in my brain. I know it is beyond my powers to do this alone. Prayer helps because: Actually, I got help. A miracle occurred, and someone told me about a family who might have a member who could help me as an assistant.So we got together; I interviewed this young person and almost immediately determined that she was one of the few people in the… - Are You Healthy?
Are you healthy? Do you go to doctors regularly? Did you get the covid shot? Do you know anything about the health statistics in the United States of America? The statistics are abysmal. We need to do something about it. I wish a man like Elon Musk could revamp our medical system in the USA. It is a mess. It is a system that treats symptoms and never cures anything. What are the most common diseases, do you know? We… - Have You Driven A Tesla?
It happened organically. My 11-year-old grandson and I had been shopping for Legos when we drove past the brand-new Tesla Dealership at Stonefield in Charlottesville, VA. It is in the same shopping center and shares the same parking lot as Trader Joe’s, where I often shop for groceries. A very familiar place to me, except for this new store. They only opened up last Friday, eight days before this. So seeing the Tesla cars outside of this storefront was new… - Allergy Season
Spring brings on allergy season. Some people sneeze their way through these months untilJune. Some people suffer terribly.There are many over-the-counter or prescription remedies. I prefer a homeopathic melt-under-the-tongue tablet from Boiron called Allergy Relief.It has zero side effects, no prescription needed, and I order it from Amazon. Many years ago, I realized that every year I got a cold at the same time, almost to the day. This was an annual nuisance of having fits of sneezing and a… - Engagement Parties are Fun!
The day before Easter, we had a beautiful engagement party at my house for my granddaughter, Isabelle, and her fiancé, Grayson. About 75 guests gathered for drinks and charcuterie, pizzas, and dancing from 5:00 p.m., on into the evening. A tent over the back terrace doubled the space for entertaining. A disc jockey situated at one end of the terrace provided cheerful, danceable music; no rap, thank goodness! Inside the house, the gleaming wood surface of the dining room table… - Birthing Babies, Do You Know How?
Childbirth is magical. The power of it, the mystical quality, along with the raw animal instinct, is never forgotten. My births taught me more than anything else ever has about my body and my ability to do whatever I needed to. Try to keep birth out of the hospital, where they take control of you and your body. Women know how to give birth to a baby instinctively. But it has almost been “trained out of us” by a constant… - Be a Trad Wife; it is a lot of fun.
All I ever wanted was to get married and have children. Somehow, this idea has become discredited. Why? Is this a conspiracy? How did the thing that has been the most important in the survival of the human race become “unfashionable”? Where would the world be without the family unit? No one ever told me when I was young that there was anything I could not do as a woman. When speaking with my father about my opportunities, I mentioned… - Rethinking Vaccine Schedules: What Parents Should Know
My entire family is vaxxed according to the rules of the time we were born. I have fewer than my children. They have fewer than their children ( my grandchildren). Have you ever questioned the large number of immunizations the pediatrician assumes you will allow him to give your child? Aren’t you curious to discover why there are so many more on the schedule? Do you know what diseases they are likely to be exposed to? All this information is… - Spring is Here, Are You?
Spring explodes early this year, with flowering trees and pops with color from the many types of spring bulbs. The daffodils and narcissus expand the size of their groups yearly; while the sun adjusts itself in the heavens at a different angle, the sky appears bluer than last month. All around me, people exclaim, “This is my favorite time of year!” New beginnings seem reasonable. Hope is in the air, and it is warm outside. Today was extraordinary. The blossoms… - Winnie, My Wonder Horse
“There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” This quote variously attributed to Henry Ward Beecher, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lord Palmerston, and even Winston Churchill. My father bought me a pony when I was two and a half. When I was nine, he bought me a large pony and I began riding out through the countryside with other children my age and a bit older. We had no hard hats and no… - Our Mighty Oak Tree is Fallen
Underoak is no more. The Oak Tree fell over last Friday. There was not much left of it. We cut all the branches off of it years ago, even before my mother died, so this final fall was just the last small step in its demise. I grew up under that tree. My parents bought the house in 1941. It was named “Underoak” because of the tree. My father was from Texas, and trees meant a lot to him. When… - A Relaxing Birthday Retreat at Jefferson Baths
My daughter decided to celebrate her birthday on February 24th by taking a group of nine women to Bath County to enjoy the Jefferson Baths at Warm Springs and then to The Homestead for lunch. What fun we had! Six of us met at a parking lot for a local club here in Charlottesville and got into a large Jeep belonging to one of my granddaughters. She was our chauffeur down to Warm Springs and beyond. It was relaxing to… - Does anyone actually doubt there is fraud?
Elan Musk has been asked by the President of the United States to find where the missing money has gone. He has been asked to trim the amount of money spent by the government. He has been given the authority to do this. He was not elected; he was appointed. The “talking heads” on the political Left keep asking for proof of what the DOGE group finds. Why are they asking for this? Do they think that Elon Musk and… - Anti-vax! Are you one, too?
Do you know why you believe that you are correct? Whatever you believe, how much research have you done? Do you realize that as early as 1986, they knew there were claims about vaccines causing Autism? They also knew a whole bunch of other sicknesses caused by vaccines. There is a site called LearntheRisks.org, which will educate you about the difference between what actually happened with infectious diseases and what they want you to know. Excellent video with Russell Brand… - The New Normal
I am excited (cautiously) that all the things that President Trump was elected to change and “fix” are actually changing and getting fixed. It is extraordinary. And the fact that Democrats and RINOs are crying foul when all this corruption is being uncovered at USAID, for example, really bothers me. It is not a good look for them. Complaining about Elon Musk accessing our social security numbers is silly and uninformed. The fact that anything his team sees is “read-only”… - Did You Speak to Your Tech Guy?
An earlier version of this article was published first on Substack. The other day, just by chance, I looked at old blog posts, going back week by week. There was a specific one that needed to be corrected. When I got to September 2023, I suddenly saw a post I had not put up. It was some gaming site. Then I realized there were 49 separate posts with the same date. I had been hacked! When something like that happens, you have to… - Friendships, Have You Kept Up?
Friendships become so much more important as we age. Next to dogs, our friends and families provide the most fun and affection for us. If we have children, they are now older people themselves. Our children have families of their own. They have full lives. If we have siblings we should be thankful since no one else knows us as they do. It thrills me to realize my girls (daughters) are best friends with each other. I really envy them… - Recap of the Year 2024.
Some years are more exciting and uplifting than others. This was a great one! So many positive things happened, and so many people became more aware of the things happening in the world. It has been a year of celebrations, and there are so many good things to mention that it is hard to distill them into a blog post. My youngest child, Murdoch, turned 50 years old. Winter was mild in 2024, and I entertained at small dinners. Though… - What if there were no men?
What if there was a world suddenly without men? If you write “What if there were no men?” in the search bar on Google, the first page has ten references to different articles on this subject. There have been so many articles written lately about what the world would be like if there were no men. It seems so misogynistic. Men are being disparaged endlessly by today’s feminists. It is a sad commentary since they are the reason we have… - Family Traditions and How Ours Began
Charley’s Kilt If we look back over the years at photos of our Matheson family Thanksgiving celebration, there are kilted men in all the photos, beginning in 1958. People always ask why the men began wearing a kilt at Thanksgiving. It all started during the summer when Charley turned 17 and went on a school trip to Europe. His professor, Mr. Ben Harnley, took Charley and several other boys from Episcopal High School on an educational journey that covered much… - Should the Evil Ones Be In Jail?
Dr. Fauci Belongs in Jail Dr Fauci belongs in Jail. Because of him, we were threatened, shamed, sworn at, disparaged,canceled, and spit upon (literally). Because of him hundreds of thousands of people died. Dr Fauci said, “You will never shake hands again.” What an evil man. He knew all the time because he was funding the experiments done in the Wuhan lab. Is iteven remotely possible that he believes any of his own hype?Do you think he realizes the number of lives… - Why Thanksgiving?
Large gatherings for Thanksgiving have been a tradition in our family for decades. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday ever since I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Thanksgiving week is coming. I am a bit worried about this Thanksgiving as I have a ton of peoplecoming, and I have to figure out where to put extra tables and chairs. The preparations always used to be somewhat stressful, but I never felt overwhelmed in quite the way that I do these days…. - Toxic or Patriotic, You Decide.
Have you heard hateful things about the recent massive rally in New York at Madison Square Garden? People are frightened about the election. Does Donald Trump scare you? It is shocking what is being said by people who were not there and did not watch it on T.V. or computers. People say the rally at Madison Square Garden is a recreation of the 1939 event supporting Hitler. However, not all the uses of this arena are political. The same place… - Are You Different?
People are different!Our world is really fractured. We don’t know what is real and what is just hype. It seems likethere is even more racial tension and more hate than when I grew up in a true segregationtime. Of course, we are not allowed to tell the truth. The truth is unsavory and definitely not“politically correct.” Black people and white people are different in some ways. Does thatshock you? Italians are different from the French and even more from people… - A Wes Anderson Wedding is like a dream.
We were invited to a family wedding last weekend. The “additional information” on the invitation said to dress to a Wes Anderson theme. “Who is that, I asked?” Once my family explained it to me, I forgot all about it. My week before the wedding was so full of social events, it was unusual. Monday, a birthday party for a grandson at his family home, a black tie dinner at Farmington Country Club on Tuesday. Wednesday, I rested. Thursday, there… - Where will you live when you get Dementia?
The other day, a woman sitting next to me at the prayer group I attend asked me a question: “Where will you live when you have dementia?” I thought that was a pretty awful question because nobody wants to mention it. But it made me think. Where will I live if (not when) I get dementia? It is probably too late to get into a retirement community. These places want to have you as early as they can. I absolutely… - Everyone Should Have a Puppy
We have a new puppy! It really is NOT my own puppy. But she lives with my son, so I will be responsible for babysitting when he is away. It all happened this way.My son said, “I am leaving after church to drive to Roanoke to pick up my new puppy.” “Oh! Really?” I asked. He did not give me much “notice” or time to talk him out of it.“Yes,” he told me, “she is the granddaughter of my male dog!… - Demonic Forces Exist
The entire Democrat party seems oblivious to the evil in their own party while constantly pointing out Trump’s well-documented flaws. Yes, we know he is a narcissist and that he speaks in weird sentences at a third-grade level. So what? He has already been president, and I think he did a great job. When people say, “We must NOT let him become President.” I remind them that he already was.Considering that he is NOT a politician (one of his best… - The Truth About Covid
This article by Justin Hart is so important that I am copying it here for you to read. People really need to focus on what has happened in order to try to avoid future scenarios like it. We are in a war of wits. Keep yours sharp, pay attention, and do not be fooled or afraid. Enjoy this compact description below: The Truth About Covid Justin Hart <covidreason@substack.com> I’m not sure how to tell you this – but they’re lying… - The Last Party
In 1981, my son, Charley Matheson, graduated from Episcopal High School. It was a momentous occasion for us. We were not sure until the day before graduation that Charley would receive his diploma. There was a problem with a Russian exam. He almost failed it. The Russian teacher, who really liked Charley and knew how hard he had worked, had a heartattack just before the exam. Charley’s was a “makeup” exam. A different person did thegrading. It was a cliffhanger…. - Mother of Boys 13 Months Apart!
Years ago, I used to listen to my two younger boys, yelling and screaming outside near ourwonderful, magical house, called Heathfield. The sounds scraped on my nerves like chalk ona blackboard. There was no peace to be had with that cacophony of escalating soundsfiltered only slightly by the stucco walls of our house. My heart sank, knowing I must go outthere to check. I had to see whether they were just playing or actually drawing blood in theirrough games. Even… - Does Pretending You Understand Modern Art Make You Feel Good?
Modern Art is a psy opp. It was planned and engineered by the CIA. These records are available now. Of course, the theory is deeply controversial. The cult of modern art supporters is tenacious and terrified of being “outed.”Yet art is still in thrall to these weird beliefs about what it is. Do you know the definition of the word “thrall”? Here it is from dictionary.com: “a person who is morally or mentally enslaved by some power, influence, or the… - Things to Ponder Over Eighty
When my mother reached the age of 80, we thought little of it. Of course, she was older, but so what? She did not look it, and she was happy. She was in love with a childhood sweetheart whom she married at 81. Mother never mentioned much about aging to me. She was interested in her clothes, the jewels that matched them, her dogs, her friends, and her family.She was a happy person who rarely ever complained about her own… - Want a Refund? Good Luck!!!!
I had a terrible relationship with my refrigerator! (and Samsung, the company thatmade it). Originally, it worked just fine and I loved it. However, just before Mother’s Day it suddenly began to make a strange sound. Not a good sound. On a Friday evening, the 6th of May. I asked my son to look at it and he pulled the heavy silver metal box out from the wall. We swept and vacuumed behind it. He unplugged it and plugged it… - All’s Well, That Ends Well.
The rest of the story about my foot. People really do not like to see other people deviate from the norm. I found this out recently when I hurt my foot. It may or may not have some broken bones. The injury is on the inside of the left side of my left foot. My foot is completely black and blue on the bottom left side. I have decided not to get an X-ray. My foot is much better today…. - Things Can Change In An Instant
Health is everything. Normally, I am completely healthy. That changed on Sunday night when I had a fall. I was climbing up two steps in the garden at a friend’s dinner party. We had been having drinks and chatting about the affairs of the world, which are staggering these days. When it was time to go to the lovely outdoor table, I rose from my chair and walked with the other guests to the two steps leading up to the… - Mistakes Were NOT Made
This title was inspired by Margaret Anna Alice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueUXNL-A3Zg Through the Looking Glass. Her poem of the same name has gone viral. We simply must pay more attention to what is all around us. People are so complacent about the very situation they are in. It seems normal, but much of what we do today is completely new and would have once been thought of as insane. We have become a people who choose safety over freedom. We need to… - What Did Reporters Who Cover The White House Know?
Here is an article by Alex Berenson that is so great I want to try to spread it around. Everyone should read this and ponder the questions he asks. Do you believe the Press is telling you the honest truth? Enjoy: Subscribe here for Alex Berenson What did reporters who cover the White House know, and when did they know it? As President Biden lurches toward a withdrawal from the 2024 election that seems likelier by the hour, the question… - Are Old-Fashioned Ideas About God, Country, Family, and the Golden Rule Gone for Good?
For most of my life, I have wondered why the Germans acted as they did between the warsand, of course, in the time immediately before the war. Why and how did they idolize Hitler,who promised to Make Germany Great Again? And how they could just pretend it was all rightto exclude Jews from their lives and, in fact, get rid of them.How was it possible?I never could understand it until I experienced what happened during Covid.People gave up their autonomy… - Lunch with a Friend
What is more fun than a long lunch with an old friend? Recently, I had the pleasure of spending most of the day with an old friend from my schooldays. We met at Peking, a Chinese restaurant, but we both arrived early before it opened. So, I gotinto her car, and we chatted for 20 minutes, with the windows down and a small breezekeeping us from sweating too much as the sun beat down on her automobile, until we sawthem… - An Entertaining Weekend
People sometimes ask me what I do all day. Last Saturday night, I had a party. It was very successful, and I was pleased. It was a last minute decision and those are often the best! On Thursday night, when I was on the phone with a friend, I said, “Why don’t you come over here for dinner on Saturday night? Maybe I’ll have another couple of people over.”My friend said she’d check with her boyfriend, but she thought the… - Grace’s wedding
The newest wedding might have been the best one yet!! Our family has had two weddings within six weeks. That is a huge burden on a family. But my daughter Helen and her wonderful husband, David, were up to the task. Both of them are remarkably unflappable. If they feel anxiety, it is well hidden from me. Grace’s wedding was special to me because I have always known she was one of those people who (like me) wanted to be… - Such a lovely shower!
It was calm, sedate, and pleasant for the guests. The room was lovely. The pale blue walls,with white plaster decorative touches, gave guests a feeling of peace.This peace surrounded me and filled me with loving thankfulness. After the morning I had justspent going to a graduation in the rain at UVA, it was a blessed relief. It had poured all nighton Friday and drizzled all Saturday morning. It was pretty unpleasant, but I was with agranddaughter, Delilah, trying to find… - Graduation! Once again, on The Lawn…
Today, I went to UVA’s graduation for the Class of 2024, which included mygranddaughter, Georgina. Of course, I went. But when I woke up this morning and saw that it was raining, Ithought about skipping the part at “The Lawn.” The forecast was for rain tocontinue all day. Well, it did continue, but I went anyway. Two of my other grandchildren had spent the night at my house, and we allwent out to dinner with the graduate and her parents… - Hurry Up and Get Married!
I realize as I write this that I am speaking into the winds of change that have already swept the country. My voice echoes and becomes indistinguishable with that fierce gale, blowing our country away from its values. The subject of my futile attempt to awaken people is the total lack of morality today. A complete turnaround from the 1950s when I was growing up. Today, it is considered modern to sleep around. There is no shame in losing one’s… - Mah Jongg, Do You Play?
Building brain cells occupies my mind these days. As the years take their toll, it behooves us to find exercises for our mind, body, and spirit. I love a challenge, but I know my limits to some degree. For instance, learning a new language is far down my list, as I have never had much luck with that. Now, I have discovered Mah Jongg. And it is exactly like learning a new language! But it’s more fun for me because… - Do You Cry At Weddings?
I learned on Saturday that I no longer cry when I hear wedding vows between a young woman and a young man. Age has made me wiser, calmer, and more realistic. Weddings are so beautiful and moving; women love them. While most men seem to wish they could avoid going altogether. Marriage is full of ups and downs. Some are so small you barely notice, and others are as strong as earthquakes. I believe in Marriage. Taking Marriage vows is… - EASTER!
He is Risen! Easter is the most important religious holiday for Christians. But I did not go to church on Easter. This made me feel momentarily guilty, but on the other hand, my gratitude to my Higher Power was demonstrated differently. Family! Ours is large and boisterous and full of love for each other. Not everyone is so blessed. It seems to me that gathering those relatives together to celebrate Easter is undoubtedly the right spirit to have. We are… - Are You a Fish Out of Water?
There is a story about a teacher who took a live fish out of its bowl of water, and then left it on the desk. The teacher told the children they would be expelled if anyone left their seat. Then he left the room. The poor fish gasped and twisted with a classroom of children watching, as it flopped around…All of the children sat and watched as the fish struggled, gasping for life, wanting to be back in the water…. - Is Your Telephone Ringing?
One of my earliest memories is of my mother sitting in the chair next to her bed and holdingthe black receiver of the telephone. I heard her say, “Operator, I need “Long Distance” can you get me a Leesburg Virginia number ….” Leesburg was less than forty miles away. But it was a long distance, andit was the operator who made all long-distance calls. If the call was far away, the operatorwould call you back when she got the connection…. - Do You Winter in Florida?
In the late 1940s, when our family was still pretty young, my parents rented a house inDelray Beach, Florida. Every winter for three years, we would go down there for six weeksand stay in a magical house owned by the “mysterious” Dr. Koch (more about him later).The house was directly on the water, a few miles from town. There were no neighbors oneither side.The house was built in the style of the famous Addison Mizner, who designed houses in theSpanish… - Stop Allowing Cancer to Frighten You
Cancer! The word is terrifying. Cancer is on the rise. And the medical establishment plays on our fears. A friend of mine asked her doctor about using an “alternative” treatment. Her doctor told her that he would no longer be her doctor if she opted to use the alternative treatment. That is blackmail. She was forced to choose. She is dead now. But she chose the doctor and his protocol. My friend fought pancreatic cancer for two years before she… - How My Mother Met My Father
My mother, Ruth Elizabeth Hale, liked men. She had a great desire for admiration. She feltit was necessary as a young person to have a boyfriend to enjoy life. And she was a magnetfor members of the opposite sex. Men adored her. Mother’s first real love affair was with a man named Edward Wheeler. His father was asenator, and a friend of my mother’s father, my grandfather. Mother’s father liked thefamily. When they began their relationship, my mother was 17,… - Do You Make Small Changes?
Character is built by making small decisions every day. There is no BIG decision that does it. Changing anything about oneself is difficult. Benjamin Franklin did it and he is much admired. Of course he was a genius which probably helped. Still it is often desirable to make changes. Stopping a bad habit like smoking or drinking could be the change you need. Or it might be organizational skills or time management that you are after. The point is that… - We Were So Powerful!
We were so powerful before they told us we were victims. In past centuries, women always knew that they were the powerful ones in the equation. They passed this knowledge down to their daughters. The men were stronger and faster and more bold. However, between women and men, women had the power, and the men knew it. Without us, there would be no human race. We had the babies. There was a saying; “The hand that rocks the cradle rules… - Do You Believe Donald Trump Is a Monster?
Someone put up a meme about a whole field of sheep all wearing red MAGA hats as far as the eye can see . And the sheep were all raptly listening to a wolf dressed up in a sheepskin. The implication was that Donald Trump is the wolf and his “followers” are the sheep. After seeing the meme, I wrote; “That is funny!!! I see the humor. It is OK to make jokes about each other. But, seriously, Trump supporters… - Is Decency Considered Offensive?
The other day, while looking for a sweet movie to watch with my youngest grandson, a suggestion popped up that interested me: “That Touch of Mink.” I knew it was not something my grandson would enjoy. But, I am a Cary Grant fan, and my curiosity was aroused. My memory of that movie was pleasant but vague. Then, I noticed a warning in the description of the movie. It said, “This film reflects the standards, language, and attitudes of its… - Summing up 2023
What a year it has been! I am so happy living here in Charlottesville, VA. My children say it is my “reward.” It is, in some ways, the best time of my life. Isn’t it strange how that works out? I will be 82 in January, and that number shocks me. I once thought that was old. And, of course, it is ancient to my grandchildren. Even my own children worry about me in a way they never appeared to… - Christmas Plans!!!
Christmas decorating is fun. But it is also frustrating; lights work, and then they don’t. Find the ones you like and then realize you need another length of that type. In order to find them, you may have to go to Walmart, Target, and Lowes; You can also order online. I have done all of those. I could write a whole post about the sort of help I got in those stores. Some salespeople were above and beyond and so… - Clothes Are Different These Days!
Christmas shopping gets me out to the stores. Typically, except for the food markets, some Amish markets, or “Southern States,” I just do not shop. I have enough clothes to last me the rest of my life. But at Christmas, I think of my daughters and daughters-in-law, my nine granddaughters, and a granddaughter-in-law. It is fun, but I am lost out there. Thank goodness! My family is pretty conservatively dressed, much of the time. Clothes do not look the same… - (a must read)”I’m Embarrassed, too.”
Guest Blog (a must read) by Susan Page Coffee. She has said this better than I ever could. I publish it with her permission, Bonnie B Matheson. I’m Embarrassed, too. by Susan Page Coffee Are you proud to be an American? Several Georgetown University coeds answered in an informal campus interview that no, they were not proud, and that they even found… - Do You Like to Travel?
I really do NOT like to travel. It used to be fun, but that is no longer true for me. The elegance, the service, and the striking differences between countries all seem to have fallen out of favor. Being treated with care and respect as a valued guest only happens in very special places. At other times, we are treated like cattle. Pushed into holding cells, ticketed, frisked, and examined by Xray, our irises checked against impersonation; the whole experience… - Thanksgiving! The Best Holiday!
Well, it is over now. But it was a massive success. There were 25 of us celebrating in my lovely house near Charlottesville, VA. I thought there were only 22 people to seat. However, when writing the place cards, I discovered that I had miscounted. There were 24 relatives who accepted. Ok. I put two extra places at each end of the larger dinner table. When the day arrived, the first guest at the door was Elias, my oldest grandchild…. - Guest Blog Post from Patricia McCarthy
October 26, 2023 Joe Biden has blown up the world By Patricia McCarthy “It does not take a majority to prevail but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” —Samuel Adams On day one of the Biden administration, he canceled the Keystone Pipeline, putting thousands of skilled workers out of work. Over the ensuing months, he canceled oil leases, stopped fracking, and drained our strategic oil reserve. All this was surely intentional; he means to… - Want to Learn How to Make a Small Fortune?
The Story of How We Began to Drive Horses, Spend a Lot of Money, and Make Great Memories. Charley and I got the idea of learning to drive for pleasure after our children stayed with their grandparents in Newport, RI. It happened that “A Weekend of Coaching” was brought back to the resort in the summer of 1968. The children stayed with my parents, who owned a Newport Cottage on Bellevue Avenue. How perfect. When we saw the photos, we… - Christmas lies. Do You Spread Them?
My parents lied to my sister, brother, and me. Their very own children, they lied to us about so many things. Do you lie to your children? It is such fun. I am guilty, too. Of course, it is so heartwarming to make Christmas a magical time for your kids. I did it. My husband read The Night Before Christmas to the children before we hung the stockings. We left cookies and milk for Santa when we hung the stockings…. - As Things Stand, Look Up!
So much has happened in the last few days…Why do “they” want to push us toward war? Our government is shoving us all into the jaws of war. Is it so they can keep their power? Now that we have started making political arrests, “the powers that be” need to stay in power forever. They know that if they are unseated, they themselves may be indicted. The rules of the game are changing. It is inconceivable to me, and yet,… - Working Girls, Are You One?
Most women did not work when I was growing up. Today, this seems too strange to be true, especially to young women. Having to work was not a good thing, not a desirable state. Only about 30% of women worked outside of the home in 1950. Women were happier at home. They took time to make their homes a haven, to garden, to arrange flowers, and to cook good meals. ( They were always healthy because the markets were not… - Autopsy Confirms Infant Died From Over-VaccinationImportant article by Jennifer Margulis Maine Mom, RN, Paid Ultimate Price Trusting Her Doctors Jennifer Margulis Sep 9, 2023 A toxicology report shows that a new mom in Maine was right. Her baby, Sawyer, died when he was just eight weeks and six days old, just 34 hours after being vaccinated. On October 20, 2022, Melissa, who herself is a registered nurse, took her baby to the pediatrician. Baby Sawyer had a rash around his torso that just wouldn’t go…
- OTHERS SAY IT BEST!
“Curiosity is the purest form of insubordination.—Vladimir Nabokov Here is a collection of quotes from well-known people who describe what is happening accurately and succinctly. I could elaborate, but it seems redundant. I hope you will read each of these quotes and then pause a moment to reflect on their truth. Try to clear your mind of the fear and colorful propaganda that is beamed at you from the TV screen. “It is difficult to get a man to understand… - What Are You Willing To Do?
It is unbelievable how easily one adjusts to living in City conditions. When I moved to Washington, DC, to care for my mother, I got used to it quickly. Yet when I moved out to the country near a much smaller city, Charlottesville, I began to change. I don’t crave the city vibe. I do not care for the traffic or the tension of looking for parking and then paying for it. Locking everything up and looking over your shoulder… - It is Time to Stop the Madness.
Every day, I receive many, many solicitations for money from Republicans. They all say it is my duty to help them, or they catastrophize events that are happening. They are tiresome. I rarely write back. But today I wrote to Jim Johnson, who is a good guy. (Maybe) “Why don’t Republicans fight for me? Start with election integrity!” “Then stand behind President Trump and denounce Biden. And get those Jan. 6th prisoners out of jail! Why don’t you all admit… - Engagements!
Two of my granddaughters announced their engagements this summer. So exciting!!! Daisy is going to marry Steve Luck. Would you believe me if I tell you that Grace is going to marry Gil Luck? But these two men with the same last name are NOT related. Both men proposed to each granddaughter within a couple of weeks of each other. Stories about how men proposed to women flood the Internet. Would you like to know what happened between me and… - Summer vacation, Dude Ranch!
Wyoming is addictive. Where we were, a 360-degree view of infinite space, breathtaking and nearly indescribable, filled my heart with joy. When driving from Denver (6 hours!),the dramatic rock formations come one after another. As we got closer to our destination, the land became more and more spectacular. Unfortunately, this was not visible at the time. For one thing, it was nighttime. Visibility was near zero due to a storm of fierce wind, heavy rain, and jagged lightning followed by… - What Are You; Boy or Girl?
Are you a boy or a girl? There are only two sexes. That is the Science. Same with pronouns…! Pronouns are a gateway drug says Megyn Kelly who once felt comfortable using the gender preferred ones that people requested. She has since awakened to the harm of all this “preferred pronouns” and transgender hype and hysteria. She has a daughter and so she understands the harm that is being done to all young girls during this very strange time in… - Pay Attention to Me!
Many years ago, as a young married woman with three children, I found myself visiting many different doctors. Of course, there were the pediatric visits necessary (I thought) when you have very young children. One of my children had terrible earaches, and so we had many visits to the doctor for him. Sadly I gave that child antibiotics over and over during his youth. I did not know better, and apparently, neither did their doctor. However, it is my own… - Just Write a Blog Post!!!
There are so many subjects vital to life that need to be written about. Of course, puppies are the best of all. I could write about my new puppty all day long. However the world is in such turmoil and there are so many things I care about. It is difficult to choose one and focus on it. So here is a post with several subjects. You decide which ones you want to follow up on. Lately, I saw the… - Congratulations! It Is The 4th of July!
This is the time when Americans have celebrated the birth of our nation ever since it actually happened. During the 1940s and 50s, it was without a doubt a family holiday. When I was young it seemed to be a universally happy day in the USA. In the decades since there have been a lot of changes in the narrative and the general attitude about the founding of the country, and whether it should be celebrated. Unfortunately, there are several… - Censored! Trigger Warning!
Censorship. Do you approve of it? How can it be a good thing? I do not understand why any American would defend it. The more you know, the more you know. Isn’t that the goal? Wouldn’t you like to know what the world thinks? What about knowing what your political party thinks and believes? It seems to me that it is even more important to know what your enemies or opposition think or believe. Even complete fanatics don’t need to… - Never Say Never
Have you ever decided that you are finished with a sport or an exercise because it was no longer convenient? Or maybe you felt too old to do it anymore. You gave it up as an intelligent thing to do. Many people probably have done this. Have you said, “I will never do this again?” I am here to tell you that maybe you need to rethink it. Almost 20 years ago, I gave up riding because my horse bowed… - Enough About My Hair.
This is all about me! and my hair… First of all, it is NOT curly like Shirley Temples’s hair was. And it is not blond. These facts disappointed my mother. This lack of perfection was a constant problem in my life. It was something I tried to overcome, by learning to be me. When I was born I had a full head of thick, black hair. You could clip a bow in it, and even style it a bit. My… - Graduation! Congratulations!
Waiting on the lawn at UVA to watch my granddaughter graduate all of us were filled with anticipation. This was a real triumph for her because she had a rocky final year of high school. But she persevered and went, first, to Piedmont Community College for two years where she earned great grades. She then completed her degree with two years of study at UVA. We are so proud of her because she has true “grit” and a will to… - Did You Ever Fall in Love with a Pony?
Peanut Butter the pony I was ten years old, and he was the love of my life: Peanut Butter, a palomino pony who was exactly 14.2 hands, technically a pony rather than a horse. This meant I could ride in large pony classes in horse shows rather than the regular adult classes. This was supposed to give me a better chance to win, but Peanuts was no show horse! My father knew I wanted to have my pony located in…
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