Special Friday

On this special Friday (what's it called?) after Thanksgiving, we could have gone shopping to take advantage of specials, but the grandchildren preferred to picnic and play at the new splash-pad park.  So we went with the majority.  It looked like a couple hundred others did the same; (they probably shopped last night while the kids were asleep.)  Grandma Kay and I somehow got our second wind after a rough “sleepover”.  She put up an energetic front, while I showed my age and lack of sleep.  The three children loved it!  Special fast food consisted of peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, granola bars and apple juice.  The girls threw oatmeal to the ducks and geese.

The day after Thanksgiving, we are still grateful.  We count our special blessings – not the things we didn't buy on a Friday so special that it comes only once a year.

It Goes Without Saying

Some things don’t need to be repeated.  And some never need to be said at all. Quite a few are read between the lines, or shown with a look in the eyes.

I throw out a few off the top of my head and our recycling bin:

"He needs to get a job."

"That dog always barks when the owner is gone.  Drives me crazy!"

"Better clean the bathroom before they come."

("And after they leave," I add.)

"There must be a way to stop the junk mail."  (And deprive USPS of essential revenue.)

Gold’s Gym junk mail: “Know your own strength”  (not that of the buff people around you, defined by Google: “…with fine muscle tone.”)

Marie Callender’s tempting mail: “Order plenty of desserts for all of your holiday gatherings …”  (I’m all for that!)

“Holiday Lighting” flier left at front door last week: “The Holidays are here … Don’t wait."  (Sorry – negative doesn't work for me here.)

DirecTV ad: “For a limited time … lowest prices ever!  Bundle and Save!”  (Yada yada ...)

A bookmark I picked up at the library: "READ"  (I already do.)

"Government is sometimes wasteful."  (No need to state the obvious.)

"We need a vacation."  (Yes!!)

"Wish we could be there with you!"

I may add a couple, but really, needless to say, it goes …

"Oh, what’s the use!"  (My rhetorical question 10/28.)

If you detect any cynicism, please excuse me.

Where is it?  You know it goes ...

Like Precise Language

Last Saturday my sweetheart and I watched a less-popular movie at a low-price theater.  We liked The Giver, based on the book Kay read and didn’t like.  “Boys like it better,” Teacher said.  In my 4/14/14 “Lighten My Load” post, I wrote: “… reminds me of hearing Lois Lowry (age 77, award-winning author of The Giver and 39 other books) describe a dystopian society that had lost all of its technology – a nightmarish tale!”

A recurring reminder by “the Elders” in charge and the sheepish people who follow the bad rules, is to “use precise language”, which “in this community, is not precise at all but rather is a language in which the meanings of words are intentionally unclear. For example, each family unit participates in the 'telling of feelings' every evening. This sharing is ironic because the people don't have any feelings. They gave up their feelings when they chose Sameness. Another word that is ironic and not precise is 'Nurturer.' Jonas' father, a Nurturer, is supposed to be a caretaker of infants. He does care for infants, but he also kills them.”  

– CliffsNotes

www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/g/the-giver/critical-essays/style-and-language-in-the-giver

So if I spoiled it for any of my five followers who have not read the book or seen the film, “I apologize.”  (Another recurring line recalled.)  I feel for you.  Better blame it on Cliff, not me.  Regardless, rent the movie next year, and don't get too political.

Memories in Family Tree

Trying to understand the big picture, not just the how-to of Memories, I remain in the dark.  One of the FamilySearch presentations I am editing for our local family history center was written by our expert, showing two kinds relating to placement (as I see it) in Family Tree: “Tree and Person Memories”.  It lists the four types of Memories: Photos, Documents, Stories, and Audio (new addition!)  I get the types, but not the kinds.  Examples and navigation are shown, which really help one learn how to do it.  Google searches find a ton of news, updates and explanation, but not the easy-to-swallow capsule I want.  Meanwhile, I continue to help patrons navigate the Memories process.

Am I just slow or what?  I have been in love with computers since the dark ages (60's), but have approached this as a beginner.  The Powerful Point [sic] is to teach patrons and new staff, many older than I, who know little about the new programs and may be uncomfortable with computers. Any youth or older expert would wonder, “What’s your problem?  It’s perfectly clear!”  Right.  (Maybe a two-hour seminar is in order. RootsTech 2015, here I come!)

Clear and user-friendly are the names of my games.

“Discover Memories of Your Ancestors

Check to see what photos, stories and other memories have been added to Family Tree and make a surprising family connection.” 
– FamilySearch.org

Photo I took of NPS museum exhibit at Ellis Island, New York Harbor

Sperry Univac History image array, courtesy of Google