Everything Old is New Again

Well, I've been home for a month now. I finally got internet installed at my house so I can "keep in touch."

So what's new? Everything and nothing!

1. I rediscovered clothes and shoes that I had left here when I went to Holden. I had forgotten about them and now they are "new" to me again.
2. Ten days after getting back home, I was offered my "old" job back. While I was planning to take it easy until after the holidays, I decided it was "meant to be" and jumped right back in. It has been kinda busy at work. Mostly there are a lot of "old" things that I have been able to fall right back into, but some that need to be relearned or remembered. (I am office administrator at my church.)
   
3. The "old" house is still falling down......nothing "new" there.
4. My cat is still around and acting his same "old" annoying self.
5. My son is still around and acting his same "old" annoying self. (That's kind of a joke. Actually we've gotten along fine for the most part.)
6. TV programs are the same "old" ones. I was surprised that most of them are still around. There are an awful lot of awful commercials still running. Now that the annoying political ads are done, we have annoying Christmas shopping ads! And even more annoying heart attack medication ads played at least every twenty minutes1
   
7. The supermarket I have gone to for 38 years is still going strong. A lot of the same "old" people work there as when I left.

I don't know what I was expecting...more changes, maybe. One thing I have noticed are sirens. It seems I hear a lot of sirens here. Luckily I have gotten over jumping up to run to the hose house! So, here I am, back in the "old" place, doing the same "old" things that I hoped would change for me. It's comfortable being back. The big question is: have I changed? I think I have in some respects, but not as much as I thought I had.

It's Thanksgiving today. I am so thankful for all of my many friends and my family. I count you all among my many blessings. Have a great day.

Bret's Poem

My newphew, Bret Norwood, wrote the following poem the day after Election Day. I think it is worth sharing so here it is:

Welcome [to Barack Obama]

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 2:02pm
I am undefeatably skeptical of politics, but after watching President Elect Barack Obama's speech last night, after seeing the people cry, after seeing young African Americans dancing, after seeing so many people taken by a spirit of hope, something instinctual moved in me as well. I composed this in a rough attempt toward capturing that moment in a few brief words.

Welcome

I believe history is a story
and we’ve turned a page tonight.
We’ve summoned a new spirit -
a new respect, even self-respect,
a face, a name that changes everything,
no matter what happens next.

Newborn stars snow from Heaven
and are melting at our feet.
The world is renewed in fire
and the fanfare of the band.

Thank you for letting me suspend
my disbelief, if only momentarily,
in order to believe in superstitions
two hundred and thirty-two years old.
Don’t deceive me, as one has done before;
no need to speak of values and destiny:
just tell a story well.

-BTN Nov. 4, 2008