Update From Me

Today I am working alone, flying solo, having it my way...in other words, I'm free to do as I please. Kim has gone to a rehearsal at the high school today. Can you believe that? The holiday break is not over yet and Kim called a rehearsal. I wonder how many of the students will be absent?

(I've created a new blog specifically about my life with the theater teacher. It is called Life is a Stage. Check it out.)

Christmas with the kids was a lot of fun. We had it the Saturday after Christmas this year since they were in other places on Christmas Day. All three boys, the grand kids, the daughters in law and the in-laws were here to celebrate the day. As you can see from the photo, its a chaotic time when the Martins all get together. It is also a really fun time.

I love that Regan had to put on her princess dress from Uncle Ryan the minute she got it, complete with tiara. Aidan was trying out some binoculars he got, Pawpaw is putting his "stash" in a safe place and everyone is talking at once. I love to listen to everyone and to watch those grand children play. They are never still unless a good movie is on TV.

My favorite gift this year was aprons I sewed for my daughters in law and my granddaughter. The problem was that they didn't get finished in time. With the play Kim and I worked on at the theater lasting up until just before Christmas, I got a late start on everything. Right after the play closed on the 14th, I still had some days to work with the university and my interns. I completed one apron and almost 2 more, but the night before we had Christmas, I sewed until I couldn't stay awake. So I wrapped what I'd done and let Kari open her's first since it was the one completed. The other girls got to see the fabric and what their apron would look like. I have now completed one more and hope to finish the others today. I enjoyed choosing fabric patterns and colors that I thought fit each person. Now whether they will use their aprons doesn't really matter because I had fun making them. Seeing their reactions and knowing I'd chosen each one specifically for that girl was a satisfying feeling.

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and we are going to a party at the theater. We won't have a lot of people there, but we'll have fun ringing in 2009 together. Someone has a karaoke machine, we are bringing a game and everyone is bringing food. Since it isn't an official theater party everyone is also bringing champagne to share for our midnight toast. I have always enjoyed going to the theater on NYE and being with our friends.

Happy New Year to all of you in 2009!

Christmas Is Coming, the Goose is Getting Stewed!

Do you people realize how close it is to Christmas Day? I barely remember Halloween or Thanksgiving! The pictures of Regan and Aidan dressed up like Red-Riding Hood and The Mummy are still stuck on my fridge door. I still have marinated green bean salad leftovers from Thanksgiving inside of my fridge for crying out loud. Where have the days gone?

I got an email from one of the Zchicks (some ladies I lived with in Zellner dorm at ACU in the '70's) who lives up north. She always decorates, puts up a Christmas tree or two and does a lot of gift shopping. She commented in her email that all that was done, she was ready for Christmas and that Christmas Eve was a week from tonight [Wednesday]. What? You say, "A week away?" Is that all, just 7 days? I was shocked! Was I to believe that this holiday so many people anxiously await to arrive is a mere 168 hours away? I have done nothing to get ready. No decorations, no Christmas Tree not even a chestnut roasting on an open fire.

While I feel the need to do something about my current unpreparedness, I am not so much as a bit compelled to begin on what is surely to be a very tiring task. Although, I should want to get into the Christmas spirit and decorate, buy Christmas presents, and in general be jolly; I can't seem to muster the enthusiasm to move from my chair to the attic where my tree is still stored in its box. (That pic is from last year. Too bad I didn't just leave it up.)

The thought of circling Wal Mart in search of a decent parking place is eclipsed only by the image of sardine-like shoppers, displaced articles off the shelves, crying children wanting nothing more than their homes, and in general the chaos that will besiege if I dare to stop. Why would I want any of that? Sort of makes me want to slap that smile off the Smiley Face.

Five days ago the play that Kim and I directed at the theater closed. Yesterday I washed shirts and towels used during the show. There is still a big box of props in the corner of our breakfast room. Today I need to take a few costumes to the cleaners. The musical scores, however, were counted and it was discovered we are short by two scores. But I digress.

All of that said about the play was to point out that in addition to our paying jobs, we were very busy otherwise and have just let Christmas happen all around us without getting involved. In spite of hearing Christmas music on the radio, observing and being trapped in the lines of cars on Garth Road, noticing the occasional Blue Spruce tied to the top of a Suburban, or the car with antlers and a big red ball on the front grill, we just didn't notice it was time for Christmas. Though I would like to join all the bustle, I can't for some reason gather the wherewithal to get into Santa's big scene. What is wrong with me? Have I been Scrooged?

Here's the plan: I'll get out of this chair, out of my pajamas, into the shower and into some real clothes. That's a good start don't you think? Then, perhaps I should put on some Christmas music. Although I've been listening to holiday music for days and days. I'll give it a try anyway. Maybe a new mindset will make the difference. Next, I will put the Christmas wreath on the front door. All that requires is fixing the hanger on the door and putting the wreath on it. The box of wreathes is already out of the attic because we needed one of them as a prop in the play. After that, I will see what I can haul down of the other Christmas decorations including the artificial blue spruce. If I'm not flat on my back in the floor asleep, I'll eat lunch, vacuum the floors and maybe get out and try to shop. Although, I could make my own Christmas presents this year and avoid all that craziness in the stores. Of course, that does require effort on my part.

With a plan in writing, I can do this. Right now, it looks as if I'll have to skip down the list to lunch since its noon. Hmmm, do you think that means it'll be time for a nap soon? I'll let you know how it goes.

We Need A Little Christmas

Kim and I have been directing and working on the play “Mame” at the Baytown Little Theater recently. A featured musical number in the show is the song, “Need a Little Christmas” in which Mame, her nephew and faithful staff sings and decorates their house in an attempt to capture a spirit of cheer. Set in the depression era and the great Stock Market Crash, Mame suddenly finds herself without funds to pay her staff and barely enough money to eat more than Shredded Wheat for dinner. Knowing that Christmas is the one time of year when they are happy and even though their situation is bleak, they realize their need for the holiday.

Like Mame, we also need a little Christmas. Not just the holiday with the lights, ornaments, trees, and gifts, but Christ the child for which Christmas is celebrated. We need Christ in our lives. God sent his son to be born in a manger on a cold winter night in Bethlehem. He sent us a little Christmas in the form of Baby Jesus to save us from our sins and our earthly struggles.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

The phone rings and a creditor demands payment. We need a little Christmas. A loved one has passed from this life. We need a little Christmas. Hurtful words pierce our hearts and forgiveness is difficult. We need a little Christmas. The teen stormed out of his parent’s house with shouts of hate. We need a little Christmas. A single mother weeps as she puts her child to bed without a hot meal in her belly. We need a little Christmas. The laborer’s only vehicle to work sits dead on the driveway. We need a little Christmas. We are losing faith. We need a little Christmas.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Christ is born. Glory to God!

(Scriptures: Luke 2:11-12, 13-14)

Today Is December 9

My attempts to post a blog entry lately came up with shallow content. I wrote and deleted; posted and deleted. Nothing seemed to convey where my thoughts have been.

Then, a while ago I noticed the date. Grading student assignments and posting dates for tomorrow, I'd not paid attention to the date. So when my eyes fell on today's date at the top of a friend's blog, all I saw was December 9, 2008 and it hit me. Today is my daddy's birthday. He would have been 90 years old today. It's hard for my mind to wrap around that Daddy could have been that old. He's still 77 to me. Right where he was when he left us.

(The photo above shows the six Ritchey siblings. My daddy is sitting in the chair on the left.)
Born Elton Lavarne or Lavorne (Mama Ritchey wasn't even for sure which spelling was correct) Ritchey, nicknamed "Jiggs" was born December 9, 1918 in Oklahoma. He was the fourth of six siblings born to John Renrick. and Beulah James Ritchey.

Remembering where he was and how he looked the last time I saw him alive, I recall that physical person I saw wasn't actually my daddy anymore. Alzheimer's disease took my daddy's mind away and when it did, he was gone too.




Adjectives that described my daddy would be kindhearted, loving, Christian, firm, soft-hearted, loyal husband, wise, intelligent, self-motivated, lifelong learner, carpenter, handyman, gardener, country music fan, guitar player, singer, comedian and grandfather. I could probably go on and on.

Daddy once started out to drive back to his parent's house in Ryan, OK from Port Neches, TX. He was going to visit my grandparents and help his dad do some home repairs. My brothers and I were in school and so we stayed back with Mom. Daddy was an hour away when Mom answered a phone call from him saying that he just couldn't make the trip without us. Daddy rarely ever went somewhere overnight without us. Even when he worked for some people on their beachhouses in Galveston, we got to join him for the weekend. Daddy was always working a second job of some kind to help the family income.











It is such a shame that my grandchildren never knew my daddy. He would have loved them so much and they would have thought he was just great.







Like I do.

Mame Opens at the BLT

Mame at the Baytown Little Theater.

Even though putting a play on is a whole lot of trouble, it is quite gratifying when it all comes together. Mame opened last Friday night and played three performances of the musical over the weekend. It continues this next weekend with three more shows. No matter how hard it got to pull all the details together, I kept telling myself that there was an end in sight. No matter what happened the play will end December 14. I am happy to say, the play is very good and apparently the community thinks its a good show too because all the remaining performances are sold out.