Traveling Mercies

Do you like Thanksgiving? I do. I’m already counting down the days and looking forward to both the food and the company. But since Thanksgiving is about counting our blessings, this is a good time to reflect on 2009 and the bounty the year provided. During a time when so many people were losing jobs or were fearful of losing jobs, I was blessed to get a new job. I joined a company where I had worked before – but in a new position. Many of the pains of a new job I didn’t have to experience, I knew the people, I knew the culture and I knew many of the job skills that I would be expected to perform. The company culture fits me well, I have friends and colleagues I enjoy spending my time with and I’m intellectually challenged by my duties. If I had to write the perfect job description for me, this would be it. My career change definitely counts as a blessing. In a time of war, when many families are torn apart by deployments, serious injury or even death, I am surrounded by people I love a...

Do you Twitter? I’m trying to decide if I should. I’m thinking about doing it, so a friend told me to go ahead and set up my Twitter account and follow other people. The cocktail party concept, you have to listen to some of the conversation before jumping in. So, I set up a Twitter account. “It’s so easy, everyone says, only takes a minute. Find some people, follow them and you’re done.” So, I set up the account. First, I had to spend some time thinking what my Twitter “handle” (name) would be. Good grief – what a decision. Should I go with my real name? Should I go with a pseudonym? Do you have to worry about cyber stalking on Twitter? I was really just worried about not following Twitter protocol under my real name, but I decided if I’m going to do this, it might as well be for real. So my Twitter handle is @camillestell. Next, I had to figure out how to follow people. I’m sure for those who aren’t technologically challenged, all of this is a breeze. But I have to do research. Look a...

Are you a list maker? I am. I love the structure and order that lists provide. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment I feel as I cross items off my list. I have a variety of lists ongoing at any point in time. One of my lists is books I want to read (and books that I’ve read). I feel I spend more time compiling this list than reading the books, but time management is a discussion for another blog post. A list I normally begin in October is my Christmas planning list. First item on the list is to prepare and mail the invitation to my annual “girls” Christmas dinner. In December, 1984, after our college graduation, I hosted a dinner for high school girlfriends. This year we are celebrating our 25th annual dinner with 8 – 10 friends in attendance. Once the invitation goes out, I start planning the menu. I always do all the cooking with new recipes – nothing tried and true. I can say that in 24 dinners, there have been no failures or flops – or at least my friends have been gracious enough t...

Yesterday, I went to the North Carolina State Fair where the theme was “a whole lotta happy”. My favorite “happy” about the fair is the food. The smells greet you in the parking lot. Once inside, I head straight for the hotdogs. Almost every tent or stand serves hotdogs; however, my non-negotiable criteria for hotdogs are they must be red and they must be grilled. I was not disappointed at the Shriners’ tent and I felt good eating “bad for me” food knowing the profits help support the Shiners’ charity work for children’s hospitals. My next stop was the exhibit halls. I love to view the 4-H entries, the decorated cakes, the items being hawked by Billy Mays wanna-bes and free samples of food. It’s here that I get the stickers which will adorn my sweat shirt for the remainder of the evening: Democratic Party, North Carolina State University (though I attended Meredith College, I cheer for NC State) and “Got Milk”. While eating my free peanuts, I’m mesmerized by the veggie peeler and stea...

It’s finally beginning to feel like fall. Today, I’m wearing a sweater and boots, for me a sure sign of changing seasons. During this time of year, I’m sure that fall is my favorite season. I love how invigorating cooler temperatures feel and how deep blue the sky looks after a summer of baby blue softness. I love the robust colors – orange, burgundy and gold. In the fall, one of my favorite things to do is to go to a pumpkin farm and walk around admiring the hundreds of pumpkins plucked from the patch waiting for me to adopt and perch on my front steps. And while I’m walking around admiring the pumpkins and the fall mums, hopefully, I’m drinking apple cider or eating pumpkin ice-cream – a once a year treat. On Saturday, I’ll take my 7 year old niece Carly and 11 year old nephew Lane to the pumpkin farm and we’ll do all of this and more. There will be a corn maze, wagon rides and face painting. But my primary goal will be making memories. There will come a day when the pumpkin patch wo...

My sister loves shoes – this is an understatement. She has more shoes than clothes, more shoes than purses, more shoes than closet space. Her favorite shoes are heels, very high – chunky or thin, sandal or boot – but they must be trendy. Her shoes are a reflection of her personality. Though she is a mom, she can easily race her kids in her heels. Though she’s a parent going to the school, she could be heading to a chi chi New York restaurant for dinner with the girls. She buys them at stores, searches online and bids on eBay. I’m envious of how she can wear such high heels effortlessly. My seven year old niece has inherited the fetish. She has pink cowboy boots, sparkly dress shoes, sandals with heels and clogs of all colors. She is her mother’s daughter.

“It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer” or so says Gerald Brenan. So as I sit and write, I thank you for reading and perhaps commenting. Enjoy.