Our cuckoo sneezer

"A-choo! Cuckcoo."

We looked up from our menus in surprise. Who would have thought we'd hear a cuckoo clock in beautiful McKinley lodge at Denali Park?

After we placed our orders, we heard it again. "A-choo! Cuckoo." Hmm. Obviously the little bird had allergies. Behind the counter, one of the gals also had allergies. She was a cheerful young lady, but often interrupted by her own sneezing.

Because I was facing the counter and could see her, it soon became apparent this gal could not only sneeze happily, she also cuckooed.

"A-choo! Cuckoo." I giggled when I heard it. "It's the gal beyond the counter," I informed the others. "Every time she sneezes, she cuckoos."

Justin was indignant. Absolutely not, he claimed. There was a clock somewhere  that was making the sound. I looked at my son-in-law and shrugged. Oh well. If the man wanted to think it was a clock it didn't matter to me.

"A-choo! Cuckoo." Ever try not to laugh out loud? I looked at the other diners and noticed most of them had the same problem I did. My undoing was glancing at the daughters and watching the  hilarity on their features while sweetly listening to their father scoff at my information of the sneezer/cuckooer.

"A-choo! Cuckoo."  Once again my beloved looked in vain for a clock, which was the rest of group's undoing. We laughed until we cried and our sides hurt. It's interesting what can trigger an outburst of uncontrolled laughter.

Yesterday I sneezed. From the living room I heard a distinct "Cuckoo." Justin grinned at me from the recliner. I guess it was his way of saying it probably really wasn't a clock he was hearing at McKinley lodge.

                                                   VALENTINE'S DAY IS COMING SOON!

Join your friends at Dempsey's Pub in Uptown Watertown South Dakota on February 12. Their Art night @ The Pub happens every 2nd Thursday and on the 12th of February they are celebrating all that is February with a RED SHOW.

I won't be able to be there, but have submitted a reading called The Red-Head and the Redneck. It's an excerpt  from my book, Laughter in the Wind. Hope the folks will enjoy it. My friend, Jane Green, who writes for several newspaper in the area, is handling the details for me. Thanks a whole big bunch, Jane!

                                                                        

New tracks in the snow

 

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It snowed again the other night. By morning all the old tracks were obliterated, and the prairie was a clean canvas, waiting for a new picture to be drawn with paw prints. It reminds me of the new year that already has arrived.

2015 is a clean canvas this first day of January, waiting for us to begin putting new marks across it. I truly enjoy this month and usually have a burst of energy as I sift, sort, and throw away last year's accumulation of 'stuff'. Why did I cram those little pieces of paper in a drawer with miscellaneous names and phone numbers? It would have been just as easy to copy them in a great little book made for such things.

Somewhere along the line, I quit making  resolutions. After reading the same thing over year after year, I realized some things just 'ain't gonna happen'----like losing 10 pounds. Nope. Never.

Our community has had a sad December as many folks lost loved ones. Some deaths were expected, some were totally unexpected. Every week seemed to bring us together to grieve with another family and to honor the memory of the life that was gone. Small communities mourn together. Usually we've known the person and the family for a long time, and most of us have gone through a similar time of saying goodbye and can sympathize. I think of all these people now that the new year has come. There will be changes in their life, in their lifestyle, and for some, even different addresses. They'll be sorting out the accumulations of their loved ones, and it can be a daunting job.

Which brings me back to tracks in the snow. Footprints walking into a new life---not sure what the future holds, and maybe feeling alone. What a relief to know that Christ has the journey for  each one of us mapped out and wants to add His holy steps alongside of ours.

One last thought from our house to your house--- may your home fires be warm and inviting, the coffee freshly brewed, love and laughter long and lingering, and this grand and new year of 2015 full of blessed walks with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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