Life Lessons Learned by Gina Meyers

 

Many years ago, I wrote a series of books called: Life Lessons Learned. Some of the books that I remember off hand are Life Lessons Learned from My Cat, Life Lessons Learned from My Fortunes Inspiration Edition, Life Lessons Learned Through the Seasons of Change, and many other compilations. As the dog days of summer continue on, I thought I'd share a few life lessons I've learned along the way.  

In keeping with this theme, I was thinking of a few lessons I've learned along the way.

Here are a few in no particular order

Life Lesson I learned from my former pastor during a sermon entitled, "No one volunteers to help take down the Christmas Tree," is that people generally don't volunteer willingly for what they perceive is the unfun stuff. 

Life Lesson I learned from myself but my dad when I was little pointed it out. "You can do your job the mean way or the nice way." (This was in reference to wait staff at various San Francisco eateries when I was a preteen and teenager. I can it, "doing your job the mean way." Code = wait staff is not very pleasant, mediocre really. "Doing their job the nice way." Code= wait staff is very nice, deserves a big tip, should be thanked for excellent customer service. 

Life Lesson learned from Dr. Wayne Dyer. The Cookie Thief Story. The jist of the story is Dr. Dyer is on an airplane sitting next to a woman who he believes is eating his cookies and he's kinda miffed that she keeps eating them though he's offered her some of his. Later, he discovers that she had the same bag of cookies that he did and that he was actually eating from her bag as he found his in his knapsack later after the airplane ride. Life lesson, sometimes we think someone else is being petty and inconsiderate when in fact they are actually being kind and generous. 

Life Lesson learned from listening. When I listen, I learn.

Life Lesson from my mom. When I was a preteen and a teenager, we used to invite sales people to our home to share what they were selling. We would invite our friends to come listen to the presentations.  We had Amway over, Mellaluca, I believe, Mary Kay Makeup Sales Associates, A Rainbow Vacuum Sales person, Tupperware, and I think a woman who sold clothing based upon "your season". Anyway, the life lesson I learned is my mom always made the sales person feel welcome. She would make a big dinner and they'd eat with us. I remember one sales lady was shocked, she was like, "no one has ever made dinner for me before."

So I guess the other lesson is that do the unexpected, be kind and good will follow. 

 

This day in history by Gina Meyers

 

I was jamming to some 80's tunes and thought for a random moment, I wonder what happened this day, July 21, 1989?

All I can say is I was wildly surprised and let's get out the popcorn for a moment, this day in history was the movie premier of When Harry Met Sally. 

Other interesting facts emerged as well. There also was a wrestling match between Mike Tyson and Carl Williams which lasted only 93 seconds!

So, as I settle into my summer knowing just a few more weeks until the school year starts back up, I'm excited to learn that at whatever time I am living in, that July the 21st has always had some exciting things happen!

The Flight Crew

 

The flight crew was on their way to the hotel room when they got shanghaied which was fine by them. Apparently La Guardia closes at 2 am, another wrinkle. 

Mission Possible, my quick visit to Mission San Luis Obispo, by Gina Meyers

 

Mission Possible, my quick visit to Mission San Luis Obispo

The older I get, I start seeing everything as miracles.

Mission SLO, calm, peaceful, full of life, joy, a quiet stillness. 

A sort of quiet perfection, the simple things.

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Revisited by Gina Meyers

 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse Revisited

By Gina Meyers

I still have my Richard Scarry books. My all-time favorite story in my Richard Scarry book is the story of the country mouse and the city mouse.

Now the country mouse decides to visit her cousin the city mouse in the BIG City. The city mouse welcomes her cousin to the city by offering a scrumptious meal of fine cheese on a large dining room table, the spread went on for miles. What the city mouse failed to tell her cause the country mouse was that there was a rather fat and angry cat who was not after cheese, rather was after mice, they were the meal!!!! The cat lived at the house in the city as well. In the end, the moral of the story was that the country mouse would rather dine in peace than be the potential meal and she quickly resorted back to her quiet and peaceful life in the country. I’ve always loved the hustle and bustle of the city. And I’ve always loved the peace and quiet of country living. I’ve never agreed with the moral of the story because country life has a lot of unknowns and hidden hazards as well. 

Mission Possible: Mission Santa Barbara by Gina Meyers

 Mission Possible 

Mission Santa Barbara

by Gina Meyers

Over the past couple of months, I’ve taken an interest in revisiting some of my favorite missions in California.

I’m discovering and uncovering a history rich like the soil on which the missions were established.

Converging simultaneously, new and old, a mixed vibe of tradition and upbeat newness tied together with a Santa Barbara vibe, the scent of the ocean redolent in the air, with a slight breeze and  yarny green grass which subtly asked for me to take off my sandals, which I obliged. Here in this atmosphere lies a mission built in 1786. With a chapel built for our King, Jesus Christ. 

The journey like the pilgrimage from France to Spain, “The Way of James” or The Camino Santiago, you get to taste the Santa Barbara culture with a vintage Volkswagen van selling coffee outside the mission, wafting through the air, a strong scent of freshly roasted coffee beans, a washing basin larger than any I’ve ever seen has a placard on it describing its history and is situated kiddy corner from the Vintage van, a working fountain with lily pads and fish swimming about,  and a rose garden with the most fragrant roses and one of the largest species of roses I’ve seen in a long time. The only other time I’ve seen that expansive of a rose garden was in Portland, Oregon. 

And then there’s the mission, and a butterfly garden and beautiful tiled mosaics with the 12 stations of the cross outside. 

The inside of the church (chapel) also is powerful looking if power has a look. It’s opulent with a richness in artwork that makes you really feel timeless. A statue of Mary adorns the altar of the church. I saw outstretched hands, some type of large statue and Fransican Friars in the traditional garb are present at the mission. 

Due to our tardiness, we stood in the back, right next to the holy water. The holy water brought great comfort to my surroundings as all of us pilgrims who were standing in the back quickly picked a spot on the massively red clay quarry tiles  to which to stand. 

As a third generation native Californian, our missions are part of the history of California. As a Christian Catholic, I also find the missions are a spiritual place and a divine respite from everyday life. 

They truly take you back in time which is what happened this past Sunday when I was treated to a traditional mass in the sacred halls of The Mission Santa Barbara. With the bishop in attendance and catechisms making their way to the altar. As I saw the young women wearing their beautiful silk long organza dresses with colorful flowers inlaid.  I was reminded of a time in childhood when I fought with my mother over what to wear to my 8th grade graduation from private school. My pink silk dress was reminiscent of the one Molly Ringwald wore in the movie,  Pretty In Pink, which came out a few years after the dress debacle.

Days like these remind me of why I am a Californian, why I gravitate towards tradition, and the uniqueness that missions provide to everyday potentially mundane life. A spark of imagination and reinvigoration in days ahead with solid souvenirs of memories. 

 

Low Fat Dessert by Gina Meyers

 

1 tub of low-fat cottage cheese

1 tub of cool whip lite

2 small jello *sugar free or 1 large jello any flavor

1 can sugar free fruit.

Follow directions on how to make the jello and add the other ingredient, drain the fruit, mix all ingredients and refrigerate.