Beginner's Pinwheel

When we lived in England we marveled at all the people who had time and money to go shopping. In the US shopping malls are practically vacant on weekdays. But in the UK they’re full all day every day, as if it were Christmas all year long. Folks aren’t just window shopping, either. They’re toting big bags full of clothing, scented candles, cell phones, you name it. I used to wonder how they managed it. Do none of them have jobs to go to? If not, where do they get all the money they’re spending? Then I read that most wealthy countries mandate between 20 and 30 days of paid vacation every year. In the UK, it’s 28 days. Suddenly it began to make sense. If I had a month’s paid vacation each year, I’d be out shopping, too. All work and no play leaves us all pretty dull. It might make the economy sluggish, too.

End of the Day

August doesn’t have REAL holidays; at least not the kind that give you time off. If you want a holiday in August, you make up your own. Plenty of other people have. August 3 is National Watermelon Day. The tenth is National S’mores Day, and today is National Marshmallow Toasting Day. They’re not the same thing. You can toast marshmallows without making s’mores, and you can have s’mores without toasting anything. I had three personal celebrations this month. On August 17 the Trax station nearest my house finally opened for service. This means I can take a train to the library or the airport without getting into a car first. We visited the dentist two days ago, which means all our smiles are clean as a whistle. School started August 19, which means my piano students are through telling me they forgot their lessons because every day felt like Saturday - at least until next June.

Teddy Bears' Picnic

They were unemployed and they lived in Anaheim. Tonya Mickesh and Jeff Reitz had received annual Disneyland passes as a gift. They concocted a plan to occupy their time and boost their spirits at the same time. Why not visit Disneyland every day for a year? All through 2012 they enjoyed the attractions, chatted with cast members, shared a table on Main Street, USA and watched the world walk by. And maybe they hit on the perfect way to find work. As anyone in the job market too long can tell you, desperation stinks. But maybe spending part of each day in the happiest place on earth can make you smell less unemployable. Tonya found a job in April, and Jeff was working by September. Still they found time to meet in the park once a day. As an added bonus, the couple was awarded a night’s stay in the Dream Suite. The daily cost of an annual pass? Less than two dollars.

Squares and Triangles

Everything I need to know I learned from Pixar movies. “You just need to believe in yourself.” – Rex the Dinosaur, Toy Story.  “Luck favors the prepared,” and “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the NOW.” – Edna Mode, The Incredibles. “There’s nothing more toxic or deadly than a human child. A single touch could kill you!” – Waternoose, Monsters, Inc. “I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself.” – Bruce, Finding Nemo. “I’m packing your extra pair of shoes, and your angry eyes just in case.” - Mrs. Potato Head, Toy Story 2. “Remember: rip it, roll it and punch it!” – Squirt, Finding Nemo. “I can’t stop Andy from growing up. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” – Woody, Toy Story 2. And my personal favorite: “Change IS nature, dad, the part we can influence. And it all starts when we decide.” – Remy, Ratatouille.

Cholla

What a difference a year makes! Last September my almost-two-year-old grandson didn’t say much and what he did say was hard to understand. He loved Elmo but had little patience for the rest of Sesame Street. Since then he’s turned his focus to Dumbo, Jungle Book, Thomas the Tank Engine, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Winnie the Pooh. Now, as he nears his third birthday, he can count to 100. He reads several words, including, “No,” “Stop,” and “Birthday Cake.” While we were walking he pointed and said, “Look, Nana, an octagon window!” I did and it was. I’ve grown a lot this year, too. I’ve learned not to leave drinks anywhere near laptops. I can buy movie tickets with my phone. I’ve found several diets that don’t work. I’m slowly learning to deal with Windows 8. I’ve discovered an amazing bakery just a mile from my house. I wonder what we’ll learn next year.

Johnny 'Round the Corner

I’ve whined about public handicapped restrooms here before. In the UK, disabled stalls are ONLY for the disabled; you need a special key to use them. It’s a better solution than we have here, where the handicapped (who very frequently have trouble waiting) must queue behind inconsiderate dolts who could have used regular stalls. We were pushing my daughter’s wheelchair at the Kimball Arts Festival in Park City three weeks ago when she announced she had to “go.” She doesn’t usually give us ample warning, so we were relieved to find facilities nearby with a handicapped sign outside. Then we discovered her relatively small chair wouldn’t fit in the stall. In the end we abandoned the chair outside while she took care of business, hoping all the while that it would still be there when she was done. If only Park City had roomy, clean, safe facilities like the one near St. Sampson’s Square in York.