Time for Change

Our quest to downsize continues.

We cut the

Canadian coins need not apply.

cord on the cable and have been amazed by the quality of the picture we get from our vintage rooftop antenna.

Eating at restaurants has largely become a thing of the past. I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would. It's nice not to have the chronic, "I don't know, where do you want to eat?" discussion.

My monthly credit card bill for gasoline has dropped significantly. 

I haven't had to buy work clothes. (Bonus: no need to grimace at my hefty self in the three-way-mirrored, brightly-lit dressing room.)

Our basement has grown in size, owing to the diminishing piles of stuff we've donated.

And we've made some scratch selling books, CDs and DVDs.

Casting about the other day for more ways to save, I spied my filled-to-overflowing change dish. 

There's been a lot of noise in the news lately about the shortage of coins in circulation. I decided it was time to do my part.

Sitting down at the kitchen table, I sorted my quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies and started rolling. When I finished organizing my stash, Mr. Ginley brought over his jar of coins. All told, we had enough money to pay for groceries for the week.

Woo hoo!

I know there are folks who swear by those coin machines, where all you have to do is dump in your change and collect the cash. But I'd rather roll the coins myself and keep the percentage they charge for their service.

Certainly, there is enough time. Also, I find rolling coins to be a relaxing sort of activity. And it always feels good at the end to realize how much has been accumulating, not only in my change dish but in every pocket of every coat I own. 

As a special bonus, I discovered Mr. Ginley's wedding ring in his jar of coins. It's a mystery how it got there, but he was very pleased to be reunited with his ring, although it's still a bit too snug for him to wear.

What will my next downsizing project be?

Suggestions are welcome!

An Unexpected Guest

All sorts of things turn up in my back yard.

Usually it's stuff I don't want to see. Like weeds. Or maple trees. Or poison ivy.

But this year, into what Mr. Ginley refers to as "the f***ing rain forest" sprouted something highly unusual.

A Rose of Sharon bush.

Funny thing is, I haven't seen one in the neighborhood, so I'm not certain which wind carried its seeds to my yard. Also, it's growing in the middle of my holly bush, which I've subsequently pruned, to give Sharon room to grow.

Mr. was all for pulling it out. But I prevailed, and this week I was rewarded with the first lovely blooms. 

There's a reason for my soft heart toward this plant. My mother's petite back yard was home to a Rose of Sharon bush. My mom would yell at us for using it as third base. After a number of years, it gave up the ghost and had to be cut down. But in its prime, it was lovely, with dozens of blossoms (and a whole host of bees -- they loved it).

Thus, my reluctance to uproot Sharon in my own yard. It feels like my mom is reaching out to me. I know it sounds silly, and so unlike my snarky self. 

But I believe. 

I look out every morning and watch another flower emerge, and it gives me hope. Like Mom is out there somewhere, rooting for me to keep going, because I still have some blooming to do.

Thanks, Mom.

Counting Sons

In a fit of nostalgia, I picked up Season 3 of the old TV program, My Three Sons.

Theme music by Frank De Vol

Mr. Ginley was cozily situated upstairs while I watched the 1960s sitcom. It's better that way -- he's not around to poke fun, insert inappropriate dialog or raise troubling questions.

Alas, my solitude didn't last. Mr., on some pretext or other, came down to talk to me. I put the program on pause while I waited for him to finish his conversation.

Pointing to the television screen, he inquired, "who are those chuckleheads?"

"There's Bub, that's Mike and there's Robbie," I explained.

"Where's Uncle Charlie?"

"Bub (William Frawley, formerly "Fred" on I Love Lucy) was on the show until he got sick in 1965 and was replaced by Uncle Charley (William Demarest). Uncle Charley was purported to be Bub's brother."

"How was Bub related to the family?"

"He's the kids' maternal grandfather. Steve Douglas is a widow, and Bub is his father-in-law."

"Isn't there another son?"

"Yes, there's Chip, but he's not in this scene."

"What about Ernie?"

"Ernie was adopted later, after Mike left the show."

"Why did Mike leave the show? Was it because he killed Bub?"

"No, Mike went off and got married."

"So, okay. We have Mike, Robbie, Chip and Ernie. I count FOUR. Don't you think Ernie felt slighted, like being adopted didn't count? Why wasn't the name of the show changed to My FOUR Sons?"

"Because there were only ever THREE sons on the show at any one time. 'Mike' was like 'Chuck,' the brother on Happy Days who went off to college and never came back."

Unsatisfied, Mr. finally trundled back upstairs, mumbling all the way, "I still say it should be called My FOUR SONS." 

His grumbling did make me start to wonder what happened to the actors who played the characters during the show's 12-year run.

Mike (Tim Considine) went on to become a writer, photographer and automotive historian. Robbie (Don Grady) took up composing music after his acting career ended. He died of cancer in 2012. Chip (Stanley Livingston) was a producer and director before retiring from the business. Ernie (Barry Livingston) is still a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

For anyone who was a true fan, you might also wonder about the love interests of the sons. Mike's wife was played by Meredith MacRae, who continued her career until brain cancer took her life in 2000. Robbie's wife was played by Tina Cole, who went on to become an acting coach and who also sang with the "King Cousins." Chip's wife was portrayed by Ronne Troupe, the daughter of jazz legend (and Route 66 star) Bobby Troupe and the step-daughter of Julie London (torch singer and head nurse on Emergency).

Remember when they tried to lift sagging ratings by marrying off "Dad"? Beverly Garland was the actress who took the role of "Barbara," Steve's second wife. (I remember being mesmerized by her uber-long eyelashes.) Ms. Garland continued to act, primarily on television. She passed away in 2008. Her TV daughter, "Dodie," was played by Dawn Lyn, who -- are you ready for this -- is the sister of 1970s teen pop idol Leif Garrett.  Dawn supported her mom and her brother until he became a household name.

Of course, we can't leave out Fred MacMurray (aka "Steve Douglas"), a terrific actor who had some juicy noir roles back in the day. Folks forget what a wonderful SOB he played in the movie Double Indemnity. Check it out sometime.

Oops, and Tramp. The dog. He was a briard, a breed that dates back to the 14th Century. (Aren't you glad you asked?)

P.S. Props to Mr. Ginley, without whom the idea for this blog would not have materialized. Complaints should be addressed to him in care of this station.

Fourthwith

"What mail are we getting today?" inquired Mr. Ginley this morning.

He was referring to the email we get from the U.S. Postal Service. They image every piece of mail being delivered that day. It's not always accurate, but it gives us an idea of what's coming.

"We're not," I replied. "Today is a holiday."

"Oh yeah, that's right."

These days it's easy for us to forget holidays. They're not special when you're doing the same things at home you'd be doing any other day. If you're not working, taking a day off is pretty anti-climactic. 

Particularly this year, with no Fourth of July parade down Lorain Road. Although, of course, there will be fireworks, as there have been non-stop throughout the week. 

Doubtless, 2020 will go down as the year of the Bummer Summer. 

Hopefully, we'll all be around to remember it ten years from now. Then we'll be celebrating mask-free and this crappy year will just be one of those things we look back on from our rocking chairs on the porch.

Happy Fourth!