Monday, April 27, 2015

There's Nothing Better Than Being A Mother!

I can't think of anything better than being a mother.  I am sort of an accidental mother, whose baby was a bit late (10 months....I am so sure of that) and my baby was a little bigger than some.  Now my baby is in her mid-30's and she is fun, sharp witted, creative, theatrical, mostly kind to others and a smart cookie!
I also think that being a mother never stops.  I give my advice, I suggest and sometimes insist that my baby do certain things.  I believe I have to be a good example for her my whole life, not just while she is growing up.  I believe that I am a mother, not her best friend and yet we can share all sorts of experiences and ideas, just like friends do.
I don't have a Facebook account; however if I did have a Facebook account, I wouldn't want to "friend" her.  I think she needs some privacy and giving her that would be a good thing for her and for me.
I miss my mom.  There are so many things I didn't ask her and so many experiences I had which I didn't share.  I try to imagine what my mom would think about certain things, but I really don't have the answers. 
I do remember the special moments my mom gave me and the opportunity I had towards the end of her life to give her as much of my time as I could.
Everyday should be Mother's Day.  We designate one day out of the year to honor our Moms and one for our Dads and our Grandparents.  And that is a good thing.  It reminds us to let our family know how important they are to us.
What about a Daughter Day or a Son Day?  I would be in favor of that.  Not to idolize our children, not to pamper and pet them, to put them in an Ivy Tower.  Rather to remind ourselves that we did something really right with our lives....we raised a child and left a legacy for ourselves and our families.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Pancakes and Maple Syrup Jelly Bellys

OK.

I am taking a poll.
The latest flavor of Jelly Bellys is reported to be Pancakes and Maple Syrup.  I happen to really love Maple donuts, so this doesn't sound too bad to me.  However, Draft Beer Jelly Bellys, a recent release from Jelly Belly did not hit the top of the charts.  Although a sweet taste, I couldn't find the beer flavor in the bean.
Then out came Champagne...do you sense a pattern here?  Champagne has done a little better, but the results are not in.  The one great thing about Champagne Jelly Bellys is the wonderful color of the bean.
We are wondering why Jelly Belly didn't come out with Bacon Beans.  Having been through a couple of years of bacon flavored candies, it would seem a natural for a jelly bean.
I do want to share a little story about Bean Bozzled.  If you haven't heard of that game, it is distributed by Jelly Belly.  We carry it and the refills of the Jelly Bellys for the game.
Someone reported that they played the game at work and one player had to eat the Skunk Jelly Belly....do you get the picture?  Not only did it taste really awful, but the smell of it permeated the room.  Unfortunately that player had a conference meeting shortly after and we aren't sure if he got rid of the Skunk smell.
The Candy Biz has a lot of memorable moments....bet you hadn't thought about that!
So let me know what you think of Jelly Bellys unusual flavors.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Tulsa, My Home Town

Today I've been thinking about how much Tulsa has changed over the years I have lived here.
The hospital I was born in (Burne Memorial...I think that's the spelling) has been torn down years ago and in its place at 15th and Peoria is a restaurant and a funeral home! 
My best friend, Betty and I used to take the bus downtown on Saturdays to "shop".  We really had no money to spend but it was so much fun to wander around in Vandervers and Dorothy's and eat lunch at Nelson's.  It was safe, we felt like real adults and even if it was hot and stuffy, we didn't care.
I remember buying my Mom a blue glass ash tray.  My Mom didn't even smoke but blue was a favorite color of hers and I thought it would be so pretty sitting on her dresser. 
Then Southland Shopping Center was built at 41st and Yale and we could just walk up the hill from our house and go shopping.  Brown Dunkin was my favorite store.  I could look around in that store forever and if I really, really needed a party dress or a girdle (oh, yeah!), I could ask the sales lady to call my Mom and see if she would agree to let me charge it to her account.
My sister loved TG&Y and spent a lot of time in that store.  And sometimes we would eat lunch in Walgreen's...oh yes, Walgreen's and we thought we were really something if we ate there.
Here we are again, talking about all the shopping, the hotels, the PAC, the Brady and Cain's....Pearl District, the Blue Dome....on and on, the blossoming of downtown Tulsa.
Tulsa, you've come back around.  You've rediscovered downtown and I for one am really glad that we are no longer digging up Main Street, one year it goes south, next year it goes north.....

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

What Can I Do For You?

                                                      What can we do for you?
The concerned retailer will ask him or herself that question each time a customer walks in the door.  It should be ALL ABOUT YOU!
I am wondering if you feel that way when you walk into most stores?  Do the staff greet you? do they seem interested in helping you?  do they offer samples of their goods?  do they greet you and then turn away, never to return to see how you are doing?
You know, I am a customer too.  I shop for groceries, clothes, shoes, hardware, pharmacy items.....etc.  Most of the time I feel like an invisible person, that is, if I don't specifically ask for help.
My favorite places to shop are like the t.v. program CHEERS....a place where, if they don't know my name, they pretend they know me and want me in their store.
And one of the most annoying experiences is when you pull out the coupon you've been saving to use and find that the deadline has passed.  Urgghh (is that a word?)...do you go ahead and buy that item because, well, you are already there?  or do you wait until another coupon comes along?
I have noticed that more people seem interested in shopping locally.  The t.v. news I watch recently carried a story about the Farmer's Market on Cherry Street.  The journalist interviewed a woman who had driven from Ponca City to shop at the Farmer's Market that morning....I just love that sort of person.
Now I see articles questioning whether Organic is really Organic and Natural is really Natural and Grown Locally is an accurate description.
Really, it isn't easy being a consumer.  There are just so many questions you have to ask yourself when you go out to shop....and the one I really want to hear is WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
How about you?