Reflecting on Challenge and Success

a very cold Daytona Beach sunrise
December 25, 2022

Today I am answering the timely writing prompts from Joyce's Hodgepodge that has some emphasis on challenges we face.

1. What's a winter memory you treasure (can be from any winter in your lifetime)?

Aside from the 8 years I spent growing up in Southern California, I have experienced a lot of snow in several states. One of my earliest snow memories is from upstate New York when my father bought a metal saucer and attached a pull rope to it. He sat my sister and me (ages 4 and 6) in the saucer and pulled us across the unshoveled snow to the corner grocery store to buy bread. We enjoyed that, of course.

Now I am retired in Florida where a snow shovel is not normally required. A couple of years ago we spent Christmas in Daytona Beach where had to cut the trip short due to extreme cold. 

This week Florida's record-breaking snowfall is north of us, but we're still wearing long pants, long sleeves, and warm socks!

2. Tell us about the last time or a recent time you were caught up in red tape. Does it send your frustration level off the charts or is it something you've come to expect when dealing with any sort of bureaucracy?

my desk

Caught up in red tape: Four years after my late husband's death I thought I had dealt with all the closing matters in our finances, property, etc. Things were running smoothly until I decided to trade in my cell phone for a newer model. In the process of that transaction, I discovered the account was still in his name, even though the bills have been coming to me with my name and at my new address, etc. for nearly 4 years. "My" account was actually his and my status was an "add on" as a family member.

It took seven trips to the phone company store to get this changed, including having to show them a notarized copy of the death certificate and unfreezing my credit to verify that I'm in good standing. 

It was a frustrating experience. Did I handle it well? I'll just say I was thankful to have Gary as my sounding board and chauffeur as I made my way through the tangle of red tape. That was over 3 months ago. All seems to be running smoothly now.

3. Do you eat/like fish? Do you cook fish at home? What's your favorite fish dinner? Ever been ice fishing?

Yes, I like fish, especially salmon and shrimp. We often have fish sticks and shrimp here (the heat-and-eat kind from the freezer). Gary can grill salmon very well, but any fish prepared from an uncooked state tends to make the house smell bad, so salmon at a restaurant is preferable. Texas Roadhouse and Long Horn Steak House both grill and season salmon so well.

The closest I've come to ice fishing was when I lived in South Dakota with a fisherman who probably tried it a time or two while I stayed warm and snug at home with our babies. If you want to see how that's done, check out one of my favorite wintertime movies, "New in Town," with Renee Zwellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. Here is the link to the movie trailer: New in Town

4. Did you watch any of the US President's Inauguration coverage on Monday, Jan 20? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all and 10 being very much) how interested are you in you in politics in general? Do you follow/keep up with/get involved with local politics?

On Inauguration Day we were on a trip out of town, so all we got to see were replays of it later that day. FOX News is on our TV daily, so yes, we are interested in politics. We have been members of the Republican Club here in our +55 community, but we don't get involved more than to vote and talk about politics with neighbors who tend to agree with us.

5. What's the coziest thing you own and what makes it so?

I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just one thing that feels cozy. I have arthritis so in cold weather, wooly scarves are often draped around my neck to keep that area comforted. If the scarf has a hood attached, that helps keep the upper back warm and relaxed.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Regarding Red Tape and morphing into the subject of Tax Season: I did my own taxes a few times as an older teenager when I had part time jobs but when I got married at the age of 20, my husband took over. 

When he passed 50 years later, our finances had understandably become more sophisticated than the requirements of my teen years. My personal bookkeeper at the time (my daughter) and her CPA took care of my taxes for me. After a couple of years, that arrangement changed. Gary encouraged me to use a nationally-known tax prep business. This will be my third year to use them because I've been very satisfied with them. H and R Block

My biggest stress has been to be sure I have all the necessary documents to submit. Last year after my taxes were filed, I typed up a list of all the documents that were used and put that list into a file folder for this year. Now, as the documents come in, I check them off that list and file them all together in one place. It's a beautiful thing.  

To some this may seem to be a small thing; to me it's huge. It's also a practical illustration of God's promise to me to bring the help I need when I need it and through capable people.

Do not fear, 

for I am with you;

do not be dismayed,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Until next time, grace and peace.

Hodgepodge Volume 586 for January 22

To link up with this week's Hodgepodge, click here:

http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2025/01/hodgepodge-questions-volume-586.html