Did you march in Memorial Day parades when you were a kid? I did!

When I was a kid, I marched with the brownies and girl scouts in the Memorial Day town parade, held in Wickford, RI.

We practiced forever! Of course you know I was very nervous about marching wrong... not sure what I thought the repercussions would be for bad marching, but I didn't want to find out.

Inevitably it was a freezing cold and rainy day, but we marched our best! And even with all the worrying, it was fun!

The family tradition carried on. Here is a picture of my brother, Si, the one with the big drum, marching with the Davisville Middle School band ~ approximately 1984. I made the little cut out musical note to add to my photo album all those years ago.

As Memorial Day approaches, I look forward to the parade. Putnam's will be held Monday, May 27, starting at 10am. It will make me cry numerous times, for numerous reasons.... memories, thankfulness, appreciation....

Did you march in the parade? Do you still go and enjoy them?

 I am a Putnamaniac, a former marcher, and a current Memorial Day Parade lover!

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I know what some people were doing during Hurricane Sandy ~ Have you noticed tons of pregnant gals lately?

Since we have survived the winter and are now enjoying a most beautiful spring in New England, it is easy to forget about the wrath of Hurricane Sandy back last October (2012) ~ especially if you were not totally devastated by it.

However, I think I know what some folks may have been up to during those days without power, and therefore tv, radio, computers, lights....

In the past week I have seen at least a dozen pregnant ladies ~ looking to have a beautiful bouncing baby within the next month or so.

Do the math. It adds up!

And I think it is no coincidence that the aerial view of a hurricane looks just like the uterine scan pictures that soon to be moms show me of their unborn baby. Right???

 Take a look around and see if you see a lot of expectant moms glowing from head to toe!

I am a Putnamaniac that knows what some folks were up to during Hurricane Sandy!

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It is all in your perspective... Is the glass half full ~ or half empty?

Everyone has heard the old expression about looking at the glass being half full or half empty.

It is all about your perspective of things.

Lots of things are this way, and you can look at them any way you choose. That is one thing we still all have control over ~ our thoughts and feelings.

Tonight as I was jogging, in my slow jogging style, I passed some walkers on the path. As I passed, I overheard them say "Someday we will be able to run like that."

Well, that is about the first time that my slow jogging has been categorized as running, but it was all in their perspective!  I am glad that they are positive about their fitness goals, and YES, they can do it! Someday they will be running if they stick to it, and work at it every day.

I am a Putnamaniac that is a glass half full person and no one is taking that away from me!

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Turtle, turtle time!

As reported previously on many occasions, I have admitted to being a slogger (slow jogger) that loves to check out the scenery and do some serious thinking while pounding the pavement.

This morning was truly delightful and a perfect example of why I love to slog (slow jog) along.

As I crawled along side the Little River in Woodstock and Putnam, I saw about 264 turtles (no exaggeration) out sunning themselves on the rocks in the river.

It was awesome! I love to see that sort of thing, and I am not too sure why such things make me happy, but they sure do!

I hope you saw some something ~ anything ~ equally delightful today, and every day.

Look and you will find it!

I am a Putnamaniac that was happy to have some turtle, turtle time today!

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There is a new flag a flying in the neighborhood!

Living in a condo comes with lots of rules and regulations.

It is all for the common good, though, and certainly keeps property values up, so even though I don't like to squash individuality, I comply.

We are allowed to buy (at a hefty overinflated price) an American flag from the condo association, and they install them for us ~ all the exact same flags and poles, installed in all the same spots by each door, for consistency and neatness.

Not everyone has chosen to have a flag. I myself fought the huge desire to get one for a couple of years because of that "frugalness" embedded in me. Finally I gave in. I could no longer resist the grand old flag. My flag proudly flies when the weather allows.

A very sweet flag loving couple, who are my neighbors, were in the vessel "SS Frugal" with me. Of course they want a flag, but it just seemed silly to pay what was being asked. Being level headed New Englanders, they resisted.

However, my neighbor is an armed forces veteran. Every veteran should have a flag to fly, don't you think? I do.

Today, they are proudly flying their new flag!

If you can think of some nice surprise or treat to get for someone you love, you should do it! It doesn't even have to be something that costs money. Listen to what people say and act on it once in a while.

I am a Putnamaniac that loves the new flag flying in our neighborhood!

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Sure I learned how to fly ~ over the handlebars of a bike years ago!

Pretty surely my name is not Grace.

In fact, I'm sort of klutzy.

Prime example:

Years ago I saved and saved and babysat and saved and babysat, until I had enough money to buy a brand spanking new 10 speed bike. Those were just coming into vogue back then. If you come from RI, you might remember the little Benny's store in downtown East Greenwich.  ~not the big, new fancy once, but the little one right downtown. That is where I got my wheels.

Promptly I rode it down to the elementary school, where my much younger sister was just finishing up a grueling day of kindergarten. I plopped her on the crossbar, carefully wrapped an arm around her, and off we went.

The glitch was her umbrella was swinging over one of those twirly handbar ends, got stuck in one of the front spokes, and flipped us right up and over into the street.

I landed first and was knocked out cold.

My sister landed on top of me, got up and walked the rest of the way home.

I came to as a neighborhood friend going by dragged me out of the street. I picked up my glasses from the middle of the road and looked around for my sister. I figured they must have hauled her off in the ambulance. I would never forgive myself.

In the meantime, I was feeling a little woozy myself. I'd hit so hard I even formed scabs inside my ears! But I made it home, and my mom put me to bed.

Every time I woke up, I asked where my sister was. I was sure they were hiding the worst from me. As it turns out, she was outside playing, having fun!

So, indeed, I did learn how to fly, even if it was just over my handlebars. I also learned to be a bit more respectful of bikes! Perhaps that is why I prefer a nice jog, because now when I trip and fall, the pain is still considerably less than an air flight crash landing!

I am a Putnamaniac and an ungraceful flier! 

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Note-aholics UNITE!

Are you a fan of notes?

Baby, I am!

I have paper & pen ~ and therefore notes ~ in my car, beside my bed, in the kitchen, by my desks (at home & work).

I even take a pen to the bathroom with me (at home & work), because you just never know when a thought will strike you!

Maybe not so oddly enough, all of my friends are like this, too.

We have a lot to get done, and do not want to miss out on anything. We feel a sense of accomplishment when the items/activities are crossed off the list, and even more so when the list is complete!

Sure, it is easy to make fun of us "Note-aholics" if you are not one, but you gotta notice how much we get done!

I am a Putnamaniac and also a Note-aholic!

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