Thursday, March 28, 2024

I’ve never been this age before!

rosemary-picBy Rosemary O’Keefe

I certainly did enjoy the excitement across the street last week. That is where they were filming ‘Dig Two Graves’, a story whose time frame was in the 1970s. Seems this street area was just right for what the writer had in mind. I loved seeing, all out of my window of course, all the props they brought in and all the bright lights that beamed until the early hours of the morning. All of this was done in a very quiet and understanding manner which surprised me since there was so much activity. Several of the men went out of their way to communicate with me. One act of kindness was the offer and following through with bringing back to my garage the trash cans left after pick up. There was also a conversation as I pulled my car out of my driveway. The Vienna Times publisher Lonnie Hinton did a great job of informing us about the venture in last week’s newspaper. I hope those of us that are interested will have an opportunity to view the film. As all of this was taking place, two days, two nights, I thought about all the creative energy that it takes to complete such a project. So many details just to have a scene believable to a viewer. Then there’s the atmosphere, the dialogue, the pretending and all the thought that goes into making it all seem right. Writing a story that makes the reader feel involved seems much easier than having to also include all the visual details for a viewer. I’m sure every person involved in such a venture uses their creativity to it’s utmost and loves every minute of it. Showing a story involves so much more, one just knows all are truly eager to tel their story.

Do you still chew gum? I can’t remember my last attempt to enjoy a sweet taste of a sticky substance in my mouth. Probably when Callie suggested I try one of her new flavors. I remember my first experience at gum chewing. I was standing in a drugstore in Grand Chain, yes, they once had a drug store. Several of my family were standing around me warning me not to swallow the gum. I remember the feeling, all so natural, of the gum sliding down me throat and my suddenly wondering if I could extract it before it was gone for sure. I’m sure my eyes bugged out as I strained throat muscles for a recovery. It all happened so fast and I remember thinking that perhaps so much concentration on not swallowing might ruin the whole excitement of chewing gum. I was given another stick of gum and I managed to hold on to it somewhat longer, but alas, it too slipped down ever so quickly the second I forgot what I was doing. There is an art to chewing gum and as a teenager I could smack and pop right along with the best of them. Recently, when I told Cassie how we put our gum on the bed post at night and retrieved it in the morning, her reply was, “Oh, gross!” She had never heard of such an act. I reminded her of how we had to clean off the bottom of our dining tables quite often at Ned’s Shed. Remember our school desks? My sister, Helen, told about a time they were renting some rooms in a home that served breakfast and the evening meal. One morning as she was using her spoon for a teaspoon of sugar for her coffee she pulled up a wad of gum from the sugar bowl. Seems the children in that home knew how to resweeten their gum. She said that was the last time she ever tried sugar in her coffee.

In case you’re interested, gum chewing can have a purpose. Yes, chewing gum can help keep the weight off. And for a reason you may not have realized: Chewing gum releases hormones that signal your brain you’re full. This activity also helps if you’re a “nibbler,” someone who tends to sample food while cooking or watching TV. You should always chew sugar-free gum; the sugared kind promotes tooth decay.

More later.

Understand how you learn best.

One comment

  1. Sherry Cripps Nichols

    I so enjoy all of the articles that Mrs Rosemary writes. She has been an inspiration in my life more than I can ever express….thanks for all you share 🙂