Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
My family left our home country of Hungary at the beginning of the Holocaust in 1933 to the United States with other immigrants seeking safety and freedom.
When my family landed in New York, US Immigration changed my last name due to misinterpretation that has stuck. Being Gypsy determined my ancestors next move. Plus, our last name was legally changed due to misinterpretation like many others from Eastern Europe.
Henry Ford in Dearborn MI wanted immigrants to help build cars so a couple of family members responded. Others went to the sunshine of California and the ocean life in Maryland.
Myself, I was born in Detroit near where Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross were discovered. My grandfather worked for Ford Motor and, my Dad, later went into medicine.
Me and my family’s patriotism are based on that the US opened its doors to us so that we could live. Plus, opportunities to work in industries were growing.
2026, my patriotism is being loyal and thankful to the US for the freedoms that I enjoy plus opening doors and opportunities to my ancestors almost one hundred years ago.
Years ago, I had a “led foot” that got me into trouble with speeding tickets in Michigan in a vehicle very similar to the one below.
At the time, I was married giving my longtime ex husband something to complain about with my one and only brand new auto purchase. While in west Michigan over a two year period, I had 18/21 points which I was hearing from my insurance agency and even Toyota Finance to slow down.
Truthfully, Toyota created the Corolla to be a “utility” no frills vehicle designed in the US as a commuter car. Compared to the Celica and the Camry, this car was known as a “money saver” on fuel. Today, I own my second one in red that’s an LE version with all the extras and have no tickets to date. Both have no torque but are peppy.
My friends and coworkers who jokingly called me, “Speed Racer,” after the cartoon stuck at the time. It became a longtime nickname although I finally slowed down then so did my insurance.
Since the end of my employment, I’ve been getting back into PBS that is a non-profit American channel.
Saturday for the network in the morning is primarily travel shows which one showed an area near my former residence today. Now, it’s cooking of various forms and foods. Later tonight, mysteries inspired from the mystery writer, Agatha Christie, that have honored her through the stories shared.
To me, lately, the television shows are low key quality that don’t make lots of noise but have a big impact. It calms my nerves.
In Michigan, I volunteered for the station in the western part of the State. It was fun and informative.
The PBS network has something for everyone. Tell me your favorites and why.
If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” the song title from Kelly Clarkson is the presumed title of my biography sharing each phase of my life of the challenges that I overcame.
My whole life is that I have had to rely on my strength of being born premature and of being a free spirit to get over and through obstacles plus the continuous harassment.
Previously, I have written about episodes at my last employment of being harassed plus the games that they played which they thought that they could win. They didn’t. In the end, I lost my job but the games have ended.
The lyrics below that have given me strength and encouragement along with prayer.
“You know the bed feels warmer Sleepin’ here alone (Sleepin’ here alone) You know I dream in color And do the things I want (Do the things I want)
You think you got the best of me Think you’ve had the last laugh Bet you think that everything good is gone Think you left me broken down Think that I’ll come running back Baby, you don’t know me, ’cause you’re dead wrong
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself, and I What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
You heard that I was starting over with someone new They told you I was moving on and over you
You didn’t think that I’d come back I’d come back swinging You tried to break me, but you see
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself, and I What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
Thanks to you, I got a new thing started Thanks to you, I’m not the broken-hearted Thanks to you I’m finally thinkin’ ’bout me You know in the end, the day you left was just my beginning In the end
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter Footsteps even lighter Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself, and I
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Stand a little taller Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone (What doesn’t kill you) What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger Just me, myself, and I (What doesn’t kill you) What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (Stronger) Stand a little taller (Taller) Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone (What doesn’t kill you)
On January 16th, I lost my employment permanently due to slow business. As previously mentioned, I felt discombobulated that day of physical and mental anguish. Right at 5:30pm, I was rushed into an office for the bad news. Honestly, it was a toxic environment but needed to work.
At 64 years old, I’m starting over once again although I was there for seven years. Previously, in west Michigan, I lost my job after 21 years of employment as they put it, “I ran my course.” The leaders of my old workplace later admitted mistake after my move to Texas.
Asking for prayer for me and my two female felines, Bella and Luna, for new employment quickly that is enough to live on and cover my obligations. Plus, to have supplemental income with the unemployment compensation.
My Dad was an Osteopathic physician who practiced medicine in metro Detroit area and who retired early. My Mom was a stay at home wife who was involved in the community. We left Detroit and moved up north in my parents in their forties.
When they were my age of 64 with still have lots of energy, they opened up an antique shop in an old service building and perennial gardens plus built a custom farmhouse with a huge covered front porch like those constructed decades before. I believe that their marriage may have been one of happiest years in that house.
Honestly, my parents wanted the world to see that their marriage was good but the appearances were a big lie. From those lies, they lost friends that they had hoped to be around for the rest of their lives. My Dad had continuous affairs and refused to stop. To protect his career and his reputation, he built each of the custom homes to stop my Mom from walking out each time. They were built when she wanted to leave each time.
Oddly enough, I’ll be moving back to the small town in up north Michigan where I can do my own drive by tour of the homes and live my own life. The homes will be part of the conversation with people who I know.
My unemployment benefits were only a few days from my deadline to claim because my mind wasn’t thinking straight since I lost my job.
Yesterday, I was at a Texas Workforce Solutions when the counselor/advocate suggested that I called and speak with them directly on their phone. The second call, a kind agent corrected it all.
Truthfully, it was my stupidity of not using my iPhone to claim them and also grieving the loss of employment from one of the most toxic businesses that I ever worked for. So, I made it much harder on myself than needed.
On a good note, I didn’t have to claim my severance pay.
Close call to losing what I feared that I would. Grateful for the help.
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
The law of calories, based on the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy), states that body weight change depends on the balance between calories consumed and calories expended. Source: Google.
In my dreams, I would love to enjoy my favorite ice cream, Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream, and not put on any weight after finishing a half pint and napping all day. Dreams.
My reality being born with naturally high cholesterol and blood pressure from my Eastern European heritage, my diet is mainly healthy of fruits, vegetables, whole grain noodles and hot tea plain. Ideally, but life happens with stress eating.
In my younger years, I earned my aerobic instructor certification through American Council on Exercise plus worked with on video of Step Reebok, Jane Fonda and Cher. Plus, I rode my bike and walked.
After losing my job, I’m walking most every day and still drinking hot tea with a hot bagel smeared with cream cheese. A sandwich for lunch then Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice or deli fresh salads for dinner. Red delicious apples are the best for a sweet tooth. Ben & Jerry are lurking though.
Truthfully, I don’t know anyone who would complain if the, “Law of Calories,” didn’t exist.
Ageism is discriminating someone solely on one’s age with the presumption of diminished capacity, in other words, someone who has deteriorated traits of memory, thought and feeling processes.
With many hiring professionals who are in their late 20s-50s, they don’t want to hire someone who’s the age of their grandparents and parents. This is stereo typing of someone who they have never met and who are making decisions based on presumptions.
My previous employer top brass who thought that they could fool me into believing that a top ranking employee had a crush on me. What they didn’t know is that this employee resembled my ex husband with his looks, his flannel shirts and his Ford Bronco too. When the time was right, I shared about my ex and the employee. My point is that they presumed the worst of me of being old, gray and presumably dumb. Ageism and harassment.
Ageism is hard to prove legally but many have experienced it throughout the US. The paradox is that many young hires quit due to disenchantment of company plus pay, promotions and problems with immediate superiors.
If you’re a decision maker at your organization, bring up all the discriminatory actions of the, “ism,” including ageism.
A long time ago in a place far away, I once lived in my dream home. It was far from perfect but just right for me.
Built in 1932, my old home was solid as a rock with a change of the original floor plan that I was hoping to return it too. Plus, it had a “Michigan” basement in Michigan.
Honestly, I would add back the garage by getting rid of the living room that it was converted to. Next, I would convert the big bedroom back to the original living room by opening up most of the wall to the kitchen returning it to the original two bedroom bungalow.
The location of the property wasn’t far from the Michigan White Pine Trail which is a paved bike trail that one can ride for miles to different cities. Plus, easy access to I-96 to get to Detroit and to US-131 to get up north and to the Mackinac Bridge.
The neighborhood had a city built in HOA that allowed the area some political clout. For example, the local school district wanted to sell an elementary school building two blocks south to a contractor to develop it into condos. But, the HOA won keeping it open with no school busses allowed thus making it primary a walk only school. Next to school built in the 1930s like my home is a city park. South of the school had built in open green space used for Little League games of softball and football.
My current home in Texas was built in the 1950s which is considered to be a tract house put together in a few months with the same floor plan as my neighbors. Little insulation to keep the home cool in the summer and to stay warm in the winter. Grateful for it but don’t love it.
Time to time, I check the neighborhood to see what’s for sale in the area. But, the properties don’t last long and are sold quickly.
The Magnificent Modern Mature Woman 