Today, March 12, marks a very personal anniversary for me. I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma twenty-four years ago. I guess one would say I’m a cancer survivor, especially since so many people diagnosed with this threat to life don’t enjoy life as I have. I’ve chosen not to pen another lengthy blog; however, I’ve included links to three others I’ve posted in the past.

Please join me in celebrating this wonderful blessing that I’m experiencing. This is the primary reason I use the name Old and Blessed for my blog.

Twenty-three years and counting – oldblessedwordpresscom https://oldblessed.com/2016/06/24/a-dark-companion/ https://oldblessed.com/2016/12/21/ownership-of-my-cancer-is-a-shared-affair/

I’m old and blessed…hope you will be too.

It’s that time of year in the southern part of the United States when the media is warning us about snakes. These aren’t the cunning creatures like the scoundrel referred to in the Bible story that chronicles the fall of humankind. Although their bite may not result in such a catastrophic effect on the face of eternity, for me they are about as scary.

Let me be clear, I hate snakes with a passion that goes beyond reason. This is strange in a way, because I grew up in a rural area where these demon-looking creatures were plentiful. I think the prevalence of them contributed to my phobia. When I was a kid, they would sometimes show up unannounced in our yard. When my grandfather would take me fishing, to gather blackberries in the woods, they would lurk in wait to take me out. There is something unnatural about a creature, with no legs, that glides unseen through the grass. Some are even adorned with colors that provide them with the ability to camouflage themselves, making it possible for you to step unknowingly into their territory.

Yeah, I know snakes are creatures of the Creators, as am I, but do we really need them? Hawaii, Ireland, and Iceland have done fine without them. I remember when I was much younger, I even thought about moving to Hawaii just to be where there are no snakes.

The last I looked…this is the only phobia I have, and what a strange one it is; one that a country kid from Cross County, Arkansas shouldn’t have. So, what, there are countless strange things in the world. My phobia about demons without legs is just another one of them.

I’m old and blessed…hope to will be too.

We’ve had some normal, cold weather in Arkansas this winter. A heavy blanket of snow covered the entire state back in January. We experienced the expected electrical outages in some parts of the state. Here in Little Rock, the capital city, schools were closed for an entire week. Whenever this happens, I think about school and snow when I was a kid. I don’t recall schools closing back then with any appreciable amount of snow.

Despite the frigidness of January, spring is rushing to show its soft, embracing colors this year. With one day left in February, this month has had twelve days of seventy-plus degree temperatures. Winter has given up its turn at forcing us to wear garments worn to abate the expected chill of the season. Daffodils are popping up all over the place. Dogwood trees are displaying their glory with white blooms reflecting the warm sunlight that should be concealed at least until the middle of March.

Winter in Arkansas can sometimes appear to exhibit what one might call dual personalities. You can find yourself experiencing seventy-degree temperatures at 3:00 am, and then the weather takes a turn, showing much colder temperatures during the upcoming day. That’s what happened last night. We were experiencing air-conditioning weather yesterday, and in need of heating today. The ten-day forecast calls for mid-sixties to mid-seventies. It looks like spring is being given the freedom to walk on in, sit down and shower us with comfort that should come in April.

Oh, but don’t get too comfortable. It’s been known to snow in Arkansas on the first day of April. I pray it doesn’t. Let spring loose to bless us with all the warmth and beauty it has to offer. The following are links to other blogs I’ve written about spring in Arkansas: Spring time is very good! – oldblessedwordpresscom Spring: a sure sign of life – oldblessedwordpresscom

I’m old and blessed…hope you will be too.