Sep 24 2014

Mrs. Green Thumbs

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Mrs. Green Thumbs

I was a California beach bunny who married a Canadian rancher—a real cowboy. I wanted surf, he wanted turf. I loved rock and roll, he loved country.

I came to Alberta in go-go boots and a beehive hairdo and stuck out like a wild turkey at a chicken convention. I knew nothing about farming and ranching, while the women of this rural community could put Laura Ingalls Wilder to shame.

They drove tractors and combined at harvest time, rode horses, irrigated crops, and cooked meals for their working crews. They kept well-manicured yards, exquisite flowerbeds, and vegetable gardens and still had time to can everything.

I soon realized my expertise in makeup application; wardrobe and image consulting were not going to be useful skills on a ranch. How I walked, sat, and got in and out of a car while holding my knees together would not help me ride a horse or drive a tractor in a more ladylike manner…

Efficient, no-nonsense women surrounded me and I longed to be accepted by them. I told myself I was a woman just like them, only wrapped in different packaging and definitely blonde.

In desperation, I asked a friend in a nearby town who was known for her “green thumb” to help me design dazzling flowerbeds would impress these local women. With my diagram in hand, I needed only to stop at the garden center and buy the exact plant to go in the exact spots coincided with the numbers on my friend’s plan.

However, while I was preparing the soil for my new flowerbeds, I noticed a large plant full of flowers looked healthy and robust. I thought it would add extra dimension to the other flowers in my new flowerbeds, so I placed the lovely plant next to the front door.

All the while, I felt quite satisfied with my own little touch of creativity. After planting, I waited a week to make sure all the plants lived before inviting the women over to admire my floral extravaganza. Surely, they would appreciate all the hard work I had put into this project.

When they walked through the gate, and began to laugh I was confused, and I wasn’t sure why they were laughing, so I laughed with them. As it turned out, my healthy, robust plant, which I had planted, front and center, was in reality a blooming “Stink Weed.”

Isn’t that how life is? I want to be loved and accepted for who I am, weeds, warts, and all, yet, I am afraid to let people see my flaws. I work so hard to be accepted, recognized, and loved by others. In Jeremiah 31:3b it says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” His love for me is unconditional, constant, and forever.

I am so glad God loves me; He knows all about me, and even calls me by name. I do not have to worry about fitting in; I am already accepted, recognized, and loved by Him.

In this busy world it is hard to find a place to fit in sometimes. Do you ever feel like that, what do you do? I would love to hear from you, just leave a comment.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your time with me today.

Lovingly, Karan

Sep 10 2014

Through The Looking Glass

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

Through the Looking Glass

Early one fall I took a day trip to Calgary, Alberta, to buy spring and summer fashions for my retail business. I brought my teenage daughters along and planned to do some afternoon shopping after my appointment. I wore my navy business suit to make a good impression and for added flair, I wore my three-inch heels. It was important to me to look pulled together so the sales representatives would assume I knew what I was doing.

My teenagers dressed for comfort in jeans and tennis shoes. However, I decided to keep the suit and heels on for shopping, because I did not want to bring an extra set of clothes. The day had been fun but exhausting, and by 5 pm I had burned-out. I had a headache, my feet hurt, and I was hobbling. I was ready to go home, take a hot bath, and go to bed.

I made one last stop at the drugstore on the way out of the mall, and my daughters decided to wait outside for me. I paid for my purchases, and hurried out to meet them. Suddenly and abruptly, I crashed into a sparkling clean glass wall with such force it caused people to stop in their tracks and check out all the commotion near the eighth aisle.

After my perfect face-plant into the glass, I slid to the floor in an ungraceful heap. My shopping bags were in complete disarray, one three-inch heel came off, a button flew off to the great unknown, and my skirt was a little higher than I felt comfortable with.

As I tried to gather my wits and composure, I noticed my two daughters bent over in laughter and I could tell they were pretending not to know me. When they began to walk away from me, I was sure they did not want anyone to know the dressed-up blonde in a heap on the floor was their mother.

Sep 03 2014

Lady, Call Me Anytime!

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: 4 Comments

Lady, Call Me Anytime

While doing last minute packing for a speaking engagement in northern Alberta, my husband was warming up our SUV. I was excited about the northern adventure, but also a little apprehensive because our vehicle’s electrical system had been acting up. The fan would run off and on when it was turned off. Lyle was staying home and I felt a little insecure about my technical abilities, and didn’t want to have a dead battery on my trip. My understanding of a working automobile consists of putting the key in the ignition. If the motor starts, it works. So simple.

After putting my bags in the back of our vehicle, my husband suggested that I go by our dealership and have the fan disconnected. I promised I would.

Arriving at the dealership I checked in, and sure enough the fan was still running at full force in the SUV. I went directly to the service department and the manager said, “All the service personnel are having their morning coffee break, they will be back in twenty minutes”.

I took a seat, and thought I would use my time wisely by telling the service department manager how disappointed I was with our vehicle. I blathered on about the electrical problems and how stressful it was to be stranded somewhere away from home. After twenty minutes a serviceman said he would look at my car, and as we walked I explained the problem. I opened the back of the vehicle, he climbed in and listened, turned his head from side to side and listened some more.

As he climbed out of the vehicle, he said, “I don’t think it’s the fan. I think it is your tote bag.”

I told him with certainty the bag contained a blow-dryer and curling iron, and as he could see they were not plugged in!

Aug 27 2014

The Toothless Wonder

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

The Toothless Wonder

Three hours past our departure time, my husband, Lyle, and I, and our two teenage daughters, were finally pulling away from our southern Alberta home. We were on our way to the State Fair in Great Falls, Montana, but the way our car was packed, it seemed like we were off on a world tour.

I was looking forward to six days of rest and relaxation. No cooking, no early mornings, and plenty of my favorite hobby—retail therapy. We had a poolside room and our girls were ready to find their swimsuits and head to the water. However, my husband (the practical one) decided we would have supper first, before the swimming suits came out of the suitcases and everyone headed for the pool.

After a delicious Mexican dinner, I hurried back to our room because I had something stuck under my upper partial plate. As I hurried into the powder room, I took out my “two front teeth” and laid them on a tissue next to the sink. After I brushed my teeth, I wiped off the counter, threw the paper and tissue into the toilet, and flushed. I turned around to get my teeth, but they were nowhere in sight. I ran around the hotel room crying, praying, and hoping that I would find those teeth, but I knew in my heart they were gone—flushed—adios—good-bye.

My family returned to find me flustered and crying. They were clearly concerned, but before I told them what happened to my poor teeth, I made each one promise not to laugh. It did not help one bit. By the end of my story, they were rolling with laughter and asking to see my toothless smile, which only brought more uncontrolled laughter.

I decided right there my vacation was over. I wanted to go home. I told my family I could not spend the rest of the week without my two front teeth.

“Oh yes you can,” my husband said. “All you have to do is keep your mouth shut and no one will know.” Now why didn’t I think of that?

Aug 20 2014

The Great Laundry Caper

Author: Karan Gleddie • Discussion: No Comments

The Great Laundry Caper

Moving is a stressful and time-consuming project, the more mature I get the less I like this task. While I was drowning in boxes, I needed to search for a washer and drier. Our clothes were piling up and I was nearing my last pair of underwear ……… I searched the sale fliers for a laundry set that would fit both our needs and budget. After comparing prices we made our decision. A white set with burgundy lettering, I thought it would match our other furniture. Besides, it had a wrinkle free cycle that appealed to me, sense my ironing board and iron are a Stone Age model.

The salesman was anxious, jumpy, and talked incisively. He assured me I had come to the right place, gotten the best price, deal and warranty of any other customer he had had that day. Plus they were going to deliver it on Saturday morning around 9:00 am. I was the luckiest woman in town. Of course I was thrilled; I had a week’s washing and needed to get some clothes washed.

Saturday morning came and no washer and drier, I was in a panic we needed to wash clothes and be at another appointment across town by 2:00 pm. Finally, I received a call telling me they were running late and would arrive at 1:00 pm. I knew this would be cutting my time short, mentally figuring out how I was going to make my next appointment. I was about to have a meltdown.

Arriving at 1:10 pm I was told they didn’t have time to set everything up. “It was easy, a piece of cake, you could do-it-yourself” Jr. said, giving me the thumbs up as he raced out the door. Now I don’t know about you, but when someone tells me it’s easy, red flags start flying. He said he had confidence in me. Clearly, he hadn’t heard I am both un-coordinated and mechanically challenged.

I remember thinking the washer and drier looked different, but I didn’t have time to spend on that thought as we rushed to our appointment.

After a stressful afternoon, arriving home I began looking at the washer and drier again, I realized the top was the wrong color. Instead of white with burgundy letters across the top, it was baby blue enamel. It had that “blast from the past” 50’s look.

Stressed I was awake most of the night doing research and worked myself into a dizzy-tizzy. I was sure the company had ripped me off and sent me a relic from the back of the warehouse. I finally fell asleep at 4:00 am worn out and upset. And I still had no clothes washed!!!

The next day I decided to go by the store and discuss the situation with the salesman. Praying all the way over there that I would be kind but firm. I walked in and asked for Harold. Explaining to another gentleman the wrong washer and drier had been delivered to my house. He wasn’t sympathetic and told me those things happen all the time! At that moment I wasn’t feeling “That Lov’in Feeling.”

Karan K. Gleddie

Offering Love and Laughter to Women who need Hope

Family

Mrs. Green Thumbs

Through The Looking Glass

Lady, Call Me Anytime!

The Great Laundry Caper