THE DUMP CARD......Hi Ho Hi Ho................Where did it Go!

It has been awhile since I have blogged. Have you noticed? I couldn't find my 'DUMP CARD"!!!  (Finding mine will have to wait for another blog as I have a different definition for my 'dump card")..BUT must share a funny Joe/Ginny exchange  that occurred this past  Sunday morning.  It was the day Joe decided to begin taking a look the 'things' he and I, but mostly HE has collected for the next trip to the DUMP!  A few years ago the Landfill gave everyone in the country a laminated YELLOW  card that shows information that we live outside the city limits and therefore receive a discounted fee for the 'stuff' we drop off at the DUMP.  As we ALL know, we ALL have our strengths and weaknesss...Joe has MANY strengths physically and mentally....but one of  Joe's weaknesses  .or perhaps just a tendency to not put items of more importance in their proper place or where it might show up more readily than 'in a pile of papers that he may just decide one day to grab and toss in the garbage never to be seen again in his brief moment of 'let's clean up here"! Joe is usually on to MORE important things when he is dropping things no longer important to him in 'their random spots"............Honestly though, Joe is usually LOOKING for keys, wallet, keys, wallet, keys wallet ..........sunglasses................phone............did I say Keys and Wallet several times a day most days........and this Sunday morning entered a NEW item to look for............THE DUMP CARD! 

Before I continue..............I must add that Joe seems to enjoy 'the hunt" any hunt!..........I'm seeing it is not just hunting for wild game but just the hunt in general.  I am slowly learning this can be helpful and a diversion around thinking badly of yourself because you are forever misplacing things vs finding a familiar spot to place them so you forego all the time spent HUNTING. (could this kind of hunting be considered exercise!! hmmmm) 

He will ask me if I know where something is............NOW this used to send me into orbit..I felt this meant I had to stop what I was doing and help him look for something that if he had just taken MY suggestion about putting it in a basket (I've tried all shapes and sizes for his selection pleasure ....he doesn't use them much but I do) and if they were in the basket we'd not be going 'on the hunt".  I grew up being told to help look for other's things...even those I had not lost and someone would get mad at me if I didn't find what THEY lost??????

 Joe said "this is a yes or no question.....I ask if you know where something is........you say "Yes" or "No"...then I can say "Will you help me look? and you can say "Yes" or "No"..............NOW this shift in my belief system was introduced back in 1997 when we lived in Kansas (I know bear with me here)........it was a time when.................YES he couldn't find his KEYS!  He has keys to garages, to trucks, to locks on things SO when he loses /misplaces his keys.....it is seriously serious!

To continue...........on this lovely Sunday morning exchange, Joe asks if I remember which truck we took to the dump the last time we went. Let me see...............months ago..........I felt it had been in Big Red......the diesel.  He smiled and went out to look in Big Red............assuring me he had thoroughly gone through all areas of the Black Truck and found no DUMP CARD...........I remain comfortably in Joe's recliner  (years ago no months ago i would have gone to the Black Truck and started really looking......but I stopped that behavior whew!)  I'm in the recliner with my morning coffee probably reading emails or News online..........in a bit, Joe returns NO card............I am remembering to stay relaxed, and NOT make this my problem...yet anyway.........I said gently (which wasn't always the case years ago or even weeks ago) that I was sorry I couldn't help him help himself with keeping track of lost items ............I then took a risk................which I am learning to do more these days.............and asked this question:

COULD YOU HAVE PUT IT IN YOUR WALLET? He calmly replies "NO". I then (very much out of character during these types of exchanges said gently ) "OK, but have you LOOKED IN your wallet just in case?"   At this moment Joe is behind me......I cannot see him...he does NOT reply......YET..............I can sort of hear him but I work hard to stay OUT of the nagging mode or sarcastic mode of "do you need me to help you find your wallet so you can see if you have the Dump Card inside it?"............oh it was tempting but only makes things get edgy........I even refrained from turning around to SEE what in the world he was doing.........Truly a miracle!

In a few seconds I hear laughter............then Joe appears right in front of me laughing out loud (at himself........HE continues to teach me the value in this practice) .........HE HAS THE YELLOW DUMP CARD!!!  I was so happy for him.................I did say "YaY, here's one for Ginny!" and I think I got a 'thank you' or I now take his excitement in finding things or MY helping him find things as his 'atta girl' thanks for helping him...........I seem to be the one who knows where most things are............and if I don't Joe says "OK if you don't know where it is,  where would you put it if you had put it somewhere" and voila...oftentimes that is right where SOMEONE put it!  Hmmmm.  I think there have been times he puts up with me because I can find things for him.............I'm glad he found me..........because he continues to keep trying to teach me how to laugh at myself more..........and see most of life is just enjoying the "adventure of the hunt"..............mostly ones not requiring bullets! 

THE END...........