I recently learned again that beans and people need room to move around. I decided to cook some white navy beans. I've watched Judy do this so it seemed like something I could do. She's been ill and bed-fast for a couple of days so I had no supervision. I put the beans in a pot with plenty of water as well as some ham. That's what I'd seen her do. I cooked the beans most of the day. They turned into mush. When Judy finally came downstairs, she said that I had put too many beans in the pot and they didn't have room to bubble or move around. I didn't know that beans needed to bubble around in the pot. Nevertheless, the beans still taste good. I guess whether you are beans or people, we all need some wiggle room or room to move around. I guess I should have known that since I'm from Oklahoma and our motto is "Don't fence me in." I hope you have some wiggle or bouncing around room in your schedules.

An Intelligent Mouse

The Center, where I work, has a brilliant and creative resident. The mouse has evidently come in from the cold and intends to stay for awhile. The remains of his/her candy meal was discovered on Sunday. A mouse trap was set Sunday evening. On Monday morning, I discovered he/she, i.e., the mouse, had taken the trap under a couch which is so low to the floor the trap wouldn't spring. He/she ate the food. On Monday night the trap was set in the middle of the room. Nevertheless, on Tuesday morning I again found the trap under the couch with the food gone. Last night I again set the trap and a colleague built an obstacle course of books around the trap to prevent it's removal from the area. Upon arriving this morning, I found the mouse trap, not contained within the obstacle course of books but, again, under the couch with the food contents empty. Again, no rodent. It has been has recommended that we hire this brilliant and creative rodent as our next Therapist. This morning my prayer is as was Elisha's (II Kings 6:15b), "O Lord, what shall we do?" One lesson to be learned from this continuing experience is not to under-estimate the intelligence of anyone or any thing.