Do you ever read the labels on items you buy? I know that some us are beginning to pay more attention in purchasing USA-made products, rather than foreign made. American-made items are not always higher in price, as one might believe. Even a few dollars more really wouldn’t hurt many of us.

When shopping for something specific, ask if they have any made in the USA. You may be surprised to find that an off-brand made here could possibly be cheaper, and sometimes better. There is a movement gaining momentum to change our buying habits. Sure, it takes a little more time in shopping but one could consider it doing ourselves a favor in buying more from our own companies. Perhaps these companies could grow and hire more people. Even the dollar stores, where much is brought from China, have some items made here. It is something to consider for our own benefit.

If you’re like me, you are sick of seeing the work leaving the country and our young people coming back from war with no job to come home to. Other people’s jobs are flying out the window every day. When my eldest daughter worked for Hewlett Packard in the manufacturing of printers, her job was shipped to Ireland and the plant closed here. Bosses told the workers they would pay the way to Ireland if they wanted to work there, but not pay the way back. I often wonder if the chemicals in these printers could have had anything to do with her leukemia. I guess we will never know. On the Internet, I did find HP printers and scanners that are made in the USA. Who knows where the parts are made? Maybe in Ireland?

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Every once in a while I still manage to get the giggles. Yes, at my age I can still giggle like a schoolgirl. So, one day last week, Don dropped me off at our daughter’s home; she was driving me to the doctor’s office for an outpatient surgery. While waiting for Donna to get ready, I sat and talked with Linda, an extended member of the family. In discussing my going to the doctor, she asked a few questions and ended with “Are you scheduled for an autopsy today?” Autopsy! I started to giggle and asked, “Well, I certainly hope not, unless you know something I don’t. Do I really look like I’m dead?”

She had an odd look on her face, then it dawned on her — the procedural word she had used wasn’t the one that was meant. Even funnier was the fact in her early years she was a geriatric nurse. Then the giggles really started when Linda turned red and said she had meant “biopsy,” of course. All three of us were laughing by the time we left.

Remember Art Linkletter’s program, “Kids Say the Darndest Things?” Our three-and-a-half-year-old great-granddaughter, Sally, often comes up with cute ones. She was here with older cousins one day — Trevor Jr., 10, and Molly, 12, who were doing some work in our yard, a paid chore. While they were cleaning up, she was following them around with her doll in a buggy. When it came time to settle up, I gave each their share of money while Sally stood by taking it all in. They said “Thank you,” then Sally held out her hand and wanted to know where her pay was. I told her that her cousins had worked to earn their money by helping me in the yard. She gave me a quizzical look, hesitated a second, and then with a big grin said, “But Gramma, I watched them do it!” What could I say? In her quick mind she had created a job, so I paid her.

On a serious note, I hope whoever took the huge blue ceramic flower planters from in front of Redeemer United Methodist Church on Shorty Campbell Road is proud of themselves. One of our members bought these planters as a gift to Redeemer when it was first built more than seven years ago. Taking something from a church is hitting pretty low. As far as I know, it was the beginning of August. If you have any sense of remorse, please return them and it will be forgiven. Our mission is “God’s Love and Forgiveness in North Kitsap.”

I’ll keep you in my prayers.