Mish-Mash

I'm going to attempt writing more tidbits of growing up. I hope I don't repeat many things but I haven't re-read any of my entries on the subject of memories, so forgive me if I do. When I was young, til my mother passed away, clothes were always hung on the line to dry. Didn't matter if the weather was; freezing, scorching, or windy enough for the clothes to slap you in the face, my mother put them outside. She loved the softness and smell of them when she brought them in. Her fingers and hands would be frozen and beet red in the winter but she didn't mind. She also washed floors on her hands and knees. Never used a mop. If you were on your knees, you could see better and get right in those corners easily. Mother never dusted or vacuumed around things. They were always moved. I remember when the curtains were washed and put on a stretcher thing we had. There were little nail like things you attached the curtains to. Man did they ever hurt. CF may know what the name of it was. I always called it the "curtain stretcher" and I could not keep my hands off it. That's how I know it could hurt you. I liked to do things back then because I thought it was fun. Til I had to do it. Like rug beating. Mom would put the rugs on the clothes line and give them heck. So, I wanted to do it too. Man... your arms sure could get tired. My youngest sister and I had to share a bed and we did that until I moved out at 16. But most of the time, I didn't mind. She wasn't a blanket hog nor did she sprawl out all over the bed. We got along well, usually.

I lived with my older sister Joan, a couple of times. The first time I was in high school. I slept on the couch. One morning I had no idea I would be in for a rude awakening. My oldest nephew came over to me and BAM.......hit me right in the head with a metal truck. Oh yeah; I was ready for the day. It's funny now but I don't believe I was laughing very hard at the time. I think it was after that, my sister let me have the sun porch for my room. He was only a couple of years old. How mad could you get? And he was so cute. I used to let my 3 nephews wrestle around. The older and younger somehow always managed to gang up on the middle child. So, I would take him aside and tell him what to do. Still, with 2 against 1, it was hard. Eventually I had to stop that activity. When I moved to my brothers house, to take care of his 3 girls, what a difference it was. One time, my oldest niece was around 9 or 10, I believe, she came into the house crying. I asked what was wrong. Her friend that came to play with her slapped her in the face. And she came in the house crying?? Oh no. Don't think so. I got hold of her, but her friend left by then, probably ran home. I told her at that time the next time anybody hit her she was to lay them out or she would be when she got home. If anyone ever hit her after that I never knew about it. And my niece was no lightweight. She wasn't heavy but she could have held her own with anyone.
Times were fun back then. Well for some of us, anyway. I'd love to hear how your younger years were. Let me know.

New Year, new ideas, new things, new..new..new.

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to my journal. My prayer is that 2009 will be wonderful for you, will bring you lots of happiness, and good health.
I have a lot to be thankful for. My first great grandchild (a girl) was born Dec. 12th, 2008 and we spent Christmas together. My son and his family were here so I got to have Christmas with them and my daughter, her family and her fiances family as well. I had 8 of my grandchildren here then 2 more came later; so I got to see 10 out of 14 of them. I keep saying I have 13 grandchildren because I don't know how to count (or there are so many I lost count). HAHAHA. No, no, no. You can never have too many.
Anyway, our Christmas was great. But what was also great to me was that one of my co-workers and good friend called me around Christmas. What a treat. I was so surprised. And very pleased. I don't know how long Billy has worked at transportation but we finally got to work together once. I had a good time. He's funny, yet you can have a decent conversation with him without him acting like "he's all that",(as the kids say now days). Several of us used to go to lunch together after our noon runs, which ended around 1:00 or so, then gulp something down and get back out on the buses by 2:00. What a mixed up, motley crew we made. But I had the best times then. I miss all my friends at transportation; so thank you Billy for making my holiday a little more pleasant. I love you, buddy.

In Memory

I think we would all agree that time flies by. And not just when you are having fun. As Thanksgiving gets closer I realize my dad and mom would be having an anniversary; had she lived. It has been 10 years since she passed away and most days it is still so fresh in my heart. Some things you never get over, you just get through them.
Many years ago I found a poem that reminded me of my wonderful mother. I copied and sent it to her. I am so glad I did. But I kept the clipping and yesterday, while going through a box of magnets, I found it. I used to keep it on the side of my fridge but through all the years of moving and rearranging I, sort of, moved it around and didn't pay much attention to it. I did when I found it. If you would let me, I would like to share it with you now. It isn't to make anyone sad, though it will, but to keep the spark of love going for moms here or gone.


I study the lines of age upon her face
that only "the Master's " hand can erase.
Why do I feel so guilty as I gently brush her hair
as she sits patiently, silently, in her favorite chair?
The hands, once so busy, for me, over the years
lay now passive-so quiet- I blink back the tears.
The tottering steps she tries so hard to take,
the cane that now helps her- has to be- for her sake.
Yet her strength from within still comes forth- lingers there
helping me to be patient
with my loving care.


I love you MOM.

In memory of STELLA MOTT BENNETT
August 5, 1918- February 11,1999

One of Them Days

Have you ever had, just 'one of them days'? The one where if it could go wrong; it would go wrong. Or probably would. Right after I moved into my apartment in Lawton, I got up, turned the coffee maker on and went to get ready for work. I could smell the coffee making. MMmmm. I love the smell of freshly made coffee. I finished getting ready and went to the kitchen to fix my cup to go. Yeah, it went without me. All over the counter...on the floor; everywhere. The filter had collapsed in the holder and it overflowed leaving me a mess to clean up. OK, no problem, I will grab some at work on my way to the bus. It was not to be. No one had made any that day and to make it worse because we had a double run to do, we couldn't even stop at the Stripes store for a cup. BUMMER that day! I had to wait til 9:30 when we got in to go get some coffee. I had a day like that yesterday. Well, sort of, anyway. It started out ok but as I was getting some dog food to take care of the dogs, I bent over and hit my forehead on one of the shelves in the closet. I thought to myself, ' well that didn't feel too good' but I was ok. Going into the kitchen I ran right into the door frame and that didn't feel very good to my left shoulder either. What is going on? I see how this day is going to be. But I guess it was alright the rest of the day until evening. I was bringing an armful of stuff upstairs to show my daughter when I lost my slipper. Back down the steps to get it. Doggone!!. On my way up the second flight of steps, I get to the second step and boom....down on both knees I go. All I could do at this point was start laughing. How stupid. Today will be a better day. Til I go look out my daughters bedroom window and hit my right elbow on her headboard. Oh, no. (groan) Not again.

What's New??

Many things have changed since the last writing. First of all, AOL has shut down it's journal site so I am using blogger.com. It's a lot different and I am still learning all the new things it has. Please bear with me. BF's daughter changed all my writings over for me or I would be there yet, trying to figure it out. Next, I have some medical problems and it was necessary for me to leave my job. That was the hardest decision I ever made. I loved my job and the people I worked with were the best. They are more like my family. I miss them all so much but I do talk to them on the phone and online. Before I left, my friend Lynelle planned a surprise breakfast for me. It was wonderful and another friend, Susan, who works at the restaurant we went to, had her boyfriend make me a cake. They also gave me some money and all in all it was something I never expected. We had Fall break the next week and I was told by two other friends, Donna and Jackie, to keep that Wednesday free. All day!! Huh? Why? What's up? "Can't tell you", is all they would say. On Wednesday, it was overcast, cloudy, rainy...you name it. To top that off, I was not at all well. But I couldn't disappoint them. Or myself. (hee hee) We were all looking forward to it. I didn't know what was up but I knew it was going to be fun. Donna came to pick me up and we were meeting Jackie at the mountains. That was a clue and then Donna said Lynelle would be there too. OH! JOY!! Some of my closest friends to spend the day with. We missed our friend Debbie though. Hi Debbie. She went to a family reunion and I know she had fun there. Anyway, first they took me to lunch at The Riverside Cafe, where I had never eaten. It was not at all what I expected. It was like an atrium garden/restaurant. Huge windows and a beautiful view of the river and a small waterfall. I fell in love with it and the food, along with the service, was excellent. Afterwards we drove a bit and just looked around at different sites. As we were gazing at the mountains, Jackie said, " look up there!" A big cloud was resting on the top of the biggest one. So then we had to go up Mt. Scott. We thought it would be closed; thankfully it wasn't. Up, up, up, this huge mountain, we went. Didn't want to look down, scared of heights; don't ya know, but you can't help yourself because it is so gorgeous looking across miles and miles. We started through this cloud, and we were talking about Moses and how he was transformed after being up on the mountain in a cloud. I think it changed us a little too. It was a very humbling experience. But because of the weather, it was windy and very cold up there; yet we stayed to take a few pictures and have some fun that only great friends can have. We ended up at Jackie's house having peach cobbler, Lynelle, just had to get for us (thanx Nelle) and coffee. Sitting on her porch looking at the sky, the mountains and the lake were a great ending for a beautiful day. We all took Nelle home, then Jackie dropped me and Donna off, we left her car at the restaurant, and she left for home. But it was not without tears. Tears of sadness in my leaving, tears of joy because we had such a beautiful day and tears of love. Donna dropped me off at home and it was so hard to get out of the car. Who wants to put an end to such wonderful times?
After all that, it was time to get busy. Pack for moving. Pack, throw out, sell and give away. A two bedroom apt. full of stuff to move into one bedroom at my daughters. One bedroom you say? Yes. One bedroom. Why would I do that? It was the best choice I could ever make. I'm not under all the stress I was, I'm eating better, I'm happier and I feel so much calmer. The medical problems gone? Oh, no but we're working on it. It takes time. Everything takes time and I'm learning to slow down a little.

People we know

I have been corrected, once again, by my dear sister, CF, that the cookout I thought was at my BN's house was at her dads (my brother). I had told her that she had the ideal place for a family reunion. Looks like they both have a great spot for one. No wonder she never commented back to me about it. What's up with that, Sue?
Anyway, besides that there has been so much going on this past week (some of which I won't discuss right now). My beautiful littlest 1 year old granddaughter had surgery on her eyes. She was born with her bottom eyelashes tucked in. Now that's taken care of and I am awaiting pictures of her with her beautiful new eyelashes. Of course she was beautiful without them. I am certainly glad my son and duaghter-in-love spared me any pics of her after the surgery. My son said her eyes were swollen (I'm sure) and I didn't want to see that. I had other things going on to make me cry.
I think my BN Sue sits around thinking up ways to make her aunts cry. I don't know if it's a throw back from when she was a child or what but she has done it a few times. I went on our family web page and a beautiful memorial to my mother (her grandmother) was staring back at me. I can't even describe to you how I felt at that moment. My stomach sunk to it's lowest depth and for a few seconds I could not breathe,as I looked at mommies picture. My sister Joan felt it too and I don't think my sister Nancy has seen it yet. What a tribute to a woman who definitely deserves one. Thank you Sue. You did a beautiful job on your mothers memorial and you outdid yourself again for grandma. I know she would be pleased.
I have been having a struggle with some health problems and I was put on a high fiber diet. My BFs daughter asked me about the things on it and as I was telling her , I think she was writing it down and then she tells me she is going to look at this store she goes to and find me some of the foods. Well, there I go again. The tears.... and when I told her mom, more tears came and my BF says don't cry. Oh, yeah; right. Who made you boss? I love you Nauni! Anyway, that has been part of my week. I will leave the rest for another day. Let's just concentrate on happy things. And I do have other happy things to share, just not right now. But soon...very soon.

Nicknames

As I was reading about a memory my niece had of my brother; I started thinking about the children she mentioned also. I remember that way back then we had nicknames for almost all of our children. CF's four boys, RB's three girls then his son Ron Jr. My sister Nancy's two (that I gave them) and my two (that Nancy named) What fun to call them or just talk to them, using their special name and hear them answer. I wonder if they remember what the names were. I'm not telling unless I'm asked cause you can get in BIG trouble name dropping!! : )
This is short but if they all respond it will grow. And for all of you great nieces and nephews, if you had a nickname growing up, let's hear it.