Let me start off by saying my mother has been dead 28 years now. Her death was sudden; a month after my Dads, and totally unexpected. It did throw me for a big ol' loop for a few years there, but time and God do heal our wounds.
This morning I was humming along reading Siddon's newest book, Off Season, when the main character's mother dies. All of a sudden, tears jumped to my eyes (and I NEVER Cry thanks to Paxil) and I began to sob; I realized how much I miss my Mother. All of those of you out there whose mothers are no longer with you can relate; I'm sure. Mother, the one who took me shopping; and when I couldn't decide which dress I wanted would say, "let's just get them both (or even all!) Who, bless her heart, made me a very complicated blouse when I complained about wearing store bought clothes when a others had mother-made clothes. I still have at least two of the MANY sweaters she made me (I wish now I had saved more but I am a anti-packrat) It was Mom who met me at the bus stop on rainy days so I didn't have to walk the mile home in the rain. It was Mom who came and stayed 6 weeks with me when I had my twins. It was Mom who wore a mask and cared for my tiniest twin, Todd, who almost died from a hospital infection. She lugged that durn diaper pail (no Pampers then folks) from one end of the house (bathroom) to the washer at the other end. It was Mom who read thousands of books to my kids when we visited....and knitted the boys snow suits (why I ever thought I'd need those in SC I don't know) and afghans for their beds. So Mom,if you're reading this....thank you for taking in this little (6lb, 1oz) baby girl, and adopting her and loving her as your daughter. I miss you Mom!
An occasional bit of written whimsical thoughts about life on the planet earth.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
God Winks II
Continued because I was interrupted when my two year old grandson, "Dates" came in during my posting.
So Gabby and I were looking for another Toy Manchester Terrier, we saw one in The State newspaper on Sunday.
My husband ponies up to go get the dog...commenting that the dogs name would be Victoria but would be called Vicky....picture Gabby and I rolling our eyes at each other saying "whatever Dad just go get the dog".
I sent Gabby along for quality control....my husband might come home with a Labrador and report "they SAID it was a toy Manchester Terrier"
Hours later they return with a genuine (not to be confused with those fake) Manchester Terrier named Victoria on her registration papers but called Vicky= now if that isn't a God wink, for heaven's sake....what is? This dog actually picked out the husband for my daughter and wives for my two sons; is that a coincidence, I think not!
So Gabby and I were looking for another Toy Manchester Terrier, we saw one in The State newspaper on Sunday.
My husband ponies up to go get the dog...commenting that the dogs name would be Victoria but would be called Vicky....picture Gabby and I rolling our eyes at each other saying "whatever Dad just go get the dog".
I sent Gabby along for quality control....my husband might come home with a Labrador and report "they SAID it was a toy Manchester Terrier"
Hours later they return with a genuine (not to be confused with those fake) Manchester Terrier named Victoria on her registration papers but called Vicky= now if that isn't a God wink, for heaven's sake....what is? This dog actually picked out the husband for my daughter and wives for my two sons; is that a coincidence, I think not!
God Winks
A friend recently shared her book called When God Winks by Squire Rushnell with me. Back in the days when we were saved (1970's) we called them "holy coincidences" meaning something happened in our life that we recognized as God stepping into our natural life to guide and direct us.
I had kinda forgotten that principle and it has spoken to me now with renewed excitement. I love the idea that God is watching us and every now and then He "winks" to show us He is watching and knows what we are about.
I will tell you about a few of my God winks and hope you will look for some of your own.
A big one came in 1961 when I was deciding where to go to college. I had been accepted at two (does that tell you something about my high school grades?) Sullins in Virginia and Coker in Hartsville, SC.
As you know, I am a DC girl; born and bred in that briar patch with no family or friends ANYWHERE else....Sullins would have been the logical choice but no I chose Coker and didn't even come look at it. (I'd blame my parents for that except I know how strong willed I am and I wouldn't have come unless I'd wanted to.)
Guess what?
When we get here my Dad sees the name May Roper Coker....she grew up in the house next to his as 808 North Carolina Avenue....her father was Secretary of War.
Unless you are a Cokernut, (emphasis on nut) you don't know Miss May was the matriarch of Coker College back in our day. = God Wink
Then in 1965, 6 month's before my graduation my summer school roommate, Joanne Jorgenson, says lets go meet my "boyfriend", Wayne Pigg, at National Guard Drill. The guardsmen "happened" to be at break and Wayne happened to be with Curtis Chapman and I met him for the first time. Now Curtis had dated every other girl at Coker during my time there and I had dated every Hartsville boy but him so this had to be a God Wink.
Some of you know about our ill fated first date....car stuck at his fish pond cabin...10:30 PM must be in dorm by 11 or be on restriction (aka no dating for 1 day for every minute late.....)we were 90 minutes late AFTER Curtis RAN 5 miles barefoot (don't ask) to borrow a car from Robert and Doris Griggs. The God Wink came when he got me off of restriction....and I thought, "this is a man I could love....he gets me out of trouble"....and he's been doing it ever since.
I could tell a million more (okay a hundred more at least) but another stands out on my list of "God REALLY knows and cares about me".... One summer, my daughter Gabby and I went to Bay Ridge,my family's summer home on the Chesapeake with my sister-in-law Bubette (her real name). Bubette brought her dog "Taco" an aged miniature something small. My daughter Hagar the animal lover bonded with Taco and Bubette was more than glad to let us have her (can you tell this was Bubette's children's dog she wasn't all that fond of?)
One sad day an accident happened and Taco was run over in our driveway by a friend (imagine the animal lover weeping and wailing). We decided to hunt for another toy Manchester Terrier which was as close to Taco's breed as we could get. Hagar and I "happened to "read the classified ads one Sunday when we were home from church sick.
To be continued...
I had kinda forgotten that principle and it has spoken to me now with renewed excitement. I love the idea that God is watching us and every now and then He "winks" to show us He is watching and knows what we are about.
I will tell you about a few of my God winks and hope you will look for some of your own.
A big one came in 1961 when I was deciding where to go to college. I had been accepted at two (does that tell you something about my high school grades?) Sullins in Virginia and Coker in Hartsville, SC.
As you know, I am a DC girl; born and bred in that briar patch with no family or friends ANYWHERE else....Sullins would have been the logical choice but no I chose Coker and didn't even come look at it. (I'd blame my parents for that except I know how strong willed I am and I wouldn't have come unless I'd wanted to.)
Guess what?
When we get here my Dad sees the name May Roper Coker....she grew up in the house next to his as 808 North Carolina Avenue....her father was Secretary of War.
Unless you are a Cokernut, (emphasis on nut) you don't know Miss May was the matriarch of Coker College back in our day. = God Wink
Then in 1965, 6 month's before my graduation my summer school roommate, Joanne Jorgenson, says lets go meet my "boyfriend", Wayne Pigg, at National Guard Drill. The guardsmen "happened" to be at break and Wayne happened to be with Curtis Chapman and I met him for the first time. Now Curtis had dated every other girl at Coker during my time there and I had dated every Hartsville boy but him so this had to be a God Wink.
Some of you know about our ill fated first date....car stuck at his fish pond cabin...10:30 PM must be in dorm by 11 or be on restriction (aka no dating for 1 day for every minute late.....)we were 90 minutes late AFTER Curtis RAN 5 miles barefoot (don't ask) to borrow a car from Robert and Doris Griggs. The God Wink came when he got me off of restriction....and I thought, "this is a man I could love....he gets me out of trouble"....and he's been doing it ever since.
I could tell a million more (okay a hundred more at least) but another stands out on my list of "God REALLY knows and cares about me".... One summer, my daughter Gabby and I went to Bay Ridge,my family's summer home on the Chesapeake with my sister-in-law Bubette (her real name). Bubette brought her dog "Taco" an aged miniature something small. My daughter Hagar the animal lover bonded with Taco and Bubette was more than glad to let us have her (can you tell this was Bubette's children's dog she wasn't all that fond of?)
One sad day an accident happened and Taco was run over in our driveway by a friend (imagine the animal lover weeping and wailing). We decided to hunt for another toy Manchester Terrier which was as close to Taco's breed as we could get. Hagar and I "happened to "read the classified ads one Sunday when we were home from church sick.
To be continued...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Well, happy reader I am off to Home and Garden Club. Do not be put off by this innocent sounding moniker. It does not involve Home or Garden; but it is a club.
Oh, I love to be in a club.
In fourth grade, the girls in our neighborhood formed a club AND we had hideouts.
Sneaky Peaky No.1, Sneaky Peaky No. (you guessed it) 10 and Hernandez Hide-Away.
Back to the non-home, non-garden club. All of us are retirement age because when you are working you are too busy to be in a club unless it is a Circle or the Lions or Rotary Club (now that they allow ladies). We are reenacting our childhoods....we have had a May pole and a May Queen (those younger than 65 reading this have no idea what either of these items are but they do not involve stripping in any form.) We have reenacted the first Thanksgiving (see I told you it is about reenacting our childhoods). We have made vegetables into school buses (does this sound like Girl Scouts to you.....there you go, another club I was in).
Wait a minute....I need to reread my minutes for you see I AM THE SECRETARY of this Club.
It is a good thing I spent one year at Washington School for Secretaries.... I knew it would come in handy one day.
Oh, I love to be in a club.
In fourth grade, the girls in our neighborhood formed a club AND we had hideouts.
Sneaky Peaky No.1, Sneaky Peaky No. (you guessed it) 10 and Hernandez Hide-Away.
Back to the non-home, non-garden club. All of us are retirement age because when you are working you are too busy to be in a club unless it is a Circle or the Lions or Rotary Club (now that they allow ladies). We are reenacting our childhoods....we have had a May pole and a May Queen (those younger than 65 reading this have no idea what either of these items are but they do not involve stripping in any form.) We have reenacted the first Thanksgiving (see I told you it is about reenacting our childhoods). We have made vegetables into school buses (does this sound like Girl Scouts to you.....there you go, another club I was in).
Wait a minute....I need to reread my minutes for you see I AM THE SECRETARY of this Club.
It is a good thing I spent one year at Washington School for Secretaries.... I knew it would come in handy one day.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Ode to Coggie
Nine years ago today God brought our family the best gift....a little bundle of joy (I do mean little and joy) named Coggie the Great. I remember Granny, Curtis and I driving to Rock Hill once we got the call that he was on the way. He was there when we got there all snuggled up in the basinett with his little hat on....so tiny and sweet. I got to spend the night in the hospital and drive him (and Mama) home the next day (Dad had to work). This was truly an HONOR....my daughter does not let just anyone drive her children around, especially me, Duchess of Hazard.
I remember him driving his Cozy Coupe around and around his house. They never brought it here and when I went to get one at the used toy store I mistakenly bought an toddler sized 18 wheeler thinking bigger was better, but that is another story.
Said grandchild (I am not allowed to use their real names) looks just like his PopPop did as a child. His parents are not as thrilled about this as we are. He even has a certain propensity for accidents; I mean bodily injury. So far he has broken his arm, and broken his front tooth out twice (Pop Pop SHOT his front tooth out so the violence is diminishing in the family gene pool)
He is all about eating as he hits this nine year marker. Any one who knows his PopPop knows he is nothing if not all about eating (and cooking for others to indulge with him). They both love Indians as well....well Indian stories; and Indian treasure hunts and now FOOTBALL.
Coggie, not his real name, gets his shy retiring nature from ME! On a mountain trip he bought a rubber wig with spiky rubber protrusions all over it and wore it until his father hid it. Father does not like public shows of anything.....God wants him to get over it I am sure so he put him in the family with ME and Coggie. Last year he was Elvis for Halloween.....see I mean he is a Real Entertainer. He also starred in a musical at church.... I think he was Jim Carey... I'm not sure how they worked Jim into the Bible but they did so Coggie could have a part worthy of his talents.
Come to think of it, my dream is to do standup comedy.....my children are praying I will die first...Coggie may fulfill that dream for me....on the side, of course, when he is not being a rocket scientist, brain surgeon, and architect....unlike me he is VERY smart....that is where his Dad comes in the gene pool.
Well, Coggie.....I hope you have the best birthday ever and many many more to come. Come soon to see Silly Old Nana and we'll paint ourselves, dance in the rain, bake crazy cookies, and whatever else you dream up. (Just try NOT to tell Mama everything afterwards; or she'll never let you come back!)
I remember him driving his Cozy Coupe around and around his house. They never brought it here and when I went to get one at the used toy store I mistakenly bought an toddler sized 18 wheeler thinking bigger was better, but that is another story.
Said grandchild (I am not allowed to use their real names) looks just like his PopPop did as a child. His parents are not as thrilled about this as we are. He even has a certain propensity for accidents; I mean bodily injury. So far he has broken his arm, and broken his front tooth out twice (Pop Pop SHOT his front tooth out so the violence is diminishing in the family gene pool)
He is all about eating as he hits this nine year marker. Any one who knows his PopPop knows he is nothing if not all about eating (and cooking for others to indulge with him). They both love Indians as well....well Indian stories; and Indian treasure hunts and now FOOTBALL.
Coggie, not his real name, gets his shy retiring nature from ME! On a mountain trip he bought a rubber wig with spiky rubber protrusions all over it and wore it until his father hid it. Father does not like public shows of anything.....God wants him to get over it I am sure so he put him in the family with ME and Coggie. Last year he was Elvis for Halloween.....see I mean he is a Real Entertainer. He also starred in a musical at church.... I think he was Jim Carey... I'm not sure how they worked Jim into the Bible but they did so Coggie could have a part worthy of his talents.
Come to think of it, my dream is to do standup comedy.....my children are praying I will die first...Coggie may fulfill that dream for me....on the side, of course, when he is not being a rocket scientist, brain surgeon, and architect....unlike me he is VERY smart....that is where his Dad comes in the gene pool.
Well, Coggie.....I hope you have the best birthday ever and many many more to come. Come soon to see Silly Old Nana and we'll paint ourselves, dance in the rain, bake crazy cookies, and whatever else you dream up. (Just try NOT to tell Mama everything afterwards; or she'll never let you come back!)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Donnamo
One might wonder where the name Donnamo came from for Heaven's sake.
I volunteer at a Free Medical Clinic and the Assistant Director gave me the nickname, and I kinda like it even though at age 65 (as of Tuesday) I am not much of a dynamo, but maybe that isn't what she meant anyway.
Maybe she was thinking of the Alamo....hmmmm big war, big defeat ???? Who knows?
I am known at church as "Crazy Old Lady" (I know my children are NOT surprised).
I was honored with this title at our Church's summer Vacation Bible School.
How might one stumble upon a title of this magnitude, you ask?
Why, thank you, I will tell.
I "taught" the missions segment and to keep them interested (also known as 'ham it up'), I created this character, "Crazy Old Lady", who talked in different accents and did other insane (I mean crazy) things, in an attempt to make Mission study more fun and interesting.
Parents are often a bit bewildered when their child in my Sunday school class tells them their teacher respectfully requests to be addressed as "Crazy Old Lady". Go figure.
I also use the term "Deaf Old Lady" to get them to speak loudly....heaven forbid they should actually know how true to life the "Deaf" part of that name is these days.
I have recently had to stop using that moniker because I have a hearing impaired child in my class and heaven forbid I would disparage him in any way. (You see, I have a visually impaired child myself, and I KNOW how hurtful people can be.)
I have many more nicknames which I may or may not get around to explaining....Nancy Neat, Moose, Barbara WaWa, Walter Winchell, to list a few.
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of "Donnamo, Eternity and Beyond!"
I volunteer at a Free Medical Clinic and the Assistant Director gave me the nickname, and I kinda like it even though at age 65 (as of Tuesday) I am not much of a dynamo, but maybe that isn't what she meant anyway.
Maybe she was thinking of the Alamo....hmmmm big war, big defeat ???? Who knows?
I am known at church as "Crazy Old Lady" (I know my children are NOT surprised).
I was honored with this title at our Church's summer Vacation Bible School.
How might one stumble upon a title of this magnitude, you ask?
Why, thank you, I will tell.
I "taught" the missions segment and to keep them interested (also known as 'ham it up'), I created this character, "Crazy Old Lady", who talked in different accents and did other insane (I mean crazy) things, in an attempt to make Mission study more fun and interesting.
Parents are often a bit bewildered when their child in my Sunday school class tells them their teacher respectfully requests to be addressed as "Crazy Old Lady". Go figure.
I also use the term "Deaf Old Lady" to get them to speak loudly....heaven forbid they should actually know how true to life the "Deaf" part of that name is these days.
I have recently had to stop using that moniker because I have a hearing impaired child in my class and heaven forbid I would disparage him in any way. (You see, I have a visually impaired child myself, and I KNOW how hurtful people can be.)
I have many more nicknames which I may or may not get around to explaining....Nancy Neat, Moose, Barbara WaWa, Walter Winchell, to list a few.
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of "Donnamo, Eternity and Beyond!"
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