Memories, Happiness, and Sadness


For the past number of years I have lost contact with two dear people in my life, my mother's brother and his former wife.  We were always close but after I married I got caught up in what my life had become and didn't keep in touch with either of them as I had before.  Both of them are wonderful people, they were always favorites of mine and my mother's.

So many memories come to mind  about my aunt, she has always been loving and fun to be with.  One of my favorite memories of her is when I was a little girl she gave my brother and me a ride in her brand new yellow mustang convertible.  It was probably around 1964 or 65, and the mustang was light yellow, I wish I could take a ride today in that car!  When I went to my 20th class reunion she and my mom helped me shop for a black dress and shoes.  Then she lent me some of her jewelry for the night.  I loved having that one classy night and the memories of it.  

 My uncle was always close to his sister, my mother.  He was always there for mom and when mom was on her own again, my uncle let her live in a house he owned, rent free.  He was always supportive to my mother and myself.  He loved to collect antique radios to repair, rebuild them for his personal collection.  My mother would always make him a peanut butter pie, which was his favorite.

So many times I have thought of the both of them that last week I wrote a letter to each one.  Today, I received a call from my aunt and we have made plans to meet and catch up, which I can't wait to see her.  My uncle called me and I spoke to him about meeting up.  But even though he and I had a great talk, when I spoke about meeting him, he told me to wait, maybe in a month or so.  By the way he spoke I begin to wonder if maybe he is starting to have problems with dementia and didn't want me to see that.

So this evening I am happy to have spoke to both my aunt and uncle, but also dismayed as to what my be happening to my uncle.  It breaks my heart to think that may be the case.  

Moved  ~

Tonight my husband and I were able to visit a traveling Vietnam Veterans War Memorial that is in our area for a few days.  I didn't know any of the veterans personally who were killed in the war and I have visited the Memorial in Washington D.C., but I was so moved seeing it again.  All the names,  everyone of them representing someone who gave their life fighting for our freedom.  I am so grateful to all our veterans for their service and sacrifices.

Thankfulness  ~

Thanksgiving is a time for me to stop and take time remembering how lucky and thankful I am in life.

My husband who is battling prostate cancer has found out it is in remission with the medicine he is taking. We have a new lease on life together.  My son made the decision to move to the east coast to work and attend a culinary school, something he has wanted to do for some time.  I am thankful for my family and dear friends, who have been there for us in good and bad times.

 At Thanksgiving we always had our grandmothers come over for a wonderful meal that my mother  made, starting early in the morning.  She always made Scalloped Oysters for us as our favorite dish, which I love to this day!  Thanksgiving was a day to take time for our family.

Many people love to watch football on Thanksgiving and have the game blaring while everyone is setting down to eat.  I do not feel that way though.  I think that the television should stay off when everyone comes over and during dinner.  It's a special time to be with family and friends, to talk and enjoy each other.

Now you hear of stores opening up on Thanksgiving to have "Pre-Black Friday" sales.  Life should not evolve around materialistic gifts.   True gifts in life are love, health, family, and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Traveling Through Life  ~

When I was young I must have been bitten by the wandering bug.  Not that there was a bug wandering by that bit me, but that I love to explore and travel.  When I was young my parents would take us on trips to Minnesota to a little lake to swim and fish.  We always stayed in one of the little cabins, owned by a lady.  My brother and I would play cards, nothing serious, but we would use life savers as our "money", and as usual my brother ended up with most of them by the time we finished.  We always had kids to play with there, and it gave mom and dad time to just relax and enjoy fishing.

I've traveled out to Oregon with my dad, driving through the Rockies and then another time flying out to Arizona to surprise my grandmother. We then drove out to California with my aunt to the redwoods, then back across the country to New Orleans with a walk down Bourbon Street. This was all before I was nineteen.

Years later I traveled to San Francisco, Carmel, Big Sur, and Cannery Row in Monterey.  To Vancouver, Victoria BC, Seattle and Mt Rainer.  To the east coast, up to Bar Harbor, Maine.  My son and I were also able to visit Korea and China, and walk on the Great Wall.

My husband and I have been traveling down the Natchez Trace from Nashville heading south.  It has been beautiful and peaceful, very interesting to see history around you.

The Old Trace

Meriwether Lewis's gravesite

  

Northern entry to Natchez Trace Parkway

I quilt and garden and enjoy them but I still like to just take a drive each day to just get out.


I love to travel, to this day I feel like I could easily pack a bag and jump in the car and not care what direction I choose, but just sight see driving the back roads, to just explore.

Thank You ~

Thank you to all of our veterans for their sacrifices and service.

Still  Going Strong  ~


When my mother-in-law was fourteen she graduated from eighth grade and wanted to go on to high school.  She lived on a farm and was the second oldest out of ten.  Her father was not going to let her continue her education so she decided to leave home, and move to Parchment, Michigan to go to school in Kalamazoo.  She moved in with a family who owned a local paper mill that she could get room and board from, and so doing put herself through high school.  Later she married, had two children, and worked for the paper mill company.  She worked with her husband to build their brick home and garage and plant fruit trees out back.

She has always been there for her family and friends.  To this day she loves to hop on her rider mower or take the leaf blower and work outside. She now is 98 years old and still as spunky as ever, not willing to just set.  Great for her.  

No Charge  ~

When I was young my parents bought a microscope for my brother and me, and since that time I have always enjoyed looking at nature close up.  So many times in our busy lives we don't spend the time just enjoying the beauty of nature.  I am not a fan of spiders but to walk out in the field early in the morning and find a spider web that has dew on it, is one of the most beautiful pieces of nature that I have seen.  So many people would just walk on by it and not take notice of it, but I love to stop and spend time studying it.   When my son was small we ran outside one evening to see the Northern Lights, and what a show they gave us.  They seemed to be right over our heads and lit the sky with greens, blues, and pinks.  When there would be a beautiful sunrise or sunset I would tell my son, "These are free for all of us to see, there's no charge, so take the time to enjoy them".  So enjoy.