WARM FUZZIES

12-27-08...WARM FUZZIES

Nope! I don't live in the past but I sure love to keep my past alive. Christmas Day brought some more of those warm fuzzy feelings as I chatted with my Brother. Oh What fine memories we relived together. Precious memories never to be lost, I hope.
His Two Sons and grandkids were there and they laughed their heads off at us. I told things on Norman that his kids or his wife didn't even know. HEHEHE! Then he started telling things on me and I was ready to go on to different topics. YEP!
He got around to how scared I am of frogs and the boys started teasing me. One of them even got a book with pictures of ugly ol' frogs and tried getting me to look. Nope! I don't even like a picture of a frog.
One story Norman told I had forgotten all about. Just thinking of it makes my skin prickle and creepy crawlies begin to go all over me.
When I was old enough to date I had to be home early but usually all my family would already be in bed. I would go quietly through the house to my bedroom and get my jammies on and get in bed. One cold winter night I came home to a dark house. Mama usually left a light on in my room and one in the kitchen so I could find my way through the house. I suspect too she wanted to watch what time I got home. Well the little lamp was on in the kitchen but after I turned it off and started to the back of the house to my room, I noticed there was no light in my room. Well shoot fire I thought. Mama forgot to leave my light on. ("She didn't) I stumbled on through the house to my Brothers room. Had to pass there to get to my room. He was sound asleep. I THOUGHT!! Our lights had to be turned on by a pull chain hanging from the bulb in the ceiling. I reached up to turn it on and instead of the little chain I got hold of something cold. I went ahead and pulled on it and to my horror it was a frog. Now I came unhinged, I mean my brain unwound. I couldn't even speak for a while. My body was shaking (you know all shook up) and my teeth were chatterin' and not from the cold either. Then when I could I screamed and started jumping up and down in one spot. I thought I was runnin' but I wasn't moving. Norman of course was there by then just doublin' over in laughter and Mama and Daddy were on their way cause I could hear'em' running through the house. Somehow I got my feet going and took off. I knocked my brother down flatter'n' a pancake as I passed by and ran smack dab into my Daddy, who in turn stumbled back in to Mama. Mama got Daddy around the waist and hung on. I watched in horror as they went slip slidin' backwards lookin' for all the world like a circus act of some kind. Then I got tickled, Norman got up and came to look and he got tickled again too. Well Mama and Daddy finally stumbled up against the couch in the front room and came to an abrupt halt as they tumbled on to the couch with Mama still hangin' on to Daddy for dear life, bringing about more shrieks of giggles from Norman and I. Now let me tell you My Mama and Daddy "Were NOT laughin' at least not yet. They struggled to get up and Mama never had let go of her grip on Daddy so they finally sat on the floor with Daddy sittin' on MAMA. "Lucille, Turn loose of me" "I'm not touchin' you Clyde, You kids shut up". Oh My I couldn't have shut up then if the troops were comin' Nope! But when Daddy said "What is goin' on here? You tell me NOW! Well I got myself settled in a second flat and so did Norman. "Daddy, Norman put a frog on my light chain" I screeched. "Oh heck fire Clydene it aint a real frog. its plastic". "Yes it is to real Daddy go look if ya' don't believe me". "NO It aint real Clydene you goofy thing". Well they looked, not me, and it was plastic but how was I to know that? HUH?? Mama and Daddy were aggravated to have their sleep,( not to mention their dignity when they danced the hoo'haa') disturbed but seeing as how I had played so many pranks on Norman I guess they figured I had it comin'. But Not with a frog they told Norman. You know how scared Clydene is of frogs and that was mean. Norman agreed and we all had a good laugh then.
As we sat there on Christmas and talked about our Parents and our growing up years I got that warm wonderful, fuzzy feelin' that I had lost these past few weeks. I've got it back now though so I'm good for a few more memories while I can still remember. YEP! I had a good life back then and I'm gonna' keep it alive as long as I can. YEP!!!

CHRISTMAS TREE

12-24-08...CHRISTMAS TREE

Down at the end of my driveway there is a little cedar tree. It is loaded with those little white thingies that from a distance make it look like it has snow in its branches. Now that is a Christmas tree in my mind. That is the only kind of christmas tree we ever had. It was Christmas when that cedar tree was brought inside with that pungent odor all it's own. We didn't have ornaments bought at a store until I was a teenager. After we got electricity in our home we had one little string of lights. Seven bulbs that I just loved to look at. There was this stuff called angel hair, and packets of silver strings called icicles. Daddy came home one day with a sack. Somehow he had gotten a packet of angel hair and one of icicles. Oh Man were we prowd and so were my Parents. We didn't have room for a big cedar tree so it was about 4ft. I think.
We all decorated together. I think my parents enjoyed it as much as Norman and I did. As I look back I'm sure it wasn't a gorgeous tree like you see now. It was a special tree and a special time. The icicles and angel hair that Norman and I placed on the tree was not neat but globs hanging haphazerdously here and there. Mama and Daddy just left it the way we placed it and told us how pretty it was and what a good job we were doing. We didn't get the tree until two days before Christmas. Since cedar was so flamable Daddy said we couldn't chance it catching fire. When we went out to cut the tree was always special. Mama would save a lard bucket. Daddy put gravel in the botton of the bucket and filled it with garden dirt all around the trunk of the tree. We could keep water in the bucket so the tree didn't dry out so fast.
Everyone got something from everyone. If it cost a nickle or a penny it was fun and very appreciated. Each family had Christmas at home then visited later in the day. But Christmas was home and family.
That was our traditions and all we knew. I'd love to have an old time Christmas like that again. I no longer have a live cedar tree now but I did as my Son was growing up. Now I bring in some cedar branches so I can smell Christmas. What a treat to have that smell in my home once again as I go down memory lane. YEP!!!!!

GOOD GRIEF

12-23-08...GOOD GRIEF

Good Grief!! Is there a klutz of the year award? If so I win hands down. If there was anything to, spill, drop, empty, step on, break, or anything beyond, By Golly I've done it this morning!
I got up all groggy eyed where my coffee was brewing but not quiet done. Was crossin' my legs, trying to wait on it to gurgle its last gurgle, cause my bladder was bout to burst wide open. Decided Well I'll just fill my cup quickly and be on my way. The darn coffee pot is supposed to cut off when the decanter is removed, It didn't!! I was watching that little stream of coffee running down on the heater and completely missed my cup. I felt something on my front that was warm, looked down and there was another stream running off the counter right on to my big belly! I was pourin' coffee on the counter. Then You know how sometimes the sound or sight of water makes your bladder turn loose? Nuff said about that. I scrunched up my bladder, grabbed my cup and started to the bathroom in a hurry. There was coffee on the floor and I went slip slidin' spillin' what coffee was in my cup. Of course it was dark. I had a garbage bag sitting nearby ready to take out for trash pickup but it wasn't tied up yet. Yep I did!! I brushed past it on my trek to the bathroom and it fell over spilling who knows what at my feet. I went forward on my trip to the bathroom and stepped on one of Moses' doggy toys which in turn squeeked scaring the stuffins' outta' me. By now my bladder could not wait (thank God I was heading in the bathroom door, STILL DARK) Knew there was no time to turn on the light so I dropped my drawers and flopped down on the pot. BY GOLLY I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!! The lid was down!!! I showered and put on fresh clothes, still hadn't had my coffee don't ya know. Started back to the kitchen, stepped on the squeaker again, stepped through garbage, (coffee grounds). Had to clean that all up, got my cup of coffee which by now was cold. That stupid pot did what it was supposed to do this time, shut itself off after two hours. I was already out to my chair in my room and getting ready to relax and watch the morning news before I realized my coffee was cold. Sos' I go back to the kitchen, heat my coffee in the microwave, burned my tongue on it, gave up the news and headed to The Hill. Checked The Hill all out and decided I'd better tell you all about my morning. So I just told you about my klutzy morning. By The way, I have a fresh cup of coffee sitting right here beside me. WHEEEEEW!!!

REGRETS

12-22-08...REGRETS

A couple of years ago at this time I finally gave up and decided I had to take care of something that had been a thorn in my side for a long time. I had a friend back in high school who had been my best friend all through our teen years. When she got to doing things that my upbringing had taught me to be wrong I had to walk away from her even Though I did love her. We grew up, drifted apart and went our separate ways. I left the state but she never did. And she never stopped the things she was doing, never changed. Somewhere in the recesses of my heart she was still there. I remembered all the good times we had and how very close we were. Things happened that brought us on the same path again through the Church we had attended all our life. We takked but it was like strangers and nothing was resolved. Then she did something that hurt me so badly. Just broke my heart. We had been such good friends. I couldn't understand and the human in me fired back with a letter that told her just what I thought of her. My Mama kept telling me it was wrong to go on that way and we should right it. But NO! That old human nature took hold of me and hung on.
Then in 1999 when I moved back home my Mama kept trying to get me to do something about it. The letter I had written had really hurt her. Well I said, She hurt me first, she owes me an apology. Mama said Honey the best thing you can do is make the first move. Be a bigger person. You know I am right. Well of course I KNEW she was right but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. My Mama passed away in 2001 and I was devastated.
Then two years ago my Mamas sister called me. Clydene ---- is dying. She is very sick with cancer. Your Mama always wanted you to apologise to her for the mean letter you wrote. No Auntie ( I call all my Aunts that) I don't owe her anything. My Aunt cried. She kept calling me and trying to get me to do it. By now she knew the whole story and even she believed that I owed her no apology but she kept after me.
I prayed about it finally ( what I should have done from the start. I hate my stubborness) and come to realize that I wanted to get this off my heart. This woman was dying and I owed her my love and support. Lord Help Me Finish this.
She was so bad now that she couldn't have visitors except family. I got a card and I poured out my heart to her. I reminded her of fun times we had had over the years and told her I still loved her. I told her I was sorry I hurt her. I mailed it the next morning. That night my Auntie called me and told me she was gone. Died during the night.
She never got my card. Because I was so set on the right thing and knowing in my heart she owed me an apology I allowed that Lady to go to sleep without me doing something for her. I was wrong!! I'll live with that. Please if you have anything against anyone, It is just not worth being right. You can't get a day back. All we have is today. No tomorrow no yesterday. It Is Always today, and today is when we have to do these things. Oh How I wish I had.

MY 16TH BIRTHDAY

12-22-08...MY 16TH BIRTHDAY

My Birthday is in August. A very hot and dry time in our area. The year I turned 16 I was struttin' high. Thought there was not anything I didn't know just a bit better than anyone else. I had lots of friends, mostly girls, (I was never popular with the boys except as a friend) I was happy and healthy. The blessings just flowed. I always had a birthday party at my home. It was always a grand affair for me. Mama and Daddy stayed in the house and we were outside where it was cooler after dark. We set up Brenda's phonograph on the porch. It only played the little 45s with a hole in the middle. Everyone brought their favorite Rock & Roll records. We danced the bop and just before time to go home we played SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME and couples danced before going home. Anyone remember that song?
This year when I started planning my party Mama said: Clydene your Daddy and I decided not to have a party for you this year. "WHAT! NO PARTY MAMA WHY"? Well Clydene we are having company that night. Seems a bunch of my Aunts uncles and cousins were coming for a visit. Well I stubbed up and just became a burr in everyones side. I just could not believe my Parents would do this to me. I tried everything right down to a hunger strike. Nothing worked. My 16th birthday was ruined. No way I'd ever get over this. Heck fire No! I'm mad!!
What made it worse was Brenda's attitude. Brenda and Ruth (my best friend at the time) just made fun of me. Clydene you are too old to act like that Ruth said. Yeaw Clydene and you are too old to have a birthday party, thats for kids. Well, The nerve of them all. They are sure gonna' be sorry, I vowed. I just might not be here next year. Then what'll they think, By golly I'll show them. (All talk of course. Course I would be there)
During the next week I got the star treatment from everybody. Well, If they think that makes me feel better then they've got another think comin'. I'm mad at all of them.
Brenda and Ruth took me to Sunnyslope Drive In and bought me a Hamburger and cherry coke. We sat in the car and the car hop brought it out. I'll have to admit I was beginning to feel better. Well, I was until Brenda whispered to the Car hop and Ruth got out and started going from car to car, sticking her head in, resulting in everyone staring at me. What's going on Brenda, Why are you whispering. Are you talking about me? I asked Ruth the same question when she came back to the car but they said they were not whispering. Shoot! Did they think I was stupid? Well I wasn't stupid. Everyone was out to get me even My Parents. Why? I felt lower than a snakes belly. Tomorrow was my Birthday and I was not coming out of my room all day. If Mama expected me to visit with all them old people she had another think comin'. NOPE!
The next evening about 5 pm the company all started arriving. I peeked out the window and watched them. Heck I did like to visit with most of them. BUT NO! I aint'a'gonna do it. No Way!! Why there is Brenda, and Ruth, and Betty,and on and on and on. What in heck is goin' on here. I've just about had enough of this and I'm goin' out there and tell em. Now Folks, I'm usually a little sharper than that but face it I had a rough week wallowin' in self pity, Gimme Me a Break OK?
Anyway I went charging out there to tell them all what for. Everyone was in the Kitchen. I went in there and everyone hollered, SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLYDENE!!! To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I was flabbergasted! I burst out bawling as everyone started hugging me. I saw dozens of gifts laying there and a big cake. OH MY OH MY. Yep I was ashamed, almost too ashamed to enjoy my party. They said they knew they would have to get me poutin' so I'd stay outta' their way. Well it worked. I had a marvelous surprise. My friends were all there. We had our dance on the porch, danced the bop, and had a grand ol' time. I can't say it was my very best birthday but it was one of the best. It taught me not to judge people. Especially those I loved. What made me think any of them would do anything to hurt me. I've never had another surprise party again. No way they could now. I've learned to take things as they come. Always expect the best, and don't assume that what I think is always right. Trust your friends until they give you a reason not to, and even then give them the benefit of the doubt. I knew all those things, but sometimes we get off track and have to have guidance and lessons. YEP!

CHILDISH FEARS

12-21-08...CHILDISH FEARS

Christmas Day is coming soon and I was thinking what we used to do every Christmas eve when we were teenagers. Up on the Hill above Altus is the Historic and beautiful Catholic Church. It has sat there as long as I remember looking down over the little town of Altus. Since we were Baptist that old Church was very mysterious to us. Even kind of spooky for some reason I don't understand now. The kids had their Catholic school up there until they entered the 9th grade then they came to our school in Altus. Just kids the same way we were but that Church held so much imagination for us. We wanted to see inside that big beautiful and mysterious building.
We were told that The Church had Midnight Mass on Christmas eve. We went to Our Little Church in Denning on Christmas eve but we were always home by nine and as we were teenagers we could go somewhere else as long as we were home by 11:00. Whoppee! eleven o'clock. Now boy howdy we were up in the world now.
A bunch of us decided we just had to go to The Midnight Mass at that Church. It would be an adventure, satisfy our curiosity, and heck fire we could be out after Midnight. Now that was a good thought.
We all went to work on our Parents to convince them to let us go. It took a lot of convincing to, let me tell you. My Daddy said, Now Clydene if you go anywhere else, or do anything else I will know about it. You do know that don't you? OH Sure Daddy I know. We are only going there Daddy and after all it IS Church.
There were seven of us in an old studebaker that one of the boys drove. Not much of a car. (I heard once that he picked up his girl friend one night and her foot went right on through the front floor when she stepped in. HE HE!) Anyway that night we were all in there at 11:30PM getting ready for our great aventure. By the way I was number seven. Brenda had a boyfriend and there were two other couples but Auntie wouldn't let Brenda go unless I went to and I had no boyfriend to my Daddies delight.
Now if you are one of my Catholic Friends let me say right now. Please don't take offence to any thing I might say. We were kids, we were walking into something we knew nothing about. Something that had facinated us for years. I will admit to being a little apprehensive before going in. I will admit to being downright scared spitless before I came out.
We sat down on the very back seat. We knew how to behave in Church but things were different there. In the first place we didn't understand what was said. A different language. (German I think) We didn't know what to do. I got to looking around and all the ladies and girls had head coverings. We had none and we were afraid we were doing something wrong. A girl we went to school with looked around at us and we thought she looked embarraced. (She said later that she was not). We all looked at one another and mutally agreed without saying a word that we should just leave as quietly as we could. I was the first one out in the aisle and was trying to hurry without running. I had my head down and walked smackdab in to someone carrying a lantern. It was dark. He reached out to steady me. When he took my arm I believed with all my heart that THE DEVIL HAD GOT ME. I just knew I was going to be punished for doing something wrong. I was never so scared in my life, not of the Church but what I thought I had done in A church. I said I'm ssssoory, I'm sssoo ssorry. I looked up into the most gentle eyes. He was smiling at me. The others were behind me and we scurried out with someone holding on very tightly to my arm to steady me. I found out later it was Brenda. Of course it was Brenda. Anyway I was very ashamed. I talked to one of the kids who was a member there after Christmas break and she assured me it was OK. No harm done and we could come back, which we did every year after that for several years. We learned things that we hadn't known before. It was good for us. But that first time was and is still one of the things I wished I had not done. Aren't kids funny? Scared of the unknown until they experience it. I guess I am still that way. I cringe from change. We get comfortable in the way we have always done things and want to stay there. Different is just that, Different until you have experienced it one time, then what's the difference??

GRATITUDE AND LOVE IN TRYING TIMES

12-21-08...GRATITUDE AND LOVE IN TRYING TIMES

With so much sadness in our world today. So many worries that we all face with sickness and death, unjustice, ect. It is hard sometimes to look on the good things. I've been in that position for several weeks now. Finding it hard to enjoy all the blessings that God gives me every day. Well That is flat wrong, very wrong! I said to myself, Clydene It is time for you to snap out of it. Stop the self pity and remember the way Your wonderful Parents raised you.
We had so little when I was growing up and yet so much. We were some of the best blessed kids ever and it is time I just stop complaining.
Today was our Christmas Sunday at Church and it was beautiful. At the end of the service our Pastor got a chair and a story book and called all the kids up to sit on the altar all around him. As I looked at those sweet little faces the tears started flowing down my face. There was a little boy with a deformed face and hearing aids in each ear. He sat close so he could hear. Another little boy in almost the same shape was so hyperactive that he couldn't be still. His Parents were not there. They abandoned him and his two sisters to foster care. Thank God They are still together in one home. Another little boy lives with his grandparents because his parents are both in prison. There was one beautiful little girl in a red velveteen dress. All dolled up. She has anything she wants except Parents who care about her welfare or about providing love and a supportive family life. She was there with a Aunt. One little girl was so skinny she could have been a skeleten, but she was dressed beautifully. She was with her Parents and Grandparents. But this little girl is sick and may not see next Christmas. I made up my mind to make an effort to try and make these precious childrens lives better in some way. Even the ones who appear to have a good home life some of the Mothers and/or Fathers are not there.
The reality of it all hit me full force. Everyone has a cross to bear. Some are almost unbearable so who am I to think I'm the only one. There was a couple there who just lost their 22 yr. old Son in a car crash. He was hit by a drunk driver. His sweet Parents had to sit at his bedside for the past two weeks watching their precious Son die. As I gave them hugs, cried with them and for them, I told them I AM HERE FOR YOU. I've been there. I will offer a shoulder and a warm heart to them because I believe that is my purpose. It don't get better but it does get bearable.
I know there are many here on The Hill who have been there too. I offer You the same shoulder and warm heart full of love. I go through these periods every year at this time but I have vowed not to do that next year. I'm 64 and I have a lot of living left to do. Those precious little Children and Those grieving parents showed that to me this morning. I'M THANKFUL, I'M BLESSED.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!! AND GOD BLESS YOU

SUGAR BREAD

12-20-08...SUGAR BREAD

We didn't have much when I was growing and certainly not a lot of sweets and snacks. Mama didn't always have sugar or what she needed to bake sweets. We had sorghum sometimes and My Granny made the best sorghum cakes you ever tasted. The icing was a kind of grayish sauce and I don't know what is was made of, wish now I had asked. We were just sooo! happy to get those cakes now and then. Grany didn't have recipes. If asked she would point to her head and say It is right here. When I watched her all I could see is that she used her hands and a bowl for most of it. A pinch, a pat, a hand full, two heapin' hndsfull, Ect. Not much help to me. I remember after I was married asking Granny to write down the recipe for a cake she simply called white cake. Well Granny tried to put measurement to it but it just didn't work. My white cake never turned out worth a flip. It was Grannys hands that made those cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and even doughnuts. YUMMY! They will never be duplicated. NOPE
One day I said Mama can you make us a Chocolate cake? Sorry honey I don't have enough sugar. What about puddin'. Honey puddin' has to have sugar too. OKAY I said and just went on about my way. Mama had made bread that day and she told me later that the way I accepted no chocolate cake without a pout or a fuss made her feel so bad. Then she remembered what Granny had fixed for her and her two sisters when they were small. Sugar bread. Now that was not real sweet bread. NOPE! She sliced a good thick slice of her still warm bread, laid it on a plate and sprinkled a bit of sugar, some cinnamon, and poured warm coffee left from breakfast over that. She cut it in half and called Norman an I in. When she put that sugar bread in front of us we tasted it and you would have thought it was a big hunk of Chocolate cake Yep! Granny had fixed it for her and she in turn fixed it for us. Oh what a treat that was. Just a teaspoon or so of sugar and we had our sweet treat. I fixed it as often as I could for My son Richard too and he loved it. Well I've got bread rising in the kitchen right now. So guess what I'ma'gonna' have after while. YEP! Thank you Mama , Daddy, and Grandparents for my raisin' LOVE YOU YEP!

MORE CHRISTMAS

12-19-08...MORE CHRISTMAS

Childhood, I guess when you get my age those are the most precious memories you have. I know mine are. And Christmas memories are the most precious I have right now. Could be because It is the Christmas season.
Christmas was not always cold where I grew up. We just don't have as much snow and ice and cold weather here in the south. I only remember 3 white Christmas' in my entire life. Our snow usually comes in January. I can remember some Christmas' when the grass would still be green from lack of a good freeze. Still it was Christmas and a glorious time.
We all seem to think our memories are the best there is too don't we? That is because they are OUR memories.
My Parents memories were much different from mine in that they had even less that we did. It was the depression years. A lot of times they only had cornmeal in the house to eat at Mama's home. But Mama fondly remembered the many different ways my Granny could use cornmeal for them to eat. Mush sweetened with sorghum that my Grandpa made, fried cornmeal if she had an egg to go in it, no flour so cornmeal gravy made with water cause' no milk, cornbread fritters made with water and occasionally eggs.
My Grandpa had some sisters living right there who had much more but didn't share. Guess they were not taught the way we were.
One Christmas Granny told me about still brings a big lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Grandpa had managed to get a rabbit that year. They had snow and he tracked it and killed it with a rock. Granny had some flour and she could make gravy and biscuits. They never thought much about gifts just like we didn't but that year Granny's sister had made dresses for Mama and her two sisters and mailed them. Grandpa was so prowd that year. His girls would have Christmas with plenty to eat. He visited his sister that morning and was probaby telling her about their Christmas dinner and packages. She said, "Well Will Don't you have something sweet for dessert" (OL' BAG) Of course Grandpa said no. She said well Will I'll bring you down a chocolate pie this evening for your dinner. Granny said Grandpa came home just brimming over with gratitude and love.
Well they ate their dinner, opened their gifts, and was ready for that scrumptious looking pie. It was just mounded up with that white beautiful whipped egg whites and they could see the brown crust peeking over the side of the plate. Granny said that Grandpa stood up at the end of the table and took a butcher knife ans began cutting in to that pie. All their mouths were watering in anticipation. But the knife wouldn't go in very far and when Grandpa checked here is what he found. His sister had stuffed cotton into a crust and covered it with the topping. Mama said many times that was the only time in her life she saw Grandpa cry and say a curse word. His sister said it was just a joke and didn't think anything about it. Still an ol' bag in my mind. She may have never known how deeply she hurt Grandpa and his family that year with such a viscious 'trick'? but I feel like she did. I never met her but she must have been a terrible person. No Peace Love And Joy in her Heart.
Hope all of you have a beautiful Christmas and I also wish you Peace Love And Joy. Clydene

BETTER TIMES

12-18-08...BETTER TIMES

Christmas is not Christmas anymore. What I mean by that is it is not the Christmas I remember. Of course I know that things and times have changed. Progress has been made and people have more. That doesn't really matter. Christmas should never change. Christmas is a time for Family. a time to worship our Saviour. Maybe not the real day of His birth but as close as we can make it in the world today. Look what our Government has done to other Holidays. They have made every holiday they can come on Monday so they have a three day week-end. Of course that is the reason. Doesn't take much common sense to see that. But even our corrupt Government has not had the nerve to try and change Christmas and Thanksgiving to always be on Monday. I look for that to happen in the future but I don't have to change my view of Christmas and I never will.
Everybody wants something now. MORE MORE MORE! Never satisfied. I'm not implying that I am always satisfied with what I have. Not saying that at all. I just wish everyone would slow down and enjoy the simple things that God has provided for us. Some animals seem to appreciate their friends and family more than some of us do.
When I was growing up I didn't have much but I was rich. I could occupy my self for hours just lying on the ground and looking at the clouds by day or stars by night. The clouds are ever changing. I've seen all kinds of animals, flowers, buildings, I even saw a big fluffy Birthday cake one year with pink frosting. Sure did! And what made that even more miraculous was it indeed was my Birthday. Now Ponder that for a while. Mama didn't have the ingriedients to make me a cake that year as she usually did so God sent me a very special one just for me. I didn't pout over no Birthday cake. Mama told me the truth of the matter and I accepted it. No problem. Later that day my Daddy came home with a puppy for my Birthday and I was thrilled. Simple things were all we needed then.
If I was lucky enough to receive a doll under the Christmas tree I treasured it. I took tender care of it and still had it the next year. If I couldn't have a new doll the next year, again no problem, Grandma made new clothes for the one I had. Good as new, YEP!
One year I had seen a doll in the Aldens Christmas catalog thst I wanted so bad. It was a beautiful doll. Not the cloth dolls I usually got, but the most beautiful doll I had ever seen with yellow hair and blue eyes that opened and closed. It came in a case and had two changes of clothes, comb and brush, and even a pink nightgown and slippers. There was a baby carriage with it just the right size for me to push. I never expected to get it but I sure could hope and imagine having that doll. I didn't ask for it because I saw the price and knew it would be impossible. I understood even at a young age that I didn't get everything I wanted because Mama and Daddy couldn't always do it.
I carried that catalog around with me for a couple of months and pretended I really had the doll. It became almost real to me and I had a big time in my fantasy world. I wore the page out till you could barely see it. Well My wonderful Mama and Daddy had been watching me. They wanted that doll for me as bad as I wanted it myself. I don't know how they managed but on Christmas Eve Night we got home from Church and ran to the Christmas tree. We took turns unwrapping. None of this ripping open, putting aside and grabbing another one to rip open the way I've seen kids do today. Not just kids either but grown people acting so greedy then not even being satisfied with all those expensive gifts. Anyway i had opened one package and had two left. Norman was on his second. Now Daddy handed me a good sized one and I very carefully opened it. Oh My Goodness! (Let me wipe tears now) There was that beautiful doll in a little brown case lying there in pink paper. I was overwhelmed, overjoyed, and so full of love at that moment. I just sat there and stared, almost afraid it was a dream. Daddy helped me take it out and I hugged it to my chest. I looked at my Daddy and Mama and saw tears in their eyes. Didn't understand the tears then but I do now. Oh Yes I understand now.
Norman opened another one and Mama and Daddy opened the home made trinkets we had wrapped up for them. Now remember the buggy? I hadn't given it another thought. I had my doll. I was satisfied. Daddy got up and went in the bedroom and came out pushing the little buggy. He had to bend way over to push it and I can still see the love in his eyes and the big grin on his face. My Brother? Nope he wasn't jealous of my things. He was satisfied with his. We were never jealous of each other. Still are not. We would give one another our last dollar if it was necessary. That is the way we were taught.
Those Christmas's are the ones I remember. Christmas today is just not the same any more. I do try to once again get that old Christmas feeling. But it is gone and it is sad.
I hope none of you are sad about Christmas but I suspect some are. Just know you are not alone. We are never alone. The little baby who was born on that Christmas long ago is still right here with us and he loves you. I love you too. God Bless you all and Merry Christmas. Clydene

NOPE DON'T WANT ONE

12-17-08...NOPE Don't Want One

I see a lot of people talking about those spell checkers here. I really don't want one. I've had them, and they are just a nuisance to me. They wont let me talk. Now in life I can talk the way I want to so why not when I write things down. ME wrights the way Me talks. Now I'll admit there are a lot of words that I am not sure how to spell and If I'm writing a formal letter or reply to one, I wanna check so the recipient don't think I'm stupid. But I just don't have time to mess with those things when I'm just writing daily thoughts down.
I had one once that beeped at me everytime I spelled a word wrong. Just unnerved the heck outta me. Then one would underline every thing I wrote. Heck most of them even try to tell me how to spell my own name. My Mama named me Clydene and they sure have their nerve to try and correct that Wonderful lady. Don't ya think?? I tried turning the darn thing off and check at the finish, but the dad-blamed thing put so many marks on the page I felt like I was back in School and Miss Brasel was puttin' all them red marks on my papers. Yep my Teachers taught me well, I know how to be Prim and Proper, put in all the ings and such fancy things, I know to get a dictionary and look up the words I'm not sure of, But heck fire if I don't know how to spell the dang word then wouldn't I be lookin for the spelling I knew don't ya see? Then there are words that I really think I'm spelling right. I think this is the way to spell it so why the heck would I be lookin' in a dictionary for a word I think I'm spellin' right in the first dang place! Now aint that stupid?!
So thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. I don't want one of them dad blamed spell checkers. This is me. You see what you get, I am what I am, just an ol' hillbilly from Arkansas, but don't call me a hillbilly or an Arkie. OK? LOVE YOU ALL Clydene

REMEMBERING MORE SIMPLE TIMES

12-16-08...REMEMBERING MORE SIMPLE TIMES

Christmas Eve always found us in The little Church that I grew up in. We had a Big Christmas tree and our parents ( we found out later) took us each a christmas package to put under the tree. Santa would be there at the end of the program and each kid got to sit on his lap and he gave us our gift. The program came first. Some of the men had built a platform that we could stand on. One got to stand on the top who was the Angel. Then two, then three, and on till it came to the bottom. When we all got on it looked like a Christmas tree with an angel on top. We all wore colorful tops for decoration and held an ornament as we sang Christmas songs. The Parents and grown ups loved it. Can't say that we did. It was way too confining. We knew better than to make mischief in Church so the only calamaties were an occasional dropped ornament. Mama and Daddy said it was soo! pretty.Well Of course Mama and Daddy thought so.
After the music we would put on a play about the birth of Jesus. If there were any bables there we had a live Baby Jesus who often cried and disrupted the whole thing. The baby would quickly be replaced with a doll and the show would go on!! We all participated even the little ones. Now I loved the play, most of us did. I was Mary one year and held a real live baby. Mama said I kept bending over and kissing the baby but I don't remember doing that. I know I've always loved babies.
My Brother Norman was the baby one year. I was almost five and I wanted to be Mary but it wasn't my turn and Brenda was Mary. Well I sure was jealous of that. Norman was a good baby and hardly ever cried but for some reason that year he did. Brenda didn't want to give him up though so when Mama came to get him she said NO! I wanna keep him here. No one was making a big deal of it and Brenda would have finally given him up if I had just of kept my nose out of it. Brenda give my baby brother to Mama I said. The teacher was trying to get me to be quiet but of course I wouldn't. Nooo! Clydene Shut Up, Brenda said. Well durn you Brenda (I thought but didn't say) I got up from my spot on the floor at Jesus' feet and grabbed for my Brother. By now he was screeching. I got THE LOOK! from Mama and so did Brenda but not before I reached out and snatched Brendas scarf off her head pulling her hair in the process. She screeched and almost dropped Norman but Mama rescued him, gave us The Look and sat back down in her seat. Someone gave Brenda the doll and tied her scarf back on. The teacher sat me back down and I guess you think the Show went on. RIGHT?? Well WRONG!! By then all the people in the audience were snickerin' and trying not to laugh out loud. They probably would have succeeded and restored order if Brenda and I hadn't looked at each other and started giggling. We giggled and giggled and everyone else giggled and giggled. Somebody must have decided it was time for Santa to appear and save the show, which he did. HO HO HO!! we heard and there was quiet. We sat there like a bunch of little Angels and waited on the gift giving and lap sitting. I don't know who Santa was that year but He knew us and had seen what happened so we were brought up to the front. Brenda and I both got a knee and a talking to before we got our gifts from Santa. We hugged each other said our sorry's and it was done. We had food and all loaded up and went home where Santa had been to our houses. We thought it was all forgotten. I still don't know if Brenda got a tanning, but I did. Mama and Daddy never forgot those tannings> NOPE NEVER! I suspect Brenda got one too but really it was my fault so I know I deserved it. YEP! I always got what I deserved whether good or bad!!!

RELECTIONS

12-16-08...REFLECTIONS

This morning I got up all out of sorts. This time of year is always hard for me. Usually just coming here to The Hill and meeting and greeting my Great Friends is enough. This morning it wasn't. Sooo. I say to myself I'll revive some wonderful memory of my past. But that was not working either. I'm not one to let life defeat me and stay in gloom very long but heck fire I was so deep in the mire this morning I thought I was surely going to sink.
I couldn't help thinking about all the sickness and heartache in the world. Indeed right here on The Hill we have lots of it. My life has some too. Now how in the world to get all this put away where it belongs? This time of year is always the worst. Seems everything just happens now. WHY? I wish I knew. Oh My I wish I knew. But every since I found the blog section here on the hill and figured out how to use it, I have had a friend to grasp on to. Not so much A Friend, but more like a place of refuge. That is what The Hill has become to me. You see my friends, You are always there. I can come here anytime and find someone to talk to. I can find a place to Pray with and for others. I can find a cherry note or graphic or message. I can receive a hug, a giggle, maybe even a tear or two.
Two things happened this morning as I wallowed in my mire. First I looked at my gallery on the hill and some of those pics. brought back such sweetness in to my raw heart. There is that old house where I grew up. The house with draft holes all over to let in the cold air. The lineloum on the floor that would sometimes literally puff up and stand like a magic carpet when those cold winds blew under the house and up through the cracks in the floor. Curtains that would stand straight out and flutter like a ghost was blowing on them. The ol' stove where Daddy sat up all night to keep wood fed in and keep us warm. Then later the little gas stove where Daddy still had to sit up and watch. The gas pressure would go way down or the gas would freeze up in the lines.(yep sure did) Daddy had to be there when the gas was coming through the lines again so he could relight the stove and keep us from dying in our sleep from gas fumes. I saw a pic. of my Daddy sitting down on his feet with his knees up to his chin holding on to me or picking cotton, strawberries, ect. to make extra money that we needed badly. I remembered Daddy sitting like that in front of our Christmas tree picking out nuts for us to eat.We got nuts(that were sold in paper bags uncracked) and fruit and candy only at Christmas. What a treat!!! I remembered getting up on cold mornings and our bear feet hitting that cold floor, hopping around and hurring out to get our shoes and socks that were sitting by the fire to keep warm. Then smelling the aroma of bacon frying and coffee brewing to the sounds of My Mama singing Amazing Grace. All the time still wishing for that good warm feather bed with the many quilts and the hot water bottle wrapped in a towel that Mama had so lovingly put by our feet before we went to sleep. All sweet loving memories of a time we didn't have a care in the world even when we sat down to the dinner table to a big bowl of mashed or fried potatoes and a big pot of pinto beans with fat back cooked in them. YUMMY! Still love them. All we had then, A treat now.
Then the second thing happened. I got an email from my friend from school days with a song by Bob Dylan of all people. A Hymn saying all the things I had in my mind. Wow! The lord knows just what we need, just when we need it!!! I'm adding the words here but can't figure out how to add the song so Look for it on my page later. Yep! I'm feeling better and I thank you my friends for being here when people in my life are not there for me. I love you, I love The Hill, I'm totally Thankful to TC and EB for creating this wonderful place for us where we can be safe. I feel closer to You all than I do some of my family. STRANGE?? Maybe, but true.
If anyone reading this has a need of the Heart right now, I'm betting that you can have it met right Here On The Hill where so many loving people will be there for you. We are all one big Family here and I am so Thankful this morning
Merry Christmas I love You All. Clydene

HERE IS THE SONG WORDS:::::

Bob Dylan: Every Grain of Sand

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need

When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed

There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere,

Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair

Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake,

Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break

In the fury of the moment, I can see the Master's hand

In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand

Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,

Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer

The sun beats down upon the steps of time to light the way

To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay

I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame

And every time I pass that way, I always hear my name

Then onward in my journey, I come to understand

That every hair is numbered, like every grain of sand

I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night

In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light,

In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,

In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face

I hear the ancient footsteps, like the motion of the sea

Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me

I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man

Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand

ANOTHER HAIR CUT!!

12-12-08...ANOTHER HAIR CUT!!

I told you about cutting my Brothers hair. But I didn't stop at that. Heck no! My hair was curly and long and bushy. Daddy didn't want it cut and Mama couldn't even get the brush through it, so it was a constant battle. When It got so long I had to get it out of the way so I could sit down I decided to do something about it. YEP! I'll cut it myself. Brenda wouldn't help me this time. Nothing I said would convince her to help me. I was on my own except!!! Yep, My brother would help me. I got some scissors (not pinking shears this time) and grabbed Norman and off we went to the back porch. I started on the front and top and sides where I could get to it and Norman was being my eyes. Sister (he called me sister then) thats short enough up there. OK Now Norman you will have to help me on the rest. Get a wad of hair in your hand and pull it around here so I can reach it. I knew at some time in the procedure that I should have got a mirror but was afraid to go back inside where Mama would see me. I knew Mama wanted my hair cut but I also knew she wouldn't want me to do the cuttin' Nope! Well we were doing OK (SURE WE WERE) till Norman pulled my hair trying to reach it to me and I yelped. Here come Mama and the look on her face was comical to me. BUT NOT FOR LONG!!! NOPE! I wiped that giggle away when she gave me "THE LOOK". It was instant quiet and still. Oh Clydene What am I gonna do with you? I didn't say a word and neither did Norman. I was tryin' to look innocent and angelic but somehow knew it wasn't working on Mama.
Mama stood me up and examined me. Took a comb and tried to fix it. No Way, No How. It was ruined and I was scared spitless. She got her purse and took my hand and said lets go. Where Mama? The Look again. But Mama, this time the look worked. Come on Norman. Shoot fire he was ready to go, I was the one in trouble, not him.
We went out and started walking up the RR track beside our house. I had all kinds of thoughts in my head, but two of the looks from Mama had shut me up good and tight. My mouth wasn't a openin'! We got off the track at the crossing and walked up the road, right on past Wallace Key's grocery store and the Post office, right on over the Denning hill and down toward Altus. About mid-ways Mama sterred us in to a big white house where we walked right on in the side door. I was thinkin' Mama must not know what she's doin'. Heck fire I knew you don't walk in a persons house without knockin'. The woman inside said "Well Howdy Lucille". Howdy (I can't remember her name to save my life right now) can you do something with Clydene's hair? She looked at me and almost giggled. I guess Mama musta' give her the look too cause' she wiped that grin off her face. There was a chair in the room and over it was a bunch of wires coming down all around it. Come on honey and let me take a look she said. Well now let me tell you I wasn't going to get in that chair with all them wires, heck no( I thought, no tellin' what she'sa' gonna' do to me.) My quiet angelic demeanor went by the wayside right then and there. YEP! NO, Mama I'm scared, don't make me go! By then I thought Mama was gonna' let that woman hurt me or sumpthin'. What's wrong with you Clydene? She is gonna cut your hair, come on now. Mama picked me up and carried me to a chair in front of a mirror, not the wired up chair, and I relaxed a little. She cut my hair off past all the places where I had cut. Oh Clydene I love it she said. Mama had a pleased look on her face to but I knew I'd still be in trouble.
When Daddy got home that evening I was standing out on the front porch. When he got up close to me he had a surprised, horrified look on his face. He kept lookin' at me but Daddy wasn't smiling like he usually did. Mama said from the door, Come on in here you two and Clydene's got some explainin' to do. Daddy was still lookin at me funny. We sat at the kitchen table where Norman was waiting for supper. Mama said, Now Clydene tell Your Daddy what happened today. It took a few promptings from Mama but I got it all out. Daddy was still lookin bewildered and staring at me. Finally he said, My gosh Lucille, I didn't even recognise Clydene for a minute. Didn't recognise My Own daughter. Daddy seemed hurt and I didn't understand until much later why he was so quiet about it. I didn't get a tannin like I'd thought I would, but did get a good talking to. Daddy didn't want my hair cut but I think after he saw it he really liked it. Yep! You'd think I'd never cut my own hair again wouldn't you? Not so, While I never did again while I was growing up, I still get an urge and do it now. Yep! Sure do!!!!! Same as then I have to go get it straightened out by someone who knows what they are doing. YEP!!!

THE HAIR CUT

12-11-08...THE HAIR CUT!!!

I do believe the worse trouble Brenda and I ever got in to was when we cut my Brothers hair. Yep! That would be the worst.
I heard my Mama say to My Daddy one day: "Clyde Norman needs a haircut bad before school pics are taken". " Well Lucille I can't take him until Saturday. I don't get paid till Friday night". " Ok but they are taking the pictures Wednesday. I guess I'll try to trim it up a little bit". Well Shoot fire, I thought, I can cut Norman's hair better'n Mama can. I'll just surprise her. Brenda was at my house that night so I recruited her to help me. Norman was only five and not in school but Mama always took him on the day they were taking school pics. and they would take his also.
I had watched the barber cut Nomans hair and I knew how to do it. YEP! NOPE!
I got a big pair of scissors out of Grandma's quilting box and got daddys razor off the dresser. Brenda got a towel and a comb and we were set. SURE NUFF!!!
Norman wasn't very cooperative or happy but I talked him in to it. I started with the scissors. They were big and hard for me to handle but I was managing to remove a little bit. Trouble was it looked funny. I put the scissors down and picked up Daddys razor. Didn't have any soap like I'd seen Daddy use so I put some lotion on Normans hair. Well shoot fire that aint working either Brenda. Clydene you've got too much lotion on there, wipe some off. I did just that with the towel I had around his shoulders. I switched back and forth for a while between the scissors and razor till I knicked Norman's ear (or something) and he yelped out. That brought Mama in the door and sent Brenda out the door. What is goin' on in here!!! Nothin' Mama. Nuthin' heck, What have you done Clydene. She was scared because there was blood on Normans shoulder. I saw it and I got scared. Norman was trying to run and get away from his crazy sister but Brenda was standing in the door. She saw the blood and I mean to tell you she lit out like fire was on her tail. Gone in a flash.
Mama caught Norman and started examining him. There was a lot of blood and it was all mixed with lotion and it was not a pretty sight. I started bellerin' then. Shut up Clydene and go get me a wet wash rag. ( Yep we called them wash rags) I hurried to the kitchen and grabbed a dish rag ( yep we called em dish rags) and wet it in the wash pan. Back I ran and Mama very gently washed off where the blood was comin' from. It was just a knick but I was still bellerin', Is he'a'gonna die Mama, Is He? No Clydene He's not gonna die but You Just Might!! HUH? Am I cut too? I started examining myself then, still bellerin'. Shut up Clydene Right this minute. Neither of you are gonna die. Boy Howdy was I happy to hear that.
Brenda and My Auntie came running in and Brenda was bellerin' and Auntie was scared. Brenda said Clydene cut Normans ear off Auntie said , to which I really bellered. Probably heard me in the next town. At least thats what Mama said later.
No his ear is just knicked but look what she done to his hair. Oh My Goodness Gracious what a mess, what a mess. I was really snubbin' and snotin' then but I was tryin' to be quiet about it. Heck Fire I didn't think I was a gonna die but Mama said shut up and I was doin' my dangest to SHUT UP.
Mama and Auntie cleaned Norman up, washed his hair and It still looked awful, I mean ugly awful. Seems I used something called pinking shears and they didn't work very well. Then the razor worked too well. NORMAN WAS A MESS! A flat out mess!!! Mama did her best to fix it but it still looked bad. I was so sorry I couldn't stop crying. Mama felt sorry for us both and she couldn't give me the tannin I needed right then and there. But I did get it. Yep. Mama had a good memory all right.
Norman got his Picture taken that Wednesday. He wore his little hat and it was one of the cutest pictures ever took of him I thought. I was happy he got a good picture but I couldn't hardly sit to get mine took. MY Rear Hurt. YEP!!! Never tried that again on Norman. Did try it on Me but thats another story. YEP!!!

BLUE HORSES AND GREEN SNAKES

12-6-08...BLUE HORSES AND GREEN SNAKES

When we were in school we had paper called Blue Horse. It had a bind around the paper with a picture of a blue horse on it. You could collect those little blue horses and get neat things with them. Brenda and I put ours together and got bright red diaries. Oh So Pretty, and we could put all our secrets in them. Norman and Paul got a pup tent. Shoot, we liked that tent as much as we did our diaries so we told the boys we wanted to use it one night. Of course they said No Way so we went running to our Mamas and told on em. Make em' let us use the tent. We are not sposed' to be selvish. If they don't want you to use the tent then It is theirs girls. You got diaries. You coulda' got tents. But thats for boys we said. Yep! They sure are 'GIRLS'. Heck that backfired we'll hafta' try something else Brenda.
A few nights later the boys were gettin' ready to spend a night in their tent. They sat it up in our backyard, and were busy gettin' all their things together for their night of adventure in the wilderness. Oh! We were just so envious. Green eyed with jealousy. We decided we would both stay at Brenda's house so we wouldn't have too see them darn boys havin' fun. Durn little varmits anyway!
We gathered my things and went to Brenda's house. After supper it was still daylight so we were outside. There were those darn boys down there just havin' a grand ol' time and we couldn't hardly stand it. No siree! Brenda come on, we will stay at my house and go out there tonight and just scare the stuffins' outta' them! We better not Clydene, we'll get in trouble. Brenda I'm goin' home and I'll have all the fun by myself. Of course Brenda came with me as I knew she would.
Those long summer nights it seemed to take it a long time to get dark so we had a very nervous wait. Then of course it was a long time before the boys settled down and went to sleep. At least we thought they were asleep. Come on Brenda lets go. We were going to pull up the flap and throw in some water we had in a bucket, but first we were gonna' scratch on the sides of the tent. We got sticks and started scratchin' on both sides of the tent and trying to growl. But that is when we found out our Brothers were gettin' smart. They were laying in wait for us. We scratched and growled then went to the front and opened the flap to throw in the water. But the water came back on us cause the boys grabbed the bottom of the bucket and pushed up and emptied the water into our faces. Then we felt something crawling on us and we just came unwound, unhinged, and undone. We were dancin' and screamin' and just so scared we both wet our pants. The boys were laughin' so hard they were holdin' their bellies and out of breath. The things crawlin on us were little green garden snakes. Harmless except to two girls who had just had their plan backfire on them. We weren't really scared of the snakes but it was the surprise of the whole thing. We looked back and My Mama and Daddy were standing at the door laughing their heads Off. WELL HOW DARE THEY ALL LAUGH LIKE THAT!! And how did those boys know we were planning that anyway. HUH? How? Brenda someone told them was it you? Heck no Clydene do you think I'd come out here and know they were a'gonna' do that. We accused our parents then but they swore they didn't do it. The boys said they laid in the tent and watched us put the water bucket there earlier and figured it out. So they put the snakes in the bucket and just waited on us. Since Mama and Daddy didn't come runnin' to check out what was wrong I still think maybe they knew what was going to happen. I guess Norman and Paul were gettin smarter, and our Parents knew us well enough to know to expect something like that. Yep! Our Brothers were gettin' sneaky but they learned from pros' now didn't they. YEP!!!

REBELLIOUS TEEN

12-5-08...REBELLIOUS TEEN

I've never been known for my patience. And Yes I'm stubborn as a mule. I admit it. I get my mind set on something and I hang on till I get knocked down. Then I'll be squirming to get back up. That is how it was when Mama told me I couldn't go to a dance with a boy. I was 13 and thought I was 30. Other girls my age were going. Well for one thing Clydene that boy is 17 and too old for you. And another thing You are too young to go on dates and You are not going.!! It aint fair, I never get to do nothin', You are mean, You don't want me to have friends, you ruin everything for me. I'm goin' no matter what you say!! Smack!!!! Young Lady you go sit over there and don't you move or say a word till I've decided what to do. Do about what!! Smack!!! Oh I wish I was dead. SMACK!! My ears were ringing by now and I still wouldn't shut up. It was winter and no peach tree limb handy so Mama got a fly swat and just wore my bottom out. I did sit down then but I grumbled under my breath for a while and Mama ignored me. She was cooking supper. Clydene set the table. NO! You told me not to get up!! UH OH!! I'd just gone too far this time. I'm leaving and I'm never comin back I hollered as I started toward the door. Now I've got her I said to myself, she'll be sorry now. Course I had no intention of leaving and I know now that My Mama knew I wasn't going nowhere fast.
I waited at the door for Mama to say come on back Clydene. You can go to the dance. But what she said was, Yes you are leaving Clydene, pack your clothes! What? Splutter splutter, What? I said pack your clothes. Come on I'll help you. Mama got a sack and headed to my room. NO MAMA! I'm not goin' I was kiddin'. No Clydene you were not kiddin' now you are goin'. Oh My gosh, My Mama had lost her mind I thought. No Mama No I don't want to go. Please don't make me go Please NO! I was blubberin' and snotin' and carrin' on like a bellerin' heiffer lookin' for her calf. I don't know how long this went on but My 9 yr. old brother finally said. Clydene tell Mama you are sorry. I don't want you to go, tell her you are sorry. He was cryin' now and so was Mama. I'm sorry Mama, I'm sorry I wont do it again I promise. Don't make me go. The three of us were huggin and cryin and sayin I love You when Daddy got home from the coal mine. He had black coal dust on him but he got in the bunch and hugged too. I'm crying right now just thinking about it. Mama had a good Idea to calm an arrogant 13 yr old girl who was gettin too big for her britches. (if i'd of had britches then) She cured me of that smart mouth. I'm still stubborn as a mule but I've learned that when you hurt someone that you love, IT HURTS YOU WORSE! I was in that rebellious stage and It didn't last long. I just loved and respected my Parents too much to hurt them. My brother Norman is pretty special too. There then for me, There now for me. Yep I am one blessed woman. Yep!

BE RESPECTFUL IF IT KILLS YOU!!!

12-5-08...BE RESPECTFUL IF IT KILLS YOU!!!

What ever happened to "Have respect for your elders?" This morning it seemed to have flown away somewhere. I went to the local WalMart for some things I needed. It was a mad house which I was expecting. This is such a beautiful time of year. We are supposed to be filled with Peace and Joy and Thankfulness to our Lord. Not so in that store today. In my day we helped anyone who we saw struggling no matter their age. And if they were older we sure did it without even thinking. Now I've been told I am elderly and I didn't like it one little bit because I don't consider myself to be elderly. But there were some in the store this morning who were definitely struggling. They were slow and not as quick thinking. They were just not able to hurry about. I saw so many younger faster people just about mow these dear saints down. Hollered at some to move outta the way. I was looking at some Christmas cards and a young lady just whomped me right in the rear and kept going. I hollered after her "EXCUSE ME" and she just kept going. Then a young boy (looked to be about 11) took hold of my cart and shoved it to the side with me still holding on. His Mom said "BE careful (his name) you are going to hurt yourself." Hurt Himself? What about me? He almost drug me down for heavens sake! My mama would have slapped me up side the head and made me say I'm sorry. But I can take care of myself very well Thank You. It was something else I saw that just curled my toes.
I got checked out and went out the door in to the front entrance. A little lady in one of those chairs with a basket on the front ( that the store supplies for their customers) was right behind me. Her husband was tottering along behind her and holding on to the chair for support. They had a big box in the basket that hung out too far and it hung in the door. The lady started crying and saying, "Oh no, we can't get out" She was really upset and her Husband was just standing there helplessly looking like he would cry too. The line of people standing behind them waiting to get out started sighing loud and rolling their eyes then they proceeded to go to the other door where people were coming in. Bumping carts and griping and being obnoxious. I just was stunned. I parked my cart by the window and went back to help them. I removed the box and sat it aside and helped them to exit the door. Then people started flooding on by and almost knocked the old man down. I looked back inside the store and one of the checkout girls was giggling her head off at the scene. My dander was gettin' up but I kept my cool. I said come on and I'll help you outside. I turned around to get my cart just in time to see a young man taking my purse out and getting ready to go with it. Well let me tell you , my cool was off now. "You stop right there you lowlife and put that back. He looked back at me and started to just go on. Now remember there were people all over the place and they just glanced and went on or stopped to watch. Well this 64 year old, not elderly, woman tackled him and hung on. I was biting and scratching and yelling and finally a woman I knew stopped and helped me. No one came out of the store though I know several saw the whole thing. We got my purse, I slapped the stuffins outta him and Said, You better get your fanny out of here right now or I am going to call the law. See I know the boy and all his family. I feel sorry for him and there is no need to go in to that, but he needs a chance to do better. I was madder than an ol wet hen but I didn't want to put more on him.
I don't know what happened to the old man and woman I had stopped to help but they must have gotten out and went on their way. If they Thanked me I never heard it. But that is OK. I'll sleep well tonight. I helped 3 people on their way and it didn't cost me a thing. My Mama and Daddy would be so prowd of me. I suspect they are in Heaven bragging on me right now. YEP

HARD LESSONS OF LIFE

12-1-08...HARD LESSONS OF LIFE

I was taught right from wrong by my Parents. And if I messed up I paid for it dearly. Some lessons were not as severe as others and I had to be taught again. But this one was harsh and I Learned the first time. Yep! Never even thought about doing it again for the rest of my life. I will Not steal!!! No Way No How. Not even a penny I find on the ground. I just walk right on by and let someone else learn the hard way.
Somewhere I had seen a pretty gold shiny compact. It opened and there was a mirror to see yourself in. I had never seen anything so pretty in my short life. I wanted one so badly it became an obsession with me. It was bad. I had never wanted much before because I didn't know there was anything else. My mind was fixed on a shiny gold compact. I found out that for a dollar I could have one. Might as well been a million dollars. I knew my Parents couldn't buy me one so I never asked them to. Why worry them with something they couldn't help. I had too much respect for my Parents.
One day a friend of my Mamas from her childhood came to visit her parents. The parents lived about a mile from us. We all got in my Daddies old car and went for a visit. These people had kids about Norman and my ages. We had a great time playing. Soon as we got there I spied a beautiful gold compact lying on a table. Of course I circled in on it right away. Swooped right down and snatched it up in my little grubby hands.
Clydene put that down and leave it alone, my Mama said. Mama's friend Juanita said, Let her see it Lucille, she can't hurt it. So I got to look at that wonderful thing, hold it, examine it. My desire, I wanted that compact. I looked it over good then Mama made me lay it down. But I couldn't get it out of my mind. I wanted it more than anything I had ever wanted in my life.
Sometime during the day I managed to get my hands on it again without anyone seeing me. I took off outside where Norman was playing. Norman, take your shoes off! No Clydene, I don't wanna. Take em off Norman and I'll put them with mine in the car. I never wore shoes but Norman usually kept his on. Anyway I convinced him to take his shoes off. I took his shoes and socks and ran to the car. There I put the compact in one of Norman's socks and stuck it in his shoe and put it under the back seat. WHOOPPEE!!! I got me a compact. YIPEEE!!!
The rest of the day we played, ate, played some more, even took a nap before it was finally time to go home. Several times during the day I had to convince Norman that he didn't need his shoes on.
When we all got in the car and went home we were all very tired. Norman went to sleep and laid down by me in the back sest with his head in my lap. When we got home Mama got out and carried Norman in the house. Daddy opened the door for me and I was ready. Here are our shoes Daddy. I slung them out in the yard and jumped out. The compact and sock fell on the ground by Daddy. I ran and picked it up and exclaimed, OH DADDY LOOKE HERE!!! Juanita's compact. She musta gave it to me!!! YAAA, Look Daddy! Daddy grabbed me by the arm and blistered my fanny, I mean he fired it up. I betcha smoke was a comin' out my britches. Quit Daddy, Help Mama, help. Here came Mama and saw the compact. She didn't say a word but proceeded to blister my butt again. I knew why! Heck fire yes I knew. There was no explanation necessary. I took something that was not mine and I knew better. Yep!! I knew better allright. Guess I just thought I could fool Mama and Daddy. I knew Juanita and her family were leaving for home the next morning and thought I'd get by with it. Shoulda known, did know.
Daddy said, Clydene you swiped that compact and you are going to take it back and tell Juanita you are sorry. Ohh! No!!! Anything but that. Daddy, You take it back. Don't make me go, Please Daddy. Daddy put me back in the car and off we went. I blubbered and sniveled, and begged all the way to no avail. We got there and got out. Carry me Daddy. I'm staying right here Clydene. You knock on the door and give that to Juanita. Tell her what you did and tell her you are sorry. I can see and hear you from here so don't lie. Tell her what you did, and if she wants to spank you I'll stand right here and watch that too. I did it. I was sobbing now till it was a wonder she could understand what I said. She accepted my apology, then she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. Later that evening I got hugs from my Parents and was once again assured that they loved me and wanted me to be good and honest. They talked to me a long time and they held me and Norman close. There was always that warm fuzzy feeling at the end of a transgression. But we learned our lessons well. I never have stole again and I never will. THANK YOU MAMA AND DADDY I LOVE YOU!!!

FROGS AND SNAKES

11-27-08...FROGS AND SNAKES

I am afraid of frogs. My skin just crawls and I can't breathe well If I even see one. Put one on me and I come completely unglued. So much so that I have passed out.
My Brother Brought one in the house one day and I cleared the bed in one bound. I mean I was on the other side. TRUE!!! Why you say? Well I'm'a'gonna tell ya.
When I was a kid we had to improvise a lot in our play. We played with sticks, tin cans, home made sling shots and stilts ect. We had been to Prissy Sillies house and they had a bus outside with pedals and seats. We were just amazed but knew we couldn't have one.
One day we were sitting in the yard and saw a ladder her Daddy had made. A home made ladder. It was two long boards(two by fours? I dont rightly know) but to these two boards were about eight flat planks nailed on at intervals. Wala! When you sit it up against something you could climb the ladder in to trees, the roof, the barn, the chicken roosts,ect. You get my drift. We laid the ladder down flat on the ground and sat on the planks. (our bus seats). Brenda and I took turns being the driver, who stood on the front. Paul, Norman, and the other one of us sat on the planks and called out orders to the driver. We were having a rip roarin good time. YEP! The boys tired of it quick like and left to greener pastures. Brenda's older Sister came out. Brenda was the driver and I was the rider. Tut got behind me and all at once she jumped off and ran in the house like all the demons in hell were after her. Brenda looked back at me and she hightailed it off too. What in the heck is wrong with y'all I hollered. Just bout then My Auntie ran out the door and said, Sit real still Clydene. Well now can you see me sittin' real still? Heck no! I started to get up too. Auntie got serious then. Clydene if you move I'll whip you till you can't move. Well Shoot fire Auntie, What the hecks wrong with you anyway. Auntie gave me that LOOK! You know the ones Mama's give their kids? Don't have to say a word Just that Look stopped you in your tracks. Auntie was talking real low now. She went to the side of the house and got a hoe and started toward me. Well Good Lord surely my Auntie wasn't a goin' to hit me with a hoe. Shoot fire I was still as I could be. Durn, I'm'a'thinkin' I better move, Auntie's went goofy on me. She's a gonna hit me with that hoe sure as shootin I put my hand down to get myself up and touched something so cold and slick, and I thought slimy. I started screamin. I mean I was screechin and hollerin. I felt somethin on my leg then kinda wigglin' and movin' into my lap. I looked down (and it's a good thing I did) just as Auntie brought that hoe down and slung somethin' or other out in the garden. And in my lap was the biggest ol' frog I had ever seen in my life. Sittin' there with its ugly eyes lookin up at me. I was unhinged, unglued, and cock eyed with fear. Couldn't have moved then if it had grabbed me and shook me. They said later that I was as white as a sheet and my eyes were rolling and crossin' and I fell over on my face right on top of that frog. Oh My gosh, Oh my goodness Lord help me was going through my mind though I couldnt say a word . I was petrified. Stone cold petrified. They all finally gathered round me and Auntie carried me in the house while Tut ran down to get My Mama.
Well Folks, That frog was dead. Still don't know if it died of fright from me or that big ol copperhead snake. Yep! Seems the snake was tryin' to swallow the frog and started to crawl under the ladder or over it one I can't remember. But it was comin' on up in my lap. All I saw was the frog cause' Auntie gave me THE LOOK and I froze. She slung the snake away from me and the frog got out of its mouth right there on my lap. Oh jeepers. That durn frog scared me so bad I've been scared of em since. And Brenda is as scared of snakes as I am Frogs. You say it makes more sense to be scared of snakes? For You Maybe. NOT ME!
Everyone kept trying to tell me that frog probley' saved my life cause that snake woulda bit me. But heck fire I didn't even see the snake, didn't touch the snake, didn't see the snake starin' at me either. Auntie said she just knew I was a gonna move and maybe the frog would get away and the snake would bite me. Heck she should'a known just to give me The look in the first place and I'd a never moved. I thought my Auntie was'a'gonna kill me with that hoe just cause I was moving. Everybody else moved didn't they? She never threatened to kill em with a hoe cause they moved?!!! We all laughed at that later but it was much later for me. YEP! Just don't ever put a frog on me or I'll get a hoe after you!!!!!

CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS

11-25-08...CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS

I'll bet that most memories of Christmas for most of us is warm and loving.
Mine too. I have a memory of a Christmas in 1952 that could have been very different had it not been for the Great Love and forberance of my close knit family.
My Daddy and Brenda's Daddy worked away from home in a coal mine. They left for Okla. on Sunday night and came home on Friday night. The one night of the week that we got to stay up late till Daddy got home.
We had a Christmas eve service at our little Church every year. No matter what day of the week it was we were in Church on Christmas eve. Daddy would be always home for Christmas but sometimes couldn't be there till late on Christmas Eve night. So it was left to Mama and Brenda's Mama to get to the Church. Mama had the car that week. She never was a good" driver but managed. Well what always happened when Daddy wasn't home was that Mama would take us to the car then say. I forgot something in the house. You all sit here and I'll be right back. Sit still and don't touch anything or get out. OK Mama. See What Mama was doing was rushing back to the house and laying out our presents under the tree so they would be there when we got home. Then we'd rush in and find what Santa left. Magical time, but not to be so simple this year. Nope, not with all four of us kids in the car. My auntie was at her house doing all this and would meet us at the lane and we'd all be off. Can you imagine all four of us kids sitting in the back seat together in such close quarters with no adult in sight? SURE YOU CAN!
The gear shift was in the floor between the two front seats. I climbed over the seat in to the drivers seat and pushed in the cigarette lighter which always stuck. Brenda and my brother tried to climb over at the same time and bumped heads. She pushed my Brother back down and he started crying. I reached up and slapped the heck out of Brenda and raised up on my knees to see about Norman. That was my baby brother and I was supposed to take care of him. He was 4 at the time. Brenda came on over on her head and we started squabbling in the same seat just as Her Brother Paul came over the seat too.
Somehow we knocked the car out of gear (I think Paul was sitting on the gear shift and my foot(or maybe it was Brenda's foot) hit the starter in the floor. The car lurched forward just as Mama opened the door and it knocked her down. I guess I still had my foot on the starter because it was making a terrible racket, like a calf bawling for it's Mama kinda.
I heard Mama holler, Clydene Put Your Foot on the brake. Well luckilly for all of us I knew what that was. Daddy had often held me in his lap as he drove and I picked up a few things. Yep thats how we all learned to drive back then. Right there in our Daddies laps. Dangerous? Probably but we are all still here to tell the stories. That is how we learned to survive out in the world. We were tough. Yep! Kids today are too coddled I think. My opinion. Don't jump on me for it.
Anyway back to my story. I did get the car stopped but I had to face my Mama and when I saw blood on her arm I started bellering (like that lost calf again) When I started bellering the other three started bellering just as my Auntie ran up. I tell You I was scared spitless, breathless and every other way you can be scared. Oh My Gosh, we were all scared to death. I'M OK KIDS, my Mama was saying. Auntie was saying, What in the world happened Lucille? Then she looked at us all standin' there and though she didn't really know what happened I guess it dawned on her that we kids were very heavilly involved.
We all got ourselves together. Mamas scratch only required a handkerchief with spit on it.
We got in the car and went on to Church. I was an Angel on top of the Christmas tree that year, but I sure didn't feel much like An Angel,if you get my drift. Daddy got home later that night. We had already discovered that Santa had been there but we were not allowed to touch anything till Daddy got there. Wow! This worked out pretty good> DIDN'T IT? Well not exactly. We knew we would still be in trouble, and when My Auntie showed up on Christmas Morning with Brenda and Paul in tow we knew what was coming. When Daddy Or Brenda's Daddy was home there was never any problem. They did the work inside while our Mama's waited with us in the car. Our Parents recognized this fact even if we didn't and had decided not to be too hard on us. We didn't know why for many years later but at the time we enjoyed the reprieve and was relieved for all of an hour. Yep! This was not to be so easy. An hour later Daddy went out to Start the Car and guess what? Remember that cigarette lighter that got pushed in the night before? Yep. You guessed it. The car wouldn't start. That dad blamed thing always stuck and I knew it did when I pushed it in. UH OH! Yep the battery was down. It wasn't so simple then when the battery was down. Nope sure wasn't. It had to be taken out and took to the station in town to charge. Now the crap would hit the fan for sure. If we'd'a' had a fan. The jig was up. The reprieve was over Yep, I might as well fess up. Daddy I was the one who pushed in the lighter I said, (bellering again). I got my tanning right there and knew I needed it. That is the way it was. We knew we needed the tannins' and we accepted them. We learned from them too else why would we still remember them for all these years. It was good for us in more than one way. YEP!!!! Our wonderful Parents were the very best. SURE NUFF! YEP!

CHEWING THE CUD

11-14-08...CHEWING THE CUD

I was sitting in the dining room this morning looking out at the pasture. Cows were lying down chewing their cud. I will not explain that it would take too long but probably some of you understand what I am talking about. Anyway my mind was transported back to a time when I was young and innocent. (WELL I WAS!!) Brendas Daddy had an old Jersey milk cow that we called PET. She was the most cantankerous thing I have ever seen. Like an old balking mule with a bur in its backside. There was a gate about middle way in the lane between our houses. That ol' battleax would stand there and take the chain loose and walk right out. She got in our gardens and just messed up things. Since it was usually Brenda and I who went after her we were wishing that one day she would just take on off never to be seen again. Now we weren't thinking about the butter and milk she supplied all of us. Heck no. Fartherest thing from our minds.
Well gettin' to the cud story. Pet was laying out in the pasture one day busy chewin' her cud and looking too comfortable for us. Ol' bag didn't deserve to rest now did she? Hateful ol' thing anyhow. Brendas brother Paul had gotten a Daisy BB gun that year for Christmas but it was taken away from him because he killed one of Auntie's chickens. Yep, lucky shot. We were happy about that too because he wasn't careful where he shot and my ankle was stung once by it.
Brenda Where did Auntie put Pauls BB gun? It is in Mama's closet. Why? I was thinkin' we could shoot a few BBs at ol' Pet and make her get up. Maybe she'll go on down in the pasture and we won't have to worry bout' her gettin' out. I dont know Clydene, what if we hurt her? Brenda didn't you hear Daddy and Uncle Frank talkin' about leather was made from cow hide? Yep I did Clydene but whats that got to do with it? Brenda didn't you see Paul shootin' at that ol piece of boot? That was leather and it never even made a scratch on it. Then why shoot at Pet. It wont bother her. Well shoot fire Brenda we can try! HUH OH! Wrong decision again!
Brenda went afrer the Bb gun while I asked Auntie for a drink of water. Oh we were sneaky all right. Yep!! We had about 4 bb's and we were gonna' shoot two each. Brenda lets get over there so when she gets up she wont go toward the gate. OK.
Oh My! Were we ever headed for trouble. DOUBLE TROUBLE to be exact.
I shot first and Ol Pet didn't even flinch. Well Shoot fire Brenda, lets get closer. Which we did. Brenda shot next and Ol Pet flinched a little but kept on peacefully chewing that cud. Brenda moved on up right in front of Pet and let one fly, I grabbed the BB gun outta' her hand just as Pet was gettin' up and boy was she bellerin'. Brenda it was my turn durn you. I started to put my last BB in the gun just as Ol Pet tore out right tward' the dad blamed gate. At the same time Auntie was comin' to see what Pet was bellerin' about and there I stood with the evidence. Foot, durn, heck fire. (that was the worse thing I could think to say). Brenda grabbed me by the arm with that vice grip of hers and drug me outta' the way of Ol' pet who was movin' on. ( now when did she start takin' care of me?) Don't know but I spect' we were both protective of the other at some time in our lives.
What in the world are you doin' Clydene. Brenda done it too Auntie. Of course she did, I'm not stupid, and I know what you did too. (Well why the heck did she ask if she already knew?) We didn't think it would hurt her, we were just foolin' round. But Pet was headed down the road bellerin and she stopped and lay back down. See She is Ok. No she is not Ok Auntie said. You girls made her lose her cud and she could die. Now this was gettin' serious and we were gettin' scared even though we had no Idea what it meant to lose her cud. I wont explain that either for fear of turning someones stomach. But if a cow loses her cud she is in danger of dying. We both got our butts busted and Auntie took care of Ol' Pet and she didn't die but we were sooo sorry. And isn't that what learnin' the hard way is all about? Sure nuff' it is. We were so Blessed to have the kind of Parents who allowed us to learn our lessons but to always be there to pick us up and dust us off once we learned. And of course Brenda and I were lucky that we had each other during this time. We fought like cats sometimes but our love for one another never allowed anyone else to hurt us. NOPE. Later on Our Brothers were in on our capers and helped us out of scrapes just as we did them. Don't mess with our gang. We stood togrther. Still do.
By the way I will explain about the cud and what Auntie had to do to help Pet to anyone who wants to know. Let me know OK?

DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE

11-11-08...DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE

How come I didn't realize I was gettin' old? Heck I don't rightly know.
How come someone had to be a smart elec and tell me? Heck, I sure don't know the answer to that. All I know is that some little skinny girl made sure I took the fact to heart right well. Here I've been toodlin' through life as happy as a lark. Most times feelin' just like I always did, cept' for a few more aches and pains.
I went to my Dentists office a couple of months ago to get my teeth cleaned. Now my Mama taught me to take care of my teeth well. Brush twice daily, (more if I ate candy) watch sugars, (heck we didn't have much sugary things then anyway) don't bite on ice or hard candy, just let it melt in your mouth so's as not to break your teeth. Well, You get the picture, I took care of my teeth. My problem was the discoloration that I just could not get rid of. So I had asked that little skinny whippersnapper of a girl if there was anything I could use on my teeth to whiten them. The dentist had already nixed the idea of all the whiteners that are on the market now. Well the little smart elec promptly put her little cleaner thingie in my mouth and started scraping between my teeth. She had my mouth stretched to my eyeballs and she very sweetly said::: No honey I don't know of a thing. I can see that you take good care of your teeth. The dis-coloration down around your gums is just typical in the elderly. ELDERLY! ELDERLY? What did she say. Did she call me elderly? Why I'll--- Heck I couldn't even say a word cause her blamed fist was in my mouth. Well let me tell you, I was steamin' outta the ears. Comin' undone and my head was a'gonna blow if I couldn't make my thoughts known. Couldn't she see my eyes rollin' and feel the steam comin' outta' my ears? Seems she couldn't because she went on with her little tooth lesson she was'a tryin to teach me. As you age the ensamel in your----- Ok that was it I wasn't'a listenin' now. My foot come up and connected with her shin and at the same time my teeth connected with her little skinny hand. I don't think I really meant to kick and bite, but it was a reflex action don't ya know? On the last word out of her mouth came "OWH! And a couple of words I wont repeat. Hateful little thing anyway. She jumped back and dropped her little tool bent down to rub her shin and rubbed blood from her bitten hand all over her sparklin' white pants. She was screamin' at me (not very professional) I was screamin' at her, two more people burst in the room just as that little goofy thing started to slap me. But this elderly ol' woman was faster and wiser that she was. And my temper had let off all its steam too. I wrapped my arms around her and said HONEY I'm Sorry, but you need to learn some manners. Don't ever call a 63 yr. old lady Elderly. I am aged and completely ripe. Maybe even old and matured, Just don't call me elderly. I've been here long enough to be better. I've endured, and gracefully aged and I have more sense in this little finger than you have even learned yet. You hurt my feelings because I never knew I was elderly till' you decided to tell me. Honey I believe that you are smarter than that, and should have known better so I forgive you. I don't think you will do it again. On that note I pushed past the gawkers and walked out to the reception desk to pay my bill. The Dentist came running up and said no charge, which I accepted cause' she really hadn't cleaned my teeth. He gushed and said he was soooo sorry and it wouldn't happen again. I said, Sir, I know it wont cause' I wont be back. I was still a little mad. He told me that the girl would be diciplined. I said, No Sir don't do that, I think she learned a lesson. I left. I don't know what they did but I found another Dentist. Too Harsh? Too sensitive? Maybe. Just don't call me elderly. OK? I'd hate to kick or bite you. HE HE YEP!!!

MY BABY BROTHER

11-05-08...MY BABY BROTHER

Today is my little Brothers birthday. He is 60 today but he is still my baby brother. I called him this morning as I always do and again told him all about the day he was born. I dug up a picture of him as a baby with big sister standing over him.(See below) I was happy in the picture but I sure as shootin' wasn't happy the day he was born. Nope!! Not happy at all. Daddy took Mama off to the hospital that morning and for the first time I could remember, I didn't get to go. I was madder'n'a'hornet and then some. How dare they go off without me like that. Oh I loved being at Brenda's house but not unless my Mama and Daddy were right next door. Nope, Didn't like this at all.
Daddy came home that night which gave me more cause to be difficult because Mama was not with him. Now what in the world is going on I thought. I asked Daddy where Mama was and he said, "Honey Mama is over at the hospital gettin' you a new little Brother. I'll take you to see Norman tomorrow" Well who the heck Is Norman? I dont wanna see no Norman, I wanna see my Mama. Now I can't remember just how long but I know it was several days before Mama came home. They kept a new Mother a lot longer then, and I was not allowed to go see her.
Next morning Daddy took me to the Hospital and we walked up stairs to an area where there were some windows. Daddy lifted me up and said, "There is your baby brother Norman" . "Well shoot fire Daddy I don't want no brother, lets get Mama and go home" "Baby, your Mama will come home soon and we will bring Norman with us". Well I sure wanted my Mama home but I don't want that thing there in that room. Nosireee! I'll just have to figure out a way to get rid of that thing.
The day Norman was brought home one of my Uncles took us over. Daddy disappeared inside some double doors and came out later. A nurse was pushing my Mama in a wheel chair. I ran to her and slobbered all over her. Tried to get in her lap but everyone said no, that I would hurt her. Daddy said "Look here baby, Here's your new brother". He held the thing in his arms down so I could peek under the blue blanket. "DADDY, Thats the ugliest thing I ever saw in my life, and I dont want it. Take it back in there and lets go". I was almost screaming by now. Norman didn't have a speck of hair. Besides that there were little blue dots all over his nose. (Hey, Thats what I remember! OK?) My Mama (bless her heart) said, "Come here Clydene, You can ride in this chair with me, and sit with me in the car going home. I dont remember how we got out, I do know there was no elevator and we were on the second floor, but we got out with me and my Mama in the wheel chair.
That night at home I was sitting in my little rocking chair with my doll in my lap. I was feeling so sorry for myself. There were lots of people in the room and they were all gathered around that dad-burned baby, even Brenda, the little traitor,. Mama had fed Norman in her bed and she was resting. Thats another thing that was different back then. A new Mother had to stay in bed for 5 days. I think it was 5, not sure about that. Anyway I heard my Auntie say, Oh Norman you look just like your Daddy. Hey now, wait just a minute here, Who is Normans Daddy, maybe he will come and take him home. GOOD!! "Well you've got you a boy Clyde", someone said and thats when I come unhinged. Yep completely un glued. If My daddy was Normans Daddy, just where the heck did that leave me. I mean I just started bellerin' then. I screamed out, "Now Who am I Gonna call Daddy". "You are My daddy, Not his". Mama woke up and got up and came to me, at the same time Daddy came to me. They gathered me in their arms and loved and kissed on me. Everyone in the room had a few tears in their eyes, especially my Mama and Daddy and Me. My wonderful loving Parents held me and talked to me for a long time and I never felt such a warm fuzzy safe feeling in my life. I remember that feeling till this day. I dont remember a word they said, just that feeling of great love. My Brother was brought over and Mama and Daddy helped me hold him, and that warm feeling never went away. Norman was my Pride and joy from then on. I fought his battles, still do if need be. He is different from me. I am firey and fisty. Norman is quiet, gentle, and laid back. Even when he towered over me and was strong and a man, he was still my baby Brother. Still is!! I emailed him this picture this morning, all decorated with my own sentiments. My little Brother is 60 today and I love him much. YEP

LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!

11-3-08...LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!

Dont know about Y'all but I'm sure enough ready for winter. It is my very favorite time of year. We dont get much snow here some winters so when we do It is a treat.
I was remembering one very cold winter when I was about eight yrs old. It was a very wintry like winter but still not much snow. If there was no snow we didn't get out of going to school. The school wasn't very warm then so we had to wrap up good and keep our coats and scarves on in the classroom. We didn't have water or bathrooms in the school either. We had to carry these foldup cups in our book satchels and get a drink from a big water tank at the high school gym. Well I guess you know we loved that. Getting out of the classroom and going for a drink whether we were thirsty or not. Teachers took us and we lined up for a drink then we went way down below the grade school and lined up at the outside toilet. A one seater so we wouldn't be in there visitin' and dwadlin'. At recess we were free to go to the bathroom as long as the teacher knew where we were. And thats why Brenda and I were in that old toilet when It started to snow.
We were still not supposed to be in there together, but we were. It was cold outside and at recess we wanted outside so we ran to the toilet, locked the door, and sat down on the floor. We were cross legged playing jacks. We must have used up the 15 min. recess but when someone pulled on the door I , thinking it was just someone with the need to go, said , JUST A MINUTE PLEASE. Now wasn't that polite? Well now that might have worked on one of the girls( but then probably wouldn't have) but it didn't work on Miss Hogan. Nope, sure didn't work!
Clydene you come out of there, and you too Brenda. Well how the heck did she know we were in there anyway? Who told? Just wait till I find out, just wait!!
We jumped up and started gathering up our jacks (which were mine by the way) A new set with a multicolored ball with sparkly thingies in it. Brenda bumped me and i dropped my pretty ball. It bounced a couple of times and landed right smack dab in the one hole in the room, (the toilet) Making a sickenin' sploshin' sound. BRRREEENNNDDDAAA! look what you done now! I didn't do nuthin'. Yes you did. GIRLS, Come out of there this minute, it is snowing hard and the buses are loading. Now come on right this minute!!! Whooppee, Brenda wer'a'goin' home, lets go. Unlock the door Clydene. OK. Which I proceeded to do. BUT, I couldn't get the thing to unlock! It was one of those slide locks and no one ever really locked it , they just had a friend to watch the door. The reason being that the dad burned thing was so hard to undo. Yep! Brenda help me, we will both pull on it. Pull on what? Durn it Brenda, help me pull this thing'ma'jigger' over. We tried and tried but it wouldn't budge. Miss Hogan we yelled together, we can't open it. Oh My goodness girls, what have you two done now? When this is over you are both going to get a paddling. (Miss Hogan talked real proper like don't ya know). I'll have to go get the janitor girls, I'll be right back. Let me tell you right here and now , We were panicked big time. Clydene the bus is going to leave without us, Brenda blubbered. Oh My Brenda, Miss Hogan will forget us. Oh no!! We peeked through the cracks and snow was falling fast and pilin' up on the ground. We were gettin' sooo! cold.
We sat back down on the floor and huddled close and got real morbid like. Clydene 'sniff slobber' I'm sorry I lost your ball. Oh Brenda thats ok 'sniffle' I don't need it now. Wer'a'gonna freeze to death, I love you Brenda. 'snot' sniffle' blubber'. I love you too Clydene. 'snot blubber' wipe tears. Bye Brenda! Bye Clydene. Now we were bellerin' wailin' and 'brayin' like two wounded donkeys.
Listen Brenda, is that the bus leavin'? We peeped through the cracks again and there it went. They left us!!! They really left us!!
Now we really come un-hinged. We were screamin' so loud that we didn't hear someone at the door, or hear the boards splittin' in to. or know the door flung open. Someone took us by our shoulders and gave us the biggest hug we had ever felt in our lives. We were pulled up to a warm body and let me tell you we thought we were in heaven.
We looked up in to the face of the most beautiful sight we had even seen in our lives. IT WAS MY DADDY, and he never had been so beautiful to me before. Never!!! I didn't know how my Daddy had shown up but he had and he looked like an Angel to me. I can still feel that wonderful warm fuzzy feeling right now. My Daddy, my Angel, My hero!!!
Daddy took us to the car and we were off toward home. We found out that when it started snowing Daddy had headed out to the school. He didn't trust that bus with us. Nosiree. Not my Daddy. He had pulled into the road in front of the school just as Miss Hogan started up to the High School to get the janitor. Miss Hogan told the bus driver to go on. Daddy pried the door loose with a crow bar and rescued us. When we got home we were wrapped and coddled and warmed up. Boy did that feel good.
Oh yes, we got our paddlins' at school and at home but it didn't really hurt. I suspect it wasn't supposed to hurt. Could be wrong but I dont think I am. NOPE!! Best parents that ever walked the earth. YEP! Sure nuff' were. YEP!!!