1-7-10...GRANDMA'S CROCK
Grandma had two crocks with lids. They were about three gallon containers. She used them constantly. She made buttermilk, sour pickles, churned butter, made sauerkraut. When a hog was killed and the sausage was made she cooked patties and packed them in the crock with hog grease. They kept all winter. I know there were other things she used them for but you get what I'm saying. The crock was essential to our survival it seemed.
I loved those sour pickles, and I mean they were sour. I would remove the lid and fish out a big pickle and munch on it. My mouth is puckering now just thinking of those good pickles.
But you know me. I couldn't do anything without making mischief and I almost really messed up one evening. Brenda was there and the two of us could get in messes together that would never happen with just one of us. We were not supposed to put our hands down in the crock at all. There was a slotted spoon for that. But of course we did just what we were not to do. Not being satisfied to go one at a time we both soused our arms up to our boney little elbows in those pickles. But that was not even the worst of it. We both seized on the same big pickle at the same time. Yep, no one but us could have done that. We were both stubborn too so we both hung on for all our mite. Neither of us would turn the pickle loose to take our hand out and both would not come out at the same time. We kept messing around till we turned that blasted thing over. Good Grief Brenda now you done it and I'm tellin' too. No you done it. After we carried that on for a while we finally decided that we were in for it unless we could do something fast. Well heck fire all of them didn't spill so we just picked um up and put the suckers back in the crock. Yep we did!! We set that crock up and noticed that a lot of the water spilt out too so we got some water and poured in. I saw Grandma put salt in there so we got some salt and poured a bunch in. Heck no one will ever know the difference. Ha That's what we thought. First time Grandma opened the crock there on top was sticks and all kinds of trash. She took some pickles out in a bowl and brought them in. When we had supper someone took a bite of pickle and I guess it didn't taste good. The jig was up. No use in me not telling the whole story because everyone was looking at me and I knew they knew by golly. Grandma was upset and Mamma was past upset. It was tanning the hide time. Yep I heard Grandma say to Mamma later, Well I'm just glad they didn't break the crock. I think she saved most of the pickles too. Another near disaster was in the books. Oh My Gosh!!!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
LOVE IS WEALTH
1-7-10...LOVE IS WEALTH
WEALTH IS NOT VALUEABLE
BUT LOVE IS
It is brutally cold here today. The wind is blowing 35-40 MPH and the wind chill is supposedly at a dangerous level. It is just hard to stay warm. I am thinking about the house where I grew up. Very open and airy if you get my drift. As I set here in a good tight house and I'm cold I just can't imagine the winters in that wonderful house that was my home. We had lots of love but even though the song says it does, love don't keep you warm. I remember when Norman was small he slept in the bed with Mamma and I slept in the bed with Daddy because they were afraid we couldn't stay warm. The little heater was like a drop in a bucket when it came to heat but I guess it kept us from completely freezing to death.
On cold winter nights like this one will be we all slept together. Daddy set one of the iron beds up in front of that little stove and we all slept there. I remember how warm and safe I felt. There were very cold nights when the pressure would go down or the gas would freeze up. Daddy had to watch so the stove didn't come on and gas us. I don't imagine Daddy slept much most nights.
If you left a little bit of water in a container anywhere in the house it would freeze up tight. No way did we ever step out of the bed with bare feet like I do now. We were warned by our parents to never do that. Well of course you know 'miss try it or bust me', I did it one morning and there was frost on the floor. Never did that again.
Daddy had to go out before daylight and bring in water, slop the hog, feed the horse, cow, and chickens. I cry now to think of that dear sweet man having to do that. Mamma would carry Norman on her hip and cook breakfast. I can remember seeing her shaking from the cold. Years later after Daddy was gone Mamma had a nice snug apartment with central heat and air. She would often say, "Oh how I wish you kids could have had this growing up. Or I wish Clyde was here to enjoy this. After Norman and I were out on our own they were able to make some improvements on the old house but it was still old and was never perfect. I was so happy for them and so proud that they were my Parents. I told Mamma one day when she was wishing for us, "Mamma Norman and I had the very best of everything and we didn't have any reason to want for more. The way we grew up with Daddy and you in that wonderful house that was a home made us what we are today. I wouldn't have it any different". She cried when I said that just the way I am crying right now.
WEALTH IS NOT VALUEABLE
BUT LOVE IS
It is brutally cold here today. The wind is blowing 35-40 MPH and the wind chill is supposedly at a dangerous level. It is just hard to stay warm. I am thinking about the house where I grew up. Very open and airy if you get my drift. As I set here in a good tight house and I'm cold I just can't imagine the winters in that wonderful house that was my home. We had lots of love but even though the song says it does, love don't keep you warm. I remember when Norman was small he slept in the bed with Mamma and I slept in the bed with Daddy because they were afraid we couldn't stay warm. The little heater was like a drop in a bucket when it came to heat but I guess it kept us from completely freezing to death.
On cold winter nights like this one will be we all slept together. Daddy set one of the iron beds up in front of that little stove and we all slept there. I remember how warm and safe I felt. There were very cold nights when the pressure would go down or the gas would freeze up. Daddy had to watch so the stove didn't come on and gas us. I don't imagine Daddy slept much most nights.
If you left a little bit of water in a container anywhere in the house it would freeze up tight. No way did we ever step out of the bed with bare feet like I do now. We were warned by our parents to never do that. Well of course you know 'miss try it or bust me', I did it one morning and there was frost on the floor. Never did that again.
Daddy had to go out before daylight and bring in water, slop the hog, feed the horse, cow, and chickens. I cry now to think of that dear sweet man having to do that. Mamma would carry Norman on her hip and cook breakfast. I can remember seeing her shaking from the cold. Years later after Daddy was gone Mamma had a nice snug apartment with central heat and air. She would often say, "Oh how I wish you kids could have had this growing up. Or I wish Clyde was here to enjoy this. After Norman and I were out on our own they were able to make some improvements on the old house but it was still old and was never perfect. I was so happy for them and so proud that they were my Parents. I told Mamma one day when she was wishing for us, "Mamma Norman and I had the very best of everything and we didn't have any reason to want for more. The way we grew up with Daddy and you in that wonderful house that was a home made us what we are today. I wouldn't have it any different". She cried when I said that just the way I am crying right now.
HOUSE vs HOME
1-6-10...WHAT MAKES A HOUSE A HOME
There are so many differences between a house and a home. A home has to be full of people but that's not enough. There has to be love, understanding, respect, closeness, etc.
I had a friend once who lived alone with her Mother. Her name was Pamela. She was beautiful. I was only 8 but I knew she was beautiful. Like a little China doll with clear blue eyes and beautiful curly blond hair. Pam always had money to spend at the school candy store. She had the most frilly beautiful clothes I had ever seen. And Pam had something else that was more important which was a loving spirit. Pam came home with me lots of evenings from school and spent the night, sometimes two or three nights. She loved to come to my home. I didn't really understand that because we didn't have a inside bathroom or any other of the conveniences that Pam had at her home. Pam lived in a big white house with tall pillars, a wrap around porch with big chairs and flowers all over. Her room inside that house was all pink and fluffy with stuffed animals and everything that a little girl could ever imagine wanting. Yet Pam wanted to be at my house. I was never at her home except for a few times. I didn't really understand why I wasn't invited.
One day Pam told me that she wanted me to come to her house after school. I told her that I couldn't go without asking first so I'd have to wait until the next day. Pam told me that she never had to ask, she just came when she wanted to and stayed as long as she wanted to. The next day Mamma said I could ride the school bus home with Pamela and stay a while and play but that I couldn't stay all night. She said my Daddy would come and get me before dark. I didn't really mind not getting to stay the night. The only place I wanted to stay the night was at Brenda's.
We got off the bus the next evening and walked up the lane to Pamela's house. We couldn't get in. Pamela rang the doorbell over and over then she started hollering for her Mamma to come open the door. No one came and I was scared. I told Pam that I wanted to go home. Of course it was too far to walk so I was stuck. Pam said don't worry my Mom will let us in after a while. That I didn't understand. It was cold and if Pam's Mom was in the house why did she lock Pam out.
About an hour later , which seemed a lot longer, the door was finally opened and her Mom was standing there looking terrible I thought. She was in a robe and looked like she had just gotten up. As soon as she opened the door she started cursing Pam and slapped her. She said “Pam I have told you over and over not to keep knocking on the door when it is locked”. I told her to leave Pam alone because my Daddy would be there soon and she better not be slapping her when he got there. She pushed Pam in the door and shut it in my face. It wasn't long till my Daddy got there. I ran and told him what had happened. He put me in the car and told me to stay there. He knocked on the door but no one ever came. Daddy was mad but all he could do was to keep me away from Pam's house. The law wasn't even thought of . Back then that was the way of it. The law did not interfere in family matters.
Pam didn't come to school the next day or the next. When she came back a man was with her. They got all Pam's things out of her desk and I never saw her again. I have no idea where they went or who the man was but the big fine house had a for sale sign on it soon after that.
It was years later that I figured out what might have happened but I don't know and Mamma and Daddy never would tell me if they knew.
That was when I understood that I had a warm loving home but Pam just lived in a big fine house. Quiet a difference. Yep and a good difference.
There are so many differences between a house and a home. A home has to be full of people but that's not enough. There has to be love, understanding, respect, closeness, etc.
I had a friend once who lived alone with her Mother. Her name was Pamela. She was beautiful. I was only 8 but I knew she was beautiful. Like a little China doll with clear blue eyes and beautiful curly blond hair. Pam always had money to spend at the school candy store. She had the most frilly beautiful clothes I had ever seen. And Pam had something else that was more important which was a loving spirit. Pam came home with me lots of evenings from school and spent the night, sometimes two or three nights. She loved to come to my home. I didn't really understand that because we didn't have a inside bathroom or any other of the conveniences that Pam had at her home. Pam lived in a big white house with tall pillars, a wrap around porch with big chairs and flowers all over. Her room inside that house was all pink and fluffy with stuffed animals and everything that a little girl could ever imagine wanting. Yet Pam wanted to be at my house. I was never at her home except for a few times. I didn't really understand why I wasn't invited.
One day Pam told me that she wanted me to come to her house after school. I told her that I couldn't go without asking first so I'd have to wait until the next day. Pam told me that she never had to ask, she just came when she wanted to and stayed as long as she wanted to. The next day Mamma said I could ride the school bus home with Pamela and stay a while and play but that I couldn't stay all night. She said my Daddy would come and get me before dark. I didn't really mind not getting to stay the night. The only place I wanted to stay the night was at Brenda's.
We got off the bus the next evening and walked up the lane to Pamela's house. We couldn't get in. Pamela rang the doorbell over and over then she started hollering for her Mamma to come open the door. No one came and I was scared. I told Pam that I wanted to go home. Of course it was too far to walk so I was stuck. Pam said don't worry my Mom will let us in after a while. That I didn't understand. It was cold and if Pam's Mom was in the house why did she lock Pam out.
About an hour later , which seemed a lot longer, the door was finally opened and her Mom was standing there looking terrible I thought. She was in a robe and looked like she had just gotten up. As soon as she opened the door she started cursing Pam and slapped her. She said “Pam I have told you over and over not to keep knocking on the door when it is locked”. I told her to leave Pam alone because my Daddy would be there soon and she better not be slapping her when he got there. She pushed Pam in the door and shut it in my face. It wasn't long till my Daddy got there. I ran and told him what had happened. He put me in the car and told me to stay there. He knocked on the door but no one ever came. Daddy was mad but all he could do was to keep me away from Pam's house. The law wasn't even thought of . Back then that was the way of it. The law did not interfere in family matters.
Pam didn't come to school the next day or the next. When she came back a man was with her. They got all Pam's things out of her desk and I never saw her again. I have no idea where they went or who the man was but the big fine house had a for sale sign on it soon after that.
It was years later that I figured out what might have happened but I don't know and Mamma and Daddy never would tell me if they knew.
That was when I understood that I had a warm loving home but Pam just lived in a big fine house. Quiet a difference. Yep and a good difference.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
DAD BLAMED BIG TOE
1-5-10...DAD BLAMED BIG TOE
Well by golly I thought I'd lost my touch but today showed me I had not. My touch at being a klutz is what I'm talking about. Good Grief I have been a total disaster today. I guess I should have not gotten up because I sure didn't want to.
During the night I kept bumping my big toe and it was sore as heck. Now what I thought, is my big toe gonna fall off. Well I wouldn't doubt it!! I can't see my toes anymore so there might be a dad blamed leech hangin' on it and I'd never know. When I got up this morning I went stumblin' and shufflin' through the house as usual and stumped my sore toe on something. I'm tellin' you right now I almost let my tongue slip. I was thinking Well I do stump my toes a lot.
I got in the bathroom and sat down on the pot but I couldn't get my foot up so I could see my toe over my belly. In that process I hit it on the vanity cabinet. OUCH! I had to bite my tongue this time. I could just catch a glimpse of that toe. I can get my left leg up a little farther than the right one so why in the heck wasn't it the one that was sore. Good Grief!! I got in every position imaginable but no way. I thought well just forget that. It can't stay sore forever. I started out to the Kitchen to get my first cup of coffee. Now have you ever started to open a door and get your toe under it? I did by golly, and hit my head on that door too. Well if this keeps up the only way I'm going to be able to control my tongue is to cut the dang thing out. That durn toe was sure feelin' funny now I thought. Wonder if the thing is even still there, maybe I ought to shine my flash light around and see if it's laying somewhere. Now I finally figure out that after I turned the bathroom light off I shoulda' turned the flashlight ON, cause Don left his dad blamed shoe in the middle of the floor and you know what happened. If you don't GOOD, I aint gonna tell. Got my coffee and got out to my recliner, took my slippers off, put my recliner up, shined the flashlight on my toe, “OH MY GOSH, That's the ugliest toe I ever saw in my life. The toenail was cracked and jagged, and had been bleeding. I've got a blamed ingrown toenail I do believe. I remembered having them from stumping my toes so much when I was a kid and knew what had to be done. I gotta soak my foot in warm salt water to soften it so somehow I can get that toenail outta my durn toe. I went back in the bathroom, got a plastic pan, fixed up my water, and soused my foot in there. “OwwEe. Couldn't control that flappin' tongue that time, Nope couldn't do it. I soaked it till the water was cooled off, put some cortisone cream in the end of a sock and stashed that foot in the sock. Now I thought that was genius because I couldn't get my foot up high enough to put the cream on the toe. I wore that sock all day and when I took a shower a while ago it didn't seem sore. I put another cortisone packed sock on and I'm gonna sleep in that. Maybe it wasn't an ingrown toenail but just a too often stumped toe. I need to get over to Carol Ann's and get a complete working over any way. She will check my toes then. Till then I gotta quit stumping my toes. YEP!!!
Well by golly I thought I'd lost my touch but today showed me I had not. My touch at being a klutz is what I'm talking about. Good Grief I have been a total disaster today. I guess I should have not gotten up because I sure didn't want to.
During the night I kept bumping my big toe and it was sore as heck. Now what I thought, is my big toe gonna fall off. Well I wouldn't doubt it!! I can't see my toes anymore so there might be a dad blamed leech hangin' on it and I'd never know. When I got up this morning I went stumblin' and shufflin' through the house as usual and stumped my sore toe on something. I'm tellin' you right now I almost let my tongue slip. I was thinking Well I do stump my toes a lot.
I got in the bathroom and sat down on the pot but I couldn't get my foot up so I could see my toe over my belly. In that process I hit it on the vanity cabinet. OUCH! I had to bite my tongue this time. I could just catch a glimpse of that toe. I can get my left leg up a little farther than the right one so why in the heck wasn't it the one that was sore. Good Grief!! I got in every position imaginable but no way. I thought well just forget that. It can't stay sore forever. I started out to the Kitchen to get my first cup of coffee. Now have you ever started to open a door and get your toe under it? I did by golly, and hit my head on that door too. Well if this keeps up the only way I'm going to be able to control my tongue is to cut the dang thing out. That durn toe was sure feelin' funny now I thought. Wonder if the thing is even still there, maybe I ought to shine my flash light around and see if it's laying somewhere. Now I finally figure out that after I turned the bathroom light off I shoulda' turned the flashlight ON, cause Don left his dad blamed shoe in the middle of the floor and you know what happened. If you don't GOOD, I aint gonna tell. Got my coffee and got out to my recliner, took my slippers off, put my recliner up, shined the flashlight on my toe, “OH MY GOSH, That's the ugliest toe I ever saw in my life. The toenail was cracked and jagged, and had been bleeding. I've got a blamed ingrown toenail I do believe. I remembered having them from stumping my toes so much when I was a kid and knew what had to be done. I gotta soak my foot in warm salt water to soften it so somehow I can get that toenail outta my durn toe. I went back in the bathroom, got a plastic pan, fixed up my water, and soused my foot in there. “OwwEe. Couldn't control that flappin' tongue that time, Nope couldn't do it. I soaked it till the water was cooled off, put some cortisone cream in the end of a sock and stashed that foot in the sock. Now I thought that was genius because I couldn't get my foot up high enough to put the cream on the toe. I wore that sock all day and when I took a shower a while ago it didn't seem sore. I put another cortisone packed sock on and I'm gonna sleep in that. Maybe it wasn't an ingrown toenail but just a too often stumped toe. I need to get over to Carol Ann's and get a complete working over any way. She will check my toes then. Till then I gotta quit stumping my toes. YEP!!!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Grandma Made The Covers
1-3-10...Grandma Made The Covers
Grandma made the quilts that covered us each night.
She sewed the pieces together with needle thread & might.
She made the feather bed where we lay our selves down
The pillows stuffed with feathers, were passed all around.
We were tucked in and covered, clear up to our nose
till' we looked like a cocoon from our head down to our toes.
We slept warm and snug in that ol' cast iron bed, with springs
that would squeak every time you moved your head.
Many quilts were piled high, hot bricks for your toes.
Some Vicks upon your chest, your back and your nose.
You'd lie there warm as toast, till nature would kick in,
Unwrapped you would be then do it all again.
There were so many quilts that if you moved and squirmed
you'd be liable to get tangled at least until you learned.
But the very worst thing I think that you could do
would be to turn over with so many covers on you.
One night I flopped and flounced moving all about
lifting up those covers and that's when I found out.
When you are weighted down with covers and you try to move,
your like to wind up on the cold floor with them on top of you!!!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
THE VALENTINE CARD
12-30-09...THE VALENTINE CARD
My Best Valentines Day
Oh my how we kids looked forward to Valentines Day in school. On the Friday before the big day we all got to have a party in our room and we could give and receive valentines. Each teacher would get a big box and decorate it real pretty, cut a slot in the top and we got to drop our cards in when we got to school that morning. In younger grades Mothers mostly got the cards ready for us and we never thought much about it except we were having a 'party' on a school day.
I think my third year was the one where I wanted to make my own cards out. I was starting to 'claim' (what we called it) a little boy in my class. Cutest little guy you ever laid eyes on with the sweetest smile you ever saw. Why By George my little 8 yr. Old heart fluttered every time I saw him. Trouble was all the girls in the class had the same crush on him.
I was determined that year that my Valentine to him was going to be the best Valentine he had ever received in his life. The prettiest, the most colorful, most glittering card in the store. Yep I was going to be the girl to win his heart all right. I was sure of it.
I got my bubble burst though when Mamma told me I needed to make my Valentines this year. “Clydene I'm sorry but we just couldn't buy them. We don't have enough money this year”. Oh My Gosh, I just knew my life was ruined. “Mamma I can't take home made cards to school” I wailed. “Clydene I know how you feel but it can't be helped and I said I'm sorry. Your Daddy is sorry too. Don't make him feel worse than he does about it”. That did it. I would never want to do anything to hurt my Mamma and Daddy. I just decided I wouldn't go to school that day, I'd say I was sick. Mamma saw through that one fast and another bubble broke. Mamma had gotten some red paper somewhere. I think it was on a Christmas package someone gave us. It was all shiny and beautiful. I sure wasn't very keen on the idea but I went along hoping that somehow I'd get out of having to take those cards to school. I didn't want to disappoint Mamma so I decided to just go ahead and do the best I could. With Mamma's help we cut out red hearts from the pretty paper. Daddy could take white paper and scissors an cut pretty things like magic. He'd fold the paper, make a few slits and there you go, snowflakes. I had some school glue in my book satchel. Daddy made some figures standing in a row with his magic scissors. We cut them apart and glued one on each valentine and I wrote the name of my classmate on that. We glued the snowflakes on, and I think some other stickers my Brother who was 4 got to stick on. Don't know where Mamma got those. I was beginning to feel better about my Valentines.
On the big day I proudly dropped my cards in the pretty box and waited. I can't remember how they were handed out but they were. I was looking around for someone to open mine. Someone said, “This aint no valentine Miss Hogan”. Oh no I thought, Oh My no. I wanted to get up and run away.
Miss Hogan went and took the home made valentine and said, “Why this is the most beautiful card I've ever seen Clydene. Class look, Clydene made this all by herself. Isn't it pretty”. She held it up to the light and indeed it was pretty. Everyone started ohhing and awing, and I was on Cloud nine for a while. What made it even better was the fact that the teacher announced that we would all make our cards next year, and “Now kids wont that be fun”? Oh yeaw oh boy yes it will.
That is the Valentines Day I remember most in my life, when a home made card that my whole little family was in on making was the hit of the day. (Thanks to Miss Hogan)
My Best Valentines Day
Oh my how we kids looked forward to Valentines Day in school. On the Friday before the big day we all got to have a party in our room and we could give and receive valentines. Each teacher would get a big box and decorate it real pretty, cut a slot in the top and we got to drop our cards in when we got to school that morning. In younger grades Mothers mostly got the cards ready for us and we never thought much about it except we were having a 'party' on a school day.
I think my third year was the one where I wanted to make my own cards out. I was starting to 'claim' (what we called it) a little boy in my class. Cutest little guy you ever laid eyes on with the sweetest smile you ever saw. Why By George my little 8 yr. Old heart fluttered every time I saw him. Trouble was all the girls in the class had the same crush on him.
I was determined that year that my Valentine to him was going to be the best Valentine he had ever received in his life. The prettiest, the most colorful, most glittering card in the store. Yep I was going to be the girl to win his heart all right. I was sure of it.
I got my bubble burst though when Mamma told me I needed to make my Valentines this year. “Clydene I'm sorry but we just couldn't buy them. We don't have enough money this year”. Oh My Gosh, I just knew my life was ruined. “Mamma I can't take home made cards to school” I wailed. “Clydene I know how you feel but it can't be helped and I said I'm sorry. Your Daddy is sorry too. Don't make him feel worse than he does about it”. That did it. I would never want to do anything to hurt my Mamma and Daddy. I just decided I wouldn't go to school that day, I'd say I was sick. Mamma saw through that one fast and another bubble broke. Mamma had gotten some red paper somewhere. I think it was on a Christmas package someone gave us. It was all shiny and beautiful. I sure wasn't very keen on the idea but I went along hoping that somehow I'd get out of having to take those cards to school. I didn't want to disappoint Mamma so I decided to just go ahead and do the best I could. With Mamma's help we cut out red hearts from the pretty paper. Daddy could take white paper and scissors an cut pretty things like magic. He'd fold the paper, make a few slits and there you go, snowflakes. I had some school glue in my book satchel. Daddy made some figures standing in a row with his magic scissors. We cut them apart and glued one on each valentine and I wrote the name of my classmate on that. We glued the snowflakes on, and I think some other stickers my Brother who was 4 got to stick on. Don't know where Mamma got those. I was beginning to feel better about my Valentines.
On the big day I proudly dropped my cards in the pretty box and waited. I can't remember how they were handed out but they were. I was looking around for someone to open mine. Someone said, “This aint no valentine Miss Hogan”. Oh no I thought, Oh My no. I wanted to get up and run away.
Miss Hogan went and took the home made valentine and said, “Why this is the most beautiful card I've ever seen Clydene. Class look, Clydene made this all by herself. Isn't it pretty”. She held it up to the light and indeed it was pretty. Everyone started ohhing and awing, and I was on Cloud nine for a while. What made it even better was the fact that the teacher announced that we would all make our cards next year, and “Now kids wont that be fun”? Oh yeaw oh boy yes it will.
That is the Valentines Day I remember most in my life, when a home made card that my whole little family was in on making was the hit of the day. (Thanks to Miss Hogan)
A TRIBUTE
12-29-09...A TRIBUTE
A tribute to Miss Whitley
and other barren women
She gathered up her partners
and down the road they trod.
Their bare feet gliding smoothly,
ore' tough terrain and sod.
No certain destination,
was even in our mind.
We just took off together,
Yep! Had plenty of time.
We anticipated our first stop,
Twas just around the bend,
and up on the next lane,
the house there on the end.
Where was a sweet old lady,
she was alone and sad,
And her lot was not to be blessed,
with kids like others had.
We knew that when we stopped there,
she'd always say “Come on in”.
And through that summer long,
we went and went again.
She served us cake and kool aide,
she called it evening tea,
Her face would light with smile
as she served my friends and me.
She claimed us all as her kid'o's
and when we'd start to go,
she'd say “now don't y'all forget me”,
we'd say “oh my no”.
That school year brought new wonders,
and I'm ashamed to say,
we forgot about that dear lady,
and when I got home one day.
Mamma told me that our friend, had quietly passed away.
We all trouped in to say good by,
when they laid her to her rest.
And vowed to her we'd never never again,
forget her, she was the best.
I still think of her often,
though more than 50 years have passed.
And now in my later years,
I can feel her pain,
when her little troupe of kid'o's.
Left to never come again.
Clydene (Thomas) Overbey
A tribute to Miss Whitley
and other barren women
She gathered up her partners
and down the road they trod.
Their bare feet gliding smoothly,
ore' tough terrain and sod.
No certain destination,
was even in our mind.
We just took off together,
Yep! Had plenty of time.
We anticipated our first stop,
Twas just around the bend,
and up on the next lane,
the house there on the end.
Where was a sweet old lady,
she was alone and sad,
And her lot was not to be blessed,
with kids like others had.
We knew that when we stopped there,
she'd always say “Come on in”.
And through that summer long,
we went and went again.
She served us cake and kool aide,
she called it evening tea,
Her face would light with smile
as she served my friends and me.
She claimed us all as her kid'o's
and when we'd start to go,
she'd say “now don't y'all forget me”,
we'd say “oh my no”.
That school year brought new wonders,
and I'm ashamed to say,
we forgot about that dear lady,
and when I got home one day.
Mamma told me that our friend, had quietly passed away.
We all trouped in to say good by,
when they laid her to her rest.
And vowed to her we'd never never again,
forget her, she was the best.
I still think of her often,
though more than 50 years have passed.
And now in my later years,
I can feel her pain,
when her little troupe of kid'o's.
Left to never come again.
Clydene (Thomas) Overbey
Sunday, December 27, 2009
THE AGE GAME
12-27-09...THE AGE GAME
When I was 12 I just couldn't wait to be a teenager. I thought I would really be something then. In my teen years I found out it wasn't as great as I had thought so I started looking forward to 21. Now that's when things will really get good I thought. Lo and behold when I turned 21 I discovered that this was not good at all. I had more responsibilities and things were not near as easy as I thought they were gonna' be.
After my 20's I started thinking that things just had to get better in my 30's. I'd known people in their 30's and they seemed to have everything. A home and a family. Yep that's when things get better, has to be.
On my 30'Th birthday I turned in to a blubbering, squalling mess. Oh my goodness my life was half over and what in the world had I done but wish for the next decade to come. I called everyone who would listen and blubbered and snotted but got nary a bit of sympathy. Now I was really in to living and I didn't know how yet.
Then came the fourties. I just seemed to muddle through those fourties by the skin of my teeth. Some bad things had, and did happen to me in my fourties that made me long to have my teens back.
In my fifties I blubberd and bawled a lot again. Heck fire my life was really half gone and then some. But I had learned a lot. I had born a lot, and I was still there. I had stood my ground never letting life get me down. Oh I got down but I had learned how to get up and go again.
Now in my 60's I look back and know that I would never want to live any decade of my life over. I've got now and that's all I expect. In just five years I'm gonna enter my 70's. ,Lord Willing ,and I don't even wonder what the 70's are going to bring for me. Sometimes I do wonder if I will get to see my 70's, 80's, 9o's etc. but I don't worry about it or wish for it to hurry and get here. Each decade of my life so far has had up's and down's, heartbreak, and joy. Not one of them has out done me. I'm still going. Isn't it a shame that it took me so long to come to that conclusion? Life has a way of teaching us what is important and what is not. My age don't mean a hill of beans when all is said and done. The only thing I'd wish for now is to be remembered fondly. I Pray I will be able to leave a good legacy behind and that I have made someone else's life a little better. YEP!!!
When I was 12 I just couldn't wait to be a teenager. I thought I would really be something then. In my teen years I found out it wasn't as great as I had thought so I started looking forward to 21. Now that's when things will really get good I thought. Lo and behold when I turned 21 I discovered that this was not good at all. I had more responsibilities and things were not near as easy as I thought they were gonna' be.
After my 20's I started thinking that things just had to get better in my 30's. I'd known people in their 30's and they seemed to have everything. A home and a family. Yep that's when things get better, has to be.
On my 30'Th birthday I turned in to a blubbering, squalling mess. Oh my goodness my life was half over and what in the world had I done but wish for the next decade to come. I called everyone who would listen and blubbered and snotted but got nary a bit of sympathy. Now I was really in to living and I didn't know how yet.
Then came the fourties. I just seemed to muddle through those fourties by the skin of my teeth. Some bad things had, and did happen to me in my fourties that made me long to have my teens back.
In my fifties I blubberd and bawled a lot again. Heck fire my life was really half gone and then some. But I had learned a lot. I had born a lot, and I was still there. I had stood my ground never letting life get me down. Oh I got down but I had learned how to get up and go again.
Now in my 60's I look back and know that I would never want to live any decade of my life over. I've got now and that's all I expect. In just five years I'm gonna enter my 70's. ,Lord Willing ,and I don't even wonder what the 70's are going to bring for me. Sometimes I do wonder if I will get to see my 70's, 80's, 9o's etc. but I don't worry about it or wish for it to hurry and get here. Each decade of my life so far has had up's and down's, heartbreak, and joy. Not one of them has out done me. I'm still going. Isn't it a shame that it took me so long to come to that conclusion? Life has a way of teaching us what is important and what is not. My age don't mean a hill of beans when all is said and done. The only thing I'd wish for now is to be remembered fondly. I Pray I will be able to leave a good legacy behind and that I have made someone else's life a little better. YEP!!!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
ROY FAY SNIDER
12-24-09...ROY FAY SNIDER
Roy Fay was his name. Most towns have a Roy Fay but very few towns takes care of him the way Altus did. From as far as I can remember Roy Fay was a permanent fixture in Altus.
Roy Fay had always been homeless as far as I knew. He lived on the streets of Altus and pilfered food out of the stores garbage. Once he got hold of some spoiled bologna and cheese that Seamans Store had thrown out. Someone found him on the street near death from food poisoning. The Dr of the little town took him in his hospital and pumped his stomach out saving his life. Doc was a man who would say anything that popped in his head. After Roy Fay recovered Doc told him he had "cheese fever and bologna fits". That stuck with Roy Fay and from then on if he heard anyone was sick he would declare they had "cheese fever & bologna fits". Everyone had that malady if Roy Fay knew they were sick.
Roy Fay could spell one thing SPE- Double E. I don't know where he got that, someone probably had said that to him and it stuck. Every word that had been invented was spelled, SPE-Double E.
Roy Fay would declare to anyone who would listen, I'm getting' married next Tuesday". Yep in his mind he was getting' married next Tuesday, aside from the fact that his future wife was non existent.
Roy Fay was fascinated with ambulances hearing them often. He would say there had been a bad wreck in Russelville.
He had a wagon that was pulled by a a very large horse named Tony and a smaller mule named Judy. He used them to plow gardens for a lot of people. He charged a 'hunnert' dollars to plow your garden. No one ever cheated him. They paid him well. To have cheated him would have made you not very popular for miles around, indeed so unpopular to be a candidate for a tar and feather episode.
Shortly after the food poisoning the Harbottle family took Roy Fay in and he lived there until both Mr and Mrs. Harbottle both passed away. After that a group was formed called friends of Roy Fay who cared for him.
When I was 18 I went to work in Pillstrom Nursing Home (formerly Pillstrom Hospital). I worked on the 3/11 shift. I had to put all the patients to bed after supper. I weighed about 100 lbs. Roy Fay came every evening with a bucket to pick up the scraps for his hogs I think. He also got to eat. We had our supper together and then that dear man would go and put the biggest one to bed for me. He would just pick them up like you would a baby and lay them in bed. He was a life saver to me. The Administrator was a family friend and she hired me but she told my Mamma that she didn't think I'd ever be able to do it. Well when Mamma told me that I made it my business to prove her wrong. Without Roy Fay I would never have made it.
I remember Roy Fay fondly and I'm not the only one. Lots of people loved Roy Fay.
Roy Fay was his name. Most towns have a Roy Fay but very few towns takes care of him the way Altus did. From as far as I can remember Roy Fay was a permanent fixture in Altus.
Roy Fay had always been homeless as far as I knew. He lived on the streets of Altus and pilfered food out of the stores garbage. Once he got hold of some spoiled bologna and cheese that Seamans Store had thrown out. Someone found him on the street near death from food poisoning. The Dr of the little town took him in his hospital and pumped his stomach out saving his life. Doc was a man who would say anything that popped in his head. After Roy Fay recovered Doc told him he had "cheese fever and bologna fits". That stuck with Roy Fay and from then on if he heard anyone was sick he would declare they had "cheese fever & bologna fits". Everyone had that malady if Roy Fay knew they were sick.
Roy Fay could spell one thing SPE- Double E. I don't know where he got that, someone probably had said that to him and it stuck. Every word that had been invented was spelled, SPE-Double E.
Roy Fay would declare to anyone who would listen, I'm getting' married next Tuesday". Yep in his mind he was getting' married next Tuesday, aside from the fact that his future wife was non existent.
Roy Fay was fascinated with ambulances hearing them often. He would say there had been a bad wreck in Russelville.
He had a wagon that was pulled by a a very large horse named Tony and a smaller mule named Judy. He used them to plow gardens for a lot of people. He charged a 'hunnert' dollars to plow your garden. No one ever cheated him. They paid him well. To have cheated him would have made you not very popular for miles around, indeed so unpopular to be a candidate for a tar and feather episode.
Shortly after the food poisoning the Harbottle family took Roy Fay in and he lived there until both Mr and Mrs. Harbottle both passed away. After that a group was formed called friends of Roy Fay who cared for him.
When I was 18 I went to work in Pillstrom Nursing Home (formerly Pillstrom Hospital). I worked on the 3/11 shift. I had to put all the patients to bed after supper. I weighed about 100 lbs. Roy Fay came every evening with a bucket to pick up the scraps for his hogs I think. He also got to eat. We had our supper together and then that dear man would go and put the biggest one to bed for me. He would just pick them up like you would a baby and lay them in bed. He was a life saver to me. The Administrator was a family friend and she hired me but she told my Mamma that she didn't think I'd ever be able to do it. Well when Mamma told me that I made it my business to prove her wrong. Without Roy Fay I would never have made it.
I remember Roy Fay fondly and I'm not the only one. Lots of people loved Roy Fay.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
WATCH YOUR TONGUE FOR BUMPS
12-23-09...WATCH YOUR TONGUE
Grandma had a lot of little pearls of wisdom that she shared with me whether I wanted them or not. Mostly not!
She would say,”It's just as easy to marry a rich man as it is to marry a poor one”. Or “If you swallow vinegar you'll spew out honey”. HUH?
“Watch out your face is liable to freeze that way”. “When you have a bump on the end of your tongue that means you've told a lie”. Now that one gave me cause for worry. When I would actually get a bump on my tongue I'd start trying to figure out what lie I had told. I figured I was caught for sure.
My Parents seemed to be able to see through me. I could never hide a thing from them. But Boy Howdy did I try sometimes. Seemed I was an expert at getting in to something and getting my “tail in a spin” (another of Grandma's sayings.)
One day I guess I didn't have anything better to do so I decided to get in to something. I had to think on it for a spell but I came up with something. I was going to hide something from my Mamma and have fun when she missed it. But What could I hide? Let's see, Hmm?
I decided her hand mirror was the thing she would be looking for. I took the mirror off her dresser and ran in my bedroom to find a spot to hide it. I put the mirror under my mattress and went about my business. Later I guess I had forgotten all about it because I sat down on the side of my bed and heard, snap, crackle, pop. There was no such thing as that cereal that did that then so I knew it was Mamma's mirror Oh My Gosh, Oh My Goodness, What am I gonna' do now. I'm in big trouble this time. My little joke had gotten out of hand fast. YEP!! I thought I would take the mirror back and put it on Mamma's dresser and just act like I didn't know a thing about it. Well it was broken worse than I thought it was so when I picked it out from under the mattress glass flew in all directions. I cut my finger on a piece, stepped on a piece and cut my foot. I took what was left and did succeed in laying it out on the dresser, and I got out of there fast. I never thought about the blood I was leaving behind. Well Mamma saw that blood before she saw the mirror. ( I THOUGHT SHE DID). “Clydene how did you cut yourself?” “Heck I don't know Mamma, musta, stepped on some glass”. “Well if that's the case then you had it in your hand because it is cut too.” “Yep, That must be what happened all right”. “Well Clydene, was it the mirror on my dresser that you cut yourself on”. “Heck no Mamma, I never touched that old mirror. I don't know how it got broke”. “How did you know the mirror was broke Clydene”? Well for Heavens sake, How in the world did she do that? She had me backed in to a corner with no escape. Now I swear guys, That darn bump wasn't on the end of my tongue before. But There that sucker was now as big as you please ready to tell on me. The jig was up, my butt was on fire, and I was sooo mad at Grandma for thinking up that bump thing in the first place. Good Grief. Can't do nothing without everyone knowing it around here!!! Heck Fire anyway. YEP!!!
Grandma had a lot of little pearls of wisdom that she shared with me whether I wanted them or not. Mostly not!
She would say,”It's just as easy to marry a rich man as it is to marry a poor one”. Or “If you swallow vinegar you'll spew out honey”. HUH?
“Watch out your face is liable to freeze that way”. “When you have a bump on the end of your tongue that means you've told a lie”. Now that one gave me cause for worry. When I would actually get a bump on my tongue I'd start trying to figure out what lie I had told. I figured I was caught for sure.
My Parents seemed to be able to see through me. I could never hide a thing from them. But Boy Howdy did I try sometimes. Seemed I was an expert at getting in to something and getting my “tail in a spin” (another of Grandma's sayings.)
One day I guess I didn't have anything better to do so I decided to get in to something. I had to think on it for a spell but I came up with something. I was going to hide something from my Mamma and have fun when she missed it. But What could I hide? Let's see, Hmm?
I decided her hand mirror was the thing she would be looking for. I took the mirror off her dresser and ran in my bedroom to find a spot to hide it. I put the mirror under my mattress and went about my business. Later I guess I had forgotten all about it because I sat down on the side of my bed and heard, snap, crackle, pop. There was no such thing as that cereal that did that then so I knew it was Mamma's mirror Oh My Gosh, Oh My Goodness, What am I gonna' do now. I'm in big trouble this time. My little joke had gotten out of hand fast. YEP!! I thought I would take the mirror back and put it on Mamma's dresser and just act like I didn't know a thing about it. Well it was broken worse than I thought it was so when I picked it out from under the mattress glass flew in all directions. I cut my finger on a piece, stepped on a piece and cut my foot. I took what was left and did succeed in laying it out on the dresser, and I got out of there fast. I never thought about the blood I was leaving behind. Well Mamma saw that blood before she saw the mirror. ( I THOUGHT SHE DID). “Clydene how did you cut yourself?” “Heck I don't know Mamma, musta, stepped on some glass”. “Well if that's the case then you had it in your hand because it is cut too.” “Yep, That must be what happened all right”. “Well Clydene, was it the mirror on my dresser that you cut yourself on”. “Heck no Mamma, I never touched that old mirror. I don't know how it got broke”. “How did you know the mirror was broke Clydene”? Well for Heavens sake, How in the world did she do that? She had me backed in to a corner with no escape. Now I swear guys, That darn bump wasn't on the end of my tongue before. But There that sucker was now as big as you please ready to tell on me. The jig was up, my butt was on fire, and I was sooo mad at Grandma for thinking up that bump thing in the first place. Good Grief. Can't do nothing without everyone knowing it around here!!! Heck Fire anyway. YEP!!!
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
12-23-09...DOWN BUT NOT OUT
I wrote this for a couple of teenagers whom I had the bad luck of running in to in Wal Mart one day only about three months ago. My mind is slow and I had forgotten this until I saw a show on TV about out of control teens this morning.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
I'm sixty five, I'm over the Hill.
I've lived a lot, got more to go still.
I'm made from good stock, been there done that.
When it comes to life, I know bout' that.
So young person, when you look at me
you see wrinkles, it's laugh lines to me.
I may sag and bag here and there,
and aches and pains I've had my share.
My eyes are bad but I can still see,
just exactly what you think of me.
When I'm in a line ahead of you,
I hear your sighs when I'm slow to get through.
I see you young man when you roll your eyes,
I know what you're thinking, cause you see I'm wise.
My shoulders may be stooped , I may puff and groan.
My steps may shuffle as I go along.
As you go through life at your fast pace my dears,
Never knowing me, never seeing my tears.
You might break my heart but you can't break my will.
I've been here a while, will be a while still.
Clydene Thomas Overbey
12/23/09
DON'T LOOK DOWN YOUR NOSE
12-22-09...DON'T LOOK DOWN YOUR NOSE
“I might look crazy but I aint no fool.” That was a line I had in our Junior play. That just reminds me of how someone can get too big for their britches fast. It never ceases to amaze me the self worth some people can put on their selves. Daddy used to say their noses were so high in the air that they would drown if it rained.
When I moved to Idaho I got a job as Food Service supervisor in a Nursing home. I had the credentials, I had the diploma, I had everything except the right home state. My accent was a source of humor to them. I had to learn what they ate in that place before I could write the Menues. One Big headed nurse set out right away to throw me off. She didn't want to have to cooperate with me because she thought I was a stupid hillbilly with beans for a brain.
She just couldn't get used to me being in charge of the kitchen and having authority over her in Food Service. She was always trying to get me in a tight that I couldn't get out of. No Way Sister you've messed with the wrong one now. I caught her holding an old ladies nose one day to make her swallow her food. I said, “Betty you could strangle her to death doing that.” She looked at me and said, “Why don't you go back to Arkansas where you belong”. Now guys My head steamed up till I thought it would pop. It wasn't what she said that had me disturbed, but what she was doing. I was not going to let her strangle an old woman to death. I said, “Betty if you don't take your hands off that lady I'll take it off”. She paid no attention to me. I'm so glad that someone else had gone to get the supervisor and she showed up right then because I would have taken her away from that lady or have died trying. She was fired on the spot. I was not proud of myself or happy that Betty lost her job but it just goes to show you that the mightiest always fall the hardest.
I don't mind someone laughing with me. But when some big nosed bitty starts making fun of me and laughing at me I don't like it. And isn't it just the way of things. She was trying to get rid of me because she thought I was stupid and she was the one who had to go. YEP!!!
“I might look crazy but I aint no fool.” That was a line I had in our Junior play. That just reminds me of how someone can get too big for their britches fast. It never ceases to amaze me the self worth some people can put on their selves. Daddy used to say their noses were so high in the air that they would drown if it rained.
When I moved to Idaho I got a job as Food Service supervisor in a Nursing home. I had the credentials, I had the diploma, I had everything except the right home state. My accent was a source of humor to them. I had to learn what they ate in that place before I could write the Menues. One Big headed nurse set out right away to throw me off. She didn't want to have to cooperate with me because she thought I was a stupid hillbilly with beans for a brain.
She just couldn't get used to me being in charge of the kitchen and having authority over her in Food Service. She was always trying to get me in a tight that I couldn't get out of. No Way Sister you've messed with the wrong one now. I caught her holding an old ladies nose one day to make her swallow her food. I said, “Betty you could strangle her to death doing that.” She looked at me and said, “Why don't you go back to Arkansas where you belong”. Now guys My head steamed up till I thought it would pop. It wasn't what she said that had me disturbed, but what she was doing. I was not going to let her strangle an old woman to death. I said, “Betty if you don't take your hands off that lady I'll take it off”. She paid no attention to me. I'm so glad that someone else had gone to get the supervisor and she showed up right then because I would have taken her away from that lady or have died trying. She was fired on the spot. I was not proud of myself or happy that Betty lost her job but it just goes to show you that the mightiest always fall the hardest.
I don't mind someone laughing with me. But when some big nosed bitty starts making fun of me and laughing at me I don't like it. And isn't it just the way of things. She was trying to get rid of me because she thought I was stupid and she was the one who had to go. YEP!!!
THEY OUTTA BE ASHAMED
12-22-09...THEY OUTTA BE ASHAMED!!!
I was in a store a while back and saw something that I never would have seen in my time. There was this Mother with her two kids. The Mother looked like she was about ready to pull her hair out. She was not dressed in the finest but her two teenage daughters were. What made me want to pull some of their hair out was the way those smart elec girls were treating their little Mother.
In the first place they were ashamed of their Mother and they let her, and everyone else around them, know it. Every time she said something to them they would roll their painted eyes and look at her like she didn't have a lick of sense. They were correcting her grammar and giggling about it.
There was something they wanted to buy and each wanted one. The Mother didn't have the foggiest idea what the thing was. (I didn't either) She was trying to tell them that they could get one and share because she couldn't afford two of them. She was near tears and they were tearing in to her like snakes with their venomous words. “ Oh My God I hate having an old lady like you for a mother.” “You don't know anything”, “No wonder Daddy left you”. “I hate you”. Are just a few of the things they were saying.
I hurried around to the next aisle to escape this but I could still hear them. I was thinking, If that poor lady don't box them up aside their heads I'm just tempted to do it for her so I'd better just get on out of here before I wind up in jail.
There were others who were just as aggravated as I was but we were helpless to do anything.
A lady standing beside me said “That's abuse of an older person if I've ever seen it”. I said “I know it and I think I'll just call a cop and see what they think about. I wasn't going to do that of course but I wanted to shut those girls up and give that lady a break. One of the girls said, “If you don't do what I want I'm leaving and you wont see me again”, “ME Too” the other one said. Just when I thought I couldn't hold it back anymore and I was gonna' box them both into next week**** POP POP. That little old lady slapped the heck out of those two right there in the store. Then she very calmly said, “Bye girls, I'll miss you”. Whooppee!! I started clapping my hands and a bunch of others did too. We started giggling and the table was turned on those two. They were following behind their Mother like two little puppies with their tails between their legs. Sometimes good does win out over evil by golly.
I was in a store a while back and saw something that I never would have seen in my time. There was this Mother with her two kids. The Mother looked like she was about ready to pull her hair out. She was not dressed in the finest but her two teenage daughters were. What made me want to pull some of their hair out was the way those smart elec girls were treating their little Mother.
In the first place they were ashamed of their Mother and they let her, and everyone else around them, know it. Every time she said something to them they would roll their painted eyes and look at her like she didn't have a lick of sense. They were correcting her grammar and giggling about it.
There was something they wanted to buy and each wanted one. The Mother didn't have the foggiest idea what the thing was. (I didn't either) She was trying to tell them that they could get one and share because she couldn't afford two of them. She was near tears and they were tearing in to her like snakes with their venomous words. “ Oh My God I hate having an old lady like you for a mother.” “You don't know anything”, “No wonder Daddy left you”. “I hate you”. Are just a few of the things they were saying.
I hurried around to the next aisle to escape this but I could still hear them. I was thinking, If that poor lady don't box them up aside their heads I'm just tempted to do it for her so I'd better just get on out of here before I wind up in jail.
There were others who were just as aggravated as I was but we were helpless to do anything.
A lady standing beside me said “That's abuse of an older person if I've ever seen it”. I said “I know it and I think I'll just call a cop and see what they think about. I wasn't going to do that of course but I wanted to shut those girls up and give that lady a break. One of the girls said, “If you don't do what I want I'm leaving and you wont see me again”, “ME Too” the other one said. Just when I thought I couldn't hold it back anymore and I was gonna' box them both into next week**** POP POP. That little old lady slapped the heck out of those two right there in the store. Then she very calmly said, “Bye girls, I'll miss you”. Whooppee!! I started clapping my hands and a bunch of others did too. We started giggling and the table was turned on those two. They were following behind their Mother like two little puppies with their tails between their legs. Sometimes good does win out over evil by golly.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
YES I'M READY!!
12-21-09...YES I'M READY!!
Christmas is upon us and I've had so many ask me if I am ready. I tell them “Of course I am ready. I stay ready for Christmas”.
Since I have no kids or grand kids to celebrate with Christmas means a different thing to me now days. The main thing is seeing family that I haven't seen for a while. There is always a few of these scattered around.
Christmas is a day of enjoying a meal with people that I love very much. After the meal I so much enjoy sitting all together and having coffee or hot chocolate while we reminisce with family about days gone by. I love talking with my Brother about our childhood Christmas's.
Christmas is the time of year when we bring the memories of ones who have gone before us. We bring them in to our celebration and feel their presence more strongly than any other time of the year it seems.
Christmas is a day of love and togetherness, of warm hugs and warm hearts. It is a time when all problems, worries, and burdens are laid aside for a while.
Most of all Christmas is celebrated for the Birth of Jesus Christ. That's what it is for and what it is about. No more No less. The gifts are just something extra. For some it is Santa. I had Santa in my childhood. It was a magical time that I will always treasure. My parents told us that Christmas is Jesus' birthday but Jesus always wants us to have the gifts
God Bless You Mamma and Daddy for giving me the true meaning of Christmas along with the magic of the season.
May the Peace and Love of Jesus surround you all this Christmas. Remember to think of those less fortunate than you. God Bless You
Christmas is upon us and I've had so many ask me if I am ready. I tell them “Of course I am ready. I stay ready for Christmas”.
Since I have no kids or grand kids to celebrate with Christmas means a different thing to me now days. The main thing is seeing family that I haven't seen for a while. There is always a few of these scattered around.
Christmas is a day of enjoying a meal with people that I love very much. After the meal I so much enjoy sitting all together and having coffee or hot chocolate while we reminisce with family about days gone by. I love talking with my Brother about our childhood Christmas's.
Christmas is the time of year when we bring the memories of ones who have gone before us. We bring them in to our celebration and feel their presence more strongly than any other time of the year it seems.
Christmas is a day of love and togetherness, of warm hugs and warm hearts. It is a time when all problems, worries, and burdens are laid aside for a while.
Most of all Christmas is celebrated for the Birth of Jesus Christ. That's what it is for and what it is about. No more No less. The gifts are just something extra. For some it is Santa. I had Santa in my childhood. It was a magical time that I will always treasure. My parents told us that Christmas is Jesus' birthday but Jesus always wants us to have the gifts
God Bless You Mamma and Daddy for giving me the true meaning of Christmas along with the magic of the season.
May the Peace and Love of Jesus surround you all this Christmas. Remember to think of those less fortunate than you. God Bless You
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