1-9-09...CHOCOLATE PUDDIN'
This little caper was brought to my memory yesterday and I have been pondering on it. Brenda and I played in a thicket between our homes. It was rather a special place to us. Secretive we thought. We had made a playhouse of sorts. Made a table from boards sitting on a 5 gal. bucket. Had chairs out of more buckets. We pretended we had parties. Elegant affairs if I can say so myself. Very few ever got invited to our 'parties' either.
Brenda's older sister liked to aggravate us of course. Don't all older siblings do that? She would show up and we'd chase her away. If she didn't leave we'd 'Tell on her' and let my Auntie take care of her. She would come without us knowing sometimes and listen to our childish prattle, as we served 'tea' to our imaginary guests. Then she would laugh at us and tell everyone how"SILLY" we were. Boy I tell you she could get our claws out fast. That is the reason when she showed up one day with our 'dinner' on a tray we were really flabbergasted. Didn't know what to think. There were two sandwiches. (Auntie had sent them) We had our mugs of tea. (Water). Also on the tray was a big bowl of Chocolate puddin'. Just off the stove she said. all creamy and yummy lookin'. We were still not trusting her very far though. Nope. We knew her well. Yep! She would do anything to get us mad. We inspected the sandwiches real good. But not the puddin'.!! We knew dessert was not to be eaten till last. She had a sandwich too and we decided to let her eat with us. Boy, now wasn't she being nice today. We couldn't hardly believe it. Shouldn't have believed it!! Nope! Sure shouldn't have!!
We all ate our sandwiches. I can't remember what kind they were now. Didn't much matter then either. We were eager to get in to that chocolate puddin'. Yummy our favorite!!!
She had brought two spoons from the house. "Aint you gonna eat no puddin" we asked. "Naw, I brought that for you". Heck fire we had never seen her so sweet. "You will have to eat outta the bowl", she said. Heck that was OK with us.
We both dug our spoons in. "What are those lumps" we asked. "Oh it probably just has a few lunps in it, wont hurt nuthin" she said. The anticipation was gettin' the best of us so we put a big bite in our mouths at the same time. Spit, Splutter, gag, OH MY GOSH!!! What is that? She started gigglin' her head off. I mean she was outta breath from gigglin'. We still didn't know what she had fed us but we knew it was not edible and our claws were out big time!!! One of us, or maybe both, can't remember, threw that bowl of chocolate, whatever it was, right in her face and it rolled down all over her. We ran to tell on her but she got there first. "Mama look what they did to me" she whinned. "What in the world is that stinkin' stuff" my Auntie asked. Heck we didn't know what it was. "She told us it was Chocolate puddin Auntie" I said. Well Auntie knew what it was. "Did you girls eat this"? She asked. "We just took one bite and we spit it out Mama" Brenda said.
Auntie looked at big Sister and started laughin'. Well Heck Fire, What is she laughin' for we thought. We were madder n' hornets. Sure wasn't funny to us.
Auntie only laughed for a few seconds and she turned deadly serious. "You two go in the house and wash out your mouthes real good" Which we were glad to do. From the back porch we could hear Auntie light in to older sister. "You deserve that horse manure (Auntie called it what it was) in your face and you can wear it for a while." "But Mama" she started. "NO BUTS. You get out there on the grass and sit there for one hour". "NO Mama, please let me wash off". "NO, not till I say you can, now do as I say".
Well now we knew what we had eat a bite of and we did some gagging of our own. Auntie gave us a glass of kool-aide and a cookie. We basked in our glory as we watched big sister sit out there with horse manure dryin' on her. YEP!! She just hadn't outta' done that! NOPE!!!
Friday, January 9, 2009
THE 'SNIPE' HUNT
1-8-09...THE 'SNIPE' HUNT
I was remembering the time Norman and Paul put fish in the well, then proceeded to put my cat in there so he could eat the fish. Oh My Goodness, these boys were learning fast. But Brenda and I never did anything like that, and the Boys never did again either! They said they thought the cat could eat the fish then crawl out. The fish and the cat of course died and a while later the smell was horrible. Daddy had to draw the well dry and let it fill back up several times to take care of that problem. It was just an old well that went dry and we did not use anyway. But Heck Fire!!! Daddy finally capped the well off with concrete.
They didn't like my cat. One day he was off up the road and came home with a tin can tied to his tail. He was scared to death and ran under the house. Brenda and I crawled under there to rescue him but the poor thing was so scared we couldn't touch him. Now Brenda and I were honery but those boys!!! They were double honery I tell you!!
We all did things together too. Like catching june bugs and tying a long string of thread to one of their legs. We turned it loose and it would fly as far as the thread reached then come back. We were convinced the bug loved us and wanted to stay with us. We all did that but we turned the bug loose without hurting it very bad I suspect.
Summers were long and hot but they were magical to us. So much to do and see. We could all walk over to Hall Parks little store (about a mile I think) and just have a great time. If we had a nickle we bought penny candy, or maybe a pop sicle that melted before we could eat it all usually. Sometimes we all didn't have a nickle. Then we would share. If no one had a nickle that was OK too. It was just so much fun to walk over there.
We also all got our turn at 'snipe' huntin'. Bigger kids took younger ones on these 'hunts' down in the pasture, through the trees, bushes, and briars. They said the 'snipe' only came out just at dark so we had to be there at just the right time.
What is a 'snipe'? we asked when it was our turn to go. Oh we can't tell you they said but you will like them. How do we catch em' we asked. Well you get a big paper sack, and get you a stick. You stand in the woods and beat on your sack with the stick. The 'snipes' will hear it and they will come and jump in your sack. It might help if you holler, Cum'mer' snipes. Well heck that sounded easy nuff'. OK Lets Go!!! I know now that there were lots of instructions from our parents and also a threat if those instructions were not followed.
We climbed over the barbed wire fence and walked quietly down amoung the trees. It was dark but I think we all had cat eyes back then and we also knew every rock on the trail. Now be real quiet and listen we were instructed. HEAR THAT? I don't hear a thing we all whispered. Thats cause you don't know what a 'snipe' sounds like was our answer. There they are! Get ready! Now!!! Man we started beatin them sacks and hollerin' cum'mer' snipes!!!
Now the jist of it was while we were beatin' and hollerin' the older kids would take off and leave us there. We were supposed to be scared spitless then they would come get us. YEP!!! They just hadn't counted on our team out smartin' em'. Nope! Shoulda known, but they were not as smart as they thought they were. HECK NO!!!
We were beatin and hollerin and didn't know they had left but I told you we had cat eyes. When we spotted them off in the trees with big smiles on their faces we caught on. Well Brenda and I caught on. We had been told to stand right there and not move or the 'snipes' wouldn't come. We whispered and made up our plan while we kept beating. Slowly we started moving forward. We'd beat and holler a while then we'd move forward a little. Well those smart elecs didn't seem to know what to do. Without them knowing it we watched them. They were talking amoung themselves and decided they'd better follow us. Well That is what we counted on. There were four of us and only two of them so we had em'.
The boys sneaked to the side a little at a time. We started runnin' now to get ahead of the big kids. When we couldn't see them then we knew they couldn't see us. All this time Brenda and I were still beatin' and hollerin'. When we had veered off to the side enough we got real quiet and watched for them. Here they came and we knew they were scared they'd lost us. They started calling us. "Where are you"? Come on, we gotta go". Where are they? do ya think they went to the creek? Oh my gosh we better find um'. Oh My Oh My"!!! They were gettin' loud now so we just made our way back up to the house ans waited. We were sitting at the kitchen table gigglin' when they came thunderin up on the front porch. "Mama' we lost the kids, we can't find um' nowhere, they drowned for sure". They were cryin' and splutterin' just scared outta their gourds. We sneaked out the back and came around to the front and saw them there on the porch with Auntie. They were ringin' their hands and snot was flyin'. The four of us sneaked up behind em' and we all grabbed them and hollered, CUM'MER 'snipes'. Wooopppeee!!! One of them wet her pants, I thought the other one was gonna' pass out.!! Now They Were Scared so bad they couldn't even talk. We four laughed so hard we wet our pants. At least I know I did. Auntie was laughin' too. Boy Howdy We got em' good that time. Wheee! That was fun. There was never another 'snipe hunt' though. No more little ones for us to take, durn it!!!
We had so much fun down there by the RR Track on that dead end road. Love, Laughter, and Blessings really were overflowing in those good ol' days. YEP!!
I was remembering the time Norman and Paul put fish in the well, then proceeded to put my cat in there so he could eat the fish. Oh My Goodness, these boys were learning fast. But Brenda and I never did anything like that, and the Boys never did again either! They said they thought the cat could eat the fish then crawl out. The fish and the cat of course died and a while later the smell was horrible. Daddy had to draw the well dry and let it fill back up several times to take care of that problem. It was just an old well that went dry and we did not use anyway. But Heck Fire!!! Daddy finally capped the well off with concrete.
They didn't like my cat. One day he was off up the road and came home with a tin can tied to his tail. He was scared to death and ran under the house. Brenda and I crawled under there to rescue him but the poor thing was so scared we couldn't touch him. Now Brenda and I were honery but those boys!!! They were double honery I tell you!!
We all did things together too. Like catching june bugs and tying a long string of thread to one of their legs. We turned it loose and it would fly as far as the thread reached then come back. We were convinced the bug loved us and wanted to stay with us. We all did that but we turned the bug loose without hurting it very bad I suspect.
Summers were long and hot but they were magical to us. So much to do and see. We could all walk over to Hall Parks little store (about a mile I think) and just have a great time. If we had a nickle we bought penny candy, or maybe a pop sicle that melted before we could eat it all usually. Sometimes we all didn't have a nickle. Then we would share. If no one had a nickle that was OK too. It was just so much fun to walk over there.
We also all got our turn at 'snipe' huntin'. Bigger kids took younger ones on these 'hunts' down in the pasture, through the trees, bushes, and briars. They said the 'snipe' only came out just at dark so we had to be there at just the right time.
What is a 'snipe'? we asked when it was our turn to go. Oh we can't tell you they said but you will like them. How do we catch em' we asked. Well you get a big paper sack, and get you a stick. You stand in the woods and beat on your sack with the stick. The 'snipes' will hear it and they will come and jump in your sack. It might help if you holler, Cum'mer' snipes. Well heck that sounded easy nuff'. OK Lets Go!!! I know now that there were lots of instructions from our parents and also a threat if those instructions were not followed.
We climbed over the barbed wire fence and walked quietly down amoung the trees. It was dark but I think we all had cat eyes back then and we also knew every rock on the trail. Now be real quiet and listen we were instructed. HEAR THAT? I don't hear a thing we all whispered. Thats cause you don't know what a 'snipe' sounds like was our answer. There they are! Get ready! Now!!! Man we started beatin them sacks and hollerin' cum'mer' snipes!!!
Now the jist of it was while we were beatin' and hollerin' the older kids would take off and leave us there. We were supposed to be scared spitless then they would come get us. YEP!!! They just hadn't counted on our team out smartin' em'. Nope! Shoulda known, but they were not as smart as they thought they were. HECK NO!!!
We were beatin and hollerin and didn't know they had left but I told you we had cat eyes. When we spotted them off in the trees with big smiles on their faces we caught on. Well Brenda and I caught on. We had been told to stand right there and not move or the 'snipes' wouldn't come. We whispered and made up our plan while we kept beating. Slowly we started moving forward. We'd beat and holler a while then we'd move forward a little. Well those smart elecs didn't seem to know what to do. Without them knowing it we watched them. They were talking amoung themselves and decided they'd better follow us. Well That is what we counted on. There were four of us and only two of them so we had em'.
The boys sneaked to the side a little at a time. We started runnin' now to get ahead of the big kids. When we couldn't see them then we knew they couldn't see us. All this time Brenda and I were still beatin' and hollerin'. When we had veered off to the side enough we got real quiet and watched for them. Here they came and we knew they were scared they'd lost us. They started calling us. "Where are you"? Come on, we gotta go". Where are they? do ya think they went to the creek? Oh my gosh we better find um'. Oh My Oh My"!!! They were gettin' loud now so we just made our way back up to the house ans waited. We were sitting at the kitchen table gigglin' when they came thunderin up on the front porch. "Mama' we lost the kids, we can't find um' nowhere, they drowned for sure". They were cryin' and splutterin' just scared outta their gourds. We sneaked out the back and came around to the front and saw them there on the porch with Auntie. They were ringin' their hands and snot was flyin'. The four of us sneaked up behind em' and we all grabbed them and hollered, CUM'MER 'snipes'. Wooopppeee!!! One of them wet her pants, I thought the other one was gonna' pass out.!! Now They Were Scared so bad they couldn't even talk. We four laughed so hard we wet our pants. At least I know I did. Auntie was laughin' too. Boy Howdy We got em' good that time. Wheee! That was fun. There was never another 'snipe hunt' though. No more little ones for us to take, durn it!!!
We had so much fun down there by the RR Track on that dead end road. Love, Laughter, and Blessings really were overflowing in those good ol' days. YEP!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
DANCIN' UNDER THE BED
1-6-09...DANCIN' UNDER THE BED
I have been listening to that GOOD OL' 60s music for several days now when I have time. It makes me think of all those nights in my bedroom when Brenda and I would take Mama's old radio in my room and listen while we did our homework. (This was after we got electricity in our house. Before that she had a battery radio. The battery was big and ran down with much use) I can't even listen to the radio with any distraction at all now, but then our minds stretched farther I guess. I'm glad no one saw me this morning. I just couldn't resist when a song came on that I remembered so well. (Hello Mary Lou by Rickey Nelson) I got up and put my arms out like I was holding on to a partner and bopped all across the floor. Next was a Chubby Checker song,( Lets Do The Twist) and I got up and twisted my fanny off. (Almost literally I might say) It scared the stuffins' outta' my dog Moses. He started whinning and I knew he would finally bark and get Don up so I quit. Heck I probably couldn't have danced any more anyway, but I like to think I could have.
Brenda and I used to dance barefoot in my bedroom for hours. We even learned to do the jitterbug from Granny. I don't think I want to try that right now though. HE HE!!! And that is how I came to break two of my toes. My big left toe, and my little toe on the right foot! Ouch, I can almost feel the pain now. How did I manage one toe on each foot? I'm not real sure but YEP! I did it!
I said, "Brenda let me throw you over my head the way they do it on in the skatin' rink. " No!! Clydene, I'll throw you over my shoulder". "OK, lets get back to back" "OK now what?" I put my hands on my shoulders and Brenda got hold of them. "Bend over Brenda and bring me up over your back". Which she did!!!! I pushed up on my feet as she bent down and when she pulled I went flying over like a professional. RIGHT??? WRONG!! Double wrong!! Brenda let go of my hands and went face down on the floor. I flew the opposite direction and hit the bed leg with both feet, slid on by and landed in a heap under the bed, scraping down both arms on the bed springs as I went. "OOHH, ump, dang it Brenda you shouldn't have let go" I whispered. The reason I was whispering being I didn't have enough wind left to holler. Next thing I saw were Brenda's eyes bugged open peeking under the bed at me. Next thing I heard was my Mama saying "What in the world is goin' on in here"?
Brenda thought I was deader'n' a doornail I guess cause she started bawlin'. I couldn't even talk at the minute so My Mama was scared to death. "Clyde get in here Clydene's hurt"! Daddy was already on his way and appeared instantly, also scared to death. I saw all three sets of bugged out eyes lookin' under the bed at me and since I was gettin' my wind back I started giggling. I giggled with all the wind I had at the time then said "get me out of here". It was a low bed and I don't know how I ever fit under there in the first place. Daddy had to lift one end of it while Mama and Brenda helped me wiggle out. I think I might have been in some trouble then but by then the shock was over and the pain started. Oh My Oh My. Everything hurt!!! I mean everything. I was bleedin' on the arms and my toes were just throbbing. The blood scared everyone's pants off again. I wasn't gigglin' any more and didn't have enough breath to cry. Mama got a warm cloth and started dabbing on the blood and Daddy was getting ready to run for help. "Wait Clyde, These are just scratches. Looks worse than it is" Mama hollered.
It was the next day when my toes swelled up that we finally found out from Ol' Doc that both my toes were broken. Now there is not much to be done for broken toes. Can't splint them. So both my feet were wrapped each day, and soaked each day with something smelly. I couldn't go to school for a while. Brenda brought my lessons every evening and took back my finished work the next morning. As for being out of school, I sure didn't enjoy that vacation. NOPE!!!! Not one little bit!!!!!
I have been listening to that GOOD OL' 60s music for several days now when I have time. It makes me think of all those nights in my bedroom when Brenda and I would take Mama's old radio in my room and listen while we did our homework. (This was after we got electricity in our house. Before that she had a battery radio. The battery was big and ran down with much use) I can't even listen to the radio with any distraction at all now, but then our minds stretched farther I guess. I'm glad no one saw me this morning. I just couldn't resist when a song came on that I remembered so well. (Hello Mary Lou by Rickey Nelson) I got up and put my arms out like I was holding on to a partner and bopped all across the floor. Next was a Chubby Checker song,( Lets Do The Twist) and I got up and twisted my fanny off. (Almost literally I might say) It scared the stuffins' outta' my dog Moses. He started whinning and I knew he would finally bark and get Don up so I quit. Heck I probably couldn't have danced any more anyway, but I like to think I could have.
Brenda and I used to dance barefoot in my bedroom for hours. We even learned to do the jitterbug from Granny. I don't think I want to try that right now though. HE HE!!! And that is how I came to break two of my toes. My big left toe, and my little toe on the right foot! Ouch, I can almost feel the pain now. How did I manage one toe on each foot? I'm not real sure but YEP! I did it!
I said, "Brenda let me throw you over my head the way they do it on in the skatin' rink. " No!! Clydene, I'll throw you over my shoulder". "OK, lets get back to back" "OK now what?" I put my hands on my shoulders and Brenda got hold of them. "Bend over Brenda and bring me up over your back". Which she did!!!! I pushed up on my feet as she bent down and when she pulled I went flying over like a professional. RIGHT??? WRONG!! Double wrong!! Brenda let go of my hands and went face down on the floor. I flew the opposite direction and hit the bed leg with both feet, slid on by and landed in a heap under the bed, scraping down both arms on the bed springs as I went. "OOHH, ump, dang it Brenda you shouldn't have let go" I whispered. The reason I was whispering being I didn't have enough wind left to holler. Next thing I saw were Brenda's eyes bugged open peeking under the bed at me. Next thing I heard was my Mama saying "What in the world is goin' on in here"?
Brenda thought I was deader'n' a doornail I guess cause she started bawlin'. I couldn't even talk at the minute so My Mama was scared to death. "Clyde get in here Clydene's hurt"! Daddy was already on his way and appeared instantly, also scared to death. I saw all three sets of bugged out eyes lookin' under the bed at me and since I was gettin' my wind back I started giggling. I giggled with all the wind I had at the time then said "get me out of here". It was a low bed and I don't know how I ever fit under there in the first place. Daddy had to lift one end of it while Mama and Brenda helped me wiggle out. I think I might have been in some trouble then but by then the shock was over and the pain started. Oh My Oh My. Everything hurt!!! I mean everything. I was bleedin' on the arms and my toes were just throbbing. The blood scared everyone's pants off again. I wasn't gigglin' any more and didn't have enough breath to cry. Mama got a warm cloth and started dabbing on the blood and Daddy was getting ready to run for help. "Wait Clyde, These are just scratches. Looks worse than it is" Mama hollered.
It was the next day when my toes swelled up that we finally found out from Ol' Doc that both my toes were broken. Now there is not much to be done for broken toes. Can't splint them. So both my feet were wrapped each day, and soaked each day with something smelly. I couldn't go to school for a while. Brenda brought my lessons every evening and took back my finished work the next morning. As for being out of school, I sure didn't enjoy that vacation. NOPE!!!! Not one little bit!!!!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
THE PLAY OH MY GOSH
1-5-09...THE PLAY OH MY GOSH
Remember all those giggling times we had as teen-agers? Boy I sure do. Sometimes we would giggle till our tummies hurt. That's OK. Right? Well that's according to where that giggle comes on. In school is not one of the good places, especially when it is supposed to be a serious time.
We had JR. and Sr. Plays in high school and I'll never forget our Sr. Play. It was called Ready Made Family and it was soo funny. Made even funnier by the antics on stage. I have to say right now that I was directly responsible for at least three of them. I can laugh till my belly aches about it now but let me tell you our Sponser Miss Brasel sure turned my giggle into a poker face with just a few words. Words, very quietly spoken I might add.
I played a teenager and had a teen aged brother and a little sister. Our 'Mom' had brought a Man for us to meet and told us they were getting married. This 'Man' had two teenagers, a boy and a girl. Well the five of us kids didn't want our parents to get married so we set out to put a stop to their plans. Of course the four teenagers fell into puppy love and our minds changed. That's the gist of the play but our on-stage behaviour was funnier than the story was.
One time I was supposed to walk across the stage. As I went by the fireplace I knocked the poker over. Cling Clang Clop. My friend Jimmy looked back and said very calmly. "You knocked the poker down". The look on his face got me tickled. To keep from laughing I said "Would you pick it up?", To which he said, " Pick it up yourself sis." I was splutterin' now trying not to go in to the giggles and I said, "Oh good grief Jimmy", (which of course was not his name in the play). The audience all laughed and we went on. But the 'stage' was set from then on. One blunder after another.
In one scene I was supposed to bust out in baby talk. Our 'Butler' was supposed to be kneeling by the fireplace and my sudden prattle was supposed to scare him. The line he was supposed to say was my cue for my next line, he spluttered it out and said it wrong and I got tickled. Gordon said the word again to help me say my line but I just got more tickled. Gordon was supposed to jump up and run off the stage but he kept saying that line so I'd say mine. well I was in a giggle fit and couldn't say my line. I guess Gordon decided I'm gettin' outta here, cause he jumped up and proceeded to run off the stage and tripped over my foot and fell face down. I looked down at him and really come unglued. I mean I was gigglin hard now. Tears were dropping down my face, I was just unhinged. Then I heard the voice of Miss Brasel behind stage. "Straighten up out there, NOW! Well folks that was the same as THE LOOK from my Mama. Instant calm took over. I said my line, Gordon ran off stage (limping slightly) and that scene was over.
The next act opened and we kids had decided we liked each other very much. In fact four of us were smitten. Me and my counterpart and the other two were supposed to be arm in arm walking to the couch to sit down and talk it over. I had my arm drapped through Tommy's and I had on a rhinestone bracelet. As we turned to sit my bracelet got caught in his sweater and hung there. I was just going to pull free but Tommy took my wrist and raised it up so he could get his sweater unhinged from my bracelet without tearing his sweater. He said "Stupid girls". Well that didn't go over very well either since in the story we were supposed to be smitten. I almost got the giggles again but the door off stage came open just a smidgen and this time I saw Miss Brasels face and "The Look" stopped my giggle in its tracks. Just screeched to a halt. That was a fun time that is just fixed in my mind like indelible ink. I can remember it so vividly it feels like yesterday. What a great time we had with that play. Miss Brasel laughed right along with us afterwards. But we all knew when that sweet Lady meant business too. A look or a word worked. Oh what times we had back then. Just some of the times that have made me what I am. They were simple and innocent times and we can not go back in time. But we can sure keep our memories and cherish those times. WHICH I DO!!!! Yep!
Remember all those giggling times we had as teen-agers? Boy I sure do. Sometimes we would giggle till our tummies hurt. That's OK. Right? Well that's according to where that giggle comes on. In school is not one of the good places, especially when it is supposed to be a serious time.
We had JR. and Sr. Plays in high school and I'll never forget our Sr. Play. It was called Ready Made Family and it was soo funny. Made even funnier by the antics on stage. I have to say right now that I was directly responsible for at least three of them. I can laugh till my belly aches about it now but let me tell you our Sponser Miss Brasel sure turned my giggle into a poker face with just a few words. Words, very quietly spoken I might add.
I played a teenager and had a teen aged brother and a little sister. Our 'Mom' had brought a Man for us to meet and told us they were getting married. This 'Man' had two teenagers, a boy and a girl. Well the five of us kids didn't want our parents to get married so we set out to put a stop to their plans. Of course the four teenagers fell into puppy love and our minds changed. That's the gist of the play but our on-stage behaviour was funnier than the story was.
One time I was supposed to walk across the stage. As I went by the fireplace I knocked the poker over. Cling Clang Clop. My friend Jimmy looked back and said very calmly. "You knocked the poker down". The look on his face got me tickled. To keep from laughing I said "Would you pick it up?", To which he said, " Pick it up yourself sis." I was splutterin' now trying not to go in to the giggles and I said, "Oh good grief Jimmy", (which of course was not his name in the play). The audience all laughed and we went on. But the 'stage' was set from then on. One blunder after another.
In one scene I was supposed to bust out in baby talk. Our 'Butler' was supposed to be kneeling by the fireplace and my sudden prattle was supposed to scare him. The line he was supposed to say was my cue for my next line, he spluttered it out and said it wrong and I got tickled. Gordon said the word again to help me say my line but I just got more tickled. Gordon was supposed to jump up and run off the stage but he kept saying that line so I'd say mine. well I was in a giggle fit and couldn't say my line. I guess Gordon decided I'm gettin' outta here, cause he jumped up and proceeded to run off the stage and tripped over my foot and fell face down. I looked down at him and really come unglued. I mean I was gigglin hard now. Tears were dropping down my face, I was just unhinged. Then I heard the voice of Miss Brasel behind stage. "Straighten up out there, NOW! Well folks that was the same as THE LOOK from my Mama. Instant calm took over. I said my line, Gordon ran off stage (limping slightly) and that scene was over.
The next act opened and we kids had decided we liked each other very much. In fact four of us were smitten. Me and my counterpart and the other two were supposed to be arm in arm walking to the couch to sit down and talk it over. I had my arm drapped through Tommy's and I had on a rhinestone bracelet. As we turned to sit my bracelet got caught in his sweater and hung there. I was just going to pull free but Tommy took my wrist and raised it up so he could get his sweater unhinged from my bracelet without tearing his sweater. He said "Stupid girls". Well that didn't go over very well either since in the story we were supposed to be smitten. I almost got the giggles again but the door off stage came open just a smidgen and this time I saw Miss Brasels face and "The Look" stopped my giggle in its tracks. Just screeched to a halt. That was a fun time that is just fixed in my mind like indelible ink. I can remember it so vividly it feels like yesterday. What a great time we had with that play. Miss Brasel laughed right along with us afterwards. But we all knew when that sweet Lady meant business too. A look or a word worked. Oh what times we had back then. Just some of the times that have made me what I am. They were simple and innocent times and we can not go back in time. But we can sure keep our memories and cherish those times. WHICH I DO!!!! Yep!
GOT ME A PIECE OF GUM
1-4-09...GOT ME A PIECE OF GUM
Of all the people in my past I think I remember my Great Grandma Henry the best. She was a little lady. Her hair was silver grey and hung down her back. She twisted it up in a knot on the top of her head and secuered it with long wooden hair pins. It was beautiful I thought then and still do.
Grandma had a little black purse that was off limits to everyone and I mean everyone. I was always facinated with the unknown as to not knowing what she protected so fiercely in that little purse. I managed to get in it a couple of times with bad results. One was when Brenda and I stole her snuff which I have told here before. Grandma dipped that snuff with a teensy doll spoon and the spoon was a facination to me also.
Grandma was so neat with her snuff that a stranger would never know she had it. Never dripped down her chin and on to her bodice, and her teeth never showed the stains.
Grandma was out under the big Elm tree in our back yard one day and I saw her cut a little twig off a limb and proceed to cut on the end of that twig till it resembled a brush. "What'cha doin' Grandma" I asked. "Well Come over here Clydene and I'll show you" She said. Brenda, Norman, Paul and I all ran on over there and Grandma showed us how she always 'brushed' her teeth with that Elm twig." Now kids that is the way I keep my teeth white" she said. "But Grandma Mama says we have to use toothpaste". "Well Clydene, I didn't have toothpaste when I was a little girl, and I didn't like to have to use lye soap in my mouth. It tasted terrible. I discovered that the elm twig worked just as well without the soap. I use toothpaste now but I use this elm twig too". Well I know she did cause I have that little black purse in an old trunk now and there inside is an elm twig brush all wrapped up in plastic. There it will stay too.
Grandma Henry was special to me in so many ways. She was so gentle, never raised her voice that I ever heard, she loved everyone and everyone loved her. But she sure could get riled up in her gentle way if that little black purse was bothered. Something I found out the two times I dared to put my hands inside it.
Grandma always had chewing gum in that purse and I knew it. Now and then she would give us a piece (well one piece torn in to) but not very often. She never got it out and chewed it in front of us but boy howdy we knew it was there. Mama said don't ask Grandma Mattie for gum kids. She will give it to you if she wants to. Of course I did ask from time to time anyway but out of Mamas hearing.
One day I asked and Grandma said not now. Well I knew very well that not now meant NO! But I wanted a piece of that gum.
Very seldom was that little black purse out of Grandma's sight. Heck she even took that blamed thing to the toilet with her. But, One day I caught that Purse sittin' there on a table and Granny was no where in sight. No other people around but me. WHOOPPEE! I'm gonna' get me a whole durn piece of that gum! Yep!
I opened the purse got me a piece of gum, and off I went runnin' with it behind me. I cut through the kitchen and there was Mama and Grandma sittin' at the table. I kept my hands behind me mashing that gum in my grubby little paws and just walked right on by Mama and Grandma. They just looked up and smiled at me and boy howdy I had it made. I walked on by them and to the screen door. I used my shoulder to push the door open cause I didn't wanna' take the chance that I'd drop the gum and theyd' see it don't ya' know. Problem was, I walked on by them but I didn't bother to move my hands from hind' me to tha' front when I went by. Get the picture? There I was pushin' that door with my shoulder, thinkin' I was sooo! smart. My back was to them and of course so were my hands with the gum stickin' out. CLYDENE!!!! That was Grandma and she raised her voice just a tad that time. WHAT? I still hadn't figuered out that they could see that gum so I just stopped in my tracks and stood there. "What'cha' want Grandma. What is that in your hands, That was Mama this time. What hands? I replied very innocently. I turned around to face them and by golly I remembered to put my dad blamed hands in front of me this time. Right in plain sight again. Now wasn't I smart HUH? I stood there with my hands closed over the gum and thought I still had it hid. My hands were too small to hide it of course. Granny got to get the peach tree limb that time. She just tapped me a couple of times. Don't figure she really wanted to do that but knew it was what I needed. And of course I did need it. Only time My Grandma Mattie ever spanked me. It didn't hurt but it made a lasting impression on me. I still can't bring myself to mess with that purse. I've looked inside it but leave everything just the way it was when Granny carried it. YEP! Wouldn't want another spanking from my Grandma Mattie. NOPE!
I do wonder why I just didn't open that gum and put it in my mouth in the first place before I got caught. Guess I needed that lesson. HUH? YEP!!!
Of all the people in my past I think I remember my Great Grandma Henry the best. She was a little lady. Her hair was silver grey and hung down her back. She twisted it up in a knot on the top of her head and secuered it with long wooden hair pins. It was beautiful I thought then and still do.
Grandma had a little black purse that was off limits to everyone and I mean everyone. I was always facinated with the unknown as to not knowing what she protected so fiercely in that little purse. I managed to get in it a couple of times with bad results. One was when Brenda and I stole her snuff which I have told here before. Grandma dipped that snuff with a teensy doll spoon and the spoon was a facination to me also.
Grandma was so neat with her snuff that a stranger would never know she had it. Never dripped down her chin and on to her bodice, and her teeth never showed the stains.
Grandma was out under the big Elm tree in our back yard one day and I saw her cut a little twig off a limb and proceed to cut on the end of that twig till it resembled a brush. "What'cha doin' Grandma" I asked. "Well Come over here Clydene and I'll show you" She said. Brenda, Norman, Paul and I all ran on over there and Grandma showed us how she always 'brushed' her teeth with that Elm twig." Now kids that is the way I keep my teeth white" she said. "But Grandma Mama says we have to use toothpaste". "Well Clydene, I didn't have toothpaste when I was a little girl, and I didn't like to have to use lye soap in my mouth. It tasted terrible. I discovered that the elm twig worked just as well without the soap. I use toothpaste now but I use this elm twig too". Well I know she did cause I have that little black purse in an old trunk now and there inside is an elm twig brush all wrapped up in plastic. There it will stay too.
Grandma Henry was special to me in so many ways. She was so gentle, never raised her voice that I ever heard, she loved everyone and everyone loved her. But she sure could get riled up in her gentle way if that little black purse was bothered. Something I found out the two times I dared to put my hands inside it.
Grandma always had chewing gum in that purse and I knew it. Now and then she would give us a piece (well one piece torn in to) but not very often. She never got it out and chewed it in front of us but boy howdy we knew it was there. Mama said don't ask Grandma Mattie for gum kids. She will give it to you if she wants to. Of course I did ask from time to time anyway but out of Mamas hearing.
One day I asked and Grandma said not now. Well I knew very well that not now meant NO! But I wanted a piece of that gum.
Very seldom was that little black purse out of Grandma's sight. Heck she even took that blamed thing to the toilet with her. But, One day I caught that Purse sittin' there on a table and Granny was no where in sight. No other people around but me. WHOOPPEE! I'm gonna' get me a whole durn piece of that gum! Yep!
I opened the purse got me a piece of gum, and off I went runnin' with it behind me. I cut through the kitchen and there was Mama and Grandma sittin' at the table. I kept my hands behind me mashing that gum in my grubby little paws and just walked right on by Mama and Grandma. They just looked up and smiled at me and boy howdy I had it made. I walked on by them and to the screen door. I used my shoulder to push the door open cause I didn't wanna' take the chance that I'd drop the gum and theyd' see it don't ya' know. Problem was, I walked on by them but I didn't bother to move my hands from hind' me to tha' front when I went by. Get the picture? There I was pushin' that door with my shoulder, thinkin' I was sooo! smart. My back was to them and of course so were my hands with the gum stickin' out. CLYDENE!!!! That was Grandma and she raised her voice just a tad that time. WHAT? I still hadn't figuered out that they could see that gum so I just stopped in my tracks and stood there. "What'cha' want Grandma. What is that in your hands, That was Mama this time. What hands? I replied very innocently. I turned around to face them and by golly I remembered to put my dad blamed hands in front of me this time. Right in plain sight again. Now wasn't I smart HUH? I stood there with my hands closed over the gum and thought I still had it hid. My hands were too small to hide it of course. Granny got to get the peach tree limb that time. She just tapped me a couple of times. Don't figure she really wanted to do that but knew it was what I needed. And of course I did need it. Only time My Grandma Mattie ever spanked me. It didn't hurt but it made a lasting impression on me. I still can't bring myself to mess with that purse. I've looked inside it but leave everything just the way it was when Granny carried it. YEP! Wouldn't want another spanking from my Grandma Mattie. NOPE!
I do wonder why I just didn't open that gum and put it in my mouth in the first place before I got caught. Guess I needed that lesson. HUH? YEP!!!
THE GIRL IN ME
1-3-09...THE GIRL IN ME
Sometimes I look in a mirror and think, Who in the world is that ol' wrinkled up prune? Where the heck did that smoothe faced, black haired, skinny little girl go. In my heart I'm still that girl growing up. Hey I'm still here I want to shout at that dad' burned mirror. Stop lying to me, come on now, that aint me. And it don't have to be me that I see there in the mirror. I can be that girl again anytime I want to if I keep her alive. Sure nuff can. So there you ol' mirror. I don't have to listen to you. NOPE!
That girl was lively, no aches and pains, no worries either. Well by golly I'm 64 and I've earned the right to be a girl again. Oh yes, I see the little smiles on younger ones faces when I make a blunder or say somethin' stupid, or forget their name, Again! What the heck do they know. They wouldn't know where to start to live my life. Nope! You whippersnappers you couldn't begin to walk in my shoes.
I remember one cold night when no matter what I did I couldn't get warm. Mama had put a hot water bottle at my feet but the rest of me was cold. She wrapped it in a towel because it had boiling water inside and was too hot not wrapped. Well I decided to unwrap the dad burned thing and snuggle with it. My little brother was in the bed too. None of us slept by ourselves. It was warmer to have two in the bed. Sometimes we all slept in the floor in the front room in front of the little heater. This night I crawled under the covers and got the wrapped hot water bottle. I lifted it up and proceeded to unwrap it. Heck fire that sucker was hot. I couldn't snuggle with that thing. I pushed it over between my brother and me. Sometime later I moved and flopped right down on that bottle. Let me tell you I flopped up a bunch quicker than I flopped down! OWWW! As I jumped I hit my head on the head board and Owww! again. My little Brother (two at the time) came awake screechin' and hitin'. Mama and Daddy came on the scene then and restored order but I had a bump on my head, scratches on my arm, and a burn on my fanny.
Then there were the mornings in that ol' toilet in the field. Cold mornins' it almost hurt to sit down on that durn hole, summer mornins' you was'a'liable to get a red wasp on your butt which brought ya' up screamin' and fightin' that durn thing. Same ol' problems havin' to wait. Four in the family and whoever else might be there. A one seater toilet. Like one bathroom today but at least y'all are inside.
Things were hard back then but I was that young girl that I still have here inside me. As I get older I dig her out more often. She will never go away. When she is here I have my Family here too. Mama, Daddy, Granny and Grandpa, My little Brother, Brenda and I skipping along those ol' dirt roads and experiencing the most awesome time of our lives. I don't want to ever lose that girl. She is what made the woman I am now. As long as she is here I don't have to worry about lookin' in that lying mirror. Nope! I know that girl and I cherish her life. And I aint'a'gonna let her escape me. NOPE!!!
Sometimes I look in a mirror and think, Who in the world is that ol' wrinkled up prune? Where the heck did that smoothe faced, black haired, skinny little girl go. In my heart I'm still that girl growing up. Hey I'm still here I want to shout at that dad' burned mirror. Stop lying to me, come on now, that aint me. And it don't have to be me that I see there in the mirror. I can be that girl again anytime I want to if I keep her alive. Sure nuff can. So there you ol' mirror. I don't have to listen to you. NOPE!
That girl was lively, no aches and pains, no worries either. Well by golly I'm 64 and I've earned the right to be a girl again. Oh yes, I see the little smiles on younger ones faces when I make a blunder or say somethin' stupid, or forget their name, Again! What the heck do they know. They wouldn't know where to start to live my life. Nope! You whippersnappers you couldn't begin to walk in my shoes.
I remember one cold night when no matter what I did I couldn't get warm. Mama had put a hot water bottle at my feet but the rest of me was cold. She wrapped it in a towel because it had boiling water inside and was too hot not wrapped. Well I decided to unwrap the dad burned thing and snuggle with it. My little brother was in the bed too. None of us slept by ourselves. It was warmer to have two in the bed. Sometimes we all slept in the floor in the front room in front of the little heater. This night I crawled under the covers and got the wrapped hot water bottle. I lifted it up and proceeded to unwrap it. Heck fire that sucker was hot. I couldn't snuggle with that thing. I pushed it over between my brother and me. Sometime later I moved and flopped right down on that bottle. Let me tell you I flopped up a bunch quicker than I flopped down! OWWW! As I jumped I hit my head on the head board and Owww! again. My little Brother (two at the time) came awake screechin' and hitin'. Mama and Daddy came on the scene then and restored order but I had a bump on my head, scratches on my arm, and a burn on my fanny.
Then there were the mornings in that ol' toilet in the field. Cold mornins' it almost hurt to sit down on that durn hole, summer mornins' you was'a'liable to get a red wasp on your butt which brought ya' up screamin' and fightin' that durn thing. Same ol' problems havin' to wait. Four in the family and whoever else might be there. A one seater toilet. Like one bathroom today but at least y'all are inside.
Things were hard back then but I was that young girl that I still have here inside me. As I get older I dig her out more often. She will never go away. When she is here I have my Family here too. Mama, Daddy, Granny and Grandpa, My little Brother, Brenda and I skipping along those ol' dirt roads and experiencing the most awesome time of our lives. I don't want to ever lose that girl. She is what made the woman I am now. As long as she is here I don't have to worry about lookin' in that lying mirror. Nope! I know that girl and I cherish her life. And I aint'a'gonna let her escape me. NOPE!!!
MY FIRST BOQUET
1-3-09...MY FIRST BOQUET
I have mentioned some of my friends from school at different times. I'd like to talk about my Friend Tommy today.
I first saw Tommy when I was five yrs. old. I was at my Aunt Georgia's with my Parents visiting. Tommy lived with his parents just down the lane. Tommy and his Mom came up to Aunt Georgias. Tommy and I were outside playing. Aunt Georgia was sooo! fussy about neatness and she always had a beautiful yard. I was shy but Tommy wasn't. I knew better than to pick Aunt Georgias flowers, Tommy didn't.
I had a good time playing with Tommy in Aunt Georgias yard. Tommy picked a big boquet of Aunt Georgias flowers and was handing them to me just as his Mom, My Mom, and Aunt Georgia came on the porch. Come on Tommy we gotta' go. No! He said. I had taken the flowers and heard a big gasp. It was Aunt Georgia and her mouth was wide open as I clutched the boquet in my grubby little hands. "Tommy! You weren't supposed to pick those without asking". Oh! My Aunt gushed, It's allright, she lied. She was livid inside but trying to be polite. Anyway Tommy said "I want Clydene to go home with us". It is Ok with me his Mom said. I backed up and was shaking my head no. She don't want to go Tommy. As I said, I was very shy, Tommy wasn't. Tommy got hold of my shirt sleeve and was gonna' take me home with him anyway. I was jerking back and Tommy was pulling. "Tommy, turn loose of her you are gonna' tear her clothes up". Now folks I really did want to go but I was just too bashful. They went on home and My Aunt started moaning about her flowers. Oh My Goodness, Clydene you knew better. Did You pick them Clydene, asked my Mom. No! Then Georgia (we pronounced it GEORGY and still do) Then Georgy don't get on to her.
That evening Aunt Georgy's boys came home from school and when they found out they started teasing me. Clydene's got a boyfriend, Clydene's in love. Hey! I was five and didn't even know what having a boyfriend meant. But I knew how to get my claws out and I did just that. Tore in to them like a mama cat protecting her babies. Aunt Georgy was splutterin' and almost foamin'at the mouth. Why the nerve of a five year old hurting her two babies who were 11 and 15. How rude of her.
Anyway when we started to first grade in Sep. There was Tommy sitting across the aisle from me. He was the only one I knew so of course we were instant friends. I cried every day till recess when I could get outside with Brenda. Tommy would smile at me and it made me feel better. He would hand pencils, gum, candy, ect. across to me when I was crying. Now in 4th&5th. we got 'struck' on each other for a while. Puppy love for me. Don't know if Tommy felt the same way or was still just my friend. And Friends we remained through all twelve grades. There were only nine in our graduating class at the very small school. We were friends, almost like sisters and Brothers. We graduated in 1961 and Tommy was gone. Never knew what happened to him. Only saw him once in the many years that followed. Then when I got my first computer my Nephew happened across Tommy's Web Site and gave me the address. I contacted him. WALA' instant friends again.
Now I have mentioned these things to Tommy and he doesn't remember a bit of it. It is glued in my memory and I'll never forget the first time someone gave me flowers. Guess that is the difference between boys/men & girls/women. We women remember the sweet things better. YEP!!
I have mentioned some of my friends from school at different times. I'd like to talk about my Friend Tommy today.
I first saw Tommy when I was five yrs. old. I was at my Aunt Georgia's with my Parents visiting. Tommy lived with his parents just down the lane. Tommy and his Mom came up to Aunt Georgias. Tommy and I were outside playing. Aunt Georgia was sooo! fussy about neatness and she always had a beautiful yard. I was shy but Tommy wasn't. I knew better than to pick Aunt Georgias flowers, Tommy didn't.
I had a good time playing with Tommy in Aunt Georgias yard. Tommy picked a big boquet of Aunt Georgias flowers and was handing them to me just as his Mom, My Mom, and Aunt Georgia came on the porch. Come on Tommy we gotta' go. No! He said. I had taken the flowers and heard a big gasp. It was Aunt Georgia and her mouth was wide open as I clutched the boquet in my grubby little hands. "Tommy! You weren't supposed to pick those without asking". Oh! My Aunt gushed, It's allright, she lied. She was livid inside but trying to be polite. Anyway Tommy said "I want Clydene to go home with us". It is Ok with me his Mom said. I backed up and was shaking my head no. She don't want to go Tommy. As I said, I was very shy, Tommy wasn't. Tommy got hold of my shirt sleeve and was gonna' take me home with him anyway. I was jerking back and Tommy was pulling. "Tommy, turn loose of her you are gonna' tear her clothes up". Now folks I really did want to go but I was just too bashful. They went on home and My Aunt started moaning about her flowers. Oh My Goodness, Clydene you knew better. Did You pick them Clydene, asked my Mom. No! Then Georgia (we pronounced it GEORGY and still do) Then Georgy don't get on to her.
That evening Aunt Georgy's boys came home from school and when they found out they started teasing me. Clydene's got a boyfriend, Clydene's in love. Hey! I was five and didn't even know what having a boyfriend meant. But I knew how to get my claws out and I did just that. Tore in to them like a mama cat protecting her babies. Aunt Georgy was splutterin' and almost foamin'at the mouth. Why the nerve of a five year old hurting her two babies who were 11 and 15. How rude of her.
Anyway when we started to first grade in Sep. There was Tommy sitting across the aisle from me. He was the only one I knew so of course we were instant friends. I cried every day till recess when I could get outside with Brenda. Tommy would smile at me and it made me feel better. He would hand pencils, gum, candy, ect. across to me when I was crying. Now in 4th&5th. we got 'struck' on each other for a while. Puppy love for me. Don't know if Tommy felt the same way or was still just my friend. And Friends we remained through all twelve grades. There were only nine in our graduating class at the very small school. We were friends, almost like sisters and Brothers. We graduated in 1961 and Tommy was gone. Never knew what happened to him. Only saw him once in the many years that followed. Then when I got my first computer my Nephew happened across Tommy's Web Site and gave me the address. I contacted him. WALA' instant friends again.
Now I have mentioned these things to Tommy and he doesn't remember a bit of it. It is glued in my memory and I'll never forget the first time someone gave me flowers. Guess that is the difference between boys/men & girls/women. We women remember the sweet things better. YEP!!
Friday, January 2, 2009
THINGS CHANGE YEP!
1-2-09...THINGS CHANGE YEP!
It just blows my mind at the difference in how fast time goes now to how it was when I was a carefree kid. Don't know about you but for me everything just whizzes on by me now. HERE, GONE, Forgotten, just like a flash.
I was talking to Brenda last night and we were talking about how we have changed. Used to want to go all the time, now we'd just rather stay on the couch with a heat pad on our backs, our backsides sometimes, and a bottle of horse liniment to rub on everywhere it hurts. Yep I sure do use it! Hey it works, don't knock it till you try it.
Then there is that udder cream we rub on our bodies to make the scales go away. Yep! Udder cream like farmers use on the cows tits when they get sore. YEP! It Works!!!
Of course there is preparation H that is just great for wrinkled skin on your face and bags under your eyes. YEP I do use it.
But time is a different situation all together. There is just not a thing you can do to speed it up or slow it down. When we were young we wanted to hurry, now we would like things to just slow down.
Then what about our minds? We both burned our dinners yesterday. Just flat out forgot. I can't even tell you now what I burned, HMMM! I abosouletely do not know what it was, just know I burned it up.
We both had went somewhere with two different shoes. I had one brown and one black, hers were brown and green. Then there was one morning in Church. I had on a beautiful, outfit, my hair was fixed, had my pretty black hills gold jewelry on. I went struttin' in there and sat down, looked down at my feet, and lo and behold there in all their glory were my fuzzy purple house slippers peeking up at me. Yep! Brenda admitted to almost the same blunder.
Never did things like that when we were young. Or did we?? WEELLL!! Let me see___------------------------------------------ Well I guess we did things then just didn't take us as long to do them.
I went shopping one day, came home worn out and put it all away. Next morning I couldn't find my toothpaste. DOOONN, What did you do with the toothpaste?? I didn't do nothin' with the toothpaste. Well you had to have done something with it cause it aint here. I bought a new tube yesterday, a brand new tube, now where is it??? Clydene I have not even used it this morning, I didn't touch it. Oh My gosh, I can't believe it. You probably just thought you got it. Well I guess I know when I bought somethin' don't I? No you don't know everytime Clydene!! Boy Howdy now I was madder'n'a' old wet hen. I still had the receipt. There smart elec, see that, TOOTHPASTE! right there on the receipt, I got toothpaste, now where is it? Well couldn't find it so next day I bought another tube. I figuered they just didn't put it in my sack. Yep! Thats what happened. I convinced myself of that fact and forgot the whole thing until about a week later that is! I was looking in the freezer for something and Guess What?? Yep, there in front of my eyes was a tube of toothpaste, frozen and ozzing out of the tube. Now do you think I'm crazy enough to tell Don I found it? Heck fire NO!!!
Gotta remember to ask Brenda if she ever did that. BET SHE HAS YEP!!
It just blows my mind at the difference in how fast time goes now to how it was when I was a carefree kid. Don't know about you but for me everything just whizzes on by me now. HERE, GONE, Forgotten, just like a flash.
I was talking to Brenda last night and we were talking about how we have changed. Used to want to go all the time, now we'd just rather stay on the couch with a heat pad on our backs, our backsides sometimes, and a bottle of horse liniment to rub on everywhere it hurts. Yep I sure do use it! Hey it works, don't knock it till you try it.
Then there is that udder cream we rub on our bodies to make the scales go away. Yep! Udder cream like farmers use on the cows tits when they get sore. YEP! It Works!!!
Of course there is preparation H that is just great for wrinkled skin on your face and bags under your eyes. YEP I do use it.
But time is a different situation all together. There is just not a thing you can do to speed it up or slow it down. When we were young we wanted to hurry, now we would like things to just slow down.
Then what about our minds? We both burned our dinners yesterday. Just flat out forgot. I can't even tell you now what I burned, HMMM! I abosouletely do not know what it was, just know I burned it up.
We both had went somewhere with two different shoes. I had one brown and one black, hers were brown and green. Then there was one morning in Church. I had on a beautiful, outfit, my hair was fixed, had my pretty black hills gold jewelry on. I went struttin' in there and sat down, looked down at my feet, and lo and behold there in all their glory were my fuzzy purple house slippers peeking up at me. Yep! Brenda admitted to almost the same blunder.
Never did things like that when we were young. Or did we?? WEELLL!! Let me see___------------------------------------------ Well I guess we did things then just didn't take us as long to do them.
I went shopping one day, came home worn out and put it all away. Next morning I couldn't find my toothpaste. DOOONN, What did you do with the toothpaste?? I didn't do nothin' with the toothpaste. Well you had to have done something with it cause it aint here. I bought a new tube yesterday, a brand new tube, now where is it??? Clydene I have not even used it this morning, I didn't touch it. Oh My gosh, I can't believe it. You probably just thought you got it. Well I guess I know when I bought somethin' don't I? No you don't know everytime Clydene!! Boy Howdy now I was madder'n'a' old wet hen. I still had the receipt. There smart elec, see that, TOOTHPASTE! right there on the receipt, I got toothpaste, now where is it? Well couldn't find it so next day I bought another tube. I figuered they just didn't put it in my sack. Yep! Thats what happened. I convinced myself of that fact and forgot the whole thing until about a week later that is! I was looking in the freezer for something and Guess What?? Yep, there in front of my eyes was a tube of toothpaste, frozen and ozzing out of the tube. Now do you think I'm crazy enough to tell Don I found it? Heck fire NO!!!
Gotta remember to ask Brenda if she ever did that. BET SHE HAS YEP!!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
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!!!
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!!!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
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!!!
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.
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!
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!
Monday, December 22, 2008
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??
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
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
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