12-7-09...TODAY
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I've heard that many times over my life. I'd imagine you have too.
This morning I deleted all the hurtful things of yesterday and wiped the slate clean. At least that is what I have tried to do. Yesterday I learned things that will not allow the same consequences today.
Today I face life with a new clean slate knowing that today will never return.
So today I will live happy. I wont know about tomorrow and yesterday blew away in the dust. Today I will defy obstacles in my path and trust that even with them I can still succeed. I will not hurt or harm anyone purposely. I don't put out what I don't want myself. I will greet everyone I meet with a smile even though I feel like crying. Maybe someone will give me a smile back. I know I've said this before but bear with me because my Dear wonderful Daddy instilled this phrase in me while I was still young and innocent, “Honey laugh so you wont have to cry”. I've been doing a lot of that lately. It has been a very hard time for me but I know there are others who have worse times.
One of my first Sunday School teachers told us, “Live each day as if it was your last day”. That stuck with me even though I have not always followed the advice.
I remember Mamma saying many time when I'd be miffed about something, “ Clydene don't ever go to sleep mad at anyone or with someone mad at you. They might not be here tomorrow.
What ever you think your problems are, they may be bad or tragic, but they are not ever the worst thing that could happen to you. Someone is always in worse shape than you are.”
Sometimes I really need to be reminded of this. YEP!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
SIMPLE IS THE BEST
12-4-09...SIMPLE IS THE BEST
With Christmas so near how I long for the old time Christmas' like we used to have. When Richard was growing up we kept Christmas just the way it had always been to us. It's all we knew.
Our Christmas tree didn't go up the day after Thanksgiving either. We had a live cedar tree. I just thought that was the way it was, and by golly it was. Since the tree was fresh from the outdoors of course it had to be far away from the open flame of our little heater.
On the 23rd of December We went and got a cedar tree. Did you ever smell cedar inside your house? I still associate that smell with Christmas. Daddy brought it to the front porch and trimmed it up nice. Cut the base of the tree with an angle he said. That way it can have a drink of water and not dry out. Then Daddy set the tree down in a 3 gallon lard bucket and filled more rocks in to make the tree stand up sturdy. Of course we were 'helping' all we could. Dirt was put in on top of the rocks and tamped down. Norman and I would then scamper around to hold the screen door open while Daddy and Mamma carried the tree in and put it in the corner where it was always placed for trimming. Oh My Oh My what fun it was to trim the tree. No blinking lights and balls and fancy stuff like that. We had one string of lights with seven big bulbs. Red, green, blue, orange, yellow, another red. The 7th bulb was white. The white one was fitted into a silver star on top of the tree. We usually had decorations that Norman and I had made. Sometimes we had a package of silver 'icicles' and some stuff that felt and looked like spider webs that was, artificial snow. Mercy that stuff was messy. I can still see that tree.
We got to turn those lights on that night and again on Christmas eve night. By then it was starting to get dried out and shedding all over the place. Stepping on a cedar twig bare footed aint a good thing. Its like stickers. The tree was taken down on Christmas evening and all the mess cleaned up. The clean up was never as much fun of course.
Christmas eve night we all went to the little Church across the tracks and had our Christmas program. There was a huge cedar tree set up on the stage with lights. I remember it had some bubble lights. Oh how I loved those. I was just fascinated with that colored water bubbling up when it heated a bit. Santa was there and handed each of us a gift from under the tree plus our stocking with an orange, an apple, and some Christmas candy Our Parents had put the gift there of course. I remember one year I was so afraid that Santa would forget to come to my house after he had already been at church. But always when we got home 'Santa' had been there and we had gifts under the tree. There would be mixed nuts in a paper bag that Daddy would set down there and crack with a hammer on a rock for us. Daddy could sit with his feet flat on the for and his knees up under his chin for long times.
What we got was always practical things like clothes that we needed. I got a doll most years and Normans thing that I most remember was cap pistols. There is a picture of Norman and I setting on the ground with our legs stretched out. He was holding my little red purse and I had his cap pistol. We ate just what we always ate. Usually had Chicken and dressing. Nothing fancy, just nourishing food. Mamma made the best Southern Pecan Pie you ever wrapped your lips around!!! Yummy!
So there you have it. A Simple Christmas. The kind of Christmas I am longing for right now. YEP!
With Christmas so near how I long for the old time Christmas' like we used to have. When Richard was growing up we kept Christmas just the way it had always been to us. It's all we knew.
Our Christmas tree didn't go up the day after Thanksgiving either. We had a live cedar tree. I just thought that was the way it was, and by golly it was. Since the tree was fresh from the outdoors of course it had to be far away from the open flame of our little heater.
On the 23rd of December We went and got a cedar tree. Did you ever smell cedar inside your house? I still associate that smell with Christmas. Daddy brought it to the front porch and trimmed it up nice. Cut the base of the tree with an angle he said. That way it can have a drink of water and not dry out. Then Daddy set the tree down in a 3 gallon lard bucket and filled more rocks in to make the tree stand up sturdy. Of course we were 'helping' all we could. Dirt was put in on top of the rocks and tamped down. Norman and I would then scamper around to hold the screen door open while Daddy and Mamma carried the tree in and put it in the corner where it was always placed for trimming. Oh My Oh My what fun it was to trim the tree. No blinking lights and balls and fancy stuff like that. We had one string of lights with seven big bulbs. Red, green, blue, orange, yellow, another red. The 7th bulb was white. The white one was fitted into a silver star on top of the tree. We usually had decorations that Norman and I had made. Sometimes we had a package of silver 'icicles' and some stuff that felt and looked like spider webs that was, artificial snow. Mercy that stuff was messy. I can still see that tree.
We got to turn those lights on that night and again on Christmas eve night. By then it was starting to get dried out and shedding all over the place. Stepping on a cedar twig bare footed aint a good thing. Its like stickers. The tree was taken down on Christmas evening and all the mess cleaned up. The clean up was never as much fun of course.
Christmas eve night we all went to the little Church across the tracks and had our Christmas program. There was a huge cedar tree set up on the stage with lights. I remember it had some bubble lights. Oh how I loved those. I was just fascinated with that colored water bubbling up when it heated a bit. Santa was there and handed each of us a gift from under the tree plus our stocking with an orange, an apple, and some Christmas candy Our Parents had put the gift there of course. I remember one year I was so afraid that Santa would forget to come to my house after he had already been at church. But always when we got home 'Santa' had been there and we had gifts under the tree. There would be mixed nuts in a paper bag that Daddy would set down there and crack with a hammer on a rock for us. Daddy could sit with his feet flat on the for and his knees up under his chin for long times.
What we got was always practical things like clothes that we needed. I got a doll most years and Normans thing that I most remember was cap pistols. There is a picture of Norman and I setting on the ground with our legs stretched out. He was holding my little red purse and I had his cap pistol. We ate just what we always ate. Usually had Chicken and dressing. Nothing fancy, just nourishing food. Mamma made the best Southern Pecan Pie you ever wrapped your lips around!!! Yummy!
So there you have it. A Simple Christmas. The kind of Christmas I am longing for right now. YEP!
Friday, December 4, 2009
THE BOBSIES AND THE BURRS
12-3-09...THE BOBSIES AND THE BURRS
My Daddy used to call Brenda and I the Bobsey Twins. Nope I don't know where he got that name for us but he only called us that when we had been mischievous. That says a lot.
I was talking to Brenda on the phone a few days ago. When we talk it always goes to the subject of when we were growing up together. Brenda, her Brother Paul. Me, my Brother Norman.
Thinking back I know we thought those two were our toys to play with when they were small. As soon as they got big enough to follow us around Daddy started calling them burr' heads'. So there you have it The Bobsey Twins and the Burr heads.
One day when they were about two and three Brenda and I were dressing our dolls. I don't know which one thought of it but we decided it would be more fun to dress 'Real' dolls. Yep! You got it! Norman and Paul became our “real' dolls. Oh Lordie Me!!!!
We put some of our dresses on them. I said “Brenda, Mamma has some petticoats that ought to be put on. We got two of Mammas petticoats out of her drawer in the chest of drawers . While we were in there we were eating a sucker and Guess what? Yep we dribbled all over Mammas undies.
We knew we had to hurry because every time we played in there Mamma would just keep peepin' in on us. We got on the dresser and sprayed sumptin on them. Don't know what it was but I suspect it was something to clean with cause' Mamma never wore perfumes and stuff like that. The only thing she had was a small tube of lipstick that she put on lightly when she went somewhere special,(which was very seldom). We painted their lips and put some of that stuff on us too. Ruined the lipstick because we put the lid on and scrunched the stuff down.
“WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE Y'ALL DOING!!!!! Good Grief I thought, she didn't havta' holler so loud. Nere busted my ears! The four of us scrambled to attention as fast as we could. Norman started bellerin' and I told him to Shut Up. “YOU SHUT UP CLYDENE”! That was Mamma sayin that so I shet up fast. We were waiting patiently for the storm of all storms. Mamma told us not to move an inch, I mean not an inch! I'll be right back.
“Oh Gosh, were a' gonna get it now”, I said. From the other room came, “DON'T EVEN TALK”. I was thinking 'shoot fire' I think we'd outta go out that door there and run as far as we can away from here.
We heard Mamma coming back so we snapped back to attention. Heck fire she went and got sumptin. My mind was running wild about what that sumptin was and I'll bet the other three were thinking on those same wave lengths.
When Mamma came through the door she had the most beautiful smile on her face I think I've ever seen. She had Grandpas old black box camera. She herded us out in the yard and took two pictures of us. Now who would have thought Mamma would think we were too cute to spank? Never figured that one out till my Richard did some similar things. Mamma's are just like that I recon. YEP!!! I have looked for that picture in Mamma's pictures ever since I talked to Brenda but it is not here. Oh My How I wish I could see that picture again!!!
My Daddy used to call Brenda and I the Bobsey Twins. Nope I don't know where he got that name for us but he only called us that when we had been mischievous. That says a lot.
I was talking to Brenda on the phone a few days ago. When we talk it always goes to the subject of when we were growing up together. Brenda, her Brother Paul. Me, my Brother Norman.
Thinking back I know we thought those two were our toys to play with when they were small. As soon as they got big enough to follow us around Daddy started calling them burr' heads'. So there you have it The Bobsey Twins and the Burr heads.
One day when they were about two and three Brenda and I were dressing our dolls. I don't know which one thought of it but we decided it would be more fun to dress 'Real' dolls. Yep! You got it! Norman and Paul became our “real' dolls. Oh Lordie Me!!!!
We put some of our dresses on them. I said “Brenda, Mamma has some petticoats that ought to be put on. We got two of Mammas petticoats out of her drawer in the chest of drawers . While we were in there we were eating a sucker and Guess what? Yep we dribbled all over Mammas undies.
We knew we had to hurry because every time we played in there Mamma would just keep peepin' in on us. We got on the dresser and sprayed sumptin on them. Don't know what it was but I suspect it was something to clean with cause' Mamma never wore perfumes and stuff like that. The only thing she had was a small tube of lipstick that she put on lightly when she went somewhere special,(which was very seldom). We painted their lips and put some of that stuff on us too. Ruined the lipstick because we put the lid on and scrunched the stuff down.
“WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE Y'ALL DOING!!!!! Good Grief I thought, she didn't havta' holler so loud. Nere busted my ears! The four of us scrambled to attention as fast as we could. Norman started bellerin' and I told him to Shut Up. “YOU SHUT UP CLYDENE”! That was Mamma sayin that so I shet up fast. We were waiting patiently for the storm of all storms. Mamma told us not to move an inch, I mean not an inch! I'll be right back.
“Oh Gosh, were a' gonna get it now”, I said. From the other room came, “DON'T EVEN TALK”. I was thinking 'shoot fire' I think we'd outta go out that door there and run as far as we can away from here.
We heard Mamma coming back so we snapped back to attention. Heck fire she went and got sumptin. My mind was running wild about what that sumptin was and I'll bet the other three were thinking on those same wave lengths.
When Mamma came through the door she had the most beautiful smile on her face I think I've ever seen. She had Grandpas old black box camera. She herded us out in the yard and took two pictures of us. Now who would have thought Mamma would think we were too cute to spank? Never figured that one out till my Richard did some similar things. Mamma's are just like that I recon. YEP!!! I have looked for that picture in Mamma's pictures ever since I talked to Brenda but it is not here. Oh My How I wish I could see that picture again!!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
FRIDAY NIGHT FUDGE PARTIES
12-02-09...FRIDAY NIGHT FUDGE PARTIES
Friday nights in the winter was our fudge parties. Brenda and I would be at one house together. Sometimes Mamma and Auntie had to pool their stuff so we'd have what was needed for the fudge.
Now this wasn't the fudge like we all make today. Nope, We didn't know there was any kind but what we made.
We'd assemble our stuff all on the old kitchen table. The recipe was on the Hershey's cocoa box. We used a big skillet to cook it in. Now this was not like the skillets we have today either. It was a skillet that used to be used on wood cook stoves. Had a long handle that did not get hot. The one we had was bent to heck and everything run to the center as you cooked it. I don't know why that particular skillet was used but it always was.
In the skillet went sugar, (three heaps) milk, dash of salt,& some cocoa powder. Now don't turn the burner on yet. First get that big ol' white platter. Spread a dollup of butter out on it and set it back on the table. Get a saucer and put a little cold water in it. Set the vanilla flavoring by that and some more butter. (Now let me explain, this is not what it stated on the can but how we talked to one another as we assembled it all.)
Now get the ingredients in the pan mixed real good and turn the burner on low. There was a container hanging on the wall near by that had yellow flowers on it. That was the match box holder. You had to strike a match on the side of the box, turn the gas on a smidge and stick the flame to it till the burner lit up. Quiet a production. The stove was white enamel with green stripes. Yep, Really! There were four burners. It sat up on four legs. The oven was on the side and it was big. Just threw that in for good measure in case some of you don't know what we cooked on then.
Now there was a teakettle of water always on the back burner with a low flame to always have hot water. The water stand had a shelf on bottom and there were two dishpans for washing and scalding dishes. Well Heck fire I done went and got sidetracked on all that, better get back to the fudge.
Now came cooking. It was definitely not five minute fudge. Bring the ingridients to a bubblin boil stiring constantly. Reduce heat and cook till a smidgen of it forms a soft ball when dropped in cold water. Yep! We dropped so many balls in there that the water in the saucer was brown. We knew it wasn't done but we liked to eat the cooled stuff outta' the water. YEP! We usually had it running off the table. Now when the perfect soft ball was formed, remove from heat, add I teaspoon vanilla and a dolup of butter. Take turns beating it with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens up a bit and don't look so shiny. Pour in the buttered platter and spread out good. Get a spoon and test it till its cool and hard enough to cut with a knife. Eat all that off the spoon you tested it with. YUMMY!
You can't have a big piece till your mess is all cleaned up. That's where the hot water and the dishpans come in. Oh My Gosh was that stuff good!
Now if you guys were listinin good you outta be able to make the best darn fudge you ever wrapped your mouth on.
Good Grief but I'm hungry!!!!!
Friday nights in the winter was our fudge parties. Brenda and I would be at one house together. Sometimes Mamma and Auntie had to pool their stuff so we'd have what was needed for the fudge.
Now this wasn't the fudge like we all make today. Nope, We didn't know there was any kind but what we made.
We'd assemble our stuff all on the old kitchen table. The recipe was on the Hershey's cocoa box. We used a big skillet to cook it in. Now this was not like the skillets we have today either. It was a skillet that used to be used on wood cook stoves. Had a long handle that did not get hot. The one we had was bent to heck and everything run to the center as you cooked it. I don't know why that particular skillet was used but it always was.
In the skillet went sugar, (three heaps) milk, dash of salt,& some cocoa powder. Now don't turn the burner on yet. First get that big ol' white platter. Spread a dollup of butter out on it and set it back on the table. Get a saucer and put a little cold water in it. Set the vanilla flavoring by that and some more butter. (Now let me explain, this is not what it stated on the can but how we talked to one another as we assembled it all.)
Now get the ingredients in the pan mixed real good and turn the burner on low. There was a container hanging on the wall near by that had yellow flowers on it. That was the match box holder. You had to strike a match on the side of the box, turn the gas on a smidge and stick the flame to it till the burner lit up. Quiet a production. The stove was white enamel with green stripes. Yep, Really! There were four burners. It sat up on four legs. The oven was on the side and it was big. Just threw that in for good measure in case some of you don't know what we cooked on then.
Now there was a teakettle of water always on the back burner with a low flame to always have hot water. The water stand had a shelf on bottom and there were two dishpans for washing and scalding dishes. Well Heck fire I done went and got sidetracked on all that, better get back to the fudge.
Now came cooking. It was definitely not five minute fudge. Bring the ingridients to a bubblin boil stiring constantly. Reduce heat and cook till a smidgen of it forms a soft ball when dropped in cold water. Yep! We dropped so many balls in there that the water in the saucer was brown. We knew it wasn't done but we liked to eat the cooled stuff outta' the water. YEP! We usually had it running off the table. Now when the perfect soft ball was formed, remove from heat, add I teaspoon vanilla and a dolup of butter. Take turns beating it with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens up a bit and don't look so shiny. Pour in the buttered platter and spread out good. Get a spoon and test it till its cool and hard enough to cut with a knife. Eat all that off the spoon you tested it with. YUMMY!
You can't have a big piece till your mess is all cleaned up. That's where the hot water and the dishpans come in. Oh My Gosh was that stuff good!
Now if you guys were listinin good you outta be able to make the best darn fudge you ever wrapped your mouth on.
Good Grief but I'm hungry!!!!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I'M GOIN DOWN PUNCHIN
11-25-09...I'M GOIN DOWN PUNCHIN
I'm here writing this because I have much to say and here all my best acquaintances hopefully will see it.
I was talking to a friend about my health problems one day and we were discussing things that can maybe help. During the conversation I remember saying that my Daddy always said he wants to die with his boots on and I feel the same way. In other words I want to live till I die not vegetate to live. I want Biscuits and gravy with lots of bacon. I want chocolate cake, I want #2 Sonic Burgers, fries and a shake. My friend said something to the affect of, Do you want to live or die. I want to live until I die is my answer.
I watched my Mamma and many more over the years deteriorate from healthy and robust to skin and bones. It will happen! That's a fact. When we finally had to check Mamma in to a nursing home all she really wanted to eat was sausage gravy and biscuits. Well No Mrs Thomas You can't have that because of too much salt. You can't have that big red juicy piece of watermelon Mrs. Thomas, because you are restricted on fluids. It was the same thing day by day. My Mamma was very sick and had no appetite. She would eat only these things and enjoyed only these things. My Brother and I decided why let her lay there and starve because they had her foods restricted. DUH!! Answer is you don't. At least that was our answer. I told everyone who would listen,(and some who wouldn't) that we wanted my Mamma to have anything she would eat, no diets and restrictions. I took her a little bowl of watermelon one day and you would have thought I'd committed murder. OH NO, She can't have that. To heck she can't, Just try and stop her. Her Dr said, I'll take care of the Dr. Did that shorten her life? Maybe a little but Mamma lived till she died, she didn't starve.
My Daddy was dieing and he knew it. He wanted to come home from the hosp. To die with his boots on and Daddy got to live at home for one whole week. I cooked Daddy a steak and potatoes the night before he died. My Daddy was not eating, my Daddy wanted steak and potatoes. End of story.
One morning while I was in the hosp they brought me scrambled eggs and a biscuit for breakfast. I hadn't been eating anything but that morning I would have eaten those eggs if they would have allowed me just a bit of salt. Of course you know they wouldn't let me have it. So, No breakfast.
When The Dr's office called me last night and told me my kidneys are not functioning well and thus not able to pump all the fluids through I thought OK Here we go again! Now I'm not stupid enough to go in the kitchen and eat a box of salt but I will eat some salt. I wont eat as much salt and who knows I might get used to no salt in time but heck fire I weight 160lbs. And I saw my Mamma go from 160 lbs. To 136 lbs in 16 days. Mamma never gained a pound back but just kept going down. So when my Mamma looked like a skeleton lying there in bed and she wanted some sausage & gravy------ Well you know what happened. I just Pray that someone will do that for me.
So today, (or maybe years ago) I made up my mind, I don't care if I've got my boots on but I want to live till I die. Don't want to be deprived of the only things I like just to give me a few more, days/weeks/years? I want to enjoy every day I can and go down punchin' by golly! YEP!!
I'm here writing this because I have much to say and here all my best acquaintances hopefully will see it.
I was talking to a friend about my health problems one day and we were discussing things that can maybe help. During the conversation I remember saying that my Daddy always said he wants to die with his boots on and I feel the same way. In other words I want to live till I die not vegetate to live. I want Biscuits and gravy with lots of bacon. I want chocolate cake, I want #2 Sonic Burgers, fries and a shake. My friend said something to the affect of, Do you want to live or die. I want to live until I die is my answer.
I watched my Mamma and many more over the years deteriorate from healthy and robust to skin and bones. It will happen! That's a fact. When we finally had to check Mamma in to a nursing home all she really wanted to eat was sausage gravy and biscuits. Well No Mrs Thomas You can't have that because of too much salt. You can't have that big red juicy piece of watermelon Mrs. Thomas, because you are restricted on fluids. It was the same thing day by day. My Mamma was very sick and had no appetite. She would eat only these things and enjoyed only these things. My Brother and I decided why let her lay there and starve because they had her foods restricted. DUH!! Answer is you don't. At least that was our answer. I told everyone who would listen,(and some who wouldn't) that we wanted my Mamma to have anything she would eat, no diets and restrictions. I took her a little bowl of watermelon one day and you would have thought I'd committed murder. OH NO, She can't have that. To heck she can't, Just try and stop her. Her Dr said, I'll take care of the Dr. Did that shorten her life? Maybe a little but Mamma lived till she died, she didn't starve.
My Daddy was dieing and he knew it. He wanted to come home from the hosp. To die with his boots on and Daddy got to live at home for one whole week. I cooked Daddy a steak and potatoes the night before he died. My Daddy was not eating, my Daddy wanted steak and potatoes. End of story.
One morning while I was in the hosp they brought me scrambled eggs and a biscuit for breakfast. I hadn't been eating anything but that morning I would have eaten those eggs if they would have allowed me just a bit of salt. Of course you know they wouldn't let me have it. So, No breakfast.
When The Dr's office called me last night and told me my kidneys are not functioning well and thus not able to pump all the fluids through I thought OK Here we go again! Now I'm not stupid enough to go in the kitchen and eat a box of salt but I will eat some salt. I wont eat as much salt and who knows I might get used to no salt in time but heck fire I weight 160lbs. And I saw my Mamma go from 160 lbs. To 136 lbs in 16 days. Mamma never gained a pound back but just kept going down. So when my Mamma looked like a skeleton lying there in bed and she wanted some sausage & gravy------ Well you know what happened. I just Pray that someone will do that for me.
So today, (or maybe years ago) I made up my mind, I don't care if I've got my boots on but I want to live till I die. Don't want to be deprived of the only things I like just to give me a few more, days/weeks/years? I want to enjoy every day I can and go down punchin' by golly! YEP!!
Friday, November 6, 2009
MY RED SHOES
11-5-09...MY RED SHOES
We didn't get shoes every time we had a whim then, but got them when we needed them. I had Church shoes, white in summer, black in winter, and school shoes. I needed school shoes badly I guess. Mamma was sick so Daddy took me to Dryers Shoe Store to buy my shoes.
I sat down and Daddy told the lady what we needed. Everyone knew the difference in Church and School shoes then even the clerks in the stores.
She brought out several pairs for Daddies inspection. I spotted a pair of red shoes and I wanted them. The lady put them on my foot and I knew right away they were too tight. I also knew that Daddy would squeeze them at the toes to see if they were long enough. I scrunched up my toes as far as I could and Daddy felt where my 'Toe' was and he was satisfied. I got my red shoes and had been wearing them to school for about two weeks. They really hurt my toes but I wasn't about to say anything.
One night I was sitting in the floor barefoot and Daddy said, "Clydene what is wrong with your toes"? "Nothing Daddy Why"? The jig was up. My toes were an awful sight I guess because Mamma and Daddy both had a fit as they examined my toes. When they figured out why Daddy said, "Clydene why in the world did you get those shoes if you knew they were going to hurt your feet"? I told him that I wanted those red shoes and I knew he wouldn't let me have them too little. Mamma and Daddy both told me ,"Clydene they had other sizes I'm sure. You could have still had the red shoes". Well heck fire I didn't even think of that. Shoot fire!
They couldn't afford another pair of shoes right then so My Auntie bought me another pair. No they were not the red shoes I wanted but I wore them anyway.
I was about nine then and should have known better but I wanted that pair of red shoes and cost my Parents more money later. GOOD GRIEF!!!
We didn't get shoes every time we had a whim then, but got them when we needed them. I had Church shoes, white in summer, black in winter, and school shoes. I needed school shoes badly I guess. Mamma was sick so Daddy took me to Dryers Shoe Store to buy my shoes.
I sat down and Daddy told the lady what we needed. Everyone knew the difference in Church and School shoes then even the clerks in the stores.
She brought out several pairs for Daddies inspection. I spotted a pair of red shoes and I wanted them. The lady put them on my foot and I knew right away they were too tight. I also knew that Daddy would squeeze them at the toes to see if they were long enough. I scrunched up my toes as far as I could and Daddy felt where my 'Toe' was and he was satisfied. I got my red shoes and had been wearing them to school for about two weeks. They really hurt my toes but I wasn't about to say anything.
One night I was sitting in the floor barefoot and Daddy said, "Clydene what is wrong with your toes"? "Nothing Daddy Why"? The jig was up. My toes were an awful sight I guess because Mamma and Daddy both had a fit as they examined my toes. When they figured out why Daddy said, "Clydene why in the world did you get those shoes if you knew they were going to hurt your feet"? I told him that I wanted those red shoes and I knew he wouldn't let me have them too little. Mamma and Daddy both told me ,"Clydene they had other sizes I'm sure. You could have still had the red shoes". Well heck fire I didn't even think of that. Shoot fire!
They couldn't afford another pair of shoes right then so My Auntie bought me another pair. No they were not the red shoes I wanted but I wore them anyway.
I was about nine then and should have known better but I wanted that pair of red shoes and cost my Parents more money later. GOOD GRIEF!!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
BOJANGLES
11-02-09...BOJANGLES
I was away for two days and nights. When I got home yesterday evening I was told that my Poodle Moses had not eaten or drank anything. He just sit where he could watch the road and waited for me. He has never done this before and it bothers me. He ate so much when I got home that he vomited it up last night.
This morning he is on my heels and I can't get out of his sight.
This made me remember a little stray dog I had in Missouri in the 80's. His name was BoJangles because he 'followed' the boys home they said. I made them leave him outside for five days and we put an add in the paper that we had found a dog. The boys fed him and made him a bed. He was a pitiful looking thing. Stringy hair and sad eyes. His belly drug the ground because there was about a foot of snow where we lived in Idaho.
After five days and no replies to our ads he was ours. We brought him in and gave him a good bath, brushed him shiny and called him BoJangles. He learned his name fast.
We noticed that he would not eat out of a bowl. We tried all kinds and he acted scared of it. We figuered that he had been whipped out of pet bowls in the neighborhood. The boys fed him by hand and I gave them a spoon to feed him soft foods. Yes! He ate right out of that spoon.
We took BoJangles to a vet and a groomer. They both estimated his age at 16.
We had BoJangles for 6 years while we traveled all over the US. He rode with us and seemed to love it. When we got near home he would stand up in the window and whine. He knew where he was.
I left him with our vet once when we were gone for two weeks. When we picked him up his eyes were swolen from crying. The Vets wife tried to get him to eat but he would not. He was sooo skinny. Took us a while to faten him back up. I never left him again.
BoJangles went blind and his kidneys failed. We had to have him put to sleep. Just broke all our hearts. He was a part of our family and we all loved him.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?
10-27-09...WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING?
I've been looking for Thanksgiving this morning and all I can find is Halloween. Since I don't do Halloween I am ready for Thanksgiving to be seen. I was trying to find pictures and graphics and there are very few to be found. The ones I did find presisted in putting that blasted turkey on them. Don't want them. Nope!
When in the world did Thanksgiving become turkey day? Good grief turkey does not stand for Thanksgiving. Who started that? I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.
Stores are all decorated and pushing halloween. Halloween is definitely not a holiday for me. They go right from halloween to Christmas and they are even trying to do away with the meaning of Christmas by saying Happy Holiday. I don't answer to that, Its Merry Christmas or I don't answer.
When I was growing up Thanksgiving was as special a day as Christmas. Now it is just passed by by most. What a shame! I'm going to make it my business to bring back Thanksgiving!!!!
I've been looking for Thanksgiving this morning and all I can find is Halloween. Since I don't do Halloween I am ready for Thanksgiving to be seen. I was trying to find pictures and graphics and there are very few to be found. The ones I did find presisted in putting that blasted turkey on them. Don't want them. Nope!
When in the world did Thanksgiving become turkey day? Good grief turkey does not stand for Thanksgiving. Who started that? I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.
Stores are all decorated and pushing halloween. Halloween is definitely not a holiday for me. They go right from halloween to Christmas and they are even trying to do away with the meaning of Christmas by saying Happy Holiday. I don't answer to that, Its Merry Christmas or I don't answer.
When I was growing up Thanksgiving was as special a day as Christmas. Now it is just passed by by most. What a shame! I'm going to make it my business to bring back Thanksgiving!!!!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
NOSTALGIC TIMES
10-24-09...NOSTALGIC TIMES
I got a catalogue in the mail today and set down to look through it. Just a wish book because I wasn't going to buy anything. It is a Christmas book and boy did I ever wish! I got to noticing how they are reviving things from the past. Simple things then but with a huge price attached now.
Remember Chenille robes that ladies all ued to wear? And Chenielle bedspreads? That was the only kind of bed spread or robes I ever remember having then... Well here they were in this catalogue. Just brought back so many memories. I thought Boy I'd love to have one of those now. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the prices. Good Grief, they were much higher than any other bedspread or robe in the book. Mamma had a blue chenielle robe and I can still feel it next to me as I snuggled in her lap. Is that another way of ripping us oldies off? Could be.
Next thing I saw was as set of those bubble lights that were on the Christmas trees then. We never had any but my Aunt Georgia had a set of them and I was just facinated with them. Different colors all bubbly. I'd love to have a set of those. But again they are called nostalgic pieces. ( Whatever to heck that means) $35.00 for a string of those things. No Thank you. I can't afford them but just looking at them gave me a warm fuzzy feeling as I remembered sitting by Aunt Georgia's tree and watching those bubbling lights for hours it seemed.
Things are just not as simple or joyous anymore for me and I sure miss those nostalgic times. Don't you?
I got a catalogue in the mail today and set down to look through it. Just a wish book because I wasn't going to buy anything. It is a Christmas book and boy did I ever wish! I got to noticing how they are reviving things from the past. Simple things then but with a huge price attached now.
Remember Chenille robes that ladies all ued to wear? And Chenielle bedspreads? That was the only kind of bed spread or robes I ever remember having then... Well here they were in this catalogue. Just brought back so many memories. I thought Boy I'd love to have one of those now. I almost fell off my chair when I saw the prices. Good Grief, they were much higher than any other bedspread or robe in the book. Mamma had a blue chenielle robe and I can still feel it next to me as I snuggled in her lap. Is that another way of ripping us oldies off? Could be.
Next thing I saw was as set of those bubble lights that were on the Christmas trees then. We never had any but my Aunt Georgia had a set of them and I was just facinated with them. Different colors all bubbly. I'd love to have a set of those. But again they are called nostalgic pieces. ( Whatever to heck that means) $35.00 for a string of those things. No Thank you. I can't afford them but just looking at them gave me a warm fuzzy feeling as I remembered sitting by Aunt Georgia's tree and watching those bubbling lights for hours it seemed.
Things are just not as simple or joyous anymore for me and I sure miss those nostalgic times. Don't you?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
MY WONDERFUL MAMMA
10-21-09...MY WONDERFUL MAMMA
My Mamma was fisty just like me. But different from me because she hardly ever showed a temper. She would not argue with anyone and never gossiped. She told me that if someone was talking about someone else for me to always say something nice like, "Well look what a pretty sweater or dress they have on". I was not as good at that as Mamma is my Brother Norman is more like Mamma in that way.
We never had much but Mamma could make a good meal for us out of the least thing she had.
Mamma had to work hard. Daddy had to work away from home in another state so that left Mamma to take care of us and everything around the home.
I can remember Mamma taking care of Norman and me when we had the mumphs. Thing was Mamma had the mumps right along with us and still took care of us, milked the cow, sloped the hogs, fed the chickens, and cooked.
I was almost five when my Brother was born. I remember Mamma having to also do all these chores when she was pregnant and big with Norman. I never heard her complain. Daddy had to go and work she said, and that was all the work he could get.
Mamma had a rough childhood during the depression. They never had enough to eat. Their house leaked and had big cracks in the walls. If it rained they all had to find a dry spot to sleep and put pans under the leaks. Mamma said Grandma could also make something good out of nothing.
Kids picked on Mamma and Her Sister in School and made fun of them because they only had one dress and brought beans for their lunch.
Mamma would give away anything she had if she thought you wanted it. My Brother said one day a few years ago that he fully expected to go to her apartment someday and find Mamma setting in the floor because she had given everything she had away. That was my Mamma. She has been gone six years now. On her headstone we put, SHE LEFT THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE FROM BEING HERE.... YEP that's the truth.
Mamma on the right...Mamma with Me and Norman
MY SON RICHARD
10-21-09...GROWING UP WITH RICHARD
I had such a good time growing with my Son Richard. I had lost hope of ever having my own little baby when he was finally born. Oh what joy. A feeling down inside me I had never known and will never know again.
I just stopped everything else and devoted my time to enjoying and protecting Richard. We spent so much quality time together. Going fishing, on picnics, walks, or just sitting on a chair together while I read him a book.
Today I am thinking of all the sweet and funny things Richard said in early childhood.
Richard's Dad loved him but he was a mean alcoholic and his language was awful so of course Richard listened and repeated. He didn't really know what he was saying but I spent a lot of time trying to teach him the difference between bad words and good words. I want to list a few of the times when his sweet little voice came out with an undesirable word and I smiled in spite of myself.
Richard and I were outside one day and encountered a snake in my flower bed. It was hissing at us and coiling up like it was going to strike. I grabbed Richard and took off around the house meaning to get a hoe to kill it. As we ran Richard yelled, "Mamma get the GD shotgun and kill that SOB" Oh my goodness , I wanted to laugh, I wanted to correct, and I wanted to get rid of the snake. What I did was get in a giggle fit. Later that night I told him those words were bad even if Daddy did say them.
Another time My Daddy gave Richard a silver dollar. Richard said, "That's a GD silver hundred dollars". Now when my Daddy got tickled of course I did too.
I spent a lot of nights explaining to Richard that all these words were bad and we couldn't say them. He didn't understand then but he did later. God Bless His Sweet Heart. I'll see him again some day and we will once again giggle.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
MY DADDY THE GIANT
10-20-09...MY DADDY
My Daddy was a small statured man. 5/7, size 7 shoe, 160 lbs. Small to some but a giant to me. I thought he was 10 ft. tall and could do anything in the world. Daddy was quiet and gentle most of the time. Slow to anger but scrappy when provoked. Daddy had a hard life. Had to quit school in the 2nd grade and work on Papa's farm. Papa seemed to think that girls needed to be in school but as he put it, Boys needed to work not push a pencil.
Daddy's Mamma died when Daddy was still a baby and Papa remarried. The step mother was not good to Daddy. Even would pray for Daddy to die. I was told that Papa didn't know about this and I choose to believe that because I loved my Papa.
Daddy left home when he was 15 to escape his hard life. He lived with his Sister and her family and joined the CCC camp since he couldn't get in the regular army with only one eye. Later he went down in the dark coal mines the only work he could get with his education. He worked in the mines for 27 yrs. I had a great life growing up in a house full of love and laughter. We never had much but our lives were full and I never suspected we were poor.
My Daddy was a small statured man. 5/7, size 7 shoe, 160 lbs. Small to some but a giant to me. I thought he was 10 ft. tall and could do anything in the world. Daddy was quiet and gentle most of the time. Slow to anger but scrappy when provoked. Daddy had a hard life. Had to quit school in the 2nd grade and work on Papa's farm. Papa seemed to think that girls needed to be in school but as he put it, Boys needed to work not push a pencil.
Daddy's Mamma died when Daddy was still a baby and Papa remarried. The step mother was not good to Daddy. Even would pray for Daddy to die. I was told that Papa didn't know about this and I choose to believe that because I loved my Papa.
Daddy left home when he was 15 to escape his hard life. He lived with his Sister and her family and joined the CCC camp since he couldn't get in the regular army with only one eye. Later he went down in the dark coal mines the only work he could get with his education. He worked in the mines for 27 yrs. I had a great life growing up in a house full of love and laughter. We never had much but our lives were full and I never suspected we were poor.
Monday, October 19, 2009
MY GRANDMA
10-19-09...My Grandma
My grandma was only 5-2 and she weighed 250 lbs when she was young. She was quiet a sight. The first time I saw her I was two and while I have vague memories of the time I can't remember much. We traveled from Ar. to corcoran california on thr train to visit. I don't remember how long we stayed but that was the first and only time I ever saw my grandpa.
Grandma came to Ar. to live with us when grandpa died. I was 8.
Grandma and I got very close after a while but at first I resented having to sleep with her. I got used to it when on cold winter nights she kept me warm and on hot nights she laid and fanned me with a paper.
My mom and dad worked outside the home later on and grandma did the cooking and cleaning. She taught me a lot. I love buttermilk and I remember her making it with powdered milk. I wish I knew how she did it but can't remember.
She made jams without the sure gel we use now and it was scrumptious. She pressed the fruit through a cheese cloth and then cooked it to jel consistency on the stove. I was usually there watching her.
Sometimes when we got home from school there would be a cake for us. I loved her sorghum cakes. Another thing I wish I could make now. Grandma couldn't pass on recipes because she just dumped things together, no recipe. her measurements were, a pinch, a dollop, a handful, and it was hard to duplicate.Grandmas aren't like that anymore. Now they look as young as their daughters.
My grandma was only 5-2 and she weighed 250 lbs when she was young. She was quiet a sight. The first time I saw her I was two and while I have vague memories of the time I can't remember much. We traveled from Ar. to corcoran california on thr train to visit. I don't remember how long we stayed but that was the first and only time I ever saw my grandpa.
Grandma came to Ar. to live with us when grandpa died. I was 8.
Grandma and I got very close after a while but at first I resented having to sleep with her. I got used to it when on cold winter nights she kept me warm and on hot nights she laid and fanned me with a paper.
My mom and dad worked outside the home later on and grandma did the cooking and cleaning. She taught me a lot. I love buttermilk and I remember her making it with powdered milk. I wish I knew how she did it but can't remember.
She made jams without the sure gel we use now and it was scrumptious. She pressed the fruit through a cheese cloth and then cooked it to jel consistency on the stove. I was usually there watching her.
Sometimes when we got home from school there would be a cake for us. I loved her sorghum cakes. Another thing I wish I could make now. Grandma couldn't pass on recipes because she just dumped things together, no recipe. her measurements were, a pinch, a dollop, a handful, and it was hard to duplicate.Grandmas aren't like that anymore. Now they look as young as their daughters.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
THE MONSTER ATTACK
10-16-09...THE MONSTER ATTACK
I was in the kitchen trying to get my dishes loaded in the dishwasher after dinner today. My dog Moses always comes in there and rattles his food dish everytime he finds me busy. Rattle, Rattle, Thump, Thump. Wait a minute Moses can't you see I'm busy. Oh yes I talk to my dog. He understands me perfectly too, just don't listen very well.
I got agravated at him. I slamed a spoon down on the counter, dried my hands, and said Darn you Moses I'm gonna' get your food so you'll get out of here and leave me alone.
The dog food sack in in the bottom of the cabinet. I cut the top out and just set it in there for easy access because he always does that.
Well I shoved my hand down in the sack and got hold of something besides dog food. That something else was warm and fuzzy and alive! I shrieked to the top of my lungs and did the watusi the best I could across the kitchen. Thing was I hadn't let go of the warm, fuzzy, live thing in my hand and so far had not even looked at it.
It started to squirm and reminded me it was there. That's when I looked at what I was clutching. I looked in to the little beety eyes of a dang mouse. I shreiked again. Moses started barking furiously and I heard Don gettin' up out of his recliner where he had dozed off. Shreik, watusi, shreik, watusi.
Just as Don came in to the kitchen as fast as his little short legs would carry him, I realized I still had that gag blamed mouse in my hand and I threw it with all my might still shreiking and watusi-ing. Guess where I threw the mouse? You guessed it, Right smack dab in Don's face! YEP! Sure nuff did!!
When I saw what I had done I got a giggle fit. I mean to tell you a rip-roarin' full blown giggle fit! The look on his face just tore me up and I was un-glued.
Don didn't think it was one little bit funny and he told me so. Moses was dancing round' us barking and I couldn't quit giggling.
After it all settled down a bit the mouse was long gone. I got me a piece of nylon string and secured the top of the bag. No more mice are gettin' in there I'll tell you for sure. When I get to town I'll buy a can with a lid to keep the food in.
I was in the kitchen trying to get my dishes loaded in the dishwasher after dinner today. My dog Moses always comes in there and rattles his food dish everytime he finds me busy. Rattle, Rattle, Thump, Thump. Wait a minute Moses can't you see I'm busy. Oh yes I talk to my dog. He understands me perfectly too, just don't listen very well.
I got agravated at him. I slamed a spoon down on the counter, dried my hands, and said Darn you Moses I'm gonna' get your food so you'll get out of here and leave me alone.
The dog food sack in in the bottom of the cabinet. I cut the top out and just set it in there for easy access because he always does that.
Well I shoved my hand down in the sack and got hold of something besides dog food. That something else was warm and fuzzy and alive! I shrieked to the top of my lungs and did the watusi the best I could across the kitchen. Thing was I hadn't let go of the warm, fuzzy, live thing in my hand and so far had not even looked at it.
It started to squirm and reminded me it was there. That's when I looked at what I was clutching. I looked in to the little beety eyes of a dang mouse. I shreiked again. Moses started barking furiously and I heard Don gettin' up out of his recliner where he had dozed off. Shreik, watusi, shreik, watusi.
Just as Don came in to the kitchen as fast as his little short legs would carry him, I realized I still had that gag blamed mouse in my hand and I threw it with all my might still shreiking and watusi-ing. Guess where I threw the mouse? You guessed it, Right smack dab in Don's face! YEP! Sure nuff did!!
When I saw what I had done I got a giggle fit. I mean to tell you a rip-roarin' full blown giggle fit! The look on his face just tore me up and I was un-glued.
Don didn't think it was one little bit funny and he told me so. Moses was dancing round' us barking and I couldn't quit giggling.
After it all settled down a bit the mouse was long gone. I got me a piece of nylon string and secured the top of the bag. No more mice are gettin' in there I'll tell you for sure. When I get to town I'll buy a can with a lid to keep the food in.
MY HELICOPTER RIDE
10-15-09...MY HELICOPTER RIDE
I guess I'll tell my experience with a helicopter ride. My first and last ride might I add.
I was working in a buffet in Laughlin Nevada. People came in there to gamble at the casino. I didn't approve of the place or what it did but I sure approved of the money I got in tips. I worked there for about nine months through one summer and winter. I hated it there. So hot. On Christmas day that year it was 75* and I cried like a big baby to go home to Missouri where there was snow.
Anyway back to the helicopter ride. The casino was called Riverside because it sat on the Co. river or some river I'm not sure which. The man who owned the casino lived up on the very top in the executive suite with his young wife. They had a helicopter that was kept up there so they could just walk out their door and get on. Kind of like we have our cars. They took the helicopter across the river to whereever they were going.
That Christmas he decided to take all his employees on a moonlight ride down the river for Christmas. I said NO WAY NO HOW am I getting on that thing anytime and for sure I aint getting on it at night. Nope.
As the time grew closer for our "GIFT", I kept saying no. My co workers kept on at me to go. after all they said, this might be your last chance to do this. Well like a goony bird I finally agreed to go.
I can't remember exactly but I think 3 went up at one time. I made my partners let me sit in the middle. I didn't want to see anything. By Golly I was planning to keep my eyes closed.
When we lifted off that big tall building I left my stomach behind and never could find it. But I sure nuff found my supper. I'll try to make this as delicate as I can. My supper spewed out like a volcano. Everywhere there was a surface my supper made it's self known and stunk to high heaven. I mean rotten stink. Oh My God, Just when I thought I was through the Banana Flambe came in all its glory. My partners were spewed, the glass was spewed, everything was spewed. I was never so embarraced in my life!
The pilot turned around as soon as he could and took us back to the launch pad. I had to go down the elevator with my friends. I apologised all the way. One of them said, "Just shut your mouth and don't do it in here."
So guys that is my great helicopter ride. I had forgotten all about it till Barb and Audrey told their stories. Now I think I'll do my best to forget it again. YEP!!
I guess I'll tell my experience with a helicopter ride. My first and last ride might I add.
I was working in a buffet in Laughlin Nevada. People came in there to gamble at the casino. I didn't approve of the place or what it did but I sure approved of the money I got in tips. I worked there for about nine months through one summer and winter. I hated it there. So hot. On Christmas day that year it was 75* and I cried like a big baby to go home to Missouri where there was snow.
Anyway back to the helicopter ride. The casino was called Riverside because it sat on the Co. river or some river I'm not sure which. The man who owned the casino lived up on the very top in the executive suite with his young wife. They had a helicopter that was kept up there so they could just walk out their door and get on. Kind of like we have our cars. They took the helicopter across the river to whereever they were going.
That Christmas he decided to take all his employees on a moonlight ride down the river for Christmas. I said NO WAY NO HOW am I getting on that thing anytime and for sure I aint getting on it at night. Nope.
As the time grew closer for our "GIFT", I kept saying no. My co workers kept on at me to go. after all they said, this might be your last chance to do this. Well like a goony bird I finally agreed to go.
I can't remember exactly but I think 3 went up at one time. I made my partners let me sit in the middle. I didn't want to see anything. By Golly I was planning to keep my eyes closed.
When we lifted off that big tall building I left my stomach behind and never could find it. But I sure nuff found my supper. I'll try to make this as delicate as I can. My supper spewed out like a volcano. Everywhere there was a surface my supper made it's self known and stunk to high heaven. I mean rotten stink. Oh My God, Just when I thought I was through the Banana Flambe came in all its glory. My partners were spewed, the glass was spewed, everything was spewed. I was never so embarraced in my life!
The pilot turned around as soon as he could and took us back to the launch pad. I had to go down the elevator with my friends. I apologised all the way. One of them said, "Just shut your mouth and don't do it in here."
So guys that is my great helicopter ride. I had forgotten all about it till Barb and Audrey told their stories. Now I think I'll do my best to forget it again. YEP!!
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