I was thirty-four years old when my youngest child was born. His older brother and sister were twelve and ten. Needless to say, he never wanted for entertainment. It’s a wonder he learned to walk before he was one year old, since someone was always carrying him, but he did. When he started talking, it was in paragraphs with an extensive vocabulary. His outgoing and sweet personality was evident early on. He still has it.
He grew up, graduated from college and married his beautiful college sweetheart. Now, they have an amazing baby girl. She has the sweetest disposition to go along with her beautiful blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair. Her mom says she’s just like her dad…and she is!
Above and below: love their similar expressions!
Below: walking with her Dad, wearing her Urlacher jersey with her tutu and Mary Janes!
There’s something special about a brand new tablet with little blue lines, the untouched pages of a sketch book or a totally blank journal. They wait to be filled…with words, paragraphs, stories. They wait to record the new year in a life.
What used to come so easy for me is harder just now – the words. It is a time in my life when I am being careful with my feelings and not quite putting those into words. It is a time when my life is being reinvented. Without a doubt, it is a time when I must choose to move forward and be happy.
While I am not making any “resolutions” as such, I am going to work on a few things…
After 6 years and literally thousands of photographs, my camera is at death’s door. I’d love to have a Canon EOS…I think…I’ll do a little more research. I’d like to find a community college here and enroll in a photography class.
I’ve started a series of children’s books that I’d like to finally have published.
I’d like to learn to crochet and knit (something other than a scarf). As many “elderly” (I’m not one of them!) 😉 people as there are in this condo building, I’m guessing there is someone here who could teach me. If not, I’ll find a class.
I purchased a new sewing machine and I’m looking forward to creating adorable outfits for my grandchildren. I have six beautiful granddaughters, so that’s a lot of sewing! I’m sure I can come up with some things my two grandsons would enjoy as well.
I would like to finally finish sorting and organizing the thousands of photos taken over my lifetime!
I NEED to get involved in a “life group” at church and make some friends.
I love the cover of this journal below. It’s empty for now. My thirteen year old granddaughter journals faithfully every day. Most likely, I will give it to her and simply keep a private journal on my computer. It is easier to think with my fingers on the keyboard.
Here’s wishing each of you a happy and healthy 2013…filled with time with your family making wonderful memories!
A friend from high school posted the youtube video clip below on Facebook. It reminded me of a post that I had written about coming home from college for Christmas in that very same 1963 snowstorm! Thought I’d share the post here and give you a first hand look at what I was describing in the video below…
The days on the calendar flew quickly by. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and I was looking forward to a nice long break at Christmas. I was tired and “run down”, to use one of Mama’s expressions, after a bout with strep throat and a high fever. I had even managed to spend a few days and nights as a patient at the infirmary where I worked. The Christmas break would give me a chance to rest and catch up on all the school work I’d fallen behind on…not to mention preparing for the finals the week after my return to school. Not the best way to spend Christmas vacation, but I was thankful for the time.
It snowed the day before we were to leave for Christmas break. A deep blanket of white covered the campus. Icicles hung from the chapel and other buildings and weighed heavily on the tree branches. Everything glistened in the bright sunlight. It was a winter wonderland in the deep South. No one had come prepared with boots but we still tromped in the snow, throwing snowballs at one another and basically acting thirteen again. It added to the excitement of going home.
I was riding home with Sandra, one of my friends from Memphis, who was also a freshman there. Her boyfriend Mike had come down to drive us back to Memphis. It seems there was someone else with us on the trip…but I can’t quite remember who it was. I gently remind myself that it has been forty-five years.
It continued to snow all that day, and the roads had turned into a solid sheet of ice. Driving was reported to be treacherous at best. Under normal circumstances, the trip took four hours. We left school about eleven o’clock in the morning right after our last class. It didn’t take long, or very many miles, to know we were not looking forward to this trip. Mike was a good driver but totally inexperienced driving in snow; and now the snow had been packed under a sheet of ice.
I remember vividly that, at first, there was talk and laughter among us on the trip…and then silence as we realized how dangerous it was. We must have only been traveling about 20 miles per hour, but more than once, we slipped and slid totally across the road and into what would have been oncoming traffic…had anyone else been there. We passed dozens of vehicles abandoned on the side of the road or, even worse, wrecked. There were very few stores open and we needed to stop for gas. We also needed to get some food and something warm to drink. Unfortunately, this was before cell phones so we had no way to call our parents or anyone if, indeed, we were to need help.
We finally found a store open and bought some sandwiches and hot chocolate. We also filled the tank with gas. I remember calling my dad collect at that point. He said to find some where to buy chains for the car and that he would pay for them along with the gas. Luckily, we did find a store open and managed to get chains to fit. A little while longer and we were back on the road. The chains did help some, but it was still rough going. Twelve hours after leaving school, we pulled up to my front door. We were all exhausted but glad to be home.
Since that long ago journey, I’ve lived in Illinois and Iowa where it snows a lot. I’ve driven in snowstorms and blizzards with white-out conditions. I’ve driven on sheets of ice. Yet each time I do, I’m transported back in time to a car full of college kids trying their best to get home for Christmas…
Snow fell last night. I awoke to a beautiful blanket of white…over a foot deep. Snow was banked high against the doors of the garages and the tarmac looked icy. Only one garage had been shoveled out – that of a young man about the age of my younger son. (Most of the people living here are retired.) I wondered what this young man does for a living that required his being out in this.
Of course, I remember the days of snow storms and severe thunderstorms of years past before I became a “retired” Registered Nurse. It didn’t matter what the weather was…I had to be there. I’ll never forget coming out of the hospital one January night after midnight. It was -18 degrees and snowing like crazy. A few of the nurses had automatic starters and stood at the window on our floor, pointed it in the direction of the parking lot and started their automobile. They came out to a nice warm vehicle. I didn’t have one! I just prayed my automobile would start…thankfully, it did. I’m glad that my little 154,000 mile Camry is now parked in “her” garage. Maybe not warm – but dry.
Snow always brings back memories. Sledding with the kids, building forts and snowmen, snow “cream” with vanilla and sugar (we didn’t know to worry back then and were always careful where we got the snow for it!). If I could get to my daughter’s house right now, I could be playing in the snow with my grandchildren as I did during a visit a couple of years ago. I’m sure there will be plenty of snow here in the Midwest and time for that over the next few months!
The featured photo above was taken on March 22, 1968. Sixteen inches of snow had fallen in a rare snow storm in Memphis, Tennessee! I wrote it about it in My Southern Heart…the Stories. I wrote My Southern Heart…the Stories for my children and last Christmas published it in book form for them and the rest of my family.
I spent this afternoon and evening at my daughter’s home playing with the grandchildren, preparing to cut out a dress to sew for my thirteen year old granddaughter, and enjoying my delicious birthday dinner. Yesterday was my birthday and a full day of swim competition for the grandchildren, so we celebrated tonight. My daughter prepared a tender, scrumptious roast with carrots and potatoes…and an amazing homemade chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. On top of the cake was a generous scoop of the best homemade vanilla ice cream!
I loved the gift they gave me – the “Blessed Holidays” angel from Jim Shore. The colors and carved design on the angel are vibrant and exquisite…and I love that she has dimples!
Three of my grandchildren had created cards for me. (My oldest almost 15 year old grandson bestowed a 6’+ hug on me!) I treasure everything that each of my eight children give to me.
My daughter was watching closely and smiling as I carefully read the card that my eight year old granddaughter had personally drawn for me. She was waiting for me to turn it over. When I did, this was the powerful message that I found…to me, this precious child’s “grandmommer” (she calls me Grandmom or Grandmommy).
One of the first things that I discovered living alone is that I do not like to cook for one. It’s no fun. My daughter has “turned the tables” on me and admonishes me with “Mom, you’re not eating right” and “Mom, you have to take good care of yourself”! It’s a bit of Déjà vu…for years ago, during her college days, I recall telling her the same thing!
Granted, anytime I would like to drive 14 minutes, I am invited to her home where she cooks all-organic, wonderful meals for her family…and I do that from time to time. I have even driven over and cooked dinner for them a few times! (She posts the recipes or the links to some of her delicious dishes on her blog here.)
It’s time to remember my love of cooking. I certainly have the cookbooks for it!
So, tonight, I am preparing three small meatloafs (one for now…two in the freezer for later). I am making them reminiscent of Mama’s wonderful meatloaf with just one change. I’m using chili sauce instead of tomato sauce.I will make homemade mashed potatoes and Birds Eye steamer veggies (easy enough). If I am really inspired, I will cook some crispy cornbread muffins. Mama would have made a “pone” of cornbread in the cast iron skillet but that would be too much for one. The muffins will keep better in a zip lock bag.
It’s not the most elaborate meal I’ve ever prepared but it’s a start…and my daughter will be happy. Not to mention the fact that I will have some good “leftovers”! 😉
Most of the ingredients assembled and ready to make meatloaf…three small meatloafs…one ready for the oven and two ready to wrap in foil for the freezer
Meat Loaf
1 pound ground round
1/2 onion, chopped fine or chunky – your preference
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped fine or chunky – your preference
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 egg, beaten with 2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned pepper
12 oz. DelMonte Chili Sauce
Panko bread crumbs (about 1/2 cup or more – enough to make good consistency)
Sometimes, I make a sauce of brown sugar, ketchup and a little mustard to spread over the top of the meat loaf…
Combine all ingredients well with clean hands. Makes one large meatloaf or three small ones. Bake at 350 degrees until done. The larger meat loaf takes about an hour. Adjust time for the smaller ones – depends on size.
