• The body in the suitcase…

    June 22, 2013 / 10 Comments

    One Sunday not long ago, I heard laughter coming from my living room as my daughter and I were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on Sunday lunch.  I found my grandchildren reading aloud the titles of all my books in my living room library.  They were obviously entertaining themselves.  They were stuck on the books by one of my favorite cozy-mystery authors, Katherine Hall Page.  Each book title (and I have all of her books) begins with “The Body in…”.  My shelves are filled with all types of books – from English and American literature (I was a college senior and an English major prior to switching to Nursing!), mysteries (especially FBI mysteries), poetry, sewing, painting, romance, romantic comedies and many others.  However, they were drawn to “the body” books!  I love the cozy-mysteries – especially those by Katherine Hall Page.

    This suitcase is well traveled…it has been many places.  Unfortunately, it is broken beyond repair and it’s time for a new one…and, hopefully, lots of new places to go along with it!

    This morning as I was cleaning the apartment,  I decided that my now deceased suitcase (the zipper finally broke beyond repair on my last trip to Florida) would make a good container to carry empty boxes and other things to the large trash container – two flights down, across the tarmac and beside the garages.  I would deposit everything – suitcase included – into the trash.  Clearly, the suitcase was heavy and I wondered if anyone else in the building had as vivid an imagination as I do?!

    As I hauled the suitcase down the stairs, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite classic movies:  Rear Window!  I loved Jimmy Stewart and he was wonderful in this film.  Raymond Burr was also memorable as Lars Thorwald…the no-good husband who really does put a body (well, okay, if you want to get technical, parts of a body in a suitcase).  😉  All done in the classic good taste of the 1950’s.  Come to think of it, I think it is time to see this movie again.

    Lots of empty boxes made the trip to the dumpster in the old suitcase…I wonder if Katherine Hall Page has ever considered a book about The Body in the Suitcase?!?  Hmmm….

  • Four days at Disneyworld…

    June 13, 2013 / 2 Comments

    On Sunday the 2nd day of June,  I took a direct flight to St. Petersburg, Florida, with my daughter and her family.  They rented a van to seat all seven of us and we headed for Orlando and four wonderful days touring all four of the theme parks at Disneyworld!  I was finally going to see Disneyworld for the first time in my life!  My daughter had rented a fabulous 4 bedroom – 4 bath house complete with a private pool and about a ten minute drive from Disneyworld.  It was beautifully decorated and fully equipped, although it was hard to imagine using such nice furnishings in a vacation rental home!  Nevertheless, we totally enjoyed it!

     

    Below:  After we picked up the rental van at the airport and were headed to Orlando! 

    Can you tell the kids were excited!?

    On Monday morning, we headed to Epcot and spent the next twelve+ hours seeing everything!  (On the first of the four days, I was tired beyond measure but got progressively better as the week progressed.  I took that to mean that I should definitely start walking TEN+ miles a day!)  😉  Well, maybe not ten!

    Epcot was amazing with all of the different countries represented.  I could have spent a whole day just visiting that section but there was so more much to see!  And there were so many great rides!  I think my two favorite rides in Epcot were Test Track and Soarin’.  We finished the first day at Disneyworld enjoying a fantastic fireworks show.

     

    On Tuesday morning, we headed to Animal Kingdom.  That was probably my favorite of all the parks, but it’s hard to say.  There were also some great rides in Animal Kingdom.  I loved the African setting especially and seeing all the wild animals.   My daughter loves roller coasters and rode the Expedition Everest several times.  I gave her my fast pass ticket – that’s for sure!  😉

    Read about the Tree of Life below here.  Amazing sculpture!

    On Wednesday, we enjoyed the Magic Kingdom…a fairytale come true!  Each day, there were great shows to see as well as rides.  I especially enjoyed The Little Mermaid musical and The Lion King show.  Such talent!  There were also great rides at the Magic Kingdom!  And, yes, I rode Dumbo the flying elephant and the Goofy Barnstormer among others!
    Tropical storm ANDREA arrived in Orlando on Thursday morning.  We ventured out anyway, covered in plastic ponchos – this time to the Hollywood Studios theme park!  We enjoyed several shows and rides to remember.  Altogether, a fun day regardless of a mere tropical storm!
    In past years, I have taken my camera everywhere but, this time, I was carrying a backpack with water, etc. and didn’t take my camera.  I wished I had but we were moving so fast, not sure there would have been time to take pics!  My daughter snapped these pics with her phone but I never could get HER in any of the photos!
    Coming post:  Four days on Anna Maria Island…

  • A windy Sunday afternoon…

    April 13, 2013 / 6 Comments

    I enjoy having my daughter and her family over for lunch after church on Sundays every other Sunday or so (although tomorrow I’m going over there!).  It’s a bit of an endeavor in that my sweet son-in-love and my oldest grandson must trek down to my basement storeroom and bring up two extra dining chairs, but they don’t seem to mind.  My daughter and her youngest two children were with me when I chose the dining furniture and my young granddaughter informed me that “it had to be able to seat all of us”!  This round table has a hidden leaf which comes out to convert the table into an oval.  There is plenty of room for all of us!

    The last Sunday they were over was Easter and it was such fun.  My daughter brought their Easter baskets and we hid the colorful filled baskets for them to find before lunch inside the apartment.  The apartment is only 1200 sq. feet but we still managed to hide them successfully.  The three youngest grandchildren stay behind with me for several hours after their Mom and Dad return home.  Their older brother usually has to study so he returns home as well.

    That afternoon, we worked on art projects with my granddaughter’s new fairy design set.  They love exploring the apartment and found my old costume jewelry and other “treasures”.  My 9 year old granddaughter fell in love with my Mother’s locket…her maternal great-grandmother.  She wanted my photo in it and we found one that fit.  I know that she will take good care of it.  Now, she wears my photo around her neck!  My 13 year old granddaughter found some treasures that she wanted to take home with her as well.  It amazes me that, at this young age, they realize that sentimental treasures aren’t always about monetary value.

    Later, we decided to go for a walk but realized that their coats were in their car which was now at their home!  We improvised and they all wore one of mine – including my 4 year old grandson…which was a funny sight!  We headed out for our walk and, too late, realized that it was so cold and WINDY!  No one, including me, had a hat on and how I wished for one.  We walked down to the park next to the the nearby elementary school.  They played for a while on the jungle gym, then we headed back to my apartment for warm apple cider and a snack before I drove them home.

    I love that, the very next morning, my daughter said that my nine year old granddaughter asked when she “could see Grandmom again”!

    Chilly and WINDY Sunday afternoon and we were walking to a nearby park. They’re all wearing one of my jackets…including my 4 year old grandson! 😉

     

  • Memories of Bill…

    April 10, 2013 / 9 Comments

    December 1, 1943 –  April 10, 2006

    We are souls living in bodies.  Our bodies grow old, but our souls never die.  Seven years ago, you went to Heaven.  While you are no longer on this earth, your spirit lingers on in the lives of our three amazing children.  You would be so proud of them.  They are strong, loving, successful.  They are giving and devoted spouses.   They are loving, remarkable, wonderful parents.

    They are happy.

    Our grandchildren are treasures.  I tell them about you often.  I tell them “Granddad stories”.   I wish you could have lived long enough to have met the youngest ones.  They will hear Granddad stories too.  I see so much of you in our children and, now, in the grandchildren.  No doubt, they will have your drive and your competitive streak.  They are all athletic like you.  They’re artistic like both of us.  You would love hearing them play the piano and the violin.

    Our grandchildren are incredible blessings and bring me such joy.

    From time to time, I do see a mischievous grin on their faces and I know just where that came from…

    Love always,

    Dianne

    Matching shirts in the early seventies…
    Our two older children…fifteen & a half months apart.  Joyful, busy days for a young Mom and Dad.  Here they are coloring before bedtime in our son’s “cowboy & Indian” room…
     
    late eighties at Vanderbilt University…our little cowboy grew up
    Glacier National Park and a week of backpacking…

     

    Daddy and Daddy’s girl

     

    Graduation day…Mississippi College
    Wearing her Dad’s Heroes shirt…

     

    Our youngest little bundle of forever joy…

     

    Taking a break from playing frisbee by the street lights…

    Graduation day at Indiana University…

    Our firstborn grandchild helping Granddad paint…

    Granddad talking to our daughter’s oldest two children…
    Granddad and our firstborn grandchild. At Scott and Amy’s wedding in Memphis…

     

    Granddad holding our daughter’s daughter…

     

    2004…Granddad holding our daughter’s baby girl.

     

    Granddad holding our firstborn’s firstborn…

    Playing doll clothes with our older son’s firstborn on a visit to Memphis.

     

    Granddad and our older son’s baby girl…they had been playing doll clothes and dolls in the floor with Granddad. We celebrated her second birthday that week.

     

    GrandDad, Great-Grandmom, our older son and his daughters…

     

    My three sisters and Bill on a visit when we lived in Terre Haute, Indiana. Sad to think that three of them are now in Heaven. My sister (second from right) and I remain behind on this earth…

     

    (L to R) Penny (Bill’s sister), Bobbie (Bill’s late Mom) and Bill. This was taken on one of their fun visits to Terre Haute.
    A fun photo taken at Silver Dollar City in Missouri.
    This is actually my favorite pic of the two of us…

  • Kindred spirits…

    February 27, 2013 / 4 Comments

    The past few months have been a challenge.  I’ve been through enough changes in my life that I scored quite high on the “stress level” meter.  I have fought to remain positive but, as you already know, that is sometimes beyond our reach.  When I first arrived in the Midwest six months ago, I spent two months living with my daughter and her precious family (my grandchildren thought they’d hit the jackpot!).  My belongings were stored floor to ceiling in her garage.  Not one word of complaint from her or my son-in-love, an amazing young man.

    When the worst of the depression hit months ago, I spent four days in an out-patient “depression class” which lasted all day long.  (Remember I was a Psych nurse for ten years and believe in getting help when needed!) When my grandchildren asked where I went early each morning, my daughter simply said “she’s going to a depression class”.  Each night at dinner, I had tales about who had joined the class that day (no names or details of course).  One day, a beautiful young Sandra Bullock-look-alike joined the class.  The next day it was Al Pacino’s double!  On my last day, Dennis Hopper showed up (nevermind he had died by then).  There was laughter at the dinner table and my grandchildren were so happy that Grandmom “graduated first in her class from depression school”!  Their words – not mine!  Mainly, they were glad I was home again during the day.

    When the time came for me to move into my own apartment/condo, my grandchildren weren’t so sure they wanted to part with me.  Thankfully, I’m only 14 minutes from them if I hit all the green lights just so.  They love coming over here.  They are my little kindred spirits.  They can read me like a book.  Especially my eight year old granddaughter.  She searches my face for signs that I am fine.  I may think that I am hiding tears or sadness from them, but they are not to be fooled.  Thankfully, there are very few tears now and even though they don’t realize it – they remind me, once again, that I am strong.  I am thankful for my daughter who is the biggest kindred spirit of all.  I am thankful for the closeness and the memories we are making.

    Spending time playing with grandchildren is the very best therapy in the world.  Anytime I am at my daughter’s or they are here, there is an abundance of laughter.  Laughter releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller, and makes anyone feel good…

    candle

  • Reflections on a rainy Sunday morning…

    January 27, 2013 / 13 Comments

    It’s a cold and rainy Sunday morning in January.  I’m home from church this morning feeling under the weather and definitely disappointed that I won’t see my 8 year old granddaughter in her new ensemble that I made for her!  Hopefully, my daughter will take photos for me.  I saw her in it the other day after I finished it but she had just returned from swimming and her hair was wrapped in a towel.  Not quite the same effect as today will be!

    We spent yesterday at the Natatorium (love that word!) at the YMCA watching my 15, 13 and 8 year old grandchildren compete in a swim meet.  There were new “times” set and ribbons won.  They are all fast, strong swimmers and competed beautifully.  Afterwards, my daughter made totally homemade pizza (sauce and all) for dinner and it was delicious!  My now 4 year old grandson asked for “a few rounds of Sock Monkey” before I had to leave and how was I to say no to that?!  😉

    I’m in the process of slowly going through the 576 posts of my 4 year-long blog My Southern Heart.  I would like to find somewhere to have it published before I close the blog.  I published My Southern Heart…the Stories for my children for Christmas a couple of years ago, but my blog My Southern Heart is about 750 pages and too long for the publisher I used previously.  Any ideas or suggestions as to printers/publishers???

    In the process of going through the posts, I came across this one and was reminded, once again, of the wonder of it all – how the many traits and characteristics we possess are passed down from generation to generation…

    Fifty-Five Years and A Lock of Hair…

    Published January 2, 2012

    A box came down from the attic today that I knew held some treasures.  There were letters from my older son and my daughter when they were away at college.  There were letters I had written to my parents after we moved to Kentucky.  There was a card to my older son at college written by my third grade son telling his older brother that he ”didn’t like being an only child” and that he missed him.  The tears were falling, of course, as I continued to sort through these priceless treasures…

    Then I spotted the envelope written in Mama’s hand.  On the front it read “Dianne McGregor.  Lock of hair from September 28, 1957?.  55 years?!  I took the envelope outside into the sunlight and carefully pulled out the lock of hair and the small 55 year old rubber band.   (For a moment, I felt just like Bruce Willis when he meets himself as a child in the Disney movie, “The Kid”.)

    I know now why my youngest has beautiful strawberry blonde hair  (besides the fact his two grandmothers did as well).  I held the proof in my hands.  My hair was clearly blonde.  Strawberry blonde.

    A year or so ago, I tried having my hair a darker brown.  It didn’t feel right.  It didn’t feel like me.  Someone asked me, “what makes you think you’re a blonde?”  Besides my coloring and my memory?  I just knew.

    So, today, I held the 55 year old lock of hair in my hands.  It is the exact same color hair as several of my granddaughters.  I was eleven years old on September 28th, 1957…the same age as one of my granddaughters.

    I love the study of genetics.  The link from one generation to the next.  The circle of life…