Writing the old fashioned way

It's pretty late.  I came into my room to do some reading and found that hubby had left a folded yellow legal pad piece of paper with some familiar handwriting on my bedside table.  It was in my mom's handwriting, and my heart just skipped a beat.  My mom died in 2005, so when we run across something like this it is pretty amazing.  There is just no way that texting, typing, emailing, etc. can take the place of something that someone very dear to you has written 'in their own penmanship'.  Does anyone even know what that is anymore?  Do they still teach it in school?  What she wrote was a little piece about her childhood and a few very important reminders for me, even though she seemed to have been writing out some thoughts she'd planned to present to her church family, as it went through a rough spot.  I don't know if she ever got a chance to speak but knowing my mom, if she did say what she wrote she probably cried while saying it.  The point of this, though, is that we must remember to write notes to each other, leave behind something for our children to find ...personal thoughts and ideas written by hand.  Don't let technology make personal written notes a thing of the past.  One day we may find that our computers, phones, iPods, iPads, and the like, don 't work anymore...and we have no spellcheck and no auto correct.  Trust me on this.  It is important.  I love you mom and I miss you so much.  Thank you for the notes...they couldn't have come at a better time.  I will think of you at Thanksgiving because you loved to cook and so enjoyed having the family come and eat your wonderful dinner!  Happy thanksgiving to all...and remember to be thankful....and practice your writing. Nana

Forgetting to blog

My daughter texted me and asked me my blogger name.  I realized that (a) I didn't remember, which meant (b) I haven't blogged in awhile, and (c) I really am getting more and more forgetful as the days go on.

I have decided  that when I get together with family I am going to try to keep my mouth shut and listen.  The reason for that is (and if you know me at all it's very hard for me to do):  1.  I find myself repeating the same story over and over.  Now my mom used to do that and we all just sat and listened again but inside we were wondering how she could not know she hadn't told us this story before since it was usually something about our childhood or hers.  So if I keep quiet I won't be doing the same thing!  2.  If I am quiet I begin to realize that I am listening to someone else make the same mistake I would have made if I opened my mouth.  They are doing the same thing!  Two things come from this; I realize I am not the only one repeating myself and also it makes me feel better to know that others are also losing their marbles too and we can all just sit around losing them together.

I also know I will never be able to do this because I cannot keep my mouth shut. So just bare with me and let me tell you again....ok?

And on a totally different note but as a shout out to family - I just realized that all these years we have been celebrating Christmas by giving each other presents, which isn't very nice since it isn't OUR birthday...so just so you know this year I am giving Jesus a gift and no one else.  None do us need a blooming thing, but I can think of many things I can do for someone in the name of Jesus and I plan to do it!

Love y'all!

Things we used to do that we don't do anymore

I've been thinking about fun things I used to do as a kid, that kids today can't or don't do.  So here goes:

  Playing outside; Red Rover, Mother May I, Kick the Can, Ball(soft, kick, stick, etc) laying in the grass at night and looking at the stars, catching Lightnin' Bugs (some called them Fireflies), wading in creeks, playing fort in the woods, making bug or leaf logs (you know, you got a bug, put it in a jar and when it died you put it on a board with a pin stuck in it to keep it there - and then you labeled it with its "scientific name" and common name. Leaves, you put between two sheets of waxed paper - again, labeled with the correct name.

The reason kids don't do this anymore (as given to me by the kids):  1) its too hot out 2) we have TV now!!! 3)its toooo hot out  4) why?????  I can do all this on my IPad (vicariously of course, especially the wading!) 5) thats not FUN!!!!  6) I don't want to get sweaty an' all!  7) I take gym in school - that's enough for me! 8) I just don't want to!!!! 9) Don't you know - somebody could STEAL me!!! and my all time favorite is ..... (drum role)....10) that's just old people stuff!


SAD, SAD. SAAADDD :(


Its also sad that it IS true that someone could steal you - and that it IS hot out (although I, like many others my age, played outside because it was cooler than inside - inside was what you did when the sun went down); or if you were really lucky and it was summer, you had a "sleeping porch" - screened in so you felt safe, and usually on the second floor - with an old crickety bed or swing or hammock - and you had your jammies on and your best friend and your hair was all wet from your bath and it was quiet and you could just talk - or not talk.  I never got bit by a snake from wading in the creek, I never got stolen and I never got bit by any number of "loose" dogs that were around - and I learned the stars and the planets and the names of clouds and weather patterns - all from looking up (and not looking up on the internet but actually looking up! 


I hope when I get to heaven I can be a kid again and do all this stuff!!!!

Florida Winters

Well, its February in Florida.  The town of Zephyrhills is literally "dusted" with cotton tops, or Qtips.  I can say this because I AM one, (except my cotton top/Qtip is died dark blonde) if you get my drift.  Now, I am used to slow drivers, beings as how I usually live in NC; but if you take lil ole Murphy and multiply it by oh, times 20, you get an idea of just how many of us folks are here this time of year.  For instance, Papaw and I went to Taco Bell for a quick lunch.  There was no place to sit and we had to eat in the car!  I found out why.  Seniors get a free drink at Taco Bell.  They don't advertise this and maybe its not at ALL the Taco Bells, but the one in Zephyrhills sure does do it - nothing like a free sweet tea for two and two thingys that are shaped like a stop sign, pressed and full of meat, cheese, lettuce and maters - I always forget what they call it but its good.  So we ate for $5 and then went over to Beall's Department Store (another Florida special store) where we walked thru the maze of more cotton top/Qtips who were all looking for a bargain, just like us.  Its one of those FL stores where if you want to look like a tourist you sure can, because all the mens shirts have either golf clubs or fish on them and the ladies outfits consist of little "peddle pushers" with either starfish, or some other ocean like ornamental design; and all in the pastel shades that we cotton top/Qtips love.  I think Orange is the color for 2012!  Anyway, I AM enjoying the nice breezes and wonderful temperatures.  I hear we have tornado warnings up home and rainy, damp, cold weather.  So sorry folks.  I would say come on down, but I think we are pretty full here - at least until Easter.

my many homes

I was thinking today about just how many "homes" I have had over the years.  I essentially grew up in only three houses.  Born in Michigan, moved to Georgia at age of 2.5 and lived in Fulton and then Dekalb county until I married.  This is where the fun begins!  I tried to write down all the addresses from memory but that was impossible.  I started going through the good ole IRS records to see where I lived as I really can't remember!  Its funny how the mind starts to slip when you get older - the "sharper than a tack" becomes "dumber than a stump", the bones creak and everything hurts.  Oh, well that is another story for another day.  Anyway, counting all the Army bases while hubby was in and the job transfers when he worked, it seems there have been about 25. Now these are homes or apts., and it does not include staying with a family member while in the midst of a transfer.  So from all this what have I learned?  Well, besides the fact that a house is just a house, but a home is the people in it - I have learned that about every 3.5 years I get antsy to move again!!!  I can't help it! I find myself on the internet (now that we have the ability to do things "online") -before that it was the ads and little real estate books.  EVERY where I went I just had to look.  I have gotten some great ideas for decorating my own - at that time- home, but I just have wander-lust!  And now that we have bought what we call our "dieing house", meaning we plan on being in it when we die or at least having it for our residence at the time, I STILL find myself looking - in Florida - in Ohio (where the kids all live) and even where we live now - I just gotta see what is out there.  I have been told that I should get a real estate license.  I think that would be downright dangerous because I would literally probably want to move to most houses that I showed.  Honest.