Sunday, May 11, 2014

Always There


50's Mom

A defining moment came in the third grade.  My even-organized-at-a-young-age self was horrified to discover I had left my lunch on the kitchen counter. My teacher was kind; I walked the embarrassing mile to the school office where I was allowed to call home. In less than five minutes, my mom magically appeared, lunch in hand and smile on face. I will never forget the wave of thankfulness which was far greater than in having a full belly; it was in having a mom who was always there.

60's Mom


Duh. She was present at all my big moments, as most mothers are. She watched proudly when I danced as a rose "butt" (bud) on the Robinson Auditorium stage. She was first grade "room mom" and Brownie leader. She cheered loudly at every softball game. At my horse shows, my football pom performances, my track meets, she was always in attendance. When college arrived, she was at my sorority bid day and initiation which she had worked tirelessly to help me achieve.

In an effort to report the facts correctly, I have this addendum : When I was on the Bozo Big Top TV Show, which was already a disaster because Bozo was grumpy, ran out of Oscar Meyer hot dogs and did not have the Frosty's Root Beer which he was holding up as the official drink of the Big Top Show, my mom took a crazy moment for herself and was at the horse races in Hot Springs. There was no recording of the show. It was a one-time event. My mom missed my TV debut... but, for that, I forgive her.

This memory is vivid because she never missed anything else.


70's Mom

She taught me how to ride a bike, roller-skate, high jump, throw a softball, jump off my house's roof without breaking a leg, and climb a tree. (My dad was forced to send me to "charm school" to  bring balance to my young life.) In our house, no one could throw up in the middle of the night without my mom magically appearing, cold wash rag in hand. Most mothers make the big events.

My mother was special because she was always there in the daily stuff.

Late 70's Mom


In college she always made sure that my car was full of gas before I headed up to school, kept me supplied with all toiletries (For some odd reason, she got stuck on cotton balls , and I had a warehouse full upon completing the university days), sent me packages and cards at every holiday, and did my laundry for four and one half years (how she accomplished this is a story for another time...ha...but she did it!).

Even three and one half hours away, she was always there.


80's Mom

During the newly- married years she was my hot line for cooking advice. She learned how to pull a U-Haul trailer behind her car so she could bring me extra furniture. She willingly volunteered to nurse Jeff through a very bad case of adult chicken pox because I had to work and could not. (Although she had to recant in her second phone call upon realizing she had never contracted the disease. How she had made it through three cases of her children having had the disease is unknown.)

Even at five hours away, she was always there.

Through our many moves as married adults, my mom was available to help or not to help as needed. She could pack and unpack a kitchen like nobody else. Just say "we are moving" and my mom would start collecting boxes and deliver them to us. She knew all the best place to find them.

I could not have made it through my early years of parenting without my mom. She would often drop by and begin folding my huge pile of clean clothes. She was always available to babysit. Oh how my boys loved (still love) their "Dee".

Always there:  not in a helicopter- hovering sort of way, not in an enabling- bad -behavior sort of way, not in meddling- in -my affairs sort of way. In junior high, within 10 minutes, my mom was screeching up to the country club pro shop, wet hair dripping down the smock of the beauty shop where she had been when she had received the golf pro's call that " Your daughter was hit in the head with a 7-iron" during junior golf clinic. Or, the week before our wedding when we were driving her car and a huge beer truck ran a light nearly killing us, totaling her car, but she was on the scene in less than 5 minutes with only concern for our well-being and none for her car.

These events were pre-cell phone days, I tell ya the woman has skills!


All the Grandkids...Missing Conly



My mother devoted her entire life to her family. I promise I have never heard her whine or complain about all the work she did for us. Every meal, every sack lunch, every birthday and holiday. Available 24/7. There has never been one ounce of doubt that if I called my mom to bring my lunch  or to drive seven hours to our Alabama house that she would drop her life and...

always be there.

My mom is 85 and has never worked a single day of her life for a job which would give her a paycheck. But for the job she did raising me and beyond...

For always being there.

 No paycheck could ever compensate her sacrifice and devotion.



Friday, February 14, 2014

Snow Days


In the South, we like our snow just enough to have some days off, get our cheese dip and chili on, wear ski clothes, sled, take snow walks, and drink hot chocolate. We like our snow just enough  to make us smile, but not enough to experience power outages or car trouble or inconveniences of any sort. Our "inconveniences" are normally the "I-can't-make-it-to-work, but I-CAN-make-it-to-a- friend's-house" sort of kind. 

In other words, Southerners believe snow should be pretty but not a bother.





Mac the Labradoodle and Lucy the Beautiful but Goldendoodle-less love our annual snow romps at night when they can run the neighborhood streets without leashes and tumble in the drifts together.


Mac is wishing for more snow fun.
                                                 


This past snow was a beautiful "night snow", and we loved it.


Hillcrest Cottage Night Snow




Gipsy the Teardrop is looking oh-so cold and lonely. We are dreaming of more fun times pulling her behind the Expedition on our next outdoor adventure. 

Right now, however, camping outside seems like a long time away.


Hang in there, Gipsy
So... pretty much done with the snow, as the rest of the country can heartily agree.



"Come quickly, Spring. I think we are now very ready for you."

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Time to Think about Time

I am thinking about "time"... and the passing of it... and the year ahead. I am setting goals... and cleaning house... and sending my college guy back to school.





The Hillcrest Cottage December was filled with warm fires... time spent together...




                                        
                                            with hot chocolate and handmade marshmallows.





Time was invested in family and...




more family and...




face time with military son. (Thank you, technology.)





With the help of a son, the Hillcrest Cottage year began with painting three rooms... which led to rearranging and cleaning everything.










Now, it is time for "normal" to return. (Whatever normal means.) It is time to set goals and look forward. I sense that exciting things are around the corner. I am anxious to start the daily work of working toward achieving my dreams.

Welcome 2014.