Tuesday Morning...or...the "day after"

I actually am sitting here at my computer with a new outfit on...it's the day after I went shopping...and I can only imagine what the people on the reality show, "What Not to Wear", would say about my shopping choices. But I don't care. I'm comfortable and all my flaw spots are not being hugged and tugged on by fabric.

I avoid going to Huntsville these days. I avoid going anywhere these days. Being transparent here....my addiction is "to be at home". Seriously - I never expected such an extreme development in my brain as I aged - is anyone else out there the same way? I go places but it wrenches something out of me and there is incredible relief when I return to my abode. It conflicts with this other thing - I really really enjoy people and I like to interact with all sorts of folks - but it's not like there's a parade of human beings coming through my door - well - there's the family, of course - but I am talking about non family - Anyway - didn't mean to get off on that -

I went to Huntsville yesterday mainly to get some Matte Photo Paper which I found at OfficePro or OfficeMax - I think it's OfficePro - next to Best Buy. I love that paper and am using it for my Christmas Cards - but I needed another box of it. It's all the way on the other side of Huntsville.

Who goes to Huntsville regularly? Are we all aware of that detour when going through Hampton Cove? What is that detour about? My son in law, Steve, broke the rules and didn't take the detour. He was curious to see what was down there. He got through. Ann was with him and told me about it.

It would have made sense to go the "old way" to H'ville - straight to I 565 and go out to OfficePro and get the photo paper and work myself back to Parkway City Mall and then to Target in Jones Valley - BUT - I needed to go to that MailPro first. I love that place. They box it, they label it, and they mail it.

So - not having the nerve to break the rules - but wanting to sooo badly - I took the detour - so long - and trying to make it a lesson in patience and learning to slow down - I got to MailPro - mailed packages to Kate and Laura Beth - and then to Target with grocery list and little girl list for a child chosen by Charlie through the Kiwanis club....for Christmas....

Then I had to face my demons - find something decent to wear - but don't spend tons of money - My two brands that work on me - obviously "Hot Cotton" - It's elastic in the waist with loose fabric hanging down. That is wonderful at any age, but a woman can get away with it at age 58. The other brand is Jones of New York ... for some reason it works for me. Oh - at SteinMart there's a great brand that starts with a P, but I can't think of the name of it. I was just doing Belks yesterday.

People, it's hard work shopping. It is! If I was really really toned and really really thin and really really wealthy - well - it would be a pleasure and a delight - but I'm none of those and so it's hard work. So funny - realize that on Monday during the day - it's mostly women in my age bracket at the mall - And over in the section where I was shopping - the section for women who are a bit matronly - well - noone looks too eager to go into the dressing rooms and try on the load of clothing in her arms. But we all did it. I worked so hard and did come out with one skirt by Jones of New York, 2 tops by JofNY, and 2 pants by Hot Cotton and one Hot Cotton Jacket. I had found 2 sweaters, lightweight and loose at Target, didn't try them on until I got home and they worked!!! Yay!

Isn't it funny about shopping? It can almost bring tears, anger, intense frustration, and then complete happiness if something actually works and is flattering. Weird about that fact.

I was in Belks for so long and then a quick run through William Sonoma and Pottery Barn (purchasing nothing but wanting everything) , that when I went outside it was DUSK!!! Wow! Shopping is a big job and not fun to me. It was raining and I just could not drive over to OfficePro and get the main thing I was in the city for. the photo paper. I'll just get it another day. I'll drive straight to it - walk in - and get it, and I'll enjoy it.

Have a Merry December 8th.

I Edited This Post

Is today Pearl Harbor Day - December 7?

Edit: This is what I found regarding Pearl Harbor Day.

Pearl Harbor Day - December 7 1941
Pearl Harbor Day happened on December 7, 1941. Sixty-eight years later we still remember Pearl Harbor Day and the events of December 7, 1941. On the morning of December 7, 1941, a surprise military strike was conducted by the Japanese navy against the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Today we solemnly remember the events of Pearl Harbor Day.
The Pearl Harbor Day attack was meant to be preventative and keep the US out of the war. Two aerial attach waves were launched by the Japanese. Four US Navy battleships were sunk. Four more battleships were damaged. Two were later raised and returned to serve in the war.
After the Pearl Harbor Day attack, the US damages included three destroyers, three cruisers, 188 aircraft with 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded. Losses for the Japanese were minimal including 29 aircraft, 5 midget submarines, 1 soldier captured and 65 servicemen wounded or killed.
As a result of the events on December 7, 1941, the US became militarily involved in World War II. The Pearl Harbor Day attack happened before Japan made a formal declaration of war. Because of the surprise attack, the US went from isolationist to supporting direct participation in World War II.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy.”
On the Japanese side, Admiral Hara Tadaichi said, “We won a great tactical victory at Pearl Harbor and thereby lost the war.” Edit stops here. Except I've now decided to include 3 pictures from that year and a bit later. One of Daddy in his uniform(maybe I've shown this photo before - he didn't leave American soil and was not "in harm's way" - but then, those men and women at Pearl Harbor weren't expecting to be either.") One of Mother and Florence and a friend and I think the photo is either 1941 or 42 - and one of Mother on the beach during the early forties. It's how they all looked during those days and months.

They're just "having some afternoon fun, staging a pose".


Back to original post......
Hmmmm, just noticed that on the date of my computer. When September 11 happened I asked my mother if it felt like Pearl Harbor being bombed. She was a bit aged and didn't really know how to respond - but I asked my mother in law the same question. She said that yes, that was very similar to how it felt.

But today is December 7, 2009 and I am grateful for the leaders and service men who have protected our country up to this point. and because of that I am free to get up and do what I do on this Monday - beginning the second week in this Christmas Season.

I missed posting yesterday.

We sang beautiful Christmas Hymns at church.

Certain lines from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing:

"Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity!"

"Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."

"Christ by highest Heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord".

So - Merry, Merry Second Christmas Week.

and let's pray for those dear men who are in Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever they are serving our country on this Pearl Harbor Day and during this Christmas season.

I am preparing to get some Monday Christmas errands taken care of.

Not a Christmas Post

2nd post for today - and I just happened to have these old and new photos.

My cousin's son's wife just gave birth to a little girl. I've been following these first days and weeks on his facebook page and downloaded a picture of my aunt holding her new great granddaughter.

I also have some old pictures of my mother and her sister, Florence, before they even married - when they were young and single and had not much to do but have simple fun. Florence is quite sanguine and always would have everyone laughing - especially my mother - and all of us, actually -

Left to Right, Florence, Mother, and a friend at the beach

I can tell that Mother has her head down laughing so hard,

and by the look on Florence's face, I can see that she is continuing to say whatever it is that keeps both Mother and the friend so tickled.

Left to Right, Florence, Lucille(oldest sister), and Mother.

Lucille was probably married by then, but I'm not sure about Florence, and I can tell by Mother's hairdo and comparing it to other photos I have that she wasn't yet married.

So now here is Mother with Mary Ann and it's the "first baby" photos. Anyone who's had a baby can relate to that. Nothing is new "under the sun". It's all been done before.

And 2 1/2 years later, with me - and Mother continues to get a little bit older.

And here is a very recent photo of Florence with her new great granddaughter, and it is her 3rd great grandchild. Florence has just moved to Florida to live with her daughter. Her 3 children are 3 of my favorite people.

This is mother holding Ellie who was her first great grandchild. She didn't live to see Luke, but she had just found out that Ann was having a boy - right before she got sick and went to that eternal home - the one we are longing for - of which we are citizens once we've been redeemed by the Savior whose birth we are now celebrating.

I find comparison photos fascinating. The aging process.

It happens, people. I don't know how I got to be 58 - but when I'm 86 - well, 58 will seem young to me. Honestly, I know of people to whom 86 seems young. I know a few.

Here is what I've learned. The world's median population tends to look at "old people" as quaint and simple....and lacking understanding of what youth feels like - and perhaps the older ones do forget some of that passion which is so alive and intense in youth. But know this - it is primarily the youth who lack understanding of the elderly - who, for the most part, have the wisdom to keep their mouths silent - giving the younger ones time to learn their own lessons, their own way.

I heard someone say that aging is not for cowards. It isn't - and I'm not referring to myself as the aged. I'm thinking of Daddy and Mother and any loved one I've watched whose bodies and flesh are in the last stages of doing what God said they would do as a result of the fall - yet the spirit remains ever alive and the same.

Truly He Taught Us to Love One Another; His Law Is Love and His Gospel Is Peace.

Oh, Holy Night!

The stars are shining brightly.

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Until He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of HOPE

The weary world rejoices,

Now breaks a new and glorious morning.

FALL ON YOUR KNEES!

Oh, HEAR THE ANGELS' VOICES!

O Night Divine,

When Christ was born;

O Night Divine.

Led the by light of faith

serenely beaming,

with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

here come the wise men from the Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

IN ALL OUR TRIALS BORN TO BE OUR FRIEND.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

BEHOLD YOUR KING!

Before Him lowly bend.

Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break

For the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

let all within us praise His Holy Name.

Christ is the Lord!

Oh, Praise His Name Forever!

His Power and Glory Eternally Proclaim!

Merry Christmas Season on Friday

I didn't post yesterday and now it's Friday. My intentions were to spread a little Christmas Cheer each day of the season - up until Christmas Day - and then we can work our way through the January gray days and cold days.

Yesterday I began a new project - making stockings for Laura Beth. If you read her post regarding Garland and Stockings - well - I researched that and now am attempting to put them together myself. I am enjoying it all and will take pictures and will post them.

Here I am in my bedroom, at my computer, to check in on this Friday, December 4, but behind me sits the machine I will use - it's actually Laura Beth's sewing machine and it's here for me to "get to know", so then I can get Laura Beth familiar with it. So far, all I've done with it is sew a Halloween apron. Now I assemble her stockings. Up to this point it's all been hand sewing.

Have a merry merry Friday. I have coffee perking on top of my stove. Loving the smell of it and the sound of it. It reminds me of Mother - before I ever left that paradise called 305 Williams Avenue - before "Mr. Coffee" and all the different coffee makers. I was a teenager, already enjoying black coffee - Christmas with Mother and Daddy - so safe and so simple. Or so it seemed to me.

2nd Day of Christmas Season

We returned last night at 11:30. So wet and cold outside and I was so sleepy - but it was all worth it.

We attended Sarah's senior show and it was wonderful - majorly de ja vu - I've been a mom and housewife for 30 years now and out of that very artsy world of Auburn students and instructors who somehow mesh with all the athletic hoopla of Auburn University. Walking down the halls of Biggin which I've heard Sarah talk about so much - her studio - and going and coming -

in the 70's Biggin was home to the Architectural Students and us Graphic Design Students were across the street in rundown Smith Hall. Smith Hall has been restored and is home to something else. Biggin houses all the Art Students. I can't remember where the aspiring architects are.

Anyway - I felt rather emotional walking those halls, looking through doors and seeing the paint spattered walls and work tables. Seeing student work on the walls before we even got to the show where Sarah's work was displayed. I've heard her stories about herself and the other 3 guys who were doing their senior projects.....some of you have read about it on Sarah's blog. It was a world I haven't been in, not like that, where Art is of primary importance - Primary - creative art, different stuff, thinking outside the box - always always - looking and analyzing and absorbing, visually - It is not a world of living rooms and kitchens and beds that need making and craft projects - it's not a world of scrapbooking - or painting pumpkin faces - it's not elementary school children - it's not toddlers or any age children but for the babies who are now college seniors. It's not the smell of scented candles and comet or clothes detergent - I didn't hear the Disney Chanel - just murmuring voices, looking and discussing what was seen on the walls - and surely I smelled oil paint - surely - and canvas and anything else used to go into making these very important works of art which are intended to launch careers - hopefully - I saw incredible relief in Sarah's face after a summer and fall semester of angst over the outcome - and there we were at the very successful outcome. I loved it and could cry now as I lived through my soon-to-be 24 year old daughter who, as of January, will be too old to be counted as a dependent. No more Daddy's wonderful medical insurance coverage - no more tax break for us - no more money to Auburn for Sarah's education - Now what? Sarah had one adult discuss with her the possibility of purchasing a piece - another professor told her she should consider a residency. I have no idea what that is - but I've heard of it and it sounds really fun to me - I wish I could consider a residency. I want to do it too. Please, somebody! Anyway - I jumped on that one and told Sarah she should do that. Kate said, "What's a residency?" and I said I didn't know, but it sounds wonderful.... We had a great day in Auburn - took the girls out to eat and drove home.

Meanwhile - in Scottsboro - precious Andrew was recovering from his little "wee-wee" surgery. So cute and he's doing great and Ann will blog about that eventually -

Mary Ann returned to Evergreen this morning and for today...

Merry Christmas Season - it's December 2.

First Day of December

I am traveling to Huntsville and to Auburn today, but have preposted these Christmas Images to share with anyone who likes fifties memorabilia. After today I hope to pull out Christmas pictures from the 80's - when my 4 girls were recording their memories. That's a whole other experience, being the parent and making the magic. Below is a collage of images that I pulled off the internet. This is the all I have in color, but what childhood looked like to me during some of my Christmases.

Next are more black and whites I have and have managed to scan into my computer. The next 3 are of a Christmas Party in Mary Ann's first grade classroom. Mary Ann was 6 and I attended this party with Mother. The teacher was Mrs. Wiggins who also was my first grade teacher and a close friend of our family.




Above...
Can you pick out Mrs. Wiggins?
She's in the back, in the middle of the photo.
Mary Ann is 2nd from Mrs. Wiggins' left.
She's holding her cup in her right hand and has on a white blouse with straps to her jumper. I'm guessing that was red plaid.





Above are classmates standing in line at the decorated table.
Notice around the classroom, how much Mrs. Wiggins put into decorating for Christmas....
The pretend mantle against the wall,
The Santa Image,
The centerpiece on the table, which I'm sure the moms who were helping did that.


In this picture, a lineup of the moms who were there.
Mother is the 6th from the left.
She has her arms folded and is holding a cup, looking down at me. I really do remember that moment.
Really. I took a step out and am staring at the little blonde girl, Elaine Mason who is standing in front of Betty Su Brittain.
Between Betta Su and Mother stands Ola Mason. In front of Ola is Mary Catherine Mason who also was in the first grade with Mary Ann. I remember as the photo was going to be taken, because Mary Catherine was standing in front of her mom, Betty Su said that Elaine could be her little girl and so Elaine was standing in front of Betty Su. That kinda freaked me out - I guess I wondered how all of that was going to "go down" with Elaine - would she be okay with it - anyway - I remember having to "stare" at the situation to get a read on everyone's face - etc. - in my 4 year old way.


Moving on... I'm in the 3rd grade.
Below is a picture of Jeannie Price and myself. Her mom is the one with the Polaroid Camera. That was such a big deal then and so cool for her to have that really great camera which developed pictures on the spot.

Jeannie and I were lighting candles in our 3rd grade play. I loved being in plays. Loved it. We had really special roles doing that - coming out onto the stage, just the two of us, while the class was singing carols. I loved it! Anyway - our moms made these white choir robe things and then the big bows. Nothing like a good Christmas Play to kick off Christmas Vacation - although it was actually the Christmas Party that ushered in the school vacation...wasn't it?

That's all I've got in my computer.

I'm sure I could find more.

But for today on this first day of December 09,

that's it.

Now we can continue to make memories -

and really good ones, I hope.