Today, when i went through my stack of mail it was mostly bills. And that was on the depressing side. The bills themselves didn't depress me. Those are just part of life and have to be dealt with. It depressed me because that's really all that ever comes in the mail anymore. Now wait, I did get my jury summons, so that's gonna be a fun filled day next month. Whatever will I spend my $12 compensation check on? Oh the dreams!
Anyway, it got me to thinking about how much fun it was getting a card or a letter in the mail when I was growing up. It always made me feel so grown up to have something in the mailbox just for me. These days, and I'm so guilty of this, we all rely on the internet to do this for us. I'll get a birthday card from my families, but once upon a time birthday mail was a huge deal! Possibly because there might be cash or a check inside, which is rich to a kid! But, looking back on it, it was just nice that people remembered.
I use to love writing letters. Even though my handwriting is almost completely unreadable and I end up printing everything (even then...not so good), I felt better once I'd sat down with pen and paper and communicated with someone. During the summers between college years, my bfa class would write to each other. And when I was in college, not a week went by that I didn't get a letter or care package from my mom and my grandmother. And I still have every one of those letters. Maybe it's being a packrat, but I prefer the term sentimental.
There's just something to the art of writing letters and putting packages together that's lost on most people today. I miss that and need to get back into it.
Maybe one day I'll get something in the mail that doesn't have "payment due by" on it LOL Even though I do pay 80% of my bills by check through snail mail, it isn't quite the same as putting something in the mail just for fun!
And, here's my many soapbox and that'll be it. I feel like when I send a card or a letter or a bill off in the mail, I'm helping to keep people employed. Someone has to deliver it, someone has to process the check, someone has to make the card and the envelope, etc. I realize it's not eco friendly, but in this economy right now it's much easier to plant a new tree than to create a new job. :)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Their night
Growing up, my parents weren't the most touchy, feely sort of couple. I don't mean that they were cold towards each other, by any means. They just did not express themselves physically very often in front of us. Or at least in front of me. They were tender when it counted and when it was needed. I remember being five or six and going to the funeral of my cousin Margaret. She and my mom were very close and mom took her death very hard. As she stood at the grave after the service, my dad held her close as she cried. Someone took a photograph of that moment, from behind them. Now that picture is imprinted on my mind and it's one of the first images I see whenever I think about my parents together. Their intimate moments like that bound them together and, in a sense, bound us all together.
As Mom's illness progressed rapidly towards the end of her life, their physical interactions became more frequent. Not necessarily in a romantic way, but much more powerfully. It was in a way that came straight from their hearts and their devotion to each other. Dad would have to help Mom in getting dressed and undressed. Especially with her shoes as she could no longer comfortably bend down to get them on. I don't think Mom would've let just anyone do that for her, but this was her soul mate.
Dad even had to help bathe Mom from time to time as sometimes it was too difficult for her to do alone. I remember that one time Dad told me that he joked with Mom, telling her that he'd wanted to help bathe her when they first got married, but she wouldn't let him. That always makes me smile.
That night, they sat in the den watching the video of Bill and Heidi's wedding. This was something that they had done almost every night since they'd received the video. Mom was very proud of that wedding. One, it was a beautiful wedding. And two, she was determined to be there and to be an active part in it, which she was. That wedding, honestly, I believe prolonged her life. After the video was over, she told Dad that she needed to use the bathroom. He lifted her up and helped her onto the toilet. She sat there for a long time, he told me. Once she let him know that she was finished, he cleaned her up, got her dressed again and set her back down in her recliner. If nothing else, that right there is what true love between two people is. Mom expressed her relief and told Dad that she really must have had to use the bathroom badly. Upon returning to flush and clean the toilet, he realized that Mom had not actually done anything, she'd only thought she had.
Coming back to her, Mom asked Dad if he would scratch her back. He leaned her forward a little in her recliner and scratched her back, which she always loved. I don't know how long he did this, but I imagine it made both of them happy to be touching and connecting in some way. When he was done, she sat back in the chair and thanked him. And by the time it took Dad to walk only a few feet to his own recliner, not even 30 seconds, that was it. She was gone.
She was ready to go. And my Dad's love for her never wavered. He made have had to let her go physically, but not from his soul.
The depth of my parents love for each other has always amazed me and set an extraordinary example for me. It is one of those things that I didn't realize how strong it was at the time, but looking back on it I see it in so many memories.
As Mom's illness progressed rapidly towards the end of her life, their physical interactions became more frequent. Not necessarily in a romantic way, but much more powerfully. It was in a way that came straight from their hearts and their devotion to each other. Dad would have to help Mom in getting dressed and undressed. Especially with her shoes as she could no longer comfortably bend down to get them on. I don't think Mom would've let just anyone do that for her, but this was her soul mate.
Dad even had to help bathe Mom from time to time as sometimes it was too difficult for her to do alone. I remember that one time Dad told me that he joked with Mom, telling her that he'd wanted to help bathe her when they first got married, but she wouldn't let him. That always makes me smile.
That night, they sat in the den watching the video of Bill and Heidi's wedding. This was something that they had done almost every night since they'd received the video. Mom was very proud of that wedding. One, it was a beautiful wedding. And two, she was determined to be there and to be an active part in it, which she was. That wedding, honestly, I believe prolonged her life. After the video was over, she told Dad that she needed to use the bathroom. He lifted her up and helped her onto the toilet. She sat there for a long time, he told me. Once she let him know that she was finished, he cleaned her up, got her dressed again and set her back down in her recliner. If nothing else, that right there is what true love between two people is. Mom expressed her relief and told Dad that she really must have had to use the bathroom badly. Upon returning to flush and clean the toilet, he realized that Mom had not actually done anything, she'd only thought she had.
Coming back to her, Mom asked Dad if he would scratch her back. He leaned her forward a little in her recliner and scratched her back, which she always loved. I don't know how long he did this, but I imagine it made both of them happy to be touching and connecting in some way. When he was done, she sat back in the chair and thanked him. And by the time it took Dad to walk only a few feet to his own recliner, not even 30 seconds, that was it. She was gone.
She was ready to go. And my Dad's love for her never wavered. He made have had to let her go physically, but not from his soul.
The depth of my parents love for each other has always amazed me and set an extraordinary example for me. It is one of those things that I didn't realize how strong it was at the time, but looking back on it I see it in so many memories.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
antiques
i treated myself to a shopping trip to the Greensboro Antiques Mall yesterday. Our weekend travel plans had to be cancelled because Michael has been sick. That's really not a big deal in the long run as it's just something that happens in life. So, i decided that i'd spend the money i was going to spend in Asheville on myself at the antiques mall. Had a blast there by myself and found some things i'd been wanting. i didn't find some of the things i'd hoped i'd find, but none the less it was a nice outing for me.
i've loved antiques for as long as i can remember. i grew up around them. i love them because they have a history to them. Almost everything i own is an antique or vintage in one way or another. And because many things i have are family pieces, i know the history behind them. It just makes me happy.
my passion for them started when i was about 12. My Great Aunt Sara passed away that year and we had to clean out the family home in Wingate. i'd been in that house many times as a child, but that experience of dealing with all of those pieces with their family history really got me motivated and passionate about them. There was an antiques store in Wingate. It was actually located in another family home of ours, my Great Uncle Bruce's boyhood home, which is now the Jesse Helms Museum, but we'll save that for another time. Anyway, the proprietor of that shop came and did an appraisal on the pieces at Aunt Sara's and that's how i got to know her. Now, all i can remember is her first name is Bonnie lol
Everytime we'd go to Wingate to work on the house, i'd beg to stop by the store. Usually, Mom would relent and we'd kill an hour or so there. i remember that the first time i went into the shop, i fell in love with a green and white checkered tea set. i just thought it was beautiful but at $50, it was out of my price range as a 12 year old. Everytime we went there i would go back and stare at the set. i wanted it badly lol i was saving every penny i could get my hands on, even though i knew it would take months for me to save enough. This was a risk because someone could've bought it before i'd saved enough, but i was willing to take that chance.
Finally, in October, Bonnie relented and reduced the price to $20, just for me. And i had saved more than that but gladly handed it over to her and packed up my tea set. i was beyond thrilled. We took it home and Mom found a silver tray that we put it on and set it out in the living room. i was so proud of my purchase. It stayed in our living room for years and years until Dad remarried. i still have it, i don't ever plan on getting rid of it as it was the first purchase of my love for antiques. i still display it from time to time. Maybe i need to pull it back out and show it off.
i've loved antiques for as long as i can remember. i grew up around them. i love them because they have a history to them. Almost everything i own is an antique or vintage in one way or another. And because many things i have are family pieces, i know the history behind them. It just makes me happy.
my passion for them started when i was about 12. My Great Aunt Sara passed away that year and we had to clean out the family home in Wingate. i'd been in that house many times as a child, but that experience of dealing with all of those pieces with their family history really got me motivated and passionate about them. There was an antiques store in Wingate. It was actually located in another family home of ours, my Great Uncle Bruce's boyhood home, which is now the Jesse Helms Museum, but we'll save that for another time. Anyway, the proprietor of that shop came and did an appraisal on the pieces at Aunt Sara's and that's how i got to know her. Now, all i can remember is her first name is Bonnie lol
Everytime we'd go to Wingate to work on the house, i'd beg to stop by the store. Usually, Mom would relent and we'd kill an hour or so there. i remember that the first time i went into the shop, i fell in love with a green and white checkered tea set. i just thought it was beautiful but at $50, it was out of my price range as a 12 year old. Everytime we went there i would go back and stare at the set. i wanted it badly lol i was saving every penny i could get my hands on, even though i knew it would take months for me to save enough. This was a risk because someone could've bought it before i'd saved enough, but i was willing to take that chance.
Finally, in October, Bonnie relented and reduced the price to $20, just for me. And i had saved more than that but gladly handed it over to her and packed up my tea set. i was beyond thrilled. We took it home and Mom found a silver tray that we put it on and set it out in the living room. i was so proud of my purchase. It stayed in our living room for years and years until Dad remarried. i still have it, i don't ever plan on getting rid of it as it was the first purchase of my love for antiques. i still display it from time to time. Maybe i need to pull it back out and show it off.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
mmmmm Tang
i'm not much of a breakfast eater. Never have been. Mostly it's because i'm lazy haha. Now, if someone else was up to preparing breakfast everyday, i'd definitely be up for that. So, it's something that i need to work on because, as it has been said, breakfast is the most important meal of the day :) And the thing is that i love breakfast food. Almost anything served for breakfast, with the exception of grits (which i know is unsouthern of me), i'll eat!
Anyway, in my goal to eat breakfast everyday, i was looking for easy breakfast items at the grocery store the other day. And in the juice aisle, i came across some Tang. i LOVE Tang. Always have. Everytime we went to visit my Grandma Fornes, she always had Tang for breakfast. Honestly, i prefer it over real orange juice haha. i'd forgotten that last year i went so far as to find a Tang pitcher on ebay that was just like hers because i had so many great memories of breakfast around her kitchen table. She was a great country cook, btw. So, remembering that i had the pitcher up in the cabinet and it was going unused, i treated myself to buying some Tang.
This morning i made myself a pitcher and enjoyed several glasses. It goes quickly apparently lol And it was good with my bagel and apple. There really isn't a point to this blog, but i'm hoping that knowing that i have Tang in the fridge, it will help me to get each day off to a good start. We shall see.
Anyway, in my goal to eat breakfast everyday, i was looking for easy breakfast items at the grocery store the other day. And in the juice aisle, i came across some Tang. i LOVE Tang. Always have. Everytime we went to visit my Grandma Fornes, she always had Tang for breakfast. Honestly, i prefer it over real orange juice haha. i'd forgotten that last year i went so far as to find a Tang pitcher on ebay that was just like hers because i had so many great memories of breakfast around her kitchen table. She was a great country cook, btw. So, remembering that i had the pitcher up in the cabinet and it was going unused, i treated myself to buying some Tang.
This morning i made myself a pitcher and enjoyed several glasses. It goes quickly apparently lol And it was good with my bagel and apple. There really isn't a point to this blog, but i'm hoping that knowing that i have Tang in the fridge, it will help me to get each day off to a good start. We shall see.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
recipe of the week - hash brown casserole
Mom found this recipe in Southern living either in the early 80's or the late 70's. Either way, it was a staple at our house, especially for family gatherings. It's another quick, easy and delicious side dish that we now enjoy at our house. Hope you do too!
1 stick melted butter
1 pt. sour cream
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1 2lb bag of hashbrowns
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 tsp pepper
Mix 8 ingredients and put into a buttered casserole. Cover with a topping of 2 cups of cornflakes and 1 stick of melted butter.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 40 - 45 minutes
The great thing about this is that you can use low fat dairy and soups in this recipe and it tastes the same! I like to use as mild an onion as i can so that it doesn't overpower the flavor. Also, if interested, chunks of ham tossed in work well too!
1 stick melted butter
1 pt. sour cream
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1 2lb bag of hashbrowns
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 tsp pepper
Mix 8 ingredients and put into a buttered casserole. Cover with a topping of 2 cups of cornflakes and 1 stick of melted butter.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 40 - 45 minutes
The great thing about this is that you can use low fat dairy and soups in this recipe and it tastes the same! I like to use as mild an onion as i can so that it doesn't overpower the flavor. Also, if interested, chunks of ham tossed in work well too!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
recipe of the week
Easy Heart Smart White Chili
2 chicken breasts, diced
1 large onion, chopped
2 Tbsp oil
1 can Northern beans
1 can Navy beans
1 can white corn
1 can green chiles
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
Cook chicken and onions in oil until chicken is done. Add remaining ingrediants. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serves 6
This is an easy recipe that we've enjoyed many times!
2 chicken breasts, diced
1 large onion, chopped
2 Tbsp oil
1 can Northern beans
1 can Navy beans
1 can white corn
1 can green chiles
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
Cook chicken and onions in oil until chicken is done. Add remaining ingrediants. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serves 6
This is an easy recipe that we've enjoyed many times!
Monday, January 14, 2013
rambling
for me, trying to figure out who i am is a tough one. And sometimes, trying to figure out who i am in the settings of my relationship is even tougher. Don't get me wrong, i love Michael and i love being in this relationship. We're going on 6 years now...woohoo! But sometimes i feel forced to examine aspects of my character because of us and that can be a difficult thing. i just get jealous of him sometimes because he's the fun one and i'm not. And by fun, since there are so many definitions of it, i mean he's the popular one. People are drawn to him. i don't blame them, i was and still am.
i just don't know if i need to change myself to fit into the mold of what i think a popular person is. Like my dad, i can be very much a loner at times and usually you'll find me at home. I use to think that this was ok, but now i'm not sure. i'm just not the kind of person that people think of to call or get ahold of when they wanna do something fun. Or if they're coming thru town, i'm last on the list. And that's all ok because someone has to be last. I've been last before and sure I will be again. But all the time? damn lol
i do have one friend that i see a few times a week, and several that check in with me via text everyday, but that's the extent of my social life LOL Maybe i need to join a club, or go slumming somewhere. Who knows!
Or do i just need to accept my role of not being the fun one and go with it? I guess someone's got to be dark horse, or gift with purchase, as i sometimes call myself lol Michael hates that one. I don't know. I just don't know. And it's not Michael's fault everyone's drawn to him and wants to see him. Lucky LOL
Maybe i should just take up needlepoint again and suck it up. Oh well.
i just don't know if i need to change myself to fit into the mold of what i think a popular person is. Like my dad, i can be very much a loner at times and usually you'll find me at home. I use to think that this was ok, but now i'm not sure. i'm just not the kind of person that people think of to call or get ahold of when they wanna do something fun. Or if they're coming thru town, i'm last on the list. And that's all ok because someone has to be last. I've been last before and sure I will be again. But all the time? damn lol
i do have one friend that i see a few times a week, and several that check in with me via text everyday, but that's the extent of my social life LOL Maybe i need to join a club, or go slumming somewhere. Who knows!
Or do i just need to accept my role of not being the fun one and go with it? I guess someone's got to be dark horse, or gift with purchase, as i sometimes call myself lol Michael hates that one. I don't know. I just don't know. And it's not Michael's fault everyone's drawn to him and wants to see him. Lucky LOL
Maybe i should just take up needlepoint again and suck it up. Oh well.
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