I made my Mama cry on Christmas Eve Eve!

I am always amazed at the ‘things’ I remember from my childhood – the non-tangibles that are just a captured moment - a touch, advise from wonderful grandparents, the breeze that blew through the north room on Goliad, a soft word or harsh words, and of course there are the tangible things – so many tangible things flash through my mind on occasion and I catch myself remembering them with a slight smile on my lips.

Since early fall my Mama has been telling me about her trip to Canton Trade Days where she saw a Fire King Tulip Bowl for sale.  She stopped to ask the vendor the cost, of course it was too much, so she proceeded on her path through the market aisles.  At the end of her day the Tulip Bowl was still forefront in her mind so she returned to purchase it.  As she spent the day in the aisles and aisles of antique dishes and furniture she had convinced herself that the vendor’s price on the coveted Tulip Bowl was really worth it and she must have it.  As she arrived at the original path (her first vendor) the bowl was not on the table – it had been sold. 

Now you have to understand about Tulip Bowls – during my childhood they were used (around Rockwall and nearby towns) at many evening meals and had they held prominent places on our supper table.  The large bowl held various foods but in my memory it seems it held mashed potatoes more often than not, the smaller bowls had other vegetables (corn, pea salad, turnip greens, and so on -- you get the idea).  

In November I began to plan my Christmas gifts. I told my family we were having a ‘BLING’ Christmas and what that means to each is a story in itself.  My part of BLING was going to be ‘designer’ gifts for my husband and children and grandchildren.  My Mama’s gift was the only one I knew for sure I would search for – a perfect condition ‘vintage’ Fire King TULIP BOWL.   After an internet search for the gift I hit a buy on eBay and that brings us to this - making my Mama cry on Christmas Eve Eve!

We gathered at Mama’s house this year on December 23 for dinner and gift exchange.  I placed the package carefully at the edge of Mama’s pile of gifts (my daughter, Laura, and I anxiously waited for her to pick up the silver wrapped box).  She opened and halfway into the removal of packing she started to cry – my daughter said, “Gran, are you crying”?  Mama nodded.  We were all a little surprised.  Mama said “ I just wanted one of these for so long but they either cost to much or whatever (her favorite term).   

You know it is hard to find the perfect gift especially for someone who gives you so much throughout each year – and every once in a while you get lucky and find it. 

I’m happy this Christmas Eve – I made my Mama cry! 

PS – I have my Mama’s original discolored Tulip Bowls.  I don’t use them for dinner like she did, but when I pass by them sitting steadfast on the sideboard, I smile – they make me happy and I remember all the moments captured around them

Gold Toe Socks

This morning it is COLD outside so while planning my attire for the day (black jeans, gray turtleneck, gray toned sweater jacket) I knew I needed socks so I could wear my cute gray suede boots.  Opening the sock drawer, on top of the pile of black socks, were my new ‘Gold-Toe’ socks -- those are the dress socks with the distinctive gold thread at the toe.  I had recently bought them on one of my weekend quick-trips to Target.  I vividly recall that day - standing in the store, the only person in the sock aisle, burdened with a huge selection to choose from but once I saw the Gold-Toe brand my fingers were plucking them off the rack.  In my world - Gold-Toe means Granddaddy!

Growing up my friends and I were not ‘name brand’ conscious nor did we have a store on every corner to choose our favorite outfits.  If we shopped in Rockwall we were limited to Falls Family Shoe Store, Smith Dry Goods, and Hermoines.  Lucky for me my Grandmama and Mama liked to head to Dallas on regular occasion where we shopped the malls - Big Town in the early 60s then about 1965 our favorite was Northpark.  Several times throughout the year we would head to Dallas for a little shopping – the evening itinerary would be to leave Rockwall about 5pm (Mama driving with Grandmama in the front seat and my brother and I in the back seat), drive to Medallion Center to eat at El Chico or Zuider Zee, then to Northpark where we parked in the Titche’s (aka Titche-Goettinger) lot, and entered the store.  At some point we would make a path to the men’s department to buy Granddaddy a new pair of Gold-Toe socks.

As far as I was, and am concerned my Granddaddy could have ‘walked-on water’ but if I visualize that picture he would be wearing a white button-down shirt with a soft blue stripe running through it and a pocket-protector filled with ballpoint pens and small screwdrivers in the chest pocket, dark slacks with an ample amount of coins in the right pocket, and Gold-Toe socks (no shoes).  Granddaddy was the epitome of a man who wore Gold-Toe socks:  natural strength (just like Gold Toe - the most durable toe in the sock market) and unique!

Open your sock drawer – see any Gold-Toe?  If yes, then YAY for you!  Hold on to your natural strength and always strive to be unique! 

PS.  Mama and I still head to Northpark on occasion and always at Christmas. Titche’s is no longer there but we still find a few places to spend our money!

4 month blog drought

YIKES - just taking a look at recipes online and realized I have not written since April - between work, vacations, theater, and nights out on the town with friends - been busy-busy.  Lots going in my little piece of the world. 

Currently I'm directing 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at RCP (opens Sept 21) so I am in full gear at rehearsals to include thinking about 70's style costumes, props and set.  Not to mention the cast has a bucket-load of songs to learn (many with 4-part harmony).  I ended up with some great great voices in the cast.  However, I don't have much of a singing voice - at least not for the public.  I do pretty good in the shower or in the car -- when alone.  And I'm certain I never sang 4-part harmony.

At good old Rockwall Elementary we had 'music class' each week.  Mrs. Roan was my music teacher and she was the perfect example of a small town, mid-60s teacher, wife, and mother.  The room was straight down the long hall on the left - I'm sure it had a piano but I don't remember much else.  I can still see Mrs Roan with her dark short hair curled tight to her head and her dark plaid dress - belted at the waist. 

Tonight at rehearsal I think I'll tell my cast about my music class at Rockwall Elementary and about Mrs. Roan.  I will also ask them to sing as Mrs. Roan sang -- Con passione (with passion)!

Popeye slippers

Today:  planted new pots of flowers across deck, pool, and front courtyard; cranked up the blower and blew the pecan 'sperm' away for tomorrows guests; moved Grandmama's mexican pot to the back rose garden and filled it with fern; filled candy dishes for Embo's shower, prepared my ingredients to make tomorrow's shower food.

Then I came to my office to check emails and this is the first picture to land on my screen.

Yep, I'm tired and I'm wishin' I had some 'Popeye slippers' cuddled up on my lap. :(

When you can feel the sun from both sides!

This weekend I'm celebrating the engagement of my youngest niece Emily by hosting a Couple's Shower.  I've been framing a few pictures of Embo (my term of endearment for her) and Emery (her soon to be husband).  In their pictures together, made over the past few years it appears that they both - when together - can feel the sun from both sides.  Happiness with and love of each other jumps off the picture and instinctually I know they will have a life of joy.  Their May wedding will be a time of celebration by families and friends.

I hope my Embo, as a native of "Our Little Town On The Hill", will continue to celebrate all that she has learned growing up in this wonderful town.  I hope she shares our history here with her new husband.  I hope Emery learns to love Rockwall as much as I do.  I hope they raise their children here and when their car crosses the lake bridge heading toward the downtown square that they softly sing "Little town on the hill, never grew and never will".  But mostly, I hope they always feel the sun from both sides.

To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.

~ David Viscott ~ 

PS (the day after)  The shower turned out perfect!

RCKWL

I ordered pink plates for my black car today.   :)

EASTER

Lots of posts on Facebook today about how we celebrate Jesus and He is risen, also a few posts about what a mess Easter basket grass can make :)

It seems like yesterday when the Easter Bunny visited us to leave baskets of goodies on the front porch.  When the fun of Easter week included shopping for the perfect Easter outfit and shoes.  When #45 and Mama were still together and we all piled in the car after church to head to Rowlett to Grandmama 'Callum's house for a feast of a lunch.  When Sissy came in the back door singing loudly that "Christ the Lord has risen today".  When Wesley drank juice from his Peter Rabbit cup.

Today our kids are coming for a late lunch.  It's sad the grandkids are too old for a good ol' fashioned Easter Egg Hunt but I do think I'll sing to them (loudly and somewhat off pitch) as they enter the back door!

Easter Eve

Working in my office on this beautiful day just doesn't seem right but my view is gorgeous.  My new window spans the length of the room and the light flows in with nothing to block its path.  I can see the dogwoods planted by my grandmother years ago - they are now wearing their green leaves, the white blooms have disappeared.  The rose garden looks a little beat down from last week's thunderstorms.  Squirrels play up and down the giant pecan tree which is greening up along with the grass.  Past the cedar tree I can see my husband headed to the back pasture to check on the beavers.  The peace of Easter surrounds me and I am grateful He is risen.

Water Tower Importance

If you look closely at the picture of the little town on the hill (upper right of blog) you will see the old Rockwall water tower.  That is what a water tower should look like - not a humongeous round thing that sits south of the downtown area.  I have decided that a water tower should sit at the downtown square and it should be small and stand on skinny legs.

Bandera Tx Water Tower 2012

I went to Bandera this weekend for the wedding of Jenny Smith and Charles Krueger and in downtown Bandera sits an appropriate water tower -- similar to the one #45 always said was the best sight when returning to Rockwall from a trip.

I recognize growth is good and I actually enjoy change - but dang it, some things should remain the same!  Water tower history is important!  Even NYC knows the importance and they keep water towers on top of buildings forever!

PS - BTW the wedding was wonderful and I am so happy for the newlyweds!

Benz it is - pretentious I am :)

If you look up pretentious on Wikipedia you might find my picture.  Yesterday was a great day to buy a car - and I did.  My new ride is a black (I love black) Mercedes Benz SUV.  Sorry, but they made me a deal I couldn't refuse.

Even Roy approved of my choice and he knew nothing about the purchase until I drove up in the driveway.

BTW - my Joplin CD is in the CD drive ready to rock me to work tomorrow morning!

ORANGE is more than a color

I recently bought new cushions for our outside furniture and this morning I asked my husband if he had noticed.  He said he thought they looked good and noted that orange was his favorite color.  We've been married 37 years and I don't think I ever knew he liked orange as a favorite color.  He says it is because it is a warm, inviting color.  I say AMEN to that :)

Now I wrote about my love for Orange (and Harvey Sanders) in an earlier blog but this morning I was wondering how often a high school color takes precedence in one's life (college yes, but high school?).  I have several friends who feel the same way about our school color.  We say 'we bleed orange'.  I would expect that most of my classmates can still sing the school song.  I expect most have something orange hanging in their closet.

1953-54 RHS Yellow Jackets

In looking back we were not coerced to the love of orange, we embraced it as our parents and grandparents had before us.  My mom wore the orange uniform as head cheerleader,  #45 wore it on the RHS football field, my Aunt Norma wore the orange majorette uniform, my Uncle Mike was #25 on the 1963 State Championship team, and a few years later my Uncle Wayne was #10.  For a short time (until my rebellion years kicked in) I wore the orange band uniform.  My daughter, Laura, and niece, Meagan, both wore the orange Stingerette uniform, nephew Matt was the kicker on the field a few years ago, and recently my niece Emily wore the orange basketball uniform and represented the State Championship team.

Today I'm wearing orange and sit outside on my new cushions with a glass of iced tea!

Life is good in the Little Town on the HIll!

An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure!

I drive a 2011 Mercedes Benz and I ask you how pretentious is that?  I mean really -- a girl from Rockwall who graduated in 1972 with the class tagged as the 2%’ers, who drives through Rowlett and Garland everyday on her way to work in an office with no windows. 

When I was in high school I had a 1964 Ford Falcon  - it was a red convertible that #45 paid a couple of hundred for.  It smoked from under the hood and at red lights and stop signs it smoked so much it appeared the motor was having a street party barbeque.  On warm summer nights my friends and I would hop in and travel the main street of my Little Town on the Hill -- traveling from the Courthouse Square to the Dairy Queen and back again.  The AM frequency, push button radio blaring out the songs of our days - Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly.   Since that perfect little ‘smoking’ car I’ve had many others ranging from four-door sedans, a Jeep, a few SUVs and a few years sprinkled with convertibles along the way.

Before I bought my Mercedes Benz I drove a GMC Acadia.  I loved it!  I could pile all my family or my girlfriends in (with luggage) and we would travel the roads together, laughing and singing all the way to wherever and back.

Driving into work today I glanced across the lanes at all the different styles of cars - some old, some new, and a few other Mercedes Benz. 

I miss having a convertible and I miss having a SUV.  As I approach my 40^th high school reunion I am proud to know that my class was not the 2%’ers as Herman said we were.  Many of us have achieved more than we could have dreamed and a few of us have experienced becoming a little pretentious.

I think I’ll trade my pretentious Mercedes Benz in for something that makes me happy.  A vehicle that I can drive with my pink mud boots on, something my husband can easliy get in and out of, transportation my dog would be comfortable to ride in, and something with a great sound system so I can roll down the windows and drive from the Rockwall Square south past where the DQ was once located with Joplin blaring from the speakers  --Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz!

A Mayonnaise Jar Lesson

Great story I came across this morning - worth sharing.  Who wants to meet for coffee?
----------------------
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. 

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. 

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”. 

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.” he said.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you...” he told them.

“So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. 

The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Ode to My Neighbor

News of Whitney Houston's passing is on every news channel this morning.  I really loved her music in the 80s and 90s and would sing her songs when they came on the radio.  But today I'm sad for the loss of one of my Steel Magnolias - Jane Bounds.  While Whitney was making music, Jane was making news.  


Those of us 'old Rockwall' folks will always remember that Jane was the owner and editor of The Rockwall Success.  She lived in the red house on Nash Street and drove big fancy (sometimes red) cars.  She wore diamonds and designer clothes - all with red somewhere in the fabric.  She had her hair 'fixed' weekly. She wore red lipstick and red nail polish.  Her best friends were Mattie and Sammie and Mary Ellen.  When she saw me in my backyard she would yell ' Hey Neighbor' and even years later (when we no longer lived near her) she would greet me with a hug and call me neighbor.

Me with my original Steel Magnolias - Mattie, Sammie, Jane

She was one of the first to knock on my front door the day Wesley died.  She wrote about her friendship with my five year old in her newspaper.  She later understood how it felt to lose a child and because of that we were bound together forever by invisible threads.


Jane was the definition of the word neighbor "a person who lives near another; a person or thing that is near another; one's fellow human being: to be generous toward one's less fortunate neighbors; a person who shows kindness or helpfulness toward other fellow humans: to be a neighbor to someone in distress".  


Goodbye sweet neighbor -- you will be missed.


PS.  Today I'm going to get my nails painted red, listen to Elvis, drink a Dr Pepper and have a Hershey's bar - all in  honor of Jane.