THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

I substituted in 3rd grade yesterday. Leah was here so she went with me and had the most wonderful time. The third graders were participating in an awards ceremony. We all took our seats on the bleachers where the students soon brought to my attention a pile of something on the floor, with tissue nearby. I had the students all move away from the pile and I went for the janitor. She soon came with her cart containing every cleaning tool known to man. She came up on the bleachers, bent down to look and asked me what did I think it was. I assured her it was poop. Upon closer inspection she determined it was a chewed-up pickle. Needless to say, we about died laughing. We were all quite relieved.

Later in the day Mama and I took Leah to Bardstown to meet Michael. She wasn't happy about being cold and had to be wrapped in a blanklie and carried to the other car. Can't say that I blame her. The wind was freezing. She got settled and left for home. I was sad to see her go, I'm missing her tonight. I wish they were all here.

Mama and I were hungry so we decided to get something to eat. We wanted something out of the norm, something in an interesting building with the best food for miles around. Mama had me looking for a place that surely has been closed for years. We don't much like Old Talbott Tavern, except for the cherry cobbler with ice cream. So we settled on Mammy's Rock 'n Robin cafe. From the street it looked ok. The inside wasn't too bad, it was clean. But then our food came, Mama had mashed potatoes (no gravy), green beans (which she didn't order and didn't eat), I had what I thought surely had to be bologna quesadillas . Strange little squares of meat (maybe it was meat) made me wonder if it was bologna.The two triangle shaped pieces were huge, filled with tomato sauce, onions, peppers and squares of bologna. We did have a good time laughing at ourselves. We were hungry all the way home.
It was an interesting Thursday.

S IS FOR SUSAN

At this time 39 years ago, I was pregnant. Overdue and anxious. John Wayne and I were staying in Fordsville at Mama and Daddy's house. I did nothing while mama cooked, carried, cleaned. We knew it couldn't be much longer so every time I sneezed they all got in the car, while I was still reading on the couch. Finally on February 3rd the time came for her to be born. Labor wasn't the most fun thing to happen to me so far but survive it, I did. Susan weighed 8 lbs and 14oz. She was the prettiest little baby in the whole hospital and for miles around. When the nurses would bring her to me and it was just the two of us in the room, I would look at her in amazement that this was my baby, she was going home with me. It was such an exciting time, yet fearful too. I didn't know how to take care of a baby. But I soon learned. Susan was a good baby, just cried when she was hungry or had a wet diaper. She would look you right in the eye and just be content to be in your company. She grew up all too soon, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. At least, I guess I wouldn't.
As she grew it became apparent that she had many talents. She began dancing lessons at 3 years old and took lessons until she was a senior in high school. She kept herself stylish and beautiful.
Now that she is pushing 40 and has three daughters of her own, I still see that little girl in her. She is talented, beautiful, smart, funny, loyal. I love her.

T IS FOR TWENTY THREE

Twenty three years ago tonight, my father died. The thing I remember the most is telling my children. They were both just stricken with grief. It changed their lives. They spent many days and nights with my parents, once even staying for 6 weeks without being at home even for a night. We would go visit them but they were having a good time. It's a good thing for them to have so many memories.

WHAT I TOOK MY MOTHER

This is what I brought my mother on Friday:
- a box of kleenex with Vicks salve
- 5 pounds of yellow corn meal
- a hand operated egg beater from a junk store
- a white bowl with a handle, also from the junk store
- a package of panty liners

U IS FOR UNTIL

My mind tells me I can't do this, I can't do that, until this or that or later or after or before. My heart is telling me there is no until. Only this minute. I just have to open my eyes, flex my fingers and write. No thinking about until....

V IS FOR VINE

Vine walks with every day. I can't see her but I know she is there. She tells her story in one of my all-time favorite books, A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES by Silas House. She tells her story in words that stay with me continually. I would be lost without her.

W IS FOR WOBBLY

Every day my mother becomes more wobbly. If I don't hold on to her she might wobble off to the left, leaving me headed in my own direction. Then I'm veering to the left to retrieve her and we continue on our way. At home, she wobbles from room to room. If she didn't know the house so well she couldn't possibly keep from falling. I think she does fall far more than she will admit. She would rather wobble in her own house and keep her independence. I worry about her but it is her decision.
She is good-humored about her wobbling, always the first to make a joke. I know, though, that it is not easy for her. She was always the first to do things for other people, take charge and take care of us all. It goes against the grain for her to be the one who is dependent. But for now she wobbles her way around and pretends to be content.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Tomorrow I should begin Christmas shopping. But, no doubt, I will wait until December. I guess I think I work best under pressure. And I do.
I thought I could not possibly get ready for Christmas of 2007. Somehow it all came together and we all had a good time. We ate like pigs and slept like logs. We just didn't sleep very long or at night.
The girls were so much fun. We were happy to have them here.
All the shopping and wrapping was worth it all. We got such great presents, books, clothes, computers, cameras, video games, toys, jewelry, gift certificates, wonderful things to eat, calendars, things to hang on the wall, things made of wood, great things we will all treasure and remember with joy.