THE CHRISTMAS MY FAMILY REMEMBERS MOST
It all began on Tuesday, December 23 sometime in the 1970's, when we gathered at my cousin Jane's house to celebrate Christmas with my father's side of the family. Present were Preston, Jane's husband, and three children, my sisters and their husbands and children, and my aunt and uncle (Jane's parents) and my parents as well. We had a wonderful time eating and making merry and enjoying each others' company.
The next day, Wednesday, was spent doing all the last minute shopping and cooking. Then that night the genius, our three children and I all celebrated with the genius' side of the family. We gathered at my in-laws' house for a superb feast consisting of turkey, dressing, scalloped oysters, cranberry sauce, etc. We were quite satisfyingly full when we started for home.
Once home, we saw the children off to bed fully intending to be awakened by them before dawn once again. However, some of us didn't make it through the night. Ashley and I were in the bathroom losing the delicious meal we had downed the night before. We were up most of the rest of the night and by morning Brenda and the genius were joining in. Jim IV felt queasy and got worse throughout the day, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
We made the decision to camp out on the king-sized bed and open our presents. We proceeded to do so, but periodically, one or the other of us would have to interrupt to run to the bathroom. This went on throughout the gift opening process, and to some extent, throughout the day.
Meanwhile, my parents and my sisters' families were experiencing the same thing. We were supposed to meet at my maternal aunt's and uncle's lakehouse to have our big dinner, etc. as we had for several years, but no one could come! My aunt and uncle, their children, and my step-grandmother all waited in vain for us to arrive, but we were all sick! Out of seventeen of us who had eaten at Jane's house, fourteen were ill.
We checked it out with Jane and they admitted to having had a stomach virus earlier but were well over it by the time we came to their dinner. It must have been a very potent and stubborn virus because we all caught it!!
Whenever anyone in our family is asked to name his/her most MEMORABLE Christmas, everyone names this one. I don't know why but we always seem to define events by the negative aspects of it. I wonder why.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE, AND MAY YOU ALL REMAIN WELL TODAY!!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
MEMORIES OF TWO CHRISTMASES
Writing about Ashley's birth made me remember our first Christmas with her when she was but one week old. We were in Lawton, OK, as I said, living in a little 2 bedroom furnished duplex in town as opposed to on the base at Fort Sill which was full. I was still recovering from the long labor and birth and the genius was doing his duties as a husband and new father.
Our meals consisted of mostly frozen dinners or sandwiches which he prepared, while I was busy taking care of our new baby. When Christmas Eve rolled around both of us were getting pretty tired of the routine, not to say the frozen dinners. (I've never really gotten over my initial impression of them.)
Ashley was the third grandchild on my side of the family, but she was the first on the paternal side. My in-laws were ecstatic over her arrival and had sent a mountain of presents to her for her first Christmas. In addition, there were many gifts from other friends of the family all wrapped and sitting under the tree for Christmas. Of course, we had quite a few gifts ourselves because this was our first Christmas away from home.
That night after dinner (thankfully, I don't remember what it was) we were sitting in the living room ready to collapse for yet another sleepless night when we made the momentous decision to open just ONE present. The delight of "breaking the rules" was so great that we decided to open just ONE more. Of course, you can guess what happened: By the time we were through, every gift was opened and the floor was covered with wrapping paper from one end to the other.
We were NOT sorry the next morning and once our three children were grown, we have done the same thing with them. Every Christmas Eve we get together with whoever is in town to eat a big meal and afterwards open our gifts.
That means that Christmas Day is one of rest and relaxation and eating leftovers.
Tomorrow I will share everyone's MOST memorable Christmas!
Writing about Ashley's birth made me remember our first Christmas with her when she was but one week old. We were in Lawton, OK, as I said, living in a little 2 bedroom furnished duplex in town as opposed to on the base at Fort Sill which was full. I was still recovering from the long labor and birth and the genius was doing his duties as a husband and new father.
Our meals consisted of mostly frozen dinners or sandwiches which he prepared, while I was busy taking care of our new baby. When Christmas Eve rolled around both of us were getting pretty tired of the routine, not to say the frozen dinners. (I've never really gotten over my initial impression of them.)
Ashley was the third grandchild on my side of the family, but she was the first on the paternal side. My in-laws were ecstatic over her arrival and had sent a mountain of presents to her for her first Christmas. In addition, there were many gifts from other friends of the family all wrapped and sitting under the tree for Christmas. Of course, we had quite a few gifts ourselves because this was our first Christmas away from home.
That night after dinner (thankfully, I don't remember what it was) we were sitting in the living room ready to collapse for yet another sleepless night when we made the momentous decision to open just ONE present. The delight of "breaking the rules" was so great that we decided to open just ONE more. Of course, you can guess what happened: By the time we were through, every gift was opened and the floor was covered with wrapping paper from one end to the other.
We were NOT sorry the next morning and once our three children were grown, we have done the same thing with them. Every Christmas Eve we get together with whoever is in town to eat a big meal and afterwards open our gifts.
That means that Christmas Day is one of rest and relaxation and eating leftovers.
Tomorrow I will share everyone's MOST memorable Christmas!
Friday, December 18, 2009
SPECIAL DAY
Forty-eight years ago today our oldest child was born. YIKES!! How did she get so OLD? How did I? How did the genius? It all just flew by, but I remember the day very well still.
We were living in Lawton, OK, while the genius served his two years in the Army at Fort Sill. It was a chilly morning on the 17th when he drove me to the hospital after I had been in hard (?) labor all night. I was sure I would deliver soon. But it was not to be! I had dilated only ONE centimeter, and I had to reach TEN before things really happened. I began to get an inkling about what I was in for.
But finally, after REALLY being in hard labor throughout the next night, Ashley made her appearance about 8:oo in the morning. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She had a little fuzz of red hair and I immediately could see my sister MA in her face. I could also see why she took so long to arrive because she weighed in at 8 pounds and 13 and a half ounces!! She looked 3 months old!!
I told the hospital I wanted "rooming in" which meant I got a private room with her in the same room with me. Biiig mistake. I spent most of my time trying to feed her and she just wouldn't fill up. I went home from the hospital much more exhausted than I would have been if I had left her in the nursery. After three days, we paid our bill of $7.35 (cost of my food), and I went home with the genius.
Of course, we had no clue about what to do as parents. Again, I spent most of my time feeding her, not knowing if she were getting enough to eat since I was breast feeding her. (At her six weeks check-up, she had gained four pounds, so she was getting enough!) This routine went on for a week until the day after Christmas when my mother arrived. I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life!! The genius could go back to work and Mother, one of the most efficient people I've ever known, took over.
She stayed until Ashley was three weeks old and we both flew back to Nashville where the genius joined us a couple of weeks later. I had a good rest except for getting up every two hours at night feeding her. I'm happy to report that at six weeks she settled into a routine and from then on I had a good night's sleep. As you know, that's always important to me.
And you know the rest of the story: She grew up, married a wonderful man, with whom she had four children, and now has her first grandchild on the way.
To quote a line from the poem "Forgotten Language" by Shel Silverstein, "How did it go? How did it go?"
Forty-eight years ago today our oldest child was born. YIKES!! How did she get so OLD? How did I? How did the genius? It all just flew by, but I remember the day very well still.
We were living in Lawton, OK, while the genius served his two years in the Army at Fort Sill. It was a chilly morning on the 17th when he drove me to the hospital after I had been in hard (?) labor all night. I was sure I would deliver soon. But it was not to be! I had dilated only ONE centimeter, and I had to reach TEN before things really happened. I began to get an inkling about what I was in for.
But finally, after REALLY being in hard labor throughout the next night, Ashley made her appearance about 8:oo in the morning. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She had a little fuzz of red hair and I immediately could see my sister MA in her face. I could also see why she took so long to arrive because she weighed in at 8 pounds and 13 and a half ounces!! She looked 3 months old!!
I told the hospital I wanted "rooming in" which meant I got a private room with her in the same room with me. Biiig mistake. I spent most of my time trying to feed her and she just wouldn't fill up. I went home from the hospital much more exhausted than I would have been if I had left her in the nursery. After three days, we paid our bill of $7.35 (cost of my food), and I went home with the genius.
Of course, we had no clue about what to do as parents. Again, I spent most of my time feeding her, not knowing if she were getting enough to eat since I was breast feeding her. (At her six weeks check-up, she had gained four pounds, so she was getting enough!) This routine went on for a week until the day after Christmas when my mother arrived. I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life!! The genius could go back to work and Mother, one of the most efficient people I've ever known, took over.
She stayed until Ashley was three weeks old and we both flew back to Nashville where the genius joined us a couple of weeks later. I had a good rest except for getting up every two hours at night feeding her. I'm happy to report that at six weeks she settled into a routine and from then on I had a good night's sleep. As you know, that's always important to me.
And you know the rest of the story: She grew up, married a wonderful man, with whom she had four children, and now has her first grandchild on the way.
To quote a line from the poem "Forgotten Language" by Shel Silverstein, "How did it go? How did it go?"
Thursday, December 10, 2009
SHOPPING AT AMAZON
I know a lot of my stories are about the genius, but he's just such a unique man and livng with him is such an experience! Here's the latest one.
A couple of weeks ago we were having a nice chat and he said he had ordered some new books from Amazon. He said he really got a good deal and part of the deal was slow shipping so he could get it free, and looked at me pointedly. I said confidently, "What?! I always get free shipping and I get it in two days!"
He replies, "Then why are there always shipping charges on the bills?"
A little less confident now, I said, "Well, I'm almost positive it's one-click, two day, free shipping I use. But just to be sure I'll look it up right now."
So on to the "trusty" internet I went. Sure enough, there it was "one-click, two day free shipping."
He said he was still sure there were charges on the bill. When the next one came in, (I order frequently -- Amazon has found a gold mine in me.) I showed him and he was finally convinced.
So the net of it all is that his books still haven't arrived, and I've had at least five deliveries come since then, what with ordering Christmas gifts, etc.
I feel so bad for him that whenever any package does arrive I actually think of hiding them from him. At least he's quit asking if the box is for him!
I know a lot of my stories are about the genius, but he's just such a unique man and livng with him is such an experience! Here's the latest one.
A couple of weeks ago we were having a nice chat and he said he had ordered some new books from Amazon. He said he really got a good deal and part of the deal was slow shipping so he could get it free, and looked at me pointedly. I said confidently, "What?! I always get free shipping and I get it in two days!"
He replies, "Then why are there always shipping charges on the bills?"
A little less confident now, I said, "Well, I'm almost positive it's one-click, two day, free shipping I use. But just to be sure I'll look it up right now."
So on to the "trusty" internet I went. Sure enough, there it was "one-click, two day free shipping."
He said he was still sure there were charges on the bill. When the next one came in, (I order frequently -- Amazon has found a gold mine in me.) I showed him and he was finally convinced.
So the net of it all is that his books still haven't arrived, and I've had at least five deliveries come since then, what with ordering Christmas gifts, etc.
I feel so bad for him that whenever any package does arrive I actually think of hiding them from him. At least he's quit asking if the box is for him!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
LIFE WITH THE DOGS
Because we have had so much rain lately, I've been inside a lot with only the dogs to keep me company. For various reasons, we have kept Jesse more, so Rufus has been a happy camper, albeit a little jealous at times. But they both have such different personalities that they get along especially well together even after many days.
Jesse is female and acts like it. She is quieter and milder, and is content to sit or snooze for long periods. Rufus, on the other hand, is pure male, getting restless after a period of time and prowls and pokes his nose into things. I always get a little wary during these episodes because that's usually when he gets into trouble. If he's not going to the bathroom somewhere he is getting into the trash or dirty clothes. At times like these, Jesse just watches him but doesn't join in.
In the mornings before he goes to work, the genius takes them out for their first walk. Rufus has a routine that he adheres to every day regardless of whether Jesse is here. He goes out, does his business, and is rewarded with a "greenie" which he grabs and races back to my bed to eat it. Meanwhile, the genius gets his food prepared which is ready and waiting for him when he comes back downstairs. But sometimes the genius does something else like take the trash out, and Rufus thinks he has gone. That's when "the bark like no other" comes forth. It's a short angry yelp that sounds like he's saying, "What the hell!!" (Pardon my French, but it describes very well what I think he feels.)
I get so tickled at him that I almost have trouble going back to sleep. Almost -- but somehow I always manage to drift back off.
Because we have had so much rain lately, I've been inside a lot with only the dogs to keep me company. For various reasons, we have kept Jesse more, so Rufus has been a happy camper, albeit a little jealous at times. But they both have such different personalities that they get along especially well together even after many days.
Jesse is female and acts like it. She is quieter and milder, and is content to sit or snooze for long periods. Rufus, on the other hand, is pure male, getting restless after a period of time and prowls and pokes his nose into things. I always get a little wary during these episodes because that's usually when he gets into trouble. If he's not going to the bathroom somewhere he is getting into the trash or dirty clothes. At times like these, Jesse just watches him but doesn't join in.
In the mornings before he goes to work, the genius takes them out for their first walk. Rufus has a routine that he adheres to every day regardless of whether Jesse is here. He goes out, does his business, and is rewarded with a "greenie" which he grabs and races back to my bed to eat it. Meanwhile, the genius gets his food prepared which is ready and waiting for him when he comes back downstairs. But sometimes the genius does something else like take the trash out, and Rufus thinks he has gone. That's when "the bark like no other" comes forth. It's a short angry yelp that sounds like he's saying, "What the hell!!" (Pardon my French, but it describes very well what I think he feels.)
I get so tickled at him that I almost have trouble going back to sleep. Almost -- but somehow I always manage to drift back off.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!
That's the name of the town T Squared (oldest grandchild) and his wife Kirsten live in Arizona. I don't know where the name came from, but they lived up to it by calling to reveal their "surprise": The baby they are having in April is a girl! I wouldn't have been disappointed either way, but there are advantages to having a girl.
Number 1. Let's face it, girly baby clothes are much cuter than boys' and there seems to me to be a much bigger selection of them out there. And you can't go wrong on color either. How many boys wear pink, or men either for that matter? But a girl can wear any color and look cute.
Number 2. Girls are easier to potty train. I won't go into detail on that one, but trust me, I know.
Number 3. And the old adage is true: "A girl is a daughter for all of her life, but a boy is a son till he takes a wife."
Now don't think I'm complaining with that last one -- it's just a fact of life. And I wouldn't want it any other way. What kind of husband would a guy be if he stuck close to his mother?!? We parents raise the boys with that in mind and it's OKAY when that happens.
One thing I'm sure about is that Kirsten and T Squared will make wonderful parents of either sex. I can hardly wait for it all to begin!!
That's the name of the town T Squared (oldest grandchild) and his wife Kirsten live in Arizona. I don't know where the name came from, but they lived up to it by calling to reveal their "surprise": The baby they are having in April is a girl! I wouldn't have been disappointed either way, but there are advantages to having a girl.
Number 1. Let's face it, girly baby clothes are much cuter than boys' and there seems to me to be a much bigger selection of them out there. And you can't go wrong on color either. How many boys wear pink, or men either for that matter? But a girl can wear any color and look cute.
Number 2. Girls are easier to potty train. I won't go into detail on that one, but trust me, I know.
Number 3. And the old adage is true: "A girl is a daughter for all of her life, but a boy is a son till he takes a wife."
Now don't think I'm complaining with that last one -- it's just a fact of life. And I wouldn't want it any other way. What kind of husband would a guy be if he stuck close to his mother?!? We parents raise the boys with that in mind and it's OKAY when that happens.
One thing I'm sure about is that Kirsten and T Squared will make wonderful parents of either sex. I can hardly wait for it all to begin!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
POST-THANKSGIVING REPORT
I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. The day itself was spent by us at my uncle's lake house, as planned. There was a record number of people attending (53) ranging in ages 6 weeks to 80 years. You may wonder how that many people could be seated at one table. We were crammed in shoulder to shoulder around a table that stretched all across the back (or front) glassed-in porch overlooking the lake. Of course, the food was delicious and of course, there was plenty of it, and we all came away stuffed!!
My sister MA was there in spite of the fact that she was in pain. Her joints are acting up, swelling and hurting, so she wasn't her usual energetic self. My other sister BJ has also been in bad health lately, with this mysterious blood disorder she is fighting. It seems we are all falling apart. They both have told me to hang in there and stay healthy, and I'm trying, but age is catching up with me fast.
I'll keep you posted on their progress. Both have doctors' appointments this week and we should know more in a few days.
Right now it is a fight to get my rest. Last Wednesday I was looking forward to sleeping in since the genius was home on holiday and could look after the dogs. Alas, I had forgotten that the pest control man was coming at 8:oo. When the genius came into the bedroom, I just barely awoke and told him to just spray around me -- I wasn't budging!! (I tend to do things when I'm asleep I wouldn't dream of doing [no pun intended] when I'm awake and alert.) So the genius had a good time telling all the family at the lake house that I stayed in bed even with a relative stranger walkng around me with a spray can.
Oh, well! It probably gave that man a good story to tell at the Thanksgiving table -- they could all be thankful that their family members weren't so lazy!!
I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving weekend. The day itself was spent by us at my uncle's lake house, as planned. There was a record number of people attending (53) ranging in ages 6 weeks to 80 years. You may wonder how that many people could be seated at one table. We were crammed in shoulder to shoulder around a table that stretched all across the back (or front) glassed-in porch overlooking the lake. Of course, the food was delicious and of course, there was plenty of it, and we all came away stuffed!!
My sister MA was there in spite of the fact that she was in pain. Her joints are acting up, swelling and hurting, so she wasn't her usual energetic self. My other sister BJ has also been in bad health lately, with this mysterious blood disorder she is fighting. It seems we are all falling apart. They both have told me to hang in there and stay healthy, and I'm trying, but age is catching up with me fast.
I'll keep you posted on their progress. Both have doctors' appointments this week and we should know more in a few days.
Right now it is a fight to get my rest. Last Wednesday I was looking forward to sleeping in since the genius was home on holiday and could look after the dogs. Alas, I had forgotten that the pest control man was coming at 8:oo. When the genius came into the bedroom, I just barely awoke and told him to just spray around me -- I wasn't budging!! (I tend to do things when I'm asleep I wouldn't dream of doing [no pun intended] when I'm awake and alert.) So the genius had a good time telling all the family at the lake house that I stayed in bed even with a relative stranger walkng around me with a spray can.
Oh, well! It probably gave that man a good story to tell at the Thanksgiving table -- they could all be thankful that their family members weren't so lazy!!
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