Inspired by the fire that threatened my folks’ home town of Herriman and the couple of families that lost their homes as well as all the contents in them, I’ve wondered if I’d be alright losing all the items in my home since I’m a hoarder. Not the kind where there are pathways lined with crap throughout the rooms of the house. I’m the kind that cannot part with anything that may have the slightest sentimental value that I’ve added to it. I’m emotionally attached to every piece of paper that enters my house! I don’t have pricey items, I don’t have extravagant items, but I do have stuff that mean special things to me.
Maybe it was the way I was raised with a food storage filled with canned goods to last at least a week and mom’s old graduation dress in the basement closet. I don’t remember my parents tossing out their hoarded items, even junk mail. I come by it honestly.
Now that I live in “Tornado Alley”, my Hero frowns upon too big of a food pantry because he said that no one wants to get killed by a can of green beans being hurled at their head with tornado force winds. So, my hoarded items are more of the paper type, shoes and purses.
What would I grab in the moments before knowing that I may lose it all to a tornado or impending fire?
I’ve actually left my home before fearing a tornado and didn’t take anything with me except my purse and my family. I left my beloved scrapbooks and genealogy book. I left all my clothes, shoes, important papers, jewelry, even my car. My family ran for my husband’s car and drove to the nearest tornado shelter and never looked back for our crap. None of it even crossed my mind at the time.
Why can’t I just throw it away? Actually choose to toss it? My Princess has no problem throwing out unwanted items. Each year she goes through her whole room and takes out bags of out dated belongings. I cringe at the thought of what could be in those bags! There will be items in those bags that I will be emotionally attached to. I don’t even look anymore, because they are her items and I’m trying hard to learn from her how to throw my crap away!
Today, if I had to run to the car in fear of losing it all, I bet I’d just go with my family and not let any of my hoarded crap cross my mind.
Triple digit heat folks! It’s been twenty three days and counting with no end it sight! This is the true meaning of “long dog days of summer!” Heat indexes of 115 degrees some days! The lakes and old swimming holes are warmer than bath water and not refreshing. My first experience of Rudy Creek was two hours and a sun burn that resulted in “Sun Poisoning”! It looks like I’m having an allergic reaction all over my shoulders and chest. Next time I vow to use the highest amount of sun screen that SPF offers! Shores Lake a couple of weeks ago was a little better. I used a SPF of 70 and the water near my toes was a little cooler, but I was rewarded with blisters on my feet from a walk up the road while sweating to death in sandals I haven’t warn in quite a while. On the news today a mention was made that the heat in Louisiana resulted in the street buckling! It looked like a fault line had run through the road. In Atlanta the heat index was 120 degrees and in Tulsa the Red Cross has set up cooling centers. Mother Nature needs some ibuprofen!
Also in the world of news is that I’m being laid off soon. My company has decided to centralize the accounting department of all the TV stations they own across the country. While this is not the best timing, I’m looking at it as a blessing. Some days I’m jaded and others I’m looking forward to it. We haven’t been told of the actual day, but I’m secretly hoping to get through the rest of the year. That would allow me to be at home the remaining six months of the Princess’ senior year and then figure out what I want to be when she grows up. It would be a blessing to be home savoring the last six months that my daughter is a child.
Do you know what I love about the South? Just about everything! But most of all, I love that when you tell people that you are going to the Daytona 500, most people actually know what I'm talking about AND they are jealous!! I'm so dang excited for the race tomorrow that I can barely stand it! I'll take lots of pictures for all of you to share in our "People Watching Fun!" Can't wait!!!!
The newest thing going on around here is the weather! We had a white Christmas (apparently the first since 1975!) and with the new year single digit temperatures! It hasn’t been this cold since I moved here seven years ago!! After Christmas I always think “Ok, Christmas is over now it’s time to warm up!” This hasn’t happened yet…darn.
I feel like I’m back in Utah!Last winter we were lucky to have freezing temps one or two days! Everyone in my area has been complaining with their facebook status’s and my personal favorite was from my friend Kim who noted that it was so cold that she had to defrost her hot flashes!
Thursday, school was cancelled due to the threat of snow…we didn’t get any! But the kids had a snow day anyway! Arkansans just are woosies when the weather dips below 60 degrees…and I’m right there along with them!! I just don’t like winter…even on Christmas!
I’m also happy to announce that the Princess got a job! I’m so excited that she gets to experience the hard work along with a paycheck…a little one. When she got it, she said “All that work for eighty bucks?!”
That was my cue! I jumped in with both feet! : “All the more reason to make sure you go to college and get a really good job, my love!”
All I got was the teenage eye roll! But at least I got to add my two cents!
My Hero and I are still trying to eat right, exercising has gone south with the birds, but we will get right back to it as soon as the sun thaws this place out!
So, Happy New Year ya’ll! May it be prosperous and healthy for all of you!
It's okay if you are a little bottom heavy. Hold your ground, even when the heat is on. Winter is the best of the four seasons. It takes a few extra rolls to make a good midsection. Wearing white is always appropriate. It's fun to hang out in the yard with your friends. It's embarrassing when you can't look down and see your feet. We're all made up mostly of water. Avoid yellow snow at all times! Too much sun is not good for you either. The key to life is to be a jolly happy soul!
Some of my most magical memories are around the way my mom decorated for Christmas. The season would start by visiting the Christmas Tree lots where mom searched for the perfect tree for the perfect price. Sometimes it would take a few lots in frosty conditions, but she always picked out the most beautiful tree with the best scent. The tree would be trimmed, and set up in the house undecorated for at least 24 hours, so that it would open up fully. Mom and Grandma made most of the ornaments on her tree. Mom painted wood trains, dolls and nutcrackers and made quilted Christmas balls. Grandma and mom painted ceramic Christmas mice in moons, wreaths and candle sticks. Grandma’s string snowflakes rolled in glass snow added to the collection. Later, my sister made Christmas angels of ribbon and lace. An old pink star (had to of been bought in the 60s) donned the top of our tree each year…that was dad’s job as he was the tallest and could reach. Always colored lights and never blinking.
The mantle (on the wall, not over a fireplace) held Mr. and Mrs. Snowman, again hand made by mom, and the ceramic acrobatic snowmen dolled up in glass to sparkle like a fresh snow glitters in the sun. It was the only time she lit the silver candles. On Christmas Eve, our stockings would be hung from that mantle. All of our stockings were the same ones year after year. Mine didn’t have my name on it. It was red with the white collar and three angel stickers placed right on the white puff.Amazing that those stickers remained for eighteen years!
Mom would have me help wrap gifts that were for my sister or my dad. She would put pieces of tape along our table, she would make the cuts and folds and tell me where to place the tape.
Now, Christmas morning was the only time I was allowed to jump into bed with my sister and call out to our parents for permission to get up. Dad always had to “Check” on things before we were allowed to see.
Adding to our wonderment, the tree was always lit up revealing the treasures laid out for us. Santa only brought the big gift and filled our stockings. He didn’t wrap for added Santa effect.
One year, I went back to my room and there was a beautiful Christmas dress laid on my bed. It wasn’t there when I got up, but mom insisted that Santa must have still been in the house and left it there for me…and my sister had one on her bed too! Sneaky Santa!
Some of my favorite gifts from Santa were a family pinball machine, an Atari System, an electric child size organ, Alphie, Speak’n Spell, Moppet’s Doll House, A Cabbage Patch Kid named Ola and when I got older a rainbow comforter for my bed.
The old Christmas record played Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Sam Cook’s renditions of the timeless classics. They remain some of my favorites and take me back to the days when I wasn’t the Santa and didn’t have to do the shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking or making the traditions.
Magically, my mom made it to Christmas 1995. That year I decorated the tree because she was too sick to, but we listened to that old record together and had a fun conversation as I placed the sweet old handmade ornaments on the tree. That night was such a gift because the next day she wasn’t herself and didn’t even know it was Christmas.
My sister and I divided up the hand made ornaments and I have the old 1960s Pink Star. I haven’t used those ornaments in a couple of years, but I’m so glad that I have them. I used to proudly boast that every ornament on my tree was made by my grandma, mom and sister. I plan on passing them down to my daughter when she grows up and has a family of her own…and maybe add something to the collection that I make. That might take a little magic too!
My husband is the best man in the world! He has a sarcastic sense of humor, so life with him is rarely dull. He does little things to make me happy and my life easier. He’s the most patient person that I’ve ever met and his skilled wit is comprehensive. His favorite word is “Conundrum” and was thrilled when it was used by the commentators during a NASCAR race. NASCAR is an every Sunday event, and his driver is in the 24 car.
Vern
Because he can, he has an alter ego who drives others to discomfort. Vern is a serious girl magnet, loves "Shake & Bake" and delivering flowers or cakes to unsuspecting victims. Plus, this is the whole reason why I went out with him in the first place!
...and so she danced.
The Princess is at constant force between good and evil. Starting High School has been both exhilarating and melancholy. A cross between a daytime soap opera and a comedy sitcom, she conquers and coins drama with sarcastic wit and innocent intelligence. Not only is she clever, but she is also armed with a strong confidence, arrogant style, dedicated camaraderie and a gifted performer. She makes me proud to be her mother!
