Mother would have been 85 this year but she's been gone a long time. She died two weeks after her 64th birthday. A week after mine. "Nemesis" (Psycho Dad) lives on but he's got his dragon to fight; she's my age and scrappy! The old goat finally more than met his match. Anyone who married that monster was going to have to be one tough bird. He's the reason we have so few pretty stories about growing up.
Growing up very poor wasn't all that bad because we never felt poor. We had acres to roam and a little river curved right through it. Our imaginations, and books from libraries, both ours and the public ones, gave us Kingdoms to defend, submarines to build, and we when we weren't creating armies, we ran through the woods on our steeds, "Air Horses" you would call them today, looking for the bandits we knew lived in them. We had a good time. What two feet couldn't make in the proper sound for running horses, "slapping our chaps" on each side made up for. Kids, when left to their own devices, will always make up better worlds than they live in.
I have been reading about other lives and other times of knitters, quilters and just people trying to live their "loosely patched together" lives day by day. It's been a very interesting insight into what will happen if our economy doesn't stay together. We are a tough people and we'll make it. Everyone will have to help out, though.
The worst Christmas card I've gotten so far is from my Uni roomie. She has no hair, and she's still in chemo, from BC, the thing women dread the most-next to surviving their children. Pat is the best woman friend I have left in real life; she is joyful, steady, clear eyed and now so very sick. I'm trying to figure out how to respond to the news in her card because, though we've kept in touch from time to time, we haven't talked much since her son passed away at 21.
I adored this person from a few minutes after she walked into the dorm room and announced herself as my roomie. She's the best big sister a freshie could have had, great personality and sunny disposition, and so sweet! She was also a senior, fun loving and someone who just wanted the last year to be on campus. We had a whole lot of fun that year. We met a few years ago again, and Pat hadn't changed one bit. DH and I and she and her DH drove around the city and the bayside, stopped for fish and chips for dinner at the tuna boat landing, and caught up on the years that had passed.
That's the story for tonight, a love story of sorts. Please say a little prayer for Pat, and if you are inclined to, please light some candles for her? She would do that for people all the time.
I will say a prayer for Pat, Lella. I also send my hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteSarah-Hope
will definitely do hugs and prayers too!!!! thanks for stopping by my blog. thankfully i never get stressed over this creative business/entrepreneurial stuff. that will take all the joy out of it :) LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah-Hope and kreativemix for the hugs, and your prayers for Pat are appreciated very much.
ReplyDeleteKreativemix, you're welcome, and you have a great fiber blog. I was immediately drawn to the part about writing a business plan as I'd never written one out in all those years. It was something that was heralded as being of maximum import as well.
It seemed excessive for such a one woman show. Well DH "bought all my chairs" so to speak, in those first years. I never needed to go to a bank manager. I bet it could have really blossomed into a 250K flop if I had. heehee
My prayers to your friend and to you too. I wish her well and strength. Candles are lit for her.
ReplyDeleteYour post about growing up...you may have been financially poor, but you were so rich in other areas! And gold could never replace riding an air horse. I was lucky enought to be able to use my imagination, and run and explore. There isn't enough $ in the world... I remember one Christmas, we were in pretty rough shape financially. My mother insisted we have a tree and we had a nice feast. The presents exchanged was underwear, for her and for me. It was one of the best Christmases because the "bling" didn't mask the beauty and magic of being together with love.
Thank you, Meribeth. I can tell from her note that she is accepting each day as it comes. It was just a little weird to be sending a Christmas card and get well wishes out in the same mailing to the same person.
ReplyDeleteBeing poor was a good start to life because we were not so poor that we couldn't eat or have a warm bed or a loving mother. There are things to be rich in, and those come high on the list. I still have my air horse, but it's getting painful to slap my chaps these days. heehee And thanks for sharing your sweet remembrances of Christmas past.
I feel that the Feast Day of Christmas, like Michaelmas, is full of ancient mysteries. That, and a shared family feast, and even the Tree of Lights to chase away the gloom of winter, are sweet traditions to observe in honor of such a special Child's Nativity.