The Second Story
Life is filled with changes and surprises. And with stories. These are mine.
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Happy Anniversary
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Quarters From Heaven
We never knew that Rich saved quarters. But, there they were, in his apartment, thousands and thousands of them. I don't think he ever spent one. When Jim took them to the bank, he wheeled the giant jars in on a furniture dolly. I can't remember how much money there was, but I know it added up to a few thousand dollars. Everything is pretty blurry about that time, even now.
Soon I started to find quarters. At first I thought it was a coincidence. But before too long, I knew that my boy was sending me messages that everything was okay. I didn't save the first ones, but after a while I started putting them aside. Now I really wish I had written down when and where I found them.
The quarters started to show up in unusual places. There was one right outside the door of the funeral home on the morning of his service. It was September 27, 2010. It was his funeral and also his birthday. For a while I was finding them every week or two. They still show up, but are less frequent now. Usually I will find one every few months. Always when I need a little reassurance, or am missing him even more than usual, I will find a quarter.
Often I would find them on the floor of a room I had just walked through. All of a sudden a shiny coin would just pop up. Magazines and books are a popular spot. Once there was one on a stairway, I had just crawled up while playing with a grandchild. Driveways and parking lots are popular places. One time, in a grocery store, there was a coin in a basket of boxes of crackers. I took the coin, and replaced it with one from my purse.
There are a few rules. (I always love rules) The coin has to be by itself, not part of somebody's spilled change. When I was House Mom at the fraternity house I was always finding quarters in the laundry room because the machines were coin operated. I never counted those.
I save them all now in a wooden box. I have 102 coins and a quarter shaped button (???). I know there have been more.
Many things have happened for me during the years. I lost Jim a few months later. For a long time I felt I was living in a continual fog. I changed jobs and changed houses. I moved several times. Now I am moving again. I was lucky enough to find love again and married John almost four years ago. This is the first home that John and I have had together. On September, the anniversary of Rich's death, John spotted a quarter in our driveway. Happy Birthday, Rich. I know you are always here.
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Why, Hello there!
I honestly don't know what happened, and now I am trying to blog on my phone! I'm on my way to London by myself!!!. Meeting my friend Sherry. My traveling companion, Gerry, had to cancel this morning. Everything is just a little discombobulated.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Excuses, Excuses
Hello there.
I like to think that I have been on sabbatical. I’m pretty
sure this is my longest space between posting. Maybe it’s my gap year. I have
actually been very busy. I just haven’t
taken the time to document anything. There was a time when I journaled several
times a week. And now I have dozens of handwritten notebooks that I wonder
whether to keep. Or whether to discard. I really don’t want them to be read.
But, at the same time, I don’t want to erase anything I’ve written, just in
case it turns out to be clever. Mostly it isn’t. Sometimes I think that I write
more when things are not going well. I guess that is why I am not so prolific
lately. I’m just so darned happy.
REASONS WHY I HAVEN’T WRITTEN SINCE APRIL
1. I moved my computer to my “dedicated office”
upstairs. I know that should make it easier, but for some reason, if I make a
change, then I completely get out of the habit of a thing. This goes for
dieting, and exercising, too. I’m good just as long as I keep to the path.
2 There just aren’t enough hours in the day. I
used to think I would have more time when I got older. The truth is this: I do a lot less, but it takes more time to do
everything.
3\.I go out to lunch a lot
4. . I have been on a few mini vacations. Many more than usual. Texas with friends. South Carolina to visit my sisters. Galena with more friends. Lutsen Resort in Minnesota with family. Several times to Clear Lake (Our Happy Place) Kansas City with more family. And a trip to California is coming up soon. All of these adventures would have made beautiful blog posts. There is no excuse.
5. A First Communion, Eighth grade graduation, High School Graduation, College Graduation, Iowa State Fair, an Anniversary and a family reunion.
6. .Two major allergy attacks. I’ve given more blood
and had more testing than anyone should. There are still only guesses about why
this happens. I have become close personal friends with an epi-pen over the
years. I have finally learned to give myself the shot at the first sign of
trouble. I’m learning a lot about histamines and mast cells and thinking they
might be where the answer is. I would show a photo but it really isn't pretty. John says my face turns from Dr. Jekyll to Mrs. Hyde.
7. .I have started working a couple of times a week
at Brass Armadillo. Unfortunately, I want to shop whenever I’m there. My plan
is to buy less and sell more, but I haven’t perfected that plan yet.
8. I may be lazy.
I'M HOPING I HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE OF THE BLANK PAGE AND THE EMPTY PEN
9
Friday, April 15, 2022
Birthday Memories
My parents moved to Texas twice in my first two years. I spent a lot of time with an aunt and uncle of my mother's because they both worked miles away. It's strange for me to think of my formative years being with family I don't ever remember meeting. Mom hated Texas. Dad loved it.
Finally, she talked him into moving back to Iowa, and they bought a house when I was three. She needed stability while he thrived on adventure. When I was about four he was in a serious accident. During a race, he flipped his car six times. I was at the concession stand, buying cotton candy, and when I came back they were on the way to the hospital. She made him promise to quit driving. I think he could have just as easily promised to quit breathing. He kept it up, just using another name.He used to have a truck route for a Des Moines dairy, and took me around to collect the milk cans from Iowa farms. During our long drives together, we would play "count the windmills," and "name the license plates." I learned all about Dizzy Dean, his favorite baseball player. Dizzy didn't like to follow the rules either. We listened to country music, and Mario Lanzo. He wasn't a religious man, but loved to listen to old time hymns.
He had a very strong sense of justice. Once, I took a pack of gum from a store. Probaby Juicy Fruit. When I showed him my treasure, he turned the car around immediatly, and marched me back into the store to confess. That ended my life of crime. He was very big on sharing what you have with others, and passed that on to us. He liked to tell us about airplanes that he and his brother got for Christmas one year. A neighbor child hadn't gotten any Christmas toys. His mother made him give his away, and share his brother's plane. He wasn't happy about it, but knew it was the right thing to do. Dad always had a story with a lesson. I think they were true. At least most of them.
I was an only child for five years. By the time I was fifteen, I was older sister and babysitter to four siblings. He wasn't conventional. He was never like any of the other fathers I knew. We were the only family I knew with a giant milk dispenser in our kitchen, and regulation school playground equipment in our back yeard. The things he brought home for us to play on were considered too dangerous for our friends. For many years he sold cars and trucks, and once I learned to drive, I never knew what I would be driving to school. My most embarrassing was the car with "Joey Chitwood, Stunt Driver" painted on the side. There are so many stories, now that I am remembering. When he was Race Promoter, he managed to get the governor to be the flag man at one of the races. For my dad, nothing was ever impossible. Happy Birthday, Lefty. I miss you
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Epiphany
This is January Sixth, the Feast of Epiphany. It marks the day that the Three Wise Men visited the Christ Child with gifts of frankincense, myrhh, and gold. It also is the final day of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Traditionally this is the day to remove holiday decorations from the house. Sometimes I actually do it on the sixth. It is supposed to bring good luck. Some years, especially when I had a real tree, I would take down the decorations as soon after Christmas as possible. Now we've gone artificial, so there isn't such a rush.
This year I removed garlands, and wreaths, and all decor except Nativities and the tree, earlier and finished with the tree today. Unfortunately, it won't all be put away until tomorrow, so I am hoping that good luck is still available.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Celebrating Friendships
I made a small fabric bunting for each of the ladies with three fabric pennants. The middle one has a Christmas tree brooch. I have a large one in my front room as an Advent calendar. Yesterday when I was finishing them, I feared I would have to take the large one apart and borrow a few of the triangles. But I found what I needed at the last moment. Which is of course, part of the lesson I am always learning............Remember to Plan Ahead!
Sunday, December 5, 2021
A Visit from Saint Nicholas
Happy Saint Nicholas Day! This is the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was an actual bishop in the fourth century. Stories of his generosity and devotion to the poor were the inspiration for our modern Santa Claus. He was known as the patron saint of travelers, the clergy, and school children. He devoted his life to serving those in need. Some stories say he often sold his possessions and gave the money to the poor. The story most often told is that he left gifts for three girls whose father could not afford to pay their dowries. Legend says he would leave gifts for children in their shoes.
In many countries, it became the custom to leave shoes outside the door on December 5, and to discover a gift the next morning. Typical gifts were often small toys, candies, and oranges to represent gold.
We are all a mixture of many customs and traditions. There is no better time than the holidays to choose and adapt these different traditions to our own families. I had never heard of this tradition when I was growing up, but I liked it so much that we began celebrating Saint Nicholas Day when the children were very young. We would all leave our shoes outside the bedroom doors on the night of December fifth. Often straw and carrots would be left for Saint Nicholas's horse. He would take those treats and leave chocolate gold coins, other candies, and a new Christmas ornament in each of the shoes.
On the next day, we would draw names for our own "Kris Kringle". This was the parent, brother or sister that each one would be personally responsible for during the holiday season. This meant buying a present, and also doing secret good deeds for that person. Some years it worked out better than others. On Christmas Eve, we opened our Kris Kringle gifts.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Just Another Regular Old Thanksgiving
Just a little late with the picture, but the holiday was great. And we really celebrated on the actual day. All of John's family was able to be together this year after a much too long break. We were able to have a couple of days of Brafford Revelry before everyone went back to their respective states. It was so nice to see them all at one time. The baby is no longer a baby. My five bonus grands are stair stepped from ages nine til two, and as cute as can be.
The Kids' Table
The Moran's had plans too, this year, but they had to change, after three of them came down with Covid, even though they have been "following the rules". Everyone is feeling better now, and it hasn't spread any further. My children had four intimate little dinners, each probably missing some of the traditional foods. No traveling allowed. I have to say that my middle daughter and her family had their worst and probably most memorable holiday. Even though Meghan couldn't taste or smell anything, she made a dinner with last minute ingredients from online grocery shopping. Unfortunately, the oven broke and the door actually came off in Jack's hand when they were putting the cold dishes in to cook.
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Challenge Completed
Sunday, October 31, 2021
October 31: It is Halloween #Blogtober2021
Goodbye October! See you next year! I learned a lot about writing this month. I now realize that I don't have to wait for inspiration. I can come up with something to say every single day for a month. I plan to have a more set schedule now than before. I think I can manage two or three times a week. Hello, discipline. Thank you to every one who took the time to read the things I've found to say, and to comment or give an encouraging gesture.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
October the Thirtieth: One More Pumpkin #Blogtober2021
Here's a way to finish off the Halloween month.
One medium sized pumpkin
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 teasoon salt
1/4teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce
2Tablespoons brown sugar
1 4 oz can mushrooms
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cooked rice
Black olives
Steamed carrot
Whole cloves
Fresh parsley
Cut lid from pumpkin and scoop out seeds. In a large skillet, combine ground beef, chopped pepper, celery, and onion and cook over medium heat. Add next seven ingredients to skillet. Mix well and place mixture into pumpkin cavity. Place lid on pumpkin. Place pumpkin on a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 1 and 1/2 hours.
Just before serving, embellish pumpkin by placing black olives (using toothpicks), to make eyes, a steamed carrot to make a nose, and whole cloves to make a mouth. Use fresh parsley leaves to make hair.
Or, just draw on a face with a marker. To serve, scoop out part of the baked pumpkin, along with the meat mixture, onto each plate.
Friday, October 29, 2021
October the Twenty Ninth: Trick or Treat #Blogtober2021
Many of our Halloween customs came here from Ireland and the British Isles. Samhain was a Celtic holiday celebrated on October 31. People believed that the spirits of the dead were out and about because the veil between the worlds was thinnest at this time. People dressed up to fool the spirits that might be about. By the middle ages, there was a lot more merry making with people going from house to house playing tricks and entertaining each other both at All Hallow's Eve and other holidays. The mid nineteenth century was the time of the potato famine in Ireland. Over a million and a half men, women, and children traveled to the United States, bringing their folklore and stories. Halloween or Beggar's Night activities continued here, with tricks and parties. Pranks were often the highlight of the evening.
It wasn't until the 1930's that the activities became known as trick-or-treating. People would give out treats to keep their homes and property from being damaged. It's been called trick-or-treating since then.
In the area where I live, it is customary for the children to have a joke, or a trick to tell before they are given a treat. I have heard that it isn't that way in most of the United States. All they need to do is dress in costume, and knock at the door, expecting a treat. Happily, the vandalism isn't a common result anymore.
Here are some examples of the jokes we hear in Iowa: