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Towel Troubles
Oh, to be a towel. Just think of all those bare bodies you get to wrap yourself around. That is, if you are one of the lucky ones.Now, the reality of the towel hysteria that I find when my family is all together. That is, of course, the grandkids. In reality, they are thieves of the good beach towels at the cabin. This means they covet my beautiful new soft luxurious large beach towels and then, would you believe it, they take them home, and I never seem to see them again.
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Tools and Memories
Tools have always been a big part of my life. First of all, there were none, or let’s just say some. My dad was not a fixer-upper at all. He had a brother who was, and would satisfy some of my dad’s desires when requested to do so. For example, he built bookshelves in Judy’s and my bedroom together with a corner desk. I think my mom knew more about using tools than Dad ever did. But then, there was no interest on his part to really do any type of fixing or building. I believe his only desire for tools was to have some of his dad’s old tools, my grandpa Ottos.
Now, Grandpa Otto was altogether different than my dad. He had the coolest log cabin tool shed in their backyard. It smelled heavenly, and I loved it in there. Grandpa was always puttering on something. I think he even had a power lawnmower before they were even on the market, as he put his own together. When I became a grown-up, I had my husband build me a log cabin shed in memory of my grandpa. I always say wherever I go, it has to go with me.
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Frustration in Full Color
Quite a few years ago, I was introduced to the idea that, if you want to look your best, you should “have your colors done.” The whole purpose is to identify the shades that flatter your natural coloring, helping you choose clothes and makeup that truly enhance your features.At the time, my sister Judy was living in California. When I went to visit her, she announced that she was taking me to have my colors done. I had always worn cream, tan, brown—safe colors I could hide behind. Never, in a million years, would I have put on bright colors like red or purple.
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The Tangles That Shaped Me
When I was in junior high school, I found myself standing at a quiet crossroads that no one else seemed to notice. On the outside, I was just another kid trying to survive algebra class and navigate the middle school schedule. But inside, I already felt the tug of two very different paths. I seemed to be the daring one of the family, you know, “The Black Sheep”. I always wanted to do the undesired activity to prove that I could and would do what I wanted. -
Decorating Disaster
Remember the pink-and-blue decorating craze? Somewhere between the sponge-painted walls and floral borders, we decided those two pastels were meant to be together. They crept into bedrooms, bathrooms, and even living rooms, and let us not forget kitchens.. And like everyone else caught in the wave of pastel mania, we jumped right in.When we decided to decorate one of my youngest daughter’s college apartments, pink and blue seemed like a no-fail combo. It sounded cute and timeless in theory. In reality? It was hideous.
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From Price Tags to Priceless Moments
When I was young, I always thought that wealthy people were the ones with fancy cars and a nice house.I had two friends in my neighborhood who always appeared to be very wealthy in my mind’s eye. They were the girls who always had the nicest clothes, took dance lessons, piano lessons, and were always going on family trips. I would often hear my dad say things like, “If things don’t pick up, meaning sales, I am going to have to sell pencils on a street corner because, being a salesman, and times were slow, this was his way of letting us all know that he was sort of worried. He never had to sell pencils on a street corner, but it certainly left an impression on me. The fact of the matter was, when I now go past the old homestead, I realize that it was our house that was most impressive.
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When Fate Said “No”
There are moments in life when fate doesn’t announce itself with a sign or a sudden revelation. It arrives quietly, almost unnoticed, nudging us away from one path and toward another. I believe that’s what happened to me during one of the most difficult chapters of my life.When my father passed away, the world around me felt different, not just emotionally, but in how uncertain everything suddenly seemed to change. Grief has a strange way of rearranging your priorities. Things that once felt urgent or important no longer carried the same weight. Around that same time, a job transfer was presented to my husband. He had been in a manager training program, and this was the kind of offer where you periodically get transferred to other cities. On paper, it was the next logical step. It promised more pay, more responsibility, and the kind of advancement most people work years to achieve.
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One Pitcher, A Thousand Memories
Do you remember Kool-Aid summers? One sip of that bright, sugary goodness can take me right back to childhood—long afternoons outside, bare feet in the grass, and a neighborhood full of kids who always seemed to magically show up the second a fresh pitcher was mixed. How about the pitcher when frosty a face would be drawn on it. It just made it feel like a refreshment that couldn’t be beat.
I still remember the crinkle of the packet, the way the colors swirled like magic, and how our tongues stayed red or purple for hours. Cherry, Grape, Tropical Punch… everyone had their flavor.
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A Hearth of My Own
Fireplaces have always been an important part of decorating for me. I love old houses where you will find a fireplace in just about every room. They offer such a fabulous atmosphere and seem to facilitate the urge to just sit by the warmth, enjoying the crackling of the fire, and read, have conversations, or just enjoy hanging out and relaxing.As a kid, I did not have a fireplace in our family home. Our house would have been perfect, but it seemed that during this time, the fireplace just wasn’t a priority for my parents as it was to me. My dad would always talk about putting one in, as we had a blank wall where it would be perfect, but it just never got done.
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Sunday, Not a Funday
Sunday has long been considered a special day, and its significance stems from several aspects of life: spiritual, physical, emotional, and social.In our family, I don’t think my dad got the memo that this was a day of rest, relaxation, and fun. You see, he was a salesman and was only home mostly on Sundays. What this meant to me was one of two things. First of all, we would usually have relatives over for the day. This meant a big meal around three p.m. After the meal, the grown-ups gathered in the living room to supposedly watch TV, but it usually meant they took an afternoon nap. Then, the most exciting event of the day started. My younger Sister, Judy, and I would have the privilege of cleaning up this mess. This took most of the day, as my mom, I swear, used every pot and pan in the cupboard, and, of course, the very best china. We would have a quiet discussion about who would wash and who would dry. For some reason, I washed. I don’t know why, as this entailed scrubbing all the dirty pots and pans, but drying seemed to take forever as that entailed putting everything away, and then there was cleanup.
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Tools of the Trade
My profession throughout my life was that of a legal secretary. It has been both interesting and amazing to witness how office equipment has evolved over my 59 years in this occupation.Tools of the Trade, by Decade
1950s
- Manual Typewriters – The primary tool for all correspondence.
- Mimeograph & Spirit Duplicators – Produced bulk copies.
- Rotary Dial Telephones – Standard desk communication.
- Dictation Machines – Using wax cylinders or early magnetic tape.
- Adding Machines – Mechanical devices for accounting.
- Filing Cabinets – The paper empire of every office.
- Punch Clocks – Employee timekeeping.
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Sparkles and Super Glue
Fingernails seem to have turned into a full-blown fashion statement these days. Everywhere I look, people are tapping away with tiny works of art on the ends of their fingers. When I was a little girl, nail polish only came out when we played dress-up. The bottles were tiny, the colors questionable, and the application? A complete disaster. We had more polish on our fingers than on our nails. Future nail technicians, we were not.I didn’t help matters by being a chronic nail-biter. My poor nails never had a chance. Any time one dared to grow to a respectable length, I nibbled it right back into oblivion.
Adulthood didn’t bring much improvement. I still bit them, picked them, fussed with them basically, I treated my hands like ready-to-use tools that were always half-demolished. Then came acrylic nails. My youngest daughter gifted me a manicure for her wedding, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Acrylic nails were the thing back then, and for the next twenty-three years, I faithfully showed up every three weeks.
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A Private Room, Please
When I reflect on the word sickness, I feel that I’ve hardly ever been truly sick. But as I think back, I can see that over the last ten years, I seem to have made up for that. I’ve had a couple of serious illnesses, but I just never chose to consider them life-altering. As a child, I had the usual lineup: chicken pox, measles, mumps, colds, the flu, all those “lovely” little sicknesses that keep life interesting. I especially remember one day in kindergarten, coming home to find a big red sign posted on our front door. It announced that someone inside had a contagious illness and warned others to stay away. At the time, this was a common practice, though not long afterward, that way of announcing illness disappeared.
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Flowers: My Legal Addiction
You can never have too many flowers, or enough money to pay for them. I always loved flowers, but never had many opportunities to learn about how to accomplish my vision. My first experience of planting came from taking seeds from a boulevard on Midvale Blvd. in Madison, where my aunt and uncle lived. These weren’t really flowers, but were hens and chicks. Also, I was able to gather wild lily seeds from the spent flowers the same way and planted them at home. I was thrilled at my success, but that was it until I had my first home of my own. The first spring that we actually had a lawn, I decided it was time to start my flowers. Well, I purchased two medium-sized redwood planters that I put on the front porch. Not having any experience with planting flowers, I actually took these two planters to a local greenhouse for them to plant a couple of geraniums and a spike in each one. Well, they were lovely even though a two-year-old could have planted this exciting arrangement. I, in my ignorance, was upset when my daughter, Lisa, decided to pick a bouquet for her mom. When she brought this to me, I almost had a stroke. I thought my beautiful flowers were done forever. Boy, do I wish I could turn back the clock and learn how at that age to take a chill pill and love the thoughtfulness of my daughter. Live and learn.
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Canoe Chaos to Kayak Dreams
I am the proud owner of two kayaks. My family heard me talking about wanting to try kayaking, and they thought I’d love it. At first, they bought me two small ones—only later did I notice there was a weight restriction. So those went back, and we replaced them with two larger ones.I wanted two because I imagined my husband and I paddling together, sharing this new adventure. But I waited too long. My husband has since passed, and now the kayaks sit at our cottage on Lake Michigan. Honestly, they’d be better suited for our calm local lake—but no, we apparently thought braving five-foot waves would be more thrilling. And to top it off, they aren’t even in the water yet. They’re gathering dust, stored away in a shed, waiting for their big debut.
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Enthusiasm Gets Me In Trouble
You go on with life one day at a time. You find that perfect person to spend the rest of your life with, get engaged, married, have children—and for a while, things are well, even peaceful. In the back of your mind, though, you know another chapter is waiting. Grandchildren. Of course, that’s one thing you have no control over. All you can do is dream, hope, and pray that someday this blessing will be yours to enjoy.One evening, Art and I went out to dinner with our daughter, Michelle, and her husband. Now, since this was not the usual weekday outing, I suspected something was up. Sure enough, when the conversation turned to a “special announcement,” my big mouth got ahead of me. I blurted out the surprise—Michelle was pregnant! Art and I were about to become first-time grandparents.
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Sleep is a Good Thing
I can only remember a couple of times when I can say I have been truly exhausted.One of those times was during the Christmas Season. This usually causes me a great deal of stress and total exhaustion. I was decorating at the last minute, which is normal for this master procrastinator. My husband was having a social at our house with his meeting buddies. In order for me to create what I thought was “Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Magazine,” I actually stayed up three nights in a row without going to bed or allowing myself to rest in any shape or form. I would not recommend this, as strange things happen to you when you try to go without shuteye. Since I also had to go to work during the day, I decorated all night and continued on my necessary schedule. I can say that I actually started seeing objects in my peripheral vision. To say I was exhausted was an understatement. To start this holiday event, the club that came to my house had a speaker before we were to party. I have never been so tired. I had to use every ounce in my being to stay awake for his speech. What he spoke about, I have no idea. So, don’t try this at any time, as it is very dangerous to your health, taken from experience.
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Driving Inhibitions
Picture this, I was sixteen, just after graduating from high school. Now, when you reach the ripe old age of sixteen, what is the first thing most teenagers are hell bent on doing? Getting their driver’s license, of course. To say I was terrified to attempt this next feat would be an understatement. First of all, I needed a car. The family car was a gift passed down from my dad’s father to my father. This vehicle was also taken out of the garage and used exclusively for personal purposes, as he drove a company car for work. This created a problem as he wouldn’t let anyone drive his beloved garage car, and consequently left me without a vehicle to practice driving on. Thankfully, I had a boyfriend who had a car, a very nice vehicle, I might say, a big black Plymouth (with wings). Since I know very little about cars, I don’t remember what year it was, but it became my wheels during the driver’s license training period.
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Family, My Anchor
My anchor in life has been my family.When I was a minor, I must say that my family anchored me, or at least gave it their all to do so.
As parents, they had a rather difficult job to accomplish this, but they did the best they could, and I feel they did a pretty darn good job. Then, to complete my family and further my grounding, came my two sisters, Kathy and Judy. This family of four was my anchor. I depended on them for my happiness, health, security, and above all, love.
Then, when I became a teenager, I still appreciated my family as those to keep me grounded. At that time, I also met my life partner, Art, and had yet another grounding factor. I must say I depended heavily on these people as my anchor. I had many decisions, such as what direction I would be best fit for in a job, whether or not to participate in school activities, and later on, whether or not to go on to school. Because of these people in my life, my decisions were influenced by them.
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Sandy’s Dream
Serendipity – A very broad definition of serendipity is “fate,” “destiny,” or “predestination”. It’s the idea that certain things are meant to happen to you.It was a lifelong dream, that of owning a cottage. I was dreaming of a cottage, or in other words, a shack in the woods on Lake Michigan.
Our family usually went tent camping in the Northern part of Wisconsin. We eventually frequented the area known as Door County. There we started camping at the Jellystone Park. This was a family campground geared to the kids, which was a good fit for us at that time. Then, when the children got older, we started camping at the Penninsula State Park. We owned a furniture store at this time and found it more convenient to rent a cabin on the Labor Day Weekends. There was one area that called to me. This was the South Michigan Drive area. It was rather rugged, right on the water, in the woods, and everything I always thought of as a dream area for a cottage that we could afford.
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Dining with Dogs
When I was a kid and living at home, evening meals held in a formal dining room were the norm. Things have changed drastically, wherein formal dining rooms are a thing of the past. Everyone seems to prefer an informal way of living, such as eating at counters, in front of the TV, and in the car on the way to an event. My mom would set the table with a cloth tablecloth, breakable dishes versus plastic, matching silverware, and to top everything off, we ate by candlelight. This didn’t seem odd, and we enjoyed engaging in discussions of our days and events. -
Motivated. . . Against My Will
I had a vision. It was called Amway. Who doesn’t want to get rich? Well, friends started to get involved in this new idea to sell the Amway opportunity. They had products that you sold. The key is becoming a member or distributor and recruiting others to do the same. This allows you to build a downline and potentially become extremely wealthy. Once you reach the diamond level, you’ve arrived at your desired destination: wealth without the effort. Your team members, who have signed up under you, are doing the work, and you reap the benefits of their hard work.It’s never framed that way, of course, because who wants to admit that your big dreams might just land you working hard so someone else can get rich?
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The Final Season
This, the new season of my life:It appears this is the final season of my life. Depressing, oh yeah. Come on, I want to live forever. I always say I want to see how this all turns out. I was told that everyone has to leave the party early at some point. It is a reality. Often, I can be heard saying, “I can’t imagine life without me.”
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Anniversary of Teenage Years
It would have been sixty-three years this year, not to mention the several years of dating before our marriage. We got married on July 6th, 1963, and I swear it was one of the hottest days of the year. -
Payback’s a Bitch
I love giving and/or doing surprises. Unfortunately, when you are famous for doing this, you find that those whom you have surprised are waiting in the wings to reciprocate to surprise you.On this one occasion, I had a co-worker who was a blast and a half. I should have expected something coming from her, but, of course, I didn’t.
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Just Give Me Waves
I just love, love, love the ocean. My last memory of being on the ocean was off the coast of Virginia. We had gone to my son-in-law’s sister’s wedding. We went as a family. When we arrived, I was invited to sit with the ladies and talk. When I walked into the room, before me was this great expanse of windows, and through those windows was a full panoramic view of the ocean. I couldn’t sit still for a minute, excused myself, grabbed my granddaughter, Aubrey, who was about four years old, and headed straight for the ocean. We lay on the bare, warm, wonderful sand, enjoying all the little sand crabs scooting around and diving into their little holes. Then she took a lazy afternoon nap. Aah, the memories of that wonderful ocean lapping up waves and lulling us to sleep. -
Toys and Cardboard Boxes
Every child needs a toy. Or does he or she, and at what age?Let’s see, when I had our first child, Lisa, I felt I wanted her to have anything and everything we could to make her happy.
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Because I Said So
Rules in our house were usually made between my husband and me. But, perhaps that is because they were girls, at the very end of our discussions, it seemed that I (Mama) ruled. This could be based on style, activities, chores, school, and church events. Now, when it came to discipline, I believe Art ruled. He didn’t have to make these hardcore decisions very often because, for some reason, I tried to shield him from the (really bad stuff). I think I didn’t want him to be upset and/or disappointed in his daughters. (By the way, today I don’t think that was a good idea at all.) -
One Dirty Job
I can truthfully say that I hate cleaning bathrooms. It is a disgusting, filthy job that no one will share with you even if bribed. If you ever ask a teenager to clean the toilet, you wouldn’t believe how fast they can leave the room and have something more important to do.A little bit of trivia on my part: The more bathrooms you have, the more toilet paper you use. Go figure.
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Everyday Sadness
Sadness and depression manifest differently across various age groups, influenced by developmental stages, life circumstances, and societal factors. I was in fifth grade when my very favorite grandpa died. It was the first person in my life who died up to this point, other than my dog.
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Learning and Forgetting Just As Fast
Do you ever wonder how much information the old brain can hold? Do you ever wonder if you put too much material in that old brain, eventually some of it just has to come tumbling out.
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Testing Karma
Karma refers to the principle of cause and effect, where actions have consequences, and positive actions lead to positive outcomes, while negative actions lead to negative outcomes. Examples include a person who helps others often experiencing more luck and good fortune in their life, or someone who consistently yells at others may find themselves in situations where others are unkind to them. -
Simply Simple
vent plates or silverware from being placed. I have never understood the desire to say cut a cutting off a plant and hope to see it in ten years become a beautiful big plant. Seriously, remember, I need immediate gratification. This also shows in my garden. It is hard for me to buy little flowers, waiting for the moment when they fill in and make a beautiful basket. I need to see color NOW.
The word simplicity implies to me being in control, a downsized situation, and a time saver.
Now, this does not seem to be in my brain, vocabulary, or whatever. You see, I never seem to do things simply.
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The Gossip Web
When we hear the word gossip, we often associate it with something negative—talking behind someone’s back or spreading harmful information. But I believe there’s another side to it: what I like to call good gossip. -
Monopoly Madness
Board games may seem like a thing of the past, but after discussing them with my fellow Sidetracked Sisters, I realized how important they were to our gatherings and childhood memories. It also became clear that we need to put away our phones, turn off the TV, and—dare I say—reinvent the wheel. In other words, it’s time to bring back game nights with family and friends. -
Sunrise Snooze, Moonlit Views
I dislike getting up in the morning just as much as I dislike calling it a day and going to bed.Today, let’s talk about sunrises. It’s not a topic I’m very familiar with because, truth be told, I’m rarely awake early enough to witness one. If I ever did make the supreme effort to rise before dawn, I can already imagine what would happen—I’d step outside, ready to be awed by a breathtaking display of colors, only to find a sky filled with thick clouds and drizzle. The sun, like me, would have decided to sleep in.
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Holiday Hot Mess
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, warmth, and togetherness, but let’s be real—sometimes they turn into full-blown hot messes. Between the endless to-do lists, family drama, and the pressure to make everything magical, it’s easy to feel like you’re just one burnt batch of cookies away from a breakdown. Unfortunately, this seems to be a regular occurrence for me. -
Love Through the Fog
I find that I have little patience. There are a lot of examples that I can think of that cause me distress or a lack of patience. They are:- I am a soft talker, and I get impatient when people start talking and continue talking over me.
- When expressing an idea, for some reason, my idea seems to be overlooked consistently.
- Being impatient with myself when I find I am again procrastinating when planning for a big holiday, such as Christmas. I find that I don’t prioritize tasks properly in order to carry out a timely and successful event.
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Talk is Cheap
I am a curious person. I don’t deny this trait. I love to know about people and how they tick, and I just plain get to know them. I have found that if you don’t ask questions of someone, you will not be able to find out who they are and what makes them tick. -
Survival Lifeline
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. I agree with this, but it also takes having a lifeline of both friends of friends and relatives to survive in life. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a good support system such as a lifeline, but it sure helps and makes things a lot easier. -
My Grandiose Growth Plan
Even at this old age, there is still room for personal growth. A lot of room! As a retired legal secretary who is now retired, I find that I have gotten sloppy and lazy, not worrying about personal growth. Unfortunately, not have a pattern for personal growth that I feel needs work on my part: -
Counting Losses, Not Weeks
There are so many different kinds of death that we go through in our lives. One type of death that happened to me was having four different miscarriages. I think a miscarriage for anyone is interpreted and felt in so many different ways, and the severity happens differently as well.
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Buyers Remorse
I seem to dream a lot. Mostly my dreams are crazy happenings and events. But most often my dreams are about houses, their layouts, decorating, and purchasing cottages that I then renovate. I have this reoccurring dream that I purchase a cottage. Now, this isn’t just any cottage, but a structure that it seemed no one wanted. I always wanted to be located very close to the water and I always said, “I want a shack in the woods on a lake”.
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Starting Out Smart
Discipline – this is a hard act for a lot of us to accomplish. I am now retired, having worked in a law office for fifty-six years. There was a lot of discipline in that job and I now find myself being anything but disciplined at this stage of my life. -
From Grief to Giggles: The Power of a Support Squad
After having a death in my family, my husband of sixty-two years, I have discovered several ways to be resilient. It is traumatic enough, but having family and friends engulf you helps you to recover more quickly from a hardship or traumatic event. Another way would be to get out of the house and do an activity that has been put on the back burner. Such activity could be anywhere from lunches with old friends, movies, or getting together with those we have shoved away due to heavy schedules. -
Expect Less, Communicate More
I have found that if you don’t have expectations of others, you won’t be disappointed. When in a friendship with a friend, it is easy to expect them, especially when you have been with them for a reasonable amount of time, to know your feelings and some of the things that are important to you. Such expectations without you verbally stating your wishes can often lead to great disappointment. I have found that when you are in a relationship and don’t have many expectations of that person, you are less likely to be hurt when your expectations are not met.
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Love, Laughter, and Loss
The year 2024 has been a difficult, strange year for me. It is strange to be retired after working for over fifty-six years. To add to this my husband has been diagnosed with dementia. Having noticed some rather strange behavior on his behalf it became apparent that he indeed did have dementia as a result of Alzheimers. -
Trash to Treasures
One of the interests of the Sidetracked Sisters is crafting. In the past we have had several home shows where we display and sell our creations. -
The Hated Holiday
I love the holidays. I enjoy the idea of everything being decorated, and everyone seems to be in a good mood. Everything looks festive and so pretty at this time of the year. I get all wrapped up in the events and activities until PROCRASTINATION sets in. I want to be able to participate in everything to do with the holidays. But I never seem to be able to do all the activities as I have procrastinated again. By not doing the necessary tasks such as decorating, shopping, purchasing presents and, of course, wrapping all my treasures in a proper timely manner, and having not realized the potential of what activities I really would have time for, I have put myself under a time crunch. -
The Naked Truth
Picture this, I am a small child living at home and it is the middle of the night and I need my mom. She was one of those moms that was always there for you. Unfortunately, when she came to take care of you or to take care of whatever you needed, she would show up naked. Yup, I said naked. God she would kill me if she could read this!!! I don’t know why she never wore a robe or a coverup, but she didn’t. This turned me off, so that in the future whenever I needed her I would grin and bear it and try to fix whatever I needed myself. -
Camping in Comfort
As it is I love camping. When you enjoy this activity there are five items that you will absolutely have to have to make this a pleasant experience. -
Priceless Memories
Our family loves its heirlooms. Both sides of my family had a lot of neat antiques that would have been fun to own. The problem I faced was that I had cousins who became interested in antiques just before my interest was piqued. That left me with not much to pine after. -
The Good Life in a Small Town
I come from a small town called Beaver Dam. I don’t feel it is that small, but to those who like big city life, it is tiny. It is a town that boasts 15000+ Busy Beavers. Don’t think the media didn’t have fun with that phrase a while back. We have lots of parks, a lake, and shopping, and we are near several big cities, and let’s not forget the lack of pollution. -
Popcorn and Snuggles
I do not enjoy watching TV regularly. I have a hard time finding a program that I can enjoy and that is not repetitious or just plain boring. I do, however, like to watch TV if there is a special movie that I want to see. Then again, it is getting cold outside and this means outside activities and time spent in our screened-in porch are limited, When it gets dark earlier and is cold outside, then TV tends to be our evening entertainment. I would rather we use this time to get caught up in those projects that are left to do, but I turn into a mushroom in the evening after supper and fall into that TV-watching mode. -
French Kissing Frustration
I hate my teeth. The first problem is that they are not white, and despite different procedures being completed to correct this situation, they are still not white. -
What is All the Fuss About?
When I was a kid I believe I was about eight years old the excitement was in the air. We are going to get a TV. Some of my friends already had this up to date for entertainment and I couldn’t wait. Well, to say I was disappointed was the truth. I remember walking up the stairs in the house I grew up in. The TV was positioned at the far end of the living room. It was turned on and I was appalled. -
Still Going Strong After 61 Years!
I am married to Art, my high school sweetheart, my soulmate, the father of my children, and oftentimes a pain in my ass! I say this last part as a joke, but I think you can imagine this can happen. -
One’s Not Enough
- Wife: “Can we have one more pup?”
- Husband: “No”
- Wife: “Wouldn’t it be fun to have one more dog?”
- Husband: “No”
- Wife: “Our Emma is so good, but she is lonesome don’t you think?”
- Husband: “No”
- Wife: “Look at this picture, isn’t this puppy adorable?”
- Husband: Head nodding yes
- Wife: “How about we get this pup?”
- Husband with the start of dementia: “Sure!!!!!!”
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Why Mess with Perfection
After taking a test on https://www.idrlabs.com it is confirmed that: I feel contentment most of the time. By this I mean I have done pretty much what I have set out to do in my life.
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Beware of the First Step
Do you ever wonder why when you get older you seem super clumsy? Well, for some reason, this is happening to me on a rather frequent basis and I don’t like it one bit. I think I am just not paying attention to where I am going. Being active can also help with this problem and I need to step that activity up a lot. -
From Terrible to Great
First of all, I don’t think I have ever been happy with my hair. Short, Medium, Long, nothing seems to work.I want a maintenance-free, kicky, fun, shiny, healthy hair. Join the club right?
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How to Ruin Summer
That time is here again, meaning the dreaded times, SCHOOL IS STARTING!I always despised the start of school. I loved summer when there were no deadlines to speak of, I could sleep in, and I had the option of having the time to do what I wanted and if I wanted to do.
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Cinderella
I don’t remember ever having someone read to me as a child. I would have assumed that is when fairy tales would have been introduced into my world. But I don’t remember having this activity in our home for some reason. -
My Musical Journey
I love just about any kind of music. On my least favorite list are opera, jazz, polka music, or what I would call head-banging music, and let’s not forget rapping. I think rapping is dumb unless it is done well. -
Is it a Cult?
I had a spiritual/religious experience when my oldest daughter, Lisa, went to college. Being what I liked to imagine myself at that time as a knowledgeable, with-it mom. Now when I mentally sent her off to college I was all prepared to try to handle the expected topics of drugs, alcohol, and sex. This is what seemed to be the most heard-about topics of my peers with college-bound children. Well, I was one of the lucky ones (tongue in cheek). I got religion. -
Unappreciated Laughter
There are so many incidents that make me smile, but do any lead to a full-blown belly laugh? Well, I can remember one such episode and it always brings a smile to my face whenever I remember it. -
Just Come and Look
One of my favorite pictures is from quite a while ago.As a mother of a three-year-old and owner of a newer home, I was happy with having no responsibility for a pet, especially a dog. I did not miss brushing the carpets of hair, hairballs in the kitchen and baths, and, of course, the wonderful duty of cleaning up dog poop.
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Summertime Wannabe
When I had a young family, I remember wanting to spend with them, especially in the summer.On many occasions, Lisa heard me say as I was getting ready for work, “I wish I could stay home with you girls and enjoy this wonderful summer day.”
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Homemade Lasagna
So many embarrassing moments to pick from. One that comes to my mind is when we were part of a progressive dinner. This was where several homes were chosen to be responsible for different parts of a meal. The first one was drinks, the next was hor devours, the next the main course and finally one for dessert. -
Oh Such Memories!
Remembering past fads is fascinating and laughable.In particular, I am thinking about the 1970s. I was beyond my years for the most part not having gone on to school, but that didn’t stop my wanting to fit in with those my age. I got married in 1963 and started my family shortly after that. I always enjoyed fashion and tried to keep up with all the trends.
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Holes with Eyes
Grandchildren offer so many interesting and fun stories.Picture this. It is a cold and dreary late October evening. It is just starting to get dark. The wind was blowing and was whistling through the trees. There was an almost full moon. It was a typical late fall evening.
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Public Speaking Sucks
From the beginning of time, I have been told it is necessary to be able to present yourself in public. What this means is to get up in front of a group, or even just a few people, and give a book report, a speech, or just present an opinion. (But this entails being a single spokesperson and speaking in front of people). -
Summer Luxury
I am lucky actually to have a large porch and two patios. I have the porch and a patio at my home, and a patio at my cottage. My love of screened-in porches (a patio) started many years ago. My mom and dad had a patio installed on the back of their house. This offered wonderful cozy summer nights and days bug-free. This patio became the center of living during the warmer days of spring and summer.
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Pond Paradise
Tossing this question over in my head I would say the most significant time and place that I have been the happiest was during the births of my two children. I don’t think anything can quite top those events. -
Always Looking Forward
In the past, I had so many things to look forward to in the future. When I start reminiscing I go way back to graduating from high school, getting engaged, getting married, buying our first house, and having our children. I loved seeing those children excel in their endeavors and eventually graduating from high school, then college. -
Never a Full Night’s Sleep
Getting up in the morning is probably one of the least favorite things I have to do in a day. It does beat the alternative but still is so hard for me to do. I loved working, but having to get up early in the day was what I hated the most. Once at work, it was fine, but oh that desire to sleep in was so tempting. Today I am forced to get up earlier than I would like to, but having two dogs 1. Want to do their morning routine which includes emptying their bladders and 2. Eating. They are ruthless in expressing their needs to the point that getting up is easier than hearing their constant warning that they want me up. -
React, Don’t Run
When you are scared, do you run or react?
Just the other night, I ascended the stairs from our family room to retrieve a pair of glasses. Walking through our dark dining room towards the front door, I encountered a dark figure standing in front of me. With a can of fruit in hand, I screamed bloody murder and prepared to throw the can at this person, then push the figure against the wall, hopefully out the door. Luckily, I realized it was my sister. Unable to reach me by phone, she grew worried and came over to check on us. Wow, she almost got a can of fruit between her eyes.
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Nicknames from the Heart
As a child, nicknames seem to run rampant. Kids like to pick apart anyone and everyone’s names to either tease or torment them.My name is Sandra, Sandy for short. The only time I ever heard or hear the name Sandra is if I am in trouble or someone is upset with me.
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The Labor Day Hunt
Some of my more memorable vacations were those spent on Labor Day Weekends. It was always a huge project for me since I was the one who seemed to instigate this event. During the earlier weeks of summer, my family would go camping. I could have stayed in my tent for the duration of the summer. I just loved our camping experiences. I loved having people around me to enjoy, and I loved being outdoors no matter the weather. To me this was summer. -
Prom Fashion Failure
When I was in school dances were a big thing. We used to have a dance after every football game, basketball games, and at miscellaneous other times. But, the biggest event was always the Junior Prom. -
Another Day Another Lickin’
As I remember I was always getting into trouble. I was curious, mischievous, and just plain naughty. I had a knack for bending the rules. I was the middle child and perhaps seeking out attention. I was not one to sit idly and be bored. I always seemed to make bad choices in the process of being a kid. -
Get Your Ass in Gear
Something to let go of?Procrastination. This is what I am best at. Pretty sad, but true.
I don’t remember when this became a trait that I became a master of.
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No One Special
Favorite or least favorite celebrity??Boy, this is a hard one for me. I have never met a real celebrity to classify anyone to be a favorite or not.
As a teenager when everyone was wild about Elvis, Tom Jones, and the Beatles, I was interested in their music, but never actually went all crazy for any of them. I liked to watch Elvis (who didn’t as a teenager), but in movies not so much. Tom Jones starred in a couple of movies that I really liked, and I liked his performances and music, but I didn’t go crazy over him. Now, I am one of the few it seems, but I really didn’t care for the Beatles or their music at all.
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My Loves
Here goes.
I love my family. They are all different and wonderful in their ways. Each one makes me feel loved (well most of the time). They all seem like caring and nice individuals. All are very different and take on individual roles in my life, and I love them for their differences.
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Where to Start
Spring and fall house cleaning always seemed overwhelming to me. The thought of ripping everything apart twice a year seemed like just too much work. I had an aunt who helped to put my anxiety at ease. She said she would thoroughly clean whatever needed it at the time and did not tear the house apart to accomplish spring and fall cleaning. -
Splendor in the Grass
A romantic movie that made a real impression on me was “Spendor in the Grass”. This was a movie made in the early 1960s and was staged in 1920 in Kansas. I was probably at the most impressionable time of my life being a teenager and it left me feeling very romantic and sad all at the same time. -
The Dreaded Track Meet
I can’t remember very many fun or happy incidents while I was in grade school. But, I do remember hating track metes. First of all, I didn’t like many physical activities. Running was at the top of that list. -
The Luxury of a Stellar Day
My idea of luxury has definitely changed over the years. What I used to think was an idea of luxury would be a big, fancy home, expensive vehicles, a huge bank account, a beautiful wardrobe, and exotic places to travel to. Well now at this age I have recognized that the idea of luxury is far different than it used to be. -
Antique Secretary
I was offered a part-time job in the school office in the early sixties during my senior year of high school. This job was being a secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. Then when I graduated I was offered this same job full-time. -
My Broomstick Horse
When I was a kid I don’t remember having many toys. We had the staples such as roller skates, ice skates, a bike, and a doll or two. I also had a metal dollhouse and paper dolls. But, the one thing I had was a good imagination. -
Pickled Poop
I have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I have had the wonderful opportunity and experience of living close to all of my grandchildren. This includes being able to spend good quality time and a lot of fun experiences. -
Hockey Puck Chicken
I have never considered myself a fabulous cook. I am one of those people who doesn’t read directions or recipes. I like to cook things that don’t require a lot of preparation. I believe quick and easy and, of course, delicious meals are what I make. I have previously stated that when it comes to preparing a meal out of necessity it is just plainly no fun, or there is no sense of accomplishment. I feel pills are in order on those occasions. Let’s face it, you purchase the items, put the food away, prepare the meal, then when everyone is done within ten minutes, you have to clean up the mess. I do love to go to eat and let someone else do the cooking. -
Here comes Summer
When I think about my life I think about music. I love music. If I am in a bad mood or feel lazy and must accomplish a task such as cleaning, I turn on the music. I mostly listen to upbeat music of Michael Jackson, JLo, Whitney Houston, and the list goes on and on. But, when I need to feel really good I listen to a good old classic that usually, note usually, lifts me up. That song is “Here Comes Summer” by Jerry Keller. This was written in 1959 and even today when spring is approaching I can actually hear it played on the radio if I am lucky. -
Don’t Waste Today
Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life:I like this quote because we can’t go back to yesterday and need inspiration for tomorrow. So, the quote, “Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life” represents to me that we should leave yesterday behind and work on tomorrow, making it the best we can.
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Take Me As I Am
I can’t imagine my life without my family. They can appreciate the good and overlook the bad in me. For example, I asked for a set of kayaks for my birthday. My daughters must have thought this a good idea as they both purchased one for my husband and one for myself. But, being who I am I felt they were too small. So, being the sweet things they are they loaded them up, not without trouble, and purchased the larger ones. Not to mention the cost was more also. They weren’t surprised as they knew me too well. -
Never the Same Tree Twice
Already thinking about how I would like to decorate for next year! I love having more than one Christmas tree in my home. I love the ambiance of the lights. We put one tree up in our living room and one in the family room. Now when I have extra time (if that ever happens) I like to put a tree up in my bedroom and two in the extra bedrooms. -
Memories of Santa
I don’t remember ever being taken to see Santa Claus when I was little. There was lots of talk about this jolly old sort, and I just went along with the fact that there was this wonderful old guy, with a white long beard, and a red suit. He made millions of toys and dropped off the toys you asked for on Christmas Eve Call me gullible. It was fun believing all the hoopla involved in Santa being so secretive and wonderful at the same time. I knew he flew in the sky with his reindeer leading his sleigh. -
Less is More
I am a holiday purist to the fullest extent.I have a pet peeve. I believe each holiday should be celebrated one at a time. When one holiday has ended it is time to start the next. Now, I think leaving decorations a couple of days after the holiday is o.k., but then it is time to move forward.
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No More White Elephant Gifts
I can truthfully say that I can’t remember ever receiving a gift that I didn’t like or appreciate. I always feel the thought behind the gift is what really counts. -
Food Coma
Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Our family takes turns in sharing the different holidays. Our daughter, Lisa, is always the hostess for Thanksgiving. This started when my son-in-law, Craig, shared that he loved to make the turkey. So, he got the job of hostessing Thanksgiving and dragged his wife, Lisa, along for the ride whether she was in agreement or not.
