Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Looking back to 1916

Today is my Grandmother's birthday.

Grace Madeline Scott was born January 30, 1916.
I never knew her.
In honor of her day, I received a lovely tribute in the mail a few days ago, written by my mother, Grace's daughter.
What a treasure.

"January 26, 2013

In four days it will be your grandmother's birthday. Grace Madeline Scott Glass was born January 30, 1916.  That makes her 96 if she were living.  She was 10 years younger than her husband, Richard Irving Glass.  For the most part, they had learned how to be happy together.  They rarely had unpleasant words.  She was a naturally happy person and I do not remember her complaining.  Her mother had died when she was two years old.  She endured two step-mothers, who felt burdened with the ten children that their mother had left at her death.  You would have thought that the baby would have been loved, if not the other children.  But in the early 1900's there were few conveniences, such as indoor plumbing, electric lights, and cars.  There were such items, but not for the average family.  The head of the house was Malcom Douglas Scott.  His livelihood was milking a number of cows and delivering the milk by wagon with the help of his children.  My mom remembered on Saturdays, if they were lucky they would stop at an ice cream parlor for a treat.  But mostly she remembered that her two step-mothers did not like her.

I do not know when she left her father's home, but I do know when she graduated from the 8th grade, she was living with her sister, Maude and Maude's husband Clarence Washburn in Needham (Massachusetts).  He was a teacher there.  Maude was also a teacher, but I am not sure just where at that time.  I discovered an autograph book which Grace had for the occasion of her graduation in which her friends, family and adult relatives would write something.  Her dad just signed his name.

So I wondered: did he miss his baby not living at home?  Was he proud of her for finishing at a school where she was a stranger and had to make new friends?  Was he grateful to his older daughter who had taken her in?  Was he experiencing all these feelings and due to pride was not able to express them?

How did my mother feel when her dad only wrote his name?  What would she have wanted him to say?  Did that change how she viewed her graduation?  So many questions I would ask my mother if she were still here.  She died when I had just turned 18... 

When she died, I was a senior.  March 21st, 1958.
I was president of the Honor Society.  I had a lead in the school musical.  I had a major part in the church's annual play... (Dad was also in it).  I was treasurer for our Walpole High School class.  I was working every afternoon after school from 2:30 to 5:30pm at Kendall Company as a filing clerk.  I was a member of the Future Nurses Society.  So life was busy and on I went.

My mother's passing did not really hit me until I was alone attending Simmons College in the Fall.  (I was a freshman in a five year nursing program)  I missed her so much.  My dad was not one to communicate much... never called or came.  I could have called him, but it cost money for every phone call back then and I did not have a lot, so I did not call either.

...The day that my mother died, I had been a typical teenager.  We had had a blizzard so we had no school, so I went to work for a whole day.  In the afternoon the Future Nurses were to go to tour a hospital.  I wanted to drive and believe my parents said that I could.  But since that decision was made, they had changed their minds due to the storm.  I was really upset and let my mother know!  (As a mother, I would now have made the same decision.)  So the last words which I had with my mother were those of anger.  That conversation still rings in my mind.  It took me 13 years of nightmares arguing with my mother before I could forgive myself and know that she also had forgiven me.  That should be a lesson for me to measure what I say and only say positive things... not to say that I have been perfect in that area, but I am trying.

My mother did not have a lot of opportunities to develop talents as a child.  But I watched her after working all day in an office come home and go off to various classes which I knew she really enjoyed.  One was tray painting... Another talent which she pursued was cake decorating.  She had a knack for such things...
So on my mother's 96th birthday, I thought I would give you a small picture of a wonderful lady, whom you will meet someday."

I am excited to one day meet my Grandmother Grace.  I know that she is a fun lady. I imagine that her job in heaven is making sure that our dearly departed are meeting their laugh quota.  
November 2008
In the kitchen of the Temple house in Belmont

I am especially grateful that I have had decades of time with my own mother that she was not able to spend with hers.

I love you Mom.

Happy Birthday Grammy Grace!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Reading

Seeing my kids get lost in a good book is almost as good as getting lost in one myself.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Sundays in Amherst

Whenever we can, we like to trip out to Amherst on Sunday afternoons to have lunch with Enrique.  Families eat free at UMass.
We keep Enrique from feeling homesick.
(that's my theory)
We're a rather overwhelming entity.
We also like the soft serve ice cream machine.
Back in the day, I worked at an ice cream shop.  I can still twist a cone like nobody's business.
Another great thing:
No clean-up after a big Sunday meal.
Thanks for dinner Enrique!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

a great day to be an eight year old ball player

 Honestly, the best entertainment of my week happens each Saturday on the bench.
These first and second grade boys play with their hearts and all their sweaty parts.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Someone got a job

It involves operating large machinery.
I'm sure he'd do it for free,
so earning a paycheck is like the frosting on top.
Oh, and he's back at school.
In Utah.
Yonder's working on the BYU Grounds Crew.
Life is pretty good.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

there was dancing

(and cotton candy!)
Three cousin-lovelies spent last weekend together, and ended up at a dance in Manchester, New Hampshire. I love that these girls live close enough to occasionally crash youth dances together.
 And I'm grateful for my sister, who hosted, drove and chaperoned!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

home or away

Leeli has probably spent more time on the basketball court and indoor soccer pitch than at home this winter.
She works hard at sports 
 and she's starting to hone her skills.
   My favorite workout is being her biggest fan.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

while you were sleeping

A week ago last Saturday I was nestled snug in my bed before the sun got up.
Much to my surprise just after 6:00am, I felt a gentle tugging on my covers, and Rooney was at my bedside, whispering "it's time to go."  
 She had put in a request the night before for an early morning driver so that she could go on a mini photography expedition. She wanted to get some local sunrise shots. Sadly, it was overcast and foggy. She was determined to go ahead with the plan, not knowing when our next opportunity would be.
 It was a fun adventure.
 She has a good eye.
 It was an invigorating start to our day
 I'm hoping to go along on the next early morning photography adventure.
Well done Roons!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Lunch with the brothers

Before Enrique went back to school he planned and executed a retreat weekend for his band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.
 There are logistics that need to be considered when planning this sort of thing, such as where will we meet?  And how will we eat without going broke?  It was a good project for him to take on.
  Enrique decided to ask the Bishop if he could use the church. They needed a facility large enough so that a couple dozen people could hold their business meeting, play some games and have lunch.  He asked me if I would make and serve them lunch.  He planned the menu, shopped for the ingredients and figured out how much money each fraternity member would have to contribute.  I was happy to put it together.
The menu: Taco Soup w/ tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa and cornbread; cookies & brownies for dessert
I was even happier to meet his college buddies.  
(They were happy to have me take pictures)
They did all the setting up and cleaning up and it was a pleasure to mingle with them for a few hours.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

the runaway (and a reluctant rescue)

The sun came out!
It was a glorious winter day.
I hung a blanket on the line...
when I came back to take it in, it had disappeared.
 Of course it flew into the snow on the day I picked
my sunny yellow flats.
My soul says Spring! when the sun comes out.
My toes said: Get sensible.

Friday, January 18, 2013

forcing Spring

My friend Morgan gave me these amazing Paperwhites on Christmas eve.
They've been blossoming on our table ever since!
Having the bulbs in the house inspired me to force some daffodils and lilies.  I had a few glass containers in the house, and in the garage I found some rocks from the coast of Maine and some sand from the Grand Canyon to use as growing medium.
I love Winter, but even more, I love signs of Spring!


Thursday, January 17, 2013

How low can he go?

Yesterday we woke up to SNOW!!!
...and there was no school.
There was snow, then rain, then snow again.
It made for some heavy, wet snow removal.
It also made good packing snow,
which meant a snowman appeared!
 He was sad when the kids went inside.
 As the day wore on, the snowman started
leaning.
We wondered if he would make it through the night...
...and he did!
The kids all laughed as they passed by the leaning snowman on their way to school.
Now we're all wondering
just how low he can go?

Thursday, January 10, 2013

metal mouth: GONE.

 Almost three years ago this little girl
got her braces on.
This morning, she got them off.
Her teeth are out of jail!
...Hoo boy...
Now I'm sort of considering putting HER in jail until she's about 27.
It's not so bad, I've heard...
three square meals a day,
educational training,
...and NO boys.