Writing Yesterday – Photographing Today
Sunshine
Warm days
Porch swings
The ocean
Time with family
Time with friends
Traveling/site seeing
Creeks
My new house
Night walks on the beach
Lakes
Boat rides
Wind blowing my hair
Convertible rides
Photography
Children
Shopping
Dressing up/going out
Short walks
Country roads
What are twenty things that makes you smile? I’d like to see your list.
By Darlene G. Snyder
“Stop it!” I screamed as I looked down at the blood streaming from the wounds on my arms. I began kicking franticly, she made me mad and I was determined she would not get in any more hits.
“Mama, make her stop kicking me,” she yelled as I grabbed a handful of hair and yanked.
“Girls, stop it right now!” mama hollered from the kitchen. “If you have enough energy to fight, you have energy enough to help me. Get in here – now!”
My sister and I were teenagers, fighting like children. This day, the fight was over my wearing her shoes. She hated it when I took them without asking. She always insisted I mistreated her shoes and scuffed them. I never admitted it, but she was right, I was hard on shoes.
Since our house wasn’t large enough for the four of us-my two brothers, my sister and I – to have a space of our own, the boys shared one room and we shared another. Our rooms were located upstairs in the old farmhouse.
Later that same day, after we retired to our rooms for the night, Paulene and I grabbed a book and sat with our backs up against the headboard on our full size bed. Both of us loved to read. Before long, her foot touched mine. This didn’t sit well with me so I kicked her. She reached over and slapped my arm. Another fight ensued.
“Stay on your side of the bed,” she barked at me.
“I am on my side. You are acting like a pig and hogging the whole bed,” I snapped back. “Keep your feet off me.”
We continued smacking at each other. I kicked and crawled my way to the end of the bed, stood up and was about to jump on top of her when suddenly; she kicked me with both of her feet. I went tumbling backwards onto the floor. I hit it with a thud and felt the room shake from the impact.
“Are, are you alright?” she giggled.
Silence.
“Hey Darlene, are you ok? She asked I detected fear in her voice.
Motionless, I remained silent. I clamped my hands over my mouth, holding in the laughter trying to escape. I heard her moving in the bed. I knew she was crawling down the length of the bed to peep over at me. I continued to allow the silence to worry her, waiting for just the right moment.
“Aargh!!” I yelled as I jumped up and scared her. Laughing as I watched her fall backwards onto the bed.
“You crazy thing!” she laughed, “You scared me to death. I thought I had killed you.” We lay in bed and laughed until mama yelled up the stairs for us to be quiet.
She and I were not always fighting. We loved teaming up against our older brother. He was too serious about everything and nothing we did pleased him. Our favorite pastime was making his life miserable.
Danny was one year older than me. My sister was one year younger. Cecil Jr, was several years younger than the rest of us. All Jr. wanted to do was play. Danny on the other hand didn’t like anything Paulene and I did, and he especially hated it when we wore short skirts. Without fail, every morning before leaving home for school, he fussed.
“Mama, make them put some clothes on.”
We pranced around the room as he fumed.
Living out a long lane, we had to walk a ways to catch a ride on the bus. When we reached the end of the road, Paulene and I would roll our skirts up even shorter. We didn’t believe our skirts could be too short, but we didn’t want mama to see us even though we knew Danny would tell her. We received double satisfaction knowing we disturbed Danny. He would be furious by the time we got on the bus. Ruffling his feathers always left us satisfied.
Popping gum as we chewed it was another thing Danny hated. This was a wonderful discovery for Paulene and me. Each Sunday when all of us were in the car headed to church, we would plop a piece of gum into our mouths and by the time that we were well on our way, we had Danny riled.
“Stop popping your gum in my ear!” Danny seethed.
“We ain’t popping our gum, we are just chewing it,” one of us would reply innocently.
“Mama, did you hear that? They are popping their gum. Make them stop!”
The fussing continued until we stopped aggravating him, mama made us spit the gum out or we arrived at church, whichever came first. On other occasions, we found something else to get him going.
We learned he despised the strong odor of perfume. Of course, before we jumped into the car to go to church or anywhere else, we sprayed ourselves down in whatever cologne we had on hand. Most usually, it was Avon-good stout Avon. We smelled awful because she used one kind and I would use another. Mixing the two would choke anyone, but at least it served as a way to disturb Danny the most.
It’s a wonder Danny even speaks to us now.
I can’t say when it happened, but somewhere along the way, the fighting between my sister and I subsided. Our bickering slowed to almost non-existent. We even stopped harassing Danny. Surprisingly we liked him. We were all getting along; Paulene and I had become friends.
Soon we were shopping together, attending functions and sharing secrets about our boyfriends. I desired her opinion on what I should wear, how to wear my make-up and whether my shoes matched my outfit or not. I envied her having voluptuous breasts and long, thin, pretty, tanned legs. I was skinny, pale, wiry, redheaded, and short. My ears were too big and my teeth slightly bucked. I was very self-conscious of how I looked.
Danny soon married and moved away from home, I followed his lead and married a year after he did. Paulene was my maid of honor in my wedding and when I moved from home, she was lost and miserable. I missed her wretchedly. Before long, she began to visit- spending the night with us. She began staying with us more than she was living at home.
After she married and both of us had children of our own, our lives led us in different directions. Even so, we enjoy spending time with each other and love to reminisce about days gone by. As much as I love my brothers, there is just something about sharing with my sister. She has become my best friend and confidante. We continue to confide in each other, sharing our secrets. I value her opinion and still find myself envious of her beauty.
She is kind hearted, loving and encouraging. She never fails to complement me when we visit. My best friend is always just a phone call away.
Today’s news and headlines have many of us feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. As a Christian, we often see mania happening around us and wonder why God allows the injustices of the world. There are things and questions on our minds that don’t have logical answers.
I’m opening this blog up for questions. Now mind you, I can’t answer your questions – at least I don’t anticipate being able to do so, but that doesn’t have to keep you from asking.
Respond to this statement. If you could ask one question with the assurance that the question would be answered with a satisfactory response, what would that question be and why do you ask.
Here are the rules:
I’ll go first. Here’s my question…
What is it about men and women that think it is alright to abuse children physically and/or sexually? The reason I ask is that everyday in the news there is a child or children reportedly that have been abused or neglected. I worked as a volunteer foster care review board member and some of the files I read still haunt me today. I don’t understand what it is inside of a person that would make them harm Innocent children. I find this to be an ugly blimp – make that mountain in humans.
What is your question?
Thanks,
Darlene
This is my grandson Braxton and me on Mother’s Day. I had him hold my finger because when Eric tried to snap the picture, Braxton’s hands were always in front of his face. Isn’t he adorable!
On to other things…
I love listening to Tina Turner. My son, Eric makes fun of me and can’t comprehend my attraction to her music. At least he respects my choice of music. The Mother’s Day card he and April gave me was one of those Hallmark cards that plays music. Imagine my delight when I opened it and read, “You simply rock“ and heard Tina singing Your simply the best. The perfect card! Eric actually had purchased one for April and she insisted that I needed one exactly like it. Bless her heart!
The journal, photo album and my sterling silver grandmother necklace were great gifts and I loved them, but the best part of my day was spending time with my family. Braxton wanted to sleep most of the day away, but he did wake-up for a feeding.
I enjoyed our church service also. The men cooked and served breakfast early and afterwards I sang in the all women’s choir making sure to stand next to a great soprano singer…I never sounded better! She sang loud enough that I couldn’t be heard so I was able to sing my heart out. I can’t carry a tune at all, but I thought I sounded good next to her. Thanks Janette.
Today, I cooked lunch for the family. My mother came to eat with us too. While cooking and putting the meal together I recalled a Mother’s Day long ago when my sister and I decided we wanted to cook lunch for mom and the family. We were probably ten and eleven years old. I can’t recall everything we cooked, but I can just see us standing in the kitchen mashing those potatoes with a hand held non-electric potatoe masher…they turned out rather soupy. Ugh. I’m sure that’s why I don’t like mashed potatoes now.
My sister and I took mom out for breakfast yesterday and then shopping for her Mother’s Day gift. She loved her gifts, but the time spent together meant the most to her. She and I agree that when we try to recall all the gifts we’ve received for Mother’s Day in the past, nothing really comes to mind. Maybe, gift cards, cash or jewelry, but for the most part, what we remember are the meals eaten together as a family and the fun we shared.
For most mothers, it isn’t about the gifts, it’s more about children acknowledging that the day is special because of thier mothers. All we really want is time with our children. Usually, that ends up being the most expensive gift for them to give.
You must pardon me while I talk about my grandson.
I spent the night with my son and daughter-in-law last night because both had school to attend today. I was up and down with my grandson whenever he woke and wanted his food last night. Today, I had him to myself all day! Don’t tell his parents, but I did my best to spoil him rotten! That child is the sweetest little thing.
The only problem Braxton is having is with his stomach. The doctors had them change the milk they were giving him to something that is supposed to be easier on the stomach, but so far that doesn’t seem to have helped. He crys a lot in spite of the malicon drops and the zantac he is now taking. Bless his heart, his belly hurt him most of the day today.Because the new milk seems to be causing the same issues, they started him on soy milk tonight. hopefully this will help him.
He is already weighing in at 8 lbs and 4 ounces…He weighed 7 lbs and 1 oz. at birth. He has the biggest blue eyes and cute little pouty lips. He still has some growing to do for the rest of his body to catch up with his bill little feet and long fingers.
April discovered that if she kisses him on the back of the neck, he cries. Eric and I too have issues with the back of our necks being touched. I know exactly how Braxton feels – I don’t blame him for crying about that. He is also touchy when it comes to his feet. Both April’s mother and my father had feet phobias. Helen would kick and scream if anyone touched her feet. Daddy, could hear the word ‘feet’ and he would instinctly pull his feet off the floor and sit on them to keep people from even thinking about touching them. Looks like Braxton gets that honest.
If you’d like to talk about your grandchildren or children, just add a comment – I’d love to compare notes. Also, if you have advice you’d like to offer to Braxton’s parents, please post a comment here.
Kentucky Scenes 