Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Writing Down Memories of My Great "Grand" Mother
Is it wrong that I am proud of my Great Grandmother for skipping school?
Listening to her one adventure in truancy last week got me to thinking about the risks that we take in life. She was never one to break the rules but after lunch (of a hamburger and Pepsi Cola that her mother paid weekly for at a local cafe) she noticed that the roller skating rink was going full blast. I guess it was too tempting because instead of heading back to class she stayed and skated until school was over. I asked her if she was scared going back - She said no. I just went around back and got on the bus like normal. But the guilt of what she had done or the fear of someone telling on her caused her to march into the principle's office and let him know that she had skipped school. You might be thinking that she got detention or in trouble - but the principle laughed at her.
When I told Mother about the book that I just finished reading, she shared her experiences of segregation and equality. I have grown up in a world where everyone is equal (as in I never knew any different) but she went from completely separated races to now. While listening to her talk about it I kept thinking this shouldn't have happened in her lifetime but so many years before that.
She said when she was going to school it was segregated, but when her daughters were in high school it wasn't. She talked about her fear of her blond headed daughters going to school with black people - she said looking back it was really stupid. She talked about the cafe that she used to go to at lunch - they couldn't come in there either but instead had to go to a walk up window. She talked about walking into a cafe in her new hometown and there was a black couple sitting at a table just inside the door - and she turned around and walked out. She said I just don't know why I did that...it's was so stupid.
As I sat there listening I know that I was born in the easier time. I told her what I thought. That you can't control what you are taught as a child but you can make a conscious decision to teach tolerance and equality to your own kids.
I asked her if she can remember the time that she came to know that racism was wrong. Then she told me about the day that she had to be swam across the river.
She was walking home from school with her sister. To get home they had to cross a bridge and there had been so much rain that week that it was flooding. She and her sister stood on one side of the bank and her home on the other. She said that a black boy from school came along and helped them. He swam her sister across then came back for her. She was so terrified that they were going to drown and so grateful that he was their to help. She said I will never forget him or his kind spirit. This was definitely a different time - I couldn't imagine it being OK for my kids to swim across a river to get home from school - I'm terrified of them even walking home. This memory while vivid wasn't enough to ease her fear when her daughters started school though. We talked about the talk of the town at the time and how people would get so worked up spreading rumors and hate.
Last Wednesday I sat with Mother feeling overwhelmingly proud. She was a spitfire in high school and instead of standing proud on the principles taught to her by her parents, she is very aware of how completely wrong they were in that aspect.
I am so thankful that I am getting to spend this time with Mother every Wednesday night. I love that she will have a cup of coffee and just talk. The more that I visit with her the more I feel the need to write everything down. Her memories aren't always easily digestible or even nice but they feel important just the same. I begin to wonder if everyone in my family has heard these stories and knows what she has experienced in her lifetime.
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Monday, December 6, 2010
Starting New Holiday Traditions
I haven't been at my jolliest the last couple of weeks. Christmas time is supposed to be so fun and exciting but as the Mother of 4 - it really brings a lot of stress trying to get everything done. So in an effort to bring a little more holiday cheer to my house I am starting a new tradition this year with my kids. We are counting down the days with presents. I wish that I had started a little earlier as this would have saved me a ton of money. I could have spread out my purchases over time instead of trying to buy everything a couple of days before the countdown started. With that said - it's totally been worth it.
Simply putting this together has helped to bring Christmas spirit into my heart and remind me what this season is all about. It's not about having the best decorated house, finding the perfect present or anything else that we can all get distracted by this time of year. It's about your family and spending time with those you love. Creating happy memories that they will cherish.
My absolute favorite box contained marshmallow, hot chocolate and popcorn...
We opened it and sat as a family and watched The Polar Express. I so wish that our movie theater would bring this movie back every year. It's much more magical on the big screen but it was pretty nice to snuggle up with just the six of us and be so grateful that we are all together and happy.
What do you do to get in spirit or create memories for your kids?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
You WON!!
Thanks so much to everyone who entered both the Diva Puppies/Enchanted Storybook giveaway and the Redi Shade giveaway!!Got a few more Lucky Ducky's to announce:
The 2 winner's of the Diva Puppies and Enchanted Story Book's are:
Nancy said...
34
my daughter loves to make up stories and the enchanted storybook would be her favorite
The Winner of the Redi Shade Simple Fit Custom Giveaway is:
Christine said...
54
I would like to get the Simple Fit Custom Shades.
Thanks for the chance!
All winner were drawn using Random.org, notified through e-mail and have 48 hours to claim their prizes or a new winner will be drawn. Thanks so much for entering giveaways here at Getting all my Ducks in a Row!!
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