Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Consider The Source
I've learned over the years to slow my response...to consider the source of what or who is making me angry. Not to imply that I always succeed at biting my tongue or not responding to something that angers me but, I am much better at it than I have been in times past...
One of the best pieces of advise that my mother has given me is to "Consider the source". It is a simple phrase but, it carries a huge lesson.
When I was growing up and someone had hurt my feelings or said something cruel or hateful to me, my mother would always say, "Consider the source." It took me a while to completely understand what she meant but, those words were the wisest thing she could have said to me.
There are things that are a sure thing in this life and one of those things is that there will always be someone or something that "rubs you the wrong way" or offends you in some way.
I've had "friends" who inadvertently have said things that make my blood boil...but, I've learned to consider the source. Who are they? Do they really mean anything to me? Does their opinion really matter to me? Are they intelligent enough to even have an opinion? Are they simply too ignorant to waste my breath on? Better yet, what have they ever done to contribute to my happiness or well being?
If you were to ask these questions or similar questions every time you felt like opening your mouth to blast someone and set them straight, you might just decide to close you mouth and take a deep breath. Just consider the source and smile!
Now on the other hand, in most instances, if I do open my mouth to tell you how I'm feeling or if I lose my temper with you, this is a very good indication that you do mean something to me and I do value your place in my life and even after considering the source, I must speak my mind!
Its when I'm quite and don't bother that I'm considering the source and you're simply not worth the breath it would take to tell you....but, if you could only read my mind...
Monday, October 19, 2015
Nannie Lou, My Mother
Nannie Lou, aka; Nancy, my mother. It is impossible to put into words who my mother is. My mother is simple and complex at the same time. There is no gray areas with my mother; no middle ground. What you see is what you get...
My mother was born in 1943, the oldest of five sisters and one brother. She is a true Southern Lady who will offer you something to drink and eat when you enter her home and will not take no for an answer! She says "I reckon and over yonder" and "Yes Sir and No Sir" She is very analytical, indecisive, stubborn and bullheaded but, she has a kind spirit.
Years ago, I heard someone speaking of my grandmother after her death. They said that they had never heard my grandmother speak ill of anyone and that she always treated everyone with kindness and after giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that this was true. My grandmother was a true blue, Southern Lady as well so, my mother came by it honest!
There have been (and still are) times that my mother's kindness irritates, frustrates and even makes me angry! I have actually been resentful of my mother for being so forgiving and kind. I know you are probably wondering how on earth I could feel this way...
It may have something to do with the fact that I have, time after time watched her be kind to people who absolutely & unequivocally do not deserve her kindness. People that I would shun and disown, if not throat punch or worse!
For instance, years ago, my mother and I was having a conversation about my father. Growing up, I witnessed her being abused, terrorized and tormented by him and in retrospect, I suffered the same as she did and yet, she was kind to him. She was there at his bedside as he was getting ready to die even though she had been divorced from him for years and he had been anything but, good to her. During this conversation I asked her with total sincerity, "Why didn't you just kill him?" She simply replied "Oh I couldn't do that. I don't have it in me." She was telling the truth. She doesn't have it in her. She is forgiving and kind to a fault.
At times when we have talked about various scenarios involving people who do things that are wrong, she says, "I love the person but, I don't love what they are doing."
Even now, I have to admit that I have trouble understanding her way of being. Even though I know it is the love of God inside of her "being" that shows through in the form of simple forgiveness and kindness.
I've never heard anyone speak negatively about my mother. (They probably know better) Everyone and I do mean everyone loves my mother!
Yes, she frustrates me at times. Yes, she drives me insane at times. No, I don't always think like her. No, I don't always "get" her but, I can guarantee you this, I love my mother with every ounce of my being and without her, I would not be who I am. I sometimes tease her and say that I'm nothing like her...we don't look alike, we don't think alike and we don't act alike. She takes this as an insult and frowns when I tell her this but, truth be told, I could never live up to her looks, her thoughts or her actions. She is one of a kind.
My mother is tough, a survivor, and in her own way a fighter. She will kill you with kindness!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Father's Day is coming up in a couple of days. It is a holiday that I have never celebrated.
Each year, I see the various post (on Facebook) of different friends and acquaintances wishing their fathers a happy father's day. Some post about missing their fathers who have passed away. Others post about step-fathers who were more like a father to them than their biological fathers. I have to admit that I feel a little twing of sadness and maybe even envy when I see these post.
Growing up, I knew who my father was and he was around at times but for all reason and purposes I was fatherless.
I have more tramatic and unpleasant memories of him than peaceful and good ones. And yet I loved him.
I once told one of my father's friends to tell him that I loved him and I finished the sentence with but I don't like him. A few weeks later, that same friend brought me a hand written letter/poem that my father had written asking how a person could love but not like someone. I was barely seventeen years old but, I knew the answer to this.
After reading the letter/poem that my father had written, I sat down and typed a poem of my own. It was titled Love But Not Like. I sent it to him and recieved it back a couple of weeks later. The poem had been crumpled up. He had obviously not liked what I had written.
Some people say that a girl's relationship with her father effects how she relates to the men in her life. If this is true, God help me! I say this with a chuckle and smile but to a degree, it is very true.
I've often said that I am a show me kind of girl/woman. Words don't mean a lot to me and this personality trait is directly linked to my relationship with my father.
A person can say, I love you a thousand times a day but at the end of the day, those words are spoken and if there is no action behind the words, they are just words.
I do realize that money isn't what love is about but I also realize that each birthday and Christmas that passed in my young life, I was reminded that I could not play with words. I couldn't brag about words for show and tell at school.
Words couldn't hug me or tuck me in at night. Words couldn't wipe away my tears. Words couldn't dance with me at my wedding. Words couldn't...
There was a time when I deeply resented my father for all that he didn't do and all that he wasn't. I was embarrassed by who he was and how he chose to live his life. There was a time that I wouldn't have given him water if he had been on fire.
Then, there was the time that he died alone in a VA hospital bed at 46 years old. His life and lifestyle had caught up with him and the big giant of a man who had more strength than anyone I had ever known, was gone. I sat thru his funeral without shedding a tear. I was strong and tough and would never let anyone know that I cared for this man who had let me down in so many ways. Yet,on the inside, I was heartbroken.
The chance to have a father, the chance to forgive, the chance to put action behind words was gone.
I supposed I wrote this blog for my own good this Father's day, but if you are a father, I hope you will give some thought to what your daughter or son would write about you. Would they have more words to remember than actions?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
I wrote this note to the wife of my mother's preacher. Some of you may or may not agree with me posting it for all to see but all I can say is 'So sorry if I offend anyone but this needs to be said because I have been treated with disdane and hatefulness and ignored..I'm posting it....
I am writing this note to you because I know that you can relay what I have to say to your husband because he has thus far ignored me.
When my mother had surgery on the 17th and we were all in the waiting room, Bro XXXX for no apparent reason asked my sister and I if we knew that our mother had taken out her 401 K. My sister and I thought that it was odd that he would even mention it because he didn't know if we knew or not and it wasn't his place to tell our mother's business like that.
After the tube was removed from our mother's throat (while she was in ICU) and she was able to talk, my sister and I asked her why Bro. XXXX knew about her 401 K. She told us that it was because she had paid her tithes. We told her that she had already paid the tithes because she has always paid tithes from her paycheck. So she had double paid.
Our mother was very distraught and asked us if we could ask him to return the check.
So I called him with 3 people on speaker phone (so it couldn't be said that I was rude in any way) and told him what had happened and asked him to return that check. Instead of agreeing and returning the check, He told me that he wanted to 'give it some thought'. We were a little taken aback by that but I said to go ahead and then give me a call back. He agreed.
The next morning I called him and he did not answer his phone. I left a message that I was just calling because he hadn't returned my call and we would like to get this taken care of. My sister was with me when I called.
He then called my sister and she basically told him the same thing. I asked her to ask him why he hadn't called me because I had been the one that had asked for a return phone call. During the phone call, he began to tell my sister that he wanted to get educated on the subject. Ignoring the fact that Sherri had told him that our mother didn't have money to lose and she had taken the money out in case we had to pay for her funeral.
I then called him from my phone and he (a second time) wouldn't answer his phone. I won't deny that I was irate and upset because I felt that he was trying to keep my mother's money even though she had requested that it be returned. I left a message telling him that I didn't want to call the head of the UPC or APS but I would if the check wasn't returned.
He then called my sister a second time (instead of me) and proceeded to tell her that he felt that I have a spirit. She had the phone on speaker and there was another person in the room as well as myself that heard what he said. I took the phone out of my sister's hand and proceeded to tell him that I didn't appreciate him talking about me behind my back and saying that I had a spirit. He told me that he shouldn't have said that and he was sorry. His tone was angry, He then told me that he would mail the check. I was in the process of asking him if he knew the address. He hung up on me.
I hadn't seen him and as far as I was concerned it was over.
Yesterday he came into my mother's room as they were getting her ready to take to surgery. I was VERY nice to him and said "Oh there you are. I was just about to call you. We didn't expect Momma to go to surgery until 4 but they came in just now to take her in early."
He looked and me and ignored me and wouldn't even say as much as hello. I thought he was acting rude but didn't say anything.
They asked him to step out until my mother could get onto her surgery gurney.
As my mother began to move to the other bed, her abscess burst and blood went everywhere. The nurses and I had to calm her down and clean her up before rolling her out into the hall.
As she was about to be taken out, he stepped into the room and again ignored me and told the nurses that he wanted to pray for her.
He took his cowboy hat off and laid it on top of my mother's abscessed stomach. (which is very unsanitary before surgery) and we all prayed for my mother.
The nurses rolled her out of her room, he had to walk past me to leave. He very rudely brushed his shoulder past me and began to leave. He hadn't said hello and he wasn't going to say goodbye.
Honestly his behaviour shocked me. I said 'Bro. XXXX'. His back was to me but he paused and kept walking so I said 'Bro. XXXX' again. He still continued to walk away. So I said 'BRO XXXX' a third time. He couldn't pretend that he hadn't heard me this time. He turned around with a scowl on his face and I said 'You're not running off are you?" I said this in a very nice and friendly way. He stuck both of his thumbs up and jabbed them away from me and said "No I'm not running, I'm walking" and proceeded to turn his back on me and walk away.
My mother heard this as she was being taken to surgery.
Wow that is some kind of man of God!
I am amazed and disappointed. What kind of testimony is that?
The last sermon I heard him preach was about love. He doesn't seem to be able to practice what he preaches.
God Bless
I am writing this note to you because I know that you can relay what I have to say to your husband because he has thus far ignored me.
When my mother had surgery on the 17th and we were all in the waiting room, Bro XXXX for no apparent reason asked my sister and I if we knew that our mother had taken out her 401 K. My sister and I thought that it was odd that he would even mention it because he didn't know if we knew or not and it wasn't his place to tell our mother's business like that.
After the tube was removed from our mother's throat (while she was in ICU) and she was able to talk, my sister and I asked her why Bro. XXXX knew about her 401 K. She told us that it was because she had paid her tithes. We told her that she had already paid the tithes because she has always paid tithes from her paycheck. So she had double paid.
Our mother was very distraught and asked us if we could ask him to return the check.
So I called him with 3 people on speaker phone (so it couldn't be said that I was rude in any way) and told him what had happened and asked him to return that check. Instead of agreeing and returning the check, He told me that he wanted to 'give it some thought'. We were a little taken aback by that but I said to go ahead and then give me a call back. He agreed.
The next morning I called him and he did not answer his phone. I left a message that I was just calling because he hadn't returned my call and we would like to get this taken care of. My sister was with me when I called.
He then called my sister and she basically told him the same thing. I asked her to ask him why he hadn't called me because I had been the one that had asked for a return phone call. During the phone call, he began to tell my sister that he wanted to get educated on the subject. Ignoring the fact that Sherri had told him that our mother didn't have money to lose and she had taken the money out in case we had to pay for her funeral.
I then called him from my phone and he (a second time) wouldn't answer his phone. I won't deny that I was irate and upset because I felt that he was trying to keep my mother's money even though she had requested that it be returned. I left a message telling him that I didn't want to call the head of the UPC or APS but I would if the check wasn't returned.
He then called my sister a second time (instead of me) and proceeded to tell her that he felt that I have a spirit. She had the phone on speaker and there was another person in the room as well as myself that heard what he said. I took the phone out of my sister's hand and proceeded to tell him that I didn't appreciate him talking about me behind my back and saying that I had a spirit. He told me that he shouldn't have said that and he was sorry. His tone was angry, He then told me that he would mail the check. I was in the process of asking him if he knew the address. He hung up on me.
I hadn't seen him and as far as I was concerned it was over.
Yesterday he came into my mother's room as they were getting her ready to take to surgery. I was VERY nice to him and said "Oh there you are. I was just about to call you. We didn't expect Momma to go to surgery until 4 but they came in just now to take her in early."
He looked and me and ignored me and wouldn't even say as much as hello. I thought he was acting rude but didn't say anything.
They asked him to step out until my mother could get onto her surgery gurney.
As my mother began to move to the other bed, her abscess burst and blood went everywhere. The nurses and I had to calm her down and clean her up before rolling her out into the hall.
As she was about to be taken out, he stepped into the room and again ignored me and told the nurses that he wanted to pray for her.
He took his cowboy hat off and laid it on top of my mother's abscessed stomach. (which is very unsanitary before surgery) and we all prayed for my mother.
The nurses rolled her out of her room, he had to walk past me to leave. He very rudely brushed his shoulder past me and began to leave. He hadn't said hello and he wasn't going to say goodbye.
Honestly his behaviour shocked me. I said 'Bro. XXXX'. His back was to me but he paused and kept walking so I said 'Bro. XXXX' again. He still continued to walk away. So I said 'BRO XXXX' a third time. He couldn't pretend that he hadn't heard me this time. He turned around with a scowl on his face and I said 'You're not running off are you?" I said this in a very nice and friendly way. He stuck both of his thumbs up and jabbed them away from me and said "No I'm not running, I'm walking" and proceeded to turn his back on me and walk away.
My mother heard this as she was being taken to surgery.
Wow that is some kind of man of God!
I am amazed and disappointed. What kind of testimony is that?
The last sermon I heard him preach was about love. He doesn't seem to be able to practice what he preaches.
God Bless
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Is It Worth The Trouble?
I've come to the conclusion that there may not be a life mate for me. Seriously.
Men can be sooooooooooo.....annoying. And yet I find myself wanting one! But then I find myself thinking that it may just be more trouble than it's worth.
I've dated over the last few years but haven't found anyone that I am completely attracted to....My friends tell me that I am just too picky. Well Heck yeah I'm picky! Why shouldn't I be?
I really don't think I'm all that picky but I do know what I want....shall I tell you?
Ok since you asked:
1. At least 5' 11" because I'm 5'6" and I wear heels alot...and I don't want to duck when I'm getting a kiss. :)
2. Kissing now that I mentioned it....A man really needs to know how to kiss! Kissing an unmoving object is simply NOT enjoyable.
3. And PLEASE don't shake like you are scared out of your wits when you kiss me! Scared isn't sexy. Just so you know. :)
4. Really should be at the top of the list but...a man must have a job. That's all I'm going to say about that...
5. Yes I like a to have my doors opened and my chairs pulled out....my feet rubbed and my back massaged...oh sorry I got carried away.
6. Smoking is a NO GO. Period. Thanks but no thanks. Go find a smoker and make her happy...
7. Drugs are for losers...and I'm no looser. Bye bye :)
8. Too skinny isn't my cup of tea and neither is too fat...but I do like a manly man.
9.Faith and belief in God is a must....don't have to be perfect...just making an effort.
10. Tan is good...Tanner is better...just my opinion..you don't have to agree...this is my list after all. ;)
11. No hypocrites ...in any aspect...Say what you mean and mean what you say.
12. Have a back bone.
13. Teeth....Please! No yellow, rotten, missing or gold teeth. Just clean white teeth for me!
14. If jail is where you spend most of your time...I don't write letters or send money...so you must not be for me!
15. If you can't be with one woman...(me) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away from me!
16. Don't think I'm going to fix you dinner on Monday night after you partied all weekend with your friends...It ain't happening.
17. If you want a date with me...don't think you can call on Friday for a date that night,..Ive already got a date...:)
18. I do tend to like (a little) younger a little better than older...Don't ask me why...just do...
19. Did I mention dressing? A guy really needs to know how to clean up...and smell good ;)
20. Cursing is so unattractive.
21. If a man wants to get to know me...then do it in person. I don't have the time or the patience to text...send pictures....yada yada yada...
Okay that about sums it up...What do you think? Am I too picky? Do I expect too much? Is there any such man? And if there is...Is he worth the trouble. I sure hope so....
Men can be sooooooooooo.....annoying. And yet I find myself wanting one! But then I find myself thinking that it may just be more trouble than it's worth.
I've dated over the last few years but haven't found anyone that I am completely attracted to....My friends tell me that I am just too picky. Well Heck yeah I'm picky! Why shouldn't I be?
I really don't think I'm all that picky but I do know what I want....shall I tell you?
Ok since you asked:
1. At least 5' 11" because I'm 5'6" and I wear heels alot...and I don't want to duck when I'm getting a kiss. :)
2. Kissing now that I mentioned it....A man really needs to know how to kiss! Kissing an unmoving object is simply NOT enjoyable.
3. And PLEASE don't shake like you are scared out of your wits when you kiss me! Scared isn't sexy. Just so you know. :)
4. Really should be at the top of the list but...a man must have a job. That's all I'm going to say about that...
5. Yes I like a to have my doors opened and my chairs pulled out....my feet rubbed and my back massaged...oh sorry I got carried away.
6. Smoking is a NO GO. Period. Thanks but no thanks. Go find a smoker and make her happy...
7. Drugs are for losers...and I'm no looser. Bye bye :)
8. Too skinny isn't my cup of tea and neither is too fat...but I do like a manly man.
9.Faith and belief in God is a must....don't have to be perfect...just making an effort.
10. Tan is good...Tanner is better...just my opinion..you don't have to agree...this is my list after all. ;)
11. No hypocrites ...in any aspect...Say what you mean and mean what you say.
12. Have a back bone.
13. Teeth....Please! No yellow, rotten, missing or gold teeth. Just clean white teeth for me!
14. If jail is where you spend most of your time...I don't write letters or send money...so you must not be for me!
15. If you can't be with one woman...(me) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away from me!
16. Don't think I'm going to fix you dinner on Monday night after you partied all weekend with your friends...It ain't happening.
17. If you want a date with me...don't think you can call on Friday for a date that night,..Ive already got a date...:)
18. I do tend to like (a little) younger a little better than older...Don't ask me why...just do...
19. Did I mention dressing? A guy really needs to know how to clean up...and smell good ;)
20. Cursing is so unattractive.
21. If a man wants to get to know me...then do it in person. I don't have the time or the patience to text...send pictures....yada yada yada...
Okay that about sums it up...What do you think? Am I too picky? Do I expect too much? Is there any such man? And if there is...Is he worth the trouble. I sure hope so....
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Old School?
I went to Walmart today and as I walked around I couldn't help but notice how sloppy a lot of people are! For real! Now I know it's just Walmart and no one is going to put on their Sunday best but, come on now do they have to go bare foot and wear their pajamas? And is it asking too much for them to at least comb their hair?
As I walked around the produce section a man passed me with hair that looked like it had never been touched by a comb. No joke! I kept looking at his head expecting a bird to take flight...a BIG bird! I felt a strong urge to cover the tomatoes that I was about to put in my basket. It wouldn't do for something from his hair to jump onto my tomato!
I may not have grown up with money and the new styles that it could buy but I was taught to take a bath, brush my teeth and hair...and at least iron the clothes that I had...
Maybe I'm 'old school'...maybe it's okay to go look for a job with jeans and a t-shirt on...or apply for an apartment with bare feet and a baby who has nothing on but a diaper (in the winter)...or go to church with the same clothes on that you wear to the baseball field...Uh oh I may have stepped on a few toes with that one...but seriously what happened to RESPECT?
Respect for yourself as well as others and most of all God?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that if a person doesn't have the best clothes that they shouldn't go into the public but, for heaven's sake if you don't respect yourself enough not to show your 'front butt' with a too-tight shirt on that isn't long enough to cover it...Please!!! Please!! think about the rest of us and spare us the horror!
As far as getting dressed for church..well I guess I am old school...It is my opinion (yes I know, I'm opinionated) that a person should always...ALWAYS look their best at church. Even if their best is jeans and a t-shirt..it should be clean and wrinkle free...After all what if God decided not to show up and give you HIS best? I'm just saying...that's my opinion...
Ok I've ranted enough...so I'm going to take my old school self to Farmersville and feed a few chickens for a little while... ;)
As I walked around the produce section a man passed me with hair that looked like it had never been touched by a comb. No joke! I kept looking at his head expecting a bird to take flight...a BIG bird! I felt a strong urge to cover the tomatoes that I was about to put in my basket. It wouldn't do for something from his hair to jump onto my tomato!
I may not have grown up with money and the new styles that it could buy but I was taught to take a bath, brush my teeth and hair...and at least iron the clothes that I had...
Maybe I'm 'old school'...maybe it's okay to go look for a job with jeans and a t-shirt on...or apply for an apartment with bare feet and a baby who has nothing on but a diaper (in the winter)...or go to church with the same clothes on that you wear to the baseball field...Uh oh I may have stepped on a few toes with that one...but seriously what happened to RESPECT?
Respect for yourself as well as others and most of all God?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that if a person doesn't have the best clothes that they shouldn't go into the public but, for heaven's sake if you don't respect yourself enough not to show your 'front butt' with a too-tight shirt on that isn't long enough to cover it...Please!!! Please!! think about the rest of us and spare us the horror!
As far as getting dressed for church..well I guess I am old school...It is my opinion (yes I know, I'm opinionated) that a person should always...ALWAYS look their best at church. Even if their best is jeans and a t-shirt..it should be clean and wrinkle free...After all what if God decided not to show up and give you HIS best? I'm just saying...that's my opinion...
Ok I've ranted enough...so I'm going to take my old school self to Farmersville and feed a few chickens for a little while... ;)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
More Memories...
After writing a blog about memories last night, I went to bed and as I lay there I thought back to Carol and I running through my grandparent's home and I found myself laughing out loud. As I laid there thinking back, I couldn't help but laugh and smile. I guess it was just something you would have to had been there to understand. Sort of like the song says: You Should Have Seen It In Color.
What I failed to mention in my last blog, was that it was usually late at night after everyone had gone to bed for the night that Carol and I would whisper to each other that we should run through the house. It was usually Carol who actually came up with the plan and I would go along.
The blueprint of the house was a rectangle. There was no hall in the house. Each room was connected with three rooms on the right side and three rooms on the left. The middle room on the left side had a bathroom built into it sort of like a square inside of a square. So when we ran through the house at breakneck speed it was in a circle of sorts. This drove my Pop-Paw crazy! He wouldn't get up to make us go to bed but would holler out to us to stop and when we didn't, he would appeal to the adult females in the house to 'Please' make us stop.
Running through the house wasn't the only mischief we got into. There was one phone in the house and it was on the wall beside the front door. The phone was a rotary phone and in those days you could dial '0' and actually speak to an operator. It was high up and we would have to pull a chair up so we could reach it. Night after night we prank called people and asked them if their ice-box was running or if their nose was running and of course told them that they had better go catch it. For the most part we could keep our giggles down to a minimum as to not wake the grown ups. The poor neighbors were some of our victims. To this day I don't know if they ever knew that it was us keeping them up at night.
There are so many memories of being at my grandmother's home, I doubt I could ever write them down. I have always called it my grandmother's house and never really said "I'm going to see my grandparents or I'm going to see Pop-Paw" It was always "I'm gong to see Munner". Munner is what I called my grandmother because I couldn't pronounce Mother when I first learned to talk. I heard my mother and her sisters calling their mother,'Mother' so I thought that was what I should call her, hence Munner came into existence.
I spent a lot of time there over the years as did several of my cousins. It seemed that there was always at least one daughter and several cousins staying at my grandparent's (Munner's) home. The reason there was usually someone staying there, is one of the daughters would leave their husbands (or run from them) and go home to stay with their parents.
We didn't mind or at least I didn't. I adored my Munner and loved being there. It was the safest place I knew.
My granddaughters haven't tried running through the house at night or making prank calls...yet. Maybe I shouldn't tell them about this memory of mine...I don't want to give them any ideas. :) But knowing me... I would probably run with them and help them dial the numbers...Shhh!
What I failed to mention in my last blog, was that it was usually late at night after everyone had gone to bed for the night that Carol and I would whisper to each other that we should run through the house. It was usually Carol who actually came up with the plan and I would go along.
The blueprint of the house was a rectangle. There was no hall in the house. Each room was connected with three rooms on the right side and three rooms on the left. The middle room on the left side had a bathroom built into it sort of like a square inside of a square. So when we ran through the house at breakneck speed it was in a circle of sorts. This drove my Pop-Paw crazy! He wouldn't get up to make us go to bed but would holler out to us to stop and when we didn't, he would appeal to the adult females in the house to 'Please' make us stop.
Running through the house wasn't the only mischief we got into. There was one phone in the house and it was on the wall beside the front door. The phone was a rotary phone and in those days you could dial '0' and actually speak to an operator. It was high up and we would have to pull a chair up so we could reach it. Night after night we prank called people and asked them if their ice-box was running or if their nose was running and of course told them that they had better go catch it. For the most part we could keep our giggles down to a minimum as to not wake the grown ups. The poor neighbors were some of our victims. To this day I don't know if they ever knew that it was us keeping them up at night.
There are so many memories of being at my grandmother's home, I doubt I could ever write them down. I have always called it my grandmother's house and never really said "I'm going to see my grandparents or I'm going to see Pop-Paw" It was always "I'm gong to see Munner". Munner is what I called my grandmother because I couldn't pronounce Mother when I first learned to talk. I heard my mother and her sisters calling their mother,'Mother' so I thought that was what I should call her, hence Munner came into existence.
I spent a lot of time there over the years as did several of my cousins. It seemed that there was always at least one daughter and several cousins staying at my grandparent's (Munner's) home. The reason there was usually someone staying there, is one of the daughters would leave their husbands (or run from them) and go home to stay with their parents.
We didn't mind or at least I didn't. I adored my Munner and loved being there. It was the safest place I knew.
My granddaughters haven't tried running through the house at night or making prank calls...yet. Maybe I shouldn't tell them about this memory of mine...I don't want to give them any ideas. :) But knowing me... I would probably run with them and help them dial the numbers...Shhh!
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