Thursday, July 31, 2008

Papa's 69th Birthday!

So many birthdays we got together to celebrate Dad's birthday. It is a family holiday. Celebration of the life that started us all as a huge family. I remember a day that we were celebrating and Grandma Monica came over and brought a large bag of Bazooka Bubblegum. After she left, Dad took the bag and threw it in the trash (to save our teeth). I looked him in the eye and said what would you do if your grandmother gave you a bag of bubblegum and somebody threw it in the trash. His eyes filled with tears and he went and took the bag out of the garbage and started to tell me the stories about Ma. He loved her very much and had forgotten how it felt to be loved with real sugar (that could decay your teeth).
Ma was Dad's great-grandmother and she had passed when he was about 12. Love means telling my kids to brush their teeth after the candy. Love also means throwing the bag of bubblegum in the trash, if it is excessive. I am still learning from him 14 cavities later :(.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

My father loved to watch me

play tennis. But he knew that he made me so nervous and that my mistakes made him cuss so loudly that he couldn't keep his cool. He found every hiding place in the mountains at Rochdale and in the trees at Cunningham and in the handball courts at Baisley to watch me, when I had a big match to play.
He would give me pointers when I got off the court about this or that point and I would say, How did you see that point, I didn't see you? He said, I have my ways.
If he saw me see him then he would move because he was sure that I would blame him for my loss or he would blame himself.
My favorite memory is when we walked the Motor Highway, He was way faster than me and always trying to provoke me to go past my walls. It was shady and alot of brush to the left and right. I would have stopped 10 or 20 times to rest and look at the wildlife, if I weren't with him. He just kept saying, come on, come on. I said Dad, I want to be just like you! He hated that. I loved it and now when I get tired of being just like him, I hear him saying, come on, come on. I know that God gave him to me so that I could hear that.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Summertime and Ruthless!

Without the Ruth to warm our conversations about her life and complaints. I can't believe I miss her so much. It is probably because I have a teenage boy now and that reminds me of the very first teenage boy that I had the privilege to see whipped with a big stick or at least chased. Arguments everyday and problems about attitude and other things. How do you miss that? I say to myself. That is love.
My teenage boy does the exact same things, without the problems of course. And I don't have to chase this tall gangly thing around with a broom. He is a good boy, rough around the edges, but trying to be good. I do miss the Ruthy stories from Dad and how she and Iva and Rosalind gafawed about the handsome men at their beck and call. The closest that I can get, is to do my hair nicely today, since that is what she would have said to me today.
"I will steal that husband of yours because you didn't make the limas and you are walking around in your "crazy daisy uniform hair". That was my conflict with her! She was joking of course! But she knew how to take care of what she had.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Of course, I dreamt...

of Grandma Rosalee and Aunt Helen sitting around the table on the night after Ethy's fanastic family rucus. I can't imagine how my mind could have put those 2 people in the same room together. I must be using parts of my brain that trigger different family relations to have to work in sync with eachother.
It was a comforting and family setting. Lauren and I were running around the ladies as they talked, "Big Lady" talk and we were as grown as we are, but still not allowed to enter into the conversation. It was actually fun to be the child for a change. Shut up! is a comforting word when everything that you say to these children is going into their undying souls. It was actually good that they made us shut up and listen, because now we are aware of the things that we say and how they affect the children. And we never make the children act like our words are sacred. When they shut up, it is only for God's words! ...for good or for ill

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Cast off the Shackles of Yesterday :)

Well Done, sister suffragettes!

Today is my precious Ethan's ninth birthday and I scrounged around my huge and copiously organized kitchen(ha!) to find the correct utensil, a canopener, to open the humongous can of manderine oranges that I had planned to donn our table for the opening of such a prestigious occasion as this. It took me a while, I have no maid, but the other seven housemates of mine had tucked it in the most obvious and obscure place, next to the sink. "I hadn't had my coffee yet"!
While I was complaining, under my breath about my organization disability, I heard the loving voice of Ruth (Grandmother), "Jayne, where is that electric can opener, I bought you years ago." It was my imagination of her coming to have breakfast with me.
She and I shared an affection for garage sales and she had picked one up for me and gave it to me, a little before she had gotten too sick to be at home anymore. She and I had a quiet loving conversation in my mind about the symbol of freedom that can opener was, especially today. The can opener meant the liberty to use my energies to amuse and instigate a fun time for the birthday boy, later on, after VBS and work and other responsibilities. The can opener meant, I am free to use machines to ease up on my muscles in that area, PROGRESS and WOMEN's liberation, not from our relationship responsibilities, but to them.
My hand was hurting, by the time I finished opening the mega-can of oranges and I realized that her muscle pain in sickness had made her aware of others' around her, namely me and that her hand was probably hurting alot at that time for her to have sprung for an electric can opener. I popped the first handful into my drooling mouth.
I realized that she was showing love with all of her kurt and viscosity, she was looking out for my liberty and well-being.
The grandmas take good care of their grands from heaven and Ethan was her favorite, because he made her smile, at the last. He is nine today and her memory and spirit reminded me of what freedom is amidst the bondage of responsibility. TO DO: Buy an Electric can opener

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

47 years old

I don't know which anniversary this is for Mommy, 47 or 48. I am 46 and it is one of those numbers.
I heard a song by Steven Curtis Chapman yesterday and it reminded me of the kind of love that can stand the test of time like that. Its called You've always Got Me.
That is really true that when a person touches you and is in your life, you just don't let them go that easily. The rest of your life this is the day that you made that commitment that brought about 7 children all those grands and now 2 amazing great grands.
I think it was one of the anniversaries that a certain 2 grandkids (which shall remain nameless) took it upon themselves to put Grandpa Bodden in the sprinklers at 120th. They did it in fun, but I know that they didn't know that it wasn't good for Grandpa to be outside and wet like that in the wheelchair like he was. We were furious at them and now I laugh thinking about how they were trying to have fun with Grandpa.
I hope Mom feels alright today, somebody call her and tell her we are sending hugs and kisses to comfort her on this difficult day!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Ruthy's leather skirt!

I was blessed to be the woman that married into a preacher's family. So, first hand I got to see the book written from Ruthy, How to win Preachers and influence distractions. The sisters would sit at the table and elbow eachother in fun and into their eighties and say "Watch the Reverend". Then they would saunter, or wheel their chairs as the case would be and pick up something off the floor to watch him knocked off his holy pedestal by their skirt. Real was the Ruth that I knew and she always told me, by her hospitality to my husband, if you want to keep him you better learn to saunter and make limas!

Monday, July 7, 2008

7 squared






Today is the birthday of my beloved! Southside's superman, The pride of the Union in our house, We thank God for Peter Cooper and for our delightful Man of God!
What a heritage of faith he is giving and preserving upon the earth in the children.
Faithful to train and instruct them.
Faithful to give and bless them and me with his presence.
49 years of teamwork and partnership, love and kindness!
A Good man, A good father, a good husband and a good friend!
I do not deserve the grace of God to have given me such a great gift!
I am very blessed!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Don't plant flowers...



Dad said and then ask me to eat my corn. I hear him say that to me everytime I look at my butterfly bush. The one bush that I planted in the front yard that has survived the drought. My butterflies visit me everyday, but you can't eat butterflies...unless your animators bring in the bacon which mine are aiming to do.
Seeds have to grow and bloom to get to be fruitful, whether they are butterflies or roses or animators. My beautiful dreamers are honing their skills.

Friday, July 4, 2008

My Mother-in-laws 89th Birthday





Cooking out at the park was delightful and it is convenient that my mother-in-law shared a birthday with America, which meant we all have the day off!
Spacious skies and purple mountains majesty, that is America! That is Rosie! Ben's birthday and Ethan's birthday and enjoyable park time was our summerbreeze.Inspite of ourselves, we enjoyed ourselves.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

My Dad said...



Papa said there'd be days like this... Hot sun, buckets of balls hit against unmotivated fledgelings, This is living! "I said, Ready position, racquet back... okay" I sound so much like him, I turn around and look for him behind me...
I guess we do always carry our parents with us.
The leader of the band, only my band are naturalists and artists, as I force them to include some physical fitness into their ordinarily Bohemian artistic pursuits, I feel like a bull in the china shop of their dreams.
Mom, I'm not trying to be a tennis player...Okay, I didn't ask you to give up art to pick up a tennis raquet, just for an hour or two to develop the skills. Force feeding...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Uncle Pat and Ms. Clavell?


It was beautiful and a little sad this morning. The trees whose blooms always used to remind me to pray for Uncle Pat, were now a reminder that he is not here with us. I can't run up to NY and see him tending and enjoying his beautiful garden, with his beautiful self. I can't hear his candid, kurt remarks about my relationship and how we look. He beautified the landscape, constantly... I guess that is what I miss about him.
Freedom Park has the most interesting little bridges, which are reminiscent of the Madeleine Books, which remind me of Ms. Clavell, who was a fictional woman who cared for 12 girls in an old house. There is a house on South Blvd. which is so similar to that house with vines, I just fell in love with it. I think it's condemned. :( Another sad thought. Such a beautiful historic city, Charlotte is, It is a shame that so many of the old buildings are getting knocked down in the name of progress.
Madeleine, by Ludwig Bemelmens was an interesting child rearing exercise for me. Human development is incomplete without it. Lud, captured the beauty of what that wonderful woman and many like her, devoted their lives to and gave it to us, a cultural preservative.
When we do not allow the women who love children to care, disaster is just a generation away.
God is in control,...


THAT'S TRUE JAYNE
GOD IS IN CONTROL WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL NOT BE FORSAKEN


JOANNE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WISE WORDS OF UNCLE PAT
I TOLD HER THAT ALTHOUGH HE LEFT US; HE GAVE US WORDS TO REMEMBER
1.THROW IT AWAY
2. GET WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE TO COMFORTABLE
3. CLEAN OUT THE RECYCLE BOTTLES; DON'T LEAVE COKE IN THE COKE BOTTLE RINSE IT
4. PLANT IT AND ANCHOR THE PLANT

LOVE JU


I SEND YOU MORE LATER LOVE YOU

AMEN!

Title- The Studious One!

Title-  The Studious One!
artwork by Elyse

Of biscuits and syrup

Of biscuits and syrup
tasty treats

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday!
a day at the Raptor Center.

Widdle Emmie in outer space school

Emmie jumped on the bus and off it flew out into the atmosphere. There was a set of clouds with turbulence right above the house and it took a few minutes for my Emmie to buckle her seatbelt. They hit the bump hard and it knocked my Emmie out of her seat and she bumped her head. The video camera came on and the monitor looked through and stated, Ms. Emmie, where are you? You are not in your seat. Where are you? I am alright I fell because I hadn’t buckled correctly. Well jump up Emmie we have a long way to go and you have to be buckled there is entirely too much turbulence in the stratosphere for you to unbuckle now. As soon as we are through this weather system there will be straight sailing but right now you must buckle. Emmie scrambled into the seat with intensity and purpose now. She watched every cloud pass her window and her nose was pressed to the window trying to see the top of the house as it drifted slowly out of sight. Soon they were not only out of sight of the house, the sun came out brightly and just as quickly they were putting on the atmospherical breathing apparatus and the outerspherical lights. The ABA and the OL. These precautions were to make them appear to be satellites to the radar as they were out in the ionosphere. Emmie knew all about this now. She had gone to the orientation and had a good breakfast and it took them 20 minutes for her to get out past the atmospherical pull and to feel the zero gravity. It would be 15 minutes before the gravity simulators would take effect, a glitch in the system which was being worked on. Until then, they enjoyed the couple of minutes of floatation, while being connected to the seats by belt. The first thing they saw everyday was the strataflotsam. The items which had been dumped into the atmosphere by earlier generations. What would their generation do about this ecological waste area that remained floating above their heads? This was a question for the generations. For now it was the area that they had to guide through on the way to school.

Midnight at the OASIS

Midnight at the OASIS
Sunset in Huntersville

My little Emmie

ran to the bus on the first day of the last year of school. 2 buns on the side of her head. She kissed me and ran at dawn to the bus. She was starting the adventure of a lifetime. I would never see that little girl again, she was going to woman school!

My Father and I 1989

My Father and I 1989

to the tune of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

A VISIT TO PAPA











Are you going to Mary Immaculate?

Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



Remember me to the one who lived there,



He once was a true love of mine,



Tell him to buy me an acre of land,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



Between the muddy Hudson in Jamaica Bay,



Then, He’ll be a true love of mine,

Tell him to sow in it seeds of pure cream,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



And build Ice cream mountains and buildings of whipped cream,

Then, He’ll be a true love of mine,



Tell him to reap them with sickles of M&M’s,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



And chew bubble gum and eat till we’re done,



Then, He’ll be a true love of mine.



Tell him to run it off down the motor parkway,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



After your done 50 pushups



and jog down the West Side Highway,



Then he’ll be a true love of mine…

(Don’t wait for me today dad, The kids are sick again, My tummy’s bulging again, My heart is aching again, And now there’s no love there…)





He once was, a true love of mine….So, Girls, I do beg you don't miss your Daddy,Apricots, Chocolate cherries and Pie,You have one short chance to see him on this side, Go visit him and let your light shine.