I often worried about being acceptable to the other kids at school. It didn't take me long to learn the truth of every situation. If Mother had said, "We don't do it that way" that it was senseless to argue with her about it. One time I wanted to have my hair permed and wear it down, with a ribbon around my head. Mother did not want me to have a permanent while I was so young. A perm was ever so much stronger than they are now. I couldn't agree and often brought the subject up. On the hope it would stop me COLD, Mother ket me know that if I could earn the $12.00 to pay for it, then I could do it. I think I was nine yeaars old. The World War2 had just ended and so I started looking for babysitting jobs. Husbands were coming home and they needed to have some alone time. I was paid 25 cents an hour. Usually I was hired for the length of a movie, 2 hours or so.
To make a long story short, I baby sat as often as I could. Weeks later I still had earned only a few dollars. Summer was here and the heat made it better to wear my hair braided and off my neck. By the time I had earned the amount of money I needed, school was getting close and I bought myself new pair of shoes. Mother never crowed over her victories, but she did comment on the fact that I had such good "judgement" to buy shoes.
It is true, we are not involved in a popularity contest and parents who expect obedience and press for it, have the best teenagers. I loved knowing where my boarders were. I didn't always love being obedient, but I did learn how much easier life is when we are obedient.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
BEING HAPPY IS A CHOICE!
When I was a very y oung child, I stayed with my Grandma for a few days. I didn't know of onyone to play with and got a bit complaining about being bored. Grandma didn't chide me but did point out that there were many things to do if I would look for them.
She suggested that I look out the window and see something to interest me. I looked. Nothing was there but trees and sidewalk and a pole fence. The fence was made out of pipe and was about three feet tall. I didn't want to admit it but it did look like I could find some fun there. After pouting for a little while, grandma tald me that if I unhappy, it was because I had chosen to be. Well, that made me mad! I didn't choose anything. I was there because Mother said I was going to stay there for a few days.
Grandma began telling me what makes for unhappiness. She mentioned having a word fight with a sibling, taking something that was not mine or dling NOTHING, which was the biggest reason for unhappiness. She asked me if I had taken something that was not mine. NO! I answered in a "not so nice" voice. Did I talk mean to someone? NO! Again, not so kind. "Well, then, Evaune dear, I guess you have made a choice to be miserable." I do not recall the rest of the afternoon, but I do remember years later when I was with her. She had been in bed for the night and she came into the living room where I had been sleeping. She stood there, unable to sit down because she was crippled, and told me this. "Evaune dear, every morning when I wake up, I ask myself, will I be happy or unhappy? I try to remember what I have to be unhappy about. I can't remember wthout going back and thinking abour a sad event. Or I have to try and remember when someone was mean to me, or when I was sick. I just have to work so hard to remember the bad things that I give up and decide to BE HAPPY! I just can't be bothered remembering all the ugly part, it takes too much energy. So I take the high road and remember how happy life is. IT is happy, Evaune dear, or you wouldn't belong to such a happy family and go to such a good school, etc."
I can see her still, in her flannel nightgown, her night cap still on her head. She never looked disgusted or angry, just very sure of her truth. I remember that very often And make it my business to see the good in the world. It does take a lot of energy to recall every hurt and sad event. I think we were made to be happy. It is pretty easy if you can remember the blessings given with an open mind. I love that mentality. BE HAPPY, IT IS A CHOICE!
She suggested that I look out the window and see something to interest me. I looked. Nothing was there but trees and sidewalk and a pole fence. The fence was made out of pipe and was about three feet tall. I didn't want to admit it but it did look like I could find some fun there. After pouting for a little while, grandma tald me that if I unhappy, it was because I had chosen to be. Well, that made me mad! I didn't choose anything. I was there because Mother said I was going to stay there for a few days.
Grandma began telling me what makes for unhappiness. She mentioned having a word fight with a sibling, taking something that was not mine or dling NOTHING, which was the biggest reason for unhappiness. She asked me if I had taken something that was not mine. NO! I answered in a "not so nice" voice. Did I talk mean to someone? NO! Again, not so kind. "Well, then, Evaune dear, I guess you have made a choice to be miserable." I do not recall the rest of the afternoon, but I do remember years later when I was with her. She had been in bed for the night and she came into the living room where I had been sleeping. She stood there, unable to sit down because she was crippled, and told me this. "Evaune dear, every morning when I wake up, I ask myself, will I be happy or unhappy? I try to remember what I have to be unhappy about. I can't remember wthout going back and thinking abour a sad event. Or I have to try and remember when someone was mean to me, or when I was sick. I just have to work so hard to remember the bad things that I give up and decide to BE HAPPY! I just can't be bothered remembering all the ugly part, it takes too much energy. So I take the high road and remember how happy life is. IT is happy, Evaune dear, or you wouldn't belong to such a happy family and go to such a good school, etc."
I can see her still, in her flannel nightgown, her night cap still on her head. She never looked disgusted or angry, just very sure of her truth. I remember that very often And make it my business to see the good in the world. It does take a lot of energy to recall every hurt and sad event. I think we were made to be happy. It is pretty easy if you can remember the blessings given with an open mind. I love that mentality. BE HAPPY, IT IS A CHOICE!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
LIFE IS SIMPLE, SUGAR IS SWEET, BOOTS ARE BLACK, CEILINGS ARE WHITE, AND DON'T MESS IT UP
Those of us who were born with very ACTIVE imaginations, know that we can make a marble game into the Olympics if we are turned loose to plan as we wish. It was impossible for me to start the dreaming process without the "BIGGER IS BETTER" attitude. I remember asking my Mother if I could mke a birthday cake for my brother, Sterling. He was just younger than I and his birthday was July. She asked me not to make a big mess and if I did I must clean it up.
Box cakes were not on the market yet so I was going to go from "scratch". Mother's receipes were in a shoe box and that, in itself, was a real fun trip. I started to read them and the more I read the more I thought I could open a restaurant. I finally settled on an applesauce cake. It called for buttermilk, but we didn't have any of that. To remedy that fact, I just mixed butter and milk. Mother had a hand mixer that did a fine job. By the time I was putting it in the oven, it looked like a war had taken place there in the kitchen. Mother was so good at letting us "fail"! That is not easy for any leader.
Finally, after an hour baking in the oven, I was ready to take it out and frost it. I had already made the frosting. Because it was a birthday in July, I had made three colors of frosting. Red, White, and blue. In using the food coloring, I had wiped it from my hands to Mother's coveted WHITE dish towel. I did not clean up as well as I could have because I was BUSY making a flag cake!
I just knew Sterling would love it. It was our tradition to let the birthday person choose the menu for the evening meal. I hoped Sterling would choose fried chicken because that was MY favorite supper.
I do not even remember what he chose because I remember the tragic end of my beautiful cake.
The candles were put on the cake and Sterling had made his wish. We sang the Happy Birthday song now it was time to cut and serve it.
The cake smelled wonderful as it baked. I would never have this kind of cake failure again. Sterling got the first slice. As it was being transfered from cake pan to plate it fell apart as if it was rice! What? WHAT? Oh, the anguish of seeing the frosting and cake as if it was a caserole dish!!
The butter I used was home made. I meant to use a cup full, but when I discussed it with Mother, she informed me that the plate of butter measured out to two cups. I was just going to use one cup milk and one cup butter.........buttermilk!
I don't think the pigs appreciated the greasy sweet cake as it was being served with potatoe peelings, left over beans and any other food garbage. Mother reminded me that because I did not ckean the kitchen as I knew I could, I could practice on supper cleanup..
So, that is that! Follow the instructions carefully and do not just suppose you can do it YOUR WAY!
Remember; LIFE IS SIMPLE, SUGAR IS SWEET, BOOTS ARE BLACK, CEILINGS ARE
WHITE, AND DO NOT MESS IT UP!!!!
Box cakes were not on the market yet so I was going to go from "scratch". Mother's receipes were in a shoe box and that, in itself, was a real fun trip. I started to read them and the more I read the more I thought I could open a restaurant. I finally settled on an applesauce cake. It called for buttermilk, but we didn't have any of that. To remedy that fact, I just mixed butter and milk. Mother had a hand mixer that did a fine job. By the time I was putting it in the oven, it looked like a war had taken place there in the kitchen. Mother was so good at letting us "fail"! That is not easy for any leader.
Finally, after an hour baking in the oven, I was ready to take it out and frost it. I had already made the frosting. Because it was a birthday in July, I had made three colors of frosting. Red, White, and blue. In using the food coloring, I had wiped it from my hands to Mother's coveted WHITE dish towel. I did not clean up as well as I could have because I was BUSY making a flag cake!
I just knew Sterling would love it. It was our tradition to let the birthday person choose the menu for the evening meal. I hoped Sterling would choose fried chicken because that was MY favorite supper.
I do not even remember what he chose because I remember the tragic end of my beautiful cake.
The candles were put on the cake and Sterling had made his wish. We sang the Happy Birthday song now it was time to cut and serve it.
The cake smelled wonderful as it baked. I would never have this kind of cake failure again. Sterling got the first slice. As it was being transfered from cake pan to plate it fell apart as if it was rice! What? WHAT? Oh, the anguish of seeing the frosting and cake as if it was a caserole dish!!
The butter I used was home made. I meant to use a cup full, but when I discussed it with Mother, she informed me that the plate of butter measured out to two cups. I was just going to use one cup milk and one cup butter.........buttermilk!
I don't think the pigs appreciated the greasy sweet cake as it was being served with potatoe peelings, left over beans and any other food garbage. Mother reminded me that because I did not ckean the kitchen as I knew I could, I could practice on supper cleanup..
So, that is that! Follow the instructions carefully and do not just suppose you can do it YOUR WAY!
Remember; LIFE IS SIMPLE, SUGAR IS SWEET, BOOTS ARE BLACK, CEILINGS ARE
WHITE, AND DO NOT MESS IT UP!!!!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
A Gift from Norway
My great-grandmother, Anthonette, came as a 17 year old from Norway. She walked across the plains and had many sweet experiences as a result of the treck. Her life was difficult as to comforts and ease. Her attitude was cheerful, willing to do what was necessary to live in America.
Years later, in 1877, she gave birth to my very own Grandma. A gift from Norway!!! I shall always be grateful for my grandmother's Norweigian heritage. There was so much to learn. So many stories to hear. So much that was so different from my own childhood. In this mish-mash of "stuff", I hope you can feel of her wonderful, joyfull sprirt. Her ability to see the GOOD in every situation.
Grandma didn't have much formal education. However, she learned from everyone and everything. She loved books, listening to the adults visit with one another and was never anxious to be the ONE speaking.
So, here we go........on the backward trip of my childhood. If you are not interested it will not dampen my enthusiasm in the least. I love thinking about her. I love even more thinking about my MOTHER who was raised as the first born of Grandma. This never ending 'STORY' about my childhood is for me mostly. It will fill up the long hours and I am sure it will help me recognize the exceptional life I have had.
Years later, in 1877, she gave birth to my very own Grandma. A gift from Norway!!! I shall always be grateful for my grandmother's Norweigian heritage. There was so much to learn. So many stories to hear. So much that was so different from my own childhood. In this mish-mash of "stuff", I hope you can feel of her wonderful, joyfull sprirt. Her ability to see the GOOD in every situation.
Grandma didn't have much formal education. However, she learned from everyone and everything. She loved books, listening to the adults visit with one another and was never anxious to be the ONE speaking.
So, here we go........on the backward trip of my childhood. If you are not interested it will not dampen my enthusiasm in the least. I love thinking about her. I love even more thinking about my MOTHER who was raised as the first born of Grandma. This never ending 'STORY' about my childhood is for me mostly. It will fill up the long hours and I am sure it will help me recognize the exceptional life I have had.
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