Games

I have nothing today.  No family stories.  No fiction.  No poetry.  I think I'm distracted by a new thing I discovered on FB.  It's called Words With Friends!  It's like Scrabble, and you can have several games going at once!  I played into the wee hours of the morning, and woke up tired but wanting to play some more.

I've always loved board games.  I grew up playing Scrabble, Checkers, Password, and so many more.  Too many to list right now.  My early game playing was with my sister and my grandparents.  Grandma was highly competitive and hated to lose.  I'm a little bit like that, though I try to abstain from shouting, and jumping up and down, when I win now.  Anyway, I am going to try not to let this new passion affect my writing time.  Oh!  It's my turn!  Gotta Go!  Catch you all later!

Day 5 of Beginnings - My New Obsession

I recently got hooked on PINTEREST.  It began with seeing the little button on some fellow blogger's sidebar.  Before long a couple of my FB friends were talking about it, so I wandered over to check it out.  I love it!  It's like a combination of collecting, list making, bulletin boards, or saving pages from favorite magazines,  all combined in one place. 

I can visualize things I dream about like travel, art, and photography.  There are ideas on home decor, cooking, crafts, fashion, and so much more.  I've found images of things I remember from my childhood.  There are photos of my current style of decorating and photos of my dream style.  It's had the effect of waking up parts of my personality and history that I'd forgotten about. 

Today I found an image of vintage Bingo cards.  It took me right back to my mom's tiny kitchen when I was about 6 years old.  I was seated at the table with a Bingo card and some buttons.  The numbers were being called out over the radio.  The sun was streaming in through the small window over the sink.  Beside the sink, on the wall, was a little Dutch girl memo pad that I'd made at school.  Her apron was the note pad and above it was a paper tube with a short pencil in it.  Those little pencils that used to come with board games.  My momma loved that memo pad.  My new hobby took me on a surprise visit back to my childhood.  I can't wait to see where it will take me tomorrow.


© 05JAN12 ajj

Cousins...

Today I'm thinking of cousins... and aunts, uncles, grandparents...  Most of my social life growing up was either at school or one of the three-times-a-week church services we attended (plus a Wednesday morning Bible Study and in the 70's, a Saturday night youth service).  The exceptions were the occasional family gatherings.


I loved those family times.  When it was at our home, where sis and I lived with Grandma and Grandpa, it brought additional love and laughter into the house.  Occasionally, it also brought a bit of bickering (a favorite Grandma word... can you kids stop bickering).  I remember one "incident" with cousin Paul (I'm sure it was my turn... lol!), and about a billion with cousin Kent (he loved to tease... right Laur?), and I was always so nice...  Okay, I exaggerate.  Anyone will tell you that!  Then there was Kevin... he was the quieter, fun one who loved making Paul laugh.  David was the baby.  At times, some of the other cousins were there; Diana, Debra, Lisa, Kristen, Karol, Jack, Sally.  Sometimes my brother Tommy or my brother Ronnie or Timmy, Marcus, and little Tammy.  Sweet times.

The thing is, we grew together.  We shared life experiences that are unique to our family.  Like the time my dad showed up drunk, made me cry (he was sharing all his lost dreams and wishes), and got run off the property... not for the first time either.  Or the night Grandma went after the bat!  My memory is her with the broom, Grandpa with a brown paper bag.  She knocked it down in my room, and Grandpa scooped it into the bag and removed it from the house.

Pie... there was always pie.  A fruit pie cooked by Grandma; Rhubarb, Gooseberry, or Apple.  Cream pies made by Aunt Pat; Chocolate, Butterscotch, Yummmm!  The grownups got soda... once in while, the kids got some too!  R. C. Cola or Pepsi!  There was always ice cream or sherbet, or the best of both... Double Delight!  A lovely swirl of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet!  My favorite, next to Butter Brickle.

I remember sitting by the closed door to the living room, listening to the grown-ups talk about life, God, whatever... and feeling so safe.  Listening to 45's on my little record player.  I remember climbing the Crab Apple tree in the front yard.  Softball, Truth or Dare, Statue, Hide and Seek.  Running, laughing, sharing.  Playing outside long after dark.  Poignant, precious memories of life... of cousins.