I’ve only been a grandmother for a little over a year, but I adore my grandchildren! Infants and toddlers are the most precious among us but they are also the epitome of self-centeredness. Their complete dependence on someone besides themselves for care also makes them the most vulnerable. As our children grow, our goal as …
Tolerance for Truth
Fall is officially here and leaves are falling faster than gas prices, but thankfully they’re both coming down. Definitely my favorite season as my closet will attest, but I had one of those unwelcome realizations this morning. I reorganize my closet when the days seem hottest every year, pulling sleeveless dresses and tops to the …
Magnify
My youngest strode across the blacktop, chest puffed out, looking like he was about to pop. Before he was even in the car, in a rush of words he explained how he was the only one who already knew how to use the microscopes and how the professor had asked him to help everyone else …
Are Your Ears Itching?
When I was younger, I remember my grandparents asking someone if their ears were burning, meaning that someone, possibly even they, had been talking about them behind their backs. Maybe my papa’s mother had heard someone gossiping about someone else at the mill or maybe a little bird told my grandmother. These commonly used idioms …
No Fear of Missing Out
The kids are in bed. My husband snores contentedly by my side. The laundry and dishes are all caught up. I’ve brushed my teeth and climbed into bed, only I’m unable to close my eyes for more than a minute. I must be forgetting something. It’s simply too quiet. Everything seems to be in order …
You Owe Me
It gives me pleasure to serve and give to my children and grandchildren. The simple joy I receive is payment enough, but I receive their gratitude and a share of their time as well. Balancing the scales or creating a sense of obligation never crosses my mind. In fact, if anything, we each seek to …
Respectfully
Yes sir and yes ma’am are a matter of manners in the south. Yes or no without the sir or ma’am just feels wrong to me. In my fifties, I address people of all ages likewise. One of the most difficult parts of adulting for me was to address someone who was my elder or …
Not What I Want
I experience claustrophobia in moving crowds, more particularly behind moving crowds. When the way ahead is clear, I breathe easier. When my way is blocked by a wall of humanity, even though we are all moving in the same direction, I hold my breath and make a dash for the nearest opening. Shopping malls have …
Out With The Old
Thomas and I crossed the restaurant to speak to a group of ladies, friends I hadn’t seen in several years. He clung to me bashfully, face against my shoulder, until one of the others used her experienced grandmother voice to draw him out. After that, he was all smiles and we all laughed at the …
Final Destination
My husband and I applied for our RealID cards to replace our drivers licenses on the same day. Neither of us will ever forget the experience. We tell the story around the dinner table and still get a good belly laugh. The camera operator insisted on taking several shots until my husband smiled to her …
A Fitting Reply 