Never thought I would say It......

But I am ready for some real fall. I want to be cold. I don't like the record heat in October. July - I can take it - but October? I bought some fall clothes - too hot to wear them. Too hot to try them on.

You know what else ? I never thought I would say it but - but I like this dumb show called "Say Yes To The Dress" - me - watching wedding dress buyers trying to find the perfect dress to make their weddings more special than everyone else's wedding. Trying to make themselves more beautiful than the bride of their own dreams. YUCK!!! GIRL STUFF - What is happening to me?

I never thought I would say it but - I don't really want to exercise - I don't. I find every excuse I have laughed at when others say them in the past. Perhaps I am saving all my energies for work??? who knows - I used to live to exercise - it showed - now I look just like my exercise attitude. But I do love 'The Biggest Loser" .

You know I wonder what you never thought you would say - and find yourself saying it. Not much of a post but I never thought I would be a blogger either.

The Lights Went Out

So…the lights went out and we were in the dark. With a puff and a pop and a flash of light, a typical 9:00 p.m. instantly became an eerie darkened world. Was it an EMP attack? A dirty bomb? A drunk driver crashing into the main switch – yes this seemed more likely.

Funny how such incidents bring the neighbors to the streets – especially the men. We, who relish in our independent and rebellious ways – the monarchy of the Bucklew clan - are no exception it is sad to say. Once we found our flashlights and lit a candle or two so we could find our way, Bill and I handled the situation completely differently but we both ended up in the streets with the rest of the neighbors.

Bill
Out to the streets he goes - with his special flashlights – one in each hand and one in his pocket. The men bring their beer – Bill felt somehow less – he didn’t have one. They talk about all the possibilities that caused it and recall the many other incidents that pulled them out of their caves to the streets. They size each other up to determine who can help who and who is a weenie. They talked about their tools and what they could do if the electricity doesn’t come back on. The plan was forming.

Kathy
I decided I might as well hit the bed – since I cannot be productive. But on the way I am telling Bill – who is already outside unbeknownst to me, my thoughts about pioneer days and Bible days when there were no lights. “I suppose they slept earlier and rose earlier to make the most use of the sunlight” I said. “I wonder if you get used to not seeing much at night – I mean, I don’t suppose you could read all that well or sew, - I wonder how the evenings were passed – perhaps looking at stars.” “Bill? Bill? BI--L--L!!” So I put my britches back on and the hat with the light on it and went looking for my caveman.

The ladies were venturing out of their houses and they quickly joined the conversation. What were you doing when the lights went out? We told everyone all the things we were not going to get finished. A movie – A shower - The dishes – “Thank goodness the kids were sleeping,” said one neighbor. Well – the Electric Department showed up outside the neighborhood. So the party was over. We said our good-byes knowing that next time – be it a few months or a year we would meet again – same time – same station.

Time Trolls

Last weekend – or was it two weekends ago……………………..? With baby Nolan in the NICU whom I adore seeing daily and activities with kids, grandkids, dogs, and work, I am now convinced that time is not a constant. Like a sly little troll with a devious bent, it speeds up at the most inconvenient times– mocking you with sinister sniggers and snorts. I feel like a gerbil running in a wheel that some prankster whirled around – just for laughs. It feels like a Groundhog Day………never mind…… back to the story…….
Last weekend – or was it two weekends ago, my daughter and granddaughter and I went for tea with the most delightful work friend and her sweet little girl. We enjoyed getting to know each other under the twinkling candlelight as the sun set across Lake Wire playing patty-cake with the candles in the window. We all dressed up – Emma wore gloves. I love her delightful and fanciful ways. Her new little friend brought and shared her teapot set she had gotten for her birthday. Zohra’s Restaurant in Lakeland served us the best dinner and dessert. They were fabulous to us and I look forward to going there again.
I am doing an experiment with my clothes. Very interesting – it is expanding my persona. I have decided I will not re-wear anything until I have worn everything I have in my closet (save seasonally inappropriate clothing). I have gone three weeks now. I am wearing the clothes I bought and don’t like, the clothes I don’t wear because they are wearing out, the clothes I love and usually wear once a week, the clothes I bought that do not match anything. I then evaluate how I feel in the clothes. By the end of the day, if I think I would wear it again – it gets relegated to the re-wear side of the closet – of course in the proper order of wear. If I don’t like how I felt in it – out it goes to the give-away pile. One problem with this experiment for which I must caution you on should you care to try it; DON’T wear all your favorite clothes first – because it is a long time before you get back ‘round to them!

And the End of August

Most of you who would even venture to this blog already know that Monday August 31 brought the dramatic entrance of Nolan James into this world mearly 9 weeks early at 3 lbs and 9 ozs and 17 inches long. We have been to the hospital every day and last night had our first opportunity to touch him. It was overwhelming - and my gratitutde to God for the miracles it took to perserve his life poured out of me like an offering of praise.

I am so proud of Mommy and Daddy - Joe and Mindy. They have been strong, and sacrificing and are doing everything they know how to do to give Nolan the best. Mindy is doing well, I am so proud of her. She is walking and regaining her strength - fighting the pain of the C-section.

I will write more another time but here is my darling, God's gift to the world.

August Weekends

Busy weekends. I have had an interesting August. That’s a good thing because most of my life is not all that interesting. Each weekend was filled with unique joys. Here is a little summary of August.

Kings. What a beautiful crop of kids. We hung out with the most huggable, energetic, funny and entertaining kids for a weekend. Young Pastor and wife whom we have grown to love, moved to Wisconsin and we had them at our house so they could pack theirs without having 4 kids around under 6. under foot. Bill and I dedicated our weekend to just giving them a good time. I loved it, planned kiddie foods, swimming, movies, a nature hike.
We walked around the neighborhood looking for trucks. By the fourth one, we heard, “Wow! We saw a thousand trucks!” In the pool, the favorite words were “Do it again! Do it again!” (Motorboat, motorboat go so slow. Motorboat motor boat go so fast. Motorboat motorboat Step on the gas! And…around they flew through the water with squeals and splashes.)


Brother Kenny, For the first time ever, my brother Kenny spent a birthday with us. I couldn’t wait for him to come because I bought a special gift while I was in Hot Springs, Arkansas this spring, our hometown. Kenny had worked at Dryden Pottery as a high school kid. He worked with many of the glasses, and cups and bowls created by Mr. Dryden using our fathers glaze formulas. Many years later and many styles and designs beyond, the pottery pieces are now well-known collectables. I purchased a set of glasses and cups from the 1968-70 era, sold as antiques in the Dryden shop. Kenny probably glazed them, or fired them or
packaged them when they were new. What fun to give him a piece of his own history.

Wedding -Nephew Jordan – My mom and I took a flight to Nebraska for my nephew’s wedding. Which I already shared.

Max – My grand-dog. And grand he is – all 120 pounds of him. Our son and wife took a little vacation and we took the dog. He is Grandma’s boy. Scared to death of Ebbie the 20 pound mini Schnauzer. He has the softest ears of anything I have ever touched, softer than a horse’s shnoz.

Anna-May The foal I dream about. My sweet young Nadara – longtime friend, took me to see her foal today. Anna-May is almost 4 months old. She is so smart and mischievous. Her mama got her first ride since Anna-May was born. What fun. I want the dang horse now. Really – really want her!

And now - what will September bring??
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She Danced

She danced! Cane and all. It was worth the trip. In the midst of the busiest week a registrar can have (last day of fall registration), I took a day and flew with my 84-year-old mother to the wedding of my most affable nephew, Jordan and his beautiful bride, Melissa.

My mother was looking so forward to this one. Her last grandchild to get married. Melissa had been to Florida and mother loved her - as we all did. Not only that, we had the privilege of seeing Leon, the husband of Jordan's sister, Tessa. Leon is a war hero in our book and Tessa is a brave and good mom of precious Natalie.

Family is fun - and the celebration was great. I didn't know anyone but my few family, but I enjoyed their joy. I also enjoyed my dress. I bought a dress - probably my most favorite dress in years. Very plain and simple but I loved my dress. No one said it looked pretty or anything - but I didn't need it -because I love it! I bought for one reason only -

I wore my soft and striking cashmere wrap that my most talented daughter made me and the dress made the wrap look perfectly perfect!

But the best of the best, is Mom enjoyed herself. As we left, she walked right out in the middle of all the dancing 20-year-olds and did a little jig with her grandson. He was delighted and it made it all worth while!! Can I just say AHHHH!

Memory List

Something I heard – sss-whir-r-r-………s-s-s-swhir-r-r-r….a fan blowing as I lay down to nap –not because I am tired but because I am sick…It sent me to a crevice in my mind where memories are stored. Memories of things that sum up the times of my life. So I have decided to make a list of things I remember as a child. Go ahead – make your own list. Those crevices are covered over most of the time and you might not be able to pull it out again later.
1. I remember bazooka gum had a joke in the wrapper. I used to collect them.
2. I remember riding in the 1950 something station wagon with the back window down. We hopped back and forth across the back seat. There were no seatbelts
3. I remember the hot evenings in the heart of the Mississippi delta. The bed felt damp when you crawled in. The attic fan pulled the stale air out of the attic and the damp night air across my bed. I remember waking up in the morning with salty sticky sweat across the back of my hairline.
4. I remember getting a colored TV because the Texas Longhorns were playing in a bowl game.
5. I remember Simmons drug store and the wooden floors that creaked and clicked under my mother’s heels. The druggist sat high – behind a tall counter that made him look like a judge in a white coat.
6. I ran through the mosquito spray as the truck slowly sprayed the neighborhoods to rid the city of its most popular resident. It was like a cloud of poison that spread through yards. We chased the truck for blocks giggling with delight as we ran into each other in the fog.
7. I remember the floods – our neighbor used a row boat in the street when the floods came.
8. I remember walking the two miles to the pasture where my horse was kept. The tar in the road made impressions of my feet.
9. I remember when John F. Kennedy was shot. I was in Science class.
10. I remember when there were race riots. My mother came and got us from the movie theater. Danger was there – in our own town. None of it made sense to me.
11. I remember getting a packet of sunflowers at the movie theater when we saw the The Day of the Triffods.
12. I remember watching Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show. I remember the first time the Beatles were on the show too.
13. I got a poodle skirt and a crunch slip in the fourth grade. Unlike most girlie things, I liked wearing them.
14. I got the mumps. What in the world are the mumps and who named them?
15. I used to love chocola. It was a chocolate soda that puts Yahoo to shame. I loved Fizzies too.
16. I couldn’t wait for National Geographic to come each month. The stories of worlds beyond seemed a fantasy to me.
17. I used to think Troy Donahue was “keen”.
18. I remember wearing pedal pushers and learning the bop and practicing the hula-hoop.
19. I loved baseball – especially the New York Yankees. I collected trading cards even though I didn’t like the gum so much.
20. I loved my Davy Crockett hat. I used to listen to the Davy Crockett record and sing along while pretending to be going through the woods hunting bears in the living room. “Davy – Davy Crockett – King of the Wild Frontier!”
21. I had paper dolls, and paint by number kits, and a Lie Detector game, and a Chatty Cathy doll.

Well - now I could just keep going because there are TV shows like Superman and Dick Clark, and there were foods like Salmon patties every Friday at school, and 6 cent cokes, and there were sounds, like baseball games on the radio, and hi-fi's, but what do you remember about the times of your childhood?