Old Days

Good times I remember… 

I had a couple of ‘free’ tickets on Southwest that were fixing to expire. These are airline tickets earned with points from other travel. I hated to lose them but I’d let the deadline slip up on me and I didn’t know if I could swing a trip during the block of time I had or not. Besides that, I didn’t have anywhere to go! I thought about it and decided maybe a visit with my sister Judi would be fun. I asked her if she’d be able to get off work if I came over and she said yes. The trip was set.

My airline of choice!

We had no agenda. That meant staying up late and sleeping in. It meant shopping. And it meant eating out at places unknown to me. No pressure. No stress.

Judi contacted some childhood friends and made a date for us to meet them for lunch. We entered the pizza parlor and there they were, looking pretty much like they always looked!

Here we are! Note to self: Don't ever wear white! It makes you look ten pounds heavier!

When we were growing up, we lived on a corner of a ‘T’ intersection. Judy and Jana lived across the street. We spent hours together, playing with troll dolls, skating, and climbing the willow in our front yard. Sometimes we played at our house and sometimes we played at theirs. Jana is the same age as my sister Judi, and Judy is a year or so older than me.

Judy had beautiful, long, shiny, straight hair. That was the fashion back then. She wore it parted down the middle. My hair, on the other hand, was curly. When I tried wearing it long it looked much like Tiny Tim’s hair looked. It wasn’t attractive.

Tiny Tim. I always thought his hair was horrible! And mine looked the same.

Of course, I wanted smooth, vertical hair. Judy and I tried many things to make it straight. She helped me iron it, using a real iron on an ironing board. I guess that was pre flat irons! And it didn’t work. We rolled it on orange juice cans. That made bigger waves than I already had. Plus, it was heck to sleep on! We sprayed it with Knox Unflavored Gelatin. That sounds horrible but really it was probably like a spray gel. It made my hair stiff, but alas, it was still curly.

We were both in constant search of ‘the’ technique that would make my hair straight! One of the most bizarre things we found was for me to sleep with a nylon stocking on my head. Yes, really. I would squeeze it down over my wet hair. My nose was squashed and my eyes were either open for extended periods or closed. It was difficult to blink. It wasn’t comfortable, and there were all kinds of indents pressed into my face upon awakening. One night, as I was preparing this unique costume before I went to bed, my dad came in. He looked at me, shook his head and backed out of the room!

Judy was an expert on the piano. I suppose she took lessons, but I don’t remember for sure. It seemed to me, she could play anything. One song that was especially pretty was “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel. We had a piano too, but nobody played it. At least not like Judy played. I really wanted to learn that song so she hand copied the entire score. I didn’t realize it then but that was amazing in itself!

We visited as we ate our pizza, caught up and reminisced. It was like the old days, minus the troll dolls! My hair is still curly. Judy’s is still straight. Some things never change. It’s good to have longtime friends with whom you can still talk with, laugh with and remember the good (and a few bad) times!

Time passed too quickly and it was time to return to work, a necessary evil. I packed, including the extra suitcase I had to borrow, tucked away the memories we made, and went to the airport. I was already thinking about the next time we’d be able to spend time together.

Fun days. 
Filled with simple pleasures. 

I finally got the rest of my packages from the FB game sent off. My sweet friend Debi got the scribble lace scarf/shawl.

Scribble Lace. A thick yarn mixed with a thin yarn.

My niece got the drop-stitch eternity scarf. I think they were both pleased! I hope so anyway!

A drop stitch eternity/infinity scarf. She said it matched her hair????

Gold days. 
Days I'll always treasure…

My List

Under an old brass paperweight, my list of things to do today… 

I’m a list maker. That doesn’t mean I always use my lists but I do make them. I write down what I need at the grocery store then promptly leave the list elsewhere. I write down things I have to do at work and cross them off or write them again for the next day. And every year it seems I have the same old resolutions; exercise more, eat less; get more organized, work less. I always have the best intentions, yet my resolve rarely lasts through January, if even that long.

Those things are important, no doubt. But I wonder if some of the little things I let slide, the things not written down, aren’t just as important.

What if I went to bed before midnight and got up a little earlier in the morning? I’d miss some of the horrid traffic on the everyday commute. I’d see the last of the night turn into the brand new morning. I’d get to work on time.

What if I didn’t say, “In a minute,” or “maybe tomorrow” or “not right now” when one of the littles wanted me to do something? I’d have a good time. Whichever one or even all of them would have a good time. I’d make a memory.

What if I saved that almost $5.00 for a coffee drink that usually doesn’t taste right anyway? I’d have money to get new windows. I’d be able to have a date night. I could buy more Christmas presents or I’d have a bonus in case of a rainy day.

What if I just did whatever it is instead of waiting for a better time? Or until I wasn’t so tired? It would be done. I’d be finished. Then I could go on and do something I really wanted to do instead of always something I had to do.

And what if I didn’t eat that piece of candy that I don’t really want anyway? I’d save a few calories which in turn might save a few pounds. I’d feel better and look better and probably become healthier. And I wouldn’t have to go to the dentist as often.

What if instead of waiting until tomorrow I got started today? Just think of the possibilities! I can catch up on all the things I’ve missed. I’ll start living. And that’s a great thing to have on my list.

There's still more than a few things left I haven't got to yet...

The flu bug or something just as dreadful hit our house. This, in fact, is the second time I’ve been a target. I don’t know if it’s really THE flu but whatever it is has power. I’m knocked out and every bit of energy is zapped. Add that to cough, congestion, head and body aches and well, I think I was sick. I’m at the tail end of the cycle, just in time to go back to work. Now Alan is in bed with the same ailments. I couldn’t do much but I did manage to play with yarn. I knitted a couple of infinity scarves and also crocheted some as well, just for a break. I played with Scribble Lace, one of my favorite things to do. It’s quite nice really!

One really thick yarn and one really thin yarn.

Start livin' that's the next thing on my list...