Memorial day in the U.S., I know. And today, our daughter-in-law's brother is getting married.
I hope it will be auspicious for the couple because today, the 31st May, was my parents' wedding anniversary. They were married for sixty years, the first of those, when my dad was away up north in the Second World War, had to be 'the worse' part of 'for better or worse'. Although they had many struggles to face, after that they were always together in the best and largest sense of the word... Despite my previous post. It was when I was away at boarding school and for the first time realized how many of my fellow students came from difficult home environments or even broken homes, that I began to appreciate how deeply fortunate I and my younger brother were to have parents who loved each other and got on well together.
Just so you know... yesterday I wore blue.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
What's on my mind...
This is the present Facebook question, and my answer has to be 'the hideous disaster that's the oil spill'. However, I'm not going to write about that.
Then Rogers Yahoo asks, 'What are you doing right now?' I have to resist the temptation to answer, 'Staring at the computer screen. Duh'. But I'm not going to write about that either.
Instead, I'm going to continue the theme of my mom and her brother-in-law, the lawyer. One of the things they had in common was that they both used to play the piano. In fact, my uncle kept this as his hobby almost up to the day he died, although he wouldn't always oblige when asked to play. His style was that of Charlie Kunz, a name you never hear these days, but so popular and influential to my parents' generation. It was light and kind of jazzy, always keeping a strict and usually quite fast rhythm.
On the other hand, I can't remember my mother playing much after my primary school years, although occasionally she'd take a turn at my aunt's piano. We had a small instrument in our living room and I learned classics for years... but that's another story. What I wanted to tell you is that when she grew old I asked my mother why she'd stopped playing. Her answer surprised me, and still makes me blink (figuratively speaking). She told me, 'Your father didn't like me to play.'
Why not, I wonder?
Then Rogers Yahoo asks, 'What are you doing right now?' I have to resist the temptation to answer, 'Staring at the computer screen. Duh'. But I'm not going to write about that either.
Instead, I'm going to continue the theme of my mom and her brother-in-law, the lawyer. One of the things they had in common was that they both used to play the piano. In fact, my uncle kept this as his hobby almost up to the day he died, although he wouldn't always oblige when asked to play. His style was that of Charlie Kunz, a name you never hear these days, but so popular and influential to my parents' generation. It was light and kind of jazzy, always keeping a strict and usually quite fast rhythm.
On the other hand, I can't remember my mother playing much after my primary school years, although occasionally she'd take a turn at my aunt's piano. We had a small instrument in our living room and I learned classics for years... but that's another story. What I wanted to tell you is that when she grew old I asked my mother why she'd stopped playing. Her answer surprised me, and still makes me blink (figuratively speaking). She told me, 'Your father didn't like me to play.'
Why not, I wonder?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Lilac Time and Dandelion city
This was the title of an old (1928) movie, but the song that's been running in my head is 'We'll gather lilacs in the spring again' from 'Perchance to Dream'... a good title, I'd say!
The first time I ever stayed with my mother and father-in-law to be, they had a recently-widowed friend visiting too. I remember this song came on the radio, and how my mother-in-law quickly switched it off when she saw how her friend was affected.
It's a beautiful song, very poignant and nostalgic.
Right now I'm seeing lilacs splendidly and profusely in bloom. What a sight they are, not to mention the way they perfume the air. I don't think I've ever seen them look so glorious. Not since coming to North America anyhow. Then we have this profusion of dandelions, also more than I've ever seen. I believe it's the same in the U.K. too. These yellow flowers are special, though, because you can use every bit of the plant, mostly for remedial purposes. I don't do much, except pluck three or four leaves to add to our mixed green salad.
The first time I ever stayed with my mother and father-in-law to be, they had a recently-widowed friend visiting too. I remember this song came on the radio, and how my mother-in-law quickly switched it off when she saw how her friend was affected.
It's a beautiful song, very poignant and nostalgic.
Right now I'm seeing lilacs splendidly and profusely in bloom. What a sight they are, not to mention the way they perfume the air. I don't think I've ever seen them look so glorious. Not since coming to North America anyhow. Then we have this profusion of dandelions, also more than I've ever seen. I believe it's the same in the U.K. too. These yellow flowers are special, though, because you can use every bit of the plant, mostly for remedial purposes. I don't do much, except pluck three or four leaves to add to our mixed green salad.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Belated mothers' day
My mother died two years ago on the 14th April at the age of 98, a month before her 99th birthday. What with that, and mothers' day, she's been much on my mind. In fact, I'd say she sent me a little wave on mothers' day itself.
You see, one of the songs she loved -- and she loved many -- was Willie Nelson singing 'Crazy'. It's not a song you hear that often these days, but lo and behold, while driving in the car on mothers' day morning, the poignant melody and words came winding out of the radio, into my ears, my mind, my heart.
I've written a bit before about my parents' relationship before they married. But I don't think I've told you about what my dad's younger brother did for them before the wedding. In South Africa in those days you were married in community of property. This caused great hardship for many women, but that's another story... Those in the know and who could afford it would have an ante-nuptial contract drawn up so that the wife retained a measure of economic independence.
My Uncle Bert, being a lawyer, drew up this contract for my mom and dad. And it contained a few surprises. Knowing my mom, my uncle had specified certain things that worked decidedly in her favour. For instance, my mother was entitled to redecorate every few years (never having seen the document, I can't be more precise).
I truly wish I'd had the opportunity to read their marriage contract. More, I love it that my uncle was so supportive of my mom when the elder sister was not. Amazingly enough, my mother never bore a grudge and was unceasingly generous and kind towards my aunt.
You see, one of the songs she loved -- and she loved many -- was Willie Nelson singing 'Crazy'. It's not a song you hear that often these days, but lo and behold, while driving in the car on mothers' day morning, the poignant melody and words came winding out of the radio, into my ears, my mind, my heart.
I've written a bit before about my parents' relationship before they married. But I don't think I've told you about what my dad's younger brother did for them before the wedding. In South Africa in those days you were married in community of property. This caused great hardship for many women, but that's another story... Those in the know and who could afford it would have an ante-nuptial contract drawn up so that the wife retained a measure of economic independence.
My Uncle Bert, being a lawyer, drew up this contract for my mom and dad. And it contained a few surprises. Knowing my mom, my uncle had specified certain things that worked decidedly in her favour. For instance, my mother was entitled to redecorate every few years (never having seen the document, I can't be more precise).
I truly wish I'd had the opportunity to read their marriage contract. More, I love it that my uncle was so supportive of my mom when the elder sister was not. Amazingly enough, my mother never bore a grudge and was unceasingly generous and kind towards my aunt.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Watch what I say?
My grandson came to be with me for a while this morning. When he arrived I said, 'Lovely weather for ducks!' So a couple of hours later the phone rang and it was his mom. She said, 'Look out the front door. You have ducks on your lawn! I don't want to get out of the car and disturb them.' We looked out the front door, which luckily has glass, and sure enough, there were a duck and a drake, waddling over the newly-mown grass!!
Only a couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went for an evening walk. I commented, 'I think I'd be quite okay if I never again saw snow'.
Bad idea, Brenda.
Next morning he opens the curtains and groans, 'Oh no!'. Fat flakes were falling and soon our green lawns were covered in white!!
Only a couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went for an evening walk. I commented, 'I think I'd be quite okay if I never again saw snow'.
Bad idea, Brenda.
Next morning he opens the curtains and groans, 'Oh no!'. Fat flakes were falling and soon our green lawns were covered in white!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Shoe trees
Shoe trees... surely a strange name for a very useful item. Yes, I've just been putting away my winter clothes, boots and shoes. Of the former, I have a pair that still garner compliments although they are now about twelve years old. The lace-up shoes are only a year or two younger. These are showing signs of wear, but are still useful to me.
As you may guess, both pairs are of the old-fashioned leather sole variety that could be taken to the shoemaker to be mended, to have new heels or soles put on. These days of course even expensive footwear often has composite soles glued on which means there's nothing much to be done but throw the shoes away when they get down at heel or whatever.
So I'm grateful for my shoe trees, one pair of which must surely be heading towards antique status, because I inherited them from my mom. She taught me to take care of my clothes, and that has stood me in good stead. Mind you, when I was a teenager and pounding the pavements in London, my shoes didn't last that long. It's a strange thing, but some people are harder on shoes than others. I've often wondered why this should be, and what the reason is. I don't think I tread particularly heavily!
As you may guess, both pairs are of the old-fashioned leather sole variety that could be taken to the shoemaker to be mended, to have new heels or soles put on. These days of course even expensive footwear often has composite soles glued on which means there's nothing much to be done but throw the shoes away when they get down at heel or whatever.
So I'm grateful for my shoe trees, one pair of which must surely be heading towards antique status, because I inherited them from my mom. She taught me to take care of my clothes, and that has stood me in good stead. Mind you, when I was a teenager and pounding the pavements in London, my shoes didn't last that long. It's a strange thing, but some people are harder on shoes than others. I've often wondered why this should be, and what the reason is. I don't think I tread particularly heavily!
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