Memories Are Made of This: October 2012

This blog has been about the things in Mom's house. There are countless other things that have yet to be written about. I look forward to future blogs about all the things that are a part of my life and Mom's life and all that have touched our lives. It never ceases to amaze me how looking at a painting or playing on an out of tune piano can conjure up so many memories.

Which leads me to this blog. I was drying my hair this morning and thinking about my Mom, as I do every morning before I call her around 9:00 a.m. to check in with her for the day. I was thinking about how amazing she is and what a full life she has lived. She tells me all the time that she knows how blessed and lucky she has been her entire life. I know this isn't just lip service...I know she means it. I know that her life has been blessed and that she feels fulfilled. That is an awesome and amazing feeling. I know our family has always talked about not living with regrets. That is what the power of forgiveness does for us. I cannot stress enough the concept of not having regrets. If all things can be resolved, or at least simply forgiven, regrets are unnecessary. When there are no regrets, there can always be peace.

But anyway, I thought about Mom and her blessed life and I thought about all the people who have come into her life to make it so blessed. I started thinking that this blog doesn't just simply need to be about the things in her house that relate to her and her life, but it can be about the memories that have been created inside her house and because of who she is. This opens up a whole new avenue and gives new life to this blog.
I love writing this and I know Mom loves reading it. She keeps telling me I am writing our family's history. I didn't set out to do that, but I guess the telling of the stories that have come from her home and her things have sort of done just that.
I have always been commended for my good memory. I guess it is a gift that God gave me because I am so sentimental. I love having memories and I love knowing I am who I am because of where I come from. I guess that desire and that knowledge leads me to my good memory.
However, God doesn't necessarily grant me good memory for life, and I suppose it gives me license to write about my life and memories....at least there will always be some sort of record of the life and times of my family!

I have always said that Mom's things are not merely things, rather they are reminders of all the people and events that have come to pass to create a history for us. I would much rather hold in my hand a handmade ashtray made by Martha at summer camp for her Daddy that evokes a couple of interesting stories and shows a lovely sentiment than to hold a piece of silver that really never was used by my family or has any significant stories behind it.
I truly am a sentimental slob!

I am excited to continue my blog through time. I look forward to touching on so many more memories and to remember the people who have come in and out of our lives.
If I plan to write the history for Mom (and me), I need to get busy remembering the people and activities that have touched our lives. So many of the things in Mom's house have evoked those memories, but there are so many more that exist just because. And they happened in her house and because of her. That is reason enough for me.
I long to recall them and I long to write about them.

And memories are made of this.

Mom always says she hates hot weather. It was always a joke when she mentioned moving to Florida. No one could imagine her living in such a warm climate.
It gets hot in North Carolina, but the truth of the matter is, Florida is just hot longer and more intensely...with the exception of the middle of summer. It gets much hotter and muggier (and more mosquitoes) in North Carolina than in Florida at that time. Clearwater has never seen 100 degrees, but many times in North Carolina I remember the mercury rising to that point.
But none of that matters unless you are outside in it! Being inside in a cozy home with air conditioning and good insulation, no one realizes how hot it is outside...how the pavement burns your feet and how you can be completely wilted after just one quick errand.
I guess I might be weird, but I love it. I will never complain about the heat, but I will complain profusely about the cold. As my sweet husband says, "cold hurts." And it does. It is painful and uncomfortable and lugging around coats, sweaters, hats and gloves is not fun. Period.
I guess it is clear I am where I need and want to be!

But back to Mom. Mom hated getting out in the really hot weather, but I know she also hated getting out in the snow and cold rain. Anyone would...particularly at age 87. Yes, the snow is lovely while watching it fall as you sit inside your home with the heat on and the gas logs in the fireplace roaring!
Mom used to get out and walk the neighborhood every day. She and Daddy were doing this when I was in high school living on Ridgeview Drive. They just knew how to time their walks so that they never had to be out in extreme weather. I also know the Mall became a place for walkers when the weather didn't cooperate. I know that the walking is how Mom stayed so fit and healthy and was able to eat massive amounts of Snickers bars!
I am trying to emulate her (minus the Snickers bars) as I want to be healthy and have the longevity that she has and that her sister, Jessie, had.

Granted, walking in the heat isn't easy. You either have to go early or late...or join a gym and walk on the treadmill! I, too, have learned how to time my walks to avoid extreme heat and I know which days I will just go to the gym instead.
Mom doesn't really do these walks any more. I know in her mind she'd like to, but her body is tired and she is unable. She had a knee replacement at age 85 and recovered nicely, which is amazing. She never wanted to do her post-op therapy sessions and exercises, but she was very determined to walk around as much as possible. But ever since this surgery, she has really limited her walks. I know it hurts and I also know she doesn't want to strain what we call her 'good knee.'

Her decision to move to Florida was a surprise to us all. I am so thankful that she did it. I love having her nearby. I know she misses a lot of things about Shelby, but she truly seems content in her little world at Stratford Court. I believe it is a good fit for her.
She walks up and down the halls of her building for her exercise. Therefore, it doesn't matter what temperature it is outside! It all works perfectly for her. She really doesn't care that much about being outside. Maybe now that the weather is cooling down, she will enjoy sitting out on her screened in porch. It is nice and comfortable when the weather cooperates.
I can go to the beach and walk and look for seashells and she can simply stay within the confines of her building and we are both happy campers!
Life is good in Florida.

I have already blogged about Mom's closet full of white blouses. My mom is a beautiful lady and a classy dresser. I am not as much like her in that regard as I would like to be. I guess I have been down here too long and have adopted the 'Florida lifestyle.' I was much more fashionable in North Carolina!
When Mom and I went back to Shelby last week, the only thing she quickly snatched up to bring back down to Florida with her were some white turtlenecks. She has drawers full of these just like she has the closet full of white blouses. She wears the white turtlenecks under her jackets when the weather is cooler.

Mom is still able to wear these jackets down here because she doesn't go outside much. They are really very appropriate, as it is chilly inside the building at Stratford Court. Wearing a jacket down to dinner is not only fashionable and acceptable, it is necessary. Jackets in July are just as fitting as jackets in January. Mom always gets comments on her jackets. She does have so many beautiful ones. I know because I recently saw them all in a 'fashion show.'
Madeline, Jim and I went over to visit Mom after church one Sunday. Madeline isn't one for sitting still, so for some unknown reason, she opened Mom's closet and pulled out a jacket and put it on. It looked great on her and Mom was tickled to see how well it fit Madeline and how cute it was on her. Of course, that just turned a little spark into a flame and Madeline proceeded to model 20 or more of Mom's jackets. We all oohed and ahhed and we had trouble deciding which one was our favorite! Of course, Madeline hammed it up and made us laugh as we admired the clothes.
I think it was one of Mom's most enjoyable afternoons at Stratford Court. Leave it to Madeline to simply entertain us! She has a gift for doing that. Of course, it doesn't take much as we are all easily amused, but sometimes you just need a little bit of Madeline in your life.

Jessie had a lot of nice jackets too. Hers were a bit more casual and a bit more conservative than Mom's, but Mom has some of Jessie's jackets in her closet now and she wears them from time to time. Some of them were included in the fashion show Madeline put on for us. It was easy to guess which ones were Jessie's and which ones were Mom's. Mom had a lot of colorful and unique jackets, to put it mildly.

I think I am the only one in the family who didn't wear a lot of jackets. Martha loved them too and had so many beautiful ones. We always knew her style and might see a jacket in a store and immediately say "that looks like Martha!"
I wore jackets when I lived in North Carolina, but not nearly to the extent that my mom, aunt and sister did. Madeline seems to have inherited that jacket gene. She loves them. I think it's funny that Madeline will be able to go over to her 87 year old grandmother's home and borrow her clothes when she wants to go out for a night on the town. There were several of the jackets that I'm sure Madeline will definitely wear some day. She really liked them. I would love to hear the reaction of some of her friends when they compliment her outfit and she says, "it's my grandmother's!" Who said grandma's attic has to be filled with aprons, housedresses and matronly clothes?

And memories are made of this.