The more I think about it...
..The more I like the idea of writing a book. I like the notion that stories and facts so special to me, not end with me. Many of the memories are just those, not whole long stories just snippets that stand out in my mind, like bright bits of sea glass on the shore.
Like the time...
My sister Leah and I were taking my grand-daughters Kayle and Taylor on a birthday weekend shopping trip down to Destin. Any of you that have ever traveled across the toll bridge from Blue Water Bay to Destin will be familiar with the Marina that has the huge murals of sea creatures painted on the outside walls. There is even a place to stop so you can take pictures. I have always got a laugh out of it being called "The Whaling Wall", and I was sharing the joke with my girls as we drove over the bridge.
"Kayle and Taylor that is a play on words, I know you have heard of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem...and this is called the Whaling Wall, isn't that neat?"
My sister looked over at me and said, in all seriousness, “I didn't know they had whales in the city of Jerusalem."
A lot of my memories deal with my parents. Goodness gracious, some of their conversations were hilarious!!
Mama would talk about any subject, Dad much less so. Once, many years ago, Mama and I were talking on the subject of funerals, specifically hers, like what music she wanted and flowers and such. Dad came through the living room and heard what we were talking about. To my surprise, he sat down and joined in the conversation.
He said that for his funeral, he was being brought home and laid out in front of the fireplace, old style.
Mama raised one eyebrow and said," You can lay up at that funeral home where you belong!"
Then Dad said he had already recorded his own eulogy, to be played during his funeral.
Mama replied with finality..." You can lay there and be quiet too!!"
My mother died in November of 2009 and I wrote the following one year later…
Ain't no grave...
Strange, I was going to do a complete pass on Thanksgiving this year because it is the 25th, the first anniversary of my Mama's death. But here it is the Sunday before, up to my eyebrows preparing to serve a big holiday meal. I knew when I found a smoked turkey, it was inevitable. Mama absolutely spoiled us forever with smoked turkey. To me it is soooooo much better than a roasted one.