Sunday Stealing

 

Apparently, there’s someone named Bev, and she “steals” questions and people answer them. That’s about all I know, but here are my answers to the most recent questions.

-What’s your favorite childhood memory?

When I was about 5-years-old I went with my mother to pick up my brother from Little League practice. It was early evening. While we waited in the car for the practice to end, I could see the sun going down through the car window and it prompted me to ask my mother, “Where does the sun go when it goes down?” She took a deep breath and, using the steering wheel (remember those big skinny steering wheels on cars in the 60s?) and the car horn in the middle, explained the solar system to me – the car horn was the sun and the wheel was the orbit. I don’t remember all the details – like how she explained how the planets revolve and orbit – but I remember I thought she had to be the smartest person in the whole world to know all that!

-Do you sing in the shower? I do – not as much as I used to, but I do sing show tunes, choir anthems, popular songs…stuff like that. The funny thing is that my husband, who used to be a singer and choir director never sings in the shower.

-What is the best gift you’ve ever received? I treasure a wedding picture of my parents that my mom gave all of us siblings for Christmas one year. I love it for its own sake, but I also love it because it was the first year she gave me the same present as my siblings. I’m a lot younger than they, and she would always get five of the same present for them and something different for me.

-Do you prefer being indoors or outdoors? I like both unless it is super hot outside – can’t handle the heat. I like gardening; that’s what pulls me outside.

-Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? My daughter calls several times a week, but we text many times. She usually calls me on her lunch hour or afternoon break.

-What do you keep in your bag or handbag? I like a little handbag. Can’t stand those giant tote-type bags. So there’s not much in there – wallet, glasses case, little cosmetic case. There’s a side pocket for my phone. That’s about it. Maybe a pen.

-Can you knit? Oh my gosh, this question kills me! I can crochet, quilt, embroider, garment sew, even macrame, but I can’t knit and I want to so badly. I watch several knitting podcasts – Fruity Knitting; Wool, Needle, Hands; Cherry Heart; Sew Sweet Violet. I see the super cute things they make and all I can do is cast on and knit stitch (and poorly, at that) – and that’s not much!! My brain turns into wool when I try to do more than that. I sound crazy.

-How many hours do you sleep each night? Around six. I slink out of bed around 4 a.m. and go in the living room and cuddle with my calico cat, Daisy Buchanan. Or I listen to an audiobook and cross stitch.

-Who is your role model? I think that I have different role models for different things, like decorating, cooking, working. Everyone is a role model in some way.

-Who was your first ever pen pal? Must have been a girl named Patty, who moved away to Wisconsin in about the 4th grade. We wrote until high school, but I must admit to embellishing my life in some of my letters (in most of my letters). Especially as it pertained to boyfriends. I did Google her years ago and it turns out she died of cancer as a young woman – early 30s.

-What has been your favorite job so far? I never expected to love my work. Stay-at-home mom has been my best job, but my most recent job, freelance grant writer, has been pretty sweet, and the job before that at a college was hugely rewarding in many ways. But my real favorite was sample stitcher for a needlework magazine – didn’t make much money and didn’t care. I just liked stitching the projects and then seeing them in the magazine.

-What is your favorite go-to recipe for mid-week meals? This is hard, because I hate to repeat recipes very often. Maybe veggie burgers and oven fries?

-How often do you eat in a restaurant? Way too often, although because of the pandemic we didn’t eat out for months and months.

-Are you close to your family? Not as close as I’d like to be. We lived away from here for 17 years and I think they just got used to me not being around.

-Which phone app could you not live without? Weather Authority, I guess.

-If you could afford to volunteer full time for a charity, which would it be? Hmm. Probably a museum or botanical garden.

-Do you have any siblings? There were six of us. We arrived boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, girl. There’s a 20 year spread between oldest and youngest, with five years between the third and fourth and seven years between the fifth and sixth. My mother had at least one child in school between 1943 and 1979.

-Who is your favorite YouTuber? Definitely Laura of Garden Answer. Second place goes to Nicola Parkman of Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

-Have you ever been a bridesmaid or a groomsman? I’ve been a bridesmaid four times. I was an almost-bridesmaid once – the wedding got called off a couple of weeks before the ceremony. Weirder still was that I had never met the bride. I was dating her brother and their mother made her include me in the wedding party.

My Mother's Bible

Let me tell you about my mother's Bible. It sat on her nightstand by her bed. By her side of the bed, even though she lived her last 16 years with no one on the other side after my father died. It was a King James Version, very practically bound in black leather-look vinyl, smallish and not showy in any way. Well, maybe the edges of the pages were gold. Or red, maybe. It was always there on the nightstand, to bring comfort when needed. I believe that was its job description, "Sit here until needed on an anxiety-filled night." I know those nights came all too often to her, because they also all too often come to me. It was worn, but gently so; far be it from her to make written notes or turn down pages or bend back the spine of something as important as a Bible. Why, you might as well scratch out the word "Holy" on the front cover. No, it was treated with respect, as were its contents.

It was a "red letter edition," meaning that all the statements attributed to Jesus in the four Gospels were printed in red ink. Handy if you are looking for "Blessed are the meek" or "Eli Eli lama sabachthani." Which I remember looking for with her one evening after we heard it quoted in a Western drama we watched on TV. Might have even been “Gunsmoke.”

What I remember most, though, about my mother's Bible was not what was on the pages, but what was kept between them. There were so many bookmarks in my mother's Bible, at least 20, or that’s what I remember. And they weren't just old envelopes or torn slips of paper. And they certainly weren't Post-It Notes, because those nuisances were yet to be invented. They were actual, purpose-created bookmarks, several with Bible-appropriate artwork and glorious satin ribbon with glitter on the edges. And glitter on the front. And glitter on the back. And glitter on the child standing before her, because a number were the artistic creations of one or more of her six children, who apparently spent a lot of time in Vacation Bible School licking the back of gummy stickers featuring a Renaissance-era Madonna and Child and sticking them on lengths of purple satin and sprinkling them with the aforesaid glitter. “I made this for you today!” “You did? Thank you. I love that picture. I'm going to keep it in my Bible.” And then she did.

A favorite of mine was a promotional hand-out from either a funeral home or an insurance agency, I can't remember which. It was a maroon satin ribbon, about three or four inches wide, printed in white. One side featured a list titled, “Where to Find It in The Bible.” When You Need Courage: Joshua 1:9. When You Are Anxious: I Peter 5:7/Phillippians 4:6-7. When You Feel Discouraged: John 16:33/I Corinthians 15:56, and so on. The other side featured the ad for the funeral home or insurance agency, and directions for reading the Bible through in one year. In case you are wondering, it’s three chapters a day except Sunday, when you are supposed to read five chapters. It worked for me for at least a week.

But as a mother myself, I look back on one particular bookmark with especially deep feelings of longing. Longing for my mother. Longing to be able to tell her how meaningful this sentiment is to me now and how poorly I understood it at the time, or even why she treasured it so. Longing to talk to her about what it meant to her. I’ve been longing to talk to her about a lot of things lately; if by “lately” you mean “since 1983,” like I do.

It was a magazine clipping. Probably from Woman’s Day or Family Circle because she never missed picking up the latest issue of either while waiting in the Handy Andy checkout line. It featured a poem by the Lebanese-American writer/poet/artist Kahlil Gibran. I share it with you now.

On Children

 And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.

     And he said:
     Your children are not your children.
     They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
     They come through you but not from you,
     And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

     You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
     For they have their own thoughts.
     You may house their bodies but not their souls,
     For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
     You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
     For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
     You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
     The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
     Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
     For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

 Talk to me, Mama. I will bend to listen.

Sunday Stealing on Thursday

I'm stealing this Sunday Stealing stuff from a friend's blog. I think there's a place to link to other stealers. I'll have to figure that out.

1. Do you like your handwriting? I really do. I've worked on it for years. Before I learned cursive writing I admired my sister's handwriting so much I tried to copy it exactly. I based mine on hers, but have developed my own style over the years. People comment on my handwriting often. That sounds a bit obnoxious, doesn't it?

2. Do you like roller coasters? No. The worst thing my daughter and a friend ever did to me was to convince me to ride the Rockin' Roller Coaster at Disney World. It was just awful. You know when you get off a ride and you can see the picture that was taken of you at some point along the way? I looked like someone was trying to kill me and telling me my puppy died at the same time. Give me a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round or slow miniature railroad - those are more my cup of tea. In fact, if you can drink a cup of tea while riding, that's an appropriate speed for me.

3. Do you like scary movies? Depends. I don't like a lot of blood and gore, but I enjoy some psychological thrillers.

4. Do you like shopping? I do, but not as much as I used to. Several years ago I was walking through my formerly favorite mall and thought to myself, there's just nothing here that is relevant to my life anymore. Those darn millennials have even taken over shopping.

5. Do you like to talk on the phone? Not really. My husband can talk on the phone (and sometimes does) all day long. I much prefer texting.

6. Do you sleep with the lights on or off? Off - in a room that is as dark as possible. 

7. Do you use headphones or earphones? Yes. I often wake up an hour or two before my husband does and I use headphones to listen to my Audible book.

8. Do you have any tattoos? Do you want any? No, and possibly/probably not. I used to have not the best impression of people with tattoos, but I've really revised my thinking. I met a fellow quilter and needleworker who had a lot of tattoos - of cute quilty/handwork type things - spool of thread, pin cushion, ball of yarn, etc. She and they were so cute. I guess that's the type I would get - granny tattoos, you could call them. The problem is, what if I got tired of them? 

9. Do you wear glasses? Oh yes. I wish I didn't.

10. What is your strangest talent? I can write forward (normally) with my right hand and backwards with my left hand at the same time. It just has to be the same word(s). I think a lot of people can/could do this, so maybe it's not so strange.

11. Have you ever been in the hospital? The summer between 5th and 6th grade I spent a week in the hospital for strep throat. I guess I had a severe case. Of course, it was during the Dark Ages. The funny thing is that I was sick at home for a week, then finally they admitted me to the hospital, but I was already starting to feel better. So I really enjoyed all the visitors with presents; the snack cart that came around every night before bed (I chose grape juice and vanilla ice cream); and playing Old Maid or Go Fish with my nurse every day. It was like a little vacation. The worst part was being told I couldn't go swimming for the rest of the summer (again, Dark Ages). My next trip was my C-section in 1991. And in 2008 I gave away one of my kidneys and was in the hospital a few days for that.

12. What color mostly dominates your wardrobe? Pink, I guess. I'm wearing pink right now, in fact. I wear a lot of black, too.

13. What's your most expensive piece of clothing? Like my friend Lisa, it's my mother-of-the-bride dress. And it wasn't all that expensive to begin with, plus it was on sale.

14. Have you ever had braces? Yes, in junior high - but just on my top teeth. Then when my wisdom teeth came in they messed up my bottom teeth, but I wasn't interested in getting braces again, especially as I was 21+ by then and I would have had to pay the bill!

15. Have you ever been on TV? Yes, several times, accidentally and on purpose. I was on local news several years ago, being interviewed about a project I was involved in at the college where I worked. But the most fun was being an extra for the 1990 movie, "A Killing in a Small Town" which starred Barbara Hershey and Brian Dennehy. It's the same true crime story as the current Hulu series, "Candy." 

Last post of the semester

Well, here it is - the last letter she sent me during my first year away from home. In a couple of weeks I'll be home for the summer. 

It was a great year for me, even if my classes were not my first priority! I had a lot of fun, made some good friends, and had my first taste of independence after growing up in an ultra-protective environment. The next year, and especially the year after, will bring some hard questions and real challenges to my life - mostly good, but some not. so. much. How much of that will I reveal to my mother? Probably not very much.

Friday (April 29, 1977)

Dear Robin,

We had an awfully big rain Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning but when it stopped I floated over to First Federal and the bank. I deposited $75.00 for you. It's a while until your check comes again so I thought you might need extra.

I'm sorry if I came on a little strong about how much money you spend. I realize you didn't take any out of savings for this semester so I guess you really have done very well. Anyway, this fall you won't need to buy as many things as you did last time. And we are going to get a raise in July. Every little bit helps.

Yesterday I went with Lisa and Grant to do some running around. We had lunch at Luby's and then we went by to see their house. It's really coming along.

Early in the morning Doug and Betsy and I are going to the lake and stay until Sunday. We are going to try to get things fixed up a little. When school is out we plan to try to get the whole family up there for a weekend. Gary said they would come.

Today is a beautiful day and it's supposed to stay this way for a few days.

I'm waiting for Nora. We are going out to have some Mexican food for lunch.

Love,

Mother

You have about $380.00 left at First Fed.

Wedding bells, but not for me

Tuesday (April 19, 1977)

Dear Robin,

I just got back from Cotulla. Donna was in Thursday and I went home with her. She and Gary brought me back today. I've had a wonderful time. It rained a lot and Gary was working cattle but I enjoyed it all. Saturday afternoon Donna and I went to Laredo for Miss Stacey and that was a nice drive.

Have you heard from Julie? If so I guess you know all about her being engaged. I didn't see her of course but I did meet Stan. He is a nice looking man and seems friendly and nice. He is a deputy sheriff. Julie is going to go to school one more year so the wedding will be next June but Donna is already making plans. They like Stan very much.

It's getting closer to time for you to come home. I'll be glad. I hope we can spend some time at the lake. Then we'll do some cleaning and painting around here and then a lot of sewing to get you ready for school again.

Right now I have to try to get this yard cut. It rained while I was gone and the grass is growing like crazy. My garden is growing nicely, too. I've got a lot to do.

Love,

Mother

The year is winding down. Sounds like she's got my summer all planned! From what I remember, I did take a class or two at the community college that summer and I'm sure there was sewing involved. I remember going to the lake house, but I have no recollection of any cleaning and painting!

Some things aren't worth remembering!

 Wednesday April 13,1977

Dear Robin,

I just got your letter and no, I don't want another son-in-law at this particular time. I don't think I'll ever want one (even a kind of rich one) who almost proposes on the first date. It makes me wonder what sort of guy he is. I've always said, though, that if I haven't taught my children something about choosing friends by the time they are your age then it is too late to start.

I washed the car yesterday so of course it's raining today. The yard needs rain but it does look pretty good. My tomato plants are starting to blossom. The sweetheart rose is full of blooms.

Lila and John Monfrey are in a run off for mayor. The election is Saturday, They have been throwing a lot of mud around.

I hope you get things worked out so you can come home when Sharon comes. If it is necessary of course I can always come after you. When I think about it this year seems to be going very fast.

Love,

Mother

Oh, my goodness. How well I remember this blind date a friend in the dorm arranged for me with a guy from her home town. It was the worst date ever! We went to dinner at a steak house. He was rude to the waitress the whole time. We were then supposed to go to see the movie "Rocky" but he thought the line to get in was too long. So we drove around Lubbock for two hours, and he asked me all kinds of questions about my major and what I wanted to do with my life and every time I would answer he would excitedly say, "That's just exactly what I would want my wife to do." I could not get back to my dorm soon enough. I was conveniently "not home" for his next few calls and I guess he got the hint, or our mutual friend told him to back off. She told me later that he was "broken-hearted." Yeah, I'll bet. I just remembered that his car had been stolen at some point and was part of a high-speed chase. When he got it back, it had several bullet holes which he never got fixed - I guess he thought they were cool.

I still have never seen "Rocky."

Bad Kitty!

 

Friday (April 1, 1977)

Dear Robin

John Boy got a very hard spanking this morning. I had two beautiful red roses in a vase and he turned it over for the second time.

It's been quiet around here this week. I played golf Wednesday and yesterday Lolly stayed all day with me.

I mailed your doll Monday and I hope it got there O.K. Your plant is looking fine.

I talked to Brandon Sunday - they are all fine.

I hate to waste a stamp on such a short letter but I just don't have anything else to write about.

Love, 

Mother

Wow, a whole month since her last letter, but there's a reason - I was home a week for spring break in March. Actually, there was another letter that I've skipped - it was even shorter than this one and only talked about banking issues - no family (or pet) news.

So busy!

Wednesday March 2, 1977

Dear Robin,

These two cats are driving me crazy this morning. They are so full of pep I don't know what has got into them.

I hope the number I gave Sharon was some help to her. I couldn't go ahead and make the appointment because they asked for information I didn't know.

Sunday, Lisa, Kim and I went to Lytle. We visited Ben and Tony's grandmother. We also went out to see where they are going to build their house. They have the house staked off and will start this week. The lot is really nice and the house is going to be something else. It will be about six months before it's finished.

Yesterday Myra and I went shopping. She was looking for a crewel pillow to work on so we went to Merribee's, Scrivener's and Yarn Barn. We had lunch at the Quarter Deck. At Scrivener's we got some material to make pillows but what they had to make the backs was too expensive so we went to Cloth World and Pin Cushion. She got a piece at Pin Cushion and I have about decided to go back and get some of the same. The colors are hard to match. The material is printed in squares and each one has different birds.

After we got back I went to take Grant's birthday present. I got him a Big Mac Attack Pack which he calls a Macky Tack. I also put a lot of little toys and things in it. I think it was a big hit. Lisa made him a darling cake with clowns on it. He said that was a neat cake which we took to be high praise.

You have $453.26 at First Federal. I think it would be a good idea to get a sewing machine after you get enough saved for next fall.

Well I need to get to work.

Love

Mother

As a sewist/crafter I'm so jealous! Five different local places to get sewing and crafting supplies! That's not the case now, but I am grateful for online shopping. 

Scrivener's was one of my all-time favorite places to shop. It started out as a lumber yard/hardware store but over the years they added a Christmas store, fine china and crystal, fabric and patterns, needlework, a boutique, gifts, and a tea room! (I have no idea who those ladies in the picture are; I found the photo online). When you sat down they brought you this little bitty cup of broth and some cheese crackers. And maybe tiny cinnamon rolls, I think. I also found the recipe for the cheese crackers online. Might have to give it a try.

When Dave and I got married we registered at Scrivener's. All of their wedding gift deliveries were made by a chauffeur driving a Rolls Royce! Unfortunately, I never got to witness this exceptional service because we had everything delivered to Dave at the church he was serving at the time. It was exciting for the ladies in the church office, though!

Scrivener's closed about 20 years ago and there's a Chili's where it used to be.

Another bank robbery

 Friday (February 18, 1977)

Dear Robin

I got the valentine and I don't know how they made one so "you." Grant brought me one also - a box of candy and it's almost all gone now.

We have been having lovely weather and I have been working outside until all my bones and muscles are so sore I can hardly get around. The ash trees are budding out and the peach tree is in bloom. I think it is still too early to plant a garden.

Armstrongs had a big fire at the Hildebrand place the other night. The warehouse was destroyed and the office and showrooms had smoke and water damage.

Now they are after my money. Brooks Field Bank was robbed the other day.

I don't quite go along with the way you and Sharon have figured out how to spend $50. That kind of logic can get you into financial trouble. I do believe you will be better off staying at the dorm. I know you are not very fond of dishwashing and other kinds of cleaning.

Well, I have rested enough now I'm either going to wash the car or work some more in the yard.

Love

Mother

She certainly has "quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'" in her recent letters, although I have no recollection what my roommate and I were going do with $50. Buy clothes, probably.

Armstrongs was a wholesale plumbing supply company. They had been one of my Dad's competitors.

She makes me want to get outside and work in the yard! It's too early to plant a garden here, too, especially after our big snow and ice event last week. We're still under a boil water advisory, but I forget sometimes and wash my hands with tap water. It's a sad state of affairs when you have to use hand sanitizer AFTER you wash your hands.

Be My Valentine

Friday (February 11, 1977)

Dear Robin

Happy Valentine!

Two days this week I had Lolly and she was sick so I was pretty tired and then it started raining again and I am very tired of that. It's still raining but the Rodeo Parade hasn't been called off. If I don't get some cat food today the cats will probably disown me. Maybe they will run away from home.

I finished my collage. I put all old pictures in it and it looks very interesting. I hung it where I always had my calendars.

Brandon and Valerie and Janice Marlene came to see me for a little while the other day. She is rather skinny but cute and sweet and already smiling at you. They say she never cries. Valerie liked the afghan very much.

If you do all that sewing you are going to have to work at it all the time. When will you study or don't you remember that's what you are going to college for. The trip sounds like fun but expensive. However I'll let you worry about all that. The apron strings are all loose and the nest is empty.

Lulu brought this W2 form by. She is going to A&M. She said she might go to summer school here either to SAC or UTSA. She said Tech is too far away from home.

The sky is getting lighter so I'd better get ready to go to the store before it starts raining again.

Love

Mother

I don't blame her for being cranky. Two days with a sick toddler, constant rain, and entitled cats! 

My friend "Lulu" did end up at Tech! We were roommates for a year, in a tiny apartment in the same apartment complex that the guy who shot Ronald Reagan had lived in for a short time. He had already been evicted by the time we moved in.

Roots

 Saturday (January 29, 1977)

Dear Robin,

Valerie had a little girl Thursday evening about 8 o'clock. She weighed 7 pounds and they named her Janice Marlene. They are all doing fine. I'm going to try to go out and see her real soon.

I think I filled out this paper right. It wasn't easy because in 1975 the checks came to me part of the year. I counted as my income through September what we got together and mine alone for Oct., Nov. and Dec. because your checks started then. If this confuses you - it does me too. Your income for 1975 would be only what you got for Oct., Nov. and Dec.

I just had a visit by the cookie sellers. Callie and Karly are both selling. I got a couple of boxes from each and since no one else had been here they went down part of our street and sold all they had with them.

Lorelei and I played golf Thursday. It was a beautiful day and I played pretty good - I even chipped in from off the green for a birdie. Myra and Howard have gone on a Caribbean cruise. I think it is for about two weeks.

I talked to Theresa yesterday. She has been staying in Houston most of the time. Fred is not expected to live much longer. He is in the hospital all the time now.

Have you been watching "Roots?" I read in the paper this morning that it is going to surpass anything else that has ever been on television - that is for the number of people watching. I don't even fall asleep while it is on. 

I guess I'd better get ready to go to the post office.

Love

Mother

Sounds like she was filling out some financial aid paperwork for me. When she talks about our "income" it's because we both received social security survivor benefits. My dad died when I was nine. I never would have been able to afford college if it had not been for social security. I received a monthly check of around $250 until I graduated. My last check arrived the week after I graduated from college and I used it to buy a plane ticket to visit my boyfriend who had moved to Arizona!

Theresa was my mom's good friend. Fred was her son and was dying of cancer. He was a church organist among other things.

You know, I've never actually seen all of "Roots." Maybe I'll see if it's binge-able anywhere. Or I could read the book, I guess. She probably had read the book already, She read a lot and at one time had wanted to become a librarian.

January News

 Monday (January 24, 1977)

Dear Robin

I just had my picture taken but don't be so surprised it was for my driver's license.

I'm glad you got classes that you like so now get to work.

Everything has been as dull as usual around here. I think my cold is on the way out now.

I haven't heard any more about Valerie. She was to go to the hospital last Monday morning but I guess she didn't. Brandon promised to call and I haven't heard from him.

I miss having Lolly here. Nora says she is doing fine. Jody had to work almost all last week so she took Lolly and her little girl to the nursery at Bandera. Every day Lolly said they had rice, pegetti and beans. 

That girl on channel 12 news at noon's last name is Vierville and the news man is Quinn Matthews. He is young and has a baby face.

How about Tom Watson winning the Crosby? Right at the last I thought sure he was going to blow it.

I haven't heard a word from Gary and Donna. Guess I should call and see how they are. I'd like to go down there

Doug and Betsy went up and checked on the lake house. As soon as the weather gets better I want to go up there and work on the yard some. For that matter I have a lot of yard work to do here at home. The sun is shining today but it is windy and a little cool.

My stomach is growling because it's empty so I think I'll go see what I can find to eat.

Love

Mother

Since she mentioned having her picture taken, I guess it's time to throw in a picture of my mom. Of course, this one was taken way before 1977. Probably around 1935-ish I would say. She would be mortified to know I was posting this particular picture, but it's my absolute all-time favorite picture of her, and she's not here to protest, so here it is.

Chickens, bread, a parakeet and a new plumber in the family

Just the normal family news. I would love some chocolate raisin nut loaf about now.

Sunday (January 16, 1977)

Dear Robin

I haven't had time to write to you any sooner as I've been rather busy.

Thursday morning Bobby brought Lolly and Marky by on his way to work. He picked them up on his way home then brought them back Friday morning and they came back after them Saturday evening about 7:30.

Trina won fifth place with her chickens and fifth place with her quick bread entry. She got a little over $70 for both. She made a chocolate raisin nut loaf. I had a piece of the trial one she made and it was real good. Her five chickens that she entered weighed over 23 pounds and the heaviest ones there weighed only 25. The entries were from first grade through seniors from Bandera and Medina. I think Nora said there were around 300 chickens entered.

John Boy was a big help in taking care of the kids - he took the nipple off Marky's bottle down off the drain twice. He and Jim spend a lot of time at the back door watching the birds at the feeder. You will never guess what kind of bird was there all afternoon one day - a beautiful green parakeet.

Doug called to tell me he passed his test this time. He now has his journeyman's license and should be able to make more money.

Well this old mother's cupboard is very bare so I have to go to the store. Write soon.

Love

Mother

Back at school

 Tuesday (January 11, 1977)

Dear Robin

I haven't been out of the house since you left - my cold has been pretty bad. It's not much better but I'll have to go to the store and get cat food. The cats don't much like grits.

I can get the money for you but I don't know how much you need and I can't find that deposit slip you sent me before.

The day you left Nora was on the way over here after work and down on Sunset a lady came out of a driveway and ran into her. It messed up her new car and upset her quite a bit. She was too nervous to drive home so she and Lolly stayed here that night.

I'm working on filling out that paper you left. As soon as I can determine how much Social Security we got in 1975 I'll send it to you.

It's very windy here today but I guess I'd better brace myself and go on out.

Love

Mother

I can relate. Nothing drives me to the grocery store quicker than being out of cat food.

Christmas is coming

Thursday (December 9, 1976)

Dear Robin

I think Howard and Dee would appreciate getting a letter from you very much. I know that kind of letter is hard to write but just tell them how sorry you are and then tell them something about school. They always ask about how you are doing. We will try to go to see them while you are at home.

I think the Pixie idea sounds like a lot of fun and good for the children too.

Lisa and I went to Windsor Park Tuesday and I got some more Christmas shopping done. For the life of me I can't think of what to get for Julie or Chad. I hope you will have some ideas when you get home.

I haven't had the car door fixed yet but I fastened the seat belt to it and I can drive to the store but I'd be too nervous to go very far.

I guess I'd better get this out so the mailman can pick it up.

Love

Mother

This is the last letter of the fall semester. I'd be home in about a week. The "Pixie idea" was a secret Santa event we did in the dorm - only the final "reveal" present was not for the other person, it was for a toy collection project like Angel Tree or Toys for Tots or something like that. My secret person was a voice major from somewhere who lived a few doors down from me. She used to practice in her room a lot, I remember.

I am picturing Mom driving around with a faulty car door lashed to the car with the seatbelt! It was a new car, too, a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I think she probably got it fixed before I got home.

Tragedy strikes - sad post

Warning: really sad letter ahead. I really thought a long time about whether I would include this letter. I finally decided to include it because loss is part of life for all families. 

This gives me a chance to say that I have changed almost all the names in these letters. Some folks are still with us, some are not, obviously. For those that are with us I didn't want to subject them to any chance of loss of privacy and I just thought it would be easier to change everyone's name rather than contact everyone to ask if they minded if I used their name.

The back story here is that Ray was my first cousin but was quite a bit older than I (as almost everyone in my generation is/was). In fact, I don't remember ever being around him. My older siblings, I'm sure, remember being around him as kids, but by 1976 he was married, and living far away.

Friday (December 3, 1976)

Dear Robin

Just as I started this letter the phone rang and it was Dee calling to tell me that Ray was killed in a car wreck in Kansas some time last night or yesterday. They don't have any details about it yet or any arrangements for the funeral.

I'm so upset I guess I can't write any more just now.

Love

Mother

Winter arrives

Saturday November 13, 1976

Dear Robin

It's wet, cold and miserable and it looks like it is going to stay that way. I had to bring all my plants in yesterday and then it didn't freeze. I'm glad it didn't and I hope it doesn't tonight because my marigolds are so pretty. My zinnias are almost through blooming but there are a few left. Needless to say I've been chasing cats since I brought the plants in. I guess I need the exercise.

Donna was in Tuesday and came by for a little while. I wanted to go down there Thursday and Friday but this bad weather came so I decided not to go.

I went with Lisa to Plate and Platter the other day and they had some custard cups like I've been looking for. They were too high priced but I bought two and then she bought two for me.

If you do get the apartment I'm sure we can find a lot of things around here for you to use if you are not too particular about matching sets and things like that.

The other day Grant was playing in the back yard and then he came in the front door. Lisa knew he couldn't open their side gate and she had been telling him he must not climb over so she asked him if he climbed over and he said - No, I didn't climb over. I was just standing there and a big wind came along and just blew me right over.

Love

Mother

Each paragraph of this letter reveals one or more of my mother's priorities for life:

flowers,

family,

cooking,

being frugal! I just wonder what those custard cups cost. How much could even a fancy kitchen store like Plate and Platter charge for little bitty custard cups? They looked very similar to these.

When was the last time you made custard? I can remember making custard maybe twice in my adult life, unless you count the custard you have to make to go in lemon meringue or chocolate pie. But just plain custard in a cup? Hasn't happened much. Maybe I should try again. Or, I could make flan, or creme brulee, both of which are custards that went to private school and whose parents bought them a red BMW for their 16th birthdays. 

Election outcome - 1976

 Saturday November 6, 2020

Dear Robin

If no news is good news then this is the best letter you ever got.

I guess you were not very pleased with the election results. I wasn't either but since we are stuck with Carter for a while I suppose I'll have to try to find something to like about him.

Yesterday was a school holiday so Nora, Trina and Lolly came in. Nora and I went shopping while the kids played at Lisa's. All of the kids were wishing they could have been with you when you had all that snow.

We are having some beautiful weather now and it makes me want to go fishing.

Well, I have some more letters to mail so I'll have to go through the painful task of getting the cats in the garage. I stay at home a lot just because I hate to get ready to go.

Love

Mother

Can't believe it's November, already

Monday November 1, 1976

Dear Robin

How did you like the snow?

While you had snow we had rain and more rain. If you are wondering why your mail is late it's because I couldn't get the car out without swimming. I had Doug and Betsy and Lisa's family to dinner Friday night and I thought for a while I wouldn't be able to go to the store for food.

That must have been some game Saturday. They were giving the score every little while on TV and I was surely scared there for a while. I think Tony won some money on the game.

We didn't have very many kids around for treats last night. I had a lot of candy left over.

Have you seen that cat on TV that looks just like John Boy? I think they call him Harry.

I'm still working on the sewing 'chine room but I almost have it like I want it now.

Well, I have to write some checks to pay some bills and that's not one of my favorite things to do.

Love

Mother

Oh, I forgot, I had another winning race ticket last Tuesday but just for two dollars.

A Halloween care package

Wednesday October 27, 1976

Dear Robin

I thought since I didn't send you a package on your birthday I'd send you a treat for Halloween.

Donna spent the night with me Monday. She had to bring Miss Stacey to the hospital for some tests and then do a lot of errands for her yesterday. I went with her and we ran around all day. She went home last night but probably had to come back and get Miss Stacey today.

I hope you like the cookies.

Love

Mother

Cookies! Homemade Halloween cut-out cookies! What a treat that was. These are the actual cookie cutters she used. If you look for them online they are now referred to as "vintage" Hallmark Halloween cookie cutters. I guess they are. I must be vintage now, too. 

And here's the recipe, which she sent to me in February of 1978. I guess the cookies made a lasting impression. I wonder if I have all the ingredients to make them right now? I think I do!

Sugar Cookies

350*                8 min.             3 Dozen

2 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

Sift flour and salt.

Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until fluffy.

Stir in flour to make a stiff dough

Wrap in wax paper and chill 3 hrs.

Roll 1/4 at a time on lightly floured board. Cut as desired, put on ungreased cookie sheet - bake.

This is the recipe I used for the Halloween cookies.

I also remember that I took one of the cookies - a cat, I'm sure - and painted it with clear nail polish so it would "keep" and attached a string to it and hung it in my dorm room. Weirdo!

I'm not sure what she means when she says she didn't send me a package for my birthday. I know she sent me a gift - winter gloves and a scarf. I guess maybe she means she didn't send me any treats, like these cookies. My mouth is watering. If I make them today I'll eat them all by myself. I'd better wait until the weekend when our daughter and fiancé are here so I'll have someone to share them with.