Easter Memories

Easter. New beginnings, risen in glory. No matter what faith you are, this day celebrates something wonderful. I have many wonderful memories from Easter. And made a new one today!

Easter Pic

When I became a parent, Easter became even better - sharing this special day with our children. I liked buying Amy and Jud new clothes for Easter Sunday and taking them to church after a long Lenten season. And putting together those Easter Baskets - they were the best! Memories of the days my parents treated me with the excitement of hunting for my own basket. Boiling and dying eggs - ah the smell of vinegar!

Amy and Jud were all about the hunt. Along with real eggs, we had those plastic colored eggs that you could put stuff inside. Candy! It was like hide n seek with eggs. Paul and I would hide them - and they would seek. Or they would hide them and we'd have to find them. It didn't matter - the game was very entertaining!

Amy and Jud weren't able to be with us today to celebrate Easter. Jud was with Kara's parents.

Jud on Easter weekend at Kara's folks - exhausted from crafting (wedding prep)

Amy was with her former Denver roommate, Megan, touring a prison somewhere at Amy's new home state of Pennsylvania. Righteous!

We celebrated with family today - Paul's sister Jean and husband Dave (who will celebrate 50 years o marriage this summer), his sister Carol and her daughter Barb Archer and husband Mike and daughter Mandy. They came to our house. Pablo made his yummy prime rib. I made party potatoes and the others brought stuff too. It was a nice time. Alas, there was no egg hunting.

Paul's sisters regale Mandy with stories of back in the day...

I have something in my pocket

It belongs across my face. I keep it very close at hand in a most convenient place. I'm sure you cannot guess it if you guess a long, long while so I'll take it out and put it on it's a great big Brownie smile!

I think those are the words to one of the many Brownie and Girl Scout songs I learned in my scouting days. It is Girl Scout cookie time. I've only purchased one box, but I tipped extra. I don't really need to eat cookies, but do wish to support the scouts.

Back in the day, when I was tasked with selling the cookies, we actually went door-to-door to take orders, like little vacuum cleaner salesmen. "Yes, ma'am, can I interest you in some Thin Mints?" Check. "Gimme 2". They were all of $.75 back then.

I loved scouts. First we met in the gym at our school, Washington Elementary. On meeting days I would get to wear my little tan Brownie dress and sash. So cute! We'd say our Brownie pledge, do an activity, have a treat and play with our pals.

At one meeting, Robyn and I raced in the gym - she forgot to put on the brakes - plunging through a plate glass window. That look inside her knee made me feel faint. I think I earned a "guts" badge. Robyn earned stitches.

After that, we "flew up" into Girl Scouts where the uniforms were green (a premonition of my future career perhaps?) - green sashes too. I didn't get the beanie! We met at the Christian Church up above Robyn's house. Cindy Peterson's mom was the leader of our "troop". I remember going to Day Camp one summer - out near Sunnyside. I got to take a pocket knife and we cooked over a fire.

My sisters, Susi and Cindy stuck with GS (Girl Scouts) longer than I did. Susi got to go to Washington, D.C. I don't remember if Cindy did. I ended up switching to 4-H  - because I got a horse and wanted to attend the county fair and show him off. No DC trip for me. My sister Susi has stayed active in her support of the Girl Scouts and a I admire her for it.

Tomorrow is my pal Robyn's birthday. That makes about 54 or 55 years we've known each other - our friendship gets better each and every year. Here's to you my friend!

Week in review

What a week. First we got to hang out with Jud (soon to be married) for a weekend. Then Amy was here for nearly a whole week! A rare treat when one's children live far (St. Louis) and wide (Pennsylvania). I'm feeling the love!

I like seeing and being with their "others" - Jud's fiancé, Kara, and Amy's boyfriend Corey. But this time we got each of our children alone. And they met each other for lunch Sunday in Hannibal as Jud traveled back to STL and Amy traveled here after Kara's bachelorette party). It was like old times. And just what we needed before the big life change coming up when we happily welcome Kara to the fam.

This weekend is Jud's bachelor party in St. Louis. his buddies from college, who we got to know during those many tailgating weekends, traveled from places afar to party with him one last time as a single man. His local pals from town are there too.

Amy's visit here was a working trip. She's a graphic designer, a small business owner who doesn't have the luxury of "just saying no" to customer emergencies - and they all are, aren't they? "I need that label tomorrow!" There were highlights - Paul's birthday dinner at Smokey D (on Amy), Paul and Amy waxing her car, game watch Friday with Jane Flack at Draught House 50. We had to do breakfast at the Waveland on Amy's last day.

 
Being with our children is certain to bring up memories of them when they were children. Those years went by quickly - in retrospect. I love having adult children and the people they have become. Not younger versions of either Paul or myself, but their own people. Good ones!

Today marks the birthday of my twin nephews Alex and Paul Kohan. I went out to help my sister with the little guys after she had a difficult pregnancy - 3 months bed rest prior to popping out these two guys. Then mastitis. I left Paul in charge of our two cherubs - Jud was just over 1 at the time and Amy was four. Nanny Leslie!

I was only there for a few days, but in that short time I decided that I wouldn't wish twins on anyone! When one would be clean and resting, the other was messy and screaming. Or they both were! They weighed in at about 6 pounds - 2/3s the size as my  babies were. I did what I could to help Betso and husband Wayne to care for the kids, do laundry and their kitties, who were out of sorts because they'd been replaced by screaming meemees. When I returned home to my kids - Jud seemed giant by comparison to A&P!

Fast forward 26 years - Alex and Paul have grown in to fine young man. No doubt thanks to early nurturing by yours truly! I'm looking forward to seeing them at Jud's wedding in a few weeks. HBD guys!

Busy mind and other stuff

Technology is making it easy for me to have limited pondering time. The result is less blogging my friends! I used to come up with blogging topics as I drove or walked, listening to music. Random thoughts would pop into my brain and I'd think "I should write about that."

Now I fill up that time with reading - but not the traditional kind. I listen to books downloaded on my phone. Less pondering. Listening to books is enjoyable in some ways, but does limit my thinking time. Am I just into avoidance? Yes.

I'm going to try to allow myself a bit my time to ponder again. I do love my books - "Calgon take me away". But spinning my brain on life's daily issues and thinking back about how my life today connects to my history is important to me.

It's been a fun couple weeks, after a rough work week. You would think at this stage of my career I would have things all worked out in that department - but no. There is still angst. It's been suggested that I should care so much. I just don't work like that. So I fret and tear myself up. I'm glad it's behind me anyhow...

Last weekend we picked up tickets to the musical Cabaret. Neither of us really knew what it was about - Berlin right before World War 2. And raunchy! We enjoyed it. The male lead was very talented. Prior to the musical we split a sandwich and had martinis at 3 Olives in downtown Des Moines. We enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting up the bartenders. This one talked to us about the upcoming big event - the NCAA men's basketball tourney.

When the show ended, a text from McKims took us to a West Des Moines bar to listen to talented singer Damon Dotson, friend of Phil Conover. It was a good time hanging with longtime friends. There was even a bit of dancing. We miss that after our move to WDM. Don and Diana made us of our guest room that night - one reason we picked the home we did. Convenient for travelers.

Keg Stand with McKims

On Sunday we enjoyed watching more talented performers when our niece Barb invited us to watch the Dowling Catholic High School Show Choir perform their last event of the year at the school. Barb and Mike's junior lovely daughter Mandy is a member of the group. I'm so glad Barb hit us up to attend!

Mandy - 2nd from right

This week I went out to eat with the Diamond Brooke ladies (our townhouse association) - a group of about 10 of us this month. We wet to Granite City and had a great time - gossiping about the units for sale - one is right next to us. This weekend was our soon-to-be daughter-in-law's bachelorette party in St. Louis. Amy headed there from her home in PA. Jud (not invited) headed here with our newest grandpuppy 4 month old Henry in tow. He's a Cava-poo. But he mostly looks like a spaniel.

Odie, I'm sitting in your bed...

Jud was a good puppy dad, bringing along all the gear - kennel, bed, treats, food dishes, toys and more! Henry's harness requires a college degree to remove. Let 's just put it out there that Odie does not like Henry any more that she likes Franklin, Amy and Cory's puppy. She believes she should be the only dog on earth. Henny Penny as I called him, or Hank, was rather cowed by the old bitty. As he should be. Not yet used to his new longer limbs (he's growing quickly) he would awkwardly fall down at random times or bump his head. He's really cut though and quite love able. He reminds me of my Aunt Marty's cocker spaniel Zelda.

Kara with sash and Amy to her left

The photos from the bach party indicate that the weekend went well. It was fun having Jud home one last weekend as a single fella. It will be really weird to see him married - my baby boy. I've been compiling pictures of him for a slide show for the wedding reception. Damn he was cute!

I attended a fun baby shower for my friend Deb's grandbaby yesterday. Jud and Deb's son Keith were pals through their early years. Of course I know all the hostesses - her 3 sisters. They are so funny. I was pleased to be included in this special event and happy to catch up with several people there.

Kelsey Peterson with Deb to her left and aunties.

Today after Jud left, Paul and I went to the DSM Home Show and stopped for a nummy Bloody Mary at Buzzard Billys before shopping for groceries for Amy's week long visit to DSM. can't wait to have our firstborn girl home for a week!

There you have it - not a thoughtful blog. I'll work on that - but a catch up on whatup with Leslie. Hope you have been doing okay.