Musings in the dentist chair

When you're sitting in the dentist chair, getting your teeth cleaned, there isn't much to do but close your eyes and think.  My first thought (while being scraped and poked) was being thankful that I no longer had to "rinse and spit" into a porcelain bowl next to the dentist chair.  That was the most dreaded part of going to the dentist as a child.  I was always afraid of missing the bowl or drooling.

This is my daughter (not me) but she doesn't have to "rinse and spit"!  Lucky girl!

That memory caused a chain reaction to thinking about all the ways life has changed over the years.  Who would have thought there'd be so many changes in such a relatively short time.  Maybe this is what being a grandmother is all about..."I remember when..."

So, here goes...I remember...
Cars that weren't equipped with seat belts.
Clunky black telephones that had rotary dials and if you wanted information, you'd dial "O" for Operator and you'd get a real human on the other end of the line who would answer your question.
The "Five and Dime" was a variety store that sold a little of everything.  Sometimes they had a soda fountain and my mom would treat me to a soda.
Typewriters and correction tape and fluid. 
Looking up at the moon (with all the neighbors) the night of the first moon landing, and trying to see the lunar landing module.
Life without cell phones and computers...oh, and cable.
The milk man.  He'd come by the neighborhood twice a week, delivering dairy products to homes.
The Hostess man.  Similar to above only he brought bread products and baked goodies to neighborhoods.
Airlines that provided real meals on their flights.
Renting a VHS movie player and movie from the local movie store.
All sorts of cameras, from the boxy brownie camera to the Instamatic camera, to the instant Polaroids, to the 35mm film camera.
Kitchens without microwave ovens, crock pots, and dishwashers.
Black and white TV's.
Real candles on Christmas trees.
Riding a bicycle without a helmet.
Metal lunchboxes and sandwiches wrapped in wax paper.
Cloth diapers and the introduction of disposable diapers.

There are so many more things that I remember -  TV shows, movies, music, political and historical events, church events, local events, long-dead customs and traditions. 


I guess I'm just a walking fossil  :)  That's ok.  I'm really thankful that dentist offices now have high-tech suctioning tools so I no longer have to "rinse and spit". 

A change in the air

Where has the time gone?  Winter drags on forever and summer is gone before I know it.  Already the leaves are starting to turn colors and there is a different feel in the air. 

There's still time to enjoy the sunshine before the rains come!

There is still so much to do before the rainy season starts.  I want to clean out the garage, weed and clean up the lavender beds, put the compost on the garden (after we're done growing for the season), move a big truck load of garden soil from the driveway to the backyard (Why did my husband order it and then just leave it?!?!?!), plant bulbs and do general outside clean up.

I'm already starting to think of projects to do once the weather turns cold and rainy.  I really want to get more organized and set up a budget that I'll actually use.  I have some sewing projects that are calling me, some painting projects and some Pinterest crafts that look interesting. 

I will miss the sunshine and flip flops but love to curl up under a soft, fleecy blanket and read a good book and listen to the rain.  I guess I can be thankful that I live in an area where we have at least two seasons...cold and wet winters and warm and sometimes wet summers.  I love the Pacific Northwest!

"Aging well"

My beautiful daughter and me

My oldest daughter (36) was at a get-together and someone she hadn't seen in quite a while, came up to her and told her that she was "aging well".  She mentioned this to me with conflicting thoughts.  On the one hand, she supposed it was a compliment of sorts.  On the other hand, she took it to mean that it was obvious she was getting older.  That bothered her way more than she realized.

I can still remember the first time someone made a comment to me that made me realize I was no longer "young".  I went to a new hair dresser to get a haircut.  The woman cutting my hair, obviously trying to make "small talk", asked me if I had any grandchildren.  At the time I was 43 and had a household of children of various ages, the youngest being 6.  No, I was not a grandmother.  No, none of my children were married.  My only thought was, "Do I LOOK like a grandmother?!"  Needless to say, the treat of getting a haircut was spoiled by the thoughts going through my head as I contemplated that I could be a grandmother.  Grandmother...  Grandmother?  Grandmother!

At some point, we have to come to terms with our age and experience.  Age, in and of itself, is just a number.  Some people remain vibrant and alive well into their 80's while other people seem old and worn out much, much earlier. 

I became a grandmother for the first time at the age of 47 (4 years after that memorable remark) and thoroughly love my ten grandchildren.  They are a blessing in my life and far from making me feel older, they keep me young.  I admit that I'm still not thrilled with the term "grandmother" as it invokes a mind picture of a frail, white haired woman but I'm getting over it.   Maybe by the time I'm a frail, white haired woman, I'll feel comfortable with the term.  :)

Better late than never

Sometimes it takes me a looooong time to learn something.  But I'm here to tell you that I succeeded in heading off a potentially explosive "argument" with my husband by keeping my mouth shut and taking the time to process the situation rationally rather than react impulsively.

My husband likes to build things.  He is very creative and inventive but sometimes his vision of how things ought to be differs from my vision.  Well, he made something very unique and creative and I think he thought I'd be pleased.  Let's just say it wasn't exactly what I pictured.  But when I thought about it, I reminded myself that he was solving a problem HIS way and what he made was going to work out fine...even though it wasn't what I would have done.  He put in a lot of time and effort to build it and I didn't need to hurt him by complaining.  It wasn't worth making an issue about.

You'd think I would have learned how to think before I speak long ago.  Oh well, better late than never  :)

Family reunions!

The family that plays together STAYS together!

My children and I decided that it's now time to start organizing an annual family reunion.  We've talked about it for years but there's always been something more urgent to take precedence (like one or more of the kids getting married in a particular year!).  Now that the weddings are officially over, we can turn our focus on other ways to get together.

Staying close as a family is not easy when kids marry and live in many different cities and states but is so important to maintain family unity.  Family newsletters, blogs, Skype, and of course, talking on the phone are all good ways to connect but aren't all inclusive.  And with a large family, a spontaneous get together just doesn't happen!

After brainstorming with some of my daughters we came up with the following -
1. We have to plan a year in advance for everyone to get time off work and start saving.
2. The reunion should be at least 2 days...3 is better.  That gives everyone time to recover from travel and have time to leisurely visit.
3. A different place each year will spread out the amount of travel for each family.
4. Special occasions might coincide with the reunion.  For example, my two Utah grandkids are having milestone birthdays (concerning our church) so our first reunion is being planned around them.
5. We have to take a family picture sometime during the reunion.
6. Everyone is required to have fun  :)  That was MY idea  :)

I love it when my family gets together!

It's going to take effort but I can't think of anything more deserving than keeping a growing family close.  Plans are already underway...can't wait!

The decade birthdays

Often the decade birthdays (30, 40, 50, etc) are not happily anticipated.  Even though a birthday means just one year older, the decade birthdays represent a passage into another DECADE.  Turning 40 is acknowledging leaving the child bearing years and entering middle age.  Turning 50 often represents becoming grandparents and you know what being a grandparent means...being old!  And 60?  You can no longer hide the fact that you aren't young any more.

In a year and a half, I will be turning 60 and I decided that I am going to treat it differently.  I am not going to hide the fact that I'm going to be 60...in fact, I've started mentioning to people that "after all, I'm almost 60" and it's fun to see their reaction.  :)  Most people look startled that I am so casual admitting to turning "that certain age".  

Maybe by the time I actually have that decade birthday, I'll be used to the number and will enter that new decade with grace and thankfulness for 60 years of life.

The realization

Five of my kids (technically 4 but one is like a part of the family) got together last night to reminisce and celebrate their sister's upcoming wedding.  I was relaxing in a comfy recliner, listening to their happy chatter when I realized how much I miss those days when they were all at home, chattering and gossiping, teasing and laughing.  With this upcoming wedding, it will truly mark my passage into the "empty nest" group.  There is some sadness and longing for the time when they were younger but also happiness and joy for the amazing adults they've become and the awesome people they picked for their spouses.  I feel truly thankful.  I guess it's possible to be happy and sad at the same time.   Sigh...