LIFE CHANGES

After 5 years and 1 month of widowhood, I met a very nice man. It came about in a strange way, but I guess things that are meant to happen do happen that way. My very best friend since 3rd grade(that is 66 years ago) called me last winter from TX. She and her hubby,(my classmate also) winter down there every year. She said, Patti, I have met a man down here, a very nice widower and guess what, he lives in Michigan 10 miles from you house. She said that when they came home in the spring they would come see me and they would invite this man to go out to lunch with us.

I had not dated since my husband died and pretty much thought I would remain a widow and I was OK with that. My many friends, family, home, travel and garden keep me busy. That does not mean there were not many lonely times, but you do adjust in a fashion and kinda except things for what they are.

I had nearly forgotten about the fella, until my friend called and said they were coming to stay with me for the 4th of July weekend. Another couple of friends were coming also. So we all went out for lunch and Mr P met us. After lunch we all came back to my place where we played cards and ate pie. Mr P seemed like a nice enough fella.

The next morning my friends and I were lounging around in our jammies and having breakfast. The doorbell rang and there was Mr P again even tho none of us really remembered inviting him for breakfast.

From that time on I do believe Mr P was at my house most every day. The rest of the summer was filled with movies, dinners out and dinners in, long rides, games, cards, ice cream. Mr P met my family and friends and I met his family and friends. A much different life than what I had become accustom to.

We talked of marriage. I was not as sure as Mr P was, but a friend said to me, what are you waiting for. I had to admit that it was kinda silly to wait, as we were not spring chickens anymore and time at this age can be short. Both of us losing our spouses had taught us that.

So on October 22, 2011, we were married with around 70 of our family and best friends cheering us on. It was a wonderful simple, fun , but very meaningful wedding and really meant a lot to both Mr P and me.

Our now 10 children gave us a wonderful wedding night at a darling little inn in Frankfort. We had a wedding suite with champagne, dozen red roses and chocolate covered strawberries. We even had a jacuzzi and sauna. They also included a gift certificate for dinner at one of my favorite places. It was a wonderful gift to us.

So now we are ready to move forward with our new lives and enjoy each other and travel to wonderful and exciting places. I hope to chronicle our life and travels here as we travel thru our new lives.together.

SUMMER

Am so behind in blogging. Oh well it has been busy and much has happened. First of all it was a wonderful summer. Most of my family were here, but this summer mostly one family at a time. I love that, even tho I love for all the families to be together, it is nice to have the smaller groups. Just get to spend more time with each one. More one on one. I have never seen so much fishing going on. They all like it because you can throw in a line and almost immediately catch a little fish. Lots of fun.

Even got to Iowa a couple of times over the summer. I love going out there and seeing some of the grandchildren in their sports. Everyone always makes a great effort to all get together while there. It is just great.

Have surprise news in my next post!

June is almost history already.

My daughters Elie and Elin came for a couple of days on the Memorial Day weekend. I then rode back to Iowa with them so I could attend my granddaughter, Katy's graduation party.

Was a great party. She had the party with her friend, Jackelyn and they had a great turn out of friends and family.

I am so proud of Katy. Not only is she beautiful, but she graduated at the top of her class with a 4.3 grade point. She received many awards, was on the cross country team and soccer teams and was in many plays. I love it that she is always at all our family gatherings and she just loves all her cousins. She has done a lot of babysitting for her younger cousins for many years. She will be attending the University of Iowa next year. Next year will have 5 grandchildren in college. Going to be so much fun to see where their educations will lead them in the coming years.

This summer I have my grandson Ian in China and my granddaughter, Jenny just returned from studying fashion design in Florence, Italy for a semester. I'm thinking they are going to know a lot more about the world than I did at their age.

We are so ready!

The city has the beach ready, the petunias planted and the city streets cleaned. The beds are made, the laundry is done, the house is cleaned, the flowers and the garden are planted. Only need to make some cookies and finish the soup. So bring on summer, the tourists and friends and family. Am so ready and anxious to see everyone!!

Never thought I would see the day!

It seems like I have spent my life trying to save my teeth. I would really like to know the amount of money that has been spent in that pursuit.

I had really cute baby teeth. Only thing is, they did not fall out like most kids. My Mom became quite concerned when at 8 years old, I had not lost a tooth. So she carted me off to a dentist and a doctor, who gave me gas and pulled all my front top and bottom teeth.

When they gave me the gas and I was out, I all at once sat straight up and started screaming my lungs out. My Mom started screaming, Oh my you are hurting my darling daughter, and they had to escort her out of the room. I actually was not hurting, I believe it was just a reaction to the gas.

When we left the doctors office, my Mom and Grandma stopped and bought me some scissors and paper dolls. When we got home they were in the kitchen talking and I went into the living room and slid behind a chair. Instead of cutting out the paper dolls, I proceeded to take those scissors and cut off all my eyebrows and eyelashes. When my Mom came to check on me, she started screaming again. Here I sat with no teeth, no expression with no eyebrows or eyelashes. Must have been a pretty sight. Horrid thing was that I had just started at a new school and had to go to school looking like that.

Eventually I got my 2nd teeth only to have them come in all crooked. So then I wore braces for 5 years.

As years went by I lost a few teeth, had gum problems, got bridges, had root canals, crowns etc. Sometimes we had insurance and sometimes we didn't. My hubby was having dental problems along with me. Of course there were 7 children who needed dental care also. Not complaining that was just the way it was.

What I am getting at here is, what happened to me yesterday. I got up and had some swollen gums. Since I am planning to take a little trip next week, I thought I had best call my dentist and see what was going on. When I called them they said, Oh doctor is out of town till next week for his daughters wedding. But they said why don't you come in and we can take an xray and if you have an infection we can get you some drugs. When I got to the office, I was surprised to see my former dentist, who has retired standing there. I said what are you doing here and he said I thought I would see what is going on with you. Now this dentist is just the nicest man I know and also very good looking. Sometimes I am sad he is happily married to his lovely wife of many years(just kidding). Even tho I like the new dentist, I was very sad when this one retired.

So they take an xray, he checks my problem and we have some nice chats to catch up on our lives. He says I do not have an infection that will be helped by drugs or a tooth problem. More like a viral infection or irritation. Kinda like a canker sore on the gum. He gave me some stuff to rub on my gums and said it would go away in a few days. So I get up to leave and he follows me out to reception desk and we are chatting the whole time. At last I say, well I guess you had better give me the bill and they say, oh there is not charge! WHAT!!!!! In all these years that is the first time I have not had a bill at a dentist office...I still can not believe it. I knew I liked that man. Kinda made my day!! Guess there are some advantages to being a Sweet (debatable)Little(debatable) Old (not debatable) Lady after all.

Happy Mother's Day

My Mom has been gone now for 8 years next month. Oh how I miss her. Don't know why but the longer it is the more I seem to miss her.

Her name was Zelma Opal and she never liked her name. I always thought it was cool, cause I have never ever heard of anyone else having that name. One of my uncles used to call her Old Pal, which I liked too.

When I was very little she was very strict with me and spent a lot of time teaching me manners and how to behave. Every once in a while I would rebel and my punishment was to stand in a corner. I would be very upset and to get back at her I would pick my nose and wipe my boogers on the wall. Oh my, it was very hard for her to understand how her sweet child could act so horrid. As you can see, I definitely needed to be taught those manners. Poor Mom. I did eventually learn all she taught me and am so thankful for her patience and love.

I always knew she loved me, but she sometimes had a little problem. She was not always the most brave person. One time when we were up to a lake visiting some relatives, she and I went for a walk. I think I was about 7 or 8 years old. Suddenly out of no where a billy goat had gotten loose and started chasing us. Well so much for a Mother protecting her child.. We started to run toward the house. We were running as fast as we could and suddenly she ran right past me and into the house way before me. Leaving me to fend for myself. Luckily I did outrun the silly goat, but I never let her forget the fact that she was supposed to protect me. We laughed about that for years.

She was a wonderful cook and baker of the best cakes, pies and cookies. She loved to garden and had the most beauiful flowers around. Some called her the "flower lady". She and I just loved to go shopping together. She adored her grandchildren and the feeling was mutual. She was my very best friend and all my girl friend loved her too. She liked nothing better than to sit and gab with all us girls.

So I am missing my beautiful, wonderful Mom today, but I really miss her everyday. I shall always love her.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are still loved and missed by so many.

Some of the pretty flowers I rec'd from my thoughtful children. They all treat their old Mama very well. Thank you all and I just love you all to pieces!

MY HOW THINGS CHANGE

Today as I was going through some drawers full of lots of old pictures and such I found something kinda interesting. It was interesting to me because in my last post I wrote about my birthday.  So what I found was the hospital bill for my birth 74 year ago.  There seems to be quite a difference from the hospital bills of today. The bill was for $50.00 and my Mom spent 10 days in the hospital.  To be fair, I guess I should say that I think my Dad was making $15.00 a week delivering coal and my Mom was not working.  When my folks first got married, my Dad had a paper route which paid him $2.00 a week and my Mom earned $2.00 a week working for some rich folks.  She cleaned, cooked, did laundry and ironed.  She managed to save enough money out of those earnings to buy my Dad his first ever top coat.  Amazing.

Some day I will post a picture of my Dad  in his that new top coat.  He really looked quite dapper.