How many of you had sisters or brothers or both? Did you ever go for rides in the car with your parents when you were young? How many of you fought for the window seat or shot gun in the front seat? Were there more kids than window seats in the car? I'm here to tell you a story about just that.
In our family, we went for a drive every Sunday. You did not get asked if you wanted to go, it was just an unspoken rule. It was family time. It was a time for you to talk, sing and visit with the rest of your family. We had a ball most of the time, but at times all that was heard was fighting and arguing about where you were sitting and who was beside you.
There were three of us girls, mom and dad. My little sister usually sat in the front seat between mom and dad, but there were times when all three of us were forced to sit in the backseat. This usually caused a big fight that started with the statement "She's touching me or she's looking at me". That lead to repeated punches from the sister you were beside and usually a slap from mom. None of us saw the slap before it hit. We were never sure how or when Mom's arm grew to the length it took to reach us.
I was the oldest and usually sat behind my dad. Deb was beside the window, behind mom and Char in the middle, with NO WINDOW. It is tough to the be smallest of three kids in a car with only side windows. At times we would take turns laying in the back window. It was fun looking up at the sky, laying on your back. If you got caught letting a kid do that now, you would probably get arrested for child endangerment. Back then, it was accepted to do things like that, just like riding in the back of a pickup truck was ok.
I can remember going for drives all the time. It was fun and usually entertaining. We went everywhere together. I am really lucky to have had the childhood I did. We did not have a lot of money, but got to do a lot of fun things with our parents. We cut our own Christmas Tree every year, went on camping trips every summer, and travelled to different places, always together. Back then I am not sure we thought it was all that great a thing to do, but if I had it to do over again I would not change anything.
We were together as a family. It is fun to remember all the things we did, and no matter where we went or what car we took, before the trip was over there was always someone yelling about something the other sister or sisters had done or were doing. Now we just smile and giggle when we hear, "Mom, she's touching me" or "Mom, tell her to quit looking at me". Kids will be kids. We had a great life at home and on the road with Mom and Dad. Oh to be young again.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
The field of rocks
Not sure how many of you remember the year you were in grade five. What did you do for fun? How many things did you do in school? What kind of sports programs did you have? Well I am here to tell you that the year I was in grade 5, there was no fun to be had on our school grounds.
The year started out like any other. School started and everyone was having a great time. This was the first time I had been to a school where I did not know anyone. We had moved out of town to 4 mile. The area was ok, and the kids we met were like us, but a new school!!! The first day was scary. Very few of the kids knew me or my sister. We had not had time to meet many people that summer, just a few of the kids that lived on the same road as we did.
I had always been a really good student, at least till now. My teachers had all been women, kind and gentle. Now I was forced into a classroom with a male teacher. I will call him Mr. F. He was big and gruff and had no time for any sissy or girly stuff. He promptly put me in remedial reading. We found out shortly after that, I needed glasses. Was not that I could not read, but could not see well enough to read what little I could see. That started me off on a really crappy foot. Now I was called four eyes. And that was not all. This was the first time I had ever had a perm in my hair, and I looked like I had stuck my finger in a light socket. Can you imagine starting in a new school, getting glasses, permed hair and not knowing anyone. OMG what else could they have done to me. I wanted to crawl under the nearest rock.
Then there was the most dreamy boy.... I can remember seeing him for the first time. Oh what a god. What a beautiful sight to look at. Every time he would look my way, I would blush and turn away. I found out that he took square dancing. Now why would anyone do that? Only nerds and geeks took square dancing. Well I went directly home and demanded to go. Now comes the big crinolines that made your skirt stick straight out. I had no idea that they made things like that. I had to have them. I had to go and take square dancing, he was there. That lasted about a year and then dwindled to me not going anymore, I had found the man of my dreams elsewhere. Funny how when your young your idea of perfection changes from one minute to the next.
Then came the classes. All the classes were the same as in ever other school I had been to, till now. I had to take P.E. on what I thought was a dirt field. Little did I know that was not the case.
The school was set in a huge bunch of trees. They had brought in the bulldozers during the summer to level the playing field. They had done a great job, except for one thing. The field was now covered with small rocks that were everywhere. How were we going to do anything on that field except get cut and scraped up. We were about to find out.
The first P.E. class was outside on the what was to be our beautiful grass covered field, but first the rocks had to go. Each of us was given an area, and a bucket and told that our P.E. class was going to pick up rocks for a while each class. Now we were under the stupid impression that this would be something that would only happen for a short period of time. Silly silly children. This went on for two years. The first year, it was all the bigger rocks. The large ones were put around the edge of the field, while the smaller ones were carted off by the boys in the buckets that were provided for us.
Can you see the kids of today doing that? Can you hear what would come out of their mouths if told that was what they were to do? NOT. The parents would be up in arms and they would be removing their children from that school in a heart beat.
Now we did this with a lot of grumbling and griping, but we did it because we were told we had to. Back then you did not under any circumstances argue, contradict, or refuse to do what you were told. It was nothing for a kid to be sent to the principles office for the strap for mouthing off. Its funny, because if you got the strap at school, most of the time when you got home, you got it worse for being a bad kid. OMG the lawsuits that would take place today!!! First would be child labour laws and child abuse.... I can just see it now. The papers splashed with all the horrible things children were made to do, or things that had happened to them.
In the end, we lived through it and we had a beautiful field that was used until the school was closed very recently. It was a chore that we were privileged to do that lead to a great accomplishment. We did not see it at the time, but did in the years that followed. It was a field of rocks we became very proud of.
The year started out like any other. School started and everyone was having a great time. This was the first time I had been to a school where I did not know anyone. We had moved out of town to 4 mile. The area was ok, and the kids we met were like us, but a new school!!! The first day was scary. Very few of the kids knew me or my sister. We had not had time to meet many people that summer, just a few of the kids that lived on the same road as we did.
I had always been a really good student, at least till now. My teachers had all been women, kind and gentle. Now I was forced into a classroom with a male teacher. I will call him Mr. F. He was big and gruff and had no time for any sissy or girly stuff. He promptly put me in remedial reading. We found out shortly after that, I needed glasses. Was not that I could not read, but could not see well enough to read what little I could see. That started me off on a really crappy foot. Now I was called four eyes. And that was not all. This was the first time I had ever had a perm in my hair, and I looked like I had stuck my finger in a light socket. Can you imagine starting in a new school, getting glasses, permed hair and not knowing anyone. OMG what else could they have done to me. I wanted to crawl under the nearest rock.
Then there was the most dreamy boy.... I can remember seeing him for the first time. Oh what a god. What a beautiful sight to look at. Every time he would look my way, I would blush and turn away. I found out that he took square dancing. Now why would anyone do that? Only nerds and geeks took square dancing. Well I went directly home and demanded to go. Now comes the big crinolines that made your skirt stick straight out. I had no idea that they made things like that. I had to have them. I had to go and take square dancing, he was there. That lasted about a year and then dwindled to me not going anymore, I had found the man of my dreams elsewhere. Funny how when your young your idea of perfection changes from one minute to the next.
Then came the classes. All the classes were the same as in ever other school I had been to, till now. I had to take P.E. on what I thought was a dirt field. Little did I know that was not the case.
The school was set in a huge bunch of trees. They had brought in the bulldozers during the summer to level the playing field. They had done a great job, except for one thing. The field was now covered with small rocks that were everywhere. How were we going to do anything on that field except get cut and scraped up. We were about to find out.
The first P.E. class was outside on the what was to be our beautiful grass covered field, but first the rocks had to go. Each of us was given an area, and a bucket and told that our P.E. class was going to pick up rocks for a while each class. Now we were under the stupid impression that this would be something that would only happen for a short period of time. Silly silly children. This went on for two years. The first year, it was all the bigger rocks. The large ones were put around the edge of the field, while the smaller ones were carted off by the boys in the buckets that were provided for us.
Can you see the kids of today doing that? Can you hear what would come out of their mouths if told that was what they were to do? NOT. The parents would be up in arms and they would be removing their children from that school in a heart beat.
Now we did this with a lot of grumbling and griping, but we did it because we were told we had to. Back then you did not under any circumstances argue, contradict, or refuse to do what you were told. It was nothing for a kid to be sent to the principles office for the strap for mouthing off. Its funny, because if you got the strap at school, most of the time when you got home, you got it worse for being a bad kid. OMG the lawsuits that would take place today!!! First would be child labour laws and child abuse.... I can just see it now. The papers splashed with all the horrible things children were made to do, or things that had happened to them.
In the end, we lived through it and we had a beautiful field that was used until the school was closed very recently. It was a chore that we were privileged to do that lead to a great accomplishment. We did not see it at the time, but did in the years that followed. It was a field of rocks we became very proud of.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The train, a wonderful way to go
When you were kids, did you get to go places? Did your parents take you to different cities and sights? Have you ever travelled on a train? Did you visit family and friends in places far away from your home?
We were lucky as kids to be able to travel. We spent lots of time on the train back and forth to our old home town and our grand parents. You see my dad worked for the railroad and we road for a very minimal cost, allowing us to travel often. When I say often, I mean probably 3-4 times a year. More often than most.
Now we road often enough that the conductor on the Budcar(as it was called) would bring us goodies from the local fruit stands. Fresh strawberries, cherries and such throughout the summer months, berries, peaches, plums and apples in the fall.
Now everyone thinks that the train is such a romantic way to travel. I bet if you talked to my mom, she would say, not so much. We would sit and count telephone poles and posts... before long, one of us would throw up, usually all over someones feet. Yuck.
Then there was the sleeping cars. This is nice if there is just one of you, but two small and i mean little girls, a baby and a mother can make for some really cramped quarters. No one really got much sleep... The really crappy time was when you had to change trains. It was always in the middle of the night and the lay over was usually too long for us to sit and wait. We would get a small hotel room close to the depot and sleep for a few hours and then back on the train(usually around 5am) to gramas house.
Today the train is a lot different. Cars are not as busy or crowded. Then, lots of people road the train. It was fun, when it was not full and you didn't have to sit next to your sister all the time. At least on the train you could get up and move around, and there was a bathroom(although not always the cleanest) to use. Very necessary with three little girls, one of us always had to go.
The train was a nice way for us to travel. It did keep us occupied for long periods of time. All mom had to do was to tell us to watch for a particular thing, and then we would be quiet and stare out the window for a time trying to find one.
We did get to see some really great country. We got to go through a place called Frank Slide. This is where, while people of the town slept, the mountain gave way and slid down and covered a town. No rocks have been removed. It is a place of remembrance, and as a memorial you are discouraged from removing even the smallest of rock out of respect for the people that were buried. It takes your breath away. It is overwhelming to think that something like that could happen.
We got to go through the Rocky Mountains, the Plains and across many rivers.
It is awe inspiring to see the wheat of the plains when full grown. Miles and miles of golden shafts waving in the wind. It reminds me of ocean waves ebbing and flowing towards and away from the beach. A golden sea of wheat as far as the eye can see. The prairies life blood. Every now and then a patch of green. A small body of water that feeds the trees and grass surrounding it. The hills and valleys that mark the landscape of the prairies. It can be desolate and beautiful all at the same time.
We were lucky to be able to see as much as we did. I know of people that have never been outside the area where they were born. I have been blessed to have been so many places. Today I still travel and drive as often as I can when doing so. I love to see the different areas and how the terrain changes. I wish the train system was more accessible to me where I live now. I would spend a lot more time travelling via rail. Sit back and let the train take you where you want to go. The train, what a wonderful way to go.
We were lucky as kids to be able to travel. We spent lots of time on the train back and forth to our old home town and our grand parents. You see my dad worked for the railroad and we road for a very minimal cost, allowing us to travel often. When I say often, I mean probably 3-4 times a year. More often than most.
Now we road often enough that the conductor on the Budcar(as it was called) would bring us goodies from the local fruit stands. Fresh strawberries, cherries and such throughout the summer months, berries, peaches, plums and apples in the fall.
Now everyone thinks that the train is such a romantic way to travel. I bet if you talked to my mom, she would say, not so much. We would sit and count telephone poles and posts... before long, one of us would throw up, usually all over someones feet. Yuck.
Then there was the sleeping cars. This is nice if there is just one of you, but two small and i mean little girls, a baby and a mother can make for some really cramped quarters. No one really got much sleep... The really crappy time was when you had to change trains. It was always in the middle of the night and the lay over was usually too long for us to sit and wait. We would get a small hotel room close to the depot and sleep for a few hours and then back on the train(usually around 5am) to gramas house.
Today the train is a lot different. Cars are not as busy or crowded. Then, lots of people road the train. It was fun, when it was not full and you didn't have to sit next to your sister all the time. At least on the train you could get up and move around, and there was a bathroom(although not always the cleanest) to use. Very necessary with three little girls, one of us always had to go.
The train was a nice way for us to travel. It did keep us occupied for long periods of time. All mom had to do was to tell us to watch for a particular thing, and then we would be quiet and stare out the window for a time trying to find one.
We did get to see some really great country. We got to go through a place called Frank Slide. This is where, while people of the town slept, the mountain gave way and slid down and covered a town. No rocks have been removed. It is a place of remembrance, and as a memorial you are discouraged from removing even the smallest of rock out of respect for the people that were buried. It takes your breath away. It is overwhelming to think that something like that could happen.
We got to go through the Rocky Mountains, the Plains and across many rivers.
It is awe inspiring to see the wheat of the plains when full grown. Miles and miles of golden shafts waving in the wind. It reminds me of ocean waves ebbing and flowing towards and away from the beach. A golden sea of wheat as far as the eye can see. The prairies life blood. Every now and then a patch of green. A small body of water that feeds the trees and grass surrounding it. The hills and valleys that mark the landscape of the prairies. It can be desolate and beautiful all at the same time.
We were lucky to be able to see as much as we did. I know of people that have never been outside the area where they were born. I have been blessed to have been so many places. Today I still travel and drive as often as I can when doing so. I love to see the different areas and how the terrain changes. I wish the train system was more accessible to me where I live now. I would spend a lot more time travelling via rail. Sit back and let the train take you where you want to go. The train, what a wonderful way to go.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sing like no one can hear you
It takes a lot to surprise me! I very seldom see or hear things that take my breath away anymore. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear something that did just that. Took my breath away and made me cry.
I was going through my emails this morning and had openned most of them when I came to one from my mom. I had looked at it a couple of times and it had an attatchment to Youtube and I don't very often open them. For some reason, this time I did.
The video that I saw blew me right out of my shoes. On the video, was the equivalent of America's Got Talent, only in Korea. This young guy came out on stage and started to answer questions about his life. You see, in Korea you have to answer questions about your life and family on the applications form( not sure if that is part of what you have to do here). They asked him questions that brought out the fact that this young man had no family, had lived on the street selling gum and sports drinks since he was FIVE years old. He slept anywhere that was warm and covered (toilets, doorways etc). He was ridiculed and abused from the time he was very young.
He had seen a singer in a club where he had been selling things and had fallen in love with singing.
He said he did not sing very well and had only had a couple of lessons(only took them when he could afford it), but he loved to sing because of the way it made him feel. He then took a step back and what came out of his mouth was the most beautiful thing I have heard in some time. He sang from his heart. He sang because he loved it.
When he started to sing, the faces of the judges said it all. The audience went wild. The judges began to cry. He had the most beautiful voice and sound. One of the judges said that she wanted to pay for voice lessons for him, so he would continue to sing. He was put through to the next round. I hope that he wins and becomes like some of the well known singers that we have seen here.
The video is on Youtube for anyone to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y&feature=aso It is funny, when you love something so much, you can see it in the face of the person doing it. It would be wonderful if everyone could find something that made them smile and feel good about themselves. It also shows that no matter what situation you are put in, or come from, something good can come from it.
When you love to do something, it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Do it because you love it. Do it often. Make yourself smile. Like the saying goes, "Sing like no one can hear you, dance like no one is watching". You are what matters, no one else.
I was going through my emails this morning and had openned most of them when I came to one from my mom. I had looked at it a couple of times and it had an attatchment to Youtube and I don't very often open them. For some reason, this time I did.
The video that I saw blew me right out of my shoes. On the video, was the equivalent of America's Got Talent, only in Korea. This young guy came out on stage and started to answer questions about his life. You see, in Korea you have to answer questions about your life and family on the applications form( not sure if that is part of what you have to do here). They asked him questions that brought out the fact that this young man had no family, had lived on the street selling gum and sports drinks since he was FIVE years old. He slept anywhere that was warm and covered (toilets, doorways etc). He was ridiculed and abused from the time he was very young.
He had seen a singer in a club where he had been selling things and had fallen in love with singing.
He said he did not sing very well and had only had a couple of lessons(only took them when he could afford it), but he loved to sing because of the way it made him feel. He then took a step back and what came out of his mouth was the most beautiful thing I have heard in some time. He sang from his heart. He sang because he loved it.
When he started to sing, the faces of the judges said it all. The audience went wild. The judges began to cry. He had the most beautiful voice and sound. One of the judges said that she wanted to pay for voice lessons for him, so he would continue to sing. He was put through to the next round. I hope that he wins and becomes like some of the well known singers that we have seen here.
The video is on Youtube for anyone to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y&feature=aso It is funny, when you love something so much, you can see it in the face of the person doing it. It would be wonderful if everyone could find something that made them smile and feel good about themselves. It also shows that no matter what situation you are put in, or come from, something good can come from it.
When you love to do something, it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Do it because you love it. Do it often. Make yourself smile. Like the saying goes, "Sing like no one can hear you, dance like no one is watching". You are what matters, no one else.
And the cops just stood there!
Have you ever been so scared or so flabbergasted that you could not speak? If you can believe it, this happened to my sisters and I. You have to understand this is hard to accomplish in our family.
The day started just like any other. Mom was off to work at the dress shop. We off to do whatever kids did on the weekends. Dad did some gardening and chopping wood for the winter. We all came home around 4 as usual. We started getting things ready for dinner, setting the table, making salad and laying out things to do later. Then it was time to go to town to pick up Mom.
We all piled in the car. No seat belts back then. Windows down and off we went to town. The ride was just like any other. Singing at the top of our lungs, any song that we remembered the words to. Past Ridgewood road, past Blaylocks mansion, past three mile road. Along the lake and then out of no where here comes a car up behind us. Dad waves the car around us on the straight stretch and they pass. Then the car slows down and makes dad slow down. He figures it is some tourist that has seen something, so he puts on his blinker and heads out to pass the car. Mom is waiting to be picked up.
When we get up even with the other car, it speeds up. It is some kids in the car that are now wanting to play chicken. I can see my dads face change.
My dad is a fairly mild mannered man, but can lose his temper when provoked. He is being provoked. This cat and mouse game with the cars is starting to make him really angry. All he can think of is the fact he has three little girls in the car with him.
We rounded the corner by the old A&W Drive Inn, that has long since gone the way of most. By now the kid is driving really fast. He won't let us go by and he won't drive at a reasonable speed with us behind him. Dad hits the bridge and steps on the gas. Unbenounced to us there is an RCMP sitting at the enterance to the bridge. Dad finally gets by the kid at the other end of the bridge. The cop puts on his lights. Both cars pull over to the side of the road. We are all giggling cause we got to drive fast and pass someone on the bridge. We thought this was all really neat until daddy got out of the car and slammed the door telling us to stay put.
He walked right past the cop that was standing there, walked up to the kid driving the car and we thought he was going to pull the kid through his window. He did a lot of gesturing, which today I would have known what he was saying. His face was red, he was yelling at the kid. When he finished, he turned, walked right past the cop and got in our car and left. We went down and picked up Mom and headed home. All of us jumping around trying to tell our mommy what had just happened. Dad yelling at us to be quiet and sit down.
On the way home, we were about two miles out the lake when the lights of the police car came on behind us. Very much expecting to be ticketed, or taken to jail, dad pulled over and sat waiting for the police officer to come to the window. When the police arrived at the window, he very calmly asked if dad was Mr. Cartlidge. Dad said yes. Then something that was very unexpected happened. The officer asked dad if everyone was ok and did he want to press charges. I don't remember what dad said, but I never did hear anymore about it, so I suspect the fact that he had scared the kid to death when he walked up to the car once stopped, was more than enough to make dad content. The officer said to have a nice day and left.
We went home and started dinner, never to speak of it again. At least not till we all get together and start talking about driving in the car with mom and dad. Then it comes out. The day that dad walked right past the police and they just stood there.
The day started just like any other. Mom was off to work at the dress shop. We off to do whatever kids did on the weekends. Dad did some gardening and chopping wood for the winter. We all came home around 4 as usual. We started getting things ready for dinner, setting the table, making salad and laying out things to do later. Then it was time to go to town to pick up Mom.
We all piled in the car. No seat belts back then. Windows down and off we went to town. The ride was just like any other. Singing at the top of our lungs, any song that we remembered the words to. Past Ridgewood road, past Blaylocks mansion, past three mile road. Along the lake and then out of no where here comes a car up behind us. Dad waves the car around us on the straight stretch and they pass. Then the car slows down and makes dad slow down. He figures it is some tourist that has seen something, so he puts on his blinker and heads out to pass the car. Mom is waiting to be picked up.
When we get up even with the other car, it speeds up. It is some kids in the car that are now wanting to play chicken. I can see my dads face change.
My dad is a fairly mild mannered man, but can lose his temper when provoked. He is being provoked. This cat and mouse game with the cars is starting to make him really angry. All he can think of is the fact he has three little girls in the car with him.
We rounded the corner by the old A&W Drive Inn, that has long since gone the way of most. By now the kid is driving really fast. He won't let us go by and he won't drive at a reasonable speed with us behind him. Dad hits the bridge and steps on the gas. Unbenounced to us there is an RCMP sitting at the enterance to the bridge. Dad finally gets by the kid at the other end of the bridge. The cop puts on his lights. Both cars pull over to the side of the road. We are all giggling cause we got to drive fast and pass someone on the bridge. We thought this was all really neat until daddy got out of the car and slammed the door telling us to stay put.
He walked right past the cop that was standing there, walked up to the kid driving the car and we thought he was going to pull the kid through his window. He did a lot of gesturing, which today I would have known what he was saying. His face was red, he was yelling at the kid. When he finished, he turned, walked right past the cop and got in our car and left. We went down and picked up Mom and headed home. All of us jumping around trying to tell our mommy what had just happened. Dad yelling at us to be quiet and sit down.
On the way home, we were about two miles out the lake when the lights of the police car came on behind us. Very much expecting to be ticketed, or taken to jail, dad pulled over and sat waiting for the police officer to come to the window. When the police arrived at the window, he very calmly asked if dad was Mr. Cartlidge. Dad said yes. Then something that was very unexpected happened. The officer asked dad if everyone was ok and did he want to press charges. I don't remember what dad said, but I never did hear anymore about it, so I suspect the fact that he had scared the kid to death when he walked up to the car once stopped, was more than enough to make dad content. The officer said to have a nice day and left.
We went home and started dinner, never to speak of it again. At least not till we all get together and start talking about driving in the car with mom and dad. Then it comes out. The day that dad walked right past the police and they just stood there.
The things we did
Is your family the brunt of all the jokes? Do you spend time thinking of things your family has done that will make people laugh? Are you the one they laugh about? Do you make up things just so you are like everyone else? Is your family fun or funny? Do they laugh with you or at you. Are you the one everyone jokes about or the one that makes all the jokes?
I am here to tell you that my family is the best. They do and say things that keep everyone giggling. We have fun and laugh about all that happens to us. No one can ever say this family is stuffy.
It was nothing for us girls to grab a can of whipped cream and smush it all over our dad's head. Not a good idea. You see dad was very particular about the way his hair looks. He would chase us all over the house trying to catch us, which he always did. My god could dad run. Then we would pay. Whipped cream everywhere. It has also happened with shaving cream. He was usually mad about it happening, but was laughing by the time he caught us and covered us with whatever we had used on him. He did not stop at one of us either, all the people involved got the wrath of dad. Then you had to clean up the mess throughout the house. Mom always knew what we were about to do and warned us, about what would happen. We never listened, at least I never did.
I remember the day I got caught smoking. OMG I wanted to die. Or at least I did when mom and dad got done. My sister and I got home from school to find both of them sitting waiting for us. There was a pack of cigarettes in dad's hand. He did not smoke anymore. Why did he have cigarettes? We, Deb and I were about to find out. "Do either of you smoke" he asked? "Of course not"! we said. We had been seen by him or mom or someone that squealed on us. Not bad enough that he had seen us smoking, but we had just been caught in a lie. Bold faced lie to boot. He made us sit there and smoke until we both turned every shade of green you could imagine. I guess he figured if he made us sick enough, we would stop. Worked for a while. I went back to smoking and did until 5 years ago when I quit cold turkey. Deb smoked off and on for a while. She quit a few years back if I remember right. All of us kids smoked for a time. Last count, all of us have quit. Just took a while for it to sink in I guess.
Driving, now that is another story all together. All of the kids in our family got their drivers licences before they turned 20. Not me. I am one that has to push all the boundaries until nearly caught. Now its not to say I did not drive. I drove all the time. It was usually someone elses car and no one ever asked me if I had a licence, and I never offered the information. I can remember the police pulling me over on more than one occasion and me talking or crying my way out of showing a licence or registration or insurance card. Not sure how I did that, but I was good at it. This is not something that I would recommend anyone try. I just happened to live in a small town where you knew everyone, including the police and everyone knew you. I did however get my licence when I was 33. I moved to a small town called Fort Nelson, where I met the man I would marry. He had company vehicles and for me to drive, I had to prove I had a licence. Off we went to the drivers bureau, where I took my test and the driving test and walked out with my own drivers licence. I was so proud. Now I was legal. Took the fun out of everything. Who wants to drive when you can. LOL. Now I drive everywhere.
As a family we did a lot of fun things. We have had fights, both good and bad, water and food water fights were all of our favourite. When I say water fight, I mean hoses, buckets and any other article that held large amounts of water. Even if you were not wanting to, you got involved and were soaked to the skin when all was said and done. God we have fun. I miss all the fun times when we lived at home. We have parents that put up with a lot of crap from us. The lies, the tales, the truth and all that fell between. We were lucky. Our parents understood we were kids and would try and do things that we keep us entertained. We did a lot of camping and things that pertained to the outdoors. We were taught from day one what was good and what was wrong or bad. They had strict parents. Raised in familys that came through the dirty thirtys and from farming communities, I think mom (the good girl) going with a "bad boy" (or so everyone thought) and my dad being the "bad boy" (played drums in a band and rode a Harley motorcycle) may have had something to do with the way they raised us. We were punished for the bad things and praised for the good. Anyway, we had and always have fun.
I am here to tell you that my family is the best. They do and say things that keep everyone giggling. We have fun and laugh about all that happens to us. No one can ever say this family is stuffy.
It was nothing for us girls to grab a can of whipped cream and smush it all over our dad's head. Not a good idea. You see dad was very particular about the way his hair looks. He would chase us all over the house trying to catch us, which he always did. My god could dad run. Then we would pay. Whipped cream everywhere. It has also happened with shaving cream. He was usually mad about it happening, but was laughing by the time he caught us and covered us with whatever we had used on him. He did not stop at one of us either, all the people involved got the wrath of dad. Then you had to clean up the mess throughout the house. Mom always knew what we were about to do and warned us, about what would happen. We never listened, at least I never did.
I remember the day I got caught smoking. OMG I wanted to die. Or at least I did when mom and dad got done. My sister and I got home from school to find both of them sitting waiting for us. There was a pack of cigarettes in dad's hand. He did not smoke anymore. Why did he have cigarettes? We, Deb and I were about to find out. "Do either of you smoke" he asked? "Of course not"! we said. We had been seen by him or mom or someone that squealed on us. Not bad enough that he had seen us smoking, but we had just been caught in a lie. Bold faced lie to boot. He made us sit there and smoke until we both turned every shade of green you could imagine. I guess he figured if he made us sick enough, we would stop. Worked for a while. I went back to smoking and did until 5 years ago when I quit cold turkey. Deb smoked off and on for a while. She quit a few years back if I remember right. All of us kids smoked for a time. Last count, all of us have quit. Just took a while for it to sink in I guess.
Driving, now that is another story all together. All of the kids in our family got their drivers licences before they turned 20. Not me. I am one that has to push all the boundaries until nearly caught. Now its not to say I did not drive. I drove all the time. It was usually someone elses car and no one ever asked me if I had a licence, and I never offered the information. I can remember the police pulling me over on more than one occasion and me talking or crying my way out of showing a licence or registration or insurance card. Not sure how I did that, but I was good at it. This is not something that I would recommend anyone try. I just happened to live in a small town where you knew everyone, including the police and everyone knew you. I did however get my licence when I was 33. I moved to a small town called Fort Nelson, where I met the man I would marry. He had company vehicles and for me to drive, I had to prove I had a licence. Off we went to the drivers bureau, where I took my test and the driving test and walked out with my own drivers licence. I was so proud. Now I was legal. Took the fun out of everything. Who wants to drive when you can. LOL. Now I drive everywhere.
As a family we did a lot of fun things. We have had fights, both good and bad, water and food water fights were all of our favourite. When I say water fight, I mean hoses, buckets and any other article that held large amounts of water. Even if you were not wanting to, you got involved and were soaked to the skin when all was said and done. God we have fun. I miss all the fun times when we lived at home. We have parents that put up with a lot of crap from us. The lies, the tales, the truth and all that fell between. We were lucky. Our parents understood we were kids and would try and do things that we keep us entertained. We did a lot of camping and things that pertained to the outdoors. We were taught from day one what was good and what was wrong or bad. They had strict parents. Raised in familys that came through the dirty thirtys and from farming communities, I think mom (the good girl) going with a "bad boy" (or so everyone thought) and my dad being the "bad boy" (played drums in a band and rode a Harley motorcycle) may have had something to do with the way they raised us. We were punished for the bad things and praised for the good. Anyway, we had and always have fun.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Just ask Dolly
Questions? Answers? Are you someone that people question about things? Do you have answers to questions asked? Do you try and help others? Are you someone that tries to help when others don't want it? Do you have a face that says, "ask me". Hope this makes you laugh.
My day normally starts out with me putting my foot in my mouth numerous times. The only time I take my foot out, is to put the other one in. I have over the years done and said some really stupid things, and there has always been someone there to haul my ass out of the fire. Usually family, but every now and then it has been a friend. Then like the stupid ass I am, I stick my foot in my mouth and say something really dumb. I try really hard not to hurt others, but sometime I do without realizing that is what I have done.
The other day I made kind of a smart ass comment about some things that were going on, both at work and at home and the comment snowballed. OMG. To think that people actually listened to what I say! Guess that shows me. I get the feeling that, because of my age, people at work kind of see me as a mother figure. NOT. I am a mother, but more of a figure that you really dont want to model yourself after. You see, if you ask my kids, I am not the best mother in the world. One of my kids won't talk to me, two of them don't have anything to do with me, and there is one that I don't talk to right now because I am fed up with the BS. Now that only leaves two children who speak to me. Not such a great average for someone that has six kids. C'est la vie (thats french for Oh Well (loose translation).
Anyway, back to my original thoughts. On numerous occasions my mouth overloads my ass causing me some really big issues. I say what I think. I was taught that if you don't, how is anyone ever going to know. OOOPPPSSSS guess when mom and dad told us that, they forgot to give us the part about not taking it to far. I speak my mind about everything and I mean everything. Just ask the people I work with. When someone asks a question, or makes a statement about something, they get my opinion whether they want it or not. We have had some very candid conversations, and I am not afraid or offended by any subject. How do you, as young people find out about things if you don't ask?
We were talking one day about patients holding their urine for too long and not making it to the bathroom. Well the Dr. that was there is kind of a soft heart, and when we told him about this lady that had that problem, he wanted to get a consult for a specialist. Me and my big mouth. I blurted out, if I lay in bed too long, I have pee running down my leg trying to get to the bathroom. Good guy that he is, he laughed and said TMI(to much info for those of you that don't know what it means). I speak my mind. There are some that don't think it is so cute. If you don't want my opinion, don't make open ended statements!
Then there is the sex stuff. I have found that if you don't make everything taboo, you get some really candid questions put to you. Now no one has ever called me a prude. Not even close, but there are some questions that you should be asking your doctor and not me. I think that I am very lucky that people find me that accessable and feel that comfortable talking to me about stuff. My kids over the years have done the same thing. To them, there is nothing taboo. Hell the sex talks that we have had, would make anyone elses mom have a small coronary. Guess since I am a nurse, they think anything is fair game. Sex, drugs, rock and roll and everything in between is all fair game, and Dolly/mom/grama is where the questions land. Would tell you what some of them are, but then I would have to be put in witness protection, cause my kids would want to kill me for telling you. I love that they feel able to talk to me about anything, but there are some things mom's don't want to know about...... eeeewwwwwww...
I am a wealth of information or so everyone thinks. I can come up with answers for gardening, sewing, rock and roll, medical issues, TV, marriage, drugs and or sex. Give me a minute and I will find out if it does not roll off my tongue when asked. I am going to write a book and call it Dolly's answer book. Should help anyone that might have a question about something.
Please don't think that I am being snide about this. I think it is great that everyone comes to me for things, but remember I am not the know it all that everyone thinks I am, that is Google. Just cause I'm old does not mean I know everything, I just bullshit better than the rest of you, I have had more practice.
So when you ask me a question, you should ask yourself one too, "does she really know the answer, or is she making this up as she goes"? Keep asking. I love keeping people thinking. Have fun guys and keep the questions coming, it keeps my life interesting.
My day normally starts out with me putting my foot in my mouth numerous times. The only time I take my foot out, is to put the other one in. I have over the years done and said some really stupid things, and there has always been someone there to haul my ass out of the fire. Usually family, but every now and then it has been a friend. Then like the stupid ass I am, I stick my foot in my mouth and say something really dumb. I try really hard not to hurt others, but sometime I do without realizing that is what I have done.
The other day I made kind of a smart ass comment about some things that were going on, both at work and at home and the comment snowballed. OMG. To think that people actually listened to what I say! Guess that shows me. I get the feeling that, because of my age, people at work kind of see me as a mother figure. NOT. I am a mother, but more of a figure that you really dont want to model yourself after. You see, if you ask my kids, I am not the best mother in the world. One of my kids won't talk to me, two of them don't have anything to do with me, and there is one that I don't talk to right now because I am fed up with the BS. Now that only leaves two children who speak to me. Not such a great average for someone that has six kids. C'est la vie (thats french for Oh Well (loose translation).
Anyway, back to my original thoughts. On numerous occasions my mouth overloads my ass causing me some really big issues. I say what I think. I was taught that if you don't, how is anyone ever going to know. OOOPPPSSSS guess when mom and dad told us that, they forgot to give us the part about not taking it to far. I speak my mind about everything and I mean everything. Just ask the people I work with. When someone asks a question, or makes a statement about something, they get my opinion whether they want it or not. We have had some very candid conversations, and I am not afraid or offended by any subject. How do you, as young people find out about things if you don't ask?
We were talking one day about patients holding their urine for too long and not making it to the bathroom. Well the Dr. that was there is kind of a soft heart, and when we told him about this lady that had that problem, he wanted to get a consult for a specialist. Me and my big mouth. I blurted out, if I lay in bed too long, I have pee running down my leg trying to get to the bathroom. Good guy that he is, he laughed and said TMI(to much info for those of you that don't know what it means). I speak my mind. There are some that don't think it is so cute. If you don't want my opinion, don't make open ended statements!
Then there is the sex stuff. I have found that if you don't make everything taboo, you get some really candid questions put to you. Now no one has ever called me a prude. Not even close, but there are some questions that you should be asking your doctor and not me. I think that I am very lucky that people find me that accessable and feel that comfortable talking to me about stuff. My kids over the years have done the same thing. To them, there is nothing taboo. Hell the sex talks that we have had, would make anyone elses mom have a small coronary. Guess since I am a nurse, they think anything is fair game. Sex, drugs, rock and roll and everything in between is all fair game, and Dolly/mom/grama is where the questions land. Would tell you what some of them are, but then I would have to be put in witness protection, cause my kids would want to kill me for telling you. I love that they feel able to talk to me about anything, but there are some things mom's don't want to know about...... eeeewwwwwww...
I am a wealth of information or so everyone thinks. I can come up with answers for gardening, sewing, rock and roll, medical issues, TV, marriage, drugs and or sex. Give me a minute and I will find out if it does not roll off my tongue when asked. I am going to write a book and call it Dolly's answer book. Should help anyone that might have a question about something.
Please don't think that I am being snide about this. I think it is great that everyone comes to me for things, but remember I am not the know it all that everyone thinks I am, that is Google. Just cause I'm old does not mean I know everything, I just bullshit better than the rest of you, I have had more practice.
So when you ask me a question, you should ask yourself one too, "does she really know the answer, or is she making this up as she goes"? Keep asking. I love keeping people thinking. Have fun guys and keep the questions coming, it keeps my life interesting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)