I've had the chance to see the movie 'The Help' twice; once in Utah with LuAnn and Cherie and then back home with Pat. It is a gorgeous look at America's history with relationships. While provocative, it doesn't upset you or cause anguish. It actually has some great humor while also conveying a very serious storyline. It has given me much to think about. Cherie has read the book and said it is even better than the movie and I will also read it in a couple of months for Book Group. I look forward to it.
One scene in the movie has aerial views of one of the homes in Mississippi where a main character in the movie lives. What you hear though is a descriptive dialogue of something happening. This goes on for several minutes until it becomes clear that it is the TV broadcast of John F. Kennedy's funeral.
Hearing that description and then seeing the black and white images of Mrs. Kennedy and family bring back very vivid memories of the actual event. It was a scary, heart-stopping time in American history. What I most remember about the funeral, and why I wanted to blog about it, is seeing my Dad silently sit in his chair in the living room, watching the funeral on TV (everything shut down for a national day of mourning so Dad was home from work). He was not relaxed but literally sitting on the edge of his chair and he had tears streaming down his cheeks. He was never comfortable crying and letting others see his tears but I was so touched by his emotion. It communicated volumes about his feelings about America and this tragic event.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Childhood has many fears
These are the fears that haunted me:
Spiders -- that I'd find one that was bigger than me. This seemed to be a distinct possibility in the closet under the stairs off the laundry area.
That I would break the front window. No one could do that and then live to tell about it.
Getting spanked. It hurt. I didn't like getting spanked.
The dark; someone or something would reach out and grab me.
The Twilight Zone. I never actually watched this TV show. But my older siblings would tell me the stories in detail. This usually happened while we were sleeping outside in the back yard. I was scared 'spitless' -- whatever that is.
Spiders -- that I'd find one that was bigger than me. This seemed to be a distinct possibility in the closet under the stairs off the laundry area.
That I would break the front window. No one could do that and then live to tell about it.
Getting spanked. It hurt. I didn't like getting spanked.
The dark; someone or something would reach out and grab me.
The Twilight Zone. I never actually watched this TV show. But my older siblings would tell me the stories in detail. This usually happened while we were sleeping outside in the back yard. I was scared 'spitless' -- whatever that is.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Happy Memorial Day
I have fond memories of how Memorial Day was commemorated by the family as I was growing up. And today, thinking about it, I just wanted to thank my Dad for:
teaching me to honor and reverence the American flag,
always acknowledging in his prayers his gratitude for living in a land of freedom and
teaching me respect for our country's leaders and those who serve in the military.
This is part of the legacy you left your family, dearest Dad. And we love you for it.
I recognize and want to acknowledge Dad's justified pride for the military service of Charles and his son John. And I know he is/would be proud of Jacob's love of serving his country. Dick Roth also served in the Army and Lawrence in the National Guard.
teaching me to honor and reverence the American flag,
always acknowledging in his prayers his gratitude for living in a land of freedom and
teaching me respect for our country's leaders and those who serve in the military.
This is part of the legacy you left your family, dearest Dad. And we love you for it.
I recognize and want to acknowledge Dad's justified pride for the military service of Charles and his son John. And I know he is/would be proud of Jacob's love of serving his country. Dick Roth also served in the Army and Lawrence in the National Guard.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Beloved Rituals
Saturday night watching Lawrence Welk
Taking turns grocery shopping with Mother and Dad -- at the Safeways downtown by Sears -- one child at a time and getting to pick out the candy bars, enough for everyone to have just one
Fried hamburgers
Potato pancakes from leftover mashed potatoes
Driving around to see Christmas lights on Christmas Eve
Going sledding with the sled pulled behind the car
Visits to Aunt Jean and Uncle Walker
Chili and donuts on Halloween
Going swimming at Nat-Su-Pa
Taking turns grocery shopping with Mother and Dad -- at the Safeways downtown by Sears -- one child at a time and getting to pick out the candy bars, enough for everyone to have just one
Fried hamburgers
Potato pancakes from leftover mashed potatoes
Driving around to see Christmas lights on Christmas Eve
Going sledding with the sled pulled behind the car
Visits to Aunt Jean and Uncle Walker
Chili and donuts on Halloween
Going swimming at Nat-Su-Pa
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Learning About New Years Eve
Pat and I watched a groovy movie over the holidays. The title: Bachelor Mother. It is from the late 30s early 40s. The stars were David Niven and Betty Grable. It is a sweet little movie. Whenever I see a movie from this time period I imagine mother and dad seeing the movie and I wonder what they thought about it and how it influenced them.
This particular movie included bringing in the New Year at Times Square in New York City. We probably can all relate to what that looks like because we've seen it more than a few times on TV. Well, as I was thinking about it, I realized that mother and dad never would have seen it on TV because TV didn't exist -- at least it wasn't available to them. They probably knew about the celebrating in Times Square from radio and newspaper and possibly magazine reports but TV's visual experience of seeing the ball fall and seeing the crowds celebrating would have existed only in their imagination. So seeing the celebration documented in a film would have been pretty captivating and truly informative. Can't you just see them, young things that they were, watching and enjoying a movie together?
This particular movie included bringing in the New Year at Times Square in New York City. We probably can all relate to what that looks like because we've seen it more than a few times on TV. Well, as I was thinking about it, I realized that mother and dad never would have seen it on TV because TV didn't exist -- at least it wasn't available to them. They probably knew about the celebrating in Times Square from radio and newspaper and possibly magazine reports but TV's visual experience of seeing the ball fall and seeing the crowds celebrating would have existed only in their imagination. So seeing the celebration documented in a film would have been pretty captivating and truly informative. Can't you just see them, young things that they were, watching and enjoying a movie together?
Happy New Year Tradition
How did you usher in the New Year? It was pretty quiet at our house. I don't think either Pat nor I stayed up for the official bringing in of the new year. Now, our neighbors couldn't miss the chance to sound off a whole lot of fireworks and, of course, we are happy to allow them this indulgence.
What traditions did we have as a family for the New Year? The only thing I remember doing with some consistency on New Year's Eve was eating a shrimp dip that mother made. It was pretty exotic for little ole Idaho and the possible ingredients that we could get in our grocery store. I'm not sure where she got the recipe but I think she started making it sometime about the mid 60s. Maybe someone else will remember the origins of this little speciality. I LOVED it! We'd eat it with rippled potato chips -- another NeW and pretty amazing treat. Recipe for dip is as follows:
1 8oz. package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/3 cup cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon onion juice (mother used to buy this in a little jar, I'd just grate some yellow onion and collect the juice)
dash of Worcestershire sauce
mix until well blended. Add 3/4 cup canned shrimp, chopped. (This was the exotic part to me and they were the tiny little shrimp -- maybe that is the only size you can buy canned).
Enjoy!
Sorry for the very long hiatus with the blog. I've had lots of stuff going on in my head and heart and processing it has zapped me. I hope to be back up and writing and get lots more family stuff onto the blog in 2011. I WeLcOmE your comments, suggestions, input, etc.
Most of all, please know that I LOVE you!
What traditions did we have as a family for the New Year? The only thing I remember doing with some consistency on New Year's Eve was eating a shrimp dip that mother made. It was pretty exotic for little ole Idaho and the possible ingredients that we could get in our grocery store. I'm not sure where she got the recipe but I think she started making it sometime about the mid 60s. Maybe someone else will remember the origins of this little speciality. I LOVED it! We'd eat it with rippled potato chips -- another NeW and pretty amazing treat. Recipe for dip is as follows:
1 8oz. package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/3 cup cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon onion juice (mother used to buy this in a little jar, I'd just grate some yellow onion and collect the juice)
dash of Worcestershire sauce
mix until well blended. Add 3/4 cup canned shrimp, chopped. (This was the exotic part to me and they were the tiny little shrimp -- maybe that is the only size you can buy canned).
Enjoy!
Sorry for the very long hiatus with the blog. I've had lots of stuff going on in my head and heart and processing it has zapped me. I hope to be back up and writing and get lots more family stuff onto the blog in 2011. I WeLcOmE your comments, suggestions, input, etc.
Most of all, please know that I LOVE you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
