Things worth working for -- jcarolek

I remember being small. I remember thinking how far away everything seemed and how very far I had to go to reach things. As an adult of, course, I realize that my parents placed things out of my reach so that I would want to work harder to get them. I am not speaking of those things that parents want to put out of reach so that their children will not hurt themselves. That is another topic altogether.

How to be patient, how to figure out a way to get the desired item, and how to be willing to do the work necessary

Learning the Hard Way -- jcarolek

This morning I ran downstairs to the lobby of the hotel to partake in their breakfast fare. I had skipped supper last night (unintentionally) as I was dead into my preparation for my presentations I will be giving today and tomorrow. So, I was hungry.

I helped myself to some scrambled eggs, a slice of ham and two mini muffins. I poured myself a mixed drink

It's a Corvette, Mom! -- jcarolek

“Mom, this is a Corvette, isn’t it?” “Look Mom! A Corvette!”

The young and eager voice carried easily across the waiting area in the dental office, where I had accompanied my husband to get an X-ray (that’s another story). The room was filled to capacity, but the youngster was oblivious to the attention her enthusiasm was drawing. Yes, you read correctly. For this exuberant youngster, the child so taken with the very perfection of the Corvette, was a girl of about eight.

She examined the magazine in which she had discovered her dream car, and she challenged her older brother to,

Barefoot and Fancy Free? -- jcarolek

Barefoot, clad only in my swimsuit and with a towel flung over my shoulder, I headed up the hill with my brothers, on our way to the BB&T (Belair Bath and Tennis) where my family had a membership. The journey was not a long one, maybe half a mile or so. My brothers and I enjoyed swimming during those long hot summer days.

Either this was a particularly hot day or we were getting rather late start, but one thing was for certain. That road was HOT. My bare feet let me know in no uncertain terms that I was

Christmas Memories -- jcarolek

Last Sunday we spent time at my sister’s house celebrating my father’s 73rd birthday. My step mother brought with her a few “finds” which she had made while sifting through, “stuff” in the basement of their home.

What she had found were some old arts and crafts Christmas ornaments, made by my Grandmother, and gifted to her grandchildren. I know we had to have been teenagers when we received these, based on the names on the gifts tags. My brothers had all changed their preferred names when they reached about 11 years old. Timmy became Tim; Daniel became Dan, Teddy became Ted, and Raymond became Ray. Since the gift tags for my now deceased brother Ted,

Under Cover -- jcarolek

My sister was a pretty girl. When we lived in England, at age 12 and 13 she liked to join her peers at the “disco” on Saturday nights. Being the eldest of six children, and a very responsible young lady in general, she was, perhaps, afforded a little more leniency than the rest of us were to enjoy over the years. Still, with a boyfriend several years her senior, Dad had his eye on my sister’s activities.

It seems odd to me as I recall a certain Saturday night back in 1970 or so. It seems odd because, I cannot, as a parent

Saying Goodbye -- jcarolek

I was 6 ½ when I got strep throat. I don’t know if it was the first time, but I recall this time so very clearly because of the events that transpired on that fateful day. As was typical, the trip to the doctor’s to confirm the reason for my fever and sore throat was made on foot. We had only one car and Dad had it at work. Mom walked me to the doctor.

Once there, the diagnosis was made and the penicillin shot was ordered. Not being a stranger to that hypodermic needle, I was less than pleased with the prospect. Just at the critical point of entry, I flinched and in so doing, managed to break the needle. Now the doctor had to not only extract the broken needle from my derriere, but attempt the shot a second time. This time I did not flinch, for I was certain that to do so would have sentenced me to certain death.

Some time during that doctor’s visit, my mother was informed that her mother, my Granther, was on her last few hours

Somebody mentioned burning up? -- jcarolek

When we lived in England in the late 60’s and early 70’s, Mom liked to frequent the auctions. I have no idea where these auctions were held, but by George, she came home with quite some “finds”. Now, I suspect there were a few fairly good deals she got, but I also suspect that, for the most part, she got JUNK.

So it was that we had the occasional bonfire in the back-back yard. Yes, we had a bit of an odd yard, in that the back yard was separated into two distinct sections. The back-back yard was the location of the annual vegetable garden.