Showing posts with label Granny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Granny. Show all posts
Pancake Day!!
Of course, I've heard that one Tuesday of the year (Today), IHOP gives a short stack of pancakes to anyone that enters. They've been doing it since 2006. The idea is that they will give you the pancakes, with hopes that you will make a donation to The Childrens Miracle Network.

While IHOP has been doing it only a few years, my Granny celebrated Pancake Day on Shrove Tuesday from as far back as I can remember. She would start mentioning it weeks in advance--Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It would start a frenzy of questions, since children have a warped since of time. Telling us "next week" may as well have been telling us "next year."

Finally, when Pancake Day would arrive, she would make pancakes by the thousand--well that's what it seemed. She would have many different bottles of syrup--Granny always made you feel like you had choices. We would eat pancakes for hours. Fun times. Sharing a meal with multiple generations of extended family and friends. Such memories.

I will think of her often today. What I wouldn't give to see her just once more..

Your thoughts--priceless!!



By the way, I'm still in first place in the Sun Sentinel's Best of Blogs contest. If you haven't voted today, here's the link. Also, the Awards Ceremony is next Wednesday night. They ask that nominees bring family and friends to support them. If you are interested in attending, here's that link as well.
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The Queen of Gospel Music
It was on this day in 1911 that Mahalia Jackson was born in New Orleans. She is considered the first Queen of Gospel Music.

When I was very young, not even old enough to go to school. Granny took me to see her sing. It was a little church in DC, I have no idea where. I just remember her voice being so powerful that it made me cry. The only other thing I remember is that I thought she was the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen.

Here's a peek at her talent..




Your comments--priceless!!




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I Just Can't Do It...
Well, they say honesty is the best policy. So, I'll be honest. I had a topic today that I wanted to bring to you. Today is my Granny's birthday. She would have been 86 today, had she not passed away 4 years ago, 2 days AFTER her birthday. This period is the worse for me all year long. I dread it. But I so wanted to tell you how special she was.

When I sit down to start writing a wonderful tribute to her, I realized that time has NOT healed all wounds and it was just too difficult. So let's just pretend that I poured my heart out and made you all know how warm, kind, funny, and special that she was to me.

Your comments--priceless!!





I post daily. So that you don't miss any of my randomness, you might want to subscribe by email.
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Sad Songs

So, here's the question--What song can ABSOLUTELY reduce you to tears? One came to me immediately.

In the Garden by Marvin Sapp

Nearly 4 years ago, I lost my Granny. Before she passed away, I often heard folks say that they had a "hole in their heart" when speaking about losing a loved one. I never understood it. Now I do. After all this time, the emotion is still very raw to me. She was such a constant in my life and gave me more love than I deserved sometimes.

Anyhow, this was one of her favorite songs and anywhere I hear it, I can be reduced instantly to tears. After she passed, I came across Marvin's rendition and added it to my iPod. But I usually skip it when it comes on. It's way too painful.

So what is it for you? What song wets your face? Why?

Your comments--priceless!!

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Another Mother's Day

As Mother's Day approaches this weekend, I'm reminded that this is the 4th Mother's Day to pass since i lost my precious Granny. Losing her was the most devastating event in my lifetime. While time has certainly taken some of the rawness from it, I am far from healed. My heart is sometimes so full that I have no choice but to cry. Having conversations about her are unpredictable; I simply never know when I will end up in tears.

My Granny was the absolute best. She wasn't an educated woman, but she had more knowledge and wisdom than most. She was the best cook I've ever known. She was funny, caring, and most of all, loved me unconditionally. She also irritated me to no end, on occasion, though I can pride myself on never being disrespectful. Proof of my respect is the fact that all my limbs are still attached to my body.

It's scary to think of the things that I would willingly give to just see her once again--to ask her advice, to share my day, to hear her thoughts. She was gone way sooner than I was ready for her to leave. I am envious when I see women my age, in public, accompanying their grandmothers to the grocery store or the mall, or even to a doctor's office.

So you can imagine my disgust with what I saw yesterday. A woman drove into the parking lot where I sat, parked outside Michael's, got out and went inside. She never looked back at the elderly woman who was in the car with her. The woman got out of the car, though clearly she needed help, and followed the younger woman into the store. "Miss QuickStep" did not even turn to see if "Grandmother" had made it out. She acted as if they weren't even together. "Grandmother" didn't seem fazed; it must be her normal. She had a cane and simply hobbled along, seemingly indifferent to being ignored. The entire scene brought tears to my eyes.

I hope "Miss QuickStep" was waiting just inside the door, having realized that "Grandmother" is precious and may be gone soon. I hope she hugged her and kissed her and apologized. I hope they stopped at Wendy's for a Frosty on the way home. My Granny loved Frostys...

Your comments--priceless!!

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How Will You Be Remembered?

Recently I saw the movie, Seven Pounds. It's one of those flicks that you either absolutely love or absolutely hate. Most reviewers hated it, though most regular people that I have talked to loved it. What is THAT about?

At one point in the movie, a man questions why another man is doing such a tremendous deed for him. The deed giver replies, "because you are a good man, even when nobody is watching." That line has stuck with me ever since. I keep asking myself, "Is that me? Am I good when nobody is watching?"

That started me thinking about other things, like--When I'm gone, what do I want people to remember about me? What will be my legacy? Granny used to say that she wanted folks to say, "She did what she could." That's pretty simple, but it sure is a mouthful. Am I doing what I can? Is it enough? Should I be doing more? If the answer is yes, why aren't I?

I've claimed this as my year of change. Unfortunately, change can never come without critical examination. It's January 14th, time for self examination. I'm looking at every aspect of my life. There will be changes made and sometimes the changes won't make sense to those who are watching. Just know that I'm working on some things.

Have you ever given thought to what your legacy is? What will you leave here when you've moved on? If you left today, would you be happy with what you've accomplished? Is there more work to do? Let's get busy, folks...

Your comments--priceless!



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Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Being the Blackberry addict that I am, I'm always looking for applications that will further help me organize my life. Yesterday I came across a program called EveryHour. It's pretty simple, every hour on the hour, my Blackberry screams out "cuckoo cuckoo," just like an old fashioned cuckoo clock. I set it to notify me when the clock strikes every hour from 6am to 10pm, even on the weekends. It drove my coworkers mad during the day yesterday and last night, my kids looked at me sideways--every hour on the hour.

Everyone wanted to know WHY? Why do you want it to do that? What purpose does it serve to know that it's the top of the hour? I didn't really have an answer. Well, I did have an answer, I was just embarrassed to say it.

My grandmother used to have a cuckoo clock in her dining room when I was a small girl. Every hour, the cuckoo came out the tiny door on the face of the clock, chirped vigorously, then retreated back. The clock broke at some point, and though the bird no longer popped out, it still hung on her wall for years. When I first heard the cuckoo sound yesterday, I thought of her and smiled, then got a bit misty eyed. You see, Granny passed away 3 years ago and it still feels just like it was yesterday. In fact, I'm more than a little emotional writing this post.

My Granny, Marjorie Hood Scott, was the most amazing woman and I miss her immeasurably. When the clock cuckoos each hour, I think of her and smile. Once yesterday, I think it may have been the 7pm cuckoo, I thought I smelled her spaghetti and meatballs.

So family and friends, I know the cuckoo is annoying and perhaps at some point in the future, I will get rid of it. But for now, please let me have these moments. I miss her...

Your comments--priceless!
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