Mothers Day Pinto

Mother was a slow learner.  It took her forever to learn that Daddy was not the thoughtful kind of guy who would ever surprise her with lovely gifts and gestures.  He was more the kind of guy who felt sorry for himself when she got her feelings hurt or got mad.  After all, he was pretty sure he’d gotten her something last year, for her birthday or Christmas, one or the other.  What had she done with that eggbeater?

This year was going to be different.  Virgil Hughes had a nice Pinto horse.  It was a good deal since it “wasn’t broke” yet.  Nobody really wanted it since it stomped Euless and broke his leg, but Daddy was sure he could make a fine riding horse out of it.  Kathleen was scared of horses, but she’d get over that.  If she didn’t, he’d ride it.  Daddy stopped off on the way home from work the Friday before Mother’s Day to pick it up.  It was kicking the side rails when he pulled in.  He called Mother out to. See her beautiful Pinto and she hit the ceiling.  “Of all the things I need, you come bringing in a horse.  We need another useless animal to feed like I need a hole in the head.”  She stormed in, furious.

Daddy stomped off, putting the horse in the pasture.  “Kathleen didn’t appreciate anything he did for her.  It would be a cold day in Hell before he brought her anything else!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Community

What do you do to be involved in the community?

I am a good citizen. I vote. I help my neighbor. I tend to my own business.

Job for a Day

What’s a job you would like to do for just one day?

I’d love to work in a garden center and get a big discount!

Traveling with Elderly Parents: Tips and Experiences

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I am traveling today so I am running an old post from several years ago.  Mother is not traveling with me today

Mother accompanied me to visit a relative a few months ago.  It was a route I flew often enough to get expedited security.  I explained to security I did not want to be separated from my elderly mother.  They saw her in her wheelchair, which she always requests for convenience.  She immediately put on her goofiest look, which is quite convincing.  Starting her Alzheimer’s act, she started firing questions at me and security.  They rushed her through.  Frankly, I considered abandoning her, she was making such a pest of herself.  I was glad when we got out of security and she got back to her normal goofy self.

Gold Medal Flour

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite brands and why?
View all responses

This question doesn’t mean a lot to me. I am not a shopper so I don’t care much about brands. I do like Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour, though.

Mistaken Identity

Eavesdropping is one of life’s great pleasures. My daughter-in-law was lucky enough to hear this exchange between some women in the elevator the other day.

“I don’t believe that story about Anne Frank.” the first woman asserted. This caught my daughter-in-law’s interest. She had wondered what a holocaust denier would look like.

“What are you talking about?” asked her companion. “Why on earth would you say that?”

“God wouldn’t make somebody deaf and blind!” said the first. “That would be too mean!”

“You’re so silly!” said woman #2. “You’re talking about Helen Keller! and it was true!”

Andrew and Molly Part 21

Molly was exhausted. The work of her farm, family, responsibility for her indentured servants was unrelenting. Ailing since he was injured in the Indian attack, Bartles had never enjoyed a full return to health. Lately, his left leg dragged a bit and his mouth drew to the left. In the short time since his return, Andrew had picked up most of Bartles’ work. Molly could see the relief on Bartles’s face.

Aggie was grateful to have Bartles about the house with her and kept the little girls at her side when Rosemarie was too busy to care for them leaving Molly free for other duties. Jamie kept busy following everyone at their farm tasks.

Though she appreciated Aggie’s help, Molly regretted not being able to tend her own house and children. She was worried about being able to care for four little ones should she not be able to keep Rosemarie once the baby was weaned. Orphaned herself, she felt for the wee mite but wasn’t anxious to take on another child. It seemed like everytime her life was looking better there was another bump in the road.

Even the baby did not lie abed. Though it was early, he was on his way into town wrapped in a sling on Rosemarie’s back. The storeowner’s wife stopped her to talk after Rosemarie gave her the list. “I heard you’d lost your baby but here you are with one strapped to your back! How’d you get another so fast?” she asked snidely.

Knowing her place, Rosemarie avoided the discussion as much as possible. “This is not my babe. Mistress Wharton has me minding the baby her man Andrew brought when he escaped from the Indians. I’d best go. Mistress Wharton won’t like me gossiping.”

Voting

Do you vote in political elections?

Absolutely! Voting is a duty.

Oh No!

My delightful friend, Becky, shared a story about her simultaneous introduction to the birds and bees and graphic language. At the tender age of four, she was playing with little Jimmy next door. He showed her his prize package and asked to see hers. She thought it was weird and wanted no part of “it.”

After showing her his big news, he told her. “When you show somebody your penis, you are f—-ing!”

His mother got suspicious and showed up just in time to hear that.

She tore into her son and told Becky. I’m gonna tell your grandma what y’all were doing.”

The child was the type who preferred to tell on herself rather than have the neighbor tell on her. She rushed in crying to her grandma.

“Jimmy’s mama is gonna tell on me!”

“Why?” queried Grandma. “What did y’all do?”

“We were f—-ing.” shied boo-hooed.

Assuming the little ones had actually done the deed, Grandma went ballistic without investigating. She tore into the Becky and confined her to her room.

When Becky’s mom got home from work, Grandma met her at the door with the awful news.

Mom talked her down, telling her hey needed to talk to Becky. Happily, the situation was quickly cleared up and they learned there was nothing to worry about, except to make sure Becky knew not to play show and tell.