Dressing for Success

Growing up, there was really no questions what

to wear to school.  Girls wore dresses or skirts and

boys wore long pants.  For more formal occasions

such as being inducted into Honor Society, we

wore our Sunday best.  Boys wore dress shirts, ties,

long pants and brown or black leather shoes.  We

dared not violate the dress code.  Even when it

was twenty-five below zero, we had to wear dresses.

As a concession, the school allowed girls to

wear long pants under their skirts and dresses.  But,

they had to remove their pants and put them in

their locker during the school day.  It goes without

saying that our teachers wore professional attire.

Male teachers wore dress shirts and ties and female

teachers  wore dresses or skirts and blouses.  I recall

our Dad getting a book on how to dress for success.

Naturally, the times have changed.  Students now

wear jeans and tennis shoes to schools.  Still, faculty

are reminded to present themselves in a professional

manner.  I smiled as I read the latest school newsletter.

A gentle reminder that the attire can suit the hot

weather and should still be respectable. Lightweight

fabrics help in the warmer weather.  My how times

have changed!  It is my fervent hope that young

ladies and men will dress up for Mother’s Day and

take their mother out to dine at a favorite restaurant.

Young men can wear a dress shirt and tie.  Young ladies

can make it dressier with that special dress.  You are

a reflection of her love and years of her being a role

model for you.  Show her the respect and love she

deserves in return.  When you are a guest somewhere,

dress up a bit more to pay your respect to others.  Show care.

Hold the door open for your mother.  Pull out that chair in

the restaurant for her.  Write a poem or card. Be on your best

behavior.  A hug and kiss will show your love for her.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers everywhere.  

The Lederhosen and Dirndl Meet

Soon the two cousins will meet for the first time.

Probably they will simply stare at one another.

Meanwhile parents practice clothing and

diaper changing skills on their offspring.

We enjoy the almost daily updates as

grandparents do.  At sixteen months we

are new to the game.  I reminisce of my

days in Germany as a Fulbright Teacher.

Naturally, we dressed in the attire which the

natives wore:  Lederhosen or short leather

pants and Dirndl, both traditional dress in

Alpine regions and seen at the Oktoberfest.

We saved the traditional clothing to pass

on to the next generation.  An excuse for

more photography.  And why not?  They

can look back someday and smile.  Recall.

Learning to function during those early

sleepless nights as new parents took enormous

effort and abundant patience.  That was necessary

in teaching as well.  A smile went far even

when I least felt like it.  I say silent prayers for

our adult children now that they are new to

parenthood.  Whose turn to change the diaper

or hold the crying baby?  Read aloud.  Sing.

We reached deep into our bag of magic

tricks to distract and entertain.  Somehow we

survived those years.  Isabella has discovered

the intriguing world of sidewalk chalk.

Leo will be about three months old during

the first meeting.  The activity center now

entertains him.  How he loves kicking those

colorful buttons for the music to begin!

My husband remarks they will stare at one

another and perhaps touch.  Leo is too young

to walk.  Isabella may like to help hold and

feed him.  The good old days remembered!

Thirty Years Have Passed

Thirty years have passed since our Mom

left her earthly presence.  Her nuggets of

wisdom remain still.  I recall her piano

playing and singing at home in Colorado.

She entertained her fellow classmates

in nursing school in Boston.  During breaks,

she played piano and invited all to join

her in singing.  Very relaxing.  Musical.

Just when we thought she wasn’t listening

as we practiced, she would interject “count;

watch your counting, girls.”  The news of her passing

came in the midst of my second Fulbright

preparations.  I flew to Colorado to help with

funeral preparations:  obit, pick Readings and

music for her funeral in the same church I had

been the organist.  Her words came back to

me about playing ahead of the congregation

from the choir loft so that I didn’t “drag” the

music and play too slowly.  Acoustics and all.

Newly renovated, there was now a grand piano.

One year later, we attended a Papal audience

in Rome, Italy, in St. Peter’s Square.  The chairs

were wet from a rain storm.  Girls from Ireland

lent their tissues so we could dry the chairs. 

I am certain you sent them to cheer and

comfort us.  I recall all the years of 4H and your

help with our projects.  You were talented at

the sewing machine.  Such patience too.  I

remember my first prom invitation as a high

school sophomore.  I gave her little lead time

to buy the material and pattern.  She stayed

up all night and finished the prom dress. I

know she watches over us still and saw the two

weddings and two grandchildren.  She listens

to our nursery songs and children’s books. She

prepared us well for life.  I love you, Mom.

 

 

 

What Are You Doing?

Our mother posed this question to find

out what we were doing.  This particular day

I answered I was “doing my papers.”  That

meant leafing  through catalogs, tearing pages

or cutting with scissors.  Looking back, my mother

predicted I would be a teacher some day.  We

had wonderful imaginary play on rainy days.  We

used newspaper and scissors to cut out paper dolls.

We made paper clothes too.  Our mother

encouraged us to be creative just as she was

when she read stories aloud and used different

voices for the characters.  Goldilocks and the

Three Bears was a favorite with three voices

for baby, mama and papa.  In elementary school,

I recall folding pieces of white paper and cutting

on the edges.  When we unfolded, we had snowflakes!

No two alike.  The skills I learned from my parents

translated later to my teaching career.  Many a

bulletin board was made with letters and shapes I

did freestyle.  Our mother wrote beautiful poetry

and  encouraged us to do so when we had a

homework assignment.  These skills became

the illustrated Haiku poetry my students created

in  German classes.  Just imagine the fun!

Our Dad had a hobby of working with wood and

he made pieces of furniture for us and smaller

shelving for the walls. He found inspiration in

furniture showrooms where he would get on

the floor to see how things were made.  I

explained to the person helping us that my Dad

loved to make his own furniture.  My creative

outlet was using cloth and making items

of clothing.  At some point I decided to  make

reversible vests with pockets and fasteners of

my own choosing.  No patterns.  Just my creative

vision of how the finished project should be.

Each week now, we are able to video chat with our

grandchildren.   Isabella appears to be doing

her papers!  Leo is alert more and taking in his world.

His cry is louder at two months. The cousins will soon meet.

Howling Winds

Howling winds blow outside the window

herald an impending storm.  Dare I

mention the word?  Even the weather

forecast can’t seem to make up its mind.

One day we have spring.  Flowers too.

Then the air turns chilly with rain and

the potential of some snow our way.

Winter. Spring. The constant struggle.

When I first moved to Upstate New York,

I concluded that spring was a brief season.

Sometimes a couple days.  Then quite suddenly

Mother Nature provided a green landscape.

Mind you, I am not one to complain about

the weather.  As the Norwegian saying goes:

there’s no such thing as bad weather; just bad

clothing.  My mantra became:  wear layers.

On our recent visit to Florida, we had to

prepare for warmer temperatures.  I had

layers along.  Hot outdoors, but air conditioning

inside.  Our grandson sported fleece.

Quite contentedly as well.  Our granddaughter

loves  exploring the local park playground and

swings.  She too sported a fleece jacket.  All

legs with her fancy pink sneakers.  Both are

growing leaps and bounds.  Mother Nature’s

creatures bustle about.  Robins plucking worms.

Sparrows building nests.  It is so pleasant to

listen to the chirping and songs. As I placed

the rocking chairs on the front porch, I noticed

our garden snake maneuvering under the stone

step.  From behind the column,  I was watched

as I placed potted geraniums out.  A chipmunk

intently eyed me before scurrying off around

the corner.  Life is good.  Play a little piano and

sing.  Cook from scratch.  Pull out some books

to read aloud.  Video chats to keep us up to date.

Whiling Away

All manner of shapes and sizes,

passing by.  Colors of lime, blue,

white, black, brown, and patterns.

Some in a hurry; others at a snail’s

pace.   Passing by in groups. Fast,

slow, pausing, and jogging.

Little ones with reflective

lights as they skip by. No cares.

Some are new; others worn.

How many miles have these

soles seen?  Heavy socks and

no socks.  Sandals.  Where are

they from?  Where are they going?

Did you ever play this game as

you waited?  Check the monitors.

Gate changed?  New gate now.

The wait was pleasant since

the destination would include

visiting family including the

new grandson.  Loving arms

to hold him for hours.  Could we

get enough to last a lifetime?

The shoes lined up at the gate

to board now.  Happiness awaits!

Marvelous Memories

Everywhere we look, there is

beauty to behold! Newest family

member changes quickly so

we try not to blink!  It will

be a quiet Easter but filled

with family video moments.

The smell of rain or pretty

snowflakes.  Peaceful.

He is everywhere.  In the

sunsets and sunrises.

Rejoice this Easter with

family and friends.  The birds

are singing now.  From our house

to yours, we wish you Happy Easter!

Limes, Palm Trees and Family

Clear the calendar for the week and travel.

Around the bend ahead on Canopy Road

lay wonders galore.  The road was winding and

curvy.  Outside the city, in the country with

surrounding woods.  Hanging moss everywhere.

Mini-sized goats munched the grass.  No mower

required.  He-haws of  mules.  Horses too.

A feeling of calm and peace entered.  Reminiscent

of  the woods where I grew up only different

trees and vegetation here as we approached our

turn off deep into the woods.  What was ahead?

Another turn.  We arrived at our son’s house.

March is a good month to visit Florida.  Not

too hot yet.  We exchanged the snow for lovely

sunny days in the upper seventies.  Knowing

that air conditioned buildings and homes are

par for the course, I dressed in layers.  Ah, our

first glimpse of Leo was finally here!  Life is

sublime.  Many hours were spent in loving arms.

He won’t remember us.  Grandparents have

safe and loving arms to hold, hug and kiss.

Can life be any better?  Grandpa’s big hands

held Leo’s head after a feeding.  We have

decided that grandparents have a life

simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting.

We gave the tired parents a few hours of

sleep this week.  What is better?  Life as

a parent or life as a grandparent?  I was

asked this question and promptly said

life as a grandparent.  Enumerating life

as a parent quickly followed with music,

languages, travel, and faith.  Daily routines.

Life as a grandparent means love, and

hugs and kisses.  Spoiling.  At the end of

the day, a grandparent can leave the

child to the parents again.  Then sleep.

Bamboo trees line the backyard.  We

observed limes and kumquats.  Gardening

here is different than in Upstate New York.

Life is good.  Content.  Wonderful. Amazing.

Queries

My parents allowed us to problem solve as we

went through life.  I can still hear my father’s

chuckle and see his smile after something I did which

was not according to my plan.  His queries followed.

Likewise, my husband  was excellent at giving

our two children the freedom to decide for

themselves.  Instead of scolding after errors,

he simply asked what they had  learned from them.

My parents reared us to be independent thinkers.

We desired the same for our son and daughter.

Fortunately, we grew up in the age lacking social

media and devices.  We didn’t need them either.

It’s sad to see young people so engrossed with

their phones. They no longer carry on

conversations with each other.  I did not

embrace cell phones. Why be on call 24/7?

My reluctance baffled our two.  I became the

bane of the family.  Mom, you need a call phone

for an emergency.  What did people do before

car emergencies?  They waited for help to

arrive.  After several weeks of queries, I was

gifted a flip phone for “emergencies”  and

promptly stored it in the glove compartment.  After

several weeks, my husband’s query:  when was

the last time you recharged the phone? No clue.

Out of sight and out of mind.  It was recharged

and returned to its home in the car.

I don’t ever recall having to use it either.

My query:  what was the last book you read

and when?  Not the online version but the

real McCoy.   I hope my loved ones take time

to delight in  nature and leave  devices at home.

Appreciate  good conversations at the dinner table.

Chew your food slowly and  query one another

about school and their day.  Play board games

as a family.  Scrabble.  Monopoly.  Have fun!

Born in a Leap Year

Took a little break last week to celebrate a

birthday with family at a favorite restaurant.

We are aglow with happiness!  Leo Thomas

entered our lives and hearts on February 19.

We can hardly contain our joy!  Now we have

two grandchildren!  Both father and son were

born in leap years!  Isabella had a full week of

activities during her visit. She met our former

piano teacher and had a mini music lesson

complete with children’s instruments to see,

touch, hear, shake, and play. What fun it was

to play on a Steinway piano. She managed to

visit a local library story hour and push around

a shopping cart full of stuffed animals.  She was

on a mission to explore the books and replica of

a wooden canal boat dressed up as Noah’s Ark.

We managed to meet Leo via FaceTime while

our daughter was visiting.  After the library, we ate

at the local diner where we met some friends.

The next day included a visit to the hands-on

Museum of Science and Technology. The exhibits

included giant foam building blocks, and huge

dinosaurs  made her laugh.  The whirlwind

visit concluded as quickly as it had started.

Time to clean and store the wooden highchair

our children used as well. Our son and his wife

are now enjoying their son and entering the world

of happy exhaustion from lack of sleep. Leo

is growing quickly too. We parents and grandparents

blinked and all too quickly our children grew up.

Life cycles and generations of hugs, kisses, smiles,

singing, dancing, and acting silly for the little ones.

Now it is time to leap into March.  The weather was

70° on my birthday and then a snowstorm dropped

eleven inches of snow.  We enjoy our four seasons.

Family is full of love and joy.  Happy March to all!