I grew up in the forties and fifties with practical parents - a Mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in the other. It was the time for fixing things - a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd always be more. But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any 'more'. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away..........never to return. So ........ while we have it ...........it's best we love it ..................and care for it ......and fix it when it's broken .......and heal it when it's sick. This is true ................. for marriage .......and old cars ...and children with bad report cards ...............and dogs with bad hips .......and aging parents ............and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away - or - a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important.......people we love who are special................and so, we keep them close! This Holiday Time it is important that we let them know just how special they are.

Thank you, Charlotte, for reminding some of us, how we became such "collectors" of things....things that if we throw them away, we'll need them. Things that would cost a small fortune to replace now. I remind that great husband of mine just how lucky we are to have so many "treasures"..but the best, you're right, are good friends, a loving family and a strong faith in God.. Hugs, Happy Thanksgiving.... joannie Charlotte Fleming wrote: > I grew up in the forties and fifties with practical parents - a > Mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then > reused it. A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new > ones. > Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends > lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt > and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in > the other. It was the time for fixing things - a curtain rod, the kitchen > radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. > It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that > re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste > meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd always be more. > But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the > warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that > sometimes there isn't any 'more'. > Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes > away..........never to return. > So ........ while we have it ...........it's best we love it > ..................and care for it ......and fix it when it's broken > .......and heal it when it's sick. > This is true ................. for marriage .......and old cars > ...and children with bad report cards ...............and dogs with bad > hips .......and aging parents ............and grandparents. We keep them > because they are worth it, because we are worth it. > Some things we keep. > Like a best friend that moved away - or - a classmate we grew up > with. There are just some things that make life important.......people > we love who are special................and so, we keep them close! > This Holiday Time it is important that we let them know just how > special they are. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Charlotte, Thank you for reminding me of all the happy times we shared and the important things we keep. Thank goodness we have happy memories! Hope you have a happy and filling Thanksgiving. Ethel Charlotte Fleming wrote: > > I grew up in the forties and fifties with practical parents - a > Mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then > reused it. A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new > ones. > Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends > lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt > and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in > the other. It was the time for fixing things - a curtain rod, the kitchen > radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. > It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that > re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste > meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd always be more. > But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the > warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that > sometimes there isn't any 'more'. > Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes > away..........never to return. > So ........ while we have it ...........it's best we love it > ..................and care for it ......and fix it when it's broken > .......and heal it when it's sick. > This is true ................. for marriage .......and old cars > ...and children with bad report cards ...............and dogs with bad > hips .......and aging parents ............and grandparents. We keep them > because they are worth it, because we are worth it. > Some things we keep. > Like a best friend that moved away - or - a classmate we grew up > with. There are just some things that make life important.......people > we love who are special................and so, we keep them close! > This Holiday Time it is important that we let them know just how > special they are. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237