Nostalgic Nursing Refections on Life

Well, it is almost 11:40pm... I am the only one awake... can't sleep. My mind is drawn to my Aunt Jackie. Age-wise she could be my older sister, we are only about 10 years apart. A few years back we would have an occasional "night out with the girls", I was forbidden to call her "Aunt" Jackie on those fun occasions . As a young girl I looked up to her... I have always believed her to be one of the most beautiful females that I know. One particular thing that stays with me is a bandanna bikini she made and wore well... boy was she something to a young impressionable girl... but you know what, she may or may not still sport the bandanna bikini but she still makes an impression on those she touches. She is a survivor... she has seen some challenging times in life and has persevered through it all. She emits a kind gentle-natured spirit that is nice to be around. My heart is heavy as I learn of Aunt Jackie's recent life challenges. I feel the weight of the h...

Strong, Honest, Giving, Kind, Hard-working, Committed, Loving, Insightful, Peaceful, Family-oriented, Funny, Resourceful, Flexible, Understanding, Easy-to-talk-to, are just some of the adjectives that describe this remarkable woman. She has been a pillar in my life and in our family since early childhood... many times she was "the glue" that held us together. She is modest, never boastful, and always lends a hand to anyone in need. I thank God that she came in to our lives! I remember introducing her to our horse "Patches" and showing her how to feed him... I remember thinking how Cool she was on her motorcycle... I have always enjoyed sharing thoughts, feelings and life in general with her... she is an excellent listener who truly cares. She is a therapeutic painter who has experienced a fair share of "color" throughout this life... I have been blessed to have her in my life! I really do think the world of her:-)

Life has been a whirlwind of activity, work, travel, family events and motion. While I embrace life in forward motion it is a special jewel when a moment of calm presents itself. So many people are caught in a whirlwind of, "life in motion" these days... As I talk with friends and family members my prayer list grows ever longer and my spirit can struggle to "focus on the positive"... In my heart I truly believe that focusing on the positive and working through the challenges is the best way to navigate this life. I have so very much that I am grateful for... so many blessings... God will help manage the rest:-)

My Dad has played a big role in adding "color" to my "not-so-monochromatic" life! There have been times that our passionate personalities "lit up the sky" with the fireworks sparked by our differing mindsets... But there is only one person on this planet that I learned to dance with on the tops of his feet... One person who inspired my love of antiques, unique collectibles, auctions, yard sales, recycling , remodeling, refashioning, reusing and reinventing what is old and making it new again. I planted my first tree with him... I rode my first horse with him... I depended on him to kill the bugs I was soo afraid of when I was only 2... I learned to change car oil with him... I learned how to use power tools from him... I went "smelt fishing" once in my life, in the middle of the night, with him... I will never forget how he saved my injured dog (Jodie) and warmed my young heart... I will always remember how upset and sad he was when as young chi...

What I remember about grandma Lois... Picking strawberries w/her in Perry City... Making Red Currant Jelly at her side... Everything Crochet and Knitting... Her passion for literature... Seeing how she enjoyed the idiosyncrasies of watching chickens... Her unyielding spirited nature... Traveling w/her to Marine Land in Canada... Traveling w/her to Bush Gardens in Florida... Her cupboards and cupboards of Tupperware... Working for her in the summer... The big white "marsh-mellow type" coat she bought me to keep my very pregnant belly warm... Her perseverance through a life of obstacles... The over-sized meals she would make at our weekly family gatherings... What I learned from her... I feel badly for her regarding the stories about her challenging times in life... then I feel disappointed yet understanding with regard to some of her coping choices... Over the years, I have tried to "fine tune" my ability to develop the "whole picture" when observing any gi...

Two Word Summary... No Nonsense Wow what an influential woman! She has outlived 4 husbands, has persevered far more than Scarlett O'hara and would do most anything to help anyone in need. She told me once that, "she wanted to live to be 100 and not a day more"... well she is 92 and I pray she gets her wish! Interesting facts about Helen: -as a young bride she lived in a remodeled schoolbus -she lost her first born at 6ms to Typhoid Fever -she only consumed one alcoholic drink in 92 years "and that one was because she was tricked" -worked as an assistant nurse, caring for others until she was 72+ -never smoked -Strong Christian Woman (Baptist) -Hair went completely white very early in life -Raised 6 sons and one daughter -Believed "it isn't a sin to be poor...but it is to be dirty... cleanliness is next to Godliness" -Gardened and canned everything -"No couple sleeps in the same room unless they are legally married" - I remember standing ...

Does anyone remember the fresh scent of cool sheets/ towels dried in the spring air and sunshine? When I was a young girl I remember several clothes lines... My Paternal Grandmother's hanging high in the air...attached both at the back door of her hill top farm house and at the highest point a boy could climb in the tree across the yard. A pulley wheeled the linens out in the morning and back before sunset. My mom's line... teaching me to conserve space and clothes pins by slightly overlapping two items... allowing the use of one pin instead of two. I didn't realize how simple life was then... My oldest child has just turned 21, graduated college, become engaged and moved into her own home. Life is moving fast these days and it seems that there are no "brakes" to slow the pace of life down. It can be a challenge to make time for the simple things... but the simple times really can be the most important moments in life... I have been thinking about it and have dec...