Once A Cheerleader

The darlings are winding down now after an evening filled with activity. Anyone reading this will know that activity-filled time is superior to idle time. If one does not have something for one's grandchildren to do, they will still do something. So smart grandparents will have laid out at least a potential plan for things to do. Our plan for an evening at Grandma's house was:

• supper (Corn Dogs + salad + grapes)
• helping to decorate Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree (a dollar was earned by each)
• lighting a fire in Grandpa's fire pit outside while eating ice cream cones
• swimming and sitting and splashing in the hot tub (lovely) with occasional jumps into the pool (freezing!)
• getting out and dried and dressed, and then laughing together at a funny show on the iPad while munching grapes and popcorn
• still feeling hungry and everyone trooping on over to the kitchen table for hot dogs (nobody said it would be healthy)
• squealing when the front door opened and it was Mother and Dad
• digging through boxes in the garage (a very popular activity)

The pool and hot tub turned out to be especially fun because the three discovered that they could pour freezing cold water on Grandpa's head and watch his reaction. The reaction was predictably hilarious, and made them want to do it again and again. Grandma quickly established a Rule: NO pouring of freezing cold water on Grandma's head (copious amounts of warm water did however find their way onto Grandma's head).

At some point later, during the digging into garage boxes, an old flag was discovered. The 4 year old especially liked this flag and so she brought it into the house. "Grandma? What is this flag for?"

Grandma looked down at the flag and laughed. "Oh, that was my flag when I was a cheerleader in High School."

This statement was met with frank disbelief. She had seen cheerleaders before. They were all young. They were active, and jumping up and down. That her Grandmother had jumped up and down with flags was just a shade beyond belief. 

There was an uncertain pause, and I suddenly remembered something I had meant to have her do. "Would you like to set up the Nativity scene, my darling?"

"Oh yes! Where is it.."

Watching as she carefully picked up each figure, placing it just where she thought each important character would have stood on that Holy night, I completely forgot about cheerleading. And flags. And youth. She described each figure, starting with the Baby Jesus, moving on through the Angel, Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, the shepherd, and the animals who kept watch. 

Just as the shepherd was being placed somewhere near the back, I heard her say, "But you don't LOOK like a cheerleader, Grandma.."

See you along the way!

the SconeLady

An Excellent Day

"Well, we have two hours. Where would you like to go?"

Their mother and grandmother were at a ladies Christmas tea, and so grandpa got to collect the three and bear them off. He was very happy when they called out, "We want to go the the AIR MUSEUM!!" 

The air museum is a wonderful place to take children. They walked around the exhibits and asked Grandpa a great many questions. At the end, they found their favorite place of all - the Gift Shop. Grandpa had said they might each choose one thing to purchase and take home. There were toy airplanes, helicopters and gliders everywhere, and the boys headed toward a selection of these. But the small girl chose instantly the Stewardess with the roller bag. 

She was so excited. Planes were one thing (and she loved planes, make no mistake), but there was something about the tall and stately lady with the blue suit and high heels, not to mention that cool roller bag. It was all very appealing. The high heels weren't just your normal everyday high heels. They were boot heels. Oh yes, they were enviable ankle boots, fitting snugly on the Barbie-like doll feet in quite a fetching way.

The small girl loves boots and owns a favored pair, in pink. 

But the Stewardess boots were black. And gorgeous. And, apparently, made of leather. 

The rest of the day was spent first at Jack-in-the-Box, eating with her brothers and her grandpa. Next, they went to Grandpa's house just down the road, to do play doh and model airplane building. Next, Mommy and Grandma came back (it was about time) and saw the wonderful planes and stewardess the children had picked out. Many other things were done and discussed, and something was spilled and something else was broken; but everything at last was swept clean and repaired, and then it was time to go pick out a Christmas tree for Grandma and Grandpa.

There were many to choose from, and each one seemed better than the one before. When the choice had at last been made, Grandpa pushed the children around the parking lot in a hand cart. Which was amazing. And fun. Around and around they went, looking at all sorts of interesting piles of wood, and leftover pallets that seemed to have been forgotten at the back. And just when it was time to get off the cart and into the van, someone discovered a small black leather boot, lying in the parking lot.

Her stewardess was missing a boot! In fact, it was discovered, she was missing BOTH BOOTS! Oh no. Oh dear! What to do?

A tear might have welled up, but Grandpa comfortingly said he would go and look for the boot. None of the grownups held out much hope that it would be found. It would be impossible for it to be found. The parking lot was perfectly HUGE, after all.

And so, the van backed out, and eased toward the exit. Right then, Grandpa was glancing around the Christmas tree section in a last ditch effort. Imagine his surprise when, just there in the debris from a hundred Christmas trees, he spied a tiny, black, leather, Barbie-sized boot. 

Grandpa grabbed it up and RAN. He ran toward the exit, where the van sat waiting for the light to change. He opened the door. He handed in the small thing that meant so much. There wasn't any time to talk about it, but a small disaster had been averted.  A boot had been found. And one wee girl (whose eyes lit up) knew that her grandpa had searched, and discovered, and run back to the van - just for her.

It was the sweetest thing.


See you along the way!
the SconeLady

6,000 Miles From Here

We were talking in the car for so long that my husband finally came out to make sure we were alright. Still breathing. We were, of course. It was just that there was so much to say.

My friend was dropping me off at home, and mentioned casually that she would soon be going to Italy. "Whaat?! When? Why?" the SconeLady practically shrieked. Wintertime seemed a bit cold but then again, who's to find fault? European travel is to be envied, and I knew this. I also had to have all of the details. 

The SconeLady's friend will see Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, in Milan

https://www.flickr.com/photos/waitingfortheword/5602245861/

Her daughter was going there on business, and it would be a mother-daughter plan. Brilliant! 

Our conversation consisted mainly of rapid-fire questions coming from me, and thoughtful answers coming from her:

• how long will you be there? (about 10 days)
• which cities? (Milan, Venice, and - I don't remember the other one)
• what will you do about communication?  (iPhone and iPad; International cell plan, or maybe a European SIM Card)
• what types of accommodation will you arrange? (hotels are expensive, but..)
• do you plan to arrange it in advance? (we want flexibility, so maybe not)
• what do you think of Youth Hostels as an alternative accommodation? (this was an intriguing possibility)

Venice, Italy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nathaninsandiego/6160565160/

And so on. I quickly blathered out my own opinions as to her best solutions. But Italy is not England, and the big cities they will visit are a far cry from the sweet and lovely seaside town of St Ives, population 9,800. There will be all sorts of interesting quirks for them to face. And what an exciting prospect! 

But it was finally time to stop all of this chattering, and get on home. The SconeLady's husband had left the front door open, hoping his errant wife might soon wander through it. He was probably wondering what on earth was so interesting as to keep us out there jawing away like there was no tomorrow. 

But it will always be like this. One mention of the word 'travel', especially European, and there's just no shutting the SconeLady up.

(And I've simply GOT to get back over there..).

See you along the way!

the SconeLady

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Questions at a Christmas Dinner

"If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?"

This was a question our table of ladies was asked, tonight. We were eating a chicken dinner and didn't know each other at all. So it was a reasonable question, I suppose, to ask. I sat chewing, thinking, until the scenery of a sandy shore and blue waters and a lighthouse flashed quickly into my mind.

One lady said she would travel to Europe with her million dollars. Another said she would like to go to Antarctica. My turn came, and I paused a bit; then, "If I had a million dollars I would buy a home in St Ives, Cornwall, and sit writing the Great American Novel."

The lady two seats to my left gasped. "Cornwall! My husband and I visited Cornwall and it rained THE ENTIRE TIME. In July! Perhaps there was a day, maybe two, when it was nicer.."

We talked then and later, all about Cornwall and the places we both had visited. "I was in Land's End." "Really? Me too!" Our table host then asked us the next question: "What books are your favorite to read?"

I sat, again chewing, thinking about my books. There are just so many of them, so many favorites. But since we had been thinking of Cornwall, I decided to come right out with the truth of the matter. "My favorite books to read are Rosamunde Pilcher books, which is why I keep going back to Cornwall."

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8254247@N02/14644488846/

The lady two seats away had left the room briefly and so had not heard my answer. When she returned, the table hostess asked her the question. It was my turn to gasp when I heard her say, "My favorite books to read are by Rosamunde Pilcher, which is what brought me to Cornwall." We all laughed and I'm afraid I made rather a fool of myself by loudly confirming (with gestures) that this lady was, in fact, brilliant. Rosamunde Pilcher books! Here was a truly potential friend, someone with whom I could talk Shell Seekers and Coming Home. It was worth the $20 I had paid for that dinner.

I don't know where I'm going with this one except to say that it is rather a small world, after all. And that there are other people like me who like it just as much. And that I really must get back to those darling cobbles, tea shops, and sand. In fact, perhaps I should just sidle on over to Virgin Atlantic and see what they have to say about ticket prices..

See you along the way!
the SconeLady


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Waiting

We here at SconeTherapy are recovering from a long road journey, and at the same time are awaiting news from the North. A beloved aunt, my sweet Mother-In-Law's sister, lies ill in a hospital, surrounded by loving family members. That we are not there in the family circle this night saddens us, but we participate as able, via phone and loving prayers.

Thank you for praying with us, for Vera. She of the loving heart, the perpetual smile, and unconditional acceptance of everyone. 

We love you, Vera,


the SconeLady

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That's The Glory of Love

When To Sir, With Love came out in 1967, there was some chatter about it at my school. Apparently it was scandalous, which caused the chattering. I, however, didn't know what they were talking about. It was one of those films that year (such as The Graduate) that went past me. Too scandalous.

Sidney Poitier had quite a year, that year of 1967. To Sir, With Love, In The Heat Of The Night, and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner all in one year. All successes! And although I missed them that year, there were later years when through reruns I did see To Sir With Love. He did a fabulous job.

But tonight is the first time I took a look at Guess Who's Coming For Dinner. There were a lot of discussions in it about race, which were interesting. But I found myself most attracted by its theme song, That's The Story Of Love. I love that song! It pops up from time to time, you know, in movies (case in point: Beaches). And every time, the song helps the film. I think its words are simple, but true:

You've got to give a little, take a little,

And let your poor heart break a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

You've got to laugh a little, cry a little,

Until the clouds roll by a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

As long as there's the two of us,

We've got the world and all its charms.

And when the world is through with us,

We've got each others arms.

You've got to win a little, lose a little,

Yes, and always have the blues a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/thats-the-story-of-love-lyrics-ted-nugent.html

Read more:  Ted Nugent - That's The Story Of Love Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

These lyrics help us because they remind us to stick around. We will give a little, yes, as someone else gives graciously back to us. We will laugh, and we will cry - but not forever! - just until the clouds roll by. Sooo true.

The 'blues' are all just part of the story, not the entire story. Let's not forget that clouds are temporary...and in a strange way, all a part of the glory of love.

There's nothing at all scandalous about that.

See you along the way!
the SconeLady

'Tears may last for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.'

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Travel Day. California.

It was my turn to drive and as we pulled out onto the freeway, the rains came down. And down some more. 'Oh great,' I moaned. 'Now what..'

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/8028559881/

But the SconeLady's husband was asleep. He had been driving for hours, and is ever so trusting when it comes to me driving. No nervous twitches, no obvious hints or back seat driving. Just - calm. I love that. 

There was an awful lot going on around our pickup as I carefully maneuvered it along. Cars merging, trucks lumbering and crowding, the Siskiyou Pass winding up and up, and then suddenly down. And the rain. For two hours, the rain.

But nothing happened that might disturb my peace. And all was well.

After the long day we found our favorite stopping place, checked in, and tramped over for our meal. Inside, everywhere there were Christmas carols playing, with Christmas decorations strategically placed. The dinner, the dessert, the waiter - all were honestly terrific. Perhaps the most terrific was the taste of warm, homemade apple cobbler with ice cream. Along with a good book!

So, since it is a travel day I shall close this down early, get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow's deluge promised us by the National Weather Service. 

"Oh great," I moan. "More rain.."

Oh oops! - I should say, "Hooray for more RAIN! Let the thirsty California soil have it all!"

See you along the way!

the SconeLady

       MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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