Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Springtime Memories

I love Spring. I love the smell of the flowers blooming. I have a rush of memories that come over me as soon as Spring arrives. I am reminded of when I was a young girl, playing outside with the neighborhood kids, going camping with my family, mom buying us new clothes for the warmer weather & I am reminded of spending time with my grandmother who was dying from lung cancer.

I took care of my grandmother when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was 63 years old. She was a smoker her whole life. When she was first diagnosed they did surgery to remove the tumor and some sessions of radiation. When the tumor grew back, she moved on to chemotherapy treatments. That is when it took a toll on her body really bad. I remember her and I would drive around to the local fruit and vegetable stands to try and help her eat fresh things to try and gain some strength. She was so weak. I literally watched her wither away before my eyes. It scared me to death. She would always tell everyone in the family to quit smoking, she would beg them to stop. She regretted her choice to smoke so bad. She was a very fun person, very sociable, had a lot of friends, and got along with anyone. It was so heartbreaking to watch someone like that wilt away to nothing. By the end of her life, she was laying in a hospital bed in her dining room. When she died, we sat with her that whole day and night, talking about things we remembered her doing, reminiscing about the holidays with her, and other good times. We still held on to hope that she would somehow pull through. That was not the case, I left her house and drove about 10 minutes to my house, my aunt and cousin went to their rooms, they lived with her, and about 20 minutes later my aunt went down to check on her, and she was dead. I think she waited until we left. I wish she wouldn't have though, I don't think anyone should die alone. I was devastated, but part of me was relieved that she no long suffered.

Every spring since she has been gone I am overwhelmed with the memories I have of her, its almost like I can sense her with me. Its odd. Its the only time of year that I have that feeling. I think of her often, but not the way I do when spring arrives.

She had rose bushes outside of her house. When she died, we chose to put mini pink roses pinned on a satin heart shaped pillow in her coffin. She loved roses.

I was really blessed to have loving grandparents. I no longer have any. I lost my other grandmother 2 years ago. I was so sad to realize that I no long have grandparents. I really try to take my kids around theirs, I want them to have the same type of relationship that I had with mine. Its such a special bond.

If you still have grandparents, call them today and tell them you love them.

Here is a pic of my grandmother who was taken so soon by cancer. I think she was really beautiful.




Friday, January 8, 2016

Friday night memories......

As a kid I lived for the weekends like most young people. We had so much fun going to the Drive in movies, Skateland, spending the night at friends homes, Pizza Hut, and watching horror movies. There was nothing better than putting in a good VHS tape of something that would make us walk each other to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

In Middle School the popular horror movie was Nightmare on Elm St. I would stay at my best friends every weekend and we would stay up all night telling ghost stories, playing records, and watching TV.

Once in awhile we would all meet at the local skating rink. They would have contest on who could skate backwards the fastest, I must say that I won that one just about every weekend. I would not be able to do that to save my life now.

I can remember one time where we bought home perms and decided to practice on one another's hair, bad idea! It was awful. I have never had a perm since then.

We would also ride around the local fast food joints just to catch a glimpse of whoever we had a crush on that week.

I remember putting on Jordache jeans and using a closehanger to zip them up! They were so tight!

Of course we would lay in bed and talk on the phone for hours, long before texting and cell phones, what would kids do today without a cell phone!

I remember playing spin the bottle with the nieghborhood kids, we always had such fun. It was really innocent, nothing like what todays kids seem to be doing. Oh, makes me worry for my kids!

Oh to be young again, the time goes by so fast. I always tell my kids that they need to enjoy this time, one day they will look back and wonder where it went.

Did I mention that this was a BAD idea for 2 young girls to do by themselves? haha!



Remember this? Good food and better times!





Do you remember this from Pizza Hut?




I cant forget the endless hours that we spent talking on the phone late into the night. I love this phone.





We still love going to the drive in with our kids, its so much fun!



Who remembers going to Skateland? I loved this place!



I still LOVE watching these cheesy 80s horror flicks.



Playing records was always a good time.




Don't forget the tighter the jeans, the better they look!



Of course no weekend would be complete without a game of spin the bottle! Remember that one?



What are some of your favorite childhood memories? I would love to read them.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

New Year! 2016!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great beginning to the New Year. I am looking forward to some good things this year, lets make it better than last! I am sharing some cool vintage pics of celebrating the New Year in the past. Hope you enjoy!


Drink up!








Wanna Dance?!


                                             Lucy & Desi


                                         I hope its a great one!




                                           Debbie Reynolds



                                             Jayne Mansfield




                        I never forget our Military & all they sacrifice.





                                         Happy New Year!




                          Haha!! Looks like someone is having a great time!





                      Its happens.