A New Year's Tradition

Back in the spring of 1975 my family moved. We moved from a cluster of friends where - as my mom once described it - we grew up in each other's houses - to a town about an hour away.

As New Year's Day approached one of our old friends invited us and another family to dinner on New Year's Day. It was wonderful fun to see our friends again - between the three families there were nine children who at that time ranged in age from about 13 to 2. There were complaints that there were no radishes - or not enough radishes - or something in the salad (this actually became important later).

When the evening was over one of the other families said "Next year we'll do this at our house."

This year it's at my mom's house. That's right. 2011 and a tradition started in 1976 is still going strong.

There are traditional gifts: Radishes for my dad who once complained that there weren't enough radishes. Every year he gets radishes now. It wouldn't be New Year's without them. Bananas from my Mom to the other families because one summer when we were all at the shore she kept pushing bananas on everyone until it became quite the joke. The sailors get salt - because they are old salts. Someone else gets hot pepper jelly.

The players have changed somewhat. Those nine children have grown up; gotten married - one tragically died way too young. Some have moved away so getting to the party isn't alway possible every year. Each year, whoever can make it does.

There's a whole new generation of children. Ranging this year from teenager down to toddler.

There are the millennium boys. New Years 2000 we have a picture of three of us, looking very pregnant. Our sons were all born within the same week of February. Fun for boys of that age to have friends who are the same age - almost exactly.

The woman who started it all, is no longer with us. She lost her battle with cancer over a year ago - and we all miss her terrible. But tomorrow we will gather and she will be with us in spirit and we will remember the way she was always cheerful and always made us laugh and how she started one outstanding tradition.

Happy New Years, everyone!

A Shakespeare Poem on Friday

No, not a poem by Shakespeare, one about him. You see, my 13-year-old daughter is supposed to be writing a research paper. The topic she chose was about the debate some people go into about who "really" wrote Shakespeare's plays. (For the record she thinks he wrote them, and I agree.)

Anyway, while she was supposed to be busily typing up her paper, she got to thinking about Shakespeare's son, Hamnet and this is what she came up with.

Hamnet Shakespeare

by KRM

Papa comes home, smiling, whistling,

He tells us stories of London

And

Perhaps performs a skit or two

He picks me up

Tells me I’m more handsome

Than the last time

He saw me

Was that six months hence?

Susanna and prissy Judith

Both tease me as we set the places

Mother chides us,

Our father is home, be on your

Best Behavior

Papa tells us he could

Care less, He loves us

As we are

I wonder secretly to

Mother,

‘Why isn’t Papa home more?’

Mother has no good answer. She smiles

Tells me what I’ve heard before

“Work”

Other Papas have work

Here in Stratford.

Why does our Papa

Work in London?

He’s an actor, Mother says

He writes plays,

He’s a player, he acts

For the public, the king, the queen

Sometimes.

Papa and Mother sit before

The fire, talking about

Us

I think.

My twin, Judith

Tells me it’s

Rude to listen, to work on my

Latin like a good boy

I stick my tongue out

At her.

She’s a prissy girl,

What does she know?

Papa and Mother argue

She says for him to come

Home more often

He says it can’t be done

She says others manage it

He says he loves her very much

There’s writing he must get to

She says ‘The children

Need a father’

He says, ‘they more need a mother’

He smiles at me, peering from behind the door

Curiosity getting the

Better of me

Mother doesn’t see me

She’s angry

Angrier than

She is at me

Sometimes, when I

Don’t do my schoolwork.

Papa sits by the fire, writing.

Feather scratches the paper, I wonder

What he writes.

He tells me to come to him, to

Listen to a scene.

He writes other things, too

Things about “Anne”

My mother.

He crumples that up

And tosses it into the fire

I watch the flames envelope

The paper

He tells me about the stage

I tell him about Susanna and Prissy Judith

He tells me I’d be a great actor

Stealing the stage

I say

I want to go with him to London

He says maybe one day, Hamnet.

It’s August,

I’m sicker than sick

Mother says she’s called for

Papa,

But I don’t want Papa

I want to be well

Prissy Judith, and Susanna are

Reverent by my bedside

I think about Papa

Maybe I’ll go to London

With him after

I’m well

I tell Mother this

She cries.

I think about Papa

The way they’d argue

How he’d write about her

I tell her this

She cries again. She tells

Me I’ll be well again

Soon, soon, soon

But by then

I knew

I wouldn’t be

Hamnet Shakespeare died in August 1596 from unknown causes. It's also unknown if his father was present at the time.

Thankful for School Newspapers

Jillian, a high school student who edits the The Panther Press did an interview with me for her school paper. How cool is that? You can read that interview here.

Thankful for...Warranties

I'm especially thankful for warranties that I didn't know I had.

Specifically for the ones on my son's glasses frames. The frames that snapped in half when he was cleaning his lenses at school today.

The warranty that means the glasses will be replaced at no expense to me.

It will be a few days before the replacements are available, and he has to wear his old ones until they are, but at least the situation is as positive as it can be... considering it started with a pair of glasses that snapped in half.

Thank You, Veterans

Really. That sums it up. Thank you to the men and women who are willing to make the supreme sacrifice so that we may live free.

"Thank You" doesn't even seem sufficient. But it's what I've got.

So on Veteran's Day - the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I - I join with others throughout the country and world to say Thank You, Veterans.

Thankful for ...

Hmmm, this is a little tough today. The broken microwave is on my mind. And the leaky washing machine. I'm not particularly thankful for either of those things. I mean, I'm thankful for the things, I'm not thankful they are not working properly.

But how can I turn that around in my head? How can I be thankful in light of things that don't make it easy?

1. I'm thankful I have a washing machine and a dryer. Even if it leaks water, it still washes my clothes, and I'm very glad about that.

2. I'm thankful that the microwave is a convenience, not a necessity in my life. I can function without a microwave until we get a new one. It will force me to finish my tea while it's still hot as opposed to constantly re-heating the same cup of tea during the course of the morning - but I really should be able to drink a cup of tea in less than an hour - so it shouldn't be a problem.

3. I'm thankful that if necessary we can replace these appliances. It will not mean less food on the table or some other sacrifice if we have to go out and buy something new. We may not be wealthy, but we don't have to do without. And for that I really am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

Blankets to Give

Today I'm thankful that I have a skill I can use to help others.These blankets were all made to be donated through our church's Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Mostly they were made with donated yard. And will probably be given to the local Ronald McDonald House.

It's Friday, Therefore Poetry

What am I thankful for today? That I have a daughter who writes beautiful poems. And she shares them with me and encourages me to share them with the world.

And today I have. You can find my daughter's latest poem over at my other blog, Simply Put.

Thankful for Rainy Days

It's rainy today - and although I need to go out to the store and get some milk and orange juice, it's pretty much going to be a hang around the house and relax kind of day.

We all need those kind of days. The kids have off from school this week, and while many people in our town take off for exotic locations (mainly Disney World) we stay home. Everyone likes some days when you don't have any obligations hanging over your head.

And rainy days seem to be giving you permission to watch a movie in the middle of the day or curl up with a good book.

So, I'm thankful for rainy days.

Thankful for Health and Family

Today we are going to the funeral for my husband's uncle. It's difficult to be thankful under these circumstances. But I am thankful that our uncle is now at peace, because he endured a lengthy illness and had not known peace in quite some time.

I am thankful for family that gathers around in time of adversity.

And I am thankful for our own health. It is not something that should be taken for granted.

It's Election Day

Day Two of Thirty Days of Thanksgiving.

Today, I'm thankful that we live in a country where we have the opportunity - not to mention the responsibility - to vote for the people who represent us in government.

For the most part, when you go to vote today you don't have to worry about bombs or armed mobs blocking your way. There are places in this world where those are the obstacles votes must face on election day. I'm thankful those are not my obstacles.

Also, when the voting is over and the votes have been counted, if a new person is chosen to fill a position, on the appointed day, the former official will pack up his personal belongings and vacate the office so that the new person can take over.

There may be hard feelings. But there will most likely be no bloodshed.

And for that I am very thankful.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 1

A couple of years ago I did this and I want to try again.

There's got to be at least something I'm thankful for on each of these thirty days of November.

Today I'm thankful for sunny skies and cool temperatures that really make me realize that Fall is here. I'm thankful that the kids have the week off from school and we can relax a bit - and start our NaNoWriMo projects. That's right - both kids and I are all participating in National Novel Writing Months. My husband figures he'll read a novel and leave the writing to us,

What are you thankful for?

Does this Mean They are Growing Up?

Today I took my son to Party City so we could get him something to wear for Halloween. He stood there, looking bored, while I suggested different things. Finally I asked him, "Do you even care?"

And he said "No."

Hmmm.

So, we left without a costume. For the Halloween parade at school he will wear what he wore last year.

As far as trick-or-treating. He'd be okay if I just bought him some candy. I think his sister might agree.

So it looks like the end of an era.

Why do these things always take me by surprise?

Vacation

My excuse for not blogging this week? Vacation - and very spotty internet connection. Plus we were very very busy. So, here's a quick rundown of how the week went.

1. Monday: Bushkill Falls.

We hiked the "Red Trail". That's the big one. You can see all the waterfalls, but it takes several hours. We were exhausted when we were done. Well, everyone except my son, so the two of us took a paddle boat for a spin. I don't think my legs will ever forgive me.

2. Tuesday: Dorney Park. No pictures from there, because I didn't feel like carrying my camera around an amusement park. We all managed to get sunburned though. Fun times!

3. Wednesday: The Martin Guitar Factory.


Awesome tour! It takes a month for them to make one guitar from beginning to end. And of course we all know what kind of guitar my son wants now.

After the factory tour we went to Lancaster, PA for some shopping and good eating!

4. Thursday: Gettysburg, PA. It's a very humbling experience to realize how many men were killed or wounded on those battlefields.

5: Philadelphia. Here my daughter tries to get some inside information from the signers of the Constitution at the National Constitution Center.

6. Saturday: We started out the day at Valley Forge and wrapped it up at the PAYA Festival.

This fabulous event was put together by a fifteen-year-old book blogger. And just look at some of the fabulous company I was in! That's me with Amy Brecount White, Jeri Smith-Ready and Stephanie Kuehnert. There were 18 authors there for signings, and there were also writing workshops.

So, what did you do this week?

The T-Shirt Pillow Project

Okay, admit it, your kids have tons of t-shirts you don't know what to do with. I can't be the only one who feels like I'm drowning in these things. Every sports team, camp, special event all seemed to be marked by a t-shirt. And then the kids grow.

Some of the shirts are not ones I wanted to get rid of. They had a special meaning for us and I didn't want to just put them out in the next clothing drive. So, I came upon a really easy project.

T-shirt pillows.

Material needed:

t-shirt

stuffing

sewing machine

needle and thread.

ruler and pencil

Directions:

1) Turn t-shirt inside out

2) Using ruler and pencil draw a square or rectangle that encompasses the design on the t-shirt

3) Using sewing machine stitch along those lines, leaving a space a couple of inches big for stuffing purposes,

4) Turn pillow right-side out. Stuff sleeves and other extra t-shirt material inside pillow.

5) Use stuffing to get the pillow to the plumpness you want it.

6) Sew up opening.

And that's it. Quick and easy and cute!

(some of the pillows in the picture have not been stuffed yet - which is why they look a little limp)

Five on a Friday

Okay, if I'm going to get my act together on blogging, I need to blog once in awhile. So, here are five random things on a Friday.

1) I've decided to start a new story. I have no outline, no plan and no title. Only the vague idea that it should have a quest and supernatural elements. The file is very originally called "new" and so far I have 7000 words.

2) Took my daughter to the doctor to see if we can pinpoint the cause of her wrist pain. X-rays weren't conclusive, so we had to schedule an MRI. Fun summer activities to be sure!

3) Went to Runaway Rapids with the kids and their cousins. The kids had a blast!

4) Yesterday we made a stop at the library. My daughter said she would return a couple of things, but wouldn't get anything out. She took out Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty, Maureen Johnson's Scarlett Fever, The Lord of the Rings and a graphic novel of Robin Hood. Good thing she didn't want any books.

5) And I've begun making a quilt.

Have a great weekend!

Blogging Again

Summer is a time to kick back and relax, right? And I guess you could say that kind of relaxing spread on over to my blogs where there has been less than little activity going on. But that is going to change.

Starting with today.

And today I'm blogging over at YA Authors You've Never Heard Of. It's a great new venture put together by Christine Norris. So if you head over there you can find out why I'm not famous even though I had a book published (It's because Oprah doesn't have my number).

Tuesday's Proverb

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish. (Proverbs 11:28)

Five on a Monday

1. On Friday night I took my daughter to see her friend in a stage production of Grease. It was super fun and very well done. The teens who were in the show had a lot of talent and enthusiasm. And of course the songs from Grease just kind of make you tap your feet and feel happy.

2. While we were at the show I put my son and husband in charge of making some rhubarb/strawberry ice cream. We'd found the recipe in a magazine. I'd picked and diced the rhubarb and purchased the rest of the ingredients. They did a good job of cooking it up and making it into ice cream. To go with that, the following day I made rhubarb/strawberry cobbler. Yum!

3. Two baseball games this weekend. One on Saturday and a make-up game on Sunday. I think the first game ended in a tie, but there is apparently a dispute about that. We may have lost. Sunday's game was a definite win though.

4. While I went to my son's baseball game on Saturday, my daughter and husband were busy volunteering scoring archery targets for the tri-state Wheelchair games. I'm very proud of my daughter's enthusiasm for volunteering whenever the opportunity arises.

5. We introduced the kids to Gone With the Wind this weekend - watching part of it Saturday and part of it Sunday (that is a very long movie). My daughter loved it, my son didn't seem to quite get it (I also don't think he tried that hard). It had been ages since I'd seen the movie, and I'd forgotten just how good it is. Gotta love Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara.

Words of Wisdom on Wednesday

Hey, I don't know if I have any thing particularly wise to share, but I thought I'd try a new blog feature and see where it takes me.

1. Always look on the bright side of life.

2. Think about How Lucky You Are.

3. Don't be afraid to fail.

(I saw this video first over at HipWriterMama)

If you

4. If you look for the bad, that's what you'll see. The same is true if you look for the good. Quick story: I was in the supermarket the other day rooting through the bin where the sale yogurt had been dumped. There was an elderly woman doing the same thing. Making small talk I mentioned there wasn't a lot of variety, since there only seemed to be two or three flavors. The old woman agreed and then went on about how the whole country was falling apart because it didn't use to be like this and what were we coming to. Her only consolation was that she'd be dead soon. Um. Okay. But I looked around at this huge grocery store full of an outstanding variety of fresh and prepared foods and couldn't find the end of the world in the fact that the sale yogurt wasn't the best organized. It's all a matter of perspective - so have a good one!

5. Have a happy Wednesday!