By Lula Anderson
Another two weeks gone by since I last wrote, and I'm right now, squeezing in this article in my already busy schedule. I thought that when I retired I would have so much time to do what I wanted, but that's not the case. Sometimes I long for the tranquility of my working life. At least then I had a fixed schedule and could plan on what I was doing. Not so much any more. As a widow, I find so much of my time is spent doing jobs that were relegated to my husband. Simple things like keeping the lawn mowed, and trimmed. I've been working on getting my tomatoes and cucumbers planted. First rototilling. I have a small EGO battery powered which is great but with limited power. Yes, when the battery dies, I'm done, also, but it just extends the time . I take out my EGO lawn mower and get a small lawn done, then back to the tilling. Dig holes, put in fertilizer, tomato and cover. No one to hand me what I need, so it's up and down, back and forth. Drag over my fencing for the cucumbers, get the mallet, pound in stakes, dig holes, etc. No one home to make meals, so fit in cooking. The diners have been seeing me more often this year.
Lula had cataract surgery last week,and that was two days of appointments. Thanks, Lisa , for being there. Recall on Wednesday, to check out how things are progressing. craft classes start this Tuesday at the Senior Hall, and that will be another 10 weeks of activity for us.
Summer is the time for barbecues, so keep checking WRIP website for them. The Jewett Fire Dept. has sent their letters and have announced the date of their bbq: August 16th serving starts at 4. More info to follow as the day gets closer.
Prayers for Lisa and Jose Morrero for her father who is in the hospital, and continued prayers for the Beckmann family.
AS I REMEMBER IT
Last Sunday was Father's Day, and with both my father and husband gone, it was just another day for me. A friend was quite upset because as of Friday, her son never mentioned any plans for his dad. Another received a card from his daughter on Monday, and he didn't find it appropriate for him and their relationship. My son sent a text with a drink and "Salute Papa and Pops" for all of us to think of our losses.
Remembering Father's Day of the past , my mother always made my father a special lunch. We had no money for presents, just a day for togetherness. Some days it would be the family alone. After church, the girls would gather in the kitchen and make fried chicken and potato salad. If the "city friends" came up, we would start marinating chicken before church using the Cornell recipe which is now Brooks BBQ sauce. The record player would be brought outside and polkas and waltz music would be playing. The grill would be lit and while the chicken was cooking, the adults would sit in the driveway and talk.
As we got older and started going out to work, the lunches would become evening dinners, and we would always try to have a gift for dad. A new short sleeved shirt, shorts, summer pajamas, all practical, nothing overpriced.
When I had my own children, I made sure that my sons signed an age-appropriate card for both their dad and their PaPa. We tried to celebrate one year with my dad and one year with my father in law so that no one would feel neglected, but the absent dad would get a phone call.
I think of things that made my dad special. How he would take me by the hand and teach me about plants, and gardens. How he made me and my sister a playpen for our dolls because we wanted one. He was busy working on projects for paying clients, but always took the time to make what we wanted in between. I learned that he would wake my sons up at the crack of dawn to take them fishing in Conifer Lake then get them home before I woke up. After supper he would take them out again. They would be splashing in the lake and every time he threatened that since they were scaring the fish he would never take them again—--until the following day when back they would go.
So as another Father's Day weekend comes to a close I just want to say to all Fathers: Salute. And may you share in the love and respect that my family gave to their Pops.
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