A YEAR OF THANKFULNESS

Last Christmas, Amy and Bryan asked everyone in the family to share a story once a month. When I was looking over the year's stories, I suddenly realized all the reasons I have to be thankful.

DECEMBER 2008

When I would go to Florida to visit, Bryan never wanted to go to bed on time. Bedtime would start out with Sharon saying, "Go to bed, Bryan." And then he would say, "BUT, I love you, Mommy." That continued 20 to 30 minutes. He would come to the living room door, and in the SWEETEST voice, say, "I love you, Mommy." This would continue for 20 to 30 minutes until Sharon would finally tell him, "I know; now go to bed!"

JANUARY 2009

I call this one "Can You See if We Have a Quiz? I Didn't Take a Bath Last Night."
When Bryan was in junior English, reading Grapes of Wrath (I think it was that novel), in my study hall, he asked me to call Mrs. Lopez to see if they had a quiz that day. When I asked him if he hadn't read the assignment, he told me he took a shower the night before. (No connection for me!) Seems he read while soaking in the tub, and since he took a shower, not a bath, he hadn't read the night before! Judy (Mrs. Lopez) just laughed when I called and told her Bryan wanted to know if they had a quiz since he didn't take a bath! When I explained, she said, "No, he's safe today, but needs a bath tonight!"

FEBRUARY 2009

When Sharon and Bryan moved to Hobart, I didn't realize HOW "territorial" I was! Oh, not at home - shifting things around, giving up closet space, giving up bedroom - those were EASY. Now, let's talk about SCHOOL! Suddenly, I wasn't the only one in Room 124! For 16 years, I was the ONLY person to inhabit my room. Then came BRYAN - oh, and his "entourage." My chair became HIS chair (& I hate a warmed-up chair); my desk became HIS desk (especially at lunch); my toys became HIS toys. WHAT A CHANGE FOR THIS PRISSY GIRL! I could reach out and touch/find anything in my room or on my desk - no more. The worst was my FAVORITE mechanical pencil. I loved that pencil. So did Bryan! I cannot even count how many times I would chase him down on stage to recover MY pencil!
Three years ago, the new band teacher had a study hall in my classroom. Suddenly, it was Déjà Vu! This Brian would walk off with my red gel pen. When I chased HIM down, his answer was, "But I like that pen," to which I reminded him that's why I BUY mine!!!

MARCH 2009

shoes:
For being the "perfectionist" that he is, Bryan was always so good about shoe shopping.
Interesting fact - Sharon has never bought a pair of shoes for her son. Mom and Dad bought all the special ones when he was little; after move to Florida, Auntie Shirley was the shoe person. Twice a year (before school started and at Christmas) we would go "shopping."
Now, if you know my Bryan, you KNOW he hates to shop! But this would be our big day! We would go and ask to see every size 13/14 in stock and Bryan would pick from those choices. The big day was the time we came home with TWO PAIR !!!!!

APRIL 2009

NOT A LAZY GUY
Sometimes, I think that Bryan should do more at home; seems Amy multitasks and Bryan focuses on one thing at a time. Then I remember how overloaded he CAN be - and doesn't complain.
Flashback to 1994 - Bryan's senior year:
He had 7 periods a day. Most seniors had a study hall to cut the load a little; Bryan's was so he could do more. Bryan was listed in my study hall because he wanted to be in the Theatre class but had some academic thing then. It was a way for him to be in two classes the same hour (bless Mrs. Howell for doing this!) BUT, here's what really happened in that 55 minutes:
He would get my keys; check out; go get his mom at home (she broke her ankle/leg and couldn't get to the car); wheel her to the car; get her in; take wheel chair back to apartment; run back to car; [Sharon drove to work in Gary (Joyce Sportswear) and the security guy called the office, the guys came out with a wheelchair she had there, and took her in.]; come back to school; check in; run to study hall; go to next class.
Bryan would learn the theatre stuff during lunch (even the Talent Show dance - thank you, Crissy!) and at end of the day, he would reverse the study hall stuff to get his mom home and THEN he was back for rehearsal! As Sharon got stronger, he would often wait and do the reverse trip AFTER rehearsals.
THEN it was help Mom at home and homework.
AND he didn't miss a day of classes!
He amazed me then and does now!

MAY 2009

Family "jewels" (NO, not "that" kind)

When Bryan was a young lad, I think he thought Auntie Shirley must be RICH - never ran out of toilet paper and had so much jewelry! He asked me why his mom didn't have jewelry. I answered, "Oh, honey, YOU are your mom's gems!" thinking he was more important and valuable than any piece of jewelry. He immediately burst into tears thinking because of him, she couldn't afford jewels! (I have a long history of being misunderstood!)
A few years later, I was riding with Bryan taking leftovers from garage sale to Salvation Army, when he was lamenting his rich college friends who now had great jobs and were driving BMWs and Porches es. I told him, "Your babies are your Porches es." He IMMEDIATELY understood and said that they were more valuable than all the "things" in the world. He finally understood what "gems" are!

JUNE 2009

Sharon posted on FB about me sending down T.P. (actually had to send TWO rolls before we got to store!) It reminded me of how Bryan as a little guy thought his Aunt Shirley must be RICH. Why? She NEVER runs out of toilet paper! The bear doesn't even lay down! (Sharon and I both had a T.P. cover that was a bear head with a skirt that covered a roll.) Toilet paper impressed him!

JULY 2009

FAVORITE JULY MEMORIES:Dan Quayle kissing baby Bryan in Hobart 4th of July Parade the summer before Quayle elected V-P; waving at the parade until arm gives out; getting candy thrown and sharing it with everyone; burning black spots on 2 x 4 watching "snakes" "grow" as they burn and twist; singing "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" while doing sparklers (also know as "Yankee Do's"); fireworks in the street for all the neighbors; "neon" necklaces and bracelets for all the kids; celebrating FREEDOM!!!

AUGUST 2009

August 26, 1992 ~ the day MY life changed. For 20+ years, I had been responsible for NO ONE but myself. I lived alone. I went to school and came home whenever I wanted.
August 26, 1992 ~ the day MEANING came into my life. The day Sharon and Bryan moved in with me from Florida. I doubt that either of them ever knew how complete my life finally felt. I spent 20+ years feeling like I was "waiting" for something. I found it that day.
August 26, 1992 ~ the day LOVE had a meaning.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Fall has always been my favorite season: cool, crisp, smell of leaves, school starts....
Remember the first fall when Bryan and Sharon moved to Hobart - Bryan and I were walking out the back door at school; suddenly, the huge tree in front of the Administration Building seemed to have changed color overnight. It was magnificent! Bryan and I just stopped in our tracks looking at the enormity of the tree.
I don't think it's ever been as pretty!

OCTOBER 2009

The second Halloween/All Saints/All Souls/Mom's birthday since Mom joined Daddy in heaven - have me thinking about her. Halloween was her mom's birthday - both women were the most independent women I knew.
I'll add that MY grandmother was always adamant about voting -- she voted the first year women could and every, single election after that -- with the exception of one. My mom was born on November 7, 1927, which happened to be an election day. My grandmother actually TRIED to vote that day, too. Sharon (my twin sister) was planning to vote when she ended up in ER one November 6th, was admitted to the hospital for several days, yet she wanted to go vote. Amy (Sharon's daughter-in-law) gave birth the next day, November 7, 2007 -- 80 years to the day my mom was born -- she, too, wanted to go vote on election day, yet she was in labor and her husband, my nephew, was at the hospital with his mom in the ER (Amy had the other three kids with her until the nurses literally threw Bryan out of the ER to go with Amy!) Amy did get to vote on the 6th, even though she started full labor the next morning at 3:00 a.m.; Bryan did not since he was in the ER with his mom!
My grandmother actually was one of the 1st women to vote - and missed only 1 election day - the day Mom was born!
In the homily this Sunday, our priest talked about how he always adds our parents in the prayers - very comforting as this week reminds me how lucky we all were to have such strong women in our lives. Mary Lou's ideals live on!

EXTRA FALL STORY 2009

Even though summer was short,

I still looked forward to the fall season.
I love the changing colors,
the crisp, cool air,
the sounds of band practice,
choir working on holiday songs,
auditions and rehearsals for theatre,
and school in full swing!

This year fall has been even more beautiful
-- no packing --
wondering
when we'd move in the new building;
finishing many "chores"
waiting to be finished;
spending weekends
sleeping in;
watching
the grandGodchildren
play soccer!

Most importantly,
waiting
for the newest Mumaugh
-- Amy and Bryan
are due with #5
in December --
has made fall even more brilliant!

One of my FAVORITE holidays is
Halloween!
Everyone can be silly,
play like a child,
and enjoy giving out treats!
ENJOY!

NOVEMBER 2009

On Sunday, November 1st, church had our saint statues displayed. This included the Infant of Prague statue. Years ago, Vickie (Gramsy) gave me a small Infant of Prague statue as a gift; Bryan was always mesmerized by it because you could change its outfits. Bryan called it my "Barbie Jesus"!

DECEMBER 2009

When I was 10-11 years old, I was a VORACIOUS reader. I read To Kill a Mockingbird the year it was first published (which TOTALLY let my kids know how old I was when I taught the book to freshmen!) It was my favorite book UNTIL I read an excerpt in "Readers' Digest" of Patrick Dennis' Auntie Mame. I HAD to get to the library and get the book. Suddenly, I KNEW what kind of aunt I would want to be some day!
As a child, Bryan never really called me "Auntie Shirley"; Cyndi's kids all did. When Bryan (and Sharon) moved to Hobart, he started to introduce me as "my aunt, Shirley," which worked for me!
I never really got to be the "Auntie Mame" for Bryan (just too close to his mom), but there were a couple of times.
The one I remember the most was when he and his mom were "discussing" his wanting to get his ear pierced. Sharon was ADAMANT that she would NOT take him. (She knew that he'd be a little freaked by the process.) The two of them were going back and forth about it and I felt it necessary to spout out, "If you get it pierced, I'll get the diamond for it." THAT sealed the deal for him!!! (My Bryan like "bling" almost as much as I do! Yes, I "followed through" with the offer!)
Jackie was always the "conservative" sister. HER girls did get "Auntie Shirley's" gene for "flash and trash" - BOTH have liked pink, purple, and glitz! My jewelry box is their favorite "toy" in Hobart!
So, how have times changed? When I was THINKING about getting a tattoo a couple of years ago, Jackie wanted to go with me (still does.) Bryan and Amy have become the "sensible" ones (thank goodness!) and ALL of them have made me so proud as parents!