The Past

I just looked over some writings I did earlier this year.
It has been amazing listing the happenings in my life.
Yes, I have only just begun as they say.
There seems to be a pattern. I am only at the tip of the Iceberg.
Thing is, I am actually finally beginning to LIKE what I see in me.

Remembering growing up is a wonderful pastime.
Not only does it let you learn more about yourself, but it
helps you remember things that way too
many people have forgotten to appreciate.

I see the tendency now days to "be entertained".
We used to go do that ourselves. We would play games,
read, run outside and make a fort.

Climb up a tree and imagine a Kingdom rather than watch
a tv show or rent a movie.

Don't take this the wrong way, I love that those things are
available for my children.
I think of a lot of things I would have wanted
growing up if they had been available.
I still like to find little discoveries with my Computer and
spend more than enough time playing.

That said, I long for that time when I was a young girl.
Now I would have enjoyed it much more than
I did then. I always wanted to be somewhere I wasn't...
Just like I find my daughter doing now.

I remember playing with a puppy.
Dressing it up in a little dress. Walking down to the pond.
Checking out the turtles and other critters near it.
I remember Persimmon Trees and that
pretty orange hue those fruits had on them.

I remember Apple Blossom time in Spring, usually
the end of April although sometimes Winter was not
quite done and you could almost see the Apple
trees shudder.

I can remember lying on the ground looking up at the clouds
just because I could do it!
Lying there looking at them bump together, pass each other...
gave me a feeling of freedom, joy and relaxation.

Not only did I do all of those things, I was exploring me.
Now of course at the time I did not
realize I was doing those things...I was just a child playing.

I also take time to try to remember my Family better.
I have recently been investigating my Dad's history.
I began there simply because I wanted to know
more about where I came from.

When we moved my Dad's remaining things
from the house they had just sold, and then later from the
storage unit last Spring, my brother and I discovered
that Mom and Dad had Photo Album after Album that we never
knew existed. Now, I knew they had a few because Mom always
talked about going through them with us someday.
But, she had placed them well back in their walk in closet,
and it never really occurred to me that I should spend time
going through them with her.
If I have any small regrets, that would be one of them.

Time has a habit of getting away from us while we pursue what
is important to us at the time.
I see it again happening with my own children.
I mention things that I would like to do with them, and they are
too busy or will put it "on the list", or they look at
each other and roll their eyes just as I did
back when I was near the same age.

So, I will continue on doing this self investigation...And write of it.
Hopefully someday they will sit down and read about Grandma and smile.

I guess what I am saying in this writing is:
try to slow down and enjoy where you are now.
Don't go rushing around so much trying to "find"
what you have not lost.

Keeping up with the Jones Family won't work,
They will just move. (joke)

It is not so important the "things" you have as it is the
people in your Life that you love.

Spend time with them, call them...
heck pick up a pen and write them,
the written word is still so wonderful.

Thank someone. Open a door for someone else.
Make someone Laugh or even giggle.
Hug someone even if only online.
Hugs tend to be contagious...And are not fatal.

Try to make Lemonade out of Lemons... it can still be done.

Take a walk with someone. The Conversation you
have with them may not amount to much,
but you will both feel better when you get home.

Hugs from Katie to all my Dear Friends...

More later

Going to Grandpas House

Now I know most remember going to Grandmas house.
I like to remember going to visit my Grandpa.

Yes, that can be confusing since they lived in the
same house. Yes, I liked going to see Grandma too.

Its just that Grandpa had an extra way of making
me feel extra special. He doted on me. He always
made sure I was ok, that my brothers didnt bother me.

He always cooked the best pancakes and syrup.
Ok, Grandma cooked the pancakes most the time,
but his syrup was the best I ever tasted.

We used to go to visit them quite often as my
Mom was going to college and needed a place
to leave us.

We had the run of the farm, and
loved that. There were many cats and cows
and other critters to love there. I even remember
a batch of baby mice one time. The only
details of that...are that it was my first understanding
of survival of the fittest and the difference between
pets and rodents.

My Parents and Grandparents were brave.
They also had a wanderlust, hope of a better
future in a new place, and deep love of the land.

Their move to Missouri when my Mother was
8 months pregnant with me still amazes me to
this day. To take that change on and be
successful at it is the true meaning of following
a Dream.

Now they never told me they were successful.
I assumed that from my own memories of growing
up in a place that allowed me to roam free most
of the time. A place where there were nooks and
crannies always full of adventure and discovery.

Trees to climb, animals and pets to love. Ponds
to adventure around, old buildings with rooms
un occupied except by cobwebs.

I could and did spend many times just sitting in
a tree, looking out over the Scenery. I used to
sit above where the Hollyhocks and Sweet Peas
were planted and smell that lovely smell and
watch the bees buzz around them, knowing
I could catch the fresh breezes and escape
from whatever my Brother's lates scheme was
to hear me yell.

Words

I wrote of Treasure before. I will write again. I realize now why I love Books so much.

Each book is a Treasure of words.
Easy words, hard words, words you never read before.
Annoying words, words best read out loud. Words that tickle.
Words that surprise or horrify!

Where would we be without them? Reading them brings Angst, Tears, and Joy.

I collect old books....mostly Hardcover because those are the ones I will be most
apt to read. Some of them are beautiful just to look at...imagine whats inside.

I think we have gotten too far away from using our imaginations.
With all of the ways to entertain ourselves, picking up a Book is
still the best one I can think of doing.

I began collecting Books a long time ago. Going from Garage Sale
to Garage Sale, books were and are the best bargain. I was given
access to a collection of books one time that I could not resist.
I knew of the many people who had read them before me.
The books were going to be destroyed if I did not give them
a new home. I did so and have never regretted that choice.

Now, thats not to say my family did not regret it. They still complain
often about how I have too many of them and the clutter continues
to grow. They are right of course, and I have begun to try to resist
the temptation of buying many new ones. I have found some wonderful
resources to recycle them, so feel better about them as I know they
will no longer just be destroyed, but moved on to another happy
reader.

I sit every day spending time with a Book. I figure that I have to.
This is the only way I will ever be able to read the wonderful
Collection I have already. I have even recently gone to the Public
Library instead of buying the latest Series of 6 novels I wanted
to delve into.

You see, I am not only reading for the total joy of it, but as
an escape, a way to travel, and a way to learn about the world.
One cannot find a better hobby, or an easier one to take along
with them almost anywhere they want to go. They pack easily,
are sturdy, and can be picked up and put down without losing
the story or the adventure.

I have to admit I do not choose paperbacks much anymore.
Some of them are larger and the print is ok for my eyes, but
the smaller ones are too small of a print for my eyes to read
easily, so I do my best to get the story in Hardcover or in the
larger Paperbacks most stores now carry.

I knew I needed to get to reading before my Eyesight gets
to the point where I do not enjoy the trip of the mind.
I remember my Mom being an avid reader for many
years, and now I understand why.

She lost that skill the last few years, and I am sure it was
frustrating to her when that and the ability to Sew passed
out of her hands.

I never thought about writing anything of merit. I never
even wrote in my Diary much as a Child. I never realized
that I might enjoy reading what I wrote some day, even
if it was trivial and repetative. Now I realize I want to
try my hand at it, and only write for my own entertainment.

I got past that roadblock that was keeping me from
having time alone with myself and just unwinding by
putting words on paper.

The point of this story is really just to get busy
and Read. Write also as it too can be a good
escape. These are inexpensive ways to
self entertain that are not illegal, immoral, or
fattening.

Ok, so they can be, but I read the legal stuff;
the only bordering on immoral, but not going over;
and the not so fattening, unless its a Cookbook.

Oh, and I hope you at least smiled as you
read this writing.

Hugs

Katie