Friday, August 1, 2008

Memories of my mother ... (part five) ...

I hope that you all have had a chance to read parts three and four of this series, published yesterday. As we've just moved along from July into August, these posts are no longer listed individually on the "Blog Archive". If you just scroll back briefly from here, you'll find them.

Part four, by the way, is kind of a 'downer'. Maybe you should save that one until after you read this one?


Today, I'd like to focus on my mother as an "organizer", the PIC (Person in Charge).


A couple of good stories to share with you, both of which have to do with my first husband and me. I think you'll find them amusing.



The wedding reception ...


The wedding itself was held in Marquette, Michigan, in the church where I'd spent many a reverent and happy hour during my college years.

Then, we all journeyed eastward some 42 miles to Munising, where I'd grown up and the reception was to take place.

What a great evening! A lot of my now husband's friends had made the trek from 'da Tech' in Houghton, and a very large bunch of the locals were there, as well, of course. Presents were opened, cake was served, etc. You know, all that good stuff.

We made our exit successfully. No one followed us. We didn't know it at the time, but a large group of hubby's friends had tried to follow us out and possibly harass us for who knows how far or long.

They were stopped dead in their tracks on the stairs by none other than the PIC, who asked, "And just where do you 'boys' think you're going?"



Packing the car ...


Mother had to have been the world's best car packer. I can remember countless family trips where the trunk was absolutely loaded to the gills, but still it closed neatly and effortlessly, everything boxed up 'just so'.


Well, THIS one was a challenge! Bed linens (including pillows and blankets), silverware, pots and pans, dishes, wedding gifts, niceties and necessities of every sort, younameits ... Mother was determined that all of it would fit into the car on our way back up to da Tech to set up housekeeping for the very first time.

Where we seemed to hit a brick wall was with the wooden clothes dryer rack. It just refused to fit! We tried and tried, but there was no way that we would be able to take it along, it seemed.

But then, Mother (PIC) came up with the perfect solution. If hubby would just put his head through two of the racks, it would work! (Can you believe it? I can still see that picture in my mind to this day!)

Well, guess what? Hubby refused. We DID end up taking the wooden rack, but it was only because he was finally able to take it apart!

10 comments:

Tammy said...

lol.........great post and great imagery. :)

My mom was (still is?) a great packer. When I went to NYC for a year to be a nanny, my mom packed my 2 suitcases for me. I CAN'T BELIEVE how much she got into those 2 suitcases. Wow, were they ever heavy and full!

I've enjoyed reading this series of posts, Goldenrod

Goldenrod said...

And it's not over yet, Tammy. I'm about to start one on "Setting up housekeeping" ... I'm on a TEAR here! This'll probably be a two-parter, we'll see. "Gloria" will be in there someplace. Remember? I promised you.

Have no idea when the next post on my mother will be. No plans at the present moment, but there will be several more, I'm sure.

Haven't posted any on Dad yet. He's a tuf one. Takes too much out of me to do a post on him (except for an idle mention here or there). Have a couple of drafts and bunches of notes, only.

The ones on my sister and brother are complete.

Am really glad you are enjoying my posts, Tammy. I have appreciated the glimpses you have given all of us into your family, and am tickled to death that your body is slowly but surely healing from that awful fall you took just a short while back.

Craig Peihopa said...

As Tammy indicated Goldenrod, I have particularly appreciated these posts also.

I have pondered and proffer here, that you consider compiling these insights into your Mum or MOM in the U.S isn't it, and write more and create a book.

This stuff is very worthy of sharing with the world in a much wider forum. I maybe so bold and presumptuous to suggest that there could even be a movie in this. Seriously. In a world of fantasy and shoot em up movies and an ever increasing serve of violence, the feel good book and film tinged with humour and love are fading. It's just a suggestion but I for one would buy a book to read it.

These glimpses of your mother, have had an impact on you no doubt, and I would love to know if these traits or attributes have been passed on.

Tammy said...

I agree with Craig on the book.

Hey, I haven't heard much about your taxi driving stories that you were getting down on paper a while back. How's that coming? I very much enjoyed reading what you shared with me, and would love to see them become something someday, too. :)

Goldenrod said...

Your comments leave me almost speech/writeless, guys! I would LOVE to be compensated for what I'm writing. Seriously!!

At the same time, I'm more than a little afraid that a prospective editor or agent might want to edit my words so badly that I might not even be able to recognize them as mine! I don't know if I could tolerate that.

Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart. I know you mean well, and I hope that you know how much I care about the two of you.

Craig Peihopa said...

I do Goldenrod I do. However angst ridden an editor and in my case a non creative person trying to dictate what works creatively to me can be, it is worth doing. Because within each one of us there is a blessing and gift to touch the hearts and minds of others, inspite of the losers that can go as the guise of an editor or critic, but if all of earths best human endeavour failed to be realised because of a person or persons who could alter, change or edit the things we are given naturally to do, our accumulated achievement would amount to naught.

I instantly conect with your words and situations that emotionally I instantly connect. It isn't even being rewarded or compensated for that writing, it is about expressing yourself creatively in the hope that a new and wider audience will identify with what you say. My observations are that many of the people alive today feel isolated, and alone, and yet your writing has a rare and unique qulity that can reach deep within and touch the heartstrings and allow us all to know that we are connected.

Enough preachy, but just know that I really love your musings and stories...and even you!!!

Craig Peihopa said...

yes tammy, more on the taxi days please....

Goldenrod said...

The taxi-driving autobiographical days have kind of taken a back seat, I'm afraid. It's a very different style of writing, and I have only so much creative energy. There are a few chapters that are complete, but it's probably been a month or more since I have added anything. It'll be finished someday, I'm sure, but I can't promise when. I think there are a few of my posts that are listed in the Archives of "Goldenrod's thoughts" under "Taxi" or "Taxi driving", I don't remember which right now. I don't write quite that way in the autobiography, and I find that I am able to only do one or the other at a time -- not both. I guess you could say that I'm having too much fun with THIS style!

Craig Peihopa said...

Who can argue with that response Goldenrod. Not I! I am having fun reading your skill with this medium.

Tammy said...

All right, you are excused. ;)