quiltersmuse.com Blog

In 1989, on the spur of the moment, I decided to take a trip to California to visit family. The niece with whom I was staying had a full-time position, at the time, and so, was at work all day. Her sister, who lived in another part of town, asked me if I’d like her to pick me up and we could go out for a nice lunch and spend the afternoon together. Sounded like a plan.

We drove past several good restaurants that she had mentioned, only because there was no parking to be had on any nearby streets. Then, circling around the block, we saw a perfect parking place that had only one hitch: there was a huge potted Cactus plant sitting in the middle of the parking spot.

My niece turned to me and said, “Would you mind stepping out and moving that plant to the sidewalk?” I did as she asked, and she parked the small car. I was bemused and said, “I can see sunning one’s houseplants, but gee whiz, why not just use the sidewalk?” I was waiting for her to tell me exactly what I suspected was going on, and she did. From past experiences, she knew that someone was apparently attempting to save their “space,” by this method.

Well, we both started walking down the San Diego sidewalk, heading toward the restaurant, amid gritos in Spanish from an upstairs apartment window. My niece said, “Look straight ahead and whatever you do, don’t look back.” So, following her orders, I did just that. We marched to the restaurant and had a lovely lunch, in spite of my nervousness at the “incident.”

In big cities, people will resort to the dangdest things.

I have fond memories of that visit, and luckily, when I returned home, my employment situation had evaporated and I no longer had a job working for someone else. I have always wondered if the demise of my office work was related to my landing in the hospital as soon as I returned home, or perhaps the postcard I sent from Mexico, saying that I was having a great time, and it would be surprising if I was seen there again!

There are always hidden blessings in life and they always come along when least expected. Sometimes, what we interpret as a problem, is really not an issue at all, but one that actually can lead to an improvement in one’s life. The key is to “never look back.” That has always worked for me!

I still chuckle when I think of struggling with that Cactus plant and moving it out of the way. Besides monkeys, humans are the funniest things on the planet, and perhaps not all that different.
Patricia

Today, Jim and I collaborated on a new photo essay:

Mammy Quilts and Other Black Memorabilia: Artifacts of Prejudice, or Not?

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/mammy_quilts_and_black_memorabilia.htm

Hope you enjoy reading it!

Patricia

When a good friend of mine, who is a great grandmother, heard about the newest member of the family, namely our grandson, she said, “Your life is changed forever.”

A few days later, the full impact of those words has begun to hit me. I have been in the mood to seek out old story books I had as a kid, look for the words of Sesame Street songs, and I even have the urge to color! I want to go purchase a book of nursery rhymes. Of all things!

Maybe this is a new phase of my life: a so-called “second childhood.” If any of you have experienced this same type of thing, please let me know. I’ve already heard from a number of grandmas and great-grandmamas. Apparently, our common denominator is that we dote on our grandchildren. None in the world are as cute, or as smart, or as wonderful. How could they be? They are “ours.”

So, if you see a fat lady walking down the street, singing or humming, “Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, for lovers and dreamers and me,” just smile, knowingly. She is probably a grandma. They are all about, you know, though few wear a sweatshirt that declares the fact.
Yes, our lives are altered. I suppose we have entered another phase that is, or soon will be, a dimension of a lot of “baby boomers,” like ourselves. As long as I get a senior citizen discount at Dunkin’ Donuts, I have NO complaints. Here’s to the gray brigade!

I am admittedly, and officially, an “oldster.” What fun!
Patricia

Hello again:

I have just uploaded a brief file that I will probably add to, at a later date, when I finish reading the book:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/our_nig_overview.htm

This book is considered to be the first published novel written by a Black American woman, and is worthy of bringing to your attention.

Patricia

During the holiday season, we often recall people and events of the past that comprise our collective “Christmas Memories.” Unless my experience has been very unlike yours, some of these recollections may be terrific, while other thoughts could just go away and that would be an improvement.

For some reason this morning, I woke up thinking about polar bears. Maybe it is because I so enjoy the polar bear Christmas ornament from the Smithsonian gift shop that my sister gave me one year. Perhaps it is because of the oversize and beautiful book about Polar Bears that we gave as a Christmas gift to someone who really loves the bears. Upon opening the gift, she said, “You know, this book is very important because, with global warming, the bears are drowning and may not be with us much longer.” Sad, but true.

I began to think of the other end of the world where Penquins live, the Antarctic, where the environment (global warming) is also having an impact. My late uncle, a NCO in the U.S. Army was responsible for sled dogs, in expeditions he went on with Admiral Bryd. In fact, I am proud to know that “Dolleman Island,” was named after my uncle Hendrik, (my mother’s sister’s husband, who originally came from the Netherlands.)
I remember him being gone at Christmas time a few years. Before he left, I would always ask him to bring me home a Penguin. Of course, I was quite small then, and didn’t realize the ramifications of this childhood fantasy. When he would come home, penguin-less, he would say, “Sorry, Kind, maybe next time.” (I assume that “Kind,” pronounced “kent,” means child.)

Still thinking about polar bears and penguins, Al Gore’s campaign to save the environment comes to mind, as well as his film, “An Inconvenient Truth.” In a sense, it is too bad that we have come to distrust public officials, perhaps even former ones. Some may suspect that those individuals have some hidden agenda or “ax to grind.” Frankly, I am surprised that more people are not jumping up and down and reacting more strongly to the information set forth in the film, a real call to do something positive, while we still can.
Personally, I am happy that someone is speaking out. I do hope that the habitat of both the polar bears and penguins can be saved. Ironically, although these creatures live at each end of the world, and do not cohabitate, they are often seen together on Christmas cards!
The Christmas memories that hold the most meaning for me are simple ones: attending Midnight Mass, which meant that I could stay up late, just like the grown-ups; making cut-out Christmas cookies with my mom; enjoying her Coconut Cake and Stollen, two family traditions; unwrapping dolls, and maybe a new sled or skates; and just having more family around. I also remember that my brother, Jack, would stay awake, bleary-eyed, to listen for Santa to land on the roof. The next morning, he would report that he had actually heard the sleigh bells! That was the magic of Christmas!
Whether you are well or ill, surrounded by many people or by no one, please make the time to do a few things to bring joy into your own life and that of others. Call an old friend, put some $$ in the Salvation Army bucket, read an uplifting book, watch the old, tried and true, Christmas specials, like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” or knit a scarf! The fact of the matter is, you are still here, and that is cause for celebration! Please make this Christmas one to remember!

Patricia