Tuesday, March 29, 2016

I Miss my Roller Skates with a Key on a String


I did love my roller skates back in the day when roller skates had four metal wheels and a key. My new saddle oxfords were always scuffed from the clamps that fit around the toe. I learned to ride them inside our house, ruining the linoleum in the process. Then my parents moved to a house with a real sidewalk and the roller skates moved outside. My ankles were chafed from the leather strap that was buckled in the very last hole and my calves burned from riding as far from home as I possibly could and still see the chimney of our fireplace.
Young girl in Roller-skates, Bay St. Louis, Mi...
Young girl in Roller-skates, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 1921. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The skates would expand so I wore them for many years, even after a big big bike appeared for my seventh birthday. It had been ordered from the Sears Roebuck catalogue just like the skates. It seemed that wheels made my life bigger and finer. I think I was the only child on the block that owned either one.

Time passed, the skates were packed away and then in the 70's my own children wore them and we listened to Melanie Safka sing her classic song I've Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates.... 

The roller skates and that beautiful, wistful song became symbols of a woman's life for me. We could live alone and travel and be whole all alone but life was not the same without someone to love and share the adventure with. I am glad I chose to marry and have children.

Somehow, now that I am old, I yearn for my roller skates with the key that I kept on a shoelace. Maybe I could hang it around my neck and see the world through a child's eyes once again. It was a glorious freedom they brought to my life. To quote the Roller Skate song "I been all around the world. Some people say I done alright for a girl..."

I wish I could lay my hands on a pair of those skates...my granddaughter would probably love them as much as I did. I want her to know that she will do just fine even though she is a girl! Her brothers are a challenge for her.

Funny isn't it how we think about that kind of thing. I suppose that is why I go to Invaluable. They have collectibles up for auction on their website. I will need to check and see if their have my favorite pair of roller skates soon.

But I really don't ever want to go back...not ever. That is why it is good to write and talk about what once was so we can relive the adventure. Then we can buy a pair of roller blades and race on down the street.

Have a wonderful day.

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Published on Jul 16, 2013

I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm OK alone but you've got something I need, well

Refrain:
I've got a brand new pair of roller skates
You've got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and
Try them on to see
I been lookin' around awhile
You got something for me
Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive, I been all around the world
Some people say I done all right for a girl

I asked your mother if you were at home
She said yes, but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm OK alone but you got something I need, well

Refrain
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Monday, March 28, 2016

Listen to What I Mean, Not What I Said!

The very fact that you can talk to your computer or your smart phone is an amazing. Really, if you had told me that the idea Steve Jobs had all those years ago would ever really work, I would have doubted it. Somethings were simply impossible back all those years ago.

But now we walk around texting to friends while we are walking down the street and never touch the screen of our phone. Honestly, if you are not amazed your have lost your innocence.

There is a learning curve though. Remembering that sometimes we leave a voice message and sometimes we are texting can be a problem. Leaving a voice message with your doctor that sounds like this:

Hello, This is Barbara T. period I would like to make an appointment for March comma 13th at 1:00 in the afternoon period...
 ...leaves the listener laughing and wonder what planet we are from. I don't know about you but I don't preview my messages. I just hang up after I am done. But sometimes I pay attention AND the bad thing about that message is, after you realize what you have done, you need to figure out how to get rid of it. Technology can be tricky.

Then there are the text messages we send to friends. Being in a hurry is not a good thing because, if we make a mistake, that is one place you cannot take it back and correct it after it has been sent. Once it is gone, like your emails and snail mail, it is gone. The sad thing is I will read it AFTER the send button has been touched. Shoot!

I love progress a lot. I love talking into my phone and seeing my words appear. But when I tried to explain to my daughter-in-law how to make chicken pot pie in a text message and salmon appeared in place of chicken then touched the send button, I could only hope she read what I thought and not what I actually said.

What have you sent out into the world in a text that you verbally created that make people wonder about your sanity? We all need a good laugh!

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Friday, March 25, 2016

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Being a snowbird requires a bit of magical thinking. The meaning for "home" has to be modified to fit where you are, not where your house is. In fact, my first blog's name was Always at Home because in my younger days I would begin redecorating if I lived in a motel for more than one day.

I don't do that anymore. It was wearing me out. However, I still am a nester that can make a home out of a packing crate. It is a gift I think.

Easter in Oregon
When the major holidays roll around, especially those religious holidays like Easter and Christmas, finding peace while not near our family is a little hard. We miss that part of home that involves grandchildren and children.
Easter in Arizona
What we have discovered is that we can celebrate with friends and share their family traditions and stories with them. It eases that home-sickness that seems to seep into those special days. In a way we are like children again leaving home for the first time and making new traditions of our own.

So this Sunday on that special day 4 of our closest friends will come to our house for brunch. We will share not only food and prayer but also family news. After all of these years the magic is working...Arizona is beginning to feel like "home" during the holidays.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

After All...What are Bucket Lists For?

You know that I am on Facebook...not a lot but I am definitely lurking around in the shadows. I like to keep it that way. I don't like stalkers.

Even though about the only thing I post are stories from this blog and those things that are related, I am always surprised when people I don't think are watching me are.

Take this last week when my daughter had a retirement party to end all retirement parties. I had a video taken of me drinking a shot of straight tequila and it was put up on Facebook by a son. Up to today it has been watched 325 times. Yikes!

The thing about pictures and words is that they never really tell the WHOLE story. Usually there is a lot more to be said that cannot be captured in a Facebook post.

Like everyone one these day I have a pseudo-bucket list. It is not a conscious thing. But, it seems that there are things I have always wanted to do but didn't think it was lady like or appropriate. One of those thing was drinking a shot of tequila in the correct way. Shot-salt-a slice of lime in public for everyone to see.

I let my wish slip to my son who was standing beside me watching my daughter's friends toast her retirement with a shot. When a granddaughter asked me why I didn't do it I told her I didn't want to wobble walking home.

Then I looked up...my son was pouring the tequila in a shot glass for me. He simply said that it was okay for me to drink a shot...it was not like I was getting a tattoo or anything!

The rest is history. The shot glass was only half full but the experience and the reaction from friends and family filled me to the brim.

The lesson here is that most things we want to do that are a little outrageous are not as permanent as getting a tattoo and probably a whole lot more fun. And after all, isn't that what bucket lists are for?

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What is on your bucket list that you are almost afraid to tell anyone about?

Monday, March 7, 2016

Bringing a New Meaning to Retirement

My daughter retired last week. She is 49. I am just blown away that she and her husband can do this. But funny things are happening to her already. Retirement can be written all over you face I suppose.

She sent me a text message this morning. It went like this:
Mom, it has happened to me...they offered to carry my groceries to the car this morning. I have never had that happen before. I think it was because I looked extra beautiful.
My response was:
I think you should go with that explanation dear. I love you!
Retirement at such a young age is truly wonderful. She is just hitting her stride and will start a new job next Monday. Life is good!

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