posted 02-08-2003 07:41 AM         

THIS IS ALL SO TRUE! ENJOY...KARI-ANNE >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > > > I grew up in the fifties with practical parents -- a Mother, God
> > love
> > > > >her,
> > > > > > who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it.
> She
> > > was
> > > > > > the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it...
> > > > > > A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new
> > ones.
> > > > > > Their marriage was good, their dreams focused.
> > > > > > Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now,
> Dad
> > > in
> > > > > > trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn
> mower
> > in
> > > > >one
> > > > > > hand, dish towel in the other.
> > > > > > It was the time for fixing things -- a curtain rod, the kitchen
> > radio,
> > > > > > screen door, the oven door, the
> > > > > > hem in a dress. Things we keep.
> > > > > > It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
> > > > > > All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to
> be
> > > > > > wasteful.
> > > > > > Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant there'd
always
> > be
> > > > > > more.
> > > > > > But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in
the
> > > > >warmth
> > > > > > of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning
that
> > > > > > sometimes there isn't any 'more.'
> > > > > > Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes
> > > > >away...never
> > > > > > to return.
> > > > > > So...while we have it...it's best we love it.....and care for
> > > > >it.....and
> > > > > > fix it when it's broken.....and heal it when it's sick.
> > > > > > This is true.....for marriage.....and old cars.....and children
> > with
> > > > >bad
> > > > > > report cards.....and dogs with bad hips.....and aging
> > parents.....and
> > > > > > grandparents.
> > > > > > We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
> > > > > > Some things we keep.
> > > > > > Like a best friend that moved away -- or -- a classmate we grew
up
> > > with.
> > > > > > There are just some things that make life important, like
people
> > we
> > > > >know
> > > > > > who are special.....and so, we keep them close!
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _________________________________________________________________

posted 02-08-2003 12:16 PM         

I grew up in the fifties with practical parents --
a Mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she
cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle
queen, before they had a name for it...

A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused.
Their best friends lived barely a wave away.
I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat
and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dish towel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things -- a curtain rod, the
kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a
dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just
once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing
things away meant there'd always be more.

But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night,
in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the
pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any 'more.'

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes
away...never to return. So...while we have it...it's best
we love it.....and care for it.....and fix it when it's
broken.....and heal it when it's sick.

This is true.....for marriage.....and old cars.....and children with
bad report cards.....and dogs with bad hips.....and aging parents.....and grandparents.

posted 02-08-2003 12:53 PM         

PK