family
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Happy Whonkey Day!
So, let me explain. When my baby sister Jennifer was little, she kind of had her own language. She named things in a way that was so assertive, you had to just look at the object and say, well….yeah, that’s what it is, all right. For example, chicken was “gooster”, olives were “gobbles”, and turkey? Continue reading
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Celebrating My Brother, And Brothers Everywhere
My older brother Russ is, and always has been, a fantastic brother. Maybe I’m a little partial, but I know my younger sister would agree. Calm, patient, and level-headed, he’s always been the rock of our sibling relationship. A quiet man with a wickedly dry sense of humor, he never fails to make us laugh. Continue reading
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The Enduring Love Story of Richard and Janice
On Saturday, June 21, 1958, my parents got married. Today marks what would have been their 67th wedding anniversary, had we not lost Dad in 2021. My mother (Miss Janice) is still very much with us, though, and so we made a trip up to Dad’s grave so she could leave roses for him. I Continue reading
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Remembering Angela: A Tribute to Friendship and Loss
I lost my friend Angela yesterday. It wasn’t sudden. I knew it was coming for the last few months, but I still wasn’t ready to lose her. Of course, we’re never ready, are we? I’d known Angela since first grade. I spent a huge chunk of my childhood at her home, sleeping over on Saturday Continue reading
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Great-Aunt Myrtie (Was A Bad Girl)
Things are getting entirely too heavy these days, so I’m going to post a distraction and write a little about my great-aunt Myrtie. Myrtie was my maternal grandfather’s half-sister, but he never made a distinction about the “half”; she was his sister, and that’s all there was to it from his point of view. My Continue reading
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Remembering Lila Mae: A Southern Legacy of Love
Lila Mae was my maternal grandmother. Often described as a hoot, a character, or in loving Southern terms, “a mess!”. Being called a mess in the South is generally considered a compliment. She loved a good joke and was a great sport should that joke turn out to be on her. She was also quite Continue reading
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The Adventures of Wilma: A Washing Machine Tale
About a year ago, we got a new washing machine. It’s not terribly complicated to use and it’s not overly computerized, but it does have enough cycles, water options, and a big enough tub size to get any washing job done nicely. I love it. I’ve secretly named her Wilma. Wilma even beeps out a Continue reading
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Lila Mae’s Traditional Lemon Pie for Easter
It’s Easter time, and I made a lemon pie for Easter dinner tomorrow using my grandmother Lila Mae’s recipe. It’s my mother’s favorite, and it’s the only lemon pie I recipe I like. I won’t ramble on much before I get to the recipe, but this pie (and her chocolate pie) always make me think Continue reading
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The Beautiful Light Of A Burning Bridge
“Don’t burn your bridges behind you”, the old saying goes. I disagree. Sometimes the brightest light can come from the flame of torching the link between yourself and things that are causing you harm, and that light can lead you out of the darkness. I know this because almost nine years ago, I did exactly Continue reading
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The Comfort of Sunday: Traditions That Feed the Soul
As I sit here on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I’m thankful for a day of rest. I’m in my favorite spot, with my beloved kitty, my blanket, and my laptop. I am content. The sound of the rain is a nice complement to the tapping sounds of my fingers on the keyboard, and quiet rolls Continue reading
Kat's Rambling Mind 