Week 20 - How I missed Memorial Day

Memorial Day, a day off from work (check), grilling (check), eating, homemade ice cream (check),  napping(check), working (check), snarking, snapping, ignoring, bickering, pretending, pouting, protesting(check),  (check), (check), (check), (check), (check), (check).   Typical holiday, but not the intended purpose of the holiday.

In my defense, I did an obligatory FB post to thank those who served and remember those in my family that had honored their country with their service and all this took less than 20 minutes but I spend the rest of the day immersed in other things, some I enjoyed, but most I did not, and I failed to remember the "Days" intended propose, thus, how I missed Memorial Day. 

Memorial  Day, used to be known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end (thanks wikipedia for the great info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day)

In the past, it was a southern traditon for families to gathered at the grave of loved ones and remember, honor, clean up and plant flowers at the final resting place of loved ones that had died. We had a reunions at the graves of the the patriarchs and matriarchs of the family on the last Monday in May.  We gathered and shared fond memories of the dead, introduced the children and new comers to their ancestors and heritage and we renewed our relationships with the living.  However, we no longer honor the dead or the living for that matter and somewhere along the way we lost our heritage, culture,our tradition but more importantly we have lost something that sets us apart, our southerness.  We traded tradition for convenience and comfort.  It was hard to clean graves in rural hard to reach cemeteries in the summer heat.  Why take our nice cars up that muddy road.  We have lost our sense of community and of family.  We lost our sense of who we are and where we came from.  We have lost the appreciation for the struggle of those gone before us because life is so much easier now.  Somewhere along the way we forgot and do not care to be reminded. 

I am not sure what I will do with this realization now that I have it. I have until July 4th to see if I can process and decide if this is how I will continue. For now, with all my southerness, I honor my g-g-g grandfather, Miles P Penney, Company F. 6th TN Mounted Infantry, (1830-12/25/1877), a Union soldier.

Week 19 - Dude Look Behind You!

WOW! What an amazing time at Bear Trace!  I have fallen in love with the golf course.  Actually, I have fallen in love with driving the golf cart.  I have always loved driving anything with wheels, go carts, motorcycles, four-wheelers and now golf carts.  I love to drive and if something interests me I stop or slow down take a picture if not I keep driving.  I wave at the animals and notice things most would pass up without a thought.  No freeway traffic and I am not burning up any gas.  Really, how great is that?? The golf course is peaceful because everyone is quiet and concentrating on their game.  On this night, the weather was absolutely perfect and I mean perfect it was too hot and not too cold and no breeze was needed.  I just drive around and feel the wind in my hair and think about nothing absolutely nothing, well occasionally I think why wont this thing go faster but most of the time nothing.  Most of the people do not go to a golf course to do this but who cares what others do on the golf course.

Week 18 Memphis

Finally a little peace and quiet.  It rained a frog chocking pour down for the 4 of the 5 hour drive to Memphis, surprise.  We arrived around noon Memphis time and checked in and went to eat at Corky's BBQ.  I don't even like BBQ and thought it was awesome.  The banana pudding was the best thing I have ever tasted plus it had a little carmel drizzled on it.  I licked the bowl.  No kidding shamelessly licked the bowl. 

Then it was off to where else, Elmwood cemetery. I had to visit Shelby, why else does one go to Memphis?  I have to say, I do not enjoy Memphis at all.  I am not sure why but their seems some sort of bad vibe in Memphis sort of creeps me out. 

Not even the nasty phone calls because I accidentally left the alarm on or the traffic delay could ruin the trip.  That was all a piece of cake!

Week 17 - prom

I gotta make the prom rock!  Prom the day we all have waited and worked for. A dream come true.  It is an exciting day but the facts do not change, my cat is dead, my boss is leaving and I can shampoo sewer carpet at midnight. I can pull myself together put a smile on my face and make this magical, really it's just not about me I am surprised to learn.  All in all a perfect day, perfect hair, nails, toes, corsage, jewelry, date, make-up, spray tan, dinner, limo, pictures, shoes..........perfect just perfect, if my cat were not dead and my boss not leaving and carpet not soaked with sewer for me it would be perfect!   

  

You should shaved your arms BEFORE you put on the dress.  Just sayin'!

Toilet paper under the arms makes sure the deoderant does not get on the dress. 

Week 16 Awards Day

So, we run out of the house and make it to a great awards day.  We are exhausted to say the least and it is nearly 3 hours long.  Totally worth it for all the awards and scholarships.  We then ran to lunch and whatever else we need to do and I kept wanting to scream, hey, my cat is dead, my boss is leaving, I have soggy sewer carpet that needs to be dealt with ..........help me please!

Week 15 - Magic

Disney, finally!  Nice relaxing magic, I wish! After a strip search at the airport and jerk gate agent who insisted we check our bag we were on our way to Disney.  We finally arrive only to argue who gets the luggage at baggage claim and then rush to stand in the wrong rental car line for 30 minutes before we realize it.  Did I mention beverage service had to be stopped two rows in front of us for weather.  That's how we roll. 

You would think we could enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation but I don't think so, I need at least one call a day of why the kid would not get a class ring which we have been addressing since Christmas.  SHE DOES NOT WANT ONE!  Why am I getting this call, I wonder most everyday.  Just for fun the sewer decided to back up.  A little Drano did fix the problems.  However, everything was wet so let's run the washer and back it up again!  Really! 

At least it did not rain as predicted it was colder and required me to buy a sweat shirt.  I hate it when that happens!  It is never far from my mind that my kitty is never gonna hear me sing soft kitty for him again.  He really liked that song!

Home at midnight to squishy carpet and up at 7:00 for awards day.

Week 14 We miss you Arnold

Arnold is dead.  Really dead and we were devastated to say the least.  My neighbor approached me at the mailbox and told me she had some bad news.  They had found the remains of a cat that at the end of their garage about a week ago and felt it was our cat from the white feet.  Based on decomposition he had been there awhile.  All that could be identified was his white feet.  The were kind enough to bury him in a nice spot.  Nice, I mean really thanks I know that was not fun for them but he is my kitty and I could not stand the thought of him being buried somewhere else not matter how nice it was it not home.  I managed to talk DH into digging him up and moving him.  I know!  I know!   We are now officially out of the closet as "those neighbors."  I feel better knowing he is here where he belongs, judge me I don't care.

It was a wild day I am trying to make re-burial arrangement for the kitty then I pick up the kid and we have a major economics project before we fly out of town to Disney the next day.  Since that is not enough to deal with I miss a call from my boss which I quickly re-dial and I get the joyous news that he is leaving, the company! OK, my cat dead, huge econ project and start scrambling for my new position.  Pixie dust and rainbows is all I can see!

So, I really can't grieve for Arnold because I have to maintain some composer to pack and do this project.  I am familiar with delayed grief since I never get to say goodbye at funerals since my mother insists on diving in the casket or throwing herself in the floor.  Somehow that's really a distraction that I have to deal with.