Letters to Mom

with very heavy heart I need to honor a very dear friend and part of the family for over 2 decades. Stewart Cramer passed away late Sept. His daughter found my Yule card and called. He could no longer walk and gave up. Please remember him a t the fires this year, raise a goblet, a glass, a drinking horn or a cup (filled with his favorite coffee). He was amazing. Every time we'd see him we'd learn something new - which saying a lot since we saw him practically every other month. Hope you got to hear how he killed a Studebaker car with a pair of paratrooper boots, had to pay for the car, got demoted and transferred to Japan. He never drank again. The pictures are from a campout in 2006. He's wearing a Viking over tunic that Mom made for him and on his beret is a beadwork piece that I did. Hail Stewart!

Mom and Mama Marie; We miss you both so much. It's not the same without you. I haven't even watched the Grinch once this season. I had pinto beans and northern beans for dinner tonight.  I know that would make you smile, Mom.  I remember that first Christmas after Harley almost killed you and you threw him out. We hadn't lost the house yet but things were rough.  The only food we had were beans and potatoes and my gifting was the encyclopedias that you and Harley had bought on time months before.  We were headed to Uncle George and Aunt Rose's place in LA the next day. You made that dinner special, Mom.  You lit candles and we opened presents (I think Grandma "helped" with your gifts).  There have been a lot of holiday meals since then, Mom, but that one stays in the forefront of the memories. We miss you

The holidays are hard without you, Mom.  We've been thinking of you a lot (which is something considering I miss you every day).  The holidays are low key again this year.  We don't even remember last year, things were so horrible.  We each got a couple of things for each other but didn't decorate other than putting out my nutcrackers.  We didn't make a Thanksgiving dinner but we did go out at Lynn's insistence and had a nice dinner at Golden Corral - first time we had steak in a long time. We're not cooking for Christmas day.  We're going to attempt a turkey breast today.  Neither of us feel like eating so we'll see how this works out.

Miss you, Mama; It's been so hard at times.  It feels like it was yesterday and we can't believe you're gone.  We're trying to keep going with things.  Losing you and many of the "kids" has been devastating.  Love you, Mama

50 years ago today my father was stationed at Ft Worth, Texas - right next to Dallas.  Mom's story: Bob, Mom and I were taking a nap (I was 3-4 years old) and they had the radio on.  The news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas.  Both pairs of feet hit the floor at the same time. Bob quickly got dressed, pulled what money he had out of his pockets and put it on the dresser, kissed me and then kissed Mom and said he didn't know when he'd be home.  My father was in the Army and was a fine soldier - a drill sergeant, soldier of the month many times, and more.  No one knew what was happening - chaos and disbelief swamped the entire nation but especially in Texas.  Everyone waited by phones, televisions and radios, many people hovering around appliance stores or beauty parlors, anywhere there was a tv or a radio. Then came the word hours later that President Kennedy was dead and the nation went numb and then into a depression. Fifty ...

<a href="http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/results/?oR=0.825&amp;cR=0.556&amp;eR=0.375&amp;aR=0.639&amp;nR=0.688">I'm a O76-C41-E18-A44-N76 Big Five!!</a> Thing says I enjoy spending time alone, I'm creative and a little high strung. Is that me? Go figure

Hey Mama; Been an up and down couple of weeks, eh?  It's been easier with reliable transportation and not going into an absolute panic over money.  We know things will be tight eventually but for now being able to have a full freezer of food and being able to take Grady to the vet is good. Downside: Jackie lost her birth Mom yesterday.  We've known it's been coming but it's still hard.  In some ways having you go so quickly was good but it left us reeling and still does.  I can't believe it was less than 2 weeks, Mom. Downside: Grady has bounced back a little but he won't recover, not with feline HIV. We'll do what we can for him.  My stubby tail stubborn boy - still has some fire in him. downside: with the recent project with the bookcases, cleaning and moving things racked out my back for a week and it's still not recovered, damnit. neutral: I start some intense counseling this week and Jackie has treatment for her back on Thurs, day after my...