Letters to Mom

generations of "open door" policy - going back as far as family history tells, there was always an open door, chair to pull up to the table and food at supper if someone was in need.  Even if we didn't have much, it could be shared. for example: Mom, Grandma and I were traveling through Arkansas to meet the kinfolk and for Grandma and Mom to visit old places where they grew up.  We drove up to a cousin's house in Arkansas and Mom told the older woman and man that we were lost and a little hungry.  Grandma, Mom and me in a car loaded with suitcases and with California plates.  "Why, come on up, you're welcome to supper and we've a spare bed and the girl can sleep on the sofa." Grandma started laughing and the woman jumped about a foot in the air. "Maude Ilyar Carr, you get on out here! I'd know that laugh anywhere!" they hadn't seen each other since their early 20s. They were going to take in three lost tourists from Califo...

L-rd, Mama; I don't even know where to begin.  I definitely think Jackie and I take after you, we've offered what we can without hesitation to friends and family. Bertski was stunned when he told us about troubles in his relationship and that he wanted out and we offered the craft room.  Family history has been pretty mucked up, Mom. Your grandfather was abusive to grandma and treated her like hell, like a work horse.  Grandma was controlling and clinging.  Telling Uncle George that he couldn't take the pickup without her on a date, really?  Moving to Kansas when George got married and moved away.  Moving to California after George did.  Uncle George then carried it on with David. I remember you talking him out of moving to Germany to be near David and Serena.  You almost didn't manage that one!  How many times did Grandma threaten to take the car from you because her name was on the title? I remember when you had finally had it and...

Lost another one, Mom.  Whenever I turn to a dvd to raise my mood I turn to either XWP "Lyre, Lyre" or "Young Frankenstein".  Among all of us just two words could make us smile or laugh "Frau Brucher!" May his name and memory forever be a blessing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Wilder

It has cooled down a little at night and there's a hint of fall in the mornings. Not much yet but just enough to suggest September might be coming.  A couple of days of running over to Carrollton to get Jackie's license renewed and I think I've got a cold.  Slept most of the afternoon yesterday once we got home.  Sniffles, scratchy throat, watering eyes - yep, summer cold or allergies gone haywire. Can't focus enough to write - beyond annoying right now

Hey Mom, going to finish the tumbler quilt.   Quilt update - the tumbler quilt that Mom worked on for over 10 years (a little bit here, a little bit there at a time) was left in the frames being worked on when we lost her. We let it sit for a couple of years and then I decided we'd either roll it and put it away, find someone to quilt it or I was going to try one more time to quilt. Sat down and started quilting, something I hadn't been able to do before then. I did 3 rows and we discovered the quilt was damaged. To salvage it we took it off the frames, cut it down to a full size from a queen and were left with a small section that was left unquilted. The 3 photo is of the quilt ready to be finished with basting. The remainder of the quilt top will be cut into two pieces and turned into lap quilts. The bats will be the backing of mine, the owls will be Jackie's. Not choices Mom would make but we're shifting from what Mom would approve of in ...

Missing you, Mama Marie, Polly - several birthdays this month.  Everyday I miss you.

I think I've been "triggered" since the attack on a gay bar in Orlando by a Muslim who was killed by the police.  49 dead, 53 injured. The media grabbed ahold of the Muslim motivation right away, the idiot called 911 and swore allegiance to terrorists leaders and Islam.  That made it difficult to dismiss the attack as anything other than a terroristic massacre.  The WH and crew have tried though, claiming that he was a closet case who snapped, its now coming out that there is no evidence he was gay, in the closet or otherwise. He was a Muslim terrorist. Surprisingly tributes and vigils were held around the world.  I never thought we'd see that, Ma. Columinist wrote about how our sense of security was assaulted. Some countered that, pointing out that there is no security for g/l/b/t people.  We constantly think about whether we are looking "too gay" or "butch", whether we're in a place/town/area/neighborhood that might not be receptive...