May - it's about mothers, and spring, and things we appreciate!

Hello!  I have missed the last two Hodgepodge weeks due to a little thing called my daughter's wedding.   I wrote a post about the wedding right before this one, so if you'd like to read it, you can scan down.  But, in short, the wedding day was absolutely lovely, and it didn't rain (even though the forecast called for a 100% chance!), and the bride & groom were beautiful...  and I danced and danced!!   I think a good time was had by all!

Now, back to our regular programming!?!

Here are the Hodgepodge questions and my answers.  You will note that mothers play a part in the questions, since Sunday is our annual celebration "day" for them.  But, really, isn't EVERY day Mother's Day??   I think so!  ( :

1.  What's a phrase your mother often said to you?  If you're a parent, is this something you now say to your own children? 

OK.  So sometimes I feel sad that I just don't remember details from my childhood.  I loved my mother very much - she was very sweet, and I always felt she was there for me.  But, I can not think of a particular phrase she would say to me... to help me through rough times especially, or to just keep everything in childhood in perspective.   Perhaps my sister can remember better.   If she's reading this, please respond.

As for what I told my children as they grew up...   "life is not fair."   I didn't want them to think everything was to be for their benefit, and that sometimes we learn more from disappointments and in losing.   I also tried to put a big emphasis on the value of knowing God, hopefully without being preachy... but, more by example.  

2.  What is a scent you associate with your mother or your childhood home? 

Immediately I think of the scent of the Dove soap in my grandma Fogt's bathroom!  It was very fragrant - and we used Dial at home.  Her soap made an impression on my young nose!  

As for my one childhood home:  this is a rotten smell:  When we lived in Bucyrus, Ohio we lived just a few blocks from the Swan Rubber Company and on summer days & evenings the smell of burned rubber would permeate through our open windows in our house.   It was not pleasant.

3.  What's an activity you remember always doing with your mother? 

Again, I wish I remembered more details.   I do know though that my mother was home every day when I got home from school.  I was one of those kids who must have really appreciated it... and liked knowing she was there.  She didn't work away from home until I was in high school (and I was the youngest of three) so she was there... and I found comfort in that.  

4.  Flared jeans, maxi dresses, and jumpsuits are 70's fashion trends back this Spring.  Are you on board?  Which trend would you most be inclined to try?  For the men - flared corduroys, wide collared shirts, and floral prints...  what say you? 

No, no, and no.   The 70's fashions were not great then, so why bring them back?!?    I wore flared jeans but I never wore maxi dresses.  I do remember having a maxi winter coat though... and that made sense in the winter cold in Ohio.   I had a jumpsuit that I liked because I think (in my mind) I looked skinny in it!  ha!  But... what a pain to go to the bathroom in it!   The whole thing had to be unzipped and come off, and I remember once being in a public bathroom and trying to keep it from touching the floor - or anything else!?!    ugh

As for the mens' styles.... also, no, no, no!!

5.  May 6th is Teachers Appreciation Day and also Nurses Appreciation Day.   Is there a nurse or teacher you have especially appreciated along the way?  Tell us why? 

From my "school days" I remember the fun teachers, or the teachers of subjects I especially liked.  I can name a few... Mrs. Hayes (4th grade -so sweet),  Mr. Rohrbough (HS band director),  Mr. Mental (football coach who taught history - we all thought he was cute), and Mr. Fisher (biology - a subject I didn't like but I was "lab partners" with my best friend Paula and we giggled a lot!!)  I also liked my French teacher... can't think of her name. Soft spoken and kind.  I loved my Art History professor in college, Dr. Bauer.  I recently saw the byline on an article in the newspaper of a professor I had at night at Towson University.  He worked for the Baltimore Sun then, and taught on the side. He went on to write for one of the big news organizations, AP/UPI.  I emailed him 2 years ago and told him I remembered him and that I enjoyed his class.  He wrote back saying he was very touched to get my letter and I made his day!  

Another teacher I love?  My daughter, the bride, who is in her first year of teaching - and she's in an urban school teaching 9th and 10th graders English Literature!  God bless her!  She also coaches the girls hip-hop dance group, and is starting a debate team.   Yeah for her! 

I can't name particular nurses BUT almost all of them are amazing people, who put up with us in our worst moments, and give TLC and a healing hand.    I admire what they do!

6.  If I came by your house, what would I find on your refrigerator door? 

I assume Joyce, our Hodgepodge leader, means on the outside of the fridge.  I have a calendar - yes, I still prefer to keep one there and write on it vs. using an electronic one.  I have magnets from a few places I have been. I still have my daughter's "Save the Date" card up - and I have my niece's "Save the Date" too for her October wedding.  I  also have an autographed picture of Blake Shelton on the fridge.  Why?   Long story...  but my daughter & her new hubby have Blake's song "Honeybee" as "their" song.  It was popular when they first started dating.   I wrote to both Blake Shelton's record company and his management company back in December, telling them it was my daughter and fiance's "song" and they would dance their first dance to it at the wedding reception.  I asked for a letter of congratulations for the happy couple, which I wanted to frame and present them.  I included a self-addressed, stamped envelope.   Well...   I got both back.  And, both had the same photo of Blake, and both were signed "To Marla" (me!).  No congratulatory letter.   Dang!  Neither read my letter very closely.  Oh well.  So, now the picture of Blake hangs on my fridge! 

7.  Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana made her royal entrance on Saturday, May 2nd.  On a scale of 1 -10, how much attention did you give to all the news coverage?  1 = Who's Charlotte?  10 = sat glued to the telly, cuppa in hand. 

I give myself a 3.  I knew Kate was pregnant and I knew reporters and cameramen were posted outside the hospital for days.  But, I was not enthralled with all the details.   I will say I like the name given the baby...and Kate sure looked good when she stepped out for the first picture - the very SAME day she delivered!   They are a cute family - and I hope they stay away from all the craziness that comes from being a "royal on display."  

8.  My random thought. 

Oh May!  How I love you!  The weather is beautiful here.  It's sunny and breezy.  The flowers are blooming and the trees and grass are green again!   The feel of summer is starting... with the excitement of all the fun times ahead during the warm weather months!   I love this time of year! 

Now, don't let me eat my words - there's the first "system" somewhere out in the ocean again.  The hurricane predictors have said it will be a quiet year, which really means, it may not!!  They seem to always get it wrong.  

But, for today...   fiddle dee dee!!!  I'm going to go out and enjoy this glorious day! 
Hope you do too.