Easter Bonnet

Do you remember when it was a big deal to have and wear an Easter bonnet? I certainly do. When I was growing up, every woman that I knew or was related to looked forward to buying a new Easter hat every spring. Two weeks ago today on Easter Sunday, I looked around at church and realized that I was the only one wearing a hat! It was not new but it still looked very nice. Later when we went out to eat with our son and his family, I told our grandaughter the story about the hat I was wearing. It is black straw and has a beautiful black rose in the center of the brim in the back. A very stylish hat if I do say so myself. I told our grandaughter that the first time I wore this hat was to her christening. She is now fifteen so that was some time ago. I also told her that a hat can be a lifetime investment. All that is needed is a good hat box for storage. I remember all of the beautiful hats I saw ladies wearing in my childhood. I think we have lost so much when we have, for the most part, not continued this tradition. Department stores even eliminated hat departments for some years after the hippie period in the 60's. Today a lady may find a lovely hat in the right store and can add fun, beauty and a little spice to her life by buying one. And...men seem to always notice and admire a lady wearing a hat. So add something special to your relationship with your husband or favorite beau by adding a new hat to your wardrobe very soon. Another way to spuce up a happy relationship/marriage.

Appreciate.....deliberately

My husband always keeps a book in our car so he can read while I go into a store that does not interest him. I should add that I do not drive. I could go into a long explanation about this, but I will not at this time. Just accept it. So we go on any and all errands together. We both enjoy this. Anyway, when I returned to our car yesterday, he wanted to read a passage to me from his book. And this is how I discovered this new phrase. Appreciate...deliberatly. I think it sums up something we have been doing in our marriage, but had not expressed it in this way. I think it makes any relationship better when those involved, not only appreciate each other, but take the time to tell each other. Even in retirement, days can become busy and there is the tendency to get caught up in the tasks of the day. However, when we make a concerted effort to slow down we will see how helpful the little things are that we daily do for each other. We have a pretty paper towel holder in our kitchen. It is deep red and has a rooster on top of it. Recently I had noticed that we were getting pretty low on the roll of paper, but just ignored it. Later in the day, I noticed that my husband had taken the time to get another roll of paper out and had put it on the spindle. Take my word for it, it may be a pretty holder but it is a pain to change. I went immediately and found him and told him how much I had appreciated what he had done. So slow down and take the time to start appreciating ...deliberately. I think it will improve even the best of relationships.

LCC Wins!

Last Saturday something hugh happened. Lima Central Catholic High School won the state championship in basketball for their division!! This is the first state title ever for a school in Lima. One grandson graduated from this school and we now have two grandchildren there. One is a senior and the other one is a freshman. Basketball, and especially the March tournaments, are very important here in Indiana and Ohio. It is difficult to try to explain to those who do not live in this area just how very important basketball is to everyone. It has long been called Hoosier Hysteria in Indiana. Since I was born in Indiana and now live in Ohio, this has always been a special part of my life. I have been told that my father taught me to say "Rah Yea South Side" when I was two years old. He would have been listening to the game on our radio while helping me do the cheer leading. When I was 17, I would graduate from South Side High School. My husband and I sat in our living room last Saturday and watched as the fourteen point lead our team had was narrowed down to only one point with forty seconds to go in the game. Most of the players attend our church. One is the grandson of a friend who lives here in our building. Another player is the son of the wonderful photographer who took our photos for our 50th wedding anniversary. Finally, with 15 seconds to go, one of the best players on our team made two free throws and the final score was 60 to 57. We both sat there with happy tears in our eyes. We were so thrilled that they had won. Our son and family were at the game in Columbus. He called on the way home to share the joy of this great moment. The coach has been at the school for 32 years. At the post game press conference, he announced that he will retire at the end of this year. Sometimes the good guys really do win. He has been a great coach, teacher and counselor at the school. He has helped so many young people and certainly has helped our granchildren. It is a story book ending to his career. A writer would have had a fun time creating a story about a coach who celebrated his 500th win last fall and ends his career with a state championship! My husband and I have attended and watched many sporting events since we began dating in 1955, but we will never forget the thrill of watching this state championship game. Even though yesterday was Palm Sunday, at the end of mass, the priest congratulated the team and coach on the win. The players who were there and the coach stood up as everyone applauded for a long time. A perfect salute to a great team and their terrific coach. And these moments of shared joy are now a part of the tapestry of a long and happy marriage.

March 23, 2009

Well it has been a very long time since I wrote on the blog. Alicia and Liz have given me an opportunity to start writing again. I love the idea that we can share these blogs as a family. So my blog will not be strictly about "How to have a happy marriage", but perhaps the seeds for one will be found in what I record about our daily lives. Today we helped with a mass at a local nursing home. We do this twice a month. I handle the small details with the candles, books and anything the priest needs. We have a new priest from Africa who does not have a drivers license yet. He was supposed to arrive last summer and could easily have received one. Because of lots of red tape, he did not arrive until November. That is also when the snow and ice arrived. This was all new to him and must have seemed insurmountable. So we are happy to pick him up for the masses. It also gives us a chance to get to know him better. At these masses, Bill always does the scripture readings. He is also on a regular schedule to do this at mass on Sundays. I am so very proud of him for doing this. I can give book reviews and conduct meetings, but the thought of standing at the pulpit and reading in church really scares me. I know that Eleanor Roosevelt said we should do the things we fear. I only follow that advice some of the time! When I finish here, I am going to bake some biscuits. Actually I will turn on the oven and then break open the container and put the biscuits on the sheet pan. I still like to call this baking biscuits. Then Bill will select a CD. He likes to surprise me with the music he selects. Then we will sit down in the formal part of our living room and have tea, music and biscuits. We just recently started doing this again and we find it makes our lives a bit more civilized and it is just fun to spend the time together.