Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

This is my favorite picture of my mom. It was taken from a snapshot of her and my dad when they came to visit us here in Texas many years ago.  I loved my mom.  She was a wonderful person. However, we were very different. 

Mom was friendly (would talk to anyone about anything), sociable, and loved to dress up. She believed things were black and white - no in-between. We differed. While I'm not unfriendly, I tend to be quiet (more like my British dad), could care less about the social aspects of things, and really don't care to dress up. And when it came to black and white issues - IMO, everything is gray.

My mom was a good cook. Her signature dish (if one wants to call it that since we all requested it annually) was her oyster pie. We always had oyster pie (not oyster patties as is the norm in N.O.) on Thanksgiving and Christmas. She also made wonderful oyster stuffing. But I don't think mom liked to cook as such. She could cook, but it wasn't her favorite thing to do. And she kept an immaculate house. We used to call the front room 'the museum' when I was growing up. Of course in the 50's and 60's we had formal living rooms... which were only used for company. Mama was the typical 60's house-wife - always dressed well and had dinner on the table for my dad when he came home from work. 

Growing up in New Orleans in the 50's and 60's was good. We weren't rich, but dad had a good job and we didn't go without. Life was different then. Integration and segregation was an issue. We lived with it, but being children, we weren't totally aware. Looking back, it's sad how unaware we were. I don't recall mom (or dad) ever commenting on the issue - at least not in front of me. 

But no matter our differences,  I do miss her. She moved in with us here in Texas when she was 80... and lived with us until she was 93. The last few years were difficult as mama was diagnosed with Alzheimer's (which explained a lot in retrospect) and since I was working, eventually went into a 'memory care' unit at at really nice nursing home nearby. However, I regret to this day that I didn't just quit my job and keep her at home with me. Hindsight. I'd visit every day and we'd have tea on the porch. But she was never happy there. Don't think she'd have been even at home, but still... 

Happy Mother's Day Mama! 

almost there...

luggage

It's Wednesday already. I've been packing for our Alaskan Cruise. We leave at the end of the week. Well... I leave. Norman and the boys will be here to take care of the house and the cats. Organizing what one needs for almost 2 weeks is hard... didn't used to be.  Must be an age thing. Then trying to remember and follow all the new flying regulations... what you can and can't take, what you must have 'up front' in plastic bags, etc. as well as making sure you don't have too much luggage or that it weighs over such and such... And packing light when you need heavy warm clothes doesn't help...

Oh well, basically it's done. I wanted to get it all taken care of 'early on' so I had a day to relax and think about how much we're going to enjoy this little adventure.  Everyone I've spoken to that has taken the Alaskan Cruise has loved it. The scenery is supposed to be spectacular. I'm excited about seeing Vancouver and some of the Alaskan stops; Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan..... and possibly 'whales'.  I just hope the seas are calm and the  weather is not too cold. But none-the-less, it WILL be wonderful.

I'm taking a journal, a mystery book,  and my Nikon with me.   Wanted to take some yarn, but doubt that there will be time for crocheting.  My friend has signed us up for some 'excursions'.  I don't know what they are, but they should be fun. I have heard that the train excursion in Skagway is fantastic.

That's about all the news from here. Tux will miss our daily nap together. If it gets close to time and I haven't sat down with a book... he starts to follow me around howling.

Jack on left and Tux on right

Molly's handi-work 

After reading some blogs tonight I decided to do a post similar to Perpetua's... only it isn't my birthday until July.  BTW, Happy Birthday Perpetua! And many many many more! I liked the before 60's and after 60's pictures.  Here's mine.  But since I didn't have any recent ones, I had to try to do a 'self' photo.  It didn't come out too good, but after a few attempts, I decided this one would have to do (can you see the camera in my hand in the bottom right corner? I was looking in the mirror and holding the camera down to my side so the flash wouldn't obliterate my face...  kind of looks like a deer caught in the headlights)

me at 10

me at 67

Something I haven't mentioned, but is preying on my mind a bit is that this weekend is my 50th High School Reunion in New Orleans (which I will miss). I graduated from St. Mary's Dominican High in 1963 and had plans to go to the Reunion until realizing that it was on the same weekend as the Alaskan Cruise. Since we haven't lived in New Orleans in 45 years, we don't see many class-mates.  But I keep in touch with a few (one in New Orleans and one here in Texas). They promised to take pictures and gather info for me.

Tomorrow is my last day to get my ducks in a row for the trip so I doubt that I will have time to post again for the next 2 weeks. And I don't have a laptop... did at one time -  however, it went the way of the kids and grand kids. But I will catch up when I get back (both on my reading and comments as well as posting). And hopefully I will have lots of pictures to share!  Until then, Happy Blogging!

Just a short note to add that today (Thursday) when I went to pack my Nikon, it wasn't working... worked fine yesterday. Trip is tomorrow.  Figures... yes?