Riddle Riddle Ree I See Something You Don't See....

Talent

He works tireless on a daily basis to compose culinary masterpieces that only his family will enjoy.  He continues to perfect his skills in anticipation that one day his dream will come true.  I continue to encourage and to look for avenues in which he can work on his dream 100%, but life continues to get in the way. Soon, very soon the rest of the world will be treated to his talent.

Riddle, Riddle Ree .. What Do You See?

Riddle Riddle Ree... What Do You See?

Road Trips

Do you have that one snack food that takes you to the same place time after time.  Funyuns, that salty onion snack, takes me to those hot summer road trips with my family.  My parents didn't have much money when we were growing up, but every year we took some type of road trip.  The road trips typically were in Kentucky to the local parks.  We would load up in the blue station wagon, I usually would ride in the very back with the luggage and my best friend, and cousin, Tracy.  The wind would blow through our long straight hair and cool us off from the hot summer day.  

During the trip, dad would stop for gas and let us get one special snack.  Going into the store, the cool air condition would get my attention first and then the ding of the bell on the door.  We would search the shelves until that bright yellow bag, the color of the sun, would catch my attention.  Grabbing the bag of Funyuns and going to the front of the store to get a Coke Cola out of the ice tub that cooled the little glass bottle.  Walking out of the county general store, there was usually a wall bottle opener to bottom the top off the Coke Cola.  Then the moment, when the salty onion taste of the Funyun was offset by the acid of the Coke Cola.  I would savor each bite, because I knew that it was only on this road trips that I would be treated to such indulgences.

Whenever I go on a road trip now, especially in the back roads of Kentucky, I find myself still grabbing that bag of Funyuns.  But now I try to get something a little less in calories to drink.

Riddle Riddle Ree...What do you see?

Riddle Riddle Ree What Do I See....Home

Riddle Riddle Ree...What Do I See?

Home

Looking at this ornament hanging on my Christmas Tree and hearing the song "I'll Be Home for Christmas, If Only in My Dreams" reminded me of the memories of Christmas from my childhood.

My Grandparent's farm house was heated with a wood stove, but the love in their house was more than enough to warm your heart and soul.  The trip to their house always seemed so long, but when we turned off the main road to the farm we knew familiar sights and sounds were around the bend.  

The road we traveled into the farm was rough.  The road started out smooth with a few rough spots.  And depending on the year and the weather the road could be rougher as we traveled into the farm.  I remember one year the middle section of the road was washed away.  It took some time but we made it over that part with my Dad's gentle guidance and patience.  

Then the creek would come into sight.  Again, some years the journey over the creek was easy.  The creek bed would be dry for a quick journey.  The creek could be damaged by bad storms during the year.  The creek could be rushing with water that could add danger and peril to our journey.  Or the year that created a lot of headaches was when the creek was frozen over.  That year there where flat tires and worst of all my Dad's car suffered a punctured gas tank.  But that became the best thing that could have happen, because of the damage to the car my Dad had to spend the week in the county with my grandparents.  I would be the last Christmas my Dad spent with his father.  My Grandpa Riedel died the next year.

The creek couldn't  stop our journey.  We would turn left into the thicket of trees and splash once more through a small creek.  We had to be prepared and ready, as before the rains could have made the small splash a big drop.  Through the thicket we would travel up the hill and hope that it had not overgrown in the Autumn months.  Some years, especially toward the end of my Papaw's life, my Papaw would not feel up to clearing the road for our return home.  We would have to work a little hard to get to his house.

Finally, we would reach the gate.  The card would stop and one of the children would jump out of the car to open the gate.  Now this was an important task.  Opening the gate was not easy.  The rock in the road was creek rock and was slippery and we had to be careful of the mud.  We did not want to get stuck in the mud on such and important day.  When we reached the gate we had to reach through the cold metal gate, unwrap the chain, and unhook the latch.  As we unhooked the gate we could barely see the farm house and the smoke from the stove.  We could also hear in the distance someone behind us on the road making the same journey.  With anticipation we would wonder who it was.  And wonder if they were having the same troubles on their journey or was their journey home smoother.  The gate would slowly start to swing open.  One dry days we would jump on the gate and let it take us for a ride across the rock road.  We would glide across and jump off on the side of the road holding the gate open so our family could pass safely through.

The car would stop on the other side of the gate to wait for us to shut the gate, the entrance to home.  

On cold days we would climb back into the warm car with our family continue on the journey.  But on those rare warm December days in Kentucky, we would opt to walk that rocky road.  The hill up to the farm house was steep, but rather if we were in the car or on  foot the journey was easy knowing that the warmth of the farm house awaited.  If we walked up the hill we cut part of the journey short by cutting through the field.  By car we could easily make it up the hill.  We still had to be cautious to ensure there where not pot holes ahead.  Once at the top of the hill we would park at the barn.  As we got out of the car it was exciting to see who had arrived before us.  The children would run to the house with excitement of seeing their family.  The adults would carry their load of presents, food or anything else they needed and could not let go.  

The farm house was protected by a fence and a gate.  Opening the gate and crossing the stone path to the wooden porch gave us a sense of relief that the journey was almost over.  The screen door squeaked as it was open and the old wooden farm house door swung easily open to reveal the light and warmth of the house.  Papaw would be sitting directly across the room from the door in a wooden chair listening to the news on the radio.  We would catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror above him as we were greeted by a few choice words.  Our Pawpaw had a gruff exterior but all along we knew that the love of the world was inside his heart.  

The smell of the stove would catch your attention as we saw Mamaw getting read for the arrival of her children with a feast.  Mamaw strong stature was soften by her warm eyes and gentle smile.  She had toughen up over the years raising her children and working the farm.  She did not have an easy or fancy life, but she had a life full of joy, love and most importantly faith.  

The laughter drew you into the dining room to see your family gathered.  Everyone was sharing stories about their journey over the past year.

It would be time to gather for prayer and thank the Lord for our blessings.  The man would sit for the first meal serving.  The children would be served and sent to the back room to eat.  We spent the time eating and laughing at anything.  The room we sat in was a bedroom closed off for the winter, but with all my cousins it was full of warmth.  The women would eat last after the men finished.  Since my Dad was a talker, he continued his meal with the women.

The present portion of Christmas was not important.  I hardly and vaguely remember that part.  The most important part was that we were in a home filled with warmth and love surrounded by our family.

As I reflect on my Christmas memories,  I know that my Christmas journey mirrors my journey in life.

The road may be rough at times but as long as we have our family we can make it to our final destination.  If we keep the vision of the final destination in our mind we will have the strength to make the journey.  Because when we reach that last gate and travel up the hill to our home we will be tired.  But all our pain and fatigue will disappear when we open that door and see Papaw sitting there as we catch a glimpse of our reflection in him.  And we will be comforted as we hear the laughter of all those that arrived home before us.

Merry Christmas.

Riddle Riddle Ree...What Do You See?

Unconditional Love

I held your hand and you said nothing, but the look in your eyes told me how much you loved me.  You spend the day struggling with the choice you had to make, either choice would cause someone's heart to break.  I softly rubbed the back of your hand with my fingers.  Tracing your hand to remember how much I would miss your gentle touch.  I realized it would be the last time we would share this moment, the last time I would whisper my love in your ear.  As I gave you my final kiss on your cheek, a sense of peace overcame me.  I knew then that Papaw was now holding your hand and leading you home.  Mamaw, was now at peace.

Riddle Riddle Ree ... I See Something You Don't See..

Me

I look in the mirror and see the flaws of a women's reflection.  I became saddened by the weight gain, the stretch marks, the gray hairs and the wrinkles.  I use to have the goal that I was going to have the body of a 25 year old by the time I turn 45.  But as the years passed, I began to realize that my goal of regaining the figure, smooth skin and dark hair with red highlights is not possible.  But why do I want to go back?

I look in the mirror and see the wrinkles around my eyes and around my mouth.  I stare and grin and notice that as I grin the wrinkles match up with my smile.  I look in the mirror and see that those wrinkles are the reminder of all the times I was happy and all the times I laughed.  It reminds me of silly nights with my girlfriends, snowball fights with my children and smiling at my husband when we catches me staring at him.

I look in the mirror and see the weight I have gained.  Then I remember the five past years of struggling with my knee replacements.  That because of my surgeries, I became inactive and I gained weight.  I remember the fact that my husband was there to support me.  I remember my girlfriend, Harriet, sitting with me while I recovered and gave me unconditional love.  I remember my mother taking care of me and my children, and realizing that she always has my back.   And as I look in the mirror I no longer see my pain from my knee  and know that in time everything gets better.

I look in the mirror and see the stretch marks.  But those stretch marks are my badge of courage.  The courage to carry both my boys through difficult pregnancies that included five months of bed rest and countless trips to the hospital.  I remember how I worried and cried myself to sleep.  How I would pray daily that my baby would be okay.  And the day each of them were born, I knew that it was all worth the trials and tribulation.

I look in the mirror and see the gray hairs and know that they are a sign of my wisdom.  Wisdom that only comes with age.  Because with age we have had the time to make the mistakes, to survive the mistakes and to learn from the mistakes.  Just as I now must let my children make their own mistakes, and know they will survive and learn.

I look in the mirror and see....me.  I see the girl I was, the women I am, and then wonder where the next part of my journey will take me.

Riddle Riddle Ree... What Do You See?

Riddle Riddle Ree…I See Something That You Don’t See…

A Bond

“Turn that rock over. There is one.”  Reaching under the propped up rock, Tracy pulled the worm out of the hole as it was trying to escape.   “We have the can full, let’s go.”  The two cousins started running from the back of the barn to the farm house.  Their hair was pulled into pony tails that followed behind them. They had cut off shorts and t-shirts that were covered with the day’s adventure.  They always wanted to run around on the farm without shoes, but Mamaw was too worried about the thorns or critters that were in the fields.  So reluctantly, the girls slipped on old tennis shoes that were usually soaking wet from running through the creek during the hot summer days.  It was now early evening and all of Papaw chores were done.  He had promised the girls if they could find enough worms he would take them fishing.  The worm hunt was his way to get a break after eating supper.  He knew that they would find the worms.

Tracy and Anne-Marie ran to the fence that surrounded the farm house and climb the gate.  Around the corner of the house the girls ran to see their Papaw sitting under the pear tree with his border collie, Ginger.  He stood up reached into his overall pocket and pulled out his pocket knife.  Grabbing a branch of the pear tree he cut three pears.  He handed one to each of the girls saying, “This will be your snack when we are fishing, so put them in your pocket.”  Both girls smiled, put the pears in their pockets and started back to the barn to get their fishing poles.  Papaw followed with Ginger running to catch up with the girls.

Opening the barn doors, the evening sun filled the dark barn.  The girls searched for the two cane fishing poles that they used on every fishing trip.  Papaw came in the barn to retrieve his fishing pole and a small tackle box.  He knew these fishing trips were not about the girls catching fish.  It was about the girls catching his heart.  So even as he struggled to make the walk to the back field pond, he would do it to be with his girls.  Tracy ran to the back of the barn and opened the doors that lead to the back field.  As soon as there was enough light from the back of the barn, Anne-Marie would close the front barn doors.  Papaw and Anne-Marie walked to the back of the barn to catch up with Tracy and Ginger who were already at the gate to go into the back field.

Papaw had moved the cows yesterday to the front field.  The cows loved to soak in the back field pond during the hot days, but that always made the pond too muddy to fish.  He knew that the girls loved the back field pond because of the cattails that surrounded the pond.  And as the sun began to sit in the evening the pond came alive with frogs that the girls loved to try to catch.  They started the walk through the field, the girls ran with Ginger.  Papaw followed behind the girls.  His age was catching up with him; he walked with a wooden cane which required him to take his time through the rough terrain of the field. 

By the time Papaw reached the girls, they already had a worm on their hooks and were ready to start fishing.  The great thing about this pond was the deep slope of the pond let them sit on the bank and recline back to relax.  The summer evening heat was lifting and a nice breeze was stirring up. 

“The bobber went down!” Tracy exclaimed.  “Pull it in!” 

“Give me time. I got this,” Anne-Marie said with the confidence of a seasoned fisherman. 

There it was a blue gill.  Anne-Marie did exactly as her Papaw taught her on how to take a fish off a hook.  She held the blue gill by the mouth, taking her hand she start at the head of the fish and lays the fins backwards to keep from getting cut her hand.  She studied the fish and how shiny the scales were, especially how the scales changed colors as the sun light reflected.  She knew that she had to be quick to get the hook out and get the fish back in the water before he died.  They didn’t fish to keep and eat the fish; they fished to have fun with their Papaw.  The other thing was the girls hated to see animals die, so their Papaw learned quickly to not involve the girls with that part of the farm life.  Anne-Marie took the hook out of fish’s mouth and then gently placed the fish back in the water.  She leaned over to the pond and washed her hands off.  

Taking another worm she baited her hook and waited again for the next fish to come along.

The girls would last about twenty minutes at best with fishing before they would start exploring the ponds edge.  They learned that if they walk softly and didn’t talk that they could explore the cattails and find all sorts of creatures.  There were frogs of all sizes and turtles.  Papaw would often check the pond to make sure that snapping turtles had not taken up residence.  He knew that if the girls found a snapping turtle they would try to pick the turtle up and he did not want them to get hurt.  He taught the girls which snakes were okay and which ones you backed away from.  But it was always the frogs that the girls would have the most fun chasing around the bank of the pond.  

Then the whippoorwills would start dancing in the evening sky indicating that it was time to start heading toward the farm house.  They gather their fishing equipment, and start making their way back through the field.  Ginger would lead the pack this time.  Ginger could sense if a coyote or other evening critters where lurking around.  She would often bark as to tell the creatures not to brother them.  The sun was setting in front of them as they made their way down the hill to the house.  The fishing trip was successful; the girls had caught Papaw’s heart once again. 

Riddle Riddle Ree … What Do You See?

    

Riddle Riddle Ree...I See Something You Don't See...

Peace

Have you ever had a special place that whenever you are not feeling well that you think of that place and you are at peace?  Well that place was my grandparent's farm.  I say "was" because the farm was sold years ago and most of the buildings on the farm have been torn down.  But luckily, my memories of the farm are as vivid in my mind as if I had just visited there yesterday.  I am flooded with so many memories as I try to determine which of the many special places on the farm to share.  So, Riddle Riddle Ree, let's see where my memories takes me.

Walking up to the house there is a creek rock path and there on the porch are my grandparents.   Do you see them?  My Mamaw is sitting there in her light linen house dress which moves slightly as the breeze stirs around to cool her.  She is holding a dish towel in her hands which tells me she is taking a quick break from her chores.  My Papaw is sitting in his chair with overalls and a long sleeve blue button up shirt. He is mumbling under his breath about something he just heard on the radio.  The little radio sits inside the screen door on a shelf in the kitchen.  I open the screen door and hold onto to the inside handle to make sure it doesn't slam closed.  The spring on the door never worked as long as I can remember.  But if I let the door slam, my Papaw would grumble, "Hold that handle!"

As I cross the kitchen into the dining room, I check to see what Mamaw has cooking on the stove.  I lift the lid slowly to let the steam hit my face and fill the room with the aroma of the food.  The smell of the fresh farm veggies cooking and the fried chicken make me instantly hungry.  Placing the lid back on the pot, I see out of the corner of my eye that there is a lemon meringue pie sitting on the counter.  The pie with the tall fluffy meringue is cooling from just coming out of the oven.  Knowing that it is still about an hour before dinner (which is lunch in the country), my cousin and I go through the dining room to the living room.

There in the corner of the living room is a step up and then a door.  It is always eerily quiet in the living room, because almost everyone is sitting on the porch to cool in the breeze.  It is always too hot in the house.  But there is the door; the porcelain handle is waiting to be turned.  No one had opened the door since our last visit. There is something both inviting and scary about opening the door, so we turn the handle slowly and then swing open the door.  The breeze pushes the door open and I can feel the sweat that beaded on my forehead start to evaporate.  I count one, two, three, four steps and then turn to the left for five, six, seven steps.  At the top of the steps, I stop to look around first.  I am checking to make sure that there are no snakes, birds or other animals in the attic.  The attic is my playground.  The unique thing about the attic is that there are two windows on one side of the room and one window on the direct opposite wall.  The house sits on top of a hill so the summer breeze enters the room through the two windows.  But the breeze can't just escape as easily as it came in because there is only one window across the room.  So the breeze whirls around the room and cool us as we explore and play.

There is the source of hours of entertainment, the trunk.  The trunk sits behind the roll away bed.  So we drag the trunk out from behind the roll away bed and then inside we find our treasures.  The dresses that our mothers and aunts wore to dances, proms and weddings are neatly folded in the trunk.  Since our mother’s didn't have much money they made their clothes.  The memories of the dances and the weddings are with the dresses.  There are also the dried flowers and corsages that engage our imaginations to wonder how our mother’s felt when given the flowers.  My Mamaw had finally let us start to play with the dresses.  This was only after when she realized that no one was ever going to wear them again.  Since the dresses are really special to her, we always place the dresses back in the plastic bags that she had them carefully stored.  We pretend that we are in high school.  We act like part of the attic was the school and my cousin pretends she was the teacher.  Then we pretend the other side of the attic was our house.  We put the dresses on and pretend we are at the dance.  We play until we are called down to the kitchen for dinner.

We watch our mothers serve our fathers.  Our fathers just came in from the fields and need to eat and rest before going back out to finish the work.  I see my father and wonder if he remembers the dress my mother wore to her prom.  Does he know that it is upstairs?  The mothers fix the children’s plates and send us out on the porch to eat.  Finally, the women clear the table from the men and fix their plates.  The men go back out to the field to work.  The women settle in at the table to share their stories with their mother, their sister and their friend.  I listen to hear the sisters laugh with their mother, for them to reminisce about those years gone by.  Then my cousin and I go back to the attic and open the trunk, the memories of the dances and the weddings are with the dresses once again.

Riddle Riddle Ree… What Do You See?