Friday, December 4, 2009

Pocketful of Posies; Heart Full of Stories

I chuckle as I write this, for I have received a “TAP!” on the shoulder from a dear sweet friend, Karen Deborah over at Fresh Fixin’s, who has reminded me that proper manners in friendship do not allow one to simple vanish without notice. That goes for proper blog etiquette as well, I see. She writes:


Debbie;
Where are you?- and what is going on? You can't just disappear and not say anything for weeks and weeks. Well, you can and you have. But your absence is getting conspicuous. When your playing and having fun you still have time for a "Hi- I am busy playing"! Geez girl, I am accustomed to a wee bit more connection than this. I no good at cold turkey.

How was Disney world? Did You like Mathew with a mustache? I bet he looked cute in it.

Just write me a line if your busy and say, "I am OK--or I am not OK -please pray," You know something of that sort. A missive is not necessary on my end just a simple southern HOWDY.

You can't get away this easy! You are loved and missed and I have had ENUF OF THIS! I miss my friend!!!!!!!!!


Well, let me tell you I laughed out loud when I read this and then tears gently gathered in my eyes. She’s not the first to wonder where I have been and if they should pray me out of something difficult. Wow! This bloggy world has heartstrings zigging and zagging all over the globe . . . and it feels so good to have stumbled into this magical community over the ridge, down in the valley, and behind the waterfall. It’s pure magic, in the best of senses. Thanks to all of you that “clapped” loudly so that this fairy does not fade from “site.”

I must confess that I did not intend to fade away, but after the trip to Hawaii and during the prepping for Disneyworld, I suffered a serious relapse from an elbow injury incurred during the “Pantry Building” days of last spring. A touch of tendinitis flared up into a truly stubborn beast of pain. Blogging, internet searching for books and news and information, along with letter writing via email literally blew my elbow out and affected the entire right arm from shoulder to fingertips. Feeling stupid that I had over-dosed on the internet, I kept it mum and figured the Disney vacation would work wonders. I returned home with an improved arm, but the pain in the elbow persisted and my certified massage therapist daughter informed me of the dangers embedded in this little cry from my body. And so I faced an extended period of no gardening, no washing dishes, no vacuuming, no lifting of anything, no reading (WHAT!!!! Even holding books brought on lightening bolts of pain), and positively NO computer time!!!

I pouted . . . I fumed . . . I prayed . . . I cheated (and paid for it dearly). Eventually, I resigned myself to a period of healing wrapped in a quiet space. I felt useless and old in the beginning, but when I let go and floated with the inevitable inactivity I found something wonderful, beautiful, and YES, even enjoyable about sitting with music (or pure silence) in those moments when all others had found quiet nooks in which to feed the need to read (they lovingly spared me the additional pain of watching them devour books in my presence). Eventually I found myself able to hold a book for a few moments, wherein I chose the meatiest books at hand and took a hefty bite in a few controlled moments and then made it last like a lozenge of sweet candy, savoring the memory and recalling it in pleasure. A dabbling of journal writing kept me from going truly insane – I must write and EVERYONE around here knows it! Most of all, I savored the chatting times around the fire with my family. We pause often for tea and chats throughout the day. These chats came in second only to prayer in preserving my joy (and sanity).

This year my children decorated and cooked for Thanksgiving (I helped, of course, where hands were not needed). Great smiles of joy and gleeful giggles greeted the goodies spilling plentifully from the kitchen as I sat and fielded questions, filling the working moments with stories of Thanksgivings gone by. Next the girls exchanged the pilgrims for tinsel and baubles and Nativity Creche as we prepared our cottage for the Christ Child’s Birthday. Once again, I supplied the stories as the ornaments emerged to adorn our memory tree. We play this out every year, but somehow my limitations this time around made my stories more important to me . . . and to them.

“Please write this all down and save us the trouble of having to remember it all!” pleaded Elizabeth.

“Yes!” agreed Rachel.

Lydia, my poet child, simply smiled and nodded with the knowing twinkle of a storyteller in her eye.

And so I have promised to become The Story Girl and gift my children with the adventures and achievements, as well as foibles and fables of their rooted relatives along with the uprooted, unhinged, and otherwise unconnected save a chance encounter. I have chosen a binder to hold the stories which I will write out when the inspiration and occasion presents itself. Although a book may well come out of all this heartfelt overflow, for now it will merely be a storied lot safely stowed for all to share. My limitations at the computer will not allow me to pour out new things of a purely bloggy nature, but as I replied to Karen Deborah:


I haven't really fallen off the face of the earth . . . more like I have floated away for a time. And what a time it has been. God sends messages and when we fail to listen He captures our attention. Right? Lately I have been listening intently as I nurse tendinitis in my right elbow (from an injury back in the pantry-construction days) and seeking new direction for my blog (amongst other things). I will be back soon with an update and a shifting of the sails to go forth in a new direction. My kids are begging me to begin The Book so that they do not lose the stories that I tell so frequently about family members hanging off the family tree or delightful episodes filling the annals of family days, and even on into the tearful times that we cannot forget. Last year I set out to write a work of fiction long simmering in my heart, but life eclipsed it and I failed to complete the task. This year the novel will step aside and the family adventures that fill my memory bank and journals will step center stage for my children's sake. I thought I would toss a few onto the blog and see if my readers wanted to join the adventure. If so, Wisteria and Roses will fill with gifts from a storyteller. If nobody reads . . . my bloggy thing will slip into hibernation.


So there, my friends, I place the option before you. Would you like to read along? Do stories of immigrants and pioneers (because that defines both sides of the family) living, loving, laughing, crying, and even dying interest you? Are you curious to know what silly, sweet, or solemn story accompanies an ornament, tradition, or particular recipe that takes its special place in the history this storyteller has sprung from?

You decide . . .

I won’t be writing and publishing like a magazine, but rather my posts will pop up unexpectedly like a letter in the old-fashioned box. If you’d like to be on an email list to receive a copy directly please let me know, my techo-savvy husband promises to aid me in that service. I plan to stay right here on Blogger so any blog readers currently in use will let you know when I’ve popped in for storytime.

Oh, this really excites me now that I have written it all down for you to read. (Somehow the words become more alive to me when they take on the inscribed dimension.) I have stories galore that my children have enjoyed throughout the growing years, plus answers to lots of questions like what books would you take to a deserted island? When did you first keep a journal? Why haven’t you published a book? And so many more precious thoughts and moments that my children want preserved in a culture where families disintegrate and traditions dissolve without acknowledgement. I have promised to salvage what I remember.

Now comes the part wherein I dispel any notion that this is purely objective history. BEWARE! This exercise will be chock full of inaccuracies, stretched imaginations, misremembered facts, and all other manner of oopsies from a legal standpoint, but it will reflect my reflections, observations, memories, and conclusions stored away in my heart. (Just in case any distant relative wishes to latch onto something here for defense or more likely heated discussion – you’ve been warned. This remains a personal blog and thus filled to the brim with honest-to-goodness viewpoint. ‘nuf said.)

Okay, my elbow signals that this little chat session has come to an end. Gary has gone away on a day-long business trip and has made me promise to be GOOD and practice restraint. I intend to comply. So for now I bid you well and hope you will let me know via comment or email whether you’d like to sport a little pixie dust and fly away with me in a new direction. (I only ask so that I don’t spend time/effort uploading to blogger if nobody cares to read along.)

Until next time . . .

XO!

15 comments:

Linda said...

Are you kidding? OF COURSE! I, for one, would love to go along on your memory journey. How I wish I'd taken the time to listen more carefully to my grandma, and even to my parents when they told of their childhood. We still have my hubby's mom, and she tells some stories once in a while. Maybe the things you tell us will inspire us to remember what our moms told us.

We will take what we can get. I have you on the google reader, so will be aware when you post something.

I'm glad you are back!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Awww, she's SO much nicer than me. I was thinking along the lines of "Where the heck are you?!" I did show some restraint thought :-)

I'm up for anything, but of course I'm only available for short stops by for the next 15 years or so until Miss Ky moves out ;-)

Glad you are back!

Tricia said...

I knew from your entry a while back that you were healing physically and emotionally and it would be some time before I heard from you again, but oh how I missed you. I never knew how much I could miss someone I had never met. I would love to hear your stories, thoughts, or whatever gem you deliver. I have been praying for you, dear friend. May God pour His blessings on you in abundance. :)

kylie said...

there are a few folks doing a "sepia saturday" post each week. i dont think you really need a sepia picture to participate. it seems the collective bloggy concious is interested in family stories right now

Lana said...

I agree that even a short story will help fill the void of you being gone. I will enjoy whatever you wish to share. Thanks for this post.

Sharon Goemaere said...

I would LOVE to hear your stories so count me in dear friend!Love you~Sharon

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

You have to ask? :)

Oh, I feel for you as I now have a torn rotator cuff/cup in both shoulders. The right arm no longer hurts but the left one feels pain.

I can cook and do dishes but hubby has to do housework. Hmmm... that is not so bad after all.

Full of Grace said...

Here, Here, I'm with you now and later :) Wonderful to hear from you! :) I've missed ya!

Joyful Jo said...

I have been suffering with tendonitis since august.Many sessions with my physiotherapist it is almost 100% better. Although i don't think it will ever be compleatly healed.
I too would love to hear your stories of past.

Anonymous said...

Since a small child, I have always loved family stories best...and even those of people I am not related to!! So carry on, please!

Wondered why you had been so silent. Hope you can figure out some kind of theraphy that will keep this pain at bay in future. For me, crocheting has solved most all of my arthritic pain...and have to admit, when we stay away from almost all starch, and sugar, it is amazing how much better we feel! When we eat starch, eating the veggie kinds, but not potatoes, other than sweet potatoes. Of course, we still eat SOME...but it is best that it be few and far between. Avoiding wheat has been VERY helpful. Yes, there are plenty of alternatives out there.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Karen Deborah said...

You are ASKING? WE LOVE EVERYTHING you WRITE silly woman!!! Just glad your here and speaking from the heart. The more you write form your heart and your life the more I love it. It is difficult when a person is as good a writer of prose as you are. you can whip up just about anything like I can make a pot of soup; but it is the "stuff of living," that sings to us best of all. So my vote is YES.
ANd umm a few photos of Mathew's whiskers now shaven; and 3 darling daughters making Christmas come to pass. Gary has shown he has all the abilites to help keep up your blog, including some witty written entries. I laughed.

FancyHorse said...

Yes, I would love to read about your family's and your ancestors' adventures.

I hope your arm and elbow get better soon, and I'm glad you're allowing it to rest. Thanks for the update.

Joyce said...

Hi Debbie,
Your upcoming writings sound like just the thing I will love to read. I have your blog on my Google reader.

Have you read anything by Ralph Moody? He began writing of his family's pioneering ranching life when he was 50 years old. He kept journals as events were happening, and then, finally, wrote them down in book form. I don't remember how many books he wrote, perhaps seven or more.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

My journal was started for your reason. How else will my grandchildren - really know their grandma - if she does not share from her heart.
Write on - sweet girl.

Scrappy quilter said...

Dear friend, definitely I'll be reading anything you write. Your words always inspire me.

Thanks too for the prayers I've needed in the past several months. They have meant so much. Love and hugs