Diane Stringam Tolley's Blog: On the Border, page 116

One More Day

Any ExcuseCountdown to Halloween . . . Tristan - acting evil.Our family loves to dress up.
Maybe that's the reason we love theatre so much.It's legal there . . .For my husby and I, it started in our respective childhoods.We carried it, happily, into our own family.Through the years, any excuse to dress up was instantly seized.Halloween.NewYear's.St. Patrick's Day.Thursday.As I said, any excuse.Our costume collection grew apace (real word).In no time, it outgrew the large cardboard box that I had originally stuffed things into and into its own room.The kids spent many, many happy hours in that room, playing dress-up.As they grew, so did their costumes, becoming more elaborate and detailed.Bunnies, ladybugs and clowns became Elizabethan gowns and chain mail.And I mean real chain mail.With gauntlets.The room that holds the costumes now is bigger than our first living room.Our neighbourhood has grown accustomed to seeing our family traipsing around, dressed . . . unusually.It's fun.And now our grandchildren have caught the spirit.Sometimes, good things are passed down through the generations . . . Queen of Hearts

And yes, that's real chain mail. He knits it . . . Expecting their/our first child/grandchild

A night in Bethlehem
Notice the backpack. Authentic in every way! Not! Husby as Teddy Roosevelt Passing it on to the next generation . . . Yes. They are PJ's

Crowing Closer

Okay. I have to admit that crows aren't my favourite feathered creature.
But they are fun to put in a rhyme and as Halloween draws closer, an apt topic!
Here we go . . .

A crow emerges from the mist,Its blazing eyes can’t be dismissed,I wonder as I have before,What did he get his bad rap for?
Did he miss eating all his greens?And then quit cawlege in his teens?Drink too much cawfee in his life?Forget to caw his loving wife?
Perhaps his drinking went too far,Spent too much time at his crow bar.No visits from ol’ Santa Caws,For frequent and diverse faux pas?
Did his cawstume-wearing e’er portendAn inclination to offend?And did his friends all scream ‘foul play!’When they met to play crowquet?
The cawking did our bird eschew,When fixing plumbing old and new?And did he horrify his FolksWith cawnstant telling of bad Jokes?
When meeting his albino friend, Call him cawcasion to the end?And did he stomp the crowcus flat?When angry, crowcuss like a brat?
For such a shiny, pretty bird,His reputation seems absurd!So, for the record, I disputeThe rapid loss of his repute!
‘Tis evening of a crisp fall day,And shrouded figures come our way,Please be kind-hearted, don’t demeanOur slandered crows this Halloween.
Mondays do get knocked a lot,With poetry, we three besought,
To try to make the week begin
With pleasant thoughts--perhaps a grin?
So Jenny and Delores, we,
Have posted poems for you to see.
And now you've seen what we have brought . . .
Did we help?
Or did we not?
Next week, because the world's so tense,We'll try to speak of common sense.

We Put the 'Bat' in Bathtime!

This plus this

                                                                                                           
equals this.Bathtime.For the youngest member of a family of 11 and in the year 1931, this meant much heating of water at the kitchen stove.Hauling of said water to the washroom.Filling of the washtub.Then relaxing in deliciously hot water.The best part of the week for my dad.On this particular occasion, though, Dad’s bathtime would include something unexpected.And definitely unwanted.A visitor.As he was sitting back, enjoying his few moments of bliss, something small flew in through the open transom over the door.It did a couple of circuits around the room as the little boy in the bathtub watched, wide-eyed.Finally, it lit on the sheer curtains on the small window high up on the outside wall and folded its wings.Resolving into something small . . . and furry.A bat.The two regarded each other for a few breathless moments.Then, eyes glued to his visitor, dad did the “quickest washing job of my life”, wrapped a towel around his little, naked body and found the nearest far-away place.One of his older brothers went back in to take care of the unusual – and totally unwanted – bathtime visitor, and all was well.From then on, however, when Dad took his bath, his preparations included filling the tub.And closing the transom.Then keeping his eyes carefully trained upward as he performed a quick wash.And got out of the room.Hmmm.I wonder if the introduction of a bat into bathtime would shorten the length of some of my teenagers’ showers.Just a thought . . .

Sundays are for ancestors.
Tell me about yours!

'Jet' Setter

Astonishing.Kids are observant.If you don’t believe me, try spending an hour with a three-year-old.They just don’t always understand what they are seeing . . .Our good friend, Shirley, though a medium plane trip away, spends as much time as she can with her young granddaughters.She (and they) love it.She flies into the local airport and her son and his family meet her at Arrivals. Hugs and kisses are exchanged.And she and her luggage are scooped up and transported to her son’s house.Everyone enjoys time together.Then, at the end of her visit, she and her baggage are returned to the airport, where more kisses and hugs are exchanged and she disappears through to Departures.A fairly mundane – and not infrequent – chain of events.And one that everyone thought the little granddaughters understood.During Shirley’s last visit, the topic of transportation came up. Specifically, the astounding revelation that “Grandma can drive?!”Her youngest granddaughter was particularly amazed.“I didn’t know you could drive, Grandma!”“Well, I can. I even have a car of my own!”“Huh. I didn’t know you had a car.” A short pause. Then, “I thought you had a jet.”Yep.Our little ones are observing.They’re just not always putting things together in the right configuration.Be warned.

Aaaand...Parked

Ha! Did it!Driving is important.At least when you live on a ranch a million miles from anywhere.And it happened early.Driving, I mean.As soon as I was able to reach the pedals on the tractor and still hold onto the steering wheel,  I was driving. Mowing. Baling. Stacking. There were lots of reasons to perch me up on 'the beast' and start the engine.But on a tractor, I had the entire field to turn around in. And on the Stringam ranch, the fields were . . . large.Just FYI.At the age of twelve, I graduated to the pickup.Again, I was limited to traveling in the fields and doing ranch work but I was still driving.And in control . . . more or less, as I made wide turns about the fields.On to my story . . .One morning, bright and early, I decided to go for a ride.I don't know why.It was spring.I'm an idiot.Take your pick.Anyways . . .Because I was still a fairly new driver and driving was still a treat, and because I was basically lazy, I decided to take the pickup to the far corral where my horse, Peanuts was currently residing.All went well.I drove there and parked, spent an hour or so riding in the early morning sunshine, and drove back to the ranch house.And that's where it all went so very wrong.I should probably mention that I had gone riding really early. By the time I returned, everyone was still in dreamland.And remember where I said that I was only accustomed to maneuvering in large spaces?Well, that would apply here.I drove carefully up to the carport situated, by the by, directly beneath my parent's bedroom.And very, very carefully drove into it.And I do mean 'into'.Crunch.Oops.Frantically, I backed up.And clipped the pillar again.I tried to straighten out and hit it a third time.The truck just kept getting more and more . . . crooked.Stupid machine. This was going nowhere fast.And suddenly, standing there in a shaft of early morning light looking like the avenging God of Sleep(lessness), was my father.Now I should explain to you that my Dad always wore pajamas. Nicely pressed, matching, button-up top with trousers (that Mom cuts off just below the knee and neatly hems).They were quite a sight.But I digress . . .At this time, I only vaguely noted his light green PJ's.Because Dad. Wasn't. Happy.I let the engine die.We stared at each other."What the hell is going on here?!" Okay, he's a rancher. Sometimes they say 'hell'.But only when really perturbed. Oddly enough, it's usually when I'm around."It's okay. I can fix it!""Diane, get out of the truck!""I can fix it, Dad!"He just looked at me. I knew that look. I'd seen it before.A few times.I climbed sheepishly out of the truck and moved towards him."What on earth are you doing? You almost shook me right out of my bed!""Umm . . . I went for a ride.""In the truck?""Well, Peanuts is clear over . . .""I know where Peanuts is.""Well, I drove over there and went for a ride.""At five o'clock in the morning?""Well, yes.""Get in the house."One never moves faster than when avoiding fallout. I knew this from past experience. I disappeared in a heartbeat.Dad surveyed the damage. There were a couple of 'bruises' on one of the carport supports and a dent in the truck door. (Which popped out later when Dad went to get the mail and slammed the door.)So the damage was relatively minor if you don't count lost sleep.Which Dad does.Sigh.I want you to know that I did learn to drive.For real.But I'll always remember that first time. And my Dad in his PJ's.Some things you just never forget. 

A Quarter Thief

Me. Sigh.What you are about to read may be shocking. You may even want to re-think continuing your friendship with me.I’m a thief.Well . . . a would-be thief. If I’d gotten away with it, who knows where I’d be now.And the funny thing is, she probably would have given me one if I'd just asked.Maybe I should explain . . .I was nine.Mom was chatting in the front room with one of her friends. Their discussion had turned to something that said friend was interested in purchasing from Mom.Goods were produced and delivered.Exclamations of surprise and delight. (Okay, I’m assuming here.)Friend’s handbag appeared.Was opened.And a coin purse came into view.A number of quarters were counted out and cradled in friend’s hand.To this point, all was above board, friendly and honest.But this is where bright-eyed, slightly avaricious Diane came into the picture.Mom turned to me. “Diane, could you please bring me the money?”I nodded, my eyes already on the gleaming silver in the woman’s hand. I moved closer and held out my hand. She tipped hers and poured the pile of coins into mine.And that’s when my heinous plan was hatched.There were a lot of coins. Surely Mom wouldn’t notice if just one went missing?Deftly (?), I sneaked one quarter into my other pocket as I turned and walked over to Mom - duly delivering the treasure.Then, task completed, I dashed upstairs with my booty (ie. Ill-gotten gains), already planning how I was going to spend it.A few minutes later, I vaguely heard the front door close.And then my Mom was standing in my bedroom doorway.“Diane, we need to talk.”Uh-oh.She sat on my bed and held out her hand with the quarters in it.I looked at them. Then at my Mom. “Ummm . . . yeah?”“Diane, one of the quarters is missing.”“Really?” My brain started turning frantically. “A quarter?”“Diane, did you steal a quarter?”“Umm . . .”“Diane?”“Maybe it dropped. You know, when I took the change? On the floor? I’ll go look.” And I escaped out of the door and into the front room where I quickly (before my Mom could get there and see what I was doing) flipped the coin under our recent guest’s chair.Then, dropping to my hands and knees, I miraculously, ‘found’ it moments later. Holding it out proudly in my hand, I presented it to Mom. “It was there! See?”Mom nodded and took the coin. Then looked at me.With a ‘Mom’ look. “Don’t ever take anything that doesn’t belong to you, Diane.”“But I dropped . . .”“Okay?”I nodded unhappily. How had she seen through my clever subterfuge?My career as a thief ended that day.I obviously didn’t have the ‘knack’.Mom saw to that.

Amen to That

You'd better be thankful for that!
Just sayin' . . .Suppertime at the Stringam Ranch.Wonderful food.Great company.The best part of everyone’s day.Well . . . most everyone.Mealtimes on a spread the size of ours inevitably meant the mixing of people of vastly different lives and lifestyles.There was the family. Mom, Dad, children, babies.Hired men. Ranging in age from the world-weary, leather-faced, taciturn individual who had spent a lifetime squinting into the sun, to the young, smooth-cheeked, ready-for-anything boy, away from home for the very first time.And assorted people who simply found themselves in the vicinity when the dinner bell rang; and happily joined the queue heading into the dining room.A fairly eclectic mix.All knew they would be treated to the very best of good, ranch cooking.And that the traditional meal would begin with another, more important tradition.Thanking the Lord.Regardless of race, creed or colour, the people gathered around my father’s table to eat my mother’s food, would patiently and solemnly bow their heads as Grace was said.Further participation was optional.Case in point:My eldest sister had just turned four.And had taken on all the heavy duties and responsibilities associated with that venerable age.Seated happily among the people gathered around the table for the evening meal, she folded her hands tightly, bowed her curly red-haired head, and squeezed her eyes shut when the prayer was said.There was a chorus of ‘Amens’.Chris’ head swiveled around and she pinned the hired man seated next to her with a blue-eyed glare.“You didn’t say ‘Amen’!” she said loudly.The man turned slightly red and squirmed in his chair as he reached for the stack of still-warm, freshly-sliced bread.Chris turned to her father. “Daddy! He didn’t say ‘Amen’!” she said, even more loudly.Dad paused in the passing of a large bowl of potatoes. “Ummm . . .” he said.She turned to the other end of the table. “Mom...!”“That’s okay, dear,” Mom soothed.The now red-faced man managed to make it through the rest of a meal punctuated by the side-long glances from a tiny girl with strong convictions.I’m sure he had had more uncomfortable meals in his lifetime.I’m also sure he was wishing he was at one of them.

Grandma Ears

For years, poor Grandma’s hearing had been slowly growing worse,T'was steadily much tougher for her loved ones to converse,So she marched herself to Costco, had a hearing aid put in,When told her hearing’s perfect, well now, Grandma only grinned.A few weeks later, back she popped for further tests and such,Her doctor asked if life had changed. She told him, “Not that much.”“The hearing aid you chose is number one,” he said. “First rate!”“Your family must be pleased, now that your hearing’s gotten great!”But Grandma merely smiled. “I’ve yet to tell them anything.”“I sit around and listen to the chats of my offspring.”“They don’t know I can hear their many sordid gripes and crimes,“But I can tell you, doctor, dear, I’ve changed my will three times!”
Mondays do get knocked a lot,With poetry, we three besought,
To try to make the week begin
With pleasant thoughts--perhaps a grin?
So Jenny and Delores, we,
Have posted poems for you to see.
And now you've seen what we have brought . . .
Did we help?
Or did we not?
Next week? That scary time of year,
Yes, Halloween. You'll find it here.

Hospital F(e)ast

Two small boys were patients in the same hospital room.One of them was my Dad, Mark.Age: eight.He had been admitted to hospital for the sole purpose of having his appendix removed. He wasn’t particularly uncomfortable at the time, but the doctor had so decreed.And removed it must be.The day of his surgery arrived.In those days, a folder containing a chart and/or other pertinent information was hung at the foot of every bed in the hospital. Doctor’s orders and observations were recorded there. Nurse’s actions and observations, ditto.As of that morning, Mark’s folder contained a singly-worded sign.“FASTING”.Yikes. Mark, the active and usually well-fed small boy was being denied food.Don’t you wonder why it’s called fasting?At no other interval does time move more slowly.Just a thought . . .Mark knew what the word meant. But his appetite wasn’t about to be denied that easily.Grabbing a pen, he made a tiny, little change.Then, satisfied with his ingenuity, he sat back on his bed and waited for lunch to arrive.Promptly at noon, an attendant appeared with Mark’s roommate’s tray.She set it down and started back toward the doorway.Mark sat up. “Wait! Where’s mine?”She looked at him. “You’re fasting.”“No, I’m not. Look!” Mark slid down to the end of the bed and held up his chart.The woman took it and peered closely.At the ‘FASTING’ sign.The one which now read ‘FeASTING’.She leveled a look at the grinning boy, then turned on one squeaky rubber-soled white shoe and left.Mark didn’t get his lunch and he duly reported to the operation theatre for his little procedure.Without anyone acknowledging his inventiveness.Sigh.But the story doesn’t end there.Some days later, his mother received the bill for his hospital stay.Itemized carefully in the list was a charge for $3.25 for ‘One Sign’.Oops.I guess someone noticed after all . . .

Sundays are for Ancestors!
Tell me about yours . . .

A Little Mystery

Could you help me with something?
A few months ago, Husby and I purchased a secretary.
Now before you get worried, it was the kind that is beautifully crafted of wood.
See?We purchased it in an antique store just outside of Courtenay, British Columbia.
Husby dragged out his oils and rags and other paraphernalia and got to work.
Refinishing.
But that isn't why we need the help.
That part comes now . . .
While Husby was busily taking apart and putting together, he discovered, trapped in a far cranny, this:
Don't they look happy?Now comes the help part.Anyone recognize them?I'd love to discover the story!If I don't find the real tale, I'm going to have to create one.And, let's face it, the created probably won't be anywhere near the actual.Just sayin'.So, pass it along!