In the Recesses of My Mind...

‘Families can be vicious; he was fond of saying.’ --Hadley Richardson, describing her husband, Ernest M Hemingway, in the book THE PARIS WIFE by Paula McLain 

More Christmas Cards this week from Natalie Littrell, Reed and Deanna Campbell, Marc and Maria Angell, Dorothy Rua, Lorraine Lucero-Mason & Ronald Mason, Lottie, Michael and Reida Powell, Willie Lucero, Chad Mark Glen...and a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering announcement for Denise Dawn Padilla scheduled for December 19, 1998 at the University of New Mexico. 

Cousin MaryAnn Montoya-Gehling in Colorado Springs sent this beautiful photo card of a tree. On the back of the photo card, it is printed: “Friendship is a sheltering tree.”--Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  MaryAnn wrote:  

Michael, 

I love this card of the tree.  Do you know where I found it?  

One day I was cleaning out my files and I found my box of cards I’ve save through the years. This card was given to me by Danita many years ago.  She knew i would love it and she was right.  Now, I want you to have it.  Read the back of it: “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” 

In this short time, we’ve known each other I think we have sheltered each other.  

I love this tree.  I want to have a picnic underneath its branches.  I would serve fried chicken, pasta salad, homemade biscuits, fresh fruit salad and chocolate cake.  I would wear a long white dress with high top shoes and carry a pink parasol.   

I would read Pablo Neruda love poems and listen to Pachelbel's Canon in D.  Ah, romantic! My imagination does go wild sometimes. 

And she continues... 

Dec 6th, St. Nick Day 

It’s German custom to celebrate St. Nick’s Day.  The children put a shoe on their front porch on December 6th and wait for St. Nick to knock on the door.  When he does, they run to the door, peek outside, and check their shoes.  If they have been bad, they get a piece of coal.  If they have been good, they get candy or a toy. 

Honey grew up celebrating this holiday and we have carried on the tradition with our children and grandchildren. 

When Tanner peeked outside the door tonight, he saw his shoe was filled.  He jumped up and down and screamed, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it!” 

And then she wrote further... 

STOP THINKING ABOUT IT 

Do you remember when I told you that MEN think about IT 20,000 times a day? 

This is a reminder to STOP THINKING ABOUT IT! 

I did laugh out loud at this one. 

And lastly, she wrote: 

Michael, 

I saw this in a magazine and I thought of us right away. 

That’s me and you and our journey together.  I’ve felt like we were on unstable ground, about to fall in the water.  We've made it so far because we had SOMEONE TO GUIDE THE WAY. That someone has been Dave, the Light and sometimes You and sometimes Me.  

We have guided each other when we needed it. Notice what the kids are doing—holding hands.

Hold my hand, Michael.  Be my brother.  

M.A. 

And just for fun I must add a list I printed that it titled UNFORGETTABLE LINES/PHRASES mostly heard from Gloria Weiner Freiman-Cohen (Alan’s mom), during a trip to New York City in April 1998. I recently found the list and it made me smile, imagining Gloria saying it all. 

“Then you’re going to sound like sour grapes.” 

“You know...in the recesses of my mind...” 

“It’s an Arabic, Aerobic, Aromic, Aeromatic Candle...” 

“I’m a Court Jester.” 

“Don’t put your shit on the table!” 

“They imported that man from...” 

“She must be in a severe depression.” 

“I need closure.” 

“It’s a Prix-Fix Dinner.” 

“Look, There’s a car from Minnesota!” 

“You’ve got to learn to Play the Game.” 

“Ok everyone...OPERATION GET ALONG.” 

“If someone gives me a half a loaf, I give a whole loaf back.” 

“The liquor is clouding my mind.” 

Since Gloria is so philanthropic; Since Gloria is a philanthropist.

“What is this?  An eating orgy weekend?” 

“Oh, you’ll find it at Bergdorf-Goodman...I stand corrected.” 

“Love is blind and Marriage is the eye-opener.” 

Character and Intellect: ‘One without the other is but halfway to happiness.  It is the fool’s misfortune to fail in obtaining the position, the employment, the neighborhood, and the circle of friends that suit him.’--Baltasar Gracia, THE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM