journey – Page 64

That Gold Couch…

Published on July 8, 2014 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments

On our way to Chicago, Sunday, Chw and I tuned in to a Comedy station on Sirius for a while. At first it was really funny, then comedians changed and it was just ok before transitioning to flat-out awful and we decided enough was enough. Somewhere in there though, we heard a bit about cushioned toilet seats. Traffic was frustrating and I honestly don’t really remember any specifics (sorry) except to say that the comedian pointed out that the cushioned toilet seat is an unnecessary luxury because you shouldn’t have to sit there long enough to need padding… While not in and of itself deeply profound, it has really stuck with me. Growing up, a child in the 80’s, like many others I was generation big hair, overstuffed (marshmallow looking) furniture and Great Depression surviving grandparents. My grandmother washed bread bags, wasted NOTHING, even to the point of eating rotten food a time or two. If you ever showered in her bathroom, you may have used a threadbare towel and felt like a nice set of new fluffy towels would make a lovely Christmas gift. Of course, when she opened them, she would store them in a dresser in the back bedroom for when she needed them because she still had perfectly good towels. Well over a decade later, said towels would be pulled from said dresser, still tagged and folded and ruined from not being used. In the south they’d say Bless her heart… And it’s true. Most of us know exactly what I’m talking about. Cabinets full of washed butter and cool whip containers, enough to fill 180 fridges with leftovers. (and we’d save EVERY leftover. One green bean? Get that Parkay container out…) Bless her heart…

The thing about my grandma’s house was that, when you walked in, it was almost like walking back in time. Everything was Gold. Gold carpet, gold appliances, gold furniture. (as appliances began to die, this began to change.) In the late 80’s, and throughout the 90’s, we were thrilled to see her update with something more modern (Like the new TV she was forced to sit on top of her combination console/stereo/record player tv that didn’t work). Now, in 2014 what I wouldn’t give for half of the stuff she had in that house.

When my grandmother passed away, my aunt asked us to walk through her house and say what we’d like to have. At the time, emotionally overwhelmed, I quickly pointed out a green mixing bowl and struggled initially with anything else. (I lived thousands of miles away and had just flown in, so even if I’d asked for her amazingly vintage furnishings, it wouldn’t have happened…) As I walked through her strangely lifeless house, visions replayed from my youth as eyes fell on things, I headed straight for two dancing girl figurines that my grandmother kept on a table in her bathroom. As a young girl I had been fascinated with them and would often sit on her toilet for long periods of time, playing out story lines where one girl was me and the other was my mother. I knew as soon as I saw them again, that I’d take them as well. Even though I detest knick knacks, these were special.

This was 2006. At the time, jokes were made about who wanted that gold couch. (Which Grandma had always called The Divan.) Grandma’s house had always been where people were and so there was always a plethora of seating options. The gold couch was usually the last chosen as it was the least comfortable. Remember, we were from the era of marshmallow stuffed furniture and this sofa was straight out of the 60’s.

I’m sure I have photos with the couch somewhere, but not on my Macbook. I did find this photo online (from The White Elephant Resale shop in Chicago, which is sadly now closed, though images are still out there), which shows VERY similar fabric, though the style was a bit different. (this one looks a lot cushier.)

Feel free to look at that magnificent piece of furniture there, feel pity for the treasure that slipped from my metaphorical grasp, and then ask yourself how we went from cushioned toilet seats to amazing vintage sofas… Well, because my grandma, the woman who washed old bread bags to reuse and ate moldy cheese rather than waste it- my grandmother who once cooked a tumble weed because she was that resourceful, the woman who had a life of little luxury (minus a few great vacations and a really nice car anyway) had a cushioned toiled seat. I had never thought of this as a luxury (or thought much of it at all) until that comedy sketch, but it really is one.

Which led me to wonder if that’s really why I spent so much time sitting on that toilet, playing with those figurines? Because, lets face it, at the end of the day that seat was likely a whole lot softer to sit on than that couch.

And also I would like to point out, I’d probably give my left kidney for that couch…

the plan, the reality and the provision…

Published on July 7, 2014 by Mae @ RainydayinmayLeave a comment

The past two weeks have been absolutely crazy. I suspected they might be a little busy as Gen returned from Jamaica and got ready to spend a hefty chunk of the summer with family & friends out west. As the mom of a teenager I get to be chauffeur and along with that we were seeing to all of the eye doctor, dental and physical appointments we usually take care of between school years. When planning the trips, it made absolute sense to have two solid weeks between the two, so we could spend quality time and lessen the blow of missing our girl (who is growing up so fast). While we did get some quality time, it was very bitter-sweet, and sad and chaotic and rushed… Minus Chw finishing a movie that Gen and I had already watched without him, (and wanted to see with him) we managed to accomplish everything we set out to do.

Though my blog was eerily quiet…

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Before she left, however, we spent the Fourth of July at Greenfield Village (A part of the Henry Ford Museum.) If you’ve never been, it’s a cool place. If you ever want to go for the fourth of July, I highly recommend it, but maybe do it differently than we did… We learned a lot about how NOT to go (which is how we went), but would do it again because the fireworks show is hands down the BEST ever…

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One of the two weeks that Gen was home, Chw was in Utah on business. This week he is once again out-of-town on business, (Chicago area) and I decided to tag along. My thoughts had been long quiet days of writing, reading, catching up on letters and just enjoying the down time. In the evenings we could try local restaurants, maybe see a movie, spend time at Millennium Park and take in a museum. Not at all a bad plan, but the drive into the area took twice as long as it should have, (think 8 hours instead of 4) and Chw had to work on a project before this morning so that was a bummer. My lovely morning was shaken, quite literally, by jackhammers and other manners of construction right outside my window. Even so, they upgraded us to a lovely suite with a full service kitchen, which will make my lunch times a breeze. (plus, there is a Trader Joe’s and a Super Target. I mean, seriously…) So I can’t really complain. Chw even left me his noise canceling Beats so the construction isn’t so bad, and I’ve decided to just pretend the shaking, vibrating and earth moving is a bonus massage. That works right?

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In April, when we were back home visiting, Gen was helping our dear friend D (her Godmother) with her (much younger) kids and D piped up and said “You know Gen, you should come back for the summer and help me.” D was serious because she works mostly from home and this would help her a ton. Gen responded with a resounded “Fine by me!” Because she loves those kids, she loves that family, she loves Idaho and it seemed fun. Of course, the weeks leading up to it (and the solo, cross-country flight) she was less thrilled and wanted to stay home. (Can’t fault the girl for trying.)

The week before Gen’s trip, D was injured and had surgery. She is now laid up in a cast for the next three months and definitely needing a TON of help. Of course none of us had any idea, prior to the trip, this would happen, but it’s still pretty cool that Gen is there to help her out. {Bonus cool is that one of Gen’s good friends from when they were younger is visiting from California and our Very dear family friend Aubree is ALSO visiting Idaho. She’s one lucky girl!}

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If I’m realizing anything, it’s that we make plans, and often the reality looks/feels nothing like the plan… BUT, most of the time it turns out awesome, OR it turns out we to be the best thing anyway, even though we didn’t know it when we planned it.

And, on that note, it’s Monday. This weeks Hi-Five:

SONG- THIS!!! Gen and I heard it on the way to one of our many appointments. We swooned. Adorable! (Not the best video, sorry! the song is worth it though!)

SHARE- Anne with an E. Have you watched these? I LOVE Anne of Green Gables and while these videos are cute, they aren’t really my favorite. (I’ve been spoiled by the quality of Pemberly Digital, I think) What i DO LOVE about this series however, is their twitter feed. (among the characters.) Absolutely adorable…

SOMETHING I’M LOVING- This Trader Joe’s REFRESH Body Wash that I picked up here. I usually use Rain Bath and the TJ’s peppermint but forgot both and so I tried this. The smell is AMAZING!

SOMETHING I’M INTO- I’m embarrassed to admit this… Clash of Clans. I found out my friend K was addicted to it when we were home in April and I held out until a couple of weeks ago. Then… I don’t know what happened. Now my husband is getting intrigued by it.

SOMETHING NEW {TO ME}- Coconut water. I’ve held out trying it due to the steep price tag, but the hype is so big I finally gave in. I’m not sure how much I love it, but I want to. Any Coconut water tips/secrets?

Joy…

Published on June 24, 2014 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments

My fifteen year old daughter, who isn’t really that different from any other fifteen year old girl on the outside, flew down to Jamaica and spent a week with a team of teens and adults working at Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf. Coming home and readjusting to our privileged way of life (Average American) made her state how selfish she feels she is, and inspired her to embrace a sense of deep gratitude and joy and that we’ve never seen her heart posses. She believes she is changed and we believe today she is. Old habits and patterns have a way of reclaiming even the best of us, but this experience will touch her forever. We’re encouraging her to hold tight. She’s already thinking of ways to raise support because she wants to go back on the next trip.

The one thing that caught her the most unexpected was that she stood, dirty feet planted, on a campus among children of all ages who had little and yet loved with a joy so abundant. They did not squabble, or bicker, they were simply filled with a joy she could not begin to understand. They never felt sorry for their loss of hearing, their struggles, their family lives or any other difficulties, they simply danced and played and lived every single second with a radiant joy. She is astounded, days later, when she still talks it over, trying to make sense. “Everyone…” she says, as though it’s almost unbelievable except for the fact that she experienced it with her own eyes.

She went down there knowing some sign language, she came home knowing more, and knowing what he left with better. She built a confidence in signing to a point that it’s a fluid response we’re seeing. Confidence is also something new to her. I’m feeling challenged in this raw joy she speaks up. We are a spoiled society, and while I try desperately to practice gratitude, I think I forget the key component of Joy. Somewhere along the way I think I believed joy comes from gratitude, which may be so… But don’t I need to marvel in more and allow joy to fill me, simply for the sake of joy? Have I modeled that to her? I don’t think that I have…

I am seeing though, that perhaps I’m even more aware of joy infused opportunities since she came home and I’ll admit, I’m certainly finding some in her stories…