I fell on my knees and cried like a baby last night when I got home. I wasn't going to blog about this simply because I didn't think I could convey in words the emotions that coursed through me by one simple act of kindness. It wasn't a big thing but it brought home to me how truly blessed I am and have always been.
I have a black leather jacket that has been taking up residence on a wooden rocking chair that I have in my computer room. This chair is what I drop everything on when I get home and it's the chair that I've rocked my every things (Brandi and Matthew). I know now that the jacket quietly sat there to bring home to me something I've always known but never completely acknowledged.
When I got home yesterday from the gym, I did what I normally do, I dropped everything on the chair, stripped on my way to the bedroom, went to my closet to put my shoes away and that's when I saw it. My leather jacket. Hanging haphazardly on the hangar. I fell to my knees crying like a baby.
My dad, who lives in Texas had come to visit Sunday night and he left yesterday morning after I went to work. Obviously he saw the jacket on the chair and wanted to somehow help me out by hanging it. That may not seem to be much of a big deal these days but in my dad's day it was unheard of. That simple kindness brought home to me that my dad loves me and how many huge things he has done for me, but it took this small act to bring it home. He has always been there for me in the good times, the bad, the sad and the happy. This man, my dad, listened to many heartaches that I've endured and has tried to console me. He would never dream that his daughter does wrong and if he does, it never leaves his dream.
My dad is 76 years old and in his old age he loves to talk, gossip, chitchat, etc. Something he has never had a desire to do before but I guess he is lonely. I promise next time he goes on a marathon talkathon, I will remember my leather jacket hanging haphazardly in my closet, and pray to have all the patience in the world with him.
As I pick myself up off my knees and wipe the tears from my eyes, I walk into the bathroom and notice the toilet seat up and I laugh and forgive him this small discretion. In his day, his mother couldn't teach him to put the toilet seat down because he grew up in the age of outhouses and corncobs.
I shake my head, raise my foot, and put the toilet seat down.
Ajoleblon...A Cajun Tale
- Sharlene
- Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
- This journal is a bunch of rants about nothing. Mostly lighthearted happenings in the life of a woman who is very simple and who wants for nothing but greatly appreciates whatever is given. You will find nothing profound here but hopefully something that will make you laugh and that's what I enjoy doing most. Being humorous. Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Germs are everywhere!
This weekend while my daughter and grandson were visiting, I notice she hadn't taught him how to aim very well or put the toilet seat down after his misguided aims. I explained to her that those sort of lessons must come from the mother. The male species will not deem it necessary to teach a young lad such things.
My daughter decided to take me up on teaching Matthew good point and aim skills. On the way home today she gives him a verbal lesson explaining to him exactly how it should be done. Pick up toilet seat, aim, shoot, flush and put down toilet seat. She tells him that she will be escorting him to the john until he perfects this skill.
They arrive home and of course he eventually has to try these new skills. She follows him into the bathroom. He raises the seat, points and aims perfectly but starts to walk away. She says "Matthew, you forgot something..." He lifts his legs, using his feet to depress the lever to flush and put the toilet seat down.
Anyone who knows me would know that I am a big time germophobic! I don't touch bathroom door knobs with my bare hands. Matter of fact there is not much in a bathroom that I do touch with my bare hands. Yep, seems, unknowing to me, my little man has been very observant of his Nammy. That's exactly how I flush and put down the toilet seat. Those levers are probably the nastiest things to touch besides door knobs!
My daughter was rolling when she called me... They see a lot more than you think they do...
My daughter decided to take me up on teaching Matthew good point and aim skills. On the way home today she gives him a verbal lesson explaining to him exactly how it should be done. Pick up toilet seat, aim, shoot, flush and put down toilet seat. She tells him that she will be escorting him to the john until he perfects this skill.
They arrive home and of course he eventually has to try these new skills. She follows him into the bathroom. He raises the seat, points and aims perfectly but starts to walk away. She says "Matthew, you forgot something..." He lifts his legs, using his feet to depress the lever to flush and put the toilet seat down.
Anyone who knows me would know that I am a big time germophobic! I don't touch bathroom door knobs with my bare hands. Matter of fact there is not much in a bathroom that I do touch with my bare hands. Yep, seems, unknowing to me, my little man has been very observant of his Nammy. That's exactly how I flush and put down the toilet seat. Those levers are probably the nastiest things to touch besides door knobs!
My daughter was rolling when she called me... They see a lot more than you think they do...
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A day with the daughter
My daughter is 26 years old and she still loves to aggravate me. Her day is not complete unless she has managed to find something that will raise my hackles. I am normally a very calm, sweet and gentle woman until she decides that I need to be otherwise.
Yesterday her and I traveled to Texas to see my parents. She hates my driving so I drove just to aggravate her and the entire trip she kept reminding me that I didn't know how to drive on the interstate. I told her that just because I was not weaving in and out of traffic at 90 miles an hour did not warrant me as not knowing how to drive.
I allowed her to drive on the way home simply because I was tired or otherwise she'd have had to put up with my lack of competence on the interstate for another two hours. We were in the car a mere ten minutes and she attempted to kill me three times. I honestly think my only saving grace was the fact that my young grandson was in the car and it wasn't his time to go.
Of course, her being a typical female that drank 2 liters of diet coke during the trip needed a pitt stop. I knew when she stopped at Walgreens to relieve herself that it was the beginning of my total aggravation. Forget that I had decided I was going to be patient with her...Dear Lord, I promise I wanted to be! My grandson had fallen asleep so Nammy Dearest had to stay in the car with him and could not go along with Daughter Dearest to hurry her along. As I've said, I am not the most patient of women but I gave her ten minutes to pee before I started getting antsy. When I realized that yesterday was the day after Christmas and sales, the light bulb went off...She was relieving more than her bladder. She was emptying her wallet as well. When she finally arrives back at the car, my bladder which had been completely empty, had filled up. I slammed out of the car like the old witch she believes me to be but before my departing she says "I thought you didn't need the bathroom" at which I responded "That was before your shopping spree!" I was tempted to pay kind with kind but decided to be big about and a bit more considerate.
I return to the car and go into my nagging spiel of how inconsiderate it is to say you are going to the bathroom and 2o minutes later you return as if that's the most normal thing in the world (which for her it is). I'm just not quite as accustomed to it any longer. Her husband is!! She continues to laugh at me because for some reason she finds me so amusing when I am harping on her for her behavior.
The radio is playing Love Songs at Night with Delilah during my spewing and then on comes this girl telling about how she mistreats her mom and is very inconsiderate towards her. Delilah is admonishing her, etc etc. At this point, Brandi and I are rolling with laughter. It always happens that way with her and I, we aggravate the hell out of each other but ALWAYS end up laughing because it is hilarious and something like this sparks our humor.
Of course it didn't stop there, when we got home she had to come into my room and aggravate me again simply stating that she misses that most of all since she lives 4 hours away.
We do love each other!
Yesterday her and I traveled to Texas to see my parents. She hates my driving so I drove just to aggravate her and the entire trip she kept reminding me that I didn't know how to drive on the interstate. I told her that just because I was not weaving in and out of traffic at 90 miles an hour did not warrant me as not knowing how to drive.
I allowed her to drive on the way home simply because I was tired or otherwise she'd have had to put up with my lack of competence on the interstate for another two hours. We were in the car a mere ten minutes and she attempted to kill me three times. I honestly think my only saving grace was the fact that my young grandson was in the car and it wasn't his time to go.
Of course, her being a typical female that drank 2 liters of diet coke during the trip needed a pitt stop. I knew when she stopped at Walgreens to relieve herself that it was the beginning of my total aggravation. Forget that I had decided I was going to be patient with her...Dear Lord, I promise I wanted to be! My grandson had fallen asleep so Nammy Dearest had to stay in the car with him and could not go along with Daughter Dearest to hurry her along. As I've said, I am not the most patient of women but I gave her ten minutes to pee before I started getting antsy. When I realized that yesterday was the day after Christmas and sales, the light bulb went off...She was relieving more than her bladder. She was emptying her wallet as well. When she finally arrives back at the car, my bladder which had been completely empty, had filled up. I slammed out of the car like the old witch she believes me to be but before my departing she says "I thought you didn't need the bathroom" at which I responded "That was before your shopping spree!" I was tempted to pay kind with kind but decided to be big about and a bit more considerate.
I return to the car and go into my nagging spiel of how inconsiderate it is to say you are going to the bathroom and 2o minutes later you return as if that's the most normal thing in the world (which for her it is). I'm just not quite as accustomed to it any longer. Her husband is!! She continues to laugh at me because for some reason she finds me so amusing when I am harping on her for her behavior.
The radio is playing Love Songs at Night with Delilah during my spewing and then on comes this girl telling about how she mistreats her mom and is very inconsiderate towards her. Delilah is admonishing her, etc etc. At this point, Brandi and I are rolling with laughter. It always happens that way with her and I, we aggravate the hell out of each other but ALWAYS end up laughing because it is hilarious and something like this sparks our humor.
Of course it didn't stop there, when we got home she had to come into my room and aggravate me again simply stating that she misses that most of all since she lives 4 hours away.
We do love each other!
News to me!
Wow I never knew this:
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.
There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
LSU, The Bears and The Saints
My two joys will be with me for the Christmas holidays. I thought I was finished with my shopping until I had this little conversation with the joy of my life.
Matthew: Nammy! (said with a North Louisiana Redneck drawl...Naaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeee)
Nammy: What my angel?
Matthew: (all excited) Santa is bringing some of my presents to your house and some of them to my Dad's house. (I guess his dad told him Santa was passing at their house for him too....and kids these days think that they got a raw deal!)
Nammy: Well, sweetie, Nammy will have some presents for you too.
Matthew (natural curiosity) What did you buy me Nammy? (he says Nammy after every sentence uttered)
Nammy: It's a surprise...you will find out when you open them.
Matthew: Nammy, I know what you got me.... NFL football players.
Nammy: NFL Football players?
Matthew: Yeah, Nammy, the LSU Tigers (so he doesn't realize they aren't pro...LOL) , The Bears and the Saints.
Nammy (to herself...oh shit)
So......I wasn't quite finished. Now, instead of ornaments, I have NFL football players hanging on my Norfolk Pine.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sneaux Tigers
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Something worth having.
I've often been asked what it is I am looking for in a relationship and I usually get laughed at when I answer with these words "I want to one day be the little old lady and the little old man that I see on Sunday in church." You know? The ones who shuffle their way into mass every single Sunday come rain or shine. They sit there barely able to hear so they turn their hearing aids up and then turn to their partner and say "eh?" So adorable! Today with tears in my eyes I saw exactly what I am talking about.
The elderly lady walks into Mass with lil old man behind her. She sees a friend in the choir and decides to chat with her. Lil ole' man stands next to the pew waiting patiently for her. He looks over at her but never gets into the pew without her nor walks over to her to interrupt her chat to make her hurry. After about 5 minutes she walks toward the pew, he guides her with his hand into the pew. She sits and he reaches down to lower the kneeler for her. They kneel and pray together.
In my eyes: Me + You = God/Love. Without HIM there is no US.
For some reason the lil old man/lady brings that home to me every single Sunday!
Some of you may laugh at my idea of love but those are my ideals and I'm not going to apologize for them. I may die a lil old women without her lil ole' man but I doubt it! Some thing worth having is worth waiting for!
The elderly lady walks into Mass with lil old man behind her. She sees a friend in the choir and decides to chat with her. Lil ole' man stands next to the pew waiting patiently for her. He looks over at her but never gets into the pew without her nor walks over to her to interrupt her chat to make her hurry. After about 5 minutes she walks toward the pew, he guides her with his hand into the pew. She sits and he reaches down to lower the kneeler for her. They kneel and pray together.
In my eyes: Me + You = God/Love. Without HIM there is no US.
For some reason the lil old man/lady brings that home to me every single Sunday!
Some of you may laugh at my idea of love but those are my ideals and I'm not going to apologize for them. I may die a lil old women without her lil ole' man but I doubt it! Some thing worth having is worth waiting for!
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Breakfast Bowl
I am very much a creature of habit and routine. Every single morning I eat breakfast at Chick-fil-A. They are the only fast food restaurant that will serve a side of eggs that are scrambled but not in loads of butter or grease. I will also get a medium cup of fruit or a biscuit and a large Diet Coke....$3.47. Healthy and cheap.
Also, I am a big LSU fan and this morning my daughter text me and this is what I read:
Looks like LSU is playing in the Sharlene Breakfast Bowl this year.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Face in Hand
I was sitting in church today with my face in my hands, feeling sorrowful, when I suddenly realized how intimate of a gesture touching someone's face can be. We do it often without realizing what we are doing or why. When you touch the face of the one you are kissing it brings more meaning into it. When you care for someone you touch their face in awe of them. It comes natural, almost without thought. We can touch anywhere else on the body but for some reason the face is much more intimate and personal.
As I did this morning in Mass, when we are upset with something in our lives we put our face in our hands comforting ourselves, crying out our sorrow in our hand.
As I did this morning in Mass, when we are upset with something in our lives we put our face in our hands comforting ourselves, crying out our sorrow in our hand.
Touch a face today even if it's your own. I did!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Do you see what I see?
Today I was at work doing my normal accounting functions when I came upon an invoice that appeared to have been through the ringer and back. Apparently someone was eating some heavy duty fried chicken and decided to wring the chicken out onto this invoice. As I was looking at it I realized it may be worth something one day so I best take a picture of it. Seriously, if someone can try to sell a cornflake that looks like a state or a piece of toast with a vision of the Virgin Mary on it, why couldn't I try to see some otherworldly something on my invoice.....
Help me out guys. What do you see?
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