Cowboys and Indians

Cowboy movies and television shows were extremely popular when I was a child. They were on television when we got home from school. In the evening others were on for the whole family. 

Cowboy movies at the theater drew crowds of families. A good movie and a bag of popcorn (for a nickel) was a real treat.

I am a person whose grandfather was a real cowboy in his younger days. Not a shoot-'em-up cowboy like the ones we saw on TV. He practically lived out on the range taking care of cattle. 

I also lived near a lot of what we called Indians. Even though they were close there was still a mystery we felt about them. They did not look or act like us and many spoke a different language.

It stands to reason that children often played Cowboys and Indians. The cowboys had cap guns and a sturdy stick to use for a horse and of course a cowboy hat. Indians had bows and arrows, a horse, and a feathered headdress.

One day my two brothers and I were outside playing. When one of my brothers and I went into the house and quietly sat down Mom suspected that something was wrong. We were working too hard at looking innocent.

When my other brother did not come in she went to check on him.

She found my brother hanging by his neck from the apple tree. He was turning purple.

We had captured him and just like in the movies he had to hang. Then we could not get him down. Not knowing what to do we simply went in the house.

If Mom had not gone out to see where my brother was he would have died. 

Itchy

My favorite aunt and uncle had moved to Missouri. I missed them a lot because they had spoiled me as much as they could.

They had no children but their house was huge. We went to visit and there was plenty of room.

They also had a gorgeous lawn. The grass was green and thick. It was perfect for playing. We went out and played tag. We tumbled in that glorious grass. It was such fun.

When supper was ready we all went inside to eat. Then it was time for a bath and bed.

That was when we started to itch. It was a burning itch. Soon we were all crying.  

The grass was full of chiggers. Chiggers are small mites related to spiders and ticks. 

These small mites feed on animal skin. The bites burn and sting at the same time. Intensely.

The common treatment is Calamine lotion. My aunt did not have any.

She did have Campho-Phenique. We used that. It stung a bit but we felt better.

We were able to finally sleep. Not well but for a while.

We did learn not to roll around in strange grass.

 

Three Billy Goats Gruff

The first song I sang to each of my grandchildren was The Unicorn. I sang other songs to them until they became old enough to tell me to stop.

For some reason I do not remember the first story except the one I told my daughter's son. It was Three Billy Goats Gruff.

He had just come home from the hospital. I wanted to give my daughter a chance to rest. Of course the baby decided to cry... a lot.

I sang to him and he calmed down. But he was not ready to sleep. I decided to tell him a story and that was the first one that came to mind.

Stories and songs are important for a baby. The rhythm and a soothing voice are comforting to them. And it is a good way to forge a bond with the baby.

Singing and telling stories is important. So is reading to them.  They learn that there are new stories in books. Hopefully they will want to read on their own as they get older.

Keep Them Apart

When I was in junior high (now they call it middle school) the adults at the school were overly cautious about sex. We were on the verge of becoming adults and we might have (gasp) impure thoughts.

The school had two front doors. One was for boys and the other was for girls. Those of us who rode the bus to school all entered through a side door!

Classes had both boys and girls. There a teacher could make sure there was no mingling.

The front of the school had a tall rock wall between the doors. Between the school and the wall there was a small very high lawn. (I wonder how they mowed it.) That was where we ate lunch if the weather was nice.

Of course males and females could not sit on the wrong side of the lawn. However committed couples found a way to have lunch together. The boy sat up next to the invisible line on his side. The girl cozied up to the invisible line on her side. Then they could eat lunch together.

But Lord help them if they wanted to hold hands or lean in for a side hug. A teacher would appear from nowhere. The couple would each have to retreat to their own sides for the rest of lunch.

I have to relate a funny story about me. I was extremely naive. I knew very little about the whole subject of sex.

With parental permission we were to see a movie about venereal disease. 

A pure young couple were looking forward to graduating high school. They planned to marry when they graduated college. They would remain pure until they were married.

The young man went with a group of older boys to the city. They introduced him to a 'loose' woman. She introduced him to worldly ways.

So he became a monster because he was no longer pure. He went home and promptly raped his pure girlfriend.

A short time later he complained that he had a 'sword' down there. (That is what I heard. I was married before I realized he said sore not sword.)

When he went to the doctor the diagnosis was syphilis. 

The moral was: Do not got to the city with older boys.

                         Stay pure

                        Remain true to your girlfriend.

The movie implied that the young man's life was ruined and he destroyed his girlfriend's life.

I was simply confused.

Another Death

 My brother-in-law died in his sleep early this morning. He and I did not always see eye to eye but he was so good to my children. I respect him for that.

He was only in his early 80's. That may sound old to some. He was only a couple of years older than me.

I spoke to him on the phone just a couple of days ago and he was fine. I will take comfort in knowing he did not suffer.

When my husband left our family this brother was the one who was there for my children. My daughter needed a father so much and he stepped in to be that for her. I could count on him to help me if I was having problems with my car.

All my children are mourning him. My daughter is crushed. She is helping her cousins write his obituary at this moment. Everything she can do for him will make her feel a little better.

May he rest in peace.

Watch

 I watched all my favorite Christmas movies. And a few extra. I love Christmas movies; even the ones that are love stories disguised with Christmas decorations.

There are some that are required watching.

It's A Wonderful Life

White Christmas

Call Me Claus

Christmas Chronicles (1 & 2)

The Santa Clause (1,2, & 3)

Elf

Fred Claus

Miracle On 34th Street (original and remake)

The Grinch

Cartoons like Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Frosty, Santa Clause

This year there was a new movie by Dwayne Johnson better known as The Rock. It is Red One.

It is not the best Christmas movie but it is pretty good. I hope your Christmas was full of love.

Welcome Christmas

Christmas is my favorite holiday. It is not because of the gifts although that is a part of it.

Christmas is the time when we are all a little nicer, a little friendlier, a little more caring to our fellow human beings. We should be that all year but we are not. And shame on us for that.

I love choosing the gift that is just right for a person I care about. No gift cards for me. I love to see the looks on their faces when they open a gift. It is the best part. Of course I would feel pretty unloved if no one got me a gift but the really important thing is that I got them something they will enjoy.

In my family Mom always cooked a huge meal. She baked and the house was full of warm cookie smells. When I began my own family we still went to my parents 'on Christmas. I always took baked goods of my own to add to Mom's. 

Eventually my little family began to grow and I thought we should spend Christmas day at home. Daddy could not understand that. After all Mom was going to cook. If he had his way none of us would have ever moved away.

When I was a teenager we started our Christmas eve tradition. We had all begun to buy gifts for each other and our parents. We continued that because it was so much fun.

We served cold cuts and cookies. No cooking for Christmas Eve.

Then came the opening of presents to make room for what Santa would leave overnight. Daddy passed out the gifts. The first one went to the youngest person there. That person would open the package and hold the present up for everyone to see. 

After that the next youngest did the same. We went through each member of the family until each of us had opened and displayed a gift. Then Daddy just passed out a gift. Whoever opened it had to hold it up for all to see.

It took all evening. It was so much fun. A big deal was made of each gift. We all went home happy and tired.

After my parents died we each continued the tradition with our families. I added one feature. I made little goody bags for each of the children. It gave them something to do before everyone was there and we were ready for the major event. I filled them with kazoos, Chinese finger traps, candy necklaces, ring pops, little tops, small puzzles...that sort of thing. Sometimes I think they looked forward to those more than the gifts.

So have a Merry Christmas and make it last.