Tag Archives: Memories

Love’s Concentric Circles

10 Jul

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

It seems my circle of love is not becoming smaller but concentric. A side benefit of having eleven aunts and uncles is a whole bunch of cousins. It doesn’t stop there as those cousins have children, creating even more cousins.

This week we were blessed to have a visit from my cousin, Susan and her children who live in Georgia. Her three children combined with our two grandchildren created some awesome and chaotic “cousins time” On the first day of their visit the children from teens to tweens had a blast at our local entertainment complex, “The Factory”.

The Factory

 

The second day we loaded up two cars with picnic supplies, chairs and towels and visited a local swimming hole, Sliding Rock in the Pisgah National Forest.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Susan is the granddaughter of one of my favorite aunts during my childhood. Her grandmother Della, her husband and boys spent a lot of time with my family as I was growing up. We were a musical family and would “make music” when the families got together. Della sang a beautiful high soprano while my mother a strong Alto. Together with their boys and my brothers we had music voices covered all the way down to deep bass. Dad and mom also played the guitar. Oh the sweet hymns they sang. There was one they sang, that I still sing in my heart when I am feeling down, Come Unto Me.

My aunt Della died of a brain tumor when she was forty-seven. I was heartbroken but she left a legacy of love. I still miss her almost fifty years later.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

An Amazing Surprise~Part 2

29 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

A few years after we arrived in Virginia, as Christmas was approaching, the wives of the officers were invited to help make up cookie bags for the enlisted personnel who were stationed at that Air Force Base, but would be alone and working over the holiday – unable to go to their respective homes.  We were asked to bake about six dozen cookies (or more), and then bring them to a certain place on a certain day, and a bunch of women would make an assortment and bag them up.  That was something I enjoyed doing, so I set to work.

When the appointed day and time arrived, I went to the assigned place.  As we were working (I didn’t know anyone else there – we were just a bunch of wives working together), one of the women looked at me and said, “Judy, are you by chance from Albuquerque?”  A bit startled, I told her yes.  And then she proceeded to ask if I had gone to Highland High School in Albuquerque.  Again I said yes.

 

 

Then I asked her what her name was.  When she told me her maiden name, I literally had a jaw-dropping moment!  This woman had not only grown up in Albuquerque, but she had lived just across the street from our elementary school.  And, as I recall, I had been in her house.  I had actually known her at some point in my life.  She was two years ahead of me in school.

SURPRISE!!  Amazing!!

After we finished up, I ran home and dug out my old high school year books, and then my brothers year books (he had entrusted me with his books – he had graduated three years before me).  And there she was.

My questions were:   after all these years and worlds apart, HOW did she recognize me?  And how, after all these years, did we wind up stationed at the same AF base?  Fred was in the Weather Wing there, and her husband was commander of one of the flying units, so we had no other connection together.  But it was fun while it lasted.

 

I do SO enjoy these kinds of happenings!!

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tumbling Angels and The Leaning Tower

23 Mar

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

                                                     

Judy Wills

 

I essentially grew up in one town.  Okay, I was born in Dallas, Texas, but we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when I was nearly four years old, so….  From that standpoint, my Mother was rather surprised that I “adjusted” so well to a military life.  Of course, that wasn’t what Fred and I had planned when we met and married, but God had other plans that were infinitely better than ours.  Fred did promise me that we would “see the world” when he proposed to me.  Little did we know how that would transpire.

But I have to say that I really enjoyed military life.  Except for my brother being in the U.S. Navy for a while, I really wasn’t exposed to military life until I met Fred – or more specifically, his family.

So it came as a bit of a surprise when he joined the Air Force.  They sent us to California, then to Germany – something beyond my wildest dreams.   I really loved being in both of those places.  I still have a fondness for California, but don’t think I would like to live there now.  But Germany………..WOW!  We enjoyed it so much that Fred requested – and was granted – a second tour there.

While we had many adventures in Germany, one of the last things we did was to take in the Oberammergau Passion Play.  Magnificent!  From there, we drove down to Italy.  We went to Venice:

2

St. Marks Square (Piazza San Marco) with
St .Mark’s Campanile

We went to Florence

3

St. Mary’s Cathedral

We went to Trieste where Fred’s family lived following World War 2.

4

Miramare Castle in Trieste

He showed me the building where they had lived.

via Carducci #2 - they lived in the "mezzanine"

via Carducci #2 – they lived in the “mezzanine”

 

We went to Pisa and saw the Leaning Tower and the church and baptistry.  Amazing!

The church and the leaning tower – it REALLY leans
The Baptistry

 We had been told about a little shop in Pisa that had some unique alabaster, marble and composition pieces, so we went to shop.  Our informants were correct – the merchandise was wonderful.  We purchased two marble lampstands.  We purchased some alabaster “fruit.”  And we purchased a set of composition tumbling angels.  I just thought they were really cute, and weren’t too expensive.  We have continued to enjoy all these things throughout all those years. 

8

I continue to get tickled every time I look at – or dust – those tumbling angels.  They are just cute to see, but they always remind me of that trip we took, and that little shop in Pisa where we purchased them.  It’s a great memory.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

The Birds

9 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Judy Wills

I’ve not always been fascinated by birds – they just came with the territory, right?  I don’t especially remember any birds in New Mexico that excited me – perhaps the road runner, but not much of that.

Then Fred and I married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas.  All of a sudden, there were birds chirping everywhere, and I had no clue what they were!  They made all kinds of different sounds.  When a friend said they were Mocking Birds, I was astounded.  Wow! I said – we don’t have those in Albuquerque!  Then SHE was astounded!  Judy!  They are everywhere!  Not in New Mexico!!  (They probably are, but what did I know?)

And so, little by little, I began to notice the birds wherever we went/moved.  Some were just birds, some were more interesting.  I noticed the Blue Jays; I noticed the tiny sparrows; I noticed the Robins.  And on and on.

One funny thing I remember is when Fred and I took our first Disney cruise.  The last port of call of the cruise is their private island, Castaway Cay.  We walked along, and, since it was getting to be lunch time, we began to notice the places where we could grab a bite to eat.  What caught our attention, is that someone had packed out a plate of food, but had left it on the table – probably to get themselves something to drink.  That was NOT the thing to do, as the little Finches are so abundant there, and a mass of them had descended upon that plate of food and were devouring it!  It was hilarious for us to see – no so much for the one wanting to eat the food!  Those little yellow birds were everywhere on the island.  Cute little things.

1

But I guess the birds that fascinate me the most are the Sandhill Cranes.  To me they are elegant.  They are so stately, and walk with such grace.  They have that beautiful triangle of red on their heads.  And the sound they make!  What a croak that is!  I’ve tried to duplicate it for our grandchildren, but have been unable to do so.  They just had to hear it for themselves.

2

We always like to go past a nearby pond in the Spring time, just to see if we can spot a Sandhill Crane family – Mom, Dad, and at least one fuzzball of a baby.  Frequently, we see twin fuzzballs!  Such fun!

When we moved to Florida, DiVoran asked me what we would like for them to give us to help us get “situated.”  I mentioned all the birds we saw there that were unfamiliar to us, so she gave us a bird book.  Once, when we were with Bill and DiVoran, I mentioned that I had learned that cranes fly with their necks and feet/legs straight out from their body – like a crane, while herons fly with their necks crooked and legs tucked.  DiVoran said, “how do you know that?”  I replied, “I learned it from the bird book you gave us!”

Eagles are probably my very favorite bird.  I’m so glad those in charge over-road Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion to make the turkey the American Bird – and chose the eagle.  So much more regal.  Arrogant?  Perhaps.  But to me they just symbolize America.  And to see them soar – and to hear their call – well, what’s not to notice?

3

 Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Tags: , , , , , ,

My “Twirp” Date

7 Feb

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

Before you jump to the wrong conclusion,
my date was not a twerp in any way.
The word, rightly interpreted, means
“The Woman Is Requested to Pay”

I had purchased a ’46 Chevy Convertible,
But had to wait ’til my ” BIG Day”-
When “21” my dad drove me to pick up my car-
SO special in every way!

I lived in Akron, Ohio at the time,
February brought snow and ice-
To make matters worse, there are many hills,
Driving conditions are far from nice.

I drove to the fraternity house to pick up my date,
But I insisted he “take the wheel”.
Little did I know that he would do so for
the next 57 years-
that my affection he would steal!

We drove to the “Spanish Inn”.
romantic by candlelight-
We were determined not to let the weather
ruin our special night.

“Thank you, God, for the memories
that remain in my heart-
They are all part of my history-
happenings set apart.”

Louise Car copy

Tags: , , , , ,

Daddy

2 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy Wills

My Daddy was quite a guy.  As I’ve said before, he was born in 1892, and was 20 years older than my Mother.  But he was a good Daddy, and really was a “Daddy” rather than a stiff “Father.”  I was, occasionally, exasperated with him in my teenage years – I guess as all teenagers are with their parents – but loved him dearly.  He died when I was 25 and pregnant with my first child.  I always regretted that neither of our children got to know their grandpa, and I miss him still.

 

But he could be really funny.  I remember that, when Mother was working in accounting at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, she would quite often invite some of the single, lonely, homesick airmen to church with us on Sundays, then to our house for Sunday dinner.  Around the table, one of Daddy’s favorite things to tell these guys was that he was from a large family.  He would state that there were eight boys, and each of them had five sisters.  Then he would pose the question: “How many of us children were there in the family?”  You could almost see the steam coming out of their ears as the wheels turned as they computed the numbers.  While most got the joke within a reasonable time, I remember one young man staring at Daddy, eyes bulging out, and said “58?!!”  Then Daddy would howl with delight and inform them that all eight boys had the SAME five sisters!  There were only 13 children in the family.

Since Daddy was older when he and Mom married (45), they started their family rather quickly.  When my brother was born, Daddy was so proud that he sent off a telegram to his parents.  Mom told me that his dad sent back a nice, long, newsy letter about everything going on in Louisiana.  Then he ended the letter with:  “Son, we are happy to hear about the birth of your son.  But you must realize – it just RAINS grandchildren down here.”  Mom said Daddy’s balloon just deflated at that!

 

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children. Daddy is back row, 4th from left

T.J. & Mattie Lites with 10 of their children.
Daddy is back row, 4th from left

Being the farm boy that he was, he loved to finish the meal with a slice or two of a tomato, rather than dessert.  He loved the desserts, as well, but….

He had some “sayings” that we always enjoyed.  Well, enjoyed MOST of the time.

  •    The traffic will eventually all run by (sometime eventually took longer than others – and Fred always said, “well, Daddy was right again”
  •    This roast is just no good – it just falls off the bone!
  •      As you know, breakfast (lunch/dinner) is one of my three main meals of the dayGranny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy - in his p.j.'s - Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites - 1961          Granny, Aunt Jessie, Daddy – in his p.j.’s – Mom, Dora Bowers, DiVoran Lites – 1961 

Once, when Fred and I were visiting Albuquerque, Fred had gone out driving with Daddy.  That evening, Fred related this story of the day, but could hardly get it out for all his giggling.  They were driving along – Fred driving – and Daddy cleared his throat, turned his head, and spit.  Unfortunately, he had forgotten that the window was still closed!  Fred said Daddy cleaned off the window then turned his head back to Fred and sheepishly said, “that’s only the second time in my life I’ve done that.”  Fred said he had to “bite his tongue” to keep from laughing out loud!

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

Bill Lites in Albuquerque, NM

It’s such fun to remember my Daddy.  But the best part is knowing that some day I will be reunited with him and won’t ever have to leave him again.

Bill Lites in the stocks - Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites in the stocks – Williamsburg, VA

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

Bill Lites with daughter, Judy Wills, and granddaughter, Charlene Lites

                    

Tags: , , , ,

Our Trip to the UK~Part 8

22 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Lites

 

Continuing north again, next we stopped at the tiny village of Hill Top, located close to Ambleside in Near Sawrey, in the English Lake District.   Hill Top is the home of Beatrix Potter, who was the English author and illustrator, best known for her imaginative children’s books.  Her books featured animals such as those in her first book, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” written in 1902, and described the English landscape and the country life she knew as a child and loved so much.  The small cabin where she wrote many of her books, is arranged with much of her original furniture, and surrounded with beautiful gardens.

1

                                               

DiVoran tells me that as a child, Beatrix was not allowed to play with other children, and spent the summers in the country with her brother.  Nature became their favorite subject, and it was there that Beatrix taught herself to draw bunnies, hedgehogs, and the like.  Later, when one of Beatrix’s brother’s children was ill, she wanted to send a message of cheer, so she wrote a story and illustrated it.  And, that is how her career as a children’s author started.  She was one of DiVoran’s favorite children’s story authors, and she read most of the 23 “Peter Rabbit” books to our children when they were young.  As you can see from the picture below, DiVoran had to sit in that garden, and just imagine how wonderful it would be to live there and be able to write in such a beautiful and serene place.

2

 

 When I was finally able to pull DiVoran away from Hill Top, we proceeded on north to our next stop, which was Keswick, England.  As it happened, we got there on a Friday, and our hosts at the B & B informed us that the next day was “Market Day” in town.  We were not able to partake of the wonderful fruits and vegetables, but we did have a grand time walking the streets with all the people, checking out the variety of shops, and  enjoying the street minstrels (known as Buskers) who added to the festivities with their beautiful music.

3

 I believe it was in Keswick where we stopped in one of the local pubs for lunch, and they seated us in a small booth for two called a “Snug.”  One of the problems we found in English pubs, was their meals were just too much food for us, so we tried to share as often as we could agree on a particular entre.  This time we decided we would try one of the house specials, “Lancashire hotpot” which is a dish made traditionally from lamb or mutton, carrots and onions, topped with sliced potatoes, and then left to bake in the oven all day in a heavy pot, on a low heat.  Kinda like our “Slow Cooker” or the ever popular “Crock Pot” that is one of the American working gal’s best friends.  It was yummy!

4

                                   

As we headed North again, the next point of interest was Hadrian’s Wall, said by many to have stretched all the way across the north of England from Wallsend, on the River Tyne, west along the Cumbria coast to Bowness on-Soliday.  Construction was begun by the Romans in 122 AD and, amazingly, was largely completed in six years.  Construction was divided into lengths of about 5 miles, with one Roman Legion (4000-5000 men) excavating the foundations, building the milecastles and turrets.  Then another legion would follow with the wall construction.  There is no mention as to how many legions were required to build this 75-mile long project, but it had to have been several. 

5                                   

 

 

—–To Be Continued—–

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

THE DOLL

14 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy

                                                     

My Aunt Jessie was a “collector” – of things.  She never married, so “things” became her main reason for living.  They were her enjoyment as well as her security blanket, I think.  But she also collected a variety of things that were unusual.  I’ll tell her story another time.

For now, I want to tell you about the doll.  Some of you may be old enough to remember – or have lived in a town large/small enough – that many women usually made or constructed their own clothing.  I was well into my teen years before I had any store-bought dresses.  Blue jeans, well yeah, those were garments we couldn’t sew ourselves.  But other items…..we purchased the fabric and sewed them up just to fit ourselves.

One of my favorite memories is going into the J.C. Penney’s store, and into the fabric department.  Round tables with bolt upon bolt of fabric standing upright, for our selection.  And usually, on top of that round table was a “model” doll – or mannequin –  with a dress or some type of garment made out of a sample of the fabric displayed on the table.  Someone was very crafty with their sewing machine!

don’t know when the J.C. Penney’s decided to discontinue the display on the mannequins, but I do know that Aunt Jessie was at the right place at the right time – and she acquired one of those dolls!  I have a picture of Aunt Jessie in 1950 in her house in San Antonio, Texas, with the mannequin in the background, so she had it a long time.

 

1

Eventually, she gave me that mannequin, and I was still young enough to play with it – dress it in the many different “outfits” that we had for her.

After Fred and I married and moved away, I left the mannequin with Mother.  At one point in time she owned and operated a cosmetic studio, and used the mannequin in her display window.  Very effective!

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

3

 

I still have that mannequin.  I’m hoping that one of my granddaughters will eventually like to have it.  It’s a unique piece of American history, and a very fond memory for me.

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

UNCLE JESS

7 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy

 I have a really quirky family.  And most of them I have enjoyed through the years – or stories about them.

 My Mother’s family is originally from Ireland, with a good old name of McBratney.  I don’t know a lot about the family history, but only some from my Great-grandfather on.  He was one of 11 children, eight of them male.  I know that they called themselves “The Boys” and got together occasionally.

1

 

About the time I was “aware” of life, there were only four “boys” left, my great-grandfather not being one of them.  I made a trip to Kansas once with my Aunt Jessie and Granny, and got to see them then.  However, my fondest memories are in 1958 when those four “boys” came to Albuquerque for a visit.  They were my Granny’s uncles, my Mother’s great-uncles, and so my great-great-uncles.  But they were fun and funny to be around.

 

2

 

While I enjoyed them all, I guess Uncle Jess was the one I remember the most.

 

3

 

And this story about him always delights me – and makes others laugh when I tell it.Back in 1958, one of the favorite things to do was to grill steaks on the outside grill.  Big, thick, juicy steaks – lots of fat to flavor the meat – special seasoning to give it just the right tenderness and flavor.  You remember, right?

4

 

Well, one of those times, after the meat had been cooked and all were seated at the table, Uncle Jess began to meticulously cut all the fat from off his steak….and then proceeded to EAT THE FAT!  My Mother exclaimed – “Uncle Jess!  The doctor told you not to eat the fat on your steaks!”  And he calmly replied, “No he didn’t.  He only told me to be sure and cut it off.”

 

5

 

 

As I said, he was a sweetheart!

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Our Trip Across America Part 4

31 Oct

A Slice of Life

 Bill Lites

We took I-49 North toward Shreveport to my dad’s family home site near the small town of Many, LA.  We had a wonderful visit there with several of my uncles and aunts, remembering the good times my sister and I had during the many summer visits there when we were young

there was always the “ole swimming hole” where we spent a lot of time swimming, fished and chasing the crayfish.  On the way out of town we stopped at the old country store where my cousins and I used to spend our nickels and dimes on candy and lots of firecrackers.  One of my uncles ran the store back then but, by this time, the old lever handle gas pumps were gone and the store was closed.

From there, we continued north to Shreveport, to visit another of my uncles and his wife.  He was a typewriter repair mechanic and had a wonderful shop full of all kinds of tools and equipment that he used in his typewriter repair business.  It smelled of cleaning fluid and printer’s ink.

This is when he related the “watermelon nest” story to us.  Seems as how he had this watermelon vine that had somehow attached itself to and grown up a tree in his backyard.  Now I had never heard of a watermelon plant growing up a tree but my uncle wasn’t a man to fib.  So, when a melon started growing high up in the tree, my uncle climbed up there and built a platform for the melon to rest on.

Well, would you believe it, when that melon matured to full size he climbed back up there, brought it down and he and his wife enjoyed it together.  I asked him if that was the same tree, I fell out of and broke my wrist when my family was visiting him on one of our summer trips to Louisiana, and he said it probably was.  My aunt had a fine dress shop out in the country away from everything. She often went on buying trips to the big cities, brought the latest styles in ladies dresses back to her shop, and sold most everything to the local ladies near and far.

To be continued……

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →