I suppose I could sit here and chastise myself for not not blogging in ages. If that is your wish so be it (lol). I can't believe the last blog was Thanksgiving! and here it is almost February, x-number of days into the not-so-new year.
Well, Christmas has come and gone and we're not the worse for it, only the better. The whole family got together and it is a very proud but disconcerting thing to see us all together. My cousins and I are no longer the kids of the group, no longer sitting at the kids' table in the den of our grandparents' house, watching Laurel and Hardy or whatever is on the black and white
tv. That spot has been taken by a whole new generation, our children and (gulp) their girlfriends or boyfriends and even spouses (double gulp!) I can remember when our grandfather would dress up in the worlds' worst Santa suit and give out presents - it took a hell of a suspension of disbelief but we kids believed it! Traditions, however, are still with us. The Swedish meat balls, the pickled herring, the
midvist, the ham, but most of all the love and admiration for one another and the love of seeing our children opening their presents, the smiles and the screaming, the joy of giving. And my cousin, while never donning that
incredibly bad suit, does a good job as Santa. I have the
opportunity at least once a year to see this group, which is now more like a mob, and am proud of all we have become or are becoming, continuing the traditions our parents and grandparents taught us. Who knew that little-whats-her-name would be doing "this" or even-littler-
whosie would be going to this college? I am very proud of the family I come from.
Christmas is truly the most joyous time of the year, at least for this writer.
While not writing the blog I suddenly got addicted to Facebook; what started out as an effort to find an old friend of my mother took on a life of its own. I have now connected with people I had grown up with and grown away from; a few, unfortunately I have found, for good reason. I have connected with schoolmates who I never ever had anything in common with during those hated High School years but have turned out to be pretty much "okay"; I guess people do mature. I don't check it as much lately as life takes me in other directions. I have been more into chat rooms concerning my hobbies or my interest in nostalgia and, really, how much can one be on the computer - altho I should be one to talk as I used to be addicted to the thing and at one time had about 18 email accounts. It would be funnier if it weren't true...stop laughing!
I have more fun watching my kid grow up...Bumper makes me proud and has taken on more responsibilities and keeps excelling at everything he attempts. This morning he made omelets for breakfast for himself and me...cheese and hot dog omelets with hot chocolate and toast. (another tradition we carry from our grandfather is weird food concoctions (anyone in the family remember his bagels and sill?) Tomorrow we will be having blueberry and strawberry oatmeal (and hot chocolate). I am proud he has so many friends now, something we weren't sure was going to happen given his earlier school years, and I am proud to be a volunteer at his school library and to read to his class. He is planning to be a cook when he "grows up", something I am sure he will succeed in, altho we tell him anything he puts his mind to he can do - and continues to prove it. There will be plenty of time to decide what he wants to do but he certainly has a gift for the stove (gets it from his mother!) and made oatmeal scotchies for the earlier-mentioned Christmas party...and he's not even ten!
I posted a couple pictures of the bump...as he gets older I find the real purpose of having children...
...to mow the lawn and shovel the snow!!
I have attempted to encapsulate almost two months worth of "stuff" into one blog but will probably write more soon, one resolution I truly would like to keep. I would love to hear about any readers' traditions, especially the memories of my family who can picture themselves as whosie or whats-her-name. Always consider this an open invitation to read and I hope to return to the old diner-and-roadside stuff soon.
Fof, Gram, and other parents and grandparents, you are truly missed...always remember your lessons have been learned and continue to be taught.
Take care, all
Sgt Pepper is known as "the" pop album. Released in 1967 it explored more music innovations than most bands had dared up to that time; music styles ranged from old broadway/stage thru jazz thru early psychedelic thru good-old rock. A kind-of concept album (starting with the title track and ending with a reprise into "A day in the life") 
