The Past Remembered

I wrote this in 2008. It was a fun thing for us to do for my parents.

CHRISTMAS SQUIRRELS

Memory Story

For many years it was financially difficult to give great holiday gifts to my parents. We figured out a way to surprise them with a gift each year and the plan snowballed from the first year thereafter. Because their wedding anniversary was August 12 and they were married in 1934, this was what we did.

August is the eighth month of the year and for eight months, starting in May, we purchased one specialty product a month. It was the start of a stash which, by December would consist of eight items. The items were grocery edible types of which they, being very frugal, wouldn't buy for themselves because it would be considered extravagant and extravagance was considered to be a "No! No!"

After watching their pleased reactions of receiving the contents of the brown bag for a  few years, it was decided that eight special grocery selections weren't enough so we started stockpiling in January buying one "anything" article a month for twelve months. The hoard was difficult for us not to raid when desire for an item was strong, but determination prevailed.

Now you might correctly guess what would happen after that! Yes! Thirty-four elements were saved, three a month for eleven months and one more in December. This became an annual ritual. Oh! What fun it was to see the surprise as each piece was pulled from those brown bags! "Oohs!" and "Ahhs!" were uttered and appreciation and delight were shown for the choices of objects they now had. Their response was wonderful and sweet to see.

It's those times that we remember fondly at Christmastime.

For your question of "Just WHAT did you purchase?" Here's what I remember:

 

• can of red sockeye salmon

• can of smoked oysters

• can of lobster bisque soup

• can of New England style clam chowder

• can of skinless-boneless sardines

• can of asparagus spears

• can of artichoke hearts

• canned ham

• canned brown date bread

• canned pecans and peanuts

• jar of tiny baby gherkins

• jar of marmalade

• jar of mint jelly

• jar of honey butter

• box of gingerbread snaps

• box of hard, round oyster crackers

• box of peanut brittle

• bar of cheddar extra sharp cheese

• Constant Comment tea

• amaretto liqueur

• figs and dates and cumquats

• pomegranate

• toasted coconut macaroons

• Black Jack chewing gum

• Teaberry chewing gum

• Licorice Allsorts

• Walnetto caramel candy

• Root beer barrels

• ribbon candy

• maple leaf candy

• Bay Rum aftershave

• Apple Blossom Cologne

• Lifebuoy bar soap

• Vermont maple syrup

GMR - December 20  (Pop Nulton's birthday)

New and Old...

New snow here.... View from my kitchen window this morning.

Old memories now....

As I was eating my instant oatmeal this morning I was reminded of how my mother always tried to feed her family nourishing foods. The oatmeal triggered this memory. In the 40's we were served cereals, cooked in a double boiler. It took long to cook on the gas stove. While it was being prepared, she squeezed oranges on the Sunbeam Mixmaster Juicer. The year was around 1945. I especially remember this mixer because my father bought it for their 10th anniversary and she cried and cried because they couldn't afford it at all! I was 8, brother 5, twin sisters 2.

 After eating our cereal, we were each given a spoonful of cod liver oil! THEN we could drink our orange juice to get that nasty taste gone. YUK!

Other cereals that I remember being breakfast food, especially in cold weather were Maltex, Ralston, Wheatena, Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, and others. NONE of these were instant. (I couldn't find a picture of the H-O oatmeal box or the Ralston box that weren't the quick cooking kind, but I remember the brands.)

As for other foods we ate that were nutritious, I can tell you that they included lots of dairy because my dad was a state dairy tester. We had milk, cream, cheeses and butter. Home made ice cream was a favorite project of my dad's - getting out the old wooden bucket with the cylinder and paddles and ice and rock salt and sitting on a milk crate in the cellar churning the mixture, that my mother put together, by hand. Peach was our favorite. Oh, so wonderful!

This is the exact churn that I remember

The vegetables were grown in our Victory Garden and included turnips, parsnips, rutabaga, carrots, beans, peas, potatoes. To this day I love them all EXCEPT sweet potatoes. I don't care how they are prepared, they gag me. Fruits were brought home from farms all over the state as he was working. Honey too - in combs so we could chew the wax. Our protein was mostly home-grown and home- processed chicken and rabbit. There were plenty of eggs as well. Sometimes we were "treated" to mutton YUK! YUK! YUK! YUK! and scrapple! YUK! YUK! YUK! YUK! YUK! YUK! YUK!

Well, maybe you get the idea that I had good parents who did their best in bad times. They sure did!

Please click on images to view larger

Parents

The lyrics are sung after a 50 second introduction by the artist.

Click on link to hear beautiful rendition of song by Keali'i Reichel

In My Life
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul Mccartney

There are places I'll remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more

In my life, I love you more

In My Life lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Holiday Cheery Story

CHRISTMAS SQUIRRELS

Memory Story #9

For many years it was financially difficult to give great holiday gifts to my parents. We figured out a way to surprise them with a gift each year and the plan snowballed from the first year thereafter. Because their wedding anniversary was August 12 and they were married in 1934, this was what we did.

August is the eighth month of the year and for eight months, starting in May, we purchased one specialty product a month. It was the start of a stash which, by December would consist of eight items. The items were grocery edible types of which they, being very frugal, wouldn't buy for themselves because it would be considered extravagant and extravagance was considered to be a "No! No!"

After watching their pleased reactions of receiving the contents of the brown bag for a  few years, it was decided that eight special grocery selections weren't enough so we started stockpiling in January buying one "anything" article a month for twelve months. The hoard was difficult for us not to raid when desire for an item was strong, but determination prevailed.

Now you might correctly guess what would happen after that! Yes! Thirty-four elements were saved, three a month for eleven months and one more in December. This became an annual ritual. Oh! What fun it was to see the surprise as each piece was pulled from those brown bags! " Oohs!" and "Ahhs!" were uttered and appreciation and delight were shown for the choices of objects they now had. Their response was wonderful and sweet to see.

It's those times that we remember fondly at Christmastime.

For your question of "Just WHAT did you purchase?" Here's what I remember:

• can of smoked oysters  

• can of red sockeye salmon

• can of lobster bisque soup

• can of New England style clam chowder

• can of skinless-boneless sardines

• can of asparagus spears

• can of artichoke hearts

• canned ham

• canned brown date bread

• canned pecans and peanuts

• jar of tiny baby gherkins

• jar of marmalade

• jar of mint jelly

• jar of honey butter
• jar of pimento cheese spread

• box of gingerbread snaps

• box of hard, round oyster crackers

• box of peanut brittle

• bar of cheddar extra sharp cheese

• Constant Comment tea

• amaretto liqueur

• figs and dates and cumquats

• pomegranate

• toasted coconut macaroons

• Black Jack chewing gum

• Teaberry chewing gum

• Licorice Allsorts

• Walnetto caramel candy

• Root beer barrels

• ribbon candy

• maple leaf candy

• Bay Rum aftershave

• Apple Blossom Cologne

• Lifebuoy bar soap

• Vermont maple syrup

GMR - December 20, 2008  (Pop Nulton's birthday)

How Come?

How Come?

Why did I not pay attention, really really close attention, to the actions and movements of my parents as they aged? How come? I just took it for granted that they would slow down so I didn't notice their small complaints and obvious discomforts in their late years thinking I might ever have similar ones. How come?

I would go to visit them often (130 miles from my home) and would be annoyed at their slowness, especially in the mornings, when I stayed overnight. I'm a morning person and am up and out of bed by 7:00 am, sometimes even at 
6:30 am. I would try to keep the morning news on the TV at low volume. I hoped that I didn't have to flush the toilet before they awoke. I was even hesitant to start the coffee because I thought the aroma would wake them. There is nothing like tippeetoeing around the house, waiting..... waiting..... to hear a stir coming from their bedrooms. 

After a breakfast that seemed to take forever, they would take off in their own directions to do whatever they did before being ready to face the world. Even an offer of assistance was rejected, as they had their "own ways" and NOW I UNDERSTAND!

The age of these wonderful and incredible parents, of whom I write of here, was late 80's. Hey! I'm almost there.

Mother always had to push the cart when we went to the market. Now I know why. Their canes were stored in a corner by the back door, readily handy for a venture outdoors. Their telephone ringer was turned off at bedtime so it couldn't possibly disturb their sleep. I do that too. Eyeglasses had their special places to be sure they could be found, tissues were handy throughout the rooms, and medicines were lined up in specially arranged rows for mistake-free distribution.

Many times I was asked to reach down under the countertops and retrieve items from the cupboards there. I also opened and transferred contents from jars and bottles to containers for easier access. Many items waited for my opening skills. THEN they could be consumed.

I am so glad that the loss of their mental ability wasn't a concern. Mother found volunteer work at the library and Pop had an older neighbor who came to "chew the fat" on a regular basis. Social activities were ongoing after they didn't leave their home as often as before. They seemed to be happy and quite independent, so I never saw their struggles and discomforts. How come?

 I guess the increased frailty of their bodies didn't hit me like it should have. They didn't say - I didn't ask. Now, I find we're doing the same thing! We don't let our children or grandchildren know much about the aging process in our own lives. It's a journey I don't want to share either. Will they be saying, "How Come?"

 1984

 August 12, 1994

August 12, 1999 65th Anniversary

He is 92, She is 84.