When Kate Blogs: Friends

Mary See’s understood good things are related to chocolate. There is nothing as memorable as the first time walking into the See’s Candy Store. With all the ladies behind the counter in white, white uniforms, proving just how clean and good for you the product can be… I am a believer… a chocolate believer.

I justify and supplement my dietary chocolate requirement with M&Ms. When I was busy creating my youngest child, I had cravings for M&Ms and lots of them. Believe me eating chocolate for two was a high point. :) Now, I know if a pregnant woman eats enough chocolate the baby will have brown eyes…

Italian scientist studied hypertension and found that chocolate lowers blood pressure. Even as little as one bar per day will ease the tension in your life creating a feeling of pleasure. It’s the endorphins doing their job.

Stressed out… eat chocolate

Research for this entry:
http://www.sees.com/
http://www.mymms.com/
and eating lots of chocolate. ;)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Happy Birthday Sue, wherever you are...

It is funny how the mind works sometimes… what sticks, what doesn’t. Today, is one of my childhood friend’s birthday. I haven’t seen her in years nor even heard about her, and yes, I’ve tried Facebook but she’s not online or doesn’t use her birth name.

At the silliest times we were together, at the saddest times we were together. We were in junior high school, we liked the same band and from there on we were great friends.

The 1970s in Los Angeles was a crazy time in history. There are few publications or movies that come close to the craziness that was everyday life then, there.

Surrounded by the counter-culture of the boomer generation, were we the next large group to come on the scene. In number, we were larger than the baby-boom, called originally the Second Boom, then Generation X. There were schools built to hold us, then closed as we finished the grade. The building budgets boomed. The child-focused advertisements expanded.

Pushed to the ultimate in competition, we were expected to exceed or self-destruct. All the access to unquestionably un-reasonability was at our fingertips, if not in the laboratory than certainly on the street corner. Encouraged extremism was status quo giving societal birth to everything skewed: violence personified in serial killers to reactionary fanaticism and everything excessive in between. This was the generation of speed metal and surf-bums.

In the middle of the pandemonium found in junior high school, there were those friends that understood the tornado of chaos in which we lived. And there was Sue.

I don’t think I ever laughed as hard in my youth as I laughed with her over the silliest little things. I can't ever forget the first time I drove on the freeway and the particularly ear-piercing scream that came from the passenger seat when I took the curve for the first time. I remember when she showed me how her step-dad wanted the carpet vacuumed in two different directions and that the shag had to all end up leaning the same way or she’d have to vacuum again. I recall hanging upside down on the elementary jungle gym bars & laughing so hard we drooled. I'll always appreciate the emotional refuge of sleep-overs that didn’t include much sleep. And of course, I’ll never forget how badly I hurt her feelings believing my then-husband’s story over hers. After that, our friendship just wasn’t the same. We drifted further apart but I only ever wished her well and nearly immediately wished that I had chosen differently.

It occurred to me today that it’s been more than twenty years since we spoke and that every year, on January 31st, I say out loud, “Happy Birthday Sue, wherever you are.”

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Joy of the County Faire

Moving to a place where the county faire is a big deal can be as fun as quaint.

Fair Rides for the little ones whirl and twist, screams of joy, of fear, of nearly tossin' their cookies echo through the air.

Smells of cattle, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits surpise the senses of city and country folks alike.

The Bull Ring brings it's own version of entertainment. Will he or won't he get tossed this time? Who wins man or beast?

Talent Show kids throughout the county present themselves to the judges, guests and fair goers alike. WOW! That girl can sing!

But the best part of the fair, the part that few noticed or will remember came in the form of a little old lady, sitting in the corner. Each and every day she was just sitting there, smiling her little old lady smile as the men and women and children passed by... she served on the committee for the fair since the 1930s when she was "old enough to help". Some 70 years later, she's still helpin'. The things she's seen and the people that have come and gone, she mentioned and sighed. Things have changed. Things have stayed the same. The best part about her was she was as enthusiastic about every entry as if it were the only entry, the best entry and she encouraged every person that took time to talk with her to share their talents at the faire, to show the county what it has within it, and remember, she added, "do more for next year".

Women's Crafts are fewer each year. Who has time to knit? Crotchet? Who, in the next generation, will even know how? Who has time to bake for the faire? Who bakes for their family? Who can paint a portrait? Who can pose Photographs? Digital or Film? Who can make a Quilt? Who Gardens? Who carves? Who creates? Who has time? Who knows?

Examining the exhibits, the precious exhibits makes the county faire a one time event. Never again will this particular collection of items, crafts, art be exhibited again. It is a unique experience to be appreciated for the unique event that it is...

What will you show next year?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

When Kate Blogs

When Kate Blogs was not my idea. I have friends to thank for pushing the issue to the point I've acquiesced.

So, welcome to what we all hope will be the first installment of entertaining reading and perhaps a little education or wisdom thrown into the mix for all to enjoy.