Sunday, November 24, 2013

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time Again for Another Nostalgic Sunday


My mind has been racing around in figure-eights and zig-zags, and miles way up high, and then swirling, floating down below with thoughts as many and as unique as the miracle of snowflakes. 

And because of all that, it's been almost impossible to choose which memories I want to include in today's Nostalgic Sunday post. So, I've decided to post random snippets of my memoir.


.....Some of my best memories are the times Dad and I watched TV together. It was more than just sitting, side by side, on our scratchy couch.(What was that material?)
I loved watching him as he watched TV. It was a show all by itself, an interactive one, and I was mesmerized every time...........
Dad would be so busy trying to watch TV while peering over his newspaper and holding his cigarette that he’d be lost to the world. It was as if he were daydreaming. Trying to get his attention during those times was next to impossible. I would watch the long ash of his cigarette hanging on for dear life, slowly bending down farther and farther, until it was the size of a gray wooly worm. Not being able to stand it a second longer, I’d finally yell, “Dad! Your ashes are falling!” I’d usually grab the ashtray and catch them just in the nick of time. He’d nonchalantly glance my way, as if he’d forgotten I was even there. He’d let out a chuckle and thank me for being so watchful. Afterwards, he’d go back to doing it all over again.

~~~

.......“Do you know what this note says?” she asked.
I already knew it wasn’t something good from her face and her tone. “No, ma’am.”
“Miss Mary Ann says you cheated during the times table test today! Rebecca Anne, is that right? Did you cheat?”
 Oh my gosh. I know I’m in big trouble when I’m called Rebecca!
“Uh…well, I uh—”
“I can’t believe this! You know better than to do something like this. You know it’s wrong to cheat. And it’s a sin!”
There it was—the dreaded guilt of sin being laid on me. I’d never seen my mother so upset, about anyone or anything, and here she was angry with me. I guess I was going to go to Hell. Attending a Catholic school Monday through Friday and Mass every Sunday, I knew all about Heaven and Hell and sins. But what I did should only be a venial sin, shouldn’t it? Not the horrible, mortal kind.I started to explain about the paper hanging out of someone’s desk, and how I thought I could do something like that.......

~~~

I hope y'all enjoyed reading those little tidbits of my young life! What else might have happened when I watched TV? What punishment did I receive for my gosh, I'm gullible sin?

*Welcome to my newest follower, Living a Dream. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you so much! *





"Back on its golden hinges, the gate of memory swings. And my heart goes into the garden and walks with the olden things." --  Ella Wheeler Wilcox

17 comments:

  1. Oh the two-edged and dubious benefits of guilt. Fun little teaser for your book!

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  2. I cannot wait to read your book!!

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  3. BECKY-O! ~
    I can easily see the growing and drooping cigarette ash in my mind because... my Pa was a smoker too.

    And speaking of "too"... two copies of your book are winging their way to my mail box as I type these words. One copy I'll read and keep, the second I plan to give to someone as a Christmas gift.

    Looking forward to "knowing the rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey might say).

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  4. Don't want to read too much and spoil the book! :) Been there with the sin department...and I know that scratchy couch too! I grew up on a green one, floral patterns of short and high tufts...and so itchy to little bare legs!!!!

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  5. I am with Bookie. I want to savour it in full. So, perhaps next time you could put a spoiler alert at the top of the post. That said, I loved the snippets. And am getting very, very hungry for the book.

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  6. Sounds great. Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  7. OMW didn't parents and adults all over the world terrify children with the wages of sin! I liked the image of your dad's cigarette ash drooping. Also the fact that when you were called Rebecca you knew you were in trouble! Great post, Becky. (((Hugs))) Jo

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  8. What? A times-table sinner? I never knew that about you Becky!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  9. If mothers can do one thing well, it's lay a gult trip on you so heavy you crumble to your knees. Still, saving your house from going up in flames should have offset such a 'massive' sin.

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  10. Funny stuff, Becky! Hmm...I wonder what punishment suited your "crime"?

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  11. Such sweet memories. The only time I really spent with my dad was while he was under the van fixing it, or while on high adventure outings. It's interesting the things we remember and the emotions attached, eh?

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  12. I enjoyed these snippets, Becky! You have some fun memories.

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  13. Fun snippets and teasers that I could certainly relate to.

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  14. How great is this ... I hadn't finished reading your first paragraph .... and like magic, I was back in our tiny living room in Los Alamos watching my dad with the paper and his ever-present cigar. Tho' one of my chores was to empty and clean his (standing) ashtray, I was never repulsed by the odor. In fact, if I catch the lingering scent(?) of someone's cigar, I'll usually take another, deeper sniff.

    Your book arrived this afternoon ... can't wait to indulge ... after the requisite indulging's done Thursday, that is.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Myra

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  15. Beautiful Becky! Brought back memories.

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  16. I remember watching TV with my dad too, but usually I was the one reading, while he smoked and watched. He loved the Andy Griffith Show and comedies.

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  17. Can't believe what a good memory you have! If I wrote a memoir that included my childhood, I would be in big trouble for detailed material. I just remember snapshots and feelings without many details.

    =)

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