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! *
*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
Oh the two-edged and dubious benefits of guilt. Fun little teaser for your book!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to read your book!!
ReplyDeleteBECKY-O! ~
ReplyDeleteI 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'
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!!!!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteSounds great. Have a marvellous Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
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
ReplyDeleteWhat? A times-table sinner? I never knew that about you Becky!
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
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.
ReplyDeleteFunny stuff, Becky! Hmm...I wonder what punishment suited your "crime"?
ReplyDeleteSuch 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?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed these snippets, Becky! You have some fun memories.
ReplyDeleteFun snippets and teasers that I could certainly relate to.
ReplyDeleteHow 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.
ReplyDeleteYour book arrived this afternoon ... can't wait to indulge ... after the requisite indulging's done Thursday, that is.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Myra
Beautiful Becky! Brought back memories.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteCan'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.
ReplyDelete=)