"keeper" - tanTALK

CAYENNE2005 · 12-01-2005, 12:46 PM

Keeper

I grew up in the 40s/50s with practical parents. A
mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after
she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their
best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them
now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.
All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just
once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing
things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's
night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was
struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there
isn't any more.
Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up
and goes away...never to return. So... while we have
it... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and
fix it when it's broken...... and heal it when it's
sick.

This is true. for marriage..... and old cars.... and children with bad report cards.... and dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important,
like people we know who are special..... and so, we
keep them close!

tnannie · 12-01-2005, 01:00 PM

Great post....:)

CAYENNE2005 · 12-01-2005, 01:03 PM

This site could use some positive relaxing posts. ;)

tnannie · 12-01-2005, 01:05 PM

I hear you. It has been very strange around here lately.

Tanology · 12-01-2005, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAYENNE2005

This site could use some positive relaxing posts. ;)

Thanks for that cayenne put a big smile on my face and goose bumps on my arms. Made me realize I haven't talked to my best friend who moved away in a long time. I will give her a call to today, and read this post to her. Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!

mikeytan · 12-01-2005, 02:24 PM

thanks cayenne! I agree it is a little weird around here. I am not here all the time and feelin a little lost and a little turned off.

cametotalktan · 12-01-2005, 02:33 PM

Cayenne, that was beautiful. Never having a family myself I can only imagine what it could have been. I do understand the "NO WASTE" thing from my childhood years from those around me. You put it into perspective very well. If it breaks get another. Funny how I do that with sewing machines and cameras. I could have gotten them Fixed, but that would take to long. Thank you.

valerie · 12-04-2005, 06:31 AM

That was beautiful Cayenne! I think we all can learn something from that.

12-01-2005, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
CAYENNE2005 I love Derf!! Join Date: Jan 31 2005 Location: Around the corner Age: 55 Posts: 1,730 Rep Power: 143	"keeper" Keeper I grew up in the 40s/50s with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... while we have it... it's best we love it.... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken...... and heal it when it's sick. This is true. for marriage..... and old cars.... and children with bad report cards.... and dogs with bad hips.... and aging parents..... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special..... and so, we keep them close!

12-01-2005, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
tnannie I love Derf!! Join Date: Aug 16 2004 Location: nunya Age: 58 Posts: 1,849 Rep Power: 107	Re: "keeper" Great post....:)

12-01-2005, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
CAYENNE2005 I love Derf!! Join Date: Jan 31 2005 Location: Around the corner Age: 55 Posts: 1,730 Rep Power: 143	Re: "keeper" This site could use some positive relaxing posts. ;)

12-01-2005, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
tnannie I love Derf!! Join Date: Aug 16 2004 Location: nunya Age: 58 Posts: 1,849 Rep Power: 107	Re: "keeper" I hear you. It has been very strange around here lately.

12-01-2005, 02:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
mikeytan I love Derf!! Join Date: Aug 21 2004 Location: The Islands Age: 45 Posts: 583 Rep Power: 21	Re: "keeper" thanks cayenne! I agree it is a little weird around here. I am not here all the time and feelin a little lost and a little turned off.

12-01-2005, 02:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
cametotalktan I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 10 2004 Location: california Posts: 3,385 Rep Power: 50	Re: "keeper" Cayenne, that was beautiful. Never having a family myself I can only imagine what it could have been. I do understand the "NO WASTE" thing from my childhood years from those around me. You put it into perspective very well. If it breaks get another. Funny how I do that with sewing machines and cameras. I could have gotten them Fixed, but that would take to long. Thank you. __________________ When I grown up I want to be Angerfant.....

12-04-2005, 06:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
valerie Join Date: Oct 10 2004 Location: SC Posts: 183 Rep Power: 20	Re: "keeper" That was beautiful Cayenne! I think we all can learn something from that.

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