TBT: The Lady In Red

Hi there!

Once again, I'm happy to join Martha at Seaside Simplicity for Throwback Thursday!

This week I'm dipping into the archives. Several of my long-time readers may recognize it ... but just pretend you haven't, okay? LOL!!!!

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Mid '50's.  I remember spending Saturday afternoons with my mother at San Ildefonso where she'd go to trade with the pueblo Indians.

B-O-R-I-N-G!

Unenthusiastic, I preferred to scrunch down in the backseat with my Archie comics and coloring books.

A shy woman by nature, I've no idea what prompted mother's hobby.  A nervous driver, still she'd navigate the twisty, narrow road off 'the Hill' in all sorts of weather to barter the contents of our Buick's trunk for their wares.

Long before it became fashionable, our home began to fill with pottery, turquoise, soft leather -- even hand-crafted drums.

A few real friendships developed.  Over the years, mother was gifted with a gorgeous squash-blossom necklace and matching belt. But the greatest gift was her unlikely friendship with Lupita.

Lupita and family

Apart from a shared birth year, their differences were many. But I think each recognized the other's tendency to look for the best in others.

Why or when my mother stopped going I can't say. It was just one of those things.  Life goes on.

Then in May 2000 my impromptu suggestion turned into something neat:

To mark her 83rd birthday, we planned a trip back to New Mexico.  We never could have imagined how the devastating Cerro Grande fire would impact our plans to visit friends in Los Alamos.  Then, "Why don't we take a drive to San Ildefonso? Perhaps Lupita is still there."

Well. Instead of the almost-inconspicuous dirt road leading off the highway, here was a modern paved affair -- not far from a garish casino, leading to an equally modern gift shop.

Putting on my best game face, I explained our mission to an associate who agreed to consult his manager. Before long another gentleman beckoned: "Yes, Lupita is still here. She has agreed to see you."

Years later, I still grow teary-eyed recalling the old ladies' reunion.  Her children were summoned and soon, everyone's words tumbled over each other.  Then, after excusing herself for a moment, Lupita reappeared with a simple black plate wrapped in soft cloth.  "

That little plate today

Prior to saying good-bye Lupita's son confided to me, "I never forgot her, you know. I couldn't remember her name, but I would ask my mother, 'When is the lady in red lipstick coming back to see us?'"

Later, my mother would say seeing Lupita again was the best part of the trip.  For me, too.

* * *

As ever, thank you for spending part of your day with me!

Stay safe!

Hugs, Myra

It's a Moving Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Hodgepodge ...

It's good to see all y'all!

This week, Joyce asks ...

Last time you moved house?  Something you've learned in moving house?

3 years ago we moved from Goodyear (Phoenix), Arizona here to central Alabama.  Whoopee!

See that 'town limit' sign?

I'm standing on Pastor Janet's lot in Millbrook, so it depends on the day where I claim to live. LOL.

Lots of lessons learned -- but the biggest mistake was paying good money to have lots of useless 'stuff' moved ... which soon after wound up at Goodwill.

Move mountains, move along, make a wrong move, moved to tears, get a move on, move up, move over, move out of the way, move the deck chairs on the Titanic, move it!   Pick one and tell us how it fits your recent circumstances.

Having survived (*smile*) the treadmill stress test yesterday, I'm going with 'get a move on.'  The tech actually reminded me a couple times to slow down!

What have you been doing to make yourself move (aka, stay fit) during these strange time?

Not much.  Unfortunately, I don't see that changing anytime soon until this heat and humidity takes a hike.  (Just keeping it real.)

This week's calendar includes celebrations for the following foods:

National Coffee Milkshake Day (Sunday), National Creme Brulee Day (Monday), National Milk Chocolate Day (Tuesday), National Chicken Wing Day (Wednesday), National Lasagna Day (Wednesday), National Cheesecake Day (Thursday) and National Avocado Day (Friday).

Which one on the list would you be most inclined to celebrate? Which would you be most inclined to skip?

I'd go with the Avocado (and Cheesecake for dessert).

Although it smells heavenly, Lasagna's never interested me.

Next week's Hodgepodge lands in August!  I know!  Raise your hand if you feel like July flew by in the blink of an eye?  Now, bid farewell to your July acrostic style.

Ugh, Joyce ... this is hard!

All, I can offer is --

Reject! or

Rejoice!

In your memories of

Vacations and vino ...

Even a bit of

Dance.

Eternal 

Remembrances of

Careless, comedic

Indulgences

Insert your own random thought here.

Thank you so much for everyone's prayers and reassurances re. yesterday's nuclear stress test!!!  Compared to what I experienced years ago - where the techs publicly chided me - this wasn't an awful experience.  In fact, the lady administering the test told me just to let her know if I needed her to slow it down or stop altogether.

Unfortunately, I have to go back tomorrow morning for additional pictures but I'm no longer stressed to the max.

and, 

This isn't my photo, but I was really impressed by what someone recently shared on Facebook:

"The workers building the Taco Bell in Millbrook are awesome, to say the least. I saw this yesterday while at the Urgent Care in Millbrook while being retested for Covid. I’m 2 weeks into having it and retested positive yesterday. My mama heart is missing my babies and this is just what I needed to see sitting in my car after finding out the news."

 Not gonna say, "Only in Alabama" -- but I've a hard time believing this sort of thing would happen in Phoenix or Chicago.

T-that's all, friends!

Thanks for standing in my corner!

                                    Hugs,

   

Sunday Recap

Y'all doing good?

Me?  Lemme tell you ...

Outside my window...

It feels like a sauna!

But blissfully calm after yesterday evening's storms.  Borrowing from Jon in the Tennessee wilderness, "It was darker than midnight's shadow. Violent claps of thunder shook the house with Herculean force and the rain descended like a Biblical torrent."

I hated to upset Pastor Janet and Andy's morning, but wanted to alert them of another (unwelcomed) project.

I'm 5'7", and the top of this was nearly as high as my head!

Grateful ...

That the window treatment shop never returned my calls!

We've 10 large windows in the sun room -- and almost all the blinds were cracking and crumbling.

At first I was really annoyed. Then, when I floated the idea of putting up black-out drapes, Tom loved the idea.  Our Lowe's only had 4, but she checked and found out the Wetumpka store had 7 remaining panels.

Aside:  It's still "Mum's the word" on when/where HGTV will begin filming -- something about confidentiality agreements.

I do love that little town!

So Tom put up the hardware and hung the drapes yesterday.  'Still have to give the 'no iron' panels time to relax those creases, but I think it's made a big difference!

No telling how much $ we saved not hiring a professional!

In the kitchen ...

I forgot to mention!  After not 24, but 48 hours in a slow cooker bath, the ruined roast came out tender and flavorful.  (Whew! I wouldn't have bet money on that!)

THIS is what happened a few hours ago when a certain 'meat-arian' discovered all the meat in the house was still frozen -- and she had no recourse but to saute' some peppers, scramble a few eggs and open a can of collard greens.  If my vegetarian friends could see me now. LOL!

Enjoying ...

Kelly Minter's Bible study, "All Things New."  Not only does she look just like Sally Field's 'Gidget', Kelly has the cutest personality.

Anyway. Last week we were talking about making comparisons and selling ourselves short.  I thought hers was a powerful quote:

"The world's measuring stick is not only faulty -- but it fluctuates. So let's not even go there!"

If you'd like, check out her song, "You Lifted Me."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUSy2RZlZhQ

Nervous ...

I'll admit it ... about tomorrow morning's nuclear stress test.

And you know the worst part? "No caffeine" 24 hours prior to the test.  Oh, won't I be Little Miss Congeniality? (*smile*)

Your prayers are felt!

* **

Have a good evening, friends -- stay safe!  And I look forward to 'seeing' you for Wednesday's Hodgepodge!

Hugs, Myra

Throwback Thursday, Part 3

G'evening friends,

So, 'Crazy Sam' has chosen The Love Boat as this Saturday's theme. And well, that prompted all sorts of memories to come spilling out.  

Like my father, I love anything that floats.  Unfortunately, due to the word-that-starts-with-C that we don't talk about, I don't see any more cruises in my future.  Besides, the industry itself has changed so drastically ... not for the better. (IMHO)

ANYway, here are some images of happier times.  Like Flavia wrote, "Remembering is a journey our heart takes into a time that was ... and our thoughts are the only tickets needed to ride."

It all began to germinate in 1957 with a 7-day sail across the pond on the Queen Elizabeth.  Later a return to NYC on her sister ship, the Queen Mary.  

LOL -- for what was supposed to be the "Gala Dinner" no-one looks particularly happy. 

A few years later, a quickie cruise to the Bahamas aboard the ill-fated Yarmouth Castle.

... which burned and sank off the coast of Nassau only weeks after we'd disembarked!

Without a doubt, my all-time favorite series of cruises was via the now-defunct Sitmar line.  Their smaller, more intimate vessels and all-Italian crew (be still my heart!) defined what it means to be pampered.

"You can't decide between the lobster or  Beef Wellington?  I bring you both. No problem."

".....the glory that was Rome is of another day."

My BF PJ ("PJ the DJ") used a clothes hanger to impersonate Pippi Longstocking for Costume Night.

Did I mention the Italian crew?

Funny, flirty ...

... unforgettable

(I love that quote.)

Years later, I got to witness my son enjoying his first 'real' cruise through the Greek Isles.

Notice the name on that life ring?

Like the Yarmouth Castle back in 1965, 'our' ship also burned and sank in 1991.

I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking, "3 times a charm?"!

... but that didn't stop Tom and I from taking a honeymoon cruise to Alaska.  While the Holland American line is definitely more sedate than other ships, so am I!  (*smile*)  Besides I left my dancing shoes far, far behind.  

On cabin balcony, entering Glacier Bay

Whew ... sorry, I was getting carried away there!

As always, I really appreciate you making time to visit and saying hello.  Chat soon!

Hugs, Myra

  

Hodgepodge, Vol. 378

Thanks again to Joyce (From This Side of the Pond) for facilitating each week's blog hop.  Think you'd like to join us?  Just click here.

Okay, here are today's questions!

💜

1.  Do you think the pandemic has had any kind of positive impact on your mental health?  Explain.

Gosh, I've vacillated all day!

But I'm going to say, 'yes.'  The cloak of you-know-what has made me realize how much time I've wasted -- but now, I'm more appreciative of ordinary blessings. Too, I believe it's brought me closer emotionally - if not physically - to my blogger family and Bible-study friends.

2.  A hot mess, hot under the collar, in hot water, hot button, hot diggity dog, hot shot, hot seat ..... choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

A Hot Mess!

That's the way I was feeling, cooling my heels in the E.R. this morning.  Yesterday and again this morning, I was experiencing some cardiac unpleasantries - so we opted to take the ride and get checked out.

Nearly 5 hours later they finally let me go, but made me promise to see the cardiologist next Monday for additional tests.

Gotta say, it felt really, really weird walking out down that hallway and counting 11 occupied stretchers lined up, each awaiting a room.  And this is a relatively small hospital!  Soon as I walked in the house it was clothes in the washing machine and me in a HOT shower.

3.  Speaking of the hot seat, do you work well under pressure or do you actively avoid high pressure situations?

Absolutely not.  High pressure was a big factor in my decision to quit my part-time job last Fall.

4.  Hot dogs -- yay or nay?  If you said 'yay', how do you like yours? Did you know July is National hot dog month?

If my Chicago native hubby reads this, "Sorry ... but nay."  (I don't get it, but understand their specialty dogs are legendary.)

I'd rather have a Conecuh sausage or even a brat.

5.  Joyce read a list of America's coolest Southern towns.  They are: Marfa, Texas, Greenville, South Carolina, Abindgon, Virginia, Athens, Georgia, Bentonville, Arkansas, Florence Alabama, Oxford Mississippi, Abita Springs, Louisiana, Wilmington, North Carolina, Monroeville, Alabama, McMinnville, Tennessee, and Natchez, Mississippi.  How many on the list have you seen in person?  Which town on the list would you most like to see?

Pretty sure I've passed through Oxford and Natchez, Mississippi but have no recollection.  Home to Truman Capote and Harper Lee -- as well as the fictional setting of To Kill A Mockingbird -- I'd pick Monroeville, AL. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

So I did this the other night and Tom was like, "What on earth?!"

Don't forget!

Stay safe ... muah!

Hugs,

Myra

Sunday 6 (on a Saturday Night)

... on account we've early morning outdoor church services tomorrow.

Welcome back!

1.  Outside my window

It's feeling hot-hot-hot!

But the cardinals don't seem to mind!  This morning there were 6-7 flitting around the back fence ... trying to figure why the stone red bird was ignoring them.

2.  I'm feeling

Stunned.  And more than a little sad to learn a friend and fellow blogger, Rick Watson (Life 101) passed unexpectedly Thursday morning.  I once described his posts as "Southern comfort in a demitasse."  That man said more in a few words than I could fit on a whole page.  More than a few of his sayings will live on in my vocabulary:

"Every day's a school day", or

"It's hotter than Satan in spandex"

We used to talk about getting together sometime for a cup of coffee, but never got 'round to it. You know how those things go.  'Think I'll re-read a few of the pages from one of his books tonight.

3.  I'm curious

About something called a Heart Awareness Scan (aka, Advanced Heart Check).  Have you heard of it?

Of all people, my hairdresser was telling me about it yesterday. A non-invasive, 10-minutes procedure, most major hospitals are now performing this 64 slice CT scan/diagnostic for a one-time fee of $199.  One (seemingly-fit) lady claims she took it just to support her husband, then learned she had like an 80% blockage.  Insurance won't pay, but I think that's it's a small price to pay for one's peace of mind!  And, given the fact I refuse to do the stress test, I'm leaning towards getting this done.

4.  One of my favorite things

Yummmm!

5.  In the kitchen

There's a slow cooker been warming now for about 4 hours ... only 20 to go. (That's hours, not minutes.)

You see, Tom had the idea to soak mesquite chips overnight and smoke a roast on the grill.  It smelled divine!

Except.  He pronounced it done in less than 2 hours -- which should have been my first clue.  Y'all, I liked to break a molar trying to chew. Even the blade on my steak knife trembled.

So, I had the bright (?) idea to stick it in a bath of broth and warm a long, long time.  I'll let you know!

6.  Good grief!

Can anyone else empathize?

And just last week I pulled a muscle in my shoulder while brushing my teeth.  Ya, I'm talented that way.

* * *

Say, y'all keep hanging in there, okay?

You've got this!

Hugs, Myra

 

 

Back to the 'Hill'

Hey there!  It's almost ...

Imagine, if you will --

... your husband coming home one day to say, "Get ready. We're moving out west. But, you can't tell anyone where we're going or for how long."  He'd continue: "Don't worry, the government will take care of us."

(OK, I'll wait 'til everyone quits laughing.)

A few years ago some of you may recall I wrote a similar post. But! Given the 'new normal' behaviors we've endured for the last 4 months, I'm can't not make comparisons.

Road up to Los Alamos, aka the 'Hill'

Sometimes it seems the years I spent growing up on the 'Hill' happened to someone else.  Like Teflon, the significance of what went on there before I was born never really touched me.

Then a few years ago I happened on a little book, authored by a real LA housewife, Eleanor Jette.  Her opening remarks gave me goosebumps:

"In 1943 I lived in Croton-on-Hudson, New York with my husband Eric and my son Bill who was almost 10 years old. At that time I had no idea there was a Box 1663 in the Santa Fe post office, nor that I would disappear into it, lose my identity and emerge from it at the end of 1945 an entirely different person."

Omega bridge

One observer wrote, "Los Alamos, New Mexico was a bustling little city that officially didn't exist."

To ensure that this town was completely hidden from the rest of the world, incoming (censored) mail was addressed simply to P.O. Box 1663, Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Birth certificates of infants born there during the war even listed 'P.O. Box 1663' as their place of birth.

My heart ached for those who worked in grim secrecy... whose parents and extended family members had no idea where they were.  Astonished, too, at the harsh living conditions families had to endure ..... a far cry from what I was privy to in the 50's and 60's when the government practically threw money in our direction.

At the same time, there was humor.

Long-time resident, Marge Schreiber, remembered an afternoon in early August of 1945 when her husband witnessed an accident at the Lab and was thought to have been exposed to radiation.  She wrote:

"Harriet Hollaway was at the foot of the stairs and, after I told her, we just looked at each other. In times of crisis, we would take out the whiskey bottle. Harriet went and got her bottle. Every time I looked like I was going to faint, Harriet would give me another shot. I have no idea how much I drank during that time, but I am certain I completely depleted her supply. Consequently, I have no memory of that night, and that's how I got through it."

1947 newspaper clipping

My childhood apartment (left rear)

I'm not sure I'd be strong enough to endure the conditions in which they lived. But I'm feeling mighty indebted to those who did!

As Ms. Jette put it, "They did what they had to do to win the war."

(l-r) Me in my father's gear and weapon

Original tower at what once was the front security gate

Mother's identification badge

The back gate where my father spent many a lonely night.

* * *

Until next time ...

Stay safe and keep smiling!

Hugs, Myra