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Before I was published, I thought that on release days all authors sat around in their silk pjs and ate caviar and drank champagne. Later that same day, the author and their friends and family would be flown by private jet to NYC and treated to a huge release party in a posh roof-top restaurant somewhere in Manhattan while adoring fans eagerly lined up outside waiting to purchase the new book.
My new book, available now.
As I said, that’s not really the way I envisioned the whole ‘release day’ thing. I’d always envisioned it as ‘special,’ and it IS special, even though Cat’s pleas had me parked at the vet’s for most of the day.
To be honest, glass slippers would make blisters. And don't even think about stomping your foot.
When I was younger, I missed a lot of those special times, but growing up teaches us to savor life, to grab those special moments and put them in our Memory Treasure Box for later. Here are a few special moments that still make me smile:
Mom's Meatloaf . . . plus.
*The smell and feel of my baby’s skin fresh from her bath.
*Looking up from a book and finding the man I love smiling at me over the top of his book.
Those are just a few of the special times that I love to remember. Each time I do, my heart grows a little lighter, and my smile a little wider.
A special moment.
What special moments have meant the most to you? What little slices of time still make you smile in the quiet of the night?
For me it was the first time New Guy said that he loved me, then there is the first time I saw kittens seconds after being born, the first time Acheron gave me kitty kisses and the first time I saw my baby’s heart beating. Then there was the first HD I received for an online test, it lightened my heart something fierce. Congrats on the new release Karen, I am awaiting on the call from my local bookshop that my copy is in and waiting for me. I am sorry that Cat thought that she could spoil your Release Day with the whole thinking that she is dying thing. Cats are notorious for thinking that they are dying when it isn’t as serious as what they were trying to convince us it was.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:19 am.
It’s true, about cats thinking they are dying. It’s all such drama!
Love all the kittie moments.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:55 am.
Thanks Barbara, the kittens were adorable little babies and their mama was a Russian Blue cross.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:01 am.
Kelly, what delightful special moments! Those are super special ones. And you are right about Cat. What a drama queen!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 7:45 am.
Acheron has his moments too. Lately he has been having an upset tummy and of course it was just after his breakfast of tuna (he eats better than I do). The sight of it almost turned my stomach which would have been pleasant since the carpet is cream coloured and I don’t always make it to the loo when I throw up. Oh another special memory is from last Friday night/Saturday morning when I started coughing hard enough to wake myself up and bolt to the bathroom where New Guy took care of me by doing the useless back rub thing and getting me into a hot shower to clean the puke out of my hair. He was also quite willing to kiss me while I had vomit breath but I felt that that was a little gross.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:01 am.
I remember after youngest son was born IV came to the hospital and got on the bed with me and we had champagne. I probably only managed a glass and crashed but it was sweet while it lasted.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 7:58 am.
Lori, that IV is a keeper. What a very sweet gesture and what a lovely memory for you, too!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:40 am.
Oh Lori, that is a beautiful memory and one to cherish always.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:49 am.
What Karen said – that IV is a keeper! That is a beautiful memory.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:40 am.
I think the special moments are the spontaneous ones. I don’t like when people try to plan special moments, as they never work out. I went to the kids’ awards ceremony last night. After an hour and 20 minutes of a singing concert thrown in, I was totally done. Climbing the walls done. Since DH wasn’t there to commiserate with, I collected the kids and left. We went to Subway. That was a lot more fun than listening to kids I don’t know make a noble attempt at singing bad songs (music teacher’s fault). And, the kids will remember the year we left early and went out to eat. So yeah. Special moments springing up along the way.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:09 am.
Amanda, EXACTLY. And what a great moment you made for your kids to remember! Sure there are some special moments that are orchestrated — like a proposal or a wedding. But like you say, they aren’t nearly as sweet as the moments that spring up spontaneously, the moments that you grab on the spur of the moment and turn them into something to savor.
When my kids were little, we’d sometimes take Mental Health Days. I’d take off from work and the kids would stay home from school and we’d go to the library, read books, make cookies, play Phantom of the Opera and sing the songs at the top of our voices … such fun days and so, so precious. I only wish we’d done it more often!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:52 am.
I only became aware of the special moments in life when my mother was dying and told us we should enjoy ourselves when we could. The most painful thing was that she also said she wouldn’t be able to do anything for us anymore…
Since then, I cherish each day and the good things it can bring.
Like, getting goose flesh when I hear Ramin Karimloo’s powerful voice in one of his West End songs.
Or reading through my old diaries (I write one since I was 15 and still continue – although occasionally – now I’m 56) and remembering the joys, fears and such of a teenagglaser, becoming a young woman, turning into one who understands how the world around us works.
Or enjoy a glass of champagne while watching a good film.
Having an unexpected barbecue on the terrace when the weather co-operates.
I could go on, but you get the drift, right?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:31 am.
I get the drift. What a rich, happy life you have! And to have your diaries so that you can revisit moments you might otherwise forget — that’s priceless!
I’m sorry about your mother, but it sounds like that she gave you some excellent advice that left you with a richer life. That’s an amazing gift and it’s wonderful that you took it to heart.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:53 am.
Indeed Karen, I do have a rich and happy life. I’m not married and have no children, but I find happiness in many things. I do have a sister and even share a house with her. We’re like an old married couple!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:22 am.
I remember how much my heart melted the first time my oldest said ‘I love you’. I didn’t think I could love her more, but somehow it happened that day.
Also, the late night feedings when my girls were newborns. It is such a quiet peaceful time, and I cherish those memories so much.
The memory of sitting in the limo with hubby at the end of our wedding reception. We were so tired, and I remember just sitting there holding hands with my head on his shoulder. I can remember thinking to myself, that is was going to be a great life. I was right, it has been great.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:36 am.
Amy, what lovely memories. I especially loved the last one. That’s definitely a big, planned event, and yet you remember something as simple as holding hands and leaning your head against his shoulder. It really is the little things that count, isn’t it?
Btw, I loved the late night feeding times, too. Such a peaceful time!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:59 am.
Hmm, special moments, there are so many. A few highlights I guess might be doable. My wedding day, it turned out great, friends and family had fun as well, and I married my wonderful guy. Honeymooning quietly eating fancy food and spending time with each other. Having all sorts of fun on our trip to London and Paris.
Deciding my little boy’s name with the hubby during and after the c-section. First time I saw my baby boy, he came way early so he was all packed in an isolette for transport to a fancier hospital. First time I held little man, he was almost a month old and I finally got to do kangaroo care. Hubby being awesome throughout the whole crazy 3 months of baby in the NICU. Friends being equally awesome about the same thing. Bringing Isaac home
. Watching him play with daddy laughing all the way. Quiet evenings with hubby after little man goes to bed.
Ok, that’s a huge enough post, Congrats on the new release!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 8:58 am.
miranda, what a whirlwind of special moments! And what a terrific ending for what had to be a scary time. Hugs to you and the entire fam!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:20 am.
I was just thinking about this yesterday for some reason. I think about the way my old cat Leo used to drape his pretty paws over the wrought iron on the porch. Braiding my son’s hair on Sunday afternoons while we talked and watched tv. The day my sister in law showed up at my door with a puppy too young to be away from his mom. He was a big fat ball of orange fluff and looked over his shoulder with the saddest eyes of all time…I was smitten.
Life is so sweet!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:00 am.
Barbara, life is indeed so sweet. And I want to lay down and roll in it, every wonderful, muddy bit.
Those are some lovely moments. It’s funny how memories are like snapshots, only with sounds and smells and – if you’re lucky – sometimes even a taste of left-over emotion, too.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:22 am.
You’re right, the special moments are the ones that just happen. I have so many that get tucked away. Just this weekend I was relaxing in the hammock in the backyard when my two kids coming running across the lawn and get in the hammock with me. I know those moments won’t come along too often because they are getting so big so I cherish them when they do.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:15 am.
And you’re so smart to savor them! It’s so easy to get caught up in every day stuff that you forget to stop and smile at the sweetness of it all.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:24 am.
I had a special moment just last night. I got to my apt bldg and I couldn’t find my keys.
I phoned my parents, Dad found his set of my keys and was over quicker than a Domino’s pizza. While waiting for Tom, the Wonder Dad, I saw that a while back I had put a note in my phone next to his name “best dad ever” and you know what, he is.
It’s a special moment when I realize how lucky I am to have two parents who are:
alive
supportive
stable
always there when you need them
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:46 am.
Fresh, my dad is a wonder dad, too. I wish I’d appreciated that about him when I was younger, but ah, no. I thought he was sooooo bossy and didn’t ‘understand.’ Now, I know that he understood all too well.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:10 am.
Oh my, special moments. Which ones do I share? It is amazing that the older we get the more we seem to savor these occurences that we are blessed with having. I will always remember the joy brought to my mothers face when we get together and play games. My niece, nephew, bf’s son (who is like my own)all seem to find time when I go home to get together at my parents and play cards all night. Even though she looses constantly she wears a smile from ear to ear.
I remember so many subtle glances between Other Half and I when we were both thinking the same thing. No words ever needed to be spoken. The subsequent smiles afterward are engraved in my brain. The Christmas dinner when he slid an envelope across the table to me. The card proclaimed his love for me, written in his own words. The moment after when he presented me with the ring will be a moment I will never forget. I still get tears in my eyes when I think about it!
I have many special memories of my brother. It would’ve been his birthday this Friday. He is just playing around in my mind a little more this week. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m so happy your cat will be okay!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:55 am.
Kelly, what a gorgeous proposal … in his own words, too, which is amazing. I’m sorry about your brother. My sister has been in my thoughts more than usual this month. I’m not sure why, but she is. I’m glad you have those special moments to remember your brother. They’re bitter sweet, but oh, so necessary.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 4:35 pm.
Karen, I am sorry about your sister. It stinks…to put it lightly. Keep being great.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:19 pm.
One special memory comes to mind regarding my only full-blood relative–my brother. It was the first time he said, “I love you.” We were both well into our fifties and not from a very touchy-feely family of eight other half-and-step siblings. In fact, he’s the only sibling I really keep in contact with other than occasional postings on Facebook. I desire a relationship with most of my halves, but, so far, circumstances are standing in the way. Distance plays a part, but with my health the way it is, life is too short to not keep in touch–except for the one brother who is a complete nut. Haha
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:18 am.
Dbrown, I’m so glad you had that moment with your brother. My family used to be closer before my grandparents passed. Now, we don’t see my cousins often at all, but oh, I have such good memories of them. Though you don’t get to see your step and half brothers and sisters, I bet you had some adventures with some of them that you remember. It’s tough, though, to keep in touch as everyone gets older. That’s sad, isn’t it?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 4:48 pm.
I’ll never forget waking up in the recovery room after having Nick (by C section under general anesthesia) and my husband leaning over me, telling me (after saying that the baby was fine), “I feel a oneness with past and future generations.” I still it’s funny that those are the words that came to mind for him. Cracks me up. And is also poignant at the same time.
I also remember the first time in my life that Nick called me Mama to my face. He was ten, I think. He still doesn’t ever call me Mama (he doesn’t actually greet anyone by name at all), which is why that one time is so special.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:54 am.
Sabrina, what lovely moments, both of those. And what a lovely thing for your dh to say. That’s simply beautiful!
As for Nick’s Mama, he says it without words. I know because I’ve seen him smile at you.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 4:53 pm.
This post made a memory pop in my head.. it was something I did with my grandmother. She would be lying down and I would put my ear to her belly and make comments about all the noises I heard, which made her start giggling. Then she would laugh harder as my head bobbed up and down from her laughing. It was a sure fire way to get her to laugh, even after my grandfather has passed away.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:05 pm.
That made me smile, too. What an intimate moment. People you share laughter with … those really are the important ones, aren’t they?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:12 pm.
One of my favorite special memories is the time my husband decided to be romantic. We’d only been together a few months and he decided to have a bath drawn and dinner waiting for me. The bath was lovely. I relaxed with a glass of wine in scented water with candles flickering around me. I came downstairs to chicken and rice pilaf on china plates. The chicken was dry enough to suck the moisture out of your mouth and the pilaf was crunchy. We ended up sipping wine, munching popcorn (surprisingly good together), watching a movie and cuddling on the couch. It was a good night.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:08 pm.
Oh I have so many of those…
Recently they include my precious grandbaby. She has been a little under the weather lately, so when I get home she is calling me “nah-nah-neeeee” which is Nanny in Kaela-speak. 
After my daughter and SIL went to see the Avengers over the weekend, they had been gone a whole 3 HOURS…and she missed them, so she was calling for “mah mah mah” and “dee dee deeeee”
Those first few words are SO special–just brings a fullness to my heart.
And, she shakes her head ‘NO’ when she doesn’t want something, which is absolutely hysterical since it isn’t usually to me, it’s to her mommy. LOL
Seeing the hub waiting for me down the aisle was big. The first time I got to hold my children when they were born is also a big one. Knowing that those little miracles were a part of me and the hub was very moving. Watching my children graduate high school, my daughter get married, and holding my granddaughter the first time. I’m very family oriented–can you tell?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:09 pm.
Julie, I can’t wait to have grandbabies! Well, I mean, I can wait because my kids aren’t ready for them, but when I get them, I’m ready to dandle them!
They are all miracles, aren’t they? The kids and the grandkids.
And hugs to you for being ‘family oriented.’ I think another word for that is ‘blessed.’
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:14 pm.
Oh, I am ABSOLUTELY blessed!
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 10:50 am.
I love those moments. I have a drawer full! One that stands out about my kids . . . giving the two oldest a bath after a long day at the beach. Their sleepy expressions, soft limbs, drooping eyes. So sweet.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:34 pm.
I could see them … that ‘almost asleep’ state is such a sweet state, isn’t it?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:15 pm.
Even though some memories are bittersweet – I was lucky to know and care for my great grandmother (the smell of baby powder, her gentle skin, the fact that when she was well she baked constantly and her house smell of cookies) – the smell of my grandmother’s house (the feel of her caressing my head, the way she made everything an adventure – from house cleaning to singing my name in songs and cloud chasing in the truck) – the feel of both my children ( from the first flutter to even now as they curl up next to me)– Thank you for this post, there is time in every day to reflect and smile and not take these memories for granted
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:44 pm.
Ah, Carla, grandmothers and cookies. I have memories of those, too. You do have to stop and savor the deliciousness of the past or the present will slip right by. And it sounds like you have lots of good memories already.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:17 pm.
My memory of meeting a famous athlete from our state still makes me smile in the quiet times or the hard times-he has passed away now but I like to think of him as my guardian angel:)
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:47 pm.
Gail, how intriguing! Do we get hints?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:19 pm.
Sure….What would you like to know?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:41 pm.
Ah, Karen, you’re a poet. Anything my nephews do makes me smile.
I’d do more contemplating, but I’m reading The Taming of a Scottish Princess right now. *g*
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 1:12 pm.
And bless you for saying that, Suzanne E, though I’m not the poet in my family. My daughter is becoming one in real life.
Thank you for reading THE TAMING. Michael is my Dream Man. *sigh*
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:21 pm.
Aw, poor little kitty! I hope Cat feels better soon. Congratulations on THE TAMING OF THE SCOTTISH PRINCESS! Great title and great cover! That blue is gorgeous, very eye-catching. Hope you managed to work it into the conversation with the vet!
Enjoy your special celebration when you get around to it!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 2:46 pm.
Thank you, Susan! I loooove this cover, which is good because the next one is inexplicable brown. :-/ I’d like bright colors on every cover, please!
We will indeed enjoy our celebration. In fact (looks over shoulder) I just scheduled me and Hot Cop for a couple’s spa day. (SQUEEEE!)
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:23 pm.
So many special memories that it is hard to narrow it down. My youngest was a very difficult baby. He did not like to be sung to or snuggled when crying, which was all the time. There was nothing wrong with him, that’s just how he was. When he was about two, he came and sat on my lap and just let me hold and rock him. He fell asleep awhile later and I just held him close and savored the moment because I knew I was unlikely to get another. I will never forget the feelings from that one moment. It made the previous two years of a difficult baby just slip away. Now that he’s five, he likes to be close to me all the time now. We are making up for lost snuggle time
Then there’s my dad. Last night he brought me a cushion to take with me to my daughter’s HS choir concert which happens to be a 4 hour long extavaganza in really hard chairs. I told him that was so sweet and he replied, “That’s all you had to say. I’d give you anything now!” I love that man! It’s one more reason to be thankful I still have him.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 3:18 pm.
Marlo, awww. You made me get all teary-eyed. Snuggle time is so important. I’m glad your son is enjoying it with you.
And what a terrific dad! I think I’ll call mine tonight.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:24 pm.
Congratulations on the new book, too! I had a terrible time finding it, but I prevailed! I get to start it tonight
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 7:19 pm.
When my sons were 5 and 8, we went on a Disney cruise with one of my best friends and her 10 year old daughter. We thought we were making good time to the departure port when we realized that some of the roads had been renumbered and our directions hadn’t been updated (before GPS widely was available). We kept missing exits and having to turn around while the toll roads ate our quarters. The last hour’s journey was extremely tense with visions of the ship pulling away without us. We pulled up with less than 20 minutes to spare. The Disney staff were wonderful, springing into action and making sure that we cleared the terminal quickly.
We crossed over into the ship and all of the welcoming characters had already departed except for Donald Duck. My youngest son’s face lit up and he walked right up and wrapped his arms around Donald and lay his head against him. That night when I was tucking my babe in his bed, he said, “Mom, it’s been the greatest day ever.” And suddenly it was.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 4:46 pm.
Misty, I’m so glad you guys made it! And your son’s words — so sweet! What a wonderful memory.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:26 pm.
Congratulations on your new release, and I’m so glad to hear that Cat will be okay!
This one was hard for me. I have recently been diagnosed with depression, so I haven’t spent much time recently sitting around and thinking about special memories.
I have this really great short little video I took of my two Siamese cats playing when they were just tiny kittens that makes me smile every time I watch it. I have lovely memories of carrying my little sister around in one of those baby backpacks, taking her for walks and hikes and hearing her laugh. She was born when I was 12. I have a lot of great memories from when she was little. The smell of apple cinnamon candles always makes me think of family Christmases. My mom used to burn candles that smelled that way every year.
That’s what comes to mind.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:47 pm.
Here’s the kitten video, in case anyone else wants a smile: http://youtu.be/0r15qTVK_mE
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 5:50 pm.
Monica, I’m so glad you found someone to help you with your diagnosis. That means you’re on the road to feeling better and I’m glad to hear it.
I just checked out your video and oh my gosh, what CUTIES!!! How old are they???
And I love your memories. Maybe you should burn cinnamon candles all year around. I’ll tell you a secret … I buy ten huge Pumpkin Pie Spice Yankee Candles each Christmas and I burn them all of the time. They make me think of Christmas and I always grin when I light one.
Hey, no one says Christmas has to be only once a year!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:42 pm.
That is a great idea. I think I will do that! I’ll look around next time I am at Walmart or the mall (for the Yankee store) and see if I can find some cinnamon candles. Thanks for the suggestion.
My kitties are four years old now. They turned four in March. My user pic is one of them, actually – Pixel! But the kitten video… so cute. <3
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 9:59 am.
I love it when my prickly daughter comes up to me and says, ‘I need a hug,’ or just ‘hug’ sometimes.
My kids get irony, so whenever they hear Ironic, they start talking about what would be ironic. I need to start writing them down because they come up with some good ones, especially my 12 yo son, who’s 1/2″ shorter than me.
Being in LA we have light pollution. No star-gazing for us. Last summer we were in South Dakota, heading to Mt. Rushmore at night. We decided to pull the car over to look at the stars because there were TONS of them. My dd’s looking at the sky when she said with awe in her voice, ‘I’ll never forget this moment the rest of my life.’ She hasn’t.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 6:05 pm.
I have a prickly son who thinks he is too old for hugs — he’s 21. I hug him anyway and I thoroughly enjoy it. Don’t need hugs — what’s up with that?
It sounds like you and your kids share a lovely thing — a terrific sense of humor. What a joy!
And as for your star gazing … wow. That had to be a truly AMAZING moment. It’s so cool that you all got to share it together!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:45 pm.
Walking down the street taking my soon to be 40 year old son to pre-school singing the “Looking Back Song”. That same son holding his oldest daughter in the hospital singing the Drunken Scotsman with is brother as her first lullaby. And then the day he introduced her to her newborn sister. Every make me smile moment revolves around my kids or grand-kids. My sister’s then six year old g-son proudly displaying the table he made from scraps of wood, not a single leg was the same size.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 6:09 pm.
evign, what lovely memories. I could see each one of them, too. Ahhh, family. They light our hearts, don’t they?
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:45 pm.
I have always said my sons make my heart smile and now my g-kids do the same. I love when my DIL posts new pictures of the girls on facebook, especially when they are in the shot together. You can see Molly thinks her big sister, Bella, hung the moon just for her.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:51 pm.
Aw. That sister-bond is so special and it’s nice that your DIL and son know it and are fostering it.
My sister died in October and it still feels unreal, especially when I think of all the moments of my life that were a part of hers, too. In my mind, I will always be A Sister, hers, whether she’s on this plane or another. She is a part of my identity, which is amazing when you think about it.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:57 pm.
I am sorry you lost your sister, I would be devastated if I lost mine. I bet she is still around, looking after you, you probably even know when she pops by too.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 11:00 pm.
Awww…that was super sweet Karen!
It reminded me that: After 22 years of marriage, my husband still asks, “Can I get you anything?” when he gets up and heads into the kitchen…or somewhere where I own something in our house.
That the sound of my babies first laughs will always be remembered in my head, no matter what age they reach. And that if you don’t stop making them laugh, they get hiccups, then throw up.
That in my house, I don’t always win fights–cause as much as I love cats, we own dogs.
That even though I may not personally “know” my favorite authors…I do feel I can claim to have a sort-of relationship with them…over stories we fall in love with together. ♥
[and I could name a whole lot more, but this page just isn't long enough] ☺
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 7:56 pm.
KB, those are precious. All of them. Your husband is a true keeper. How thoughtful!
And this one really made me smile – KB said: “That even though I may not personally “know” my favorite authors…I do feel I can claim to have a sort-of relationship with them…over stories we fall in love with together. ♥”
Yes, we do. I feel as if I’ve shared an evening with each person who reads one of my books, as if we’ve touched through the pages. It’s a very personal effort on both ends – both the reading and the writing.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:48 pm.
My dad has been gone for 13 years, but I still get warm and fuzzy when I remember his smile. Recently the three year old in my life hugged me and told me she loves me more than chicken nuggets.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:03 pm.
Rachel, and for a three year to love ANYTHING more than chicken nuggets … wow. That’s HUGE.
I love your memory of your dad. My fil is gone now, but that’s one thing I remember about him, too — his lop-sided grin. He’d flash it and you’d grin right back. You couldn’t help it. That’s a great memory indeed.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:49 pm.
ok…So here we go with the sappy.
1. Sipping hot chocolate under the christmas tree with my too twisted for prime time family, strolling through memory lane while staring up at the lights
2. The squids 3rd birthday where all he wanted to do was “stay up all night”…he lasted until 10…and The Bombshell carrying him up the stairs with his eyes closed and his muttering “I’m not Tie Red!”
3. Walking into the hospital room after The Bombshell had The Brain and her looking so worn out and pointing at his bassinet and saying “Look what I made”
4. My Dad on the back lawn practicing baseball and discus with me.
5. My mom asking for us to make tea for our poor old irish mother…and ask me how I am…dead dead dead….
6. Laying in bed with my guy while he sang tv theme songs in my ear to try and get me to get up and make him breakfast
So many memories…
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:26 pm.
Pesky, you do sappy beautifully. Wow. Such gorgeous, thick-with-life memories. And my favorite? The singing of tv theme songs in your ear. That’s simply delicious.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:51 pm.
So many wonderful moments. My daughter getting married. I get another memory in September when my son takes the plunge. I was in the delivery room when my grandaughter was born. The first time my grandson came running out of the house yelling Grandma and jumping into my arms.
My grandparents lived in Kansas so we didn’t see them often. My grandpa and I used to send each other a tape recorded message instead of letters. I was probably 5 or 6 when we started that. it was the old reel to reel type of recorder. I always felt so special when I got those tapes.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:40 pm.
Weird as it seems, my grandpa died on my 12th birthday exactly 12 hours after my birth time. I always knew we had a special connection.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 9:44 pm.
Wow. Pamiam, that’s amazing. And yes, I’d call that very special.
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:57 pm.
Pamiam, you got to see your grandaughter being born? Wow, that is so special.
I used to see those reel-to-reel tapes in my grandfather’s study. I don’t know what he used them for, though I think it had to do with his work. And wow, did he have a lot of them. It’s so cool that you two took the time to tape messages back and forth. Amazing!
Posted on May 23, 2012 at 10:54 pm.
I was in the room with her and her husband. So different than when I had my kids, having labor and delivery in the same room The Dr didn’t kick me out and she didn’t mind so I stayed. Such a blessing
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 2:00 am.
What wonderful memories everyone has. Definitely jewels to be kept safely tucked into a Memory Box. Got my copy of your latest at Walmart today! Trying to make myself finish a couple of chapters on my WIP before I tear into it!
Commiserations on being indentured to a CAT. You must realize by now all you are to your cat is the hired help. Mine never let me forget it! And for them seeing the bottom of the food dish is a cry-worthy event.
The day I go my Masters degree is one I’ll hold in my memory forever. My Dad had a heart attack ten days before I got my B.S.. He was most angry about missing my graduation. No one in his family or my Mom’s family had ever gone to college. The day I got my Masters was extra special because he finally got to see me graduate. I just remember looking out from the stage when the Dean handed my my degree and seeing him grinning this big grin with tears in his eyes. And later while we were standing around talking with every one else he had my degree in his hand and kept patting the leather cover and looking at me. I’ll never forget that look.
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:40 am.
Hi Karen – one of my most treasured special moments was nearly 23 years ago….At age 33 my life crashed & burned, leaving me a single mother of 5. WAIT! That’s not the special moment!! The special moment happened two years later when my eyes met my new husband’s eyes across a table strewn with straw wrappers and “wet-fries” at THE HAT, surrounded by those five kids as we shared our wedding dinner, followed by watching CALAMITY JANE all crowded into the bed I would share for the rest of my life with Dan – Our kids tell him that in our family we spell Dad with an ‘N’ at the end.
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 2:29 pm.