Weddings

I attended a wedding Saturday afternoon. It was certainly was different. It was held in a Pavilion Hall. (Not in a church)There were round tables decorated with black table cloths with red candles and red rose petals scattered on the table. We were told we could get our cold drinks before the wedding started. So we lined up to a table where there were several plastic tubs filled with ice and canned drinks. I selected a couple of drinks for my husband and I, I looked for glasses but didn't see any. I really don't care to drink out of a can unless I can wipe off the top, you never know where the cans have been.

We visited with the people sitting at our table. Then the kitchen doors opened and the bridal party appeared. They marched down the isle to music, then the bride marked down the isle, (not the traditional wedding march) but to other music. The minister said the vows, the couple said "I Do" and that was that. Then they proceeded down the isle dancing and waving their arms. I believe I saw this type of dance on Youtube. I must say it was different.

The bridal party disappeared, heaven knows where they went, but 45 minutes later they appeared. We had already received our food, (fajitas). They took pictures, greeted a few guests. Then they sat down to eat. After being there for 2 1/2 hours, and the couple had not even cut the cake, my husband and I decided to skip out early.

Today's young couples, have different ideas about weddings now. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but they have different ideas as to what a wedding should be like. My own wedding was very formal, small, but very proper. The reception was cake and punch back then, you didn't have to feed the crowd and you had a receiving line. That is where the bridal party formed a line and all the guests came by to hug and wish you. And you thanked that person for coming to your wedding.

My own two son's weddings were very nice. The boys helped pay for the weddings, they were much older (30's) when they married, so the couple took on a lot of the responsibility. My two daughter in laws, were busy working on advanced degrees so they had limited funds. However, both of the weddings were very nice and appropriate.

Today's weddings seem to be having "fun" and not formal atmosphere that once was when I was young. I guess that is OK, it's different.

This past weekend my husband and I spent the weekend caring for our granddaughter who is 14 months old. She is such a sweet little girl. She is full energy, but was not feeling so well. I don't know if it was a cold or allergies, but she felt bad. It is so sad when a baby is sick and they can't tell you what the matter is or what hurts. Our son and daughter in law went to Utah for a ski vacation.

It is strange when you are responsible for someone's child. I know when my boys were little, I did worry about them and how to take care of them. I was only 22 and 24 when I had the boys. Maybe it was because I had them young and didn't know of all the dangers. With all the information now, the internet, you can google what is wrong with you and diagnosed yourself. You read all about the sick children with terrible diseases, disorders, terminal illness, so when a child gets the sniffles, you think of only the worse. Plus when you are responsible for someone's child, you became almost parnoid about it.

I certainly was glad when my shift was over and the other grandparents took over. Then all I had to worry about was my son and daugher in law getting home safe and sound.

All this worry is putting a straing on this grammy.

New Year New Beginnings

When you get as old as I am, the new year starts to have a new meaning. Young people have so much to look forward to, old people have a tendency to reflect on past years. There's not much time left on this earth so you use what time you have left to its best advantage.

New Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, everyone has gone home, all the food is eaten and put away. I'm alone now, husband left after lunch to visit his side of the family. Both of my sons and their families had Thanksgiving at their homes with their wives families. So I guess this is it for now. New Thanksgiving for us. This is first time that I didn't have at least one of the boys with us, but now both are married and have their own families. I know this can be a really big problem for families as to where to spend holidays.

When I was first married, my husband and I tried to share the holidays, one holiday with one family and then switch for the other holiday. It worked out fine until the children came along. Both set of parents wanted us to be at their houses, so we tried to do that. Start out at one grandparents, visit, eat and then leave and go to other side. We would get home to late at late. Our boys were exhausted.

My mother was notorious for making you feel so bad it you missed a holiday with them. My husband has such a huge family that if we didn't show up, I doubt we were ever missed. My family was small. I said that when I had children I would never put my children in that pediment. So when both boys said they would not be spending Thanksgiving with us this year, I said OK.

I am OK with it, I just feel a little sad that they weren't here, but they both called me to wish me a happy thanksgiving. So a new thanksgiving tradition begins. My parents are still living, so they were here, my sisters and their families were here, so it wasn't like I was totally alone, just missing my children and grandchildren.

However, you have to remember there are thousands of parents missing their children today, due to death, illness, away in a war or living for away. You have to be grateful for the things you have in your life. So I am grateful for of God's blessings today. Happy Thanksgiving.

Saturday, my husband and I went over to my oldest son's house to celebrate our granddaughter's first birthday. What a special event. We have two grandsons, so having a granddaughter is really exciting to us. Little boys are definitely different from girls. One of the nicest things at the party was there were five great grandparents there. My husband's parents who are 97 and 95 years old. My parents were there who are 80 and 79 years. old. My daughter-in-law's grandfather who age I did not ask, but assume in his 80's. Five great grandparents, wow, that doesn't happen very often. There is something to be said about aging and the wisdom that comes with it. Just think about it, almost a 100 years different between Grandpa Riggs and Avery. What Grandpa has seen in his lifetime and just imagine what little Avery will see in her's. Amazing.

The party was fun, good food, lots of laughs and loud noise. It seems as I age, noise seems to bother me more. Ever notice when you are out shopping, all the noise going on around you. Crying babies, screaming kids, music playing, cell phones going off and worse, people talking loudly on the cell phones. Sometimes I just get rattled by all the noise.

Frist Day on the Blog

I thought that I would create a blog for Grandmothers, Nanas, GG's, Memaws, Grannys, and Grammys and what other names that used for Grandmothers. I have looked over the web sites and cannot find a web site where Grandmothers can talk about issues, such as: their children, grandchildren, their parents, getting older and just plain gab about life. So I thought I would put down my thoughts about aging and see where it goes.

I am 60 years old fixin' to be 61 soon. I have two adult sons, with daughter in laws, three grandchildren, two boys and one granddaughter. I have been married to the same man for 41 years. I am still working, I'm a high school teacher, my parents are still living, my husband's parents are still living (would be believe 97 and 95). I believe that term is I'm living in the sandwich generation.

So where does all this lead. From time to time, I express my thoughts about how life is treating me. I will dish out advice to the younger folks if asked. So here's to me and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.