The catalyst for this blog is Hubby going to a conference. For the first time in FOREVER, I've had the time organize and even clean (UGH). While doing the former, I found a book Mari asked me to fill out outlining our family history for Cares or Belle or, no, it couldn't have been Gracie. The book was covered in DUST (surprise! surprise!). Remembering is something that JUST HAPPENS. I don't seem to have much control over my memories. I am glad to say that most are pretty pleasant. Summers at the beach in Manasquan N.J., Square Dancing at the World's Fair. But that isn't the question at hand.
Maybe because I'm as old as a dinosaur (according to the D.C. Kids, with a walnut sized brain like brontosaurus,now appatasaurus according to Russell) or perhaps because I had a bug a couple of weeks ago that caused my body to ache and made just getting out of bed an ordeal. And staying up past 8pm harder than usual. I've been thinking about the question " What do I want to be remembered for?"
My mother wanted me to be a doctor. Her Mother died in childbirth (or so I've been told) and she had a less than easy childhood until an Aunt took her in. I was a premed major at Drew University for a while. She also wanted me to be "Better than the best" a part of the 4-H motto if I remember correctly. :)
My Dad wanted his 1st born to be a son. That may be why I enjoy Lowes and Home Depot more than Old Navy and Victoria Secrets. Along with the things my Mom taught me ( how to stand up straight and suck in my gut) I learned how to use wood working tools.
These are things my parents would have liked me to be remembered for.
My Grandpa Henry was a CHARACTER!!! and a big influence in my and I suspect others lives. He was a GOOD man. He was an inventor, an entrepeneur, a gold prospector, a futureist, a fisherman and an intregrationist ,a harmonica player and a bit crazy. Regarding the futureist and integrationist Black workers regularly shared food with us at our table WAY before it was politically correct to do so.
Grandpa Henry said some things when I was a kid that I've taken with me thru life:
1 You are no better than the worst, nor no worse than the best
2 There is NO failure in trying
3 There is Nothing you can do that is more valuable than helping someone else.
So I guess what I want to be remembered for ISN'T being better than the best (4-H) I was surprised years after graduation from college, that I was Validectorian. At the time I thought it strange, to be asked if "Judy" (a catholic) could give the valedictory speach. It isn't for being a Dr. which I'm Not, altho I have put bandages on more than a few BooBoos. Or for being as good as a guy. Even tho I can't do it now, I once could work as hard, lift as heavy, cut as clean as any guy.
It is Grandpa Henry's remarks that have stuck with me. I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR BEING THE WIND BENEATH THE WINGS OF THOSE WHO HAVE CROSSED MY PATH. I've tried, as has Dennis, to give our kid lots of different experiences (sometimes ones they did NOT want as exemplified by the"I HATE PIANO" scribbled on an old music book I recently found - "GOT IT MARI")
I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR WORKING HARD so that our kids could take trips to places like Washington D.C. and gain an appreciation for the wonderful place that they live and the sacrifices of those past that allow them to live here
I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN THO OUR KIDS WERE ONCE SMALL, EVEN THEN, THEY DESERVED RESPECT AS DO ALL PEOPLE (Dr. Seuss) and even critters DO
WHAT I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR IS HELPING OTHERS BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE AND TEACHING THEM THAT THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE WORST NOR NO WORSE THAN THE THE BEST. THAT THERE IS NO FAILURE IN TRYING AND THAT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF YOU HAVE TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FIRST.
THANKS GRANDPA HENRY
