Happy Gma....

Grandma and Kieran Mark

November 29, 2009

Thanksgiving Reflection...

Holidays are a time of reflection. It seems just a short time ago that I was making my first Thanksgiving Dinner, all by myself. I was living in Fajardo, Puerto Rico in a 30-story condominium at Dos Marinas. I had been married long enough to have two children, but my Mum had always fixed our family holiday dinners. To Grandmothers House we would go.

I remember having a difficult time getting food. There was a dock strike on the mainland. Since everything was shipped into this lovely island, food was a bit scarce. We had enough to eat. Although, important things like turkeys were non-existent. Therefore, we had stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, baked apples and apple cider. That was it. There was no pie, no whipped cream, no sweet potatoes, no green beans, and no special marshmallow salad.

Even in California, there is a small change in the seasons, not so at Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico. We were just coming out of hurricane season. It was hot and almost sickly humid. This was my first holiday away from home. I was longing for my husband who was away on travel, my Mum, my Dad, and air conditioning! I remember tears falling like rain as I put the little chicken into the oven.

Wendy, came up to me with a kitchen towel saying, Mama, you must be hot 'cause you are sweating so much that you are making the oven pop. Yes, I was making the oven pop, although not because I was glistening. (Ladies do not sweat!) The oven was popping from my falling tears. I remember gathering her up into my arms. I twirled her around saying, well then, we will dance and the breeze will make me cool. She giggled as we danced and danced.

Mark, who was eight, was playing with his Hot Wheels Road Racer, and we tripped over it. I remember that he got up and with his hands on hips saying; you girls belong in the kitchen. I remember falling down laughing and looking at these beautiful children beside me, thinking...this is so good. It is not California, I do not have my Mama, but I have my babies and that peaked looking chicken is just fine. For the first time while lying on that hot floor, I realized what Thanksgiving really was. It was not about turkey.

I can remember this day as if it was yesterday. This dinner was to be the first and the last Thanksgiving dinner I ever cooked for Mark. Little did I know that in a few short months, Mark would be in Heaven.

Although, I never fixed Mark a real turkey dinner for his last Thanksgiving, I know he did not mind. For on this day in Puerto Rico, the three of us were together, laughing, and giggling. Thanksgiving dinner of 1977 was not perfect. Nonetheless, I think perhaps, it was the best.

It has been 32 years since Thanksgiving, November 24 1977. This Sunday, November 29, 2009, I am driving to Delaware to meet my new grandson, Kieran Mark Allen. I have waited so long to hold a little Mark in my arms again. Thank you, Todd and Colleen for giving me this gift. For me, The Morning Has Broken.

Morning has broken, like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for the springing fresh from the world.

Meet Kieran Mark...

KIERAN MARK ALLEN

November 16, 2009

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,

Eternal Beauty, or youth, or such.

Just give me a little hand to hold,

And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,

A life that's free from tears and sighs.

Just give me a little face to kiss,

And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much

As little hands that reach and touch,

As little eyes that search and see

Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise

Looking at life through their wide eyes.

For through these little ones, you have given

This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.

B. Burrows

I Am Pleased To Announce.....

Kieran Mark Allen arrived this morning at 9:01 AM. He weighed 8.4lbs. In addition, Kieran is 20in. in length. He sprouts a full head of brown hair and looks like Colleen. Todd said that Kieran carries his signature hairline. Colleen is doing well after an early morning C-Section. Kieran’s Mom and Dad are more than happy. Pictures should be arriving soon. We hope to drive up to see this precious little fellow over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank you dear Jesus, again, you have blessed us. Bob and I are now the proud grandparents of six!

I'm sorry Holli, I still can't believe that you are gone. Oh my friend, I will miss your voice, and loving personality.

Holli White, mother of two young daughters, entered Heaven November 5, 2009 after a three week struggle with H1N1. She was a delight to know. She was blessed with an angelic soprano voice, and was a victorious disciple of Jesus Christ. She was a pure example of Amazing Love.

Please visit http://www.holliwhite.com/ to learn more about this amazing, young, and talented woman.

My First Boyfriend...

I was in the eighth grade. I was a bit different than most of the girls my age. As my friend Dawna was lamenting about her 32A bra size, I was sobbing about my 34D. I was still playing with dolls in the eight grade, but also at the same time, I was stuggling with a woman's body. I always felt awkward and different.

Even though my friends and I were still playing Jacks, we had also started to take notice of the opposite sex. I went to a Jr. High School which included the 7th and 8th grades only. Our school did have a few school dances, and I distinctly remember learning the Bristol Stomp at one.

In Jr. High School if you had a boyfriend, it meant that he walked you to your classes holding your hand. Of course, at the end of the school day, you parted with hugs and the feeling that you would never see each other again. Most 8th grade romances lasted about three weeks. Mine lasted a lifetime.

On February 14, 1962, I received a home made Valentine from a young man whom I had admired from afar. I was very surprised to receive a card from the young man that I thought so handsome. I had no idea that he had even noticed me. I have never forgotten my first real, honest to goodness, Valentine's Day card. Although, I am not sure if my young man remembers sending it to me.

Anyway, I was stunned by my card. I had no idea that this very cute, blond boy had noticed me. Actually, he wasn't a boy. He too was more mature than the other skinny boys in our school. He was more like me, just a bit more ahead of the rest of the kids in physical development.

I contacted the young man the next day. I thanked him for my card and from that moment, we were together. He would walk me to my classes, carry my books, and hold my hand. We would hug at the end of the school day. This wonderful young man had become my first boyfriend. For eighth graders, I feel that we had quite a heated romance. I was even invited to his house for dinner. I remember that we could talk about anything. And yes, we did share a few sweet kisses. We were together until summer break. We saw each other a few times over the summer. Then, with the beginning of high school, we drifted apart.

I remember seeing him and talking to him in high school. But, for some reason he didn't walk me to my classes anymore, or hold my hand. He moved away at the end of our freshman year. I don't even remember saying goodbye. Suddenly, he was just gone, and part of my teenage heart went with him.

I have wondered through the years what happened to my friend. I never have forgotten his face, or his hands. I have never forgotten how it felt for him to hold my hand, or the touch of my first kiss. Most of all, I will never forget the first feelings in my body that confirmed, indeed I was a woman. Which I mght add, frightend me. I didn't understand this kind of physical feeling. I just knew that it felt good.

He was in my life for only a moment in time. Although, his reflection has never left me. I can see him as clearly as I did 47 years ago. Unfortunately for me, I never found him again.

To some, this may sound like an insignificant story. It isn't. I was lucky to have had this wonderful and sweet experience. He awakened feelings in me that I never knew existed. He was kind, tender, and very thoughtful. How fortunate I was to have had such a wonderful person to offer me such a sweet and tender first romance.

I must admit, I never met another man quite like him.

So Mothers, when your young daughter comes home from Jr. High School to tell you that she thinks that she is in love, please do not discount her feelings. Perhaps indeed, she may be.

I am quite sure that I was. We just met too young and too soon. When I look back, it brings me happiness that we even met at all. For even being so young, it was very, very good.