"I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common-sense..."
Beatrix Potter’s Journal, 17 November 1896, from the National Trust collection.
Hello everyone. Yep, I'm finally posting a Tuesday's Question, and I'm sorry for the inconsistent postings. However, I've received the go ahead from my doctor to begin publishing a few posts a week on A Nice Place In The Sun, plus I can start writing manuscripts and freelance full time again. I'm was happy to get the news, and as far as how I feel, I say "Damn the tornadoes, full speed ahead."
So if I take it easy and don't rush out of the starting gate too fast, I'll be back in the race soon enough. (Until then, I hope you can forgive an occasional dead metaphor)
Thank you again for your mind-boggling support and friendship while I was in and out and since I've been writing Tuesday's Question.
If this is the first you've read or heard of Tuesday's Question, please note that I'm glad you're here. All participates answers are published (along with a link to their site) within Tuesday's Question's post and you don't have to own a blog to participate. All you have to do is write your answer in comments and I will publish your comment along with your name. Just leave everything to me~ :0
Everyone's answers will be posted as quickly as possible throughout the day with a link to the participating blogger's blogs, therefore, don't forget to stop by and visit the blogger's who commented. Chances are, if you liked a blogger's answer, you will also enjoy reading their blog.
Have Fun, and don't forget, Tuesday's Question is a weekly post of original questions, link love, and friendship, so jump in and let us know your answer.
You can read the answers throughout the day by clicking "Read More"
Before, I give my answer here's a quick note of gratitude to my regular readers:
It’s amazing how much you can learn about a person by asking them questions, and really
listening to their answers. (as opposed to thinking about what you’re going to have for dinner.)
Because when people choose to tell you about their childhood experiences, backgrounds, siblings, birth order, parents, teachers, friends, children, etc...They are sharing a combination of the ingredients that have helped shape their lives and form their personalities. And when they explain how they managed to find joy in their blessings, bounce back from their struggles, and endure their sorrows, they are sharing with you the foundation of their character. There are times when I’m reading your answers when I am overwhelmed by how genuine and honest all of you are.
Today's Tuesday's Question asks,
What is your Favorite Memory From A Simple Moment? and many of you have given me many favorite moments, many times.
Thank you~
My favorite memory from a simple moment is at the end of this story. I hope the story it's not too long, but if it is, just read to the bottom for the example of my simple moment. By the way, this is one of my first posts on A Nice Place In The Sun, and it was chosen as The Rising Blogger's post of the day. I was so proud~ It was titled,
What Do You Remember About Your Favorite Grown-up?When you were a child who was your favorite grown-up? My favorite grown-up was my maternal grandmother. Yesterday, I went to her grave site and recalled two of my favorite memories of her. I have many memories of fun grown-ups, although for some reason she's the one who sticks in my mind the most often. My other grandparents were great too, of course, but we lived down the street from her in a new neighborhood branched off from an older street or lane, called Moss Side Lane. The name Moss Side came from the moss that hung from the oak trees that shadowed the street.
With the exception of my parents, this grandmother had the most influence in my life. She taught me to wish upon a star, to garden, curtsy, talk to people, read…
We called her Nana, and she said things like, "DAT Burn it!" and "A stitch in time saves nine." She had a garden in a huge beautiful yard which she embraced with passion. Determined to enlighten us on the basics of gardening and yard work, she would bribe us for the opportunity to put us to work. The funny thing is, my brothers and I thought our work was actually worth the gratuity. In order to teach us something, she endured the arguments, temper tantrums, and excuses with the grace of a saint. However, this was a tolerance reserved only for her grandchildren. She wasn’t a tolerant woman or a saint, she was just a grandmother. Always on the side of her children and grand children, right or wrong, in addition to having a lesson to teach...
On one of our gardening opportunities, I was working my heart out when (I was singing to myself and playing with a rake) she called out to me, "Ann, come see." When I reached her, I saw she found a baby rabbit lying limp on the ground. The soil, recently tilled, had disturbed a nearby rabbit hole. Evidently, a baby rabbit ran out of his home, and the tractor ran him over. The little baby was in bad shape. Nana yelled across the rows of vegetables, "Honey, will you come help me with this?"
I can see that baby rabbit in my mind's eye as clear as if it were yesterday.
Then she said, "Go get the hoe! We are going to have to put it out of its misery"
It took me a moment to realize she didn't mean WE were going to have to put the rabbit out of its misery, she meant ME! It was clear there was no "we" to striking that rabbit to death with a garden hoe! There was only a "me" to do it! She handed me the rake, and looked at me as if to say how hard it was for her to teach life's cruelest lessons.
"Go ahead, it is the best thing to do for the rabbit, honey, we cannot let it suffer."
"Nana," I exclaimed, "I ‘m not going to chop it's head off, I'm sorry, but I can't.”
Although this protest held the promise of making her angry, instead she was childlike and warm in her response, "Do you think your mother can bring it back to life?" (My mother had the skills and talent required of a veterinarian.)
Before she changed her mind, I went and got a box to put in it, and brought the little rabbit home for my mother to doctor. She did her best to save him by using an eyedropper for nourishment and water, but he died.
Our First Blogger Answer is here! Read after story~
I brought the rabbit back and we buried him near the garden. That's when she told me the story of his relatives, and where they all lived under the ground. Later that evening, we sat on her back porch steps and she taught me how to wish upon a star. I remember the inflections in her voice moving in time with the crickets, her black hair and lightning bugs dancing around in the yard. She had the best rhyme: “Wishes come true when you wish on a star/Since the man in the moon knows where you are/No matter how near no matter how far/He sees you and me and knows where we are.”
“Nana,” I asked. “Yes honey?" is what she said as she pulled me close.
“Where is the man in the moon?”
“Right there honey! Look!“
I smelled her hair as she drew me in her arms tight and laid her head against mine...I could feel her heart beating, then she pointed to the sky and said, “Look baby, right there!”
I wish I could ask her where she is now and catch up on the questions I have, or have had, or questions I don’t remember.
What is your favorite memory from a simple moment?
The first blogger to answer was Sandee from Comedy Plus, it's a well written and touching memory of moments shared with her mother. Thank you Sandee
One thing that I think of often is walking the mall with my Mother. It's something she enjoyed and I loved her so much that I would always go with her if I could. I hate to shop and she knew that.
We wouldn't necessarily shop, but just walk and talk. This has been a most fond memory.
Mom has been gone coming up on 19 years and if I've thought about anything related to her more that our mall walking it would be our daily phone calls to each other.
For years I would cry while at the mall upon seeing a mother and daughter walking along talking about whatever mothers and daughters talk about. I've since quit crying and now it's a fond memory of very special mother and daughter times that I'm so glad we shared.
On a recent trip to the mall with my husband and granddaughters, I mentioned how I always think about mom while walking the mall. It seems like yesterday sometimes and other times it seems so long ago. A simple thing that means so very much to me and always will.
Glad you're back. Love you Annie. Big hug. :)
January 13, 2009 12:26 PM
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Grace from Broadway Matron was the next blogger to answer. She wrote a comforting memory of watching a rain storm. Thanks Grace~
I have thought and thought and I don't have one. I must admit it took me a while to understand the question but Sandee's story kinda made it clear.
Perhaps lying on my bed with the lights out watching a rain storm with the leaves pasting themselves to the window panes and the shadows of the tree branches dancing madly in the wind? ....
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The next answer is from my dear friend Dawn at Twisted Sister who I've had the good fortune to know for some time, but I never knew that she was a good friend of Jack Frosts.
I guess you just never know...
Here's her touching story...
I'm so glad to see Tuesday's Question! I loved your story.
I guess the one thing that always stayed with me took place when I was about 7 years old. My mother woke me up earlier than usual for school and brought me to my bedroom window.
"Look" she said, "Jack Frost was here last night and left a beautiful painting on the window just for you."
I was spellbound at the tiny snow flake shapes... and I truly believed that Jack Frost had painted them!
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The next answer is from my good Ettarose at Sanity On Edge
Annie, I will not try to make this a maudlin story. I wish I had had the memories of a Mom that you all have. I am very simply, moved by something I can only feel though all of your words. A simple moment that first came to mind is when I was at my D's ultra sound and I will never forget the words of the Doctor when he said it was a girl.I had a moment of pure joy when I thought of a conversation we had several months before when a question of whether to terminate or not came up.That little girl is my whole world as I have custody of her. She will always be to me something that might not have been and the world and myself would have been a sadder without her. I hope this answer was all right and not sad. I really think very much of you and admire your laughter and your strength and the love you have from your children.
January 14, 2009 8:07 AM
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And the last comment, but certainly not least, came from The Muse at A Diva's Hammer...Wielded By The Muse
sometimes long post are well worth it..and this one!
I will have to return for more Tuesday's question! and not be late the next time!
January 14, 2009 4:12 PM
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Well...it looks like that's it! Thanks for participating and reading and don't forget to visit the blogger's blogs who commented, because remember, chances are, if you liked a blogger's answer, you will also enjoy reading their blog.
Plus, even though Tuesday's passed us by, feel free to answer Tuesday's Question anytime, and if it's still on the main page (not in archives) look for your comment to become a part of the post with a link back to your blog.
Because we want to read about your special moment or moments, so come on, Describe Your Favorite Simple Moment?
If not, we'll see you next Tuesday for another Tuesday's Question.
