28 posts tagged “family”
What do you find interesting or unique about your family history?
Here are a few things - perhaps not unique, but interesting, at least to me!
- Our great grandparents on our mom's side (our Mom-Mom's parents) were from the same village in Hungary, though they did not know each other and did not meet until after they had both immigrated to the states. If I am remembering the story correctly, Grandma Meyer was Grandpa Meyer's house help when his first wife was alive. Some time after his first wife passed, they married, but I seem to remember Mom-Mom saying that he never treated her as he should have - that he favored his first wife and wasn't shy about letting her know that.
- The Meyer surname is not actually accurate - it was Mayer, pronounced like the bologna, but they Americanized it - well, all but our Great Uncle Dominic (who I believe was from Grandpa Meyer's first marriage), who retained the original spelling. I have no idea what Grandma Meyer's maiden name was - I wish I did.
- Our great grandmother on our paternal grandmother's side married her childhood sweetheart when she was in her 70's, I believe. She was 98 when she passed, outliving both of her husbands by many years.
- On both sides of our family, the name Charles is very predominant, though only one person goes by "Charles". Here's the count and how we keep it all straight: my father (Charlie), his father (usually went by his last name), my other grandfather (Buck), his son (Chuck or Butch), my mom's cousin (Charles), his son (Chucky), and one of my dad's uncles (Brother). Needless to say, no one in my generation - on either side! - has felt the compulsion to use the name Charles for their progeny.
- Our mom's parents eloped on Thanksgiving day. He was 26 and she was 17 (I think - do I have that right, Janie?). They won't back "home" separately. After a week or so, Mom-Mom spilled the beans to one of her sisters, and I believe that is when word got out. I am not sure what the reaction was or when they actually got a place of their own (maybe one of my sisters can shed some light on that).
- Another "famous" surname within our family tree comes from our dad's side: Hefner. Do you think we could be heirs to either a lunch meat or - *ahem* - other fortune? (Heh. Not likely.)
- When our mother was pregnant with me, she wanted to use Patricia for my first name. Our paternal grandmother thought that was outrageous since our father had been engaged to a Patricia. A year or two later, our parents reconnected with Pat and her hubby. The four became fast - and best - friends for years. I've always found it humorous and ironic that Mom and Pat became such good friends.
There's been so much on my mind over the past week, but I haven't been able to get it out and onto the screen. It's summer here, for all intents and purposes, though the calendar still gives us a week or so. This is the first summer that I've worked consistently since - gosh, since marriage, save cleaning offices a few evenings a week back in Rob's college days. Oh, and cleaning a friend's home in the early 90s down in Charleston.
Maybe that's why I feel a bit discombobulated...not having the summer off to be with the kiddos.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. The kids are at an age where they don't need me breathing down their throats every second. It gives all of us a sense of independence.
And I enjoy my job, though honestly, it's a bit dull at times! A good dull - none of the drama and stress attached to the previous workplace - but still - and there isn't a gentler way to say it - dull. I've already mastered the routine, and most days I finish my administrative tasks within 2-3 of the scheduled 5 hours. But I am there to answer the phone and greet guests also, so I don't feel too bad about the down times.
So, let's see...what have I missed...?
Vacation was lovely. We spent two nights at the beach, and we had the most relaxing, laughter-filled time as a family that we've had in ages. The final two nights were spent more inland, and we were able to hang out with some life-long friends, as well as some new ones. Again, much laughter abounded.
One of the best parts of the trip was being at our "home" church. We get more hugs there than we do in a year or more at the church here! The lead pastor is also a gifted speaker, so I am never bored, even if he tends to be long-winded. And we were able to tour the facilities and see all the cool changes/additions/upgrades they've made in the last year or two. It is such a vibrant place, and I still miss it, even after almost three years.
In other news, The Daughter got her permit last Thursday! She has to drive at least 50 hours supervised over the next 6 months. I've been letting her drive to and from work each day, and she's doing pretty well, though she has what I call the "wild ass turn tendency". I had forgotten that it takes some time to coordinate the gas pedal and the steering wheel.
No whip lash yet, but we've come close a few times (heh).
I took that personality test that everyone's been taking, but true to my tend-to-be-Gemini (though I don't "believe" in horoscopes, sometimes I wonder about the "twin" thing when it comes to me), I couldn't quite decide between two different results: The Engaged Idealist or The Social Realist. EI was the initial result. But again, on at least two of the four questions, I could have equally chose either answer. So, perhaps I am a mix of both.
I am going to have Rob read them both and tell me which is more accurate before I post any results.
Speaking of Rob, he's a bit anxious about work. They've called in all the remote folks for an all-hands meeting on Monday. The buzz is that the company is being sold (Liberty Media owns them now). Not sure what that could mean, but I am sure that it will bring big changes in benefits and structure.
He's almost finished with his Associates Certificate in Project Management - that's a good thing, though Project Management Professional (PMP) certification would be better. I hope that whatever changes are afoot don't include an end to the tuition benefit plan that's allowed him to take courses over the past year. It'd be nice to get that PMP under his belt.
Let's see...what else...
I submitted a devotional article to Associated Content, but haven't heard anything yet. I really don't expect any upfront payment. And if that proves to be the case, I can still publish for page-view payments, which have been equating to a medium coffee a month at WaWa.
Better than a sharp stick in the eye, I suppose.
I think that about covers it! I guess I had more to say than I thought, eh?
Things I loathe about vacation:
- packing
- obnoxiously high gas prices
- packing
- missing out on my exercise time
- did I mention packing?
Things I love about vacation:
- the beach! (though I don't actually like swimming or even lying on the beach, but I love being near it - seeing it, hearing it, sitting by a pool a few yards away from it...)
- seeing friends who are like family
- lively conversation over yummy food stuffs
- hearing the kiddos laugh together
- having time to think without normal-day distractions
- souvenirs!
- having someone else to make the bed.
- staying within our budget and still having a blast
How would you like to be remembered?
Submitted by Paulha66.
The Daughter was invited to the Junior/Senior Banquet by The Boy We Really Like, and she said yes. The big event was Friday night. I'd been looking forward to helping her get ready that afternoon, but The Flu That Keeps on Giving was kicking me in the ass in a most splendiforous fashion with continued temps in the 101 range all the live-long day.
Thankfully, my mom had already made plans to come up and help her with her hair, so she stepped in where I could not, and did a magnificent job, I might add.
And since said flu is still not quite done with me yet, I will now allow the photos taken that evening speak for themselves...
Not liking...
- having to drive over 40 miles round trip to pick up The Daughter and two friends, and deposit them in three different locations, after Driver's Ed.
- not being able to fix Rob his requested birthday dinner because of that.
Liking...
- the Chinese food we got in lieu of the-dinner-that-did-not-happen-tonight.
- having a hubby who didn't mind the substitution.
- seeing the look on his face when he opened his gift from the kids.
- knowing I get to snuggle with him shortly.
You will just have to believe me when I say that The Daughter and I both wore dresses. For the first time in about 4 or 5 Easters. I really wanted a photo of that, but by the time the battery was charged, I'd changed into comfy Sunday-nap attire and was curled up in my new favorite chair reading a book.
More on the first day at the new job later - or tomorrow. We'll see.
In honor of Johnny Appleseed Day, show us a tree.
Who is ringing in the New Year with you? Who do you wish could be with you, but isn't there?
We started the party early last night with a few of the folks we'll be celebrating with.
Rob fed the inner drummer within with a rousing Dead or Alive (with Steve and Janie rounding out the band).
(And for a guitarist, he didn't do half bad!)
The night culminated with several rounds of Singstar 80s and Singstar Rock. Tonight will be more of the same, with a few others joining in the festivities.
The entire family couldn't join in this year so the folks I'll be embarrassing myself in front of will thankfully be limited.
(Seriously, when the karaoke of Material Girl and Run DMC's It's Tricky garner your high scores of the night, the less to witness such performances, the better.)
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