Growing the garden

No not an actual garden but Grandma would always rub our backs when we were little and she would always "grow the garden". She would water, plow , make rows, plant seeds and water again and then pick all the plants. It would always tickle me when she did it but I would always ask her "grandma can you grow the garden"

I don't know where she got it or if she made it up but it will always be a special thing that Grandma did with us.

Corned Beef and ?????

Yes-- the story that I am about to tell you has happened not once, but twice. One fine St. Patrick’s Day of yesteryear (2008), I was invited to be Vivian’s guest for a Traditional Corn Beef and Cabbage Dinner. Bob wasn’t there, he was still at “work/golf.” As always, Vivian, when you make a meal – your guests know it will taste wonderful and you always have a little treat for us as well. The table was nicely set and the kitchen smelled delicious. We sat down to eat our meal and as we began serving this anticipated meal (that we normally only eat once a year and are so looking forward to this treat)!, it seemed as though something was missing. Not wanting to be impolite, I began wondering where the cabbage was? Was it boiling in a separate pot? When I was sure that I didn’t know where the cabbage could be???? I said “Vivian where is the Cabbage?” She said OOP's, I guess I forgot to put it in!!! We had a good laugh and of course, now I won’t let her live it down!!!! Vivian, you told Bob and I last night (St. Patrick’s Day 2009–our house)! that this had happened one time before and you and Don had company and Don said “Vivian, when you serve Corn Beef and Cabbage, isn’t there supposed to be CABBAGE!?” I have to say Vivian--my dinner still tasted GREAT:)!!!!! and made some memories, too!!!

camping, card games, and the importance of friends

I discovered a great love of camping from going with you and Grandpa. It was fun to see you hang out with all of your friends...and for me to play with their grand kids that went with them. BUT- we won't dwell on the many crushes I had during those years.

I loved playing cards with you. I felt like such a grown up playing with all the "old folks" I still have to say my favorite card game is 31. I liked playing with pennies and how we were on your honor for one more round when we didn't have any more money.

I learned the importance of having and keeping good friends through the years. I thought it was so neat how you went camping with these people a couple times a year and you could pick up where you left off each time.
I look back on it now that I am older and have many friends, some I have had for almost 20 years that we could just pick up where we left off. I would love to get a camping group together with them. I wonder if they would love 31 as much as I do.

Thank you for teaching me about the importance of having and more importantly BEING a good friend.

I just read it to Connor and Cassidy last weekend

The book is still around, there's only 9 in the bed the little one is all scratched up. You must have done that just after the last time grandma had to read it to you before you went to sleep. How old were you like 19-20?

"And the little one said"

I will never forget the numerous times we would have you read us the TEN IN A BED book. "And the little one said roll over, roll over and they all rolled over and one fell out"

The book was read so often it was barely holding together when we were all to big to be read to.

Thanks for the special memories Grandma

Little Red Fire Engine

I loved the little red fire engine that you had for us to play with. They don't make toys like that anymore. I remember thinking, man your street was either really old or really special, because your sidewalk doesn't dip down at every driveway. It was like a real road. I also liked that you didn't have grass in the little mow strip area in front of your house. I always pretended that was my parking lot for my toys.

The Patio...

I love your patio. I remember loving to go visit you because I got to play office in the patio. We mostly played Dr.'s office because you had a lounge chair that we used as a Dr.'s table. Although we never really made it past the secretary's part of the role playing because you had to much cool secretary stuff. The two phones, the appointment calendars, deposit slips that we used as checks, and lots of cool pens.

I also loved going in your backyard and swinging in the hammock. I used to try and take naps out there.

Thanks for having such a cool house for us to play at.

Who are those Suspicious Characters?

On this particular day Vivian....you and Bob had something up your sleeves and was I in for a surprise! The two of you came to City Hall and Bob was all dressed up carrying a LARGE SIGN -- and you were hiding near the entrance to the Rotunda ready to snap a picture. City Hall Survelliance also noticed the two of you suspicious characters and focused in on the man holding up a sign (who they thought was a protester) and the lady hiding in the shadows!!!! When they saw what the sign said "TAMARA WILL YOU MARRY ME PLEASE" they thought it was so nice that they had to follow me up to the 14th floor and tell me that we were the First Public Proposal at New City Hall and they wanted me to have a copy of the security tape and there you are on this survelliance video (as they pan in on you in your hiding place)! Now we are part of City Hall History and part of Redevelopment Agency Trivia! Thank you for being there on my special day. It's good to know we are protected against the real kooks!!!!!?

Do these have Peanut Butter???

I remember one summer when I was staying the week at Grandma & Grandpa's and Grandma tried a little "experiment" on me. Now, as you all know, I'm allergic to peanut butter. Food allergies are common now, but back then in the early 80's, they were rare. Grandma must have thought my aversion to peanuts was all in my head, and she was going to prove it. She doubled a batch of cookies, but halved the amount of peanut butter the recepie called for, so there was like only 1/4th the amount of peanut butter as there should have been. I think her thought was that since I wouldn't be able to "taste" it, then she could sneak it past me. 

Well, she baked the cookies and offered me some while I was watching TV in the family room. I ate one or two and remember that they tasted kind of funny, but I didn't think anything about it. Maybe I thought they tasted a little burned, but I wouldn't dare say that to Grandma, 'cause we all know that she is a fabulous cook. Well, a little later in the afternoon, Grandma and I went to the grocery store to get some things and I told her that I didn't feel so good. I ended up yacking in the front seat of her car and in between heaves I said, "I don't know why I feel so sick." Her reply was priceless, "Oh honey, I do. ...I put peanut butter in those cookies."

So Grandma, I guess you learned your lesson that day. I always look forward to whenever you bring baked goodies over, so I can give you the raised eyebrow and a grin and ask, "Do these have peanut butter in them?" And in a huff of fake exasperation you reply, "No, they don't have peanut butter!" I love hearing that!

Kings Corners!

I don't remember exactly how old I was but I know I was not that old when you first taught me how to play Kings Corners. I remember how fun it was being able to play a "grown up game " with my grandma. "Look around" was your way of telling me I was going to miss something.You were always nice enough to give me hints. Once I learned Kings Corners we moved on to 31 and then Rummy.

Grandma, thanks for always playing cards with me even if sometimes you had other stuff to do.

Babysitting for a Week

Back in 2004, Eric and I went on a Caribbean Cruise...without the kids. We asked Grandma to stay with Rion and transport him to school and soccer practice for us. (Hailey stayed with a friend since she was so young.) We got home after a week of fun and sun...and Grandma vowing never to play Chutes and Ladders again!

Morning Coffee...and hot chocolate

I LOVE the smell of Coffee! I know that is weird because I don't drink it but it will always remind me of you and Grandpa. I would love to get you your coffee in the mornings. You still have the same mugs that we used when I was little. I would pour you a cup of coffee. You would always have hot chocolate there for us to make so we could all sit around in the morning talking and drinking our coffee and hot chocolate.

Now every time I pass a coffee shop I inhale deep and think of you!
Love, Angie

The small of Grandma in the mornings

I loved it when you and Grandpa came to visit us. I remember the house in Santa Maria (428 Garnet Way) had a guest room/den downstairs where you would sleep. My favorite thing to do in the morning was to come down and wake you up. Then you would let us snuggle with you in bed for a while. I remember how you smelled. No you didn't smell bad! I will just always remember how we loved to cuddle. The first one down would get the best spot so I wanted to be the first one there.

V is for Vivian

Grandma you have always been a special part of all of your grandchildrens lives and now part of your great grandchildren. I see this every time you are with my girls and how much they love you. As we try and teach them their ABC's and we go through the alphabet they have come to know the letter V as V is for Vivian. This must have started a while ago after one of your visits to dads house. You mean the world to me Grandma and I love you

Great America

I will always remember the first time you and grandpa took me and Mark to Great America. We were so excited to actually being going. All those times we would drive by and see it and wish we could go. Well it was fun when we got there except Mark and I ( mostly Mark )were scared to go on any of the big roller coaster rides. We would watch as you and grandpa waited in line to go on them. It was fun seeing you both on them. It was not so fun when the ride was over and you both came running off like two little kids and said " We are going to go again because the line is so short" and off you went and there we waited. I think we skipped Great America the following summer.

School Clothes Shopping

Here try this on...Do you like it...Yes can we get it...no let's Look around!!!!!

Thanks Mom Your special

Train trips to Iowa

Mom what wonderful memories I have of traveling 3 days on the trains with you and Bob from LA. to Iowa. The freedom Bob and I had to explore the entire train, sleeping under the stars in the dome car at night, watching the service-men party in the club car as the country rolls by. It was the 50's thanks for not making us stay in our seats

Dog Lover

Mom thanks for putting up with my dogs. Huck wasn't bad. Smaller and stayed out of your way. Then their was RUSTY!!
Rusty was a Irish Setter Pup which I had no business having at that stage of my life. He was wilder than I was. I was not fully living at home I was in that "I'm gonna crash at so and so's house stage, meaning Rusty was in the gonna stay here with you stage. Sorry he would chew up everything in site and sorry how he would dive through your screened in patio screen, but didn't he look cute lying asleep in your front porch plants?
Here's the story that confirms you really are a dog lover.
I was away for the week-end crashing somewhere and Terri who lived around the block was watching Rusty. For those who don't know she was my High School girl friend. Mom and Dad were setting on the porch when an Irish Setter comes sniffing down San Pablo. You both jump up yelling Rusty, Rusty. He was a mess, all muddy with tangled hair. You Dog lovers gave him a bath and cleaned him up, then called Terri to let her know you had Rusty with you. Terri informed you that Rusty was setting their with her at that very moment.
You really are a Dog Lover!!!!!

The Envelope Please!!!!

Thanks for having envelopes, and that little helpful something inside. Remember, Don't tell your father!!!

MOM I thought we were COOL!!

Mom was a stay at home Mom during our early school years, and worked at the school cafeteria during our later years. She was always there for us and it was mostly always good!!!
I can remember more than once when Bob!! would get her going about something and she would come unglued. We would be restricted to the house and she would say, "Just wait till your father gets home!!!"
WELL we would butter her up trying to get on her good side before that 5:00 hour when you know who would come driving the old white Ford pickup down San Pablo. We would help her with stuff, then play cards with her at the coffee table, which she loved to do.
MOM, it seems all is COOL!!! She was cool, I was cool and BOB, remember Bob, who probably started the whole thing, was always Cool.
BUT NOoooo! Dad came through the door and she transformed. DON, THESE KIDS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY, AND WON'T LISTEN TO A THING I SAY THEY JUST KEEPS TALKING BACK. .................

Mom I thought we were COOL.

That Olde SmokeStand

One persons treasures or another junk!!! As a Mobile teenager in the sixty's, a group of friends and I would sell old stuff at the San Jose Flea market for gas money. We would sell whatever we could scrounge up, you know treasures we would bring back from the dump after unloading our truck (those were the good old days when we could do that), basic garage sale stuff.
Well late that night as we were loading up I yelled to MOM from outside, "Do you have any old junk I can sell." Being the involved MOM she was, she yelled back, "You can take that smoke stand on the patio." Thanks MOM as I packed up the wrong smoke stand. She was talking about an wobbly 5 & dime item and I mistakenly packed up a family heirloom antique.
Several days later she asked where's the antique smoke stand? I replied, "I got 5 bucks for it thanks!!!!!

DON'T MAKE MOM CRY

WE HAD JUST MOVED INTO THE 732 HOUSE, MOM HAD JUST COMPLETED HER MAPLE FURNITURE IN THE LIVING ROOM WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE ROCKING CHAIR. IT WAS A LOOKER OF A ROCKER. WELL ONE DAY I CAME INTO THE ROOM AND JUMPED KNEES FIRST INTO THE ROCKER. IT FEEL OVER BACKWARD AND MY KNEE WENT RIGHT THROUGH ONE OF THE BACK SPINDALS. (SNAP). I THINK SHE WAS IRONING AND SHE LOOKED AT THE CHAIR AND LOOKED AT ME AND STARTED TO CRY, "I CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING YOU GUYS DON'T BREAK CAN I." SHE STARTED TO COME OVER TO THE CHAIR AND I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE. BUT SHE JUST PICKED THE CHAIR UP BENT THE PIECE OF WOOD BACK, FIXED THE CUSHION AND LOOKED AT ME CRYING ALL THE TIME. I GOT THE MESSAGE, I STARTED TO CRY TO AND THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TRY TO SAY "I AM SORRY" NO WORDS WERE EXCHANGED AS I REMEMBER, BUT I CRIED FOR A LONG TIME IN MY ROOM. I WAS REALLY SORRY MOM.

MOM THE LITTLE LEAGUE HOTTEST PLAYER

WHEN RICH AND I WERE IN VAN NUYS WE PLAYED BASEBALL FOR THE TARZANA LITTRLE LEAGUE ON THE 7-UP YANKEES. EACH YEAR THE MOTHERS WOULD PLAY A GAME TO RAISE MONEY I GUESS. THE LEAGUE HAD MANY MOVIE STAR FAMILIES KIDS PLAYING. THE LEAD GUY ON "F" TROOP AND OTHERS. SO ANYWAY, THE DAY OF THE BIG GAME IS HERE AND ALL THE MOVIE STAR MOTHERS CAME WITH THEIR JEWELS AND FANCY GET-UPS HIGH HEELS AND ALL. MOM CAME TO PLAY, SHE HAD MY UNIFORM ON WITH TENNIS SHOES AND MY GLOVE. LET IT BE KNOW BY ALL, MOM WAS THE ONLY MOTHER WHO CAUGHT, YES CAUGHT A FLY BALL AND TAMARA SHE FIRED IT BACK INTO THE INFIELD TO HOLD THE RUNNER, UNLIKE SOME DIPSTICK I KNOW. SHE ALSO GOT A CLEAN HIT TO CENTER FIELD. I DO NOT REMEMBER IF SHE SCORED OR IF WE WON THE GAME. BUT I DO REMEMBER SHE WAS THE HOTTEST PLAYER THAT DAY.

A LITTLE QUIZ FOR ALL

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT MOM, (GRANDMA) HAS A "CLOCK" OBESSION.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY CLOCKS DOES SHE HAVE IN HER HOUSE?

ENTER YOUR GUESS ON THIS BLOG AND YOU JUST MIGHT WIN A PRIZE. YES THAT IS RIGHT, YOU COULD WIN ONE OF GRANDMA'S CLOCKS. ONLY TAMMY AND I KNOW THE ANSWER, AND DO NOT TRY AND ASK GRANDMA, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GIVE THE WHOLE BLOG AWAY, AND YOU WOULD NOT LIKE TO THE BUGGER WHO WOULD DO THAT. ONE GUESS PER PERSON AND ALL GUESSES, MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 15, 2009. BEWARE OF THE IDES OF MARCH. HAPPY GUESSING.

Moons over my Granny!!

Being an honorary third generation of the Pioneer Campers club provided me with many great experiences. Seeing so many great places during my summer visits and doing so many memorable things with my grandparents. Learning poker from the masters, horse -shoes, swimming in pools and lakes ect….ect. One particular pool I will never forget was attached to a club house that was below the ground.

In the Pioneers my Grandfather held many of the chaired positions through out the years but the un- chaired position he always held was that of the “funny guy”. Always making people laugh with jokes and antics that only came out when he was with some of these life long friends.

I was around 10 years old when I walked into the club house with all my swim gear on and my goggles around my head. “Hey Grandpa, want to go swimming with me”? “Sure, let me go get my suit on.” So I just hung out there with all the old guys listening to their stories of life between the last camping trip and this one. Some of them would even ask me about my own life.

Grandpa came back and pointed out the big window in the club house that looked into the pool under water. It was positioned in the middle of the room behind a bar. I thought it was “pretty cool” as we climbed the stairs leading to the pool-- Not knowing that he was setting the stage for one funny joke on the small group of guys sitting in the club house.

After jumping in the pool, we swam over to the edge directly above the big window. Grandpa Man says “We’re going to go down there and moon the boys, make sure you get down there far enough to get your butt on the window.” I was laughing already. I was going to be a part of one of my grandfather’s future legends.

“Ready 1, 2…3” We dropped down, and then we dropped our pants down and pasted our booties smack dab in the middle of that window for what seemed like minutes. We came up laughing.” He said, “Put your goggles on and look through the window and see if they are laughing”.

Oh, they were laughing, but not at our flat butts. There happened to be more people in the club house now-- like the entire club! All the rest of the men that weren’t there when we left and the women, including Grandma, (who was not laughing) standing front and center with her arms crossed. I came back up and told Grandpa, “There are more people in the room and Grandma’s down there too” We were done swimming for the day, but he smoothed it over with Grandma.

I didn’t get in trouble for that one; It was peer pressure. Ah yes, the Pioneer Campers; fishing, horse shoes, poker, swimming and mooning my Grandma.

The Time Out!

The Time Out!

Oh Grandma, I don’t think you have a bone in your body allowing you to get mad!

All the summers that I have spent with you and Grandpa I think you took me to every park in the greater San Jose Bay Area. Most of the time it would be Lisa and I or Tammy and I and the trip usually ended with a stop at the little ice cream place off of Maude. Great times, Thank You.

One particular time it was all of your grand children piled in your Toyota Corona. The day started out as planned but didn’t end that way. Some where toward the end of the trip some one stopped listening to Grandma and it was all down hill from there. More than likely it was Lisa.

There was no stopping for Ice cream that day, there was no talking only a long car ride back to Grandmas house where all of our parents were sure to get the news immediately following our arrival.

Grandma Parked the Corona in the garage. She was in the house before any of us. One by one, as we walked in, we were pointed in the direction of a chair to serve our time out in, still no talking.

Then came the explosion that I believe was the loudest and maddest Grandma could ever get. She came around the corner by the hot water heater and laid into us. “When I say it’s time…………..Don’t argue with me……….No more parks”. All of this was coming from Grandma at about a decibel higher in volume but with finger pointing and a red nose.

I think it was the red nose that made me realize this punishment was more painful to her than it was to us and enough for me to never want to make grandma that upset again.

Mark