Birthdays

Tonight we went out to a birthday celebration. I am afraid that we have gotten into the habit of staying in not doing anything just waiting to go throw papers. It is like we are consumed. Probably because this is a time when we should be out traveling enjoying our retirement. Can't do that any more. We had 5 wonderful years of going just about where we wanted to go, staying for the winter in Florida , visiting our children whenever. That is over. We are getting adjusted to the change. It has been rough. Through no fault of anyone our lives have changed forever. What of the future only God knows.

Now to the celebration. It was our niece's birthday and she had come home to celebrate it with her family. We were invited to have dinner with them and away we went! What a great feeling to be able to  be out , see others, laugh, talk and just have fun. Not being in a hurry as honey likes to go in eat and get out! Only when we go out with others that we can have a leisure dinner, talk and not be in a hurry.  Cindy went on the 127 yard sale with us stayed in the same room with us and we got to know her pretty well and have become closer as family.  Her family ( Wayne is her father and honey's brother) always make a big deal of birthday's and holidays, something we did when our children were home as youngster but in the years of growing up and moving away those times have changed much to my dismay.
When the children were little I would have their present on their bed when they woke up, starting their day off on a good note, of course that is depending if we got them what they wanted!!!! Then they were allowed to choose the meal of their choice and did not have to do dishes that night. It was a good day....Windy told us one time that she knew she had grown up when at college and it was her birthday, she woke up and there wasn't a present on her bed and she cried.
My mother always made our dinner of choice and give us a present after dinner. I think I liked my way better.My mother had other ways of doing things to make us feel special.
 When my children were at home and young we had a plan of getting the dishes done each night, one week each one had the job of either washing dishes, drying the dishes ( no D W) putting them away and the third had to clear the table and empty the trash . They did  it for a week then rotated to the next round. At Holidays or special times, they were not responsible unless asked to help. It worked pretty good for many years although they complained of each other  NOT doing their job right. But that is children!!!!  My plan was for them to learn  to  be responsible for things in their life. Beds were to be made each morning  and rooms cleaned each week. They complained always but again "that is children" , I did the same thing when I was a child.
I miss those days of doing special things for my children but as they grew up they moved farther and farther away.  Only regret I have is that I should have let them cook more. I didn't like anyone in my kitchen...my mistake. As I found out later they became good cooks but had to learn on their own!!!I am sorry for that.
Back to the celebration, we had dinner at Rosie's a local Mexican restaurant. They had been to Cathedral Caverns, did some shopping and then met us at the restaurant. It is kind of hard  for honey and I to get out for a full day so we do a dinner date. Fun! We got to telling stories of times when Cindy's family would come and visit us as we always lived somewhere away from them. One time when they came to visit us in New Mexico, honey and his father had gone to Camp and I went with Wayne and his family to the Carlsbad Caverns....it was really neat, cold and dark....won't forget that. another time they came to see us and   all went to the Grand Canyon, another time to Taos.
When honeys parents came out we would take them out in the desert to see the trails of the pioneers..that was always an interesting trip. One time we took our children to Arizona showing them many things and telling them some history of our nation. We  gave them many history lessons so guess what became their favorite class in school? You guessed it! History!!!   Times were good for our children. God Bless them I love them so much. Vann I miss you.
Grandpa thank you for listening. I love you J