Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Memorial Day Remembrance: Our Al, a Candid Message..And of Course, Niceties

Photo by Robert Stock


All is well on the homefront.  The above is a photo of me the past year with our first grandbaby, our grandson when he was more of a little infant.  I'm wearing one of my MiMi dresses, this one is of space babies in a wonderfully delightful vintage print reproduction.  It has space ducks and little animals along with the hooman space babies..I had also made a pillow for each of our little grandsons to match.  Timmy here is wearing his little nautical romper I also made, and now I've seen Jimmy our next to be born little grandson wear it too!

  Jimmy

  Timmy now. (Wearing the Charlie Brown and Snoopy shorts I made)

I've been very engaged lately sewing Little Dresses and Little Britches for Africa and just reading some good ol' books.

We've had Memorial week and it made me think of not only my dad but my precious, precious step dad, Al.  



The photo above was taken when we moved into the home pictured, he and the girls planted the tree there.  Al was a wonderful PaPa to our girls and was such a sweetheart.  He fought in WWII and gave unselfishly.  He had earned a medal and I'm researching that now.  He loved the girls so much, he would carry Baby Zuzu around over his shoulder and she would sing in her baby language. Here he is with Janie and Joycie before Zuzu was born, poor little Grace never knew him and Zuzu doesn't remember him, oh that is so sad to me.  He and mother lived in a humble little house in the middle of Houston, he would walk Janie and Joycie to the corner store and he'd buy them little goodies to eat and drink...So cute.  Those were some precious times...   He was an extremely talented sculptor and sculpted Dr. Cooley's marker.  He would crack me up, he was from an old Italian family from the Bronx, New York and I would get so tickled because he did not like it when the southerners would joke about the New Yorkers!  He was so sweet, you would get tickled even when he was aggravated!  When a heart attack took him suddenly it really did me in.  The hospital sent my mom home in a taxi with his clothes over her arm that night.  Me, being home, my little ones safely tucked in bed already I was horrified, running out in the yard looking up at the stars as if I could call him back somehow, my cries were so hard that they were silent,  standing outside in the pitch dark in the very yard pictured above, in a big, long yellow Garfield tshirt nightgown...Horrified.  In shock.  I remember being in tears bringing his suit and tie to the funeral home, I was so choked up I about threw those beautiful clothes at the stone-calm (like water off a duck's back) receptionist before running out, two young men my age there for a loved one staring as if they were to say We're so sorry...I still remember all of the faces.  That was back in 1990.  Little Joycie said her best friend had died.  Baby Zuzu would run to men at the grocery store with silver hair and put her little arms around their legs...  As you can see or read, I'm part of the Companionship of Brokeness and if you are of the Companionship of Brokeness  then you are probably a kindred spirit here.  ...And I really do miss Al many a day...many a day. 






I have lots of little goodies to show you, my pretty garden and such...I've been a little stressed, my mother fainted at the table again on Mother's Day so prayers are always appreciated for my mom and me.  My adult daughters are a huge help too as well as my loving husband.  

I'll be back soon with some eye candy.  I'm praying for our country and I hope you are too, our Victor's Wreath will be in the prayer closet.  And may we be that Watchman on the Wall and use words to warn if necessary.  I have what you would call a counselor or a healer personality, I have mercy and prophet both, so please oblige.  Do I sound like the book, Please Understand Me?  (smile).




Here's something I thought I would share, it's something a radio commentator played this evening:


A Warning from 1965 from Paul Harvey:





In closing:

One distant shot of my ivy gardens and Lilac tree last month...More to come.  I'm discovering my gardens are one of my happy places.



  Bethany.  I have restored her, repairing a fracture and a little hole in her poor little face, and broken pieces from a cruel fall... and then repainting her with her little child on her lap.  I think Bethany is so peaceful and represents motherhood so well.



   Jimmy's little handprint.  This was our first art project!  Little Jimmy presented this to his mommy, Joycie that very day.  So fun.  Zuzu and I did one with little Timmy the other day. 

  My little birds I also restored, one was fractured and missing part of his tail.  I made another tail with a tissue and school glue, repaired the hole in his poor little chest and touched up the paint so he is happy now.  They guard my window and tell each other little secrets through the day, they also guard my coffee stash.

  My pitcher of hibiscus tea...I enjoy drinking this iced through the day.   I still am using my cloth 'napkins'.   I still keep them in a shiny glass bowl there and grab those even before I'll grab a paper towel.  They are so much softer and there is somewhat of a comfort in my little 'napkins'...Who wouldn't love these little doggies on this one?

  Well, Loves, I hope you are all faring well.

Take care now, signing off from My Forest Cathedral.   ~Amelia

14 comments:

The Saxophone Player's Wife said...

I love visiting your blog. It is such a beautiful respite from the hardness in the world. Thank you and God bless you! <3

Barbara said...

The little doggies on your cloth napkin look just like my Buddy and Pal (RIP) Cocker Spaniels. They were my favorite of all the dogs we had through the years.

I have been using cloth napkins for many years, ever since Elizabeth Elliott suggested them so we don't go through paper so quickly. My daughter uses them now in her home, too. A money-saver, too.

Your memories of Al are precious. Oh that we all could relate to others as well as he did, especially to children.

I always enjoy the glimpses of the clothing you make for yourself. The prints are delightful and your style is so feminine, which I know is a priority with you.

Have a blessed day.

Marianna said...

Aw, sweet Al.. miss him so much as well. I think of him often. One of the things I've told James (my husband) is that I love that he reminds me in many ways of my PawPaw Al.. children and animals love his gentleness, he knows how to make everyone has a good time (like how Al would take us to get candy at the corner store), and is just that strong and calming presence like I remember Al having. I can't wait to see him in Heaven one day. He truly was a gem. I remember when we were told he passed away and how sad that was... and yes, I remember feeling I had lost my best friend.

The Paul Harvey clip is so good... it reminds me of the Screwtape Letters -- i you haven't read that book, I think you would like it.

Love "Bethany"! Never noticed the child's sweet face on that before.

I have Elliott's little handprint proudly in my kitchen and Ilove it! Thank you for making that with him!

Linda said...

I seemed somehow to miss your previous post, so I just read that too. It was so l lovely to catch up again. We've had a lot going on over the last 2 months so I haven't written anything. I need to be in the right head and heart space, if you know what I mean. I so enjoyed reading all they you've written Amelia and I felt your heart come right through the screen. It's so gentle. I agree with you about people that love animals, they do have a soft heart, even if at times the exterior may look crusty on some :)
I too feel loss very deeply, whether that be from a dear loved ones passing (friend, family or pet) or even sometimes just 'change'. We are going through some 'change' right now and that's why I've been absent.
Your garden looks so pretty and I loved seeing a pic of you and your sweet grandies too. Blessings to you and prayers for your sweet mum x ~ Linda (NZ)

Amelia said...

Thank you so much Carolyn, I appreciate you! <3

Amelia said...

Hi Barbara, Awww... I know your Buddy and Pal were so precious to you. Beautiful dogs and look so sweet too.

Thanks so much on the encouragement of my sewing! It's so fun I think to be able to sew my own clothes when I can, choosing prints and fabrics, even retro space-babies! : )

You are so correct. Al was so precious, when I met him the first time as a newlywed, Mother brought him over to our little humble condo, I felt like the parent meeting my mom's date! I just loved his caring eyes and liked him right away. He would soon marry my mom and was at the hospital when I delivered my firstborn baby girl...Oh Al. Everyone should be an Al...I miss him dearly.

Thank you for your sweet comment Barbara. I appreciate it so much.

Amelia said...

Oh Marianna, yes, Al was a very special, precious blessing in our lives for the nine years we had him...And we will see him again one day, yes, that is a comforting thought indeed. I can certainly see why you would say James is like him, I definitely see why you would think and say that. <3 Oh it was the worst time in my life when we lost our Al...He had been such a strong support for grandma and our entire family in such a loving way, he had even expressed interest in moving closer to the grandchildren (you girls). He is painfully missed many, many, many a time. When we moved to the country those years ago, we had just lost him and I remember watching old Hill Street Blues episodes after the 10 o'clock news as I wrapped you girls Christmas gifts by myself in the night hours, and for some reason it reminded me of New York which reminded me of Al. Anything that had to do with New York or old neighborhoods or sweet grandpas...It was like a comfort thing to me then...yeah... I was a young lady and my friends had no idea what I was going through, they hadn't lost anyone. It was very tough for me, I just grabbed on to God and eeked my burden to Him in solitude as we homeschooled in the country...Trying to make new friends in smalltown was especially a challenge then as it is now...Crazy times. I've learned as I've looked at life from both sides now though that people are people, suburbs, city or smalltown. If it's not one thing it's another it seems so I might as well enjoy the pristine beauty of the country. People will let you down, but God won't ever. So every day I have an adventure with God as David Wilkerson's sister, Ruth encouraged me to do over the phone one day as I reached out to her for prayers and encouragements after Al died as we were in the wide open country...

I have that book, Screwtape Letters, I should finish it. : )

So glad you are enjoying the little handprint-art that Elliott and I made! (big smile). He sure loved smearing his hand in that paint...

Amelia said...

Aww Linda, thank you so much for coming by. I know exactly what you mean...yes. We have to be feeling it so to speak right? I'm the same way. Your comment touched me deeply on you sensing my heart, it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much Linda.

It sounds like we are in similar seasons of life, and I totally understand your absence here in blogging. Life has a way of paralyzing us in ways at times doesn't it? At least that is the way I have felt lately...Yes, feeling loss of that kind is so painful to me...It's nice to know you too take things like that to heart. How can we not right?

I hope your dad is okay, I've thought about you because I know when we have an episode, it's very halting to our lives and I know you've had that too. It's such a blessing getting to know you Linda. A Gift. Thank you so much for your prayers and for taking time in the season of life you are in to leave a comment. It means the world. a hug to you dear Linda all the way to your side of the world there. <3

Linda said...

Thank you sweet Amelia for your kind words :) May God Bless you and your dear family x

Christine said...

"The most important thing in life, are't thing."
One of my life's motto's.

Walking down memory lane is so sweet and humbling. My heart pounds with each word.

Amelia said...

Thank you so much Christine. So true. I appreciate you taking time to comment, I appreciate your sweet and heartfelt comments. Sometimes I wonder if the day I'm living at present will be looked at in the future as one of those special memories.

Amelia said...

Thanks Sandi!

Victor S E Moubarak said...

What a lovely post, Amelia. God bless you and your family.

Amelia said...

Thank you so much Victor!