Spring has come and gone, Summer in 2010 was amazing, here in the Maritimes anyway. Fall is almost over and we are now getting ready for winter. Seasons, our lives are very simply a series of "Seasons".
When we are young, the "Season of Youth". As we grow into young adults and then full grown adults our bodies change..(excuse me… we all know this right?) you wait!! Then the Golden years, I am not yet convinced that I am in my golden years, but that is another story.
Violet Mae was born in the Spring in Botley, England. She was a simple farmers daughter with huge dreams of being something someday. Now, I could go on and on about things I do not know. She was a goddess to me, but truthfully what really makes us beautiful is it the outer layer of skin that covers us or is it what is deep within. Our hearts?
To her family she was, the primary caregiver, a fabulous cook, she sewed, and her organizational skills were second to none. She had much to say and was always chirping like that little chickadee. Monday's was wash day and dinner was always at five.
One of the most important things that made her feel happy and contented was her strong need for acknowledgment. It was not the money as she never worked outside the family home. She did Cancer fundraising and was a regular visitor at the local seniors facility, driving her neighbors to and from errands and to funerals was almost a daily occurrence.
She would litterly "give the coat of her back" if someone needed it. She never needed money or asked for it. But on the other hand, forget to acknowledge what she had done and she would never talk to you again.
I remember one thing that made her puff all up, and that was the simplest thing. Actually I have adopted it and transferred this to my own family. she would add up the weekly groceries in the grocery cart and by the time we were to the cash register she would have it all added up and the money ready to give to the girl, being out a dollar or two is all it would ever be. Sometimes she was right on the money as they say. I as a young girl, would stand in absolute awe with her ability to do that. Now here is am doing the same thing and feeling that feeling of pride when I looked at my little girl as she was so very proud of her mom for being so smart. It feels good to be looked up at and to be simply thanked.
Now to bring this character trait into our "shades of pink".
My brother is the most gentle, kind man I know and he would open and has opened his home of anyone in need, not for the money, never.... Oh no.... he has been handed down the trait, he feels self pride for being able to give back when he is doing well, all he wants is a simple thank you and when he gets it sincerely his face lights up. That is the true reward!
My daughter, she has the kindest heart ever, even though she struggled with that ADHA as a youngster, she grew up and now is in the mid-season of her life. She is loved where ever she sets her feet, rarely forgotten and I remember in her graduation yearbook the request that sounded over and over again was "Don't ever Change." She too has been handed down the shades of pink, she would do anything for anyone, go way out of her way to help you, all you have to do is ask. She would never ask for anything in return, no strings as they say. In this world it is very special to know that there is a friend out there that can be called any time night or day.
I could talk for days because every one of us have some piece of those around us, or of those who have passed on keeping the shades of pink alive. My mother always says ' As long as your alive your grandmother will never be dead". sometimes I'm not sure if she means that is a positive way or not, but it is true. I have another daughter who inherited the secret thing. She can keep a secret like I have never seen before as did my grandmother, my sister who is only 5 foot 2. She did not get that from my mother as she is 6 feet tall.
Take a look at those around you and have fun with who has inherited the "Shades of Pink” in your families.
I send out this invite...I would love to hear about it.
Thank you
Leslie
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
What's in a name?
Oh my goodness, believe me... there is lots in a name!
So we will start with "Pink" Who would have thought that Pink meant "One who was a chirpy person, like a finch" http://www.meaning-of-names.com/ That in it's self struck me right off. Grandma loved to talk, she would talk to anyone about... anything. In the grocery store to the young one who tallied the produce, the banker and the fellow sweeping the street. It didn't matter; she would even talk to herself...YES.. out loud. I hate to admitt it...but I do too. My daughter told me it is a sign of being intelligent....I'm going to hold onto that thought!!!
Okay, "Violet" I don't know it comes from the Vivian family or something like that...to me it was the flower that is almost impossible for me to grow. I was my grandmother's favorite flower and she could grow them. I cannot however. House plants, cactus maybe!!
So I looked it up too and guess what, can you imagine "Violet" the heroiness in Shakespear's play "Twelfth Night".
A heroiness,...how ironic...I simply have to tell you this.
Grandma was my heroiness is so many ways and so many times she rescued me from my fears in particular. But, this one night was the one that stands out the most.
I was about, 10 maybe 12 years of age, I had with me my sister who would have been 7 maybe and by brother 3.
Now remember, it was in the late 60's early 70's and things were done differently back then, and this is not a reflection of my folk's ability to parent, okay! It was just the way things were done, I don't know it is kinda weird actually, because my folks never would have experienced these things and yet most of us in this era have had this type of experience.
Here we are, it was late November, a very windy, stormy night, with ice pellets pinging off of the windows. My fol, were in the process of building their first new home and they were trying to get it "live in ready" oh not completed... just live in ready by Christmas.
I was in charge, well I was supposed to be... the storm was howling and well... to put it plain, my imagination ran away on me. My sister and brother were in bed and I was to stay up until my parents got home. We lived in the "boon docks" seriously a neighbour was a couple miles away. The old run down place was heavily treed.
Do you know how scarey the trees are when the wind in blowing and the ice is hanging off them while they bank on the house? Not to mention the pinging of ice against the windows. I was completely petrified, I was pacing from window to window, looking out and practically scaring myself into shock when I would see my own ( oh yeah... my own) reflection. By midnight I was completely hysterical. Between the trees, the wind, and ice, the wolves..... by then, had me surrounded the house and were prepared to scratch the walls down to get us
I was hysterical with fear, and totally un-consoleable. Now, you have to remember in those days we had no cell phones, there was no such thing. Are you kidding, we were lucky to even have a phone. Really were were way back in the sticks.
To me, what would I do? Call Grandma, so I did at midnight. I cannot imagine how she felt at that moment, when she picked up her phone and heard me on the other end. It is only now at this moment I (as tears swell up) she took my fear and carried it for me, all she said was..."Lock the doors, I'm right there"! Time stood still after that, she arrived, well you would have to know her, she gathered all of us of and took us to her house.
She was so angry at my mother, By the time she was finished scoulding her, we had snow banks growing on our backs as we slept. We never spent another night in that house.
Well... we all have to have a hero..and Grandma was mine!
Yeah! As you can see.. there is something in a name!
Her middle name, Mae. The Goddess of Spring. I'm going to have to think a bit on this one. I did not know her when she was the " Godess of Spring" however, that doesn't mean to say she wasn't.
So we will start with "Pink" Who would have thought that Pink meant "One who was a chirpy person, like a finch" http://www.meaning-of-names.com/ That in it's self struck me right off. Grandma loved to talk, she would talk to anyone about... anything. In the grocery store to the young one who tallied the produce, the banker and the fellow sweeping the street. It didn't matter; she would even talk to herself...YES.. out loud. I hate to admitt it...but I do too. My daughter told me it is a sign of being intelligent....I'm going to hold onto that thought!!!
Okay, "Violet" I don't know it comes from the Vivian family or something like that...to me it was the flower that is almost impossible for me to grow. I was my grandmother's favorite flower and she could grow them. I cannot however. House plants, cactus maybe!!
So I looked it up too and guess what, can you imagine "Violet" the heroiness in Shakespear's play "Twelfth Night".
A heroiness,...how ironic...I simply have to tell you this.
Grandma was my heroiness is so many ways and so many times she rescued me from my fears in particular. But, this one night was the one that stands out the most.
I was about, 10 maybe 12 years of age, I had with me my sister who would have been 7 maybe and by brother 3.
Now remember, it was in the late 60's early 70's and things were done differently back then, and this is not a reflection of my folk's ability to parent, okay! It was just the way things were done, I don't know it is kinda weird actually, because my folks never would have experienced these things and yet most of us in this era have had this type of experience.
Here we are, it was late November, a very windy, stormy night, with ice pellets pinging off of the windows. My fol, were in the process of building their first new home and they were trying to get it "live in ready" oh not completed... just live in ready by Christmas.
I was in charge, well I was supposed to be... the storm was howling and well... to put it plain, my imagination ran away on me. My sister and brother were in bed and I was to stay up until my parents got home. We lived in the "boon docks" seriously a neighbour was a couple miles away. The old run down place was heavily treed.
Do you know how scarey the trees are when the wind in blowing and the ice is hanging off them while they bank on the house? Not to mention the pinging of ice against the windows. I was completely petrified, I was pacing from window to window, looking out and practically scaring myself into shock when I would see my own ( oh yeah... my own) reflection. By midnight I was completely hysterical. Between the trees, the wind, and ice, the wolves..... by then, had me surrounded the house and were prepared to scratch the walls down to get us
I was hysterical with fear, and totally un-consoleable. Now, you have to remember in those days we had no cell phones, there was no such thing. Are you kidding, we were lucky to even have a phone. Really were were way back in the sticks.
To me, what would I do? Call Grandma, so I did at midnight. I cannot imagine how she felt at that moment, when she picked up her phone and heard me on the other end. It is only now at this moment I (as tears swell up) she took my fear and carried it for me, all she said was..."Lock the doors, I'm right there"! Time stood still after that, she arrived, well you would have to know her, she gathered all of us of and took us to her house.
She was so angry at my mother, By the time she was finished scoulding her, we had snow banks growing on our backs as we slept. We never spent another night in that house.
Well... we all have to have a hero..and Grandma was mine!
Yeah! As you can see.. there is something in a name!
Her middle name, Mae. The Goddess of Spring. I'm going to have to think a bit on this one. I did not know her when she was the " Godess of Spring" however, that doesn't mean to say she wasn't.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The Dedication to "Violet Mae Brown...nee Pink"
I've been wanting to do something that connected me with all those I love and have ever loved.
This idea has been rattling around in my head for like ever, I knew I wanted it to be something for HER...Her, you say? ...My Grandmother.
She was the one in my life that made all the difference. No matter what she said I believed it....I believed in her and everything she said.
So.... who was this lady, Well, she was my mother's mother. She was born in England..I'll have to find out for sure where from my mother though. She was a sister, to how many i'm not sure, she did talk about a particular brother, but that story will come later. She was a mother, too and again a very interesting story ...a kinda .."pandora's box" that emerges from, you will never guess where? Australia..I always wanted to go to Australia..and now I have shades of pink there....This story is amazing, again for another time.
Back to the dedication, and the reason I wanted....no..I needed to do this!
"The-Shades-of-Pink" represents the many facets of our family, starting with "Violet Mae Pink" there are many sides to all of us, as if we are all diamonds hanging in the window, sparkling off rays of colour, depth, strength and revealing all those things that are not always easily seen with out the rays and warmth of the sun. A metaphor if you will. Warmth of one another, bringing out each and every-one of our special qualities. Those talents, that have been suppressed and hidden.
"The-Shades-of-Pink" represents our Grandmother's and the way they changed our lives, how so very special they were and are. I want to hear about YOUR..shades of pink....Those things that makes your families so special and so dear to your hearts, those things that made us laugh and YES!!! Cry.
I dedication..I am personally inviting every-one....simply every-one to join me and my shades of pink...with stories, memories, pictures, anything and everything and is IMPORTANT to you!!
I have tons of plans for this Blog/site...but I need your shades of Pink to make it happen...
Will you Join me..In dedicating this to those we love...and loved..
Thank you,
Grandma....Your the BEST!!!
This idea has been rattling around in my head for like ever, I knew I wanted it to be something for HER...Her, you say? ...My Grandmother.
She was the one in my life that made all the difference. No matter what she said I believed it....I believed in her and everything she said.
So.... who was this lady, Well, she was my mother's mother. She was born in England..I'll have to find out for sure where from my mother though. She was a sister, to how many i'm not sure, she did talk about a particular brother, but that story will come later. She was a mother, too and again a very interesting story ...a kinda .."pandora's box" that emerges from, you will never guess where? Australia..I always wanted to go to Australia..and now I have shades of pink there....This story is amazing, again for another time.
Back to the dedication, and the reason I wanted....no..I needed to do this!
"The-Shades-of-Pink" represents the many facets of our family, starting with "Violet Mae Pink" there are many sides to all of us, as if we are all diamonds hanging in the window, sparkling off rays of colour, depth, strength and revealing all those things that are not always easily seen with out the rays and warmth of the sun. A metaphor if you will. Warmth of one another, bringing out each and every-one of our special qualities. Those talents, that have been suppressed and hidden.
"The-Shades-of-Pink" represents our Grandmother's and the way they changed our lives, how so very special they were and are. I want to hear about YOUR..shades of pink....Those things that makes your families so special and so dear to your hearts, those things that made us laugh and YES!!! Cry.
I dedication..I am personally inviting every-one....simply every-one to join me and my shades of pink...with stories, memories, pictures, anything and everything and is IMPORTANT to you!!
I have tons of plans for this Blog/site...but I need your shades of Pink to make it happen...
Will you Join me..In dedicating this to those we love...and loved..
Thank you,
Grandma....Your the BEST!!!
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