I Don’t Have a Label for It
Yesterday, I admittedly said I was independent. I think there is more to that. I am a person that can be alone and not be lonely. Does it come about from being a farmer’s daughter in a family of six? The world reached as far as the participation in church, Sunday school and rural country school through eighth grade. Being bored has never been in my vocabulary.
From my earliest memories there was never a lack of activity within our home. I am sure the saying “Idle hands are the the work of the devil” may have been the root of Raymond and Lena keeping their kids busy and putting out what I call, a lot of local effort. After the work was done there was plenty of time for creative play: tree forts, play houses in the depths of the grove, our own little plot of dirt to see what seeds would produce, and us girls got an early education of embroidering dish towels. Mom’s box of fabric scraps contained the better part of scrapped out clothing, bits and pieces of fabric left from sewing with printed feed sacks – and even the treasured pieces of boughten yardage that were too small for Mom to use. With those, I could scrounge through to make my doll some new clothes. Life was too busy to feel as if we were lacking anything.
Fast forward to wherever Orlin and I made a home with Carrie and Kevin. There always seemed to be plenty to tackle to make the real estate feel like a home filled with love, contentment and self-satisfaction of jobs well done without the long receipts of purchased items. Within each home: Carrie found a spot for her dolls and books, Kevin would find some square footage for a desk within a closet or a workshop in one of the outbuildings. It never took much of an area for me to set up my Sears sewing machine to express myself whether it was sewing for the family, mending clothes or sewing carpet rags. As the kids grew and expressed curiosities, dampening their spirits was not thought of. Orlin included Kevin in any and every type of repair and building project that he was involved in. Different baking ingredients were purchased as Carrie’s interest grew in the kitchen and patterns were tried for her clothes. I believe the key to both children was leaving them alone at times for imagination and skills to shine. We enjoyed the home life.
Fast forward to the year of 2016 and I can tell you, Carrie and Kevin’s life skills are working great for them. Kersten often comments on Kevin’s ability to fix vehicles as well as building a secure and sound homestead for them. Carrie mans a huge home with her kids at her elbow, learning what their mom has brought for life skills then and now.
I know that perhaps I do spend a bit too much time alone. Not much a joiner of clubs, home is where I am the happiest. Dennis reminds me: I am retired and I am always just a phone call away if anyone needs me, and I know where and when I am needed, and I show up. “Do what makes you happy Grammie,” and I do. It is a close call between hermit and introvert. Whatever! I am happy.