I... Honestly, I have started writing this comment there times..."O Sara...", "This is just the...", "I can't even..."
My laugh sounds a little hysterical because I'm choking on tears at the same time. The kind when something is truly beautiful and it hits you hard... like sugar cookie candles right to the face.
Also I have lived with a lake sitting West-North-West of me, and another due South of me most of my life and your mother's way of orienting herself is so completely familiar and true. I felt so claustrophobic and landlocked when we lived in Germany that my brain defaulted to pretending there was a lake on the other unseen side of the mountain we lived on.
I loved the part about speaking weathervane. I am also hopeless with cardinal directions. My breakthrough came when I lived in Albuquerque, NM where the mountains were east. Here in Colorado Springs the mountains are west, so that took a while to get used to. In Maine one could use the ocean as a guide, but the coast is so winding with so many inlets and bays that the ocean can be in all sorts of directions.
Awww!!! My heart broke at the end! Yes, he's my favorite and only spouse too! I've always liked your mom because she let you listen to Psalty way back when. And she wasn't so afraid and encumbered by rules as I was. But her directions...I'd be at the bottom of the Cajun swamp with her, dead. I know up down right and left. Once in kindergarten I was spanked all the way across the stage in a practice. I was a cockleshell and we were to go to the left, the silverbells right. We weren't in costumes yet. I went to what I thought was my whatever she'd said, but then stopped. Wait. Isn't it when they are looking at you, their right means my left? So her saying what had she said again was actually opposite of whatever way I had thought to go. Well. Yes. I made the wrong choice. She spotted me out. SOMEBODY IS ON THE WRONG SIDE! MY goat hooves shook with terror as maybe I had accidentally hit up with sheep somehow. And ugh! She called me by the name I hated, shrieking LORAINE SHANDOR! And spanked me for what seemed miles for not listening to ...directions. There I gave up all hope of being anything like your dear mother! What a sweetheart she is, even if she didn't laugh at your brother's humor.😉😉 This was such a great piece, Sara, showing the love, seeing the dear quirkiness with such beautiful eyes. Even the spouse idea squeezed in. I so hear you! I love her decorating so profusely, east west north and south!!!
Sara! Every new thing you write is my new favorite thing. I laughed out loud so many times. Your husband must be so proud of you. 😉
😂
I... Honestly, I have started writing this comment there times..."O Sara...", "This is just the...", "I can't even..."
My laugh sounds a little hysterical because I'm choking on tears at the same time. The kind when something is truly beautiful and it hits you hard... like sugar cookie candles right to the face.
Also I have lived with a lake sitting West-North-West of me, and another due South of me most of my life and your mother's way of orienting herself is so completely familiar and true. I felt so claustrophobic and landlocked when we lived in Germany that my brain defaulted to pretending there was a lake on the other unseen side of the mountain we lived on.
Oh, INTERESTING, Sarah. You should write more about that. 😉
I’m gonna need your personal essay collection a little sooner rather than later! You have a gift, Sara.
I loved the part about speaking weathervane. I am also hopeless with cardinal directions. My breakthrough came when I lived in Albuquerque, NM where the mountains were east. Here in Colorado Springs the mountains are west, so that took a while to get used to. In Maine one could use the ocean as a guide, but the coast is so winding with so many inlets and bays that the ocean can be in all sorts of directions.
I love this.
I'll be seeing eyebrows everywhere now.
This is awesome. And it sounds like you were the wisest of your siblings. Always stay in Mom’s good graces!
Also, I admit I’m with your mom on directions. I’m lost without my NSEW.
Ok, another Weathervaner! 😊 Do you chart it by the ocean south of you, too?
I think I’m pretty conscious of it hanging out down there! I’m always somewhat aware of where I am on a map—the big picture hangs out in my head.
Oh I'm dying, this is so great! Thanks for writing it and sharing it.
Bahaha. Just watched the video clip, too. I loved “New Girl.” 😄
Schmidt is one of my all-time favorite characters of any TV series, lol.
I'm sorry for always sharing another story!!!
That’s the best part of the comments! When people respond with their own stories. Keep ‘em coming!
Awww!!! My heart broke at the end! Yes, he's my favorite and only spouse too! I've always liked your mom because she let you listen to Psalty way back when. And she wasn't so afraid and encumbered by rules as I was. But her directions...I'd be at the bottom of the Cajun swamp with her, dead. I know up down right and left. Once in kindergarten I was spanked all the way across the stage in a practice. I was a cockleshell and we were to go to the left, the silverbells right. We weren't in costumes yet. I went to what I thought was my whatever she'd said, but then stopped. Wait. Isn't it when they are looking at you, their right means my left? So her saying what had she said again was actually opposite of whatever way I had thought to go. Well. Yes. I made the wrong choice. She spotted me out. SOMEBODY IS ON THE WRONG SIDE! MY goat hooves shook with terror as maybe I had accidentally hit up with sheep somehow. And ugh! She called me by the name I hated, shrieking LORAINE SHANDOR! And spanked me for what seemed miles for not listening to ...directions. There I gave up all hope of being anything like your dear mother! What a sweetheart she is, even if she didn't laugh at your brother's humor.😉😉 This was such a great piece, Sara, showing the love, seeing the dear quirkiness with such beautiful eyes. Even the spouse idea squeezed in. I so hear you! I love her decorating so profusely, east west north and south!!!
Ha! What a great story, although I’m sorry to hear about your painful journey across stage. 😆