You've Been Hacked!

I can choose to embarrass my mother completely or share her good side with all of you. With Mothers Day coming up, I better act on the latter. Although, some things I may share may not be so great! Ha Ha!

My MOM is the best because:

*Even though I am almost 27 years old and can take care of myself, Mom still buys me cute things!

*She has this crazy cupcake itch lately! Yum.

*Thanks to Larry's influence, she now has an amazing popcorn maker! Even though we were unable to find the "Jolly Time" corn, it still tastes amazing!

*She loves to laugh. Our best times have been when an event or funny comment has taken place in her home, that she has to squeeze her knees together to prevent peeing her pants. A few more years and I may have to buy you some "Crocs" to hose off after an accident!

*She leaves the best voice-mails. She always manages to bring a smile to my face when she says my name in "code". . .some people may be offended if I truly tell what it is.

*She is such a good friend not only to me but everyone in her life. The other day a good friend of hers told me how she loves mom and wrote about mom in her journal. So sweet!

*Despite the fact that Mom ditches Relief Society of late. . .I love her Testimony. I love that she has so many Christlike qualities. I love that she prays for her children and tells us so. I love that she has experiences that she will share with me.

*And last, I love that I am my mom's daughter. I love that we are so similar in our creativity, our humor, our thighs and our zest for life! There are days that I will pass a mirror and see her in the reflection. I only hope that someday my daughter(s) will love me the way I love my mom.

Love you Mom!

Siggypoo

Siggy-you are toast sista' - wait til I find out your password! Thanks Digwwiiid.

Grandpa Ford and "Sylvia"

This is a picture of Grandpa Ford (my mother's father) and his second wife Sylvia. Keep in mind that my Grandma Phyllis died years before I was even born. The story goes that on her death bed she asked Grandpa to never marry again. She was about 48ish? Well, Aunt Beverly had a friend in college that had a single mother. They got their respective parent together and the rest his history. The Alvey's merged with the Ford's.

Here's the buggy thing: 3 of the sisters never allowed/encouraged their kids to call her Grandma. (Bev's kids were in tight with her. ) Was it because of the "promise" made or was it that they secrectly didn't care for her? Grandpa was happy and had a companion to care for and love him. She had her quirks...don't we all. At times I often am a bit bugged that we always called her Sylvia. In hind sight I think it built a barrier between us. Did it hurt her feelings? Was it percieved as a reflection of our parent's issues? Don't we want to have as many people love and care for our children? Who cares if they are blood or not? Why pass on our generational differences to the next generation? By calling her Sylvia or Silver Bells, I think it was a bit disrespectful and sad. This may have kept her a bit stand-offish with us too, thinking she wasn't accepted.

Don't get me wrong...the sisters were very kind and loving towards her...but she just wasn't their mother. On the flip side, her (Sylvia) grandchildren called Grandpa Ford just that. They have a great love and many memories of "grandpa stuff" with him. I just have memories of her talking about her kids and a book from Frost's Bookstore. There wasn't that grandma bond thing. Oh well, random thoughts, hind sight, and unanswered questions.

P.S. It is like Sigrid's Grandma Larsen...she has never wanted to be called grandma...just call her Ellen. I have always struggled with kids calling their grandparent by their first name! When I was around the family I encouraged them to at least call her Grandma Ellen. But as we know that was only for eight of Sigrid's years. To me it is so disrespectful and they, both grandparent and grandchild, are missing out on an honorable name that endears and shows love.

It's official...I have become my mother!

My mother was well known for writing impressive, creative, well spoken letters to those with whom she had issues with. She once wrote to Phil Donahue to speak up about the topics he was discussing on his show...they were inappropriate. She also wrote a letter to our bishop...John Alexander and dad was in the bishopric at the time! I must admit it was a well deserved letter ...ask me and I will tell you the story sometime.
Here is my aha! I don't write letters...well a few have gotten a well deserved letter to call baloney on their behavior, but as a general rule the phone works fine.

I have been to Bajio in Centerville twice in the last 6 weeks. One night I ordered a salad and the girl running the till asked if I wanted any tortilla strips on top. I told her to put a few on. Well, she was wearing gloves and was handling money and she turned and stuck her hands in the chips, threw them on top then proceeded to check us out. I was disgusted, kept my mouth shut and picked them off of the salad. Two nights ago, I went in to get nachos for Sigrid and myself and the cashier was told to get them ready. With his gloves on he scooped up the chips, dipped his dirty gloved hand into the cheese and sprinkled it on top. He then returned to working the till with his gloved hand. Next he starting cutting a bunch of quesadillas touching them all with the same gloves! I left the line, went to Albertsons and made my own healthy nachos.
Here is the part that is like my mom:

1. I do leave lines when I get impatient.
2. I called the manager at Bajio and complained about the cleanliness and how his employees needed to reglove!
3. I even called the manager at Quizzno's (since I was on a roll) to complain about his 3 employees who were sitting by the front door having their cigarette break. You couldn't even stay to eat it smelled so bad.

So, I have become her and I guess I need understand that employees wear gloves to protect themselves from microorganisms...don't want them to get sick from touching money!