Thursday, December 31, 2015

Who was that gal in my bathroom?



Nana and Paw-Paw...We are the tree trunk and these grandkids are our branches. Time does fly.

This photo was taken in 2001. Grandson, Austin, the little boy on top step was not present this year, so he is not pictured below. The boy on top step this year is Nicole's brother, and that is Nicole bottom center. We are so very proud of each and every one of these young people we call OURS. The picture below from this year is evidence that we produce cute offspring.

Christmas day our house overflowed with cookie eaters, game players, gift openers, sibling teasers, toy lovers, and adult kids acting young. I love it when all of us are under our roof. The noise is sometimes deafening, and the seating is limited, so invariably long-legged young adults sprawl on the floor. We step over one another, laugh raucously, over eat, and hug good-bye with a new appreciation for each other.
Bill and I vacuum, do a quick clean up, and settle in to reminisce about another year over and another almost begun. I glimpse a game piece on the floor, a handprint on the door, ALL of my Snapple peach tea bottles in the recycle bin. These THINGS don't matter. It is family that does.

I lie on the couch and he stretches out in his recliner, the room lit by the Christmas tree, and I give thanks for all of our babies. Although our only real baby is Liam at 18 months (not pictured because he was off scouting out chocolate chip cookies) and the next oldest is Nicole at age 8. Everyone else has topped us in height and cuteness and smartness. Each one makes us proud.

I picked up a black ponytail holder off the floor. I hung it up high on a knob in the bathroom, figuring one of the girls would call and ask if we found it.

A week has gone by and it was still hanging up high, because Kitty No-No likes to eat those stretch bands. Today, before my shower I reached for my pink shower cap. Before donning it, I spied the pony tail holder and pulled all my hair back into it and slipped on the cap. Nice, none of my escaping tendrils would get wet. I didn't have to shove fallen clumps back under as usual. I proceeded to take a long, leisurely shower and forgot about the pony tail holder.
When I got out of the tub and dried off, I yanked off the pink plastic shower cap. Instead of my shoulder length hair cascading as usual, I screamed at the sight of Ruth Buzzy in my mirror. My hair wasn't drawn severely back in a hair net, but in that dang ponytail holder! Geeze, once I got my heart rate back to normal, I towel dried, moisturized and tossed that stretchy band into the trash can.  

In case you are too young to know who actress Ruth Buzzy is, here's a photo of her from a 60s show called Laugh In.
 
Shocking I tell you; it was just shocking. 

9 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

First, Linda, what a great-looking family you have. More importantly, they look happy and healthy. (Nicole has gone from a cutie to a beauty.)

Secondly, you are right. Things don't matter. Family and friends DO.

I hope that in 2016 you and Bill get to the beach at least once or twice, that it's a good year for your family, and that you continue to be a publishing dynamo. (Thankfully, there was not an extra-tall gentleman there to take your Ruth Buzzi-lookalike photo.)

noexcuses said...

What a lovely family. Thanks for sharing "then and now" pics of the grandchildren. It's hard for me to believe that those are your "grandchildren." I've yet to see my first!

I do remember Ruth Buzzi, and the whole gang. I never missed a show! I couldn't tell you anything about them now, but there were many hours of laughter watching them. I make it a point to never look at myself in the mirror until I am completely dried, dressed and coiffed!

I wish you much happiness and success in 2016. I would love to take you to coffee next time I am in St. Louis...for more than 24 hours!

Thank you for all of your inspiration!

Val said...

Ruth Buzzi, heh, heh! I hope you didn't whack "Paw-Paw" with your purse.

That's a FULL house!

Bookie said...

Great pictures but the one of you and Bill is a real keeper. He looks so well and content. Your hair seems longer than I have ever seen it and it is very flattering I think...makes your cheek bones more prominent. Happy New Year!

Susan said...

Hi Linda....So glad you had a super Christmas. May the new year be a good one for you and all your family and for me, too! ha! Love your visits and visting you, as well. Susan

Anonymous said...

Linda,
You look lovely with your hair long. You have a young looking face. Hubby looks great. The picture of you two awesome.

Beautiful family and Grandchildren and GG you have.

Yes I remember her Oh Ruthie. Ha-ha. Great laughs. I had to laugh what you wrote of self. We always are hard on ourselves right.

Well here we are year 2016.

Happy New year! Best of continued health, happiness .

I enjoy your blog. I read them but not every time comment.

If you look I have given you good ratings. Your a charm.

Your a writer what can I not like what you blog.

Have a good weekend.

Donna Volkenannt said...

Happy new year to you and your lovely family.

Pat Wahler said...

Hope you have a wonderful New Year, Linda!

Pat
Critter Alley

Connie said...

Such wonderful family photos. It sounds like you had a great holiday. Your ponytail holder story made me smile. I'm not happy with the face I see in the mirror a lot of the time anymore, but unfortunately I can't blame it on a ponytail holder, just aging. :-)