The Cool Auntie

I have been so busy the past week.  My mother and brother are in town, and I have been ferrying them all around Ohio.  Some days we would leave at 8:00 in the morning, and it would  be 10:00 p.m. before we got home.  I am getting a bit of reprieve this weekend with mom back in Florida and Mitchell staying with my brother in Coshocton for a few days. So I have Saturday off!  And what am I going to do?  I'm going to ferry the Little Swiss Miss in the Cy Young Festival parade in Newcomerstown.  

My sister-in-law texted me and asked if I was available to chauffeur my niece in the parade.  I have a convertible, and it comes in handy for such occasions.  Of course I said yes right away.  My husband's reaction was not as agreeable.  He didn't understand why I would want to drive 2 hours for a parade when I was so exhausted from driving Miss Daisy and her son all around Ohio.  He responded,  "Don't you think you should just take easy for a day?"  I replied, "No, I have to do this because I am the cool aunt". 

You see,  I have the three coolest aunties ever.   These women have  dedicated their lives to my brothers and me to make sure that we knew that we were loved and special as we grew up.  They made growing up fun.  They took four children on their first airplane ride to Virginia Beach.  This was not  an easy feat considering we were 14, 12, 10 and 8!  They taught each one of us to drive in the Wooster ATI parking lot.  Of course this took guts considering we were only 13/14 years old at the time.  They would read Cinderella to me over and over and over and over when I was a small kid. One Christmas they bought every one in the family an IZOD shirt.  Each one of us had a different color! Mine was pink!!!  Every Easter they would hide baskets some where in their house/yard.  Then they would send us on a scavenger hunt with clues to find them.  The older we got, the harder the clues were!  Every year they took us to Cedar Point, and they would ride all of the rides with us.  They would take us to OARDC on the weekends, and we would play hide and seek in the building.  They were such rule breakers!  They would always take us on tours of the local museums and special attractions.  In general, we knew any time spent with Aunties Cheryl, Joyce and Joanne would be an adventure.  Of course, no event would be complete without hearing Grandma Hershberger yelling at the aunties to act their age!  The memories they created with us with sustain us long after the aunties have gone. Just as important, they have always supported up in our endeavors even when it was hard for them to do so.  Their love is unwavering.  We always thought they were the coolest people ever!

So you see the Auntie bar has been set high by these three wonderful, loving women.  I'm the next generation of Auntie, and it is important to me that I, too, am a 'cool' auntie!  I want to create special memories with my 17 and counting nieces and nephews that they can  cherish when I leave this earth.  So far, I think I've done a pretty good job.  Over the years Rick and I have had sleep overs with all of them at our house.  They still talk about sleeping in the closet.  In fact the next generation of kids want to come and sleep in the 'magical' closet.  Before you call Children's Services, it is a walk in closet and they called it the clubhouse.  I spent hours waiting in line at Walden Bookstores to get Harry Potter books.  I rode the Merry-go-round and the Octopus until I puked because someone wanted me to.  I bought big girl makeup and put it in a big girl purse for a 4-year old because that was what she asked for.  I have spent numerous hours at t-ball games, recitals, plays, musicals, and sporting events.  For every birth and graduation, I made them a quilt to call their own.  I have spent many hours on the phone listening to teen angst when they needed some to talk to when mom and dad wouldn't do. I have read '10 Little Monkeys' until I wanted to scream!  I have spent many hours in the pig barns at the fair. Of course when they each get their learner's permit, they get to drive the convertible down the middle of town so their friends can see them driving the cool car.  Thankfully no one sees my white knuckles grasping the  door handle!  I want to create memories with all of them and make sure that they too grow up like my brothers and I did loved unconditionally by our aunties. 

So, if I have to give up a much needed day of rest to haul The Swiss Miss in the parade, then I shall.  I know that someday she will look back on those days with the same fondness I have when I think back on the days I spent with the three most fabulous women I know.  I have some big shoes to fill.  I'm up for the challenge, and if I can fill them halfway, then I will consider myself a 'cool' auntie!  

Make Every Day Count....

Auntie D

 

  

Larry, Stevie, Dean

My family is like the Brady Bunch.  We are a blended family.  My parents divorced and remarried other people.  With each marriage came extended families.  And as we grew, the extended branches of the tree became one strong trunk.  When I talk about my family, people don't realize that I have step-siblings and half-siblings.  I simply have 6 brothers and 1 sister.  I lovingly refer to us as the Hershberger/Gray gang.  What I also have are some great aunts, uncles, grandparents who come with the package!  

This weekend the gang got together to celebrate my niece Raelene's high school graduation.  It was a fun filled event complete with a water slide, pool, hot tub and great food and drink.  It was also an opportunity for the Hershberger/Gray gang to reconnect again.  Like most families, we have all grown and gone our separate ways and don't get to spend as much time together as we did when we were kids.  So being able to spend the time together on Saturday was a blessing.

One of the greatest blessings of my extended family is Aunt Dixie and Uncle Steve.  They are the coolest couple I know.  Uncle Steve is a jokester, and he always finds a way to tease you.  As kids, we couldn't wait to go the Grandma and Grandpa Gray's house because we always knew Uncle Steve would be there ready to play with us.  He would rough house with us.  He always got yelled at for riling us up.  Then there was Aunt Dixie who would sit down and talk with each of us to find out what was going on in our lives.  She was so easy to talk to and would make you feel like the most important person in the world.

Well, I got to spend time with Aunt Dixie and Uncle Steve on Saturday.  I have to say that nothing has changed.  Uncle Steve is still teasing all of the kids that are around him.  He is happiest when he is making kids giggle and squeal.  Aunt Dixie is still asking questions and finding out everything there is to know about you.  She still makes you feel like the most important person!  We spent the time talking about the old days and recalling one memory after another.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  It was like we had never been apart. 

As we shared our stories, the family slogan came up..'.Larry, Stevie, Dean'.  Grandma Gray had 3 sons... Larry, Stevie, Dean.  When she would get mad at one of the boys, she would get so frustrated that she could never call the right name of the child at the time.  Instead she would just yell, 'Larry, Stevie, Dean'.  When they heard that battle cry, they all three would go running!  The phrase followed the next generation.  When we were kids and in trouble, our moms would just yell Larry, Stevie, Dean and we would go running for the hills.  Just like the ones before us, it meant we were all in trouble.  I'm glad to report that some things haven't changed.  As we were sitting there gossiping, we suddenly heard in the distance someone shout 'Larry, Stevie, Dean'.  My first reaction of course was to run!  Then I looked around and saw the smiles on every one's face. We all started to laugh because we knew that somewhere there were children running for the hills!  It was heart-warming to know that at least one family tradition is still going strong.

Make Every Day Count... 

Larry, Stevie, Dean

Maniac Monday!

Ask any teacher what the best day of the year is, and most likely they will respond with the first Monday of summer vacation!  After all, who doesn't love the first day of any vacation.  From my observations, I've noticed most people are just happy, calm, laid back.   They sit and enjoy their coffee on the patio and watch the birds and bunnies frolic in the yard.

Notice I said most people.  As we all know, I am not like most people!  For me, the first day of summer vacation is totally maniac.  I'm like the dog on the Kibbles and Bits commercial who runs frantically around looking for the food.  I run frantically around trying to decide what to do first.  I'm torn between responsibilities and frivolity.  I get so overwhelmed with the possibilities that I usually have myself in a tizzy by 9:00 a.m.

I have been this way my whole life.  I'm quite sure that if I were child of this generation, I would be on medication for ADD.  I grew up with my mom calling me a fart in a skillet.  To this day I have no idea  what that means, but I do know that it isn't a compliment!  My husband tells me daily that I have a gasoline ass.  Once again not completely sure what that means, but I know it isn't favorable.  I even had a student one time tell me I was the energizer bunny on crack.  Now I pretty sure I know what that means!  My students constantly ask how many cups of coffee I've drunk.  For the record, I have to limit the caffeine intake to one cup of joe in a.m. and one Pepsi/Coke in the p.m.  Any more than that, and we have a problem!

So how did I spend my first day of summer vacation you ask?  My answer is 'just like I've spent the last 45 of them.......in total chaos!"   I flitted back and forth among various tasks.  You see, once Spring Break has passed, I become very lazy and just live day-to-day.  The goal is to make it to the first day of summer vacation.  I put off doing tasks and hobbies because in my mind I know the glory day is coming and I can do it later. Then when the first Monday comes, I'm in a panic.  I can't decide what I want to do.  I look around and see all of the chores I've put off for 2 months.  I go into my sewing room and see all of the projects that need finished.  Then there is my Nook calling out to me....read me, read me!  The dog sits by the door with her leash in her mouth accusing me of neglect.  The pressure gets to me.  Because I can't make up my mind and choose just one activity, I do it all!  That's right, I attempt to do everything that is glaring me in the face. Some may put a positive spin on my behavior by calling it multi-tasking.  Others may call it bountiful energy.  I call it craziness!  BTW, multi-tasking is just a kind way of saying that someone needs medication for hyper-activity!!!!

In the end I devised a plan of attack.  I cleaned a room and then I did a fun activity such as sew, read, or get caught up on Words With Friends, Scramble and Dice with Friends.  Then I would clean another room and so on!  The fun activity couldn't last more than 20 minutes before I had to move unto the next chore!  It worked well.  I alleviated my responsibility guilty while indulging my fun side.  It was quite the balancing act, but after 45 years of experience I think I have it under control.  That is until the next Maniac Monday in 364 days!

Here's hoping all of you have a wonderful summer vacation.  May it be filled with calm, fun and love.  With a little of chaos mixed in!

Make Every Day Count
Denise