Take a moment to consider something.
Everyone knows that they are unique. Different. Special. In some way or another, there is something in life that makes you - YOU. Not everyone agrees with how you spend your time. Lots of people don't favor the way you do things, the customs you carry out, nor the mannerisms you might keep, but at the same time there is another group of people who do. Things in common bring people together. Habits shared, commonalities, and personal choices sometimes match. On a whole other level of bobbing and weaving, these same characteristics may draw people in that never considered the trait until it was introduced to them. When it comes down to it --- everyone is made up of bits and pieces of those surrounding them...the company you keep rounds you out and stretches your variety.
Everyone knows that they are unique. Different. Special. In some way or another, there is something in life that makes you - YOU. Not everyone agrees with how you spend your time. Lots of people don't favor the way you do things, the customs you carry out, nor the mannerisms you might keep, but at the same time there is another group of people who do. Things in common bring people together. Habits shared, commonalities, and personal choices sometimes match. On a whole other level of bobbing and weaving, these same characteristics may draw people in that never considered the trait until it was introduced to them. When it comes down to it --- everyone is made up of bits and pieces of those surrounding them...the company you keep rounds you out and stretches your variety.
At some point yesterday I started thinking about this because Brandan has been trying to stretch his wings. We've had the "you don't get me!" conversations and "why are you so mean?" talks that usually end with "I don't care" statements. And it is here that I (somewhat hazy) remember saying or thinking this while growing up. Those "if only I was" ideas ran rampant in my head, too. SO, while looking around the house, doing daily chores...I SAW a couple of odd things that make me....well, ME.
yeah...okay.....
It needs some explanation.
Each time I cook and I use the salt and pepper shakers, I believe that my grandma (Alice the Great, as B + A call her) is there beside me. So, maybe it is not her exact salt in that shaker, but I want to believe that she was the one that put the rice in there -- making her a part of my cooking process. (And Chato always wonders why I threaten his life when he takes these outside when BBQing!)
And each summer, when I make Sweet Tea, I follow Momma's instructions to a tee. (shhh...family secret cannot be shared ;) I mostly envision when she would poor it into my Dad's Mom's pitcher (an earthen brown one that could handle the heat), one of the few things that we have that belonged to Grandma Callie.
And some customs come along later, the ones that must be preserved and ingrained in my kids (hopefully) that they just didn't have enough time to enjoy. Taking the time to make frijoles in a thin metal pot just like Ma, will be something I will add to my list to repeat over and over again. It's the kind of thing that my Mom did for me. I was so little when my paternal grandma passed away, but to know that I can still drink sweet tea from her brown pitcher keeps me --- well, ME.
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So in the end, as time races by us...I'm hoping that my crazy little boy is able to identify the things that make him HIM, and acknowledge the people who are a part of him too. So....WHO helps you to be YOU?
1 comment:
I love this. Shaun and I tease each other about our quirks and I need to get them down. I also want to get some words down about my paternal Grandma who lived with us for awhile until she passed away when I was 11. Awesome post here, well written as always:)
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