Memories for my son

I was speaking with my father, who is now retired, and we were discussing different things he could do to keep busy in the winter months, when he is stuck inside due to the poor weather. Some how or another, we got side tracked, and he started to tell me about how he and my late uncle would go on Mondays, when our family business was closed, to their gun club for shooting practice and this led to other memories. As he was recalling some of his adventures, I realized that there is so little that I know about his life, especially as a child. I had given him a book, years ago, on Father's Day, which was titled something like "A Father's Memories". It is a journal type book that has questions that prompts you to write down various events in your life. My dad said that he "was not a writer, that he wouldn't know what to write". Personally, I just want any link into his past, I don't care about the grammar or the spelling. I want the history.
After getting off the phone with him, I went to file some papers and I found one of those same books on MY bookshelf. I did not even realize I had one.
Mine is organized by months, with the idea that you write down one memory per day. Some of the prompts are rather silly, like "When did you get your first bible? Who gave it to you?" , others are more along the line of the memories I would like to record, like "What is one of your favorite memories of your sibling/s?"
Since I saw this as a hint from powers greater than me, I sat down and wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I did about a months worth of memories. I want my son to have my history, to have the answers to those silly questions that I might not recall later on in life. It is also a good tool for my nephew, since many of memories are tied into memories with his mother (my twin). I'm hoping that I continue to fill it out, for his sake.

Shopping does not always involve common sense

Jman and I went to the grocery store today, to do our bi-weekly shopping. Jman wanted to buy a pack of gum and had brought his own money, so I told him to go ahead and pick some out. My shopping cart was rather full, my cashier was a wee bit slow, and I did not want to have to wait for him to be rung up after me, so I told him to go over to the self-check out lane to pay for his gum. I noticed that he had a pack that was on sale, but he needed my shopper card to get the sale price, so I gave it to him (it was on my key chain).
I finish getting rung out and notice that Jman still has not returned. I can see him at the self check-out, which now has an incredibly long line all standing behind him. I wheeled my shopping cart over as I see the attendant walk to speak to him. As I get into hearing range I hear them ask "where's your mom". I speak up, and they explain to me that he is trying to pay for his gum with the shopper card. I laughed, since it did not even occur to me that I would have to tell him what it was used for, since he has been shopping with me since he was a baby and I always use a shopper card. Of course, how would he know, as he explained it, he doesn't pay attention when I ring out my groceries. Yes, he has seen me use the card, but he did not realize that it was not like a credit card. "You should have told me Mom, I didn't know!". Of course, I bring up the fact that when he walked over the lane he had his money in hand and why would he think that I was going to "pay" for his gum with my "card", and why would I send him to another shopping lane if I am going to pay for it anyway, wouldn't I just add to my cart of groceries?
I did feel bad for him, since he was embarrassed that he did not know better, but honestly, would you have thought that you needed to tell your child how to use the shopper card? What other "common sense" things do I need to tell him about?

President's Day

Many years ago when we lived closer to family, my folks came out to visit us on President's day. My dear son, who had to be about 4 at the time, happily greeted my parents, and said to them that it was President's day, weren't they excited. My mother was amazed that my son had any concept of this holiday, and was in awe that he actually was excited about it. He reached behind his back and gave my father a gift and then my mother a gift. He then asked if they had anything for him. They were confused (rightly so I might add), asked him why and he said again "It's Present's day".
You never know what little ears might hear or think they hear...

Weather

The weather that is swamping our nation right now is just crazy. I am so glad that I currently live in an area that is not prone to snow. True, we've gotten a bit of rain, but I would be very tired of shoveling out from the snow this winter. Another blizzard is set to strike the central states and the Northeast. Stay warm friends and family. I'll be thinking of you as I walk to work this morning.