Today's my 37th birthday ... and the first thing I thought of this morning was that only a short two years ago I was with my Dad in the hospital. Man, how time flies.
My Mom gave me an extra big hug this morning. She said that I was already born by that time (7:30am) and wished me "muitos anos de vida, saude e amor" (many years of life, health and love). Boy, did the tears start flowing. Gotta love my Mommy ... she's not sappy by any stretch of the imagination, but every once in awhile she comes out with something that forces me to realize that time is precious, and life is too short.
Here's to a happy birthday to myself ... and much love to my family and friends.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
A Silva Keg Party??
So this past weekend I had a keg party for my 37th birthday ... the morning after was spent lounging (praying for relief) on the couch. At one point my Mom came downstairs and started to head outside, I told her "you're gonna go look at the mess?" and she's like "yes, it's ok". So she did. She was out there for awhile, no doubt tsking and tasking about the party's aftermath. Or perhaps trying to resurrect the crushed flowers in the garden.
After about what felt like eternity, she came back inside. Even at my age, I was expecting a lecture. Instead, what I got was "remember when your father got a keg for a party?" ... WHAT??!!! I mean, I remember birthday parties and gatherings in our basement, but those memories usually revolve around someone playing an accordian and people singing and eating shellfish. Inevitably, all the kids would end up in the living room upstairs staring at our console TV.
"Yes", she said "don't you remember all the parties we used to have?" I said I sorta remembered. "We used to have parties all the time. Our family would come up from Bristol and you kids would have to sleep on the floor. We weren't going to let them drive home after the amount of alcohol they'd consume." WHAT?!??!?! Even in my hungover daze, I was floored. Shocked even. She always only talked about the one time she tried alcohol and couldn't feel her legs. Nothing talking about crazy drunkfests!!
Then she said it, quite possibly the best compliment ever given: "you're just like your father - you really enjoy having everyone over your house. He used to love to have parties and loved to tell jokes and laugh." She went on to say that she didn't really care for it, she's more of a homebody. But, boy, did my Dad ever love to have a good time!
Yup, in that regards Mom, you're absolutely right. I really enjoy being surrounded by friends and laughter - just like my Daddy.
After about what felt like eternity, she came back inside. Even at my age, I was expecting a lecture. Instead, what I got was "remember when your father got a keg for a party?" ... WHAT??!!! I mean, I remember birthday parties and gatherings in our basement, but those memories usually revolve around someone playing an accordian and people singing and eating shellfish. Inevitably, all the kids would end up in the living room upstairs staring at our console TV.
"Yes", she said "don't you remember all the parties we used to have?" I said I sorta remembered. "We used to have parties all the time. Our family would come up from Bristol and you kids would have to sleep on the floor. We weren't going to let them drive home after the amount of alcohol they'd consume." WHAT?!??!?! Even in my hungover daze, I was floored. Shocked even. She always only talked about the one time she tried alcohol and couldn't feel her legs. Nothing talking about crazy drunkfests!!
Then she said it, quite possibly the best compliment ever given: "you're just like your father - you really enjoy having everyone over your house. He used to love to have parties and loved to tell jokes and laugh." She went on to say that she didn't really care for it, she's more of a homebody. But, boy, did my Dad ever love to have a good time!
Yup, in that regards Mom, you're absolutely right. I really enjoy being surrounded by friends and laughter - just like my Daddy.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Necessities ...
My mother was watching the Spanish version of Judge Judy last night. She got all fired up when the case has something to do with a father wanting to leave the mother because the three kids did not have their own bedrooms in their home. This through my mom into a tizzy.
She was raised poor. Like, dirt poor. Her mother would get hole-filled socks from the soldiers at the "Castelo" and use just the like tube part of the socks to sew all together to make a blanket for my Mom and my aunts. She tells stories of how they would have to wash their clothes every day to hang it out to dry to be ready for the next day of school. Can you imagine? Wearing the same thing everyday to school because you really don't have anything else?
The court case on the Spanish channel got her talking about the fact that the house in which she grew up only had one bedroom. I know this because we visited the house when we went to Terceira with my parents in '87. I remember wondering how 6 girls and the parents all slept in that house. I think I might've asked that question, but I didn't really pay attention to the answer. I was only 13, and there were far more important things (like chasing chickens) to be done.
Last night she told the story that her parents would sleep in one bed, and then 4 of the sisters would sleep in another bed - three laying side-by-side and the fourth laying across the foot of the bed. My mother would go sleep at an aunt's house, and my other aunt was not living with them at the time (she was much older) and was staying at yet another relatives. She said though that it didn't seem to bother them. Something about such closeness probably made it nice to sleep. Their mattress though was not something like we have today. It was hay, wrapped with a sheet. But, they were ok. They were all ok. And they were close. As close as they could be.
She went on a rant that the guy on the TV was crazy. That kids don't need all the junk that they're given today. What they need is to be raised by parents that care, and that love them. They don't need the latest gadgets and toys.
Got me thinking about my own upbringing. We didn't have the latest anything. My Mom made our clothes. (My brother and I have so many pictures of matching outfits it's crazy.) But looking back, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Because what we did have was parents that love us. Sure, they were tough and strict. But it's because they wanted us to be raised to be productive and responsible adults, so they were parents - not friends (there's a huge difference). Honestly though, I don't remember what DIDN'T have, I only remember that my Dad would be the first person outside to play in the puddles during summer rain, that my Mom would have a cooler packed to go to Goddard Park as soon as my Dad got home from work, and that my parents, in their own way, encouraged my sense of spirit and self.
I think my Mom remembers her upbringing similarly - it's not about the things you didn't have, but more about the treasured moments.
She was raised poor. Like, dirt poor. Her mother would get hole-filled socks from the soldiers at the "Castelo" and use just the like tube part of the socks to sew all together to make a blanket for my Mom and my aunts. She tells stories of how they would have to wash their clothes every day to hang it out to dry to be ready for the next day of school. Can you imagine? Wearing the same thing everyday to school because you really don't have anything else?
The court case on the Spanish channel got her talking about the fact that the house in which she grew up only had one bedroom. I know this because we visited the house when we went to Terceira with my parents in '87. I remember wondering how 6 girls and the parents all slept in that house. I think I might've asked that question, but I didn't really pay attention to the answer. I was only 13, and there were far more important things (like chasing chickens) to be done.
Last night she told the story that her parents would sleep in one bed, and then 4 of the sisters would sleep in another bed - three laying side-by-side and the fourth laying across the foot of the bed. My mother would go sleep at an aunt's house, and my other aunt was not living with them at the time (she was much older) and was staying at yet another relatives. She said though that it didn't seem to bother them. Something about such closeness probably made it nice to sleep. Their mattress though was not something like we have today. It was hay, wrapped with a sheet. But, they were ok. They were all ok. And they were close. As close as they could be.
She went on a rant that the guy on the TV was crazy. That kids don't need all the junk that they're given today. What they need is to be raised by parents that care, and that love them. They don't need the latest gadgets and toys.
Got me thinking about my own upbringing. We didn't have the latest anything. My Mom made our clothes. (My brother and I have so many pictures of matching outfits it's crazy.) But looking back, I wouldn't have had it any other way. Because what we did have was parents that love us. Sure, they were tough and strict. But it's because they wanted us to be raised to be productive and responsible adults, so they were parents - not friends (there's a huge difference). Honestly though, I don't remember what DIDN'T have, I only remember that my Dad would be the first person outside to play in the puddles during summer rain, that my Mom would have a cooler packed to go to Goddard Park as soon as my Dad got home from work, and that my parents, in their own way, encouraged my sense of spirit and self.
I think my Mom remembers her upbringing similarly - it's not about the things you didn't have, but more about the treasured moments.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Rain? Time to play ...
Saturday I was talking to my Mom .. and she asked me if I remember playing in the puddles with my Dad. Do I remember? Of couse I do! It's one of my favorite memories. She said that my Dad couldn't wait to go outside and play in the rain ... we used to head out there and splash around in the puddles to our heart's content.
You see - we didn't have any grass. So the yard was just one big parking lot. It would accumulate lots of puddles. The more to play in!!
My Mom said that he loved playing around, making people laugh .. and mostly he really enjoyed being with us.
I guess it's an appropriate memory, with yesterday being Father's Day and all.
You see - we didn't have any grass. So the yard was just one big parking lot. It would accumulate lots of puddles. The more to play in!!
My Mom said that he loved playing around, making people laugh .. and mostly he really enjoyed being with us.
I guess it's an appropriate memory, with yesterday being Father's Day and all.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
aww man ....
It's been awhile, life has a way of just getting in the way ... I really need to step up the posting and gather stories from my Mom while she's still around to tell them. I'm sad to say that I don't have any stories from her to post right now. I know that I've listened to a few of them, and I keep thinking I'm going to remember them ... but I don't. It bums me out that I can't even recall one story. Especially when every day when I get home from work, she usually has a story or two for me.
I'll be better at this .... promise.
I'll be better at this .... promise.
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