These Are Moments 'I' Remember

By now, Keara may be wishing she had published my 'Ramblings' at the end of 2009. That being said, here is another one.

It seems there are always those moments in life that are like haunting melodies, they keep cropping up in my mind. The ones that are not fun, I like to push to the background. Then there are those that make remem-
bering very pleasurable. Here are some I would like to share with you.
I won't dig too deep however.
Realizing the 'kids' were going to leave the nest. Paul first on his Mission and then out on his own to make a life of his own. Quite a change in the household.
Experiencing the changes in the kids as they struggled making the choices that came along. Some were pretty exciting, while some were scarey. It wasn't what they were that brought the feelings, rather it was the trying to stay out of the way while they had them. Being parents can bring some pretty trying times. I guess it goes along with that saying: "if experience is the best teacher, how come it has such a bad reputation?" You know as much as parents hope to avoid the pitfalls of life for their children, the more they learn, each has to find out in their own way. Guidance needs to be part of the experience, true, but not interference at all the wrong times. It doesn't take long to learn. The first rule is to never say: "Oh, my kid would never do that!"
Making moves when Jays' work needs dictated it. Hard on the kids and not a breeze for me either, but in each case, the family was concidered as much as could be. Finding in each case how the way was paved with the most remarkable circumstances.
How do you take care of the responsibilities of the house? Lets see!
When Jay went into the Navy for the Korean Conflict, we had been through such a hard time losing our first home in Norwalk. Now how could we manage keeping the one in Rivera? The story of Jay's recall went through the neighborhood. Someone came to the front door and asked if we were going to rent the house? Of course we had to. We had just bought the house and replaced our car. Two pretty big payments that any job I might get would hardly meet the expenses. The Navy wasn't going to lend that much to our income either. This couple had been living in a Trailer and promised they would take care of the property for us. We had little choice, and the offer from both sides was acceptable, so Paul and I moved in with my parents and left our house, furnished, to be cared for by 'renters'.
When work was slow for the 'transit mixer' Jay went with other 'Bandits' looking for work someplace North. Jay and Uncle Mack found work in Taft for their Trucks. The Oilfields and the California Aquaduct would keep them busy. After some months of trying to work away from home it was decided we should move the family. Paul was to be a Senior and Dawn was finishing up her 6th grade. Not an ideal time to be moving schools. Then there was the house. Again the news was all over the neighborhood. The kids complaining about having to leave, etc. One day, again, someone came to the front door and asked if we were going to sell. You guessed it, a contract was agreed upon, and with little trouble we packed up and moved to Taft.
Jay had been looking for a home for us. A Minister of one of the local Churches had bought a new home, under construction, then got upset with the congregation and moved out of town. The house was available, Jay had been working in the Tract so went to the Realtor and a deal was made to take over the contract - we had a home, only it wasn't ready when we moved to Taft. The Garage was finished enough we could store our furniture and 'stuff'. We lived in the tiny one bedroom apt. that Jay and Mack rented. Mack eventually moved back to Southern California to work. Jay continued on at Hartman Redimix and we lived in the Apt until the house was finished.
When, again, work ran out, Dawn was graduating from High School, so Jay went South to locate work for the Truck. He found building was at a peek in the Orange County Area, so he started looking for a place for us.
I know this sounds repaticious, but again, someone came to the door and asked if we were going to sell. The house across the street from us was for sale and the woman had looked at it but felt the price was too high. The houses were alike, only our house had a portable pool instead of a regular pool. Ours was in the ground, but of course not the value of the built in across the street. A contract was agreed upon - the house was sold.
The house we found in Anaheim was not in the most glamourous part of town, but close to Disneyland. Jay did some upgrading in the back bedroom and kitchen area. Made a closed in room off the back bedroom and painted inside and out. We were comfortable there but, Jay was ready to sell the Truck and retire. I didn't want to stay in the area. Dawn, Greg and the Grand Children were in Atascadero and Paul was still, at that time, in Bakersfield. It was a struggle, but I finally edged Jay towards a move, closer to the Kids. He wasn't sure about it, but while I was with Dawn for Shaylas' birth, I located a new Construction Area in Paso Robles that I thought was a good place for us to retire. When Jay came up he thought it might be fine, so we talked to a Realtor about selling the house in Anaheim. Not good news. She said property in the area was not moving and the price Jay wanted was way out of line. She would list the house, but had little hope it would sell. Jay had a few things he wanted to clean up, so we waited to list the house until April. The Realtor came by on the 15th and said she had brought the wrong sign so she would be back the next morning to post the house. We said: "OK".
She returned at 9 a.m. to put up the sign. Jay was home, but I was at work. He went to work later. When we got home that evening we found a whole bunch of people standing in the street outside the house. We lived on a Cul-da-sac (sp). Our Realtor came over and asked if we could leave as there was someone who wanted to see the house. We agreed, changed our clothes and went to dinner. We came back a couple of hours later. Our phone rang and the Realtor asked if we would talk to another Realtor who was interested in the house. They came at about 9 p.m. Long story short, the Realtor himself had been around when these houses were built and thought they were 'awful'. He only came to see the house as a listing for his firm. When he came in and saw the changes that Jay had made he was shocked and surprised. He decided he would like to buy the house for his Daughter and her Husband. The only trouble, he wanted to use his own financing. That ment we would have to take the house off the market for 24 hours, re-list it for $1000.00 more than what we had listed it for to make up for the finance changes. Can you believe it? Well it is true.
When the LORD is ready for you to move, HE opens doors and windows to make it possible.

One warm evening in Taft when our front yard was full of young people, as it generally was, by the way - Dawn asked if she could go on a Motorcycle with a friend. Her Dad has just gone to bed, leaving instructions she was not to go riding on one of those Motors. The pleading and assurance things would be O.K. made me give way. Off they went. Didn't get far until one Motor ran into the back of another and Dawn was thrown off. A phone call came, to come to the Hospital. You will no doubt appreciate what it was like for me to go wake Jay and tell him. We made it to the Hospital with my being chastised all the way there. Thank goodness Taft is a 'small town'. The injuries were serious enough to keep Dawn down for some time. I doubt if Jay ever forgave me for not following his 'order'.
The phone call telling us Greg and Dawn had been in an Auto Accident on their way back from a visit in Paso Robles while Greg was still in the Marines. What a night. Waiting can be 'forever' under the circimstances.
It wasn't as bad as it could have been. We were greatful the circumstances were not serious, just scarey.

Learning that we were to be Grand Parents. I know it had a great deal different meaning for me than it did for Jay. I was thrilled at having another Baby to hold and love. Jay on the other hand was worried about 'his little girl'. It was that way, four times in a row. The wonder of the Baby for Jay came 'after' the birth.

Learning our Grand Daughter was going to be married. Who was this guy? Keara said: "Oh Grandma, I've known him for a long time, he use to live in Atascadero". With that kind of information, how could I not love him? Still do!!
Realizing our Grand Son had found 'the girl'. Met her 'on the job' and could see just what he ment. We are fortunate that the kids had such great judgement. Two down two to go.
The phone rang - Nemiha announces she is getting married. Well, who is this guy? Well they met at the Apt. she was sharing with friends. He was the maintence guy. Sooooo? Guess what, he is a GREAT hugger! Just what every Grandma is looking for. In fact when his advice to me was to go down to the Niblick Bridge and wrap my arms around one of the supports under the bridge as exercise until he could meet me - he won me over completely. We have been hugging ever since!
Then there was Shayla - the last of the Great Ones! She brought this fella over to meet me at the Apt I had in Salt Lake City, while on my Second Mission. They had been to a Musical at Temple Square where his Mother sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (He sings too.) Nice fella. I showed her the group picture of all the other family who had gotten married. Informing her that her picture would replace the one of her parents in the group when she got married. Her reply was swift and to the point: "Oh, Grandma I'm never getting married". I could tell by the look on the young mans face; that wasn't something he was anxious to hear. The next time I saw the two of them together, they were engaged.
How can you beat it, four for four. As Grand Parents we have been blessed beyond expectations.
A Son-in-law who has been the best we could have asked for, with parents to match. It has been such a blessing to have the Slane Family as part of our Family all of these years. Three more Grand Sons who so very special and such great additions to our Family as well. Then we have about the sweetest added Grand Daughter who rounds out the count just perfectly.
Since all these Grand Kids have married we have had special moments and memories of eight more editions. Can you believe the luck, four great Grand Sons and four great Grand Daughters. Who knows we could even add a couple more before these kids have their families complete.
No matter how many, the 'moments I remember' can only be more sweet an precious. Age has its' advantages. I can observe, take my pleasure and store it away in tidy little places in my memory and when I am setting quietly thinking about where I have been and what has happened, I bring out some pretty special 'moments', each having sweetness and blessings I count over and over.
One moment more special than the last because I have been so blessed to have had the best companion who gave me the opportunity to be the Mother of a Forever Family that has 'added upon' the family is such a very special and blessed way. How greatful I am for each one, and what they have added to my life. Thank You!

Written they 21st day of July 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg