A Note from Grandma

A couple of times today I heard references being made to Valentine's Day as a "fake holiday" and "a commercial holiday". Maybe that's partially true, but hey, a day set aside to give people an excuse a chance to say "I love you" and eat chocolate isn't all bad.

That being said, as I have been sorting through closets and boxes, I came across something I'd like to share. This was from 1999, I was taking an English Composition class an d my topic was Romance. I asked Grandma Bender to give me her thoughts on romance. This is what I found:

Grandma wrote this at the top of the piece of notebook paper so I'd known where she'd gotten her thoughts from. She didn't want me plagiarizing on a college paper after all!

 (taken from Ann Landers) 



"Love is quiet understanding and the mature acceptance of imperfection. It is real. 
It gives you strength and grows beyond you to bolster your beloved. You are warmed by his presence, even when he is away. Miles do not separate you. You want him nearer. But near or far, you know he is yours and you can trust. 

Love means trust. You are calm, secure, and un-threatened. He feels that trust and it makes him even more trustworthy. 

Love is an upper. It makes you look up. It makes you think up. It makes you a better person than you were before."

(That is real, solid romance based on the foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord.)
Grandma 


My Grandma and Grandpa were in love. Mushy, hand-holding, kiss-sneaking love. But they were also in love with Jesus Christ, and along with the example that was given of how Christ loved the church, so they too loved each other. In the good times and the bad. When they didn't agree with each and when they did. My dad, as a boy, watched his parents and learned how to honor and love his own wife someday. Then I watched my parents and I learned. Now, Leo and I are an example for our own children. Believe me, they've seen the "for better" and the "for worse", but I hope what they all remember is that the love we share with each other wouldn't be anything more than a commercial holiday "I love you" without the grace and forgiveness that comes with having God as not only the foundation, but the core of our relationship.

So now, with that being said, I am still a fan of chocolate and there may have been Mocha Brownies and milk for dessert for this Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Dianne

 

A Company Dinner Kind of Date

A date, a date,

we went on a date. 

A company banquet 

for which we were nearly late. 

  At the WP Hotel at Two Waterfront Place we arrived,

all in one piece, my driving we survived.

We hastened to the banquet hall and into the food we did dive;

For we know that in eating, we all soon would thrive. 

Leo and I, no grill or canoe would we win,

but received gift cards to Red Lobster

for another date and even more grins.

                                         The view from Floor Nine at this glorious hotel;

with a scene such as this, I believe we'll stay for a spell.

Or at least until breakfast (served promptly at eight); 

from the looks of this tray, it was going to be great. 

 "Was it great?"you may ask,

and "Was it worth the wait?"

You be the judge…

just check out this fair plate.

 But all good mornings must come to a close,

and afternoon beckons and so do the rows.

Rows? What rows? Now let me do tell,

of a bookstore so wonderful, so glorious, so swell.

Among the books numbering a million

(or so the sign said),

we soon settled in to look for award winners

among the titles we read. 

                                                    Even the husband joined in the search,

drawn in by the titles

and not the research.

And what did he find so engrossing, so gripping?

I was sure this was more than just a newspaper clipping. 

What are you reading dear husband of mine,

looking so sweet, so refined and dignified.

Not Dr. Suess, or a Caldecott Winner,

but a Junie B. Jones (I really should've known). 

For this was a favorite of our children when younger

and not a surprise that it caused him to linger. 

But then I smelled coffee 

as we made our way to the counter,

paid for our novels and continued our banter.

He got his plain with just a little whipped cream,

I got a dark chocolate mocha…oh this must be a dream. 

We got back in the car and traveled the hills,

nose pointed homeward;

back to the chill and the bills.

For everyday life resumed once again,

but a date, yes a date makes it all much less insane. 

The moral of this tale goes something like this:

 Take some time with your spouse, to renew and revive, 

to talk and to laugh, dance a waltz or a jive. 

And if what it takes is a company dinner,

don't turn it down, it's sure to be a winner. 

Love,

Dianne

The Day:Wonderful

Occasion: Our 25th anniversary
We were all set to go; Leo in the passenger seat and I, behind the wheel. Now mind you, this is not because I like to be in charge (well not all the time!), but more because sometimes his driving makes me carsick. But today, we are lovesick. It is a good thing our children are not here to see this.

Leaving the house: 12:15pm

Destination: The Cornish Manor and other places in the general vicinity of Oakland, MD that we have always wanted to visit but never take the time to do so. 

The Chef to welcome us inside off the wraparound porch. 

Located in an old "cottage", the atmosphere was vintage, charming, and oh-so Dianne. I wanted to explore all the rooms and look at all the old photos on the walls. A house with history that now serves delicious food (ahh yes, Creme Brûlée for dessert…mmmmm); what more could I ask for?

And in the same room as us? A few members of the class of 1954 that we had the pleasure of eavesdropping on as they reminisced about high school capers that no one wanted to admit to being a part of. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Of course, I had to go up those stairs! It's a good thing it's open to the public, because I had a plan that involved distraction, diversion, and division. Leo would provide all three.

Just us, reflecting on the day thus far...

 Bellies full now of seafood, Cornish potatoes, salad and warm crusty bread, we headed for our next destination. A little place called Simon Pearce. With exquisite glassware in stunning displays in the showroom, I had to resist the urge to spin around, arms outstretched just because I wanted to see the look on the hostess' face if I did it. I am pretty sure that "you break it, you buy it" really means "your bank account it now broke".

While there, we walked along the visitor's catwalk and observed the glass blowers doing what they do best. The timing and how they worked together was quite amazing to watch. I want to know who discovered that sand, when heated, makes this molten liquid that becomes pliable and can be blown into vessels. Amazing. Truly an art form.

After not breaking any glass, or our bank account, we set off to see a few local museums. As it turns out, we got to there about 15 min after they had all closed. All three of them. Another day.

But, we did watch a father and son as they worked on restoring a caboose from the B&O railroad. An Eagle Scout project that would look interesting in my yard, don't you think?










Then, since our timing was so bad with the museums, what that really meant was that we'd have more time for what I was really interested in. An Antique Mall that pretty much calls my name every single time I go by it. Today would be the day.

I am sensing endless possibilities here. 

Any place that has Currier & Ives plates is a winner with me. And old doorknobs…and books…and buttons…and linens…and vintage toys…and antique games…and old salvaged house parts, like shutters, doors and windows…and movie posters…and stuffed alligators…

Well, not the stuffed alligator. He was creepy.

So was the white cup with a clown on it that I found that I had when I was a kid. (My phone battery died, so no picture. Hey Mom, do we still have that cup?) Before it died though, I found these mugs that I think must've come from saving cereal box tops. I think my grandparents had some of these. Tang, anyone?








Not only did this place have room after room of treasures, it had hats. I like hats. Hats don't always like me though. It's a love/hate relationship.



 Maybe it was the hats.

Maybe it was the Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney crooning in the background, but this antique mall was romantic.

We even foxtrotted and didn't care if anyone saw us.

For a little while, we went our separate ways. He explored some old books and odd pieces of machinery. I checked out the eclectic display of vintage pieces in the kitchen area and lacey linens while drooling over some wardrobes. Then when I rounded the corner of a bookcase, this is what I saw:

  Ignore the book that says, "Discovery of Witches"; what I saw was my groom in the room and he was not riding a broom.

Our time visiting the past came to an end as we turned the car towards home. Looking forward to stopping at a coffee shop at The Lake, we were disappointed that it, like the museums, was not on the same time table as us.  But, had we stopped there for a coffee break, we might have missed this:

And believe me when I say, I wouldn't have missed this,

nor the last 25 years, for anything.

Not even for a cup of really good coffee. 

The Day: Wonderful

Love,

Dianne