Name YOUR Big and Small Moments of Lasting Joy

My gerontologist friend, Karen Everett Watson, sends me uplifting articles to post when I get too busy at the Villas to write some myself.  Here’s a nice one that she just sent me about memories… Aileen Brazeau.

 Karen says….

Looking back at my life, pivotal memories flood my mind and always bring a smile to my face. Some of those moments in time were of special occasions but more by far were the ordinary days that hold tiny snippets of audacious memories of pure joy.

 I was only four when my granddaddy died. I only remember him as the big, kind man who always wore overalls when he worked around the farm. I'll always remember his huge 6 ft. 5 in. frame coming through the kitchen door. He smiled when he saw that I was awake. "Karen, you got up too late to feed the birds," he said. 

Later I found out he was talking about his chickens. My granny asked me what I wanted for breakfast. My reply was, "Cream corn and orange pop." It was the best breakfast I ever ate! When my mother woke up, she tried to hide her mortification!

 That was the last time I saw my granddaddy. Later that year he died of a massive heart attack. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people. All my cousins were there and the day we left we were able to play together for the last time on the 160 acre homestead. Just before we left, my daddy went out to the pasture and caught his old mare, Goldie. One by one, he put each of the kids on her back and led us around the farm yard for our last ride on his beloved Buckskin.

 It may sound like a sad memory, but honestly I look back and I'm so thankful I remember. It seems that red Oklahoma dirt has always ran in my veins and the connection with family and home were cemented that day on Granddaddy's farm.

 I was about three or four when we lived in Southern California. My favorite time of the day was early in the morning. Momma let me watch Captain Kangaroo and when his show was over, Jack LaLanne would say, "Boys and girls go get your mommies. It's time to exercise!" So I would go get momma, who weighed about 100 lbs. soaking wet and we would exercise with Jack. It's is just a simple memory, but it still brings me joy to think about those ordinary days spent with my momma.

 At one time or another, most of my momma's brothers lived with us. My first "roommate/uncle" was my Uncle Jerry Don. He was very tall and had bright red hair. He could do anything – literally, and still can. Daddy was working two jobs and going to Barber School, so often it would just be momma, Uncle Jerry Don and me for dinner. It's a silly memory, but it still brings a smile to my face.

 I ate most of my dinner one night, but since I hated vegetables, I kept playing with my peas and carrots. Uncle Jerry Don said, "Karen, eat those peas and those carrots. Don't you know that peas make you pretty and carrots taste like candy?" I looked at his face to see if he was serious. It seemed to me he was, so I took a big bite. That was the last time I took advice about food from my Uncle Jerry Don! I still feel mad I fell for that line! And I remember how lonely I felt when my uncle moved out.

 Probably like you, I have thousands of other pivotal moments and seemingly trivial times that still bring me great joy to ponder like the birth of my children, walking down the aisle with my momma on one side and my daddy on the other. There's the time we took the three kids out to our new country property and watched them run through the golden grass. It was a dream come true to hear their laughter on the two acre home site.

 The first time I saw my daughter with her new boyfriend, I knew he'd be a keeper. That was over a dozen years ago and they’re still madly in love. Seeing my grandchildren born was pure joy and a privilege to be right there when they took their first breaths. How awesome is that!

 I'm so glad I have all these memories to cherish. While the actual time they took place lasted only for moments, the joy they bring to me have lasted so very long. So, if you're lucky enough to have older loved ones, ask them about the pivotal, and the trivial times they remember with great joy. You will learn so much about who they really are and you'll have stories to tell your own children and grand kids.

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 See what I mean about Karen’s letters to me? There’s always a great message for all of us to ponder and maybe even apply in our OWN lives.

 Aileen

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San Clemente Villas provides full-service, luxury assisted living to those over the age of 65. It is at 660 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, CA 92673. Phone: (949) 289-1534 | Fax: (949) 234-0081. Contact: Aileen Brazeau, Co-Owner of San Clemente Villas by the Sea. www.SanClementeVillas.com | abrazeau@cox.net.

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