A Walk Down Memory Lane

Hello and welcome back:


 I know it has been forever since I have updated my blog, for that I apologize, I really dont have any excuse except for the fact that I have been busier then a 3 legged dog trying to scratch a turd off a frozen pond. I have discovered a few things in the last little while during my nightly me time of sitting in a room all by myself, doing nothing but thinking. It's kind of funny when you think of certain memories that you thought you had forgotten come rushing back when you actually take the time to close your eyes and carry yourself away from the stresses of life. So sit back, get comfy and join me on a trip down memory lane.


 I celebrated my 34th birthday last week, and Im not sure why memories started flooding in, maybe it was my brain telling me,, honey you aint getting any younger you better try to remember everything now while you can, whichever the case may be Im not sad I took that stroll down memory lane, it made me realize just how blessed and loved I am.  


 Trevor was able to be home with me the night before my birthday, he bought me the sweetest miniture cake, as well as a piece of cheesecake, we sat outside drinking coffee, and me eating cheesecake, no matter how often I asked if he wanted a bite, he kept smiling saying nope that ones all yours.  All of a sudden I felt a lump in my throat and my eyes got teary, I said to myself sweet jesus dont tell me Im allergic to cheesecake too, self replied no your not allergic your just mellowing with old age, it happens. Still not sure if I like this self person, but sometimes she has some good ideas.  So here I am sitting in a camp chair, my mooselegs up to my ears, gorging on delicious cheesecake given to me with the utmost love and all I can do is do my best not to break down and cry.


 Awhile later when Trevor said at midnight I can be the first to say happy birthday to you and I replied, no my birthday isnt technically until 8:20am, I knew why I was having a mental breakdown and not a deadly food allergy. You see, my dad always used to call me at 8:20am on my birthday and say" on this day (and how many years ago it was) I was out of town hauling a load of steel, when Ralph Savage called me on the CB, he said Town Drunk(that was dad's handle, he even had a belt that said that) are you on the air, Dad replied 10-4 rubber duck. Ralph said I just wanted to let you know that at 8:20am this morning you became the proud daddy of a gorgeous bouncin baby girl, my dad would then go on to tell me, that was the best message he ever got and one he would never  forget. Its been 8 years since we lost dad, and 8 years since I got that birthday phone call, I miss those the most.


  I also thought back to all the things my mom has done for me, now mom isnt your huggy kissy I love you kind of mom, you know your loved, just not told often, at least not in words, instead she shows you in other ways. That woman worked at least 3 jobs while not only raising all of us 9 kids but also had her mother in law live with her for 30 years and believe me I dont think that was always easy. But no matter how tired mom was she always made time for us, be it going sliding, playing cards, going swimming or making us the best ever homemade birthday cakes made into any design you could ever imagine, those cakes were the envy of any neighbourhood kid, most of them got a boughten cake or a betty crocker cake mix with matching betty crocker frosting, but not us kids, only homemade would do, I asked her once what her secret recipe was, she said LOVE. I remember most the teddybear cake she made for me complete with peanutbutter icing, chocolate chips and most of all,. love.


 I am fortunate enough to not only have a few siblings, I have ALOT, 8 in total, I am the youngest bringing the grand total of 9, us Craig kids made up our very own baseball team, a neighbourhood kid once told mom she loved coming to our house because it was just like the waltons, and she was right, we had a mother and father, a grandmother and a shitload of kids, but I dont remember us ever going to bed saying goodnight to each sibling, hell it would be morning before we ever got done.  I am quite close to my siblings, and have great memories of each of them. 

 Another memory that came to mind was my uncle Fred, he will be 80 next month but in my eyes will always remain young, never married and still lives in the old homestead, he was like a grandfather to me, my gramp died when I was 3 and I dont remember him, so uncle fred was next in line. I would go there to visit and he always had time for me, be it taking me out fishing, or letting me hang out with him in his taxidermy shop, I could touch anything that I wanted, so long as I washed my hands afterwards, cause in his words, theres no way in hell Im taking the wrath of your mama.  One time I went up and was proudly showing him my brand new cabbage patch doll my brother Ken bought me for christmas, his named was Donald he was bald, he was beautiful and he was all mine.  Uncle Fred took notice of donalds offical tattoo on his arse to proove that he wasnt a knock off cabbage patch doll. He said to me, come here I will make you a cabbage patch doll, he yanked down my drawers, bloomers and all and signed with a red pen, Fred D Grant on my bare arse.  It stayed on there for a week , no matter how often or how long I soaked my ass, and truth to be told, I was rather sad when it finally faded away, not many kids can say they got a tattoo at the age of 7. Now whenever I see him, he always asks, you still a cabbage patch doll, memories sweet childhood memories.

 While driving with Trevor to Nova Scotia last weekend, the sun glinted off the ring he gave me a few years back on my birthday, it has 3 diamonds, when he gave it to me he said, there are 3 diamonds , one for each of the boys, it was a promise ring, to show me that he promised to stay with me and someday an engagement ring would be on the finger my promise ring is on now.  I didnt know he was coming home that day because the day before he had sent me flowers(all my favorite kinds) as well as balloons, they had dragonflies and butterflies on them, the balloons and flowers are in my closet, a constant reminder of how much he loves me to remember that I collect butterflies and dragonflies as well as what flowers are my favorite.  I also cant part with the pair of monkey pajamas I was wearing when he gave me that ring, hopefully when he asks me to marry him I wont be in pajamas.

 So there you have it, when you take time for yourself, and close your eyes and open your ears its amazing what fond memories come trickling back to you just to show you how loved and truly blessed you are. May you all be blessed with love, laughter, family and friends and may you all be so happy you to can say "I'm so happy I could shit rainbows and fart fairy dust"