Posts Tagged ‘dad’

I’m Not Allowed?


13 Nov

Tags: art, dad, husband, icon, mom, nightmares, religion, Virgin Mary
Posted in Humor | 10 Comments »

I’m not Catholic. I consider myself a lapsed Episcopalian since I haven’t been to church in nearly two decades.

Because I’m not Catholic, or part of any other denomination from where my lovely icons came from, I’m being told I’m being disrespectful.

Say what?

I love my rosary, which is highly black lacquered wood interspersed with brass beads from Poland. At the center of the cross there is a small magnifying dome over a very tiny printing of the Lord’s Prayer. My eyes don’t allow me to see it anymore, but I like knowing that it is there. I have it hanging on my bedpost right where I can touch it when I wake from some of my worst nightmares.

I don’t use my rosary to aid me in my prayers; I’m not sure I really know how. But do I disrespect it? No, I don’t. It brings me peace and sometimes I like wearing the rosary with my black dress (the one that my husband says makes me look like a little nun!). I rarely can go out on my own these days, and just having my rosary with me, gives me a bit of an encouragement boost to my spirit.

Here’s a photo of my most favorite icon, which I’m told I shouldn’t have hanging anywhere in my house because I’m not Catholic.

Mary_Postcard

This was a postcard that my great Aunt Lulu purchased when she visited the Vatican in 1945. My great aunt was Catholic. The postcard was given to my mother along with a prayer bible, a bookmark with the Lord’s Prayer on it and a pretty, small prayer card of silk embroidered with a prayer to the Virgin Mary.

My mom kept the postcard framed in cheap frames until she married dad in 1961 when she had it professionally framed. When I was born in 1962 mom hung the postcard in my nursery. She did the same with it for each of my brothers when they were born. I came into possession of the image after my parents divorce and when mom and I moved to Monterey, CA.

I kept the image hanging in my room until I was married. Then, for some odd reason, I hung the postcard in our bathroom behind the door. Any artist will tell you that it’s rather stupid hanging anything that is not proofed against steam and moisture in a bathroom. My mother told me quite a few times not to do that.

For sixteen years, the postcard has hung, behind the door, in various bathrooms. There is no mold, or any kind of corruption that you’d find with any other picture. The only damage it retains is from the time the framed image had some water drip upon the rough linen wrapped mat when cold weather broke some water pipes in our house in Hermann, MO and we were on vacation.

This will be buried with me because Mary has given me comfort and peace so many times in my life that I’m reluctant to let her go and I have no one to pass her onto.

Don’t tell me I’m not allowed. Peace, comfort, inspiration is available to all. No matter what form it might be in.

So, there.

Sunday Stealing: Halloween Meme


25 Oct

Tags: dad, Family, hellboy, horror, imagination, meme, Richard
Posted in memes | 6 Comments »

It’s Sunday Stealing time and this time it’s a prelude to Halloween. So, if you want a break between punkin chunkin, then join me and do this meme.

1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction?

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?

The Dune series by Frank Herbert. I even like the continuation of the series written by Frank’s son, Brian. I didn’t care much for the mini-series since it just lacked that grandiose, old world atmosphere that was in the books and in the first movie, Dune, by David Lynch.

3. Who is your favorite monster?

Hellboy, if you’re talking demon type monster. Then there is Dracula, a real vampire who doesn’t sparkle and isn’t a vegetarian. You know Dracula would have the Twilight vamps for lunch.

4. What is your favorite Horror movie?

Dracula – the original with Bela Lugosi, then the version with Frank Langella, and then the one with Gary Oldman. I also heart any horror movie with Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, or Christopher Lee.

5. What horror movie gives you the most chills?

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (because he was pretty mean to poor Max, his dog)
The Silence of the Lambs (Fava beans, anyone?)
Hellboy (Ivan, the talking, dead Russian was pretty creepy)

Hardly any of the movies give me chills because they don’t get my imagination involved. They gross me out.

6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?

Morticia Addams

7. Freddy or Jason?

Freddy – he’s got more personality than Jason does.

8. What is your favorite Halloween treat?

Candy Corn. It makes me sick, though, it’s so sweet.

9. Ghosts or goblins?

Goblins. Mainly the guys from the Harry Potter movies. Somehow it’s appropriate that they’re the bankers, financial analysts, accountants, etc. in the wizarding world.

10. Friendly-faced jack-o’-lantern or scary one?

Scary. I especially like crappily carved ones that were obviously done by kids.

11. What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal?

How about this one, Unfinished Basements?

12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

Yes. Why? Read: Cigarette Smoke.

13. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho?

None of the above.

14. Favorite Halloween costume?

There’s hundreds of really well-made costumes out there. I’m going with one I made back when I was 17. I had a long, blue satin nightgown that I paired up with a tall, conical hat with stars on it. Yeah, I was Merlin. No beard, though.

15. Best thing about Halloween?

That same year I was Merlin, the best thing was painting the faces of neighborhood kids and taking them round to various houses. That was the last time I ever did that.

16. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?

Between Richard and I? No one. I haven’t celebrated Halloween since we were married because Richard works night shift, and the kids tend to show up when he’s sleeping before going off to work.

17. Are you superstitious?

Only if it’s convenient.

The Shadow & The Walking Corpse

The Shadow & The Walking Corpse

18. Share an unusual Halloween story.

How about the Halloween when I helped dad out with a favor for a friend of his who was a funeral director? We drove in a green hearse to St. Louis, MO to pick up the body of a woman that had been run over by a steamroller. She was under a sheet, so I tried to forget about her. I was doing fine until dad turned on this late night radio station that was presenting stories about The Shadow. Good story, and I was quickly enthralled. HOWEVER…. right at the point where the narrator does this spooky, mad laugh, my dad had to hit the brakes because some idiot swerved in front of us. Dead lady’s gurney wasn’t attached properly and it sailed forward, knocking her skull into mine. I dove into the well under the glove compartment. Dad was laughing. I didn’t move from my spot until we got back home.

19. What did you do for Halloween as a kid?

Dressed up, went out (at night!), tricked people out of their candy, and then went home where we ate it until we were sick.

20. What’s the best Halloween party that you’ve attended?

I have never gone to a Halloween party.

Cigarette Smoke & No One Is Smoking


15 Oct

Tags: dad, Family, smoke
Posted in History, Humor | No Comments »

webbI can’t stand the smell of lit cigarettes. My throat just closes instantly. When I was growing up, since both my parents smoked, it was sometimes difficult. At least I had my own room (smoke free) that I could retreat to.

My mother finally quit smoking for good after she and dad divorced. She probably added a few years onto her life.

Dad never could quite quit the habit and died at age 54 from a variety of complications, due in most part to his smoking. When we left his funeral, and left Branson, MO where he died, I thought I would never smell cigarette smoke again.

I should have known better.

Dad, who always thought I was the more metaphysical one, and I were talking on the phone a few months before he died. He reminded of the time we’d talked about Harry Houdini and how Houdini had created a secret code that only his wife would know, if it appeared, after his death. Dad had a theory that the reason it never worked, that no mediums or what-nots could reach Houdini in the beyond because he himself had been far too much of a skeptic.

Dad told me there were things that went bump in the night, and that he began to believe more in such supernatural things as he got older. The really cool thing was that he wasn’t afraid. Not one bit. It’s too bad that shows like Ghost Hunters wasn’t around while he was still alive; he would have gotten a kick out of them. Heck, I think he would have volunteered to work with the TAPs guys.

Dad told me that time on the phone that since he did believe, he was going to visit whomever he could and however he could. I’ve talked to several family members, including his mother (grandma – to us kids) and they have all reported either dreams, or sensing dad’s presence, or smelling aromas that they associated with dad.

Aunt Sue, dad’s littlest sister told me that for a few months after dad died she’d be walking into the kitchen (which would be empty and quiet) and her eyes would start to prickle and her forehead would break out in a sweat. Aunt Sue’s husband and dad cooked “real” Mexican chili every now and then, and for any hapless wanderer who didn’t have a beer with them during the cooking process, would experience similar effects.

I think I wouldn’t mind the chili aroma…. maybe.

And that leads me right back to cigarette smoke. When I feel my dad’s presence, it’s always heralded by the odor of cigarette smoke. I cannot see the smoke, but I begin to cough, and my throat wants to close up. The minute I acknowledge that it is dad nearby, the disagreeable odor fades away, and I’m left with a smile. I know he’s wandering off, and he’s probably chuckling to himself.

After all, dad succeeded where Houdini didn’t, and who wouldn’t laugh over that?

I Have Been Here Before

I am seeking a question.