Morsels of Mimi

1. I sat in the swing and thought about you for awhile. Now I am out back sitting by the pool still thinking about you. I have decided...we’re going to pray harder for you. I want you to have the life you deserve.
2. My Dear Jody- Gotta get up, go inside and find another pen. Be right back. Don’t go away. I’m back. That just took about 15 seconds. Oh man, got another bad one, I think. Once you find a good pen, you gotta hang onto it. 
3. It’s a frosty morning looking down over the Farmhouse hill. More snow moving in Friday. 
4. Dear Jody. As always, we enjoyed your weekend at the Farmhouse. I am sure you have noticed; I find myself looking at you, just to be sure you are here. 
5. I hope you got my message on white shoes last night when I called. I DO NOT wear white shoes after Labor Day. So I called to tell you that I was wearing them until Midnight. (By the way, in my opinion rubber flip flops are out after Labor Day too, but fabric ones are ok.)
6. “Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight.” Psalm 119:35
7. Today is the day we clean up all the pans we didn’t feel like doing last night, put the leftovers in the fridge, so we can throw them away on Friday, wash the clothes we must have, mail my grandaughter’s mail, get a $5 pizza, and go to the ballgame.
8. By the time you get this, we will probably have a decision on Pa’s shoulder. It is very painful. I’m going to have to put an ad in the paper for kitchen help while he is “down”. He helps me so much; marry a man like him.
9. (An excerpt from Pa at the bottom of one of her letters) “Believe it or not, Mars has a full lap on the moon. It may pass it tonight. Hon, keep looking up. Things are going to be better for you.-Your Pa”
10. You know, my mom was a big fan of wrestlers “back then”. Maybe its in your genes from her.
11. I have eaten deviled ham since 1949. This is one of my memories of how my mom presented it to me. When leaf lettuce was in season, she would carefully lay out freshly washed lettuce on a plate, with a fresh loaf of bread, a jar of Miracle Whip, and the deviled ham would be turned upside down of the can and put beside the lettuce. Presentation is important.
12. You matter. (written on a torn piece of a grocery store paper bag, with a $5 bill clipped to it.)
13. I feel like people fail to include you on the simple things that go on. For instance, we are getting an asphalt street at our new Westwood Estates. That to Jr. is a thrill. It will sell a lot better.
14. I haven’t yet wiped the smile from my face because I talked to you today. 
15. It’s a gorgeous day here. The trees (purple & yellow) are so pretty. Also the white Bradford pear tree. Pa brought in some branches of crabapple to put in a vase. 
16. The visiting minister did a good job at church today. Of course everyone prefers your dad to anyone that comes in.
17. When I talked to you today, I could imagine all of you out and about on a beautiful Sunday. You sound like all is well. I’ll finish this letter tomorrow before we go pick up our $5 pizza.
18. Your mom and Sally get more alike every day. Last night Syd was looking at the altar area at church where Sal was and she said, “I have to go in front of her to see if it’s Mom or Tammy.”
19. If I knew anything would happen today that would be interesting to write, I wouldn’t mail this, but I think I’ll go ahead and get it out with our IRS letters. I also have a 50th anniversary present to drop off at your Aunt Dot’s.
20. (written on a small envelope) Pa is out going 60mph on the Dixon mower that he thinks is a toy. We are all predicting a wreck on the front hill.
21. I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing James Taylor with your mom. I was going to send him some home canned pickles, but we spent most of them on our Montauk trip.
22. Have a good safe long enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. Next year let’s try to plan it around when you are here to enjoy the family time taking flowers to the graves of your ancestors.
23. (On the back of one letter, she wrote “Everybody Loves Raymond, a new show.” Then she crossed out Raymond and wrote “Jody”)
24. It’s Monday evening at 7:30. I forgot it was $5 pizza day and made spaghetti. It’s ok though because Shea, Chip and all their kids ate and took Brady a doggy bag.
25. Jordan is staying with us while your mom and dad are in Hawaii. He called them at 7am to ask about his disc man...before I could remind him it was wee morning hours there. 
26. I guess I’m going to “climb on” the bus and go see Benny Hinn on Friday. Don’t you love phrases like Climbing in the car or climbing in the shower. I always get a mental picture.
27. I went to Wal-Mart and bought two 5 quart pails of ice cream. One strawberry ripple, the other chocolate ripple. That’ll take care of those kids. It was a decent brand, but a pint of Hagen Daz strawberry fell off on me, so I ate that one. If I’m going to eat ice cream it has to be pricey.
28. Brooke just got old enough to join Cass & Syd for gymnastics. This is her second week. She said she’s getting a LEO-tard.
29. Jordan got player of the game for a great football experience. He will have his picture in the paper. He said “I wish my whole family could have been there.” 
30. Stay in safety zones, ok?
31. I think cold air will come in for the weekend...along with this silly time change. Why do they do that?
32. (On several cards she let Brooke, who is now 10, “write” which consisted of scribbles and an translation from Mimi)
33. When you come home, take a good look at Jordan. He just doesn’t look like he feels good. So tired looking. I think maybe it’s his haircut. He’s so “pretty” but I don’t think the new hair looks good on him.
34. Your mom just breezed through. She looked pretty in khaki shorts, red top, and nice tan legs.
35. I’m going to motor to the village and mail this early because you’re coming home this week.
36. Stevie Wonder came on with our song last night, and I had to turn the Boze off.
37. (Sydney, now 13, 5 at the time, scribbled on an offering envelope from church, and Mimi included it in her weekend letter.) 
38.   Guess I’d better brush the dust off my legal pad, and get you a note. 
39. I got a hair cut today. My hair doesn’t look pretty like your’s, but I can see where I’m going now.
40. We went into church late last night. All I could see in our pew was a reindeer puppet doing its puppet thing, singing and clapping. Of course, it was Syd. I laughed so hard. Sally was in the choir loft trying to hold a laugh back. 
41. Your Pa loves you more than he writes.
42. Wish you were here and could come over to play.
43. I received a pack of free assorted address labels. The one I used today expresses my love for the old show “Northern Exposure.” I’m the old lady storekeeper on the show.
44. Thank you for my pretty mug that your mom says you sent me. She hasn’t brought it to me yet, but I’m sure I’ll love it. 
45. Be careful where you go and what you see.
46. Thinking about (an ex-boyfriend who I won’t name). I truly think if everyone would confess, they all have a (name) in their life. You will reach a point that it will only be a memory. It won’t always hurt.
47. “At Baghdad’s Door” is the headline I saw through the yellow plastic wrap of the daily paper. This is April 4, 2003. Maybe it will be over soon. If it’s not, I’m going to have all my “war” water, spam, and beanie weenies eaten up.
48. It’s the first Monday morning of November, and I don’t even have my turkey bought. 
49. (When I was getting ready to move home). Jody, remember, you aren’t banned from Nashville. You can always go back. I truly believe it’s God’s Will that you come to Salem right now. I never put pressure on my prayers to bring you back. Needless to say, I am thrilled to have you home. Be safe in your packing, and sweet in your goodbyes, so you’ll always have a bridge.
50. A little trivia, when I was a little girl, if you had a son or loved one in the military, you displayed stars of how many of your family were in the service in your windows.
51. It’s 4:44am and I’m having my morning coffee...two mugs. I also have a stashed long john (eclair) that I will warm by the fireplace before eating. No one will ever know.
52. I wish you could have been here yesterday to meet cousins at Betty’s funeral. They were the tallest people. My mom would say “Moon Fixers.”
53. Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that you’re dating a boy that people call “Storm”? (When I was dating a Wrestler, that indeed was named Storm)
54. (She sometimes sent me blank cards so I could re-use them)
55. Your mom has been knee deep in flowers the last few days. She and Pa are so much alike when it comes to yard work.
56. Just know that when everything goes bad, it will all “come out in the wash”. That’s one of my mom’s best lines.
57. I was looking at something interesting on TV. The new stain resistant fabric? I mean, the stuff just rolls off your shirt! Do you think they’re fibbing?
58. I went to pick Sydney up from ‘gynastics’ as she calls it. This is how our conversation went on the way home. “That was keith, who is Natalie’s grandpa. I don’t know his last name. That girl is named Sam, and I don’t know if they are going to get a baby or not. You can’t buy babies at the store. Arthur (from tv) bought a baby at the store but real people can’t. I’m going to stay at your house a long time. 
59. Chip commented the other day “Jody is getting to go places people like me will never see.” Get some traveling under your belt, kid.
60. Just couldn’t get a letter off the drawing board this week, so I decided to send a card.
61. It’s voting day today, and it’s rainy. I don’t really want to go in to vote, but I guess I will. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do.
62. I have a new farmhouse key to send you, but post office regulations are so much like airports I’m scared they might keep your mail because of the metal. 
63. Are you still getting skinny? Don’t get lost. I’d much rather be fat...that way I can always be found.
64. Trying to climb out of the weekend debris again this morning. I’d like another day on the weekends, but I guess that’d just make the debris that much worse.
65. Went to a little birthday party last night where they had a coconut dip that was served with shortbread cookies. If I get the recipe I’ll send it to you. But I probably won’t.
66. It’s 11:11...Jodygirl where are you?
67. Has the Holiday Season got into your person yet? It seems to be approaching fast. I like to take a minute for Thanksgiving along the way.
68. (She cut out of a magazine) “Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding the third.”
69. Have you seen the moon lately? It’s worth looking at.
70. Remember on your fourth birthday when we played in the rain? I’d like to go jump in some puddles with you now.
71. Songs have a way of reminding us of all sorts of things, don’t they?
72. One of these days you’ll understand just how much parents care about their kids. I hope I’m here to see it for yourself.
73. Your mom breezed through this morning on her way to town. She does that on most days. She had just talked to you, and it made me happy to hear that you’re happy.
74. Your Dad asked everyone in his message last night, “Why do you really come to church?” Sydney was sitting on my lap, and she said, “Because I love Jesus and because my mom and dad won’t leave me at the house by myself.”
75. If you were here, I’d order you all the Personal Pan pizzas your little heart desires, and then you could sit around and watch Cosby all day long.
76. Take good care of yourself, you belong to me.