WC #15: New Year's Eve 2013!

So, what came first? Travolta? The BeeGees? Disco? Or Saturday Night Fever?
Well, obviously John Travolta and the brothers Gibb were born before the other two were, but did disco music exist before the brothers created the soundtrack and did disco dancing exist before Travolta hit the big screen?

Well, yeah. They did. We were already dancing at the clubs and there were other disco artists, but the movie Saturday Night Fever took it all to a whole new level! (And that brings on memories of Disco Dance lessons at the "Y" with my sister-in-law Amy, but that's a whole separate blog...)

So, why on earth am I blogging about disco and Saturday Night Fever on New Year's Eve? Well, simple progression and regression....

So, I'm sitting quietly in my apartment tonight, anticipating a calm evening at home, praying that the upstairs neighbors aren't having a party or, almost as bad, going out and leaving the dog home alone to howl all night, and what should come on TV but "Saturday Night Fever!" It took me back in years, remembering the New Year's Eves I spent on dates with Randy, which then took me back to high school memories, and back to childhood memories and then back up to today! So let's walk through the memories of my mind!

My earliest memory of New Year's Eve was about 1965. Both brothers were out of the house by then. My parents had some friends over and I was being allowed to stay up til midnight! Thinking this would be a special treat and SO exciting, I kept watching TV, waiting for the excitement to begin. Although this video was from a few years before (1957 to be exact), it was pretty much the same level of excitement....

To say I was disappointed is putting it mildly! It was the generation of Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits and the 4 Seasons and all I had to watch on TV was Guy Lombardo & his Royal Canadians?!?!?! I remember thinking they really needed to put on a TV show geared toward kids who are stuck at home with their parents!

In subsequent years, I didn't trust TV to entertain me and relied on myself to find something entertaining to do; especially after I met Lanie and we could entertain one another... even if the excitement was going to the bowling alley to watch Al & Marcia bowl!

Now, I don't know how many other people this happens to, but throughout my life, I've always thought something should happen and lo and behold within a few years someone else thinks the same thing and they make it happen! 

In 1972, Dick Clark (America's Oldest Teenager until his death in 2012) did exactly that by creating his New Year's Rockin' Eve! Although it's changed over the years, here's a clip from 1975 with one of the new stars of the day, Olivia Newton-John (pre-Grease). I hear Miley Cyrus will be one of the stars performing tonight... I think I'll skip it...

Then I went to college and met Randy! New Year's Eve 1974 was the first really exciting, celebratory New Year's Eve I ever had. Randy took me to his favorite bar in Champaign, Illinois: Chances R. My first New Year's Eve of age to drink, but it wasn't the beer, champagne or wine that I could drink that was exciting... it was the dancing and being with Randy. It was our second date, there was a great band playing a lot of songs from the 60s and early 70s and I got my first New Year's kiss! In fact, I got three of them. (I'm not going to count all the other guys who were at our table who felt it was their responsibility and right to kiss EVERY girl at the table... and I REALLY prefer to forget the jerk that thought it was his right to shove his tongue down every girl's throat in the process!)

In spite of our on-again, off-again relationship over the next four years, Randy and I managed to be together every New Year's Eve for the next twenty until, working for the Cates Company, he had to be out of town. It was one thing I could always count on; Randy & me and a great New Year's celebration!

Since New Year's Eve was always special for us and we enjoyed celebrating, we got in the habit of always inviting friends to spend the evening with us. Being LDS, we didn't have the liquor anymore, but we had plenty of goodies, punch and games galore! And as soon as the kids were old enough to be a part of the celebration, they were each allowed to have one friend over to spend the night and it was a party for all ages! With Dick Clark on the TV, around midnight everyone would watch for the countdown and when the ball dropped the Sloan family & friends all rushed outside with noise makers, pots & pans and made as much noise as we possibly could to celebrate the New Year. We have several of the celebrations preserved on old VHS tapes! We really need to convert them....

Since those days, my New Year's Eves have calmed down a lot. One by one or two by two, the kids have gone on to create their own lives with their own traditions and I really hope they're giving their kids fabulous New Year's Eve memories. 

And tonight, I sit here in my apartment alone with my Tombstone Pizza, John Travolta and my memories. I'm reflecting on the blessings in my life; the time I got to spend with my children and grandchildren in the past year; Barton's graduation and new residency in Wisconsin; a new granddaughter; my trip to Illinois and the opportunity to reconnect with my brother, nieces, Mom & Dad Sloan and old high school & college friends. I also have to reflect on the losses: our dear family friend, Susan Schulthies, my cousin Bob Zielke, and most recently my sister-in-law Sue and while I recognize their passing as a loss, having known them was a blessing.

As we move into 2014, may your blessings be huge and your sorrows be small. Enjoy and appreciate all the good Lord gives you each day!

From Seattle, Happy New Year!

Proud Moments of Being a Grandmother: Part 7

Sloan & I
February, 2013

Last but not least! I've reached the end of the family birthday blogs!!! After 5 children, sons & daughters-in-law, fourteen other grandchildren and assorted other loved ones, just for the heck of it, I've come to the last family birthday for 2013! I started out the year, thinking it would be a fun way to say Happy Birthday to everyone and share special memories about each one, but I have to say I'm glad to be to the end of December....

December 27, 2006 Sloan Ryan Gailey joined our family and what a joy and blessing he has been! He was born in Pocatello, Idaho where his dad (Josh) was finishing up his requisite courses to finish his degree prior to dental school. 

Sloan's mom (Brooks) has named each of her children with either a first or middle name of special significance to the Sloan/Zielke family. Since ALL of her kids would be Gaileys, she figured it was a fair trade. Sloan received the most obvious tribute with his mother's maiden name as his first name. It caused the poor boy a little bit of confusion when he was younger... why did Grandma, Grandpa & Uncles Brandon & Barton all have his name???

His name is fitting as he matches our side of the family more than any of Brooks' other kids. He loves pink... like his Great Grandpa Sloan. He's cautious and a little bit goofy... like his mom. He's the family entertainer....like his uncles... and he's sensitive and rather nostalgic (even though he's young) like me.

Brooks frequently shares video of Sloan doing fun, uniquely Sloan things on her blog. One of the first was him dancing with Ethan around their living room. There was another of him entertaining at a ward talent show, singing and dancing to a Michael Jackson song. Then, there was the video of him singing along with the Everly Brothers in the car. Most every video of Sloan is of him entertaining himself or others.

My very favorite video of Sloan, though, is one that they captured when he was still fairly young. I have this game that I learned from my aunt..."Mousey Come." I start running my fingers up one of my baby's legs, up to their tummies and on up to the neck. As the fingers are "running," I whisper, "Mousey come, Mousey come, Mousey come" and when the fingers finally reach the neck it becomes a tickle with a "Squeeeek." Most of the grandkids enjoy this game with me; some just tolerate it, but Sloan is the only one who enjoyed it so much that he would play Mousey Come on his own leg and try to tickle himself! So glad Josh & Brooks were able to capture that one on video!

Sloan with Baby Sister Claire
February, 2013

Sloan has become a good big brother. Although you could see the love he felt for his new little sister and  he wanted to hold Claire, he didn't know exactly what to do with her when she first came home and his time holding her would be very brief before he was just done. As I hear tales of Claire getting rides around the house on blankets and such, I think he's found a way to have fun with her now that she's a little bit older. At any rate, I think he's handling his baby sister MUCH better than he handled having a baby brother when Mason was born in 2009.

Sloan, 2009

Sloan is also a thinker. Like a sponge, he absorbs thoughts and conversations around him and works those observations into conversations of his own. Brooks frequently posts those observations and conversations she has with him on her FaceBook page and it makes my day to realize how grown up he's becoming.

Sloan with Ethan
Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach
Summer 2011

He has a great imagination and is always ready to role play or create a play. He and Ethan had a great time on the beach with me one evening when they were living with me in Seattle as some large driftwood logs became their Pirate Ship.

Ethan helping Sloan
with his tie

Sloan has a great relationship with his siblings, but has moments when he just seems to be totally exasperated by them and tries to understand the justification of what's happening. Sometimes he seems a bit like the family Jiminy Cricket, offering the reminders and being the conscience of them all. He's even been known to offer his mother a reprimand or two....

Ethan, Mason & Sloan
February, 2013

Back to the color pink... a few years ago his family went on a trip to Disneyland. Uncle Bart, Aunt Emily and I went along too. He loved Daisy Duck, because she had on a pink dress. He loved it when I wore my pink capris. But most of all, he loved his Aunt Emily because she was pretty! That was quite an eventful trip...whenever we wanted him to do anything, it had to include Aunt Emily!

Sloan is such a fun young man. When I'm around him, I frequently feel like I'm with Brookie again; their personalities are so similar. He makes me smile and he makes me laugh and he makes me proud. And back to his love of things nostalgic, not necessarily for him; he just has an appreciation for things of days gone by... it warms my heart to hear him sing along with this song in the car and by special request on his "birthday blog" it's time for some Croc Rockin' Sloan! Happy Birthday! I love you!

 

Proud Moments of Being a Grandmother: Part 1

Andi Beth & I
June, 2012

December 26, 2002 was an exciting day in the Sloan family! Sami was scheduled to be induced to give birth to her first baby and the WHOLE family turned out for the grand event!

Everyone was nervous about how everything would go because of Sam's heart condition and everyone was excited at the same time because not only was this Sam & Cam's first baby; it was a first grandchild and a first niece/nephew! We all came together to celebrate Christmas in Sam & Cam's little apartment in Pocatello, Idaho and then all escorted her to the hospital to be a part of the delivery!

It's a good thing they gave Sami a BIG labor room, because there were 8 of us on hand to keep Sami entertained all day! The siblings played pinochle to pass the time until it was near delivery time and the nurses kicked us all out to take the party to the waiting room. Randy & I tried to keep everyone under control, but you get a bunch of Sloans together and it's going to be pretty rowdy. The more time passed, the more antsy Randy & I became and we'd take periodic walks back down the hall and push our ears to the door. Finally, we heard the unmistakable sound of a baby crying in the room. We rushed to tell everyone and then ran back to Sami's room with everyone in tow and waited for the door to open so we could all meet Andreia Elisabeth Carter.

Sami was more than ready to say good-bye to her siblings after she saw them all in her recovery room and they kept making jokes; making her laugh when the rest of her body did NOT feel like laughing. They were especially entertained by the pain chart on the wall and it was time for all to leave.

Brooks and I stuck around for several more days to help with Andi while everyone else went back to their lives. Andi was sweet & cuddly, when she wasn't crying, but she wasn't the easiest newborn to deal with.

Andi & cousin Cari
Bathtime at Grandma's; Thanksgiving 2005

Andi met her new cousin Cari for the first time, five months later at Aunt Brooks' wedding and, like it or not, the two have been thrust together pretty frequently since that time!

Andi is a mini Sami. She looks like her. She acts like her. She talks like her. The fun part is that Sami was always a mini me which means that whenever poor Andi tries to get away with anything when either of us are around, she doesn't get very far, because we already know what she's up to.

Andi (#1) with Abigail (#13)
Thanksgiving 2011

She's a beautiful young lady; growing up much too quickly! It's hard to believe she's already eleven! She's the concerned, mothering type (probably too much for her siblings' liking) and is full of love. She's in choir and has been a cheerleader. She has her goofy side and when she starts to giggle, it's hard to get her to stop. She loves to help; not necessarily chores... but she is eager to help if she knows her help is needed or if it gives her an opportunity to learn to do something new.

Andi at Bear Lake Christmas
August, 2008

Andi's always been her daddy's girl. Although he didn't really know what to do with a baby when she was born and really had no idea how to be a dad, she's taught him well. He makes jokes about how he's going to keep boys away from her 'til she's thirty and although he plays it as a joking father, I think the words hit closer to the truth of what he'd LIKE to happen. I'm really not sure what he'll do when the reality of giving his little girl over to another man hits him, but I suspect there may even be a few tears involved.

Andi enjoys food!

Andi's a little bit picky about her food, but like her mother, she can pack it away and stay as skinny as a rail! (Hope she enjoys that while it lasts--that trait isn't in the genes to last forever!)

Andi & Cari heading for Seattle
May, 2012

As I mentioned earlier, Andi & Cari get thrown together a lot, whether they like it or not... but for the most part, I think they like it. Only four months apart in age, I love any time I get to spend with the two of them. In 2012, I brought them both home with me from Ethan's baptism in Oklahoma to spend three weeks with me and I don't think that I've ever had more fun with two young ladies!

At the Hoh Rainforest

We visited the rainforest on the Washington Peninsula and tried to visit the tide pools at Rialto Beach, but the weather changed our minds...

The winds were so strong, they kept blowing the girls'
umbrellas inside out!

We rode the ducks and went whale watching...

We visited the Space Needle...

And no matter where we went, the girls had their own kind of fun!

Ready to go whale watching!

They even humored this old grandma by dressing up for a picture when we visited Leavenworth, Washington (a little Bavarian-style town in the Cascade Mountains).

The only challenge in three weeks came from the two older sisters trying to find their space with one another... never wanting to agree on anything when I gave them a choice... but even those times were funny, watching them try to out do one another...

But the most fun of all was the road trips with the Mama Mia soundtrack in the CD player, with all three of us singing at the top of our lungs cruisin' down the road in my bright yellow PT Cruiser!

I know this last bit has seemed more like an Andi & Cari post than an Andi post, but I had such a wonderful time with my girls that summer, it only seems natural to think of one now when I think of the other. 

Andi-- you're such an awesome young lady. You have a lot of responsibility as the oldest sister, the oldest cousin and the oldest granddaughter. I want you to know how very proud I am of you and how much I love you and appreciate you for who you are and what you stand for.  I know you probably don't know this song and if you do you probably don't know who Kool & the Gang are, but never-the-less, the words send my message to you today! Celebrate good times, Andi Beth!!! I love you!

EY #26 Part 1: Describe Family Traditions, Christmas (Visits with Santa!)

Today has been a fabulous Christmas! Barton, Emily & Abigail came to Seattle to visit for a week and thanks to technology, I was able to see Sami's, Brooks' and Brandon's kids open their gifts from me (and from cousin/family draws) in a group video call. 

One of the best parts of Christmas for me has always been the experience with children in the house. I still remember looking at our tree the first Christmas Al's son Dan was old enough to enjoy Christmas. It was so fun looking at the lights on the tree in the dark room, with all the toys underneath. It has been equally enjoyable as I've watched each of my children and then grandchildren as they've come on the scene.

I don't really remember the excitement of Santa for myself. Obviously, I wasn't terribly excited on my first time to sit on his lap....

My First Visit with Santa
Dec. 1956 (I assume!)

But, I guess I was pretty happy with the baby doll he brought me....

I believe this was my Tiny Tears doll. She cried real tears!
(Note my Mickey Mouse on the floor; Disneyland opened
the year I was born: 1955)

Either she was the only toy I played with or the person with the camera was happy I was playing with her....

My mother took me to the Savings & Loan to visit Santa every year...

With Santa 1959; 4-years-old

But, this was the last time I sat on his lap....

With Santa 1960; 5-years-old; Kindergarten

One day before Christmas in 1960, I went to get my coat out of the coat closet and as I reached up to to get my coat off the hanger I saw three games that I thought looked fun and wondered why they were there...

Christmas morning I was surprised to find those same games under the Christmas tree with my name on them!

That was also the year I got my first blonde-pony-tailed Barbie doll and from that time on, for many years, Christmas was Barbie dolls and Bobbsey Twin books.

Christmas traditions have evolved in my family over the years. I used to love seeing the presents my kids would give one another as we gave each of them $10-20 to spend on their siblings. There would invariably be an outing to the dollar store or advantage taken of my Walmart discount as each child got a cart, covered their gifts with their coats and got in line behind one another to pass down the discount card. Many good family memories came from those days with a lot of jokes and even some re-gifter items (Oil of Beauty passed back and forth for years...)

In most recent years, it seems my kids have competed to see who can make me cry first or the hardest. Today, they were all winners.... Barton & Emily had gathered family photos from each of my kids to update my family picture wall, making a gift from them a gift from all. Brandon & Diedre's boys gave me the book "Just Grandma & Me" and they helped the boys do a recording of them "reading" the book to me with a bonus recording of Brandon reading the book "Just Me and My Mom." The final gift was the beginning stages of a gift I've wanted for MY mother all of my adult life.

My mother was adopted and always wanted to know about her birth parents, but had never done anything to pursue it, not wanting to hurt her parents. Josh & Brooks took the initial steps with the info I was able to give them and seem to have determined who her parents, grandparents & great-grandparents were. While the story doesn't appear to be quite what my mother was told for all those years, but we now have a place to begin a whole new line of family history.

We finished the day today attempting to play pinochle online via iPads, iPods, computers, etc. only to realize it was two hours no one was going to get back... but it was fun in the making with a goal for next year to have it figured out ahead of time!!!

All-in-all, a wonderful day with lots of family, love food and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. May the peace and joy of the season stay with each of you through the upcoming year! Merry Christmas!

ML #2: Tell about your Honeymoon with Bonus: Happy Birthday Miem!

Emily (Staffeldt) Zielke Hanson

Before I dive into the tale of my honeymoon, I want to acknowledge the birthday of the most wonderful aunt in the world. Born Emilie (German pronunciation Amelia) Staffeldt, it was Americanized to become Emily. My older brother Al was unable to say "Aunt Emily" when he was little and it sounded more like MeMe. MiMi or Miem became our own family name for her, which worked out well since both my Uncle Henry and Uncle George married women named Emily!

Miem & Mom at Grandma Zielke's house

Miem and my mom were good friends as well as sisters-in-law. Many mornings as a child I remember stopping with my mother at Buchner's Bakery and going on to Miem's house for a visit. They'd visit over cream horns and coffee while I played with puzzles. Since Miem didn't drive, Mom was her taxi driver when she needed it. And when my mom got sick, it was Miem who was by her side, taking care of her and our house while my dad was at work and I was at school.

Miem used to give me my haircuts and when I was in fifth grade she taught me how to sew and helped me make my first two dresses. She taught me how to clean through example and, somehow, drying dishes by her side never seemed like a chore. It was a bonding time; a time to talk and to learn unconditional love.

I always remembered her special birthday on Christmas Eve and made sure to call her, no matter where I was, no matter what I was doing....even on my honeymoon!

Which brings me to the week following my wedding, spent on Kiawah Island, South Carolina!

View from the door to our room.
Kiawah Island Resort

Since Randy was still recovering from the effects of his bachelor party two nights before, we awoke late on the 24th and missed our flight from Chicago to South Carolina. I had no idea where we were going, and when I learned we were going to South Carolina I was a bit skeptical, but it turned out to be a gorgeous spot for a honeymoon.

We arrived the evening of the 24th, just in time to see carolers walking around the resort from our balcony. The next morning I was thrilled to step out on the balcony and see the ocean waves rushing up on the shore. We enjoyed several walks along the beach that week; Randy knew how much I loved just being near the ocean.

Gathering seashells on the beach in December!

Randy misunderstood the travel agent and thought that all our meals were included in our travel package. Turns out it was ONE meal and our budget wasn't really great enough to cover all our meals. Needless to say we ate cheaply whenever we could and I found out that I really did like clam chowder! Our included meal was quite interesting... it was at the fanciest restaurant at the resort. I felt like I needed to choose a meal fitting for the area and ordered a fish dinner. I was NOT prepared when they served me a WHOLE  fish on my plate... head and all!!! Randy was quite amused and thoroughly enjoyed his steak.

We took an island safari and saw wild horses, visited the supposedly haunted Vorhees mansion (which was especially interesting for me since my mother's birth name was Vorhees) and took a tour of historic Charleston.

Randy & I on our island safari.

All too soon it was time to return home. We caught our flight out of Charleston on New Year's Eve day and made it to Atlanta for our layover. Atlanta was having a freak snowstorm and all flights were grounded. The airline put us up in a hotel that night and provided $20/person for dinner which would have been great, except for the fact that it WAS New Year's Eve and the only restaurant open in the hotel was the one hosting the party and it was $35/person for dinner there! (Remember the budget issue???) It was not a FUN New Year's Eve, but it WAS memorable...

The following morning, we were able to get a flight to St. Louis instead of Chicago, but it at least got us within three hours of Decatur where we thought we could catch a commuter flight to get home. No such chance though, since from St. Louis north, there was a severe winter storm with sleet. Since I was supposed to teach school the next day, I called my school principal and let her know the situation. As a first year teacher, she didn't take too well to my predicament and she told me that if I valued my position I would find a way to be there at 8:00 AM sharp the next morning.

Exhausting all possibilities, Randy finally found us two bus tickets on a Greyhound bus from St. Louis to Decatur! We called my new father-in-law, let him know of the situation and asked him to pick us up at the bus depot. Unfortunately, due to the weather, the 2-1/2 hour bus ride turned into about five hours and we pulled in about 2:00 AM! We were exhausted, but I was relieved to be home to be able to go to work in the morning. Pop took us to his house, we collapsed in Amy's bed and fell fast asleep for the little time I had to sleep before school.

"Mom" knocked on the bedroom door at 6:30 the next morning, poked her head in and said "Carol--Decatur public schools are all closed this morning because of the ice storm..."