Snickle-Fritz

"Fangs!"  My handsome blue suede brother dared to call his much younger little sister "Fangs!!"  Sometimes that moniker was switched to 'Dracula'.  I suppose he had good reason.  My grade 4 school picture did indeed portray me, with my static electrical short shag hair style, smiling with only 2 teeth popping out of my mouth - the teeth on either side of my top middle ones. No other teeth were showing in that photo- the photo that made it into the yearbook for all to see. Not only were my eyes scrunched really tightly, my hair all askew from the static in the air, but my 'fangs' were prominently displayed. And the fangs made me want to cry.

You can imagine my relief when I found out that I was going to get braces! My fangs would be gone!  And, according to my orthodontist, whom we made the 3 hour trip to go see, I would have a beautiful smile!

And so, on this date, May 29, 1975, we- Mom, Dad and I, headed off to the big city so I could have braces put on my top row of teeth. 37 years ago today was the start of my metamorphosis from Ugly Duckling to Beautiful Swan.  Or so I hoped.

My orthodontist,  Dr. C. Ronald Hill, dubbed me "Snickle-Fritz"  That was much easier than "Fangs" to handle for an 11 year old. I would tolerate any pain from Dr. Hill because I knew in the end, it would be worth it. And painful it was! As the metal railroad track was cemented on, then the wires tightened I probably could have cried.  But I didn't.  No more fangs for me!  And once a month for close to 3 years, Mom, Dad and I headed for our 3 hour drive so I could hear Dr. C. Ronald Hill call me "Snickle-Fritz".  About halfway through my braces ordeal I was given the dreaded head gear to wear - first for 12 hours a day, then just for the nights.  It was very similar to a football helmet. Without the helmet part - just the part that goes over the mouth.  I would hook 1 sharp metal piece on to the top right back tooth, and then I would hook another sharp metal piece on to the top left back tooth, and then another part would wrap around my head. I was styling in my head gear!

I was the only person in my school to wear braces at that time. Back then it wasn't cool.  It was -ugly! I rarely smiled. My school pictures in grade 6 and grade 7 showed me smiling with just my lips.  No braces were in sight.  In fact, there are no pictures of me in that time period to prove that I even had braces. But, when those braces came off, I smiled for the world to see!  No more fangs! My handsome blue suede brother, who had left home by the time my fangs were gone, would have to come up with a new nickname for me.  He never did though. I guess he must have grown up!

The Hottie Chick

Her hands were trembling as she walked by Mom and I on her way out of Tim Horton's yesterday. But her smile was beautiful.  "Oh my..."  "Oh my..." was all she could say as she walked out the door.  Her husband, chuckling behind her, seemed to have a little more bounce in his step. And everyone in the long line up, waiting to place an order, has just witnessed a random act of kindness.  Everyone's mood changed- just like that! Where just a few moments ago everyone in line was absorbed in their own little worlds, all of a sudden we were smiling at each other! Strangers became friends- even if only for just a few minutes.

The very debonair, charming, well dressed, well coiffed business man who exuded charisma with his "joie de vivre" attitude  brightened everyone's day- especially the lady with the trembling hands.  I heard him say to her - "what do you take in your coffee?"  And then I heard him say to the person behind the till - "And I'll have a cup of coffee for the hottie chick!   The "Hottie Chick" - no wonder she was flustered as she left!  No wonder her husband couldn't keep the chuckles stifled. Her day had just been brightened by not only a free coffee, but by being called  a 'hottie chick' by a younger man.  Can you imagine the conversation in their car as they drove away?  "Oh wait til the grandchildren hear this!"  I can imagine her husband exclaiming on the drive to their destination.  Who knows, maybe this 80 something grandmotherly looking hottie now has a new nickname from her smitten husband.  I wonder if she felt like a cougar?

I came very close to saying, while he was still at the till, "Hey, Mom here is a Hottie Chick!!" If there wouldn't have been 4 men in front of me I would have! I know it!! And judging by Mr. Debonair I believe with all my heart that he WOULD have bought my hottie chick mother a coffee. He was, after all, buying 2 cases of donuts that he was taking someplace where they weren't expecting him to show up- just to brighten their- whoever THEY were- day! 

He made me want to perform a random act of kindness. I wanted to throw a 50 dollar bill on the table beside me- the table that had a very young looking mom with her 2 adorable daughters sitting at it- just to see their reaction.  I refrained. But I vowed to myself that sometime, when someone is least expecting it, I will perform a random act of kindness.  The ripple effect is contagious. And everyone deserves a burst of happiness when they least expect it!

Mother's Day

"Are you going to sleep in?" DD asked me Saturday night just before she went to bed.

"No," I replied, "why do you ask?" She has never asked me that before, so I was curious.

DD looked a little crestfallen as she said, "I was going to make your breakfast in bed."

I felt bad and sad. My darling daughter really wanted to do something special for me on Mother's day, but I was to be part of the plan for her to carry it out. All I needed to do would be to sleep in. But on this particular Sunday, Mother's Day aside, it just couldn't happen. Not only are the boys extremely busy on the farm with seeding- yes, the farming gets done even on Sunday at this farm, but our church was hosting the annual traditional Grad Sunday. Grad Sunday is a very special occassion in our little community.  For many years the churches have taken turns hosting the annual event. The grade 12 graduates, their parents, the school staff and the entire community is invited. It's a celebration, usually taking place the weekend prior to the high school graduation.

I knew when I went to bed Saturday night that it would be an early morning for me.  Not only did I have lunch to make for My Sweetheart, I had a big salad to put together, and I wanted to be in our church a good hour before the service began so I could practice the hymns and my song.

When the pastor had phoned last weekend to see if I would look after the special music for Grad Sunday ,I heartily agreed. My plan was to invite a few very musical friends from the other churches to join me and pick out a song to practice and perform it. But everyone that I asked just couldn't commit, and all for very good reasons.

So on Wednesday night I decided that I would sing by myself. But what song would encompass my relationship with the Lord, Mother's Day, and graduation? I went to bed that night perplexed, but not defeated. Past experiences dictated for me that the right song was 'out there' somewhere.

And on Thursday morning I knew that I would be writing that song. My thoughts were jumbled and waiting to somehow find their way on to a piece of paper that was on the piano. And then I started reflecting on my journey as a mom. I knew I had to write about my experiences, but how would I tie graduating, and the Lord in to that song ?The dominant theme in my thoughts and song writing process was 'letting go.'

I started recalling all the times in my 'mother' life that I had to 'let go.' The very first time was when, after holding my new babies in my arms, the nurse came to take each one away from me. I had to 'let go'. I hated letting go then, but I had had surgery to bring them into the world and needed rest to heal my body. Each phase of their lives have brought a season of 'letting go'.  I held their hands as they took their first teetering steps, then eventually 'let go' to give them the opportunity to venture on their own. I held their hands as they crossed the street.  Then, 1 day, they walked across on their own.  I held on to them as they wobbled on their bikes, then 'let go.'  Every season is one of letting go.  But each season is also a time of rejoicing when they discover their wings. DS will be leaving home next year. The 'letting go' then will be difficult for me, but I have been preparing him the best I can, and I know that, with God's leading in His life, he will be fine.  In fact, he will thrive. And he will thrive without me holding on. How?  Because I know that I know that I know that God loves him more than I do.  And that gives me comfort. And it was that thought that birthed the song that I sang yesterday on Mother's Day, and Grad Sunday, and it was that song that ministered to many 'mother's hearts' that are preparing to let go of their children who will be graduating. I share the words, a prayer really, with you in hopes that it will encourage you if you are at a stage of 'letting go.'


Letting Go
copyright 2012


Didn't know how fast the years would fly
since the first time I looked into your eyes,
I held your tiny hand and said,'hello'
the hardest part of holding on is letting go.

I pray the Lord who loves you more than I do
will keep you safe from harm,
if you should stumble on life's journey, may you fall into His arms,
I pray the Lord who loves you more than I do
will guide you day by day,
as I let go- go with God- I pray.

Looking back, reflecting on the years,
all the bumps and bruises, growing pains and tears,
I held your hand until you said, "mom, no"
the hardest part of holding on is letting go.

I pray the Lord who loves you more than I do
will keep you safe from harm,
if you should stumble on life's journey, may you fall into His arms,
I pray the Lord who loves you more than I do
will guide you day by day,
as I let go, go with God I pray.

Go with God, I pray.

Rockin' Around and Rollin'

I was enjoying a lovely evening in the city last night with DD and Mom ~ it was a perfect time to get away while the getting away was good. My Sweetheart, because he knew he wouldn't be any where to shop before Mother's Day, told me to spend $x on myself and pick out something special just for me- whatever I wanted. So, with 2 dear women along, I shopped. My Sweetheart bought me a lovely top and an equally lovely purse for Mother's Day.  I found that kind of odd- that he would buy me "another" purse.  But he did! After shopping for me, we 3 women went to BP's for a lovely relaxing dinner out. We laughed about being out shopping, dining, all that fun stuff, while the men were back home- working! My laughing came to an abrupt end with one little phone call. It's a good thing I love My Sweetheart as much as I do.  You see, he phoned me to see if I had anything going on "tomorrow".  I scanned my brain as best I could, couldn't think of anything, so said,'No!'  "Oh good- I'll get you to roll tomorrow."  Ugh...

Well, that put an end to my joviality!

He had given me a practice run a few weeks ago- at the south farm. I wasn't impressed.

"Oh Mom!"  DS quipped, "land rolling is so easy- you can operate a combine; you can definitely run the land roller- it's all automatic.  You don't need to steer or anything..."

But I remembered my practice run and my stomach promptly started to seize up and nauseate the rest of my body.  I remembered, uncannily, how the tractor jostled me and tossed me around.  It is not a smooth and sleek ride like my combine.

So, after a restless sleep, after a nutritious breakfast, after packing our very unhealthy lunches, it was time. Time to face the inevitable

I almost phoned the school to inform Marlis that it would be quite ok with me if Dear Son wanted to leave after first class and come home and roll and make some money.  But I refrained. He needs his education.  My Sweetheart, after all, had splurged on my Mother's Day gift.

My Sweetheart opened up the field for me. That means he rolled the headlands - the east to west direction of the field- back and forth with the rollers 3 times, then we switched directions heading north and south to set the a-b line.  That is necessary for the GPS and auto steer I guess. And it terrifies me.  What if I accidently hit the wrong button?  What if I shift up to 12 instead of down to 7 or 8?  Which thingie is the clutch?  How do I slow down? Which lever do I push?  What's this thingamabob for? What happens if I hit a gas well? But the worst, the absolute worst and most terrifying thing for me, other than having no place to go to the bathroom, is the possibility of turning off the a-b line. I'd be doomed then. I'd be sitting, and crying, in the middle of the field, waiting for My Sweetheart to get off the other tractor that he's seeding with to come and reset it for me.

But I girded up my loins- can a girl do that?- and off we went- heading south, then north and back south, then back north. Then My Sweetheart, after he said that "this is like a date", jumped off the tractor and left me by myself, to roll- by myself.  And I did!  South.  Then north.  Back south. North again. Almost 30 times from one end of the field to the other. I was relieved when DS came out to the field after school.  So relieved! All that rockin' around in the tractor while rolling the land was very hard on my neck.  I believe I might be a little sore tomorrow.

The things we do for love...

that's me in the tractor, just after My Sweetheart jumped down to snap a picture.  The land roller is like rolling pins.  They flatten the land after the pulses- in this case lentils- have been seeded. Because they grow so low to the land, it has to be smoothed out for easy combining at harvest time.

My Sweetheart got a smile out of me!!

While out for a drive

My Sweetheart and I went for a drive last night. It had rained most of the weekend and he wanted to see if the land had dried up enough for seeding to resume. A wheel hadn't been turned since the last Thursday in April- due to a much needed lovely rain. And then to bookend the week it had rained again this past weekend.




So after supper, when he asked if I'd like to go for a drive, I looked at the kitchen mess, and said, "sure!!"   Secretly I thought that by the time I got back home the kitchen would be sparkling and everything put away. Wishful thinking.


On a whim I grabbed my camera- just in case!  It is working again, so comes in handy on occasion.

Less than 3 miles from home, on our way to the north farm, my wishful thinking paid off!

Standing stately, just long enough for me to take this picture, was this antelope.  He was all by himself. Quite often there will be a herd of them. And quite often they will be eating the new crop that is nicely out of the ground.  But this one was standing by himself, for a small moment in time - just long enough for me to snap this picture of his curious self. And then he was off! Did you know that an antelope can run about 43 mph? I found that out twice last year. Once, when DS and I were moving equipment at the south farm from field to field - an antelope began chasing DS on the quad, and I was behind in the truck- honking and screaming to no avail. DS couldn't hear me and the antelope, if he could hear me, could care less. And the second time was while My Sweetheart and I were out for a walk with the dogs.  Lady thought it would be fun to chase the antelope in the field. Man, were we scared!  The antelope can run amazingly fast.  And they can be amazingly agressive- as we found out with the "Lady chase"! I was grateful we were as close to home as we were then, and that we had our cell phone so DS could jump in the truck and come and rescue us.

This time though, My Sweetheart and I were in the truck, far enough away from the antelope. And we carried on our trek to check the fields.

After our drive, the fields were deemed dry enough to seed. And so today, as soon as My Sweetheart finishes up the spraying he is doing, he will be out in the field seeding. And then, a few weeks after seeding is finished, My Sweetheart willl probably ask me if I want to go for a drive to see if the crops are coming up.  And I will look at my sparkling clean kitchen and say, "Sure!"