Let’s chat about downsizing. I invited some friends over for lunch last week. As I set the table for three, I considered downsizing where it really hurts. Sixty years ago having lunch together meant husbands and kids also. Fourteen of us in those days. When downsizing means getting rid of knick-knacks, bed rolls, and cooking pots – not so bad. My two friends had been widowed and one lost a child – that’s painful. We did, howevet, have a great time reminiscing. We all have fair health and lots to live for. Grandchildren for one thing; great grandchildren for another.
Did I mention great grandchildren? Oh, what an opportunity to show you how my Jadalyn grows. LOL Hold it, stay right there. Let me tell you….
Jadalyn was eleven last week. Delightfully changing – child to pre-teen, becoming my fierce Rummikub foe. She wins about twice as many as I win. I love this picture of my changing child. Note her ability to take care of her baby doll – do you see the bottle in the doll’s mouth being held in place by Jadalyn’s chin while she sips country tea. You can see by her eyes, that she thinks she has grandma (me) in a spot. But I did win this one!
In the background there are four little siblings for whom Jadalyn gets to use the skills she hones with her baby doll. One of them is Addalyn.
Addy is five. The most independent of the girls when it comes to play time. She does take her turn at playing house or school, but she is more likely to be found cutting paper and coloring. Here she shows one of her coloring papers. She is pretty good at finding free color pages to print and color. (But another sibling generally manages the computer use.) Addy is the dress wearer. One finds her more often in dresses than shorts or jeans.
Another thing I have to tell you is that I was wrong about hating June bugs without cause. See here I thought June bugs were beneficial but I hated them anyway. (That was the lesson I was writing about.) BUT, I was WRONG. They are harmful. So I have cause – I just didn’t know why! I guess it was a learned trait taught to me by Farmer Dad and Gardener Mom. They knew how much damage June bugs can do! Oh, well, enough about June bugs!
Sweet aroma 
Laughter with lunch — that’s what I got when I read the update to your Presidential run. I had a brief fantasy of you showing up with enough write-in votes to at least appear in the election night returns, with the whole country saying, “WHO?
Thanks for the laugh with me. I dreamed of have “one name” fame like Oprah, Beyonce, and Elvis. But I guess it will not happen. I like your scenario. It might happen with my themes, God, Country, and “Fat is Beautiful.”
You most certainly have a distinctive enough name, that you can’t be confused with anyone else
😀
Nice! Speaking of June bugs, when I was a kid, I used to catch June bugs and tie them by the legs on the clothes line and listen to them “sing.”
Oh, no! What a stunt. I’ve never heard of that. 😀 I didn’t even know they made a sound.
beautiful greatchildren 🙂
I like that, greatchildren, not just great grandchildren…
And you’d look pretty good in that helicopter…
I’ll write you in on the ballot 🙂
Aww. To my loyal supporter(s). 😀 Thanks.
You totally have my vote Oneta. And about those June bugs…..I didn’t know they were harmful but I didn’t like them because it always seemed like they would fly right at you and they are big and hard and crunchy.
Downsizing on people would be very hard and painful.
Thanks, Faye, for your loyalty. “D Now that I know about the June bugs I’m free to dislike them to my heart’s content. That “big, hard, and crunchy” does not make me want to smash any, however. Guess Raid would work. You are right about the downsizing on people being painful.
You have beautiful family and friends, Oneta! Stay blessed as always 🤗🤗
Thank you, Rashmi. Yes, they are lovely. Thanks for reading my “stuff.” 😀
Thank you for this post. One of life’s most difficult decisions is ‘downsizing’ Everyone who faces this must save what is absolutely valuable for future generations including their home and property if applicable but years of what may be a burden of sorting and heartache for ones who come after should be attended to in our lifetime. It’s not always about the size of the home and environments its often about our ‘treasures’ which may be a problem for the next generation after we have gone. It took me years and years to release some of my Mum’s treasures. personal art work and things she cherished from grandchildren. (I could not part with any of it without heart-searing. For my children I hope to downsize a lot of personal stuff and leave them a less emotional legacy.
As always I love your writing about your beautiful family and friends. xx
Thanks, dear, for your sweet personal comments. It is hard. I haven’t dealt with the situation very much yet.
You have such an exceptionally nice family, nice pictures too
Thank you, Larry. I have been blessed in that way. “In this world we have trouble” but having solid Christian ancestors gave me a shield for many years and for the troubles in them. Blessings to you.