Grandma’s Stories

Jan 20th “The Twenty-fourth is DENNY’S BIRTHDAY”

          “Memories of DENNY McClarren Jr.”

One of the most important things that we should do –  that is –  as I remember  in the reading  of the BIBLE –  is to visit the sick and dying – just as often as  it is possible , for that is what we  all wish for,  as we all need to be visited,  so  that, when the TIME  comes for us,  to  leave  our  Earthly home life here, as  this home here, is  just for a very  short time,  as time  here on EARTH  –  will be,  but a memory – if at all – so  if and when – our VISITS are  done with LOVE and Kindness,  there  will be a  reward   of many  “BLESSINGS”   – first,  to those  that we visit,  and then to us,  as we are doing that which is good, for all,  and  will be,  for all Eternity!

My brothers, Denny on the left and Tommy on the right. This was when Denny and his wife Judy were living in Florida as  “Florida”  was selected to be,  the best place to retire,  and as I remember the weather agrees  so much better  for the  “senior” citizens  – and that is for all year round – as I did live in Fort Lauderdale for a good number of years, too–   So, when they retired, and found just the right spot – which was for them a small piece of HEAVEN,    with every thing  they wanted  and needed,  to enjoy the beautiful scenery,  all year  long.

It is hard for me to remember what time of the year this was – but,  baby brother, Tommy  – just loves to  ‘FLY’  here and there and decided to see for himself –  just exactly how “DENNY” was doing  – since we heard he was going into a “Senior Day Care”  could have been for  “Alzheimer’s” – and, or  maybe for some treatment to help him.  Everyone does have some degree of  forgetting things as they  do get older – sometimes,  I know that,  what I thought I knew,  would be just on the tip of my tongue – but, now –   takes a while – as the “file cases”  in my brain –  do not want to work as fast,  as they once did!

 This is “DENNY” with   granddaughters Kristina and Ashley, and Great Grand Son, Ayden.  –  as this PHOTO has been in my file for some time –  and, am  so glad to have everyone remember “DENNY” with some of his large  FAMILY –  as Children are our “BLESSINGS”  – and with more children –  we tend to stay young –  always learning and also  teaching the new children,  as they  are given to us, as  our GIFTS from our Almighty Creator,   to care for  and teach them about our “Almighty Yahweh.”   With visits to see our LOVED ONES as they  are in need  of care from time to time –   we can see “DENNY” still enjoys  a refreshing drink,   a “Malted Milk”  that the children thought to bring just for him,  as it looks like the weather is warmer  and a nice cool drink,  just hits the right spot!

  What a wonderful back ground on that Patio to sit and enjoy FAMILY, with  just amazing plants  with  even more  beautiful flowers doing what they do best in  “FLORIDA”   to  bloom  till they  are even  more beautiful  and stay that way,  for as long  as is possible – just for  our pleasure and our eyes  to enjoy.

This is  “DENNY  and JUDY” and this PHOTO was taken according   to my notes  on August 1st, –   which would be a week before  our  brother, “Denny”  was called to be received  at his new   “HOME  in HEAVEN”  –  a much better place than here – as that is what we are all striving for –  that  one and only  “Eternal Rest”  with our  “Creator, himself” – and then  one day,  to be with all of our  “Loved Ones” as they come marching  “upward and onward”   as “good soldiers”  while singing and praising  Almighty Yahweh –  all according to HIS promise to us –  through His word,  as the Bible does spell  it out for us –  if , we but read His Letters!     D.V.

Jan 19th “Can NOT and Do NOT want to Forget anyone”

This may not be  a “NEW YEAR’s” to you – but to me – everyone in the FAMILY –  is  having their BIRTHDAY  coming up – one week and or day – all celebrating  Happy TIMES – whether they are here on EARTH – or  and,  even if they went on to the GREAT BEYOND – but, I know that they want to hear from me!  D.V.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus. For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
Sin’ auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld, &c.

Auld Lang Syne’ is, of course, among the most recognisable poems or songs written in English, thanks to its popularity at New Year celebrations around the world. The last line should technically be ‘For auld lang syne’ rather than ‘For the sake of auld lang syne’ – the three extra syllables are usually added to avoid stretching that monosyllabic ‘For’ for – well, for a long, long time, but they aren’t in the original (whoever the ‘original’ might have been by).

To ‘tak a right gude-willie waught’ may sound borderline rude, but it actually means simply ‘take some good will’ or ‘have a drink together’. So, now we know. And while we’re glossing words, ‘jo’ means ‘joy’ (in ‘my jo’), ‘ye’ll be your pint stowp’ means ‘you’ll pay for your pint cup’, ‘braes’ are slopes, to have ‘pou’d the gowans’ is to have pulled the daisies, and your ‘fitt’ is your foot. A ‘burn’, of course, is a stream, while ‘dine’ is dinner-time. ‘Braid’ means broad, and your ‘fiere’ is your friend.

Like many good songs, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ has a refrain, and is organised into quatrains rhyming abcb, with the last line iterating the title, ‘Auld Lang Syne’. How many people link arms and sing the song every New Year without being aware either of the title’s meaning or the fact that Robert Burns never wrote it?

And this next few lines – I can still hear my MOTHER quoting “Robert Burns” and saying these words,  exactly as they should be said – as only someone,  from Ireland can  do!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An’ foolish notion:
What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us,
An’ ev’n devotion!

‘To a Louse’, a poem written in the Habbie dialect, sees Robert Burns musing upon the louse that he spots crawling on a lady’s bonnet in church – the louse does not observe class distinctions and regards all human beings equally, as potential hosts. As Burns concludes, ‘O wad some Power the giftie gie us / To see oursels as ithers see us!’ Such a power or ability would save us a lot of bother and ‘foolish notions’; but we cannot see ourselves as others see us. The one thing we cannot do is take the view of that louse.

“Seriously please tell me if you see bugs in my hair. That’s disgusting.”

Jan 18th “When IT SNOWS – Turn UP the Volume”

“Sit back and enjoy – or…  just get up and start dancing with the best dancing partner  that you know  –  only  standing  there,  and just a waiting!”

…and just one more – since the SNOW is coming – and will be even heavier than before…

***and this version is terrific – if,  I have to say so – myself***

*** Let it SNOW – and SNOW some more!”