Coming to America Tribute to my Grandparents

I've been reading about infiltration of foreign nationals into our country who are threatening the homeland safety and security. That makes me appreciate my Grandparents who immigrated from France because they believed in the priniciples of freedom this country represents and teh strong work ethic and moral fiber our nation once held. God bless you Papa.

Russian Tirant comes to America

Video about Russian Tirant Janna Bullock





Please support my Sponsor
The Midnight Writer

Mom told me to buy Hospital Insurance - La maman m'a dit de s'assurer hôpital

Read in French and English  - Lisez en français et anglais

Ma chère mère nous a toujours dit de se préparer à l'inattendu. Elle m'a conseillé d'acheter un plan d'assurance-maladie qui couvrirait le séjour d'hôpital le plus cher au cas où I ou mon mari devenait Illinois. La maman a su de ce qu'elle parlait parce qu'elle a passé deux ans subissant la chimiothérapie pour la leucémie mylogenic, ainsi je prends le conseil de ma chère mère. Je ne suis pas sûr où tourner ainsi j'ai fait de la recherche en ligne et fonde une compagnie qui offre l'hospitalisation peu coûteuse de mutuelle qui promet de fournir des paiements ou des remboursements pour mes dépenses, si je dois jamais employer l'assurance.

Quand la maman est devenue malade nous avons dû voyager 3.000 milles pour passer un mois avec elle. Alors nous n'avons eu aucune assurance à payer cela et ni l'un ni l'autre pas elle. Je suis si heureux que l'assurance mutuelle paye le mon ait aimé ceux des frais de voyage si elles doivent jamais venir chez me dans l'hôpital. La maman a eu un chien que nous avons laissé avec des gardiens et cela n'a pas été couvert dans son assurance, bien qu'elle ait projeté très bien pour tout. La couverture mutuelle de volonté le coût de payer un gardien votre cabot ou votre kitty d'animal de compagnie ainsi toi ne s'inquiétera pas de votre animal de compagnie comme ma mère. Je sens ainsi ai rassuré partager cette information avec toi. Vous serez disposé et je prends le conseil de ma mère en apprenant plus au sujet de cette compagnie d'assurance.

Please support my Sponsor - Veuillez soutenir mon commanditaire
The Midnight Writer - L'auteur de minuit 

Translated in English below- Traduit en anglais ci-dessous 

My dear mother always told us to prepare for the unexpected. She advised me to buy a medical insurance plan that would cover the most expensive hospital stay in case I or my husband became ill. Mom knew what she was talking about because she spent two years undergoing chemotherapy for mylogenic leukemia, so I am taking my dear mother's advice. I'm not sure where to turn so I did some research online and found a company that offers inexpensive mutuelle hospitalisation who promises to deliver payments or refunds for my expenses, if I ever need to use the insurance.


When Mom became ill we had to travel 3,000 miles to spend a month with her. Then we didn't have any insurance to pay for that and neither did she. I'm so glad that Mutual Insurance will pay for my loved ones travel expenses if they ever need to come and visit me in the hospital. Mom had a dog who we left with caretakers and that wasn't covered in her insurance, though she planned very well for everything. Mutual will cover the cost of paying a caretaker for your pooch or your pet kitty so you won't worry about your pet like my mother did. I feel so reassured sharing this information with you. You will be prepared and I'm taking my mother's advice by learning more about this insurance company.

I Remember those Christmas Holidays with Mom and Dad

As a young child, I had no idea how much my parents would mean to me as an adult. I had no way to measure how much each holiday or special event or family memory would be gauged by the people who are part of those memories. Now I look back on my life and I realize that all the moments that I cherish in life are held in my heart because of the people who were with me at the time. Without the bonds of loved ones, these memories and occasions would not be written delibly upon my heart. This year we are spending Christmas at home in California with my husband’s mother and his brother. Granny passed away in 2002 and our brother Kenny passed away two springs ago, so this Christmas is very different from all the ones we shared as a collective family. With some of those close family members gone, we are learning how important it is to carry on with life and share time with the people you love who are still living. Create memories in honor of those who are gone because they would want you to carry on with life, just like you did when they were part of it. Life is for the living and memories are forever. Cherish every one and realize how important people are above all places and things. Mom and Dad taught me that and it is the greatest gift they could have ever given me.

Dear Diary,

I have a deep sadness because my parents and some grandparents, children and siblings are gone from my life until I see them in eternity. There is a deep longing to be with them again, though I know I need to wait until it is my time to join them in the eternal world.

I Remember those Wonderful Vacations with my Family

Photo Credit: Cheryl Lynn Gardner, a/k/a The Midnight Writer

It seems the days of my youth have all but faded and I am left with far off memories. I am clinging to those memories with every fiber of my being, Dear Diary, for I fear they may disappear like the loved ones who are in my cherished memories.

There is one particular part of my younger days that I recall more vividly than others. I’m not sure why that is, it is just so. As a young girl, Mother loved to take vacations and her planning all year for that ultimate vacation trip was as much fun as the actual event. Mother sure knew how to put a special trip together. I often thought to myself how she would have done well as a travel agent.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I am happy to have kept all her talents for myself and my siblings. My father would agree for he enjoyed these trips equally as much as I did. Dad worked very hard all year so we could take one or two weeks, on a good year, to drive off to a dream vacation site that offered plenty of interesting places to go sightseeing while providing enough entertainment wherever we camped.

Just so you don’t get the wrong impression here, we did not go “primitive camping” as I would call it. Mother preferred cabins so we rented one in a state park. She spit shined the cabin on our first day of arrival so day one of vacations was always like a spring cleaning day. Mother was particular about where her family would eat their meals and where they would lay their head at night. She would clean furiously, with all of our help, of course until she was satisfied. Her standards were tough when it came to clean and I learned how to achieve her satisfaction level. (I had to pass a few inspections making my way through my chore list!)

This spring cleaning extravaganza taught us to appreciate that vacation all the more while it preserved our work ethic and our gratitude for sanitation. Mother never let her family be neglected. It was against her principles.

Our rewards for such hard work were more than gratifying, as I remember it. The next morning in the cabin I awoke to the smell of a campfire burning in the fireplace, pancakes on the griddle, eggs frying and even bacon or sausage filling the air. The tea kettle whistled like an alarm clock and I was ready to share a hearty breakfast with my family in our cozy rented cabin in the state forest. You see, I knew from experience of previous years that the breakfast was only the beginning of an itinerary of exciting things to do and see the rest of the day.

I always ate this first breakfast with a hearty appetite and anxiously helped clean up so we could get on with the first adventure of a summer vacation dream. I thank Mother for the fond memories of life’s simplest satisfactions that she planted firmly and deeply within my heart.

I will always miss her but I have these fond memories to cherish and they will carry me through whatever years I have to spend on this earth. My only wish is that I could share these wonderful times with my family.

Come back and read my diary for I will share more about our summer vacation memories. There is still swimming, and baseball, hiking, berry picking and bear spotting to cover.

The Midnight Writer

Technorati Tags: vacations,family,Tennessee,Dear Diary,The Midnight Writer,memories,Mother

Letters of an Unrequited Love

Dear Maurice,

The flowers that you sent were enchanting, my darling. Wherever did you find such an exquisite winter arrangement? The colors look brilliant and dazzling in my boudoir. I placed them gingerly in my Grandmother’s antique pewter vase in hopes that she would not scold me if she finds it missing from that special cabinet she keeps under lock and key.

You must have overlooked the card that usually comes with flowers sent in such a romantic fashion. No matter, my dear Maurice, I knew they could only be from you. No other gentle man that I know has such thoughtful and tender romantic ways. I would feel less graceful if I neglected to send a thank you card, but dear Maurice, you forgot to tell me the forwarding address in Paris. I shall have to await your return to the states to thank you in person.

I was enchanted by the notion that you picked each flower personally and asked the florist to fashion the arrangement to perfectly compliment my boudoir. You only visited that one night Maurice. How observant you are, my love!

The purples represent our passion of that night while they match the brocade draperies hanging from my bedroom window. We spent hours just lying together gazing at the moon’s light upon the lake outside my window. What an enchanting night it was, Maurice. I shall remember it forever.

Do you remember the perfume that I wore on that night? You said it reminded you of lilacs in early spring once the dew moistens them just before the dawn. Lovely. Delicate and fragile yet with a subtle appeal. That is how you described my perfume and the boudoir gown I wore that night. Both the color of lilacs and the smell made you hungry with tender passion, Maurice. I quiver at the memory and I long to feel your breath on my neck again the way that you kissed me that night.

Will it be long before you finish your business in Paris? I could pack a trunk to join you so you could extend business and pleasure in one of the most romantic cities on earth. I would bring the lilac boudoir gown and the perfume. I’m blushing because I thought about buying one of deep crimson as a more daring companion to the first. You would like that, wouldn’t you Maurice?

Once you told me that your secret desire is to make me blush the color of crimson and secretly watch my eyes while you take me in the deepest throes of passion. Do you remember those passionate words that you whispered in my ear that night, Maurice? I shall not forget.

Something like butterflies tickles me deep within these days. I think it is just the emotion of being in love with you, my darling. And the longing to be close to you yet you are so far across the ocean and we cannot touch, except by our hearts.

Yes, I am certain that is all that it is. Mother made me some chamomile tea to settle my fluttering stomach. Maurice, I can barely eat this past week. It’s dry toast on my breakfast table and I do well to finish the full portion. Do you suppose I am lovesick, Maurice? Are you feeling it, too?

Grandmother told me it would pass or she would fix me her remedy for the vapors. She told me that women often get too sentimental and it upsets their dignities, if you know what she means. Aunt Vanessa whispered to Mother something about me being too young to be left alone in such a delicate condition. I am uncertain what condition that would be, Maurice. Do you think she has drank too much of Edgar’s wine that she imagines my condition delicate?

It is no matter. I have the beautiful flowers that you sent and the memories of the lilacs and the lake in the moonlight. I shall endure until you return or send me a letter of love poetry like the beautiful sonnets you recited that night. I feel a little melancholy so I shall bid you a good night and pray that your return to me will be hastened by destiny.

With all my love I remain,

Infatuated with my darling Maurice.

Sophia

The Family Picnic

Family picnicking under a tree, originally uploaded by State Library of Queensland, Australia.