Kinser: Mother ready to deal with it all, including a 'three dog night'
You can try to be prepared for anything, but occasionally there are things that you just cannot expect. When I am at my mom's house helping her, I try to think ahead and be prepared and make things easy for her, but sometimes it just isn't possible. She sometimes has surprise snowstorms. This year has been a good example. They lose power in the snowstorm.
I stockpile wood for her and even purchase the little fire starter logs and have them as backup. We keep extra coffee beans in the freezer for her so she never runs out of coffee. There is always plenty of food on hand. If the electricity were out, Mom would make hobo coffee in the fireplace.
Mom has even planned ahead what meals she can fix in the fireplace on a wood fire if the electricity goes out again this year. My sister and brother-in-law usually take her to their house where they have a large generator and she can have running water, heat and all the luxuries, including cable television. Our mom, the ever-resourceful Navy wife, has a backup plan just in case they can't get to her.
When we traveled years and years ago, Mom could fix an entire meal with a coffee pot and an electric skillet. There were no microwave ovens in hotels then, and she hasn't forgotten her skills. There were no refrigerators either. She would be in the lap of luxury now, and she could probably do a five-course meal.
I had to explain to one of my young nieces this winter when Mother had all the snow what a "three dog night" was. I had jokingly referred to one and then said it was a shame I only had one dog. I was preparing for a big snow coming that Saturday night at my mom's house.
Folks don't use as many funny expressions as they used to when describing things any more. We don't take time to have as much fun. We take life so seriously, and we are always trying to earn the next dollar.
Times are tough, and I know I am always working. I haven't had many vacations at all in my lifetime. With a family that is military, it is hard to vacation, but people find time somehow. I have just always put vacations off. I have vowed that if I can find the money this year I will take one even if it is only a week. I guess I will just have to plan for it and be prepared for anything.
Ruritan meetings are the second Monday of each month on School Road in Gray's Creek at 7 p.m.
Charlotte Manns Kinser lives in Gray's Creek and is active in the Ruritan Club.