Front Porch Stories

Memories are the things that we hold near and dear to our hearts.  Some are good and some not so good.  The ones we cherish and those we want to forget.  Memories of my Mom and Dad are always very close in thought.  My Mom was not just my Mom, she was my best friend and companion.  After my Dad passed away she lived with my oldest sister in the home that my Mom and Dad had bought.  She was not happy living with them so she renovated a storage building on the property into her a home.  Then several years later my brother-in-law and I had a few cross words and he told my Mom he didn't want to see me back up there and he was going to put a fence up between our two properties.  She called and ask me if she could move in with me and the kids.  I had been divorced for a couple of years so there was no one to consult, so I told her sure.  The next day when I got home from work she and my oldest son, who was all of 12 at the time had moved most of her stuff to my house in a wheelbarrow. 

The Holidays were my Mom's favorite time of year.  She would start cooking the week before Thanksgiving and the once a year food didn't stop until after New Years Day!  There was all kinds of meats, veggies and of course the sweet stuff!!!!  Fried Apple pies were always there,real homemade banana pudding(not the jello version), you name it cakes, candy and it wouldn't be Christmas without her potato candy.  Oh and my son's favorite was the pinch cake(monkey bread) that was made to start the day! Since she passed away a few years ago Thanksgiving and Christmas just haven't been the same. The weekend before Christmas was out annual big family gathering it was the one time of year that we all put away our differences and acted like a real family.  We haven't done that since she passed away, she was the glue that held us all together and without her we do not have a common bond.  I miss my Mom and my Dad and the Holidays are hard for me.  I sometimes

This time of year makes us all vulnerable to predators.  Predators choose those they believe to be easy targets, the old, the young, the woman with lots of bags in her hands, so lets recap basic safety. 1.  Always be aware of your surroundings. 2.  Always have your keys out before you get to your car. 3.  Don't put yourself in harms way.  If you go where trouble lives you will find it. 4. Don't scream help, scream fire!  No one wants to be involved in help, everyone looks for the fire! 5. Get a can of wasp and hornet spray for your living room, bedroom and auto.  It is legal has a reach of 20'     and will disable your attacker.  It can cause blindness if not medically attended to. 6.  If you own a weapon buy a holster and wear it on your person.  It serves no useful purpose in the glove      compartment of your car, or in your purse.  Attacks normally occur outside your car!  A young man              running or on roller blades will steal your purse and your we