Miz Mick's Place

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Just A Sister

Well I need to explain a little bit about this poem.
Many years ago my sister wrote this poem to me and gave it to me. This was Eva. (the one the rest of the folks call Shikey)
By that time I had married and had gone to live at Camp Hood in Killeen, Texas with my husband, Clarence I'll do more history later but now, I'll get on with the poem.
There's always A memory in my heart, And with it I would never part.
It isn't much, but this I'll say, Its always jolly, always gay,- And when I think of it this way, It brightens life like Christmas day.
It isn't much to think about, Just a freckled face and a nose that's kind of flattened out.
But when you're with her every day, she makes your work seem just like play
You wouldn't know until your near her But she can make the world all fear her.
But you feel so safe from harm, when your cuddled in her arm,
And when the sun is shining bright She makes it shine on through the night.
And when your sorrow you can't right, She makes your load seem, oh, so light.
You might think I'm fooling so But anyhow you wouldn't know,
Just how much patience she can have until you have tried her out ,somehow.
She,s not too heavy, not too light, I guess I'd say that she's just right.
I'm not exaggerating any She's as cute as any penny.
She's like a mother to your soul when your sorrow you can't hold.
(You're always happy she's around) when heavy rains are falling down.
Your heart will feel so sunny and bright because she's there to make things right.
And this is what she'll always be.
A comrade gay, and hard to beat.
And who is she, you're asking me?
She is my precious sister, Mickey.
E.M. Bagley (Approx.64 yrs ago.)
(So one line was on the fold and I couldn't make out the words so I added some)
To my loving sister from someone that thinks of you in this way
all of the time. Though I wrote it, it is from all of us.
If you don't believe this poem ,-
Ask Clarence.

Miz Micks…See Ya…

Monday, August 10, 2009

Still Traveling

Sometimes you wonder if you'll ever reach the next stop. I guess we did , because mom wasn't in the wagon. Maybe Dad was taking us somewhere. Well, sure enough the wagon stopped and Dad had all of us to get out of the wagon. Dad started walking and we followed him. We went up a mountian side and soon forgot our aches and pains from riding on the hard wagon bed. We walked for a while and Dad finally stopped and picked up a rock,and said , "this is a piece of wood." Now he was turning it all around.
Think we believed that? Of course not. We didn't say anything; those were the days that you didn't contradict grown-ups. He told us to walk around and see what we could find. I walked off by my self and watched the ground as I walked. Then I noticed that the rocks looked odd... well not shaped like rocks, but large limbs off of trees. Dad told us that was the Petrified Forest, and the limbs turned into rock instead of rotting. I stared in wonder to see huge tree trunks, even tried to lift some. I was so excited, now that I look back. You don't forget some thing like that easily.
I started thinking as I washed the dishes and I was remembering this part of our travels and thought I'd write it down. I'm sure I left some things out, such as the markings on the inside of the tree. I'm hoping some of you will get to visit the Petrified Forest or perhaps you already have. If so, you realize how hard it is to describe the striata's? and colors. I feel much better now so I'll get busy and finish the dishes. Take care.

See you next time Miz- Micks

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Always Be My Friend...

Mick, I got right in here so I thought I may as well post a new poem for you to read. I hope you enjoy it. Love 'n stuff...

Always Be My Friend...

I cannot stay beside you,- on such a night as this.
A night when every star is in your eyes,
And beckons me to lie with you, and this I cannot do,
Although my heart does soar up to the skies.

Your blood red lips entice me; they softly call my name
And whisper words of love into my ear,-
But I can find no reason; none that is good enough,
That I forsake the one my heart holds dear.

For we were once two precious friends, (that now seems far away)
And walked together; warm then was your touch
But only then as a true friend, your countenance was fair;
I loved you then enough, but not too much.

I came upon a sight one day, of you and someone else
And when I looked at her my heart was fast.
You told me this girl was your friend; would be forever more!
I knew then I had found my love at last.

You followed close behind us as we two walked down the aisle
And bound our souls together with a vow,
And you were always there with us when'er we needed you.
If love came hard for us, you showed us how.

Then came the time when all was not the same as once it was.
I saw a change come over my sweet girl;
I watched her now and saw her loving eyes begin to dim.
The time had come when she would leave this world.

I just could not admit it,-I'd lose the one I love.
But you were there to help me through the pain.
I wept tears though I tried not to; I couldn't hold them back;
You told me then our loss was Heavens gain.

So now there's just the two of us where three of us had been;
A year has passed since we said our goodbyes
And you could be my lover now instead of just a friend;
You feel that now,-I see it in your eyes.

But I know now that I can never really let her go;
Her love and mem'ry I have locked within.
Say I'm wrong in thinking that you want to take her place;
Promise me you'll always be my friend.

finis...

Thursday, February 5, 2009

MORE MEMORIES TO CHERISH

WELL, HERE I AM BACK AGAIN TO TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS I LEFT OUT IN, "A BOYS DREAM."
MY SISTER CALLED ME AND WE TALKED ABOUT CHRISTMAS, AND AS WE TALKED, I KEPT REMEMBERING THE CHRISTMASES WE HAD BEFORE WE CAME TO MODESTO AND JAMES DRAGGED THE SECOND HAND X-MAS TREE ALL THE WAY UP THE HILL.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE TIME (CHRISTMAS) WAS NEAR HOW EXCITED WE WERE! I WOULDN'T DRAW STRAWS ON WHO WAS BEING GOOD, BUT I'M SURE IT WASN'T ME. I TRIED BUT WHEN I GOT A SCOLDING, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
THEN ONE NIGHT MOM AND DAD STARTED GATHERING UP THE SOCKS. OF COURSE, EVA AND JOAN HAD TO BORROW THEIR SOCKS FROM BUDDIE AND ME.
THE SOCKS WERE HUNG ALONG THE FIRE PLACE IN A ROW. WE TRIED TO STAY AWAKE AND SEE SANTA BUT WE COULDN'T.
WE WOKE UP CHRISTMAS MORNING AND RAN TO THE STOCKINGS. WOW!
WE FOUND IN EACH STOCKING AN APPLE, AN ORANGE, A TANGERINE AND, LAST OF ALL, A BIG LONG BANANA. NOW, FOR VERY POOR PEOPLE, THAT WAS A WONDER.
THEN WHEN WE REACHED DEEPER IN THE STOCKING, THERE WERE THE LITTLE PIECES OF CHRISTMAS CANDY. YOU HARDLY EVER SEE THAT KIND OF CANDY ANY MORE.
I TRIED TO FIND SOME ONE YEAR BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP THE OLD TRADITIONS. STILL,I NEVER DID REMEMBER SEEING A CHRISTMAS TREE BACK THEN.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SOME ONE WHO CAN JAR MY MEMORY SO I CAN TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
MOM AND DAD PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A TREE. THE FRUIT AND FOOD WE HAD WERE MORE IMPORTANT AT THAT TIME.
I'LL GO NOW AND I HOPE I COVERED EVERY THING.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES AS WE THINK BACK. BUT, ALSO, WE HAVE SAD ONES AS YOU WILL SEE.

NOW I HAVE TO GO AND FINISH CANNING MY WALNUTS. MIZ MICKS.

SEE YA...

Sunday, January 18, 2009

MY GROWING UP YEARS

WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, ONE OF MY FIRST MEMORIES IS RIDING IN A LONG OLD WAGON BEING PULLED BY TWO OLD HORSES. WE TRAVELED TO MY GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE.

GRANDMA'S YOUNGEST GIRL WAS YOUNGER THAN I WAS BUT SHE QUICKLY TURNED INTO, "AUNT MAUDIE." I WAS INFORMED THAT GOAT PILLS WERE MEDICINE AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEM. NOW I NEVER DID TAKE MEDICINE WITHOUT A SWITCH BEING USED OR TO SCARE ME WITH, SO THAT WAS THE END OF THAT.

ONE DAY WE (ALL OF US KIDS) WERE SITTING IN A CIRCLE, PLAYING IN THE DIRT. MAUDIE(I GREW OUT OF THAT 'AUNT MAUDIE' BUSINESS, TOO) HAD AN OLD AXE AND WAS DIGGING AND I WANTED A TURN USING IT SO GRANNY TOLD MAUDIE TO TAKE TURNS. MAUDIE HAD A TEMPER AND SHE GOT MAD AND THREW THE AXE AT ME.
WELL, IT HIT MY TOE AND CHOPPED THE BIG TOE OFF, EXCEPT FOR A TINY PIECE OF SKIN UNDERNEATH.

EVERY ONE WAS SHOCKED AND SCARED, BUT MOM PICKED ME UP AND TOOK ME INTO THE HOUSE. SHE WRAPPED MY TOE WITH A LONG PIECE OF SHEET. I CAN'T REMEMBER IT EVEN HURTING. I WENT ON PLAYING AND RUNNING ABOUT IN MY BARE FEET, HORSE LOT AND ALL.
GRANNY WAS UPSET AND AFRAID OF INFECTION BUT MY TOE HEALED FAST. I BELIEVED THEN AND NOW THAT GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO LOOK OVER ME. DURING THE BAD TIMES,-I REALLY NEEDED ONE. THAT WAS JUST ABOUT THE LAST TIME I GOT TO ENJOY BEING A CHILD.

DAD SHARE CROPPED SOME BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER HAVING MONEY FOR FOOD EXCEPT THE BARE NECESSITIES. WE LEFT GRANDMA'S AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE WENT NEXT, BUT WE STILL WENT IN THE OLD WAGON.

DAD STOPPED ABOUT ONE MILE FROM A CREEK. HE TOLD ME I COULD GO WITH HIM THE NEXT MORNING TO CATCH FISH. I WAS SO EXCITED! I GOT TO GO AND BUDDIE DIDN'T. OF COURSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BUDDY WAS, BUT I GOT TO GO!

WELL, THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP EXCITED AND WENT TO EAT MY BREAKFAST. I ASKED MOM WHERE DAD WAS AND SHE SAID,"WELL HONEY, YOUR DAD LEFT A LONG TIME AGO."

I FORGOT BREAKFAST AND TOOK OFF RUNNING. I RAN AND RAN, CRYING AND GASPING FOR BREATH. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AT DAD BUT HE JUST SAID, "YOU DIDN'T WAKE UP, SO WE WENT ON TO THE CREEK." BUT I DID GET TO FISH ANYHOW.

DAD GOT THE FISHING POLES BY CUTTING SOME LONG LIMBS AND CLEANING THEM. I EVEN GOT A HOOK TO TIE TO MY LINE. WE SAT THERE FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT GETTING A BITE AND SUDDENLY DAD SAID, "NOW HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO; FIRST THING IS SPIT IN THE WATER."

SO WE SPIT IN THE WATER AND WAITED AND WAITED. DAD SAID, "HARRUMPH, FIRST I HAVE TO CHEW UP A MOUTH FULL OF TOBACCO." (I THINK HE ONLY DIPPED SNUFF) SO HE CHEWED FOR A WHILE THEN, WHEN HE WAS READY, HE SPIT A BIG GOB OF SNUFF IN THE CREEK.

COURSE MY OPINION DIDN'T COUNT BUT I FELT SURE WE'D NEVER SEE A FISH. STILL, I COULDN'T HELP THINKING THAT THAT SPITTING WOULD REALLY GET US SOME FISH.

GUESS WHAT? I GOT A BITE! IT WAS SO BIG, I KEPT PULLING AND DAD KEPT TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!
I GOT TIRED SO DAD FINALLY PULLED IT IN AND IT WAS A TURTLE! WE WENT HOME AND DAD SAID "WE'LL EAT TONIGHT" WE HAD TURTLE SOUP, AND I WAS REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF!

WE STAYED THERE ABOUT TWO WEEKS, MAYBE MORE, AND DAD TOOK US "EXPLORING." THE TREES WERE BIG AND SOME VERY OLD. (COURSE SOME WERE LITTLE AND STILL GROWING) ANYWAY, DAD EXPLAINED ABOUT THE TREES AND SHOWED US THE MUSCATEL (GRAPE) VINES THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE TREE TRUNKS, GOING WAY UP INTO THE TREES.
SEEMS THAT I GOT TO TASTE ONE BUT I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE, ABOUT THAT TIME WE THOUGHT WE HEARD A WOMAN SCREAM,- VERY LOUD AND SHRILL. WE WERE SO SCARED THAT WE COULDN'T HARDLY TALK!

DAD SAID,"COME ON KIDS, LET'S GO HOME NOW," AND WE DIDN'T NEED COAXING.

WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE STARTED TELLING MOM THAT SOME WOMAN WAS GETTING KILLED DOWN BY THE CREEK AND WE WERE ALMOST CRYING. MOM TOLD US IT WAS A PANTHER AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG BLACK CAT.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE DIDN'T CARE TO GO DOWN THERE AGAIN.

SO UNTIL WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND HEAD FOR ANOTHER PLACE WITH THE OLD HORSE AND WAGON, I'LL REST ON MY LAURELS.

'TIL NEXT TIME,- MIZMICKS...

SEE YA'...

Sunday, October 19, 2008

A CHILDS DREAM...

I remember ---well I don't remember exactly how old I was when we started having Christmas.
We lived on South Conejo Ave., straight across from the airport. The area is hard to find now, since there's been so much road work and the name of that part of the street was changed to Tioga.
Anyway, to get back to my story.
You could go straight down the hill to old Uncle Dans' big two story brick house at the bottom of the hill.
A little farther down, at the Tuolumne River, was a pipe that poured water into the river and to the right was Legion Park.
When you hit the river, if you turned left and went along the river, you went into the trees and brush.
One day just after Christmas, my youngest brother, James, took off to the river. After a while I was out in the yard and I saw little James really working hard trying to get up that hill.
I started to go and see about him, but then I saw he was going a little faster so I waited.
When he got to the house, everyone came out to see what was happening.
Believe it or not, he had been pulling a big used Christmas tree behind him!
Mom looked so sad and surprised and she said, "Well, I didn't know it meant that much to him."
I'm sure people saw him dragging that tree up the hill, but I don't think it bothered us any.
I can't remember if we set it up in our little house, but I do know Mom made sure we had a tree from then on!
*From James:
It made such an impression on Mom that, one Christmas when Mom and Pop and James went to Mendota to pick cotton a few days before Christmas, they moved into a tent the grower provided and, when Christmas Eve came, they didn't have a tree. Mom went across the street to a fence that ran along an open field and got a tumbleweed and brought it to the tent.
She tore up pieces of colored paper and tore off pieces of tinfoil from cigarette packs and made popcorn stringers and hung it all on the tumbleweed to make a Christmas Tree.*
I guess the times when you are older, some things are clearer and I'm blessed with all the memories I've kept.

'Till next time----- Miz Micks

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Priming the Pump...My Way...

CA, I READ YOUR BLOG ON PRIMING THE WATER PUMP AND IT WAS PRETTY GOOD!

WELL, THE WAY I GOT THE WATER IN THE BUCKET WAS--- I WOULD GO TO THE HANDLE AND GET THE WATER GOING, THEN, WITH BUCKET IN HAND, I WOULD RUN AROUND TO THE FRONT OF THE PUMP, STICK THE BUCKET UNDER THE WATER AND WATCH AS THE LAST FEW DROPS TRICKLED INTO THE BUCKET.

THEN I WOULD TAKE THE BUCKET WITH ME , BACK TO THE HANDLE AND START PUMPING AGAIN; RUN AROUND TO THE FRONT AND CATCH THE LAST BIT AGAIN.

FINALLY I GOT THE BUCKET FULL ENOUGH THAT I DIDN'T GET IN TROUBLE FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH WATER IN THE BUCKET. BUT,BOY, WAS I TIRED!

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD ME HOW TO DO IT RIGHT, BUT I KNOW I FINALLY GOT ONE OF THE LITTLE KIDS TO HOLD THE BUCKET WHILE I PUMPED THE HANDLE! 'YAY!'

MIZ MICKS...

See ya!...