“These are the good old days,” my husband used to tell our two boys. They’d roll their eyes. Parents can be so lame.
The years have passed and our sons moved out, leaving my husband and me eating our meals together. We’re happy and our house is peaceful, but we miss our sons and their friends.
A few months ago, my mother-in-law told my husband and me we were still young compared to her. Her energy and activities are greatly diminished; someday we’ll be her age so we should enjoy every moment of our comparative youth.
Over supper that night, I thought of the oldies hit sung by Carly Simon, and said to my husband, “These are the good old days.” And he nodded.
Did your parents ever pass on words of wisdom that seemed like nonsense at the time? Did your parents seem to grow wiser as you aged, as mine did? Or sometimes I found that what they’d taught me as a child was incorrect, and I needed to regroup and rethink.
What are your thoughts? Leave a short comment and enter to win a copy of either Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! THREE winners will get to choose which one novel they prefer! USA & Canada. Winners have one week to respond.
Congratulations to last week’s three winners: Tracy V., Jan V., and Lynne W.! Each chose a copy of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! I’ll email you soon to get your addresses! Thank you very much everyone who entered the giveaway. I wanted you all to win!
PS: The books are sitting atop one of my darling aunt’s quilts. The picture album belongs to a dear friend. The second photo is of me and my fabulous mother-in-law.
Need some good reading material please.
I’d like to supply it, Bonnie! Good luck in the giveaway.
I treasured the times we would go “up north” in beautiful Michigan (and still do love “up north”!) for 3 weeks of my dad’s vacation (dad passed in 1968). I didn’t realize it then, but daddy was trying to teach me to budget when he would give me $3, which was supposed to be $1/a week spending money at the nearby State Park that we could walk to. If I spent the $3 in the first week, that was the end of my spending on treats for the remainder of the vacation. Those sure were the good old days when $3 would last 3 weeks if spending wisely. LOL.
Those do sound like the good old days, Linda! You can’t get much for a dollar anymore. I miss both of my parents every day. Not everyone is blessed with a good, loving parent, so I’m very grateful. I can hear your gratitude in your letter. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Kate, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother as a child and I remember her always saying that no matter what happens in life if you have Jesus you have all you really need. That has stayed with me throughout my life and after all of 65 years I have found that to be true.
Thank you for the wonderful post.
Thanks for relating your grandmother’s wise words, Jackie! You got lucky in the grandma department. And better still, you listened. Good luck in the giveaway!
My grandparents raised me and they taught me moral values and to help the neighbors without expecting pay. I remember going to the store with my papaw and getting a brown bag of candy for .25. or I would get a bottle of pepsi and a candy bar for .25 . Sharma Darby
Those really do sound like the good old days, Sharma! What a blessing your grandparents were. Thanks for writing and good luck!
Yes enjoy yourselves while you can. You are only young once! I love your books. I love Amish ones. Please enter me in your contest, and hope to be a winner
You’re entered, Barbara! Thanks for writing and good luck!