CAREFULLY SPOKEN WORDS

AS I WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY TODAY, I HAD TO SHOO LUCKY (MY CAT) FROM THE BED IN ORDER TO TAKE THE SHEETS OFF. I SUDDENLY REMEMBERED SOMETHING THAT HAS MADE ME LAUGH EVERYTIME I THINK OF IT. IN THE EARLY '80'S, THERE WAS A POPULAR CAT GRAPHIC, THAT WAS A BLACK AND WHITE STRIPED CAT IN RED TENNIS SHOES. THEY HAD SHEETS, LINENS, CURTAINS AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS PRINTED WITH THIS CAT. HE WAS RATHER POPULAR. I HAD TO HAVE A SET OF THE SHEETS. ONE DAY, AS I WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY, LITTLE 3 YEAR-OLD AARON WAS "HELPING" ME. I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD NOT STRIPPED OUR BED AND TOLD HIM, "AARON, GO AND GET THE CAT SHEET OFF MAMA'S BED AND BRING IT TO ME". HE CHEERFULLY COMPLIED. NOT LONG AFTER, HE CAME BACK CARRYING A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER. I WAS CONFUSED. "AARON HONEY, WHY DO YOU HAVE A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER?"I ASKED. LOOKING AT ME WITH HIS HUGE BLUE EYES, HE SAID, "MAMA, THE CAT DIDN'T POO POO ON THE BED, I LOOKED AND LOOKED!" IT TOOK A SECOND, BUT THEN I UNDERSTOOD! I ALMOST WET MYSELF LAUGHING AT HIS INNOCENCE- AND MY OBVIOUS NEED TO WATCH MY LANGUAGE A BIT MORE CAREFULLY! ANOTHER TIME, I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM, AGAIN WITH LITTLE AARON. NO MATTER WHAT, EACH TIME I BAKED A CAKE, HE WOULD HOOK HIS TWO LITTLE FINGERS INTO IT AND PULL A HUNK OUT OF THE SIDE. HE WAS VERY YOUNG, AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS NOT NICE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS UP TO ME TO PREVENT THE CAKE DESECRATION, SO, THE NEXT TIME I BAKED A CAKE, I PUT IT INTO TUPPERWARE AND FIRMLY CLOSED THE LID. THIS PARTICULAR CAKE WAS DESTINED FOR A LADIES MEETING AT CHURCH. BEFORE I CONTINUE, I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT AARON'S MIDDLE NAME IS ABINADI, NAMED AFTER A REVERED PROPHET THAT GAVE HIS LIFE BY FIRE FOR THE GOSPEL. TO GO ON: I TOOK THE CAKE TO CHURCH, SNUG IN IT'S TUPPERWARE CONTAINER, AND PLACED IT ON THE TABLE TO BE SERVED. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A HOLE, PLUGGED OUT OF THE SIDE AS USUAL! "DOGGONE IT!" I SAID, "I BROUGHT AN ABINADI CAKE AFTER ALL!" NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO, THE SISTER NEXT TO ME SAID, "WHAT DID YOU DO? BURN IT?"
NOT ONLY MUST WE WATCH OUR WORDS BUT OUR ACTIONS AS WELL! WHEN I WAS MASSIVELY PREGNANT WITH BECKY, WE CAME HOME FROM CHURCH ONE SUNDAY AND I ASKED MARTIN IF HE COULD HELP ME GET LUNCH ON THE TABLE. HE DIGRESSED IN SOME MANNER, AND I WAS CRANKY AND OUT OF SORTS, SO I LOST MY TEMPER. I STOMPED INTO THE KITCHEN, AND OPENED THE CUPBOARD TO FIND ANYTHING EASY TO FIX. I FOUND SOME CORNED BEEF HASH. I TOOK DOWN 3 CANS, OPENED THEM AND STARTED THE FIRE UNDER THE SKILLET. ABOUT THAT TIME, THE CAT CAME IN AND WAS HUNGRY. HE MEOWED AND CARRIED ON, AND SINCE I WAS IN SUCH A BAD MOOD, I SCOOPED A SPOONFUL OF THE HASH OUT OF THE CAN, GAVE IT TO THE CAT AND PUT THE REST INTO THE SKILLET. THE WHOLE TIME I WAS MUTTERING AND GRIPING UNDER MY BREATH, AND I DIDN'T SEE JESSICA STANDING THERE. SHE WAS 7 AT THE TIME. SEEING ME FEED THE CAT SOME OF OUR DINNER, SHE QUIETLY BACKED OUT OF THE KITCHEN AND WENT IN TO WHERE HER DADDY WAS WATCHING THE TV. "OH, DADDY, YOU HAVE REALLY DONE IT THIS TIME!" SHE SAID. "MAMA IS GIVING US CAT FOOD FOR DINNER!" FOR SOME REASON, I AM AT A LOSS TO REMEMBER OTHER SUCH STORIES AT THIS TIME, BUT I PROMISE AS THEY COME TO ME, I WILL WRITE THEM FOR YOU. I DO SO ENJOY THIS BLOG, AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HAS HELPED ME COPE SINCE LOSING MY BOBBIE JO. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE