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Things I've Learned, or, A Smile is My Umbrella

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Happy Is As Happy Does

I was a happy toddler with a sunny disposition. At least, that's what folks say who knew me then.

I learned early to defuse scary situations with a big, wide smile like my mom's and her father's. From my earliest memory, those smiles were reflected back at me whenever I creeped, crawled, or toddled into their view. Doting adults often smiled in my presence in those formative years. The World War Two years were trying times, but my relatives smiled and plugged along despite any worries or struggles.

Everything I learned about triumphing over adversity came from observing the adults who loved me. A smile was their umbrella too. Smiles, hugs, and a loving spirit can overcome the worst of trials.

My goal here is to give you a smile and a warm, figurative hug.

HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF MIND & HEART

Happiness cannot be bought or handed out like candy.
It's a little spark of joy that lives inside us.
Happy people learn how to feed that spark, to spread the warmth through smiles, affection, and compassion.
-------Anonymous

STARS IN THEIR FRONT WINDOW

Grandma & Grandpa's stars were smiling.

During World War Two, my grandparents had two sons-in-law fighting overseas and a son stationed stateside in preparation for assignment. Dad was in the Philippines and Uncle Kenny in Europe. Uncle Don was a college student in the ROTC. Although I was very young, I sensed the nervous fear that came with every new battle reported on the radio or in the newspaper.

The family pooled their resources in many ways back then. Grandma and Grandpa maintained a huge Victory Garden and shared that bounty with their family and others. Mom and Aunt Maxine were young wives with husbands in the war. They shared a home and raised chickens for eggs and meat. Everyone pooled their ration tickets. And everyone focused on nurturing me, the only child, grandchild, and niece in the family during the war years.

Grandpa always called me "Sorrel Top." I didn't know exactly what that meant, but he grinned so big while saying it I figured it was something good. One day he said, "Our stars are happy stars, Sorrel Top. Let's draw a smiling face on them for when our boys come home." He took a pencil from his pocket and, together, we drew smiling faces on the stars in their front window.

The men in our family all came home from war safely and saw their smiling stars first thing.

WHEN LIFE HANDED HER LEMONS......

MOM MADE LEMONADE....OR COOKIES

Dad came home from war a different man than the one Mom married. They'd been childhood sweethearts who dated all through High School and married soon after graduation. Gone was her laughing sweetheart and friend. A man with dark corners and black moods returned from the Pacific. Alcohol fueled his dark spirit. In public he was the "prince of a fellow" and decorated war hero. Inside the four walls of our home, he released monsters.

I can't imagine Mom's heartbreak as she watched the man she loved deteriorate. She hid her physical and mental wounds and made sure life went on acceptably for their four children. Her happy spirit focused on teaching Sunday School, and baking beautiful decorated cookies for the PTA. And her smile lit up our world. When Mom smiled, we four kids believed we were OK, no matter what else might be going on around us.

When life got so bad with Dad that she worried for the safety of her children, she divorced him. I'm sure the failure of their marriage broke her heart but it didn't wreck her happy spirit. The picture here is one of my favorites of Mother, taken after the divorce at a family gathering. Her smile, her hope and grace, were always Mom's umbrella.

Important!

Mom's decorated cookies were a work of art and a labor of love.
Especially her hand decorated Christmas cookies. Even little children hesitated to eat them because each cookie had its own happy personality.
Jolly Santas. Beaming reindeer. Colorful Christmas Trees. Gentle angels. Stockings stuffed with presents.
She made buttercream frosting mixed with different food colorings just so, then added sprinkles or coconut to enhance the final product.
A tray of Mom's cookies made everyone smile.

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

THE KING AND QUEEN OF HAPPY SMILES

Raising a family during World War One and the Great Depression had to be a struggle. Grandma and Grandpa were always poor. They lived in rent houses, and even spent one Minnesota winter in a tent while Grandpa labored with a road crew. They married in 1916, had their first child a year later, and could not afford to own a home until 1945. Many of my happiest memories as a child and an adult were spent in that house. Grandma kept her home clean and comfortable. A "Bless This House" musical chime welcomed everyone who entered their front door.

Small pleasures fed their happiness. Sitting in the front porch swing together after supper, sharing a nickel ice cream cone between them, or planning for family vacations they couldn't afford were all joys that cost little but provided much happiness. They taught me to appreciate small pleasures and happy moments.

Don't get me wrong. Life was not a bowl of cherries for Herb and Esther, my grandparents. Most of their life was a constant struggle to feed their kids and survive financially. Somehow, their humor and grit prevailed.

The picture shows what lived in Grandma and Grandpa's hearts.
Important!

GRANDMA's PHILOSOPHY

Grandma always said, "Griping is good for the gallbladder but smiling is good for the heart."

Maybe that's why Grandma and Grandpa lived into their 90s and had strong hearts.

A SMILE IS STILL MY UMBRELLA

TRITE, MAYBE, BUT TRUE

I became the person I am because of Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles who smiled and prevailed despite decades of adversity.

I learned from them how people should treat others.

My life has been easy compared to theirs, and I'm so grateful for every kindness and blessing.

A happy smile, a helping hand, and a loving heart -- if genuine -- can dilute the bad medicine life dishes out.

A SPECIAL NOTE

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VISITS MY LENSES AND TAKES THE TIME IN ANY WAY TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT.

BLESS YOU!!

THIS LENS HAS BEEN BLESSED BY SQUID ANGELS

THANK YOU, ANGELS!!

Angel Blessings Part Two

Thank you, Angels

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY

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by

lollyj

I've been a Registered Nurse, a Medical Transcriptionist, a legal secretary, a church secretary, a book reviewer, and a writer. Through all my transitions,... more »

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