learn to laugh little girl

Let's look at this picture together . .shall we?
First of all I am the one in the blue corduroy dress made with love . . ..
by my mom who is the one on the left.
She is the woman wearing a dress and an apron complete with a necklace. Typical early 60's.
I can also see my mothers drink of choice from my earliest recollection until the day she passed away . . .Postum. A hot cereal beverage. I'm often tempted to buy it just to see what it tastes like.
The dishes are Melmac. . . .in not the best condition.
The family home was in the process of a renovation and the furnace in the background was not yet enclosed.
Do you wonder what my problem was? I had just consumed a delicious piece of chocolate cake and no one had told me there was going to be a picture opportunity at the end of the meal. Pictures were rarely taken and even at that age I wanted to look my best.
Imagine my discomfort to realize that the picture was all about me and my state of . . .
unpreparedness.
Sometimes, I wonder if I remember occasions because there is a picture to remind me or do I actually have a really good memory. I can tell stories of my childhood with the tiniest details as though it was yesterday.
I can still remember crying and saying, I don't want my picture taken. I truly wish that I could have even at that age been able to laugh at myself with others instead of what has become an annoying bad character flaw of being overly sensitive. I always have liked to lay blame squarely at the feet of my older brothers but really, it is who I am.
When I'm teased (even in love) I still am uncomfortable with it and I still would like to cry like I did as little girl. It's so unlovely to be that sensitive. I'm working on it and my goal is to laugh at myself with delight by the time I'm all grey. (take that however you like)

After the picture was taken, my older brothers and my parents who were all in attendance did their best to cheer me with a promise of a proper picture taken.

So, there I sit, with my favorite baby, my doll buggy that I was rarely with out. My diaper bag that had a string for a handle.

I can still remember my brother Rich taking that picture. The other picture was forgotten . ..or was it?

Oddly, the two pictures were side by side in the photo album from then on. Perhaps even my mom had hoped that I would see the humor in my own reflection.

You'll be glad to know, that as I looked at the pictures today, I did think it was quite humorous indeed.


Well, I'm off for my 30 minute walk,
enjoy your day.

Comments

  1. Aww... poor little girl who wanted to appear her best!!
    Aren't we all like that....but life does teach us that laughing at ourselves makes the world laugh WITH us not AT us.

    Remember this Lovella -- I only tease people I love and I think that is oft the case -- EXCEPT for older brothers who probably ARE much to blame for your sensitivity!!! smile

    I remember sitting at that very kitchen table... enjoying a meal at your parent's home.... memories!! How sweet!

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  2. There is a flip side to every quality, you cant have deep feelings for other peoples pain, and not be sensitive yourself, I guess the job in life is to learn to laugh at ourselves like you say.God has obviously blessed you with a very sensitive heart, and channeled in the right way, 'what a beautiful thing to run across in a person'! Thanks for your story, I woke up this am to make my tea, and there was a slug on my kitchen linoluem!! I was so upset! Your post took my mind off my silliness for a moment.

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  3. Aww! Those photos are so sweet! I'm so glad they took your picture when you were smiling too!

    How I remember melmac!

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  4. I choose to think that you are laughing in that first pic!
    What wonderful memories!
    We all can learn to lighten up a bit more!
    We in MB have had some pretty severe storms this past weekend so I'm off to bring a bit of cheer to some friends who had a scarey experience at their cottage..I'm bringing them a fresh warm loaf of multigrain bread and a still warm jar of apricot jam!

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  5. I'm like that too, Lovella. If someone teases me and I feel stupid, I don't take it well. I have definitely gotten better at it over the years, but I know what you mean.

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  6. Maybe you'll have a sensitive grandchild that you can help through these same experiences in life...
    I used to drink postum. Tastes pretty healthy and hearty.

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  7. Hi Lovella, Flo's sister Judy here - Postum - over $8.00 a jar when I bought it last week! It is Darrell's drink of choice when he doesn't want caffeine in the evening.
    Your baby buggy looks just like the one I used to have. I'd dress up a very docile neighbor's cat in doll cloths, cover her up with a blankie and walk her around the yard! Good memories.
    Enjoying your writing tremendously, it is heartwarming, keep it up.

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  8. Okay Lovella, love the face, your homemade dress, the great doll buggy.....the transformation from one picture to the next...praise God he is still in the process of transforming us! May we both look and smell like Him!
    Hugs;
    Kimmie
    mama to 6
    one homemade and 5 adopted

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  9. Lovella: Somehow, through linking from blog to blog to blog, I've come across your blog as a result of a comment you left somewhere. What attracted me to you was your name . . . I have a sister named Lovella (born in 1958) and I have never known anyone else with her name, so I HAD to check you out! And as I've read some of your archives, it's quite apparent to me that you or your husband come from a Mennonite background . . . so do I! You recipes and references to Mennonite foods make my mouth water. Fortunately, my mom is still making us Wareneki (or as I say, Veraneka) and she's found a farm that will sell her "real" cottage cheese. We always anticipate this meal served with farmer sausage and cream gravy. Anyways, I'm curious to know what part of the world you live in (of course, without giving too much info--I'm not sure what level of anonymity you are keeping with your blog). But I hope to return here often. You have a great blog. Feel free to check me out at kim-possible7.blogspot.com. Have a great day!

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  10. Ah. What a sweetie. I had a pink print corduroy dress very similar. I think your crystal clear childhood memories are an indication of your great intelligence. I have read they are linked. A tender heart and a good mind - a fine combination. :)

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  11. I had just looked at running wildly's blog with her pictures SMILING after eating chocolate cake. There has to be a happy medium somewhere, don't you think?

    I was in my late teens when some one said that being sensitive was being aware of the feelings of others, and being touchy was being personally reactive to things that happen to yourself. That was helpful to me to differentiate (I'm constantly learning to be sensitive, I've got touchy down pat.)
    All that was well and good, but I dropped my ability to have healthy boundaries. Turning the other cheek, getting over it, "they didn't mean it" blah blah blah. Boundaries are healthy, and make for healthy relationships.
    I think you showed healthy boundaries in not wanting your picture taken in a manner that was unflattering. If you had thought it was funny, or had had the chance to decide if it was funny or horrible by looking in a mirror, then a "funny" picture could have been taken with your blessings, even as a child.
    I'm doing a lot of mental crunching on "sensitive" "touchy" and healthy boundaries. Wish I had the information when I was alot younger, it would have saved me a lot of grief.

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  12. Jill, that makes a lot of sense.
    If I had think the post through again, perhaps I would have to say that I tend to be touchy. Ouch.

    It's easy to be touchy about ones own feelings and yet not sensitive about others feelings. I'm definately trying desperately to learn that. I'm so glad that the Lord continues to open my eyes to see the areas that need his touch.

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  13. Ah-ha --- Postum! I just bought myself a new jar of it. I grew up on it as well --- and I quite like it. I imagine in this day of Starbucks, not many young people know what Postum even is.

    Thanks for the memories!

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  14. I'm not to familiar on a blog, but certainly liked yours. I typed in veranika and your site came up.
    I am from the foothills in California. I do not cook most of the food we ate growing up but do still like most of it. My cousin and sisters do make some of the dishes our mother made.
    Bless you for keeping track of memories with your mom and family.
    I just mailed a check to MDS.
    I'll look at your blog again.
    Norma Thornburg

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