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Pink

 

Have you ever watched the vintage movie Pretty in Pink? It is a classic. Andie (Molly Ringwald) is an outcast at her Chicago high school, hanging out either with her older boss (Annie Potts), who owns the record store where she works, or her quirky classmate Duckie (Jon Cryer), who has a crush on her. When one of the rich and popular kids at school, Blane (Andrew McCarthy), asks Andie out, it seems too good to be true. As Andie starts falling for Blane, she begins to realize that dating someone from a different social sphere is not easy.

In the film, Molly Ringwald's working-class character Andie ends up with Andrew McCarthy's “richie” Blane. However, that wasn't the intended ending for the film. The original ending had Andie ending up with Jon Cryer's character, Duckie, with the two dancing together at prom. Watchers booed the original ending, so the writer changed it, proving a girl can dream and have her dreams come true.

My Mother loved the color pink. She grew up in a lower-class, working-class home. Her life changed course, and she created her own dream life of raising a family and working hard to get all the "pretty in pink" things. I loved her determination and am so very proud to be able to carry this torch taught.

 

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This little mirror was created from just a few of my mom's pretties. She worked retail at the Dixie Shoppe, serving Plainview's elite from the age of fourteen until it closed in the late seventies. 

She always said that pinks, reds, and oranges were hard colors for me to wear, but I have found that they are some of my favorite hues in design.

Fitting into a social sphere is not possible without love. When we think about our "Pretty in Pink" things, they should bring peace, love and joy that is sharable.

 

 

 


Sweet Ladies

 

What a sweet group of ladies! Who would have thought that I would be surrounded by such precious Theta friends for 38 years, since 1986. A few are originals, and some came through the years, but each one God placed in my life for this long season. I am blessed!

 

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One Mother

 

I am the daughter
of a daughter.
Who is the daughter
of a daughter.
Who is also the daughter
of a daughter.
Some of us are mothers
but all of us are daughters,
all birthed through lines
that weave back to
that First Mother.
All connected from
the very beginning.
All connected in the now.
Mothers,
Daughters,
Grandmothers,
Great Grandmothers,
Great Great Grandmothers.
All daughters born from
One. Original. Egg.
from
One. Original. Woman.
So why the separation?
Why the animosity toward each other?
Why the arguing and fighting,
back-stabbing and lack of support?
The next time you see another woman,
look in her eyes and see the
Ancestral Lines – the lines of women –
that lead back to you.
Where are we going Mother?
And how will we get there Sister?
By staying connected Daughter
and allowing for difference.
For we are each one,
after all,
all Daughters
of Daughters
of Daughters
of our
One Mother.
 
- Arlene Bailey,
The Daughter Line (2020)
 
From one mother to me, thank you, Jesus, for setting me free.
 
 
Mother angel
 
 
Happy Mother's Day!
 
 

Pinks & Redheads

 

We had my birthday party at the skating rink or the Western Motel pool each July. This is at the Western Motel. I loved this bright pink and navy blue "sailor" swimsuit. I was very surprised that my mother bought it for me. Redheads did not wear pinks or reds! Times have changed.

 

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Ya'll

 

Ya'll, I don't have time for waiting in doctor's offices. I understand that when people get older, their medical visits are the topic of conversation with family and friends. It is simply hard for me to imagine that I will be this person. Yet, I have found myself in the offices of medical helpers. I admire what they do and how they offer help. I'm just not interested in learning patience this way.

I have never had the vision I desire, so I have seen eye doctors and had my eyes dilated for a long time. The process takes an entire day from my journey. Surely, there are dilating drops that don't last so long. Whatever, I'm thankful for my health, and that I can see.

It is the small things. I am so pumped that the dilation has worn off, and I can read, take photos, and type. I just want to stay up all night praising God.

 

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Dragonflies

 

The day we buried my mother, God sent hundreds of blue dragonflies. They flew around the casket, in and out of the canopy. They were such a beautiful gift and an assurance of God's love for me.

 

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So, my friend, Ester, makes fun things from silverware. She made a dragonfly, and I ordered eight. Love them!

 


Fishing

 

Fishing and hunting were big things in my grandfather's life. I did not have his love or enjoyment gene for either. I did go on many fishing trips, but thank goodness hunting was not in our vacation plans!

This could be me, but I have never caught that many fish! This is a photo of my mom.

 

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Here is her father, my grandfather, Hugh (Bo). It looks like they had a good day; the fish were biting.

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"Bo," as we called my grandfather, built boats. 

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Here is a photo of a group taking a ride...(Before required life vests!) No one was harmed in this boating trip.

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My grandfather liked speed. He liked boats, planes, and automobiles. He liked alcohol, too. Thankful he overcame and lived to grow me in so many ways!!! God knew what I needed and placed me right smack dab in the middle of the people to lead me. He never once talked about God or taught me about Jesus. He taught me the Way of the Lord in his actions. That was his ministry in my life.

 


May 3

 

May 3, 1923, John Phillip Dayton was born. May 3, 2024, he would have been 101 years old. He died at the age of 72. Twenty-nine years without him as my hero. I started my search for my life's different wiring because of my dad and his family. We were alike in many ways. He taught me so much in his quiet way. 

 

 

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Warren and Fran Dayton, John and Lorena Dayton, Virginia Etter, and Lucy May Etter.

 

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John Dayton, Hugh Etter, Z.T. Hopkins.

 

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John Dayton at a lake. Notice he has a suit on. Love those lake loafers! He was a wonderful provider!

 

I wrote these after my father's Eternal Entry...

 

If they had Facebook in heaven, I would post you a note to tell you that I would, if I could, buy a boat. I'd buy a boat and ride on my tears to get to you and add some years. I'd add some years and a question or two because sometimes I need answers from you. In my heart, you knew everything.

 

 

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