Musings of a Mad Macedonian

On April 23, 2001, I lost someone very special to me, and wrote about it on an old Message Board Community I belonged to then reposted the story for the Thanksgiving Season, my 2^nd year as a blogger, in 2003.

As Thanksgiving and Christmas come around again memories of this person bring a smile to my face.

(This series begins here.)

I am grateful for Granma Leona, and wish to share why once again.

What follows is an edited version of a much longer piece….

What makes a Grandmother? Is it blood-ties? Not always, and I should know...

I just lost the best damn Grandmother a man could ever have.

I just found out an hour ago, and the funeral is in a little over 2 hours...

What makes a Grandmother?

I had the pleasure of knowing only one of my Blood Grandmothers, but she got old & senile and died, before I, in my teens & early 20's got to really know her.

Does ANYONE remember a time before Sesame Street?

A time when Men were clowns, and women were hobos, little Mischief Makers dreamed of being seen in a Magic Mirror, having a moose for a pet, riding in the Bozobile, and were people, too...wacka-doo, wacka-doo, wacka-doo! :-D

I am grateful for a childhood that included Romper Room, Bozo the Clown, Capt. Kangaroo, Hobo Kelly, and Wonderama.

No wonder I turned out the way I have, peculiar sense of humor, creative writing talent, and all. :-D

Sit back, relax, and remember your childhood, or that of your children, watching these shows, having good old fashioned fun and learning so much that a classroom education couldn't teach, including, in my case a love of books, among so many other things.

Next up: 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Challenge #18: What Makes A Grandmother?

What a day!

In the morning I found a bank where I may be able to move my IRA to from CA. I talked with a young Asst. VP/ Lobby Mgr. who took my info and will set me up to chat with a financial advisor.

We had a nice chat about my situation and he gave me advice on how to network locally and how temp jobs for the season are a big thing in Houston as well.

He took my cards...Oh and we chatted about our immigrant heritage...He was born in Iran, and his family came here when he was a child.

In the evening I had technical issues with my computer to resolve from the other day, and it won't be until tomorrow that I can learn more.

(This series begins here.)

Meanwhile, inbetween, I learned that legendary Hostess, of Irving TX., is no more after 80+ yrs.

I'm Grateful for the makers of Brother Typewriters and, more recently, Brother 4 in 1 Printers. :-D

(This series begins here.)

A long time ago, in a decade far away, at Palomares Jr. High, in Pomona, Ca., I took a typing class, in 8th grade that, by rights I should have flunked.

I was so far behind the rest of the class, so unable to type the way I was being taught, it wasn't even funny.

But, I kept plugging along and, for that, my teacher took pity on me, and gave me a D- grade instead. :-D

Over that summer I bought my first typewriter, and began to self-teach myself to type, in a way that was comfortable to me and got the job done.

Brother still makes 6 models of typewriters, if you can believe it. :-D

It's funny but, when I bought my first computer, in 1998, using a keyboard, in my own way of typing, came easy for me, and I left the typewriter behind for good.

My new printer, a Brother, is a way to re-connect with my school days writer self.

I am grateful for the influence of Mass Transit in my life.

In the early 1950's my parents found themselves in the Pomona, Claremont, Montclair, Chino, and Ontario, area, centered along the east end of Los Angeles County, the west end of San Bernardino County, and north of Riverside and Orange Counties, and neither of them drove cars.

Before and after they met, dated, then married (1955-57) thru 1964, they relied on the Red Line trolley, and the precursor to LA’s RTD, as well as the local transit in Pomona into the early 70’s when RTD took it over, to get around.

(This series begins here.)

As a kid in the 60’s, before the Old Train/Bus Depot closed for 20 years (Foothill Transit refurbished the station and site, as a transit hub) I have vague memories of us eating at the lunch counter inside the station, where people also bought train tickets, and then catching busses outside.

The café was run by a lady my parents knew, though I only remember her name as being Rosie.

The 60G, and 60F, among other busses, that traveled between LA and San Bernardino and Riverside, would line up in rows and passengers would walk to and from the busses.

The old Continental Trailways Station was across the street.