Sunday, April 7, 2013

G is for Goofy


Do you ever feel goofy?
After church on Sunday, we went with friends to Johnny Carinos. I’m not a big fan of Italian food, but I do love their raspberry tea and bread. The bread comes in long paper bags. After we ate—there were 8 of us—I saw an empty bread bag on the table and I had the strongest urge to blow into it and pop it! I didn’t, of course, but I really had to restrain myself.

I loved popping bags when I was a kid, scaring my mother and anyone else who was in the house. There’s something about making that loud pop that’s … fun!  Would you think I’m nuts if I told you I pop bags sometimes—when I’m lucky enough to come home from a store with one? Can you imagine an overweight, sixty-four year old white-haired woman blowing up a paper bag and popping it? Well, when I put it that way, I can’t either!
The instructions are right here if you want to give it a try.    

I’ve done a lot of goofy things in my life. Some good, some bad, some not so safe. I think I’ve told you before I’d chip off a little piece of the cow’s salt block and … yeah, you guessed it. Turns my stomach to think of it now.  
Pickle juice? Once my grandmother (paternal) caught me running back and forth to her fridge way too often, to sip her pickle juice.

Funny how that one out-of-the-blue urge to pop a little paper bag brought forth so many memories.
My grandmother (maternal) had a real goofy side to her. There were ten kids in my mother’s family. Eight girls and two boys. My two uncles were a year younger and a year older than me, and a favorite aunt was four years older. My mother was the oldest girl and always said her father would send her and her sisters out to the cotton field then he’d jump in bed with Grandma. From the number of kids they had in the old days, seems like all men did that. To the left, you see my grandparents and my young uncle, David.

I loved going to Arkansas to spend time with my mother’s family. Once, when I was there, my aunt and I slept so late that my grandma grabbed the water hose, stuck it through the bedroom window and sprayed us. She saturated the bedding and water was all over the floor. I’d never seen anything so outlandish in all my life! My mother was a by-the-book kind of person. No way would she have flooded a bedroom to get two kids out of bed. She’d have grabbed a belt or switch … or maybe the broom.
To the left is a pic of Uncle David and me. Of course, I never called him Uncle. He was more like a little brother. To the right, you see how my grandmother aged. Prettier with the white hair, I think.

Special memories are so valuable. My grandparents are gone now, and so is David, but I cherish the times I spent with them, the goofy memories I have.
Do you have a memory that makes you smile? One you cherish? Share it with us.

13 comments:

Al Diaz said...

I love to pop paper bags too. And lately those bubble wrappings are so much fun to pop. I can drive my dwarves nuts with those. My family is full of goofyness but it is so much fun I wouldn't change it for the world. :D
Father Dragon Writes

Unknown said...

Don't get me started on the goofy things I've done, but thanks for sharing the story about how you were rousted out of bed! Too funny.

Manzanita said...

I bet you have a good time with a piece of bubble wrap.
Boy, you were/are a babe when you were young.
Do you mean you ate a piece of the salt block? Somehow, I don't think that is so odd. I always crave salt.
I love the way your grandmother used the hose for an alarm.. Good plan.
A mighty interesting post.
Manzanita
wanna buy a duck

Charles Gramlich said...

I, of course, have never felt goofy or behaved in a goofy manner in my entire life. My wife might disagree, but who are you going to believe?

LD Masterson said...

I love giving in to goofy impulses. Especially when I can embarrass one of my kids doing it. I believe it is one of the purposes in my life.

Ian Anderson said...

I like to pop the plastic bubbles that come with packages. My mom used to do that when I was little.

Thanks for the memories!

Christine Rains said...

What fun memories! It must be the pickle juice that makes you goofy. I used to hide and pop out to scare people.

Helen Baggott said...

We don't use 'goofy' in the UK - but maybe we should? I can remember dipping a licked finger into a bag of citric acid when I was younger - possibly not a good idea!

Sandy said...

Love the old photo's. I used to drink dill pickle juice when I was kid. Then I needed water, cause it made you thirsty. I like to bubble wrap...so we might be kindered spirits......except the Italian food thing. Italian is always always always my favorite. I love the white sauces, the oil sauces the lighter pasta things.

A-Z

Sue McPeak said...

What fun times with your family who it seems had it's share of 'Goofyness'...great memories. My Dad was an alarm clock with a glass of water.
I enjoyed your Hallelujha comment!
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

Cherie Reich said...

Okay, I must be a bit goofy too. Popping bags is fun, and I've drunk pickle juice before. And I've licked a cow's salt block before too. :)

A to Z Participant
Cherie Reich - Author and Surrounded by Books Reviews

Cindy Dwyer said...

What fun memories! It's not strange that you remember some of the goofy stuff the most. We should all be a little goofy and laugh more.

Yolanda Renée said...

Jess, thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my blog. It means a lot. I've been a bit behind on mine, but hope to catch up soon. I enjoyed your blog, Patches my Boston terrier loves it when we 'explode' paper bags, plastic bags, bubble wrap, you name. She sees it and starts dancing and barking. She makes it fun -- you would love her.
Pickle juice is a bit much, ugh!
Love the goofy -- such fun!
My family were partial to belts and whips too -- but driven to distraction -- I could see the hose! :)
On a farm up early is the rule -- 4:00 AM - 5:00 AM was too late!