I grew up as a baby of the baby boomers (…born in 1964, turning 55 this year – so there, you’re welcome for me doing the math for you…). My parents were the typical, Midwestern, blue-collar working kind of folk that joined the ranks of others who conceived babies for the boom.
And they kicked off the era of the Gen Xers when my brother was born in 1967.
My parents worked hard, celebrated with friends on the weekends,
ate chili with elbow noodles, played cards, drank some beers, and Mom wasn’t afraid to discipline us kids with thankfully, just a hand. Mom grew up with a dad who wasn’t afraid of his belt for such things.
My younger brother and I survived, just fine, thank you. We were mostly good kids that listened and did what we were told. The hand on the backside was a rare thing.
I kid you not about that, we are just fine.
We’re close, in the chat once and awhile kind of way. He works nights, I work days. And we live about 3 miles away from each other. We were tight and extra close during the years of mom’s dementia.
Last night, I texted my little bro – I do that at least once a year. More often, I kid you not, but, I always text him on 4/11.
I sent a picture of my dinner and martini,
Followed by this text:
Me: “Cheers to 7 years of missing mom!”
Bro: “Cheers (with a tiny emoji of clanging glasses)”
He’s never been one to text too much. I sent him the “I love you emoji”, and he wrote back, “Thanks”.
Unfortunately for him, being a night-time truck driver, he had to head out into the last half of the worst storm we’ve had this season. He sent me a pile o’ sh*t emoji when I asked him how the night before was for driving.
As he was leaving last night, we were experiencing 50 mph winds and sleeting rain. Nice. Not.
I hope he texts me this morning to say he survived the drive. He’ll probably have a beer when he gets home. I’d probably too.
Once my parent’s shooed us out the door, (not really, we both left on our own), their empty nest didn’t stay the way every kid hopes it would for their parents when the kiddos flee the nest – like a couple of love birds, all happy and blissful. It was more of a stormy condition, I guess.
Around 1988, my parents separated and eventually divorced. The year Mr. and I got married. Sigh. Needless to say, I wasn’t tickled or happy about it. Mom had friends who appeared to be happy for her, one of them gave her this book on her 47th birthday in 1988.
Mom eventually married again.
I eventually liked my Step-Father – a lot, he was kind to her and she loved him as much as he loved her.
He made a mean Tanqueray martini – with two olives, straight up, lightly stirred and poured into a frosty glass.
Mr. learned how to make them before my step-father passed away. Every year, I ask Mr. to make me one to celebrate Mom.
Mom’s health failed rapidly after my step-father died. I still shake my head at how her memories intermingled during her final years of life. I find it weird that mom’s dementia took her back to the time frame of turmoil and events that happened in her life around 1988, I kid you not. She often said she was 42, mixed in with telling me the president was still George W. Bush, and she was sure it was 1988 often, sometimes 1992.
We went along with her memories, there was no point in convincing her otherwise. If she was happy, we were happy.
And she would’ve been happy, knowing that I toasted both of them last night on the 7th anniversary of her death. I can tolerate one martini, no more, I kid you not, any more and I’d hit the floor.
It is funny now that we’re older and wiser, prune juice is a good idea?! Kombucha anyone?
Speaking of happy…Johnny Carson was a happy guy when he wrote the book in 1965.
To celebrate a new era in our own little empty nest where I’m parting with things, maybe I should give this book away? I kid you not, it isn’t that funny…except maybe this one…I’m not particularly fond of the moles or voles we have in our yard.
Post Inspiration – A-Z Blogging Challenge 2019 – K
PS – Did you watch Johnny Carson show? Which joke picture did you enjoy the most? Have you had a dry martini with two olives before?
Ooo–that’s my martini of choice. Can’t get into vodka. Amazing how much heavy drinking was a part of the culture, when Johnny Carson starred in it, right? Funny/odd book. I think he must have been drunk, writing it!
I’m so tickled every time you share things we have in common! Yes, heavy drinking – all those old shows when they’d have a drink in their hand. They did laugh a lot, and I agree, Johnny must’ve been drunk while he wrote it. Cheers to happiness!
This was a lovely glimpse. 🙂
Aw, thanks – I don’t do that often, glad to hear you enjoyed it ;-)!
Happiness really is a good martini …….. what a fabulous book! I should probably find one on ebay for my ex-husband. He’s a major Johnny Carson fan.
Yes, it is! LOL, do share if you do and what he thinks of the book ;-).
I’d keep the book. It’s small and has meaning for you. I’ve heard the term Generation Jones used for the Baby Boomers born in the later years. I’m Gen X through and through, if not by birth year then by life experiences.
The book does fit our Man Cave Bar scene. And it doesn’t take up much space at all. Thanks for encouraging me to keep something! 😉 I’ll have to read up on the Generation Jones…thanks for sharing that term. I often relate well to the Gen Xers – being born so late in the year right before 1965.
Yes to Johnny Carson and yes to martini’s
Cheers to you, Alice :-)!
That book is a vintage keeper! I remember watching Heeeeree’s Johnny 🙂
He was so relaxed and chill on that show – a few martinis would explain it. Yes, the drunk persona was common back then. Remember Dean Martin? Jackie Gleason? The same. I was never a martini drinker, but my grandfather was – and he was very particular about how it was made.
Very sweet post!
Thank you! Yes, I remember the shows – all of them, my mom and dad enjoyed watching and laughing to them. Martinis must be made in a certain way, so I’m told. Glad you enjoyed the post – cheers to childhood memories! xx
I’ve never had a Martini…
And you live in Las Vegas…! 😉
I avoid the Strip like the plague, and only drink beer!
Good thinking – beer is good ;-)!
And fattening! I did actually drive down the Strip yesterday, almost done with the set of drive-by photography.
Yes, it is! I saw your photos on Instagram – great shots, if only you could get a great parking spot!
I certainly remember Johnny Carson. Great show. Yes, drinking and smoking were common. I think it was because of the war(s). A lot of people were directly involved with them in some form or another. Drinking & smoking were two of the few forms of relaxation the soldiers had. Being an Army brat, that’s how it seems to me anyway.
I’d keep the book! I did a quick search for it and the average price for it was between $16-$33. I saw a couple for $5, but don’t know which edition they were. Probably the later one from ’68. It’s small, it’s classic and it’s by a famous person. Worth keeping.
Hubs & I got married in 1988 too! So belated happy 30th to you & Mr! It’s quite an achievement these days.
Aw, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, my mom smoked for a very long time, didn’t help her health later on. Drinking and smoking, yep, favorite past-times of those years. Even Johnny smoked on the stage. The book is the 1965 one. Congrats on your marriage standing the test of time – it is an achievement for sure!! xx
I well remember Tanqueray Imported Dry Gin … had to give it up over forty years ago. It had become a friend that needed to be missed. But I remember … Excellent post. g
Aw, I’m so happy to hear from you!! Thanks for sharing your memories, G. My step-father liked it too, and had to give it up reluctantly near the end of his life. Mom, too. Tanqueray is hard to forget. Take care – I hope you’re doing well! Give cyber-hugs to Pumpkin and Kat for me!
I think it’s good to remember our parents. I sometimes see comics that remind me of my mom. I take a picture and send it to my brother.
Yes, it is. That’s great, I bet your brother appreciates you doing so.
Keep the book – it holds memories for you 🙂
Debbie
Thank you for the encouragement Debbie!
This was an interesting post Shelley- one part was bittersweet and the rest comedy. Your mom was lucky to meet someone else … my grandmother and mother were not as lucky, but their best years were spent after their spouses were gone (deceased and flew the coop, respectively). Both their husbands, and their actions, tainted me from being interested in finding a mate – oh well. I’ve never had a martini, with two olives or otherwise, and I liked all the cartoons, some which looked familiar for some reason, maybe they have been republished or are memes that have circulated around? I liked the cartoon with the two olives the best, though they were all clever, like you. I used to watch the Tonight Show back in the day. Johnny Carson’s monologue was great – I don’t think any of the talk show hosts that succeeded him were as funny. I didn’t care for the Karnack skits – he was funny on his own.
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Linda. I appreciate hearing your take on posts! LOL – I so agree with you – I didn’t like Karnack skits either. And yes, Johnny was funny all on his own. I still remember his giggles and funny faces.
Yes, his expressions alone could leave people laughing.
I’m not into martinis BUT I make a mean cosmopolitan. In fact, my daughter and I have been having them together (twice so far this week). I suppose we both NEED that drink. LOL.
Lovely story about your mother and father. Their getting a divorce must have been hard on you and your brother. Glad it worked out well for her in the end. 2nd marriages are sometimes better than the first!
I like Cosmos too – actually more than martinis, but for my mom, once a year I have her favorite. Yes, with all the happenings you’re having around your parts, I’d have a cosmo too! Thanks, both parents ended up with nice second round pals, my dad never remarried, but he does have a girlfriend (SO) that has been a great companion for him, for that we are thankful. Their divorce was hard, but we were older, so understood over time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Loved the memories and the post…..vaguelyremember Johnnie Carson but I was not a night owl back then….. and no to the martinis. I’ve never had a martini in my life, and now that I can’t drink it’s too late to start!
Thank you! It was rare for me to stay up late, still is. Martinis aren’t my favorite, and no drinking isn’t that bad of an idea either! xx
I used to be able to enjoy a glass of red wine with a steak or Italian food but now the stomach upset just isn’t worth it! If you don’t drink, you have no tolerance at all, and a few sips is all it takes.
You’re wise to keep away from anything that causes stomach upset! After reading your Hygge post, I’m suddenly craving tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches…!
That’s a great lunch for a snowstorm if you still have snow, go for it!
Just catching up on my reading. This is a great post. That little book is sure a blast from the past. And we loved Johnny Carson, too. I’ve never been a martini drinker, but those who are seem VERY particular in the way theirs are made. I once worked with a guy from NYC and have a great memory of him directing the (youngish) bartender at a hotel bar in Iowa on EXACTLY how to make his Ketel One martini. It’s hilarious in retrospect. I only like Tanqueray in a frosty gin & tonic with lime once in a great while in hot weather. It’s always smelled like pine cones to me. LOL
Aw, thanks, Laurel. You’re right, martini drinkers are particular. T&T is a nice drink in the summer. I agree on the pine smell. In Jamaica, they drink Tanqueray with Ting – that’s tasty in the hot sunshine!