A hodgepodge of things

April 23, 2025

Today is the Wednesday Hodgepodge with some interesting questions. You can join in by visiting Joyce's blog.

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Picnic Day...will you celebrate? Do you enjoy picnics? Dining out of doors picnic or otherwise? What are three or four things I'd find in your picnic basket?

The last time I was on an actual picnic of sorts was in the Autumn of 1972 as a sophomore in high school for a German Club get-together at the park. I met my high school boyfriend there. He'd brought his guitar along and some sheet music, so was learning to play "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce. I offered to hold the sheet music to make it easier for him. As he finished his second run-through of it, some of the others got a tag footfall game together and I told him I was going to go play ... I was still very much a tom-boy even though I was in high school. I think we began "going steady" about two months later. After a few months together, he told me he'd been disappointed when I took off to play football during that picnic. Awww. (No, I did not marry this guy. I broke up with him near the end of my senior year.)

Other than that, the only picnics I've ever been on were the few I can remember with my family before my mama died in 1971. Mama always made fried chicken, potato salad, iced tea or lemonade, and apple pie.

2. A time recently where you felt 'antsy'?

Umm ...  always? Haha! I can actually be the most patient person in the world (in certain circumstances), but I'm very much an antsy person. Yes. Often. Quite a lot. Always.  🤣

3. As the saying goes...'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'  Do you like lemonade? When did you recently need to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking?

I like lemonade, but never make it. I usually buy one lemonade one time each year while at the state fair.

In my life, I'm constantly "making lemonade." There is always something. Always.

4. Recently five 'celebrities' made a brief (ll minute) foray into space aboard Jeff Bezos Blue Origin rocket. Did you hear about this? Your thoughts? If money were no object is this something you'd like to do someday?

Yes, I read a few sentences about this. I do not care. And no, I wouldn't do this.

5. Favorite thing about the 'space' you're sitting in right now?

I'm alone, sitting on my couch in my tiny livingroom in my tiny apartment. And it's totally quiet. That's the way I like it. My brain can only handle so much in the way of noise and people.

Did I mention I'm alone and it's quiet? Yes, those are the words.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

How about a random favorite photo with background?

My dear, sweet stepmom, Sharon, was such a funny gal. One time, she and I had gone to the church thrift store to just look around. I was going through some women's blouses when from behind me I heard her ask, "How do you like my new hair-do?" I turned around and burst out laughing when I saw this....

And yes, I snort-laughed when I ran across this again in the photo folder. I loved her so much. We both enjoyed genealogy and computers. She died of stage 4 mBC on February 20, 2012. Sharon was my "adult mom." I phoned her a few months after she and my dad got married in 1984 to ask her if I could call her "mom." She began crying and said, of course! I miss her very much. (As I said in my number 1 answer above, I'd lost my mama to stage 4 mBC in 1971.)

Thank you all for reading! Have a very blessed day!

Always,

Diana 🌻