Smoke Signals and other news
May has arrived along with “Blackberry Winter,” usually our last cool spell of the Spring/Summer. Blackberries are blooming and we reach for a jacket one more time. Grass requires more frequent mowing and flowers and vegetables are bursting forth. Birds are singing and busy building nests and raising young ones. It is truly a beautiful time of year.
Mother's Day is Sunday. Those who are blessed to have their mothers still in their life, take the time to do something with your mom, even if it's just spending time with her if possible. Everyone has had a mother at some time, memories of which may be good or not so good. My memories are precious although my mom has been gone 23 years. I remember as a child we always gathered at my grandmother's to honor all the mothers in the family and even those aunts who had no children, but who treated all the nieces and nephews with love as though we were their own children. Treasure those memories. Those days are gone way too soon.
On Saturday, I had the privilege of going to granddaughter Mary Claire's dance program on the campus of Ole Miss. She had tried out and made the Spring Show for OMDC. As always, she was awesome. It was different than going to all her recitals over the years as this was all young adults dancing their best. There were so many of them and they were all so talented. I could envision the many hours of practice and dance recitals their parents had seen.
I did a bit of uphill walking to get to the building and my legs were tired and shaky. When I started up the small steps thinking this was the easy part, I didn't raise my foot high enough and tripped over a step. Fear gripped every part of me as I imagined the injuries I was about to receive and wondered if I would be able to watch the show. My son-in-law, Philip, reacted quickly and kept me from falling for which I am so very grateful.
After the performance, Mary had time to go to lunch with us before her next show and chose Oxford Burger Company off the square. Again, there was more walking than I normally do, but I was determined to have lunch with her. Philip and I arrived before the rest of the group. Since you have to stand in line to place your order, and they were busy, I gave Philip my order and money and sat down to rest. Shortly, Mary came to tell me management said they would provide me with a chair to sit in line, but I could not sit at the table without placing an order no matter my age or health. Getting up and down from a chair each time the line moved would have been difficult. I was embarrassed and hurt. Others were sitting at tables without placing orders or leaving items at tables to “save” them with nothing being said to them. I truly just wanted to go wait in the car while everyone else ate. My daughter insisted I stay and although blinking back tears, I stood in the middle of the restaurant while our order was placed, and we were allowed to sit down. There are no signs that I saw announcing this policy. The food was good, and the service was ok (nothing special), but I cannot go there again.
I would love to report your news. Call or text me at 901 246-8843, message me on Facebook at Clair Wagg, or email me at jchwagg@gmail.com.