Choosing, This Day: May 2007

This is quite a challenge, as I beleive that most of you that will be seeing this already know how unusual your Mom is and none of this will come as a surprise.

1. I never learned to swim. My father was very afraid of water and did not let us get very near it. As a matter of fact I can still remember My dad, Alvin Gunter standing on the bank of the canal holding on to the rope that he had tied around my waste. I swam in a public pool only a few times as a child. (in the shallow end). My husband tried to teach me to swim after we were married but I always had an infant in my arms and by that time I had a major fear of water if my feet didn't touch bottom.

2. The first time that I drove in Seattle I had 7 children and a sick husband in a malfunctioning automobile. The "o" ring in the carburator was broken, and every time I stopped the car died. We were on our way from Lamont, Washington to Seaside Oregon for a family reunion. The car finally died outside of Ellensburg, Washington and Daddy had to hitch-hike back to town while we waited along side the road. Boy, where were the cell phones when I needed them? To make matters worse I had two teen-aged girls that were on a Watermelon-Popcorn diet. Need I say more? Do you find any thing unusual about that whole scenerio?

3. As yucky as this may sound, before I was 14 years old I had butchered, scalded, plucked, cleaned, cut-up and fried a chicken.
Wasn't so unusual those days.

4. I also have a phobia. That of "darkness". I am a great camper during day light hours, and I do fine at night if I can sit up with a flash light. I have no idea why. but in the total dark I feel very claustrophobic. I was blessed to go to girls camp as an adult leader because I slept in my van with a light on.( But I was an amazing camp cook! )My idea of camping however would be the Marriot, if you know what I mean.

5. At one time we owned a goat named Daisy. We bought her with the intentions of cutting our milk and cheese budget.
We did milk her for some time and I made Cheese from the milk. But when the children announced at the table that the milk and cheese tasted like Daisy smelled, that ended that. I was doing my hair in the bathroom one day and heard the door open. When I went to check who was there. There stood Daisy. I'm still not sure if the kids left the door open or if daisy had skills I wasn't aware of. Have you ever made cheese? It is quite a process.

6. When I was 60 years old I went to Sea World in San Antonio Texas with my Husband, children and grandchildren. Since I was 43 when my youngest child was born and she was turning 17. I told her if she wanted to ride the "Steeleel" roller coaster that I would ride it too. Oh my Gosh! It was huge and pretty scarey. But it was amazing what you could see from the top. We should have bought that picture at the end of the ride that the automatic camera takes as you decend. I also took my first Airplane trip a short while after that.

7. I beleive I am a pretty experienced Wedding Coordinator. I have planned, purchased, decorated, prepared food etc. etc. for at least 15 brides and their grooms. I have learned much and have had a great time doing so. Just give me colors, the desired flowers a small budget and let me go crazy. Then my family's love and support and hard work. We have created some awesome weddings and receptions.

Like I said, I don't know how unusual any of this is, except that most of my life experiences could be labled as unusual,by some. But to me it is just my life.
A High School drop-out and married at the age of 16. The mother of 10 children, I received my GED when I was 43 and expecting my 10th baby. I am still in Love with and married to my sweetheart of 47 years. The father of ALL of my children.
NOW, THAT IS UNUSUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a self-taught hair stylest.
I have nursed my husband to health more times than we each like to remember. Not to mention my children, with illness, surgeries and emotions. I have run an unpaid Taxi service for years, have been a tutor and mentor, I bake amazing Bread, Rolls and anything with dough. I am experienced cake decorator and consider myself to be a pretty good cook. Not so much gourmet, however.
I am a woman of Faith and devotion.
I consider myself a very educated woman but have no degrees to prove it.