Happy Thanksgiving!

May you and yours have the happiest of Thanksgivings!

Love, Margie and Edna

Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin'...

Edna: Margie, last week's episode of Supernatural got me to thinking a lot about the past and changing the future. In the show, when Dean from the present encountered his future self, he surely didn't like how he had turned out. Do you think that if Past Margie paid you a call today, she'd like how you turned out?

Margie: Edna, why do you torment me? I think it would depend on several things. She would not like my financial situation and she'd ask why I became a librarian instead of the lawyer I wanted to be.

I believe she'd love my choice of gentlemen and that I still live in Jericho and am the toast of the town.

What would Past Edna tell you?

Edna: Well, she'd give me an earful about living in Jericho. She thought I'd be growing old gracefully in France, living in the country and raising goats. She'd also be surprised that you and I even have anything to do with one another now, given how much we fought when we were younger.

She'd be glad to see that I'm still feisty after all these years, though. And I think she'd be amazed at our blog.

Margie: Well, you came close to what Past Edna would have expected. You may not be raising goats but you sure are one. I also think you'd best check the dictionary for the definition of "feisty" as that's not you.

I think our Past Margie and Edna would love our blog too. As for us living together, Edna, I could have a sister worse than you. Yes, I said it. It is possible that you could have been worse.

Edna: I guess that's as close to a compliment as I'm ever going to get from you. Past Margie was also pretty stingy with praise, so I guess you haven't changed much. I suppose I feel the same about you too, sister.

While there are some things I might have wanted to be different, I have to say that I'm pretty content with how life turned out for me. And like you said, things can always be worse--at least we've still got family, Aunt Biddy and Itty-Biddy notwithstanding.

Margie: That's true, Edna, and there's one thing about the past that I'd never want to change. Mama and Daddy were the best parents we ever could have had. I sure do miss them.

Edna: So do I, Margie. Now, as far as I'm concerned, it's never too late to change your future. So what do you say we start raising us some goats in the backyard?

Sunday Funnies

Have a great Sunday!!

Granny's Old Sayings

Margie: Edna, I was just thinking about Granny and those sayings she used to have. Do you remember when we'd go visit and she'd say, "I've been studying on you girls." Why did she say that instead of just saying she'd been thinking about us?

Edna: I guess it was just how she knew to say it. You know, I can't say I ever thought much about why Granny said the things she did, that's just how she talked. We knew what she meant, though, even if it wasn't always how other folks would say things.

Margie: That's sure the truth. You know what one of my favorites was, Edna? When Granny misplaced something she'd say, "I can't start that bowl."

Wonder why she didn't say she couldn't find her bowl since that's what she meant?

Edna: Good Lord, Margie, why didn't you just ask the poor woman while she was alive if you were so all-fired curious? I have no idea why she used those words, but I'm guessing it's how her family talked while she was growing up.

Margie: Lord have mercy, Edna. No wonder nobody wants to have a conversation with you. All I have to say is that Granny called people "quar" if they were odd and eccentric and I'd say you're as quar as they come!

Family and Sacrifice

Image courtesy of Ohio History Central

Edna: Margie, I've been thinking a lot lately about the girl that Mama used to have come watch us when we were little, when she'd go to to Bible study or to her lady's group. Her name was Sylvia, do you remember?

Margie: Yes, I remember. I haven't thought of her in years. What makes you ask?

Edna: Maybe it's because of the holiday season and all the talk of families and such. I remember that she was just out of high school when the Great Depression started, and although she'd been talking about going to college to get her teaching degree, she went to work in a factory instead to make money for her older brothers to continue their schooling. I've often thought about how selfless that sacrifice was. I wonder how many young people today would do that for their siblings?

Margie: Times were sure different then. People had manners and they were caring and gracious. Family was the most important thing in the world. There weren't a lot of women who made it to college. Women were expected to help the menfolk.

I'm not sure how many young women would do that today. People think about me, me, me nowadays.

Edna: Margie, I would like to think that if times got really tough again like they were back then, young women (and young men!) would step up to do what they had to do to help their families out.

You know, I asked Mama about Sylvia after we were grown. She told me she'd heard that Sylvia never did get to go back to school like she'd wanted to. Sylvia's brothers all dropped out of school, but she never ever complained about having made a wasted sacrifice. Mama said she got married and had two girls (just like Mama!) and lots of wonderful grandchildren, and she was happy with the path she chose.

I guess what it all comes down to is being happy with the life you have. And that's a lesson you can take to the bank.

Margie: I agree, Edna. Be happy with the life we have. I have the utmost respect for Sylvia for being happy with her path. She certainly deserved happiness.

Edna: Yes, she did. And she got it too.


This one's for you, Grandma.

Senior Citizen's Day

Margie: Today is National Senior Citizen's Day. Listen to what I read in the newspaper:

"On this day, we are encouraged to recognize and show appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly people to home, family and society."

Lawsy me, I hope we have visitors today and they appreciate us with some good home cooking. I like chocolate and cookies, and a cake would be nice too. What do you think, Edna?

Edna: I think you're living in a fool's paradise if you think anyone's going to come and shower you with treats today. It's been a long time since anyone appreciated us around here, with the exception of poor Cousin T. I will say this, though: sometimes being a senior citizen does have its perks. Like the senior citizen discounts we get down at Bailey's Tavern.

Margie: I do love those discounts, Edna. You know what else I like? We can be as eccentric as we like and people chalk it up to our age. They don't know we've always been like this.

Edna: We? Speak for yourself, sister, I'm not the least bit eccentric and never have been. I do think that people are more polite to older folks, at least in my experience. Young men are constantly giving me their seat on the bus, and I reward them with a pleasant smile and a wink.

Margie: Get a life, Edna. You've never had a pleasant smile, you coined the term eccentric, and the young men probably thought your wink was a tic.

I must say, though, that I love how polite the young gentlemen are when they see me. They're always asking me for advice about romance.

Edna: Margie, they only ask you for advice because they want to know what not to do.

You and I both know that we could snipe at each other until the cows come home. How about if we just say that it's nice that senior citizens have their own day, and leave it at that?

Margie: It is nice, Edna, and may I add that I hope everyone will be kind to all senior citizens today?