Tag: family

feelings

pressure

abby mumford

i am one of the few people i know who does NOT work well under pressure. the few times i’ve procrastinated, something has come up at the last minute and i’ve had to choose — finish the model of Westminster Abbey/pass the class or skip school for a day/with mother’s help in both skipping school and with model building (hey, i was in the 4th grade). that was a tragic day because i had to SKIP SCHOOL and ask my mom for help. sure, some kids would be cheering, but i was just worried about all the work i’d have to make up.

another time, i choose to wait to fill up my car’s tank of gas until the day of departure which resulted in having to wait 45 minutes at the gas station (long story) plus, that 45 minutes allowed all the other cars to leave work and hit the road which added up to two more hours on the highways.

the reason why i have pressure on the brain (other than this cold i developed on friday) is that i witnessed two of the best procrastinators i know at work. one being brother G and the other being my uncle T. and they pulled off the best videos/presentations of the night (i’ll tell you about the party at a later date). i don’t know about uncle T, but i know brother G has my mother’s ability to stay up until the wee hours of the night, which helps when your deadline is only hours away. me? i’m a sleeper. a napper. a go to bed early-er. a wake up later. i’m pretty much always tired which severely hinders things when a deadline is only hours away and which is a driving factor of why i don’t adhere to the “why do something today when it can wait until tomorrow” but rather to the “why do something today when i could have been done yesterday.” (i wonder if being a night owl (or a really early bird) helps with this procrastination thing…?)

yes, i’m the girl who, when applying to undergraduate colleges, told my mother that if she didn’t read my essays by week’s end, i was going to mail them in without her comments. she’d had them for two weeks, but yes, i gave my mother a deadline, which was still weeks ahead of when the actual applications were due. me, who had lacrosse practice and games six days a week plus all sorts of school work plus friends to see plus books to read for fun on top of all that.  my mom still laughs about it to this day mainly because she was the one nagging my other siblings about writing their essays whereas i was the one nagging her. (oh man, how early are the signs? i am becoming my mother!)

this is the only “good” way i differ from my siblings: i stay on top of things (tee hee). i blame G and J because they are both so naturally smart, i had to study extra hard to be able to match the grades they brought home. and then there’s the whole blushing thing. it’s bad. still is. but i figured if i was prepared with the answers (well, except for math class), perhaps i wouldn’t blush when the teacher called on me. didn’t work, but i didn’t stop trying. some call this tenacious or ambitious. others call it stubborn. it depends on if your glass if half full or half empty.

what’s the point of all this? there isn’t one, really, but everyone either is a procrastinator or knows one and in my cold medicine ravaged brain, this is the post you’re getting. talk to me about your procrastination efforts. ever get into a jam you couldn’t get out of or are you the type who spins gold out of dust?

(seriously, talk to me here. i want loads of comments. this is a general topic, so i KNOW YOU CAN RELATE TO IT. speak up. your voice is important! *offers cookies*)

p.s. speaking of pressure, i don’t recommend flying when you have a cold. the part where the plane descends for its landing? yeah, the pain will radiate downwards from your ears to your jaw to your teeth and back up to your sinuses until you’re forced to check your ear to make sure it’s not dripping blood from a ruptured ear drum.

feelings

90 reasons why

abby mumford

maga is my mom’s mom and TODAY SHE TURNS 90. a celebration of epic proportions is clearly due, which is why i find myself surrounded by family in the great state of colorado. tomorrow’s the big party, but today, her big day, this blog is all about her…

*throws confetti*

first, there’s this post, which, yes, i wrote it, but that doesn’t mean i’m not allowed to admit it’s one of my favorites.

second, because we finally got her out from behind the camera (photo circa visit in 2009).

third, because lists are so much fun, here are 90 reasons to celebrate maga. (this is slightly revised and smoothed out from an earlier version i posted at this time last year. except that one only had 89 reasons, because, yeah…) and here we go!

(1) Because she’s lived 90 incredible years with grace, class, and perseverance.

(2) Because she graduated from Wellesley College, earning a degree when many women didn’t.

(3) Because it wasn’t all work and no play during her college years. She knew how to have fun. By gathering up the girls and playing round after round of bridge.

(4) Because she said “I am” when a friend asked who was free to go on a blind date with a boy from MIT.

(5) Because that “I am” turned into an “I do” when the date was with one Joseph Searles Bowman.

(6) Because she moved to the west coast so she could be “closer” to Jobo should he ever get leave from the war. (A leave was apparently quite short and they wanted to maximize their time together. It would have been severely diminished if she had a 3 day train ride from the east coast to the west.)

(7) Because she didn’t know anyone on the west coast. She moved there for love.

(8) Because it’s a brave woman who can follow her heart like that.

(9) Because it’s a strong and true love story that can withstand a war.

(10) Because that love became the foundation of this family.

(11) Because she has expanded her horizons, traveled all over the world, and decided home is the best place to be.

(12) Because she took a house and turned it into a home.

(13) Because she created a family and cherished them completely.

(14) Because her strong opinions, formed from years of studying, traveling, and living, challenged her children and molded them into who they are today.

(15) Because she is fragile and feminine and fabulous.

(16) Because she still gets around town.

(17) Because she always puts on lipstick before leaving the house.

(18) Because she eats dessert with gusto.

(19) Because she has pictures printed into hard copy form at her photo shop down the street which makes the memories tangible.

(20) Because she instilled a love of card games (and competition) in her children, which then got passed down to her grandchildren.

(21) Because she can still whip my butt at cards.

(22) Because she has a hard time letting go of magazines and cards and trinkets and whatever else you can fit into a basement, but what she really doesn’t want to let go of are the memories.

(23) Because she opens the doors to 353 Ivy Street 365 days a year.

(24) Because she makes a decision and sticks to it.

(25) Because she has seen and experienced the world, but loves nothing more than spending time with her family.

(26) Because she puts a smile on her face and makes it through another day.

(27) Because she is grateful for the smallest gestures, like regular phone calls.

(28) Because she really listens to what you are saying.

(29) Because she loves gardenias.

(30) Because she has more courage than she realizes.

(31) Because she has so much to teach us and share with us.

(32) Because she likes to laugh.

(33) Because she still finds creative ways to travel the world (visiting museums and going to the theater) despite the limitations her age now puts on her.

(34) Because she is embracing the detour life has given her.

(35) Because she still writes and sends Christmas cards.

(36) Because she keeps the candy jar full of lemon drops.

(37) Because she gets dressed up when the occasion presents itself.

(38) Because she has a reason to get dolled up, which demonstrates how active her social life is.

(39) Because she gets her hair done every week.

(40) Because she has a computer in her house even though she has no idea how to use it.

(41) Because she has a cell phone even though she has no idea how to use it.

(42) Because she has an address book full of names and she knows how to use it.

(43) Because she is honest about how she is feeling.

(44) Because over the course of a conversation, her voice can go from sad to happy.

(45) Because she is continuing to live, and possibly even thrive, despite the passing of the love of her life.

(46) Because she is an incredible role model.

(47) Because she is stubborn.

(48) Because she has all of these memories to share.

(49) Because she shares them willingly.

(50) Because her mind is as sharp as ever.

(51) Because she loves to take pictures. The old fashioned way. With film.

(52) Because she then takes one more picture for insurance. (As do we all.)

(53) Because she has the best nickname, Maga, which makes people go “What do you call her?” which gives me a reason to go ahead and gush.

(54) Because she is stronger than she even knows.

(55) Because she doesn’t ask much, just that we visit.

(56) Because she would do anything for her family.

(57) Because her heart is full of love for us.

(58) Because her legacy is one of love, laughter, intelligence, and family.

(59) Because she has 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

(60) Because of Greg.

(61) Because of Jane.

(62) Because of Jennifer.

(63) Because of Peter.

(64) Because of me.

(65) Because of Heidi.

(66) Because of Emily.

(67) Because of Gib.

(68) Because of Caroline.

(69) Because of Anna.

(70) Because of Jack.

(71) Because of Joey.

(72) Because of Madeleine.

(73) Because of Aaron.

(74) Because of Liam.

(75) Because of Christian.

(76) Because of Kaelyn.

(77) Because she’s happy when we’re happy.

(78) Because she gave us the means, motivation, and preparation to succeed.

(79) Because she sends us a $2 bill on Valentine’s Day.

(80) Because she sends us handwritten cards.

(81) Because she deserves to have the love she sends to us returned to her tenfold.

(82) Because she generously shares access to the Dillon condo, the dude ranch, the fishing spot, and Cherry Hills Country Club.

(83) Because she answers the phone with a “Hello, Abby dear” and an excitement in her voice that can be felt from 2,000 miles away.

(84) Because she teaches me something new every time I talk to her.

(85) Because she is loyal.

(86) Because she always observes the proper etiquette rules and expects nothing less from us.

(87) Because she’s given us roots at 353 Ivy Street, but allowed us all to have wings.

(88) Because she checks the weather where we live so she can keep tabs on us by knowing what type of weather we’re dealing with each day.

(89) Because she is a survivor.

(90) Because while she may not express her emotions verbally, we can feel her affection through the way she listens, the questions she asks, and the tone of her voice.

we love you! happy birthday, maga!

feelings

happy birthday, EVM

abby mumford

the last of my siblings’ birthdays is that of my younger sister. it’s the only one that falls on a blog posting day, so the baby sister E gets a full post to herself. how very last child of her. :) i’ll refrain from singing because that would blow out your ear drums, shatter the glass windows, and cause a volcano to erupt somewhere far from here. i don’t want to do that to you or to her as she turns 19.

when i turned 19, there were parades and parties and a prince that popped out of a fudge cake. that didn’t happen when you turned 19? what did?

in real life, when i turned 19, the year was 2000.  a new millennium for my last year of being a teenager. there weren’t any hoverboards ala back to the future, but i was hovering on the edge of independence. i was starting my second semester in college, so i was over the scariness of leaving home and enjoying the perks of collegiate life. i knew people. i was invited to parties now, i didn’t just crash them. lacrosse season was about to hit its stride. i took my first creative writing class. the words were stilted and awkward, much like me. i started to understand exactly how awesome my parents were. the friendships i’d tentatively formed first semester solidified. i left campus mid week. i took snowboarding lessons on a mountain in virginia, which is truly only a big hill. simply stated, the swan song of my teenage years was sweet, tough, uplifting, silly, serious, awesome, and surprising. i was turning into an adult with each class, practice, decision, game, lesson, and party.

i wish for the same things for sister E, but in ways the delight and surprise and sparkle and are coordinated just for her. she may have surpassed me in height, but she’ll always be my kid sister.

happy last year of your teens, E. go get ’em.

 

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travel

mission (quasi) accomplished

abby mumford

as i previously mentioned, all of my siblings and i have january birthdays. brother G’s was yesterday. O HAPPY DAY! and yes, the mission i so vaguely mentioned last post was directly related to that event.

it actually started over a year ago when my SIL (M) asked me how i felt about being a present of the surprise variety for brother G. you see, they live on the west coast and so our time together is more often relegated to emails and texts and phone calls and skype than to time spent in the same time zone. M and i figured out the perfect plan and coordinated our schedules so that i could fly out and be all SURPRISE, i’m here!

brother G’s work sent him to london. i stayed on the east coast that year.

M and i resumed our talks a few months ago and this time, all signals were clear for take-off. even though mother nature played hard ball and dumped 15 inches of snow on boston the day before my flight was scheduled to leave. fortunately, the runways were clear the next night and i boarded and shut off my phone after receiving instruction to call G when i landed because he would be the one to pick me up. my flight took off. i landed 6 hours later and dialed. G picked up and his voice didn’t sound surprised.

GAH. what? why not?

now G and i are similar in that we don’t often show our emotions (i’m working on it!), but this was more than that. he knew. he KNEW. but, but, but, WHEN? HOW?

rewind. M hadn’t told her kids anything because, well, they’re kids and don’t yet understand the concept of a secret. or how to keep one. MMM (8yo niece) is getting there, but we didn’t want to test her limits, so M waited until a week before my arrival to tell her. MMM zipped her lips. the morning of my arrival, MMM was whispering with her mom and didn’t realize brother A was around the corner within hearing distance. later, as G drove them to school, A says, “Dad, you’re going to pick up your sister at the airport today.”

G says he was very surprised then. it was just 10 hours before my arrival…

but you know what? it doesn’t matter because even though it was a quick visit, it was jam packed. i got to see MMM and A play basketball (6yos who haven’t had a practice because of inclement weather playing their first game? HILARIOUS), i got L (2.5yo) to talk to me even if it was only for a minute or two, we played xbox connect (AMAZING), we ate lunch at the top of the space needle with uncle rob, we watched movies, we giggled, i saw L throw a football better than some high school kids i know, but best of all, i got to spend time with each of the seattle mumfords one on one – chatting, listening, learning, observing, getting to know them as they are now and at 3pm and at 3am and at 7am. i experienced their life as it is on a daily basis, 3 hours behind mine on the east coast. all the noise and the silence and the chaos and the laughter and the bickering and the tickling and the sharing and the snacking and the sleeping.

i may have started out as the present, but what a goody bag i received.

feelings

something old. something new.

abby mumford

the smell of a candle after it’s been blown out is one of my most favorite smells, probably because i associate it with candles from a birthday cake and once the candles are out that means the eating of the cake is close behind.

it also smells like a fresh start.

it’s a good thing i like the smell so much because january is a big birthday month in the mumford household. yes, all of my siblings and i were born in january. i start off the party on the 8th. sister J is the 10th. brother G is the 17th. and sister E is the 28th. (technically, only J was due in january, so you can stop with the jokes about my parents’ amorous nature in april.)

and so the SOMETHING OLD of the blog post title is sister J. HA HA HA. just kidding. you’re not old. you’re wise. and really good at nertz and motherhood and sisterhood and listening and loving and calling and chatting and giggling and playing and living and learning and standing in my corner and sending letters and doing all the things big sisters are supposed to do and then some. i hope your happy day yesterday is just the start of an even more amazing year to follow. here’s to even numbered ages!

so speaking of fresh starts and SOMETHING NEW, i tried acupuncture for the first (and second and soon to be third) time. it was interesting and weird and ultimately, helpful. there’s nothing like a 7 month old stiff neck that has radiated down into your arm so that it hangs lifeless at your side to make you want to try something radically different. i had gone with a friend to one of her appointments, so i know what it looked like, but this was the first time i was on the receiving end of it.

side one: the first pin pricked my foot, but that was the worst of it. all of the others (in my feet, legs, hands, arms, ears, face) went in rather harmlessly. as i lay there in the dimly lit room, the sensation of the needles in my skin disappeared and took with it the pain from my neck (well, momentarily). it was fascinating and at the same time, discouraging, because if this is the only time i felt relief that means i’m going to have to walk around with pins in me all the time and unfortunately, that’s not socially acceptable.

side two: i had to lay my stomach. painful! my neck felt like it had to hold up too much weight (my brain is huge!) and that hurt. while on this side, she had to “manipulate” the needles (in my neck, head, shoulder, back), i.e. wiggle them around until they could release the stressed, angry, naughty, pent up qi from my body. ouch. and by the time the relaxation period was halfway over, my bladder had reached its capacity, which, as you could guess, is not so conducive to a calm psyche.

after the procedure was over, i admit it, i didn’t feel much relief. i hopped over to cambridge naturals and bought one of the microwaveable heating pads, stopped at CVS to pick up some bengay sticky “relief patches”, and walked home. i’m sure the walk in the wind and cold didn’t do much to relieve tension in my neck muscles, but it sure made the contrast between that and the heating pad drastic. i heart that heating pad. and then i managed coerce roommate into working my neck muscles for a little bit, so after that, things were starting to look up. and so could i. woohoo!

the day after, though, that’s the ticket! that’s when the relief started to kick in. even though it is a slow healing process, i am a fan of this thing called acupuncture.

and that’s my something old and something new. now i just have to figured out my something borrowed and something blue. wait, this is a blog post, not a wedding ceremony.

phew.