B is for Bonnet #AtoZChallenge

When we were kids, my sisters and I got bonnets when we were on vacation. We read Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s books and we were the biggest fans of the tv series Little House on the Prairie, which aired from 1974-1988. 
We were tolerant of the differences between the books and the tv show because we loved both so much.

One of our favorite things to do was to pretend we were Mary, Laura and Carrie, although my youngest sister was not amused at how much we giggled at the opening of the show and little Carrie’s unfortunate tumble down that hill.

I was always Mary because I was the oldest. I secretly wanted to be Laura but if the truth be told, her fearlessness terrified me and I knew I could never be as courageous as she was. I really was more like Mary.

We would run down hills re-enacting the opening of the show while humming the theme song. Even though we were wearing shorts or jeans, in our heads we wore dresses and petticoats and laced up boots and our bonnets were tied around our necks, flapping against our backs as we ran. We created make shirt covered wagons and rode on endless journeys. I actually wrote Melissa Gilbert (Laura) a fan letter when I was around twelve years old. One of my prized possessions was the signed photograph and form letter I received in return and I’m pretty certain that it is tucked away in a box somewhere. There’s no way I could ever let it go!

Oh how we loved Pa, played by Michael Landon! I’ll never forget that day in 1991, turning on the news as my phone rang… my best friend’s voice distraught as she asked, “Did you hear the news…?” And she didn’t have to finish her question because I was staring at the screen in shock, as if I had just lost my own dad. We loved him so much!

Do you have a favorite childhood book or tv show that brings back fond memories? I would love to hear about it!

-Kat

A is for Angel #AtoZChallenge

When I set off to begin the A to Z Challenge, I didn’t expect to start off with an empty mind. I had my photos chosen and in abc order. I was ready to get to it. And then I sat down with my A photo and I had nothing to say. Not a single word. I panicked just a bit and looked at my B picture. Sparks went off and ideas darted around in my head. That was a relief because it meant that this might just be a letter block and not an entire writing block. The more you write, the more you write…. (I know- profound, right??)

I refused to be deterred and I searched through photos- ancestry- nope, architecture- nope, art- nope…. I decided to take a look in my office for inspiration and the minute I entered the room I saw her.

My little angel, content as can be, legs folded, all wrapped up in her favorite book, oblivious to the world around her, sitting with the sun beating down on her through the window.

When I placed her there a few weeks ago, it was simply impulse. She was the perfect size to sit on the window sill without interfering when the blinds were lowered. That’s all.

Seeing her there so peaceful and happy reminded me that there’s nothing wrong with slowing down and taking a few minutes to regroup or maybe even block out the world for a little while getting lost in a good book. I’ll be in a much better state of mind when I face the letter B later.

-Kat