Memory of my Partner in Crime

Photo taken by Elanor DeHart

Dear Friends of The Carefree Quail,

In the recent loss of my younger sister Merry (by just about 12 months), I have been most concerned about not forgetting the person who was so instrumental in my growing up years. In a household of seven, it was often a bit chaotic, but we always found a way to escape, and  or entertain each other with our secret jokes.

One such time was when we were about middle school age. So for the sensitive followers—-please heed this warning: What you’re about to read is a little disrespectful of our church time—but mostly a realistic  picture of what our kids are really thinking when we make them do what we want them to do, and not what they want to do.

    Right at a critical time in our social, physical, mental and emotional development, our lovely parents decided that the one and only church we had ever attended was no longer where we were going. I don’t know the circumstances and I don’t really care—but if I’ve learned anything in life, it is that we often run from things, when we really should stay put. This is not always true, but sometimes it really is.

    When the news came, the only thing I was terrified of was the rumor of a boy classmate that attended the same church.UGH!!! He was the only kid that I really didn’t like. UGH!!! Thank God it was only a rumor!! But we still had to attend a new church. UGH!!

   So my partner in crime and I came up with some “skills” for respecting our parents…but not really. One thing we did, and I am guessing it was her idea because she was clearly smarter than I was…. it was the Hymnal game. Whenever we got bored during a sermon that was always way too long, one of us would discreetly pick up a hymnal, that is a thick book for the congregation that probably held over 200 songs, with multiple verses listed and musical chords—so no excuse for not singing!!

   Anyway, one of us would get a hymnal out, and that was the cue for the other one to get a hymnal out and the competition was “on”. The winner was the one who could make the other one giggle enough to result in the “look” from mom. And this was the challenge: find a hymn title, point to it, and show it to the other with the understanding that they were to finish the title with… “up your nose”. (Sorry, sensitive readers!) It doesn’t take too much imagination or memory to come up with the most memorable one used.

    We would find ourselves so distracted that we often didn’t realize how much we were shaking the pew, the typical seating that was a very long hard wooden bench with a back that was not padded and never comfortable enough to snooze, and connected to all the family members. Now that the whole family was connected, that’s when we’d get THE LOOK.

Now it’s your turn. Finish the game with this hymnal title: The Old Rugged Cross…

Miss you everyday, Merry! You always lived up to your name.

Thanks, Carefree Quail Community we appreciate your support!

Lois

Mama Quail