August 17?

The older I get the more quickly it seems that the year rolls by and it is time for school to start.  I has been twenty five plus years since the ritual of football workouts for our son.  This week we have watched the grand 'children'.  At their ages it is an easy task this year so far.  Not having early morning practice certainly helps with attitudes.  They can sleep as late as they wish as it is the last week before school starts.

There have been evening soccer practices.  So many pages of reading to be done. And there is online drivers education for the 15 year old grandson.  Grandpa has been taking 15 year old out to less traveled roads for hands on practice.  One day earlier this week they were pulling out of the drive in my Icie.  It was raining a steady rain.  15 year old accelerated a little heavy footed.  Then slammed on the brake as Icie moved much faster than he anticipated.  Skidded ensued.  Then a concrete mailbox met the right fender of Icie.  Slight scratching and denting occurred. And they were not even out of the driveway.This happened in about 20 to 25 feet.

Sweet 15 year old was so shook.  I just hugged him and said I was glad no one was injured.  Next morning we talked about what he thought happened that might have caused the skid.  Shared with him a few times Grandpa and I had experienced skidding on water, on ice and even hydroplaning.  Today as we were heading out to Double Daves for pizza rolls, he told me things he was learning in the online drivers education.  I have decided the online course is the equivalent of studying that book for hours when I was a 14 year old.

It is just unbelievable that it is our son's son we are helping with his driving.  Our son's sons we are shuttling to practice.  Where did the years go?  Cause on August 17, 1973 we drove home with our precious blue eyed son in my arms.  Our only child.  The connection to some future date to enjoy playing Pokemon go with more blue eyed boys.  So thank God for August 17, 2016.

The Color Of Love - Blue

'In the day' when I was a preteen and teenaged girl EVERYBODY loved Elvis.  I liked Elvis but I did not swoon, what ever the heck that is.  I think swooning is somewhere between fainting and having a pubic area sensation.  Whatever, Elvis did not do it for me.  Loved his songs, just no fainty, twingy feelings.  There were a lot of singers, actors and nice looking guys that could cause one or both of the feelings.  Not Elvis, neither Don nor Phil Everly, not Fabian nor even Ritchie Valens.  One of the Beach Boys, Tim Considine and Paul McCartney came about as close as any.  Sam Cooke was hot as was Johnny Mathis, yum.  Yes, I know. Please, remember I was a country teenage girl.  All I knew was that twingy thing.

What does all that have to do with the color of love, this week's Spin Cycle challenge?  Bobby Vinton and his songs.  "Roses are red, my love, ......."  "Blue on Blue, heartache on heartache"  And one of my all time favorites was:  "..She wore blue velvet, Bluer than velvet were her eyes.  Warmer than May her tender thighs  (a girl could dream) sighs, Love was ours"....  I would spend hours listening to the stack of 45's on my portable stereo and Bobby Vinton's songs would send me to dreamland every time.  A dream of a tall man that would make me feel small as I was overweight most of my early teen years.  A man that would love me and want me to be near him.  I would pull the blankets tight against my legs and back and dream of a time I could go to sleep in the arms of that unknown man.

Fast forward to the boom days of Branson, Missouri.  Everyone wanted a piece of the upcoming music mecca.  In 1993 here it was, Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet Theater.  I paid full price for two tickets to go see and hear Bobby Vinton's love songs of my youth.  And I was not disappointed.  His voice was still wonderful.  Then the band struck the chords and I knew the song, "She wore blue velvet ......"  That is when Husband, the man of those long ago dreams, took my hand and led me to the dance area of the theater.  He held me close and we danced.  My mind was back listening to the 45's and now in the arms of my true love.

June 30, 1967, Allen, Texas.

"Dressed" for characters in 1972 Allen, TX centennial.

June 30, 2012, 45th annivesary in the arms of my love.

Check out other takes on the color of love at The Spin Cycle!