From Pamela's Diary - December 15, 1943

On Reaching My 22^nd Birthday, December 15, 1943, Wednesday

The weather is cold; it started snowing here in Charleston about 6pm. Had a date with Ray at seven, but he didn’t come until 8:30. He had a wreck on the sleek, sleet-covered road, and damaged his car. He brought me a beautiful birthday present – a cedar chest. We were planning to go to the Footlight Play, “Dangerous Corners”, but did not go. Took a walk in the snow. The lights shining out on the snow, and the icy, midnight-blue sky, looked like a Christmas card scene.

Mother is worried about the pipes freezing. Dad and Ray turned the water off. Ted is afraid to walk in the snow.

Mother and Dad ate supper at 5 o’clock. I waited on Ray until 7:30, and then ate. We had roast beef, creamed potatoes and gravy, slices tomatoes and lettuce, pickles, biscuits, macaroni pie, and chocolate cake. Mother had two huge red candles on the table. Ray ate at 8:30 when he came. He was so upset.

Mother and Dad gave me a beautiful lace-trimmed tearose slip. Rosalie Berkman, whose birthday is on the 15^th, too, sent me a card and a bright handkerchief.

I don’t think Wilkie would make a good president, I believe Douglas McArthur will be elected if he runs, but, as a President, I don’t believe he will be as successful or as popular as he is in the Army. I want a new, good, Democratic President. I don’t think the War will end soon; I have no idea how long it will be.

The most important thing in my life now is to try to make my Mother and Father happy, and to try to make my life a success, that is, in service, health, and finding that which I am to accomplish.

Christmas and Memory Globes

Last night I dreamed that when I came home this coming weekend to South Carolina for Christmas, Grandma V. and Papa were there. It was like they had never left. Everyone was talking and laughing like everything was normal and all of a sudden, they were back. The most interesting part I remembered though was not that I quickly accepted that they had come back and were there with us for the holidays, it was that I spent the entire time telling Papa about my experiences and travels in San Francisco and New York City. When I woke up, I was wondering, why is that all I had to talk to him about after not seeing him for almost 10 years?

I remember he would take me in his room from time to time to show me his globe of the world. He'd show me where he lived in the Phillipines during WWII and tell me what it was like there. He'd point out all the places he'd visited during his younger years all over the world. Once he told me about the Japanese kamikaze pilots and how they gave their lives for their country and how to them, that meant they were going to their heaven. He told me that although that we as Christians may not agree with them or think that is right (that they would kill themselves and others at the same time to go to heaven), we should never hate them, but try to understand them. He said because that's what they were brought up to believe just like we were brought up to believe certain things too. That lesson taught me how to not judge or hate those that have different cultures or lifestyles from what we know or even what we believe is right. That has helped me become what I am today, and I'm so thankful and proud of that. If he were here this Christmas, I would to tell him about all the people I've met from all over the world, the cuisines I've tried, the things I've learned and experienced since living in San Francisco and New York City. And that I may not have had such an acceptance of others so different from what was "normal" to me if it weren't for him and his stories with the world globe. What life lessons or stories did your grandparents tell you that helped to carve you into the person you are today?

Merry Christmas Pamela's Girls! I can't wait be with all of you soon!
Love,
SanFran S

Feasting & Celebrating…

I really don’t want to weigh myself tomorrow. Really.

The last few days have been “feasting days” celebrating Christmas & the holidays with different friends and groups, not to mention the stacks of homemade & gourmet goodies that have been sifting into our kitchen at the office.

This past Wednesday night Uncle R and I celebrated our 21^st anniversary at our favorite Turkish restaurant here in Nashville and my stomach went into shock after I asked it to consume my seared tuna steak, crisp green salad, fragrant rice, tomatoes & basil sauted together and pita and hummus on the side. We sadly passed on their delicious desserts…

On Thursday I took a green bean casserole to a copyright administrator’s potluck that I attend each month. In December we always have a special festive potluck and each bring a wrapped present that we each draw numbers for in turns. There were piles of good food at the potluck this year and I have to say that when a dear friend brought her made-from-scratch red velvet cake, it was all I could do not to creep out of the building hiding that yummy thing under my coat!

Yesterday I was invited by my friend Lisita to a Christmas banquet at a nearby college. It is a campus very close to my office and I am sure that the Pamela’s Girls have often seen me post Facebook photos of beautiful park-like grounds and stone buildings that are a bit of a cross between Hogwarts and Oxford. The luncheon today was in a high-ceilinged hall with varicolored stone, dark paneled wood and hung on every side with greens, garlands and Christmas decorations. The dessert table alone was simply groaning under every kind of cookie, tart, crème puff, cake, pie and pudding that you could think of. I took a couple of little things to nibble and tried to not look at it for the rest of the time that I was there.

Then last night was our work office party…. It is usually a pool tournament and I am one sad little pool shark… but I like to try anyway. And there will be food… but I’ll try not to notice it!

Happy Birthday to our sweet, talented & beautiful CiCi!!!!

Love to the Pamela’s Girls,

Auntie J

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It has been a lot of fun this year decorating for Christmas with Baby B. He helped us pick out the Christmas tree and now he LOVES pointing to different ornaments hanging from the tree. He is also thoroughly enjoying candy canes.

I know Christmas morning is going to be especially exciting this year!!!

Love to Pamela's Girls!

~Mommy M

God's Miracles

At church this past Sunday and during Granddad Bass' beautiful service yesterday, I was reminded that we need to share with others how God helps us overcomes trials in order to glorify His name. The situation that first came to mind were the kidney problems I faced when I was 18.
I was a freshman in college adjusting to a new town, new people and harder classes, which made the pain and fear about what could be wrong that much more difficult to deal with. When the problem was finally diagnosed as kidney stones and I learned that I was going to have to have major surgery at Duke, I was very scared and I often asked, "Why is this happening to me?" No one I knew had ever had to have such an intense operation at that age. Then when I learned that I was not going to be strong enough to return to USC in the Spring I was very disappointed. I couldn't see the plan that God had for my life. I suffered through a semester at Tech and eventually transfered to Francis Marion, which was not my dream college. But then through FMU, the amazing opportunity of teaching in New Zealand came along, which I feel was one of the defining experiences of my life. I also got a job at the Darlington Raceway which was a very fun job that led to many exciting opportunities. I was then very eager to move back to Columbia once I graduated after living in my hometown during college.

Daddy helped me get a job as an assistant in the President's office at a bank. I worked there for a year and a half as I continually searched for a job teaching. I got to know the mail courier Gary very well. He happened to be married to someone who worked for the Human Resource Department of a local school district. She sent word through Gary that one of the best schools in her district, right down the street from my grandparents old house, had an opening for a first grade teacher. I interviewed, was offered the position and 2 weeks later I was teaching a class of 15 first graders.

The school had a book buddies program in which 2 classes in 2 different grades would get together for 30 minutes a week so the older students could read with the younger students. I became really good friends with the teacher in the classroom beside mine. She was switching to a 3rd grade book buddy class and asked if I would be book buddies with her former 2nd grade class. I agreed and the teacher of this class became one of my best friends. She introduced me to lots of her friends who eventually introduced me to Daddy L.

Years after I got my job teaching, one of the first grade teachers who had interviewed me for the position said, "Mandy, did you know that the other person we interviewed had years of teaching experience when you had no experience?" I didn't even know they had interviewed anyone else. She told me that all of the first grade teachers who interviewed me recommended the experienced teacher be hired because they didn't feel like training another new teacher. Then she told me how thankful she was that the principal had hired me anyway, in spite of their recommendation. It then hit me that the ONLY reason I got the job was because of my connection from the mail courier's wife.

It is amazing to think that if I had not had those painful kidney stones, I may not have met Daddy L or had the joy of having Baby B. God does indeed work in our lives even through our most difficult situations.

Love to Pamela's Girls!

Mommy M

Decorating For Christmas 2010

Once again, our office is spruced up and ready for our 2010 Holiday Festivities. At 3pm this past Friday afternoon, pens were retired for the day and fingers removed from keyboards. Cheese trays emerged from our office refrigerator and cookies came piping from the oven.

Early Friday morning, T-lou and I had done a brief check into our attic and found garlands, wreaths, ornaments, bows and our office tree, assuring ourselves that nothing needed to be added to the required decorations. Then after 3pm we all decorated the tree, hung all of the greens and gathered in the lobby where we were treated to some great “Christmas Party Past” stories by our Head Of Office…. Not for the faint of heart, but amusing nonetheless!

Even though I have been trying to get over a pesky sinus infection and Uncle R is trying to KEEP from getting one – inspired by seeing all the decorations at work, I pulled out a few at home.

One year at Christmas CiCi gave Uncle R and me a beautiful Christmas throw. I decided to make it a tablecloth this year and I really like the look! I also did the seasonal change of our mantelpiece decorations.

It’s a bit difficult to believe that it’s December already! Uncle R and I are going to check our calendars in hopes that we will be able to see our Pamela’s Girls at Christmas!

Love to the Pamela’s Girls!

Auntie J