The Inspiration behind "Notes from the Red Table"

The name of my blog, "Notes from the Red Table," comes from another series of writings that I have worked on over the years. I was born in a time when Moms stayed home and raised the kids and Dads worked long hours like my father did at Lockheed.

Our family life was often centered around the kitchen which was the hub of the home. Our family had a RED formica table and red vinyl/leather chairs with nail head studs around the trim and silver legs similar to the chair in the Home page of my blog. Our lives revolved around that table.

As a kid we prepared meals there, canned tomatoes and pickles, shelled blackeyed peas, cut up okra, rolled out biscuits, played Rook, talked to neighbors, played Monopoly,Parcheshi, and Solitaire,did homework, cut out patterns to sew doll clothes, folded laundry, looked at the Sears catalog, dyed Barbie's hair, colored, laughed and cried. After my brother and sister grew up and got married they came over every Sunday for a Roast Beef and Potatoes Dinner which was served after church at lunchtime of course. In the South,Supper is in the evening and is a lighter meal.

When I came home from college we sat down at the table and talked. After I grew up, got married, and had kids Daddy sat at the table while he bounced babies on his knee while they looked for cards he hid in his front pocket.

After the styles changed my parents kept the table and chairs. They always lived below their means and saw no reason to replace something that was still good. Once they paid a lot of money to have all the chairs reupholstered in the same red vinyl/ leather. They could have probably replaced the set for less,but why throw away something so special?  After my Dad passed away my Mother moved to another house and finally got another kitchen table and chairs.

Now my Mom has since passed away also. But I still have the Red table that witnessed so many milestones in our lives. When I sleep sometimes my parents come to me in a dream and we have a little visit. In my dreams, we are always back at home gathered around the Red table.

I have always loved to write and having been blessed with the gift of gab,therefore I often feel the need to express my thoughts about this wild ride through our world called "life".

I am blessed to share this ride with the best kids, friends and family in the world. At this point in my journey I have seen incredible beauty, joy,and glimses of wisdom,though fleeting. I have also experienced life's sorrows,losses,and defeats.

Hang on cause it's a roller coaster full of laughs,tears, and love. And in my moments of clarity,if I really try,I experience the overwhelming peace and joy that comes from the undying love of God.