Saturday morning I went to my sister Karen’s home to meet with her and my mom to can apricots and make apricot jam from the bountiful harvest of Karen’s apricot tree
I grew up doing this wonderful homemaking activity with my mom and my sister, and even did a lot of canning in the first years of my marriage when buying fruit on sale made it worthwhile. But since it has been more cost effective to grow our food storage at Costco, those days have been long in coming as of late. We had a great time, and we are looking forward to more evenings to do the same in the next few weeks. The fruit is beautiful, and the jam is tasty of course. 
I did have an experience that has left me thinking. It was about noon, and mom announced that it was time to shut down the kitchen, clean up a bit, and go get some lunch. Well, I had come to this event in my grubby clothes, no shower (deodorant was applied, no worries there), and no makeup, knowing that it is a warm and sweaty experience when you can fruit. Well, in talking about where to have lunch, I was uncomfortable going out to lunch, because of my lovely self. I am just vain enough that the thought of going out in public sans make-up, and in stained clothing isn’t something I do. I am so totally afraid of scaring, even scarring some child who has a glimpse of the unpainted me.
But my sister and mom insisted, so I behaved, and we parked in the back lot of Tyler Mall and went in. (I was the one with head down, and slinking).
I did have an experience that has left me thinking. It was about noon, and mom announced that it was time to shut down the kitchen, clean up a bit, and go get some lunch. Well, I had come to this event in my grubby clothes, no shower (deodorant was applied, no worries there), and no makeup, knowing that it is a warm and sweaty experience when you can fruit. Well, in talking about where to have lunch, I was uncomfortable going out to lunch, because of my lovely self. I am just vain enough that the thought of going out in public sans make-up, and in stained clothing isn’t something I do. I am so totally afraid of scaring, even scarring some child who has a glimpse of the unpainted me.
But my sister and mom insisted, so I behaved, and we parked in the back lot of Tyler Mall and went in. (I was the one with head down, and slinking). I realize this is totally my own mother’s fault who’s suggestion this was. She is a down to earth, but classy lady & she taught me that whenever you go out in public, you try to look presentable and those who make the extra effort are a bit more confident, and as they present themselves publicly, have a more positive experience as a customer in any business.
So I have lived under such a mindset as this. I wholeheartedly still believe this to be true. But , I went, enjoyed the lunch with my mom, sister, and niece, survived, didn’t see anyone I knew (whew), and have another great memory to add to my familial bank. Here’s to a day of good times, good memories, and no makeup, because I even went to Stater’s at 9:30 pm – again no makeup!
