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| Striving for perfection with these top award PJ's |
I look back on my junior high and high school years and the word that best describes me is ‘self-conscious and awkward’. Not in my actions. I was a fair athlete for girls in those times. It was not so much an outward awkwardness, though I’m sure it came through once in a while, but it was more in my mind. So how does one deal with these challenges during those teen years? What I did was to be the BEST. I was the best daughter, student, employee, musician, club member, sister, church attendee that I could possibly be. I strived for perfection in every single thing I did. After all, the 4-H motto with which I was raised was: “To make the best, better”. Although that motto was very noble in its intent, it begged the question for me “Could I ever do anything that good---to perfection?” Maybe not, but I’d sure try! Add to that the fact that I was the oldest of 5 children and it was mentioned to me more than once that I had a responsibility for setting the standard that my siblings would follow---either good or bad! So what did I do? I tried to set that bar as high as I could. And that was not necessarily all good for my younger siblings when one of them was asked, “YOU? You are Susan’s sister?!!”
With this mind set, I often thought I was not quite thin enough or in style. I didn’t have the money to purchase the latest fashions or have a professional hair cut or style. However, I was pretty pleased with my bargains that I was able to sew that did not look home made. Some of these outfits were actually the envy of my friends! So I became a very good seamstress, sewing most of my clothes, my wedding dress and even later, my husband’s shirts, slacks and suits. When you add the fact that I was very tall and outside of a few choices in a catalog, ‘tall’ was not easily available in clothing in those days, I’m glad I had this handy skill! I look back on pictures of myself during this time and wonder “What were you thinking Susan?!?” I looked really good!!! BUT still, I was not quite satisfied.
As I progressed through school in preparation for my career in teaching I continued to excel. As a student teacher I loved every minute of teaching. I knew I was going to be a teacher back in 8th grade and believe it was a gift and calling from God. As I was nearing the end of my student teaching, my supervisor offered me a contract with Seattle
The family table was always full of kids and sometimes visitors when I was growing up. We were never hungry, except when we got home from school. What was my favorite snack? Open up a can of spinach and heat it on the stove with a big glob of margarine! After all, those were the days of Popeye and Olive! Spinach was what gave Popeye his super strength in all the cartoons. Another snack was to take out a frozen loaf of white Langendorf bread and pop it into the oven. Our bread came in waxed paper packaging that did not melt. When it came out it was almost as good as home made bread fresh from the oven made even better when I slathered it in margarine and strawberry rhubarb jam! The Langendorf jingle? “Grow, grow, grow with Lang, Lang, Langendorf bread!” Sometimes we actually had home mak\de butter from our uncle’s farm! That was a special treat. With seven mouths to feed at dinner, each of us made sure we got our fair share the first time around, because there were rarely ever seconds left over. So what was for dessert? Take a piece of bread with margarine and some jam, use part of it to clean up the rest of your plate so it looked almost like it didn’t even need washed. After all, I am the generation of “The Clean Plate Club” and there were children starving in China
At this point someone may be saying come on, get to the point! This is a nice story, but what does this have to do with a Babyboomer Grandma getin’ fit and healthy? Please be patient and you will see. As the quote says: "Those who are unaware of history are destined to repeat it." Plus, this is VERY therapeutic for ME!
What my history reveals is how some of my thinking and unwitting participation would later lead to my overeating and weight issues. Hopefully it will show those reading this some ways to avoid some of the same pitfalls I fell into. Others, how to protect our grandchildren’s generation. Still others will just shake their head knowingly, because their stories are so similar.
Thanks for visiting with this "Babyboomergrandma". My journey has only just begun!
Until next time, may God richly bless your life.
