WHAT'S IN A NAME?
This name comes in the middle, but in Mom's case chosen at Confirmation rather than at birth
What is Elizabeth
Mom thought this mystery caller was Pam & Rick
What is Spam Risk
Before inheriting Grandmother Pease's antique dining table, the Pod sat around this for their meals
What is the green picnic table
Mom is a formidable Scrabble player and wins often when playing this version on her phone or iPad
What is Words with Friends
When Mom and Sue (ages 14 & 13) moved to San Antonio and into the house on Patterson Rd., they thought they would love finally having these...but it didn't work out as planned.
What are separate bedrooms
(They didn't like being apart and went back to sharing until Mom left for UT)
This state is but an afterthought, now that Mom claims she is pure Texan
What is Nebraska
Though equal to the task, Mom did not need the sleuthing skills of this woman to detect the wine making going on upstairs under Chris' bed
Who is Miss Marple
Prior to H.E.B., there was this family-owned grocery where Mom had an account
What is Royal Foodtown
A keen writer and follower of "Brenda Starr, Reporter" comics, Mom became a journalism major at this university
What is The University of Texas
Mom & Dad both volunteered at church and at the aquarium, but when Mom joined this Portland civic club it was ladies only
What is ChatWork
Mom's Uncle Frank was well connected, providing Mom & Aunt Sue an audience with Pope Pius XII at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff's summer residence. In past summers, Uncle Frank had welcomed them to his own home on this lake.
What is Lake Okoboji
With Mom, this detective should have chaperoned the church trip to Astroworld, when Chris & Steve Barbee were sharing their homemade wine--liquid courage for the roller coasters!
Who is Father Brown
This is the hour you'd better be home, no matter where you are or what you're doing, to eat dinner!
What is 6:00
Mom's way of saying what she might want on her breakfast taco
What are "Bins and Chiz"
Having sewn plenty of dresses for five daughters and patched baggies for two sons, Mom later created these for them and the grandchildren. One of her creations won a ribbon at a local show
What is a quilt
Of 23 grandchildren, two have her first name second, and one has her first, first. Two have her middle in the middle and one has her middle first!
Who are Allison Ann, Julia Ann, Ann Catherine, Andrea Elizabeth, Hannah Elizabeth, & Elizabeth Marie
(Though a case could be made for Hannah being a form of Ann, if someone wants to get technical)
Thick James Michener books and various others accompanied many a carpool drive. This author is a latecomer to the library, a detective fiction favorite whose latest title is "The Madness of Crowds." (No, it's not about us!)
Who is Louise Penny
It will cost a lot more today than it did in 1952, when Mom and Sue Weaver were there drinking it up & drinking in the surroundings
What is the Sazerac
Fond of crossword puzzles, Mom rarely used cross words with any of her children. When she did, it was this threat that made her kids quit fighting--and laugh...Until they got locked outside in the heat!
What is "I'll take my shoe to you"
Adventurous and courageous, Mom worked for Tomco Aviation Co. in her late teens and was given these in exchange, nearly gaining enough hours to go solo
What are flying lessons
The reason Mom went on that fateful blind date in 1953 was to see what this person looked like
Who is Zecharia Tease
Among Mom's secrets to survival would be: to eliminate these, eat sparingly of these, and add plenty of this.
What are cigarettes, vegetables, and salt
Feeding a family of nine for one year is at least 9,855 individual meals. This book taught her how to do it.
What is the I Hate To Cook Book
When Dad proposed, Mom did this, drowning any doubt he might have had about her feelings toward him
What is say "Yes!", stand up in the canoe and tip it over
The trip to Europe with Aunt Sue was cut short when employment became impossible. This had to be passed before getting the jobs desired in Germany.
What is a typing test