Milkweed, Toby the Dog and Grandpa by Shannon Milliman

Sitting cross legged on the porch I snap green beans.  Grandpa tells  me to keep as much of the green bean as possible.  Don’t be wasteful.  God wants us to use his bounty right.  The green beans ring against the tin bowl when I drop them in singing a requiem before their ultimate demise.   After I finish my task  we take the bowl to Grandma.  She is pleased with our labors but with a disapproving shake of the head she removes a leaf from the bowl.

A little, measly leaf that didn’t harm anything.  Grandma’s simple head shake causes me to cower.

Slumping outside I see unripe peaches in the tree above me,. One day they will be transformed into fruit leather. On that day Grandma will let me stir the simmering peach puree on the stovetop.  The smell will be peaches and cream in a dream.     I hear Toby bark, begging me to come and play. There is Grandpa’s neighbor, the DelMonte hat guy raking leaves next door. I don’t like him because he always eats Grandpa’s peanuts whenever he comes over. 

Patient Grandpa kneels down getting wet dirt in the ribs of his corduroy pants.  He pops a jagged dandelion weed out of the ground.  The root brakes.  His wrinkly hands dig in like worms to light grasping at the deeply imbedded root.  He pulled out a root as long as my life and told me this,

            “Shannon, when you are feeling sorry for yourself do something nice for others. This will never fail you. Now, Let me show you how you pull up the deepest roots”

I picked dandelion top after dandelion top leaving Grandpa to show me yet again the right way to uproot a root as long as my life. 

The leaves bled milk.  Milkweed.  Tearing the leaves like confetti upon the garden bed feels as wonderful as pulling brand new tissues from a box and sprinkling them like gently falling snow.  Grandpa asked me to pick up the pieces and put them in the compost bin so more weeds wouldn’t grow.  Just like Mom who tells me to fold the tissues back up and put them in the box.  They both say “Don’t be wasteful.”

It is very hard to refold tissues and put them back in the box. And ever harder picking weeds that exist to live in the earth.  By their very nature their root hairs grip the dirt clinging to their mother earth. 

My hands smelled like green and earth.  The smell pleases me more than peaches and cream dream.  It smells free and joyful. 

After grandpa labors and I play, it is suppertime.  Rice soufflé, squash with butter and meatloaf.  Grandma’s house smells like old hotel soap and winter vegetables.  Leaving some of the rice and cheese on my plate Grandma chides, “Lick your plate clean.  Don’t be wasteful” 

Grandpa picks his plate up and does just that.  He put Toby to shame with long, steady licks and a plate clean and good as new.  After eating the last few morsels of rice I see the full picture on my plate, Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer, who cares if it is July.  The great thing about Grandma’s—eat your dinner and you find a picture on your plate.  Grandpa heads to the ice box and pulls out a carton of strawberry ice cream.  My strawberry palm in his riveted palm we walk to Toby’s doghouse.  And what to my wondering eyes did occur than Grandpa instead of tossing the eaten ice cream carton into the rubbish can -carefully unfolds it and gives it to Toby the happiest Springer Spaniel in the whole wide world. 

Grandma calls out, “Harold, what are you doing to that poor dog?!  I know what you’re doing.  I told you that dog can't eat ice cream. …and Fred’s come to call!”

-That’s the Delmonte Hat guy.  Grandpa calls back, “You said lick your plate clean.  Toby’s just doing what the good Lord intended.  Waste not, want not.”

We sit in the sitting room and they talk about boring adult stuff.  “These are great peanuts!”

"How much rainfall there has been this year. .  Crunch, smack, crackle.  The best way to get rid of aphids on tomatoes" and all the whole while DelMonte hat is helping himself to the shelled peanuts on the table. “I should stop..?!” “Oh, no, go one, that’s what they are there for.  Really?! Granted no one asked me but I’d say he had more than enough.  I keep watching.  Would he dare eat them all?  Come on Mr. DelMonte hat.  Waste not want not. 

30 years later with my children and I share a bowl of peanuts and conversation to help them ask questions in their youth that will yield bounteous results.    One says, “Hey,don’t take so much!”  and in that a moment I am taken back to what a peanut really is.  Grandpa saw no waste in relishing and especially sharing heavens rewards. I ask them all “How do you get to know God?”  My mind flashes to the root as long as my life. I remember an impatient, impetious  miniature mirror of myself and an imbedded truth that lies deep in my soul, it lies deep and is anchored steady in my heart. 

You get to know Him, my beautiful children by digging up weeds, snapping green beans and letting your brother have more peanuts than you. 

And in my heart, I thank Grandpa for the fruit of his labors, for the healing power of dirt, for sunshine and for milkweed.  

Beautiful, hand-embroidered table cloths on loan from Carlotta.  Her grandmother made them.  PWG women unite in harmony to write letters to seniors in our community and to their relatives.  I was surprised by the silence as the women wrote.  They took this responsibility seriously.  It was a time for quiet reflection.  During this workshop we wrote 20 letters. 

http://www.50plusnorthwest.com/envelopes-for-the-elderly/

A miracle with Mom

Following your passion, following what you are here on this earth to do will open up windows, doors and floods of opportunities and provide answers in your life course for the hardships you struggle with.
Today, starts the beginning of what I am certain will be many miracles as I encourage my family, neighbors and community to write.  In just sharing my CAP with those around me I see the light of pure intelligence flow from my lips to your heart and mind.  My mother sent me a message today telling me she had joined a writing group and wanted to share with me her first excerpt: A memoir she called "The Family Library." My third grade mother remembered a time when she was lost in the wonder of words.  From War and Peace to Charles Dickens shelves higher than her Daddy spread knowledge and world time travel she was in awe.  So much so that she felt obliged to make library cards for her neighbor friends and entitle them with the privilege of checking out books from "her" library.  So the masses came but big sister intervened shaming little mom for not asking permission and hence, insisting that she would have to lend out her own library books!  Oh the world injustices!  Years later my mom ran into one of her friends whom she wanted to, but restrained herself--ask her to return her overdue library book!
In my mom's writing group an additional assignment was to share what inspires you.  My dear mom, usually guarded and careful to  complement listed off what inspired her to write.  She said observing the little things in nature, reflecting, journalling and my oldest daughter.  For me, a monumental offering.  In other words, she appreciates my gift.  She cherishes my insights.  Enough so that when the time was right for her, she, too, is inspired to write.  I believe genuinely connecting families can have more power than we know.  I can't wait for all of us to find that common thread that unites us. 

Asking questions begets answers.

 What/who are you passionate about? 
I am passionate about connecting and sharing through writing.  I believe every person has wisdom and life experiences that if shared will uplift our communities.  I love the struggle to find my voice and to unveil beauty through writing.

What resources would benefit your community? 
Writing workshops for Professional Womens Group women and any community members or P.W.G. women's families to support the end goal of writing letters to those of an older generation.  This action would empower the women, families and community members who particpate to find their voice and in doing so will lift the downtrodden and weak in spirit.  It will also give hope and connection to senior citizens related and unrelated who might fee disconnected.

Is there an issue affecting the quality of life in your neighborhood?
In an increasingly busy society we are not connected.  Phones, computers and the era of instant communication loses some.  We don't know our neighbors.  Because of that we are focused inward and are unable to support our families, neighbors or communities when they might need uplifting.  

Is there a group of people or geographical area that you are excited about helping? 
This July I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a family reunion.   Now that I have a full-time job, have time off benefits I could afford the luxury of attending this family reunion for the first time.  I am very fortunate to have a large, supportive family.  But because my "little..family of 7" hasn't been financially sound, previously we had never been able to make such a journey to meet them.  This year, a drive to Idaho for my kids to meet my 6 aunts uncles, my grandparents, my 15 first cousins and 15 second cousins happened!  We visited City of Rocks, shared memories, listened to gentle Grandpa express his love to all of us, learned about Grandma's brothers who teased her as a little girl,  rode bikes with my daughter passing by cornfields, smelled bittersweet sagebrush, water slid, trudged with my brother through my Dad's old stomping grounds, visited Great Grandparents old farm and renewed my sense of peace and belonging.  Family is the building block of society.  All of us have families that need strengthening.  What could I do to help others feel some sense of the peace and belonging that I cherish from my family?

Presenting my Community Action Plan with Dress for Success Oregon

Welcome friends and friends to be!  With my partnership with Dress for Success Oregon I am introducing  During this journey I will share my direction, progress and discoveries as I create a Community Action Plan, abbreviated henceforth, C.A.P.  In my project I will invite community members to join with me to write to those of an older generation.  I will first start by inviting Dress for Success Professional Women's Group members and their families who are of an age that they can confidently write.  Also invited are any community members who would like to forge a relationship with an older generation.  Letters should be addressed to someone who is of an older generation that is related to you and also someone of an older generation who is unrelated to you.  I am reaching out to community partners in hopes of finding support to weave our community together for this common purpose.  It is my goal to offer workshops to encourage great correspondence that will be meaningful to both partners who write. As workshops develop I will keep readers updated. 
In our world we are competing in an increasingly competitive and fast-paced environment where ample time is rare.  The solace for what ails our homes, families, neighbors and communities lies in each of us as individuals sharing our gifts and reaching out to those who are suffering from loneliness, sadness or other trials.  By small and simple means can great things come to pass.  With this as my guiding light I will encourage the individual who joins my C.A.P. to find their voice through writing and find a means of sharing their personal stories and encouragement to a generation.  In the process I hope wisdom, love and learning will be exchanged.  I hope that my C.A.P. will become Our Community Action Plan.  Together we will strengthen our homes, families, neighbors and communities.
If you have an idea how you or your company can contribute to my C.A.P, would like to get involved through writing or other means please leave a comment or email me shannonmilliman@gmail.com.
I am seeking stationary, envelopes, postage stamps, ideas, people to inspire about the rewards of writing in a workshop, depending on level of involvement perhaps a location to hold workshops and a writing celebration, and likely..that little thought in your mind that you are wondering if it might have a place.  Thank you for your support.  Please share this blog.