Hazel Langhorn

Who's going to watch Deal or No Deal and Wheel of Fortune with me?  It's been so hard for me the past couple of weeks.  I had gotten so use to getting off work, rushing to Moms just to watch her favorite shows.  The other day on my way home from work Roma said Kikki said come straight home she's waiting to watch Deal or No Deal with you.  I enjoyed it but it just wasn't the same Mom and I always said that they would take the first offer.  A lady the other day was doing so horrible I turned off the TV.  I told Kikki I don't think I can watch it anymore and I felt the same way about cooking greens.  When Marcus left I found it so very hard to cook greens because cleaning them break me out and he would pick and clean them for me. I can look forward to cooking greens again one day. Marcus is coming home soon.   But, I can only hold on to memories of watching Deal or No Deal with the love of life my mom. I miss you so much!

Anyone that has ever listened to me will attest to my continual repeats of what my mother said.  We call them "Hazelisms" even though other mothers have said them.

Do you remember:

"Don't let the streetlights catch you"

"It's going to take all the police in East Peoria and Peoria to get me off you"

"Whatever you do...do your best.  Whatever you are.... be the best."

"You can catch more flies with honey then with vinegar"

"Wear clean, decent panties"

"No news is good news"

"Don't go looking for something you don't want to find"

"Please don't make me kill you"

"By the grace of God I gave you life and by the grace of God I WILL take it away"

"God don't like ugly"

"Be good to people"

"Work hard, be honest and do right.  God will bless you when you get to heaven"

"Love shouldn't hurt"

"You don't have to take %$#@ off those people.  You can always come home"

"Don't let me catch you (fill in the blank with a gazillion things)"

"Share"

"It might be a shack but it's MY shack and can't nobody tell me what to do in it.  Always have your own"

"Think for yourself...that's why He gave you a brain"

And the one I least like......

"Ya'll gonna miss me when I'm gone".

Mom said a lot of things and some too colorful for me to write.  But those words provided guidance and instruction for all of us.

Boy, oh boy could my mom cook!  One time she made us make head cheese out of a hog head, lye soap, can vegetables and make jelly.  I owe all of my kitchen skills to her.

Her chicken n' dumplings, peach cobbler, cheesecake, 7 up cake, fried apples, chiittlins are just a few of the things she could throw down on.  She said a good cook could go in the kitchen and start a meal if there's flour, sugar, salt, meat grease and a stove.  I know yall remember when we had a fish grease can and chicken/bacon other grease can sitting on the stove!

She use to tease me about how much ham I could eat. But you should ask Kikki about the "buttery" cake and Gigi about the "spilwilli" Momma made me, Jeannie & Marcia eat.

My friends from ISU stilll talk about the time they had bbq pig snots...lol.

Mom taught us how to cook from "scratch".....how to can, blanch, freeze and preserve.  After Daddy taught me how to clean squirrels & rabbits without getting a lick of hair on the meat....Mom taught me how to fry them & make gravy.

I'm gonna miss my meals with my mom.  The next time I come home.....I'll make her chicken n' dumplings & peach cobbler....they won't be the same but I'll keep trying until I get them right.

Boy, oh boy my momma sure could cook.

 I have many memories to share and will list them seperately.

I remember Mom cleaning house for $50/week.  She was a hard worker and told us stories of what times were like in Missouri when she worked for even less.

But through all that I can say...we were never hungry, our lights, gas and telephone were never disconnected.  She raised five kids plus my cousin, Marcia.  At times, my aunts & cousins lived with us in that little house on Charlton street.

Our home feed many folks........we shared our beds and with this memory came the lesson that no matter how little you have....it is never too little to give.

My mother worked hard all of her life and gave from her heart all of the time.   I can only hope and pray that I become 1/10th the woman she was.

It seems like yesterday when we were all making mothers day cards for granny hazel and singing happy birthday for her and welcomeing her home from the hospital. I'm glad  she  doesn't have to fight against cancer ANYMORE.

HALLELUJAH!!!   "SHE'S HOME!"