Debbie Lanier's Life and Times: Part 10: Little Known Facts

Debbie Lanier was basically a what you see what you get type of a person. However she had many positive traits and characteristics only a few knew about: 

She loved chocolate, chocolate anything. 

You didn't mess around in her kitchen while she was cooking

She didn't leave the house nor go to bed with a dirty house. 

She loved the creek and the fair (full future installment)

She didn't like funeral after parties (and was vocal about that shortly after her own funeral) 

She didn't like sports but knew of and about the big stars. 

She loved photography and although she had a high quality smartphone, wanted a high quality camera

Debbie liked her THC but wasn't crazy about alcohol. 

Mom had to have a home cooked Sunday dinner every Sunday

She didn't like cheese, especially on a burger

She wasn't much of a reader and long paragraphs would cause her to wonder. 

She wore some of the same clothes for 20+ years because they fit well and she never was big on style 

Mom would melt candy bars with her cigarette lighter although the microwave was nearby

Debbie Lanier's Life and Times: Part 9: The Grass

Ok before anyone starts, this isn't for my mom's love for cannabis or advocacy. That's another post in this chronicle. She loved for her yard to be freshly cut on the regular. 

My mom was able to step away from the workforce at age 47 but stayed busy doing other things. One of those was keeping up her yard. She had a push mower, riding mower and weed eater. She did it all herself once she divorced her husband until she suffered her leg and ankle injury in 2013. 

Debbie had very high standards for how low and neat she wanted the lawn. She really wanted it cut weekly but I work full time and I didn't have it in my budget to pay anyone weekly. I would set aside time to cut it biweekly. If I couldn't get to it due to time nor weather, I would pay one of few lawn folks I trusted. 

I really started taking pride of the yard and recently gained the capacity to get it cut regularly.  There is a peace and pride of being in your own yard and keeping it cut the way you want it. My mom got that and was hence more critical when the yard didn't look emaculate.  I cut my own yard earlier but the hot day and short evening caught up to me so I'll have to finish on tomorrow. 

Thinking back, it's hard to believe my mom did this for so long with often only the pushmower since the riding mower stayed broken. That's who she was: highly independent and determined. You can stay I got that part honest.  She enjoyed being outside also in the summer heat.

Debbie Lanier's Life and Times: Part 8: Back To School

My mom wanted us around so much that she hated when back to school time came annually. 

Debbie's school experience wasn't favorable and she didn't like school. However she wanted us to attend and finish. The first day wasn't her favorite though. She cried every year on the first day for me and my brother. She was a mom that truly enjoyed summer and those memories we made at home, the creek, or wherever. 

Looking back, I think that was another reason she was so involved at the school. She wanted to stay as close as she could to us. I still don't see why she didn't become a support staff member although back then education or lack thereof was a barrier. Plus she worked in textiles and that paid way better. Nonetheless she was there. 

Debbie couldn't get why parents wanted rid of their kids or didn't want them around the house. The more involved my brother and I got, the sadder she became. She liked that we were good kids, had friends and all. She said she liked the simpler times when she could watch us all the time and play with us. 

My mom just had so much love for all around her and wanted those closest to her around her. She said when my brother got into his partying phase, she didn't mind that his friends were into the home because she could prevent trouble easier. That's another story for another day though.