The Mother of All Hodgepodge?

Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, so variations of the word mother will be found throughout this week's Hodgpodge!

1. When the children of today grow up, what do you think they'll say about this period in time? What do you most hope they remember?

I'm sure they'll call these "the good ol' days!" I hope my kids remember happy times at home, laughter, and being taught about God.

2. National Teacher's Day is celebrated in the US of A on the first Tuesday in May, this year May 7th...share how a particular teacher positively impacted you.

I had several really good teachers. I shared about a couple of them back when I was doing my weekly Flashback Friday meme. One of them was my English teacher when I was a junior in high school. About 18 months ago on a trip to Houston, I was able to meet her and another friend from that class at Starbucks and we had such a fun "reunion" 33 years after our class! It was wonderful to share memories and tell her what an impact she still has on my life.

3. What's a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?

Welsh rarebit, which we just called cheese gravy. My mom would make it for breakfast, often on Sunday mornings, and we would eat it on toast. She also made "ham gravy," which was a white cream gravy into which she stirred chopped up pieces of that really thin Buddig ham. We'd put that over toast for breakfast, too. I haven't had either of those in years!

4. Mother May I was a game we played when I was growing up...no pieces, parts, or plugs required. What games from childhood do you remember loving that were also pieces, parts, and plug-free?

The Alphabet Game on car trips. I Spy. And Hopscotch.

5. Besides your own mother, tell us about a woman who influenced you as a child?

There were several ladies at church, particularly young married gals in their twenties (who seemed so old when I was in elementary and junior high school!) who had an impact on me. They were really sweet to me and I adored being with them. When I was in junior high school, two of them buried babies: one baby died two days after birth, and our youth pastor's baby died of SIDS on the day he turned four months old. I was close to both families and those deaths, and seeing how they dealt with it, had a bit impact on me. Tiny caskets are heartbreaking.

6. Mamma Mia! What's the best play or musical you've ever seen?

Wicked, hands down!

7. What are three smells that make you feel nostalgic?

Freshly mowed grass, lighter fluid and charcoal, and crayons or markers, especially the old Marks-A-Lot felt markers!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This is one of my favorite songs from Wicked.