Rockin’ the Pilgrim hat. Or would I have boarded the ship?
Fifty-seven degrees.
That’s how cold it was in our house this morning. Good thing we are not actually in our house yet (due to remodel hell) — because the heat was not working.
So I called the repair person — who came right out.
He fixed the heat.
And I went on my merry way, till I went in the house this afternoon and thought . . .
It’s flippin’ cold in here for a house with a working heater.
Guess what.
The thermostat read a lovely 57 degrees and the heater was not working again.
Poop. Poop. And triple poop.
Linking on with Finish the Sentence Friday and the prompt: “When I think of the word pilgrim, I think…”
Well. when I was little when I thought pilgrim, I thought this.
The best that I can remember, this was taken by my grandfather on their front steps. I had come over after church and tied my grandmother’s apron over my “church clothes” and he had taken my photo.
With my pilgrim hat on.
Now I remember feeling kind of dorky on one level about the apron but another part of me LOVED that hat.
That hat rocked the whole outfit.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and nothing was better than getting my bonnet on.
Heck. I might even make me one this year?
Yes, when I was a girl I loved the ideal of the Pilgrims and friendly Native Americans gathering around the 63″ plasma television to watch the Detroit Lions toss the pigskin around with the Jamestown Puritans.
All the turkey, cranberries and corn.
Then I read an historical account of the Pilgrims’ voyage and first few years in the New World.
Utterly and completely miserable. Cold and wet and so many of them died. So many of the children orphaned.
It was a very hard existence. And here I am fretting about a heater that’s not working — in a house I’m not even in yet.
When I think of the word Pilgrim, I think of amazing, heroic people.
Who died never knowing how amazing and heroic they were.
I wonder if they would have got on the Mayflower and left England if they could have seen what waited for them in the coming months?
Would I have bundled up my black-skirted self and stepped aboard?
Maybe it’s best we don’t know the future?
What do you think?
Well, other than the obvious fact that I can rock the heck out of a bonnet.
What does “pilgrim” mean to you?
Ok, seriously you were too cute for words and loved that photo of you. Best pilgrim photo op in my opinion! Truly hoping you got the what fixed and working now. Totally keeping my fingers crossed on this tonight for you, as well!!
I think it’s best we don’t know the future but it would be nice to know when we can move back into our remodel!! Yikes! I hated our remodel. Hated. Sorry you woke to a freezing house but OMG eep that photo of you as a pilgrim makes pilgrim clothing cute!!!
thanks Janine. We are living in a very small apartment out back — but the kids like to go in the house and use the internet, etc. And I worry about the poor turtle with it so cold in there. The guy said he’d be back out in the morning . . . so.
Kristi, This has been very good for me. I’ve been feeling sorry that we are not in our house for Thanksgiving — but I’m a selfish idiot. We have so much to be thankful for. I’m going to make my bonnet and have two pieces of pecan pie.
It has definitely been a while since I really studied about the Pilgrims, etc. so I’m wondering if I even remember learning what you are saying. They were pretty heroic! You’re right! I think it is better that we don’t know the future because if it does include hardship, I think most people would definitely either try to avoid the way they should go or keep trying to anticipate how things will happen.
Oh man, the sight of that bonnet diagram brings back memories, most of which took years of therapy to repress. Seriously, I loved this! Whenever I stand in open admiration of those who came before us, like I do any time I read a post like yours, I hold some hope that I/we will manage to do something in our lives that’s worth of the “pilgrim” title. Beyond wearing the bonnet, that is. Which you absolutely did rock.
You are so right. We tend to romanticize the pilgrims but they had it ROUGH!
I love how you drew a parallel between the pilgrims suffering and your own – puts it into perspective, doesn’t it? I can’t imagine those bonnets kept the pilgrims very warm, but they are quite stylish. You rocked it!
Now that is quite the hat. You are indeed rockin’ it. Love that you still have the picture and that you would share how to make the hat. Brilliant idea to compare your situation with that of the pilgrims. I, too, cannot imagine stepping on board a ship and heading out to a new world, leaving everyone and everything behind. Remarkable people the Pilgrims.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Jamie.
My mom gave me a copy of the picture a few years ago. I stuck it in a frame and pull it out this time of year with the other fall decorations. Makes me smile.
Hey Girl! Love the picture and the bonnet. I think two pieces of pie is a great idea! We all need to be more grateful but your attitude is always amazing!
It is a choice each day to be positive isn’t it Kimmie? Some days are easier than others. But when we looks at what others around the world and throughout history have endured, we have to end up feeling very grateful indeed. A big Thanksgiving hug to you.
Hmmm, I’ve known lots of people who wore Easter bonnets but can’t say I’ve ever known anyone who had/made their own Pilgrim hat. Yup, you totally rocked it! I think Had that same dress … minus the apron and cap. 😉
That photo is just too adorable. And I honestly think it is for the best that we don’t know the future. Much better! 🙂
I’m going to have to research for something non-fiction for that time. You’ve got me a bit intrigued – and I don’t remember a doggone thing from history. LOVE your picture – and my heart warmed at the memory of our grandmother’s wearing aprons. My grandmother had an apron drawer.
Ickle you is SO CUTE! Annnnnd seeing as I live in a city where the main Theatre is named The Mayflower…you’d really think I would know a little more about this. Thanks for the education.
Hope your house is fixed soon. Cold is AWFUL.
Lovely. Such a great reminder to appreciate what we have. I don’t know if I would have boarded the ship…. I a bit of a homebody.
That photo is priceless. And I like the way you tied it into the weather today…I’d have been on board back to England, definitely.
I agree with everyone else about the picture, it’s totally awesome! Almost all of my childhood pictures stayed behind in my home country and I often wish I’d brought some of them with me, they illustrate a story so perfectly.
A cold house sucks. Ours gets very cold in the winter, but it’s a great coincidence that this week’s prompt allowed some perspective. Sometimes thankfulness takes hard work… I know.
Jamie, if you do make that middle-aged bonnet, please make sure you post pictures on the blog. Please. Your child-rendition of a pilgrim was absolutely precious. But if you go the route of the adult rendition, that would be priceless…no?
Now I just might have to round up some black construction paper.
First of all, the heater fiasco reminds me of when the pilot light on our heater goes out & sadly, it happens often.
You bring up a good point about the future. Sometimes it’s ok not to know what’s in store, because you’d never take that chance.
Bianca, This heater has an automatic pilot light — but I lived with the old timey ones a long time. For a girl raised in Florida took me forever to work up courage to light it. By the time we left that house, I was pro.