Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Ah-ha!


My brother, George. And see? That person behind him? That's me. Ol' Eagle Eyes.
Okay, I admit it, I’m not very good at it.
Finding things, I mean.
I can be looking right at them, too.
Case in point . . .
Just last week, when unpacking groceries, I had handed an apple to my Dad for him to put in his fridge.
Later:
Me: “Did you put my apple in the fridge?”
Dad: “I always do what I’m told.”
Me: “So that’s a ‘yes’?”
Dad: “Yes.”
Me: “Well, I can’t find it!”
Dad: “Why am I not surprised?”
Me, opening drawers and generally making searching noises: “Are you sure? It’s not here anywhere!”
Dad: “It’s right there, dear. I put it right where you would be sure to see it.”
Me, closing a drawer for the third time: “Well, I can’t.”
Dad, sighing as he puts down his newspaper and gets out of his chair: “I know I put it there.”
Me: “Well, I can’t see it!”
Dad, standing beside me at the fridge and pointing: “Ah-ha!”
And there it was. Right in front of me. Sitting in lonely glory on a container of sour cream like it was on display.
Literally front and center.
Sigh.
I don’t know why I can’t see things.
I’d like to say it’s genetic.
And it is.
Except that it only follows from me down to my kids.
For example, at a recent family get-together, my oldest son and father of four, had gone to the garage to get a can of soda from the case of soft drinks placed on the cool, cement floor to chill them.
Literally at the base of the garage stairs.
Literally.
One had to step over them to actually enter said garage.
Son, shouting: “Where did you say the pop was?”
Me: “At the bottom of the stairs!”
Son: “The garage stairs?”
Me: “Yes!”
Son: “Well, I’m standing right here and someone must have moved them because I can’t see them!”
Me: “I just put them there!”
Son: “They’re not here!”
Me, getting out of my chair and going to the garage door: “What are those?”
Son, spinning around and looking at the case of pop he just stepped over. “Oh.”
Me: “Ah-ha!”
See? Genetic.
And this brings up another point.
Did you notice the ‘ah-ha’?
Well that started several years ago when I was looking for something.
Because I was always looking for something.
Dad had cheerfully gotten out of his easy chair and joined the search.
Peering at the floor near his chair, he had uttered the fateful words, “Ah-ha!”
Me, hope flaring, as I spun around: “Did you find the (magazine/book/sandwich/necklace/shirt/boots/shoes/toy/blanket/sister/horse/cow/calf)?!”
Dad: “Nope. Not here, either.”
And thus began a distinctly unhelpful family tradition.
When something is found/not found, the finder/non-finder always utters the fateful words: “Ah-ha!”
I have to go now.
I can’t find my glasses.
“Ah-ha!”

10 comments:

  1. In every family there has to be a seeker and a finder...they are never the same person.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is me too. Where are my glasses? On your face. Oh, zurbet!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heeheeheehee! It's funny cause it's true! I can't tell you how many times I've done that!!!

      Delete
  3. The last time I used that term was when someone phoned and asked to conduct a survey. I agreed and the questions began: 'How many people in your house?''Two, except when the grandkids come.' What's the average age?' '55.' 'What kind of floor coverings do you have?' 'Ah-ha! I knew there was a vacuum cleaner in there somewhere...'

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ha ha! Oh, I love that "ah-ha" tradition!

    My husband used to have the worst time finding things, usually in the fridge. I kept telling him he had to MOVE things to find what he was looking for. Now that he is trained, he is the one telling me I have to MOVE things to find stuff! (It's almost as bad as having your kids turn your words against you!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Diane, that was hilarious... thank you for the laugh. Also, this is me... something can be right in front of me and I can't see it either... lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Okay, we can never be roommates. Nothing would ever be found!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting! Drop by again!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


Grab and Add!

Search This Blog

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?