Dale and Ruby Lamer had a very unique dictionary of terms:
"Taint no big deal"
And for many things in life, it just wasn't a big deal to her. If Ruby was cooking and missing a key ingredient, it wasn't a big deal. In fact, that is how many of her famous recipes morphed and changed. Remember her famous raisin cake (recipe can found 'Grandma's Kitchen') that was often requested at family gatherings? Or who can forget preparing a Thanksgiving dinner for the family, when the turkey drippings were set out on the picnic table to cool? The farm dogs inhaled the entire kettle of drippings, but it taint no big deal. Guess what Ruby had stashed in the freezer? If there were unexpected guests for a meal, as there often were, it wasn't a big deal. Ruby would pull up a chair, set an extra plate, and there was always plenty of food to go around. Her children remember that her meals often resembled the three fishes and five loaves of bread . . . always plenty for everyone and leftovers to spare. Now, if things were a big deal, and they sometimes were, you would hear Ruby say . . .
"We're just going to pray about that"
And she would stop right then and pray. Her faith in the power of prayer was beyond comprehension. What a legacy she passed along to all who knew her! I am sure there are many of you who, at one point in your life, had Ruby praying for you, whether you knew it or not. I hope that provided as much comfort to you as it did for those in her family when she was praying for us.
"Let's go tootin'"
Unless you are one of Ruby's twelve grandchildren, you never had this privilege. Grandma would pick up one of her grandkids, spend the morning tootin at garage sales, and always end at McDonalds with a massive vanilla cone that would melt faster than any kid could lick. You may be thinking that the ice cream cone was the biggest treat of the day, but you are wrong. Grandma would give us a little bit of fun money (usually a couple of dollars), and by the end of the morning, we would have enough loot to make our mothers groan!
"We're going to have a blow out!"
If you never attended a Lamer blow out, it wasn't because you weren't invited! And, if you were blessed enough to attend one, you will never forget it. We ate at one VERY long table. No little card tables sitting around would do for a blow out! The food was served family-style, for a buffet would not be right for a Lamer blow out. Dale and Ruby did a lot of the cooking themselves, making sure everyone's favorite dish was on the table. There were buttery homemade rolls, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, a variety of pies, and the list could go on. After the meal was served and enjoyed by all, groups would break away and play cards, board games, or kickball. Ruby LOVED a blow out! And even when she could no longer host them, she was always ready for a little party.
"Let's have a little party"
This was different than a full blow out. It didn't matter how long the visit was at Ruby's house or apartment, there was time for a party. A party might be as simple as a glass of tea and a bowl of cantaloupe. Or, it could be the full spread. Either way, it was always served on fancy dishes, beautiful teacups and saucers, and in elegant crystal goblets, for only the best was appropriate for a party.
"Red out"
This means to clean out, and Ruby had plenty of practice when she was a little girl growing up with nine younger brothers, which is where the term originated. Then with seven children of her own, she had to run a house where things were constantly being red out. One of the ways she did this was by giving things away. You had to be careful about telling Ruby you liked something in her home, because it was very possible you would leave that day with the item in your hand. Things were never more important than people to Ruby.
"Dirty Lil' Pups"
If you ever heard Ruby use this, you know that this is a term of endearment, and not of criticism. I am told the term actually originated with her mother, who used it to refer to her nine boys, Ruby's brothers. Ruby adopted the term for her family of four boys, and they fondly referred to her as Bubba in return. Now I am sure they were dirty and there had to have been a constant pile of laundry, socks, football uniforms, etc. When digging through the deep freezer, Ruby never knew what varmint was wrapped in the large trash sack stuck down in the corner. Even during her days at Holiday Resort, the comment, "I hear one of those dirty little pups out in the hallway" would get a genuine smile and chuckle from her.
"Dale, take victory over those boys!"
As a big sister to nine brothers and a mom of four boys, there wasn't much that Ruby would not tackle on her own. She could fix an elegant meal and then the next day cut the tail off a raccoon to make a coon cap for her grandson. However, there were times when she was at her wit's end with her 'dirty little pups' and she would proclaim, "Dale, take victory over those boys!" It was then that the boys knew that she meant business.
"Play it by year"
As a child growing up in a family of ten siblings, Ruby heard her mom talk about playing things by year. And then, as a mom of seven children, she had to play many days by year. As we would try to plan out the intricate details of a gathering, Ruby would throw up her hands in the air and declare, "Let's just play it by year."
"We'll be there"
When they said that, Dale and Ruby meant it! If it was for an event involving one of their grandchildren, volunteering at the Rescue Mission, helping with a home improvement project . . . it didn't matter. They were there. Often, their schedules were complicated and involved many activities during one day, but they flitted from place to place and stayed up way past my bedtime!
"Got my bags packed and my ticket ready"
Ruby was referring to the ultimate trip, an eternal trip. And she did not hesitate to share her travel plans with anyone who would listen. There were probably some who were
"Praise the Lord"
And Ruby could find reason to praise the Lord in all situations. And I do mean ALL situations. No matter how bleak, Ruby could find the ray of sunshine, the reason to praise the Lord. And she made sure those she loved were all praising too. Even in her final days at Hospice of Salina, she was singing hymns of praise, praying for those she loved, and in general praising the Lord.
One term that you will not find in Ruby's dictionary is the word 'goodbye'. Whether she was talking on the phone, sending one of her boys off to the military, leaving a child at college, or a watching people leave after a holiday gathering, Ruby just did not say goodbye. And so, today we do not say goodbye, but "We will see you again someday." And for that assurance, let us PRAISE THE LORD.
