Flat Tops/Calling In/Coloring

Once again, this will date my age. This happened when Granny and them lived over at the Ferrell place. I was in the front room standing by the screen door looking out and saw this strange man with funny shaped hair. Jerry Terrell with a flat top. Jerry was there to see Edith. I thought he was intruding, we were family (a big family) we did not need any one else. For those who are too young to know, a flat top is just that. The hair is cut so that it has a flat top, hair stuck up so straight and it looked like you could have sat a plate on it. Thank goodness flat tops did not stay around too long, but Jerry did. Jerry has been a big part to our family. He and Edith came to Bastrop the night I had Whitney and she was sent to Monroe. They took Tina to her friend Lora’s house and headed to Bastrop late that night. I asked him to have a special pray at church the next morning at church for Whitney, I only wanted him to lead the prayer. People told me that Jerry said that prayer was hard for him, but he did it anyway.

Also that night Pete had to call Mother and tell them that they were sending Whitney to Monroe and that I needed them back. Her and Daddy headed back to Bastrop. Mother called Granny and Granny said she was going to. It was late and Granny was scheduled to work the next day, well she called her supervisor and said that she would not be in. I can remember that Granny sure did need her money, but she wanted to be with us. We were important enough that Granny missed a day of work. I had never known of her calling in.

Since Brenda and Charles lived in Bastrop, Brenda came up and sit with me until Mother and them could get there, because Pete had to go to Monroe with Whitney. Daddy let Granny and Mother out at the hospital and rushed to Monroe to be with Pete and Whitney.

A few months before – once again I was in the hospital for a kidney stone while pregnant. Mother was wonderful enough to stay by my side. Most of the time I was on so much pain meds that I slept off and on. One night, I was laying there I heard something, I listened ….. then I realized it was Mother sitting over there coloring. I thought why on earth was she coloring at night, and where did she get the colors.  I called out to her, she was not coloring she was crying. She was so tired, sleepy, worried that crying was all she could do. I think she went home the next day for a little while. There is no limits as to what a Mother will do for her child. Rather it be coloring or crying. She is still there very time I need her.

Katherine will ask – what made me think of that. It was Paula’s posting of Emmy learning to blink. It brought back my memories of Whit being little and doing the same things. Then thinking back to when Whitney entered this world and the things we faced the first few joyful, terrible heartbreaking hours. Wondering what the next few hours would bring.

So never let anyone tell you family is not important. If they truly believe that, all I can say is that they do not have the Martin family on their side. Bless their hearts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think all of this is why family is so important to Whitney. My hope and wish is that each of you know how much Whitney loves you.

 

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