Long Time No Post
I know it’s been awhile since I last posted on here, but I’ve been so busy! I realized this is absolutely no excuse. I’m planning on doing my column soon. Paula wanted to kind of space the monthly columns out a little bit so they weren’t all grouped together. So I thought I’d wait to do it for a little while. Plus, I want to think of a really great story.
In the mean time, I’ve felt like I’m dealing with alot right now. I’ve been so busy with graduation, wedding stuff, and remodeling that I don’t think I’ve had enough time to really mourn for Granny. Maybe I have and I’m just having a sort of relapse, but I’ve just been really emotional lately. It seems like every way I turn I’m confronted with death of some sort. A member in our congregation died this last week and it was a big blow to our whole church. I guess that’s what’s really gotten me going. But I mentioned on my blog how the thought occurred to me that I don’t know what I’d do without any of my Aunts and Uncles. Since then I’ve also realized how hard it would be to lose any of my family member. With a family our size, it’s been a miracle that none of the children, grandchildren, etc. have died or had any serious illnesses until this year. We have been truly blessed!
Anyway, I wanted to write a little something about each one of the Aunts and Uncles, just let them know how much they mean to me (even though this could never begin to describe it). I would try to do cousins too, but that would take way too long! OK, here we go:
Aunt B.-I haven’t really had much of a chance to get to know you. After the funeral when we were packing up Granny’s apartment, you were such a joy to have around. You lightened the mood so much! I still remember you trying those jeans on over your pants! And then having a little trouble getting them over your shoes! You proved to have just as much spunk and charisma as all the rest of them.
Uncle Charles-You’re another one that I haven’t really gotten a chance to know very well. But every time we see each other, you give me a hug. It might not sound like much, but I LOVE hugs!! I just love your gentle spirit and how calm you always seem to be.
Aunt Edith-you crack me up! You are one of the quietest, kindest, gentlest, soft spoken, caring people I know. Whenever I’m over at your house, you always fuss over me and make sure I’m as comfortable as possible. I love how you and Uncle Jerry make me feel so welcome and loved in your house. I don’t have to talk a lot around you, y’all just enjoy my company. And you always amaze me with your fierce hugs. You’re much stronger than you appear, so I’m usually a little surprised by how strong an embrace you always give me. I love it though!
Aunt Ann-you’re so much fun to be around! You make me laugh a lot. When you came down that summer and helped with my mom, I felt like a bonded with you. So now you’re stuck with me! I love how you always want to talk to me and how interested you are in my life. I especially like how you know who I’m talking about when I mention my friends; that you can put faces to the names is cool. Uncle Andy is such a lucky man to have snagged such a great catch like you!!
Uncle JW-another one I don’t know that well. I’d have to say my favorite part of you is how your face lights up when you see one of us. When you see a family member coming up to you to say hi or get a hug, a big smile breaks across your face. It reminds me of how Granny used to do. How no matter where you had gone or how long you’d been out of her site, when she saw you again she gave you the biggest, most genuine smile ever.
Aunt Elsie-my favorite part about you is your snort. I just find it so funny! It’ll get me going every time. And usually how it works is we’re already all laughing and then you get to going and we just go into fits of hysteria. You are such a riot! I’ve had many, many a good laugh with you!
Uncle Ben-much like Aunt Elsie, my favorite part of you is your laugh. But un-like her, I love how you laugh all the time. Your laugh is contagious and one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. I admire your ability to laugh not only at yourself, but in all situations. Though my mom says that your unique laughter was often a dead give away as to who was behind some of the mischief.
Uncle Jerry-my mom is constantly using your advise about making lists of things we can control and not control. I’ve gotten a little tired of it actually…no offense. You are such a strong influence in our family. A spiritual pillar for all of us. I know I personally look up to you not only because you’re my Uncle, but because you are such a decent, honorable, Godly man. Thank you for the advise you’ve been giving me on my blog! I love hearing from you and knowing that you’re taking an interesting in my life. I also like that though you have your serious side, you’re also able to just let loose and have fun with us. I love playing chicken foot and card games with you and Aunt Denise at the cabin!!
Aunt Sue-of all my Aunts and Uncles, you are the one that I’m closest to. That’s probably just because you live so close to me, a fact that I thank God for daily. You are so special in my life and so totally irreplaceable. Words can’t describe how much you mean to me. I’m like you in so many ways. I love seeing things in myself that remind me of you. Whenever I do something that is like you (like open my doors to check that I’m in the lines of a parking spot), I just smile to myself and think, ‘God, thank you for my quirky Aunt Sue who’s beginning to rub off on me!’. So even when I leave next year, I’ll always have little things in myself to remind me of you. And I plan to call you at least once a week!
Mom-you’re another person that words could not describe how much you mean to me. You are always there for me whenever, where ever, and for whatever I need you. I help me with my problems, heals my hurts, support my dreams, and catch me when I fall. You are everything to me!
Uncle Donnie-you are an amazing person! I don’t know what to say that I haven’t said already. I love how you always put your arm around my shoulder or my waist when we walk somewhere together. I LOVE your accent! I love that you always answer any of the silly questions I ask you about my remodeling and how you always seem so happy to hear my voice. You are very special to me! I am so glad that I’ve gotten to know you better these last few months!
Filed under kids | Comment (1)Who Shot Donnie Earl?
Katherine asked me what made me think about the previous story – I told her it was just because I opened the fridge to get a fudge pop and for some reason, Dairy Queen Dilly Bars came to mind. I told her I would write about the time that I (Yes sweet little innocent, angel, darling that I am) shot Donnie Earl in the back with a BB gun. They were living at Ferrell’s then. It seems like the kitchen had a back door and that the small back yard was sorta of community play area. Why I was playing with a BB gun? Whose gun was it? How did Mother let me do it? It’s funny – I do not remember getting a spanking for this. Selective memory! I honestly don’t remember much other than Granny in the kitchen with Donnie leaned over the chair while she dug the BB out. It is a wonder he speaks to me now.
I know that Katherine will ask what made me think of this story but- I don’t know what brought this to mind.
Filed under grandkids, kids | Comments (4)Dilly Bars & Tall Porches
Bet the name got your attention! Well let me explain. When I was younger (I think around 6 or 8 years old) Granny and the kids lived on Beech Street. Her house had the neatest front porch on it. I don’t remember a swing or flowers or chairs on the porch, but I do remember that the porch was so tall that I could walk up under it. Now how neat was that! Granted I was still terrified of spiders, bugs, and snakes but I had to risk that just to be able to play under there. I remember Elsie, Sue, Kathy, Ben, Jerry, and Donnie living there.
In the afternoons I would get to walk next door to Dairy Queen – but I had to go with Ben or Jerry Lee. It was so much fun to run over there and go up to the window and place your order. The boys usually were the ones to give the order. Well, on this one given day, I got there first and sailed up to the window and said “One Dilly Bar” and then one of the boys walked up and said “One Dilly Bar” not knowing that I had ordered one already. I was so excited to have beaten them to the punch line. Well, I can still remember the sick feeling I got when that lady handed out TWO Dilly Bars. Oh No, we were only ordering ONE. Granny only gave us money for ONE. We had to go back and tell Granny what I did, she gave US the money to go back and pay for the other one. Needless, to say I was glad to get to walk back over to Dairy Queen but I can still recall how long that walk seemed on the way back. Jerry Lee and Ben did the ordering from then on – I was glad just to tag along.
Thus the stories of Dilly Bars and Tall Porches.
Filed under grandkids, kids | Comments (3)A Summer Project
I’d first like to thank Paula and Martha for putting this whole thing together! This is such a great way for all of us to keep in touch!
OK, moving on to my summer project: Ever since this past reunion I have really felt a desire to spend more time with each of you. I have always felt very close to this side of my family, but it’s been hard to connect with so many people. When Granny got sick I felt an even greater draw to be with my family. I wanted to be with the people that truly knew what I was going through, that would both help me grieve, and that would make me feel normal again. I’ve been toying with an idea for several months now and have been in deep prayer about it. I want to write a book about our family. I do not have all the details worked out. All I know is that I want to do this. The book would be a mixture of a memoir for Granny and a gigantic story book about our family in general.
I’ve decided that I’m only going to talk to the eleven children. I feel like if I tried to do the grandkids, great grandkids, etc. that it would just get too confusing. What I’m going to do is arrange a time for me to go and sit with each one of the eleven and interview them. I want to know any memories you have of Granny, of the other siblings, of growing up, and whatever else you’re willing to share with me. Again, I haven’t decided exactly how I’m going to put this all together, so the more information I have the better!
In a perfect world I’d like to have the book finished by the reunion this year, but somehow I doubt that is going to happen. I will try my absolute hardest to get it finished by then. In order for me to do that I’d need to do all my interviews this summer. Right now it looks like I’m going to be in Arkansas June 20-? and then starting in August-?. I’ll let everyone know when I’m going to be up there a little closer to time and, hopefully, by then I’ll have definite plans on how long I’m going to be staying. So please be thinking of stories, pictures, and anything else that you want to share with me. If you aren’t one of the eleven but still have things you want to share, ask your representative in the eleven (the one that you descend from, like mine would be my mom) to say it for you. I know this is alot of information and all sounds kind of crazy! I want to know what you think of this; is it a good, bad, crazy, stupid, silly, etc. idea? I want your input and suggestions!
Filed under kids | Comment (0)the eleven kids
Here’s one of the photos that I took of all eleven kids during the luncheon after Granny’s funeral. I don’t think anyone has seen them, not even mom. So, it’s debuting here. Hope you all like it.
