Look what God gave me!

 

 

My son – almost 18 – getting ready to graduate high school – and you know what?

God and Galen and me made THAT!

To Quote Lewis Grizzard…

“Elvis is dead and I don’t feel so good myself”

“Talk” to ya’ll next week…or whenever.

a couple of definitions

fail – to be unsuccessful; to be deficient or wanting, as in abiity, faithfulness, etc.; to prove to be inadequate or of no help to; to leave undone or unfulfilled; neglect.

failure – one who or that which fails; neglect or non-performance of a duty.

any questions?  just look for my pic in the dictionary.

Just words in a song???

Keep smilin’, keep shinin’
Knowin’ you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for

Okay…you know who you are and I thank you for being the above.

“If”

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling

Why Do I Love You?

You asked a question

One rainy day,

“Why do I love you?”

I didn’t know what to say.

 

I tried to think

Of what words to use

To explain why your friendship

I did so choose.

 

To explain the word friendship

For us two –

What it means to me

May not mean to you.

 

Nevertheless,

I am trying to find

An answer to your question

With forethought and rhyme.

 

I’ve looked back

On things we’ve shared.

Some things we’ll never tell,

And I wouldn’t dare!

 

You’ve always been there

Whether far or near;

Maybe not like I’d hoped,

But always held dear.

 

So, why do I love you?

It’s clear to ME.

But the real question is

Why do you love me?

 

I have an amazing husband!!

Yes, I do! 

Our 20th anniversary was in December, and due to circumstances beyond our control – all we got to do was go out to eat!  We had to wait until this week (Spring Break) to go anywhere.

We went to Somerset for the night.  Just an hour away – in case we needed to get back home in a hurry.  I got my haircut on Tuesday afternoon, came home and took a bath – and I looked goood!  Even if I do say so myself!  We left around 4 p.m., drove to Somerset, checked in at the motel, went to Ruby Tuesday’s to eat, went to Wal-Mart, Kroger, and the mall (Bath & Body Works, mainly).  When we got back to the motel – we were just sitting around – then he got up and ran the water in the jacuzzi.  R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N  I had almost forgotten what that word was.

He never complained about ANY place I wanted to go and he was right by my side the whole time – smelling of the candles, etc. at Bath & Body – just walking across the parking lot, pulling the vehicle to the entrance of the motel so I wouldn’t get wet from the rain…just lots of stuff like that.

Was just a really good night.

That’s about it – he is just really amazing sometimes!  And I’m feeling pretty happy – and relaxed – right now!

Guess What I Did Last Night?

Okay…so last night I said I might go to Wal-Mart and buy myself some yellow roses.  Well…here’s how my evening went.

Right now, Galen is working 12 hours on Fridays – so he left around 5:40 p.m. yesterday.  Not long after he left, I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone.  She was asking how my day was going, etc.; because she remembered what yesterday was.  We were talking about the yellow roses and she said, “I’m on my way home with the girls (her 2 kids) and when we get there I’m taking you to Wal-Mart so you can get some yellow roses”.  After being just a “little stubborn” (on my part), I finally gave in and said okay.  When she got home, one kid was asleep and the other one didn’t want to go to Wal-Mart.  She called and said, “I’ll be right back to pick you up.  I’m taking the girls to Mom’s.  I just didn’t want you to think I didn’t want to go – so, I’ll be right back”. 

We went to Wal-Mart – sat in the parking lot and talked for about 20 minutes or so before we even went in.  We kinda “loafed around” in the store, got a few things, then left.  And yes, I got my yellow roses.  The ride up there and back was soooo familiar.  I can’t tell you the last time I did that – just riding – talking – loafing.  Well, yeah, I’ve “hung out” with friends, but this time – it’s hard to say – but it just reminded me of how Amie and I used to “loaf around”.  Kelly’s not like Amie – but the friendship is very similar.

While we were on our way back home, her 6 yr. old called her – you know – doing the kid thing – “Mom you’ve been gone forever…when are you coming back?” – You know the “I’m tired and I need my mommy” thing.  Kelly kept saying, “Honey, I’m on my way right now…we’ve not been gone that long”.  After she got off the phone, I told her that we’d been gone a little over an hour and a half.  She looked at me kinda confused/shocked – then looked at her watch and said, “Really?!?  It sure doesn’t feel like we’ve been gone that long.”

Then it hit me – and I thought to myself – “Yep – definitely similarity between friendships”.  I mean, most of the time when we talk, I couldn’t tell you 3 things that we seriously talk about.  The whole time we were gone – in the back of my mind – I kept thinking – “man, this is the same – different people – but he same”.  It’s hard to explaing.

So for one comment in yesterday’s blog, I’ll have to apologize.  I said something about that I’ve not given anybody yellow roses since Amie – not true any longer.

After Jodi asking me if I’d have time to go to lunch yesterday – and she really wanted to go – it was her idea …

And after Kelly thinking of me – because of what yesterday was…and because of some things we talked about and some things she did and said…

Yesterday turned out to be a pretty good day after all…so…

As I was getting out of the car last night, I gave Kelly one of the yellow roses (I kept the other 11 – FOR ME).  She had big tears in her eyes – and we talked for just  few more minutes, then I came on in the house.  I felt such a sense of “peace” last night.  I slept unbelievably well. 

Yep – was a good day…and it was all Kelly Jo’s fault!   I’m blaming her!!

Yellow Roses

Today is March 13.  I know that “things happen for a reason”, etc.  I’ve had a lot of thoughts today – mostly in one certain direction.  It was 3 years ago today that Amie passed away. 

I went to work at “White Stores” in December of 1985.  The first evening I met Amie.  In 2 or 3 days, we were friends.  In less than a week, we were best friends.  I know…some people don’t like the term “best friend” – ’cause you think it signifies “one and only”.  I don’t feel that way.  And Amie was the best.  She is the person who introduced me to the man that has been my husband for the last 20 years.  Customers would ask us over and over and over again, “Are ya’ll sisters?”  We’d have to explain that we weren’t even related at all.  This happened A LOT.  Finally, one day when somebody asked us if we were sisters, we just said “yes”.  I don’t remember which one of us did that.  But I do remember the response from the customer – “Well I figured you had to be – the way you were talkin’ to each other and all.  Ya’ll act a lot alike anyway”.  I used to have realllly short hair and it was Amie that convinced me to let it grow – then she took me to the lady that cut her hair – and…Devonda’s been cutting my hair ever since (she is also GREAT, too). 

I can remember that p.o.s. car that Amie had – we’d refer to it as “the little red riding lawnmower” – ’cause that’s what it sounded like.  We’d spend our free time at the city park – I’ve still got pics of her climbing on the monkey bars.  During her senior year, I was at every home ball game – she was in the flag corps in the band.  We shared just about everything back then – including food. 

Which brings me to this – Amie and I worked different shifts, normally.  Me on days – her at night.  So after my shift, I’d go home – change – come back by her dinner break – some times.  Or I’d just come in the store close to closing time – I’d usually have a McDonald’s bag in my hand – I really liked the fish sandwiches back then.  Amie would look at me (she was good at “pouting”) and say, “Where’s mine?”  Then I’d hand her the other bag that was hidden – and she would smile.  I can still see that smile sometimes.  Anyway, my point about the fish sandwiches is this – In 20 yrs. my husband has NEVER asked for a fish sandwich from McDonald’s – really – NEVER.  Guess what he asked for TODAY?  Yep, a fish sandwich.  Today – of all days – the 3 yr. anniversary of her death – and he asked me to pick him up a fish sandwich.  I was a little sad – and a little happy remembering the last time I shared one with Amie.  Kinda weird? 

It doesn’t stop there.  Amie’s favorite flowers were yellow roses.  One of the meanings of yellow roses is “friendship”.  I gave her some yellow roses for her birthday one year – and when she passed away – we went to the funeral home – and pinned to her lapel was a yellow rose.  I asked her aunt who did that – and she said she had – and asked me what I thought about it.  I said, “It’s perfect”. 

I have never given anybody yellow roses since then – I can’t.  I wish I could, but I just can’t.  Galen got me some a couple of years ago, but that’s it.  It seems like in the past, every time I think I’d like to have some yellow roses – I can NEVER find any.  They’re not something the flower shops normally keep on hand.  But guess what color of roses Wal-Mart has had all week – and I mean a lot of them??  Yep – yellow ones.  I can’t even hardly walk by the flowers there without cryin’.  (Now that’s not something you’ll hear me admit to very often – crying – and it’s not something that I do in front of anybody – hardly ever, either).  When Amie died – it was a 3 hr. trip to the funeral home.  I cried all the way down there – all the way back – and pretty much all the time for the next month or so – then just every so often.  The last time that I cried that much was August of 2000 – when “somebody” moved to “Egypt”.  But today – this week – I mean with Wal-Mart having the yellow roses – and Galen asking me for a fish sandwich – I just feel…well…I don’t know whether to just cry or throw up. 

I don’t want to try and turn any of my friends into another “Amie”, but I wouldn’t mind having a friend that close again.  These thoughts have been “just a drop in the bucket” compared to what I’ve been thinking this week – and especially today.  Don’t know what I’m gonna do this evening – maybe go to Wal-Mart and buy myself some yellow roses.

Words

blog – To write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.

maintain – to keep in existence or continuance; preserve; retain; to keep in an appropriate condition, operation, or force; keep unimpaired.

words – news; tidings; information; speech or talk: to express one’s emotion in words; Words mean little when action is called for.

Recently, it has come to my attention that I have been “slightly” lacking in the aforementioned items.  So this is for “she who is bossy”.

August 8, 1963 – A ray of sunshine entered the life of my parents – then six years later my brother was born.  I don’t remember the first place we lived – I was kinda young at the time and the older I get – the less I remember. (some folks I know suffer much more than I with this “affliction”).    I do remember being very young and climbing up a tv antenna pole and onto the roof of my Aunt Jo’s house – no doubt to retrieve whatever had been thrown up there.  Seems like every time something got stuck on the roof – it was “Deb, the frisbee’s stuck on the roof again!”  And I knew what that meant.  I asked Mom one time if she knew how old I was when that happened the first time and she knew exactly – her reply – “You were 4 years old, and I was the idiot that let you do it!”  If she only knew what she had started.  I’ve always loved climbing – on the roof – up a tree – between studs in a house to get to the rafters – so I could get on the roof (while dad was building a house) – it didn’t matter – I just liked climbing.

By the time I was in the 6th grade – you can imagine how much climbing I had done.  I didn’t realize until then how much exercise I had gotten either.  That is, until some of the STAR athletes from the middle school football decided to have a “pull up contest” – in which ANYBODY could participate.  I participated – and – yep – I whipped ‘em!  BAD!!

By the time I had finished the 8th grade, Dad had decided that we would move to Oklahoma.  We stayed there 2 years – and moved back.  I had enough credits from being out there – and taking Junior English the summer we moved back – that I graduated high school at age 16.  Lot of good THAT did.  I have a secretarial certificate from vocational school - have taken 3 different computer courses – been to Roane State for EMT class and also EMT-IV.  My first job was as a secretary for a lumber company – since then I have been a cashier at a locally owned gas station chain, a cashier in 2 different grocery stores, a produce manager, a grocery manager, a deli manager, a waitress/cook, an assistant in Special Education, a secretary to a V.P. in a locally owned company, a screen printer, an assistant at the high school, and NOW – I drive a bus 5 times a day and in between routes, I work for the School Health Coordinator. 

I also prepare the church bulletin each week.  During my “free” time – I go fishing, deer hunting, try to keep in touch with friends – who probably get kinda tired of how often we talk (not mentioning any names).

By now, everybody in my house is in bed – probably not sleeping, but in bed.  My son broke the big toe on his right foot today.  More about him and whomever/whatever later.  So as they say on tv – at the best part of any REALLY good show…

…to be continued.