Nostalgia

Thinking of the past year today. How the children have grown. As I listen to them play and building tents out of the quilts their grandmother and great-grandmother made, I think of the days when I played with my cousins. Excuse me, I had to go to the kitchen to get Max and Lily a popcicle, and Forrest some jello. Now, where was I??? Oh, yeah, I was nostalgic for the days the grandkids were younger. You know, I will have to get back with you on this because they are now talking about scary things, and I want to be in the conservation.....They will be grown in a flash, and I don't want to miss a minute.....

Photographer in the Making

Lily loves snapping pictures just like her Meme and Memaw. It is in her genes (jeans) as they say. She always grabs my little camera and snaps away. Her mother suggested she might like a camera for Christmas. I waited for a sale, and then snapped one up myself.


She is taking a picture of me taking her picture.



Meanwhile, Kevin got us both!

Christmas Fun

My kids came over last night for our Christmas. We also made Santa cookies and Snowmen. I did not know it would turn into a funny, giggle fest competition.


Chubby Bunny....Three...count them! Three marshmallows in their mouth.....Oh, well. We got one picture.....
The cousins having fun....



Forrest really busy with his Snowman.....

Hailey/Dixon Christmas

My niece Melissa always hosts a Christmas celebration at her house each year. It is one of the highlights of my year. I get to be with family, especially my brother and his wife. I was nine years old when they married, so they have had the role of sibling some years, and parent on others....Our father died when I was 5 years old, so he has had a big influence on me my whole life.

I Remember, Meme!

Forrest told me a few weeks ago that he remembered that I sent a picture of Lily to the newspaper once....Well, he wasn't exactly born yet, but he had heard about it. I decided I better get busy and try to redeem myself in his eyes. I found a picture of him at his Thanksgiving Celebration at Evergreen Playschool where is he a kindergardener in his mom Amy's class. I explained my faux pas to the contributor of local paper with the hopes he too could have in day in the Commercial Appeal.....

It Happened Today! For you Forrest....

Retirement Party

My friends from the Newborn ICU gave me an Out of this World Retirement Party! I felt like Sally Fields at the Oscars, where I should say "You like me, you really, really do". I was afraid that since I had been away from for six weeks, they might think, Oh, she is old news. Obviously, they still remember me and celebrated me! It was wonderful....


This is my family. Brian and Max, Lily in my lap, Amy behind us, Kevin with Forrest, then my favorite nephew Brad on the right. My niece Melissa and her husband came later after their son's play. Shannon was with her parents for her father's surgery that day.



Carol and I go way back. She joined me at Baptist Memorial Hospital in December 1968. We developed a lifelong friendship and working relationship. She later was the Supervisor and I was the Head Nurse in the NICU. She saw talents in me that I never dreamed of. The things we helped each other through would fill a thick book. Needless to say she is like family.


I never saw my retirement present over on the piano. You know a nurse is supposed to be observant. Well, If that had been a baby, I would have honed right on it. I had been asked to give hints of what I might like....


Here it is! A piece of art by one of Shannon's talented friends, Elizabeth Alley. It is actually three pieces, and the most beautiful blue/purple color. My dear friend Teresa said it is she, Betty and I.....We three love to dance, so there you are. I will think of all my friends when I see it now.


The absolutely gorgeous flower arrangement was done by one of the nurses I work with. Brenda is a Master Gardener. Master at design too, I think!

I will be posting more of my picture and memories soon. It was one of those events you dream about, but never think it will happen to you!

Retirement Invitation-Design by Brian

My work friends are giving me a retirement party. This is the invitation that came in the mail, with the letter from my friend.
The meaning of the card is this....When Brian was little, he was on vacation with his dad and the song by Donna Summer "She Works Hard For the Money" came on the car radio. He said, "I thought of you Mama". I was so touched by it and never forgot it. Several years ago, I mentioned it to him....and how much it meant to me. He remembered, and made this invite for me....

This and That

I think Lily is becoming as fond of babies as I am. One of her mom's friends recently had a baby boy. When they came by to visit us on Thanksgiving, she loved holding him.... I would try to help since he would squirm in her lap. She did not like this at all and wanted him all to herself...I am not saying I wanted to hold him too...No, that just wouldn't be true....( do you believe me?) I wanted to hold that baby so bad!

Tomorrow is my retirement party. I am nervous being the center of attention. I always thought I would love that! My friends say a lot of people are coming. One of the doctors (who I have worked with only about 5 years) said, "Everyone must love Beverly"...

This is where I worked for 40 years....well, not exactly right there. We moved and remodeled four times. This is close enough for you to picture me by an incubator. Before you ask why they are covered, it is to keep the bright lights from them. We tried to mimic still being inside mama....