Never Grow Up

Lily had another sleepover, so I wanted to remember some of her Lilyism's. I just made that word up.
We got up way to early for me. I took my pillow to the couch and proceeded to lay my body down. Next was grab the remote and find Sprout for her to watch. We were watching TV when out of the blue Lily said, "If you have a small heart, you'll be grumpy all day". I asked her where she heard this, thinking her mama had told her. She shrugged her shoulders and said "on TV". At least she is learning something good.
She soon got tired of my cozy spot on the couch and asked if I was going to stay on the couch all day??? Well, that did it. I hopped up and we got in the floor (oh, my aching bones) and played Polly Pockets and did some coloring. I don't know why it wasn't fun on the couch.
We then moved to putting on makeup and looking at Meme's jewelry. As I looked at her, I asked her to not grow up so fast. She said rather emphatically, "I can't help it"!!!
I laughed to myself and realized she is a pretty smart girl.

What I've Done

I had not done anything with my youngest grandchild in quite a while, so I took him and his sister to the zoo. I admit I also wanted to see the butterflies before they left. It was sooo hot, I immediately began to question why I cared about the butterflies. My granddaughter Lily was also noticing the heat. She was fretting and pacing and asked me, Meme, are you hot, cause I'm hot! I'm having a hot flash!!! I laughed good....
I guess I announce that to her too often....the butterflies were awesome and we wanted one to light on our finger, but they didn't. Oh well...
The polar bears and seals did delight us. One seal swam down to me and stared right into my eyes. I think she was asking me to get her out of there. On we went to the polar bears and one of them noticed a young boy holding a red card up to the glass. He braced against the wall and then slammed into the glass. The crowd went crazy, so he did it over and over. We also rode the truck-train, as Forrest called it. As we rode, he noticed the Backyard burger booth and said, "Meme I want to go to a restaurant!!! I asked if he was hungry and he nodded. Poor thing, I was starving him. So, off the train to eat chicken strips, then to the playground....Yes, we go to the zoo to play on the jungle-gym!!! Did I mention how hot it was???? Yes, it was HOT, so I did what I thought I would never do...I let them get in the water/wading pool. What can I say, we were having a Hot Flash!

I Am Sixty Today

Today is my sixtieth birthday! I cannot say I welcome it, but as my mother said about her older birthdays, it is better than the alternative. I do not feel, in my mind, that I am sixty. It seems only yesterday that I was fifty.

I believe this was one of my BEST birthdays ever. It is due to my children, Bri, Shan, Kev and Amy who along with Max, Lily, and ForFor, gave me the most wonderful birthday party. They worked very hard to make it special for me, and indeed, it was.

The food looked like a gourmet feast. There was ham and rolls, olive dip on baguettes, tomato with mozzarella on crackers, bacon wrapped shrimp and asparagus, olives, fruit, and more that I don't remember at the moment. There were TWO desserts!! My favorite, CHOCOLATE!!!mousse, chocolate whip cream something that was to die for. And a blueberry cake, my next favorite. Enough of food. There were friends and family.

My brother and sister-in-law came from my hometown. My niece and nephew came with J and O. My friends from work came. All are dear to me. Words cannot begin to express what each one means to me.

My children gave me the most thoughtful gift of all. They know what my family home meant to me. My mother and I lived with my grandparents, so I was blessed with lots of love. I am also very sentimental. Tears are filling my eyes as I write. They conspired with my brother and had a painting of my home done for me. My brother provided details of what the house was like when I was growing up and lived there.
When I saw the picture, with everyone watching me, and I was nervous, at first I did not recognize it until Shannon said that it was my home in Paris. I laughed and said, whew, I thought this was where ya'll were sending me. My brother put his arm around me and said I was riding back with him. (like I was going to a nursing home) BOY, was I relieved when I looked and there was my home. Now, it will always be with me.

Thank you Brian, Shannon, Kevin, Amy, Max, Lily, and Forrest.
I love you all very much!

Forrest is Three!!!

Forrest is three years old today. He is such a sweet little boy. When I think of him, certain things come to mind. Planes, trains, and automobiles!!! Yes, planes, trains, and automobiles. He's all boy in that respect. He usually has his chubby, little fingers wrapped around a car, lying on the floor, and driving it all over the place. Just like his daddy did.

His birthday party was this past Sunday. Of course, his cake had a race car on it. He had his friends and family over. We all sang Happy Birthday to him and he blew the candles out before we finished singing. Then, it was time to open his presents. I will say his favorite was from his cousin Max. He could be heard squealing as he saw the Space Shuttle, or ROCKET!!!!as he called it. Well, he didn't want another present, nope, nary another. Just the ROCKET!!!!

I cannot believe my baby grandson is getting to be a "big boy", but he is still, on occasion, thank goodness, a "little boy"

Meme and Lily Hit the Mall

One of the days I have been waiting for has happened! Lily and I went shopping!!! At the mall!! She had been wanting a "girl day" with me for a while, actually she'd take a "girl day" any day. So, I decided we'd go window shopping. We walked into Macy's and headed to the shoes. She squealed with excitement and noticed every pair. She would say "Meme, look at the jeweled ones, look at the red ones, look at the dadada ones" She then said, Meme, put them on!!!! I really got into it too, and soon I had on red spike pumps, silver jeweled pumps, red sandels, you name it and I tried it on. I even saw some really high, high spiked heels with the tiniest, tiniest heel. I giggled and showed them to Lily, she looked at me with frown, and said in the most serious voice, "Meme, I don't think you could walk in those"!!!
Well, it was then that I realized that we really weren't having a girlie shopping trip, but a little girl and her grandmother shopping trip. Even though I am soon to be sixty, I refuse to grow up. This little girl will keep her grandmother from regressing too for back in her youth. However, she will keep me young!!! I can't wait for another girlie day!!!!

Brian and Kevin's Birthday

Thirty-seven and thirty-three years ago, at exactly 2:08PM and 2:18PM, Brian and Kevin were born. My two greatest works. They are exactly 4 years and 10 minutes difference in their ages. At first, I was so upset when Kevin was born on Brian's birthday. I thought they would not like having to share their birthdays, but I really think they did. It was THEIR DAY. I think it actually helped them be close to each other.

I had always wanted to be a mother and it has been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I look at them with awe and cannot believe they are the extraordinary men they are. I would like to say it was because of me, and their Granddaddy always told me I was a wonderful mother, but I do not pretend to believe it was me, it was THEM.....They deserve the praises.

Happy Birthday Brian and Kevin. I love you both.
Your Mama

Hot August Nights

It is hot here in Memphis today. The heat and humidity make it feel like 106 degrees. It reminds me of when Brian and Kevin were little. The first week in August for two years in a row the temps soared into the 100's. Both of those years our air conditioner broke. Being a single mom, a scared single mom I might add, I refused to raise the windows at night. So I turned on a big fan and made those boys sleep in that heat. It would actually be cool by morning. As I saw the thermometer today, I thought of those August nights long ago, and of my boys, too.

60th Birthday Party

Four of us at work turn sixty this year. I know, I don't look sixty! Several of our friends gave us a party last night. That was sooo nice of them. Well, really one of us made them do it, and it wasn't me. But, I got to benefit from her grumpiness. There was a lifesize poster of Elvis at the door and they got a picture of me kissing it, since I did kiss him once. I was working and was, well, looking to stir things up a bit. He (Elvis) came to visit his father and I heard he was leaving soon, so I saw him by the ER with a crowd of people. A woman was talking to him through the car window and I thought, HEY, I KNOW HE WANTS TO SEE ME!!!! I pulled her away from the car, stuck my head in the car and planted one on him. But, let me get back to the party. There was reminiscing, laughter, sounds of the blender making alcoholic beverages, lots of great food and of course cake and ice cream. I have never had my picture taken so many times. Carol, Peggy, Gail and I had a blast. It was such fun being with my wonderful friends. Anyone else turning sixty this year?

Golden Anniversary

This past week was my brother and sister-in-law's 50th anniversary. Their children gave them a small dinner party. It was such a fun evening. My brother and sister in law reminiscing about their marriage was so great. My brother is the kindest person I know. His wife is pretty wonderful too.

All Alone

I am soooo lonely this week. Both of my sons have gone and taken my grandchildren on vacation. The very nerve of them to want to get away from the daily grind....well, actually I don't blame them. But, why would they each start driving faster as I was running after them????