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September 2003 | |
| My friend Doris Murray recently was having problems with a crown. Her boyfriend advised her, but she chose a different method , swallowing the crown in her sleep. Then she was afraid to tell him-so here's how the story goes: "There was a sweet lady named Murray, Who was always in such a big hurry. While taking a snooze, She swallowed her tooth, Which only added to her worries! Her boyfriend, a retired orthodontist, Advised not to glue the tooth, she did promise. Now the overpriced crown, Has begun settling down, So there's no way in Hell (sorry) she'll be honest!" | |
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Spring and Summer 2003 | |
| I've enjoyed a new book called "God Things Come In Small Packages". The title caught my attention immediately because we've always heard- "good things come in small packages." (Hold up ring box!) Today you have only 8 students playing for you-so I guess this is a "small recital"! I was sitting in here yesterday thinking about the past year with each of your children. I started jotting down things that came to my mind about each one of them. May I share these thoughts with you? Each one brings a different picture into my home as they arrive for their lesson: | |
| Hannah, my youngest student (1st grade), enters with a "big" smile and usually and interesting question or a great idea about something- You can just feel the energy from her personality immediately! But we settle down and she gives me her undivided attention. She is serious about her love for piano. Sometimes she asks, "Is Jerad coming? Jerad is a graduating senior-you'll hear more about him! I think she has a "crush" on him. | |
| Taylor (5th grade), brings a thoughtfulness into your home- with a soft gentle smile too. Things are more serious with Taylor and she has her music books opened before I can even sit down beside her. So, we jump right into our study of the music lesson. Doing things right is important to her (& to me)! | |
| Here comes Alex (5th grade), bringing a sense of "OK, I'm here and ready for business"- a manly attitude- yet he can melt your heart with those big beautiful eyes and ready smile. Very serious about his music and always has every assignment completed. A heart full of Love in the young man! | |
| Now we have Libby (8th grade)- she enters my home and gives me such a sincere feeling with her presence- a quiet beauty with much determination to accomplish her lesson. Gives her full attention to the music and has a smile that will definitely break any young man's heart. | |
| Dean (9th grade), a young man who greets me with a big smile and usually sets right down at the piano to show me some brief melodies he has put together- sometimes asking me if they sound familiar?? Is he going to be a writer of songs someday? Could be- time will tell! | |
| Abigail (7th grade) always seems to have a dozen things she's working on or doing, and time is rushing by! She flashes her wonderful smile at me too, which makes my day! She finally settles down so we can work on the music she has practiced. The music she plays always needs to be done a bit faster than the composer intended- and so I frequently have to say, "Slow down, Abby- take your time". (I might add here- she's not the only one who does this- they seem to think FAST IS GOOD!) | |
| Kaitlynn (8th grade), a poised, sweet young lady who entered my life this year- always very sensitive to the particular piece of music she is studying, and expresses her inner feelings so that as you listen to her play, you, yourself, feel the mood she is setting. Her smile is wonderful too- It has a kindness that circles all around it. She will add much to our world.....wherever she goes. | |
 - Click image for a larger view of Kaitlynn. | |
| Jerad graduated this year from Edisto High School and is going off to college this fall. This young man came into my life of music 2 years ago and I think I know Jerad pretty well. He's solid, tough (when he has to be tough)- yet tenderhearted when he needs to be. A dependable person- you can count on him to do what he says he will do! Enjoys sports of all kinds- yet Jerad has the time to enjoy music also. A good sight-reader of notes and I expect he will be enjoying the piano well into his Golden Years! Jerad has Jesus in his heart and life and is well on his way to enjoying a full and interesting life. He knows that God has given us many beautiful things on this earth to enjoy-music being one of them! Someday a youg lady will capture his attention and his heart. I pray that she will realize what a precious heart she has captured- I want to meet her Jerad! Thank you for our "sharing times" together- I'll miss you! | |
 - Click image for a larger view of Mom with her Recital Students. | |
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August
17, 2002 | |
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January
23, 2002 | |
December 2000- The Back Porch | |
| A few days ago I was “going through” some information I had collected while visiting Destin Beach in Florida 2 summers ago. (Does that give you a vague idea of how I manage to collect lots of clutter?) Anyway, I noticed a menu from a pleasant little restaurant called “The Back Porch”. I glanced at the main section of the menu and found the following: Appetizers, Soups & Sandwich Platter, House Specialties, and Desserts. I remember eating there one evening, probably because of the catchy name, “The Back Porch”. | |
| As a young child, I can still remember pleasant evenings spent on Granddaddy O’Neal’s “back porch”. I remember climbing into his lap while several other folks and relatives gathered on that porch to visit awhile. Lots of talking, laughing at jokes, and sometimes just listening to the wonderful night sounds while the old rockers squeaked now and then. I heard the crickets and “June bugs” singing their songs, the old hound dog barking some distance off, and always the hoot owl keeping everyone on the beat--a nice sound with a steady rhythm. There was one sound I never enjoyed hearing and that was a screech owl. All of the other birds, etc. seemed to get really excited and mad--but finally the beautiful call from the whipperwill would calm the woods for a spell. My Daddy would prepare some “flambo” bottles for some light on the porch. Usually he had old R.C. or Orange Crush bottles. He’d twist a small piece of cloth soaked in kerosene, and light the end of the cloth--very nice light! | |
| I can still remember seeing the darkness from the edge of Granddaddy’s porch filled with small staccato-like glimpses of light. We called them “lightening bugs”--”Look over there”, “No, over on that side”, “Quick, I see 2 or 3 close together!” Sometimes, I ran around trying to catch them and would place them inside an old mayonnaise jar with the lid full of punctured holes big enough to let the little bugs live a short time. My Mother would insist on me turning them loose before bedtime. They would fly away, making lots of light--saying, “Thank you” to me. Now, catching lightening bugs was like an “appetizer” to me. It was the beginning of an exciting evening for me on the “back porch”. | |
| My next “course” could be like a “Soup & Sandwich/House Specialties”--those funny jokes from Uncle Hollace, or maybe a story from Uncle Lauren. He was the racecar driver of our family---not a professional driver but a fun one. He would put me in the “rumble seat” of his Ford, and away we’d fly, to pick up stuff from the little store 2-3 miles away. Sometimes we’d get a huge hunk of ice for the wooden icebox. Granddaddy had a wonderful deep bass voice so he would begin singing if conversation lulled a bit. We even had scary ghost stories from Granddaddy--he always insisted they were “absolutely true”, and I believed him! | |
| Just as I got sleepy, I’d climb into Grand mama’s lap--she had short legs and a fat little tummy so it was not really a comfortable seat, but it felt so soft and was much warmer than Granddaddy’s lap. She held you close to her bosom and her strong arms were reassuring. You knew you were safe from everything. My Mother, Zeta, and her sister, Hazel, always loved to harmonize on duets, etc. Old, new, sacred and popular tunes of those days. I would hum as Grandmamma rocked to the rhythm or patted her tiny feet on the wooden floor. How beautiful to have real rhythm taught to you that way! | |
| Back to our menu--did we have Desserts? Oh yes! Grandma might serve homemade churned ice cream with the fruit of the season. Her peach ice cream was almost my favorite--but strawberry was at the top! She also made the very best sweet potato bread, cut into squares like our brownies today. You could hold them in your hand or fingers, and they weren’t sticky at all. A cold glass of milk just set them off! Now around July and August, Granddaddy would bring out cool, sweet as sugar watermelon, the best in the county. He would win, sometimes, prizes for the largest or the sweetest melons in the area. | |
| Speaking of desserts, my husband and I always enjoyed having dinner in a lovely restaurant where we could enjoy good service, good food, and each other, just the two of us! I always loved the way he would order for me what I had selected for my meal. I felt so comfortable, secure and loved by that gesture from him. It was never a rushed time for us. You always felt as if you had “forever”, which, of course, wasn’t quite the case. But for a brief time you were relaxed and savored each minute. | |
| Why am I rambling on and on? Because I love to recall and share great memories of my past. I also hope this reminds anyone who reads this “stuff” on Woody’s Website, that every couple should have times like this alone, enjoying each other, building each other up. By the way, I also remember eating at McDonald’s and Wendy’s with him, too. Not as quiet, peaceful or romantic, BUT I enjoyed him just as much. Woodrow was MY dessert, and I was HIS dessert. You can’t have it any sweeter than that, can you?! | |
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Mom | |
October 2, 2000- A Haven for Mom | |
| In the late 80's, Kevin lived in Raleigh, NC and I would make the trek to visit him and refresh myself physically, mentally and spiritually. | |
| One of my favorite places had a large lake behind his apartment with paddleboats and a gazebo out in the middle of the lake. I loved going out to the gazebo to do some reading or writing to faraway friends. Now, I'll never forget those special times with Kevin, just being alone with him, to talk about how we both missed his Dad, or maybe going to a movie, or eating at "Rockola Cafe", or just browsing in the mall. | |
| Well, let me tell you, times spent with Kevin have become even more special. He has added some new dimensions to his life and therefore added them to mine. | |
| It's great to see him with his family...precious Christy, his wife; a 4 yr. old son, Foster; and the newest addition, Davis, who arrived on Sept. 22 at 1:16 PM, weighing in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. Kevin and Christy's life will be even a greater adventure with these two boys around. | |
| Christy is a very creative young lady and cute as a button to boot. I always enjoy being with her-- She can come up with picnics, flea markets, scary movies, etc. She's a great mother--always planning activities with Foster, and now she will do the same for Davis. | |
| Foster and I enjoy reading books together, and he wants me to make up LONG stories--using some of his favorite characters in the story. I hope no one else is listening! I've always loved boy's toys anyway: I like any kind of vehicle--matchbox car, trucks, etc. That's why Grandma loves to travel in her own car. | |
| God knew exactly what Woodrow and I needed-- two boys. I was so happy I didn't have to tie pretty bow ribbons (never could even tie my own bows!) I'd much rather be outdoors making roads for the cars. | |
| Foster makes up nice songs for us all--they rhyme too! He's quite a performer-- seems to act a bit like his Uncle Woody at times. They have a lot of fun when they're together. It's common knowledge that Foster's girlfriend is Jamie, and he's planning to marry her eventually! | |
| Back to Davis-- I took one look at the NEW stroller-- a two-seater-- and it gave me a brilliant idea. I can have both Foster and Davis moving at a fairly rapid pace around the house, but not enough to cause whiplash. Just be patient, boys, good times are about to roll! | |
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My last night at Kevin's, Foster slept with me. We talked softly
for several minutes, then he closed his eyes and I whispered to
him, "I'll sing you the song that Granddaddy Lingle made
up and sang to your Daddy when HE was a little boy"--
"Sleep, Kevin, sleep Close your blue eyes Angels watch over you Sleep, Kevin, sleep." | |
| And just then Foster softly, but gruffly whispered to me, "Grandma, we need to go to sleep now." I thought, what a real Southern gentleman he is already! Telling me in such a nice polite way to "Hush and be quiet!" | |
Sept. 20, 2000- The Mind's Eye | |
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This morning I walked over to Bert and Lucy's to check on "Spook," the cat. They are away for several days. As I left their back porch, the sun was up enough to show me a huge beautiful spider web. The dew was still on the web, and with the sun's rays catching the intricate weaving, it glistened like diamonds. I decided to try and catch a photo of this beautiful work. I ran home, got the camera, tried my best for a good angle. Well, I could tell that would be impossible, so I gave up. Then, I decided to simply sit nearby and enjoy looking for my own pleasure. | |
| I recalled a similar experience when we lived in Dayton, Ohio over 20 years ago. I was on my way to a nearby town and traveling I-70. We had a heavy frost that winter morning, and the tree limbs were coated with ice. I noticed an especially beautiful scene to my right and had to slow the car down to get a better look - Oh, I'll never never forget what I saw! Finally, I pulled off to the side of the road and stopped the car. It seemed that God was saying, "You may NEVER see this scene again. In fact, when you travel this route on your way home - in just one hour - it will not be the same." I sat there praising God for making such lovely scenes for us. But wondered, do we stop to look and admire them enough? | |
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As I sit here admiring this spider web, I can still see those tree limbs sparkling like diamonds. So, I put my camera up and thought..."Who needs a camera?! God even provides us with our own pictures. We see them with our eyes. Then God's camera snaps the picture and implants it in our brain - permanently!" | |
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When we desire to see certain scenes or persons from our past, we simply think of them and look at them again and again. Isn't that marvelous?! As I sit here, I can see my Father and Mother's face clearly. I can see cousins, friends, pets, houses I've lived in through the years, my children, and their families. Last but not least, my wonderful Woodrow. Those dark brown eyes, the black hair (earlier years), the twinkle in his eye, and his mouth - just as he began a smile. I can see his strong hands - that I always loved. Just to hold his hand was a thrill. Who needs a camera?! | |
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However, we must always remember that our eyes should refrain
from looking upon a scene that we don't want permanently recorded.
I'm sure I've seen some things that may not please you my Lord.
If those things come to my mind, I promise I won't stare at them.
Simply flip past them as fast as I can.
Mom | |
July 2000 | |
| ---Sometimes I like to do things that I'm not supposed to do.....like driving IN the OUT exit at our church parking lot. | |
| ......or asking for a glass of water at a restaurant when I KNOW all along I'm NOT going to drink it. | |
| ......now I know we are NOT supposed to throw any trash out of the car windows while driving---but now & then I throw out one of my hairs from my head--and I do have LONG hair--ugly of me really! | |
| .....Some mornings at home I try to tell myself I will have only orange juice and a banana for breakfast, when I know that before the 10:30 deadline at Hardee's, I'll be there ordering 1 sausage biscuit, coffee & 1 hot apple pie! | |
| ...I usually visit Nashville several times a year. Woody's wife, Debbie, just goes on with her activities and I always have my car, so I'm free to check out malls, movies, etc. She makes me a map with "special" places she thinks I'll enjoy--and she's always right! | |
| Jamie, now almost 16, is a busy young lady so I can't claim a lot of her time anymore, but it's wonderful to just watch her come & go--and a hug now & then is good too! | |
| Woody makes sure I have my "several" Mexican meals and even goes to a movie with me where we share popcorn and pop just like we always did when he was still at home. Whatever would I do without him to make me laugh, and enjoy life? We've always said he needs to have a job as a "paid laugher" in movie theaters....he can laugh at anything! | |
| Several mornings ago, very early, I sat on their front porch reading my devotional and sipping fresh coffee--so quiet, peaceful and a little chill in the air like fall is not far behind. I thanked my Lord for the blessings He has always given to me and our family. It was so good to just sit and listen. | |
| Mom | |
April 2000 | |
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"The thing I remember most about Woody being born was 50 cents on the bill for anesthesia." | |
April 27, 2000 | |
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Dear Woody and Kevin, | |
| You boys should be very proud of me! Tomorrow morning I leave for Winthrop University and join friends to celebrate our "Golden Girl" Reunion. Yes, 50 years ago I was graduating...had a diamond on my left hand, planning a wedding for October 7, 1950. I was marrying the man I loved and melted every time he looked at me. Who could be happier? | |
| A busy weekend catching up on everybody's news. A luncheon where we are the honored guests, escorted into the dining hall wearing our school colors, navy blue or white. Hope I don't trip up and fall. A reception and formal dinner at 7 P.M. and continuing the celebration at a local home of a fellow graduate (surely they'll have orange juice for me.) | |
April 29, 2000 | |
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On the way back to the hotel from the celebration Friday, we lost our way, stopped by a mini-mart, and Doris went in for directions. She came back to the car saying she didn't understand the directions, so I said,"Check with that policeman who just drove up with his 'disco lights' flashing". Doris proceeded to approach his car. Suddenly, she turns and runs back to our car, jumps in and exclaims: the policeman said,"Lady, there's an armed-robbery going on in that mini-mart! Get in your car and get out of here as fast as possible!" Bear in mind, there are 5 of us, 70 or older, in this vehicle. We have no idea where we are, looking for Interstate 77, driving 70 miles an hour, afraid of being shot by a criminal, and laughing hysterically!! | |
| When I finally got back to Doris' house in Columbia (Sat.) we reminisced even more. We could not believe how many gals had aged terribly. Sometimes we felt we had entered the wrong "Reunion". Then there was Helen, with her 4th husband, both of them "with walkers". Doris and I looked at each other and said, "We look pretty good, don't we?" After all, we can say that because we've been "best" friends for only 52 years! | |
| Love, | |
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Mom
To
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