Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Austin Rogers
Mom mentioned that a very popular contestant on Jeopardy - Austin Rogers - would be returning tonight. It made me happy and a little sad...Granddaddy loved watching Austin Rogers when he was on Jeopardy and Jeopardy was on the night that Granddaddy died. I haven't watched it since then. I guess tonight I'll watch in Granddaddy's honor.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Tired, but happy
It's been a whirlwind the past week or so.
I'm not one of these people who has to be busy to be happy. I am pretty happy doing a few things and doing them well. But the last week to ten days has been busy. Driving to see Carrie and her family, working on assignments non-stop, driving to South Carolina for a weekend with Elaine, and back in time for the next assignment's deadline. I'm not so chipper this morning, as I turned in yesterday's assignment at 2 am. And there's a test I need to study for and take today, before I go to VBS tonight.
Also, lots of packing and planning to do before I go to San Diego, which suddenly seems very, very soon. Am I ready? Will I ever live at home as a "kid" again? Is that time in my rearview mirror? What does the future hold? Will Yaofay want to come back and live in GA for a time? For reals?
It's just about time to give these things to the Lord and leave them there. Anxiety gets you nowhere.
In reality, my heart knows that I'm doing the right things in the right time. It's time for these changes. I've prayed about them and tried to keep my eyes on the Lord. It's hard to transition. It's hard to say goodbye. But He always goes with me and He always will.
Just uploading some pics from the past few days. Lots of good stuff.
I'm not one of these people who has to be busy to be happy. I am pretty happy doing a few things and doing them well. But the last week to ten days has been busy. Driving to see Carrie and her family, working on assignments non-stop, driving to South Carolina for a weekend with Elaine, and back in time for the next assignment's deadline. I'm not so chipper this morning, as I turned in yesterday's assignment at 2 am. And there's a test I need to study for and take today, before I go to VBS tonight.
Also, lots of packing and planning to do before I go to San Diego, which suddenly seems very, very soon. Am I ready? Will I ever live at home as a "kid" again? Is that time in my rearview mirror? What does the future hold? Will Yaofay want to come back and live in GA for a time? For reals?
It's just about time to give these things to the Lord and leave them there. Anxiety gets you nowhere.
In reality, my heart knows that I'm doing the right things in the right time. It's time for these changes. I've prayed about them and tried to keep my eyes on the Lord. It's hard to transition. It's hard to say goodbye. But He always goes with me and He always will.
Just uploading some pics from the past few days. Lots of good stuff.
Zombie Sam.
Fun in the tent.
My fur babies
Sunday, July 8, 2018
It's a boy!
Congratulations to my dear friend, Jennifer and her husband, D.J. They're expecting a BOY in December. Yesterday's gender-reveal party was fun!
Friday, July 6, 2018
Visit with the Ethridges, July 5-6, 2018
I spent the better part of yesterday and half of today with Carrie and her crew. Met them yesterday morning at the High museum in Atlanta, then went to their house and spent the night. This morning we went to a you-pick at the Longshot farm just outside of Athens to pick blueberries. It was a refreshing visit!
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
The Fabulous Fourth
It's been a long time since I was last home on the Fourth of July. Mom and I were trying to remember how long it'd been yesterday, and it seems like it's been 5 years or so.
Mom and I went to "Pops on the River" last night and sat on the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge with our camping chairs. The symphony played excerpts from musicals (Star Wars, of course), westerns (Aaron Copeland) and marches (Stars and Stripes Forever). The fireworks afterwards were some of the best I've seen in awhile.
Today we ate hamburgers at Grandaddy's house. Mom, Dad, Bobby, Aunt Rie, and I were all there. Afterwards, I heard some good stories: Aunt Rie and Dad never complained to Honey that they were bored during summer vacation, or else they'd find something put in their hands - a mop, a hoe, a broom. And never try to play hookey from school, either. Dad was "sick" one morning but began to feel better after the school bus passed. Honey made him stay in bed all day - he wasn't allowed to get up out of the bed at all! And then had to sleep in his bed all night after spending all day there.
Bobby had a good story to tell. He conveniently missed the bus one day when he was a kid, too. He got sent through the woods to "Uncle Joe's" place and spent the whole day hoeing in the garden.
Bobby also recalled someone once asked Pap, "Fran, why are you raising so much corn?" and he answered that he wasn't raising corn, he was raising boys.
And another recollection - Bobby had a 1946 La Salle with a Cadillac's engine in it. He was drag-racing with a Thunderbird on the coastal highway from San Diego on his way to Tillijana one time and spun in 3 circles on the road. When he stopped spinning, the Thunderbird was gone! He wishes he still had that car.
Mom and I went to "Pops on the River" last night and sat on the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge with our camping chairs. The symphony played excerpts from musicals (Star Wars, of course), westerns (Aaron Copeland) and marches (Stars and Stripes Forever). The fireworks afterwards were some of the best I've seen in awhile.
Today we ate hamburgers at Grandaddy's house. Mom, Dad, Bobby, Aunt Rie, and I were all there. Afterwards, I heard some good stories: Aunt Rie and Dad never complained to Honey that they were bored during summer vacation, or else they'd find something put in their hands - a mop, a hoe, a broom. And never try to play hookey from school, either. Dad was "sick" one morning but began to feel better after the school bus passed. Honey made him stay in bed all day - he wasn't allowed to get up out of the bed at all! And then had to sleep in his bed all night after spending all day there.
Bobby had a good story to tell. He conveniently missed the bus one day when he was a kid, too. He got sent through the woods to "Uncle Joe's" place and spent the whole day hoeing in the garden.
Bobby also recalled someone once asked Pap, "Fran, why are you raising so much corn?" and he answered that he wasn't raising corn, he was raising boys.
And another recollection - Bobby had a 1946 La Salle with a Cadillac's engine in it. He was drag-racing with a Thunderbird on the coastal highway from San Diego on his way to Tillijana one time and spun in 3 circles on the road. When he stopped spinning, the Thunderbird was gone! He wishes he still had that car.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Chance Encounter
I saw my fourth grade teacher in Walmart today. We were both looking at the same thing on the shelf, and I didn't even notice who she was until she turned to me and said, "Hello, Beth!" Funny thing - I felt like an awkward fourth-grader again! So much for playing it cool. :)
Guess there's some people you'll always be the same for them, and they'll always be the same for you.
It's like when Granddaddy said, "When you're here, you can be a kid again!" I was always a kid to him and he was always Granddaddy to me.
Guess there's some people you'll always be the same for them, and they'll always be the same for you.
It's like when Granddaddy said, "When you're here, you can be a kid again!" I was always a kid to him and he was always Granddaddy to me.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
April 29, 2018
Things I am thankful for today:
Tivoli. She was with us when Granddaddy passed away, and she knows how hard it has been on me to witness Granddaddy's death. She also saw him pass away, but before that, she witnessed two other loved ones pass away. She knows how difficult it is to explain this feeling. Today she reached out to me, and I am thankful for that.
She also took a video of Granddaddy this past December. He was reciting a poem about a frog which he used to recite to us as kids. It's quite impressive when you consider he was almost 90 years old at the time of the video!
Things I realized today:
That Granddaddy was someone who took a deep interest in my life. He wanted to know about my day, about my dreaded chemistry class, about my job at the daycare. I will miss reporting to him about my days. About "How did Toby behave today?"
That when I sat on his couch in his den, there was going to be a visit. It's strange that the sofa is still there but his chair is gone. The sofa is just a sofa now. It's not a place to visit anymore.
That I won't hear him say, "Come here, Abby. Sit in my lap and be good." or "Come on, Abby, supper's ready." or "How's my drinking buddy today?"
That he lived his life in full. The grapevines are trimmed back, ready for summer. There is a church bulletin on his dresser, with the list of supplies to send on the African mission pulled out. His desk is littered with sticky notes of names and phone numbers. He was busy living, not worrying about death.
That it doesn't quite feel like home here anymore. It is, of course, still home. But Granddaddy was like the lid on the pot, creating a weight and a heaviness that kind of kept things in place. But now, it feels like things are floating up in an uncontrolled way. There's not the gravity around meals right now...or Sunday mornings...or a reason to slow down and have a cup of coffee. The routine is broken. I feel broken. I know things will get better in time, just waiting for it.
Tivoli. She was with us when Granddaddy passed away, and she knows how hard it has been on me to witness Granddaddy's death. She also saw him pass away, but before that, she witnessed two other loved ones pass away. She knows how difficult it is to explain this feeling. Today she reached out to me, and I am thankful for that.
She also took a video of Granddaddy this past December. He was reciting a poem about a frog which he used to recite to us as kids. It's quite impressive when you consider he was almost 90 years old at the time of the video!
Things I realized today:
That Granddaddy was someone who took a deep interest in my life. He wanted to know about my day, about my dreaded chemistry class, about my job at the daycare. I will miss reporting to him about my days. About "How did Toby behave today?"
That when I sat on his couch in his den, there was going to be a visit. It's strange that the sofa is still there but his chair is gone. The sofa is just a sofa now. It's not a place to visit anymore.
That I won't hear him say, "Come here, Abby. Sit in my lap and be good." or "Come on, Abby, supper's ready." or "How's my drinking buddy today?"
That he lived his life in full. The grapevines are trimmed back, ready for summer. There is a church bulletin on his dresser, with the list of supplies to send on the African mission pulled out. His desk is littered with sticky notes of names and phone numbers. He was busy living, not worrying about death.
That it doesn't quite feel like home here anymore. It is, of course, still home. But Granddaddy was like the lid on the pot, creating a weight and a heaviness that kind of kept things in place. But now, it feels like things are floating up in an uncontrolled way. There's not the gravity around meals right now...or Sunday mornings...or a reason to slow down and have a cup of coffee. The routine is broken. I feel broken. I know things will get better in time, just waiting for it.
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