November 22, 1963, Happy Birthday Vickie!

No, I'm not trying to draw attention to myself. But I've been thinking back over the years about birthdays, good ones, bad ones, the milestones - 30, 40, 50 - and it seems like it HAS been 52 years, and yet it seems like it's flown by. The years are flying by faster and faster, aren't they?

1963 - I turned 7 years old. I was at my Nanny & PawPaw's house with my mom, dad, sister, & brother. My whole family was in mourning. My PawPaw had died on the day before - the 21st. He'd had 2-3 heart attacks in the last couple of weeks. I couldn't see him in the hospital for back then they wouldn't let you visit until you were 12 or so. Nanny & PawPaw were so special to me cuz I stayed with them when I was little so my mama could work at the bank. I didn't understand all that went on, of course, being so young. I drew pictures for PawPaw and my mom took them to the hospital to give him. She told me that he showed 'em to all the nurses. Still makes me smile when I think of that. PawPaw was only around 58-60 when he died. If it were today, he could've had by-pass surgery and lived...

Anyway, it was a sad day. Mom and Dad and Nanny were all upset, and trying to hide it from me and my sibs. They had a birthday cake and presents for me. Nanny had made me some clothes for my Barbie doll - she was a good seamstress. I don't remember what my parents gave me. People from church had brought lots of food to the house, but no one had much of an appetite.

We had the TV on during the day watching the goings-on. President John F. Kennedy was driving through Dallas, Texas, in a parade. All of a sudden, I remember this so clearly, my parents and Nanny, even though stricken with the loss of my PawPaw, jumped up and ran to the TV as we heard the shots ring out and the chaos that followed.

Unbelievable!!! Horrors! How could this happen to our President? Who could've done such a thing? I remember my folks were glued to the TV set as the events unfolded on November 22, 1963. I'm sure they, along with the rest of the nation, were distraught with anger, sorrow, and a zillion other emotions as the nation was shaken to the core with the loss of its leader.

I struggled in my 7-year old brain to understand what was going on. I just knew it was something terrible. I just knew it was horrible, almost as horrible as my PawPaw dying, even more so than before. My little sister was 4, she just kept on playing, and my baby brother slept through most of it.

Even today, the memory of that birthday is clear in my mind. It was a sad birthday. It was a historic birthday - something I'll always remember. A little black cloud hangs over that couple of days back in November of 1963. I don't know who my folks voted for that year, but I DO know that it always has seemed to me that he was the USA's golden boy and we will never know what great things Kennedy could've done, and never had the chance.

But you know what? I've had 51 other GREAT birthdays - times of happiness, times spent with loved ones, times with friends, hey my birthday falls on Thanksgiving every few years! My family says they get to be thankful for ME and we always have my birthday cake with Thanksgiving dinner (along with all the pies and stuff)! Of course, it's a big joke, but it gives us all a good laugh. I got cards in the mail, our best friends called from New York City to wish me Happy Birthday while on a trip, my kids all wished me a Happy Birthday & took me out to eat, my parents and DH's parents gave me cards with $$ in them to get me something, AND I got a new cell phone and some work boots for the farm from my husband. What more could a gal want? (I AM out of my favorite perfume, however, guess I'll have to get that for myself - I should have a big bottle or gift box of Light Blue - Dolce & Gabanna - Don't ya'll think so? I do!

911 - Help!

We had an exciting and scary time at the farm Sunday afternoon. My DH has contracted a young man to come do some welding for us and build a good fence in front our place for extra security and to keep people from turning around their car in our front yard (yes, stupid, insensitive jerky people DO do that). DH and the welder were doing their thing with the auger poking holes in the ground for the fence posts.

Me? Well, I was watering my mums (they are in the last throes of blooming) and pansies, when we all startled at the sound of gunfire. Pop! Pop! and then several more Pops! To our east across the front 25 or so acres runs a power line and a pole towards the end of the pasture. Boom! The transformer blew up, I'm tellin' ya it exploded! Fire and brimstone rained down upon our land and then the fire ran down a length of the power line burning up part of the line and raining down MORE brimstone! All across the front width of our pasture. DH and the welder ran down toward the pole to see what happened and quickly vamoosed out of there when the wire started burning.

I got up on the porch where I could see better, and a line of fire was engulfing the hay and the south wind was blowing it several feet at a time across the pasture. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911, and the operator patched us through to our local volunteer fire departments. In minutes the first one showed up with two small trucks. They took turns spraying and then had to run down the road to the water tower and fill their trucks back up. In the meantime, the other department sent a couple of big trucks out they, too, started spraying.

Gradually, they got the fire under control and in about 30 minutes had it contained and sputterin'. It burned out to the road, too, where it stopped short of jumping the road and burning 250 acres of Prime High-Dollar Tifton Horse Hay. All in all we lost about 25 acres. It's blacker'n black. But next spring it oughta come in beautifully and hopefully get rid of some bahia that was runnin'

through there messin' up the coastal.

Those beautiful shiny red fire trucks were black and wet and gloppy and so were the faces of the firemen. Now you know you're in po-dunk when the volunteer fire departments' wives are drivin' the trucks. But they all did a great job! I imagine we'll send 'em both a donation.

Also, one of the local TV stations came out and filmed part of it. My dear daughter who loves her parents so much and is so proud of them, flat out told me, "mom, you need to go in the house. Do NOT let them interview you!" How's that for love??? And then she said " MOM, make dad pull his jeans up! He's havin' a severe crack attack! Do you want to see THAT on TV!!!" (and he really was, bendin' over and diggin' and helpin' the welder) Which made me want us to be interviewed even more, but alas and alack, the reporters never did come up to the house. : ( I personally thought we'd've fit right into our little po-dunk community at the farm!

The Lord was watchin' out for us. If we'd not been out there, if the wind had been blowin' from the other direction, if, if, if, it would have burned up our little farmhouse, our shed, and all the work we've put into it over the last 18 months would have gone up in smoke.

Thank goodness for volunteers - of ALL KINDS! Where would we be without them?

It's Finally Here!

It's Finally here!!! Miss Sandy at Quill Cottage had a giveaway several weeks ago and she sent me a beautiful handmade gift. Only the Post Office must have delivered it to the wrong place for it only showed up just today! What a nice surprise when I got home from work. I've been checking on it at the Post Office and hoping that since we live in such a little town that perhaps the person who received my gift would send it on to me. I'm not sure what happened exactly, but it's here. Look!

When I opened the little package, it had a sweet note to me and her Quill Cottage card on the envelope. A lacy paper doily tied with a vintage tag wrapped up a sweet little tiny notebook that she had adorned in wonderful fall colors! On the front it has old lace, buttons and the word "inspire".

I think I'll use it for telephone #s, and/or birthdays! Thanks, Miss Sandy, for your thoughtful gift. Isn't it wonderful to receive hand-made items that come from someone's own heart and talents? I love things like that and treasure them so much.

Now, it'll be up to me to pass such a nice Gift-Away on to someone else.

I still can't get over how many nice ladies I've met via blogging. It just touches my heart to read your words of encouragement, heartache, joy, sadness, laughter and tears, and I feel like I can be myself here. I also feel like the "right" people will find me, and I'll find them - those who I make a connection to - kindred souls, if you will.

I've tried to explain it to my husband, and he just jokes about it and kids me about it. Since my son is a songwriter in Nashville, DH is trying to collaborate on a song about me being a "blogger" - I'm sure some kind of silly spoof. I'm sure they'll do it, too, just to irritate me. They are both big jokesters and LOVE to get under my skin. I try to be a good sport.

We were in College Station a couple of years ago with Adam, his best friend in the Corps, John, John's mom and several other friends eating at On the Border. We had a huge table of people, and were placing our orders. DH wound up at one end of the table and I wound up at the other. When I placed my order, my loving, sweet DH said in a loud voice, "Man, that gal can eat!" Everyone looked at me to see what my reaction would be. My kids died laughing (cuz they know their dad) and some of the other adults looked slightly bewildered and wondered what to do. I smiled and started laughing, I'm sure my face lit up cherry red, and then all the other people started laughing. I imagine the people sitting near us heard, too! I still haven't gotten him back for that one!

Which leads me to thinking about all the silly things he puts in my Christmas stocking every single year. Not ordinary things. He always has liked to come up with embarrasing or totally off the wall stuff to surprise me with. It's okay most of the time, but there have been several times when my kids have said," mom, let me see, what's that?" when I unwrapped a box of condoms, or the year I got a camo g-string. It's not like everybody's tearing into their own presents or stocking. At our house, we all take turns opening stuff so everyone can see. Plus, it makes Christmas last longer. I've gotten so many wierd things I am almost scared to open my stocking. I have to usually just tear into the end of it and make sure it's okay before I open it up in front of anybody else - I never know what to expect. I keep thinking I'll outdo him every year, but not so far!

Well, gotta run - the weekend is here and DH will be home soon. I'm going to stay home tonight from the farm - my house is a mess and I've got to get some stuff done. My kids will all be home for the holidays and so I've got alot to do. Can't wait til the last minute! I'll visit you all later!

Clay

Well, here's my sister and her son, Clay, who is leaving for Navy bootcamp in a week. We all hate to see him leave, especially my sister. We had a wonderful time at his going-away party, and sis decorated her home and yard in Navy stuff. Her hubby is hoping his schedule will allow him to go with her to Clay's graduation in Great Lakes (Chicago area). If he can't, I wish I could go with her. Clay's always been my buddy. Ever since he was a little bitty thing. He's always got a big hug for his Aunt Vickie. He'll hang all over me. I love it! Sis is 5'9", so you can see how tall Clay is! He's been a beanpole for a long time, and they tell him that he'll be a "double rat" for awhile. That means he has to eat first and then go eat again at each meal. They want to pack some pounds on him. Must be nice....

I'll be so glad when tomorrow is over with, and the decision has been made as to which candidate has been elected President. I think it's going to be ever so close, and we may all be surprised at the silent majority that comes out to vote. There are still lots of God-fearing, Christian people in this land that are praying for God's will to be done. I'm one of 'em and I know most of you that I follow are, too. Let's all band together and be on our knees tomorrow, in our hearts if not physically, and ask God to do what's best for our great land and to continue blessing her.