Blogger Pals.

Kate of Shambles Manor has passed an award to me. You bloggers are dressing me up pretty. My blog page will never be the same. Thanks to some blogger pals, I'll probably never meet, but somehow know because they share their lives with me weekly. I wonder if it isn't a trait the Blind have used for years.

They can't see their friend's face, but from an innermost knowing, they know their friend long before we, who have sight would. There are no aires on a blog.
There is no need to appear something we're not.
No need to be pretentious.
It really doesn't matter what our station is in life;
The geographic location of where we live;
whether we are a city slicker, or a country hick,
drive a VW or a Hummer,
eat raw fish or hamburger,
go barefoot or hide your feet,
chew our fingernails, or get them groomed weekly,
Like long Bubble Baths or take Showers,
Have pimples or wrinkles,
Look like a bean pole, or the Goodyear Blimp,
Have gray hair, or no hair, or color from a bottle.

It doesn't matter to our friends we've picked up along the way. I think we are a different species, born too soon, but not so soon that we've let technology run away from us before we open our mind to master it.

I will be out of commission tomorrow. I'm having a heart cath to see if there are any blockages. I'm feeling fine, it is just routine.

Thanks to Kate of Shambles Manor for her great humorous posts that make my day. I love the checkinonyou. It broke me up. Judy your page is always filled with such great facts and history, with drippings of humor here and there. I know you must be the most thoughtful and kind person anywhere.

Grammyof13 checking out for tonight. Remember to LIVE ALL YOUR DAYS!

You gotta be kidding!

I worked for the Daily Journal Newspaper in Tupelo, Miss years ago. So I am an avid reader of the newspaper down to the want ads. Just a habit that got into my bones that won't go away. Doesn't matter if I'm looking for anything in particular, I just enjoy skimming over the Classifieds.

I've said before that our newspaper here needs an Editor who is in touch with the Area, and who has some balance about him where news of local interest is concerned anyway. Well - in my skimming or reading in this case, I came across the following headlines on a three column half page story. I've just got to tell you about it, you may want to go online and order our paper. (Just kiddin!)

"MAMA'S MILK ICE CREAM CONE, ANYONE?"

I thought it was a misprint; it would not be a first. However, there in black and white written by an AP writer, John Curran is the following:

"Mooove over Holsteins, PETA wants world-famous Ben and Jerry's Homemade Ice cream to tap nursing moms, rather than cows for the milk used in its ice-cream!"

No kidding, that is what it said. So did I want to read further? You Bet!

"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the ice cream maker to begin using breast milk in the products instead of cow's milk."

(WHY - you are asking?)

"Saying it would reduce the suffering of cows and calves and give ice cream lovers a healthier product."

Well I never! What about the suffering of Moms? Do they really think that Moms will flock to the barn to be hooked up to machines so their breast milk can be salvaged into impure containers? I don't think so!

"The idea got a cool reception Thursday from Ben and Jerry's officials, the company's customers and even LaLeche League International, the world's oldest breast feeding support organization, which promotes the practice - for babies, anyway!"

"PETA wrote a letter to company founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield on Tuesday, telling them cow's milk is hazardous and that milking them is cruel.

"If Ben and Jerry's replaced the cow's milk in its ice cream with breast milk, your customers and cows would reap the benefits," wrote Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of the animal rights advocacy group. She said dairy products have been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies and obesity.

"We're aware this idea is somewhat absurd, and that putting it into practice is a stretch. At the same time, it's pretty absurd for us to be drinking the milk of cows," she said.

To Ben & Jerry's, the idea is udderly ridiculous.

“Cow's milk and mother's milk aren't interchangeable, according to La Leche spokeswoman Jane Crouse, who says breast milk is a dynamic substance that's different with each woman and each child and might have difficulty being processed into ice cream.

Then there is the question of who would provide the milk, and whether they would be paid. (First of all, a mom who subjected herself to being “milked” “Pumped” or whatever term would be used, has to be desperate or have sympathy for animals more so than her own body or dignity.)

"Some women feel compelled to donate milk to a milk bank for adopted babies, or for someone who's ill or unable to breast feed. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence about sisters who nurse each other’s babies. There's a population of women very willing to share their milk. Whether there's enough to do it for a commercial entity, who can say?" she said. (Oh Give me a Break!)

At the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, consumers gave a collective "Ewww" to the idea Thursday.

"It's kind of creepy," said Jeff Waugh, 42, of Dayton, Ohio.

"I think it's a little nutty," said the Rev. Roger Wooton, 83, of Malden, Mass., finishing up a cup of Heath Bar Crunch.

"How would they get all that milk?" said his wife, Jane Wooton, 77.

Jen Wahlbrink, 34, of Phoenix, who breast-fed her 11-month-old son, Cameron, said she wouldn't touch ice cream made from mother's milk. She remembers her nursing days and not that fondly.

"The (breast) pumps just weren't that much fun. You really do feel like a cow," she said, cradling her son in her hands."

If you would like a copy of the article, go to www.thelogcabindemocrat.com and look at yesterday's addition. You may read the entire article with your mouth wide open, and maybe even your hand over it so muffle your cries! I try to rationalize that this is absurd, then I realize-there-are-such-people-out-there who have no regard for human beings. They have lived with the animals, until they have no brain or common sense. They identify with an animal more so than a homo-sapiens that they are.

I’ve decided in the next few issues of somebody’s news reporting, I will read where some NUT has moved into the Barn, so as to give their Cows the comforts of home. Like I say, “Give Me A Break”!

Jury Duty!

My husband has been on the jury duty roster for a few weeks now, with the privilege of serving on one. I think it is great experience for any of us. I've served twice, once on Federal Jury in Memphis, and once in Little Rock on a robbery trial. Was called several times, but never chosen to be on another one. That is OK, I can at least say I did my civic duty by serving.

My husband also had an upper and lower GI test today and has been pretty sleepy from the drugs they use to sedate him. We have a neighbor who had rather pull someone's leg, or do a joke on anyone than to eat. He thrives in trying to get me flustered, however so far I've stayed a step ahead of him. He jokes that he would rather have my husband on a jury of his, than me! I think that is a compliment in a wierd way, for I take everything he says with a grain of salt and always let him know - I know he jesting, just to spoil his joke.

However---The phone rang a couple hours after we got back today from his procedure in LR, and with a low voice I said, "Hello?"

"This is Judge Watson, is Mr Thompson there?" the voice said in a gruff but professional manner.

"He is but he is asleep."

"Well, it is urgent that I speak with him. We need him on a jury today!"

"I'm sorry, but he had a colonoscopy today, and has not woke up from the anesthetic."

I somehow knew when I gave that long answer that I was not speaking with any Judge afterall, and I had not noticed the caller ID was my neighbor Richard.

"Well tell him we'll give him a pillow, but we need him now!"

By the end of his own sentence, he give himself away, and we both laughed that he almost had me. I suggested that he speak to my husband. "I don't want to wake him, that's OK".

"No," I insisted, "I want you to try this trick on him."

It didn't work, for my husband wouldn't take the phone until I did all kind of shinanigans trying to tell him it was Richard while saying, "Judge Watson" out loud.

We'd decided to get a McCain/Palin sign to go in his yard. We'll have to do it after midnight when we knew for sure he was asleep. He and his mother took a trip the other week, and was gone for several days. Jim our other neighbor loves playing pranks on him also, and he was going to hide his utility wagon, but we couldn't help him out on that one. No one had the key to his shed. His lawn mower had been parked in our shed, so that prank fell through.

We have a great neighborhood, with few exceptions. Does all neighborhoods have an exception? The ones we've lived in over the years, always had one who would not, and even refused to be neighborly.

I'll have to tell you about another prank I've pulled on my sons. I have had so much fun at their expense since they've had homes of their own. It will make for a good story another time. But for now, I'm going to watch "America's Got Talent".

Grammyof13

Good ole days!

I actually slept an hour or so Sunday afternoon. Reading the paper was so boring I fell asleep while scanning. I've decided I am going to subscribe to the LR newspaper. Our paper acts like such a small community paper,(we are a booming college town, known as the fastest growing city in the State) that it blows me away. At the talented people in this town, and yet our paper is filled with syndicated stuff from all over the world. They have contracted with a man from another Ark. newspaper (The Times) that I read the first few lines and nearly barf. Editorials are usually interesting, with some letters from readers. For some reason, our paper prints noteworthy letters from a select few on one or two days a week. Otherwise, it has editorials from syndication sources including the Times, which are so biased it is frightening to say the least, that there are people like them out there reporting a one eye view, without their brain being in gear.

Forgive me for starting my blog off with grumbling. We get enough grumbling from people around us, so I'm sure you don't want to read about mine. You may do as I did, and take a nap until I go away.

My husband made a working trip to Memphis, so I pretty much had Saturday to myself until I went to the grocery store. I have become accustomed to the motorized cart but customers still move over when they see me coming.

Speaking of Grocery shopping, how much worse can it get? I try to live by a budget, but I'm having a difficult time keeping up. I bought 2% milk as I usually do, and was blown away by the price of $5.15 a gallon. Needless to say, name brands don't mean much to me when it all comes from cows anyway, and should be pasteurized with the same methods. So I moved to the next freezer door and found 2% milk at $3.79. Now that is bad enough, but it sure sounded better than $5.15.

I wouldn't believe I'd have ever been glad to pay $3.53 a gallon for gasoline either. I have my own theory about gas prices, and I may as well share them huh? Back in the 70's when we were paying less than a dollar a gallon, we heard the cry of "shortage". Gas shortage caused long lines at the pumps, as we watched the price of gasoline change almost daily.

In October of 1973 Middles-eastern OPEC nations stopped exports to the US and other western nations. They meant to punish the western nations that supported Israel, their foe, in the Yom Kippur War, but they also realized the strong influence that they had on the world through oil. One of the many results of the embargo was higher oil prices all throughout the western world, particularly in America. The embargo forced America to consider many things about energy, such as the cost and supply, which up to 1973 no one had worried about (Spiegelman).

By 1979 the price continued to rise reaching a $2.41 record. Eventually it settled down to somewhere around 1.98 a gallon, and we were proud to pay anything less than $2.50+. Then in the 80's it happened again, so what I'm saying is this; it has already been $4 a gallon, so $3.53 looks good. I believe its a conspiracy!!!

It is good to look back at the "good ole days" occasionally. Somehow the struggles and fears of tomorrow seem so insignificant compared to how things are in our world today.

Be blessed, and remember to Live All Your Days.

Grammyof13

Old Friends!

'Old Friends, After all of these Years,
Just old Friends, through the laughter and tears
Old Friends, what a find, what a priceless treasure?
Old Friends, like a rare piece of gold
My old friends, Makes it great to grow old,
Old Friends, Through it all, I will hold to old Friends."

Now God must have known, we'd have days on our own
We would lose our will to go on,
That's why he sent Friends like you along,
Old Friends, you have always been there, my old Friends
I've had more than my share, of Old Friends
We are all millionaires in Old Friends.

After a phone call today from a long time friend, I decided on the spur of the moment to drop everything and go visit her. She and her husband live about 50 minutes from here, but it was one of those things that had to be done today. We have put off a visit much too long I'm sorry to say. She had surgery three weeks ago, and with her spirits up she made it around the house with the use of a walker and as usual had to prepare something for supper. We stopped at the good ole' Colonial Chicken, so with her addition of vegetables, we had a quick meal with lots of catching up.

We use to do a few things together like taking an overnight to Branson, or Eureka Springs, or even meet at Mountain View or Hot Springs for supper. I don't like the sound of "we once did", I can't come up with a good reason why we don't "now".

However I'm reminded that we can't go back or sit around and "wish I Had", but take the initiative to do something anyway. She'll be mending for a few more months, so that gives us time to at least get some plans laid to meet somewhere for supper soon.

There is a story about Petit Jean Mountain that is intriguing. Petit Jean Mountain is a special place - an unforgettable place - named for the legend of Petit Jean, the story of a French girl who disguised herself as a boy and secretly accompanied her sweetheart, an early explorer, to the New World and to this mountain. There is a grave site encased by a fence one of the many bluffs on the mountain, where all who explore the many trails have at some point in their hiking, gone to stand by the grave and talk about Petit Jean, the girl with no last name.

Saying that leads to this. Mather Lodge sets on the peak of the Mountain overlooking the most luscious green valleys surrounding the Arkansas River. Several "old Friends" meet there on Sunday Afternoons occasionally for lunch, than we wile away another hour on the park benches placed at angle to see the tree tops at arms length, and Heaven at our finger tips. We've been known to see Eagle and birds native to Arkansas. Nature has formed sheer bluffs, and when we were younger, (had we known about this 300 acres of enchanted woodland)the trails would have led us past Cedar Creek Canyon and the Seven Hollows, such distinctive features as Bear Cave, the Grotto and Natural Bridge, and whimsical formations we call Turtle Rocks and Carpet Rocks.

All of us may not be on walkers. However we may as well be for no more agility than we have among us. It really doesn't matter though, just getting to be with Old Friends is priceless. I must not wait so long next time to get the gang together for a feast at Mathers Lodge.

Grammyof13

The Reason I Exercise!

Well it looks like I have been tagged by Judy who was tagged by someone else. So here goes.


1. Where was I - 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, we had just moved to Conway. After selling our home in LR. where we had moved in 1976 when Levi Strauss, for whom my husband worked, moved their office of dispatch to the LR terminal. We loved our location but after the children moved out, it was determined the neighborhood was notorious for gangs, so we sold that property and moved here. I love this town and wish we had lived here longer.

2) What's on my 'to do' list for today ?

Work some more on my Web Store www.comfortlivinghomeaccessories.com

3) What if I were a Billionaire ?

I don't know if I can visualize a billion dollars belonging to me. So let me see if I can still play "pretend like". I, like Judy would see to it that no one in my family had a need that at least Money couldn't buy. My children would each have their debts paid plus one million to live on. I pay tithe on all our income, so the church would be blessed by so great a gift. I'd travel as long as I felt like it. My desire is to go back to Europe at least one more time. See more of the countries of Europe than I've seen before.

4) Places I have lived ?

Grew up in Erin, Tenn., married my husband from Tupelo, Miss. Moved to Memphis from Tupelo. Then after 10 years in Memphis we moved to Little Rock in 1976.
Though I have many precious memories of my early years in Tenn, Arkansas has become my home in every sense of the word.

5) Bad Habits ? I'm sure there are many, but I'm not ready to reveal them. (lol)

6) Snacks I like ?
Vanilla Wafers & peanut butter - occasionally mixed nuts.

Now I'm supposed to tag three others so Linda @ LivinginBuhl-a-land.blogspot.com, and Clara at Clara's Corner along with Nancy K at ashepherdsvoice.blogspot.com consider yourself tagged. I would love to know some about each of you other than what I've enjoyed reading on your blogs.
* * * * * *

My husband and I went to the fitness center today. I shouldn't brag about it no more often than we go!?!! Any one's guess is as good as another for the best time of the day to go. When we got through with the exercise machines, we got dress for the pool. That is where we met the crowd. One end of the 25 yard pool has elderly and some younger women doing their water aerobics, or arthritis class. That totaled about 12-15. In the center of the pool, an instructor was working with some kids who had been swimming fine until she got in the pool and had each of them put on a life belt around themselves, then had them splash to get her wet. Never did figure that one out. The rest of us were trying not to get soaked by their splashing.

There are two lanes for swimmers who do serious laps so that leaves the width of the pool on the other end for the countless others who came the same time we chose to. I don't know why one lady was there, she was getting her hair wet by all the kids playing and the ungraceful swimmers doing laps.

Being in the same vicinity as she I said, "doesn't pay to have a good hair-do when we come here!" You know, like making conversation. Well I learned pretty fast that she was not having any fun.

"My hair has never had chlorine on it, and I sure don't want this pool water on my hair! I may as well get out of here for no more good than its doing me."

Like I say, I couldn't tell who had a gun on her making her stay in the pool so I continued my jumping jacks and running in place, and all the other things I can't do on land. I think I burned enough calories to have fried chicken, biscuit and gravy for supper! Oh my it was good. I think I'll go back again tomorrow!

Grammyof13

Grammy's Ramblings!

Our week-end was a good one, even coming through the storm Saturday night was a blessing. As I've said before, we live in an area with lots of trees, and we always pray protection over our house from what the wind might do during the night. My husband is a light sleeper, and even after praying, he got a little nervous with the winds howling through our "Forest". We both jumped up around midnight, when we heard a thud that could have been a large limb but we found nothing that could cause a thud like that.

He spent part of his afternoon picking up debris of broken pieces of branches filled with green leaves, using the blower part of the time. It is so calm here this morning one would never know a storm had come through less than 30 hours ago.

I was absorbing the brisk fresh air on the deck with my morning coffee, when I looked up at the most beautiful blue sky with a few pillows of cloud floating lazily along. It seemed the dirt and filth of the air had been washed away leaving a fresh breath behind it instead. As of now, we have the windows up and taking advantage of that fresh air.

My eldest son spent most of his day yesterday loading C130's with sick folks from Louisiana, who have been here since hurricane Gustoff. If we got anyone from the Houston, Galveston area,I'm not sure. Wasn't the devastation in those areas awful? I had to pray for the people affected who will go home to nothing but rubble.

I thought of Judy yesterday and her visit with TW this week-end. We visited my son and his family for lunch yesterday after church and enjoyed a few hours with Chandler and Clay. Honestly they are the funniest two. Even with Clay being disciplined the day before, I couldn't help but laugh when he let us know he didn't want to show us his bruises! His dad was lamenting on a hurt finger, his mother had a bruise and they were teasingly comparing their "hurts" when Clay comes up with "You ain't gonna see my bruises!" I begged him to let me see laughing the whole time. He is a riot. Just like his Father. When my son was telling me about what he had had to do with him the day before, I giggled at the idea he was being paid back for his raising. I assured him "He will grow up to be a wonderful man," to which he replied, "I know he will". I told him I might should bring Clay home with me to keep him safe so he can grow up!!!! Anyway, love those boys!

I talked with my Oklahoma dolls today. Well at least one of them who is in pre-kindergarten. My daughter asked him if he wanted to call Grammy, to which he replied, "I've been thinking about it!" Indeed! Our conversation was short, it usually is, but he took time to tell me he wanted to be a "Policeman, a VET and a football player" when he grows up. He doesn't need to hear me say, "that is a lot to juggle". Instead I encouraged him to be all he wanted to be. I would be proud of him either way. He knows how to spell his name at least and has learned his colors. "You will be able to write me a letter one day, you know." I said to him and proceeded to tell him how it would be. "Dear Grammy, I love playing with my dogs. I love you. Parker"! To which he replied in that sweet little voice, "I don't know how to spell your name".

I loved their mind at this age. It is so fresh and uncluttered. When they were all babies, I remember thinking "They do not know there is an enemy out there. I dread the day when they learn that someone doesn't like them, or causes them harm, or they cry because they are hurt." It is a dream to hope they will stay loving and kind and receive from everyone the love and acceptance they have from us in those formative years.

This blog has turned out to be the ramblings of a Grandmother. Please bear with me, I'll move on to another subject. In the meantime, I'll listen to your ramblings as well! That's the way we do it, You listen to my stories, I listen to yours! We are watching the next generation of ministers, governors, and even Presidents grow up in our own family. Pardon me, I dream big. Notice I didn't say, Politician, but servants of cause for the people.

I've got work to do, so I must wake up and stop dreaming for now.

Have a good week with Blessings!

Grammy of 13

September 11

There are several events during the years I've lived, for which I can recall where I was, and what I was doing; And how I was affected by the event. Like Martin Luther Kings death. We were living in Memphis close to the area of town where minorities lived. Even though we were equally affected by the tragedy, it was unsafe for anyone to be on the streets in Memphis. I'm so glad my children were small so I could keep them in tow.

When John Kennedy was assassinated, we lived in Mississippi. The magnitude of the shooting did not affect me at the time like it did a few weeks later when it all soaked in. I was a new Mom with two children ages 21 months and 9 months and was among the world of working mothers. Since then, I've tried to record the events so my children will have first hand knowledge of how it was as we were there when history was made.

As for Elvis, we had just moved to Little rock, and were on our way back to Tenn for a Church Assembly, when we heard of his untimely death. We had to pass through Memphis of course, and the whole town seemed somber.

There were others, but one worth mentioning for sure happened when I was only 17. On the morning of September 23, 1957 nine African-American teenagers stood up to an angry crowd protesting integration in front of Little Rock's Central High as they entered the school for the first time. This event, broadcast around the world, made Little Rock the site of the first important test of the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision.

Then seven years ago on this day actually, I was on my way to work, listening to the traffic radio station when just before eight they reported that a plane had crashed into the world trade center. For several minutes it was thought to have been unable to lift to its flying position, therefore crashing into the building. Then when another one crashed into the second building, it was recognized to be that of terrorists. I've tried to analyze how my life has changed since that fateful day. I knew no one personally who perished because of all the terrorists acts on September 11, 2001, but I was shaken to my core. I became conscious of my beloved homeland America. I became more aware of those brave ones who have paid the price to get us this far. I became more grateful for leadership that knew what to do, and went to work doing it.

I had the desire to make sure everyone I Loved knew without a shadow of a doubt that I loved them. There was a gnawing feeling that each time we parted, could be the last time we saw each other here. Like days which made History in the past, I don't want to forget that our country was invaded by an enemy who hates freedom and democracy. An enemy who hates all we stand for. We are a Christian Nation, founded on Christian principals, and stand for truth and Justice. Words so very foreign to our enemy who relish in destroying the reminder that America has become to the world.

Today, Quietly and without fanfare, many people all over American went to the courthouse of their town to silently pray for Peace in America. The threat of terrorism is still with us and Praying is our recourse. "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

Let me take a minute to say, THANKS to all who come by my blog occasionally to read. I don't always have something worthwhile to say, but that is America. As long as it doesn't offend anyone, my objective is to keep writing.

Grammyof13

Complications!

Life is getting too complicated, and I am getting to old for this. I've been working on several projects, and having to stop to live has not occurred to me. I'm that way, I get focused on something, and can't find time to go to bed, and sometimes the bathroom. If it wasn't for having to eat to live, I'd probably not get up to do that either.

I went to the Cardiologist today for the results of the tests they ran last week. I heard a new one - I didn't think I could ever hear coming from professionals. He was the Nurse practitioner but I feel equally as confident in his exam as the Dr. Get this - "the test results are not in the system, they tell me the database is full!" he said.

I'd like to have replied, "Well has it dawned on someone to go get the paper they were printed on for my physical file, and read the stupid thing?" Instead I smiled and tried not to show my impatience at making the long trip to get no results. I did have a test run while I was there that couldn't be completed last week due to an irregular heart rate, so the trip wasn't totally lost. I knew the Cardiologist himself would have to read the last test, it was the non invasive heart cath - don't ask me to explain -

Like I say, life is getting complicated. I'm going to come up for air soon. I love setting on the deck this time of year. It is so nice in the morning.

Grammyof13

Happy Birthday Bailey!

Somehow we got detoured from my plan of action for the afternoon. I was going to make barbecue from a left over pork loin, (sounded good at the time), but my husband won (as he was doing the driving) thus we detoured to Annie's Restaurant. A local place with Breakfasts called, The Arkansas, The Oklahoma, The Tennessee, and I think there is a Missouri.

Then we will go to a family gathering for our next to the youngest granddaughter who is turning 18. Independent 18. Eligible to vote 18. Graduating from High School this year 18. My little girl growing up 18. I remember when she was born. Oh how I remember.

My son had proclaimed his third baby would be a boy. For nine months he proclaimed he would have a son. We just smiled and inwardly hoped with him. On the day "Steven" was to be born, my husband was being checked into the hospital for an unknown infection which caused his leg and foot to swell way beyond normal. My daughter-in law was being checked in at the next station to have the baby.

I had just had a gall bladder removed, less than two weeks before and was not up to being a good attendant to either of them, but I didn't have a choice. So with my daughter-in-law on the second floor in labor and Delivery, my husband was put on the 3rd floor for his problem. It was all I could do to stay with him and help get him settled, for by then everyone was gathering on the 2nd floor waiting room for the birth of the "big boy."

Eventually, he released me (I think he wanted to know as bad as I), and I took the elevator down to the 2nd floor where everyone was waiting for word of the birth. I stayed awhile, then went back to the third floor to check on him.

After a few more trips, I decided the walking down the two long corridors was more difficult than taking the steps. (Doesn't make sense now, but it did then). So I started taking the steps between floors. I'm sure I recovered much sooner than I would have had I been able to pamper myself, so I kept trudging between floors, eventually taking pictures by to my husbands room on the 3rd floor.

The Baby decided not to cooperate, so my daughter-in-law was in labor awhile - and then the clincher was we learned later, the epidural was working against her and was closing off her lungs. She struggled to let them know she was in trouble, and finally someone realized the epidural was not deadening the lower part of her body, but the upper instead. The delivery room was in chaos for a few minutes as they revived her and quickly delivered our big baby by C-Section.

The trips continued between floors as I kept in touch with each patient sharing pictures of our new baby girl with her "Papa"

Yea, my son decided he had been delirious for nine months. He accepted the little plump blond haired girl who is turning 18 this week. Happy Birthday Bailey, we love you.

My husband was diagnosed with (I wish I could spell the word, but believe me when I say it ain't in the dictionary! Well here goes - Psoriatic Arthritis. My spell check didn't correct me so maybe that is the way it is spelled after all. He stayed very sick for a few weeks, but was able to recuperate at home while Our Bailey Ann got used to her new surroundings, and all the strangers whose name she would learn to call family; and soon we were making trips to Morrilton to hold the new baby. I looked at her baby picture this week, and thought "Where did you go little girl?"

Her party went great. She was surprised. It was mostly family, a couple friends from school, and everyone that lives at the Marina with them.

I'll be checking back with you, with hopes of posting some pictures. I'm trying to get the hang of my new electronic toys!

Grammyof13

Blogging Award

Thanks so much to Judy of Living on the other side of the Hill for thinking of me with this Award. My First, you might notice, and doesn't it look great on my page? I'm as excited as a child at Christmas

Following Judy's example, I would like to give this award to deserving bloggers I enjoy reading. Eggs in my pocket, Yesteryear Embroideries, A Shepherd's Voice. These are some of my favorite blogs, please check them out. If you receive an award, and would like to pass it on to others, click on and save the award from my site, place it in your sidebar, do a post like this one and pass it on. Thanks again to Judy for thinking of me. She has made my day.

Grammyof13 - blogging along.

September Torrential Rains!

It has been a dismal two days to say the least. If the tropical storm we are getting is only a degree of the storm that hit the gulf coast, my sympathy/empathy goes up 99 percent for the people who endured.

We were awaken several times during the past two nights by rain falling so hard and heavy on our roof. During the day, we hear tree limbs hitting the roof before falling to the ground. I get up to see tree leaves and brush everywhere that will wait for a clearer day before they are removed from where they fell.

These past two days also remind me of a time many years ago much like this one. When I think of how long it has actually been, it amazes me that I can still recall as though it were last week or even last year during September.

However, it was 30 years ago in 1978 on September 13. There had been hurricanes brewing from Barbados to Mexico and after each one settled down, farther north we received the torrential rains from the tropical storms that ensued.

Everyone went about their duties as normal, braving the rain, and glad when the door closed behind them at work or school. The radio announcers began a warning cry of “if you don’t have to be out in this – stay home! This is not a normal rain,” they continued. “There were 5 inches that fell in Texas in the span of an hour, and this is what is happening here. I repeat, stay off the streets until it is safe.”

They told of water rising fast. Drainage areas were overloaded and had nowhere else to go but up. Rock creek over flowed its banks and became dangerous to those in the area. The Rock Creek ran through Boyle Park, and again the roads were impassable.

My children were safely in School, and my husband safe in his truck in some other part of the US, hopefully out of the rain. I was at work when I received the call that my friend Linda was missing. Linda worked for Hunter Day Care. It was not unlike Linda whose love for children transcended those of her own, to volunteer to pick-up and deliver children in her own vehicle.

On that particular morning, Linda kept her seven-year-old daughter with her. On their rush out the door, Linda grabbed a red jacket for the little girl, and into the car, they hurried to get to the Day Care Center.

With the water rising, Linda volunteered to go pick up a child who needed a ride to the Center that day. She and her daughter got back into the car and had gone only a few miles when her car stalled.

“If your car stalls out,” the radio announcer urged, “stay in your vehicle. Rock Creek has overflowed its banks. It is reported that K-mart on Asher is flooded, and the Fire and rescue are on their way to get the employees out of there.”

Linda would have passed K-mart on her way to the home. We figure Linda did not have her radio on. What everyone else in the city was hearing, did not reach her.

She could not get the car started. As she and her little girl sat there, the rush of the water coming down the hill mixing with that, which was overflowing, from Rock Creek, her car gave a surge and moved side ways.

Meanwhile, Fire trucks came splashing by on their way to K-Mart. With Linda waving for help, they kept going for they were on a mission to save folks. Rescue trucks came by and seeing Linda wave for help, they kept going.

Not knowing just what to do, she took her daughter and together they climbed onto the hood of the station wagon which was quickly being swept away by the rising water. Fire & Rescue came rushing by but paid no attention to the frantic mother and child.

The car surged again, throwing Linda against a utility pole knocking her unconscious. How her little daughter escaped is anyone’s guess.

However later in the day when the word finally reached everyone that Linda, along with her daughter was missing, a search had already begun. Men in boats were making their way through the street covered water doing their own search and rescue. Every available, Fireman, Policeman, Medical and local men were determined to fulfill their calling that day not thinking of becoming heroes.

Friends of Linda and her family gathered at her house where her five children were. Her husband would not wait for someone else to find her, he insisted on being a part of the search.

Word came mid afternoon that the little girl had been found. Wearing a red jacket, she was spotted in the overflow of Rock Creek several miles away from where Linda had gone down.

Later when several people had been taken to the morgue, her husband was asked to come down and identify the body. Strong men went with him but strong friends could not take away the inevitable shock of seeing his wife in a morgue instead of at the door waiting for him to come home.

Friends and family could not give him an answer to his unending, haunting questions. “Why Linda?” “How could this have happened?” “Why did she volunteer to go out in this weather?” “How am I going to make it without her?” “What can I do for my five children?” The oldest 16 the youngest seven.

Yes, it is days like these past few dreary days, where flood waters are covering the streets of Conway and low lying places everywhere through out the state, that I stop and momentarily think of that day in 1978 when I lost one of my dearest friends. Oh my, how she could have enjoyed 3 of my grandchildren and four of my great grandchildren, for together we would have been their Grammy. Yes, she would have become been my oldest sons Mother-in-law.

How I miss you some days, Linda.

Grammyof13