abalama

No I did not spell it wrong.  It's what I call the state on the way to Gulf Shores and Florida.  Floribama sits right smack on the state line and got blown away in some hurricane or another, but it's still there.  We took LP in there once and I wasn't really ready for the fact that it was a package store and bar.  We scurried on out and had virgin drinks at the state park inn.  That place was awesome but it got blown away too.  So did the pier.  My last beach trip was across the bridge from Ft. Walton.  Very cool setup.  Okaloosa, I believe.  

That was 9 years ago and I so miss the ocean.  The place we stayed had permanent residents that played cards on the second floor above us every day.  I would too, ya' know?  Heather went shopping and I just enjoyed being out there.  The last day before we left, I sat on the patio and just listened to the sound of God in those waves.  There were birds and boats and all sorts of pretty things to look at.  An occasional "eat at mike's" flag flying behind a small plane.  She was almost pregnant with AJ at the time.  Later on the next year Reaves was born.  What a coincidence ;)

I am trying to dwell on the happy memories instead of stressing about what might happen next week.  One thing for sure is that nothing much will be on day one.  Or two.  You cannot executive order your way through Congress no matter who your buddies are.  It really amazes me that nobody is much worried about this scenario.  I don't lose sleep over it but sheeeessshhh.  Rather than say "I told you so" I just pray to survive it all.  I think that is the difference in reality for many of us.  I have several friends who have told me that my posts are stupid because they don't agree with my political beliefs.  I have never said that to anybody.  Not online or in person.  

Ready or not, here it comes on MLK day, no less.  Events will be held indoors because of the weather so there will prolly be a big traffic jam of limos lining up by the rotunda.  The crowd will look much bigger than that bunch on the plaza back in whatever year it was.  That was pitiful!  

If I turn out to be wrong about DJT, I will freely admit it.  If I am better off in 2 or 4 years, I will give his administration their due.  I don't see that happening, being the realist that I am.  Not pessimistic, just realistic.  When billionaires come together to run the country it turns into an oligarchy.  Google that, if you will.  

Freedom of speech will soon be a thing of the past because all the social media people are up Trump's ass.  I try not to rant on this but lawwwd.  Let's give peace a chance ^j^

one for the team

I am really pretty much a tough broad most of the time  I roll with the punches and smile through tears when times are hard.  Right now is not one of those times.  Over the past year there have been many losses in our lives.  I am grateful for all that I have, really.  These things too shall pass.  Lauren ard I are two strong women trying to survive in a world which ain't very kind.  We have adapted to the changes that have come our way and kept the faith.  And me?  I'm about to lose that faith.  Survival is a very strong instinct and that is what's happening right now.

It's not all financial, mind you.  I have lost several dear friends in the past year and the hits just keep on coming.  I never really cried over any of them bnt now the tears are about to bust out.  I think that it is only trusting in God that makes thing bearable.  He knows the plan and I'm just a player if I let go and allow the spirit to work  Sometimes I think the hard times are meant to humble us so that we get to that point.  

I'm not a glass half full or half empty kind of thinker  I see life as a series of challenges, some good and some bad.  But often we wonder "Am I not a good person?"  As we know bad things happen to good people.  That is a fact in everyone's life.  I do not see God as vengeful or "making" bad things happen.  I'm too much of a New Testament sort of gal.  I know that I'm a big fat sinner but that Jesus died on that cross so that I would be forgiven.  The God of the Old Testament was sending messages hot and heavy to all those folks to listen to Him.  And I do believe that is what is happening now.  

Climate change is real y'all  And yes, it was caused by our greed during the industrial age and beyond.  Consume more, be bigger and make money off of the common man.  I have never been considered wealthy.  Always lower middle class.  The one year that my husband and I brought in 80K is was because he worked his ass off at the rubber plant doing doubles and weekends when they were available.  Late 70s and 80s for sure.  Until the bottom fell out in '88.  That is when we sold our small house in town and started the adventure on Pecan Lane.   Our daughter was 4 years old and we thought it best to raise her in the country with her grandparents nearby.

Daddy and I worked on that old house for six months to make it liveable.  The rent was maybe 300?    It took 10 years to clean out the attic and basement from Mr. Council's 50 year tenure as the horse guy.And evidently rabbit guy too because there were empty feed bags everywhere!  The concrete basement had an old stove that didn't work so it was pretty cold down there.  Plus it leaked and flooded so there was a bit of mold.  Animals were born and died down there, most of them our pets.  When the cat population got too big, Gumbler took care of that with a "dairy barn" destination.  

Many of them are buried in that yard.  Pet cemetery, if you will.  We now have one forever *spayed* cat and a dog that wants to be ours but it's taking awhile.  We will more than likely get him vetted if possible, and let him live here, outside.  He was so skinny when he first showed up it was pitiful.  And now he's not.  He loves rubs and kisses and sits on command.  Bandit is still working on the 44 lb bag of high protein food that Cathy brought some weeks ago.  I refuse to let any animal or person suffer if I can help it.  Don't be surprised if you see a fundraiser for this dog....lol

I wandered outside to see the sunset and it did not disappoint.  That gave me a bit of faith.  And hope.  And love ^j^

 

pissing match

I have some very strong emotions regarding the current battle between Trump and the governor of California.  What many of us have believed for years is happening in full color.  The real estate market is taking advantage of an act of nature.  It's probably that way everywhere that disaster strikes.  Some folks just have no morals, ya' know?  I am blessed to have a reasonable rent but utilities are a stretch.  Especially propane!  My brother and I have a plan that will make everybody's life easier.  

Delivery can be risky business in the dark as LP found out yesterday.  I will spare the details except for the driver's side door gives us just enough room to scoot in and out.  Thanks be!  We are under your eye God.  The client was gracious enough to pay for a truck to get her out.  He even took pictures.  That's a great guy right there with a shitty landlord.  

I talk to Mamye daily, just like before.  She sounds exhausted but okay.  Steve's family have come together with her to honor him and his life.  My service will be similar to his with a visitation and cremains down where the Carter family ancestors live.  Lauren will want some to scatter over our lives here on the farm.  I'm not dying ( as far as I know ) but the plans are made.  KK has my back.

I know all about when the evil started in the Garden of Eden and whatnot.  That damn snake!  Anywho, there went sin as a go to.  People's opinions about what is a sin are varied depending on religious beliefs.  In SS last week we heard six out of the ten.  No adultery.  Honor your parents.  Do not lie.  Anybody could tell when I'm lying so I don't have to worry about that one.  I just tell the truth like it is in my world.  I do not judge yours.  Jesus loved everybody and their mama'n'them and cured the sickness away in miraculous ways.  

Daddy was raised in the SBC and Mom was a legacy DFUMC. The  church history is amazing and my mom's family was a huge part of it.  My great grandmother Ethe; Inez took her canaries on Easter at sunrise.  At least that's what Mama told me.  Daddy was always in the choir when we were kids and I sat with Mom while the boys slept through it all.  Many UMC congregations have been torn apart over the issues of gay marriage and gay clergy.  Ours was one of them.  Me and all the other lifers were pretty bummed out, to say the least.  The night of the vote the sanctuary was packed to the gills and I thought to myself where are you folks in the  life of this church?  There was serious tension in the room and in the end, the vote to leave did not pass.  There was a split and a lot of folks went there.

I am a liberal conservative if that makes sense at all.  Very conservative in a lot of ways, but not when it comes to human rights.  My faith in God tells me that being mean and a war monger is not the ultimate plan.  Oh yeah, there was a lot of bad stuff in the OT but the good news came later after the prophets foretold it.  Can you tell I'm cruising toward Lent?

My kinda' sorta' dog is on the porch eating.  I had to fill the pan back up because the stray Siamese looking boyfriend of Rosie is eating it.  I actually saw him last night and he is gorgeous.  Lives under the house and eats mice I reckon.  I have never had to go looking for a pet because they always just show up.  If you feed them they will come.  

Y'all take it easy.  Give it to God ^j^

fact checking

With all this talk about buying Greenland I had to resort to Google and see who actually owns !  Which is Denmark.  That should be an interesting negotiation for DJT.  The history spans back to the world wars and German war stuff.  I was today years old when I learned that.  

Snow is about gone and we get a break from the freezing cold for about a week.  My propane budget thanks the lort' for that one.  LP os dashing like a demon to keep us going plus she has another part time job.  Who loves their mama?  We are slowly but surely organizing the Stafford house.  Each of us has a ring that belonged to Mama.  Nothing real expensive, but they are special.  

Mom died on January 23rd of 2016 following hip surgery.  She sailed through two of them only to succumb to diverticulitis.  That's where I inherited that!  Plus the macular degeneration.  I was healthcare DPA for both of my parents.  Being a medical professional and seeing how things always play out, I advocated for them with the help of my friends at the hospital.  It was peaceful and a family event involving lots of friends and family coming to say goodbye.  Compared to "call the family in right now!"  I feel blessed. 

When I was still at Baptist East following my surgery in 2020 I woke up on January 23rd to the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen.  Being up high allowed me a clear view of what God had in store for me.  And you know what?  I had enough wits about me to realize that it was a message from both God AND Mama.  The circle of life, if you will.

Y'all hug somebody today.  Pay it forward.  Keep the faith.  Leave room for the spirit to work.  And always remember that, this too shall pass ^j^

thankful

This morning I received the sign of the cross with holy water on my forehead.  It was "remember your baptism" day at FUMC.  I was not baptized as an infant like some so I vaguely remember being sprinkled as an older child.  Probably around fifth grade.  The UMC honors all forms of baptism including the proverbial dunk which some prefer in the tradition of John the Baptist.  He and Jesus were distant cousins from what I gather about Mary and Elizabeth.  Mary Beth smiled at me as she placed the water on my forehead.  "Remember your baptism and be thankful."  And I am, for so many things.

The world is a crazy place right now.  Sometimes it scares me but not often because I have faith in God's plan for us.  It was my cousin Mo's birthday and I sat with she and her family..who are MY family as well.  She always cooks Sunday dinner for them so that will be her party.  Livvie has already looked at the calendar and found that HER birthday is on a Sunday as well.  I love that connection.  

One of my oldest friends passed away yesterday.  He and his wife have been a part of my life as long as I can remember.  They even got married in my yard on a windy March day when we could barely keep the cloths on the tables!  At that time my husband rarely worked weekends but got called in for Saturday duty so it was up to me to throw the wedding.  It was indeed a group effort.  They have been together for 47 years total.  Mamye is near and dear to me and Lauren in so many ways.  LP never really had an official godmother, but Mamye was the one who was always there.  

Continuing with the gratitude, I am about to use two large cans of Albacore tuna to make a salad.  It has been a long time since the cupboard was this empty but we make do.  Yesterday I used leftover cornbread to make crostini and it was delicious!  Topped it with melted butter and bagel seasoning.  I ate it cold for lunch today and savored every bite.  

The remnants of Friday's snow are hanging around on the north side waiting for the next round.  This weekend is the fifth anniversary of the creation of my stoma that is aptly named Poopie because that was my childhood nickname.  It seems appropriate, if you know what I mean.  Most ostomates name their stomas, in case you didn't realize.  Inquiring minds want to know.

Anywho, it's the beginning of another week for us.  Let us be glad and rejoice in it ^j^

hide and watch

Currently my eyes are on the spoiled rotten cat who is outside scoping the dog who eats on our porch.  Thanks to a generous benefactor, he is getting fatter and seems happier.  He only visits to eat and hang out for a bit.  At the same time I'm watching 80 for Brady because I need a good laugh and these women are hysterical.  I've been a Lily Tomlin fan since she was Little Edith on SNL.  It's a perfect ensemble movie about women's friendship and how we all got together!  I think we could write a screenplay about the Dyersburg Buddies and win an award.  Maybe a girls' trip to the beach.

Most of us went to school together at some point.  There's the young 'un Curlisha who just  loves our vibe.  Patsye was FFA queen back at DHS because....duh.  Finley!  The rest of us were queens too, just not chosen...lol.  Our 50th class reunion found us all together sitting tables apart.  I was with Mr. and Mrs. Benny Spain most of the time until I hit the dance floor with Mr, and Mrs. Joel Dickerson.  All I could manage was "Take a Walk on the Wildside."

I don't remember when we started with our lunches but we have been all over the place with a different cast of characters each time, yet there is a core group that never misses a rat killing.  we all have different tastes in food but Mexican seems to be everybody's meet in the middle kind of favorite.  Curlisha and I often do breakfast, usually at Mel's.  There are a bunch of regulars up in there and we are learning their names and who sith whom.  Melody Doe loves us all!

So thanks for the movie tip Pam and Cathy.  Love you too Mary Beth.  Let's all keep the faith together ^j^

serendipity

I distinctly remember the night that my friends Sally and Marti explained the meaning of those fireworks on the bridge to Arkansas.  It was a random moment of joy as we traveled to an aerobics workshop.  Marti was our instructor here in Dyersburg for dance aerobics which was always to upbeat music.  We taught the DSCC phys ed class for a bit and those teenagers were NOT excited with the musical selections!  Whatever.  You got your credit.

I have been known to stalk writers that I admire and Chuck Sigars was one of them.  His wife Julie is a Presbyterian minister and I happened upon her Wedneday mid-day devotional online.  It was a gift from my God because I started the day with a lot of anxiety and worry.  It's hard to put that stuff down without spiritual help. Lauren and I are establishing a morning routine of worship music and coffee which is nice.  We listened yesterday to a video that my friend Chuck * notSigars introduced me to several years ago.  God Only Knows spoke to me in a way many other praise songs do not. 

I haven't had the trauma that many experienced.  My family was middle class and not poor.  I have many memories here on the farm that still surround me.  I am ready for the snow because, what ya' gonna' do?  It is what it is.  There is something quite comforting about having no choice but to chill.  Watch it snow while you watch a movie.  So far the Roku stick plus Netflix keeps us amused.  Netflix is my one guilty pleasure.  Well, there are others too!

the birds around here are going nuts trying to figure out the weather.  I look to them for advice.  We have some snacks for them when the snow gets thick.  Old bread, crackers and whatnot.  If I feel froggy, we'll build a snowman.  Y'all should too!  At least make some snowcream ^j^