it's on

The DHS Class of 73 had their last planning meeting today OUTSIDE thanks to the cooler weather.  It's pretty much a wrap with all arrangements made and tasks handed out.  We have a lot of classmates who have committed to coming but have not paid yet.  Please be kind when someone from the committee contacts you to see if you are coming.  Deadline for payment is September 30th.  It can be sent by snail mail to Cynthia Cowell at 3330 Bruceville Slab Rd, Dyersburg TN 38024.  Due to a change of the UT Football schedule there is a game that weekend which will affect attendance, by about two.  Bradshaw and Patton....we will miss you!

As I looked around the table at my classmates I could not help but be amazed at how we have stuck together for 50 plus years.  Through sickness and health and hilarity, 'til death do us part.  I got so many hugs that I sorely needed this afternoon.  I talked for a bit with my otha' daughter Heather and caught up on things.  AJ and Reaves are close to the same age and it's a school night so, there you go.  

If I call or text you somebody better respond ^j^

the ones who answer

When I find myself overwhelmed with life I normally call a friend.  Everybody is busy and whatnot and I am the first to admit that if I'm talking to a friend on the phone and somebody beeps in, I will NOT say "I gotta' go." Easy conversation is soul soothing to me in a way that texting is not.  Texts are for information sharing in my book, not discussing life.  That's when friends and professional counseling come into play.  On the one hand, friends know you and what your challenges are at the moment.  They remember to ask about this or that.  Therapists learn to know you slowly according to your willingness to spill your guts.  I've learned over  years of it what my true issues are and when it's time to address them.  Which is right damn now.  

I am such a Pollyanna that I keep trying to have civil discourse with narcissists and expect things to turn out differently than our last encounter.  And I get my heart stomped on every time.  These people see nothing but their own side of things and have little to no empathy for someone else's pain.  They crave attention and the power of being right all the time.  And having the last word.  

Yesterday's church was really bittersweet for me.  The guest preacher was a man who used to pastor Newbern Methodist and hired my Uncle Jimbo as music director.  I went there when he was dying of prostate cancer and heard him play my favorite hymns.  He was like my second daddy, only funner!  Both he and my Daddy had their funeral services at FUMC.  When Jimbo died LP was about 5 years old and I led her by the hand to the family pews.

One of the biggest blessings of my life has been keeping company with elders.  They can be ornery at times like my parents were, but I wouldn't trade that time for any amount of worldly riches.  It's beginning to feel more like autumn and the shadows are showing out like they always do.  My 50th class reunion is a few weeks away and I can't wait.  My friend Mark G is one that "always answers" and we talked a long time about his emcee duties for the event.  

Life is short.  Don't sweat the small stuff ^j^

sittin' shiva

As a Methodist I'm about as far away from being Jewish as I am 

a Baptist.  While I appreciate and respect all beliefs, I cling to my own.  The past two weeks in the burg have been absolutely brutal but I noticed this afternoon that a slight breeze was blowing which means there is a chance of rain.  I really don't care about that, just the cooler temps.

I have plans nine ways to Jesus tomorrow but who knows if they will happen.  Today has been a nice lazy one organizing and sorting.  It's nowhere near done but I made a dent in it.

Keep the faith y'all ^j^

birthday fundraiser for me!

Facebook makes it pretty difficult to set one up unless all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.  For the past few years I have designated Paws to Care as my recipient.  This year it is Dyer County Salvation Army.  I have become friends with many of these devoted people and know first hand what they do for the least of these.  They serve around 200 meals a day Monday through Thursday for lunch.  All food is donated by corporate partners  and other Feed America entities.  I would love nothing better than for you to give them a donation of some kind....money or your time would be good.  I had a couple of loaded red delicious apple trees and the masses had baked apples one day.  Every little bit counts.  

They have a thrift store that is expertly run by volunteers just like the kitchen. Be nice and put your donations on hangers, not wire ones!  They have a nice selection of home goods as well. It is a thrifter's heaven.  

Anywho, the info will be posted on my page but it's not a "real" FB fundraiser, just one that I believe in with all of my heart ^j^

moose pool

My first boss, besides my daddy, was Richard Baker.  He was the manager of the Moose Pool when I worked there as a teenager.  There was a tribe of about 20 of us working for 50 cents an hour which was a slave wage but hey....we had fun.  As best as I can remember the rest of them were Kay Lanier, Lee Weakley, Johnny Castellaw, Becky Schultz and Randy Ashley. Oh, and Linda Peters.  We regularly sneaked into the lodge run by Mr. Pate and hit up the bar and the steaks.  Since we were way underpaid, somebody reported it to the Labor Board and we all got a big fat check.  I used mine to help buy my first car.

Richard and Stanley did most of the backwashing because the rest of us didn't know squat about that.  The one and only time that I did acid was on a day when I was on the stand in the sun.  The water was epic and thankfully nobody drowned that day.  My ten year class reunion was there and it was seriously not elegant but a lot of fun.  Merril and Chucky covered "Love Shack" like pros.  

We have a fiftieth coming up in October, Lord willing.  A lot of our class is deceased but it looks like a decent crowd.  Thank you KayKay and Claudia for being so organized.  Hat tip to Patsye Thurmon for the creative name tags.

Anywho...Richard died and that made me think about all the memories from long ago.  I hope that some of the crew will read this and remember the good times ^j^ 

take me to church

Our plan today was to go to Malesus UMC where there was  a joint service with them and Bemis.  It's just a short drive from there and they have SS in the mornings with Ms Juanita.  Juanita was going to be absent sowe stayed at Casa Lauren and played.  And ate.  And gave the cat a bath...lerd.  LP came back from picking up lunch and said "What have y'all be doing in here??"  JJ the kitten is quite adventurous and knocks over every little thing like the plants.  I swept up dirt for a while and Reaves played in it.  I was pre-occupied so she found an old phone and was looking for games.  Gaga did not have a clue how to get off of video chat so we talked to Kim for a bit.  Last I heard she can come to Gaga's church soon.

I really have a hard time believing in anything much right now.  I know that God is in control and it's all in his time.  I try to do the next right thing in my own way.  I learned that from my late husband.

I think that he is loving the heck out of his wild child grandgirl.  The view from heaven is much happier than all of this worldly stuff.  Brought up in the COC way, he never felt worthy enough to come to church with us.  Said as long as he was sinning he just could not.

In his mind that had to do with alcohol and drug use.  His family history was like a train wreck reaching from Broodmoor to Bell Street.  I met his birth mother shortly before she died and he looked just like her. 

My dear friend called to check on me this afternoon and told me all about today at our home church.  I missed all those folks but I can always watch online! 

There are a ton of FUMC people in Milan right now and I wish I was there.  I am there, in fact.  In spirit with a cross and a flame ^j^

rise and shine

Normally I wake up around sunrise and then promptly go back to sleep for a couple of hous.  This morning I actually got up when I WoKE up and watched the sun come up.  The weather has been sooooo nice and this morning was nice and cool so I headed to the Farmer's Market.  I usually go many times during the summer but today was my first visit of this season.  I scored some nice yellow squash and a Tiger Tail mustard deal.  The crowd was thin and some folks were actually still setting up.  I was tempted by the pottery vendor but it was too pricey.  After that was errand running including a car wash and vacuum.  Now I'm home for the day to work on the house.

Since I've been working the housework has been sorely neglected.  I had my hopes up that the local wound care clinic had ostomy care but, nada.  That means a trip to Jackson with my silver nitrate sticks from Amazon.  My foot drop has improved dramatically so I may not have to see the neuro, also in Jackson.  

Our little family has a lot going on so we would appreciate prayers from here there and yon.  We are keeping the faith and I pray that y'all will too ^j^