HAPPY RETIREMENT, VBF!

After twenty-two years of employment at the local hospital, my best friend from high school, Brenda Whitfield, retired. She had a wonderful attendance at her retirement reception, which Paul and I attended.  She had so many funny stories to share, many tributes to her, pretty gifts and cards. She started work August 9, 1992, according to the hospital administrator, her boss.

Congratulations, Bren!!

SMALL TOWN USA

Some friends of ours (one of Paul's classmates, his brother and mother) sent us a condolence card this week.  I'm sure it still happens all over, but it is nice to be known by your town only. This is the way it came:

Harmony Methodist Church ladie's ministry held its annual retreat last night and this morning. Last night there were 139 or 140 and this morning about 100. Great attendance from all over the area. Aunt Ginny said the first year (this is the 8th) they had this there were about 35 women present. Our speakers gave talks about friendship - being one and having friends; and joy - a gift from God. I arrived before Carol (my sister-in-law) and sat at a table with three other ladies and the one I spoke to first happene to be one of my classmates! She actually recognized me before I did her! Jane lives in Burnsville, about 7 miles west of Iuka; her husband enjoys antique vehicles, too, and she invited us to come to one of their club meetings. So good to run into another of my classmates. We are so young, too! (This was our joke of the night.)

Last night I would not have had anyone ever to know it, but on the way home, I Got Lost. Yes, I took the wrong turn and just ho-humming along behind another vehicle thinking, wonder who they are on our county road... And... wait. a. minute. This is not The Lane! So I go on thinking I'll see something familiar, another county road marker (not east to see at night), and finally turned around... and took another wrong turn. Up. Down. No houses. Dark houses. Panicked, I called Paul - thank God for a signal, truly! I could just see me spending the night winding around those valley/hill county roads all up in the woods, lost, lost, lost... And I was seeing it first-hand! So he stayed on the phone with me until I found the "big" county road - the one with two stripes down the center and behold I came upon the Harmony Church sign again! I had made a big loop, watching my compass in the truck all the time. Paul would say, "You need to be going..." (whatever direction), and I was going the opposite. I got my bearings when I saw the Harmony sign and there was my beloved Lane, and yes, THIS is my road, and my house! My little dog! My husband! Paul said when I was at Sher's he drove all around the county roads back that way... in the day time. I told him he should try it at night. Not an experience I want to repeat. A truly terrible feeling, panic and lostness... And I thank God for getting me home safe, and for keeping my body and soul in His care! Now who did I recently tell I was really a country girl? But not a pioneer...



DRAW A NAME

Monday at WMU (or WOM - Women on Mission as Women's Missionary Union is now known), we drew names for a mission outreach for this month. I know God put Frank Elizabeth's name in my hand. I had had her on my mind for a long time. Her son Tommy was one of Paul's classmates and I kept telling him he should go see him and her. Perfect opportunity for both of us. Today we went and took a loaf of bread (bread machine, but homemade nevertheless) and some of Matt's ham he brought Christmas (has been frozen and is delicious; we had some for supper last night). What a wonderful visit! Paul and Tommy caught up on a few years - just a few - so many have passed; I had a chance to visit with Mrs. D and Tommy. Tommy, Brenda, Nena P and I have been Facebooking about old families and family homes - namely the Woodley Home - for several days. I told Tommy that the history of Iuka interests me more than ever, of course, since we've moved back here. With all the graciousness of a 93 year-old Southern lady, Mrs. D told me to be sure to come back. She remembered Paul and I have met her one time, and still the grace and charm, the care for a guest's comfort was upper most in her mind. I hope to go back and visit. She is another treasure, so many of whom are going home to be with the Lord, and we must remember to anchor onto Him, and to keep Southern manners going! I know I enjoyed the visit and was blessed more than I could have thought when I drew her name.

Paul and I had eaten at the brand new McDonald's here for lunch and met two ladies who, of course, knew or were related to people we knew, namely Brenda and her brother John, and one each of my and Paul's classmates. (That's the "point" in one's life - the "class." The Class is the face of our clock, the starting and ending of a whole era that we always come back to.) Mike had tried to call me, went to voice mail, so he called Paul and met us there as we were leaving. He was delivering to me a cake carrier that Amy had asked Morgan to personalize for me. Morgan has a little cottage industry and uses her Cricut to personalize just about anything you need or want. She's also begun sewing. (It is Mo's Creations on Facebook.) What a sweet surprise from Amy - and with instructions for the colors to be maroon and white!

Other Things:

I returned an electric blanket I ordered - it had two 3-prong plugs and our outlets don't have the capacity for all that, not to mention the cords should not be run between the mattresses, but on the floor - where Lucy can find them and sure 'nuf electrocute herself. It did have dual controls and was plush, not fleece, very nice... but just too, too much. UPS picked up the box today. Amazon makes returns so easy! So I still have a $25 gift card/credit from Amy for Christmas... I did find an old e-blanket and the cord/control (not dual) to just warm the bed before getting in. These achey bones delight in being warmed immediately on going to bed! I don't sleep with the blanket on, though. Just toasting the sheets is enough.

Book club is Thursday and we'll be discussing The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I watched the movie and it helped with continuity. I couldn't get into the play - so many characters and I didn't read continously, so I would lose some train of thought or forget someone's role. Our next book is The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom, which I've read years and years ago, but which deeply touched me; I think I've read all her books. Also Thursday is my first "real" GFWC-MFWC (20th Century Club) meeting. We will meet in the old drug store building downtown (I remember the soda fountain and tables and chairs!), but there is something else there now - a member called it Cathy's, but not sure what it is - a beauty shop maybe? Friday the club is serving birthday cake to residents of Tishomingo Living Center; I volunteered to make one. If they need a layer cake (or stack cake) I can use my new carrier.


It's been rainy and very foggy here since Saturday - when I drove to town to see the movie at church, I had to creep along The Lane and Harmony Road, also in town. IBC showed (with rights) "Courageous." Mike came and went with me; Marsha got sick at the last minute. We enjoyed it - was very good with a challenge not only to men but to families. I also got to see another cousin - Uncle Spencer's (Slip's) son Wayne.


Sunday we had a women's ministry dessert fellowship at church - tons of non-caloric, terrible things we forced ourselves to eat! I had made brownies and added chopped cherries, so they were a little moist. Charlotte made a gluten-free chocolate cake, which was delicious - baking can be done without wheat flour. She's allergic to wheat. We filled out surveys about our interests, participation, talents, where we'd best serve or want to be used. The younger ladies are organizing this, wanting all ages to get to know one another better.


Lucy is in my lap in a weirdly contrived posture - her neck is turned all the way back over her body, like a duck would sleep. As long as she's in my lap with I'm clicking away, she's happy. And she's warm on my lap.


Since we ate Angus burgers for lunch, I expect supper will be lighter. Mine will anyway. Paul has gone to a MS State alumni meeting at Homestead. Don't know whether he'll eat or not. Oscar has been fed. He knows the words supper and breakfast (as well as many others, some he chooses to ignore; I guess dogs can have selective hearing, too). Anything involving food, he's on it.

Saturday walk, before the fog:

The back yard has hundreds of these...

Bird's nest...

Worn board on old bird house...

The darkening woods...

Some kind of scales or fungus...

Tommy, Paul's brother, came and watched the Alabama/LSU game last night and I actually watched 99% of it. Expecting a tough battle, it was a little let-down, but still glad Alabama won, they being our near neighbor. Mike was happy, too.

Tommy brought me one of Carol's, his wife, CDs she had made. She'd always wanted to do one and finally did - at a studio in Muscle Shoals. I listened to it in "Amy's Room" while Paul and Tommy watched the start of the game. It is incredible! I just lay back on the bed and thanked God for such a sweet voice and His blessings, looking at the pattern in the "pink" room wallpaper and thinking about all this house has seen, all this family has seen, all the years... She has a wonderful voice with so much range and depth. Greg W accompanied her on piano, the only instrument; and on one song by voice. She accompanied herself (voice/mix) on one song - and I know just enough to say harmonized, though that's probably not right, and just shows my ignorance of music. But it was pretty. In fact, I asked for a half a dozen more copies to give to Amy, Sher and some others. Paul and I listened to it in the truck going to and from town today. One of the songs, not a gospel or worship song, was "Danny Boy," and I thought of my cousin Danny. JoAnn said that was "his" song. Danny passed away not long ago and it was especially moving.

So now off to find something... a bowl of cereal probably.

FOUR THORNES

I had lunch today with three cousins and three friends who might as well be related; in some way, we all are relatives. Salinda (from Memphis) and her family are spending some time at her dad's house (now her and Richard's) in Paden, which is about 20 miles from here. They needed groceries so came to Iuka today and we met at Homestead for lunch. Around the table left to right: me, Sherry (my cousin Salinda's niece, her sister's daughter-in-law), Salinda, Patsy, Brenda, Charlotte (Brenda married Charlotte's first cousin Jim), Edwina.  Just made a party out of it! Great being together!

On the moving/working front this week: our new A/C-heating system was installed and has made a huge difference. Two new vents were added: one in the kitchen, one in the utility room. The back door was installed Tuesday, or was it Wednesday. The weeks and days are just flying by.

When they were working on the heat pump replacement, we used the two window units we have used before and which Amy had used. That's when this cold started. Some is allergies I know because of the dust I'm not able to reach yet! I dusted and vacuumed as far as I could reach today, and I've used Flonase and taken allergy medicine. I have one more thing to use and I really don't want to - the strong cough capsules. It's only when I lie down that I cough much.

Charlotte invited me and Paul to eat with her tonight, so we're going to her house to eat. Brenda said she and Jim would be there. Charlotte's dad Clay and Jim's dad Noel are brothers. Noel passed away several years ago. Mr. Clay is 88 - Bren said the longest living Whitfield male ever, she thought. I've seen Miss Earline at church when we went for Aunt Ginny's birthday a few weeks ago. We used to spend some time at their house when Bren, Charlotte, Martha and I ran around together.

Amy and Matt are coming tomorrow for the weekend. I'm putting a roast on tonight in the Crock Pot; plan to go to the grocery store in the morning for other things. It was just too hot this afternoon. We had a 5-minute downpour yesterday afternoon; just didn't last long enough nor cool things off much. We just haven't had much rain here, sort of like last summer. Leaves are already falling off trees. I looked at the allergy/pollen index for today and it was 10.3 out of 12.

YOUNG AT HEART

A lot has happened since I wrote last.

Sunday morning Paul and I moved our church membershp from Wynne to Iuka Baptist. What a great feeling to look around the congregation and see so many familiar faces - Nancy B and I connected immediately and just beamed at each other. (Her mother and my grandmother were first cousins. If I said that before, well, there it is again... Just a sign of age or exuberance...) The last time Paul and I stood at that altar, we were getting married! We're having such a good time! In the evening service a quartet sang (Unity 4), Southern gospel, and there was ice cream and dessert afterward. Bren and her husband Jim came and we sat together, arm to arm, reading each other's thoughts at certain songs, holding so many memories together. She was my maid of honor at mine and Paul's wedding, too, so she was there at that altar.

Yesterday, we both worked pretty hard - the three huge end tables we and Mama Nick had had for 40 years went out. I'm looking for a coffee table and couple of end tables; have already chosen one online for near one window in the living room. Paul hauled the old tables to Goodwill in Corinth.

Some of this is excerpted from email to Bren tonight:


Busy, busy day today (Tuesday). Took Oscar to Nunley's Animal's Choice Veterinary Clinic - very impressed - I'm sure I've been by there, just never took notice - so neat, pretty. Nice staff, O looked great. Went by WM, got containers, yet again; was gonna get Aunt Ginny's bday pix done but machine broken. Went by PO but closed (open @ 9); then home, baked dessert for Young at Heart - went there for lunch, program; really good time - Tab (Paul's cousin's wife) and Bobbie Counce sang - some hymns, some old - like King of the Road! Linda Hester was there - we sat with her - she told about book club at library; will try to go next time; Jo Russell told me about WMU; she and her husband Tucker lived in LR early 60's. WMU meets one hour - no potluck. so that's 3 things I've already got going. Registered to vote. Went by Iuka Discount Furniture - saw Johnny S - looked at coffee table, end tables. Home, and Sandra came out, showed me quilt pieces she'd put together; got out all pix of Nichols family I knew of and sent home with her - David wants her to scan them, be easy to store on disks, easy to copy; I said, good, you can make me a copy if you will! He's all excited about the family pic I found - and it's Daddy Nick's mother's side of the family - Burns - not Nichols. He'd seen it before; Googled an aunt's name and found all the names! But their cousin Nan (all into genealogy) said she'd send a key, too. Talked to Edwina; will go next week and help her with scanning pix.  Sher called; usually does when gets off work, we talk till she gets her walk done or gets home. Paul and I ate light supper - cheese/crackers/apple crumble I made.

Got all pic albums put away - at least all in same room; no one place big enough for all of them; that was a job. Not in date order, but at least they're put away. I know I keep thinking somewhat like I did at work - I always tried to have that day's work finished before I would go home, and that's not like that with moving. It is still there.


Sher reminded me of saying on phone book several yrs ago - probably 20 - "Mississippi - It's Like Coming Home!" and it is!!


And for the first time in my life today someone told me I - I! - was outgoing!!!  She said, you and your husband are both outgoing... what a praise to God! If not for Him!! A lot of the deeply buried/forgotten memories of life in this little town are coming back to me when I talk to folks. It's like a flower opening up to the sun; I know that maybe sounds trite, but it's the way I feel - coming home. I've always loved the verse about God putting the solitary in families. He did it when we moved to Wynne - what a wonderful family of friends there; and He's done it again, bringing us back to family here. Maybe this is the "honeymoon" of the move; maybe the new will wear off. I hope not. I hope I never cease to be surprised at being warmed by the love of these people and the "feel" of this place.

Thank you, God, for your grace - I look back especially two years ago when I was still at work, and You literally "hung in there with me!" Amazing grace! Thank You for these happy, relaxing times with Paul, family and friends. 

HEARTBEAT OF HOME

In church this morning I heard the Southern Railroad train blowing at the crossings a couple of blocks away. In seconds, the floor of the church began to pulse in a steady thrum. At first I couldn't think what it could be, not associating the sound and the movement right away  - an earthquake? No one seemed alarmed at all.  Then I realized - it was the train clicking its way down the track, shaking the ground all the way up the street to church.

Paul's cousin and her husband, Glenda and Emory Jones, met us in the foyer of the church and we went to our Sunday School classes this morning. Immediately I felt at home - there was Glenda, Charlotte Vines came in - my old friend from high school days, although she graduated from Burnsville; Nancy Brinkley - the daughtor of my teen years mentor, Willard and Herbert Robinson. She looks and sounds just like her mother - I thought I would cry, and felt like that teenager way back when, as soon as she prayed later in the class. Willard's voice! Time just turned back! And there was Peggy Thorne - I asked her which Thorne? Hosea! My cousin! He looked me up later in the sanctuary; we didn't get to talk much today, but I want to visit with him some more. Some years ago we exchanged Christmas cards and then just gradually lost touch.

I don't know if everyone has these kinds of feelings when they move "back home." Gratitude, welcomed, gathered in, like a sigh, arms of a whole community and every connected cousin and cousin-in-law you can imagine, not to mention brothers and their families, just open wide for you. You know they're as glad to see you as you are to see them. In a community this size (about 2900) it would be very easy to know just about everyone if you've lived here all your life, which we, of course, have not. But no longer than we did, the roots are here and we can feel them pushing further down into the rich soil of the families. I'm thankful for Brenda telling me histories, connections. For 40+ years I've heard about the people, now I'm finally getting to know the people. How many emails have we exchanged over the years with her telling me about this one and that one; or reading obituaries in the paper we continued to receive... Or birth and wedding announcements, decades passing and the children of our classmates recognizable, then their grandchildren only if we read the lineage, the grandparents' names, sometimes the surname making them recognizable.

I will hear Paul talking to men at church who are welcoming us - "You don't know who I am, do you?" (He recognizes many of them.) And they are surprised when he tells them; they grin and shake his hand and I know they have flashbacks to the younger days, just like we do.

Yesterday one of our "near" neighbors, about 3 miles away, brought a cake to us. Her husband Earl (who graduated with Paul) had invited Paul to his class a couple of weeks ago and that's where he went today; and Emory is in Earl's class, too. The cake is delicious lemon. I took Mama Nick some today for lunch when we stopped by to see her after church. Paul's brother David came by also and we got to visit with him.

I'm going backward here through the last few days... Friday night Paul and I ate with my brother Mike and his wife Marsha. She was kinda tired from babysitting - they'd had Tyler overnight while Morgan and Steven had a date night. Not being used to nocturnal squeaks and grunts from a baby, she didn't sleep very well and was up quite a bit. But it was good for Morgan and Steven to go out, though she did call the grandparents a couple of times to check in.  And of course Marsha loved it - I don't think Mike got up with him, though! This time...

So it goes - many boxes still to unpack, but beginning to look like home. The TV stand Paul and I put together Thursday night just about got me; I finally had to just quit and go to bed. I said never again will I assemble a piece of furniture. But already I've looked at end tables for the living room. I think we'll first look at the furniture store here for something. He finished the cabinet and made adjustments to the drawer Friday morning; meanwhile I nursed my aching back from being down in the floor, holding cabinet parts and such, like I was 36 and not 63!

Every chance she gets, Lucy comes to help me check email, Facebook and write here.



No, Lucy, I didn't ask for a binder clip! You're gonna get your head stuck!

(She didn't. And the binder clip she pawed out is, of course, on the floor.)

LESSONS IN GIVING UP PACKRATTERY

This is big birthday month - yesterday Sherron's, today Tommy's (Paul's brother), Sunday is Neall's, Tuesday Aunt Ginny's, Nate's on the 17th, Richard's on the 17th; Bren has lots of family birthdays this month. Happy birthday everyone!

I seem to recall friends telling me that I would get everything unpacked and put away; it just takes time. And I've heard stories of people who have moved who never got everything unpacked. I'm beginning to think we fall into the latter category.

Oh, we have made huge progress and found many treasures (everyday glassware, some pictures, blue canning jars, quilt tops and pieces), and I lovingly and carefully wash the glasses or little saucers (as Brenda would say, feel it and ooh over it :) ), and put them on the counter - which really is quite small, actually. And then I get into a project like today's, baking cupcakes (Snickers!), and everything  is in the way. And into the Goodwill box it goes.  Five little juice glasses, two pairs, one odd; plastic containers (Take Alongs). No more plastic food containers, please! It took us three mornings to get the attic cleaned out and then I labeled all the plastic bins of Amy's dolls, doll clothes, high school stuff, some of my stuff and stacked it neatly up there. As I may have said, plastic bags will turn to ash over time. Maybe the plastic bins will last longer... This is only one little load of what came out of our now attic. And I'm just saying again - if you have space, you will use it. How do people feel who have no stuff sitting around? I mean, they probably have a life, don't they?  A well preserved quilt top - in a plastic bag which disintegrated when I took the fabric out; Sandra will get it quilted and it'll be a beautiful keepsake. Paul's grandmother probably pieced this. Seems every generation has things unfinished, and that another generation will enjoy.

Simplicity - a bowl Paul made in school, found after ages in the attic.

Ah, but just outside the door are photo ops such as these:

 

*****

My new Mississippi tag is TSU 684. It's official. Paul got all four of our vehicles' tags at once, 682, 683, 684. The antique truck tag will be mailed (permanent like in AR). Now if getting driver's license were so simple. We have to have our Social Security cards, and guess where mine is? In a lockbox in Wynne! Why we didn't empty our lockboxes I do not know. Guess it didn't seem pressing, didn't know we'd need anything, could go back on a visit and get that done. Knowing Paul, he will be up at 6 a.m. Monday morning to make that trip and get our driver's licenses changed over to Mississippi. They still have car inspections here, which amounts to paying $5 for a sticker, for which the attendant asks to see your driver's license, odometer reading, and tag number. You don't even have to honk your horn any more, or turn your lights or blinkers on and off!

Aunt Ginny and I went to a visitation at the funeral home here for one of her friends and distant cousin (Joyce Robertson) and I saw a few folks I remembered, after being introduced to them. I did recognize one lady, but couldn't think of her name till AG told me. Sitting there, looking at people who I wondered if I knew them or not, I did think - people, just people everywhere you go - with souls, good hearts. These could very well be Wynne folks with different lives, faces, relatives. I really missed Wynne folks at that moment, but God seemed to reassure me that indeed, they are all kin and kinfolks but with different lives.

Afterward, we stopped by Velma's and visited her for about 30 minutes. Velma is Aunt G and Mama Nick's sister-in-law. She told me she'd been in the family 60 years and still didn't know all the relatives. AND she has always lived here. So I'm really starting from scratch. (She has a pretty 40" wide GE stove, which is what I'll need when ours is replaced. Because of the width, she said it had to be ordered. I was pretty sure that would be the case.)

I did bake the cupcakes in Mama Nick's oven, with the temperature turned down slightly and the baking time reduced a couple of minutes. They turned out fine. I forgot to put the Snickers in the final eight, but it was still batter-y enough so I slid out the pan and stuck them in. Paul and I each had one for dessert tonight. The recipe made 32, so I'm glad I didn't dump in double the ingredients. That'll be plenty.

Amy is supposed to be home tomorrow; I told her by lunch time - I'm putting on a roast in the crock pot tonight and cooking all those great veggies Bren gave me last night - okra, squash, peas; also tomatoes. I'll clear off the dining room table long enough to sit down to eat!

...AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON

We (Paul) sold our old stove yesterday and I polished it within an inch of it's life. Who wouldn't want this pretty old stove? It's going to a new home and I wanted it to look pretty and it does. I made hamburgers on it last night for me and Paul, told him that was our last cooked meal on that stove, really in this house, I suppose...

Then I started packing everything else in the kitchen - pans, dishes, all the little things you think you might need in a two week interim before moving. You don't. You need only a few things. A plate, cup, fork, spoon.  One pan, one spatula. To live very simply, that is all you need. I'm reminded daily that we have a huge abundance of things we don't need, and most of it, truth be told, have no attachment to, or even want when it comes down to it.

After our hamburgers, we split a Sonic Oreo Blast. He found a plastic spoon in his truck; I got one of the measuring spoons off the ring it was on and that's what we ate with. The measuring spoons had escaped being packed as yet, only reason they were handy.

Tuesday I went to Women on Mission and it was so good to be with "sisters." I know there will be other "sisters" in Iuka, but these ladies I have known - most of them - ever since we've lived here, gone through teen years with our daughters with some, bought the BPW birthday calendar from one, taught GA's with one, just gotten to know them even better since I retired and have time to spend doing things like this.

Today is lunch with the TB's (Travelin' Buddies), Jean, Carol and Charlene. Tonight a small going away get together at some friend's home. Tomorrow - reception at City Hall. Next Tuesday afternoon a reception at the Tech Center.

How much I love Wynne and its people. Yes, bittersweet to move. But ready to move on to this adventure of our retirement years.  So glad Paul decided to retire. We may get on each other's nerves, but at least we'll have plenty of room to go off by ourselves for a while - he on his riding mower and potentially two acres to mow, hack and clear out underbrush; me to Bren's house, or "My Room," or a walk over to Aunt Ginny's!

Now to go and round up stray spoons...

COUNTDOWN

Saturday when I got back to Wynne I went straight to bed for a nap, then to Forrest City for Donna's visitation. I'm so glad I came home. It seemed surreal, though. Still hasn't completely registered that she is not with us any more.  But - she is with Jesus and that is the comfort.  Carolyn was sick and not able to go to either visitation or the funeral (Sunday) and Norma had just pushed herself till she could hardly go, also taking medication for bronchitis and/or laryngitis. It is so good to have friends to hold onto in bad times, and hold we did, literally. The slideshow had many pictures of us girls together at Woodruff, along with Donna's family and other friends, times we would all go out to eat, Christmas parties, Goodie Days at work, "just because" I or one of us had a camera in hand.  One of Donna and me with identical tops on we wore the same day... Sunday  there was hardly sitting room in the chapel (Morgan's), but it was a beautiful service.  I just about lost it when the lady sang "Beaulah Land," which was sung at her husband Evertt's funeral. We went on to the cemetery at Palestine where Evertt, her first husband is buried.

Norma, me, Donna, Becky, at Donna's retirement party. The swing was one of her retirement gifts.

Christmas party at Mike's, 2008; Donna is third from right in red shirt

.

Christmas at Mazzio's, 2008 or '09; Donna just behind Santa's right, in red sweater.

When we get settled again, I'll have to look back at the really old pictures. She worked at Woodruff 35 years and retired in 2007, so we were together quite a long time, as most of us have been fortunate enough to have been.

Paul and I are going to Iuka this weekend, and Oscar, but not the cats. They'll be fine for two days. I don't want to hear Tommy's crying!

The thermostat (Iuka) was installed and it made a huge improvement! John C added a little freon and taped up a hole in the old unit casing. We know it'll have to be replaced soon; that's on our growing to-do list. The house there is looking more liveable than this one, although it isn't too bad, just getting that vacated look.

We've had so many well wishes and we're greatful for so many wonderful friends here. You don't live in a city for 42 years and not be sad to leave the people. Wynne is wonderful; Arkansas is wonderful. We've lived here 2/3 of our lives! I visited with Shelby yesterday, my Sunday School teacher, and told her that God "put the solitary (us) in families" - all our church family, our many friends from school, Woodruff, city and state friends and acquaintenances. It has been a blessing and a privilege for us to be here and for Wynne to put their trust and faith in Paul to govern the city for twelve-plus years. I'm amazed to look back and see God's hand so graciously providing and blessing us. And it has been grace - unmerited favor. Who would have thought two little Mississippians from that quiet little town would be so fortunate?  Okay, I can't do this. I can't and won't say "goodbye!" Just - until next time.

I will continue the blog; and thank you all so much for taking time out of your lives to check on ours...  We love you.

SURPRISES!

I won a summer goodie bag from Hairjazz! When I was there last week I put my name in for the drawing, and Marcie called to tell me I'd won! I picked it up today and it is some nice Merle Norman products in a pretty "flip flop" fabric bag. I'm sure Marcie made the bag; I forgot to ask. She wasn't there when I picked it up.  I hardly ever win anything - and in the last couple of months I benefited from Amy's prize at Piggly Wiggly ($48 grocery card) and the prize today!

One day when I was packing I came across this lovely blast from the past.  All of us Woodruff girls in probably 1970, when Forrest City celebrated its centinniel. Front, seated, L-R: Ernestine Lindsey, Carolyn Henley, Cheryl Neeley. Standing L-R: Judy Stotts, Teri Daniels Jackson, Polly Jones, Juanita Lindley, Carol Banton, Pat Nichols, Sue Cullum, Maxine Thornton, Bertha Ragle, Nell Sanders, Dorothy Brawner, Ida Whittle Drury. The bonnets hardly fit some of our hairdos!

Of the fifteen, five have died. My goodness, that's one-third... Only one of these ladies is still working at Woodruff: Carolyn Henley (middle front, seated). She really deserves a prize!

LOSS OF A GENTLE MAN

We were in Iuka this past weekend and Sunday morning Bren called and said her daddy had fallen and was in the hospital there. There were other major complications also - he'd had a heart attack, had pneumonia and other infections. Amy and I went to the hospital just as the EMTs were moving him to a room and we got to actually say a few words to him and be with Bren for a while. Other family was there - Jim, her husband; her son and his wife, their three boys, uncles, cousins. I squeezed Cecil's hand and told him I loved him; he told me he loved me, too. Even in his extremely serious state, he knew we were there. I was so concerned about Bren - she and I know our limits and I was so afraid she had once again reached hers. But the strength of God takes over at our weakest moments and carries us through.

Cecil died that night, Sunday night, around 7:30. Bren called me Monday and told me not to come back for the funeral. "You've already been here, got to see him. We'll have our time later. It's okay." We have that - we understand and it was okay not to be there; but she knows I was "there." 

Cecil's wife Rosa, Bren's stepmother, died March 5, and so the short time between, he had gone down quite fast. He and Bren had a wonderful visit last Wednesday, she said; he was lucid, they talked of heaven. The next day he was "seeing" Rosa walk down the nursing home hall.

Cecil was a great influence in my life during my teen years and I know that God gave me Bren and her family as friends at a time I surely needed that strong Christian foundation. I'm so fortunate and blessed to have known him.

CHANGES...

Events seem to be happening pretty fast...

Paul doesn't make rash decisions, and once a decision is made, you can be very sure he has given the matter a lot of thought. And I think he is as ready for retirement as anyone I know! Once you know, "you know."

I didn't expect to hear the announcement on the radio Friday morning at 10:00, during his interview with Lindell, (I think Paul wanted to surprise me!) but it's plain as day - no being vague about it any more. And we weren't keeping anything back that wasn't true at the time. It just seems that once the decision was made to move, everything seemed to fall into place. At least so far. We (or at least I!) may be moving sooner than I thought, if we sell our house here (Wynne). And if not, then sometime mid to late summer,

We spent Easter weekend in Iuka with family, also doing yard work (Paul) and house cleaning (me). I'm always eager to see what has bloomed every time we go and this time it's the irises and red clover on the highway rights-of-way and median. Every trip brings new surprises, renewals and wonderful times with family. We had supper Friday night at Homer's with Mike and Marsha (my brother and sister-in-law), Saturday night with Tommy, Carol, Whitney and Marianna (his brother/family); and church Sunday at Harmony, Aunt Ginny's church, with David, Sandra, Jessi and Jenni.

Mama Nick isn't doing well; I thought she seemed restless Friday. Sunday when we saw her before leaving Iuka, she was more agitated than... Well, she was agitated, and she is not by nature, and has not been. It was sad and unsettling to see her anything other than calm, even in the situation she has been in for the past several months... We aren't sure if something else has happened.

When we arrived back home, yesterday evening, a couple came to look at the house. It seems a little surreal to think of leaving this little house we've lived in for 37 years, and leaving Wynne after 42 years... I'm sure that last drive away will be much different from all the mini-exits of late. I can hardly talk about it to my friends - it's one thing to speak of it objectively, and quite another to be subjective. Wynne is a wonderful city and has given Paul, Amy and me some of the best, if not the best, years of our lives. We have great friends, neighbors, church family: it is truly The City With a Smile. We have put down roots in Wynne, but Iuka is the trunk of the tree. Family and family history is there. In fact, the two acres we bought (with the house) is part of a tract that was probably, according to Aunt Ginny, homesteaded. So we get to carry on a little piece of history. The three tracts that were originally in the family are still owned by descendants.

For myself, I know I am blessed. I ask people how they are and one will inevitably say, "Better than I deserve." And that's the way I feel. I am way more blessed than I deserve to be. And I am so very thankful. So, friends - you will always be dear to me.

PIONEER WOMAN AND MARLBORO MAN

The Drummonds are two gracious people...  Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) started signing books at 6:00 P.M. at Davis-Kidd Bookstore in Memphis, and was still signing when we left after 9:00.  As we - Amy, Ruby and I - waited for Section A to begin waiting... we saw that Ree's husband whose real name is Ladd, was standing not far behind us in the bookstore. We, along with every other person who was waiting, sort of converged upon him and asked for his autograph in Ree's cookbook.  He obliged in the nicest, down-to-earth, blue shirt, jeans, cowboy hat and soft-spoken way.  Cameras were flashing everywhere and I looked around at all the young ladies going ga-ga and thought, well, you did the same thing with the Beatles...  Someone asked him where they stayed and he said the Marriott; the Peabody was booked.  I said, "Then you didn't get to see the ducks!" He smiled and said they did not get to see the ducks. I think all their children (4) were with them, but were with his mother elsewhere. 

When we realized it was going to be quite a wait, we decided we had time to go eat. Rafferty's was just as full as the bookstore was, but we didn't have to wait long and by the time we got back, the Line Section was M. We started queing up and suddenly we were there! Talking to Ree! Shaking her hand! She asked how far we'd driven and we told her about 60 miles.  She said they had driven in today. She was just as pleasant, sweet and took as much time as we wanted, as she had if we'd been the very first in line.  And just that quick, it was over.  She signed her new book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, her cookbook, and Where Women Cook  for me, and Ruby's Black Heels.  And we had a great time.

 

It was a good girls' night out and Ruby and Amy hit it off great.  I worked with Ruby for many years, she, with the exception of one year at the Forrest City office, worked at the Moro branch, and we've been on other girls' nights out to eat with more of the WECC crew.  But this was just us three.  She has a daughter three years older than Amy; they - we all - just found lots to talk about.

NEW COMPUTER, AND OTHER THINGS...

Installed today: new hard drive, with "all the memory you'll ever need," as they say. My old computer lasted about ten years. It was due for some upgrades, but a better solution was a new hard drive. It is fast, very fast, which is great. We had to sit and wait on the old one, even at DSL, it was almost like the old dial-up. Thankful the technician installed everything, including climbing around under the computer desk tracking down cords hidden in the dust bunnies. Like refrigeragors (mine anyway) the computer desk doesn't get pulled out often for vacuuming.

Oscar gets to have a grooming tomorrow.  I purposely let his hair grow this winter, but now it's time to trim it all off.  I kept his face, tail, etc., trimmed, but he's due for an overall good cut. 

There is a funeral tomorrow - the mother of the secretary at the street and sanitation department (Carol) died Monday and her funeral is at 2 tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow afternoon Amy and I are going to meet my friend Ruby in Forrest City, drive on to Memphis and go to Davis-Kidd Bookstore to Ree Drummond's book signing. (Pioneer Woman)

Then there is a bridal shower for Kirk's fiance at church at 10:00 on Saturday morning. I look forward to meeting her. (Kirk was on a two-year mission trip to East Asia and has been back in the states not quite a year.)

Sometime in the next few days I plan to visit Iuka and do some work at Mama Nick's house. Maybe I'll go Saturday afternoon, or Sunday afternoon, or Monday morning.

Just seeing how the pictures already on file download - pretty much the same.  Here's an oldie: a future mayor feeding a future doctor. You know it's the '70's - look at all the gold and green! Amy's rocking horse in the background under the window. A pumpkin outside the window on the half-wall, surely fall of the year.

  

EMMY'S BIRTHDAY

The days pass and I get my "events" out of order...

On February 12, Amy and I went to Emmy's birthday party where the theme was "All Things Princess." Oh, how sweet all the little girls looked in their princess dresses, tiaras and tiny "glass slippers!" They little guys were dressed to the nines in knight and king outfits. Tara and Tara S, the dads, all did a great job keeping all the tykes occupied with crafts, punch, ice cream push-ups, cake, little "mice" Hershey kisses... The "disco ball" in the princess tent, I heard Tara say, was her Grandmother Jackson's Christmas light ball from her porch many years ago. She finds so many ways to keep the great-grandmothers and grandmothers' memories alive and a part of the little ones's heritage.

MR. C.

I worked for Glynn Carpenter from 1969 until 2003, minus one year when I went to seek my fortune elsewhere. Thank goodness, it was not to be found elsewhere, and I was hired back at the co-op. He retired in 2003 and he and his wife Mildred moved to Booneville, where their son lives. Over the years they made many trips back to the eastern part of Arkansas to visit old friends, go to annual meetings of the co-op, Christmas banquets. I think he attended all the directors' conferences after he left, held at various places over the state. He maintained friendships in Washington, D. C., as well. He was rich in friends.

Mr. C. went home to be with the Lord on Valentine's Day. It was imminent, yet we are not ready for the home goings. As his nephew said at his funeral yesterday, this earth is what we know, and we can't imagine how glorious Heaven will be. But "Uncle Poe" as he was affectionately known by to relatives had fulfilled God's mission for his life here on this planet and was ready for him to go home. Proverbs 18:24 was a Scripture that Reverend Carlton White read in remembrance of his Uncle Poe: "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Paul, Richard and I traveled to Hamburg, their hometown, for the funeral. It's a four-hour drive, but it seemed fast because we had lots to talk about and catching up to do. I'm so thankful Paul drove - I just couldn't have managed driving that long - 8-hour round-trip - in one day. Paul thought a lot of Mr. C., too, and Mr. C. always asked about him and Amy.

There were at least 30 Woodruff Electric employees and some spouses, as well as several directors there; people from other co-ops. So wonderful to see so many - Alice, Ouida, Neal, Debbie, Ernestine, Dave, Tammy.

I'm thankful I got to work for Mr. C. as long as I did - he was always all about getting the work done, but he always made sure we had opportunities to travel, make friends in other states, at other cooperatives, even in Washington, D. C. Oh, those long walking tours! But how much we got to see and do! The handkerchief "hat" he fashioned to keep the sun off his head when he forgot his hat. He made sure we had good things to eat, had free time, yet opportunities to see how government works - tours of the US capitol, even a White House tour many years ago before security got so very tight and it was easier. Generous, gentle, firm. His favorite pet names for all of us - girls or boys - "Joe," and the girls - "Sunshine." One of his favorite phrases in letters he would dictate or handwrite for me to type: "I cherish your friendship."

I cherish yours, Mr. C. I cherish the friendship of all your family.

GETTING READY FOR HOT WEATHER AND A RETREAT

Paul spent the day working on his old truck, installing an air conditioner he ordered recently. Since the temperature was around 66 today (after last week's snow!), it's high time to get ready. But I think it's supposed to rain the next three days. And Groundhog Day is coming up, which also is Paul's brother David's birthday. I wish Punsxutawney Phil would just stay underground there in Pennsylvania, or it be a cloudy day...

First, the instruction book...

After he got it assembled, getting it under the dashboard...

Gloves and towels and rags and shammies (chamois cloths) and things...

The "Travelin' Buddies" have not been traveling in quite some time, unfortunately. So I've put a date out there for us, tentatively, for a long weekend of February 17 and days following. Hopefully, we can all manage our schedules and spend some time together. Only one of us has a "real" job now, so maybe she can get an extra day off. I think a trip to Iuka would be just the thing. There may be buttercups up by then, jonquils, and yellow gal (forsythia) blooming. At least we have it in the works; if not that weekend, then another one.