THE ORPHANAGE

YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THE YEAR WE WERE PUT INTO AN ORPHANAGE. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, AND LIFE WAS JUST A MATTER OF SURVIVING THE DAY. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND.
MY PARENTS WERE DIVORCED WHEN I WAS ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD. THEY HAD BEEN SEPARATED FOR MUCH LONGER, MY DAD JUST CAME AND WENT ONCE IN AWHILE. IT TURNS OUT THAT HE HAD A YOUNG GIRLFRIEND, JUST 19 YEARS OLD IN ANOTHER CITY. I DIDN'T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS, IT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME. I WAS JUST SO HAPPY WHEN DAD WASN'T AROUND. ONE DAY, MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER RECIEVED NEWS THAT REALLY UPSET THEM. MY FATHER, IN A DRUNKEN RAGE, ACCIDENTALLY SHOT AND KILLED DANA, HIS GIRLFRIEND. SHE WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND THE BABY DIED TOO. MY FATHER WAS SENTENCED TO A LONG PRISON TERM IN UPPER STATE NEW YORK. MOTHER FELT SHE COULD NO LONGER CARE FOR US. MY BROTHER, GEORGE, WAS SEVERLY DIABETIC AND WAS QUITE OFTEN ILL BECAUSE OF IT. THERE WAS ALSO ME AND A LITTLE BROTHER, KENNY TO CARE FOR. ONE DAY, A MEMBER OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH SPOKE TO MY MOTHER, AND SOON AFTER THAT, SHE TOLD US THAT WE WERE GOING TO A PLACE THAT WOULD CARE FOR US UNTIL THINGS GOT BETTER. SHE SAID WE WOULD ONLY STAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND THEN WE WOULD BE TOGETHER AGAIN.
MY LIFE AT THIS TIME WAS VERY DIFFICULT. MOTHER TRIED, BUT THERE WAS NEVER ENOUGH, AND IT SEEMED THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT I WAS AROUND. I SLEPT ON THE SCREENED-IN PORCH IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S APARTMENT UPSTAIRS, AND PRETTY MUCH CARED FOR MYSELF, GEORGE AND KENNY. THAT WAS OKAY FOR ME, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY FATHER OR BOTH OF MY PARENTS WHEN THEY WERE TOGETHER. MY GRANDMOTHER WAS SO LOVING, BUT SHE WAS FINANCIALLY BURDENED AND COULD NOT DO MUCH FOR US. FOR SOME REASON, I WAS ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC AND HAPPY. I NOW KNOW THAT IT WAS A GIFT THAT HEAVENLY FATHER GAVE ME TO SURVIVE THE DIFFICULT TIMES TO COME. IT SEEMS THAT I WAS ABLE TO OVERLOOK THE SNIDE AND CRUEL REMARKS MADE TO US BECAUSE OF OUR POVERTY AND THE FACT THAT MY FATHER WAS IN PRISON. I DIDN'T HAVE MANY CLOTHES AND WAS A LARGE CHILD, AND I WAS THE OBJECT OF RIDICULE FROM MANY PEOPLE AND KIDS AT SCHOOL. I HAD VERY LARGE FEET, SIZE 11, AND I WAS ASHAMED THAT I COULD FIND NO SHOES TO FIT. I WOULD WEAR SIZE 9 SHOES, AND PUT UP WITH THE PAIN IN MY TOES SO THAT MY MOTHER WOULD NOT HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT. WHEN MY TOES POPPED THROUGH THE ENDS OF THE SHOES, I WOULD WRAP PACKING TAPE AROUND THEM AND IGNORE THE TAUNTS FROM THE OTHER KIDS. I HAD BEGUN TO DEVELOP BREASTS, BUT I WAS AFRAID TO TELL MOTHER BECAUSE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANGRY IF SHE HAD TO BUY BRAS FOR ME. A GIRLFRIEND MENTIONED THAT I NEEDED A BRA AND SO I TOOK SOME OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S BRAS AND SEWED THE CUPS UP TO FIT MY BUDDING BREASTS. I JUST DIDN'T WANT MY MOTHER TO HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. THE SUMMER BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE ORPHANAGE, MY MOTHER SENT US TO LIVE WITH AN UNCLE AND HIS FAMILY. THEY TOO, WERE HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, BUT TOOK US IN ANYWAY. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE BURDEN WE WERE FOR THEM, AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFICULTIES THEY WERE FACING. ONE NIGHT FOR SUPPER, MY AUNT SERVED HOT DOGS THAT WERE CUT IN HALF LONG WAYS. I HAD THE FIRST HOT DOG HALF, AND REACHED FOR ANOTHER. SHE LOST HER TEMPER AND COMPLAINED THAT I WAS BEING INCONSIDERATE FOR EATING MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I COULN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WAS SO ANGRY, AND WENT TO BED IN TEARS. IT WASN'T LONG THAT I FOUND MYSELF ON THE BUS BACK TO ATLANTA TO MY HOME. I CRIED FOR HOURS ON THAT BUS, I KNEW THAT I HAD NOT WORKED OUT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHY. THE TRIP WAS FROM OKLAHOMA TO ATLANTA GEORGIA, AND I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT MY SITUATION. I WAS GLAD TO BE GOING HOME, BUT I FELT THAT NO ONE WANTED ME ANYWHERE. SOMEWHERE IN ALABAMA, A MAN BEGAN TO TALK TO ME. BEING YOUNG, I UNBURDENED BY PROBLEMS TO HIM. HE SEEMED SYMPATHETIC, AND EVENTUALLY TOLD MY I COULD GO HOME AND LIVE WITH HIM. FOR A MOMENT, I FELT HAPPY THAT SOMEONE WANTED ME, AND IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN ANY DANGER. I ALMOST GOT OFF THE BUS WITH HIM IN ALABAMA, BUT I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER AND HOW SHE WOULD WORRY IF SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME. I TOLD HIM THAT I NEEDED TO GO HOME TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER, AND WOULD COME BACK TO ALABAMA AFTER THAT. I WAS VERY INNOCENT.
AFTER THE LONG RIDE, I FINALLY ARRIVED IN THE ATLANTA BUS DEPOT. I KNEW THAT NO ONE WOULD BE THERE TO GREET ME, AND SO I TOOK MY BAG AND GOT ON THE CITY BUS TO GO HOME. UPON ARRIVING, I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. EVERYTHING OF MINE WAS GONE. MY BED, MY CLOTHES, EVEN MY CAT. I HAD BEEN ERASED. MOTHER HAD NOT PLANNED ON MY COMING BACK! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY DIFFICULT LIFE, I FELT TRUE DESOLATION. NOTHING HAD EVER HURT ME SO MUCH AS REALIZING THAT TRULY, NO ONE WANTED ME. AGAIN, MY HEART LOOKED FOR THE POSITIVE. SURELY THERE WOULD BE NEW THINGS TO REPLACE MY OLD ONES. PERHAPS THEY WERE JUST GOING TO SURPRISE ME AND I GOT HOME TOO SOON. BUT, I FOUND MYSELF HAVING TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH, AND TO LIVE OUT OF MY SUITCASE. THIS IS THE SITUATION I WAS IN WHEN MOTHER TOLD US THAT WE WERE GOING TO A CHILDREN'S HOME FOR A SHORT TIME. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS TO GET RID OF US. I THOUGHT WE WOULD ONLY STAY AWHILE AND THEN COME BACK HOME. THIS WAS AUGUST OF THAT YEAR, AND SURELY WE WOULD COME HOME BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
THE BIG DAY ARRIVED AND MOTHER ORDERED A CAB TO TAKE US TO THE HOME. IT WAS VERY HOT, AND ANXIETY WAS HIGH, BUT ALL I KNEW WAS THAT AN ADVENTURE WAS IN STORE. GEORGE WAS VERY ANGRY AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO RUN AWAY. KENNY WAS TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, AND BLIND TO THE SITUATION. I HAD WAY TOO MUCH FAITH IN MY MOTHER. I WAS THE FIRST TO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE GIRLS DORMITORY. I WAS USHERED FROM THE CAB, GIVEN A QUICK PECK ON THE CHEEK AND ADMONISHED TO BE GOOD. BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE CAB WAS SPEEDING AWAY AND LITTLE KENNY WAS SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY FOR ME. I COULD HEAR HIM UNTIL THE CAB DISSAPEARED AROUND THE BEND IN THE ROAD. THERE I STOOD, BAG IN HAND AND FEELING ABSOLUTELY NO EMOTION AT ALL. I WANTED TO BE BRAVE FOR MOTHER, AND DIDN'T WANT HER TO SEE ME UPSET. TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT MY RECEPTION AT THE CHILDREN'S HOME. LOVE, NANASEE

VACATION IS OVER, SCHOOL IS STARTING!

I WANTED TO CLOSE THE ACCOUNT OF MY VISIT WITH THE "EVERYBODY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, AND SUFFICE IT TO SAY, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. THERE WERE CUPCAKES, SODA AND DOLLAR STORE GIFTS. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT THE GIFTS WERE ENEXPENSIVE, EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM TO UNWRAP. WE LOVED HAVING PEANUT WITH US, AND AFTER THE PARTY, WE SETTLED DOWN TO GET SLEEP FOR THE LONG TRIP HOME.
I HATED TO LEAVE AARON, SARAH AND THE CHILDREN, BUT I SO WANTED TO COME HOME TO MY SWEETHEART. THE TRIP HOME TOOK ABOUT 11 HOURS, AND ALL AND ALL IT WASN'T TOO BAD. I DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL FOR AWHILE!
SINCE I HAVE BEEN HOME, NOTHING MAJOR HAS HAPPENED. I DID GET A NEW WASHING MACHINE- REMEMBER THE OLD NEW ONE BURNED UP? IT TOOK A MONTH OF FOOLING AROUND BY THE REPAIR GUYS, AND I FINALLY GOT FED UP. ALL MORNING I CALLED THE REPAIR COMPANY, SEARS, AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MACHINE. (THAT WAS ALL THE WAY TO GERMANY). EVERYONE KEPT DODGING THE ISSUE, AND FINALLY I CALLED THE OUTLET WHERE I PURCHASED MY WASHER. (AND MANY APPLIANCES OVER THE YEARS). THE MANAGER SAID, "MRS. SEE, JUST BRING IT BACK IN. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER ONE! NOW, HOW EASY IT THAT? WHY DO THEY ALWAYS JERK YOUR TAIL WITH WARRANTIES AND OTHER DIFFICULTIES WHEN A MANAGER CAN JUST FIX IT? ANYWAY, I NOW HAVE A NEW WASHER, AND CLEAN CLOTHES.
FOR THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE GOTTEN READY FOR THE LITTLE BOYS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. BUT, THE MOST SURPRISING NEWS IS: SISSY IS GOING TO SCHOOL TOO! SHE HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO BE A LAWYER, (SHE COULD ARGUE THE STINK OFF OF A SKUNK). SHE STARTS CLASSES NEXT WEEK, AND IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT IF ANYONE CAN DO IT, SHE CAN. I SEE THE EXCITEMENT IN HER EYES, AND THE HOPE AND WONDER THAT SHE CAN CHASE THIS DREAM. I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO HELP HER.
I WONDER WHAT IS LEFT FOR ME IN LIFE? I HAVE A LOVING SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE WITH MY ETERNAL LOVE, 5 CHILDREN WHO MEAN MORE THAN LIFE TO ME, MY GRANDCHILDREN, A LOVING AND SURE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND (IN MY OPINION) AFFLUENCE THAT I NEVER THOUGHT TO SEE. I STRUGGLE WITH MY HEALTH, AND GRIEVE FOR MY CHILDREN WHO HAVE PASSED ON, BUT FIND JOY AND PEACE IN THE SURE KNOWLEGE OF ETERNAL LIFE. I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT EACH NEW DAY WILL BRING. MY GOAL NOW, IS TO WRITE AND PUBLISH A BOOK BASED ON THIS BLOG. I AM SURE IT WILL TAKE SOME DOING, BUT I AM DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I ALSO WANT TO ENJOY EACH DAY BASKING IN THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS- AND FINDING NEW AQUAINTANCES THAT WILL ENHANCE MY LIFE. I WANT TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH THOSE WHO WANT TO BE NEAR ME. I WANT TO RADIATE THE LOVE THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN ME, AND I WANT OTHERS TO FEEL THAT LOVE. I HAVE SO ENJOYED WRITING FOR YOU, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, PERHAPS NOT AS FREQUENTLY, BUT STILL CONTINUING. PLEASE CALL ME WITH SUGGESTIONS: MY NUMBER IS 281-474-1256. I NEED HELP AND INPUT IN GETTING MY STORY TOGETHER. IT IS NOT ONLY THE STORY OF ME, BUT OF ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE MY LIFE SO SPECIAL. THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT TALES TO TELL, AND HUMOR AND LOVE. I WANT TO WRITE IT ALL. LET'S DO IT TOGETHER! TILL NEXT TIME, LOVE, NANASEE

CARLSBAD CAVERNS

CONTINUING ON THE VACATION, WE HAVE COME TO THURSDAY. THIS IS THE BIG DAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS! LET ME OPEN THIS WITH SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST VISIT TO THE CAVERNS. THE FIRST TIME I WENT WAS WITH MARTIN, 2 YEAR OLD SISSY, MARTIN'S MOM AND BOBBIE JO IN MY TUMMY. THE CAVERNS ARE INCREDIBLY HUGE, AND IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT THE TREK. ON THIS FIRST VISIT, I WAS 21, 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND STILL DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT IN THE PERFECT PHYSICAL CONDITION I HAD BEEN IN ONLY ABOUT 5 MONTHS BEFORE. YOU CAN GO TO THE CAVERN BY ELEVATOR OR BY WALKING THE TRAIL THAT TAKES JUST ABOUT AN HOUR GOING STRAIGHT DOWNHILL. THE WALKING TRAIL IS SO FABULOUS, BUT WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS, YOU LEGS BEGIN TO ACHE AND YOU START TO FEEL THE BURN. MARTIN AND HIS MOM WERE JUST WALKING ALONG, FULL OF PEP, AND I TRAILED BEHIND, FULL OF, WELL, I HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. I BEGAN TO WONDER IF I COULD HOLD IT. TRYING TO HOLD IT, MADE MY STOMACH UPSET, AND NOW I HAD TWO THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. I DON'T WANT TO BE A PARTY POOPER, BUT NATURE IS KNOCKING ON MY DOOR, (BOTH OF THEM) AND I WAS GETTING NERVOUS. I FINALLY SPOKE UP AND ASKED THE TOUR GUIDE IF THERE WAS A BATHROOM DOWN THERE, AND HE SAID "SURE, BUT IT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIL". I ASKED IF HE MEANT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIL THAT WAS AN HOUR AWAY, AND HE SAID YES. GREAT. ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN, THERE WAS THE DOOR TO THE ELEVATOR THAT WOULD GO TO THE TOP. I WAS DESPERATE BY THEN, AND WAS JUST GOING TO GIVE IN AND ASK IF WE COULD GO UP- (GOSH I HATE STUFF LIKE THAT), WHEN, TO MY IMMENSE RELIEF, MARTIN'S MOM WHO WAS A HEART PATIENT, SAID THAT SHE WAS TOO TIRED TO GO ON. I WAS VERY SYMPATHETIC AND TOLD MARTIN TO GET HER IN THE ELEVATOR AND TAKE HER UP. SO, THE FIRST VISIT TO THE CAVERNS ENDED PREMATURELY. WE DRAGGED OUTSELVES OUT OF THE VISITOR'S CENTER AND INTO THE CAR AND BACK TO EL PASO WHERE MARTIN WAS STATIONED AT THE TIME.
THE SECOND VISIT OCCURRED 4 YEARS AGO. BOBBIE JO, JARED, MARTIN AND I HAD GONE TO PHOENIX TO SEE MY NEW GRANDDAUGHTER, ALEX. WE DROVE OUT TO PHOENIX AND IT WAS QUITE A TRIP. WE DID A LOT OF SIGHT-SEEING, AND TOOK MANY PHOTOS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. AS IT CAME TIME TO GO HOME, BOBBIE JO GOT THE IDEA THAT SINCE WE WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE CAVERNS ON THE WAY HOME, WHY DIDN'T WE STOP IN FOR A DAY AND TAKE THE TOUR. I WASN'T SO ENTHUSIASTIC, AS I STILL REMEMBERD THE FIRST TIME I WENT. JAYBIRD WAS SO EXCITED TO GO, I COULDN'T SAY NO, AND SO, WE DROVE FROM PHOENIX TO EL PASO, AND ON TO THE CAVERNS IN ONE DAY. THE CAVERNS WERE FARTHER THAN WE REMEMBERED, AND WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE INTO THE NIGHT. FINALLY, AROUND 11:00 PM, WE ARRIVED AT WHITE'S CITY WHICH IS ABOUT 8 MILES FROM THE CAVERNS. THERE WAS A MOTEL AVAILABLE, AND SO WE GRATEFULLY BOOKED A ROOM. THE HOTEL WAS NEAR A MOUNTAIN SIDE, AND WHEN WE CHECKED IN, THE CLERK TOLD US TO BE CAREFUL OPENING THE DOOR BECAUSE, (I WAS SO TIRED, ALL I HEARD WAS "BLAH, BLAH BLAH). I TOOK THE KEY, WENT TO THE TRUCK AND WE DROVE TO THE ROOM. WHEN I OPENED TO DOOR, (I WAS IN A FATIGUE FOG) JAYBIRD BEGAN TO SCREAM AND BOBBIE JO RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. MARTIN WAS YELLING TO WATCH OUT, AND I JUST STOOD THERE. TWO OF THE LARGEST RACCOONS THAT I HAVE EVERY SEEN, (THE LOOKED LIKE SMALL PIGS WITH MASKS ON) RAN INTO THE ROOM, LOOKING FOR FOOD. BOBBIE JO CAME BACK WITH A BROOM AND HANDED IT TO MARTIN, SAYING THAT SHE HAD TO CALM JAYBIRD DOWN. HE TOLD HER SHE WAS CRAZY IF SHE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS GOING IN THERE WITH THOSE MONSTER RACCOONS, AND I JUST STOOD THERE. I ASKED MYSELF WHY THOSE RACCOONS WOULD EVEN GO INTO A ROOM WITH PEOPLE, AND I REALIZED THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR FOOD. I GOT MY GUTS TOGETHER AND OPENED A COUPLE OF GRANOLA BARS, WAVED THEM IN THE DOORWAY TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE RACCOONS AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. THEY WERENT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO ME AND JAYBIRD POINTED OUT THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T LIKE GRANOLA BARS. WELL, I WAS TIRED AND TRAVEL WEARY, NOT TO MENTION THAT I WAS STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE TREK INTO THE CAVERNS THE NEXT DAY. I GRABBED THE BROOM AND SWATTED ONE OF THOSE RACCOONS AND BOTH OF THEM JUST RAN OUT OF THE ROOM. IN GRATITUDE, I THREW THE GRANOLA BARS OUT AFTER THEM, ONLY TO GET A SPEECH FROM THE HOTEL CLERK WHO HAD COME TO SEE WHAT THE RACKET WAS. "DIDN'T I HEAR HIM TELL ME THAT THERE WERE RACCOONS IN THE AREA THAT WOULD CHARGE INTO THE ROOM IF I WASN'T CAREFUL?" HE SNAPPED. (NO, ALL I HEARD WAS BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, REMEMBER?) HE TOLD ME I WAS IRRESPONSIBLE TO FEED THE ANIMALS, AFTER ALL, HOW COULD THEY KEEP THEM AWAY IF "TOURISTS" KEPT FEEDING THEM. HE WAS STILL GOING ON WHEN I SLAMMED THE DOOR IN HIS FACE. LET HIM STAY OUT THERE WITH THEY "MAVERICK COONS". I HAD HAD ENOUGH. WE GOT SETTLED IN, TURNED OUT THE LIGHT, AND JAYBIRD WHISPERED, "NANA, DID YOU COUNT HOW MANY RACCOONS CAME IN? ARE YOU SURE THEY ALL GOT OUT?" NO, I WAS NOT SURE. WAS THERE ANOTHER COON IN THE ROOM? WAS IT HIDING, ONLY TO JUMP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO TERRORIZE US? SO, ON GO THE LIGHTS, AND WITH NERVES STRUNG TIGHT, WE CHECK UNDER THE BED, IN THE CLOSET AND IN THE BATHROOM. NO RACCOONS. STILL, I COULD NOT RELAX, I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING BACK IN THE ROOM SOMEHOW. THE NEXT DAY, TIRED AND EXHAUSTED, WE GO TO THE CAVERNS. THIS TIME, WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO TAKE THE ELEVATOR DOWN. I GOT POOPED OUT WITHIN THE FIRST LEG OF THE TRAIL, AND WENT BACK TO AWAIT THE REST OF THE FAMILY. IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR OR A BIT MORE, AND THEY RETURNED, FULL OF WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THE FABULOUS SITES OF THE HUGE UNDERGROUND CAVERN. I HID MY RESENTMENT AT NOT BEING IN BETTER SHAPE TO TAKE THE FULL TOUR, AND FOR THE SECOND TIME, CARLSBAD CAVERNS WAS A DISSAPOINTMENT TO ME.
SO, ON THIS, THE THIRD TRIP TO THE CAVERNS, I VOWED TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT. AS WE DROVE UP TO THE CAVERNS, AARON AND I HAD SOME WONDERFUL VISITING TIME. WE ARRIVED AT THE CAVERN VISITOR'S CENTER, AND I HID MY FEAR OF NOT ENJOYING MYSELF. MY FEET STILL HURT FROM THE WALKING OF THE PREVIOUS DAYS AND AS USUAL I WORRIED THAT AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE CAVERNS I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. I ALSO THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE OUT BEFORE THE TOUR WAS OVER AND HAVE TO SIT WITH THE REST OF THE "CAVERN TOUR FAILURES" WHILE I ONCE AGAIN WAITED FOR THE FAMILY. WITH DETERMINATION, I STARTED OFF THE ELEVATOR INTO THE CAVERNS. I TRIED NOT TO THINK OF THE UPCOMING TWO MILE TREK, UP THE TRAIL AND DOWN THE TRAIL, 750 FEET UNDERGROUND. I CLOSED MY MIND TO MY BLISTERED FEET AND BEGAN TO ENJOY THE FABULOUS TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES. THE CHILDREN WE LIKE LITTLE PUPPIES, GAMBOLING ALONG THE TRAIL TO THE CONSTANT REMINDER TO "STAY CLOSE BY". AS I WALKED ALONG, WONDERING AT THE MAJESTY OF THE CREATIONS OF HEAVENLY FATHER, I BEGAN TO POUR SWEAT WITH EXERTION. I KEPT MY MOUTH CLOSED. ON AND ON WE WALKED, COMMENTING ON THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE, AND I BEGAN TO RELY MORE AND MORE ON THE HANDRAILS TO KEEP GOING. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, I WAS STRUGGLING AND SOAKING WET WITH PERSPIRATION. I HAD THOUGHTS OF JUST SITTING DOWN FOR AWHILE, AND LETTING THE FAMILY GO ON AHEAD. THEN, QUIETLY, AARON TOOK MY ARM AND ASKED IF I WAS DOING OKAY. I TRIED TO SAY THAT I WAS, BUT IT WAS APPARENT THAT I WAS GETTING POOPED OUT. HE TOLD THE FAMILY TO STOP AND LET ME REST, AND FOR AWHILE, WE SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL AND TALKED OF ALL THE THINGS WE HAD SEEN AND OUR IMPRESSIONS. THEN, UP WE GOT AND ON WE WENT. THE TRAIL WENT SHARPLY UPHILL FOR AWHILE, AND ELI STAYED BEHIND AND "WATCHED AFTER ME". HE APPPOINTED HIMSELF MY "GUARDIAN" AND NEVER LEFT MY SIDE. HE CAREFULLY EXPLAINED THE BEST WAY TO WALK DOWNHILL ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE, AND WE SO ATTENTIVE. FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, THE MOST WELCOME SITE OF THE END OF THE TRAIL CAME INTO VIEW. I HAD MADE IT! IN SPITE OF BLISTERED FEET, BURNING LEGS AND CRUSHING FATIGUE, I HAD MADE IT. IT WAS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE INCIDENTS OF THIS TREK THROUGH THE CAVERNS. IT WAS SO AMAZING, AND I LEARNED THAT I COULD DO IT IF I TRIED. ELI AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE MEMORY OF HIS HELPING ME TOO- HOW PRECIOUS. THE NEXT DAY WAS A DAY OF RECOVERY, AND BECKY FLEW IN SO THAT SHE COULD DRIVE HOME WITH US ON SUNDAY. TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE EVERYBODIES BIRTHDAY PARTY AND THE TRIP HOME. SO, TILL THEN, LOVE, NANASEE

SHOPPING AT SAM'S WITH THE MUNCHKINS

AFTER A ROUSING DAY OF OUTLET MALL MANIA, I DECIDED TO TONE IT DOWN A BIT AND JUST GO TO SAM'S TO GET A FEW THINGS TO SUPPLEMENT THE HOUSEHOLD. MIND YOU, AARON HAD FULLY STOCKED THE CUPBOARDS, BUT I WANTED TO HELP OUT, SO SISSY AND I DECIDED TO TAKE ALL OF THE CHILDREN AND GO TO SAM'S WHILE SARAH DID SOME TUTORING. FIRST OF ALL, WE NEEDED LUNCH. BY THE WAY, THIS WAS THE SAME DAY THAT WE WERE ACCOSTED BY A RATTLESNAKE-THAT HAVING HAPPENED IN THE LATE MORNING, AND SAM'S AFTER THAT. EVERYONE WAS HUNGRY, AND WE DECIDED THAT PIZZA WAS THE ANSWER. I HAD FINALLY WISED UP AND DECIDED TO GET A MOTORIZED CART TO GIVE MY FEET A BREAK. THE CHILDREN THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME, AND MADE COMMENTS LIKE, "NANA, ARE YOU OLD NOW? WHAT IF SOMEONE WHO IS CRIPPLED COMES IN AND NEEDS A CART? IS THAT CART GOING TO CARRY YOU? GEE, YOU ARE SURE GOING SLOW! CAN I RIDE TOO? CAN I RIDE IN THE BASKET? CAN I DRIVE THE CART FOR YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH US?" AND ON AND ON. EVERYONE WITHING HEARING RANGE WAS SMILING AND A FEW LAUGHING OUTRIGHT, AND FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO HAVE MISERABLE FEET- BUT THEN I DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO ENJOY MYSELF, AND TO HECK WITH IT. SO, TO THE SNACK BAR. YOU CAN'T GET A CART CLOSE TO THE SNACK BAR, SO ELI AND BEN DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER THE PIZZA. "GET PEPPERONI! NO, GET SAUSAGE! WAIT, NANA CAN'T HAVE MEAT, GET CHEESE! I DON'T WANT CHEESE! I DO, I DO!(JACOB). NANA WANTS A VEGGIE! SHE CAN'T EAT A WHOLE VEGGIE, AND I AM NOT GOING TO HELP HER!" BY NOW THE LINE IS GETTING LONGER AND THE CUSTOMERS DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF PIZZA WE GET AS LONG AS WE JUST GET IT. WE FINALLY DECIDE ON CHEESE AND EVERYONE IS HAPPY. (EVERYONE EXCEPT THE LINE OF CUSTOMERS, THEY ARE GETTING CRABBY.) THE PIZZA IS FINALLY READY, WE SLICE AND SERVE, AND IMMEDIATELY JACOB DROPS HIS ON THE FLOOR. "FIVE SECOND RULE!" SHOUTS ELI, AND GRABS IT UP OFF THE FLOOR. "THAT DON'T COUNT WHEN YOU ARE IN A PLACE WHERE THE FLOOR IS ALWAYS DIRTY!" SAYS JACOB. (THE CLEAN-UP MAN IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON HIS FACE.) BEN ADVISES JACOB TO "JUST BLOW IT OFF, IT IS FINE", AND JACOB LOOKS STRICKEN. I TOSS THE OFFENDING SLICE AND OFFER ONE OF MINE. "GREAT, NOW NANA IS GOING TO STARVE!" SAYS BEN. ELI QUICKLY ASSURES BEN THAT "NANA IS NEVER GOING TO STARVE, THAT IS WHY HEAVENLY FATHER GAVE US SO MUCH OF HER". FINALLY, FINALLY, WE HAVE FINISHED LUNCH. I PROMISED THE KIDS THAT EACH OF THEM COULD HAVE A BOOK. I SHOULD HAVE FACTORED IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT 5 KIDS WOULD TAKE TO EACH CHOOSE A BOOK. THE AFTERNOON IS WEARING ON, AND I MUST ADMIT, MAYBE MY PATIENCE JUST A BIT AS WELL. BOOKS ARE CHOSEN AND WE MOVE ON. TO CLOTHING, TO SOCKS TO TENNIS SHOES TO JEANS. IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN MY KIDS WERE SMALL- NOTHING CHANGES DOES IT? THEN, AT LAST, WE ARE READY TO GO AND GET THE "FEW" THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WE NEEDED. OPINIONS ARE FLYING, "GET THE COOKIES, NO, NOT COOKIES, CUPCAKES! GET CHEETOS, I DON'T WANT CHEETOS, I WANT FRITOS, I WANT POTATO CHIPS! NANA, ALI IS CRYING, SHE DOESN'T WANT CHIPS!" YES, NOTHING CHANGES OVER TIME AT ALL. TO SOLVE THE DILEMMA, I BUY A BAG OF FRITOS, A BAG OF CHEETOS AND A BAG OF CHIPS. ALI DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY IF SHE DOESN'T WANT ANY. OH, AND COOKIES AND CUPCAKES. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME ANYWAY? I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT FOR MY CHILDREN! FINALLY, I GO AND GET THE FRUIT THAT I CAME FOR. SINCE I HAVE ENDULGED EVERYONE ELSE, I SPLURGED ON MYSELF. CHERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, KIWIS, PEACHES, GRAPES AND STRAWBERRIES. I FIGURE WITH 9 PEOPLE TO FEED, THE PRODUCE WILL NOT SPOIL. AS I GO TO CHECK OUT, I NOTICE THAT BEN IS LOOKING VERY UNHAPPY. HE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD, AND SHOULD NOT LOOK SO CONCERNED. I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS WRONG, AND HE ASKED MY NERVOUSLY HOW I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING. I HUGGED HIM AND TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY, THAT HEAVENLY FATHER HAD BLESSED ME SO THAT I COULD ENJOY PAYING FOR THE THINGS WE HAD CHOSEN. HE BRIGHTENED UP AND FELT MUCH BETTER. ELI TOLD HIM THAT NANA ALWAYS HAD WHAT SHE NEEDED, AND THAT SHE LOVED TO SHARE. I LOVE MY GRANDSONS. WE LOADED THE VAN, AND DROVE HOME. WE WERE ALL TIRED, FULL OF PIZZA AND READY TO RELAX. WE HAD ANOTHER EVENING OF PLAY IN THE BACK YARD.
I FORGOT TO MENTION, THAT WHEN I GO TO VISIT THE GRANDCHILDREN, WE ALWAYS HAVE AN "EVERYBODY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY". THIS IS BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO BE TOGETHER FOR EACH BIRTHDAY, AND SO WE HAVE ONE FOR EVERYONE WHEN WE ARE ALL TOGETHER. AS THE CHILDREN PLAYED UNDER THE MOONLIGHT, THE GROWNUPS PLANNED THE PARTY. IT WAS GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, SO THAT PEANUT COULD BE THERE AS SHE WAS FLYING IN TO DRIVE HOME WITH US.
THE PARTY IS SIMPLE. WE DRAW NAMES FOR GIFT GIVING. WE MAKE CUPCAKES, DECORATE THEM AND GO TO THE DOLLAR STORE. EVERYONE GETS TO SPEND THREE DOLLARS ON THE NAME THEY HAVE CHOSEN, (SNEAKING AROUND SO THAT THE RECIPIENT WILL BE SURPRISED) AND THEN THE ITEMS ARE TAKEN TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE SO THAT NANA CAN BUY THEM. IN THE MEANWHILE, NANA HAS PICKED OUT THE PLATES, NAPKINS, BALLOONS, TABLE CLOTH, WRAPPING PAPER AND CUPS FOR THE PARTY. WE GO HOME, THE KIDS PLAY AND NANA WRAPS ALL OF THE GIFTS. AFTER SUPPER WHICH IS SERVED ON A DECORATED TABLE, WE OPEN THE GIFTS AND HAVE THE CUPCAKES. IT IS SO MUCH FUN, AND SO INEXPENSIVE. IT IS A WONDERFUL TRADITION IN OUR FAMILY.
WE HAVE TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL SATURDAY, AND THE NEXT DAY IS THURSDAY, WHICH IS THE DAY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO GO TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS. I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT TOMORROW. TILL THEN, LOVE, NANASEE

APPLE GREEN LEATHER

YESTERDAY, I WAS RECALLING OUR WONDERFUL VACATION, AND I HAVE LOTS MORE TO TELL YOU, BUT FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU THAT THINGS ARE BACK TO NORMAL AROUND HERE!
I SWEAR, I AM A TRAGEDY MAGNET! AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, A SURE FIRE "OOPS", WELL, I COULD GO ON AND ON-
I AWOKE THIS MORNING WITH A SWOLLEN EYE AND LOTS OF PAIN. NOT WANTING TO BE A BABY, I TRIED TO IGNORE IT, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE. I HAD TO GET GOING AS IT IS JAYBIRD'S BIRTHDAY TODAY, AND I WANTED BREAKFAST TO BE PERFECT FOR HIM. PEANUT WENT AND HAD THE LOCAL DONUT PLACE MAKE SPECIAL DONUTS FOR HIM, EACH ONE HAD "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" WRITTEN IN CHOCOLATE! JAYBIRD LOVES BACON, SO I COOKED LOTS OF BACON, SOME EGGS AND PLACED THE DONUTS ON HIS FAVORITE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PLATE. THEN, I LIGHTED A TEA LIGHT CERAMIC BIRTHDAY CAKE CANDLE HOLDER AND LIT THE CANDLE. FINALLY, ICE COLD CHOCOLATE MILK WAS SERVED. IT WAS SO NICE, AND JAYBIRD REALLY LOVED IT. IT WAS DURING ALL THIS THAT I KEPT TRYING TO KEEP MY EYE OPEN AND WIPING AWAY COPIUS TEARS THAT KEPT WEEPING FROM THE SIDE OF THE EYE. WHEN I WAS CLEANING UP, I REALIZED THAT THE SWELLING WAS KEEPING ME FROM SEEING PROPERLY, AND THE PAIN WAS INCREASING. I FINALLY GAVE UP AND TOLD MARTIN TO TAKE ME TO THE EYE DOCTOR, WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SCRATCH IN MY EYE. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MY EYE COULD HAVE GOTTEN SCRATCHED, BUT 52.00 DOLLARS LATER, HERE I AM. (THANK GOODNESS I HAVE INSURANCE, GOODNESS KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST!) I HAVE TO WEAR A PATCH WHILE I AM TREATING IT WITH MEDS, AND THE BLINDNESS IN MY EYE MAKES ME DIZZY. WE WENT TO A FAMILY LUNCH FOR JAYBIRD TODAY, AND PEANUT SAT ACROSS FROM ME. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE COULD NOT LOOK AT ME WITH MY EYE PATCHED. (IT IS A FLESH COLORED PATCH, BIG DEAL). I TOLD HER IF IT BOTHERED HER, JUST GET A MARKER AND DRAW AN EYE ON IT. THE LITTLE BOYS ARE TICKLED TO DEATH THAT I HAVE A PATCH, NOW I AM "PIRATE NANA". OF COURSE I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ALL THE "ARRGHS, AND WALK THE PLANKS" ETC. SO I AM HALF BLINDLY TYPING TONIGHT, SO PLEASE PUT UP WITH ANY TYPOS. OH, IT SHOULD BE FINE IN ABOUT A WEEK.
NOW, BACK TO EL PASO. I LEFT OFF WITH GOING TO THE BASE FOR SHOPPING ON THAT MONDAY, AND WATCHING THE KIDS PLAY IN THE YARD AT NIGHT. OUR FIRST DAY WAS WONDERFUL, AND JUST AS I HAD IMAGINED.
THE SECOND DAY. I GOT UP WITH A DIGESTIONAL UPSET. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I JUST DID. I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TO THE GIRLS, AS WE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO THE OUTLET MALL AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THAT! SO, UP I GET, KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE OCCUPANCY OF THE BATHROOM AND GOT READY TO GO. WITH GURGLING GUTS, I FIND MY SANDALS ONLY TO ALSO REALIZE THAT MY INSTEPS ARE BLISTERED WITH ALL THE WALKING OF THE PAST FEW DAYS. WELL, I AM WOMAN, AREN'T I? A FEW BLISTERS WILL NOT DETER ME FROM MALL MANIA. I PUT ON THE SANDALS BECAUSE I CANNOT WEAR MY WALKING SHOES DUE TO AN INJURY CAUSED WHEN I STUMPED MY BIG TOE. OHHHH, POOR INSTEPS, BUT DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. I HOBBLE TO THE CAR. PRAYING THAT SARAH AND SISSY WILL PARK CLOSE TO THE MALL, I LOOK FORWARD WITH ANTICIPATION TO THE UPCOMING FUN. BY THE WAY, IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES AGAIN, THE CAR IS AIR CONDITIONED- BUT THE MALL WAS AN OUTSIDE MALL. SARAH DROPPED ME OFF AT THE ENTRANCE AND WENT TO PARK. I HOBBLE INSIDE AND BEGAN TO WONDER IF GOING BAREFOOT WOULD BE TOO TACKY. OH NO, WHERE IS THE BATHROOM? I SAT FIGITING ON A BENCH, LOOKING FOR THE BATHROOM AND THE GIRLS FOUND ME. "WHAT'S WRONG MOM?" THEY ASK. I TELL THEM THAT I NEED TO FIND A BATHROOM AND THEY POINTED OUT THE LOCATION. (IT IS CLOSE BY THANK GOODNESS). NOW I HAVE TO HOBBLE TO THE BATHROOM AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE. WHAT A RELIEF TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFULLY! WE HAD OUR CELL PHONES, SO I CALL THE GIRLS WHO HAD GONE INTO THE GAP STORE, AND EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO "PEOPLE WATCH" WHILE THEY SHOP, SO THAT I CAN STAY CLOSE BY THE BATHROOM. PEOPLE WATCHING IS REALLY FUN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEED IT FOR AN EXCUSE TO NOT HAVE TO WALK FOR MILES FOLLOWING THE GIRLS AS THEY TRY ON OUTFIT AFTER OUTFIT. (NOTHING IN THE GAP FITS ME ANYWAY). SO, THERE I AM, SITTING ON THE BENCH, (IN THE SHADE, THANK GOODNESS) AND WATCHING SHOPPERS GO BY. TWO MORE TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM, AND I AM GETTING THE HANG OF THIS OUTLET MALL SHOPPING THING. I FINALLY CALL THE GIRLS, AND THEY TELL ME THEY ARE IN THE DRESSING ROOM, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY WILL BE. MY TUMMY HAS CALMED DOWN BY NOW, AND I AM GETTING BORED. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE IN EL PASO, AND CO-INCIDENTALLY MOST ALL OF THE SHOPPERS ARE HISPANIC. THEY ALL BEGAN TO BLEND IN, AND I AM LOSING INTEREST. LOOKING AROUND, I SEE A BATH AND BODY WORKS STORE. NOT TOO FAR AWAY, SO I THINK I CAN HOBBLE OVER THERE AND LOOK AROUND. JUDGING THE DISTANCE FROM THE STORE TO THE BATHROOM, I THINK I AM SAFE. I ONLY WENT IN TO BUY SOME LOTION FOR LIBBY, BUT IT IS AN OUTLET MALL, AND THEY HAD A SALE. I SNIFFED, I RUBBED, I SPRITZED AND I GAZED. SO MANY LOVELY THINGS, FOAMING HAND SOAP, (THE KIND THAT EVERYONE SAYS IS SO VERY NICE WHEN THEY WASH THEIR HANDS AT YOUR HOME-MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A GOOD HOSTESS) SCENTED LOTIONS, SCENTED BATH SOAP, SCENTED SPRITZERS, ALL IN SO MANY WONDERFUL AND LOVELY VARIETIES. NOT TO MENTION, IF YOU BUY A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THEY ARE MUCH CHEAPER. LET'S SEE. SOME FOR SISSY, SOME FOR SARAH, SOME FOR LIBBY, SOME FOR PEANUT, SOME FOR THE BATH AND KITCHEN AT HOME, AND SOME JUST BECAUSE. SLOW DOWN! BY THE TIME I LEFT THE "SALE", I HAD SPENT 62.00! I LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT SEEMS THAT ALL OF MY RECIPIENTS ALREADY HAD A LARGE SUPPLY, BECAUSE THEY TOO, GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE "SALE". ANYONE NEED SOME FRAGRANCE? FINALLY, AN HOUR LATER, THE GIRLS CALL AND SAY THEY ARE READY TO MOVE ON. YEAH, WELL I AM READY TO MOVE ON TOO, READY TO MOVE ON OUT OF THERE! IT IS VERY HOT AND GETTING TIME FOR LUNCH. I REALIZE THAT I AM FEELING SORT OF DIZZY. SHOOT, I FORGOT ABOUT MY SUGAR LEVELS, AND I MENTION THAT I THINK WE SHOULD GET SOME LUNCH. "JUST ONE MORE STORE MOM" SAY THE GIRLS. I AGREE, AND SHOP IN A FOG. ONE BENEFIT THOUGH, SINCE I AM GETTING GOOFY, I FORGOT ABOUT MY FEET FOR AWHILE. SARAH LOOKED AT ME AND MENTIONED TO SISSY THAT SINCE I WAS PALE, SWEATY AND WEAVING ON MY FEET, PERHAPS WE SHOULD GO FOR LUNCH. I MADE IT TO THE CHINESE PLACE, AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, NOTHING WAS VEGETARIAN! GO FIGURE, A NON-VEGETARIAN CHINESE PLACE? FINALLY, SISSY GOT ME A VEGGIE SUB AND ALL WAS WELL. OKAY, I HAVE HAD ABOUT ALL THE FUN I CAN STAND, WHEN THE GIRLS SAY, "LETS GO TO THE COACH OUTLET!" OH, NO! I AM LIKE A HOG IN A CORN FIELD IN THE COACH STORE. AS I TRUDGE BEHIND THEM ON THE WAY, I KEEP REPEATING, "NO PURSE FOR ME, NO PURSE FOR ME" . AS WE ARRIVE AT THE STORE, THE GIRLS RUSH IN WITH GREAT APLOMB, AND I HESITATE IN THE DOORWAY, PERUSING THE PLACE, AND FINDING WITH GREAT RELIEF THAT I SEE NOTHING TO INTEREST ME. WHEW! I FIND A COZY CHAIR, AND LET THE GIRLS GO AT IT. I AM ADMIRING ALL THE LOVELY BAGS AND WALLETS, SHOES AND OTHER ITEMS, WHEN- THE CLERK BRINGS OUT MORE INVENTORY. I TELL MYSELF NOT TO LOOK, BUT IT IS LIKE COMING UP ON A CAR WRECK, I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF. SHE PUTS OUT BROWN, RED AND NAVY BAGS, PINK AND CORAL, WHITE AND BEIGE. I AM SAFE. THEN, TO MY HORROR, THE GLEAM OF APPLE GREEN IS SHINING FROM THE BOX. APPLE GREEN LEATHER, BRASS HARDWARE AND THE SMELL OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEATHER. (I HAVE BEEN WANTING AND APPLE GREEN BAG FOR THE LONGEST). I AM DRAWN TO THE BAG, TELLING MYSELF THAT ONE LITTLE PEEK WOULDN'T HURT. I REACH FOR THE BAG, TELLING MYSELF THAT ONE LITTLE TOUCH WOULDN'T HURT. I HOLD THE BAG, SAYING THAT ALL I NEED TO DO IS TO HOLD IT FOR A MOMENT. I AM IN HEAVEN. I GO OVER THE EDGE AND LOOK AT THE PRICE TAG. 800.00. I DROP THAT BAG LIKE IT WAS MADE OF GLOWING HOT COALS. I AM SAFE. 800.00! GOOD GRIEF! AS I TURN AWAY WITH RELIEF, (I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FREED FROM THE GRIP OF APPLE GREEN LEATHER) THE SALES GIRL SAYS, "OH, YOU HAVE WONDERFUL TASTE! DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS BAG IS 70% OFF?" NOOOOOO! GET AWAY FIEND! "70% DID YOU SAY?" LET'S SEE, THAT WOULD ONLY BE 240.00. (AM I CRAZY? I COULD GO TO WALMART AND GET A BAG FOR 8 BUCKS, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE AN APPLE GREEN LEATHER COACH BAG) "TELL YOU WHAT,"SAYS THE MANAGER, "LETS MAKE IT AN EVEN 200.00, THAT BAG IS YOU!" "YES MOTHER, BUY IT!" SAYS SISSY, "YOU DESERVE IT!" THEN, THE CLENCHER, ANOTHER SHOPPER LOOKS AT MY BAG AND SAYS, "OH, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER BAG LOOK SO GOOD ON SOMEONE, THAT ONE IS MADE FOR YOU!" (SHE WAS PROBABLY PLANTED BY MANAGEMENT). WITH TREMBLING HANDS, I PULL OUT MY CHECKBOOK. WITH SWEATING FINGERS, I BEGAN TO WRITE THE CHECK, ALL THE TIME CALCULATING WHAT I COULD BE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON. THEN, FOR A MOMENT IN TIME ALL IS STOPPED. IT SUDDENLY OCCURRED TO ME THAT SINCE I DON'T GET MY NAILS DONE, OR MY HAIR, OR BUY SHOES EXCEPT FOR ONCE A YEAR, AND OTHER FRIVOLITIES, THAT 200.00 IS NOT SO BAD TO FULFILL A FANTASY! SO, I BUY THE BAG. THE BEAUTIFUL APPLE GREEN LEATHER BAG WITH THE BRASS HARDWARE. AND I SLEEP WITH IT THAT NIGHT! THIS VACATION IS REALLY SHAPING UP! TOMORROW, I WILL CONTINUE- LOVE, NANASEE

I AM HOME!

I AM HOME AGAIN, AND SO VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. I SUPPOSE THAT I AM GETTING OLD, AS I REALLY WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO HOME THESE DAYS. THERE IS SO MUCH TO TELL YOU, IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT THEN I LOVE TO WRITE SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
WHEN LAST I WROTE, I HAD BEEN SWARMED BY BEES AND INSULTED BY A HIPPOPOTAMUS. I SPENT SATURDAY NIGHT OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND ENJOYED A WHILE OF WONDERFUL NATURE. OUR HOSTESS TOOK SISSY AND I ON A TOUR OF HER PROPERTY WHICH INCLUDED A LOVELY MEADOW WITH A TUMBLING CREEK RUNNING THROUGH IT. UNFORTUNATLY, IT HAS BEEN SO VERY DRY, AND THE CREEK HAD NO WATER IN IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE MEADOW ONCE HOSTED AN INDIAN TRIBE, CHEROKEE I THINK. I CLEARED MY BUSY MIND TO APPRECIATE THE FEELING OF PURE NATURE, AND FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT I COULD FEEL THE INDIANS AND THEIR LIVES THERE. I WONDER IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACTUALLY FEEL THE PAST- EVEN IF IT IS IN YOUR MIND, IT IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. SHE THEN TOOK US TO THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AREA OF THE LITTLE TOWN NEARBY, WHICH IS JOHNSON CITY, NAMED AFTER THE FATHER OF PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON. WE PASSED A BUILDING THAT WAS ONCE THE ONLY HOSPITAL FOR MANY MILES AROUND- IT LOOKED LIKE A VICTORIAN HOUSE- WHEN A FUNNY FEELING CAME OVER ME. I ASKED IF ANYONE HAD EVER MENTIONED THAT THE PLACE WAS HAUNTED, AND WITH SURPRISE, OUR FRIEND TOLD ME THAT YES, IT WAS CONSIDERED HAUNTED. SHE WANTED TO KNOW HOW I KNEW THAT, BUT I TOLD HER I JUST HAD A FEELING. WE RETURNED TO HER HOME, THE TIME SOON CAME TO DEPART FOR EL PASO, AND I SADLY LEFT THAT WONDERFUL PLACE. WE TRAVELED TOWARDS EL PASO ON A BACK ROAD, AND EVERY FEW MILES OR SO, PASSED FRUIT STANDS. THE PRODUCE WAS LOCALLY GROWN AND OFFERED PEACHES, TOMATOES, WATERMELON, CANTALOUPS AND OTHER YUMMIES. FINALLY I ASKED SISSY TO STOP AT THE NEXT ONE THAT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO TURN AROUND AFTER WE MADE A PURCHASE. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT? EVERY SINGLE FRUIT STAND FROM THERE ON OUT WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD! JUST ABOUT THE TIME WE DECIDED TO JUST CROSS TO THE LEFT SIDE, WE FOUND OURSELVES AT THE INTERSTATE LEADING TO EL PASO. SHOOT. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HAD SOME OF THOSE WONDERFUL PEACHES. WE DROVE ALL DAY AND STOPPED FOR ONLY SHORT PERIODS TO POTTY. WE ATE OUR FOOD ON THE RUN, AND THE BOYS WATCHED MOVIES ALL THE WAY. WE MADE EXCELLENT TIME AND ARRIVED IN EL PASO ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER AARON AND HIS FAMILY RETURNED FROM THEIR VACATION IN PHOENIX. THE CHILDREN HAD A NOISY AND RAPTUROUS REUNION- THEY JUST PICKED UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF LAST CHRISTMAS. SQUEALING AND RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS, THEY WERE ECSTATIC AT BEING TOGETHER AGAIN. AFTER MY LOVING, SQUEEZING, KISSING, AND HUGGING WELCOME, THE INEVITABLE QUESTION AROSE: "DID YOU BRING A PRESENT FOR ME?" NOW, AS A CHILD, THE VERY BEST PART OF MY GRANDMA COMING TO VISIT WAS THE MOMENT THAT SHE WENT DIGGING THROUGH HER LUGGAGE AND FOUND THE PRESENT SHE COULD BE COUNTED ON TO BRING. HOW FUN FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING! THE GIFTS WERE DISTRIBUTED: A GAME FOR BEN, A BARBIE CAMERA FOR ALEX AND I FORGOT WHAT I BROUGHT FOR THE BABY. 4 YEAR-OLD ALEX RAN TO HER MOTHER AND SQUEALED, "LOOK MAMA, JUST WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED! A FAKE CAMERA!" TOO FUNNY, RIGHT? I HAD BOUGHT STUFF WITH ELI AND JACOB AT SEAWORLD, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY I DIDN'T HAVE OTHER GIFTS FOR THEM AT THAT TIME. IT WAS LATE, AND WE WERE TIRED, BUT ALL OF US WENT TO BED HAPPY AND GLAD TO BE TOGETHER. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO THE ARMY BASE TO SHOP, AND I FOUND MYSELF IN THE CLEARANCE SECTION FOR KIDS CLOTHES. CAN'T PASS UP CLEARANCE, SO I ONCE AGAIN FOUND SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. (I JUSTIFIED THIS BY NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR A HOTEL WHILE WE WERE IN EL PASO). OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO BUY CUTE THINGS FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN. THE WEATHER WAS FABULOUS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES, IT WAS SO DRY THAT YOU DID NOT REALLY FEEL THE HEAT. THERE WERE NO MOSQUITOES, SO WE COULD SIT OUT AT NIGHT AND WATCH THE CHILDREN PLAY. HEAVEN ON EARTH. BUT, I MISSED MY SWEETIE, AND IF I HAD KNOWN THAT HE WAS SPENDING HIS DAYS AND EVENINGS LAYING IN HIS RECLINER IN HIS UNDERWEAR, EATING ICE CREAM (AND SHARING WITH ROCKY) AND WATCHING TV, I WOULD NOT HAVE FELT SO BAD ABOUT LEAVING HIM. HE WAS VERY PATIENT WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT SOME BOXES FROM EBAY SELLERS ARRIVED, (COOKIE JARS?) AND REMINDED ME TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. WELL, MORE TOMORROW, THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME! LOVE, NANASEE

CARLSBAD CAVERNS

I AM STILL ON VACATION, AND YESTERDAY, WE ALL WENT TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS. IT IS LOCATED IN NEW MEXICO, AND IS A MAGICAL PLACE TO VISIT. THE CAVERNS ARE ABOUT 130 MILES FROM EL PASO, AND SINCE WE HAD SO MANY GOING, WE HAD TO TAKE TWO VEHICLES. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE WITH AARON, AND SARAH AND SISSY RODE TOGETHER WITH ALI, ELI, AND JACOB. AARON AND I HAD BEN AND AUDREY. IT WAS SUCH A NICE RIDE, JUST AARON AND I TALKING TOGETHER WHILE AUDREY SLEPT AND BEN PLAYED WITH HIS VIDEO GAME. I ENJOYED VISITING WITH MY SON. HE IS NOT MY BABY ANYMORE, BUT A GROWN MAN WITH SO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES. HE IS A DOCTOR, A DAD, A HUSBAND, A SON, A BROTHER, A NEPHEW AND A STRONG MEMBER OF THE MORMON CHURCH. ALL HE DOES IS WORK, AS HE IS A RESIDENT IN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY. WHEN HE DOES HAVE TIME OFF, HE IS SWARMED BY HIS LOVING FAMILY, COOKS BREAKFAST AND STUDIES. I WORRY THAT HE IS TOO BURDENED BY LIFE, BUT HE THRIVES AND IS GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT HEAVENLY FATHER HAS GIVEN HIM. ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE CAME OUT HERE, I STUMPED MY BIG TOE ON THE METAL LEG OF A KITCHEN CHAIR. IT HURT SO MUCH, AND WAS BLEEDING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TOE NAIL. I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE, AND WAS NOT CONCERNED, BUT IT DID NOT HEAL UP AND WAS CONSTANTLY WEEPING AND BEING REALLY YUCKY. I FINALLY SHOWED IT TO AARON, BUT FELT BAD ABOUT GIVING HIM MORE WORK. THE DEAR SWEET THING JUST GOT OUT HIS MEDICAL BAG AND FIXED IT. IT SEEMS THAT THE NAIL BROKE OFF UNDER THE SKIN AND WAS LIKE A BIG SPLINTER. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY BETTER, AND I WAS MORE ABLE TO ENJOY THE TRIP TO CARLSBAD.
I AM SUCH A WORRY WART, ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO SPOIL THE TRIP BECAUSE I WOULD POOP OUT BEFORE THE TOUR WAS OVER, OR, I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING UNDERGROUND, OR, WELL, SOMETHING! MY TOE WAS GREAT, BUT MY FEET HURT BECAUSE I HAVE GONE TO THE ZOO, SEAWORLD, SHOPPING AND OTHER THINGS AND LAZY GIRL THAT I AM, I AM NOT USED TO SO MUCH WALKING. I PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR HELP, AND LET ME TELL YOU, I WALKED THE WHOLE 2 1/2 MILE TOUR! YES, I HAD TROUBLE BREATHING, AND WALKING, AND WAS WORRIED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, (THEY DON'T HAVE ONE 70 STORIES UNDERGROUND) BUT I MADE IT! THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE GONE, BUT EACH TIME IT IS AN UNDERGROUND WONDERLAND. THERE WERE STEEP CLIMBS UPWARD AND SLIPPERY SLOPES DOWNWARD. ELI WAS SO ATTENTIVE TO ME, HE WOULD NOT LEAVE ME TO CLIMB OR SCRABBLE BY MYSELF. HE WALKED AHEAD, AND EXPLAINED HOW TO WALK ON THE SLIPPERY AREAS, AND POINTED OUT THE WET SPOTS. THE HUMIDITY WAS INCREDIBLE, AND MY GLASSES KEPT FOGGING UP. MY SHIRT WAS DRENCHED WITH SWEAT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 68 DEGREES. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS, FOR A WHILE, UNDERGROUND, I WAS WITNESS TO THE MAJESTY OF HEAVENLY FATHER'S CREATION OF THIS WORLD. ONE OF THE STALAGMITES WAS GROWING UP IN A FORMATION THAT LOOKED LIKE A LARGE MOUND WITH A NIPPLE ON TOP. WELL, TO BE FRANK, IT LOOKED JUST LIKE A PERFECTLY FORMED BREAST! ELI SAID, "LOOK NANA, GUESS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE!" WITH NERVES, I ASKED HIM WHAT? HE SAID, "IT LOOKS LIKE A YUMMY CUPCAKE! LOOK, THERE IS EVEN A CHERRY ON TOP!" RELIEVED, I STARTED TO LAUGH, AND TOLD HIM THAT IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. HIS MAMA SAID HE WOULD PROBABLY CHANGE HIS OPINION IN ABOUT 8 YEARS. OH, THERE WAS SO MUCH TO SEE, AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WERE THERE. WHEN I VISIT A TOURIST SPOT LIKE THAT, I LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM. MOST WERE FROM THE UNITED STATES, HOWEVER FROM QUITE SOME DISTANCES SUCH AS GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MAINE, NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA. OTHER FAMILIES WERE FROM CHINA, VIETNAM, BRITAIN, JAPAN AND NORWAY. IT IS GOOD TO MEET AND GREET THESE PEOPLE, THEY ARE ALL SO FRIENDLY AND GLAD TO HAVE SOMEONE SAY HELLO. WELL, AFTER WE WALKED THE CAVERNS, WE WENT UP AND HAD LUNCH BEFORE THE LONG TRIP HOME. AARON AND I TALKED OF THINGS IN YEARS PAST, CLEARED UP SOME MISCONCEPTIONS OF EVENTS THAT HAD OCCURRED IN HIS ADOLESCENCE, AND IN GENERAL JUST HAD TIME TOGETHER TO LOVE AND APPRECIATE EACH OTHER. I AM COMING HOME ON SUNDAY, AND I MISS MY HONEY SO VERY MUCH. IT WAS ONLY A YEAR AGO THAT WE VISITED AARON AND HIS FAMILY, NEVER IMAGINING HOW OUR WORLD WOULD BE SO AFFECTED IN ONLY A SHORT TIME. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT VISIT, THE HURRICANE HIT, OUR HOME WAS DESTROYED AND WE WERE SEPARATED FOR 10 DAYS, I SPENT THAT TIME AGAIN HERE IN EL PASO WITH JAYBIRD, AND MARTIN AND BOBBIE JO CLEANED THE HORRIFIC MESS THAT WAS OUR HOME. FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS, WE WOULD BE WITHOUT POWER AND LIVE ON GENERATED POWER. WE ATE MEALS FROM A SALVATION ARMY TRUCK, (GOD BLESS THEM) AND SWEATED AND WORKED. WE LIVED WITH BOBBIE JO AND HER MARTIN FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS AND THEN MOVED INTO OUR LITTLE GARAGE APARTMENT. SO MANY PEOPLE HELPED US, SO MANY. IN DECEMBER, JESSICA'S LITTLE SON, MATTHEW MARTIN OCHOA WAS DELIVERED STILLBORN, AND THE FAMILY BONDED TOGETHER FOR THIS NEW TRAGEDY. BOBBIE JO PLOWED AHEAD, TAKING IT UPON HERSELF TO ORGANIZE THE FUNERAL. EVERYONE KEPT REMARKING THAT SHE DIDN'T LOOK WELL- BUT WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS THE STRAIN OF THE HURRICANE AND THE DEATH OF THE BABY. EVENTUALLY, IT WAS KNOWN THAT SHE WAS TERMINALLY ILL, AND WE LOST HER TOO. NOW, IT HAS ONLY BEEN A YEAR, AND WE ARE IN OUR LOVELY NEW HOME. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF WE WILL FACE YET MORE DIFFICULTIES, OR IF PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE A SEASON OF PEACE. THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE I GUESS, WE MOURN OUR LOVED ONES SO MUCH, BUT WITH ALL THE LOVE THAT IS FLOODED IN OUR DIRECTION, WE ARE CERTAINLY ABLE TO COPE. SO, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT. IT WILL BE GOOD, AND IF TRAGEDY COMES OUR WAY AGAIN, I WILL HAVE MY LOVED ONES TO LEAN ON. THANK GOD FOR THAT. I MAY NOT WRITE AGAIN UNTIL I GET HOME, SO UNTIL THEN, LOVE, NANASEE

RATTLESNAKES AND HONEYBEES

HELLO DEAR READERS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, I AM ON VACATION. I AM IN EL PASO WITH MY DAUGHTER JESSICA AND HER TWO SONS, ELI AND JACOB. WE DROVE OUT HERE, STOPPING IN SAN ANTONIO AND THEN JOHNSON CITY ON THE WAY. WE HAD PLANNED TO GO TO SAN ANTONIO SEA WORLD ON FRIDAY, BUT WE COULD NOT GET IN, AS IT WAS SO CROWDED. WE WERE DISAPPOINTED, BUT WE DECIDED TO GO TO THE ZOO INSTEAD. THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE NICEST ZOO THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT IS SO LOVELY WITH NATURAL SETTINGS FOR THE ANIMALS, AND I GUESS THAT IT WAS NICER FOR ME AS I RENTED A MOTORIZED SCOOTER TO GET AROUND IN. IT WAS SO VERY HOT OUTSIDE, 104 DEGREES, BUT THERE WAS LOTS OF SHADE TO HIDE IN. THERE WAS A HUGE FLOCK OF FLAMINGOS AND EVEN A STORK. MOST AMAZING WAS THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN, AND WHEN WE WENT IN, WE WERE TAUGHT HOW TO ENTICE A BUTTERFLY TO LAND ON YOU HAND. IT WAS MAGICAL, TO HAVE THE BUTTERFLYS FLITTING ALL ABOUT, AND LANDING WITHOUT FEAR. THE COLORS WERE REALLY SUPERB- I JUST LOVED IT. THERE WERE SO MANY ANIMALS AND IT WAS SO LOVELY, AND I TOLD SISSY (JESSICA) THAT I COULD STAY THERE FOREVER. WELL RIGHT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE BOYS WANTED A DRINK. BEING NANA, I TOOK THE PRIVILEGE OF "SPOILING" THEM FOR THE DAY, AND READILY AGREED TO BUY THEM A DRINK. I STOPPED AT THE NEAREST SNACK BAR AND CHEERFULLY TOOK OUT MY WALLET, LOOKING FOR SOME COTTON CANDY OR SOME OTHER NO NO TO GO WITH THE DRINKS. SOMETHING FLITTED BY MY EAR. SOMETHING BUZZED PAST MY EYES. SOMETHING BRUSHED MY ARM. SUDDENLY, I WAS SURROUNDED BY HONEYBEES! NOT ONE OR TWO, BUT QUITE A FEW. SISSY SQUEALED AND RAN, THE BOYS FOLLOWING IN HOT PURSUIT. THESE BEES WERE COMING SO CLOSE TO MY FACE AND AROUND MY CHEST- AND THEN IT HAPPENED. ONE OF THEM FLEW DOWN INTO MY BRA! I SHRIEKED AND THREW MY WALLET AT THE LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER, AND STARTED YANKING UP MY SHIRT. I YELLED, "IT'S COMING OFF, STAND BACK!" JUST ABOUT THE TIME THE BOTTOM OF MY SHIRT CLEARED MY CHEST, THE BEE FLEW OUT AGAIN. I BEGAN TO FLAP AT THE AIR WITH MY STRAW HAT TO RUN THE BEES OFF, BUT TO NO AVAIL. MY WALLET WAS CLEAR INTO THE SNACK BAR, AND THE LADY WAS YELLING AT ME TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. MY LOVING DAUGHTER WAS FRANTICALLY LOOKING FOR HER CAMERA TO CAPTURE THIS KODAK MOMENT ON FILM, BUT THE JOKE WAS ON HER, THE CAMERA WAS IN MY SHIRT POCKET. THE SNACK BAR LADY HAD FIXED THE DRINKS I ORDERED, BUT I COULDN'T GET TO THEM BECAUSE THE BEES WERE STILL FLITTING AROUND ME. ELI RAN OVER AND GRABBED THE DRINKS AND WENT BACK TO HIS MAMA, AND I TOLD THE SNACK BAR LADY THAT I COULDN'T PAY HER IF SHE DIDN'T GIVE ME BACK MY WALLET. I THREW A FEW BILLS ON THE COUNTER AND GUNNED THE SCOOTER, TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THE BEES. I THINK THEY WERE SWARMING ME BECAUSE I WAS NEXT TO THE TRASH CAN WHILE I WAS AT THE SNACK BAR. I YELLED AT SISSY AND THE BOYS TO COME ON, AND I SCOOTED ON ALONG THE TRAIL I TOLD SISSY THAT MAYBE MY PERFUME HAD ATTRACTED THE BEES, I COULD THINK OF NO OTHER EXPLANATION. SHE CAME UP WITH THE TRASH CAN THEORY, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER, AS WE FINALLY GOT AWAY FROM THEM. AS ANOTHER LADY AND HER CHILDREN WERE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SNACK BAR, I TOLD HER ABOUT TEH BEES. SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE CAREFUL, AND I TOLD HER I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT JUST WATCH FOR THEM. I TOLD SISSY THAT I WAS GLAD TO HAVE FINALLY EVADED THOSE PESTY BUGGERS, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT A STING ON MY UPPER ARM. ONE OF THSOE LITTLE MONSTERS HAD HITCHED A RIDE AND DECIDED TO STING ME. HE GOT ME THROUGH MY SHIRT SO IT WASN'T TOO BAD, BUT GOODNESS- I CAN'T BEE-LIEVE THAT EXPERIENCE! WE HAVE LAUGHED ABOUT IT SINCE- BUT I SURE WISH THE CAMERA HAD NOT BEEN IN MY SHIRT POCKET!
THE NEXT DAY, WE LEFT EARLY AND GOT INTO SEA WORLD. AGAIN, I RENTED A SCOOTER- MY PRIDE IS NOT WORTH BEING MISERABLE FOR HOURS AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK! AGAIN, IT WAS 104 DEGREES, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SHADE. THANKFULLY I HAD A LARGE FLOPPY HAT, AND THAT HELPED. WE STAYED FOR HOURS, GOING FROM AREA TO AREA. THE BOYS HAD A BALL, AND I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WATCHING THEM. WE SAW THE "SHAMU" PERFORMANCE, AND ALL I COULD DO WAS SNIFFLE AND CRY THE WHOLE TIME. IT WAS SO MOVING TO WATCH THOSE FABULOUS ANIMALS PERFORM FOR US. WE THEN WENT AND SAW THE HIPPOPOTOMUS' AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM SO CLOSE UP. THEY WERE IN WATER BEHIND GLASS, AND YOU COULD GO RIGHT UP TO THE GLASS AND GET FACE TO FACE WITH THEM. (ONE OF THEM EVEN POOPED FOR US, NOW THAT IS SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT TO SEE!) SEA WORLD WAS EXCEPTIONAL, AND I HOPE TO GO AGAIN. WE THEN VISITED FRIENDS IN JOHNSON CITY TX AND SPENT THE NIGHT WITH THEM OUT IN THE COUNTRY. IT WAS SO LOVELY, SO MANY BIRDS AND ANIMALS JUST OUT IN THE WILD. I AM TRULY THANKFUL FOR HEAVENLY FATHER'S GIFTS OF NATURE.
THEN, IT WAS TIME TO GET ON THE ROAD. THE TRIP WAS LONG BUT HAPPY. WE WERE SO HAPPY TO GET TO AARON'S HOUSE AND SEE SARAH, AARON AND THE KIDS. THEY LIVE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS, SORT OF, AND TODAY SISSY, THE CHILDREN AND I DECIDED TO DRIVE UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO LOOK AROUND. WE FOUND A HISTORICAL MONUMENT ON THE EDGE OF A CANYON, AND DECIDED TO TAKE PICTURES. THE DROP BEHIND THE EDGE OF THE CANYON WAS QUITE DEEP, SO WE WANTED TO TAKE GREAT CARE. WE CLIMBED UP ON A ROCK AND POSED FOR SEVERAL PICTURES WITH THE MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND. SUDDENLY, SISSY SAID, "OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH, GET IN THE CAR!" I ARGUED THAT I WANTED TO TAKE MORE PICTURES, BUT SHE INSISTED THAT WE GET INTO THE CAR IMMEDIATLY. "PARTY POOPER" I TOLD HER. THE CHILDREN OBEYED HER RIGHT AWAY, BUT I LINGERED A BIT MORE, AND SHE TURNED AND SNAPPED, "MOTHER! GET IN THE CAR!" I GOT DOWN OFF THE ROCK, AND AS I WAS HEADING FOR THE CAR, SHE CAME BACK AND WHISPERED, "THERE IS A RATTLESNAKE JUST BEHIND THE ROCK NEXT TO THE ONE WE WERE POSING ON". I TOLD HER, "WELL, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT!" THEN I REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO GET AWAY FROM IT, AND BELIVE ME, I HURRIED ALONG MUCH FASTER. I DID NOT SEE THE SNAKE, BUT I HEARD IT, AND THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME! I WILL TRY TO WRITE AS SOON AS I CAN WHILE ON VACATION, SO CHECK BACK. UNTIL THEN, I LOVE YOU ALL, LOVE, NANASEE

LOVING BROWNIES

TODAY IS WEDNSDAY, AND ON WEDNSDAY, I FEED MISSIONARIES. ALL WEEK, I THINK AND PLAN WHAT I AM GOING TO COOK, THEN I MAKE SURE I HAVE EVERYTHING, OR, I GO TO THE STORE ON TUESDAY SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO "MISTAKES" ON WEDNSDAY. SINCE WE ALWAYS HAVE LUNCH, I HAVE TO GET UP IN TIME TO FIX THE CHOSEN MEAL. TODAY, I BOUNDED OUT OF BED, GROOMED MYSELF AND HEADED TO THE KITCHEN. THE PHONE RANG, AND IT WAS A NEIGHBOR WANTING TO BRING ME A GIFT. OF COURSE I WAS TICKLED, AND TOLD HER TO COME RIGHT ON OVER. GLANCING AT THE CLOCK, I STILL HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO COOK. SHE CAME OVER AND GAVE ME A LOVELY WALL VASE FOR MY BEDROOM. WE VISITED, AND THEN ANOTHER NEIGHBOR CAME TO VISIT. ANXIOUSLY GLANCING AT THE CLOCK YET AGAIN, I REALIZED THAT I WAS GETTING INTO A TIME CRUNCH, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO OFFEND MY SWEET NEIGHBORS. THE SECOND VISITOR TOLD US THAT SHE HAD TO GO, AND GOT UP TO LEAVE AFTER A REALLY NICE VISIT. THERE WAS NOTHING FOR IT, I HAD TO START LUNCH. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD TO START TO COOK AND MY OTHER LOVELY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THAT SHE LOVED TO COOK AND SHE WOULD HELP. I AM NOT USED TO THIS, BUT I TOLD HER THANK YOU AND GAVE HER THE CELERY TO CHOP FOR THE HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS I WAS MAKING. HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS ARE A GREAT MEAL- YOU PUT A SCOOP OF RICE ON YOUR PLATE, THEN SPOON CHICKEN AND GRAVY OVER THE RICE. AFTER THAT, YOU TOP IT WITH EITHER CELERY, CHINESE NOODLES, PINEAPPLE, ONION, CHEESE, OR OTHER THINGS. YOU CAN COMBINE THEM ALL IF YOU LIKE. IT IS REALLY A WONDERFUL DISH AND THE MISSIONARIES LIKE IT. ANYWAY, MY NEIGHBOR JUST JUMPED RIGHT IN AND CHOPPED THE CELERY, AND THEN PEELED AND CUT UP A CANTALOUP TO GO ON THE SIDE. I WAS COOKING THE CHICKEN AND MAKING KOOL-AID. ABOUT HALF AN HOUR BEFORE THE MISSIONARIES SHOWED UP, I REALIZED THAT I HAD NOT MADE A DESSERT. (DESSERT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEAL!) I TOLD MY NEIGHBOR THAT I HAD NOT MADE THE DESSERT AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD DO IT, BUT WHAT DID I WANT TO MAKE? I ONLY HAD A HALF HOUR, SO CHOICES WERE LIMITED, BUT WE FOUND A COUPLE OF BOXES OF BROWNIE MIX AND SHE GOT TO WORK. SHE MEASURED AND WAS SO CAREFUL TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, AND INTO THE OVEN WENT A LARGE CAKE PAN OF PECAN BROWNIES. SOON, THE MISSIONARIES ARRIVED AND CAME IN THE KITCHEN TO THE SMELL OF LUNCH, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY THE AROMA OF BAKING CHOCOLATE. EYEBROWS LIFTED AT THE TEMPTING SMELL, BUT BEFORE WE SAT DOWN TO EAT, WE TALKED ABOUT A SCRIPTURE THAT I HAD READ THE DAY BEFORE. THE BROWNIES CAME OUT OF THE OVEN AND WERE FROSTED, AND I INVITED MY SWEET NEIGHBOR TO SIT DOWN WITH US. SHE DID. SHE DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT OUR CHURCH, BUT WE HAD A LIVELY DISCUSSION AND EVERYONE REALLY ENJOYED HAVING HER WITH US. LUNCH WAS GOOD, BUT THOSE LOVINGLY BAKED BROWNIES WERE HEAVEN, THICK AND CHOCOLATY AND CHEWY! YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE HAD TAKEN CARE WITH MAKING THEM. THEN, LUNCH WAS OVER AND THE MISSIONARIES LEFT TO GO AND DO THEIR WORK. IT WAS JUST MY NEIGHBOR AND I, AND AS WE WERE CLEANING UP, THE DOORBELL RANG. IT WAS THE POST LADY WITH MY NEW CHINA! SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE NEEDED HELP BRINGING IN THE VERY HEAVY BOX, AND MARTIN WENT TO HELP HER. SURE ENOUGH, MY BEAUTIFUL CHINA HAD FINALLY ARRIVED. I COULD HARDLY WAIT TO OPEN THE BOX, AND AFTER MARTIN CUT THE BOX OPEN, I JUMPED RIGHT IN. I ACTUALLY HAD TEARS IN MY EYES, AS I TOOK EACH PIECE OF DELICATE CHINA FROM THE BOX. MY SWEET NEIGHBOR, JUST AS CAREFULLY, UNWRAPPED EACH PIECE AND WE OOOH'D AND AHHH'D AS EACH ONE CAME TO LIGHT. WITH A SOFT CLOTH, WE DUSTED EACH PIECE, AND THEN TOGETHER WE DECIDED HOW TO PLACE THE CHINA IN THE HUTCH. AS MY NEIGHBOR WAS ARRANGING THE GRAVY BOAT ON A GLASS SHELF, I WAS EMMERSED IN THE SWEETEST FEELING. I KNEW THAT SHE REALLY ENJOYED BEING WITH ME AND IN MY HOUSE. SHE HELD AND CARRIED EACH PIECE WITH THE SAME CARE THAT SHE MIXED AND BAKED THE BROWNIES. TOGETHER WE FINISHED PUTTING THE CHINA AWAY, AND STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT THE LOVELY DISPLAY. HOW HAPPY I AM THAT I WAS ABLE TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH HER. WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT AFTER TODAY, I FEEL THAT SHE IS A SPECIAL FRIEND, A GIFT THAT WAS JUST UNDER MY NOSE, BUT I DID NOT TAKE THE TIME TO APPRECIATE. AFTER THE HURRICANE, SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE BECOME CLOSE, AND I MUST SAY THAT THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE ADVANTAGE OF THE STORM. THE DAY WENT ON, AND BEFORE I SAT DOWN TO WRITE, I WENT INTO THE KITCHEN TO FIND A FEW BROWNIES LEFT. OF COURSE I SNEAKED A BIG BITE, AND ONCE AGAIN I FELT HER LOVE AND CARING. IT IS FUNNY THAT A SIMPLE PAN OF BROWNIES COULD MEAN SO MUCH, BUT INDEED, THESE DO- AND I HAVE LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON. ALWAYS REACH OUT AND BE AWARE OF THOSE AROUND YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL ENRICH YOUR LIFE IN THE SIMPLEST WAY.
BY THE WAY, I AM LEAVING ON VACATION ON FRIDAY, GOING TO EL PASO WITH SISSY AND ELI AND JACOB TO SEE AARON AND HIS FAMILY. I WILL TRY TO WRITE WHILE I AM GONE, AND WILL MISS WRITING IN MY OFFICE. TO MISS LYNN H, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT MY LOVELY CROSS IS HANGING BY THE FRONT DOOR FOR ALL TO SEE WHEN THEY COME OR GO. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME, AND I LOVE IT! I AM SORRY TO MISS THE BASEBALL PARTY, BUT MY HEART WILL BE WITH YOU ALL. LOVE, NANASEE

COOKIE JAR DEMISE

WELL, IT FINALLY HAPPENED. A COOKIE JAR HAS MET IT'S END. I HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL, AFTER ALL IT IS JUST A COOKIE JAR, RIGHT?
SEVERAL FACTORS LED UP TO THIS TRAGEDY. ONE, I WAS BABYSITTING MY GRANDSONS, TWO, I HAVE A CAT, THREE, I HAVE A DOG AND FOUR, I HAD THIS LOVELY COOKIE JAR ON THE KITCHEN TABLE. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. THIS PARTICULAR COOKIE JAR WAS A BASKET OF FRUIT, AND MADE OF CERAMIC. IT WAS SO PERFECT FOR THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND IT WAS LOADED WITH OREO COOKIES. OF COURSE THEY WERE DOUBLE STUFF OREOS, AND AT LEAST I HAD THE SENSE TO BAG THEM FIRST IN A ZIP LOCK BAG BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN THE COOKIE JAR.
SO, I WAS CLEANING THE KITCHEN AND I HEARD THE CAT COME RUNNING AND LEAP UP ON THE TABLE (I HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE BUT HE IS NOT GETTING IT). CLOSE ON HIS HEELS, CAME ROCKY THE GERMAN SHEPHERD, WHO IS NOW BIG ENOUGH TO EASILY REACH THE TOP OF THE COUNTER HEIGHT TABLE IF HE WANTS SOMETHING. WELL, HE WANTED THE CAT. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MARTIN HAD JUST BOUGHT A LOVELY TABLE CLOTH FOR THE TABLE, BUT IT WAS A SLIPPERY FABRIC AND I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT MAYBE IT WAS NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA FOR A KITCHEN SUCH AS MINE. (MEANING THAT THERE IS NEVER A QUIET MOMENT IN THE KITCHEN, WITH CONSTANT MOVEMENT SOMEWHERE). SO, THE CAT HAS LEPT UP ON THE TABLE, THE DOG IN HOT PERSUIT. MY GRANDSON ELI, WAS HELPING HIMSELF TO A DOUBLE STUFFED DELIGHT AND WAS STARTLED BY THE CAT APPEARING SO SUDDENLY. ELI JUMPED BACK, THE CAT SLAMMED INTO THE OPEN COOKIE JAR, THE SLIPPERY TABLE CLOTH BEGAN TO SLIP AS THE DOG HAD HIS FRONT PAWS UP ON THE TABLE, LUNGING FOR THE CAT. WELL YOU GUESSED IT, THE TABLE CLOTH, CAT AND COOKIE JAR ALL SLIPPED OFF THE TABLE INTO A HEAP ON THE FLOOR. THIS ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, I HARDLY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO SCREAM, "NOOOO!". NOW THAT THE CAT IS ON THE FLOOR, THE DOG IS TRYING TO "PLAY" WITH HIM. HE IS HAVING NONE OF THAT, AND DARTS OFF THROUGH THE HOUSE, THE DOG IN HOT PERSUIT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE COOKIE JAR LANDED ON A CUSHION OF TABLE CLOTH AND DID NOT BREAK! BUT, BEFORE I COULD GET TO IT, DARLING ELI DECIDED TO "HELP" ME AND GRABBED TWO HANDFULS OF TABLE CLOTH TO PUT IT BACK ON THE TABLE. NOW THE TRAGEDY HAPPENED. WHEN HE SNATCHED THE TABLECLOTH FROM THE FLOOR, THE POOR COOKIE JAR FLEW UP IN THE AIR AND LANDED WITH A CRASH, THE BAGGED OREOS AMIDST THE SHARDS OF CERAMIC FRUIT AND BASKET. IT WAS LESS THAN 10 FT FROM WHERE I WAS STANDING WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, BUT COULD I GET TO ANYTHING TO PREVENT THE BREAKAGE OF MY BEAUTIFUL COOKIE JAR? OF COURSE NOT. SO, NOW I AM STANDING PARILYZED AND STARING AT THE WRECKAGE, SERIOUSLY HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. THEN, I REALIZED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS ONLY A COOKIE JAR. A FABULOUS COOKIE JAR, BUT ONLY A COOKIE JAR NEVERTHELESS. HOW DID I COME TO THIS CONCLUSION? THE STRICKEN LOOK OF HORROR ON ELI'S LITTLE FACE DID ME IN. "OH NANA, I AM SO SORRY!" HE CRIED. "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I PROMISE!" AND THEN, I REALIZED THE MEASURE OF THE NANA THAT I AM. I TOLD HIM THAT I KNEW IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND HE WAS NOT TO WORRY. ANYWAY, THE OREO'S WERE STILL SAFELY CLOSED IN A ZIP-LOCK BAG, SO THAT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE PIECES OF THAT COOKIE JAR, AND ELI HELD THE DUST PAN AS I SWEPT UP THE REST. (YES, IT TRULY SHATTERED!) ELI WAS VERY UPSET, AND KEPT ASKING ME IF I WAS MAD WITH HIM. I ASKED HIM IF I LOOKED ANGRY, AND HE SAID NO, BUT AFTER ALL, HE HAD BROKEN ON OF MY DEAR COOKIE JARS. I GOT OUT THE MILK, (SOY FOR ME) AND POURED TWO GLASSES. I PLACED SOME DOUBLE STUFFED OREOS ON A PLATE AND WE SAT DOWN TOGETHER. ELI CHEERED UP SOMEWHAT, AND THEN I TOLD HIM THAT ALL WAS NOT LOST, NOW I COULD GET BACK ON EBAY AND TRY TO REPLACE THE COOKIE JAR! (DO YOU REALLY NEED AN EXCUSE TO GET ON EBAY?) I TOLD HIM THAT THE BROKEN ONE WOULD BE OUR LITTLE SECRET, AND THE FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE TO KNOW. WE ATE COOKIES AND LAUGHED AND MADE A MEMORY. NO COOKIE JAR IS WORTH RUINING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO,YES, A COOKIE JAR MET IT'S DEMISE, BUT SOMETHING WONDERFUL CAME OF IT. ELI FOUND OUT YET AGAIN THAT I AM THE MOST WONDERFUL NANA IN THE WORLD! (AT LEAST I HOPE HE DID). AND, I HAD A MOST WONDERFUL AFTERNOON ON EBAY FINDING ANOTHER COOKIE JAR! (I DO LOVE COOKIE JARS!) LOVE, NANASEE

THE GOLDEN CORRAL

THE GOLDEN CORRAL IS A FAMILY BUFFET-STYLE RESTAURANT. YOU CAN FIND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR, (EXCEPT MAYBE SUSHI, SOME OF THE REDNECKS THAT FREQUENT THE PLACE WOULD COMPLAIN THAT THE FISH IS UNDERCOOKED). TONIGHT WE TOOK MY BROTHER WHO IS VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN TO DINNER, AS HE IS HARD TO PLEASE AND I HOPED HE WOULD ENJOY HIMSELF. BEING THERE BROUGHT BACK SOME DEAR MEMORIES, AND EVEN ONE THAT STILL ANGERS ME.
ONE FALL DAY, WHILE BOBBIE JO AND I WERE OUT SHOPPING, WE DECIDED TO HAVE LUNCH. JAYBIRD WAS A SMALL BABY, WE WERE GETTING TIRED AND WE WERE HUNGRY. THE GOLDEN CORRAL WAS CLOSE BY, AND WE DECIDED TO GO THERE. WHILE WE WERE EATING AND VISITING, I HEARD A COMMOTION BEHIND US AND I TURNED TO LOOK. THERE I SAW TWO VERY ELDERLY LADIES BEING BULLIED BY THE MANAGER. I BECAME CONCERNED AND PAID MORE ATTENTION-I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ELDERLY LADIES. IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAD STUFFED THEIR LARGE SHOPPING BAGS WITH FOOD FROM THE BUFFET TO TAKE HOME. I AM SURE THAT THEY PROBABLY LIVED ON A PENSION, AND WAS HOPING TO SUPPLIMENT THEIR FOOD BUDGET BY "SNITCHING" SOME FOOD. THE RESTAURANT CLEARLY STATES THAT NO FOOD IS TO BE TAKEN FROM THE RESTAURANT UNLESS YOU PAY FOR TAKE OUT, AND THE MANAGER CAUGHT THESE LADIES DOING JUST THAT. HE HAD DUMPED THEIR BAGS OUT ON THE TABLE AND WAS BERATING THEM LOUDLY. HE POINTED TO THE SIGNS SAYING THAT TAKING FOOD WAS PROHIBITED, AND ASKED IF THEY COULD READ. HE TOLD THEM THAT HE OUGHT TO HAVE THEM ARRESTED. BY NOW, THESE ELDERLY LADIES WERE CRYING AND VERY FRIGHTENED, AND BOTH GOT UP AND QUICKLY LEFT THE RESTAURANT, LEAVING THEIR SHOPPING BAGS BEHIND. I HAD JUST DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A WORD WITH THIS VERY RUDE MANAGER, WHEN HE TURNED IN OUR DIRECTION. GIVING US A POINTED LOOK, HE STARTED OVER TO OUR TABLE. I WONDERED WHAT HAD GOTTEN HIS ATTENTION, AND THEN I NOTICED THAT BOBBIE JO WAS NURSING JAYBIRD UNDER A BLANKET, VERY DISCRETLY. I KNEW THAT THE MANAGER WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO HER, AND I JUST EXPLODED. BEFORE HE COULD GET TO THE TABLE, I STOOD UP TO GREET HIM. HE OPENED HIS MOUTH, BUT I POKED MY FINGER IN HIS FACE AND SAID, "HOLD IT BUDDY! BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR STUPID MOUTH ANY FURTHER, YOU GO AND CALL YOUR ATTORNEY. IF YOU EVEN THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO MY DAUGHTER FOR NURSING HER SON IN THIS RESTAURANT, YOU BETTER BACK UP. IT IS DISCRIMINATION (HECK I DONT KNOW IF IT IS OR NOT) TO MAKE A SCENE OVER A NURSING MOTHER AND I WOULD JUST LOVE TO TAKE YOU ON! SHE IS DOING NOTHING WRONG, AND IF I WERE YOU I WOULD JUST GO ON BACK IN YOUR LITTLE OFFICE AND THINK ABOUT THE LAWSUIT THAT COULD BE COMING YOUR WAY AFTER YOUR TERRORIZED THOSE LADIES!" HE SAID NOT A WORD, BUT TURNED ON HIS HEEL AND LEFT US. SOME OF THE DINERS APPLAUDED ME- BUT I WAS NOT IN THE MOOD FOR ACCLAMATIONS. I JUST WAITED FOR THAT IDIOT TO COME BACK AND CHALLENGE ME, BUT HE DIDN'T. WE FINISHED LUNCH AND LEFT, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THAT IS THE ONLY TIME I EVER HAD A DIFFICULTY AT THE GOLDEN CORRAL. IN FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN QUITE UNDERSTANDING ON A COUPLE OF OCCSASIONS.
AFTER MARTIN'S STEP-MOM LOLA DIED, IT WAS UP TO MARTIN AND I TO TAKE CARE OF THE AFTER-FUNERAL DINNER. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY THERE, AND WE WERE ACROSS TOWN. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE ALL TO THE GOLDEN CORRAL AND JUST FEED THEM THERE. WE WERE GIVEN A PARTY ROOM ALL TO OURSELVES AND TWO WONDERFUL WAITRESSES. WE HAD LOTS OF KIDS, AND IT WAS COMMOTION. ONE INCIDENT IN PARTICULAR THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, WAS THAT MY DEAR NIECE GAIL, DECIDED TO TAKE FOOD HOME WITH HER. GAIL IS SUCH A DEAR, ALWAYS HELPING IN ANYWAY THAT SHE CAN, BUT SHE IS A BIT SLOW AND WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH SIGNS SAYING ANYTHING TO HER ABOUT TAKING FOOD HOME. IN FACT, SHE SPREAD SEVERAL NAPKINS AND CAREFULLY PLACED DIFFERENT ITEMS IN EACH ONE SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT GET MIXED UP. SHE HAD AN ENTIRE TABLE COVERED WITH NAPKINS CAREFULLY FOLDED WITH MEAT IN SOME, ROLLS IN SOME AND DESSERTS IN SOME. I HAD DECIDED THAT IF ANYONE SAID ANYTHING, I WOULD JUST PAY FOR THE FOOD- BUT THEY HAD BETTER NOT EMBARRASS HER BECAUSE OF IT. ONE OF THE WAITRESSES NOTICED GAIL'S "STASH" BUT WITH A KIND VOICE, ASKED HER IF SHE NEEDED A BAG TO CARRY EVERYTHING. GAIL SMILED BROADLY AND SAID LOUDY, "SEE AUNT JODIE, I TOLD YOU THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU TAKE FOOD HOME!" OF COURSE THE WAITRESS LOOKED RIGHT AT ME , BUT THEN SHE SMILED AND CAME OVER. "I UNDERSTAND" SHE SAID. "DON'T WORRY, IT IS OKAY THIS TIME". SHE WAS SO KIND, AND I WAS SO RELIEVED. I LEFT A BIG TIP TO THANK HER.
ANOTHER TIME RECENTLY, WHEN MARTIN AND I WERE THERE, (WE ALWAYS GO TO THE SAME LOCATION) I WAS TAKING MY TIME CHOOSING FOOD, BECAUSE I CANNOT HAVE ANYTHING WITH MEAT, MILK OR EGGS IN IT. I GET A TERRIBLE REACTION FROM SUCH ITEMS AND AM VERY CAREFUL. I WANTED SOME OF THE MUSHROOMS, SO I ASKED THE COOK IF THE MUSHROOMS HAD BEEN COOKED IN MEAT BROTH. HE TOLD ME HE WAS NOT THE MUSHROOM COOK, BUT HE WOULD ASK. HE CAME BACK AND ASSURRED ME THAT THEY WERE COOKED IN BUTTER ONLY. BY NOW, THE MANAGER, (ANOTHER ONE, NOT THE MONSTER, HE HAS BEEN GONE A LONG TIME) CAME OVER TO SEE IF EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. I ASSURED HIM THAT IT WAS, AND EXPLAINED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS. I HAD CHOSEN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE, MUSHROOMS, MASHED POTATOES AND SOME FISH. (I CAN EAT FISH). AS I WAS GOING BACK TO THE TABLE, THE MANAGER CAME RUSHING OVER TO ME. "WAIT MAAM, LET ME SEE WHAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR PLATE" HE SAID. I TOLD HIM I WAS SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT HE INSISTED ON MAKING SURE HIMSELF. "PLEASE DON'T EAT THE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE MA'AM, WE HAVE COOKED THE GREEN BEANS WITH BACON" HE TOLD ME. NOW, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, AS SEASONING WITH BACON WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE SPEWING FROM BOTH ENDS FOR ME. WITHOUT HIS WARNING, I WOULD HAVE EATEN THE GREEN BEANS AND BEEN VERY SICK. I WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT HE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO WARN ME, AND TOLD HIM SO. HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD BEEN SO COURTEOUS WHEN ASKING ABOUT THE FOOD, AND HE FELT THAT I WAS SINCERE IN MY CONCERNS. HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE SICK, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS VERY GRATEFUL. MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO THE TROUBLE THAT HE DID, BUT AS I SAID, I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE BAD EXPERIENCE AT THE GOLDEN CORRAL.
I ENJOYED THE TIME THERE TONIGHT. I FEEL COMFORTABLE FOR MANY REASONS, BUT MAINLY THAT I CAN HAVE CHOICES THAT I AM SAFE WITH. I WOULD LOVE TO ATTACK THE STEAKS, CHOMP THE PORKCHOPS, GOBBLE THE CHICKEN, BUT I CANNOT. I CAN ENJOY THE FISH DISHES, THE VEGETABLES THAT ARE SAFE FOR ME AND THE FABULOUS SALAD ITEMS. I HAVE TO BE GOOD AND NOT HOG THE DESSERTS, AND I MANAGE TO MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN THE MANAGER SEES ME, HE WINKS AND POINTEDLY LOOKS AT MY PLATE. THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD, THAT HE CARES. MY BROTHER ATE LIKE A PIG, AND ENJOYED HIMSELF, AS I HOPED HE WOULD. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIM, AND WE HAVE YET ANOTHER MEMORY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT VISIT TO THE GOLDEN CORRAL, NOT TOO SOON THOUGH (I AM TRYING TO SAVE MONEY AND STICK TO MY BUDGET). WHEN I DO GO, I WILL REMEMBER THE OTHER TIMES I HAVE BEEN AND THE MEMORIES I HAVE MADE. TILL TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE