MY KID WOULD NEVER DO THAT!

MY KID WOULD NEVER DO THAT! THOSE ARE WORDS SPOKEN AND THEN LATER REGRETTED BECAUSE THEY PROVE THAT WE ARE HUMAN AND THAT OUR KIDS WILL DO ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY THINK THAT WE CAN BE THE BUTT OF RIDICULE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID! I WILL SOON BE 55, AND IN THOSE ALMOST 55 YEARS, I HAVE DEFINETLY LEARNED SOMETHING. MY KID OR GRANDKID WILL DEFINETLY DO "THAT". DON'T EVER THINK THAT YOUR WELL -BROUGHT -UP CHILD WILL NOT EMBARRASS YOU IN THE MOST PROFOUND WAYS. AFTER ALL, YOU HAVE TAUGHT THEM CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ASSURANCE, AND MOST OF ALL THEY KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, YOU WILL STILL LOVE THEM. THIS IS THE RECIPE FOR EXPLORATION AND SELF-DESCOVERY. AND, WHILE I WOULD NOT DENY MY CHILD OR GRANDCHILD THE OPPRORTUNITY TO USE THEIR FREE AGENCY IN MAKING DECISIONS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF I DIDN'T KNOW SO STRONGLY THAT THEY ARE JUST LIKE ME AND PAPA WHEN TROUBLE HAS RESULTED. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
WHEN JESSICA WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, WE HAD 3 CARS. ONE FOR ME, ONE FOR DAD AND ONE IN THE DRIVEWAY THAT WAS ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD AND MARTIN WAS GOING TO RESTORE. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT NEEDED A PAINT JOB AND SOME OTHER MINOR THINGS DONE. IT WAS A RENAULT THAT HAD A PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSION AND WAS QUITE COOL FOR IT'S DAY. NOW, SINCE JESSICA WAS TWELVE, I THOUGHT SHE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET HERSELF TO THE SCHOOL BUS AND I WOULDN'T HAVE TO KEEP TABS ON HER. AFTER ALL, HADN'T I TAUGHT HER TO BE RESPONSIBLE? SO, I HAD NO IDEA OF THE TROUBLE BREWING. ONE FRIDAY, I GOT A CALL FROM THE SCHOOL WERE BOBBIE JO WAS ATTENDING, SAYING THAT BOBBIE JO WAS VERY UPSET AND I SHOULD COME RIGHT AWAY. I DID, AND FOUND TO MY AMAZEMENT AND DISGUST THAT JESSICA HAD BEEN UP TO SOMETHING BEYOND MY IMAGINATION. IT SEEMS, THAT AFTER DAD AND I LEFT FOR WORK, JESSICA WAS TAKING THE KEYS TO THE THE THIRD CAR AND PICKING UP HER FRIENDS FOR SCHOOL. SHE WAS ONLY TWELVE YEARS OLD!!!! SHE PICKED UP 4 OTHER STUDENTS AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE TEACHERS, AND AFTER SCHOOL JUST GOT BACK IN AND DROVE HOME, WHILE DROPPING OFF HER FRIENDS! NONE OF THE STAFF EVEN KNEW THAT SHE WAS DRIVING! BOBBIE JO FINALLY GOT SO WORRIED THAT JESSICA WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT, SHE TOLD HER SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND THE COUNSELOR TOLD ME. TO MY KNOWLEGE, JESSICA ONLY TOOK OUT A MAILBOX OR TWO IN THE WEEK SHE WAS DRIVING, BUT THANK GOD THAT SHE WASN'T KILLED, AS THE TRIP TO SCHOOL WENT DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY! I JUST LET DAD HANDLE IT, AS I WAS AFRAID I WOULD KILL HER OR SOMETHING.
THEN, ONE DAY, I GOT A CALL FROM SCHOOL IN REFERENCE TO LITTLE OTTO. IT SEEMS THAT HE HAD TAKEN SOMETHING FOR SHOW AND TELL, AND I WAS BEING SUMMONED TO COME AND PICK IT UP. WHAT COULD IT BE? SOMETHING ALIVE? I COULDN'T IMAGINE. WELL, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE BOTTOM OF A DEER LEG THAT LITTLE OTTO, AARON AND DAD HAD SHOT WHEN THEY WERE OUT HUNTING! I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT OTTO HAD KEPT THAT THING FROZEN IN THE CHEST FREEZER SINCE THEY HAD SHOT IT OVER TWO MONTHS BEFORE. HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HUNTING TRIP FOR SHOW AND TELL. SINCE THE LEG HAD THAWED OUT AT SCHOOL, I HAD NO TROUBLE FINDING THE CLASS, AS THE AROMA OF ROTTEN DEER WAS WAFTING DOWN THE HALL. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS THE SAWED OFF LEG OF THAT POOR DEER IN A BAGGIE ON THE TEACHERS DESK. I JUST TOOK THE STINKING THING AND THREW IT IN THE TRASH. YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD KNOW BETTER!
ONE VERY COLD MORNING IN JANUARY, DAD AND THE BOYS WERE OUT IN THE GARAGE PUTTING A MOTOR BACK TOGETHER. NOW, MARTIN ALWAYS HAD HIS TOOLS AND PARTS VERY ORGANIZED SO THAT HE WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO GET TO THEM. THE BOYS AND MARTIN WERE BUNDLED UP AGAINST THE COLD, BUT DAD IS TALL AND HE GETS "PLUMMERS CRACK" WHEN HE BENDS OVER. AARON GOT THE IDEA TO PLAY A LITTLE TRICK ON DAD. HE WENT OVER AND PICKED UP A PUSH ROD, WHICH IS A SMALL METAL ROD ABOUT 8 INCHES LONG THAT IS AN ENGINE PART. BECAUSE IT WAS SO COLD OUTSIDE, THIS ROD WAS COLD TOO, ACTUALLY, SO COLD IT WAS STICKING TO AARON'S FINGERS WHEN HE PICKED IT UP. GRINNING AT LITTLE OTTO, AARON SNEAKED OVER TO WHERE DAD WAS BENDING OVER THE CAR, AND SHOVED THAT PUSH ROD RIGHT DOWN MARTIN'S "PLUMBERS CRACK"! THE REACTION WAS INSTANTANEOUS. MARTIN ROARED AND JUMPED UP CRACKING HIS HEAD ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR. BEFORE HE COULD EVEN LOOK AROUND, THE LITTLE BOYS WERE HIGH TAILING IT ACROSS THE YARD FASTER THAN A DOG AFTER A STEAK! MARTIN HAD A HUGE BUMP ON HIS HEAD, AND THE FRIGID PUSH ROD STUCK TO THE SKIN OF HIS TENDER AREA. HE WAS HOLDING HIS HEAD WITH ONE HAND, AND TRYING TO DISLODGE THE PUSH ROD WITH THE OTHER. I THOUGHT IT FUNNY THAT THE BOYS CAME RUSHING INTO THE HOUSE AND WITHOUT STOPPING, SAID, "MOM, WE ARE GOING TO CHRIS'S HOUSE, BYE!" WELL, FOR GOODNESS SAKE! IT WAS ONLY AFTER MARTIN CAME STOMPING INTO THE HOUSE THAT I REALIZED THAT THEY PROBABLY MADE A GOOD CHOICE!
WHEN BECKY WAS JUST A LITTLE GIRL, ABOUT TWO, SHE WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT HER DADDY WAS DOING. AS USUAL, HE WAS UNDER A CAR, BUT THIS TIME THE WEATHER WAS HOT, AND HE WAS SWEATING. AFTER FINDING HIM, SHE CAME BACK IN THE HOUSE, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WENT BACK OUT TO DAD, CARRYING A CUP OF WATER. "DINKIE DADDY? WANNA A DINKIE?" SHE ASKED. HE WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT SHE COULD BE SO COMPASSIONATE, AND GRATEFULLY TOOK THE DRINK, MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENT. WHEN THE CUP WAS DRAINED, BECKY TOOK IT BACK, AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, SHE CAME BACK WITH ANOTHER CUP OF WATER. "OH, THANK YOU BABY, DADDY HAS HAD ENOUGH" HE SAID, BUT DRANK THE WATER ANYWAY. I HAD NOTICED HER GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE GARAGE, WHICH WAS OUT IN BACK OF THE YARD, AND WONDERED WHAT SHE WAS UP TO. SHE CAME IN AND SAID, "DADDY DINKIE!" I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT, SO I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OUT SHE WENT WITH ANOTHER CUP OF WATER. MARTIN TOLD HER HE HAD HAD ENOUGH, BUT SHE GOT UPSET, AND HE DRANK THE THIRD CUP TO MAKE HER HAPPY. WHEN SHE CAME BACK IN, I DECIDED TO SEE WHERE SHE WAS GETTING THE WATER SO EASILY. SURE ENOUGH, SHE WENT INTO THE BATHROOM, PLUNGED THE CUP INTO THE TOILET AND STARTED OUT THE DOOR AGAIN!!! OH, NO! SHE HEADED OUT TO THE GARAGE ONCE MORE, WITH A HUGE GRIN ON HER HELPFUL LITTLE FACE. "DINKIE DADDY! MORE DINKIE!" SHE SAID. DADDY SAID HE COULD NOT DRINK ANYMORE, AND WHY DIDN'T SHE GO AND GIVE THE WATER TO THE CHICKENS. THAT SENT HER OFF, AND I SAT DOWN NEXT TO HIM. "DID YOU GET ENOUGH TO DRINK?" I INNOCENTLY ASKED HIM. HE SAID YES, AND WASN'T BECKY SMART TO BE ABLE TO BRING HIM A DRINK? WASN'T SHE SWEET? SHE MUST TAKE AFTER HER MAMA! I DECIDED TO START TO WALK BACK TO THE HOUSE, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER I CASUALLY MENTIONED OVER MY SHOULDER WHERE THE WATER HAD COME FROM. YES, THE LANGUAGE WAS COLORFUL, PUNCTUATED BY GAGGING AND SPITTING. LUCKY DADDY TO HAVE SUCH A HELPFUL LITTLE DAUGHTER!
WHEN BOBBIE JO WAS IN JR. HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WAS A BIT OF A REBEL. SHE AND I BEGAN TO HAVE THE TYPICAL TEEN-AGE DAUGHTER AND MOTHER DIFFICULTIES, BUT NOTHING TOO BAD. THEN, ONE DAY, WE HAD A BIG BLOW-UP. SHE WANTED TO GO TO THE MALL WITH HER FRIENDS, AND FELT SHE WAS TOO YOUNG. IT WAS QUITE AN ARGUMENT, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER UNTIL THE DOORBELL RANG THE NEXT DAY. I ANSWERED THE DOOR TO FIND THE MOTHER OF ONE OF BOBBIE JO'S FRIENDS STANDING THERE. SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD COME IN, AND WE SAT DOWN. SHE COMPASSIONATLY TOLD ME THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD HOW I MUST BE OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE CHILDREN, AND SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT SOMETIMES A MOTHER COULD LOSE CONTROL WITH HER CHILDREN. I WAS TOTALLY CONFUSED. SHE CONTINUED TO TELL ME THAT BOBBIE JO HAD CONFIDED IN HER THAT I HAD BEATEN HER, MADE HER DO ALL THE WORK, WOULDN'T FEED HER ENOUGH AND THAT BOBBIE JO FELT THAT HER LIFE WAS IN DANGER. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO INVOLVE THE AUTHORITIES, AND HAD A SUGGESTION. WHY DIDN'T I ALLOW BOBBIE JO TO COME AND STAY WITH THEM FOR AWHILE? BOBBIE JO WAS SUCH A SWEET LITTLE THING, IT WAS A SHAME THAT SHE HAD TO LIVE WITH SUCH ABUSE. I ALMOST EXPLODED, BUT FOR ONCE, I KEPT MY SENSE AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE SITUATION. OF COURSE I HAD NOT BEATEN BOBBIE JO, (MAYBE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM), STARVED HER OR WORKED HER TO DEATH. SHE WANTED TO BE WITH HER FRIEND WHO'S MOTHER LET HER GO TO THE MALL, THE MOVIES AND STAY OUT LATE. THESE GIRLS WERE ONLY 12 YEARS OLD, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE FREEDOM THIS MOTHER ALLOWED. SUDDENLY I GOT AN IDEA. I GRABBED THE MOTHER'S HAND, AND WITH "ALLIGATOR TEARS" WEPT THAT SHE WAS TOO GOOD TO COME TO MY RESCUE. OF COURSE BOBBIE JO COULD COME AND STAY WITH THEM. IT TOOK ME ALL OF 5 MINUTES TO GET BOBBIE JO SOME THINGS TOGETHER, TOSS THEM IN HER CAR, AND WAVE HER OFF. I WENT IN THE HOUSE AND CRIED MY EYES OUT. HOW COULD BOBBIE JO DO THAT TO ME? I WAS SO ANGRY! THE PLAN WAS TO GO AND GET BOBBIE JO WHEN MARTIN CAME HOME, BUT HE THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY. HE SAID TO LET BOBBIE JO SPEND THE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY SHE WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY. ABOUT 9 PM THAT EVENING, THE DOORBELL RANG ONCE AGAIN. UPON ANSWERING THE DOOR, I FOUND THE MOTHER STANDING THERE (AN ANGRY LOOK ON HER FACE) WITH BOBBIE JO IN TOW. "HERE! TAKE YOUR KID BACK! SHE IS A PAIN IN THE -----!" I SWEETLY SAID, "I KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE OVERWHELMED WITH CHILDREN SOMETIMES, AND I UNDERSTAND THE STRESS YOU CAN BE UNDER AND ALL-IT COULD BE SO EASY TO LOSE CONTROL YOU KNOW" AND SHE SAID, "SHUT UP! TAKE YOUR KID!" AND STOMPED OFF THE PORCH, TO HER CAR AND SLAMMED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. BOBBIE JO AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER WITH NEW UNDERSTANDING. I WANTED TO BLAST HER FOR ALL THE MEAN THINGS SHE HAD SAID, BUT SHE WAS SO HURT THAT I COULDN'T. BOBBIE JO TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD HEARD THE WOMAN TELLING HER FRIENDS ON THE PHONE ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE A MOTHER I WAS, AND IT MADE HER ANGRY. THEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD CAUSED THIS AND WANTED TO COME HOME. ALSO, THERE WERE NO BAKED COOKIES AT THAT HOUSE, THE FRIDGE WAS EMPTY AND SUPPER WAS NON-EXISTANT. SHE AND HER FRIEND HAD TO HAVE CEREAL AND MAKE IT THEMSELVES. SHE WANTED TO COME HOME AND HAVE A HOT SUPPER AND SLEEP IN HER BED. IT WAS A MOMENT FOR BOTH OF US. SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT WHY SHE WAS SO UNHAPPY, AND WE MADE SOME DECISIONS TO IMPROVE OUR RELATIONSHIP. I WAS TERRIBLY EMBARRASSED AT WHAT BOBBIE JO HAD SAID ABOUT ME, BUT I FELT THAT MY REPUTATION WOULD STAND UP TO SCRUTINY IF IT HAD TO.
YES, DON'T EVER BE SO COCKY AS TO THINK THAT YOUR KIDS "WOULDN'T DO THAT". THEY WILL, NO MATTER WHAT! JUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN THEY DO, IT WAS YOU WHO TAUGHT THEM TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO STEP OUT-AND THAT MAKES YOU A GOOD MAMA. ALSO, REMEMBER, WHEN YOUR CHILD SAYS, "YOU ARE THE MEANEST MAMA IN THE WORLD, AND I HATE YOU !" THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS, "THEN I AM DOING A GOOD JOB!" LOVE, NANASEE

CHICKEN RUN

AS YOU KNOW, I LOVED HAVING OUR CHICKENS. THEY WERE SWEET LITTLE BIRDS, AND AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THEY WERE COMFORTING TO ME WHEN I WAS SAD. I LOVED FEEDING THEM, THEY WOULD GATHER ABOUT PECKING THE GRAIN WHEN I TOSSED IT TO THEM. I WAS ALWAYS SO EXCITED WHEN THEY WOULD HATCH OUT LITTLE CHICKS TOO. THIS MAY SEEM RATHER FANCIFUL BUT THEY WERE SPECIAL TO ME AND I LOVED THEM.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A PARTICULAR CHICKEN INCIDENT. TO START OFF WITH, MARTIN HAD TO GO TO CLASSES IN OKLAHOMA ON OCCASION FOR THE POST OFFICE WHEN HE WORKED THERE. ONE SUMMER, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD SURPRISE BOTH HIM AND THE CHILDREN AND TAKE THEM UP TO SEE HIM. THE TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL, DADDY WAS SURPRISED AND WE ALL HAD FUN. THEN WE CROSSED THE STATE TO GO AND SEE MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY STEPMOTHER. AT THAT TIME, MY STEP MOTHER JOIDA, HAD A LITTLE FARM OF HER OWN. SHE HAD CHICKENS, A HORSE OR TWO, A MULE, AND OTHER LITTLE ANIMALS. THERE WAS A FISH POND THAT SHE LET THE KIDS FISH FROM. IT WAS A WONDERFUL VACATION WITH HER, SHE IS ALWAYS SO GOOD TO US. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE, I ASKED HER IF I COULD HAVE A FEW CHICKENS TO TAKE HOME TO ADD TO MY FLOCK. SHE SAID YES, AND EVEN GAVE US A TURKEY AND A FEW GUINEAS. (OTHER BARN YARD BIRDS). ALL IN ALL, WE HAD 16 BIRDS OF SOME KIND, PACKED INTO WIRE CAGES AND STUFFED INTO THE BACK OF OUR OLD SUBURBAN FOR THE 8 HOUR TRIP HOME TO HOUSTON. THERE WAS NO AIRCONDITIONING IN THE TRUCK, SO, WE HAD THE WINDOWS DOWN AND KIDS STUFFED WHERE EVER I COULD FIND A PLACE. WE HAD A LOVING GOODBYE, ARMED WITH A PICNIC THAT JOIDA HAD MADE AND ESPECIALLY A LARGE TEXAS SHEET CAKE, (CHOCOLATE, PECANS, YUMMY, OH MY!) IT WAS THE MONTH OF AUGUST, AND VERY HOT. WE BEGAN THE TRIP HOME WITH CHEERFUL ANTICIPATION OF GOING HOME, SINGING AND ENJOYING THE TRIP FOR A SHORT TIME, AND THEN, LITTLE OTTO TOLD ME THAT THE CHICKENS WERE BEGINNING TO FART. "OTTO! IS THAT ANY WAY TO TALK?!!!!" I ASKED HIM. "WELL, IT IS IF THE CHICKENS ARE FARTING" HE SAID. "YEAH MOM, THESE CHICKENS ARE REALLY BEGINNING TO STINK IT UP BACK HERE!" SAID AARON. WELL, WHAT COULD I DO? FARTING CHICKENS. WHO KNEW THAT CHICKENS FARTED ANYWAY. SO, WE BARRELED ALONG THE INDIAN TURNPIKE, AND HAD CARS PASSING US AND MAKING UGLY FACES. I GUESS THOSE CHICKENS WERE STINKING UP MORE THAN THE TRUCK. WITH A MYRIAD OF COMPLAINTS AS TO THE GASTRIC DIFFICULTIES OF THE BIRDS IN TOW, WE CONTINUED THROUGH OKLAHOMA AND INTO TEXAS. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO DALLAS, THE CHICKENS SETTLED DOWN, AND PRETTY MUCH QUIT FARTING. (MAYBE THEY RAN OUT OF GAS). WE HAD A POTTY BREAK AND STARTED FOR HOUSTON. ONLY 4 HOURS AWAY, THANK GOODNESS. ALL ALONG THE TRIP, THE KIDS WERE SNACKING ON JOIDA'S FEAST THAT SHE HAD SENT. THERE WAS FRUIT, CAKE AND OH,LOOK, FRIED CHICKEN. WELL, THE BOYS GOT THE BIG IDEA TO SEE IF THE CHICKENS WOULD EAT FRIED CHICKEN, AND WITHOUT TELLING ME, THEY BEGAN TO FEED THE FRIED CHICKEN TO THEM. THE BOYS WERE HYSTERICAL WITH LAUGHTER, AS THE CHICKENS GOBBLED UP EVERYTHING THE BOYS GAVE THEM, SAYING THAT THEY BET THOSE CHICKENS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, EATING THEIR RELATIVES! "BOYS! QUIT FEEDING THOSE BIRDS! DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GAS AGAIN?!! I DEMANDED. WE WERE ABOUT 120 MILES FROM HOUSTON, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A HISS AND LOOKED TO SEE THAT STEAM WAS POURING OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. NOW, THIS IS A SITUATION THAT YOU NEVER WANT TO FIND YOURSELF IN. A SUBURBAN FULL OF 5 YOUNG KIDS, 16 BIRDS OF SOME KIND, NO AIRCONDITIONING IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST, STEAM POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VERY LITTLE MONEY AND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TEXAS, 120 MILES FROM HOME WITH YOUR MECHANIC HUSBAND BACK IN OKLAHOMA AT LEAST 5 HOURS AWAY. DID I PANIC? YOU BET I DID! BUT I SAW THAT JUST UP THE RAMP OFF THE FREEWAY, WAS A SERVICE STATION, AND EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS PAST 6 PM ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, I PRAYED THAT SOMEONE COULD HELP ME. OF COURSE, THE SERVICE WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. NOW WHAT? JESSICA POINTED OUT THAT ACROSS THE OVERPASS, WAS WHAT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD BE ANOTHER SERVICE STATION, AND SO I LIMPED OVER THERE. SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS AN ANCIENT SERVICE STATION, COMPLETE WITH SOME OLD MEN PLAYING CHECKERS AT ONE TABLE AND OTHERS PLAYING POKER AT ANOTHER. I TRIED THE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. "WERE NOT OPEN!" SHOUTED ONE OF THE OLD MEN. I HAD HAD ENOUGH. I STARTED CRYING. THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE ANOTHER OLD MAN COME TO THE DOOR AND ASK WHAT WAS WRONG. I TOLD HIM MY SUBURBAN WAS BROKEN DOWN, I HAD KIDS, CHICKENS AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO ANYTHING WITH. I BARELY HAD ENOUGH GAS TO GET HOME EVEN IF THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING. "WELL, THE TOWN'S SHUT DOWN TILL MONDAY" HE SAID, AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR US TO SPEND THE NIGHT. I ASKED IF I COULD CALL MARTIN LONG DISTANCE, AND HE HAD TO GO AND OKAY IT WITH THE OTHER OLD MEN. THEN I REALIZED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH MARTIN, I COULD NOT REACH HIM OVER THE WEEKEND. SHOOT. WELL, IT WAS GETTING LATER, AND I WAS GETTING DESPERATE. THANKS TO THE BOYS FEEDING THE CHICKENS THE FRIED CHICKEN, WE ONLY HAD SOME ROLLS AND CAKE LEFT FOR DINNER. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE SUBURBAN, UNTIL I FIGURED SOMETHING OUT FOR THE NEXT DAY. WE UNLOADED THE CHICKENS, TURKEY, GUINEAS AND PUT THEM IN THE DRIVEWAY, GIVING THEM WATER AND SOME BREAD. THEN, THE CHILDREN LOOKED SO FORLORN, THE OLD MEN ASKED IF WE WANTED TO COME IN AND SIT IN THE SERVICE STATION FOR AWHILE. THERE WAS A SMALL TV, AND THE KIDS COULD WATCH THAT, THEY SAID. IT WAS A BLACK AND WHITE TV, AND THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG. THE BOYS BEGAN TO ROAM AROUND, WATCHING THE POKER GAME. BECKY WAS WATCHING THE CHECKERS, AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE OLDER GIRLS WERE DOING. "HEY LADY," GRIPED ONE OF THE OLD GEEZERS, "CAN YOU WATCH YER KIDS?" I GATHERED THEM UP, AND EXPLAINED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE TRUCK IF WE BOTHERED THOSE OLD MEN AND THEIR GAMES. THEY SETTLED DOWN AGAIN, BUT SOON, THE BOYS WERE BACK WATCHING THE POKER GAME. SUDDENLY, BECKY CALLED OUT, "HEY, LOOK. HE'S GOT 3 ONES- (THEY WERE ACES)I BET THAT'S NOT MUCH!" THAT OLD MAN SWORE LIKE A SAILOR, THE OTHER PLAYERS TOLD BECKY THANKS FOR THE TIP, AND STILL ANOTHER OLD MAN STOOD UP IN AGITATION. "LADY, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR?" HE ASKED. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T KNOW, THE STEAM HAD BOILED OUT AND IT WAS OVERHEATED. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, WIGGLED SOME THINGS AND SAID "Y'ALL COME ON WITH ME, WERE ARE GOING INTO TOWN!" HE TOLD US TO GET INTO AN ANCIENT PICKUP TRUCK AND SIT TIGHT. IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT WE COULD BE IN ANY DANGER, SO WE ALL GOT INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND OFF WE WENT. HE DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES TO A SMALL TOWN WITH A ONE BLOCK STREET OF OLD STORES. HE PARKED IN FRONT OF AN AUTO PARTS, TOOK A KEY, OPENED THE DOOR AND WENT INSIDE. HE CAME OUT WITH A NEW ALTERNATOR AND TOOK US BACK TO THE SERVICE STATION. HE TOLD BUBBA OR SOMONE LIKE THAT TO PUT THE ALTERNATOR ON THE TRUCK, AND CALLED HIS WIFE TO BRING SOME FOOD. SHE WAS A LOVELY WOMAN, AND BROUGHT LOTS OF GOODIES TO FEED THE CHILDREN AND ME. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS MAN WAS THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN, AND WANTED TO GET BACK TO HIS POKER GAME. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT WAS TO GET US ON THE ROAD! SO, HE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS, AND WISHED US WELL AND ON OUR WAY. WE LOADED UP THE CHICKENS AND BIRDS AND HEADED OFF TO HOUSTON, AFTER HUGGING THE NECKS OF OUR BENEFACTORS. WHAT A BLESSING! WE ACTUALLY MADE IT ALL THE WAY HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. IT WAS VERY LATE, AND WE UNLOADED THE BIRDS AND PUT THEM IN THE CHICKEN YARD TO TEND TO THEM IN THE MORNING. I WAS EXHAUSTED, AND ABOUT TO CRY WITH FATIGUE. SUDDENLY, THERE CAME A FLASH OF FUR, AND THE SAINT BERNARD (160LBS)THAT SOMEONE HAD "GIVEN" US CAME BUSTING THROUGH THE CHICKEN WIRE WHERE A HOLE WAS. ALL I COULD SEE AND HEAR WAS SHRIEKING BIRDS, BARKING, FEATHERS FLYING, A HUGE TAIL WHIPPING EVERYWHERE AND CHAOS! BEFORE I COULD GET THAT DOG OUT OF THE PEN, HE HAD EATEN 6 CHICKENS, THE TURKEY HAD FLOWN AWAY AND THE GUINEAS WERE UP IN THE TREE. THE OTHER CHICKENS WERE IN THE ROOSTS, AND IT WAS JUST CHICKEN HELL. I HAD TO TIE UP THE DOG, WHO WAS BY NOW REGURGITATING HIS NEWLY INGESTED MEAL. THEN, I HAD TO FIX THE HOLE, (MUCH LARGER NOW OF COURSE) BY PATCHING WITH MORE CHICKEN WIRE. WOULD THIS DAY NEVER END? YES, FINALLY, IT DID. THE HYSTERICAL CHILDREN WERE PUT TO BED, THE STUFFED DOG WAS STILL TIED UP AND I COLLAPSED ON THE COUCH. THE NEXT DAY WAS SUNDAY, AND I STILL HAD THAT TO THINK ABOUT. BUT, WE ONLY LOST A TURKEY AND SIX CHICKENS- AND I HAVE A MEMORY OF GASSY BIRDS, TEXAS SHEET CAKE, CANNIBALLISTIC CHICKENS, AND SOME VERY KIND OLD MEN IN A TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TEXAS. I ALSO WAS ONCE AGAIN REMINDED THAT HEAVENLY FATHER WATCHES OVER US AND HELPS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY WAYS. ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD SURVIVED AN ADVENTURE THAT IS UNBELIVEABLE, OH BUT WAIT, SINCE IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT IS VERY BELIEVABLE! MORE LATER, LOVE, NANASEE

CHRISTMAS BIRD

ONE YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, LITTLE OTTO WANTED A PARROT MORE THAN ANYTHING. THIS WAS DURING THE YEARS THAT WE HAD TO COUNT EVERY PENNY, AND A PARROT WAS WAY OUT OF THE BUDGET. BUT HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR A PARROT, HE BEGGED AND I THINK HE PRAYED FOR IT AS WELL. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WANTED A PARROT SO BADLY, BUT THAT WAS ALL HE TALKED ABOUT. ONE DAY, HE ASKED ME TO TAKE HIM TO THE PET STORE TO LOOK AT THE PARROT HE WANTED. I DIDN'T WANT TO, I DIDN'T WANT TO UPSET HIM WHEN I HAD TO TELL HIM THAT I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. BUT, I TOOK HIM AND WHEN WE GOT THERE HE WENT STRAIGHT TO THAT BIRD. WITH A RAPT LOOK ON HIS FACE, OTTO TOLD THE PARROT THAT HE WOULD BE COMING HOME WITH HIM SOON AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE A GOOD HOME. I GUESS OTTO HAD GOTTEN THE NOTION THAT THE PARROT NEEDED A BETTER HOME. I WAS SURPRISED AT OTTO'S CHOICE OF A PARROT. IT WAS A LITTLE GREEN PARROT, WITH A RED THATCH OF FEATHERS ON IT'S HEAD. NOTHING SPECTACTLAR. I LOOKED AT THE PRICE. 90.00. HMMM, THAT WASN'T SO BAD- OH, BUT I NEEDED A CAGE AND PARROT STUFF TOO, AND THE BILL ROSE CONSIDERABLY. I DECIDED TO ASK MARTIN FOR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM. HE DIDN'T WANT A PARROT AT ALL, AND TOLD ME SO. I COULDNT' DISAPPOINT OTTO, I WAS TOO SOFT I GUESS, AND BEGAN TO WRANGLE A WAY TO AFFORD THAT BIRD. WELL, TO GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE, SOMEHOW, I GOT THE MONEY TOGETHER AND THE PARROT CAME HOME ON CHRISTMAS EVE. I COVERED THE CAGE AND PUT HIM IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM FOR THE NIGHT. OTTO WAS THRILLED TO HAVE THE BIRD AND ALL CHRISTMAS DAY, SAT BY THE CAGE SAYING "OTTO" OVER AND OVER SO THE BIRD WOULD LEARN HIS NAME. (WE NAMED THE BIRD OTT). THAT SMART BIRD BEGAN TO CLEARLY SAY, "OTTO" WITHIN A FEW DAYS! WASN'T HE SMART?!!! I THEN DECIDED TO GET A TAPE TO PLAY FOR THE BIRD WHILE WE WERE OUT, SO THAT HE COULD LEARN OTHER WORDS. FOR SOME REASON, HE DIDN'T LEARN THEM. BUT HE DID LEARN ONE OTHER WORD, THANKS TO ME. I HAD, (HAVE SOMETIMES) A BAD HABIT OF SAYING SH-- WHEN I GET UPSET. ITIS A REALLY BAD HABIT, AND I SAID IT WITHOUT EVEN THINKING. THE BIRD STAYED IN A CORNER OF OUR LARGE COUNTRY KITCHEN, AND KEPT ME COMPANY EVERY DAY, AND HAD ACCESS TO MY LANGUAGE. ONE DAY, I HEARD THE KIDS LAUGHING LIKE CRAZY AND WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS SO FUNNY. "SH--!" SAID OTT. CLEARLY! OH MY GOODNESS! OF ALL MY EFFORTS TO TEACH HIM TO TALK, WHY DID HE PICK THAT UP? SO HIS VOCABULARY CONSISTED OF "OTTO" AND "SH--." I GAVE UP, NOW I HAD A PROFANE BIRD IN MY HOUSE. WHEN PEOPLE CAME OVER THEY ADMIRED OUR BEAUTIFUL PARROT AND OF COURSE THEY WOULD ASK IF HE TALKED. "NO!" I SAID. "YES!" THE KIDS SAID. THE COMPANY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT OTTO COULD SAY, AND I WOULD SAY, "LISTEN, THE SQUASH IN THE GARDEN IS BEAUTIFUL, LETS GO PICK SOME!" OR SOME OTHER INANE THING. WELL, TIME WENT BY, AND OTT NEVER LEARNED ANOTHER WORD. GOOD THING TOO, BECAUSE MARTIN HAD WORSE LANGUAGE THAN I DID. THE DOG HAD A LITTER OF PUPPIES IN THE SPRING, AND I KEPT THEM IN A BASKET IN THE CORNER BY THE KITCHEN STOVE. ONE NIGHT I HEARD THE PUPPIES BARKING AND YELPING LIKE CRAZY, AND THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I RAN INTO THE KITCHEN AND THERE THEY WERE, SLEEPING SOUNDLY. HMMM. I WENT BACK TO BED, AND ALMOST GOT COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY BEGAN TO YELP AND BARK AGAIN. BACK INTO THE KITCHEN I RAN, AND, PUPPIES STILL SLEEPING. FOR THE NEXT FEW NIGHTS, THIS CONTINUED. STUPID PUPPIES! THEN, ONE NIGHT, I GOT INTO THE KITCHEN IN TIME TO FIND THE CULPRIT! THE BARKING,YELPING PUPPIES WERE SLEEPING SOUNDLY, BUT OTT WASN'T! HE HAD LEARNED TO COPY THE PUPPIES, AND YOU COULD NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE. THERE HE WAS JUST BARKING AND YELPING TO BEAT THE BAND. WELL, OF COURSE. NOTHING IS EVER NORMAL IN OUR HOUSE. SO, OUR VERY INTELLEGENT BIRD LEARNED TO TALK PROFANELY, AND BARK. WE STILL LOVED HIM THOUGH, AND OTTO WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM. MORE LATER, LOVE, NANASEE

DINNER AT THE SEE'S

WE HAVE BEEN A FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS. OF COURSE FAMILIES HAVE DINNER TOGETHER. I HAVE A FEW MEMORIES ABOUT DINNER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. FIRST OF ALL, I AM A PRETTY GOOD COOK. USUALLY. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS THAT WOULD BELY THAT STATEMENT. ONE TIME IN RELIEF SOCIETY, (THE LADIES ORGANIZATION AT MY CHURCH) A DEAR SISTER GAVE A DEMONSTRATION ON HOW TO COOK LIVER. I HATE LIVER. REALLY HATE IT. BUT, I AM A GOOD SPORT AND SO, I WENT TO THE CLASS. TO MY SURPRISE, THE LIVER SHE MADE WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS PAN FRIED WITH BACON STRIPSAND SMOTHERED WITH MUSHROOM SOUP. WOW, NOW I COULD GO HOME AND FIX LIVER FOR MY KIDS AND THEY WOULD ACTUALLY EAT IT! SO, THE NEXT DAY, I WENT AND BOUGHT SOME LIVER. DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL LIVER IS NOT THE SAME? WELL, I DIDN'T. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF AN ANIMAL THAT LIVER CAME FROM, BUT, LIVER IS LIVER, RIGHT? ANYWAY, HOME I WENT AND BEGAN TO COOK. BOY, THAT LIVER BEGAN TO STINK UP THE KITCHEN. I PAN FRIED IT WITH THE BACON JUST LIKE I HAD LEARNED, BUT FOR SOME REASON, IT DIDN'T SMELL THE SAME. I ADDED MORE BACON. ONE OF THE BOYS CAME IN AND YELLED, "MOM, THE TOILET IS BACKED UP AGAIN!!" (SMART ALECK!) HMMM. WELL, I ADDED THE MUSHROOM SOUP, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THE LIVER NEEDED. I MADE SOME MASHED POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS AND PUT OUT SOME COLD APPLE SAUCE. FINALLY, A LOVELY DINNER WAS SET ON THE TABLE, AND I CALLED THE KIDS. P-EWWW! WHAT STINKS! THEY COMPLAINED. "YOU BE QUIET, AND SIT DOWN AND EAT. I HAVE MADE YOU A SURPRISE AND YOU WILL REALLY LIKE IT!" I TOLD THEM. WITH DUBIOUS FACES, THEY SAT DOWN. "MOM, DID YOU FIX THE TOILET? I STILL SMELL IT"SAID AARON. "ME TOO" SAID ONE OF THE GIRLS. "DON'T WORRY, DADDY WILL FIX IT" SAID ANOTHER. "ENOUGH OF THE TOILET!" I TOLD THEM. "EAT!!!" THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS ON THEIR PLATES. "WELL, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?" I SAID. JESSICA SAID, "I WOULD TELL YOU WHAT I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT YOU WOULD SLAP MY MOUTH!" "OKAY, ENOUGH! WATCH ME, IT IS REALLY GOOD. I LEARNED TO MAKE IT AT RELIEF SOCIETY LAST NIGHT!" AND I TOOK A BIG BITE. LET ME TELL YOU, THAT WAS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER TASTED! GOOD HEAVENS, I JUST SPIT IT OUT RIGHT ONTO MY PLATE!!! THE KIDS WERE WISE ENOUGH TO KEEP QUIET AND JUST STARED AT ME. I GLARED BACK AT THEM, AND THEN, BEGAN TO SEE THE HUMOR IN THE SITUATION. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO TO MY KIDS IF THEY REFUSED TO EAT MY GOOD COOKING?" I GROWLED, AND THEY LOOKED BACK AND FORTH AT EACH OTHER NERVOUSLY. "WELL, DO YOU?" I ROARED. "NNNOOO,"WHIMPERED BECKY. "I TAKE THE TO MCDONALDS!!!" I YELLED, AND GRABBED THE CLOSEST ONE AND GAVE THEM A SMACKING KISS. "THAT STUFF TASTES LIKE CRAP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO EAT IT" I TOLD THEM. AARON SAID, "I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, LEAVE IT IN THE FRIDGE, AND DADDY WILL THINK IT IS STEAK AND GRAVY. WE'LL KNOW WHEN HE GETS INTO IT WHEN WE HEAR HIM YELLING!" WE ALL LAUGHED, CLEANED UP THE DISHES AND OUT TO MCDONALDS WE WENT. THE KIDS STILL TEASE ME ABOUT LIVER, AND THAT AWFUL DINNER. ANOTHER TIME, I WANTED TO HAVE A ROMANTIC MEAL WITH MARTIN. I WENT AND BOUGHT A FLOUNDER (FISH) FROM THE BUTCHER AND HAD IT'S HEAD CUT OFF. I TOOK IT HOME, SEASONED IT AND PUT IT INTO A PAN WITH LOTS OF BUTTER. I BROILED IT JUST LIKE THE RECIPE SAID TO, AND SET A PRETTY TABLE FOR US. HE CAME IN AND WHISTLED. " BOY, THAT LOOKS SO GOOD" HE SAID. " I DIDN'T KNOW YOU KNEW HOW TO COOK A FLOUNDER".. "WELL, IT WAS NOT HARD" I TOLD HIM, "I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!" HE DID TOO, UNTIL HE FOUND A HORRIBLE SURPRISE. THE INSIDE OF THE FISH HAD SOME OTHER LITTLE FISH AND A SHRIMP IN IT'S STOMACH. "SWEETIE, DID YOU CLEAN THIS FISH BEFORE YOU COOKED IT?" HE ASKED KINDLY. "NO, BUT THE BUTCHER DID. HE CUT IT'S HEAD OFF FOR ME" I TOLD HIM. "SWEETIE, DON'T YOU KNOW THERE IS MORE TO CLEANING A FISH THAN CUTTING OFF IT'S HEAD?" HE ASKED, STILL KINDLY. "UH, NO, I GUESS I THOUGHT THE BUTCHER DID IT". WELL, OBVIOUSLY NOT, SINCE THERE IN A STINKING PILE WERE THE REMAINS OF THE FLOUNDERS LAST SUPPER. I WAS SO UPSET, I BEGAN TO CRY. MY DINNER WAS RUINED. MARTIN PUT HIS ARMS AROUND ME AND KISSED ME ON TOP OF MY HEAD. "DO WE HAVE AND FISH STICKS?" HE ASKED. WE DID, AND HAD OUR SEAFOOD DINNER AFTER ALL, THANKS TO THE GORTONS FISHERMAN. OTHER DINNERS HAD OTHER CONSEQUENCES. ONE LOVELY EVENING, WE HAD A CHURCH SUPPER. I HAD SIGNED UP TO BRING A VEGETABLE AND A DESSERT. AS USUAL WE WERE RUNNING LATE, SO I JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK, GRABBED THE DESSERT AND TOLD THE KIDS TO GET THE VEGETABLE, WHICH WAS A LARGE BOWL OF GREEN PEAS. A BIT LATER, I NOTICED THAT MY PEAS WERE NOT ON THE SERVING TABLE. I ASKED MARTIN WHERE THEY WERE, AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW. HE WENT OUT AND CAME BACK AND SAID THAT OTTO HAD BROUGHT THEM IN. THEY WERE IN THE KITCHEN. I WENT TO GET THE BOWL, AND THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT THEIR SEEMED TO ONLY BE ABOUT HALF OF WHAT I HAD BROUGHT. I FIGURED THAT MY GOOD COOKING COULD NOT BE WAITED FOR AND SOMEONE HAD SNITCHED THEM BEFOREHAND. WELL, WE WENT ON EATING, AND ONE OF THE MEN IN THE WARD CAME IN SAYING, "DID YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED? SOMEONE THREW A MESS OF GREEN PEAS INTO BROTHER RAIFORD'S BRAND NEW MERCEDES! THE WHOLE FRONT SEAT IS A MESS AND THEY ARE ON THE WINDSHIELD TOO!" I THOUGHT IN PANIC, "SOMEONE THREW GREEN PEANS INTO A NEW CAR? WHO ELSE BROUGHT GREEN PEAS BUT ME?" THEN, I SAW OTTO'S LITTLE FACE. HE WAS VERY NERVOUS. I QUIETLY TOOK HIM INTO THE KITCHEN AND HE BEGAN TO CRY. I THEN FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS TRYING TO LOOK INTO THE NEW CAR WHILE CARRYING IN THE PEAS. THE CAR DOOR WAS UNLOCKED, AND HE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HURT TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. UNFORTUNATLEY, SOMEONE CAME WALKING BY AND HE SLID DOWN INTO THE SEAT. HE HAD PLACED THE PEAS UP ON THE DASH, AND WHEN HE WENT TO GRAB THEM, THEY TIPPED. TRYING TO CATCH THE BOWL RESULTED IN HITTING THE RIM AND THOSE PEAS WENT EVERYWHERE! HE WAS SCARED AND DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING, JUST BROUGHT WHAT WAS LEFT INTO THE CHURCH AND PUT THE BOWL IN THE KITCHEN. BAD MAMA THAT I AM, I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE WHAT HAPPENED. ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TELL ANYONE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY! SO I LET LITTLE OTTO OFF THE HOOK AND BECAME A GREEN PEAS CONSPIRATOR WITH HIM. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CULINARY INCIDENTS IN MY LIFE, ACTUALLY MANY OTHERS, BUT I WILL SAVE THEM FOR ANOTHER POST. UNTIL TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

LIFE AFTER THE FIRE

SO, WE HAD A FIRE AND OUR NEWLY ADDED ONTO HOUSE WAS RUINED. THAT NIGHT, WE SPENT THE NIGHT ON THE FLOOR OF THE NEIGHBORS HOME DOWN THE STREET, BECAUSE I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH INSURANCE AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR LODGING. THE FIRE HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 10TH, 1988, AND CHRISTMAS WAS FAST APPROACHING. AS I MENTIONED, THE CHRISTMAS WE HAD THAT YEAR WAS WONDERFUL DUE TO THE KINDESS AND CARING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CHURCH FAMILY. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, WE FOUND A LITTLE BRICK HOUSE CLOSE BY AND MOVED IN. I WAS SO FRIGHTENED, BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHAT THE INSURANCE WOULD COVER, AND AT THE TIME WE STILL THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY OUTLET. SINCE MARTIN HAD INSTALLED THE OUTLET, I THOUGHT PERHAPS WE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE FIRST LESSON I RECEIVED THROUGH THIS TRIAL, IS THAT IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS. I LEARNED TO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING! ASK QUESTIONS! GET ANSWERS! WE SOON LEARNED THAT WE WERE FULLY COVERED, AND COULD START REPAIRS. WE STILL HAD THE BUSINESS OF THE HOLIDAYS TO ATTEND TO, AND SO I TRIED TO MAKE EVERYTHING AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. MARTIN'S SISTER CHERYL AND HER CHILDREN LIVED CLOSE BY AND CAME OVER ONE EVENING FOR HOT CHOCOLATE, COOKIES AND SOME FUN. THE LITTLE HOUSE WAS ON THE BANKS OF A BAYOU, (SORT OF LIKE A CEMENT INCLOSED CREEK FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH A BAYOU). THE HILL LEADING DOWN TO THE BAYOU WAS QUITE STEEP, AND TO OUR HAPPY SURPRISE, IT BECAME VERY COLD AND SLEET BEGAN TO FALL THAT EVENING. WE TOOK SOME LARGE CARDBOARD BOXES, AND WENT TO THE BAYOU TO "SLED" ON THE SLICK GRASS. NONE OF MY TEXAS BABIES HAD EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE SLEDDING BEFORE, BUT I HAD PLENTY OF TIMES IN MISSOURI, SO I TOLD THEM HOW TO SIT ON THE CARDBOARD AND HOLD ON WHILE FLYING DOWN THE HILL. THE TRICK TO THIS PARTICULAR SLEDDING INCIDENT WAS TO STOP BEFORE YOU WENT ALL THE WAY INTO THE WATER. CHERYL AND I STAYED AT THE TOP OF THE HILL AND THE CHILDREN RODE OVER AND OVER TO THE BOTTOM. THERE WERE 9 CHILDREN BETWEEN CHERYL AND I AND WE WOULD SETTLE THEM ON THE CARDBOARD AND LINE UP THE OTHERS TO WAIT YET ANOTHER TURN. IT WAS COLD, GETTING LATE AND I WAS GETTING TIRED. AS I WENT TO HELP ANOTHER CHILD, I STEPPED ON A VERY SLICK PIECE OF CARDBOARD AND FELL ON MY HINEY. THE IMPACT OF THE LANDING MADE ME BUMP UP INTO THE AIR A BIT, AND AS I TRIED TO STAND UP, I FOUND MYSELF ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. I COULDN'T GET A GRIP AND ROLLED FASTER. THE KIDS AND CHERYL WERE CHANTING, "GO AUNT JODIE, GO AUNT JODIE" FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. I COULD NOT STOP AND I KNEW THAT THE MOMENTUM WAS GOING TO TOSS ME STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER. THE WHOLE TIME I AM ROLLING, I AM YELLING FOR SOMEONE TO STOP ME! IN MY MIND, I COULD ALREADY FEEL THE FRIGID WATER CLOSING OVER MY VERY BATTERED BODY, AND THEN, I SAW A PAIR OF STURDY LEGS CLOSE BY. I CLUTCHED WITH DESPERATION THOSE STURDY LEGS ONLY TO HAVE THEM COLLAPSE AND MY POOR SON AARON FALL ON TOP OF ME AND CONTINUE DOWN THE HILL WITH ME. SOMEHOW, HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW US DOWN, AND JUST BEFORE WE PLUNGED INTO THE ICY WATERS OF THE BAYOU, WE STOPPED. WELL, JIMENY CRICKET, THOSE IDIOTS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WERE STILL CLAPPING AND CHANTING FOR ME. THEY THOUGHT I DID IT ON PURPOSE, AND WERE REALLY ENJOYING THEMSELVES. I PICKED UP MY FROZEN SELF AND HELPED MY TREMBLING SON TO HIS FEET. "GOSH MOM, I THOUGHT I WAS DONE FOR!" HE SAID. I TOLD HIM I WAS GLAD THAT HE HAD BEEN THERE, HE REALLY SAVED ME FROM GETTING WET. (THE BAYOU IS PROBABLY ONLY ABOUT 3 FEET DEEP). SO, UP THE HILL WE TRUDGED TO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE BEST TRIP (PARDON THE PUN) OF THE EVENING. WE ALL WENT IN, HAD OUR REFRESHMENTS AND CALLED IT A NIGHT. SOON, IT WAS CHRISTMAS DAY. EVERYONE WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS WITH THE LOSS OF THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING, AND WE WERE ONE CRABBY FAMILY. I TRIED TO CHEER EVERYONE UP AND GOT THEM READY TO GO TO MARTIN'S DAD AND LOLA'S HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER. BOBBIE JO WAS PARTICULARLY UPSET AND REFUSED TO COOPERATE, SLOWING THE FAMILY FROM LEAVING. I TOLD HER TO GET IT TOGETHER OR ELSE! SHE GOT MAD AND LEFT THE HOUSE. I TOLD MARTIN TO LOAD THE CAR AND I WOULD BE RIGHT BACK. I WENT TO THE END OF THE STREET WHERE THE BAYOU WAS, AS THAT WAS THE DIRECTION SHE WAS HEADING. SURE ENOUGH, THERE SHE WAS, SITTING UNDER THE BAYOU BRIDGE LOOKING ANGRY AND FORLORN. I STARTED OVER TO HER AND THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT REALLY FRIGHTENED ME. A MAN WHO LOOKED LIKE A STREET BUM WAS SLOWLY CREEPING UP ON HER FROM AN ANGLE SHE COULD NOT SEE. WELL, WITH MY VIVID IMAGINATION, I FIGURED THAT HE WAS UP TO NO GOOD. HE WAS MUCH CLOSER THAN I WAS, AND THINKING QUICKLY, I YELLED BOBBIE JO'S NAME. SHE TURNED TO LOOK AT ME, AND THAT MAN BEGAN TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY TOWARD HER. I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAW ME OR NOT, BUT I PICKED UP A LARGE ROCK AND THREW IT AT HIM AS HARD AS I COULD, MISSING HIM OF COURSE. HE LOOKED SURPRISED, AND THEN I YELLED AT HIM TO GET AWAY FROM MY CHILD OR HE WOULD WISH HE HAD. I PICKED UP SOME MORE ROCKS AND YELLED AT BOBBIE JO TO COME TO ME. I WAS PREPARED TO KICK THE STUFFING OUT OF HIM IF I HAD TO- SEEING THAT MAN, SHE JUMPED UP AND RAN TO ME, AND THE MAN BEGAN TO RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IT WAS SO CLOSE! WHAT IF I HADN'T BEEN THERE? I KNOW HE WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO HER OR TAKEN HER OFF. AFTER REALIZING THE DANGER SHE HAD BEEN IN, BOBBIE JO WAS MORE CONTRITE AND WE WENT ON TO HAVE A NICE CHRISTMAS DINNER. ONCE AGAIN, THE SPIRIT GUIDED ME TO PROTECT MY CHILD. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT. THE NEW YEAR BEGAN, AND WE HAD MUCH TO DO TO REBUILD THE HOUSE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, MARTIN HIRED OUT THE BIG WORK, BUT WANTED TO DO AS MUCH AS HE COULD TO SAVE MONEY IF POSSIBLE. IT WAS TOUGH ON EVERYONE, AND TEMPERS WERE SHORT. MARTIN AND I FUSSED AND ARGUED QUITE A BIT, AND THE CHILDREN WERE UNEASY SEEING US ACT THAT WAY. FINALLY ON EASTER SUNDAY, SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT I THOUGHT WOULD NEVER BE A PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP. WE WERE WORKING, EVEN ON EASTER SUNDAY, AND WERE TIRED AND CRABBY. MARTIN WAS ON A LADDER, AND I WAS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE LADDER. HE WAS ON THE TOP RUNG, AND ASKED ME TO HAND HIM A PAINT BRUSH. I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION, AND HE SNAPPED AT ME TO GIVE HIM A BRUSH. I STARTED TO TELL HIM TO GET HIS OWN DARN BRUSH, BUT THOUGHT BETTER OF IT AND BENT TO PICK UP THE PAINT BRUSH HE WANTED. HE BROUGHT HIS HAND DOWN TO GET THE BRUSH, NOT REALIZING HOW CLOSE I WAS STANDING SMACKED ME SQUARE ACROSS THE FACE, CAUSING ME TO FALL. I SQUEALED AND FELL INTO A HEAP AT THE BASE OF THE LADDER, AND HE JUMPED DOWN AND KNELT OVER ME TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I THOUGHT HE HAD HIT ME ON PURPOSE, AND IN A FIT OF RAGE, WHILE LYING ON MY BACK, I GRABBED A GALLON CAN OF PAINT AND SLAMMED INTO THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD, THE WHOLE TIME SCREAMING AT HIM THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO HIT ME AGAIN! THE POOR MAN JUST FELL OVER SIDEWAYS, STUNNED. THE KIDS CAME RUNNING, AND SAW THE PAINT THAT HAD FLOWN OUT OF THE CAN, THE EMPTY PAINT CAN SWINGING BY IT'S HANDLE FROM MY HAND AND DADDY LYING ON HIS SIDE HALF COVERED WITH PAINT. "MAMA! WHY DID YOU SLUG DADDY WITH A CAN OF PAINT!" CRIED JESSICA. IN A SPLIT SECOND, I REALIZED WHAT I HAD TO DO. "LOOK, I THOUGHT DADDY HIT ME AND I GOT ANGRY AND HIT HIM BACK" I TOLD HER. "WE SHOULDN'T BE KIDDING AROUND LIKE THIS, SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. MAMA IS SORRY, AND I KNOW DADDY IS TOO!" IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT THAT IT HIT ME HOW FAR WE HAD DRIFTED IN OUR RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. I WAS TERRIFIED THAT OUR SOMETHING SPECIAL WAS RUINED FOREVER. I QUICKLY DECIDED TO DO DAMAGE CONTROL, AND SENT THE KIDS OUT OF THE ROOM. I APOLOGIZED FOR HITTING HIM, AND HE BEGAN TO TELL ME THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT HE HAD HIT ME UNTIL I HAD FALLEN. WE REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT THAT WE HAD TO FIX THE SITUATION, AND INSTEAD OF CONTINUING WITH THE WORK, SAT IN THE PAINT AND BEGAN TO TALK. MARTIN TOLD ME THAT HE WAS DISCOURAGED WITH HIS RESPONSIBILITIES. THE CHILDREN, WORK, AND THE HOUSE WERE TAKING A TOLL ON HIM. I WANTED TO YELL AND ASK WHAT HE THOUGHT I WAS GOING THROUGH! BUT, FOR ONCE, I KNEW TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT AND LET HIM SPEAK. IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR HURTS, DISCOURAGEMENTS AND DIFFICULTIES. WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD NOT CONSIDERED EACH OTHER'S FEELINGS, AND HAD COME TO A POINT THAT MAY HAVE DESTROYED OUR SPECIAL LOVE. I AM GLAD TO SAY, THAT IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I SAW THE YOUNG MAN ONCE AGAIN WHO HAD FILLED MY CUPBOARDS WITH FOOD, AND CARRIED THE LOAD OF A LARGE FAMILY FOR 16 YEARS. I FELT LOVE FOR HIM RUSH BACK INTO MY HEART AND SOUL, AND WAS FILLED WITH REMORSE AND ANGUISH THAT I HAD ALLOWED OUR RELATIONSHIP TO DETERIORATE. HE WAS SO HURT AND OVERBURDENED, AND I COULD NOT SEE IT. SO, AT THAT MOMENT, WE STARTED OVER. WE GOT UP, CLEANED UP, AND TOOK THE CHILDREN OUT FOR DINNER. I RESOLVED NEVER AGAIN TO LET MY SELFISH FEELINGS COME BETWEEN SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS IN OUR LIVES. AFTER THAT, WE STILL HAD TO FINISH THE HOUSE, BUT WE LOOKED FOR WAYS TO SPEND TIME ALONE. MARTIN CAME HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY, AND TOLD THE KIDS TO COME IN. HE HAD TWO ROLLS OF NICKLES IN HIS HAND, AND THE KIDS WATCHED WHILE HE PEELED BACK THE PAPER AND THREW THOSE NICKLES INTO THE GRASS IN A WIDE ARC! "DADDY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" ASKED MY SURPRISED CHILDREN, AND HE TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD KEEP EVERY NICKLE THAT THEY COULD FIND. IF THEY FOUND ALL OF THEM, HE WOULD TAKE THEM FOR A SNOW CONE. THEY WHOOPED IN JOY AND DASHED INTO THE FRONT YARD. SEEING MY CONFUSION, HE SAID, "C'MON BABY, WE GOT ABOUT 10 MINUTES!" AND THEN GRABBED MY HAND AND RAN FOR THE BEDROOM! I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD, THAT I COULD HARDLY DO ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WHAT A SWEET WAY TO FIND SOME "ALONE TIME". AFTER THAT, EACH PAYDAY, HE WOULD BRING HOME MORE NICKLES AND THE AWAITING CHILDREN WERE READY TO DASH OUT AND FIND NICKLES. TO THIS DAY, A ROLL OF NICKLES HAS SPECIAL MEANING FOR ME! OTHER TIMES, WE WOULD GET A BABYSITTER AND GO FOR A RIDE, A WALK, OR GO GROCERY SHOPPING. SOMETIMES WE SAT ON THE EDGE OF THE BAYOU, OR DID SILLY LITTLE THINGS, AS LONG AS IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US. WE DID NOT SPEND MUCH ON OUR ALONE TIME, BUT THOSE TIMES WERE VERY SPECIAL. WE FELL IN LOVE MORE THAN EVER, AND WERE VERY CAREFUL TO SHOW RESPECT AND CARING IN EVERYTHING WE DID. I AM SORRY TO THINK THAT WE HAD REACHED THE POINT OF BEING VIOLENT WITH EACH OTHER, BUT I AM PROUD TO THINK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE AND START ANEW. WE HAD COME A LONG WAY, AND THERE WERE MANY MORE YEARS AND EXPERIENCES FOR US TO ENJOY. I WILL TELL YOU MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

CONTINUING WITH THE HOUSE

AFTER WE GOT THE ROOF ON, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE QUITE QUICKLY WITH THE REST OF THE HOUSE. I TOLD YOU WE BUILT UP, BUT THERE WERE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE AS WELL. ONE DAY, ON THE FRONT PORCH, MARTIN AND I WERE TUSSLING WITH THE CHILDREN. I GAVE HIM A SHOVE, AND HIS HAND WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE SIDING! WHEN HE LOOKED IN THE HOLE, HE TOLD ME WE HAD TERMITES. "UH, WHAT DO TERMITES LOOK LIKE?" I ASKED. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY LOOKED LIKE ANTS WITH WINGS. I SUPPOSED THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO TELL HIM THAT WE HAD LOTS OF ANTS WITH WINGS, I SAW THEM ALL THE TIME. I JUST THOUGHT THEY WERE ANTS WITH WINGS. "REALLY?" HE ASKED. "AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU NOTICED THESE "ANTS WITH WINGS?" OH, FOR A FEW YEARS I GUESS, I TOLD HIM. I TRULY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE TERMITES, I MEAN, HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN? ANYWAY, THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WAS EATEN AWAY UNDER THE SIDING. SO, WE DECIDED TO ENLARGE THE LIVING ROOM SINCE WE HAD TO BUILD A NEW WALL ANYWAY. THEN, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO REPLACE THE FLOOR IN THE BATHROOM. I WAS TIRED OF STEPPING AROUND THE HOLE IN FRONT OF THE TUB ANYWAY. (I GUESS THOSE TERMITES WERE HAVING A BIGGER PARTY THAN WE THOUGHT!) SO, ALL IN ALL, WE ENLARGED THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, REPAIRED THE BATHROOM, CARPETED THE HOUSE, PUT IN AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING, AND ON AND ON. IT WAS A NEVER ENDING PROCESS. FINALLY, SEVERAL YEARS AFTER WE STARTED, WE INVITED MARTIN'S DAD AND LOLA TO COME OVER AND HELP US FINISH THE LAST OF THE WORK. I HAD TAKEN BOBBIE JO TO SCHOOL TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND IT WAS EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING. IT WAS THE 10TH OF DECEMBER AND THE CHILDREN WERE EXCITED TO GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. I TOLD THEM TO BE READY WHEN I GOT BACK. AS I DROVE UP IN THE DRIVEWAY, I SAID A LITTLE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS I HAD. AS I SAID AMEN, AND OPENED MY EYES, I NOTICED THE STRANGEST THING. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EVES UNDER THE NEW ROOF. SMOKE! LOTS OF IT! JIMENY CRICKET, THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE! THE CHILDREN CAME POURING OUT OF THE HOUSE, ALL EXCEPT FOR BECKY. JESSICA SAW THAT BECKY HAD NOT COME OUT AND WENT DASHING BACK IN BEFORE I COULD STOP HER. SHE RAN UP THE STAIRS THAT WERE NOW FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND FOUND BECKY SITTING ON HER BED, WAITING FOR THE FIREMEN TO COME. JESSICA GRABBED HER AND THEY CRAWLED DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT THE DOOR. BY NOW, MARTIN WAS AWARE OF THE FIRE AND RAN FOR A LADDER. HE CLIMBED UP ON THE ROOF AND BANGED A HOLE TO LET OUT THE SMOKE. (YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, THE ROOF I GOT STUCK ON). I WAS YELLING AT HIM TO COME DOWN, BUT HE JUST CALLED FOR A GARDEN HOSE AND WATER. ALL I COULD DO WAS COUNT MY CHILDREN. FINALLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND THE WORK BEGAN. I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG IT TOOK, BECAUSE POOR JESSICA WAS GASPING FOR AIR AND STARTED TO PASS OUT. WE HAD TO RUSH HER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION. MARTIN STAYED WITH THE FIREMEN AND HELPED WHERE HE COULD, BUT THE ENTIRE SECOND STORY WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENTIRE FIRST STORY WAS RUINED BY WATER. THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND TREE WERE RUINED. ALL OF OUR CLOTHES, FURNITURE AND EVERYTHING WERE RUINED OR GONE. NONE OF IT MATTERED, THE FAMILY WAS SAFE. IMAGINE BOBBIE JO'S REACTION WHEN SHE CAME HOME TO FIND WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ELECTRIC OUTLET. BUT, WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE LITTLE BOY THAT HAD SPENT THE NIGHT WITH LITTLE OTTO HAD SET THE FIRE IN ONE OF THE BEDROOMS. HE WAS AN ARSONIST, AND WHEN FINALLY CAUGHT IN ONE OF THE FIRES HE SET, ADMITTED HOW MANY, (OVER 50) AND THAT HE HAD STARTED THE FIRE AT OUR HOUSE. IMAGINE, POOR MARTIN WAS BANGING IN THE LAST NAIL AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE FINISHING OF THE HOUSE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. ALL WE HAD WERE THE CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS. LOOKING BACK, AGAIN I HAD MORE COURAGE THAN SENSE, AND WE JUST GOT ON WITH OUR LIVES. I REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT WE WERE BEATEN. WHEN I TOURED THE DAMAGE, SOME OF THE BRETHEREN OF THE CHURCH TRIED TO SUPPORT ME SO I WOULDN'T COLLAPSE FROM SHOCK. I SHOOK THEM OFF AND JUST WENT PLOWING THROUGH THE MESS. I HAD TO BE STRONG, OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP MY FAMILY. WE FOUND A LITTLE HOUSE TO RENT, AND THE COMMUNTY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BUS BARN AND THE CHURCH GAVE US A SPLENDID CHRISTMAS. SO MANY BLESSINGS CAME FROM THAT FIRE, AND ONCE AGAIN WE WERE SHOWN THAT WE COULD MAKE IT NO MATTER WHAT. SO, ALL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION WAS GONE, BUT WE HAD INSURANCE, SO EVENTUALLY WE STARTED OVER YET AGAIN. WE MOVED BACK IN JUST 6 MONTHS LATER, HAVING DONE THE WORK MOSTLY BY OURSELVES, BUT BEING SMART ENOUGH TO HIRE SOME HELP FOR THE REALLY BIG STUFF. YOU KNOW, THAT FIRE WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF SOME HUGE TRIALS TO COME OUR WAY. LITTLE OTTO WAS STILL WITH US, AND OF COURSE WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD SO LITTLE TIME WITH HIM. MARTIN LOST HIS JOB AT THE POST OFFICE AFTER 13 YEARS, AND PLENTY OF OTHER STUFF WAS WAITING IN THE WINGS TO CHALLENGE OUR FAMILY AND MY FAITH. I WILL TELL YOU MORE LATER, TILL TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

BACK TO OUR LOVE STORY

YESTERDAY'S POST ABOUT LITTLE OTTO REALLY GAVE ME SOME PEACE. I FOUND THAT I COULD WRITE ABOUT HIM WITHOUT TOO MUCH PAIN. IT IS FUNNY, LOSING BOBBIE JO IS JUST AS BAD, BUT THE EXPERIENCE IS SO DIFFERENT. I GUESS BECAUSE LITTLE OTTO WAS SO YOUNG, I WORRIED ABOUT HIM DIFFERENTLY. TO MY MAMA'S MIND, I WORRIED ABOUT WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM IN HEAVEN. THEN I REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT ALONE, AND WITH MY PRECIOUS GRANDMOTHER CARTER. THERE IS SO MUCH ALONG THOSE LINES THAT HAS GIVEN ME PEACE. BUT, LET ME GET BACK TO OUR LOVE STORY. WAS IT ALWAYS GREAT? HECK NO! DID WE ALWAYS HAVE SUCCESS? OF COURSE NOT. DID WE FIGHT? YOU BET. THERE WE WERE, TWO YOUNG ADULTS WITH FIVE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. WE WERE LIVING ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME AND HAD TWO DISTINCT IDEAS AS TO HOW WE SHOULD USE THAT LIMITED INCOME. WE WERE ALSO ADDING ON TO THE HOUSE BY OURSELVES, AND HAD DIFFERENCES ABOUT OUR CHURCH. MARTIN WAS A VIGOROUS YOUNG MAN, WITH VIGOROUS YOUNG MAN APPETITES, AND I WAS RUN RAGGED AND HAD RUN RAGGED MAMA APPETITES. SO, SEX, MONEY AND RELIGION. AS I RECALL, THOSE ARE THE THREE REASONS MARRIAGES HAVE TROUBLE. IT IS A GOOD THING THAT WE DID HAVE ABIDING LOVE, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT CORE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE. THE MONEY SITUATION CAUSED THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS. I WANTED TO BE SURE THE CHILDREN HAD ALL THEY NEEDED AS FAR AS A GOOD DIET, CLOTHING AND MEDICAL ATTENTION. MARTIN HAD BEEN RAISED WITH BEANS ON THE TABLE, SAUSAGE AND EGGS AND CORN BREAD. HE DID NOT RECALL GETTING MUCH FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I SPENT THE MONEY I DID ON GROCERIES. I WAS OFFENDED BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SEEM TO SEE THE EFFORT THAT I MADE TO STRETCH OUR FOOD DOLLAR. WE HAD MANY ARGUMENTS ON PAYDAY OVER THAT ALONE. I COOKED FROM SCRATCH, HAD A GARDEN, THE CHICKENS AND EGGS AND WENT TO THE SALVAGE STORE FOR THE REST. I INSISTED ON GETTING FRESH OR CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND OTHER THINGS THAT MARTIN DID NOT THINK WE NEEDED. AS FOR CHURCH, HE DID NOT GO. I WAS SO HURT, I WANTED TO BE A FAMILY AT CHURCH ALL TOGETHER. THE CHILDREN MINDED ME JUST FINE, BUT I WANTED THEIR DADDY THERE TOO. EACH SUNDAY, IT WAS THE SAME THING. GET UP, GET THE CHILDREN READY AND ASK MARTIN WITH A GLARING LOOK IF HE WERE GOING WITH US. HIS REFUSAL WOULD SEND ME INTO A BAD MOOD THAT RUBBED OFF ON THE CHILDREN. I FELT SO ABUSED, HE MUST NOT LOVE ME IF HE WOULDN'T GO TO CHURCH! WE WOULD COME HOME TO SUNDAY DINNER AND A CLEAN HOUSE, BUT OH NO, THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME! IF I COULD CHANGE ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL, IN OUR 37 YEARS TOGETHER, I WOULD TAKE BACK MY SPOILED ATTITUDE ABOUT MARTIN'S CHURCH ATTENDANCE. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THE CHANCE TO GO IF HE WANTED TO AND LOVED HIM NO MATTER WHAT HIS CHOICE WOULD HAVE BEEN. I WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE BIG PICTURE, AND SEEN HIM FOR THE WONDERFUL SACRIFICING MAN HE IS. THAT IS ONE THING I WILL ALWAYS BE ASHAMED OF, THAT I WAS SO UNBENDING ON HIS CHOICE FOR RELIGION. OVER THE YEARS, THINGS SEEMED TO BE WORSENING FOR US, BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF IT WERE THE CHILDREN AND I HOPE WE PUT ON A GOOD FRONT FOR THEM. WE DID LOVE EACH OTHER, BUT LIFE WAS SO HARD, AND WE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THINGS. THANK GOODNESS FOR OUR CHILDREN, I MUST SAY, THAT WITHOUT THEM, AND WITHOUT THE GOSPEL, I MAY HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND LEFT MY SWEET HUSBAND. BUT ENOUGH OF THAT MOANING AND GROANING, LET ME GET BACK TO HAPPIER TIMES. REMEMBER I TOLD YOU THAT WE WERE ADDING ON TO THE HOUSE? WELL, WE ADDED A SECOND STORY AND PUT IN FOUR BEDROOMS. WE DID NOT PUT A BATHROOM UPSTAIRS, AS WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, AND WE WERE AFRAID THAT THE KIDS WOULD LEAVE WATER RUNNING OR OVERFLOW THE TOILET. SO, UP WENT THE WALLS, AND THEN THE ROOF. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE ROOF. AFTER THE WOOD WAS PLACED ON THE ROOF, WE HAD TO PUT ON THE SHINGLES. IT WAS A VERY HOT AUGUST THAT YEAR, AND MARTIN AND THE KIDS WERE SHINGLING THE ROOF IN THE HOT SUN. I WOULD MAKE LOTS OF LEMONADE FOR THEM, BUT I FELT TERRIBLE THAT I WAS NOT UP THERE WITH THEM. TO GET UP ON THE ROOF, YOU HAD TO CLIMB UP TO THE TOP OF THE ENCLOSED PORCH, AND THEN JUMP UP ON THE ROOF FROM THERE. OR, YOU COULD HAVE USED THE LADDER, BUT CLIMBING UP ON THE PORCH ROOF WAS MORE FUN. WELL, THAT DAY, IN THE VICIOUS AUGUST TEXAS SUN, I DECIDED THAT I WAS GETTING UP ON THE ROOF TO HELP. REMEMBER, I AM NOT SMALL, AND NEVER WAS, SO THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD IDEA. I CLIMBED UP ON THE PORCH ROOF, AND TRIED TO MAKE THE 4 FT JUMP ONTO THE NEW ROOF. I ALMOST MADE IT, HALF OF ME DID ANYWAY, AND THERE I WAS WITH THE LEFT HALF OF ME ON THE ROOF AND THE RIGHT HALF ALMOST FALLING BACK DOWN ONTO THE PORCH ROOF. I BEGAN TO SHREEK FOR HELP AND MARTIN CAME RUNNING. HE IMMEDIATLY SUPPORTED THE PART OF ME THAT WAS HANGING OFF AND SAID, "HONEY, YOU HAVE TO ROLL OVER ONTO THE ROOF. IF YOU ROLL THIS WAY WE ARE BOTH GOING TO DIE!" HE SHOVED WITH ALL HE HAD, I ROLLED WITH ALL I HAD, AND I WAS ON THE ROOF! FLAT ON MY BACK, STARING UP AT A CRYSTAL BLUE SKY, AND PANTING LIKE A HOG IN A CORN FIELD. MARTIN JUMPED UP THERE, AND TOLD ME TO GIVE HIM MY HAND, AND HE WOULD HELP ME UP. SLOWLY, I GOT MYSELF UP ON MY FEET WITH HIS HELP, AND FOUND THAT I COULD ACTUALLY BALANCE MYSELF WITH NO DIFFICULTY! WELL, I TOLD HIM TO SHOW ME THE SHINGLES AND HOW TO SHINGLE A ROOF, AND HE DID. IT WASN'T HARD, MAKE SURE THE SHINGLES LINE UP EVENLY TO EACH OTHER AND HAMMER THEM DOWN. I WAS SO PROUD OF MY FIRST LINE OF SHINGLES, THEY WERE STRAIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL! AARON PASSED ME ABOUT 5 TIMES WHILE I WAS DOING ONE PASS, AND I REALIZED I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE LEAD OUT AND GET GOING A BIT FASTER. SOON, I BECAME TERRIBLY HOT. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A SISSY, SO I KEPT GOING. WORK AND SWEAT, SWEAT AND WORK. SCRAPE MY KNUCKLES ON THE SHINGLES, AND SMASH MY FINGERS WITH THE HAMMER. I WAS GETTING CRABBY, AND SINCE I WAS ON THE ROOF, WHO WAS GETTING THE LEMONADE? TO FINISH IT OFF, WHEN I STOOD UP, (AROUND 11AM) I NOTICED THAT THE TAR FROM THE SHINGLES WAS COMING OFF ON MY PANTS. MELTED TAR? C'MON, NOW IT IS TOOOOO HOT FOR ME! I TOLD MARTIN I WAS GOING IN AND HE NEEDED TO COME DOWN TOO, IT WAS TOO HOT FOR HIM AND THE CHILDREN. HE SAID OKAY, JUST GO ON DOWN THE LADDER-HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO FALL ON THE PORCH ROOF. THE LADDER? GO DOWN THE LADDER? WHY, IT WAS AT LEAST 18 FEET DOWN FROM THAT ROOF- ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED LIKE FORTY FEET FROM WHERE I WAS LOOKING DOWN. OH NO, NOT ME, I AM NOT CLIMBING DOWN THAT LADDER! MARTIN TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO OR I COULD NOT GET DOWN. THE END OF THE LADDER BARELY MADE IT OVER THE EDGE OF THE ROOF, AND I WOULD HAVE TO BEND DOWN JUST TO PUT MY FEET ON THE LADDER RUNGS. NO,NO, NO, NOT ME. I SAT DOWN AND CROSSED MY ARMS. I TOLD MARTIN I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND HE SUGGESTED THAT IF I COULD NOT USE THE LADDER, HE COULD CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THEM COME AND GET ME. SURE, CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE NEWS PEOPLE WOULD BE THERE IN A FLASH, TO SEE THEM HAUL A 300 POUND WOMAN OFF THE ROOF. NO WAY! BUT IT WAS GETTING HOTTER. I NEEDED A DRINK. TAR WAS MELTING ON THE SEAT OF MY PANTS. THE KIDS WERE LAUGHING AT ME, RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE LADDER TO SHOW ME THAT IT COULD BE DONE. I DID WHAT I DO BEST IN A CRISIS. I STARTED CRYING. MARTIN SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE A PRAYER. SO, THERE IN THE AWFUL AUGUST HEAT WITH MY BUTT STUCK TO THE ROOF, MARTIN AND THE KIDS AND I PRAYED. WE PRAYED FOR WISDOM TO FIND A WAY TO GET ME OFF THE ROOF. WE PRAYED THAT MAMA WOULD NOT LOSE HER TEMPER AT THE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY. AND WE PRAYED THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. UPON SAYING AMEN, MARTIN REACHED OVER AND TOOK MY GLASSES FROM ME. UPON MY PROTEST, HE SAID HE GOT THE IDEA THAT IF I COULD NOT SEE HOW FAR DOWN THE GROUND WAS, I MAY NOT BE AS FRIGHTENED. SO, I AGREED TO TRY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT WORKED. I STRUGGLED ONTO THE LADDER, KEEPING MY EYES CLOSED AND FOUND SURE FOOTING ON THE TOP RUNG. MARTIN CALLED ENCOURAGING WORDS TO ME AND SLOWLY I STEPPED DOWN ONE RUNG AT A TIME, GRIPPING THE SIDES OF THE LADDER WITH ALL MY STRENGTH. THERE WAS SOME KIND OF LATCH ON THE SIDE OF THE LADDER, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA NOT TO GRAB THAT PART. I FOUND MYSELF ON SOLID GROUND AND JUST SAT DOWN WITH TEARS OF GRATITUDE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE. MARTIN SPRINTED DOWN THE LADDER, AND HE WAS WHITE AS A GHOST. "WHAT'S WRONG?" I ASKED. "I MADE IT DOWN JUST FINE!" HE TOLD ME THAT WHEN I ALMOST GRABBED THE LATCH, HE PRACTICALLY HAD A HEART ATTACK. "THAT LATCH COLLAPSES THE LADDER", HE SAID, "AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO GRAB IT. THANK GOD YOU DIDN'T!" WELL, THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME! NO MORE ROOFING FOR ME, EVER AGAIN! I WILL STICK TO WHAT I DO BEST, MAKE LEMONADE! WE HAD MANY ADVENTURES BUILDING ONTO THAT HOUSE, I WILL ENJOY RELATING THEM TO YOU IN FUTURE POSTS. LOVE, NANASEE