MY FRIEND SARA

I know that I just wrote on here yesterday, but I wanted to tell you of my night that I had last night. Yesterday was my BFF Sara Chauvin's 80th birthday. She and her daughter, Julie Heath, came by and picked me up and we drove to Sara's other daughter, Lu Ann Walker's house to begin a lovely birthday celebration for Sara. We drove to one of my favorite parts of Nashville and that is Germantown. When I was growing up we called it North Nashville. There is a restaurant there, The Mad Platter, that is in a building that was built in the 1800's and I just love it. It is small and you must have reservations because it cannot accommodate a big crowd of people. Also, each dish is prepared individually and there are only a couple of waiters so you have to be ready for a very leisurely dinner - no rush for anything. The floors are very uneven, wooden floors and you almost think that you are going to fall at times so caution is advised. We were shown to a lovely table with fresh flowers and candles and of course, linen napkins, crystal glasses, etc. The menu is a single, typed sheet of paper with a limited number of items and our menus last night had typed at the top HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA. We decided to go for the five course dinner and each course was, as they say on TV, "pleasing to the palate". Our dinner, from soup to dessert, took approximately three hours which gave us plenty of time to talk and gave Sara and her girls cause for reminiscing which was fun for me to hear. It was a lovely night and one that I will remember with much fondness for the rest of my life.

Everybody should have a friend like my BFF Sara. As I wrote in a previous blog we are so tuned into each other that it becomes almost scary at times. She can tell by the tone of my voice on the telephone when I have a problem or feel bad or when I am just overjoyed about something. She is the one that was with me during my time of life that I took care of Aunt Ree -sitting for me when I needed to go out, thinking of ways to entertain Aunt Ree, calming her when she would become angry, and was there at the end when we let her go to her heavenly home. She has been with me through surgeries, through moving from my home to the apartment and I have no idea how I would have managed to have Cleo put to sleep without her going with me and, in fact, taking him into the vet office and bringing back the empty crate. We have laughed together, we have cried together, we have solved family problems together, and we have shared secrets and thoughts that nobody will ever know about us. Put all of that together and you have the clear definition of a friend. Sara, and her friendship, are just one more evidence in my life that God is good - all the time.

CATCHING UP

So much has occurred in my life since the last blog that I am confused as to just where to start. I left off on my Birthday Eve. Well, the birthday came and it was just lovely. Tracey had a dinner party that included Kim, Brad, Jacque,Wayne, Tommy Pardue, Sara, Danny, Carter and Tracey. The meal was excellent and the presentation was beautiful. The table accommodated all of us and it was so nice to be seated among these people that I love so much and enjoy a beautiful meal and stimulating conversation. Brad was exceedingly humorous with a story of his past experience of working at a funeral home. Danny had some really funny comments concerning Tracey's extravagances that amused us all. It was a lovely, happy evening that made the transition from one year to another in age not bad at all. My other daughters were travelling and not able to join us. I received many gifts (all very much appreciated), many cards and my telephone rang all day. So you see that I am telling you that as long as you are blessed with a wonderful family and friends, birthdays no matter the age, are fun and I say "bring 'em on".

Sara and I drove in Sara's car to Gatlinburg last week. We had planned this trip for months, anticipated it to the fullest and were not disappointed in any way. We left on a beautiful Fall morning and drove into the most breathtaking sight you can imagine. The trees were at their peak of color and my eyes and heart just couldn't get enough. Sara, driving, was not privy to the beauty as I was and I am sorry because I hate to think of anybody missing this picture that God painted of blue, blue sky, red, yellow, and orange leaves with lots of evergreen trees thrown in for background. No artist, even one as talented as Michelangelo, could not have captured the beauty and color as God painted for me on this ride to the mountains. We arrived at our hotel, Zoder's Best Western, and it was just as we remembered it from years past. The parrot in the office greeted us with "hello" over and over until you wanted to tape his little mouth shut. Our room had a balcony that was over a creek rushing over big and little rocks as it made its way down the mountain to the river. It was such a pleasant sound to leave our door open and listen to the creek - very reminiscent of the ocean sounds in Florida. We shopped the stores in Gatlinburg and made some purchases. We had delicious meals in the best restaurants. We rode the Sky Lift to the top of the mountain and from that height just devoured the scenery of the town and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. We rode the trolley to Pigeon Forge and saw the sights along that route. As we left to come home we made a stop at the Christmas Place and it was just like walking into a fairy land. Really got me in the Christmas Spirit. The drive home was a duplicate picture of the ride up and was the perfect ending to a perfect trip. To have a friend like Sara is a gift straight from heaven. She and I are so in tune that she truly is the sister that I never had and vice versa.

Since my return home I have been plagued with a very bad episode that is a result of the emphysema that I suffer with and my breathing became very labored and caused me to just have to sit down and do nothing for several days. As you know, this is not my style nor indicative of my lifestyle so I sought the advice of my doctor. She assured me that my problem was minor and overexertion mixed with high mountain thin air plus a touch of asthma was the culprit and with a breathing treatment and some new medicine I am slowly coming back to feeling like myself. I have to tell you that I did get a bit nervous before I went to the doctor and thought "is this the beginning of life as an old woman? I certainly am not ready to be a shut in and not be able to live my life as I need and want to". It was with a grateful heart and a prayerful praise as I drove home from the doctor's office with the words of encouragement in my ears and a peace in my heart. Just one more example of knowing that God is good - all the time.

One more thing I almost forgot to report. My East Nashville High School All Classes Reunion was held on October 16th. It was a fun time and I enjoyed seeing some of my classmates that attended. I will tell you, and this is a bragging statement, I was given a plaque and named Outstanding Alumni. I just have to say that I enjoyed getting that award and all of the accolades from my peers that were given to me. Some people said "you deserved it". I don't know about that because I love my East High and I love being on the Board of Directors and I love being my Class Representative and whatever I do along those lines I do with love so it is not a chore. It is nice to be recognized I think and I appreciated and treasure my plaque that is hanging in my office as I write this blog.

Birthday Eve

Today is my "birthday eve" and I am feeling every year of my age. I am not complaining - just acknowledging. It always seems like my birthday lasts for a week or maybe more and that is just fine with me. I was taught by my mother that a birthday is special. It is the day that belongs only to you and, therefore, with her meager circumstances, she always made it a special time for me. I miss her now as I write this blog. She had a beautiful soprano voice and she sang as she worked in her house or yard and in those days of my childhood it irritated me that she sang in front of my friends; embarrassed me really. Oh, how I would love to hear "Trust and Obey" one more time. But back to my story, she would wake me up singing "Happy Birthday to you Patsy Belle" and I would cringe, shudder, scream and cover my head with my pillow. It was bad enough to be waked up but to hear Patsy Belle was over the top. My toast would have a face drawn on it in jelly and my juice would be in a special crystal glass and my milk (which I hated for breakfast) would also be in a crystal glass. That would start my day. I feel so blessed to have had such a delightful woman for my mother and I feel doubly blessed that I was born in the month of October. This month, with the change of the season, the leaves turning their beautiful colors, the orange color of the pumpkins that are adorning everybody's porches and all of the other Halloween decorations, the crisp mornings, the warm afternoons and then the cool evenings makes for lovely days and also I love the Fall clothes - sweaters, shawls, shoes that are not sandals, even hats and gloves when necessary. I remember walking to East High on those crisp October mornings when dew would be on all the cars that were parked on the street and the acorns and walnuts were all over the ground and then when the leaves would start falling it was so much fun to crunch them as I walked. As the song goes "those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end", but they do end and new lives take place. My high school sweetheart became my husband and together we had 46 years of marriage and were blessed with 4 wonderful daughters (none of which were born in October) so on this beautiful October morning as I plan for brunch with my daughter and a day of shopping and fun I just want to remind myself and everybody else that God is good - all the time.