GOOD BYE 2012

I seem to always get very nostalgic on the last day of every year.  I really don't know why because each year has always contained good times, just OK times and some pretty bad times.  2012 has been such a year.  January brought the normal amount of events -  Corinne and Mark celebrated 30 years of marriage, I started a new Bible Study on the Book of James that lasted 10 weeks and was very good.  Jackson Smith and Nicholas Maddux celebrated birthdays.  February was a very cold month and The Committee Group enjoyed a Soup Lunch.  It is always so good to get together with this group of East High Friends and visit.  In this month John Ed Maddux turned 5; Anni Routh turned 9; Sarah James turned 7, we celebrated Merli Routh and realized that our babies were growing up. Kim had her birthday on the 18th.  March  "came in like a lamb" so I suppose the weather will get cooler as the month progresses.  Mary Hollis turned 3; Cord turned 4 and Tracey had her 48th birthday.  On March 17th Tracey, Danny, Carter and I left Nashville for Panama  City, Florida to the wonderful vacation-baseball tournament that I have covered in a prior Blog.  We don't have any family birthdays in April, but the month was a busy month for me with Grandparent's Day at Goodpasture, lots of East Scholarship meetings to determine the recipients of our scholarship and baseball games several times a week to watch Carter play. May began as a lovely Spring month as the crocus and daffodils began to bloom and the wild flowers beside the walking track burst into lovely bright yellow and pale violet.  Maddux Routh turned 7; Jeffrey Benton turned 15 and Kim and Brad celebrated their anniversary on the 31st.  Emily and Jackson started out the month of June by having an anniversary on the 2nd and Jacque and Wayne celebrated their anniversary on the 15th.  Connor turned 8 on the 22nd and his mom and dad, Leslie and Russell celebrated an anniversary on the 27th.  Brad and Cassie celebrated an anniversary on the 29th.  Cici Routh turned 4 this month. July was "firecracker hot" as usual.  I enjoyed the apartment's swimming pool as my friend, Terrie, and I went there each morning and did our version of water aerobics.  Nita and Ray celebrated their anniversary - their 40th.  Courtney turned 21 and celebrated her "adulthood" with a trip to Chicago for shopping and theater and a birthday dinner at a great restaurant. August meant back to school and back to college and lots of activities surrounding both events.  Wayne and Jacque treated Sara and I to a trip to Pigeon Forge.  We saw The Blackwoods Show featuring Brad Smith, visited in  Brad and Cassie's home, saw another show, did some shopping, ate lots of good food and had a wonderful time.  Patrick Maddux turned 5. The month ended with Corinne's birthday on the 31st.  September was a "biggie" as John Patrick had his very first birthday party and Kim made it a spectacular event.  Tracey and Danny and Drew and Tara celebrated anniversaries on the 12th of the month.  Christopher Maddux turned 7 and entered first grade. October is my favorite month - maybe because it is my birthday month and maybe because the leaves are turning beautiful colors, the air in the morning is cool and crisp, the days are warm and reminiscent of the Spring days we enjoyed earlier in the year. Jacque celebrated her birthday on the 4th and the next day  Emma turned 12 and my first great-grandchild is growing up.  We had the East Alumni Golf Tournament and, even though it was a lot of work, it was a great event - profiting over $8,000 for the scholarship fund.  I celebrated my 79th birthday surrounded by my girls and sons-in-law.  Age means nothing when you celebrate with your children.  Ava had her 9th birthday.  I enjoyed a luncheon on Halloween with the friends from my Bible Class and it was a lovely way to end a month.  Joesea started out the birthdays in November by turning 7.  Cannon turned 6 with a great party at their new home in Florence, Alabama.  Chris and Ashley celebrated an anniversary in their new home in Jackson, MS.  Thanksgiving Day found us celebrating the event at Brad and Kim's home.  What a feast we enjoyed and also all of the laughing, teasing and fun that was enjoyed.  Will Carter turned 4.  December brought the Holiday Season to us in full swing.  My only problem is that I have to use the oxygen and it is a hassle to haul around with me but I am so thankful for the relief it gives me so I will not complain.  Lots of lovely parties were held in this month, including our Cline Girl's Cookie Swap that was held at Emily's new home. The Committee Group had a Christmas Lunch this year rather than Dinner.  I guess we are getting too old to drive at night but age did not deter anyone from having a lively, laughing, fun time as we played "Dirty Santa" and ate turkey and dressing and all the other dishes.  I was treated to a lovely luncheon at Pat Johnson's home in Franklin and her home is beautiful.  It was decorated to the max, including 14 Christmas trees fully decorated and beautiful.  Joesea had two performances this month that entertained me - one a voice recital where she sang the theme song from Beauty and Beast and did a great job.  The other was a vignette from Girl's Gone Wild where they sang and danced.  You should have seen her doing the Locomotion.  That girl has some moves on her body at this early age.  Kim and I had our annual Mother/Daughter Day where we start with breakfast at I-Hop and shopping at Macy's and Dillards.  We do most all of our shopping on this day and even though we are both pretty "broke down" we manage to buy what we needed and have enjoyment with it and with each other during the day.  We were saddened to lose J. B. Cline.  He died on the 21st and my girls and their husbands and I attended the funeral on Sunday, the 23rd. 

The Cline Christmas was held at Nita and Ray's house and I was proud and happy to present to each daughter and son-in-law a gift bag containing my chocolate covered cherries, fudge candy, spiced tea mix and the cook book that each one had contributed recipes for and had been an on-going project for me and for Kim for many months.  I also gave a bag of  candy and the cook book to each granddaughter.  The cook book was received with exclamations of delight which pleased me very much.  Christmas Eve Paul and I went to Candlelight Service at First Baptist and then to dinner at Mimi's restaurant.  He gave me a beautiful pearl ring for Christmas. 

 I went to Kim's and spent the night.  Christmas morning at Kim's is full of traditions - mimosa drinks with sausage pin wheels, open presents with Patrick, Mikka, Joesea and John Patrick, Brad and Kim.  Lots of surprises and lots of fun.  After all of the paper and ribbon are picked up Kim serves a lovely breakfast.  I came home tired, full of food, happy with my wonderful gifts and most of all being with my children celebrating the season for the whole month. 

 The month has ended as it always does - Nita's birthday.  We had a lovely luncheon at Tracey's home for Nita, her sisters, her daughter-in-laws, her niece and one of her grandchildren (Anni) and of course me.  What a lovely day and what a lovely person to celebrate.

So you see, 2012 has been a good year for me.  I have had a few "bumps in the road" concerning health issues.  My macular degeneration has caused me to feel as though I don't need to drive a car and that makes me very unhappy.  I have always prided myself on my independence since Billy died.   Now I have to depend on others for my transportation.  However, my girls are so kind and so supportive with this issue.  I have so much to be thankful for that I must remember to not complain.  I live in this lovely apartment.  I have my wonderful dog, Houston, to love and to love me back.  I have many friends that I love and enjoy visiting with either by phone or in person.  I am such a blessed woman that I know without a doubt that God is good all the time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

A GOOD LIFE

Good Monday Morning - It is cloudy, raining, cool and I would say that this is a typical winter day.  We have been experiencing the most unusual weather that I can remember.  Whoever heard of 75 degrees on a December day?  One day it's short sleeves and sandals and the next it is sweater weather.  I am finally getting over a sinus infection that lasted forever and I do believe that the weather was a factor in my getting well.  I have decided that Al Gore was a very smart man when he began talking about Global Warming.  We are definitely living in a different environment from what I have lived in during my lifetime. 





This past week-end was just perfect.  Nita, Ray and I went to Jackson, MS to visit Chris, Ashley and the children.  We arrived there on Thursday night very tired after the long drive.  We visited with Chris, Ashley and Mary Hollis (the boys were asleep) until 11:00pm.  I was taken on a tour of their lovely new home.  It is just wonderful and fits their lifestyle and family perfectly.  Plenty of room, wonderful kitchen, lots of bath rooms, bedrooms, and the back yard is a paradise.  The people that had the house previously had made a "French Garden" out of the back yard.  There were many flower beds, two covered areas for furniture and dining outside, lots of lovely shrubs and it will be interesting to see what flowers will come up in those beds this Spring.  Right now, of course, there is not much growing that is colorful - everything is dormant for the Winter.  I'm sure the flowers are confused because of the warm weather and may start blooming soon.  After a good night's rest Nita and Ray went to See Christopher's Christmas Play at school.  It was a bit early for me to go to that, but I did go to Mary Hollis's play later in the morning at her school.  I have always loved the little children marching in so serious and standing on the stage waving at their parents and singing their songs.  Mary Hollis had to sing "The Shepherd's Shuffle" while moving her feet and jumping up and down five times.  We were treated to a lovely lunch by Ashley's mother and daddy, Larry and Carolyn Hollis.  I had lobster bisque and chicken salad sandwich and it was great.  Friday night Ashley had a wonderful dinner which was served in the Christmas dishes in the dining room.  We all sat at the table, eating, talking and it was quite a delightful time.  Saturday morning we went to one of their favorite places for breakfast.  The day was spent by each person doing their various tasks and then came the spectacular performance at the First Baptist Church - Carols by Candlelight.  That event, as I have told before, defies description.  I loved every minute.  On Sunday morning after the family left for church we gathered up all of our belongings and loaded the car and left for the 7 hour drive home.  Needless to say, I was very glad to walk into my apartment, kiss and hug my dog that had been brought home after staying the week-end with Sara. It was a wonderful, unforgettable week-end but I must say that I was glad to be home.

Tomorrow I am going to a Christmas Luncheon where I will be visiting with my friends from high school days.  I am really excited about seeing them.  Everybody will bring a dish of delicious food and we will play "Dirty Santa".  I don't know which present will be the favorite this year.  There is always one item that gets stolen until it is "frozen" and can't be taken away from the person that has it.  Last year it was a Santa that sang like Elvis - "I'll Have a Blue Christmas" and he had a microphone and walked.  He was cute but I had no use for him.  This year, however, if there is an item like that I will probably be fighting for it for John Patrick.  One year it was a dog that barked and sounded like he was barking Jingle Bells.  I don't know where they buy these unusual things.  Paul and I are taking Christmas tree ornaments that are really cute snow men that light up.  They will be popular items I am sure.

Wednesday I am going to a luncheon at Pat Johnson's house.  She has become a very good friend during this past year.  She will be president of the board of directors of East High next year and I am looking forward to her tenure.  She will be very good because she is very smart and very fair.  I understand that her house is lovely and is very decorated for Christmas - even to having eight decorated Christmas trees. 

I love parties.  I love Christmas when my friends get together and share memories and love for each other.  It will be extremely wonderful this year because I felt so bad for so long and then went to the doctor and had to hear that I had a condition that would not reverse itself or get better and oxygen would be my friend from now on.  I let it get to me for a while and I became pretty depressed.  Now, I am feeling the good effect that the oxygen has on me.  I am stronger, can do so much more than I could a few months ago and really don't mind using the oxygen at all.  In fact there are times that I welcome it and the feeling that it brings to me.  It is good to feel good.  It is good to be able to clean or cook or do things that are fun without feeling out of breath or tired.  What I thought would just ruin my life has, in fact, given me a new life.  If I had just done what my little sign on my refrigerator said I would have "Let go and let God".  He definitely knew that these days would come to me because I truly think He orchestrated the sale of my house, the decision to live in this apartment close to Nita and Tracey and Corinne with Kim not too far away.  These girls of mine just can't do enough for me.  He knew that I would come to a time in my life where, because of my eyesight and the C.O.P.D., I would need help to continue an active life.  He knew and he planned it all because God is good - all the time.

LIFE CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY

Lots of events have occurred since my last post.  In fact, I have lots to tell you today.  The first event I want to report is a wonderful, exciting, lovely trip to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN with Wayne, Jacque and Sara.  We left on Election Day (I will not wax political so that is all I will say about election) which was November 6th and our first stop was about a half-mile from my house - Mimi's Cafe- for breakfast.  Then we were settled in Wayne's comfortable car, buckled in safe and sound, and headed for I-40.  When we got to the place where you leave the interstate to go through some small towns, Wayne took the road that took us through Townsend, Maryville and some others so that we could enjoy the beautiful color of the leaves and see some pleasant sights of "small town America".  We arrived at our beautiful Christmas Place Inn.  The sight that met our eyes was as before on our recent trip there - Christmas Everywhere.  The hotel lobby, the corridors, the elevator, everywhere you looked was a wreath, ribbons, Christmas trees lavishly decorated and music playing in the background.  Sara and I shared a room that was equally decorated and we began to feel the "spirit of Christmas".  After getting settled and resting a bit, we met in the lobby and went to Gatlinburg for a delicious dinner at the Peddler and to see the decorations in Gatlinburg.  The city of Pigeon Forge was beautifully decorated for Christmas and we were wondering how they managed to take down the Halloween and put of the new decorations so quickly.  A parade was held in Pigeon Forge but we didn't see that.  We elected to go have dinner.  After that wonderful meal we came back to Pigeon Forge to see the most amazing Christmas Show - Smokey Mountain Opry Christmas Show - with lots of color, costumes, amazing dancers and singers doing songs and scenes of Christmas and ending with a live Nativity Scene, complete with wise men riding in on camels and shepherds bringing their real sheep and even a donkey standing to one side of the Holy Family.  When an angel flew out over the audience it just took your breath away.  What a wonderful start to the Christmas Season.  The next morning found us having a most lavish breakfast at the hotel.  A complimentary breakfast that was complete with omelet station and everything else that you would see at any nice restaurant.  We filled our stomachs and then went to Gatlinburg where we boarded the Air Tram that took us up to the top of the mountain to the ski lodge.  Riding up the mountain and looking down at the tops of the trees which were gold, red and burgundy colored was just breath taking.  We had refreshments at the ski lodge and then rode back down.  Sara and I elected to go back to our beautiful room and rest until time to go to the Dixie Stampede for for that Christmas Spectacular.  And that is what it was - spectacular.  After a good night's rest in that wonderful hotel bed we packed  up, left (reluctantly) and went to the Apple Barn for breakfast and drove home.  What a good time I had on the trip.  I will always be beholden to Jacque and Wayne for taking me, for Wayne patiently waiting while I shopped in the Christmas Store, and for all of the wonderful ways that they helped me.  I was glad to get home to see Houston and I do think he was glad to see me after spending three days with Corinne. 

On Saturday, after one day of rest from the trip, I went to Florence, AL for Cannon's sixth birthday party and to see Leslie and Russell's new home.  That is only about two and a half hour drive from my house and, again, Wayne took the side roads to allow us to see some colorful trees and some scenery rather than a boring interstate ride.  We arrived a the Pigg Home just as the party was starting and enjoyed watching all of the children.  Kim, Patrick, Mikka, Joesea and John Patrick came and the children loved the games and jumping on the inflatable table that they had rented for the occasion.  When the party was over and all of the guests except family and a few friends had left, Leslie served barbecue and all of the trimmings for our dinner and gave a guided tour of the house which is out of this world and defies description.  Corinne and I shared a bedroom and I turned in early due to exhaustion.  We came back after brunch on Sunday.



                                                                          

For many months I have suffered with shortness of breath - extreme shortness of breath.  I went to the heart doctor and he, after performing an echo cardiogram, told me I needed to see a pulmonary doctor.  I wen to Dr. Southwell and after many breathing tests he diagnosed me with severe, stage 3 C.O.P.D.  I am now on full oxygen day and night.  I have a long tube that will allow me to walk all over the house and I have a canister that rolls to take when I go out.  I am going to get a canister of oxygen that fits into a small pocket book holder and I will feel much better about going out when I get that.  Right now I don't want to go anywhere and roll oxygen around with me.  I'm sure that pride is why I am having trouble there.  However, it is the holiday season and my calendar is full of parties and events so unless I get a grip and accept this condition I will surely miss a lot of wonderful things.  This is a life changing situation and I am having a very hard time accepting all of it.  I know that I am not the first person that has to live on oxygen nor will I be the last.  I will pray for strength to accept all of this.  I will be thankful on Thanksgiving Day and all other days that my condition was C,O.P.D and not cancer.  I will be thankful that there is something that can be done to make breathing easier and make me more comfortable.  I will give thanks to God that He directed me to a doctor that made a diagnosis and then followed it up with treatment.  All things considered I really am a blessed woman.  All of my girls have just jumped in and are making this transition so much easier.  One or the other calls, brings food, checks on me, drives me where I need to go, and best of all shows me in every way possible how much they love me.  I never feel alone because I know that, not only my children and my friends love me and want the best for me, I know that my God loves me and wants the best for me.  It is something that I am sure of now more than ever.  I can say real loud and with conviction that God is good - all the time.

LIFE AT ANY AGE IS GOOD

This past Christmas I received a most wonderful present from my daughter, Kim.  She gave me a hard-back covered book of all of my postings from the first one in 2008 until the last one in 2011.  I have picked it up from time to time and read something that I wrote on a particular day but last night I propped up in bed with this book and started at the first and read and read and read until I got so sleepy I was dropping the book.  I was amazed at some of the things in my life that I had forgotten. What a joy it was to read about some of my adventures.  It made me quite happy and also made me realize that by not writing regularly at this time in my life I will be unable to recall some things that are happening that I will forget and not be able to enjoy over and over.  Granted, there were a few things in that book that were not quite as happy or significant but all in all it really contains pages of history for me to reflect upon.

This past week-end has been monumental for me.  On Friday we had the alumni golf tournament that I have already written about so I won't go into any more detail about that except to say that the unofficial total of profit for the scholarship program will be about $8,100.00 and I say hurrah to that!!!  On Friday night I went to the Goodpasture Football game.  I haven't missed but one of the football games all year and that one was played in Louisville, KY.  Carter has given me so much excitement and entertainment.  He has scored so many touchdowns, made so many spectacular plays, been such an outstanding player that I have looked forward to Friday night all season.  This past Friday night I was told, by Nita, in the car going to the game that Carter would be playing quarterback in place of the regular quarterback.  Therefore, I was pretty nervous the entire game watching him calling signals, passing the ball, handing the ball off to the runners and even running himself.  He did a great job.  It appears that he will be playing this position for the rest of the season. At half-time of the football game, all of the baseball players were called to the field for an honor ceremony.  The baseball team won the 2012 State Tournament and they were presented with the most beautiful rings.  Carter stood in the middle of this group in a football uniform which made him very visible.  After the presentation and picture he went to the dressing room to prepare for the second half of the game. A friend sent Tracey a text that said "what else is Carter going to do?  March in the band?  He's done everything else".  We got a big laugh out of that because it is true.  I'm sure he could march, play, drive the bus, or do whatever they asked him to do.  He is so talented.

After such a busy Friday I didn't exert much energy on Saturday.  Tommy Pardue is visiting me.  He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and he came to play in the golf tournament and on Saturday he went to visit a very ill friend of his.  I wanted to make a good dinner for him but he had something to eat at his friend's home.  Tommy is an ideal house guest.  He sleeps in the guest room, showers in the guest bathroom and watches a little  TV.  He loves football on TV and would love to watch hockey but they are idle right now and not on TV.  When  he leaves to go back home it is though nobody was every here.

Sunday was a great day for me.  I went to bed on Saturday at the age of 78 and woke up Sunday morning 79 years old.  Just like that I moved up another notch.  I had received quite a few birthday cards on Saturday and on Sunday I had many phone calls, many e-mails and my girls and their husbands and Sara, Tommy and I went to Carrabas (Italian restaurant) for dinner.  I, of course, had veal picanti for my entree and it was just to die for.  Not many restaurants serve that dish so I have it any time I see it listed.  My children showered me with lovely gifts.  Getting old is really not such a bad thing.  At times it limits me until I become frustrated and long for the days when I could do much more than I do now but when I see the condition that some of my friends are in I just thank God that I am as healthy and able as I am.

Today as I was walking Houston I was astounded at the way the leaves are turning so quickly.  We have had a few nights of cool weather and some rain and all of a sudden I am seeing beautiful color along the green way where we walk.  The track is full from morning until dark with people jogging, walking, running and riding bicycles.  Now the ones that wore little shorts and tops are wearing jogging suits and some are even wearing caps and hats.  It is quite interesting to me to watch all of the changes that occur each day.  Life is like that.  One day it is this and the next day it is that.  I never resist change.  I embrace it.  I know that each change that comes into my life brings a new element - some good and some not so good.  The one thing you can count on, however, is change.  Nothing ever stays the same for very long.  That is probably a very good thing.  When something bad comes along we have the promise that it won't last forever.  As my friend Sara says "you can stand anything for a little while - even stand on your head if you have too".  As I think about, and even say the words, being 79 years old, I realize that I am in the winter of my life.  Hasn't God been kind to let me live 79 years?  I started writing a book of my life some time ago and I really haven't gotten too far into the story but as I think and write I realize that my journey here on earth has been and still is just a wonderful gift from  God.  He has chosen me to be the wife of Billy Cline, the mother of Nita, Corinne, Kim and Tracey.  He has given me sons-in-law - Ray, Mark, Brad and Danny.  He has given me wonderful, loving grandchildren and now I brag and say that I have 19 great-grandchildren.  I have many friends that I love and stay in touch with.  I have a church family that surrounds me with prayer when I, or someone in my family, need extra prayer.  My life is good because God is good - all the time. 

MONDAY MORNING THOUGHTS

Today is Monday, October 8, 2012 - Columbus Day.  I don't know why they change all of the dates that we have been celebrating for many years.  I'm sure that Christopher Columbus would not give it a thought but on the other hand I have always thought a person's birthday is an important day.  For instance, my sister-in-law, Rosemary Cline Taylor, will celebrate her birthday on the 10th.  I try my hardest to get her card to her on the very day of her birthday.  To me that is very important to honor the very day and not two days later, a week before or any of those things.  Because of changing Columbus Day and the U. S. Post Office taking a holiday, I'm sure my card will be late.  I know that my card to Bill Lee, due tomorrow, will probably not be delivered on time.  However, I do hope that those people will know that I will honor them with my thoughts on the 9th and 10th of this month.

This has been a very emotional week-end for me.  On Friday my son-in-law, Mark Smith, went to St. Thomas Hospital with all of the symptoms of the recent meningitis epidemic.  He had a stiff neck, blurred vision and a very bad headache.  He had received a letter from St. Thomas telling him that the steroid injection that he had received for his back problem made him a possible candidate for this terrible outbreak of the disease.  His blood, being too thin from taking coumadin, had to be thickened with plasma and Vitamin K until it received the desired level for the lumbar puncture.  Finally, after MRI, Cat Scan and other tests he had the procedure and, Praise God, it came back negative.  He is at home resting now and he and Corinne have breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the Good Lord many times that he escaped this dreaded disease. 

It has turned Fall very quickly here in Hendersonville.  I look out my window as I write this and the walkers and joggers and bicycle riders are dressed very differently from the way they were dressed last week.  I see lots of hoodies and jogging suits.  The only thing that is the same is that most of them have a cell phone in their hand.  I don't understand this obsession with cell phones.  Even my children seem to always have one in their hand.  It is my understanding that you can read Face book and you can text and you can do all sorts of things with a cell phone - even take pictures.  My poor little phone will call people (if I can remember their number) and allow people to call me and I do have a voice message part where I can hear messages when I don't answer, which is most of the time, because I either don't hear it ring or I don't have it anywhere near me.  I have observed people at church with their phones partly hidden while they were checking whatever they wanted to see rather than listening to the preacher or worshipping in song.  To me, that is inexcusable.  To me a cell phone should be necessary to have in my car in case of emergency.  Sometimes when I am out and need to contact one of the girls for some reason I will call them but I understand that so many people now have disconnected their "land lines" and are using cell phones exclusively.  Things and people are changing just like the people on the track that are wearing outfits to match the weather.  The trees are beginning to color to match the season.  I am changing because I am about to turn another year older and age brings many changes to my body.  The upcoming election will bring many changes to our country I think and hope.  Life is one change after another.  That is the way that God planned it for us.  He told us that He has a plan for all of us and I believe that the plan that He has for me is wonderful - it always has been - because God is good - all the time.

SO MUCH TO CATCH UP

There is no way I can possibly write about all that has happened to me since my last post.  It would take too long to write and certainly take too long to read.  However, I will "hit the high spots".

Wayne, Jacque, Sara and I went to Pigeon Forge on August 3rd.  We stayed at the Christmas Place Hotel and believe me it was really Christmas inside that lovely establishment.  Sara and I had a Christmas tree in our room and even the bathroom had Christmas dishes for the soaps and such.  We went to see Brad Smith perform with The Blackwoods at their show in their theater and was treated to a lovely breakfast there.  The show was wonderful - gospel songs, country songs, and patriotic songs.  Brad was the M.C. and also had some solo parts so it was quite a treat for us to enjoy him.  We also saw a show called "Smokey Mountain Opry" which was really wonderful.  The energy level of those young singers and dancers made me dizzy.  We ate good food, visited with Cassie, Brad and Jackson and did some shopping and came home happy after having a huge breakfast at The Apple Barn.

School started early this year - August 14th for Carter at Goodpasture which made the first football game on August 17th.  As luck would have it (not Goodpasture luck) our first game was with CPA and we got beat.  Drew and Emily, both alumni of Goodpasture, but employees of CPA, came and poor things were so divided in their loyalty.  Carter had a great game and started out the season showing his terrific athletic ability.  He has done extremely well in each and every game - scoring TD's and making crucial tackles and doing all of the things that make his family so proud.  He has excelled in football just like he did in baseball.  The football team will not be going to the State Tournament because they have not had such a good season this year but maybe next year the football and baseball teams will win the State.  Wouldn't that be a grand way for Carter to complete his high school athletic seasons? 

September was John Patrick's month to shine.  He turned one year old on September 11th.  Kim had his party on the following Saturday, the 15th, and what a party it was.  She had a Jungle Theme and everything was animals - the decorations, the food, the cake and even John Patrick's clothes had animals on them.  It was a grand party and he was so cute.  He did all of his little "tricks" for us and sat in his little chair as Patrick opened his gifts.  Of course, we are all just crazy about him.  He is a very good baby and never cries or shows anger - well not very often anyway.


My East High Alumni  Association is hosting a golf tournament to benefit the scholarship program on October 12th.  I have worked pretty hard with the committee on the arrangements.  There is a lot of work involved in putting on an event such as this.  I don't know why but it seems that out of a big organization only a few do the actual work.  I was lucky to get a couple of hole sponsors and a some very good prizes so I feel as though I have done my part.  I will have to go to the golf course on the day of the tournament and work with the registration and the lunch.  I have to say that I will be glad when it is over.  I am not doing as much work with the alumni group as I have done in the past.  In fact, I am slowing down with most of my activities.  I guess my age has finally caught up with me because I have not felt very well in quite some time and, frankly, do not feel like going out somewhere every day and doing some kind of charity thing.  I'm just so glad that I don't have to have a job to go to every day because there is no way that I could do that.  My health is not nearly as good as it was this time last year and that gives me great cause for concern.  Of course, I have to remind myself that I will be 79 years old in a week or so and that is the big reason for my feeling as I do.  Truthfully, I am blessed beyond belief to be able to do all that I do and feel as well as I feel.  It is shameful to complain when I see the way some of my friends are struggling.

I am still glad that I am living in Hendersonville.  I get to see Nita quite often.  She came the other day and got my Fall decorations out of the closet and helped me decorate for Halloween and with only a few minor adjustments will be ready for Thanksgiving.  My apartment looks very festive and I am proud of it.  When Nita has her group over for cook outs she always invites me and I get to see Drew, Tara and their five children and Emily and Jackson and their five children.  It is such a delight to be with them and to watch those precious children play together.  They all love each other so much and, as hard as it is to believe, there is very little dissension among them when they are together.  When Chris and Ashley and their three come it is really a bunch of great-grandchildren for me to see.  Leslie is having a party for  Cannon next month and I will get to see those children.  Leslie and Russell are now in Florence, Alabama and they have a beautiful new house and Chris and Ashley have bought a new house in Jackson, Mississippi and Emily and Jackson have moved closer to the school (Bellvue is their community) so it looks like we have had a bunch of relocation going on. 

I have had a day of anxiety and nerves today.  Mark Smith was tested for possible meningitis and the test came back negative.  Prayer from many people went to the Lord in his behalf and the Lord saw fit to answer quickly and positively in Mark's favor.  What a blessing.  It is no wonder that I say today and every day that God is good - all the time.

I WILL TRY AGAIN TODAY

Yesterday, August 6th, I spent an hour writing on this blog.  If I say so, myself, it was one of my better writings.  However, for some unknown reason (at least unknown to me) it disappeared into cyberspace and no amount of work, frustration or help from Kim could bring it back to the proper place.  I became so angry over the situation that I said "that's it...no more".  Today I was reading the newspaper and my Horoscope read as follows:  "Keeping up with people is harder than it should be.  You have so many ways to stay in touch, and yet your responsibilities and distractions make it challenging to find the time.  But try.  You'll be glad you did."  Well, I decided that I would come back to the computer and try once more.  However, I really don't know about the "responsibilities and distractions" stuff.

I have been plagued with Inner Ear problems for quite some time.  The dizziness and nausea that is caused by these little "crystals" floating around in my inner ear canal have really made me one unhappy camper.  I have found a doctor - an ENT - that seems to be helping me.  I have been given an exercise program and some advice to sleep propped up on pillows rather than lying flat and also since the left ear seems to be the culprit in this problem I am supposed to sleep on my right side.  This presents a problem to me because I seem to be flipping over during the night, unawares, and I wake up with a slight feeling of dizziness so I guess the doctor knows what he's talking about. 

Speaking of sleeping - I have done very little since the Olympics have been on.  Some of the events do not interest me but it appears that the ones that are my favorites come on the TV the latest at night.  I will stay with the gymnastics, swimming, diving, syncronized diving and some of the running events until the wee hours.  I am so proud of our United States athletes.  They have done exceedingly well.  I cannot believe that Gabby Douglas, at age 16, is able to have such total command of her body as she does.  I will miss the Olympics when they are totally over and I have to go back to re-runs or old movies.

Yesterday on the "lost Blog" I remembered Billy on the anniversary of his death.  Fourteen years ago yesterday, August 6th, Billy gave up his battle with cancer.  I just hope that if that dreaded disease should ever invade my body that I will be able to handle it with the grace and dignity that he did.  He never quit living, working, enjoying his family, going to see his grandchildren perform in sports or whatever they were doing.  I'm sure that he would be quite proud of all of them as they are today.  Carter's football and baseball talents, Drew's basketball team won the State, all of the great-grandchildren play various sports and are amazing to watch, Anni shows her skill on the guitar at her recitals and now it seems that Joesea is going to perform with theater and voice recitals in a few months.  He was his children's greatest cheerleader.  Billy and I became high school sweethearts and were still sweethearts when he died.  Our life together was quite interesting - probably would make a pretty good novel with its ups and downs, tears and laughs and intertwined with the most diversified group of friends and associates one can imagine.  I miss him and it is good fun to remember some of his antics and things that he said and did.  I'm sure that he is at peace now.

Tonight is my Music Lover's Club meeting.  Barbara Lutz talked me into joining this group of accomplished pianists, organists and singers.  How do I fit into this austere group?  I don't!!!  They talked me into joining by telling me that I could write and read things I wrote or things that other people wrote that would be of interest.  So far I have done pretty well but tonight may be my demise.  I have gathered some really interesting facts about Mozart and, hopefully, I can present them in a way that won't put the group to sleep.  I am thinking of resigning because I feel so inadequate when one of the men plays so professionally all of the great composer's music or one of the women plays the organ. I stay in mainly because this is about the only time I actually see Barbara.  It seems that she is so busy on her side of town and I am on this side doing my thing and we just don't make the effort to get together like we used to when we were working on an East High project or something of that nature. 

Speaking of East High, I resigned from the Scholarship Committee because of difference in the philosophy that I have with the president, vice president and past president over the way the money is handled for the scholarship awards.  I did finish out the season and we gave 20 deserving students $825.00 each, which was the least amount of money we have ever given.  We have never given less than $1,000.00 and I was quite disappointed.  However, my hands were tied and I decided that I would just "silently slip away" which I have done.  Word is now getting around to the alumni association and I am having lots of telephone calls and conversation about it.  When this group of officers are replaced I will probably go back.  The scholarship program has been my passion for many years.  It requires lots of hours of work but I never minded and apparently did a pretty good job.  By giving that work up I have found that I have a lot more time now to read and do other things.  In fact I believe that I am getting rather lazy as I slide through these hot, summer days.

Well, speaking of hot, summer days it is getting late in the morning which means the temperature is rising rapidly and I haven't taken Houston out for his morning walk and for my morning walk so I shall stop this rambling, hit the publish button and pray for success today that it will show up in the proper place.  My dizziness has abated and I am ready to take on the day and all that it has to offer.  I know that it will be a good day because any day that I am healthy and able to love my family and my friends and my Lord is a good day.  I can do that today because God is good - all the time.

Today is Monday, August 6th.  I have a lot to talk about since my last post.  I will start by telling you that I had the privilege of having lunch with my beautiful granddaughter, Courtney, on her 21st birthday.  The lunch was shared with Tracey, Carter, Bobbie Wiseman (Courtney's other grandmother) and we were seated at a round table (best for conversation) and had a great lunch and enjoyed celebrating this milestone in the life of a very wonderful woman.  I am very proud of Courtney.  She will go back to U.T. in Knoxville next week to begin her Junior year.  It will be a short time in my life - and her life - until I will go to the school to watch her accept her degree.  It will be a happy day for my entire family.  

My health has been a little uncomfortable for quite some time and I really have not felt like doing much.  Finally, an ENT doctor diagnosed me with Vertigo or Inner Ear problem and with the help of a very aggressive Physician's Assistant (Nita and I call her Ms. Witch) I have some therapy exercises that I must do every three days for six weeks.  I, also, have to sleep on my right side because the left ear seems to be the one that is causing all the trouble.  Also, it helps to sleep on several pillows rather than flat down on the bed. All of this is to keep me from being dizzy, nauseous and, just in general feeling lousy.  I will be going back this week for some sort of test and to report if what I have been doing is working for me.  I think it is working and I shall keep up the crazy exercises until the six weeks are up.  I have not been told to stop driving because the doctor says that I will know when I am getting dizzy and surely will have sense enough to not drive in that condition.  That was the only question I had for him "can I drive?"  I don't drive at night any more anyway because of my eyes so I do need to run errands in the day time.  My gosh, getting old is the pits!  I have given up a lot of my committees, volunteer work and kept what I thought I could do without pushing myself beyond my endurance but now I seem to get bored.  Oh well, I will work all of this out and come to a good balance for my life.

I did go to a Retirement Party for Randy Noe at Lee Company last week.  Randy was the guy at the company that kept the cars and trucks running in the "old days" at Lee.  In later years they have had mechanical work done elsewhere but Randy still had the job of keeping up with when licenses were due and when the fleet needed to be enlarged or changed in any way.  He is a great guy.  Some of the people at the company didn't like him because he was so outspoken but I appreciated his honesty and so did the owners of the company.  He and I became great friends.  When Billy and I fell upon hard times back in the 70's, Randy kept our car in good repair so that we would not have to buy a vehicle when we couldn't afford it.  He worked miracles on that old Buick.  His party was attended by many people from the "old days" and each one had a tale to tell about Randy.  There are people that God puts into your life for a reason and Randy was put into mine for me to have a good, helpful friend and I will love him forever. It was a delight to come into the Lee Company building and spend time with Wallace Lee and Ted Lee, the two men I worked with for 20 years.  Wallace is now 81 years old and very frail.  He was a big, strong, man and it seems so sad to see him as he is now but his sharp mind and his wit is still there and we had a great time.  Ted, the younger brother, looks wonderful and is enjoying life to the fullest.  What a good time I had at the party.  I might add that I received lots of compliments, hugs, and kind words from people that I will always hold dear to my heart.

Wayne and Jacque invited Sara and I to go to Pigeon Forge this past Friday.  We arrived at our hotel which was the Christmas Inn and it was just that -  Christmas all the way.  The outside was decorated for Christmas and every square foot of the inside had wreaths, holly, lights, trees with ornaments, Santa and reindeer and elves and I immediately got the "spirit of Christmas".  Sara and I had a beautiful room that had a Christmas tree with lights and we also had a balcony on which to enjoy our morning coffee.  We saw a show called Smokey Mountain Opry and it was a delightful production with singing, dancing, beautiful stage sets and music of every genre.  On Saturday morning we were treated to the Blackwood Brothers Show of which my grandson, Brad Smith, is the bass singer, MC of the show and was featured in many of the songs.  This was a breakfast show and the food was very good.  The show was the best that you can find anywhere.  The costumes, the songs, the humor - everything was just perfect.  We spent the rest of the day shopping and looking and enjoying the city.  Our dinner was enjoyed at an Italian restaurant where I dined on chicken fettuccine that was out of this world.  After the meal we visited Brad and Cassie and their son, Jackson, in their home and had delightful conversation plus cheese cake and coffee.  All too soon it was Sunday morning and after breakfast at the Apple Barn (always a wonderful experience) we came home.  I was glad to see Houston and I do think he was glad to see me even though he had spent the week-end with Corinne and Mark and their dog, Fisher, and been spoiled shamefullly.

August 6th will always be a memorable day for me and the girls because that is the day that Billy left us for a new home.  He died 14 years ago today after a long battle with cancer. I just pray that if that horrible disease ever attacks me that I will be able to handle it with the grace and dignity that he did.  He never gave up  living his life even though he knew it was coming to an end.  He loved me and he loved his family and his friends and tried to participate in each of our lives until he had no more strength.  He was an inspiration to a lot of people who have had cancer.  I think it is sad that he didn't get to observe all of the lives of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He would have loved to watch Carter play baseball and his team win the State Tournament since baseball was the Cline Sport of Choice in his family.  I feel confident that he would have been watching all of the children perform whatever talent they were displaying and loving every minute of it.  Maybe where he is he knows and is smiling on all of us as we live our lives without him.  I had him for 46 years, starting out in high school and going through a full life with all of it's ups and downs and laughs and tears.  I wouldn't change anything.  God was good to us - all the time.

HOPE YOU ARE LOVING LIFE AS I AM

I have always heard "be careful what you wish for, you might get it and more to boot".  Well, my wish and my prayer for rain has been answered in spades.  We have had rain, rain, rain and more of it.  Now, we are having plain old bad storms.  Thursday night, starting at 9:30 and lasting until the early morning I have never in my entire life heard such thunder and seen such lightning.  I had my candles and matches ready and my big flashlight by my bed in anticipation of my electricity going off, but that never happened.  I came through the entire night sleeping intermittently and safely and for that I am thankful.  Many trees around my apartment complex were damaged either by completely being struck down or losing many big, full of leaves branches.  It will take the city quite a while to clean up the area surrounding the complex that is a walking track that stretches many miles.  Also, I heard chain saws yesterday cutting limbs that must have fallen across the railroad track that runs right by my apartment.  However, the brown and tan colorless grass and the limp leaves on the trees and the poor, wilted flowers are now revived.  The grass is a lush green and the trees are holding bright green leaves high and letting them blow a nice breeze to give some relief to the hot, humid air that is so uncomfortable.  With my breathing problem I am reluctant to spend much time out of doors in the humidity.  I have to use my breathing devices more these days but I manage to accomplish most of the errands and things that I want to do.

One of the things that I have been doing lately and probably have written in previous blogs, is water exercises.  I have met a woman that lives here in the apartments that is my partner for this exercise.  We go to the pool in the morning before all of the mothers and little children who splash and play in the pool get there and we walk the width of the pool sideways, backwards and frontwards.  Then we have an instruction booklet to guide us with the arms, legs, hips and back exercises.  All of this takes about 45 minutes and I am amazed at how much it has helped me.  I recommend water exercise to everyone in deference to doing aerobics in a gym or with a video.  The water seems to work up the heart rate as well as exercise your muscles and joints.  Also, my friend, who has MS and cannot walk is enjoying this so much.  We have become fast friends.  She is so interesting to talk with because she has lived all over the world and held a responsible job in technology.  She has a service dog named Maisie that is always with her.  When she drops something Maisie picks it up and hands it to her.  I have become very fond of Maisie as well as Terrie.  Billy used to say that everywhere I went I met new people and talked to them until I found out their life story. I don't know about that exactly, but I do know that there are some people in this world that just give off vibes to me that they are someone that I would like to know and Terrie is one of those people.  I knew from the minute I made her acquaintance on the sidewalk one day that we were destined to become friends.  After all a woman on an electric cart with a service dog going to Sam's and WalMart and anywhere else she desires to go certainly did pique my curiosity.  I'm glad that I introduced myself and we have made a bond. 

My sinus stuff just seems to be hanging on forever.  Yes, I know that I should have gone back to the doctor for another round of antibiotics and shots, etc. but I didn't.  Now, I have been encouraged by a friend and by my daughter to go to an ENT for examination and diagnosis.  Maybe it is something that can be fixed and won't be hitting me so hard and lasting so long.  It surely does take the fun out of life when you get up in the morning feeling just as lousy as when you went to bed.  However, after a couple of cups of coffee and some toast, my medicine, getting dressed and moving around I do "perk up" and am able to accomplish a few tasks.  Then, when around 3:00pm comes I am content to get into my chair and read and nap for an hour or so.  I really have to make myself take Houston outside for a good walk twice a day because of the humidity.  We have to go early and we have to go just before dark because anytime in between is not good for me.  I did cook meals on wheels at church Thursday and then went to Sara's house for lunch.  She had a lovely luncheon of hot chicken salad that was excellent and my favorite congealed salad which is made with pretzels, cream cheese and strawberry jello.  We played a game of Scrabble and I was more than ready to come home, get in my chair and rest.  It had been a full day from 6:00am until 4:30pm. 

Chris and Ashley have gone to California to attend a wedding of one of Chris' boyhood friends and Nita and Ray are keeping Christopher, John Ed and Mary Hollis.  Yesterday when I talked to Nita she was handling the situation well except that she was not able to spend time in the yard and the children were getting pretty rowdy in the house.  I'm sure that she came up with some ingenuous ways of entertaining them until Ray could come home and they could go out for hamburgers for supper and maybe a trip to the book store or some other fun place.  Emily and Jackson sold their house Thursday.  It has been for sale for a while and many people have come to look at it so I knew it was just a matter of time until somebody - just the right person- would buy it.  Now they have got to find a place to live across town, closer to Christ Presbyterian Academy where Emily teaches and be ready to move by the end of August.  I don't envy them this task at all.  It is sad to think that they will live so far away but I can understand that it is impossible to get five children up in the morning, breakfast for them, dressed, lunches packed, books and other school bags together and be in Brentwood by 7:30. Looks like Nita will be travelling I-65 to Brentwood a lot to help Emily and also Drew who lives there.  In spite of Nita's ailments she is a good grandmother and never backs down when needed to help or when she just goes to spend time with her grandchildren. 

Leslie and Russell and the children moved into their new home in Florence, AL this week.  Quite naturally, Corinne took off a week of work to go help with the move.  She did this same thing when they moved in Texas and to Clarksville and to Dyersburg.  I understand that the house is just wonderful with many extra features to make Leslie's life easy.  I also understand that the house has a huge basement that the children are enjoying as a place to ride their bikes, play basketball and work off energy while the women get the house set up.  I can hardly wait to go to Florence and see the house, the hospital where Russell is working and the school where the boys will be going.  I think it is ironic that to get to Florence you get off of the interstate at Athens, AL which is my birthplace.  Maybe when I take the trip to Florence I can spend some time in Athens on the way to or from there.  I have not been to Athens in many years.  Most all of my relatives are gone but the ones that are still there are living in the homes that were built by my ancestors so the area is quite familiar.   I say the area is familiar, not the way it looks now with many houses, grocery stores, a new school with athletic field and other things that were just cotton fields in my days of going to Athens. 

Well, the morning is moving on and my work here in my apartment is at a stand-still.  I need to do some major house cleaning since I have been so lazy lately.  I blame it on feeling bad but I am beginning to think that I am lazy.  Also, I have had some wonderful books to read these past weeks and it is hard not to get my book and get in my chair and read. The next thing I know it is afternoon and I have accomplished absolutely nothing.  Maybe that is what old-age is about.  Maybe these days of idleness are not the result of anything but time to take it easy, quit pushing so hard, resting and reading, writing notes to people who need to hear a word of encouragement or congratulations on something they have done, talking on the phone to Barbara about all sorts of philosophical subjects, talking on the phone to Wallace Lee about the presidential election that is coming up in November, just living life in the slow lane rather than the fast lane.  This is a new life for me and so very different from the one I have lived for 78 years but it is rather nice.  Getting to be old is not so bad.  I believe that God gives us strength to do all of the things we must do when we are young and then gives us the good sense to accept what we can't do when we are old.  For this I am grateful and it just reinforces my feeling that God is good - all the time.

SUNDAY MORNING THOUGHTS

Today is Sunday, July 8, 2012 and I am not at church.  I know that will come as a surprise to everyone, even me, but I am "not up to par" today.  Truth is, yesterday I woke up with vertigo.  The room began to spin and the nausea hit bit time!  I got up out of bed and immediately took one of my miracle pills, Adavert,  that the doctor told me to keep on hand always due to the fact that I seem to have one of these attacks each time I have a sinus problem.  Isn't that the most ridiculous thing?  I have had a problem with sinus drainage, cough and headache for a few days.  Who hasn't had that I wonder?  After all the temp has been over 100 degrees for the past nine days.  I think that the problem comes from getting hot and getting into a car and turning the a/c on full blast and letting it blow on me.  Getting hot again and coming into the cool house. Just jumping from hot to cold seems to not be a good idea for me.  Anyway, yesterday I took the pills, laid in my lounge chair and slept a lot (a good thing)  and worried my girls (not a good thing) and this morning other than feeling washed out and weak I am okay.  In other words, no nausea nor dizziness, which is the best thing.  I plan to take it easy today and get ready for next week, which is Vacation Bible School Week at Madison Church.  I have signed up for the entire week so I have got to be strong and well and ready to deal with noisy, excited, happy children. 

I have two daughters at home and two daughters in Florida as of today.  Nita and her family came home yesterday after a week in Florida - all of them - Drew, and Emily and all of their children which total 10 children and 4 adults in one condo and Chris, Ashley their 3 children and Nita and Ray in another condo.  Now there is a bunch of people.  According to Nita it was a perfect week.  The children were all very good and happy and loved being together on the beach.  Tracey, Carter, Danny and Courtney went to the beach this past Monday and the guys came back yesterday and the girls are coming back today.  Tracey and Courtney just had to have one more day at the beach.  Kim. Brad, Samantha and Roger left yesterday morning for Destin and I talked to Kim this morning and she sounds better already.  After just a few hours of that wonderful place she was talking like a happy person and says that she is feeling better.  I am so happy for her and I know that her three co-travelers will take good care of her.  Well, Corinne is here looking after me.  In fact, I thought I could slip over to WalMart while she and Nita would be at church and when I drove up she was standing in the driveway worried to death as to where I was and why I was out in the car.  I had to go pick up something for Houston and never dreamed anybody would "bust" me.  I should have known better.  I will not go out again today, however, because just that little excursion wore me out.  That Vertigo stuff just lays me low.

We had a wonderful Fourth of July Celebration this past Wednesday.  We went to Kim's house for barbecue and all the accompanying dishes plus desserts to die for.  I really enjoyed visiting with my family (the ones that weren't in Florida) and eating the good food and enjoying all of Kim's elaborate decorations.  Her table was decorated with flags and red, white and blue dishes and plastic ware.  Her foyer table was decorated with the Fourth of July theme and she had buntings across the entry way into the dining room.  It was so festive and so colorful and so happy looking.  We did not stay to watch the fire works as we usually do because, it being a work night and everyone having to get up the next morning, we broke up around 8:30 so that everybody that wanted to watch the fireworks on TV would have the opportunity.  I was feeling "poorly" from the sinus thing  and was ready to come home and go to bed.  I only saw about five minutes of the Macy's Show from New York and then I turned the TV off and went to sleep.  They say that our display from Riverfront Park downtown Nashville was fabulous but I couldn't see them from where I live and surely didn't want to join the thousands of people that were downtown partying.  According to the National TV reports, Nashville has outstanding Fireworks and seem to rank in the top cities over the country.

The hot temperature and no rain has caused our beautiful middle Tennessee that is usually green grass and trees, flowers of all colors and sky as blue as blue can be to now be shades of brown and tan, leaves curling and falling in some places, and the poor flowers that people so lovingly planted and cared for are now drooping and the leaves turning brown.  You can't water with a hose enough to keep things alive.  We need a good ground soaking rain to try to bring things back to life.  It is predicted that we will have some rain this week but the rain that is talked about seems to be "scattered showers" which means that it could rain here at my place and not a drop a mile away.  They have put a water-ban on some cities where people cannot use water for anything other than bathing and cooking - no car washing or anything unimportant.  It is so dry that the least spark from a cigarette could start a terrible fire.  I do hope that people will be careful and not cause us to suffer like the people in Colorado that have lost their homes and businesses to forest fires that spread so fast and were uncontrollable.  I just have to keep telling myself that God is in control and He will take care of the thirsty birds, the dry grass, the dying flowers and the drooping trees and shrubs.  He has always taken care of us and he always will.  How do I know this?   Because I know that God is good - all the time.

THOUGHTS ON A JUNE MORNING

Today is Monday, June 18th and it is a typical Nashville, southern city day.  The weather is warm and predicted to be warmer as the day progresses.  However, a slight breeze is moving the trees to give the feeling of a cooling fan and also making me think that it might rain.  I'm not planning on rain because I have been fooled so many times in the past few days.  Oh, my, how badly we do need some rain.  I would love to see a slow, steady downpour for about 24 hours.  That would be my desire but I have no control over the weather so I will have to be content with whatever comes my way.

As I get older the "angel of death" seems to be perching around me so often these days.  First, my friend, Nancy that I have loved and been friends with for over 60 years died and I still am having to come to grips with her long illness and finally peaceful death.  Next came my dear little friend, Mai Ellen Ray, whom I only got to know 10 years ago when I became a member of the board of directors of East Alumni Association.  She was a quiet, refined lady who spoke with a soft voice and was kind and dear to so many people.  Then, out of the clear blue and most startling was the news of the death of a friend for many years, Joan Haden.  Joan had suffered with many different health issues for as long as I have known her but always overcame her confinements to play cards, play golf, have luncheons, take vacations and be a very active wife to Charles and mother to her three daughters and several grandchildren.  She was enjoying the day with her husband by going to lunch and running errands when, all of a sudden, she had a stroke and never knew what had happened.  She only lingered a couple of days which was good for her but, how dreadful for her family and friends to lose her so quickly and with no warning. I am hearing almost each week of the passing of some one that went to my school, my church or someone that I know from other places.  I have no fear of death myself, but, of course I love the life I'm living and hope to be hanging around for a long time yet.

Pigg Family at Connor's 8th Birthday Party

Saturday was a lovely day for me as I was able to attend the birthday party of my great-grandson, Connor.  Tracey was kind enough to drive me along with Kim and Joesea and Jacque to Dyersburg, TN for the party.  We arrived at the scene just as the party was getting underway.  It was a Basketball Party and Leslie, my granddaughter and Connor's mother, had spared nothing to decorate in the theme and to serve food that you would find at a gym during a basketball game.  The children played basketball and basketball relay games and dribbled balls for prizes and just had a grand time.  I loved just sitting on the bleachers watching the activity.  After the party ended and the clean-up was concluded we went to a little shop that is owned and managed by a friend of Tracey's from U. T. Martin.  It was so much fun to look at all of the really cute clothes and jewelry and other things that were in the shop while Tracey and her friend renewed old friendships.  After this fun experience, we went to Leslie and Russell's home for snacks, drinks and to watch Connor open his gifts.  Then it was time to crawl back into the van and head for Nashville.  Three and a half hours down there, several hours of party and visiting and three and a half hours back was an awful lot for me.  I could hardly wait to get into my pj's and Houston and I went directly to bed and immediately to sleep.  I am so happy that I can be included in these memorable experiences and intend to keep doing it no matter how tired or hard they are, for as long as I can.

Yesterday, Sunday, was Father's Day.  This used to be a big day when Billy was here.  I remember so well how all of the girls and their spouses would come on Sunday afternoon and we would have dessert and they would present him with a present of something that would just delight him. I remember his last Father's Day so well - he had been in the hospital and demanded to be released on Saturday so that he would be at home for Father's Day.  The girls and husbands came and he had a nervous episode and we had to call the doctor and get him some medication.  In spite of it all, he loved seeing them and loved having them all there but it was a hard day for him.  I don't think that we realized just how fragile that he was and that his time was about to be short.  He probably knew but he was going to try to have things as normal as always and he was pretty good at putting up a "front" for all of us.  Billy was a brave and courageous man during his illness and we all remember the good times that he gave us.

Last Friday night I was invited to go to the Fine Arts School at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville to see a production of Annie. My interest in this play was due to the fact that my great-granddaughter, Anni Routh, was an actress in the play. She played the part of the Apple Seller. She had a line of dialogue for this part but she also sang in the chorus and was on stage quite often as an orphan, singer or the seller of apples on the street. The amazing thing about this production is that all of the children were in school for one week. During this week they learned to act, to sing, to paint scenery, to move props quietly, to participate in every facet of a stage production. To have one week to do this and come up with a flawless production just amazed me. I have not seen any production in little theater that was any better than what I saw that night. The part of Annie was a darling red-headed girl with an excellent voice for her age. The part of Ms. Hannigan was played by a young girl about 14 or 15 years old and I do believe that she is destined to be an actress if she so desires. My Anni has all the makings of an actress also. She loves to perform and will do so at the "drop of a hat" at Christmas or any time that the family is together. I will be interested to see just what Anni and the rest of my great-grandchildren will do with their lives. That is the reason I would like to "hang around" for a while as I mentioned in previous paragraph.

My grandson, Chris, and his wife have bought a house in Jackson, MS.  They love their life there.  Chris always thought he would like to come back to Nashville to live and be close to his family and friends here, but now after ten years of practicing law in Jackson, having his children do so well in the schools there, making many friends and being so involved in his church he is very content.  I understand that his house is much larger than the one they have now and very beautiful.  From the descriptions I have heard it sounds like your typical lovely southern home with gardens and gazebo and a porch for rocking chairs and swings.  I will make a trip there when they get moved in and settled.  I am just so happy that he has found his "niche" and his future is settled.  Leslie and Russell have purchased a home in Florence, Alabama and will be moving in July.   Russell is CEO of the hospital in Florence and has been running back and forth from Dyersburg to Florence every week for some time.  They are eager to get settled in their new accommodations. Emily and Jackson are selling their home and will be moving closer to her work in the very near future.  It seems like my grandchildren are all on the move to new locations.  I am so happy that they are all doing like Jabez and "expanding their territory".  Every where they go they seem to bring joy and happiness to the situation.  They are able to do this because of their trust in the Lord and their knowledge that God is good - all the time.

SORRY FOR THE DELAY

Good Saturday Morning - May 19th.  I have really gotten lazy with my Blog and that is not a good thing.  I need to write about my life so that I can keep up with myself.  I have, actually, had a pretty busy month since my last blog.  I will get my calendar and try to reconstruct my goings and comings.  Actually, May has been a month of baseball, baseball and more baseball.  Goodpasture won the District AA Title, the Region Title and the Sectional title and went to the State tournament.  They played four games in the State and won all four so now we are the State Champions of the District AA.  Carter made All-District and made us so very proud.  He has had a good year of Baseball where he played Center Field and made some amazing catches.  He hit some home runs and at every game he played his heart out and made good plays at the bat.  I am so very proud of him.  His football playing entertained me last Fall and his baseball this Spring.  Now I can relax and quit biting my nails and having nervous fits until football rolls around again.  Carter, like his cousin Drew before him, has certainly supplied this family with lots of thrills and chills and entertainment.  I have become an avid baseball fan and I know that Billy and Mr. Cline would be so happy with me.  What a pity that Billy never got to see Carter excel in sports and also to see what a wonderful, handsome, loving grandson he has. 

I was invited to Christ Presbyterian Academy to Grandparent's Day and what a day that was!!!!  I went with Nita and we arrived at the school at 9:30am.  We went to see Ava and Anni's room where we met the teacher and the granddaughter's gave us gifts that they had made for us.  Each one gave me a cut-out profile of their head and it was framed in a clear plastic frame for my desk (where they are sitting as I write this) and they also gave me a burlap bag that they had painted with flowers and the words I Love You from Ava and Anni.  What a treasure that is.  Then we went to see Sara James' room and she was so cute showing us her desk and her teacher and all of her "art work".  Emma, being a 6th grader, took us to her home room but we didn't go to her other classes.  She was so big as she explained everything to us, all the while holding Patrick and keeping him from getting knocked down by the crowd.  Then we went to Maddux's room where he was patiently waiting for us and saw all of his things that he was proud of.  Then it was time to go to the program.  I never cease to be amazed at the talent that prevails at this school.  The children sang songs that gave a picture of a trip across America.  When they sang "Rocky Top" to  depict Tennessee we all just fell out laughing because Maddux put his hands over his ears.  He is truly a Vandy fan and will have no part of U.T.

Every year Wayne and Jacque take me to a Wine Tasting event that is sponsored by the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce.  This year it was held at Nashville Shores and the booths were spread out around a lake.  It was a charming setting and all of the winery's are from Tennessee.  Wayne and I chose a peach, light wine as our favorite and he bought three bottles and I came home with one of them which I have not opened as yet.  I am saving it for a special occasion.  After the Wine Tasting they took me to a huge garden shop and bought me two absolutely breath-taking hanging baskets of flowers for my porch.  This was my Mother's Day present from them and it was certainly appreciated.  I now have the task of watering them in this dry weather and keeping them alive and pretty.  I will do my best.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, the girls and their husbands took me to Rose Pepper Cantina which is a great Mexican Restaurant on Eastland Avenue in East Nashville.  They know how I love East Nashville so they chose this restaurant to please me, which is did.  They all gave me lovely gifts and then Ray and Nita and I took a driving tour around that part of town where we had lived and contains so many memories for us.  It was a lovely way to celebrate and I loved my cards, my gifts, but most of all I enjoyed the time spent with them.  My girls are my delight, as everybody knows.

I have been saddened by the condition of my dear friend, Nancy Wray Moran.  She had open heart surgery on August 29, 2011 and did well through the surgery.  As they were moving her into a room she had a stroke that has rendered her paralyzed on her right side and unable to speak.  She seems to understand what is being said to her but she can't respond which frustrates her and causes her to frown.  She smiles when I go to see her and that makes us both happy.  However, she suffered a heart attack last week and is now in a sad way.  She has very little brain activity as evidenced by a test that was run.  She is just lying there helpless and being kept alive with a feeding tube.  She can breathe without the ventilator which surprised everyone.  She would be so much better off if the Lord would take her but obviously He is not ready for her to come home and will take her in His time, not ours.  I feel so sorry for Dicky and Little Dicky because they are just standing by broken hearted.  I am praying for God's will to be done and I know that it will be okay.

Well, that about wraps up my month of May.  This is Memorial Day Week-end and Sara is coming on Sunday and spend the night.  On Monday we are going to Barren River State Park for lunch and actually just to have something different to do and new scenery to enjoy.  I am looking forward to her coming.  We will play Scrabble on Sunday night and, I'm sure that she will beat me.  Every now and then I luck up and beat her but those times are few and far between.  Sara is such a good friend.  She is the one person in my life that I can tell anything to and express my feelings on any subject and, even if we disagree, it doesn't matter.  Everyone needs a "Sara" and I am lucky that God gave her to me for a friend.  Just another evidence that God knows what we need and will supply because God is good - all the time.

JUST CATCHING UP

I have just finished reading the blogs that I have posted so far this year.  It occurs to me that I mentioned the Florida trip and the fact that I had to get ready for it but then never did write about it.  I realize now that the reason I didn't write in this space is because I journaled it and have it saved for my scrapbook.  However, I do want to tell you that it was a very special time for me.  I loved my room and bath and the privacy it afforded me each night to watch TV or read or just talk to God and then sleep.  The team played four baseball games and won all of them.  We had many good meals with the Goodpasture parents and then with just our group.  Danny bought shrimp and cooked potatoes, boiled corn on the cob, french bread and Tracey made chocolate chip bars and we ate on the wonderful porch that overlooked the Gulf of Mexico and the white sandy beach.  I spent a lot of time on that porch and it was a gift that I will never forget.  We celebrated Tracey's birthday while we were there and that was a gala affair.  I really loved spending time with Danny's mother and father, Bobbie and Jim, and feel like Bobbie and I bonded with a wonderful friendship.  It was a great trip and I loved it and certainly appreciate Danny and Tracey giving me this delightful week. 

Now, to bring you up-to-date on recent developments.  The weather has been such a haphazard mixture of cold, warm, hot and back to cold.  Today has been very warm.  In fact I saw people at the pool today.  I'm not sure they were swimming but they were sunning and enjoying the slight breeze that was blowing the new trees that the landscape people have just planted.  They have taken up all of the pansies and replaced them with inpatient's and other summer plants.  The rose bushes are in full bloom and the other things that have been planted are thriving and looking beautiful.  They do an excellent job of keeping the grounds of the apartment complex looking perfect.  I enjoy my walks around the buildings with Houston.  Everybody knows Houston - not me but him.  They call him by name and he is everybody's friend. 

I had a surprise attack of Vertigo a week or so ago.  I woke up and when I tried to get out of bed the dizziness and nausea was overwhelming.  Nita came and we went to the walk-in clinic but they sent us to the hospital where I stayed all day.  For several days one or more of the girls stayed with me but as quickly as it came it went.  Thank the Lord for that.  You can bet that I have the medicine on hand to take if it ever happens again.  Hopefully, that is a one-time thing.

I have made a decision to start getting rid of some of my obligations and have more free time for myself.  I don't want too much idle time because that would lead to boredom for me, but I have a tendency to over commit myself and it is so nice to get up in the morning knowing that I don't have to go any where and nobody is expecting me to do something.  I will still attend my Bible Study on Monday morning where we are studying Psalms.  I will continue to cook meals on wheels once a month.  I will stay on the Board of Directors of the alumni association but I have resigned my position as Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.  That is a sad decision that I made and I will not bore you with the "whys" I resigned.  Suffice it to say that my philosophy differs from that of the officers of the association.  Rather than "make a stink" and cause division among the members I will just quietly "fold my tent and silently steal away" as the saying goes.  I am feeling my age these days and find that I get very tired in the afternoon and it is nice to have the freedom to get in my chair and take a nap or read my book. 

This week I reflected on the fact that if Billy had not died we would have been married 60 years.  It is fun to imagine what we would have done to celebrate.  We were not gift givers on anniversary but we always managed to celebrate with a special dinner or a special treat of some kind.  When the children were little we would get a baby sitter and go to a restaurant that wasn't Kentucky Fried Chicken or Shoneys and we really felt important.  Our favorite place was The Executive Club on West End where we would have shrimp cocktails and then steak with the side dishes and we would dance to the juke box.  Our favorite song was "Always". George Hulsey sang that at our wedding and when Billy died I asked George to sing it at the funeral but he said that he couldn't do it.  We had planned to go to Florence, Italy on our 50th anniversary and had talked about the places we would go and the things we would do.  That didn't work out either.  However, I have my memories of other things and that is okay.

Tomorrow is Sunday.  I will get up and go to Sunday School and church and then to eat with Kim, Joesea, Jacque and Wayne.  Sunday afternoons are for napping and reading and taking it easy.  Monday I will not get to go to Bible Study because I am going to proctor the TCAP tests at Madison Middle School.  I did this last week and it was quite an enlightening time for me.  The children that were taking the test where I was helping spoke very little English and one girl was from Africa.  This school is very diversified and has lots of Hispanic and other nationalities.  I was intrigued with the children and enjoyed talking to the teacher.  She was a beautiful young woman in a wheel chair that had an obvious bond with these children because she was so patient and loving with them.  I will enjoy going back for the last day of testing. 

This past week I have had to spend some time at funeral homes due to the death of a friend's husband and a woman who died after a nine year fight with cancer.  She was such a precious woman and a good friend.  I will miss her.  She was in my Sunday School class, my Bible Class and my Care Group so we spent a great deal of time together.  She was an inspiration to me with her attitude.  When the time came that the doctor announced that there was nothing left to do, she told us all that she was ready to go and actually welcomed death.  That is the way I want to feel when my time comes.  I want to be able to say that I have lived a good life and I know that I will be going home to be with Jesus because God is good - all the time.