Some Camera Phone Vacation Pix

This, my friends, is vacation in progress.

The Weekend that Was

Well, we made it. What a crazy weekend it was. I am still pooped from the trip to Mississippi. Now, I'm pooped from the big Graduation Weekend. I need a vacation. Hey! Luckily, I have one planned for next week. Funny how it all works out, eh?

Our weekend began when our dear friends, the Jackson's, arrived from St. Louis. I don't have much family, so I really count on my friends to serve as my surrogate family members during important occasions. They didn't fail me. Mike, Rose and Angela came out and made the weekend so fun and so special. They are truly the nicest people on earth, and make everything better. (kind of like cake icing, butter on popcorn, or rain on a Saturday morning.) Thank you to them for all the support and help they gave us, and for coming out to celebrate with us! Here they are (with Steven) at the beach on Day One:

We celebrated Steven's 41st (what a baby) birthday at our favorite Irish Pub, Madra Rua. So many of our dear friends came to celebrate with us, it was so nice. After the pub, we opened gifts and had some cake at the homestead. Little Stevie McCabe loved his cake.

That locker had a "yearbook" and stickers inside of it. Great fun for the silly adults in the crowd.

Saturday was Graduation Day. Since Taylor graduated a year early, I knew a total of four kids in her graduating class. (including her) Even so, I found myself with a big lump in my throat as they all processed into the coliseum. And, I'm always amazed that as they sit down, they immediately start looking around for Mom and Dad. I think I was most teary-eyed when they said the last person's name, and the kids all anticipated getting to turn their tassels. In that moment, all things are possible, you know?

I have to apologize for the following picture. I have no idea what is going on with my chest, but man oh man, I am looking crooked. I digress, here we are, in a very proud moment:

After the Saturday festivities came the Sunday party. My friend, Laura's son, Layne, also graduated this year. Thus, we had a combined party for Layne and Taylor. It was great fun, and I'm sure another blog is forthcoming about that specifically. For the time being, here's a pic of us all at the Graduation Luau.

Everything was crazy busy and each minute was jam packed with activity. But, I did have time to be thankful for so many good friends and a wonderful family. Our friends were so generous to Steven and to Taylor. I feel truly blessed.

Aloha until next time!

Just a Thought or Two

I sincerely believe that flip flops might be one of the world's greatest inventions.

EVER.

Unless they look like this:

Cap and Gown Me Please

Here we are, the whole happy family in June of 1981. I had brown hair. ONE color. I will never have one color hair again. My brothers have black hair, no grey or white. Both my parents are alive. I just realized that in this pic, my folks are younger than I am today.

Fast forward to 2009. I'm two days away from Taylor's graduation. Jake graduated four years ago, so this is my baby's graduation. I haven't hit emotions yet, but when I pulled up this picture, I realize how young I was then, and how young Taylor is now, and all she's about to face.

Many of the new things will be exciting. Some will be scary, others heartbreaking. I'll always be there for her, but really, it is her journey she's now starting. The last 17 years have been my journey, now I'm just the back seat driver. (Larry)

She won't have the wisdom of grandparents to guide her, all but one of her grands has passed. I was very lucky to have them in my life for a long long time. My grandmother (on the right) is still with us, and her mere presence guides all of us. I hope that I've been able to pass on a bit of their SMARTS to her. Grandparents are the best.

What do we tell our kids as they face adulthood? What sage advice do we have to give? I'm going to have to think on this one for a bit. I just hope I can find the words to help her keep this smile on her face.

Where's the Cold Beer?

As many of you know, we spent the last weekend in Oxford, Mississippi for the NCAA Baseball Regional. I have so many things to write, but with all the graduation craziness upon us, it's going to have to wait. I did, however, want to share some LOVELY family photos with all of you. It's amazing how attractive we all are.

Steven likes to get people to take self portraits. We sat at Boure in Oxford, awaiting our dinner (I recommend the shrimp and grits) and this is the result:

He looks much less stressed than he really was here. I guess he had it easy. All he had to do was coach. We all had to root the team on to victory.

Cynthia Lynn took this picture three times, in order to get the nostrils just right. Well done.

Mickey is really into gang signs. I'm not sure what this means, probably something along the lines of, "My aunt is the coolest ever."

My oldest brother, Jeff. He is amazed that we found cold beer. And, he loves the Colonel. CRAMBONE.

Ty is all about bodily functions. ALL THE TIME.

My glamour shot, circa 2009.

Cindy's mom, Pat. Best giggler this side of the Mississippi. Oh, that was punny!

Cindy's dad, Ron; affectionately known as Tubby. Or, as Steven would say, "Butty."

Wait, he looks too normal. Well, he's had practice at this.



And now a few normal pictures of some really cool things.

National Anthem prior to Game 1.



Team "Meeting" prior to game 3.




A Daddy and his boy.

Taking a breath

In the last week, we've:

Driven to Mississippi. (and back)

Watched three baseball games.

Eaten dinner with family three times.

Listened to a great audiobook. (Dog On It. I highly recommend it!)

Worked a month end in a condensed day.

Folded the clothes in my closet.

Washed, dried, folded and PUT AWAY the laundry from the trip to Mississippi.

Had some VERY strange dreams.

And reunited with all our animals. I have some blogs rolling around in my head that I'm dying to write, but that will have to wait another day. I just felt like I had to get this all out, kind of like dumping some of the junk. :-)

GRADUATION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!! THEN, will the world slow down a bit?

From Cezanne to Say WHAT?

I spent my weekend with some reaaalllll interesting folks. It all started off so gently and civil. We went to Columbia to view the art exhibit, "From Turner to Cezanne." We had a lovely evening with Larry, Mary and Baby Griffin and we felt very cultured as we compared the paintings. We saw this pretty lady:

Here comes the 180 degree turn. The following day, we met this fella:


(I bet Renoir never imagined this gentleman and his Lady in Blue would be mentioned in the same breath)

ANYWAY...We were invited to a fish fry with our friends Kristen and Grace. It was held at a rural sight outside Charleston. The hosts were very nice people and I truly appreciate their hospitality. The catfish was delicious.

HOWEVER, there were a few occurrences that left my mouth agape.

Upon our arrival, we were informed that a FIVE YEAR OLD BOY had killed a wild boar and it was going to be thrown on the grill. Now, I've been to plenty of pig pickings, but never got to hear the details of how the pig got there. (yes, I'm a city girl) As we walked into the party, we followed two men carrying the "boar" in a garbage bag. That's when I saw the trail of blood coming out of the bag. (Please picture my face as I saw this.) I also heard how the boar was trapped, shot in the eye and then when he still didn't die, he had to be stabbed. FROM THE FIVE YEAR OLD BOY. Here's his conquest:

I just don't "get" hunting. I probably never will. I'm not against it, I just don't get it.

So, I'm making conversation with folks and trying to appreciate and understand hunting, hunting dogs, etc. That's when I run into my new friend, "Shot." (Buckshot) Now, Shot is truly a good old Southern Boy. I couldn't understand most of what he said. (Steven likened him to Boomhower from "King of the Hill.") He had many interesting stories, and enjoyed sharing them. I was fine until he played a song on his cellphone with references to the Klan, sheets and burning crosses. I'm sure my face bore the same expression as when I watched the boar being brought into the party. Here's his picture with Steven. He didn't want to put his arm around Steven, so thus the pose:

People that know me understand that I am a bleeding heart liberal. So, for me to be faced with such blatant racism and bigotry was very disturbing. When I sat down to write this Blog, it wasn't my intent to criticize him, but more so to share a really awkward uncomfortable situation. Anyplace else, and I would have probably spoken up and against his ignorance. I don't think this was a place where I could have done that. I continued to speak to him, and basically walked away from it all feeling very sad. He's had a difficult life, and has done good by his family to the best of his ability. In another place or time, I would like to think I would have stood up for my beliefs. By not doing so, I feel like I wasn't true to myself; I let myself down by not speaking up. But the really sad part is that I don't think it would have made any difference.

So, while I'm smiling on the outside in this picture, there was turmoil on the inside. Luckily, the other two folks in this picture are the type of people I can "speak up" to and with. But, that's probably because they agree with me, and it's safe and easy.