Category Archives: Family

Memories: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” -By Karla

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I love the holidays!  I mean LOVE them! There is something magical about this time of year.

Turkey Cookies

When Lindsey was four and Rachel was almost a year old, I started making cookies with them the day before Thanksgiving. I have always cheated and used a mix because it is easier. It’s never been about how they actually taste; it’s the process and the memories.

In the early years, Lindsey had a blast tracing her elementary-school hands with a butter knife. Meanwhile, I worked the dough around Rachel’s little fingers, trying to place them just right to form the head and feathers. We made turkey cookie after turkey cookie with sprinkles galore!

Year after year we baked. Sometimes it was just the three of us, but other times we invited friends and extended family.  It seems like I blinked and they had grown up. Though our schedule does not allow us to make our turkey cookies the day before Thanksgiving, we manage to still carve time sometime over the holidays to gather, roll, cut out our turkeys, smile, and make memories.

Mom’s Famous Dressing

When Mom was sick years ago, I offered to help cook her part of the holiday meals. I consider myself fortunate that she taught me how to make her dressing. That first year without Mom, I can remember being so nervous making it. It’s not like any of the forty-plus family members and friends, who gather for meals over the holidays, would have cared if it did not taste good, but I did! For some reason, I needed it to be as good as hers.

It never failed. Even fifteen years after her passing, Papa Berry, my adult dad, always made sure to walk by me with his plate filled, and pat me on the shoulder. “Karla, your mom would be proud. It tastes just like hers.” He was such a sweetheart; I know some years the dressing was much drier than others.

As one decade rolled into another Rachel started helping make the  dressing, and I know this would make Mom smile.

New Traditions

With the girls being older, I try to put up the Christmas tree the week of Thanksgiving because they have more time to visit.  Over the years the location of the tree has seen different spots, but the golds and reds still grace its branches.  In the background we play Christmas music, usually drink hot chocolate, and sometimes even have a muted football game on.

Family Time While Shopping

On the days that follow Thanksgiving, my sisters and I do some shopping. For us, it is more about spending time together than the materialism. We always have some fun story from these trips.

This year, one store had a line a mile long. We took turns standing in line while the others browsed the racks for that special something. Finally, I told everyone to head toward Panera with my great-niece. Sharing that I would pay for everything now, we could divvy up later. Looking in the stroller, I was surprised that Gail was buying three stuffed animals, but I paid for them as well as everything else.

That evening, we had some serious laughter as we divided up our purchases. My sister Gail grimaced when she realized she owed me money for the two stuff animals she was only letting her granddaughter hold in hopes to keep her satisfied. had let my great-niece hold simply to occupy her time in line.

I then explained the problem with the third stuffed animal.” It did not have a price tag, so they just charged me the same price as the larger one she had just rung up. ” Gail said, “She only had two. Where did the third one come from?”  We burst with laughter when she shared that I had paid for a twenty-five year-old-stuffed animal.  She had brought old one from home and did not realize they had even taken it into the store!

Most Importantly

These are just a few of the reasons, plus the beginning of the possibility of a snow day, that make me love this time of year. How blessed I am to know the most important meaning for the glow of the season. I have in my heart, the birth of Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

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Autumn: Golden Memories -By Karla

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On Saturday, my twenty-one year old daughter Rachel was home from college and took a short nap on the couch.  Awaken, she announced, “I swear that tree outside had green leaves when I went to sleep!  And now, it is yellow.”  We laughed but discussed how it truly seemed to turn golden overnight. 

That following Monday morning, I glanced out the window as I walked into the kitchen to make my hot tea. I promise you there was a golden tint outside. Dressed and heading to the car, the gold was still in the air.  It made me think of some the golden things throughout my life.

Golden Tunes

As you might have noticed from past blogs, I love music. Driving to school, I wondered about song titles with the word gold or golden.  I began humming and recalling some words to the song, Sister, Golden-Hair by America.  It made me smile. Of course, when I got to school I had to look up the song on YouTube, so I could reminisce. I do not have a special memory of this song; it’s just attached to an era of 70’s days at the Copperhill, TN swimming pool. Another great one is the Larry Gatlin Band’s song, All the Gold in California. With three sisters and a mom who loved to sing, there were many days the 8-track accompanied us as we rode alongside the River Road trying to harmonize. Later in my life, I can vividly remember Michelle Kwan ice skating to Sting’s Fields of Gold. I was an adult, but I cried. She was such a talented artist. I hurt for her that night that she didn’t win the gold, but glided on the ice with such grace.

Late Nights with the Golden Arches 

Surprisingly, another golden item that brings back so many memories is the McDonald’s golden arches. Late Friday evenings after ballgames, the band bus would pull into Mickey-D’s. About 75 famished high-school kids would invade the small dining room, probably disturbing all the poor souls who were trying to eat a meal. We hooped and hollered as if we didn’t have a care in the world. By this time in the evening, most of my food money had usually been spent at the concession stand during the game. But, I always kept enough money tucked in my navy band pants to have a golden-fried apple pie! Ah, the simple things in life. 

The Golden Boob Tube

In 1985, my sister Gail and I just to loved watching Moonlighting with Cybill Shepherd and a much less violent Bruce Willis. Kurt Cameron and his family began the series Growing Pains. This was one of younger Julie’s and my favorites.  That same year, MacGyver came on the scene (and his poster on Donna’s bedroom wall), and he could escape any situation with a pack of dental floss and a bottle of nail polish. But perhaps the funniest of shows during this year was the Golden Girls. Rose and her Saint Olaf stories always cracked me up!  

Golden Transformations

Many years ago, I was driving over the mountain from Dalton to Blue Ridge, Georgia. Because Mom had been sick with colon cancer for about two years, I had made this trip many more times than usual. I was tired and weary as I wove along the windy road. The gold, red, and orange shone so beautifully that day. She was still having some enjoyable days with family, but was no longer working and had slowed a lot. All the prayers I had offered for Mom’s healing were beginning to turn into the realization that God might soon give her the ultimate gift of health. To say I was sad, was beyond an understatement.

Alone in the car, I saw the golden hues a little differently that fall.  I cried and talked to God, and He talked to me. He reminded me that as a Christian death is as beautiful as these golden leaves that were fading. For the first time, I saw the beauty in the completion of this life as one nears their Heavenly life. So, I drove and began to start the process of grieving the beautifully golden transformation that was to come.

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Photographs: Not Just a Picture, But a Memory -By Donna

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   If your house were on fire what items would you try to save? Many people say old pictures. I do too! I have always loved pictures, and they can be so powerful. Photographs leave a legacy. People don’t often realize that a picture of themselves can very well outlive them. Through pictures we can see relatives we never met, but we can preserve their image.

    Pictures are small pieces of the puzzle of our life. Some of those pieces bring back laughter, while others bring tears. Everything is so digital now that most pictures are hidden in a phone or computer, so I try to print off my pictures. I love my photo albums as do my children. What looks like “just a picture” to one person, may be a whole story to another.

Sorrow Behind a Smile

   To anyone else this picture of Tucker and me, may just seem like a sweet moment. But behind my smile was sorrow. I had just returned from the hospital where I had a DNC for the baby that I miscarried. It reminds me of the ultrasounds, the tests, the bad news, and telling the kids.

The Cool Aunt

   This picture on the other hand brings laughter. It reminds me of Emily’s junior year in high school when I took her and her best friend to Florida. On the way back, our car broke down. My nephew and his friends happened to be in Florida at the same time. He was about an hour behind us. When he came by he picked us up. He had room for five, but there were seven total. So, two boys volunteered to ride in the back of the truck, under the cover with the luggage. My nephew was driving, Emily and Anna sat in the front passenger side sharing the seat. I sat in the back with two teenage boys. To save gas, he drove with the windows down. My hair was covering my face from the wind. The one type of music I despise is rap. I had to listen to it from Florida all the way to Atlanta! I was really feeling my age. But I smiled when they said I was the “cool” aunt because I didn’t make them turn it off.

Halloween Memories

   Today was October 31. I have many pictures of past Halloweens. This year Tucker was a lion, and from the picture you can tell he wasn’t feeling so well. My brother Keith was with us when we went trick or treating. Tucker’s hot costume wasn’t helping any and making him feel worse. So my brother jumped out of the van and began “trick or treating” for soda crackers to soothe Tucker’s tummy. That’s also the year that the first house we visited, “Dracula” answered the door and Travis was so scared he wouldn’t get out of the car again. My nephew, Justin had to collect candy for him.

   Last Christmas I was trying to think of what to get Mamaw, who was 96 and surely didn’t need another robe. I decided to sneak an old picture and have it restored and framed for her. Rather than getting a studio type picture, I chose the one of Papaw and her sitting on the hood of his truck. He had passed away over twenty years ago. In the picture they were in their teens and full of life. As her wrinkled, arthritic hands unwrapped the gift, her eyes filled with tears. She said, “Oh, this isn’t a picture, it’s a memory,” and she proceeded to tell every detail about that day.    –Donna

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Hope: Everyone Pitching In -By Karla

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September 2017

  •  Many families mourned for their loved ones lost on that horrible day 16 years ago.
  • Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc in Florida and surrounding islands and states.

     Some weeks seem like there is a flood of tragedies. Thankfully, we have our national guards, our police and sheriffs’ departments, our firemen, and EMT’s. Don’t forget our power company workers; they often go unrecognized for their sacrifices. But, when emergencies occur…they are there.

Uniquely Designed

     I believe God equips each person with particular talents, and when we use these gifts for His glory, our world is a better place. Numerous people volunteer their time to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and organizations like Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief.

     Help reaches others in the specific ways needed . Supportive and honest insurance company employees often go far beyond the call of duty. Doctors and nurses give extra hours.

A Family Example

     As the reports of Irma’s power was building in the Atlantic last week, Aunt Laurie from California called me asking if her friends from Tampa could stay with me if needed. Not having a clue who they were prior to her phone call, I still readily embraced the possible opportunity, including the statement that they had a place as long as they needed. I know I was among thousands who got a phone call similar to that request.

The southern old-fashion ways of taking care of others seemed to resurface and kick into overdrive. I noticed this kindness was on a large scale too.

Businesses Rallied 

     Six million people were asked to evacuate Florida. Moreover, schools, churches, and campgrounds were opened. Thus, Working together some solutions developed for the millions needing shelter. One media source stated that the state of Georgia opened their homes to strangers, who had traveled long hours to find hotels with no vacancies. The Atlanta Motor Speedway opened its doors for people to seek refugee.

     A veterinarian in Atlanta sent emails, offering to board pets–fee of charge; an equestrian center in Alpharetta gave a shout out to house up to 150 horses for free.

     Our Braves wanted to help, donating free tickets to residents of Florida, who have had to evacuate here to take their mind off their worries.

Media Showed the Good

      Even the media! I notice the news focus on some very sweet pictures. One showed two rescue workers carrying an eighty-year-old from her house in her chair, and I saw a hug exchanged between another emergency worker and a young child.  Among the madness that was happening, someone from the media paused to record a volunteer pick up an American flag that had blown from a house and was washing down the street.  The man held it up, and its stripes waved in the winds.

Hope

     With all the yesterday’s sadness, we have hope. God gives us that.  In return, He wants us to share His love and hope with others around us in need. There are many days that I shake my head at how far we have drifted as a nation, but yesterday was not one of them.

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Clutter: Let It Go -By Donna

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Lately, I have had to let go of a lot of things. Some bigger than others; some easier than others. I am moving into a new chapter in life and with it comes a physical move. As I have boxed up items, I have attempted to also clean out. I consider myself a sentimental gal. I have things that many people would hold on to like my mama’s bible, or my grandmother’s apron, or special Christmas ornaments.

But I also found things that I’m not sure most people would keep. I have a paper plate from each of my three children’s first birthday parties, Simba, Barney, and Winnie the Pooh. I have my retainer that I wore in middle school. I never wore braces, or I probably would have kept them too like Karla did. The button from my college years that reads, “member of the vanishing wisdom teeth club” is still in my possession. I love keeping things from the past.

After being at my daddy’s house recently and visiting the basement and his workshop, I thought to myself, when something happens to my daddy, how will we ever go through all this. My parents built the house in 1966. Fifty-one years of “stuff” has accumulated.

Let it Go

I decided I didn’t need to hoard as much and some things needed to go. After mama passed away, I was given some of her stuff. I slowly realized, that maybe I didn’t really need to keep things like her favorite gown. So over the past years, I have managed to depart with some things. I chunked her makeup, and several years later I even disposed of bandanas she wore when she lost her hair.

But then came…. Well, let me back up…

After mama passed away in 2007, Karla and I were at Daddy’s house going through her belongings. I was collecting more possessions to bring back with me as keepsakes. My mama labeled everything. There was a Nike shoe box marked miscellaneous so I took it. A few days later, I decided to open it and see what to keep and what to toss. At the bottom of the box was a small white Tupperware container. It sloshed as I picked it up. As I opened the lid, I was shocked to see Mama’s false teeth! I took a picture and sent it to Karla, and we had a good laugh.

But, what to do with them?  I could not bear to toss them in the garbage. Call me crazy if you would like, but they were a “part” of her, and I just couldn’t. One relative, who shall remain nameless, offered to bury them at her grave. Instead, I shoved them in the back of a kitchen cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind. But I was comforted by keeping them and not throwing them out.

Ten Years Later

While packing up yesterday, ten and a half years later, there they were! I knew it would be silly to move them with me. My mama would have been laughing at the entire scenario and calling me crazy for keeping them.

Sometimes I just like someone to tell me what to do. I often text Karla and tell her what to say. It may be, “Text me and tell me I am doing the right thing.”  She always obliges, not even knowing the circumstances. Needing a little push, I sent her a message that said, “Text me and say, Donna it’s time. Just do it.”

She replied with, ‘Oh Donna!  It is time! Be Nike! Just do it!” As I read her reply, I tossed them in the trash as tears rolled down my face.

Memories vs. Stuff

Memories and stuff are not the same. Memories are encoded in your brain not in the item. I don’t have to see Grandmother’s apron to picture her standing in the kitchen by the sink humming. An item triggers a memory that is already filed in one’s mind.

I have decided to let some items go, but keep them in another way. I will take a photo of them and on the back, write something about it. This would benefit my grandchildren or great grandchildren who might pull out strange items from a box, wondering whose they were or why they were kept. So as Queen Elsa would sing, “Let it Go, Let it Go!”

Will I get rid of everything? When H-E-double hockey sticks freezes over! Somethings I will never part with like my dead dog’s collar! And that’s ok.

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Reunion: Second Sunday in August -By Karla

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I have always thought our family was normal, but the older I get the more I sense a bit of abnormality. Usually there a negative connotation with this word, but not in our case. We are a rare breed in context with our close-knit kinship and our number of gatherings. For generations, we have assembled for Thanksgivings, Christmases, Easters, the fourth Sunday in June (Off the side of Loving Road), the second Sunday in August, and the third Sunday in August. These days are cherished moments of life.

My Childhood Churches

Growing up, I attended two churches. One was First Baptist of McCaysville/Copperhill with my sisters, mom, and dad. New Hope, also known as Flinthill, was my church on weekends when I stayed with Nana.  The second Sunday in August is the decoration at New Hope Baptist Church in Morganton, Georgia. On this day, we gather for service and eat on the grounds. But first, we adorn the cemetery with flowers to honor our loved ones, who have passed before us. This church holds dear memories for me.

I have always adored listening to the guitars and banjo that grace New Hope church. While we sang the old hymns, Gerald Heaton always amazed me! Even when he was in his 80’s, he seemed to pluck his banjo with as much vibrancy as he did when I was a kid! I thought of how I used to sit with Nana in the choir as she sang in my little ear and I tried to follow along.

Keeping Me Occupied

Looking around in the pine-paneled church, the memories flooded my mind. I can vividly remember as a little girl getting restless during the preaching. Nana would play “put your fingers in my palm, and I will try to catch it” until I would get too rowdy. Then she would pull out the maroon, vinyl, picture pouch to settle me. I love family pictures! I’d sift through the photos smiling, giggling, and pointing until Nana would have to pat my leg and shhh me. Finally, she would exchange the pouch for a baggie of cookies–always two large ones. Those were joyous days!

     The Lord’s Supper

I gave my life to Christ when I was eleven, and I was baptized at First Baptist Church of McCaysville/Copperhill in April of 1979. Granddaddy had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I can remember being excited and felt so proud to take part in communion. At times, his hands shook badly, which had caused him and issue or two trying hold his “juice cup”. Nana and Granddaddy did not sit together in church, which was quite common for older people in country churches. When I was at New Hope, Nana would softly nudge me during communion. This is my signal to slip out of the pew we sat in, and move across the isle to sit beside him. Even as an early teenager, I was aware of how his pride must have been hurt because he could not to hold his cup. At the same time, this little job made me feel like it was an honor to hold such a special cup for such a special man.

   Amazing Grace 

Most every Sunday, at the end of the service, the congregation would slip out of their rows and walk around the church hugging and shaking hands as we sang “Amazing Grace”. I loved how the members in the church seemed like one big family that loved each other so.

VBS

In my youth years, our Sunday school and VBS classes were small at New Hope, but they were not lacking in Biblical teaching. My Aunt Anna seemed to always be our teacher, now matter our age. We always had such fun! My cousin Stacey, cousin Jimmy, my friend Carlton, and I so enjoyed singing “Just a Little Talk with Jesus”.  Once we insisted on signing “I Come to the Garden Alone“.  Stacey and Carlton had such beautiful voices. Though, at times Carlton’s voice would waiver due to puberty.  We were being so serious and probably thought the angels were smiling at our harmonies until Carlton’s voice cracked! When he got to the word “alone”, his voice shrilled about an octave higher! To this day, I have a hard time getting through the song without bursting out in laughter.

Flint Hill  Founders 

Homer Turner

How would the founders of this little church, established in 1869, have known what it would mean to a little girl named Karla? How could they know that I am thankful it was rebuilt after three different fires? Could Uncle Homer, Donna’s grandfather, have known how important his land donation was for the last rebuilding of the church.

I am grateful for years when it was common for 30-40 people to be baptized in a nearby river. Many of those are my relatives. I am so glad that a man named Leeander Turner decided to honor his wife, who is buried at New Hope, by putting flowers on her grave in the late 1800’s. Because of his actions, many churches began to set aside a day each year to honor their loved ones, which was the beginning of church decorations and homecomings in the Blue Ridge area.

The congregation of Flint Hill has influenced others for generations. Rarely, do we realize how often we affect other people. God has planned for every person to do his part, helping others to see His glory.

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Sisters: Adopted In -By Donna

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According to the internet, the first Sunday in August is National Sisters Day! Many of my friends and cousins had sisters, but I was the only girl in the middle of two brothers.  (You can read more about that in the blog, Brotherly Love, located in the February Archives.)

Growing up, I never longed for a sister. I believe it was for several reasons. When I was very young, my little brother played everything a sister would have from Barbie dolls to house. As a teenager, my cousin Lisa spent most of the summer at my home, so I had a temporary sister. In addition, two weeks out of the summer Karla and I stayed together.  Obviously, when I went off to college, I had my fill of females in my dorm. Who needs a sister?

Mama

When I lost my mama in February 2007, I realized the reason I never yearned for a sister was because she was that “sister” figure in my life. She was my confidant, shopping buddy, shoulder to cry on, psychologist, and more. Mama was the one to call when there was an embarrassing question that I didn’t want to ask anyone else. She always had advice about my kids. She knew me inside and out. But when Mama died, despite my close cousins and friends, I felt a gaping hole. 

Karla was always there for me, above and beyond, but over the course of the year, after Mama’s passing, I really became aware of what it meant to have a sister. I had watched it from afar. I saw Karla, who had lost her mother a few years prior, and her three sisters.  During the months and years after their mom died, she always had her sisters checking on her, helping her, loving her, and grieving with her. Over the years, Karla had become the sister I never had. But, wow she had three. When one couldn’t be there, another stepped in. My brothers are wonderful and would do anything for me, but there are things that boys just don’t understand. Now that mama was gone, I realized how special a sister was. 

Sisters

One day, I expressed my feelings to Karla about how lucky she was to have sisters. I believe it was the next day that I received a text from Lynn, Karla’s oldest sister and the Matriarch of our generation. It stated that I was now a sister to them. I smiled at the gesture and knew Karla had shared with them my thoughts, but didn’t really think a lot about it. But over time, I came to realize it was not just a “gesture”. I began to be included in group texts between the sisters. They began treating me as if I was one of them. And the thing that melted my heart was that all of their children began calling me “Aunt Donna”.

I was not fortunate enough to have a birth sister, but God has blessed me with multiple sisters, and I didn’t even have to share my clothes with them growing up! But as you can see from the picture, mine probably would have been a little too short for them.

 

 

 

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Relaxation: Not Your Normal R & R. -By Karla

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It is rare when one can say they have been on vacation (five states in ten days) with two Rachel Elizabeth’s! One Rachel is my youngest daughter, and the other is her best friend, who I call my fourth daughter.

If I was making a commercial, I could list the individual ways we spent money: airfare, rental car, gas, hotels, and food.

But instead, I choose to focus on the priceless parts of our trip. The longer I live, the more I have learned to appreciate the senses God gave us.

Gift of Sight

     I etched some visions from this trip into my heart. I had the pleasure of watching my “fourth daughter’s” face light up,  seeing the beauty of the west coast. Her enthusiasm of seeing the Golden Gate Bridge stretch over the bay was precious. Driving up Hwy. 1, which weaves along the coast, we watched the waves crash into the rocky terrain. We talked about God’s power. His might was also seen in the enormous redwood trees! One of my Rachel’s most cherished sites was seeing her Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Bill’s enthusiasm when they greeted her. She seemed to be making mental photographs of her grandparents, knowing it will be a while before she saw them again.

     Perhaps, the most precious site on our whirl–wind trip was our amazement as Great-Grandma Mona, who is 93. On afternoon she slid into the floor for my Rachel to play with her hair. Then she practically jumped up out of the floor!

Scents

Refreshing smells of salt in the ocean and sweet perfume made me smile over the past ten days. The odor of urine, from the mass of homeless people on the streets of downtown Portland, made us so grateful for our blessings.

Scrumdiddlyumptious 

Ah, the food that our mouths inhaled! I savored clam chowder on the pier in San Francisco. We ate burgers cooked by my sister-in-law outside Sacramento. Then in Oregon we devoured meatballs made by a beloved cousin and the barbecued tuna grilled at my brother and sister-in-law. Finally, there was a specialness in the taste of Applebee’s chips and dips simply because we had driven 20 extra miles to cross the state line and spend the night in Vancouver, Washington.

Tantalizing Touch

     God seems to think of everything; how remarkable is our sense of touch? In California, I held Grandma’s sweet, worn-out leathery hands. Her hug embraced me, reassuring me that one time or distance would change the love she had for me. Later in Sacramento and in Portland, we sensed the uncertainty of a few double-decker and draw bridges as we tightly. We had the pleasure of feeling a cool breeze by the coasts, and for this menopausal women, it was even more of a treat! Along with some of windy moments, we felt the warmth of smooth sand on our feet as the three of us sat with my in-laws enjoying some sweet stories with each other. And, there was the feeling of a tear or two that trickled down my face as we left each relative’s residence.

The Sounds of this Season of Life

Many of the adults I have adored over the years now need help with their hearing. The most blessed sounds I heard on the trip were the sweet caregivers at the assisted living home where Grandma Mona and Grandpa Jack lived. “Good morning, Jack, I brought in your medicine,” or the joyful, young lady who greeted us at breakfast, “Mona, what could I get you for breakfast this morning?”

The sound of laughter accompanied the three of us as we rode from city to city was priceless. “Hey, Mom, I think this is your lake up ahead. It’s named Loon Lake!”

     The Sense of Belonging

Rachel and Rachel were troopers, having to hang out with a 50 year old on this trip. I know I am blessed; they made me feel a little more carefree and young again. I believe I did ok, hanging with them, until I accidently called the rapper Tupac, “Toepac”!

Visiting with relatives, who could have allowed life to separate us, rewarded me with some of the most precious gifts of all time.

Over the past ten days, R & R took on a whole new meaning! And I have the selfies to prove it!

-Karla

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Fiftieth Birthday: Hawaii Five-O. -By Karla

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The Reason for the Travels 

Our blog, Smorgasbord of Sisterhood, is centered on faith, family, and laughter. For this special 50th birthday, I received a trip that embraced all three. I love lying on a float in the ocean! This trip we may not have been in Hawaii, but my 5-0 birthday brought us to the beach.

Sisters, cousins, and an aunt accompanied me to Florida. I do believe our laughter might have been heard all the way back in Georgia. Some names have been changed to dashes (-) to protect the innocent (or guilty).

Spotted before We Realized

On the way down, Donna and I spotted an aunt who was driving alone. We came up with this great plan, which amused us! Donna was going to put the pedal to the metal, catch up, and strategically pull parallel with her at nearest red light. My job was then to hang out the window waving my arms frantically yelling at her. We did catch up and tailed her, waiting on the opportunity. But being the human jukeboxes we are, when an old favorite came on we got distracted.  While sitting in a turning lane, we were singing and videoing ourselves, as she spotted us, got out of her car, and came back to give us a hug, surprising us!

Games and Laughter

Four out of the six nights we played board games; one of my favorite things to do. Ranging in ages from forty-nine to seventy-six, games can be quite interesting. One game required us to pick from a multiple choice list of different things that best described us while the other players try to guess “who you are”. This is when we learned that one cousin considers herself apathetic. Now, that was like wearing a target for the rest of the trip! Anytime there was a choice to be made someone would shout out, “Well, — doesn’t care!”

Another game was somewhat like Pictionary. One contestant felt so successful when her teammate guessed her drawing to be an action. Sadly, her bubble was quickly burst when we told her the word “action” was just the hint not the word to be guessed!

Fatty Wad Ryder

Later in the week, one player stated, “Well, I’m just sucking hind ***” because she was in last place. This caused someone to almost spit out her water she had just gulped! Turns out, that is a farm saying for what happens often to the little runt. Sometime during the games, we heard of a story from “the good old days” in which a cousin’s best friend’s brother was named Fatty Wad Ryder. I lie you not! I cannot make that one up!  

“Well, it’s true! I don’t even know his real name. His parents and teachers even called him Fatty Wad.” She pronounced. I am still laughing over that one, and might be at my 100th birthday party!

One night between a round of the game, I received some birthday cards. As one cousin handed me my card, she announced, “Here you go. It’s a funny one. I didn’t sign it in case you want to reuse it!”

Only a Few Arguments 

We had such a blast. With almost no arguing, except every time we got in the van! Two of the eight attendees have back problems. They were constantly arguing about who was not going to take the front seat because the other one needed it more. It even came to a few “friendly” shoves!

A feud occurred over who would pay for the pizzas. One cousin had declared she would pay for it, and laid her debit card out. Donna and I volunteered to go pick it up. Walking out the door, I said, “Oh, I forgot –‘s debit card.”

Donna whispered, “It’s my turn to pay for something. Don’t get it.! Go and shh!”  When we were almost out the door, — yelled, you forgot my card.”

Donna tried to push me on out the door, “Pretend you didn’t hear her.”

“I can’t lie.”  I trudged over and got it. Donna thought she had the last laugh and paid the $20 at the counter. Upon leaving the beach, the aunt gave Donna a card (whose birthday happens to also be in July). Inside, yep!  You guessed it. There was a $20 bill.

Our family loves to eat! We enjoyed several meals and lots of ice-cream. There would be no arguments over extra ice-cream because — not only ate her’s every night, but the leftovers of everyone else too! “Don’t throw that away!  I’ll eat it!”

Beach Time

At the beach, the fun continued. The ocean is not on the top ten list of favorites among some of our family. One of these cousins was being oh-so-brave as we coaxed her out further and further. I stated, “You know, I am pretty proud of you being out here.”  Her reply, “Yeah, I’m pretty proud of myself too!” Donna and I were careful not to discuss the helicopters that were flying back and forth over the water and what they might be looking for.

Our family is so awesome. to care for one another. One night, Donna and I were taking the trash to the dumpster. We detoured to swing a while on the kid’s swing set. An aunt met us at the door when we got back. “Y’all been gone for a long time. I was not going to bed until you got back!”

One of the bad “back” ladies was in the ocean. After a while she tired and another cousin treaded back with her to the beach. I looked up from my float to see them holding hands. Taking care of each other is what we do. At meal times, we all held hands saying grace and thanking God for our safety, our families, and birthdays!

-Karla (Who will withhold the names of the innocent because what happened in Panama City Beach stays in Panama City Beach, except the memories!)

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Freedom: All Aboard – By Donna

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 All Aboard

In 1918, Homer B. Turner boarded the train with his ticket in hand. However, he did not know the tickets included. It may have included the loss of an arm or leg, blindness, hunger, disease, or other war related tragedy. He and all the men aboard headed straight into WW1 not knowing if their ticket was “one-way”, not allowing them to return home. However, they valued the right to fight for themselves and future generations to come.

Celebration

Not long into the ride, things changed. Suddenly, the smoke from the stack blew high in the air as the train’s wheels screeched to a slowing stop. Homer could hear voices shouting and guns shooting. “The war is over! The war is over!” Certainly, thankfulness was a first thought. How lucky he was for his train became a freedom train. The day he boarded was the day he got off. Homer went on to marry, be a teacher, and raise five children one of which is my daddy. 

Freedom at a Cost

Freedom isn’t free. Today, July 4, we celebrate our nation’s independence. Our tickets to freedom came at a price. Unfortunately, the price is sometimes paid personally. Other times it is a family member, friend, or a total stranger who has paid the price for us. It is estimated that the total number of Americans killed in all United States wars total more than 1.1 million! This number does not include civilians who died from war-related disease and famine. Today many are still paying the price with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical losses.

July 4th

Growing up we celebrated Independence Day with tons of family and fun. We swam, cooked out, ate homemade peach ice-cream, and lit sparklers! Some of my favorite memories are of this holiday. I remember the year that Granddaddy Homer, who was late in age, decided to get in the pool. He walked in wearing his shoes. We all got very tickled. I’m glad his train stopped, and he was able to influence several generations. Not all were lucky. In 2016, Americans purchased 268 million pounds of fireworks and 150 million hotdogs for the special day. Don’t let today be only about food and fun. Remember those who fought to make that day in 1776 possible and those who continue to fight for freedom.

–Donna

 

 

 

 

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