Creepers con't

So I cannot tell you when or how they finally met,but Mom and Sharon did. Sharon was the said Mother of our new friendly neighbor Brett. From the very moment they met they were inseparable. Now Mom never drove. She attempted to learn, Dad attempted to teach her and all I remember is sitting in the back seat on the pleather seat, no seat belt on cause it was the 70's and hearing them yell and scream at each other. It was quite terrifying. That meant she needed to bum a ride if at all possible, because Dads work/sleep schedule was always a problem.

So thanks to an instant friendship, Miss Sharon was her normal tag a long ride. We were children...the oldest being Todd, me, Rissa and Brett. Most times we were there as well. Miss Sharon was kind, gentle, sweet, stern and particular and I loved every aspect of her. She was raising boys in the 70's, her husband Mr. Tommy was starting his own heating and cooling business and they were living the southern dream.

Miss Sharon was good for Mom. She kept her active and busy. There were many trips in the backseat to the Piggly Wiggly, drug store runs and afternoons of gabbing women in the front seat and the sultry warm air blowing my mess of long stringy blonde hair. I remember a lot of it. Raining afternoons on the carport, chasing each other through the off limits woods out back. Swimming in the deep portion of the creek that ran through those woods. Those woods is where I saw my first nudey magazine. And I was ashamed for the ladies that allowed someone to take their nudey pictures. Chasing fireflies, riding our bikes for hours, and coming up with ways to torture our younger siblings.

I remember how particular Miss Sharon was. Actually, every time I run the vacuum, I intentionally make sure my vacuum lines are even straight and that I leave no foot prints in the pile. She would probably deny that I knew this and may actually own up to it. The kind, sweet southern woman only yelled at me once and it was for tearing through the family room barefoot right after she vacuumed. And it seemed to me she was ALWAYS vacuuming it. Here I am,closer to 50 than 45 years of age and Miss Sharon vacuums with me every time.

Mr. Tommy's business took off, and they moved up, bought a real nice big brick home in a fancy southern neighborhood. That house had a cool parking area out back and there was a converted garage that was the coolest hang out for us kids. I was younger but i distinctly remember prancing around that room my sundress twirling and singing along with Karen Carpenter...being "On Top of the World" simply because I was in the presence of the absolutely wonderfully kind and handsome Todd. It makes me giggle now. He would sit and brush my hair for hours, he took a real sweet kind liking to me, I was like a sister to him, he was all that to me. (And I kept it a secret all these years!)

They, the Burkett's were such a positive part of our southern exposure. We were welcomed, like family and when they moved our parents kept in touch and after we moved West Virginia, Miss Sharon and Mom kept in touch. They would write and talk, keeping tabs on each other. Checking on the kids and each other. The daily relationship was one I know my Mom missed often and Dad and I always manage to talk about Seton Drive...it was the first home he bought!

 

People creep into your life when your not watching.....(short series)

Have you ever stopped and thought about the people in your life? You know the ones who have always been there, the ones who creep in and march out, the ones you keep in your thoughts, prayers and wonder how life gets so busy and you lose touch?

This evening it happened. One of those that was always in the back of my mind, showed up. Actually 2 of them did. I'll start with the first. There is so much to tell, I'm going to do an ongoing series. 

Part One-

Like any normal day I was scanning through Facebook, the social network and I happened upon a name I remembered liking a post of an old childhood friend. Todd and I have been Facebook friends for years, seeing my childhood crush all grown up, handsome as ever, living his life with his partner in my childhood home of Columbia. Yes, I have perused through all of his pictures many times, made comments on his posts and smiled when he liked or commented one of my posts. Suddenly, out of nowhere appeared his Mother, Sharon! Miss Sharon, and yes, I call all Momma's Miss....it's a southern bi-law.

Immediately, I friended her. My memories of her are what shaped me.

 I remember the day my parents moved us into our new home on Seton Drive like it was yesterday....boxes piled everywhere, the southern sun shining in all the curtainless windows and me scarfing down a pop tart staring out the sliding glass down. I was giddy with anticipation. What would that vast outdoors have for me? I was ready to explore, and the pine trees were whispering my name in the breeze. Slowly, methodically a small little boy (I say small because he was smaller than my gangly 5 year old body) wandered onto our patio. He wore cut off jean shorts and a red and blue striped t-shirt, no shoes and a sweet sun kissed smile. He raised his hands, cupping them around his eyes and peered in the stationary door. I watched, but never said a word.

My mom spun around to check on my progress, breaking from her cabinet organization project and she caught a glimpse of him. This little fella stood fast, didn't flinch and looked her dead in the eyes. She moved over to the screen, as she slid it open, she said "Well, Hello there, sir. Who might you be?"

Taking a step back he stood up tall, shoving his hands behind his back and proudly said, "Braaaaaattttt!" I saw my mother smile, chuckle even just a little. She repeated, "Brat?" "No," he said, "It's Brrrraaaaatttt." He was smiling and glanced my way. I myself was giggling, ready to drop on the floor and laugh. But, that would be rude. So I sat there quietly giggling.

The two of them exchange the name another 3-4 times, and then he seemed satisfied that she was calling him brat. She introduced us, asked him where he came from and he politely told us his whole history and that he lived one house away. "Come by anytime." He said is as if he was the owner, and then he looked at me, tilted his head and screamed goodbye as he ran his little legs home.

Afternoons of bliss....

                              

Barefoot with the sun shining on my freckled nose, I have found is one of my happy places. This new house has a pretty little backyard that came with some huge terra cotta pots that Trenton filled with Marigolds. I wasn't a big fan of marigolds, but these little golden and orange boogers LOVE the pots. Every single day I'm out there, barefoot with the sun on my nose deadheading them and they just keep on blooming!

Seems he knew better! Even his window box on the play equipment is thriving! 

                

Move to the front and oh my....the ROSES! I never thought I'd be able to keep them alive, but, I am and they have been trimmed and pruned to half the size they were when we moved in. My thoughts were if they die....I can replace them. HA-the jokes on me, look at them!

  

All the other flowers seem to be thriving too....my green thumb, some miracle grow and a little help from Mother Nature must be working together just right.

                                                   

 

   My Dianthus are spectacular,  the Phlox are tall and regal, even the Clemitis has grown leaps and bounds. My fingernails must be scrubbed daily, I'm getting my daily dose of dirt, Vitamin D and fresh air.

 

    

                                                          

Mother Nature provided me with a hornets nest, tucked up far in the Holly Tree, and they keep to themselves, but are helping with my flowers.

 

What on earth am I going to do this winter? How will I fill my afternoons? Probably in front of the sewing machine...because I have a fabric stash I'm dying to use and one new granddaughter here and a grandson coming in November!

                                 

 

I've snapped!

Yes, it's true. I have snapped! Actually I did it years ago! Being the oldest in the family,I have been the keeper as well. Keeper of keepsakes, keeper of memories, keeper of secrets and keeper of hearts. Tucked away in my dining room is my mother's cedar chest. Inside there are many things. My grandmothers majorette uniform and baton. My mother kept an outfit from each grandchild and even keepsakes of me and my 2 sisters childhoods.

Honestly, I have added to it. There is newspaper articles and Chelsea's Air Force uniform as well as a ton of pictures. My memories come from smells and sights that instantly transport me back in time, that cedar chest is like my very own Deloriian! 

To keep everything would be impossible, so I have constantly kept a visual album of memories.

The kids with the Great Grandmother Bulter!

The day I talked Dory into driving thru water...EPIC FAIL!

Buddies since day one!

My goofy husband checking out the tidal creek at Uncle Bubba's in Georgia!

The day our Princess Airman graduated from Basic Training!

There are soo many more tucked away on a hard drive. I'm thinking I need to drag it out and find a few to blog about. Things like grand children's first real I know what it is, Christmas, and graduations, class trips, nursing work stories, first cars, proms,  family Thanksgiving announcements, which we can do without for a while. There are soo many memories I captured and are keeping for my children and their children's children.

Snapping isn't such a bad thing, after all!

Ending adventures

                See those blue eyes? I simply love them...they belong to our first grandchild, Trenton. We have shared custody of him and when he's here I have to remind Poppaw that we have to guide him through life, not spoil him so much. It's hard for both of us.

He came for our 2 week summer break visit and we planned it during all the family visits so he could make memories to. I'm pretty sure he did....

He passed ball with his Great Grand Poppy.

He and Emma were out by 9:15 every night....cause they were tired!

He ate too much,

he laughed too loud.    

             

and as the last day came slamming at us we decided we need an all Trenton Adventure Day.

We started out early...he had a great day, we all wished it hadn't ended so soon. Here are the snaps from our GRAND ADVENTURE!!!

It started with piggies cakes at Bob's

Then off the Camden Park! Where he rode the rides...

       

                 

YES...We kept our eyes open!! My first time in 40 years!

                           

This one was BORING! But the train was cool.

           

             

We giggled at the pay toilets! Then we left & went to a cool little ice cream place!

And the final destination was his FAVORITE! He got a little something to remember it all by.

 

                    

It was a Grand Adventure for Trenton to end our summer vacation. Not to shabby, kinda cool and most of all it was packed full of memories! I guess he is ready for first grade now!

A daily walk

                                              

Exactly five minutes after David turns in for the night, she begins. Staring, whining and nudging me, every single night. I like to tell myself it is for her, not me. But honestly, it's for both of us. It doesn't matter how tired we are, we ALWAYS go. Emma and Mom out alone together. I use the time to clear my head and most of the times she sniffs, meanders and lolly gags, no matter, I'm recharging.

The hours before she fills her belly and gets a long hard nap. Preparing for our one mile trek. Her internal clock keeps perfect time. It always knows when it's 9:00pm, whether David is here or out of town.

We have always done this. It was really helpful during her puppy years, because it got that extra burst of energy out of her. Rain or shine, snow and bitter sub zero temperatures do not phase her. She needs her walk and looks forward to it. Truthfully, so do I.

As darkness falls around our quiet little cape cod, me & Emma are off to enjoy our walk.

Smiles, tradition and memories.

             

Well, here we are! Don't we look pleasant, peaceful, happy and loving? The mini reunion has ended :( the visit is over, the parking dilemma is done. I'm pretty sure the kids made a lot of good memories, the big kids and little ones to. We didn't rent a beach house, we didn't scamper off to a private cabin in the woods, we went old school and piled up at the Philyaw & Milam home and it was just what we needed. 

                  

Aunt Judy left for Greenbrier county this afternoon...

It was very good to see her. We missed Uncle Gene, terribly and look forward to his fall arrival. I hope she knows how much we love her and that we appreciate her stepping I to the ma/grandma role for us all.

Rissa and the kiddo's will head out towards home in the morning to South Carolina and Dad claims he is driving back to Virginia as well. It is gonna be very quiet here.....

                         

     

                            

They might seem crazy, but they're my family, the only one I have and I love them ALL dearly!!