Ordinary Life

2.28.98 T.M.D.

"I" is for interracial, but that can be a cold and technical word, so rather let's think Ebony & Ivory . . . And I'm not talking about " I have a dream " or " Black History Month " though I could and probably should be. Instead, I am thinking of some friends that have chosen to be an interracial family. I think what is important for you to know about them is that they have truly chosen it. Having been planted on the fields of adoption by their Almighty, they could have picked eyes the same color as theirs, noses the same shape. They could have chosen a child whose skin proclaimed "I belong to this family, I always have" But, they chose second glances and hushed whispers, questions about adoption from well meaning (and sometimes not) strangers; they chose to be an open book. Let me take you to my first memory of "Dee". After an evening of Let's Get Acquainted games in the Upper Room , we were going to be roomies . I ...

s t o o d UP LET d o w n what's another time

LADIES IN THE STORE : "What's your name little boy?" 4 YR OLD : "Fishuh" BIG SISTER: "Momma, Fisher's talking to strangers." ME: "Fisher, you shouldn't talk to strangers." 4 YR OLD: " They not stranguhs! They humans."

"H" is for Holiday Inn . But not any of the ones you find today. No, I am talking about a hotel of a different era; the ones that used to have this sign out front: The one that got most of my company was in Waycross, GA ( it was probably the only hotel in town if I were to do some research). Staying at this particular Holiday Inn as a child meant two things especially important for me: The TrikeARound(?) Three small tricycles, welded together in a " merry go round " of sorts, ( akin to this, but smaller ), located in a small playground area on the side of the hotel: and MAGIC FINGERS Coin fed "earthquake in a bed" contraption, now sadly absent from motels everywhere. The only time dad was excused from nightly "burp & lullabye" duties was thanks to one of these little machines. No, he didn't BURP a lullabye, he "burped" ME until I was well into my 30's and was oft times required to sing, usually Away in a Manger, regardles...

"G" is for Garrison Keillor. This is my ticket to spend the evening with him. Yay! (now if I can just find a babysitter...)

"F" is for Fernandina . (one of my most favorite places of all to be) Fernandina  is one of those places that is a part of me, and I a part of it.  My Granny has a lot to do with this, and so does that Pirate up there   (I've named him Ferdinand-isn't that clever?!)   One of the Pippi Longstocking movies was filmed there, but no one told me that. (why yes, that is a braggadocious tone I have) I was watching the movie one day a couple years back (of course, with the kids!) and I thought " That square sure does look familiar." The more I saw it the more I became convinced that it just had to be Fernandina, so after the movie I looked it up (Google is like an audible God) and wouldn't you know I AM always right (just like I try to tell folks...) The best part of all is, Pippi's house is for sale . A real life captain's house, used in an actual movie, complete with roller skating horse--IN FERNANDINA- the place my soul loves to be (of course I w...

"E" is for epitaph . It has been two years since March 1st and they need it for his headstone. I was up til 5 AM, coming up with very little. Things to consider: he was an auto upholsterer an addict a father the baby brother my uncle he lived a rough life had a rough father he loved nascar he meant well was "backwards" and "converted" his last trip was to the ocean they played "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)" at his funeral he would have preferred HANK or CASH No suggestions - just words as i meandered through his memory:  Peace flew from these earthen hands Washing up on Heaven's sands I found it in Eternity My pain erased, my soul set free & One Day, Heaven to Earth did bend "My child, the Throne we need you mend" So needle in hand, from Earth he did fly to stuff God's chair with clouds from the sky & Father, Son, Youngest Brother took our kisses up to mother Other People's Words: "He ain't heavy, he's ...

"D" is for documentary. A&E, Discovery, NGC, Biography, BBC- Reality. Recently: Interview with The Iceman Cults and Jim Jones Supervolcanoes & Lavaflows THE FIRST 48 Moonshine

On one of the "soap operas" that prince charming and I watch on a routine basis (ie; we schedule sock matching in front of the t.v. according to the show 's schedule) it is customary to declare "Hello, Jimmy!" when one spots a pretty gal. I haven't spotted any chics I dig (and don't hold your breath) but I have found a new love and his name is Jimmie . Yeah, yeah- I know, he's not really a new act, but like my first car, he's new to me. It's too complicated to explain the how and why-- I am not even sure if the original attraction is a valid fact, but whether it is or ain't- I've decided to keep him (at least until a new love comes along- then he can hop in the backseat with the rest) Dismuke looks to be a worthy enabler of this new found tryst, (and possible future matchmaker) Click over if you're so inclined, and be sure to check out the radio while you're there.

"C" is for: Chocolate (i'll take mine dark, please) Children ( i have 3) Church (i grew up in the shadow of the steeple) Collar Cutting (recent tee shirt massacre) Clearance racks (of any sort, really) {see: SHEETS } Cookies good enough for me "....oh cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C" -cookie monster

...turns out that satin sheets are very much like thong underwear---sexy to look at but not all that comfortable for the long haul... Momma, if you are reading this, I'm just guessing about the underwear...

(For Eddie E) 

B "B" is for Bubba, not his real name, but the one he goes by. He and his buddy Roger became regular customers of mine, back when I was working nights at a local pharmacy (about a year ago). Then, with recognition, came the random sightings at grocery stores and the post office. When I quit working nights, it was Bubba who offered me a day job at the car lot with him. Recently, I ran into Bubba while grocery shopping. He was picking up some treats to take over to his ex-wife's place ( the one he complained didn't like boating thru the swamp or getting her hands dirty)-- they had recently decided to be friends ( I didn't ask for clarification) He asked if I was still married, as if that is one of those things that could change overnight. He seemed somewhat disappointed when I told him that I was. He told me that he and Roger were moving down to Florida to sell RV's and that if anything should ever change with my husband, or if I ever just needed an RV, that I s...

** Guest Review for " the FredBook guy" ** Many Savannah tourists find themselves at the end of a well trod path, waiting hours in line with other well intentioned folks to enter " Momma and Her Boys " southern eatery. (not the real name, cause here in the South, we don't slander our elders nor our local celebrities) Like knee socks with Bermuda shorts and a long lensed Canon about the neck, don't fall into this tourist trap. The line leads only to disappointment and mediocre food. If you came to rub shoulders with Miss Paula, head on over to Wilmington Island, where she is more readily found than in her restaurant. But, if what your hankering for is some good ol' southern cooking, follow me five blocks south to The Pirate's House on East Broad. From real life shanghais to underground rum running tunnels, there is a wealth of pirate legacy to be discovered at The Pirate's House, but the real treasure is the food. Famous in it's own right ...

A In my life, right now, "A" is for Alzheimer's Disease . My grandfather was diagnosed just after Christmas. We knew it was coming, or I should say we knew something was on the horizion, we just didn't know it's name until after Christmas. Before you can understand the gradual sifting away, you have to understand the man who is slowly leaving us. If it were you, who does not know him, instead of me, who does, it may have been funny to see that hearing device on his head, with it's large stereo-phones that went the way of the 8Track twenty years ago, and that not-quite-behind-the-ear-small-nor-so-subtle reciever sitting in his lap. To you he'd probably look like a little old man in really big headphones. To me, it was as if I had walked in on his nakedness. The General is a proud man, you see. If he were on a television sitcom, he'd be the old man behind the wheel, his reckless driving due to failing eyesight and dexterity; the laugh track would roll wh...

Those who have been taken captive are sometimes known to adopt the beliefs of their opressors; often declaring loyalty to them against all logic. And so, having been held captive in my own home for many years, subjected daily to hours of propoganda, you'll not be surprised to know that no longer is The Code simply repetitive programming to me. I have adopted it as a guide for future entries and see it as a foundation, given to me on which to build. Until I graduate to further plateaus of knowledge and inspiration, I will draw from **TLOT DAY method, as taught by The Big Guy himself. (this method has been called upon by such great works of literature as The Book of Psalms in the Holy Bible, so let's not mock Kelly, shall we?) **The Letter Of The Day