Music, nostalgia and glory days...

Today is Monday. It is a funk day for me. A day I usually spend catching up on something...laundry, phone calls, news, cleaning, and computer time. Which brings me to this post.

As I meandered around the internet today, I listened to my Playlist. The very one you listen to as you read my blog. I found myself in a deep nostalgic wave that engulfed my every thought. I began thinking about just how personal my music choices had been, not just a song I liked, but each one held a specific memory for me. I began pondering music and how it can quickly transport you to another time, another place in your life quicker than almost any other sense...at least for me anyway.

Each song was chosen very carefully, not on a whim, but a gut feeling that for some reason it had touched my life. Lets take an example...

"Smile on your Brother" by Buffalo Springfield. Not a shock to those of you that know me I was born in 1960. Turbulent times they were. The Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Women's Movement, Free Love, protesting....all part of my childhood. That song conjures up a lot of emotion for me. Oh, how I wished to be older then. Older so I could protest and march and stand up for something! I was too young to understand everything that it was about, but old enough to know it stirred a rebellious streak in me that I carried way in to the 70's. We were a generation of young people thrown into a mixing pot of 50's morality and 60's rebellion. Children that would eventually come of age in the 70's, known from then on as "latch-key" kids. Kids that came home to an empty house, because both parents were working, kids of divorce and kids that were hell bent on NOT raising their kids like we were raised. I am a product of the 60's no doubt and all of the baggage it carries with it.
Today, that song conjures up more than just a vision of hippies and war protesters and the need to rock the world...today, I see the Vietnam Vet's that suffered in that war and I am honored to know a few of them. I see their empty faces in photos upon their return and it makes me sad to know I was not old enough then to be more sympathetic or understanding to their plight. That song is important to me now because it is a reminder for me to always look at both sides, hard as it may be, not every cause is worth the pain of rebellion or worth my time and effort. Sure, bandwagons are made to hop on, but every once in a while, hop off and look at where it's going, where its been and better yet, who is riding with you. Then decide if it's worth the ride. One song. Hundreds of memories. Another...

"Please come to Boston"...Wow! Most people know it is right up there as a personal favorite. But, the memory it holds in reality is quite sad. It represents a chapter in my life that is linked directly to letting go of my "first love". Heartache and despair all wrapped up in one 3 minute song. The memory of that hurt is still painful to this day! I love the song though and it tugs at my heart every time I hear it.

"Tuesday's Gone". What can I say? Homecoming 1977. A fast car, a good friend, a misunderstanding that almost sent me to jail, but, kept the friend from going (his fast car). No jail, but he lost his parking permit for the rest of our Senior year. All of this happened the very day Lynyrd Skynard was in the plane crash that sadly took the lives of several band members. 96 Rock here in Atlanta played that song when they announced the crash. Three friends sat in the front seat of that black Monte Carlo listening to reports, and we knew, without a doubt, that Southern Rock would never be the same. Never has been.

I guess I could go on and on. In fact, I know I could. So, when you are listening to my Playlist...remember it really is my life in a way...put to music. Memories of happy times, sad times, changes, lost love, hurt in my young heart, love without end, my children, laughter and celebration. Bet you never thought about it like that? If you know me, one or more of these songs could have you and a special memory attached to it. If ya think so, let me know which one sparks your interest.

Have a wonderful day!

Sending Prayers

Yesterday I received a call from SQ. Now that may not seem odd, but Sunday afternoons are not usually a time for Ya-Ya talking. But, we are waiting on the call concerning the arrival of our tres petite Ya-Ya, so....I thought maybe this was the call. Instead, it was news concerning Scrabbles hubby and the impending heart cath that will be done this morning. Now, you must know this is certainly not his first time. I do believe he holds some kind of unofficial record for heart cath's at St. Joseph's. But, nonetheless, we worry. The first time this happened we all arrived at the ER at different times, storming in while demanding info about his condition...confusing the hospital staff as to which one was the "real" MRS. Poor guy they probably thought...with that many wives he needs a stay here! All kidding aside, we love him. He is a Ya-Ya Hubby and that means he has the love from all of us...24/7. This morning, as we all begin our day, we are sending our prayers, our happy thoughts and all of the positive white light we can muster to him and Scrabble. We love you two!

Meet my Dodger!

Well, I have promised this post for quite sometime and today I finally sat down and made the commitment. I really have been busy. On July 10th I did a photo shoot with a petite Ya-Ya (expectant daughter of Ya-Ya SQ)and her husband. My very first indoor maternity shoot! I took to the bed for a couple of days afterwards with the vapors. It was so stressful for me (most of it self inflicted), as it is one of life's little moments you do not have a chance to capture again if missed on the first try. But, it was such an honor for her to even ask me, knowing that I am NOT a professional. She trusted me, ME, with the chance to capture her moment in history and I was very touched by that. I thank them for giving me the chance to share in such an intimate and special time in their lives. It is my hope that they will allow me a future post with a couple of photos so you can see how I spent my day sweating profusely and praying that I was not over my head with a camera I call affectionately call "The Beast". Anyway, meshed along with the shoot, there has been a visit from my brother and his daughter, a baby shower, a quilt project, my middle daughter and her husband moved to a new home, and the delivery of a new fridge and dishwasher. So, there. I have been busy, not to mention the hours of editing photos. I now feel purged and confident you will accept my apologies for taking so long to introduce to you my soul mate in this life...my Dodger.



Twenty seven years I embarked on a journey with the above young man. This photo was taken on our honeymoon with my Minolta 35mm (still have it, still works)on November 16, 1981. We were married on the 14th. We were about to take a little ride on the observation lift that would take us high above Gatlinburg, TN when I captured this moment. I love this picture. So do all of our daughters. Other than the fact that he is 27 years younger, he looks pretty much the same. Personally, I think he has aged much better than myself considering the work he does. Very physical work. Long days exposed to the elements outside, on his knees, often behind a shovel or machine, or holding a pump, walking back & forth through mud or dusty Georgia red dirt, enduring long periods of blistering sun or bone chilling nights in freezing temperatures. What might you guess he does? Dodger is a concrete finisher. Yep, concrete is his life. Has been for most of it too. His Dad, Brothers, Uncles and numerous Cousins were and are finishers too. It runs through his blood as much as it runs through my washer and dryer (that is another story for another day)! It is a tough job, his endurance is phenomenal, his patience and strength are staggering. I think he works too hard. There was a day he would argue that statement, today, he may be more inclined to agree. Concrete works takes its toll on your knees, your back, shoulders, and skin. He loves it though and for the last 20 years it has put food on our table, clothed our daughters, built a home, paid for braces, put 3 children through college and paid for 2 weddings. 27 years ago, I could have never imagined what was ahead of us. Never imagined that he would work as hard as he does for me or our kids. Dedication has made him a successful businessman and provider. Patience has made him a husband you could only dream about. His loving heart has made him a Dad that is truly a blessing from above.

I don't really have all the words to tell you about him. Nor, do I have the space in this blog to tell you all of the good things about him. If you have had the opportunity in your life to know him, I know for a fact, you will never forget him. He is just that great. Plain and simple a good hardworking man with two of the roughest hands you'll ever see. Cut, bruised, and callused, but always gentle enough to hold three daughters, wipe a tear, touch a face, comfort a shoulder, grip a tiny hand, or guide an arm for a walk down the aisle. Those hands have held me in moments of sadness, uncertainty, despair, happiness, love, excitement and joy. How lucky I have been for the last 27 years to "have and to hold" them on this journey we have embarked on together. By some accounts we may be half way through it already. But I know our journey will last as long as he can hold my heart in his hand and personally, I don't think he will ever let it go. Always and Forever, Dodger, always.

This is my Dodger now (or 2 years ago at our oldest daughters wedding). I think he looks GREAT for all we girls have put him through!



I wish each of you a blessed day!

I have a Ya-Ya hangover!

Ooooohhh....the dreaded Ya-Ya hangover. I spent the evening with the ladies and we did something that some of us had not done together in over 20 years....
We started a quilt! That's right Dana, a quilt! I can tell you the last time I quilted I did not require the use of bifocals or wine for that matter. Now, the bifocals are a necessity and the wine is strictly for medicinal purposes.

This is a quilt we are making for a tres petite Ya-Ya. In fact, she is not even here yet, but hopefully she won't arrive before we are able to finish this quilt! Seriously, we will have it done. We must, as the shower for this little princess is July 19th. But, last night once again, we worked together as a team and managed to cut and piece together 5 little squares and other odds and ends that will become her quilt. Much slower than we were 20 years ago, but with age comes patience and a much more relaxed attitude towards perfection and deadlines. We were minus one last night, as she is the little ones "Granny Sue", but she was there in spirit, as each one of us is when we are not a full coven. HA!

Ahhh...we may try, but we gals can't escape one another...ever. All of us carry the same brand (except one, we still love her) and that makes us a gang. We are bound by all of the secrets, joy, confessions, heartache, happiness, children, husbands, love and loss that have formed us as women. Our friendship is as unending and intertwined as the Celtic triskle knot (our brand) that represents the 3 phases of our lives....phases we are spending primarily one way...
together.



I know this post has nothing at all to do with Dodger! But, the Ya-Ya's have a way of sidetracking me! Stronger forces pulling me from within! Actually, the pictures have not a thing to do with the quilt, but I forgot my camera last night and the only photo I have of the progress is on my phone. Yuck! Anyway, Scribble liked these photos and I thought I would use them in lieu of my bad phone photo. I promise, my meet the Dodger post will be next. Until then, have a beautiful and blessed day.