"on Star"

When I told my hubby about what I do at my job,he said that I'm "onstar" for the drivers and when I think about it-he's right. Need a tow out of the ice in Kalamazoo, Michigan-I'll find the tow truck. Need a repair on a blown turbo engine in Bucksnort, Tennessee-I'm on it. Headlights out in Lake Havasu, New Mexico-I'm you're man, but I also get to answer the accident line. We counted ten deer strikes in one night. Add that to the wild hogs running the roads and you'd think armageddon was near. And everyone once in a while you get a call that sticks with you.
I answered and the driver was shook up pretty bad so I talked to the officer on the scene. The words-drunk driver-nothing could be done-brought back so many memories I almost expected him to say she's gone.
But no little girl was killed in this accident-no driver either. He was upset that his perfect safety record was gone.
The other driver? I honestly have no idea.And I've been praying a lot about this-because I don't want him out on the road again. I don't want him dead, but I don't want him driving again either. I think about my kids driving to Little Rock on winding roads. I think about Beth going home late at night. I think about my sister with her two innocent babies, and my neice and nephew that'll soon be getting their learner's permits. If a professional driver with 20 years experience can't avoid a drunk driver-what about the rest of us?

46

Damnn...I'm old. That's what I keep telling myself, but I don't really feel old. What I feel is really, really blessed. I've watched my kids and my siblings grow up into wonderful adults. My siblings are great parents that have begat some great kids. My neices and nephews are really cool people in their own rights. I've been fortunate enough to watch my parents find love a second time around and I love my step parents so much I can't imagine my life without them. I've been given my own second chance-and though my stepkids have wonderful moms of their own-they have hearts big enough to love me too. All of this couldn't have come about in just one day and so I'm glad the years have been given to me..so I can see it all and experience it..and love it.

A big thank you to Lauren for making me my first confederate birthday cake ever.

Happy St. Pat's

May your troubles be less
and your blessings be more
and may nothing but happiness pass through your door

Birthday Girl

Nineteen years ago my baby came into this world. I don't care if she's eighty-she'll always be my baby and when I say that I think of all the ways in which she isn't a baby anymore. She's grown up so much and I'm sure she'll keep growing-experiencing all that life has to offer. On her birthday as she receives all sorts of well wishes, I think I got the best gift of all- a daughter that I'm proud of...not just for what she's done...but who she is....a real woman to be reckoned with. I hope she never changes and that her blessings outnumber the hills in the Ozarks.

Freedom of Speech-one more try

ok here goes-one more blog on Freedom of Speech and maybe I won't cry or get red in the face when I read the news. The courts have ruled that the church can protest at military funerals. This is the same court system that said I couldn't say anything about a certian person on my own tiny little insignificant blog. Let's compare-I have TWO followers-either of which would bring me down in a nanosecond if I did something that needed censoring-and the protesters-hundreds at a funeral. Who can do the most damage? Why weren't these protesters out on I40 two weeks ago when the military helped hundreds of stranded motorists find snow shelters in the snow storm? Maybe cold weather isn't their thing so let's head south. All along I-95 there are soldiers fighting with firemen and local authorities to keep the wild fire under control-they could bring the signs that read "Soldiers burn in Hell" with some heat. Maybe too hot. Let's head further north-anywhere along the banks of the Ohio river where thousands of National Guardsmen are filling sandbags with sand-let them protest there.Not at a funeral. Not when someone is saying goodbye to a loved one. Come on people this is supposed to be the greatest country in the world-sometimes being good means doing something hard-like saying no and standing up for what's right and more importantly what's decent. I hope I never have to attend another military funeral. I pray that I don't and I pray just as hard that if I do I won't see any protesters there.

Daffodils

I talked to Mom the other day and she happened to mention that the daffodils were up and blooming. I didn't have to ask where because for years she and I had planted some between our driveways along the road. It's a beautiful sea of yellow from her driveway to what used to be my driveway. Part of me still wishes that I could be there to see it and that it was still my driveway, but I have to smile too. I've left something beautiful behind-something that someone else will enjoy for years to come. I wonder if some little girl with brown hair will stop and pick some for her mom or grandma. I sure hope so. I've picked daffodils for years and my kids have too. There's nothing like getting your own bouquet of handpicked flowers. I remember vases of yellow everywhere-the kitchen, every bedroom, the mantel by the fireplace, and even the bathrooms. These pretty yellow flowers pop up at the very beginning of spring as if to say "hang on Spring's almost here" and by the time the flowers wilt. Spring really is here. So, they've always meant something special to me because I know something beautiful is just around the corner. One year it was my daughter. And, yes, I've planted some by the driveway again.

Redneck Woman Day

Yeah, I said it. "Redneck Woman" Day in honor of my favorite Redneck Woman-Mrs. Karon Bell aka "G-K'.
She loves to fish, but can't swim a lick. Drinks beer with her boys(and girls too) and loves a man that proudly displays the Conferderate flag. Seriously, you gotta have some serious redneck in you to love a man like my dad. Hope her day is as sweet as her tea.