For My Nephew, YURI

The last few days my nephew, Yuri 

and I have been texting about my Dad and his WWII days.

Yuri is my brother, Larry's son and out of

all the grandchildren, Larry's children know the least 

of our family stories because they

were brought up by their Momma in Brownsville.

Our text this time started because I had posted

an old photo of his Daddy as a child.

Which started questions he had...

"Did Poppee receive a Purple Heart?"

"Yes he did"

and I realized he had not heard the story of

why my Daddy was given this high reward.

After I texted Yuri the story, 

I realized that although I have blogged this before,

there are still some great grands of my Dad 

who may have not heard it so a retelling is warranted.

MY Daddy did not speak of WWII much,

those men and women who fought then

had not heard of PTSD so I believe they just put it out their mind.

However, there is one story I heard him tell

more than once and his point was of the

"Human contact"

My Daddy served in Okinawa long before my birth.

He was a morse code operator for a portion of the War

and that is all I know about what he did there.

He told me the day he got shot was the best day of his life.

I thought as a child this was a strange thing to say

as the bullet went in and out one thigh and lodged

into the bone of the second thigh causing him

to have fractures in those legs and a long recovery.

When asked why would this have been the best day of his life

we would say,

"Because I knew I was dying or going home"

After a long stay in a hospital in Germany, he was

then sent to the US to complete his recovery.

Although this story is enough to end the blog here,

it is not the best part of his story.

He remembers getting shot and falling to the ground.

The Japanese soldier who shot him went right up to 

him and pointed the gun at him,

My dad just knew he was going to die...

Instead he and the soldier made eye contact,

and the soldier put his gun down and walked away.

I have often though of this story my Daddy rarely told.

He would always end it with a statement about the human contact.

Making eye contact turned  two young soldiers

into men with families who were serving a War 

as they were trained to do.

It is one of my very favorite stories.

Thanks Yuri for reminding me that although

this story has been told here more than once,

there are still others who have not heard it.

A story that needs to be remembered for the ages...

WHEN COUSINS DIE..

 WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A COUSIN DIES...

I have many cousins.

Many were my first friends outside of my siblings.

As we have gotten older we don't get to play as we used to.

We have watched each other marry and 

buried all our aunts and uncles and parents.

Now it has come to our cousins, 

our generation...

We only now get together at funerals it seems...

Because I was the last of my parents litter,

many of my cousins are older than me.

Which seems to mean I am going to see 

many of my cousins die.

Yesterday we lost another of our Collins Lineage.

Joelynn, the oldest daughter of my Aunt Mae Mae and Uncle Joe.

Because my Uncle Joe died young, leaving my Aunt Mae Mae

with 6 children, Joelynn had a lot of responsibilities.

Because she was the oldest and the youngest was still a baby

she had to step in almost as a parent to the younger ones.

My aunt had to go to work to support her children

so the younger of the children looked up to Jolynn 

through their whole life.

She was my cousins Matriarch after her Momma died

so it is with a heavy heart my Griffin cousins lay to rest

another of their siblings.

We are a big family, but each remain connected in some way.

Yesterday as news of Jo"s  passing spread,

we began to reconnect..

Text messages to cousins,

phone calls from Buddy and a long conversation

with Reggie transpired.

All in the name of Joelynn.

All our lives have gotten filled with 

our own children and families

but our parents taught us right,

when one of us are hurting, we come out in support.

Reggie and I are the same age, went to the same school

were good friends growing up and now,

we don't talk much....

however when one of our own dies, 

it will be a phone call and we will catch up.

So last night it was that phone call...

Jesi was here and heard our conversation.

Afterwards, she commented on how nice it was

that even though we are all older, that we still

have a sense of closeness.

Yes, when one of your cousins die,

you are brought back to a time in your childhood

where those cousins were a part of your daily lives.

We will come together once more on Tuesday 

to celebrate the life of my cousin, Joelynn

and the Collins Lineage.

It will be sad in some ways as all funerals are,

yet it will be a coming together of all those cousins

that are adults now.

There will be tears, but there will also be

lots of stories told, laughing of memories we all share.

RIP, my dear cousin,

may you join all our family who have gone before us

in whatever awaits for us after this life.

I just know, when its my time to go,

you will be there awaiting my arrival.

Much love to all my cousins.

Lilbit of Lil bit

Let me say a little bit about Lilbit.

There is so much about my life that I am so very proud of.

My Dad was the photographer...

One of the last professional photos he took was of me,

his last baby....

He had to retire when I was three because of a WWII injury.

Because of this, he never took photos after,

so this is literally, one of his last photos.

Hence the famous Collins Carpet we children always talk about.

If you see this carpet in an old photo, 

you can bet Freddie Collins name is attached to it.

So, I came to my parents when they were 43 and 45.

After 9 pregnancies and 6 living children, 

with their oldest being 23, I was born.

Mr. Randolph used to tell me the story of that day.

Out of all my Momma's babies, 

I was the only one delivered via c-section.

My Dad ran into Randolph's Restaurant

and announced,

"We have a girl, another little girl!"

Mr. Randolph asked him "What's her name?"

and my Dad stopped, looking confused 

and said, "I don't remember!"

I don't know why this story cracks me up

to think he had so many kids that he didn't remember my name...

My kiddo's tease me about how many times I tell

people I had childhood cancer in 1968.

I am so proud of the fact I survived an incurable cancer

that I tell most anyone who wants to listen.

I wear it as a trophy....

because I know how fortunate I am not only to still be here

but to be a voice for others.

I would not change the fact that I had cancer.

I honestly believe it is in that fight that

I became the person I am today.

When facing any obstacle or challenge there are two roads you can take.

The negative or the positive.

My family brought me up to know how fortunate I was

to have beaten this cancer.

This made me brave, had me see the world in a different light.

I am always saying there is good and bad in everyone.

It is my optimistic nature that has me believing

that we all wake up each morning with a choice 

and that most people really do want to better the World.

Yes, call me naive but it has carried me through 61 years.

So here I am now, living my 62nd year on this planet.

With so many stories to share.

I am content and happy most days and although

some mornings are hard to get started

I know how fortunate I am to still be here.

I hope I always try and see the good in every situation

even those that seem hopeless.

Thanks for following my journey here

as I navigate growing up....

I am determined to leave the stories here for 

the next generation.

Much love to you all!

                                                                                        

 

THE MANGER....

If you have been around me since I became a Mumsie

you know I put much thought and effort

to the memories for my grandgirls.

I want, when they are old and say," Mumsie's Cottage"

they are flooded with stories of me and all the

things I have shown and taught them.

I want it all to be sealed to their hearts and minds.

POOKIE

I have called them this way before it became a popular word.

Jilly said, "My Mumsie been calling us that all the time"

I do believe I am the one that made that word up 

so I am hoping Wikipedia gives me the credit.

POOKIE- A WORD MADE UP BY A LADY

FROM GOLDEN MEADOW AS A TERM OF ENDEARMENT

TO THOSE SHE LOVES.

There, giving myself credit!

.... LOUISE....

I  have a habit of when I do call your real name,

 I say Louise after as though its your middle name.

So much so that I even called the neighbors dog

"Stella Louise"

and Jesi said "she's been saying Louise since I was kid."

I say it so much that just the other day i called

"Jemma Louise"

and someone said, "oh what a pretty middle name"

her middle name is not Louise... its Kate.

When we go shopping, I always make them think of their purchases

by saying:

" WE CAN MAKE THAT..."

I must say it more than I know because

when I take Mia (Jia) and the grandgirls shopping

they count how many times I say it.

However, they do think hard about their purchases now.

The grandgirls know of my love for a good garage sale 

or thrift store second  only to an antique store.

They are very aware of how much I like old things

and if you see a pile of junk on the side of the road,

you should stop and look.

Which brings me to the reason for this post in the first place.

ONE DAY JILLY AND JEMMA SAY THEY HAVE TO 

FACETIME ME...

I DID SO AND THEY WERE SO VERY EXCITED

"MUMSIE. WE FOUND SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OF

THE ROAD AND WE CARRIED IT ALL THE WAY

TO OUR HOUSE FOR YOU!"

THEY CARRIED A FULL SIZE EARLY 80'S 

CONSOLE TV ALL THE WAY FROM THE 

FRONT OF THEIR STREET TO THEIR HOUSE FAR IN THE BACK.

OH MY HEART!

HOW AM I GOING TO BREAK IT GENTLY TO THEM

THAT I HAVE NO NEED FOR THAT...

"AHH, GIRLS, THANK YOU SO MUCH BUT I REALLY  

DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR IT"

I COULD SEE THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED...

"YOU CAN MAKE AN AQUARIUM OUT OF IT"

THEN I REMEMBERED LONG AGO THAT I SPOKE

OF SOMEONE WHO HAD AN OLD TV LIKE THIS

AND THEY HAD MADE AN AQUARIUM WITH IT.

I FELT TERRIBLE ABOUT IT, BUT THEY GOT OVER IT 

FASTER THAN I DID.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR DAYS AFTER,

THEIR EXCITEMENT TO SURPRISE ME

WITH SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE

PERFECT FOR THE COTTAGE.

I worried that never again would they haul anything

home again for me.

How wrong I was...

Right after Christmas, I get a FaceTime call from Jilly.

She, MIa (Jia) and Aubrey were playing in the neighborhood

and they found something in the trash of someone

that they just had to get for me.

Jilly pans to this beautiful little manger,

equipped with all the pieces that are glued in.

She points out all the special pieces and how 

there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I am ecstatic.... really I am so very excited

not only because it is precious,

 but because there three little girls on an adventure

saw this in someones yard and just knew

they had to have it for me.

BE STILL MY HEART.

So now, whenever you come to my Cottage 

there will be a manger out year round.

It will stay in the library until someone else 

is in charge of my things.

The manger will become another story in the 

dozens I already have for the Cottage.

It will stand proudly as a reminder to me

that I am instilling things in them that will last a lifetime.

I also hope each time Jilly and Jemma see it they are reminded:

"REMBEMBER THAT TIME WE CARRIED 

AN OLD CONSOLE TV ALL THE WAY HOME

FOR MUMSIE?"

 

When in breaux bridge....

WHEN IN BREAUX BRIDGE

DO LIKE THEIR PEOPLE DO AND EAT AT

CHEZ JACQUELINE'S!

Jes and Del said "you have to come with us Saturday"

Always an adventure with those two...

They started telling me about the owner/cook 

from France who does all her own cooking...

and I was sold!

We left early and arrived there just around 11.

There was the cutest little restaurant with the cutest little 

lady she greeted herself and I introduced us.

Jacqueline is like the grandmother we all wish to have.

Never in a hurry, explains her menu and if you just can't decide

on appetizers, she orders that for you.

You cannot go wrong with her crab cakes,

tasting just like boiled crabs from Grand Isle.

Her server is just as kind and brags about her boss 

every chance she gets, while Jacqueline does the same about her.

The atmosphere is awesome, and having lunch with Jes and D

is an experience in itself as the tell stories about

all the foods they have tried, all the places they have been

and hope to go to.

All the food was excellent, don't be in a hurry when you go there.

Because this 80 year old chef does her own cooking

and then she sits and chats with you...

We find out she makes her own bloody Mary mix

and offers to make some for J and D.

After 2 hours in this beautiful place we get up to 

leave but not without a photo of us all.

Its a delight and a treat, make sure you 

visit Chez Jacqueline. you will not be disappointed.

 

I can't be the only one...

I can't be the only one..

who hates to do some of the smallest of things

that takes under a few minutes so I put it off as long as I can...

You know what I am talking about....

for instance:

Filling a pill box...

yes, I am at the age that I fill a pill box.

It takes minutes,.

Thankfully I don't have that many bottles to open

yet I hate doing it.

Maybe I am just a tad bitter that I have to do it at all...

Filling ice trays...

I live in a Cottage so of course, i don't have an ice maker.

I don't really want one either.

However, when those 4 ice trays are empty....

yep i just put them back in like they will fill themselves.

Eventually someone will come along and fill them for me,

when they go for ice and have none.

It's a party trick I have gotten really good at.

Then there is clothes in the dryer....

When did my dryer become my closet?

I eventually will fold it and put it away 

and promise myself from now on....

I will finish that task in a few hours

only to find clothes back in there a week later....

OH the third world problems I have.

I can't be the only one.

What are some of the things you put off that take minutes...

 

'EAT THE CAKE"

I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER

THAN ANTHONY HOPKINS SAID IT HERE!

I always say "none of us are getting out of here alive"

So we have to make the best of the time we have here.

"Eat the delicious food" 

but also take care of that body.

Exercise when we can, choose the healthier choice

but always, always eat the cake!

"Walk in the sunshine..."

The best Serotonin enhancer is sunlight,

get you some natural Prozac and walk in the sun!

"Say the truth and speak from the heart."

Sharpen your communication skills by having 

deep conversations with those you love.

Yesterday myself, Jesi and Del had some

big conversations with the grandgirls...

I say when something keeps me up at night,

I will fix it, as I really like a good nights sleep.

Make amends whenever possible....

"Be silly, be kind, be weird..."

but most of all.... BE KIND

None of us know the battles others face just by looking 

at the outer shell. Be kind, its free and can 

turn a bad day for someone into a good day.

This morning, I spent some time looking at all the

photos of snow in Louisiana.

From Plaquemine to Golden Meadow.

The one thing I noticed about every one of them 

was the big smiles. No one was frowning.

All those that posted words, it was words of

encouragement, laughter, pure joy.

If snow in Louisiana can bring on that type of happiness

then we need to try and find that even on the hot days.

I compared yesterday to the magic of Disney World.

The minute you step into the magical world of Walt Disney,

you smile, you laugh, kids are on their best behavior

siblings are getting along, playing together, 

off the devices and just absorbing it all.

May all your days be like yesterday and always, always...

EAT THE CAKE!

(excuse the rough look of the Mumsie it was not a day

to worry about looking cute!)

 

SNOW

I MEAN HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT 

ANYTHING BUT SNOW!!!!!!!

In my 61 years of living, never have I seen snow such as this!

History is being made so get your photos...

dress your babies warm and get them out there.

They may never see this type of snow again.

Yes, I am dramatic, yes, I feel like I am in a snow globe....

but honestly, look past how cold it is or how much

of a mess it may be in your home...

put it all aside and take it all in.

The beauty, the essence of snow in South Louisiana!

This is an artist dream.....

and the only thing I wish for this am....

Is that the lemonade stand should still be here.

yet, as a friend of mine reminded me.....

when you are an artist, you can paint anything in your want....

"DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN...."

IS all that comes to mind.

Elsa and Anna....

Frozen, had it going on!

 

The Things We Keep

I have been cleaning out photos on my computer

as I have over 25,000 and I just know some are duplicated

and some I can't find when I need them.

This morning was one of those mornings.

When I came across a photo of a letter I could not remember

I had to look closer.

A letter from the Veteran's Administration addressed to my Dad.

As I begin to read I see it was written just a few weeks 

after my cancer diagnosis in 1968.

I would assume my Daddy wrote to the administration

to see if there was any help that could be offered

to him, a Veteran from WWII, and our family.

I was touched by just how personal the letter was.

Someone back then took the time to not just tell

my Daddy that there was really no help they could offer

but to address the fact that he had a sick child.

In today's World, where so much is auto generated 

and you can't speak to a person on the phone until 

you at least hear three recordings, this letter made me proud

for a few different reasons.

I wish I had the letter my Dad wrote to the VA

but back then making a copy of anything was hard

and probably not done.

I am proud that through my parents fear, Dad took the time

to write a letter to ask for help, something he rarely did,

ask for help.

The fear he and my family must  have been facing was 

not just about a sick child but the financial burden 

it probably put on them.

I am proud that after so many years the letter was

still in my Mom's things when she died.

I do not remember taking this photo or that I even had it.

I have no clue where it may be today,

but knowing me, I am sure it is one of the many scrapbooks

I have kept over my lifetime.

 This letter, for me, is like a love letter of sorts.

My Dad loved me and his family so much that

he bent and asked for help in the only way possible back then,

the written word.

There was no "go-fund" me accounts heard of much less St. Jude.

My Dad was not one to ask for help so this shows 

me a vulnerable side of him that was rarely seen.

So today, once again, I preach the need for the written word.

To be reminded that if
it is written, you can't deny it happened.

Thanks Dad for all you did not only for me, but the betterment

of our family.

I always knew you were great, just didn't realize you were also a 

SUPERHERO!

 

LOUISIANA SNOW DAYS

AHHHH!

Louisiana snow days, how is that thought nostalgia!

I think last time it snowed here in Plaquemine was 2018

when the Cottage was grey and red

and the grandgirls had so much fun!

Nostalgia being my 2025 word of the year,

I can probably count on two hands how many 

times we had snow in Golden Meadow.

Weather was not forecasted so far in advance back then

so it was something that surprised us every time.

I can remember the phone calls on our landline

from family and friends up North, Thibodaux,

calling to say it had started snowing there and

to start watching for it.

"Its coming y'all way"

Sometimes it made it all the way to Golden Meadow,

sometimes it did not. 

We would all run upstairs to the window and just wait,

as if being higher off the ground,

we could see the snow sooner.

Because we had no snow gear,

it was socks on the hands and big coats that were probably not ours.

I don't remember as a child ever having enough snow

to make a snow man but that didn't stop us from trying.

Golden Meadow snow men were built different,

they only had one big ball of snow 

and never a "corn cob pipe or a button nose"

much less two eyes made out of coal.

Then there was that one Christmas, back in 1989, 

when Jesi was 2 months old and Roddie was 4.

It was the first White Christmas I can remember.

While it may not snow very often here, when it did

it put everyone  in the best of moods.

So the grandgirls were sent home with all their school work

as school will be cancelled and they get

to have something we rarely get here...

Snow days!

I want that for them....

and for me.....

 

FEARS OF A MUMSIE

BECAUSE I AM NOW 61 I CAN SAY

I HAVE SEEN A FEW DECADES.

LIKE PROBABLY OUR PARENTS,

I WORRY ABOUT THE GENERATIONS COMING UP.

I HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF EXPERIMENTAL YEARS

WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING, BEING WHERE I WAS

NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, YOU KNOW...

"NORMAL TEENAGE STUFF"

MY CHILDREN ARE NOW ADULTS AND

PAST THE CRAZY TEENAGE YEARS WHERE

WE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT PREGNANCY, DRUGS, ETC.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T WORRY AT ALL.

THE GRANDGIRLS ARE NOT MINE TO RAISE,

I AM ONLY PART OF THEIR VILLAGE YET

I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIER LIFE,

TO SHARE MY FEARS AND WISDOM.

NOW I WRITE HERE MY BIGGEST FEAR FOR MY GRANDGIRLS

AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING UP...

FENTANYL.

IF WE DID NOT ACTUALLY EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS

OR DRINKING AS TEENAGERS, YOUNG ADULTS

WE KNEW AT LEAST A DOZEN WHO DID.

WHILE ADDICTION IS A THING,

THE HONEST TRUTH ABOUT THAT IS MOST

TEENS WILL EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS AND THEN

STOP WHEN THEY BECOME AN ADULT IN THE WORKING WORLD.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE ADDICTION TENDENCIES

WHO SUFFER BUT HONESTLY, STATISTICS SAY

MOST WILL BE OKAY.

WELL, UNTIL FENTANYL CAME TO BE.

EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS CAN BE DEADLY NOW

AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING IS LACED WITH THIS DRUG.

SO MANY ARE THINKING THEY ARE DOING ONE THING,

MAYBE SOMETHING THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE

ONLY TO BE FOUND DEAD THE NEXT DAY.

OR STRUGGLING PARENTS WHO SOMEHOW

HAVE LACED DRUGS AND THE BABIES ARE FOUND DEAD

BECAUSE OF FENTANYL.

I CAN SEE NO REASON WE NEEDED A DRUG 10 TIMES

GREATER THAN MORPHINE THAT CAN BE ABSORBED

ALSO INTO THE SKIN OR PUT ON SOMETHING AND IT

BE UNDETECTED, THAT CAN KILL YOU BEFORE

NARCAN ARRIVES.

THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TEST STRIPS TO DETECT 

FENTANYL IN ILLEGAL DRUGS IS CRAZY!

ITS SOOO SCARY FOR ME.

I DON'T WANT TO SCARE THE GRANDGIRLS  BUT

I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF JUST

HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS.

IT IS SAD THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE TYPES

OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE WE LOVE.

THANKFULLY, IN OUR FAMILY WE ALL HAVE 

OPEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS,

EATING DISORDERS, RELATIONSHIPS, DRUGS AND

YES, FENTANYL.

WE LIVE IN SUCH A SMALL TOWN LIKE MANY OF YOU DO.

IN SOME WAYS OUR CHILDREN ARE NAIVE TO

THINGS OF THE WORLD.

ITS A GREAT CHILDHOOD WE GIVE THEN WHERE

THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM SO MUCH EVIL.

YET IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE THEM

ON THESE TOPICS. 

THEY WILL DO THINGS WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL

THEY ARE OLDER AND THEY TELL US STORIES  TO MAKE US LAUGH.

SHOOT, I AM STILL FINDING OUT THINGS MY CHILDREN

DID AS KIDS THAT I NEVER KNEW AND THEY ARE 39 AND 35!

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM FREE FROM WORRY

YET THEY WILL GO OUT INTO THE WORLD ONE DAY

AND FACE THINGS OUR LITTLE TOWN PROTECTED THEM FROM.

HAVE THE HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR PEOPLE.

CODDLE THEM, REMIND THEM HOW FORTUNATE THEY ARE

THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT

BILLS, A BED TO SLEEP IN, HOW THEY WILL BE FED.

BUT ALSO TELL THEM ABOUT THE DANGERS IN THE WORLD

THAT THEY ONE DAY WILL BE FACED WITH.

START WITH FENTANYL....

VISITING MY "MOTHERING ERA"

As I go through photos again this am,

I find these that are poorly taken but they are photos

 from some of our home videos.

They remind me of many things but the one thing

I think I was best at was Mothering.

It was not promised to me, to be a Momma.

Cancer treatments and radiation to my abdomen

back then was harsh.

I grew up believing that I would not have children.

To my surprise, after only 9 months of marriage,

I found myself pregnant with Roddie.

I know I made a lot of mistakes,

what's that saying,

"They don't come with an instruction manual"

I was young, probably way too young to me a Momma 

as Roddie was born three days after my 22nd birthday.

Thankfully my big family had taught me a lot on

what I wanted and didn't want to do as a Mother.

Raising these two children is the best and hardest thing

I have ever done but also the most rewarding.

Bear with me as I share a few memories I don't want to forget.

Roddie has always been such a good big brother. 

While he was a sweet and sensitive child,

his sister came along to show him the other side of life.

She was headstrong and afraid of nothing.

He shared his gentleness with her and she shared her tenacity with him.

Although he was 4 years older than her,

he always has adored her and allowed her to be part of 

his circle of friends.

There is not one home video I have of Roddie and his friends

that Jesi is not involved in.

I could spend the whole day blogging about these two

but I will just share one of many stories.

There was a time that both of them were unhappy with me.

I don't remember what it was, but they decided they were running away.

While Roddie packed underwear and food,

Jesi packed her Lion King toys.

As they prepared for their leaving I reminded them

that if I had paid for it, it really was not theirs to take.

That limited a lot of their decisions.

 Roddie packed with this thought in mind

while Jesi could care less what I had said.

If they carried this out, they could not come back I informed them.

When they decided to leave I told them bye that I loved them

and I locked the door.

Roddie got to the street and had already changed his mind.

They made their way back to the door to find I had locked it.

Roddie began crying immediately and I could hear their conversation,

It went something like:

"We should have not ran away now she won't let us come back"

Jesi saying.

"We don't need her, Woddie let's go"

Just like a memory does to us, it may not have gone exactly like this

but in my heart and mind this what I remember.

  

Now that they are grown adults, both successful 

with families of their own, I am not one who 

longs for the older days, but there are those times.

Like when I am lying in my bed remembering how we 

all used to sleep together, the things we talked about still in my heart.

Like when I go through my old photos and come across so many

of them that tell a story of a wonderful past.

My kiddo's may say the best gift I ever gave them was allowing them 

to be who they were with strict guidance admitting when I made mistakes.

HOWEVER I KNOW THE VERY BEST GIFT 

I EVER GAVE THEM WAS EACH OTHER.

 

POPEYE PEOPLE WATCH

I am a "people watcher".

It's one of my favorite things to do 

and a reason I don't mind doing things alone.

A few weeks ago, 

I decided I wanted Popeye's Fried Chicken.

still one of my favorite fast food joints.

I went inside as the drive up was backed up to the road.

As I walked into Popeyes I hear

"Welcome to Popeye's"

Mopping the floor is an adult man

and I can tell he is special needs as his 

mentor/teacher is close by monitoring his work.

Having been a school nurse for many years,

I recognize the scenario.

An adult child learning a trade.

His words echo in the busy Popeye's

as everyone who comes in is greeted with 

"WELCOME TO POPEYE'S"

Its heartwarming as the actual Popeye employees

are not speaking at all, just taking and filling orders,

no smiles, nothing.

Yet, "Welcome to Popeye's" is heard often.

I decide I want to stay and eat, I want to watch

this young man do his work.

It's busy but he mops and cleans up tables

with his teacher guiding him to what needs to be done.

She is great at her job, stands to the side,

letting him do his things with only the guidance he needs

when he needs it.

"Can I get anything for you?"

He asks another customer.

I need something, can't remember what it was 

but the counter worker just never comes to me to see what I need.

I ask the kind fellow to get it for me.

"NO problem" and it record time he brings me what I have asked for.

His presence in the establishment is palpable.

As I am leaving, I ask his teacher if I can tip him?

She assures me this would be great.

I go to him with a 5 dollar bill,

I tell him just how well he is doing,

and he has made my day so much better.

I tell him he is the best worker in the whole building.

He is beaming.... He has been acknowledged for his work.

He takes the money as though he has never received a tip.

He is the one who deserves it.

As I leave the Popeye's I hear once again,

"Welcome to Popeye's Have a great day"

and if at all possible, his tone is just a tad happier, a bit louder.

He is proud of a job well done.

LETS TALK ABOUT AUNTIES

I HAVE ALWAYS HELD THE POSITION OF AUNT

TO A HIGH DEGREE.

I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE AN AUNT AT THE AGE OF 2.

SOME OF MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS HAVE BEEN

MORE LIKE SIBLINGS WHICH HAS MADE MY 

GREAT NIECES AND NEPHEWS JUST LIKE THE 

FIRST GENERATION.

ALTHOUGH I AM GETTING OLDER NOW AND HAVE

GRANDGIRLS IT HAS BECOME HARDER TO BE 

A BIG PART OF THEIR LIVES YET I STILL

TRY AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM ALL ESPECIALLY

NOW THAT THEY HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.

IN A FEW CASES I AM EVEN A GREAT, GREAT AUNT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT 

TWO OF MY OWN AUNTIES, 

(MIDDLE IS MY AUNT GA-GALD)

( MY AUNT NAN TA-TA WHO WAS ALSO MY GODMOTHER)

I HAVE NO AUNTS LEFT ALIVE BUT MANY

HAVE MOLDED ME TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE

OF THE WORD AUNT OR "TAUNT"

MANY OF YOU KNOW I AM A CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVOR.

THE IMPORTANCE MY AUNTS PLAYED IN MY CHILDHOOD

IS FILLED OF MEMORIES OF WHAT THEY DID FOR MY FAMILY.

MY AUNT GA-GALD, MY DADDY'S SISTER, WAS INSTRUMENTAL

IN WHAT HOME MEANT WHEN WE HAD TO BE AWAY FROM

HOME SO MUCH IN THE CANCER YEARS.

THERE, IN CHALMETTE, WHERE THEY LIVED 

BECAME OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME WHEN

HAVING TO BE AT TOURO HOSPITAL FOR SO MUCH OF MY CHILDHOOD.

SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US,

COOKING OUR FAVORITE MEALS, 

COUSINS GIVING UP THEIR BEDROOMS FOR US.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WERE SLEEPING

ON THEIR SOFA BED AND HEARING THE 

LOW TALKING OF MY DADDY AND UNCLE RED 

AS THEY DRANK THEIR COFFEE AND SMOKED THEIR CIGS.

I AM SURE MANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE

ABOUT MY CANCER JOURNEY BUT IT WAS ALSO 

ABOUT FISHING AND AIR CONDITIONERS

(MY UNCLE RED HAD HVAC COMPANY).

MY AUNT GA-GALD WAS ALWAYS SO WORRIED WHEN IN 

HOSPITAL ABOUT THE FACT I WOULD NOT EAT.

I WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND WEIGHED ABOUT 35 POUNDS.

SHE WOULD PROMISE ME ANYTHING IF I WOULD JUST EAT.

ONE DAY IT WAS A MS. BEASLEY DOLL...

I GOT THE DOLL, I DIDN'T EAT... YES, I WAS SPOILED.

THEN THERE IS MY AUNT NAN TA-TA,

ALSO MY DADDY'S SISTER.

SHE WAS ALSO MY GODMOTHER.

SHE TOO WORRIED ABOUT MY NOT EATING

DURING CHEMOTHERAPY. 

ONE DAY, I AM TOLD SHE ASKED WHAT WOULD

I EAT IF I COULD HAVE ANYTHING.

"A LUNCHOEN MEAT SANDWICH"

THIS GODMOTHER OF MINE, WALKED IN THE COLD,

IN NOLA A FEW MILES TO FIND SOME 

LUNCHEON MEAT AND EVANGELINE MAID BREAD.

SHE GOT BACK AND OF COURSE, I DIDN'T EAT THAT EITHER.

SHE WOULD HAVE WALKED FOREVER IF IT MEANT

I WOULD BE OKAY.

AS I GREW SHE REMAINED A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

TEACHING ME ABOUT MARDI GRAS AND BINGO,

CROCHETED DRESSES NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT ALSO 

ONE FOR MY CHRISSY DOLL

(REMEMBER HER, TURNED A BUTTON AND HER HAIR GREW?)

EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE SHE SPENT WITH 

MYSELF AND MY PARENTS FOR GUMBO AND

HER GIFTS WERE ALWAYS THE ONES I LOOKED FORWARD

TO THE MOST.

ONE I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER IS A

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS CALCULATOR.

YES, IT WAS A BIG DEAL BACK THEN.

I REMEMBER

LAYING IN MY BED THAT NIGHT WITH MY NEW

CALCULATOR GLOWING RED AS I DID MATH

THAT NEVER CAME EASY TO ME IN SCHOOL.

THIS MARVEL HAD SOLVED ALL MY MULTIPLICATION ISSUES.

YEP, SHE ALWAYS HAD THE BEST GIFT.

SO MANY THINGS SHE TAUGHT ME, DID FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

WHEN SHE DIED I REMEMBER DOING PART OF THE EULOGY.

MY WORDS WERE IF YOU LOOK UP THE WORD AUNT

IN THE DICTIONARY, HER NAME, ANITA COLLINS GUIDRY

WOULD BE RIGHT THERE.

I TRIED TO MOLD MY AUNTIE DUTIES AROUND THESE TWO 

WOMEN AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO CALLED 

MY MOMMA AND DADDY SIBLINGS.

IF YOU ARE A FORTUNATE ONE TO HAVE 

NIECES AND NEPHEWS, BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

CALL THEM, SEND LETTERS, USE YOUR WORDS TO 

REMIND THEM HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO YOU.

TRY TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEM 

ESPECIALLY WHEN QUANTITY IS NOT EASY.

IF YOU MOLD THIS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG,

THEY WILL REMEMBER WHEN THEY ARE AN AGING

LITTLE GIRL OF 61 BLOGGING ABOUT HER LIFE.

MUCH LOVE TO ALL YOU AUNTIES OUT THERE.