THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW!

This blog is late in coming, but it is one of those that

when it happens it overwhelms you a bit and take time

to process it. This beautiful woman here,

a dear friend, closer now than ever, from school.

We went to Elementary through High school together.

We were never extremely close but I always thought

she was someone I could be friends with....

but I was a tad afraid of her back then.....

So, to begin the story.

A few weeks ago, she wanted to buy the piece,

Mother and child from me for a Momma who

had lost a child and was waiting for a "rainbow baby"  

(those lil babies that follow the one you lost).

That led to some text messages back and forth,

brought us to talking a little intimately

about our past and present.

This blog is about that, preceived notions we have of

someone and then we learn truths about the other.

For a moment, I was saddened of all the times

we probably could have enjoyed the company of 

the other but I was afraid of her. Then I find

her true story. 

You see, bullying existed way back when, even before

social media gave it a name. Our parent told us it was

teasing so we figured, "Hey part of growing up"

and we went on in our lives.

Polly was a bus-in from Grand Isle.

Which means each day she and the other GI kids took a bus

at whatever unGodly hour they had to, to get to

 school in Golden Meadow schools.

There was a childhood stigma around those children.

It was not right but honestly, it was there.

I was a happy- go-lucky child, I didn't think much of

what their lives consisted of, yet I knew most of them.

There were the two cute boys, a few others I didn't know

and their was Holly and Polly Pearson.

Polly and I were the same age and had classes together.

I admired her toughness, thought I could use some of that

being "teased/bullied" over being bald then having massive

curly hair. Where I found out in texting, Polly's ways was 

to be tough, I just laughed at it until I got home.

Not having social media, no one knew what my daily 

struggles were nor did they know Polly's.

Through my art, Polly and I have reconnected past just

being Facebook friends. As we texted about the "Mother and Child"

piece. The beauty in the blog is all in the texts we shared,

changed my outlook on things I believed as a child,

and just how off the mark is our assumptions.

Polly's texts are in Blue, mine in red:

...LOL I LOVE YOU POLLY!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT I AM A GOOD, SOFT HEARTED

PERSON. AND I KNOW WE COULD BE HANGING OUT BUDDIES...

THANKS MY LOVE, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAW 

THAT IN YOU...

MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ME THEY THINK

I AM DISTANT OR COLD.

AT WORK THEY THINK I AM A BITCH HAHAHA

CAUSE I WANT IT DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME LOL.

YOU KNOW I THINK WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP,

SO MANY OF US WERE WHAT TODAY WOULD BE

CALLED BULLYING. I KNOW I WAS.

WE HAD TO BE TOUGH. I THINK THAT MOLDED US TO

BE STRONG. BUT I THINK YOU, LIKE ME, FIRST TIME

YOU HELD YOUR BABY, LIFE CHANGED.

OH WE WOULD SO GET ALONG FINE. I ALWAYS SAY

"IF EVERYONE DID IT MY WAY, IT WOULD BE A PERFECT WORLD."

HAHAHAHHAHA

LIVING IN GRAND ISLE BUT GOING TO SCHOOL ON THE

BAYOU I NEVER HAD A PLACE TO FIT IN. I GOT 

PICKED ON FROM BOTH SIDES. I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS

FROM LAFOURCHE PARISH SCHOOLS.

I WAS KIND OF A BULLY FOR SELF- PRESERVATION.

YOU HAVE ME! NOW LOL.

EVEN THOUGH I LIKED YOU, I THOUGHT YOU WERE TOUGH

BUT I UNDERSTOOD IT. BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS 

TEASED. I JUST LAUGHED WITH THEM.

BOTH OF WERE SURVIVAL MECHANISMS.

I REMEMBER COMING HOME AND CRYING 

AND THANK GOODNESS I HAD A STRONG DAD

WHO WOULD REMIND ME EACH TIME,

"LIL IT DON'T MATTER WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF YOU,

WHEN YOU COME THROUGH THIS DOOR YOU ARE LOVED"

I TRULY THINK THAT IS WHAT GAVE ME MY SELF-CONFIDENCE.

HI LILLY, I AM POLLY SO NICE TO MEET YOU AGAIN.

BEING A CANCER SURVIVOR AT 5 NO ONE KNEW WHAT

I WAS GOING THROUGH WITH TREATMENT.

NO FACEBOOK OR GO FUND ME ACCOUNT. 

SO I WAS BALD AND TEASED THEN GREW BACK CURLY

AND I WAS TEASED FOR THAT.

...SO VERY NICE TO BE FRIENDS NOW! SEE YA TOMORROW, MUAH!

I JUST REMEMBER THE CURLY HAIR AND ALL THE

FRIENDS I THOUGHT YOU HAD.

MY HEART IS HAPPY TODAY BECAUSE OF YOU.

THE INSIDE LOOKING IN.

AWE, AND MINE TOO.

FUNNY WE BOTH THOUGHT OUR LIVES WERE ONE WAY

AND EACH HAD OUR OWN DEMONS WE WERE FIGHTING.

LOVE YOU MORE NOW!

Then she mentioned me on Facebook, how we had shared the above,

I texted to say she made me cry, happy tears and that I felt a blog coming on.

AWE SO SWEET. IT IS FUNNY HOW WE ALL 

PERCEIVE OTHERS UNTIL WE GET TO TALKING...

And right there a new bond, a closer friendship, one that I want

to nurture and build on, has begun.

We met in Houma the next day, I with her art piece, she with

a small gift. A sunflower  shelf sitter with the cutest face.

I hugged her tight, told her I will see it daily near my coffee pot

and each day, I will smile and say a little prayers for "us".

I think we were both a little choked up right there in the parking

lot of the AMC Houma Palace theater.

The lesson here?

Don't judge people by what you see.

Be kind to all as none of us know the battles others are facing.

Thank you Polly, my friend, for opening my eyes and heart 

to see a wonderful friend who has been there all along!

A long blog, be kind to someone today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIFFANY!!

I have so many blogs to write, but some just cannot wait, this is 

one of them! My baby niece, my sister, my friend, has a birthday today!

So many thoughts and feelings in my mind over this whole

relationship we have.

In my life, she is the very one whom I can remember always, always

being there. I hope she can say the same about me.

Us being born one month shy of three years apart

(this has always upset us, as we have always believed we were two years apart)

she was always with me.

Can't understand what my life would be without her.

(Tiffy and her baby girl, Tedi years ago, her life, a little girl

who changed her life and made her who she is today)

Our lives have always been "together"

So many awesome childhood memories,

like when we wrote the song

'LEAVING ON A JET PLANE'

only to hear it play on the radio a few days

later and us being upset because someone "stole our song".

We played "Madame's"

We swam in the back yard pool Daddy built us,

we snuck out the house to go and meet Roxie in

the back of the street,

we snuck into GMJH together, and bothered nothing,

just were so excited we got in.

We spent many nights listening to music while 

rubbing each others backs.

We watched, in the winter, our nightgowns making

sparks of electricity under my Hollie Hobby sheets.

WE had many summers spending most days together,

those were not always the best times but 

we laugh about them now.

As we got older, there was going out to the Boat Shed,

parties with our significant others, more time spent together.

When I asked her to be Gypsy Baby's godmother,

she in return asked me to be her Tedi-girls Godmother.

I can say we both believe in the "Village to raise a child"

and we would both agree, we both helped each other raise

both our children.

( These early pictures can show how close we all were in age,

Myself, Tiffy and Celena, l from r)

(Jesi's Baptism)

When younger, she always looked up to me,

to being her supporter, as we got older I felt the same of

her. When she divorced Tedi's Dad, her life was in shambles,

we talked daily, I trying to help her through the worst parts.

I hope i succeeded because years later, going through

my own divorce, she was there for me. If I was having

a bad day she was either on her way to Plaquemine 

or on the phone with me.

When I moved into the Cottage, she spent days with me

unpacking, putting together my studio organization pieces

(thanks, I know they ate your lunch lol)

But more importantly, she was there, cheering me on for

each thing I accomplished on my own after 30 years of

marriage. We are great friends, we can tell each other

what we feel and still love each other.

We know after too much time together, we also need

a break from each other. Such was our vacation

to Tennessee in Willow..... yeah we had a blast and

sometimes drove each other crazy!

But such is our love for each other, we can get angry

with each other, aggravated with each other

and still know our love is unconditional.

She is one of my biggest fans, I am hers.

Lately we have not had enough time together,

we will try and fix that soon as we try to spend some

quality time together for a few nights thanks to

free rooms at LeBerge! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR NIECE.

I HOPE YOU ALWAYS KNOW AND FEEL MY LOVE FOR 

YOU, NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE YOUR PLACE....

EVEN THOUGH WE CAN DRIVE EACH OTHER CRAZY,

WHEN HARD OR GOOD TIMES COME, YOU ARE THE

FIRST I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH!

Enjoy your day my love,

I sooooo love you!

JOHN MCCAIN

I am not a political person, honestly, I

know as much about politics as I do about Geography and

what road I am on. Da Boo can testify on the latter part.

Many either loved John McCain or disliked him

because of decisions he has made or supported.

Yet, for me, having read a little bit about his life,

He deserves this recognition that I choose to write

of in my blog.

My wanting to write this blog has nothing to do with

his political seats he has kept but more of the story of

his tragic Vietnam War stay.

Having a brother who left a part of himself in Vietnam,

just the fact that John McCain came home alive

is a miracle!

I don't know the specifics of how his plane came down in 

Vietnam territory, again my lack of history and not wanting

to know more than I need.....

However I do know he was captured with extensive injuries

and was basically left to die from those injuries.

From what I have read, my interest sparked by the 

story, once the captors found out his Father was

an Admiral they took him to a hospital and he was allowed

some treatment. At that time, they offered him release.

It is written that the Viet's were going to use his release

to shun he and his father, but that was not to happen.

Because knowing the laws of this War and that prisoners

were to be release in the order they were captured, he

refused the offer of freedom. Can you imagine,

being held prisoner, abused, starved, tortured,

in pain and turning down the chance to be back on US soil 

because it was "not your turn".

I don't know if I could have been that strong.

He stayed there I believe for almost another 5 years,

being released in 1973.

As if this was not enough, enough for his Country,

He wanted back in and in 1974, barely passing the physical 

he went back in the Military.

I knew none of this when hearing of his passing.

I did hear that he was going to stop treatment for

his brain cancer. Honestly I do believe he should not have

gone back to his Political seat after becoming ill

but again, I don't know enough about politics to discuss this.

I only know this, My admiration for a man I knew little 

of has grown 100 fold. Regardless of what he was 

in the eyes of the Big World,

to his family, he was just Dad and Husband,

Grandfather and loved.

RIP John McCain.

Your family has lost you but your 

love and legacy shall follow their broken hearts

and pull them through this time of sorrow to

remember all the good you were to them all.                                             

BLESSED WITH SWEET MATALIE JOLEE

It's been a busy week, no joking, I have at least three

major things in my head and heart that I want to blog about.....

But first, Sweet Matalie Jo!

I am a great, great Aunt to this precious child,

Born to my niece, Tie's daughter Ange' and her boyfriend, Sage.

Nine months ago, when Ange' had to tell all of us who

love her the most, that she was pregnant in her senior year,

she was terrified, thought we would be disappointed.

What she got, I don't know if she was expecting.

Yes, she and Sage were young, yes, it was not the

optimum future we wanted for them,

but we all wrapped our arms and hearts around this young

couple and offered to do all we could to be

in this baby's village, to help and love as much as we could.

Yet, something amazing happened!

Ange' graduated and became a Momma long before this child was

born. She matured, she worked hard, she rarely complained,

her Dad rented a home and she prepared a beautiful nursery,

She and Sage continued to work on the family they wanted.

I told her back then,

"It may not be the start we wanted for you but all babies are

miracles and all come to teach us something."

I promised to be in this baby's village, doing what I could to help

when I could.

Finally, the 9 months passed and there were a few false alarms 

to the hospital but finally, on Saturday, it was time.

When I tell you, an 18 year old child acted like a woman

on the day she delivered this sweet baby.

Was excited and happy, when her body just would

not dilate, she finally took the epidural at about 8:15pm 

and things went fast from there, delivering the most precious

baby at 12:20 Am with her partner and Daddy to this baby at her side.

I was amazed at the maturity of both of these literally kids,

how they handled a situation that would scare any new momma

on her first birth. She was a trooper and we all are just so darn

proud of the both of them.

Now they have brought this beautiful sweet Matalie Jolee

home with Ange' and Sage is there daily to do whatever is needed.

Each day as I text my Ange' she is always full of hope,

excitement, compliments on all that has happened.

A baby does something to a girl,

turns her into a woman a Mother.

Not all accept it, some fight it, not our Ange'

she is proud of being a Momma, so proud

of her sweet baby and boyfriend.

We are a big family, and Sage's family is as well

so this child will be surrounded with love from

the village.

Sage will graduate and go to college,

Ange' will enjoy these weeks ahead as she and

her most beautiful baby bond and then once

better, she too will go to college and the 

village will help in any way we can 

to make this child know and feel so love.

So Ange' and Sage, once again, I am so very proud of the both

of you, Never forget the love and this special time you 

feel right now, how much this baby has changed the two

of you. This feeling and love will carry you guys

through rough times in the future, and believe

me, there will be some. I love both of you.

This girl here, Nee Nee, my godchild, loving her

new position as Aunt Nee.

This baby will be so special to her as well.

Pray for this little family, that all will continue to go

smoothly for them all, that love will grow daily

and that beautiful Mattie Jo will continue

to be a good baby, she is such a good baby!

I cannot wait to watch this family move forward

and show other young people finding themselves

in this position that it can be done.

A village to raise a child,

that is what Ange' and Sage and Matalie are blessed with!

A VERY UNEXPECTED BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!

When you are blessed with the very best bestie's, bestie baby and boo, 

You are already blessed beyond measure

but Saturday, Saturday was one for the books.

I am not a dumb girl, not even "blonde"

but like the boo says, I have squirrels in my head,

I am not always fast on catching on to surprises.

Let me share this very awesome story.

On Friday, the boo texted me that we had a craving 

for Grapevine, our most favorite restaurant in Donaldsonville.

I thought nothing of this request as it is our fave.

We had plans to do some cleaning at his new place

but hey, Grapevine on a Saturday, didn't take much

to convince me.

That morning I texted with the bestie's like most mornings,

boo asked how they were,

"Laurie is getting things done" 

 "Ann and Moody are going look at campers."

As we headed to Grapevine, I suggested maybe

we should go to the new sushi place in Plaquemine.
"Nah, I want Grapevine"
Okay, not complaints here.
We drive up, lots of cars as usual,
I walk in first and there I see
Ann, Laurie and Lindsey.....
My first reaction, spoken out loud,
"Randy, Ann and Laurie are here, I can't believe
they came to Dville to eat and didn't tell me, I am so pissed!"
Then I tell the hostest, "We are going to sit with those
Biatches right there who didn't tell me they were coming here!"
And as I walk to the table fussing at them for not
sharing with me that they were coming to eat here,
I finally notice a chocolate cake and then,
I realize, the gathering is a surprise for me.....
OH yes, I felt like a dumb one then....
Come to find out, Laurie reached out to Randy
to get me there for Saturday to surprise me for my birthday.
So, they were all in on it but me and I am very slow sometimes....
How honored to be loved by so many, if I had nothing,
no material possessions, only the love of these three women
and the boo, I would be a rich woman.
I never feel like I deserve these types of surprises.
I always feel they all do more for me than I for them
and for that I am touched, it was hard to hold back my tears.
My Mom told me a long time ago,
"Being able to pick good friends is a talent as they
will be with you through your whole life."
My Mom had one of those in Mrs. T-Lloyd, best friends since
they had been in elementary and stayed bestie's until the day
my Mom died.
As I have reflected on this gathering at my favorite restaurant,
planned by the man I call my boo and
the three women I love so very much I am still in awe of
how it all happened. Our distance from our homes have
slowed down our gatherings but not a day goes by that
we don't touch base via texting or phone calls.
Yes, I will say once again, I am blessed beyond measure!
  I never, never
take advantage of that, not on my birthday or any other day.
The bestie baby, Lindsey really has become a bestie as well.
I love her as my own.
Thanks, Ann, Laurie, Lindsey and Randy for going
out of y'all way to make me feel so very special.
I love and adore you all!!!!

SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS...

A blog about School Days does not sound very interesting,

and it may not be for you.

This one is for me, for Memory's sake.

It seems like  just yesterday our little Bean 

was graduating from St. John's "yellow shirts"

which means 4 yr. Pre K and Kinder was next.

Today she begins second grade.....

Tuts, goes into yellow shirt 4 yr. program

and our baby Jemma,

blue shirt 3 yr. program on Tuesday!

And I ask what so many ask at this time of the year,

something that you see all over Facebook, Instagram...

Where did the time go?

STOP!!!!

Yet, we all know time will not stop and

my sweet grand girls will continue to move through 

the years and just like my own kiddo's,

before we know it, they will be graduating.

For today, let me slow down....

and you girls, slow down!

(Bean getting her one of many "Diploma's" to come)

(This was Baby Boy's face that meant "You better behave"

or "let me make someone laugh because i am bored...")

(Their fly picture on that day... look how little they all are)

(maw maw and cousin Lizzie, who is three weeks younger than Bean)

So I say, today, have a great year my grand girls!

A big one for Bean as she will make her communion 

this year. JemJem, our baby, going to St. John is surreal.

Time really does fly when referencing little children.

On Wednesday morning, as the girls awakened one

at a time, I rocked each of them.

Bean was first. I talked to her about how big

she was getting and how proud I am that she is 

so smart and a good student and that I was going to rock

her for as long as she let me.

I know soon these times will be over as her sleep overs

will be with friends, she will be a teen and Mumsie and 

the cottage just won't be as cool anymore.

Next was Tuts, my coffee milk drinker.

I rocked her for a bit and then Coffee milk 

with her Mumsie in her special little cup.

I love our morning coffee dates when she sleeps over.

Then our baby Jemma,

not a morning gal.

she let me rock her for about 5 mins. and then

she wanted

"Springles and Jib jab"

I substituted Pringles for fruit loops

and we all sat on the round chair for a couple of

Jib Jab dances on my computer.

BE Still My Heart and stop the

process of growing up!

It being my birthday morning made it

for a perfect day and as school starts

and they all get a year older in school,

I am so very proud of each of them!                                                         

                                                                   

MISSING THE DA!

Yesterday a family friend added this photo to Facebook in 

Bayou Memories and right away I became so lonesome for

this man, my mom and the Boo's Mom, Mrs. Barbara.

Being born to older parents I was spoiled beyond rotten.

He was the one who did most the spoiling.

Some who knew him would never believe how gentle

and kind he was to his last three girls.

He melted around us, and once he retired he truly liked

us around him. As he and I got older, and he became sick

he was very irritated often and liked his cussing when

things were not going his way, but when I was around

he always became a gentle man.

Mom worked and he raised the last three of us girls.

He was a master cooker and we put in our orders in the

morning for supper when we got home.

This photo, however, was before me time.

Back when he was a photographer

he not only took every picture at Golden Meadow High School 

but he also put the year books together.

Our family had a copy of every yearbook he made.

Imagine how upset we were in 85 when Hurricane Juan

flooded our little towns we call DTB (down the bayou)

and we lost them all.

Thanks to Rhetta Domanque for reminding me of

the life he lived before his littlest girl was born.

Missing him big this AM!