A Must See...

I am so thankful that Scrappy shared this with me. Everytime I watch it...it is just amazing...very moving...WOW!...goosebumps galore...so TRUE!!!!

Vacation Rewind

Last week I was on vacation getting ready for the 2009 Morgan Reunion, which in my opinion was a complete success. Here comes the rewind. I had to work Monday, which sucked. So Tuesday was the first day of vacation. Started by cleaning the house and preparing the pool to be opened. Also took Scrappy to the dentist to get a couple wisdom teeth pulled. OUCH! While waiting for her, I was reading the book, Running with Scissors, OH my this is a different book. I have trouble putting it down once I start. I can’t remember who told me about this book, but it is way different from all my Grisham and biographies that I read. Any way Scrappy got done after being tortured big time, so we headed back to the ranch. Wednesday again more cleaning, dusting in the house. Then outside water running in the pool, putting the pump together (hoping for no leaks) and preparing the chemicals and to take off the winter cover. Only a minor leak but fixed when Loser tightened the union that my wussy hands couldn’t. Also Dayle Ann brought over a stack of pictures for me to create a video for Emily for her graduation. Thanks to Loser and Scrappy the cover came off the pool. Water not too bad, threw the chemicals in and waited for them to kill everything in there. As usual I spent some time with my family next door, left about ten thirty that night to start scanning Emily’s pictures. I finished about one thirty that morning. Thursday up by six thirty to start working on the video. Finished at noon. Cleaned pool and added more chemicals for the final cleaning. Easiest opening yet. Only thing left is to put the steps in, but that water is cold and I say one of my lovely nephews will jump in there and put them in for me when they get here. Thanks Paul. Finished up on the house and the only thing left to do is shopping on Friday. Friday went with Scrappy to Wally World (Hate that store) to get things for the reunion. Got home and then cleaned some more then said good enough and waited for the Morgan clan to start arriving. We had Emily’s high school graduation at seven. First ones in was Charlie and Mary and they set up their tent in my lot. Next in was Kevin, Caryn and Greg, then Keith and Diane. Jim called and said his crew would meet us at the gym. I started up my AC cause the house was getting a little warm. We all headed up to the graduation. Emily had a huge support crew there. So proud of Emily she was the valedictorian plus she earned many scholarships. We ended up at Pistol City to finish celebrating Emily’s success. But first I ran home with Loser, Scrappy and the girls, and I found my house hotter than hell. OH shit the AC isn’t working, opened up all the windows and hoped for a breeze to cool it. And Loser was busy stealing Chuck’s golf clubs, just to you know be a pain in the ass. Pistol City was fun, or was that cause they sell Miller Lite? We ended up back at the hot ass homestead. Kevin and Diane kept me up until one excuse me I mean one fifteen according to Kev. Saturday got up at six and started calling Loser to get her up to start BBQing. Finally got her moving and myself too. Time to get ready for the Herbie and Betty Mae Reunion. Other than my ass a dragging from staying up with Kevin and Diane plus all the getting ready from Tuesday until Saturday, the reunion was a blast. Missed Dad and Mom like crazy but they were right there with me as always. The little ones kept me going, can’t wait until they are a little older next year. After the park we headed back to my house where those crazy kids got in that cold ass pool. Shivering and blue they didn’t care and according to some of the bigger kids, there was some shrinkage. ;) Finished the night just bonding with family over a few beverages. Did Caryn ever catch up with Ivan? Next morning the guys went golfing, I opted to stay home with my little dudes. More family bonding just sitting around. One by one they would pack up and head, but we decided that October would be the 2nd unofficial reunion/bon fire/birthday bash. I did get lucky and Kevin, Caryn and Greg decided to stay one more day. It was great graduation and reunion; enjoy some of the pictures below.

Emily and Drew...Awwwwww

Greg says the water is COLD!
Did Aunt Edna tie Chuck's shoe together?

Anna Belle loves the water!

Turtle loves Ma Ma's Mac N Cheese!

Scrappy, Turtle and Bird styling in their family shirts

Brandon give Emily's knee a rest Emily giving her valedictorian speech YEAH EM!

Herbie was smiling over this table

Hunter taking the big boys to school

Megan, Greg and Anna Belle having fun!

Yes it was as fun as it looks.

Peace Out!

Happy Mother's Day

I hate this time of year. I hate all the commercials on the radio and TV. I am sure the years to come it will get easier, but this is my second Mother’s Day without my beautiful Mama. Nope it isn’t getting any easier.

I stole this idea out of Tim Russert’s book, Wisdom of our Fathers, Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons, which by the way if you haven’t I would suggest that you read it and also his book, Big Russ and Me. Reading these two books brought back many memories of my Dad and Mom. Things I haven’t thought about in a long long time. One chapter in the book was devoted to these sons and daughters just writing letters that they told why they love their Dad. So I here is mine to my Mama…

OK Betty Mae gonna start with my earliest memories and venture through 40 wonderful years with you…

I loved it when you would walk with me and watch as I would head over to Margie and Melt’s, Ron and Joanie’s and down to Oscar and Marie’s.
I loved when you picked me up and consoled me and cleaned me up after Oscar and Marie’s dog plowed me over and I had nothing but muddy paw prints all over me.
I loved that you got me a dog (wish I could remember his name) that would grab my diaper or clothes if I even got close to the road.
I loved that you jumped in the pin to get the hurt baby pig, but when his Mama came I was scared and glad you got out of there in time.
I loved how you cared for the baby pig in the house until he was well enough to get back in the pin.
I loved how you held me when Dad was getting the splinter out of my butt. Guess I should have listened to you about not sliding down the stairs. Ouch!
I loved all the times you fixed my cuts and scrapes, sorry I was such a tom boy, but what choice did I have with the boys using my doll heads as baseballs. :)
I loved when we would walk through the trailer park, down to the beach, up toward Charlie and Mary’s or back and around to Ivan’s.
I loved how everyone envied your ability to keep and grow flowers and plant. Can’t remember her name but the lady in the trailer court would always tease me about you and your elephant ears.
I loved the way you held me in the hall when the tornado was coming toward Okawville.
I loved the way you let me sleep with you and Dad after getting so scared when I seen the ending of part one of Helter Skelter and there he was sitting there with those eyes. And know I didn’t watch the movie just happened to come out and see that image and that was all it took.
I loved when we would walk around the lake and to the little creek and I would catch tadpoles, and amazed cause some had legs. WOW!
I loved your love of country music. Thanks for turning me on to Johnny and Tammy those were the best 8 tracks that a girl could ever want.
I loved how you would play basketball with me even though I made fun of the way you shot the ball and how you usually made it.
I loved your love for Shetland sheep dogs, cause I got some way cool dogs like Rusty, Rocky, Spicey and then you had Gator Dude.
I loved how you had so many flowers growing in the yard in Coulterville, even though I complained about mowing around them. Our yard looked so pretty all the time.
I loved how you would walk up to the school with me for basketball, volleyball what ever it was you and me. :)
I loved how all my friends thought that I had the coolest Mom and they wanted you to adopt them. You treated them all as if they were yours.
I loved how you allowed me to invite them over all the time, cause my house was the best in town.
I loved how you would try to help me with my algebra then end up telling me you got through it by cheating off of some girl.
I loved that you trusted me to run amuck in the neighborhood, just as long as I was in before dark.
I loved that you accepted all my friends, just like you I seen what was on the inside and didn’t judge anyone by what anyone else said. I formed my own opinion.
I loved how you were sometimes a therapist to my friends, listening to their stories about their Mom and Dad’s, or whatever. You always made them feel better.
I loved how you tried to help me learn to write with my left hand when I broke my arm. It was always chicken scratch, but you said it was getting better.
I loved when we would make donuts out of biscuits. Mmmm
I loved helping you make all the pies, yeah like I was helping I just wanted a lot of pie crust left over for your Jiffy Pie. Mmmm Mmmmm
I loved how you made special pies, Cherry for Diane and Kim, Pecan for Ivan, Pumpkin for Rod, Dad loved them all and Me, mine was Chocolate.
I loved how you loved your ornery grandkids all 5 hundred thousand of them. You were the super cool Grandma cause you usually did what ever they asked you and you did the same with your great grandkids.
I loved how you made each one of us kids and grand kids a photo album.
I loved how you took care of me when I got sun poisoning and couldn’t walk, although I think you did make fun of me scooting around on my but everywhere.
I loved how you took care of my many broken bones, sprained ankles, and illnesses.
I loved how you helped me through the death of a few friends.
I loved when we got the pool; we had so much fun in there, you and your unsinkable butt.
I loved when you turned the hose on Diane and me and caused us to get sun burnt. ;)
I loved how you help me get my house together; tearing up carpet and tiles, painting, stripping trim, cleaning and you are the border master.
I loved when I called for help with getting a snake out of my house, you came right over cause you knew Dad would step foot in my house if there was a snake in it.
I loved that as an adult you accepted and treated all my friends with respect even though there were some you wanted me to get the hell away from and I should have listened.
I loved that you came to take care of me when I had my back surgery.
I loved that you had so much fun removing the bandage off my back slowing and pulling the hairs out and watching me squirm. I think you enjoyed that a little too much ;)
I loved the way you took care of Dad when he got sick. You were so strong.
I loved how you helped me with Dad’s death. Again you were so strong, I never would have made it with out you.
I loved how you would go to the cemetery with me when I needed to talk to Dad.
I loved how you did adopt so many, you would accept everyone when their parents or families were too busy judging them for their lives, you didn’t care you showed them love and understanding.
I loved the friends you made when you moved to Sweetbriar. Peggy and Michelle still check up on me. They are such a great ladies.
I loved that you moved in with me.
I loved our last trip to Sweetbriar that was a great weekend.
I loved the way we both laughed our asses off when you had an accident and I was holding your perfume bottle up to my nose while trying to help you. Now that was a funny site.

Mama there are a hundred trillion more memories and I am thankful for each and every one.

I know it is a day early but Happy Mother's Day, Betty Mae. I love you and miss you so much. You were the best, I learned so much from you. Thanks!