Ambassadors for the Human Race

I was in the grocery store this morning and a little black girl walked right up to me, slid her little hand into mine and said, "Hi". She proudly told me she was three years old and she smiled and giggled as she stood there and held my hand for the longest time, chatting with me about things in her toddler language, most of which I couldn't understand. My toddler-ese has been gone for many years now. She was completely at ease standing there with her hand in mine. I did not know her, I did not know her mother, but I felt so honored and special. She could have chosen someone of her own color, or someone she knew, but she chose me, for whatever reason. She must have held my hand and chatted with me for at least three or four minutes before she and her mother left the store. Her name is Jamailia McMeans and although she is a small child, she left a huge impression on me today.
In one fell swoop, she crossed the race barrier with no apprehension and no hesitation. She moved with confidence and took my hand with no aggression, only assertiveness. Her bright little smile invited me to befriend her. Her giggle and the sparkle in her brown eyes made me want to join in the fun that is Jamilia's world. Her openness and friendliness made me respond with nothing but kindness, even when being caught so off guard by this precious little person. What a wonderful ambassador for the human race is this little one! Oh that she could hang on to these wonderful attributes throughout her life, how far could she go?

Seeing her mother, I don't hold out much hope for little Jamailia. Her mother spoke as if she had little education. She was dressed poorly and the look on her face was hard and almost angry. If she had ever had the personality of little Jamailia, she seemed to have lost it and become jaded somewhere along her journey in life. If I had met her alone in a dark alley, I might have been unnerved because of her demeanor.

I remember when my children were small. They didn't see color, or disabilities, or frailities. None of that mattered to them. All that mattered was there was a somebody. The differences were unnoticed as if they were invisible. They only saw a person. One of us. A somebody. I attributed some of that, if not all of it, to the fact that I was teaching them to see people for who they are, not what they look like. I guess, until today, I gave myself too much credit. I think children just don't realize the differences as much as they see the similarities in us. If we are so unaffected by all the "difference" while we are children, when does it start to matter to us?

Maybe the answer is to reach and teach the children, before they develope Jamailia's mother's anger and hardness. Reach and teach the children before they develope my fear of the person wearing that hard, angry look. If we can all come together with giggles and smiles and confidently slide our hand into each other's, not aggressively, but with assertiveness and then say hi and invite each other to be friends, could we not make the world a better, safer place to live? Can we look past the color, the creed, the differences, and just see a somebody? A somebody with whom we probably have more similarities than differences? Don't we owe it to the next generations to try to improve society for them and their offspring?

I am an idealist, I know. But every reality begins with a dream and every dream begins with an idea. Every idea begins with a thought. This thought began when an innocent black child with a head full of blue-beaded braids, spread a little sunshine and human kindness this morning, when she took the hand of an unknown, middle-aged, white woman, smiled up at her with big brown eyes and opened her mind to what just might be possible. For the sake of my children, my grandchildren, little Jamailia, all the children, I hope that possibility can become a reality. In all their innocence, filled with trust and hope, children just might be our best ambassadors for the human race.

On this Inauguration Day, it is my hope that President Obama will be able to use his unique position as a bi-racial American, to bridge some of the racial divides that cause such violence in our great nation. In all actuality, I am banking on the children.

Chloe, Beauty,Prissy,Lady, and Odie. Four ladies and a tramp!

I usually don't worry too much about my big dogs that live outside. They have nice houses with straw bedding put in fresh as needed, plenty of food and water, shade and sun, all in all, a pretty good set up.

Considering they were all strays who were starving and abandoned, it is a pretty cushy home. I keep them on tethers, for which I take a great deal of flack, but I believe in keeping them safe, keeping them from being a nuisance, and most importantly, keeping them safe.

Well, the temperatures were going to be so low for several nights that I just knew I would sleep better if they were not out in the cold. I have bought sweaters for them. Those stayed on a matter of hours and by morning would be off, so what purpose did that serve? So we brought out the kennels, brought in the dogs one at a time, gave them each a bath, then put them in their kennel for the night on a soft, warm blanket.

They didn't know what was going on or how to react to it! It has not been cold enough to warrant bringing them inside for years, so this was the first experience for almost all of them. It didn't take long for them to realize that this was the life. Doggie treats, sleeping with the children nearby, warmth...it was a doggie delight.

They will go back out today and be back inside at night as long as the weather is so disagreeably cold. Anyway, my house, being so small, has been overrun with dogs and kennels and I feel like I am a boarding house for dogs! Although it has taken a good deal of work to bring them in, it has been a great deal of fun for all of us!

Mama, Is Your Seat Hot?

I finally went back to the doctor on Tuesday. I am a firm believer in giving the body time to heal itself and if it doesn't, then go to the professionals. Since I had the same symptoms of my son, who I had taken to the doctor, I followed his prescribed regime for healing. The exception being, I had to keep taking care of others and their affairs during my recovery time and did not have the benefit of lying in bed while someone took care of me. Obviously, rest was a huge factor in the recovery process and I didn't get enough of it.

My daddy had a check-up with his cardiologist on Tuesday, which worked out well for me. I only had to make one trip to Montgomery and was able to kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. So Tuesday morning, my mama, daddy, and myself all troop to the big city for a day of medical analysis.

The doctor gave me a prescription for steroids and antibiotics, but was still a little baffled at the cause of my plight. There is no major problem like strep or sinus infection. So he hopes this medication will take care of things and it seems to be helping to loosen whatever is in my head and throat and my voice is beginning to come back. I am guardedly hopeful that I am on the way to a full recovery. Daddy's doctor gave him a good report, but changed his blood pressure medicine stating that the current meds were causing breathing problems. Wow, he was hospitalized a few months ago with major breathing problems and nobody looked at that medication and determined that it could be a factor at that time? I am amazed at how advanced technology is and can still miss something to obvious.

After all the appointments were finished, I took them to Jim and Nick's for BBQ since Daddy had decided that was the cuisine of choice for the day. My sister, Ellen met us there and we had a most enjoyable late lunch. Daddy is learning to allow us to assist him with things, but it has been a long journey to achieve this. He has a little difficulty getting in and out of my car because it is low to the ground. I finally convinced him to hold my hand to lower and raise himself out of the vehicle instead of "falling" into it and "rocking" to get out of it. Once I proved to him that I was perfectly capable and strong enough to give him support, he was convinced that was a much better way to enter and exit the car. Victory! A hard fought, years long battle has finally ended in triumph...for both of us!

The weather had been pretty pleasant all day, but as it got later, the winds picked up and it got colder. My Daddy is the most cold natured man on the planet. We had not been traveling long when Daddy asks Mama if she was cold to which she replied, "No, I am comfortable." So he said to her, "Well, tell Laura to turn on the heat!". This is typical of him. I am sitting beside him, but instead of asking me himself, he insists on getting Mama to do his dirty work for him. He insists that Mama do EVERYTHING for him and we have been trying to break this habit, but have met with resistance on both their parts. He, because of his stubborn, willful, pride and she, because she doesn't want to hear him complain (I guess) or maybe just sympathizes with him too much, I don't really know why. It is beyond my comprehension. Whatever the reason, I am sick with this "thing" and I cough horribly when I get too hot, so I was not turning on the heater in the car on a day when it is 68 degrees outside. My car has heated seats, so I turned his on High, turned the AC/Heater to dual, turned his side to 80 and mine to 60. After about 25 minutes, he says, "Mama, is your seat hot?". She said, "No, I am comfortable" and I began to laugh. He said that if he could get his feet under him, he would be alright, but his backside was about to roast! Well, by now, I am almost to the point of having to pull the car to the side of the highway...I am in hysterics. I told them about the seat heater and turned it off. Mama started to laugh and Daddy started laughing and I remined him that he told Mama to tell me to turn on the heat. He said he meant the heater. I told him that maybe next time he might want to tell me himself so that the message didn't get skewed by being delivered third party. We all just kept laughing so hard about it until we got to their house. It was just so funny!

As of late, they seem so much more relaxed and at ease when I am with them. They are actually fun to be around. I think the "come to Jesus" meetings that my sisters Patty and Ellen have had with my Daddy may have just had an impact on him. My hopes are that whatever has made the difference, it will last. They deserve to be able to enjoy not only their last few years on earth, but enjoy each other, enjoy us, and enjoy the time we share. It is so much more pleasant to be with them when we can be ourselves and even laugh at ourselves together.

I Have No Voice!

For about a week, I have had laryngitis. My voice comes and goes....mostly goes. I am quite frustrated about the whole thing. I am phoning the doctor again tomorrow for a visit to see what he can do for me this time. This has been a most horrible week for me. To be unable to speak my mind is torture and I do not know how mute people keep their sanity.

My children and husband on the other hand, have enjoyed one of the most pleasant weeks of their lives and did not mind telling me so. Although, they claim to be making a joke, one never knows how much truth lies in these types of disclosures.

I am counting the hours until I get some relief from this horrid affliction. You may just hear me scream my joy when I do finally retrieve my vocal ability. Be listening.

Photos from the Williams family holiday.

I drove the GG's to and from, so they could visit for the day with Ellen's family members. I think they enjoyed it.

The first photo is Sophia turning somersaults and tumbling on the floor for our entertainment. She is not shy anymore! She kept us going the whole time I was there!

Side note* Mama is wearing the sweater and vest that Pat sent to her for Christmas. Doesn't it look good on her?

A Year In Review Meme

A summary of 2008 from the perspective of my life.

1. What did you do this year that you never did before?

Embarrassingly, I balanced my checkbook all by myself! I am letting my grey hair show. I did Yoga Booty Ballet and Hip Hop Abs, but not for long. I rode on the Fort Deposit Library's Christmas float dressed as a cow (John Deere cowbell, udders, and all) for the entire town to view. I started a blog!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more this year?

I did not fare well with last year's and I am tardy with this year's resolve. I just today realized that resolutions had not crossed my mind.

I resolve to be better in mind, body, spirit, and service. I will be involved in an exercise regime at least three times weekly and look for opportunities to exert myself beyond that.

I will read more, study my scriptures more, and endeavor to keep my mind sharp. (Ha,ha!)

I will nuture my spiritual self and indulge in outlets that express my inner nature and creativity. I will spend more time in prayer with my God.

I will look for opportunity to do for others, especially, but not limited to, those who are unable to do for themselves. I will do it joyfully and quietly, and if it is known that I am the benefactor, I will give the credit and glory to Whom it belongs...my Lord.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My youngest stepdaughter gave birth to Annabelle Lee Nesbitt-McCann in October.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Aunt Bill, 96 years old, went home in December.

5. Where did you travel?

To Gulf Shores, a couple of times.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A clean, clutter-free house. Better yet, a bigger house, but still clean and clutter-free.

7. What dates will be etched upon your memory from 2008 and why?

Dates, I don't remember, but the events are frozen in time for me. Annabelle's birth, the election of Obama, my mama's 85th birthday, my daddy's 90th birthday, and their 65th wedding annniversary, the death of my Aunt Bill, the dissolving of our partnership with my brother-in-law, my son driving the car for the first time ever (around the parking lot) and the look of sheer glee and pride on his face.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

My daily life, in its chaos, is my biggest achievement. Getting through my crazy, event-filled days with my sanity somewhat intact is an accomplishment in itself. I realize how lame that is and I am shooting for bigger and better things in 2009. Things that will actually pertain to MY life and MY dreams, not necessarily the lives of my husband and children.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I failed my family by losing myself in them.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

A houndstooth shawl. Roll Tide!

11. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Supermassive Blackhole by Muse, from Twilight

12. What do you wish you had done more of?

More cleaning, more entertaining, more time with the kids, more time for me.

13. What do you wish you had done less of?

Less feeling guilty, less yelling, less goofing off, less hiding away from the world.

14. What was your favorite TV program?

I don't watch new TV, but I found 7th Heaven reruns. I had never seen them the first time around and I love that show. I also found Reba reruns.

15. What was your favorite movie?

Twilight, Walle

16. What was the best book you read?

The Shack

17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?

A maid.

18. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Does this fit anymore and is it comfortable? Sad,but true.

19. What kept you sane?

My therapist, my friends, my faith.

20. Who did you miss?

Me.

21. Who was the best new person you met?

I am not sure that I met anyone new, who had a huge impact on me. I didn't get out much.

22. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2008.

a)People hear and listen to someone who controls their emotions. Those who lose control of their emotions are generally considered to be raving lunatics. b)I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. c)I am blessed beyond what I deserve.

23. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I was sure by now that you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in to save the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining.

As the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I am with you"

and as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God Who gives and takes away.

I remember when I stumbled in the wind. You heard my cry.

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on if I can't find You?

I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands

For You are Who You are no matter where I am

Every tear I've cried you hold in Your hand

You never left my side and though my heart is torn

I will praise you in this storm.

~Casting Crowns~ Praise You In This Storm

Whew! If you read as far as I wrote, we are both tired! If you feel inspired, I'd love to read about your 2008 summary. If you don't blog, email!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fireworks!

There is nothing quite so exciting at New Year's for my children than the annual fireworks display that my husband and son put on for us each year. The son (who has always been a bit of a pyromaniac) gets a thrill out of being able to light the fuses, now that he is older. The girls are just enthralled by the glitter and the sparkle, although it takes a little getting used to the very loud explosion.

When they were little we couldn't afford much in the way of display. We had to travel and rely on others to provide spectacular shows for us. It was more difficult than staying home, but always worth it to see their little faces glow with wonder.

With each year, it seems we have been able to upgrade our pyrotechnics and this year, we had a true show that lit up the night sky! And BOY, was it loud! But it was beautiful. Best of all, my son feels so grown when he can be responsible and 'handle' the explosives and he does a good job and the girls still squeal with delight with each explosion of glitter and colorful light.

We will look forward to Independence Day to see what kind of fireworks display Daddy can come up with to top this one!