A Valentine To Remember

I want to start by wishing everyone a very loverly Valentine's Day. I hope all of you get a smooch from someone you love, today!

As for me, I am spending Valentine's Day with Kaylea, ThiThi, Mom and Jim Bob. We have already enjoyed the traditional Dove Chocolate breakfast. Oh, you mean everyone doesn't eat Dove Chocolates for breakfast on Valentine's Day? Wow, I thought that was a given.

I was reading ThiThi's blog entry the other day about her first Valentine's gift and it got me thinking. I really don't remember the first boy that I bought a Valentine's for. Though, I'm sure it was probably in 4th grade when Dinky Smith was my boyfriend, but I'm not real sure (sorry, Dinky). I will, however, share my first Valentine's memory with everyone.

I guess it was Valentine's Day 1971. I remember my Poppy roaring up in front of the house in his old red Jeep. He came inside carrying two cards and a BIG pink heart. I was so excited when he presented the cards and that beautiful heart to ThiThi and me. My excitement only grew when we opened the box and found that it was filled with chocolates. I am assuming that ThiThi was pretty excited as well, since Mom took a picture of us with the Chocolates. Those were probably the best cream filled chocolates I have ever eaten, because they were from my Poppy.

He always knew how to make me feel special, even when I was two. I love you, Poppy!

A G.R.I.T.S. - And Damn Proud Of It!

Yesterday, ThiThi and I took a roadtrip to Dandridge to visit with Dad and Fris. (Just call us Thelma and Louise). Actually, ThiThi had to work on their computer and I tagged along, but we ended up having a really nice afternoon. Everytime I go to Dandridge I am taken back to the summers of my childhood and filled with nostalgia.

You see, I was born in Jefferson Memorial Hospital on April 1, 1968. We lived in Dandridge from the time I was born until I was 3. Then we moved to Lakeland, Florida, where I lived until I was 22. After we moved to Florida, we could always count on seeing Nana and Poppy's Volkswagon sitting in our driveway on the last day of school. They would drive south to pick us up and bring us home, to Dandridge, for the summer. For the most part our summers were spent just killing time and trying to stay out of our Nana's hair. I remember we would always pester Nana for a dollar and when she would give in we would walk downtown to Tinsley Bible to get a coke at the fountain. Then we would wander around downtown, going to the library, rummaging through Gass's 5 & 10, climbing to the top of the dike, or walking through the Civil War cemetary. You would think we would have gotten tired of this ritual but we did it almost daily.

Oh, but that wasn't all we did during the summer. We would play dress up in the old clothes in Nana's basement; sit under the apple tree in the front yard listening for the buzz of dirtbikes (that meant the boys were coming ~ Poppy said their dirtbikes sounded like a bumblebee in a fruit jar); watch our stories (soap operas) with Nana; go to the Maury ball field at night; catch fireflies and put them in a mason jar for a nightlight; and plunder through the old timey dresser in our room, looking at its jewels like they were treasures we had never seen.

The most memorable thing we did in the summers, though, was going to church. Probably because it was the only time we were able to interact with kids that weren't cousins. We went to First Baptist, but not the new one - oh no - the old one. I can still remember the smell of the old Sunday School building. It was a musty anticeptic smell. Kinda like a moldly hospital, I guess. Nonetheless, I loved that old church. We went every Sunday for Sunday School and Church. There was no such thing as "Children's Church" back then. We sat in the sanctuary with Nana, Dad and Fris and listened to Preacher McCray recite his sermon. I, also, loved Bible School; it was always so much fun. We would play games on the hillside and have our kool-aid and cookies for snack. I guess it is no surprise that I was baptised in that old church and have never moved my membership. Every church I go to just doesn't feel like home, even First Baptist in Dandridge. Since they moved to the new building, it just isn't the same.

Well, back to yesterday, when ThiThi finished working on the computer Dad, Fris, ThiThi and I went to Tinsley Bible for lunch. Dad and ThiThi had slaw dogs (a tradition) and Fris and I had the Bible burgers. Then we all had fried apple pies with ice cream for dessert. It was strange sitting in the old drug store eating the familiar food. We told stories and reminisced about summers and Nana and Poppy and "the good 'ole days". Daddy told stories about his childhood and Fris had a few of her own. Then we walked down the block and went through an antique store (I swear Nana had most of that crap in her house). It was nice walking the streets of downtown again. As we passed the courthouse, I could almost see my Poppy sitting on the bench out back talking to all of his old buddies (all of which are no longer with us). I felt like I had come home again.

My ThiThi

Yes, many of you probably think that Missbw and I are a little weird because we call each other ThiThi. Well, let me tell you the cute little story behind it (don't worry Fris, I will try not to embarrass you too bad ;)

You see, many years ago, our stepmom, Fris, told us this story and it has just kinda stuck with us. Well, once upon a time Fris was on a car trip and began to have a really bad stomach ache. She made my dad stop at a gas station and she quickly made her way to the bathroom. Once inside, she made herself comfortable and proceeded to take care of the stomach pains. (How am I doing so far, Fris?) Then she heard some little girls come into the bathroom. From the sounds of their voices they were about 8 and 4. Together, they went into the stall next to Fris to use the bathroom. As they were using the bathroom, Fris had an uncontrollable gas pain which was rather noisy when it was released (We still ok, Fris?) Then she hears this little voice from the other stall say, "Hee Hee Hee! You tho thilly ThiThi, you faaw-ted." (Now, see Fris, that wasn't so bad, was it?)

So, if you are ever at the mall or WalMart or Target and you hear two grown women saying, "You tho thilly, ThiThi!" You will know that it is Missybw and me. Please come over and say, "Hi!"