Deep In The Forrest

I've been unable to get to sleep tonight, although I felt very tired when I went to lay down and attempt to go to sleep. You see, I've been doing my Thanksgiving cooking, so maybe it's just all the memories preventing me from actually getting some shuteye. Me, Giving Y'all The Bird Right now, as I write this, it is 3:45 AM (Thanksgiving Morning). Those childhood feelings and memories of my parents have been woven into each dash of seasoning, every stir of the spoon or whipping of the batter. As I chopped, saute'd and pureed, all I could see in my mind's eye were visions of my Dad and Mom working together in the kitchen, days before and all the way up to Thanksgiving morning getting everything ready for our big dinner together.  Holidays were always exciting to me growing up because it was the only time that all of my siblings would pile in at the same time (mostly) and all the kids and we had a true houseful. I would wake up early to the succulent s...

Life is uncertain, so let's continue finding something to celebrate every day. Now, I am not the most consistent person when it comes to my trends, or my writing. I am trying hard to make the effort. You can keep encouraging me. I have included today's list below, and out of these, I chose "National Crayola Crayon Day" as it peaks my inner child's artistic enthusiasm, as well as reminds me of a funny story about myself and my heart-thumping 5th/6th grade crush, Ken. Oh lord, Ken... He and his family were from deep in the heart of Texas. Ken was the middle son of three boys, and six years my senior. With that rich, Texan drawl, and his sky blue eyes and sandy hair, he was the wild child star of my middle school dreams (insert hilarious giggle there). His parents and my parents were best friends, they hung out and visited one another, had dinners, coffee, played dominoes, all that.  Funny how you think at that age, but I was convinced that if I could just have one...

Memphis weather is fickle if not bitchy at times. One day, spring has sprung with all of its warmth, color and glory, and the next day Mother Nature is on her period and brings us a cold snap complete with ice and snow. Everyone rushes out to the stores to pick up their emergency stock of bread and milk in case they die in the tragic freeze (which lasts until about 6 p.m.), then it's back to business as usual. Spring comes in on the heels of winter, rarely a smooth transition but once it begins to even out, the short magical spell lasts maybe a week or two before rushing head first into the melt of summer, which is hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hell (with a side of mud and bugs). Through this sweet handful of days where we get to feel that hope, perfect temperatures and spirit of renewal, I am usually reminded of a few delightful childhood memories. This morning I was reflecting on just one particular such memory, which I am pretty certain was about 6th grade (I w...

Something began to stir me around in my unabashedly peaceful slumber. My eyes, sealed shut were not yet ready to awaken, yet as I slowly floated back toward my small, pleasantly plump little Earth costume to which I was currently assigned (harumph!!), 'Wait what was that? What was I thinking about again..." my shifting thoughts faded into a fog as I transitioned and unwillingly continued waking from the heavy, cozy child's dreamland... My Mother, who at the time had a standing weekly appointment to get her hair done ('teased'), was letting me know it was time to get up and get our big Saturday started. The hour was early, and most times I got my fill of the early morning "Saturday Cartoons", which always included Bugs Bunny and friends, and several other classics. I remember making a 'couch cushion fort' and taking in as many of the cartoons as I could before we had to leave to run errands and go to the Beauty Shop. Like it was yesterday, I ca...

April Fools!!! I am quitting the blog, leaving my husband and moving away to Zimbabwe to marry into their royal family. Oops, Darn!! I always screw that part up, guess I blew the April Fool's Joke!! ;) This morning I was rushing around like mad, trying to get going. I thought to myself briefly how it felt like this entire week so far had been dragging as slow as it could get (not that I want to rush things, I wish we would all adhere to 'time is an illusion'). So though I was running late, I still had to stop for fuel, which is a huge hassle too. (Photo at left of AJ as a teenager--yes she is a girl, nevermind that hideous haircut-- riding the Honda MB5 through the yard, back in th' day!) Right around the corner from my house is my little ol' "stand by" gas station. It's called "Sack-n-Save", although I'm not quite sure what you are saving by going there since every item is an arm and a leg. Growing up, we affectionately named this place...

The day started off cloudy and windy, but Mother Nature has promised us partly cloudy and 72 Degrees or so by this afternoon. So it looks like it will shape up to be quite a lovely Friday. I was sitting at my desk first thing this morning, and some noise that I heard reminded me of Bugs Bunny cartoons, it was some little "ditty", just the tune of the very beginning of some of the cartoon episodes on there. Suddenly, I was transported back in time to a simpler, more secure era... I am six years old and it's a lovely, cool Saturday morning... Daddy "marked off" so he could be home with his family like he does sometimes. He doesn't care as much about the money as he does about being with us... I mean, he wants to make sure that the bills are paid and that we have food to eat and clothes on our backs, but he hates to be gone from us. So he takes off when he can. I love it when Daddy is home because we wake up like this and watch cartoons. He's my best buddy ...