Growing Older is Mandatory. Growing Up in Optional.

When I was growing up I dreamed of going to college.  My father was a farmer and my mother was busy raising 7 children.  She told us that if we wanted to go to college, we would have to make good grades and get a scholarship.  We  followed her advice and all 6 girls graduated from college; some with advanced degrees. Our brother took enough college classes to earn a PhD - but most of them had to do with his work at Michelin and didn't apply toward a degree.  I'm convinced he can do anything!


It took me a little longer than most to obtain my degree.  I started to Troy State Teachers College (now Troy University, Troy,AL) in 1952 and attended 5 quarters, before getting married in Oct. 1953.  In 1975 I received my Assoc. of Arts degree from Paris Jr College, TX and in 1976, I graduated with Honors with a  B.S. degree from East Texas State Univ. in Commerce, TX (now Texas A&M at Commerce).


Our sons Ron and Bill were in high school and college while I was completing my college work.  I often had classes with some of their friends.  I remember in a history class they were talking about past history, and I had a strange feeling, since I had lived through those days. I'm sure they must have wondered that that "old lady" was doing in the class room.   I liked chemistry in high school, and was so shocked the first day of chemistry class in college to learn that there so many new elements discovered? after I studied chemistry in 1950 when there were only 52 elements to learn!! I read the following article today that reflects some of my thoughts as a student.  

"The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being..

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.
 She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'
 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium.. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
 
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

'Good friends are like stars...... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'

Springtime in Elba, AL

Lady Banks rose 

Bridal wreath in back yard

Springtime means two things:  pretty flowers and lots of pollen in the air.

Music is good for the Soul

Southeastern Community Band (click to enlarge)

Last night we attended a free concert by the Southeastern Community Band, held at Elbe High School auditorium.  (This photo came from their website and is not the EHS auditorium stage.)

This 60 member band  is comprised  of musicians from all over the Southeast and is conducted by Dr.Johnny Long, Troy Univ. Band Director Emeritus. Their repertoire features marches, Broadway show tunes, jazz and classical music. 

 The concert was  FREE and under the direction of Dr. Johnny Long.   Music performed included: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever


What a great evening and great music.  We especially enjoyed the 1812 Overture and they preformed it exceptionally well.  The drum wasn't quite as loud as cannons that they usually shoot off when the music is played at outdoor concerts.


We were disappointed that not many people showed up to hear the band.  Many of them traveled a long distance to get to Elba to play.  


Elba's own Tom Maddox, retired band director of Elba Elem. school, directed the band in two numbers, and did a fantastic job.   Shawn Hammond, Elba High School band director, also conducted one of the marches.

Super Moon

Extreme Super Moon March 19 Expect Earthquakes, High Tides, Extreme Weather  


Today is March 18.  The moon is unusually large and bright tonight. The first photo was taken at 7 p.m. CST, as the moon was rising.  It was very big and bright.  Click photo to enlarge.


The photo below was taken 30 minutes later from the same place in our front yard.  

It will be interesting to see what unusual weather patterns we have on

March 19.  Nothing unusual predicted for our area.  It was in the 80s today.

From the news today:  "This Super Moon will occur on March 19 when it is in its closest position to the earth this year. This one happens to be a full Moon, so it is time to prepare now. Full Moons in general can cause havoc, and this one for sure will not go unnoticed by anyone.

Get ready for what could be moderate to severe weather patterns, increased seismic activity, tsunamis and more volcanic eruptions than normal. This phenomenon includes the days leading up to March 19 and the days after until around March 22nd."

Seems we've already had lots of unusual weather in March, especially in New Zealand and Japan.

We'll just sit back and see what takes place around the world tomorrow as the moon is close to the earth.  Maybe we can see "the man on the moon".

On Receiving a Standing Ovation

Blue Bear wins state and regional honors

A couple of months ago I had a telephone call from the AL DAR Chairman of the American Heritage Committee, asking if I would be a speaker on the program at the state conference at Auburn in March.  She wanted me to share photos of my bear I made from an old baby quilt.  I entered the bear under the Fiber Arts category, and won first place in the state contest, and then 1st place in the Southeastern Region.  My friend Elsie also won 1st place at the national level for her china painting entry.  We both spoke at the American Heritage  breakfast program, along with 2 other winners.

Neither of us prepared any notes; just spoke about our project, why we select those particular items and how we felt they tied in to the topic for entries.  We were so relaxed, standing in front of all those DAR ladies that morning.  Elsie went first.  She talked about her hobby and her interest in herbs, which she paints on her china items.  When she finished, the ladies all stood and gave her a big round of applause.  We both were so surprised to think they really thought we were so good!!

Next it was my time to speak.  I walked up to the microphone at the front of the room and told the story of the baby quilt I used to cut the pattern for "Blue Bear".  I had photos of the bear and remnants of the quilt, plus a photo of Caroline holding the bear when I gave it to her for her 15th birthday last September.


 I also had a photo of our 3 boys sitting on the quilt when Bill was only 6 weeks old, the father of Caroline.  It wasn't just a bear I made that made my entry so interesting; it was the history behind it. The quilt was made for my cousin's little
 boy  in 1942 (he was a "blue baby" and only lived one month; that's how Blue Bear got his name).  Then my aunt used the quilt for her 2 boys, later giving it to me for our 3 boys.It kept passing along to others in my family and used by a total of 10 children before it finally wore out. My sister returned the ragged quilt to me to dispose of it.  I kept it for awhile and one day decided to make the bear for Caroline.  I had previously made bears from old worn out quilts for the other 4 granddaughters when they turned 18.  Caroline asked me one day if she would get a bear when she turns 18.  I decided to go ahead and make hers while I could still see how to sew!!  
   Click photos to enlarge.

At the meeting, I displayed a bear I had made earlier for a friend, using an old family quilt, so they could visualize the size and shape of "Blue Bear".  I also made a bear of dark brown cotton print and gave it to our State Regent at the end of the program.  When I finished talking and started back to my seat, everybody stood again and there was a loud round of applause.   I was so surprised. I had never had a "standing ovation" before.  I thought what I had done was so simple, and that anybody could enter if they would just try.  You just have to use your imagination to come up with something that fits in the theme of the contest.

I won the  fiber arts contest at the state level a couple of years ago with an oval  rag rug I made from some old, worn bed sheets.  I created a design in the rug by using different shades of green and white.   My entry was designed to talk about how our ancestors made rugs from worn clothing.  Preserving the past was a theme that year.

Pass the syrup at Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) supper

Al Smith at the pancake

Jim Gilmer on the right

Ah, pancakes with butter and syrup for dinner tonight at Elba United Methodist Church where we had have a Fat Tuesday dinner.

Mardi Gras Celebrations include lots of feasting, partying and parading on the big day just before Ash Wednesday - when the Church rules of fasting and sacrifice take effect in preparation for a joyous Easter.

Fred Smith cooking pancakes

 I have been trying to decide what to give up for lent (that I can leave off for 46 days!).   I am thinking I will not eat any slices of bread (does not include pancakes and crackers).  This will be difficult since I love sandwiches. Especially Subway sandwiches and banana or pineapple sandwiches.  All this begins TOMORROW, March 9th, which is Ash Wednesday.

G.R.I.T.S. (Girls raised in the south)

I am proud to be from the South-
Where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter;
Summer starts in April; 
Front porches are wide and words are long;
Macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; 
Pecan pie is a staple;
Y’all is the only proper pronoun;
Chicken is fried and biscuits come w/ gravy;
Everything is darling 
And someone is always getting their heart blessed. 
Have a good day y'all!


(I received this in an email from a friend today)




We have tickets to go to the G.R.I.T.S. musical on March 17 as part of the Coffee Co. Arts Alliance.


I saw this group several years ago and they were so funny.  Hope I'm not disappointed this time around.