A little over 24 hours ago my world stood still and I don't know when it's going to start moving again. What began as an idle Thursday summer evening of Candy Crush and television, quickly transformed itself into a mind numbing event. What you often try to rationalize as unthinkable, became the thinkable. There was an active shooter in the movie theater I often frequent, as recently as a few days ago, causing destruction on my city.
I haven't always thought of Lafayette as my city, because it's not my city by birth, or even circumstance. It's my city by choice. I chose to go the the University of Louisiana and live my college years as a Ragin' Cajun. I chose to stay in the Lafayette area and become a teacher to help shape the community. I chose to embrace the culture, that I haven't always felt like I fit into, and make it my own. As the years have come and gone, I have chosen to make Lafayette my home, enjoy all that it has to offer, and even have eaten some boudin along the way.
However, it wasn't until last nights events that I truly realized that Lafayette is my city. That is is my home. I found myself not being able to put down the phone or turn off the television, because the people of my city were hurt. And they will be hurting for a long time to come.
Tragedies like this will never make any sense, if that was the case we would perhaps call them something different. But, my take away from this is the unfriendly reminder to tell the people you love that you love them, don't go to bed angry, let go of the small stuff, and never take a single moment for granted. Perhaps as the days come and go, our hearts will begin to get a little less heavier. However, one of the things that I have always loved about the place that I call home, is that it is truly a place that knows how to Live....Love....Laf.....
Like many elementary schools across the Nation tomorrow, my school will be having a Veteran's Day program. A program to honor those who served our great Nation and gave all or some, and put their lives in harms way so that we can enjoy and celebrate, but remember not to take our freedoms for granted.
As part of our celebration, we were asked to bring photos of our loved ones who have served. Without hast, I proudly brought pictures of two of my best friends, my Papaw and my Dad. Both of whom served in the Navy and Air Force respectively. As I stood in front of that bulletin board with pride, a co-worker came up to me and made the comment about how young everyone looked. And in the blink of an eye, I was like I realized just how young they really were.
My Papaw often humbly told stories of his time in World War II (or W-W-2 as he often referred it to). However, the truth of the matter is that he was an 18 year old kid who had hardly ever been away from Paducah, KY and was about to seen things unforeseen. He would often make light of the fact that his draft notice opened up with "Greetings", as if it were some sort of party invitation. It that envelope and draft number that sealed his fate for years to come. As a child, he would often entertain the grand kids with stories of going off to the Navy Pier in Chicago and being told that he needed to dive for a swim test. After telling them that he didn't know how to swim, the pushed him off the board, and in his words, he learned that day. It wasn't long after that they he would be on a Naval carrier to participate in the island hopping campaign, fighting in the Battle of Tarawa, that took place from November 20-23, 1943. Often he would tell stories about being so nervous on the ship, that he and others would vomit out of fear, and of his friend Benny. Who was a total stranger until they bonded on that ship and leaned on one another for comfort, friendship, support, and courage. It wasn't until I was a grown women, that I really and truly knew and understood what my Papaw did during his time in the Navy. He faced death, destruction, and possibly guilt and fear, so severe, that many of us will never fully comprehend it.
Then there is my dad, who in 1966, knew his draft number was coming sooner rather than later, so decided to enlist in the Air Force, because at least something would be on his terms. He was 18 going on 19 and had barely been away from home, when he found himself in basic training in San Antonio then off to Wetherfeild, England to serve in the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing. When you ask my dad about his time in the service, will will often share with you stories of drinking at pubs in London, eating fish and chips, and the friends he made along the way. But what he doesn't realize is that he is so humble about what he did. In addition to enjoying his time across the pond, he also would take supplies and other materials for our troops to Benghazi, yes that Benghazi. Putting his life on the line with each trip in and out of that militarized zone, in order to make sure the war effort in Vietnam carried on.
These two men, and many other veterans out there, were still kids when they signed the papers to put their life on the line and step into a world of unknowns. At the age of 18 or 19, I can't imagine leaving my friends and family, not knowing when and if I would see them again. So often, it seems that many veterans, are so humble about their acts of courage. However, I don't know that words could ever really and truly tell their stories of bravery.
In my opinion, we could never really and truly give the thanks that these men and women deserve. We can also never pay it back, but we can always pay it forward. Rather it's a thank you, cup of coffee, nod of the hat, or a care package. Let them know.
Tomorrow, I will be walking into that assembly with my chest puffed out, proud that two of my best friends are on that wall.
I recently came across a blog that took both my head and my heart on a trip down memory lane, and gave me the inspiration and the swift kick in the rear, that I needed, to get back into the blogging world. It was a wonderful piece by Charlotte Alexander Strode entitled I Miss Kentucky Always, that paid homage and tribute to the place I will forever call home. Nearly two years have come and gone since I went back to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and over two decades since it has stopped being my home. However, it has been less than a minute since I reflected on the memories that I took with me when I left. There is something about Kentucky that I love, always. Ask anyone who has had the fortune of living there, they will say the same. (It's hard to deny considering I have yet to go to a place in this country where I haven't come into contact with at least one member of the Big Blue Nation). I think that sometimes it's easy for people to become narcissistic about their home state, but it's easy to do. It's not only the place where you entered the universe, but often the creator of minutes and moments that make you the person who you are today. For me, it did many things. Things like thinking chili should always be served with noodles, knowing what real BBQ is, choosing March Madness over the BCS any day, and savoring that last bottle of Ale-8-One, because you don't know when another six pack will come your way. And sometimes, when you leave this place, you realize that your time spent there making memories was unselfishly taken for granted, until you no longer have the chance to make those memories again. I often find myself missing the scenery. I miss looking at the beauty of the foothills of the mountains turning into rolling hills of Bluegrass, that will metaphorically always hold my footprints. I miss the elegance of a freshly bloomed Dogwood Tree and the wonder of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers coming together in one big and beautiful magnificent stream. There is also the privilege of four seasons and watching nature evolve over the course of time. I miss seeing the leaves on the trees fade into the fall, only to appear again in the spring. Simple reminders that there is always the possibility of a new beginning. I miss the cool summer nights, highlighted with the glow of fireflies and echoed with the sounds of the Ohio River, just as much as I miss the look of untouched snow on a cold winter day. Making the memories and the time that I unselfishly took for granted may be what I miss most of all. I miss the feeling of the concrete under my heels as I ran along the banks of the river and the sound of a crackling fire at my grandparents at Christmas. I miss the fall festivals, picking fresh apples at the orchard, hay rides, chili cook offs, and the sound of "My Old Kentucky Home", from a group of people who really mean it. Memories are often endearing and get us through life. I love the memories of Kentucky that I carry with me. I love the way they make me feel and the smile that they put on my face. Most of all, I love that they remind me that time is often a juxtaposition. Sometimes moving too fast. At other times, appearing not to move at all. Over time, these memories have given me moments of symmetry in an otherwise chaotic universe.
The month of March has come and gone, but the madness was unreal this year for the Big Blue Nation. After what many would consider to be a mediocre season, the Wildcats have made an incredible journey through the brackets, taking down K-State, Wichita State, U of L, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Only to find themselves playing in the finals for the hopes of bringing back #9 to the Bluegrass State.
Doing the John Wall on Mike the Tiger
Loving Kentucky basketball is really something that can't be explained, only experienced. It's screaming at a TV at a bar, calling your family long distance to get through those last 2 agonizing minutes of a thriller, telling other sports fan the stats that make Kentucky the greatest, hating Duke because the 22 year old Laettner wound still feels fresh, seeing old friends and family when you have all shown up from various locals to the Final Four, and proudly wearing your boldest Kentucky shirt with pride.
My journey through the Big Blue Nation, like most Kentucky natives, began at birth. I have lived and breathed through Eddie Sutton, Pitino, Tubby, Billy G, and Coach Cal. I have been to countless games, SEC tournaments, first round action, 2 Final Fours, and even was a witness to Gr8tness in 2012.
2011 Final Four
I will never forget how my heart sank in 1995 when my family left the Bluegrass and landed in the Big Easy. However, I did get the comforts of home when my family would gather in the living room to cheer on our Cats and celebrating the Championships together in 1996 and 1998. Then my fate of leaving the place I still call home brought me to the Final Four in 2011 and 2012.
The Return to Gr8tness
Being a part of the Big Blue Nation means so much more to me than being a member of the greatest fan base in college basketball. It means never being far away from home. No matter if the soles of my feet never touch the soft Kentucky Bluegrass again, I still get the same rush of exhilaration when I watch my boys play. I get a chuckle inside of me when a passerby yells "Go Tigers" when they see my Kentucky sticker and I get a rush in my heart when a fellow Kentucky fan throws some 3 goggles my way in traffic. No matter how far away I am, watching Kentucky play gives me a feeling of joy that I can't explain. But most of all, it means never really being that far away from home.
This journey through the tournament has been an epic one to say the least. Win, lose, or draw, thank you boys for always reminding my why I'm proud to bleed blue.
I promise I didn't give up on this story of my life in 31 easy installments! Today's challenge is a picture from my day. In my usual style throughout my life, I decided to take a twist on the theme. Rather than boring you with a picture of my coffee or a pile of papers I've been putting off going through, I decided to use a picture I came across the other day while surfing around on Facebook...
The moment I saw this, I thought to myself about how much sense it really makes. I am so guilty of wanting to hurry through life and get to where it is I think that I am going. I have a tendency to stew over the past and worry senselessly about the future. But the truth is, that is like wasting a time. Worrying is as useful as trying to ride a bike with no wheels: it's a lot of work, takes up your time, and gets you no where in the end. I have learned the hard way that life is half chance and half choice. We have to make the best out of the chances we get and try as hard as we can to make good choices. Things may not have fallen into place the way I thought they would or even as I had planned. I may not be at the exact point I thought I would be at this point in my life, but I'm ok. I will get there when I get there. And when I do, I plan to arrive in style.
Today's challenge is to dole out a piece of advice that I have for others. There is so much irony that surrounds advice. It often comes to us unsolicited, we don't take it when we really need to, and we are often too full of pride to to ask for it when we really need it. There are also the oxymorons of advice such as "Don't sweat the small stuff" and "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger". Well, we all know that sometimes that is a load of crap. There are things in our lives that while aren't huge obstacles to others, but they for the person going through it its worth sweating over. Then there are times we while we do come out alive, we come out feeling much weaker than stronger.
I found this particular challenge a bit challenging in itself. It was hard for me to think of just one piece of advice that I would give out. Then my brain took me back to 1999. I was a senior in high school and there was a popular new song on the radio, Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen. It was your typical song that came out during graduation season, geared towards bright eyed and bushy tailed kids in their late teens that were about to embark on the real world. However, I have never forgotten the teachers that played this song for us and how I like the song just as much today as I did at the turn of the century.
So, with all that being said, I think that if I were to give you all only one piece of advice, it would be to listen to this song and make of it what you will.
My seventh challenge on this blogging journey to tell the story of me, is to let you in on what scares me the most. I've always thought of fears to be strange little things. We all have them at some level or another. But to me, the irony of that, is that what makes one person tremble inside with fear is just another detail of life for others. I am just as guilty of this as the next person, but we sometimes poke fun at other's fears and consider them irrational. However, to them, their fears are very rational and very real.
There are many things in this world that frighten me. One being rodents of any kind and frogs. I have no problem taking off my flip flop and smacking a roach, I don't scream when I see a big spider creeping my way, but a mouse or a frog...no way. I will run and jump on the highest place of safety to avoid any sort of contact.
Another, more serious fear that I have is to not accomplish everything in my life that I want to. I'm not talking about things like driving a luxury car or having a large bank account, but those real goals that I have set for myself such as the level of success that I hope to one day reach both personally and professionally.
The challenge for today is to pretend that I'm telling someone what I do for a living, without giving them the exact job title. If I were doing this in real life, I'd probably go off on a tangent that would last hours, and would most likely involve drawing diagrams and maybe raising my voice (just a time or two).
I am a mommy, nurse, referee, cheerleader, confidant, and conflict resolver. I train brains to look at the big picture and not to simply just memorize information. I also assist in the process of growing brains to think about the who, what, when, where, how, and why. I enforce the acquisition of using prior knowledge and applying it to new things, books, experiences, and life. I encourage responsibility, self-reflection, acceptance, and goal setting. I am a real job creator.
The fifth challenge on this jaunt down memory lane for me, is to thank my best friends. Although, when it comes to friendship, I think quality definitely outweighs quantity. The older I get and the more trips around the sun that I make, I realize the importance of having good friends to lean on and turn to when I need it the most. I am very fortunate to have made such good friends along my journey in life. Friends that answer the phone even when it's too late for a phone and will indeed tell me when my pants, in fact, do make me look fat. These girls are my inner circle and mean the absolute world to me.
There is my friend Jennifer who was one of the first friends that I made when my road through life lead me to Lafayette. From somewhere around 1999, we have shared secrets, laughter, heartbreaks, joy,tears, and random road trips to places both near and far. Thanks Jen for always being the best listener!
There is my friend Candice, who has made some potentially boring moments in life super exciting. We never fail to make each other laugh. If I was ever going to have to share a $15 biscuit with anyone, I'm glad that it was you. I promise you this Candice, one day we're going to take this show on the road!
There is my friend Magen who is always up for trying something new, even though we decide that we're going to try something and then realize why we weren't doing it in the first place. Magen, you are always a phone call or text away when I need it the most!
There is my friend Doris. We have shared so many fun times together and have the same wicked (and sometimes off color) sense of humor. We share everything from secrets to random people watching episodes. Thanks for always sensing when I need a pick-me-up and sending my that funny e-card that somehow reflects an experience that we've had.
There is also family that is like friends. My older sister and I are just about as opposite as you can get (except for being died hard members of the Big Blue Nation, DMB wannabe groupies, and boy band fanatics). Although the road through our teenage years was a bit of a bumpy ride, we made it, and now we can't get enough of each other. You're an awesome big sister, but having you as a friend is just an added bonus!
My mom is no exception to this rule. Our paths and experiences through life are so parallel at times, that is sometimes can seem unreal. We talk almost everyday, share jokes and secrets, and catch up on the latest reality TV. It's a shame we don't have matching bracelets or something, you know like a BFFs type of thing. Regardless...you're the best and I'm glad that you're mine!
Just as there is family that are like friends, there are friends that are like family. About four and a half years ago I was a supervising teacher for an early intervention intern. I was told that we were placed together because they though we'd be a good match. This person turned out to be my friend Dana who has become one of the closest people to me. Our working relationship quickly developed into a bond that built it's foundation on advice, venting, people watching, and coffee. We're "Peas and Carrots 2.0"
There is one more I'd like to add. My friend Erin (who I can't find any pics with. We need to change that). You are my intellectual soul sister and I am so glad I have you to have "discussions" with. And since we have no pics, I found an ecard that I find fitting.
Today's challenge was fun one for me. It was to talk about my favorite quotes, but it was hard to pick just one, because I love quotes. I think quotes are pretty powerful things. They start of as simple words from sometimes ordinary, to sometimes extraordinary people. Each and everyday, people ramble on about this and that, the world, themselves, their children, etc. But every once in a while, someone says something that is so powerful and so unforgettable, that those words and their message become embossed in the world for all of eternity.
The quote that I ultimately chose after a bit of deep thought and meditation, was the above one by Anne Frank, because it has a lot of meaning for me. First of all, it takes me back to my 8th grade year at Turkey Foot Middle School in Edgewood, KY to my English-Language Arts class. My teacher, Mr. Hart, was one of those exemplary teachers that left a lasting impact on both my head and my heart. His room was painted bright blue, he shook your hand at the door everyday, he taught me that art of show not tell in writing, and if your writing wasn't up to par...he let you know and helped you fix it. He even play Whitney Houston's I Believe the Children are the Future on our last day of 8th grade because he truly believe it. I still have my journal from his class, and go back and read it from time to time to take a stroll down memory lane. During that year, like many 8th grade students, we read the Diary of Anne Frank. I learned more about Nazi Germany in his middle school English class than I ever did in a history book. We didn't just read the book, we learned it and lived it. Every thing from interview Holocaust survivors to learning about concentration camps to going to the play to see how Anne Frank's story came to life.
I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank and turning each page with anticipation to see just how her story unfolded. It amazed me then and still amazes me today, that although she literally went to hell and back for no reason other than someone else's bigotry and hatred, she kept her face in the sun. I've always had a feeling that with every stroke of her pen, that Anne Frank probably knew that she would never make it out alive. But what she didn't know, was that her words would leave her footprints on the history of the world.
It takes a strong heart to go through what she went through and to at the end of the day still think that everyone has something good inside of them. Sometimes, on my hardest days, when I feel like the world is against me, I think of this quote and remind myself that if Anne Frank can still see the good in people, so can I.
My third challenge along this blogging journey to tell you the story of me in 31 days is to let you in on the things that make me uncomfortable. We all have a comfort zone...and when we leave it, it's nothing pretty. I consider myself to be pretty outgoing, so things like public speaking and getting up in front of a crowd of strangers just doesn't bother me. To be honest, I sort of like being the center of attention. However, there are things that do take me out of my comfort zone and make me feel less than stellar. Let me put it to you this way....I am not Jeremy Piven in Entourage....I do not like to "Hug it out". Sure, I don't mind exchanging an embrace with my family or a close friend. But if you really want to know what gives me the heebie jeebies...it's when someone who is an acquaintance, I don't know that well, or haven't seen in a while....comes up and hugs me. Lame. I know. But it just makes me feel weird. But, at the end of the day, I guess that's what helps to make the world go round....that we all have just a little bit of weirdness inside.
Today's challenge is to educate my readers about something that I know a lot about or I am good at....an expert if you will. This is very challenging within itself for a variety of reasons. For one...it's very hard to hop up on your soapbox and toot your own horn. Well for me...we all know those people who have their feet permanently hoisted up on their soap box. Also, because when you say that you are good at something you picture people thinking one of two things in their heads: "Is she crazy?" or "Brag...Brag...Brag". It is human nature to automatically zoom in on the things that you are not good at. For me, they include cooking, singing, organizational skills, hitting a baseball, and doing cartwheels. However, with all that out there, I do think that there are a few things in this world that I have found to be my niche.
The first I think is writing (nothing wrong with a bit of self promotion). Not that I am the next Nicholas Sparks or Hemingway by any means, I do think that it is something that I know a bit about and think I am pretty good at. As far back as I can remember, I have always enjoyed writing and the joy that not only gives me, but others as well. There is something special is about being able to put your thoughts, emotions, hope, dreams, and fears out into the world. Something that I really didn't begin to feel confident about until my adult life.
The next is my career. For the past 10 years I have woken up with the sun to go to work as an early childhood special education teacher. Although teachers are often the butt of jokes and criticism, I feel lucky that I was able to find a career that I not only love, but I am passionate about. I consider teaching my craft and I am no where near perfecting this craft.
The last niche in my life is random trivia. I have a strangely photographic memory that tends to hold onto random facts. Things like that when your second toe is longer than your big toe it's called Morton's Toe and that people are genetically programmed to be able to twist and move their tongues in strange directions. This skill has come in handy on many random conversations and bar trivia nights.
I firmly believe that everyone is good at something and more than one thing, although sometimes we don't always let our own light shine. What is your niche?
I know...I know...I've been absent from the blogging world. But sometimes it's just hard to find something to write about. Although I do write down random thoughts in notebooks and journals all over my house, there are sometimes things that I just consider private and too personal to share. That was until I stumbled upon a 31 day blogging challenge. You all are so lucky, that you will get to read, live, and maybe even stand in awe of the story of my life told through 31 witty, candid, gritty, raw (ok...I'm just being melodramatic). The first challenge is to tell the story of my life in 250 words....so here it goes....
I was born
in Paducah, KY on Thanksgiving Day 1980….make the Woodling family a complete
family of 4. I spent the first decade of
my life making memories that included birthday parties at the skating rink,
family nights on the rivers, and fun at MaMaw’s and Papaw’s. From there my
family set off to Northern Kentucky where I would spend the next 3 years coming
of age and being a student at TurkeyFoot Middle school. Northern Kentucky is
still the keeper of memories for me like sunsets on the river, ice cream with
my friend Elizabeth, and baseball games with the family. As high school started
so did my new life in the suburbs of the Big Easy-the hardest transition of my
life. But during those 4 years I found out who I really was and made a few
friends along the way. Then it was time to gain independence and set off to
college at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Those 4 years came and went
with memories, friends, and nights that turned into mornings that I will
cherish in my heart of hearts forever. In the years that have come and gone
since my graduation in May 2003, I have earned a Master’s Degree in Education
and have 10 years as a special education teacher under my belt. I have grown
and changed in so many ways since that Thanksgiving Day 1980….and I can’t wait
to find out where the next stop on my journey will be.
There are certain things that just get better with time. Things like wine, good friends, laughter, and our decision making skills. Also, for myself and many other young professional women....New Kids on the Block are also on that list. In 2008, a girlhood dream of mine came true and the 5 (sexy) boys from Boston got back together. Since they have reunited...I have seen them 4 times. There are some things that simply are just money well spent.
This past weekend, my dear friend Magen and I went to see "The Package Tour" (which I say should have been the '12 Packages' Tour). Boyz II Men, 98 Degress...NKOTB. Never in my life have I seen so much sexy wrapped on one stage packed into 3 and a half hours. Although our seats weren't as close as they were at the last concert (you know...the one where Mr. Donnie Wahlberg himself noticed, pointed out, and gave a pelvic thrust to my sign) it was just as much fun.
Boyz II Men took the stage first. For just a moment, I felt like I had gone back in time to my days at Turkey Foot Middle School (yes....that was the name of my middle school). They sang all the greats...Bended Knee...I'll Make Love to You...Motown Philly....just to name a few. It's funny how after all these years you never let go of the lyrics or how they made you feel at one point in time.
Next up was 98 Degrees. Now, I really don't know much about them. They pretty much came to the popularity of the American Girls' eyes when I was stuck somewhere between looking at Bop Magazine and figuring out my lot in life. But I did know a few of their tunes and Nick Lachey is easy on even the weakest of eyes.
Then after a brief intermission, they Heavens opened and the boys from Boston transcended. As usual, they were fantastic. They played all of the classics...Please Don't Go Girl...The Right Stuff...Step By Step...I'll Be Lovin' You Forever....Hangin' Tough. It was all that I could have ever asked for and more. After 25 years, they still make me feel the same. -
Although my big sister, Kellie, did not make this show, I know that she was there in spirit. I even felt a little sense of guilt when Joey Joe himself jumped into our section during Tonight. We may have pulled out each other's hair over some Tiger Beat posters, but these boys have helped to bring us closer together during our coming of age years.
Sorry Sister
But as usual, I wouldn't have traded my night for the world. For those of you who don't know, NKOTB has a song called Tonight...that starts something like "Remember when we said girl please don't go and how we'd be loving you forever....". Yes, I remember. And I also remember how it made me feel....young, energetic, free, and without a care in the world. Thank you Donnie, Joe, Jordan, Danny, and Jon for helping keep the girlhood spirit in me alive and well!
For whatever reason the other day, I came to the realization that I am now twice as old as I was at 16. That as of this moment, 16 was the mark of half of my life. I began to think back at how I was at 16 and what my hopes, fears, and dreams are. The unexpectedness that the next 16 years would have for me and how irrational fears would be subsided and the realities of life would set in.
With that being said, I thought to myself, if it were possible to somehow transcend the hands of time and send a Back II the Future style letter to the 16 year old me, what would I say? And this is what I would want me to know.
Dear Katie, High school, learning to drive, and staying fashionable are not the tragedies that you think they are. Over the next 16 years you will come to find out that the real worries in this life are things that will blindside you on an idle afternoon. Things like saying good-bye to someone you love rather it be through death or twists of faith, getting a midnight phone call to let you know someone tried to hurt your loved one, but they are now OK, coming to the realization that nothing lasts forever, that friends come and go, and being an eyewitness to just how debilitating sickness and disease can be. These things will all challenge your faith in humanity, but will bring you closer to the ones who truly love you and to those who you truly love. People will piss you off. Friends will talk about you behind your back, boys won't call you when they say they will, and others will take your kindness for weakness. But all that is small stuff. Don't sweat that. In the long run, you will learn that taking the high road benefits those who piss you off just as much as it benefits you. There will be good times too. You will fall in and out of love and have the time of your life along the way. You will graduate from college and find your passion as a special education teacher and continue to chase your dreams as an advocate for children with special needs. You will earn a graduate degree and decide that you want your path to be in making a change in the world in education. Your sister will give you the most epic birthday present ever and take you to Vegas to see Dave. You will even come full circle when you watch the Cats cut down the nets for Number 8 in the Big Easy. Some days you will laugh. Some days you will cry. Some days you will laugh through the tears and others you will cry from all the laughter. There will be good days, bad days, and days that are even worse. But remember this. Take it all one day at a time. It won't change the path. Love, Me, you, us
Recently, I had to take a trip I didn't want to make, but one that I always new was inevitable to come one day. I made the 600 mile drive to my hometown of Paducah, KY to say good-bye to my PaPaw who left this world after making footprints all over it for the past 89 years. He made footprints running up and down Old Mayfield Road....he made history when he left his footprints on the shores of the Pacific fighting in the Battle of Tarawa....he also made footprints as a daddy, husband, friend, and "World's Greatest Papaw".
Papaw in the Gilbert Islands in 1943
Serving in the United States Navy Acorn Unit #17 during the island hopping campaign
What is amazing, is that we always think we have heard all the stories (and Papaw was full of them). The stories of growing up, living through the depression, WWII, what life used to be like, and when those who are now the grown ups were once cool themselves. However, while I was with my family to celebrate his life, I found out a story about Paw that I never knew.....which has now become a story that I will never forget.
Best Friends
It was no secret to anyone that Papaw didn't like music. When he got in the car he turned the ignition on and the radio off. However, there was one song that was always special in his heart....one that is now special in mine. In 1947 when he and Mamaw were young, crazy, and in love, they hopped a train to Mississippi to tie the knot. A trip that would solidify the future for their 3 kids, 7 grandkids, and a future generation that has yet to come. Fast forward to the 70s when my uncle was heavy into folk music and was playing the now classic rock hit, City of New Orleans. On this occasion, rather than telling him to turn the music off, he asked to hear it again. Because it reminded him of the train he and Mamaw took from Carbondale, IL all the way to Mississippi.....the train called The City of New Orleans.
I've listened to that song a lot lately. I can't help but wonder what The City of New Orleans may have been like that day in 1947. What MaMaw and Papaw talked about and as they looked out the windows on their ride through the heartland. And as far as I'm concerned, they just punched their tickets for an eternal ride on The City of New Orleans.
Just Married in 1947
I miss him so much already, because we loved each other so much and made so many memories together. Memories like ice cream on the river, walks in the park, and drinking black coffee with a pipe (his blew smoke....mine bubbles). In his own words "I'll see ya on the boat".
32 years ago today was Thanksgiving Day 1980. I don't remember any details about that day, but I do know that it was a cold day in Paducah, KY, Jimmy Carter was the Commander in Chief, and the world was still in awe of finding out who shot J.R. My parents, who may have been looking forward to a festive meal with friends and family, were relieved to finally meet their baby, whom they had been told would enter the world sometime around Halloween (true story).
This past trip around the sun has been a great one. I got to kick one off my bucket list and watch my Cats cut down the nets, made a career change, and made memories with friends who are like family and family who are like friends. Here's to the next trip around the sun!
I think that the best thing about these 32 trips around the sun are the souvenirs that I got along the journey. The privileged that I was given to live in many places and learn that there are many walks of life that keep this world turning. The opportunities that I have been given to travel and experience different people and cultures. The education that I have earned and the career that I have built and the children I have met along the way that have taught me more than I can teach them. I am also grateful for the people who have come in my life and stayed as well as those who came into my life and left...they all served their purpose and made all these trips around the sun interesting.
So cheers to another year of traveling around the sun. Here's to the good, the bad, and the ugly. Without it, things would have just been boring.
Today marks the day of what would have been my Mamaw's 87th birthday. It was on this day, that many years ago that she made her arrival in Clarksville, TN. it was her arrival that paved the way for me. It was the beginning of her journey through adventures with her sisters, chasing dreams, falling in love, raising a family, and becoming a MaMaw. Her feet left this world with her, but her footprints are in my heart forever.
MaMaw in the middle with her brother Bubba and sister Lucille
There are so many things that I wish that I could tell her. Things like that sometimes on Sundays around 3 in the afternoon, I wish that I could pick up the phone and talk to her like we always did on Sundays around 3. I wish that she knew that I have a new teaching job this year and I could tell her about how much I love it. I want to tell her that sometimes when mom and I are watching a trashy reality show simultaneously and texting about how awful some people are, that we always mention how MaMaw would have gotten a laugh out of it too. I wish that I could tell her that I've tried really hard to make white gravy the way she told me how, but I realize that it's hard to imitate perfection. Most of all, I hope she knows how grateful I am that she came into this world 87 years ago and that every time I see a rainbow, I think of her and know, that some how, she is thinking of me too.
I waited on purpose to make this entry. Today is a special day for so many Americans. It is the day where we exercise our right to go to the polls and make the choices that we feel are in our own best interest. I will refrain from getting political, but I hope that every American made the trip to the voting booth today. It is crucial to make your voice heard. There is never an issue that "doesn't apply to you". Even though it may not have a direct effect, the indirect one will always be there.
I guess I've always been a nerd. I remember being fascinated by politics as an early child. There is just something about it that I have always loved. Happy Election Day everyone!
