My Favorite

Our town has the WC Handy Festival each year in honor of ... WC Handy! He's the Father of the Blues, and was born here in Florence. It's wonderful! Musicians from all over come to the Shoals area to sing and entertain, all in honor of WC Handy and his legacy. Much of the music centers on "The Blues."

One year, when Bryan was two and still dancing in public, he and I went to a "Handy on the Plaza" event. Denise Thimes was the singer, along with a band (I'm sorry I cannot recall the name of the band).

You need a little of the backstory at this point: John has sung, "Summertime and the livin' is easy..." to the children when they were tiny. It's his song, his lullaby. So special.

The plaza was hot. People gathered to enjoy Ms. Thimes. There was a big piece of linoleum rolled out for a dance floor. Bryan (aged two, remember) and several senior citizens were dancing along to the lovely songs that Denise was singing.

Denise started up with, "Summertime, and the livin' is easy," and took Bryan's hand and danced with him as she sang. Oh my! This mama was so happy.

Every year I've looked for Denise Thimes on the WC Handy event list. Every year that she's here, I've gone to listen to her.

Today she was scheduled to sing at 306 BBQ , so guess where I was for lunch? I took Luci and called John to see if he could join us (he could). 

At intermission, Denise walked around and visited with folks. I dragged brought Luci to meet Ms. Thimes. I asked if she were going to sing "Summertime" and she said she could (yay!), and I got John to take a picture. I also embarrassed Luci totally by telling the lady of my memory of her singing "Summertime" and dancing with my little boy.

There I am, grinning like an idiot. I was so excited! Denise asked if I were a singer (no, I just pretend), because I looked familiar to her. She was sure she'd seen me somewhere. John says I just look like other people.  😕

Just for that, John, here's a pic of us on our big date today. 

Here is Denise Thimes singing "Summertime!"

Just when I thought it was over...

...along comes another Luci-ism!

I'm home sick today--the gastrointestinal virus has hit. John and Bryan are out on a job, so it falls to JT to take Luci to the dentist.

JT and Luci left early, to visit the Verizon store before the dentist.

Luci called to ask me a question about the dental visit:

When is my disappointment again?

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is the birthday of the most famous person to ever graduate from the class of 1948 of Castle Heights Military Academy.

Charles W Bryan, Sr!

What makes him famous?

He married a lovely young lady from Lebanon, TN, who is famous, too!

He was a hot-shot pilot in the US Air Force.

He has five children, all of whom think he's the best.

He was the best math teacher Boise High School has ever had.

He loves God.

He really should be famous.

So, to honor Dad, Luci and I ran off yesterday on an adventure. We headed to Lebanon to take some special photos just for Dad. (I forgot to tell John or anyone else that we were going!)

Luci has on a special jacket, too. I can't believe Papa was ever this small! Look! It almost fits ME!

Castle Heights was established in 1902 and was an exclusive military academy. Boys from all over the world came to Lebanon to be a cadet at Castle Heights. It was a special place. In 1973 the first girls were admitted, and in 1986 the school closed. (I'm not saying it was because of the girls. ;) Rising tuition, prevalence of private schools in the area, and reluctance of children to go away to boarding schools were probably what did it in. But it might have been the girls. Yes, I know I'm not politically correct. I don't care.)

We had a good time taking photos, and then, to Luci's dismay, I wanted to go inside the "castle." Surely you've had enough, hadn't you? No, Luci, we're going in. And my name's not Shirley.

So embarrassed to be put on the stairs and made to pose. That posture would never do at Castle Heights, young lady! (See? It might have been because of girls.)

There were two display cases of CHMA memorabilia in the lobby, which is now City of Lebanon property.

More posing.

Smile, Luci! I am.

Then I had the great idea to speak to the receptionist. Mom, really?? Dad would want me to, Luci. 

So I introduced Luci and myself, telling the oh-so-impressed polite young lady that we were the daughter and granddaughter of a CHMA graduate of 1948, and that tomorrow (today!) is his birthday. And yes, Dad, I mentioned your name. TWICE. Luci was very embarrassed. 

She pointed out that there was a little museum in the basement, and perhaps the library is open today, just across the parking lot. Luci and I headed to the basement.

The museum is a nice little thing. Little. And mostly it was a history of Lebanon. It tells the history of Lebanon very well. I'm sure every school-aged child in Lebanon has been through it.  Here are the displays pertaining to Castle Heights and the town around the time Dad was in school there.

Dad, this picture was from 1948. Was the flooding before you graduated? Do you remember this?

 

This was not part of the Castle Heights display, but I found it interesting. Engineer's tools for surveying.

Luci loved this display

and she found the tiny ring fascinating.

The library. Beautiful building.

The library was locked today. We were hoping to get in to see the ceiling--I hear it's gorgeous.

Afterward, we headed around town to see things that I remember from visits there with my family.

The Sonic Drive In where Janet and I would escape for "Happy Hour," where we could get a huuuge coke for a dollar. We could only handle so much excitement at Papa's house.

Mom! Quit taking selfies!

The town square.

Shoney's. It's an all-new building now. Janet and I remember riding with Granddaddy and Mary while Mom and Dad followed behind. Janet and I were sure we were going to die because, well, Granddaddy was not a very safe driver. Let's just say that the town square did not slow him down.

The big lunch! McDonalds. We had to get food to go so we could get home in time for art class. I was hoping to have time for a diner or something, of course making Luci wear Dad's Castle Heights jacket. Maybe next trip.

Papa's house, where Janet and I would sit on the porch swing and yell at boys passing by. No, we weren't wild children. What did we yell? Take a picture, it lasts longer! to boys staring as they walked down the road.

Sister's house (I think I got the right one!) where Mom and Dad were married. Sister (Dad's sister, that wasn't her given name, silly) had a passle of kids. One visit, at supper, Mom bowed her head for the prayer. She said, "Amen," and looked up, but no one had prayed yet. It was just raucous with all them kids.

I can't get the thingy on blogger to put the text to the left. Sorry about that.

Luci and I saw this in Lawrenceburg on our way to Lebanon. A pic just for Aunt Janet. :)

And, this is the expected weather today, which is why we didn't go on your actual birthday, Dad.

We love you, Dad! Happy Birthday!!

Beautiful Danger

Today, as I watched Luci trying to grasp her spoon to eat cereal, I asked her,

How do you pick your nose with those things?

Her answer? "I don't pick my nose."

Never?

"Never."

Even the Queen of England picks her nose! Even Princess Kate picks her nose!

"Not me."

John chimes in, "Bryan picks his nose. I have a video of it."

No way. I've never seen it! Are you sure it wasn't a video of Heath (because I'm sure I would have been the one taking the video when Bryan was little)?  How old was he?

"Uh, 23."

Oh.

Luci says, "I see these nails as weapons. Claws. Beautiful weapons. Like a .22. I mean, a .22 is beautiful." 

Uh-Oh. I don't think he meant it.

Last night, John looked at my new yarn and said, 

"What?  Where did that come from?

How is that different from all of that over there?" 

Well, it is COTTON.  And it's the same size as the other yarn, but it's COTTON.  

Which makes it special. 

Then I started hunting up crochet memes, and found this.  

I told John that this guy doesn't mind all the yarn.  

He asked who the guy is, but I don't know. 

I just know that he's a movie star, 

but I don't know what he's been in, 

except a bunch of funny memes. 

So we found some more funny stuff. 

...

...

Then I found this, which is exactly what I told John I'd like to do in our dining room, 

and smoosh the table over to the corner to use the new seating.  

And move the overhead light fixture.

And then put Mom and Dad's hutch in the (very small) dining room when it gets here, because it would fit if we did what Ryan Gosling said (again, I don't even know what he acts in).

Chicken Soup

Really, it was turkey soup.  Luci kept calling it chicken, so it's chicken.

This was the best supper we've had since the end of May.

It's been a rough summer with all the hoopla of kids growing up (one figuring out that he'd really rather go back to college, one graduating from high school and stretching his wings and having a hard time figuring out how to do that, and one hitting puberty).

That made Monday the best dinner we've had in months.

Even though it was just chicken turkey soup.

We even got in a game of Apples to Apples, which started out rocky but ended with lots of laughs.

I love my circus and my monkeys!