Over

It has been a lovely week, but I am glad it is over!

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. My mother gave it 6 months. There have been struggles at times, but we went into marriage knowing that we shared core values and that we were committed to making it work.

Most of my husband's family came for the holiday. I really do enjoy my in-laws. They have always treated me more like "blood kin" than an "outlaw" and for that I am grateful.

We celebrated a niece's 7th birthday, complete with cake, balloons, and presents.

Other than that, we watched football, ate too much pie, and played Scrabble and Dominoes. Another typical Thanksgiving.

And for that, I am thankful.

Thanksgiving

I usually look forward to Thanksgiving. I love good cornbread dressing more than most anything on the planet. I love that my husband's family comes in from out of town and I get to enjoy them. I love pecan pie. I love the relative lack of commercialism.

I usually eat with my husband's family, but this year, since he is working on Thanksgiving, I am eating with my family instead. I am already beginning to think this is a mistake. My dad starts with his "maybe not up to doing Thanksgiving this year" stuff. But, when we offer to have it somewhere else, he insists on hosting. Then, despite the fact that each attendee is bringing at least one dish and offer to prepare more, he insists on making the most labor intensive dishes himself.

He reminds me of that Rice Crispie marshmallow treat commercial where the woman dusts flour on herself and comes out with her hand on her forehead trying to look like a martyr.

Next year, I'm having pizza. At home. Alone.

Twilight

Looking for something easy to read while trying to get things in order for the next couple of weeks, I picked up this book. My surly bookseller friend had read it and given it a favorable review. My young neighbor, Sam, had expressed an interest in it as well, so I thought I would get it and pass it on to her when I finished.

Well, today, she came up, saw my copy of "Twilight" on the table and immediately declared that she wanted it. I am not through reading it, but I downloaded a second copy from e-reader and gave her my hard copy. She declares that she does not like to read. However, she is now sprawled out on my couch devouring this book.

I am tiptoeing around her.

I don't want to break the spell...

Nuts

It is 56 degrees and raining. I am warm and dry in my snug little house. My husband, however, is in a tent at Natchez State Park. He went camping knowing that rain was a distinct probability.

He has an honor society membership and a Bachelor's degree. Those would indicate a certain degree of smarts. But, obviously, he is not quite smart enough to come in out of the rain...

Good Game!

Well, not unexpectedly, my young LSU team went down to #1 ranked Alabama. But they put up one heck of a fight and made me proud.

Just wait till next year!!!

Football!

Tomorrow my beloved LSU Tigers will play #1 ranked Alabama. It is going to be tough for my Tigers. They are in rebuilding mode and are playing with three very young, very inexperienced quarterbacks. What success they have had this season has been accomplished by pride and a degree of luck.

But, one of the things I love about SEC football is that, literally, ANYTHING can happen on any given Saturday. So, though the odds are against them, I believe my Tigers can pull off the upset!

GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned...

Daddy

I had a rare treat going to the family reunion yesterday. Some "one on one" time with my Daddy. Don't get me wrong. I am crazy about my sweet stepmom, but sometimes it is nice to have Daddy to myself. I imagine a lot of daughters feel the same way.

Coming back from the reunion, we stopped in Hazlehurst to visit the cemetery and put flowers on the graves of my mother and my grandparents. We passed by the house where Daddy was born, the church where he and my Mama were married, and the house where his parents had lived. He told me about working at a local diner for $2.00 a day when he was a teenager and of his mother threatening some chicken thieves with a shotgun. I have trouble reconciling this image with my memories of my sweet, gentle Mamaw, but I would love to have seen her brandishing her shotgun and yelling at the men who would try to take HER chickens!

"God gave us memory that we might have roses in December."
JM Barrie

I had mine a little early.

Reunion

Today I headed down to Kentwood, Louisiana for the annual "Blades" family reunion. My mother's mother was a Blades and she had a boatload of brothers and sisters. At one time my mother had 51 first cousins.

My grandmother used to take me down to Kentwood in the summertime when I was a child. We stayed with my favorite great aunt, Emma Lee and I had cousins in abundance to play with. This city gal got to see what country life was like, helping herd cows from one pasture to another, picking butterbeans, and fishing in one of the many ponds.

It is a rare treat to return to Kentwood and talk with the people who remembered my mama. Pretty and vivacious, this only child would come from Mississippi and enjoy the companionship of her many cousins. From what I have been told, she was quite the ringleader of a number of escapades. I am told I favor her in looks and personality. I consider that an honor.

So, when I get that invitation next year, I will do my best to go back to Kentwood.

And my family.