What a Ride...

I think today was the worst Summer storm I have driven in during the past 10 years. Yesterday was nice, cloudy at times and breezy. We knew the storms were on the way and would eventually reach our area. Twisters  gave Oklahoma another round of anxiety as the storms formed and dropped in several places, moving on to vex the next area. Chaos was the general rule, as the clouds moved across state after state. Missouri had storms with heavy rain and wind last night. People scurried for cover. Cars pulled off the roads. Eighteen wheelers  pulled into rest areas. Sometimes the best a person can do is just not good enough when there are no safe places.

This morning when I woke up the clouds looked ominous. The sky was still dark at 7:30 a.m.  I had made plans to spend today with Jacy and Logan in Centralia.  I decided to get on the road and try beating the storm. I looked at the radar and knew we had a doozie of a storm coming soon. I was counting on out running the storm. As I drove closer to Kingdom City I knew I had made a big mistake. The sky was black with periodic flashes of lightening. I was on a quarter tank of gas and needed to fill up.  When I got out of the car at the gas station the air surrounding me was tangible and prickly.  It's  presence was so close I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up as the wind gave me a rogue kiss.

People were pulling into truck stops, restaurants and quick shops to wait out the storm. As soon as I had paid for my gas, the storm hit. It didn't rain, it poured bucket after bucket of blinding water on everyone in sight. I wanted to put some distance between me and Kingdom City. That is one of the last places I want to be when a tornado touches down. It is a rest stop off  I-70, consisting of restaurants, truck plazas and motels. If a tornado ever hits Kingdom City and its gas pumps, there  will not be anything left that is even remotely recognizable.

I did  not want to be there when it happened.  As I pulled onto the road I could only see about three car lengths in front of me. I drove slowly for about three miles, flashers on, wipers going ninety to nothing and the defroster on high. Still it was almost impossible to see anything. I pulled over and waited, and waited and waited. There was no let up. Semis pulled back on the road to try and stay on schedule.  They couldn't see either.

Eventually I arrived in Mexico. The sky was lighter and the rain was not as blinding.  However, it had rained so hard the storm drains and culverts were over run with water they could not hold. The streets were flooded on the lowest side. Everyone wanted to drive the high side no matter what direction they were going. I really wanted out of my car and on dry land...somewhere.

18 miles from Mexico is Centralia. When I saw the city sign I wanted to kiss it. I had made it. In a few blocks I would be with my grand babies. It usually takes me one hour to drive to Centralia. Today it was over 2 1/2 hours. Jeez!!!  Just think tomorrow I am going home and the weather may be the same and I will get to do this all over again!!!

Tommy Checks off Number 5 on His Bucket List...Catch a Shark...

Tommy Carter is a very happy man!! While we were in Florida, visiting Lisa and Lisle, Tommy caught a 7 foot...125 pound Bull Shark. He can now check off number 5 on his Bucket List!! 

Since Lisle has a nice 14 foot john boat, they were tooling around watching the girls and fishing in a place called the 10,000 Islands. Tommy said they were in about 5 feet of water when they hooked the shark. Trying his best to get away, the shark made a run for the open water pulling the boat out away from the island. The shark did everything he could think of to escape.  He went under the boat causing  the fishing line to get tangled and at one point he almost swamped the boat.  Sharks do not play fair but they do play long and hard, always pushing for the victory...what more can any fisherman ask for?  When he couldn't turn the boat over he made a run for freedom again,  pulling the line out as he went. Lisle and Tommy were all over the boat trying to keep the shark hooked and the boat upright. After a long, hot thirty minutes the shark was finally dead and in the boat. Tommy has a huge bruise close to his hip where he anchored the fishing pole as he and the shark fought and danced in the Gulf of Mexico. Lisle's hands were cut in several places. It was not an easy victory but well worth the fight.

Lisa and I were at the beach enjoying my favorite place on earth...the ocean. We had spent the afternoon there. A breeze was blowing in off the ocean, the water temperature was about 84 and it was close to 90 in the shade. Life was good. The guys got home not long after we did. Tommy was hot and tired and so excited. I think I probably took 40 pictures of Lisle, the shark and Tommy. This was an event I wanted to record in great detail.

                                                 

It is a tradition when a man gets his first big shark,  everyone takes a shot of tequila to celebrate. Far be it from us to break with tradition. Lisa bought out the tequila and toasts were made. I must admit that I really do like tequila. It goes down smooth and a little on the warm side once it lands and finds its happy place.
                                   

As soon as the tequila was downed and we got our breath back,  it was time to cut up the shark. Steaks were made of the thick white meat. I was surprised that the shark had green eyes, a huge liver and a tiny penis...no wonder they have such nasty personalities.
This little adventure answered a lot of unasked questions for me concerning sharks. I also think the tequila made the ' autopsy' much more enjoyable.

                               

Finally catching a bull shark was an adventure none of us will ever forget. Number 5 is finally checked off the bucket list. For Tommy it was definitely worth the wait. I am proud of him and for him. Next time it is my turn to get a shark. Truthfully, I am not quite as anxious to fight a shark as Tommy was. It is at the bottom of my Bucket List.  However if given the opportunity to catch a shark, I will not pass up the chance.  I have about as much luck catching a big shark as I do kissing Brad Pitt:) On second thought, I have a better chance with the shark!                            

                      

                            

Turbulent Storms in Missouri...

 In Spring, the Missouri weather is turbulent more often than calm. Once the thunderstorms start rolling in from the West and the South, unpredictable weather patterns and forecasts become the main topic of conversation for Missourians.  The winds rotate, pitch and sweep keeping everyone in an uneasy state of expectation.

Most people closely monitor the National Weather Channel when the 'red boxes' begin to appear on our state map and on our surrounding states.  We know all to well the drill for those warnings.

Tornado's drop out of the sky and destroy any and everything in its path at a moments notice. This past week has been no exception. We have had storm after storm race through our back yards. The lightning and thunder bounced off of everything in its path. Our immediate area was sparred devastation. Oklahoma was not as lucky. Havoc rained down on Moore, Oklahoma. A mile wide swath of destruction plowed through the area leaving death, chaos and hell in its wake.

I was anxious, waiting to see where the tornado's would next touch down last night.  It had been a long day of uncertainty. The night's forecast held no promise of a truce.  No tornado's occurred and for that I am thankful. Truthfully we lucked out.  Tommy and I are used to this time of year. We even enjoy storms as long as they aren't deadly.

Last night was no exception. I unplugged my computer so lightning would not ruin it.  We watched  t.v. and periodically checked to see where the storms were headed. If the t.v. blows up, I don't care.  I can only take so much t.v. and I am done,  so I read for awhile.

 My mind kept going back to Moore, Oklahoma and the lives that were turned upside down. The homes that were ruined in  less than a minute. I sat thinking what would be some of our possessions I would want to keep above all else. I knew in a second what they were. I have an old green metal box that I keep all of our love letters from 1968-69. It contains old photos and memories I could never replace. I retrieved them from my art room and began once again to reread our past story. I love those letters and photos. Some of our conversations were so funny...and we meant them to be very serious. Every page is filled with excitement about our new lives together. They are written proof of old promises made and old promises kept.

In our wedding pictures, we were so young, handsome and pretty. It has taken me 40 years to be able to say I was a pretty bride...never once did I believe that. The tricks the mind plays on a person. The 'self talk' people hear in their minds should be uplifting, unfortunately it seldom is.
 
Each time I rummage threw this box something new catches my attention.  This time it was a budget Tommy and I worked out when we first got married. I had forgotten exactly how much money we did not have in 1969. Believe it or not, we were as happy as could be. The lack of money did not bother us at all. That is young love, life was exciting for us.

As I looked closely at the money situation I see we earned $256: we spent $227.54. According to our calculations we could save $45.56 a month, if we cashed the $17 a month U.S. bond Tommy bought when he first enlisted.  We did not save any money for ten years:)

Our rent was $130 a month. We allowed $60 for groceries a month. The one Tommy and I really laughed at last night was the $10 a month for gasoline.  Of course gas was 20 cents a gallon. When they raised the price to 50 cents a gallon,  during a gas war in Georgia, we were livid!!  We decided to wait them out and not pay that ridiculous price. Yesterday, I filled up my Blazer and it was $49. 27. 

One trip to the grocery store now is almost always $100 easy and we can pack it out in two sacks. I was teasing Tommy that we 'splurged' on his lunch money...then we figured it all up. He ate on 46 cents a day.

Of course things changed over the course of time. Tommy got promoted to Cpl. and received a raise. Then I got pregnant and there went the raise! However, after Lisa was born we received $25 a month to feed, clothe, and general care of our daughter.  It also only cost $25 for medical bills to have Lisa.

Last night when things were unpredictable,  the one thing I wanted to keep was an old green metal box full of love letters and faded photos. They are things I treasure. They are of no value to anyone but me and probably Tommy. They are the tangible memories from the past. When I read them I remember young love...word by word...line by line and I smile.



 
                                  
                                                                                          

If My Dogs Were Countries...Sabella Would be the State of Palestine...Sandy Would be Israel...

My two dogs behaved like warring countries this morning. Usually, they are extremely laid back, over grown babies with personalities more like Switzerland than any warring faction. Not so today. Sabella and Sandy, this morning, closely resembled ' Palestine' and 'Israel' after a night where each land,  lobbed one too many missile's at the other side.  They were  done with each other for awhile.

 Unfortunately, about this time I wake up. 

My dogs are waiting for me at the back door. They know I am feeding them first before I do anything else. They nibbled a bit then meandered out to the swing with me. I felt wonderful. Our yard and woods were filled with the early morning wake up calls of dozens of birds.  Yellow and blue finches were slinging bird food all over the yard. The hummingbird feeders were buzzing, as each little bird jockeyed for position at a feeder. As usual they were fighting within 30 seconds. I expect that from them and I enjoy their antisocial personalities.  If these birds were people, they would be locked up in Biggs or prison.

A few new flowers were starting to pop open;  new fronds on the ferns were unfurled a little more today than yesterday.

As I sat in the swing, I was pleased with my little corner of the world. Picking up my Kindle, I began reading "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kingsolver. She is a favorite author of mine. When she writes, my mind's eye is filled with her images. She turns a phrase adding magic to very unconventional characters. I love it!  As an author, she has never let me down. I was pleased with life in general and her book in particular.

All of this bliss lasted a mere few minutes, then all Hell broke loose. My dogs began rough housing close to my feet. Each dog wanted my attention and for some reason did not expect to share the attention with the other.  Both dogs thought they were right and refused to back down. Once again, foreign lands come to mind. These dogs never fight...until today.  Their tempers went from " easy breezy good morning Vicky" to "get out of my way before I tear your leg off!"  I was caught in the middle...no place "Switzerland"  wanted to be.

 Quickly the fight became personal. My coffee cup was knocked out of my hand, taking with it the small table to my right. The dogs growled, hair bristled and teeth gnashed. I wasted my time yelling at them.  They were past hearing me. There was no room for a peace mediator.  I grabbed the girls collars trying to put some distance between them. They did not retreat nor did anything I tried work. They were fighting until one of them quit or got hurt. Thankfully it did not come to blood.  When  it was finally over, Sabella ran about 20 feet then stopped and looked at us.  Sandy moved about 3 feet away from me. She was as mad as I was because she turned her back on Sabella and me. About this time, Tommy wakes up. He comes charging out the back door asking what was going on. He heard me yelling and carrying on,  the dogs growling and barking and he wondered who we had pinned down.

The girls are giving each other extra room today. Finally, after several hours of Sandy staying in the front yard and Sabella eventually ending up in the back yard, they forgot they were mad and are playing together. 

I wish political situations could be solved as swiftly as this spat. I wish we could forget our differences, leaving room for a peaceful co existence. It will not happen for any length of time. Humanity isn't wired in such a way. We never have been, we never will be. Someone invents a deadly button and someone else has to push it.

                                                               Sabella aka 'Palestine"


                                        

                                                                   Sandy aka 'Israel'

May 11th... Was Lou Conner's Birthday...I Missed it Again...

Saturday, May 11th was Lou Kirby Conner's birthday. Every year since we have been little girls, I have remembered Lou's birthday.  However, she doesn't know it. That is a shame too and one I vow to change each year. I have as much luck with that promise, as I do loosing the proverbial 30 pounds I vow to loose each January 1st.  I am full of good intentions...among other things.

Lou and I began playing together during the summer her family moved to town.  I think we started walking to school together when we were in the second grade. She would walk from her house on Piper Drive (?)  to Mamamae's and then we would take off for school, arriving eventually.  As we got older Liz Jewell, Judy Davidson and Karen Burgess would sometimes walk with us. In bad weather Granddaddy would drive us to school.

I can still see us as little girls. I was all eyes, legs and elbows with incorrigible curly hair. I don't care how many times my hair was combed I always looked like I was running wild with my hair on fire. As I grew older my hair and personality meshed to some degree, forming an uncomfortable alliance...at best.  

 Lou always looked perfect. Her hair was shiny, thick, straight and dark brown. Lou's clothes fit and stayed in place. Not so much with me. At that time little girls always wore skirts or dresses. If I wore a skirt, I can guarantee my shirt tail was hanging out after recess.  If I wore a dress, at least 3 times a day, my dress would be over my head as I was scrounging around on the floor or hiding under my desk. When we walked the pipe connecting the two sides of a ditch located close to school, I would usually loose a shoe. Lou was naturally pretty and stayed 'put together' all day. I was a train wreck waiting to happen.  We were a pair of walking salt and pepper shakers, I was the pepper, who desperately wanted to be salt.

We enjoyed walking to school. We would start an hour early so we could make all our scheduled stops. The Ben Franklin Dime Store was our first stopping place, where Mr. Peggy Young greeted us most mornings. He was such a nice man. For years I thought his name was "Piggy" and I wondered why his mother named him that. Eventually, I learned his real name then I wondered why his mother named him 'Peggy'.  I also went through a phase where I mentally renamed people whose names did not fit the way I saw them. Mr. Young was a "John" as far as I was concerned. 

I had a love for paper, colored pens and pencils. It was a big deal to me when notebook paper was sold in shades of blue, pink and yellow. I had to have every color. 

 The Dime Store was one of my favorite haunts in town. If I had a couple of quarters, I bought paper and chocolate covered peanuts. Lou and I also discovered a love for "Goo Goo Clusters". At that time they were only made in the South. They consisted of a delicious white filling with  caramel strung on top. To that mixture was added peanuts and then the whole candy bar was dipped in chocolate. It never did take much to make me happy.  Sometimes we made a stop going to school and on the way home, depending on how much money we had. Some days we pooled our nickels and pennies to get what we wanted.

Next, we would visit  The Brummel Brother's store on the corner closest to Clinton's only stop light. We especially liked Brummel's store. It had a soda fountain located on the right as we opened the old fashioned door. There were about 4 or 5 swivel stools for customers. A huge fan oscillated from the ceiling. Behind the heavy wooden bar hung a huge antique mirror. (not really sure about this memory, that one may belong to a Gunsmoke rerun)  In the mornings we bought a chocolate milk to go. After school we would stop at the Brummel Brother's Store for a fountain cherry coke or a cherry coke float.  Their store was located next door to Johnson's Pool Room. Pops made the best cheeseburgers in town. Unfortunately, I was not allowed in the pool room unless an adult was with me. Mamamae always came to my rescue and in we would go.

In the third grade, Lou was put in charge of my eating habits at school by my mother. I had gotten sick and Dr. Jackson took me  off all sugar for a year.  My mother sat Lou and me down together and explained that I could not cheat and eat sugar. If I did, it was Lou's job to tell on me.  The first day, I thought I could talk Lou out of this deal.  I was so wrong. Lou was determined I would live and be healthy again. We walked through the lines in the cafeteria, having our plates filled for us. For twenty five cents a day we were fed food I refused to eat. 

Each class was assigned to a picnic table in the cafeteria. We sat together at lunch while Lou monitored my imaginary food intake. It is hard to believe now but at that time I was a picky eater. I nearly starved to death that year. The only thing I wanted to eat was the dessert and drink the milk. I was out of luck on that one. Lou would only let me have the milk.

When my birthday rolled around, Mama called Dr. Jackson and asked if I could have one piece of chocolate cake and some ice cream. Being the wonderful doctor that he was, he let me slide that day. However the next day Lou was back on guard duty and I was in sugar hell...again.

Eventually, the sugar was controlled. I received three pints of blood from Jimmy Wilmuth, had my tonsils taken out and was fine for the first time in over a year. I was no longer in 'sugar prison' and Lou and I could resume our daily haunts on our journey to school. 

Growing up in Clinton, Kentucky was fun. I could not have asked for a better childhood, family or friends. The memories I have are special to me. I am not sure my memory is always accurate but it is where my childhood lives and for me it is a treasure.

Lou and I are still friends. We can go years without talking and then one day we see each other and pick up right where we left off. We did this while Mama was dying. When things would get too hard for me and I needed to vent, I would drive down to Lou's apartment and unload. 

To me friends are family we pick for ourselves. I have been blessed with many friends in my life. Happy Birthday Lou, once again I missed your day but I did not forget. Love you lady.   

It is Said That Silence is Golden...That Depends on Who is Quiet and Who Wants to Talk!...

When a couple is in a long term relationship,  there are times when silence is a welcomed sound. There are also occasions when one partner would like to talk and the other partner wishes he or she would just shut the Hell up!  Last night was such a night at the Carter house.

 We had enjoyed our day together. Most of our conversations flowed like a leaky faucet drips...steady with small pauses as we regrouped our train of thought. The conversation eventually tapered off last night to silence.

 I was engrossed in a book, about imaginary children, while waiting for one of my favorite t.v. shows," The Big C", to come on. I missed the show the first time it aired at  8 p.m. and had to wait until 10 p.m. to see it. That was fine with me. My book about imaginary friends was interesting and I was lost most of the night in their story. Tommy went to bed early, around 9 p.m.  My drama started around 10, when my show finally came on. It was as good as I thought it would be, well worth the wait.

 There are only two episodes and the series ends. Laura Linney and Oliver Platt, two of my favorite actors,  star in this comedy/drama about a woman dying of melanoma. The drama is about how Cathy's (Linney's) life changes and how her family responds to the changes in her. Cathy is an extremely detail oriented woman. A control freak who refuses to let go of anything she cannot change...even her death.  There are times it is laugh out loud funny and there are times I cry right along with her.  Tommy will never understand why I like movies and books that make me cry. On the other hand, I cannot understand why he likes to see coyotes shot...again and again.  It is these small differences that make us unique and compatible, for some strange reason, at the same time. We have never tried to change each other. We may have wanted to, but we didn't press the issues. We accepted the differences in each other. It has been the friendship that has seen us through the rough times.

Since the series is almost over, the drama side of the show has increased. Therefore, I cry more. Last night was no exception. When I finally went to bed,  I was still sniffling and crying. I was a mess to be truthful. I don't want 'Cathy' to die or the show to end. I, too would like to change things I cannot control.
  
However, when last nights episode was over, I was glad to see Tommy and thankful he was alive and well...he on the other hand was sound asleep and very content where ever he was.

 I started to put my arm around him when he turned over and I hit him in the face...Splat!!! Tommy woke up in a hurry and wanted to know why I hit him. I stopped crying and started laughing. I guess I should have apologized first, but I was glad he was awake. I knew he wasn't hurt. It was just a little thump on the nose. What I really  wanted was to tell him about the show. He could have cared less about the show. I knew this when I started the conversation, but I could not shut up. I had to tell him the story.

 He flipped over and went back to sleep, while I talked, laughed and cried a little more, giving him an in depth synopsis of the series. Finally I get sleepy and doze off, before I know it, I smell the coffee brewing. Tommy is up and ready to talk...I am not as anxious to talk as he is. It will take at least two cups of coffee before I really want to talk to anyone. I guess we will have to wait on the 'leaky faucet syndrome'  to kick in later today. And it will, I can't wait to hear his version of last night...if he remembers anything at all.  If he doesn't then I get to tell him my story all over again.  Either way we have the makings of a fairly good day at the Carter house.

It Was a Good Day in my Part of the World...

Today was a good day in my part of the world.  The sun was shining, the tree's continue to bud and leaf out. The woods are slowly filling in all the blank spaces winter left in its wake. The green leaves are colors straight from a box of 84 Crayola crayons I bought at least once a month when I was a little girl. There are shades of apple green, hunter green, spring green, yellow green  and a new color 'Osage Orange Green" to add to the mix. The woods are literally alive with shades of green.  It has been a long wait for these subtle changes. However, the wait was worth the beauty we are now enjoying. 

On the flip side, mud is in abundance everywhere I look.  In places, like parts of my front and back yard, it is knee deep to a monkey's butt. It is almost as slick as ice. Mistakenly, I wore a pair of plastic clogs I use for gardening shoes outside today.   While I was in the process of trying to refill our hummingbird feeders, I hit a strip of mud, sending me  slipping and sliding twenty feet before I stopped. My dance was not pretty, graceful or quiet however I did not fall in the mud. I did rip a piece of lattice trim off the front of the house, underneath the bird feeders. In the process, I scared off all the birds but I did not get a mud bath. Every year it takes the birds a few days to get used to my antics. I never get used to the mud.

Tommy and I made a quick trip to town early this morning. We needed more mulch, a few groceries and one beautiful amazing fern. As we were leaving Fulton, we met a group of men walking in single file on the side of the road, about seven or eight miles from the town. Most of the men walking were tall, thin black men.They were walking with a purpose and for a cause.  Humor was not on their agenda.

 The second man in line carried an eight foot wooden cross. On down the line, the seventh man carried a large American flag. None of the men were smiling or talking. Bringing up the rear, was a white male on a skate board. When he got tired of walking he rode his board.  As we drove closer to them, we smiled and waved. The first man, who was wearing a suit, smiled and almost waved at us. Traffic was behind us or we would have stopped and asked them what cause they were walking for today. I would have enjoyed taking their picture. I do not know if they would have allowed that or not. I wish I had the opportunity to have asked. Maybe they will be in tomorrow's paper.

The closer we drove to our home the more turkeys we saw crossing the road. We counted four...two hens, a jake and a bearded hen. We laughed because turkey hunting season closed Sunday. Tommy did not get a bird. It rained almost every day for three weeks. Today after the season is closed, Tommy sees four. Mother Nature was laughing at us, I do believe.

We worked most of the day outside. It was enjoyable and needed. The clouds started rolling back in late this afternoon. It looks like rain. The mulch is finally down. Some seeds have been planted and that most beautiful fern, who followed me home today has a place of honor  by the swing set and canopy. Late this afternoon I sat outside, drinking ice tea and reading. It was a  good day in my part of the world. I am very contented tonight as I watch the clouds race across the heavens trying to decide what their plans are for the night.

Miz Casey-- The Queen of Sparkle and Bling

Some people enter a room quietly and unobserved. However, Casey Gallegos is not one of those people.  When Miz Casey enters a room,  she is riding on a rainbow, traveling 40 miles an hour,  sprinkling fairy dust and glitter on anyone in close proximity. I know this to be a fact. I have seen her in action.

The first time I met Casey was at my daughter, Tami's home several years ago. We had finished eating dinner when Tami mentioned that her friend, Casey was coming over to meet me. I had heard many funny, crazy  stories about Casey.  I was anxious to meet her. Case was everything Tami said she would be and then some. 

Casey ran through the front door giving 'hello's and kudos' to everyone in sight. She was wearing a super hero costume while  talking and laughing in a falsetto voice. She waved her magic wand and zapped everyone in the room. She flew over and gave me a big hug  saying, "Glad to meet you, Mama V" and proceeded to zap me again with the wand. This time glitter was involved. I have to admit I immediately felt better...the glitter worked! I was laughing so hard my side hurt.  By this time it was close to 8 p.m. and the night had just began. We made brownies and Bloody Mary's. Somewhere around 11 p.m. we dyed parts of Casey's hair a bright fuchsia. She had a bright pink slash of color wandering through her hair for several weeks. It was awesome. Casey could pull it off easily.

She has also been known to march down the middle of the street in her pajamas, playing a guitar and singing "Happy Birthday" to Tami. It was hilarious and so sweet. These are the wacky, outrageous antics that make memories so wonderful. It all comes natural to Casey.

It was no surprise when Casey sent Tami a text last Saturday afternoon wanting to know if Tami would like to go to the 'prom.'  Of course Tami wanted to go! Neither one had been to a prom in about 15 years. Excitement and b.s. filled the air. The girls proceeded to get decked out in their 'prom' outfits and made plans to go to The Black Hog Saloon. Casey arrived before Tami was finished dressing.      
                               

She looked marvelous in her gown. Equal measures of glitter and bling enveloped Casey. Music filled the living room. The next thing we knew Casey was doing an improv of The Wizard of Oz...complete with sound affects of the Wicked Witch of the West. Jacy and I were utterly caught up in what was going on. We could do nothing but laugh and take photos as the "Casey Show" unfurled  in our midst.
                       
                                

Soon Tami makes her appearance and both girls rev up the action.  Precious, Jacy's little dog, has no clue she is now playing the part of Toto. All she wants to do is hide from the madness.
              

              

 These two divas were on a roll. Wise cracks were being tossed around like water balloons. They broke out into song several times followed closely by a new version of the  old stand by "The Stripper."

Eventually, Tami and Casey made their way out the door and into the car. I looked at Jacy and said, "Just think Darlin' in a few years it will be your turn to go to the prom. Wonder what Mama and Aunt Casey will do that night?"  Jacy turned pale. Jumped head first onto the couch, covering her head with pillows. One hand reached out and snatched up Precious. All I could hear was muffled sounds. Finally, one big brown eye peeped at me from behind a pillow and she busted out laughing. We were in agreement, they will probably do the same thing they did tonight. This night was dress rehearsal.


                                                         

To be continued at a much later date:)