Flashback Friday...Grandma Bryant

Her name was Florence.
Florence Genevive (Turner) Bryant.

I never met Grandma Bryant.
She died on Feb. 19, 1964 and I was born three months later in May.
I always have speculated that my bent toward the melancholy comes from being in the womb and absorbing the sorrow of my mom grieving for the loss of her mom.

Mom told be about her own February once.
We were on the way home from dialysis and she said it was snowing like this on the day her mom died.
I asked her when it was.
She said it was in February.
I asked if she knew it was coming.
She said that Grandma had been in the TB ward and Grandma Fern had visited and somehow knew that it would be soon.
I took a deep breath and asked her...how did you get thru it?
She said her famous line...you just do...one day at a time.
I held back the tears and gave a little sigh.
She gave me a sideways "it will be alright" smile.

The next February it was my turn.

I wish I had more memories and I wish I had asked more questions.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me a few of yours.

My new LTR

Big News...
For those of you who have wondered when I'm going to settle down,
thought you'd like to know that I'm finally in a LTR (Long Term Relationship).
His name is Harris and we see each other about once a month.
I'm still getting used to the benefits and sacrifices of this type of commitment.
Here's a picture for you:








Directions to here:
Sandy says this makes me an adult!

Bust a move Monday...fore!

Flashback Friday...32 Valentine's ago

Valentine's Day 1976 Style !

All My Love...Then and Now

Happy Valentine's Day!

Will you be My Valentine?

Directions to here:

...and Happy Anniversary, Patty & Jeff !

Bust a Move Monday...Cousins

Think and fee the disco beat:

"Upside down, boy (brother, cousin) you turn me, inside out...and round and round"

God be with You 'til We Meet Again...

When the darkness appears

and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet,
hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord,
lead me home

Flashback Friday...Our Circle of Strength and Love

This week.

It will forever remind me of the glue that began and continues to hold our family together.

Mom and Dad.

We speak of their strength and know that our circle of love started and grew from their lives.
It was their influence that made us the people we are today. It shaped our morals and instilled in us a love: for God, for them and for each other.

I wrote yesterday of mom's great desire to live and fight the good fight;
and yes, Mike, even as I typed out my story about talking to Levi about his great-grandma, I also thought I could have told him about the other fighter, who at such a young age endured horrors unspeakable and survived, never forgetting how lucky he was to be alive.

It was their faith, their spirit, their genes, who they were.
And we are the benefactors.

But listen.

It was because of you too.

Someone, and I can't remember who, once told me that mom had said that if she lived to see her kids (us 6) graduate from high school, she would be happy. I thought, really? It seemed like such a small goal, seeing that I drove her to several of her GRAND children's graduation ceremonies. (Hence, why I was so determined to get that picture of your kid with mom and dad).

Yes, my family.
Look at this picture...it was also, because of you.

Each and every one of you is what gave her the will to fight so hard to live.
And I know that these days, Dad might often seem somewhat lost...but now and then, I see that will to fight in Dad's when he focuses in and recognizes a face he knows and loves.

Yes, they were the original glue that started this circle that held us together.
But as the Good Book says...they reaped what they sowed.
They sowed love and strength to us and in the end...they gathered and still gather love and strength to run the race to the end.

This week.

It will forever remind me of the glue that began and continues to hold our family together.

Directions to here:
We are so dang blessed!

The Kid's Alright

Dear Reader,
Thank you for your prayers for my great nephew, Levi.

Not only does he have great taste in shoes,


but he also has great taste in genes.
Well, just as I'm sure he didn't actually pick out his cool shoes...he also didn't choose his genes. And with all the physical struggles he's endured one may wonder what's so great about his genes.

But let me tell you about a little conversation I had with the kid.

I don't get to see Levi very often.

But after he survived the scarey rush to the hospital incident after he stopped breathing, we were somewhere together and I got a chance to hold him; I quietly wisked him away for a little face to face time just between the two of us. He was wide eyed as I looked him in the eye and told him about his heritage and how he was the great grandson of someone who knew what it was like to have all kinds of physical problems but also knew how to put up a good fight and to be strong and to overcome pain and discomfort and to somehow be joyful in the midst it all. I told him that he was cut from that same fabric and that those genes were alive in him and that if he could just hold on and hang in there that those genes along with his family, our faith and the example of his great grandma and the care of our God could turn him into just as strong a fighter.

He didn't have much to say. He mostly just listened.
I think he smiled and maybe winked and we left it at that.
And as I paced back and forth I ended our conversation with a prayer for him.

So even though he didn't pick out his shoes...he's still cool enough to wear them.
And even though he didn't pick out his genes...he's still showing that he's related to and has the same spirit of one of the most spirited fighters I've ever known.

Keep fighting the good fight, Levi.

Directions to here:

Thank You God for taking care of Levi!

Please....

Pray for Levi

Directions to here:
Surgery today...all day...so please remember him and the family.

One more (Tues) Day

One More Day

Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished, for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset,
maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still,

for one more day with you

Bust a Move Monday...Sister Susie Style!

Oooo...la...la...!!!
The 7th grade (??) Twist Contest Champion

Directions to here:
"Shake it up, baby now...twist and shout!
Shake it up baby now...Work it on out!" (and off !)

"Are you Ready for some Football?"

Happy Super Bowling !!

Flashback Friday...The Bandits

Tom's memories of Grandma Fern (see previous post), reminded me of a few particular pictures in the family archive.

Perhaps these were taken on the very day of said "robbery."

Although Tom's not pictured he may have been behind the camera!
Or maybe this is just another one of the bandits "jobs"
(maybe when they robbed Aunt Iris)

Do you suppose Elden, the horse, was their "gettaway" plan?

Directions to here:
Yes, Sandy, more black and white photos that look like we grew up in the early 40's!

Tom's Story

For those of you who didn't see Tom's comment and memories of Grandma Fern, here's the story!
Tommy says:
"To many memories to list.
One in particular was prior to the "DDT" days. We had a gang of outlaws (as in cowboys). For some reason we were stuck on gangs I guess. Anyway one afternoon we put on our gun holsters all loaded with cap guns, donned our cowboy hats and pulled the bandanas over our faces and headed down the trail to rob the little old lady that lived in the house down the driveway. We made it thru the door ok and had her at gun point but she wasn't going easy. When she opened the drawer to get her money out came a rolling pin and she chased us thru the living room to the bedroom, into the north room, past the bathroom, into the kitchen and around again 2 or 3 times. Finally we bolted out the door and back down the trail empty handed. Guess we should have went for the general store, it probably would have been easier.
PS: If I dig far enough back in my museum I think that clawfoot tub is there still waiting for installation in our house.

The Mini in the Dell

My brother-in-law,
The Farmer in the Dell,
has become the talk of the Truck Stop and the Township and the object of more than a few jokes...all centered around the new cows on the block:

The Mini-Herefords:

Apparently, Jerry has been asked if he is ordering mini-hay bales to feed the minis and if he'll be putting flags on them to track them when the snow falls. When they were getting ready to leave for the mini-hereford cattle show in Denver, I asked him if he was ready to go see the Munchkin cows and he said "oh no, you're gonna tease me too." I said "No, I love it that you have the midgets, if I were a farmer, I would only have minis, I think they are grand!" (no pun intended).

I mean, anyone can have regular cows:

But how much more cool to have something so cute and unique!

And to be the talk of the Dell!

I can't wait to see the mini farmers showing the mini herefords!

Directions to here:
and maybe, just maybe...he'll decide to add one of these to make the farm complete:

Bust a Move Monday (on wed)...the Boxer

Well, actually I wasn't a great boxer, but thanks to a certain brother, I learned at a very young age to be an excellent punch blocker.

These days due to the cold weather...walking has been off, but true to keeping the new year ridiculous, dancing is on. Yep, that's right it's a 20 minute wedding reception, do the twist style, everyday in my living room. Joey wants a spycam set up. It does look pretty ridiculous...but hey, losers have to do what they can and bust that move!

Flashback Friday...Yoohoo!

Remembering Grandma Fern

It's been 23 years since Grandma Fern's homegoing.

Yet, if I close my eyes I can see every square inch of the little red house and tell you exactly where each piece of furniture sat, what pictures hung on which walls and what was in every cabinet and drawer.

I can hear her ring the dinner bell and yell "yoo-hoo" or hear her opening the white wooden screen door to invite me in to sit and have a bite to eat.

I can smell and taste sugar popcorn, powdered sugar doughnut men, sugar sandwiches, noodles, grape juice (with sugar added) in little fruit glasses, pies, ground hash and homemade everything.

I remember double solitaire games, the yellow stool, the claw foot tub, the cooler "north room", the green toy box, the silver being polished, the click of the stove/heater coming on and the sound of her voice telling me goodnite when I'd stay the nite in the double bed in the tiny bedroom.

It's been 23 years since Grandma Fern's homegoing, but I remember.
All evidence of time well spent at Grandmas.


Directions to here:

"Yoo-ooh! Come on in and tell me your memories!"

Wednesday's Wonder

Healthy Wonder
64 oz a day

Directions to here:
I guess the "brothers" from yesterday are really "brother-in-laws"?? Is it Ed? So there was no beer involved?

Bust a Move Monday....The Brothers

Biggest Loser teamwork
Go brothers, go brothers...go, go, go brothers!

Flashback Friday...Let's get Physical...Physical

So now that I've put losin' to gain on the forefront of all of our minds,
I thought I'd follow up with some motivation to get

"Physical, Physical,
we gotta get Physical...Let's get into Physical..."

as in bustin' a move and exercising to get into shape.

No, matter how ridiculous you, me or we look (what were we all doing on the trampoline, holding hands, no less?)...our hearts and bodies will thank us in the long run.

Stay tuned for more bust a move and skinny us pics
...and remember ridiculous is good.
Even more ridiculous is great!

Directions to here:
Sandy, love the overalls. Yeah, I had a pair too.

Biggest Loser...Season 3

Weighing In

Well, with all the car drama I didn't get this posted when I wanted to.
The Biggest Loser...Family Edition is on for the third year in a row.
The official start date and weigh in was two sundays ago. We have changed the way we are recording stuff and the money, but the goal is still the same...to be a loser.

Now, if you're like me...Sunday dinner attendance every week is not possible, so we are hoping to have online participation as well. And there is still time to get in.

Here's the deal.
It is $20.00 to join.
Pick a scale, any scale and you and only you, will know your starting weight.
(I am doing my home scale on Sunday mornings and Susie's digital scale on Sunday nites...but my home scale will be the official one for me).
Weigh yourself every week at the same time on the same scale and instead of sharing our total weight, we are reporting numbers. For example: -2 means I lost 2 pounds this week, or +3 means I gained. If you lose that week, you pay nothing. If you gained, you pay $2.00 a pound. Again, it's on your honor...and many times there won't be anyone to collect money...so just keep track and set it aside. At the end...the biggest loser will collect the money!

Sister Susie made these handy charts for us to use...I think you should be able to right click and save it to your computer to print:

Listen, it's not about the money, okay?
It's not even about being the biggest loser, or fitting into old jeans, or weighing less than my brother (turns out BOTH brothers), I just want to be around for the long haul to enjoy all our lives have to offer and my goal is to be stronger and healthier and to try to be less likely to have bigger problems down the road.

Are you in?

Directions to here:
I'm thinking of making a "family blog site" where everyone has the password and can post at any time. But until then, I'll try to do a weigh in weekly report for you onliners...you can post your up 1 or down 1 's, tips, questions, recipes or whatever.

Deal or No Deal ?

No, I'm not talking about the game show.

But, the last few days, I've been experiencing the same back and forth dilemma that many of the contestants on Deal or no Deal experience.
Don't worry...I'm lovin' the car and have no buyers remorse about the great deal I got on it...but I am wondering about the warranty I purchased. (Mike and Verna know all about it...and yes, I'm still torn).
The car already had the remainder of the factory warranty which I thought made it an even greater deal. Then of course, the dealer had to make their pitch for the extended warranty. And the long (it took me an hour to decide) and short of it is...I bought it.
The thing that frustrated me is I basically lost the factory warranty...and the extended warranty although seemingly good...is only for 3 years or 68,000 miles. I will probably run out of time before miles and that is ok...but I'll still have 2 years of payments left.
The thing that bothered me most is the warranty wasn't financed and I walked out of the dealership with more on my credit card than I wanted.
Then I got home and read reviews on the line...and most of them suggested getting a warranty, but almost all of them said not to get it thru the dealer because of the mark up and insane profit margins they make on them and all agreed that there are better deals to be had online.
Now, I'm wondering if I should cancel the one with the dealership and say:
1. Forget it. Keep the money in the bank and use it if something goes wrong
or:
2. Go with one online...(some are cheaper and longer 4-5 years instead of 3).

Mike said "it's like Vegas...it's a crap shoot."

I like the idea of the peace of mind, but I don't like parting with money that I may never end up using....(yes, I'm a Vandercar) and much like the Deal or No Deal people...you kick yourself if you do, you kick yourself if you don't.

Mainly, I just want to do the best thing and stop obsessing over it so I can start enjoying the car!

Directions to here:

How about you?
Deal or no deal? Anyone with experience here? Leads on reliable warranty companies? Favorite roulette numbers? How to win against the house?

HHR's maiden voyage

With the help of Mike and Verna and Macy I got back up to Chicago to pick up the new car.
After all the paperwork and mind numbing details and warranty mumbo jumbo (thank you, Verna for patiently waiting), the dealer finally handed over the keys and we were off.

Of course, Mike & Verna being the road trippers that they are had already figured out where we were going to go for supper:

A restaurant with a huge chicken out front which happens to be beside a little road called:

Rt. 66 !

Yep, within 1 hour of purchase the hhr's wheels were getting their kicks on 66.

Unfortunately, the White Fence Farm was closed for the month of January.

But no worries, we headed further on up the road to Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
another 66 icon.Mike getting his kicks on 66!

Thanks again for all your well wishing!
And thanks to Mike & Verna for logging the miles and making it memorable and a little ridiculous (Mike says...go ipass...you don't have plates)!

Flashback Friday...New Car giddiness

I don't remember asking.
But at the beginning of my senior year, all of a sudden Dad was looking at cars.
Not just any cars, but cars for me.
I don't know if it was the weariness of driving me back and forth to town for yearbook, basketball, theatre practice, etc. or what, but I guess it came time for me to have a car.
I remember being on Joe Martin Road and looking at a 1966 baby blue Mustang 4 on the floor, which in 1981 and at even a young age...I knew would be a classic car I would want to drive for the rest of my life. The guy kept talking about what great shape it was in , but at the end of the inspection dad said, "It's still an old car."
He found the car that would be mine at the stop sign on Clay Street south of Wilco. Carlson's white house I believe. A 1973 Capri. He didn't even ask if I wanted it. I, of course, still stunned a little that I was actually getting a car, gladly accepted. I recall him telling me: "remember, it's a small car with a lot of engine." It was a V6...which meant little to me. It was red and it was for me.
I also remember the day after we brought it home, mom saying: "now it's time for you to get a job." And my 10 or so hour a week career at Stuckey's began shortly after.

I remember how terrified I was realizing how light it was on ice when driving to Shawn Clark's house on the nine mile when it starting going down the road sideways. I remember how crushed I was when I put the first dent in it after an ridiculous incident on the driveway involving ice, pushing, mixing up the clutch with the brake and a great big evergreen tree that didn't move.

It's this car and it's lack of working seat belts that explains why to this day when I slam on the brakes my arm shoots out like a protective mother to hold back anyone in the passenger seat. (All ingrained from a summer of babysitting Sarah and Cody).

It is the car I packed my belongings in when I first moved away from home to Ball State.
And the first car I broke down on a country road outside of Frankfort and had to rely on the help of strangers to get to the garage that would be my first experience with mechanics.

And it's the first car that broke my heart when it just got to wore out to run anymore...because I loved it and wanted to drive it forever.
Last time I saw the Capri, it was parked out in the lot between Uncle Ralph's/Swansons and the house. In maybe 1990ish, Dad ended up selling it to a guy (maybe from Demotte) who was going to restore it and have it ready for when his daughter turned 18. His daughter was then a 1 year old...which if he ever completed it, means some girl, maybe another justagirl, could be riding around in it this friday nite. Have you seen it?

All this was brought to mind with the prospect of picking up my new car today. I have to admit, I haven't been this giddy about getting a new car, since I was driving the Capri around the circle drive of the Log Cabin, trying to get the stick shift thing down.

Thanks Mom and Dad for buying me a red car.

Directions to here:

Tell me about YOUR first.

Bobble says...

Thanks for helping Nancy Pimp my Ride !!!

Yep!
It's true.
It's still in Chicago, but I'm going back to pick it up on Friday.
After Tom worked long and hard to try to resuscitate the Crown Vic, he finally had to pronounce it beyond what was worth putting in to it.

I found this deal on Craigslist.
I then spent a stressful day (Susie says "what's wrong with your face?" ) talking to the dealer and to my bank and learning how to play the car dealership game and wondering whether it was worth the 1.5 hour drive to look at it. Thanks to all your advice, good wishes and cheerleading me on, Luke, the professional tire-kicker and I went to look at it. While I was admiring the black and silver contrast and asking how the radio worked and where the ipod jack was, Luke was up in the engine...crawling underneath with a flashlight and checking all the important stuff.
It ended up being a drastic price reduction, was in good shape and still has the remainder of the factory warranty, so I said yes.

Thanks for all your good wishes and help.
Special thanks to Tom for spending two days in the rain working on the Vic, The Haydens for housing me and watching me pace, Tammy for spending the 2nd nite alone with all the kids (I didn't know Luke had been gone the night before), Luke for saying "Let's go for it" when I was ready to forget it and Mike and Verna for loaning me a car for the in-between time. And for all the rest of you who have cheered me on thru break downs, car troubles and hoped me into pimping my ride!

For 2008:

Okay, so I know this was my resolution for last year. And 5 family weddings and a couple wandering road trips did do their part in making the year less boring. However, looking back I feel I could have done better at being more ridiculous.

So, I've been thinking it over...

(this is me thinking it over)

...and I'm committed to putting forth more effort to make this year even more ridiculous.

Dear Reader, are you ready?

Directions to here:
Still adding more to the resolutions to the list.
Share your resolutions via a comment or two or three!

Flashback Friday...For Auld lang syne, my dear

According to wikipedia.org, “auld lang syne” best translates into modern English as “long, long ago” or “days of long ago.”

Before there were Jerry & Susie's New Year's Eve parties (well at least parties in the shop), there were Bob & Helen's New Year's Eve parties. I remember Dad getting the liquor out and Mom gathering up decks of cards and getting glasses out of the corner cabinet. Bobby Hardy and I would pretend we were reporters and in between listening to WLS' end of the year top songs of the year count down (oh the anticipation of what song would be next), we would interview the quests and record their responses using our trusty PORTable tape recorders with handheld microphones. I always loved knowing that everyone, including us would be staying up late...even past midnight. Even later than Wolfman Jacks midnight special. And there was always a count down to midnight and kisses and hugs in the kitchen.

Here's to auld lang syne...

In my writing on back of photo:
"Mom & Marie at 12:00 new years "76"
(taken with my 110 Instamatic)

Mom's writing on the back of the photo:
"New Year's Eve-1980-81
Ellen, Kay, Marie, Helen J., Bob Hardy"

New Year's Eve 1982
(taken with my brand new Canon AE-1...my 1981 Christmas present from Mom and Dad)

Directions to here:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

"Happy New Ye....Wait, What???"

What the...
Okay, so this photo is not from today...but it probably would have been if I would have kept driving north to the New Year/Birthday Celebration.
(cue the song "car trouble" by Adam Ant)
Coolant is going somewhere and heat is sometimes on and sometimes off...and the gas tank is leaking. Wonderful.

This is NO way to start the New Year...
rewind...do over.

Happy New Year anyway and Happy Birthday to Jerry!

Directions to here:
HHR or PT Cruiser?