Thomas the Star!

Robin and I attended the 3rd grade musical program at Thomas' school this morning. He had a solo part and we just beamed as he sang. When he stepped onto the risers with his class I gave him the thumbs up sign and he responded by giving one back to me. So cute. He never took his eyes off of us. He wanted to make sure we were watching. We definitely were!

Robin and I each got a picture taken with the star. I'm disappointed that the ones we took of him at the microphone were blurry. It was a wonderful program with a timely American theme. It was obvious that those kids worked hard to perfect their parts.

The young boy who stood in front of Thomas got sick during the program. A teacher hurried to place paper towels over the mess so as to not distract the kids who kept staring at it. Who would want to stare at such a thing? Who'd take a picture of it??? All I'm saying on the matter is that I did not take this picture.

Emmy A-Wardrobe

Is it just me or do you also feel that the awards shows are focusing more on the attire than the performing arts? I didn't watch the Emmys, but my internet home page was filled with the best and worst dressed. I had to search for a list of winners who actually performed, not merely dressed for the occasion.

I like pretty clothes as much as the rest of the women in the world. And there's nothing like prom night - or Academy and Emmy awards, People's Choice, Golden Globe - to make a girl feel like a princess. But shouldn't the fashion focus be reserved for the runway when the talents of designers are being recognized?

When it comes to film and television, there are some great writers, actors, screenplays, musicians, choreographers, and yes, wardrobe artists, who are at the events to be recognized for their talents. I'm in favor of saluting them for their hard work and letting the night be about them.

We all like to see our favorite actors and actresses up front presenting awards and seeing them out of their usual role. But I, for one, don't really care what they are wearing.

Girls Day at the Farm

We had a happy reunion today with Patty and her daughter Leigh. It had been years since we'd all been together so there was so much to catch up on and pictures to share. Mother made lunch for us and a chocolate cake. Throw in 7 women and you have all the ingredients for a happy time.

Patty hasn't aged a bit in all the years we've been apart. Surprisingly, we all love her in spite of it. We would like to know her secret, though.

The next two pictures are blurry but I posted them anyway. I wanted to make sure Donna, Rita, and Allison were on here.

Allison with her sweet Aunt Rita. Rita is sporting a new short hair style after donating her long, healthy locks to make wigs for cancer patients. This is the second time she has done that. How many women are that selfless when it comes to their hair? She's a sweetheart.

Mother was thrilled to be with Patty and Leigh again, as we all were. These beautiful ladies made our day. I know no one will believe this, but Patty is going to be a great-grandmother soon and Leigh will become a grandmother. Leigh's son and his wife will welcome a little boy in November and they just found out today that her daughter and her husband are expecting. Everyone's been on the same page!

Thank you Patty and Leigh for making the trip. We enjoyed seeing you two again so much!

Ladies Luncheon

This is the second year that Allison and I have attended the Ladies Luncheon at Jude's school. I'm happy that Allison invites me as her guest each year. We enjoy lunch and fellowship in a Christian environment. One focus of this event is the beautiful tables with unique themes. Enjoy the following parade of tables.

This is the table we were assigned to. It's the first grade table in honor of our Jude and his class.

The candy table had an abundance of M&Ms. I was polite and didn't crash this table.

Jude's teacher shared our table and it was good hearing all the sweet things about him in school. That was our chests puffing out instead of our tummies from too much lunch! Thank you, Allison, for allowing me to share this day with you.

On Stage or Backstage?

Lately we've been getting some insight into the personalities of my grandchildren. Often it takes that monumental step into the classroom for the real view. Is it scary? Is it a thrilling experience? Are you backstage in the shadows directing the lights, sound and camera? Or are you on stage with that dazzling smile and flashy clothes and ready to perform your heart out?

Unfortunately, I was backstage. I mean really backstage. My shyness was crippling during my childhood. I can vividly remember moving to a new home and new school district. I entered the 5th grade knowing no one. I was sent home the first day with a headache and vomiting. I stayed home a day or two, then went back to school, only to be sent home with a headache and vomiting. I wasn't sick. I was terrified. I actually believed that if I begged hard enough my parents would let me quit school. In the 5th grade. Well, I begged to no avail, something I'm thankful for now even if I wasn't then.

When the teen years arrived, so did an interest in boys and a new kind of shyness. There were two instances when I was finally asked out by someone I had a ginormous crush on. I'm over the top, butterflies and all, when the crucial moment arrives when it's obvious that this gorgeous guy is going to kiss me. "No offense," I plead, "but I gotta puke." I bolt for the bathroom, knowing I've ruined what could have been a very romantic moment. The second time my nervous stomach betrayed me, I had to ask Adonis to pull over to the side of the road. And do it now!

My own loving mother passed this tendency down to me and I passed it begrudgingly to Angela. Thankfully Angela outgrew it a lot sooner than I did. But there were times when school frightened her and her daddy would call her "Peggy Lee" because he recognized the pattern. Her daddy, by the way, was the on-stage-performer-type.

Now it appears that Angela has a miniature Angela Renee in her little Juliet. This inheritance stuff is not always good. Being painfully shy is not fun. So Juliet has come up with a number of excuses to try to get out of going to pre-school. She doesn't feel good, the chairs are uncomfortable, her shoes don't fit, not any of them fit. She cries when she arrives at school, although she appears happy at the end of the day and anxious to show off her school work. I feel her pain. I really do. I have been there.

This week I learned just how much of a performer Thomas is. A few weeks ago he tried out for the solo part in the school musical program. We were excited that he got the part. I was especially proud because of my own experience and knowing how scared I would have been had I had to sing a solo part in the 3rd grade. I was relieved that Thomas hadn't inherited the awful shyness, although he has shown from an early age that he is very social and outgoing. Well, this week he was with his dad in the small waiting room while the oil was changed in the truck. Three other people were waiting, too. Thomas stood in the middle of the room and addressed them all.

"I'm going to sing a solo in our school program and not only will I be singing in front of the whole school, but all the parents too. Would you like to hear it?"

Yes, they would like to hear it. Thomas' song was followed by applause that encouraged him on.

"Would you like to hear it again?" He commenced to singing it a second time.

This story had me rolling in the floor with laughter. And relief. How much easier life will be for him than it was for his backstage grandma. Ron said Thomas performs like he's Allison's son instead of his. So the inheritance thing works both ways, good and bad. Without a doubt, we have three outstanding performers who are more than comfortable on stage: Candice, Thomas and Jude. The rest of them perform beautifully, just not as comfortably. That will come in time.

The beauty of all of this is that we need our backstage and on stage performers for the show to go on. All of these nine precious treasures have an important part to play.

Happy Grandparents' Day!

What a thrill to be invited out to lunch in honor of Grandparents' Day. Papa Robin was a little under the weather and stayed home, but I wouldn't miss this special outing. Look at those happy faces!

Thank you, Brian and Allison, for this special treat. Not only did I enjoy a fabulous lunch with five of my favorite people, but the restaurant honored grandparents with a packet of coupons and discounts for future lunches with the grandchildren. What a deal! I'd wished I had a gray wig styled into a bun, a little floral dress, and support hose. Then I decided, why make it look worse than it is? I did wear my ID bracelet that has the initials of my Cloud 9 on it, a sweet, personal gift made by Allison for Mother's Day. No denying that I was a proud grandma, 9 times over.

Little Sophia had already attacked the salsa when this picture was taken. She can put that stuff away! And doesn't my Jude boy look handsome. He fixed his hair and picked out his clothes so he would look good for Memaw. He did a great job! Baylee shared her excitement about Wee school and she will begin Zoo school this next week.

There's nothing like grandchildren fighting over who gets to sit by Memaw that makes you feel divine. Being their star for the day was an honor I will always cherish. My thanks and undying love to all of you.

GNO - Welcome, Christy!

What a fun evening of visiting and laughter! We had a special guest, Cathy's sister Christy. Christy and I were in the same graduating class and it had been years (not saying how many) since we've seen each other. She is just as beautiful today as she was in high school. Sadly for us, she lives in another state and will only be able to join the Texas Divas when she is visiting in our area. Welcome, Christy! You were a wonderful addition, if only briefly.

We missed our two redheads, Paula P. and Jan, who were not feeling well. Deb is suffering from an earache and Paula F. usually rides with her. Our newest member, Darlene, comes with Jan. I think this is the first time we've had five missing in one evening. Not good. We hope all you Divas get to feeling better and are ready for our October GNO.

As you can see from the picture, I was pinned in and couldn't take pictures. Our waiter, Marcus, took this one. The first one he took was without a flash and was blurry. Since I looked awful in it, too, I refrained from trying to blackmail anyone with it. Enjoy the one piece of proof that we had a fabulous time.

I don't know what it is about women, a night out, and the giggles. It just happens. Anything and everything is cause for laughter. All serious concerns just fly out the window when we are together. It's healthy. Donna was the brunt of some of our laughter. Cathy and Christy were digging out their Stevia to sweeten their tea. Some of us had heard of this sugar substitute, and some hadn't. Donna had not only heard of it, but she knew its commercial jingle. She began singing, "Ac-ti-vi-a!". We laughed shamefully as Allison pointed out to her that Stevia was a sweetener and Activia kept a body regular. In all fairness to my beautiful Sissy, the two words do sound similar. One has an extra syllable but who's counting? Thanks for the laugh, Donna.

Allison shared a video with us of Baylee mimicking an eagle at the zoo. She squeals, the eagle would squeal. After a few minutes of this, the eagle was becoming freaked. A zoo official approached and asked that she stop antagonizing the poor bird. Of course Baylee never mistreats any animal but sometimes doesn't know what they really like and don't like. And I feel an inner pride that my 5-year-old granddaughter intimidated our national bird. That's some big stuff. That's my girl.

As is often true of women, we lingered outside the front door of the restaurant after dinner and visited some more. Then, as we all moved towards our vehicles, it was more talking and laughter. I think we hugged each other goodbye three times.

Again, thank you, Christy, for joining us for a fun evening. It was great seeing you again. And to our two Paulas, Jan, Deb and Darlene, we look forward to having you back where you belong for our October GNO and dinner. All of you are wonderful friends!

The Missing Newspaper

This is an example of how Robin and I have been on brain overload lately. Of course the example involves Robin, not me. For obvious reasons.

Robin came up to me and asked, "Did you stop delivery of our newspaper?"

"No. As a matter of fact, it is paid through November," I told him.

"Well, it isn't in our yard."

"Maybe someone stole it."

"But there are papers in all the other yards," he said.

"Maybe that someone just needed that one newspaper."

"Hmph," he muttered as he walked away, only to come back a few minutes later.

"Forget what I said about the newspaper," he told me. "It's on the coffee table in my den. I must have gone out and picked it up earlier."

"Huh?"

He flushed and walked away again.

Happy Birthday, Sharon!

My beautiful friend, Sharon, is having a birthday today. We celebrated last month while she was still living close. Now she's in another state and I miss her so much.

Sharon, I hope the day is everything you wanted and more. You are so delightful, so inspirational, that I want to keep coming back for more. You fill me up and will continue to do so across the miles. You are special. Happy birthday with love!