All Coming Together

The last time we took a family photo together was when TJ left for Australia, probably over five years ago. At least this one has a much better background and are all in a much better place in life.

Our girl, Massey got Gradiated this past weekend. We headed back to Georgia and ended up with almost ten inches of snow around the university where she was to graduate.

Graduation was cancelled for Saturday afternoon at three and moved to Sunday evening at six.

Huge flag on the play!


You can't stop us...we went right ahead with her graduation party on Saturday night at my sisters' house. All our friends from north and west of us were snowed in and couldn't attend but had a great turnout, with about twenty five of us celebrating Massey's wonderful accomplishment of getting her college degree.

             
One of her besties decorated her mortarboard and did an outstanding job!

My sister(of course) outdid herself with a huge pot of chili and  huge pot of vegetable beef soup. I simply chopped green onions, japs (restaurant lingo) and made some cornbread.


It was so nice to have all three of my kids together again and be with both my sibs as well.

I pretty much think everyone had a great time. There were friends from our past and friends we've made since.

The saying is true..."Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other one's gold."


To be surrounded by our three kids again was a wonderful feeling. It's been way too long.

The snow put a hitch in our plans for her graduation ceremony. TJ and his lil fam had to miss graduation and so did my brother since it was put off until Sunday evening but Saturday night was our graduation party, for her as well as us...for surviving!

If there is one thing I can say about being a member of the family I was lucky enough to born into, is that it's the best jump start in life you could ever be lucky enough to get.

Lucky for me, I did get it. 

It was such a wonderful weekend, even with all the weather issues. Our daughter graduated with her college degree and both my sibs were there to help celebrate. All three of my kids were there as well and we were surrounded by our friends, old and new.

Life doesn't get much luckier than that.

"The once in a lifetime kind of people."

Those are the peeps you want to be lucky enough to have love you. Always surround yourself with them and everything will be alright.



I asked my husband tonight to think of a song which (to him) best described being born as a Leach  (my maiden name) or how my family considers the grand scheme of life?

He thought for about maybe three minutes and came up with this:

Seems I chose a good man to marry and dance with through life.

He gets me...and he gets my family.

I've never asked him, but think he feels pretty lucky to have fallen in with us along his own way through life.

                                          We came into life separately  but are conquering it... together.

                        Huge congrats to Massey, our first college graduate! Go far and aim higher.

                                    We know you will; always know we have your back.

                                                                  Go gettum kid!

   She came into this world twenty two years ago, almost three months early and nearly killing us both.

                                                                And now I know why.

                 I'm the luckiest woman on this planet and don't ever think I do not realize that.

I relish every moment of my life . The good times, the bad times and the times it took to get from one to the other.


Til next time...

A mighty grateful COTTON

I Really Got Lucky In The Sibs Department

 My sister will kill me when she sees this pic of her but at least it is from far away. Anyone who knows her knows what a true beauty she is, inside AND out. She came over last week with her hubs and fixed a leak in our master bath shower that had been leaking for years and caused a huge wet spot on the ceiling in our kitchen. Then my sis repainted the entire ceiling after the leak was fixed and ceiling patched. She painted all the baseboards, trim and even the doors.

 Today she came over after Zach took everything off the walls and the top of the cabinets and painted my entire kitchen for me. The wall paper was okay when we moved in almost eighteen years ago but is too busy looking and made my already tiny kitchen look even smaller.

This is the way it looked this afternoon when I left for work. Everything was piled on the kitchen table and the tiny room was a wreck in preparation for painting. My sister retired from Delta a few years back and has taken up painting. She does interior and exterior. She strips wallpaper and refinishes cabinets. The woman is amazing...and doesn't even tape or use a drop cloth! My three pups were thrilled to see their Aunt Cin. We kept Ziggy and Charlie out back while she painted but they could see her through the glass back door and rarely moved from it. We let ole Ham stay inside. Blind as a bat and moves so cautiously it breaks your heart.He meandered into the kitchen once to sniff out Cindy but after running head on into her ladder decided he'd just lay in the dining room. Cindy (a pup lover like us) moved her ladder and worked on the other side of the room first so he could meander back in to visit. I know my OCD sister. She spent more time cleaning than painting. The top of my drop down cabinets are clean enough to eat off of. Maybe I should get a couple of monkeys too, they could just live and scamper around  up there!

My sister is the most fantastic giving person I have ever met, except that I have an equally fantastic brother as well. He's currently helping us on the Massey end of things with college and delighted to say she isn't letting us down either, making good grades and even got a job on campus to help pay expenses.

Last week I got so bummed out. Things weren't looking good around here, Tim still hasn't found a steady job but is working part time five days a week. We were a bit short (understatement) on the house note and all the snow and ice didn't help. My boss floated me a loan (I call them the Drysdales) and even with tipping gods smiling on me came up a little short. My sis loaned me a bit and we made it! Today when she came over to paint I had the money to pay her back thanks to a great Valentine's shift It made me feel a little better about her completely re doing my kitchen.

I went into work at four and got my tiny booty thoroughly beat. Balls to the walls busy. I was already overwhelmed when Barb asked me to pick up two tables in the bar area. What am I gonna say, she helped us make our house note? It took me over an hour and having to ask for help from other servers before regaining any sense of composure or time. I left work after giving the Drysdale's a hefty payment on my loan and still came home with enough money to pay the garbage company who refused to pick up our refuse last week for non payment (I just took it all to work and threw it in the dumpster) and even have enough left to put gas in the cars to eek us through another week. How sad am I ? Pretty sad...until I walked in the garage door of my house and saw my new kitchen when I got home from work.

I'm not sure why I am this lucky but not even going to question it, just LOVE IT! The wall paper was gone, a soothing blue had taken it's place and the kitchen looked huge! Not only had she painted the entire room, she cleaned up all the mess on the kitchen table and had the room put back together for me so when I walked in had the full effect of a fabulous new kitchen.

So this is my brand new kitchen, with my new used refrigerator our neighbors gave us. I was blown away! It looks so clean and open.

She's not through yet! She wants to paint our kitchen table (she gave us years ago) black and the chairs in an accent color, maybe red or green.

So once again, here's the deal. I'm one lucky woman. I'm one lucky wife. I'm a lucky mom. I'm a lucky sister. I'm the luckiest broke as a joke person you'd ever want to meet or be. Millions and millions around this planet would and have died to be as lucky as us.

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"  (Dr. Seuss)

Can't wait to get home from my day shift on Sunday and play in my new kitchen!

Til next time...COTTON

Perfection!

Talk about a perfect fall weekend. Massey came home for a much anticipated visit. She was asleep by the time I got home  from work Friday night but headed out together Saturday morning for a way overdo momma/daughter day. We started off by going to the Christmas Marketplace at  my sister's church. I bought a huge bottle of local honey. Honey has so many great uses. It helps your respiratory system and is a natural healing miracle. It works great on burns or wounds , not to mention using it in cooking or a cup of tea. Massey found a retro suitcase she simply HAD to have and since it was one dollar she got it! I found a nice leather shoulder bag big enough  to carry all my work junk in for five bucks and we called our visit a success. We took the back roads through the country heading  home and decided to stop for lunch at a country diner. Only bad decision of the day.

It's a home cooking buffet so we stopped in for a bite to eat. The fried chicken was pretty tasty and creamed potatoes were yummy. I was  about halfway  through my chicken  breast when I discovered about a four inch hair. I'm a waitress and know that sometimes these  things happen so I didn't mention it to Massey but knew with certainty it wasn't mine since my hair is about an inch long. When I turned the breast over to pluck some meat off  the back side I found another hair and Massey noticed it too. She put her fork down and simply said "Please don't eat that, let's get out of here" so we did. Massey gets grossed out pretty easily whereas I don't, but two hairs is even a bit much for me. We didn't say anything to anyone but mentally scratched this place off our list of places to go.

We drove into downtown Senoia, a beautiful quaint little town where they film "The Walking Dead" TV series. We window shopped and and spent some great quality time together. It was a spectacular autumn afternoon made even more so because I was with my little girl.

We headed back to Newnan and suggested going by my favorite boutique, Ross...or as we call it "Ross Mess for Less." You have to hunt and peck and scrutinize every selection for missing buttons, rips or broken zippers but you  can find some really good deals. I found a fifty dollar cable knit turtle neck sweater for $12.99 and Massey found a precious colorful heavy wrap around sweater that retailed for sixty but was $16.00. Ross is a great store, a little messy but can find some really good deals if  you look long enough.

Then we drove across the street to battle the idiots at Wal Mart.  I know you save money there but sometimes (usually always) the people can drive you insane. We got Massey some things she needed for school and got her some snacks and toiletries for her dorm room.


I was mentally adding all this up in my tiny empty head knowing we couldn't really afford it but you only live once and money is over rated unless you can use it to make someone happy. I'm current (in my book) on most all my bills and just wanted to spoil my girl a bit and it's not like I took her to Neiman Marcus and Whole Foods.

We had to head home because I was on  call for the night shift at  work. My last day off was the day we moved her into her dorm room. I'm not complaining, it's been of my own choosing but an entire day off sure sounded nice to me and I called work with my fingers crossed. BINGO! They didn't need me and immediately felt even better.

Zach got  home from work early and  we enjoyed a  family night together. We all sat around together and talked. We  watched music videos on YouTube and tried to one up each other on which song was better. We had a blast watching everything from Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music to Little Feat to Jimi Hendrix to Don McClean to Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel." We  even watched an old video of  Steve Winwood's "Low Spark of High heeled Girls."

If we just could have  caught TJ online and sykped with him in Australia it would have truly been picture perfect.

On top of it all, the time change  even gave me an extra hour of sleep! I had to  work at  eleven on Sunday and the family came in for brunch before Zach  headed to work. Zach even sprung  for  the tab!

It was an excellent weekend. It was a fabulous weekend.

I got off around four and  came home to drive Massey  back to school. The drive into downtown ATL is never dull. Those guys on crotch  rockets are insane. I bet a guy passed me doing 120 mph weaving in and out of lanes like he was in a Frogger video game. Holy crap, what  are  they thinking? If  they crash and hit the pavement at well over a hundred mph do they think they will survive with just a helmet? Not to mention they scare the crap out of you when they scream up beside you seemingly out of nowhere and pull in front of you with  two feet to spare.

Massey had  three loads to carry up and it  costs  eight bucks to park so I sent her up with the first load and told her to  find  a friend to come back and help with  the rest. I hate not going up but it's ridiculously high to park in the ATL. She came back down a few minutes later with her buddy, Chris and  they  took up the rest.

I climbed out of the car and hugged my girl tight before I left. I told both (Chris is a great guy) I loved them and felt better about leaving with him walking her back in. A momma always worries.

With  the time change I made it back to the airport by  sunset and  home by dark.

Massey's doing great at  the university. So far all A's and B's. I knew when we took this tremendous step to send her she would make us proud and has stepped up to the plate.

It was a fantastic weekend  and well worth working almost three months straight for. If you're gonna have a day off, wait til it counts for something and  this one counted for a lot!

I've had many ups and downs with raising my kids and lucky for me there have been mostly  ups! They have all worried me to death at some point but have all made me proud at other ones.

One more week of the seven day work week and I'm going back to a normal one, if you can call anything about me normal!

I like being a weirdo, it makes me stand out.

Til next  time,

One happy COTTON

It's a Small World

Finished my week as a server last night. It wasn't real busy but had a birthday party of ten and thankfully they took care of me. I'm always apprehensive about adding a suggested gratuity. We're allowed to but feel bad suggesting how much  someone should leave me. If I go out and they add a suggested 18%, that's all they get. I don't like people telling me what to do with MY money, however if they leave it blank and have given me great service I always tip over 20%. So I just gave the best service I could and rolled the dice. I've gotten burned doing that before but not often. The dad paid, it was his son's birthday, who looked to be around thirty years old. He left me 20% and I was grateful.

Woke up this morning as the mattress maven (that's what my sister calls me) and headed to my other job. Last week was dismal but the day started off pretty good. Lots of people seeming genuinely interested came in and before noon I had sold a mattress and box spring to a young couple who had just moved to town. I had another woman from last week come back in and feel confident she'll be back to purchase a king size set later this week.

Then a woman walked in to price some king size mattresses and we started chatting. She spent over a hour with me and I feel pretty good about her coming back. She grew up in the same town I did, albeit fifteen years later. We talked about her deadbeat ex husband and we talked about her losing a really good job a while back. She was really nice and we got along great. She talked about her kids and I talked about mine. I gave her my card and told her I would appreciate it if she came back one of the three days I was there and buy from me. I told her I had another job as a waitress (old school term) and if she wanted some good food come by  there as well. She asked me where I worked and I told her. Then she said, "I've heard of that place. Last night some friends of mine came by  my house after a birthday party there for their brother and said the food was fabulous." I asked her what their last name was and when she told me I knew it was my party from  last night. I always get out my glasses and see the name on the card so when I take it back can say, "Here Mr. So and So, this is your copy and this one is mine. I appreciate your coming in and hope everything was great."

I told my new Bestie that I had waited on them! We both got a laugh out of that and then at  the same time said "It's a small world."

I feel like I'm sowing seeds at  the mattress gig and know it takes time for them to take root but am beginning to reap some reward. Three of my customers  today were people I have seen before and gotten to somewhat know. One returning woman even gave me a hug when she left. Hugs don't pay  the bills but make you  feel like you are making a difference and that's a pretty  good feeling.

I'm established at  the restaurant and have lots of people who specifically ask for me.  Now I am beginning to establish regulars at  the mattress store as well.

I was pretty down last week after bombing out but started this week off feeling pretty  good about myself as a salesperson.

Going in again tomorrow and hope the good vibes keep flowing.

People like it when you  take time to learn and listen to  their story rather than try and shove a sale down their throat...at least I do.

Wish me luck!

Massey's coming home from the university next  weekend and bringing two buddies with her.  Zach's  doing good, working and helping me out around the house. TJ's visa in Australia will be up in January and he'll be back state side.

Massey called me at work this morning and asked if I had seen what Zach had written on his FB page? I said no and she read me a status he had posted that made my day:

"No girl I have ever met in my life has the ability to make me as happy as my mother and that's why I'm still single."

I must be doing something right! And shout out to Zach, never settle for something, wait for the RIGHT something!

I feel better about my life already... Til next  time, COTTON

Another Week Behind Me

Just finished a nice skype with TJ in Australia. All three pups were behind me so he got to even skype with  the dogs. Charlie didn't want to be bothered, only seen sleeping on the couch behind me but the other two came over to the camera for a little face time.

It was good to see TJ's face and hear his voice. He seems to be doing well and has a nice little room which I had a video tour of. I'm not a big fan of all this modern technology, it seems to dehumanize us but when you have a kid living halfway around the world comes in really handy. As I was getting through talking with him, Zach hooked up on skype from his friend's house and I  left the conversation for my two boys to continue.

Things are settling back down around here with Massey finally graduating. A few more short weeks and she will be gone too. Zach's doing great as well and I have no complaints...other than my aching back, night sweats, daily hot flashes, chigger bites from working in the yard and really gross hairs that sporadically appear on my chin. How do you not notice a hair sprouting out of  your chin til it is a half inch long? For Pete's sake, I can't keep my reading glasses on 24/7.

Yes, I have somehow wandered, and or stumbled into "Old Lady Years." My eyes are terrible, I can't read a book without my cheap dollar store glasses. I can't read a credit card number or name at work without them and certainly can't type up a work order at  the furniture store without them.

On the up side,  I can load a king size mattress onto a truck , move a sofa and loveseat by  myself and still work circles around most all the young kids I work with at  the restaurant. I'm calling myself a winner.

I have one kid living halfway around the world doing what I should have done when his age, live life to the fullest when you can. I have another headed to college in a few short weeks and yet another who bottomed out, paid the price and  is making not only me but himself proud. Yep...I'm a winner!

Tomorrow is my day off. I only need one. Give me two days and I don't want to go back to work. I have a date with my Johnny Dear. That's my therapy, being in the yard riding my lawn mower. When I'm riding I think about things and figure out solutions. I think about where we've been, where we are going and how to get there...and all  the while make my yard look inviting and a nice place to see every  time I back out of the driveway  to go to work. The chigger bites simply remind me how much I itch to do better.

Massey and I took Ziggy over to my sister's house today after work to try and socialize her new boxer pup. She's named Zola (after our grandmother) but seems more aptly named Zoloft. She's the most nervous pup I have ever met. Let me put it this way, she's terrified when my sister gets out a broom to sweep the kitchen. We took Ziggy out into their side yard where Zola was nervously waiting. I had to let Ziggy off the leash because he was about to tear my arm out of the socket. Massey  said not to, Cin was kind of with Massey  but I thought it best  to let dogs be dogs.  Ziggy  took off like a speeding bullet but Zola had at least a twenty foot lead on him. Ziggy  caught her in under five seconds and she immediately turned over in the submissive position. She got up and took off and they  chased each other around the yard for thirty minutes non stop. After thirty minutes they were both frothing at the mouth and panting like they had run a marathon. Zola warmed  right up  to my "Good Bad Dog" and was smiling with that boxer smile before we left.

Massey  took a video of  them and I will upload it onto  this blog tomorrow.

We may be moving soon, but not counting the chickens before they hatch. Been there, done that.

All I "Do" know is we are making strides here, got three kids making their marks on the world and making me feel really old.

Stumbling through a new job, cruising through my old one with the cut in hours and pretty much enjoying life for the first  time in almost five years. Got three kids on track for success and one  day off to boot!

Life could be a whole lot worse.

Til next  time...COTTON

It's Starting to Sink in

It's gonna happen. I'm just having a hard time accepting it. My youngest is graduating from high school in less than a week and I feel lost. How did almost eighteen years go by ?

She fought her way into  this world weighing barely four pounds. Her entire head was smaller than my own hand but after a two week stay in  the hospital she came home and began to blossom.

She had the curliest hair I had ever seen and was quiet as a church mouse. I started to wonder if she would ever come out of her shell when all of the sudden, she began to get more talkative. She still wasn't a loud mouth like her momma but began to blossom even more.

 One thing was for sure, she was a lot cuter as a toddler than I was. She had older nephews who adored her and two brothers who  put up with her.

I already had two sons and loved them tremendously but little boys can give or take being around their momma. I wanted a "BFF" and having a daughter felt like my best shot. I turned out to be right.

She was so girly and fun to be around. I didn't have to share her with anybody until she was about five and new neighbors moved in next  door with a daughter one year younger than Massey. Then the "BFF" status changed.

Massey and Lyss were made  for each other. Massey finally had someone younger than her to boss around and Lyss was just fine with it. They were together all the time, shared  clothes (still do) secrets and summers. They wore a path out between our two houses and forged a bond  which still remains.

So my little BFFL found another BFFL. She made an excellent choice so it didn't bother me all that much.

They were little goof balls but knew how to have fun and I was lucky enough to witness it. Of course they would have falling outs but were always eventually drawn back to each other.

Then before I knew it she grew up and learned  the more BFF's you  have the better and I just felt lucky to be one of them.

She's always been close to her daddy and in his eyes does no wrong. That's okay with me. Being the "Heavy" has always been my job. His job has always been security and provisions. We make a good team.

Then one day she suddenly looked like this and knew I was in serious trouble. How the heck did she grow into a young woman so quickly?

She simply took off without me then dragged me willingly with her. She  got involved in Guard at her high school , learned camaraderie, commitment and dedication and grew some really tough feet. She spent about five seasons with them and just like that, decided it wasn't for her anymore.

She decided she wanted to excel in the classroom, head  to college and make a difference in the world. I was a hundred percent behind her.

Two years later I am amazed at all she has done. She's made National Honor Society and  graduating with honors. She just got accepted to Georgia State University this past week and in less than a week will be walking across a stage and handed a diploma. In a few short months she will be walking onto another stage of life and certain she will blossom even more.

My little girl is now a young woman and  the pride I feel is enormous.

 My  two sons are doing great after several jump starts. The boys will be just fine once they finally meet the woman of their dreams who will shove them down the path of life.

I'm not the best mom, far from it but at least they are all three alive and still kicking. They all love me and all make me proud. A mom can't ask for much more.

I just can't seem to fathom how my oldest is edging towards thirty and in less than two months my middle son will be twenty one? Massey is leaving for college in a matter of weeks and I'll be here alone with my husband.

These three little goof balls were all kids last time I checked. Now they are three young adults  making their way without needing me  every single  day.

Wow...not too sure what to think about that. I know it makes me feel old but I've been feeling old for a few years now. Guess God was just preparing me for this week.

Thank The Lord I still have three dogs who need me.

It's a bittersweet week for me but considering the past four years,  feels like quite an accomplishment.

I've had lots of help and prayers. I've had bad breaks but I've had good breaks. I've had a support system which is incredible...and believe it or not have been able to laugh all along the way. Some days have been downers, but if you don't have bad days, it doesn't make the good days stand out. I'm all about making a good day stand out!

Til next  time...COTTON