Last First Day of High School

My youngest begins her senior year of high school tomorrow. In  true Cotton fashion I waited til today to buy the dreaded school supplies.

When I was a kid your momma never had to buy school supplies...they gave you every thing you needed when  you  got there. Notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, rulers and compasses. Sometimes they even gave you a  minature coke bottle on a tiny chain. (I grew up right outside of Atlanta...Coke Country)

 I always loved the notebooks, wish  they still made them. Blue Horse three ring binders covered in denim. I searched for over an hour on the Internet for a picture of one but found a pic of  the filler paper instead and it brought back a flood of memories.

I took Massey to Wal Mart and we picked up some notebook paper, composition books, pencils and a three ring binder. She needed a new back pack but we couldn't find them. I spotted a man stocking shelves and asked where the back packs were? He rubbed his face and solemnly said "I'm embarrassed to say they forgot to order them. That's all we have, and he motioned to a wall behind us with about ten Dora the Explorer and Batman vinyl back packs.

Can you say "I bet someone got fired from the purchasing department of the Wal Mart in Newnan this week?"

He said we could try sporting goods and see if they had some. We went to sporting goods...and that's just what they were, sporting goods. Back packs for $49 and up. We opted to skip the back pack purchase.

She got what she needs for her first day; They'll send home a mile long list tomorrow of what else they want me to buy.

At least she is a senior, although having had two others graduate before her I know exactly what to expect. It's already started.  Last week I had to drop off ten bucks for her 'Senior 2013' tee shirt for her to wear on  her first day. They want seventy five bucks for her to walk at graduation...heck they should pay ME for sitting in the football stands sweating to death to just watch her walk across a football field. At least WE graduated at  the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Atlanta. It was pretty impressive, unless your class graduated the day after the circus left town. If your class did,  you  could still smell  the horse and elephant poop but at least it was still an auditorium in downtown Atlanta and  you  were actually on a real stage!

I know Massey is excited. My boys weren't so much, but they both were sick of school.  Massey is a social butterfly and wears her Indian Pride (the mascot) proudly. She may not be a cheerleader or be the Homecoming queen. She may not be the most popular girl in school but is one of the truest most sincere sixteen year old girls I have ever met.

 She can wear me out but that's what mommas are for!

 She can just as easily make me smile when I feel like crap and even know when I need to hear her say "I love you, Momma."

My last child is growing up. Three kids have survived having me as a momma. Kudos to me!!!

til next  time...COTTON



A GREAT Run...

It's been a good run. I've looked at dirty Guard feet. I have made countless new friends.

Have witnessed parents and friends all coming together for one common goal.

I have witnessed Massey growing into a young woman I am extremely proud of... making her own decisions and learning about commitment , dedication and how far that can take you in life.

I have made a lot of new friends and had the time of my life being around all these teens. They excelled in Drama...created a lot of it themselves but always came together when it mattered the most.

They support each other and have renewed my faith in the youth of today.

Massey is closer to some than others but they ALL stand together united as "ECHS Guards."

I cannot say enough good things about the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles , friends and supporters of this Guard.

I'll give you a gauge to go by...I was a slacker!

I got home from work tonight, tired and worn out. I found out the Guard season was finally over and it wasn't relief I felt...it was sadness. Not for the Guard , but for me.

I wouldn't be around all these kids , parents and excitement anymore.

The Guard is just what I needed at this point in my life.

A reason to smile and reason to "In-Joy."

It has been a reminder that when life gets tough...you have to be TOUGHER!

Just when you think you are alone...you need to look around you.

Extend your hand and it will be firmly grasped by the many that love you and they will pull you through.

It may sound crazy that a high school sport has become so important to me...but it has.

I have a wonderful immediate family but I also have an extended family...The Guard family.

It has been a great run. It has been a thrill.

It has been something that has drained me but has uplifted me ten times over!

Congrats to all these kids!

Thanks for letting me be a small part of your wonderful world.

There's always next year! (unless you are a Senior)

To the Seniors...Believe me, your life is just getting started but what a wonderful way to begin it!

Til next time....a Totally Sucked In "GUARD MOM."

When Am I Going to Learn I Don't HAVE Normal Days?

I didn't get to sleep until 5AM. Yes it was my fault but I have always been a night owl and knew I only had to struggle through a day shift. It was my scheduled day off  but days off are over rated in my book and I picked up because I am taking off Saturday for Massey's performance at the Georgia Dome in BOA competition.

She had a chorus concert at the Centre for Performing Arts tonight so as soon as I got off  work I had to pick her up from the middle of guard practice on the hot asphalt of the high school parking lot and race her and another guard member over to the centre to change into a floor length gown and try to wipe away as much sweat as they could with their tee shirts. I of course had to go get gas after dropping them off and got back in time to be one of the first ones in to get a seat. As I stood in the lobby of the centre (an extremely nice facility that our tax dollars paid for) I looked around and was amazed at what some people consider  correct attire for a concert at a place called "The Centre For Performing Arts."

A man and his wife stood over to the side in outfits that SCREAMED "We left the slaughter house auction just in the nick of time." I know I shouldn't have, but I had my camera in my lap preparing  for my video taping of the concert and just HAD to take a pic. You know, it was probably their grand kid or niece or nephew singing but it just reminded me what a rural setting I live in when this attire feels okay to mosey on over in to "The Centre" for a concert. Granted it wasn't Les Miserables we were fixing to see but at least button up your shirt...especially if you don't have a wife beater on underneath and are built like Junior Samples.

But you know what? That's country living at it's finest and 'round these parts we don't mind .  (well maybe some of us do but we like the fact that they support the young un's.) I sat on the second row to film my girl and could smell the guard girls from where I sat...I bet that couple I saw in the lobby felt like throwing up a hand and making a bid on the livestock onstage.

The chorus ended with a beautiful arrangement of "America The Beautiful" and I actually teared up while taping  and it made goose bumps on my arms.

So I live in a Po Dunk county. I also live in a great country and I also have a great life. My kids go to a great school and are involved in a school with  teriffic parent support  and a wonderful staff .

Next concert I am waking Tim up and saying "Pull on a tank top, Massey sings in thirty minutes."

I have included the video of them singing "America The Beautiful" and hope it hits your patriotic heartstring like it hit mine.

I also include a shout out pic of the couple that were nice enough to show up. Maybe that's where that "Big Rig" in the parking lot came from...I dunno. But at least we support our kids!

Til next time...COTTON 

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Freezing With the Funnel Cakes

That was the coldest 49 degrees I have felt in quite a while. Just got home from the ball game and don't think my feet will ever thaw out.

Our five man funnel cake stand has been downsized to a husband and wife team. I went to the game as soon as I got off work and by the time I walked to the stadium I was freezing. I called Tim who was still at home and told him to dig up a hat, scarf and gloves to bring me. Granted I am a sissy in cold weather but with the drizzle and the wind blowing...it was downright cold. Even the fryer didn't keep me warm. I hung out at the grill pit til Tim got there with my scarf and hat. Note to self: If you have hair as short as a man's, always have a stocking hat handy from October to March.

Once I covered up it got a bit better but the wind was non stop and killing me. I don't think I've ever clung as tightly by my husband in our twenty one years together.

It was "Pink Out" night at ECHS and pink was every where, even marking the football field yard markers. The Wild Indian Boys...a group of students that paint their upper bodies and usually have E C H S on their chests tonight were painted with the message "Save the Ta Ta's" and had pink ribbons painted on their backs. I hope they have all had flu shots. I don't know how they stood the cold but they stayed in their war paint the entire game and I never saw one of them with a shirt or jacket on. The color guard all wore pink ribbons around their upper arms.

At the beginning of every game after the National Anthem, 'Princess Senoia' on her horse 'War Chief' charges down the field. I wish you could have seen the mud that horse kicked up. I always think it is neat that they have an actual horse charge down the field before the game, but I bet the groundskeeper was clinching his teeth at the damage that large horse made in its thirty second charge down the field.

It reminded me of this morning when I left for work. Zach had four boys spend the night and when I went to leave for work I was all but blocked in the garage by cars. I squeezed straight back between three vehicles and was going to go out my next door neighbors drive way. As soon as I hit the grass I sank in the mud. I got all four boys, plus Zach to come push me out and left a huge mess in my once pristine side yard. It made me sick, but probably not as sick as seeing a huge horse galloping one hundred yards down a field that I personally take care of on a daily basis.

It did make me feel better about the tire tracks I left in my side yard though.

I can't brag enough about the high school my kids go to. They are a bunch of die hard students that obviously love their school and a bunch of parents that make the whole experience lots of fun for the kids and make it run smoothly .

My feet are beginning to thaw finally.

We were getting killed the first half but came back and won the game 25 to 17.

GO INDIANS!

GO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS!

GO TO BED KELLY!

Til next time...COTTON

The Big Banquet

I went to my daughter's Color Guard banquet tonight at the high school.

It was over two hours long...first came the band awards, marching, orchestra, seniors in the band; Awards for every pin, star ,letter and certificate you could dream of.

Finally over an hour into it came time for color guard. She was so proud, I could see it in her precious face. They got great comments from the band director about how they brought home the Gold medal from the state competition.

I will have to say once again... I was impressed with this program she has chosen to bleed me of all the money I don't have.

The band director went on and on about this great group of kids he works with, he teared up a couple of times talking about what they mean to him and how proud he is of their hard work and diligence.

I could tell how the band and color guard felt about being part of this group. They were excited for not only themselves but their team members as well, cheering for each other as certain ones were singled out for specific awards and accomplishments.

They had a video made that they showed, from the beginning of band camp last summer, through the football season, concert season and regional competitions. The faces of these kids, the feeling of camaraderie and the look of happiness and friendship on all of their faces made me tear up as well.

I remember feeling just like that about my own days in the band back in the stone age of the seventies. It is good to see that some things haven't changed ... that teen agers can still bond and grow as young adults in a positive and encouraging environment that they truly love , enjoy and appreciate.

Some of the seniors spoke of how much this program has meant to them and their lives. Some said they don't know what they would have done without it and others cried openly about how much they would miss it.

It was a touching 2 hours and knowing that my daughter longs to be a part of this wonderfully run program that involves not only the kids but parents and volunteers as well is worth every penny it costs.

There were knock out gorgeous girls and chubby girls...studs and geeky looking nerdy types. There were kids in wheelchairs and kids that looked as if they wouldn't fit in anywhere.

But they ALL fit in this group of teens, they all high fived each other and cheered each other on when a name was called. The geeky looking kids got just as much support as the jock types...some of the heavier set girls got more cheers than the "Prom Queen" types. You could tell they all loved each other and that stereo types were no where to be found in this room of several hundred teens.

As a woman quickly approaching fifty and worrying about the state the world is in today...I take great comfort in the fact that my thirteen year old daughter has found her way to this great program and great group of friends. The seniors spoke kindly of the underclassmen, sometimes jokingly but you could feel the love in that room so powerfully that it made me choke up several times. It made me glad my kids go to this massive sized school that has a small town feel to it. The Booster program is tremendous and the parent support is amazing.

This is the kind of thing that makes a young person realize and fulfill their potential. It melds together all different types and personalities and makes them a strong single unit.

With all the problems and ways to go down the wrong path of life, I feel blessed that my daughter wants to walk down this road with an amazing group of kids, led by a dedicated teacher that actually seems to love each and every kid and seems immensely proud of the work these kids do so very well with obvious pride and determination.

Now if we can get the academic teachers to inspire them, we would REALLY have something going on!

"CRASH" !!!!

I have been off line for over a week.

I never knew how much I depended on my computer.

Four Trojan viruses, a corrupt system file...and I was "OUTTA" touch with the entire world(so I felt).

Back on line, with a loaner tower from my brother in law until we buy a new computer.

I feel as if I have been on a deserted island...frantically searching for my "WILSON". (You would have to watch "Castaway" with Tom Hanks to get that one...although it is an excellent movie and brings a lot of what we take for granted into perspective)

If you read my blog at all, last year I wrote a post called "The Thirty Year Grudge".

Guess what?

She is back with a vengeance, and attacking my sacred(to me) sister as well.

This girl that I went to high school with OVER thirty years ago, has made it her personal mission to verbally and literally assassinate me, my family and my name.

Obviously being the "PEON" that I am, she has way too much spare time.

It really didn't bother me until she included my sister in her cut throat remarks.

She assumes since I have written several comments on my classmates website that are pretty stinking savvy (if I may say so myself)...that my sister is writing them for me.

My sis rarely ever types on the classmates site, I guess that I was such a doofus in high school that she doesn't think I am capable of expressing myself intelligently or articulately.

ANYHOO...

In her last post she summed me up this way "Your hypocrisy has no bounds".

What in the hell is she smoking, or what does she NEED to smoke?

I have decided to totally ignore her comments about me and continue "wowing" the readers with my fluent verbal diarrhea and just leaving it to them to question her acidity on the site.

My friends at work think that she is stalking me and consider her dangerous...I consider her a challenge for me to be above her petty attacks, and will rely on my true friends to do the responding(which they have done quickly and savagely).

THIRTY YEARS...this girl has hated me for thirty years.

What does that say when you can't believe that a person grows from the seventeen year old person you knew in 1978 and is a totally and completely different person now?

I truly think it may be because when I joined, the message board was rarely followed and dull as dirt.

I made a couple of posts about East Point, the town I grew up in, and it brought so many views and responses that it is still the most "viewed" item on the entire site.

My classmates have rallied behind me, I have stopped responding to her threatening and vindictive posts...I will let the other masses speak (and BOY are they).

How can you take a grudge from 1978 and turn it into a life mission?

It really didn't bother me until she dragged my sister into the mix...now she is just being a "BEE-AACH".

If you ever get a free moment, go to classmates for Russell High school in East Point, Ga and read the sitcom we have going on.

Desperate Housewives has NOTHING on us...It is an ABSOLUTE HOOT!!

Her posts about me read like a manifesto from the uni-bomber.

It truly IS entertainment (at the cost of my good name)...although I know that any one that knows me...knows the real Kelly...and to me that is all that matters in the long run.

If you decide to look it up, just look for anything written by me and there will be a response by my biggest fan(..NOT..)

Glad to be back on line, and will post more tomorrow....COTTON

Facing my Thirty Year Grudge...In The Face

As I write this short blog, I know that this may be my last post. I am going to my class reunion to face my "UNI BOMBER". I have wrestled back and forth over whether or not to go...my husband is reluctantly going with me (probably so he can call in the life insurance policy as soon as I am "OFFED" by my enemy from three decades ago). I just cannot, with a clear conscience let this girl who for some strange reason wants to either kill me or dump pig's blood over my head while I am basking in the spotlight of having kept all classmates in touch for thirty years...keep me away. "CARRIE" the old movie is swimming through my head even though the event is two days away. She has been strangely quiet...probably planning her strategy and her quick get away. Or maybe she is back on her meds and is not planning to come at all. My husband jokingly (I HOPE) told our kids; "Your Mom might not make it into the ballroom, but if she doesn't...we will take the target out in the parking lot"! THIRTY YEARS...three stinking decades ago, someone felt picked on . Well you know what? We were ALL picked on in high school , we all had our weaknesses, we all had our phobias, and except for one person, we ALL got over it. So I leave you with this thought...I will not be deterred from going to see my former class mates and friends, not be scared away by vicious and spiteful comments...and more than this..will not run away from my past. I have had MANY, MANY emails from class mates wanting to know if I was coming...so obviously they either want me there, or want to see my timely demise by a 4'10" tall STARK white....amazingly white, angry and boiling pot of humanity that wants to show everybody that she can not only hold a grudge for three decades, but can still try to whip my butt! So every morning as I get ready for work..I play the "ROCKY" theme song, drink my glass of raw eggs...and prepare for my "BIG GRUDGE" match. If she does come, I have already decided to play it low key, just speak to her politely, and walk on my tip toes the rest of the evening. Let's just hope for the safety of every one there, no TEQUILA is brought out, and hope that you all hear from me Sunday morning. High school is indeed a rough period in life...but I feel that it is one that is intended to prepare you for the rest of your journey, teaches you what to take to heart and what to take as a lesson. I think that this may be our BIGGEST turnout yet!!! I wonder if all my class mates have a "squares" betting pool going as to what will happen....I wish they had let ME buy a square. Or come to think of it...I am wondering if maybe my husband started it...He HAS been UNUSUALLY nice these past few days. I think that I will end now so that I can go check the caller ID and see if he has been talking to the enemy ! Till (hopefully) next time.....MEAN OLE COTTON

The Thirty Year Grudge

I am a member of a website that is for finding old classmates and reconnecting. I have several different schools on mine. I have my college, my elementary school, my husband's high school and the high school that my college room mate went to (my sister also taught at that high school) as well as my own high school. It is fun to start discussions and see how far they get. My most popular post has had over 1400 views and over 67 postings. As anyone who reads this knows...I LOVE to write. Since I have started this blog I have kind of ignored my high school site. A friend of mine sent me a text on my phone last night telling me to read the high school website. I came home from work to find a "diatribe" written about me by a girl that I barely knew in school. It read like a manifesto that was written by the uni-bomber. It began "Not that I am bitter..." and got more intensely bitter with each line...and there were about a THOUSAND lines of the most bizarre comments I have ever read. She dogged me because I was "just" a waitress, and that she made over $400,000 a year. She dogged me for not responding to an email that she had sent me in early 2007. She said that I was mean to her, and was ignoring her extension of the olive branch of her email...more like a beating stick! I remember her well, and she was an odd duck. But to harbor these feelings for thirty years is not only disturbing, but sad. As her rant went on page after page after page... I was absolutely astounded that I had obviously wounded her beyond repair. She lambasted me not only for high school, but for writing so many posts on the website and not returning her email. You know...high school is a tough place (even in the late seventies). I am hoping that she takes some of her $400K and gets some therapy. She informed me that one of her great achievements was being the president of Charlie Sheen's fan club. NOT helpin her cause with me!! I tried to apologize to her, but by that time, several people had responded to her post about me... Let's see.. the first post was entitled "DAMN".. It read..."Looks like someone needs to get back on their medication." After that post, she retorted with yet another long winded roasting of me and my ignoring to respond to her email (I will NEVER forget to respond to an email again...even if it is to say "leave me alone"!!) The more my friends and former class mates took up for me, the more rambling posts she made.... It was almost amazing in a spooky kind of way. Hang on a minute while I go out side to make sure she isn't out in a tree in my neighbor's yard with a sniper rifle..........WHEW!!! The coast is clear for now!! You know, when you are a 15 year old kid, how can you see that 35 years down the road, you can still have an effect on a person that you haven't seen in over thirty years? She kept posting and posting and posting..."STOP IT"!!! I wanted to say, but I was trying to placate her with apologies and kudos for her $400K job that she had "shown me up with." Even that wasn't good enough. FINALLY I made a post that said "Let's just put this all to rest...and lighten up a bit... we are starting to sound like a Jerry Springer episode". The next post was entitled "JERRY, JERRY, JERRY". (NOT HELPIN ). You know, I had a lot of people that weren't very nice to me in high school.. I was flat chested (still am) and wore braces all through high school. But I moved on, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let this girl move on before she hunts me down and does whatever it is that she so adamantly wants to do to me. YES kids are cruel in high school, but there were a LOT meaner kids than me, even ones that picked on me. I almost feel sorry for her , reading all the responses to her "Tirade". But you know what? She hit a nerve with the "waitress" comment. I may "JUST" be a waitress, but I am a DAMN good waitress.. one that loves her job, enjoys going to work every day and has great satisfaction in knowing that I have customers that call just to see if I am working. I am so sorry that I offended this girl thirty years ago.... But for "Pete's Sake" Move on Sister, remember that I was 15 then, and I am 48 now. If I still held a grudge against all high school pettiness and cruelty...THAT would be a full time job, and then I would not have time to write my blogs.... Now THAT, would be REALLY cruel!! Till next time...."Big ole mean COTTON!"