Daddy's 78th birthday (a month late)

I thought I would tell you about my Daddy today, since it is his birthday.  He is 78 (or so he says).  He gets along pretty good, but you can tell he is slowing down.  Of course most people would be complaining like crazy, but Dad doesn't like to bring attention to himself.

He still holds down the fort on Pactolas Road by himself.  He did give me a scare the other day when I stopped by his house.  Both vehicles were there, but no answer by him on the cell or home phone.  And the lights in front of the house where off and it was 4 pm.  I went to the neighbors house to ask if she had seen Daddy out that day, and she said "no".  She promptly headed out her door and around the back making sure I stayed in the front yard.  In just a few seconds she had found him in his 'cave' aka known as "the place of tomatoes."  There he keeps as many tomatoes for as long as he can along with  other sundry items stored there (some of which we were told not to tell Momma about!).  Mom only ventured down in the basement when no one else was there togo get something she needed.

When we found him in the basement amongst his tomatoes, he said he was "making ice cream for my own party and listening to the radio,"  And he had his cell phone on vibrate!.   I had called Karen to alert her and she was coming right over.  I was so glad to tell her we found daddy downstairs and she did not have to come.  Jim Good was gonna make it to his birthday party after all!


You know something?  Daddy really deserves the admiration so many people have for him.  He is kind, caring,  and doesn't know a stranger.  As far as being kind,  he is kind in the most unusual ways; he enjoys giving others tomatoes or apples  from  the market.  He also will make some homemade ice cream whenever Karen asks him to do  so. He has even made ice cream in January just for Karen's birthday! He doesn't crank the ice cream  by hand but he whips up some really good plain vanilla ice cream most times.  He has botched a few batches  of late when he wasn't sure if he put in  all of the  ingredients.  We forgave him and told him every one is allow to goof up a batch every now and then.

 It has bothered me for years that my dad worked shift work for years and missed many band concerts and sport events, but I realized that was his way of caring for his family. He worked hard and long at Eastman and raising tobacco to fund our Christmases and vacation for many years.  He even tried his hand at college on the GI bill just so we could go to Florida/Disney World one year..  Turns out that algebra and Daddy just never did click.

And the other thing I admire Daddy for is the way he honored his parents and took such good care of mom when she had cancer.  He also lost a good friend to cancer too--Ken Sells.  He and Daddy were a hoot, and I do believe he was one of Dad's dearest friends.  In fact Ken's youngest daughter, Kim has the same birthday as Daddy.  She saw our selfie we took at his party at Karen and Steve's home and Daddy said she called him to wish him a Happy Birthday!   It really did make his day, he told me.  Thank you Kim!

So here this is...getting finish a month after his birthday.  Since then he has had an implant put in his back to help with the pain he has down his leg and is doing well with it!  I told him that we would give them fits on an airplane if both of us traveled together now (since I have brain implants).  I would like to tell him "Daddy you are the BEST!!!!", and "I hope this coming year brings lots of good things your way!"

If you happen to run into Jim Good, mention that you read about him on the internet.  His reply will most likely be "What did Judy or Karen write about me now?"  He really likes it, I think...getting some attention, so we will oblige him!  Love you Daddy!

Judy 10/26/16

Sharing My Thoughts from 9-11-01 and Today

In just a few more days, the media will (hopefully) still have some honoring and tasteful coverage of the events of September 11, 2001.  Since this weekend will be the 15th anniversary of that event and my own calendar is getting pretty full, I thought I would share "why I think it is important for us to NEVER FORGET that day" a few days ahead of time.

You know, these days, being "patriotic" seems to have new meanings.  To me, it is feeling of pride in honoring people, ideas, and even a flag (which holds many more meanings) for which this USA is founded  and known as a great country!  It does mean "red, white, and blue" and "united" and many other things we all could add to this sentiment of "patriotic".

Before I think up whole new concept of what 9-11-01 means to me, maybe I will just let you read what I wrote about September the 11th, 15 years ago.   Zoom in to read, I didn't want to try and type again.

These were just a few things that I thought of that day when those claiming to be terrorists, really just cowards, thought they could bring us down.   It was a day of feelings you know you will never forget.   

In the ensuing days and weeks, these people who made up the United States of America found new reasons to make each life matter, each memory matter,  and even each death matter.  Today, as best as I could find the death toll from the hands of the enemy that day is two thousand, nine hundred seventy -six.   I wrote it out so that maybe it will seem as large as it is.   And the ripple effect to the numbers of family and friends who lost that day is innumerable.  And that my friends, is why we need to remember.  There are too many of us who cannot even fathom a wicked act such as 9-11 happening,  But it did and we must always be diligent in protecting  our nation against such again. 

For that reason, the flag to me will always mean "unity" ....something of which our country these days has in short supply.  We must be diligent in making sure others will know that terrorism is not going to stop our country.  From the rubble of the foundations of building and planes will rise the hearts of unity and a strong defense in order to let cowards know of our intent:  to be true to our HEARTS and HERITAGE,: to RESPECT those who defend us, to HONOR those who have given up much to keep this nation strong and free, and to have COMPASSION for those around us, to KEEP in HIGH REGARD the principals on which our country was founded  I know of no better way to show this than to show HONOR to our United States of American flag.  It is just a symbol, but a strong one that has represented our solidarity.

 A flag is just a symbol, but how you treat it, how you show RESPECT for it, shows me where your heart and mind is at.  Maybe you should google up just how many men and women have died in several wars and deployments around the world to make this country what it can be, what it is, and what it has been.  And if that doesn't strike a chord of gratitude, then I don't think anything will.  

As for me, when I see red, white and blue, or I intentionally put on those colors,  I  think of and wear them with pride for my country.  And there is a hope in my heart that God will continue to bless this land, this people, and these ideas that have made it great. And that is why I think it is important for us to always remember:  there are those who want what we have, what we hold as true. and they are our enemies.  I will forever know that Freedom is not Free and many have given me this honor of  living in the USA and the freedom to to ask my GOD to continue HIS mercy and grace to us as he has since our founding fathers stepped foot on this soil.

Judy Hensley

9-8-2016