A Riddle

I'm not a historian.

Even though I love history and many subjects with in that field of study, I can say that and lose no sleep. Over the years I have especially loved delving into the history of my family and my hometown. Older folks throughout my life have shared stories with me, sometimes they may not have even been directed at me, I just happened to be in the room. But today someone is on my mind because I have spent hours talking to one little lady in particular. She on one sofa and me on the other; discussing family and life. Sometimes I wish we had counted those hours for some reason, but then again it's not the actual time that mattered.

Have you ever been invited to a party and you were the first to arrive? It's an odd feeling to walk into a room that is ready for something, but not yet there. Vacancy can be uncomfortable. To go even further, have you walked into a home or an apartment that you were going to buy or rent, opening the door to find it empty? Sometimes that creates a different feeling. You may have the eye to say - my sofa will work there or this could go here - but if you can't it's just an empty place.

As long as I live, in my imagination I will have a room with those two sofas and me and that little lady. I don't need the walls, the carpet, I don't have to have all that. Those are just things. But I do need that memory, I need that idea of peaceful talk that could be idle or  far reaching. Today or tomorrow I might share a story with a friend about 1945, and that same friend might think: why do you know this and why do you care? My only answer for that is, I know because of those hours on a gray sofa talking to that little lady. It's part of me.

It may be that I am an old soul, it could be because I spent so much time with older family members when I was growing up, I can't pin point how this happened but I know a lot about the past and that helps me to be excited about the future. It's the fine line that I have found in being able to look back, but not try to go back. To live in the now, but know about what was.

This may sound like a parable and maybe that is how I have to do it. Maybe this is a story that I am not yet ready to tell. Maybe today for once I am at a loss for words. I can't put the key in the door to lock it because it has to stay open. It has to always be there for me...it's my safe place.

In yesterday's blog I touched on memories and love. I shared the feelings and thoughts of my cousin. I made a comment about memories that today I feel compelled to amend. I said something like… memories don't go away. Let me retract that by adding most of the time. Sometimes we forget...and that's okay too. What's important is to have people around to pick up your slack when you need to prop your feet up and rest a while. Maybe this time I get to pick up the rope… I'll keep telling the stories.

As I look back over this entry it just reads like a riddle, and maybe that is appropriate. The band Five For Fighting wrote a great song about this sort of riddle. Joni Mitchell touched on the same idea in her monumental song Both Sides Now. John wrote about it in Revelations. All through history people have tried to understand this riddle we call life, and not one of them has the right answer. There is no right answer, it can be left to the ages. For now I guess we can just feel...happy or sad, whatever emotion that overtakes us and I guess we'll have to do that tomorrow too. That's life, it's all part of living the riddle. Hopefully we smile more than cry when we look back over our shoulders. I hope to laugh too, that always appeals to me. But this time I will just have to throw in a little bit of everything and turn my head quickly…and then smile. Didn't you know I'd have to?

Too Bad Facebook Friends Can't Hug

Dear Facebook,


Thank you for connecting and reconnecting me, with so many amazing friends and family members!


All the best,
Jonathon

Monday through Friday I take the bus downtown to the capitol to work. Some days I pull out my book and read a few pages, others I just gaze out the window at what's happening on Congress, there are days that I put in my ear phone and listen to iTunes and sometimes I surf the net. No matter what I do, these activities make that short ride even shorter.

Today while I was browsing Facebook on the bus, I came upon a wall post one of my relatives. She had written a post stating that today marked twenty two years since her Mom passed away. As I read these words I know are in her mind on more days than just today, my heart went out to her: "I miss you Mom" she typed.

Parents are always with us. Every time I whip up a quick meal for dinner I think about Mom and Dad cooking in the kitchen together. How would they do this, I often think? More times than not I just call them and ask. But what happens when you can't call your folks for advice or just to chat? The times when something really awesome happens in your life and you want to pick up the phone and let them in on some of your joy. What happens then?

We Remember.

As long as I live I will remember special things that my Mom and Dad have done for me. They do that too, I know they have memories of their Moms and Dads, we all do. These are the memories that warm our hearts and make us smile. Sometimes those same memories may bring a tear to the eye, but who doesn't need a good "softy" moment once in a while?

I'm very fortunate to have both of my parents, but everyone is not that lucky. The wall post I read this morning didn't mean this person had put her life on hold. She has a busy and full life, with a career and a family; anyone can tell that from her page. It meant what it said, she missed her Mom, and isn't that what a Mom would want? To be thought of and missed...and loved always. Parents lead, guide and direct us early on, they make sacrifices, they read us stories, make us special snacks and dinners, they take us places, and most importantly they give us a love that is unconditional. A love that doesn't go away. We will always crave that no matter how old we get, and when they're gone, we miss them, no matter how long that is.

I was glad to see that many friends commented on that wall post. Family members shared in the sadness that still exists. That's how we get through those days. Friends, family, hugs and plain old LOVE...and the memories. Because the memories of the people that made us feel so special never go away, thank goodness!

I think it's always okay to miss someone, that just means they mattered!

The Blind Side

Yesterday I enjoyed watching the award winning movie, The Blind Side, and just like many movies it moved me. However, this particular flick touched on something more pertinent - a true story about life.

The Blind Side is titled after a football term, and the movie is focused primarily in that arena, so to speak. However, in it's own way it bends the hearts of all those non-football knower's too. Sooner or later, we all endure those moments...the moments that take us by surprise.

When I was a child I went all sorts of places with my Dad. He had a truck, and we called it "Old Blue." It may have been a 1972 Chevy, I can't remember. In an early memory, I can see him backing down a path as close as he could get to a strip cut. With his green "John Boat" in the back, he and my Uncle Mike in tow. I attempted to help, while they lugged that boat into the water. The day began and ended in the wilderness. Three Storms out on the water fishing.

Around the same time, I can remember going to play golf with Dad with my own clubs that he bought me. When I got too tired he carried me, my bag and his, until we finished the round.

Later on in life but not too long, my friends and I decided that the coolest thing to do was to have camp outs. When I was allowed to host one of these extravaganzas in our back yard, my friends were eager to come. Not only because of what a "good" friend I was, but also because they all loved Dad. He was their Little League baseball coach, and we were the Cubs. Dad made the best fire for us that night. He locked it in with cinder blocks and it was big! I was really proud of that.

Dad has an honest way of being. He believes in keeping everything going on the straight and narrow. I know he works hard on being the best for our family; and we all love him for that. The movie, The Blind Side, reminded me of my Dad in a few ways. I won't ruin the movie for you, but here's why:

Out all the things I learned from him, I learned that respect is earned. I also learned that there is no reason to pass judgment on other people. Sooner or later, we will all walk down the same paths. But most importantly, Dad, without knowing, showed me what it means to be honorable.

When I was a boy in the middle of the night with the wind and the house making sounds, I knew we were safe because Dad was there. He was tough, but kind. Dad often believed in me and my sister Shannon more than we believed in ourselves.

Sometimes in life we are blindsided and blessed by it. Many of us are born into love, and life seems easy at first. But, unfortunately, some people are not born into love. This movie tells a story that is different from my life growing up or my life right now. The film touches on some really important values - values that our parents work hard early on to give us. These same values and principles become part of our conscience.

A few years ago, I watched a man rise from a chair to see his Mother's face. A man I had watched many of the days of my life. That day more than any other I waited to see how he would react. Soon, I noticed that he had done something I had not expected but did not surprise me all together. He went to the sister and brother that were in the room as well, and embraced both of them. That was man was my Dad.

Dads and Sons don't always have to explain these sorts of things. We don't always lend ourselves to these types of conversations. My hands on these keys might as well be his but in a younger form. My face, my body, they all speak his name, so much so that it makes it a difficult task to blind side one another. My father is different from yours, and yours is probably different from mine. But once upon a time, I got the chance to see all of Dad. I was kind of blind sided by him.

The family in this movie does that to one another throughout. Lending themselves to change, to love, and to kindness. Not in a "Lifetime Movie" sort of way either. They do it through being themselves, working hard in the same direction even though they all work in different ways the end result is amazing.

To be able to create a union where all your blind sides are covered is family. Whether you’re a football family, baseball, basketball, food family, whatever your family is. It's the room filled with laughter or silence that is content. It's everyone singing to the same tune on the radio, in a brown Mercury Topaz, It's a lifetime of building on what was already there in the beginning.

I have blogged about many members of my family. I have touched on humor and heart. I have mentioned my Dad numerous times, but I haven't tagged him to date. You see, Dad is a private and modest man. He may not even be crazy about this being put out there right now. But combining sportsmanship, family, and kindness in a film brought him to mind.

Our thoughts may vary from time to time, and that of course is natural. But no matter how I cut my hair or what clothes I throw on in the morning; my very flesh is an emblem of his name and his person, and I am proud of that, because I'm proud of my Dad.

Check out The Blind Side when you get the chance, and see who it brings to your mind.

The Reasons I know I had it Good...

Growing up in a small town can help you learn to be resourceful. Just because your town and surrounding areas are not attracting droves of people or doesn't boast all the latest things to do, doesn't mean that you will lead a boring life there. In fact, life in my hometown as a boy was not boring at all.

I grew up on Rosedale Lane in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. I was just a quick bike ride away from several of my buddy's houses. Unless my parents had plans for the family on a certain summer day, I usually hit the road with my friends and found something to do. Racing down streets on our bikes, finding places to throw stones and talk about the future; we always managed to have a good time.

During those years we explored all the woods around town, the Mill Dam was always a good place to stop and fish or just pilfer about, and the Coal Chutes became very exciting for a period time. At night one of our Mom's would drive us over to Park Avenue to play kick the can in that neighborhood and then come back to pick us up around 10:30PM or so. On the days we roamed the streets on bikes it was nothing for us to stop off at one of my relatives or theirs for a soda and maybe a sandwich, if we were lucky. Even though we were heavily warned by our parent's not to wear out our welcome. But when we had, we could always hit up the pantry, the place, or the Dairy Queen, for something cold to drink and a snack. Ami and Gar, my Aunt and Uncle, helped us out on many of those snacks. Life was fun in our little town.

As we started driving we learned that circling the town square and the Dairy Queen was a good way to kill time and burn gas in our new rides. Luckily that got old after a while and we would find someplace around town to park and congregate. That's where we would talk about the latest or plan a trip to Madisonville or Princeton to see a movie or grab a bite to eat. We weren't bored during that period either. Just like any other place you live, you belong there, and nothing the law will allow seems limited. I certainly don't remember me or my friends complaining about the circumstances.

The funny thing is, as I am writing this entry I'm thinking about what a great childhood I had. Playing baseball in the summer at the park, swimming at the city pool or at Alex's, one of my best friends. Rushing home at dark to eat fried chicken or something hot off the grill. Whatever it was, it was sure to be good, and there was plenty of it.

Of course there were camps to attend, vacations to enjoy, nights spent at my Granny and Papaw's house that were always a treat. There were plenty of things that were added bonuses to an already fun filled life. All this makes it easy to understand why I find myself drifting back to that lush green town in my daydreams.

I grew up and graduated from the same school that my sister, my parents, and three out of four of my grandparents did. Now my nephew and niece, Cole and Sloane Parker are attending that same school. I passed notes in classes taught by teachers that knew everything about my family and my life. I went to church every Sunday and when we pulled up in our driveway we would see my Nannie's Oldsmobile backed into her spot, ready to take us out to the Hickory Pit for lunch.

All the memories and all the faces of a town full of stories and lives well lived. It just reminds me of growing up. Knowing that someone always had their eyes out for us boys as we were roaming. That if they had to, they would let us know if we stepped too far out of line. We waved at everyone as we passed by their houses, ladies watering their Geraniums, old men on their Snappers cutting grass, and sometimes we were coaxed into stopping and talking. It was all part of any given day. My sister and brother-in-law, Shannon and Steven's kids are enjoying those same kinds of days right now. I hope they know to soak it all in; because one day, they might be sitting in an office, when the weather is beautiful outside, dreaming of the days that were effortless and filled with adventure.

I live over nine hundred miles away from that little town right now and I'm still finding ways to have fun. When the sun is shining you can bet that I am going to try to get out in it. I think I learned to smell the roses back home in Dawson Springs; we all did.

Today I was scoping out things to do this weekend in Austin. I could never leave the city for the rest of my life and not run out of things to see and do. But guess what...as soon as I get the chance I am headed back to the Big Springs! I'll have some fried chicken with Mom and Dad and enjoy seeing all my family and friends there!

Now do you know what Miranda Lambert is talking about? Check out her song: Famous in a Small Town, included on her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Album, you'll figure it out!

Attitude IS Everything!

When allergies and allergy medications team up on you, you don't always need a rainy day to be gloomy, or in a fog.

Don't worry, it happened to me yesterday. All day I felt like Sesame Street's Oscar The Grouch, and for those of you that know me...that just doesn't fit into my schedule.

All things considered, I managed to make it through the work day, a silent bus ride home, and I thought it best to put myself to bed in hopes for a better day today. But that didn't fit into my schedule either.

A conversation with my neighbor and good friend Chad, made me realized that bad moods should ultimately be eliminated from our days. It wasn't anything that he said in particular, it was just the way that he behaves. This guy seems to tackle life everyday just like everyone else. The only difference is...you will never see him without a smile on his face. We all know the familiar cliche`:Attitude is everything; it truly is.

Inspired by my friend, I too am jumping back on to that bandwagon. Kicking those allergy medications that bring me down to the curb and welcoming that smile back to my face. It's important to put your best foot forward everyday and being a grouch doesn't fit into that equation. We need more people out there that are committed to doing just that. Everyone that we come in contact with receives some sort of vibe from our demeanor and from our interpersonal behavior. That said, being positive should always be in our favor.

People like Chad make it look easy, unfortunately that's not always the case. But at least they are out there smiling! As if to remind us that it's not so bad. From here on out I'm with him and others like him!

Vitamin C put it best in their song Smile:

"Put a smile on your face...make the world a better place!"

Good idea!

Some Things Never Change...Fine By Me!

The Census serves a needed purpose and all of us should be aware of it's function and benefits.

Today as I completed my Census form I was surprised at how easy it is to be counted. After thousands of years this process has improved I am sure with technology, but the idea of a census has never become obsolete.

Most of us will remember the census being mentioned in the story of the birth of Jesus. In fact, Joseph and Mary were traveling, at that particular time, to be counted in the Roman Census; as was required. To take that thought a step farther the census has been taking place as far back as 6,000 years.

The purpose is simple...the government needs a head count. This head count will become a bench mark for our representation in government on the state, and the federal level. It will also become part of the rubric for state and federal funding that can affect schools, roadways, and now health care. Many other government related programs are affected by the census and it is beneficial to us all that these questionnaires are taken seriously.

Taking an active part in the census will take the average household less than ten minutes. As a result the city, county, and state, that household belongs to will be more accurately represented by the government.

What does that mean?

If your household has increased or decreased in size since the last national census, which was taken in the year 2000; the data that you contribute this year will attest to those changes. This will help the United States Census Bureau discern the needs of your region.

Currently our country is in a economic downturn. It is just as important now if not more to have an accurate count. Funds, although scarce, will be distributed throughout the country as they always are. We should all take the time to fill these forms out in order to be recognized more accurately from a national stand point.

A great deal can take place in ten years, grab that pen and fill it out! It is very easy!

Some Give All

Some of the revolving headlines on www.msn.com included: Millionaires Who Gave It All Away. Wow, what an idea.

As I read the headline I didn't catch the surprise that it's author had anticipated. Once upon a time, I knew of a story that was oh so similar. "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer," is a statement that I have often heard - often with a sigh - over the years. But once in a while there are individuals that get creative when making plans for what should happen to their assets and their estate upon their death. This brings to mind a story of a person who did just that.

A parent and a spouse widowed by all and left with four walls and the financial security of a lifetime. The money was only something to remind this individual of the brighter days. It was never something that fueled the days that filled the individual’s life. Instead of living lavishly, this person lived comfortably and was surrounded by friends, lots of books and lent some time to travel.

Scholarships, a library, and the Salvation Army, benefited from the generosity of an innocent bystander. An act of kindness that would change other peoples lives with a stroke of a pen. As if to say: I know this is what is right, and I hope it is used to make others breathe easier.

Once in a lifetime, we all come to a point that life ends. Whether or not we have amassed a fortune is left up to our view of prosperity and success. The six people that were listed on MSN this morning were only a fraction of good people out there with out family to bestowed their riches upon.

Although it is not often thought of in this way, I've also known of people that gave tons of money away while they were alive. Not waiting on the reading of the will to share their wealth with others. Generosity comes in so many forms and without knowing, we experience much of it everyday.

Countless hours given in volunteerism daily by citizens that seek no other compensation but the joy it brings them to lend a helping hand. The checks that are written to keep our playhouses open and the arts thriving; so that another generation will live to be intrigued by the arts in all their forms. Soup kitchens, shelters, churches, non-profits large and small, are all supported in one way or another by generosity.

Charity is an act of kindness that exist among us all and the webs that these networks create are safety nets for so many. It's a tale as old as the race that we belong to. As long as we have been roaming the planet, humans have been finding ways to help each other out. Isn't that nice?

Although we all pitch in for schools, roads and other necessities through taxes; we often pitch in with our neighbors for the extras. Why do we do it?

Just like the person that I referred to earlier, because it is the right thing to do. Some where along the way this kind soul figured out the riddle. With little fanfare this person faded away, leaving behind all their wealth to others. Giving total strangers access to higher education in all it's forms and help from an organization set up to do just that...help. All the while knowing that it would change peoples lives. Knowing that if it were possible this small fortune would have gone on to their own child, but without that option it was to be shared with other parents children.

Today I am surprised that I was not surprised by the headlines...and what a blessing!

For kb and others like that.

Many Thanks!

I have been really touched by some comments on my blog this weekend. So much so that I am typing away on Sunday, something that is a first for me in regard to this blog.

When I decided to do this I did not have a target audience. I have always felt like I was standing on an island by myself when it came to my interest in family history and that of my hometown. So many of my blogs have just been for me, a way to express a sincere love or gratitude to some individual or group of individuals. I had no idea who would become interested in one blog or another, as they are all really centered on my life experiences and those of people who have been involved in my life, directly or indirectly.

I have blogged about my best friend's Dad, my Grandfather, who I never got the chance to meet, and my Papaw, who I do know and love. I have talked about both of my Grandmothers, my dear Aunt Ami - who I love so much, my Mom, my hometown, Mae West... you name it. If it came into my head, I have blogged about it. There are surely more to come.

What is so important to me is in this blog. I have been so blessed with family and friends. I consider my life so much easier to live because of their love, support, and their own specific qualities they bring to the table.

My Dad has always told me to take people for who they are, and I have always tried to do that. Over the course of my twenty eight years, I have not lived to experience the same amount of life lessons or relationships, or simply put, as much life as those that I blog about. However, with their examples I feel like I have been given a pretty good road map.

I only wanted to receive two results from this blog. First, I have always wanted to write stories or even a book about people that I have known. My Grandfather Decola and my Papaw must have had those same yearnings. A desire to record things about people that they loved and respected. In a way to touch on the legacies of those that touched our lives in ways that could have only been out of love. This blog does that.

If you did or do not know any of the people or even the places that I have blogged about, you do now. I have no way of knowing, but I hope that those people that I have written about, that are not living, would be proud to see their names associated in the text I have provided. I hope that if they were able to read these they would understand how appreciative I have been for their lives, and that was the second thing. To share some of the goodness that has been mine for the taking, whether to arouse a laugh or spark one of your own memories.

Stories mean a lot to me. Stories have been a part of my life since the very beginning. I have retold stories over and over, stories that people shared with me and represent a really good memory. Stories that have painted pictures in my imagination and have given me so much joy. I feel compelled for some reason to share some of that joy, in some ways knowing that stories and analogies bring people and ideas together.

The blog titled, If you could read my mind , are my thoughts and opinions and in no way do I feel that they are profound or monumental, but I do feel that they are worthy.

I wondered if anyone was reading this out there and now that I know, I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you for taking the time to let me know how you felt, it made me feel so good. I have never wrote a book or a song, but I'm blogging. Everyone has their own way!

Dancing in the Streets

As this week winds down and blends into the next as they always do, I bid farewell to another energetic week in Austin.

South By South West, aka, SXSW,the University of Texas Spring Break, March Madness, and a mid-week Saint Patrick's day has brought out many, if not most, of Austin's finest. Only to be paired with tons of "out of towners" who have flocked here to soak up the sun as well as the endless tunes sweeping through every watering hole and venue in town. And as the good times begin to wane I am again reminded of why I love this city.

However, when the tourist hit the road, we will have this little gem of the Colorado back to ourselves and you know what happens when we are left to our own devices? Austin will still be weird, it will still be beautiful, and the sun will still shine nicely on us, there will just be less people around to enjoy it.

All we hear on any given news station is how bleak times are economically. Yet this week as I strolled through this fair city I couldn't help but notice that money was being spent all over the place. It kind of makes a person wish they could really invoke that whole "if I had a nickle" statement on something. We would surely fill up our pockets.

I thought yesterday as I cabbed out of downtown...Austin needs a Statue of Liberty, or at least some emblem to mark our citizen's seemingly collected mission. "Give us your poor, your tired, huddled masses, yearning to breath free." As if to have been a beacon to a "mishmosh" of free spirits, the city welcomes one and all. And to think I stumbled on this city by a stroke of fate.

I had never been in Texas aside from the massive airports of Dallas and Houston upon moving to Austin more than a year ago. I knew very little about this place I am calling home. But it didn't take me long to pick up on the pulse of Austin and before I knew it, I too was tapping my foot to the beat.

Of course I will always be Jonathon Storms from Dawson Springs, Kentucky; but my heart has opened wide for Austin, Texas. Come on down and see us sometime! "Ya hear?"

A Day for Friends!

Saint Patrick's Day reminds us all of traditions.

As we all searched for that green apparel last night or this morning we knew that although green was not required we were probably going to wear it anyway. But why?

Traditions belong to us after they are created and we always want to belong to something. I don't think that I have any Irish ancestry, but since I was a child Saint Patrick's Day has been a day to celebrate. Even though that has taken different forms over the years I always recognize it.

As students of elementary or primary school, holidays like St. Patrick's Day allow us the chance to have a little extra fun. Green socks, green shirts, hair bows for little girls and bulletin boards across the school, an broaches and all those additions made it festive to participate in a holiday that mainly brings a smile to an ordinary March day.

Several years ago while I was attending Murray State, some good friends and I decided to make a trip down to Savannah, Georgia to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The river was dyed green and of course we enjoyed green spirits all night, we even drove my green vehicle to the city. Green all around! When I think about St. Patrick's day I always remember that trip. It's etched in my mind because I spent it with a group of people that I grew up with and I mean just that. We encountered the same things in life at the same times. I have often thought we were put together by some act of fate to help one another make it through those times. Each of these individuals brought something different to the table and throughout those years we managed to adapt and understand many of life's opportunities and challenges together. We reached a point whereas we became a secondary family, a safety net for each other.

Over the years we have settled all over the place; but we manage to get together once or twice a year to celebrate what was and always will be an awesome union. We found something back then in the halls of Dawson Springs School, there in our neighborhoods, and in our homes...each other. I will always be glad we did!

Today, as I am fortunate enough to be able to celebrate yet another St. Patrick's day, I will raise a glass to friends! The people that understand us and like St. Patrick's day, even though it is not required...they love us anyway!

The Age of Wisdom

Grandmomma could tell if it was going to rain by the leaves on the trees.

She came to live with my Grandparents toward the end of her life and in the early stages of mine. A kind soul gave our family a wise matriarch, quietly crocheting in her chair and we loved her for all she had already done.

I interviewed Grandmomma for a third grade report to be written about the oldest member of my family. She was born in 1912 and spoke of the first President that she could remember being Woodrow Wilson. Her memory included the days of World War I, the Macedonia Community which was purchased by the state and is now a part of Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park and the love of family.

Her father Sephus Bennett was a deacon at the Macedonia Christian Church and her faith was strong through all her years. She was one of nine children and she gave birth and reared ten. My Papaw was her oldest son.

Grandmomma ran a farm and a house taking good care of her children as well as her Grandparents-in-law during the years of the depression. Her wisdom has been included in many of Papaw's poems and anecdotes as well as his book Cradle of Dreams .

Things that were most interesting to me were stories of her resourcefulness. I can remember her explaining to family members what hillsides to find Ginseng plants growing. Or where to search for Quail Eggs a delicacy native to our region. Papaw often spoke of her lowering a quilting frame from the ceiling when relatives were around in his early days. The frame would be lowered right in front of the fire so the heat from it would be contained where the ladies worked. She quilted so many beautiful blankets that so many of my family members have enjoyed and shared over the years.

I have heard Papaw say that Grandmomma would heat stones in the fire and wrap them in quilts to take for warmth in the floorboards of automobiles that had not yet been equipped with heating systems by their manufactures. She had a lot of solutions to common obstacles. Canning and preserving food, working her garden, her geese and chickens, and of course her flowers are all things that I have heard that she was talented with.

But to me she was very talented in ways of making you feel important. She was good at hugs and she smiled and laughed a lot when her family drew near. Maybe that was her trick to longevity, regardless of the fact that many illnesses plagued her last years.

She lived to lose two children, one in a house fire at a very young age and another in the 1980s to cancer. A sadness that was never far from her mind. But she seemed to maintain an inner strength and faith that sustained her through her more than eighty years. She was a woman that life had given many challenges but with every challenge she seemed to thrive and pass it by to see brighter days.

Her name was Emma Ophelia Bennett Stallins, and she was my Dad's Grandmother. She lived to see so much over the course of her life and it makes me wonder what my generation will live on to experience. Things that may not even seem possible to us now, that will occur. Things that we will grow to accept and understand. Things we will endure and experience. Things that will make up the stories of our lives. Will we be up to the task as she and other members of her generation were? Will we continue to find ways to evolve and adapt to this changing world? And if we are not ready, we have learned nothing from these wise and adaptable examples.

I can see Grandmomma in silent prayer, a memory, a prayer she didn't think anyone would notice. I wonder who she was praying for? One of her many family members I am sure and maybe that is what kept her going. Her birthday would have been around this time and I send this blog out into the world wide web as if to offer some gratitude for her example, for her being, and for her love. To spark the thought of Great Grandparents in your mind. To assist you in revisiting a memory of the people that are so special in our lives.

Life Happens

Life is full of transitions.

Things change as time passes as do our thoughts and perceptions. The beauty of seeing things through to the finish allow a person to see all angles of life's scenarios. Today with a sigh and a look over one shoulder I continue to tip my hat to life's enduring transitions.

In 2000 I left my home as I started college. I remember the thoughts I had when my parents, sister and brother-in-law drove away from my dormitory. What's next...bitter sweet feelings occur when change touches your heart. But change is a must as we are constantly growing and evolving into the person that we want to be. It's not going to stop.

Later I would move back to Dawson Springs, and then to Nashville and these phases were unique and hold their place in my life. They are marked with triumphs, defeats, gains and losses. The same person evolving in different zip codes. But still there is change.

In the fall of 2008 I made another move to Austin, Texas. A move that changed so many things in my life. For the good of course. Moving was a challenge and it shook me up a little at times. Leaving behind many friends and my family was so difficult but following my heart and dreams were also a priority. I often felt very courageous as every knew day brought new sights, faces, and possibilities.

Life for me is something that I look forward to doing each day. I like to try and see the good in each day and hope that each day I can learn something, improve personally and accomplish the days task. Even still I have days that all of those things might not happen. But on the days that do, I have a real sense of belonging and security among my peers as well as my own conscience.

No matter how hard you try there are always things you cannot fix. Things happen in our lives that are variables and not controls. Things like people dying, failed relationships and losses of all sorts. Even with the best laid plans we cannot escape these instances. But these instances where as life becomes difficult represent our defining moments. The moments that make heroes or friends, the moments that we learn from ourselves that we are stronger than we thought we were. That strange place we find ourselves in that changes our path and becomes the bench mark for future transitions.

In a previous blog, maybe even my first, I discussed the fact that I intended to make this year mine. A year to define myself, set attainable goals, and a year to apply my own creativity and brainpower. A year to look back on with a smile and maybe a tear. My grip on the remaining days of the 365 that I began a few short months ago has tightened as I continue to stay focused on personal growth. But with all of this movement and change there is always a cost. As I look into the future I see many things ahead even though the view is foggy. At this juncture I feel that I am becoming more and more prepared for what lies ahead. If the cost is high I hope the bounty balances it.

I like to encourage anyone to find the best in themselves and others. That is truly the only way to success and happiness. Will you be able to do that every moment of every day? Not a chance! But when you do, you will be so glad that you showed up to play the game that day and life is a funny game.

Change. Here's to that!

The Russell's

Tons of gallons of water have crossed under the bridge since World War I, the roaring twenties and the times leading up to the second World War. Even still I have links to those times through family members that endured them. People I did not even know.

A family post card sent from my Great Grandfather Ollie J. Russell to the girl he courted back home in Kentucky, from some station in World War I reads:

"Mrtyle, When I return I am going to ask your Pa for your hand."

Mrtyle Johnston married him in 1919.

These two have been the subject of many fond memories and stories in our family throughout my life. And I am always amazed at what influences they had on their children and grandchildren to have been revered in such a way.

After they married they settled in Menser on the Russell farm nestled among my Great Grandfather's brothers and sister and parents. I am told they built the barn first and lived in it while the house was being erected. My Great Uncle Raymond and Great Aunt Rudell were both born while the new family was living in the barn. When the house was built electricity had not yet reached that part of the country in the early 1920s. They had a gas refrigerator, a smoke house for cured meat, oil burning lamps, and a heap of resourcefulness. For us to think back on those times it would remind us of an episode of The Little House on the Praire, and it was like that in many ways.

My Great Grandfather worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital called Outwood, located just outside Dawson Springs. The hospital was there for veterans of the war and victims of Tuberculosis, an illness that plagued many in those days. He owned a car but since the road out to the Russell Home place was dirt he often had to park it on the highway and walk down the lane home, during the winter and rainy season.

My Great Grandmother was the homemaker, she had eight children starting with Raymond in 1920 and ending with Phillip in 1935. Four Boys: Raymond, William, Joseph "Joe", and Phillip; and four girls: Rudell, Pauline, Brunette (Nannie), and Aminell "Ami". Life was good.

My Aunt Aminell often said that during the depression they really didn't know the difference in the times, her Dad kept his job at the VA, they had cattle for milk and I assume meat, and also chickens, an orchard for fresh fruit and preserves, jams, and jellies to be canned and put aside for the winter, bee hives to pollinate the orchard and for honey, and of course a garden. Doesn't that sound wonderful. I can just imagine all the children running around the house, and the trees in the orchard swaying in the breeze, an American tale.

Mamaw, as Mrtyle was fondly described by her grandchildren, quilted and made the boys clothes and the girls dresses. Sometimes out of flower sacks, which was common in the day. She canned in order to save the bounty of their harvests for the winter months, she cooked and cleaned, and did all the other things that a mother of eight would have to do.

On Sundays the family would all attend church, all day sometimes and during the week the children attended the Menser School, a one room school house that I have described in a previous blog.

Old reel to reel films, tons of family photos and memorabilia, heirlooms and stories all paint the canvas of these two peoples lives. Two people that I never knew but feel connected to them through a family bond that keeps those ties alive. But even more so by the fact that when delving into my family history I do not find a horror story or a plain Jane family. I find these two great people who had a lot of love and they shared it with eight children, eight children that married and had families of their own and that love continued to spread. It spread so far that almost thirty years after their deaths their names are being brought up in a blog, something they would have never heard of. Love is good; Ollie J. and Mrtyle Russell understood that.

My Uncle William was killed in a car accident in the 1960s, in the 1990s my Aunt Rudell and my Grandmother Brunette passed away and my Uncle Raymond died in 2003 or 2004. Today the living members of this group include Pauline, Aminell, Joe and Phillip, (my Auntie Louise and Aunt Betty) and a score or more of grandchildren and the list goes on.

Life happens to us all in a way that is fast and we wake up one day and we wonder where the previous week, month or even the previous year went. When you have eight children you celebrate many birthdays and milestones and you suffer many hardships and down times too. During the War Mamaw and Papaw Russell had two boys overseas fighting with the Allies and two girls in Evansville, Indiana working in the factories and the shipyards. Later they would worry I am sure while my Uncle Joe served during the Korean War. The times that followed the wars were bright and those children married and gave them grandchildren and many Sunday dinners filled their home with love and laughter. They lived to lose a son in the 1960s, a pain that no one knows unless they experience it. They would live on into their eighties and live to see many of their grandchildren grow up and marry and start families of their own. They would live to the days that those same children, that they reared and loved so carefully would reciprocate that same love and care for them in their twilight years. And now a stone in the middle of a sea of granite marks their names and place in the world.

But, aside from that stone are a group of people, people who I know and love and respect. All people that have been touched by the goodness of these human lives. What greater epitaph is there than the reaffirmed appreciation, that passes more than one generation, speaking loudly that your life was lived well and because it was others flourished. I smile today to know that I had Great Grandparents like that and will strive each day to live up to the bar that they set so high.

That said, a lesson can always be learned and in this case it is a valuable one. I will not try to pin point its exactness since it has already been done. I close today's entry with an excerpt from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, that I believe to be more than fitting.

Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown, or to any man or number of men [sic] -- go freely with powerful uneducated persons, and with the young, and with the mothers or families -- re-examine all you have been told in school or church or in any book, and dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem

Ollie J. Russell 1896~1981 Mrtyle Johnston Russell 1898~1983

Surround Yourself with Artists!

From the earliest period of time that I can remember music has been in my life. My Dad would settle into his spot on the sofa in the evenings and often pick up his Fendor and play. I cut my teeth listening to him and singing along to The Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot; Jim Croce's, Operator and Don't Mess Around with Jim, real live music. Through each phase of my life music has been there for me, through thick and thin, it has helped me to understand this thing we call life.

Not long after moving to Nashville I met someone that shared many of my ideals and felt the same ties to our southern heritage. I found her to be spellbinding and knew that she was just the type of artist that I appreciated, because she was a storyteller too. Soon after meeting her I went to see one of her shows and as if to give her audience a glimpse of her soul her voice rendered emotions, excitement and took me on a journey that only good music can.

Molly

Crouched on her sofa or mine we have killed many hours with a glass of wine and some deep conversation. Both expecting something great from life and on a separate journeys to find that, I made a friend that I will keep my whole life through.

As described by her peers in the Music Industry Molly as a writer, as a musician, and as an entertainer beguiles you. To me her voice crosses between that of an angel and a queen, tender but fierce.

Ages from now when the sun and time have made their marks on my flesh and the life that I know is more past than future, I will consider myself richer to have experienced the effects of her music, the intellect, and the person that is Molly. Doting I am not, find her out.

http://www.mollythomas.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mollythomas
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Molly-Thomas/101087720292
http://twitter.com/mollythomas

I'm back! And...I like to go to Stompin Grounds!

Hi Blog! Remember me?

Today I return to blogging after being away from the keys for almost a week. The budding beauties out side and a couple drastic changes in temperature have given me a bad cold, but, as they say: it happens to the best of us!

I have however had a great many ideas throughout this hiatus and I will report back to you on those in blogs that follow. Today I would like to do two things with this entry. First I would like to recap on my blogging experience thus far and second I would like to tell you about this awesome place that I frequent in South Austin.

First things first!

Mission accomplished! My blog has already met the needs that I initially set out to fill. I wanted to get some old stories off my chest as well as share my past and present. Done, done and done, but not completely. The stories that I have already posted are just a sampling of future stories. I have many more to share and more funny, lovely, and interesting characters to speak of. My worries of these tales dying in my mind are gone now as I am sweeping them out of my brain an onto this screen. I love that. If you could read my mind... has given me the opportunity to share my insight, and my side of the story with readers here and there or lack there of. And even if not one person reads one of my daily entries, it exists to be read. Writers can't expect everyone to like what they construct, but they also shouldn't stop constructing pieces of writing and there is so much to write about! Lately, I have been in the office, or on the bus, walking down the street or just catching some cable when I've thought: "I should blog about that." Light bulbs are turning on all the time for me and I feel more engaged as a person by being able to elaborate on these ideas, people and places. That said, no one is beating down my door asking me to write for them and that was not my intent. What is happening is quite interesting and healthy however. I am improved personally by crossing another thing off my list. Be that as it may, it may only be a small triumph, but small works too!

For those of you who have had the chance to read this blog I welcome any comments that you may wish to contribute. Stories bring up common ground and I would love to hear feedback and or similar stories and facts. Also, I would encourage you to start your own blog, put your ideas out there. Be it recipes, travel stories, or scrap booking there are all kinds of readers out there that are just searching for a connection. You might have noticed that I make tons of reference to song lyrics, cliche`s and southern sayings, and that I talk a great deal about my family and friends. These are the things that bring light into my life and I am compelled to talk about music and family and friends so why not blog about those very things. What a neat world we live in where things like this are possible. Everyone can't be a Faulkner or Fitzgerald, but we can all blog! Here's to that!

Next on the agenda: I know of a place that any true conversationalist would love. A place where "everybody knows your name and there always glad you came." You're right those are lines from the Cheers theme song, and they are so true about Stompin Grounds located in the Soco Lofts in South Austin. For those of you that are impatient, save yourself the trouble of reading the remainder of this blog and go there right now and enjoy the rest of your day. Go on now, your dismissed.

Joking aside Stompin Grounds, a cocktail and coffee lounge, is in my building and no that is not the only reason why I love this place. It has become a haven for local groups and clubs to hold meetings and mixers. Happy hour specials are great and did I mention Pizza? They have a great menu of pizza's, an assortment of java, and bartenders will be more than happy to make your favorite drink or hand you a beer. All things considered you need to stop by and check it out for yourself. As many of you know I am quite the critic when it comes to a good bar, and I will let you in on my secret. It's all about the staff. The owners and staff at Stompin Grounds make you feel at home and as much apart of any event or hour passing by as the guy on the next stool. This charming spot is a great place to relax, celebrate, or just kill time. Make it the next stop on your list and if you are disappointed, well, you won't be!

Remember! This message was brought to you by:

Stompin Grounds
3801 South Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704

Stay tuned!

When We Walk in Fields of Blue

So I was told that a fall with plenty of rain would lead to a rich "wildflower spring." If that was true we are in for a real treat this year!

Upon moving here last fall from Nashville, I knew little about Texas. I knew some general geographical facts about the state, I knew about Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and of course, Austin. What I didn't about these cities was their cultures and vibes. When I thought of the Lone star State I thought of it as the beginning of the West, the Alamo came to mind, George Strait's songAmarillo By Morning, Lyndon B. Johnson, and because of Lady Bird Johnson; I knew about the wildflowers of Texas.

Needless to say I was a little disappointed last year with the wildflowers. They were a little sparse due to the drought the region had been suffering. However this years rainy season should bring out those little miracles in full force. I am told that the roadsides and pastures will be filled with bluebonnets and I look forward to seeing them.

In the words of Dolly Parton: "Wildflowers to care where they grow!"

Well that may be true Dolly, but let's hope bunches and bunches of them paint the hillsides around Austin! We're ready!

The World of Television.

After being laid up for a couple of days with the annual head cold I became reacquainted with the world with in ours; which is Television.

Was it the cold and sinus tablets or did my mind really get trapped again watching the infomercial depicting knives that cut through bricks and aluminum cans. And by the way, who cuts up bricks with knifes?

Regardless, it is what it is. Television has something for all of us. Yesterday I got to explore that medium more than usual. Which brought me to a few conclusions...

In many ways TV personalities go places we can't go; they speak truths that we may not feel comfortable speaking. These people can come into our home and take us on an exotic vacations, cook a gourmet meal before our very eyes, fall in love, solve mysteries, and compete in contests. No matter what ideas they are pursuing for thirty minutes and sometimes more, we as viewers get to go along.

Throughout televisions, still young, history the trade has improved in leaps and bounds and there is no possible way to predict where television will take us in the future. Ever since it has existed it has created controversy. But why?

Here are my thoughts.

Too much of anything is not good! Spread yourself around when it comes to TV, especially with your children. Don't just keep it on, you can learn more from a book or a hike. Get outside when it's warm and nice. Make up your own mind, do not rely on news casters, actors, or writers of film or TV programs to tell you what is right or wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I love cable. I pay dearly just like everyone else to be able to browse through hundreds of programs daily. I enjoy all sorts of shows and movies on the tube. This season in fact I am following two programs: American Idol, for some odd reason and A & E's: Hoarders, which is reminiscent of my former occupation. I'm hooked and it is easy to do.

Censorship has been an issue since the beginning of "TV Time," and there is an answer to that too. Don't watch what you don't like. It is that simple, these programs stay on the air based on viewers and ratings. You do have a voice!

But not so fast. Don't get the idea that you are going to stop the hands of time in a way that keeps language or nudity or public agenda off your screens. That is not going to happen. These things will march on just like time. For those of you that know how much I love to use clichés you will appreciate this one: "Chivalry's dead and we killed it."

Give TV a break! Enjoy it in moderation and under no circumstances let it rule your life. And when controversy arises, take a look at the world that we live in. We beg to be shocked and surprised. We live in an age that is progressive and in many ways we should be proud of that. We should look back at TV history as something that is innovative and entertaining. A field that has constantly raised the bar. Have they raised some eyebrows? Of course. But who doesn't?

TV, can't live with it, can't live with out it! Ha!