Minnie Pearl - "HOWDY"

 How many of you remember Minnie Pearl from the Grand Ole Opry? That woman was a character! She would shashay out onto the stage, swinging her full skirt from side to side, a large price tag hanging from the brim of her hat. And, she'd stop in front of the microphone and yell 'HOW-DEE'?. The crowds would go wild. 

She'd start off telling stories about her Uncle Nabob, his wife Ambrosia and of course, Brother, who was smart but slow-witted. They all lived in Grinder Switch. Her comedy routines always brought down the house.  

This is where the story gets interesting, to me, anyway. I hope you find it entertaining as well. 

Colley was hired as a drama coach for the Wayne P. Sewall Producing Company, a small Atlanta theatrical organization that sent directors into small Southern towns to put on amateur plays in local schools. It was for this reason, in 1935, that Colley found herself in Baileyton, Alabama nearly broke, and right smack in the middle of a major snowstorm. 

Minnie Pearl wrote about this incident in her autobiography.

“My train pulled into the little depot in the middle of a blizzard. I was the only person who got off. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon, and already almost dark, with snow falling so heavily I could hardly see.”

Without anyone there to meet her at the station, Colley managed to finagle a ride to the school house. The drive was dangerous, them slip sliding all over the place as they drove along the dirt road. She finally reached the school. No one was there except a small group of teachers who were meeting with the principal.

When the meeting was over, Colley realized the principal hadn’t expected her to arrive due to the weather. Nonetheless, she was there and needed a place to stay. Unfortunately, she had used most of her spending money to pay for her ride from the train station to the school. So, the principal came up with a plan.

Colley recalled. “There I was with $2 left in my pocket and Cullman 15 miles away by an icy road that would certainly be impassable at night. By this time, it was already dark. Someone suggested a family that lived in a mountain cabin about a mile from the school. ‘I’ll bet they’d take you in,’ the principal said.”

The family in that mountain cabin happened to have been my great-grandfather's sister and her husband and children. My (Willie Latane Barton)'s great, great aunt, Mattie Butler Burden. 

I am sure they welcomed Miss Colley with a warmness that southern families are known for. She probably shared their meager supper and slept in a bed with some of the children. Little did they know that they were hosting a woman who would become world famous with her "Howdy" and that price tag hat. The character, Minnie Pearl, had a good deal of Mattie Burden in her. Sarah wove some of Mattie's ways into her Minnie Pearl persona.  

Minnie Pearl was as far-fetched from Sarah Ophelia Colley as she could be. Sarah was born on October 25, 1912, the youngest of five daughters of a well-to-do lumberman and his wife. Growing up she loved to dance and dreamed of becoming an actress. After high school, she went to Ward-Belmont College, which was Nashville's most prestigious school for young ladies at the time, where she majored in theater and dance. She became one of the Grand Ole Opry's most loved and revered members. 

In Flight

While I was sitting on my balcony late yesterday afternoon a flock of geese flew over me.

I just wanted to share!

 

Time With My Paints

 I decided I'd paint some this morning. It was pretty simple so it didn't take long. 

I framed it in the Fotor app.

I do enjoy painting but I am never happy with what I do, I guess that's pretty common,  being your own worst critic, I mean. 

What are you doing this Saturday? Next week college football games begin. That will be a fun activity for me! In case anyone is wondering... I'll root for any SEC team but I am definately an Alabama fan. 

If The Good Lord is Willing!!

 Let me tell you something funny! 

Of course, at the time it was not funny! It's odd how a different time or place will change your perspective on things, isn't it?

While I was going to my oncologist they were forever getting my scheduling wrong. I got pretty pissed at them about it. Then I discovered that there was incorrect information on the reports going out to my other doctors. Like... they had it listed as they were treating me for colon cancer instead of breast cancer. And, they had my Dad down as having had osteoarthritus. My Dad died at age 33, struck by lightning. Where were they getting this junk?

It was never resolved at the oncologist office....  however, I went to see my GP yesterday. Told her what a time I'd had and she immediately checked on her computer.

Now, Barton is a common name particularly in this area. They always use your first name when it's doing legal/medical/work stuff. So, my first name is Willie (named for my father who had just died when I was born). I just figured that I had to be the only Willie Barton in this world!

It seems that there are 3 Willie Bartons in the area who are patients of the oncologist. Me, another woman and a man. And, we are all about the same age. As many times as the drs. and nurses ask you your birthdate, it seems that they would have caught that. But, they didn't and have some other Willie Barton's information mixed up with mine. Now, that's scary but it's funny too. 

At least I am no longer going to that oncologist!! 

I'm gonna make it outta this cancer in one piece!

What a Glorious Day

                                                                 What a glorious day! 

I walked out on the balcony, the air was crisp and the sky so blue with soft, fluffy clouds. It looked like a painting. I sank down in my high rise chair and just enjoyed being there. 

I hadn't been out there for awhile. While maintenence was preparing the apartment beneath me for my new neighbors they had discovered that my air conditioner or water heater was leaking and damaging the ceiling below me. So, that was in repair. They placed a fan on my balcony floor to dry out the 'utility' room. 

A week after that happened, and I had spent part of that time in the hospital, I found that the fan was still there and running non-stop. I guess they had forgotten it. We got that remedied and with the fan gone I could actually sit on my balcony. 

They announced that our entire building will be power washed next week. That means that every single thing that is outside my apartment has to be brought inside. I'll gladly do it.... cause we haven't been spray washed in 3 years and this place is getting mighty dirty looking. Before Covid they did it at least once a year, sometimes twice. Yep, we are one dirty mess around here. 

These pictures were taken in 2019....

So, that's what's on my mind this morning. What are you up to?

A Trip To The ER

 When it rains, it pours!!

So, I went to the dentist. They x-rayed my tooth and determined that it would be pulled at a later date. 

Started to get up out of the chair and was extremely dizzy, took two dental assts. to get me to the waiting room where I started vomiting. Let me tell you, that is so embarrassing.  

I had driven up there myself.. had lunch with Shirley... was fine BUT now I wasn't, Luckily Shirley was nearby so she came to see about me. 

A call to my dr. office had us rushing to the ER. They thought I was having a stroke. BP 203 over something, I don't remember what. Then they said it was vertigo but this 'spell' was nothing like the vertigo I have so I didn't believe them. 

Ten hours in the ER.. isn't that always the way of ER visits!! I was admitted to the hospital at 3 a.m.

Boy, that was one long night!! 

Stroke ruled out. Thank God for that!! The cardiologist came in. He diagnosed me as having Ortho Septic HypoTension. 

I am home now. When I gain some strength back, guess what I will be doing? 

Yep, throwing away all that junk in my pantry that is not good for me. Man, I'm gonna miss some of that stuff! 

But, my heart and brain both were determined to be working fine so I now have to do the work to keep them that way. 

Wish me luck.... this is gonna be hard. 

Ouch... trip cancelled

Well, heck!

A tooth that was a wee bit touchy started being a big problem.

I had my bags packed, sitting by the door, ready to head to Alabama with my son this morning

but

Instead... I stayed behind, called my dentist and I'm gonna take care of this old tooth. 

 

Let's Go On A Roadtrip

I reckon so! 

Leaving tomorrow to visit my son in Alabama! 

It's a 'fur piece' and I know I'll get tired but I do love to see new scenery and take pictures so it will be exciting. 

I'll keep you updated while I am there. 

 

It's HOT, folks!!

                                                       Man... it's hot out there!!

Heat index around 108 today! 

I'm definately staying indoors where the air conditioning is running non-stop. 

Going down for a cookout a little later on 

but they will have it indoors! 

Somebody's smart! 

How's the temp where you are? 

Putting a New Plan in Place!

 Okay....

I straightened them out alright. (read my previous post if you are wondering what that's all about)

I have had one treatment of Herceptin to try to eradicate my HR2 positive cells in my breast. I have questioned every day the decision to have treatment at this age (89)  and yesterday the day was just right for me to make a big decision. I walked out without getting my treatment and have discontinued them. 

I mean, I am 89. What are the chances of me getting cancer again during the short span of life left to me? And, the dr. said Herceptin is almost always given along with chemo. They won't give me chemo at this age so I question why they would give me the Herceptin. Plus, there is the possibility of the medication damaging my heart. 

I trust God to take me at His chosen time. And, I trust Him to care for me until that time comes. So, why put myself through all the worry, confusion, being sick etc, etc, etc, that taking Herceptin was causing! I am at peace with my decision. 

Now, on to other things. Maybe I can get back to doing what I love to do... blog, write, read, listen to good music, eat good food, have fun, live life to the fullest. 

I guess you noticed that I did not mention cleaning house!! haha

 

Stuffing on Mongolian!!

 How nice to have my son come up from Alabama to visit and to be with me when I go for my 2nd RH2 treatment today. Yesterday we went to a Mongolian Buffet and had the best lunch. It was so good and both of us 'got our money's worth'. hehe. 

Chowing down on Mongolian food

His first plate (and there was a second)

My first plate and yes, there was a second! for me as well.

I have been less than happy with scheduling errors and other errors made by my oncology team. They just can't seem to get their act together.

I go for my second treatment today and hope to 'set those folks straight'. haha

So, wish me well with me being 'tough'. That's just not my nature. 

But you do what you gotta do, right? 

As Shirley always says, 'Put on your bitch lipstick and take care of business.' 

or as others might say, 'Put on your big girl panties.'

Climbing the Grand Tetons

 If you follow this blog, you know that I have been reading books on hiking... and I've seen several movies about the same subject, as well. 

So, imagine my delight when I discovered my grandson was going climbing/hiking in the Grand Tetons Mt. in Wyoming.  

Now, the climbing part... that sounds too scary... and once you climb.. you gotta come down! 

But, what an experience for him. Tighe is 15 and this will be something he will remember his entire life. If he never hikes again, so be it... but to have done it just once. WOW

Needless to say, I am extremely proud of him. Way to go, Tighe!!

Dark Clouds in a Blue Sky

 “My experiences remind me that it's those black clouds that make the blue skies even more beautiful.”- Kelly Clarkson

As I sat on my balcony night before last, I watched the clouds swirl, twist, turn and roll above me. I thought how much those clouds are like life. One moment is never the same as the next, but with each moment there is beauty where we least expect it.

I feel that I could reach up and touch those clouds, they were so near. And, I felt such a peace...

Something so silent, so unusual, so other-worldly as a cloud ... well, it's like having a friend nearby.