How it All Began!

 I've had requests for more on a couple things that I have posted.... one was my daughter as a model and the other one was more about my Paris adventures. 

So, here goes.

As soon as Susan got to be a teenager, she started talking about wanting to be a model. Here we were living out in the country on a farm in north/central Alabama. Where did she get that notion? But, she was sure that is what she wanted to do. 

Her first model card

By the time she graduated from high school we had found a model agency in Birmingham, 40 miles from us and so we went over to see if she might stand a chance at being a model. They signed her and soon she was doing newspaper ads for a big department store there, some magazine work etc.

Newspaper Ad

Alabama Monthly magazine

a store catalog

 Eventually she started getting work in Atlanta. 

John Casablancas Model Agency in New York send a representive down to check out the girls in Bham and Susan along with 4, I think it was, other girls were chosen to fly to New York for try outs. We were so thrilled. 

                    The girls in their New York hotel room

When the girls flew out of Bham, a crew from the local tv station went with them, filming their adventure. They were featured on the local 'news magazine' program. 

At the airport

Susan and one other girl was signed with John Casablancas and then they came home. Susan was to go back to New York to start her career as soon as Christmas was over. 

But.............

We attended a wedding on Dec. 23rd. Susan and her best friend wanted to go to the mall instead of doing the reception so Elbert and I said yes. That's just what teenagers do. 

A short time later a man in jeans and corduroy jacket walks into the reception hall and calls out, 'is there a Mr. and Mrs. Barton here?'

Down the road our daughter sat in her car, blood everywhere.

Her car before it was hit.

 A drunk driver had hit her. Her head had crashed through the windshield. This was in the early 1980s so things were different then like seat belts etc. Glass shards were embedded in her scalp and forehead, a cut above one eye and a broken ankle. It could have been worse! 

with Mom in the hospital... it was Christmas Day

Months followed with surgeries, daily trips to the gym to build up strength in her leg, scarring to deal with on her face. Would she ever fulfill her dream? Her Dad and I didn't think so but that girl never gave up.

I had given her a music box that played 'New York, New York' and for months it had remained silent. finally one day I heard that music coming from her bedroom. I knew that she had faith in herself. Dad and I had to get onboard as well. 

Continued in next post. 

Rambling Wednesday

 I don't go into all that celebrity worship like a lot of folks do, but I could not help but be sad about Dolly Parton's husband passing. I appreciate his role in her life. She needed the spotlight, he needed his solitude and they made it happen. That's what love is all about.... letting your 'other' be themselves without giving up who you are. My husband was always supportive of what I did. And, I supported him. Geez, I miss that man! 

A quick note and I'll shut up about my teeth. Man, have they dominated my life for months now but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to thank all of you who have posted such comforting messages. You girls are the best! 

I don't know when I have been more positive about life (what little there is left of it) and I am so thankful for that. I'm gonna make each day count big time and enjoy it all. 

I am heavy into reading self-help books and yes I have gone the therapy route in short spurts during my lifetime (it always seems I need that after me losing a loved one). It's not a bad thing to been as diligent about your mental health as it is your physical health.

Speaking of physical health. My son and I talk over the cell phone often about changing our eating habits. He's all for it and I am to a certain extend. I figure at this age I don't need to give up all my guilty pleasures! 

Oh, while I am on the subject of eating. What is your favorite SOFT food to eat after dental work? I am finding that it is tough to vary your diet much if you want soft stuff. Maybe you can help me out. 

Here's a blast from my past.....

(guess you can tell I don't have any BIG thing to share today so I am rambling haha)

me riding my daughter's horse, Charlie

back in the 1970s

The Tooth Wizard

Well, I am off to see the wizard!

The dentist, that is. Again and again and again.

So want this all over with. A tooth pulling today. 

I don't have anything of importance to share with you. But, I did want to check in with y'all. 

Once I get to feeling myself again I will try to be more uplifting, interesting and whatever!! 

It Feels Like Spring!

 It's gorgeous weather! Oh my, how I wish it would last but unfortunately some cold fronts are moving in and we will lose this beautiful, warm sunshine! I am so ready for Spring. Years ago I wrote a poem about The wind and spring and such.... 

I sat out on my balcony... no sweater... and it's February, folks. I saw something I don't believe I had ever seen before... and y'all, these are so out of focus but the branches got in the way... but it was two hawks sitting on a limb together. I am used to just seeing one at a time. And, I am quite the hawk finder. I am first to spot them in trees, on electric lines or whatever when we are traveling. 

Shirley came to get me this morning. It's Thursday so, do you know what is served at Cracker Barrel on Thursdays?  Yep, turkey and dressing. I just need a shot of that ever so often to soothe my southern soul! As good as that dressing is, it still does not measure up to my Mama's. Now, my Mama could make some wonderful cornbread dressing! I never developed the knack, sorry to say. 

Hope you all are having a bit of this 'spring like' weather. If not, I hope it comes to you soon. Hugs to each of you! 

Bits and Pieces

 I've been piddling with writing since I was in high school. I knew it was there, deep inside me, and I think it is still there but sometimes it forgets it way. The reason I think that... 

I started writing a book about a girl named Ruthie who lives in a mining camp. I have several chapters written, nearly 200 pages but then there was a brick wall between me and that book. I am not sure why. Do any of you  write? Do you ever have 'writer's block?' If so, how the heck did you get out of it. Maybe I need to check with ChatGPT to see what they suggest! I know how the book goes, just can't make my fingers hit the keyboard!!

The snow is gone! Mostly.... There is one strip of pine trees between the pond and the main road and that strip is still covered in snow. 

I got out Sunday. Knew that car needed cranking up so I drove it up the highway a ways, turned around and came back. Of course, on the way there happened to be a Bojangles and it just happened to be lunch  time!! haha. 

I noticed a bruise on my arm the other day. No recollection of how it got there. My skin is getting/has gotten so thin that any little bump can leave a mark. So, I am checking my arms for other bruises. There's a bunch of brown spots but those are old age spots. 

That was the only bruise I had. 

I just finished reading 'The Year of Magical Thinking'.

Written about Didion's attempt to sort out the meaning of her daughter's illness which was following by her husband's sudden death. I could relate to so much of that book, having lost my husband and also living through the death of a baby son and years later, an accident my daugher had that changed our lives. I recommend it if you have lost someone you love or if you haven't. It's about life as we live it. 

I'm always reading books that explain life, the complexities of living, how we all fit into that scheme of things and how I can learn and become a better person for having read those. 

Right how I am meeting with a life coach once a month. (I don't aim to go out of this life with regrets of not living it to the fullest). My 'homework' is to write a list of all my accomplishments and also write a list of gratitudes?

Do any of you keep a gratitude journal? I think it's a good thing. 

Well, I've rambled on and on... today the temps are going up into the 60s so I need to get out and enjoy. I hope you enjoy your day, as well. 

It Snowed!

 Wow!

And, the white stuff came down! Boy, did it! 

Not sure about the inches of snow we got but it was enough and so pretty. 

Here's what I am enjoying this morning:

Did you get any snow? I think it covered most of the Eastern part of the U. S. 

A Mystery On My Hands

 Of all the things to happen! 

I have a mystery on my hands and I know I will never have the answers but it has kept me and others trying to fit the pieces of this puzzle together.

Daughter Susan texted me that I had a box at my front door. She'd gotten the notification that it had been delivered. Oh goody... my Valentine's gift one day late but that was Fed Ex's fault. 

screenshot of the notification Susan got. 

I walk to the door, open it, there is no box there. The picture Susan recieved definately showed that box sitting at my door. Not 10 minutes has passed so where did that box go? 

Susan started making calls, I walk down past other apartments knowing full well that it was NOT put at someone else's door.

Did someone walk by in those 10 minutes and grab themselves a valentine gift? Did the deliverer take the picture to prove he'd delivered it but then left with it? Maybe he had a sweetheart that he'd forgotten to buy a gift for. No one knew. 

I live in the last apartment on the 3rd floor. Not much foot traffic goes by my place. It just didn't make sense. 

Fast forward to Sunday morning. I get up late. it's windy so I open my front door to check to see if the wind has blown my door wreath off and so help me hannah... there is my box of Sheri's Berries propped up against the wall. 

I pick it up. It's not been opened but the entire box feels damp. It was raining outside but my door is several feet from the rain. Where has this box been? Why is it damp? Did someone's conscience get the better of them and they returned it? I'll never know! Dang, I wish I had a ring doorbell camera!! 

The berries inside the box had evidently been shaken around a bit... but man, are they good!! 

But, it will always haunt me... this mystery of mine! 

Valentine's Day Party

 First of all, I was so delighted to find that I am not in the minority about loving my alone time! The comments you left on my last post just made me feel all 'warm and cozy'. I found out that I am not alone but have an army of women out there that think like I do! Wow, that's powerful.

Today is Valentine's Day! We had a party scheduled downstairs and when I got there I was welcomed by daughter Shirley with a beautiful bouquet. She said that her Dad told her to buy them as a gift from him to me. Of course, that never happened as he has been gone 14 years. But, whenever she passes the turn-off road to the cemetery where he lies, she talks to him. And, she swears that he told her to buy me flowers. Hey, I'm not arguing with that.  He would if he was here and I know that in my heart! 

Our party was lots of fun. We had lunch (chicken wings, sliders, fruit and cake). We played bingo, guessed how many kisses were in a jar, exchanged valentines, just a good time all around. 

Shirley obtained gift cards from Chic-fil-a for our bingo prizes. That was such a treat for us and really kind of them to provide those. I won two games so I guess I will be treating Shirley to lunch at Chic-fil-a in the near future!! My treat!! ha ha. 

Here are the winners! Instead of having us say 'cheese' Shirley told us to say 'bingo' and some of us was still in the process of getting that word out of our mouth when the shutter clicked! 

We guessed how many Hershey's kisses there were in a jar. Guess who won? 

Yep.

Me.

I said 237 and I was the closest in number. I donated all my kisses to the 'community room' candy jar. I surely didn't need that stuff in my apartment tempting me! 

Some of our 'lovely' Party goers!

I certainly hope that all of you had something special today from someone who loves you. And, that you gave it right back. 

Love you all! 

The Difference Between Solitude and Loneliness!

My daughter Shirley is a people person!

She has to have daily contact, lots of chatting, going places, doing things. She wears me out! haha

Me.... I tend to be a loner!

I can spend days all by myself just having a grand ole time. 

So, of course, she's always encouraging me to get out, go to lunch with friends etc. And, I butt heads with her telling her I am fine! 

So, I wrote down my thoughts of the difference in our personalities, our needs, the way we see our lives. Here it is. 

 "There's a difference between loneliness and solitude. Loneliness is a part of you that needs people around you, somewhere to go, noise, activity. When you don't have that, you feel deserted. Solitude is being ok to be alone. It's being comfortable in your own skin, being your own best friend, knowing that you are good enough - all by yourself." (WLBarton)

Time for a 'smell good' change!

When it's wintertime we often get 'down in the dumps'. So, what would get us outta this funk?

Buying something new.... just for us! RIGHT!

I got online and ordered me some new perfume. It's actually cologne (a bit cheaper that way).

It came yesterday and I ripped open that box, opened the containers and started spraying myself. 

Charlie went on one arm!

Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia on the other! 

I immediately felt fancy, feminine, free. UH? Where did that funk go? 

Chased away by the delicious aromas surrounding me, that's where. 

I was getting low on my 'smell good' fragrances. One was Estee Lauder's Beautiful and the other was La Roche's Femme. 

My sweet husband brought a bottle of Femme to me on his return from a Navy cruise in the Carribean years ago. It always brought back such sweet memories for me. But, time for a change, I am thinking. 

The reason for me getting the Gardenia? I am Southern through and through and if there is a southern flower that everyone loves it's gardenias. Just thought I'd play a bit on my southern roots there, play the southern damsel dabbling cologne behind her ears. A gentleman two doors down from me has a potted gardenia bush outside his door and when it's blooming I will stop and sniff the  blossoms every time I pass by. 

A Love Affair With Paris

 I'd gotten pretty discouraged and down-in-the-dumps over all this dental work and was in a pretty low place the other day. As she always does, Shirley was attempting to pull me up outta that hole.

She says 'now, you can't say you're too old, you can't or you aren't able.' Okay I answer.

'Where would you love to go if you want to?' 

Well, that's a no-brainer!

I  said. 

You see, my love affair with Paris started back in 1985 when Susan (who had started modeling in New York) needed to go to Paris to get work for her portfolio. It's the dead of winter, there's one way air tickets to Brussels for $99. Remember those days!!! So, we took off. We'd never been to Europe before so this was quite an adventure.

We land at the Brussels airport after having flown what seemed like all night. People milling about the plane cabin, no sleep ... besides we were filled with excitement and anticipation. Had a couple hours wait 'til the train took off for Paris. 

It's nearly nightime by the time we got to our hotel (by their time zone). We walked into the door, no reservations (boy, were we naive) but he did have a room. We lugged our baggage up a black wrought iron staircase, down a long, dark hall and was shown into a room which I would describe as a cabin in the woods kind of establishment. Wooden single beds covered in those old scratchy woolen like blankets, (sort of like what you'd throw over a horse), We had a large wardrobe, a chair, a phone on the wall and that was about it.

I'd been so proud of myself for having bought a Frommer book 'See Europe on $5 a day' or some such thing. Picked a hotel out of it's pages 'cause it advertised that the staff spoke English (a definate requirement). And, here we are stuck in a place that is like a hostel. The one bathroom for the entire floor was down the hall. 

We are so exhausted we didn't care! We lay down on the hard beds, pulled that scratchy blanket over us and realize that these French people don't heat these places very well. So, I pile our coats and anything else I could find over us and we fell asleep.

Well, nature called in the middle of the night so I get up and head down that long hallway to find the bathroom. I feel around for the light switch.... it's a knob that you turn but it gave me a bit of light. I'm sitting there taking care of business shivering... the dang window is up near the ceiling and it's open. Did I say it was January? About that time the room turns pitch-dark. That 'knob' was a timer for the lights. The French are cheapskates, too. I do make it back to the room safely.

And, Susan is sitting up in her bed so I said 'Susan?'. No answer. I call her again. Nothing. I shake her shoulder, no response. She is sound asleep. So, I just pushed her back on the pillow and she slept right on. 

I guess you are scratching your head about now... how was this part of a love affair with Paris. Doesn't sound like it to me, does it you? But, it was.... We had just gotten there and there was so much more to come. 

By then I was busy thinking about Paris and what I'd do if I could go back. Yes, I am too old! At least I think I am. But, it pulled me partway outta that hole i'd dug for myself. 

Snowflakes and Ground Hogs.

 Feb. 2nd... Groundhog Day, they say. Don't know where that tradition started or why. I just know that I don't believe that an animal who is too stupid to get out of the middle of the highway when a car is gonna crush it, is smart enough to predict the weather! 

So, P. Phil (can't spell the name of that town in Pennsylvania where this groundhog lives) says there's going to be more winter. Well, heck, I could have told you that and I'm not a groundhog!

So, prepare yourselves if you are living in wintertime right now, don't pack up your coats and mittens just yet. 

                                                                

                    Speaking of snowflakes!

Shirley led a snowflake decorating class here at the Commons for about a dozen of us eager beavers!

We decorated snakeflake and frosty the snowman cookies. Every one had a great time. One participant ate all of his cookies after he decorated them! He left no evidence behind! 

For those of you following my dental disasters!

I go Tuesday to have my bridge reglued, again! 

UGH!

Doing Some Rambling!

 If you follow me you know that the past 2 months have been filled with dental work. 7 visits so far in two months time and there's more on the schedule. Guess my teeth decided it was time to call it quits! 

Tuesday I was sitting in the dentist chair while she did the last segment of a root canal. I'm thinking that I am more than thrilled to be over with that part of it and then she drops a bombshell on me. She's found another tooth which has to have a root canal! Good Lord, when is all this going to stop!

I really enjoyed reading your comments you posted about recalling the good ole days! I'm so happy you took the time to respond to that. Seems that most of us had some cool memories of those long gone days. Although we lived in different places, in different parts of the country, at different times we all had these really neat things that we recall from our childhood.

I did not want to get out of bed this morning!! So, I just snuggled down deeper under the covers trying to convince myself I really should start my day. I find that it's so much easier to make excuses for not getting out of bed (now that I'm older). Do, you ever do that? 

I feel so badly for those poor families who expected their loved ones to come home from Kansas City the other night. Such a tragedy and one I feel could have been prevented. I just don't like to fly anymore. Yet, my kids tell me all the time, 'It's safer than being on the highway, Mom'. I know that! But, I can choose not to like to fly if I don't feel comfortable with it. Right? 

Yes, I know.... I am rambling.... will try to have my act together next time I post. I certainly hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Can't wait to catch up with the latest!