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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

things not to do before flying...

1) Don't wake early to watch footage of a plane
crash of yesterday.
Why do I do this???
I already hate to fly... hate it but don't let it
stop me from going anywhere.
But darn I hate flying....
So today I take off into the blue yonder..
hoping for safe flights with less bumpiness...
Mr. Big will be there, that should help.
Saying goodbye to the blog until after the New Year,
will be back with lots planned for the New year!

.. and now a little of my private life...

A few months ago, I was trying to find
my way from a relationship that I knew just 
could not work. Opposites attract but sometimes
the opposites are just too much to make work.
I was sad about it but wanted stay friends as I
really cared for this person.
My dear Tiffany took me out in Golden Meadow..
a Halloween dress party at Boudreaux's Condo's bar
at that. In the last thirty years, I can count on one hand
how many times I have been to a bar but it's a new
life, a new world. We dressed up, she a referee
I Catwoman, a costume I bought at a garage sale on my way
up there. It fit perfect, was feeling quite good about 
my newly lost weight and how my life was going.
We walked in and the place was not so crowded,
first people we run into except for my pals,
Petey and his gal, Mary...
Four men out the night before their charter fishing trip
in the morning. Okay, I am not shitting you,
I went all the way home to meet a man who actually
lives right now, not only in Plaquemine but in my 
neighborhood, The Island!
 Something you read about in a book, ey?
It was a fun night and I spent some time with one
of the guys who was also single and my age.
Then he just left, left without saying goodbye.
I texted him quite sassily,
"DID YOU LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE?"
That would just not work. 
He begged me to call him, tried to call me but 
I was at a party, having a grand ol' time.
Long story short, I did speak with him the next day and
we made arrangements to eat out later in the week.
I mean we are practically neighbors!
Since that very day, not only has he followed my 
request about WINING AND DINING me
but has gone above and beyond the call.
I never knew a man could be this way.
I don't know how long this relationship will last,
and we not worrying about it.
Yes, a part of my heart is holding back,
you see, he is here for work temporarily.
He is from Georgia and eventually wants to go back home there.
He has two grown daughters, young adults both in college
and both living parents.
Would be selfish of me to think or request him
to stay here away from his family, his life.
I could not do it and so we have built this temporary
relationship and have we had fun.
All of this to say....
my Christmas present from Mr. Big....
(my blog name for him as in Sex and the City)
a trip to VEGAS!
We leave today... New Years in Vegas with a man
whom I really like.....so exciting.
Yet, even if he took me no where, even
if we just stayed home each night and had
the conversations we have....
I would still be smitten.
We are not talking about the "When he leaves"
but we both feel it, this part of our lives is coming
to a close.
WE have agreed not to discuss it until we get back,
No matter what happens, I will forever be grateful for this
man and what he has shown me.
VEGAS HERE WE COME!!

Saturday, December 27, 2014

CHRISTMAS BABIES ARE THE BEST

It was perfect...
for months my sis, Taunt Mone and I had planned it.
She would come to my house on Christmas day,
we would have supper with her baby girl, Minta
in Addis, the next town over from my home,
then on the 26th we would drive to Women's hospital
to watch the birth of her third granddaughter, Violet 
be born by scheduled C section...
Oh but babies, they come when they want.
Something told me, by Minta's phone calls
"Aunt Lil y'all don't have to wait for supper to come"
"what time will y'all get here"
I told Taunt Mone that we better go as something
made me think she might be in labor.
So we left Galliano, stopped at Cindy's home just
to drop of gifts and we were on our way to MInta's home
Then right when we were in Thibodaux,
we got the call,
"UM Aunt Lil, can you guys just meet us at the hospital"
Right at the exit we needed to go straight to the hospital.
It was perfect! We got there just in time to kiss
Mommy and Daddy bye to go into surgery,
Take big sis, Lillian into the waiting room.
Then other family came, aunts and the other grandmother,
Abby and Guy....
Within an hour our little 
VIOLET GREMILLION
7 POUNDS 1 OUNCE
20 INCHES LONG
entered our big world on Christmas day.
What a great was to end a great holiday.
All are fine and our hearts are full.
Best present ever!



Thursday, December 25, 2014

.... AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS....

Yes, here it is again, one more time,
this is Christmas morning.
I sit here in my Plaquemine home having
done my Christmas with BB, KD and the little girls
yesterday and heading out early to have coffee with 
Gypsy and Kayshara,share this morning.
Then to pick up the Taunt Mone and head to 
sister Veronica's home where I hope to see
the majority of my down the bayou family.
Having supper back in Addis with Taunt Mone's baby girl
because tomorrow her third granddaughter will be born
and we will be there.
Now that I have given the itinerary, 
This year, it's Christmas and the year is almost done.
To have come full circle in the year of 2014 is a true
testament that life is what you make of it.
We all have the same choices, to be sad, a martyr,
to hang on the cross, or to ask for off the cross,
be happy and find true happiness.
I have done just that.
Not to say in the beginning of Ron and I's separation,
I was terrible, then one day I just knew
I had to do something. 
I asked God for help, the next day I surrendered
and told Ron, letting it go. Since then
I have worked hard to get where I am and
I am better than I think I ever was.
So I wish all of you, each and every one,
no matter what your life is throwing at you,
find the happiness it is there.
I need to thank so many people who have helped me
get here so I won't even begin to try and name them all,
they know who they are, what they have done.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
make the year of 2015 the one where you put aside
pain, hostility, martyrdom and be happy.
Love to all who follow my blog, hope
to double those numbers soon.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

WAS ALL ABOUT THAT TEST, BOUT THAT TEST...

MY DAUGHTER IN LAW, IS A COLLEGE GRADUATE,
AN RN!
Way back when, when BB came to me and said
"I think I have a girlfriend"
and asked if I and his sister would meet her,
I have been in love with my daughter in law, KD.
Ever since that same time, as I got to know her and
asked what was her plans for the future, she wanted
to be a nurse. She spoke of being a traveling nurse
one day. I smiled on that day. I had a feeling that
she and BB had both been "bitten with the love bug"
and any traveling she would be doing would consist
of my baby boy being with her.
Since then, she got herself through LPN school,
married BB, had two babies, moved three times,
built a home and with all of that going on she has
STUDIED STUDIED STUDIED.
to become and RN.
Seven long years, it has been with her and
her little family. Her mom and myself have 
helped some days to watch Bean when she was 
a baby so her Mommy could STUDY
and JBelle came and all she had left, following
online RN course, was the dreaded clinical weekend.
Yep. that is all that was left. It is feared by most
nurses who decide to take the route Kd did
to advance their nursing education.
I am so proud of that little family.
My BB, Kd they are a united front.
Many times I have heard them say to me or
to each other,
"What days are you studying so I can hunt?"
"mom, if you have some free time, can you get with KD
to help so she can study"
Lately, though, it has been really them two and their
two little babies sacrificing.
So the weekend was here, and I and those who love
Kd didn't expect to feel so nervous, so sick to our stomaches.
She and her parents left for Georgia and BB took
vacation time and stayed home with their little girls.
The first night was hard, she was sick and so were
we all. Being her second chance at this, she had
already left saying if it didn't happen this time, it
was not going to happen. 
Baby boy and I texted all day on Saturday, both
nervous wrecks, almost to the point of being sick.
It didn't matter at this point whether she passed or
failed for him, it was the stress his wife, my dil,
her parents knew she was under and there was not
one darn thing we could do except sit back, wait
and text each other about how nervous we were.
That first night the text came...
got through the first day and remade up all the 
labs she had to redo... PASSED.......
SO FAR! All were elated, her mother, with her,
was just like us and BB, sick as I am sure her Daddy was
feeling it also.
On Sunday, the tension was back, I decided to spend
the day with BB and the girls, this child of mines
was so ready to hear from his little wife, one way or another,
so was I. The text came before I made it to his home....
I PASSED!
Oh the tears, the group texting, the release of stress,
our dear KD, after 7 long years of working harder than
I have ever known someone to work on a degree,
had done it, she was a RN, a college graduate
and oh so proud. Of course, I cried.
I especially cried when I saw the group text that
Baby boy had typed,
"SHE PASSED, 7 LONG YEARS, MY WIFE IS 
A BAD MUTHER F'ER, I AM SO PROUD.
NO MORE STUDYING....."
there was more but just that says enough to know
what this big feat meant to his sweet family.
We spent the day together awaiting kd and her parents long
driven return from Georgia.
We decorated the house, Bean said,
"Mumsie my Mommy don't have to study no more!"
You see her whole little life she has heard,
"Mommy's got to study"
Kd, I am so very proud of you.
I also want you to know that it didn't matter to me 
whether you passed or not, I am still so proud of you.
I wanted you to pass for you, for all your hard work,
but the tenacity, the work you put into this and still
being the very best Mother to my grand babies as well
as maintaining a home and being a partner to my son,
you are the bomb diggity and I am so very glad that
way back when, when Baby boy said,
"I think I have a girlfriend..."
it was you I was brought to meet.
You, my sweet dear are my hero.
I never had the courage to do what you did,
I know it does not change what you want to do the most
and that is mother your babies, like BB said,
"Our kids don't care give a sh.. what you do as long
as you are their mommy"
and you are the very best Mommy, wife, daughter,
daughter in law, friend.
Congrats, what a wonderful Christmas present AND
you can burn those books at New Years!!!!!
Kd, I love you......

Sunday, December 21, 2014

MY GYPSY, MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF

I speak often of my Gypsy and just why she is that to me.
Yet, she is also lots like me, likes people, well most
and can smooth talk her way into a good tip where she works
at Christiano's in Houma.
Both my children are not afraid of work. 
Which brings me back to the pride I felt last Sunday.
Since moving off the bayou, I try my best to stay in 
touch with as many old friends as I can. It's hard,
there are many and there are also many in Thibby.
Last Sunday, the old neighbors, the "Momma's of Tarpon Heights:
and a few of our kiddo's and Kayshara, shara made
plans to have brunch at Gypsy's work place.
She made the reservations and set us up outside on the 
beautiful outside patio, she did good....
WE all sat, Wanda, Alice, Tiffy, Gypsy, Gavin and Kayshara
and we began to reminisce.
As we did, our sweet waiter, Patrick treated us like royalty.
He also bragged on my Gypsy, saying how fast she learned
her job there, and how at first they were just coworkers,
now they still are but he was given a small promotion
and now in management. he spoke about how she
still remains one of his favorites to work with.
(gypsy, Patrick, myself)


 ( gypsy, gavin, kayshara, shara)
Of course, that made me proud, but it's not the first time
I have heard this from her coworkers.
I thanked him for loving my little girl.
The big surprise that almost brought me to tears
was a little later in the meal.
Gypsy points out her boss, the highest you can get,
as he IS CHRISTIANO'S the owner.
I did not expect him to come over and say hello,
so I especially did not expect that he came over, introduced
himself and then went on and on about MY baby girl
and how proud and impressed he is with her work.
He relayed.
"You know she was very sick yesterday, I knew she did not
feel well, yet she came in and not only did she not complain
or ask to go home, but she put a smile on her face and did her job.
We were busy, very busy, and she never whined as some of 
the other girl waitresses have been known to do. She did her
job and I let her go home as soon as I could."
He did not stop there.
"She always comes in ready to work with a smile on her
face, if others are down, she tries to bring them up"
I swear I wanted to cry, laugh, stand up and announce,
"That is my baby girl!" 
Instead, I thanked him graciously for the compliments as well
as taking the time to let me know this.
So proud of her, so proud to be her Mommy.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

There you are, Christmas!

On Wednesdays I try my best to pick up Bean
at her school. Yesterday when getting in the car
there was Christmas music playing so she asked for my
favorite. I explained that my very favorite was 
from the Movie Grinch,
WHERE ARE YOU CHRISTMAS
I put it on and as we sang, i explained the words to her.
That was it, now she wanted to hear it three
times on the way to her home.
As I listened, sang and explained,
I realized, this was my Christmas at first.
Then my dear, very close friend,
insisted on buying me a real tree saying,
"I know this is going to be a hard one for you and
your little family, so I am getting you a live tree
and that he did!


 It made all the difference in the world,
with Bean and I's village she plays with under.
Back to the song,

Where are you Christmas?
Why can't I find you?
Why have you gone away?
Where is the laughter?
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play?

My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?

Where are you Christmas?
Do you remember
The one you used to know?
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go?

Oh, Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh

If there is love in your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time

I feel you Christmas
I know I've found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love

Where are you Christmas?
Fill your heart with love

I realized this has been my transformation from last Christmas
to this one. It has been a rough year but all is well and
we are all finding ourselves in our new roles
and I am happy,
Yes, I have found Christmas, in the hearts of two 
little girls who call me Mumsie
and a friend who knows what I need even when I do not.                                                                              

Thursday, December 11, 2014

having kids and social media would terrify me...

Each morning, I start my day about 4:15 am these days.
I awaken, get my coffee, do the Facebook thing,
then surf net for interesting stories,
check emails, even though I rarely read them.
This am I decide to open one I like,
THE STIR.
There I read of a dad of a 12 year old who monitors
his child's social media like a hawk, busts a child sex
ring. The article goes on to say, all she does on SM
goes straight to his phone so the day he got an email
that said, "Hey Sexy" he decides to pretend he is his 12year old
and the emails go on to end up with a sex tape of the 
man doing sex things that no 12 year old should know
exists. He is livid, wants to kill, instead, he keeps his cool
and contacts the law to bust the child sex ring.
This gives me chills, I swear, goosebumps!
I wonder, what would I do.
I warn all you parents out there who have underage children,
be like this dad. Have all go to your phone, have all their
pass codes, check their texts and calls daily.
If they get pissy, remember, parenting is not about
being friends, parenting is about keeping them safe.
I think to myself. if my child would not share these things
with me then they would not have social media.
They would not have Facebook or instagram,
shoot, if they got mad, they would not even have a cell phone.
I say this, but also want to appreciate the fact that
it is hard being a parent of kids in today's world.
I know it would be easier to just trust them.
But in this case, his child was innocent, the perpetrator
was the one who was after his child.
No way in hell!
Having two little girls who call me Mumsie,
makes me so afraid but I have no doubt that BB and Kd
will be those types of parents who won't care whether
their kids like them or not when this time comes.
Have to protect those babies.
Also, with all this being said, I want to admit I am
so thankful that all this media was fresh and new when
my babies were teens. I got the easy way out and still
I am sure there are things I didn't know.
Just remember, you pay their bills, you pay their phones.
If they won't let you check them, then they don't need them.
With appreciation to all parents who are doing the job of parenting
to the best of their ability, 
keep it up. 
If you are more of the "I trust my teen" type, realize
there are those out there after them.
Ugh this world.....

Sunday, November 30, 2014

THOSE DAYS THAT YOU HURT KIDS...

We probably have all had those days where
you  make plans with little ones you love and
at the last minute plans change.
Such was the case yesterday.
Down the bayou, my great niece, Abby, who
is a Tarponette was having a Frozen day at her school
for little kiddo's to raise money for the organization.
I have been talking of it for at least a month.
Made the plans to bring Bean and little Lillian
with me for a fun filled day of Princesses.
I was as excited as they were. 
On Friday, Baby boy asked if I wanted Bean to go sleep
but I had plans to meet a friend at the movies
(saw dumb and dumber 2, was funny!)
and to eat out. I told him I may get in too late as
we had also made plans to fight the mall for 
shopping. Well, that didn't happen.
I was praying, say this is not happening,
I came home by 6 because of nausea.
Ate only two pieces of sushi after I had been
bragging how good it was.
I laid in bed, praying,
"Please, please, please, don't let this be a virus,
don't let this stop me from bringing my girls
to their princess day....
I fell asleep after taking two Phenergan and
fell asleep. At about 9:30, there was no denying it.
Vomiting and diarrhea. 
Yeah I know kind of gross, graphic but ugh
why, why, why, this day? I have not been sick
for so long, could not this pick a better day?
I text baby boy to say I don't see where i can drive
with the two little girls this sick.
I knew it would make Bean so sad, I know she was looking
forward to it as again, we had been speaking of it.
I was right, Baby boy let me know she was crying when
he told her. I then called Minta to tell, Lillian.
She said she would be all right.
So besides that yesterday, even though the virus had
me feeling like I was run over by a mac truck,
I cried more for letting those little girls down
and for letting Abby down as she was so looking forward
to spending the day with them.
How can you make up such a day?
I don't think you can.
I am glad that little children tend to be more forgiving
than us big adults.
Today, I am feeling better, not 100percent but good
enough to finally shop, get dressed and see the girls 
if BB is home.
WE have all had these days, but does not make this one
easier. 


Thursday, November 27, 2014

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...

It's that day again, seems like it was just here...
yet here it is again,
the day we take time to relax and celebrate with the ones
we love, we give thanks for all our good things in our
world, our life. 
This has been on hell of a year for me and my babies
and yet, today, I am so very very thankful for the
way things are coming together for us all.
Ronnie and I are finding us getting past the shock 
of separation, to a place of being civil to now working on
being friends. I say this without meaning to put him down,
but it took us figuring out the marriage could not work to
find us both happy again. And I am happy. I won't lie,
there are days that nostalgia cloud my thinking, my eyes,
and I may shed a tear or two, but I look at our two
grown children and know, we were not perfect parents,
far from it, but we have raised two independent wonderful
adults who give back to society.
 Then there are the two grand babies, two beautiful little girls
who call me Mumsie.
I swear to this blog and all those I love,
I would give up everything to have these girls.
When Bean puts her arms around me when she
is almost asleep and in her sleepiness she says,
"I love you Mumsie" 
I feel all that is right in the world and there is a lot right.
There is a lot not right but today,
all is right.
 Then there is Tuts, oh our Tuts..
can any baby be more laid back, sweeter 
than our Tuts? Bean was the first, but Tuts
being second, well she is the type of baby that goes
with the flow. when I rock her to sleep and she slides
the same two fingers in her mouth from her left hand,
just like her Daddy, I am transformed back to a time,
29 years back when her Daddy did the same on the 
same shoulder. she is such a blessing.
 I am thankful for the days I get to see Bean and Tuts
together, playing. What Bean will do to entertain her
sister is amazing. I forget sometimes that she is just 
3 1/2, not 4 until March. She has the sense of most adults
and is so overprotective of "her baby"
While reading to her the other night, there was a little
girl in the book and she said,
"Mumsie, I wish she was my sister"
I explained that Tuts won't be little for much longer,
that soon she will be like her, a little girl just like
the little girl in the book.
"and we can sleep together?"
Yes, my sweet child, you and Tuts will spend many nights
sneaking into each others beds.
This reminded me of my own two. Every Christmas eve
until I think Baby boy was 16, he and Gypsy landed
up in each others beds, I often wonder the secrets they shared
on that special night. Maybe I should have made them
go into their own beds so they could fall asleep faster so 
Santa could come and Mommy could go to bed,
but I didn't. Because even then, I knew whatever they were
talking about was necessary for their relationship.
Today, they remain close as adults.
I am thankful I didn't interrupt those nights....
Last but not least, I am thankful for all
my friends and family, especially my sisters who have
gotten me through some rough patches this year.
I can't name them all and the good thing about true
friends and family, you don't have to repay them because
they and you all know that their time is coming that
they will need you and I will be here.
A special thanks that my besties are mines.
That my dear Ann has her Moody for hopefully many years
to come, that he overcame an illness that almost made my Ann
a widow.
and my Laurie.... I cannot even begin to explain what she has
been to me these last few months, not only does she listen
to all my single girl issues, but she gives good advice
and loves me no matter what. She shares her girls with me
and how I love those girls. 
HAPPY THANKGIVING TO YOU ALL, MY FOLLOWERS.
REMEMBER YOUR REASONS FOR BEING
THANKFUL.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

CHRISTMAS SHOOT

Each year for the last 10, 
I have made my own Christmas cards. They
are lots of work and each year I think
I am going to do away with them and
just have them printed at Walmart but I just
can't do it. This year, I decided on a photo shoot
with the Tuts and Bean Saturday when we had
our sleepover. OH what an adventure:

 So I brought props, Bean loved that.
She helped me put up the little tree, picked out her
outfit and Tuts diaper cover.
She also picked out her hairstyle, which was 
No brush-wet braided then unbraided
 dry curly look.
She picked out Beans head band too.
Our first idea was to have them reading a book.
But in picture one, you see Bean really got into reading
the book and Tuts wanted to go to bed.
Oh-oh... maybe too close to her bedtime.
We persisted, Bean and I while Tuts went from her 
fingers to the book itself to eat.
 Then Bean tried to reason with tuts,
"Look at Mumsie"
as Tuts had other ideas, like bed....
 My second idea was to get tuts interested in pinecones.
"Mums that is not safe its going to pick her little belly"
No amount of reassuring that I was not going to let her
get hurt or put it in her mouth, Bean was not 
having it. Hence, the look in the picture below,
trying to take the pinecone away while I was not looking...
hahahah look at her face, like I couldn't see her.
Note the blue flower also now added to Tuts headband.
Yeah, that was Beans idea too, she has
such fashion sense.

 So, because the pinecones made her so nervous I decided
we would take them away.
Which made Tuts extremely upset. Our 
next idea was to wrap Christmas lights,
but Tuts was still screaming about the pine cone
so Bean thought giving her a few tight kisses might help....
 As you can see, it didn't help Tuts much.
Surely put Bean's mind at ease, Tuts dreaming of pine cones....
and bed.          
 My next idea was to try and get Tuts to pull Beans hair
like she always does so Bean was the best sport ever!
Trying to get her baby sister to grab her hair and pull
so Mumsie could capture one funny image for her
Christmas card.
Of all the times Tuts grabs that hair and pulls,
that night, I guess because she had permission,
she was a no-go. 
 Finally after about 90 snaps looking through the lens,
I did get a few good ones and landed up with two 
I could not decide from so am using both
this year.
Finally, Tuts just could not go anymore,
when she puts those fingers in her mouth like her
Daddy did sooo many years ago.
I gave her a bottle while I rocked her to sleep.
She was out in 10  minutes.
 I put Tuts down for her sweet dreams to
find Bean sitting in her room, waiting for me.
Look at the look of accomplishment on her face.
Oh to be three again.
I was more like Tuts, ready to go down,
Bean had other ideas,
"Mumsie now we can start our sleepover!"
....and that we did.



Thursday, November 20, 2014

MORE LOVE OF MR. MORRIS...

I wrote a tribute to two people who I loved dearly.
My blogs are usually based on facts and cleared
by family for their permission prior to writing.
Yet, that post was written from love of a couple
before the obituary came out.
 The problem with my blog is,
I only knew Mr. Morris as an elder man
married to Ms. Priscilla, already retired
and through our church family.
I did know that Ms. Priscilla's children
were hers from a first marriage but
I did not realize so much happened
in Mr. Morris life prior to Mrs. Priscilla.
My heart is hurt this morning as I realize
I left out a very big and important part of
his younger life. One I just did not know of.
Like I said, my memories of Mr. Morris were
those after the loss of his first wife,
MRS THELMA BOUFFANIE 
whom he was married to for 25 years!
He, in that life, had 6 children whom,
although I did not know, knowing the
great man they called Daddy, were very 
special to him. Today I can only ask
their forgiveness as I did not know,
I only knew of our church family,
the one he shared with me and those
others who loved him there too.
An apology to these children just does not
seem like enough and yet, I know if they are 
anything like their Dad, they will forgive my
oversight and writing the blog prior to 
seeing his obituary which I most assuredly would
have added all that information.
Again, I wrote it out of the love for him
and wanting to give comfort to those who loved
he and Mrs. Priscilla dearly.
In turn I hurt those who call him Daddy,
who now have lost both their parents, like me.
I know their pain as after loosing my Mommy
last year, although I was 50, I felt like an orphan.
so to you 6 children,
MORRIS JR.
DONALD
RONALD 
KEITH 
MONA (WHOM I BELIEVE WAS IN HEAVEN
WAITING TO GREET HER DADDY)
and last, but not least, his baby girl,
TAMMY
I ask for the forgiveness of leaving you all out
of my first blog. Again, it is not like
me to leave such an important part of his life
out of my blog, I truly just did not know.
I thank Tammy, who had the courage to send
me a very well written message to say my
information, though beautiful, was not completely correct.
I take pride in my blog and pray that 
I have maybe fixed any hurt I may have caused
by putting the blog out too soon.
Love to all who called this wonderful man
and both his beautiful wives,
Thelma and Priscilla.
Most of us, are lucky to have had one love
like this, Mr. Morris was privileged to have had two.
Once again, comfort and peace to the families
of these beautiful people.

                                     

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

A SMALL TOWN LOOSES, AND WE ARE ALL AFFECTED

When I say, LOUDLY AND PROUDLY, 
I AM FROM GOLDEN MEADOW...
It means something to me,
it means something to all who live there.
It is hard to explain the love of being raised
in a small town if trying to explain it to big town
folks, well there just are no words.
This week, just like when my little town is affected
by good things, it was highly affected by a big thing.
The death of two of our elders, Husband and wife...
PRISCILLA AND MAURICE BOUZIGARD
...and with this tragic death, a car accident,
coming from one of their favorite places,
the Golden Meadow Senior Citizens Center,
I can now explain what a small town means to 
a girl like me, how all our lives are intertwined
over and over and over.
Mr.Maurice has been friends with the both of my parents,
He helped build the home I and all my siblings
were raised in.
I was not born yet, not even thought of,
my oldest sister, Simone was the only one born.
That same sister knows all those stories from
Mr. Maurice and many others from Mrs. Priscilla
because until she retired, she was the manager of 
that very same GM Senior Citizens Center.
As a young girl, they were our church family.
Saw them at church each time we went.
You see our small church,
Our Lady of Prompt Succor is the only church
all in Golden Meadow entered,
we made all our sacraments there
and it is the very same church that 
Mr. Maurice and Mrs. Priscilla were laid to rest.
Our lives did not just cross here, it continued
to cross throughout my life.
When Baby Boy went to Nursery school,
"Granny" aka, Mrs. Priscilla was his cook.
She cooked all the wonderful meals BB still loves.
Cynthia, Ms. Priscilla's daughter worked there
at the time and then owned the little day care
of Golden Meadow. Mrs. Priscilla taught 
these little ones how to eat like a cajun.
NO Peanut butter sandwiches for this gang,
Nope, Roux's and gumbo's, Jambalaya's and
Fricasse's. That is what my baby boy was eating
at his day care... and if there was something to be
fixed or built, there was MR. Maurice.
Many a times I went to pick up Baby boy to see
Granny rocking one of the babies who had just woke 
up from their nap or just wanted their momma.
Then there was the connection of Cynthia, Ms. Priscilla's
daugher, Mr. M's stepchild,
who is best friends with My sis, Rosie.
Since they were young but even more so as they
raised their own children, Darcus and Miki.
Cynthia and her LoJo and girls, Darcus and Nalon,
were at my sis house at every gathering.
Then Cynthia lost her sister, Priscilla's child, Erena
to the dreaded big C.
Because I was nursing on our bayou I got to know her
better as well as her kids, especially Jada.
Was it not enough that they lost Erena,
then Mrs. Priscilla was faced with her own fight of 
the big C... and won!
Ironically, she and Cynthia both faught it and won!
 She and Maurcie, 
inseperable. My mom, when living there and not
yet driving, this wonderful couple, always
made sure she had a ride to whatever was going on
in town. If it was a funeral, that they made all,
if it was for helping for the lenten gumbo's 
you would find my Mom as well as
Priscilla and Maurice.
How I loved helping with the lenten gumbo's 
surrounding myself with this couple as well
as all the other retired couples.
There were always many hugs and kisses
and much pride that I was there. You see, they knew
if the young did not get involved in our little church,
those things like lenten gumbo's and Ladies of LaSaLette
would be history. Mr. Maurice, always stirring a pot of
something at our gumbo luncheons.
A few years ago, we had a fund raiser for another
long time "belonger", Karen Terrebonne.
She had moved from the bayou many many years before,
but just like our town, don't matter how far you go, you 
are for Golden Meadow. Mr. Maurice and Ms. Priscilla
were there, for hugs and hard work.
I can go on and on about just how many ways our lives,
the families of the Bouzigards and the Collins'
are tied but its like that when you from Golden Meadow.
Now, they have been laid to rest, together, in their favorite
place on Earth besides being with their family, our 
little church. I longed to be there, to pay my respects
to all who loved this wonderful couple who taught us
"Youngens" so much....
I could not make it but I thought of them all day.
If you have to find a silver lining around a tragedy,
for Mrs. Priscilla and Mr. Maurice, it is this,
They met their Maker together, they would
have not wanted it any other way.
I am sure had they had their choice, that would
not have been the day they would have chosen to go
to Heaven, but I also know both of them had no doubt
where they were going and that their baby girl, Erena 
and many who went before them, including
their son in law, lojo, my Mommy
would be there. You can bet, as they left that Senior 
Citizens Center, they were full and they were happy.
You can almost believe they may have even been holding
hands as they did often. 
Yes, their death, that of
MAURICE AND PRISCILLA BOUZIGARD
hit our town hard but their job here was done.
We, especially their family will long to see them many times.
Long to see them waiting for kisses as Maurice stirred
and Priscilla laid table clothes down at the center
preparing for  fund raising.
the Golden Meadow Senior Citizens Center
will be just a little bit quieter for a bit.
No Mr. Maurice to build shelves or fix broken things....
yes, our loss but Heaven, and the Big Man,
well, they gained big time,
a double winner.
Again, I say, the fact that they took their journey
to heaven together makes all of us who are suffering
from their loss a tad bit relieved.
Cynthia, Nalon, Darcus, and the whole family,
from the Collins family,
Simone, Veronica, Peter, Rosie, Celena and myself, Lilly
are with you all in these most difficult few months
coming up. 
If it gives you any comfort,
we loved your dear parents/grandparents.
They meant so much to so many, some that you all 
may not have even  known, they were the 
"CREAM OF THE CROP" and
our little town of Golden Meadow has lost another
set of our wonderful elders.
Heaven is happy, here, we mourn.
Love to you all from 
the Collins Clan

Saturday, November 15, 2014

A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF.

Everyone who knows anything about me and
the old blog days, you know how I love me
some Oprah, I mean if I go back I'm guessing
I can find at least 5 posts over the last 6 years
explaining how I know if Oprah knew me, she 
would dump Gail and I would be her bestie....
(Sorry Besties, but I'd let you hang too)
Then she comes out with THE BOOK
WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE
and I am just a tad jealous of my girl.
You see, she wrote the book that I should 
have written. Forever I have had the desire to
write a book and each page I turn I almost
can believe that is me writing it, we believe
so much of the same thing. But really,
her book will definitely get a girl in her
50's thinking. Yesterday, well last night,
I was full of thoughts sparked from Oprah's book
as well as spending time with my Bailey Boo.
All my kiddo's from my elementary school days
are either graduated or in high school and in the
next few years will all go on their way.
You know we have all read how if we could write
a letter to our younger self, what would we say?
I will write it here, write a love letter to my younger 
self in hopes that some of the teens in my life 
will gather what I say and hold it close to their heart...
(MAKING AN ADDENDUM TO THIS POST,
I AM NOT WRITING THIS AS COMPLAINT OF PUTTING
MYSELF DOWN FOR THE DECISIONS I HAVE MADE
IN MY LIFE. I WOULD NOT CHANGE ANYTHING
AND WOULD STILL MARRY MY EX, HAVE MY KIDDO'S
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROUGHT ME THE MOST PLEASURE
OF MY LIFE. I WROTE THIS BLOG BECAUSE WE
ALL OFTEN SAY, ' IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW
I WOULD HAVE MADE DIFFERENT TEENAGE DECISIONS.
SO AFTER A WEEK OF SPEAKING WITH MANY TEENS
AND THEIR PARENTS, I WANTED TO WRITE A
LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF SO TO HELP
THOSE YOUNG ONES I LOVE SO MUCH)
1) Puppy love is just that, new love that
sparks all those things in you that have 
you believing this is the one for you forever.
I fell in love with mines, he was my only
for most of my life... Now we are divorcing.
Don't let your first love be your only one.
2) Hold your virginity tightly and close to you.
Once it's gone we can't get it back. 
For me, I had sex for the wrong reasons,
to keep a boyfriend, yeah he became my husband
but I still gave something that I cherished away 
because he wanted to, not because I wanted to.
We are too young at this age, to live through all
the "girl"emotions that go along with sex.
3) Believe me, when you are a teen with a teen boy,
sex will not be fun for you. The kissing, hugging, all
those things you will like, but the actual act, not
many teens I know like the actual act AND if
you are with a boy in your age range, he is selfish.
He won't last very long and he won't know what to
do with you once he has gotten what he wants.
4) All teen boys, even though they truly believe
they love you, once you have sex with them, they
will want you to do it often. Gone will be the innocent
days of just holding hands, walking and flirting.
5) If you find yourself giving in the grown up Sex thing
as a teen then you have to be prepared to act like
an adult. Which means you have to do what you have to do
to protect yourself, never, ever, trust your love to 
protect you. Have your own stash of condoms even
if you are on some form of birth control.
6) No babies are mistakes, they are all blessings but The Big Man
did not make for children to have children.
If you are old enough to have sex, then you have to brave
enough to go to your parents and talk.
7) If you decide to have the grown up thing called
"Making love" which is really just sex,
then be grown up to speak to your parents, at least 
your Mommy. 
8) Your parents love you unconditionally, after they scream,
cry, etc. over the teen things you may do, in the end,
they love you anyway, unconditionally, go to them.
If you need to jump in their lap, the same one that
used to bring you comfort when your life was simple,
then do it. They will not turn you away. If they do,
then it is they, not you, who may need counseling.
9) You, as a teen, will roll you eyes, talk back to your 
Mom, hurt her in ways you don't even know and then
you will grow up and one day hold your own baby in
your arms and you will cry for many reasons but one of
the main reasons will be because you were so mean and 
selfish as a teen. 
10) Even after this realization those same parents?
they still love you unconditionally.
11) Be a kid for as long as you can. Right now,
all your bills are paid by those people you call your parentals.
You have no worries of a job, bills, etc. someone else
has those worries, so don't grow up so fast because,
believe me, once you do, you will long for the day
you wake up on a Saturday at 1pm, to a breakfast
consisting of whatever you put in as your order,
and your Mommy will cook it. When you grow up,
you will be the short order cook and be cooking
on one of your only two days off of the week.
12) At least twice a year, Christmas and on your own 
birthday, write your parents a love letter, let them know
what they mean to you, that even though you are
a typical selfish teen, you love them. Thank them
for the gift of life and always being there for you.
Believe me, they will treasure those letters forever....
13)Remember what you do, what you say, on social media
does not go away, it lives on somewhere in that world of 
iCloud so don't put nothing out there that your adult self
cannot answer to when you go in for the job you want.
You don't want to go for the dream job you want and
are most comfortable with and be looked over to 
someone who can't do the job half as good as you 
but has no "skeletons that can be pulled up on social media."
14) Allow yourself to grow and mature slowly, like
the old Oak trees, they start of young and bendable
to grow slowly into one of the strongest most
beautiful trees in the world. That is you, 
live and answer to yourself, let no one change or talk
you out of what you know, in your heart, to be true.
I could go on forever, but going to stop here...
lots to think about as I close a letter to my younger self.