A CHANGE IS COMING!

While Obama was not my candidate, the historical aspect of his inauguration is certaianly not lost on me. I remember when times were different here in KY. I remember the first time my mom took me on a city bus ride, I must have been seven or eight years old. There were plenty of empty seats all around us. I was the only child on the bus that day. Finally, as we got closer to downtown, a black lady and a black girl about my age got onto the bus and went all of the way to the back of the bus to sit down. I remember saying to my mom how I wish they had sat down closer to us so I could have talked to her. I will never be too old to remember my mom telling me that they HAD to sit in the back of the bus because black people were not allowed to sit in the front. Of course I'm sure I asked "why" and I'm sure my mom gave me that look that loudly shouted for me not to say another word. I remember going downtown Lexington to shop on Saturdays and at the end of our shopping, we always went to Woolworth's for an ice cream sundae. EVERYONE went to Woolworth's, rich or poor, for ice cream. Even my friend whose parents owned a famous ladies shop that had the most beautiful furs in the window displays in winter went to Woolworth's on Saturday. I remember the day that I noticed the sign on the front door saying, "Coloreds Not Served Here", and I asked my mom where colored people got their ice cream...she pinched me!!! But, the most profound memory was when my father died. I was 17 years old. We were at the funeral home during visitation when the funeral director came and asked my mom to come to the foyer with him. Several of us kids followed her to find this wonderful black man who had worked for my dad standing outside on the porch of the funeral home. The funeral director told my mom that this black man was trying to get into to see my dad's body and he needed to check with my mom before he allowed him to come in. I knew then that my dad had certainly left his body because if not, he would have jumped right out of that coffin and started a scene. He loved that black man and, the love was mutual.

I think I raised my children in a better world, I hope so. Everytime I hear on the news about the great celebration that is going on in Washington BECAUSE a black man was elected president, I'm not so sure how far we have come. By the year 2009, you would think the celebrations would be because a worthy man had been elected president. The celebrating should not be because of the color of his skin.

Although I did not vote for Obama, he will be my president...the president of MY country. And, I wish him all of the success one man can have in one lifetime. Our country needs it. It doesn't matter if our president is a Democrat or a Republican or if his skin is white, black or blue. We need help!

I hope all of you get that funny feeling in your tummies tomorrow when you watch Obama being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America and I hope the pride you feel causes a great big lump in your throat!

WE'RE WINNERS!

We live in Lexington, home of the KY WILDCATS. My alma mater. Three of our children graduated from UK, also. My son has applied to a PHD program there. In other words, our family roots loud and clear for the Cats! Our basketball program has enjoyed continued success (most years) but that has not always been the case for our football team. However, for the last three years, they have been invited to a bowl game and have come out as the wnner in all three of those games. Now, the Liberty Bowl, the bowl we played in yesterday, is not the most prestigious bowl. BUT, it IS a bowl. I don't like football---too many rules for my mind to keep up with. And there is something about how 3:00 minutes left in the game stretches out to 45 minutes that I just don't get. I really think you have to have at least a modicum of testerone in your veins to enjoy the game and all of my hormones dried up and left my body when I was 27 years old. No testerone in this body.

Last night, SIL & BIL invited our whole brood to their house for food and "a great football game". SOOOO much food, SOOOO much football...hours, to be exact. Lots of grandsons running and gunning. We were there long enough for all of the young ones to get their second wind while at the same time, I wound all the way down. All-in-all, it was a great night---KY won the game, the food was great and I know that the kids all slept well last night.

We came home to a mess. Our youngest Bichon suffers from separation anxiety when his master (Allen) leaves him. When this anxiety hits him, he pees everywhere. We had them gated into the back hall so at least the damage wasn't spread throughout the house. The bad part to this story is that when we renovated the first floor last year, we put hardwood on every inch of the floor. I mopped that hallway three times at 10 o'clock last night. I do feel bad for BJ (the dog) but I think I feel worse for myself ( the one that always does the cleanup). BJ came to us 3.5 years ago in a sort of rescue situation. He was 6 months old. I think he had suffered some abuse for the first 6 months of his life. Allen thinks dogs are a notch above humans and just dearly loves that dog. I must say that when he isn't pee'ing on the floor, he is the sweetest dog. BJ adores Allen. We keep both dogs in the back part of the first floor which is where our family room is. Which ever doorway Allen exits through when he leaves this part of the house is where BJ sits waiting for him to come back. I so hope the vet has some miracle medicine for him as we have tried everything. We have had two trainers work with us, the last one charged $500!!!! Poor little puppy.

I am off to take my Christmas tree down. I would keep it up all year but, I know the time has come to put Christmas behind me for another year. Have a fun day!

Mae

Oh, LORD! Here We Go Again!

Another year, another dollar. I have had the same resolutions for so many years now that I am thinking about cross stitching a sampler and just pulling it out each year. That way I could stop all of the lists--both written and mental. And the good part is that I never accomplish anything I resolve to do so the sampler would always be accurate. Do any of you still make New Year's resolutions?

We had an odd New Year's Eve celebration last night. It started out great---good family friends. We went to Malone's for a four course meal with Allen's sister, Jane, her husband, Doug and Allen's mom and dad (affectionately referred to as Ma & Pa). Food was great but much too plentiful. My meal started off with shrimp cocktail for appetizer as the first course. Followed with BIG salad, two fillets and a crab cake. Dessert was a Toll House cookie as big as the plate with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate and caramel. I probably ate less than half of any course. Then I thought of all of the hungry people in the world. Then I thought about all of the homeless people in town as it was frigidly cold outside. Then I finished my Margarita and managed to climb out of my depression.

We left the restaurant and headed to the newest cinema in town to see Marley and Me. My dearest daughter, Adair, said it was a wonderful movie, that we would love it although Allen MIGHT cry---just a bit. Let me just say that about ten minutes before the movie ended, all six of us were wiping our face on our sleeves. Well, not Allen as he spent the last ten minutes of the movie with his eyes clamped shut, jaws set, and he just let the tears roll down his cheeks. He obviously didn't want to draw attention to himself by wiping his eyes so he just let them roll. We left the theater wet and depressed. And, when did Jennifer Anniston get a nose job? I kept getting distracted by how much she looked like Joan Rivers. Personally, I liked her old nose better. Putting all of the tears aside, the movie was a great one. I highly recommend it.

We then went to the Old Folk's Home (Ma & Pa's place) and drowned our sorrows in food and libation. I only had food this time (I did have a taste of champagne at midnight, wine gives me a headache). At midnight, we watched the ball drop in Times Square. Poor Dick Clark. I applaud him for not giving up but, if I'd had any tears left, I would have shed them just listening to him talk. God love him. At 12:15 AM, we were back home. It was nice to be greeted by two kissy, ALIVE dogs.

So, that is how we spent New Year's Eve in our Old Kentucky Home. I must stop now as I have a sampler to cross stitch!

I wish a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009 to all of you.

Mae