It Was Another ... 'Oh My God!' .. Moment!

It Was Another ... 'Oh My God!' ... Moment!
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

My precious Son, Tommy ... Photos on a roll of film that laid around for years ... unimportant 'then ...


　

We were talking ... Skip was sitting down at his desk ... I was standing beside him. His attention went to a roll of film that had been sitting on his desk, 'forever'. I wonder what's on this roll of film?

I had no idea what was on the roll of film. I know I'd taken the photos on it ... the roll had been in the desk drawer, or up on the desk with the promise we'd get it developed. We kept forgetting this roll of film for ... years.

Skip put the film canister back on the desk; we went on to forget it. How many times did we pick that little plastic canister up ... wonder what was on it. I know I told Skip what I wished it would be, but ... I knew it wouldn't be. I was, of course ... wishing for it to be photos of Tommy ... it was impossible.

A month ago, Skip actually picked up the roll of film, put it in his pocket ... took it to Walmart to have the film developed. It would be ready in two weeks. Well ... we forgot the film once again ... we waited much longer than two weeks to pick it up.

We had to go do some errands today ... remembered the film. We stopped by Walmart to pick the photos up. I was going to walk away with the photos without looking in the packet. The woman told me to look inside ... if there were any photos that didn't take ... she wouldn't charge us for them.

I opened the packet, took the photos ... and photo CD out to look at them. The first several photos weren't good ... one couldn't see anything. I 'knew' the photos wouldn't be 'nothing' ... I looked through them, anyway ...

Everything became quiet around me ... oh my God ... oh my God! Skip! Skip, you've got to look! The woman standing there became alert ... what's wrong? I couldn't tell her ... I was crying, quietly. I couldn't look away from what I held in my hands.

Tears rolled down my face ... my Heart was hurting ... I couldn't believe what I was looking at! Skip! I was holding my breath ...

Skip was stunned just like I was ... he was having a 'oh my God' moment, also. He reminded me of the wish I'd made sometime, ago.

The woman wanted to know what was affecting us that way ... we told her. I saw tears in her eyes ... she began to talk softly to us. It was like ... so quiet ... like so ... special-quiet.

The photos were of ... Tommy! They were taken on the day his little son, Taban ... was born! The day ... my only grandson was born ... the grandson I will never know ... today. Taban's mother was in them just after she had Taban ... her long hair was beautiful. I remembered how much I loved her ...

I could still see what I remembered back then ... on Tommy's face. Fatigue ... Tommy had driven his big truck hard, and long ... to get to the hospital for the birth of his son. He barely made it! He parked the tractor in the parking lot of the hospital.

I was crying tears of pain, happiness at the same time. I just couldn't believe my wish came true ... I couldn't believe ... that little roll of film was so ... important ... would mean so much to me!

It truly was ... an 'oh my God' moment.

　

　

Photos are from the film ... that sat around the house all these years since the day I took photos when Taban was born ... March 16, 2007.

I own these photos/story. Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

　

#oh my God!

#photos from the past

#grief, pain, happiness all at same time

#Granny Gee

#Gloria Faye Brown Bates

#Tommy

It's Not About Vanity At All ...

It's Not About Vanity At All ...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

 

Photo is of me/owned by me ... Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

 

 

Oh yes!  I love my beautiful, wonderful hair!  You'll see 'why' when you read!

　

　

My hands fluffed, played with my hair. I love my hair. It's thick ... curly, full ... below my shoulders. I don't fix it all the time ... I let it be wild. My fingers love the silky feeling curls.

I've always fluffed it, run my fingers through it. I wear perfume in my hair ... my hair smells as nice as I do! No matter how 'wild' it is ... my hair smells good.

I don't mean to be vain about my hair ... sometimes, someone may think that I am. The truth is ... I appreciate my beautiful hair with my very Heart. I'm not vain at all ... I'm most grateful for all my hair.

Cutting my hair short, in hopes that it could stay just like it was ... I looked in the mirror. My eyes were red from crying my Heart out. I'd just had my hair cut short ... I don't like short hair at all. I'm looking back into the past ... back to ... then.

Just before cutting it, my hair was midway down my back ... so many wonderful curls. Now ... it'd been chopped off ... honestly, it wasn't 'chopped' off. The beautician had cut it in a nice way ... she was gentle when doing it.

I looked back in my mirror ... oh my God! My hair, my beautiful hair! I was told it was going to be worse than short hair ... but, I couldn't imagine. I was going to ... lose all my hair!

I began crying once again ... scared, ashamed. How many women want to lose their hair ... become ... bald-headed? How many? I was almost tempted ... not to cut my hair at all ... not lose my hair at all. If I had made that decision ... of course, there's no way I would be sitting here, writing.

Vanity for my hair ... has through time ... turned into gratefulness to have hair ... long hair once again. I'm so thankful for it every day. So, if you see me playing with my hair, fluffing it ... just know that while I'm doing it, I'm still aware of how it felt to not have it ... know in my mind, I'm thanking God for it.

I had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma ... CANCER. That's how the word cancer was seen in my mind ... in giant letters. I almost didn't survive it ... now, I have a heart condition from the drug, adriamycin. I am glad to be living ... it was a trade-off to live.

I lost my hair twice, due to chemotherapy drugs. I had two major surgeries, twice. I went through chemotherapy two separate times ... the second time, my hair was beautiful ... short, curly ... happy hair!

Can you imagine ... no, you honestly can't anymore than to imagine losing your only child ... how it feels to be a woman ... with no hair?

Think about it for a moment ... I can imagine you thinking you are so glad you have your hair. Can you imagine ... not having any choice in the matter ... getting cancer, taking chemo treatments ... losing your hair? No ... you can't ... these are things you can't even imagine. I pray you never experience it.

Losing one's hair, as a woman ... isn't just losing one's hair. A lot more is involved ... like a nightmare one is living in, wants to get out of.

Over the days after the chemo treatments began ... my scalp became very sensitive. Oh, how my skin on my head ... hurt. Touching it ... felt painful, awful. I wish I could describe how it really felt. The drugs ...

Taking a shower became an ordeal ... my hair began to come out as if nothing was 'holding' it to my scalp. Can you see yourself, standing in horror, looking into your hand ... seeing your beautiful hair laying in strands ... across your palms? You hurry to the mirror .... I hurried to the mirror ... oh my God.

There were places on my head ... there wasn't any hair! I knew then ... why my scalp hurt ... had such a strange sensation in it. At nighttime ... my scalp hurt when laying my head on the pillow.

I cried so much ... how could I let Skip, anybody ... see me like that? How could I? Everyone loved my hair ... ever since I was a little girl ... people always commented on my beautiful head of hair. Now ... it was ... all gone.

Without going into further detail ... time has gone by ... years. I have two awful scars on my back from those two surgeries ... I've been trying for years to get my hair 'that long' ... to reach those scars. Finally ... I have done it.

Charolette, my beautician ... has made it possible ... she understood. In the past, beauticians have always cut it shorter than I wanted them to. She trimmed it, always ... exactly the way I asked her. In fact, she was the one who had cut my hair with compassion ... just before I lost it. I lost track of her through the years ... found her again, this past year.

Hair ... my hair ... my beautiful, wonderful, happy hair! :) Don't I sound so vain? I think you know by now ... it's not about vanity at all.

　

Photo/true story are both owned by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.

#cancer

#losing one's hair

#bald-headed woman

#grannygee

#Gloria Faye Brown Bates

　

　

　

Can I Have A Cup Of Coffee, Please?

Can I Have A Cup Of Coffee, Please?
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photo is of my coffee cup (we change from small to big cups all the time) ... pure comfort when something 'bad' happens ...


　


Closing my eyes, I let myself feel ... the warmth of the coffee cup I held in my hands. As the warmth seeped into my skin, I began to take tiny, slow sips of hot coffee. I let myself drift ...

Drift into a world of soft darkness ... where I can think anything I want to think about. My thoughts went to ... making magic happen!

Magic! I sat my hot coffee cup down on my desk ... again, placed my two hands lightly around it ... my hands began to lightly 'massage' the cups in circular motions. Magic! I'm conjuring up a good spell!

I lean over my hot cup of coffee, with my eyes still closed. Oh, the aroma of good, hot, wonderful coffee! My hands gently touch, tap, press the hot base of my coffee cup ... magic! I'm creating a red rose ... I can see it in my mind! I shape, press each petal until ... it's a full flower.

My fingertips lightly touch the hot cup ... my mind shifts to something else, forgetting the rose. Oh ... oh-hhhhhh, how beautiful! Just how beautiful!

My fingers pause on the cup, letting the warmth seep up through my fingertips ... oh-hhhhhh ... something is sparkling up ahead in the soft darkness I am in.

The crystal ball of moonlight in the soft, dark blue velvety sky ... sparkled down upon the clear water at the bottom of a waterfall ... the light was touching the water like millions of little diamonds laying over the water!

I love diamonds ... I love gold ... when it's the moon ... I love 'silvery'.

My hair was wet from dipping myself into the warm pool of water. I could see myself pulling my wet hair from my face. I danced from one foot to the other ... for the enjoyment of ... just bouncing, gently.

The smile on my face ... I peeped through my closed eyes ... let them watch the .... diamonds sparkle ... on the surface of the water. I'm bathing in a pool of diamonds! One would think they are cold, sharp ... my diamonds were warm ... softly glowing in the moonlight. I took my hands, lifted them up ... they slid through my fingers back into the warm water.

I pick up my hot coffee cup. By now, it's a little less than hot ... but, plenty warm. I close my eyes, hold the warm cup of coffee to my face, touching each cheek. Instantly ... I remember ... exactly ... what it is about coffee I love ... I wish for ... when 'something bad' ... happens.

I could feel a tear begin in my left eye ... my right eye. I was remembering when our home burned down ... when I began to become aware of being alive after months down the road of fighting cancer ... when my only child, Tommy, died ... when ... the list goes on.

Hot coffee ... I remember each time holding a hot cup of coffee for comfort ... pure comfort. Remember putting the cup to my wet cheeks ... the warmth of the cup drying my tears away ... only there were too many tears.

I've been feeling sad, lately ... and happy at the same time. I wanted something to give me comfort ... pure, warm comfort that reaches my soul ... can I have a hot cup of coffee, please? Oh ... no sugar, only extra cream!


Photo/story are both owned by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

#coffee is pure comfort
#grannygee
#Gloria Faye Brown Bates

It's Those Sea Gulls ...

It's Those Sea Gulls ...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photo of artwork by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee ... Tommy died at the ocean ... Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ... to the sounds of a little child's laughter, sea gulls singing ... ocean waves making music.



　

A feeling of great sadness came over me

As I sat, waiting for the love of my life

My eyes followed the path of sea gulls

Flying not so high up in the sky

I tilted my head to one side, studying them

Why ... do they ... fly that way?

They flew in one area over the building

My loved one was in ... they flew in a circle

Then ... they flew as if they were following someone

As they walked beneath ... to the other side of the building

I felt unease ... sea gulls; sea gulls were singing when my son died

Sadness ... more than sadness fell over me like a soft, gray, fluffy blanket

Blanket of velvety gray ... the color I am afraid of if I see it on someone

Death ... I'm afraid of death ... afraid of losing my whole world

My whole world is very small, compared to others, and their world

Mine consists of one person, two Pups ... myself

I'm at an age, now ... where many have walked before me

Worried ... just like me; afraid ... just like me; they are gone, now

I don't want to go ... I want to hold on to my precious world

With all my might ... I won't let go

I would fight tooth and nail to live ... to make my loved ones, live

Like a mother lioness saving her babies from a certain death

Only ... I think about it now ... I never had a chance to fight for my own baby

My son ... he was gone in the blink of an eye, before I knew it

Who am I ... who do I think I am? No one, just someone

Who loves with their very one Heart, loves the world they have

A person is fragile by themselves ... a strength to be reckoned with

When in numbers ... my battles are done alone, so far ... I've won

One day, I may not be strong enough to win ... will I give up without a fight?

I don't think so ... if I lose, I will do it with dignity ... hopefully, with a smile

The sea gulls stayed in my mind ... worrying me

I thought about them through the night ... they flew this way, that way

Were they trying to call someone to come home, tell them

It's time to come home? While I was there, no one went ... home

Tommy's last sounds were the music of the sea gulls, ocean waves

His last sights were of his little three year old son ... the waves washing ashore

I pray that his last feeling wasn't of pain, nor fear

As the angels helped him fall to the soft, damp sand

I hope his spirit had begun to soar to the sky, fly with the sea gulls

Why ... why does my mind always come back to ... this point

I write what I feel ... it's always at this point, I stop ... begin thinking

The last moments ... my mind worries about Tommy's last moments

What he felt, heard ... saw; my mind begins to fill in the blanks

He heard the laughter of a precious little boy, ocean, and sea gulls

He felt the slightly damp spray of the waves as they washed in

Felt happiness watching his son ... he had wanted to come, do this

Love ... he felt love, pride ... thankful to have a little son

He thought of his mother, two hundred miles away as he sent her photos, video of her grandson playing

Tommy's fingers slipped off the button, the video stopped

Just as his life ... stopped ... life went on in his little son

This grieving mother promised to write, let you know about grief

How it felt to lose a child ... the thoughts through time ... let you know how it always feels

This is one of those times ... it began yesterday with those sea gulls

Flying, here ... there, as if following someone ... I pray they weren't calling them ... home

The sea gulls ... it's the sea gulls that worried me, making me afraid

They are two hundred miles from the ocean ... yet, they've always been here ... strange they ... were there

I sit here, writing out my fears ... grief, pain ... a part of my being human ... a grieving mother

I share it with you, because I promised you ... when otherwise, no one would have ever known

Sea gulls ... I've always loved to draw sea gulls ... watch sea gulls

Yesterday, as I watched them ... I felt afraid ... of the sea gulls; it's those sea gulls that are ... worrying me

　

This is the last photo taken of Tommy just a short time before he died that fateful evening.  He collapsed with 3 blockages to his heart ... no one ever knew.  He was only 40 years old.  This mother will grieve to her dying day ... though, along the way ... I am finding happiness along the way.  I help myself ... if a grieving person doesn't ... it will be almost impossible to 'come back' ... I know this to be true.  Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


Photos/poem are both owned by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/ #aka Granny Gee.

#grieving mother #Gloria Faye Brown Bates #loss of a child
　

Sometimes ... I Cry For The Pain Of It

Photo I took of moon early one morning when sitting at my desk ... the moon was beautiful .....


Sometimes ... I Cry For The Pain Of It
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


　

Walking into the room, I look around ... every wall, every nook and corner, is white. I have walked into a ... white room ... nowhere is there another color, nor an object. The room is full of ... white.

Pain is like that, sometimes ... in my life. It's like the white room, I can turn all around me, looking for relief ... and like the white, there's only pain surrounding me ... no happiness in sight. It's all 'white' ... dark pain.

Strange enough, all the while I feel happiness, I am sad. I'll always be sad ... too much has happened in my life ... there's no choice but, to be sad. The good thing is ... I manage to find some happiness, anyway. I'm always looking for something to be happy about. I try to help myself ... always.

Sometimes, though ... I'm like the white room ... nothing's in sight but, the all-white that over-rules anything else, no matter how you would try to mix happy colors in. Sometimes, I cry for the pain of it ... there's nothing else in sight. If there was ... it wouldn't make any difference ... too much in life has happened. I cry for the pain of it ... even when happy.


Photo/story owned by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/ aka Granny Gee   #pain
　

Our Yellow Pup Has Died ... Sweet Chadwick Elsworth Bates

Our Yellow Pup Has Died ... Sweet Chadwick Elsworth Bates
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Our Sweet Chadwick Elsworth Bates ... Rest In Peace Our Yellow Pup ... We Loved You With Our Hearts.


　

Wickster ... The Wick ... Professor ... He Who Knows All ... Wick-Wick ... Yellow Pup ... Sweet Chadwick ... Sweet Chadwick Elsworth Bates ...

Those are the special names we had for our Sweet Chadwick who died on January 16, 2015 at 12:45 am ... midnight.

I awoke to the sound of Kissy, our teddy bear Rottie, barking in the hallway. He was facing the living room. Instantly, I knew something was wrong ... I could hear a ... soft sound of thumping.

I rushed to turn the light on ... sure enough, something was wrong. It was our Chadwick laying on the couch in the throes of a seizure. I remember being thankful he was inside the house, and he was on a soft surface.

Chadwick hadn't had a seizure in so long ... we were hoping loving him, feeding him good food ... lots of attention could somehow ward off another possible seizure. It seemed to be working, until ...

I increasingly became alarmed ... I watched the clock, watched Chadwick closely. He wasn't coming out of this seizure at all. It was lasting too long. It was really ... bad.

Tears streamed down my face as I realized Chadwick was dying. I instantly thought of Tommy ... in my mind, I asked Tommy to come be with Chadwick ... I told Chadwick to go be with Tommy ... go toward the light.

Chadwick began to be still ... I touched him gently with love, crying silently. Chadwick! The pain was great in my Heart ... my yellow Pup was dead. He was the last Pup that was a link to Tommy ... now, he was gone. Oh, the pain ...

I went to the bedroom, woke Skip up to tell him. He was very upset, got up instantly, went to Chadwick. We both stood there, Kissy and Camie on either side of us ... looking at Sweet Chadwick laying there. Skip and I both were crying silently, tears streaming down our cheeks.

I went to the closet, got a piece of soft canvas cloth I kept for something special ... brought it into the living room. Skip and I, gently wrapped Chadwick's body in it. We brought the wagon up onto the porch to place his body inside.

I put a portable fence over the top so, nothing could bother his body, until morning. We kept saying we couldn't just put Chadwick into the cold, wet ground ... he needed to be beside Fairchild, our Rottie who died just after Tommy died. Fairchild, Chadwick were the two Pups who knew, loved Tommy.

We decided to call, and see if arrangements could be made to cremate Chadwick. Sure enough, we could bring him on to Raleigh, and come back for his ashes the following day.

January 17, 2015 ... we went back for Chadwick's ashes. They had been placed in a beautiful, wooden rosewood box with carving on it. There was a footprint made of Chadwick's foot, made out of plaster of Paris. It was all done so lovingly, beautifully. Steve, the man who handled Chadwick ... was very caring. Thank you, Steve.

I think someone got a sign from Tommy several days before Chadwick died. She called to let me know about a special light she saw, and felt it was Tommy letting her know something might happen. I was amazed ... this hasn't been the first time she has had a sign from Tommy. I feel such a bond with her ... she means the world to us.

Our Yellow Pup has gone to Heaven ... Sweet Chadwick Elsworth Bates.

Born: May 13, 2007 ... Died: January 16, 2015 ... our last link to Tommy. 

I'm Not An Angel ... But, I Watch Over One

Project I was working on ... The word 'Love' is appropriate for this story ... I 'pure love' a dog named Angel ... she reminds me of our Pups.

                                                           .............................................



I'm Not An Angel ... But, I Watch Over One
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


　

I went up the steps to unlock the door. I could hear the happy barking of the pup I had come to let run outside for a short time on the long cable I attached to her collar.

I called to the pup ... it's just me, Angel! It's just me! As I unlocked the door, I saw Angel run toward me, happy to see me. My heart felt happy ... I loved to come, let Angel come outside for a short time.

Angel is the pup of a special friend of ours. She works hard each day, and is gone long hours. She was worried about Angel staying inside all that time without a break to go outside. When she asked me if sometimes, I would come over ... I was honored. Angel is so much like our Pups. She loves us, too. I go each day to see Angel.

Today, when she saw Skip outside, standing at the pickup ... Angel hurried down the steps toward him. She loves Skip. Skip leaned down to give her love, pet her.

We stood, letting Angel walk around on her long cable for as long as she wanted to ... she took her time, then ... walked back up the steps to the door to be let in.

I walked up the steps behind her, opened the storm door ... Angel took her head to nudge it open. I took the cable off her collar, and took the two containers of treats from the slender, tall table beside the door ... opened each one to get a chew stick out of one, a dog biscuit out of the other.

Angel always gets a treat after she comes back inside. She looks forward to it. I put the chew stick treat in her sweet mouth ... and laid the dog biscuit down beside her on the carpet. My Heart felt good ... Angel got her break in the day ... now, she could wait for her mommy to come home to her.

This is something that I look forward to ... and would never take money for. This is pure love, caring when I do it.

When I am home, I constantly watch over Angel ... I can see where she lives when I sit at my computer. Yes, I placed my desk so, I can always see that all is okay at her home when her mommy's away. We always cast an eye to know all is alright around us ... we love everyone around us.

I'm not an angel ... but ... I watch over one.

Help Me Remember Tommy ... I Will Be Leaving ... Sending Dragonflies In/ To Unexpected Places ...

Help Me Remember Tommy ... I Will Be Leaving ... Sending Dragonflies In /To Unexpected Places ...

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photos are my own ... Today's 1st dragonfly was left in Wake Forest, North Carolina in a shopping cart ... at Petsmart.  I wonder who will find it?



　

I have told you that I sometimes, sit ... make dragonflies. I sit remembering Tommy as my fingers work to wrap the wire into a dragonfly shape.

Sometimes ... I make fancy dragonflies with beads, stones, glass ... whatever I feel I want to do. I never do it under pressure ... and only when I want to.

This is between me ... and my need to remember my son. I don't ever do it for someone ... my dragonflies aren't made for someone. They are only made in memory of Tommy. I couldn't do it ... if asked for. This is too precious to me ... I feel they'll go to the right people in their own way.

Of course, I could ... up and decide to send one to someone. You can send me your address ... if you like ... I'm not promising a dragonfly ... but, I could send one. Please don't ask for one ... it has to be done ... my way to remember my son.

Instead of letting the dragonflies build up ... and never be seen ... I have decided to ever so often ... leave a dragonfly, and a note ... in a public place when we are out shopping.

If someone finds it, they have the option to keep it to help me remember Tommy ... or leave for the special person who wants to take, treasure it, help me remember my son.
If they want to ... they can take a photo of it, and post it on my Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/grannygee If someone wants to come, be Facebook Friends ... I would love it.


My email address is: gloriapaintsat@yahoo.com .... you are welcome to send your address ... and I'll put it in my special book.

I don't promise a dragonfly ... but, anything is possible. You would have to live in the United States as postage is quite expensive, now.

Today ... #1 Dragonfly was left in a shopping cart in Wake Forest, North Carolina at ... Petsmart. I wonder who will find it? I hope they will let me know.

I promised I'd never let my son be forgotten ... I won't as long as I am living ... and when I die ... I have a book published 'I Cry For Tommy' ... that will keep his memory alive. It doesn't make very much money at all ... but, that wasn't the purpose of my book. I don't care if it ever does or not ... I meant for Tommy to be remembered.

I loved my son, and his life meant something to me. I miss him very much ... and the pain is great ... but, now ... I can cope with it.

I didn't know I could survive such a loss ... but, I am here, proof that one can. Everything can ... be alright ... it is ... now. I can cry now ... but, be happy with life, too. I made it! I have made it to the New Year ... another year.

Tommy walked into Heaven on May 29, 2010 from the sand at Myrtle Beach. He was doing something he'd been looking so forward to doing.... playing his first time at the beach with his little 3 year old son, Taban. The sea gulls sang to him as his spirit soared ... ocean waves played in the background.

Now ... dragonflies will 'fly' from my hands to who knows where? Love in every dragonfly for my son, Tommy ... when you hold it in your hands ... you'll feel a soft, special mother's love for her son.

Who knows ... you could hold one in your hands ... to keep, treasure ... and help me ... remember Tommy. When you do, I hope you'll let me know. Love, Gloria /aka Granny Gee



　

Photos/story both are owned by me, #Gloria Faye Brown Bates/ aka #grannygee 

Song Turned Into Scream ... Tea Bag On The Wall!

Song Turned Into Scream ... Tea Bag On The Wall!
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

That was the morning ... when my song turned into a scream.  It wasn't funny, either.  :)
Photo of me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee






Early one morning, I got up to make breakfast. I was humming as I moved around the kitchen. I'm glad no one hears me ... truthfully, I can't carry a tune at all. At one time, I thought I could ... until I recorded myself ... listened. OMG! I was careful not to let anyone else hear anything out of my mouth ... that resembled a song.

I do have a way of talking that can sound musical. That's not singing, though. When I worked at the switchboard years ago ... people complimented me on how ... pleasant it was. Isn't it amazing how speaking words ... singing words sound so differently?

Anyway, that morning, I was making scrambled eggs with cheese, sausage, toast for breakfast. I put the strawberry preserves on the dining table. That's my favorite ... I love to bite into the plump strawberries on buttered toast. Goodness ... I'm hungry now!

Humming turned into a full-fledge song. I was jamming in the kitchen. No one could hear me ... Tommy was upstairs in his bedroom. Skip was still asleep. The Pups ... well, the Pups loved everything I did ... so, my singing didn't bother them at all.

We lived in a 200 year old house. Strange enough, I was never afraid there. When we first moved into it, I was afraid I would feel fear when I walked upstairs ... you know how older homes are.

I would test myself ... walk up the steps when everyone was gone ... to see what would happen. I would see if I felt dread inside ... but, it never happened. I felt calmness ... when I got completely upstairs. But ... that's not to say old houses can't be scary! I was getting ready to see 'scary' in action ... you wouldn't have known it by my happy singing.

I walked to the stove to check on the sausage, when ... my eyes were drawn to the wooden wall behind the stove. What in the hell?

Who would have done such a thing? I just knew Tommy, nor Skip would have done that. I knew I hadn't done it.

Why would there be a tea bag stuck to the wooden wall? Why? I kept a clean kitchen ... I couldn't figure it out as I stood there. I knew I had to get it down ... my humming was a nervous hum. The tea bag just ... didn't seem right. I kept looking at it ... then, I ...

I reached for the tea bag, stretching myself long enough over the stove so, I wouldn't get burned. I put my hand on it, squeezed my fingers enough to pull it off the wall, when ...

OMG! The tea bag began to move! The tea bag was moving! It was moving in my hand! What the ....... ??

I began screaming for Skip to come help me. Help me, Skip! The tea bag was flying around the room! The Pups were barking wildly ... running when the tea bag would zoom in towards them. I was soon ducking, myself!

Skip came flying into the kitchen ... well, he wasn't flying ... it was just the tea bag flying! What's going on, he said. He knew something was wrong. I could only point at that tea bag!

It's a bat! Get your butterfly net! I'll catch it. He caught the bat, took it outside to release it. I stood there, trying to get composure. I sure felt stupid ... that tea bag was a ... bat!

It had me screaming, running around like a bat out of hell, myself! I kept taking deep breaths ... trying to gather my wits. I don't like to get excited like that ... weakness sets in.

That was the morning ... my song turned into a ... scream. It wasn't funny, either. I didn't know what a bat looked like hanging on a wall ... I did know what they looked like outside, flying around the nightlight in the evenings, though.

That was the morning ... I thought a tea bag was stuck onto the wall. That was the only thing my mind could identify it to be. Now ... I know what a bat looks like when hanging around.

The next time I saw a bat in that house, it was in the living room flying around. I just can't take it ... I really just can't take bats flying around my head! I don't want to hurt them ... and I have to make myself get strong in order to somehow, help it ... get outside if Skip isn't around. I had to that time! I wouldn't have hurt it for anything ... unless it attacked my Pups.

Song turned into a scream ... I must have sounded like a person singing hard rock!




Photo/story are both owned by me ... #Gloria Faye Brown Bates / aka #Granny Gee
This is a true story ... a color of my life ... a 'tea' color!
　

　

　

　

　


　
　

No New Year's Resolutions For Year ... 2015

No New Year's Resolutions ... For Year ... 2015
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates /aka Granny Gee

Photos of the special dragonflies sent to me from someone I loved many years ago.  She was in my life when we were young girls ... she knew Tommy, when he was a child.  She's very special in my Heart.  Thank-you, Vickie.  <3




This is the first year I'm not going to make resolutions for the new year.  Why?


Because ... I have made them every year I can remember ...  things happened to make them useless ... most of the time. 


I have decided to go with the flow ... and channel all that comes my way into as positive as positive can be. 


There are things I am keeping in the back of my mind to improve on ... I will do them quietly, without broadcasting them 'to the world'. 


I think a lot of times when we say things aloud ... we think that will 'make things happen for us'.  It doesn't work for me at all.  I have to do things quietly, without being noticed to have things work out for me .... for you, if I'm doing something for you.  I don't need praise, or recognition for everything I do.  I am honored though ... when it happens.  :)


So, here's to a happy new year for all of us ... isn't it amazing to go into another new year?  Year 2015!  We made it ... once again.




Photo/Story are both owned by me, Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


Dragonflies in my photo are of dragonflies someone sent me ... she found me recently online.  She was in my life when Tommy was a little boy.  I loved her dearly.  She sent me dragonflies ... that is so special ... not only that ... she sent them in my lucky, favorite colors ... green and purple.  I'm so honored.  Thank you, Vickie.

What's On The Other Side Of The Blanket?

What's On The Other Side Of The Blanket?
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/ aka Granny Gee

Photo I took of the blanket ... as I folded it ... my handprints stayed on the velvety surface ... therefore, giving me the idea for a short story ... is it fiction?  Could this really ... happen?  We'll never know ... unless ... did something try to grab your hand when you touched your blanket?  Is this how ... some people disappear?  Should we check all ... blankets?




I stood at the foot of the bed, folding the king-size blanket. It was very soft to the touch. Light blue in color ... velvety.


I watched my handprints appear on the surface of the blanket as I smoothed it, here and there. Once ... my heart almost stopped, I thought I felt something from the other side of the blanket latch on to my finger! It was my imagination ... it didn't happen again.


The blanket looked neat, on the end of the bed. I noticed slight movement ... I walked closer to look down at the blanket, when I froze. I was unable to move ... there was an extra handprint bigger than mine ... on the surface of the blanket! It was trying to reach out!


My puppy ran over to the blanket, barking. I guess my shock reached through her sleep, waking her up. I tried to push her back ... she was too close. She disappeared, the hand pulled her to the other side!


No! No! I wanted my baby back! I grabbed the hand moving on the surface of the blanket, pulled. A thin man popped out on this side! He held my puppy. Give me back my puppy!


He held her tightly ... not wanting to give me the puppy back. I began to think fast at how I could coax him into giving me my puppy back.


Why ... did you take my puppy? I'm lonely, he said. You don't know what it's like on the ... other side. The other side? Yes, the other side of the blanket! It's lonely there ... it's cold ... all on the inside is snug, cozy.


Why ... are you on the other side? Because ... I kept hogging all the cover one cold, freezing night from my wife. The next thing I knew ... I was on the other side! Now ... I've learned my lesson ... I don't know how to stay on this side of the blanket.


I stood there, thinking ...wondered if talking to his wife could help keep him permanently stay here. Where does your wife live? Only five miles from here, he said. Let's go ... he popped back to the other side of the blanket. I smoothed it ... picked it up, took it to my truck.


My puppy stayed on the bed, going back to sleep, no doubt. I'm sure she was baffled, stunned at the person on the other side of the blanket as I was.


I parked, walked up to the house where the man's wife lived. I knocked on the door. The door opened, and a pitiful looking woman appeared. Ma'am, may I talk to you?


She led me to the living room ... we talked. She began to share with me that her husband disappeared one cold, wintry night. She didn't know why he left her ... she wished for him to come back home.


Instantly, I got to my feet, ran to my truck, grabbed the big blanket ... came back to the living room with it. I put it on the couch, gently. What the ..... ? She was standing there, with her mouth wide open. She didn't understand what was going on.


I asked her again if she wanted her husband home. She said yes, quickly. I took her hand to the blanket ... she began to pull away when she saw the hand on the other side .... reaching out for her hand!


It's alright ... you want your husband back home ... let his hand touch yours. She looked at me, questions in her eyes. I just nodded for her to take the blanketed hand ...


As she did, the man appeared on this side of the blanket. He began apologizing for hogging the bedcover that fateful night. She ran into his arms, forgiving him. She wanted her husband, home!


I watched, tears in my eyes ... my heart felt as if it were being squeezed from emotion. The man had disappeared from this side of the blanket to the .... other side of the blanket. All for hogging his wife's cover ...


I wonder ... if this is how some people disappear? You never know what's on the other side of the blanket!




Story written by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee. It is owned by her.
Photos were taken by, owned by Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee.


This story idea came from making the bed, folding the heavy, king-size blanket on it. My handprints began appearing on the surface of the blanket as I touched it ... I took photos of my handprints. #Gloria Faye Brown Bates #GrannyGee #handprints #other side

Handprints From The Other Side ...

Handprints From The Other Side ...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Photos of my handprints on the big, soft blanket as I folded it ... I  instantly thought of ... handprints from the other side!  Just suppose ... something was on the other side of the blanket as I folded it ... I think I felt something ... try to grab my hand!  Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


　


I was making up the bed this morning when ... I began to pay attention to something that caught my attention. I began to ... think. You know how my imagination is! The oddest things spark it, unexpectedly.

We have a beautiful, soft blanket we like to sometimes, sleep under when taking a nap. It's so big, heavy ... that you don't need any other covers with it. I noticed something about the blanket, this morning ... in fact, I've been 'sort of noticing' ... lately.

As I folded the big blanket, I began to see my handprints in it! Handprints on a blanket! All kind of ideas came to mind to write about ... like a scary story ... the curtain of air, handprints pressing through ... such things!

I took photos of our blanket with my handprints ... I might need those handprints one day to write a short story.

She stood watching the air in front of her ... there wasn't anything there, until ... oh my God! Handprints from the other side begin pressing the air to reach her. She reached out, placed her hand on one of the handprints ... she could feel each finger. The hand tried to latch onto hers ...

Handprints from the other side ....

　

Photos/story are both owned by me, #Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka #Granny Gee. One day I may finish writing a story from the title I just thought of ... #Handprints From The Other Side. One could weave a good story from that!