'Just In Case'... 'Oh, That's What That's For!'

'Just In Case'...  'Oh, That's What That's For!'
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee




I used to buy things in a box, only to get home, have to put it together.  Things bigger, longer... than me!  I always prided myself on being 'mechanically inclined'... in fact, so much that I would 'lord it over' ... Skip.  :)))

I would sit and handle longer things than me, hurt myself... pinch myself, sometimes... I would cry out of frustration... but, I'd hide it from Skip... because he 'thought I was so much!'

Oh... don't forget, I have a lot of pride!  Even if 'I don't know what I'm doing... I have to appear that ... I do!'  You know how it is, don't say... you don't!  :)))

I couldn't help myself.... I would say to him... 'don't be hating... when you got it, you got it!'  :)))  I would laugh, and go to work with such confidence!  I thought I was so clever!  Even when... I was 'figuring out what to do next!'

I would take all out, put like-things in neatly stacked piles all around me, piles of screws, washers, nuts.  Some things would have the letters 'A', 'B', 'C' on them.... supposedly easy to just put with each other... and make something!

I made Skip admire me, for my wonderful ability to 'put things together'... he would ask me, "don't you need the instructions?"  I would reply by saying, "Who me?  Oh no, I never need something to tell me what to do... I 'just know'!  That's 'why' I'm 'mechanically inclined'... I 'just know what to do... naturally!"

I would grin at him, so proud I could do something he couldn't, or didn't really want to do.   Now, I 'know why'.................. 'at this late day, and time'.  Oh yeah, that Skip was the 'smart one'.... he was slick... he'd brag on my 'mechanical ability' to 'get me to do it'!

Yes, that Skip... 'knew what he was doing'.... we all know that when someone brags on us... it's like putting 'that spotlight on us, putting us on a stage... to perform to our best ability!'  Perform... I did!!!

Always with anything we bought in a box... I would always see a booklet, or sheet of paper.  My mind would register that one should read what's on them, but, I never 'had time to'.....

I would push the booklet, paper back into the box... 'just in case' I needed 'to read' them.  At least, they would be safe inside the box... I 'knew I wouldn't need them'... but, at least ... they were safe.  The booklet, or paper always had one word at the top... it said:  Instructions...

I would go get my trusty electric screwdriver, and my old, cheap Dollar Tree 'reading glasses' (yes, the ones that are so big on my face... 'the bigger to see you with, my dear!') ... sit down on the floor in 'the middle of everything'.... look around me to decide 'where' to begin.....

(See... 'now' I could get off this story and have fun writing about those 'big, old reading glasses!  And... tell you how sweet, precious, gentle.... my two closest friends in this world, are ... Ms Nancy, and Mezza... tried to tell me that 'maybe they were a little 'big for my face'!  Tell you how much fun! it was to tell them 'it's all right... I really don't wear glasses!'  Ha!  Fun, reading how they both wanted to tell me me, so... 'if I really wore glasses, I would get something becoming!'  They were just so 'gentle', so as not to hurt my feelings!  Real friends do that... especially when they are women.... I loved them all the more for that!).

Let's get back to my story at hand!  Follow me!  I am mechanically inclined, so... 'that means I can do anything that requires mechanical ability'!  Right?

Visualizing how I wanted somthing to look, be put together... I would choose the pile to start from.  I'd pick up a piece to see what kind of screw I would need... the next thing you know... I had put all together to make either a bookcase, or a cabinet together... not only that... I would have lots of 'good stuff' ... left!  I could put them up for later.... 'in case I needed them'.  Good deal!

Only 'later in time'... I would discover 'the purpose of each of those pieces'.... my mind would think... 'oh, that's what that was for'!

My mind would go back to what I safely stored inside the box... the booklet or piece of paper... I would go look inside, pull the paper out, go sit down... read.  You know... 'after the fact', and 'just for the heck of it'... no sense in not knowing what that paper was for, too.

Oh-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... mmmm-mmm.... okay, I 'see now'... that's 'what I should have done!'... Oh-hhhh, okay.... 'that's what this paper is for!'  

Then... I'd read the title at the top... 'Instructions'.... I'd think to myself as I looked, actually read the instructions.... 'but, I knew that... common sense tells me'.....

My eyes would stop, stare at something to do with 'all the extra pieces I'd have left over'... oh my!  'Oh, that's what that is for!'

Then, I would think... if I'd read this 'first', I would have known what those pieces were for... instead, I had shoved the paper back into the box with this thought... I'm putting it back in the box to be safe, to come back to... just in case!

Big Secret:  I'm going to have to say this... :)))  Everything I ever put together... stayed together, all sturdy... and sound!  :))) Just saying.................................................................................................................................

Some Of My Old Artwork:

Some Of My Old Artwork:

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

NOW! (Photos Of My Hair... I have Happy Colors... NOW!)

NOW!

Photos of  Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

I waited until today to take photos of my wonderful, beautiful hair! Don't you think the color is beautiful?  

No, don't think me vain... those of you who are just coming here for the first time.  I'm not vain at all... I am just so happy to 'at last' find a 'good place' with my hair... as for the past month it has caused me only... extra grief.

You can read back several posts and see what transpired to make me upset.  I won't repeat it all again..... it would be like getting a stream to back up, begin all over again.... it's 'water under the bridge'....

Thank-you so much, Felicia... I am most happy with my hair.  What a beautiful job you did coloring it... what 'perfect colors for me!  Happy colors... just like I love!  I hope you'll read this... if not, you'll know in a few weeks.  

NOW!  Someone can 'see my face'... there's color around it.  Don't you all agree... that my hair looks so much nicer... and don't forget the 'bad perm' put in it.  Felicia 'deep-conditioned' it, also.  

For my hair to have gone through the 'bad experience' just 4 weeks ago ... how do you think it looks ... 'now'?

I Never Wanted To Become Addicted...

I Never Wanted To Become Addicted ...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


I have discovered that I ... am an addict after all these years.  I never wanted to be addicted to anything... never.

Do you remember how some time ago, I tried something new?  I purchased garlic bulbs, and roasted them in the oven with olive oil, a little salt, pepper.  Ever since then, I've been craving more of it!  It got me the first time!  I became addicted to it, the first time I ever tried it!  

Prior to putting the cloves into the oven... I peeled off the 'paper skin', placed the cloves in a little makeshift foil pan.... that I fashioned with my hands.  I shaped the 'pan' until it had 'walls' all the way around.

I placed the whole bulbs, in the 'pan'... I only cut the 'tops' off to expose the cloves beneath... put olive oil, salt, pepper on all.  You can 'roll' the bulbs in the oil to cover with a film of oil.  I made the decision to 'take off all the paper-like skin... before I roasted the garlic.

The oven had preheated to 400 degrees (I know recipes might call for  lower temperature... use your own judgement, I did).... :)))  I put the 'pan' that I'd covered with another flat piece of foil... into the oven.

After 30 minutes, I took the roasted garlic out.... mashed it up into a soft, creamy 'buttery' paste with the hot olive oil.  Creamy heaven... that's what it is...  I toasted bread, spread the creamy garlic on a slice, ate it... oh my, it was for-real... out of this world.

I have become a 'roasted garlic addict'... I've always loved the flavor of garlic, but... didn't eat it very often.  Skip doesn't like the smell of garlic... needless to say, we don't need to live in Gilroy, California where it's grown!  Gilroy is 'garlic capital' of the world.

Truthfully, when we used to travel on the big truck (I drove team with Skip for 3 years)... we would be parked in some of the California truck stops... and the smell of garlic overpowered any other scent in the air... it 'was too much of a good thing'.  I didn't like that... it was the one scent that made me know, without seeing... what a tractor-trailer was loaded with.

I remember the one truck stop that the garlic smell was so 'pungent' in the air, almost making me sick... was in King City, California.  Out of all our travels all over the country... I always associate garlic with that place.

My mind immediately goes 'to the smell of garlic' in the air.  We loved that truck stop though... it was a welcomed sight for a tired, weary traveler needing a place to rest, shower, eat.  It was a safe place to sleep.

Now... getting back to 'roasted garlic'... it's different from eating raw garlic... I'm not good at that at all... in fact, I don't think I could.  Roasted garlic... is warm, creamy, nutty and so... smooth.  The taste is something else!

Yes, this makes twice I have roasted garlic gloves... I just know I'm going to do it again, and again... and again... and again... and again ... and again........................................  I 'want some more of it'.....

I was reading recipes for roasted garlic... one can put it in buttery, mashed potatoes, rub the bowl first with the creamy garlic ...then, put the pasta in, and rub it on the pizza dough when making pizza, or bake it like that... recipe after recipe... a lot using olive oil ( I love olive oil... I think of beauty when I think of olive oil  :))).

I think of the good things it can do for hair, skin.  Not only that... for one's heart, arteries, cholestrol.  It's good for 'everything'... I went looking for a link to put here so, you can read about olive oil.  I found a wonderful one:
http://www.robbinsfamilyfarm.com/101-olive-oil-benefits/

Wouldn't you agree with me that ... I've become a 'roasted, creamy, warm-nutty flavored' garlic ... addict?  I just never wanted to be addicted to anything in my whole life... I waited this long in life to finally become addicted to something.  A darn 'roasted, creamy, warm-nutty flavored' garlic addict.....  of all things!

Making Magic.... Turning Straw into Silk
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

I sat, talked with the lady.  Felicia was her name... I found this out later, as I spent time with her.

I quietly told her my story, my experience.  I asked her for a miracle, hoping she might be the one.  The last time I asked for one, a disaster happened, devastating me.

Later, I watched as her hands moved quickly, doing things I could tell she was very used to doing.  She was performing magic... I prayed for my miracle... at times, I held my breath.  Is it possible...

I could smell the scents of the different magic potions she used.  Oh, they smell as if magic could happen!  I loved the soft fragrances that tickled my nose...

In the meantime, I talked with her and Brandon, the young gentleman who was close by, busy with his own client.  I would try to peep, see what the lady was doing... hoping, praying something special would happen....

This miracle meant the world to me as I've been living with such sadness inside for the past almost 3 years.

On March 5, last month I went at last to begin making my hair look nice again... so, I could begin being 'myself' again.  That was the day... my hair was turned to... straw.  A 'bad spell' was placed on it... my curly hair became straight... dry... I couldn't bear to look at it in the mirror.

I have been a 'strawhead' for one month and a half now.  I've been using Moroccan Oil, and Nexxus products on my hair.... thank-God for such wonderful products... they've helped me to come this far.  I was devastated when my hair was ... ruint.

Finally... I had grown it out long enough to have the curly perm I wanted, so... I could fluff it out to my heart's content, and enjoy my 'big' hair again.  My hair 'finally' reached the first scar of the major surgery I had when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

I went with happiness in my heart to get that perm, knowing it was going to be 'beautiful'...  my hair was finally as long as it was when I lost it the first time due to the chemotherapy treatments.

It has been my goal... it's been hard to grow it out this long again... not because it wouldn't grow... but, every hairdresser would cut 'it all off'... no matter how many times I would stress 'not to'.

The past several years I finally began to be very firm about cutting my hair... guess what?  My hair began to get long fast...

You know what happened next... my hair was changed to 'straw'.  You wouldn't believe the grief I have suffered over my hair... along with the grief I carry in my heart for Tommy.

Getting back to ...today.  I went to a place where magic could be created in a moment... I'd passed by it many times looking in, seeing the miracles that happened there.  I saw lots of smiling faces, and... beautiful hair.  I want my hair to be 'beautiful'... again!

This is where I met the two nicest people... Felicia, and Brandon.  I was impressed with them when talking to them... because when I sat quietly, asked my questions (I already knew the answers)... they would answer me honestly.  I needed that...

For instance, one of the questions I asked was... 'isn't my hair too light'.  I asked them, and in the nicest way possible... they answered my question, said 'yes'.  Skip and I both knew it was 'too' light... making it 'hard to see my face'.

I appreciated so much someone telling me ... this was a good thing.  I, then... talked about having two colors on my hair.... more my own natural color with softer blonde.

I asked Felicia to help me decide on the 'right' colors for my hair.  I told her I realized I had become older... but, I still liked my hair to be big, fluffy, beautiful.  I, also, told her that for the past years I haven't cared... everything stopped when my son died.

Her hands began to work their magic, mixing this potion... that potion.  The next thing I knew ... I was looking in the mirror as she worked her spell... my hair was separated into strands, placed in foil.  She put the magic potion on my hair... as she did, I said a prayer.  I prayed that she could fix my hair to be beautiful... somehow.

As she went through the ritual of making my straw hair become more like hair... I felt hope as I looked into the mirror!  I even felt happiness when I saw my hair as she worked.  Then... I wouldn't look ... I didn't want to break the spell!

Soon, Felicia was finished after she deep-conditioned my hair.  Oh, when I looked into the mirror, I was elated!

Felicia had worked a miracle.... she turned straw into silk!


Note:

I thank you from my heart, Felicia.  Skip loves my hair... not only that... I 'pure love' it!
It means the world to me.  I called you this evening to find out that you had made a 'customer card' with all the necessary information on it... including the perfect colors you chose for me... I wanted to make sure you remembered them... because I will be coming back to you.

Thank you, Felicia.  I am excited to wake up in the morning to look at my hair in the mirror... you can't imagine how long it's been!

Brandon, I enjoyed talking to you, too.  I liked you very much... I watched you do magic on your client... and saw her smiling face when you were through.  Both you, and Felicia made a big difference in my life today when I met you... a person's hair means 'everything'.

Oh... I don't want to forget the lady who had the pink hair, I think she said it was called 'camo'.  You are very nice, too.  You reminded me of my friend in Australia... she has pink in her hair, too!  Not only that, she used to have leopard paws in it!  You have a wonderful personality, too.

Today has been a good day... you all touched my life in a good way... sometimes, we need that.  

This Is Update On Both My Book, and Straw Bale Garden...

This Is Update On Both My Book, and Straw Bale Garden...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


 Something bad has happened in the homeless world... Victoria's cousin Lind Lou has arrived, is staying for several weeks.  Victoria went for visit to homeless world... as soon as she steps through the door, she knows something... bad has happened.

She begins walking cautiously to the brick room (that used to be a brick enclosure for trash cans... Chip had it enclosed, made into a 'safe' room with bathroom, kitchen, bedroom for Stevie, Caroline).  Victoria never could talk them into leaving the homeless world, let her get them a home, take care of them.  She and Chip did the next best thing... made a safe room for them to live, to escape to... with just a press of a button.

Victoria saw droplets of dried blood on the cement as she walked to the door... she was afraid of what she would find when she pressed the secret button to open the door.  Her dear friends.... her stomach felt butterflies, she felt she couldn't breathe... something bad has happened, something bad has happened....

'No!' her mind screamed.  As she nears the door... she sees Caroline's cellphone broken into a thousand pieces... on the cement ground.  It was no longer a shiny purple color... dried, rusty-red coagulated blood held many pieces together........

In her mind... she know something bad has happened to Caroline, and Stevie.  Why didn't they call her!  Because... they are dead?  She looks down to Caroline's cellphone... she wonders why Stevie didn't call on his cellphone...............

The above is an update to book two I am writing about Victoria Fairchild... 'The Saga Of Victoria Fairchild'... things are about to 'go to hell' ... again.  Lind Lou is there... the serial murderer has struck close to Victoria... only one of them will walk out of the homeless world... alive.

Book two... is beginning to pop, crackle... the fires of Hell are always burning... Victoria Fairchild will meet up with more than her match... she will have to walk through Hell... to make it out alive... 'if' she makes it out at all.
*********************************************************************************

My 'Straw Bale Garden' is beginning to take shape... this is day 3.  I've planted more seeds in containers I made from clear gallon jugs that held water.  I put holes in the sides, bottom of each... so, they can drain.  We have to buy water, and I hated to keep throwing the nice jugs away... they now, have a second life.

I planted corn (yes, corn!), and sweet basil, sunflowers, cosmos, and pumpkin, watermelon seeds.  I also, planted squash.  Remember... I am planting on a very small scale, so... I'm not doing a labor-intensive garden.  What I do is quite easy.

I will be taking photos all along so, you can see all I've done.  Today is 'Day 3'... some of my friends, followers are going to plant a straw bale garden!  Maybe I'll get to see photos of theirs.

This is the perfect garden for anyone who has serious health problems... Skip does any lifting, or moving I need done.  The heaviest thing I lift ... are the seeds.  :)))

This is the update on both my book, and straw bale garden....

A Straw Bale Garden Was Born Today...

A Straw Bale Garden Was Born Today...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee



This evening I began putting plants in my straw bales.  This is 'the' garden to have if you aren't into working with a shovel, rake, hoe... or you can't do heavy work.  All you do is open the straw up, put some potting soil in the hole.... or place the biodegradable cup of soil with the plant... into the hole.

It's a 'pretty way' to garden... it looks so 'something special'.  I am hoping it rains tonight to 'make my garden grow'.  :)))  I watered my plants, and the straw bales with Miracle Gro ...

I bought a colorful pair of gardening gloves to wear while placing plants into the straw... I began 'planting' without them... my fingernails had dirt under them!  It's been since 'before' Tommy died, that I planted flowers.  I couldn't until... today.

Today, I went to Walmart to purchase plants, both vegetable and flowers.  On the way there, I was in an area of Wake Forest where for a short time one could pretend they are in the mountains... up on a big hill sitting at the stoplight.  I was feeling excited, happy that I was going to actually begin a 'garden'.

Out of the blue... my happiness was crushed by a heavy weight.  It felt like someone threw an invisible thick blanket over me, separating me from ... happiness.  Happiness, looking forward to planting flowers.

I felt the terrible grief of Tommy being gone... never going to come back.  I began crying inside, trying to hold the tears back... so, when I went into Walmart... I wouldn't look like I'd been crying.  I began making crying sounds, I couldn't breathe... all the while trying to hold the tears back.

Tommy's gone... Tommy's gone... went through my mind.   While I sat at that stoplight 'looking out from the mountain' I was on... I saw beautiful trees, buildings, and bright sunshine all around me.  I was seeing such beauty as... I was experiencing something so... awful.

All I wanted to do was to lay down, rub my forehead with my hands.  Close my eyes, go to sleep ... not feel anything.  Will the grief stay, will it leave me in a little while?  I wondered, because 'before' I had felt such happiness.

I made it to Walmart, parked near the stacks of potting soil.  I got out of the pickup, began walking through all the gardening supplies.

I looked at stacks of bags full of sand... some was pink, some was green.  Amazing, I'd never seen bags so big... full of colored sands for children to play in... in their sandpiles.  Wouldn't I had been the happiest little girl to play in ... colored sand!

I walked by stepping stones, border stones, all kinds of stone ... then, I began getting to the plants.

I chose Sweet Mint (I love mint plants... I used to have so much of it growing when I used to live in the mountains).  I chose several varieties of tomatoes, French Marigolds, Orange Bell Pepper, Cucumber plants.  I can't remember all I chose...

I looked at the packages of seeds, bought vegetable and flower seeds.  I found Cosmos... one of my favorite flowers.  I got Sunflowers, and more Marigolds in seed form.  These are happy flowers.  I found a pack of Daisy seeds... they reminded me of my mother... her first name was 'Daisy'.

I went to the Miracle Gro section, chose a Miracle Gro Liquidfeed system to go on the end of the pretty orange garden hose that I picked.  It's a happy-shiny soft orange!  :)))

On the way home, I stopped at Arby's to order a roast beef sandwich... I sat there with grief in my heart.  I ate that sandwich, never tasting the flavor... grief affected me so deeply.  I didn't feel good, all I wanted to do was to get home.  Just please be at home...

Finally... I was home.  I came inside after placing the plants beside the straw.  I debated on laying down with my grief... or to go outside to... garden.  Skip called me, and I told him what had happened to me.  He wondered what triggered it.... I didn't know.

I told him I was fine now, and when I turned my cellphone off, I headed outside.  I began playing with the plants, and before I knew it... my straw bale garden became 'real'... it's officially a 'Straw Bale Garden'... now.  :)))

Not only that... I got past the 'grieving spell' this time.  I'm so thankful... I didn't know how long it would take.  I'm afraid, dread being overwhelmed with grief like that.... so much time can go by before I'm alright again.  Thankfully... I was smiling again when I stood back to admire my ... Straw Bale Garden!   Everything is... alright!  :)))

Thoughts and Things, Happy... Sad... Equals Bittersweet

 Beginning of my Straw Bale Garden... 4-13-2013

 Chadwick and Kissy 'fighting... happy Pups!

Skip raking grass out of Pup's fenced-in yard...

Thoughts and Things,  Happy... Sad... Equals Bittersweet
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

This morning we were at a local store to pick up bacon, egg sandwiches at their grill.  Oh my... they were very good... much better than at a fast food restaurant.

We went shopping, came home... and saw our yard!  It had been mowed... it looked so nice!  Skip had just talked to someone about mowing it... this is the first time this year it's been mowed.  Now... it feels like summer!

Skip bought straw bales for me... and arranged them.  Now, my project begins soon... and I look forward.  I am going to have a straw bale garden!  Skip will buy more straw bales as time goes by, and I get them planted.

I look forward to planting the easy way without having to dig, and lift, move things.  All I have to do is to part the straw, put in potting soil, seeds or plants... and stand with the water hose to water them... watch all grow!

On the internet... I have seen many beautiful straw bale gardens of all shapes, sizes.  Of course, mine won't be on the scale their gardens are...

I will take photos as I go, share them with you.  I only took one photo this evening after Skip arranged my straw bales.  We put a portable fence around them.... there are many deer around here... they might would want a snack later when things are growing!

It felt like summer-time today... I was thinking summer is going to sneak in here fast, we might not get a real ... spring.  It has been a little 'too hot' the past several days.  :)))

I'm looking forward to when Skip gets the sand, and gets the swimming pool put up (it's just an above ground pool that one throws up... it's 15'x 4').  It will be wonderful to exercise, play in it each day.

These are things thought of, done ... today.  I thought of Tommy today, too.  Happy... sad... happy... sad... equals bittersweet.

I Wonder ...Will He Grow Up To Be An Actor

I Wonder... Will He Grow Up To Be An Actor
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee


Tommy, the little boy I once had..........

I looked at a little face so familiar
So, like the little boy I had once
I even saw 'myself' in that little face
The eyes, the smile so, like mine... like Tommy's

My little grandson, so like his father
With such a sunshine personality
That can change to stormy in a moment
I wonder who else was like that... who is like that... 'now'

Yes, it was Tommy, this little one's father
And ... me, too... I'm lots of sunshine, and stormy, too
This little fellow might be a flirt, he likes girls
Girls like him, big girls... little girls are drawn to him

His daddy was like that as a young boy, I had to say 'no'
Big girls wanted to ride him around in their cars
He'd smile his little boy smile at me, hoping I would say 'yes'
I would grin back at his little mischievous face, say 'no!'

I would tell him to wait until he was old enough to be out with big girls
He would laugh at his over-protective mother
So, would the girls as they went their merry ways
They knew... one day would come... Tommy would grow up

Just as Tommy's little son will grow up one day, full of life
Full of wonderful life, his bright personality lighting up the world
Only when he sleeps will it soften like the night
When he wakes up, it'll glow like the golden sunshine

I sense special things about my little grandson, I feel he will go
Far in life with such confidence, do something special
He could become an actor, a writer, a doctor... even
I 'know' in my heart he is destined to 'be someone', I 'see' it now

Little sweet Taban, who melts my heart, makes me smile
My little grandson whom I love most... he'll say 'Granny Gee, I love you most!'
I know in my 'big girl' heart that I love him most... I know what it's all about
I love him in so many ways... for himself, for being my son's ...son

For being my only grandson I'll ever have in this life
He's the closest to Tommy I can ever come
I can see my son in my grandson who is here
I thank God for him ... everyday

I feel I can 'see' special things in the future, I 'feel' them
All around my grandson... I know he's going to do well in life
How do I know... I can't possibly explain, but, I've sensed it before
With other children... sure enough... they grew up to be special

I think I'm going to plan on being around a very long time
Just to see what he'll do, accomplish... I know it will be interesting
For even now, he likes 'to wear many hats', dress up to be somebody new
I'm thinking he loves to be different characters... I wonder if he'll grow up to be an... actor?  He can be very entertaining....  :)))

I Love You, Taban... Granny Gee Loves you Most

Gloria Faye Brown Bates, as a young mother with her son, Tommy.

I Love You, Taban... Granny Gee Loves You Most

By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee

Skip and I have been gone most of the day.  Tomorrow will be another 'running' day.  Appointments, errands to get behind us... once again.  It's that time of year for scans, tests for both Skip and I... to make sure nothing has changed as we both are cancer survivors.  

This evening when we got home, Skip got out to get the mail from our mailbox.  I thumbed through the mail... I came across an envelope addressed to me from... guess who?

I began smiling... in my mind I began hearing a little boy saying, "I love you most, Granny Gee!"  That is what Taban told me the last couple of times I talked with him on the phone.  

Can you imagine the warmth I felt in my heart, hearing my little grandson say, "I love you most, Granny Gee"...   

It's like someone putting more wood in the fireplace... sitting back to watch the fire burn merrily, 'snap, crackle, pop'... feeling the pure warmth that radiates from it.  That's what love feels like... warmth from a fireplace.

When we came inside, I sat down, opened the envelope with the letter opener.  Inside ... I found 3 photos of a precious little boy who has my heart... who isn't even aware that he does.  He has no idea of the love 'from this direction' for him... his Granny Gee.

There was a bookmark with his photo on it... I put it up on the refrigerator so, I could see it every time I open the door.  There were 2 pictures he drew for me... a Santa Claus, and a Snowflake.

There were also, 3 photographs that I stop to hold, look at, smile at.  My little grandson, my precious little grandson... my son's son... Tommy's son.  

This little boy that smiles out from the photos... looks like a little boy I used to have when I was a young mother.  The little boy looks just like his daddy who was ... Granny Gee's little boy.

It's so strange... I feel like I 'see Tommy'.   I see a face I know so well... his little smile.  I can't explain it.... looking at the photos make me smile ... through diamond teardrops.  When I look at the photos, they each are 'framed in diamond teardrops' when I look through my eyes... my 'diamond' teardrops.

I would like to have a 'diamond teardrop frame' to put Tommy's photo in.  I would have light on it.. so, it would shine forever.  In fact, I would like several diamond teardrop frames to put photos in... don't you think that a beautiful idea?

Maybe... one day I can design a 'Grieving Mother's Ring'... and a 'Diamond Teardrops' photo frame... design them with cubic zirconia so, they could be affordable by anyone.  

These are ideas I have in the back of my mind... depending on how well my books 'do one day'... I want to design something that has meaning to a ... grieving mother.  Something that she can touch, that has special meaning... the shine from the 'diamonds' making it more special.

I was sitting here... I realized that I'm sitting here, smiling... in my mind I hear a precious little boy saying... 'I love you most, Granny Gee'.  No one knows but, me... how amazed I am to hear a little boy say that to me... not just any little boy, but... one who happens to be my grandson, Tommy's son...

Granny Gee loves you, too... Taban.  Granny Gee loves you most!