Thinking

Sometimes "thinking" gives me a terrible headache.  It took me almost one hour to figure out how to get back into my "blog."  I could not remember the email but I did however, remember the password.  Funny how things "jog" your memory.

I have a story in my book called "Remind Me."  I'm so excited about my book.  I plan on having a book signing when it is finished.  I know, I know....it's not something great and it won't make me money - it's just something I've always wanted to do.  Now, If no one shows up for the signing...I would be crushed.  whaaaa *cry*

I don't like getting old because I can't "THINK" anymore.  "Stuff" just spins around in my head and half the time I'm walking in circles.  The other half - I'm looking for something.  I put "things" away so that I will know where to find them - well, I still can't find them.  I don't know - it's like those socks that disappear in the dryer.  I'll never figure it out and I'll never be able to remember things like I used to.  Oh well, time marches on!!

My Articles in the Bath County Bulletin

I appreciate all the emails and phone calls I've received in regards to my column in the Bath County Bulletin.  Now, do NOT stop buying it.  I will be back soon.  I just have some things I have to do first.  So, if Chris let's me back in - I'll be back with my "Country Gal's Thoughts" in a few weeks.

Writing my book has been VERY EASY - choosing a publisher has been a major "HEADACHE."

Country Gal's Thoughts of "COUNTRY STRONG"

Well, let's see - love, romance, heartbreak, sadness, joy, reality of drugs/alcohol, cute guys and great country music that brings tears to your eyes.....YES....I LOVED IT.  Critics didn't love it but hey - it's like my "What's That Smell" article - we all have different "smellers" and we all have different tastes in movies.

This "country gal" loved it!!! If you like the things I mentioned above - GO SEE IT.

BTW - Mike loved "True Grit"  Great Movie! 

This one is in my book - "School Daze" My book will be ready in about 6 weeks!! yippee

School Daze

　
Elementary school was a nightmare for me. I absolutely hated it. I personally think teachers can make or break you. My first teacher broke me. She was constantly paddling a kid in that room. Sometimes it was me. I can't say that was the main reason she "broke" me though. It's funny how you can remember mostly really good things or really bad things of your childhood ,but rarely the grey areas. The thing she did that broke me was when she made me sit at my desk one day when I had a stomach virus. I remember asking her if I could go to the bathroom because I was feeling sick. She said no. Instead of letting me go to the bathroom, she set a trashcan next to my little school desk and told me to use it if I got sick. I got sick alright. I threw up in that can most of the day while all the other kids in the room laughed at me. I begged her to let me call my mom. She wouldn't. I won't say that I hated her but she was by far my NOT so favorite teacher.
The next few teachers I had in elementary school loved hitting children as well. I did have one teacher in the 5th grade that called my mother and told mom I hated her. I didn't hate that teacher at all. It was just that my friends were in another room and by then, I was broken anyway. Thank God for my 6th grade year. God sent me some angels. The teacher I was originally assigned to had a death in the family and had to take off that year. I had three different substitute teachers that year. They were fresh out of college and seemed to be really young, unlike all the other teachers I had. They actually smiled and they liked kids. I could tell they did by the way they treated not only me, but the other kids in my room as well. I never felt threatened or out
of place like the other teachers made me feel. That was the first time I wanted to go to school and I enjoyed being there. They loved me and I loved them. They were the best! Thank you P.S, S.H and O.B. You MADE ME instead of breaking me.
Back in the 60's and 70's, you got to move up to the high school for 7th grade. This school is called the Middle School now. Back then, 7th & 8th grade were called junior high, but we were in the same building with the high school students. We didn't have to stay in class with one teacher all day when we went to the 7th grade. I liked most of the teachers, I had except for one. I think she taught Social Studies. She was another "old" teacher that didn't like to smile either. I remember going on a field trip with her class. My friend and I were sitting on the back seat. A car approached the back of the bus. Some guys were driving the car, so my friend and I started to wave at them. The teacher saw us waving at the car. We didn't have a clue what inappropriate hand gestures were. So I promise we were only waving. The teacher came to the back of the bus, screaming like a banshee, and put us on the front seat. I remember her saying that we could have caused the bus to wreck or something like that. I still to this day don't know what we did wrong. I don't care much for her now!
High School turned out much better for me, well, for the most part. I did have one teacher that gave me an F during one of the semester grades. I asked her why and she said it was because I didn't go on one of the field trips. My sister was in that very class with me. She didn't go on the field trip either. She got an A. My sister will tell you that this is true. And she wouldn't take up for me unless I was completely in the right. It was a personality conflict with that teacher, I guess. The sad part is, I loved that class and I worked really hard. I even did some of my sister's work because I enjoyed it. That
was the first and last time my mom went to school to battle for me. My mom won. I don't like that teacher much anymore either.
One time I stole a test off one of my teacher's desk in high school. I did this due to a dare from my friends. The sad thing about this adventure was that I knew every answer on that test before I stole it. I loved "To Kill A Mockingbird," so I already knew the test. And I loved that teacher. I wish I had stolen a math test instead. I never did understand math! I deserved to be punished for that one.
The teachers I loved were the teachers I tried really hard for. Those teachers made me feel like "somebody." They were kind to me and would tell me I could do anything I set my mind to. Mrs. V was my all time favorite teacher and she was the reason I tried harder at EVERYTHING. She was one rare teacher!! I called her recently and told her just that. I respected her and I still love her to this day. I also loved Mrs. D.G.M, Mrs. J.H, Mr. A, Mr. P, Mr. R, Mr. M, Mrs. L and several others.
Do I believe in discipline? YES. I also believe in being treated fairly! I could never be a teacher. It is a hard job and I respect most of them. But I will say, I don't think God will be waiting at the pearly gates to say, "Well Done," to a teacher that made a child sit in her seat to throw up. Nor do I think He will say, "Well Done" to a teacher that didn't give that one extra point to a student that gave 110%. I DO think God will say, "Well Done" to teachers like Mrs. V. She not only taught from the books but she taught from her heart as well.
By the way, Mrs. D.G.M - I still say, "I ain't got no." It's ok though. I remember the proper grammar. I just don't use it.
　

A Very Bad Day

I hate having "Bad Days."  They rip your insides out.  When something brings me to the point of tears - I'm at the point of pure ANGER!!!  I don't like being angry and I don't like crying.  Yeah, I know...don't do it.  If I could stop myself - I would.

This must be some kind of "TEST."  I'm guessing, if it is, I've FAILED with flying colors!!  Times like these call for something to "KNOCK ME OUT."  And, GO TO BED!!!  Things will surely be better tomorrow.  If not, I'm going to do something I'll probably regret later on. 

I've never been in jail.  I've never even had a ticket of any kind.  If you hear that I am in jail, bring Ale 8's and cigarettes!!  Those two things will help!!

Around 4 more years - RETIREMENT - then I can move to Northern Kentucky to be close to my grandbabies.  They always make me feel better. 

3 Week Vacation Over

First day back to work after many snow days and Christmas Break.  Can't believe it was a pretty darned good day.....darnget is what my granddaughter says.  Hummm "DARNGET"   This is much better than the "colorful" language I used to use when I was a little girl.  Growing up in the store (Blevins Grocery) will put some wild words inside your mouth.  My aunt almost fainted one time when she heard some really bad words coming out of the mouths of me and my sister.  I'm thinking, at that time, we thought those were "everyday, common" words. 

Ok, I got off the subject of my first day back to work.  That's it.  All went well.  Back in the routine of coming home to hot coffee and dinner started by my wonderful husband.  I sure miss my grandchildren though.  They were here 4 days and now they are gone.  Tears have stopped now.........none left!  I'm just trying to figure out what that noise is!!!!!  It seems so QUIET!  I don't like that.

Instant Nostalgia - didn't work on "note" under profile

Instant Nostalgia

I noticed on my friend's facebook page that he titled one of his blog's as "Instant Nostalgia." Cecil, that's his name, said I could use this title myself. He writes stories as well. His stories have a totally different "flare" than mine. He's intelligent. I'm not!
Anyway, this title might bring to your mind a picture. One you can actually hold in your hand. Not one of those you pretend you can see in those tiny digital cameras. I've had many people show me pictures on those small digital camera screens. They want to "show off" their children and grandchildren. I usually end up saying "How Beautiful, and Oh I love this picture!" I really don't have a clue why I say this because I cannot see it! I can however, see in my mind, those instamatic cameras. I still have one. I just can't find the film that fits it anymore. Those cameras were so cool. You'd press a little button and out popped a picture. You could hold that picture in your hand and actually see it. Ok, they weren't the best pictures in the world but you got them instantly.
I've kind of gone off my original thought of "Instant Nostalgia" so, let me get back on track. I live next to a cemetery. Several of my family members are buried there. Two of my aunt's reside in that cemetery. As I drive by, I instantly have many good memories of them. You would think seeing their tombstones would make me sad but somehow it brings me peace. Maybe because this is the last place I saw their bodies lay to rest. Morbid thoughts? No, just instant nostalgia.
My maternal grandparents are both gone now as well. I have to drive by, every day, the trailer they lived in. Most of the time, in my mind, I can see my grandfather sitting on that old glider, spitting tobacco into the "spittoon" I
gave him for Christmas one year. I can also see my grandmother. She's in an old wooden rocking chair, right there next to my grandfather. I now have that rocking chair on my front porch. I miss them so much. Sometimes this "instant nostalgia" brings tears to my eyes. I have to stop my car because I cannot see to drive any farther. I keep plenty of Kleenex in my glove box because I know that sometimes I'll have to "dry my eyes" so I can continue driving to where I'm going.
Driving to work gives me several "instant nostalgia" moments. Passing by the Old Slate Furnace obviously brings back memories of "parking." Do teenagers still do that? I don't want to give them any ideas, so in case they don't, I won't go into the "parking" details. Those memories don't bring tears to my eyes. Just a few smiles!
Mixed emotions enter the back of my mind as I pass the old High School. I was a student in that school and I also worked there later on. I was the secretary for 12 years. Memories of me being a student there flicker a picture of me "passing notes" to my friends. The notes were usually questions about what we were going to wear to a dance or sometimes where we were going that weekend. The "instant" memory I have while be employed there is of one of the teacher's that worked there. She came into my office one day, upset over something, threw the phone across my office, and broke it. Whoa, was she mad. What she didn't know was, I was glad. I didn't have to answer the phone the remainder of that day. I also think of one of the bosses I had there. One day, an earthquake came inside his office. He slammed the door so hard the walls shook. I had never heard him raise his voice until that day. He began screaming and I had a small heart attack. When he came out of his office he gave me a little wink and smiled. "That took five years off my life," I told him. I miss you Mr. L.V. I also have an instant smile when I think about
the day YOU tumbled over in your office chair. If you're reading this, I'm thinking you're probabaly smiling too.
Driving by the big bank in town reminds me of that wonderful little place that should HAVE NEVER been torn down. It definitely could have been an historical sight. The Majestic Theatre. I know that everyone born before the 80's can remember that place. One "instant memory" that comes to my mind, of the majestic theatre, is of the night I had broken up with my boyfriend. He ended up being my first husband later on. We had a fight over something that night so I went to the theatre with a girlfriend of mine. I can't remember what the fight was about but I do remember coming outside and finding a beautiful "stuffed" puppy on the dash of my car. The puppy had a note attached around it's neck. I don't have that little puppy anymore, or that husband either. I do have that note in my senior memory book. Thinking of J.J and R.J ,standing at the ticket window, will bring "instant nostalgia" for some of you that spent many nights at that theatre.
I can see all over Preston from the hill I live on. And I can see the very spot where my sister wrecked her bicycle. She was very young at the time. Well, so was I. That bicycle wreck almost killed her. The hospital sent her home. I don't know why because she had a very bad concussion. Sometime during the night, she sat up in the bed that we shared and gave me a "far out" look. She asked, "Who are you?" Of course, I freaked out. Just looking out my window today brings that memory back to me. That's "Instant Nostalgia."
I may not always remember what I've opened the refrigerator door to get but I have some great "photographic memories." Those memories are brought back by "Instant Nostalgia" and sometimes by those old Polaroid pictures. I'm hoping "Heckmart" will bring back that film so those of you that
haven't seen an instamatic camera will have the opportunity to see a picture pop out! I'm also hoping when you drive by some of your favorite places, you'll have your own "Instant Nostalgia." You probably need to buy yourself a box of Kleenex, you're going to need them!