"OLD FAMILY TIMES"

Wow---I was at Mother's the other day & she was in the mood to watch old VCR movies, that daddy had made, many--- many--- years ago. Lots of laughes, but also sad at the same time. Most everyone, in the older generation, has now left us.

As I looked at myself, with that long brown hair, down to my butt--which was 35-40 years ago. I looked at things--- what if I had done this, instead of that---why didn't I go, on that trip. Where was this person, or that person! Who is that person & who do they belong to. Trying to guess, which baby was who. Laughing at the glasses people wore & the cars they drove. How we all went from skinny, to alittle heavier, back to skinny, then back alittle heavier.

Those days are gone forever, but will forever--- be in our memories---and how "sweet"-- those memories are!
Shannon

"MEMORIES"

When I sit & think back many, many--- years ago, when I was a little girl---maybe 10--I can remember my Dad working 2-3 jobs, just so my Mom could stay home with us kids. He worked shift work, sometimes sleeping during the day--we always had to be quiet, really hard in a small, very small house, but we all did it. I can remember what I use to put in Daddy's lunch, one thing, soda crackers w/peanut butter. Things were simple back then---

Kids this day & time have "no idea" of a simple life---

"OLD STUFF" is it garbage???

I was over cleaning up my house, here awhile back---getting old stuff cleaned out, I haven't touched, since I left my big house in Polk City! Wow, that has been years ago. It stirred up good & bad emotions; who, what, when & where--you know, all that shit, that goes through your mind, when you see all the old photos, of everything in your past, AND you say to yourself, "What the hell-- Am I To Do With All This Shit??

Just box up this, for this kid, box up that, for that kid, then what they don't want, just throw, the hell away!!!
Is this the way?? I am too sentimental--I know to just let it go, but I can't--everywhere I turn, its something, I just can't let go of, so for now, I've just boxed it up, deal with it another day!!

How about that!!!
Shannon

"LABOR DAY"----Back When

As a little girl---Labor Day meant, it was our last beach trip! The very last thing we did as a family before, Thanksgiving & Christmas. Our last vacation.

The most fun I've ever had, was a Labor Day, long ago---we stayed at the Coral Reef, at St. Pete Beach. I thought it was a Ritz-Carlton, because it had a pool! I never had a pool growing up & this was a humongous deal. All of us went---Mother, Daddy, my brother/family, my sister/family & at that time Nashan was about 3 yrs old & Lance was about a year old, being his birthday is Sept 1st. I just recently saw pictures, as I was cleaning out the garage of that Holiday--I can remember, everyone made fun of me, due to my big boobs--nursing at the time, & they were right, from the look of the pictures. LOL---

Pictures of Daddy with all the grandkids, on the beach, making Sand Castles---Daddy with his white, long sleeve shirt on & his big straw hat---skin problems all the time, but that never kept him from the beach, with all of us. Mother always sat pretty, with her hair done & god forbid, if any of us, got it wet!!!

I remember the walks & just sitting, till way past dark, when all the little ones, would be sleeping. That was such a great time, to listen, to Mother & Daddy tell, one story, then another.

I am so grateful, to have such sweet & precious memories, of such, great family times!
I miss those days---
Shannon

**A Beach Trip--With--Daddy**

Being at the "Beach", is my most favorite place!! It is peaceful--surreal--beautiful--& amazing!! This is where I have the best memories of my Dad, the beach. When I was little, we always went to Clearwater Beach, mostly for the day. There was this huge pool, with a diving board. I always wanted to be a professional diver. So the closes I got, was this huge pool in Clearwater. Daddy's favorite dive was the Jack Knife. We would dive & swim for hours, it seems like it was yesterday. Staying in the water for hours, seem to never bother me. My brother & sister would go, Dennis would always dive with us, Roxanne did not like it much. And of course Mother, would be sitting under the umbrella, out of the sun.

When I sit & think about my Dad & some of the days we had, its almost like, he is with me & it was just, awhile ago, we went.

With Much Love for
My Dad---
Shannon

How do you "LET GO" of a LIFETIME---

(In the News) A couple passes away within 3 days of each other----
Married 59 years---would have been 60 yrs in Nov.---

What does this mean????

My parents were married 62 years, when my Dad passed away---
How do you live alone, after all those years???
No more---kissing them goodnight
No more---sitting down to breakfast, saying Good Morning
No more---reading the paper together
No more---Just being...anything--it's gone FOREVER & forever is a long time, not to ever see someone again!!

My Mom is a true survivor---

The loneliness you have to endure, is Heartache---

My Dad was a strong, good hearted man---that always loved his family!!

Shannon

The "Perfect World"

I have a sweet, strong, & passion filled friend, that lives in Chicago. Her husband is a great father & a wonderful man. They have 2 boys together, ages 16 & 12. Then he has two grown children, a daughter & son, ages 22 & 26.

She has the life we all dream of. The "big" wonderful, beautiful, & perfect home. Decorated to the tee, in every way! Her passion is cooking & gardening.

Homemaker, does that job full-time; 20 hours a day!! Car Pools, baseball, basketball, & soccer games...the boys, do it all. The basement is always filled with any kind of noise you can think of, from all boys. Laughter, yelling, & yes, ruff housing!

Her garden is impeckable & the most beautiful, I have ever seen. Along with the wrought iron Grapevine Trellis, (that I love, my favorite). Bird feeders, wind chimes, bird baths, & chipmunks, everything for a perfect world!

THEN, THE "Perfect World" WAS SHAKEN.....
The wonderful father & husband has just found out, he has terminal cancer. Stage IV.
The future seems very dismal, with heartache & pain.

Please, to all of you....BE THANKFUL.....
For your health & your wonderful life!! Please add, (Shannon's best friend) to your prayer list.
They are always In My Heart...& prayers...
Shannon...