Walkin' to Colorado

Bailey keeps watch over her domain from the back porch. Seriously, she is really keeping watch over us. She tries to keep up with our every move if she isn't in the house with us. So, when I decided to go walking with John, the other day, she was going also. John usually leaves in the truck, so she won't follow him, but when she saw that I got into the truck she just jumped in with us.....so off we all went.I usually walk on the walking trail in downtown Berry or just right around the house.....good flat spots! John is getting ready for a hunting trip, to Colorado, so he walks on hilly roads. He has been to this hunting camp in Colorado before and he has to get in good shape for all the walking in the mountain air.
So, Bailey and I set out walking with Big John. I know you are thinking....hmmm...those high white socks and boots???? Oh, yes, he also has to walk in the boots he will be wearing on his hunts. Forget any talk of walking fashion.

Hey, walking down hill isn't too bad. We had a few curious dogs come out to see what we were doing

Okay, we (I should say I) made it one mile down hill but now we must go back. I can do it....I can do it....or if I can't.... John can pick me up in the truck.....keep that in mind

Ummm....I do believe my shins are burning at this point!

Bailey torn between going faster with Big John or staying with her slower Mama.

If I could hang my tongue out of my mouth....Bailey and I would look just alike. Breathing very deeply right now......heart pounding

John is out of sight. I know he will pick me up but I decided I could make it back up that hill. AND I DID. Bailey couldn't stand it and ran ahead and caught up with John and they picked me up in the truck as I got to the top of the hill. I need to walk with John more often but I think I hold him back since he usually walks that hill 3 times instead of the 1 time we did that day. I believe that he is ready for that "thin air" in the mountains of Colorado.

A day -- in my life -- at MeMe and Pops

by: Lawson Long playing a game with Pops
talking to Bailey

painting

more painting

building a castle

watching TV in Uncle Josh's room

Bailey keeps me company while I sit on the potty

wearing Pops' hat

cleaning the pool

helping Pops get a dead frog out of the skimmer

pretending like I am working but really playing

lifting weights with Pops

making a stepping stone

decorating a stepping stone

putting my name on a stepping stone

and finally at the end of the day........leaving my clothes in a pile wherever I take them off

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ABBY CLAIRE LAWSON

Abby and her Daddy made her "Birthday Cheesecake"

Light It Up!

A week or so ago we had a birthday party, at our house, for a dear friend. We had planned on celebrating around the pool. The pool is so relaxing after the sun goes down as you listen to the water trickle down the slide into the water. But, in usual John and Joy fashion, it rained. This has turned into a joke among our friends. Let John and Joy plan anything......and it will rain! So.... we moved the party indoors. John lit up my fountain in the back yard to welcome our guests
Melissa.....the birthday girl.....counting her candles. Yep, it lit that cake up....just kidding, Melissa! Love you

And finally, we brought in one of the little festive strings of light that I use at the pool to try to give the room a little party flair. Last week when Lawson stayed with us he wouldn't let us take them down....so we were festive all week long!

UMM.....Isn't that a toll booth?

John walked through the back door Saturday with these words....."do you remember when we thought we might have passed a toll booth without paying"? Ummmm...yes, the toll booth I kept telling you we were coming up to and that you kept saying "no, that one isn't for us". Really, he did realize that we passed a toll booth we should have paid at....once we were past it.

We were in Orlando, Florida back in May to celebrate Lawson's 4th birthday. John and I drove down in the "Obama". We have gotten used to the drive to Orlando. Here is why we are so used to the drive......Our first driving trip to Orlando was in 1975. John and I went the big time "economy" plan back then. Not the "WDW" plan but the "Joy Lawson" economy plan. That's the way we did everything back then.....we didn't know the difference and had a ball. The 2nd trip was with all 3 kids, plus a friend, in the Monte Carlo. Brady was 15 and had just gotten his license. John came home after working the owl shift and let Brady drive when he got sleepy. He woke up to find us driving in circles in Montgomery or maybe it was Troy....who knows. Brady didn't care, he was just so proud to be driving, and I can't take directions....that would be it's own blog post! The 3rd trip was to take Courtney to live at Disney while she spent the summer doing the "Walt Disney World College Program". The 4th trip was to take Courtney to interview for her college internship. The 5th trip was to move her furniture into an apartment in Orlando. The 6th trip was to go with her and leave my baby girl in Orlando. The 7th was to visit Courtney in Orlando. The 8th trip was to pack her up and bring her home to graduate from Alabama. The 9th trip was to go to the wedding of Dave's (Courtney's husband) brother. Our next trip we flew...woo hoo...with Brady and Kim's family to see Emma, Abby and JB3 at Disney World for the first time. Again, we went on a Disney trip, that we flew in, to celebrate Lawson's 1st Birthday at Disney World. So back to driving...our 10th driving trip to Orlando was Lawson's 2nd birthday party. Our 11th driving trip was to see the space shuttle launch which included going to Disney with Lawson for Halloween and the 12th driving trip was recently for Lawson's 4th birthday party. All this to say that we should know about Orlando's toll roads.

We drive down when Courtney, Dave and Lawson are coming ...they fly. I don't blame them. Lawson is not a happy road tripper. I think he gets a little motion sick like his Mom. So, we have made many trips to the airport to pick them up. Going the same route every time. I guess we got a little complacent and thought we knew exactly what to do. OOPS!

When John and I realized that we had passed a toll booth and should have paid...we started looking for the red lights. I bet if you could see our faces, in the photo of our car, that you would see two pairs of big round eyes....this "always do it by the book" girl felt a little like Bonnie and Clyde driving down the road. We made it to the airport without anybody stopping us and nobody was pointing at us either. Umm...surely you don't just get away with not paying! We asked Dave. Dave worked at Disney and lived in Orlando for years. Dave said that he thought that if it was the first time and you were from out of state that they just let it go. So when we payed at the toll booth, after leaving the airport on the way to Disney World, and didn't see a wanted poster with our pictures I thought that was the end of it.....but I must say that I had a strong urge to spill the beans to the toll booth worker and throw in some extra money!

Well guess what......3 months later

We were happy and relieved to pay this toll, plus charges, of a big grand total of $3.25. Now my conscience is clear and I can go back to Disney World. Let me just say...I love Orlando, I love Disney World and this kind letter just reminds me of why I do. They truly make you feel welcome even when you break the law. Thank you Orlando for giving John and I a good laugh and funny memory.

It's true....I KISSED

ELVIS

Yes, I really kissed Elvis. And here is the story.....My Daddy worked for US Steel in Ensley. His section was called the Tin Mill. We lived in Forestdale. It seemed that my Daddy was on strike every other year. I lived many places during my elementary school years because my Daddy would go find a job in another state when the union would go on strike and eventually the family would follow.

One of these years we ended up in Memphis, Tennessee. It was Daddy, Mama, my sister, Patsy, and me. My brother was in the navy. My brother and sister were older than me and like parents in my life! I loved them dearly. Back to Elvis.....my Daddy worked with one of Elvis' uncles, Tommy Smith, and they became good friends. Many afternoons I would ride with my Daddy to the gates of Elvis' house and we would stand there while Daddy talked to the uncle. The uncle guarded the gate in the afternoon and stayed at the house when Elvis was not there. I still have vivid memories of tour buses pulling up to the front of the gates and teenage girls pouring out screaming and touching the gates. Now, I knew who Elvis was and his music was played very regularly at our house. My Mother loved him and my sister did too, but I was just like....well, okay, he's pretty good. My sister wanted to meet Elvis so badly. I can remember her begging my Daddy to ask his uncle if she could meet him. Daddy finally gave in and asked and the uncle said he would ask Elvis if she could come to the house the next time he was home.

Well, Daddy came home one afternoon and said that Elvis was home and that Patsy could go meet him and bring a friend. I can remember them screaming and getting ready. They were so excited. We all piled up in the car and headed to the house. I can remember us walking to the gates. There are actually pictures from that day but I couldn't find them. The uncle drove up to the gates ( big gates with notes on them. are they still the same?) in his Jeep that he used to go between the entrance and the house. We all approached the gate and I remember my Daddy talking to Tommy and introducing my sister to him. I remember as he started unlocking the gate and then it happened.....a tour bus pulled up and all these girls started swarming out...he barely had the gates parted and he took my hand and pulled ME through the gate and locked it back quickly. He told my Daddy that he couldn't take my sister and her friend with all these teenage girls out there and Elvis was leaving in a few minutes. So....I got to go. I still remember the ride up the driveway. We stopped and he helped me out of the Jeep. We walked to the front door and opened it and stepped inside. Tommy stopped me at the steps and yelled for Elvis. Yes, he just yelled for him like I would yell for John! He came walking down those steps and this little girl...fell in love! We walked outside and sat down on the porch. I sat in his lap and together we sang Jesus Loves Me. We talked and laughed and then Tommy said we had to go back to the gates. Elvis gave me his autograph, helped me back into the Jeep and then he bent over and KISSED ME on the cheek. I didn't want this dream to end. When we returned to the gates and everybody realized that I had been to see Elvis they all wanted their picture made with me.

Me and Patsy

Me and my brother, Johnny, in front of Elvis' car

The front of Elvis' house

My Mother, Patsy, Tommy Smith and me. Even though we did get to go to the house several times when he was not there.....my sister never did get to meet him. SIGH

The Stories it Could TELL!

After 24 years of loyal service, years of Berry football players and watching many children grow up and then their children come jump off of it.........our diving board BROKE! It did not completely break into but it was broken. When we realized that it was broke we spent the day reminiscing about all the good times that had been had on that diving board. It served us well.Lawson had to investigate the broken board. He is pointing to the crack on the side of the diving board.
It was much more evident on the under side

The new board has arrived

Lawson wanted to help put on the new diving board

The new board is on just in time for Abby Claire's Birthday Pool Party. Let the memories for the new diving board begin! Hope this board lasts 24 years. John says if it last 24 years that he will let somebody else worry about getting a new one!Law man was not happy because we wouldn't let him get in the pool. He had swimmer's ear.