Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

"You know this old world is full of singers  But just a few are chosen to tear your heart out when they sing.

Imagine life without them, all your radio heroes."  George Jones

This is a song about who's gonna fill the shoes of singers and heroes, but I'm thinking more about who's gonna fill the shoes of family and friends that I have lost.   The first person that comes to mind is my Mama Highfield and my grandpa or as some of us grandkids called him Daddy Bill.  Now ya'll that have been following me know I don't really follow the rules, so I called him Grandpa.  He didn't like that at first but then he got use to it I think.  How I would love to be able to talk to Mama Highfield and have a batch of her tea cakes.  Lord have Mercy she made the best and just to hear Grandpa yell at the TV when the ballgames were on.  I'm pretty sure he never like the Yankees.

My next person that no one can ever fill her shoes is my Aunt Dot.  Bless her heart she did the best she could at keeping me straight.  I'm thinking I was the only one she couldn't, but she tried hard as she could.  She would call me and we would talk about everything.  She would say "sherry Smith, what have you done now.:"  Lord I hated telling her sometimes.  But she could always tell in my voice something was wrong.   My funny story about Aunt Dot is she tried up until she couldn't tell me any more to fix me up with an
 ex -boyfriend.  He would go by to visit her and every time she would call me that night and say "Guess who came to see me today."  I always knew who she was talking about.  A few people have tried her trick since she's gone on to her heavenly home and I always say to them..."IF my Aunt Dot couldn't make it happen, then it ain't gonna happen."  Gotta love her.

"Who's gonna fill their shoes?, who's gonna stand that tall?"
These two lines brings me to my friend I lost to cancer a few years ago.  He  stood 6'4" and he was ever bit the giant in everything about him.  He didn't play the Opry or the Wahbash Cannonball but he gave his heart and soul in everything he did.  He fought his battle with cancer up to the very last day.  He lived every day like it was his last and that my friends is why I admired him so much!   This giant of a man made every day count.  He cherished every minute he had with family and friends.  He made us laugh 'til we were crying.   OMG how I miss this man and his love for life.  Andrew I know you're having a good time walking those streets of gold, but I sure do miss you and I really wished Heaven had a stairway or maybe a phone line.  But then I would never want to leave and I would never want to hang up the phone.  It would be one of those things like "you hang up, no you hang up." until we just fell asleep holding the phone.   

 Lord I wonder who's gonna fill those shoes?  Well I can tell you about the shoes to fill for these important people that I've lost.  I don't think anyone can fill them.  They might try really hard, but no one and I mean no one could fill these shoes like Mama Highfield, Grandpa, Aunt Dot and Andrew because they'ye bigger than life itself in my eyes and if they're big, not one person I know can stand that tall.

My lesson today?  Again I'm not really sure, but if you have lost someone and you're asking the question "who's gonna fill their shoes?"well stop wondering about it because I'm sure no one can fill the shoes of your loved ones like no one can fill mine. Live your life so that when you're gone, others will be asking who's gonna fill YOUR shoes.  I'm pretty sure no one can fill mine because my mama says there will never be another one like me.  Thank the Lord I'm sure she's whispering thinking I don't hear. 

  Bless Them All Ya'll.
  Sweet Southern Sass

Choices

 "I've had choices, since the day that I was born.  There were voices, that told me right from wrong.  If I had listened, No I wouldn't be here today.  Living and dying with the choices I made." George Jones

Yes of course I've made bad choices, some worse than others, but thank the Lord I'm here to talk about them.  I'm thinking the man above needs me here more than not.  At least that's my story.

I've always been the one that had to prove people wrong.  The story that my mama likes to tell is when I played basketball in high school.  My coach at the time told me I wouldn't play for him because I was short.  Well, that's all I needed to prove him wrong.  That very year our team won the Lanierland Tournament and I won MVP of the tournament.   The choice here was to give in to his negativity or stand tall and show him I was good enough.  I chose to stand tall (as tall as I could stand) LOL and I showed him just how good I was.

Now that story goes many years back but over the years, the choices I made brought me great heartache and tears.   I have lived with physical abuse, emotional abuse and just plain ole heartache because of the choices I made.   All these things have made me the person I am today.  So I guess God put me in these situations to make me stronger.  Maybe so I can  help someone else in similar situations, maybe to keep me from making the same mistakes again or maybe to help me simply write this blog.

My lesson today is to take a minute (or two) and reflect on your choices.  Are you happy with the choices you have made? Today I want all my sassy followers to let go of the bad choices you made in the past, you can't undo those choices, but starting today make your choices with a little more thought.  Do not settle for what you think is life's role for you.  Stand tall and prove to yourself (yep yourself) that you are worth a life of happiness and don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough for their team.

 "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control the way you think about all the events.  You always have a choice.  You can choose to face with with a positive mental attitude."  Roy T. Bennet

   If I can do it, you can do it.  Now get a move on and   make this a blessed and happy day!

  Love to all!!!
  Sweet Southern Sass

Music Soothes My Soul

Yes it does, yes it does. I'm not a music snob or anything like that, but I do love my music.

I have several singer/songwriter/musicians that their music always make me want to get up and dance and probably try to sing along with them.  However, it is obvious I cannot sing as I once was asked to leave the stage because Diamond Dave said his song wasn't a duet.  I mean how RUDE!!!!  Another time I was on stage for my 50th birthday and BLESS THEIR HEARTS, the band that came to play let me sing "I Love This Bar" a million times.  Not really, but I bet the band thought so.  What was so dang funny is I sang it opera style.  (Well, that's what my sister said.  I thought I was singing country!!  After all I had on my cowboy boots.)  Now close your eyes and imagine that.

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it a rest.  Heals the heart and make it whole.  Flows from heaven to the soul." Unanimous quote   I've often wondered where my songwriter friends come up with their song ideas.  Listening to some of them I think it's from life experiences, a tragedy, a lost love or maybe just something that makes them happy.  But with this quote  I believe it's from heaven to their soul.  Think about it, if you're a believer, that truly has to be where it's from. A higher power gave them the knowledge to put their life experiences to song and the talent to sing it.  Because there are some musicians that cannot sing their songs, but they can write like there is no tomorrow.

"I love the way music inside a car makes you feel invisible; if you play the stereo at max volume, it's almost like the other people can't see into your vehicle.  It tints your windows, somehow."  Chuck Klosterman,  I have to admit, when my favorite song comes on the radio I crank it up LOUD and sing like no one is listening.  After all no one is listening, I am the only one in the car.  But...if my windows weren't tinted I'm sure people beside me would think I was a little on the crazy side because sometimes I might be playing the drums or piano in my show.  Here's your chance again.  Close your eyes and imagine.  Wait, just pretend you're in the car with me and we're singing as loud as we can to our favorite song.

Do I have favorite songs?  Of course I do, but I had this one friend, every time a song would come on the radio she would say...wait, that's my favorite song.  Lord have mercy every song on the radio was her favorite song.  I totally understand that logic, because there isn't much music I don't like.  Yes, of course there are artists I don't care for, and I'm sure they have some good songs if I didn't turn the radio every time they come on.  Maybe that will be my challenge next time, I will try and listen to their song entirely and see if I like it.  Who knows, I roll a little wobbly sometimes, maybe just maybe, there will be something I hear I didn't hear before and I might like it.  As they saying goes...try it, you might like it.

My lesson for today is listen to the music in your soul.  Listen wholeheartedly, turn it up loud, close your eyes and let the music take over your soul.  Listen and see if it makes you smile, maybe lift a burden, even cry if it feels like it.  They say crying can be a cleansing of the soul.  But my hope for all my sassy followers is that it makes you dance, jump in a mud puddle or sing out loud like no one is listening because we all know they're probably not, they're checking facebook.

"Happy soul; begin and end your day with music."
Lailah Gifty Akia, Think Great: Be Great!

Love to all!!!
Sweet Southern Sass

FRIENDS LONG TIME

Friends will come and go in our lives, but more important than how long a friendship lasts, is that a good friend will last forever. "Each friend represent a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting a new world is born."  Anais Nin

My high school friends planned a birthday party for me on Saturday night,  These ladies are my friends long time because I've know them since high school which we will be graduated from 45 years in June.  That's a long time to know someone and still be in touch and able to celebrate my birthday. I love these ladies and hope we continue to celebrate our birthdays years to come.  I'm certain it will be one that will last forever.  I mean 45 years is just about forever, right?

Then there are my BFF's.  There are four of us that have been best friends almost 40 years.  Again that's long time friends.  These three ladies know so much about me, I can't afford to ever be mad at them.   Several years ago two more ladies joined our group which completed this circle of friends we now call the BIRDS.  I bet you're thinking what in the world can the birds be about?  I will try and explain but I doubt there is enough room in one post.  It's just about spending time together, being there for each other and just plain ole loving each other.  Everyone is so busy it's hard to get us all together sometimes, but rarely do we plan an evening together we aren't all there.   These dinner's are fun but the time I enjoy most are when we have a weekend together.  Those times we solve all the problems of the world, we laugh and sometimes we have tears.  Whatever we're doing I can promise you there are tales being told, food to be eaten and not much sleep.  Those days we may wake up for breakfast and still be sitting at the table when it's time for dinner.  These are my most favorite.

Sometimes, not all friendships will stand the test of time.  I do believe people come in and out of our worlds because we need to learn something from them and they learn from us. Just because the friendship didn't last doesn't make their footprint on our life any less important.  One friend in particular came into my life when I was feeling most unlovable.   That friend isn't in my life now, other than a text or phone call occasionally,  but at the time he showed me that I was special and lovable and I taught him how to enjoy life and how to laugh more.  For that friendship I am very thankful.   

  "Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." Oprah Winfrey
 I have the kind of friends that will ride in the limo, take the bus or heck walk if we need too.  There may be a couple, I hope it's not too hot or too cold, because walking wouldn't be an option (they don't like to sweat)  but I'm sure they have Uber in their phone.   Then there are my partners in crime and the Thelma to my Louise who always want to drive and has a full tank of gas for a road trip.  Ya'll know who you are too.   

Real friends are hard to come by, so if you're lucky enough to have friends like I do, treat them well.  Make time for them, and if you haven't talked in a while, make a call or send a text.  I firmly believe to be a friend, you have to be one. 

    Love to all!!!
    Sweet Southern Sass

TGIF AGAIN

It's Friday again and today begins my birthday weekend.  It's going to be a busy one but then what's new.

Today when I came to work I'm greeted by happy birthday decorations and several e-mails from co-workers.  My co-workers really know how to make a young lady feel good.  So of course my little mind starts thinking about how old I am.  I've always felt like age is just a number but today as I'm about to be another year older I'm thinking Bless her heart, she don't even know she's old.

I remember when I thought 30 was old, then it was 40, then 50 but Lord have mercy 60 I couldn't even count that high.  I say all the time my daddy is the oldest person I know older than me.  But seriously does age really matter in anything other than when you start drawing Social Security or we get 50 and can join AARP and the Red Hat Society.  The only thing I've noticed as I've gotten older is I've gained weight in a few places that I don't want, I can't play basketball or softball like I could and my hair is turning a little gray.  Well of course only my hairdresser knows if that is true or not.

Tomorrow I am walking a 5K for my niece and her sorority.  That's proof  I'm not old, right? My son ask me why I do these runs.  It's simple...I enjoy them, I meet lots of new people but I think the main thing is it gets me up off the couch and I'm getting some kind of exercise.   I'm not in it to win any medals but if I do that's good too.  My main goal is to finish of course but the only goal I set for myself is to beat my own time on the previous race.  Sometimes this happens, sometimes not.  But in the scheme of life does it really matter?

Tomorrow night my high school friends are having a get together for my birthday.  I always love hanging out with them because I'm not the oldest person at the party.  We graduated high school together, played basketball and have remained friends all these years.   I am blessed beyond measure having these ladies in my life and I am looking forward to another night I'm able to spend with them.

This just might be another post with no meaning to anyone but me, so let me say the things we all hear often.  Life is short, don't worry about how old you are, get out and have fun.  Don't wake up one day and wonder where life has gone.   Dance in the rain, wear a tutu, and if it's your birthday CELEBRATE that you're still here.  I might even wear a tiara tomorrow night because I'm going to be QUEEN FOR THE NIGHT!!!!



LOVE TO ALL!!!
Sweet Southern Sass

It's My Birthday!  (Well Almost)

Sunday will be my birthday so of course I've been thinking about it.  I had a friend years ago that you NEVER asked her age.  I knew her many years and didn't know how old she was until she passed away.  When the preacher told her age, I thought Oh Lord help us, I hope she doesn't know this is being said to everyone in attendance.   

I saw a post this morning that said I'm 25 plus shipping and handling.  That made me laugh so I decided if that's the case I'm 30 times two plus shipping and handling and return shipping.  Now I bet you're trying to figure that one out so let me explain it. 

 I really don't mind telling my age because I'm glad to make it to be 63 years young on Sunday, March 12.    I have made plenty mistakes getting to this young age, some I've learned from and some I keep repeating.  Evidently I think the more times I do it the better it will be.  I'm guessing the only thing that makes it better is I'm mastering the mistake.  Lord have mercy if my mama is reading this she's thinking Bless her heart, will she ever learn.  Probably not mama, but you tried. 

I have said many times there isn't much I regret during my lifetime.  Why waste time thinking about regrets, there isn't anything I can do about them anyway.  So I say, live life like there's no tomorrow, eat your favorite meal like it's your last meal and laugh 'til your belly hurts.  Don't worry about telling your age, be glad you're still here on this crazy earth and if you're doing it right, you're enjoying it.

Not sure if there is a lesson in this blog so if you find one, let me know what it is.  Since it's my birthday and I get a wish, my wish for ya'll...don't get stuck in your ways and routines, don't coast through life, live your life to the fullest, enjoy the little things in life so that when you look back you you have no regrets.    Louis E. Boone says the saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions:  could have, might have, and should have.  That doesn't sound like fun to me, so go ahead, enjoy your life with no could haves, might haves and should haves.    After all, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. ~  Mae West

Love to all!!!

Sweet Southern Sass

Do ya'll know what a "Whoopin" is?

Let me tell you what a "whoopin" is.  It's that thing you get when you misbehave.  A whoopin can be given with anything your mama picks up.  (belt, switch, hair brush, fly swatter, etc.)   My mama always used a "hickory"  The hardest thing about this whole whoopin thing is we had to get our own "hickory" or "switch."  Being a small child when it was time for a whoopin' my mama would tell us to go get her a hickory and it better not be a little one or you'll go back.  Little did we know that little hickory was going to hurt worse than if we had gotten the whoopin with a belt.

Daddy always used a belt and let me say, he could pull that belt out of his pants and wrap around his hand quicker than I could say boo.   By the time I tried to say I didn't mean to do it, I was already getting a whoopin.

Luckily my whoopin's were always from my mama.  Only my sister a year younger than me, got one from my daddy.  This may be hard to believe too, but I was the reason she got her whoopin.  Well that's her story, not sure if I believe it or not.  

The other whoopin's I remember growing up was my poor brother.  Bless his heart, he was always getting in trouble and getting whoopin's from daddy.   You ask why I remember those in particular?  Because my brother wouldn't quit crying and daddy would tell him if he didn't stop crying he would give him something to cry about.  Apparently my brother didn't understand, because he never stopped crying.  

Describing this very undesirable action from my mama and daddy seems a little harsh but I can promise you these whoopin's truly made us kids respect our parents.   I am about to be (well you never ask a lady her age) and I still believe my mama could whoop me if she thought I needed it.  I haven't seen my daddy pull that belt out in a very long time, but I'm thinking he's still got the move and I'm too old to find out if he can still do it.  

So did ya'll get a whoopin' growing up?  If not, you don't know what you missed.  It was a lesson taught to me early as a child that I will always remember.  Not because it hurt me that bad but because I knew when I got a whoopin' my parents meant business and I better not do it again.  Of course, being me, I'm sure I did it again and I'm sure I got another whoopin.

Love to all!!!

Sweet Southern Sass

  

A Life That's Good

Let me just say Charles Esten (aka Deacon) and Clare Bowen (aka Scarlett) put on one heck of a show last night in Athens, Ga.  The song that always tugs at my heart strings is the last song they sung called A Life That's Good.  Deacon said before they sung the song it's their prayer, a benediction and if you have a whole lotta family...We hope you have a life that is good!!!!

Sittin' here tonight,
By the fire light,
It reminds me I already have more than I should.

I don't need fame, no one to know my name,

Two arms around me, heaven to ground me,
and family that always calls me home.
Four wheels to get there, enough love to share,
and a sweet, sweet, sweet song.

At the end of the day,
Lord I pray,
I have a life that's good.

  I may not have the most expensive car, house or anything as expensive things go but I do have a life that's good.  I have both my parents living,  five sisters and two brothers that I love very much.  Since this is a big family to start, that means we have lots of nieces and nephews and then you add great nieces and nephews, brother and sister-in-laws, boyfriends & girlfriends, it's a house full on any given day.  Today not being any different, as I watched  the babies play and see my mom feeling good after two months of ER visits, I realized  I truly have a life that is good.  Sometimes I'm hard on me, when dreams don't come easy, I don't have fame or fortune, but I have four wheels to get me there, a family that always calls me home and enough love to share.  At the end of the day...heaven grounds me and I have a sweet, sweet song for a life that is good. 

Tomorrow is Monday, so you sassy followers have a great week and Lord I pray, you have a life that is good.

Love to all

Sweet Southern Sass

What Ya'll Doing Today

 Today we're giving a shower for my nephew and his fiance'.  So super excited for him getting married next month.  He's the oldest of three and I am really proud of him that he's not "settled" but waited for that special lady to steal his heart. 

We decorated last night and oh my it was so funny listening to everyone on what to do where, but I am proud to say the room looks awesome!  I mean come on, it was a bunch of women with different ideas but in the end the many ideas worked perfectly.

 Looking at the pictures we used clearly show me the love these two have for each other.   My very favorite were the ones at Clemson University where my nephew went to school.  Lots of orange but more importantly the love between these two was more colorful than any shade of orange. Speaking of orange, I hope it blends well with red and black as my niece to be is a Georgia Bulldog alum.  It may be a house divided when it comes to the Clemson Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs but one thing for sure there is no division of the love these two share.

Congratulations Caleb & Cayla.  Prayers for ya'll as you start this new chapter of your lives together.

Now ya'll get a move on and do something fun today!!!  I certainly am.

Love to all!!!!
Sweet Southern Sass

TGIF

Thank God It's Friday or as my friend Rocky Kendall would say...Thank God I'm Forgiven.

I'm always glad when it's Friday but this morning I'm a "hott mess" after watching the TV Show Nashville.  Anyone that watches the show knows that Rayna James died last week.  Well last night they had her funeral.  I never watch anything when it's on TV, I always record it and watch later.  Miss smarty pants here decided to watch it this morning.  Lord how mercy why did I do that knowing there would be a funeral.  I started crying as soon as the show started and didn't stop 'til it was over.  When they sung I'll Fly Away and the birds flew from the trees, my goodness the flood gates opened wide. 

With this right in front of me it made me think of Rocky Kendall saying Thank God I'm Forgiven.  I'm forgiven but I by no means am the perfect Christian, but I do believe that God has and will forgive me of my sins, if only I ask .

This post may not appeal to some of my followers but if you know me, I hope to touch someone in a way that makes them think.  So today, think about your life.  Are you living it the way you want it, are you living it the way others want your life to be or are you living it how Jesus wants you to.

Now carry on, bless your heart and keep this "hott mess" always in your prayers.  God has a big job taking care of me, but I trust he's got this and as Sundance Head sings...
Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'
Me and Jesus, got it all worked out
Me and Jesus, got our own thing goin'
We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about

Love to all!!!!
Sweet Southern Sass

In memory of my friend Rocky!!!! 

 

How’s ya’ mom'n'em?

Thinking back to my younger days (which by the way was a loooong time ago) when we use to visit our relatives on Sunday's.   I remember one of the first things someone would say was "how's ya mom'n'em."   Ever wonder why mama is first then 'em?    I'm thinking the 'em is the rest of the family and mama is first because mama is most important.  I mean she did give birth to us sassy little young'uns.  Lawd have mercy I got a little sidetracked from my thoughts.  My real point  is that people don't have time to visit any more.   I hear it all the time at funeral's how sad it is that's the only time we see people.  

How I wish we could slow down, smell the coffee and pick a few flowers along the way.  Spend a little more time with our mom'n'em.  I'm lucky enough to still have both my parents and I do visit on Sundays.  The best thing about those visits with my mom'n'em is she cooks for us.  Yep, a home cooked true southern meal every Sunday like it's Thanksgiving.   

So the thought for today...Slow down, visit your family, laugh a little, pick some flowers but most importantly, tell someone you love them.  As we all know life is short and you might not get the chance tomorrow.

Love to all!!!!

Sweet Southern Sass

Introducing Sweet Southern Sass

Hello and welcome to Sweet Southern Sass.

My name is Sherry Smith and I like to consider myself a Georgia peach with a heart big as Texas.  Being from the South will definitely be the background for my southern dialogue and the sass will be grounds for inspiration to make you laugh, cry and feel good about yourself.  I want my followers to love Sweet Southern Sass so much they can't wait 'til the next day to see what this "hott mess" has to say about life, family, love and well just about anything that pops into my head.  Now that could be a dangerous situation, so be prepared!

Love to all!!!
Sweet Southern Sass