Happy New Year 2019

"I'll quite smokin', I'll quit eatin,' I'm not jokin', I'll quit cursin', I'll quit drinkin', I'll be a better person, but tonight I'm thinkin'..."
Kid Rock - Happy New Year

Well hell's bells that's a  whole lotta quitin' going on in Kid Rock's song so I left it blank on what I'm thinkin' 'cause that's what I want y'all to think about.

I'm sure we all make those "New Year's Resolutions" but seriously how many do you keep?  I'm reading over the ones Kid Rock wrote about and thankfully I don't have to worry about any of those except eatin'.  Of course we all want to be a better person and I'm no different, but I may have to think on this one  'cause I think I'm pretty awesome as is.

I haven't really thought about any New Year's Resolutions for this coming year 2019 but the one thing I've said a million times since Thanksgiving is that I HAVE to get back to eating right.  Lord have mercy I've eat enough to sink a battle ship if I jumped on board.  So with that being said, come January 2, yes that's not a typo I'm not starting my "diet" until after the New Year Day because my mama will be cooking all the New Year stuff and I plan to eat as much as I can.  Yep, we will have collards, black eye peas, cornbread, mashed potatoes and I'm sure more desserts than I need.

Writing this I'm thinking back on 2018 and for the most part it's been a good year.  It's also had it's sad times as I've lost several class mates and family members that left us way too soon.  Things are just that...things, and they can be replaced but friends and family is something that can't be replaced.  Not only do I think about the ones I lost in 2018 but I think about the ones I've lost in previous years.  I miss them all but every New Year I remember the last one I spent with my friend Andrew.

Many years since my divorce I spent New Year's Eve alone, but this particular year I asked my friend Andrew to go to a friends party with me.  Keep in mind he could have spent his night with many other friends, but he chose me.   You may ask why was this such a special person to spend it with, well hold on just a minute 'cause you know  I'm about to tell you.  LOL  You see, Andrew had cancer and he knew this might be his last New Year's Eve, so that's why it was even more special.  We had such a good time and he fit right in with all my friends that he didn't even know.   Not knowing many of the people didn't bother him because he always knew the right thing to do and say.  He was just that kind of person.  One that could make you feel like a million bucks by just smiling.  We laughed so hard at the crazy games we played, we ate 'til we couldn't eat any more and of course we welcomed in the New Year with a toast, a hug and knowing me I probably sneaked a kiss.

LESSON TODAY:  As it turned out, that New Year with Andrew was his last one and probably the last one I didn't spend alone.  That New Year's Eve will forever be etched in my mind and heart for more reasons than one, but most importantly because I got to spend it with with my special friend.  I'm thinking as I'm writing exactly what my lesson for y'all will be, so let's just go with y'all taking a minute and remember your favorite New Year's Eve.  Did you spend it with someone special?  Was it family?  friends?  Just close your eyes and remember what made it so special. Whatever that reason is, I want you to take that into the new year 2019.  Don't worry about making resolutions, that we probably won't keep past January, just go into the new year with a smile on your face and love in your heart.  Make this new year 2019 your best at whatever you do 'cause I'm thinking if you go into the New Year with a smile on your face and love in your heart you will be a much better person for it.

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
  Sweet Southern Sass

Somebody's Hero

"She's never pulled anybody from a burning building.  She's never rocked central park to a half a million fans screaming out her name, she's never hit a shot to win the game.  She's never left her footprints on the moon.  She's never made a solo hot air balloon ride around the world, no, she's just your everyday average girl but she's somebody's hero."  Jamie O'Neal

Lord have mercy that's a lot she's never done and this is so true for my sister Sharon, but it doesn't matter to me that she hasn't done these things...she's MY hero.  Yep, you got that right, MY HERO.

I started this post a couple of weeks ago when my sister was sent to the ER and couldn't attend my niece's wedding in NC.  She was diagnosed with a compression fracture a while back and now they got to figure out why.   We were already on our way to the wedding when her daughter called us so it was a whole lot of crying.  Then we had just gotten our hair all did and makeup on when my sister herself called us.  Well, the flood gates opened again.  You see us girls are really close and when somethings wrong with one, it takes us all to get the other better.  Come on now, you know what I'm talking about.  We have to be there for support and this day we weren't there, so it made it even harder.

This song was definitely written about my sister because every verse is about how this somebody's hero is taking care of others.  That is so my sister.  She has three children, two boys and one girl.  When her daughter got married, there were more tears than Carter has little liver pills as my mama says.  Not because my sister was sad but because her baby girl would be leaving and moving to Charlotte.  It hurt to let her go, but when that baby girl walked down the aisle and looked back at my sister with that smile, my sister knew she was that baby girls  hero.  Now about seven years later, they are back in Georgia, thank goodness and my niece has two daughters who love their mimi very much.

Now about those two boys.  Yes they both are married and the baby boy has two kids of his own, but he still likes to sit in his mama's lap, even at 20+ years old.  I can promise you when she's fixed and he can sit in her lap again, it will be the first thing he does.   The oldest son is married too.  He may not sit in his mama's lap but he gets just as much love because he sings for his mama.  She tells me she taught him everything he knows, but I really think his talent came from me.  LOL   They may be grown with their own family but they still need their mama and that makes her their hero too.

I'm sure if I asked either of my sister's kids they would tell me she's their hero just as much as she is mine.  I'm sure that is true, but since this is my blog, I'm gonna make this hero all mine so I can tell you why.   She calls me every morning on her way to work.  Some mornings she's happy, laughing about any and everything.  Some mornings she just needs to vent about whatever so if that be the case, she probably gonna be getting out of her car at work still on a roll.  We laugh all the time it takes her 30 minutes to tell you bye and there are some mornings it takes at least 10 for sure.

Since this ER visit I hear the fear in her voice and I can tell she's doing all she can to hold it together.  I wish she would just realize she doesn't have to hold it together for me.  I mean I'm the big sister and that's what big sister's do.   I want to be her rock when she feels she can't be strong any more, I want to be able to listen to her without giving any advise, I want to let her cry if she wants to and her feel that I'm doing my best to hold it together for her and not cry.

My sister may be the little sis to me, but with her struggles these past years dealing with the big C word and now just wondering if it's back again, she's more than a little sis.  She's not "Somebody's Hero, she's mine.

LESSON TODAY:  This was a long post but since I started writing this we got the news my sister's biopsy was negative for cancer so now we start the treatment process for the fracture.  So my lesson today is that if you have a sister or family member that may be going through a rough time, be there for them.  You may be miles apart but there are ways other than in person you can help.  Pick up the phone, check on them and for the love of  Peter, Paul and Mary visit if you can.  Tell her you love her, tell her why sh'es special to you and if you're lucky enough to have a sister like mine that's your hero, you don't have to write about it like I have, just let her know.  Tell her how much you love her and be there for her!!!   Let her know she's your hero.


LOVE TO ALL,
Sweet Southern Sass

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

It's Thanksgiving y'all and as the saying goes...There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.  I know there are friends of mine this will be there first Thanksgiving without a loved one, so for those friends my prayer is you will still have time with family and to give thanks for those many Thanksgiving before spent with your loved one.

Thanksgiving for us will be at my Mama Highfield's, the same thing we have done as long as I can remember. Even though my Mama Highfield is celebrating Thanksgiving in heaven, I still say that's where my Thanksgiving is because Thanksgiving was her time of year for us all to be there.  She told us many years ago if we can all come for Thanksgiving, we can come when we can for Christmas.  So guess what, if Mama Highfield wants us there, then that's what we do.

This year we have been blessed that we didn't lose a loved one and for that I am very thankful.  Last year we had just lost my Aunt Mary and it was a hard Thanksgiving for my Uncle Cecil, but he being the Christian man that he is, knew that being with family was what he needed.  I really think he just wanted to see me because I'm always the prankster and he knew I would have something up my sleeve.  I behaved myself last year but today I might have to come up with something just for him.

So many precious memories of Thanksgivings past but the thing I remember most is we always got out the old pictures, sat in the middle of the floor, and laughed so much as we passed those pictures around.  Mama Highfield thought that was so funny and she loved seeing us having so much fun.  Lord help me if I have to get in that floor today.  It might take a few people to get me back up.

Today my sister Sharon and her family won't be there because she's got a crazy piece of body armour to wear until we find out the reason for a compression fracture.  She spent the weekend in the hospital and now we're just waiting on her neurosurgeon to get home and give us a treatment plan.   I offered to help her cook, but being the woman she is, she wouldn't let me.  I'm sure she will be sad that's she's missing Thanksgiving with me, but I won't let her down, I will go see her, 'cause I know she will miss me if I don't.

Today we welcome a new member of our family as my niece Taylor got married last weekend.  Even though Graham has been in the family ten years, he is officially part of this crazy family today.  I wonder if I should get out the pictures of Taylor, so I don't break tradition.   I'm thinking he's already seen them all, but I'm also thinking there is one somewhere he hasn't seen.

LESSON TODAY:  This post has been about my Thanksgivings and my family but I hope all you sassy followers reading this today take the time to enjoy the day with your family.  Put your cell phones away and REALLY spend time with them.  If you're not getting together with your family, call them.   If you're starting a new family, make it special.  Find something that will be a family tradition for you and yours.  Now, I gotta get a move on...my mama is cooking the turkey and making the dressing.   Got to get to my Mama Highfield's early so I can be first in line.  Yep, I'm always the first.  Surely that doesn't surprise y'all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING,

Sweet Southern Sass

Stuck In The Middle

So this idea got "stuck" in my head the other day but I couldn't get my thoughts together on how to not be a sad post.  Then I posted a question on facebook and a friends answer to me was "I can't wait to read what you write about this one."  BINGO, that started this little mind in motion.  So hang on folks we gonna get a little stuck or hopefully unstuck.

The idea last week started because I'm just feeling stuck in life.  Stuck that I'm not young and 25 but not old either, stuck that I'm a single, white female (as the song says) and no real hope of my cowboy riding to my rescue on a  black stallion.   Stuck in my head with wishing that I should have done this or done that, stuck in  that I don't have all that others have .  Stuck in my head that if I had only tried harder or made better choices  my life would be different.  I can answer my own question on that one, because y'all that have been following me know I've made plenty of wrong choices.

So how in the world do I get "unstuck."  I've had plenty of  professional training as I like to call it, but all that training in the world doesn't help if you don't practice what you learn.  Sometimes it takes me a time or two to get my head wrapped around all this stuff stuck in this beautiful head of mine, and I usually can get it after at least the third try.  But this time it's really stuck in there and it just keeps playing over and over in my head like a washing machine going round and round.  So this is where the hard core professional training steps in.

I remember my trainer telling me about the three C's.  Don't criticize, condemn or complain.  Well hells bells, all three of those have taken over my brain like some virus or something.    Those three little words (and I ain't talking about I Love YOU) are stuck up in this head like a bad dream.  So now "what you gonna do when they come for you."

First off ain't nobody going any where and secondly I got this!  I've just been on a little pity party but my feisty little self is leaving this party of one.   Ya'll know I love social media and today I read a post that said "the comparison game is one you'll always lose.  Celebrate who you are and what you have, rather than fixating on who you're not and what you lack.  You are enough and you have plenty to offer but you'll never see it if you're busy looking at everyone else."  (Ruth from twitter)   BAM...how good is that.  I think it was a God wink as I like to call it and he knew I needed that assurance today that  I am good enough and unique and he's got me.

WOW this is getting way longer than I thought, but y'all know I have to add a little silly so here you go.  The second part of the story about being stuck is doctor's giving you pills big as Texas when you have strep and can't even swallow water.  Well you figured it out already, one got stuck in  my throat this afternoon and I couldn't get it to go up or down.  I ate everything in the house and I'm still not sure it's made it to my stomach yet..  I mean how could it, my throat is swollen almost shut.  Oh well, if tomorrow never comes, at least I took my meds.  Heck fire I hope my throat is better before I have to take the next horse pill or  I may be calling 9-1-1 what's your emergency 'cause I can't breath, something's stuck.

LESSON TODAY:  This one might be easier than some.  Don't get stuck with bad thoughts in your head.  Don't let what other's have or worry about what you don't have.  Be thankful for what you do have..  I mean God probably has that cowboy on a dusty trail somewhere trying to get here or if  I'm lucky he'll be a millionaire in a white limo instead.  So with all that being said... I will end with Ruth from twitter's response to me  "Sometimes you've got to have a little pity party before you can come through on the other side, stronger and ready to appreciate yourself for all the wonderful qualities you have."  That, from a women I don't even know.  So for me, I'm dusting myself off,  putting on my favorite pair of boots and leaving this pity train.  Now if something I've written hits home, leave the pity party.  Might not be easy but you can do it.



 LOVE TO ALL,
 Sweet Southern Sass

If You're Going Through Hell

"If you're going through hell, keep on going, don't slow down. If you're scared, don't show it, you might get out before the devil even knows it." Rodney Atkins

The idea for this post came to mind this morning as I was thinking about the conversation my Aunt and me had last night. We went shopping for outfits to wear to my nieces wedding next month and on the way there and back we talked a little about a lot.  Sometimes you really don't need advise, just someone to listen and last night was one of those times for me. You see I've been a little bit down these past few weeks, not for any particular reason, just because. So this song came to mind and I thought...Self, you may be going through hell, but nothing compared to others, so pull yourself up by the boot strings and carry one. So I'm thinking if I start writing and pull tight enough on my boot strings I can get myself out of this crazy sadness and maybe even make myself giggle a little.

The song talks about stepping off the straight and narrow. Y'all that have been following me know I'm the queen of being way out of the straight and narrow. I'm not exactly sure what it means but for the sake of this post I'm thinking it means not behaving.  LOL, I'm never behaving because I heard Jill Connor Browne of the Sweet Potato Queens say that "well behaved women never make history." I  probably ain't gonna make history because I'm not behaving but just let me not behave and all of Hall County knows about it before my head hits the pillow. Yep, my daddy use to know what I had done and where I did it before I even got it done. Of course this was in my younger days, but I still don't know how he knew. Maybe one day I will ask, but then maybe I won't because he might know more than I want to know he knows. Y'all get that?

If you're scared don't show it. I've been scared so many times I can't even count that high. Not because of that road of straight and narrow as I said before but because I have lived by myself more than not. The funny thing is most of the times I just watched Criminal Minds or some detective show that scared the crap out of me to begin with, then when I went to bed I thought every "unsub" Detective Derrick Morgan ever arrested, was outside my window. Turns out the scratching on the window was the wind blowing the tree next to my house and what I thought was someone breaking in my house was the ice maker making ice. Yep, I could scare myself just getting out of bed, seeing my own shadow.

Lesson today? It won't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. If you're going through hell, don't slow down and let the devil catch you. Don't get caught up in the bottle of Jim Beam, the demons breathing down your back or that deep hole of darkness.  Just take a minute, sit down and listen to the guardian angel that's probably sitting right next to you.  Heck she might be singing this little song telling you to keep on keeping on. If you scared listen to what's making you scared, it's probably the wind blowing or the ice maker and for the love of Peter, Paul and Mary pull your dang boot strings up with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.   

 LOVE TO ALL,

 Sweet Southern Sass

Just A Swingin'

Listening to my favorite radio station here in Georgia today I heard the song Just A Swingin by John Anderson.  As I listen to this song, it brought back a whole buncha memories from my childhood and  one more recent than that.  I have no idea  where I'm going with this or what my lesson will be but might as well buckle up buttercup and find out.

Just a swingin' reminds me of growing up and visiting my grandmother.  I can't say for sure, but I think every house they lived had a swing on the front porch.  My Aunt and me loved to get in that swing and swing for hours, solving all the problems two little kids could have.  We always tried to make our feet touch the ceiling of the porch.  When my Mama Highfield would catch us doing it, she would come tell us we better stop that before that swing pulls out and we get hurt.  Of course, being the good children that we were, we would "slow down"  while she was standing there, but that lasted about as long as it took her to walk back in the house.  Two little girls just a swingin' to high heaven.

That brings me to my porch swingin' as an adult.  It was going to be a girls night out to see Merle Haggard in concert at the Lanierland County Music Park in Cumming, Ga.   We were waiting on a couple of the other friends to meet up so me and another friend were swingin' in the front porch swing.  I told friend # 2 what  my Mama Highfield would say... we better stop swingin' so high, we gonna pull this thing right out of the ceiling.  Just about the time these words came out of my mouth, that dadgum swing fell out of the ceiling, friend # 2 AND the swing came right down on my left foot.  Needless to say, I couldn't hardly walk and they wanted me to go to the ER but heck no, I got to see Merle 'cause he's getting old.  I convinced them I wasn't going to the ER, so off to the concert we go.

I made it through the concert and back to the scene of the crime.  Keep in mind I'm in a lot of pain but I ain't going to no ER at 1:00 in the morning or so I thought.  I finally dozed off to sleep and friend # 3, who's house I'm sleeping,  big ole cat comes bouncing in on my bed right on top of my poor hurt foot.  I screamed to the top of my lungs and friend # 3 came running.  Poor cat landed somewhere in the next room I think.  Needless to say I finally gave in and friend # 3 took me to the ER.  The nurse kept moving my foot around and of course every time he did I would scream in pain.  After what seemed like forever I guess he got tired of me complaining he was killing me, he said and I quote, "you sure are a whiner."   Y'all that know me know that didn't go over very well.  I came unglued and  I politely told him the WHOLE story and how long it had been since that swing and friend # 2 fell on me.  The ER did not diagnose a broke foot so Nurse hurt me all you can sent me home in a lace up shoe which was about as stable as a wobbly wheel with a missing spoke.  So I hobbled around a day or two and finally went to an orthopedic doctor who confirmed my suspicion of a broke foot and put me in a boot for 8 week.   Guess nurse Hurt me all you can wasn't as smart as he thought.

Lesson today?  You may not have these crazy kinda memories of a front porch swing but if you are lucky enough to have a swing, call a friend, swing a spell,  share some stories and have a glass of sweet tea 'cause ya'll know what they say here in the South.  We don't hide crazy...we parade it around on the front porch and give it sweet tea.  Now go ahead swing high to the heavens, laugh out loud and make some memories.  Make my Mama Highfield proud with your feet touching the ceiling.  But don't swing too long 'cause you know what might happen and I really don't want you to meet Nurse hurt me all you can.  LOL

  Love to all,
  Sweet Southern Sass
 

When I'm Gone

I'm struggling with this one but it's heavy on my heart.  I think it's because I have lost three friends in two weeks.  Two of them I went to school with and the other was a neighbor for many years.  So where do I begin?  I really don't know, so I'm hoping as I type, the right words will come to mind.  You see it's hard to see these families in so much pain and there's nothing I can say or do that will ease that pain.

I know there aren't any answers, but that doesn't stop me from asking why.  I understand that sickness can ravish a person's body and there aren't anything doctors can do.  But I wonder what makes it that one person with the same disease can be healed and the other isn't.  I know everything I've been taught is God has a plan.  Again I just wonder what could the plan be that a person is taken from us here on earth.  Surely there is more to be done here for a person my age.  How does God determine who and when a person's time here is done.  Again, let me stress to y'all reading this, I'm not questioning God's will, I know it's his time and I know there are reasons, it's just sometimes I don't understand.

I think about these three friends and I know they lived their lives their way and I don't see anything wrong with that because I'm the same way.  There are certain things I want my way and I don't care what anyone thinks about it.  This brings me to my friend Conley White, which is why I'm writing this.  Conley was a singer/songwriter who lived his life "his way" and that's the way he wanted his last days..."his way."

Ya'll that have been following me for a while know I love the trusty Google.  So I reached out to the Google to see what I can find about my friend Conley.  I found so much more interesting stuff than I knew but one thing I found that ya'll might want to hear is this interview with KHLT Recovery Radio Station.   During this interview Conley talks about his struggles with addiction, his recovery and how he tries to help others, especially what he calls a newcomer to recovery.  He gives his CD's away at meetings to these newcomers and I quote "hoping to give them HOPE."   He also talked about going to AA meetings and that every time he went to a meeting as soon as he walked in the room he would pray and again I quote "God if there is somebody in this room I can help and encourage please point them out to me.  God is a gentleman, he's not going to show up where he's not wanted."  He said more times than not, someone would come up to him after the meeting and ask him for help. This is powerful, I don't care who you are.

LESSON TODAY:   Searching for the right words and low and behold they're right here in this interview.  Monty Dale Meyer, the person interviewing Conley, last words on the interview are going to be my lesson today and I quote..."Do something now that will make the person you will be tomorrow proud to have been the person you are today."  Now that's a lot to take in so if you're like me, you might have to read it more than once.  I want to add to what Mr. Meyer said by saying myself...if you're struggling for whatever reason, don't be afraid to reach out to someone.  If anything I've said in this post or anything you hear in Conley's interview makes you feel help is needed, then I pray Conley's prayer that if you need encouragement, don't be afraid to reach out to someone. That someone might just be a message from our friend, Conley White.

  LOVE TO ALL,
  Sweet Southern Sass

Here For A Good Time

"I'm not going to lay around and whine and moan 'cause somebody done done me wrong.  Don't think for a minute that I'm gonna sit around and sing some old sad song." George Strait

 This might sound like I'm whining and maybe I am but not for a long time because "ain't nobody got time for that."   I'm one of those people that don't sit around long waiting on a good time.  I can make a good time all by myself.   I can make a good time out of cleaning the house 'cause I will turn the radio way loud or in my case the Spotify and dance with the broom.  Yep, I bet my neighbors (if I had any) would think the witch was loose if they came by my house and looked in.  Well, you know what they say.  If the broom fits, ride it.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this so I hope it gets good somewhere along the way and makes you laugh or giggle a little.   It doesn't take a lot for me to have a good time.  Just this week I met a friend for dinner because I had made her something and wanted to give it to her.   There was absolutely NO alcohol involved but we laughed so hard I thought we would be thrown out of the restaurant.  Luckily they didn't because those dang half price tacos were good.  I mean if I'm going to be thrown out, at least let me finish my tacos.

Y'all know how it goes, when women get together they gonna talk about any and everything. I wished I could tell you all the funny stuff but I promised anything that was said at Big Daddy's would stay at Big Daddy's.  Yes I pinkie swore that my lips were sealed, never to repeat to anyone.  Hold on a minute though, she had to pinkie swear too so don't go thinking she was the only one with something I can't tell.  So you see, that's why we all need a night out.  If nothing else, just to laugh and enjoy the company of someone that will lift you up in conversation, motivation and if you're lucky enough, like I was, you will be inspired before the night is over.

I'm sure you wondering how could a "girls night out" be an inspiration.  Y'all know I'm about to tell you, so hold on.  Have you ever met someone that just talking to them gives you a feeling of peace and maybe even a little comfort?  Yes of course you have!  So that's what happened just talking to my sweet friend.  I'm not sure if it's her voice or on this particular night, her ability to tell that I was feeling a little sad.  Keep in mind, I have absolutely NO reason to be sad, but I've had questions weighing on my mind lately that I just can't get the answer I'm looking for.  I'm not exactly sure what she said but the thing I remember is her telling me that I was beautiful, smart and lots of fun.  This might not be EXACTLY what she said, but that's what I heard and this is MY story, so I'm telling it my way.  She said all this while I was dabbing at my eyes, trying not to cry.    Needless to say, she knew she better do something quick or the flood gates were about to open wide.  Being the funny person she is, she said something that made me almost fall off my chair.

LESSON today?  Take a minute and remember the last time you had a night out.  If it's been a while, get on the phone right now and plan one soon.   Go ahead take the chance, dance the dance but don't you dare call  someone that's not going to be fun.   Don't you waste one nano minute calling someone that is negative.   No, no, no we don't need that kind of  people at our party 'cause life's too short.   We don't know what tomorrow brings,  we ain't here for a long time, and for the love of Peter, Paul & Mary, do not end up with a "tear in your beer" as Hank Jr. says.

    Love to all,
    Sweet Southern Sass

Why You Still Here

I'm kinda thinking I'm on a roll this week.  I posted about your mama didn't do it this way the other day and I had a friend message me something just as funny and of course I have a story.  So I will just share with ya'll and hope it makes you smile or as I like to say laugh out loud.

Her story goes something like this.  She has been divorced for many years, but her mama still has her wedding pictures up and won't take them down.  Well my story is similar but at least my pictures aren't up where I have to see the CHB every time I go see my mama, which is every Sunday.  I would tell you what CHB means but my mama would give me a whooping, 'cause it ain't nice.  LOL

My story goes back several years ago we made my mama a scrap book with all our wedding pictures and added our kids pictures as they came along.  This might not be exact but this is my story.  Since I had a real wedding this time (meaning I didn't run off to Walhalla, SC) like I did the first time I was proud to add my beautiful wedding pictures to this album for my mama.   I was in LOVE, so that made me want to put extra ones, which of course I did.  For ya'll that know me, you know that LOVE didn't last so every time I pick that book up and look at it, I want to rip those lovely pictures right out of there.  That's when my mama speaks up and says something to the effect of  "that's my book, you ain't taking anything out of there."  So guess what?  20 years later those stinking pictures are still in that book.

The funnier story (to me) is about my lovely wedding pictures I mentioned earlier.  We had lots of wedding pictures as every bride and groom does and bought the photo album to go with it.  I mean you want to be able to look back every now and then how beautiful a bride you were and hopefully see that the groom was equally as handsome.  We both fit this description at the wedding but there is one problem with my wedding pictures now.   I cut the groom out of EVERY one of them.  Yep, I ain't kidding, every one of them.  He may have been all handsome in that black western tux and cowboy hat, but apparently that wasn't enough to keep me from getting all crazy and cutting him out.  Lord have mercy what was I thinking?   Evidently I wasn't, those things cost a lot of money.


Lesson today?  If you find yourself staring at an ex picture at your mama's, just remember that Bible verse in Exodus that tells us to honor our mother and father.  I for one am not going to argue with that, so when my mama tells me that's her book, well alrighty then...I'm not about to take any pictures out. I may be however old I'm not telling, but I'm still scared of my mama.  Yep, she might be older too, but I ain't waiting around to find out if she can still give me a whooping 'cause I know she could and would if she thought I needed it.

This brings to mind the old cliche'.if mama ain't happy, ain't nobdy happy.  So for the sake of any argument, let's just smile and agree with mama.  Don't look at that book more than you have too and just look the other way when you visit and the ex picture is still on the piano.

Don't Think Mama Done It This Way

Hold on ya'll, here is another funny one.  Last week I heard the song Don't Think Hank Done It This Way and it reminded me of a story my mama tells all the time about my daddy.  So I'm going to share hoping to save some poor soul from making the mistake my daddy made. 

Mama said when they first got married, she made bread and butter pickles 'cause my daddy liked them.  I'm sure knowing my mama and her cooking, they were good pickles, but my daddy had the nerve to tell her they didn't taste like his mama's.  Oh Lord, was he crazy?  Evidently, because my mama said probably not, I'm not your mama.  This might have just been the last time my daddy got bread and butter pickles, at least from my mama.

So this leads me to my very own mama didn't do it this way story.  When I first married I cooked some pinto beans.  Being young and not ever taking the time to learn how to cook, the pinto beans burned.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the beans weren't good, but my husband (kinda like my daddy) must have had a temporary lack of judgement because he just blurted it right out.  "These don't taste like my mama's.  Well, you think?  I am my mama's child, so I politely, yes politely said... of course they don't, they're burned!!!  Ya'll don't need me to finish this story, 'cause you know how it ends.  No more pinto beans for him!!

This brings me to my son and his mama didn't do it this way story.  When he first got married his wife made I think chicken & dumplings for dinner.  His wife really didn't make them the way me or my mama made them and of course the first thing out of my son's mouth was these don't taste like mama's.  Crazy kid, did I not teach him anything?  He got lucky, his sweet wife wasn't as feisty as me and my mama, she asked me how I made them.  Bless her heart she was in love.   Needless to say I didn't want my son to never get chicken & dumplings again, so I put a bug in his ear not to EVER and I mean EVER say something doesn't taste like his mama's.  Then I proceeded to tell him why.

Lesson today?  VERY SIMPLE...don't ever tell your wife, girlfriend or significant other that something doesn't taste like your mama's.  It might be best that you eat it (if you can) 'cause you might just never get it again and it might just be your favorite food they tried to make.  I mean seriously I bet your mama had to make it many times before she mastered it.  That is of course if someone didn't say those famous words, "this don't taste like my mama's" and she tried it again.

  LOVE TO ALL,
 Sweet Southern Sass

Let's Get Fabulicious

OK this might be a little short post but I've had this word  FABULICIOUS stuck in my head all day!  I've got my idea what it means, but I wanted to see what the trusty little internet had to say and this is what I found.  A combination of fabulous and delicious; someone or something so gorgeous or perfect that you could eat it up.

Well alrighty then...something so fabulous or delicious, something gorgeous.   Ya'll better sit down on this one 'cause it's about to get good up in here.

Since this is my blog, and I'm in control for the time being, the one thing I can think of that would fit this description of fabulicious is Agent Derrick Morgan, aka Hondo, aka Shemar Moore.   Lord have mercy and for the love of Peter, Paul and Mary how could anyone not think he's fabulicious?  He definitely had a good dentist 'cause he's got the pearliest of pearl white teeth I've ever seen.  And when he smiles, he could make a grown woman cry.

So going with the flow as Merle Haggard says, this made up word could be used to describe something totally different than the man Agent Derrick Morgan, but for this sassy little southern thang I can't think of a better word to describe him.

Ya'll might think this post is a little shallow, but that's OK 'cause I've said many times I don't pick my Nascar driver's by their driving ability and I don't pick my favorite football player because of their talent.  It's more like how they look in their driver suit and ain't nothing wrong watching a few "tight ends."    I probably just got myself in a whole lot of trouble if my mama reads this, but she's known me for about (well let's just say a few years) and she ain't surprised at anything I say or in this case write.  BTW, my favorite country singers wear Wrangler jeans and ya'll know what they say about Wrangler jeans.

I'm not sure I can find a lesson in this craziness but I'm thinking ya'll  need to google this word fabulicious. Close your eyes and see what comes to mind that is so fabulously, deliciously gorgeous it makes you smile..  It doesn't have to be crazy like what I just wrote, but if it's something that makes you giggle or smile a little bit, then I've done my job.  I've written something that maybe took your mind away from the troubles of the day and hopefully made you laugh at this crazy self.

Love to all,
Sweet Southern Sass

Beautiful Crazy

"Her day starts with a coffee and ends with a wine.  Takes forever to get ready so she's never on time for anything.  Beautiful crazy, the way she dances, ain't afraid to take chances and wears her heart on her sleeve.  Yeah, she's crazy but her crazy's beautiful to me."  Luke Combs

As promised here is a little something, something on why Luke Combs might just know me. HaHa

My day definitely starts with coffee, sometimes ends with a wine and I ain't never on time.  But didn't I hear somewhere it's better to be fashionably late than to arrive ugly and don't they say a glass of wine at night is good for the heart?   So what's wrong with either of these?  Nothing, says this sassy southern girl.

I wasn't exactly sure what wears my heart on the sleeve means so I checked it out on the trusty internet.  I mean  if you read it on the internet it's true, right?  So the trusty internet says it means that  you show your real feelings, is open and honest, and the complete opposite of the devious hater.  Lawd help me but if this is right then I guess I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve and if y'all know me, you don't have to worry about what I'm thinking.  If I think it, I say it and sometimes that's not a good thing.  I'm not a hater, unless we're talking football and if you love anyone other than the DAWGS, I might just be a little devious about that.

I always have plans for the weekends even if it's just staying at home, which is rare.  Staying at home means not getting out of my PJ's all day, no makeup and binge watching one or more of my favorite TV shows or Hallmark movies.  Yep, I'm guilty...I love Christmas in July Hallmark movies.  My other binge show watching is usually repeat CSI or Criminal Minds.  So miss Horatacio on CSI and Agent Derrick Morgan on Criminal Minds.  However...Agent Derrick Morgan is now Hondo on the new S.W.A.T. show.  I will give you two guesses why he's my favorite.   One, he's HOTT and two he's HOTT.   Yes, I know, I'm shallow to a point but hey the song says she's crazy so I must not disappoint.

I am definitely unpredictable and I've been told I'm unforgettable.  Now this might be interesting because that could be I'm unforgettable because I'm a pain in the rear or because I'm crazy beautiful!  I prefer the later, but either works because it doesn't change the fact that I am what I am and I'm probably not changing any time soon.  However, I do hope to find that special someone who will be a fool for me and think I'm crazy beautiful and not a pain in the rear.

Lesson today?  I bet y'all are wondering how in the world can she get a lesson from this?  Well hold on 'cause I got one.  I want all you sassy ladies out there to look in the mirror right now and say to self...Self, you are crazy beautiful and I love you just the way you are!  Go ahead, no one is listening but you, so just do it!

  I've always been the type not to worry about what people say. I've always beat to my own drum and usually it's to a different beat than everyone else.  So go ahead, put on your biggest smile, walk out that door and show 'em what you got. Show 'em just how crazy beautiful you are and if you don't feel like going out, put on your best PJ's, curl up on the couch and binge watch your favorite TV shows.  One word of advise though, make sure it's got Hondo or Agent Derrick Morgan in it and you won't be disappointed.

 LOVE TO ALL,
 Sweet Southern Sass

Keeper Of The Stars

"It was no accident me finding you.  Someone had a hand in it long before we ever knew." Tracy Byrd

Oh my gosh why in the world did this song get stuck in my head?  It was played at my wedding 1997 and I still can't listen to the entire song.  It certainly wasn't an accident that I met him.  I mean he was leaning on a pole with his black cowboy hat on and I just walked right up and asked him to dance.  Yep, I surely did.  I'm sure the keeper of the stars thought I was crazy but it didn't stop me from falling cowboy boots, hat and big ole belt buckle for this bow-legged cowboy.  Ya'll wondering what this means?

He tipped that dang hat more times than I can count that night and his smile just made me think the keeper knew what he was doing when he put that cowboy in my sights.  Now at the time I thought he was the best thing this side of the Mississippi and it took me a whole bunch of years to figure it out that he was only the best thing yonder side of Buford.   I will give him credit though...on our wedding day he was the bomb dot com as my friend likes to say.  He looked like a million dollars in that tux and yes that black cowboy hat and boots.  The twinkley white lights made his smile shine like the one I saw when I first met him and all I could think was "cowboy take me away."  LOL

OK I was about to get on a man bashing roll but decided ya'll might not want to read that junk so instead I'm just going to make you laugh a little bit by quoting a  Dolly Pardon song that reminds me of the first time I saw him.   "Why'd you come in here lookin' like that in your cowboy boots and your painted-on jeans, all decked out like a cowgirl's dream.  Why you almost givin' me a heart attack when you waltz right in here lookin' like that."  Lord help me I bet he's still wearing those same "painted on jeans."

Lesson today?  I'm not sure I have one but let's just roll with it.  When old feelings start creeping up, don't dwell on it too long.  Think about it, feel the hurt, but don't feel it too long.  It might cause you to do something stupid and call the ex and we certainly don't want that.  So feel it, take a walk, see God's beauty and let it go.  Leave all those bad thoughts right outside your door, don't bring that stuff in, it ain't welcome in our house.  Now go ahead, lock that door, grab a glass of sweet tea and sleep tight.  And instead of a sad "Keeper of The Stars" song,  I'm sharing "Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That."   That'll make you smile.

  LOVE TO ALL,
   Sweet Southern Sass

Crazy Beautiful

"She's got big brown eyes and tangled hair, voguing in her underwear and nothing is better than doing nothing together now.  She's got a toothbrush as a microphone belting out the Rolling Stones.  I'm the last one to stop her, can't believe that I got her."  Andy Grammar

Good morning and welcome to my world of crazy.   LOL  Big brown eyes, yep I got 'em, tangled hair, yep every day.   I got the Farrah Faucet look today, wings and all.  Well I do have an excuse.  My hair dresser got married and she's busy.  But hey I'm looking vogue with all that hair, sprayed to heaven.  I ain't got a toothbrush in my hand but I'm rocking the air drums on my way to work this morning listening to my favorite morning DJ Diva playing this exact song on the radio.  Yep, it's a sight to see, a pretend Farrah playing the drums, singing to the top of my lungs, tooling right along the highway like I ain't got a care in the world.

Trust me I got a style of my own.  Not so sure it's classic, but it's one of a kind and one that probably no one wants to copy.   I've never been told my smile can be heard through the telephone but I bet when I've got a belly laugh going on you might hear a snort or two.  Are ya'll getting the picture yet? I'm one kinda crazy and the only hellion my mama raised.

A little bit wild, a little bit mad, and a little bit beautiful wild and little bit bad.  Good Lord how can I be described in such few words?  I'm a little bit all the above.  Wild at heart with a gypsy soul which means I wonder a lot.  Get it?  Not wander, like wandering lost, but wonder because I'm always wondering what the heck.  I don't get mad often but when I'm mad, I'm mad and I ain't gonna "cry pretty."   Not sure that makes me beautiful but it certainly will make me a little bit bad 'cause if I'm mad, I'm probably gonna do something stupid because I'm horrible at thinking before I act.  But...I am practicing this thing they say do of counting to 10.  My problem is by the time I get to about four or five, I forget what I'm mad about any way.  So there you go, guess that counting to 10 stuff works.

This one is a little short today, but I need the laugh and who better to laugh at than myself.  Hello world here comes crazy, Farrah hair and all.

Lesson today?  For the love of Peter, Paul and Mary...who knows but  I will come up with something here in a minute.   Just for today, live in the moment, show up like you're meant to be there, be humble and kind, and if living in the moment becomes unpleasant, eat a cookie.   I sure hope my day is pleasant 'cause if I eat a cookie, it will be the whole bag, especially if it's Oreo's.

  LOVE TO ALL,
  Sweet Southern Sass

A Little Want To

"There ain't no excuse that's what my mama said.  You gotta get up and get outta bed.  Roll up your sleeves, put your back into it.  If you gonna get it done then you better get to it."  Reba McEntire

Lord have mercy I don't remember hearing these exact words from my mama, but I'm pretty sure I heard something pretty close.  Probably more like, you better get up, if you can rip and romp all night, you can get up and go to church.  Now her definition of "all night" and mine were way different.  Mine meant getting home somewhere close to the time she told me too.  Her's was more like be there before she told me too.  Ya'll that have been following me know I'm not a rule follower so if mama said be home at 12:00, I'm gonna be late come hell or high water.  Not to be defiant, that's just the way I roll. 

"A little nothing I can't do attitude."  This takes me back a few years, well more like 40+ years when I played basketball.  I'm one of those people that you don't tell me I can't do something because I will probably let you know real quick, I can do anything I want too, but more than anything I will do it just because you said I couldn't.  This one particular coach told me I would never play for him because I was too short.  My Junior year I won MVP of the Lanierland Tournament.  I so wish the song "How You Like Me Now" was written 'cause I would have certainly sung it to him.  

Having a little want to inside of you is such great words.  Listening to the song I wonder how many people fail because they just don't have the want to.   Maybe their home life isn't as good as it should be, maybe they're out of a job or maybe they just feel like a failure.  Trust me folks, I've been out of a job and more times than one I've felt like a failure, but you just got to put your favorite pair of boots on and pick yourself up.  Pick yourself up and get that little want to inside that will make you keep trying.  You know the saying if at first you don't succeed, try, try again?  Well heck yeah many times it's taken me more than one or two tries but after three or four times I usually get it right even if it's making the same mistake again.

No matter what people say, dreams do come true.  I've never been famous for anything but don't you know Reba was told many times that singing would get her nowhere?  Look at her now, one of the biggest female singers in country music.  She definitely had that nothing I can't do attitude and it's taken her a long way.  She's gotten knocked down a few times, I mean she just went through a divorce after way many years.  I'm sure she felt like giving up but look at her now, if the tabloids are right, she's in love again.   I bet she put on her favorite boots and told her self, self "ain't nobody got time for this." 

Lesson today?  Look at the picture below.  It took me a minute to figure it out, had to read it a second time, but it's true.  If you think you can, you will.  If you think you can't, you won't.  Don't get caught up in thinking you can't.  Don't let what someone tells you be the reason you give up.  I remember as a kid hearing the saying "can't never could", well how true is that.  If you think you can't you probably won't, so go ahead and put on your favorite pair of boots, grab holt of your "I can do anything attitude," put on your big girl panties and for the love of Peter, Paul and Mary just do it!!!   Go ahead and reach for the stars, give it your best shot doing what you've always wanted to do and didn't have the I can do anything attitude.  Come on, I got cha back 'cause I want you to be the best you can at whatever you want to do.

  LOVE TO ALL,
 SWEET SOUTHERN SASS

The Greatest

"Little boy in a baseball hat stands in the field with his ball and bat.  Says, I am the greatest player of them all.  Put his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up the ball and the ball goes up and the comes down.  Swings his bat all the way around the worlds so still he can hear the sound.  The baseball falls to the ground.  Now the little boys doesn't say a word, picks up his ball, he is undeterred.  Says, I am the greatest there has ever been. and he grits his teeth and he tried it again."  Kenny Rogers

 I thought about this song when my sister posted a picture of my nephew coaching his son in baseball.  You might ask why my nephew?  Well because my nephew was one of the best baseball players in the area.  He could throw you out at home plate from the outfield and not even break a sweat.  He was so tall when he pitched his hand almost touched home plate when he let go of the ball.  To see him coaching his own son makes me smile because I know my great nephew is going to be one of the best from his school, just like his daddy.

"He makes no excuses, he shows no fear.  He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers."  My nephew ain't skeered of nothing, as they say.  He's one of the sweetest young men I know that loves kids and old people.  He never made an excuse if he didn't play good but we always knew because he had a temper that showed up every now and then when he didn't.   I'm not sure if he ever heard us cheering for him but if he didnt it wasnt because we weren't loud enough,  especially if he was pitching and the ump wasn't calling strikes.  I'm thinking he probably closed his eyes a few times hoping we would go away.  But of course we didn't, we just got louder.  LOL

This song makes me think this little boy is outside alone, throwing the ball up and trying to hit it.  My idea of the picture is he's doesn't ever hit the ball but it doesn't deter him from trying and trying. He's making his own story up as he goes even when the moon is bright, his mama is calling him for supper and he misses one last time...strike three.  Even though he strikes out and starts home he still thinks he's the greatest of them all, but now he's the greatest pitcher.  I can just see him now strutting home for supper telling his mama what a great pitcher he is because he struck out the batter over and over.

Talk about turning the story around, this little boy certainly did.   Kinda like my nephew.  Things happened, he left college and baseball and went to work.  But like I said earlier this kid ain't skeered of nothing , so he's taking life by the horns as they say.  He got married, has two kids and he's going back to college.  It's hard for him at times I'm sure, but it's not stopping him.  He's doing it all and he's doing a dang good job of it.  His little girl is a daddy's girl, his son will be one of the best  (because he's got one of the best teaching him) and his wife just got her real estate license.  So what more could a guy ask for?

Lesson for today?  I just learned one myself.   When life isn't what we thought it should be don't quit.  Don't get stuck trying to be a certain way or do a particular thing.  Always have a Plan B if Plan A doesn't work.    "Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off...the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases."  Rick Maksian

Now go ahead, suck it up, put on your best cleats and PITCH the heck out of life.  It might just end up being a way better life than your original plan.

Only God Knows Why

"I've been sittin' here trying to find myself.  I get behind myself I need to rewind myself.  Looking for the payback listening for the playback.  They say that every man bleeds just like me."  Kid Rock

OK this might get good if I'm quoting Kid Rock.  But ya'll that know me know how much I love The Kidd as I call him..

I started this one last week after I left the funeral home for a dear friend.  On the way home I'm thinking why Lord.  Yes, I know we're not to question these things but I'm not questioning God, I'm just wondering why things happen the way they do.  My friend was only 54 years old.  That's just too young.

Everybody knew his name, especially his Wild Wings friends, ya'll know, the ones that sat at table 71..  Well hell's bells, I didn't know that table 71 was where we sat every Friday night.  But tonight there was a special picture at table 71 of my friend and tonight we all went to say good bye and again on  Friday after the funeral service we went back to table 71 to honor him AGAIN.  Yep, he was the man of the hour again.  We were all there with our favorite stories, and because some couldn't make it on Friday we went back on Saturday to honor him once again.

You might ask why would ya'll do this so many times?  Well let me just tell you why.  Jeff was the kinda friend you loved from the time you met him.  He wasn't a celebrity but when we came through town on Friday, I bet people thought some big shot was in town.  The traffic was stopped in all directions, all the way through town.   I mean ALL directions.  I bet he was loving that, him stopping traffic but then again he could stop you in your tracks just by telling a story and trust me stories he had.

If the line in this song "you get what you put in and people get what they deserve" is true, then my friend would be reaping all the rewards this earthly world could offer.  People laughed at him all the time because of his craziness but I can promise right here as I'm writing this, he would give you the shirt off his back and I mean literally give it to you.  I watched him many a night buy drinks for people that had way more money than him, but that didn't matter to him.  That's just the way he was.  He might forget to pay his bar tab a couple of times or more like every week but he always paid it the next day.  

I know my friends life on earth was troubled and only he knew the pain but it didn't stop him from living life to the fullest.  He loved people and if you were his friend, you had a friend for life.  He worked with my daddy and he always said he would marry me one day.  Of course we laughed about it but one day I told him that if my daddy ever said I could marry him I would do it, no questions.  You see I could tell him this because I knew my daddy would never say that to him.  He loved my daddy and my son and he never failed to ask about Pops as he called my daddy.

Tears are rolling down my cheek as I write this to honor my friend.  A few tears are sad ones because I miss him but most are happy tears because I know without a doubt my friend is in heaven giving the angels a run for their money.  I know this because he told me many times he was ready when his time came and the preacher confirmed it on Friday.  The preacher said my friend told him many times, he was a Christian and knew where he would be when time comes.  There was no doubt but when the preacher confirms it, well I can't help but shed a few happy tears.

Lesson today?  I think my friend would want me to tell you not to wait to tell your friends you love them.  Don't wait until you're standing at the funeral service wishing you had done this or that.   If you're lucky enough to have friends like we do at table 71 don't be afraid to let them know what they mean to you.  There was a lot of hugging going on last weekend and by golly when the weekend was over I'm sure we made our friend proud because you see he never left us without hugging it out.  His last words to me two weeks before we lost him was "Luv ya hun."

So for my friend one last time...
Go rest high on that mountain son, your work on earth is done.  Go to heaven a-shoutin' love for the father and the son.

   

I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight

"I play classical music when it rains, country when I am in pain.  I won't play Beethoven if the moods just not right.  I play jazz when I'm confused, country whenever I lose.  I feel like Hank Williams tonight."  Jerry Jeff Walker

Ok, these words just strike me funny as crap for a lot of reasons so this is a silly post that hopefully will make you laugh out loud or at least giggle a bit.  First off I ain't 'gonna be playing classical music when it rains and I won't be playing Beethoven any time, no matter what the mood.  I might play a little jazz if I'm confused but I would have to think about that because I'm not sure what that means, confused.  Guess I'm confused.  LOL

I had a friend once that said they were quitin' drinking.  I guess they only thought about it, 'cause they still drinking.  Still drinking and playing ole Merle's "Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink."   Still thinking about holding you tonight, don't care what I think, just sittin' and drinkin'.  I can promise they ain't playing Beethoven but they might be playing a whole lotta country as they walk to the window and stare at the clouds  "blowing up a storm."  On a good night for sure you can hear them playing some Hank Williams.

Maybe we should play some rock 'n roll.  Rock 'n roll when I'm feeling a little down and the world trying to close in, turn the radio way up high, makes me feel alright.  I mean who wouldn't feel good hearing Chuck Berry singing Johnny B Goode in the still of the night at the Heartbreak Hotel wondering if you will still love me tomorrow since I was born to be wild because that'll be the day Maybellene  will wake up little Susie.   HaHa, how many different songs can you name in that sentence?

Lesson today?  Ya'll already know this one for sure!!  Turn the radio up loud, find your favorite song, feel the rhythm and let it go. Let it go and dance it out.  Dance it out and feel good about yourself and definitely don't judge.  Come on, I will if you will.  I will just "do it"  'cause I feel like Hank Williams tonight.


    Love to all,
    Sweet Southern Sass

Chain Breaker

"If you've been walking the same old road for miles and miles.  If you've been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies.  If you're trying to feel the same old holes inside, there's a better life."  Zach Williams

OK ya'll, this might be a little different than my typical sassy self.  We sung this song at church on Sunday and it hit me straight in the heart.  Yep, I've got one believe it or not.  Many times I've gone to church with such a burden on my heart and the song service lifted that burden I guess to prepare me for the sermon.  This Sunday was one of those days when I heard this song.

Many times I've asked myself why I do the things I do and why I keep walking the same old miles and listen to the same old crap from people that their opinion doesn't matter anyway.  Opinions that only make me feel less important or not good enough.  So hearing this song on Sunday morning made me realize that those feelings need to be gone and the way to that is to trust more in the chain breaker.  The chain breaker who can take away the pain of all those feelings that only me is allowing to happen.  The chain breaker who can take away the pain of those feelings that happen because of hurtful words and actions over the years.  The chain breaker that can give me the freedom of all these things that are from the past.  The pain taker that can take the pain so I can have that freedom of feeling good and happy!

Writing this right now, those feelings still try to creep up, but today those chains will not hold me down.  Today it's time to turn all those feelings over to the chain breaker.  My one-word for 2018 is FOCUS so today I'm going to focus on not letting things that I can't control make me unhappy.  I'm me, I'm unique and I beat to my own drum, so for those people that have said hurtful things and made me feel less than important get ready a change is coming.

Lesson today?  I'm simply going to quote parts of the song for this lesson.
If you got pain, if you feel lost, if you got chains, if you need freedom or saving give it to the chain breaker.  He's a way maker and there's a better life.  If you believe it, if you receive it, someone testify!!!

Most People Are Good

"I believe most people are good and most mama's outghta qualify for sainthood.  I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights.  I believe you love who you love, ain't nothing you should ever be ashamed of.  I believe this world ain't half as bad as it looks.  I believe most people are good."  Luke Bryan
                                             
 Mama's for sainthood?  Heck yeah. My mama definitely qualifies for it!!  Both my parents are still living and they have been married almost 65 years, but my mama was the hand that ruled our house in more ways than one.  I'm not taking away from my daddy because we knew when he said something, we better get a move on.  But my mama was the one that kept the house running like a fine oiled machine.

Let me just paint ya'll a picture of why my mama is a saint.  Friday nights under the stadium lights?  Mama was there every time.  Not so much stadium lights but gymnasium lights.  All of us 7 kids played basketball in the gym except one and she needed to be a cheerleader.  LOL  I know, I shouldn't be so hard on her but us ball players never liked cheerleaders.   I know my mama wondered how in the world we could afford to play sports, but some how she always found a way.  I think she had the mindset as long as we were involved in sports we would stay out of trouble.  I can't speak for the others, but me?  that's exactly what I needed.  I was afraid of my basketball coach so I never missed curfew or did anything to jeopardize me playing ball.  Too bad that didn't carry into my adult life.  Guess I had too many playing ball so I made up for it after high school.  I doubt I ever made a curfew on time after that.

I totally wished kids could stay kids as long as they can.  I mean my baby boy will be 39 this year and I'm wondering where in the world did time go?  Seems like just yesterday I was the one under the stadium lights watching him play football and later baseball but for me it was more under the race track lights.  I believed like a lot of mama's I'm sure, that if kids are busy doing something they enjoy, more than likely they won't be in trouble.  I never missed a game my son played that I remember and I can't remember many go kart races I missed.   Of course I was the main "sponsor" for that go kart so I had to be there to support my investment.  But just so you know, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I loved watching him didn't matter what he was doing.

I 100% believe that the "streets of gold are worth the work, but I still wanna go even if they are paved in dirt."  I can't imagine not wanting to walk on the "streets of gold" but I would be just as happy if they were dirt as long as I'm walking through the pearly gates.  Yes, I'm not ashamed to write about this nor am I ashamed to write it out loud that I'm saved by the Grace of God and proud of it.  His work here on earth is never done and I hope that something I do helps someone else see that walking these streets, the work is worth it.

Lesson today?  Surround yourself with people who make you happy.  People who make you laugh, who help you when you're in need.  People who would never take advantage of you.  People who genuinely care.  They are the ones worth keeping in your life.  Everyone else is just passing through.  Appreciate the good people you know because they are hard to come by. Work hard for what you have and keep the faith in mankind.  There truly are good people and I truly believe this world ain't half as bad as it looks.  After all we know it's fake news.  LOL

                                           
   Love to all,
   Sweet Southern Sass

When Someone Stops Loving You

"When someone stops loving you it don't make the evening news.  It don't keep the sun from rising, the clock from winding, your heart from beating even when you want it to.  When someone stops loving you." Little Big Town

Ok ya'll I started this on Valentine's Day but didn't get it finished.  Valentine's Day can be hard for some and some times it brings back too many memories for me as well.  So this year I didn't take the chance of crying in my heart shaped chocolates, I went to dinner with all my single lady friends and one who's husband was out of town.  Together we laughed and talked about Valentine's past, what we loved, what we missed but most importantly we weren't making reservations for one.

Of course we don't want our love story playing out on the evening news but any of us who have been through a breakup knows it's about the same thing because it's playing right in front of our friends and family. Might as well be on the evening news.  Some thinking how sad and some thinking "I told you so."  Well they can be sad all the want but for sure no one better say to me "I told you so."

The hardest thing when love stops is definitely walking into a crowded room trying to look like you're glad to be there.  Trying to put on a smile like it don't both you or listening to the radio like it ain't your song that's on.  Lord have mercy I can manage the crowded room but dang if a song comes on that reminds me of a love past, just shoot me because I can become a blubbering fool in the blink of an eye, and I can name that tune in one note.  Yes, that's right I said one note.

So how many of us still keep the number in our phone, just in case.  Just in case one night the ex is all alone and calls us.  I'm sure if my ex still has my number in his phone it's because he can recognize me if I'm calling to let him know how bad he is. Yep, I did it a few times, a few more times and then a few more times.  Ya'll can stop laughing, I know it was stupid, but at the time I didn't care.  It took me a long time to realize he didn't deserve a treasure like me and an even longer time to see how stupid it was.  Bless my little heart, I couldn't help it, no one told me how to handle a breakup.  I mean he did cross his heart that day 21 years ago and promised to make all my dreams come true.

Lesson today?  Who in the world knows on this one but I think Miranda Lambert sang it best, so let's use her words for our lesson today.  "Go ahead and fix your make up girl it's just a break up.  Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady.   Powder your nose, paint your toes, line your lips and keep 'em closed.  Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry."  Moving on doesn't mean that you have forgotten everything, it's just that you accept the circumstances and choose to live a happy life still.  So go ahead, put on your best boots and pick your head up princess, your tiara is falling.

  Love to all,
  Sweet Southern Sass


 
  

Life's About To Get Good

"I wasn't just broken, I was shattered.  I trusted you so much, you're all that mattered.  You no longer love me and I sang like a sad bird.  I couldn't move on and I think you were flattered."  Shania Twain

Lord have mercy, this is "about to get good."  LOL  I heard this song just now and oh my gosh so many thoughts and memories rushed through my head about my marriage and divorce.  I can laugh about so many things now that only made me cry when it happened.  My heart was broken but most importantly, my spirit was shattered.  I do not know for the life of me how my friends and family put up with me.  I was SO, SO sad and it almost broke me beyond repair.  But you know what they say...You can't keep a good woman down.

The longer the tears fell, the wider the river but I still held on to what might of been.  It killed me that things didn't get better, but it didn't,  so I had to figure out what to do next.  It took me a long time to get strong and move on, but with the help of my friends and family and MILLIONS of prayers by golly I had the will to walk away.  The will to walk away and not look back, the will to understand sometimes things just don't work, and the will to believe it was for the best.   It hurts to heal but I'm alive and I hold on to what I can feel.  I hold on to the memories that are good and I let go of all the hurt and the bad memories.  Sometimes the hurt creeps back in but I've learned with many hours of professional training as I call it, that you just have to feel it and leave it where it belongs, in the past.

Today's Lesson?  "Life's about to get good, oh life's about to get good."  If you find yourself in my situation, take a minute and think about it.  Take a minute and feel the hurt.  Take a minute and remember the memories that are good, but for goodness sake don't tarry on the bad ones.  Those are the ones that will keep you from moving on and give them the power and we don't want that.  We want to forgive and walk away with our head held high because we are strong.  Walk away because you're ready to be loved, loved the way you should.   Go ahead now, hold your head high, straighten your crown and sing with me.  "Oh, life's about to get good, life's about to get good.  yes, life's about to get good.

   Love to all,
  Sweet Southern Sass

The Older I Get

"The Older I get the more I think you only get a minute, better live while you're in it, cause it's gone in a blink.  And the older I get the truer it is.  It's the people you love, not the money and stuff that makes you rich."  Alan Jackson

 I've always been one to "fly by the seat of my pants" taking chances when I shouldn't and living in the moment.  The older I get the more I think about those things.  Had I been more like my sisters and followed ALL the rules how would that changed my life as it is.  Would I have been any wiser, probably not because I went to the same school they did and I even graduated "thank you Jesus" from Brenau University.  Whoopeee, yeah me at 52 years old I'm a college graduate.  But maybe, just maybe, if  I were more like them I could be retired, or married 30+ years like most of them and maybe have a little more money.  But as I'm writing this, I'm thinking OK so what if I had been more of a rule follower, with my personality would it matter?  Again, I don't think so because I'm just a rowdy individual with a gypsy soul.  Now ya'll figure that one out.  LOL

"Funny how it feels I'm just getting to my best years yet."  This sorta makes me giggle because I always thought my best years were in my forties.  How in the world can I be getting my best years at 60+ years old?  My hair is graying (unless you know my hairdresser), my bones ache, I make three or four trips to bathroom EVERY night and it takes a dadgum crane to get out of bed every morning.  What's worse is EVERYTHING and I mean everything isn't in the same place it was 20 years ago and where in the world did this extra 20 pounds come from. They call it a muffin top but I don't remember eating that many muffins, but it could be the cheetos.

Fewer friends?  Nope, I still have the same friends I've had for years.  I may have lost a few because I voted but Trump, but the way I see that, they weren't true friends.  They're the ones that wouldn't have my back and they certainly wouldn't be there if I needed them in a crisis.  To those friends who have been there forever, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  The older I get the better I am at knowing when to give and when to just not give a damn.  So for those that don't like my presidential choice I guess I didn't lose any sleep or give a damn.  Crap, did I write that out loud?  LOL  Probably gonna lose a few more friends over that but oh well.

"I don't mind all the lines from all the times I've laughed and cried, souvenirs and little signs of the life I've lived."   If I could find the fountain of youth, I might take a sip or two, just to erase a few wrinkles but the wrinkles left are the survival lines of my life.  Each line holding a story, a laugh or a memory.  Besides that if I sipped away all my wrinkles I would look like everyone else and we all know that ain't gonna happen.

Lesson for today?  Don't worry about the wrinkles!!!  Wrinkles mean you laughed, grey hair means you cared and scars mean you lived!  If you have wrinkles on your brow don't take them away, laugh some more and for the love of Peter, Paul & Mary, don't let them be written on the heart and wrinkle the soul.  The spirit should never grow old.   Let's pray longer and be more thankful!  Thankful for the life we've had and the life we're still living.

    Love to all,
    Sweet Southern Sass