#125 - KL

This post is about a good friend that I met playing tennis.  Sometimes she was my partner and sometimes my opponent, but always my friend.  I got to know her playing in a local league.  A funny thing about local tennis...a lot of women with strong personalities, lots of cattiness at times, and lots of gossiping.  Not so with #125.  As a matter of fact, her bum knee and her hating all the "hating" if you know what I mean, drove her off the courts.  I don't play as often as I use to either, but I miss seeing her and her wicked slice out on the courts.  She has beautiful blue eyes that always startle me when I look directly at her.  I have gotten to meet most of the rest of her family.  Her husband also plays tennis and has been my partner a time or two and recently I had the honor of meeting her daughter who is interested in PT and volunteered at my clinic over Christmas break.  #125 should be proud because her daughter is beautiful, kind, genuine, and smart.  She would definitely be an asset to my profession.  I love the sport of tennis because it is a sport that you can play your entire life.  I have played with many different people of different ages over the years with different strengths and weaknesses and have made many friendships that I cherish.  #125 is one of them.

#124 - CH

I have an aunt that is just a few years older than I am.  My grandmother had her when she was in her 40's which was not as common then as it is now.  Anyway, when I was growing up, she was not quiet old enough to babysit me, and we really were never close enough in age to "hang out" together.  Fast-forward 20 years or so... and now we have children that are around the same age and go to the same school.  Her son and my two older boys are really good friends.  Every so often they have the conversation about 1st cousins and 2nd cousins, but in the the long run, it doesn't really matter.
#124 gets a major shout out because she has taken a huge responsibility from my list.  I don't know how I always get involved (I really do know, but that is a whole separate post for a whole separate day), but somehow...I got volunteered to be in charge of a bulletin board outside the church.  Each month, I am supposed to be in charge of getting a different class from the school to submit artwork to decorate the board, and I am supposed to be in charge of getting the school secretary to submit the school calander and "goings on" to post on the board.  How I got this duty, I don't remember but one day #124 asked me how she could help and guess what?  I shucked this job off on her.  She is a school teacher so she is much more skilled at bulletin boards than me.  She also wants to volunteer at school, but because of her work schedule is not always available.  She willingly took this project on for the last two years and has saved me a monthly chore.  I really, really, really appreciate her help and I do not look forward to next year when her child moves on to a new school and this job falls back to me once again.

#123 - SP

Did anyone see the episode of Modern Family that aired last week? (Side note - this show is hilarious...makes me laugh out loud every week.  Great characters, great lines)  One part of the show was about the husband who installed an all-inclusive electronic remote that controlled all of the electronics in the house.  The wife was furious because she could not work the TV, radio, etc.  After smashing the first remote control (or as Jeff calls it, "the clicker",  and becoming irate when the husband just replaces it, the wife bets her husband that no one can learn to work it.  To decide who is right, they bet that if the husband can teach their oldest daughter (aka - their stupidiest child) to work the remote in under an hour, then he wins.  Funny, funny stuff.

This reminds me of our house.  It is an electronic nightmare for almost everyone who tries to watch TV or listen to the radio at Casa de Trahan except for me.  And I have #123 to thank.  He works for a local audio company who installed and re-installed all of our audio components...twice.  For a while, he was so much a part of the family that he had his own key.  A few times, I think he got left with our kids at the house and doubled as our baby-sitter for a few hours.   He did get locked in our attic once for a few hours and had to call our real baby-sitter to come and let him out.  (Which she did without calling the fire department or the ambulance service...although she almost called both!)  He also had the dubious tasks of teaching yours truly how to work the entire system...which he did.

Thank you to #123 for:
1. letting me put his cell phone number on speed dial
2.  answering his phone even when it was the 5th time in a row I called and it was on the weekend
3.  Installing a "kill" volume switch in my bedroom so I can control the outside speaker volume without having to walk into the poolhouse
4.  Coming out for all emergency, "Sonny!  The LSU game is about to start and we we can only hear it...but no picture!" calls

#122- M and L

This may be the most random post so far...but here it goes.  My dad and his friends have always picked up strays and I'm not talking about cats and dogs.  I remember several individuals, or in this case, couples who we would meet...and next thing you knew, they were invited to our house for dinner and along on our summer vacations.  This is the case for #122.  I tried a Google search on them, but they didn't even make google.  I really did not think they would.  I can remember only a few things about them, so here it goes.

1.  Their names were Morris (the male) and Lynn (the female)
2.  The looked something like this

3.  They were a folk-singing hippy group?

4.  They sure smoked some funny looking cigarettes (just kidding).

5.  Their big numbers were "If I Had a Hammer" and "Leaving on a Jet Plane"by Peter Paul and Mary.

6.  I first remember seeing them perform at Ellendale in what is now known as the 19th hole.

7.  They came on vacation with us to Grand Isle one year and put on a show every night.

Wow!  Thanks mom and dad for exposing me to all sorts of things growing up...

All my bags are packed... I'm ready to go

I'm standing here outside your door.

I hate to wake you up...to say goodbye.

The dawn is waking, it's early morn

The captain's waiting, he's blowing his horn.

Already I"m so lonesome, I could cry.

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go (oh oh...oh oh)

Cause I'm leaving, on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again.

OK - all the above...by heart (I promise)  When I typed the last line, I had to lol, because I remember everyone (and all you Grand Isle crew know who I'm talking about) being sad, when Morris and Lynn sang this song last...and then left.  LOL- OK really?  Did they really leave on a jet plane from Grand Isle???  Anyway, I never remember seeing them or hearing from them again.

So that's my post---I would love comments from those of you who remember them.  Anyone?  Anyone?

#114 - JB (breaking news update!!!)

I hate to backtrack, but I must!  This just in!!!!!  Have you seen #114 lately?   

I saw him last night at a basketball game and all I can say is...

 Wow!
He is still so hot! 
I mean smokin!!!!!

#121 - Pilot

The very first time I went to Las Vegas, Jeff and I (and Mr. Skipper) went on an adventure.  We took a helicoptor ride / tour of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

  I have to say...it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!!  But also very, very scary (just for me I think).  The pilot of the helicoptor makes my blog because he was the best pilot I ever rode with, (ok, the only one...but who's counting?) and I'm sure he still has the deep puncture wounds on his arm where I was squeezing every time he headed straight for a mountain.

Living in South LA, you just don't see many mountains.  I certainly don't, and I had never seen them from that angle before.  Jeff had flown in a helicoptor many times before for work, but as I mentioned above, it was my first flight.  I remember sitting in the front seat in between Jeff and the pilot.  Headphones on...check!  Seatbelt on... check!  And we were off!  A really weird sensation, not at all like a plane.  I have never been scared to fly, but I have to admit...the helicoptor ride was a different bird altogether.  Anyway, for the entire length of the flight, I varied between awe at the beauty around me and the terror of the flight.  Really...the beauty won, but I will never forget the pilot heading straight for the side of one of the mountains of the Grand Canyon and at the very last second, pulling straight up and soaring right over the top and BAM!  What a view!  Would have been better if I hadn't peed in my pants!

We also got to see the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead (I think).  The Hoover Dam is very impressive in itself and it is a very interesting story as to how it was built.  I won't bore everyone with the details, but if you want some interesting reading, click here.  I remember that Jeff, Mr. Skipper, and I were so impressed, that we purchased the video of the flight once we landed.  It had our entire flight set to the tune of "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelley.  Cheesy, but cool.   I really wish I could find it :(

Anyway...I thank the pilot for his piloting skills!  I think this was the company.  I know that when people think of travelling to Las Vegas, this may not be on their bucket list.  But...one day...if you are there...and you have donated all the money that you have to the casino!  Look up Maverick Helicoptors...they take credit cards!

Next on my list...

The Grand Canyon Skywalk...who is with me??????

#120 - NS

There are some people in this world that you just can't imagine ever getting angry.  #120 is one of them.  She is the godmother of my sister-in-law, and the wife of the godfather of my husband, the friend and ex next-door-neighbor of my mother-on-law, and my friend.  (Got all that?)

She has been through several difficult times in her life, and she has come out stronger.  She is a devout Christian, and I always feel better in her presence.  Just a short conversation with her usually lifts my spirits.  She always inquires about each of my children, and always asks in a way that lets you know she is really interested, not just making conversation.

She is possible the tiniest grown woman I have ever met, with a heart as big as the state of Texas.

In her honor, I would like to share this prayer of strength for everyone out there who needs it today.  I know that she offers the strength of her prayers for many people, every day, and she will offer this one as well for all those in need.

A PRAYER FOR STRENGTH

O Lord,

In this time of need, strengthen me. You are my strength and my shield; You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. I know, Father, that Your eyes go to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts long for You. The body grows weary, but my hope is in You to renew my strength.

I do not fear, for You are with me.

I am not dismayed or overwhelmed, for You are my God. I know You will strengthen me and help me; that You will uphold me with Your righteous hand. Even as the shadows of illness cover me, I feel the comfort of Your strength, Or Lord.

Amen.

#119 - Uncle J

You know how you have uncles that really aren't your biological uncles?
You know how you have relatives that always make you smile?
You know how people from Texas drawl?
Have you ever met a cowboy?

If you can answer yes to all of the above, you may have met Uncle J.  Technically, he is not my uncle.  Technically, he is not really even Jeff's uncle.  But try to tell us or him that.  I met Uncle J when I was 17 years old and I travelled with Jeff and his family to Lubbock, TX and then on to Riodosa, NM for a ski  vacation.  Uncle J and his wife live in Lubbock and we stopped there for the night, and then they came with us on vacation.  I can honestly say that it took me at least 10 years to understand him when he speaks.  His drawl is so pronounced, it sounds like a different language.

Ex.  Highway 90 sounds more like Hiiiiiiii Way Ni Nee 
A bayou or pond is a t-ank with heavy emphasis on the -ank or sometimes it is a cr-eeeee-k.

The only time I have even seen Uncle J without his cowboy hat is when he says grace.  I think he sleeps with it, but I'm not completely sure.  I know he naps with it.  I have no idea how he keeps his pants up.  I have never seen him in anything but blue jeans (even at my wedding), and he wares (that's how he says it) them very very very low on his hips with a belt.  I've never seen them fall, but I have no idea what keeps them up.  He gives the tightest hugs ever.  I think that's how you know he loves you. 

He has worked for the fire department in Lubbock for years.  He cooks like his is from South LA.  He owns and flys his own plane and recently had to perform an emergency landing when his landing gear would not descend.  He is a true Baptist and believer in the good man upstairs, and God was definitely watching over him that day.  He loves his 2 granddaughters and flys in from Lubbock several times a week to see them play soccer or just to see them.  They call him Poppy and every time they say it, he just grins that Uncle J grin.

Over the years, he and his wife have made lots of trips here for hunting and fishing, for weddings and baptisms, and just to visit.  I have never been back to Lubbock since that first trip, but I have seen him many times at the ranch in West Texas, at his daughter's house north of Dallas, or at Possum Kingdom.  Speaking of that first trip...Uncle J no longer skis, but on that trip he did.  After taking the wheel of my mother in law's suburban, and driving us up, up, up a one way, very narrow, no barrier on a high ledge with a steep drop, round and round, several miles up, road...he proceed to take Jeff's youngest brother ( who I'm thinking was about 10 at the time), to the very top of the mountain and then showed the first time skiing 10 year old how to handle black slopes.  All the while with the grin on his face.

I cannot think about Uncle J and not smile.  He is a great source of Christianity, strength, wisdom, kindness, and foolishness.  He loves with his whole heart and I'm glad I am included in his circle of hugs.

#118 - JL

#118 is another therapist that I worked with briefly.  She came to help us out one summer when a staff therapist was out for a few months on an oversea vacation.  She is a great therapist and a great person.  She taught me lots of new techniques and tricks for treating pediatric patients.  She also had three boys that were a little bit older than mine, and she taught me some cool tricks for that too.  She now works as a home health therapist and I know that the people that receive her services are getting a gem.  I see her from time to time and she always has a kind word to say.  She is the kind of person that always remembers my kids names and asks about each one of them.  When I remember most about #118 is that whenever she treated kids, her "nickname" for them was "Lovebug."  This is where I got my nickname for my youngest.  I have called Seth, "Lovebug" since he was a baby and I stole it from #118.

#117 - BK

Once upon a time, I was a lowly high school student looking for a summer job.  My dad had an old high school bud (# 117) who agreed to let me work at his clinic for a couple of months.  I was so excited!  It sure beat lifeguarding at the local pool or at the waterslide which was the job most of my friends had for the summer.  What I didn't know was that this summer job would pique my interest and lead me to my career. 

I am thankful to #117 for giving me the opportunity to experience first hand the field of PT before starting college.  I knew exactly what I was getting into which allowed me to have a direction as soon as I started college.  Many of my friends had no idea what they wanted to study, but I was focused from day one.  I know that the many hours that I was able to log in (while getting paid) while working at #117's clinic helped me when I applied to PT school.  I really thought that when I graduated, I would return to work at his clinic, but it didn't work out that way.  When I finished school and returned to town, #117 had a full staff and didn't really need another therapist.  Mr. Ken on the other hand, was looking to replace a therapist that some of my faithful followers may remember from this post.  Anyway, I went to work for the competition so to speak.  Despite this, I will always appreciate #117 for introducing me to a field that I love.

#116 - VB

This is a story that is really sad from start to finish with a lot of happy in the middle.  When I first started working, there was this patient who came in once a week that only wanted to see my partner, John.  I'm a little fuzzy on the exact details, but this lady had suffered a series of strokes years earlier during a routine hysterectomy.  The strokes left her with increased spasticity in her entire body which means that her entire body jerked uncontrollably whenever she tried to move, and sometimes even at rest.  Just to paint the proper picture, VB was probably about 5'8" and probably weighed around 200#.  Her husband was about 5'4" and probably weighed about 140#.  Even with this huge difference in stature, he did everything for her.  Lifted her, bathed her, moved her, fixed her meals, washed her clothes...He worked non-stop for her.   Anyway, whenever this lady would stand up, she would wobble and shake and in short, was very unsafe.  Mr. VB had a very hard time walking with her but she had a strong desire to continue to stand and walk, even as non-functional as it was.  That's what brought them to John.  When she would stand up with John, who is somewhere around 6'1" (I'm guessing), she could "walk."  So, once a week, her husband would bring her in, and John would help her get up on the "kick table."  Then she and her husband would stay for about 1-2 hours talking to all the other patients who came in and out while she kicked her legs.  It was most definitely their "outing" of the week.  But...because that was and still is the kind of clinic that we are...that was fine.  VB would tell everyone who came in that she had been coming to therapy long before John was there, and she made Mr. Ken hire him.  Same story...every week.  She would laugh, (her voice would also shake), and she would kick on that table for (what seems like) ever.  Then, she would issue a summons to go and get John (usually to me since I was the new kid on the block), and he would come and get her down.  Then she would stand and wrap her around around his waist, and he would put his arm around her shoulders to stabilize her, and they would walk.  Usually about 10 - 15 feet, but for her it was a mile.  He husband would follow closely behind them with her wheelchair in case she fell or needed to sit down.   She would rest for awhile, then on her good days, do it again.  Then...see ya next week for the same drill.  This continued for years.  (Side note - even though her medical problems were sustained during a routine surgery with non-routine complications, she did not file suit against anyone.  Insurance would of course, not pay for the many years of therapy, but John and Mr. Ken never charged for her care).   

Very nice people...very terrible situation...then it got worse.  Mr. #115 started to have complications...total knee, then torn biceps, then the other total knee...then he died.  All of a sudden, the routine that they had established to help VB live as normal a life as possible was over.  Her kids could not care for her at home, and they had no choice but to put her in a nursing home.  They put her in a home in New Orleans so that she would be closer to them (I think.)  I'm only guessing, but I bet that was the end of her walking.  Nursing homes are really not into pro bono therapy, especially for maitainence patients.  Most people would not want to take the risk that she would hurt them because she required so much strength to walk.  That would be sad enough, if the story ended there, but it doesn't.  We really do not know the exact details, because her kids did not really keep in touch with us after they moved her out of town.  But...I am pretty certain that Ms. VB's nursing home was one of the ones that was flooded when Hurricaine Katrina did it's number on New Orleans.  She was not evacuated from the home, and she died.  I try not to let my mind drift down that road too far and linger on the how's and the why's.  I can only hope that in the years that she was away from our clinic, she regressed to the point that she did not realize what was happening to her.  I will always remember her for her courage, her inner strength, and most especially the love and bond that she and her husband had.  They truly lived out the "for better and for worse" and "in sickness and in health" part of their wedding vows.

I do not remember all of my patients that I have seen over the years, but #116, I will always remember.

#115 - KBH

I want to look like my neice.  She is quite possibly the strongest kid I know.  Her arms and legs just scream P-O-W-E-R! 

And a special shout out to her and her sister who just qualified for the cheerleading championships in Disney World!!!  I am so proud... of both of them.  They work very very hard and can flip like I have never seen.  Whenever you see #115 she may be upright, or upside down.

KB is an amazing mix of my brother and sister in law.  She is mostly quiet, but very stubborn.  I'll let you figure out which trait she gets from which parent.  She is best buds with my youngest and they will play together for hours and we never hear them.

She swims like a fish, and we always have plenty of bathing suits at my house for her.  Usually on a weekend, she will change bathing suits about 300x!

She is a daredevil and a hunter and can definitely keep up with my boys!

She has already broken more bones than they have, and killed more animals!

She also has hidden talents.  Last year at the Christmas program at school, she stood up, took the microphone, and sang a beautiful solo song without having pre-told anyone in the audience.

She is rough and tough, silly and funny, but also a girly girl.  She has the best hair and the best smile and she is always ready to pose for Aunt Mo.

She is beautiful and I am proud to be her aunt!

#114 - JB

#114 is an old family friend who is now a return-to-town, kids-that-are-the-same-age-as-mine-now friend.  When I was in high school, I was more friendly with his younger sister than him, and  he was the cool older brother.  I remember seeing him driving around in his dad's cool white camaro.  One time, he brought me home from a Mardi Gras parade in the cool camaro (with the top down too!)  He dated a girl in my class who was a blonde, and this must be his thing, because now he is married to a beautiful blond.  He always makes me laugh because he has a knack of saying exactly what he means.  The funny thing is...I do not get offended because he really does not mean it in a mean way...Kinda confusing I know, but let me give an example.  One of the first times he saw me when he moved back to town, I ran into him.  After a few minutes of chit chat, he looks me over and says, "So, what's with the short hair?"  with a confused look on his face.  Knowing #114 like I know him, I know he meant, "I really liked your hair when it was long." as opposed to "Your hair looks awful now."  At least that's how I like to interpret it. 
Also, recently he came striding up to me across the playing field saying, "I'm sorry." 

"What for?" I asked. 

"I was just cussing you out in my car because you were talking on your cell phone, while trying to back-up/park, in the busy traffic...and you were in my way."

I mean really...how do you answer that???  I was talking, and texting, and parking, and probably moving slowly...  What really is the proper response?  "Sorry!"  "Guilty!"  "Thank you!"  Not really sure so I just smiled.  :) 

When #114 was in college, he was involved in a big accident and was hit by a car.  He had multiple injuries and spent a lot of time in hospitals and in rehab.  I remember it being very touch and go for awhile, but he made a remarkable recovery.  Other than a few bum joints (a knee that I recently ordered a new brace for) I think he has done really well.  He has two beautiful children and when I see him at all the kid stops in town, he looks very happy.  His son looks so much like him it's scary.  I do not know his daughter as well, but #114 assures me that she is the apple of his eye.  I am very glad that he and his wife decided to move back to town and I look forward to many more catch-up conversations on the sidelines.

#113 - Ms. Mim

When I was growing up, we had a neighbor named Ms. Mim.  I do not remember much about her, but I remember this.

She had very wrinkly skin. 

She liked to sit in a lawn chair every afternoon, in her driveway with her    husband, Mr. Roy.

She liked (or pretended to like) us to come over to visit.

She liked (or pretended to like) it when we rode our big wheels from our driveway to hers repeatedly.

I'm not exactly sure how old I was when she passed away, but I remember her husband living there for several years alone.  Once he too passed away, my dad and his brothers bought their home, and my paternal grandparents moved in.

Gone really is the day where neighbors sit outside every afternoon and visit.  I only know my immediate neighbors, and our lives are so busy, our relationships are not much more than a wave as we pull in and out of our driveways.  I love my life.  It is full and fulfilling, but sometimes I can't help but wish that I had time every afternoon to sit on my driveway and watch my kids ride their big wheels...with my neighbors.

#112 - JH

This is a shout out to another one of my boy cousins...I call him J.  He cracks me up, all the time.  I love my uncle's description of J...he says, "When the wind blows north, J goes north and when the wind blows south...J just follows."  I got to spend extra time with him when he was a junior and a senior in high school after he messed up both of his shoulders, at different times, and had to have surgery and rehab at my office.  He had to pay me in more ways than one.  At the time he was coming to therapy, I was putting together a new protocol for back exericse progression.  J was my model.  He let me take pictures of him doing about 30-40 different exercises.  A start picture, a middle picture, and a finish picture.  I still get to look at him several times a day, whenever I explain these exercises to a patient.  A star!  Also during his stint in therapy, he charmed all my co-workers by telling them wonderful, elaborate, dramatic...lies, I mean stories.  Like the time he had a huge fish on his hook, but right before he netted the fish, it got loose, so J dove into the water with the net, swam around the motor and under the boat, and got his fish!  Riiiiight!  He is a rock star to my little neices who follow him around batting their eyelashes at him at all family gatherings.  He was also the ring bearing at my wedding.  I have to love him forever, because he wore the outfit seen below, all for me.  He is always willing to help out when I need him.  He is "on-call" if I need his truck, or if my car needs some special attention and detailing (and he is short on cash!)  Whatever the reason, I love spending time with him and so do my boys.  As you faithful blog readers know...I only post funny pics of the ones I love the most...Sorry J, you make the cut!

Sorry J, It was all my mom's idea!

#112 - TC

This post is about a therapist that I work with.  I admire her because 99% of her patients are under the age of three.  I like treating pediatric patients, but I will be the first to admit that it is not always easy.  Handicapped children are not just patients who come in for an hour visit and then leave.  When you treat kids, you have no choice but become completely immersed in their entire worlds.  You usually get to know extended family (i.e. grandparents, siblings, aunts, nannys etc.).  Usually the parents of these kids have a huge support staff of family members to help them out.  Or the opposite is true, they do not have enough help and are not getting the care that they need.  In one case, you must explain treatment plans and goals as well as the best ways to help the child to all of them...usually repeatedly.  And then you have to listen to all the suggestions/advice from all the well-meaning, but often under informed...    In the other case, you have to find funds where none exist to try to get these kids all of the things that they need.  You have to get to know their daily routines and get immersed in how to help them go about their daily activities.  By this I mean, you have to help them figure out the the best way to get in and out of the tub...the bathtub...the toilet...the bed...the car.  You also need to address braces, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, chairs, tables... Then there is the entire school setting.  Often times you have to train teachers, aides...set up classrooms...make suggestions for how to help the child to learn etc.  In other words...it is a lot more than treating someone who sprained their ankle.  I have also found that the kids that you help become part of your family just like you become part of theirs.  I have patients that are now turning 18 and 20 years old that I saw when they were 3 or 4.  I have sent their siblings graduation gifts, and always remember birthdays.  Treating children is rewarding, but is also mentally and physically exhausting.  A lot of times you must "play" with them during therapy to trick them into doing something that is hard for them or that hurts.  This is hard to do all day long.  A lot of time they fight you and you must physically overpower them to keep them from hurting themselves.  I've been bitten more than once and kicked a whole bunch.  But...there is nothing better than getting that big smile and hug when a goal has been accomplished and the child gains any measure of independence.

I have scaled back on my pediatric clients over the years, but #112 is still going strong.  She is a hard worker with a special knack for getting the most out of these kids and I hope the families that she works with realize how lucky they are that she is on their case.  I know they do!  I appreciate that her good name is associated with my clinic.

#111 - TT

Whenever I graduated from PT school, I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy.  This was the highest degree that you could get in this field.  After graduating from an accredited PT school, you had to pass a state licensing exam, and then you were licensed to practice PT.  Each year, I am required to attend so many hours of continuing education to keep my license current.

Several years after I graduated, the requirements to become a PT in our state changed.  Before applying to PT school, you had to already have completed a four year college degree and hold a Bachelor of Science in any field.  Then, upon acceptance and completion of PT school, you graduated with a Masters degree in Physical Therapy, and still had to pass the licensing exam.  So basically, the new graduate had more education, but not really more therapy knowledge.  Same amount of PT school and same classes to learn how to be a therapist, but because you may have had a degree in English or Biology or Psychology prior to getting accepted to PT school, you graduated with a Masters instead of a Bachelors degree...

But I digress...#111 graduated in the first Master of Science class from our state, I had the chance to work with her for a time.  I do not want readers of this post to think that #111 lacked skills as a therapist, because I do not.  What sticks out in my mind about #111 is not the level of her skill, but where she was coming from in regards to her career goals.  I always think that people's goals are the same as mine and am honestly taken aback oftentimes when I find out differently.  I have to be honest ...#111 taught me some valuable lessons about different levels of employees, and that the diploma you are holding, does not make all men equal.  From #111,  I learned that people's pay scale should always be based on production and not education.  I learned about the difference between someone who is invested in a company and one who is working for a paycheck.  I learned how to incentivize based on production and not just assume that everyone puts forth their best effort every day.  I learned that you cannot deal with all employees the same way, and a lot of the time you have to draw a line in the sand between employees and employers.  I learned that people's priorities are not always the same. 

On a more personal level, she has a beautiful family who keep her very busy.  We see them at different tournaments and games and are never at a loss of things to talk about.  She has moved on to a different job with a different company and I wish her all the best. Thanks for all the talks and lessons learned.

#110 - SH

Who remembers this?

I do!  And I bet #110 does too!  When we were younger (me a little younger than her...ha ha), we were dedicated to Jane...  Every summer we would go on a vacation to Grand Isle and we would bring along our VCR tape (or was it BetaMax?), make some room on the floor, and start lifting.  I think we even had leg warmers :)  Wow, how things have changed.  I now have 3 kids and she has 6.  We both have to squeeze in workouts in between homework, ball games, and car pools.  #110 has lived in New Orleans since getting married, but did live back here for about two years recently.  In a silver lining (in my eyes, and I think in hers also) after the devestation in N.O. after Hurricaine Katrina was that #110 and her family (who were in the process of a total home remodel when the hurricaine hit) had to move here.  They had just sold their home uptown, put most of their belongs in pod storage, and gutted their new home.  I think the remodel was supposed to last about 2 months.  After the hurricaine, this turned into two years.  Once they relocated here, her older children attended school with mine and got to be really good friends.  She and her husband were active in our school activities and we got to spend a lot of time together.  They have since moved back to the big city and we don't get to see them as often.  My boys miss their new friends, and it was great to catch up with them over the holidays. 

As I mentioned earlier, #110 is a few years older than me and I always looked up to her.  She was always great and treated me like a little sister.  Here are some of the funny things that I remember from growing up:

#110 had a really cool ring that she wore.  It was made of two of her teeth.  It makes me laugh today, just typing it...but at the time, I thought..."How cool is that!"

#110 was on the high school dance team.  I remember her teaching me the entire halftime dance to "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.  I still can bust out the moves when I hear the intro.

She hit the make-up age before me and I always remember her mother telling her to go put on some lipstick.  I am not a lipstick lover, and sometimes even today when I look in the mirror and think I look pale, I can hear her mom telling her to go put some on.

On our annual vacations, #110 was always the organizer of our acting productions.  We would write lines, rehearse all week, make costumes, and then put on a performance for the parents.  As a parent now, I recognize the wisdom of our parents suggesting we do this.  It kept us very busy, in a room, away from them for hours.  I will never forget the adventures of SuperGirl and all of her sidekicks!

Good times!  Good times!  Once again...there is nothing like old friends!

#109 - CM

This is definitely a random post.  This is a guy that worked for Jeff for a short time.  I have to say, as I think back, there have been several guys that Jeff, and therefore, our family...have adopted.  He has recruited many employees from different parts of the country and the world, actually.  They usually come for a visit, are introduced to the company and if they are going to fit in...are invited to our house usually for dinner or to watch whatever sporting event is in season at the time.  Of course...the employee loves us and chooses to move to our small little town and work for such an awesome company with an awesome boss who has such an awesome wife and awesome kids!  Such is the case of #109.  I think he came here via Texas, but originally he is from India.

When he moved here, he knew no one.  To help him make friends and get comfortable, he was invited to our home several times for dinner and just to hang out.  He always came with a gift for me as was the custom in his country.  This was usually some type of jewlery like bangle bracelets, or maybe a bedazzled pocket mirror.  Very thoughtful and he did this as a sign of thanks for the invitation.  I'm not exactly sure how old he was, but I would guess mid-20's.  He became more comfortable talking with us after a few visits, and really liked playing basketball or football with the kids.  He also began to tell me more about his country and the customs that they follow.  He was always asking questions about how things are done here, and comparing them to the way of life in his country.  Very interesting and so different from what we are use to and take for granted.

After he was here a short time, he was called to return to India because his younger brother had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I do not remember all of the exact details, but I remember him telling me that when he arrived home, the medical care in the town where his brother lived was basically non-existent, and the doctors had pretty much told his parents and his brother that there was nothing they could do for him and that his brother would die.  #109 knew better, and arranged/brought his brother to a larger town where they were able to successfully remove the brain tumor.  The last I heard, his brother was doing fine.  Scary right?  If #109 would not have lived in the U.S. and been educated outside of his hometown, his brother would probably be dead.  Things that we take for granted here and do not really realize is not a basic right in many parts of the world.

Another interesting thing happened when he returned home to help his brother.  #109's father told him that it was time that he got married.  In his country, marriages are arranged, and so #109 met his bride to be (selected by his father and the girl's father) for about an hour.  Then he returned to the U.S.  He came back, telling us that he was getting married to this girl he had only met for an hour.  As sheltered as I am, I was incredulous.  I of course have heard of arranged marriages, but really???  In today's world?  Anyway, #109 and his bride to be started corresponding by email.  She and her mother and his mother were planning the wedding.  #109 had no input, just was told when he needed to book his flight back to India for the ceremony.  One of the things that the bride to be needed to do before getting to the U.S., was to learn all of the foods that #109 liked to eat, and learn how to prepare them for him.  He told me this, not with a s#!t - eating grin on his face (like I know all of you male readers have right now), but as a matter of fact.  In his country, wives work hard to please their husbands in every way.  They are not independent women, they are subservent to their husbands.  They are not mad or indignant about this.  They are proud to honor their husbands by accomodating them and basically catering to them. 

Interesting comment from him...When he first returned back and told us about his bride to be, he told us that he had only met her for an hour.  After about six months of corresponding with her via email only, he told us that he was ready to get married because he loved her.  Now, I love my husband, but I know that I would not love ANY husband.  There are certain qualities in certain men that I know that I definitely would not love.  There are some people that I know that I could not, would not love.  How did he really know that he loved her?  He did not even know her...  But he assured me that he did love her and she loved him, and they were excited about getting married.

Anyway, he returned to India, got married (really, really, really wanted Jeff and I to attend his wedding.  He told us that his people would consider it the highest honor if his boss attended his wedding...) and then returned to the U.S. with his bride.  In the middle of all of this, due to a change in business circumstances, he changed jobs, and relocated back to Texas.  But...he made it a point to call me, come to my office one day, and introduce me to his bride.  He wanted her to meet all of the friends that he had made here.  She was a lovely girl.  Very quiet and only spoke a little English.  They then moved to Texas and I have not heard from them since.

Just a blip on my road of life, but one that makes me appreciate all of the things that we have here.  The medical care, the customs, the way of life, the relationships between men and women and the freedom that women have here.  Something to think about.  We have the freedom of choice.  I hope that I have not offended anyone with this post, as it definitely was not my intention.  #109 and his bride were raised in a different culture and have different ideas/beliefs than what is common here.  I am not saying one is right and one is wrong, I am just saying they are different.  That people who are so different can work together for the good of a company is part of what makes this world so great.  We should appreciate each other for our uniqueness and our individuality and not be closed minded.  Thank you to #109 for allowing me and my children to get a different view point, and to for allowing me to teach my kids that people may look and act differently than us, but we are all equal and should all be treated with respect.

#108 - LH

This shout out is to one of my boy cousins.  I usually get to see him only once or twice a year on holidays, even though we live in the same town.  In keeping with the title of my blog, our paths do not cross too often these days, but I love him just the same.  He is the same age as my brother and they were close growing up.  He is married, and his wife is very sweet.  I am glad that they found each other, and that someone so sweet is now a part of our family.  She stays very busy, flying all over the country as an airline attendent (Is this the PC term now?) for Southwest. 

Friends are forever, cousins are for life!!!

#108 is now a grown man with a life of his own, but in my mind, he will always be my little cousin.  No matter where our paths take us or how often we meet up, #108 will always be my cousin and if he ever needs me, I will be there.

#107 - LG

When I think about the people that I was closest to in high school, the friends that I made playing sports were by far the best.  I have not seen many of them for years, but will bump into them occasionally and it is like we have never spent a day apart.  #107 is one such friend.  I vaguely knew her before highschool because she was the cousin of one of my good friends.  Once we started 8th grade, we were on the same volleyball and softball team and therefore were together a good bit of the time.  I remember going to her house or vice versa before or after practices/games to get a bite to eat or to "rest."  I remember spitting sunflower seeds.  I remember singing the same stupid cheers in the dugout that drive me crazy at my kids ballgames today.  But...most of all I remember the good feeling of having a great friend to enjoy spending time with.  No drama, no catfights, no competition between us...just fun.  I hope that my kids will get to experience this too.  Now, I see #107 usually on one ball field or another.  She has a son and a daughter who are the same age as two of my kids.  We are no longer close, that is to say, I don't have her cell phone number and I doubt she has mine, but we will always be friends, and if I ever need her, I know that I can find her and she will be there for me. 

Canaille

Thank you to Sarah Sue who cleared up the confusion...

Sarah C. said...


I googled it. The word is spelled canaille and means mischievous.


January 11, 2010 2:35 PM

#106 - ZJT or ZP

Today is my second son's Golden Birthday!  Today he is 11 on the 11th.

He came into this world, right on schedule, weighing in at 8 lbs. 16 oz.

And made Blake a big brother!

  I tell him that he is my "peanut butter" because he is smack dab in the middle of his two brothers.  Whenever he starts some "middle child" whining, I am quick to remind him that when you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, no one wants just the two pieces of bread on the ends without the good stuff in the middle.  I remind him that the peanut butter is the good stuff and it makes the two pieces of bread stick together for one delicious sandwich.  A little deep, but it always makes him smile.  He is the glue that holds his brothers together and it depends on what day of the week it is, as to which brother he gets along better with.

Zack is my most affectionate child.  He will hold my hand while we ride in the car.  He always wants to sleep with me when his dad is out of town.  He always consults his brothers before making a decision.  He loves all of his cousins and they love him.  He is wonderful with children and has a lot of patience.  He is very athletic and loves anything you can throw, hit, or run after.  He does well in school with lots of one on one time with his momma.  When I am trying to see the glass half full after a rough week of studying with ZP, I call our hours and hours together "quality time" that I would not get with him otherwise.  I love him all the time, but I love him the most during summer and holidays :)

Here are a few of the many things that make him special...

*  He takes care of everyone smaller than him.  This includes Seth, Brooke, Katie, Morgan, Noah, Joseph, Andrew, Alice, and baby Scott.  At the same time, he gets along Blake and most of his friends.

*  He is my quietest child and those of you who know Blake and Seth will know that this often makes him the favorite around our house.  (Just kidding B and S)

* He is a joy to watch play sports.  I think half of the reason, we love to watch him, is not because he is so good at playing, but because he is so happy to be playing them. 

*  He just got chosen to be in the Beta Club for school which I am even more proud of him for, than all of his sporting accomplishments, because I know how hard he has to work to keep his grades up.

Jeff and I are blessed to have three wonderful, healthy, unique boys who bring us joy every day of our lives.

  Zachary has made us laugh from the very beginning when he was delivered via C-section.  When Dr. D held him up to show us our new beautiful baby boy, Zack peed a long strong arc up in the air all over Dr. D, immediately getting himself the nickname, ZP.

Now, on to the pictures...  when I started looking, I realized something that I forgot to include in this post.  From the time that Zack was very little, he was most happy outside. 

I can remember swinging on our patio at 2 or 3 in the morning when he was really fussy.  This continued as he got older.  As long as he is outside, he has a smile on his face...Now that I think about it, maybe we should start studying outside...hmmmm

This was taken in Lake Arthur...right before Zack spray painted the side of PaPa Lynn's camp with red spray paint!

Taken at Ellendale...Note to Sarah - see stick???

Both of these were taken on our first ski trip.  Zack took to the slopes like he was born with skis on his feet.  1/2 day of ski school and he was like lightening without poles down the mountains.  His momma could not keep up with him, but his dada could.  Oh, except for the time he forgot how to stop and took out the ski school fence....

Some things never change...Above Zack around 5 and below...last night!

Check out the black front baby tooth.  It stayed this way for about a year before it fell out.  Injury sustained jumping out of Ms. Michelle's car after GDC while his feet were still in the car.  Did I mention that Zack always chooses to jump, run, or twist over walking???

If you are outside with Zack, chances are, he will ask you to throw something to him.  He loves baseball and we love watching him play!

Again, outside...no shoes...heaven!

  My grandma has a French word that she says when she is talking about this look on Z's face.  It is pronounced "con-eye", but I'm not really sure if it is a real word.  I tried to google it, but couldn't find anything.  (Help someone...Ma Ma Gladys?)  Anyway, the way I understand it, this picture could be right next to the definition.  Just kinda mischevious and the mind always thinking about getting away with something...  Speaking of...

I'm pretty sure, he spit this at me right after I took this picture.  See what I mean...Coni!

Zack has always been my "cool" dude.  Always wants to dress cool and usually pulls it off.  He invented the white undershirt with a shirt on top and now has passed it on to his younger brother and cousins.

Happy Birthday to my Peanut Butter! 

I love you!