Thirty four years

Thirty-four years ago I was very busy trying to get all the last minute details organized for my wedding. When I look at these pictures and think about how hot it is - I have to wonder 'what was I thinking with long sleeves and high neck' - but that was more the style of that time. Plus, I always broke out in big red blotches on my neck when I got nervous so I was just 'covering up.' Why we chose August had more to do with schedules - ours and our friends - people just didn't travel for a quick wedding weekend like they do now.
Our actual anniversary is Friday, August 4th. Tommy South performed the ceremony and his wife, Linda and Neal Anderson sang for us. I remember we had "Sunrise, Sunset" for the parents to walk in and "One Hand, One Heart" when we lit the unity candle. Strangely enough I don't remember what I walked down the aisle to - just that it was a song I hated but Steve insisted on because it was traditional. I had three bridesmaids, 4 junior bridesmaids, and a flower girl & ring bearer. I remember when I was walking down the aisle the lace on my veil kept catching on the runner and I thought sure it was going to just get yanked off my head before we could get up front. Patty Wareham made my cake and we had a small reception at a small hall rather that the traditional cake & punch in the church basement. (We did, however, have a pot-luck rehearsal dinner in the church basement.) I asked the elders wives to serve the punch at the reception so there would be no questions as to what the ingredients might be. We spent our honeymoon night at the Viking (at Lindbergh & Watson) and spent maybe 2 days at Branson as our honeymoon trip. Actually, I think we stayed in Springfield because we couldn't find a room in Branson - didn't know anything about making reservations back then - and then drove to the Branson area. We decided to head home earlier than planned because we still had to move into our new house on Friar Tuck before we'd have to go back to work.
Weddings are a lot more complicated and EXPENSIVE now ( my dress & veil was less than $100) but we got the deed done. I had about $6000 in my bank account before we got married and we spent it all on the wedding (Daddy bought my dress but the rest was my responsibility) and on furniture for the bedroom, living room, and kitchen. Thirty four years makes a big difference in the price of things. Anyway, we may not be those same young kids (21 & 23) but we have a lot to be thankful for in all those years - Happy 34th Anniversary Steve!

Window fans and front porches

I know you are all probably tired of hearing about the storm but we finally have our electric back on so this is the first chance I've had to get on the computer. We did have about 12-15 hours of electric last night before it shut down again but we were only home about 30 minutes of that time.
Anyway - aside from the fact that it was hot and we lost all the food in the refrigerator - I was just thankful that we still had plumbing, no small children, pets or elderly sick ones to worry about, money to go out to eat with, plenty of gas in both our cars, and 2 kids who never lost power and 1 who only lost it one night. Thanks kids for the a/c days and nights!
But atually the heat just made me think about my childhood days. We didn't have a/c for a long time but at least we did have electricity - and the most wonderful window fan in the world. The only thing that would compare is an attic fan. Flipping the switch on the fan before bed was just part of the "going to bed" ritual. I'd lie there in my bed with the gentle breeze the fan pulled in fluttering my curtains, brushing my skin, and actually making the room chilly by morning sometimes. But the best part was the constant rhythm of the fan. Sometimes when I have trouble sleeping I try to pull that sound from my memories - it just lulled you to sleep so easily.
We spent two nights at Stevie's house in the city and that stirred up a lot of old memories too. With no electric, people were sitting out on their porches like we always did in our neighborhood and neighbors would walk by and stop to chat on the front steps. I use to love taking night time walks around the block or up to the ice cream stand. Sometimes daddy would bring home a watermelon and we'd sit out in the back yard and enjoy that. As kids, we played out in the front up and down the block until "the streetlights come on." That was every kids' signal it was time to go home. We didn't watch a lot of tv (of course there were a lot fewer choices to watch) but we visited relatives for a few hours or just sat on the porch and watched the world go by - not a bad way to spend an evening at all. What we didn't do back then was take very many pictures - so this me in front of the porch in my 8th grade graduation dress - I figure we could all use a good laugh after this past week - and
Jimmy, Nancy, Joe, and I on the front porch before we put the house up for sale.
I hope everyone is back up and running real soon - but if the electric is out and you think there's nothing to do - just use it as an excuse to relax and daydream - it'll be good for you.

Almost Family Reunion Time

Nancy tells me she got an email this week reminding us it's almost "McCoy Family Reunion" time down at Reelfoot Lake. The pictures are 1- Reelfoot Lake with what's left of the old dock in the state park. It use to go out further and there would be lots of people out there fishing. Daddy told me on one on his last trips down there that the fish in that lake were not edible anymore and the restaurants use farm fish now - but we use to eat those big ole' catfish! 2- this picture is also of the lake but you can see all those stump looking things - those are 'cypress knees' - at least that's what we call them. They look like tree stumps but they are really part of the existing trees - like the roots. These trees build themselves up so they can grow out in the lake. There use to be zillions of trees out over the whole lake but they have slowly died off. 3- a picture of one of those rare reunions that we got Steve to go to and some of the kids who were too young to have a choice. I guess Stevie is the only one who hasn't ever been. 4- this was the FIRST reunion but it wasn't at Reelfoot - it was at an uncle's farm - we had a fish fry - don't you know Steve was excited!!. 5- Jenny would listen to Aunt Nancy and I talk about all the fun we had on these trips so she decided she would come along by choice once - but it was only once. She was a good sport but once was all we ever talked her into. At least she got a t-shirt!
The reunions are a good time to share memories and hear stories about momma & daddy that we never knew. Saturday we have a lot of laughs, lots of catching up with families, and a good home cooked country meal. Sunday morning we worship with the family (who are all Baptist) - complete with a preacher (Uncle Jesse) and sometimes an organist, take some pictures, and then we go make ourselves sick on every imaginable fried food there is: fried fish, chicken, onion rings, french fries, hush puppies - add a little very salty country ham, beans, slaw, apples - makes your mouth water, doesn't it?

Jen's Birthday Party

I remembered to take some pictures last night at Jen's 30th Birthday Party so I thought I'd share a few. We went to 1111 Mississippi for dinner and then back to our house for some yummy 'free' ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery. We had a nice celebration but Nate wasn't able to join us because Samson had to have 'cat surgery' yesterday so he stayed home with the patient.

Happy Birthday to Jenny

Tomorrow- Monday, July10, 2006 is Jen's 30th Birthday! Seems like it was only a few years ago that we brought her home from the hospital so I don't know how she could be 30 already. But my first beautiful tiny baby has grown into a beautiful young woman. The day she was born I got side swiped on my way to my doctor's appointment. The doctor was sure my pains were a result of my anxiety and that I would not deliver for at least another week. But he was wrong and she came that evening. They told Steve to go eat dinner because I wouldn't deliver until morning - but they were wrong again and he almost missed the whole event. Jenny has always been on the stubborn side when anyone tries to tell her what to do - just kidding. Happy Birthday Jen - I love you!

Spencer's First Over-Nite

Spencer came to stay over nite with Nana & Popo last night. It was his first time away from Mommy & Daddy and he did great. We took him to Lion's Choice for dinner cause he likes "turkey, and bun, and fries, and milk" and sometimes he would remember to add "and ice cream". After Popo and Spencer watched a little ballgame (I think Popo was already asleep), Nana and Spencer read a few books and said our prayers. He was so good - he laid right down (as soon as Nana promised him she was sleeping right next to him) and in 10 minutes he was out. He's a restless sleeper just like his mommy was at his age but he slept until 7:30 am so Nana was happy. Spencer was the perfect over-nite guest and I'm glad he enjoyed it so he can come back again.

Family Get-together

It was good to see Joe & Sandi last week and that also meant we got to see Kelly, Joe, & Karli - we missed Rachel because she's a working girl now. We never see enough of this group and I know it's hard for them to get to St. Louis very often
(I guess we could all go to Colorado??)
But anyway - no one has changed much except the girls - they are really grown up! Joe & Sandi are still the same - lots of fun and silliness! Of course - silliness goes well in this family - and it's not genetic. That's Karl showing Sandi how we pose for pictures in St. Louis and Karli is showing us that she has learned some of her grandpa's tricks. Sandi & Nancy are the sweet innocents - yeah right! And don't let that sweet picture of Joe & Kelly fool you - they are just as silly and as much fun as the rest of them. One more thing - Monday is Kelly's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY!!!!!