First Meeting

June 26th will be Mom's and Dad's Anniversary. Daddy said Mother was the only woman he ever dated. He graduated from high school early and worked his way through Mississippi State. He did not have time for woman then. I used to love to hear Mother tell about meeting Daddy for the first time. So today's story is about Mom and Dad meeting for the first time.

Pappaw had a job in Murray, Kentucky so he moved the family there. I am not sure what he was doing, Mother never said. Mother was going to school at Murray State. She was dating a Navy man and he told her that his room mate was from North Mississippi. Mother told him to tell the man to call her because they may know some of the same people. So Daddy called her. She liked talking to him so she invited him over to get to know him better. She asked, "How will I know its is you?" Daddy said, "Well the shortest, reddest headed, freakled face man you know will be me." She thought UGH!!!!!!!!!! What am I going to do? Pappaw was at home so she thought that will be ok. There was a knock on the door and she headed for the door looking down. When she opened the door she saw knees. She looked up and up and up. My daddy was six foot 2 inches with cold black hair. Was she ever surprised. She was staring up at him with her mouth opened when pappaw said, "Sugar (remember he could not tell mother and Dorie apart)aren't you going to invite him in?" She just held the door open while Daddy giggling went in. Well that started the interesting life that they had for over sixty years.

Dead Pig

Last week was my sister's birthday. She died nine years ago Christmas. She was on my mind all day long. Deborah was my opposite. She knew her mind and was always positive about the things she did while I am not sure I am doing the right thing. She was so very smart and I am well let us just say not all my neurons fire as they should. She and Daddy could talk about anything and she had an opinion on everything and knew she was right about it. I am the one that you can change my mind with a easy thought. We did favor and my husband says are voices were very much alike.

The story that comes to my mind is the time when she was about 9 or 10 years old. We lived on top of a hill and there was a small country store at the foot of the hill. Mother had given her some money and sent her to buy some small item---like milk or something. She came back in without the milk and when mother asked what was wrong Deb replied "I killed a pig." Mother went out to the road and there laid a pig knocked out. The pig was in the road and scared Deborah so she picked up a brick and threw it at the pig hitting it square in the middle of the head knocking it unconscious. Boy did we tease her. Laughing and bringing it up anytime we wanted to get back at her. "Pig Killer" "Oh you better be careful or Deborah will hit you with a brick and kill you!!!" "Don't scare Deborah she is Lethal!" It would make her so mad when we threw these lines at her but remember brothers and sisters love to make the other one mad.

I have many memories of Deborah. We shared a bedroom which was an experience too. Again we were so different. One night as I lay sleeping she kicked me and said "Be still!" I replied, "I am not moving. I am just breathing." Her reply was typical of her---"Then stop breathing." Being the younger sister I was determined not to follow her to college. I was tired of being her little sister. So I went to MSCW while she had gone to Miss. College. But of course where did she go to graduate school. MSCW. I thought now she will be my sister --- OH NO---she had a job in the Home Ec. department so immediately I became the little sister again. I could not win.

Life is different without her. I often think of her and wondered what she would think about things. What would she do and how would she react to things. Well Deb where ever you are now this is for you.