Boot LOVE

 

<3 Boot Love

 

 

His and Hers!

(well Hers and His really)

Have Some Chocolate With Me

Tomorrow would be my Momma's 72nd birthday. Would be. She passed away 11 years ago this past February.

My entire life, well as far back as I can remember, I have celebrated her birthday by laying a single red rose and a Hershey chocolate bar by her bed for when she woke up. I always wanted it to be the first "gift" she got that day, and my older brothers and sisters were always happy to help me make that happen.

As we grew up I eventually became able to do it all on my own. And, for the last 11 years I have quietly continued to celebrate her birthday by laying a single red rose on her headstone and sitting along side it enjoying a Hershey candy bar.

Tomorrow will be no different, but, tomorrow I'd like each of you to help me celebrate her by having a Hershey chocolate bar yourself.

Maybe you could you send me a pic of how you're enjoying it. Post it here, post it on Facebook, tweet it. maybe that will make the day a little easier.

I think she would like that.

Listen To Your Mother, Why It Mattered To Me

Listen To Your Mother has come but I wouldn't say it's gone.

On Sunday April 29th I took the stage at Walton Arts Center with 13 beautiful and talented women.

All of us are at different points in our lives, all of us with different stories, all of us are new to this whole LTYM thing, and all of us are now closer than ever before.

For me LTYM was about honoring my mother one more time. It was a chance to feel like I had done something right. Like I hadn't failed her.

You see, my piece, She'll Need a Dress, was me telling the story of finding the clothing of which to bury her in. The circumstances in life leading up to such event have made who I am today. As well as a little uneasy with and unprepared for the emotions that came with telling my story.

When my Momma passed away I was only 19, newly 19 at that. It was a fairly regular Sunday. Except that my Momma was tired. Very tired. I had asked her numerous times if she felt ok, or needed to go to the doctor. Each time I woke her or questioned her she assured me everything was fine, she was just tired.

As the day went on and turned into evening I woke her up for dinner. She didn't want to eat, so I again asked if she wanted to go to the doctor. Again she said she was fine just really tired.

I started to watch a movie and time got away from me. Before I knew it, it was after 9 p.m. I went to wake my Momma up one more time, and in that instant my life changed forever. I opened her bedroom door and said "Momma" she didn't respond so I said it louder, still nothing. I went to shake her a tad and when I did I discovered her body was lifeless.

I screamed and I tried with everything in me to revive her. 911 was called and paramedics and police came from out of nowhere. I continued to try to revive her. Paramedics told me there was nothing else we could do but, I didn't want to believe them. I begged, and begged for them to bring my Momma back but, it was too late.

I have forever felt like I failed her. I didn't wake her in time. I didn't try hard enough to revive her. I always wonder if I had done just one more repetition if it would have mattered.

Listen To Your Mother gave me a moment in time to do it right. To honor the woman she was, and to honor her memory. Her legacy is all I have left of her and I wanted to do it justice.

As I took the stage last Sunday, the emotions started to take over. I realized about the time Stephanie said my name to the audience that I really might not be ready for this.

When I began to speak the tears started to fall. Lucky for me we had the greatest audience anyone could ask for. They opened their hearts to me as I not so eloquently poured out mine.

I gave them a tiny piece of me and they gave me pieces of their hearts in return.

Together we cried, we laughed, and we cried some more. Together.

For a moment in time all the Mommas in the world were holding me tight.

For a moment in time I didn't feel alone in my burdens.


(photographers courtsey of Megan Clemence Photography)

Listen To Your Mother, The Gift That Keeps On Giving

My thoughts on LTYM probably won't be completely written out or summed up for days but, I can assure you all that this is a gift that keeps on giving.

LTYM has given me a voice, courage, hope, strength, support, love, and friendship just to name a few.

Friendship might be the greatest gift of all.

During this process women from all different walks of life came together to support each other, and in doing that many friendships have bloomed.

Meet Heather Smith- Davis.

Heather is one of the kindest women I have ever met, and luckily, I now get to call her friend. Heather is a strong woman that wears many hats. She is a teacher, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a writer, a blogger, a storm watcher, weather radio listener, and a mother to, two beautiful little girls. She has guided me, taught me, hugged me, pushed me, wiped my tears, made me laugh to the point of nearly peeing my pants, and supported me. She does for others before thinking of herself, she is what a friend and a woman should be.

So, here's to Heather, the Minivan Momma, that's always willing to take another along for the ride!

"Schweddy Balls"

“Schweddy Balls”

Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I'm Margaret Jo McCullen.

Teri Rialto: And I'm Teri Rialto.

Margaret Jo McCullen: And you're listening to..

Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.

*******

Teri Rialto: Please welcome the owner of Season's Eatings - Pete Schweddy.

[ Pete pulls up to his mike ]

Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Pete, Teri and I have been looking forward to having you on the show, 'cause we know you're the master of all kinds of Christmas goodies. Tell us about them.

Pete Schweddy: Well, there are lots of great treats this time of year - Zucchini Bread, Fruitcake.. but the thing that I most like to bring out this time of year are my Balls.

*******

Pete Schweddy: A quick plug! If you order from Season's Eatings now, you can still send out a special Schweddy Ball Sack in time.

Margeret Jo McCullen: Great idea. My niece would love a Sack of Schweddy Balls...

(12/12/98 SNL Transcript The Delicious Dish)

I still remember watching this episode on SNL. It has got to be one of my all favorite skits, ever.

It might be my love of NPR, or my sick sense of humor. Regardless, it’s a favorite.

It also fueled my desire to one day be a guest on a National Public Radio show even more.

So, imagine my surprise and delight when I was given the opportunity to speak with Arkansas’ very own Kyle Kellams host of Ozarks At Large on local NPR station KUAF.

It’s happening, I thought. My day has come. I am going to be on a NPR station. Oh My God! Amazing. I will get to sit in a NPR chair, in a NPR station, across from a NPR host, and speak into a NPR microphone. I seriously could die happy now.

Myself, some my Listen To Your Mother cast members, and our director, got to share this wonderfully nerdy experience together. As a bonus, we got to promote our upcoming Listen To Your Mother show.

It was nothing short of a dream come true. Kyle is a pro. He asked all the right questions and made each of us fell like the superstars we imagine ourselves to be. He was kind and supportive and as if that’s not enough, he gave us multiple segments on the show. He aired our segment Friday, April 27, 2012, at Noon, and again at 7 that night. On Sunday, April 29^th, he aired a special segment on the morning show that highlighted some of our writings.

Thank you Kyle, from the very bottom of my nerdy pro public service, and public radio heart!

P.S. He let me say “Schweddy Balls!!”