Big Shoes To Fill

 As has been the case over the last several years, us baby boomers have taken on the role of caretaker for our parents.  I'd like to think I did a good job of making my own mom's life a little easier over her last years.  And I assisted my mom in taking care of my dad as his health declined as well.  We lost Greg's mom at an early age, long before she needed ANYONE to take care of her.  I'm not sure if she lived to be 100, she would have needed help.  She was a very strong, independent woman!  Now that Greg's dad is aging, he certainly is slowing down,  And I'm sure he misses having Janette there to take care of him.  He doesn't ask for much from Greg or Diana.  However, yesterday, he had one little request of Greg, that in my opinion, shoots him straight to the top of the World's Best list of parental caretakers.  

He told Greg he couldn't find his dentures.  And for some crazy reason, he thought he had flushed them down the toilet.  So what did my heroic husband do?  He got the fishing boat out, launched it in the lagoon, donned full arm's length gloves, and he went fishing. I'm sorry, I mean, sure, I cleaned up alot of poop, but this?  I'm afraid I would have been ordering  new teeth.  Unfortunately, the fishing expedition failed to turn up said dentures.  A few hours later, he looked under his recliner, and oh looky there!  One pair of semi used dentures, NOT in the mouth of some lucky fish.

The whole time, I'm thinking Erin better step up her game.  He just set the bar pretty dang high.  

Introducing the Next Social Media Star... Greg Bryson!

 Now that Social Media Influencers are a thing, let's take a moment to talk about that subject.  I believe if you look it up in the dictionary, there will be a picture of me as an example of the ultimate target for influencers.  Let's face it.  I've never had an original thought of my own.  Prime example? My Blog.  When did I start blogging?  After I started reading blogs back in 2006.  My regulars were Bitchypoo, Dysfunction Junction, Plain Jane, A Small Town Girl, and Too Disgusting to Contemplate, Too Disgusting to Ignore.  I thought well if they can do it, so can I!  And I did.  Consistently,  For seven months.  And then, like all things I attempt, I quit.  Well sort of.  Obviously, I'm still blogging, but only occasionally.   Anyhoo.  These days, my course of action after being so heavily influenced is reflected on my bank statement.  Let's see, there's Montana Moonlight, who very convincingly moved me to purchase and use Pomifera Face Products and Seint Makeup, which btw, are all wonderful products that I continue to use daily.  Then there's Nicole Huntsman.  Boy, where do I start?  I've ordered Younique products from her, and I've used her oh so special code to purchase everything from a new wedding set to my Toddy XL from Brumate, (which I highly recommend!) and tons of other expensive things in between.  

All of this to tell you Greg Bryson has convinced me to try making TikTok videos, and now I'm wondering if I can be an influencer** too!  I suspect the type of products we would be endorsing would fall somewhere between farm must-haves and booze.  But hey, ya gotta start somewhere!

So, if you haven't heard the news already, our TikTok Page is

BOATING WITH THE BRYSONS

Our timing, however couldn't be worse.  The idea was born on what was most likely our last trip to the lake for this year.  We don't want to just abandon the page until next spring, so we've been throwing around some ideas for winter time entertainment.  Expect to see heavy equipment, cattle, liquor recommendations and much more fun stuff.  Greg is the star of this page, but you might see my face once in a while.  

If you have any suggestions or requests, please throw them this way!!

**tongue firmly planted in cheek

Your Jokes

Dear Mom 

Six months. Does 6 months in heaven feel as long as it does here?  I’m trying hard to think of the positives that come from your passing. Obviously you are in heaven with our Lord, and nothing can top that!  And I believe you’ve been reunited with all your loved ones who passed before you.  And how wonderful it must be to be pain free and healed of your ailments!  That part sounds pretty good about right now!  (we'll save that story for another time)  

I wonder, do you miss me as much as I miss you?  Do you see what’s going on in my life?  Do you hear me talking to you?  I really need to believe you do.  As much as I miss my mom, I miss my best friend even more.  Yes, I still have great friends who I love dearly. And believe me, I have leaned on them a lot in the last 6 months. But it’ll never be the same.

I ate lunch today at the Sale Barn, and we sat at a table with 3 lovely women from your generation. Our waitress was the same age. And oh did she remind me of you!  So ornery and quick witted!  Giving the other ladies a hard time, but all in fun. The ladies at our table reminded me of some of your friends as well. The sweet but quiet woman who drives them around (although she didn’t drive a green van 😉). The leader, who was the most talkative, and who proudly shared that she was 90 years old! And then there was the complainer. I’m sure you know who that reminded me of!!!  She mentioned that the son of a friend had recently had his tongue clipped, and he was much easier to understand now. Well you know I had to tell her my story about tongue clipping!  When I said the Dr. clipped it too much they all looked at me in disbelief. Until I explained that perhaps I talk TOO much as opposed to struggling to talk before it was clipped. They all laughed, and when I told them y’all said I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle, I thought they were going to lose it!  So thanks for telling me stories that I can share and use to bring a little laughter to others. I laughed too. If felt good to think of you and laugh. I suspect it wasn’t a coincidence that there wasn’t anywhere else to sit today 😉😉

Well what do you know.  I’m actually feeling a little better after sharing this with you. I think I might do this again. Please don’t ever forget how much I love you and miss you.

Love Barb