Mom - We Love You - That's Why!!!!

Monday - September, 29, 2009

There is a reason for me writing this post. I feel that there are some who constantly question how much time we leave our home to stay with Mom. Mike and I are predominantly the ones who do this. The reason is simple - we love our mother!! Some have even said, "can't someone else stay with her.?" Why would we want that. Mike still works; I'm retired which means I have a little more free time than he does. It has also given me the flexibility to be free to take her to her doctor appointments which is great. Neither one of us is "burdened" with the responsibility of helping Mom. I don't like the word "burden," but I'm afraid that's what some people think it is. They can no longer live "their" life their way! I have heard others say, be with your mother as much as you can, because one day she will also be gone. She is doing great, and we are hoping to give her a big birthday "bash" when she turns 90 in February!!!

Some of those who have made these comments have mothers who are younger and able to do what ever they want with no help. Someday, the time may come when they WILL need to assist their elderly parents. Others have been people who just don't understand the commitment we have to family. Is it easy - no, not always. It is hard to leave home, but when you have a supporting spouse who understands the relationship we have with our mother, then it makes leaving home to go home a lot easier! When the month comes to an end, the number of nights we spend with Mom are as even as possible - we don't keep tabs of who stays the most - we do what needs to be done because WE LOVE OUR MOTHER! I have discovered there are many people out there who are "me" people. Whether in their 20's, 30's, 40's, or 50's, they tend to think about themselves first - everyone else is second. I know that God wants us to take care of those in need - especially our family!!!

I have spent the last two nights with Mom. Last week I was with her four nights. Some nights we just sit and watch TV; other nights we may go to K-Mart, Wal-Mart, AC Moore, Target or the store; and sometimes we just stay home and cook! We all try to keep her busy when we stay with her, but not overdo it. Billy and Mike have both been sick, and we definitely did not want Mom exposed to the "germs.!" Billy came to the door and talked to Mammaw through the window!!! Checking up on her to make sure she was okay! :)

The comments made about "WHY" do "YOU" have to stay with her gets old after a while. WHY - let me tell you why. Who cared for me when I was born five weeks premature? Who took care of not one baby, but two babies? Who worried about where the money was going to come from for the medicine we needed? Who made the dresses I wore to church and school. Who lost many hours of sleep because all four of her children had the flu. who did without so that her husband and four children could have what they needed? Who indeed!!!! That was Mom.

In the beginning there was four of us who was able to take turns to stay with her, then last August it went from four to three due to the unexpected death of my brother, John. Then this past February, the number dropped down to two after my oldest brother, Dink, suffered a severe stroke and heart-attack. Too many times I have heard people say, "your family is large, you all can take turns!" Whose mother is she??? Dink, Mike's, and mine!!! Dink isn't able to help, but his oldest son Billy tries to stay on his days off. What about the rest of the family? Two are full time students with more than their share of work, plus working at a job to make ends meet. One is helping take care of his father and working when the opportunity for work is available. The others live too far away, are raising a family, and have jobs they need to hold down.

Sure if there was a need for one of the grand kids to help out - they would. Mike and I have said it many times - "She is our mother. We will do all we can to help her. Not only is it our responsibility to do so, but an honor for all she has done for us!"

Why are people so cruel? Why do so many people put their parents in a home? Some have really good reason in doing that, others do it because they are selfish. They want to live their life with no strings attached and keeping them from doing and going where they want. We try to make sure Mom doesn't feel like a burden. She knows it is tough for us to leave our homes, and doesn't want to cause problems for us. We are lucky in that those left at home understand! Sure we miss being home, but Mom is worth the sacrifices.

I have seen and heard so many of the younger generations make comments about what they were going to do if their parents got too old and feeble and couldn't live by themselves. I know of situation right now where the son has taken over all powers, sold his mother's car and house, then placed her in a "living assistance" complex out of state. Hmmm - seems like greed may have played a part in his decision. This lady was still able to take care of herself in her own home!

I am the only daughter, and therefore Mom likes for me to be here to help her do certain things - one of which is cooking. She loves to help cook up some new and old dishes. She loves her sons tremendously - one reason she loves to help me cook is so the boys will have something to eat! :)
As I sit here and write this I think about my future. I was not fortunate enough to give birth to a child. I will never know the love of a daughter or son as Mom and Dad has. Sure, I have nieces and nephews who love Aunt Sue; I have a step-son who loves me; but, it's not the same as having your own child love you! Regardless of how hard they have tried to include me, I am and will always be just their aunt and step-mother. I do not expect any of them to put me above their own parents - never.

I watched as Dad tried to take care of my grandparents. The love between parent and child was evident. Then the four of us taking turns to help Mom care for Dad those last five months - the love was there also. There was nothing we wouldn't have done to help make Dad's last days here on this earth the best it could be. Maybe we were being selfish in that we wanted to be the ones doing for him because we wanted to spend as much time with him as we could.

Mom is 89. I want to make her as happy as she can be. Her family has a history of a long life span, and we want her to be as happy as she can. Mike and I have certain "duties" that she does not want anyone else to do. We try to accommodate her as much as possible.


There are many families who have shuffled the responsibility to one child. They causes a lot of hard feelings and resentment. I have seen this happen so many times, and the resentment was hard to overcome. Thankfully we DO NOT have that happening with our family. Should Bill and I be going out of town or to a concert, then Mike or Billy takes my place with Mom that night. Should either one of them be going somewhere or even happen to be sick, then I pick up their night. No fussing No grumbling! No resentment. Should there be something happen that Mike, Billy, or myself would not be available, Meghan, Todd, and Bobby are willing and able to help their Mammaw out! :):)

So to those who don't understand why anyone would leave their home to help care for their parents, there is only one thing I can say - It is because we love them with our entire being and are grateful for what they had done for us!

We love our mother and will do all we can to help her!
We are so thankful we still have her with us!

I know there are many families out there who do not have the family support our family has, and it is tough. Many times there is only person who is available or willing to care for the elderly family member, other times there is no one who physically or financially can take on the responsibility. This is so sad! To those of you who still have your parents, please give them the love and support they need as they have always given you!

Honoring WV's Rosie the Riveters

Monday -September 28, 2009

“WE CAN DO IT”

This is the motto you can find on the iconic posters for “Rosie the Riveter.” It is also the “creed” that many of the women who had helped their country during WWII used their entire life. They had made many sacrifices - leaving the security of their homes to help their country in some way in a time of need was a big step for these young women. These ladies did not talk much about what they did during the war. Once the war was over their lives took another turn which was important to them – marrying and raising a family in a free country! It appears that this generation – men and women – did not talk much about their experiences because they felt what they did was nothing special – it was their privilege, duty, and honor to do what they could to help secure the freedoms we have today.

It has not been until the interest of special individuals and groups who wanted to preserve the stories of this generation that we really found out what a big part the Rosies and our veterans played in the war effort. Many families had no inclination of the role their parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, or cousins played during WWII. When reading about WWII in school, it was about people you didn’t know – or so we thought. In reality, we knew many people who the history books were talking about but had not used their individual names. They were referred to as soldiers, sailors, marines, pilots, nurses, and Rosie the Riveters. The men and women in those history books were in reality our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They also included the family next door, the widow down the street, or even the elderly couple that sits on the second pew up front at church! Some of their stories may be too horrendous to tell, but the stories of their courage and the endurance of the times needs to be told. They are all heroes, and in the eyes of many they are “the greatest generation” to have lived!

On Saturday, September 26, 2009 there was a gathering honoring a group of our some of our West Virginia Rosie the Riveters. This was the first time that the Rosies had gotten together as a group. The process of getting their stories documented is beginning through individual interviews. Some of those ladies were being brought together for the first time to be honored. This special event took place at the Edgewood Summit Retirement Home in Charleston, WV. There were seven ladies who were going to be honored. In attendance were family members, veterans, the media, professors from some of our state colleges, and board members and staff of the group, “Thanks! Plain and Simple.” There is one special lady to me who was to be honored – my mother, Relma Irene Layne – to whom I will simply refer to as “Mom” throughout the rest of this posting.

Mom has not figured out why everyone is making such a big deal about what she did during the war. She, along with her foster sisters and cousins, went to Ypsilanti, Michigan to work at the Ford Bomber Plant. Mom was a “riveter” who worked on putting air vents in the outer wings of the B-24 Bombers. It was a job, and it was something she did to help the country during the war. To her, it’s just like me going to my job of teaching – it was a job, and she wasn’t anyone special. She and all those ladies were doing what needed to be done!! When growing up, Dad was the one who would say something about her being a Rosie the Riveter. Big Deal! I had no clue what a Rosie was. So what, she put rivets in a plane which happen to be a bomber. I had no idea the real meaning of her being a Rosie until I was a lot older! My brothers and I were aware of Dad being in the war since he was an amputee. He never let his injuries deter him from doing anything he set his mind to doing. Mom was the same way – “They Could Do It” regardless of what “it” was.

Sadly, there are many stories out there which have not been told about these courageous men and women who stepped up and did what needed to be done. From some of the things I learned today – not all of the “Rosie’s” worked in a plant as Mom did. Many of these women worked on the farms to help produce the food for their country and their family. Some volunteered at the hospitals, while others eventually joined the armed services. This was a time in our history in which our country relied on the women to be able to pick up the work the men had to vacate. The men were fighting in the was while the women were helping them by building the needed the needed planes, ships, guns, and other necessities they might need to survive. Most of these ladies are just like my parents and other veterans – they just didn’t talk about what they had done.

Once we arrived at Edgewood Summit, we were cordially greeted. All were doing a superb job in making the Rosies feel welcome and important. It was indeed a day intended just for them. A day in which we all could say thank you for what you did to help ensure the freedoms we have today. They may not have been in combat, but their jobs were just as vital to the war effort as were all those in battle on foreign soil trying to preserve these freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

Mom was introduced to all the other Rosies in attendance which was exciting. She was also introduced to the veterans – one being Woody Williams, WV only living Medal of Honor recipient. Each Rosie was answering questions by those in attendance who had not heard their stories. As the story was repeated we were learning more details about their experience. Little details that had just resurfaced were being shared with those who wanted to listen. As the day progressed Mom discovered there was another lady in attendance who also worked on B-24’s at the Ford Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti. They were able to talk about their experience, but discovered they were not there at the same time.

There was a special luncheon for those attending the day’s event. The tables were set up with a name card for the Rosie’s and their guest with other tables being occupied by friends of the Rosies. The cards had a special limerick for each of the Rosies. There is a picture which shows Mom’s card and limerick – oh so special!!! The food was delicious and the company was superb.
After the luncheon we gathered in what I would refer to as the Rosie Room. The reason for this is that there was a mannequin in the room which had been dressed as a Rosie the Riveter. She had a scarf on her head wearing an outfit very similar to what we see in the pictures of real Rosies at work. Mom had her picture taken beside this mannequin as did most of the other ladies. I’m sure it brought back many memories for them.

Once we were all assembled in this room we able to preview the beginnings of what will be a documentary of the Rosies and their stories. This is a work in progress, but what we were privileged to see gave us the sense it is going to be an awesome documentary. Listening to the ladies tell their stories was so enlightening and humbling. The realization of what it must have been like for them is coming to life for the younger generations.

The three people who have done the interviews are doing a wonderful job. Anne Montague – Executive Director and Founder ; John Haulotte – lead veteran and interviewer; and Tijah Bumgarner – videographer have and are doing a wonderful job in collecting the stories as well as compiling them in a manner that will enjoyed for generations. These three came to Mom’s house and interviewed her several weeks ago. All three are very charming people and made Mom feel like a very special lady! They were great in calming her down and getting her to tell her story. She was nervous, but she did a great job in telling them some of the things she remembered about that time. Mom did what she did because it was the right thing to do. She worked at the Ford Bomber Plant while Dad was being trained to man a half-track with anti-aircraft guns on them. Both Mom and Dad were doing what their country needed them to do. Both are my American heroes!

There are many people involved in this project. Many who are behind the scene and are working hard to gather as many stories as they can. Before the Rosies were given the floor to tell their stories, a lady who lives at Edgewood entered the room and was introduced as a Rosie who had just heard about what was taking place. Apparently this project is starting to pick up the pace in the number of Rosies that are being found in WV. My hope is that they will be able to reach all the Rosies possible, documenting their stories, and preserving them as a part of our history for generations to come.

Following is a set of pictures documenting the days event for Mom.

Before leaving the house at 8:30 - Mom was all smiles!

Mom sitting in the lobby of the Edgewood Summit - starting to get a little nervous.

Standing next to the "Rosie the Riveter" is a REAL Rosie - Mom!

Mom sitting with grandson, Billy Layne and his fiance Jamie Smith. She was so pleased they were there to support her. Lunch would soon be served!

Lead Veteran and one of the ones who interviewed Mom. John Haulotte is so good with these ladies - they love him!

Mom's limerick and name card on her table.

Another fantastic person who made the Rosies feel special was the videographer, Tijah Bumgarner.

Anne Montague, Executive Director and Founder, is one of the driving forces behind this project. Anne is representing her mother and is telling her story. Ann was one of two Rosebuds in attendance which meant their mothers were deceased and it was left to the daughters to tell their stories. A very gracious lady with a mission - getting the stories of the Rosies told!

Veteran, Woody Williams is a Medal of Honor recipient. He is WV's only living Medal of Honor! He was very helpful with the introduction of the Rosies and helped calm them down with his witty personality. A true gentleman.

This looks like one of those "got 'cha" shots of John. He is 27 years old and is a natural with interviewing and putting the ladies at ease. Having served in Iraq he feels a connection to these ladies, understanding a little of what life was like for them back in the 40's.

All of the ladies sitting are awaiting their turn to tell who they are, where they were during the war, and what they did. The first four ladies are Rosies while the fifth lady from the left is a Rosebud.

The two ladies sitting on the right are also Rosies. Ann and the lady on the left are Rosebuds - both representing their mothers.

. . . and the 7th Rosie to be honored was Mom. She reminded me of the kids when they had to give a speech for me in class. Some tried to hide and/or be last. Mom was tyring to be last!!!! :):) Before the ladies started, entering into the room was another Rosie who happen to live at Edgewood Summit. Another Rosie with a story to tell!!!

Some of the Rosies getting ready to do their Rosie pose-" We Can Do It"

Arms up - showing their muscles!

The genuine joy that Tijah and John are displaying when talking with Mom was evident when they spoke with all the Rosies. It is with people like this who will make the project a success! Thank you all for being so sweet and gracious to our precious mothers!!!

Mom and Garnet, who happened to work at the same plant - different times - saying goodbye!

It was great day for Mom. She was tired by the time we got back home, but she was glad to have been part of today's activities. She wore her ribbon to church the next day so she could tell them what she had done and where she had been.

Thanks to all involved with this project for honoring some lovely ladies who are long past being recognized. I wish you much success as you continue you project. I anxiously await the finished products! You all are doing a wonderful job!

Willie Nelson Concert

Saturday - September 26, 2009

I always like to research a little about the person/group we have just seen in concert before doing a post about them and the concert. Even though I thought I knew a lot about Willie, I found out a lot of interesting things about Willie! To start off with, he was raised by his grandparents who gave him music lessons via mail. Apparently you could order music lessons through the mail – more or less self-taught from sheets. Both he and his sister were taught music this way. Willie learned to play the guitar, while his sister was taught to play the piano.

It wasn’t until we bought a book at the concert did we find out that the piano player on the stage was Willie’s “older” sister, Bobbie. She could really make that piano talk!!!! She has taken a back seat to the “lime light” and let Willie take all the fame and glory! It wasn’t until she was 76 that she actually had an album produced which show cased her talents. That was a couple of years ago. You could never guess that it was a 70’ish lady playing the piano on the stage! She was fantastic.

Willie’s voice is not where it what it us to be, but then whose is when they are 76 years old and has been performing continuously since hitting it big back in the mid 70’s. I will never forget the year he was chosen male vocalist of the year – 1975. Mom could not believe he was the winner! She was going more by his looks (long stringy hair and a bushy face) than his musical abilities.
Another tidbit learned from researching Willie was very interesting. The guitar which he uses the most has a name. He calls it “Trigger” which he named after none other than Roy Rogers’s horse. Due to the constant strumming with a guitar pick, he has worn large holes into the guitar near the sound hole. The guitar has been signed over the years by hundreds of Willie’s friends, associates, which included fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. When looking closely at some of the pictures we took, you can see the holes and autographs!!

September 22, 2009 was a beautiful evening. Bill and I ate at Bella Fonte Italian Restaurant which across the street from the parking lot next to the Paramount Theater in Ashland. It was a great dinner with a fantastic show to follow. The first thirty minutes of the show was started by an opening act by Billy Joe Shaver. Personally, I felt it was a little long and the audience was beginning to get a little restless. We had come to see and listen to Willie. Shaver did well and was given a round of applause when he had completed his performance.

We had an intermission for the stage crew to change the stage. Willie would soon be on the stage. Willie was soon on stage and was backed up by his sister Bobbie at the piano; brothers, Paul and Billy English; and Mickey Raphael who was a harmonica whiz! As the band started playing a giant Texas state flag unfurled behind them which engaged the audience from their seats with a round of cheers! The audience was then getting to hear Willie deliver non-stop many of hits! Following is a list of the ones we could remember!

SETLIST (not necessarily in order of performance)

BLOODY MARY MORNING
BLUE EYES CRYING
CRAZY
FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY
IF YOU’VE GOT THE MONEY
MOMAS DON’T LET YOUR BABIES . . .
NIGHT LIFE
THE PARTY’S OVER
STAY ALL NIGHT, STAY A LITTLE LONGER
UNCLOUDY DAY
WHISKEY RIVER
ALWAYS ON MY MIND
ANGELS FLYING TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND
MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
MILK COW BLUES
NOTABLE NO PLAYS
ME AND PAUL
LAST THING I NEEDED

Once again, we were able to see a legend perform. We would like to share some of our photos from that night with you!

The state flag of Texas had just been unfurled behind Willie and his band!

Willie's black hat soon became someones prize!!!

Gone is the hat and on is his bandanna!

Now his bandanna is some one's prize!!!!

Three Generations of Royalty ????

Monday - September 21, 2009

It started back in 1953 when Bill was placed in the corner of a chair with a crown on his head. Thus the beginnings of what will be three generations of "royalty" sitting in the corner of a chair with a crown on their head. The next generation of "royalty" picture taken was of David, and it was taken in 1980. Now, the third generation's picture was taken last week - 2009 - and that was none other than our "Princess" Cora Ann. All three generations were between the ages of four months and six months. I may be prejudice, but I do believe the third generation has the cutest crown and is the best looking of the three generations! :):)

Bill's and David's crowns were souvenirs from a local business. "Princess" Cora's was made special just for her!!!!!

Bill - four months - 1953

David - 1980


Cora Ann - almost six months old - 2009

The three generations together - May, 2009!

TIMBER!!!!!!!!

Saturday - September 19, 2009

During the last two weeks we have seen a big change in our landscape around the house. We had
several large trees on our property, especially in the back. We had been thinking about getting some of the larger ones cut down while trimming back the others. The opportunity came in that our neighbor had contacted someone to cut their trees, so Bill approached "The Timber Man" and our trees were to also be taken care of within a matter of weeks.

Some have asked why cut the trees down in the back when it was the trees in the front that caused our waterline to break. We love the maples in the front, and the problem with the waterline was taken care of without having to cut the trees down! The trees in the back were huge. They were starting to weight down our storage building. The last couple of winters, between the snow and ice, we were afraid the trees would come bearing down on the building and even possibly on the end of the house.

So, the time was right; the opportunity was there; therefore, we took advantage and had the trees in the back cut down, and the ones in the front trimmed back. The following pictures will show what was and now what is!!!!!

A view of the trees in the back this past winter! Notice how they hang over and on the building!

One of the pines right before it was cut down!

They trimmed the lower limbs of the pine, leaving a potential Christmas tree on top! :):)

. . . and there it goes . . .

. . . the second pine has now lost its lower branches . . .

. . . they counted this as one tree . . . hmmm . . .

. . . the "Timber Man" using his safety rope while trimming some of the upper branches . . .

. . . looks like a couple of the sections are now gone . . .

. . . missing are three pines and most of the huge tree on the right . . . hey . . . there is a house outback . . . :):)

This is the "one" huge tree that was cut - notice the number of stumps, plus the car axle embedded in the trunk on the left.

. . . all our trees in the back are now gone . . . the ones you see are on the other side of the RR tracks . . .

These are the maple trees in the front yard. Notice how full and low the limbs are!! Had to watch our heads when mowing!!!!!

There's our "Timber Man" cutting back the limbs . . .

. . . and here they are with their new look . . .

. . . a view of the house from the road with our much needed trimmed maples . . .

. . . now when I decorate, it can be seen . . . ;)

. . . ahhh, my geese can now watch the traffic - Mr. Yankee Doodle and MS Marshall!!!!