Roll Tide T-Town

Devestation. It's a powerful word and what may be devestating to one person may not be to the next. The tornadoes that ripped through our state this week were truly devestating.

A few years ago, Hurrican Katrina was devestating. I thought I identified with the people there and felt their pain. I helped as best I could. I can tell you for sure that I truly did not feel their pain, but now I can identify.

I may no longer live in the Tuscaloosa area but my family and friends do. The Crimson Tide blood runs deep through my veins, and it's still "home" to me. Being from there embodies who I am. The pictures on TV do not truly identify the pain and destruction there. The surrealness of it all and the pain comes when you see it firsthand. That is heartbreaking. My heart truly goes out to the people affected by the horrific force of nature ... in all cities it affected, large and small.

Again, I'm helping as I can. Thursday night as I was shopping I would ask myself if I really needed that, thinking about an extra few dollars that might help more. What I'm doing is a drop in the bucket as to what is needed. But if many give a drop then the bucket may be full, or at least close to it.

People of Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Birmingham, Eclectic, Arab, Phil Campbell, Cordova and all the other cities I haven't mentioned I pray for you. One thing I saw that was so encouraging were strangers helping strangers and friends helping friends. Everyone working together for the survival of others. I'm most proud of that.

If you can't help monetarily or physically then help with your prayers. The people of Alabama will survive this and for those in Tuscaloosa I send a big "Roll Tide!" to you.

My fine furry friend

My dog Scruffy is definitely my best friend. He's always here for me, greets me at the door with doggie kisses and listens to all my problems and gossip. I'm just glad he can't talk.

I've had a lot on my mind lately with repairs around the home. Our truck and my daughter's car need major repairs. We won't even get into my laptop or how an oil change almost ruined the engine in my car. The good news is that Lauren has a laptop we are sharing and my engine is okay.

So when I need to talk something out, I go to Scruff. He's a captive audience and actually acts like he's listening and cares. He even likes to cuddle and snuggle. Scruffy and I have come to the conclusion that I'm worrying too much about it and need to relax for a while. So we're watching "Michael," because it's one of our favorites.

There are some people who don't understand my attachment to my pets. One thing I want to say is that pets don't let you down, don't criticize, love you regardless and are always loyal. I think this makes for an excellent friend. BTW, Scruff and Lucy say hello. :)

Too Much Pride

As the country song says, "How much pride is too much pride?" For me, pride and integrity is about all I have left in life. That's a 50/50 shot to happiness. If I lose one of those characteristics then I'm definitely on a downslide. What I do know is that I have enough pride for me and several others. This I admit to.

I'm not going to let anyone mistreat me and I'm definitely not going to listen to them put me, my family or friends down. If I have to I'll just stay away from them. Some might see this as letting the person win, but to me, it's staying in control of the situation. If I'm not around these people then I don't have to listen to their trash talk, and therefore, won't open my mouth to put them in their place and cause further problems. After all, I do have a big mouth and have been known to open it upon occasion.

Over the past few months, I've been in one of these situations where someone I know through a friend of mine has insulted me several times. I've put up with it thinking it would get old to this person and go away. It hasn't so I've decided to stay away. If my friend chooses to spend time with this rude person that's her/his choice. It's that person's choice to be rude and it's my choice to stay away.

In my own way I'm standing up for myself. I'm letting go of a smear of my pride for my friend. I know the rude person could not withstand being annhiliated by my mouth. One day, his/her true self with come out and this will cause unnecessary hurt. There is only so much I can do to protect people who can't see the truth ... so for now I'll stay away.

My friend who is in the middle of this is a very good friend and is trying to make the best of a potentially bad situation. I'm pretty sure the rude person will read this. If you are, don't hurt my friend because then my big mouth will open, and, oh my, that smear of pride will kick in and that would be a hot mess.