Three siblings in a truck

A few weeks ago on a Saturday, the three Pierce kids embarked on an adverture ... to move some of my furniture from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa. It was the first time in a very long time we've spent time together ... just the three of us with no other families members. It felt a little strange but good.

So we set off, three siblings in a truck. Wayne drove, Ken rode shotgun and I navigated from the back seat. This was an easy job for me since I only had to navigate when we hit Montgomery.

During the ride down 82 I found out that they both have a fascination with their lawns. I heard about the pros and cons of their riding lawn mowers, what a rush it was to get the grass cut before the first drop of rain and how they won't let their grass grow more than an inch ... or something like that. All I could contribute was, "Daddy would be proud." This is true because our dad was also fantical about his grass. So I guess they can't help it ... they get it honestly.

The rest of the trip was mostly about Alabama football. Imagine that! Now that's a conversation I can contribute to and I did. Imagine that! We reminiced about when we watched games with our late dad. That was always a hoot and fun.

As we approached Montgomery I told Wayne, "After the Interchange take Exit 3." We drew closer to the Interchange and Wayne didn't merge over. We were about to pass it and I yelled, "The interchange." Wayne asked what was an Interchange because he was looking for something different on the interstate. I said, "It is different and you just passed it." I was told I should have just said take I85 toward Atlanta. Of course Ken agreed with him. I told him Interchange is easier to say and quicker and that everyone in the Montgomery area knew the Interchange.

We argued some more as he took another exit to go back to the Interchange. They got to see a seedy area of Montgomery as we headed back. This time we took the right turn. If you don't know my brothers they both work fast. Before I could go through my mail and do a few other things they had the furniture loaded. Then I asked them to add a filing cabinet and I took out one picture and then another. When I took the third one out I said, "I promise this won't be like Ricky and Lucy loading the car for California."

We left and headed home with more talk about football. It really was a nice time and they were good sports. They've moved me a few times over the years. When they were leaving I told them hopefully they wouldn't have to do it again. Wayne told me if I married someone rich he could pay to move me, and if he wasn't rich, to just not tell him about it.

What brotherly love!

Movin' on up

Moving has never been something I've liked to do and I've avoided it as much as possible. However, after being laid-off it was necessary so I decided instead of renting a UHaul and making one big haul in this heat I was going to load my SUV each weekend and move the majority of my "stuff." I was a fool. This is what brothers are for. Right? They'd say no ... but in my mind I'm right.

Before I left I said one last goodbye to a former customer who you've read about from my "Tuesdays."
Layla: Guh, wheh you been? They say you lef. Why you not caw?
Donna: I've been busy packing, and I didn't leave, they laid me off.
Layla: Tha not what I's tol. They say you jus lef. Hell of note.
Donna: I'd never do that. So how's it going?
Layla: New ga scayed of the hood.
Donna: Give him time. It'll get better.
Layla: He don unstan cindarellas and stuff. You unstoo.
Donna: It took me time. I was sorry to hear about your son's death.
Layla: I's been baa, real baa, Mz. Donna. Bro' my heart.
Donna: I'm sorry but want you to know I'm thinking about you.
Layla: Preciate ya guh and miss ya. Be good or I leave hood and fine ya.
Donna: Appreciate you too girl. I'll be around.
Layla: Nah, but i's all good.

My last load was huge. Lauren's boyfriend piled my truck full. I put the babies in the front seat and headed to T-town. Once again, I sweated in this awful heat hauling it all inside. Since then I've separated items for a yard sale and the rest I've tried to fit into a much smaller space. There have been sad moments and times when memories flooded back. Tears flowed but it's all behind me now.

I'm starting over again at 52 and have no idea what's ahead. Before I married I'd built a small apartment area off my mom's house and that's where I'm living. Guess I knew I'd be coming back one day.

I've had a couple of dates and am not sure I fit in that world. I'm too honest and courteous to date. What's so hard about telling the truth? You don't even want me to go on about the subject of dating.

But I came back with two Jack Russells and left a precious daughter behind. I miss her a lot and feel empty without her, however it's time for her to go forward with her life. She began a career and has a new love in her life. A few days after I left the AC quit and she handled that well. I just hope I did my job as a mom and prepared her for life.

This past week I've pretty much settled in and the babies are getting used to their new surroundings. All I have left to move are a few items of furniture. Oh brother, where art thou?

Bye-bye Mr. Chik-fil-A

Do we as people ever learn not to take the bait? I am breaking my word with myself that I wasn't going to give Mr. Chik-fil-A attention he doesn't deserve but I'm tired of hearing the ongoing debate. After this post the subject is no longer on my page because it's negative.

All we are doing is helping the judger earn more money. I am a Christian but also a liberal democrat. Oh, no! I've said this before on my page and am not going to defend how I believe. We all have the right to our opinions and beliefs but don't blast people on their own pages for stating what they believe or think is right.

As for gay relationships and marriage, I've said before I have several gay friends (if you want to label them) who are loving and caring people. They have been in my corner backing me through all my sorrows for the last six months, and I've never had to guess if they're my friends. They prove that they are by their thoughts and actions. I wasn't put on this earth to judge anyone but instead to love others through faults, disbeliefs and hardships, etc. God will judge us all one day, and I find it hard to believe that if someone is gay, but also has God in their heart, that God will turn his back on them. He loves us all.

Speaking of which, we all have our vices and sins. You can look at me and tell I haven't treated my body as a temple and have a passion for food. The Bible speaks specificially to this subject. In God's eyes I've sinned but I know I have a place in heaven because of my heart and my ability to love, help others and forgive.

Instead of picking on people why don't he use the riches we have helped him make to help others in need. Bashing and judging are sins too, guess he didn't think about that.

It's hard to see people I love being bashed or unloved because of a bigot. I love all my friends, gay or straight, and will continue to do so. I've never eaten at Chik-fil-A much so he won't miss my business. In the meantime, instead of giving more attention to this subject I'm going to pray for Mr. Chik-fil-A that he can learn to love those who are not like him and respect all people in this country.