IN MEMORIAL TO LYNN TODAY

End of the Year Resolutions

Daddy Cooper always made us come up with a list of resolutions for the New Year's. I'm not sure why but we did it and I can remember giving him my list. I never saw his list however but I am sure he had one. It's that time.

We need to think of resolutions this New Year's Eve and forget that it was the ill-fated day of the death of Lynn Hearnes. She had so much going for her and she lost her way along the years. I wish I could have helped her. People in trouble don't know how to find the straight and narrow again. What she had in her brain I will never know! Did she lose her spirit? I don't know.

But I miss her and I think of the little girl who was unselfish and caring and loved her grandmother with all of her heart! Good-bye, Lynn Seed Oil! You blessed our life!

Memories of Christmas

Joan Gohn and I had a wonderful time and were worn out when we returned. Saw 4 shows: Louise Mandrell, General Jackson boat cruise with Tim Watson as entertainer, and the Rockettes. All were wonderful but different.

Opryland Hotel has 2500 rooms and it has been redone since the flooding. What a wonderful place. You come in, leave your car, and go everywhere by shuttle. Great shows we saw.

Can't begin to say how awesome this "ICE" show was in Nashville. So you had to put on this blue parka. Hey! You needed it. 30 ice sculptors were brought over from China to do this work. More pictures to follow.

Sad news at Christmas

It' s hard for families to hear of deaths anytime but especially at Christmas time. And yes, we know from the experience of last year. The kids called yesterday and told me of the death of Noah Gray, principal at Lindbergh for years. M
AMA down here, former principal in Sikeston.
He was a fine person. I'm proud to have known him.
Then Harriett emails me that Rosalie LaPlant is real bad in Texas and this sounds like the final chapter for one of our "Big 3" gang. The first, really. Rosalie and Noah were both presidents of the Alumni Association in Cape so there was a further tie. The other tie is that I loved them both.

I pick up the paper today and two deaths from political years: Pauline Young and Stoy Coy, Grace Coy's husband. It made me remember those days also. I read the obits of SL Post and see two more from from political days: Jackie Butler and Jim Tom Blair. Life is a tapestry of weaving parts of a life into another.

Then I recall the happy times of the season and I focus: Mark and Bryan putting up the Christmas lights, Sara, Susan and Betty going with me to St. Louis to see Mannheim Steamroller, Sara, Betty and I visiting Julia and Joker this season, and Joan and I going to Nashville and seeing the great shows--staying at Opryland and watching the world celebrate the season. I see a stack of Christmas cards which I will answer==someone taking the time to say Merry Christmas, and I rejoice at inevitability of death but the bonds of friendship which make a life seem a certain success in small ways.

As Jean Bell Mosley says, "Rejoice"!

Making plans for Christmas

It's coming down to a point where all of the plans are coming together. Let's see, Betty Ann comes in tonight, Sara gets here at 2:00 and tomorrow we leave for St. Louis and the Mannheim Steamroller performance. We will meet Susan and Bill for lunch and make it all happen. This is part 1 of Christmas celebration.

Part 2 is going with Joan to Nashville and Part 3 is Mark and Tina coming after Christmas. Then it is back to normal unless the Governor names me as a regent.

One of the nice things is making plans-- having something to look forward to. I hope I never live without anticipation. It is the joy of living.

The Battle of the Bulge

Today, many years ago, in another world began the Battle of the Bulge. It ultimately decided who would rule the world. As I look in the mirror, all I can think of is I should launch my own Battle of the Bulge because food seems to be ruling my world.

I hate the way I look and yet, I still get up and go to the refrigerator constantly. When I came back from Charleston, I weighed 174 now I am back in the 200 count and I hate it. What makes me do this.

New Years Resolution: I am tired of being sick and listless and tired of living my life inside this house. I am going to get hopping, do exercise, ignore the pains in my back and legs, and get back out in the world for as long as I have to enjoy it. Debbie just called and she is coming to do my hair. That is a start. I am going to go after my Battle of the Bulge. It won't change my world but I can sure the heck try.

And the storm is predicted

Everyone says that a storm is brewing and we need to stay off the streets and in cozy places. But how often are they dead wrong and we watch for the storm that never happens. So I am no longer watching--just waiting until one comes and then I can react.

Stormy weather--Lena Horne
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me..hymn

Can't think of any other storm songs.

Writing a Christmas letter

Today I will get this accomplished. Time is running out and I need to send responses to the people who have sent cards to me. So I will do so. Last year, I was at Betty's and I did the same. That seems years ago.

But what do I say. People say they hate Christmas letters telling all the wonderful things that have happened to people. Hey, I like them! I read every word of them. But I must be an exception so I will forego. What happened in 2010 to the Cooper/Stacy family:

l. Lynn Hearnes was killed in a car wreck on New Year's Eve and the funeral was held on Saturday, January 2. What a terrible way to remember! Susan and I drove out of the garage and Susan yelled back to Betty that 2010 would be a better year. Little did either of us know that in 15 minutes, we would see something that would change our world in that field of one smashed car.

2. Two grandchildren (really 3) graduated from college in May and June. Bryan graduated from Guilford College and Bailey Dyer graduated from Ohio State. Landon Cheben graduated from West Point.

3. Bailey and Landon got married in June in Cincy. Susan and Jim Cooper, Mark, Tina and Andrea, Annie and children were all there for the big occasion.

4. I finished my book in October. Hurt my back in November and Mark and Tina came as well as Jim Stacy. Sara came for abscessed teeth deal as did Betty Ann Warford.

So what do I say --do I say any of this. What about friendship. I like this anonymous quote " Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, never the same."

I will say only this and write more to them in pen.

Out on the Town

I have braved the weather twice today. Liz and I went to the bank to make a deposit and then went to Walgren's and then to Kidd's to get a coke.

Then Joan and I used the gift card that John Bierk gave me to go to Olive Garden and I had chicken marsala, which was delicious. I came home with big bowl of vegetable soup that Joan had made yesterday. That will be good tomorrow with cornbread.

Bad weather is coming in again. Sara will be here Thursday and I need to get the Christmas cards out in the next two days. If it comes in, I won't be close to it. I watched televsion today--excellent movie called the Shell Seekers with Angela Lansbury. I am taping it now since I want to see it again.

lslt snow of the season

First snow of the season -- Sunday,
December 12! Not drastic but enough to know it was a snow. People are having a terrible time getting up the hill. I am sitting here with a fire in fireplace, thinking that it was pretty outside.

I remember a terrible ice storm when I was a child. We had a wood stove in the kitchen so we were fine inside but the Chinese elms were hit hard by the ice and lost all kinds of limbs. In that big house, we had no fireplace and that is strange.

When Mark was here, he told his kids about snows here in Cape and how all the kids gathered here to go down this hill. When we had the 28 inch snow, no one was allowed to drive but the kids gathered and my dryer went into full-time use. I like memories -- they keep my brain alive and I want to write down as much as I can...while I can.

I need to call Annie to have the kids put my trash out, put a light in the bathroom upstairs, and get the paper for me. They love snow and it will not be a problem with them.

A party with the men.

John is a wonderful friend, and has been for many years. Taught English at the University and did all kinds of things for me with his money. He and Dr. Grauel were devoted friends and we became friends then. He is known for his ascerbic wit and I love that about him because we constantly put each other down.

Today I am a victim of sleeping late and then doing some cooking -- stuffed peppers and artichoke dip are in the oven and smell delightful. It is raining outside but inside I have a fire in the fireplace and the smells of food in the oven. The lights of the Christmas tree are ablaze.

Each year Bill Prost, John Bierk and I gather at Bella Italia or some other restaurant and enjoy a holiday party with exchange of gifts. I gave them both a bottle of Crown Royal (which went over well), Bill gave us chocolate and coffee -- he sells coffee--and John gave us a gift card to Olive Garden.

Getting ready for Christmas

This tree is no more in my backyard. Only a stump remains. Like forgiveness and dealing with grief, let the stump only remain as we get ready for Christmas.

My favorite show is the Mentalist. (along with NCIS) Great show last night -want to watch it again. Second theme is how a man with gifts copes with the loss of his wife and child and that thread is always present. It is interesting to see how it develops and how he deals finally with the man who did this crime about him. Yesterday I watched a program on Oprah about interviewing the Doctor whose home was invaded and his wife and two daughters killed. They asked him about forgiveness and he said that the evil was too dire to be forgiven. (Both intruders were given the death penalty.) I am pondering his remarks as I get ready for Christmas.

All the presents are under the tree. I went out and got a bottle of Crown Royal for John Bierk and Bill Prost for our dinner tonight at Bella. I am going thru the list of family to contact. Heard from Britt this morning and sent a note to Amy and Suzanne to come up and eat sometimes during the holidays. I will soon have made contact with everyone and that feels good.

This week I lost Fred Goodwin, Irene Dugger who were great friends, and learned that Kim Mothershead had lung cancer. These are sad days expecially coming at Xmas. I will never forget that Harriett's dad, Oliver Goodin, killed himself on Dec. 15 after he had gone to Ragsdales and bought Samsonite luggage for Harriett and put it under the tree. We were sophomores in high school. We must live life while it is there.

A better day than yesterday

I got up yesterday and just felt lousy. Cancelled my plan to attend funeral for Fred Goodwin and I hated that. Just could not deal with stiff joints. Spent the day on the couch with a heating pad and Tylenol. Feel better today. I was hoping that I would not have bad days but at least I am moving around.

The day was spent watching television so little to report. Joan made our reservations to spend Xmas in Nashville so I need to take care of myself and get better. I need to resume life.

The trees are down

For two days I have watched the trees come down. One--in the front--and one in the back yard. The one in the front yard came down easy --done within a hour's time. One man in a bucket started at the top and worked his way down while the other 3 men used ropes and carried the tree remains off as they dropped to the ground.

But the second tree was leaning and huge and eaten up with rot and tough ivy. My cable cords attached to it and I was worried. Same procedure but the bucket went up so far to start the cutting that I lost sight of it. Gradually it came down -- feet by feet and the men loaded up the trucks and carried it off.

I went out and took pictures. It occurred to me that in one day people can tear down what took nature years and years to build. So like human relationships! So costly and so quickly they come down.

Death of Fred Goodwin

Short little note in paper today about the death of Fred Goodwin, age 80. Fred taught in the Speech Dept. when we came to SEMO and that is when we had all the camaraderie that life could offer in academia. He was the epitome of the Master Teacher--ran the debate program and made a name for it --He and Virginia have been such a great couple.

The funeral is Wednesday and he has been in Nursing Home for about a week. My heart and prayers go out to Virginia and the children: Debbie, Nancy and Mark. They were a wonderful family.

Sunday morning getting up

I can't believe that I continue to get better. I can get up and down without using my arms and legs to help. That is progress. Going out with Joan for party tonight at Judy Browns-- 35 women are invited. Judy is a wonderful cook and was married to Dennis Ray Brown in Charleston. The food will be wonderful.

Sara is planning the trip to St. Louis for a family gathering and she called Leigh and Julie both and invited them. We will see what we will see. I am watching an old Matlock. I watch them even when I know who the killer is.

I am also making a list for Liz to do tomorrow. She is so much help to me. Lindsay is playing the harp in Susan's church today and Betty Ann went up to hear her and bring her home.

An outside view

Can't believe it--Joan and I went to Pasta House for lunch--lst time I have been out of the house to eat in three weeks! She brought me a poinsettia which jazzes up the place. It was so good to see the outside view again and we stopped at the Church to replace my cookbook.

I have spent the morning trying to locate the article by Cary Hammond about "Right to Work". It was very good. Jordan went to the grocery store for me this morning. So now I am home in front of the fire watching reruns of NCIS and thanking my lucky stars that I can get up out of a chair more easier.

I am also going to blog Humpty Dumpty again and give a progress report. Life is much better.

Snow Time is show time!

I love to look at pictures of snow. From inside. This is a beautiful picture to me. but I can't get it to print out. Now I divagate (learned a new word --meaning to digress in speech). I talked to Sara, Catherine and Betty Ann and we are planning a family trip to St. louis on Dec. 18 to the Fox to see Mannheim. Sara is getting the tickets. I have sent an email to Susan (and left a message on her home phone), Leigh, Betty Ann, tried to FB Janice and Britten both. Julie is not on FB apparently.

I hope that this works. I will pray that whatever happens, happens for the best. I will talk to Sara also.

Jennie went to doctor today and they don't know if it is sprained or broken (her wrist). It is too swollen to make the diagnosis. She is on antibiotics and has a splint on.

I'm trying to snow pic again. So I will try a photo--any photo.Nothing will work.

Pandora's Box

Today Debbie was here to do my hair; I got dressed in good clothes and Layne and I are going out to lunch. This may change, however, because Annie just sent an email and said that she was down at Jennie's and Jennie had fallen and may have broken her wrist. Will we ever get all right again!

Annie called and said that Jennie had fallen, she would not go to hospital and that she had thrown up. She also said that Jennie told her that one day a week she gives herself the treat of being able to drink all day and she had done that yesterday. No wonder, she fell--I am sure that she was trying to get to the bathroom by herself.

It all opens a Pandora's box and we wonder why! Why did two of our family have a problem with drinking? It is as stupid to try to figure this out as it is to go to the Grecian myth of Pandora to explain why evil exists in the world. It is just there, stupid!

About frogs

I read the funniest quote this morning from Mark Twain, "Eat a live frog every morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day!" I have laughed repeatedly at that statement. This woman was using it to say that in housecleaning you should do the thing you hate the most first and get it done. I agree.

Layne came by yesterday twice (once with Greg) and we visited for awhile. I talked to Annie this morning and she and Jennie had been in doctor's office all morning -- Annie thinks she is going to have this vascular surgery but she isn't. She will have a major stroke. And it is her choice.

I am feeling better. They called me to go to Hall of Fame Dinner but I'm not going. Scared to sit that long and what if someone hugged me too tight, etc. I could hurt this again. Have to work on paperwork today -- Deferred Comp papers, etc. Liz will be here at 4:00 today and I will get her to help me. It is cold but it is sunny. Cold is okay. Sunny is even better.

I am actually doing some reading and thinking also and that is good.