Thanksgiving 2009

Every year at Thanksgiving my family of origin gets together. I am one of eleven children and most of us married and had families of our own. One sibling has died, but there are ten of us left, and my Mom will be 92 on Monday, November 30. Here we are posing for a picture with Mom. You wouldn't believe how many pictures and how much trouble we went to so we could have one good picture. Fun and challenging.

It's always quite a gathering. This year we had about 125, that's as close a count as we could get with everyone moving around and without having a sign-in list, but it's a pretty close count.

Mother starts the celebration by saying a few words and telling all the additions we've had since last Thanksgiving, births and weddings. That talk sometimes gets pretty long, and then of course someone is always forgotten. It just can't be helped with such a large family. Mother played a guessing game having everyone guess how many are now in the family. Total is 176. That's just Mother, her children and their mates, their children and mates, and their children. Mother now has great-greats.

We had a good time, way too much food, and fun just catching up with those we hadn't seen since last year. There's a lot of physical activity going on in the gym: roller skating, dodge ball, and basketball. You put your well being in jeopardy when you traversed the gym floor to go to the restroom.

We had a special treat this year of Paul and Margaret Purifoy coming at Mother's invitation. Paul brought his guitar and sang three or four fun songs including "I Am My Own Grandpa" and "The Mississippi Squirrel." Not sure the younger generations caught it all, but we older ones had a good laugh. That was very special, the Purifoys making us a part of their Thanksgiving Day.

We end up with supper of leftovers including sandwiches and chips and hot cheese dip. Clean-up is not so bad when everyone helps. Great day. Great family. Great food. Wonderful things to enjoy and be thankful for.
MB

That's Us

My handsome feller has found a new talent. He's expressing himself through poetry. He's always had a way with words. I'm not surprised, but I am thrilled that he's cultivating this talent.

The other day we were reminiscing about the different phases we've come through in our relationship. He was thoughtful. Soon he shared this poem with me.



He's got a talent, doesn't he?

This is a very special, thoughtful writing. Because I lived through these times with him, this has much meaning for me.
I love that man!
MB

The Wonder of Electronics

I am of the generation that's been slow to embrace this age of everything digital and electronic. I'm the exception. I absolutely love trying all the new things that come out.

My most recent fun thing I got for my birthday is a Kindle DX. It's an e-reader; i.e., a digital book library. It holds over 3500 e-books. Isn't that amazing? I immediately went to my Kindle account and started downloading many of the classics, which are now free. I love The Scarlet Letter and now have it electronically. I also downloaded The Message, the modern version of the New Testament. How fun is that?

Another amazing feature is that I can download pdf's through my personal Kindle account. I clog and one of my first necessary tasks when learning a new dance is to get it mentally memorized. I do that through cue sheets. Now, I can review my clogging cue sheets on my Kindle. Amazing!

If when I'm reading something on the Kindle and I want to highlight, I just do so. That is then put on a separate sheet and all my notes are kept there with a date and source alongside. Again, how cool is that?

Can you tell that what the younger generations probably take for granted, I'm continually amazed and thrilled and want to become adept at using these new electronics.

I also have an iPhone and I recently upgraded. I can now do voice notes as reminders. Incredible! Plus all the regular features of the iPhone and all the apps that I've downloaded. It's still a matter of WOW to me.

Remember, I'm someone who can remember when I heard of television. My siblings and I would marvel that we would be able to not only listen like we did to the radio, but we could see something like at the movies. Wow! In OKC at first there was just one channel of television. Then we marveled that there would be more than one channel. How exciting!

I've taken to this electronic age like a duck to water. How fun! How amazing! How incredible!!
I'm living proof that you can teach old dogs new tricks, especially if the new tricks are electronics and the old dog is I.

(A BTW: that last sentence seems wrong ending with an "I." But, being a grammarian, I have to do it right. Yuk! :-)
MB

Dara The Volunteer

Dara works two days a week at the Food Bank as a volunteer.

We are so proud of her. She found this position, applied for it, was interviewed and hired, all by herself. She often rides the bus, which she has to reserve to pick her up ahead of time, and puts in her hours as a volunteer.

In the picture, you can only see Dara's head. She's right beside the lady holding the tray above her head.

Grams and Papaw just wanted to brag a little and tell Dara (and everyone) how very proud we are of her.
MB

Fun Day at OU Game

Today, Saturday Sept 19, 2009, OU played Tulsa University here in Norman OK. As usual, we like to go out and spend several hours just enjoying the atmosphere and the fun on the OU campus.

We walk around for awhile and then we stop at the School of Engineering and get a hamburger dinner complete with chips, baked beans, candy bar, and drink. Very good.

Outside the Student Union the OU Band drummers perform for about twenty or thirty minutes. It's really fun and a big crowd gathers around to listen. Today there were six xylophones besides the twenty or so drums. People cheer and clap after each selection. They are so precise and so together.

Then when we can we walk over to the Heisman Park and view all the statues of the OU Heisman Trophy winners. That's always a good picture taking walk.

My Dad, Fred Cherry, played football at OU and ran track. The players who lettered are all listed on plaques in an outside area and the plaques are arranged by years. I took a couple of pictures of the 1930 football team and the 1931 football team and the track and field team. I'm proud to say that my Dad many years ago lettered in sports at Oklahoma University where he earned his petroleum engineering degree.

After that we head to the game. There's always a huge crowd, but it's easy to get around and we know right where our seats are because we've been going to OU games for several years and our season tickets are always the same seats. (Getting expensive though, a little more so each year.)

One of the things I really looked forward to this year was getting to see Courtney in the Pom Squad. Her mom, my coworker, died very unexpectedly last February and didn't even know that Courtney made the squad. We yelled and waved at her and Paul took her picture. She's a great Pom girl and is so pretty. It was fun to watch her.

We usually tire before the game is over and think about heading home, especially if it's a blowout (in OU's favor that is). Today it was a blowout at halftime, 31 to 0, so we decided to head for the house. We're both fighting allergies and colds and wanted to get home. It's a good long walk back to the car, and if we're lucky, we hail a rickshaw. We were lucky.

We headed home and watched the end of the game on TV.
It was a good football day. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
MB

Fun Evening But Lousy Game

We thoroughly enjoyed going to the new Cowboy Stadium in Arlington TX to see the OU vs BYU game. The most fascinating feature was the big HD TV screen. Unbelievable. It stretched from one twenty yard line to the other. Huge!!

Here's a picture of Paul and me as we arrived two hours early to be able to casually tour the stadium and have fun looking at all the features. Our seats were seven rows from the top, so it took us awhile to navigate all the stairs and work our way up.

One of the very fun things about the game was getting to see my friend's daughter in the OU Pom squad. My friend and coworker died last February and it's a double pleasure to get to see her daughter at the OU games. She reminds me so much of her Mom, it's kind of bitter sweet.

We had a very fun weekend. Went to church at Southcliff in Fort Worth, where Paul pastored several years ago. We got to visit with several friends and had fun reminiscing about "the good ole' days."

Now for the yukky part: It was a lousy game! We were so disappointed in the way OU played. But, on the other hand, sometimes a bad game is the inspiration to play better. Here's hoping.

Great weekend. Lots of fun.
Life is good!
MB

Nice Car

Isn't this a pretty car?

Inside this car is my 91 year old Mom and my younger brother. They came down to Norman to enjoy an afternoon of swimming, and now they're headed back home.
Couldn't resist taking pictures.
Love that car!
MB

Fun Coincidences

This isn't a big one, but it's a nice coincidence and it caused a "warm fuzzy."

This is Dave and Suzie Clippard. On FaceBook I asked Dave if I could be his friend.

When Dave confirmed me as his friend. I followed the link and here's what I saw.


In the late 70's and early 80's Paul was pastor of Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth TX. Our Evangelism Minister was Dave Clippard. And when I went to his FaceBook page, the "mutual friends" showing were Paul, Charles Stone, and Mike Carlisle.

Charles, Mike, and Dave were all staff members with us at Southcliff. Charles was the Minister to Singles and Mike was the Minister of Education. Now here's the coincidence. All four of those men shown together again on a FaceBook page. How cool is that? Brought back so many memories.

What a fun and busy time that was. We had so many people coming to the Sunday evening worship service, we had to open up the fellowship hall to seat all the people in an overflow area. I always tried to reserve my seat on the second row by leaving something there, but more than once my place was taken.

Charles is now a pastor in the Chicago area and Mike has a ministry in San Diego. We're still in touch with all these couples. What a wonderful staff and group of people that was.

Love coincidences! Fun memories.
MB

Happy Birthday, Handsome

Today, Sunday July 19, is my handsome feller's 69th birthday.

As is our custom, we let the birthday person choose what they would like to do for that birthday. Paul's choice was to spend a couple of days in Fort Worth and go to Billy Bob's and enjoy some C&W dancing. We have not "gone dancin' " in quite awhile so it was going to be fun, but also challenging. I'm not the best follower in the world and many of our "issues" come to the forefront while engaging in the activity of dancing.

We donned our Western garb, both in boots and Paul in his cowboy hat and headed out. We enjoyed supper at Joe T. Garcia's and were serenaded by a great duet at our table. Greatest Mexican food in FW!

We danced the night away at Billy Bob's, first to taped music and then with a live band. Paul had visited with the leader of the band earlier, and after one of the numbers, he said, "That's for you, Paul!" We had so much fun. We struggled a little when we first started dancing. It's a hard activity for us. But, we finally got in sync and did great!! Too fun.

Then we went to Billy Bob's real rodeo arena and watched six bull riders ride the most ferocious bulls I've ever seen at any rodeo. Several were not tame enough in the chute for the riders to mount. Yikes! Only one rider was able to stay on for the eight seconds. Quite a thrill. Love rodeos!

We had our picture made on a bull with our friends, the Browns, who went with us.

Too fun!

Just wanted to share a little with anyone happening to read this blog about our great birthday trip and some fun we had celebrating Paul's 69th!

Love that man, and Happy Birthday, Handsome.
MB

My Sister Carmen

Today, June 25, would be my sister Carmen's sixty-third birthday. She died when she was 44 years old.

These pictures were taken a couple of years before she died in 1990. She attended the family Thanksgiving get-together in 1988 and I got these good pictures. Who knew that just two years later she would no longer be with us.

Carmen lived with us for a few months and we had a great time, along with some troubling and hard times. During our better times we had this fun little thing we did. When we came into the presence of each other, we would say, "Toot, toot." And then we would both laugh. Even today when I go to her grave, I say "Toot, toot, Pooder." I really miss her.

Pooder was a nickname she has had, forever it seems like. I don't know where it came from, but that's what we affectionately called her.

Pooder committed suicide on August 1, 1990. She had attempted several times for several years previously, but this time she was successful. That was a really, really tough time. It was a struggle not to feel responsible, and a couple of really good books helped me realize that the responsibility rests with the person, herself. That's the first time I remember grief hurting so bad, actually physically, my heart hurt. I found myself holding my chest because my heart hurt when I thought of her.


Nineteen years have passed since Carmen's death and funeral. She would be 63 years old today.
"Toot, toot, Pooder. Happy Birthday! Miss you and love you!!"
Mary B.

My 50-Year High School Reunion

This weekend our 1959 class is gathering at a country club Friday night and at a park for a picnic on Saturday to celebrate our fifty year reunion.

In years past I was always a little nervous and anxious when I attended a reunion. I was worried that I wouldn't know anyone and what's worse, no one would know me. And then what do you talk about after the usual questions?

I also wanted to look my very best. I remember at my 40-year reunion, I lost weight, got a tan, and made sure my hair looked the best I could make it. How shallow is all of that? I know, I know.

This year it's been different. I volunteered, or was I drafted, to help with the planning. I've attended four planning meetings, had a barrel of fun, even garnered a nickname (I'm not tellin'). I was elected the record keeper, which is really my thing. I've made lists and kept updating them almost daily. I even created a blog for us to keep up with each other. If you would like to take a look: http://web.me.com/mfburleson/iWeb/EHS1959

I think I've learned a life principle here. This year I'm looking forward to attending this reunion. I think I've actually shifted to the other side. Instead of being a fearful, anxious, self-absorbed guest, I've become an eager, welcoming hostess. The difference? I think it's because I've gotten involved, I've put some effort and time into the event. Hmmm... Hopefully I'll remember this in other areas of my life.

For fun: In my senior year at Edmond High School I was elected Miss EHS. Jerry was elected Mister EHS. Last year at our 49th reunion, Jerry and I had our picture made together. My, my fifty years "do make a difference" don't they? Yikes! I plan to take my camera and get lots of pictures this weekend. I'll share later. MB

Then and Now––Can you guess which is which? Joke!

TODAY IS IT!!

Today is our 50th Wedding Anniversary.
I think that's the golden one.



We received an e-card that said:
Sweethearts
Partners
Best Friends
Soul Mates

Perfect! That's what we have been, but most important, that describes us today.

We could also add some negative words because we actually experience both.

Thankfully, the scales are weighted heavily on the positive scale and continue to dip down on that side.



Happy Anniversary, Handsome!

We're looking forward to a special celebration tonight with our four kids and their mates at a wonderful steakhouse in a reserved room. This was our choice. We considered Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, and nixed all. We chose our favorite thing to do, have fun with our family and enjoy being home. I think our traveling so much through the years and enjoying it has helped us know that our very favorite thing these days is to celebrate quietly with each other and with family and staying home. That's the best!

Today is a good day of remembering and celebrating.
MB

We're Swimming!

Our pool is open and is wonderful! We've been slowly working on getting the plants and flowers planted and set in place. With all the storms and hail and rain, we've had to move slowly. But, we think we're through!

Yesterday we were in and out of it all day long. I've realized that's why you need many bathing suits, not just one or two. Have you ever tried to put back on a wet bathing suit? Not a fun task.


Enjoying this is beyond both our expectations. We have so much fun. We're neither one great swimmers, but we love the water. I wear goggles and put my hair in rubberbands and put a cloth headband on to keep the hair out of my eyes. If you have a mental picture, you are right. I'm no bathing beauty, but it sure is fun.


We've decided the pool's been worth every penny we've spent on it.
Having fun in our senior years, way too much fun. Love it!!
MB

May Family Birthdays

I think in May we have more birthdays in our family than in any other month!!

Today is Ace's second birthday. We celebrated Tuesday evening at Grammy's (Cherri's) house.


May 14 was Mike's birthday. Mike is our wonderful son-in-law. He's that because he's Cherri's husband.


May 19 was Terri's 28th birthday. Terri is our first grandchild. Terri's husband Gabriel's birthday is tomorrow, May 22.

Even more birthdays to come!!


Melody, our third child who was born on our fourth wedding anniversary, has a birthday next week on Thursday, May 28!


Hudson, who is Brett and Kelly's first grandchild, will be two years old on May 27. And since Brett is our son, that makes Hudson another of our greats. And he is a great one!

Can you believe that? All those birthdays? And this year was the first year we didn't have Paul's Mom with us on her birthday, May 15. She would have been 91 years old. That was a sad day, but we remembered her by having Paul's family over and enjoying hamburgers and visiting together.

Well, it's really a stretch for my memory. I think I've done well so far, but May isn't over. And I certainly hope I haven't forgotten anyone in the family on this post.

Birthdays are so much fun, especially with the kids. Tuesday at Ace's party, when we started singing Happy Birthday, I think we scared him and he jumped up and ran from the room. Of course the laughter was even louder and even scarier. Too fun.

And as time keeps rolling along, one thing is certain. All of this will occur again next year. That's a certainty!!
MB

My Mom

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and I did all the regular things. I gave Mom a card with a love gift of a check inside. Picked my Mom up at noon on Saturday and took her to see her three great, great, grandsons, our daughter's three grandchildren, two of whom are brand new twin boys. We should have done the five generations picture, but alas, I didn't think of that.

When I started taking Mom home, she mentioned she had not seen our new pool, so I took a quick right and headed for Norman, and took Mom home with me. We enjoyed a leisurely couple of hours sitting out by the pool and on our screened-in porch. Nice day for enjoying outside. Mom said she's buying a new bathing suit and coming down to swim. I said, "Oh? Are you sure you're invited?" She laughed and said, "Sure I am. I'm your Mother!" She's funny.

Oh, have I mentioned Mother is 91.5 years old. She'll be 92 in November.

We then drove to Edmond where every first Saturday of the month all those who can of my ten siblings and their mates meet at a hamburger place for a fun family time. One of my sisters and her husband and their entire family had just returned from Turkey where they visited their missionary daughter and husband and four grandkids. Their trip was our major topic of conversation. Quite enjoyable. The scarf Mother has on in the picture is her gift from Turkey.

I'm very grateful for my Mom and for who she is. She's a tough old bird in some respects. She's quite the talker and is always full of good stories and loves telling things that have happened in her life, one time, two times, three times, and more. JK A great feature of hers is her gift giving. She still tries to get gifts for as many of her 11 children, 41 grandchildren, ~89 great, grandchildren, and now 3 great, great, grandchildren.

I called Mom one night last week just to check in and see how she was doing. She was eating and I asked her what she was having. She was eating a hotdog and a big onion. I asked her if that didn't make her stomach hurt. She said her stomach always hurts just a little, so why not enjoy eating? She can still drink black coffee late and still enjoy a good night's sleep. I've wondered sometimes why I didn't get some of these good genes.

Of all eleven kids, I'm the one that most people say resemble my Mom the most. I take that as a great compliment. She's a good woman, who's living a good life, and has raised some good kids. Right?

One more funny thing: At supper Saturday night Mother was lamenting that she didn't feel like she'd been a very good Mom. I asked her why would she say that? Look at all the great kids she raised and how wonderful all of us are. Why would she think such a thing? She seemed a little confused about my humor, but because everyone else was laughing, so did she!

I love my Mom and am so grateful I can call her MY MOM!
Mary B.

The B. in Mary B.

I think the B in Mary B doesn't stand for my last name, but in this picture it stands for Billy Bob as in teeth.

I clog with the Okie Stompers and often when we're clogging at the state fair we open up with a fun dance dressed in overalls and Billy Bob teeth. Once after we did that, a kid came up to me and told me I was the ugliest person he had ever seen. I thanked him.

After our dance performance, often my brother who is a fellow clogger and I would walk the midway with our fun teeth still in place. We'd be talking and chatting, and we would get hysterical as we would see people trying not to stare. Some people would smile and nod and then get past us and turn around and give a shocked look like did I just see correctly? It's way too fun and funny.

Paul, my handsome feller, cannot understand why I so enjoy doing this. Honestly I don't know why. It's just fun. But the other funny thing is that Paul will not walk with Fred, my brother, and me when we are doing this. Pauls asks me,"Why do you like to look so ugly? It's awful!" That's even funnier. I guess I'm warped.

Anyway, I love FaceBook and Twitter and have great fun following people on these as well as reading blogs. Last night I put my cropped "teeth" picture as my ID picture on Twitter. Again, I think that is so funny. Paul wonders about me. He just doesn't understand it, but he does chuckle. On Twitter I wrote, "I decided to use my glamour shot picture. Like it?"

Hey, life is not only an adventure. Life is fun.

MB

Granddaughter Event

Tonight some of us are heading to Dallas to hear Terri, our oldest grandchild, play her very first solo performance with an orchestra. She will be performing the 1st movement of the Nielsen Flute Concerto with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra in Caruth Auditorium at Southern Methodist University.

Since I'm not very knowledgeable about concertos and composers, I've been doing my homework. I've read the biography of Carl Nielsen and the history of how he came to write this flute concerto.

And then to train my listening ear and to prepare for a great experience, I downloaded this classical flute concerto to my iPhone and plan to listen to it on our trip to Dallas this afternoon. I've already listened to parts of it and I'm impressed that Terri can do this. How exciting!

Terri has always amazed me. She's made her way through life while encountering great obstacles. Of course, we're her grandparents and naturally we are extremely proud of her. But, she really is quite special and stands out from the crowd with her creative ability and her discipline to achieve.

Tonight will be special for many reasons. Looking forward to it with great anticipation.
MB aka Grams

Fun Day at Village BC

Today we attended a luncheon for the charter members of Village Baptist Church in Oklahoma City celebrating their 50th Anniversary. We weren't sure we would know anybody, but to our surprise we knew several.

Paul was 19 and I was 18 when we started our ministry at VBC in February of 1960. We were both college students. I was pregnant with our first and I had an afternoon job at Buck's Sporting Goods in downtown OKC. Paul had two other jobs besides this church job. He cleaned three doctors' offices at night and worked at the OKC tag agency in the afternoons. We were busy, but we were very young and had lots of energy.

During our time at VBC, every Sunday Paul preached to a gym full of third graders through high schoolers age-wise. We called it little church and it was going on at the same time as big church. VBC was one of the first SBC churches to have a separate church service for children.

Today there were several of those kids at the luncheon. and many of them remembered our being there and shared several fun stories and memories.

One woman came up to Paul and told him that she knew him from sitting in the stands at the high school where Brett was coaching baseball. Her son played ball on Brett's team. Small world!

Another lady was talking about being a child in children's church and she told me where she now goes to church. She knows my brother and sister-in-law very well. They've attended church together for years. Small world!

We were visiting with one of the deacons about events many years ago and I mentioned that my Dad had preached a meeting at VBC in the sixties. He asked me who my Dad was, and when I told him he went on and on about how well he knew my Dad and what an impact he had on his life. Small world!

As we were leaving, the pastor asked Paul to preach for Senior Adult Sunday services the third Sunday in May. We think that's hilarious, from children's church to senior adult church, all in the short span of 50 years. Seems short, but in a way it seems a lifetime. Well, actually, I guess it is!

It was a really fun day and the church was very gracious and kind. They had put together a book of pictures and events of the church's history and gave each of us one. Former staff members are going to be recognized in the morning service tomorrow, and we're planning to attend. Paul's sister and brother-in-law are members there and we plan to sit with them.

Just another fun day in life's adventure.
MB

Snow and Swimming Pools

What's wrong with this picture? We're having our swimming pool opened by the pool people next Wednesday, April 1. We woke up this morning with snow all over the ground. Huh?

We've enjoyed several 80-degree days, and so it seemed natural to hurry and get the pool de-winterized and ready to use. Now we've had snow.

We also ordered several trees and plants from a catalog order place our kids told us about. They've arrived, but somehow planting in the snow doesn't seem right.

But, that's Oklahoma. It's supposed to be 70 and above in the next few days, so hopefully we can plant then.

I'm ready for spring. I actually thought "spring had sprung" as of last Friday. Our tulips have bloomed and our trees have budded. And now they have snow all over them.

I actually like these surprises. Makes me realize all over again how much life is an adventure, the unexpected is often right around the corner.
MB

Grandson's Twins

Here I am with Kyle and Aaron, twins born March 9.

Did you notice the heading? Grandson's twins somehow sounds better to me than my twin great-grandsons.

I became a grandmother at the age of 39, and somehow at that time I just wasn't ready to be called, Grandma. I still had a grade school child at home and still felt young, much too young to answer to Granny.

I adored and loved my new granddaughter, but it was the Granny thing. Actually we settled on Grams, which was better. After more grandchildren came at a pretty fast pace, I became used to being Grams to thirteen wonderful grandchildren.

But, time moves on. Two years ago our grandson had our first great-grandson. Again, I just wasn't quite ready for the great-grandma title. Now I have three great-grandsons. I'm getting used to the great grandma title. Maybe I can be Great Grams or GiGi. That sounds younger, doesn't it? JK

Way back when I was a teenage Mom, I thought great grannies were old, old, and quite decrepit. Funny that when you get into that age bracket, it's not that way at all. I wonder if young people look at me and know that I'm a great granny. Hmmm...

I'll conclude with a joke: An older couple was sitting in a bar and the wife looked down at the end of the bar and saw an elderly couple and said to her husband, "That's the way we're going to look in ten or twenty years." The husband said, "You know that's a mirror, don't you?" Too funny. My sentiments exactly!
MB