Father Knows Best

We've all heard the phrase.

That certainly rang true with me. Even when I knew the answer to a question I had, or was almost 99% sure of what to do, I still called Dad. Somehow, hearing what he would do in a similar situation was reassuring. Now that he's gone, I miss being able to call him at a moment's notice.

Anymore, people use caller ID to screen calls, or let voicemail pick up, but not Dad. He always answered.

Always.

Like the time I called to say the morning show had won the CMA Award for the first time. "Where can I get tickets? We want to be in the audience," he said.

Or the time I called to say I was on the way to the ER with Hayden, who couldn't break his high fever. "Call me when you get there and keep me posted," he told me. After Hayden was given an IV for fluids, I text Dad to say we're ok. "Gr8," he wrote back.

By the way, I saved that text, thinking my 63-year-old Dad was hip and clever.

And then there was the Sunday I called to say we wouldn't be over to visit. I explained we had cut it too close on time, and I had to be at a work event. "Well, could I come get the boys? They can be with your mom and I for the day."

I asked Griffin this week to tell me about his favorite time he spent with Papaw.

Sure enough, he told me it was that Sunday he spent the entire day at his house. The Sunday the boys almost didn't go. The Sunday Dad convinced me that he and Mom could watch the kids. "He swam with me in the pool," Griff said. "And threw me up in the air."

That was ten days before Dad died. I'm grateful they had that time together.

And I'm grateful Dad answered the phone.

Keep 'Em

I cleaned out my closet yesterday.

Got rid of pants that I haven't worn in years, tops that should have been tossed a year ago, and shoes that were begging to be thrown in the trash. The one thing that made the cut?

My fuzzy red slippers. I can't get rid of them.

They've been with me since I had my oldest son, and I love to wear them. In my pj's, or in my shorts while cooking dinner, they are comfortable and soft.

If you ask Greg, they should have been replaced three years ago. My red slippers are now red and GREEN, since I got a little careless while painting the family room four years back. But, that's ok, I love them anyway.

I've held on to these just like Greg held on to that jacket he owned since before we met. The one that I persuaded him to sell in our yard sale. For a $1.00.

Don't get any ideas.

Pucker Up

Did ya know...

American women consume 4 to 5 pounds of lipstick a year.

That's what I read over the weekend. The article says it is the result of eating, drinking, and licking our lips.

Kind of grossed me out, to be honest. Especially since I'm a lipstick junkie. I apply it several times throughout the day. I get it honest, since my Mother is the same way.

Even after giving birth to my first child, and looking like I'd been run over by a truck, Mom came back to see me and said, "Honey, you could use a little lipstick." She doesn't miss a beat.

If I'm eating 4 to 5 pounds of the waxy stuff a year, might as well wear the flavored kind. Too bad they don't make a tube called tortilla and guacamole...I'd wear that and skip lunch.

Just something to think about.

What is THAT?

I just stuck my foot in my mouth.

Greg is always teasing me because I have NEVER...no, not even once, vacuumed the floors in this house. No, your eyes aren't going bad. But, hey, I do many other things. Just not floors.

I should also say that Greg vacuums so often, I don't get to. So, cleaning the floors is his "thing." I clean toilets. (I think I'd rather clean floors.)

At any rate, I came downstairs and noticed a strange looking device in our kitchen. Never seen it before. I asked Greg, "Is that a new kind of carpet steamer that we rented?

"Nooooooooo," he responded.

"That would be our VACUUM."

Oh.

5 TV Shows I'd Like To Watch

I don't watch tv.

Obviously, anyone with kids knows its virtually impossible to watch a show and not be interrupted, so I don't even bother. By the time I tuck the boys in bed, I wrap up a few loose ends, like dishes, or laundry, and its time for me to call it a night. That's the downfall of getting up early.

As a result, I watch tv, well...um...NEVER.

So, when I hear my friends or co-workers talk about this new show, or the latest scoop on Days of Our Lives, I may as well count the hairs on my forearms.

I'm clueless.

Instead of talking about my favorites, I've compiled a list of 5 shows I'd like to watch. If there were more hours in the day.

1. Supernanny. This show makes me feel like I'm somewhat normal, and my house isn't as chaotic as it COULD be.

2. DAWG, the Bounty Hunter. I was hooked on this show during my maternity leave. Something about his mullet and his wife's interesting, ahem, fashion choices.

3. 90210, the new version. I was a big fan back in the 90's. But, not a fan of Brenda's. Nothing's changed there.

4. Dancing with the Stars. Talk about double-sided tape! Seems like any minute someone's bound to have a wardrobe malfunction. (Jerry Springer, anyone?)

5. Ok, this is sad, but I can't think of another. I even walked away from the computer for 20 minutes, and nothin.' Nothing! I've racked my brain...put dinner in the oven, checked the mail, answered the phone (it was a wrong number), and can't think of a single show. Except, maybe, Growing Pains, but it's old.

So, I guess I should have titled this...

The Top 4 TV Shows I'd LIKE To Watch. And there you have it.

Ahem...Testing, 1-2-3

My 7-year-old will be reciting a poem for his Poetry Cafe' at school today.

The students will be using a microphone and he's been practicing all week. Griffin asked me last night what to do if he gets stage fright.

He's pretty outgoing, so I told him I doubt that he will have any problems. But, that brought back memories of my own...

My first day on the air, 15 years ago, I turned on the microphone, and identified myself. Should be easy enough.

"I'm Deborah HoneyNUTT, on WFMS."

Oops.

Snacktime

My friends at work tease me because my children tend to snack on items not usually popular among kids. I myself am sometimes baffled that they eat so healthy. Hey, I'm not complaining.

Last night, 7-year-old Griffin asked for a bedtime snack. Here's how that conversation unfolded:

Me: What would you like?

Griffin: I don't know. Can you give me some choices?

Me: Sure...how about popcorn?

Griffin: Ummmmm, no thanks, what else?

Me: Hmmm, some tortilla chips?

Griffin: (Shakes his head no.) I don't think so.

Me: What about toast with peanut butter, or a chocolate-chip granola bar?

Griffin: No thank you. Hey, I know! How about...

..."A can of tuna?"

Yes, that's a can of tuna, PLAIN, with a fork.

Who knew?

Thoughts on Grandkids

Found something that touched my heart over the weekend.

I was visiting Mom, and looking through some of Dad's things. I feel especially close to him when I look at his collection of books. He read all of the time.

One of the books I came across was Willard Scott's "If I Knew It Was Going To Be This Much Fun, I Would Have Become a Grandparent First."

Dad loved being a grandparent. He was good at it.

He always had a pocket full of tootsie rolls for the kids, handed them Dum-Dum suckers, and kept his freezer stocked with ice cream sandwiches.

Inside the book, country legend Charlie Daniels wrote what being a grandparent means to him. Here's what he said...

I am firmly convinced that the greatest gift God ever gave to mankind is children of our own. Children bring a sweetness to our lives that nothing else can provide. And if children are the dessert of life, grandchildren are the icing.

"Mom, you never let me jump up and down on the furniture like that." "Why in the world did you buy that for him? His room is so full of toys now that you can't walk in it." "You've already taken him to Disney World once this year."

Well, so what? Grandchildren are the most privileged characters on the planet. Who else can have breakfast at the Pancake House, lunch at McDonald's, and dinner at Chuck E. Cheese's?

So just what is it about these munchkins that melts the hearts of aging people, these miniature tyrants with the chocolate milk mustaches? I'm sure I can't answer that to everyone's satisfaction, but to me it's a lot of things. It's the innocent eyes not yet clouded by worldly cares and the absolute trust that only a small child can have. It's the job of watching them tear open brightly-colored packages at Christmas time. It's the thrill of being there for the first fish he catches or teaching him how to hold a golf club. It's taking him on his first plane flight. It's hugs and kisses and deep feelings that only our grandson could foster.

It's just plain wonderful. God bless all the grandchildren.