HOLIDAY HAVOC

Well, this holiday has come and gone, and I must admit that I am glad it's over. While I like to remember my departed loved ones on Memorial Day, I find that old emotions are stirred up and surface as raw spots. Perhaps it helps with healing deep wounds, but there are sad feelings when you place those floral tributes. My late husband's resting place is in a cemetery on a hill located on "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," and actually is directly across from a tall pine that is silhouetted against the skyline. I always think of the Fox novel by that name when I see it. My daughter made a beautiful arrangement for her father. She can always outshine the florists on an arrangement. She loves flowers as much or more than I , and we spent Saturday touring all the local greenhouses. Her garden is incredible and her new found passion for roses is consuming all her free time. If the boys leave any, that is. She was searching for Jackson and Perkins climbers, "Blaze of Glory" and "Voluptious". She had seen them earlier and bought others instead and grieved because they got sold. She did not find them , but I bought three. These were my favorite ones that she has blooming. One is a double "Knock-out", and the other two are climbers; "Scent of Heaven" and "Double Delight". I planted two yesterday and trying to decide on a spot for the other one. Mine will never be as beautiful as hers (her pictures were accepted for an online garden magazine) but I am hoping for blooms. Daughter and SIL took their son to the airport yesterday to return to Iraq. She tried not to cry, in order for the departure to be easier for him, but she just couldn't help it. She said folks were coming up and thanking him for serving his country and it was very emotional. His two weeks home just flew by, with dinners and cookouts for him. He will be gone a year. Pray that all our boys will be home by then. Guess what! My niece had contractions last night. Doctor said she would not make it till June 1st, her due date. Today is her little girl's birthday. New baby made it past Mem Day, and if she isn't born today, she will get a day of her own to celebrate her birth. My niece is scheduled for surgery the 3rd, because of the hematoma on her leg. She is the one that was stabbed by a stranger in a store as related in a previous entry. Pray for an easy birth and a well baby. We took the grandsons to the Sunday School picnic and had a great time. We enjoyed the food and afterward there was a rousing softball game between the "Has-Beens" and the "Want-a-Bees." The Has+Beens were the over-35 bunch and held their own, even though accused of crowding the field. It was fun and frolic. Son and friend had made a short trip to Boone, N.C. a quaint little ski town and Grandfather Mountain and area. He was home yesterday and we just lounged all day. We wore P.J.'s most of the day. I was glad he had a day to rest. Me, too. No more holidays until the Fourth of July, and only one birthday in June. But I am already looking forward to those. Spring is hectic with so many events that one has to be reminded sometimes to "stop and smell the roses." Oh, yeah, that reminds me, I have one to plant. Catch ya later.