the 2007 Holidays...summed up

Thanksgiving, spent in Tupelo, visiting friends, old and new.

Christmas...left Tupelo Christmas Eve afternoon, got to my mom's in Huntsville @ 5:20 p.m.. Thought about going to service @ SPC, but decided to stay @ home the whole time I was there. Did laundry, enjoyed time with Mom, had a few good meals, and a few visits from friends. Twenty minutes shy of 24 hours at home, I left again.
Mom is starting to feel and look her 82 years, I hope to get her over here in the next year. It will be good for all of us.
New Year's Eve in of all places Florence, Alabama! Billy and Katie came in from Huntsville and we chilled @ Margaret's parent's place. Fine Friends, great food, and Auburn's thrilling win in OT!
Could not have asked to be with better people...

Learning to accept my life for what it is, some dreams that will never come true, some will.

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And so it begins

Well, training has started in Huntsville,

and I have slept like a baby every night since! It is good to put in a hard day's work. Folks have been showing me the ropes and giving me pointers and advice on dealing with customers, what model cars need special attention, etc. The GM's reporting process is straight forward and I anticipate no problems with that.

I am so glad to be moving forward, life(work wise) has seemed stagnate, but that is no longer the case.
In other news, Katie-Belle came to town June 25th, and it was a pleasure to see her and let her see Perpetual Groove for the first time!
My buddy Hal was in town for Pgroove, we got to hang out a good bit, including a dinner @ Big Ed's Pizza. I am glad that joint is back, even though I am leaving town soon.

I went to Atlanta on 6/30 to see Disco Biscuits, Umphree's McGee, and Perpetual Groove. It was a full and complete day of fun and great music, especially Pgroove. Got to meet some fun people from Richmond, Amy and Chris.

Billy finally showed up around the 5th and it was good to see him as well.




Katie and her dad went Hang-gliding recently, I got to tag along and shoot pictures. It was a treat to be there(all day) with the Ibsen/Park clan. We had laughs, shared meals and played games.
Billy and Katie left on the 10th...I sure miss them, even though we have some sort of contact every day.

LHP has bought a delightful bungalow in the Mayfair Park area, I am thrilled for her. It is exciting to see all the changes coming in folks lives, including my own.

Going to go school some people on how to play Mexican Train, so Buenos Noches.

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Humor Admist the Sadness

Originally written September 2006
As some of you know, my maternal grandmother passed away last week. Though the death loved one is always sad, I just had to share some humor (in my own Greg way) that I discovered during the time I spent in Clanton, Al for her funeral.

Legally, my grandmother's name was Leta Mae Lowery Gore Cleckler Northcutt. She was born Lowery and outlived three husbands. I was reviewing the "In Memory" card the day prior to the funeral, She was listed as Leta Mae Gore Northcutt. I commented on this error, not listing her "Cleckler" name quietly to my mom. No response. I let the matter drop.

The next day I asked openly to all family present about the "name change" and I was told that she had forgotten her most recent husbands, thus the omission of Cleckler. My cousin and I thought this was very funny, because she also had forgotten the man that gave her the name Northcutt. My best guess is there is some sore feelings regarding Mr. Cleckler and his courtship of my grandmother. I barely remember him. Apparently, this is a subject that is not to be spoken of, so I plan on asking about it at every family gathering until I get an answer. I can't wait till Thanksgiving!

I found great joy in the pre-recorded music selections for the service. The day prior to the funeral, the family gathered at the funeral home to make those selections. We were given a binder full of selections to choose from. We could also provide our own as well. My cousin had chosen "Amazing Grace" by Aaron Neville...WOW! In all seriousness, it was awesome. But the other piece of recorded music, not so much. In that binder I mentioned, all kinds of music, Hymns, Standards, Elvis, Sinatra, a wide selection to choose from. Mind you, these are not original recordings, but "covered" by a male or female studio singer.

Well, I'll never name names, but one person noticed that "Memory" from the Broadway musical Cats!!! Suffice to say, I could barely contain myself when the service opened with that song!!. I shall never forget maintaining my composure and shedding a tear from laughter at that most solemn of occasions.

Kinda long and wordy, I know. I thought you might enjoy this glimpse of how funerals are done, in my family at least, down in Clanton, AL

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