The Letter "E"

"Frying chicken always makes me feel a little better about life." ~Kathryn Stockett (The Help)

The book, The Help, has had the largest impact on me than any novel I've ever read.  I smiled, I cried, I laughed and I mourned.....all because of the letter "E".  

MEET "E"

Risa, "E" and her husband, Bud Freeman at Nannie & Granddaddy's 

50th Wedding Anniversary Party in Forsyth

"E" was my Grandparent's maid for well over 50 years.  Legend has it that neither Greg or myself could pronounce the name Risa; therefore, it somehow came out as "E."  Every Birthday, Christmas, Halloween and Valentine card was always signed with quotation marks and the letter E.  It wasn't until several years into my elementary school education that I started to put two and two together and realized that my cards from "E" and from my Nannie and Granddaddy were signed in the same handwriting.  Hence, the raw truth had to be told to a little girl from her grandmother that her beloved "E" could not read or write.  The truth was, I didn't care one way or another.  I knew that I loved her and I knew that she loved me.  Her heart and soul was put into every dime of that ten dollar bill I received each year on my Birthday.  


Forsyth (my Mom's hometown) was steeped in traditions for Greg and me.  Prior to a visit, the first phone call from Nannie without fail said the same thing, "What do you want "E" to cook you for lunch?"  The same answer was given every time...."Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Biscuits, Chocolate Pudding and Sweet Tea."  I'll never be able to eat a piece of Fried Chicken again.  There are days my mouth waters thinking about the taste of that meal I had hundreds of times and never once complained about the frequency.  There was no place I would rather be as a kid than standing up on a chair proudly washing the dishes from lunch with "E".  She never had children and considered us and called us her "chillun", respectively, John and Sister.      

Washin' dishes with "E"....one of my favorite Forsyth past times

"E's" "chillun", John (Greg) and Sister (Natalie)

If I had to pick one thing that I loved about "E" the most is my world was one color with her.  I never knew anything different.  Our love was unconditional -- just like Baby Girl and Aibileen in The Help.  She helped me grow up.  I still have every single card and $2 dollar bill she gave me.  


On a work trip to China 7 years ago soon after the death of "E", I received a call from my Dad along with the shock of my life.  "E" had named me executor of her will along with leaving me a kind and meaningful gift.    


I'll leave you with one thought.....  


"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

Pay it forward.  

My Friend Kim

My friend Kim

She’s fun

She’s loud

She’s loyal

She’s caring

She’s a christian

She’s stronger than a tea bag steeped in hot water

She’s the best mom ever!

She’s obsessively organized

She’s the best planner I know

she loves the old family farm

she can turn a negative into a positive in a heartbeat! 

she's in my best memories of high school

She could give pottery barn a run for their money any day of the week in design

She owns stock in chardonnay with floating ice cubes

She’s non judgmental

She’s faithful

She’s a dr. pepper addict

She loves dr. Seuss

She still sleeps with the most loyal man she’ll ever know, her teddy bear, “ted”

She loves the beach

She’s sunshine on an otherwise rainy day

She’s helped me more in the past year than she will ever know!

I love you kim for being you including all of your idiosyncrasies.

Second Chances

I’ve lost my writeability!   Is that is even a word?  Letters used to multiply and wrap around each other on the page and they don’t do that anymore!  I have sat down time and again and tried to write on topics such as consequences for actions, 2^nd chances, forgiveness and the list goes on and on.  I think I have finally decided that I need to write but I need to write for me and me alone.  I don’t need to be fancy.  I need to be real and if real includes simplistic words and commas tossed here and there, then that’s okay. 

I’m no longer in school but I’m still learning.  I learn things everyday.  I’m learning new things in excel for work, I’m learning about the Jewish religion and lately and most important, I’m learning that people sometimes aren’t who you really think they are.       

ARE THERE SECOND CHANCES? 

Personally, I think that everyone deserves a 2^nd chance.  However, I’m learning that with my God there are 3^rd and 4^th chances but with people that isn’t necessarily the case unless your names are Jean Ann and Barnes O’Neal.  I’m learning that God is a God of the 3rd and 4th chances, but we usually limit Him to 2 when we limit others to as many.  I'm ending this mid-thought because I think that last sentence is so important it needs to be reflected on further.    

Here’s some good news as I type in the insomnianic (is that a word?) dark at 12:56 AM about my tomorrow morning --

It might not be the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen but it’s a new day!

Last but not least…my devotional verse tonight is eerily worth sharing…

Matthew 7:1-2
¹Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.