Monday Pep Talk

Happy Monday friends! Here's a little something to make you feel encouraged...a whole squad of Grade-A 1950s University of Tennessee majorettes. They've got plenty of pep in their step...think it will rub off on you? 

Sometimes I forget how hard Mondays can be for folks. Especially when you have to wake up and go to a job you hate. Or maybe one that makes you feel less than appreciated. Or maybe you don't have a job to go to, but you need one. I've been in all those circumstances. And none are any fun.

When I was working at my last job (you know the one), I used to get a stomach ache every Sunday night...dreading the coming Monday. That is a terrible feeling. 

My office was up a long, long flight of stairs with no elevator access. I used to daydream about how I might be able to get out of going to work if I broke my leg. This sounds crazy to me now, but it's true. 

Now that I've started my own business and am truly loving what I do, I get excited about each coming week in a way that I never did before. I met someone recently who said she thought I was brave for pursuing my dreams in this way. I certainly haven't felt brave at times. I mean, it took my getting fired to even get to this place. 

I don't know what your situation is. Maybe I've never met you. But I would stake my life on the fact that you were created with an amazing purpose in this life. I hope you can take a step in the direction of that purpose today....even if it's just inching one toe forward. 

Aren't happy with the direction your life is headed? It's never too late to turn things around. I truly believe that. That's my little pep talk for the day. Rah, rah...sis boom bah. 

Butter My Biscuits

It's a great time to be in Knoxville, Tennessee! This morning I'm visiting my Fox43 friends for a segment all about that most southern of delicacies, the biscuit.

Today kicks of the 2nd Southern Food Writing Conference, which I'm attending. It's going to be two jam-packed days of learning and eating, with some amazing foodies, southern food enthusiasts, cookbook authors, writers and bloggers. 

I'm looking forward to meeting the fabulous Julia Reed as well as Chef Hugh Acheson. Don't you just love folks who love food? 

One of the most highly anticipated events of Southern Food Writing Conference is a dinner at Blackberry Farm. It's like the southern foodie's holy grail (I hope it can live up to the hype). 

Then Saturday, May 18 is the 4th Annual International Biscuit Festival! Thousands of folks will descend onto downtown Knoxville to eat their hearts out on all sorts of delicious biscuit creations. 

I hope to see some of your smiling faces! 

Blog BFFs: For the Love of the South

Since beginning my blog in 2009, many fabulous doors have opened up for me and I've been so blessed to have the opportunity to do some amazing things. But the best thing about blogging (in my humble opinion) is getting to meet and become friends with other blogging/writing folks! 

I met some really great people during my recent trip to Jekyll Island for the Southern Coterie Summit. One of them was Ms. Amber Ryder. Not surprisingly, her blog For the Love of the South was a finalist in Saveur Magazine's Best Food Blog Awards. It's a gorgeous site that perfectly reflects the sweet spirit of its creator. 

Amber was one of the first people I met at the Southern C Summit. I think we were both looking a tiny bit lost at the opening cocktail reception and I'm so glad she came over and said hello. We struck up a conversation about food, naturally ;) Girlfriend takes her food seriously...anyone who categorizes broccoli salad as "the best of her life" is good people in my book. 

It took us awhile to realize that we were familiar with each other's blogs already...have you ever met someone in real life that you already felt you knew online? It's kind of an interesting phenomenon. 

I hope you'll visit Amber's blog and tell her I sent you. You won't be sorry. Did I mention she's a newlywed? Check out her lovely southern wedding too! 

Only in the south: Re-Arrangement

Y'all know I love a bargain. I've even bragged about how my family visits thrift stores in nearly ever city where we've ever vacationed. Sometimes, these thrifting adventures yield wonderful treasures. Other times, they leave me shaking my head.

A recent visit to a Habitat for Humanity Re:Store was a head shaker when I saw this faux floral arrangement a' la compact disc extravaganza.

I am generally opposed to fake flowers because they always look...fake. And unlike real flowers which die and go back to the earth, unwanted fake flowers just get dusty and end up relegated to the shelves and bins of thrift stores everywhere.

But not at this particular thrift store. Someone from the staff (or possibly a volunteer) had taken all the fake flowers in stock and re-purposed them into arrangements. This one isn't even terrible (minus the CDs) but seriously?

This could happen only in the south where, for some reason, we hold out hope that we can take unwanted things, and shine them up or re-arrange them in some way that might make them seem more desirable. It's not even a bad way to look at life, but in the case of these flowers and CDs, I just don't know if there's any hope.

I featured another find from this same thrift shop on the blog a few years ago...that time it was floral guitar-art or guitart as I called it. I really want to meet the people who come up with this stuff. They are the un-sung heroes of my "Only in the south" posts.

I heart my mom

my mom & me

All this week, I knew I wanted to share something about my own southern momma in honor of Mother's Day, but each time I'd sit down to write it I had trouble deciding what to say. I'm not sure why this particular story came to my mind, but I realized it was the perfect memory to share because it sums up who my mom is and what she stands for.

When I was around 11, my family lived in a wonderful old house that sat back off the road in my small hometown. We certainly weren't rich, but this house made me feel like we were. It had two fireplaces, an upstairs, a basement, and my favorite room: the study. I used to sit in the study, with its big, bright windows and polished, wooden built-in bookshelves and pretend I was an heiress to some type of fortune. Oops. This post really isn't about the house at all, but I get nostalgic thinking about it. 

Anyway. My mom was in college, finishing up her teaching degree and had just completed her student teaching at a school in a rural part of our community. This family of kids who attended that school ended up moving near where we lived. 

There were three of the kids that I can remember, two girls and a boy. All around my age. And they were poor. I'm not sure how I gleaned this information, but I know they were. They were always kind of dirty and I never saw any parents around. I don't think my mom told me for sure, but they had a sad family story (maybe their mom had died...I just can't remember). 

What I do remember is them walking over to our house sometimes to say hi to my mom or play basketball in our driveway. It was summer and you know how summer in the south is....hot. One day I looked out our upstairs window and saw all three of them sitting along the edge of our driveway picking flowers. 

When I came downstairs and asked my mom what they were doing, she said "Oh I told them they could pull weeds from along the side of our driveway and I'd pay them." 

This struck me as ridiculous for a couple of reasons. One being that my dad paid a very nice man named Mr. Richard to cut our grass with his big riding lawn mower. Mr. Richard always trimmed around the driveway with his weed eater. 

The other reason this seemed ridiculous to me was that if my mom was going to give anybody money, I thought it should naturally be me, since I was stuck at home all summer entertaining my little brother. 

Then, to add insult to my 11-year old self's idea of injury, my mom instructed me to fix three glasses of Crystal Light lemonade and take it out to the kids. I did as I was told, but I didn't have much joy in my heart about it. 

When I got to the driveway and passed out the lemonade, they drank it in a few quick gulps and got back to weed pulling. I am ashamed to tell you that even to this day I can remember feeling annoyed and put out. I knew this weed pulling project was completely unnecessary and I was annoyed with my mom for making me be part of the charade, whatever her reason was. 

Looking back, I can't believe I was so oblivious. It's obvious to me now that she was just trying to offer a little help in a rough situation. And I'm sure she knew they were too proud to take money outright so she concocted the weed pulling as a cover. 

And there I was, my big bratty self, unwilling or unable to understand the situation and secretly hoping these kids would just get tired of pulling weeds and go home. I remember thinking, "This is my summer vacation for goodness sake. I cannot be bothered with them."

Again, I'm not proud of myself in this story. But I'm grateful because I have a mom who could always be bothered when it came to people who needed a little (or a lot) of help. And I have spent my life watching her take the time to do these kinds of things for people she encounters. Sometimes they realize it, sometimes they don't. But it always makes a positive difference in their lives. I'm a better person today because of the example my mom set for me. 

If you've met her, you probably already know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't met her, I hope you're lucky enough to get the chance. 

I've said this before, but it bears saying again: if my mom weren't already my mom, I'd wish she were. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there (including mine). Y'all make our lives better in so many ways. 

Happy Friday!

I'm so happy Friday is finally here. This weekend doesn't hold any big plans, but aren't those the best kind? I might do some treasure hunting at a few estate sales tomorrow and then visit my local farmer's market. I might sleep late and read magazines in bed. The thought of having the luxury to choose is making me feel oh so blessed right now. 

Whatever your plans are, I hope they are lovely! And if you see the new Great Gatsby film, please tell me how it is...I might drag my beau to it if y'all give it a thumb's up. 

The Ride You are Taking

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."

 ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Power of Love

Sometimes love is so powerful, it scares me. A few days ago, I was dining at a restaurant in my hometown. Around the table sat five of my family members who also happen to be some of the people I love most in the world. At one point I found myself looking around the table at these faces, some of which have been part of my life's tapestry from the very beginning.

And I love them so much...the thought of life without them scares the heck outta me. So much to the point that I thought to myself: "I want to lock them up in a room, along with the rest of the people I love most (you know who you are) and keep them there." 

Yes, crazy. I know you're thinking it. 

And of course this isn't feasible or practical or a sane thought. 

But the love I feel for them that would prompt me to have these kinds of crazy thoughts is sort of a scary thing. 

And on the flip side of that coin, the power of love is enough that even if for some terrible reason I never saw my loved ones again, I know I'd still go on loving them. Just like I have with other people in my life who've moved on or passed on. 

And this is just the love that's felt between people. We can't even begin to imagine the incredible power of the love that our Creator feels for us. 

Some people live in such fear. And others feel alone or unwanted. And of course we all have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. But if we're really honest about the amazing love we have access to, this incredible living, breathing love that is just ripe for the taking, how can we spend so much of our energy fretting about all the nonsense that doesn't matter?

Speaker Wisdom from the Southern C Summit

I know I've already mentioned my experience at the Southern Coterie Summit in Jekyll Island, but I wanted to share a little bit more about the main reason I attended. When Southern C founder Cheri Leavy asked me to be a presenter at the conference, I was pretty surprised.

I've been to several conferences before, and even been part of a panel discussion, but I had never actually done my own presentation so this was kind of a dream come true for me.  

Since my business is content marketing and I've used my blog to grow that business, I guess I seemed a good fit to talk as part of a panel. 

My fellow panel members were two fabulous ladies who are also Southern C contributors. Mary Dell Harrington and Holly Phillips. 

Mary Dell is an incredible writer over at her wonderful blog Grown and Flown and she also contributes to the Huffington Post. She hails from Texas but now calls New York home. 

Holly (The English Room) is a blogger and interior designer whose wonderful bold style was the first thing I noticed about her. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and I just learned from her blog that we have art history degrees in common. 

Our panel was scheduled as the last session of the day, prior to the break before dinner. I knew everybody was losing steam and probably suffering from information overload from all the great presentations that day so I tried to keep my talk short and sweet. 

I spoke about how important it is for brands and businesses to tell their unique stories as a way to connect with their audience. My advice? Share stories that you are passionate about. I gave the example of the story I once shared on Facebook about my grandpa always drinking buttermilk with cornbread crumbled in it. Nothing particularly special about this story, except it means something to me and I feel passionate about it. Apparently it really resonated with folks because (at the writing of this post) it has received more than 27,000 comments! And all from people who had a similar meaningful story or memory that was worth sharing. 

I also talked about how important it is to use your blog or platform to tell other people's stories. Sometimes the best stories don't have an audience, but we can lend them one. My example of how I did this was with a post about artist Andy Saftel. By telling Andy's story on my blog, I was able to connect with him and begin to forge a relationship. He's now a client of mine. So you just never know what great connections and opportunities can come out of telling those great stories. 

Earlier that day at the Southern C Summit, we heard from Southern Living's Erin Shaw Street, who shared some great insight about how Southern Living has been able to stay vibrant and current for the last nearly 50 years. Of course this surprised nobody because it is after all Southern Living. 

We also heard from the creator of Charleston's DIG South conference and how a health scare prompted him to grab a'hold of his dreams of starting a conference and see them become reality. 

There was a wonderful presentation from Carrie Morey of Callies's Charleston Biscuits as well as her PR team at LeapFrog and the Stitch Design Company. So many wonderful folks who make the south great! 

I'm still sort of in shock that I was in their company, but I so appreciate the Southern C founders asking me to take part. And when people paid me compliments for a job well done,
I took my own advice and said "Thank You." 

Jekyll Island Adventures: the Southern Coterie Summit 2013

I just got home from a whirlwind week(end) at the inaugural Southern Coterie Summit and to quote my grandma, it was a big time. The Southern Coterie is a social network especially for folks who love and celebrate the south and I'm a member (as well as a contributor to its blog).

The network was started by the loveliest pair of ladies, Cheri Leavy and Whitney Long, who are great friends and when I heard they were planning an "in real life" meet-up, I knew I wanted to be part of it. 

Me with Whitney Long & Cheri Leavy, Southern Coterie Founders extraordinaire 

They surprised the socks off me when they asked me to be a speaker at the Southern C Summit in gorgeous Jekyll Island, Georgia. The Southern C Summit is an event for bloggers, writers, business owners and enthusiasts of the south.

As a blogger and now small business owner, it's so important to me to connect and network with people in my industry. I've attended other professional conferences before, but this one was unlike any other! 

Not only was it the inaugural Southern C Summit, this was my first trip to Jekyll Island and it more than lived up to my expectations, setting the most apropos backdrop for this utterly southern event. 

Crane Cottage ~ where my mom & I enjoyed lunch our first day on Jekyll Island

I took my momma along with me and she made a fine traveling companion and cheering section for my professional conference presentation debut. 

The first night we arrived, I attended an event called Cocktails & Conversation, hosted by 

Southern Living. The next day was packed full of learning opportunities as well as networking and making friends. The weather didn't quite hold up for all the outdoor events that were planned, but this is the south after all and it takes a lot more than rain to dampen our spirits. 

I gave my presentation as part of a panel with some fabulous ladies, but I think I'll devote an entire post to that. 

The highlight of our main dinner event was a keynote talk and impromptu fashion show from 

K. Cooper Ray, creative mastermind behind the southern fashion line Social Primer. 

Some of the fabulously talented, creative & lovely ladies I met

We ended the event with a great learning session about how to grow our online presence using tried and true methods from Internet consultant Mr. Ryan Dohrn. 

I learned a ton, but even better, I made some authentic connections. If you are on the fence about attending an event like this, let me encourage you to do it! I've been fortunate to learn from so many wonderful people on this blogging adventure and I hope it continues for a long time!

And for those of you who read my previous blog about my mini fashion emergency, I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Everyone was so sweet and kind. It didn't matter what anyone was wearing...after a little time together, we were all laughing and getting on like old friends. 

Missed the Southern C Summit in Jekyll Island? You can still jump on board with this great group of folks...there are plans for another event in Athens, Georgia as well as one in Nashville, Tennessee this fall! (Stay tuned for more info!) 

1982 World's Fair Opens in Knoxville

On this day in history, the 1982 World's Fair kicked off in my lovely town of Knoxville, Tennessee. I was just a wee babe at the time, but my parents bundled me up and carted me to the event. I wish I had at least some memory of it. But the glowing orb of the Sunsphere stands as a reminder of what once was. And no, it's not full of wigs.

Since we don't really have World's Fairs anymore, it's hard for younger folks to imagine what a grand event this was, but basically the eyes of the world were turned onto Knoxville. President Ronald Reagan was even part of the opening ceremony, which was broadcast on local and regional television. Other famous folks in attendance opening day? Why Dinah Shore of course and Porter Wagoner and Ricky Skaggs.

More than 11 million people attended during the World's Fair (from May 1 to Oct. 31, 1982), but it wasn't the moneymaker Knoxville civic leaders were hoping for. Knoxville ended up being saddled with a $46 million debt...yikes!

But I know lots of folks have wonderful memories of attending the fair, including my bff who was a World's Fair regular. There's a sweet nostalgia to an event like this that brings a community together. I hope in our age of technology and electronic everything we haven't lost that.

Writer's Envy

Do you ever read some amazing bit of writing and think "why didn't I write that?" I guess it could be called writer's envy. But part of being a writer (I am, you know) is reading what other people write. Lately, I've felt like some of the stuff I've read just spoke to my very soul. Does that ever happen to you?

"For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love." 

First was a quote from Carl Sagan that I added to a picture of my dogs (including dearly departed Bentley). Anyone who has ever loved a pet knows the feeling of responsibility for these small precious lives. It shouldn't be taken lightly.

























Then, it was a poem I heard read on NPR. The poet, Marie Howe, is the State Poet for New York.  You can also hear Howe read her poem here (if you'd rather close your eyes and listen.) It's that good.

Annunciation 

Even if I don’t see it again — nor ever feel it
I know it is — and that if once it hailed me
it ever does –

And so it is myself I want to turn in that direction
not as towards a place, but it was a tilting
within myself,

as one turns a mirror to flash the light to where
it isn’t — I was blinded like that — and swam
in what shone at me

only able to endure it by being no one and so
specifically myself I thought I’d die
from being loved like that.

– Marie Howe

Hope you're having a great week!

An Elegant Fourteen

If I weren't already sold on my southern beau, I definitely would be after this weekend. He came through for me during a situation where I was about to lose my cool and even though we didn't accomplish what we'd set out to, his actions reminded me that he's one of the good ones. 

You probably think there was some sort of life and death situation at hand...nah, just a fashion emergency. 

You see, I'm getting ready to take a trip. Not just any trip...a conference at which I'm speaking. Me? Speaking at a conference? I'm still pinching myself. And as I always do when these types of events come up on the calendar, I put too much pressure on myself to choose the perfect outfits that will make the 'just-right' impression and let all these folks know how fabulous I am (I know...it sounds crazy when I type it out). Shouldn't I have better things to do? 

So my beau and I were rushing around the mall Saturday to hunt for some pieces for my travel wardrobe. Did I mention it was our second mall trip of the day? I'd sent him to Gap to return all the stuff I bought during our first trip of the day...why it looked amazing in the dressing room and then awful at home I'll never know. 

While he was doing that, I raced in and out of every mall store I could think of with no luck (it was almost time for the mall to close). My beau found me, near tears, in the junior's department of Dillard's (NOT a good place to be when you're feeling less than fabulous). 

He was trying to say everything he could think of to make me feel better. 

"What about Cache? That place has tons of sparkly dresses that might work for your trip." 

I looked at him like he was crazy.

I'm not trying to disparage Cache or anyone who might shop there, but I didn't think the store would have anything that was really my style (or size). He kept on about it until I gave in. 

This is where I should probably note that men and women are so very different. Anytime a clothing store employee asks me if I need help finding anything, I always say I'm just looking. Even if I do need help, I'd rather just look on my own. 

When we entered Cache, I walked around a bit taking in the sequins and zebra print (Did I mention there was a teenager trying on prom dresses?). At some point the Cache employee must have asked my beau if we needed help because whatever he said to her caused her to start fluttering around the store, pulling things off the rack for me. 

In the end, none of the options were really my style (as I'd suspected), but at least we gave it a try. 

As we were leaving the mall, my beau said "Now see, that wasn't so bad. The lady was very helpful once I told her it was imperative that we find what we were looking for." 

I laughed a little, thinking about how ridiculous our "dire" situation must have seemed to the poor woman who just wanted to go home for the day. 

"And what did you tell her we were looking for?" I asked. 

"An elegant fourteen." 

Maybe it's only funny to me because I know him, but bless his heart. I pictured him making it very clear to the woman that we simply MUST find an ELEGANT fourteen. But of course! 

I hesitated to include this story in the blog because who really wants to make their dress size public knowledge? But it just warmed my heart so much to have someone who would go to any lengths to try and make me feel better, when the situation was only dramatic because I overreacted in the first place. 

Do you ever struggle with wanting to make a certain impression and feel like your fashion options are holding you back? 

Way Back Wednesday: College Beauty Pageants

Have you ever thought about how social media has allowed us to be connected to famous people like never before?

It seems like celebrities are more approachable to us now, but apparently there has always been some element of this. Think about fan clubs and fan letters of days gone by...it wasn't high tech but it still got the job done.

In fact, there was a practice that got celebs really involved in the lives of some college beauties...as evidenced in the 1956 University of Tennessee Volunteer Yearbook.

And just who was this man of national renown? Why Tennessee Ernie Ford, of course! I wonder if he was the most famous person they could think of or just the only one who responded?

So these beauties were chosen from among UT's finest 1950s co-eds. Then photos of the top 21 (as decided upon by local judges...whoever that might have been) were sent to Tennessee Ernie Ford to decide which 6 were the prettiest. 

I get that this was a different time, but seriously? I'm really glad this tradition was put to rest by the time I attended the ol' University of Tennessee. It's hard enough to be a young woman, in college, trying to find your way in the adult world without having to be concerned what Tennessee Ernie Ford thinks of you. I think all the ladies were lovely. So there. 

Drink It Up: Gin Cocktail a.k.a. 3-2-1, Repeat

How is it Monday already? The weekend just flew by! I guess they usually do, but this one went especially fast. If you're like me and need something to lift your spirits after a long day of work, try this delicious gin cocktail. It's easy as pie to make and perfect for sipping. Plus it's light enough for spring. I think it's technically called The Southside, but I'm calling it a 3-2-1, Repeat (if needed).

3-2-1, Repeat Gin Cocktail 

Here's how to make it:

3 oz of Gin (I like Beefeater) 

2 oz of fresh Lemon Juice 

1 oz Simple Syrup (I used the Stirrings ready-made Simple Syrup but you can make your own)

Shake and strain over ice. Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy! Now, if you need to repeat, feel free. It is Monday, after all. 

How to Shop for Second Hand Treasures

We've all heard that one man's trash is another man's treasure. With budgets getting tighter these days, shopping second hand is more popular than ever! From estate sales to thrift shops, there are lots of second hand treasures out there if you just know how and where to look.

This morning, I'm joining my friends at Knoxville's Fox43 to share some tips on finding great second hand treasures!

My first tip is "Shop Early, Shop Often."

Estate sales and yard sales aren't for the faint of heart...you must get there early to find the best selection. There are some great community sales here in Knoxville put on by local churches and other nonprofit organizations and folks line up before the doors even open!

In the case of yard sales and estate sales, the early bird gets the worm!

Okay, the second part of that is "Shop Often" and this particularly applies to shopping at thrift stores. Thrift stores have inventories that are always changing. You can't visit one time and expect to find exactly what you're looking for. The secret is to drop by frequently to increase your chances of stumbling upon treasures!

Not only that, but you can't be afraid to dig. Second hand stores aren't always organized like traditional retail stores. Sometimes you have to dig through boxes and bins to find the good stuff. I dug a Chanel scarf out of a box in an Atlanta thrift shop once...and it only cost $.99 (yes, that's 99 cents!). But if I hadn't rooted around, I would have missed it!

My final tips for finding second hand treasures involve asking yourself a couple of questions before making a purchase:

1) Does the item have value?

and

2) Does the item have potential?

When I say value, I don't necessarily mean monetary value. It's just about what kind of value it has to you. Maybe the item is something you need or something you've been wanting to find for a long time. Perhaps it's something a friend would love to receive as a gift. We can't buy everything we come across just because the price is right. And this helps to keep that in perspective.

Same goes for thinking about an item's potential. Everything you see in a thrift shop or at an estate sale might not appeal to you at first glance. But it's important to think about what the potential might be...maybe with a coat of paint or a little updating, it would be something really great.

These are just things that have worked for me over the years! What are your best tips for thrifting?

To see more of my WTNZ Fox43 Southern Belle Simple segments, check out this page! 

#PrayforBoston

Ugh. We're only a day into this week and so many terrible things going on...my heart is heavy for the folks in Boston. Both the ones directly affected as well as those who are affected indirectly. I've been praying for them and hoping they feel comfort during this, what I'm sure must be an awful time.

It's not business as usual and it won't be, but I wanted to resume regular posts. Partly because it gives me something to do besides be glued to the television watching these horrible things unfold. Partly because these are the times when we most need something to connect with...to feel like we aren't alone...to feel like there are others out there who love & care about us. I certainly want you to feel loved and cared for.

For ways you can help those involved in the Boston Marathon tragedy, I found this page on the Huffington Post.

And of course you can pray.

Happy Birthday Loretta Lynn!

Honoring one of the greats today...she's a national treasure! 

Happy Birthday Loretta Lynn! Hope you have many, many more! 

Friday Flashback: Classic Southern Automobiles

As a child, and now as an adult, one of my favorite things to do is sit and listen to my grandparents tell stories of their youth. I love the way they travel back in time with each memory and I love seeing them as their younger selves, through their eyes and the stories they share with me.

One of my favorite stories about my paternal grandparents involves my grandma, an automobile, and a good fight. My grandparents went on their first date when they were 13 (at which time my grandpa told my grandma he loved her...she didn't return the sentiment just yet). While they dated seriously later in high school, their early teen years found them occasionally on the outs.

On such an occasion, my grandma accepted a ride to school with another young man. Looking back, she says she wasn't all that fond of him, but he had a car...and in 1950, a kid with a car was a big deal. My grandpa always chimes in how he didn't have a car, but he didn't think it mattered that he was challenged in the automotive department because my grandma cared more about substance and strength of character.

So I guess my grandma (Patsye) was riding down the road with this other boy when they happened to pass by my grandpa (Richard). Upon seeing his beloved riding shotgun with another fellow, Richard blew a gasket. He got the guy to slow his car to a roll and dove into the front seat through the open driver's side window...fists flying. The driver must have had the wherewithal to stop the car but they continued to duke it out until my grandpa was declared the winner.

Patsye jumped out, pretending to be horrified, but I think secretly loving it (what girl doesn't want to see her man fight for her honor?). And what man wouldn't have wanted to throw his hat in the ring for her...she was a fox, as evidenced by the photo above.

I'm sure there are so many stories like this...young people and their cars...it's such a rite of passage, no matter the decade. Do you have any special memories about your first car or the first car you took a ride in?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut or have a swelled head.

Love doesn’t force itself on others. It isn’t “me first.”

Love doesn’t fly off the handle.

Love doesn’t keep score.

Love doesn’t revel when others grovel.

Love takes pleasure in the truth.

Love puts up with anything.

Love trusts God always.

Love always looks for the best. It never looks back, but perseveres until the end.