One of my gorgeous granddaughters, Phoebe Jane Arnell, is currently starring as Amaryllis in the production, Music Man. Every time I heard the name of the title I would be triggered to thoughts of my father singing 76 Trombones and strutting around the house. I am sure my loved ones got tired of me saying “Music Man is one of my father's favorites” as if it was the first time I had said that. Little did I know what the play was going to do for me. Of course I was mesmerized by Phoebe's brilliant performance. Her lines were delivered with perfection and her duet with Marion the librarian was beautifully harmonized. With her long thick braids hanging well past her waist she really looked like she was from the era. Her costumes were cute and her two cousins who came with me that evening couldn't say enough times what a great actress Phoebe was. To say I enjoyed the play is an understatement. As each song was performed I realized how familiar it was and that was because dad had sung it. Whether a love song, such as, "Till There Was You", "Goodnight, My Someone", or one of the silly songs like, "Ya Got Trouble", "Wells Fargo Wagon", or the resounding "76 Trombones", each song flooded me with memories of my father.
I had realized before going up to the play that it was the six month anniversary of mom's passing and I had been a little reflective all week missing my parents, but that evening sitting in the theater I realized again what a loving, fun home I had grown up in. I lost my father when he was only 49 years of age and I was 17. I have experienced the healing of time but I also grow more homesick for my loved ones.
Loving and missing you mom and dad.
Love, (your baby girl)
Debbie Sue
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Belated Birthdays
Three more birthdays come & gone. Will, Chloe & Torin celebrated birthdays in January and February. Chloe turned 8 this year & the 2 boys 7. I love watching my beautiful grandchildren growing & becoming independent little people.
John William Arnell, born January 18, 2002, was my first grandchild to create deja vu for me. He looked so much like Brandon as a baby and toddler that I often felt like I was looking at my own son. Will is an agrarian from a former era. He knows more about gardening than most adults. He helps Pop, his maternal grandfather, with one of the most amazing gardens you will ever see. Will takes great pride in his produce and loves eating the bounty almost as much as nurturing his crops. Will and Pop have been best buds for as long as I can remember. They are two peas in a pod. Pleasant, kind, hard working, serving others, a fun sense of humor & focused would be words I would use to describe Will & those words can be applied to Pop & to Brandon as well. They each are great examples to me of what I would like to become. Will, Pop & Brandon - three of the sweetest peas in a pod!
Our little Chloe entered this world on January 25, 2001. Chloe is an energetic, beautiful girl. She is a dancer, a singer, a performer. It is hard to be objective as a grandma but I sure think Chloe is very talented! Like Adam, her dad, everything she does she does well. Chloe’s Grandma Warnick is very involved with the organization, Mother’s Without Borders, and she hosts an annual boutique as a fund raiser for that organization. The bracelets Chloe makes are one of the hottest items there. She makes more each year just to try and keep up with the demand. What a wonderful compassionate granddaughter I have! Chloe is a polite, appreciative young lady. She always remembers to say thank you and I love the cute thank you notes she always sends. Chloe is a great big sister and a wonderful big cousin. She loves helping with the smaller cousins and is a great help at our family parties and sleepovers.
When Torin Argyle Anderson, was born on 2/22/02, he had a little rocky road. Torin was born with fluid in his lungs so he had to come home from the hospital with an IV. That rough start hasn’t slowed Torin down in the least. He is as active as any 7 year old can be. To watch him play the Wii you would think that it is a contact game. He can dribble a basketball, pass a football & hit a baseball with the best of them. A few years ago when he had just turned 4 I went up to Sundance and got to see this little guy come skiing down the mountain. Thankfully, he had a helmet on because for what he lacked in skill he made up for in speed. Torin has always had a very tender heart. After Michelle’s first hyper guy she was thankful to have a more mellow fellow in Torin. She was even able to get Torin to sit down and learn how to read before going off to school. He is a sweet, smart young man.
I love my grandchildren. I know of no greater joy than to see your children become wonderful parents to the most amazing young people. I am thankful for the gift of being a grandmother. Thank you.
John William Arnell, born January 18, 2002, was my first grandchild to create deja vu for me. He looked so much like Brandon as a baby and toddler that I often felt like I was looking at my own son. Will is an agrarian from a former era. He knows more about gardening than most adults. He helps Pop, his maternal grandfather, with one of the most amazing gardens you will ever see. Will takes great pride in his produce and loves eating the bounty almost as much as nurturing his crops. Will and Pop have been best buds for as long as I can remember. They are two peas in a pod. Pleasant, kind, hard working, serving others, a fun sense of humor & focused would be words I would use to describe Will & those words can be applied to Pop & to Brandon as well. They each are great examples to me of what I would like to become. Will, Pop & Brandon - three of the sweetest peas in a pod!
Our little Chloe entered this world on January 25, 2001. Chloe is an energetic, beautiful girl. She is a dancer, a singer, a performer. It is hard to be objective as a grandma but I sure think Chloe is very talented! Like Adam, her dad, everything she does she does well. Chloe’s Grandma Warnick is very involved with the organization, Mother’s Without Borders, and she hosts an annual boutique as a fund raiser for that organization. The bracelets Chloe makes are one of the hottest items there. She makes more each year just to try and keep up with the demand. What a wonderful compassionate granddaughter I have! Chloe is a polite, appreciative young lady. She always remembers to say thank you and I love the cute thank you notes she always sends. Chloe is a great big sister and a wonderful big cousin. She loves helping with the smaller cousins and is a great help at our family parties and sleepovers.
When Torin Argyle Anderson, was born on 2/22/02, he had a little rocky road. Torin was born with fluid in his lungs so he had to come home from the hospital with an IV. That rough start hasn’t slowed Torin down in the least. He is as active as any 7 year old can be. To watch him play the Wii you would think that it is a contact game. He can dribble a basketball, pass a football & hit a baseball with the best of them. A few years ago when he had just turned 4 I went up to Sundance and got to see this little guy come skiing down the mountain. Thankfully, he had a helmet on because for what he lacked in skill he made up for in speed. Torin has always had a very tender heart. After Michelle’s first hyper guy she was thankful to have a more mellow fellow in Torin. She was even able to get Torin to sit down and learn how to read before going off to school. He is a sweet, smart young man.
I love my grandchildren. I know of no greater joy than to see your children become wonderful parents to the most amazing young people. I am thankful for the gift of being a grandmother. Thank you.
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