Bittersweet Time of Year

 Yesterday was Halloween and the day of my birth, so of course, Halloween and October is my favorite time of the year. It is the change of season and the mornings are cool crisp.  The earth sheds its summer greens and the colors of fall pop everywhere.  Growing up with your birthday on Halloween was the best; back in the late sixties in a small rural farm town everyone made home treats that were the best candies and treats ever.

There were hay rides, pumpkin carving and haunted barns. Fall festivals, carnivals and rodeos were the social events.  Most important was home coming and fall break. It was the time of year that everyone took a deep breath and let them has a few days of relaxation after a hot busy summer.

So being a child of this time of year it has always been when I feel revitalized and closest to my inner self. This is the way it used to be for me during this month.

Then it changed forever in 2008, for that was the year my dear mother was diagnosed with cancer. In her true fashion of always being in control, mom had the last word. As we finished up our bed time routine, she looked at me and said "Happy Birthday son". It was the last thing my mother ever said to me.

My mother past 6 years ago today. It is very difficult to enjoy something when it becomes associated with the death of a loved one. It took time for me to work through accepting my mother would want me to continue my love of this part of the year and not dwell on her death. 

I have accepted but it does not stop me from having my moment of regret that she is not here for my birthday. I miss my cohort in Halloween fun which one time included her picking out hair dye that gave me a great shade of dark red. I take great comfort that she left us on All Saints Day. For to me, mom was a Saint she put up with all the crap I provided over the years being just like her made it worse. Granny warned her about having one child just like her was pay back.

Well Granny was right, I am my mother's son, more like her every day and damn proud of it. For Mom gave me her strength to stand up for others, take no crap for what I believe in and to speak my mind no matter what others think.

So even though his time of year is a bittersweet for me now, I hold on to all the wonderful memories my Mom gave me over the years. She will always be my guardian angel and I will continue to honor her by being her son.  For October, Halloween and All Saints Day have taken on a new meaning for me. A time of renewal, a time of death, a time to honor the most important woman in my life.

Thanks Mom and I will keep dancin'.  Larry B

Ms. Honey's Tennessee Adventure

I am turning the blog over to Ms. Honey for a few entries. She stated part of my Birthday present she would do a few articles on her great adventure to Tennessee.

Hi, it’s me, Ms. Honey, on the morning of Sunday, October 14; I was picked up at home for a great adventure, a trip with Tony, Keith, Rosie and Molly to visit my extended family in Clarksville, Tennessee. We had been invited to be house guest in their beautiful new home, none other than Larry and Paul.

They had asked me to visit for three weeks and I thought that might be too long for them to put up with me. They insisted it was not an issue. So Tony and Keith asked me to drive up with them to visit my adopted boys. I graciously accepted as I had never seen that part of the country, especially in the fall. Unfortunately, Keith and Tony could only stay for 4 nights since Keith had to be back to work the following Monday.

The road trip was very nice with the changing of seasons from all green to the most spectacular colors of fall. Rosie and Molly were great company for me during the long drive. We stayed overnight in GA and were up the next morning for a great breakfast then back on the road again. We arrived about 2:30 pm Monday at Orchard Hills Drive in Clarksville to Paul and Larry’s beautiful home. Larry had the outside decorated for fall and Halloween.

We were greeted by my two dear friends of whom I’ve missed dearly. Right then I thought 3 weeks would not be long enough! We were served by Paul our Chef for the day a wonderful meal. Our accommodations were”Five Star” . I had my own lovely room especially decorated for Ms. Honey, private bath complete with a crown over the commode. I knew then I would be treated like a Queen.  How true that was and this was just the beginning.

Tuesday morning, we were off to Nashville to sight see and enjoy the beautiful fall day. We had dinner at the Catfish House which was great. Wednesday was warm enough to sit on the beautiful deck overlooking the colorful woods in my bikini. Okay, so I forgot the bikini... Later in the day we toured Clarksville which is a lovely city and out to the property that Larry and Paul own out in Palmyra TN.

Thursday, it was off to Lambert’s Restaurant in Sikeston, Missouri. It was a great 3 hour ride and well worth the trip to this renowned Roll Tossing Epicurean delight. So much to see and eat. This place has been featured on the Travel channel and other TV shows as the countries pig-out place. It was an experience I won’t forget. We stopped at a place called Boom land on the way home and did a little tourist shopping.

Friday was cold, so much for the “bikini” weather. Dinner was at O’Charley’s and then off to an outdoor concert in historical downtown Clarksville. Lots going on here.  I started wearing layered clothing.

On Saturday, it was off for a beautiful ride to Lake Barkley in Kentucky. We went Antique Shopping in lovely little town of Cadiz, Kentucky the Ham town.  Then a great country buffet at the Lake Barkley Lodge with a window table overlooking the lake.

We made it back home for a respite then it was off to Tiny Town Bingo for a night of gaming. Larry was a winner brining home $250.    Sunday we stayed around Clarksville and the boys did their weekend shopping and took me to another great antique place called Aunt Lucille’s. Sunday reminded me of my weekends with the boys when they were in Florida. I called it schmoozing with my boys.

This was just the first week and I have two more to go.  More to come from your “Old Southern Belle” Ms. Honey.