Time

I has been a chunk since I last blogged. I was walking tonight with my neighbor and said I would...so I am. Many funny things have happened that are blog worthy, but they all escape my memory now. It's just the rattling off of thoughts that eek out after...sheesh! almost a year!...of not blogging. We have a new driver in the family. Emma purchased a lovely Mitsubishi Galant a few weeks ago and we have seen very little of her since. She is gainfully employed and has her own knitting business on Etsy as well. She is quite a gal. She drives herself to daily Mass, and all over Cherokee county visiting people and running errands. The car is reliable, drives well, and has most of it's hubcaps. I tried to get her to let me paint the chipped front bumper to look like teeth, but she won't let me. Kids these days. She is still homeschooled and looking at colleges. She is considering nursing as a career, which sort of surprises me and makes perfect sense at the same time. She has Grammy for a great role model and she has the heart of a servant. And what better job security that a bunch of spoiled old people who made millions in the 80s? (I just resisted the temptation to put a hashtag there...FYI) I am homeschooling Melanie and Andrew and it has been a great year. I will say that homeschooling is more fun with money. I don't know if they can still get excited about math class in the thrift store when we have friends who are touring DC for History class. It's a stretch. We have had an interesting year with Chris' job finally becoming profitable again, but not quite profitable enough, and me quitting painting to homeschool. Activities have been homemade and low rent. Egg drops have been big this year. I thank Modern Family for the inspiration, and chickens for the means. They have invented at least a dozen different ways to gently land an egg. I'm sure that will benefit them greatly at some point in their future. I can make up some razzle dazzle for the transcript but you and I know that they were just having fun making a mess. I get why those fresco artists used the eggs in their paint. I know how they discovered the method as well. They were painting a grand ad for some face cream on the side of a building in the colonnade and after work on Friday, some derelict kids (probably ancient Coulters)threw eggs at their work. On Monday when they returned to find the damage they cursed and scrubbed but the darn egg just wouldn't come off. Three years later, when passing by, they noticed that the only remaining part of their mural was within the splatter marks from the egg vandals. Lightbulb....voila! Egg tempera! It's true. Google it. Speaking of Google, I had a brilliant idea of naming my homeschool institution Google U. Then I googled it and guess what? Someone already did it. I hate it when that happens. It happens a lot. Sometimes I wake up at night with brilliance pouring out of my brain, only to find that it's already poured from another. Day late, dollar short. Well I think that I've primed the pump, and I should be able to write more now. Especially since I remembered my password. I have a great story about the garbage disposal and a dinner party....coming soon.

Not feeling the sunny side

If you are looking for cheerful inspiration, stop reading now. Not feeling it today. Mama always said emotions are like a box of chocolates and today I am that nasty orange fluff that curls my lip.
My grandmother is dying. It's not that it's too soon...she's almost 95. That is an unfathomable age. When she was born they did not have a bathroom, a car, heat, air conditioner, or a private phone line. I'm surprised the shock of living through so many changes in the world didn't kill her alone. The world outside is nearly unrecognizable to rural Mississippi early 1900s. With the exception of people. People haven't changed so much. And that's why she made it. Nannie married my Pop and had two daughters that lived. I believe she had five miscarriages and a still born son, Andrew. My mother is her oldest daughter. From the beginning of her married life she cared for others. She was disowned for marrying a Catholic, but cared for her estranged family members as they aged and needed help as if it never happened. Without hesitation. Nannie cared for her siblings, all 12 of them, at one time or another. She gave them shelter when they needed a place to stay, food when they were hungry, advice when they needed it (or not), and made clothes for everyone. Her hands were directly connected to her heart. She made her children's clothes, food, and world. She was the heart of the family. She continued to love in the face of betrayal, heartache, disappointment, and abuse. She was the glue that held them together.
When I came around, Nannie was the center of my world. She lived with us shortly after I was born and bestowed upon me the lion's share of her love and attention. I grew up thinking I was royalty. Though it took some hard lessons to give me the right perspective about my royalty, I still to this day feel eternally blessed through her eyes.

Her eyes are dimming. And that's why I am hurting today. This is the end of something I can't see beyond. Tomorrow I might have some sense of perspective, understanding, peace, but today it just hurts real bad. This side of a great loss is uncomfortably heavy.

Whores

One of my friends posted on facebook the other day about Rhianna's pornographic performance on the music awards. It got me thinking....it actually got me boiling. Maybe it's my age now, thirty-something, when I start to look more closely at the way women act. Maybe it's being married almost 17 years, I don't know. I have noticed a pathetic attempt by women to adopt "stripper appeal" in their everyday lives. I see it at the grocery store in the afternoon, at swim team practice, at the elementary school PTA events (I'll be writing later on Bascomb moms) and of course at night, well as Whodini said, "The freaks come out at night" in Towne Lake. We dress as we feel, as we aspire to feel, and to make a statement...and that's what bothers me. The media portrayal of hot, sexy women has so deeply embedded its agenda into the general population that I bet you could go to any town any time of day and see a wanna be hooker taking her kids shopping. I don't think it's even conscious in all cases (You can tell the ones that ARE) (wait patiently for the Bascomb moms blog).

I remember getting sent home from school for dressing inappropriately and causing a distraction in my class. I was trying to be punk in the 80's and I was wearing leggings and an oversized "All the colors of the world" Benneton t-shirt. No booty showing, just tight pants. No boobies showing, just a big shirt. That was '87-'88ish. It was too much for the school. Taken a peek at the way middle and high schoolers dress these days, in school? Mrs. Boyette and Mrs. Longman would DROP DEAD on sight. I wonder if they are still teaching? Anyway, my point is that fashion, or the lack thereof, has moved rapidly into a niche of belief (there's probably a better word for that) that women are not women unless they are sexy. Period.

This challenges my own beliefs and desires to be attractive. I remember a study done on kindergartners about their impression of women with different visual appearances. They were shown images of older women with long dresses, less attractive women without makeup, and scantily clad women with lots of makeup and asked "Do you think she is nice? Do you think she is a good teacher?" The kids all thought the hottie ladies were nicer and better teachers....aka better women. It's deep, y'all. I wonder if we did that study today what they would say.....maybe I'll do a little test. I have no desire to look like Nanny McPhee to a child, and I want to be attractive to the general population, my husband, and the kids in my life. There's a fine line between clever and stupid, hooker and nice lady.

Last night my whole family watched RAW (Monday night wrestling) I know, I know, how can I complain about ANYTHING on that raunchy show. But here's the deal. My husband, GLH, grew up watching wrestling and has shared his love for the "sport" with his sons. That is good. They have a date each week watching together. That is good. They have something to play and talk about together. That is good. You with me? Ok. So my girls have also jumped in the mix, cause they all like a good fight. It is what it is. Last night the Divas came on. They are women wrestlers who fight each other during the match. Yes, basically fancy mud wrestling. I usually don't watch them because they get on my nerves at best, but I watched my boys watch them last night (hubby included). The ladies were peppering their fights with stripper moves. Pole moves, hair tosses, grinding, hip swings, etc....traditional moves that signal every mans groin to stand at attention. My boys were glued (hubby included). I asked that they change the channel. Have you ever tried to take a bone from a dog? Same reaction. You think those images will settle into my boys subconscious belief of what attractive is? You bet'cha. Now we are going to flush this out, 'cause that's what good moms do. Offer an alternative. Give them a mental comparison of equal strength and let nature weigh it out. Can't make it happen, but sure can set it up like a bank shot. That's why we go to Mass, and that's why we talk about it.

So when my friends ask me to come to their "Vertical Fitness" class, I have to decline. Not because I have any problem being a lady in the street and a freak in the bed, but because I have to be an obstacle to the indoctrination of my boys, and the public acceptance of whores.

I'm sorry but I'm just thinking of the right words to say

Thank you , Jesus, for keeping us on our toes and not laying out all of the details of your Plan. The predicted "Rapture" came and went this weekend as we entertained 60+ kids and their families at the lake. No one even hesitated at 6pm, they were too enraptured with the beautiful sun, cool lake water, food, and friends. As it should be. I thought maybe the ascension part was faulty and the "chaff" just fell and the "wheat" was left to roam the earth. Not so, life goes on, good and bad today.

This is the last Monday of school! This week is sure to burn my eyebrows off with speed and activity, but it is the last, so I can take it. It has been a whirlwind for months now while everyone tries to finish up for the year. I do not care for the before Christmas break and end of year parts of school. The frenzy is too much with four in school and church classes. There is something to be said for just ending without pomp and circumstance, just stop. The celebration is you don't have to go anymore and the present is the paycheck you receive. Now that may sound ugly but IMHO there is WAY too much celebration and reward going around the Towne Lake area. It's like we have set up celebrations like stepping stones instead of achievement. We just get from one to the next feeling accomplished and constantly elated. I don't like it. The permanent smile begins to look like the Joker's disconnect between mouth and eyes, or a doll's eternal toothy grin. Fake, insincere. And the food....oh the food. My kids have feasted for weeks at various events on sugar sugar sugar sugar.

There was another great "Overheard at the Coulter's" moment last week but I cannot remember what was said!! I hope to wake up with that in my head instead of yet another morning song stuck on replay.

Anyway, I'm sorry but I'm just thinking of the right words to say. I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be...but, if you wait around a while....I'll make you fall for me...I promise.

Awakening an Old Idea

Perhaps it has been asleep in me. I know it was there before, it lived under the surface, but recently it has awakened and revealed it's head and chest, and perhaps some of it's tender underbelly. Unschooling is rocking our dusty way of life! The idea that individual freedom within a family, within one's own modus operandi, is an honor we afford others and protect and defend in ourselves. As I watch Emma steer her own ship and direct her own desires, I feel the buzzing of being awake to ancient truths. My clearer vision watches people run around and cram artificial life into each moment of their day, deciding for one another, forcing and manipulating one another, steering one another, and I see those who are numb and willing to be steered following, glazed over, marching. I am keenly aware of comments and words that numb me out. "How are you today?" in the checkout. "Fine, thank you."(thought clearly I am NOT having a good day) "Have a nice day." What does that say to me? Not worth it. There's power in mixing it up: "How are you today?" "Crappy, I just left my wallet on the hood of my car." Or "Frustrated because the one thing I came here for is gone." Just honest. Is what it is. Honoring true feelings and not "supposed tos". Makes me feel better, less numb, less drone-like. The little things I see in my home that happen between people...little dominations, little exterminations, have to be challenged (much to some dismay!) for the sake of the big dominations and exterminations. "Be the change you want to see in the world", right? It matters. All the little battles count on the big field, because of physics and momentum and all of the laws of energy are on the side of the one who's acting and moving and praying. It is the freedom of following and therefore honoring your own instincts that places value on the human person, and that defeats attacks on the human person! Valuing life in more than words and doctor's offices give more momentum to our side and creates more energy exponentially in the lives of my children. This, however, gets me into trouble, too. It's an atrocity to live this way and then to throw in a little parental domination in a tired moment. It is also a poverty when both parents aren't on the same page. I am de-structuring more easily than my mate. He's wearing concrete control shoes. It is much harder for him to see, & therefore act, in a way that allows others freedom to make their own decisions. He is at a place where he sees infractions in others parenting style, but not all of his own. I am sure that I offend as well. Not accusing, just stating that there is a difference in understanding and comfort level with giving up control. He sees the value in letting Emma direct her learning experience this year. He sees the abomination of other's telling their kids what and when to dress themselves, when to eat, when to move, when to sleep...with no consideration of the child's wants. So I know we are making progress...but it is a huge challenge to de-structure family control patterns. It's is something so entrenched in the vernacular, that it in often invisible and always layered. I am a miner. I am digging, digging for the gems I know lie under the rock. And when I dig them out in chunks with big tools, I get out my little pics and brushes and work with a delicate hand.

Today, Well just right now

Not that I can speak for the whole of today, cause you never know what's going to happen...but I'm grumpy and tired and SLOW moving this morning. I am having an internal battle with the idea of having to be Doing something, anything, to be justified. I guess it is the watchful eye of parents that makes me believe this...and past employers, and society in general. The value for being busy is high in these parts. School is 7 hours of unending activity...hurry up and get to the next thing. The kids come home frenzied, then dazed, then exhausted. Then football! Oh, football. Where have we been without you? Jack is finally entertained! The boy wakes up bored. If he's not Doing for more than 5 minutes, he's devastatingly bored. Football has practically ended that. Right now they are practicing every night for 2 hours. That will drop to 3 days a week and a game on Saturday. Anyway, the internal battle I was talking about. Jack doesn't have it I guess, he's just wired to be going 24-7 at about a 50mph clip. I am a bit more subdued. I like a 25mph pace, (unless I'm actually driving)and I like to turn off the main roads and get lost and see what I can see. I've always found that song 'The Bear Went over the Mountain' depressing. There's no value in seeing the other side of the mountain?? That's a hymn to keep the people down and in their place. Don't like it. I like to see.

So my agitation is that with Emma at home, there's no daily structure. She does get up and clean and go with me to work or stay at home and map out the week or month or plan something...but I am NOT IN CONTROL OF WHAT SHE DOES. I knew this wasn't going to be easy. This year is dedicated to her doing what she finds interesting and going as deep as she desires into whatever it is. It's an abomination in the eyes of traditional dictator-ish parenting! It's a stretch even for me! I like to think of myself as a respectful parent in my best moments, which admits that I don't always meet that goal. I have said the words "Because I said so" on many occasions and though I am not regretful of them, I see their lack of respect and worth. I'm definately not at the "we're all equals here" level, and I may never be, but I do see my kids as NOT MY POSSESSIONS and myself as their caretaker and not their boss. They are a gift to me, I get to be their mom for this lifetime, and they belong to God. I'm a guardian. I protect, defend, and prepare them for their lives, which are uniquely their own. So when I say "Because I said so!" What I really am saying is I am too tired/angry/hungry/sad/lazy/irritated/distracted to debate this. And that's just human. Not great, but real.
So back to the pressure of quantity over quality. Today I'm going to put it aside and do what I have to do so I can do what I want to do. I heard that in a GREAT movie this weekend 'The Great Debaters'. Forest Whitaker kept saying that to his son. Tis truth. Reading Rx: James Farmer. 'Lay Bare The Heart'
On to do what I have to do...paint something, quote something, pick some colors, take a cellular shade to Buckhead cause my painter broke it, and eat. Emma is doing her thing. I'm stepping back a half step.

This summer has been most exciting. I took a break from work (which HAPPENED to coincide with not getting calls) and played with the kiddos! We spent three weeks traveling to the beach at Edisto, Nashville, and Knoxville, Tennessee. We saw lots of friends and family, made new friends, and got really tan! It has been a waterlogged summer! The girls got Six Flags passes from Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas and we have worn them out! Six Flags is great fun when it's empty and below 90 degrees. Luckily, with passes we can bolt if either factor rises.

Our family is taking a new journey this year with Emma. We have decided not to go back to high school, and to create our own "curriculum" if you will. Emma has many interests that she has held since she was little. She is going to spend the year following those interests, learning as much as she can about them, and deciding if they are her life's direction. She is going to work, and I think she is going to love it. We spent the past 6 or 8 weeks mulling over this idea of "unschool" and trying to think about every aspect and consequence of leaving traditional school. We looked at private education and traditional homeschool. Neither of those paths looked good to us, so after much discussion and prayer, we have decided to give it a shot. Emma is very excited, I'm excited, and Muggs is totally jazzed about it, which took me by surprise. He's definately more of a traditionalist than I am. The only person NOT excited is my mom. She is really worried that we are ruining Emma. I guess I can see her point, being a public school teacher for almost 40 years. I don't know if she can see the bigger picture...yet. I've asked her to read a couple of books and keep an open mind, which she said she would, so hopefully we will all learn a lot from this and we will all benefit from the adventure! http://www.collegewithouthighschool.com/
Jackson has started football and that has brought on many hours at the field and lots of good times, so far. Friday was the first pads and tackling practice and Jack loved it. I have never seen him in his 8 years be totally entertained and thrilled as he has been playing football. It seems to be his thing!

So as summer draws to a close, we are so grateful for another healthy, happy vacation, and we are looking forward to all of the school craziness (I think) that is starting Monday!

Long time, no write

Has it really been 9+ months since my last blog??!! How can that be? I am not a creature that makes new habits easily, and once the *new* wore off of blogging, well, I guess I just quit! I will try to write more often. I got an iphone and I thought it would make my online availability simpler, but for writing purposes, it's worse. I am a pencil to paper fan, and typing takes second place to writing by hand. Txting is dead last. I find that using proper grammar is a challenge and that inhibits my writing and the awkwardness of the little keys is annoying. So, I have been using it to look at online pages, but not to contribute to them.
I think I'll write about what's fresh. Maybe the act of getting stuff down will prime the pump and the memories of the last school year will flow. As of late, we have been a traveling family going to Edisto Island in South Carolina last week and Nashville, Tennessee this weekend.
We thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity of Edisto. There was nothing to do but walk to the beach, sit, swim, walk to the house, eat, and repeat. The ocean was inspirational as always, and I was able to do some drawing. We went to a preserve called Botany Bay which was absolutely amazing. We met a wonderful family next door with 5 kids ours' ages as well! They had so much fun going back and forth playing with each other. I love meeting people with large families and getting to see how similar their ways are!
I have started a life drawing class this summer and it has been fantastic. Once a week for three hours I sit and focus on drawing. I sit in good company. Artists from all over Atlanta attend this class. It's really good medicine to be in a room full of creative people, and a nekkid person. :) Drawing from life is the best teacher. I have done some nice drawings, which gives me confidence and hope for my future as a professional artist. It will happen! (it is happening!) I am working on setting up my studio in the basement so I will have a protected place to draw. The kitchen table just doesn't cut it anymore!
World Cup soccer has taken over my husband. He is a maniac. Now that the US is out of the tournament, he is a little depressed, and less enthusiastic...which is safer. I put a video of him reacting to the US winning goal against Algeria on YouTube and he's gotten 6,900 hits as of an hour ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyTosxo4RZY
He's crazy. So that has spurned a lot of excitement in our house.
We just got back from Nashville tonight. Muggs' cousin Rebecca (BKA Sister Gloria Christie) is a Dominican Sister at St. Cecelia's. It is a beautiful place and this weekend we had the honor of combining our Coulter family reunion with the sisters' 150th Anniversary celebration. It was quite a production. There were 240-something sisters and their families in attendance. We celebrated 6 hours of Mass this weekend! We also had the pleasure of hearing the Nashville Symphony Orchestra perform. Unfortunately my faith was weak and when a thunderstorm hit and the tent poles began to sway...I grabbed my family and bolted! We made it back to the hotel to find the power out at the Embassy Suites and all of the guests roaming the common area. Quite the scene. Leaving today was hard, I really love my inlaws. I am so glad to be a part of this tight family, and so grateful that my kids get a tangible sense of their roots! I'm tired, though, from driving and all of the smiling and hugging and goodbying, and I'm off to sleep. I hope to update more tomorrow! We have lots going on and I have much to report!

g'night,
~S

Tears,Cheers, and later, Beers

It's 2am the night before, or the morning of, the first day of school. My babies are asleep. Emma is going to High School. Julianna is going to Intermediate school for 5th grade, Melanie is in 4th, the eldest at Bascomb Elementary, Jackson is in 2nd and Andrew, my little boy, is going to Kindergarten. At 8:15am I will be alone. I have 6 more hours of being a stay at home mom. I am going to work, and they are going to school. It's done.

I have worked off an on over the past fourteen years, but not full time since Julianna was born. She's 10. I'm freaking out. I have been so child centered for so long, I can't imagine focusing on myself, my career as an artist, making money, supporting us financially, owning a business. It's so strange to shift focus. I know that just because they are in school doesn't mean I'm done, not by a long shot....these four years with Emma are going to be tough. The younger four need so much from me, too, but during the day, they are in someone else's care. I feel a little guilty about that. My house is going to be quiet for a big chunk of time. I can think. That could be dangerous.

I wonder if I did a good job. I mean, I know I gave all of myself to my children, (I know that because there's not much left) but I wonder if I really did my best. There were so many times I was just so tired that I couldn't think, or act, clearly. The law of motion dictated a lot of my parenting. Once things were set on a course, I maintained and reacted, not necessarily driving the ship, but manning it. I don' know. I watch other people now and second guess my choices. I'm sure everyone does. Ugh! I'm so damn emotional! Maybe I shouldn't have watched the "break up" episode of John and Kate Plus Eight. I was transfixed by their pain and the thought that it's SO easy to quit. This is how it's done, this is what it looks like. They just move on, and deal with it. God.

I put a note on Emma's napkin in her lunch box. I don't think I ever did that before. I never wanted them to get homesick during the day with a whiny note saying hey! don't forget me! But now that she's OLD, and somewhat emotionally sound (I can't believe I'm saying that! she's a teenager with raging hormones!) I figured it was ok to shout out from the homestead and tell her I'm proud of her. I really am. My God, she is so different than I was at 14. She actually cares about stuff. She's a good kid. She's a beautiful girl. I am truly proud to be her mom.

I've got three brunches to go to tomorrow, and I could get a massage, or a facial. I could go for a walk, or to the gym. I could paint all day. I could organize something, rearrange, clean out the garage, or the basement and get my studio started. I could stay in bed and cry. I could drink. I wonder what I'll feel like doing.

I hope I don't follow the bus.

Yay Me! (clap, clap, clap, clap)

I am resting in the glow of a perfect Saturday. Might Heaven be like this? It was Mom Appreciation Day today. No, not Mother's Day, that will still happen later this year. We politely stole the tradition of Appreciation Day from our good friends, the Armisteads. It was created to lift the spirit of one who is feeling blue, neglected, left out, or just for the heck of it. Today was my day. I got to take a nap, pick dinner, NOT cook it, and NOT clean it up. I had the best nap in the sun, just like a cat! Chris took the kids to the store to buy ingredients for spicy sausage penne vodka pasta - my fave!! It was SO good. Bread, wine and "poof!"I was a princess...that's all it takes! Then we watched Get Smart with the kids. I loved it, too. I deserved this. I know that's bold, but it has been a hell of a month, and I needed the lift.

I hope that I am able to blog soon about the challenges we have faced recently as a family. I'm not ready yet, but I aim to be, so that others can benefit from our struggles. I am so grateful to be held in the grace of a loving God, caring friends, and supportive family. I truly don't believe that we could make it if we didn't have this loving community around us! Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude...it does take a village. (but I still don't like Hillary)

Went to Mindy's last week for a brief respite from these four walls. We went grassboarding in downtown Chattanooga and had a blast! I hope to get pictures up soon. It's always centering and healing to be with her family. They really do a great job living intentionally. I don't know anyone who puts more thought and energy into family than the Haworths. So blessed to know them. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude...

I am off to cuddle with a book, our new dog, and all of this warm, fuzzy happiness that I so needed! Love, Shanna

Birthday Madness

The birthday run is almost over. Dec 3 -Muggs, Dec. 7 -Jack, Dec.27 -me, Dec.31 -Anniversary, Jan. 5 -M-I-L, Jan.12 -Julianna, Jan. 17 -Mom, Feb. 26 -Andrew. Add Christmas and car tags....=BROKE & Nuts. Poor Jack had a sleepover a month after his birthday, cause everything got so crazy. Hmmm. Better planning next year. Maybe a family Christmas cruise to satisfy all! It's probably cheaper! I am getting ready for a week of possibilities. Well, aren't they all? I am in the running for lost of various jobs...bus driver, substitute teacher, lampwork bead maker, some mysterious school system job, then there's the art thing. Ebay store proprietor may be in the running, too. Junk dealer. The world is my oyster! God only knows where the arrow will point on my wheel-o-careers.
I'm also thinking about Armageddon and war, and financial disasters, too. It's difficult sometimes to balance doing laundry, making lunches, and pontificating inescapable doom. The Novena begins tonight to destroy FOCA (the Freedom of Choice Act) Obama aims to sign. Nine days of rosary and fasting. Constant prayer for the unborn. There are tens of thousands of people doing it. It will be interesting to watch what happens.

I'm hopping over to Mindy's blog to check out what enlightening things she has to say.

I wish my brothers and sisters would send pictures from Christmas so I can post them!!! Y'all hear me??

Here is Mark Hanna's Obituary

Mark Hanna, age 82, husband of Ellen Argo Hanna, died Sunday, December 28, at home under Hospice care. His body was donated to the Medical College of GA. A memorial service will be held at Central Presbyterian Church, Saturday, January 3, at 10:00 A.M. with the Rev. Charles Cook and the Rev. Hunter Coleman officiating.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, May 7, 1926, he was the son of the late Lafayette Randolph and Kathryn Parrish Hanna of Birmingham. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother C. Beaty Hanna of Birmingham. He attended The Webb School, Phillips High School, Birmingham Southern, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he received his PhD in 1962.
Prior to completing his education, he served in the Navy during WW II. After graduating from college, he joined the Navy Reserves and was sent to Japan in 1950 during the Korean War. He married Ellen Argo, also of Birmingham, just three weeks before his departure for Japan. Upon returning from the Korean War he joined a brokerage firm before enrolling in graduate school.
He taught at Auburn University from 1958 to 1963 and then at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, Finance Department, where he taught Investments and Security Analysis from 1963 until retiring and being granted Emeritus status in 1990. While at the University, he served on numerous boards and committees, including ten years on the Athletic Association Board and became an Emeritus member.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Randolph Hanna and Henry Hanna, of Birmingham and five nieces, five sons and twelve grandchildren: John (Erin) of Duluth (Wendy and Sarah of Athens); David (Donna) of Snellville (Josh, Kyle); Steve (Cindy) of Perdido Key, Fl (Andy, Christopher, Lauren); Paul (Sandy) of Dunwoody (Ben, Matt); and Michael (Martha) of Thomasville, (Katie, Will, Brayton).
He was active in Central Presbyterian Church of Athens heading the Daily Bread Ministry for over ten years. He also volunteered with Hospice in its early years. A lover of the outdoors, he hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia into Virginia, many peaks in Colorado, the Western States and the Swiss Alps. He was also an avid tennis player.
In lieu of flowers his family requests you make a donation in his memory to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807, or to Central Presbyterian Church for Our Daily Bread, 380 Alps Road, Athens, GA 30606.

One leg of the Journey

After that emotional vomit yesterday, I feel a little better. I had a good cry and a much needed reality check with Mindy. She always has good advice and assignments for me to get myself out of a slump. She made me do homework. I did it. It helped.
So I am sitting here listening to fireworks all around our house, smelling Muggs' cooking and listening to the kids play. I'm thinking about marriage and how fourteen years can go so fast. I heard someone say a long time ago that the secret to their marriage was that they never both fell out of love at the same time. That always stuck with me. I guess it's sort of true, that you are always going through different phases of love with your spouse. We are always changing, but the decision to love and the commitment to the marriage is what keeps it going, not the emotion. The fourteen years that we have been married have been unbelievable. I don't think anyone thought we'd make a life out of the craziness that was our existance at 21 and 22. I'm not going to start singing that stupid Shania Twain song...
Thank God I never thought too hard about what I was doing, because logically, it was impossible. I am so grateful that I was running on the high of eros and the decisions were easy for me to get married and have children, and not necessarity in that order. Muggs gave me someone else to live for, and Emma grounded me and directed my whirlwind of a life. It was the only way for me not to spin out of control. And there are people out there who don't believe in God! Ha! We are living proof of Divine Guidance and I am lucky to believe.
There are so many blessings for which I am grateful, and I know everybody gets down, but I really have so much going for me and so many people who love me, I should never feel like a failure. It's a rough ride sometimes, but then it's so beautiful, too. Happy new year and here's to learning a little more about yourself every day. ~S

"The longest journey of any person is the journey inward."
Dag Hammerskjvld

I think I can...chug chug chug

No, I'm not drinking. Well, just a little. I'm trying to get back on the blog. I can write here, there's no one stopping me. I don't know why I haven't blogged since summer, but wow, I must have been doing something important. Let's see. Nope, there's no way to catch up so I'll just start where I am. I guess Facebook has taken up my online time a lot since I opened that black hole of cyberspace. It's been interesting to see people from long ago, who's changed, who's the same.... Are any of us the same? I have been pondering the "why am I here?" question a lot lately. I guess the end of this tumultuous year being wrapped up in time has me thinking, what are we doing? I mean Muggs and me, not the whole human race. I can't even begin to ponder that one.... We started out running and scrambling, reacting to so many major life events, and we just seemed to be getting a breather and then the market fell out and we found ourselves back scrambling again. We went through a financial overhaul with Dave Ramsey and began the journey out of debt because it was eating our souls, and then we lost the income factor which is such an important part of the equation. So here we are in not much better shape than we were 2 years ago when we started. I guess a changed attitude about money is progress....but ouch! this really hurts!
And I went through a pretty intense body/health overhaul with my friend Mindy coaching me and thought I had a handle on my food addiction and negative habits...but whammo, Halloween '07 rolled around and behold! there was candy in my house and it was like crack for me. I was back on the pipe, I mean fork, and all I'd gained was lost, (or all I lost was gained) save the experience of "doing it". Here I am a year and a few months later and I dread the mirror and I remember swearing that my new found healthy body was forever ( and meaning it). Time is a bitch. So I am really taking this new year hard. It's heavy on me. Will I get my act together? Will I keep on doing what I'm doing? I've never felt so out of control. Who do I want to be? Is it who I am? Is it possible? One day I think I'm doing good and then I get a sucker punch from out of nowhere like "What the hell were you thinking?! Your life is in chaos!" I can't even believe I'm an adult raising children in this mess - both in me, and in my world.

People make New year's resolutions. I can't even make a resolution for one day. As soon as I make a new rule, something comes along to challenge it. It gets broken. ok, I break it and then I lose faith. This life thing is hard. All the time hard. I guess I need to buff up and hit it head on like I've done so many times in the past. I guess I'm just getting old and tired. How depressing.

I'm also mourning. We lost a good friend this week, Mark Hanna. He has been a family friend since I was a little kid. He helped me and Muggs find a pastor when we wanted to get married. He took us to his beach house year after year...Lori went one year with us, she's gone too....and he was a light in the world. He was kind of a surrogate dad to me, my mom says they were a lot alike, he and my dad, who's gone too. I am mourning for the people I love who are gone, and for Victoria Heil, a girl who reminds me of Lori, who died in a car accident this week. She was a light in the world, too. So sad. We will be going to her funeral tomorrow, and Mark's memorial next weekend.

Muggs and I will celebrate 14 years on New Year's Eve. Fourteen years. That's worth spelling out.

Yawn!

I am waking up in my own bed, well sort of. We got home last night from our vacation at the beach. It was amazing! Our neighbors invited us to stay at their house on St. George Island in Florida. You must know what generous people they are when you consider our family of 7 and all of our effects! Well, the house was humongous and we all fit just fine. The weather was ideal and the ocean was inspirational and healing as it always is. My kids and I can just spend an entire day digging in the sand. We love it! So as I rouse from Julianna's bed (I got edged out of my own by little kid bodies) I am thankful to have been at the ocean with my family, and thankful to be home!

The kids were so rotten on the way home (7 hours) that their punishment was to unload and clean out the entire van by themselves when we got home. I didn't say "and put it away" as I usually remember to do, so I now get to attack the enormous pile of refuse in my foyer. Yay.

Whoa, it's all coming back to me!!

It has been a LONG time since I've blogged! I thought being laid up would be about sitting at the computer rambling about all of those epiphanies I have on a daily basis and catching up on my profile and other techy things. I was misled. Being laid up means just that. You, a bed, a tv, and lots of narcotics and naps. Sounds dreamy, I know, but after a few days it does get old. You start really losing touch with reality, whatever that is. :) So I am happy to say that back surgery isn't all that bad and the worst is over. (If I may be so bold...) I am healing nicely, the thorn in my spine is gone, and my range of motion is almost normal. Yay! I am really glad I waited until the kiddos went to school to do this. I cannot imagine the torture of end of summer boredom and me bedridden together. I made a good choice for once...write it down!!!

So there are some new things in my life as of late and I am very excited and nervous all at once about all of the possibilities. First, my BFF Jessica and I formed a middle school youth group called QUEST at our church. The middle school kids were really sort of out in space. They're so between everything. So, we're roping them in for some cohesion and direction in this ministry. It's all about creating a safe environment for them to battle these tumultuous years in. Yes, I ended with a preposition, get over it (Mom!). The kids have their catechism classes to learn more about the church, we're about helping them live it out, while being constantly distracted by the fact that they're having so much dang fun!! So far, so good. We had our first event and it was that. I'd like to shout out to God for holding off the rain so we could play. He really came through, and the kids got to see a real life "Ask and you shall receive" moment!

The other new baby in my life is a new business venture straight out of a dream. Please take a sec and see my website for more......tease!

I am going through a creative spell and I'm just trying to keep it all collected somehow, stuff is flying everywhere! The kids are off to school and I have today all to myself, first time in a long while.

I'm going to paint a portrait of Bob Marley for Muggs. C-ya!!

Muggs and Emma on Vacay!

That's Mindyish for vacation!
<-This pic is for John!

Muggs and Emma went to New Jersey to visit Jason and Julie, Muggs' bro and sis-in-law and their new babe, Abby. He also took Emma to NYC for her thirteenth birthday! WOW, what great parents we are!!! Speaking of great parents, Jason and Julie are well on their way! Enjoy the pics and please click on Emma's blog to read her tell of the adventure...

Sunflower Festival, Rutledge GA

We went to the festival today. I have been wanting to go here for years and it was SO worth the drive!! I have never been in a more photogenic place. Next year I'm taking a good camera!

Berry picking!

Today the clan went blueberry picking at our local Berry Patch Farms. Yesterday was opening day and 500 people showed up and picked the bushes clean! We made out with a pound of berries, though, enough for a cobbler!

Raising Painters II

Melanie working on a still life on the porch. Our favorite place to paint!