Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Year


Grisamore: Lovers’ leap year

BY ED GRISAMORE

It was around Valentine’s Day in 1952 when Dell Gledhill mumbled seven words.
Faye MaGouirk, his steady girl, interpreted them as: “When are we going to get married?”
After all, they had been dating 10 whole months. They saw no reason to wait any longer.
They circled the last Friday of the month and asked the preacher to marry them in a small, private ceremony at Cross Keys Baptist Church.
Neither gave much thought to getting hitched on Leap Day, that winter outcast allowed on the calendar only once every four years.
But they have been having fun with it ever since. It began on Feb. 29, 1956, when they were pushing their 2-year-old daughter, Pam, around in a stroller. They got a kick out of watching the reaction when they told folks it was their “first” anniversary.
Today is also their special day, which means Dell has two options. He can buy Faye a diamond, the traditional gift a husband gives his wife on their 60th anniversary. Or he can shop for some crystal, the traditional gift for a couple’s 15th anniversary.
Or he can just take her out for dinner at the Ole Times Country Buffet, like he did last Sunday.
Dell and Faye usually celebrate their anniversary on Feb. 28. And they never make much of a fuss about all those marital mile markers, even though the signs of the times are troubling. Only slightly more than half of all married couples will reach their 15th anniversary, much less their 60th.
The Gledhills still love each other dearly, even after all these ... leap years.
They live in a house on Columbus Road. Dell built most of it by himself in 1960 on the property where he grew up. That was back before the Macon State College campus was located across what was then a dirt road. He could stand on his porch and not have his ears filled with the sound of thousands of cars whizzing down Interstate 475 on their way to Disney World.
Faye was born in Fairfax, Ala., and moved here in 1942. Her father got a job as an airplane mechanic at Robins Air Force Base, then known as Wellston Air Depot.
Dell graduated from Lanier High School in 1944, joined the Army Air Force and returned home. He met Faye in the spring of 1951. She was working behind the candy counter at the old Sears department store downtown at the corner of Riverside Drive and Third Street.
“When I saw her the first time, I didn’t even notice the candy,” Dell said, laughing. He later told his cousin, who was visiting from Ohio, the next time he came up for a visit he was going to have that pretty girl hanging on his arm.
“He was sure of himself,” said Faye. “I didn’t pay him too much attention because I was engaged.”
He asked her to a dance being held in the parking lot at Sears after work. She was having mixed feelings about this particular “date with Dell.”
She told him she couldn’t dance. He didn’t believe a 20-year-old woman couldn’t dance. But it was true. Her parents were strict Baptists and wouldn’t allow her to dance or play cards.
Her fiance was in the military and stationed halfway across the country. His name might as well have been John, because he soon received a “Dear John” letter.
Dell operated a dairy in Macon and later had a Harley-Davidson motorcycle shop in Dublin. He returned to Macon and worked for the family’s real estate business.
The Gledhills have three daughters. Pam was born a brunette, Beth a blonde and Judy a redhead. Their friends used to tease Dell and Faye about Judy’s red hair because their milkman also had red hair.
The Gledhills have enjoyed traveling and boating. Dell also got his pilot’s license. They have made it work, for better for worse.
Their unique anniversary has been a lovers’ leap year.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

Reading Time

I just finished reading Stephen King's book, 11/22/63 (about JFK's assassination). To complete my reading of this 900 page book, I read a lot in Maggie's playroom while she read. She could read all day long!!! She would sit on the floor in front of me or in her pink chair beside me. But this morning, I walked in to find her reading to Pink Pig.
 At the end of this book, there is a mirror and she even showed Pink Pig the mirror.
 She wouldn't put the book down for a picture, so these are the best I could get:)
 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969) is one of her favorite books containing her favorite page in all books...the page with, "one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon."
We have come to find her favorite books have to do with food - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Green Eggs and Ham, Pinkalicous (Pink Cupcake Book), The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs (about cake and hamburgers:), Blueberries for Sal, and You Are My Little Cupcake.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Big Trucks in Birmingham

We were in Birmingham this weekend for Carson's last Step Sing appearance! 
 Saturday, we took Mags and Holden to the McWane Center to see the Trucks exhibit.
 They had the best time!
 Thanks to Aunt Tate for the pictures (I forgot my camera:).

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Mags

Today we heard a clunking through the house.
 We found Mags wearing my shoes:)
 Later, she wanted to go outside and grill with daddy. I told her to get her shoes...
 ...and clunk, clunk:)
 Here she is finishing off her favorite food...peanut butter.
Psalm 67:1,2
God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us,
That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.



As Hunter preached on this passage, his definition of "blessing" stood out to me. We are given "blessings" so we can "channel" them to others...we are to take our blessings and pour them out on others. I pray that for Mags' life...that she will take her blessings and be a ray of light to others, also that the Gospel will radiate throughout our family.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Happy Birthday Big!

Happy 30th Birthday, Carson!
We love you so much!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Friday Morning

It's Friday!
 So, today we took some time to hang out in our pajamas and play with the slinky.
 She found Jack's miniature Georgia Tech helmets...
 ...for some reason she thought they were really funny.
 Sometimes she just starts yelling, "Georgia Tech!" Jack loves when she does that:)
 This was my favorite from this morning.

Later, I found her dancing in her room.
 Here she is just being silly with Tigger...
 ...and loving on Teddy Bear.

Her princess snow globe, where she tells me all about Aerial, Snow White, and "Belba"(Cinderella).

A new part of our morning routine: brushing here teeth by herself. The deal is, we brush them at night, she can brush them in the morning.
 Yes, she likes to use TWO toothbrushes for her "teefies". Also, I'll ask her if she is all done; she responds, "I'm fine, Momma."
Thank goodness it's Friday! We have been home the past weekends, and it's so nice! When Jack gets home on Friday, we love to relax and not rush off on a trip (although we do love traveling). Maggie can't wait for Jack to get home tonight, because they have been looking at the moon together. She doesn't understand why the moon is not out in the day. We are also teaching her who made the moon. Sometimes she gets it right, "God." But last night she said "Papa":)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

One More...

Jack wanted me to post this last Sound of Music video...it was his favorite.

Sound of Music

Maggie loves the Sound of Music! These are some clips of her singing. PAUSE the music player at the bottom of the blog to hear her singing.
Do Re Mi...
...Edlewiess...
...talking about the Captain...
...So Long Farewell...
...my little performer:)