ANGELS AMONG US

Betty Jean Davis was named Citizen of the Year last night at the Spearman Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Other than my Betty being born, I have never been so proud. In my opinion, there is no woman in this world with her strength and genuine goodness. She has given and given and given some more. Never and I mean NEVER has she asked for recognition for her endless good deeds. She has cared for people she has never met and serves God each and every second of every single day. She bows low, says little, and shares often. It was a moment that meant so much to our family. She accepted the award in her own humble way and the crowd gave her a standing ovation. These days, women such as this are few and far between. She is an angel in this fast and furious world and every member of my family turns to her for a guidance that is shown by example rather than words. As I looked across the table I saw tears well in my Grandfather's eyes. He is a man that shows little emotion and I don't know that I've ever seen him cry. She leaned over kissed his weathered cheek and whispered thank you as she walked to the podium.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

When I was pregnant, people did not hesitate to tell me how much life after baby would change. "You will never be the same again. Your body will never be the same again. You will never have sex again. You will never sleep again." For the most part it has turned out to be a load of bologna.....except for that last part. "You will never sleep again." IT IS SO VERY TRUE. I have tried everything except Ambien: Melatonin, aromatherapy, counting sheep, pushing my thoughts out of my mind with a street sweeper, and wine. The ole Kim Crawford will come through every now and then but she requires large doses and then I'm not refreshed the next morning. I'm hungover. Something has happened to my brain since Little Betty has entered this world and its favorite thing is TO BE AWAKE!!!!!! What do I think about in the wee small hours of the morning?

Is BB covered up?
This stupid ass blog.
Should I go sleep in the other room?
Is BB crying?
Why didn't I just go ahead and have another glass of wine?
Could Justin and Gunner coordinate their snoring any more?
Maybe Justin will wake up if you know what I mean.
Our bed is as comfortable as any hotel. Too bad I can't frickin go to sleep in it.
Dear God, please let me go back to sleep. Just one more hour. Pleeeeeeeeeease.
Get up, Grace! Get up and do something. You are wasting time here. GET UP!

And then as I begin to close my eyes, as I begin to doze, as I begin to dream....WAH WAH WAH WAH. The alarm. Time to get up.

CALSAL

Dear Coen James Salling,

If you would like to marry a very tall strawberry blonde in approximately 30 years, please call me at 681.9977. Don't tell your parents, they might put bars on your window.

Sincerely,
Grace Calvert

HARK!

Before my very eyes, my little butterball has changed into a little girl. She is a walking, talking, thinking, learning machine. She eats steak and baked potatoes. She says please and thank you and I love you daddy. She holds you back when you hold her. I can't believe how fast time has gone by. I would give anything to hold that tiny baby again. This year, even more than last, I realize what an amazing gift we have been given. She is truly the best thing in the whole world and I thank God she is mine. Merry Christmas!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US-LOOK HOW FAR WE'VE COME

CUSTOMERS CAN SUCK IT

I am slowly but surely turning into a bitter old hag. I am so sick and tired of people not taking care of their sh*%t I can barely see straight. It's no deep secret to me, why this country is falling apart. I'm not sure there's one place left that feels a need to maintain a certain level of customer service for their clients. No one gives a rat's ass as far as I can tell.

Example One:

Over the course of 30 days, I was reassured/guaranteed/promised about 65 times that we would close on our home by October 31st. I PACKED BOX AFTER BOX. I HAD PAINTERS COME OUT. I TRUSTED. I TRUSTED. I TRUSTED. It is now November 6th. We have yet to close. I have unpacked boxes. Why? Because a certain lender did not send our file to underwriting until October 29th. OCTOBER 29TH!!!!!!! He made promises he could not keep and as of today not a damn thing has been done about it. I understand that certain documentation is needed for a home loan. I also understand those documents were needed long before last Thursday. Pull your head out!

Example Two:

We switched health insurance. Therefore, after being transferred to 300 different people, I canceled our existing coverage. Yesterday, I noticed a payment to canceled insurance had been drafted out of our account. Today, after being transferred to 300 different people, it was confirmed a certain agent did not make note of the cancellation. Will I ever see my $400 insurance premium? Not likely.

Example Three:

I went to a certain department store today to buy a pair of boots for BB...on my lunch break. They did not have her size so I decided to order them. After waiting for over 30 minutes and after five calls to the manager, she finally came sauntering down to Kids Shoes. The guy was apparently new and I kept telling myself, "What if it were you, Grace? Be kind. He can't help it. He's never entered a gift card before on an in-store order." But as I looked down the aisle, a certain manager had stopped. She was chatting with a co-worker. She could have cared less if I had been standing there for 2 hours.

I try my very best to give 110% in all that I do. I'm not perfect. I screw up a lot but I try and I genuinely care for other people. If I am good at one thing, it's caring for other people. Why don't I deserve the same respect? Why don't I deserve to be, at least, treated like a human being? Is it so hard to provide someone with a solid, truthful answer? Is it so hard to give just a little bit extra to make someone else happy? All I can say is good luck, President Obama.

SOULS

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self same winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of sails
And not the gales,
That tells the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along through life,
‘Tis the set of the soul
That decides the goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox