Happy Birthday, Uncle Seth!

Happy Birthday, Big Gully!

While we were in NC we were lucky enough to be able to celebrate my uncle's birthday with him. Since I was little, I've always called him Big Gully- Uncle Vernon was a bit too hard for me to say, I guess...and Little Miss has continued on the tradition. Since his birthday party on Sunday afternoon, I must've heard "Gully! Gully!" a thousand times. I'm not sure if it was the chocolate birthday cake or all the stuffed animals (real stuffed animals- bear, dear, geese) that come along with visits from him, but I think it's pretty safe to say he's her favorite uncle. ;)

Little Jenni & her Gran'dad!

Aunt Karen, Big Gully & Jenni

"Gully! Hold!" *little arms up*

Big Gully and Aunt Karen were also kind enough to drive us to the airport early Monday morning. Mom came along for the ride and for most of the trip, Mom and her brother shared stories from their childhood. I found myself wanting to write down all the stories they were retelling- some of which I'd heard before and some I had not. (Many stories included their pet raccoon, JoJo...which is an entire blog post in itself.) It was a wonderful way to end our trip.

Love you, Big Gully!

The Best Way To Spend An Afternoon...

The best way to spend an afternoon this gorgeous, is looking at amazing scenery through the ears of a horse.

Me & my boyfriend, Harley

I love this goober- thank you for letting me sneak off with your man, Missy! ;)

Playing in the ocean- I was pretty well drenched by the time we got back to the trailers.

ILL BILL Hangs With Tech N9ne

This past Spring, ILL BILL joined Tech N9ne & Paul Wall for 52 shows in 58 days on the Fire & Ice Tour. Prepare to hear Tech N9ne on Bill's new album over the DJ Muggs-produced "Only Time Will Tell". In this clip, Tech welcomes Bill onto his bus for some Caribou Lou and a live preview of his new album, "Killer".

Disclaimer: This was the same night that I was given an enormous jug of Caribou Lou & wanted to die the next day. (ie: our 2nd wedding anniversary)

*Thank you all for your concern yesterday! I'm fine now and it's safe to say I won't ever take Excedrin again. I felt like a bear was chasing me until almost midnight last night. Effing caffeine...I should've never stopped drinking Mountain Dew.

In Loving Memory

I had just gotten into bed and was watching a video of Stacy Westfall riding in memory of her father. (This woman is an incredible trainer and rider.) The song she was performing to was Tim McGraw’s Live Like You Were Dying. For some reason, as I watched her ride and control her horse without a saddle or bridle…my eyes filled up with tears and I became overwhelmed with emotions. All I could think about were my grandparents…not just Mama Clair- and not just Jimmie, but them together.

Then the phone rang.

“Your Mama Clair just passed away, honey”

I was speechless. I got goosebumps. I felt relief for her pain and sadness for my own selfish heart. Tears ran like a river down my face. My mind was empty.

My father’s voice cracked as he told me that she passed peacefully in my aunt and uncle’s home. I told him I had both her and Jimmie on my mind just before he called. For some reason, in recent years I never thought about the two of them together…just one or the other. Maybe it was my self conscious preparing me for the call.

She always worried about Jimmie being alone after he passed away. We would always tell her that he wasn’t alone- he was busy watching over all of us. Now I know that he has someone on his arm, who has missed him very much…just in time for Father’s Day.

Mama Clair accomplished many things in her life. Many things that were well-before her time. She traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut (from her native Hyde County) by bus, train and car shortly after she graduated college. She migrated back to NC to work in the then, Engelhard Banking & Trust Co- one of the only banks to see any profit during the depression. She continued to work as the treasurer of the bank well into her 70s. (At the time she retired, Engelhard Banking & Trust had changed it’s name to East Carolina Bank- and had over 25 branches.) She raised two hard-headed boys, who both grew into hard-working fathers. She took care of her husband after he had a heart attack that left him with only 1/4 of a working heart. And in her spare time, she managed to collect numerous china patterns- all complete and most, in their own china cabinet. (She could spot a fake ‘blue willow’ plate a mile away at an antique show!)

Of all the things she’s accomplished in her life, the one thing she wanted most was to see her boys and their girls together in one room- laughing, telling jokes, sharing stories… She didn’t just want us to get along- she wanted us to be best friends. She wanted my cousins and I to feel like sisters- she wanted us to see each other more than once a year. Even though seeing her health fail was hard on everyone, it brought us all together and today we are all closer than we’ve ever been. I think tonight, when she closed her eyes she felt all her hopes and dreams were accomplished.

Mother’s Day 2007
3 Generations of Spencer Girls

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