my GOOD TIMES stories

Ya'll are putting some big smiles on my face with your Good Times stories!

Thought I'd share one...or maybe two...or how about three of mine with you...

Way back when Cissy & I worked together we sweet-talked our boss into letting us get a picnic table so we could sit outside to eat our take-out or warmed-up leftovers. He relented but said we would have to go get it ourselves. We were so excited as we headed to Lowe's...to be getting our way, someone else was paying for it and it got us out of the office for a while...can't beat that!

We quickly chose our prize, paid for it & the cashier called for someone to load it for us. OH, if you could have seen the little (and I am being very generous in saying "little") guy they sent to help us. As we saw him coming, we fought back our laughter at the thought of him trying to help us. When he saw our purchase, he knew he was in over his head (literally) and called for back-up. We waited, waited, waited.... As he grew more frustrated, he decided to go look for help. When the sliding doors closed behind him, Cissy somehow convinced me that we should load the table up ourselves. I still don't know how we did it, except that she was strong as an ox (in more ways than I ever could have imagined then) & I somehow managed to muster up enough strength adrenaline to at least do as she instructed.

Right as we were getting in the truck, we could see the little guy & his helper walking out the front door. We drove right up to the front of the store and rolled the window down to wave at them. Poor guy just stood there shaking his head in disbelief. We laughed the whole way back to the office.

Every time I see a picnic table I think of that day...of Cissy.

And of all the funny, the light-hearted, the griping, the serious, the day-dreaming, the meaningful conversations that we shared at that table.

Several years ago, a girl with the biggest, most beautiful smile entered my life. I can only say that I can not think of her without smiling. Her smile was contagious! It makes me so sad to know that I only got to know her for such a short amount of time and that she was so sick almost the whole time. Yet I don't think I ever saw a time that she didn't have a smile to share.

When I think of April, I often wonder if someone only knew me for such a short period of time, what would they remember about me?

I can only hope...a smile!

I can't believe that before I was 30, they were both gone.

But. the good times. not forgotten!

And, then there's this guy...my Papaw. We've had our share of good times...holidays, vacations, NASCAR races at Talladega...

But, long before our days of race cars, there was me & Papaw. Every summer when I was a child, my parents had a conference in some exotic place and I went to stay with my GanGan & Papaw. A whole week. My Papaw, who worked crazy swing-shift hours & was the Fire Chief for their county department, took a week of vacation from work to spend time with me. A whole week. We did nothing but fun. A whole week. We played at Papaw's park. A whole week.

I'm so thankful to have a life full of a whole lotta weeks with you Papaw! I love you more than you know!

It's not too late...share your story here. Don't forget that Monday I'll be picking the one that puts the biggest smile on my face & I'll be making a donation to Relay for Life in honor or in memory of your loved one!