A Visit to Texas

I spent most of my time at my brother and sister-in-law, Rocky and Marcia Vineyard's house getting ready for the wedding and attending the wedding and helping with cleanup a little. My nephew, Travis married DiNell Reed on Saturday in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. As it poured down rain all day Friday, it was amazing that everything came together so well Saturday morning, but it did. Around 60 people watched across the pool as the couple recited their vows. And no one ended up in said pool.

My niece, Krissy Simpson and her sons Blayke and Ian were there and her and Travis mother, Kathy and her husband Joe and her mother Helen as well. It was good to see them. Also of course were my darling great niece and nephews, Samantha, Simon and Spencer. I don't get to see them nearly enough. Samantha was a big help with the decorations Friday evening and the boys were having a good time playing with friends. There were a lot of children there for the weekend and I thought they were all very well behaved.

Of course there were a couple of yard ruts to deal with however after all that rain. A large motor home sort of pulled across the front of the yard first and made a long deep trench the night before the wedding and then the mother of the groom got her car stuck in the same rut as she and her mother were leaving. My brother barely raised an eyebrow, but I am pretty sure we can't say the same about his blood pressure.

When I wasn't at my brother's, I was with my cousin Lina Sheffield and her husband, Harelton. I got to see all their offspring and grandchildren and of course I visited with my aunt, Pansy Wright Parr. As usual she wanted to know all about what is happening in Rector. She sends her love to all the people she knows here. Lady Francis Nichols, Pauline Shields and Mary and Hughy Linam are just a few she mentioned.

Paula Benton went with me and we had a good drive down. Really slow between Paragould and Newport as we were traveling on one of the few days the farmers have been able to get to the fields. And from field to field. We also followed a caravan of cars pulling other cars for most of the way. They weren't breaking any sound barriers either.

Once we hit the interstate at Newport we made good time to Texarkana. As Texas has not yet seceded from the United States, we were able to enter without passports or visas.

Paula was able to spend some quality time with her life-long friend, Dianne Campbell. She also partied a bit with another friend, Wanda Hefner and her husband and also visited with her son, Chaz Hulett. We both managed to consume as much seafood as possible while we were there.

Hey, Karen Langille is recuperating from a hip replacement surgery. She seems to be falling apart these days and is needing a few replacement parts. Take care of yourself, Karen and get better as fast as possible. We are thinking about you.

Jim Stone is out of the hospital and back to chemo therapy this week. Keep him in your thoughts as well.

Also, I hear that the garbage pickup people need a special thank you for going that extra few steps to accommodate one of our senior citizens who couldn't get her garbage to the garbage can. Thanks for that special care.

I want to say thank you to Laura Lynn too for taking care of all my animals while Paula and I were gone. You are a peach and I appreciate all you help.

Halloween is just around the corner and we really have some wonderful yard decorations around town. If you haven't driven around to look at them, you really should. I do love fall and the decorations are part of it. The leaves are beginning to turn too. Soon we will have to take a ride to the Ozarks to bask in the beauty.

Well, it is time for me to go. I really would like to write about you next week, so give me a call or email me to let me know what is going on. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net. Thank you so much for all your emails and phone calls. I look forward to hearing from you.

Don't forget to say a prayer for soldiers everywhere. Also support our Operation Dad Bags Program.