Thursday, November 27, 2008

FROGS AND SNAKES

11-27-08...FROGS AND SNAKES

I am afraid of frogs. My skin just crawls and I can't breathe well If I even see one. Put one on me and I come completely unglued. So much so that I have passed out.
My Brother Brought one in the house one day and I cleared the bed in one bound. I mean I was on the other side. TRUE!!! Why you say? Well I'm'a'gonna tell ya.
When I was a kid we had to improvise a lot in our play. We played with sticks, tin cans, home made sling shots and stilts ect. We had been to Prissy Sillies house and they had a bus outside with pedals and seats. We were just amazed but knew we couldn't have one.
One day we were sitting in the yard and saw a ladder her Daddy had made. A home made ladder. It was two long boards(two by fours? I dont rightly know) but to these two boards were about eight flat planks nailed on at intervals. Wala! When you sit it up against something you could climb the ladder in to trees, the roof, the barn, the chicken roosts,ect. You get my drift. We laid the ladder down flat on the ground and sat on the planks. (our bus seats). Brenda and I took turns being the driver, who stood on the front. Paul, Norman, and the other one of us sat on the planks and called out orders to the driver. We were having a rip roarin good time. YEP! The boys tired of it quick like and left to greener pastures. Brenda's older Sister came out. Brenda was the driver and I was the rider. Tut got behind me and all at once she jumped off and ran in the house like all the demons in hell were after her. Brenda looked back at me and she hightailed it off too. What in the heck is wrong with y'all I hollered. Just bout then My Auntie ran out the door and said, Sit real still Clydene. Well now can you see me sittin' real still? Heck no! I started to get up too. Auntie got serious then. Clydene if you move I'll whip you till you can't move. Well Shoot fire Auntie, What the hecks wrong with you anyway. Auntie gave me that LOOK! You know the ones Mama's give their kids? Don't have to say a word Just that Look stopped you in your tracks. Auntie was talking real low now. She went to the side of the house and got a hoe and started toward me. Well Good Lord surely my Auntie wasn't a goin' to hit me with a hoe. Shoot fire I was still as I could be. Durn, I'm'a'thinkin' I better move, Auntie's went goofy on me. She's a gonna hit me with that hoe sure as shootin I put my hand down to get myself up and touched something so cold and slick, and I thought slimy. I started screamin. I mean I was screechin and hollerin. I felt somethin on my leg then kinda wigglin' and movin' into my lap. I looked down (and it's a good thing I did) just as Auntie brought that hoe down and slung somethin' or other out in the garden. And in my lap was the biggest ol' frog I had ever seen in my life. Sittin' there with its ugly eyes lookin up at me. I was unhinged, unglued, and cock eyed with fear. Couldn't have moved then if it had grabbed me and shook me. They said later that I was as white as a sheet and my eyes were rolling and crossin' and I fell over on my face right on top of that frog. Oh My gosh, Oh my goodness Lord help me was going through my mind though I couldnt say a word . I was petrified. Stone cold petrified. They all finally gathered round me and Auntie carried me in the house while Tut ran down to get My Mama.
Well Folks, That frog was dead. Still don't know if it died of fright from me or that big ol copperhead snake. Yep! Seems the snake was tryin' to swallow the frog and started to crawl under the ladder or over it one I can't remember. But it was comin' on up in my lap. All I saw was the frog cause' Auntie gave me THE LOOK and I froze. She slung the snake away from me and the frog got out of its mouth right there on my lap. Oh jeepers. That durn frog scared me so bad I've been scared of em since. And Brenda is as scared of snakes as I am Frogs. You say it makes more sense to be scared of snakes? For You Maybe. NOT ME!
Everyone kept trying to tell me that frog probley' saved my life cause that snake woulda bit me. But heck fire I didn't even see the snake, didn't touch the snake, didn't see the snake starin' at me either. Auntie said she just knew I was a gonna move and maybe the frog would get away and the snake would bite me. Heck she should'a known just to give me The look in the first place and I'd a never moved. I thought my Auntie was'a'gonna kill me with that hoe just cause I was moving. Everybody else moved didn't they? She never threatened to kill em with a hoe cause they moved?!!! We all laughed at that later but it was much later for me. YEP! Just don't ever put a frog on me or I'll get a hoe after you!!!!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS

11-25-08...CHRISTMAS BLUNDERS

I'll bet that most memories of Christmas for most of us is warm and loving.
Mine too. I have a memory of a Christmas in 1952 that could have been very different had it not been for the Great Love and forberance of my close knit family.
My Daddy and Brenda's Daddy worked away from home in a coal mine. They left for Okla. on Sunday night and came home on Friday night. The one night of the week that we got to stay up late till Daddy got home.
We had a Christmas eve service at our little Church every year. No matter what day of the week it was we were in Church on Christmas eve. Daddy would be always home for Christmas but sometimes couldn't be there till late on Christmas Eve night. So it was left to Mama and Brenda's Mama to get to the Church. Mama had the car that week. She never was a good" driver but managed. Well what always happened when Daddy wasn't home was that Mama would take us to the car then say. I forgot something in the house. You all sit here and I'll be right back. Sit still and don't touch anything or get out. OK Mama. See What Mama was doing was rushing back to the house and laying out our presents under the tree so they would be there when we got home. Then we'd rush in and find what Santa left. Magical time, but not to be so simple this year. Nope, not with all four of us kids in the car. My auntie was at her house doing all this and would meet us at the lane and we'd all be off. Can you imagine all four of us kids sitting in the back seat together in such close quarters with no adult in sight? SURE YOU CAN!
The gear shift was in the floor between the two front seats. I climbed over the seat in to the drivers seat and pushed in the cigarette lighter which always stuck. Brenda and my brother tried to climb over at the same time and bumped heads. She pushed my Brother back down and he started crying. I reached up and slapped the heck out of Brenda and raised up on my knees to see about Norman. That was my baby brother and I was supposed to take care of him. He was 4 at the time. Brenda came on over on her head and we started squabbling in the same seat just as Her Brother Paul came over the seat too.
Somehow we knocked the car out of gear (I think Paul was sitting on the gear shift and my foot(or maybe it was Brenda's foot) hit the starter in the floor. The car lurched forward just as Mama opened the door and it knocked her down. I guess I still had my foot on the starter because it was making a terrible racket, like a calf bawling for it's Mama kinda.
I heard Mama holler, Clydene Put Your Foot on the brake. Well luckilly for all of us I knew what that was. Daddy had often held me in his lap as he drove and I picked up a few things. Yep thats how we all learned to drive back then. Right there in our Daddies laps. Dangerous? Probably but we are all still here to tell the stories. That is how we learned to survive out in the world. We were tough. Yep! Kids today are too coddled I think. My opinion. Don't jump on me for it.
Anyway back to my story. I did get the car stopped but I had to face my Mama and when I saw blood on her arm I started bellering (like that lost calf again) When I started bellering the other three started bellering just as my Auntie ran up. I tell You I was scared spitless, breathless and every other way you can be scared. Oh My Gosh, we were all scared to death. I'M OK KIDS, my Mama was saying. Auntie was saying, What in the world happened Lucille? Then she looked at us all standin' there and though she didn't really know what happened I guess it dawned on her that we kids were very heavilly involved.
We all got ourselves together. Mamas scratch only required a handkerchief with spit on it.
We got in the car and went on to Church. I was an Angel on top of the Christmas tree that year, but I sure didn't feel much like An Angel,if you get my drift. Daddy got home later that night. We had already discovered that Santa had been there but we were not allowed to touch anything till Daddy got there. Wow! This worked out pretty good> DIDN'T IT? Well not exactly. We knew we would still be in trouble, and when My Auntie showed up on Christmas Morning with Brenda and Paul in tow we knew what was coming. When Daddy Or Brenda's Daddy was home there was never any problem. They did the work inside while our Mama's waited with us in the car. Our Parents recognized this fact even if we didn't and had decided not to be too hard on us. We didn't know why for many years later but at the time we enjoyed the reprieve and was relieved for all of an hour. Yep! This was not to be so easy. An hour later Daddy went out to Start the Car and guess what? Remember that cigarette lighter that got pushed in the night before? Yep. You guessed it. The car wouldn't start. That dad blamed thing always stuck and I knew it did when I pushed it in. UH OH! Yep the battery was down. It wasn't so simple then when the battery was down. Nope sure wasn't. It had to be taken out and took to the station in town to charge. Now the crap would hit the fan for sure. If we'd'a' had a fan. The jig was up. The reprieve was over Yep, I might as well fess up. Daddy I was the one who pushed in the lighter I said, (bellering again). I got my tanning right there and knew I needed it. That is the way it was. We knew we needed the tannins' and we accepted them. We learned from them too else why would we still remember them for all these years. It was good for us in more than one way. YEP!!!! Our wonderful Parents were the very best. SURE NUFF! YEP!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

CHEWING THE CUD

11-14-08...CHEWING THE CUD

I was sitting in the dining room this morning looking out at the pasture. Cows were lying down chewing their cud. I will not explain that it would take too long but probably some of you understand what I am talking about. Anyway my mind was transported back to a time when I was young and innocent. (WELL I WAS!!) Brendas Daddy had an old Jersey milk cow that we called PET. She was the most cantankerous thing I have ever seen. Like an old balking mule with a bur in its backside. There was a gate about middle way in the lane between our houses. That ol' battleax would stand there and take the chain loose and walk right out. She got in our gardens and just messed up things. Since it was usually Brenda and I who went after her we were wishing that one day she would just take on off never to be seen again. Now we weren't thinking about the butter and milk she supplied all of us. Heck no. Fartherest thing from our minds.
Well gettin' to the cud story. Pet was laying out in the pasture one day busy chewin' her cud and looking too comfortable for us. Ol' bag didn't deserve to rest now did she? Hateful ol' thing anyhow. Brendas brother Paul had gotten a Daisy BB gun that year for Christmas but it was taken away from him because he killed one of Auntie's chickens. Yep, lucky shot. We were happy about that too because he wasn't careful where he shot and my ankle was stung once by it.
Brenda Where did Auntie put Pauls BB gun? It is in Mama's closet. Why? I was thinkin' we could shoot a few BBs at ol' Pet and make her get up. Maybe she'll go on down in the pasture and we won't have to worry bout' her gettin' out. I dont know Clydene, what if we hurt her? Brenda didn't you hear Daddy and Uncle Frank talkin' about leather was made from cow hide? Yep I did Clydene but whats that got to do with it? Brenda didn't you see Paul shootin' at that ol piece of boot? That was leather and it never even made a scratch on it. Then why shoot at Pet. It wont bother her. Well shoot fire Brenda we can try! HUH OH! Wrong decision again!
Brenda went afrer the Bb gun while I asked Auntie for a drink of water. Oh we were sneaky all right. Yep!! We had about 4 bb's and we were gonna' shoot two each. Brenda lets get over there so when she gets up she wont go toward the gate. OK.
Oh My! Were we ever headed for trouble. DOUBLE TROUBLE to be exact.
I shot first and Ol Pet didn't even flinch. Well Shoot fire Brenda, lets get closer. Which we did. Brenda shot next and Ol Pet flinched a little but kept on peacefully chewing that cud. Brenda moved on up right in front of Pet and let one fly, I grabbed the BB gun outta' her hand just as Pet was gettin' up and boy was she bellerin'. Brenda it was my turn durn you. I started to put my last BB in the gun just as Ol Pet tore out right tward' the dad blamed gate. At the same time Auntie was comin' to see what Pet was bellerin' about and there I stood with the evidence. Foot, durn, heck fire. (that was the worse thing I could think to say). Brenda grabbed me by the arm with that vice grip of hers and drug me outta' the way of Ol' pet who was movin' on. ( now when did she start takin' care of me?) Don't know but I spect' we were both protective of the other at some time in our lives.
What in the world are you doin' Clydene. Brenda done it too Auntie. Of course she did, I'm not stupid, and I know what you did too. (Well why the heck did she ask if she already knew?) We didn't think it would hurt her, we were just foolin' round. But Pet was headed down the road bellerin and she stopped and lay back down. See She is Ok. No she is not Ok Auntie said. You girls made her lose her cud and she could die. Now this was gettin' serious and we were gettin' scared even though we had no Idea what it meant to lose her cud. I wont explain that either for fear of turning someones stomach. But if a cow loses her cud she is in danger of dying. We both got our butts busted and Auntie took care of Ol' Pet and she didn't die but we were sooo sorry. And isn't that what learnin' the hard way is all about? Sure nuff' it is. We were so Blessed to have the kind of Parents who allowed us to learn our lessons but to always be there to pick us up and dust us off once we learned. And of course Brenda and I were lucky that we had each other during this time. We fought like cats sometimes but our love for one another never allowed anyone else to hurt us. NOPE. Later on Our Brothers were in on our capers and helped us out of scrapes just as we did them. Don't mess with our gang. We stood togrther. Still do.
By the way I will explain about the cud and what Auntie had to do to help Pet to anyone who wants to know. Let me know OK?

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE

11-11-08...DON'T CALL ME ELDERLY PLEASE

How come I didn't realize I was gettin' old? Heck I don't rightly know.
How come someone had to be a smart elec and tell me? Heck, I sure don't know the answer to that. All I know is that some little skinny girl made sure I took the fact to heart right well. Here I've been toodlin' through life as happy as a lark. Most times feelin' just like I always did, cept' for a few more aches and pains.
I went to my Dentists office a couple of months ago to get my teeth cleaned. Now my Mama taught me to take care of my teeth well. Brush twice daily, (more if I ate candy) watch sugars, (heck we didn't have much sugary things then anyway) don't bite on ice or hard candy, just let it melt in your mouth so's as not to break your teeth. Well, You get the picture, I took care of my teeth. My problem was the discoloration that I just could not get rid of. So I had asked that little skinny whippersnapper of a girl if there was anything I could use on my teeth to whiten them. The dentist had already nixed the idea of all the whiteners that are on the market now. Well the little smart elec promptly put her little cleaner thingie in my mouth and started scraping between my teeth. She had my mouth stretched to my eyeballs and she very sweetly said::: No honey I don't know of a thing. I can see that you take good care of your teeth. The dis-coloration down around your gums is just typical in the elderly. ELDERLY! ELDERLY? What did she say. Did she call me elderly? Why I'll--- Heck I couldn't even say a word cause her blamed fist was in my mouth. Well let me tell you, I was steamin' outta the ears. Comin' undone and my head was a'gonna blow if I couldn't make my thoughts known. Couldn't she see my eyes rollin' and feel the steam comin' outta' my ears? Seems she couldn't because she went on with her little tooth lesson she was'a tryin to teach me. As you age the ensamel in your----- Ok that was it I wasn't'a listenin' now. My foot come up and connected with her shin and at the same time my teeth connected with her little skinny hand. I don't think I really meant to kick and bite, but it was a reflex action don't ya know? On the last word out of her mouth came "OWH! And a couple of words I wont repeat. Hateful little thing anyway. She jumped back and dropped her little tool bent down to rub her shin and rubbed blood from her bitten hand all over her sparklin' white pants. She was screamin' at me (not very professional) I was screamin' at her, two more people burst in the room just as that little goofy thing started to slap me. But this elderly ol' woman was faster and wiser that she was. And my temper had let off all its steam too. I wrapped my arms around her and said HONEY I'm Sorry, but you need to learn some manners. Don't ever call a 63 yr. old lady Elderly. I am aged and completely ripe. Maybe even old and matured, Just don't call me elderly. I've been here long enough to be better. I've endured, and gracefully aged and I have more sense in this little finger than you have even learned yet. You hurt my feelings because I never knew I was elderly till' you decided to tell me. Honey I believe that you are smarter than that, and should have known better so I forgive you. I don't think you will do it again. On that note I pushed past the gawkers and walked out to the reception desk to pay my bill. The Dentist came running up and said no charge, which I accepted cause' she really hadn't cleaned my teeth. He gushed and said he was soooo sorry and it wouldn't happen again. I said, Sir, I know it wont cause' I wont be back. I was still a little mad. He told me that the girl would be diciplined. I said, No Sir don't do that, I think she learned a lesson. I left. I don't know what they did but I found another Dentist. Too Harsh? Too sensitive? Maybe. Just don't call me elderly. OK? I'd hate to kick or bite you. HE HE YEP!!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

MY BABY BROTHER

11-05-08...MY BABY BROTHER

Today is my little Brothers birthday. He is 60 today but he is still my baby brother. I called him this morning as I always do and again told him all about the day he was born. I dug up a picture of him as a baby with big sister standing over him.(See below) I was happy in the picture but I sure as shootin' wasn't happy the day he was born. Nope!! Not happy at all. Daddy took Mama off to the hospital that morning and for the first time I could remember, I didn't get to go. I was madder'n'a'hornet and then some. How dare they go off without me like that. Oh I loved being at Brenda's house but not unless my Mama and Daddy were right next door. Nope, Didn't like this at all.
Daddy came home that night which gave me more cause to be difficult because Mama was not with him. Now what in the world is going on I thought. I asked Daddy where Mama was and he said, "Honey Mama is over at the hospital gettin' you a new little Brother. I'll take you to see Norman tomorrow" Well who the heck Is Norman? I dont wanna see no Norman, I wanna see my Mama. Now I can't remember just how long but I know it was several days before Mama came home. They kept a new Mother a lot longer then, and I was not allowed to go see her.
Next morning Daddy took me to the Hospital and we walked up stairs to an area where there were some windows. Daddy lifted me up and said, "There is your baby brother Norman" . "Well shoot fire Daddy I don't want no brother, lets get Mama and go home" "Baby, your Mama will come home soon and we will bring Norman with us". Well I sure wanted my Mama home but I don't want that thing there in that room. Nosireee! I'll just have to figure out a way to get rid of that thing.
The day Norman was brought home one of my Uncles took us over. Daddy disappeared inside some double doors and came out later. A nurse was pushing my Mama in a wheel chair. I ran to her and slobbered all over her. Tried to get in her lap but everyone said no, that I would hurt her. Daddy said "Look here baby, Here's your new brother". He held the thing in his arms down so I could peek under the blue blanket. "DADDY, Thats the ugliest thing I ever saw in my life, and I dont want it. Take it back in there and lets go". I was almost screaming by now. Norman didn't have a speck of hair. Besides that there were little blue dots all over his nose. (Hey, Thats what I remember! OK?) My Mama (bless her heart) said, "Come here Clydene, You can ride in this chair with me, and sit with me in the car going home. I dont remember how we got out, I do know there was no elevator and we were on the second floor, but we got out with me and my Mama in the wheel chair.
That night at home I was sitting in my little rocking chair with my doll in my lap. I was feeling so sorry for myself. There were lots of people in the room and they were all gathered around that dad-burned baby, even Brenda, the little traitor,. Mama had fed Norman in her bed and she was resting. Thats another thing that was different back then. A new Mother had to stay in bed for 5 days. I think it was 5, not sure about that. Anyway I heard my Auntie say, Oh Norman you look just like your Daddy. Hey now, wait just a minute here, Who is Normans Daddy, maybe he will come and take him home. GOOD!! "Well you've got you a boy Clyde", someone said and thats when I come unhinged. Yep completely un glued. If My daddy was Normans Daddy, just where the heck did that leave me. I mean I just started bellerin' then. I screamed out, "Now Who am I Gonna call Daddy". "You are My daddy, Not his". Mama woke up and got up and came to me, at the same time Daddy came to me. They gathered me in their arms and loved and kissed on me. Everyone in the room had a few tears in their eyes, especially my Mama and Daddy and Me. My wonderful loving Parents held me and talked to me for a long time and I never felt such a warm fuzzy safe feeling in my life. I remember that feeling till this day. I dont remember a word they said, just that feeling of great love. My Brother was brought over and Mama and Daddy helped me hold him, and that warm feeling never went away. Norman was my Pride and joy from then on. I fought his battles, still do if need be. He is different from me. I am firey and fisty. Norman is quiet, gentle, and laid back. Even when he towered over me and was strong and a man, he was still my baby Brother. Still is!! I emailed him this picture this morning, all decorated with my own sentiments. My little Brother is 60 today and I love him much. YEP


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!

11-3-08...LOCKED IN THE TOILET!!

Dont know about Y'all but I'm sure enough ready for winter. It is my very favorite time of year. We dont get much snow here some winters so when we do It is a treat.
I was remembering one very cold winter when I was about eight yrs old. It was a very wintry like winter but still not much snow. If there was no snow we didn't get out of going to school. The school wasn't very warm then so we had to wrap up good and keep our coats and scarves on in the classroom. We didn't have water or bathrooms in the school either. We had to carry these foldup cups in our book satchels and get a drink from a big water tank at the high school gym. Well I guess you know we loved that. Getting out of the classroom and going for a drink whether we were thirsty or not. Teachers took us and we lined up for a drink then we went way down below the grade school and lined up at the outside toilet. A one seater so we wouldn't be in there visitin' and dwadlin'. At recess we were free to go to the bathroom as long as the teacher knew where we were. And thats why Brenda and I were in that old toilet when It started to snow.
We were still not supposed to be in there together, but we were. It was cold outside and at recess we wanted outside so we ran to the toilet, locked the door, and sat down on the floor. We were cross legged playing jacks. We must have used up the 15 min. recess but when someone pulled on the door I , thinking it was just someone with the need to go, said , JUST A MINUTE PLEASE. Now wasn't that polite? Well now that might have worked on one of the girls( but then probably wouldn't have) but it didn't work on Miss Hogan. Nope, sure didn't work!
Clydene you come out of there, and you too Brenda. Well how the heck did she know we were in there anyway? Who told? Just wait till I find out, just wait!!
We jumped up and started gathering up our jacks (which were mine by the way) A new set with a multicolored ball with sparkly thingies in it. Brenda bumped me and i dropped my pretty ball. It bounced a couple of times and landed right smack dab in the one hole in the room, (the toilet) Making a sickenin' sploshin' sound. BRRREEENNNDDDAAA! look what you done now! I didn't do nuthin'. Yes you did. GIRLS, Come out of there this minute, it is snowing hard and the buses are loading. Now come on right this minute!!! Whooppee, Brenda wer'a'goin' home, lets go. Unlock the door Clydene. OK. Which I proceeded to do. BUT, I couldn't get the thing to unlock! It was one of those slide locks and no one ever really locked it , they just had a friend to watch the door. The reason being that the dad burned thing was so hard to undo. Yep! Brenda help me, we will both pull on it. Pull on what? Durn it Brenda, help me pull this thing'ma'jigger' over. We tried and tried but it wouldn't budge. Miss Hogan we yelled together, we can't open it. Oh My goodness girls, what have you two done now? When this is over you are both going to get a paddling. (Miss Hogan talked real proper like don't ya know). I'll have to go get the janitor girls, I'll be right back. Let me tell you right here and now , We were panicked big time. Clydene the bus is going to leave without us, Brenda blubbered. Oh My Brenda, Miss Hogan will forget us. Oh no!! We peeked through the cracks and snow was falling fast and pilin' up on the ground. We were gettin' sooo! cold.
We sat back down on the floor and huddled close and got real morbid like. Clydene 'sniff slobber' I'm sorry I lost your ball. Oh Brenda thats ok 'sniffle' I don't need it now. Wer'a'gonna freeze to death, I love you Brenda. 'snot' sniffle' blubber'. I love you too Clydene. 'snot blubber' wipe tears. Bye Brenda! Bye Clydene. Now we were bellerin' wailin' and 'brayin' like two wounded donkeys.
Listen Brenda, is that the bus leavin'? We peeped through the cracks again and there it went. They left us!!! They really left us!!
Now we really come un-hinged. We were screamin' so loud that we didn't hear someone at the door, or hear the boards splittin' in to. or know the door flung open. Someone took us by our shoulders and gave us the biggest hug we had ever felt in our lives. We were pulled up to a warm body and let me tell you we thought we were in heaven.
We looked up in to the face of the most beautiful sight we had even seen in our lives. IT WAS MY DADDY, and he never had been so beautiful to me before. Never!!! I didn't know how my Daddy had shown up but he had and he looked like an Angel to me. I can still feel that wonderful warm fuzzy feeling right now. My Daddy, my Angel, My hero!!!
Daddy took us to the car and we were off toward home. We found out that when it started snowing Daddy had headed out to the school. He didn't trust that bus with us. Nosiree. Not my Daddy. He had pulled into the road in front of the school just as Miss Hogan started up to the High School to get the janitor. Miss Hogan told the bus driver to go on. Daddy pried the door loose with a crow bar and rescued us. When we got home we were wrapped and coddled and warmed up. Boy did that feel good.
Oh yes, we got our paddlins' at school and at home but it didn't really hurt. I suspect it wasn't supposed to hurt. Could be wrong but I dont think I am. NOPE!! Best parents that ever walked the earth. YEP! Sure nuff' were. YEP!!!