My first cousin, Sarah, and me in Minneapolis celebrating the 4th of July, 2008!!

Amber's poem for Frances

Sycamore Woman

I remember the last time I saw you.
Spotted yellow kerchief tied on your head
And your dress---Aurora borealis blue
Swimming about you like the sky/
You moved
with thick ankles
planted firmly
to the ground
and the shh shh of small branches
wilting as you walked.

I guess it’s hard for my young mind to fathom
how your smiles could fit
in a hospital bed.
The cracker-white sheets sighing
beneath your waning roots.
I can barely picture
your grand feet
raised
like a toppled sycamore
never to land again.

I remember the last time I saw you.
Your wind whispered words told me
That romance is worth fighting for.
And that love is the best thing in this world.
You liked to say "oooo Lord!"
And smile while the dew from your
Moist eyes rained up the ground.

I am trying to grieve your death quietly.
I am trying to listen to the rustling of the leaves
in the thick twilight.
I think about the soil
in which you came.
I think about the rough bark
and sweet sap of your life--
Blowing bits of breath
into the world.
I think, too,
Of that blank space
Your passing has left.
That bare spot in the forest
where once a sycamore woman reigned.

I must smile softly, though,
because I can see bits of green where you once stood.
I can see new seedlings,
small and strong,
pushing up after you.

For Frances Adams
from Amber
On your 80th birthday.

Anne's poem for Frances

Frannie

"I'm Frannie the Grannie,"
she said with a grin
and opened her arms wide
and took me on in.

A more generous woman
you never could find
with her pride, and her stride-
she was one of a kind.

Frances was there for me
when I needed help
and there for my husband
and my children, as well.

She celebrated life
and was a renegade of sorts.
She supported strong women
and romance at all costs.

We love you Aunt Frances.
We're sorry you've passed.
But your memory and love
will always last.

Annie

Dedicated to Frances (August 4, 1927- July 21,2007)

R.I.P. my dear Auntie F.

August 4, 1927 - July 28, 2007

Just one week shy of her 80th birthday, my dear Auntie Frances passed away. I am very glad and graciously honored that I had an opportunity to spend quality time with her over the past few months. As most of you know, Auntie F. had a quick wit and sometimes made us laugh with her X-rated sense of humor. She was a spry and feisty woman who did not hold back on what she had to say. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

I hope this link works - I posted pictures of my trip to Vegas over at myspace. So, if any of you have myspace and this link does not work, just look me up over there. Ya'll should know my name. lol

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=59136045&albumId=1120077

Ok, been there – done that!! Vegas was alright.

It was record heat while we were there 120 in the damn shade!! I had a good time tho. We were there 5 days and 4 nights so we packed in every day doing sight-seeing. Went down on Freemont (the old Main Street) where they have all the lights and then they have this awesome light show on the ceiling!! It is like a canopy covering the whole block. We saw comedian LouieAnderson, who looked kinda frail and he had a cold and was limping on his hurt leg. But, he was funny as hell. We saw "O" by Cirque du Soleil and that was a show to behold. Simply magnificent!! (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/o/o-Las-Vegas.htm)

We went to Madame Tusaud's house of wax. Visited the Coca-Cola store and the M&M's store. The hotels were beautiful. Some had painted ceilings and floral conservatory. The Bellagio hotel had a fantastic light and water show with music. We stayed at the Treasure Island and went down stairs to the Tangerine Club and the Mist Lounge. We got in VIP because we stayed at the T.I. I wanted to go to Pure nightclub (Lindsay Lohan was supposed to be there for her birthday, lol). We went over to Jet nightclub (right across from our hotel), but the line was atrocious and they were serving “locals night”. If we had known we could use our T.I. key, we would have gotten in there VIP as well, because they are sister hotels. Other than the heat, I had a good time.

I don't gamble, so that was not fun for me. You can go broke in Vegas, but I actually came home with $200 left from my budget. I refused to spend outrageous amounts for stuff that didn't really excite me. I did a bit of shopping while there and actually found some good deals. lol If I ever decide to go back, it won't be in the summer and it may not be for another 5-10 years. I took quite a few pictures, but I am still stuck with a regular 35 mm camera and need to get my film developed. lol

Hi everyone

I have been very busy lately. I completed my five courses for the Spring semester and then went directly to Daytona Beach to grade AP Government exams. While there I went to the Daytona race track, I gambled (lost $20) on a casino boat, I visited St. Augustine, and I saw the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch.

Then I came back for a very special 8th wedding anniversary.

All pictures are here:
http://apdaytona.blogspot.com/