Bob Riker

 

This one is going to be hard.

 

Bob Riker is one cool dude.  He very suddenly passed away. I am still trying to get my hands around it.

Bob was a collector of things.  Baseball memorabilia was one of his big things.  He has 2 Babe Ruth signed baseballs.  He has everything Derrick Geter, Thurmond Munson.  Are you seeing the pattern.  He was a huge Yankee fan.  For many years.  The first time I saw his collection I was blown away by one piece.  He has a shadow box with every no hitter pitched signed by the pitcher!!  Even the Don Larson no hitter in the 1958 World Series where he faced the minimum batters at 27.

However, Bob was a great guy.  Generous to a fault.  Kind to all.  Loving to his wonderful Jo Ann. And a great friend. He loved to cook.  He made the best Manhattans you will ever drink.  He loved smooth Jazz and a good time.  He loved to watch Jo Ann gamble, slots, he loved games of chance as well.  We went to a casino with them once.  All the staff doted over him and Jo Ann from the minute we arrived until we left.  It was so cool to watch.  We when to dinner and Jo Ann was flirting with our young waiter and I watched Bob just reveled in that.  Jo Ann and I would often kid Bob and my wife about not including us in their conversations.  It was our special time to harass them. Which sometimes they didn’t!  I am going to miss that as well.

My wife and I would go to their house for dinner often.  We so enjoyed Bob and Jo Ann. I have tried to leave their home many times when I had to look for my car in their driveway.

Fun Times….

I sure am going to miss my friend. I got a text from him 2 days before he passed with a crazy picture of him making fun of himself.  I am keeping that picture forever.  It will remind me of how much fun he was and how comfortable I was around him.

You know the Blessed Man is not liking writing about the loss of such great people.  I can remember my Granny telling me one time that the worst curse in the world is to out live all of your friends and family which in a way she did.  She buried all her children but one.  Her husband all her siblings and family.  I remembered that conversation when I got the news about Bob.  He doesn’t have to worry about that now.  And it is our job to make sure we all remember him in the light that he lived.  Kind, Loving, Caring, and Genuine.  Things we should all be striving to be every day. 

Bob Riker, God’s Speed my friend. You will be missed and always remembered.

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man

Karen Levy

 

You know I have been told that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  I have been so blessed to have had some very cool people in my life for a long time.  However, Karen is one that was for a season and a reason, sadly not a lifetime. We recently lost her to a very quickly spreading cancer.

Karen was one of the people we all want in your life.  She was always smiling and laughing, and it was contagious you just could not help but become involved in her good time. I will miss her very much.

She was the partner of someone I call one of my best friends, Dan.  Dan is a story as well.  He is from New York.  Enough said, right?  However, Dan isn’t that New Yorker you dread to be around.  He is the one you always try to sit next to at dinner because you know you are about to be entertained.  Let’s just say I love the guy.

Funny thing is when Dan and Karen met, they were different people, kind of.  Her devoted family matriarch.  Loving Mother, Grandmother, whoops MIMI.  And that was her focus.  Dan came into her life and was the rain the flower needed to bloom.  She remained the family focused however she began to really let go and have fun.  I was never with her in a social situation where she wasn’t making sure we were all having a blast. Her and Dan were the consummate hosts, or the best addition to your event you could ever have.

This is Dan’s second partner loss.  His first wife, Jo. Passed and we all loved JO.  Dan was there for her everyday.  He also was there for Karen everyday.  I find myself thinking about him and I marvel at how he keeps his head high and powers through the pain, that I know must be mind-blowing at times.  I also find myself asking if I am doing enough for my friend and brother.  All I know is I’m trying too.  I hope he knows that.  He has a support network that is second to none.  He has Softball, Golf, Neighbors.  The list goes on and on which says a lot about my buddy.

I laid awake a couple of nights ago and tried to place myself in his shoes to try to feel what that must be like.  I really couldn’t do it.  Which I must confess I was a little glad about.  I know if I ever lost Darlene, it would be very hard on me.  She is my rock; she is my Karen.

Now to close the loose ends.  Karen came into my life for the season that was such a joy.  I loved her and all her ways.  I loved the way she simply made you love her; there was no other choice.  The reason.  Was to show me that the only way to live is full blast.  Never ever accept second best.  Love like your life depends on it.  Because, in the end it really does.  Share with another.  Her and Dan in a quick 6-year lived life like we all should.  At the celebration of life, for her, he shared a few of their stories and they were amazing.  And it was so fitting we ran out of Margarita’s!!! Karen would have been proud.

I’m going to miss my friend.  I am going to never forget the season or the reason that the beautiful Karen Levy passed through my life.

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man

Retirement

 

I can still remember my mother taking me to work at a gas station on Lamar Avenue. for $.065 an hour.  I was the guy that pumped your gas.  I wash your windshield checked your oil, tires an anything else that needed checking.  I was 14!  I have had a job ever since that day.  Well in 2 weeks I am laying it down at 71 years old. 

What a ride!  I have pumped gas. I have dug ditches.  I have run gas pipes.  I have fueled air planes.  I have rode airplanes all over the world to teach people how to work around those airplanes safely. I have been a line cook, a sous chef, a head chef, and an executive chef.  I have fed over 2,000 people in a day with the support of 17 of the greatest people in the world.  I have been all over the world to buy wine. I have had multiple states where I sold wines.  I have been a starter at a golf course.  And I am sure I have left something out.

Not many people can say they have had the run I have had!!  I have met the most wonderful people. Ate the most wonderful food, drank some of the finest wine on earth.  I have learned the most important things from the greatest mentors.  Thank you all.

Well, I am putting it down in two weeks 6/21/25!!!  I will keep my wine jobs they are a pleasure and keep me connected and with a purpose.  But the have to be there portion of this ride is over 6/21!  I have enjoyed most of my jobs.  There have been people and situations that made some of them more difficult than others but mainly it has been a genuinely nice experience.

On to travel, adventure, more golf with Darlene.  Only things that are fun hope 

 

So, look for more posts of the things that come up along the way. 

 

Thanks for always listening

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man

Ricky Roy Blankenship

 

If you recognize the name then you just know.  If you don’t then I would dare to say your life is a smile and a laugh or two short.

I met Ricky one day riding my bike home from Havenview School.  He was working on his bike in the driveway and I said hello and for the next 65 years we were best friends.  You have heard about that friend that knows where the bodies are buried.  Well Ricky helped me bury a bunch of those bodies.

He went to St. Paul elementary.  I went to Havenview.  Then we both went to Whitehaven High School and that my friend is where all the trouble started!!!  Ricky’s father, Googie, drove the bus we rode to school.  He was a riot.  About as tall as he was big around he was just simply a hilarious man.  I got to know Googie and Bobbie Fay his Mom over the years an unusual pair for sure.

Ricky was the best man at my first wedding.  He was a major part of a night that will remain in one of the craziest of my life my Bachelor party.  Which it took about a month to recovery from.  Another story for another time.  Let’s just say my new bride didn’t speak t him for many, many months!!

He was always there for me. Good times and Bad always right there. I could pass on many examples but that’s not the reason for this writing.

You see I lost my best friend yesterday and I needed to let folks know the world lost a good guy.  Yes, he was strange.  He loved burnt bacon and steaks.  I never understood that until I had a taste of his Moms cooking if you could call it that.  WOW!!  He also was hard headed. He loved his wife and family more than anything else in the world.  He told me that many times as we talked about this and that.  He loved the Memphis Tigers. He loved to talk to his buddy Goose during all of the games.  I was always out being” social” as he called it.   He also loved to play golf back in the day and we would all go on these crazy golf trips down to the gulf coast. Lot’s of memories there as well.

Well if you knew him there is a good chance you either loved him or did not care for him.  That never bothered him at all.  You see Ricky was Ricky and that is what made me love him.

Rest in peace my friend.  You will be missed, but never forgotten.

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Forgiveness

 

My grandmother told me one time that forgiveness wasn’t for the person being forgiven; it was for the person forgiving so the one who hurt you doesn’t live rent free in your head.  I have lived by that for many years.  However, this time I am asking forgiveness from a dear friend.  I will explain

We were at a birthday event for my wife.  Wine was involved and as conversations do they got a little racy.  At these events the guys sit at one table and the ladies at their own table.  It always seems to work because guys talk guy things and lord only knows what they talk about.

As the night waned I slid over to the ladies and somehow the conversations turn to breasts!  Anyone who knows me knows I’m a boob man!  Well I said something about wanting to see every set on earth and everyone laughed.  Well here is the forgiveness part.  I was sitting next to one of the sweetest people on the planet that has just recently beat breast cancer!  What an inconsiderate comment. 

Now allow me to tell you a bit about the lady I’m talking about.  She is one of the best people I know. Beautiful, kind, loving, selfless, and a true friend, a fighter of the highest regard. She has a zest for life that is rarely seen.  She is a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother.  She is a great cook and she is my friend.

The comment has haunted me since I got home that night.  I have to apologize to her. The very thought that I might have hurt her feelings makes me sick to my stomach. I will email her this post once it finished so she will know how badly I feel.  I can already hear her reply.  I didn’t even hear it or I have no memory of that. That is just how special she is. 

I promise to do better.

So yes sometimes Grandmother the forgiveness is needed for the infractor as well as the person forgiving. 

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Makenna Noelle Morse aka. Cricket

 

Well I am thinking the old Blessed man is getting even older!!  As you make know I have written about many additions to our families, today is very very special you see last week my Great Granddaughter was born.  Can you believe that?  Great Granddaughter!!!

I was there when both of our Grand Children were born and have wonderful memories of those births.  But to think now one of those children has had a child is very eye opening. 

I am calling here Cricket.  I feel like ever Great Granddaughter needs a special name from her Great Granddad.  She is beautiful so cute and small. 

He mother has always held my heart.  She is very special, her Dad is a great guy, and wonderful provider for his new family.  I believe they will make wonderful parents.  The only trouble is you can’t explain to them what lies ahead.  You can try but they always look at you and say that will never happen to our little treasure. However, it is going to.  Nothing can hurt you more than a child.  Nothing can make you happier or more proud than a child.  I know because if you have read any of the first couple of years posts in this lowly blog you walked that road with me. 

Parenting is the most difficult job on the planet.  It is also the most rewarding job on the planet.   I am so blessed that my son met and married a young lady that absolutely turned his life and our relationship totally around.

Cricket, I wish you enough. Enough love to keep you on the right track. Enough joy to recognize how special life can be.  Enough strength to carry her through the hard times.  Enough fortitude and courage to endure and make her mark on this crazy world. Enough passion to sing like no one is listening and dance like no one is watching. Enough kindness to give grace and offer help and guidance to those less fortunate.  Enough sense to know when to hold‘em and when to fold’em.  I stole this and made it mine.  So I will attach the original so you know what I was shooting at.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

Well I guess that about it.  Know that I’ll always have your back my precious one.  We will disagree but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.  In fact it means I love you a lot!  And always remember I’m your favorite!!!

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Allie

You know the old blessed man has been silent for a long time now.  However, something happened to me last weekend that rekindled the fire in me. 

You see my youngest Granddaughter got married.  I know all the grand dads out there can relate if you have shared that moment with your special child.  However, my experience was a bit more in depth, thanks to my granddaughter.  I got to be a part of the ceremony and walk her down the aisle.  Why this happened is not important but to my good fortune it did. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know my son and I have had a very difficult relationship for his entire life.  It is getting better now but we still have our moments but they are fewer and further between.

I always knew I loved Allie.  She has always been a part of my life.  I treat her exactly as I would if she were my daughter.  Something that has meant a few teary times, as we have had differences of opinion. However, we always seemed to agree somewhere in the middle.

You know I have never had a father daughter thing.  All my friends tell me it’s very different than a Father Son thing.  With the boys you want to make men.  With the girls they say you always want to protect and keep safe. 

OK I have established that I am not a girl’s dad.  Now for the reason for this post.

The firat moment came when I was asked to take a picture with her as a “First Look” picture.  So I go over to this door that was closed.  They opened the door we were back to back.  I reached out held her hand and they counted to three.  We both turned and I saw her.  Something happened in my heart I have never ever felt.  It almost exploded!  She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  She was an angel I had always called her.  I was simply blown away.  As we hugged she was crying and hugging me I was in another world I had never been in.  Hugging her and totally understanding what all my friends say about having girls.  It was a wonderful moment for me.

Then came the wow moment.  I walked her down the aisle and gave her away.  We were standing outside the chapel as they closed the doors awaiting our entrance.  We stood on the porch of the chapel and I realized how much I loved this little girl.  I realized she was much more to me than I was allowing myself to feel. 

Then the fun moment because at this moment I was embracing this new place in my heart this small wonderful little child has opened up.  We got to do our first dance.  We didn’t dance much we just moved around in a slow circle looking at each other.  Both knowing it was different now. She had unlocked a place that belonged to her all along and that I never knew existed.  She now holds a place that is only hers in my heart.  I’ll never be the same guy after this wedding.  I believe I will always go to wedding with a different view.

I told Allie at the wedding I had always loved her but tonight I realized exactly how much.

 

The old blessed man has had many experiences in his life but nothing like this. The range of emotions was nothing like I have ever.

Well I guess that’s about it.  I feel so much better now that I have shared this with all of you.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Holidays 2021

Well its been a long time my friends.  However, I'm back.  Be looking for a post very soon.

Peace

The Blessed Man

Thanksgiving 2017

As I reflect on my yesterday it was full of many emotions,   from great sadness to great joy.  I ran the gambit yesterday all while enjoying family and friends. 

As we sat at our last stop last night my wife raised her glass and told things she was thankful for her family her friends her health and other numerous things.  I was hoping others would follow her lead and give me a minute to think of my list.  Well as crowed tables often do we lost a great moment to share our felling.  So I am blessed I have this place.  So here we go.

The top of the list has to go to my wife.  I am so blessed with each passing day we become closer and closer.  I now understand the feelings my Father would often try to share with me about how he felt about my Mother.  He was the best example to me for how to love someone.  And Dad I’m thankful for that as well.

This year there is a very special thankfulness.  You see my dear friend George from Boston fell dead on the sidewalk in the northeast this year.  But for the efforts of a group of recently trained CPR by standers my friend would not have been with his family yesterday being thankful for his life.  I am thankful for those who jumped in and saved my friend.  I’m thankful for him for being a fighter and not letting go.  I’m thankful for his wife for being at his side the entire way.  His children and Grand Child for being there and letting George see all the reasons to keep up the good fight.  I love my friend and can’t wait to see him early next year if things continue to improve.

I am thankful I didn’t spend my day like my young son.  He prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner for he and his wife using money that was maybe better used in other places.  Only to be met with her news she was leaving him and didn’t want to be married anymore,   Very sad.  He was very upset and we were talking no stop during my lunch stop yesterday.  I fear sometimes I appeared rude answering his heart felt texts trying to be the Dad that if you read this Blog much know I have no faith in my ability to be.  We got him through it and hopefully they will be able to find common ground and save the relationship.

I am thankful for my health.  I have really tried this year to be better losing weight and be a better keeper of the Blessed Man.  I have lost a few pounds numerous more to go.  I have started working out again and have an appointment to get my knee looked at next week.  So I’m being better now.

I’m thankful I got to see many members of the Memphis Family last night as well as the kids and Grand Kids.  All are doing so well The Grand Kids are really growing and the new baby could be the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Love those people…

So as you see I have many things to be thankful for this and every year.  But this year was a banner year for the Blessed Man.  And I have to believe that 2018 might be my best year ever.  I know I am blessed to be looking forward with great health and great companionship in every area of my life.

So I ask you to call that friend you love.  I almost lost mine this year.  I ask you to hug your wife.  I ask you to try to be a good parent, which is the toughest job of all I am sure.  I ask you to be thankful for the small things and see the beauty in all things good and bad.  And I ask you to be happy.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Movement

I guess there is and always be movement.  I am thinking that is what makes the world go round, pun intended. 

As I look back over the last couple of years there has been lots of movement in my life.  My son has gotten married and is experiencing an entire different kind of trouble and stress.  His marriage has seemed to bring us a little bit closer together.  Or should I say we have more telephone conversations that start out “how do you do it?”, “what the hell?” or, “Where is the girl I married?”  To which I always smile just a little bit of a welcome to the real world smile. 

We have had great friends and family members take leave from our lives.  This brings me great sadness , but as I said above movement.  We have met new friends and are enjoying them.  We have learned that an evening alone is something far more special than we ever remember in our hectic working lives.  We have learned that a day off adventure is the way to keep the new in your life. I believe my wife and I are closer than we have ever been in the 22 years we have been together.

We have seen the Memphis family mature and move on.  We are expecting more Memphis family to join us here in paradise, shortly.  As I look back and reflect, that group has always been in some sort of movement.  It is the first time however it seems to be moving away from me.  I have learned to just enjoy the moments together and treasure them even more.  Maybe, sometimes in the past I have been complacent about them, and the very special times we have all shared.  I now treasure those times together like the ones with my wonderful wife and partner.  If I am blessed the movement will be an orbit which means they all will move back to me as they make their own journeys around whatever it is we are all orbiting. 

So movement at the end of the day is something I guess we all need to continue to grow and be better people.  If we all just stayed in our comfortable place maybe it wouldn’t be as great as I was thinking it might be.  So let’s move.  One thing that will never move is my love for all of those people I consider my peeps.  That will remain no matter where I, or they move. 

Well I better get moving time for a day off adventure.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

The Daughter I never had

Wow where has the time gone?  It only seems like yesterday her and her mother were standing the kitchen, her in her school uniform, and her mother in full blown mother mode giving each other the exact same stare.  It was the first time I realized they were exactly alike.  I told them, and they both almost killed me! That, my dear friends, was twenty years ago or close to it at least.

I have always been told that there is a very special bond between a Father and a daughter.  I have been very blessed to watch this one for many years.  I watched as he fretted over her as she finished school and planned to move to Oxford.  I have watched each graduation and the pride on his face.  I watched as he walked her down the aisle the night he decided to share her but never give her away.  I am watching  as she is bringing up two wonderful dynamos she calls sons into this world and witness on occasion her being that special Mom her Mother was to all of her siblings.  I have watched as her father, always the doting Dad, making sure she had the best car, the best clothes, the best education, simply just the best of anything he could provide.  What a wonderful example of a father he was and still is to this day.

I have been so blessed to be able to cheat my way into this family.  And I have adopted all of the kids as the crazy uncle I guess.  I love them much more than any of them will ever know.  I will never forget her twenty first birthday.  I was so honored to cook for her and her friends as they welcomed themselves into the legal age to have a glass of wine.  And I have been so blessed to have shared many with her since.  Like her Mother she has great taste, bless her husband’s heart! 

Well today that little girl turns thirty and that doesn’t seem possible.  What a young lady, wife, partner, mother, nurse, and general all-round great person she is.  There is no question if I ever had a daughter I would want her to be exactly like Mac, or Sis as she is known to her loving Mother.  Can’t think of two women I love more than these two.  I thank the good lord every day I share a live with these beautiful people.

Love you Mac.  Thank you for always including this hanger on in your life.  I couldn’t be prouder unless I  was you Father and we both know I could never fill those shoes. 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

62

What a great number.  If you make it then you finally get to draw Social Security!!  I mean you paid into it for years’ time for a “little pay back” as they said back in the day!   Since moving to The Villages I have been rather quite on this lowly space.  I have often wondered where my urge to share thoughts and comments had gone.  Then it came to me, I am happy and satisfied beyond my wildest dreams.  Not that all of the comment and posts were unhappy, or insincere it’s just my days are full of things that make me happy and fulfilled.  Talk about the Blessed Man I am truly living it now and had no clue of this life when this Blog was named.  Well last Thursday night I had one of those moving moments that prompted this post.

You see one of the people I love the most.  Well, really the person I love the most behind my wife had her 62^nd  birthday.  That’s correct my adopted sister.  As we sat around that table with a few new friends I was thinking back on all of the times we have shared.  They have been wonderfully happy, and unimaginably sad.  Together, we have welcomed new life.  We have said goodbye too soon, to young life.  We have shared Wedding, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and traveled to some amazing places together.  She has held me up during dark times.  I have tried to always be there for her.   It was because of my wife, and her that I have done things I was absolutely not doing and as it turned out they were correct.  I would never tell them however, as I would never live that down. 

As we sat around that table I was so thankful that her and her husband moved down here to enjoy The Villages Lifestyle.  And just like in Memphis they have expanded our friend base to add a new group of wonderful people.  I have always said she is a collector of people.  And what a great collector she is.  I believe I am the bane of her collection but it’s too late to do anything about me now as after close to twenty years I’m not going anywhere!

As I reflected on our friendship I was reminded of her willingness to share all things family with us.  I have never felt like her friend I have always felt like her brother.  We fight, well not really she just doesn’t see things my way and I always forgive her for being so misguided.  We were always invited to the family nights.  I have eaten more meals with her children than I have with mine.  This is also a bane for her but that’s another post. 

I guess what I am really trying to say is she means the world to me.  We don’t get together as much as we used to but I treasure the times we do.  Strangely enough, we live further apart now than we did in Memphis!  However, we do make an effort to get together as often as possible and I relish each opportunity.

Well in the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh,

Friends are like the walls of houses

Sometimes they hold you up,

Sometimes you lean on them but

Sometimes it’s just enough to know

They’re just standing by!!

Well Happy 62^nd my dear, may we celebrate many, many more together.  Thank You for including us for the last 20 something years.  What a ride it has been.  We are looking forward to adding to the collection and enjoying each other for another 20 years.  Love Ya’ my dear!

Well I had better finish here call my adopted sister and see what I can say to agitate her!!

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Evelyn Wells Mercedes Sledd

Yes my dear friends we have a new Chicken!!!

That’s right number six in the lineup of chickens now.  Number three in line in her siblings and number five member of her wonderful family.

Lord knows the Blessed Man has no Crystal ball but something tells me this one is going to be one for the ages.  Her battle to be born was one of strong will and commitment.  

What might the future hold for this wonderful little girl?  Let us look to the numbers for a little guidance.

The third child in a wonderful family, so what does the number three tell us about our newest member?

3s are imaginative, expressive communicators and artists. They are tolerant, joyful, 

optimistic, inspiring, talented, jovial, youthful, and dynamic ... the list goes on and on!

So we can expect this wonderful little girl to bring us great things.  I can see Evelyn leading her class in all areas.  Elected class president, if they still do that, in the drama club being a special part of everything she does and bring her on inspired touch to us all.  I can’t wait for that!!

The Fifth member of her extra special family: Her Mother and Father that have seen many posts on this lowly blog. Then there is her extraordinary brother and sister, as well.  What might we expect her to add to this already loving environment?

5s are energetic, adventurous, daring and freedom-loving. They also tend to be versatile, flexible, adaptable, curious, social, sensual, quick-thinking, witty, courageous and worldly.

Well more great things here. Now we have the one that will be jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.  Zip lining over an alligator farm. Then afterwards going into work, in her own company, making plans to expand globally and grabbing the bull by the horns and getting it all done with a smile that will melt any ones heart in the room.

Then she is the sixth Chicken in the coop. Each with a different personally but in a room together you can easily see they all have the social skills of their parents.  One gift I am certain she will receive

6s are responsible, loving, self-sacrificing, protective, sympathetic and compassionate. These loyal, maternal figures are domestic, fair and idealistic healers or teachers.

WOW it just keeps on getting better. Could she possibly become a teacher?  What lessons she will be able to share.  Those taught her by her unbelievable family, each a teacher a giver of love and trust. 

Well Miss Evelyn that is what the numbers say.  Here is what someone who loves you has to say. My friends Rascal Flatts say it better than anything I could ever write and yes my sweet one this is my wish for you

My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to.  May your dreams stay big and your worries stay small. You never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too for you. Yes, my angel this is my wish.

Well welcome my dear to this crazy thing called life.  We are all here to help you along, and watch you develop into someone who we all will be proud of and love.  Be true to yourself. Love your family. And never forget you got one Blessed Man cheering from the sidelines and that is willing to get in the game anytime you might need a blocker.  Love you my angel

I will never be able to read this one to you.  One day ask you DeDe what that means!!!!!

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Evelyn Wells Mercedes Sledd

Yes my dear friends we have a new Chicken!!!

That’s right number six in the lineup of chickens now.  Number three in line in her siblings and number five member of her wonderful family.

Lord knows the Blessed Man has no Crystal ball but something tells me this one is going to be one for the ages.  Her battle to be born was one of strong will and commitment.  

What might the future hold for this wonderful little girl?  Let us look to the numbers for a little guidance.

The third child in a wonderful family, so what does the number three tell us about our newest member?

3s are imaginative, expressive communicators and artists. They are tolerant, joyful, 

optimistic, inspiring, talented, jovial, youthful, and dynamic ... the list goes on and on!

So we can expect this wonderful little girl to bring us great things.  I can see Evelyn leading her class in all areas.  Elected class president, if they still do that, in the drama club being a special part of everything she does and bring her on inspired touch to us all.  I can’t wait for that!!

The Fifth member of her extra special family: Her Mother and Father that have seen many posts on this lowly blog. Then there is her extraordinary brother and sister, as well.  What might we expect her to add to this already loving environment?

5s are energetic, adventurous, daring and freedom-loving. They also tend to be versatile, flexible, adaptable, curious, social, sensual, quick-thinking, witty, courageous and worldly.

Well more great things here. Now we have the one that will be jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.  Zip lining over an alligator farm. Then afterwards going into work, in her own company, making plans to expand globally and grabbing the bull by the horns and getting it all done with a smile that will melt any ones heart in the room.

Then she is the sixth Chicken in the coop. Each with a different personally but in a room together you can easily see they all have the social skills of their parents.  One gift I am certain she will receive

6s are responsible, loving, self-sacrificing, protective, sympathetic and compassionate. These loyal, maternal figures are domestic, fair and idealistic healers or teachers.

WOW it just keeps on getting better. Could she possibly become a teacher?  What lessons she will be able to share.  Those taught her by her unbelievable family, each a teacher a giver of love and trust. 

Well Miss Evelyn that is what the numbers say.  Here is what someone who loves you has to say. My friends Rascal Flatts say it better than anything I could ever write and yes my sweet one this is my wish for you

My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to.  May your dreams stay big and your worries stay small. You never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same things too for you. Yes, my angel this is my wish.

Well welcome my dear to this crazy thing called life.  We are all here to help you along, and watch you develop into someone who we all will be proud of and love.  Be true to yourself. Love your family. And never forget you got one Blessed Man cheering from the sidelines and that is willing to get in the game anytime you might need a blocker.  Love you my angel

I will never be able to read this one to you.  One day ask you DeDe what that means!!!!!

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Rex

aka: RexRod,

aka : Rex-a-roni,

aka: Rexer

The best damn cat to ever live in my world!!!

We had to let Rex cross over the Rainbow Bridge on Saturday and it was a very hard thing to do, harder than I ever dreamed.  I have always thought of myself as compassionate and caring but this was an animal.  I come from a back ground where you name a chicken and then two months later you asked about “Ole Daisy” and Granny told you you ate her last Sunday for dinner!!!!  You never named anything on my uncle’s farm once you ate “Ole Daisy”! 

My Mother always had a dog.  Mostly small dogs or lap dogs as some people call them but little yappers is what me and my Dad called them!!  She went through her Great Dane Stage which was short thank goodness.

So when my lovely wife wanted to get a cat when in the early part of our lives together I had really no experience with them but knew they were much easier than dogs, so I was in.  It was 1999 and we had a dear friend Alyce who was highly allergic to cat dander.  So my wife on a business trip to Minneapolis visited a girlfriend who had Cornish Rex Cats.  They are hypo-allergenic cats!!  She was so excited came home and started looking for a breeder near us.  Well found one in Nashville went up got Rex and the rest as they say is history!  Seventeen years I shared a house with that cat and he never caused one seconds trouble.  I knew he was special but you never know how special until your wife looks up at you and says “We need to let him go”  I never would have believed the impact that statement had on me even now as I type I’m teary eyed.  For god sakes it was a cat!  Nope he was a family member and a damned important one.  I never realized until that moment that he meant so much to me.  What a treat to share a house with him.

The funniest story ever about Rex is this one:  As you know by reading this blog we entertain a great deal.  One weekend shortly after we bought him we had a dinner party on the guest list was my boss and his wife, a cat lover.  They came in and my boss saw Rex and then found out we bought him.  He states” Good God man you bought a Cat!” I said “Yes” Then my wife told him it was a Cornish Rex.  He said he thought there were only two kinds of Cats a Cat and a Calico!!  I thought my wife and his wife and me were going to die laughing!!!

My wife’s brother gave him the Rex Rod name.  He loved that cat as well.  You see everyone who met him liked him.  He was the calmest sweetest cat I have ever known. 

He slept for seventeen years on my wife chest every night, she got into bed he jumped up on the bed the covers were thrown back and he climbed into his place.  I have to believe that is going to be a very lonely place for the next couple of weeks.

This is as good of a place as any to mention Cleo.  She is our Calico Cornish Rex.  CRAZY as a bed bug, and has been forever.  She for the last four days was really nuts.  My wife and I believe now she was trying to tell us that Rex was so sick.  After the X-Rays we found out she was so right!  We got back home from the vet my wife cleaned everything and Cleo has calmed down so much it is uncanny.  She lays on my wife’s lap slept next to her last night, not on her chest, but next to her where Rex did sometimes when he got over heated.

The house isn’t the same with Rex gone.  In his later years he had slowed a great deal.  Not jumping and running all over like before more of the laid back gentlemen enjoying his golden years eating the best food and laying in the sun all day.  You know the other side of that Rainbow Bridge is beginning to look like a great place we have Ramey now Rex.  And if you believe like I believe Rex is jumping from my mom, Billie, to my wife’s mom, Bobbie’s lap back and forth. I will never forget the last time I was able to rub that cat’s head and grab his ears.  I can only hope he knows my heart has never had paw prints on it before but it sure does now. 

Rexer, miss you buddy.  Take care of Billie and Bobbie for us.  See you on the other side.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Chickens

We were having a family dinner the other night and my adopted sister said something that really hit me.  We were talking about her daughter and a conversation they had about our extended family and how important it was to her.  Then she told her mom that she thought everyone had the same but after marriage found out that what we have is very special.

As I sat there recalling all of the wonderful times we have had together.  I realized like her daughter, that not everyone has this organization to fall back on when you need support and encouragement.  I have a dear friend from Boston that recalls he was 16 before he ever had a cookie that wasn’t homemade.  He came from a large Italian family where they all lived in the same neighborhood from grandfather and grandmother to uncles and aunts.  He had the system.  What happens when there is no large family group to circle the wagons when you need it?  Well that is when you build something special.  I am very blessed to be a part of a unit of people that do just that, from weddings to funerals to birthday parties to births we have all been there and through it all we seem to emerge a little bit closer every time.  As I sat there last night looking at the table I couldn’t help but remember when these same people held me up when I was at my weakest.  These people were there when I am my happiest like the moment we were sharing right then around a dinner table solving the world’s problems.

Her daughter finding out that not all people are blessed like us was an eye opener not only for her but for me as well.  You can’t ever give up on your people.  Maybe we don’t see each other like we did at one point but nothing will ever wavier my love and dedication to these people, my family. 

As we sat there I realized how much I miss seeing the Chickens!  You see the Chickens are my adopted sister’s kids and father.  We ate together at least 5 nights out of 7 back in Memphis.  And every time they came to my house we always got a chicken count and let me tell you the higher the chicken count the happier I was.  You see if you are a reader of this lowly blog then you know what we are talking about when I say this is a very special bunch of Chickens.  These children have social skills beyond their years, always fitting into the conversations never sitting on a couch playing with their phones, but always engaged in whatever we were talking about. 

As I write this I can only hope you have Chickens in your life.  I know I am so happy to have mine.  And the blessing is they would all be there for me just like their mom and dad would be and us for them.  You see that’s how this thing works.  If you don’t have this I am wishing it for you.  It’s not something that you can just go out and pick up.  This is something that has to grow naturally like a beautiful flower.  It is so unconditional so pure so part of a place in your heart that you really didn’t even know it was there until suddenly you are a part of it.  I am sure that in my friend’s family back in Boston it was just part of the DNA.  However, when you have to build it, it’s really special.  I simply love my extended family and never want to ever be without them or the support.

I am wishing for every single person that ever reads this you have what I am so blessed to be a part of an, extended family!!!

Guess I’ll go and check on the Chickens!!!

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Ramey

Now if you are a wine enthusiast you instantly think David Ramey, right?  Well believe it or not you’re not far from correct.  You see Ramey was one of the most special dogs I have ever known named after the incredible David Ramey.  Or at the very least the fantastic wine he makes.  

One couple, from the Memphis family, quite by accident got a puppy.  I was really shocked when they introduced us to the new member of the family and was really shocked when they told me that Ramey was the dog’s name.  You see this couple was the number one buyer of Ramey wines in the state of Tennessee at the time.  Yes, I said family!!

A few years later I took some very important members of my Memphis family, including Ramey’s Mom and Dad, to Napa Valley.  One of the places we visited was Ramey’s winery.  He showed us around and entertained us in grand style.   And of course these people bought a ton of his wine to be shipped back home to them.  David was so kind he gave them each an signed, etched Three liter bottled.  My friends had a picture taken of Ramey sitting by the bottle sent it back to Ramey and the next time we were in the winery a few years later  the picture was framed and hung in the middle of his tasting room.  We were all shocked to see the picture in such a prominent place.

So now you know the name story,  let me tell you the real story of the power of Ramey.

When Ramey arrived into the house the man of the house was a powerful, hard nosed, take no prisoners businessman.  He was the guy everyone wanted on your side of the deal and no one wants to deal against.  He was, and still is, a man’s man.  He, most times, is the smartest guy in the room.  OCD to a fault, but also one of the truest friends you will ever have in the world.  So Ramey arrives and just like a sharping stone she slowly starts to work on the rough edges of my friend.  This animal reveals something I have always known about my friend.  Ramey shows the world my friend is really; the kind, gentle, loving, caring, generous, and compassionate guy we all know and love but few see. 

I remember one time we were visiting a friend of ours in the country.  Ramey always went with us and loved to swim in the lake.  One day we go to visit the friends father.  He has a dog that he says doesn’t get along with others.  We are making sure the two dogs are not near each other.  Well as fate would have it Ramey, being the friendliest dog on earth, got a little to close and the other dog jumped her.  My friend, in the blink of an eye leaped into the pile of dogs and took the aggressive dog down.  Now remember these two dogs were fighting, biting, scratching digging and barking like crazy.  He was ready to kill the aggressor as was everyone else.  We loaded up and came back home without anything losing it live but trust me more than one of us was ready to do the deed.  Nothing attacked Ramey and didn’t pay a price.  It was a classic example of the love this man has for this dog.  And it really was only the beginning. 

Ramey loved him so much she supported his OCD.  Walk at 5:30am. Then the hurry, hurry calls for her to do her morning constitution.   Followed by a cart ride around the square, Ramey reveling in her back seat throne taking everything in as she was driven around like a princess.  This happened every morning before Daddy went to play Pickleball.  Ramey never wavered always answering the call like the trooper she was.  She had much rather stay in bed as the evidence would show if Daddy ever left her in Mom’s care!!   

Mom, wow she was already a lover, and the main treat giver but Ramey brought a new level and an example of unconditional love that elevated everyone who she met to understand.  I think you can understand at this point this was a very special animal. Mom loved her so much.  Ramey cared for Mom when things weren’t going very well you could always count on her to walk in the room lay her head on Mom’s lap and you could see the stress and pain leaving her face for a brief moment while loving on Ramey.

Ramey also loved my wife.  My wife was about the only person outside her family that she wouldn’t bark at when we arrived at their home.  I can remember walking into their house and them saying “What Ramey didn’t even bark!” Ramey would walk over lift her face up and my wife would rub all over that dog’s nose.  Kiss her and love on her and she just stood there loving every second of it. The family told us no one else could touch her face but my wife.

Sadly Ramey has crossed the rainbow bridge.  But how blessed we all are it was very quick and hopefully painless for her.  She got sick one day and the next she was gone, only fitting for an animal that touched us all in such a special way.  Somehow I can see Ramey lifting up her face and Bobbie, my wife’s mom who also loved that dog, kissing that dog’s face and Ramey smiling.  I can see her going hurry hurry with Jordan who also loved that dog.  She is in a better place a place where all the chicken treats she wants are there all the time. And no more 5:30am!!!

I am going to miss that dog and I never thought I would say that in my life.

Love ya Ramey, kinda wish I had that picture hanging in my house now.  Wonder if David Ramey knows how special that picture really is???

If you have a pet go hug it and give it a treat they don’t stay forever. Think I’ll go get Rex and sit on in my chair for a while.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Vacation

Everyone loves a good vacation.  I can remember when I looked so forward to getting away for a week or so and just relaxing and living worry free for a minute.

My wife and I often slip off and play nine holes in the late afternoon or Saturday mornings.  These are my favorite rounds these days.  I can remember when it was “I will never play golf with a girl”!  Back in the day with my buddies we would see someone playing with their female partner and just laugh and think how miserable they must be not having any male friends to play golf with them.  Well, let it be known I play golf with a girl and simply love it!!! We talk, laugh, give each other tips, and just in general have a great time and get to spend two hours together doing something we both enjoy do much.  She only took the game up when we moved to “The Villages”.

We were walking off the ninth hole last week and she said something so powerful to me.  She said “We live on vacation”!  I was stunned she had hit the nail on the head.  I have often sang the praises of this place and she put it all in one simply sentence.  We live on vacation.  No stress no worries we are both blessed to have our health.  We have our Memphis family here.  We have made wonderful new friends.  We eat well every night, we drink well every night, and we live a dream.

I often talk to my old golfing buddies back in Memphis and the surrounding areas and they always seem to be just a little bit jealous about my lifestyle.  You see I was the one that was the crazy one.  I can remember Rick working every single moment that the company would allow him too, not because he had to but because he loved it so much.  I can remember one time the company he worked for actually had to call him and tell him he needed to cash his paychecks so they could close and accounting period.  I also can remember Larry the same way always and still frugal to a fault.  Me not so much, I was the guy who lived paycheck to paycheck.  I closed down more bars than the law should have allowed.  I have lived like there was no tomorrow and had a blast.  They worked like a slave doing what I thought was looking to the future.  And now they both are trapped in a situation that neither can escape and I am living on Vacation.  I guess the good lord works in mysterious ways for sure.

Well I guess it about time to get ready to go play Wednesday night Couples golf!!  We play every week now, that we live on vacation. 

I love playing with my girl!

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Apprehensive

I thought long and hard about the title to this one. I am still not sure the word is correct but it is what it is.

Yesterday was a day of very mixed emotions for me.  You see my son got married yesterday.  I have been to hundreds of weddings.  I have seen how the two families as awkward as it is seem to try to put on the front of happiness and joy as each of the children becomes their own family.  However, yesterday that really wasn’t what the vibe was.  The bride’s family somehow welcomed my son into their family it what really appeared to be a genuine manner.  I feel like I and my family welcomed her as well.  It did seem like we all are a little hesitant about my son. His track record is anything but great.  I tried to put myself in her father’s shoes.  Then I took them off really quickly.  You see this is his baby girl the youngest of three daughters. I know enough by watching my Memphis family that the position takes on all new meaning when your baby girl gets married.

My wife and my adopted sister kept me in line but I am still very concerned about this young lady my son has taken as his wife.  She is smart, beautiful, loving, caring, with an innocents that seems almost childlike.   She also appears to be madly in love with my son.  Also I truly believe my son is madly in love with her. My only issue is that I have been around this young man 27 years.  I have never seen him love anything other than himself.  I have watched him destroy every relationship he has ever been in, be it family or otherwise.

However, this one might be the one that turns him around.  He has never had any skin in the game before.  I think this time he does. What makes me hold out hope this time?  When his bride walked out into the ceremony and he saw her I was watching.  He looked stunned and he said “Oh my God” when he saw her.  There she was with her Father walking toward him smiling like the little girl I am sure her Dad remembers looking forward to going on the next ride at Disney! And please remember this came from the mouth of a self-proclaimed atheist. So maybe there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.  As someone once said “Behind every successful man there is a great woman” I know he has a great woman the question is can she turn a hog’s ear into a silk purse?  I have always believed there is a good person somewhere buried in my son. If there is anyone who might be able to extract that person it is his new wife.

I promise, I will support her efforts wherever I can.  She has a long road to travel and there is no way she can travel that road by herself.  I believe with all of my heart her family will be there for her, so I must be there as well.  My wife, and adopted sister have been in my ear for weeks about this.  So I am going to try one more time to forgive and forget it will be the hardest thing I will ever do because the last time he showed his ass I pretty much wrote him off.  His wife doesn’t deserve that, so I will get back in the game for her.  And who knows maybe she can even turn me around.  That is going to be harder than turning her newly acquired husband into the man he needs to be. 

Good Luck my dear.  And if you need anything I got your back.  I’ll end with one of my favorite lines from a movie I just love. 

“Let’s kick this pig”

Peace,

The Blessed Man