SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY

April 30, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

Sixty-eight years ago, May 1st my late husband, Ralph and I were married in a small chapel in Dalton, Georgia.  The Methodist Church was overflowing with friends and relatives who had traveled far and wide to attend our wedding.  I can remember it like it was yesterday.

Ralph's dad, a Methodist preacher, married us.  My daddy, also a Methodist preacher, gave me away and said a prayer during the ceremony.  My matron of honor was Christine Crutchfield Townsend.  Ralph's best man was J.T. Norton.  My twin sisters, Joan and Jeanette Brashear lit candles during the ceremony.  The ushers were Ralph's brothers, Ray and James.  My high school friend, Betty Jean Edwards Lay sang at the wedding.  Ralph's sister, Agnes Godfrey Nichols played the piano.

The year was 1947 and World War II had ended in 1945.  So, Ralph's dad had his name on a waiting list to purchase a new Chevrolet, and he'd bought the car shortly before the wedding.  He let Ralph and me take the car on our honeymoon.  As we left the church, it was discovered some joker had let the air out of one of the tires.  We had to wait until the tire was changed.  As we left to drive to Atlanta, a car load of my Calhoun friends who attended the wedding followed us to Calhoun.

We checked in as "Mr. And Mrs." at the old Henry Grady Hotel where we spent a short honey moon.

On this May 1st, I feel sad because most of the members of the wedding party have passed away since that May 1, 1947.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam.)

FRIDAYS

April 27, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

On this Saturday afternoon, I am alone and my mind is thinking back on yesterday, Friday.  I don't know how it came about, but Fridays are my favorite days in my old age.  Barry doesn't work on Fridays and we sleep later in the morning.  After eating the delicious oatmeal Barry prepares for me, I slowly drink a large cup of Starbucks coffee.  Then, I return, with Barry's help to my sitting room where I read the morning newspaper.

Tam arrives at 9 am and after our morning chat, we begin our routine.  She helps me shower and she shampoos my hair.  When I'm dressed, she dries my hair and after lunch she curls and sets my hair with a curling iron before leaving.  Tam is indeed a "jewel" and I don't know what I would do without her.

Then, at supper time, Barry prepares fresh catfish fillets in the electric skillet.  He removes the baked potatoes from the oven along with rolls.  A crisp green salad would make the dinner perfect, but unfortunately it would also trigger a painful IBS attack for me.  We have chocolate chip cookies, the only "safe" dessert I'm able to eat.  Sometimes Barry eats cheesecake for his dessert.  Barry has a "cast iron" stomach which he inherited from his dad.

I'm ready for a good nights sleep by 9 pm and I thank the good Lord for another perfect Friday with Barry and Tam's help.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam.)

"FIRST LOVE" MEMORIES

April 23, 2015



By Olivene Godfrey

It takes such a little whiff of memory to carry us all the way back.  Tiny things tucked here and there remind us of some place, some person, who played a special part in our lives.

We want to go forward and try new things but we think of loving faces and happy times of the past.  They were, for their time and place, happy and meaningful.  They may have changed, but so have we.

This morning I kept hearing in my ears a song from the past that goes, "Hello, young lover, I've been in love before".

I thought of my own first "romantic love" when I was a teenager.  It was a time of great feeling and deep pain.  Our parents called it "puppy love" and was not serious.  Looking back, I realize it is the combination of all that we have lived and learned that builds character and teaches us the way of life.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam.)

NEW NOVEL COMING SOON

April 14, 2015
By Olivene Godfrey

This past weekend, I just took it easy and enjoyed the nice spring weather.  Spring is truly busting out all over; and the trees are turning green and the dogwood trees are in bloom.  The weather was a bit cool so we think we're having "dogwood winter".  We still have "blackberry winter" which is usually the first week in May.

Barry drove us on a scenic drive on Sunday afternoon.  The foot hills and valleys are beautiful with gorgeous views of the mountains.

I watched the Methodist church's televised service Sunday morning.  The sanctuary is beautiful with large stained glass windows which I love.  The pastor's sermon was inspiring and it was the next best thing to being in person at church.  I also enjoyed the choir's beautiful music.  Barry brewed a large cup of Starbucks coffee for me every morning over our 3 day weekend.

Reminder:  My World War II love story, "Catch The Brass Ring" is still available at Amazon, on Kindle.  Coming soon is my new book, "Princess Mooneyes".  It's a story about a young woman who is half American Cherokee Indian and half American English.  She has the appearance of a Cherokee Indian, but has her English father's blue eyes.  The man she falls in love with calls her Princess Mooneyes when he remembers an old legend about a group of white people with blue eyes that settled on Fort Mountain thousands of years ago when the Cherokee Indians lived here in North Georgia.  The Indians believed the mooneyed people could see better at night which was the reason for calling them mooneyed.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam.)

WHY ME, LORD?

April 8, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

Sometimes I think I'm like Kristofferson's song, "Why me, Lord?"  I don't know what I've ever done to deserve to have son Barry, and Tam, caregiver and personal assistant and friend, taking care of me in my old age.

Barry starts my days off right with my medicines and his delicious oatmeal and a tiny glass of orange juice.  Then on weekends, he brews me a large cup of Starbucks coffee.

He works hard all day at his job and then cooks me a good supper every night.  He's off on Fridays and on that night he cooks a delicious fish dinner for us to enjoy.

I thank God for giving me a view of the picturesque farm just below our foot hill with its large pond and barn, with the mountains just beyond.  I love the mountains and I have lived near them all of my life except for the four years my late husband, Ralph and I lived in Florida.

And, I hope I never have to live without Tam in my life.  She is a jewel.  Among her many talents is sewing and she does alterations for my clothes.  She also takes care of business and personal matters for me and fixes me delicious lunches.  And the list goes on....  She is an extraordinary woman.  Then, she is an excellent typist who types these blogs and re-types my novels to be published.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam.)

EASTER

April 6, 2015

By Olivene Godfrey

I haven't been able to attend Sunday church services in several years.  I have missed being able to go.  Recently, Barry told me that a Methodist Sunday service is televised by a Chattanooga TV station.

I have watched the service the past two Sunday mornings and have been blessed.  I plan to continue watching the service.  The reason I chose the Methodist service is because I grew up in the church.  My father and father-in-law and maternal grandfather were all Methodist preachers.  And, for a number of years, I was an active member of the Chatsworth First United Methodist Church.

This Easter Sunday, the weather is pretty and sunny, but it is cool.  I told Barry this is the Easter "cold snap".  We still have "dogwood winter" and "blackberry winter" before we will be free of frost.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (As told to Tam)