Cojones, you've got'em but do you know how to use'em

Ok guys- I'm gonna make this short and sweet (cause that's how I like it). This goes out to all the single men that say you fear rejection and don't know how to ask a woman out. Or likewise drag out every conversation you have with her talking about everything under the sun but what you really want to say to her. Please stop the pleasantries and get on with it. Be honest, be straight forward and ask her out. I promise that the end result will not be devastating and could right possibly result in a positive earth shattering "yes". I know I'm asking a lot, this frustration does not come unwarranted. If I could lend you my confidence I would but some time the "balls" are literally in your court.

Good luck out there.

- me

mental artwork

i want you to remember each moment of your life as if it were a painting. each breath, each movement, each person.
people are beautiful. i don't say that to sound like an Oprah's book club cult member, but more of an honest admission that i enjoy finding the pure still-life of every eye-opening day. through out this week i've played this game in my head of taking mental images of moments and actually imagining framing them and hanging them on my wall. what would my week look like, which moment would be the masterpiece? the investment piece that people travel and stand in line to see. would it be the simple portrait of my face as I step trough my front door each night after a long day? or of the hall way conversation i had with a friend at work? lunch on saturday in a hip downtown cafe? - these are all wonderful and they are now part of my collection of mental art work. but this weeks still-life is a small simple portrait of a conversation between a new friend, me sitting in a white leather chair and him leaning against the wall. intrigue in his eye and curiosity in mine.

that's this weeks masterpiece.

what's yours?

A letter to you, Grandmama

Dear Grandmama,
In the few days after your passing I have been reminded of all of the great memories I shared with you. You were such a wonderful Grandmother, one of strength, courage and kindness. Most of my memories stem from summer days at your and Grandaddy's house. The days filled with playtime, tomato sandwiches, sweet tea and Nabisco cookies and nights filled with porch stories, cartwheels , dirty little feet and lots of "watch me Grandmama" in your backyard. Walks around the yard and in the garden, corn, peas and blueberries. Roses were your favorite, but your knowledge of flowers was so great from all of your years of experience. I love to listen to you and mama talk flowers while we were walking the "grounds" of the Harris compound. I remember the Saturday morning breakfast and how different they were from Sunday mornings. We all had our spot at the table and Granddaddy and you had the big barrel glasses with handles and I got the the small jar juice glass. It was my job especially as I got older to wipe the table and get the milk out of the old small fridge off the back porch while you cooked. Watch-in the braves games at night with "microwave popcorn" (this was a big deal remember?) as a snack and then running to the back porch to see the fireworks display all the way from Six Flags - that was fun.

Camping and fish fry were always the best, home-made ice cream, pound cakes and trips in the motor home. In middle school we went out west, way out, to the Rockies and to Palo Duro canyon in Texas and if I remember correctly you were the only one who believed me and gave me sympathy when I was attacked by the swarm of horse fly while playing in the canyon riverbed. Your comfort was so maternal and strong with a hug and a pat everything with the world was right again.

Your memory and strategic way of remembering people and relations was amazing. So many times you would bring newspaper clippings and stories of people and places to me and give me a running from birth to death history of a certain person and how they tied in with the Harris family. So may time I took for granted the skill that you possessed. It truly was a talent. You cared for friends and family so deeply.

I loved to hear you giggle or chuckle, you would put you fist to your lips and laugh so that sometime it was hard to understand what you were trying to say because you were laughing so hard. But I hated to see you cry, you nose would turn pink and how sad it was to see you distressed and shed tears, mama has this quality too. You both could never hide when you had been crying - it was always written all over you face.

Oh how I admired you devotion and love for Granddaddy, you both were like peas and carrots- just like Jenny and Forrest. It was hard to imagine you alone after Granddad passed - it was like part of you had died. But your strength carried you forward like the lady-of-grace every one knew you as and you persevered. Who knew that you would be married almost 60 years, what a blessing your devotion was to my life.

Most of all I will remember how you loved me and how much you wanted to hear from me. Those yearnings to know how I was and the interest you had in my life made the biggest impression on me.
But the greatest gift you every gave me is my own mother. The daughter you raised became the mother I adore and for that I thank you.

Good bye for now - but not for too long. For I will see you again soon.
Love always
your youngest granddaughter.
Tiffany







**********************************************************
Elsie Mae Dewberry Harris

Mrs. Elsie Dewberry Harris, age 84 of Austell, formerly of Temple, died Wednesday, March 2, 2005. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2:00 pm at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Johnny Foster officiating. Burial will be in Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Friday from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Mrs. Harris was born in Carroll County on March 24, 1920. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Curtis Harris, Sr. and son Curt Harris, Jr. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Sylvia & James Baker of Douglasville; Ann and Gerald Harmon of Powder Springs; daughter-in-law, Carol Benson Harris of Newnan; five granddaughters; 7 great grandchildren; niecee and nephews. In lieu ofR flowers, the family requests donationsto First Baptist Church of Austell building fund, Davis-Struempf Funeral Home, Austell