My Perfect Day

On the Survivor application form there was a blank for "describe your perfect day." I've been blessed in my life to have many, many perfect days. My girls wedding days were perfect to me. A Saturday after Thanksgiving spent at Crystal Beach on the Gulf was a never to be forgotten experience. Jake and Kelley's engagement day. And that's just the recent ones. I've got an endless list from my childhood and when the kids were little, plus I got to add another one on Friday, Jan. 9.

Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lynn Tidwell, residents of Loma Linda, CA. have been in town for a few weeks doing the rounds of relatives and Friday was our turn. Johnny met Brian and Dustin along with Shelley's husband Paul and son, Caleb, at Creekview in Crandall for an 11 o'clock tee time. I took the day off work so I could hang out with Mom and Lynn when they got to Terrell. I went to Raylan's about 10 and got a call from Mom at 11 saying that she and Lynn had run over a ladder on I20 and blew out a front tire. They ended up getting it changed by a TxDOT Courtesy Crew (you guys are awesome!) and got to Terrell about noon. In the meantime, Miss Lauren showed up at Raylans to watch the boys for us so Ray and I took off on an errand running tour of town. We hit the bank, post office, Methodist Day School and two propane places before we finally got back to her house. Shelley and Rylee, along with Mom and Lynn, were there when we got back. We loaded up again, dropped Mom's car at Discount Tire and headed to Rockwall to meet Wayne for a late lunch. Add a flying trip to Bass Pro Shop for Beau's "Arctic Cat" birthday gift, two trips around a Bank of America (with Raylan freaking out because I tried to drive the dually the wrong way in the drive up lane) and we got back to Terrell a little before 4. Raylan took off for her house with the gift in tow, the rest of us did one more trip to WalMart and we all met up at Raylan's at 5. They guys showed up and Jake and Kelley were there when we got back. Dustin and Lindy were responsible for hors deourves. My original plan was to cook spaghetti but it got diluted into ordering pizza. I sat at Raylan's kitchen table and watched my family cooking and laughing through frying ravioli, baking pizza bites and making a feta cheese, pepperoni and pesto appetizer. The fire alarm went off several times (Olive oil can't be cooked too hot evidently). Jake got roped into the ravioli frying and did a great job. Raylan contributed by waving the kitchen towel around to clear the smoke. Paul, Dustin and Lindy contributed as well and the food was wonderful.

It was about 8 when Johnny and Dustin got out the guitars, mandolin and music. The entire family was treated to them picking and singing the evening away. Brian joined in the singing. Lynn and Johnny sang only one duet but it was wonderful. It's obvious that my immediate family has no talent for music but my son-in-laws are way talented. Johnny's "Cattle Call" gave me goose bumps. Beau had his singing debut and gave us a solo of a hymn that I don't know, but his Mama says he sings it all the time. He loved the mic time. My girls know the words to "On The Road Again", "You Don't Have To Call Me Darling" and many more of the beer joint oldies but goodies. We all sang along.

My perfect day is always one where my family is around and everyone is happy. Having Johnny, Lynn and Mom there was the icing on the cake. I hope it was just the first of many, many nights to come where we get Dustin to play and he and Brian to sing for us. Maybe someday we'll even be back at the beach for a Thanksgiving. Perfect.