Because I went to two family owned stores and was able to buy: local produce, local honey, homemade bread, plants, homemade pimento cheese and fresh baked cookies for the girls.

Several weeks ago I was invited to go to brunch with some of my (deceased) grandparents’ dearest friends, Zoe and Jim, as they celebrated their 66^th anniversary. My mother lives just down the street from the happy couple and as they have driven less, Shuggie has picked them up for errands and lunch on occasion. My mom always enjoys herself so much when she is with them that there was no way I was missing out!

I met my mother, Zoe and Jim at the restaurant and tried to restrain myself from asking a million questions at once. But I was dying to know how they had been happily married for 66 years and wanted to hear their entire life stories.

I started with, “How did you two meet?”

Zoe answered with a Southern voice as sweet and smooth as buttered molasses, “We went to high school togethah. His friend Tupper would call me and say “I want a date on Friday night and Jim wants one on Saturday!’”

I laughed.

Jim concentrated on his tea.

Zoe continued, “So Jim would come on Friday night and sit in the backseat and pout. And every time Tupper would pay me a compliment, Jim would pipe up and say, “He said that to Mary Sue last night!’”

“Well, he did. And there’s more than one way to skin a cat. It worked didn’t it?” Jim quipped. “Tupper was something else, one minute you’d be so mad you’d want to punch him in his teeth and the next he’d have you doubled over laughing.”

Zoe picked up where Jim paused, “People would ask Tupper what his daddy did for a living and…” she paused cutting her eyes to our server, an amputee with a mechanical hook on one arm, and spoke out of the corner of her mouth, “HE said, “He’s a one armed paper hanger!”

I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard.

“When did you get married?” I asked.

They answered simultaneously. “When the ark landed,” Jim said, as Zoe answered, “1944,” and cut her eyes at Jim.

They were engaged for two years and married after Jim returned from his career as a naval fighter pilot in World War II. Jim said he was 42 years old when he felt God calling him to the ministry so they packed up and moved to Fort Worth, Texas from Birmingham, Alabama so he could attend, “The cemetery…oh, excuse me! I meant to say the seminary.”

“Did you pastor after that?” I asked as Jim concentrated on his French toast.

“I tried to,” he muttered.

Jim and I started to speak at the same time, “What is the secret to being happily married for so many years?” I asked. I began to apologize for speaking over him when Zoe reached to pour him another cup of apple cinnamon tea and said, “You’re supposed to be quiet now!”

She turned to me, “Keep God first. Love one another. And have a good sense of humor…”

I looked expectantly at Jim for his input, “God figured I needed all the help I could get.”

I’d go so far as to say that Zoe and Jim might be my most seasoned readers! A special thanks to them for their company, their wisdom and their humor and to their daughter Lanita, in Arizona, for brunch, and for calling her parents every time I post to read it to them.

Here’s the deal. This blog is my happy place. It’s place where I come to write and reflect on the most meaningful people and relationships in my life. I am putting myself “out there” for you to laugh at me or with me. And I’m just over the rude comments.

Rude comments which ALWAYS come from people who choose to be anonymous. Well, guess what jerk face? You’re done here. I’ve enabled comment moderation and while I will gladly post comments with views different from my own, I will not tolerate rudeness and the whole “mean girl” thing that I left in high school. If that’s you…move on. Find another blog where people want readers and comments so badly they will tolerate your bullying.

That ain’t me. I won’t let your crappy attitude change the tone on MY blog.

You may remember my adopted son Tristan from South Carolina. His Momma told him to go get in the bathtub after a Little League game…and he did.

The winner of the Ribbons and Curls Blog Giveaway is KIMBERLY!!! Send me your email address and I will forward it to Heather for your $40 gift certificate! Thanks so much to everyone for participating!

As a special thank you, Heather has set up a coupon code for 20% off! Just type in RobinsChicks at check out!

This afternoon the Zebster and I took all of the girls to the park a couple of blocks from our house. Aubrey (5) was playing underneath the slide in a little tube when she yelled, “Oh look, Momma! It’s a picture about a boyfriend and a girlfriend!!”

I flashed back to my older brother’s Little League game when I was playing underneath a slide and read The Worst Word in The History of the World written in black magic marker. Of course, I didn’t realize it was The Worst Word in The History of The World until I spelled it to my mother and asked her what it meant…

Back at the park I sprinted across the grass with a Capri-Sun in my hand and jumped into the tube with her…to see a childish scrawl of stick figures and hearts and sloppily written “I <3 You." Thank God.

Hello All!

I just wanted to let all of my peeps now that I am now available for speaking engagements. This is something I’ve always known I would do but I feel like the time is finally right for me to begin.

The topics I speak about include: pursuing your passions, finding the joy and hilarity in motherhood and how to maintain balance in your life as a woman, wife and mother. Keep me in mind for women’s Bible studies, luncheons or civic groups.

Please email me for more information and to book a date at zebandrobin(at)hotmail(dot)com. (I’ve tentatively booked my first date already and will let you know about it as soon as everything is finalized!)