My World's Best Mom Has Passed

Just a quick post to let everyone that follows this blog know that my mom has passed away.  She would have been 90 years old in October, and I had her love and guidance for over 70 years.  I thank God for that time and I know he is protecting her soul today.

Mushy

STORMS ARE CALMED BY GENTLE PRAYERS

I’m sure Wednesday and Friday are just a warm up to what Spring will actually bring us. However, those storms proved worthy of some respect.

As it happened, Judy was out and about in Knoxville Friday, but got home before I did.

I had to pick Lily up from school at 1:30, so the prelude to the evening of anxious TV weather watching began with a warm-up line of storms that passed just ahead of me on my way to Knoxville. However, they were just some heavy rains riding the first wave. I shot a couple of photos of the weird clouds going up I-40, and of the rain while I waited in line for her to be released.

They had given a “tornado warning” on the way up, so I was afraid they would keep her longer...waiting until the warning was lifted. However, she was released at about 1:40, and the rain had stopped.

The rain held off, so I decided to stop at Chic-fil-a in Oak Ridge, and let her play before heading on home.

Corey picked her up just before 4, and after glancing at the radar on TV, decided he’d better get on home in Knoxville.

The second round came in around 6:30, and I could see dark clouds passing rapidly to the east. The clouds were again weird, zipping along, at the will of the wind, and displaying strange colors. 

Judy and I tried to watch some recorded shows between storm systems and warnings, but after several interruptions from the EAS, we stopped trying to entertain ourselves, and just watched Channel 10 weather. 

Wednesday evening, the storms had broken up after hitting Walden’s Ridge, as usual, but they were stronger on Friday evening and spilled over into the valley.

After squeezing through the gap above Rockwood, and flowing down into the valley, the storms had been weakened just enough to just give us heavy straight line winds, lots of lightning, heavy rain. However, the heaviest, scariest, part of the wind and rain only lasted about 15 minutes. It was just after they announced for Rockwood, Kingston, and Harriman to take cover!

Judy and I stood around in the basement during that time, but soon went back to watch the reports. 

One after one, they came! The strong systems came in rapidly too, moving from 45 to 60 mph.

Finally, one lined up on us and we held our breath!   However, like I said, after reaching the edge of the plateau and hitting the ridge line, it lost some of its energy.  Saved again!

I was thankful for the mountains, my answered prayers, but when I called mom I knew the real story! She had been sitting in her large walk-in-closet, in one of her stored folding chairs, flashlight by her side, and reading her Bible.

That’s what really saved us all! Thanks mom!

WENT TO THE "COTTON PATCH" TODAY TO HEAR THE GOSPEL

Judy and I took my little momma to see "Cotton Patch Gospel" today at Roane State.  There was some mighty good singing going on there, and we got to know Jesus Davidson and his gang, and saw him in a whole new light!

Cotton Patch Gospel is a musical by Tom Key and Russell Treyz with music and lyrics written by Harry Chapin just before his death in 1981. Based on the book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by Clarence Jordan, the story retells the life of Jesus as if in modern day, rural Georgia.

I know the photo isn't the best, but it ain't easy doing existing light when you're trying not to get caught!

The play is often done as a one-man act, but Roane State Community College presented it with four actors  (Amanda Bacon, Brian Bacon, Jessica Humphrey, and Amanda Peavyhouse) and an ensemble of bluegrass players sitting to the right rear of the stage.  Each actor took turns as Jesus "Davidson" and various other characters from the Gospel of Matthew and John.  Jesus was was born in the town of Gainesville, Georgia, and was laid in an apple crate. He was baptized in the Chattahoochee River, he preached to a crowd of thousands on Stone Mountain, and he met his end in Atlanta.  Or so the modern story goes!

 

It was quite entertaining and my mom really enjoyed it.  I have to admit, after Judd kissed Jesus and Jesus stumbled off the stage pretending to be pushed along, tears came to my eyes.  Before I could recover in the darkness of the audience, off stage sounds of scourging and nails being hammered began.  Judy caught me as I wiped my eyes with my red bandana, and smiled.

Afterwards, we discussed the play and its modern take, over a great meal at the local Cracker Barrel!  

We got a surprise after the meal, Tracy and Katie Bug dropped in with their extended family and we got to hug and kiss in front of people trying to eat!  I didn't particularly care...it was the first time I've seen Katie in a couple of weeks.  She's a pretty as ever and indicated she may come by this coming week to go on a "'venture" with me.  There's this old Confederate cemetery that I'm dying to visit and photograph.  So, I'm hoping she comes along.

I'm looking forward to next week...got something new planned for Judy and me to do.  More on that later.

Also, I've been down in the basement photographing my old fishing lures...quite interesting and colorful.  You'll probably see more of that later too.