Hugs and more hugs

HI had a wonderful afternoon and evening yesterday.  Yes, I was feeling "poorly" as Mama would say, and yes, the heat and walking were not special, but I made it in good stead!   Wouldn't take nothing for the experience!!   First, I went to Joyce Penny retirement party at the Show Me Center and my old custodial crew came in first thing and came over with open arms which I ran into--literally!  I was so happy to see each one of them and they made all kinds of cracks about not having to work as hard since I retired!  Boosters came from everywhere and staff members and my memory held--not as good as it used to be!   But I laughed until my sides were hurting and they commented that they had not heard that awful laugh of mine for years and they even missed that!   They didn't mean it as a compliment, perhaps, but you can take hardly everything as a compliment if your mind is muted in that way.

Then, like a fool, Barb (Kinsey) and I set out for the Alumni Center, free food and to watch the Great Race.   When you see 54 old cars, you have seen them all, in my opinion!  We left, sweating, after the first hour.  Some people were there with cameras clicking away for all 96 cars.  Big crowd there too and so many people I have not seen in years.   My old stomping grounds for Parades.....

I came home and hit the bathtub.   I was completely hugged out but memories invaded my psyche as I tried to grasp sleep.   So many wonderful experiences with people I have had along the way.  In a true sense, my university family became family to me --I was so surprised at the things people brought up to me--my hearty laugh which I didn't know I had, my love for clothes which I did know I had and QVC continues to know it, my laughing off stuff that, in my words, "didn't amount to a hill of beans"  --(those were Mama's words, however;  I just borrowed them and adopted them as my own.)

Lord, I thank you for days like this;   when I recover, I will thank you exceedingly---yes, they reminded me that I tend to go overboard on all things!

And now, a glimpse at Joyce Penny's reception yesterday!