{ tara frey }:: typing out loud

Dressed to the nines...

This is Mama Bev, age 11 or 12.  Not sure,  but I can only assume on her way to church.. or possibly Easter dinner? I'm sure she'll clarify in the comments.  But isn't she dressed to the nines?  I looked up that reference meaning, click here if you are interested

This photo reminds me of a trip I took down south to Nashville for a convention a few years ago with my sister ( by the end of the trip, we didn't have names, they just called us the "yanks" a term we both thought was hilarious, happily adopted and had fun with)

I came to the conclusion that Southern women really have their act together.  As my sister and I sipped our morning coffee from the balcony, mascara running down our faces, ripped t-shit and jammie bottoms, (and of course I had on my signature pink fuzzy slippers),  we would look down below at the women going to breakfast, dressed to the nines.  Full makeup, hair perfectly coiffed, even a hat or two, high heels, everything coordinated..AT SEVEN O'CLOCK  IN THE MORNING.

Here is where we would watch them walk by..the hotel had balcony rooms overlooking the inside atrium, so cool!

 

View from our room

These southern ladies meant business.  I loved hearing their accent floating through the hotel.  These ladies were not only the best dressed women I ever met, but the friendliest as well.  As soon as I opened my mouth to talk they would say "oh you are from New York! "  I guess the way we hear a southern accent and immediately ask "are you from Texas?"   But they were so intrigued about our lives "up north" and would ask lots of questions and were generally interested in us.  They were gracious and welcoming. 

A memory from that trip was overhearing a woman at our dinner table, with a thick southern accent, ask a waiter for "sweet tea"  My sister and I whispered to each other "what's that?" A woman next to us said "I think y'all call it iced tea up north". The waiter said there was "no sweet tea being served this evening ma'am" and I'll never forget her response in a deep, thick beautiful southern accent, while fanning herself "Good Lord son! No sweet tea in a room filled with 900 southern ladies?! You better run for the hills honey!"   

Anyway, this old photo of my mama [and the only southern bone in her is from south Philly] but it makes me think of those beautiful southern women who wouldn't dare leave the hotel room without lipstick and a perfectly ironed skirt.  I, on the other hand, am happy if I drive my kids to school without wearing my mama robe.   This yank has to get her act together y'all.-  xo T

Bang-less

After finding this photo of myself, I am remaining bang-less and with good reason.   There's just so many things wrong with this photo  (ex:...do I see shoulder pads, pink acrylic nails, and what charm is on that black necklace? an Italian horn?) Just envision a Flock of Seagulls song blaring in the background.  Dear God..what was I thinking?  Why wasn't I arrested by the hair police, or better yet...where were my friends, my besties, to tell me how ridiculous this was?

Oh, yes, that's right...they were having their own hair catastrophes (and possibly suffering from shiny gown syndrome?)...

from left to right:  Gina, Rachel & Kristi

My mom rocks!...

The photo above is my son wearing a tee shirt that I need to get in MY size pronto and proudly wear myself because my sweet Mom spent the better part of the day compiling all of your book suggestions from the giveaway.  She printed out close to 300 comments, which translated into 50 pages!  She then entered them into the corner book store link under "Tara's Blog Readers Picks", and it became 17 pages {and counting} worth of fine reading choices!  Isn't she the best? (And if you don't see your book listed, just let me know in the comments and we'll get it on the shelves)

Her payment for all this hard work was a cup of coffee and a slice of homemade crumb-cake.  Don't you feel sorry for her?  Actually, I think she loved every minute of it.  I could hear her in the next room on the other computer as she was working saying things to herself, like "oh god I love this book!"  and "ohhhh yes I remember this book"  and yelling to me "oh Tara you have to get these books by Janet Evanovich".  Then she would sneak peeks at your blog links and call me into the room to show me this or that.  Needless to say I didn't get as much done as I had to.  But I can't complain though, she was working for crumbs {literally}.  So, maybe you can help me SURPRISE her and give her a shout out here?  She loves to read the comments you leave and visits all of your blogs on a daily basis. She'll call or email me after visiting your blogs to tell me to go check out something.   She is my own personal blog fairy and thinks you are all so talented and lovely.  She'll wake up and be SO shocked to see her cute face below smiling back at her.

Her name is Beverly.  She's my mom ::  and she ROCKS! 

  

A Written Note...

     I went to my mailbox today, nothing exciting, until I looked at a brown envelope with handwriting so familiar to me.  I opened it, unsure of the contents, and on his own personal beautiful stationery, a 6 page letter from my Dad.  I think I mentioned that I live within 5 minutes of my parents and talk to them at least 2 times a day.  So was the letter a surprise?  Yep.....BUT Dad loves to write, in fact he has been writing a journal of his life to pass down to us once he is long gone.  We are not allowed to read it now, only when he is "in heaven checking out the place before you get there", as he says.  The contents of his letter to me were so touching, just asking me to slow it down a bit after the hospital saga .   Words so sweet from the man I admire most in the world.

     He writes every day, journal upon journal, I'm not sure how many books he has filled, his life has been full of funny outrageous stories and colorful characters floating in and out.  A perfect Martin Scorsese movie for sure.  He has lived (and still living) an amazing life.  A wonderful husband and father to me,my brother and sister and a kind and generous friend to many.  An example of what hard work and determination can do.  He's a cool guy, I know you would like him.  He has even given autographs on occasion!  Not because of fame.. but proximity...his close friend is a famous retired sports player, when they are out to eat, their meals are usually interuppted by a fan, and they turn to Dad and ask for his autograph too.  When they do, he always replies "I'm no one famous", but he is famous in my eyes. My son was born on Dad's birthday, January 15th.  Little man made his entrance 5 days early, so it was a surprise and a cool birthday present too!  They are so much alike in so many ways.

     Although he doesn't even know how to turn on a computer, let alone read this post (Mom, maybe you can show him), I wanted you to *meet* my dad and share some pictures, while I go call him and thank him for his beautiful letter and tell him how much I love him and maybe inspire you to call someone you love too or write them a letter. ~ xo