Category: Blessings

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Happy Birthday, Mel Tillis

“Good morning, this is Judy Tillis from Branson. Would you happen to know where I could get in touch with Lisa Carlon?”

Mother replied, “Why yes I do – she’s my daughter, and she’s actually here right now.”

At the time of that phone call, I was a student at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri – just outside of Branson. I took the phone from Mother and listened as Judy asked me if I would be willing to move out of my college dorm and live with she and her husband to help them take care of their precious little girl, Hannah. Four days later, I moved into their home. Hannah was four at the time – a sweet, beautiful, intelligent child who was and still is absolutely a delight. It was one of the best jobs I have ever had.

Today, I am thinking of so many wonderful memories from those years – because today is the 88th anniversary of Hannah’s daddy, Mel Tillis’, birth. I smiled this morning as I sat remembering…and I decided to share some of the stories with all of you in hopes that they would make you smile as well. However, before we begin, I have to put in a little disclaimer. Mel had a gift for making people smile. He was an incredible entertainer – singer, songwriter, musician, and storyteller. He was a true, gifted artist – telling his stories with wonderful voice inflections, great facial expressions, and hilarious body language – and always managing his stutter to get others to laugh. An avid reader and a writer, he used the English language brilliantly – twisting pronunciations to add comic effect. When I write these stories, I am blessed that I can HEAR his words and SEE his facial expressions as I type….but those things are unfortunately so difficult to express in written words. For those of you who knew and loved Mel Tillis – I hope you can “hear” him in your mind as well while you read ahead…. For those of you who didn’t know Mel, he was known as the “Stutterin’ Boy” because he couldn’t speak without a stutter. His was not a stutter of repeated letters, but of pauses. At times, I know it was so frustrating for him – but he managed it beautifully and worked it into a trademark his audiences came to love. When I’ve included “……..” in the stories below, please know I’m indicating a Mel Tillis pause. I hope you can hear him.

……………………………………

During the 1990’s, someone in town decided to sell maps to the Branson music stars’ homes. As a result, the house we lived in at the end of a quiet neighborhood street became a bit busier with people driving down to see Mel Tillis’ home. Hannah and I were walking back from the park down the street one afternoon when a car passed us obviously following the celebrity map. When we got home, Mel had just finished working with his tomato plants and was getting on the mower to tackle the lawn. He was wearing blue jeans, a long sleeved shirt, ball cap, and sunglasses. The older couple had pulled their car into the driveway and as Hannah and I walked up, the little lady got out of the car and asked politely,

“Excuse me, but is this where Mel Tillis lives?”

“Yes, ma’am, it is”, I replied.

“Would it be all right if we took a quick picture? We will stay here on the driveway and won’t get on the grass”, she said.

“Sure, that will be fine.” I told her, so she headed back to the car to get her husband. As Hannah and I walked on I heard the lady say,

“George, she said it would be all right. You can get out and take the picture – but wait a minute until that gardner goes around to the back so that he won’t be in the picture.”

Hannah looked up at me with big eyes, and I grinned back down at her. The woman had no idea that the “gardener” was Mel himself. George stood waiting patiently to take his picture.

……………………………………

Mel was a great cook and a great baker. Judy was a good cook also – but it was typically Mel who cooked our suppertime meal. He did two shows a day (2:00 and 8:00) five days a week and would come home in between to cook and eat supper, then get a quick rest before heading back. One day, the 2:00 matinee performance was running long and while he was performing he was thinking about the chicken he had planned to fry for supper. Stepping off stage while the Statesiders band played, he called me hurriedly and told me to go ahead and cut up the chicken in the refrigerator so it would be ready for him to fry when he got home – then he hung up quickly to walk back on stage. I got that fryer out of the refrigerator and stared at it. You see – I had never cut up a chicken in my life. I always bought mine in pieces! I took it out of the package and stared at it some more – then I did what any self-respecting girl would do…..I called my Mother for help. She wasn’t home – and I was getting desperate. The internet wasn’t available to search back in those days – and I didn’t know who to ask or what to do. One of Mel’s older daughters was visiting – home from college for the weekend – and she was asleep downstairs. I went down and woke her up – and together we went to work on that chicken – neither one of us knowing what we were doing. When Mel got home, we had hacked that poor bird into all kinds of pieces – none of them really recognizable. To his credit, he didn’t get upset. He just looked at the pitiful pieces and quietly started breading and frying them. When we sat down at the table to eat, he said, “You all might want to…..cover these with gravy ‘cause I had no idea…….what was what……after you two got through…….wrangling this poor thing!” That was the last time he asked me to do that! Epic fail – but now a fun memory.

……………………………………

Mel was a constant student throughout his life. He loved to read, and he loved to learn – with a mind always creative and curious. I had flown in an airplane a total of one time before I worked for the Tillis’ – so I was still a pretty nervous flyer when Hannah and I started traveling back and forth from the little airport at Point Lookout, MO to the little airport in Gallatin, TN. When Mel was on the flights, however, he was a bundle of enthusiasm and curiosity. He most liked to ride up in the cockpit with Skip, the pilot….but when he was in the cabin he would sit looking out the window spotting planes. “Look, Lisa – there’s one right up there above us now” he would say. “Oop – there’s another – it’s a little one flying under us!” At first, it frightened me to see all the planes in the air around us. I had no idea they were even there until he pointed them out! Over time, I began to be interested, though – and now I think of him every time I fly – and it makes me smile.

……………………………………

Eighteen years ago this month, I took some friends to see Mel’s show here in Branson. I hadn’t worked for the Tillis’ in several years at that point, and I didn’t get to see them as often as I would have liked. It was Mel’s very kind tradition to always do an autograph line after the show to meet and thank the people who came to see him. That autograph line could take a long time, and my group was in a hurry that night to leave and get something to eat, so I decided not to interrupt the line to say hello. (I always felt badly to leave without saying hi – but I also always felt presumptuous to walk up and interrupt the line. I didn’t want to be a bother – but I didn’t want to be rude either! It was always a hard decision for me.) As we were exiting the theater I heard a familiar voice call, “Heyyyyy, Lisa!” I smiled and walked over to give Mel a hug and say hello. His eyes were lit up, and he had a big mischievous smile on his face.

“Did you know I just had a birthday?” he said.

“I did! Happy birthday!”, I replied.

“I’m goin’ on 80, can you believe it?” he stated.

I saw people in the autograph line turning and talking – saying they didn’t realize he was almost 80 years old.

“Mel, you aren’t going on 80!!! You’re only 70!” I said shaking my head.

He grinned, looked me straight in the eye and said, “I know…but that’s…going on eighty!!!”

Makes me chuckle even to this day.

……………………………………

I learned a lot from Mel – and I am grateful to him for everything he taught me. He believed strongly in honoring the flag. I had a t-shirt once with the American flag printed beautifully across the front. He looked at it sharply and said, “You know you’re not supposed to do that, don’t you?” When I asked what he meant, he referred to the flag code and told me that the American flag should never be used as wearing apparel. I’ve never worn a flag in that way since.

He also modeled for me that you should always do your best no matter what. When he decided to put together a cookbook to sell in the theater gift shop, he didn’t farm it out to people in his office – he went to work on it himself. He wanted the recipes to be really good – and to truly reflect his personal favorites. Let’s be honest – the cookbook was probably going to sell pretty well no matter what was in it – because it was “Mel’s Cookbook” – but he wanted to be sure to give people good recipes to try and good stories to go with them. He worked hard to get everything right – and my copy of the cookbook is one I treasure to this day.

When Mel decided to record a gospel album, part of the work was deciding which songs to include. As usual, Mel wanted to get it right – to do a good job. One day at the house he asked me if my Mother had any old Southern gospel albums. I told him she had tons of them – and he asked if he could borrow them. Judy had to buy him a record player to play the albums. During his free time for several days, he sat on the floor playing those old long play records and writing down notes and lyrics from his favorites on a yellow legal pad. He had trouble getting the lyrics to one old hymn he had selected, so he asked me if Mother might have that song in a songbook. She looked through her many songbooks and couldn’t find it – so she called friends around town and finally located it in a hymnal our friends the High family had. Months later when the album was complete, Mel would sing a gospel song during his shows and then give one of the new CD’s away to someone in the audience. One day, Mother and Daddy came to the show and I was sitting in the audience with them. Before Mel sang his gospel song, he asked Mother to stand and told the crowd how she had lended him her records and helped him find the songs for his album. Thanking her publicly, he gave her the free CD. I’ve always been grateful to him for giving her that moment of recognition.

……………………………………

Happy birthday, Mel.

It’s hard to believe you’ve been gone almost three years.

Thank you for the music, the smiles and the laughs you brought to so many, the stories, the lessons and the memories..

I am grateful to have known you.

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Choosing Your Focus

How many of you are, like me, feeling tired? Tired of all the troubles in the world…..the unsettling news we see and hear every day…the worry…the fear. I’ve heard myself saying in different conversations several times this week, “I’m just so tired.”

The information we hear is confusing….and frightening and….(I’ll say it again) tiring. I try really hard. I wear a mask in public, I social distance, and I stay home as much as possible….I try to do what I hope is best – but I miss my old life, my family, my friends, my neighbors – and the places and things I used to visit regularly. I buy my groceries through online orders and I wipe them down before I put them away. I use hand sanitizer after I pump gasoline or use an ATM, and I wash my hands thoroughly many times every day. I try to do everything I know to do to keep myself and others safe….and you know what? I’ve still been worried……and tired. Lately, I have just felt plain tired.

It’s funny – even though I try to read the Word and spend time with the Lord every day, I sometimes forget to pray specifically about some of the things that concern me. I should know better! A few days ago, I started praying for answers…..or direction……or any help the Lord could provide. And at first,, I didn’t hear any answers…..but I continued….because one of the things I know for sure is that He has ALL the answers and He loves each of us dearly….and sometimes we just need to trust. So, I continued to pray. A few days later, a friend sent me a screenshot she had taken from a devotional she had read. She doesn’t usually send devotions to me – but I guess she thought I might like to read this one. She was right!

It inspired and comforted me, so I saved it. It seemed like maybe it could be the answer I was looking for…..but I wasn’t completely sure.

Thankfully…..God is so patient and good! I kept praying and I tried very hard to listen…..and in the last week I’ve seen that very same message in so many different ways….so I wanted to share it with others in hopes that it will encourage you the way it has me.

It’s very simple – focus on the Lord! Keep our eyes on Him – not the trouble around us! Shut out the “noise” as much as possible – and think about the Lord, His promises, His Truths…and just how much He loves us, and everything will be okay.

I don’t think this means that we all get to walk down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. That’s not my point at all! Sometimes we go through difficult, unpleasant things, but God will be there holding our hand if we choose to stay close to Him! This makes me think of a story…

When I was about 15 years old, my daddy had a little used car lot in Green Forest, Arkansas. One of the worst parts of selling used cars are the days when you have to go to someone’s home and repossess their car due to nonpayment. Daddy hated it – because he was a giver and he liked to help others….but sometimes, sadly, it became necessary. His little car lot sat less than a mile from our house, and phone calls to the car lot rang in both places. That way, if Daddy was out talking to a customer, Mother or I could answer at home and take a message for him. One morning, I was home alone and the car lot phone rang several times, so I picked it up and answered “J and J Auto – can I help you?” A man on the other end of the line began yelling and cussing at me – and I was shocked. At that point in my young life, I had never been cursed before and immediately some of my innocence was shattered. I was devastated. Apparently, Daddy had repossessed his car because he had never made a payment on it – and several months and several warnings had gone by. I took a deep breath, tried very hard to stay calm, finally got the man to give me his name and number and wrote them down. I hung up the phone and started to cry. A little while later, Daddy called because he had heard the phone ringing while he was talking to a customer outside. He heard in my voice that something was wrong, so I told him the story. He apologized that I had to hear that and comforted me calmly. After talking to Daddy, I definitely felt better, but still kept replaying those hateful, angry words directed at me.

About an hour or so later, the phone rang again. When I answered it, I heard Daddy say, “I have someone here who wants to talk to you.” The man I had spoken to that morning

came on the phone and said, “I wanted to say that I’m sorry for the way I talked to you earlier. I had no business speaking to you like that, I and I wanted to let you know that it will never happen again.” Feeling a little awkward and embarrassed, I think I said something simple like, “Okay.” and that was it. I hung up the phone, and the feelings of hurt, disappointment, and confusion that I had felt earlier changed immediately. Now, I felt loved, protected, and extremely cared for….obviously my Daddy had made it a priority to leave his work, find the man, and convince him to apologize respectfully. As a result of my earthly father’s efforts that day, a negative situation left me with a positive impact. Our Heavenly Father can do so much more!

Like I said, sometimes we have to walk through difficult, painful, hurtful, frightening situations and times – but our heavenly Father is always there with us. He may not stop the events from happening – but He can help us to grow through them. His plans are good plans – and when we keep our eyes FOCUSED ON HIM instead of all of the problems, He can guide us through all the chaos – and even use this time and these hardships to achieve something BETTER. He loves us so very much.

Isaiah 43:1b-4 (The Message)

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.

I’ve called your name. You’re mine.

When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.

When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you’re between a rock and a hard place,

it won’t be a dead end—

Because I am God, your personal God,

The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

I paid a huge price for you:

all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!

That’s how much you mean to me!

That’s how much I love you!

I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,

trade the creation just for you.

You know what? I firmly believe better times are coming!

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Managing My Perspective

I love the blessings and beauty of nature! Anyone who knows me well knows that I enjoy photographing and celebrating beautiful, unspoiled scenes.

When I first bought my current home, one of the selling points was the privacy, solitude, and quiet of the views behind the property. I absolutely loved sitting on my back patio. The land behind my home was wooded – so I had the luxury of watching the leaves change every fall, of watching snow fall among the trees, of seeing the grasses and leaves bud out every spring, and of watching the trees sway peacefully whenever the wind blew. It was all so peaceful and lovely.

Then, a nearby resort decided to build multi-level condos on that property – almost in my back yard. I was so upset when I first heard it – and the thought of losing those lovely views made me incredibly sad. After feeling sorry for myself for a few days, I firmly made up my mind to make the best of things and find the positives to focus on about the new development. I will admit – it was a little challenging at first. I could talk about some sad moments I had, grieving about what was being lost…..but what purpose would that serve? In the end, with a little effort – I found so many good things!

As it turns out, the lights from the completed resort are actually quite pleasant – and now make things much nicer when I sit on my patio in the evenings. The landscaping and upkeep are very well-done so it’s overall very pretty to see. I was pleased to find that the birds, the squirrels, the deer, and the other wildlife I was accustomed to are still around regularly, dropping by in the early mornings and late evenings routinely. You want to know the best part? It is absolutely wonderful to see and hear families coming and going on vacation – just enjoying one another and having fun.

During the recent months of the pandemic quarantine, things were back to being quiet again. The resort sat vacant, and our little tourist town of Branson was strangely empty. I could once again sit on my patio with no cars driving back and forth, no voices interrupting the solitude, no noisy children playing, no people coming and going……it was in some ways back to the way it used to be……and you know what? I missed it all!!!

Sitting on my patio now as I type, I have to smile. The peace and quiet have once again been replaced…..with so many wonderful sounds!!! Just a bit ago, one family of young teens was playing basketball at the nearby court. I smiled as I heard them giving each other grief, laughing, and enjoying the afternoon. Shortly after they gave up the game and disappeared inside, two little girls emerged to play on the playground. The thin little girl all in black who obviously much preferred climbing up the slides to sliding down them – and the tiny determined little girl dressed all in bright purple who practiced throwing a bright blue kickball over and over – trying so hard to get it up and through the basketball goal. As I’m writing now, two older gentlemen have emerged from the condo they are sharing with their wives and are carefully tending a meal on one of the resort’s charcoal grills. It’s fairly hot out – but they are sitting in the shade, enjoying one another’s company, and carefully checking the grill routinely. Whatever they are cooking smells wonderful – and every few minutes one of their wives walks out of their fourth floor condo to peer off the balcony, call down, and see how things are going. I’m smiling again!

The birds are chirping and the breeze is blowing, so it’s very pleasant. I can also hear muffled traffic sounds from the nearby world famous 76 Strip – people driving back and forth to see the sights. A few times each hour, a helicopter flies over carrying tourists toward Table Rock Lake. Every 20 minutes or so, I can hear the “volcano” erupt at Dinosaur Canyon Mini Golf a mile or so away, probably startling and delighting the guests playing there. (smiling again!) The young attendant at the resort occasionally comes racing down the street behind me at a high rate of speed in his golf cart, always with his left foot dangling happily out to the side and bouncing against the cart. (Who wouldn’t smile when you see that? 🙂 )

There was a time when all the noises and distractions could have bothered me. I’m so glad I made up my mind to see the positives. Sitting here by myself on my patio, I do not feel alone. I feel surrounded by people having fun. People who smile and wave as they drive by, people who are working together to have fun and celebrate life.

I am smiling again.

I hope you are also.

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Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead!

I went for a walk by the lake this morning with a friend.

As I often do when walking by myself, I hopped up onto a parking curb and walked the length of it putting one foot in front of the other. When I reached the end I paused, looked ahead to the next curb, and stepped across the gap without touching the ground. My friend chuckled when she saw me – a 50+ year old woman playing tightrope on parking curbs in broad daylight…..but I didn’t care and just kept on going. After a moment, I smiled to myself as I heard her step up onto the parking curb behind me to give it a try herself. Finding it a bit more challenging than she thought, she hesitated when she nearly lost her balance. “Always look ahead!”, I called back to her. “Don’t look at where you are – look ahead to where you’re going. It makes it easier!” She tried it – and it worked instantly. She too began stepping from curb to curb behind me, trying to walk the entire line without touching the ground. (I only stepped off twice.) It was fun!

As I walked, I thought about the advice I had given to my friend – and how much it actually applies to life.

“Don’t look at where you are…!”

Looking down at our feet throws us off balance and leaves us unprepared for what lies ahead. When we’re looking forward to see where we’re going, we walk more confidently and successfully.

Our lives can often be fairly hectic – filled with bills, decisions, responsibilities, news reports, and the many stresses of life today….If we focus our attention mainly on those things, on where we are, our days can be pretty difficult. Even things that are supposed to be fun can be disappointing!

“… look ahead to where you’re going.”

Setting goals helps us keep our eyes on what’s ahead. One of my favorite Bible verses is Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” This verse can be interpreted in different ways, but I like to think that it means we should have vision for the future, that we should set goals and work toward them excitedly and expectantly. My goals perhaps aren’t always particularly impressive to hear – but they are motivating to me – and they keep me looking ahead to better things.

When I broke my arm this past February, I had no idea how long it would take that arm to feel normal again. I had never broken a bone – so in my ignorance I thought the doctor set your arm, you wore a cast, you got it off, you did therapy for a few weeks and you were good to go forever. This has not been the case at all with me. The break in my arm healed, the cast/splint was removed, and I was sent home with a printed paper explaining the therapy exercises I should do. (Due to COVID-19, supervised therapy was not recommended.) I did the exercises and truthfully they didn’t seem to help at all. I reached out to friends and tried other exercises they suggested. These helped a bit more and I was grateful – but my right arm (my dominant arm) still had a long way to go! I had trouble writing. I had trouble typing. I had trouble driving. I couldn’t even open the door to my car without great effort! My arm was in pain much of the time. Most of my normal day-to-day activities were hampered by my temporarily handicapped arm. So, I kept on working. I tried some new strength building exercises. I researched essential oils to help with healing and applied them daily….and each day my arm gets a little bit better. It’s on the mend! I can now type (obviously! 🙂 ). I can write. I can open the car door. I can drive….

Why did I keep on looking for ways to make my arm better? Because I KNEW it would be fine one day – and I wanted to work to make that happen as soon as possible! I didn’t focus on where I was – I looked ahead happily to the day my arm is back to normal.

It makes it easier!”

How does looking ahead with vision and a good attitude make things easier? Life is happier when we are thinking and planning on good things!

For example, it’s supposed to rain here much of the day tomorrow. So……I can’t go to the pool for a swim. I can’t go for my morning walk. I can’t work in my flower bed.

Hmmmmmm….that means I can plan on a cozy slow morning indoors! I love to read. That sounds like a good option for tomorrow! For some reason, I always enjoy cooking and baking more when the rain is falling outside. I’m already thinking about what to make! Sounds fun! If I’m going to be home in the morning, I don’t have to put on makeup when I wake up! Yay! Another win! I love to write. Maybe I can squeeze in some time for that while it’s raining. Wow! It’s already sounding like a great day! I’m excited!

Choosing to think on good things is sometimes more difficult than others – but it’s worth the effort. It doesn’t mean we should ignore the bills, the responsibilities, the decisions – it just means we should work to not get mired down in them. Worrying about them doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it doesn’t really accomplish anything at all…..but choosing to think on good things can definitely have a positive effect! Try it!

Oh, and by the way, the next time you see a parking curb – step up and see if you can walk the length of it tightrope style.

Go on.

I dare you!

But be careful – seriously…broken bones are no fun! 🙂

(And no – that’s not how I broke my arm! 🙂 No parking curbs were involved in my fall! )

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Finding Joy in the Challenges

This afternoon, I left my office for a routine walk across campus to the elementary building. It was swelteringly hot and humid as I stepped outside, and my mind was crowded thinking about all that I needed to accomplish before the day ended. Passing the cafeteria, I headed down the sidewalk past the fenced-in playground filled with noisy, busy, happy third graders. They were climbing the jungle gym, swinging on the swings, and just having fun. As I typically do, I slowed my pace and smiled inwardly as I watched the students run and play. Just on the other side of the chainlink fence, a little boy stood beneath a tall tree, rubber ball in hand, smiling and intently looking up at the branches overhead. He took a breath, aimed carefully, and threw the ball in the air trying to throw it over the branch above him. He wasn’t successful. The ball hit a higher branch and bounced back over his head. He raced to catch it and chuckled softly as he jogged quickly back to his spot under the tree. Standing all alone and smiling expectantly, he planted his feet, took careful aim, and threw the ball again…..only to fall short once more. This time the ball missed the branch entirely, sailing underneath it and hitting the ground, then rolling further away. Laughing, he ran to pick it up and try once again. I walked on, needing to complete my errand but wishing I could stay longer to watch. When I headed back a few minutes later, I was happy to see this same child still trying to learn how to throw the ball just high enough (but not too high) to navigate successfully through those tree branches. He was still smiling and still working hard to get it right. His face shone with perspiration, enthusiasm, determination, and hope.

As I walked past him again and headed back to my office, I felt inspired by his attitude. He was faithfully working to complete a task – to practice a skill he had not yet mastered – to get better and achieve a goal. It was difficult for him – and yet he was excited. He was expecting to eventually get it right – to master the skill. He didn’t mind the failed attempts. For him, they were an enjoyable part of the process. He didn’t have to learn this task – he wanted to. He was genuinely excited and thoroughly enjoying the effort. Perhaps there is a lesson there for all of us.

Our jobs can be quite hectic at times and the demands can often be great. As we all know, life has many challenges for each of us every single day. What if we faced our tasks with that same attitude? What if we squared our shoulders, planted our feet, took a breath and tried our best – then actually smiled when things didn’t go as we had planned? What if we had the courage to laugh when we missed the mark – running to pick things up and try again? What if we saw each effort as one step closer to perhaps this time getting it right? What if we truly found joy in the process?

Wow! What a great attitude! Thank you, young man. I admire your approach! From now on, I am going to try to copy your example.

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Perspective Matters

Perspective Matters

Finding the Beauty Around You!

Philippians 4:8

New International Version (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

Perspective is a choice. Our attitudes, opinions, and points of view are built over time. The things we choose to place emphasis on directly impact our outlook.

For example, one of my hobbies is photography. I dearly love to find interesting and beautiful things to photograph and share with others. Whether I’m driving my car, taking a walk, or simply sitting on my patio, it is my habit to almost constantly search for great setups for pictures. I so enjoy seeing beauty and capturing it to share.

Yesterday afternoon was rainy in the Missouri Ozarks. During the late afternoon/early evening, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. The colors in the sky were spectacular, and I drove to a lake outside of town to take a few pictures as the sun sank behind the Ozark Mountains. Sunsets happen so quickly – and I was rushing to try to get a few good shots. The skies over the water were truly breathtaking, and I marveled at the beauty. When I got home, I eagerly looked through the pictures I had taken and was a little disappointed to see some of the beautiful scenes interrupted by multiple power lines I hadn’t even noticed when setting up the shots. As I said, I had been in a hurry and with all of the amazing beauty I simply had not seen the power lines until I got home. The pictures highlighted what I hadn’t even noticed – because I was so focused on the beauty around me.

I’ve heard that there are two sides to every story, and I definitely agree. We each view the world and even our daily events through our own lens (built over time by our backgrounds, our priorities, our choices, and our experiences) – and sometimes the interpretations and outcomes are amazingly different. It’s a little bit like the old “Gossip” game that has been played in classrooms and other group gatherings for years. Do you remember? Everyone stands in a circle and the leader whispers a made up “secret” into someone’s ear. That person then whispers it to the next, and the next person passes it on. The whispered secret travels quietly around the entire circle, one person at a time. The last person has to state out loud to everyone what the secret is – and it is always fun to see how the sentence has completely changed as it goes around the group.

Different interpretations of real-life situations happen as well. I remember a time several years ago when I was having lunch with a friend after church. We both mentioned that we had enjoyed the pastor’s sermon that morning and started discussing the points he had made. That’s when we realized we had each sat in the same church service but had somehow heard very different messages. Neither were incorrect – but our interpretations and personalizations of the message were very, very unique. PERSPECTIVE makes the difference!

Finding the positives, the beauty, can sometimes be difficult. When I took the pictures displayed at the top of this post, I was so delighted by the beautiful colors in the sunset blending with the brilliant red roses. I was absolutely thrilled with those shots, and I eagerly posted them for my Facebook friends to see. I laughed out loud when one friend, Vicki, asked if I had laid down on the ground to get a shot from that angle. To tell the truth, she was almost correct! (Good eye, Vicki!) I had knelt down on my knees, low on the pavement and took about 12-15 different shots before I found the angle that worked for me. I’m sure I must have looked so silly to passers by…..but I worked diligently to find the most beautiful vantage point.

Walking by at a normal viewpoint, this is that exact same spot. Go back to the second picture above. You can see this crosswalk sign behind the roses.

Finding the beauty is a challenge I strive for every day. It’s always there. Changing your perspective can change your life! Truthfully, sometimes you have to get down to look up. Sometimes you have to focus on one thing when many distractions are buzzing around you. Sometimes you even have to be willing to be a little silly!

Do the work!

It is well worth it.

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208 Steps

I put on my shoes and went out for a short walk a few minutes ago – because I wanted to measure the steps from my front door to a redbud tree just down the street. Carefully counted, there were exactly 208…..

When I was a little girl, I always knew that my birthday was coming soon when I saw the spring flowers – especially jonquils, in bloom. (We called them “Easter Flowers”.) Those bright yellow blossoms made me happy back then – and they still do. I love spring and all of its beauty….jonquils, lilacs, hyacinths, dogwoods, and redbuds. It is such a beautiful time of year! Anyone who knows me well knows that I love taking pictures – in fact they might tell you that’s an understatement! Nevertheless, in the spring I am always looking for pretty scenes or bright blossoms to photograph and share with others. It has been a hobby of mine for a long time.

This year is no exception. As I drive to and from work each day, I am eagerly searching for pretty places to stop and shoot a few pictures. I dearly love sharing beautiful or useful or enjoyable things with others. (Possibly whether they want to see them or not! I am sometimes probably too enthusiastic!)

About a week ago one of my neighbors, Sharon, messaged me and told me that there was a beautiful redbud tree she wanted me to see. She thought perhaps I might like to photograph it. I was delighted that she wanted to share the information with me, but I was very busy and didn’t have time to pay attention to the tree for a couple of days. The Ozarks are heavy with redbuds this time of year, and the landscapes are cheerful with their color. In fact, I had already taken several pictures of redbuds this spring,and I didn’t really expect this tree to be all THAT much different. I was very definitely wrong!

I finally decided to check it out one afternoon. Camera phone in hand, I started down the sidewalk. I didn’t get far before I saw a house painter sitting on an overturned bucket eating lunch in the shade of the redbud. As I walked on down the sidewalk, I was studying the tree and trying to decide what made it seem special to Sharon. Was it the shape? No, that couldn’t be it. The shape was nice – but really nothing out of the ordinary. Was it the height? I decided that probably wasn’t it either. This tree was really not any bigger than most of the other redbuds I see. Was it the color? Maybe that was it…maybe….this tree did perhaps seem a little bit brighter than most. I wasn’t really sure. As I got closer, the man eating his lunch put down his sandwich and looked at me questioningly. I smiled and told him that I was sorry to interrupt his break – that I was just there to take a few pictures of the redbud tree. He smiled and said, “Yeah, I took some pictures of it too. I’ve never seen anything like it before!”

That’s when I first noticed the trunks of the tree. They were covered in brightly colored shoots – little clusters of blooms all along the trunks and branches. It was breathtaking! I had truly never seen anything like it! I then became excited, trying to decide the best angle to photograph the beauty of this unique tree. The sun was bright, which made the lighting a little difficult. I liked the challenge, though. I was so happy to have a chance to shoot the beautiful pictures. I enjoyed every minute! That night, I had fun going through the (MANY!) different shots to select which ones I wanted to share. I was so grateful to Sharon for calling the tree to my attention. It is literally only 208 steps from my front door. (Remember, I counted!) I had already seen the tree several times this spring. It is just down the sidewalk from my house! I never noticed how unique and beautiful it was though. It was a redbud tree – and I expected it to look like a typical redbud – so even though my eyes saw it every day…I didn’t truly see it. I didn’t take the time to stop and really notice the obvious and unique beauty.

I have thought about that several times since. It makes me wonder what else I am missing – in the landscapes around me, but also in the people I encounter and the opportunities available to me every day. From now on, I am really going to try harder to see and appreciate them. I don’t want to miss the good things. I am delighted to think about what I may find.

I really hope you enjoy the pictures. I am excited to share them.

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Was it a Good Day, or Was it a Bad Day?

Actually, that day in 2003 started out as a pretty normal day. I was at home in my apartment in Springfield, Missouri. I got up that morning, had breakfast and visited with my Mother by phone. She and Daddy were planning on going to Harrison to run some errands and they were looking forward to a nice day out. Mother loved to shop, and Daddy wanted to stop by and visit his friend, Bob Myers. Daddy and Bob had been friends for years, and whenever Daddy was in Harrison he liked to stop by Tom-Bar, Inc., Bob’s business on Industrial Park Road, to say hello and catch up a bit.

Mother and Daddy were going to invite an older friend to go with them. They wanted to give her a chance to get out of the house and let her get her grocery shopping done. I had been searching for a new table lamp for my living room, and Mother mentioned that she would look to see if she could find one that fit what I was wanting. She has always loved to shop!

Daddy wasn’t much of a shopper at all, but he did like to get out and about. He enjoyed people. Since his early retirement due to his Parkinson’s disease, these days were good for him. He liked driving his truck and getting out of the house. He had gotten that truck second hand from his brother, my uncle Jerry. It was a nice one, and we all enjoyed it. In fact, when I was home, I would often ask Daddy if I could drive his truck up to Sonic to get a Coke. It was pretty sharp… and also a fun truck to drive, so I know Daddy was looking forward to a pleasant afternoon.

It looked as if was going to be a good day for all.

Just before lunch, my cell phone rang. Mother called to tell me about a lamp she had found. She was excited – she thought it was exactly what I was wanting. She said it was a tall, narrow table lamp with an antique brushed gold colored finish. It sounded perfect. I told her to buy it and I would give it a try. I was happy she had found something and so was she. She loves to help! In fact, she would make a great personal shopper!

After lunch, I was doing some computer work when my cell phone rang. I looked at the number and smiled when I saw the name “Mother” displayed on the screen. I wondered if she had found another lamp she liked better – or if this was perhaps going to be a call about a good buy she had found on a package of ground round or a 5# bag of potatoes, wondering if I might want one also. Pushing away from my desk and leaning back in my office chair to relax, take a break, and visit a bit, I flipped open my phone. Everything changed instantly when I heard a strange voice say, “Is this the daughter of John and Jean Carlon?” Jerking up in my chair, I quickly replied “Yes, what’s wrong?” The strange voice continued, “They are all right, but they’ve been in a pretty bad wreck. Your mom is hurt worse but she is awake and talking. Your dad seems to be okay. They are taking your mom and the older lady that was with them to the hospital by ambulance. The older lady seems all right – just shook up. This is Bob Myer’s daughter, Laurie. I will stay with them until you get here. I’ll keep your mom’s phone if you need to call me.”

I hung up in shock – rushing to grab my purse and put on my shoes so I could get out the door and on my way to Harrison. I’m typically pretty calm – but this hit me hard. I called my friend Kay and asked if she could ride to Arkansas with me NOW. She was wonderful – waiting outside when I drove in to pick her up. We headed for Harrison – an hour and a half away. The thing I kept thinking about was that Mother hadn’t talked to me. Since I was a little girl, she has always worked so hard to reassure and protect me. I knew absolutely that she would have asked to call me and let me know she was okay if she could at all. It would be one of her priorities. She hadn’t called.

We got to the Harrison hospital emergency room as quickly as possible and I saw Daddy sitting in the waiting room. Laurie Myers was there also, as she said she would be. She handed me Mother’s phone and purse and updated me on all that she knew. She gave me her phone number on a piece of paper and told me to call if I she could be of any more help – then she said goodbye to my dad and left. My strong, quiet, kind father was sitting in that waiting room looking so shaken and lost. The physical and emotional trauma of the accident, coupled with the fact that he had now missed a dose of his Parkinson’s medicine, had left him unable to walk or talk well. Without his medicine, his body would just sort of lock up and his voice would reduce to barely a whisper. I hugged him and asked him if he was okay. He assured me he was and whispered urgently, “Go check on Mama.” I headed for the emergency room.

Mother was definitely hurt. Her knee had hit the dash hard and broken the truck’s stereo completely in half. The knee was badly injured, and her leg was gashed so deeply it was alarming to see. She was struggling a bit to breath due to the pain of multiple broken ribs, but she smiled when she saw me. Even though her eyes definitely showed she was in pain they were bright and clear. I instantly felt reassured.

The lady with them was also glad to see me. She was lying alone in the emergency room bay, and she looked relieved when I walked in. Her injuries were not as severe. Mother was definitely the one hurt the most. The doctor discussed the details and assured me that she would be fine – it would just take time for her injuries to heal. I was so grateful.

Mother and Daddy’s pastors, Mark and Joanna Bryant had arrived at the hospital before me. They had stayed until I got there and had prayed for Mother in the ER. When I arrived, they said they were going to check on Daddy’s truck – that Mother had mentioned that she had bought a lot of groceries that day. I will never forget the Bryant’s kindness. They somehow found the lot where the truck had been towed and gathered up all the spilled groceries and other items (including my new lamp) from Mother’s shopping. They came back by the hospital to tell me they had retrieved them, and would take them back to the church so the groceries could be kept in the refrigerator until we could pick them up.

The wreck, it turned out, really was a pretty bad one. Daddy was driving west on Industrial Park Road in Harrison. Mother was sitting on the middle seat, which was set a little higher than the main bucket seats. Their friend was sitting in the bucket seat to the right. As Daddy went through the intersection of Industrial Park Road and Speer Drive, a car driving south on Speer Drive was traveling fast and ran the stop light, hitting Daddy’s truck on the front driver’s side and knocking Daddy unconscious. The hard impact turned the truck to the right, headed straight toward Vikki Hudson’s Insurance Agency. Crossing the intersection diagonally, the truck headed over a brick retaining wall and crashed down onto the parking lot below. Still moving forward, they were headed straight toward the corner of the insurance company’s brick building. Despite her injuries, Mother half stood and got her leg over Daddy’s to slam on the break and stop the truck. They were just a few inches from hitting the building head on.

I stayed at the hospital until Mother and her friend were settled into a room and as comfortable as possible for the night. They were exhausted but smiling when I left – and I felt comforted knowing they were in a room together. I took Daddy, now completely exhausted, home to get his medicine and get some rest. When I laid down that night, I finally let myself relax and think everything through. I thought about how pleasantly the day had started and about the phone call from a strange voice that abruptly changed everything. I thought about Laurie Myers Mayfield giving up her time to stay at the hospital until I arrived. Even though I had never before met her personally, I felt comforted knowing she was there with my parents and would call me if the doctors needed to speak to me or if anything happened I needed to know about. She was my lifeline that day, and I will never forget her kindness. I thought about Mark and Joanna Bryant who dropped everything and rushed to the hospital when they heard about the wreck. I thought about them going to the trouble of locating Daddy’s truck and working patiently to gather all of the items from the day’s shopping and keep them safe for Mother. They didn’t have to do that – but it meant so much that they did. I thought about the EMT’s, police, and others who worked the wreck that afternoon, caring for my parents and getting them the help they needed. I thought about Kay who rushed to be with me at the hospital and had been there to help in any way she could. Lastly and definitely most of all, I thought about the fact that my Daddy was safe at home resting and that my Mother was safe, and stable in the hospital – her body already beginning the slow process of healing so that she could come home.

The lamp Mother bought that day was slightly bent in the wreck, but the damage is difficult to see unless you examine it closely. I did keep it. In fact, it still sits in my living room today. When I look at it, I often remember that day 16 years ago.

As it turned out, that day was a very good day.