A Day To Remember....

For some reason, this story came to mind today & I had over 100 people liked it, or commented on it on Facebook...including the precious mother, Stephanie Stacy Baker..

Remembering a day about 7 or 8 years ago, (perhaps in December, not sure) when something happened on my bus run that lingers still...There were just about 15-20 kids on my bus as we went merrily up Watkins Branch, near Grundy, Va. & as was my custom, I was belting out some songs & since we had seen a giant Frosty the Snowman inflatable, that was my song of choice: Thumpity Thump! Thump!..Thumity Thump! Thump! Look at Frosty Go!...and then I sang: Going up Cripple Creek! Going in a run! Going up Cripple Creek to have some fun!...Fun switched to reality in a heartbeat, when we rounded a curve, less than a mile up Watkins Branch, & there was the lady that brought her four-year old daughter down the steep driveway in her car to meet my Big Yellow Bus...This particular morning, my heart leaped to my throat as I saw Stephanie Baker standing in the creek waving her arms desperately & as I slid back the driver's side glass, I could hear her screaming..."HELP! SAVE MY BABIES!" Her car had flipped off about a 10 foot retaining wall on its top, into the icy water of Watkins Branch & she was standing in the water, obviously in shock, but unable to reach her baby in the car seat in back...Knowing I was breaking protocol & since radios had not been installed at that time (But were later that year due to this & a similar incident)...So, threatening my kids within an inch of their life, to 'Stay on the Bus', I sent the oldest to 'Call for Help' (No houses in Sight), I left the bus & went to the other side of the bridge & down into the creek, through a briar patch, no rabbit could have gotten through & arrived in the creek bed, ready to lift the car if necessary & all this time, Stephanie was screaming, "Save my Babies!" Save my Babies!'...only later did I determine there was just one baby, 6-month old Amber, who was upside down in her car seat & I determined, that if she slipped out of her car seat, she could very possibly drown & the only way I could possibly reach her, was to 'Lie down in the icy water' which I did...Only then, was I able to see a smiling Amber, looking down at me, like it was a game we were playing...Knowing I had to act quickly, I fumbled with the car seat release, knowing I was just going to have 'One' chance...I had to release the button & catch her when she slipped free, which I was able to do...NO! I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT! AN ANGEL MUST HAVE TAKEN OVER MY BODY!...Me & The Angel quickly handed Amber to her Mommy, who was completely overjoyed, but shivering uncontrollably , as was I...Looking up in the road, I saw 'ALL' of my kids standing in the road & I sent one up the hill to get Stephanie's shoes, that she said were on her porch & suddenly I saw a Rescue Squad vehicle arrive on the scene...Four-year old Sienna went on to school on the bus with me, as I left Stephanie & her precious Amber in the Rescue Squad vehicle....Sobbing & Crying (Tears of Joy!) I made my way on to Riverview, with no more passengers as the others had long since given up on my coming....Teeth chattering, almost in shock, unable to sing, unable to get warm...For many days! lol....Except In MY HEART!

26 Days of Alphabetical Resoluting.....Day 1

Hoping to finish on January 25...Lord Willing!

In 2012, I resolve to improve my ATTITUDE, which is said to be more important than APTITUDE for ALTITUDE, AND to be like the Mind's Paintbrush, in that it can Color ANY Situation Rosy! I Love the quote that is ATTRIBUTED to Michelangelo, the great ARTIST that said this when ASKED which of his Masterpieces he considered his Greatest: "My Next One!"...& ALSO said, "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our AIM is too high...& we miss it, but rather, that we AIM too low...& we hit it....Happy ATTITUDING! lol....Laff & the World Laffs with us....Cry, AND they Laff Louder!

CORNFIELDS 12-27-11

Just as it appeared in the Mountaineer, but 'Newer & Better'...lol

Whee!!! Ellie's Three!!! (Three years ago today, Sandy & I were on our way to Knoxville, in the wee hours of the morning, singing every gospel & 'upbeat' song we knew...Trying our best to make it to the hospital on time for the arrival of our only Grandchild into the world, ELLIE GRACE FIELDS! We're going back today for her 3rd Birthday Party!!!) WHEE!!! Ellie has also invited Jesus, Santa & Smokey...(Well, she is a Tennessee Girl!)...

Stores were really crowded before Christmas. You could hardly walk, let alone push a buggy...We were in HOUSEWARES & some guy threw a lampshade over a lady's head...I 'stuck' a lightbulb in her mouth...& another guy tried to buy her for 20 Bucks!!!!

Two days after Christmas, and my wife has already started 'Cleaning'....yesterday, she 'Cleaned Out' our Checking & Savings Accounts ....without even breaking a sweat...Whew!!!

Jack said he visited a 'southern' Zoo during Christmas..."They are a little different from 'northern' ZOOS, he said..."These ZOOS have pictures of the animals on their cage...Along with cooking directions!...'But what really got me was two Gorillas were singing 'JUNGLE BELLS'!" (Give me a Break!!)

"There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar," Rick said - "And I've probably used them all at one time or another, but I'd hafta break open a 'piggy bank' to demonstrate it to you." (I told him I'd take his word for it.)

" It's important to have 'Twinkles in your Wrinkles'," Judy winked, exposing her 'crow's feet'....lol

Moonbeam said that she and her hubby always exchanged presents at Christmas..."I exchange the one he got me, and he exchanges the one I got him!!...Evens out!" she hee hee'd.

My Brother-In-Law got two Christmas puppies, a Pointer & a Setter...."By next Christmas I'm hoping for some Pointsetters! to present to my Wife," he smiled.

Golden Oldie Observation: I need 'Old' friends to help me grow old...& 'New' friends...To help me stay Young. (I may need more help than this! lol)

Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24...