It's been a while since I did questions to mom so I thought I would do this again.
1. When you were a girl, what was your favorite music you liked to listen too, did you have any favorite singers? Or someone you just loved to listen too?

I LIKED ELVIS WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER. I DON'T REMEMBER LISTENING TO MUSIC WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD. I REMEMBER LISTENING TO THE SQUEAKING DOOR WITH MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I WAS SMALL ON THE RADIO.
2. What was your first apartment or house like after you got married to daddy?

MY FIRST APARTMENT WAS IN TURKEY. IT WAS PRETTY BIG FOR TWO PEOPLE. IT WAS UPSTAIRS IN A BIG BUILDING. IT HAD TWO BEDROOMS, BIG LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM COMBINED AND THE KITCHEN.
WHEN IT WAS COLD WEATHER, WE PRETTY MUCH HAD TO STAY IN ONE ROOM SINCE ALL WE HAD TO HEAT IT WITH WAS A LITTLE SPACE HEATER HEATED WITH KEROSENE.

ALL OF OUR FURNITURE WAS BOUGHT SECOND-HAND. THE MILITARY NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS HAD TO PAY FOR ANY FURNITURE TO BE SHIPPED OVER THERE SO WHEN ANYONE SHIPPED OUT THEY WOULD PURCHASE FURNITURE FROM EACH OTHER.

I DYED SHEETS TO GO OVER THE WINDOW IN THE LIVING ROOM. I THINK THEY WERE YELLOW. WE HAD SMALL SHAGGY RUGS PLACED UNDER THE COFFEE TABLE IN THE LIVING ROOM. IT SEEMS AS IF THE COUCH WAS KIND OF BROWN.

THE CURTAINS IN OUR BEDROOM WERE WHITE PLASTIC AND WE HAD A CHENELLE BEDSPREAD ON THE BED.

IT WASN'T THE NICEST PLACE WE EVER LIVED BUT IT WAS HOME AND WE WERE HAPPY THERE.

OUR APARTMENT HAD A LITTLE BALCONY ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT AND THAT IS WHERE I WOULD USUALLY WAIT FOR YOUR DADDY TO COME HOME FROM WORK IN THE AFTERNOON. THAT WAS WHERE WE STORED THE WOOD TO MAKE A FIRE UNDER THE HOT WATER HEATER TO WARM OUR WATER UP FOR TAKING A BATH.

3. Did you celebrate the 4th of July when you were a little girl, can you remember the first time you saw fireworks?

WE DID CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD. SOMETIMES WE WOULD COME TO TOWN WHEN THEY HAD THE FIREWORKS. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A SWIMMING POOL LOCATED AT THE PARK. SOMETIMES WE WOULD GO THERE.

SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WOULD BRING SPARKLERS AND FIRECRACKERS OVER FOR US TO ENJOY. I WAS ALWAYS SCARED OF THEM.

4. Did you ever disobery your mother?

We did not fuss. She was real clear about what she expected out of me when I was a child and I followed her instructions real clearly cause I didn't want to cross her.

About the only time I can remember going behind her back was before I started dating and I double-dated with Betty Sue Smith and her boyfriend on Sunday afternoon. She fixed me up with one of her boyfriend's friends. I think his name was Larry Dismuke. By the time I got home, somehow she already knew so they started letting me date on Sunday afternoon. I was in the 11th grade.

5. If Nana could come back for a day and you could spend one day with her what would you do?

If I could spend one more day with her I would tell her how much I appreciate all she did for me and what she meant to me. I would also ask her a lot of questions about her life. I don't think she would answer though. There was a lot about her she kep silent about.

The photo was done by my blogger buddy Will, he took a picture I had taken of my mom and combined it with one of his creations called Scintillation to make my mom art. He had written me I have a soft spot in my heart for all the for mothers fo this world, and your mother radiates beauty in this photograph. He answered one of my questions “What do you think, what is your focus today, regardless of your feelings? Is it of gratitude?”. I will answer your question: “Yes…I am grateful every day for everything and for every blessing that comes my way, and I become more grateful with each passing day of life”. Two of the songs coming up in about 6 or 7 bowls of Saturday Soup are titled “Be Grateful” and “Gratitude”. More on Will tomorrow, just wanted to give him a big thanks for making my mom art! I always thought she was art anyway.