You may or may not know this, but the first time I met some of you was at a political function. Dock was running for the US House of Representatives and Randy took me to LaGrange to help campaign for his cousin. I really didn't know Dock and Janie or Dorothy Jean at the time. What I did know was that this family was passionate about politics and even more passionate about supporting each other. I think that the term "yellow dog Democrat" was repeated more than once! Randy reminds me that over lunch I spilled red sauce all over my light colored dress (no one is surprised by my doing these kind of things anymore are you?). Anyway, before I could continue on the campaign trail, I had to go buy an entire new outfit! We ended the day on the front porch of the Davis farmhouse. I felt like I had come home. Randy's always wondered if I married him more for the family than anything else. Hmmm....?
Well, Dock didn't win the race, but the Heard family cousins won my heart. Here's my favorite memories.
- Front porch conversations
- Hay rides at Thanksgiving
- Birthday, wedding, and graduation celebrations
- Dancing in the yard
- Decoration day and Heard family reunions at Macedonia
- Babies, babies, and more babies
- Funerals followed by "covered dish" lunches and dinners
- Dana DJ'ing in the lie-berry
- Sleeping in Dot's new cabin
- Uncle Owen's canning romm and his famous muscadine wine -- okay, I don't remember too much of that night :)
- Pimento cheese sandwiches, cornbread dressing, hot chocolate, and s'mours
- Country breakfasts -- lots and lots of breakfast
- Whitley (that's Zeke's name for Whitney and it's always stuck with us)
A couple of years ago I was at a tennis tournament with Randy when one of our friends talked about Obama and the chance that he might have a shot at being President of the United States. I didn't know much about this Obama guy, but knew our friend was rather politically savvy so listened closely. Couldn't wait to discuss this with the Davis family. A few months later, it just happened that I was in Nashville, staying at Laurel's and Pallie's house and picked up the book, Dreams of My Father. Oh my -- once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I knew I had found someone who spoke my language, whose values echoed mine, and who I would follow closely in the 2008 election. By the way, Pallie, I'll eventually get your book back to you!
I knew from then on that Obama was the person that I would examine most closely. I was intrigued, inspired, challenged, and proud each time I heard him speak. When the election looked like a done deal, I felt tears stream down my face. I thought of my parents and how amazed they would have been that night. I thought about my Aunt Audie's infatuation with John Kennedy and that night, I understood her a little better. I thought about the new sense of spirit that had permeated our country -- a new sense of hope -- and I knew then that I was experiencing something profound.
It is with great anticipation that I prepare for the cousins trip to DC. I'm looking forward for granddaughter Nala to get to know her cousins better and understand her great-grandmother's roots and passion for dancing and shoes. We will get to know all of you you even better as we drive to DC, share living quarters, and fit 19 cousins into museums, restaurants, bathrooms, and on sidewalks. The only concern that I have is: "What do we wear?" And who's going to go shopping with me when I spill something?
Can't wait!
Shirley
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