The Story of Us.....The Call

The Call. To understand the call, you have to understand how I was raised. Girls did not call boys. I was not allowed to call boys. Until about 8th grade, I don't believe I even called a guy friend just to chat. So, even though I was in college & over this part of my life, I still felt odd and out of place calling.
I had determined to call when I went to work. No distractions and my parents none the wiser. I arrived at work to tell my friends what I had decided. My boss at the time said that is strange-someone called looking for you yesterday. She couldn't rememeber who, but she did rememeber the time. Luckily, we had caller ID. So, a few flips back and BINGO, I have what I needed. I was a nervous wreck. I had no idea why. I had called "boys" before. No big deal. Main reason for my tension was I had no idea what to say. No reason behind my call-NOTHING.
The phone rang maybe about 3 times. His mom answered. It was a short conversation. David was out, so it was easy. Now, to come up with a reason later. Much to my disappointment, he never returned my call until the next day.
I received the call while I was in the bath tub. I heard my Mom say No, she isn't available. Okay. Next, she is knocking on the bath room door to tell me that someone called from Northeast, his name was David, he sounds older, and he called you Patricia. I will never forget my mom's next words....."Patty, are you in some kind of trouble?" No one ever called my Patricia, unless it was official. I tried countless times in college to "change" it to Patricia.....No one but David played along. He doesn't call me that anymore, but it is one of my favorite memories.
Really, I do not even know what we talked about when we actually talked. I do remember being nervous. Extremely nervous. Why?? I had no idea and it bugged me to death. Unlike many other guys at the time, David seemed so disinterested. Like he could have careless if I dropped off the face of the earth. At times, no matter how much I flirted with him, it was like it bounced off of him like nothing. Whatever or why he did this, I am so glad. It worked!!

My Son The Buggy Hater

Okay, so I believe my son has it out for me. He has now decided that he does not like buggies at the store. He refuses to sit in them. I try everything. Keys, phone, toys, candy, etc. NOTHING works. I have tried carrying him, pushing the buggy and keeping up with either Lorelai or both of the girls. It doesn't work. I am not a pack mule. I have tried letting him scream and acting like I have no idea what he is doing. You know, I keep pushing ahead while complete strangers give me the "Shut the Kid Up" look. Most of the time I give them a BIG smile and push on. Sometimes, I give them the look of distaste. Do you really think I haven't tried everything???

The thing is I don't remember the girls doing this to me. I don't remember the screams like he has. Here is my two theories: 1. I have blocked this from my memory and the girls "never" did this. 2. The boy has me right where he wants me. I am putting my money on #2. For some reason, he can do things I would never let the girls get away with. Is itthe mommy-son thing? I don't know. He has me where he wants me though.

Some say the more kids you have-the more you just don't care about somethings. I can see that. Once they out number you, it gets harder and harder. I cannot seem to find enough hands, ears, laps, cookies, tissues, drinks, etc. If the buggy situation had arose with the girls, I would have left the store in disgust and they would have been trouble. Now, I just cannot find the time to do that and get everything else done. So, who suffers here, David Marshall, Me, The Girls, or the people in the store who have to hear the cries of my son as I get just as stubborn as him. Yeah, I think he has me right where he wants me.......

The Story of Us.....Meeting

Like I have said before, I want to capture my memories. Why I don't know, but I just feel this urge. So, to accurately start my memories, I must start with how our little family began. To do that properly, I have to start with David and I. Our beginning.
If you asked people where we meet, some would say school, others the mall. Both are right but walk hand in hand in a weird way only people who worked at Bristol Mall would/could understand. I remember the first time I saw David. It was a pre-algebra class my first semester of college. Yeah, you read that right pre-algebra. I hate math. Actually, I loath it with a deep deep dark hate. So, it fit. David was sitting across the room from me. He had his elbow propped onto the table and his fist were encircling his mouth. I did notice he kept glancing at me but did not think much about it. He had on a white t-shirt ( I believe said something about guitars) and camo shorts. A girl I had meet earlier in the day became my first "college" friend. She kept commenting on him and how he must like me. I would say Whatever, I could careless, I have a boyfriend, etc. Some truth in this, but lies too. He worked at the toy store and I worked at J.C.Penney's. My first job ever. I loved it. I had the most awesome boss at the time. She knew I had come from school and would let me go to the "food court" and get something and bring it back. During these many times, David always seemed to be getting something to drink at the Cookie Company. I told him many years later I knew he "planned" it. He just says Yeah, your right. He only holds the truth in that.
I tell all the above to let you know the background of our actual meeting. See even though we were in the same class and worked at the same facility, we never talked. We "meet" May 1998. I now worked at the customer service desk at the mall. David was doing some kind of "errand" for the toy store, and I was reading "The Firm" by John Gresham. We introduced ourselves, talked, and laughed. David left and came back a few minutes later to ask me out. I told him I had a boyfriend. All true because I had someone I was interested in and vice-verso. Looking back, how I wish I had gone out with him, I know my life would have taken a different course. Not a bad one, just a better one. I later found out David's friend had come up earlier to make sure I wasn't engaged because he had planned to asked me out.
The summer passed and no appearances from him again. I had a full course load in the Fall. I was excited. I had a deal with my parents about straight A's and the possibility of my own apartment. So, of course, I was game. I went from 9 to 3 on MWF. My last class of the day was Humanities with Ms. McMillian. Low and Behold who was sitting there when I walked in, none other than my future husband, David Roberson. I sat right beside of him. I thought I had a "friend" to talk to. He on the other hand was ready to bail out of class because we shared it. I still do not know why he stayed but I am so glad he did.
During this class, a quick friendship blossomed. He went out of his way to do things for me that I was too dumb to pick up on. He would come visit me at the mall and just talk. I would try to make him jealous with stupid stories of other guys and they just didn't work. Or at least, I didn't think they did. He later told me that they did. All this time I tried everything to get him to asked me out. Nothing worked. So, I decided for once to take matters into my own hands. I made the first call.........

Easter.....Warning Rather Long

Easter. It has never been my favorite holiday. Well, Spring has never been my favorite Season. I find it too aburpt and not as welcoming as some would argue. The Sun annoys me at times with how bright it is and you never know if it will rain, snow or be wonderful. Since Easter follows in that Season, I guess I just never have been a great fan.

We did not attend church this year. Honestly, we have been going here and there throughout the year. I was not about to be the people who show up on Easter that no one knows and wonders who is that. It is not us. It feels more genuine not to go than to go. Before everyone worries about my fate or the fate of my children, we are a Christian family. My children know all of Christs love and why we celebrate the holiday. Amelia actually told us the Easter story without any help. Some interesting add ins that had to be corrected, but none the less wonderful to hear from a 4 year old.

Even though we did not attend church, I did purchase of the kids a Easter outfit. I know it sounds out right ridiculous. It has been a family tradition for as long as I remember. My Mom always made sure we had something bright and cheery to wear on Easter. But then again, we always went to church, so I guess she makes more sense. David had Friday off. So we set off to find outfits. Amelia is at the age now that she knows what she likes and what she does not like. True to her personality, Amelia pink a beautiful taffeta dress. A striped dress of cream, strawberry pink and chocolate. It looked like perfectly formed ice cream to me. I knew what Lorelai was going to pick as soon as I saw it. Lorelai love bugs.....particularly, ladybugs. So when she saw the bright green outfit, she squelled with delight. No outfit now would be right except this one. David Marshall was harder. Since he doesn't have a opinion on clothing, it was Mommies choice. Well, I had a vision. My sweet little boy in a blue gingham or blue seersucker Jon Jon with knee socks and ox side shoes. It has been my dream even before I had a boy. Well, my dream was crushed after I searched the whole city for such a outfit to find no one made anything close to that for a boy. I am sure if I had planned ahead, I could have found my perfect outfit, but it just didn't work that way. None the less, he looked adorable.

Easter eggs were next on our list of activities and must dos. I purchased 3 18 count eggs. Each child was going to receive their carton of 18. I figured David Marshall would be less than thrilled and end up giving Amelia his. I didn't count of Lorelai only wanting to dye maybe 3 and say are we done??? The girls picked out Hannah Montana and High School Musical dye kits. You would think there would be a array of "girl" colors. WRONG! They were quite boring colors of blue, green, orange, yellow and something that was suppose to be red, but never did change to red. David Marshall did not understand at all. It was the funniest thing I had ever witnessed. He looked at me like I was crazy. He would stir with his giant spoon and look at me like "Really??" "Why?" Lorelai dropped the first 5 eggs in her dye and looked at me and said "I am done." Okay, fun. Amelia on the other had has her mother's personality and was not going to leave those eggs until they were perfection. To do 18 eggs, plus her siblings other eggs took Amelia around 1 hour. She patiently stirred, checked and counted her eggs. Over and over and over.........

I have a large extended family. Both my mom's side and my dad's side are large. We have always celebrated holidays with both sides. Making it more complicated once I got married to add another place to go....except Easter. It has always been the easiest to figure out. My mom's side just doesn't do much as a whole for Easter, so it has been redeemed as my Mamaw Betty's holiday. She gets us without interruptions until 5. This year was more of first than just another Holiday. It was the first without my papaw. If you knew him, you would understand. He always loved to see each and every grandkid coming. He loved to watch the younger kids. No matter how many joined our family he always felt they belonged and would say this is great. He also had a special place in his heart for little girls. Papaw always sat at the head of the table and complained. He always wanted to know what he or she said because he couldn't hear them. He was a smart ass by nature. It is actually natural for my Dad's side. Natural for me. I don't take offense. I actually enjoy it. Unlike many women, I find it endearing. Papaw was diabetic so never participated in dessert. He controlled it by eating right-no medication. Sure he had moments of delugence. Who doesn't?? This Easter felt different. Mamaw didn't have to make sure certain items were on the food table. She did though. The table was turned different. His usual spot was not there. Mamaw tried to sit in his place, but she seem to not be able to take it. She has always been one to make sure everyone has enough and didn't need anything else. Then she would eat. Unless you were watching her, you wouldn't have noticed a different look in her eyes. Yes, Easter was different.

My husband's side of the family is smaller more intimate in its own sense. We only celebrate with his mom and dad, his sister and her husband, and sometimes our nieces. It just depends whether they attend. This year we had Easter dinner at his sisters house. I was very relieved to hear this. My in laws house is very tiny. There is 5 us alone, so adding 5-8 more is packed. More like clowns in a tiny Volkswagen. His sister is normal size, so people can breath. They can spread out and not feel so tramped for lack of better word. David's family is different than mine. They do not linger. They eat, do presents or whatever activity is "required", and then they all exit as fast as they gather. A hard adjust to me at first, now I flow with the motions much easier. It isn't that they do not enjoy each others company; it is just how they work. So, we did just as always. We ate; the kids played; we left.

Before I end, I must tell two great stories about my children. On Thursday before Easter, my mom took Amelia to the mall. They ate supper together and went "shopping". Mom said Amelia spotted the Easter bunny set up before she did. So, of course, they ventured over. Mom asked the Easter bunny if he was coming to Amelia's house to leave candy. He gave Mom a much enthusiastic thumbs up. Then Mom asked was he going to hide eggs? Another thumbs up. Each question received a thumbs up. Amelia asked Mom Why doesn't he say anything. Mom said well, honey I don't know. Mom said it took her by surprise and didn't know exactly what to say. Amelia said Come on Grandmama, this Easter bunny is a GIANT weirdo and I do not have time to waste on this.

If you know my Lorelai, you know she has a great love for chocolate. She literally could it eat for each meal and each snack. Never growing tired of it or make herself sick on it. She is also my skinniest child. I think she might have something here. At my mamaw's, we always have a Easter egg hunt. The younger kids get to go first before we unless the older children who are fast and know exactly what they want. Lorelai being the smallest wracked up. The majority of her eggs contained chocolate. She had a few others that she gave away. Two of their cousins were in the living room checking out their loot. They had decided to trade each other candy. Lorelai was going through hers. She immediately spotted the chocolate in their possession and understood completely what they were doing. Lorelai has a purse full of treasures with her at all times. This particular weekend, she had earned money for helping mommy clean and sort toys. Lorelai to her purse and pulled out her money. She fanned it out in triumph and said very sneaky "I have money!" This has been one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed her do. She sure does love her chocolate.

Introductions Please........

So, I have decided to "blog" my life. Sounds simple enough, but all in the same breath I find it confusing. I have so many memories I wanted captured. I am not talking about the ones you can capture with a camera. I want the memories that no one sees but hears or feels. So with that being said, let me introduce myself.

My name is Patty Morton Roberson. I live in Northeast Tennessee -Bristol to be exact. (No, I am not a Nascar fan and NO, I cannot get you tickets.) I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, sewer, business owner, lover of books. I have been married for 8 years come this June to my best friend, David. We have been "together" for 10 years. When I say he is my best friend, it isn't to sound all mushy or think we live a fairy tale. I tell only the truth about our relationship. I can tell him anything and everything. We can steal a romantic kiss one second and then next be arguing over politics. Together, we have 3 children all under the age of 4. Yes, you read that right ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 4. Amelia is our oldest; Lorelai our middle child and the baby, David Marshall. I lovely call them my 3 little piggies. Each of them have their own distinctive personalities and ways.

So, in a tiny nutshell, that sums me up. I am sure I will post soon after this. I feel as if I have tons to write about. Who knows if it is interesting, but I think it will be fun none the less.