Rosa is my Grandmother. If there ever was a role model for the characters of Steel Magnolia, the movie, it was my Grandmother. She was the perfect example of a strong, educated, well mannered and well read, perfectly manicured and meticulously groomed, beautifully articulate, goal oriented, organized, prayer warrior, southern lady. She was ALWAYS a lady. At just A little over 5 feet and a perfect size 6 her entire life (we hated her). She taught me the power of prayer and consistency. She had an amazing accent that could mesmerize and I could listen to her speak for hours. She was a disciplined disciple of Christ that I wish I knew better. But her lessons from life remain with me to this day. She was definitely Grace under pressure. Married to my Grandfather for over 50 years and lived thru amazing experiences. She raised my mother and aunt while granddaddy was in the Navy during WWII. (But that's another story). Yes, Grace under Pressure. I gotta get me some of that. I hope I have gotten some of that.
George William is my father. My daddy. The Wiese family characteristics are very strong and the German heritage runs deep. Most of my dad's family immigrated from Germany around turn of the century. My daddy grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin during The Great Depression. Dad would share stories about studying for school by kerosine lamp light while sitting on orange crates. But my daddy was a dreamer, an adventurer, an entrepreneur. He left the farm and served in Korea, when he returned to the states he went out to "seek his fortune", he jumped trains and traveled across the country, started his own trucking business, was the first in his family to graduate from college and went on to law school, which he completed in 3 years graduating with honors from Emory Law School. He was a football/baseball coach, spades playing, chairman of the Republican Party In Henry County who wrote a regular article for the county paper for years. Daddy taught me to dream. He instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I set my mind to do. That NOTHING was impossible. He was the most generous, humble, creative, spontaneous, forgiving, intelligent, stubborn, God fearing man of prayer. He was truly the best man I've ever known. Oh he could make me crazy but I never doubted his love for me. The Bible says that our earthly father gives us an example of the love our Heavenly Father, yep that was my dad. I miss him.
Judith is my mom. She is and has always been my anchor. She was my mommy, my confidant, my counselor and best friend, my teacher and cohort in crime, We could shop like nobody's business and momma gave me many precious gifts then let me go to live them out. My sweet momma. Momma was a debutant. A stunningly beautiful woman who had a social calendar to make Paris Hilton take notice. She attended Belhaven back when it was an all girls college. She is a concert pianist with the voice of a trained soprano. Her southern accent is musical and magical. She's the quiet artist with a heart of pure gold. She was an admistrative assistant extraordinaire, President of the PTA, Henry County's first Allstate Agent, the secretary for the Dekalb YMCA and our Church Secretary for over 10 years. Mom reads extensively and journals excessively. Every time I turn around she's writing another book. Mom is a woman of God who spent her time reading His word and seeking his face with Prayer serving as a lifeline that guided her life. She's a rare breed of gentle womanliness that is all but extinct in this world. She taught me to sew, to paint, to care for flowers and puppies, to be nice when no one else was nice, to cross my legs and wear a slip (do those even still exist?). To put other people first, to say yes mam and no sir and NOT to call boys. Momma never perspired, she hated all forms of exercise and believed in the less is more philosophy. (Though a precious little puppy has got her walking now. . . Go Ginger go). She taught me to love and to love myself without thinking to highly of myself. How did she do that? thru faith. She showed me Jesus and just what he could do in your life. She taught me to live and then she let me go. That's the amazing thing about her. She let me go, making no demands on me. Wow. I realize as my children get older just how hard that is. I gotta get me some of that too.
The older I get the more I realize how little I know. As a young woman, I had all the answers but now, not so much. Mark and I often laugh at how crazy life is. All those answers we once had, well they don't mean squat. All bets are off and we slosh thru our days as best we can. I can honestly tell you that half of where I've walked I would never have dreamed Id walk. But I have learned one thing that is vital. I gotta be true to who I am. A extremely flawed christian woman who loves her husband (how crazy is that after 25 years), a disciple of the living God who is most effective when on her knees, a aging mother completely enthralled with her family, watching with great joy as her children grow and learn to stand on their own. I am a closet hippy who dreams of living on the beach with a martini and a sketch book, a mystery book lover who has been known to read the last chapter first, a dreamer, a seamstress, a musician wannabe, a journaler, and feminist (after a fashion) that still believes in stay at home moms, Cinderella and happy endings, a Steel Magnolia holding hard to her heritage. Yep, I am definitely getting me some of that.
That is thanks to Rosa, George and Judith.
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