Daddy and Them
The set of Billy Bob Thornton’s Daddy and Them (2001) was a learning experience. First, never eat food on film. The food is hot the first bite, the first bite only. Just move your fork around in the food like you’re contemplating a bite. Second, it’s harder to stay awake for a night shoot than you might think. Third, the cast and crew eat well on a Thornton movie. Choices at middle-of-the-night cast and crew feeding included grilled steaks and a smorgasbord of veggies.
Oh and, yes, we were supposed to look like blue collar workers.
Longevity genes
“You have longevity genes.” The words were spoken to me by a reliable source who wasn’t commenting on the length of my pants. They’re the kind of words that, being over 60, I actually appreciate.
Apparently, if you have parents or grandparents who lived long lives (Mom is 90 and pictured are her mother Ethel who lived to be 81, her grandmother Lizzie who lived to be 86 and her great-grandmother Suzanna who lived to be 87), you might be genetically predisposed to do the same. While it doesn’t take into account other factors like lifestyle and disease, it’s certainly a plus!
These women lived hard lives. Suzanna could hear the cannons during the Battle of Jenkins Ferry as a child. Lizzie’s husband left her to raise six children (that included two sets of twin boys) alone. Good hearted Ethel was a much sought-after seamstress who helped care for both women in addition to her husband and three children. Though it doesn’t show in this photo, Ethel was a very happy woman who loved music including church hymns, Keep on the Sunny Side by The Carter Family and Lawrence Welk who she forced me to watch when I visited:-) She also made sure I didn’t miss The Mickey Mouse Club with my favorite Mouseketeer Annette Funicello.
My name is Lynn and I’m a bookaholic
Some folks think I am kidding when I say I have a book problem. What they don’t know is that I’ve had box upon box of books in storage for the past few years. Out of sight, out of mind.
One day I had a revelation. Why pay to store books I seldom use? So, in December, perhaps the busiest month of the year, I decided to remedy this problem.
I’ve made two donation trips to the library with more to follow. Whew! If you hear crying, it’s because I ripped a beloved book from my hands and stuck it in a donate box in full view of myself.
My paternal grandmother
Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked, “Where did I get that nose?”
