A Treasured Tribute

Today was a big day for me.  I got to see Susan in Hello, Dolly for the first time.  I am almost speechless, both because of her performance and because of this from her bio in the program:

"Susan dedicates this show to her very own Dolly Levi...her mother, Linda Stovall!  After years of loving care for my wonderful father during his illness...she has "rejoined the human race" in a way that has amazed and blessed everyone around her!  "BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY!!"

I am flattered and honored beyond words that Susan said this about me.  I will never forget it.  She, however, is Dolly Levi!  In an early scene she states that one of her purposes in life is to step in when the good Lord needs help!  She glides across the stage elegantly and effortlessly in beautiful costumes.  Her dialogue is hysterically funny and delivered with impeccable timing.  The entire cast is appealing and does an excellent job.  The theatre is charming.

Now don't you let this parade pass you by!  I guarantee an afternoon or evening of pure entertainment and enjoyment!





 

"Could you do that just once more?"

I have been knocked off my throne as queen of the photo do-overs.  Yes, for years I have been a leader in the art of asking my subjects to re-enact or re-pose missed photo ops.  I always seemed to just barely miss the really good shots.  (Just ask Jay.)  But last night an event at Martin High School involving my dear son-in-law put me to shame.

To set the scene:  It was the junior voice recital.  Maddie was performing.  Susan was in dress rehearsal for "Hello Dolly," therefore unable to be there.  I walked in with Rob, and we discussed how nifty his video camera was...and that the cord had been lost...and that he was so glad he found it...and that the thing was now all charged up and ready to go.

Maddie was first.  She was mesmerizing.  About half way through I saw Rob reach for the nifty video camera which was on the chair next to him!  Disaster had befallen.  He had forgotten to video!

After most of the audience had left Rob fessed up to those of us still there what had happened.  With a lot of bumbling around, (and my egging on) Rob asked Maddie if she would sing again and Jana Harville if she would accompany again!  They agreed, and we had a perfect re-enactment, complete with as much applause as our small group could muster.  

So I'm abdicating my throne.  I don't think I'll ever be able to top Rob's do-over!

Let me tell you about my Mother

LaVerne McKinney Lynn

 

She was only 15 when she married my Daddy.  She did not finish high school, but you never would have thought that if you had known her.  She was very intelligent, and required that my two brothers and I  always use correct English grammar.  She was beloved by many and taught a Sunday School class for several years.

Her parents lived on an honest-to-goodness farm near the tiny town of Osage, Texas.  It was called the 3-R Ranch--Rocks, Rabbits, and Rattlesnakes!"  No inside plumbing.  Clothes made from feed sacks.  Animals of every variety.   A working windmill.  

My mother loved my daddy like crazy and vice versa! There were never cross words spoken between them. 

I have no idea how Mother knew all the things she knew.  For instance, I remember her correcting me when I pronounced diphtheria "dip-theria."  She instructed me that the pronunciation is "dif-theria."  She was right, but how did she know that?  She also taught me how to correctly place silverware in a table setting.  Believe me, that didn't seem likely with her background.

One day I sneezed extremely loudly. Mother said, "Would you have sneezed like that in church?" I then realized that I could sneeze quite quietly if I tried. She taught us to chew with our mouths closed. She did not allow us to use the word "fool" directed at another person. This one is most unusual...she did not allow us to accuse each other of or use the word "lying." 

She was an excellent seamstress. I remember that she made me a beautiful new dress to wear on my first date with Jack Stovall!

Six months after Jack and I married, Mother got sick.  The problem turned out to be a benign but troublesome brain tumor.  There was a surgery to remove it, but it grew back.  The second surgery damaged her brain to the point that she was paralyzed on her right side and couldn't stand or speak or swallow for 3 years. 

Mother had a spelling board that Daddy made for her.  It had all the letters of the alphabet on it, and she could point to letters with her left hand (opening her hand at the end of a word) faster than we could read.  The only specific thing I remember her spelling for me was when she found out we were expecting a baby (Susan.)  She spelled, "Who ever heard of a grandbaby you can't sing to?"

Mother died right after she turned 50 years old.  Susan was 9 months old at the time.  I so miss not having been able to know her as an adult.  I have now been blessed to live over half again as long as she did.  I not only got to sing to my grandbabies, they now sing for me.