Hall Girls' Memories

OK....we Hall Girls have a new assignment....actually, Daddy is an "old" assignment...Mama left him with us 14 years ago. So, we have made him walk, we have taken away his car keys, we have taken him to Vegas, Biloxi, and Hard Rock to play some games, we have fed him, made him take showers, taken him to church, read the Bible with him, prayed with him, made him drink water, made him take his pills, nursed a broken rib and broken eye socket, loved him, loved him and loved him. Of course, Margaret, who lives with Daddy in the cabin has had the lion's share, but his entire family.. Dean and I, Mim and Ted, Karen and Greg, Adam and Lori and the "Greats", Bill and Johanna, David and Dianna, and Bill and Mary Lillian Baldy have all contributed to these tasks over the last few years. So, our new assignment??? Listen, Listen, and Listen. We want to get as many stories from Sweet Willie, as we can make him remember. Today, Mim drove up from Eustis, and we sat for hours, just talking and sharing stories, and laughing and laughing and laughing! For those of you who knew our Mama and know our Daddy....you KNOW that the Hall family has stories filled with laughter and love....just like yours. We actually heard a new story today....Mim remembered it and Daddy vouched for her....here goes.

When Mama and Daddy lived on the farm in Fitzgerald, Daddy and "others" tried there hand at "distilling" what we Southerners know as Moonshine!! They put their shine in Pepsi cola bottles, corked and stored in the barn. One cold morning, Mama was hanging clothes outside, when Daddy left for work. She got very cold....Mama weighed about 98 pounds, soaking wet, and was REALLY feeling the cold...so she thought she would take a little sip of moonshine to warm her up. Well, I guess one sip did not do it, and she drank the whole pepsi bottle of shine.

 Remember, Daddy left her hanging clothes on the line...when he returned for lunch..she was "Hung over" the line...feeling warm enough to enjoy her unexpected nap!!!

The moonshine experiment ended abruptly one morning, a little later, when they thought they were under attack.....shooting guns and such...No, it wasn't an attack, it was just the remaining bottles of moonshine popping their corks. Oh well, Mama would just have to figure out some other way to stay warm, while hanging out her clothes.

We had such a good time today...Mim is going to come back as much as possible to tell and retell the old stories. I will write and share as Daddy remembers. Thanks, Dr. Scoles, for reminding us that at 91 years of age, we do not have to make Daddy walk, take him out in the cold (which he hates so much), or take him away from home to have a good time. All we have to do is sit with him, talk, laugh, and listen....get him to eat and drink his water...take his pills...and then go right back to just loving on one of the sweetest human beings to ever walk this earth.

There is a country song that fits our Daddy to a T...He's an angel with no halo, and one wing in the fire..... Hopefully, I have figured out how to play this one, with this post!

The End of An Era....Thanks to Bobby B.

OK...this may be a tough one...you see? Bobby Bowden has been a part of our lives for a long time. He was an assistant coach, under Bill Peterson, Margaret's freshman year at FSU, when the Noles beat the gators for the first time, and Fred Biletnikoff caught pass after pass from Steve Tensi, and ended up winning the 1965 Gator Bowl, while Margaret marched her heart out at halftime with the Chiefs! As a junior in high school, I got to go to both of those "historic" wins!!

Yes, he left to go be the head coach of West Virginia...but returned to FSU as head coach in 1976. Dean and I were not in attendance for those games in '76, as Adam was born on September 1st. ( We were a little BUSY!!)

BUT..the very next year, we began many years of home game attendance, staying with Margaret and Karen and Bill, in Tallahassee during the Fall weekends! The kids grew up knowing how to spell Florida State, watching Renegade and Bobby Bowden on the sidelines. Their very first game...Charlotte Williams, Margaret and I held the three little ones on our laps in the end zone. Karen cried when the crowd yelled, but she and Adam fell fast asleep, by the second half....while Bill remained wide awake...big blue eyes on Bobby and the horse...never uttering a sound, except for two words.....Bobby Bowden.

Over the next 16 years or so, we repeated that trip for every home game. The kids got old enough to have their own seats, in the end zone. They made promises to stay put until halftime, when we came to "feed and water" them! They were so good....and became some of Bobby's biggest fans. David Miller became old enough to join the crowd..and the cousins started some lifetime memories that few cousins can share! Our best memory, was before a Wake Forest game, we went to visit the "new" rooms and offices built under the North End Zone...we quietly waited outside Bobby's office, just to get a glimpse of him as he left to go to the game...When he came out of his office, he stopped, knelt down to those three kids, shook their hands, wrote his autograph on a piece of scrap paper, smiled, made them feel important, as their awestruck parents just smiled and nodded, too impressed to speak!

As Adam and David Valenzano (Adie Price's oldest) became good friends, David joined the cousins at the games. Dean would lead the troup to the practice field, before the games for passing and receiving skills. I think the kids would have spent the whole time there, if we had let them. But, then to the game...and again, they no longer sat in the end zone...but had their own seats above ours. They waited patiently, whether the Seminoles won or lost to take part in another tradition...wait for the stands to clear...the field to empty...drop to the field and run their own touchdowns....a few times, Dean would even get to meet a couple of the players, (Leroy Butler...Eric Hayes...others), as they would wander back out of the dressing rooms for their own reasons...Sadly, that tradition ended too soon for us, as the practice field was locked up, and noone could get on the game field after the game...Our memories remain!

Even later, Adam and Lori would come up occasionally, for a  Miami or gator game. I gladly gave up my ticket, to watch the game at home, or spend a day with the grands, when they came up with their parents. After this year...I was glad NOT to be at the stadium..Do you know we had rain for almost every home game? I think God was even shedding a few tears for Bobby's last year at FSU!

So many memories, both for us as a family, and for all of FSU. Ann Bowden was the one who came up with the idea for a new vision of what people would think of, when they heard the name FSU. In 1978, Renegade and Chief Osceola became household words, and wonderful TV and photo opportunities. They even allowed the duo to stay on the field at this year's Gator Bowl! Grandson, Rusty likes the Appaloosa...he would call him Chalky!

Soooo, the Gator Bowl of 2010 was so much more than Bobby Bowden's last football game. This is truly the end of an era, for him and his folks, for FSU, and for our family and friends. We will all have our own personal memories of Bobby...mine will be that golf tournament in St. Pete, where I was the only "girl" playing. Someone came up behind me and slapped me on the back...I wheeled, ready to lay into whomever...it was Bobby Bowden. After just a few minutes, he made it seem like he had known me for years..learned I was from Eustis, FL and discussed WITH ME all the good players he had from our area like Howard Ehler, Billy Rhodes and Billy's sons. I told him of how my Mama was so proud of FSU when they hired him...how she wrote a letter to him...and how she still had his reply...he said, he remembered and appreciated the support. When we parted, and he went on to the next fan...I will always remember how kind, how personable, and how I felt like he really knew me and WANTED to get to know me better. I am sure that is how he treated everyone....like family!

So, like a member of my family, I will always be grateful to have had little snippets of time with the Legend. And like a member of my family, I will miss not seeing him at every home football game. I will miss how he seemed to irritate the fool out of Steve Spurrier and many of the gators. I will miss the class and caring that he brought to College football. As a teacher, I will miss the loss of another great teacher for young men, who need a good, loving male role model so badly.  But, like a member of my own family, I will always have the memories of the happy times, the times when he was there...the head coach of my university... the man who gave so many a reason to be proud. I thank you, Bobby Bowden, for being the man you are....for loving your extended family, even when they made mistakes, when they didn't seem  to like you much, when they wouldn't listen to your sage advice...when all you really wanted to do was help and love and teach and learn. You treated us all like you would your own family.

Bye, for now, Bobby Bowden. Thanks for sharing him, Ann. And thanks for all the memories...they can never    be taken away!              WE LOVE YOU, BOBBY

Christmas Memories 2009

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THIS PLAYBACK TAKES A LONG TIME TO LOAD...MAYBE READ BLOG FIRST!!

Dean and I headed for New York City this year for Christmas. Dean had missed two big trips this year, because of his back, so I thought this would be a great Christmas present for both of us. Though we missed all of our wonderful family and friends, I know they forgave us, and we talked to all of them through Facebook, phone on Christmas, and now this blog.

We booked our room at the Doubletree at Times Square. The room had a terrific view, and the hotel is convenient to everything. Our first day was spent walking, riding in a carriage at Central Park, "shopping" at FAO Schwartz and Saks 5th Ave, watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center and Central Park, and topping the day off with the show, Jersey Boys. Of course, the music was great, and the actor for Frankie Valli had a great voice...loved the show.."Walk Like a Man......"

Day two brought a bus tour, one of those double decker, "Hop on and off", that saved us a few years back, when we went with Adam and Lori and the kids, during the transportation strike. We hopped off at the South Street Seaport, and had a wonderful lunch...then continued on the Brooklyn Loop and back to Downtown. We ended the day at the show, Wicked. A wonderful new story of Oz...the sets were amazing and the singing was fantastic..."Defying gravity.."

Day 3 was Christmas Eve, and after a morning of walking around Times Square and Toys R Us, we went to see the remake of White Christmas. WOW!!! It was just what you would expect from my favorite Christmas production and then some. The singers and dancers and costumes were just fantastic..David Ogden Steiers (Major Winchester from M.A.S.H.) played the General, and he was also wonderful.."We'll follow the old man..."   We walked to the Presbyterian Church on 5th Ave and enjoyed their Christmas Eve service of lessons and hymns. As you would expect in NYC, talented singers and musicians gravitate to the choirs of the local churches...we were not disappointed...great sopranos, tenors, and the organist was incredible. As we walked back to Times Square, we stopped off at the Stage Deli...the very BEST pastrami sandwich ever!!

Then, Christmas day...we grabbed a taxi to Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game. They played and lost to the Miami Heat. The crowd was typical New York and so much fun! Dean talked to all the family at Mom's house during halftime..and I got a voice mail and text from Adam and the kiddos...not our typical Christmas morning, but still loads of fun! Dean had left my "present" to open in Monticello...I told him not to fear, "Tiffany's" is just a walk away!! :)

Christmas dinner was a special meal at the Doubletree, and we ended the day at the Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular. The Rockettes were indeed the stars, and our friend, Kelly King, is still a member of this prestigious group.

Our final day in NYC was filled with rain..so we taxied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We, and about a million others!! We got the audio tour "stuff" and had a great time. We viewed the old masters, the American exhibit, the beautiful Christmas tree, the armor.....and so on and so on. We spent 5 hours and probably saw a 5th of the exhibits...what a wonderful place!

Before our final show, we dined at Ellen's Stardust Diner, and were completely entertained by the waiters and waitresses, who are aspiring Broadway performers. It is so much fun to watch them, sing, dance and deliver food..all at the same time. Our waiter had just returned from a 3 month tour...back to Ellen's to be "rediscovered". Our final show was Mama Mia...a terrific show with, again, some great songs, thanks to ABBA!! " I have a dream....."

The next day...back to La Guardia and our trip home...what a fantastic Christmas trip. Something about NYC.... Dean and I both agree, it was and will be a favorite trip of all times!!

Christmas Memories (Really Old Ones)

Today, the ladies and gentlemen of First Methodist Church were making and wrapping up fruit baskets for the more "experienced" members of our church, for Christmas. As you might expect, fun was had by all, and over 40 baskets were made and delivered this morning. What I did not expect was some of the memories of Christmas that came flooding back today....

Here are Andy and Mim, with Scooter the cat in front of our traditional Christmas tree...Yes, an evergreen, still in can, (to return to the nursery for selling), with ornaments all near the front and middle, because of the numerous times Scooter climbed and knocked it over before Christmas. The Halls never chopped down a tree for Christmas, we just carefully used and returned them to the nursery stock...see??? we were "green" even way back then!!

I know my sisters and I were so embarrassed, as we took our "nursery" plants to our school  teachers....we never got to buy our teachers presents, we just had to take them poinsettias, or those little miniature trees that we decorated, or some other such plant. Of course, we did find out as adults, teachers really like that stuff...even better than the candles and perfumes!!

Speaking of those little trees...that was one of my favorite "chores" during Christmas...See? on the  bench next to Mama? Those are some of our beautiful trees!! I just know they made special gifts for some teacher or mailman, or milkman, or friend!

Some other special times were given to us by Dick Livingston, Daddy's best friend from childhood. He owned Russell's department store in Eustis, and gave us Hall girls a real paying job during the Christmas season. We made about 20 cents an hour wrapping presents purchased in the store. During the beginning of the week, it was a real cinch...somebody buys a blouse, you go back in the back, find the blouse box, pack with tissue, choose a wrapping paper, pick white or red or green ribbon, curl the ends of the ribbon and return to customer. No problems....BUT by Christmas Eve....big problems arose. Boxes became scarce, tape was running thin, only white ribbon may have been left, to go with only one kind of paper!!

I think Margaret and I made have pulled off the best wrapping job in history. Can you guess what someone bought? An overcoat...kind of like a thick trench coat today...we went back to find the box...HA! Not only did that box not exist, the largest box we could find was a square shaped "underwear" box. Somehow, we folded and folded and folded, 'til we got that big coat in that little box...one of us held down the box as the other wrapped the paper and taped and taped and taped. We were so proud, when we handed the customer that beautifully wrapped box, and assured her that yes, indeed..it was her overcoat!!

Christmas hold many delightful memories from those simpler days....Nanny Tom's sugar cookies, our beautiful nursery Christmas trees, Mama's and Daddy's sacrifices for that new bike, singing Christmas carols with the church youth, decorating miniature trees at the nursery, and wrapping presents at Russell's department store...just to name a few.

Bethlehem In Monticello

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Here is a small part of Bethlehem in Monticello, a labor of love for our community, presented by members of several congregations in our little town. Though we were rained out on our first night, over 500 people came on Saturday to walk the streets of Bethlehem, follow Mary and Joseph through the town, interact with the townspeople, here the "rest of the story", watch the shepherds in the fields, hear angel tidings, and follow the wisemen to the stable.

This has become a very important tradition for our community....a wonderful way to prepare for the Season!

After visiting Bethlehem, people are treated to cookies, hot chocolate, apple cider, and wonderful entertainment and fellowship. Here are just a few faces in the crowd...

Merry Christmas to all!!

Thanksgiving 2009

Grandpa and David

When Mim and husband Ted, said they would be joining us for Thanksgiving, and that nephew, David and wife Dianna would like to come, as well, we were so excited!! Not only was Daddy, who has been recovering from a broken rib, going to get to see some of his Grandkids, we were going to enlist more helpers for our newest Thanksgiving tradition.

2009 brought the 4th year of our church's Community Thanksgiving Dinner. This began as Dean's brainchild, and was adopted by the church missions team and, of course, a large percentage of our church. Many people work, donate money, and, oh yes, homemade pies for the occasion.

Dean and his cook crew began Tuesday, cooking turkeys. On Thursday, 40 folks, from our church, our community, and even neighboring communities came to finish cooking, delivering take-outs to shut ins, serving those who join us, fellowshipping, and finally joining in on the eating, and of course, cleaning up.

Last year, the total folks served were around 200. So Dean planned for around 240 this year. We realized, after niece Karen and I made several trips to Winn Dixie, that the number was going to be greater. When the turkey feathers had settled, the numbers this year, grew to over 300. Again, we are not sure which group of people are more blessed...which groups are more thankful.... or which group  gives more to the other...the Servers or the Servees. God's Love is so great.

The added treat for our family, is the opportunity we made to go to Barnaby's on Wednesday night to gain sustenance and pepperoni for the following day's work. The special time also gave Daddy reasons to smile, as the cousins shared memories of nursery work days, painting houses, "eggings", and of course, Daddy's wonderful grandfatherly stories...  :)

We missed Bill and Johanna (in Peru), Adam and Lori and the kiddos (visiting friends), and hope that Thanksgiving was a wonderful time for all our family and friends.

The Big 60 Final Chapter

Well, on November 9th, the big day arrived.  It started with e-cards coming in from Adam, Adie Price, Karen and Greg, David, and even one from Peru...Bill and Johanna. Then, Dean whisked me off to a wonderful lunch at Carmelita's. I still find that some of the best Mexican faire anywhere.

We then headed over to Tampa and the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel. My sister Mim and her hubby Ted joined us that evening, and they were going to stay through the 11th, Mim's birthday. Dean and I were surprised that evening with a fruit and cheese tray and a bottle of champagne. Thanks again Larry, we enjoyed it all!

Dean had to leave the next morning, but I got to stay another day. Margaret and Daddy got there, and the Hall girls got to celebrate their birthdays with their "good friend" Bill Hall. The celebration was certainly enhanced by Glenda, the good witch of the North. For those who know The Wizard of Oz slot machine..she visited me and rewarded me with $700+.

Unfortunately, we had a bit of a mishap Tuesday night. Daddy took a fall in the room. We found out when we got back to Monticello, the next day, that he has a broken rib. I guess we will have to "tone down" next year's celebration. Please keep our Daddy in your prayers.

So, the Big 60 came and went. I loved spending time and celebrating with  my family and friends.  To think...in high school, I didn't even think that "1984" would ever get here!!