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Birthday Girl and the Memphis Queen

July 10, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 21 Comments

Birthdays are still kinda fun to me, and I’m happy to have another one today. Soon, my mother will call and sing Happy Birthday. I’m lucky that way.

One of my most memorable birthdays was my 9th because my party included a Mississippi River boat ride on the Memphis Queen. Here we are with Nana who always posed like a model and never took a bad picture. My friend Sara, sister Staci, and I are wearing matching Memphis Queen Line berets because we are fun tourists from Arkansas.

Memphis Queen on the occasion of my 9th Birthday

I remember being nine years old. The beginning of the Jan Brady years…

Jan Brady and Me

I loved Donna Osmond. His life-sized poster covered the door of our bedroom closet.

I played with Malibu Barbie and wanted to be Nancy Drew when I grew up.

Take a look at the party picture below and let’s discuss…

My ninth birthday party!

(l-r) Staci, Me, Sara with Nana (Frances Johnson Creecy)

This is the BAT cave kitchen. My mother still lives in this house on the farm. Although much has changed (new floor, cabinets, etc.), the kitchen is in the same location in the house. If that room could talk…

See the expando hat rack on the wall? It now hangs on the back porch, and I’m pretty sure Momma still has at least two of those same hats.

By the time we ate cake, my Memphis Queen beret already hung on the rack. Never much of a hat person, I was over that thing.

And speaking of cake, Nana’s fresh strawberry cake (always my birthday cake choice) sat on the table in front of me, yet Staci somehow ate chocolate?

I wish Momma still had the dinette set. It’s a collector item now.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Donny Osmond, Go Away Little Girl

Filed Under: Family, Life, Memories Tagged With: birthday, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi River, Nana, Staci Tate

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Comments

  1. Colene says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:05 am

    Happy Birthday! Aww, the decoupage era too. That table looks very familiar. Ours was trimmed in red.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Thank you Colene!

      Reply
  2. Dot says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:24 am

    What a delightful post! You looked just like Jan Brady. A wonderful birthday memory.

    Dot

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Thank you Dot!

      Reply
  3. mark price says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:24 am

    Is that door with the curtains the same doorway with the six panel door to the back porch? I’m trying to get my bearings. I love to look at pictures to check out the houses and see how they’ve changed over the years.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      Yes that’s the door to the back porch. The wall behind the washing machine was removed and is now the doorway to the den.

      Reply
  4. Jamie Hicks says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:29 am

    I remember dressing up and putting Donnie and Marie concerts at your house! Those were the good old days! Wow, we can say good old days now 🙁

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      haha Jamie!

      Reply
  5. Tim says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Well, I want to wish you the Happiest of all Happy Birthdays, and thanks for sharing your ninth birthday with us and the pics are awesome!!! Your Nana is beautiful in the pics, and yeah, I think she could transitioned into the modeling profession with very little effort…a natural, as they define her gift. She was a “classy lady” with a kind and loving heart, and apparently, that is a wonderful trait that runs in her family. Once again, thanks for sharing your amazing memories…it’s a fun walk with you down memory lane!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 10, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Thank you Tim!!

      Reply
  6. mrs June Graham says

    July 10, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    enjoyed your birthday party pics!!!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2014 at 7:12 am

      Thank you Mrs. June!

      Reply
  7. Bryan Jones says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:18 pm

    cool post, true oldies channel played “puppy love” by Donny today great timing! Happy Birthing Day!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 11, 2014 at 7:11 am

      Oh that’s awesome Bryan! I heard American Pie today. Made me happy:)

      Reply
  8. cindy baugh says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:16 am

    Hi there! Just discovered your blog. I am from Mississippi county too. Lived in Blytheville, went to school in Dell. I live in eastern TN now. I have friends in Dallas from Blytheville. We seem to like all the same things and I played around with a blog a while back but haven’t kept it up. Plan to revive it soon. Maybe. LOL Going to make myself a fresh cup of coffee and settle back and read some of your posts.

    Reply
  9. pat laster says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:54 am

    Great pics; great memories. Great ideas, great person you are. Glad you came into my life.

    Reply
  10. Amber says

    July 11, 2014 at 8:12 am

    Happy Birthday! I love all your pictures and you totally look like Jan Brady! Hope you had a wonderful birthday and maybe another slice of your Nana’s fresh strawberry cake!

    Reply
  11. Dorothy Johnson says

    July 11, 2014 at 8:40 am

    Well, I feel bad that I missed your birthday! For some reason, my email notice for your blog has a one day lag-time. Heck fire! Anyway, Happy Belated Birthday. I hope it was wonderful. I love your pictures. How special you must have felt that day. My sister-friend, Suanne, had a dinette set just like yours. I ate many a meal on it. Love you.

    Reply
  12. Jan says

    July 11, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    Loved seeing these and I loved your Nana (Aunt Frances). She looks so much like Uncle Woody here. Neither one were my aunt and uncle, only 2nd cousins, but we were close family. Hope you had a great birthday!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 12, 2014 at 6:24 am

      She was one of a kind. So was Uncle Woody! Thank you for commenting:)

      Reply
  13. Ashley says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    Happy birthday!! Hope the day is amazing 🙂

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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