grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

One Mav, Two Mav

July 11, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

One Mav, Two Mav,
Green Mav, Blue Mav,

Ex-Mav, Blue Mav,
Old Mav, No Mav.

This one had a little star.

This one left in his little car.

Say! What a lot of ex-Mavs there are.

Yes. Some are here. Most are not.

Some are old and none are hot.

Some are sad and none are glad.

And some are very, very bad.
Why are they sad and old and bad?

I don’t know. Go ask your dad.
Some are tall and some are thin. The tall one has a pointy chin.
From there to here, from here to there, stupid things everywhere.

Here are some who like to run. They run for fun in the hot Dallas sun.
Oh me! Oh my!
Oh me! Oh my!
Cuban lets alot of stupid things go by.

Some go to Knicks some to Nets.
Some should come to Dallas I bet.
Where can Mark buy new Mavs?
I can’t say, but he’ll have
To go a long, long way.

We see them come.
But mainly they go.
Some are fast.
And some are slow.
All are high and
Cost a lot of dough.
Not one of them is like another.
Don’t as us why.
Go ask your mother.

The Mavs are gone. The Mavs were fun.
Maybe someday another one.
Every day, from here to there. Stupid things are everywhere.

talya

Musical Pairings:

It’s Over, Elvis Presley

When my mother was expecting her first child, her due date was July 4th. But I waited around until July 10. It was the only time I’ve been the slightest bit tardy. And I wasn’t really late, I just needed my own day. I didn’t want to share with the entire nation.

July 10, 1965; 3 yrs old
Nana & Papa Creecy, Staci (3 mos)

My 5th birthday party was in our backyard playhouse. Everyone in attendance (Sara, Martha Ann, Anita, Lesa, Staci) brought their baby dolls for an old fashioned tea party. There were homemade invitations and treats. Momma tied long spiral-shaped pastel colored balloons to the weeping willow tree magically transforming the back yard. The tree was amazing. Life was amazing.

There were no spa treatments, italian cream cake balls, or hand painted magic wands. We played pin-the-tail on the donkey instead of riding live unicorns through the cotton field.

It was a simpler time.

And our birthday tradition – my sister always received one small gift on my birthday, and I on hers. An un-birthday present. Nana and Papa started this tradition because they could never just give one of us something. Momma often still does this…

On my 9th birthday we went to Memphis, ate pizza at Shakey’s, waved at Graceland, and rode the Memphis Queen. For those of you keeping up, this was the trip to the Pink Palace when Momma was nearly arrested for a moon rock incident. Her first run-in with the Memphis po-po. (Moon rock story….)

Memphis Riverboat

Later, most of my birthdays were spent at the lake with candles in a slice of watermelon. We ate it on the dock in the sun with sticky juice dripping down our bathing suits. I’ve always preferred watermelon to most other foods, including cake. The only exception was Nana’s Fresh Strawberry Cake. If she came to the lake, I ate that with my watermelon.

Birthday at the lake 1975

I spent my 21st birthday in Tokyo during a Baylor summer abroad program. At a disco. In the Ginza. With new friends. A gift of flowers and chocolate and Kirin and karaoke. I missed my lake and my family and my watermelon…

On my 30th birthday, my first husband threw me a surprise birthday party. I don’t much like surprises. ESPECIALLY after having spent the Entire Day wallpapering a friend’s apartment. My friend who was InOnTheWholeThing, mentioned not word one to me… but had no problem letting me wallpaper her apartment before my party.

Would a true friend really allow this to happen??? Allow me to stroll back home completely surprised, to a house crammed full of friends, wearing my painting clothes with wallpaper glue in my hair?

I think not.

Today is my 50th birthday. I’ve decided my mother is the one who should celebrate. She did all the work, deserves the party. I am more excited on Kelsey’s birthday (December 13) and Tate’s birthday (May 18) than my own. Those are the days I celebrate. I worked especially hard on those birthdays… and the following days…

I think I’ll buy my momma a watermelon for her un-birthday. I wonder what Staci will get?

talya

Musical Pairings:

Birthday, The Beatles

“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents … and only one for birthday presents, you know.” — Lewis Carroll, from Through the Looking Glass

50 Shades of Grey

July 5, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner

Ok so I ordered it. After a brief discussion in book club, I ordered it. Someone had read it and that someone’s husband was reaping the benefits….

Of course what happens in book club stays in book club, so I’ll not say anything else about Friday night. Other than it is a veryfunbookclub, and afterward I was tired from laughing. But not too tired to place an order on Amazon.com with one quick click.

My mother has read it. She was behind in my blog because she couldn’t stop reading it. She provided a very colorful and descriptive review of the book to my friend and me a few weeks ago.

I’ll keep you posted.

You know I will.

Of course you’ve probably already read it….

talya

Musical Pairings:

I’m on Fire, Bruce Springsteen