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Birthday Girl and the Memphis Queen

July 10, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

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

They say it’s your birthday!

April 17, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

sisters

Forty-nine years ago my life changed when the stork brought me a little sister. A best friend and constant companion. A playmate and co-conspirator. Even though I was two years, nine months and seven days older, Momma dressed us alike and many people came to believe we were twins.

Some still do.

I try to recall my first sister memory, but I can’t find it. My memories are all of us together.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Musical Pairing:

The Beatles, Birthday Song

Sisters

June 22, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

GBE 2: Blog On Week #109: Siblings


Momma uses a tiny bit of Dippity Do to arrange her dark hair into a curl in the center of her head.

Everyone comes with pink flowers and presents for the baby with pouty lips.

Nana gives me a new coloring book.

While Momma irons, I give her a bottle. We sit in Daddy’s big leather recliner in front of the television, but I watch her instead of Captain Kangaroo.

She is heavier than my doll.

She grabs my little finger and holds tight.

Momma says she will be my best friend, but I have doubts.

Her hair smells like powder.

I guess she is okay.

#Sisters
Talya and Staci, April, 1965

talya

“Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life.” 
― Charles M. Schulz

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. 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 (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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