More Memories...

After writing a blog about memories last night, I went to bed and as I lay there I thought back to Carol and I running through my grandparent's home and I found myself laughing out loud. As I laid there thinking back, I couldn't help but laugh and smile. I guess it was just something you would have to had been there to understand. Sort of like the song says: You Should Have Seen It In Color.
What I failed to mention in my last blog, was that it was usually late at night after everyone had gone to bed for the night that Carol and I would whisper to each other that we should run through the house. It was usually Carol who actually came up with the plan and I would go along.
The blueprint of the house was a rectangle. There was no hall in the house. Each room was connected with three rooms on the right side and three rooms on the left. The middle room on the left side had a bathroom built into it sort of like a square inside of a square. So when we ran through the house at breakneck speed it was in a circle of sorts. This drove my Pop-Paw crazy! He wouldn't get up to make us go to bed but would holler out to us to stop and when we didn't, he would appeal to the adult females in the house to 'Please' make us stop.
Running through the house wasn't the only mischief we got into. There was one phone in the house and it was on the wall beside the front door. The phone was a rotary phone and in those days you could dial '0' and actually speak to an operator. It was high up and we would have to pull a chair up so we could reach it. Night after night we prank called people and asked them if their ice-box was running or if their nose was running and of course told them that they had better go catch it. For the most part we could keep our giggles down to a minimum as to not wake the grown ups. The poor neighbors were some of our victims. To this day I don't know if they ever knew that it was us keeping them up at night.
There are so many memories of being at my grandmother's home, I doubt I could ever write them down. I have always called it my grandmother's house and never really said "I'm going to see my grandparents or I'm going to see Pop-Paw" It was always "I'm gong to see Munner". Munner is what I called my grandmother because I couldn't pronounce Mother when I first learned to talk. I heard my mother and her sisters calling their mother,'Mother' so I thought that was what I should call her, hence Munner came into existence.
I spent a lot of time there over the years as did several of my cousins. It seemed that there was always at least one daughter and several cousins staying at my grandparent's (Munner's) home. The reason there was usually someone staying there, is one of the daughters would leave their husbands (or run from them) and go home to stay with their parents.
We didn't mind or at least I didn't. I adored my Munner and loved being there. It was the safest place I knew.
My granddaughters haven't tried running through the house at night or making prank calls...yet. Maybe I shouldn't tell them about this memory of mine...I don't want to give them any ideas. :) But knowing me... I would probably run with them and help them dial the numbers...Shhh!

Memories...

There are times that I remember. It’s funny how little things happen or someone mentions something and memories that have been forgotten come flooding back. It doesn’t always have to be a spoken word that brings the memories back. A flower on the side of the road, a bird chirping or even a smell can suddenly make these memories appear. Not all memories are pleasant and not all are unpleasant. Some memories are wonderful and sweet. Some are hard to think about. Rather good or bad, these memories and the experience from the memories are what makes me the person that I am.
I’ve been told (by a few people) that I should write a book about my life. I don’t believe I am qualified to write a book but I have given some thought to simply writing about some of my memories.
My granddaughter’s were swimming in the pool a couple of weeks ago and the youngest, Kylee walked around the edge of the pool and called “Daddy!” I was sitting in a chair beside my daughter Kayli and daughter-in-law Kim. I smiled and said to Kim, “Don’t you know this pool looks huge to her little eyes?” “Remember when you were little and everything looked really big and when you grew up, they looked almost small?” Kim agreed with me and we continued watching the babies in the pool with Nathan.
Sitting there, my mind went back to my grandmother’s home. I remembered the rooms and how big they were back then. I remembered running barefoot through the rooms with my aunt Carol, who is eight months older than me. My grandfather yelling “ Hea’h, Ya’ll stop that now!“ and the two of us giggling and running faster from room to room. To me that house was grand. After growing up, I realized it really wasn’t that big at all. Six rooms and a bathroom but it had been the hub of my life.
A few minutes passed and Kylee was jumping into the pool to her Daddy. Kennedie was yelling “Look Mee-Maw! Watch me!” with Kamberlyn chiming in after her. Watching them so carefree and happy was a new memory forming for later years when they are all grown up and aren’t concerned with their Mee-Maw watching them. Sweet memories that I will hold dear.
These new memories help me push the memory of my own father standing on the bank of an old muddy pond, holding me and telling me that he was going to throw me in and that it was the best way for me to learn how to swim. I was about three years old and terrified. In my short life I had learned that this man could be mean. I had learned to stay away from him but, that wasn’t always possible. He didn’t throw me in but, he did manage to frighten me nearly to death. He placed a memory in my mind that has never gone away, nearly fifty years later. I can remember thinking “Where is my mother?” and praying to God to please let her come and get me. Yes I knew how to pray even at the young age of three. Prayer was my refuge. It still is.
Some may wonder why I would write about this unpleasant memory after writing about the good ones.
It is these unpleasant memories that make the good ones all the better.
They make me really appreciate the fact that my son is a loving father and his children call “Daddy” to him to get his attention. They make me really appreciate the fact that my granddaughters are carefree and happy children.
The pool memory put a deep rooted determination in me to do things on my own. To learn how to swim alone and without the ‘help’ or command of anyone else.
Memories are powerful things.

I plan to write more about my memories later…

Sour Taste

I like to think that I’m a pretty laidback, easygoing and all around fun person to be around. I also hope that I am fair and understanding as well as compassionate to other people; regardless if I know them personally or have just met them.
There are two things that I have a very low tolerance for: Hypocrisy and Racism. I feel passionately about both subjects and in my opinion they go hand in hand.
After all it takes a great deal of hypocrisy to assume that ones self is better in any way than another human being because of the color of one’s skin.
I was born and raised in East Texas and know firsthand prejudges that are prevalent in this area. They aren’t as open or out in the open as they were when I was a child but unfortunately they still exist.
I was reminded of this unfortunate fact last week while I was out with friends and it has left a sour taste in my mouth. The sour taste is disappointment not only in the fact that there are still ignorant people who are mean spirited and full of hate but also that there are still people who either can’t or won’t make a stand for what is right. Some of which are friends of mine.
Without going into too much detail and to make a long story short, I was out with friends Saturday night. While with these friends, I met a man who irritated me from the beginning. He was pushy and tried to be touchy feely when I gave him absolutely no indication that he could be.
A little later my friends and I were at Denny’s and who came in but the irritating man and one of his friends. And what does he do? He comes over to where we were sitting and takes a seat next to me in the booth. He then proceeds to try the touchy feely ‘crap’ again. I scooted over in my seat, looked him in the eye and told him “Don’t touch me! I didn’t ask you to touch me and if I had wanted you to, I would have let you know!” Keep your hands to yourself!” He said “Oh we have a mean one here” and acted as though he thought it was funny, which only irritated me more!
The waitress came up to take our orders and I told her that I needed a little more time. As she was walking away, the irritating man said “ Hey girl! Come here” I could see on her face that she didn’t appreciate his arrogance and I told him “Don’t call her girl. How would you like it if she called you boy? She has a name” His response was “ What should I call her? Nigger?” Needless to say I had to refrain myself! My hand shot up and I popped him on his shoulder and said “Don’t talk like that! What’s wrong with you?”
I was furious! If I had sat there a second longer I would have gone ballistic. My friend’s were sitting in front of me and not saying a word! This upset me also.
I actually climbed over the seat to get out of the booth. I couldn’t even bring myself to ask this Idiot to move out of my way and I feared that I might take a notion to kick him out of my way…so over the back of the seat I went.
The security guard saw what I had done and asked me if everything was okay. I told him “NO it isn’t and I really wish that man, that I don’t know and didn’t invite, was sitting somewhere else!” So the security guard goes over and asked him to move away.
I was relieved because I really wasn’t wanting to make a scene with my friend’s being there.
But to my surprise when I sat back down, the person that I believed would know how I feel on the subject of racism, asked me if I had told the $%&@ cops to ask him to move!
I really couldn’t believe my ears. She told me that she hates cops and doesn’t ask the cops for *$!%. That was the last thing I expected her to say.
I understand that everyone has their hang-ups. I know I do but, I really thought that she would ‘get’ where I was coming from.
I was/am more hurt than mad about her attitude and I don’t think she really knows how hurt I was/am.
The whole experience was a lesson learned for me.
I will continue to let my opinions be known and if it offends or embarrasses anyone, well I guess I will just have to distance myself.
I know what is right in my heart….and I know that most people do too.
Hopefully there will come a day when people can love and respect others, not is spite of their differences but because of them.
I thank God for allowing me to experience the privilege of having friends and family that are from different races.
The sour taste was there but, the sweetness of my love for my true friends, family and with the help of a merciful God I will overcome…
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good...Psalms 34:8

Love is...

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet and understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.
Love is content with the present, it hopes for the future but doesn’t brood over the past. It’s the day in and day out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and working toward common goals.
If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t have it, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough.
Author Unknown.

You Raised Good Parents

I talked on the phone with my oldest granddaughter, Kennedie a little while ago. Today is her sixth birthday and she is on vacation in Arkansas with her parents. She told me all about her mom getting stung by a red wasp and how she nearly got stung and how her daddy took his hat off and chased the red wasp away...She told me about riding the bumper cars and the water slides and the water cars...Then she told me that her little sister, Kylee was stuffing a chocolate animal cracker in her mouth and how she likes the chocolate ones but she doesn't like the white ones...I listened for a good five minutes, barely able to get a word in. Listening to her happy and excited little voice made my heart swell with pride. Before we hung up, I told her that I love her with all of my heart and I sure wish that I could have seen her on her birthday...
Ten days ago was my middle granddaughter, Kamberlyn's third birthday. We had her party over at her Paw Paw's house and she had a blast playing in her new swimming pool. So much so that she didn't really want to get out of the pool to have cake and ice cream. I also talked to her over the phone earlier today. She told me that she had been to a water park and that she had hurt her finger...I wished that I could crawl thru the phone and kiss her finger.
I feel very blessed to have three beautiful, intelligent and healthy granddaughters. They are more than I could ever have expected or asked for.
I also feel very blessed to have children that are such good parents. So far, two of my children have children of their own and I couldn't be more proud of either of them. Not to mention my daughter-in-law Kim. Kim is a blessing to her children and my son, as well as to me.
I have no doubt that Jeremy and Amber will be awesome parents when their time comes. And Brendan is still way too young to even think about it but, he is a loving and sweet uncle. When his time comes I know he will be all that he can be.
People sometimes brag about how much money their children are making or about their high educations and they love it when anyone else mentions anything about it. This in itself is a great thing but, I think that one of the nicest things a person could say about me is "You raised good parents."

Spring Break

Birds are chirping...Flowers are blooming...Trees are budding...My allergies are...well I don't even want to talk about them...Spring break is here!
Sunday Brendan and I went to Gilmer to visit Nathan, Kim and the girls...
Nathan cooked hamburgers on the grill and Kim made some delicious baked beans along with all the fixings...including strawberry cream cheese pie!
We all spent a lot of time outdoors in the beautiful sunshine.
Nathan and Brendan worked in Nathan's new garden...and Kim and I didn't...;)
Later we played pool on the Wii...I smoked em...which is hilarious considering I have never been able to play pool!
When I left, Kennedie came home with me and she and Kamberlyn spent the night at Mee Maw's house...(apt)
I am a sneaky MeeMaw... ;) I gave each of them a pen and let them make 'tattoos' all over my back and when they had that all 'tattooed' they drew on my feet! They had a blast and so did I! They I let them remove the 'tattoos' with tissue and alcohol...
I remember being a little girl and doing the same thing...It sure makes me feel old...er.
Monday Kayli and I took Kennedie and Kamberlyn to the park. Kennedie would humor me and pose for a picture here and there but Kamberlyn wasn't interested in picture taking at all..she wouldn't stand still long enough for many pictures.
Monday evening we all went over to their Paw Paw's for spaghetti...Nathan and Kim came to take Kennedie home in their new Toyota Camry!
The time went by too fast...
I always love spending time with my family. Nothing makes me happier... ;)
Now if I could just loose the allergies!

Daniel, My Brother
9 May 2006

I'm going to tell you a story...a true story.

When I was seven years old my mother was expecting a baby. I already had a sister and I had my heart set on a brother. In those days there was no such thing as sonograms. People had to wait until the baby was born to find out if it was a boy or girl.
I remember laying next to my mother in the bed looking at her big belly...and praying to God for a little brother. But that wasn't all I wanted. I wanted his name to be Daniel too!
My mother would read the Bible story about Daniel in the lions den and it was my favorite all time story. I would have her read it to me over and over.
So I prayed as I lay there next to her and asked God for a baby brother...named Daniel.
Of course I told my mother of this prayer and that may have had something to do with him being named Daniel. But he was a boy! and his name is Daniel.
My brother's life wasn't always easy. His/our father wasn't there for the most part and when he was there he was causing drama in our lives.
Daniel's hands were severely burned when he was barely one. He was in Parkland Hospital in Dallas for nearly three months. The doctor's didn't expect him to be able to ever use his hands again. But he did. They are scarred but they are strong. God brought him through.
Daniel always loved animals...turtles, frogs, snakes, dogs, horses, you name it and he loved them. He could teach dogs and even horses to do tricks in no time at all. He was a rambunctious boy who got into mischief quite often. But he was a loving boy who always loved his family.
When he got a little older, he made some wrong choices. He married too young and fathered children too young. He loved his children with all of his heart. However, he was too young and didn't have the wisdom or experience it takes to handle being married and to be a father.
He eventually fell into the world of drugs and alcohol. At 18 he was convicted of stealing a VCR. He had the choice of spending 6 months in a drug rehab facility or going to the penitentiary. He went for the drug rehab but wasn't able to stay there because he has a condition called sleep apnea and he also sleep-walks. It is something that he has suffered with since he was 9 or 10 years old. So Daniel was transferred to the state penitentiary at 18 years old for the crime of stealing a VCR.
His life spiraled out of control and he ended up battling a drug habit as well as a prison record.
Now you may be wondering why I'm referring to Daniel in the past tense because he is still alive.
You see Daniel is now on Texas Death Row. A beautiful, bright and loving son, brother, father and uncle is sitting in a cell that is smaller than most of our bathrooms. And if a miracle of some sort doesn't happen, he will die there.
Now I'm not making excuses for my brother. He has made some really bad choices and he is paying for them. What bothers me is the fact that had he been the son of a rich man, he wouldn't be where he is. He probably wouldn't even be locked up. His trial was a joke orchestrated by people who couldn't care less about the truth or sending an innocent man to death row. I realize that only God truly knows the truth about his case but, I truly believe with all my heart that Daniel isn't guilty of murder. And I truly believe that the American Justice System is a farce. I no longer have faith in the Judicial System but, I do have faith in God.
When Daniel was convicted I told him (through a glass window), that they may take his body but they can never take his soul.
I have trouble with the fact that my brother's life seems to be a wasted one. Especially knowing that he was the answer to my prayers as a little girl.
How can someone go from being the answer to a prayer to living on death row and then dying? Was my prayer in vain? The Bible says 'in all things, give thanks'. Am I supposed to be thankful that my brother is wasting away in a cell?
It is hard for me to write these things and it is a painful subject. I believe and know that God has a Divine plan...I can only hope and pray that my brother knows this also...Please pray for my brother Daniel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote this blog a good while back on another site that I have...When I originally wrote it, I didn't feel that I wanted to post it because it is a very private issue with me and I don't always share some of my more private thoughts. The other site consists of people that I know personally and they all know me as well as my brother. However after some thought..I decided to share with you guys.
In a college speech class that I once took...my classmates and I had to give speeches on different subjects. One of the subjects was Death Row. At the time that I wrote my speech, my brother was not on death row. I gave a speech supporting Death Row and I would still give that same speech now. I do believe in the death penalty. I do however believe that it should not be passed out so casually. There are no rich men on Death Row. I learned that the justice system is for people with money to pay for decent lawyers.
My brother's case in in appeals and the lawyer that he was assigned has been banned from ever representing anyone on Death Row again. I hope and pray that by some miracle Daniel will get the representation that he deserves now...Here are a few sites to go to in regards to Daniel.
Shoddy Legal Work Matter Of Life, Death
Who Is On Death Row
Convict's Odds Today May Rest On Gibberish

Judgemental People

I enjoy Facebook because it helps me stay in touch with friends and family that I otherwise wouldn't be as likely to see or hear from. I'm not close friends with every person on my friend's list and there are some that I haven't seen in 30 years. Some of them (to be honest) I'm not even sure who they are! ;)
There are a couple of old boyfriends and several distant cousins.
Some are casual aquantances that I have met over the years or that I have worked with and befriended. Others I have known over the years from church.
I have always said that you can know someone for 10 years and never 'really' know them.
I got a post on my homepage yesterday from a woman that I used to go to church with and have seen occasionaly over ther years. I have never had more than a short conversation with her. I have never been to her home and she has never been to mine. I've never had a cross word to her or about her. She really doesn't know me at all.
Now let me back up a little...Facebook has a game where you answer questions about people that are on your friend list. They are usually goofy questions like Do you think Jane is cute or would you bail Bob out of jail...dumb stuff. You have to answer questions about other people in order to unlock the answers of people who have answered questions about you...
Evidently this lady doesn't know that it is just for fun. And instead of answering the question and leaving it private...She typed out the questions and posted them on each individual profile...
And wouldn't you know it, the question about me was "Is Dorcas Vittatoe a nice person?" Her answer was "Dorcas is not always nice but neither am I. But she does need to repent"
The stupidity and audasity of judgemental religous people (who don't know me and have never even tried to know me) never ceases to amaze me.
No I don't go to church regularly. I have my reasons and they are between me and God. Am I perfect? No. Do I love and praise God for everything every day? Yes! Do I repent when I feel that I have done wrong? Yes! Everyday!
Why do people think they know me? I think maybe if they tried to know God in all his power, might, glory and compassion....they might be a little less inclined to judge me!
I stopped trying to please people along time ago. My relationship with Jesus is MINE. I don't feel the need to justify myself to people. I learned long ago that people will let you down every time. And there is none good except HIM.
Maybe I do have my issues...I don't deny this. But one thing I do know...I went to church faithfuly for years everytime the doors wore open...and when my marriage fell apart and I stopped going...Not one (1) person came to see me or called me to see how I was doing or when I was coming back. And now differnt ones think they have the right to judge me...Go figure...

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Life Is Good

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Crazy Week

This past week has been a little hectic. Seems like I'm going in circles at times...

My daughter Kayli got sick suddenly last week...I took her to the emergency room here in Sulphur Springs and spent the first half of Monday with her in the ER. They say she may have had a seizure...Her head was hurting and her arms and hands were numb...They told her to follow up with a neurologist.

I have had a few issues with my health going on. For starters I have gained way too much weight and it is causing other underlining problems. My blood pressure has been staying high. It was 170/105 when I went to the doctor Tuesday. My ankles and feet have been swelling and that has been really getting on my nerves! So I got a prescription for BP with a diuretic.

I have also had a cough for about 6 months...My allergies have been horrible! The doc gave me shot for the allergies and I can already feel a huge difference. My cough is almost gone completely...and is getting better each day. So I am thankful for that. :)

I also joined a gym this week and have started walking and riding the bike...It can't hurt...

My goal is to lose some weight and get healthier...I have come to realize that I'm no spring chick anymore and I will never be a size 8 again...but I hope to feel better and live a lot longer!! Hey fat people need love too... :)

Another day nearly gone...

Brendan is heating up left over chicken stew and baking some crescents because I'm not cooking tonight. He is having to fend for himself.

Kayli is on the sofa watching Twilight for the second time this week and Kam is on my the sofa sound asleep...

Speaking of Kamberlyn...She has been a little ring-tale-tooter today! She wouldn't eat her lunch...snuck a bag of shredded cheese into the living room and dumped it onto the floor and then colored all over my sofa again! Only she used a crayon this time!

My sofa has to be the cleanest sofa in Sulphur Springs because I have had to scrub it clean twice this week!

As far as the cheese on the floor...I brought the vacuum cleaner into the the living room and let Kamberlyn do the vacuuming. A lot of good that does...because she loves to vacuum with the big vacuum!

For those of you that don't know, I watch my daughter's child while she is working. We have been having a battle of the wills...She is just so sweet and lovable that I can barely keep a straight face when I am getting on to her. She knows this!

When I do get on to her, she cries and says "I want my Paw Paw!" She cracks me up! What she doesn't know is that if she actually wrote on her Paw Paw's sofa....He would probably have a coronary. For real! :)

I wouldn't trade her for her weight in gold...I know there will come a day when I miss this.

A Little About Me

Let me introduce myself...My name is Dorcas Lee Acker Dodd Vittatoe.
My first name came from the Bible: Acts 9:36. Dorcas is Greek and means 'a gazelle'. My mother has a first cousin named Dorcas but she claims that she didn't name me after her. Soooo I guess Dorcas in the Bible gets all the credit.
My mother had a sister named Ruby Lee and I am told that I am named after her.
Acker is German and is my father's family name.
Dodd is my first husband's family name and Vittatoe is my second husband's family name.
So there you go...The history of my name. :)
I was born August 14th 1963 in Klondike Texas which is a very small community about 10 miles west of Cooper Texas.
My mother told me that men were hammering the hinges on the doors of the hospital when I was born. The hospital was brand new and obviously not completed at the time of my birth! I'm also told (by my mother) that the doctor (Dr. Wintermute) came in from a cow pasture with manure on his boots and was smoking a cigar while he delivered me! She says that she was praying and the doctor was cursing....What a way to come into the world! To this day I can't stand the smell of manure or cigars!
My parents were divorced before I was born and remarried afterwards. They divorced again a few years later. My mother is Nannie (Nancy) Lou Gillham Acker and my father was Owen Clate (Clatie) Acker. My father was never a father to me and my mother raised me and my brother and sister alone.
My sister Sherri Dawn was born Jan. 13th 1070 and my brother Daniel Clate was born Oct. 9th 1971.
I named Sherri and Daniel their first names and Momma gave them their second names..and I suppose the one thing I can say that we got from our father was his name.
I grew up (for the most part) in Cooper Texas although my mother and I did live in the Dallas area during the years before I started school. We also lived in Commerce for about six months during the third grade. That was the year Sherri was born.
By the time Daniel was born we were back in Cooper living with my grandparents, Morris and Ellie Gillham.
Needless to say my early childhood was tumultuous. My father was abusive and my mother, being raised in an era where domestic abuse was common had a hard time getting out of the relationship. She also was under the misguided opinion that she had to stay in the marriage and/or never marry again.
So as to not bore anyone further I'm going to end this blog for now....and may pick up at another time.
If anyone has any memories of me as a child please feel free to comment...I would love to hear from you...

Decided to start a blog of sorts...record the daily happenings of my random life. For the most part, my life is simple almost to the point of boredom.
Awoke this morning with a sinus headache feeling like I should get back into bed and sleep...
Brendan had left for school around 7:20am. I barely remember sitting up in my bed long enough to give him $5 from my purse...
Kayli came over around 8:30 with Kamberlyn. I laid down on the couch while Kayli heated up egg and cheese burritos for our breakfast.
After I had been up for a few minutes I started to feel a little better. Got on Facebook for a while and learned that an old school mate's mother passed away early in the morning/night.
Watched some t.v. with Kayli.
Kamberlyn decided for the first time and (hopefully) the last, to mark on my sofa with a pen! She looked at me and said "Look". She had marked all over my sofa. It is a large square sectional and every seat was marked on. I couldn't believe she had done it! She wasn't happy with my response...
Kayli discovered that my heater was blowing cool air so I called Rick (the manager) to let him know. Terry (the maintenance guy) came within a few minutes and fixed it. A wire had burned out. This is the second time that it has happened. Makes me wonder...
That is just about the jest of my day.
Brendan came home from school upset with some guy on the bus that has been a jerk.
My mother came by and picked Brendan up from church around 7:15.
That pretty much sums up my day....
Until next time...