Naming Conventions: Ritchie, Gordon, Horne, Dansby

     I use to think that "Jane" was a "filler name" such as "Sue" or "Ann" since growing up in the South almost mandated a double name, by which we were all called, especially when we had gone one step too far.  People tended to drop the middle name when they grew up; they became a more sophisticated version of themselves (Betty-Dale, Frances-Ellen, Myra-Frances), but I had a real dilemma.  If I went by my first name (Margaret-Jane), as teachers wanted because it was so much easier on record keeping, I would become my mother.  Goodness Gracious how unpopular a move was that for a teenager! 
     So, I continued to struggle with identity until I went to college. All my records were still using my first name, but I just decided if anyone was going to use a single name, they'd just have to use my middle name, eventhough I believed it to be less of a name than a declaration of intelligence and personality :  "Jane-Jane, Ain't Got No Brain" and the proverbial "Plain Jane."
     On rare occasions, some "hook, line, and sinker" boy would say he confused me with Jayne Mansfield.  Then, there was the political and patriotic insurrection surrounding Jane Fonda.  Alak and Alas, what to do!
     Then, I reconsidered something I already knew but did not acknowledge until much later in my life:  Jane is a hugely important ancestorial name in my family tree as far back as we have researched.  Jane is important and a worthy name to carry forth.

     Jane Elizabeth Tooke married Thomas Bullock Gordon.  Their Children were Emma Sue Gordon (Auntie) and Charles Thomas Gordon (Papa).  Ella Jane Ritchie (Banmama) married Charles Thomas Gordon (Papa, or "that man").  One of their dauthers was named Janie, a child who never grew mentally past age 7 or 8 and who lived with my grandmother in the Big House until she died in 1953.  I tormented that poor lady, running to get into her chair, telling her it was "MY chair, Janie, MY chair!"  "NO, she'd cry, MY CHAIR!"  Mother would come after me and scold me for being such a meanie.

Another of Ella Jane (Banmama) and C.T. (Papa, Mr. Gordon,That Man) Gordon's daughter's was my grandmother, Mildred Gordon Horne (Nana, Grandmother, or Aunt Mib).  Mildred Gordon and Claude Horne's first child they named Jane, but Baby Jane died at home within 2 days of her birth; a birth injury due to inadequate care at a home birthing was the heartbreaking cause of death.  My mother, Margaret Horne Dansby, named me Margaret Jane, to carry forward the important historical "Jane" names of the family.
I am proud to be both named and called by Jane in honor of Jane Elizabeth, Ella Jane, in apology to Janie, and with due respect for a life unlived, Baby Jane.

Lights! Camera!! A U C T I O N !!!

     Fun is defined by lots of different things. Friday and Saturday, it was defined as "Auction!"Marvin and I drove over to a little town in Missouri to an auction and enjoyed a great morning.  You won't believe that I bought some "size tall" golf clubs for Marvin, a fire-proof safe, and a pretty little music box.  Marvin bought some tools, file cabinets, and other man-stuff. I thought about Shelia who bought tools such as a "snake chopper" when we explored estate sales, journeying into the "bowels of Memphis."
    The guy who ran the auction was quite funny and kept the crowd laughing and bidding.  He was not like "Chuck" at all.  That is a story I will share with you a bit later.  Saturday, we went to one of Marvin's cousin's house.  He is younger than Marvin, but he has been in really bad health, has lost his wife, and is moving into an apartment.  The auction there produced some outdoor objects such as an iron plant holder, an outdoor bench, some collectibles, etc. Marvin got some "man treasures" like an attachment for his mower (called the deal of the day) and such. That, too, was fun. We only bid against each other once, but still got the item for under $5.  The bad part about Marvin and me together is that both of us are known for picking up junk from the side of the road!  And liking it!!  My boys will remember the blue "pleather" wing chair that we dragged home.
     The last auction I attended (that was not an orchestrated event such as a high school fund-raiser) was in Memphis and was held over on Summer Ave, in the old Ramada Inn.  When we girls finally got out of the line of people who were applying for Housekeeper positions (oh, yes, we did accidentally get in that wrong line) and got into the right line for getting a bidding number from Chuck, our adventure began.  Both Cindy and I were quite offended by Chuck's attitude toward those of us who were there for a bargain.  We said that if he were a teacher, we'd "Drop This Class."  Dear Juana had to fuss and almost shed tears to give back a picture that Chuck said was Black Memorabilia. Really it was just a picture of an old Black man with no legs who was in a wicker wheelchair.  The crowd supported Juana and she was permitted to give back the little picture.
      Another auction we attended on some Friday nights was also held on Summer Avenue, located by Chip 'n Dale Antiques.  To explain the attendance there, you'd have to meet Becky's "boyfriend" who wore flip-flops and had dirty and hairy toes.  We never ate anything there, but Cindy and Becky bought a lot of Blue Ridge China.  The Auction Experiences were quite the adventure and we have  gotten much pleasure remembering those quirky times. 
       The really funny thing about Marvin and me going to auctions is that between the 2 of us, we have more junk than we ever could get organized, but the quest is a hoot. Like the time we found an advertisement for a beauty shop.  You'll get a real chuckle from it.
      Time spent together on days like these are memory makers, and we are having a blast, laughing, finding bargains and sharing together.
   

Magnolia Maurauders & Derby Moon

You have to make your own parties and your own fun!  I will do that at every opportunity because it's just who I am. (Friends will recall Water Heater Decorating Party, Kitty Arrival Shower, and Princess Jennifer Wedding Shower.)  Pam and I planned a Kentucky Derby Festival with food, beverage, and decorations. I had 2 horses in the Derby:  Bodemeister and Gemologist.  I guess that goes to show you that I don't pick 'em that well, but I do put together a super Derby Party, complete with hats.  Pam and I had earlier been Magnolia Maurauders in a vacant lot boasting a stately magnolia tree covered with fragrant blossoms.  I also prepared Sweet Tea with Southern Mint served in my Southern Sippin' Tea Goblets (Mason Jars on a Stem!) that Kelly Arwood gave me.  We had Barbeque and Derby Brownies to round out the festivites. 

Finishing up the supper dishes was just in time for beginning the Watch Party for the Super Moon, reminiscent of "Moonstruck."   ("Snap out of it!" and "I'm so confused" are two of my favorite lines from Cher and Nicolas Cage's movie.)  We watched the news and were on the deck at 10:34PM to watch the moon, sun, and earth line up for the moon's closest journey to the earth's surface.  We stayed out long enough to see the halo of sunshine behind it.

The day was culminated by 3 other events:  the pool opened for business, John Wayne Gatewood killed a big, black rat snake in our neighbor's garage, and I sighted the first hummer-scout checking out my 3 feeders!  It was a super day!

"The Classiest Little Town in America"

“The Classiest Little Town in America” is what Jimmy Fortune called Rector, Arkansas.  He was letting the audience of over 800 very responsive audience members know that the Helping Hands Benefit Concert was like none other, that the venue was impressive, and the desire to help children was praise worthy.  When I explain that the concert was in the Rector HS gym, you might wonder how that could be classy or impressive.  If an Emmy award winning sound and lighting guy born in Little Rock donates his time, talent, and equipment to the concert, then even top flight school gym with stadium seating can be turned into a wonderful site for this 4^th Annual Benefit Concert.  Lighting and sound were so professionally done that you might forget where you were.  I did see the Cher Farewell Tour Concert at the Pyramid (that qualifies me to be an expert in concerts) and while this venue is smaller (is it that obvious?), the sound and lighting were awesome. 

Two of the three sets of acts we totally loved.  First was the tenor from the Statler Brothers (retired).  Jimmy Fortune is still working, writing songs, performing, making CDs, and going on tours.  Dailey and Vincent is a bluegrass artists group.  I really don’t like that style of music, but tonight, I loved it.  They featured 2 guitarists, a fiddle player, a banjo guy, a man on the bass fiddle, and each one could sing like there was no tomorrow. One young man had a bass voice that bottomed out all the way to China.  All the entertainers played and sang country tunes and gospel music.  They also performed some Roy Orbison, George Jones, and other hit-makers’ work.  The third performer was Jason Crabb and his style is rock music with Jesus shouted out from time to time was not my thing!  We left about 30 minutes early (don’t tell).

The whole town seemed to be abuzz with excitement about the concert.  So many volunteers were in HHF blue shirts that the orchestration of the event was superior.  Everybody had a job from holding tiny flashlights to help us retirees navigate steps in the dark to traffic directors and parking attendants.  HHF Ambassadors, selected students in the junior and senior high school, served as workers and as ushers.  Some Ambassadors drove golf carts carrying people from parking lots to the concert. Thirty minutes prior to the music beginning, the MC introduced about 25 students who have been recipients of scholarships over the past 4 years.  In addition, 12 new winners were presented.  These students received $5000 each for college scholarships, completely funded from private donations and fund raising, including the Concert, managed through the Helping Hands Foundation.  The Helping Hands Foundation(HHF) was established to close the opportunity gap for the disadvantaged in the Rector schools. Because of this organization, need is met quietly, discreetly, and completely.  No student is deprived of opportunity due to economic need.  In Rector, there is no PTSA organization, for a multitude of reasons, so the HHF fills that gap, also.  It has been a phenomenal organization and has benefitted every student in the district and all the teachers. 
Bill Carter, a graduate of Rector HS, earned a law degree and ultimately arrived in Music City (Nashville, TN) and launched into the music industry.  He has been attorney for many outstanding groups and his connections with that industry have made the benefit concert a reality.  Each of the performers donates all time and talent to the Foundation.

The Rector Community works together in a way unique to them.  This concert was our first and has been an impressive eye-opener for us.  I saw so many adults wearing Volunteer Shirts, doing anything and everything to make the production successful. The town has embraced this Foundation and works for its mission.  The concert serves as an example of how groups of people can accomplish anything when the overall goals are united through a common vision.