Gills-A-GoGo

Grandpa Harrell

I saw this picture for the first time recently and was shocked to find out it was my grandpa Burl Harrell as an infant. He died in 1970 so I was just a little thing and have only a couple memories of him. I of course only knew him as an old man so to invasive him as a baby had never entered my mind.

Very visible capillaries on his full cheeks is one of my main memories, I guess because of him holding me up high right there at his face when I was 2 to 3 years old. In my own mind, I called them turkey cheeks, I think because they were almost like a dot-to-dot picture and that's what I saw.

I was happy to see this picture at my Aunt JoAnn's. She told me it had been damaged over the years and she had it restored. Something in that process went a little weird in the fingers. He didn't have any extra in real life.

Harrell girls

I have so many fun childhood memories with these girls and ladies. We got together often and all the cousins played and I'm sure the sister-in-laws talked. These days with everyone living away, I miss having the big extended family closeness so rare times like these feel great. Stories start pouring out and only get better with age.

I was the 25th grandchild so yep, it was a big family.

Mom's birthday surprise

My mom turned 70 and my aunts and cousins planned s get together for a surprise party for her. Fun day!

Football sunset

When Caroline cheered at the high school for a Liberty vs Lincoln game

Sam at Appleknocker

Whew, this was a hot day in Flora! Was cool though that Sam crossed a monkey bridge with help from his dad's scout master George from way back in the day.

Karen, Ross, Jack, Caroline, Sam and I enjoyed our walking tacos and apple dumplings, but then was ready to head out to somewhere a little less baking than the school pavement. Our fall 2016 has been a warm one for sure.

This kid is 16 years old?

Everyone assumes Grant is much older than he is. I understand why.

NHRA workers

Grant and I spent a hot weekend at the Gateway Racetrack as ticket scanners for a band fundraiser. He's planning on going with the band to Disney World at the end of May and is trying to earn money for it anyway he can. This was actually a really fun job for both of us and we had a great time at the hot rod races. It was mind blowing to see (and hear!) dragsters going 300+ mph in 3 seconds.