I’m Beautiful Like Me.

Car Seat by Blind Melon
Written by Shannon Hoon
Recorded February 11, 1995

Tongue tied, nerves as big as boulders
Why Mom, I thought I was your soldier
My brother sits by me
Buckled into the car seat

Feel the thirst, it’s time for pulling over
Into the truckstop on my daddy’s shoulder
Out back where they plant all the trees
ten feet away my daddy buries me…

God’s Presents

by Blanche Bridge on February 11, 1884

If my path be smooth or rugged
If with thorns or roses strewn
Where I go the Father seeith
And He will leave me not alone

And ever more my eyes beholds me
And all my ways to Him are known
And His loving arms enfolds me
He will leave me not alone

The first part of the song was inspired by the deaths of 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith and 14-month-old Alexander Tyler Smith, the sons of Susan Smith. Her children were buckled into their car seats when she steered her vehicle into John D. Long Lake and watched as the car sank. The tragedy moved Shannon.

Blanche Bridge was Shannon Hoon’s (Blind Melon front man) great great grandmother. He so loved the poem, he it tattooed to his left forearm.

I miss him today.

My father-in-law called at the last minute and invited us to meet him and my sister-in-law, Rebekah at Aunt M’s place in Smyrna, Tennessee. Rebekah has orientation at college today and they had some free time last night and wanted to visit with us. Husband had made other commitments, it’s been a year and a half since he’s seen his dad. Originally, Husband declined to meet his dad and sister. I had tried to finagle and work out some sort of plan so he could see his family and keep his commitment, but it just wasn’t possible to do both. He reluctantly broke his previous commitment, we picked Joy up from school right at 3:15pm and drove the three hours to Smyrna.

Husband drove most of the way. He’s looking a little scruffy. Both kids fell asleep in the car. 

I always get excited about the state signs.

We arrived at around 5:30 (Central Time). Grandpa welcomed us by giving the kids water-weapons.

Lucky us.

Especially Aunt Bekah.

(I threatened to "forget" them there. Unfortunately, Joy was on to my plan and made sure they made it into the car.)

Aunt M’s two daughters and their respective husbands and children accompanied them. I had met four of the six of them briefly before, three at brother-in-law’s wedding and the fourth when Aunt M visited us with her granddaughter. It was nice to see and meet everyone.

Aunt M and Husband’s cousin prepared quite a feast. Husband cooked the marinated steaks on the grill, there were mushrooms, onions, potato salad, garden salad, pasta salad, cole slaw, green beans, and ice cream cake in honor of the college-bound girl.

Aunt M’s place is really kid-friendly and the kids had great fun ripping through her house and yard with water-weapons and self-propelling cars.

At around 9pm, Husband’s cousins (and families) left and it got pretty quiet. Husband, his dad and Aunt M chatted in the dining room for a bit while I hung out with Bekah and Joy. Buddha was too busy playing with all the new toys to have time for anyone. He really had a blast. We were invited to spend the night, but since Bekah and Father-in-Law had an early morning, we opted to drive home. I admit, I prefer sleeping in my own bed. I got one last (super-great) photo before leaving.

Three generations

We made it home safely around 3:30am.

I’m really glad we went.

Thanks to a couple of good friends at knit night last night, I’ve decided that going to school is just the change I need. I meet in the morning with an advisor in the Arts & Sciences department (and received ample warning that it will most definitely not be a fun experience) and hopefully will register for classes at that time. Campus Orientation is on the 20th and classes start on the 24th. My biggest hope is that I can get into relatively easy classes since it has been three and a half years since I’ve been a full-time student.

I’m anxious. I’m nervous. But I’m excited, too.