Visited Pal, Steph...from 'Frond Design Studios', yesterday afternoon.
: )
It's always such a Treat...to hang out, with Steph.
She's an Artist, and creates Fabric, from her Original Paintings.
<3 <3 <3
Sell's it World Wide.
<3 <3 <3
Her Mom, Patti, from Fern Hill, in South Amana, Iowa...and I, have been Friends...for Decades.
Steph, and Patti, are 'Family'...to me.
<3
Stayed much longer, than I'd planned.
: )
but... we had Much...to talk about.
Steph, and I...have covered Many...Miles, together...over decades.
Some Damned...Difficult, Hard...MILES!!!
: )
Some Damned...Good Ones, Too!!!
<3
We went to Supper, last Evening...and continued our Conversations.
oh my.
; )
Steph, has Always....had my Back.
: )
I've....Always, had hers, as well.
Always.
I remember the first time she went with, to Heart of Country, in Nashville.
I was driving the Heavily...Packed FUSO, she...followed in a Truck, also....
Heavily...Loaded.
{Go Big...or...Go Home!!! Hahahaha!!! }
After we checked in at The Opryland Hotel...{after driving 12 hours, on Snow, and Ice...} started to settle in, Steph asked me where the 'Gym'...was, she liked to 'Work Out'...every morning.
{I'd done 'Heart', at The Opryland...for many years, prior.}
I, turned around...looked at her, and said...
"Seriously??? Look at me...????
How in the Hell...would 'I'...Know!!!
hahahahaha...
Told her, "You won't need to worry about 'Working Out'....in a Gym, while 'doing'...Heart.
; )
Trust me."
Steph, insisted, and found her way to the Gym, the following morning.
Then, we walked about 2 miles, to the Convention Center...then...Unloaded The Massive Trucks, then...
worked 12 hours, Building a House, {Booth...'beginnings'. It took us Three 12-14 Hours Days, to set The 'Heart' Booths.}
Then...walked two miles back...to our room, where Steph....
stumbled to her bed...
collapsed...face first, on it, and said...
"I Feel...Like...A...Bag....Of...Bones."
Hahahahahaha!!!!
I burst out laughing!!!!
: )
That, was the 'Only'...day, Steph...made use of the 'Resort Fees'. : )
The word, 'Grueling'...doesn't begin to touch The Simply Iowa Booth, in Nashville.
Oh my.
<3
We Pushed It...as Far Over The Top...as we Could.
and...Then, a Little Further.
; )
oh my.
<3
We believe...
"It's only impossible, if you believe it is."
Trouble...
Trouble.
: )
Steph, has helped me out....many times, when I was in a Bind.
I've done the same...for her, anytime, she was in a Bind.
That's how We Roll.
<3
From left to right,
Kristi, Liz, me...and Steph.
oh my.
Kristi, is Liz's Best Friend, She's like my...Daughter.
She, and Liz...have been my 'Porters'...since they were about, 8, and 9.
<3
I, remember those Girls...climbing in the Old White, Ton... Ford, Loaded Beyond ..Pulling a 16 Foot Trailer...Loaded 'Beyond'...
to Shows from Minnesota to Nashville.
<3 <3 <3
We'd take off for MN., at 3 a.m., the Girls...snuggled with their pillows, next to me...in the Cab.
Oh my.
We'd arrive at The Show, around 7:30 a.m., and start Work.
Those were The Days!!!
Those Girls, were complimented...over, and over...by Folks at The Shows, that saw their Work Ethic.
<3
We always ate at The Very Best Restaurants, and stayed at Hotels, where they could swim...and have
Loads of Fun!!!
They Earned....Every Bit of 'Fun'.
<3
Little Women, who grew into Amazing Women.
<3 <3 <3
Oh...My.
So Proud of Them...Both.
<3
The School, gave them excused absences while attending the Shows.
The School knew, those Little Women, learned Much, on those Journey's...they could never learn in a Class Room.
That....was a Fact.
; )
We all had Amazing Times...in Nashville, when the Girl's were Teens.
oh my!!!
Downtown Nashville, after Long Days, working...was Crazy Fun....for Us All!
oh my...
Steph reminded me, last night, of some of those Crazy....Nights!!!
Ye Haw!!!
{What Happens...in Nashville, Stays...in Nashville. ; ) }
Hahahahaha!!!!
When the Girl's...got a little older, Folk's at 'Heart', were so impressed by how hard, fast... and careful...they were, helping me unload, Everyone...wanted to Hire Them!!!
<3
I, lost my 'Porter's'.
: )
Told them to go on...
Make That Dough!!!
: )
Hired others, to help me...so the Girl's...could Crank...
and Make Far More, than Mama could ever pay them.
<3 <3 <3
They Made Ton's...
They...'Earned'...Ton's.
<3
This was at The Lighthouse Supper Club, in Cedar Rapids.
I promised Steph, while working the 'Heart' Booth, one year...
If...we Survived That Show, I'd buy her Supper, there...when we got Home.
: )
By God...We Made'er!!!
{We...both kinda doubted we would. : ) }
We Both...Love Jazz.
The Lighthouse, had Live...Jazz, on the Weekends.
Good Times!
We had some Amazing Times, in Nashville, at BB Kings. oh my.
: )
Steph, and me...
a few years ago....at her Mom's, Patti's Home.
They were having a Big Gathering, of Friends, that Evening.
<3
Lord, it was Hot...That Day!!!
I'd worked Loading...Hauling...Delivering, and Unloading, all day...in the heat.
The makeup, I'd started the day with...had been sweat away...Many Hours, and...Many Miles, before.
Steph, had been doing the Same, in her 'World', too.
: )
Hahahaha....
The Gin and Tonic's...were Welcomed, that Evening.
Don't remember...Ever tasting better ones, before or since.
Whew!!
: )
Steph, is very concerned....about what's happening here, by the IDOT, for Fairfax's Trail....and Stallman Drive.
That, all...pretty much, dominated our Conversations, last night.
Patti, is too.
They both, have been so supportive.
This last year, has been Hell, for them...too.
I'm so Grateful...we have each other.
Many, are watching....and wondering, as this all unfolds.
Steph, and Patti...have 'Theories' about what's happening here.
Many...do.
I, do...too.
Steph, asked me...last night, what I 'wished' would happen,
{Steph, thought I was being More...than Fair, when I told her.}
then...
she asked me how much of what I 'wished' for, I expected...to see happen.
I, thought about it, for about half a second...
"All of It."
All...of It.
Love to You.
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
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