Forgot this one of Sweet Rita...

... and what a sweet girl she is. If I ever end up in Charleston, I'll be working at her salon. Until then, she continues to be a source of strength and inspiration. Such a lovely soul ...
xoxo
Anna

night of flashbacks...

My sweet Jysen ... one of my best girlfriends from college ... has been a life saver for me. I never took photos. She did. ALL THE DAMNED TIME. She recorded EVERYTHING. I so, so regret not having taken more pictures in those impressionable years. I didn't grow up with parents that were "camera-hungry". I try, myself, to capture sweet moments with Silas. But, I don't think I have "that knack" ... the vision that so many of my friends and family members have with a camera.
It's so amazing to look back at these pics and remember where we were at that time. What we were going through. Man .... we thought we were going to rule the world.
And, in some weird way, I think we've reached that. Considering all that we've all gone through. I think we made it there.
Cheers, girls.
I love you.
xoxo
Anna W.

He's smiling??? What fucking nonsense. I wanna punch him.
I could care less if he's mentally deranged. He killed 6, brutally harmed 12, and ETERNALLY wounded a member of congress.
Laugh it up, big boy. I hope you enjoy your time in prison.
You killed a 9 year old baby girl. UNBELIEVABLE......
Here's to justice.
xoxo,
Anna

And then there was Christmas...

... and what a Christmas it was!!!! Uncle Josh and Aunt Tracy hosted the family at their beautiful home. Tons of food, drink, and laughs. We walked in that evening to find my brother in velvet Santa Claus boxers ... cooking. That was his attire for the evening. See ... I'm not the only crazy person in the family ... BY FAR! I cannot begin to describe how wonderful Silas' and my gifts were. UPS is gonna make a killing on all the shit that is still being shipped up here that we had to leave behind. I filled a HUGE (extra) suitcase with all his stuffs. That, barely put a dent in it. That kid has more toys/clothes/games than Target ... on a good day. It was such a wonderful evening with such beautiful family.
Man, we're blessed.
xoxo
Anna

Meanwhile ... back at the farm ...

These pics are from my Aunt Pam's house. Not "code" for Lorazipam. Just my aunt Pam. The kids had a ball. They were like wild banshees. We "adults" laughed our asses off. Angi introduced us to the most horrific beverage: Wild Turkey "Honey." Don't buy it. It's too sweet and it makes you get on a four-wheeler and do stunts in the middle of a herd of cows going about 40 MPH. Not pretty. We played beauty parlor, as my only gift I could afford this year was to do everyone's hair who needed it. So, so much fun...
xoxo
Anna

South Carolina was great ... for the most part ...

Any given night (or day) whilst home, we might imbibe in "The Devil's Brew" ... just here and there ... for medicinal reasons, obviously.
I wasn't driving this evening, dear readers. I was, simply, trying to prove my point to Angi that if a "chicken" crosses a road (naked ... with a bottle of Vodka) it can get to the other side without being arrested.
All was going according to plan until THIS asshole rounded the corner.
xoxo
Anna

2 years ...

... and it is still so surreal to me that this beautiful, kind, witty, and bold lady is not still here with us. I speak to her daily. Think of her more regularly than that. It's amazing to me that our lives still go on, and on, and on, and ...
I hope I do her proud as a Mama that, actually, has the blessed opportunity to be alive and raise her own children. This goes for all the women I've known that have lost their battle with cancer and have left children behind.
I love you, sweet K-Dawg.
You and me and the Bamboo Tree...
xoxo,
Sweet Coochie Croissant