August 17th is an annual reminder of God's gift to me...

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August 17, 1995

I am saddened Little Nana would not be able to hold Kara's little brother Dylan similarly  in 1999.

God provided her ascension to Heaven six weeks before his birth...

DIDN'T I SEE THOSE  EYES IN 'CHILDREN OF THE CORN'? ...

Hanging out with her cousin Heather...

Extra special birthday, as my beautiful Aunt Faye was able to be there!

The bond between this Grandmother and Granddaughter could be likened to triple covalent bonding in chemistry.

Although their DNA was different, my mother-in-law loved Miss Kara as much as any of her other grandchildren.

And that's a lot...

The first week of April has been bittersweet to me for twenty years, after my bride's ascension. Easter celebration has always been the soothing ointment for that loss.

  The last few years have added a poignant memory of her incredible and beautiful Mother; Nana Dot was always a picture of grace and whom I will always love and miss. 

My aforementioned 12 year difference in age always gave me pause, Spidey Sense tingling, with each member of her family I met.

Lisa had three Manly Men brothers and a Hamilton County detective stepfather.  

It wasn't them with whom I was concerned.  No, my Spidey Sense was most activated thinking of Lisa's mom.

Meeting Dot with those beautiful blue eyes, I was immediately disarmed.  A true Southern Lady, she welcomed me to the family, secure in the knowledge of my love and dedication to her daughter.

Thanks for saving the life of the mother of Kara and Dylan.  May God bless...

The ravages presented by cystic fibrosis in just a few years to this stunning beauty will find the memories of her children Kara and Dylan providing her some attenuation of the suffering.

And  immeasurable thankfulness to God.

Her brother, Randy, is a stud Army veteran; he and I have commonality in our European assignments to Germany.

All Nana Dot's grandchildren loved her  with an unvarnished appreciation that was always on display.

And wherever they interacted with her, whether it was a family gathering at the swimming pool, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas - their love and respect of their Grandmother was evident.

sure were jangling.

Her Mother and I loved it.

That smile tells it all...

Lisa and I were blessed in that we could have our children with us at our place of employment.

Kara and Dylan endeared themselves to many, many patients as well.

I always loved the glow Kara assumed when she was visiting with Aunt Geneva and Uncle Ricky.

A Southern Lady, incredible eyes, and a Southern Manly Man...

Uncle Ricky had, perhaps, the most influence on little Lisa, as brother Randy was in the Army and brother Wayne was married or otherwise unavailable for a lot of brotherly activity with his little sister.

Wayne was a hard working Manly Man who loved this delightful gift from God his Mother brought home in 1966.  Little Lisa looked up to and admired brother Wayne.

As did anyone who met him, myself included.  With a dearth of Manly Men so pervasive in the civilian world, I was proud to see the trifecta in the Doss family.

Their dad was a Navy stud.

Let's not forget the heroics performed at 'Hacksaw Ridge' in Okinawa:

 World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss.

A long time friend and patient, Bob Dodson, now in Heaven with his wife, Eloise, was a gas attendant in Lookout Mountain, GA, when Desmond stopped in for a fill up.

Small world....

I love and miss you, Bob Dodson.

I can remember no incident in the years of our babies and growing children spending  their after school or summer vacation in the office as presenting an issue with patients.

Or their Mother's incredible organizational skills in keeping that front desk working properly...

Despite the requirements of being an office manager, running the front desk and motherhood, Lisa was always nonplussed.

She must be so proud of Kara, knowing she selected a Manly Man, Kevin, capable of providing his bride the security and safety this world-on-fire presents.

This young lady had quite the pet collection over the years.  Hermit crabs, rescued turtles from the highway - a plethora.

And she still remembers all their names!

All my children share that trait - incredible memory capability.

Her little brother added to the biodiversity with hissing cockroaches, combat beetles and other things that creep in the night.

That reminds me of one of Dylan's favorite beetles, the rhinoceros, which escaped its enclosure and found itself on the hearth watching TV, as were Dylan and Kara, lying on the floor, in the otherwise darkened den.

I was downstairs shooting pool while Lisa grabbed some shuteye on the loveseat.  She could assume somewhat of a fetal position on the loveseat which helped with her breathing.

I cautioned the kids to keep the TV volume down, as their mom was getting some much needed rest.

It wasn't long before Miss Kara happened to notice the admittedly 'Something out of the Grimm TV series' rhinoceros beetle, minding its own business resting on the hearth.

Maybe a foot from Kara's head.

That eight-year-old could produce one shrill scream!

I rushed up the stairs and assured the mostly-still-asleep Lisa that it was just one of Dylan's critters.

And admonished Kara for being such a Girl....

In sharp contrast to the Demoncrats of today, he welcomed contrary opinions.

I think one guest that has stuck in my mind over the years was Milton Friedman and his interview with Phil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EwaLys3Zak

This guy should watch the vid:

 You know - the idiot who is not didactically trained in economics (he is a Social Warrior...) and who exposed the talent available in the Biden administration:

"....the government cannot go bankrupt because we can print money...".

This Jewbag is the chair of the United States Council of Economic Advisers.

Oh yeah, the Call Girl should watch it as well.  

Price controls?

Oh nooooooo!

The years of my admiration of this beauty, fueled by ever-increasing testosterone...

Shattered.

Further, he was a LIBERAL!

In all fairness, these many years have made Phil Donahue seem more like a neutered dog than the ravenous beasts that now dominate the Demoncrat Party.

I did appreciate the hemline in the 60's...

The hair, teeth and, yes, those legs.

Mercy.

Thank you, Marlo, for your incredible success with your advocacy for 

 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 

Memphis, despite its tremendous decay since my time there at UTCHS, has Graceland and St. Jude's, two Tennessee Jewels.

I will pray for you in the face of your loss.

We know where our loved ones are...

I am thankful for any positive impact the senior dental students had on the young patients at St. Jude facilities, as part of our senior rotations.

Another shout-out to Governor Dunn...

As noted before, the strides on the battlefield of children's cancer made by St. Jude's Children Research Hospital over the decades have saved countless lives of our most innocent.

Another nod to Rick Dees, as well...