Sweet and Sassy

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This week, for some reason, had me reflecting on my life.

I have been blessed. I truly have. I was born into a wonderful family, two great parents; three siblings and lots of nieces and nephews, not to mention grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins and their offspring.

And, my biggest blessing is my son, Jamie. He doesn’t know how much he really means to me. People love him and let me know that. I’m proud he has turned into such a great person even though he will always be my little boy.

I don’t know how many times people ask me, “Are you Jamie Moody’s mother?” After I have been in the public eye for nearly five decades, wouldn’t you think they would be asking Jamie if he was Linda Moody’s son? It doesn’t matter, Jamie and I are partners and will be to the end…sometimes me telling him what to do, and other times he instilling in me things I generally know but don’t take into consideration until he tells me. I trust him.

Yes, over the years, it was he at times who has taught me things with his wisdom. I attribute that to his love for reading and writing. I never thought we were alike, but come to find out we are…because of his love for writing, meeting people and having fun.

He lets me know constantly that he loves me and I sometimes take it as an ulterior motive, but he reassures me he is being honest. And, I believe him.

I am sorry I can’t always give him what he deserves, but he is understanding most of the time. God sure knew what He was doing when he gave me Jamie…a gift for which I will always be appreciative.

Sure, I could have done a better job as a mother, but I wouldn’t change a thing when it comes to him. I just wish he didn’t have some of the health woes he has so that he doesn’t ever have to suffer, but all that is now in God’s hands. God helped us through one of Jamie’s more serious seizures last Thanksgiving evening and I’m eternally grateful.

I have also been blessed with a wonderful work family over the 48 years on the job, in addition to our new church family and my Facebook friends and readership families. I, too, am happy to have met a lot of friends through Survivors of Unspeakable Loss (SOUL) with whom I am planning to spend some time with today at the annual walk.

I am so happy to have a job in an industry I have enjoyed and I am most grateful to the fact that I was born in America in a time that I was. I especially love the freedoms we still have and hope they stay that way for all true Americans.

There are still a lot of choices and commitments to make in this life, but I want to make them for the people I care so much about because I love this life I’m living in. I think I should write a song, which I am putting at the top of my bucket list.

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Don’t forget:

• Upcoming events at the Ansonia American Legion are: steak fry on Sept. 19; and the next fish fry from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. It was reported that raffle tickets for the Veteran’s Day bean supper on Nov. 11 are now available.

• Any veteran in the area is welcome to participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade in Greenville on Nov. 11. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 57 Commander Robert Foster said the participants will be leaving Greenville Public Library a little before 11 and march to the courthouse on South Broadway, stopping in front of the clock. Other features of the event will be a prayer, introductions, a 21-gun salute at 11:11 a.m., presentation of a wreath, and the playing of the National Anthem by the high school band. The combined color guard of the DAV, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion will also be in attendance.

• The Union City Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary will be holding its annual cancer walk on Sept. 26 at 1410 W. Oak St. The auxiliary is looking for participants to go on the walk to raise money for cancer patients in Randolph Jay and Darke counties who need financial help. Last year, they raised more than $3,000. Those who plan to walk are asked to start putting together sponsors of a four- to 10-walker team. Additional pledges and donations are encouraged and welcomed. Registration fees are to be returned with the $5 entry fee, pledges and/or donations to the VFW Auxiliary before 11 a.m. on Sept. 26.

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Happy birthday:

• Sept. 23 to Darke County Sheriff Toby Spencer, Sandy Waymire Garber, Gary Henderson, Lance Elliott, Elizabeth Falknor, Rick Bousman, Gene Keesy, Jay Heitkamp, Shirley Turner, Kelly Shane Van De Grift, Jeanne Phlipot, Regina Schieltz and Dane Wentworth (17).

• Sept. 24 to Jessie Midlam, Sandy Bowman Garee, Nikole Baldridge, Sandy Yagle Miller, Susan Yagle, Joanie Beam, Brenda Schlecty, Gary Voke, Dylan Garland (20), Donna Kuhlman, David Vail, Jim Buchy, Steve Marker and Richard Delk.

• Sept. 25 to Jannie Barrow, Joyce Rismiller Swisher, Julie Black, Skylith Edwards, Michelle Mader, Tammie Riffle, Melinda McKnight Rismiller and Kyle Boroff.

• Sept. 26 to Cory Barber, Cathy Wolfe, Roberta Riegel Hall, Jim Leis, Rachel Falknor, Gene Hoellrich, Dawn Duncan, Brad Horsley, Allan Keaser, Donnie Brickler and Mildred Lane.

• Sept. 27 to Linda DeMange (55), Sean Brookbank, Tyler Luce, John Hannan and Ruth Waymire Fourman.

• Sept. 28 to Rachelle Hiestand, Jeff Stewart, Allan Phillippi, Becky Baker, John Jenkins Jr., Barbara Heck, Sandy Duncan, Stephanie Mestemaker, Ryan Anthony, Teresa Miller, Cody Brown and David Gilpin.

• Sept. 29 to Nathan Riffell, Lu Ann Dickey Baker, Patty Christian Bunger, J.W. Hartzell, Shirley Billenstein, Danny Beam, Michael Waymire (40), Ivan Christian, Carol O’Connor, Jerry Loyd and Courtney Boroff.

Happy belated birthday to: Rusty Wilson on Sept. 16.

Happy anniversary to: Janet and Mike Bowers, Tammy and Todd Klipstine, Roy and Shirley Turner, Bernie and Heidi May and Slick and Sue Schlechty, all on Sept. 23; Lois and Brian Gibboney and Randy and Stephanie Mestemaker, all on Sept. 24; Rick and Darlene Riffell (45), Carol and Norma Edwards Byrd and Terry and Marilyn Sipple, all on Sept. 26; Darick and Ashley Fisher Rose, Lance and Kari Bartrum and Scott and Stephanie Helmke, all on Sept. 27; and Kenny and June Miller on Sept. 29.

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Don’t forget to pray for: Stacy Dorko, Gloria Keller-Brinley, Rick Jones, Linda Johnston, Ron Kreitze on Sept. 28, Pappy Harshman, Gerald Rhoades, Albert Duncan, Delores Duncan, Ansonia Police Chief Frank Shapiro, Randy Heck, John Klipstine, Greg Moody, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Ron Kreitzer, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Jim Moody, Lowell Arnold, Joe and Wanda Bailey, Mel Grile, Robert Codling, Kohen Thwaits, Kenny Dunevant, J.C. and D’Arleen Waymire, Deanna Jones, William DeBord, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr., Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Larry Bemis, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Hammons, Jim Crotcher, Tina Kiser Deaton, Alvera Schmitz, Jerrod Pratt, Vicky Henderson, Julia Frey, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Thelma Shade, Bob Coppock, Lee Moody, Stephen “Brownie” Brown.

Also, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Michelle Sparks Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Allan Addington, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Tracy Bailey, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Ray Dickey Jr., Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Suzy Heck Schilling, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Shannon Peters Hall, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Melissa “Missy” Helmer, Susie Gress of Nebraska, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases. And, God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation.

•••••

Son Jamie and I express our sincere condolences to the families of: Mae Clack, Juanita Gerling and Myrl Lephart.

•••••

Think about it: “Some people create their own storms, then get upset when it rains.” — Unknown

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Counting those blessings

By Linda Moody

Linda Moody is a staff writer for The Daily Advocate. Her column appears every Sunday. She can be reached at [email protected].

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