A Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter. . .
Photo below courtesy of Leigh Anne's little sister, Brooke that she created for her 40th birthday, which was a few years ago. But who's counting?
Below: Photo taken at Bloedel Preserve, Bainbridge Island, WA . . .
Below: This "loverly" picture was taken almost 4 weeks after she was due. She still tries to control everything. Either her dad and I had Omar the Tent Maker design our clothing, or we were both attacked by an awning just prior to posing for this. Not sure why I thought wearing my hair in a mullet looked good ??? This photo was taken a few days before my due date on October 31. She finally decided to come into the world on
November 25. (For those of you from Antlers, yes, that's my mom and dad, Bertha Lee and Eanon, in the photo on the TV.)
November 25, 1974. Pushmataha County Hospital. Antlers, Oklahoma
Below: A collage of pictures. . . our precious little girl. . .
Below: She didn't go anywhere without her yellow purse. . .
Below: Taking a bath in Grandmother's sink was a favorite activity. . .
Below: She loved her bikini from Uncle Greg and Aunt Lynn that showed off those legs. . .
Below: A collage of school pictures. . .
Below: She is quite the dancer and gymnast . . .
Below: She is also an athlete . . .
Below: She was ranked #2 tennis player in the state her senior year in high school.
Below: She is quite talented in many ways ...not sure where that Roll Tide cap came from...
Below: The photo on the right, documents that she started practicing this tongue maneuver early on.
Below: Are any of these people Big Tug or Little Tug ? Yes, she had two imaginary friends. I sat on Big Tug one time. I thought she would go into vapor lock before I could get off the couch.
A series of BOYFRIENDS follow:
There was some guy named Santa...
and there was Baby David...
Who is this...Capriati?
This guy was a little too thin...
This guy was a little statuesque...maybe the perfect man ?
This one. . . A Keeper !!!
She is my hero . . .
And a wonderful big sister . . .
The following is in no particular order . . . just typing away . . .
happy birthday, my darling - a microcosm of the feminine world...a world of insoluble puzzles - a mystery - an open book - smiles and tears, giggles, laughs, and guffaws - strong yet vulnerable - candid but serious - compassionate almost to a fault - sometimes pouty and spoiled - always a shy delight - energetic and sleeping... and sleeping - lyrical and graceful seldom stumbling - always a little girl but an adult from the start - an angelshine about you with a crooked little halo perched on an occasional horn peeking through - always my baby always my best friend - always the big sister defending like a mama bear - we've been to hell and back the three of us - we learned survival - we learned to enjoy the moment - we hold fast those memories - the bald and the beautiful - we learn from the mistakes - anticipate the future - we were a team - we still are - we were all entranced by you - fluffy lace with a boyish charm - we giggled when you called one of the twins a son-of-bitch - you had no idea what it meant - we cringed when you hit the tree on your bike playing Daisy Duke - you should have had stitches - your best friend and defender is now a Senator - because you pronounced the "TR" sound like an "F", visions of a sexual act in a burning building appeared when you saw a Fire Truck - you chose tennis over golf - 4 years on the road with suitcases, rackets, and a USTA card - well, we had the card most of the time - a #2 state ranking - not bad - especially considering you did the last year on your own - why did you beat your stuffed animals with a yardstick? - your group of friends included invisible ones - Big Tug and Little Tug - I know that Big Tug existed - I sat on him one day - your scream sent me through the ceiling - never did I sit without asking where Big Tug was - where are Big Tug and LIttle Tug now? - you are a never-ending source of pride - you set goals - short term and long term - you made a plan - Operation Infinite Hack - you worked hard and were persistent - you attained what you set out to achieve - it's difficult to stop writing because there is so much to say - I have to stop - just know that even though your dad and I had disagreements, there is one thing we do agree on, and I know I can speak for him - WE LOVE YOU !
So proud that she graduated with honors from Oklahoma University and received her Masters Degree from Tulsa University.
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While perusing through my stacks of photos, I came across one of my mother, my daughter, and my granddaughter.
As hard as it might be to believe, these were not posed to look like my mom. In fact, when the ones of LA and Pippa were taken, no one knew that the one of my mom even existed.
My youngest daughter created this collage.
Happy. Happy. Birthday, Leigh Anne !
