Wanda's Wacky Wonderful World

  Butch was 12 years older than me – The same day I graduated from kindergarten - he graduated from high school later that evening.  Pattie was 10 years my senior and she was the spoiler. But it was Butch's goal in life to make sure I did not grow up to be a brat...  so we have him to thank him for my humility and grace. He taught me so many things.  He taught me to be thoughtful and considerate. He taught me that whatever I did, should be done with excellence.  He taught me to eat all the mashed potatoes off the spoon and not savor them one lick at a time.  He made sure to remind me that just because I was the baby of the family did not give me special privileges in his book - (although he rewrote his book as we got older and became best friends). Oh the many conversations we’ve had where he would vent - pour out his heart and describe all the details of his woes. I would listen - carefully ask questions to make sure I understood it all - and tell him to get his big boy britches o

  Help me! Life was probably more hectic and painful than it had ever been. Most of our days were spent back and forth from the hospital. My dad was in end-stage heart and kidney failure. Watching him struggle and knowing he was nearing the end of his days; we were determined he would never be alone.  We took turns spending the nights with him and worried about our little momma; who would rarely leave his bedside.   I breathed a sigh of relief as I settled into my recliner on this particular evening; I needed to unwind before I could go to bed. I had caught a glance at several texts from the kids and needed to read them more thoroughly.  We had five grandchildren and loved all the little pictures and videos their parents sent throughout the day. I giggled as I watched a video from Amanda. Their youngest daughter Sydney was strumming a pink guitar and singing her little heart out.   I showed my husband, Jeff,   and we watched it several times. Although we couldn’t make out the words, it