I had to stop for gas yesterday. Most of the pumps were empty so I pulled into the one closest to my car. As I looked up I noticed a lady getting gas on the other side of the pump.
Instantly I recognized her. I don’t recall her name, but I’ve seen her my whole life living here in Cherokee County. I felt a smile spread across my face as I remembered Pap really liked her and her husband.
I was planning to speak to her, but noticed my pump had a sign saying it was out of order. My tires were still rolling so I waved to the lady and circled around to the other side of the station to find another pump.
I figured she didn’t know me anyway and likely thought I was strange waving like I knew her.
After my tank was filled I headed to the grocery store. I’ve been getting Granny’s groceries for years so that she doesn’t have to get out. Back when the girls were in school I drove her each week and I got my groceries while she got her’s.
I always finished first in those days and each week I had to sit in the car and wait on her. At the time I kept a little boy and he was usually along with us. He never complained about waiting on Granny, but I sure did. I even made up a song to sing to him while we waited: Granny granny you better come on cause me and Alex we wanna go home.
Now that Granny’s not spry enough to go with me each week I miss those days and wish I could go back and tell myself to not worry a bit about her taking so long in the store because there’d come a day she couldn’t walk around in it by herself.
Now that Chatter’s married and gone she has to get her own groceries. We usually meet at the store and go in together.
When we came out of Ingles yesterday we stood around in the parking lot talking before we said goodbye like we usually do.
The lady from the gas pump drove up and parked nearby. Smiling she walked over to us. I figured she was going to ask me who I was since I’d waved so big at her. Instead she came to tell us she loves to watch our videos. She said she looks everyday to see if I’ve published a new one.
I told her “I never thought about you watching us, but you sure made me smile this morning because you reminded me of daddy.”
She said oh her and her husband loved Pap that he was a special person. I thanked her for the kind words and for helping me get to do what I love everyday. She said knowing she was helping me made her happy.
All the way home I thought about her and about how wonderful my life is. There’s certainly things that don’t go right for us. Like most folks there’s heartaches in our families and in our friend’s lives. But every once in a while all seems right in the world. I’ve written about it before here on the blog.
It’s as if the world around you syncs with your thoughts and feelings and lets you know you’re exactly where the Creator wants you to be at that time. A powerful feeling indeed.
I awake every day in wonder over the folks like Pap’s old friend who are supporting my family—who are allowing me live my dream. I could never explain or convey the gratitude I feel for each of them and for each of you.
Last night’s video: Common Folks 5.
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Tipper, thank you for sharing that joyous yet poignant story about your Pap. It’s a story that only you could write, but with pain as well as joy.
What a wonderful memory. Tipper you are blessed with the ability to express yourself in such a way that other people can feel the same way you do.
I love this post today. Sounds like you had a “Peace of God that transcends all understanding” moment. A “merry heart doeth good like medicine” and this post brought joy to my heart for life’s simple pleasures and seeing through God’s eyes.
Ain’t it funny how the small things in life tend to be big things looking back on it? I have many fond memories of grocery store trips. Precious memories of my mama and I taking my granny and my aunt Kathy to the store. Also us taking our neighbor who I called granny Violet to the store after her husband passed away. They’re all gone home now except for mama. I sure do miss those days
You know the price of fame is the loss of privacy. In the future you might need to consider changing your name from Tipper to something more innocuous like Mary Jane.
Beautiful Reads! ️❤️
Your story brought back memories of me doing my grandma’s grocery shopping when our grandpas health was bad and she would not leave him for a second. I did that from the time I was 13 until I was 16 when he passed away. I truly enjoyed doing that for her, plus I learned a lot about prices, brands and bargains. Later I would take her to doctors appointments and such before she died. I miss her a lot, she was a great person who loved the Lord and always trusted Him. Thank you for your story today!
God is always good! We had to move from where I was born and raised when my husband’s job was transferred to another state. Not having my parents, aunties, and cousins nearby was hard for me to imagine but at that time of my life God put us on the absolutely perfect street with deep rooted Bible believing Christians. He always answers prayers. When my parents retired and moved back south it was a breath of fresh air to get down and see them every year. Almost a thousand miles to travel when their health started to decline and even though I worked full time a way would always be provided for time needed when I had to go back and help out. My husband was retired by the time my parents really needed me and I was able to go for months and be caretaker. When my husband was sick, I stumbled across your blog and it just was a happy place for me to go. Words you used, food you cooked, gospel music you all played, and Granny’s crocheting, brought back such sweet memories of my family that have gone on to heaven.
One of your recent videos at a general store, where they had a lot of antiques, you showed “Carding Boards.” You mentioned you thought they were for wool as I know my great-grandfather Pipes farm a little south of Savannah, TN., raised sheep. But I have the exact same looking cards that belonged to my grandmother Kennedy and her mother gave it to her. She used it to comb through cotton because her mother combed it and she had the old spinning wheel passed down from her mother.
You are a blessing to all.
Loved today’s post. I remember those days when I would take my mama grocery shopping, then it became my responsibility to go for her, do her housework and many other things and yes, there were times I was tired and needed to be doing things at my own house but looking back, that was the least I could have done for her and also daddy before he died. I think sometimes folks forget our parents raised us and looking after them when they need us is what the Lord would want us to do. When my brother was sick, he called me one morning and asked if I would pick up a few things for him at the grocery store. I was glad to but one of the things he had on the list was chewing tobacco and I told him I had never bought it and didn’t know where it was located in the store, so when I was checking out, I ask the lady for chewing tobacco, and she looked at me so funny. She asked,” what kind?” and I said I don’t know and how many pouches did I want. Anyway, I came home with quite a few pouches and when I took his groceries to him and he saw how many there were, he started laughing and could not stop. He died tragically a few months later and oh, how I miss that laugh of his. It does me so much good when I see folks that knew him or any of my family and the things that are remembered. I just love hearing about them and how their memory lives on.
I am now what folks call an elder-orphan. I have no relatives left. There are a few second or third cousins that I never met living somewhere in Penna. Thank God for good friends. A wave means a lot to me and I cannot believe the way I have been blessed to be here in this beautiful place with so many folks who care.
Tipper as most you touched us on this one this morning. Just yesterday I was remembering back when I use to take momma to the grocery store and to her Dr. appointments. I had to do it all cause I was the only girl. Yes I had brothers but they were doing what they wanted to do. It got really hard when my mom had a stroke and heartattack and left her pearlized. I brought her home with me and took care of her until her last 2 months. I’ve always been a caregiver and That’s what I do and I love my job. I thank you Tipper for sending me a beautiful, wonderful blessing today.
Tipper, it’s a joy reading your post or watching yours or the girls videos. You are all a blessing to us. Even though I haven’t met you or your family in person, after reading a post or watching a video, I feel like I have just visited close friends. I think I visit y’all more than I do my friends I know personally, but I’m thankful for both equally.
I agree with Glenda Page’s comment. It’s good for us to be thankful to God for all He has done for us in our lives. The old hymn “Count Your Blessings” that has a chorus in it that says, “Count your blessings name them one by one. Count your blessing see what God hath done. Count your blessings name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
What a lovely post! I am glad you are keeping the history, language, and customs of Appalachia alive. Your daily posts are like talking to a neighbor.
I loved the 5th reading last evening! There were parts of humor and humility. I could listen to her stories all day! I admire all the struggles and triumphs, and her ability to say she was wrong. Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your blog this morning, so thankful we have days when all seems to be in synch. our Lord and Saviour is in control. God bless you and yours❤❤
It is so hard to get everything done during our working years. Even if we love our jobs, it is still hard to get it all done. Days only have 24 hours! I did my dad’s grocery shopping for years when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. I used to say I was part of the sandwich generation, sandwiched in between my parents, kids, and grandkids plus a job. Sis took care of doctor appointments and there were many. It is wonderful that you are able to look out after your mom along with the many things you must accomplish in a day. Retirement has eased my workload, but I did not realize how messy I was. I spend considerable time just cleaning up after myself. Plus, I was brainwashed as a child to think work and staying busy was important. 🙂 God is good, and as I reflect he has always placed me right where I needed to be. He gives us exactly what we need to cope with losses and grief. Studying genealogy makes any of my hardships seem mild and most losses expected. It is the cycle of life in those bygone dates, and I love finding the stories between the dashes. Those ancestors of ours lived their lives just as we do with the same expectations, and God made a way for them with hard work and sacrifice. I can never look at an old rock wall or the remnants of an old dirt road without thinking about those who paved our way for us.
Loved this post. You are truly blessed, and the rest of us are also when we can read inspiring stories like this.
I really loved this post. Thank you for sharing!
What a number of blessings you received. You had the experience of life as it is intended to be lived but it wasn’t just happenstance. It was a gift, given to you in part because you are a giver. But also because our Father delights in blessing his children. And His own delight in others being blessed. You certainly don’t need me to tell you these things. You know them quite well. You “cast your bread upon the waters” every day. You just got a special kind of return. Those are treasured moments and treasured memories.
Tipper.. watching you is a daily joy for me. It’s like a visit with old friends! Believe me the blessing is given to both sides! ❤️
Amen! I am of Pap and Granny’s generation and consider Tipper and her clan to be nieces and nephews. They have given me far more than I shall ever be able to give them.
Tipper, what you shared this morning really struck a cord with me. I believe there are times in our lives when we get to looking back wondering if we could’ve appreciated it more and then from there the wondering and doubt can take on its own life and we are swept away for awhile in doubt. Then something as simple as seeing a lady at the pump (exactly at the right time) ends up giving you a direct message from God about REALLY who you are and how much you mean to other people. I’ve not met a perfect person yet who always did right, nor had regrets big or small, but if you do, please snap a picture of them and share it with the WORLD! Tipper, you’re AOK with me and I’m going to reinforce that you are a fine, fine woman worth her weight in solid gold! I cant hardly miss a day of your blog that I don’t wonder what it was about… you’re an interesting person for sure! Why just last night the biggest sinner in my family asked me to send them the Bible. I welled up and my cup ran over because I’ve been praying for them for 7 years. I’ve had many a doubting moment and probably many more to come, but the Lord is at work. Oh yes He is!
Well, thank you. I just found a new wonderful expression that perfectly described joy (sometimes) when you end up crying instead of laughing. Your cup ran over. What a beautiful and perfect sentiment.
A good one. Most of my classmates and cousins that I grew up with are gone. There were about 24 of us maternal cousins and now there are 6. Hard to believe that I will be 80 in a few days. I sometimes remember the get-togethers at my grandma’s place. The big old house is gone but the memories linger on.
Once in a while we get to feel the “sync” click into space out there that connects everything and it’s a grand moment!
Glad I read this one. Keep ’em coming.
Love your blogs look forward to them every day! Keep up the good work we so appreciate you.
I really enjoyed your post today. There is something special about community and being around folks that are familiar and remind you of family. I relocated after college away from family and visited when I could. Most of my friends were what I called “imports,” like me. That was 44 years ago and I now have friends, some of them for 43 years now. They became family and that is good. But I still missed my family and the familiar folks I grew up with, there is something special and comforting about that.
I want to add this, Tipper I love you and your family. I consider you and the other members on the BP&A as friends that I have never met. I told a friend at church last Sunday that loves to play his guitar and sing about the BP&A and about listening to Pap and the others on you tube.
It seems like everyday I see or hear something or somebody that will remind me of my love ones that have passed on. In January my son started a new job in a different department of the company 3 generations of us have worked at. He has met a man that remembers my daddy and his granddaddy and the man will tell him stories about his granddaddy and how he could keep them laughing with some of the funny stories he could come up with and tell while at work. This goes along with waiting at the grocery store, I would sit in the car and wait on my wife to buy groceries and being honest about it, get agitated about how long it took her to buy groceries. I have told her, she couldn’t go in and buy a loaf bread in less than 30 minutes, she had to walk down every aisle. Now I would give everything I own or will ever own to have her back and be able to sit and wait on her again.
Thanks for sharing. I wish others would reflect on their lives and appreciate what God gives us daily. God Bless.