4/24/2008

Birthday girl



This little bit of trouble came into the world on this date in 1942, just a few months after Pearl Harbor. Arriving two months early, she weighed in at 3 1/2 pounds. “About the size of a little bag of sugar and just as sweet,” her daddy said. A box by a wood-burning stove was prescribed by the attending country doctor as an incubator.

Her brother, then 16, and sisters, 14 and 12, have related many stories from those earliest days, including waking her up before they left for school just so they could play with her. Many older cousins joined in the fun of spoiling her.

A German shepherd puppy, “Jack Dog,” a gift from her uncle when she was six months old, became her constant companion and protector until he died when she was nine.

Her sister called her last night to tell her once more about the day she went missing and how Jack Dog led them to find her “sitting atop the wood pile laughing at everyone.” She also threw in the story of how the little girl tried to flush her beautiful new prom dress down the toilet.

Her earliest memories include a red velvet coat and hat, a gift from her sister, and seeing a movie where a white-gloved hand walked up and down stairs and played a piano.

To this day, 66 years later, she still celebrates life, and her birthdays make her feel like a happy kid!

A young niece once said her epitaph should be, “She lived until she died and outlived us all.” What a lovely thought.

To celebrate the day – and her 6,000th blog visitor – she has decided to give up blogging and devote more time to her beloved books, movies and music and to the special people in her life.

With deepest appreciation to all who have dropped by to read and to comment. I’ve learned a lot from the blogging experience and from your thoughts.

B. J. Trotter
Anderson, SC

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Frodo had two lyrics come immediately to mind: "To everything, there is a season. . ."; and "It's late September and I really should be back at school. . ."

We sometimes need to end good things, simply because there are very few things we can end, well.

If we truly had our way, we would all pile into a convertible, top-down, and pull into the parking lot of the dorm in time for the keg party.

Ah, good friend, we know it is but chapters. . .the book is not complete.

Anonymous said...

Oh my... giving up blogging! Are you sure? You should at least write editorials for the paper or something. I am so happy for your birthday and hope it is a wonderful day. Maybe I can come visit in a year. Well, giving up blogging is one thing but please don't give up email. I don't know what I would do if we couldn't e-chat anymore. I am happy for your decision as long as you are happy for it. Don't give it up because of other people. That is your personal blog and your personal thoughts that you are allowing people to view. I think you ought to start tape recording some things. Just turn it on and start speaking. I have a recorder that is like a USB. you record on it and then plug it in your computer and then it is done.

Again, please PLEASE don't give up email.

Love you lots,
Phillip

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday B.J.,
I love you and I hope your birthday is a grand one. You do what ever you want to about blogging but just keep sending me those good ole family stories. You are the family historian. I love everything you write about the family. You are so entertaining. Happy Birthday!!!!
I love you, Deb
P.S. I loved the baby picture of you. Priceless...........

Anonymous said...

BJ, birthdays celebrate the gift of time - I celebrate the gift of YOU! Have a happy day! Mine will not be quite so happy with the news that you're giving up your blog. Your insight and beautiful writing will be sorely missed.
Birthday blessings, Faye

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BJ! Hope it's the best one in your life. Jan will surely miss your blog. As you can see, your readers love your blog reports and will miss your journalistic facts. Please take care of yourself, have a very Happy Birthday and keep in touch often.

May all of your tomorrows be filled with all the good things in life.

Love, Blessings and all the good stuff,

Jan

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!!!! Daphne would have remembered...but then I'm not Daphne, lol. I do love you though, and am thinking about you every day. You do what you feel you have to do, but there are many people who will miss your sharing your thoughts with us. I love you my friend.

Papamoka said...

You already know how I feel about your "thinking" about giving up blogging and I will say it here and now. Big mistake my friend! Huge!

Other than that, happy birthday to you and I think you deserve many more. Sometimes in life one spirit touches another and you my friend have touched mine. I thank you for that and I will try not to be pissed off at you for long. Other than that hows the weather?

Take care of you and God bless. From my heart to yours. I'll miss your rants and I'm betting that you will too.

Hugs my friend... Mat

Anonymous said...

Nooooooooooooo, BJ. Maybe after this election is over you'll be ready to blog again. Politics has a way of smushing our feelings a tad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, girl!

Anonymous said...

BJ --

I wish you a happy birthday and a good year. And many more.

Jill

Anonymous said...

I want to wish you a happy birthday, and I hope you find a way to continue the connection you made by blogging. It was a good run, though I came in at the end, I guess.

I do want to say that it "wonders me" as they say in Pennsylvania why you would do this. And I would say, from my instinct, that you have gotten too much into the election, the media, and I am afraid the candidate. Life needs measure, which I imagine you have! Only time will fill you in on this scene.

Good bye, good luck, and I will miss your comments.

There are people out there who simply don't see this political race as bringing good things to people. These candidates are not necessarily uplifting--nor do they want to function that way. It's not their modus operendi, is that the word? I hope this isn't another casualty because these candidates and this race are so so small in the scheme of things!

airth10 said...

Yes, Happy Birthday BJ.

Anonymous said...

B.J.,
I'm glad we got to know each other, even through we are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, we are still friends, and that is as it should be. I'm so sad you are giving it up, but think I know why. We need good liberals like you to keep us conservatives in line. God Bless, and Good Health.

Warmest regards,
Tom Givens

Unknown said...

Happy Belated Birthday, BJ....Van never said when it was... :-)

Don't give up the blogging, unless it really is getting to be too much.

Love you,
Anna & Van

Tom Degan said...

Beautiful site you have here, BJ. Heep on blogging. We really need your wisdom.

All the best,

Tom Degan