It Is What It Is Names And All

Okay, okay, so I made a mistake and left my computer at home. I didn't take it to Texas with me but I sure thought about it. I had put the charger in one of my bags that I packed along with the USB cord that goes with the camera. I was all set and ready to go.

I was half-way listening to the yak yak of my daughter, grandson and granddaughter as they wined " when will you have time to get on the computer, or Granny, can't you stay off the computer for one day, or " Nanta please".

All I needed at that point was a fiddle to play some sad blues song. So I unpacked my cords and kissed my computer goodbye.

I do know that If I would have had my computer It would have been a late night two fingered keyboard sonata as others were sound asleep. The sounds of tap n enter,tap n enter,tap n enter would make sweet music to my ears.

I could have down loaded all those pictures I captured with my camera to my computer. Well, all those pictures that actually came through.

I hit the off button on at least fifty pictures instead of the button you push to take the pictures. I silently wondered why the flash did not go off work and completely ignored the lack of the long pause of the pictures as they should have held and captured the pose.

When I asked my niece to show me how to go back and look in the camera at the pictures I had taken, her comment was " What Pictures?"

I could have deleted all the email that I accrued all those days I was going to be away.

I tried though to see where I could get on with out to much panic from the crew. I first looked at the computer room at the hotel but they only had two and those happened to be taken every time I walked by.

Later on that day,I looked in the room at my relatives and saw all that gorgeous equipment just waiting for me to ask if its alright if I logged on. (My inner mind could hear the sounds that I heard when we left the house for Texas so I changed my greedy thoughts.) I shook my head so loud trying to get rid of that sound that I got a headache.

I think I was having AfriGeneas, Ancestry, Heritage Quest, Facebook withdrawals. Pages like Black Family Historical Society, Our Black Ancestry, The Texas and Oklahoma Historical Pages, all at the same time cluttered my mind.

I was missing Keith Olberman, Rev Al, all my friends like Sharon Mc who posts tidbits through out the day; The Weather Channel, gobs and gobs of ancestors pictures that people post, all fighting for position in my brain.

Was hope all lost; Not yet:

My daughter bought her computer along with her because she still had home-work to do. So now I had an in. Woo hoo!!!

I could use it when she was not doing her homework. At Last! But, there is always a "but" in these situations.

Just when I was going full throttle, I heard this voice saying, "Mom, I need to do my homework now."
I felt like I was at the Casino, my machine had just started to hit and it was time to go.

As William Bendix used to say, "What a revoltin development this is."

Anyway, the next day, it was time to pack up and head back home. I was feeling pretty good even though we had this long 1100 mile stretch.

We pulled into one of the numerous rest areas and a sign caught my eye.

What!!! Why in the world would the "Internet Teasers" do this to me. Me with no
computer, durn it! Oh well, maybe it was best because I would have made up for all I missed right there in the wide open spaces surrounded by big long haul trucks, cars and three angry people. LOL

My mind then went back to Texas and wondered who may have named their child Texas, or Alabama, or Georgia. Then one of my Genie buddies Georgia Adams came to mind along with a Genie partner Art Adams. So, me being me, I did a search...

My attempt at the search begins with Adams:

The Adam surname is of English Origin thought to be from the first man Adam according to Genesis.

Texas is from the Caddo Indian word " Teyshas" meaning friends. In 1540 The Spanish explorers took it to be a tribal name and recorded it as Teyas or Tejas.


Texas Adams was living in Georgia according to the 1900 Baldwin County Census. Texas was born in Georgia, her father was born in Georgia and her mother Florida. Go figure
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Georgia was named in honor of King George the 2nd of England.

Now Georgia Adams was Williams mother in law of. She was born around 1835 in Alabama according to the Marengo Alabama 1900 Census. Another go figure because both of her parents were born in Alabama.
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Alabama named after the river first called Alibamu and the local Native American Tribe. Alabama was thought to be derived from two Choctaw names Alba and Amo.

Aha, now we have a 1910 Leflore County Oklahoma Census! Alabama Adams was born in Arkansas but both her parents were from Alabama. Now that's one that I can figure.
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Happy Searching if you have a State, County, City, Town, Village or Hamlet named after your ancestor.

My nephew Phoenix will have his namesake story to tell as he rises and makes his mark in the world.

Here Dear: Mrs Williams, Here's To You!

For years now I have called my brother and sister in law's house. My brother Richard was not that much of a talker and so whenever I called and wanted to talk for a long time I talked to Jeannie, his "Here Dear".

If Richard answered and he said a few words he would ask if I wanted to talk to Jeannie. Before I could say yes, he would say "Here Dear" .

I had learned many years ago when he felt good, when he did not feel good, when he was to busy to talk at length, so I just started asking for Jeannie.


The only time he would spend his vocal cords would be to ask what the heck is going on in Arizona? That started early on when the Arizona Governor rescended the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday to the 1070 Immigration Debacle and to the Tucson Tragedy. We would also talk fishing and sports. Other than that, it was " Here Dear"

Now comes my turn to salute you here Here-Dear

You are a strong woman who loved my brother, who took care of him through good times and hard times.

I can only imagine how hard you worked getting up at three and four in the morning getting things ready at Scratch Bake Bakery and then off to work full time.

How you got little sleep because the kids still needed to be taken care of and four young ones had to be a chore.

I can only imagine how hard you worked as my brother went from nearly slipping away before he got his transplant and taking care of him through his illness and still being a strong wife and mother.

I can only imagine how hard you worked as the years passed by and you and your family tried to lead a normal life through all the trials and tribulations.

I can only image how you all felt inside because of the passing of your mother in law Zepher Lee and your mother Ella Ree.

I can only imagine your love for your sister Dana as she goes through her illness at the same time as your husband and wanting the nearness of your other sister Diane.

I can only image how you felt after the births of the grand children and the joy of seeing them grow.

I do love you more than you know and somehow hope this small tribute on my blog will let you know that.

So Here Dear, here's to you !!!!

First this smooch to let you know that your cheek will hold the endless love me and the rest of my family feel for you.

Then this image of the red pants you wore when you caught my brothers eye.

And lastly this heart to let you know how much you are in "our" hearts and mind always and forever.

The Wait And The Flight

My youngest brother passed away August 7 2012 in Dallas Texas. About 3 weeks ago he called his two brothers Theodore and Bruce and told them that he had 3 months to live. His liver that he received over twenty years ago was beginning to fail.

His wish was to see his brothers and sisters. He stated that he was okay with the way his life was planned out and that he had been preparing his wife and kids since the day he got the transplant.

Its common for a liver transplant to add ten years to one's life. My brother got to spend another ten plus on top of that with his wonderful wife and kids.


He wrote several books one called "Through The Storm & Through The Fire" which reflected his experience in a time in his life.

Bruce lives in California but got in his car and drove to Arizona to tell me, my daughter and grands in person. For that I am eternally grateful. It was there that we made our plans to get to Texas as soon as we could.

Richard wants his family to rejoice and not be sad. We have outwardly responded to his wishes. Inwardly my heart is hurting. I know that my brother was very spiritual and that he loved the LORD. He touched so many lives with his wisdom and testimonies.


When I had talked to my brother a couple of days before we left for Texas, his voice was strong. We laughed and talked. We had no idea that things had changed until we got to Texas.

The Wait:

On Sunday we all arrived at the house. All the hugs and laughter to celebrate our brother, and to celebrate his birthday which is August 17. Frank Jr, his wife Jan, his daughter kami and her hubby and daughter came from San Antonio. Sis in law Jan said that in Richard's wise way he got all of us together for the first time in thirteen years.

Sister June and her daughter Tracy and brother Theodore lived in the area. Richard's nephews Anthony, Bryan and Matthew flew in from Arizona and California.

My brother Ronnie's daughter Jeca was there. (Two of the the siblings Ronnie and Mary were missing but we hope that their spirit was in the room.)

Richard wanted to join the laughter even though he was in pain. In his wheelchair he stayed in the living room for awhile when he requested to go outside so that he could get some fresh air and look around. After about five minutes he returned and went back to bed.

Sunday night my sister in law called and said that she had to take him to the Emergency Room.

The Flight:

He took his flight home Tuesday. My siblings and I would like to say that he waited to see us before he claimed his spot in the Upper Room.

LaJeannie, Jason, Shalundria, Andre and Adrian we are so grateful for you loving our brother. He loved you deeply. God knew who put into his life and call them "Family"

We Love you Brother, Rest In Peace.