Pappy trying to look mean…he was so brave in the end…how I love and miss you Daddy…

I’m wishing you all a Happy 4th with your family and friends.  Today is the first holiday without Pappy, so I’m home with my fur babies, getting some things done around the house, and reflecting on life..thinking about Daddy, remembering all the wonderful holidays we shared. I received many invitations to hang out and celebrate America’s birthday, but I’m just not up for it so soon after his passing.

Two years ago, Mama, Daddy and I drove up to Saluda and spent a lovely day strolling through this precious town…here’s a picture of us after the picnic we had at the fish hatchery nearby. It was a beautiful day surrounded by nature and love.

Many of you are just learning of the passing of my Daddy on Monday night, June 29th at about 11:25, after a year-long struggle with cancer. We knew this day would come, and we were somewhat prepared, as he was not showing the progress for which we had hoped after his latest setback for a broken hip.  Monday morning I learned he was losing his battle, and we stayed with him until his very last breath.  I am so happy that I saw him Sunday night for our goodnight kiss, and a very brief chat, as he was so tired, and unable to speak much.  My brother Eddie, my BFF Duckie Doo,  Mama’s BFF Dixie and I were there as he transitioned to join his beloved Patricia, who died last June. We wiped away tears from his eyes as he took his final breaths, and I know beyond any doubt, they were tears of joy…I can only imagine the incredible sight upon his passing, as he was with his beautiful Jesus and his only true love, Mama…who had been visiting him a few days prior, he had said. 

This picture was taken in 1973 during a hiking trip at Caesar’s Head. We were outdoors somewhere almost every weekend growing up, and I was fascinated that Daddy knew the name of almost every tree, flower and bird…he was the smartest, kindest, most handsome man I ever knew, I would think to myself…and still do. He was my greatest teacher and a friend like no other…honest to a fault, the lessons he taught me were sometimes painful, but necessary.  I did not want to let him go, and I literally clung to him for several minutes after his death..I cried for my Daddy like I never have, pleading for him not to leave me…but I know he was ready, and it was time.  

I’m at a loss to write any more at this time…the void and the sadness is overwhelming. But I feel your love and prayers and I thank you for the support you continue to give so generously. I am eternally grateful.  Daddy’s obituary will be in this Sunday’s Greenville News, with all of the information on the memorial service, planned for Monday, July 6th, which would have been his 72nd birthday.

I love you all so much…God bless, xo

I can’t lie to you….Daddy isn’t well, and may not recover from his latest setback.   We are in a place emotionally that is hard to describe…teetering between complete sadness and grief…and, joy and gratitude to the Lord,  that his suffering from cancer may be over soon. Over the coming weeks, I will share more with you, but at this time…I am filled with disbelief and devastation, knowing I must let him go one day, forever as my earthly parent…

Last weekend we celebrated Father’s Day at NHC, and he was thrilled to be honored. In fact, he thought it was his birthday…so sweet.  His birthday is coming soon, July 6th. He will be 72…pictured is one of his presents, a picture montage of his life. We all wrote comments, and laughed at some of the ridiculous shots…made jokes about our hair from the 70’s…funny expressions on some of the faces, etc. We feasted on lemon pie, his favorite, and sang “For he is a jolly good fellow…”  It was a beautiful day.  Any day with Daddy lately is a beautiful day, for we know not when it will be our last.

I’m leaving here in a few minutes to be with Daddy this morning…and I will return this evening for a goodnight kiss, as he did with me when I was small and vulnerable, and unable to care for myself. I hate to have to let him go one day, but this is the natural process of life, which sucks.

Thank you for all your prayers for comfort and peace. I love you guys for all you have done for me and my family. Peace to you and your family on this day and always.

Joanne, pictured to my left, won this week’s Pitstop…she works at Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance, downtown Greenville in the Wachovia building.  Joanne is a real sweetie, and her co-workers were thrilled to be treated to coffee and doughnuts. We appreciate you listening to Magic and we hope this was a nice pick-me-up!  A side note…my first job in radio was right in that very building..I think on the 8th floor, when I was “Wendy” with WSSL.  Just walking through the door downstairs brought back some great memories. Thanks Joanne…hope to see you again one day!

Yes, I do have some good news to share! It’s about the Upstate, and specifically Greenville, which was featured on ABC  recently. Titled “A Tale of Two Cities,”  it compares Greenville with Rockford, Illinois, and how the two are weathering the recession. It’s a pretty incredible story…please click on the link…or copy and paste into your browser…enjoy!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7775661

Well guys, my poor Pappy just can’t catch a break!  Here is the latest on him…

This past Monday, Daddy fell at home, and broke his right hip. The surgery was Tuesday morning at St. Francis downtown, and Dr. O’Boyle did a fabulous job, inserting a rod through the bone. He is having at least 3 weeks of therapy at a local facility, where he’ll be living. He was transferred there yesterday. He is in enormous pain and discomfort, but the painkillers seem to be working : )  Eventually we hope he will return home.  But most of all, we pray he remains positive and inspired…this can only help the healing process.

He still has pneumonia and is very weak, and the chemotherapy for cancer of the ampulla, with metastatic lesions on the lungs, has been put on hold. 

Pappy has had a tough year…losing his beloved, finding out he has stage 4 cancer, not being able to work any longer due to his weakened state…it’s all taken a toll. Sometimes I wonder how the man can even stand up, but he does. He’s a fighter…a very strong Texan who’s as stubborn as the day is long at times.  He is an amazing person who has been kind to so many, and definitely doesn’t deserve the terrible things that have happened to him. But we all have our crosses to bear, and he continues to bear his magnificently. 

I will be visiting him every day, and my brother is now living at the house taking care of things. Actually, he and Jeanette, his wife, are taking turns holding down the fort. Tomorrow, we will all surround him with pie, presents and a lot of love for Father’s Day. Sad that we have to visit him somewhere other than home, but we have no choice.

Thank you as always for your support and prayers. You are amazing and I don’t know what we would do without you. I thank God for each and every one of you, for showing your love to us in so many ways. I hope I will have better news for you soon. In the meantime, I will try to keep smiling, and I will never forget your kindness.

Look at the face!!!  Pappy Whitson looks so distinguished doesn’t he? I can’t believe he let me take this picture, and I think it’s adorable. Here’s the story behind the picture. My Daddy grew up in rural Texas, with good ‘ol, stick to your ribs comfort food, like Malt-o-Meal, and we couldn’t find it anywhere around here. So…Aunt Nita, his sister, sent 2 huge boxes last week. She wrote that it was a pleasure to send it, because she wanted to do something for her brother. You would have thought he’d won the lottery when he opened the package from Texas!  He looked like a kid in a candy store.  How precious!!

We miss Aunt Nita and the crew in Texas, and I’m afraid my Daddy may not get to see his family or the familiar landscape from his childhood for awhile, if ever again…believe me, we’ve tried!  He’s just too weak right now because of the complications from chemotherapy.  He’s also still recovering from pneumonia. And, Aunt Nita can’t travel either right now because of her own health issues…so for now…the internet and the U.S. Postal Service will have to do.

What comfort foods remind you of home? For me, it’s fried chicken, fried okra, fried taters..ok, anything fried : -)

 Have a blessed day everyone, xo!

Here’s something fun I did one day this past Spring. I was having company over and wanted to sit on the front porch for a little conversation and a little red wine. I threw these old curtains up I used to have in the guest room.  It felt like we were in some Middle Eastern restaurant and it really set the mood. 

Many of you shop at thrift stores, and more and more people are buying and selling home accessories and furniture at consignment shops…this is the way to go folks. I’m a consigner at Feather Your Nest in Taylors, and I also shop there too.  I make a little money and then go shopping with the rest! Other places I love to find bargains:  The Nearly New Shop that the Junior League runs on Antrim Drive, The Salvation Army Thrift Store on Rutherford Street, Miracle Mart in Taylors, the Goodwill on Woodruff, Shinola at Wade Hampton and Stone, Southern Estate Antiques on Mauldin Road…there’s just too many to mention!

Please share your favorite thrift shops, antique stores and consignment shops too by leaving a comment…thanks everyone. Hope you have a great day, and happy shopping and decorating on a budget!  Good taste doesn’t have to be expensive : )

I’ve mentioned on the air how much work my brother and his sons have been doing on Pappy’s yard and pond, but these pictures just don’t do it justice. At least you can get some idea, and see how handsome the Whitson men are!  Not pictured is my nephew Jesse who was absent last weekend when I took these pictures.

You all know how much time I spend with Daddy. I am lucky to have a job that allows me the freedom to clean Daddy’s house and cook some of his meals…grocery shop for him and take him to doctor’s appointments and such. My brother has a great job, but not the kind of freedom I have. Because of this, it seems I do the majority of the care-taking…so my brother took it upon himself to maintain the exterior of our family home, every weekend…and with the help of his 2 boys Dylan and Jesse, has totally transformed the front garden and coi pond in the back.

Again, the pictures don’t do it justice, and yes…they’re still trying to get the grass to grow in the front yard, but more importantly, in cultivating the outside, he and the boys cultivated their relationships even more with each other and with their role model, Pappy.  They needed some “guy time”  together and this was the perfect way to show Papa Tony how very much they love him.  It was a way to give back to Pappy, for all he has done for them throughout the years.