2004-2005 was other years like 1997-1998....many deaths...mostly on my side of the family.
In January, Wyvone slipped on the porch and broke her arm in two places...she had pins placed in her arm to reset it. A home health aide came to help her a few times a week with the colostomy bag and check her arm. She started having problems with her leg from the fall...wasn't quite sure what it was at first, but it ended up being a horrible spider bite. At one point, the hole in her leg was so big you could stick your finger through it. She was put on high powered antibiotics since she didn't have much of an immune system to begin with.
Wyvone had pins in her arm for a good 6 months, which prevented her from quilting. She got the pins out in mid-summer 2004. In September, she started having trouble with her Chron's and the tissue surrounding the colostomy. She had to be careflighted to Dallas. This was the start of several months of illness and careflights.
About this time, we found out my dad had cancer, so I was having that do deal with on my side of the family as well.
Christmas 2004 was the last time Wyvone would be home. She was still very ill and things didn't seem to be getting any better. We put her back in the hospital the day after Christmas and about New Year's she was put on life support.
Before the life support, she was hurt that Tye didn't call and check on her. She wanted to hear her mother say, "I love you," and it never happened. Tye did eventually call, but it was minimal between September and January.
The months had wore on us all. They kept Wyvone on lifesupport for 21 days...the maximum amount of time recommended. It was so hard seeing her like that. Unable to speak, move on her own...I went up to her ICU room on New Year's Day. The nurse wouldn't let me it because visiting hours were over. I placed a single black-eyed pea in her and and told her to take it to Wyvone. The nurse teared up and did just as I asked.
Mid-January, they flew Wyvone out for what would be the last time. Bill and Joey made the trip up to Dallas. The doctors there told them that she had a heart attack days before this transport. Brownwood hospital never mentioned this. Wyvone passed away while she was there.
Bill and Joey were heading back from DFW to break the news to us when they were in a car accident outside of Comanche. I never thought I would ever see your Uncle Bill in a hospital bed. It could have been much worse though.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Days and Years to Follow
Just so you will know, many, many people offered to help the family with you. Some wanted to adopt. I quit my job and made myself available to help in any way I could. Shawna was prepared to do the same. Tye wouldn't hear of it. She tried for awhile to make it on her own. There was the still new, big house of your mother's, but now what it was the scene of a crime, Tye thought it would be best to keep you away from it. She wasn't sure what you would remember. After a month or so, she had me, Wyvone, and Shawna help her clean it and get ready to sell. It was probably one of the most difficult things I had ever done. Sometime when you get older, I will tell you about that.
After awhile, Bill, Wyvone and Josie moved out to the ranch to help Tye. They gave up the place in Blanket and moved to Zephyr. About this time Joey and Shawna broke up and Joey started dating Reyna. I thought about omitting this part because I felt it wasn't relevant, but looking back I see just how relevant it was. Joey and Shawna did eventually get back together and they did take ya'll in from time to time and are a very important part of your life. You already know this. Had the two of them stayed together I think the course of events may have been different, but who can truly know that though? Shawna is a nuturer and having her 3, James, and you 3 suited her and Joey. Unbeknownst to me, in God's bigger picture, this was all for the best. Billy's diabetes had starting going down hill fast. The seizures were devestating enough for me and Stephanie and you three had already been through too much as it was.
Shortly after Bill and Wyvone settled in Zephyr is when Tye had the breast cancer and Wyvone was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Tye came across and old classmate from elementary school named Gene and they married quickly. None of us liked Gene...he was a gold digger! He had been married many times with maybe 6 months from divorce to the next marriage. Tye had her stroke when she was married to Gene. He insisted on "taking care" of her which consisted of him taking deep sea fishing trips. Tye did get to go on one before her stroke, but that was it. He was also instrumental in having you three placed in a group children's home.
Bill and Wyvone had given up their life in Blanket to move to the ranch and care for you....but Gene obviously had Tye convinced that you'd be better off away. When we started seeing Gene for the crook that he was...we ran him off....We may be a poor, redneck family, but you cross one of us...you cross all of us. We had help from the family at the Cherokee Home for Children too...(Mary and David)
Tye's was loosing her edge. Her mind was going. Gene had basically had her mind twisted and brainwashed. She had wrote a very hurtful, ugly letter to Wyvone, she refused to believe the accusations we had on Gene, even with proof.
Wyvone was an avid reader and loved V.C. Andrews books. I say this because this is when the story turns to a "Flowers in the Attic" feel. The storyline is about a ruthless grandmother who treats her own daughter like crap while the grandchildren she doesn't claim lived locked away in the attic. As much as we tried to write it off as stroke dementia or early Alzheimer's, it was still hard for a daughter who loved her mother so much put up with the vindictive, hurtful, spiteful, evil things Tye said during this time. They say people with Alzheimer's hurt the ones they are closest too. The doctor never ruled it as such because she would change personalities around other people. Around Wyvone, Tye became the most hateful old woman I had ever seen.
Even with Wyvone's own medical conditions, her and Bill stayed at the Ranch even after you three were put in Cherokee to care for Tye. They would take her to visit ya'll too. I am not quite sure what happened at Cherokee, I think Mary and David were moving and ya'll came back home. Tye wanted to do it on her own, with Bill and Wyvone across the yard, just an earshot away.
It didn't work. You three were too small and into way to much stuff. Tye wasn't able to get out of bed on her own. I think it was a home health agent that reported you as neglected. When CPS got involved, you went to Stephenville. I was working on getting you in the Hendrick Home in Abilene, but Tye wouldn't hear of it. She only wanted you in a Church of Christ home.
None of us wanted to see you go again, but we knew it was for the best. You needed away from all the hurt and pain and needed to be somewhere where you'd be cared for. I am not the biggest fan of the Foster's Home in Stephenville...and that is another story for when you get older.
After awhile, Bill, Wyvone and Josie moved out to the ranch to help Tye. They gave up the place in Blanket and moved to Zephyr. About this time Joey and Shawna broke up and Joey started dating Reyna. I thought about omitting this part because I felt it wasn't relevant, but looking back I see just how relevant it was. Joey and Shawna did eventually get back together and they did take ya'll in from time to time and are a very important part of your life. You already know this. Had the two of them stayed together I think the course of events may have been different, but who can truly know that though? Shawna is a nuturer and having her 3, James, and you 3 suited her and Joey. Unbeknownst to me, in God's bigger picture, this was all for the best. Billy's diabetes had starting going down hill fast. The seizures were devestating enough for me and Stephanie and you three had already been through too much as it was.
Shortly after Bill and Wyvone settled in Zephyr is when Tye had the breast cancer and Wyvone was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Tye came across and old classmate from elementary school named Gene and they married quickly. None of us liked Gene...he was a gold digger! He had been married many times with maybe 6 months from divorce to the next marriage. Tye had her stroke when she was married to Gene. He insisted on "taking care" of her which consisted of him taking deep sea fishing trips. Tye did get to go on one before her stroke, but that was it. He was also instrumental in having you three placed in a group children's home.
Bill and Wyvone had given up their life in Blanket to move to the ranch and care for you....but Gene obviously had Tye convinced that you'd be better off away. When we started seeing Gene for the crook that he was...we ran him off....We may be a poor, redneck family, but you cross one of us...you cross all of us. We had help from the family at the Cherokee Home for Children too...(Mary and David)
Tye's was loosing her edge. Her mind was going. Gene had basically had her mind twisted and brainwashed. She had wrote a very hurtful, ugly letter to Wyvone, she refused to believe the accusations we had on Gene, even with proof.
Wyvone was an avid reader and loved V.C. Andrews books. I say this because this is when the story turns to a "Flowers in the Attic" feel. The storyline is about a ruthless grandmother who treats her own daughter like crap while the grandchildren she doesn't claim lived locked away in the attic. As much as we tried to write it off as stroke dementia or early Alzheimer's, it was still hard for a daughter who loved her mother so much put up with the vindictive, hurtful, spiteful, evil things Tye said during this time. They say people with Alzheimer's hurt the ones they are closest too. The doctor never ruled it as such because she would change personalities around other people. Around Wyvone, Tye became the most hateful old woman I had ever seen.
Even with Wyvone's own medical conditions, her and Bill stayed at the Ranch even after you three were put in Cherokee to care for Tye. They would take her to visit ya'll too. I am not quite sure what happened at Cherokee, I think Mary and David were moving and ya'll came back home. Tye wanted to do it on her own, with Bill and Wyvone across the yard, just an earshot away.
It didn't work. You three were too small and into way to much stuff. Tye wasn't able to get out of bed on her own. I think it was a home health agent that reported you as neglected. When CPS got involved, you went to Stephenville. I was working on getting you in the Hendrick Home in Abilene, but Tye wouldn't hear of it. She only wanted you in a Church of Christ home.
None of us wanted to see you go again, but we knew it was for the best. You needed away from all the hurt and pain and needed to be somewhere where you'd be cared for. I am not the biggest fan of the Foster's Home in Stephenville...and that is another story for when you get older.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Pink Rose
I went to the place she lived
Qute sometime ago
To prepare for her a garden of roses
All in a neat little row.
I took my shovel and began
To work the dirt and rock mound
And after a long afternoon
I had the roses in the ground
I planted red, yellow, white
And the pink she liked the best
The hardest rose to grow
More difficult than the rest.
I went to the place she lived
Two years ago this May
To check on the roses
And wish her "Happy Mother's Day."
The bushes had gown about 3 foot
Quite delicate still
They had not yet produced thorns
But the roses had begun to fill.
I went to the cemetary
During an unusual October snow
To check the garden of roses
I had planted years ago.
I wanted to make sure the roses
Could survive the early winter's bite
But I must have been snowblind
When I arrived at the garden site.
Atop the soft powder show
The bushes stood tall and proud
All blossomed in one color
Cascading into an elegant pink shroud.
A labyrinth of thorny vines
Across the granite stone grows
Hiding most of her name
Revealing only, "My One Rose."
©2001 by Teresa Sherrod, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Beverly's Last Few Years and Days
Now this quite possibly will be the hardest part of the story for me to write. It deals with your mother.
She graduated salutatiorian of her high school class. She was a very intelligent young lady and an all around good kid. She loved horses. During the second semester of her senior year, she went to a carnival in town and that is where she met Tony. I am not gonna say much about your dad because I don't have anything nice to say about him or about carnies (I married one too outta high school. Biggest mistake of my life.) I will say for what ever reason, he lied about his age. It wasn't until after your mother died that we found out some other things about him. Cut and Paste the links below into the address bar and see for yourself.
http://justice.dentoncounty.com/isapi/UVLink.isa/dentonco/WEBSERV/CriminalSearch
http://justice.dentoncounty.com/isapi/UVlink.isa/dentonco/WEBSERV/JailSearch
http://justice1.dentoncounty.com/PublicAccess/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=515825
Bevery married Tony shortly after I married Billy (a few weeks after as a matter of fact.)
She was in love with the idea of being in love. Nevertheless, he was the only boyfriend I ever recall her having which made it all the more difficult to reason with her to do things like, use her scholarships and go to school. She needed time to spread her wings and find out who she was and what her place in the world was.
When Russ died, Pat used her inheritance and built a nice home on the family land. She didn't live their very long before passing away herself. That left the home and possessions to Beverly. Beverly had been living in really rat shack places with Tony. He wasn't a good provider. Beverly always had a good head on her shoulders, but she just didn't use it much when Tony was around. After they moved in Pat's house, we started to see that Beverly was truly not happy with Tony. She had all of these people die and she wanted better for herself and you three. I don't remember exactly when it was, Tony was arrested (I think for back child support from his other marriage). This gave Beverly the opportunity to start fresh, without being under his watchful eye.
With a nice home, her inheritance, and family around to help her, Beverly enrolled in beauty school. Sometime later, she met David. He was a short little hispanic cowboy with a gold cap on his tooth. He was very sweet to her and loved being around you kiddos. He never pressured her about marriage or anything. He knew she had been through alot and was very supportive of her starting her life over.
Sometime in the spring of 1998, Beverly came home and Tony was there. She didn't tell anyone. I am pretty sure Shawna was the first to figure it out by her behavior. Shawna and I had both dated/married the likes of Tony, so we both knew what he was capable of and how a woman can tend to become like a puppet and do as they say. We also knew that your mother did as he asked to protect you three.
Mother's Day 1998 was the last time Beverly was seen alive. When she didn't arrive at school that Monday, the school called Tye. Since Beverly's car was in Tye's name, she called the police to have a check ran on the car to see if she could be found. Since she was an adult, the police were less than helpful, and assumed they ran off to work things out. I was told they made a casual walk around the house and saw no evidence of "foul play."
Ten days or so went by with no word. Now Elive was long gone, but he had several buddies from his Sherrif's Posse days in Tarrant County and Tye starting calling them up. When the Texas Rangers are involved, they tend to gitt'er done alot faster than the local cops. I had been at Shawna and Joey's for lunch and we had 'that bad feeling' all day long.
It was just before 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 1998 when I called out to Tye's hoping for some good news. Bill's sister Linda answered the phone. She lived out of town. Just the fact that she was there left me unsettled and fearful of the worst. She didn't want to tell me over the phone while I was at work, so I went to the storage room. She told me Beverly had been found. I was so relieved. Then I asked how she was. "Baby, she's dead," she whispered. She didn't give me too many details. I immediately headed to pick up Billy. As I made the mile and a half drive, I heard it broadcasted over the radio. Not all family members had been contacted and they were airing, "Missing Zephyr Woman Found Dead" all over the local news. Family had already contacted Joey and Billy and I was thankful that I didn't have to relay that kind of news.
One thing about the police, if you go over their head, it makes them look bad, so how do you think it looked when the Texas Rangers came to town with a Forensics vehicle the size of a u-haul moving van? That's excactly what I saw as we drove past Beverly's house headed to the ranch to be with family. The 180-some odd acres were crawling with uniformed police officers and people with baggies of evidence. She was found in the creek behind her house and the only way to the creek was up behind Tye's house, so we probably saw more than we needed too.
The questioned still remained, "Where are the kids?" A small baby shoe was found in the mud near the sight where Beverly was found. It sent us over the edge fearing the worst. I am thinking this was a Wednesday. I don't really think the Amber Alert system was in place yet, but with a homicide investigation now on going they had every cop in the state looking for the three of you, and it didn't take them long to pin point your exact location. We had you back home by Saturday. At the time your mom died, ya'll ranged in age from 3 years to 9 months. I am not giving specifics on your location at the time any thing that you may have said or done. I will say what ever possessed your dad to go back to where he had been in jail, the people he had unknowingly 'hide you out', were saints in my book. They took ya'll in and kept you fed, clothed and safe. We did meet get to meet the lady and her daughter. I don't remember their names, but they are angels in my book. The started getting suspicious because of things Cheyenne was saying and reported it.
She graduated salutatiorian of her high school class. She was a very intelligent young lady and an all around good kid. She loved horses. During the second semester of her senior year, she went to a carnival in town and that is where she met Tony. I am not gonna say much about your dad because I don't have anything nice to say about him or about carnies (I married one too outta high school. Biggest mistake of my life.) I will say for what ever reason, he lied about his age. It wasn't until after your mother died that we found out some other things about him. Cut and Paste the links below into the address bar and see for yourself.
http://justice.dentoncounty.com/isapi/UVLink.isa/dentonco/WEBSERV/CriminalSearch
http://justice.dentoncounty.com/isapi/UVlink.isa/dentonco/WEBSERV/JailSearch
http://justice1.dentoncounty.com/PublicAccess/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=515825
Bevery married Tony shortly after I married Billy (a few weeks after as a matter of fact.)
She was in love with the idea of being in love. Nevertheless, he was the only boyfriend I ever recall her having which made it all the more difficult to reason with her to do things like, use her scholarships and go to school. She needed time to spread her wings and find out who she was and what her place in the world was.
When Russ died, Pat used her inheritance and built a nice home on the family land. She didn't live their very long before passing away herself. That left the home and possessions to Beverly. Beverly had been living in really rat shack places with Tony. He wasn't a good provider. Beverly always had a good head on her shoulders, but she just didn't use it much when Tony was around. After they moved in Pat's house, we started to see that Beverly was truly not happy with Tony. She had all of these people die and she wanted better for herself and you three. I don't remember exactly when it was, Tony was arrested (I think for back child support from his other marriage). This gave Beverly the opportunity to start fresh, without being under his watchful eye.
With a nice home, her inheritance, and family around to help her, Beverly enrolled in beauty school. Sometime later, she met David. He was a short little hispanic cowboy with a gold cap on his tooth. He was very sweet to her and loved being around you kiddos. He never pressured her about marriage or anything. He knew she had been through alot and was very supportive of her starting her life over.
Sometime in the spring of 1998, Beverly came home and Tony was there. She didn't tell anyone. I am pretty sure Shawna was the first to figure it out by her behavior. Shawna and I had both dated/married the likes of Tony, so we both knew what he was capable of and how a woman can tend to become like a puppet and do as they say. We also knew that your mother did as he asked to protect you three.
Mother's Day 1998 was the last time Beverly was seen alive. When she didn't arrive at school that Monday, the school called Tye. Since Beverly's car was in Tye's name, she called the police to have a check ran on the car to see if she could be found. Since she was an adult, the police were less than helpful, and assumed they ran off to work things out. I was told they made a casual walk around the house and saw no evidence of "foul play."
Ten days or so went by with no word. Now Elive was long gone, but he had several buddies from his Sherrif's Posse days in Tarrant County and Tye starting calling them up. When the Texas Rangers are involved, they tend to gitt'er done alot faster than the local cops. I had been at Shawna and Joey's for lunch and we had 'that bad feeling' all day long.
It was just before 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 1998 when I called out to Tye's hoping for some good news. Bill's sister Linda answered the phone. She lived out of town. Just the fact that she was there left me unsettled and fearful of the worst. She didn't want to tell me over the phone while I was at work, so I went to the storage room. She told me Beverly had been found. I was so relieved. Then I asked how she was. "Baby, she's dead," she whispered. She didn't give me too many details. I immediately headed to pick up Billy. As I made the mile and a half drive, I heard it broadcasted over the radio. Not all family members had been contacted and they were airing, "Missing Zephyr Woman Found Dead" all over the local news. Family had already contacted Joey and Billy and I was thankful that I didn't have to relay that kind of news.
One thing about the police, if you go over their head, it makes them look bad, so how do you think it looked when the Texas Rangers came to town with a Forensics vehicle the size of a u-haul moving van? That's excactly what I saw as we drove past Beverly's house headed to the ranch to be with family. The 180-some odd acres were crawling with uniformed police officers and people with baggies of evidence. She was found in the creek behind her house and the only way to the creek was up behind Tye's house, so we probably saw more than we needed too.
The questioned still remained, "Where are the kids?" A small baby shoe was found in the mud near the sight where Beverly was found. It sent us over the edge fearing the worst. I am thinking this was a Wednesday. I don't really think the Amber Alert system was in place yet, but with a homicide investigation now on going they had every cop in the state looking for the three of you, and it didn't take them long to pin point your exact location. We had you back home by Saturday. At the time your mom died, ya'll ranged in age from 3 years to 9 months. I am not giving specifics on your location at the time any thing that you may have said or done. I will say what ever possessed your dad to go back to where he had been in jail, the people he had unknowingly 'hide you out', were saints in my book. They took ya'll in and kept you fed, clothed and safe. We did meet get to meet the lady and her daughter. I don't remember their names, but they are angels in my book. The started getting suspicious because of things Cheyenne was saying and reported it.
Separating Fact From Fiction
Just so we have things straight here...Beverly Lavone Rose was your mother.
Patricia (Pat) was your grandmother. Beverly never knew her biological father. We all have speculation as to why her real dad never came around, but I will just say he did come to the funeral. I honestly cannot remember his name, but I think it was Richard Rose. He had one arm. I will never forget how devestated he was to hear the daughter he had never had the pleasure of knowing was murdered. I also remember him holding T.J, his youngest grandson, with the one good arm he had. If he went into detail as to why he never came around, I don't remember. The events of the murder and days to follow left us all so dumbfounded and grief-stricken.
Back to your family tree, (or at least the branches that I know). The person you knew as "Mama Tye" was, in fact, your great grandmother, Lois and Elvie was her husband. There children are Dwain(who is married to Kathy) Wyvone (who was married to Bill) Pat (who was married to Russ) and James Elvie. Dwain is the only living great uncle (blood related) you have on this side of the family.
Beverly was an only child, but Wyvone and Bill had Billy and Joey that were your mother's cousins not to far apart in age. In 1990, Bill and Wyvone got a surprise and named her Josie. There is 21 years between the Billy and Josie.
Continuing on....Billy married Teresa (that's me) and we have Stephanie. Joey married and divorced Michelle and they had James during that time. Joey later met Shawna and she brought her three girls into the family: Shay, Cassandra and Chasity.
Oh, Tye did have a sister that recently passed away. Her name was Margie and she was just as ruthless as Tye was. Margie's family doesn't come around much.
Tye and Margie were orphaned at a young age. I suppose that was why she was so animate about taking you three in despite her age. Once I heard there was a house fire that claimed the life of their parents, then I heard it was illness. You'd have to ask Dwain on that. They were raised by an aunt and uncle.
Tye had her downfalls, but she did have an amazing will to survive. This was a woman who in 2 years lost her son-in-law Russ, her husband (Elvie), her daughter, (Pat)and her brother in law (Jimmy was Margie's husband as well as Elvie's cousin...). Pat and Jimmy died about 12 hours apart the day before my birthday. Tye then lost her granddaughter (Beverly), took in you three as babies and had all the circumstances that surrounded a murder to deal with. She found out Wyvone had a chronic illness on top of her Crohn's Disease, then Tye herself had battled breast cancer TWICE and came out spitting nails! She also married Gene...but let's just say he is out of this family and out of our lives and AMEN to that. He was worthless and was part of the reason she didn't recover fully from her stroke. Opinion, maybe, but he refused to take her to rehab. As a result, her mind and physical strength deteriorated quickly. Tye later developed colon cancer, but overcame it as well. A fighter? Absolutely. Given that, she had so much to deal with, it is easy to see why she was so greedy and hardheaded. She was also sharp tongued and had no problem cutting you to the quick.
Shortly after her stroke, it was apparent to several of us that her mind was going as well. She wanted to go fishing at the tank so bad one afternoon, that she headed to the tank without telling anyone, with her walker or scooter and all. Bill ended up finding bobbing up and down in the tank. Balance is always an issue that comes with age especially with a stroke.
Patricia (Pat) was your grandmother. Beverly never knew her biological father. We all have speculation as to why her real dad never came around, but I will just say he did come to the funeral. I honestly cannot remember his name, but I think it was Richard Rose. He had one arm. I will never forget how devestated he was to hear the daughter he had never had the pleasure of knowing was murdered. I also remember him holding T.J, his youngest grandson, with the one good arm he had. If he went into detail as to why he never came around, I don't remember. The events of the murder and days to follow left us all so dumbfounded and grief-stricken.
Back to your family tree, (or at least the branches that I know). The person you knew as "Mama Tye" was, in fact, your great grandmother, Lois and Elvie was her husband. There children are Dwain(who is married to Kathy) Wyvone (who was married to Bill) Pat (who was married to Russ) and James Elvie. Dwain is the only living great uncle (blood related) you have on this side of the family.
Beverly was an only child, but Wyvone and Bill had Billy and Joey that were your mother's cousins not to far apart in age. In 1990, Bill and Wyvone got a surprise and named her Josie. There is 21 years between the Billy and Josie.
Continuing on....Billy married Teresa (that's me) and we have Stephanie. Joey married and divorced Michelle and they had James during that time. Joey later met Shawna and she brought her three girls into the family: Shay, Cassandra and Chasity.
Oh, Tye did have a sister that recently passed away. Her name was Margie and she was just as ruthless as Tye was. Margie's family doesn't come around much.
Tye and Margie were orphaned at a young age. I suppose that was why she was so animate about taking you three in despite her age. Once I heard there was a house fire that claimed the life of their parents, then I heard it was illness. You'd have to ask Dwain on that. They were raised by an aunt and uncle.
Tye had her downfalls, but she did have an amazing will to survive. This was a woman who in 2 years lost her son-in-law Russ, her husband (Elvie), her daughter, (Pat)and her brother in law (Jimmy was Margie's husband as well as Elvie's cousin...). Pat and Jimmy died about 12 hours apart the day before my birthday. Tye then lost her granddaughter (Beverly), took in you three as babies and had all the circumstances that surrounded a murder to deal with. She found out Wyvone had a chronic illness on top of her Crohn's Disease, then Tye herself had battled breast cancer TWICE and came out spitting nails! She also married Gene...but let's just say he is out of this family and out of our lives and AMEN to that. He was worthless and was part of the reason she didn't recover fully from her stroke. Opinion, maybe, but he refused to take her to rehab. As a result, her mind and physical strength deteriorated quickly. Tye later developed colon cancer, but overcame it as well. A fighter? Absolutely. Given that, she had so much to deal with, it is easy to see why she was so greedy and hardheaded. She was also sharp tongued and had no problem cutting you to the quick.
Shortly after her stroke, it was apparent to several of us that her mind was going as well. She wanted to go fishing at the tank so bad one afternoon, that she headed to the tank without telling anyone, with her walker or scooter and all. Bill ended up finding bobbing up and down in the tank. Balance is always an issue that comes with age especially with a stroke.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Getting To Know....
Of these women, it was actually Wyvone who first accepted I was here to stay. She had once said that I was good for Billy because he had finally attempted to take better care of himself. Diabetes runs rampid through this family...and has affected Pat, James Elvie and Billy. James Elvie was her brother who died as a teenager in an accident. Wyvone herself would later develop a form of diabetes caused by overuse or production of predisone, a medication which she took for her underlying medical condition, Crohn's Disease. She had a colostomy in the late 70's. The very surgery which was suppose to save her life, almost cost her the same. Thyroid disease was another problem with the women of this family. Tye, Pat, Wyvone and Beverly all had a thyriod issue.
The men of the family had their own skeletons...but they didn't reside in the closet, nor did they wait for the wives to leave before they would dance openly on the front porch with their skeletons. Bill and Russ were notorious for going 'fishing' and coming back hammered. Elvie didn't strike me this way. I, like Beverly and Billy, respected him. He was a quiet man, hard working and honorable. There are moments in life that catch you so off guard that you don't realize how funny they are until later. Elvie was this kind of man. Apparently he had a wickedly entertaining sense of humor. I still can't imagine that man dressing up like a black man on Halloween, but I was told he did. I can't imagine him dressing up for Halloween PERIOD!
I haven't said much about Pat. That's because if you be quite you could probably hear her. She was LOUD and obnoxious and had absolutely NO business driving a car, let alone a great big stationwagon. She was cold as ice...literally. Touching her arm was like feeling the arm of a corpse and she required a blanket or jacket year round. Living with Billy, I know it had nothing to do with the diabetes. Pat was just a cold natured person. She was a terrible cook!!! I didn't understand how this could be?! After a lifetime of me being too thin, it took Wyvone's homecooking to put some meat on my bones. I assumed the homemaking gene ran in the family. Billy has since taught me that when you assume anything there is the distinct possiblity that you make an ASS of U and ME.
Pat quilted, but not with the precision that Wyvone did. She wasn't the brightest crayola in the box either. I will never forget Josie age 2, had huge water blisters covering her extremely delicate fair skin. God only knows why Pat thought the blisters were tick bites and covered her with Watkins Lintament! I could hear Josie screaming at the top of her little lungs from down the road as Pat unknowlingly commenced to torturing her neice.
Russ was in the Air Force Reserves and was one of Bill's closest friends. A day out working with either one of them may involve some hard core labor, lots of beer, a fishing pole or a combination of the three. Josie called him Uncle REW (Russell Eugene Ward). He had kids from a previous marriage that he didn't get to see much, if at all. He and Beverly's relationship resembled the relationship I had with my own step-dad in the since that she felt out of place. A girl wants to know her Daddy. Nevertheless, Russ was good to her.
Beverly wanted me to search for my dad as she searched for her own. She, however, had an actual name to go on..Richard Rose. All we were ever told was that he and Pat 'were too young'. Some called Pat's streak in her younger days a rebellious one, but I think it was more for attention than anything. She wanted to do the exact opposite of what she was suppose to do. Pat was told it wasn't a good idea for her to get pregnant. She did it anyway. At any rate, whatever happened between her and Richard was a mystery that would remain unsolved. Beverly put some pretty smart hypotheses together as to why her Dad never came looking for her. Most of it revolved around her grandparents.
The men of the family had their own skeletons...but they didn't reside in the closet, nor did they wait for the wives to leave before they would dance openly on the front porch with their skeletons. Bill and Russ were notorious for going 'fishing' and coming back hammered. Elvie didn't strike me this way. I, like Beverly and Billy, respected him. He was a quiet man, hard working and honorable. There are moments in life that catch you so off guard that you don't realize how funny they are until later. Elvie was this kind of man. Apparently he had a wickedly entertaining sense of humor. I still can't imagine that man dressing up like a black man on Halloween, but I was told he did. I can't imagine him dressing up for Halloween PERIOD!
I haven't said much about Pat. That's because if you be quite you could probably hear her. She was LOUD and obnoxious and had absolutely NO business driving a car, let alone a great big stationwagon. She was cold as ice...literally. Touching her arm was like feeling the arm of a corpse and she required a blanket or jacket year round. Living with Billy, I know it had nothing to do with the diabetes. Pat was just a cold natured person. She was a terrible cook!!! I didn't understand how this could be?! After a lifetime of me being too thin, it took Wyvone's homecooking to put some meat on my bones. I assumed the homemaking gene ran in the family. Billy has since taught me that when you assume anything there is the distinct possiblity that you make an ASS of U and ME.
Pat quilted, but not with the precision that Wyvone did. She wasn't the brightest crayola in the box either. I will never forget Josie age 2, had huge water blisters covering her extremely delicate fair skin. God only knows why Pat thought the blisters were tick bites and covered her with Watkins Lintament! I could hear Josie screaming at the top of her little lungs from down the road as Pat unknowlingly commenced to torturing her neice.
Russ was in the Air Force Reserves and was one of Bill's closest friends. A day out working with either one of them may involve some hard core labor, lots of beer, a fishing pole or a combination of the three. Josie called him Uncle REW (Russell Eugene Ward). He had kids from a previous marriage that he didn't get to see much, if at all. He and Beverly's relationship resembled the relationship I had with my own step-dad in the since that she felt out of place. A girl wants to know her Daddy. Nevertheless, Russ was good to her.
Beverly wanted me to search for my dad as she searched for her own. She, however, had an actual name to go on..Richard Rose. All we were ever told was that he and Pat 'were too young'. Some called Pat's streak in her younger days a rebellious one, but I think it was more for attention than anything. She wanted to do the exact opposite of what she was suppose to do. Pat was told it wasn't a good idea for her to get pregnant. She did it anyway. At any rate, whatever happened between her and Richard was a mystery that would remain unsolved. Beverly put some pretty smart hypotheses together as to why her Dad never came looking for her. Most of it revolved around her grandparents.
First Impressions.....
It is said you gather you make a decision about someone in the first minute or so that you meet them. With that in mind, its a wonder Billy and I ever got together in the first place. People in small towns love to judge. They thrive on it. In a way, we all cast judgement whether we intend to or not.
I came to Blanket with my own baggage. I was in a marriage that was falling apart and had left me with bruises and broken ribs. People had their own speculations about me. Heck, I think people knew more about what I was doing that I did. That's just the way small towns work. I don't remember Zephyr being quite as bad. They pretty much kept to their own. God only knows what they were saying about you behind closed doors, but Blanket had a cafe, a grocery store and a gas station...three places of congregation outside the local churches for folks to gather and gossip. Then there was the quilting club--a gossip group of its own-stitched together by a common love for creating the most magnificant heirlooms and some of the towns most coloful ladies. Tye, Pat and Wyvone were all crafters of this trade...Wyvone being the most renouned and the most dedicated to the art.
Wyvone was leary of my relationship with her son, and with good reason. She had Josie to think about, her one year old mid-life miracle baby and here was her son bringing home someone else's abused wife like a child would bring home a wounded bird or stray dog. She and Bill had agreed to put me up for a month or until I could find a place of my own.
I don't recall ever meeting people who worked so hard and had so little to show for it, materialistically speaking. Materialism wasn't important to Bill Sherrod. A a beat up old truck, a cold Shaffer Light, groceries in the fridge, grease under his nails and a pack of smokes and he was more than content with life. Here was a man with a two sons, Billy 23 and Joey 18, a one year old daughter and a wife who was lucky to be alive.
There was a strange comfort I felt in Bill's presence. I felt safe. Most people would have to see way beyond his rough and weathered exterior, the steady stream of profanities and the alcohol. I could tell he was a protector of his family, as Billy would someday be. Around him, I not only felt safe, I felt no condemnation; no judgement. He took me at face value...nothing more....nothing less like he does all people.
It was the 4th of July when Billy's family had planned a gathering at Pat & Russ's house. Now, for all of your life, you've known Tye as your "Mama Tye", but in fact, Pat was your grandmother and Russ was her husband. Tye, was your great-grandmother. As hot as it was, we took the bike to Zephyr. This was my first trip to Diamond B Ranch. Billy & I stopped off on the way to swim in the tank before heading over to see the rest of his family.
On this first visit with Wyvone's family, I was oblivious to the scrutiny that I had been put under. Billy and I were in a new relationship and loving life. Things were just dandy in our own little world. As we visited his family more and more, I began to get homesick. I didn't belong and the the 3 women of this family (Wyvone, Pat, & Tye) were hell-bent on making sure I knew it. Around the men of the family, all was fine, but whether they had been hunting, fishing or just shooting the bull outside, these three ladies would take every opportunity they had to cut me to the quick. Beverly took note of this, especially when it concerned Tye. She had spent a fair amount of time with her grandparents. Beverly didn't know her biological father....this was yet another common bond we shared. She was also the apple of her her PaPa's eye. I was no stranger to that affection either. Tye, on the other hand, could be harshly cold for no apparent reason with her. Beverly didn't know why and I had no answers for her. Wyvone had often made comments about 'favorite grandchildren' of her parents and how Beverly was 'it'. While Beverly respected Elvie and they shared shared a passion for horses she didn't feel this put her at any advantage. True as it is, she did spend more time with them, but she also had to suffer and she sharpened tongue of her own grandmother. As years and the course of events changed, Wyvone would come to know this person she called Mother from Beverly's eyes.
I came to Blanket with my own baggage. I was in a marriage that was falling apart and had left me with bruises and broken ribs. People had their own speculations about me. Heck, I think people knew more about what I was doing that I did. That's just the way small towns work. I don't remember Zephyr being quite as bad. They pretty much kept to their own. God only knows what they were saying about you behind closed doors, but Blanket had a cafe, a grocery store and a gas station...three places of congregation outside the local churches for folks to gather and gossip. Then there was the quilting club--a gossip group of its own-stitched together by a common love for creating the most magnificant heirlooms and some of the towns most coloful ladies. Tye, Pat and Wyvone were all crafters of this trade...Wyvone being the most renouned and the most dedicated to the art.
Wyvone was leary of my relationship with her son, and with good reason. She had Josie to think about, her one year old mid-life miracle baby and here was her son bringing home someone else's abused wife like a child would bring home a wounded bird or stray dog. She and Bill had agreed to put me up for a month or until I could find a place of my own.
I don't recall ever meeting people who worked so hard and had so little to show for it, materialistically speaking. Materialism wasn't important to Bill Sherrod. A a beat up old truck, a cold Shaffer Light, groceries in the fridge, grease under his nails and a pack of smokes and he was more than content with life. Here was a man with a two sons, Billy 23 and Joey 18, a one year old daughter and a wife who was lucky to be alive.
There was a strange comfort I felt in Bill's presence. I felt safe. Most people would have to see way beyond his rough and weathered exterior, the steady stream of profanities and the alcohol. I could tell he was a protector of his family, as Billy would someday be. Around him, I not only felt safe, I felt no condemnation; no judgement. He took me at face value...nothing more....nothing less like he does all people.
It was the 4th of July when Billy's family had planned a gathering at Pat & Russ's house. Now, for all of your life, you've known Tye as your "Mama Tye", but in fact, Pat was your grandmother and Russ was her husband. Tye, was your great-grandmother. As hot as it was, we took the bike to Zephyr. This was my first trip to Diamond B Ranch. Billy & I stopped off on the way to swim in the tank before heading over to see the rest of his family.
On this first visit with Wyvone's family, I was oblivious to the scrutiny that I had been put under. Billy and I were in a new relationship and loving life. Things were just dandy in our own little world. As we visited his family more and more, I began to get homesick. I didn't belong and the the 3 women of this family (Wyvone, Pat, & Tye) were hell-bent on making sure I knew it. Around the men of the family, all was fine, but whether they had been hunting, fishing or just shooting the bull outside, these three ladies would take every opportunity they had to cut me to the quick. Beverly took note of this, especially when it concerned Tye. She had spent a fair amount of time with her grandparents. Beverly didn't know her biological father....this was yet another common bond we shared. She was also the apple of her her PaPa's eye. I was no stranger to that affection either. Tye, on the other hand, could be harshly cold for no apparent reason with her. Beverly didn't know why and I had no answers for her. Wyvone had often made comments about 'favorite grandchildren' of her parents and how Beverly was 'it'. While Beverly respected Elvie and they shared shared a passion for horses she didn't feel this put her at any advantage. True as it is, she did spend more time with them, but she also had to suffer and she sharpened tongue of her own grandmother. As years and the course of events changed, Wyvone would come to know this person she called Mother from Beverly's eyes.
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