Today is Gina’s birthday

and this is for her:

You are my little sister and my forever friend
You’ll always be a part of me, on that you can depend.

We started out together, were besties from the start;
We’re similar in many ways, my younger counterpart.

We share family, the same parents, several secrets and good looks,
fondness for little kitties, You’ve Got Mail and Disney books.

We’ve shared each other’s happy times, we’ve also shared our dreams.
Our life is filled with memories of laughter (and it seems)

Although our times together are not as often as before,
meet with me at Mama’s, and we’re back in time once more.

Time and space may separate, and though we’re oft apart
You’re never very far from me, you’re always in my heart.

Other friends have come and gone, but heartstrings know no end,
Your sister will be here for you, on Me you can depend.

You are my little sister,
I hope that you can see…

How very precious that you are
and how you’ll always be.

When my daddy was just a little guy, learning to talk, he heard his Mama being called Irma Nell Knox by her parents. She was a teenage mother raising a baby and living with her parents (circa 1947). Hearing the name Irma Nell Knox, my Daddy (as a toddler) translated her name to be

NumNell Knox

While you may think this is totally bizarre, I think it is adorable. Apparently she responded when she heard the full name call and he thought he would achieve like results by demanding “NumNell Knox! Get up! Breakfast!”

My Daddy and his mother, My Mema have gone to be with Jesus. But not a day goes by that I don’t give a thought to both of them. Two people who greatly influenced my life.

Irma Reid

(aka Irma Nell Knox) died October 17, 2007 at the age of 78.

She was born July 16, 1929 in Valdosta, Georgia to Alton Knox and Grace Bennett Knox. She married my Grandpa, Harold Reid when my Daddy was just a little fella. He adopted my Daddy and has loved him as his own… even to this day.Mema was an old fashioned, Southern girl. If you ever heard her speak, you would immediately recognize the southern dialect. I talk to people from around the country every day and once in a while I’m asked, “where are you from?” In every instance I will admit, I’m from North Florida… Jacksonville, but most of my people are from Georgia. They will reply, “Yes, that’s it!” If you know me, and you recognize that I have a southern accent, it’s likely due to the fact that I’m a direct descendant of Irma Nell Knox.

I’ve gone to church all of my life, (since before I was born) and my first church was a church that my Mema and Grandpa Reid helped to start.

Faith Memorial Baptist Church

…a place that was a second home to me for 30+ years.

While I was growing up, my Mema was there with me every Sunday. She sat on the second row, left (piano) side. I would typically sit with her and she always had Juicy Fruit Gum. One Sunday I commented on a ring that she was wearing. It was (is) pretty! It was a beautiful silver ring (she always wore silver jewelry). She took it off of her hand and placed it on mine. She would do that again before I graduated High School. I still have both of those rings and wear one of them EVERY day.

What I remember most is that she loved me unconditionally.

The stories I could tell would keep me typing all night.