Prepare yourself, if you proceed you will be subject to my unorganized remembrances and ramblings. I am thrilled beyond description that I am Tom and Jim's Mom. I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to become their mother. It was a bonus that they are twins. They have always had a brother and given the circumstances of their boyhood that more often than not turned out to be wonderful. We moved so often when they were young that it was comforting to know they had each other.

Sometimes it was amazing that they survived me being their Mom. In retrospect I know I grew up with them. Married at 18 and a mom at 20, I wasn't exactly prepared for all that having those responsibilities meant. I did my best and learned by trial and no doubt error along the way. One thing that was always constant and remains a constant even today is that my sons bring me unbridled joy. I am so proud of them. I truly like them as well as love them.

Let my ramblings begin...

I could never have given my sons a hard time saying I had to survive many hours of labor to give them life because I felt none. My water broke (gross - don't worry not many graphic details) and since my husband was in Vietnam my dad took me to the hospital. I loved that he didn't let my Mom come with us so I would seem more like a regular woman going to deliver. I also love that she followed soon afterwards and was there for me.

The nurse that originally examined me told my dad that there were actually three babies, triplets. I saw him go completely pale. It turned out that she felt 2 heads and one bottom. Because of my sons positioning I felt no labor pains. A nurse had to stay up all night with her hand on my belly and time the contractions. By morning it was time to push. The only discomfort I felt during the whole miracle was when they stitched me up after I tore a little during delivery. All and all very little pain and 2 healthy boys. Tom weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and Jim 6 lbs. 11oz. Big healthy sons. Thank you for making it easy!

I remember getting to talk with their dad when he radio from Vietnam. It was amazing to hear his voice as he was somewhere north of the DMZ. We laughed afterwards that he said I know I who Thomas John is but who is James Edward. He hadn't gotten the word that we had twins. Fortunately before he had gone to Vietnam we had decided "just in case" on a second boy's name. James Edward was a fellow Marine who graduated from Boston college and was a dear friend.

The boys were 4 months old before their dad saw them in person. I took a chance and flew from DC to Hawaii despite the fact that the Tet Offensive was going on and there was no guarantee that their dad would get R & R as scheduled. Happily he did and he even knew which of his "little tigers" were which.

During their lifetime my sons have survived some health scares. Some were very serious and some were simple childhood diseases and others the result of trips, falls, exploration and curiosity that caused cuts and ultimately stitches. Thankfully Jim kept a finger that he nearly self-amputated when he pulled a thread off the couch. Thankfully Tom's head was able to be removed from between the banister railings of the front porch of our housing in Annapolis. Today it remains squarely on his shoulders.

Moving was a common occurrence in their childhood. They were conceived in Falls Church, born in Bethesda Maryland at the Naval Hospital, brought home to my parent's home in Arlington, Virginia. From there we lived in Annapolis, then Unicoi, Tennessee. From there Bloomington, IL, then on to Marietta, OH, then Wellsboro, PA, back to Tennessee where we lived on Chestoa Pike, then 2 different homes in Erwin, TN and back to Unicoi before the boys went on to college and their own continuation of new places to live and eventually their own homes. In addition to the places I have mentioned there were stays at my parent's home when they moved to Tennessee and stays at my husband's parent's home in West Virginia. It was definitely an adventure.

The following are what I refer to as memory triggers or tidbits. Random memories of experiences. Washington, DC holds fond memories for me. Taking the boys to the Smithsonian and the National Zoo. Dodging spitting llamas. Seeing the Pandas that Nixon received as a gift when he visited China.

Traveling and exploring has always been part of our lives together. I am thrilled that my sons continue the tradition with their own children. Whether it was going on a drive with no particular destination in mind. Seeing bulls with rings in their noses and hoping we will once again find our way home. Traveling to New York over Thanksgiving for a most wonderful holiday weekend. Meeting in Seattle, visiting in Japan or ringing in the new year in the "war zone atmosphere" of Atlanta or Gatlinburg all are memorable occasions. Even detours were fun; most notable was the trip that sidetracked us to South of the Border.

Water has always been part of our world. The boys were stars on the swim team, There were summers spend swimming at Buffalo Valley and Watagua Lake. The boys were even potty trained when we took a trip to the beach. Not having enough diapers they became tree trained. No problem until we returned home and they went in the yard of a fellow officer.

Fontana Lake, the Gulf, the Atlantic. If there is a beach and water near us we enjoyed it. We even tried tubing in the creek that runs through the Smokies and created rafts and competed in the Mellow Yello down river rat raft race.

There were always pets in the house. My sons definitely love animals. They had everything from Hermit crabs to fighting fish, ducks (excellent guards/alarms at our home on Chestoa Pike), gerbils (many, many gerbils) and dogs. We were our own SPCA. Tom adopted a forlorn basset hound that was homeless and hanging out at a convenience store. Duke ended up needing a lot of Vet care and love. He was supplied an abundance of both and when he was recovered and strong he was once again on his vagabond way. While traveling one summer we saw a cage with a large shaggy dog in it - squished in it is more accurate. We were only going to donate some food but ended up adopting "Walter" and taking him back to Tennessee with us. We loved Prissy, Crazy Horse, Muffin, Daisy, Walter and our stallion of a great dane, Dusty. It is impossible to keep from smiling when I remember our adventures with our pets, especially our beloved dogs. Both Tom and Jim have dogs now. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to have any where I currently live. I mentioned this to my grandson Jake this summer and spontaneously he said, "Want a cat? It's deaf and blind but you can have it." I laughed. Children say the most wonderful things. No cats for me though, I've never been a cat fancier.

Sports has and is important. My sons not only played soccer they coached when there weren't enough parents willing to get involved. Even now the tradition continues as my grandchildren are spectacular players. My sons competed in the Blue Devil Relays and assorted area fun runs. We have seen professional sporting events in person and on TV. Roger Staubach got us tickets and VIP passes to enjoy watching the Cowboys play in Atlanta. They have ridden on snow mobiles and I think had we stayed in Wellsboro they may have eventually played hockey. Tom went scuba diving along the great wall in the Caymans. Jim has gone windsurfing. They both have jet skied.

The boys were in the band and I remember lots of concerts, competitions and preparing them for band camp. They were excellent musicians. Tom plays the Trombone and Jim the trumpet. Each were feature performers at different times in their lives.

Food was/is a source of some fun memories. Every Friday we would drive to Johnson City to purchase Chicken Planks at Long John Silvers for our High School football coaches. Andy(one of the boys closest friends and nearly adopted brother)once ate the garnish off his plate when he visited for spring break - artichoke leaves are not to be completely consumed and are difficult to digest. Mexican Food has always been a favorite but during one spring break when the boys and their friends were visiting chicken tacos became notorious. Suffice it to say I will never eat them after cleaning up the mess.

We ate hamburgers at Big B Burger on the first day of Spring on our way to Watuaga Lake. We played "name that tune" with their juke box. The boys loved grilled peanut butter and jelly. They survived "vegetable week" rewarded with the steak of their choice on Friday. We were known to eat ice cream for dinner on rare occasions and I would swear them to secrecy so they wouldn't tell my Mom. There was tempura that was eaten as fast as it was prepared. There were food experiments such as hamburger pinwheels, torpedoes and chocolate chip surprises.

Holidays were and are to be celebrated. I remember most fondly the Christmas Trees and stockings over the years. The Halloween parties were so much fun. Even the sleepovers the boys had with their friends seemed like holidays. I loved having a houseful of their friends and the chaos and laughter that resulted. Ground Hog's Day was always special. Spring break when the boys were in school always led to celebration when they would visit with their friends. Spring Training games, the beach, Busch Gardens, Disney World, the Dog Track, Crabby Bills and the comedy club are just some of the ways we celebrated and had fun.

I've ridden elephants with Tom and Jim when they were little at the Knoxville Zoo, Little Diamond. A couple of years ago, I rode an elephant with Hope and Noah at the Nashville Zoo. I used to set up Lincoln logs and toys for the boys so they would be there when they came home from school, now I do that for Jake and soon Jonah. I watched my sons play sports and now I watch my grandchildren. I learned to play some video games with my sons and now I try to play with my grandchildren. I am so blessed.

I have been wrestling the last couple of months with getting older. So many of my friends have children that are only just now graduating college and don't have grandchildren. I realize I am supremely lucky because I am young and fortunately healthy enough to enjoy creating on-going memories with my sons, their beautiful wives, and wonderful extraordinary grand children. I could write volumes and still barely scratch the surface of the many memories I have being Tom and Jim's Mom.

The time I get to share with them now is all too short and not near as often as I would like but every moment is precious and treasured. I can't wait until the next time we are all together.

Today miles separate us but they are each in my heart as I wish them a very
Happy Birthday!!!