**....but first an update: Josie the 20 year old Jack Russell is still living. She changed her mind and decided to hang around a while longer. My 17 year old Jack Russell Pippin has decided to hang around too.
I was just reading a post by Alexandria on Facebook and I shared a story with her that I need to share here. This is a story about Mama learning to text.
When Uncle Richard found out he had cancer, I made the decision to fly home as much as possible to spend time with him, and hopefully help his time on Earth to be more peaceful and pain free. Thank goodness I have a very understanding husband, who supported my decision 100% and even went with me so we could spend our 2nd anniversary with Uncle Richard.
For the last few years, I have been texting Mama to fill her in on information quickly, knowing that she did not have the ability to text me back due to not having a text plan on her cell phone. Dana and I decided to fly home July 4th weekend 2011, which would turn out to be our last visit with Uncle Richard before he passed away. We knew in our hearts that we were going to say "Goodbye" and to try to bring our hospice knowledge to help him have peace and comfort. I have always been concerned about making connections and being late when flying during important times, because it has happened to me so many times. I got to TPA early and the day was a flawless day to fly, and the flight was running on time. I decided to text Mama and let her know, so I sent her a message, "At the airport, everything is running on time. Will text when we are taking off." Suddenly I got the response "Ok." So I wrote back, "Oooooo! Look at Mama texting!" So she replied, "Got a new toy (phone)." I was thrilled and surprised. When I got on the plane and got seated there was the most RANK smell (maybe the baby in front of me, or the old person behind me) so I wrote: "On the plane, taking off, somebody either farted or shit themselves." No response. When Dana and I got to Jackson, we hugged Mama and Daddy, teared up because of our reason for the visit, and headed to the car. When we got in the car, Mama said, "We have something to tell you." My heart sank. I thought we were too late, like we had been when Granddad passed away, but instead she said, " Look at my new phone. I just got it today. Shannon, when you text me, I was learning to text IN THE CELL PHONE STORE that Mr. Creetmore owns. We were talking to the sales lady about how we have know the Creetmores for a long time, and she told me that she was looking for a good Christian school with good Christian people for her son to attend. She put my cell phone screen on the big screen TV to teach me to text. That is when you sent the text "Somebody either farted or shit themselves." There were a lot of people in there, and the security guard cracked up. Your Daddy looked up and said, "We didn't raise our kids like this." We all laughed until we cried!! I had embarrassed my parents. It was a perfectly placed laugh that could not have been planned any better. I have a feeling that prank-pulling Nannie Fran had something to do with that!!! I have so much of her personality in me, that it is scarey!! I am so glad I didn't text anything worse than that!
Dana and I had a wonderfully blessed visit with Uncle Richard. He was so peaceful and we said our goodbyes. I wouldn't change our time together for anything, I only wish there was more of it! I miss him every day and love him more every day. He brought so many laughs to our family and made our lives and our family so much more colorful!
Shannon Outlaw-Kimsey 9/15/12
I just got the word that our 19 year old Jack Russell Josie is "getting close." This reminds of another Uncle Richard story. I never thought that Uncle Richard would pass away before Josie!! When Mama and Daddy would come see all of us in Florida, Uncle Richard would check on the dogs, feed them, let them out, etc. Josie has been old, blind and deaf for years! Uncle Richard's biggest fear was coming in while Mama and Daddy were at work or on vacation and finding Josie had "passed on." He always said, "If Josie dies when they aren't here, I am going to bury her, leave the door open and swear that she ran away!!" There was one problem: I repeat: she has been blind and deaf for many years. His answer, "I know! It's weird!! I don't know how she did it!" Such an Uncle Richard answer!! You see, Josie has been the "princess", well, FOREVER. We got Rufus first, then a month later Josie came to our house. She was 1/3 of Rufus' size, and she was HELL ON WHEELS. She beat him up and ruled the roost. Rufus was just like Daddy: liked to relax, kick back and watch, just a laid back kind of guy. Josie was just like Mama: energetic, social butterfly, and aware of everything. When she could see and hear, she had "certain commercials" that she HATED! She would bark at the TV, jump and bite at it. Not all of the commercials contained animals either. She made you aware of her dislike of commercials. Josie was a great Mama, had 13 babies from 2 litters, and loved to play with them.
