I'm Sorry Your Guinea Pig Died

Hi Grandson,

I heard today that your Guinea Pig died and I am so sorry. I bet you loved him very much and this hurt you. I know how much you can love a pet.. I love mine. Your Guinea Pig is in Guinea Pig Heaven, and he is doing fine, I promise.

Grandma has 2 Huskey's and 1 Lab. I love them all but my favorite is one of the Huskeys (Diablo). He is my favorite because I am his favorite and he thinks I belong to him. If I get upset, he knows and he tries to comfort me. He shows love to me so much. He will come up to me and just nibble on my ears with his teeth. He doesn't like when the other dogs show me affections. He will stand in their way and not let them get to me.

When your dad was growing up, we had a dog named Thurman. Your dad named him after Thurman Thomas. The night of your dad's graduation party, someone left the door open and Thurman ran away and was killed on the Toll Road. Thurman had been with us for a very long time and we all loved him. When we would leave the house, he would open the refrigerator and get food out. We don't know how he did it.

We had a cat named Leroy. Leroy was an awesome cat! That cat taught every dog we had how to love it and protect it. Our dogs loved and protected Leroy. One day someone ran over Leroy's tail and that cat began having nerve problems. We had to put him to sleep. It hurt so bad to do this but it was better for Leroy.

Many years ago, when I was pregnant with your Aunt Stacey, the first pet I ever had got sick and had to be put to sleep. She was the neatest poodle named Buffy. Buffy Reno Wheelan. My brother bought me that dog when I was about 11 years old. That dog slept with me, listened to me, played with me, loved me. I loved her so much! Since I was pregnant, I didn't go with to put him to sleep. I just remember Aunt Dee Dee and Nanna calling me on the phone asking what they should do. The doctor said Buffy could have surgery to attempt to save her but it didn't look good. I told them to just have her put to sleep. I didn't want her to go through agony. She lived a good life. Nanna came home bawling telling the story about how she held Buffy in her arms, and as Buffy went to sleep, Nanna said Buffy looked at her as if to say, "It's Okay." That is what made me feel better.

Losing a pet is hard, sweetheart. But your Guinea is in good and loving hands.

Love,
Grandma

Mothers Day Week

Hi Grandson!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Stacey came to visit the week before Mother's Day. We really had a good time. The first couple of days, we hung out around the house - then we went out to Knoxville to Uncle Brett's house, spent the night in Knoxville and then went to Uncle EJ's football scrimmage game then headed to the boat to spend the night. The day we went to Knoxville, we all went and ate at an Irish Restaurant/Pub. We took this picture while there:

(Aunt Brittney, Uncle Brett, Aunt Stacey, Uncle Ryan, Uncle EJ and Luis)

We hung out at the restaurant for awhile, then went downtown Knoxville for a few hours, then me, Grandpa, Uncle Brett, Aunt Stacey and Uncle Ryan spent the night at the Marriot Hotel (where Aunt Brittney and Luis works). The next morning, Aunt Brittney showed up in our room with a huge cart of room service breakfast! It was wonderful! That afternoon we all went to EJ's football scrimmage game and then we all drove to the boat to spend the night.

Since Mother's Day was Sunday and it was also Aunt Brittney's birthday, we decided to get a big cabin in Pigeon Forge on the way home from the boat. We spent 2 nights there. We all played miniature golf and Grandma took this picture before we played:

Mother's Day was great! I didn't have to do anything, AT ALL. All the meals were taken care of and me and Brittney (it was her birthday) were spoiled rotten. If you and your dad would have been there, it would have been PERFECT! But it was close.

The first night we spent the night, we heard noise on the front deck. Something had turned over the garbage can! We didn't know if it was a bear or what.. so we watched out the picture window and seen a really cute racoon. We wanted him to stick around so we started feeding him popcorn, bologna sandwiches, pickles and chips.
Here is a picture of him:

I was so tired when we got home! Uncle Ryan and Aunt Stacey had to leave when we got back. I didn't want them to go!

I Love You!

Grandma

So Much Going On...

Hi Grandson,

I know it's been a few days since I've written. We've been really busy here. Work has been crazy and Grandpa is working on getting the upstairs of my office finished. The upstairs of my office will be "Grandma's Room." I want to keep all my books in there and I am going to have my Wii set up in there so I can work out to Dance Revolution and Wii Fit.

Your Aunt Stacey and Uncle Ryan are coming up next week so Grandma is working on getting everything ready for them. They will be sleeping in the cabin next door - which is so neat! The bed is so comfy and when you open the windows, you can fall asleep listening to the running creek.

Grandma spent this past weekend turning one of your daddy's high school football videos into a DVD. Everyone thought I was nuts because while it was copying, I was screaming at the monitor, "Go Bo!!!!" when your dad was going for touchdowns! I will give the DVD to your Aunt Stacey so she can give it to you when she gets back home. I'm also giving your Aunt Stacey your daddy's baby book and one of your daddy's yearbooks to take back.

I will write more soon Grandson. I love you!

Grandma

Uncle Brett's New Diggs

Hi Grandson,

Grandma woke up very stiff and sore this morning. I helped your Uncle Brett move in to his new place yesterday. It's beautiful!

He is renting from the CEO of a drink called "Neuro Fuel." The CEO's name is Joe and he's only 25 years old. While he was a student at the University of Tennessee, he created the drink. What is funny is that before Uncle Brett even talked to this guy about renting from him, Uncle Brett was drinking Neuro Fuel and had told us how great it was.

Uncle Brett lives in Knoxville, which is about 40 minutes from Grandma's house. Knoxville and the surrounding area is a really nice area. There are lakes all over and beautiful mountain views. Grandma and Grandpa have a boat on Watts Bar Lake, which isn't too far from where Uncle Brett lives, at a place called Euchee Marina. You would love it there! There is a beach with a shoot slide, a playground, pavilions, house boats, a nice big restaurant and another smaller restaurant. It would be great to take you there someday!

Grandma Loves You!

Ramps & Wild Onions

Hi Grandson,

In April in this part of Tennessee, Ramps (also known as Wild Leeks) grow in certain areas of our property. Ramps are native to the Appalachian mountain region in eastern North America. Ramps can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. As one of the first plants to emerge in the spring, ramps were traditionally consumed as the seasons first “greens.” They were considered a tonic because they provided necessary vitamins and minerals following long winter months without access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Ramps are pleasant to eat and taste like spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma. They are often prepared by frying in butter or animal fat with sliced potatoes or scrambled eggs. They are also used as an ingredient in other dishes such as soup, pancakes, and hamburgers.

Grandpa and I went out yesterday morning and picked several ramps and a few wild onions (the first picture above) and then Grandma cooked them up with scrambled eggs. They taste really good!

Ramps are so popular here, that there is a big "Ramp Festival" in Cosby every April. People get together, listen to blue-grass music, visit the vendors who set up and sell things, and eat ramps.

Grandma Loves You!

Navy Ships in Norfolk, Virginia

Hi Grandson,

Today is Monday, April 13th. We got home from vacation last night. On our way home, we drove through the Naval Base at Norfolk, Virginia. The Naval Base at Norfolk is the biggest Naval Base in the country. My first visit there was in 1971 - when I was 9 years old. Grandpa Wheelan took us there because my brother, your Uncle Ralph, Jr., was in the Navy back then. I will try and find a picture of my visit back in 1971 and add it to this post. I just remember not believing how huge the ships were!

Grandpa Ernest was in the Navy for 20 years. He retired from the Navy 2 years ago tomorrow. A few years ago, we all went on vacation to Virginia and we went on a tour of one of the big ships. Grandma took a picture of two ships for you. The first one is a cruiser and the second one is a destroyer:

Yesterday was Easter and I'll bet you went on an Easter Egg Hunt. Well, I have to get ready and go up to my office now. I hope that someday I can take you on vacation with us!

Love,

Grandma

Staying a Couple More Nights in Virginia Beach

Hi My Beautiful Grandson,

We decided to stay a couple more nights in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The weather is really nice here and we moved to a better hotel. We have a view of the Atlantic Ocean and I have the sliding glass doors open and can hear the waves and Grandma is loving it. It's just now starting to get dark. So relaxing and peaceful.

Grandpa and Uncle E.J. went out to find something to do. Grandma is a home-body type person. I am happy to be here in the room, listening to the waves and watching FOX news on TV and writing to you. I'm also IM'ing with Aunt Stacey. I love my kids and I love spending time with them - even when it's on the computer. My kids and my husband and my dogs are my world. I am happy when my family is happy. I started working really hard in my life when I was young to be able to take care of my parents and to make sure all people I love can be taken care of. That is what drives Grandma. I work hard because I never want to say "I can't help" when someone I love needs help.

Set your goals high because there isn't anything you cannot accomplish, if that is what you want for yourself. My dad used to tell me all the time that I was "smarter than a show dog".. lol. I didn't really know what a "show dog" was... but he made me believe I was very intelligent. Your Great-Grandpa Wheelan was an amazing man. I will tell you more about him someday. Your Great-Grandma Wheelan was also amazing.

I took a video for you today of the beach we are staying on. Here it is:

I Love You,

Grandma