From the time I was a toddler until I married and moved a few miles away, I lived next door to 'The Brumbelow' family. Lois and Huey and their children Sherleen, Patsy and Ray. Ray and I are the closest in age so we spent a great deal of time together all those years - at least until we were teenagers. Living 'way out' in the country on a dirt road there isn't much for kids to do. I remember many, many hot summer days playing in the shade of the big trees in their yard. The Brumbelow kids seemed to have all the things kids could want, that we didn't. A sandbox in the yard for endless hours of play for little ones, a bicycle and scooter (foot-powered), store bought games like Mr. Potato Head which Ray and I played a lot and cold Cokes in the refrigerator. Lois would bring Ray and me frosty cold Cokes (in the little bottles) and a pack of salted peanuts and we'd have contests seeing who could hold the most foamy Coke in their mouth before spewing it the furthest off the porch. I learned to ride a bicycle under Lois' watchful eye and she carried me in the house and nursed my scraped and bleeding elbows when I failed miserably the first few tries. On Halloween Lois would dress us up and she and Huey would drive us to Doraville or Brookhaven where they would walk us up and down heavily populated streets so we could fill our pillow cases to the max with loads of candy and we got to stay out late that one night of the year. I was included on fun day trips up to the mountains and can still hear the sound of Lois's voice as she 'ooooed and ahhhed' and held her breathe around some of the sharp curves as Ray and I looked on, standing in the back floorboard behind her seat and giggling at her being scared. On stormy summer days we'd hide out in the storm shelter because Lois was afraid of thunder storms and tornados. At the first crack of thunder she'd call my mother and insist that we come get in the shelter with them. One of the things I remember most is that EVERY time I went in their house, which was most days, you couldn't find a speck of dust, one item out of place, one dirty dish in the sink or an unmade bed. I don't know what I thought she was doing while Ray and I were out playing, but it obviously was working to keep her house in tip top shape. It never occurred to me because every moment she was in my presence it was clear that Ray and I were her only concern and it was important to her that we were well fed, safe and happy. Lois and Huey were present at my wedding and came to visit me at Kennestone when my son was born. I still have the greeting card she brought me that day 43 years ago. I remember telling her, when I was much older, that she had been my 'second Mama'. Although it's been many years since we spent more than a few minutes together, I can't seem to stop the tears today as all these memories come flooding back to my mind. I know Huey, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss her terribly. She was always filled with the joy of life and love and shared it with all the people in her life - even us 'second children'. May she rest in peace...