Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

Family

I Miss You Mama

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In keeping with my yearly posting on this date (March 3), here’s a letter my mother sent me nearly 15 years ago. Here’s a link to my original posting 3 years ago. Here are a couple of videos of my Mama telling stories (she would give me a shake of the head for posting these, but I can’t help myself).

Mama died 4 years ago. I miss her so much every day. Photo at left is (from left to right) Bud Hinson, Phebe Hinson (seated), Sadie Lou Hinson (in the back), and Inez Hinson (my Mama).

Here’s the letter she sent. The stationary she refers to was some she had printed with my Birmingham-Southern college address at the top. She trimmed each piece with scissors because she hated to waste things!

Dear Joe,

Recognize this stationary? It’s your B’ham-Southern with a crew cut! It’s just my nature to salvage.

I’m enclosing the article about Emory Cunningham–you need the background of those for whom you work. He’s also a trustee of Auburn and is on the advisory board of U of A. He worked through the ranks of Progressive Farmer. You can read all about it. I did include the entire article as Laura Drinkard has two honors: Blue Key National Honor Society and Mortar Board.

I’m sending a little money. This you should “let be” to help with your change in May should you not still be with Southern Progress or should you get a permanent job, it could be used to improve your mode of transportation! Just be patient and all will work out.

The other article is about the park near Jasper. It’s a TVA financed thing–Foster Falls. It is the southern trailhead of the 12-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail–from the waterfall near Jasper to Tracy City. Are you familiar with this area? It does sound interesting. I believe I could walk 12 miles!

Hope you are doing well–it was good to see Margaret and I did enjoy hearing things about William. He’s a dear and you should make time to spend with him while he’s growing up and he will adore his Uncle Joe later in life. Otherwise there will be nothing to connect. See how Stacy adores you now? It’s because she grew up around you and you always spent time with her. She had prom Saturday night.

I must get back to the bank and post office–reluctantly.

With dear love to you,

Mama

April 15, 1996

I love her letters. She was always filled with cautious optimism, always shared information about home, tried to identify things I’d enjoy (and she LOVED mailing me clippings from the newspaper) and offering advice, all without being a hovering mother.

Happy Birthday Mama

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Mama would have been 87 years old today. I miss her each and every day. The jonquils are blooming in my yard as are the hyacinths (dug from bulbs that bloomed in Octagon for years). I’m sure the blooms in Octagon are a sea of golden yellow!

I find myself regularly turning to a box of old letters Mama wrote to me through the years. I’m sure that I discarded some letters in my youth, but I think I did a pretty good job of holding on to most of them–and Mama loved to write letters, so I have a bunch!

Here’s one, without the year:

Dear Joe,

Here I am in the middle of housecleaning–I just have to get it done today! I’ve procrastinated long enough!–and what do I remember? I wanted to get you an article on Books-A-Million so you’d know the real story behind it. It actually started in 1917 with the building of Wilson Dam in Florence. The grandfather of the current director of the business saw an opportunity to sell newspapers to workers on the dam. He was only 14 at the time and used discarded piano crates to build his newsstand. Can you imagine? It was Bookland then and not until ’66 did stores open outside Florence.

Hope you are doing fine. We’re at last getting some of the rain that has been everywhere. I called Suzanne yesterday and they are all right, but marooned as is everybody in that area unless they had to be evacuated. Today I’m worried again, I guess, to see if their well is surface water or deep well. Being out in the country you never can tell.

Wilford Hale died yesterday. It’s hard for the family, but he’s so much better off than to have to be totally dependent on others. His funeral will be tomorrow. Jan has not moved into her new house yet.

Papa and I took Mrs. Hill to the area of Dannelly Field in Montgomery Tuesday. She wanted to visit her brother and family–he’s too old to drive this far–he came last year and they spent the night to build up enough strength to get back.

The rain certainly doesn’t slow down your Papa. It’s around ten and he just came in dripping wet. Oh well!

I think Madeline is planning to come to Wilfred’s funeral. I must prepare for the storm! When I called to tell her, both James and Abe played on the other phone, so it was difficult to get a message understood.

We’ve had a bumper crop of blueberries and are enjoying them. Wish you could have some.

I must get finished with my work and go for groceries–it’s been 2 weeks. Do let us hear and take care of yourself.

I love you,
Mama

July 8

I love her letters. They really are a conversation. I get the news, a couple of chuckles, and the latest on everything. I miss you Mama. Happy Birthday!

The HBO Mini-Series “The Pacific”

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I’ve been really excited about this since I first heard about it this fall. We loved “Band of Brothers” and can’t wait to watch “The Pacific” tonight!

My dad was in WWII and in the Pacific theater. He didn’t talk about it much, but he did write letters home regularly–the last letters I think he ever wrote, I think! There is a box of letters from his time in WWII, but none afterwards…

Here’s one:

Philippines
April 10, 1945

Dear Mama,

I rec. several letters from you and Gladys today sure was glad to hear from you.

I don’t guess you have thought about it, but this is my Birthday. One year ago yesterday, I was home, but it feels like it has been several years of course it is not so bad here I like it here ok. You asked me if I had been to Manila. Yes I have been there on pass. I know it was a nice place before the war, but now it is not much left there.

I have had some pictures made and they came out ok, so I sent them back to have some more made like them and I will get them tomorrow and send you some I want to send you one of each.

Is Bobby going to get to finish this year of school or are they going to take him on to the Army?

Does Natalie think as much of Bobby as he does her and will Mrs. Cogle let her go out with Bobby or don’t she like him?

Do you ever see Edward Agee now?

I guess Antoinette still gets everything she wants.

Well I guess I had better close now but I will write again soon. P.S. Did you send Virginia’s pictures to her.

Love Clark

[for reference, Gladys was my father’s sister–my Aunt Gladys who lived in Alaska for years before finally retiring in Linden, Alabama. Bobby was my father’s brother: the youngest of the family. Antoinette was my father’s first (I think) niece, born to my Aunt Margaret.]

Three Years Seems Like Yesterday–and Forever

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Wow. It has been three years. It seems forever, but also just yesterday when Mama was taken away. It somehow makes it that much harder that it is one week from her birthday. I miss her so much.

I’ve been going through old letters she sent (I promise not to continue to post them), and found the following one she sent me when I turned 25. It is VERY self-indulgent on my part to post, but Mama’s not around to say such nice things about me anymore, so thought I’d put it out there anyway.

Here it is:

My dear Joe,

It seems impossible that you are to be 25 Saturday! How proud we were of that tiny bit of love–Dr.  Henry’s “pea mite.” Since then you have been my “raison d’etre.” It has been our pleasure to see you mature–and with many uncompromising traits. Just thank you for being you, for showing tender love and true caring for your family. For whatever we have done, over protectiveness included, it was done in the name of love.

Have a happy birthday and please know that I love you with all my heart.

Mama

October 27

I Miss her so much. She really was such a wonderful person. If half the things in her letter to me were accurate, I’d be delighted. But it all came from having such a loving and caring family. Mama, you were the greatest!

Missing my Mother on Her Birthday

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Mama would have been 86 years old today. I miss her so much. She brought a lot of good into the world, including all 6 of us. Below is  part of a letter she wrote a few years ago just after her birthday. I wish I had inherited her letter-writing abilities (or at least took the time she always managed to find to write)…

Dear Joe,

It’s 11:15 and can you believe that I have a few minutes to call my own! (It’s because I’ve left the kitchen porch “as is” for the time being.)

It’s so pretty here–the redbuds are in bloom, all the white bushes and the daffodils, plus the hyacinths are so pretty.

Billy Milstead just stood and looked around and remarked, “Everywhere you look you see pretty!” He also talked about so many pines in general everywhere else, but hardwoods surrounding us.

You want believe this, but it is now nearly two o’clock as I’ve had to stop at least a dozen times for some incidental thing, but for Papa it can’t wait! For instance, “The mail came. Reckon my medicine is there?” A walk to the mailbox, of course I must get the scissors to clip the end of each piece of mail–mostly junk, but it must be taken care of!

I must stop now as I need to get ready to take Papa for a drive after he finishes lunch.

I love you,

Mama

February 26

Happy Birthday to the person that made me the person I am today (at least the good parts!)

A Letter from Mama

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Had to search through some old boxes for a book I needed to complete a project this afternoon. No luck with the book, of course, but did manage to come across a nice letter. Really reminded me of Mama. People do not send letters like this anymore. She managed to share a tidbit that might help me with our backyard, tell a cute story about racoons, remind me about Ms. Florence Mooring, inform me that my shoes (hastily forgotten on my previous visit) would arrive with my sister and that my niece had found a job. Oh, and she shared information about my dad. Oh, how I miss her.

Here is the letter:

Dear Joe,

Just today I went through a stock of papers and this backyard with fountain just happened to be among them. I thought you might get some ideas.

Guess what? Today I noticed some movement of the trumpet vine that remains on the side porch. Slowly, very slowly, there emerged three very small raccoons–getting off the roof onto the downspout. The mother was very patient. The coons were very cautious. I decided to call Florence and see if she could bring Ashley to see them. While I waited for them, I watched them climb down to the porch, explore everything on it, and then disappear before Ashley got here. How sad! I did fix her some cookies to take with her.

Did you hear more movement than usual when you were here? I don’t know how, but I believe they’ve been in the attic.

Julia will bring your shoes when she comes for her doctor’s appointment. I’m sure Stacy will be with her. She, too, has an appointment, I think. I understand that she has been accepted as Special Education instructor at the high school in Thomasville. She also interviewed in Grove Hill, but this will be easier for her–no travel.

I plan to go see Papa tomorrow. I went yesterday and things are about the same.

July 27

I love you,

Mama