Panzee. Today, Panzee turns 84. And although I have only known her for almost 54 of those years, I think it is safe to say that no one who knows her will accuse her of committing extraordinary act after extraordinary act. You just dont think of her in that way. You think solid, dependable and doing the right thing. But it is in those very things that she does over and over that makes the whole of her life extraordinary. You see, my mother does the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, with the right degree of love. And for one as flawed as me that can be so damned irritating and so much appreciated at the same time. And for her to live with both me and Wallace, Im sure it has been little like two stereo speakers turned up really loud and slightly off, and sometimes way off. But when it gets the hardest and toughest, she turns out to be 4101/2 of the hardest and toughest block of granite you have ever seen. For me she has been gravity, and ever time I have spun out of control she has been there to help reel me in. So sometimes, when people talk to me of their admiration and affection for her, it amazes me, but I have no idea why it does. Why shouldnt everybody else see what I see. I know this: she is universally loved and respected. A feat rarely pulled off for any amount of time, much less a lifetime. But hey, she never changes, does she? Now, she is a little competitive. Heres all you need to know: Casons senior year we are playing Happy Hill in Granbury and my business partner and wife come to the game. The wife is sitting in a lawn chair next to Panzee and we are up like 60 to nothing and Happy Hill doesnt have a first down. They finally make a first down and Panzee flinched forward in her chair like how in the world did they let that happen. The wife laughed and thought this is a bloodthirsty bunch, up 60 and dont want poor orphans to have a first down. We still all laugh about it. So to the 1948 girls singles district tennis champ, the leader of the band, the coach who put people in positions to succeed, the forever 5th grade teacher and my mom: I love you and thanks for giving me a twenty yard headstart in this life. Wallace would tell you that she might not know all the x and os, but was the best coach in the family. And I tell you this, I have always been a mommas boy...and still am.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:08:12 +0000
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