Aunt Norma, Carla & Audrey

Happy Birthday Mom !! You would be 75 today. I was thinking what you might look like at 75. The other day coming home from work that popped into my head. I had never even thought about that before. How you would look at a certain age. I do know, you would be an awesome Grandmother, still love to dance, a damn good listener, fun to be around. And I am sure you and Shelli Jean would still stir it up. We sure miss ya down here. But you already know that. I look for the signs and most of the time I do see them. Love Ya Much Sweet Lady !!

This was on the dock in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho when Dennis graduated high school.

love you grandma

I had big plans last night. I was gonna get my fat pants on, ripped up ole sweatshirt, fuzzy socks and crank up "my momma's country" playlist and get to baking for Thanksgiving. That all changed when I walked into shed 1 off of F dock and saw "Norma Jean" across the back of Doug's boat. Kind of sucked the life right out me. I just stood there for awhile and I kept hearing you calling me Suzy Q. Not really sure why you would say " Suzy's back" every time I threw a temper tantrum but you did. And I hated it almost as much as I hated that ole orange hairbrush and having my hair braided. Not yesterday tho. I had to laugh. I'm a selfish one Momma. You raised a selfish little brat. What I wouldn't give for just one more sunset with you. One more moment. One more anything. You will always be my one more, my one wish. But we all know one more is never enough. So when I got home last night I still got all cozy in my fat pants and fuzzy socks, had to wear a real sweatshirt cuz I couldn't shake the damn chill the memories bring. I know I have so much to be Thankful for but there is still so much that pisses me off. I miss you. I miss Doug. I miss Dennis. I miss us. Every damn day. So I just sat there and had a temper tantrum. I think I set a new record. The months leading up to the big 44 scared the hell out of me. But it came and went just like Dan said it would. I made a promise to myself that if I made it thru that day I was gonna pick up where you left off. I'm gonna live my life for both of us. It will be epic, I promise you that. Not calling home at 3 am cuz you ran out of gas and wild turkey in some farmers field 3 states away but epic I promise. We are going to let that little light God gave us shine. We are going to spend the rest of our lives laughing. Dancing on tables. Doin whatever the hell we want cuz I think we have earned it. I know you have. You are always heavy on my heart during the Holidays, you always made them so special. They live on in me Mom, and now your Grandkids are carrying them on also. Hell I might even have dad bring the chain saw over and cut 6 inches off the top of my bedroom door. Then use it as a table. And dance on it. Oh hell, hang on Momma. FSU Norma Jean. F.S.U. I'm thinkin Wednesday night I might just have to go down to that ole boat with 6 pk and a bottle and have my own little throw down, cuz that's a thing. What's really funny is you always made pineapple upside down cake on Thanksgiving. I'm carrying on that tradition this year. Only it's in a glass. I think you would have loved it!!! You can thank your Grandson for that. Happy Thanksgiving Momma. And it will be. I'm goin all in. But you already knew that, didn't you?

Norma Jean 17 years old(1960)

Mom at 17 in San Jose, California in 1960

Norma Jean and siblings

Mom and Dennis. I miss that smile and laugh

Christmas miracle

2014 Christmas I celebrated my first Christmas ad a single woman. So much to celebrate. I decorated that tree with old family photos and mini alcohol bottles. Sometimes the memories are just to much to handle. Next year I will add Angel wings

Oh Momma, another year in the books. It's no secret this one was hard for me and we all know why. It was a great day tho. Spent the first half on the docks at work doing what I love. The 2nd half at dad's for dinner with the fam. It was a great day filled with love and laughter. It's the first birthday in I don't know how long I didn't wake up feeling a crushing blow to my chest. You are missed tho. Everyday. Every damn damn day. To this very day out dinner table conversations always come back to you. It's usually dad ~~he keeps your memory alive for all of us. It's only taken me 25 years but I when I think of you now I think of the life you lived, not the emptiness without you. I've decided that from this day on I'm gonna live my life for the both of us. I stay in touch with the rest of the family on Facebook and it helps being in touch with family that loved you so much. Gotta tell you tho that family reunion at Uncle Jacks was harder than I thought. So many great memories with them and you were in every one of them. The pain in Uncle Jacks eyes when he talked about you proved too much for me. His GrandDaughter is naming her baby girl after you. I just think that us the sweetest thing. Happy Birthday to us Momma. FSU.

Uncle Jack says "yes,1953, letha and dwain just married left xmas day snow cold went in a willis car or henry j Audrey and dwain fought over blanket in back seat no room cooked breakfast on open fire at side of road bacon scrambled eggs and fresh bread .best breakfast ever. Barstow .Needles,Albuqurque,etc,route66 ,Will Rogers Hiway ,rock house at Nowata Oklahoma good times think we lost dad the next year clyde must have been in army in korea so many gone,miss them all...Att....Audrey, Carla& Carin Cantrell, Shelli, Bill & Dan Standish...Terri Bryan, Johnnie Hawkes, Scott Hunter, & Debi Hunter-Demasters...."

Today is my grandsons birthday. He turned one today. That helps this week to not totally suck. So much had happened this last year ~ I wish you were here to share it with us. I know you are but I dammit sometimes I need to see that little smirk on your face. I love you

I love all of them. I won the lottery being born into the same family as these wonderful women. I think about these gals all the time and miss them greatly, and I look forward to seeing them all again. My Aunt and My Grandma could make you feel so good with their smile and laughter. I can still hear it. I like that little one, too!~~Scott Hunter

Aunt Leigh, Grandma Faye Woods , Shelli, Norma Jean (Mom) and Uncle Dwain in Green River Wyoming 1985

Norma Standish, Hazel Hunter holding Nikki, Lee Galloway, Bill Standish, Darlene Hunter, Clyde Hunter holding Ricky, Dwain Galloway holding Terry and Johnny Galloway.
Christmas 1961

Norma and Bill Standish, Art Woods and Jack Hunter at Grandma Woods home January 2, 1963

Art Woods, Bill Standish, Faye Woods and Jack Hunter
January 2, 1962

Bill, Norma, Danny, Doug, Dennis and Shelly Standish Christmas 1972

It was a bright beautiful day in trying times. You are so loved and so missed but your memory is very much alive at our table.