Category Archives: Family
John Mays: The proper way to wear a wife-beater
John Mays and Opal Moore (circa 1950). Opal and her husband Arthur lived behind John and Evelyn on Washington Avenue in Kennett, MO.
John Mays
Berjaya Langkawi Resort
Barb had her heart set on some beach time and Penang doesn’t have really great beaches. So she booked a couple of days at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort, an island to the north (about a 30 min flight).
Last of the Mays Boys
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It was a family weekend for smays.com. My brother Blane is back in the states for a few weeks to get his second oldest son, Spencer, officially enrolled in college. He’ll be attending Liberty University in Lynchberg, VA. (I’m pretty sure they don’t know there’s a flaming lefty in the family)
Oldest son Ryan –a junior at Union University– drove over from Tennnesse and we all met up in Tulsa. The brothers hadn’t seen each other in a year-and-a-half so they had some catching up to do. [L-R: Ryan, Blane, Spencer]
I handed down my 15″ MacBook to Spencer as a graduation present and he immediately loaded Skype so he could talk with his sweetie back in Indonesia. I know they whispered sweet nothings for 90 minutes at one stretch, which would have been one expensive phone call. But those days are gone now.
It was miserably hot in Tulsa and the traffic was like nothing I’ve seen in a while. Bumper-to-bumper for as far as you could see.
During our time together, my brother pointed out that we were “the last of the Mays line.” At least our strain. And since Blane and I won’t be making any more humans, it will be up to Ryan and Spencer to keep the name in lights.
And it’s wonderful to be home again.
The president and my First Lady
Earlier this year, Barb attended an event for President Obama in St. Louis. I’m pretty sure you only got a hug if you wrote a check but it’s still a nice picture.
I’m not thrilled with everything our president has done (or not done) but if I were, someone else would be pissed, so…
I wish him well.
Do you have anything in first class?
During our brief chat this morning, my brother told me of a recent trip he and a co-worker took from one Indonesian city to another. Half-way through the 12-hour train ride, the lights went out. The crowded car was pitch black. A trip to the toilet involved trying not to step on the people who were sleeping in the aisle (or the rats and cockroaches).
On the return trip, they opted for the bus. There’s the regular bus which allows you to bring small farm animals aboard… and the “Executive” bus which does not. They chose the latter.
The most exciting part of the trip never happened. As they sat on the train, waiting for it to leave the station, two men got on, stowed their luggage, and then got off. My brother and his companion agreed they would get off the train if the men were not back on by the time it departed.
Lucy and Barb
Lucy –the junior pup at our house– is extremely camera shy. If you pick up something that even resembles a camera, she runs under the bed (her sanctuary). I thought I could fool her with the iPhone. No way.
But I got this shot (with iPhone) last night. Hardly a great photo but I like the monitor glow on Barb and you can just spot Lucy’s nose peeking out from beneath the table.
For some reason it appears I’m about five floors up but it’s just one.
Texting around the world
Okay, I’m still in the ooh and aah stage with the iPhone. And I’m playing with texting as alternative to email and voice calls. My brother and his family are back home in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, and it turns out we can text back and forth.
Yeah, I know I’ll probably get some huge-ass bill at the end of the month but if this is part of my 200 text messages, it’s pretty cool. A great way to stay closer.
Alison
I’m not a good photographer. I take a lot of photographs but I don’t think or worry much about the quality of the images. Good enough is good enough. That’s not to say I can’t recognize and appreciate the photographic artistry of my friends Henry and Nick.
Not to take anything away from their art, but I think some people have “a good eye,” when it comes to taking pictures. A natural talent for getting that good shot.
For example, the photo above… taken by my brother’s wife, Tonya. I’m not qualified to speak to the technical aspects of the photograph, but this image feels powerful to me.
Allison is 12 and the sweetest kid you’d ever want to meet. Her open, innocent, steady gaze is captivating. You could take a thousand shots and not get one this perfect.