Like all of our daughters, Jackie B. suffered from distemper of youth. In her case it was cured by small doses of repentance in connection with experience. In her heart are a tiger, Raggedy Andy and a nightingale. Her heart is most assuredly dominated by the nightingale who sings life’s sweetest music in the face of adversity.
The founder of “Goodson Girl Birth Order Number III”, aka GBON³, Jackie B. was the designated family depository for hand-me-down clothes, ElCaminos, a TransAm, books, three-legged chairs and a seat at the table. Unable to complete a sentence without interruption from her six member family she invented a metaphorical language at an early age called Gbonics or Auntie EM for short. She could mutate, transfigure, transpose or transubstantiate any verb, adverb or adjective. Gbonics served her well in her 80’s summer jobs in construction and all night college dance marathons at "Rocky's". Her "After Mama & Daddy leave the room" Eddie Murphy & Buckwheat monologues were legendary.
Years later in her HoosierLand classroom she spoke Gbonics on as needed basis, i.e. "Qui jamais a bu ma étape de Dr.Pepper à l'avant de la salle en ce moment !" or "Evahbuddy in this heah class hoo dun drunk frum mah Dr. Peppah step up ta da frunt o’ da room - ah mean rat now, yew heah?"
It should be explained that Mrs. G. did not undertake to teach pronunciation of the Gbonics tongue but translating the difference between a hissy fit and a conniption proved to be complicated. Changes in pitch or volume, speed of articulation, pronunciation, grammar and word usage needed interpretation while paying no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Today Jackie B. is a moving line between Past, the region of sobs & memories and Future, the region of hope. She moves with ease between topics as varied as coronary artery disease, the Bible, sagging "tickets" (or bubbies as they are called down South), death and child development. She pontificates on the virtues of chocolate milk, Lance peanut butter crackers and boiled peanuts with the smooth tongue of the North Florida native she is. She draws the line, however, at discussing sex in the presence of her parents.
God assigns angels to do many things on earth. They are ministeringspirits sent to serve those who believe (Hebrews 1:14). On November 6, 1961, He sent Jackie B. to minster love, understanding and kindness to all she would meet.
Happy birthday my number three child - we love you and wish you were a little girl again.
Love,Mama & Daddy
Today Jackie B. is a moving line between Past, the region of sobs & memories and Future, the region of hope. She moves with ease between topics as varied as coronary artery disease, the Bible, sagging "tickets" (or bubbies as they are called down South), death and child development. She pontificates on the virtues of chocolate milk, Lance peanut butter crackers and boiled peanuts with the smooth tongue of the North Florida native she is. She draws the line, however, at discussing sex in the presence of her parents.
God assigns angels to do many things on earth. They are ministeringspirits sent to serve those who believe (Hebrews 1:14). On November 6, 1961, He sent Jackie B. to minster love, understanding and kindness to all she would meet.
Happy birthday my number three child - we love you and wish you were a little girl again.
Love,Mama & Daddy
Thank you Mama and Daddy. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO ME1 I cried. Love, Me... JBG
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