Carol
Email: misscarol@earthlink.net
It has been three years now since I have done anything to my Tribute to B.J. Thomas website. It certainly has not been for a lack of wanting to but, as so often happens in life, THINGS happen to prevent or slow us up from doing things we want to do. I want to personally thank the many B.J. Thomas friends who have given me words of encouragement, love and support during these past difficult years.
Lots of changes have taken place in my life the past three years. Some good and some not so good....marriage (quickly followed by divorce), job change, Hurricane Katrina. But, as always, I choose to focus on the good. After working for a major university for almost 19 years, I quit my job to move on to new challenges just two weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina paying me a visit. I was booked on a cruise to the Yucatan where I was going to "chill" for a week before starting my new job. Needless to say, that did not happen. The only water that I was seeing was the 5 feet of water in the house and, trust me, it was not anything like the beautiful blue water of my dreams! But, the new job has been a new adventure in my life and I am learning lots of new things in the technology field of education. Life does go on and sometimes we are all the better for it!!!!
I am still actively involved with Civitan International . I served ten years as secretary for my local club but have stepped aside from that position due to time restraints in my life at the moment. I have also served as District Chair for Junior Civitan. Civitan is a wonderful volunteer organization devoted to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities. The Civitan International Center in Birmingham, AL improves the lives of people at risk for, or affected by, developmental disabilities.
Genealogy research is a favorite past-time. Loper, Morgan, Smith, Stockstill, Kitchens, Burch, Wiggs, Onley, Stover, Haley, Sawyer, Talbot and Dunaway are families I've done research on. Would love to hear from anyone connected with these families!
And, of course, attending B.J. Thomas performances is still at the top of my list of most favorite things to do! Unfortunately, since Hurricane Katrina visited in August 2005, there aren't any places to see a B.J. concert here now. The Gulf Coast is rebuilding, but it is going to take a long time to get back to any normalcy. You can visit this website (http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/special_packages/renewal/before_after/) to see some points of interest on the coast before and after Katrina and some pictures of the casinos where B.J. once performed. It is good to know that Foxwoods Casinos has purchased the land where the President Casino once stood and where I attended so many B.J. Thomas concerts. Hopefully, B.J. will be performing at the new casino for Foxwood when it gets built. Also, there are a total of 9 casinos rebuilt/reopened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as of September '06. So, come on over, B.J.!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am no longer wishing for "Mr. Right" to come into my life. Thought that had happened but, unfortunately, that was far from the fact. I've learned that being alone doesn't mean I have to be lonely and these days I enjoy each day as it comes and I am thankful for it. Although B.J.'s rendition of "This Love Is Forever" was played as I walked down the bridal path and "Hooked on a Feeling" as the recessional, I still enjoy listening to B.J. sing those songs. There are some bad memories in life that B.J. can actually make seem better. Should have listened to my friends when they said,
Since Hurricane Katrina, I have my parents living with me since their home was destroyed. Not being able to travel at this time has prevented me from attending any B.J. concerts, which are hours away now. But, I hope that I can see some of my B.J. friends at a concert soon....it has been way too long!!
God Bless To Each Of You!
Carol