Hit the Gas!

 Sundee always has the best one-liners.  We've already heard the monkeys buggin' me story and there were so many more.  That's why I think she is the Comedianne.  She has a way of saying something and it makes you laugh.  Anyone else says it, not so funny.  So, she got away with saying a few things that none of us would dare to say.  One time either in the big yellow suburban or the green urban snickee, I don't remember which one.  Dad was driving.  He was especially taking his time through some place where we all knew that the speed limit was higher than he was going.  All of the girls in the back looked at each other and silently rolled our eyes, annoyed with how slow this trip was going.  But you don't tell Dad  how to drive.  It's just one of those unwritten rules of survival.  But Sundee couldn't stand it any longer, and she voiced what we all were thinking.  She sat in the back seat that was too small for her long legs, one leg propped up on the seat in front (where I was sitting, swatting the leg was useless,) her elbow on the arm rest on the side, put her head back in a smirky sort of way, and said with a bit of humor in her voice: "Hit the gas!"  We couldn't help it, we all burst out laughing.  I don't remember, did Dad hit the gas?

Right over left, don't fall down

In Nauvoo, Tiffany had to learn a few dance moves for the shows she was performing in.  Now, Tiffany has a way of putting things in  a such a manner as to keep the directions clear and simple, said in kind, clever ways, but not fluffy. And she is wise without meaning to be.  And I don't know about now, but at the time, dancing for Tiffany was as Sundee described it.  (If you haven't read that post, scroll down, it's a good read.) Anyway, this time as she was learning the dance moves for the show, she was instructing herself in her simple, clear way:  "Right over left, don't fall down, right over left, don't fall down!!"  And it worked really well!!  She stayed up! A plain and precious truth found in unassuming words of self-encouragement.  Just keep telling that to yourself, Tiffy.  And to all of us.  It's actually good advice for more than dancing! 

And when you get a minute, I'd like to read your version of the story, TC.  I'm sure there's more than I can remember there.  

Peeling paint off the wall

Tiffany didn't know the strength of her voice.  One time all the sisters were singing "Hercules" and we were doing it in style, full voice and all.  We were singing it for some reunion, I think. At the end of the song, there's a wail that we gave to Tiffany because she could do it, and do it well.  A little later, a man came up to mom and said, "Man, you've got a voice in there that can peel the paint off the wall!"  He meant it about the voice at the end of the song that did that wail-thing, and he meant it in a good, strong way.

Tiff-a-saurus Rex

In high school, Tiffany had a group of friends that were pretty clever.  Tiff was always a pretty clever, but low-key kind of person, too.  So, it was quite funny to hear the nick names they would give her, considering how calm she was.  One time I remember hearing a boy in her group, I don't remember his name, but he was greeting her like this:  "It's the Tiffster! It's the Tiff-a-nator!  It's the Tiff-a-saurus Rex!"  So fitting, don't you think?

Beautiful Blonde!

When we lived on Decatur, we had a repair man in the front yard fixing the wiring that went to the street light. I was out there with Sundee and Jannie and the worker asked Jannie where she got that red hair. The next day, another repair man was at the house fixing the washer. And the two little girls were watching him. As he was working along, this man also asked Jannie where she got her red hair. This was just too much for little Sundee and she said, "My hair is this color." At this point I knew I needed to let her know something. I told her she was our "Beautiful Blonde!" And to this day, she is still our "Beautiful Blonde!"

And just who was babysitting???

One day I came home from shopping or something and I found my little girl (Tiffy) hiding under the counter... kind of in the corner... CUTTING off her long red locks !!! This was my sweet little peacemaker. The gentle child about which I always declared "Everyone needs a Tiffany right in the middle." I was shocked! And where did she get those scissors? (And who was watching her???)
When I found her there was only one beautiful curl left. Needless to say, I was appalled! So in order to make a lasting impression, I pretended to cry. Then I fixed the hair cut and gave her Shirley Temple curls. And of course she was still an absolutely beautiful child. So I don't think she was permantly scarred for cutting her own hair and making her mother "cry."

Where did you get those scissors Tiffany?