On January 28, I be 56 YEARS OLD.

I am born, January 28, 1956. And now I BE 56. That is the same number. Hunh. I like that.

Now I not be 55 any more. But I like that, be 55. It is a good year. But I be 56, now that’s bether!

Now I going to be a old, old man. But I like it.

You know what? Alan Alda born on January 28. Plays on M.A.S.H. I like that show, and it is so funny.

Know who else born on January 28? Is Elijah Wood, plays that hobbit in Lord of the Rings. I not like that movie, it’s too scary for me.

This is my brother Tom. And me.

Now, I got a good one for my brother Tom, loves art. Know who else born on January 28? Is Jackson Pollock. And Jackson Pollock DIED in 1956. Not me, I be BORN in 1956. That’s bether. But my nathew Warren and my brother Tom did paint like Jackson Pollock and my sister put that up over Warren’s windows, hah looks nice. You like it. I like Warren’s room when Warren comes home from college. I get a big, big hug on my nathew.

And nother one born on January 28 is Claes Oldenburg, nother artist, makes big, big sculptures like clothespin and bowling pins. I take care of my mom’s laundry for her, foldem up for her. And I play bowling on that WII with my neighbor name is Richard.

AND, nother one born on January 28 is my friend from church, Dr. Boggan. He is my doctor. Dr. Boggan says I’m doing pretty good for a old, old man.

This is my family, clapping for me.

You born on January 28? No? Well, I am, and it is big, special day. Everybody is so nice to me. You be nice to me, I like that. I be nice to you on your birthday, I promise, you mind me. But on MY birthday, is on Saturday, you not forget  it, okay? And if you forget, you tell me on Sunday. I like it, my birthday last a long, long time.

I hope I get a big surprise on my birthday. But not a box of frogs.

Now I gotta big surprise for you. It is a recipe. My sister make that up for me special, I drink it I go to her house for dinner. My brother John like it, too. I hope you like it!

The January 28 Cocktail

Fill a glass with crushed ice.
Fill it one-third full with pomegranate juice.
Fill it to the top with plain seltzer.
Spritz with lime juice, and add a thin lime slice for garnish.

Try it! It’s good! An my sister says it’s got antioxidants, keep me in good shape! Cheers!

My famous January 28 Cocktail. Cheers!

Love,

Billy

This my sister, Mary, safe and sound.

Hi! Happy Friday.

Today, I go to work. But before I go to work, I like to tell you bout last night. My sister did come over for dinner. My mom is cooking. DE-licious eggplant casserole, and me and my sister SO hungry. It is so good, my mom is a wonderful cook.
I pass the pepper to my sister. Have to look, is it S or P on top. I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business trip, I like it you eat with us every night. My mom is cook for you, and you work so hard, and you not have to cook.” My sister likes that.
Then I think about it a lot. Mom and Mary talking about a lot of things, I not like to rupt. Then, alla get quiet, I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business trip, right? Well! I got a great idea. How bout, on you anniversary, and you so lonely, I take you and my mom, going OUT to dinner, and then, we see a good, good movie! You like that?”
My sister say, “Aw, Billy, that’s a nice idea! What movie you like to see, my anniversary?”
I tell my sister, “Green Lantern.”
My sister and my mom laughing so hard. But I like Green Lantern.
My mom say, “That Green Lantern is CUTE.”
I did see that on Regis and Kelley.
Then I did clear the table. My mom and my sister got to put that new sprinkler outside, water the flowers outside. Because we got not rain, just dry inna bone. That sprinkle go round and round and my sister get all wet. But my mom is laughing so hard. And it’s funny.
And then, my sister ready to go home. I tell my sister, “Mary, Jos is gone on business, right? Well, I got a good idea. How bout I walk you home, you not be lonely. You like that? OK, I go to put on my tennis shoes. You wait for me.”
My sister walk with me to her house. Sometimes, inna corner, my sister go up the hill and I go back to my house, see my mom. But not now, because I need to take care of my sister. So I go all the way. My sister likes that.
My sister say, “Bye, Billy, I like it you walk me home.” She wave. But I not go yet. I got to wait. Mary open that door, and she wave at me again. Mary tell me, “Billy, you take good care of me. Thank you.”
I tell my sister, “I do Mary, cuz I love you. Mary, you gotta problem? ANYTHING. You call me. I take kevvadit. I not like you be lonely. You call me. I call you I get home, you not worry. OK? I hope you gotta good night sleep. Bye!”
But I not go yet. I wait, my sister lock that door. Cuz I love her. And now my sister safe and sound. I like that. I am good to my sister. Cuz I love her.

My  brother John get married last week in Georgia. I go there. My Mom go there. My sister drive and it is pour down rain. I play games in the car with Warren. Lotta people go there to that wedding. It’s lotta fun.

My sister, Mary be there with her family. My sister look so pretty. My nephews Daniel and Warren are funny. I love them a lot. And Jos did go fishing!

This my sister in law, Sheila. Sheila look so gorgous. Sheila had fun, my nephews. Now I had new sister in law!

This my nephew JR girlfriend. Name is Christine. I like her and she so pretty. I think Christine looking at JR.

This my wonderful Mom.  My Mom cried a little bit. But it’s OK. My Mom is happy John get married. My Mom is so pretty. I love her a lot and everything. And Dekie look so pretty in that wedding dress! I get a big hug on her!

And this be my nephew Paul and Edna. Edna is Paul’s wife. Edna’s pretty too. Paul is lucky man!

And this is me! I look sharp as a tack! I be the ring barrier. It’s like hold the ring, John give that ring to Dekie, and Dekie give that ring to John. I help a lot, and had a good, good time and I flirt a lot. And Santos did cook and it’s good. Santos did give my sister lots of food and then I come back home to Kingsport and on Sunday we had burritos.

Well, that’s it! It’s great! And I am so happy my brother John.

Billy Schulz Shovels Snow for His Mother

The bad weather we have had recently requires determination and courage and extra hard work for many of us. Billy’s service to me inspired his sister, Mary de Wit, to compose this poem for us.

My Brother’s Courage

My brother’s courage grips my heart these ways:
He concentrates on lacing tight his boots,
Assembles hat and gloves and arctic suit,
And with resolve, he steps into the haze.
His mission is to fetch the frozen news,
(This, after warming Mother’s shoulder pad,
Insuring she her phone and coffee had.)
He, cautiously, his icy way pursues.
His life is full of fear. Afraid to fall
On snow — or tumbling from a vista deck—
Offending, being dumb, bouncing a check…
Still every day he faces: smiling, tall.
From his perspective he might call us this:
Retarded, learning slowly who he is.

© 2011 Mary de Wit

Last Sunday Mary took me and my mom to a concert. Gordon Lightfoot. I like Gordon Lightfoot for a long, long time and I love concerts. Gordon Lightfoot is good looking and he is a good singer. He sang Fitzgerald, Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, and lotsa things. My favorite is Sundown. I sang along with him. I clapped and I stood up.

Gordon Lightfoot and 2 of his band members at his concert in Bristol, TN

My favorite concert was Tom Jones. My mom and my dad took me to Charlotte  a long time ago. Tom Jones sang She’s a Lady, Green Green Grass of Home, Daughter of Darkness and Delilah. My favorite is What’s New Pussey Cat. The girls screamed and threw their padded bras at Tom Jones. He wiped his face with those padded bras and threw them back. That was gross. But it’s funny.

I saw the Eagles, Seals and Crofts, and Linda Ronstadt a long time ago, when I live in North Carolina, at WCU. But I never saw Gordon Lightfoot until Sunday. My sister is good to me. I love concerts.