Not the Jet Set

I heard today that George Jones passed away. I desperately wanted to call my mother and tell her that one of her favorite singers was gone. She probably wouldn't have heard by now, so I needed to tell her. She would tell me that she just loved George and Tammy. She would remind me of the troubles he faced in his life, but how he made such a comeback when he sang with Barbara Mandrell "I Was Country." She would laugh of those times we stopped at a Chevron station on road trips to grab peanuts and put them in our Coke, just because of that song. Of course, I only made that call in my mind.

It's funny to me how many things in our lives mean absolutely nothing at one time, but could be precious memories years later. I remember listening to George... Southern California, We're Gonna Hold On, We're Not the Jet Set, and He Stopped Loving Her Today. I remember Momma singing those songs and my sister and I not finding a thing wrong with them. They weren't modern, but we sang along as kids and loved it.

When I shared with my husband my silly memories, he looked up some of those old songs, and I was right back in front of my dad's big ol' stereo...right back in our old broken-down car...right back listening to some of those George Jones songs. What an amazing reminder that it doesn't matter what we do with our kids. Just spending time with them...sharing what we like with them...is enough. And if sharing your best isn't as fancy as your neighbor's, it won't even be a part of their memories. They will just remember that you sang with them. Laughed with them. Shared with them.

As one of those songs says (my favorite one), we're not the jet set here in this household. It never was with Robert or myself as kids, so it fits that it isn't now. We have simple. We have boxed pizza. We have Target clothes. We have budgets. We're not the jet set. But ain't we got love.

Momma, George Jones passed away. Make him sing you a song up in Heaven.