One of my favorite people in the world turns 20 years old today. Wow. Where have those 20 years gone??? Before I start telling you stories about him, I need to tell you who it is!
Tecumseh Britt IV was born on April 6, 1987, at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. We call him Crump because his grandfather (my great-uncle) is Uncle T.C. and his dad is T.C. (also known as Little T.C. or Dovan). The last thing Key wanted to do was have another T.C. around. So she took her maiden name as the name we would call this little angel!
When Crump was born, Key and T.C. lived about 3 miles down the road from our farm. Most everybody who knows me knows also that I learned how to drive when I was in 2nd/3rd grade. Well, Crump was born at the end of my 3rd grade year, so I was able to drive down the road - BY MYSELF - to see him. We had farm radios in our house and all vehicles, so I would have to call Key to let her know that I was getting on the road and then call Mama/Daddy when I got there. What were these people thinking letting a 3rd grader drive by theirself? That's beside the point...this is about Crump, not me.
So anyway, I would drive down as often as I could and play with him. He sat on my back and I would be his "ride" as I crawled all over the house. He had such a cute nursery that even had a couch in it. Thus the inspiration for a couch in Mary Peyton's nursery! Bet you didn't know that!
Crump stayed with me a lot - he was even at our house when Key had Wilson. We would go down in the fields to see Mr. Leavell (who's birthday was also April 6th). Crump was the "apple of my eye". Even though he did pee in my eye once. But I guess that's what little boys do, huh?
We went to Florida together several times. The first was when Key was still pregnant with Wilson. We had so much fun. But the best part of that trip was watching a very pregnant Key running out the front door to stop Kathy Faye's van from going all the way down the driveway with a mischevious 2 year old "driving" (he had put the car in neutral). Wow.
Tommy and I took Crump on our first anniversary trip with us. We went on a cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. As you can clearly see in the pictures, Crump is not at a loss for hair. People came up constantly throughout the week to "just touch it" and see if it was real. We had SO much fun! (Julia also went with us on this trip!)
He was always involved in sports and I enjoyed going to watch. From when he was little until his last baseball game of his senior year (which was about a week before Mary Peyton was born, so there I was in the place Key had been 16 years earlier!).
Last but certainly not least, he even dates my cousin. Sounds inbred, right? Wrong. Crump is my cousin on my Daddy's side. He dates Melissa, who is my cousin on my Mama's side. They have been dating since birth (no, really just since 7th or 8th grade) and love telling people who don't know about this little connection that they are going to stay with "their" cousin. It adds humor to the discussion!
I could continue to think of story after story, but it would never end. On some levels he feels like my little brother, on others he feels like my child, and in reality he is my cousin -although cousin seems to not be a "close enough" term for the relationship I have with this family.
Tecumseh Britt IV was born on April 6, 1987, at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. We call him Crump because his grandfather (my great-uncle) is Uncle T.C. and his dad is T.C. (also known as Little T.C. or Dovan). The last thing Key wanted to do was have another T.C. around. So she took her maiden name as the name we would call this little angel!
When Crump was born, Key and T.C. lived about 3 miles down the road from our farm. Most everybody who knows me knows also that I learned how to drive when I was in 2nd/3rd grade. Well, Crump was born at the end of my 3rd grade year, so I was able to drive down the road - BY MYSELF - to see him. We had farm radios in our house and all vehicles, so I would have to call Key to let her know that I was getting on the road and then call Mama/Daddy when I got there. What were these people thinking letting a 3rd grader drive by theirself? That's beside the point...this is about Crump, not me.
So anyway, I would drive down as often as I could and play with him. He sat on my back and I would be his "ride" as I crawled all over the house. He had such a cute nursery that even had a couch in it. Thus the inspiration for a couch in Mary Peyton's nursery! Bet you didn't know that!
Crump stayed with me a lot - he was even at our house when Key had Wilson. We would go down in the fields to see Mr. Leavell (who's birthday was also April 6th). Crump was the "apple of my eye". Even though he did pee in my eye once. But I guess that's what little boys do, huh?
We went to Florida together several times. The first was when Key was still pregnant with Wilson. We had so much fun. But the best part of that trip was watching a very pregnant Key running out the front door to stop Kathy Faye's van from going all the way down the driveway with a mischevious 2 year old "driving" (he had put the car in neutral). Wow.
Tommy and I took Crump on our first anniversary trip with us. We went on a cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. As you can clearly see in the pictures, Crump is not at a loss for hair. People came up constantly throughout the week to "just touch it" and see if it was real. We had SO much fun! (Julia also went with us on this trip!)
He was always involved in sports and I enjoyed going to watch. From when he was little until his last baseball game of his senior year (which was about a week before Mary Peyton was born, so there I was in the place Key had been 16 years earlier!).
Last but certainly not least, he even dates my cousin. Sounds inbred, right? Wrong. Crump is my cousin on my Daddy's side. He dates Melissa, who is my cousin on my Mama's side. They have been dating since birth (no, really just since 7th or 8th grade) and love telling people who don't know about this little connection that they are going to stay with "their" cousin. It adds humor to the discussion!
I could continue to think of story after story, but it would never end. On some levels he feels like my little brother, on others he feels like my child, and in reality he is my cousin -although cousin seems to not be a "close enough" term for the relationship I have with this family.
This picture was taken at J.C. Penney's. I remember it as clear as yesterday. Key was gone on a trip and Mama/I did these pictures as a surprise for her. This was in August 1987. I was about to be 10 and Crump was 4 months old.
This was at Wilson's Christening. I don't know the dates on this, but Wilson was born August 5, 1989, so I am 12 years old in this picture and Crump is 2.
This is on our cruise. July 2002. Crump was 15 and I was 24.
Uncle Crump with Mary Peyton (she was 5 days old). Crump's graduation was my last "trip" before Mary Peyton was born. I was determined not to miss it! She was born a few days before he came back from his senior trip...
This picture was taken March 25th. One of the last of Crump at 19 years old!
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRUMP!!!
WE LOVE YOU!!!
5 comments:
Suzanne-you brought me to tears to mentioning my Grandaddy. We all know that he is celebrating his brithday today with your Grandaddy and Homer in heaven! Minter City really is a very special place!
I only got one stinkin thing to say...In 1987 when you were gettin that picture made at JC Penny's I was a SOPHOMORE in COLLEGE!
Oh mercy I'm old!
Yeah, you ARE old Kearsmom. I was graduating from High School that year, so I guess you're not really that old. Nevermind. You are not old at all!
Junebug.............
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shehtup!
A couch in the nursery...how fun!!! Do you have pics of MP's nursery? I'd love to see it!
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