February

February 06, 2010 @ 12:44 AM CST

February is a mixed bag for me these last few years.

As long as I can remember, February is one of my favorite months.
Growing up in California, the weather was always mild. A little too mild for me.
Here it's different every day, and I like variety. (Not knowing what to expect is a nice surprise.)

Do I bundle up? Is a sweater enough? Should I grab that coat?
Our Winters are unpredictable in Tennessee. Rain, snow, sun? The temperature varies daily.
(Our entry hall stays stocked with gloves, boots, coats, hats, sweaters and galoshes.)
Today it was beautiful with a slight breeze and tonight we're expecting snow again.

June and dad always left in late Fall and usually came home in early Spring. The last few years, dad couldn't take our Winter weather due to respiratory problems. (If he contracted a simple cold, it usually turned into pneumonia.)

He left our world September 12, 2003, so this makes the sixth February we've had to be without him.
I miss his laugh, his hugs, his kisses, his wisdom. We had great talks almost daily on our little adventures and "road trips" around town.

I miss HIM.

I've always considered February "dad's month", and still do.
Exactly three weeks from today, he would be 78 years old.

I thought today about dad's last birthday here on Earth. As always, he was in Jamaica with June.

I called him that day, as always, to wish him a Happy Birthday. After thanking me, he teased me about the weather in Tennessee and HAD to remind me he was in "Paradise" eating guava jelly with his toast on the front porch. He said they were observing "doctor birds" and parrots. (Hummingbirds are doctor birds there.) He also bragged about the banana and pear (avocado) trees that were in full bloom. "Oh, and I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt" ...he had to throw that in. Dad considered Jamaica "Paradise".

I remember saying, "OKAY DAD...I GET IT! You're having a great time! If it makes you feel better, it's cloudy, cold and gloomy here!"
That deep familiar laugh boomed. "I'm sorry honey. I just thought you'd like to know I'm having a great birthday."

I laughed knowing he couldn't resist rubbing it in. I remember picturing where he was sitting and feeling happy for him.

"Dad, I'm VERY glad you're having a great birthday! I wish I was there with you."
"I wish you were too, baby."

Today he really IS in PARADISE , and I'm sure Jamaica pales in comparison.

God bless you dad. I miss you, I love you and I wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from the bottom of my heart for the sixth time in REAL PARADISE.

- Kathy

Carl Smith

January 17, 2010 @ 7:26 PM CST

PLEASE KEEP Carlene, Carl Jr., Dean and Lori Lynn in your prayers.
Their daddy passed away yesterday.
_________________________________________________

Country Music Legend Carl Smith Dies At 82
Country Singer Died Saturday At Franklin Home

POSTED: 1:05 pm CST January 17, 2010
UPDATED: 6:04 pm CST January 17, 2010

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Country Music Hall of Famer and former Grand Ole Opry member, Carl Smith died on Saturday at the age of 82.

According to family members, Smith died of natural causes at his Franklin home.

Smith earned the nickname "Mister Country" in the 1950s.

Throughout his career, the famous honky tonker had 30 Top 10 Hits including "Let's Live A Little" and "Don't Just Stand There." Other songs of Smith's include “Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way" and "Hey Joe."

He released his last album in the 1970s.

Smith was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame back in 2003 and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1950 to 1956.

The legendary country singer was born and raised in Maynardsville, Tenn.

Smith was married to June Carter Cash for a few years and later was remarried to Goldie Hill. Hill passed away five years ago and the two were married 48 years.

He is survived by his three children, Carlene Carter, Dean Smith, Carl Smith Jr. and Lori Lynn Smith along with 12 grand children and 12 great-grand children.

Visitation for Smith will be held at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home Monday night from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and his funeral will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. Both services are open to the public.

- Kathy

Hello !

December 29, 2009 @ 12:13 PM CST

Hi Everyone,
I can't apologize enough to you for being absent so long. I have been a regular on facebook, and totally neglected my site. UNINTENTIONALLY, but never the less..

I have no excuse for not being here; I will say I have a tendency to distract myself when too much is going on in my head. FB is a fast, easy way of keeping in touch..seeing what's going on with friends and family and signing off.
My time management is very poor and I'm sorry.

I'm always interested in how all of you are doing and what's going on in your lives

I'm not sure if all of you know or not, but Kat and Donny's daughter, son-in-law and their friend Jamie were hurt badly in a car accident the day after Christmas.
The following is posted on Kat's Facebook notes. (posted Sunday at 5:40 A.M.)
____________________________________________________________

"I came home for a few hours sleep due to that Celia is in ICU and they wanted her total rest.
Celia: Break right ankle 3 places,Bruise lung,break in jaw 2 places, swollen throat so she has been on artifiaial resporator since she came in and has been sedated bcause she keeps trying to pull out tubes and IV's.She has a small frature in her hip that says will heal on her own but will not be able to walk for 3 plus months.I can't wait to see my baby with her eyes open and awake.(They also pulled a wisdom tooth)

Gary: Broke Jaw and cheekbone under right eye.Celia and Gary both have thier jaws wired shut.
Gary was able to talk with us but not open his eyes much. He kept telling me to tell Celia he loves her.I could not tell him how bad she was :(

Jamie: He has a broken collar punctured lung and possible broke knee.(he was still in sugery after we left) Jamie was able to talk with us and he feels bad about falling asleep at the wheel."
______________________________________________________________

Please send good thoughts, light, prayers, positive energy to the families of these three
"kids". They will have a long recovery for the injuries they've suffered.

Jimmy and I are working on several projects and have been for a while now. I'll update you later on our plans, but one thing I can tell you is he has a new CD coming out this next year.



We'll share our other plans with you at a later date.

I hope you all had a nice holiday, and I pray that Winter is good to you. Some of you are dealing with extreme weather, so please stay safe. We had a nice, quiet Christmas and look forward to an adventurous, happy New Year!

(I have a couple of new thread ideas for the forum I'll start today that will be fun and interesting. I have an appointment this morning, so I'll be back when I return this afternoon.)

In the meantime, please know I appreciate you more than words can say, and not a day goes by that I don't treasure you all.

Much love,

- Kathy

Happy Halloween!

October 29, 2009 @ 9:33 AM CDT

- Kathy

Heading for Starkville MS!

September 28, 2009 @ 8:38 PM CDT

Hi Everyone,
Well, it was a little shaky there for a few days on whether we could make the Starkville Flower Pickin' Festival this year, but we worked it out!
SOOO... STARKVILLE, MS. HERE WE COME!

( for more information, check out the web site : www.pardonjohnnycash.com )
Be sure to check out all the links on the site. Here's the line up of the performers!
http://pardonjohnnycash.com/?page_id=135
It will be great, so anyone that can make it should try to come.

Artist booths line the street, lots of great country food, several activities if you choose to participate ( including events for children ) , a fabulous family oriented festival.

The University is also very close, so many college people also attend. Starkville is a bit like stepping back in time. It's such a friendly small town feel, and we look forward to it every year.

This is the third annual festival and I'm happy to say we don't have to cancel. We usually hit MS. on Friday afternoon or evening and head home on Sunday morning.

Unfortunately, this year we'll be rolling in on Saturday and leaving Saturday evening after the show. We can sleep on the bus, so we'll stay as long as possible to visit with
everyone.

Kat had a great suggestion today! All the people from kathycash.com that come should have a group photo made! We'll take tons of photos for those of you that won't be able to make it this year.

We're excited about seeing all of you again this year, and those of you that are making this your first trip. I guarantee you a great time. You'll find out that this will be one yearly trip you will want to budget for!

Much love to all of you. Have a nice peace filled week.

love, Kathy

- Kathy

In loving memory

September 13, 2009 @ 6:59 PM CDT

I miss you Mom and Dad.

J.R. Cash
2.26.32 - 9.12.03

Vivian Liberto Cash Distin
4.23.34 - 5.24.05

- Kathy

Happy Thursday!

July 30, 2009 @ 10:42 AM CDT

Hi Dear Ones,
I've been absent WAY TOO LONG, and missed you all!

We took a much needed vacation for 10 days to Maine, and discovered paradise here on our planet. We needed a good rest, but never imagined it would be the ultimate vacation of a lifetime! ( I'll post photos on the photo link )
In all our travels, and all the places we have ever been, we found an absolute favorite getaway.

Now it's time to get to work and focus on real life after a long period of trying to find balance.
I have many projects I'm working on, so I will be around, but this Fall and Winter I will be working on some things I've put off way too long. (I'll let you in on it a little later.)

One fun thing I need to let you know about is the Starkville "Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival" in Starkville Mississippi in October. You should plan on being there if possible.

Check out the site for details.
http://www.pardonjohnnycash.com/
They have a music festival that has always included great Johnny Cash tribute bands, and
"big name acts" that end the evening right in the middle of Main Street. Booths line the street that vary from incredible artists, Johnny Cash merchandise, amazing food, and much more. We've been each year since it started and always have a great time.

Yesterday was my sister Cindy's birthday. I'm a day late posting it, but I would like for her to know publicly that we are all thinking of her and wishing her the best. My love goes out to my little sister. Losing her sweet husband Eddie last month has been extremely painful as you can imagine. He was not only her mate, but her best friend and an amazing man. Please send her your prayers and/or white light.

Check soon for a new photo album to be posted of our vacation and other various shots.

I've missed you and send you all my love~

- Kathy

Friday -- June 26, 2009

June 26, 2009 @ 9:50 AM CDT

I have had so much going on, I haven't been around much lately. For that, I apologize AGAIN.

I go through spurts of being here obsessively, to barely peeking in. I don't know why I do that, but I always have been one for bouncing back and forth between non-stop posting to just reading and finding comfort that you are here.

( I wrote a very long tribute on Father's Day to dad, husband and all other daddy's out there, but when I tried to include a photo of Dad, I lost the entire thing! I was very frustrated and closed the computer. )

Yesterday forced me to take a look at our human mortality and spirituality again.

It was sad to hear of Farrah Fawcett's passing, and later I sat here in shock as I watched CNN update Michael Jackson's status.

Both deaths affected me personally. I had never met either one of them, but they both meant something to me. Farrah was a star when I was a teenager. I wasn't a fan of the show as much as I was in awe of her. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen on television. Over the years, she caught my attention with a couple of films that meant something. One focused on domestic abuse. I had become an advocate for abused women and children, so that film was important and really made an impression on me.

I watched her recent special on television that revealed the extent of her grueling 3 year struggle with cancer. I cried throughout the entire show.

It was painful to watch, yet important to me because of all the loved ones I had lost from this horrible disease. Her courage and determination was a sight to behold. I had a new respect and love for her after viewing that show, as I cried for her yesterday. I was relieved for her that she was out of pain forever.

I grieve for her son and family. She seemed like a very loving and kind person, but the physical pain she was in was too much for any human to have to endure.

Michael Jackson .... What is there to say? I won't even attempt to discuss his career because I couldn't possibly do it justice.

His personal problems were more than most human beings could possibly bear. Watching him through the trial, the accusations, and all his other legal battles made my heart hurt.

It wasn't my job to judge him so I didn't.

I hurt for him as I watched his frail appearance get more alarming over the years.
I was concerned about the damage his body was enduring. The tabloids tore him to pieces and made fun of him so much that I wondered how he could avoid being deeply hurt and affected by all the hate and venom.

Dad always refused to acknowledge their existence, but it never failed that some "well meaning person" would bring the nastiest section to his attention. Even though he blew it off and said he didn't care, I knew his feelings were hurt at the thought of someone he trusted in his inner circle had sold information.

Being the daughter of a celebrity gave me a first hand look at how those papers can affect the family and friends of those in the spotlight. It also is a sad and painful slap in the face when "friends" or disconnected relatives sell stories for a quick buck. That is how it works. The information they are given is taken and twisted around, added to, and embellished resulting in a much more "interesting story."

The most heartbreaking part of all of that is never REALLY being sure of who your friends are. Michael Jackson was sold out by "friends" more than any other performer I can think of, except for possibly Elvis.

I grieve for HIS family and friends, but mainly for his children. How do you go from living in Michaels's world to living in a new one when you're as young as they are?

Losing my brother-in-law just a couple of weeks ago suddenly to losing two American Icons yesterday makes me revisit the fact that this is a journey. A very short one.

My brother-in law, Eddie was my age. Farrah was 12 years older, and Michael was 3 years younger. This is a BIG reminder for me to make the most of life, touch as many lives in a positive way as I can and to use time here valuably.

Michael Jackson TO ME was a peaceful warrior. He was soft spoken and did a lot of good for many people and many organizations around the world. I choose to honor him by remembering the good he did. He wrote "We Are The World" which was recorded by numerous celebrities and greatly impacted a global fight against world hunger several years ago.

He was eccentric. So what? Eccentricity is interesting and entertaining. Dad and June were eccentric and it made life fun. They all attracted a huge following and fan base and even though it was tainted by controversy, I know from experience not to believe all you read.

Dad always said, "Choose LOVE, not hate".
Those four words sum it up. Today I wish you love.

God bless those that have gone before us and God bless you today.
Much love,

- Kathy

Eddie Panetta

June 10, 2009 @ 9:28 AM CDT

View/Sign Guest Book
Edward "Eddie" Panetta
1956 - 2009

Edward (Eddie) Panetta left this world in an instant, without suffering and with no regrets, on June 5th, 2009, doing something he loved deeply: riding his motorcycle in the beautiful countryside around Lake Casitas.

He was a kind, compassionate, happy man and an extraordinarily devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, friend and true gentleman. He had tremendous personal integrity. He always thought the best of people, and he was always smiling.

He loved easily and with all his heart. He leaves an enormous hole at the center of many lives: his wife Cindy Cash, who called him my rock and my angel, his son, Adam Panetta, his twin daughters, Sara and Jessica Panetta, his stepdaughter Jessica and her husband Christopher Hess, his grandson Julian Hess, his brothers Tim Panetta and Joseph (Hap) Panetta, a niece, Linsey Panetta, a nephew, Stephen Panetta, a grieving mother, Sara Anne Panetta, and a large circle of extended family and friends.

Eddie was a resident of Ventura County for only three years, but was the son-in-law of longtime Ventura resident Vivian Distin. Eddie was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on January 29, 1956, and lived in Houston, Miami, Panama and Jackson, Mississippi, where he spent much of his youth. He was the youngest boy ever named an Eagle Scout, at the age of 12. He went to college in Miami to study photography, but became a building contractor who was talented, greatly respected and much in demand. He retired upon moving to Ventura County in 2006.

He is preceded in death by his father, Horace Yarborough, his stepfather, Joseph Panetta, his father-in-law, Johnny Cash, and his mother-in-law, Vivian Distin. "He did but dream of heaven, and he was there".

We will always miss you, Eddie. We will honor you by loving each other, as you loved us. Services will be held Friday June 12, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at Bible Fellowship Church on the corner of Ralston and Johnson Dr. in Ventura, CA 93003. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to St. Judes Children Hospital or The Sierra Club. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Charles Carroll Funeral Home Ventura, CA 93003. Phone # 805-642-8134.

- Kathy

In loving memory

June 09, 2009 @ 11:29 AM CDT

In Loving Memory of Edward ( Eddie ) Panetta.
1956-2009
__________________________________________

Eddie was such a unique man. I NEVER saw him without a smile on his face, I never heard a complaint or an unkind word from his lips.

He was patient, loving, kind and understanding. He was completely devoted to family and LOVED being a daddy.
Eddie and Cindy had been married just a few short years, but every time i was around them, I felt I was in the company of newlyweds.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, Eddie immediately loaded his truck with food, water, ice, provisions, supplies and his tool box. He was determined to take as much as he could, staying as long as necessary to help as many people he could.

Cindy was very concerned and insisted that he take a friend with him to help in case of any emergency that may come up. Somehow he managed to get a caravan of volunteers together in one day and left to stay as long as necessary.

While many people were struggling to get out of harms way, Eddie struggled to get in to help.

Cindy finally met the love of her life. They were best friends, partners, and a perfect couple.
Our entire family fell in love with him immediately.

Eddie was the voice of reason, a comforting presence and a gentle soul. He was a Southern gentleman, an incredible daddy and the perfect partner for my sister. He always had a smile, a hug and a kind word. He loved my sister with all his heart, as she did him.
He was equally devoted to his mother, brothers and children.

We are all better people for having him in our lives.

Rest in peace my brother. Knowing you made a huge difference in every life you touched.

I love you~

- Kathy

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Vital Info.

• 53 years old
• wife of 27 years
• mother of three
• grandmother of two
• sister to six
• 1 dog
• myspace
• domestic diva
• interior decorator
• artist

Random Quote

"As sure as night is dark and day is light, I keep you on my mind both day and night. And happiness I've known proves that it's right; because you're mine, I walk the line."
-Johnny Cash