Happy 75th Birthday to Our Favorite Senior Citizen!

Okay, y'all—this day was bound to happen, so don't act so surprised. Let's just get on down to the nitty-gritty.

They don’t come any sweeter than Vivian Jewel Jones, Baby!

This sweet, little silver-haired lady is the next door neighbor of Bret and Susan Douglas. Often known as Auntie Jewel or Ms. Viv, she is the typical, traditional Southern grandmother, greeting everyone she meets with “Hey, Baby—how you doin’?”

A native of the Mississippi Delta (Ruleville, Mississippi, to be exact), Ms. Vivian is the mother of five children, and a doting grandmother of seven. She is also recognized in her community as a good neighbor and a true friend. An avid churchgoer, one can find Ms. Vivian on the second row of the Mother’s Board at First Baptist Church every Sunday, and you can catch her at Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. “Oh, I reads my Word, Baby!” she says with a warm smile.

Ms. Vivian also strongly believes in reciprocity; she is always willing to help others as best as she can on account of she once needed help herself, especially when her husband Clark passed away in 1996. It has been over ten years since her husband's passing, and even though Ms. Vivian still misses him—and rightfully so—she still puts on a smile and lends an encouraging word to a listening ear. Such was the case when Bret was hospitalized, and Susie was visibly upset; Ms. Vivian encouraged Susie to see about Bret, despite the apprehension.

Ms. Vivian is very close to the Douglas Family—so close, in fact, that she automatically became a part of their family; she even suggested that Howard, Sarah, and Nicole call her "Aunt Tea." She is also known throughout the neighborhood as the woman who makes "the best damn strawberry seven-up cake in the world."

Ms. Vivian is also a very strong-willed (and sometimes stubborn) woman. She has been known to stand up to individuals that are much taller than her; all she has to do is stare them down, and they seemingly run off in terror. Ms. Vivian explains that when these certain individuals run away, they just notice her heavenly army that is constantly around her.

If she is not at a church meeting or visiting the Douglases, Ms. Vivian will be seen taking care of the elderly and the sick, watering the front yard, or taking an adventurous trip around Southern California with her eldest grandchild Candace.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The day Obama became the 44th U.S. President

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
During a church meeting, I bumped my knee across the edge of a pew, and… you figure out what I said.

FAVORITE ACTOR: Sidney Poitier

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Diahann Carroll

FAVORITE SINGER: Tina Turner

FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Jeffersons

FAVORITE MOVIE: Remember the Titans

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Michael Jordan

FAVORITE CARTOON: Charlie Brown

FAVORITE COLOR: Blue

FAVORITE FOOD: Club Sandwich with everything

FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Rocky Road

SECRET TALENT: I know sign language

IN MY FREE TIME I LIKE TO:

Enjoy my family and friends

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve probably opened a bakery.

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My grandmother and my mother

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
Keep on praying, trusting, and believing.

SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Emeril Lagasse (that chef on TV that yells "BAM!!"), Eric Benet (singer), Linda Lavin (from Alice) and Penny Marshall (from Laverne & Shirley)

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Keep on livin’ and spreading love until it’s time to go home.

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Humble, Modest, Joyful

MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Mother Thelma Davis

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada… someday soon.

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
Clark would still be here with me.

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
I’m not your average senior citizen. As much as I love going to church and listening to my gospel songs, every once in a while I’ll play that ol’ skool Motown and kick it with the youngins… and I even listen to a little rap.

Nattie By Nature

Hey, Y’all!

Despite the busy day I had at my first book festival, I was able to create a blog in celebration of another birthday: Natalie Violet Marcellia.

Natalie Violet Marcellia is the youngest child and only daughter of Jack and Mary Ann Marcellia. She has one older brother, Jonathan Stephen, who currently resides in Atlanta, GA. When Natalie was born on October 2, 1984, her mom and dad were debating on her middle name. At that point, they overheard the doctor saying that Natalie “looks like a little violet.” Thus, she was christened Natalie Violet.

Natalie is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, but when she graduated from high school in 2002, her family moved to Torrance, California—just thirty minutes away from Bret and Susie Douglas. A shy sweetheart of a gal, Natalie had trouble making new friends, so she often gravitated toward her childhood friends Howard, Sarah, and Nicole. Natalie always had a crush on Howard, despite the latter's oblivious attitude. Here it is, some 20 years later, and Natalie still has feelings for Howard. When asked why she likes Howard so much, Natalie simply says: "Well, he's a good guy, and he's always been nice to me... even when he was 'mean' to me."

Natalie like to consider herself a "simple little Southern gal, born and bred in North Cacka-Lacky.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
My first Mariah Carey concert

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
When I was in college, I tried to impress this guy and told him that I could roller skate… and guess what happened!

FAVORITE ACTOR: Matt LeBlanc

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Jennie Garth

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Perfect Strangers

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Game Plan

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Reggie White

FAVORITE CARTOON: Goof Troop

FAVORITE COLOR:
Purple (in conjunction with my middle name… LOL!)

FAVORITE FOOD:
Sloppy Joes

FAVORITE ICE CREAM:
Apricot Mango Sherbet

SECRET TALENT:
I am pretty fluent in Spanish

IN MY FREE TIME, I LIKE TO:
Hang out with Lizzie, Leili, and Candi

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve asked Howard to be my prom date.

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My mom, Grandma Margaret, and Auntie Susie

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
Stay true to who you are, and just be yourself.

SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Sting (the singer, not the wrestler)

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Have my own talk show; call it Nattie V

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Shy, Soft, and Sentimental

MY BEST FRIENDS (ACE-BOOM-KOOMS)
Sarah Elizabeth, Melissa Leilani, and Candace Cassandra

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
The Beach, The Mall, The Movies, The Park, and Ms. Viv’s

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
I would travel back in time, just to see my mom and dad, and my Uncle Bret & Auntie Susie in their college days.

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
It is often said that I am ridiculously modest and shy, but I can be a firecracker at times… I’m just sayin’, is all.

Happy Birthday, Miss Mary Ann

Okay, so yesterday, we celebrated Jack Marcellia's 57th birthday. How ironic is this--today is his wife's birthday. Let's get to know more about Mary Ann Hughes-Marcellia.

Mary Ann Hughes-Marcellia was born on September 30, 1957 in Spartanburg, South Carolina to William and Linda Hughes. She was often teased in school because she was born an only child, but Mary Ann worked for everything that she has been blessed with thus far, from school to now.

Mary Ann attended South Carolina University, where she joined Zeta Delta Gamma Sorority, Inc., and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, with a minor in Business Administration. Mary Ann feels that attending South Carolina University was providentially planned, as it was in her freshman year that she met and befriended one Bret George Douglas. On the day of registration, Mary Ann and Bret became best friends, to the point where Bret adopted her as his baby sister. Mary Ann’s parents lived right next door to Bret’s grandparents. Mary Ann also recognized that one Susan Ariel Gosinheimer had a crush on Bret; to learn more about this particular event, read Chapter Five of Simply Bret.

Mary Ann also found her true love in one Jack Edward Marcellia, and the two were wed in 1978. Within this union, Mary Ann gave birth to one son, Jonathan Stephen, and one daughter, Natalie Violet.

When one meets Mary Ann, the first noticeable trait is her lovely Southern accent, which is somewhat reminiscent of the late Rue McClanahan.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
When Jack and I became the appointed godparents to Howie, Lizzie, and Nikki.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
On my first date with Jack, I was so nervous that I started hyperventilating like crazy.

FAVORITE ACTOR: John Travolta

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Jennifer Aniston

FAVORITE SINGER: Patti LaBelle

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Friends

FAVORITE MOVIE: Dennis the Menace

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Larry Byrd

FAVORITE CARTOON: Tom & Jerry

FAVORITE COLOR: Silver

FAVORITE FOOD: Philly Cheesesteak

FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Vanilla

SECRET TALENT:
I still remember my ballet classes.

IN MY FREE TIME, I LIKE TO:
Play the piano

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve been born in North Cackalacka

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My mom and dad

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
My dad would tell me all the time: “Always dance with what ‘brung’ you.”

SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Marilyn McCoo, Fran Drescher, Crystal Bernard, and Former WWE Diva Candice Michelle

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
See my children succeed in whatever they do.

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Southern, Simple, Sensitive

MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Susie Douglas

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Miami, Florida

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
I would be a supermodel just for a day.

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
My husband's birthday is September 29, and my birthday is September 30. How amazing is that?

Good Ol' Jack, Charlotte's Other Favorite Son

In today’s blog, I would like to acknowledge the birthday of one Jack Edward Marcellia. Let’s take a look at his profile.

Jack Edward Marcellia was born on September 29, 1954 in Charlotte, North Carolina to Henry and Margaret Marcellia. Born an only child, Jack was a “loud, lovable soul” since birth. Despite his very ebullient disposition, Jack did experience some heartbreak at the age of 12, when his father passed away. Jack took the role as “man of the house” to help his mother in any and every way possible, be it housecleaning or tending to the garden.

After high school, Jack attended and graduated from South Carolina University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Jack was also great in sports, as was evident by his love for baseball and football; his true love, however, was wrestling, and this was proven everytime someone mentioned the name Ric Flair.

It was also at South Carolina University that, prior to graduation, Jack found his college sweetheart, Mary Ann Hughes, who later turned out to be the love of his life in an ironic twist of fate. The story goes that Jack and Mary Ann were both best friends with one Bret Douglas, and one fateful afternoon, while Bret and Mary Ann were celebration the completion of their freshman year, Jack locked eyes with Mary Ann and winked at her. Bret knew that both of these “crazy kids” were crazy about each other, so he merely suggested that they at least go out on one date; Bret also promised to support both Jack and Mary Ann, no matter the outcome. Well, Jack and Mary Ann did go out, and the rest, as they say, is history. Jack and Mary Ann ultimately got married in 1978, and raised two children, Jonathan Stephen and Natalie Violet.

After spending most of their lives in Charlotte, Jack decided that he and his wife and children needed a better life, so the Marcellias headed west to Southern California in 2002. They now reside in Torrance, California.

Aside from being a great family man, Jack is blessed to be Bret’s best friend for well over 30 years. It’s also important to point out that within said 30 years, Jack has referred to Bret as “Bret my boy,” of which the latter refers to Jack as “Good Ol’ Jack.”

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
When Bret and I went to professional wrestling school for all of one day.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
When Nattie was a little girl, I would play “Tea Party” her, and I would always get stuck in those little tea party chairs.

FAVORITE ACTOR: Cedric the Entertainer

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Sharon Stone

FAVORITE SINGER: Phil Collins

FAVORITE TV SHOW: King of Queens

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Original Kings of Comedy

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

FAVORITE CARTOON: The Jetsons

FAVORITE COLOR: Blue

FAVORITE FOOD: Steak and Baked Potato

FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Chocolate Chip

SECRET TALENT:
My kids taught me a little hip-hop… “What up, Money?”

IN MY FREE TIME, I LIKE TO:
Read a book or do a crossword puzzle

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve finished that professional wrestling school, and I would be the one holding the World Heavyweight Championship.

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
My parents, Henry & Margaret Marcellia

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
Whatever you do, make sure you do your absolute best.

SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Madeline Khan and Bryant Gumbel

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Retire at age 60... Maybe even 59.

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Humorous, Strong-Willed, Young-At-Heart

MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM)
Bret George Douglas (a.k.a. “Bret my boy”)

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
North Cackalacky, as always.

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
I would be rich and retired… right now.

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
I can find humor in almost any situation.

Candi-Girl, You Rock My World!

Hello again!

I would like to wish a happy birthday to a very special gal: Candace Cassandra Jones. She celebrated her 23rd birthday on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

If you would like to know more about Candace, then check out her bio:

Candace Cassandra Jones is the only child of Anthony and Stephanie Jones, and the eldest grandchild of Vivian Jewel Jones. Often known as “Candi-Girl,” she was born in Culver City, California, on September 18, 1987.

Candace is the first grandchild of her generation to graduate from college. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English, but her dream is to become a dancer and a choreographer like Debbie Allen. Candace is also best friends with Sarah Douglas, Natalie Marcellia, and Melissa Roberts.

When she's not hanging out with her friends, Candace is spending time with her grandmother, whom we all affectionately know as Ms. Vivian. Ever since she was a child, though, Candace has always referred to her grandmother as "Gramma Jewel."

Candace’s motto is: “Make sure you always carry an extra smile for the rest of the day.”

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
When I officially became a member of Howie’s Angels—it’s four of us now!

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
I’d much rather keep that to myself.

FAVORITE ACTOR: LaVan Davis

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Cassi Davis

FAVORITE SINGER(S): Donell Jones

FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Tyler Perry’s House of Payne

FAVORITE MOVIE:
Meet the Browns

FAVORITE ATHLETE:
Vince Carter

FAVORITE CARTOON:
Tiny Toon Adventures

FAVORITE COLOR: Red

FAVORITE FOOD:
My Gramma Jewel’s Pork Chops

FAVORITE ICE CREAM:
Chocolate Chip

SECRET TALENT:
I can kinda sorta dance.

IN MY FREE TIME, I LIKE TO:
Hang out with my Gramma Jewel and my friends

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would’ve probably gone to Rust College.

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
Gramma Jewel and Grandpa Clark

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
To quote my Gramma Jewel: “No matter what life throws at you, just keep on in spite of.”

CELEBRITIES WHO SHARE MY BIRTHDAY:
Fred Willard, Xzibit, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Ricky Bell from New Edition, and Holly Robinson Peete

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Have my own dance studio

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Hottie, Cutie, Sweetie

MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Lizzie, Nattie, and Leili

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Gramma Jewel’s, Baby—where else?

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
I just want $35,000 dollars—that’s all!

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
I am the first grandchild of my generation to graduate from college. I’m also helping my Gramma Jewel write her very first book.

An Open Letter to Clark Kenneth Jones

First of all, let me express my most sincere love and appreciation to those of you who have already purchase a copy (or three) of Simply Bret. Thus far, I have sold 144 copies, and I am still climbing—thanks be to God.

Today’s blog is a little different, as it is simply a letter that Ms. Vivian wrote ten years after her husband Clark passed away, and here it is:


Dear Clark:

Well, my love, here it is—ten years to the day that you went home to Glory. I guess that I don’t need to tell you how much I still miss you down here. Let me first of all thank you for taking good care of me in the 34 years that we were married. I didn’t have to want or need for anything, because I prayed for a good man who could TCB… and Darlin’, my prayers were sho’ answered; you went above and beyond the call of duty. I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, that I’m still gonna get you for leavin’ me down here with the rest of these hellions (ha-ha-ha)!

Even though I’ve managed this long without you, Darlin’, I still have flashbacks. Every so often, I’ll call your name, or I’ll run upstairs to get you. Hell, I’ll even call up at the school sometimes. Old habits die hard, you know, but yet and still, I know that you are okay… and at the same time, I still miss you like crazy, Darlin’. I sho’ can’t wait ‘til my name gets called when it’s my time, but in the meantime in between time, I’m gonna keep on livin’. Oh, yeah—while it’s on my mind, Bret and Susie have been taken such good care of me over the years, and so has Ted the mailman… God bless their hearts.

Well, my love, I have nothing else to write about, but then again, you know everything that goes on down here on account of your special heavenly room with a view. I’ll be talkin’ to you again in my heart, but just in case, you still better be good while you’re up there… ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Love You Much,
Viv



Side Note: Ms. Viv wrote this letter on August 31, 2006.

Bret & Susie: 30 Years in the Making

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, here are the photos from Bret and Susie's 30th wedding anniversary celebration, which took place Saturday, July 17, 2010 in Hermosa Beach, California.

The lovely couple give a toast to 30 more years. Don't worry, y'all-- they were drinking apple cider... LOL!

These are the results of 30 years-- three beautiful children (L-R): Nikki, Sarah, Bret, Susie, Howard

Bret and Susie pose with their parents, Roger & Sylvia Douglas (left) and Ralph & Charlotte Gosinheimer (right)

Bret and Susie's lovable neighbor, Ms. Vivian-- y'all know she gotta get a picture with the cute couple, Baby!


This is the kiss that has proven within 30 years that they still got it.