That's my Mama! Daughter takes mom to Belle reunion

Mona Osborn with current Apache Belles

(Editor's note: Longtime Troup resident Mona Raye Osborn attended Saturday's 60th anniversary reunion of TJC Apache Belles. The following account of that day was written by her daughter, Gigi Selman.)

Well, I took Mert on a little adventure this weekend. The TJC Apache Belles were celebrating their 60th year and having all kinds of activities. We always knew Mert had been an Apache Belle, but I didn't realize that she was in the very first group of Apache Belles in 1947! When I found this out, I insisted that she, at least, go and get into the group picture for the 60- year celebration.

She finally said that she would go for the picture -- no eating, no nothing else and no "Walking the Rim" before the ballgame. For those of you who don't know or remember, before the game the band and Belles all walk (very slowly) around the top of the stadium to a slow drumbeat. Very impressive when you see it.

I took Mert and managed to get us parked and unloaded. We didn't eat, but she visited with those she knew. IT WAS HOT!

An original Apache Belle, Mona Raye Shaw Osborn.

When it got to be "picture time," we were told to walk down this mega hill, behind the fieldhouse and up, up, up this other huge hill to the OTHER SIDE of the stadium to the very top, in section F.

Oh my God, I thought she was going to stroke.

So here we go, with her holding on to my arm. When we were at the fieldhouse, I saw a green gator and I told her if I had a key, I'd load her up and carry her up that hill. Like a miracle, a man walked around us, got into the gator and told us to "load up."

I put Mama in the front and I got in the back like a dog. He took us all the way up and to the steps of section F. Mama gave him some money, he argued, I told him not to bother fighting with her and to let her have her way. It's just easier, and you can't win ... ever.

Now it's even HOTTER!! I take her to her "'40s" row and place her on the end seat. I take lots of pictures.

The current Belles are right above her. I holler at them to get around my mama, so I can get a picture. They do. It's great.

Mona Osborn (second from right) "walks the rim" with other former Apache Belles.

Finally, after the group picture is taken and I have completely melted from the heat, they start lining up to "Walk the Rim."

I ask Mert if she might want to go ahead and try it, since she's already here and all (what was I thinking????) In my stupidity, I talk her into it. The other ladies her age are there and say they'll hold on to her and get her around the rim.

Thinking it will only be a short wait, I walk the rim to the other side to wait for her when she comes off. It's a very long walk, especially for a 77-year-old person.

What have I done? She's going to kill me.

We wait, and wait, and wait ... 45 minutes (or longer) later, I finally hear the drums. Oh boy. Here we go. I stupidly think, of course, they'll let these poor older ladies get on out and done with it, but NOOOO.

Here comes the band, the flags, the whatevers, and I mean to a slow, dirge drum beat. Another 15 minutes.

A book lover browses the Whitehouse Community Library's recent Great Big Book Sale. The event was such a success that the library is planning another sale in six months, tentatively set for April 3-5. Library director Sandra Knackstedt said the preview night was also popular.

I'm standing on the other side warning everyone around that when my mother makes it across and to me, she will kill me, cuss me and who knows what, so be ready.

I was scared to death. I couldn't get to her to save her, stop her or get her out of "Walking the Rim." I thought, she's going to die, right there walking the rim, and it's going to be my fault. She can't stand for long and can't walk very well, and I have thrown her into an event of standing and walking for the last hour.

I'm praying out loud now. FINALLY, here they come (all dressed in black, hot hot, hot) and they are all holding hands.

I got a lump in my throat. I was so PROUD of Mona Raye Shaw Osborn, our own Mert. She and the others looked so great leading the rest of the Apache Belles from 60 years behind them!

Yeah, I got a little choked up. My Mama "Walked the Rim" and made it over just fine.

Earlier, I had told a security man on a motor cart to be ready to go out and get my mama if she fell down or fell out on the rim. He said he wasn't allowed to get on the rim.

I said, okay, just have your radio ready to call 911. Not for Mert, if she made it, but for me, when she beat me up and/or killed me.

I took her arm and starting leading her off the rim and towards the way out. Sitting just past this point was the security man in his cart. He told me to put Mert in the cart and for me to hop on the back.

He took us down the monster hill and out to our car in the parking lot. It was only the fact that I had gotten her all these special treatment rides that saved my life.

I also bought her a great 1947 Apache Belle T-shirt and a 60th anniversary wine glass. It was the least I could do.

I worried all night that she might still have a coronary or never be able to walk again, but all the time I worried I kept smiling, thinking of how cute she was and how glad I was that she had managed to (in her words) "walk that @#!* rim."

What a great day, and adventure. She called me next morning (still alive, thank God) and said thanks for the fun and adventure. It was good for her.

If I keep saying that, maybe I won't feel so guilty about putting her through the ordeal.

Isn't she beautiful? That's my Mama!!!