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Friday, May 24, 2013
Co-grandparent loss (05/24/13)
For more than 40 years Jean Bedwell had been a friend. She was not just a friend; she shared with Lester and me two wonderful grandsons and six special grandchildren because her daughter, Jenny, married our son, Michael. This marriage brought the two families together for many occasions. Birthdays and holidays were not complete unless there were Bedwells mixing with the Thorntons. Sometimes we would almost forget which was which, but Jean and I shared some thoughtful times together also...
The cleaning lady (05/17/13)
Today I am experiencing something new for me; I am having a cleaning lady come to clean my house before company arrives this afternoon. Except for some voluntary help from daughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughter-in-law I have done all my own housework since we returned to Vernon County in 1989. But with my middle age plus years adding a few more pluses lately and with trips for Lester's treatments, etc., things had gotten out of hand here at home...
People we honor (05/10/13)
Every year when Mother's Day rolls around I think of some way to vary the celebration. When my own mother was alive I am sure we made an effort to come visit her, or go visit Lester's mother in Branson. However I can't remember any special way we observed the day. Actually it probably meant that they had to cook a big meal because of us coming to visit...
'Where everybody knows your name' (05/03/13)
I remember the theme song from "Cheers" on television fondly. I used it as the basis for a talk I gave once explaining that we all respond better if the person talking to us, or teaching us, called us by name. This morning when I called "Time and Temperature" to see if we were going to be warm or cold today I was asked if I didn't like to go where people knew my name. ...
What do you say? (04/26/13)
When you were young and were given a gift, often one of your parents would immediately ask, "What do you say?" of course your response was to thank the person for the gift that was received. I think I am grown up enough now that I don't need this type of prodding for me to express thanks. But sometimes it is hard to really express thanks properly...
Tracing my thoughts (04/19/13)
Last night I was lying awake in bed and for some reason was thinking about an unusual experience in my childhood. My memories were reliving a time when my mother's club (The Ellis Domestic Science Club) was having a picnic over at the El Dorado Springs Park. ...
Obeying signs (04/12/13)
One of the first things educators teach their students is to read signs. It can be a matter of life or death. If a child does not know that S T O P means to stop they may be seriously injured or even killed. When going to a foreign country one of the things travelers must know is how to read the signs that tell them where to go, and that keeps them safe. ...
Let's celebrate (04/05/13)
During this season we can experience many reasons to celebrate. First in our mind is Easter, which can bring much joy. Some sports enthusiasts can celebrate their team winning a special game, or even the championship. Soon some students will be experiencing graduation from some phase of their schooling. ...
Send me a wire (03/22/13)
We have had several trips to Kansas City lately for medical treatments. The night before we go I always try to remember to get my cell phone charged so that I can keep in touch with the folks at home while we are gone. Usually we call someone soon after our appointments to report on any new information. We also tell when we plan to return home and even talk about any dining opportunities we will take advantage of either before or after we return home...
My legacy of Ts (03/08/13)
I have spent quite a few hours this week looking at things that should be done, but aren't getting done. A stomach bug had us down for most of the week, first one, then another of us became ill, so not much work got done. It's surprising how much difference that little things like putting things away where they belong, or actually hitting the wastebasket with the trash, can make in a few days. ...
The sandwich generation changes (02/22/13)
When I was growing up I had never heard of such a thing as the sandwich generation. I knew that some of our neighbors had their older parents living in the home with them. Or maybe they were living in the home of the older parents. At that time I wasn't interested in the finances or responsibility arrangements. I just knew that they lived together...
History retold (02/14/13)
When I was very young I loved the Shirley Temple movies. I think we were about the same age, and each of her movies became real to me. I have purchased several of her tapes and have been pleased to see that my great grandchildren enjoy her movies as much as I did many decades ago...
Sharing my sister's moments (02/05/13)
Those of you who have been blessed with an older sister probably understand some of my experiences. All my life I followed my older sister as she became involved in various activities. When she wanted to build a bookcase for her room, I was drafted as a helper to sand the boards before she applied the varnish. When she decided to create some marionettes, I made one too under her direction. All her life she has been a writer. So naturally I also started a writing schedule of my own...
Fringe benefits from middle age plus (02/01/13)
For nearly 20 years I have been writing a column called Middle Age Plus each week. I chose this name because I was a little beyond the halfway mark of my life (I thought) when I began these weekly visits. But the main thing was I wanted to point out all the pluses that this age brings to those of us fortunate enough to reach it. ...
Dress for the occasion (01/23/13)
I have said at times that one of the benefits of being middle age plus is that you no longer feel strongly about being in style. Our favorite cartoon, "Maxine," states that she thinks the perfect bra is a sweatshirt. Maybe that is going a little too far. But there are certain occasions when it is very important to think carefully about what you should wear...
Memories of a gifted friend (01/18/13)
Many people in Nevada are feeling the loss of a friend following the death of Charles Nash. The Cottey staff and faculty have their special memories and words of appreciation for the professor emeritus of English who had been with the college since 1973. But for many he was more than a popular professor, he was a friend...
Games, game shows and re-runs (01/12/13)
Games are great to play with other people. They help you get to know each other. You have fun. You learn things about each other when you are having fun together and laughing. Some games don't cause laughter. Lester can play a game of chess and not even crack a smile. That is, he won't smile until he can triumphantly say, "Check mate!" But he was still having fun. When I am his opponent I probably am not having as much fun. But it is fun to keep trying to win sometimes...
Resolution for 2013 (01/05/13)
New Year's Resolutions belong to the younger people. Since I am middle age plus I haven't been making that annual promise to myself. I figure that if I have made it to this age without changing my life-style, eating less, etc., or whatever a resolution might ask of me, there is no real reason to fret about it. If I had been only 70 or so, that would be different. There would have been lots of time to be a better person...
Are you eating a good diet? (12/27/12)
When I was growing up a typical meal always had some meat, potatoes or occasionally rice and gravy, two vegetables, salad, bread, butter, jelly, milk to drink except in the summer and then it was iced tea for some meals, and a dessert. This would be varied about once a weak with a meal of beans and cornbread with slaw as a salad, but there would still be a dessert. ...
You can't get there from here (12/20/12)
I have been up and down our new Interstate 49 several times this week. It makes me feel like we are really in the big time now. But I got to worrying about those people and businesses that have their access to the highway traffic hampered. Even before US 71 was changed into I-49 I discovered something I didn't like. ...
Gifts that are remembered (12/13/12)
I am pouring over gift catalogs to choose Christmas gifts for our 13 great-grandchildren. I strive always to have the gifts be somewhat equal in value. But this year I am trying to decide if I could make some of the gifts be for the whole family instead of a gift for each child. It is easier and maybe less expensive, but I worry that it may cause problems at the other end of the giving when the siblings have to share or decide what to play...
Do you hear what I hear? (12/07/12)
When you go shopping during the next few weeks, you will probably hear a little bell tinkling. Attached to that little bell is a volunteer bell ringer for the Salvation Army. These volunteers are your neighbors, your church members, your professional resource people and your helpers. They are your helpers because the money that their bell ringing brings into the little kettles is money that will show that our community is generous and cares for its citizens...
Senior Trip (11/21/12)
When I was a senior in high school in Washington, D.C., I did not have anything like a Senior Trip. The best we got was the permission to eat our lunch outside the building. But my friends here in Vernon County sometimes actually went somewhere together. They had a Senior Trip, maybe even for an overnight stay somewhere. Last week I finally was able to take my Senior Trip...
Was my face red? (11/15/12)
One of the benefits of being Middle Age Plus is that you can laugh at your embarrassing moments instead of getting all upset over them. I'll have to admit this took some doing before I reached this stage, but now, almost as soon as I make a faux pas, I can start thinking about the fun I will have telling about it...
Great-grandson shoots nine point antlered doe on family farm (11/08/12)
Many things can get exciting when your have a large family. Just a couple of weeks after adding to our family with another generation, our teen-aged great grandson went out on the morning after his 14th birthday party to go deer hunting on the family farm. He had a .270 rifle and left the house after an early breakfast to take advantage of the Youth Hunting Weekend provision. At 7:15 a.m. he saw this deer with the wonderful antlers and shot it...
Where is my rocker? (11/01/12)
OK. Now I am a great-great-grandmother. I have passed several decades of age. I can remember when Radio Springs brought many people to Nevada for recreation and relaxation. I can even remember when Farm and Home Savings and Loan had a beautiful lawn/garden at the corner of South Ash and Austin. I have voted for or against presidents in more than 10 elections. So it seems that I should have reached the age where I could just sit and rock for a spell...
The responsibilities of greatness (10/25/12)
The word great has many meanings. In the dictionary one definition is big or large. Another meaning implies more than usual. Other synonyms are: important, remarkable, famous, most important and favorite. And then there is the one meaning that applies to me. That meaning is; divided by a generation...
Waiting (10/18/12)
Almost everyone feels impatient when there is a long waiting period before some action. We all feel frustrated when we are "put on hold" when doing business over the phone. The little messages that come on to tell us how much we are appreciated don't ease our pain. Sometimes the music that is supposed to soothe us does the opposite, but at least it lets us know that we are still connected to some phone somewhere...
Giving thanks to my older relatives (10/11/12)
We have often said that our family make-up has provided good experiences for each family member. For example, I learned much about taking care of babies before I had my own little ones to care for. I had the privilege of having several nieces and nephews who visited their grandparents, (my parents, of course) while I was still a student at home. ...
Outliving our parents (10/04/12)
I have been without one of my hearing aids for about three weeks. If you noticed me having a more confused look than usual it was because of the malfunction of my ears without their helpers. One was still working but somehow that didn't help very much...
Memories come to life (09/27/12)
One of the earliest pictures ever made of me shows me in a baby carriage with a cat beside me. Since that day I have never been without a cat, and sometimes two or three cats, and sometimes cats and dogs both. House pets were common, but even more common were inside/outside pets that could come and go as they wished...
Knowing the facts (09/20/12)
I have spent a big part of my adult years as a social worker. This took several different forms, usually it was connected with the activities of our church or a community agency trying to support charitable activities and bring solutions to both local and global problems. However, during three of those years, I was in active case work...
Joyful moments (09/13/12)
Everyone needs to have some moments to remember that are especially meaningful. I certainly have had my share in recent days. I have been able to experience love and concern in a very tangible way through acts of kindness and support. The best part of it all is that I could feel love through all the events that happened...
Would you swear to that? (09/06/12)
I guess I have led a sheltered life. In over eight decades of living, I don't remember ever being sworn at. Sure, sometimes my name spoken in a certain tone of voice is almost the same as a swear word. I have received dirty looks at times when someone thought I had overstepped some boundary of politeness or diplomacy. And I certainly have been a partner in a serious argument. But I don't remember ever having a definite swear word directed at me, to my face. That is, until last Sunday...
Getting ready for the sale (08/30/12)
I looked at my date book and realized that our church's basement sale is only a week away. Sure, I have known this for over a year, since we regularly have a basement sale early in September for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity. I am very proud of that sale since I have been involved in various ways with Habitat for Humanity even before it became an active program here in Vernon County. ...
I'm having a bad hair year (08/23/12)
I hear many people talking about not wanting to attend a certain function because they are having a "bad hair day." I always had trouble accepting that as a legitimate excuse. One bad hair day is easily fixed with a quick wash or set. But what do you do about a bad hair year?...
Comparing towns (08/16/12)
I was out of town last week when Dr. Mendenhall died and didn't have a chance to read the praises about his civic work here until the weekend. It was very fitting however that in my recent journeys I had been constantly searching for what was the difference between Nevada and many of the other county-seat towns I was passing through...
Is a smidgen bigger than a dab? (08/09/12)
A very important question keeps coming up at our dinner table. When someone asks for a beverage refill often the word smidgen is used. "Please give me just a smidgen more of that lemonade, would you?" Then the questions start. How much is a smidgen?...
Are you on camera? (08/02/12)
We're in the middle of the summer Olympics. Many of us are glued to our television sets. We are interested in certain sports, or we want to support our national teams in unusual sports. I learn a lot about sports by watching and listening to the commentators. But I also get interested in watching the people who are shown on television who are not the athletes or the media people...
All roads lead to home (07/26/12)
My life has had personal contact with several highways. Some of them are almost part of my daily existence. Others are part of my history. But today I am going to visit with you about U.S. 71 and U.S. 54 and a little bit about Highway 43. I have traveled U.S. ...
Here's your hat! (07/19/12)
Last Sunday a gentleman came through the front doors of our church wearing a hat. He looked very spiffy and since it was an extremely hot day and he had a fair complexion, it was a good idea to be wearing a hat. But when he took it off as he was ready to enter the sanctuary, as any well-bred man would do, he looked for a place to put his hat. ...
I was treated like a dog! (07/12/12)
We were out of town this last week attending a special event. We went to my sister's home in Lebanon and met other family members there for a nice meal and an overnight visit before most of us left the next morning to go to a nearby park where the entertainment was to be held. Our nephew was performing in this outdoor venue and we were preparing for a long, hot, but enjoyable, day...
Name tags in heaven? (07/04/12)
We have a new minister at the Nevada United Methodist Church. Lester and I know some of the things she must be feeling since we have been the new people in a church several times when Lester was the new minister on his first day. The Reverend Linda Pagel wore a name tag her first day so that the congregation would know who she was. ...
Power of little things (06/28/12)
Remember when we were little? All of our siblings were bigger than we were. The furniture was made for people larger than us. We even had to crawl up to sit in most of the chairs in the house. Our dream was to get big. Our parents would praise us by saying, "What a big girl you are!" when we had done something well. Being big was very important to us...
What's in your attic? (06/21/12)
Two of my childhood homes had attics. Attics were my favorite place to play. Maybe it isn't too exact to use the word "play" because often I was snooping, dreaming, exploring or creating. Those were some of my favorite pastimes, and I guess you could say that they were my method of playing...
A moment of silence (06/14/12)
At a recent family meal where there were several young adults and older teenaged relatives, I noticed that right before the meal began several of them had their heads bowed and their hands in their laps. I was impressed that they had taken this opportunity to give thanks for the meal even though no one had yet called for anyone to share Grace with the group...
Carnival rides (06/07/12)
Are you going to ride one of the carnival rides at the Bushwhacker Festival this weekend? I seriously doubt that I will, but there are a couple that tempt me. One of my favorites has always been the Ferris wheel, but they are more fun if you have a special person with you...
Travel is educational (05/31/12)
There is an early morning news show that ends with all of the newscasters/commentators telling what they have learned during the morning broadcast. I kept thinking about that as I rode with my son and some of his family to Florida and back to attend a mid-term family reunion at my niece's house, which is near the beach on the eastern side of Florida. ...
Do you have a hankie? (05/24/12)
Many people drive with a box of Kleenex in their car. They want to be prepared for a case of the sniffles. Or maybe they have allergies and need a frequent nose wipe. At our home we have a box of Kleenex sitting by every easy chair, on both sides of the bed, and one in the dining area. Well, maybe they aren't Kleenexes. Sometimes they may be Puffs or even some Best Choice brand. But they are all disposable tissues...
Decisions, decisions! (06/10/10)
Do you ever think that we have too many choices today? Tonight I had a new book I wanted to read. But I was also tired from doing some deep housecleaning that I am not used to doing. I decided that it would be more relaxing to just get in the lounge chair and watch TV. I wouldn't have to think about much of anything, and could maybe even doze off a little...
It's a good life (06/03/10)
Several years ago I named this column "Middle Age Plus" to emphasize all the good things (the pluses) about getting older. This week has demonstrated that fact to me so many ways that I am afraid I might forget some of them. Last Saturday, I had the fun of accompanying my sister, Ellen Gray Massey, to the Bates County Historical Society, where she was giving a talk about two of her civil war novels. ...
Is a memorial highway for you? (05/27/10)
I've been on the road quite a bit recently. Every time I pass a sign saying that this road is in memory of a certain person I start wondering how this happens. Today, in honor of Memorial Day, I decided to investigate. I called MoDot (Missouri Department of Transportation) and after punching a bunch of numbers on my phone I finally got to a very nice lady who gave me much information and also told me about the Web page that had more details...
Beauty rest in your own bed (05/06/10)
There is a saying that travel broadens a person. That is probably true, especially in the physical sense. But I have found that travel also wears out a person. It is not so much the activities that sightseeing or visiting can cause. It is the variety of sleeping arrangements...
Sharing with house wrens (04/08/10)
I read in the Missouri Conservationist Special Events Calendar that today is the day that house wrens will begin to arrive in Missouri. That brought back many memories. In our rented home in Washington, D.C., we had a wonderful back porch that was high enough to need a long flight of steps (around 15 I would guess) to reach the ground in the backyard. ...
Ten mistakes (04/01/10)
You have probably already heard that this is April Fool's Day. In honor of that event my column today will have ten mistakes either in spelling, punctuation, or false information. I don't have a prize for the person who finds all ten errors, but I have a word of warning for anyone who finds more than ten. If you find more than ten I want you to know that the computer acted up somehow and caused the mistakes. It couldn't have been my fault...
Laughs of the week (03/25/10)
I've been having a week that has given me many laughs. And the funniest thing is, what I am laughing at is myself. I had the privilege of attending the March meeting of the Nevada Athenas as their guest speaker. Since I was given the choice of anything I wanted to talk about, I chose to talk about my books and how they had led me to a new career as an Elderhostel (Exploritas) instructor. ...
Don't forget to write! (03/04/10)
Many of our western stories laud the bravery of our ancestors who went west to seek their fortune or to establish their new homes. Those of us who enjoy living in Vernon County are possibly descendants of a person, or a couple, who left their families and security "back east" to find new land. I am grateful to them for settling here eventually and have no desire to push further west...
Visits to the past (02/25/10)
I was recovering from a bad cold for several days last week. I didn't have too many responsibilities and the weather wasn't inviting to be outside, so I decided to really take good care of myself and stay inside and rest. I was disappointed that I didn't have any good books to read as I had neglected to pick up some from the library, so I turned to the TV for entertainment...
Memories of Bob Warren (02/18/10)
A recent notice from the Star-Telegram announced that Robert Carroll "Bob" Warren had died on Thursday, Feb. 4. Many people from Nevada will remember Bob as the son of the late Huell Warren Sr., a former minister of the Nevada Christian Church, the brother of the late Huell Warren Jr. ...
What do you do when you drive alone? (02/11/10)
The recent laws against using cell phones while driving your car are getting a lot of publicity. The laws vary in different localities, but generally they state that while you are driving you should not be doing anything but driving. Some places even prohibit the use of cell phones that are mounted and don't require the use of either of your hands. The idea is that if you are talking to someone on the phone you are not putting all your concentration on driving the car...
I'm on a national register for geese (02/04/10)
I know it is no surprise for those of you who know me, to find out that I am on a goose register. But I'll bet even you didn't think I would go national For some reason, in this cold season, our farm pond or lawn side lake (the same place, it depends on who I am trying to impress what I call it!) has become a haven for many geese. ...
Generational opinions change (01/28/10)
When I was a student at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., war was declared. (Not the Civil War, but World War II). Student life changed quickly. All extra curricular activities were held immediately after school since no lights could show after dark. The football games began shortly before the 3:00 p.m. school day ended and the last quarter was played in dimming light...
Hold it! (01/14/10)
There is a song with words saying something about knowing when to hold and when to fold. I'm not a poker player so I probably wouldn't know which to do if I played a game. But I have certainly been told many times lately to "please hold." These telephone moments when we are waiting for action are bad enough if we are just sitting there quietly by ourselves. ...
We are past the poetry side of snow (01/07/10)
There are many beautiful poems written about the beauty of snow. As a child I always loved to read John Greenleaf Whittier's "Snowbound." It sounded so exciting to be shut in by the snow and having to huddle around a fire. Then there is an earlier poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley whose words are, "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?" We just finished the season where we sing about "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let It Snow" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." I think I have had enough of that for awhile -- maybe a year from now I will appreciate it again, but right now I don't burst into song or wax poetically when I look outside at our plentiful snow.. ...
Good friends and neighbors are a blessing (12/31/09)
As the year 2009 ends I am constantly reminded of the blessings we have from our friends and neighbors. I could write a year's worth of columns about the kind acts of our friends, but I will concentrate on several recent events. On a recent Saturday morning we discovered that one tire on our car was low. ...
Memories that leaked out (12/24/09)
The week before Christmas when you are getting ready for family coming in is not the best time to discover a leaking pipe. It is especially bad to discover one that has been leaking for several days before it was discovered. To make matters worse, the leak was in tubing running to the icemaker in the refrigerator, but the tubing ran through the extra closet in our great-granddaughter's room...
Friends and dinosaurs (12/10/09)
Friends are important at each stage of our life. As children we have a "best friend," which may change daily. As teenagers we usually have an "in-group" of friends we can count on. Again, that group can change with circumstances, and love affairs that complicate the grouping. But as we enter the middle age plus years, friendships become stable and especially important to us. As we lose our parents and some of our siblings, we find that having a wide group of friends is more essential than ever...
Family ties (10/07/09)
I imagine that quite a few of you went through a time in your life when you were constantly being compared to a sibling. Often the comparisons were not in your favor, or you thought they were not. Since I was the youngest of eight children I was well aware that each of the seven others around our table were far superior to me. I couldn't run as fast, read as well, do chores as quickly or as good, or tell as funny jokes as every one of the others could...
Maps To Where We Are Going (10/01/09)
I am in the car quite a bit lately, but I am usually going to familiar places. When I load the car I don't even think about needing a map. I could draw one myself for most of my trips. When I am going to someplace unusual I am often traveling with a family member who has the responsibility to chart the course...
Exterminating problems (09/24/09)
The weather has been damp and cool for this time of year. That is good news in some respects, but it does make pesky insects thrive. Have you noticed the early morning display of hundreds of single spider webs dotting the grass in the lawn? At first glance it looks like the lawn has blossomed overnight. As we investigate we can usually find one small spider in each sparkling web...
Stocking up on Memories (09/17/09)
I just turned off a news program on the television. I usually want to hear what is going on in the world and what is being done about it. I also usually like to hear the words of our leaders, to either applaud or be concerned. But today, I just turned it all off. I will read about any news later. I will probably hear it rehashed several times again today, but right now I don't want to listen anymore...
Fame Doesn't Always Jump Generations (09/10/09)
Did you watch the Jerry Lewis Telethon on Labor Day? We get many requests to help out financially for dozens of good causes. But somehow the Jerry Lewis Telethon has always been something we were interested in. I remember the first Labor Day holiday after Lester was appointed to the Savannah United Methodist Church up north of St. ...
Precautions against glu (09/03/09)
Swine flu has been on everyone's mind this year and that has led to plans made before the beginning of school this year to include preventive measures against the flu. I was not alive yet when the great flu epidemic hit during World War I. I know it's hard for some of you to believe that I am not quite that old, but I heard about it from my older siblings. ...
Faceing Facebook (08/20/09)
I have recently had many new friends. Well, they are not new friends really. They are people that I have known before, but now I am classified as their friend. Many of my long time readers are probably as confused about what I am saying as I was about a month ago when I got the notice on my e-mail that Susan Thornton wanted me as a friend. ...
Huston revisited (08/06/09)
My son, Mark, reads my columns on the Internet each week. He also read the column by Chuck Nash where he referred to my article about Nevada being the birthplace of the actor/director John Huston. Since Nevada is also Mark's birthplace, he was surprised to know that he shared that distinction with the famous director of such movies as "The African Queen." He wondered why he had never heard about this before...
Leftovers can cause problems (07/30/09)
Those of us who were raised in what some call the good old days (now that they are looking BACK on them) find it hard to throw anything away. This is especially true for the cooks. A small helping left in the casserole dish could be someone's lunch someday...
What we have here is a lack of communication (07/23/09)
Remember the line from the Paul Newman movie where the cruel gang boss said that the problem was a lack of communication? Of course the problem was not the communication. The problem was the people involved. Last week our family stepped into a quagmire of communication problems over a cell phone. ...
What is your question? (07/16/09)
The Internet can give the answers to many questions. When I let Google come up on my screen I can type in a few words and get thousands of places to get my answers. Sometimes I can narrow down the query to get fewer responses, hoping that the one I want is somewhere in there. In the process, information I wasn't seeking will appear and catch my interest. Often I will forget what my original purpose was and become immersed in some new idea...
I had a good title for this, but I forgot it (06/25/09)
Do you ever forget something so simple that it makes you afraid that your time has come? Yesterday I was making an appointment to have my car inspected. The man at the service desk asked for the type of car. For the life of me I couldn't remember to say that it is a Malibu. ...
Giving thanks (06/18/09)
I'm writing this column on a day when we had 3.6 inches of rain during the night. The lightning and thunder woke me several times and even though I reset my clock in the middle of the night it soon started blinking again because of a temporary power shortage. Our lawn looked like a lake when I first woke up, but it has now changed into a rice paddy...
Memories about World War II (06/11/09)
With the recent observances of the anniversary of D-Day, the patriotic musical program at the Fox Theater last week, and unfortunately reading the obituaries of recent deaths of some of our World War II veterans, I have been flooded with thoughts about that time in history...
April showers came in May (05/21/09)
0Several friends were standing at the door of the church on Sunday discussing the rain that came abundantly many days in a row. One commented that her mother-in-law had the saying that if it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain the next seven Sundays also. ...
I'll swear it's the truth (05/14/09)
I recently overheard a conversation between some men who were taking a rest from a construction job. I was pleased to hear how important their faith was. The longer I listened the more I could see that God was a very important part of their lives. One young man, in particular, was very fond of telling the others about his own personal relationship with God. ...
It's a secret (05/07/09)
Privacy! That seems to be the operative word these days. We can't tell you what is wrong with someone or we would invade his privacy. Churches send out prayer lists but we don't know what we are praying for. Is she seriously ill, or is she facing making an important decision?...
Is there a doctor in the house? (04/23/09)
Have you ever sat in a doctor's office for a long time past your appointment time? Or have you repeatedly called your doctor for some information about a test and either couldn't reach him/her or couldn't get the information because the nurse couldn't catch the doctor long enough to get the information? I think we have all had both experiences often. But I recently found out "the rest of the story."...
"De gustibus non disputandum est" (04/16/09)
I took three years of Latin in junior and senior high school. Mrs. Gerber said I was a good student but not as good as my sister, Ellen, had been. That didn't bother me because I was used to that comparison. I liked Latin but preferred French, which I studied later. ...
Were you an April Fool? (04/02/09)
April Fools' Day was yesterday and I was away from home so I couldn't catch some family members in a joke, but I had fun remembering all the jokes that have been played on me, or by me, in the past. One of my favorite pranks was one I only heard about. ...
When the clock is striking nine (03/26/09)
I grew up hearing the phrase, "When the clock is striking nine, have your washing on the line!" I think the only time I ever achieved that goal was when I was in Columbia, finishing my college degree while Lester was still in the army. We had gotten married, but I had one more summer session to finish before I could go with him to Fort Riley, Kan...
Budget blues (03/19/09)
Everywhere we turn, people are fretting or grieving over their budgets. Most of us have either heard about the Great Depression or lived through it. We can't easily put our minds back to that mentality where we have to squeeze every nickel until the buffalo complains. ...
Middle age plus (03/12/09)
My title of Middle Age Plus was contrived to show that I am not old, but I am past middle age. It was also designed to point out all the pluses of being this age. I realized that I had neglected that aspect of my column in recent weeks. Sometimes we feel we may have overused a theme and so we get away from it for a while. The danger is that we may stray so far away from the original theme that there is no connection between the title and the contents of the column...
March! (03/05/09)
The word "march" brings an image to our minds of soldiers going forward either on a parade ground or in battle. It also reminds some of us of a command from a parent when we dawdled in obeying a direction. The stern, "March!" meant that the time to negotiate had passed and the only option was to do what was requested. In other words, you marched...
I want to hold your hand (02/26/09)
In our culture a handshake has long been recognized as a sign of trust, of friendship, and occasionally of firming a deal. Two friends meet and immediately one or both will offer a hand for the other to shake. Some societies have their secret handshakes that show the two share a special bond. A left-handed shake has special meaning...
Letters Mean a Lot (02/18/09)
I have always looked forward to getting the mail. I used to receive several personal letters most days when my family wrote letters instead of using e-mail. I enjoy getting the e-mails also, but it does limit my daily mail to bills and advertisements. Oh yes, and the appeals for money from charitable causes come quite often too...
Friends for over 50 years (02/12/09)
When Lester and I came to Vernon County in 1956 for Lester to be one of the Extension agents, I was happy to be back with friends I had known most of my life. But just down the road was the young mother of three children about the age of our two, who I had not known before. Lula Pratt married Gene Welborn after they met at college and they came back to his home county to establish their home...
A winter cat tale (02/05/09)
We have had a house cat named Pumpkin for a little over a year. Our great-granddaughter, Marilyn, found him as a tiny kitten in a shed behind our house. He was cold, hungry and scared. That was probably the luckiest day of his life because since then he has been running our household very ably with only a personal maid and various other attentive humans...
In the blink of an eye (01/31/09)
Hi neighbors. A week ago Thursday my son and I had traveled to Fort Scott to pick up a meal at Wendy's restaurant. On the way home an oncoming car flipped its headlights at us in warning, but we didn't have time to figure out what the warning was about...
What's in a name? (01/22/09)
I have been going through a tough time lately. I have not been able to remember the name of a person I consider a friend. She is someone I worked closely with for several years. We knew each other's families. We still keep in touch from time to time. ...
Celebrity contacts (01/15/09)
Not many of us feel that we have achieved celebrity status. But something within us likes to acknowledge any close encounters with a famous person. For years our family has enjoyed the realization that Lester and Ken Curtis (Festus on the Gunsmoke series) are second cousins. ...
Grab bars and slippery slopes (01/08/09)
˘Several years ago I noticed my sister had some grab bars installed on two walls by her bathtub. I asked if she had had some troubles I didn't know about but she assured me that she was fine. She was having some work done on the house and decided it might be a good idea to have some safety preventions put in. I thought it was probably a good idea especially when she told me how handy they were to hang wash clothes on while she was in the tub...
It's the thought that matters (12/23/08)
By now I am sure that everyone has bought and wrapped every present for every person on the list. No? Have you forgotten someone? Will the girls know that the gift I gave to Sally cost more than the gift I have wrapped for Barbara? (I substituted names to protect the innocent.)...
Carolyn Gray Thornton
Middle Age Plus