Just one of those days!

 This is one of those Fridays when I'm thankful the week is over. We've had snow, mice, traffic, lack of responses, and we wonder if anyone cares! On the other hand, we had Valentine's day, which we don't celebrate anymore. I looked it up. Here is the definition given by Wikipedia: "It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world." I've never heard of him. I remember celebrating this day before kindergarten! We made valentines for our classmates, friends, teachers, and parents. I love my wife! I don't need Valentine's day to celebrate our love for each other.

We go to the grocery store and find aisles of candy, cards, and gifts for every holiday! It is as if we are "guilty" of something if we don't buy and give. Now birthdays and anniversaries are something very special that should be celebrated! Why? Because those are celebrations of love and celebrations of the heart!

Mom's Reggedy Ann and Andy's

This is another of Mom's wonderful poems! The picture shows just a few of the hundreds she made or collected! If you look carefully, you will see our Grandson amongst them. I'm looking for a few more pictures to update this blog. Before Mom passed, she donated all her Raggedy Anne and Andys to a museum in Iowa, so they could be enjoyed by more boys and girls!

Mom’s Poem about her Raggedy Ann and Andy Collection

In Nineteen Seventy-three,

I started a new family tree

I was at a flea market,

And there I found something neat

Just lying around

I looked at the faces on the tin,

And just like that, I began to grin!

I had an idea as plain as could be

I would make these dolls just for me.

 At that point in time,

Raggedy Ann and Andy were born

And walked right into my heart and home

I’ve made their bodies and painted their faces

I’ve even made them different races

 In the end, they are all Ann and Andy’s

And all as sweet as cotton Candy

Two-hundred and fifty-three

 Take up a lot of space,

But each is in their place

They sit very quiet –

And I love them all,

The thin, the fat, and the short and tall

 

(Yvonne 2003)

Dad

 This is my Dad, our Dad. My brother Mike sent this to me a few days ago. I am now seventy-seven years old. I was one of the kids who left home at seventeen early age. I returned for a year after dropping out of the University of Iowa. I realize now how little I knew or remember about Dad. This article brings a flood of memories. I look into his eyes in this picture and see God, a life lived to the fullest. This article tells me how much Dad was respected and loved by the Montezuma, Iowa, community, and the state of Iowa. He was active in many things, yet always had time for us! 

Dad learned all about diesel engines and electricity in the Navy. He served at the end of WWII aboard the U.S.S. Little Rock. He was fortunate to be on the Goodwill Tour, sailing to many ports worldwide. Most importantly, he learned a skill that he loved. 

Beyond that, he was a fisherman, a hunter, an expert rifleman, a volunteer fireman, a fire chief, a legionnaire, a bridge player, a construction, cabinet maker, bowler, gambler, ecologist, model aircraft enthusiast, contractor, dancer, a friend, husband, and father, probably much more.

He was a man of integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, and consistency. He was also our mentor and disciplinarian. He taught us right from wrong. He encouraged us! He and mom gave us what we needed to be on our own, the life skills and opportunities that would serve us for the rest of our lives. There is so much more, but all I can say right now is, thank you, Dad - I love you - I am so very proud of you and to be your son!

Wind River Range Part II

 So, I decided to wrap this up with a collage. I'm the guy in the red shirt with the green backpack. You can easily see the size of the boulders we had to traverse.  It was all worth the effort. The country and the views were incredible.

The dog with us struggled mightily, especially at the upper altitudes and the ruggedness of the terrain. It was probably not the best decision to bring him.

It took longer to get to the summit than we expected, almost four full days. We were going to make a loop but ended up thinking better of it. After spending a night sleeping on the large rocks near the peak, we added back to the base. The canoeing and steepness of the climb took were both challenges. We fished some of the little pools in the stream as we descended. I caught one of the nicest trout in a pool that wasn't much more than four feet in diameter. We ended up canoeing the final three lakes on the last day of the trip. We celebrated our adventure around a campfire on the last night of our trip. It is a trip I will always look back on with great joy. 

Me in 83!

Another day,

Snow melting fast,

The puppies are bored!

Supposedly it is "retro" week. Whatever that means folks seem to be putting up pictures of themselves in their youth. 1983 really isn't that far back. I think I still worked at the House of TV Repair - maybe it was the year we sold it to Harlan. He was a really neat guy - just retired from a large company and wanting to start a business of his own.

I was ready to get out of business for myself -- long hours, lots of time away from family - spending as much time being a manager when I really enjoyed being a technician. Something had to give, and it was the business. It did treat me well though.

I remember being happy having someone else responsible for those families and folks that worked for the TV shop. As an owner, I felt responsible for not only the shop and my family, but the livelihood of others as well. Carolyn and the kids really supported me - I think, at times, they really sacrificed an awful lot. Those are days that served us all well.

I'm not melancholy about those days, but they did provide many, many, memories. But, I must get back to the present and bid farewell to reminiscing. Enjoy your moments, all of them.

Where are you Montezuma

Yesterday I tried getting hold of telephones in Montezuma. Area code 641-623-whatever. No rings. I talked to my sister. I guess the phones and internet got hit by a big lightning bolt a few days back. I was happy that there cell phones still work. I'll have to check today and see if they are back in business.

I was pretty much raised in Montezuma - well 2nd grade on - but grew up there. Its a place where mom could let us out of the house and we could go hiking around Diamond Lake or the woods - exploring to our hearts content.

That's where we had our dogs, King, Harold, others I'm sure. The ones we kids promised to take care of, but dad really did all of the work. I was trying to remember how many different houses we lived in during my 10 years there -- B.., G..., M..., C... I just don't recall - they certainly all became homes though. Can you imagine a graduating class (high school) of 41 - biggest ever to that date (1963). Gosh, this is 2008 - 45 years ago I graduated from high school. I don't think we are even having a reunion. They were never really well attended.

My poor recollection was that folks from out of town came, but the home folks didn't -- strange and probably a misperception. I often remember the names of my classmates, the faces, the good memories, and some not so good memories. there is that web site that I see at least 8 members of our class listed now. I've scanned all the old documents -- there truly are some great memories.

I seem to recall though, that I had more nicknames, some very weird than any of the other kids. I wonder why - . We weren't always so kind as kids -- well, maybe not even so kind as adults sometimes. But still - it was a wonderful time, first job, first car, first pickupl truck, first kiss - for some folks anyway.

Ah, life is good. Have an excellent day! Create some memories!