It's My Side of the Road! by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

We had many friends in Mexico and Lou and Paula were some of our closest. When Lou retired, he and Paula had moved from the East Coast to her native Mexico and had a house built on what was then the outskirts of Mexico City. They were wonderful people and we often went to their house for parties and gatherings.

Prior to having the house built, they used the public bus system, as did everyone else. But as their house was now far from a bus stop, they decided it would be a good idea for Paula to learn to drive. This would enable them to pick up friends from various parts of the city and bring them to their home for the parties which they hosted almost every weekend.

To this end, a 1939 Packard was acquired for Paula to drive. Even though this was in the 1960's, what we now call "vintage" cars were common throughout Mexico. They had wonderful mechanics who could fix or make anything needed for these cars and this one was in first class shape. But it was HUGE! It was a TANK! A Hummer would have looked like a shrimp next to it.

Lou was teaching Paula how to drive as she made the rounds of friends to pick them up for the evening's activities. It was something exciting to see Paula, who was not even 5 feet tall, peering over the large steering wheel and directing this behemoth to the curb to pick us up. In we clambered and sat in the back seat with our other friends. It was almost like a limo! We could have just about seated a soccer team in the back!

One day, Lou and Paula came to pick us up. The small street we lived on connected to a large 4 lane boulevard and had a convenient stoplight where Paula could turn to head on to the next stop on the list. We got into the back seat and proceeded down the street to the large intersection. The light changed and Paula made a right turn on the the boulevard BUT she did not pull into the right lane! Instead, she swung all the way to the left side of the street facing the on-coming traffic! There were gasps from us in the back seat!

Lou, calmly said “Paula move to the right side of the road.”

Paula protested, “But this is MY side of the road! All those cars are on MY SIDE!”

Lou, again calmly said “Paula move to the right side of the road.”

Paula protested, “But this is MY side of the road! This is where I am and they should be the ones to move somewhere else!”

But she slowly swung the big car over to the right side of the road and everyone in the back seat heaved a big sigh of relief as we watched the barreling on-coming traffic miss us by just a few feet.

The party was a big success as it always was. But on that night, Paula described over and and over how all those cars were on “Her side of the road!”

Winter

Cold winter days and hard freeze nights are here while December days count down the last of 2010. Orion, a winter constellation in the northern hemisphere, was announced back in November when Cassiopeia, (the Queen) alerted Orion's arrival as it came into view rotating around Polaris, (the North Star).

Diagram of Orion Constellation

The Orion constellation, called the Hunter from Greek mythology, is the most conspicuous and most easily recognizable in the night sky by the three bright stars known as Orion's Belt, and the three smaller stars underneath called the Sword.

Depending on which hemisphere Orion is seen, the Belt goes by other names such as the Three Sisters, the Three Marys, the Magi, or the Three Kings.  The Belt and Sword of Orion has been adapted as the shoulder patch insignia of the 27th Infantry Division of the United States Army thru both world wars as a pun on the Division's first Commander, John F O'Ryan's name. In Lord of the Rings, the elves called Orion, 'Menelvagor'. Orion is also the name used for three US Navy ships.

Orion Nebula

Years ago when I was in high school, one of the teachers would hold a star gazing session on a winter night and tell us about the various stars and how to recognize them. Orion's Belt is just about the only thing I can truthfully say I know it when I see it. I know the big dipper of course and the North star but most of my knowledge about the night sky comes from information gleaned from the internet or science programs on television, and I wonder if the Magi of Christmas stories and songs refer to stars and not three wise men traveling the desert.

Detail of Orion's Belt


[Editor's addition: Many years ago I wrote a poem about this constellation.]

Where ever I go,

I look in the sky,

And the first thing I see is Orion.

KimB

Gadgets

I recently spent time in the hospital and while there, took note of all the little gadgets used by the doctors and nurses. Electronic gadgets attached to tubes, machines and switches, constantly measuring, counting and recording.

I adapted quickly to the nurse's routine, and was given a labor saving device resembling a TV remote with nine rows of three buttons that allowed the patient to control a myriad of things just by pressing a button. A transceiver permitted talking and listening thru the same small slotted area at the top of the device.

When I pressed the button, which turned the TV on and off, it didn't work. I pressed the button for the nurse and I heard a voice asking me how they could help. I replied that I couldn't get the TV turned on and would like someone to help me.

In a moment or two, a nurse came and replaced the device with another which was in good working order and I settled down with the TV running in the background while I read a book. I was able to listen for any news alerts and still concentrate on my paperback mystery in the genre of an Agatha Christie.

Not long after I started reading, my phone rang. I picked up the device and was going to press the answer button, but before I could, the caller hung up. I glanced thru the rows of buttons to see which one to press for answering the phone and didn't see one. There were several buttons that could have served , but I was unsure and pressed the nurse's button and asked how to answer the phone. She said to just pick it up.

I replied that I had done that but didn't see which button to press for answering a phone call. She repeated the instruction to just pick it up. I asked her to please send a nurse to show me. In a moment two nurses came and I held the device up so they could see that I WAS HOLDING IT. I laughed with them when they pointed to the phone sitting on the seat of the the chair next to me. I had been trying to answer the phone with the nurse's call gadget.

The comedian Wanda Sykes does a routine where she thinks she's lost her cell phone. She tells her friend to hold for a second while she looks in her purse. But when she can't locate it, her friend tells her to call back when she's found it.

On occasion I have clicked a TV channel on my house phone, or started pressing the numbers of a TV remote when I wanted to make a phone call. I'm certain there are lots of stories like these making the rounds, similar to stories 'computer support' published a few years ago when 'help calls' from new computer owners circled the globe. [no, that's not a coffee holder, that's a DVD player]

Wanda Sykes: Lost cell phone routine

Circuses

As I follow the Circus series on PBS, I am reminded of the excitement my brothers and sisters and I experienced when the circus came to town. The air became electric with anticipation when we discovered a circus unloading in the pasture at the bottom of the hill behind out house.


Jumbo the Elephant

I don't remember advanced billing or notification of a circus coming to town, although there might have been. Our first inkling of such an event came because Mom and the neighbors were standing in a group in the back yard, using binoculars to watch activity in a field below. When it was determined the hustle and bustle indicated the arrival of a circus, Mickey, Charles and Elbert thought they might get a free ticket to the circus if they helped the circus unload or carried water for the elephants. Mickey was about 8 years old, Charles 7 and Elbert 6 and they went racing down the path to the field where the circus wagons were. They actually did get jobs although from the description of what they had done indicated they might have been given busy work to keep them out of he way.


Barnum 3 Ring Circus

Townspeople were treated to the blare of a calliope as gaily decorated elephants with pretty girl riders paraded downtown promoting afternoon and evening performances.

I remember moseying along the midway with Adeline taking in all the sights and sounds of side show barkers inviting the public to come witness the wold's most exotic phenomena. Some of the enticing acts on improvised stages would last only long enough to gather a large crowd then disappear inside the side show tent while those in the crowd lined up to buy tickets to see the promised titillating view of the extraordinary and forbidden. Since Adeline and I never had the money for the side shows, I assume those who bought tickets got their money's worth.



Circus Horse Act

Main performances of the circus always exceeded one's expectations. The famous Three Ring Circuses were alive with breathtaking and daring feats of wire walking, trapeze acts and men being shot from canons. Dog acts, horse acts, jugglers, and clowns were everywhere. Animal trainers entered cages with ferocious wild lions and tigers while trick riders circled the big top on horses and elephants. Beautiful girls would swing from ropes while holding their life line in their mouths.

Circuses were always on the move. They came one day and left the next, but strange animals, calliope music, acts of bravery and daring do and the satiety of color stayed in one's mind long after departure.

Circus Trapeze Act

November

November is the birth month of my brother Richard, the 23rd of the month to be exact. He was born at home when we lived on Bliss Blvd, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, I always think of him in relation to Thanksgiving and often wonder if Mom and Dad thought of his birth as a special Thanksgiving present to the family.

Several days after Richard's birth, when Dr. Wray asked what name he should put on the birth certificate, Grandma A, who was in the room, quickly piped up and said there would be no Johns in the family. Her comment took Mom by surprise.. The first three boys, had family names from Dad's side of the family and they planned to name the baby John after her father.  Dad was at the office and unable to discuss the matter, but Mom, ever ready to handle a crises, thought of the honorable character in the novel she was reading and promptly said the name would be Richard Lee. We usually called him Dick in those growing up years.

Being the oldest child in the family, I remember my younger siblings from their earliest years. By the time Richard came along, Adeline and I were both experienced in minor ways of helping Mom and we often changed wet diapers, including Richard's.

One afternoon when I came home from school, I sensed something was wrong the moment I opened the front door. There was a medicinal odor and Dad quickly came to the door and told me to be very quiet and to make certain when the other kids came from school, they too had to be very quiet. He said Dick had had an accident early that morning and the Dr was still in the bedroom with him and Mom.

Richard had gotten his arm caught in the wringer of the washing machine as it was running. When Mom had gone upstairs to gather the bed linens for laundering, Richard had managed to climb up on a chair to see the machine and that's when the accident occurred. When Mom heard the screams she came running and was horrified to see what had happened.

Fortunately the soft tissues of the underarm were injured but not the muscles. Richard was sedated and his arm and shoulder carefully bandaged but it would be a long time before he was well enough to be allowed out of bed. A number of days passed before we children were allowed to go in to see him, and when he was allowed out of bed, he had to learn to walk all over again. All of us took turns walking with him as he recuperated. Dick was a handsome baby with blond hair and as he grew, he and Charles resembled each other in their good looks and personality.

I have many wonderful memories of my childhood with all my brothers and sisters, but as the years passed and husbands and wives joined the family, work and careers took us in different directions. The family ranged from Los Angeles to San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia, Tucson and Mexico City, Florida and Kentucky and all points between.  Wars like WWII, Korea, and Vietnam came and went. One by one we grieved for lost family members as our numbers diminished. Age and health problems kept the few of us remaining isolated from each other with less and less contact as the months passed.

You can imagine my surprise when I got a phone call while in the hospital a few days after surgery for a broken hip, to hear Richards voice asking how I was! That phone call came when I was just beginning to realize the enormity of my accident and on the verge of feeling sorry for myself. I was even more surprised when Richard continued phoning me every evening and sharing his experience of having hip replacement, not once but three times!!!

Richard will never know how he kept my spirits up and how thankful I was to hear his voice encouraging and prompting me to do the rehabilitation exercises. I don't think he knew how I looked forward to his phone calls in the evening when hours drag the most between supper and bedtime. During those 4 weeks in the hospital, and three weeks in the rehab center, he was my only visitor except when my son was able to visit every 2 or 3 days. Even after I went home, he phoned several times a week to see how I was.

I call him Richard but in my fondest memories I think of him as Dick and wish I could find the words to let him know how much I love him and how grateful that he got bunched in with my siblings. He has enriched my life. His thoughtfulness when I need a kind word the most, has earned him a place in heaven with the angels.

bandage rolls

Thanksgiving

Our annual day of thanksgiving has universally come to mean a day of feasting on turkey with all the trimmings. The traditional menu is roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing or sage dressing, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, candied yams, a selection of vegetables such as peas and carrots, green beans, squash, various relishes, fruit salad, hot rolls and a choice of several pies, the most popular being Pumpkin, Apple, Mince, Pecan and Chocolate Meringue. Apple cider is often served.

In homes across America the women who prepare these holiday dinners give a great deal of time and thought in planning and cooking these turkey dinners which is similar to the dinners served on Christmas day. The difference being the gifts given and received on Christmas while on Thanksgiving, football games dominate.

It is not the custom in the states to carve fruits and vegetables, although attractive arrangements of foods being serving on a plate are made more appetizing using color, shape and design. The craft of carving fruits and vegetables started in China then found it's way to Thailand. Japan also developed an art form called, Mukimono which is the carving of vegetables such as daikon, carrot and eggplant into shapes of flowers, twists and fans and served as garnishes.

The intermingling of cultures has brought the art of carving fruits and vegetables to the U S and many chefs are learning and demonstrating the techniques. There are excellent videos on the internet showcasing Thai women creating flowers and birds using only a sharp paring knife. Other vegetables can be carved too, like a potato or turnip into a white rose, a squash into a vase holding tulips, watermelons into beautiful flowers or an apple slice into a leaf, is an amazing achievement and done with great dexterity.

Because the craft is so appealing to the eye, and relative easy to learn, requiring only a sharp paring knife and lots of practice, I have a hunch that in years to come, holiday dinner tables will be decorated with fruit and vegetable carvings.

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables

10 Examples of Carved Vegetables

California Bound by Loretta

[Editor's Note: This story was written by Loretta]

Well, mom didn’t get her wish to stay and live in Iowa. Dad convinced her the grass was greener in California, so we packed up the 1949 Plymouth car and trailer. The only one who refused to pack and was holding out was Louise, my older sister. The last hour before we left, mom finally talked her into it.

Now remember in the 50s, speeds on the highway weren’t super sonic. Off we went, at turtle speed, down the road. After a few hours of just setting with no radio in the car we were getting restless. Dad decided to serenade us with old songs and had us sing along on some of the tunes we knew. Today, to interest kids, we watch for license plates from different states, but in those days, Burma Shave signs were the ticket. Nothing lasted for long. Around lunch time, mom had brought the makings for sandwiches. Dad drove while mom made and distributed them.

Dad drove through the night while we slept. By mid morning, he had to stop. We found a town in Nebraska with a park. Dad took mom to the store and bought more food; then headed back to the park. He spread a blanket under a tree and out like a light he went. We played while he slept. By late afternoon he woke up, ate and off we went again.

Dad used to smoke in those days, so when he’d light up, Louise got on the floor boards, covered herself up with a blanket and lit up as well. Blowing her smoke through the holes in the bottom of the car. We of course kept our mouths shut, sticking together with threats from her.

The second night, dad had to stop at a motel. We had the treat of taking a bath and sleeping in a bed. By morning we were on the road again. When we made it to Wyoming, we saw Little America. Mom went to the souvenir store and looked around while Dad gassed up and then, onward we went.

By now, we had started to reach the mountain range which had rocks that over hung along the roads and signs like “Beware of falling rock”. Dad told us that “Falling Rock” was an Indian and to keep a look out for him, 'cause he was a bad one. I think he had us looking all day for him. Anything to keep us quiet. Later we found out he was joking about it.

As California loomed closer, the car started rebelling: it kept heating up but we actually made it to Pomona, California. Uncle Chester rescued us when our car finally gave out. We stayed at their house until mom and dad rented a house.

Now wasn’t that an exciting journey? It took me 48 years to leave California and make a home in Arizona.

Watch for Falling Rock

Teal Segments

Teal Segments by Marion 2010

Molly and Tenbrooks

There are many songs about horses and horse races such as Camp Town Races, but the one about Molly and Tenbrooks, arranged by Bill Monroe as a vehicle for Earl Scrubbs and his banjo in 1937 has become one of the most popular. First published in1947, but not recorded until later, it was in his concert repertoire and in radio broadcasts.

The song tells of a race between a Kentucky thoroughbred, Ten Broeck, and Molly McCarty, a California based mare. The song is called Molly and Tenbrooks, but is also called, Run Molly Run. There are many versions, some have Molly winning the race and others Tenbrooks. New verses are constantly being added, changed around and new threads started.


Ten Broeck Grave Marker

Records show that the race was on the 4th of July at Churchill Downs in 1878. The purse was for $5000 a side for a three-heat race, all heats to be four miles each. If either horse was distanced in a heat, the other horse was to be declared automatically the winner. Ten Broeck won the race and was ridden by William Walker, an ex-slave who said it was the best race he ever rode. Unlike the verses in the song, Molly McCarty did not die and won many races after this one and produced several foals.

The race between Molly McCarty and Ten Broeck was the last four mile race in American turf history.

Lyrics to Molly and Tenbrooks

Run oh Molly run, run oh Molly run

Ten-Brooks gonna beat you to the bright and shining sun

To the bright and shining sun oh Lord

To the bright and shining sun

Ten-Brooks was a big bay horse, he wore a shaggy mane

He run all 'round Memphis, and he beat the Memphis train

Beat the Memphis train oh Lord

Beat the Memphis train

Ten-Brooks said to Molly, what makes your head so red

Running in the hot sun with a fever in my head

Fever in my head oh Lord

Fever in my head

Molly said to Ten-Brooks you're looking mighty squirrel

Ten-Brooks said to Molly I'm leaving this old world

Leaving this old world oh Lord

Leaving this old world

Out in California where Molly done as she pleased

She come back to old Kentucky, got beat with all ease

Beat with all ease oh Lord

Beat with all ease

The women's all a-laughing, the children all a-crying

Men all a-hollering old Ten-Brooks a- flying

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying oh Lord

Old Ten-Brooks a- flying



Kiper, Kiper, you're not riding right

Molly's a beating old Ten-Brooks clear out of sight

Clear out of sigh oh Lord

Clear out of sight

Kiper, Kiper, Kiper my son

Give old Ten-Brooks the bridle and let old Ten-Brooks run

Let old Ten-Brooks run oh Lord

Let old Ten-Brooks run

Go and catch old Ten-Brooks and hitch him in the shade

We're gonna bury old Molly in a coffin ready made

In a coffin ready made oh Lord

In a coffin ready made

The Stanley Brothers @1948 rendition of Molly and Tenbrooks

Golden Rings

Golden Rings by Marion 2010



Of Transoms and Traverses Part 2 of 2 by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Pátzcuaro is a beautiful town and has many unique features. Things have undoubtedly changed in the 45+ years since I was there, but I remember the beautiful flower boxes that were everywhere. The city has historical significance but at my age I didn't really pay much attention. The country side is a contrast of hills surrounding the huge lake. Everywhere you look there is something different to be seen.

During the day, Mom painted. She painted everything and anything she could. She would pick a location and I would help shuttle her easel, paints and canvases to the location. Then I would go off to play with some local children or explore on my own until evening when I helped her pack up her gear for the night.

After everything was safely stored we would go to the town for dinner at any of several restaurants. Always a high-light for me. More often than not, our dorm friends would come along and we would have a great gathering for dinner. Singing, conversation and stories would be passed around the table. There was no television or even radio so our entertainment was whatever we could make up ourselves.

There was one movie house in town but it was only open a few days a week and had one showing per evening. One fortunate thing for me was that I loved the movies and almost always the movies were American ones with Spanish sub-titles. I didn't have to struggle with the language when I went to the movies and Mom and I went often, even if we had seen the movie many many times. For everyone, the movies were very cheap entertainment and regardless of what was showing, they were extremely popular and the tiny theaters would fill up in no time at all.

One evening, we met up with a dorm friend for dinner. He was at the end of his monthly budget and could not afford to eat at the normal restaurants we attended. He convinced us to try one of the semi-permanent street restaurants in the Plaza. These restaurants where just slightly better than the ubiquitous street vendors, in that they had a permanent overhang, kitchen and benches. But they didn't quite qualify under Rule 1. Our friend however vouched for the safety of the cuisine and we settled down for a very nice dinner.

I knew that night a new movie was opening up at the theater; a spy story called “Doctor No” with a hero “007”. I'd heard about it from my friends and was anxious to see this film. After dinner, I asked if we could go to the movies and Mom and our friend agreed. We went to the movie house to check it out. There were still tickets but the show got out at 8:35pm. We would have to hustle to get back to the dorms before the gatekeeper locked the gates but that was ample time to get there. Tickets were purchased. popcorn acquired and we settled down for a wonderful time.

If you are wanting something to run on-time, do not go to Mexico or anywhere else for that matter. The only thing that ever runs on-time are British trains. No where else does anything run on-time, and that movie was no exception. It did not get out at 8:35pm, it ended at 8:55pm! There was only 5 minutes to get to the gate! We ran to the gate like we were all doing a sub-4 minute mile!

Alas, the gates where locked when we arrived. Our dorms where only 50 feet in front of us but there was a very high chain-link fence between us and our comfy beds. We called out to see if the gatekeeper was still nearby but there was no answer. Our friend said there was only one thing left to do: Climb The Fence. It was easy he said, the fence is sturdy and will not break. Just climb up and over and all would be well. He climbed the fence to show us how. After a few misgivings, Mom and I started up the fence. Things were OK until Mom got near the top when she got stuck.  She couldn't go up and she couldn't go down and there she was, hanging 10 feet off the ground. She was just stuck on the fence. Things started to go downhill in a hurry after that.

I clambered down the fence and our friend nearly vaulted over it to rescue Mom. There was a fair bit of yelling and panicked conversation as instructions were passed over and between them: move your foot here, move your hand there, grab that link etc. I was milling down below acting like I was some kind of safety net in case she fell off. It seemed like Mom was never gonna get off the fence!

Just then, the gatekeeper came running around the corner, attracted no doubt by the commotion and our frantic cries and panicked voices. He quickly opened the gates and came to assist in the rescue. It wasn't easy. By this time, Mom was very tired and had lost the energy to move along the fence. The two men, tried to heave her over the fence but the Rock of Gibraltar would have been easier to move. A lot of pushing and shoving continued until at last she was freed and able to climb down the fence on her own. We thanked our rescuers: the gatekeeper for getting up to open the gate for us and our friend for standing by when things were looking glum. Then, sedately as if nothing had happened, Mom walked thru the gates to to our dorm.

Needless to say, after that, no matter what was happening, at 8:45 pm we turned into pumpkins and ran for the dorms!

Of Transoms and Traverses Part 1 of 2 by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Adventures happened to us whether we were looking for them or not. We loved our adventures and always marveled at how they came about and how they lead from one to another.

One summer, my mother and I went to the town of Pátzcuaro, Mexico so she could paint there. Pátzcuaro is a famous town with the most churches of any town in Mexico. There are 2 or 3 churches on every street. Some are large and some are tiny. There are special dishes like atole and many regional traditions. The streets and balconies have flowers everywhere. There is also a beautiful lake: Lake Pátzcuaro. The fishermen there catch a special tiny fish which is a delicacy throughout Mexico. They use special "butterfly" nets to catch these fish and there are many famous paintings of the lake and fishermen. We rented a dorm room at the UNESCO Campus Center which was on summer holiday and just a short walk from the town.

The room had twin beds and was neat and clean. There was a shared bathroom with the dorm room next to it with inside locks on the doors for privacy. We had several neighbors who were spending their summers studying there. Everyone was very friendly and we soon had a group of folks that we could hang out with in the evenings when Mom had finished painting for the day and they had finished their studies for the day too.

The campus was large and surrounded by high fences. There was a main gate that opened to the outside and remained open during the day. At about 9 pm the gate was locked and it was a challenge to get back to the dorms before the gatekeeper locked the doors! It was sort of a contest: who could squeak in the latest. If you got locked out the only way was to climb over the very tall fence and many of the students regularly had to climb the fence and had it down to a science.

On our first night there as we were settling into the room, Mom decided to check out the door locks in the bathroom. So, she went in locked both doors – all was very satisfactory. When she left, the room she wanted to know how the locked worked from the outside: Would the handle turn? Could it be opened anyway? So, she locked both doors as she exited and closed them. She turned the handle from the room side and sure enough: it was locked. Triumph!

Triumph soon turned to horror when she realized she had locked us out of the bathroom! It was already evening and the staff had gone home for the day. There was no one who could unlock the door for us. Things suddenly looked very grim as there were no open restrooms anywhere nearby. Just then some of our new neighbors came back from their day of study and saw us standing outside the room looking rather frazzled. Explanations were given and we were told that it wasn't uncommon for that to happen but as it was summer and the staff was on holiday it might be several days before a staff person could come. Devastation!

The men however, stepped up and valiantly agreed to help us open the door. It was all rather simple they said; at the top of the door was an open transom and it was a matter of being boosted up there and crawling through just enough to reach the doorknob to turn it. A circus then developed. They each tried to reach the knob but could not. After several failed attempts, the only path was to boost me up to the transom, hold my feet as I slid over the top of the door to turn the doorknob from the other side. As I was only about 11 or 12 years old at the time, I was a lot easier to boost than the other fellows. So up I went and over the door! I could just barely reach the knob but Presto! It opened! Triumph Returned!

We all celebrated our good luck and the men said goodby and headed to their rooms for the evening. Mom was very relieved and said she never would Do THAT Again! Then she closed the door to the bathroom and “click” it locked. She had forgotten to unlock the door before she closed it and we were locked out again! HORRORS!

We ran next door to our neighbor and our tale of woe was repeated. He looked rather puzzled at my Mom, but he again boosted me over the door and I was able to open it. This time my Mom with great flourish UNLOCKED it and it remained unlocked for the duration of our stay.

Keyboards

I just purchased a wireless keyboard and number pad. I've been told they will make playing the game, Lord of the Rings Online easier and more fun. So far, I think I will like using it, but I have to say going thru the connection to the computer process has left me a little frazzled! For some reason it took several hours yesterday of 'help' coming into my computer to install drivers and other such utilities, but it only took 10 minutes or less on my son's computer.

This morning when I wanted to try out the new keyboard, I had to try several times to get the keyboard and the computer connected. With a 'walk thru' over the phone, I finally got the two devices working together and low and behold, I can now practice using the new keyboard and mouse. I have not played Lord of the Rings yet, but will start playing the game later today with my son and daughter.

The three of us used to play a very nice game called A Tale In The Desert, but after 3 or 4 years playing the game each time it upgraded, we decided to try another game. The three of us live in different states and it's a nice way to spend an hour or two during the week, sharing the game as we chat with each other on a conference call.


MS Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000



Easter Egg

Easter Egg by Marion 2010



Grandmothers

Cousin Loretta's story about her maternal grandmother made me think of mine. Her name was Elizabeth Ellen, but Grandpa called her Liz or Lizzie, my aunts and uncles called her Ma or Mom, and we grandchildren called her Grandma W.

Grandma was a force to reckon with, and sooner or later, she becomes the topic of conversation. When two or more members of the family are together for any length of time they often recount stories and share memories about her, although it has been many years since she passed away.

Grandma held a reverential distinction apart from our other relatives; she was part American Indian. We all take great pride in that jewel of kinship, although its importance fades as new generations come along.

My family lived some distance from Grandma and since we did not own a car, we rarely had the opportunity of visiting her. One rare visit came about during the great depression when Uncle Matt and Aunt Nettie, who had purchased a used auto, came to see us. They offered to drive us all to Grandma's for a visit. It was dark by the time we started the trip. Traffic was light and there were long stretches of highway between seeing the headlights of other vehicles coming or going. We eight children ranged in age from 1 to 11, and being small, Mom and Dad and Aunt Nettie held the youngest on their laps and the rest of us squeezed into niches between the adults. In those days the vehicles had mechanical brakes and no one had ever heard of seat belts. Uncle Matt drove at what was considered a fast speed and as we drove over the low rolling hills, my stomach would do a flip. In all probability, the speed was not excessive, but we children felt like we were flying, and the adult comments of 'making good time', added to the impression. I don't remember our arrival nor how long the visit was.

One year during the great depression we eight children went to spend the summer with Grandma. I remember the rooms of the two story house built into the side of a hill. A kitchen, dining room and a day room was down stairs and opened out onto a level area which was the back yard. The house entrance was on the street level and was the upper story where the front room, grandma's bedroom, bathroom and 4 more bedrooms were.

There was always a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and we children ate our meals at a round oak table in the kitchen. The adults ate at the long dining table in the dining room. I helped Elizabeth set the table and serve the pitchers of iced tea. Grandma had cut glass bowls and pitchers and each place had a cut glass salt cellar.

On summer nights, after all the little children were in bed asleep, Grandma would take a chair and sit on the front porch in the cool of the evening while Adeline and I sat on the steps to keep her company. Sometimes we could prevail upon her to sing for us. She sang hymns like Rock of Ages and Little Brown Church in the Vale, and folk songs. Our favorite was Jessie James; she knew all the verses.

Thinking back on those days, I wonder how Grandma managed to run the house and care for us. She had given birth to 16 children so she knew how to supervise our eight. One of her secrets was that the older children helped to look after the younger ones. I remember always playing in a group. If we went to the empty stadium to play among the bleachers and run the track or sat on the floor and played card games like Fish and Michigan Rummy, we always played in a group. Even when we walked across town to see Aunt Rita and her new baby, we went as a group.

Being at Grandma's house was always exciting. We admired her two colorful love birds and loved her dog Penny, an American Spitz. We liked running errands to the post office or the day old bakery for loaves of bread. We liked playing in the park where a large statue of Chief Mahaska stood. We especially liked it when she made home made peach ice cream in the old hand cranked freezer. Best of all, we liked seeing cousins and Aunts and Uncles when they stopped by or came for a visit.


peach ice cream

Curves In Point



Curves in Point by Marion 2010

 

Unexpected Blessings by Gigi

[Editor's Note: We want to introduce a new poster to the blog: Gigi. Gigi is MrsB's niece. We hope that everyone will enjoy her stories as much as we do. There are more details about Gigi at the bottom of the posting for those interested in family ties.]

My cousin KimB and Aunt Marion asked if I had anything I would like to add to the family blog. Today it came to me. :)

October 16, 2010 I was flying home from a lovely cruise out of New York. I had a wonderful time and was able to visit with friends I had met a few years ago and had sailed with in the past. It was wonderful to see them again. But this is really about how wonderful the Lord has been to me in protecting me and watching my back. My son was to drive my car to LAX to pick me up but the car would not start. He took his car instead and told me in the baggage claim area that my car wouldn’t start. We speculated on what it could be and I groaned a bit......

On Monday he started the car and it turned over, he drove it to the local repair shop and asked them to check it out. It turned out that one of the battery cells would not charge and the battery needed replacing. A simple fix.

Now the way I see this is that my Lord protected me by the car not starting and then our being stranded at LAX late at night having to call the Auto Club to tow my car back to my local area which is a good hour and forty minutes away from the airport. Truly a Blessing!

This is the second time in less thirty days He has been my protector. In September I left my car parked in a lot for the week. When I returned to my car a week later I discovered I had left my driver side window down and nothing was missing from the car. I have never done this before and was upset with myself for being so careless, then I realized that I had been protected by my Lord. Again a Blessing. Truly a reason to say Thank You Lord!!!!!!!

[Who is Gigi? MrsB's late sister was Adeline. Gigi is the daughter of Adeline and Larry. She is MrsB's niece and cousin to all the children of Adeline's brothers and sisters: MrsB, Esther, Richard, Jerry, Elbert, Charles and Mickey.]

Car Battery

At The Sky Ranch by Esther

[Editor's note: This story was written by Esther]

Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA

Mom and Dad bought a place on top of the mountain near Redwood City, California about year after I was married to Vernon. They called it The Sky Ranch. It was always a place where the family could gather and spend time visiting. We helped Mom do work around the house or helped Dad as he added on to the building.
Dad was going to build under the house. Part of the house was on top of the mountain and the rest of it was over lapping down the side of the hill. They thought it would help to have more rooms when they had company over.

At that time Marion, Robert and son were staying in the cabin. Vernon and I were camping in a chuck wagon on the property, which was fine for us. Marion was able to cook in her cabin. It was nice for the baby too, as there was so much activity going on, it provided some quite at nap time.

Vernon started to look for work but there were not many jobs available. World War II was over and jobs were not easy to get. So he was able to help with all the different jobs needed to keep things running well.

Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA

The first thing he and Dad did was to trim some redwood trees so the sun would shine and help to dry the fog when it was so thick and it was great to have the sun shinning to keep it warmer in the cold damp weather

When it was warmer, Dad started removing the dirt to begin working on the new rooms. As that job was getting done, Dad started doing the fittings for the water pipes and the plumbing for the bathroom fixtures. Sometimes I would help or some of the boys would have free time and were there to grab a shovel or hammer or even a saw to work with us while Dad told them what to do. There was five brothers plus Robert and Vernon.

There was Mickey, Charles, Elbert, Richard and Jerry. It was Elbert and Vernon that always had the notion to get a deer and have a great feast and get everyone over to eat and to spend the day helping Dad.  Mom would work right along with them and they may not have worked fast, but they did have a great time doing it.

That year was a memorable Christmas. By this time, Marion and Robert had moved to a nice home just short distant from the Sky Ranch and Vernon and I moved in to the cabin. I loved having a bath room. Marion would make lovely decorations to trim the tree and make a scene of an old fashion country house with Christmas holiday trim. She had the small trees to fit the size of the log house and it look like a picture post card. Marion invited everyone to celebrate Christmas dinner at her house, and she was a wonderful hostess. Robert carved the turkey.

It was along this time that Mom and Dad bought another house in Redwood City. Vernon found a job at Bethlehem steel in South San Francisco. And I found a job at a nursing home. We rented a room from a wonderful lady and we struck out on our own.

We spent every day we had free at the Sky Ranch. 'Till we left and moved to Baton Rouge where Vernon was raised in an old country house. The old country house in Baton Rouge had some huge very old Oak Trees planted along both sides of the drive way to the house.

I never knew what home sickness was like till I moved there. I really liked it there but I missed Mom so much. Vernon and his family were very good to me but I would wake up crying. After several times, Vernon said he would take me home. It was good to get back home.

After that I never was home sick again. It was not too long when Vernon said he was going back and I was ready to go with him. It was after we went back to Baton Rouge that we heard from the family that an earthquake had disturbed water well and the well had gone dry.

I loved that place and remember so many good days that we spent there with everyone having a great time.


Skyline Boulevard Redwood City CA



Rescued Miners

As I watched television coverage of the miraculous rescue of the 33 miners in chile, I was totally absorbed in the human drama being played out on the TV screen. For weeks I had followed the news of the painfully slow drilling progress of a small hole that allowed communication between the miners trapped a mile below ground and rescuers, who were overjoyed to know the men were alive.

Trapped for seventeen days, not knowing if they would, or could, be rescued, I can only imagine their euphoria when communication was made. Cameras and lights were rigged so that the world could see pictures of the miners as they received foods and medicine. Notes were sent back and forth from miners and families, who camped near the drilling sight day and night, as the rescue was underway.

When the realization that the rescue would take several months, it was decided to tell the men how long it would take. To keep their spirits high, knowledge, gained from other rescued miners, along with suggestions from psychiatrists, and NASA's experiences with astronauts, was employed to ease the emotional strain the miners suffered.

The accomplishment of such a rescue is mind boggling. Never before had there been a rescue a mile below ground and thru solid rock, with the miners having the distinction of surviving the longest in trapped conditions, both before, and after, rescue. Well wishers around the globe sent their prayers and congratulations to the miners as well as the citizens of Chile for having organized and executed this historical rescue. It will be discussed and remembered for many years to come.

Photos of the Rescued Chilean Miners

Flying Saucers by Loretta

[Editor's Note: This story was written by Loretta]

If you lived in the 40s and 50s, you will probably remember certain things: like when buying gas, you received a dish of some kind when filling up your tank . Dad always brought a plate, saucer, cup or glass home each week. Enough to make a set of them. Larry (my brother) and I were talking about what happened to those dishes and the memories came flooding back.

My mother had quite an anger issue. Sometimes when arguing, mom would pick up any dish she could find and throw it at my dad . She could hit any standing object within her throwing range. When their arguments got serious, each of us kids grabbed our favorite plates to keep them out of harms way. Mine had flowers in the center and petals on the edges. Each of us had certain memories of the dishes we rescued.

Now when mom was throwing, dad was dodging. He was always a moving target and harder to hit. After the cleanup and we were sure all was well, we’d relinquish our dishes and dad would start the process of getting more dishes all over. Because of her tirades we never had a complete set of any one pattern. After the flying saucer episodes, mom and dad acted like nothing was wrong.

I remember one particular incident when we were living in a two story house in Des Moines. Our bedrooms were up on the second floor. To get to them you had to go through the dinning room, open a door to the stairs and up you’d go. Mom had sent us to bed when an argument ensued with Dad. He wanted to move to California; Mom didn’t. She informed him she wouldn’t leave. We all snuck down and listened at the door.

The dishes had been washed and put away but all mom had to do was open a cabinet door and boom, our plates would be no more. Instead she told my dad to leave. He said “No”. Mom started for the phone but Dad had hidden it. So, when he told her to go ahead and call, he knew full well she wouldn’t be able to find it. Well, after a while, things calmed down and all was well.  And guess what? Within a few months we were living in California.

I had my plate all through school and when I moved out on my own, I left the plate behind. To this day, I’m not sure what happened to it.

Pile of Broken Dishes

Horse Racing

Ben Hur Chariot Race

I watched the movie, Ben Hur for the n^th time last night. The chariot race in this movie is awesome! The horses are beautiful and the camera shots of them are marvelous. I have no idea how the camera was rigged to get such incredible close ups of the horses as they raced.

The choreography of the accident scenes leave one stunned and gasping for breath as the chariots careen and break apart while the race continues at break neck speed. One couldn't help but wonder if any of the actors were injured or killed during filming.

The beauty of horses captivate us and they deserve the attention and adulation we lavish on them. As much as I like horses, I am a bit afraid of them. I admire jockeys who seem to be fearless as they sit on a postage stamp saddle and ride hell bent for leather in a race to the finish line.

Some race horses have become legends with books and movies about them. Their names spark memories of their exploits, Man o' War and Seabiscuit.


Seabiscuit with George Woolf Up

Man O'War

Most of my knowledge of horse racing comes from watching the Kentucky Derby on TV, which is to say I don't know very much. I just pick out a horse as they parade in front of the stands and root for it. If my selection wins, I begin to think I'm a good judge of horse flesh, but if my selection comes in last, I face reality and admit I was only guessing.

Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral - 1938 Match Race (Pimlico Special)

Coin Collecting by Loretta

[Editor's Note: This story was written by Loretta]

I was talking to my cousin on the phone today and it reminded me of the different things that happened when I was growing up.

When I was about eight years old, Mom and I decided to save money and walk to town, which was quite a trek. On our journey, I had the habit of looking down toward the ground to see what treasures I could find. One day, there on the ground, was an Indian head nickel! I was so delighted because I had never seen one before. I think that was the start of my coin collection. As the years went by, I’d find old coins and put them away for safe keeping.

When I graduated from High school, I had various jobs but the one I liked the most was cashiering in a small store. There, I could examine all the change and at the end of my shift the owner would let me pick out and exchange some of the old coins. In those early, days people didn’t save old coins like they do today; so it was easier finding them.

As the years went on, I'd save all the silver certificates I could find and by the mid to late sixties, the federal reserve said it would be our last chance to trade silver certificates for silver bars at the Federal Mint. But as usual, I couldn’t find a way to travel to San Francisco; so I still have those certificates. Just my luck.

In the late sixties, I got a job in a large chain market and that was truly the start of my coin collection. From silver dollars to wheat pennies, nothing was too small and as the years progressed, I’d order sets of coins from the Mint: gold as well as silver. I became a bookkeeper and when I’d order change for the stores, I’d go through it and find silver coins. God, I was in heaven.

There was this one person who came into our store to exchange coins for bills. We had a machine that counted coins for the customers use but was broken. So the manager asked me to do it by hand. When I saw the coins, I mentioned to the man about the old coins in his bag but he wasn’t interested. So, I counted out about one hundred dollars worth of coins; about a third of them were old. I bought his change and separated it that same night. That was the high light of my career, finding so much in one day.

I still save coins but when I retired, I lost some interest in it, plus it's a lot harder finding old coins. The advantage of my position is gone forever. The only thing I’m collecting today is dust.

Old US Coins

Asteroids In Night Sky

Asteroids In Night Sky by Marion 2010

The Magnificent Torta and How it Saved the Cinema Part 2 of 2 by KimB

[Editor's Note: This story was written by KimB]

Other adventures took place too as we wandered around Mexico City. It was a wonderful place to be and everywhere there was something different or unique to see or experience.

After some time my brother had to return to the USA and Mom and I continued to live in Mexico City. We soon learned how to get around and how to get from one local to another on the bus lines. The buses where all color-coded and had different colored stripes indicating their routes. Bus travel was very cheap and the primary mode of transportation for most everyone.

We took “bus trips” by riding the bus to the end of the line and back again to our starting spot. One of our favorite jumping off spots was near the Plaza de la Revolución in the down town area. We would catch a bus, being sure to ask if it returned to the same spot and would get a wonderful tour of the city. We traveled to the outskirts of the city and thru many neighborhoods and saw places most visitors never go. Hardly a week went by without one of our scenic excursions.

Ham Torta with Avocado

Around the plaza were many shops and one in particular my Mom had come to know about. It was “The Torta” shop. That's what I called it anyway. It was a small standing room only store front that made torta sandwiches. And after our bus excursions, we always stopped at The Torta Shop before heading home.

Tortas are made from wonderful french rolls called "bolillos" and can be made in many many varieties. But we always got the same thing: Ham, avocado, Mexican cheese, a few pieces of onion, mayonnaise and NO lettuce. We would watch while they made the sandwiches and slather them with avocado and generous portions of ham. The sandwiches where enormous and were enough to keep us going for the rest of the day. Mom was always particular about where and what we ate and we only ate tortas from that shop and never anywhere else.

One activity that was a multi-week occurrence was going to the local cinema. In our neighborhood, we had several movie houses and my favorite one showed a TRIPLE feature every night. Movies started at @ 3:00 pm and got out after 10:00 pm or later depending on the movies being shown. Most of the movies where in English with Spanish subtitles and most were really awful. Lots of old B movies from the USA but I didn't care it was wonderful fun! The movies were inexpensive and Mom took me to them several times a week or more if I'd been extra good.

There was an upstairs concession stand and there were hawkers walking up and down the aisles selling popcorn [palomitas]. I would go upstairs and buy two bottles of coke and we would get a bag of popcorn and settle in for the long long evening of old bad John Wayne westerns (from before he was famous) or old gangster movies with James Cagney.

In Mexico City, the big meal of the day is eaten in the early afternoon and you don't eat much later on because the altitude makes it hard to digest food and you will get a belly ache if you eat too late in the day. One afternoon Mom rushed to take me to the movies and skipped the meal so we could get there on time. We got our cokes and popcorn and settled in for the long evening.

Shortly after the movie started, Mom started to feel the effects of skipping the meal. She whispered to me that she was unwell and that I would have to help her back to the hotel. But when she tried to stand up, she could not. Her blood sugar had crashed and she needed food.

Of course, I didn't know any of that, as I was only 10 years old but I DID know she needed to eat something and FAST. I thought quickly and ran upstairs to the concession stand. I knew they had tortas there and I ask for 2 ham ones. They handed me two tortas wrapped in wax paper and I made my way back down to the dark theater where Mom was sitting slumped in the seat.

I unwrapped one of the tortas and shoved it in her hand and said “Eat!”. She asked what it was and I told her it was a ham torta I'd gotten from the concession stand. She shook her head “no” and tried to push it away. I pushed it back and said “Eat it!” With great reluctance, she took a bite and then another and another! When she'd finished that one, I gave her the second one and she ate that one as well! In only a few moments, she was fully recovered and we both hugged each other and she said it was the best torta she'd ever eaten! We then settled back to watched the rest of the movies.

After that, when we went to the movies we got our two bottles of coke, popcorn and two ham tortas but we never ever took them out of their wrappers until the movie house was completely dark. Mom said they were the BEST she'd ever eaten and she never wanted to know what was inside because she didn't want risk Rule 1 coming between her and the “Magnificent Torta that Saved the Cinema”.


[End of Part 2]

Torta in Wrapper