Ah, the good old summertime..back in the day, when livin' was easy. We took to the backyard with a book, a doll, or just our imagination. Sometimes I climbed a tree, even though it scared me to death, and would sit there most of the afternoon just thinking thoughts. Of course, I was pretty young then.
Sometimes I would go in and forget my doll and leave her out in the sun and then her skin (wood composite) would crack and she would get all ugly and I would feel bad and try to fix her up.
Sometimes I would read for hours with a glass of lemonade under a tree. Loved the hammock under the tree. I think it was pretty hot.
That was during the time when polio was rampant and everyone was scared for their kids and looked for every way under the sun to protect them. One way was to stay out of the heat. So by 11 in the morning we would be herded indoors until about 4pm. That was really boring but if I was lucky I would be invited into my neighbors house who has the most miraculous fan. It was called a hassock fan and it looked like a big footstoor and had louvres all around it and the air would come out of all sides and that was great. No matter where you were in the room, cool air blew on you all the time. I don't know why we just had an oscillating floor fan, but Grace had 2 of those great hassock fans and I loved them. I would volunteer to wash her dishes so I could go to her house.
We didn't swim much and when the grownups decided that polio came from swimming pools, we didn't swim at all. But we did put the sprayer on the hose and spray each other and play in the water. My friend Wanda had a sprinkler at her house. It was a circle that sat on the ground and had little holes in it and it would spray water upward. We would run through that and what a deal!! But her dad was a stickler for his lawn and we were only allowed to use it so many minutes a day because he didn't want us making a lake and churning up mud among his grass. Still, it was a treat.
Wish I had a tree to climb today so I could read my book up in the quiet,leafy cocoon that lets dapples of light play on your book.
Oh, well, I will sit in my air conditioning watching the tv and being grateful I never caught polio.
Have a happy summer.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
High Hopes
We all have high hopes..for ourselves and for those we care about. For our nation, for our church and for the world. It is how we handle those hopes being dashed that mark a person. So people who do not do as well as they would hope when they have an important event before them can either get upset and blame the world and all around them, get morose and feel they are inadequate, or pick themselves up and dust themselves off and start all over again. I know there is a song in there somewhere. I forget where.
Taking an important test, closing an important deal, keeping a relationship intact, taming a viscous animal, dealing with impossible bosses or customers, failure of those we trust to come through for us. All of those things can cause anguish and distrust and frustration.
Here's the thing. That which we can do something about...do it. That which we can do nothing about...get over it. Knowing the difference is the key. Oh, yes, it was someone important that said that in another way. Well, he was right. Do it or get over it.
For everyone who has a hope dashed, they should remember all the hopes that have come to pass. If it is in your power to fix it..do it.
Taking an important test, closing an important deal, keeping a relationship intact, taming a viscous animal, dealing with impossible bosses or customers, failure of those we trust to come through for us. All of those things can cause anguish and distrust and frustration.
Here's the thing. That which we can do something about...do it. That which we can do nothing about...get over it. Knowing the difference is the key. Oh, yes, it was someone important that said that in another way. Well, he was right. Do it or get over it.
For everyone who has a hope dashed, they should remember all the hopes that have come to pass. If it is in your power to fix it..do it.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Family Time
We had such a lot of fun with Jo and Rachel both being in Duncan for awhile. Becky was able to be here a couple of days and that was great as she tried tell us about her trip to Korea. Should have been enough family time for awhile. Especially since we also had Martha and we all went to a family reunion. But I don't think there is ever enough family time.
We went back to NJ when Rachel returned and had the opportunity to spend a pleasant time with
Tim and Amy at the manse in Stillwater (NJ that is)Enjoyed meeting the new dogs and was glad Tim walked them and fed them and we just had to sit and watch them. We really enjoyed his church service and seeing the people in his congregation. We had lunch at the general store and they serve really good food. We ate ice cream outside of a wayside diner about 10 minutes away. We tried to find the Appalcahian trail, but fear we missed it be a few feet. Still enjoyed the mountain drive. We saw lots of deer and wildlife from the yard.
They fed us and transported us and spoiled us. Just being around them softens up all the hard edges one builds up just living life. What a joy!
Then we were privileged to go to NYC and see Joeys new apartment with a great view of central park. What a lucky lady...if I were 40 years younger, I would enjoy that life. Rachel was a delight and was also glad to get back to Princeton and her friends. Amy, of course, was supposed to have the summer off, but she was into a distance learning course with Rutgers...so she won't get rusty on her study habits, I guess. They were all busy with their lives and yet they let us interrupt and be part of their lives for awhile. That was gracious of them. I could never get enough family time. I have a great family!
We went back to NJ when Rachel returned and had the opportunity to spend a pleasant time with
Tim and Amy at the manse in Stillwater (NJ that is)Enjoyed meeting the new dogs and was glad Tim walked them and fed them and we just had to sit and watch them. We really enjoyed his church service and seeing the people in his congregation. We had lunch at the general store and they serve really good food. We ate ice cream outside of a wayside diner about 10 minutes away. We tried to find the Appalcahian trail, but fear we missed it be a few feet. Still enjoyed the mountain drive. We saw lots of deer and wildlife from the yard.
They fed us and transported us and spoiled us. Just being around them softens up all the hard edges one builds up just living life. What a joy!
Then we were privileged to go to NYC and see Joeys new apartment with a great view of central park. What a lucky lady...if I were 40 years younger, I would enjoy that life. Rachel was a delight and was also glad to get back to Princeton and her friends. Amy, of course, was supposed to have the summer off, but she was into a distance learning course with Rutgers...so she won't get rusty on her study habits, I guess. They were all busy with their lives and yet they let us interrupt and be part of their lives for awhile. That was gracious of them. I could never get enough family time. I have a great family!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Busy Time
Well, we are home..busy 12 days, but enjoyed them all. I will not speak of all of them today as they are too precious to cram into one blog. Instead I will say that Bill and I probably suffered less than anyone with out marathon trip home. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. I now know to turn on my phone before I leave the last bed I slept in. If I had checked my messages we would not have left Amy's house and the first frustration would have been eleminated. When we decided to fly into Lawton instead of OKC, that made me feel better because at least Doug wouldn't have so far to go after a long night umpiring behind the plate. We spent some extra time with Amy and Rachel and then I got really antsey and just wanted to be at the airport before the rains began again and they could drive home in sunshine.
We spent a long afternoon at the Philly airport because Dallas had such bad storms the planes couldn't leave there. When we finally were boarded onto an overfull plane we knew there would be no chance of catching the Lawton connection, but we just wanted to get as close as we could. Arriving at DFW at nearly midnight and one of the last planes to land for the night, the kind people offered cots and a blanket. There were hundreds stranded, but as it is such a big airport, it seemed almost deserted. They were doing construction on the restrooms near us, which caused two problems. One was that it was a long way to walk to find one and the other is the construction guys that are doing demolition were taking it away in giant rubbermaid buckets they rolled over the tiles down the corridor. Why didn't we move? Couldn't tell you...herd instinct I guess. Don't want to move from the last place you felt safe. AND, there was a Starbucks just next to us that was to open at 4:30 am...no food or drink or water to be found. Like being on a desert with a fence around the only oasis to be seen. Starbucks don't open until 5:30am.
Oh, well. People were all nice and we all helped each other out.
They posted the wrong terminal and gate for the Lawton departure, but we figured it out soon enough that everyone waiting for that flight finally found their way to the right gate. No luggage when we arrived home, but it was brought to us by afternoon and that was nice. So it all turned out well and restored my faith in humanity.
Next time it will be direct to Newark if possible so I can take the train and not have anyone making that long trip to the airport in Philly.
Thank one and all for a great trip. The girls at the shop for holding down the fort, for Doug for transporting and helping at the shop, Amy for the many trips to Philly, Tim for his great hospitality, the girls for their presence, Amy, Tim, Rachel and Joey for just loving us enough to let us intrude on their lives. It was a wonderful trip and much enjoyed. More on the details later.
We spent a long afternoon at the Philly airport because Dallas had such bad storms the planes couldn't leave there. When we finally were boarded onto an overfull plane we knew there would be no chance of catching the Lawton connection, but we just wanted to get as close as we could. Arriving at DFW at nearly midnight and one of the last planes to land for the night, the kind people offered cots and a blanket. There were hundreds stranded, but as it is such a big airport, it seemed almost deserted. They were doing construction on the restrooms near us, which caused two problems. One was that it was a long way to walk to find one and the other is the construction guys that are doing demolition were taking it away in giant rubbermaid buckets they rolled over the tiles down the corridor. Why didn't we move? Couldn't tell you...herd instinct I guess. Don't want to move from the last place you felt safe. AND, there was a Starbucks just next to us that was to open at 4:30 am...no food or drink or water to be found. Like being on a desert with a fence around the only oasis to be seen. Starbucks don't open until 5:30am.
Oh, well. People were all nice and we all helped each other out.
They posted the wrong terminal and gate for the Lawton departure, but we figured it out soon enough that everyone waiting for that flight finally found their way to the right gate. No luggage when we arrived home, but it was brought to us by afternoon and that was nice. So it all turned out well and restored my faith in humanity.
Next time it will be direct to Newark if possible so I can take the train and not have anyone making that long trip to the airport in Philly.
Thank one and all for a great trip. The girls at the shop for holding down the fort, for Doug for transporting and helping at the shop, Amy for the many trips to Philly, Tim for his great hospitality, the girls for their presence, Amy, Tim, Rachel and Joey for just loving us enough to let us intrude on their lives. It was a wonderful trip and much enjoyed. More on the details later.
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