The passing of Teddy Kennedy is the end of an era, an era that persons of my age took seriously. It was a call to responsibility for our fellow man and whether you liked the man or not, he was a talented senator and embodied the good and the bad of politics. But he was first and foremost a champion of the underdog and all those who were in need of special care.
I was born and bred a Republican. My Dad was one of the staunchest Republicans I ever knew. But he was a true Republican, not the sort we have today. My first presidential election was the race between Nixon and Kennedy. My Dad did not like or trust Democrats or Catholics. There was not much discussion of choice in our family...except I was married to a yellow dog democrat. I worked for Nixon and when I went to the polls, I voted for Kennedy. There was so much charisma and so much talk about things I thought mattered, I could not check the Republican box. I really did not want Dad to know that and I don't think he ever did. I am not sorry I voted for him. I could not stomach the Nixon campaign and philosophy.
It was a sad day when Kennedy was killed and also when Bobby was killed. I sorrowed when Teddy seemed to be such a scoundrel. But Teddy redeemed himself and became a true statesman. I was always proud of the way he fought for those who were not as privileged as he.
I have voted for a few other Democrats and I don't know if I can ever vote for another Republican. But the best vote is for the man and his compassionate view of the world. I will be sorry to see Teddy laid to rest. He had a long and interesting life. It was often a sad and difficult life, but he persevered and became a great senator. We shall probably not see his like again, but I am glad I was able to observe his work.
Good job, Teddy. Rest in Peace
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Weddings
I love weddings. We are about to have a grandson and what a joy that will be. Middle grandgirl will be marrying a very nice young man next month. Becky and Jason are going to be married in Stillwater, NJ if the army gives permission and a couple days off.
She will have to move to Austin Tx, and she will miss her job and her friends, but I think Jason will more than make up for that loss.
We are all excited and just waiting for an official date. She has found a wedding gown and the congregation at NJ church are anxious and excited and planning to help make it a great day for them Tim will marry them and Amy will be able to participate and assist. Her Dad will be there and you can bet I will be there. Her sisters are close and will be in attendance on her. Jason's brother will fly in to be best man. Tim is working on a web cam feed to his family.
Weddings are wonderful because they are the promise of a wonderful new life. I wish them all the best and welcome having a grandson. He is a caring and kind man, so I am happy for her.
She will have to move to Austin Tx, and she will miss her job and her friends, but I think Jason will more than make up for that loss.
We are all excited and just waiting for an official date. She has found a wedding gown and the congregation at NJ church are anxious and excited and planning to help make it a great day for them Tim will marry them and Amy will be able to participate and assist. Her Dad will be there and you can bet I will be there. Her sisters are close and will be in attendance on her. Jason's brother will fly in to be best man. Tim is working on a web cam feed to his family.
Weddings are wonderful because they are the promise of a wonderful new life. I wish them all the best and welcome having a grandson. He is a caring and kind man, so I am happy for her.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Being Nice
Sometimes it is just important to be nice. That can't be so hard. It seems we are not nice to the very people we are closest to. I suppose turning on the mean button is easier when we think someone will just forgive it because they love us. But that is not the way it should be. We should be nicest to those we love.
When we find ourselves in situations where people are not nice and kind, we need to figure out what is making them mean. But should we just put up with it? No, they need to be brought to task and explained to that it is painful when our loved ones speak harshly and treat us without dignity. No one should put up with that. Not even when we are old and incapacitated. Of all times to be treated gently and with compassion, that is the time we need it most.
I believe it is our responsibility to watch out for those who are fragile and can't speak for themselves or take care of themselves. We should be on the lookout for any sign that they need help. Family is always ready and willing to step in and rectify the situation. So watch for your elderly and infirm neighbors and loved ones. Be sure they are being treated kindly.
I know that longsuffering is one of the 'fruits of the spirit', but so is kindness, goodness and gentleness.
When we find ourselves in situations where people are not nice and kind, we need to figure out what is making them mean. But should we just put up with it? No, they need to be brought to task and explained to that it is painful when our loved ones speak harshly and treat us without dignity. No one should put up with that. Not even when we are old and incapacitated. Of all times to be treated gently and with compassion, that is the time we need it most.
I believe it is our responsibility to watch out for those who are fragile and can't speak for themselves or take care of themselves. We should be on the lookout for any sign that they need help. Family is always ready and willing to step in and rectify the situation. So watch for your elderly and infirm neighbors and loved ones. Be sure they are being treated kindly.
I know that longsuffering is one of the 'fruits of the spirit', but so is kindness, goodness and gentleness.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
School Days
We are in the midst of back to school at the shop. How many different kinds ofbackpacks and lunch boxes do they make? I think we have done about 150 school bags and there are only maybe 3 that have been a repeat of what someone else has brought for embroidery.
When my kids were in school, they had some sort of school bag, but it wasn't a back pack. The lunch boxes were metal and had cartoon stuff on them and mostly had a matching thermos with them. That lasted maybe a week, until they forgot to bring them home and they sat around the classroom, usually with a rotting egg still in them. And the thermos would be done within a month because something was left in it as it sat in the window at school. One of my children was better than the other about hanging onto their boxes because after that it was brown paper bags.
When I was in school, I either went home for lunch or we ate at school. No need for lunch boxes and in grade school you couldn't go home after school was out unless all of your work was turned in, so no need for backpacks. No homework..just staying after school if you weren't finished.
By Jr Hi, we graduated to notebooks to carry papers home. When we were really lucky, we had a zipper notebook. Then you could put a book inside and zip it all up and it was easy to carry.
One year, Mother bought a red crocodile looking zipper notebook for me and it had some pockets inside, too. Wow...that was a deal. I carried that through most of high school. I also remember a green one that must have been my jr hi notebook.
Then the grandgirls had backpacks. After awhile I began to wonder if they weren't breaking their backs with them. They carried so much stuff. But then they had lots more homework than we ever had. We used study hall time and class time, so there was not too much homework, except for book reports and things of that nature. One of the girls had a roll around backpack deal and it was great, except that you had to carry it up stairs and one day...soon after school started...it rolled off the curb and the wheels broke.
Now, everyone has their name on the stuff and such fancy backpacks you won't believe. One little bitty one came in that looked like a rhino and the price tag on it was $45. The child could not have been over 4. Oh, well...times change and it is a big boon for us as we make a good bit of money doing them each summer. So, welcome school time. A good time for business. Hopefully a good time for kids.
When my kids were in school, they had some sort of school bag, but it wasn't a back pack. The lunch boxes were metal and had cartoon stuff on them and mostly had a matching thermos with them. That lasted maybe a week, until they forgot to bring them home and they sat around the classroom, usually with a rotting egg still in them. And the thermos would be done within a month because something was left in it as it sat in the window at school. One of my children was better than the other about hanging onto their boxes because after that it was brown paper bags.
When I was in school, I either went home for lunch or we ate at school. No need for lunch boxes and in grade school you couldn't go home after school was out unless all of your work was turned in, so no need for backpacks. No homework..just staying after school if you weren't finished.
By Jr Hi, we graduated to notebooks to carry papers home. When we were really lucky, we had a zipper notebook. Then you could put a book inside and zip it all up and it was easy to carry.
One year, Mother bought a red crocodile looking zipper notebook for me and it had some pockets inside, too. Wow...that was a deal. I carried that through most of high school. I also remember a green one that must have been my jr hi notebook.
Then the grandgirls had backpacks. After awhile I began to wonder if they weren't breaking their backs with them. They carried so much stuff. But then they had lots more homework than we ever had. We used study hall time and class time, so there was not too much homework, except for book reports and things of that nature. One of the girls had a roll around backpack deal and it was great, except that you had to carry it up stairs and one day...soon after school started...it rolled off the curb and the wheels broke.
Now, everyone has their name on the stuff and such fancy backpacks you won't believe. One little bitty one came in that looked like a rhino and the price tag on it was $45. The child could not have been over 4. Oh, well...times change and it is a big boon for us as we make a good bit of money doing them each summer. So, welcome school time. A good time for business. Hopefully a good time for kids.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Tears and Motorcycles
I am not often moved to tears and I do not have a good feeling for motorcycles. However, yesterday we had an event on Main Street that moved me to tears. A
young man from our county was killed in Afghanistan recently and he was to be buried at Ft Sill yesterday.
They had asked in advance for a patriot honor guard for him and that the funeral cortege would be coming down Main St at noon on the way to the funeral. When it arrived, the street was lightly lined with folks holding Amer flags, as a sizable cavalcade of motorcycles and some cars advanced bearing sashes that read Patriot Honor Guard. That was a solemn moment and when the family cars drove by, you could see the emotion and sense of surprise on their faces that people had turned out to honor this young man. It was not a large crowd..a few people here and there..but in our block, there were enough to stand on the center line and make a row that ran most of the block.
We had just finished taking down our Fourth of July window so we had a lot of flags still laying on the counter. People saw them and tried to buy them, but we just gave them away and there were lots of flags on the street. Then folks brought them back and said thank you. We always keep lots of flags to give or loan for special events down town, but this day was a surprise to me as I had not read the paper the night before. I am so glad we had them available.
I just stood there and cried. I don't usually do that, but on that particular day, it overwhelmed me that a family, wife and children, parents and cousins...all...are going to be without this young man and the world he loved will be deprived of his presence. All for the sake of a country he didn't even know, a war he didn't want, people who didn't like him, trouble he didn't ask for. But most all soldiers are like that. They never want that kind of horror. I appreciate them and honor their service,
I know there will never be a day when we don't need armies and young men get shot and die. But wouldn't it be wonderful? Until then, say thanks to a soldier you know.
So, thank you, Jason Kramer. God hold you in his hands and keep you safe.
young man from our county was killed in Afghanistan recently and he was to be buried at Ft Sill yesterday.
They had asked in advance for a patriot honor guard for him and that the funeral cortege would be coming down Main St at noon on the way to the funeral. When it arrived, the street was lightly lined with folks holding Amer flags, as a sizable cavalcade of motorcycles and some cars advanced bearing sashes that read Patriot Honor Guard. That was a solemn moment and when the family cars drove by, you could see the emotion and sense of surprise on their faces that people had turned out to honor this young man. It was not a large crowd..a few people here and there..but in our block, there were enough to stand on the center line and make a row that ran most of the block.
We had just finished taking down our Fourth of July window so we had a lot of flags still laying on the counter. People saw them and tried to buy them, but we just gave them away and there were lots of flags on the street. Then folks brought them back and said thank you. We always keep lots of flags to give or loan for special events down town, but this day was a surprise to me as I had not read the paper the night before. I am so glad we had them available.
I just stood there and cried. I don't usually do that, but on that particular day, it overwhelmed me that a family, wife and children, parents and cousins...all...are going to be without this young man and the world he loved will be deprived of his presence. All for the sake of a country he didn't even know, a war he didn't want, people who didn't like him, trouble he didn't ask for. But most all soldiers are like that. They never want that kind of horror. I appreciate them and honor their service,
I know there will never be a day when we don't need armies and young men get shot and die. But wouldn't it be wonderful? Until then, say thanks to a soldier you know.
So, thank you, Jason Kramer. God hold you in his hands and keep you safe.
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