tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32765718764988874612024-03-13T23:39:56.555-07:00Echo's voiceI’m a creative, wonderful, wacky woman; teacher, writer, mom & grandma, wife & daughter. I love children, travel, & I’m addicted to reading and writing. I am a storyteller and a friend. Many people in my family have been adopted and I work with special needs children. I have published 3 YA fantasy Novels about Duffy Barkley and a Time twisted tale of the Oregon Trail, and 3 picture books. I love the beauty in this world and helping others see it too.echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-49266986320822131892023-11-30T10:49:00.000-08:002023-11-30T10:49:50.320-08:00Gratitude a Day part 5<p> 11/24/23</p><p>#NaNoWriMo </p><p><br /></p><p>What challenge are you Thankful for?</p><p><br /></p><p>In 2008 I heard about the challenge to write a rough, sloppy unedited first draft of a novel in thirty days. And I had been writing since I was in second grade so it sounded fun. It kind of was fun, but it also</p><p>was exhausting and November always feels stressful to me anyway. I did do the 1,667 words a day to meet their 50,000 word goal, but the struggle to pick it up again and write the next 40,000 words that made it in, sure didn’t start on December First, or after New Years. But forward 15 years. I have finished 4 novels, three picture books and some private collections of letters I’ve written over the last 40 years. I haven’t made a ton of money, but I’ve managed to pay a bill every now and then. Best of all, it’s been fun to give author talks at schools, to speak to book clubs, and to read the books with classrooms of third to fifth grade students. </p><p>National Novel Writing Month. My favorite challenge </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuVqJ-LqWujo6Xf-i1Ba5y_QKDS2xXjL6GrmSPHOJkJ-D1siCupdSS5Yf4xasdN2xj-ZN87XmAo6QUsaU2YYFIXgk9cGAyCcD0AI1pcpTjg86kq5ofvaoMhokZDzwua_yvHooSjcVwZZQTFCcB04UeSElQn_7mc5EkSYogrRrww-CN8bPEPD8vRUaDFqk/s2153/IMG_6958.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="1722" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuVqJ-LqWujo6Xf-i1Ba5y_QKDS2xXjL6GrmSPHOJkJ-D1siCupdSS5Yf4xasdN2xj-ZN87XmAo6QUsaU2YYFIXgk9cGAyCcD0AI1pcpTjg86kq5ofvaoMhokZDzwua_yvHooSjcVwZZQTFCcB04UeSElQn_7mc5EkSYogrRrww-CN8bPEPD8vRUaDFqk/s320/IMG_6958.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11/25/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What moment this week are you most grateful for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs2dJyzYW1OZhUVi_p2920Nm-HqfdReNsMgm-lrqkOxcw3xvsyDOt5aEBMJ_6ZsggjHjrRKnLIP8hBtdlQzI2zEzqobNUkYur5KnBQOhT3rCMEq5KTVNC2XzD61PpW0eabKRkg1RI-bUzWQxyrjB4IwcSAQYga_iWL5EtL39nwhLEhE4f7MY7JGNhGqkH/s1319/IMG_7095.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1319" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs2dJyzYW1OZhUVi_p2920Nm-HqfdReNsMgm-lrqkOxcw3xvsyDOt5aEBMJ_6ZsggjHjrRKnLIP8hBtdlQzI2zEzqobNUkYur5KnBQOhT3rCMEq5KTVNC2XzD61PpW0eabKRkg1RI-bUzWQxyrjB4IwcSAQYga_iWL5EtL39nwhLEhE4f7MY7JGNhGqkH/s320/IMG_7095.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My husband’s birthday was on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. He and I got to talk to family and friends on the phone. Our Granddaughter told him Happy Birthday and my brother sang him a birthday song he heard loud 3,000 miles away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our youngest son and oldest granddaughter came with us for a drive up the coast. We walked on the docks and watched the sun set and the moon rise over a beautiful beach. We ate pizza and ice cream and fudge and played air hockey in the game room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We missed a lot of people over this week and the fact so many celebrated his birthday was a good reminder that when we feel alone we really are not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">11/26/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What form of expression are you most grateful for?</div></div><div><br /></div>Every year for 42 years now, I have sat down and thought about the friends and family, far and near, still here, expecting babies, missing from this earth. All of them. And while my current family and friends gather to play boardgames I sit listening to the laughter and write out addresses after having tried to sum up the past year in a letter and single photo card. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDffegSdQ4DxKHyPezmjmWHxiQ9RtQ-0OA48KszE781rw6QXYXr9SKfgLYb8tYmY6lp9Z66A7vyld2PZtoBbPZpGI2C4fgD_M6IKKGD7sRbEgxk1Kc6YuYcoNL8deSI4mpBa33oQsvKV35lOx3M7xFtjqA5p3O_Nd_h6E3Ksa4ZU5QXev2UYrUNhDzpFfr/s4032/IMG_7187.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDffegSdQ4DxKHyPezmjmWHxiQ9RtQ-0OA48KszE781rw6QXYXr9SKfgLYb8tYmY6lp9Z66A7vyld2PZtoBbPZpGI2C4fgD_M6IKKGD7sRbEgxk1Kc6YuYcoNL8deSI4mpBa33oQsvKV35lOx3M7xFtjqA5p3O_Nd_h6E3Ksa4ZU5QXev2UYrUNhDzpFfr/s320/IMG_7187.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11/27/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What small thing that you use daily are you most grateful for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honestly the one thing that I am always aware is an amazing gift is being able to turn a tap and have running, hot or cold water, clean and safe to drink, abundant enough to fill washing machines and wading pools and take daily baths or showers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It’s a luxury my grandmother didn’t have in her house, and one my great grandmother only had via a hand pump and a reservoir on the side of her stove. It’s one I’ve done enough long camping or power outages to know I can live without, but I sure do love living with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLvGiqCWjf3oIBXQ1uNUvEPP3aZaAmbr7nHocZDUwVVgaY8eRVd6rbFXhE9mNUqOBc3EF1tf4bXFCe16Y-FNeLjXCZVl4NpPWA-yylu96wftLQoHhVe1X_6hizGdaoPJIgjzchG8BFZlpA8ZHnfmkziVJgrbjk5lvPyWUV6elPzWRrYtjYvFtReK_Tqka/s4032/IMG_7186.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLvGiqCWjf3oIBXQ1uNUvEPP3aZaAmbr7nHocZDUwVVgaY8eRVd6rbFXhE9mNUqOBc3EF1tf4bXFCe16Y-FNeLjXCZVl4NpPWA-yylu96wftLQoHhVe1X_6hizGdaoPJIgjzchG8BFZlpA8ZHnfmkziVJgrbjk5lvPyWUV6elPzWRrYtjYvFtReK_Tqka/s320/IMG_7186.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11/28/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What small thing that happened today are you grateful for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes, in spite of forcing yourself to stop and look at all the negatives in comparison to the good things, when you can see that the scale tips heavily to the side of being blessed, it isn’t enough to keep me from feeling overwhelmed and depressed. It’s hard to keep from the dark thoughts and the fears and loneliness even in a crowd. November is often like that and this one has been especially difficult. So many days when getting up and forcing myself to take a shower is harder than it should be. But music is a lifeline. And my family often leaves sounding stressed, goes to choir and comes back singing and laughing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today the movies did that for us. We went to see the third Trolls movie. The first two were energetic, musical and very positive. This one also served to energize me and I came home happier than I left, singing and teasing Daisy and greeting the dog. Movies are hard for me though, sitting without moving, or standing more than 20 minutes both trigger muscle spasms and pain. The theater was not crowded but still there were plenty of other people, so I held Greg’s hand, gritted my teeth until it felt like they would shatter and screamed silently, kicking my feet around to make my nerves think I was moving. And then the soundtrack would catch me up and carry me, like the pain meds never really do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf9K4uEWTFmxZRIvI6i_R_xSNLKsukERi0rZ1Ojpa_C3ba4rLyzKjgPaGt9wGiLS6gryh7COHCxbDDusRljOK9KLGeLF0R7xDfVAWGZ8Yent8iS4qi3TEYUQh3r525thXQKQ5cH5saQbl6pLK_p4vs16kr0edt6unMTBB35EBbD2Hh3pWIwxDYFVU41c7/s4032/IMG_2991.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf9K4uEWTFmxZRIvI6i_R_xSNLKsukERi0rZ1Ojpa_C3ba4rLyzKjgPaGt9wGiLS6gryh7COHCxbDDusRljOK9KLGeLF0R7xDfVAWGZ8Yent8iS4qi3TEYUQh3r525thXQKQ5cH5saQbl6pLK_p4vs16kr0edt6unMTBB35EBbD2Hh3pWIwxDYFVU41c7/s320/IMG_2991.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11/29/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What friend/family member are you grateful for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, I’m grateful for all my friends and family members, Duh! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That said, of course it mostly comes back to Greg. I was such an insecure, hopeful girl when I met him. Finally away from the cliques and bullies of Cody Schools but not yet believing or trusting offers of friendship. He was steady and gentle and dependable. He let me freak out and scream, let me cry and swear I hated him, let me repeatedly push him away, without leaving. When I didn’t trust him, he just stayed true and waited for me to realize it. Then when he wanted to introduce me to his family I was terrified. They were 327 miles away, and he was the baby of six kids, and I just knew that going to stay at his parents house when everyone came home would mean they’d all see what a loser I was and then he’d see it too. He, on the other hand, assured me that if he loved me, they’d love me. Well, it wasn’t quite as fast as he assumed, but it was far more instant than I’d expected. His Mom was hesitant but became my other mom and his ten year old nephew leaped into my arms and fell asleep with his head on my lap as we watched movies. Soon I knew that my mom would keep Greg and kick me out if I was stupid enough to break up with him. I knew this because she told me so in pretty much those exact words. And I haven’t ever stopped being grateful that he entered my life in the Fall of 1981 and is still here. No one makes me happier, or madder or more of any emotion - in short, he is tangled in who I have become because he makes me more me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz1kL00uE1Ogsv-DH8k90l5LSteyBwb67RJj-2juYN5hkqKtJNbeD0a3Bl_zTocNUe4fvGnoFVhyphenhyphenwI-d83XAC2fwdXaVZKRvhfO-6qPf3RzoyH0l4q3jhOSqAEwQFeeXP4pQiUXRD59wqX6XTE7DQ1XFJM5rH0HXl89J1JjZ0Vq1l5zMGG0JdZ7rY9_da/s1936/IMG_0860.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz1kL00uE1Ogsv-DH8k90l5LSteyBwb67RJj-2juYN5hkqKtJNbeD0a3Bl_zTocNUe4fvGnoFVhyphenhyphenwI-d83XAC2fwdXaVZKRvhfO-6qPf3RzoyH0l4q3jhOSqAEwQFeeXP4pQiUXRD59wqX6XTE7DQ1XFJM5rH0HXl89J1JjZ0Vq1l5zMGG0JdZ7rY9_da/s320/IMG_0860.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrdnHTuL60pEp5Fq79C6r-IfPEuUmkR3ZMcMyLy1ZwSSCzAeBbUE6DM6tZKteuWmu9H_5_rRdZUaGRFBvejiPMHSAtpv0dQhZWzSA2oi4jYCPn2ID1q_UTpsRbDlNnqMVr9rRTEwWhyphenhyphenLglWP95cOqHA3eZK5e3mp9NHC3lRqkMMGA9EbD-4QA9l72I-6w/s4032/IMG_2846.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrdnHTuL60pEp5Fq79C6r-IfPEuUmkR3ZMcMyLy1ZwSSCzAeBbUE6DM6tZKteuWmu9H_5_rRdZUaGRFBvejiPMHSAtpv0dQhZWzSA2oi4jYCPn2ID1q_UTpsRbDlNnqMVr9rRTEwWhyphenhyphenLglWP95cOqHA3eZK5e3mp9NHC3lRqkMMGA9EbD-4QA9l72I-6w/s320/IMG_2846.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">11/30/23</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What talent or skill do you have that you are grateful for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, Day thirty of this challenge. Without sounding vain, I hope, there are many skills that come easily to me, but while I enjoy them, painting and weaving and drawing and writing, reading and singing, and telling stories, all of them, they are things I’m interested in, until I figure out how they work. But I get to a basic understanding and ability and get interested in something else. It’s like Greg is a singer, a vocal music director. But also can teach band. He isn’t an instrument player really, but he understands how they all work and can tell a student how to improve, but never really took the time to master one. With so many things I can judge if it’s good or Great, but I don’t do the great stuff myself. It took me awhile to realize my particular skill that I love is teaching. I love to find the ways to relate to kids and light their enthusiasm and help them see where they can grow. I love when learning is creative and makes huge messes. I love that kids love me and show me the stuff they can barely contain their enthusiasm for, whether it’s art or snakes, or likely something I have to start learning about to help me teach them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love when one of them leans over and whispers, “you keep me safe.” I can’t always. But I sure try. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeSISZ0v_ntBsliHtriJ5F4S-aVT2oPw82JJW3yUEpPGhQJZACI_H2unqtwd7vBSxtJeVpSFcGU5gNNqu9H4FbrDi52Y3zFzdN-JJ8GTNwNzoM0g_n92Vp_X3AZgcsvryByhA2jZyatbi0vBFAujtZAg9Kz95i5DPF93GywNBEIJvaXXUG0-2iJBHkXZv/s3995/IMG_1244.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3995" data-original-width="2996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeSISZ0v_ntBsliHtriJ5F4S-aVT2oPw82JJW3yUEpPGhQJZACI_H2unqtwd7vBSxtJeVpSFcGU5gNNqu9H4FbrDi52Y3zFzdN-JJ8GTNwNzoM0g_n92Vp_X3AZgcsvryByhA2jZyatbi0vBFAujtZAg9Kz95i5DPF93GywNBEIJvaXXUG0-2iJBHkXZv/s320/IMG_1244.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_E07pw91As5Gp2hpRZD1j8JhfQN2W520qs9dRPr9oG7WSSmp4w-3RFp0QHMFEjsx9iWePV-nSyeB9XGbf7lCSR2x3yUTVvM0zXP7vUKjNxBsIQqUWBXKAeyIJmoTR3GIC6hWNVdZi_i-wEUSQlEra6jSuz8rGORovT-rvOVyvTtoDjA5m_nZ9jIPFH4-/s2592/IMG_2694.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_E07pw91As5Gp2hpRZD1j8JhfQN2W520qs9dRPr9oG7WSSmp4w-3RFp0QHMFEjsx9iWePV-nSyeB9XGbf7lCSR2x3yUTVvM0zXP7vUKjNxBsIQqUWBXKAeyIJmoTR3GIC6hWNVdZi_i-wEUSQlEra6jSuz8rGORovT-rvOVyvTtoDjA5m_nZ9jIPFH4-/s320/IMG_2694.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23rLBZCDG_O7ic_bu1Aza_bCmrqaBmLUX1EhfhP4s_YHHrmSX-VDrMX8ePAFA7gelhPXrFNmdYUj_G6OedNC8tErHxtPV99pPtLqyXBe8jH5eL4elR2VdrGlGI-Dk7NxPZyoMoftaZonCYupX_nmJsy2m-U61NMDoMggYgo17eSroWGqtECjxWKz0T-zj/s2048/IMG_5571.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="2048" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23rLBZCDG_O7ic_bu1Aza_bCmrqaBmLUX1EhfhP4s_YHHrmSX-VDrMX8ePAFA7gelhPXrFNmdYUj_G6OedNC8tErHxtPV99pPtLqyXBe8jH5eL4elR2VdrGlGI-Dk7NxPZyoMoftaZonCYupX_nmJsy2m-U61NMDoMggYgo17eSroWGqtECjxWKz0T-zj/s320/IMG_5571.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jAvIoW68Lp4xAnU9nT8Jmv2x7_patlYq_zeHE_GLPuq9qTxmWo8A_0N4E6XgxflVUwoAZj_peNnEOelMiAiWDxesRY0E2RHRmJAdXYF2uVfdnKjcnm-GlLAH4sHsHgJe_h8HUUOb01rJgb5SCh6gy-KriJ5rUBGIb_ZDYusbmMKNm_u00nWeM6-41Ups/s3072/P1020742.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jAvIoW68Lp4xAnU9nT8Jmv2x7_patlYq_zeHE_GLPuq9qTxmWo8A_0N4E6XgxflVUwoAZj_peNnEOelMiAiWDxesRY0E2RHRmJAdXYF2uVfdnKjcnm-GlLAH4sHsHgJe_h8HUUOb01rJgb5SCh6gy-KriJ5rUBGIb_ZDYusbmMKNm_u00nWeM6-41Ups/s320/P1020742.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWobl2Eh4_9VIbweo0ktNArzSGB3Msi_zO4BaB8EXk-2Wir2AZbYd6EOHJyzxMDOmTCKxEuk4uY9KLqgKPsckPDh22IGlWkugsdEExcNy6L0RVP9QGb1e91kzBN2EMp1_haVhQmqxy4EE3AMPS7kvXYDTIunTUarpN-TKhUctHT94zJpOM3GTCl-ePyDzf/s3072/P1080079.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWobl2Eh4_9VIbweo0ktNArzSGB3Msi_zO4BaB8EXk-2Wir2AZbYd6EOHJyzxMDOmTCKxEuk4uY9KLqgKPsckPDh22IGlWkugsdEExcNy6L0RVP9QGb1e91kzBN2EMp1_haVhQmqxy4EE3AMPS7kvXYDTIunTUarpN-TKhUctHT94zJpOM3GTCl-ePyDzf/s320/P1080079.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz54ErgURslopIVXKN8JMwXoo5H9yFaV7wvHZ2lRVuy8-uhL39_3hX1hG2XTMbnhmXXKI5hxHI8_pmKrzFFZV1IsPSE6jAMjQVP6kE3I-VgaDfRTZAlZa2NDCr58krnKZiyYIcUJRDOUmrbnG_PyZaQqOniNlnR-oC5tGF-beTN-FPvVAc7URdSE4C_6R/s2764/P1080999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="2764" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglz54ErgURslopIVXKN8JMwXoo5H9yFaV7wvHZ2lRVuy8-uhL39_3hX1hG2XTMbnhmXXKI5hxHI8_pmKrzFFZV1IsPSE6jAMjQVP6kE3I-VgaDfRTZAlZa2NDCr58krnKZiyYIcUJRDOUmrbnG_PyZaQqOniNlnR-oC5tGF-beTN-FPvVAc7URdSE4C_6R/s320/P1080999.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaAtsPXsGxDL868k8vkfgDR-6Ryx7Ak1KP6HBrF8LcBZS0piKtka9xRjS-G7OistUnbGk7KgOX0u5k5y7aVN1Hqf-2PO0JFxAKPh8aL3MYsDYk6SfLg4u0aTSCmeEVXtU3Fzh0g8G4Pkpin7fTWwdpVsaoynzVeSMDXSQiaKEqhOW4kJPlwbbGKhZTN4j/s1600/P1120969.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaAtsPXsGxDL868k8vkfgDR-6Ryx7Ak1KP6HBrF8LcBZS0piKtka9xRjS-G7OistUnbGk7KgOX0u5k5y7aVN1Hqf-2PO0JFxAKPh8aL3MYsDYk6SfLg4u0aTSCmeEVXtU3Fzh0g8G4Pkpin7fTWwdpVsaoynzVeSMDXSQiaKEqhOW4kJPlwbbGKhZTN4j/s320/P1120969.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGLs9QUEbbkfb9y7mFKSc_rYbViP8h-gPajV2F0kQCXsRcJ2K3MlKX6HdbsM6JEiYiVjdmOZWkGAm5tKeNZT104eSGaEiKUzatgykpa9AnBIxK-HppSNP1euAnVoSZP7X50WDyyn-dg4pbhGziMyGpEanj9ku36guPpYrCmArGSFBgymW2BfA7hsiUr3R/s2560/P2151003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="2560" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGLs9QUEbbkfb9y7mFKSc_rYbViP8h-gPajV2F0kQCXsRcJ2K3MlKX6HdbsM6JEiYiVjdmOZWkGAm5tKeNZT104eSGaEiKUzatgykpa9AnBIxK-HppSNP1euAnVoSZP7X50WDyyn-dg4pbhGziMyGpEanj9ku36guPpYrCmArGSFBgymW2BfA7hsiUr3R/s320/P2151003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-23151209745876260212023-11-24T10:16:00.000-08:002023-11-24T10:16:28.519-08:00Gratitude a day part 4<div class="media-details" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnz8HFD8rSLN705Rwh7bJYLzlIvurmIsL7XUwrCJi9bQHIA_R-iwR1iv1LADUcjphgPfKESG7iVQZj9zAMdomUoCj1DfnYnpuP_p4HeLGy13BpH8RJXjEfSgIFGpYwqRMPOgchs_qa7xmkkZIzQg4ICR1nrw1K-A1RFvRFpk9MQhAg97Fst5QXAODfeQu/s1167/IMG_2299.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1167" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnz8HFD8rSLN705Rwh7bJYLzlIvurmIsL7XUwrCJi9bQHIA_R-iwR1iv1LADUcjphgPfKESG7iVQZj9zAMdomUoCj1DfnYnpuP_p4HeLGy13BpH8RJXjEfSgIFGpYwqRMPOgchs_qa7xmkkZIzQg4ICR1nrw1K-A1RFvRFpk9MQhAg97Fst5QXAODfeQu/s320/IMG_2299.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Touching </h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11/19/23<br /><br />What touch are you most grateful for?<br /><br />There are so many types of touches and so many people who are starving for contact. The Covid era and social media haven’t helped ease the loneliness that many of us feel even when surrounded by other people. But I’m not sure I can choose just one to be most grateful for. The first touch between a mother and a child, the last touch on a hand clashed with a dying lived one. A firm hug that neither wants to break off before departing home. A delighted hug when surprised by someone who has been missed. The cool touch in a fevered brow, the comfort of the furry head of a beloved pet nuzzling against you when you are sad. There are so many loved ones, so many remembered moments and each was a precious gift. Wiping a tear, kissing and holding on. I’m grateful for those I have touched and been touched by. </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-count" style="color: #888888; float: right; font-size: 15px; text-transform: lowercase;"><br /></div><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwsT2tnYbQPcuBy1HA5EnQ_-di4D_unbWL7caktCUrGEL1Q_26lQ7NMeg6y1_UNRMPAEcX8FzyFVFi8lI56hBNrU3orZ-gJC1rKnDS17Evw54YyILa4EhHbB0lnxVCW8lQN52oQIuicI-AYamwCBoDnES7gukw63hgivkxcEVlLKcdQaDoSrUlb-fjP-3/s1704/IMG_6758.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1704" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwsT2tnYbQPcuBy1HA5EnQ_-di4D_unbWL7caktCUrGEL1Q_26lQ7NMeg6y1_UNRMPAEcX8FzyFVFi8lI56hBNrU3orZ-gJC1rKnDS17Evw54YyILa4EhHbB0lnxVCW8lQN52oQIuicI-AYamwCBoDnES7gukw63hgivkxcEVlLKcdQaDoSrUlb-fjP-3/s320/IMG_6758.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></h1><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></h1><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Who</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11-20-23<br />Who are you thankful for having in your life? <br />Yes.<br />I’m thankful for everyone who has been in my life. The great ones, the unnoticed and even the Glenn Harris years. <br />Looking back so many have added joy, some have added strength and courage, resilience and determination but if they’ve been in my life, there has usually been something worth having that I gained by knowing them. <br />Of course I have been amazingly blessed in my family, and my extended family and my chosen family. I’ve also been harassed by some fairly strong enemies, which at the time I thought I’d rather do without, but it’s taught me to love myself when others only see someone worth hating.</div></div><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-20" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 20th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv59VoXdBgFkVJ-p-e5opKkWx4G7kF-vp3LWyZNoHn0BGouVvjcczgqGxFTtNTnqd1-NDtro4zEZ9Fpy1lm5IBbUOkiBQ0QRlVxoavX46SNjWERkb-cmFF7N82JhqPiIGZTmm1W-WdOLsR6xfvkh2vpZu_KOq6pDFHqbTFBU6pjij08Tq61_tgZ2RBOAC/s4032/IMG_2355.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv59VoXdBgFkVJ-p-e5opKkWx4G7kF-vp3LWyZNoHn0BGouVvjcczgqGxFTtNTnqd1-NDtro4zEZ9Fpy1lm5IBbUOkiBQ0QRlVxoavX46SNjWERkb-cmFF7N82JhqPiIGZTmm1W-WdOLsR6xfvkh2vpZu_KOq6pDFHqbTFBU6pjij08Tq61_tgZ2RBOAC/s320/IMG_2355.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV7IQyuFlEzvCUvUnfSy-5G_SWHg6cOUeBS3XelOPtfMZ7ZKpwYJR-nHEN-4Rowk5dsH81ZqxVW3aO2Plw0k1qPFGvojsK2d6frDzSrrLpdMf_lyLMM-jcU0LWiua9YwZEwXAXDpFaDroReBwjDlNl9whIjyq4CJb5DUa5YZarYuJnUmTuHHXNmi6J0vC/s4032/IMG_2378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV7IQyuFlEzvCUvUnfSy-5G_SWHg6cOUeBS3XelOPtfMZ7ZKpwYJR-nHEN-4Rowk5dsH81ZqxVW3aO2Plw0k1qPFGvojsK2d6frDzSrrLpdMf_lyLMM-jcU0LWiua9YwZEwXAXDpFaDroReBwjDlNl9whIjyq4CJb5DUa5YZarYuJnUmTuHHXNmi6J0vC/s320/IMG_2378.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11-21-23 </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">What song are you most grateful for?</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Impossible Question. </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Because throughout my seasons of life I have always loved music and songs have been there through all my highs and lows, but not just one song. There are a few certain songs though that seem to follow and haunt me all through my life. As early as I can remember my parents played records and the radio and such tv shows as Hee Haw and the Lawrence Welk Show. My Dad sang while he drove and they were often sings with a story and an unfortunate tendency to be stereotypical Indian stories like “Running Bear” and “Kowliga” and “Son, don’t go near the Indians”</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Mom danced in the kitchen while doing the dishes. The Twist and my breakfast went together. Then the man I fell for, needed a ride to practice in the evenings for Godspell, and so I answered the ad asking for someone to carpool with. The chemistry major soon realized his energy was recharged by drama and music and became the Mr. Goode most of you know, music teacher extraordinaire.</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">When I started teaching preschool and had my two boys I fell in love with the music of Bev Bos, Raffi, and Kenny Loggins, and had a blast doing Baby Beluga endlessly.</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">But one sing, maybe the first song I loved that I didn’t learn from my parents, that I still find myself singing as I drive is the sad, but beautiful and wise, song by Terry Jacks, “Seasons in the sun”</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">“We had joy, we had fun</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">We had seasons in the sun</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">But the stars we could reach</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">We’re just starfish on the beach </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">All our lives we had fun</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">We had seasons in the sun</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">But the hills that we climbed</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"> were just seasons out of time</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">And the wine and the song</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Like the seasons</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Have all gone”</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11/22/23</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">What story are you most grateful for?</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">This list already asked what was your favorite book. I guess there is some difference. But my favorite story. Maybe a story I wrote or a movie I saw or a puppet story I tell little kids at Halloween. But the first one I became totally obsessed with was the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I really wanted to meet Aslan and live in the castle on a sea cliff and eat Fruit grown in fertile earth from toffee. My fifth Grade teacher, Ed Schnackenburg read it to us each day after lunch. I’d put my head down on the desk and see the scenes more vividly than most movies. In fact. Rereading it as an adult I was shocked at how short the books are, how brief the descriptions are to be able to create such vivid images. He was a master at referring to tiny details which evoked entire emotions and scenery.</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0XOOmXHmnOKE_LiJRD_wSatPZVnKhpCEXG0r5gF2kNuKffC97GZNk9VHvsbjW0L_LftCTnj1D2QffjiMT7WQ1kA6NtR-P3YOYCSY29_jHHnCchL-83rm2-UrhHI2ZdrZtg3HPu8g2dpWRpT2yrR9qFoF_JEpb5cf3eIpaLS005iYQMozR4BAQMk8E7J5/s4032/IMG_2453.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0XOOmXHmnOKE_LiJRD_wSatPZVnKhpCEXG0r5gF2kNuKffC97GZNk9VHvsbjW0L_LftCTnj1D2QffjiMT7WQ1kA6NtR-P3YOYCSY29_jHHnCchL-83rm2-UrhHI2ZdrZtg3HPu8g2dpWRpT2yrR9qFoF_JEpb5cf3eIpaLS005iYQMozR4BAQMk8E7J5/s320/IMG_2453.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx-ETqYtFq9IdoOKHRGaiGN8qKjZNRjJ1C0EA-kNAlGyvcVCHPjE4u7ebNEsEdlq9-bPCvpkNrgaShDbS7nKtC5IXcR2RZ-IqG3H1GgVTaNCaq2h1-Ba2gXLkog5RrOGspWAgQqHul9jiavN9SrnphdF7aPcenxl-4INnOz6GWYMqTvbc6ccXFS3vVk5g/s4032/IMG_9170.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx-ETqYtFq9IdoOKHRGaiGN8qKjZNRjJ1C0EA-kNAlGyvcVCHPjE4u7ebNEsEdlq9-bPCvpkNrgaShDbS7nKtC5IXcR2RZ-IqG3H1GgVTaNCaq2h1-Ba2gXLkog5RrOGspWAgQqHul9jiavN9SrnphdF7aPcenxl-4INnOz6GWYMqTvbc6ccXFS3vVk5g/s320/IMG_9170.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11/23/23 what Tradition are you grateful for?</div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">For me it is the Christmas tree. That light in the darkness, that gathering focal point for family and friends. That reminder of the past abd hope for the future. That intruder which won’t fit and takes effort and requires a cleaning and decluttering of living spaces. I never want to put it up and then I hang on longer than is acceptable. I love not only mine, not only traditional but seeing others through windows. Seeing ones made of books or crab pots or tires or old laundry. I love having friends invite me around theirs and having them around mine in all my messiness. I love sitting with the chatter of board games being played while I quietly address Christmas cards.</div></div></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-19" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 19th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><p> </p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-46807714457487845192023-11-19T22:16:00.000-08:002023-11-19T22:16:46.863-08:00Gratitude a Day, Part three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXOMJc4d8tOpmle_eezPdYr7eo_nB9b1TvP-GqxjW-hip12cuqg8ntvutic6PibdriAh2b1rWljfMkWtl_TXf1fQm0PSXjWdc9O7Bm8jPuDXQC4AlmW7FBUxufQPOSSQHdgU20TU4TVrnGPoCaFqkaPUjJfW4xB4cE_CKhx4LY53MeCwfUfhIInYi2SnC/s4032/IMG_2224.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXOMJc4d8tOpmle_eezPdYr7eo_nB9b1TvP-GqxjW-hip12cuqg8ntvutic6PibdriAh2b1rWljfMkWtl_TXf1fQm0PSXjWdc9O7Bm8jPuDXQC4AlmW7FBUxufQPOSSQHdgU20TU4TVrnGPoCaFqkaPUjJfW4xB4cE_CKhx4LY53MeCwfUfhIInYi2SnC/s320/IMG_2224.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>11/16/23</div><div>What about your body are you thankful for?</div><div>Other than simply the fact that it still is here, and had more than one opportunity to give up the ghost, I am very thankful for senses that can still process the sensations and most of all, because I love beauty and lights in the dark, my eyes. They need trifocals now and the skin around them sags and sometimes they are dry or baffle me with the private fireworks display of a visual migraine but they still bring me more joy than sadness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD6fjFN0fkevZ3eF2KPI_LOe_6BgMYuNHknNibu5tNWBdRj1n5074Q36PTIW2eQv2Y1ADiDrFy6Qn4MzvVL-sdRNTdgitSbHhW0i-n1u3F7D6K51xUfqTden13RWAHdgqLRNHLNxQ7OZyqcj1-enRhiFIBnxls_eFWreeIZt1sID0Bqf_Y7YXRye8lRwE/s4032/IMG_2225.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD6fjFN0fkevZ3eF2KPI_LOe_6BgMYuNHknNibu5tNWBdRj1n5074Q36PTIW2eQv2Y1ADiDrFy6Qn4MzvVL-sdRNTdgitSbHhW0i-n1u3F7D6K51xUfqTden13RWAHdgqLRNHLNxQ7OZyqcj1-enRhiFIBnxls_eFWreeIZt1sID0Bqf_Y7YXRye8lRwE/s320/IMG_2225.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div>11/17/23</div><div>What knowledge are you most thankful for?</div><div><br /></div><div>I’m so very grateful for the ability to read and for the long line of grownups teaching children to live books while teaching them that they are deserving of love by snuggling them close and exploring both ancient texts and the newest tales. Being able to “hear” the thoughts of our ancestors and speak to our future is an amazing thing. Foolish and wise and oh so magical and yet dangerous. There is power in the written word and wanna be dictators are wise to fear it. They can try to “other” people and make us fear and hate each other. But nothing is more unifying than sharing our dreams and hopes and stories. </div><p>11/18/2023</p><p>What piece of art are you most grateful for? </p><p><br /></p><p>It’s more a craft than a real art work, but over the years I have produced hundreds of these silhouettes inside a wreath of hands. My students were mostly preschool through first grade. These were my two year old and three year old the Christmas my Dad was in hospice. And again four years later. I sometimes see one hanging on a door or in a window here in town. I love knowing that years later some of them are still around. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqMTVIPOVHqM49pRa56iC8PpyFDDJczhoEvdA5xrF9L1Fa9j-tYMFErLafMTpHTUutmawQuMmtXWilRiw0Fpmm7OMi1o4nS_vr6fAtECscJcFvz4tlnDlZwUlXCeZH2VVeUuWW3HzvwFqGKlaH_8X4NTifVWSnsGX9zesUNvoUuEZL3po82hvdwpRhn5t/s4032/IMG_5887.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqMTVIPOVHqM49pRa56iC8PpyFDDJczhoEvdA5xrF9L1Fa9j-tYMFErLafMTpHTUutmawQuMmtXWilRiw0Fpmm7OMi1o4nS_vr6fAtECscJcFvz4tlnDlZwUlXCeZH2VVeUuWW3HzvwFqGKlaH_8X4NTifVWSnsGX9zesUNvoUuEZL3po82hvdwpRhn5t/s320/IMG_5887.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJXtdK5Y7T-3G0fozK2SCns9x6SCeSzYdOezGQ_WPmYDhOyzxeJQT8srcbrRMSLBsdJvwCZOGco2bxigF1NM72uWlPgHvaFRqB5KQG3NeEM-A6UZ1JHL1VmK7vdUFf7sMPXgJ1uXB2fibHEEgogglmDQRAfZMHFIW-zQeEYOxtKlIQvwhALonCAW9A9pY/s4032/IMG_5890.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJXtdK5Y7T-3G0fozK2SCns9x6SCeSzYdOezGQ_WPmYDhOyzxeJQT8srcbrRMSLBsdJvwCZOGco2bxigF1NM72uWlPgHvaFRqB5KQG3NeEM-A6UZ1JHL1VmK7vdUFf7sMPXgJ1uXB2fibHEEgogglmDQRAfZMHFIW-zQeEYOxtKlIQvwhALonCAW9A9pY/s320/IMG_5890.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E3pcEew-U3-jRF82YbR5HWYpP9KS5qn9V8j09_60oM0ZZ-tu1C-DXDXAU1y0k1siHhNN-M7g7NikknM07AA749FYUazC7BEjy8LilNn5rnwBCQ8jPjNXCqBoLMGjFTwcZn2BRTOip8RTTPVkV6B0incFSTbArVkUqNYjT_avQYJNfHy3CpRtjwfP4n2e/s4032/IMG_5893.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E3pcEew-U3-jRF82YbR5HWYpP9KS5qn9V8j09_60oM0ZZ-tu1C-DXDXAU1y0k1siHhNN-M7g7NikknM07AA749FYUazC7BEjy8LilNn5rnwBCQ8jPjNXCqBoLMGjFTwcZn2BRTOip8RTTPVkV6B0incFSTbArVkUqNYjT_avQYJNfHy3CpRtjwfP4n2e/s320/IMG_5893.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTRy_cNNUIqHV01eF5jl38p7c_EhWoSKVBCacPWzrdQCaUJHNoAuLlX8n7uS4LnunKVnia8TLkORbl6w-JGIPK3XzEN9U4UNA1QXnXM52VK30iDnwI1_T5u3ngEFCuI01hEpFwhV8QSdute_0EX_v0yOb3LzLT2rIJhwwsG4zqvZOxGUCE2-ybQfcrVya/s4032/IMG_5894.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTRy_cNNUIqHV01eF5jl38p7c_EhWoSKVBCacPWzrdQCaUJHNoAuLlX8n7uS4LnunKVnia8TLkORbl6w-JGIPK3XzEN9U4UNA1QXnXM52VK30iDnwI1_T5u3ngEFCuI01hEpFwhV8QSdute_0EX_v0yOb3LzLT2rIJhwwsG4zqvZOxGUCE2-ybQfcrVya/s320/IMG_5894.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>11/19/23</p><p>What touch are you most grateful for?</p><p> There are so many types of touches and so many people who are starving for contact. The Covid era and social media haven’t helped ease the loneliness that many of us feel even when surrounded by other people. But I’m not sure I can choose just one to be most grateful for. The first touch between a mother and a child, the last touch on a hand clashed with a dying lived one. A firm hug that neither wants to break off before departing home. A delighted hug when surprised by someone who has been missed. The cool touch in a fevered brow, the comfort of the furry head of a beloved pet nuzzling against you when you are sad. There are so many loved ones, so many remembered moments and each was a precious gift. Wiping a tear, kissing and holding on. I’m grateful for those I have touched and been touched by. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJoWkt2c_H1F-HO7HkgMx32iTPFLD2ne_6C-WaxzRYQ_6hwn2zFpF6MSdqattZcxRJ4EqC1vxVtaaBr4ffv8y97zcYaENsp8ZtddenEvKFWfHVJdFlqjPcNI8vFxDbBS46m_U0gL0MbcByUUDJHFE0p3r6gvFD6HtwEU-x-VIkfxSJ_QHTtI4LdXxhxOy/s1167/IMG_2299.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1167" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJoWkt2c_H1F-HO7HkgMx32iTPFLD2ne_6C-WaxzRYQ_6hwn2zFpF6MSdqattZcxRJ4EqC1vxVtaaBr4ffv8y97zcYaENsp8ZtddenEvKFWfHVJdFlqjPcNI8vFxDbBS46m_U0gL0MbcByUUDJHFE0p3r6gvFD6HtwEU-x-VIkfxSJ_QHTtI4LdXxhxOy/s320/IMG_2299.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-78096606388808871962023-11-19T21:56:00.000-08:002023-11-19T21:56:03.329-08:00Merry Christmas 2023<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Greg and Dixie</span></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">2023 Holidays</p><p align="CENTER" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCptb_70ZQMPvm6Y1uJHI-fGvswgb89jqt8Fs3qzaYW6HAfPXJ9nhVe7KX3YCbBqjLXGbzxnRHtJoxNi8sLCH_-JHFMf-9bGYQc918qFvpb2q1POLtJr0edB9AuTI41_BJfnYB_xVJaI10Ha72gQCDRKowYtKFkqqxvYyyD_KwecJ2pYjBQC-Ww4la6MRs/s1080/F53C3D75-518F-48ED-9585-6925F6720CB3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCptb_70ZQMPvm6Y1uJHI-fGvswgb89jqt8Fs3qzaYW6HAfPXJ9nhVe7KX3YCbBqjLXGbzxnRHtJoxNi8sLCH_-JHFMf-9bGYQc918qFvpb2q1POLtJr0edB9AuTI41_BJfnYB_xVJaI10Ha72gQCDRKowYtKFkqqxvYyyD_KwecJ2pYjBQC-Ww4la6MRs/s320/F53C3D75-518F-48ED-9585-6925F6720CB3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p align="CENTER" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p align="CENTER" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! </p><p align="CENTER" class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in;">May you have something to celebrate and someone to love in 2024.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span class="" style="color: #58595b;">“<span class="" style="font-family: Avenir LT W01 45 Book, sans-serif;"><span class="" style="font-size: small;">What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” – Agnes M. Pahro</span></span></span></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8cvwbIJK3AmravHLIhyphenhyphen4cmYHAiVMeo46qcj9unoaDiL47YVhk3BmPRqKeTqvt8LdX2wf4IiPWrZAaoNqz2QwjxZc31kVCeIV9zlJmrqHXXbwuqBH6eBCq0rJouhAyLzxypCMYTFXU4Cc0qTE3hCyqjYxp1PL9Ocb5DiV4aryFkrZZpE-OlGKpLYSMK7_/s1440/E0B154EA-E323-4A9A-93B9-E3DA82E1BA44.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8cvwbIJK3AmravHLIhyphenhyphen4cmYHAiVMeo46qcj9unoaDiL47YVhk3BmPRqKeTqvt8LdX2wf4IiPWrZAaoNqz2QwjxZc31kVCeIV9zlJmrqHXXbwuqBH6eBCq0rJouhAyLzxypCMYTFXU4Cc0qTE3hCyqjYxp1PL9Ocb5DiV4aryFkrZZpE-OlGKpLYSMK7_/s320/E0B154EA-E323-4A9A-93B9-E3DA82E1BA44.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Dear Family and Friends, </p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">So once again, I sit down to write a summary of sorts, to give you a bit of an understanding of the Goode life here in the California Redwoods. I'm not sure where this year has come and gone so quickly from. Looking back there were long stretches where I can barely believe we lived it. Time seems to have rushed up and past me this year without many grand adventures. Again we have lost one of my sisters-in-law. Greg's brother Harv's wife Fran who has been both a generous hostess, and a delightful guest at our home. Her laughter and her temper were both as vibrant as she herself was, and I can't believe she is gone. It happened quite fast, while she was out on a walk in the Black Hills we at one time called Home. I also lost another one of the four cousins of my Mom's who was more like her brothers and my uncles. Roger Slack was always there, at least weekly and usually more often through my entire life from early childhood until I married and moved away, and even then I never doubted the connection. Again I have to say that I can't believe he is gone and I'm only sorry I didn't spend more time appreciating him while he was still around.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">But of course there has been more to life than just death and loss. There have been many moments of snuggling granddaughters, and watching my grandson's delight in the simple beauties around us. The new house that Austin and Trisha moved into is a warm, homey place with a garden that they have really gotten to thrive. It's as perfect a place to raise their son and daughter as I could have wished for for them, lots of fruit trees and room for exploring and animals and even a neighbor girl for their daughter to have as a friend. </p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">We did go on a short trip to the Redding Water Park for my 60<sup class="">th</sup> birthday. We drove through the Trinity River area and spend two days just roasting and soaking in Waterworks park in the 105* heat before coming back to our 60* and fog, coastal summer. We had a gnarly forest fire not long after that, triggered by a dry lightning storm, which put the family without power or running water for ten days, and the city on gas powered generators for over a month. It left much of our Smith River canyon and river area scorched. Its a strange patchwork of charred and green areas. Some survived untouched right next to areas where nothing is left. We really owe much to the hard work of fire crews from all over the world.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Greg had those knee replacement surgeries in 2021 and that allowed him to move better. I'm really proud of him because he determined that he wanted to be around to see those grandkids grow up, and he started walking, then biking and swimming and has since lost 100 pounds even. I think it was actually 16 months and 100.4 pounds on the same scale at the Dr. in Medford. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5c8ajEZQg6xpG8xB_20gYW3S8yImte0ZrBTiG00IGT9ROzC1F1MJCJp7m0lKpOBg5r5FwgcS5GwmpH4YdeQM-VGhP5zJI_aU0ycJKp1wY-zq-lXgFs4p6kpoGqnyoSDcC2fTAtsyHB_MvAABREsKKyj-QAAclyRNBRC3GpYaxSiqqJd5coHAv0_yN0Kr/s1440/E0ED1B1A-C74E-49D8-B816-071C5699C401.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5c8ajEZQg6xpG8xB_20gYW3S8yImte0ZrBTiG00IGT9ROzC1F1MJCJp7m0lKpOBg5r5FwgcS5GwmpH4YdeQM-VGhP5zJI_aU0ycJKp1wY-zq-lXgFs4p6kpoGqnyoSDcC2fTAtsyHB_MvAABREsKKyj-QAAclyRNBRC3GpYaxSiqqJd5coHAv0_yN0Kr/s320/E0ED1B1A-C74E-49D8-B816-071C5699C401.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswewMkW2Fg1C8ZPBqhOiXVjmluD4P_KM8aJi0td40JDmztKtVjqtp3vFY6ZtFffjsi9sK1pWydUpWy7LaiVYbEWr3hgNhOu1DrgTtfUE5Gj6_TTRsDP8vUEaZnWeKYSWusfRYP4J4rotYssPaEWRLtbsbn2w1S8lh8IDaRjQTAo0zzqac5QTg1RFZ_9Qh/s2153/IMG_6159.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="1722" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswewMkW2Fg1C8ZPBqhOiXVjmluD4P_KM8aJi0td40JDmztKtVjqtp3vFY6ZtFffjsi9sK1pWydUpWy7LaiVYbEWr3hgNhOu1DrgTtfUE5Gj6_TTRsDP8vUEaZnWeKYSWusfRYP4J4rotYssPaEWRLtbsbn2w1S8lh8IDaRjQTAo0zzqac5QTg1RFZ_9Qh/s320/IMG_6159.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMVPUVo66-z8cupAgWCoHVOYZnr2fW-v7S5hn07YKl_Q23wGr42pv4mnLKTNUHJFLpRQPqnwqxFaDi-7QqwxFZdQpYWvdg0ecNEb7keTuwJkkSCBGqAzeqONZXOMDtVJYDLLXgqH9X81TvEOs14FSvGofyAeYQuvFWwbdJopeFNbmDfK1RwHfycy3d28n/s2556/IMG_7314.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="1179" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMVPUVo66-z8cupAgWCoHVOYZnr2fW-v7S5hn07YKl_Q23wGr42pv4mnLKTNUHJFLpRQPqnwqxFaDi-7QqwxFZdQpYWvdg0ecNEb7keTuwJkkSCBGqAzeqONZXOMDtVJYDLLXgqH9X81TvEOs14FSvGofyAeYQuvFWwbdJopeFNbmDfK1RwHfycy3d28n/s320/IMG_7314.png" width="148" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1y_nmFHvrvNCdr3-uIms3G9eC0BDjq1mTS9nWNNJHnhtPytRSfWynfif0YrnIfEiH6vEGQCFPsvl9nTTR58LjrDOsHkVtYux74DkZaYny91ZP5udJJLVXXqe-vwuPAmIilHA5e4N11y39NnqgLXgBGFoZejwHrkVhhyBCBJpQGLt03EpgFhXrucaUVEo/s2994/IMG_5741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2403" data-original-width="2994" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1y_nmFHvrvNCdr3-uIms3G9eC0BDjq1mTS9nWNNJHnhtPytRSfWynfif0YrnIfEiH6vEGQCFPsvl9nTTR58LjrDOsHkVtYux74DkZaYny91ZP5udJJLVXXqe-vwuPAmIilHA5e4N11y39NnqgLXgBGFoZejwHrkVhhyBCBJpQGLt03EpgFhXrucaUVEo/s320/IMG_5741.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Emerson has been walking and getting in shape again too. And he had a chance to drive to San Francisco to take his client to a 49ers game. It was a big, exciting victory for the 49ers but his client had an abscessed tooth that ended up making him quite sick, so then Emerson has spent many many days and nights with him in the hospital. His client is almost exactly the same age as my brother Lance, but his handicapping condition is a lot rarer than Down's Syndrome and more severe.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Daisy got a wonderful German Shepherd/malamute female for her 9<sup class="">th</sup> birthday. Foxy was a graduate of obedience school at Pelican Bay State Prison, in an inmate run program called Prison Paws. Walking the dog has helped all of us get outdoors more and be healthier. Of course we also have a ton of fur everywhere in our homes and cars and lungs. The only sad thing is Foxy gets car sick. I mean almost instantly. She has been known to vomit three times in a 4 mile drive, so yeah, we walk her and she plays with neighbor dogs and a neighbor pair of pigs that keep coming here to visit. </p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSA8bV4k6olRzi9C9UCuTwUYjoEwX7G2qA7e3_4WRc-BqWbpeVRx-jhIYjEsmDUw2Nuk0nmV8h0U44FFFjh8AC9SChx3clnT6GdKGRv02bYvmzXkvgcSyR3J8EUiSgR5b3pSDcQ1nyXHqvVcGCMHVO8PRhG6yNvvbwOLwZWcQytp-FtPb8rE0wUXjZkWA/s4032/IMG_9692.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSA8bV4k6olRzi9C9UCuTwUYjoEwX7G2qA7e3_4WRc-BqWbpeVRx-jhIYjEsmDUw2Nuk0nmV8h0U44FFFjh8AC9SChx3clnT6GdKGRv02bYvmzXkvgcSyR3J8EUiSgR5b3pSDcQ1nyXHqvVcGCMHVO8PRhG6yNvvbwOLwZWcQytp-FtPb8rE0wUXjZkWA/s320/IMG_9692.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder" /></div><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">I haven't gotten a diagnosis yet. My Neurologist from San Francisco referred me to one closer to home who supposedly was really good at testing the types of muscle issues I have, but she ended up moving and the Dr. I actually saw was a specialist in eye issues in neurology. After he told me I just had abdominal cramps and should drink tonic water, I became so frustrated I gave up on seeing anyone for awhile. But I have still been feeling better since I started being prescribed gabapentin a few months before seeing that idiot it took a few months to help, and the first noticeable side effect was my hair falling out in hands full. But still, I have the muscle spasms and the pain, but I also find my mood, my endurance and ability to participate in life all have improved this year.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Greg and I also indulged in tickets to Three plays at the Ashland Oregon's Shakespeare Festival. Two (<u class="">Rent</u> and <u class="">Romeo and Juliet</u>) in the Angus Bowmer theater, and one (the <u class="">Three Musketeers</u>) in the Elizabethan Theater in Lithia Park. And we got a second set of tickets to <u class="">Rent</u> given to us by Greg's friend so we went four times to plays. We also went once to see our Niece from Arizona, Remi and her boyfriend, Gabe perform while they were on tour before moving to Nashville. Once we had to cancel tickets to Jurassic Quest Animatronic Dinosaurs, and once reschedule a play because the fire had the canyon Highway closed down for a lot of July and August. </p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">This month I have actually gotten back into writing my novels. It's been several years since I had the mental focus to write like that. Again I think it is the gabapentin helping, even without a diagnosis. I have been digging into research on Pompeii and Mount St. Helen's and actually enjoying the process again. There were too many family deaths about the same time I started to have the muscle spasms and severe startle reaction, so I can't say for sure whether my brain fog was from the sadness and depression or from actually being a side effect of whatever neurological thing I'm battling, but I just couldn't even read a novel, let alone focus enough to create one from thin air.</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">What haven't I mentioned? Trisha has been creating absolutely gorgeous beadwork earrings. I don't have pierced ears, but if you do and are curious about what she has for sale, just ask. I don't know where she finds the time and patience to be both an amazing gardener and do such artistry, on top of raising my 5 year old granddaughter and 7 year old grandson. Gavin is non verbal, and smart. He's observant and has an ability to communicate that goes beyond words. Trinity is an eager kindergartener who loves school and has a very firm opinion which she is happy to tell you all about. Each of my grandchildren are very strong personalities unlike each other but I'm so in love with the three of them. </p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Much Love,</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;">Dixie and Greg</p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9QWnvhk8VZfiLxCJeSUU04yksun6ljgD9or7g6pB8sbScyHkbD8xMJ0q3EyR0pB90fJBcOmDXphUj3Ud5j_X8kz2dldTv-IW6PnWu3TSOTXYYAv9Z3i5ZCs9gHES6Wj81c7R6AAyJgLWWFZ52ek-0Qj4Z54kLACwcHc9gCDlC7d8GjJ0VxlYq2fP7SXu/s2224/IMG_6041.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2224" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9QWnvhk8VZfiLxCJeSUU04yksun6ljgD9or7g6pB8sbScyHkbD8xMJ0q3EyR0pB90fJBcOmDXphUj3Ud5j_X8kz2dldTv-IW6PnWu3TSOTXYYAv9Z3i5ZCs9gHES6Wj81c7R6AAyJgLWWFZ52ek-0Qj4Z54kLACwcHc9gCDlC7d8GjJ0VxlYq2fP7SXu/s320/IMG_6041.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><br class="" /></p><p class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: medium; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in;"><span class="" style="color: #58595b;">“<span class="" style="font-family: Avenir LT W01 45 Book, sans-serif;"><span class="" style="font-size: small;">Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.” – Eric Sevareid</span></span></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-81074891925907898152023-11-14T13:27:00.000-08:002023-11-14T13:27:31.157-08:00Gratitude a Day - part 2<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">What Taste are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 10</span>.</p><p> This question stopped my progress on this challenge. I felt at first that I had already answered it when I answered the question about what smell. The smell and anticipation leading up to the taste are very much part of the same indulgence and experience in my definition.</p><p> But thinking it over beyond the immediate reaction of Spaghetti. Home made becomes the required component of almost every option I think of. The taste of meals shared with family, or cookies baked with grandma, the flavors I wake up longing for are those tied to memories with friends even when I think of foods that I never tasted until I was grown and away from Wyoming, the ones I love were shared in someone’s home, with friends who welcomed me like family. Lamb and cabbage and steamed bread, in a sesame garlic tahini sauce after being boiled in a hot pot in the middle of the table. Chicken, noodles and pumpernickel bread with chicken Paprikas at my cousin’s house. Blanched peaches in cream with new friends after baked pork chops and rice. Crab in lemony butter caught by my son out in the wintery Pacific.</p><p>Food with family becomes a taste for the soul too </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1PZb-Agx06gvAB8R4gnVb33dsr0pwjwEib5U483sYZnmwgr35F3_D3hEiz2rFSngJUFwcxpYyzxvoNWXJMCAhTmPZEboHm-TdCh2CYUnVDjdZvyHqttbxga-p65DuKWb7oEfJK-svBZdCLBYK4S7h8T2YnImWuAY5r9Zt4ce_-gDf1ITIf9Yn8s5RUNx/s4032/IMG_4781.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1PZb-Agx06gvAB8R4gnVb33dsr0pwjwEib5U483sYZnmwgr35F3_D3hEiz2rFSngJUFwcxpYyzxvoNWXJMCAhTmPZEboHm-TdCh2CYUnVDjdZvyHqttbxga-p65DuKWb7oEfJK-svBZdCLBYK4S7h8T2YnImWuAY5r9Zt4ce_-gDf1ITIf9Yn8s5RUNx/s320/IMG_4781.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnctTd0865x7sKi6dTW_5yziRIDP30y9nHJc89IB9hvFwEvKI7-WLoR8NJ8EjsgCMGNJvf0q00GeodMx2F7BOuZHiuOM9SZXzfCAh9M6Fo3_MhLFNxMKzkPsdmB3Dtl49J7FAurkO8r6c8s1L_lCM-ySvpoiGsuvLRWG2PCZCHIXB2pJRpYJxPPFnPxoT/s4032/IMG_0689.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnctTd0865x7sKi6dTW_5yziRIDP30y9nHJc89IB9hvFwEvKI7-WLoR8NJ8EjsgCMGNJvf0q00GeodMx2F7BOuZHiuOM9SZXzfCAh9M6Fo3_MhLFNxMKzkPsdmB3Dtl49J7FAurkO8r6c8s1L_lCM-ySvpoiGsuvLRWG2PCZCHIXB2pJRpYJxPPFnPxoT/s320/IMG_0689.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKxtH2tPYLxkwC5X9LC8iQaUaS3feqqtwAuILI7BsQPmSQKTZczg-XcORcgQRwJUItHn0jKTkhFLQxNh4ycZoDnVNnEWcdcuwueZhXgV6bgVo9FtpEIxOesl5MB7XD1TklvMng5F1JwTMJ5zee7dfnk2CNCj4aprJR1i3trot8TSD6cK9aA0DMPzQVF_v/s1600/mms95picture.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKxtH2tPYLxkwC5X9LC8iQaUaS3feqqtwAuILI7BsQPmSQKTZczg-XcORcgQRwJUItHn0jKTkhFLQxNh4ycZoDnVNnEWcdcuwueZhXgV6bgVo9FtpEIxOesl5MB7XD1TklvMng5F1JwTMJ5zee7dfnk2CNCj4aprJR1i3trot8TSD6cK9aA0DMPzQVF_v/s320/mms95picture.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4NHqBVu8FzOhsYKt1GbQs5Ipx2qTPKI3oMzvTlw_2rxKsMZv5wkl1haO-W8QQxfWj1LlTHIt7rGr0BqZl7ZmXAqgD6IjH2DceM3Q9XXKYl_DR1Lx7ljDpPQUaLqQVDJ_q6sLcY0rWarC7Uf2BNPJTgAIAI215KrWth8uTcDh_iEIGeYIaKeZq_GW_ogc/s4032/IMG_7560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4NHqBVu8FzOhsYKt1GbQs5Ipx2qTPKI3oMzvTlw_2rxKsMZv5wkl1haO-W8QQxfWj1LlTHIt7rGr0BqZl7ZmXAqgD6IjH2DceM3Q9XXKYl_DR1Lx7ljDpPQUaLqQVDJ_q6sLcY0rWarC7Uf2BNPJTgAIAI215KrWth8uTcDh_iEIGeYIaKeZq_GW_ogc/s320/IMG_7560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />What Holiday are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 11.</span><p></p><p> Summer or winter? July or December? Choosing between dark nights walking among twinkling lights and holding the hand of a beloved child. Or. Turquoise water, hot sun and fireworks on the beach. I can’t choose between the 4th of July and my birthday week, or Christmas.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LP8wVLUX5G7XEOPwLcRFisJJ8WpkUo-ntnHLa9j5_w2Gcu9KVR6yyQputU496xL1FRfYyP-PYoaf7rdbdsgqdAmEAQbo-JrVlnXD94IpIqna2QkFsp-OyhMlUpY8_FykKVJtG01M_gu8ua18tZbbzuuVKfvuXvo0cY1-vvRF6BT-2lplLl18AOSx-12R/s3072/P1050925.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LP8wVLUX5G7XEOPwLcRFisJJ8WpkUo-ntnHLa9j5_w2Gcu9KVR6yyQputU496xL1FRfYyP-PYoaf7rdbdsgqdAmEAQbo-JrVlnXD94IpIqna2QkFsp-OyhMlUpY8_FykKVJtG01M_gu8ua18tZbbzuuVKfvuXvo0cY1-vvRF6BT-2lplLl18AOSx-12R/s320/P1050925.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPTFqa1AEBXwg-LhIA4uFiNA0gIO5KnJP5mYp2qx8rurmKso8Ay173yxIgpVYE0ARyCAM1OulpTKlCHWQfUE3uNO30DsZ0EeCvYeKCCqvYUxTuzDd0ptXY4PqtBP_jr7l3GvW8EB5myzVZbl7kscsBvZyNyZi7LtLD0ot8VOxsm7Ab5dN1Ssbsng0Vn_L/s1794/50A56652-7E88-4DCA-B94E-7475983C649A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPTFqa1AEBXwg-LhIA4uFiNA0gIO5KnJP5mYp2qx8rurmKso8Ay173yxIgpVYE0ARyCAM1OulpTKlCHWQfUE3uNO30DsZ0EeCvYeKCCqvYUxTuzDd0ptXY4PqtBP_jr7l3GvW8EB5myzVZbl7kscsBvZyNyZi7LtLD0ot8VOxsm7Ab5dN1Ssbsng0Vn_L/s320/50A56652-7E88-4DCA-B94E-7475983C649A.jpeg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR2Ny3qI8yJrCDWzbX5_VTtHBXv-QNeG5glVhwJprcp64lKM4WyDO_6RXPZwW9t_X6ZB-ZD00o6NBBd2SJya5aES0LYwg9Ta1Otp-QvEnxWfL07CoDFjFddrBBVjMeSjexJgYf8lkvWNAC8ilkSjDXKLCDqAt5LRnY7YH_oc8xtueoNDoLUonwVfyKCHP/s1794/F86D5026-1843-404B-8C9D-815A841B75B9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR2Ny3qI8yJrCDWzbX5_VTtHBXv-QNeG5glVhwJprcp64lKM4WyDO_6RXPZwW9t_X6ZB-ZD00o6NBBd2SJya5aES0LYwg9Ta1Otp-QvEnxWfL07CoDFjFddrBBVjMeSjexJgYf8lkvWNAC8ilkSjDXKLCDqAt5LRnY7YH_oc8xtueoNDoLUonwVfyKCHP/s320/F86D5026-1843-404B-8C9D-815A841B75B9.jpeg" width="257" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC5q6t01XxcMD-t4h8pSCSCycaOe4bSqQIIUzsUml5PNIYp8ygwFxFi9M3pq4uI2Qj4Tj8XahQeUZC-qtjYdv0tOzOX4mJ7VRmsji_OBq_l03046DUIxfsaKPUOHbh_tDhpBgoOt4jBHGVCIlH06RYCtMfjHd3aKQT-YOLp6zDOyYDzifMScKpXR01LeW/s4032/IMG_9253.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC5q6t01XxcMD-t4h8pSCSCycaOe4bSqQIIUzsUml5PNIYp8ygwFxFi9M3pq4uI2Qj4Tj8XahQeUZC-qtjYdv0tOzOX4mJ7VRmsji_OBq_l03046DUIxfsaKPUOHbh_tDhpBgoOt4jBHGVCIlH06RYCtMfjHd3aKQT-YOLp6zDOyYDzifMScKpXR01LeW/s320/IMG_9253.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsReZRACwAWzfZKI1RNXnz1uFMs945rt0y2lYCmv4YXpmi3TOM6qXweGzZdUZLJ2aYAcMowt9ERHcgx_zOOPOstraU92mHIQDnLtOsGV7Ff3yBK-tOX56AtTamwY_sQHTHpUCjjHupBYdmdf5Y_MrjDQ369LFVJuk4ySgcKFXaK60Iohk_oofChb5TwVqL/s2734/IMG_9316.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2734" data-original-width="2043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsReZRACwAWzfZKI1RNXnz1uFMs945rt0y2lYCmv4YXpmi3TOM6qXweGzZdUZLJ2aYAcMowt9ERHcgx_zOOPOstraU92mHIQDnLtOsGV7Ff3yBK-tOX56AtTamwY_sQHTHpUCjjHupBYdmdf5Y_MrjDQ369LFVJuk4ySgcKFXaK60Iohk_oofChb5TwVqL/s320/IMG_9316.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What Texture are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 12.</span></p><p> Fur, silky, soft, luxurious mink is nice, beaver is incredible but even though I’m against furs as fashion, my childhood was spent among furs, I know the texture of skunk, possum, Fox and bobcat, rabbit and the feeling of porcupine as I delicately pulled the quills for design work on deer skin dresses and moccasins. My grandfather was a trapper at first, then a trader who bought and sold the hides, Antlers, horns and furs harvested in the greater Yellowstone, Park County Wyoming area. Now my favorite fur is the fur of a living cat and dog </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo-cdUTjVIFFq1wLk25xqNzurKKV34AOlHSQ8r6DonMMwrycJOA_nn81h50x96m-hERHoTcqAN_cm_wIxbFtDCldKMNLP1V003JbHvCaSHuFQ4qJRm7v1lMOKaaLupYWM1ixQx8wehyphenhyphenz5QuFNHpT4OO57YPUae09mz8lV9lbSvBUVxxlXjvOiCMk3wHY_/s650/IMG_0136.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="650" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo-cdUTjVIFFq1wLk25xqNzurKKV34AOlHSQ8r6DonMMwrycJOA_nn81h50x96m-hERHoTcqAN_cm_wIxbFtDCldKMNLP1V003JbHvCaSHuFQ4qJRm7v1lMOKaaLupYWM1ixQx8wehyphenhyphenz5QuFNHpT4OO57YPUae09mz8lV9lbSvBUVxxlXjvOiCMk3wHY_/s320/IMG_0136.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk4hHoNYSUhy-U08F_bbUd_OEVAdOgRmSZNkRldAUY8zaWnbiBCWbyCokmuRs2UBvrT6nxzscOtZvxg0p_wM-vnXcX1BFW_nvkw6CEPzUUHScio9YHrsqrdBXIRulXyQoO0G_msthhwAq0KfsKFDgKso254H8dxRqfNWD7beCeqFekrlzLmsMGJR9U1rb/s1980/IMG_6566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk4hHoNYSUhy-U08F_bbUd_OEVAdOgRmSZNkRldAUY8zaWnbiBCWbyCokmuRs2UBvrT6nxzscOtZvxg0p_wM-vnXcX1BFW_nvkw6CEPzUUHScio9YHrsqrdBXIRulXyQoO0G_msthhwAq0KfsKFDgKso254H8dxRqfNWD7beCeqFekrlzLmsMGJR9U1rb/s320/IMG_6566.jpeg" width="271" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy_9CAaT2zCW1HFNdDfar4IdWrh4J7hZc130xWqijwAHK9-oCKYcZVU2IxvjutBGShvP48dNKdTjgLAwQuyQoeva-gDZJCWHnSyEA8r_i7NFV2b2X-EWjfP9lkbEoEVUclJavzxbQcs4Y69TtAA0QgcIEcbD2yDgCXoDNSAnI6SzMEhA-3r3TlVWqEoYi/s1080/IMG_4996.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy_9CAaT2zCW1HFNdDfar4IdWrh4J7hZc130xWqijwAHK9-oCKYcZVU2IxvjutBGShvP48dNKdTjgLAwQuyQoeva-gDZJCWHnSyEA8r_i7NFV2b2X-EWjfP9lkbEoEVUclJavzxbQcs4Y69TtAA0QgcIEcbD2yDgCXoDNSAnI6SzMEhA-3r3TlVWqEoYi/s320/IMG_4996.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What Ability are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 13.</span></p><p> I can swim, sing, write, paint, tell stories and explore the world but it’s always best when done with a child. I guess that means that my favorite, most treasured ability is the ability to relate to, encourage and love the little’ uns. I love a great day as a teacher more than almost anything else </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_N0i7wDIgWM9CLVt2ymZIjwxOfcyF8a86ou-V9esMU3wTxMvf3BRP8IVNETd9gmpzBaDIEr4xVo5Zy_a9IFD8MjNKlLxQMHohsItZsmUPmu-DxxwigbyBaieDBc8mjGV_4VVA9zvlxRd_bav1jOuocbch_KfJZ4dwAcZxDxahZRq6PT8tdl8DpgS6FgV/s1600/1021001423.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_N0i7wDIgWM9CLVt2ymZIjwxOfcyF8a86ou-V9esMU3wTxMvf3BRP8IVNETd9gmpzBaDIEr4xVo5Zy_a9IFD8MjNKlLxQMHohsItZsmUPmu-DxxwigbyBaieDBc8mjGV_4VVA9zvlxRd_bav1jOuocbch_KfJZ4dwAcZxDxahZRq6PT8tdl8DpgS6FgV/s320/1021001423.jpeg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF24lsXfHsN8kB46-HXt1hp5orf3PlCFA_JD8z-XplqdfuMTZdyaTV2vSfecb44EKB37Vb1dNcZJHJDJa37Ld7_WNpP_Ik5QhiwW1YuTPNptRccS-P9UdjEru0Ib4OTJcGZ1qV_sgTrXY5BVnQtyumKm0-V1wfMDkWBk3v1foF_H0Si76btBfihdCZscw/s4608/P9150781.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF24lsXfHsN8kB46-HXt1hp5orf3PlCFA_JD8z-XplqdfuMTZdyaTV2vSfecb44EKB37Vb1dNcZJHJDJa37Ld7_WNpP_Ik5QhiwW1YuTPNptRccS-P9UdjEru0Ib4OTJcGZ1qV_sgTrXY5BVnQtyumKm0-V1wfMDkWBk3v1foF_H0Si76btBfihdCZscw/s320/P9150781.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What Sight are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 14.</span></p><p> My favorite sense is the sense of vision I love photographs and paintings the interplay of lights and shadows, the emotion evoked by colors. But most of all I feel alive and small but part of something enormous when I see tiny, twinkling lights. Give me firework displays or Christmas lights, the coals of a campfire or the fireflies over a summer lawn, give me stars and a universe of peace fills my soul.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWU7oMzyJaX-AvrYXb661t-RbWPneaDbAZmrjmJDrwRMTVlkhZt7YqTLYStbGBxj9kbb9xbMJwG7PqxaKiEviGxJZ_Lvq4yMhWllEV03oYgNK_F6LtdncwIIBNUehtWt7M9SnIRvfLJmdGWUFWWc87DVB2uAS6p1Qc5bLQ11AkMW7wuT36MJ-__UhFjuU/s3072/P1040816.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWU7oMzyJaX-AvrYXb661t-RbWPneaDbAZmrjmJDrwRMTVlkhZt7YqTLYStbGBxj9kbb9xbMJwG7PqxaKiEviGxJZ_Lvq4yMhWllEV03oYgNK_F6LtdncwIIBNUehtWt7M9SnIRvfLJmdGWUFWWc87DVB2uAS6p1Qc5bLQ11AkMW7wuT36MJ-__UhFjuU/s320/P1040816.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN6xAbj-eDD4OFPag3hL5LBT87oy1Xib7Sw1zN-xcxQz4nhgvWf6zdCE75oKYYdOUT_IyHP5wEbvyFBKREMo1hgVfmHjqtvioJzRzgyjaHAJSdXpyV9efkDq0sDURMZmCc8EyQetfneTecUzLqVKanOnAM7hK-km3vGRFE8UeuYH4hfJCHNepDp6oe3B4/s906/IMG_7275.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN6xAbj-eDD4OFPag3hL5LBT87oy1Xib7Sw1zN-xcxQz4nhgvWf6zdCE75oKYYdOUT_IyHP5wEbvyFBKREMo1hgVfmHjqtvioJzRzgyjaHAJSdXpyV9efkDq0sDURMZmCc8EyQetfneTecUzLqVKanOnAM7hK-km3vGRFE8UeuYH4hfJCHNepDp6oe3B4/s320/IMG_7275.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Which Season are you most grateful for? The challenge for November 15.</p><p> Summer, only summer unless it’s Christmas. But I love spring and its luscious mud puddles and nest building birds. I love fall and the leaves that glow like a fire. Each season has its own gift, but I’m a school person. So the school calendar has formed my world view and times off of school to be with family are my favorites. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOvj1tQ6zLuggfC_Tg2XLXdUYC6n8VaVyzlKofigP4AlnpXh7qPLpp6rM9JSwWMWg_I2Q1TtbqSNd_vRUGuDJ4HM2UUrPOeOXGgyKZQbDV2fxagJnMPJg6XNhQq6DSMpalpzRBmyox6ka4yYYMC-bpdaVgTig-tOD2tcsiEQhSFLHpFj4MUgdSMchh-3G/s3072/P1070367.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOvj1tQ6zLuggfC_Tg2XLXdUYC6n8VaVyzlKofigP4AlnpXh7qPLpp6rM9JSwWMWg_I2Q1TtbqSNd_vRUGuDJ4HM2UUrPOeOXGgyKZQbDV2fxagJnMPJg6XNhQq6DSMpalpzRBmyox6ka4yYYMC-bpdaVgTig-tOD2tcsiEQhSFLHpFj4MUgdSMchh-3G/s320/P1070367.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hNLlp-m2zE_rWCt43QaTFkY4DxNoI1jFC8wY42jN76I5kfFxihkp984iFRv-KKawYjutyWYwMSkmS-0z6PWtEujaBqKg0ZoXl49_MUZMXaU1GS4tuz3c3xhf0Jxqu8aRXyCCLyEGjh-Jhc__Uz5mwi6U14tWfTGeahT-TANiKK_PZ7F2zYwjAVmooAP0/s3034/P4012174.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3034" data-original-width="1874" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hNLlp-m2zE_rWCt43QaTFkY4DxNoI1jFC8wY42jN76I5kfFxihkp984iFRv-KKawYjutyWYwMSkmS-0z6PWtEujaBqKg0ZoXl49_MUZMXaU1GS4tuz3c3xhf0Jxqu8aRXyCCLyEGjh-Jhc__Uz5mwi6U14tWfTGeahT-TANiKK_PZ7F2zYwjAVmooAP0/s320/P4012174.jpeg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-57082504327137204642023-11-09T12:53:00.000-08:002023-11-09T12:53:08.218-08:00Gratitude a day challenge. <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDkUCkwgEhVWObK1Xt22Ifwz4MCZxJoCzJt-QohudRaNB33UZycXbzPwgPmOS3tGpBUillVlY_q6y6gNruLx4L40uKUjSuoertZ780s1FxyqOiRuO8k_tu6RVOQOF7jDhkuhf6qh4ypvUX5ZMT0wgOiL_-tF9iQoTQBvUKlnHHNiCsJ__l78g6BZUPw3F/s720/IMG_1879.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDkUCkwgEhVWObK1Xt22Ifwz4MCZxJoCzJt-QohudRaNB33UZycXbzPwgPmOS3tGpBUillVlY_q6y6gNruLx4L40uKUjSuoertZ780s1FxyqOiRuO8k_tu6RVOQOF7jDhkuhf6qh4ypvUX5ZMT0wgOiL_-tF9iQoTQBvUKlnHHNiCsJ__l78g6BZUPw3F/s320/IMG_1879.jpeg" width="128" /></a></div>Going to try this list of prompts for the month. Because I really don’t want to forget how blessed I am I. So many ways. This isn’t my list however. I don’t know who to credit for creating it, but it has been going around in facebook. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6F2QXqroxJTLWjwiSKzoDriSS_dVcDUvpV9u84fkZBDtIyWc7jv25F6E_0nZywnQyZwTCp2DV0u7U9dt_CcnsViF9zmuCm5oMWOswE4Swb_uRvqbzjBu_dZDd0uh2QZo4zEdbrtUNxsKUGbw0Cc8PaAwnynj1X1jFSje2G30b8Ll9ByDXTwoWl-jJxnEa/s2224/IMG_5578.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2224" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6F2QXqroxJTLWjwiSKzoDriSS_dVcDUvpV9u84fkZBDtIyWc7jv25F6E_0nZywnQyZwTCp2DV0u7U9dt_CcnsViF9zmuCm5oMWOswE4Swb_uRvqbzjBu_dZDd0uh2QZo4zEdbrtUNxsKUGbw0Cc8PaAwnynj1X1jFSje2G30b8Ll9ByDXTwoWl-jJxnEa/w320-h240/IMG_5578.png" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Grateful for food</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">The challenge for day two asked for the food you are most grateful for. My food loving mind flooded with family recipes and memories of get togethers with friends. So many old traditions and new experiences have involved food and loved ones. But then I remembered that something dies so that we can live. Even vegan diets kill animals in a very real sense as wild habitats are cleared for food production. The deepest sense of respect for this was learned as a child when the piglet I raised, hugged, rode on, loved, was butchered. The bunnies we raised and the chickens, the deer and fish we harvested were a real reminder and the beautiful brown eyed calves my cousins showed and sold at the county fair. The reality of the circle of life is ugly and precious and is why I give thanks not just for my food, but to my food.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q0CfPBenYJWrY5degTxb1l-9PvU2OUlW9ZEmkilxNHgMFNwPVpjabQzGqrxXNYXD8OYc3OYddVibLk1S0-fGUOa9AWk-vsTw_ZXvK-IBuaamM4IP0OCdyiw7Dhwu6OyjMyNrMGk7tgPmgEqiiWXsdkwMJEIL1OlcgOwzFxQ4u6yQYaPovRu2BTeijtsM/s4032/IMG_1878.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q0CfPBenYJWrY5degTxb1l-9PvU2OUlW9ZEmkilxNHgMFNwPVpjabQzGqrxXNYXD8OYc3OYddVibLk1S0-fGUOa9AWk-vsTw_ZXvK-IBuaamM4IP0OCdyiw7Dhwu6OyjMyNrMGk7tgPmgEqiiWXsdkwMJEIL1OlcgOwzFxQ4u6yQYaPovRu2BTeijtsM/s320/IMG_1878.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Smells</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">The first is smells, the one thing that I’m always reminded of family when I smell it is the tangy, spicy smell of garlic and oregano, basil and tomato and roasted pork in my grandpa’s spaghetti sauce. Now my oldest granddaughter Daisy can make it too.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEvrEH_nLHNeEcpG73KgwRf2teItKaevyYMZaIrp1nFVfgL7GqqHWOwnhthbyfVKCq2VwCRrrZ4HGmIXADmSHGP5xZvMljSaThGsTDYc3kzaZoU-1nK4r6C2RRnqxUb6Avo8XRm5NkpCWdB-o5CrtkNoinC2eEp_Is5MXIvRx_yR9bLgVT0s62QkBJOdz/s1080/IMG_1877.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEvrEH_nLHNeEcpG73KgwRf2teItKaevyYMZaIrp1nFVfgL7GqqHWOwnhthbyfVKCq2VwCRrrZ4HGmIXADmSHGP5xZvMljSaThGsTDYc3kzaZoU-1nK4r6C2RRnqxUb6Avo8XRm5NkpCWdB-o5CrtkNoinC2eEp_Is5MXIvRx_yR9bLgVT0s62QkBJOdz/s320/IMG_1877.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Technology </h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Today I am grateful for the technology that allows me to always have a camera on me, a way to enjoy the moment and still share it with those who I don’t get to have with me in the minute. Also it’s a way to pull out those memories and relive them again and again in the colder, lonelier ones. </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYhCYNZtYjmW58cR2vVTtQaEcYlxqvAJ_XkvOOna5hrig-B93fubNPMh9LJlaYcnlysrarwHAJu5YL47DAHvQMR3vMMUzDDJsEfJ8k5h4S1ed3KHbHod1lgXzFv5JlBOmRRcvQWvKD-LBI3vrtmHrqPf04fKVPhEFxbLRxJQZ4Jqw35GWB7zEzUB4Fh-B/s3509/IMG_1876.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3348" data-original-width="3509" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYhCYNZtYjmW58cR2vVTtQaEcYlxqvAJ_XkvOOna5hrig-B93fubNPMh9LJlaYcnlysrarwHAJu5YL47DAHvQMR3vMMUzDDJsEfJ8k5h4S1ed3KHbHod1lgXzFv5JlBOmRRcvQWvKD-LBI3vrtmHrqPf04fKVPhEFxbLRxJQZ4Jqw35GWB7zEzUB4Fh-B/s320/IMG_1876.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Color</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">I love color, and vision may be my favorite sense but if I have to choose only one color to be thankful for, then it would have to be the color of the stones in my grandma’s squash blossom necklace, turquoise like the swimming pools and the perfect sky. When I feel sad and listless, just watching the sun filtering through blue water can lift my spirits and relax the tension in my back. Smurf blue and Pikachu yellow, pumpkin orange and coral red, I fill my home with color and memories. </div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-08" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none !important; outline-width: medium !important; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 8th 2023"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcfknFB5Z4A8nF1cm8vQ9xRG51IFsnL88EDKlZNU9EJsDEG5kWIVUj7pUBlKN2wb7Gmvkv3vLSVZw-GjphKI3idZ0KRVLf1cE0TkB5Vqw10-4Rpj3Aw-dWk6hVle6kilKrdKDos59BbJ7845srD9rCHya6UdJm2T2aRTdSb5ivMFXU_8N2a3aP57JA8JV/s3600/IMG_1874.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcfknFB5Z4A8nF1cm8vQ9xRG51IFsnL88EDKlZNU9EJsDEG5kWIVUj7pUBlKN2wb7Gmvkv3vLSVZw-GjphKI3idZ0KRVLf1cE0TkB5Vqw10-4Rpj3Aw-dWk6hVle6kilKrdKDos59BbJ7845srD9rCHya6UdJm2T2aRTdSb5ivMFXU_8N2a3aP57JA8JV/s320/IMG_1874.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><p></p><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Music</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">Last night we realized that The Eras tour movie was leaving our theater after this weekend. I had promised the granddaughter we could see it, and the theater was empty except for the three of us, so of course we had to dance and sing. Most of you know my husband is a choir teacher and music has been a basic in our lives together. The gratitude challenge asked which sound we were most grateful for and I had to choose either music or the mournful sound of the local foghorn. </div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7inY18bI4U8bJo2YHvyXFT5UOUHvwrTdjlR1DfKFQgwPO-M9XxUCYQkqBqXw6-OKKgj0hbKhcYttjsXZGUhhtLwgZ1u5JB3-7cVUn1LctmIjVYc5o4BB1zo2Vu1jEr5-rPN8pqL-Nqlnwrd4c9PCyyojKAE8xFdEA4qxmYJ2B9HOUaJnfIe7dmT7e93e/s2924/IMG_1873.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="2924" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7inY18bI4U8bJo2YHvyXFT5UOUHvwrTdjlR1DfKFQgwPO-M9XxUCYQkqBqXw6-OKKgj0hbKhcYttjsXZGUhhtLwgZ1u5JB3-7cVUn1LctmIjVYc5o4BB1zo2Vu1jEr5-rPN8pqL-Nqlnwrd4c9PCyyojKAE8xFdEA4qxmYJ2B9HOUaJnfIe7dmT7e93e/s320/IMG_1873.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Sky</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">11/6 What in Nature are you grateful for? My first thought was Me, time for me to be in nature. My second thought was the sky. I love the ocean, the mountains, the prairie, Tundra, High Desert, redwoods, Aspen forests and on and on, but as long as I can see the sky I have an endlessly beautiful and changing view.</div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1RoSLEXtFq40vhyphenhyphenKwYy1L3fog7IhiyBGkphqwcjvvmTH-9NrElwtol5mCLudIhIkYEn_gFXjAP9EJk2beOFjBS2d6QnpmfXpEM-gQ7MWHTdo_FxEi4-MHM2YGeXydfMh5bszzm7kcSwWLFGDVh2PHF-hOgQQhBas9EenS_b_v2r7eAMYspIaUvPtCeHN/s960/IMG_1872.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1RoSLEXtFq40vhyphenhyphenKwYy1L3fog7IhiyBGkphqwcjvvmTH-9NrElwtol5mCLudIhIkYEn_gFXjAP9EJk2beOFjBS2d6QnpmfXpEM-gQ7MWHTdo_FxEi4-MHM2YGeXydfMh5bszzm7kcSwWLFGDVh2PHF-hOgQQhBas9EenS_b_v2r7eAMYspIaUvPtCeHN/s320/IMG_1872.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="media-details" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Books</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">What book are you most grateful for? This one is it. It started my life long love of books and can be counted in to keep the attention of any class I substituted in. Literally Preschool to High school if I read it to them. My boys loved it. The granddaughter loved it and even though the good guys save the gold from the pirates. There is humor without anyone dying in how they use their brains to do it. The only complaint is always that the shark is called “a big Fish” which is true but kids feel smarter than the author when they loudly insist that it’s a SHARK. I loved it enough that when the pages all fell out I laminated them and taped them all back in with packaging tape. I made the poster of my boys as characters.</div></div><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-08" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none !important; outline-width: medium !important; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 8th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bD32xZ3A-i-LJe2Qkywvmq9Eap63YV7USdpNFP16P8ytZTD_S1nDRCE2evbjU6dzQp4IWva-PpOMX5jZ1KAonBOUBYYYsiaYQoEqxjVAD5ysufacEhYg9WXiLtcmCBPvR8eL80jREEptQMChLFRm6mpiKRXwuE0W8WNfrfLC4NWgxv8bzJtnOoHeHlC5/s3414/IMG_1871.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3414" data-original-width="2398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bD32xZ3A-i-LJe2Qkywvmq9Eap63YV7USdpNFP16P8ytZTD_S1nDRCE2evbjU6dzQp4IWva-PpOMX5jZ1KAonBOUBYYYsiaYQoEqxjVAD5ysufacEhYg9WXiLtcmCBPvR8eL80jREEptQMChLFRm6mpiKRXwuE0W8WNfrfLC4NWgxv8bzJtnOoHeHlC5/s320/IMG_1871.jpeg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Memory</h1><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">What memory are you grateful for? 11/7/23<br />I’m grateful for those few, precious moments when my Parents and in-laws and my children were all alive and together. It was a beautiful, love filled thing to be a part of and over before I knew to appreciate every second.</div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="media-details" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><h1 class="media-title" style="border: 0px; color: #262626; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: initial; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 90px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></h1><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-details" style="font-size: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-08" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none !important; outline-width: medium !important; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 8th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-07" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 7th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="media-description" style="clear: both; font-size: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-06" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 6th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-05" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 5th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-04" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 4th 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-03" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 3rd 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-02" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 2nd 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div class="media-meta" style="background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="media-meta" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; margin: 15px -15px -15px; padding: 15px; position: relative;"><div class="media-date" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; caret-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); color: #555555; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://365project.org/browse/day/2023-11-01" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View more photos from November 1st 2023"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-25835907355866265922022-11-29T10:41:00.001-08:002022-12-19T15:28:10.870-08:00Merry Christmas 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX0SM_bgFqe5qkiRRN_9RnMcEIDuWgl-8FtQqH_go3IMuaTYfpQ2p_QOEcc3mpxkm3s6zbgJHtyaqT0qqjesRmkNd5Velqan4inLq_CKqy1lavm4s3A06mTYuA73qBJ6xKFBKuPs8T7755P5ZdOeDgbQs93Frq8hYNUvYQ96YDXUnINgLHkCCrIuepg/s1800/8763A674-31D6-44E7-89BF-ADDA328E7F07.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1439" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX0SM_bgFqe5qkiRRN_9RnMcEIDuWgl-8FtQqH_go3IMuaTYfpQ2p_QOEcc3mpxkm3s6zbgJHtyaqT0qqjesRmkNd5Velqan4inLq_CKqy1lavm4s3A06mTYuA73qBJ6xKFBKuPs8T7755P5ZdOeDgbQs93Frq8hYNUvYQ96YDXUnINgLHkCCrIuepg/s320/8763A674-31D6-44E7-89BF-ADDA328E7F07.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6mQHnvKw6jlAyA0U6NOaM9cI-OW70Z0HtvAr4jRzVYncGClEIJP63ws9aNQwtVU8V6BHKP7Xrmwh5G0o7Bp-14SKhgLJnm_KL1p-llcIdZVW9OVV31ePxDN3L8KJVY1AjEBSWvWie4ZwEZIZbv6oPowwR-sscU27vPHBPVl49twiwbvSLLgszec_NA/s1800/F8F85E41-4657-45F5-A3F1-46440F30601A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6mQHnvKw6jlAyA0U6NOaM9cI-OW70Z0HtvAr4jRzVYncGClEIJP63ws9aNQwtVU8V6BHKP7Xrmwh5G0o7Bp-14SKhgLJnm_KL1p-llcIdZVW9OVV31ePxDN3L8KJVY1AjEBSWvWie4ZwEZIZbv6oPowwR-sscU27vPHBPVl49twiwbvSLLgszec_NA/s320/F8F85E41-4657-45F5-A3F1-46440F30601A.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><br />December 2022</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Time once more to wish you a Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Joy Filled 2023 New Year</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And all the Happy Holidays you can fit into these dark winter days</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My best reason to smile is these Grandkids </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0AAvAQ8PwWImJFcnJICH8SkrD4GXLYxv9EufW4TZX3QiECQgtnIXOWz1VhSvV1CgZhIqEL0ZtOEj0Z6nV8ix4IovWWKNlwQjvX7KJdxV7iO858WxHZFiENTJ6fVtXlddQRGJUOBpNM6tD-akfvBypAL3bO71RkKIxI82XYyA2KSv2NsqynLnM4vVfQ/s3390/78C2D17E-0238-43B8-82C4-6219EF008663.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3390" data-original-width="2010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0AAvAQ8PwWImJFcnJICH8SkrD4GXLYxv9EufW4TZX3QiECQgtnIXOWz1VhSvV1CgZhIqEL0ZtOEj0Z6nV8ix4IovWWKNlwQjvX7KJdxV7iO858WxHZFiENTJ6fVtXlddQRGJUOBpNM6tD-akfvBypAL3bO71RkKIxI82XYyA2KSv2NsqynLnM4vVfQ/s320/78C2D17E-0238-43B8-82C4-6219EF008663.jpeg" width="190" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Daisy, Gavin and Trinity </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So my dear friends, family and beloved people chosen to be blessed with my wordy newsletter, I have to say that 2022 wasn’t a boring year. I might not do it Justice here, but it was interesting.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just remember, when the ancient Chinese told someone, “May you live in interesting times, they were not blessing them.” However even in the darkest of times you can look for the light and try to be the light for others. OMG. I am sounding a bit like Dumbledore there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then again, the Harry Potter books have invaded our world 🌎 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Completely dominating July through November. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emerson told Daisy that she couldn’t watch the movies until after she read the books. She was angry and declared to anyone who would listen, that her Dad was unreasonable, mean and WRONG. But then we had a long trip in July, and that meant lots of long hours in cars and airplanes and boring waiting in airports and motel rooms, so we read the first book, and by the time she watched the movie she was psyched and ready to declare all the same things we had said twenty years earlier about, “they changed that!” And “they left that out!” And “that scene was perfect.” And that was all it took. One book, then a movie followed by book 2 and the movie and I planned to stop after book 3, thinking she wasn’t ready for the darkness and deaths in the last 4 books. So we read a couple fan fiction novels that rewrote the first two books from Hermione’s viewpoint, but then she declared she wanted to read book 4, just as she began third grade. And by November she had read through all the books, plus the script for “The Cursed Child”and seen 8 movies and 3 Fantastic Beasts Movies and obviously understood them all because her conversation was non stop analysis of the stories and questioning “what if” and “why” even though none of her friends knew what she was talking about. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greg’s sister Laura died unexpectedly this spring, and her boyfriend had her cremated. The ashes were sent to Greg’s last remaining sister, Wendy. In July we flew to Salt Lake, via LA, and spent a day in Lagoon, the amusement park/water park near Salt Lake, before renting a car and driving across Wyoming to Laramie. All the brothers came to Wendy’s house, and then the family went to a beautiful waterfall on private property in the forest of Wyoming. There they turned Laura’s ashes free and each said something kind in farewell to a sister who had had a difficult life. While we were there in Wyoming I also turned 59 and Greg’s sister made roast elk and antelope for my birthday dinner. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emerson and Daisy came with us to Wyoming and Greg’s brother, Matt brought his wife, Andrea and daughter, Remi and her boyfriend, Gabe. Wendy’s sons, Connor and Colton were both there, along with Connor’s girlfriend Stephanie and Colton’s wife, Brittney, but Harv’s wife, and our Austin’s family were not able to be there, so it wasn’t a complete family reunion, but it had some good times, and was overall a fun but emotional visit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the summer, we stayed closer to home. Daisy took swimming lessons, Gavin and Trinity had birthday parties. Greg and Emerson and Austin worked a lot and got in some outdoor time as well. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92GSpEzv6Z70psmn9tSxPWKA6o7wpliLrRUQ_2vdQD13LKF2LhCFKs2T2kfJDRtqeQoAl5xajQPLR2Xuq1pILIS_o5PiOHv670KpllgjhkGpm6HF86_Fu3TbMZATTdpOdBlCyw-DMQoBtrWUNLQSVE59RmrpkbAmHOjI5Z24TRaztiuvFtEy3Dbg33w/s1561/02EA1DF6-5C6D-460D-947B-30E2E7736790.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1561" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92GSpEzv6Z70psmn9tSxPWKA6o7wpliLrRUQ_2vdQD13LKF2LhCFKs2T2kfJDRtqeQoAl5xajQPLR2Xuq1pILIS_o5PiOHv670KpllgjhkGpm6HF86_Fu3TbMZATTdpOdBlCyw-DMQoBtrWUNLQSVE59RmrpkbAmHOjI5Z24TRaztiuvFtEy3Dbg33w/s320/02EA1DF6-5C6D-460D-947B-30E2E7736790.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Remaining Goode Siblings</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU3GMuQhWt_EBrcWQwZHHtm7g6H4Nf9blvTuwMruw3ifOgiYz0UU47n-soBHhOsYvGWAeBlgEDZegMh-oJYJRvWGiH_IT68EvwnR5yk_7HPHUQsGBugwb15ajKxGWdA1DMtyAPRqLiZVv4-UkXWnvfNRxLhZg55bCfIcr0PCKuHqxSAd-Sc5UEi0p2A/s3196/3C99BFC0-6F5E-4251-B83D-9EC33A2FE2D7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="3196" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCU3GMuQhWt_EBrcWQwZHHtm7g6H4Nf9blvTuwMruw3ifOgiYz0UU47n-soBHhOsYvGWAeBlgEDZegMh-oJYJRvWGiH_IT68EvwnR5yk_7HPHUQsGBugwb15ajKxGWdA1DMtyAPRqLiZVv4-UkXWnvfNRxLhZg55bCfIcr0PCKuHqxSAd-Sc5UEi0p2A/s320/3C99BFC0-6F5E-4251-B83D-9EC33A2FE2D7.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Austin and Trisha</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoeikHDKrFRHCZQ3ZAiujJUGAXzq67X1ePtoDCA3lQq55x4_fCOFg6A09E8wM8PijG-OrxvtJY03AVfDG71U7OubOCOkfzMK1-oksoVsLSTTcaIb7LXicTKlDerTVXnygmZmh29hQsuDP8jOrB7xe2mmXmSxv3vjXSzVwNit7QyaIPgsE0t7Ozg_4DA/s1800/70CA897E-FB0B-4BE9-B416-FB5CDACE6C30.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1800" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoeikHDKrFRHCZQ3ZAiujJUGAXzq67X1ePtoDCA3lQq55x4_fCOFg6A09E8wM8PijG-OrxvtJY03AVfDG71U7OubOCOkfzMK1-oksoVsLSTTcaIb7LXicTKlDerTVXnygmZmh29hQsuDP8jOrB7xe2mmXmSxv3vjXSzVwNit7QyaIPgsE0t7Ozg_4DA/s320/70CA897E-FB0B-4BE9-B416-FB5CDACE6C30.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greg and his siblings, past and present</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda61qNezhmSiP9EdTtRp9qfTDChLl7hWRhBRPVJ2yq5SjvxisZUS_8_D-a1FId9LLUfIhTu-aWAnZk_uF9MCru6hFOZG_f1lZfd_CQ2XbW8VUmADMJs0qYYjLZ83zq-2IqwrgH5RjmSOvO8UoD1u5M8FLm8AlU0fEC6KVfbCNGCkGOjasYjrauyx-Dw/s3413/68714E9C-E51D-447D-8F4D-EF57E551C87E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="3413" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda61qNezhmSiP9EdTtRp9qfTDChLl7hWRhBRPVJ2yq5SjvxisZUS_8_D-a1FId9LLUfIhTu-aWAnZk_uF9MCru6hFOZG_f1lZfd_CQ2XbW8VUmADMJs0qYYjLZ83zq-2IqwrgH5RjmSOvO8UoD1u5M8FLm8AlU0fEC6KVfbCNGCkGOjasYjrauyx-Dw/s320/68714E9C-E51D-447D-8F4D-EF57E551C87E.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emerson, Daisy and Trinity </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBk0bQjnlqLITpYN08UekbxnTAWQWpth2JyjuRT60ZY-zAHHeHQbqs1iBxLGdeUgZFdybsbFDzrknSCsdrpveN3yHhx5Do5kv11OqgEpSnJd-dJE8-JxSP6Lspnpf5i7sTaZcFA5Vzw1kwxnZI94-cMqQ51BB1-PrsjJn23R1Bn2KUuUwpg1Y-SS0AA/s1586/A83AA123-E893-4564-B447-ADFB3068B843.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1586" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBk0bQjnlqLITpYN08UekbxnTAWQWpth2JyjuRT60ZY-zAHHeHQbqs1iBxLGdeUgZFdybsbFDzrknSCsdrpveN3yHhx5Do5kv11OqgEpSnJd-dJE8-JxSP6Lspnpf5i7sTaZcFA5Vzw1kwxnZI94-cMqQ51BB1-PrsjJn23R1Bn2KUuUwpg1Y-SS0AA/s320/A83AA123-E893-4564-B447-ADFB3068B843.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Family collage </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGaOkmdeTBEy20dVxgCUT6xgZ1PD8P3Y7VbtJJP_WluNCnxZjnua7NzHBDI8tfHOtYDzyNidNbI6p5TTGRgPGSKi05jXwkFClmrh0Z5lTF6zk_So-5Sc7QIEe10YzIMmF5TosfR3g3GG40L3S_hWqndbZ0RYn09EoWjU0IQK19cv6fsJlsDqtrk1o4w/s4032/AA5B7F73-E5B2-48CC-A9BF-A1DD398A8F93.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGaOkmdeTBEy20dVxgCUT6xgZ1PD8P3Y7VbtJJP_WluNCnxZjnua7NzHBDI8tfHOtYDzyNidNbI6p5TTGRgPGSKi05jXwkFClmrh0Z5lTF6zk_So-5Sc7QIEe10YzIMmF5TosfR3g3GG40L3S_hWqndbZ0RYn09EoWjU0IQK19cv6fsJlsDqtrk1o4w/s320/AA5B7F73-E5B2-48CC-A9BF-A1DD398A8F93.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Austin and I at Gold Beach</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">School began and Daisy was in third grade, Gavin in first and Trinity in Preschool. Austin’s family learned that their landlord had decided to sell and they needed to be out by January, so they started looking for a house to buy. The requirements were important that they have space from their neighbors and room for the kids to safely play both indoors and out. They also needed space for their high school age niece to be able to move in with them because she had been living with Trisha’s grandma, but the grandma died and her house left the family. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d say that they were successful in their house search. They got a sweet couple acres with two houses and fruit trees. I like that it is close to us, and has a farm house vibe that just says people have lived good lives here over the years. It seems right to me that Redwood school staff gave Greg a baby shower in 1993 for Austin and held it in the house across the street from Austin’s new home. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hjLPYJGJizO_ohw0QEakClC3az2-Ijeo3H-HOYw26cFMJmSNEWLYEbEGZRrOp-dKZkwCM5DxoW2vyb6t81BTReS7Lm-5AFAAGJ1qqJRBuM9UzobTmmPkW-4Et8iljacJDYtMMLqe73rbt40x3aIRNqgPK_zFUqocJjk9sSgBalDoOibJGpYcTfBSqg/s2048/4C2AD8A0-263C-449C-9297-9566200AFBFC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1781" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hjLPYJGJizO_ohw0QEakClC3az2-Ijeo3H-HOYw26cFMJmSNEWLYEbEGZRrOp-dKZkwCM5DxoW2vyb6t81BTReS7Lm-5AFAAGJ1qqJRBuM9UzobTmmPkW-4Et8iljacJDYtMMLqe73rbt40x3aIRNqgPK_zFUqocJjk9sSgBalDoOibJGpYcTfBSqg/s320/4C2AD8A0-263C-449C-9297-9566200AFBFC.jpeg" width="278" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Brother on a Boat Ride in Tennessee </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKzSJhFyoL4-RmqSvT8eSohECwLorf7tjiY_CaOg1QXXXv50MX2Bu-e4-fY-EHYLMlFcQ9njAHsLwUadBMkxgEzUXCyyqojrDdVKxQy1rDgdrXi67si409if28Xrv8ds04ckmMtOdxQENn9FS_9PYJItvLN6MCdt28yy5d0z3U2F3lq3Qa8wgGRnpng/s3088/6EECFB8B-88C6-44D3-BD4B-851A69B8AB89.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKzSJhFyoL4-RmqSvT8eSohECwLorf7tjiY_CaOg1QXXXv50MX2Bu-e4-fY-EHYLMlFcQ9njAHsLwUadBMkxgEzUXCyyqojrDdVKxQy1rDgdrXi67si409if28Xrv8ds04ckmMtOdxQENn9FS_9PYJItvLN6MCdt28yy5d0z3U2F3lq3Qa8wgGRnpng/s320/6EECFB8B-88C6-44D3-BD4B-851A69B8AB89.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greg and I watching the sunset in the harbor</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidADMDOcBIPrC_uzmcLIPuLG6LvvgdKO5zEqE3TQIwSMgV_-Cg73k930FxBiYLrvEoJH21E44Yddw5atjbrnBtu0kKOSy27SBI7XuMfkTHhQvZSJ9o1peb44OsbOyy2czRSkclL2wAKn4yyAIuCf7DgKESfUUVuIS_qCKl4X-p9fCY3y1FfoFvq5pWAw/s1722/8E7C4FBB-DF8B-4714-9D4F-AF82FE7BAEFA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="1385" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidADMDOcBIPrC_uzmcLIPuLG6LvvgdKO5zEqE3TQIwSMgV_-Cg73k930FxBiYLrvEoJH21E44Yddw5atjbrnBtu0kKOSy27SBI7XuMfkTHhQvZSJ9o1peb44OsbOyy2czRSkclL2wAKn4yyAIuCf7DgKESfUUVuIS_qCKl4X-p9fCY3y1FfoFvq5pWAw/s320/8E7C4FBB-DF8B-4714-9D4F-AF82FE7BAEFA.jpeg" width="257" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year Daisy got into the Harry Potter stories</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reading all 7 books and the Cursed Child Script</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFIShn635mACrkoT9QNGlaOmHmB6PvxxDGbHtVQCIoDFdYch8951ZrhN1WK5uddtib9tBWh_uUMkxYMYLb3xeunvT2X3ma3dt9sTnqwBChnYyb3V-TmyNoNKBaaYDv3EqDqhqSGrt-XmMxO7fWLCcWaQof13V6FdQUjyUNNl_jo8z0PVDHYRhQ1F-kQ/s1698/9C536DB4-BDEB-4E57-9618-D41D441582FC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1698" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFIShn635mACrkoT9QNGlaOmHmB6PvxxDGbHtVQCIoDFdYch8951ZrhN1WK5uddtib9tBWh_uUMkxYMYLb3xeunvT2X3ma3dt9sTnqwBChnYyb3V-TmyNoNKBaaYDv3EqDqhqSGrt-XmMxO7fWLCcWaQof13V6FdQUjyUNNl_jo8z0PVDHYRhQ1F-kQ/s320/9C536DB4-BDEB-4E57-9618-D41D441582FC.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmDDrODulPBYbyvJUiSFtJBd_pwe1Figt79ZBw-HacXvgUkzfV9fnFrNfS94GVTBGbp9f4A47Fk0Jjo8qu8KoGAgPESJ8MZ_C8LNrx688nMC1sUNAclzGCN96fnKRWZwnzsdkMMxBbaDFd3AJKDg6qnENPAdlHfkmO5JPZQGmLzmp2fWPwDqykXA4GQ/s1463/DAFDCBB3-11BB-4D77-AA7F-9EEE70B73F61.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1463" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmDDrODulPBYbyvJUiSFtJBd_pwe1Figt79ZBw-HacXvgUkzfV9fnFrNfS94GVTBGbp9f4A47Fk0Jjo8qu8KoGAgPESJ8MZ_C8LNrx688nMC1sUNAclzGCN96fnKRWZwnzsdkMMxBbaDFd3AJKDg6qnENPAdlHfkmO5JPZQGmLzmp2fWPwDqykXA4GQ/s320/DAFDCBB3-11BB-4D77-AA7F-9EEE70B73F61.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing is better than having grandkids </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I haven’t mentioned my health. It’s still unknown exactly what I have, but I have further referrals for new neurologist to try and find a diagnosis. Last year I had a lot of tests and next year looks like more of the same. Greg says when they do diagnose me, they will probably name it after me. Anyway, pain and muscle spasms aside, I’m doing well enough that I went to two weddings in the spring, a memorial service in Wyoming in the summer, and a three day weekend at a cabin in Gold Beach in the fall for my husband’s 60th birthday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was nostalgic <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left;">in a cabin we first stayed in 37 years ago, and the interior is so strangely familiar but it’s all been redone, walls were wood, now white, used to have a real fireplace but this is the second fake one, new minimalist art and furniture but we have been there as newlyweds and with a foster daughter, and the night we got our adopted son and then with friends and both sets of our parents and the night my Dad died and with our premie son and my mom and brother and with our young boys and then our teenagers and now with our grandkids. It always relaxes and refreshes us. It’s nice to return to a calm place and replenish the peaceful memories. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left;">So once again, I send you love and wish you all the best.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-align: left;">In a art piece by a man I’ve admired for years, Brian Andreas, he said, “there are things we do that may make no sense and they may make no money but they may be the real reason we are here: to love each other and to eat each other’s cooking and say it was good.” </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> I wish you a year filled with good food and people to share it with. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">All ways, Always I love you. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Dixie<br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p></div>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-15651857421588149692022-08-24T09:59:00.000-07:002022-08-24T09:59:24.613-07:00Family Roots: Polo and Lanark in Illinois<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;">My mom’s mom grew up in northern Illinois, farm country that they called “out West” and there were hard times ahead when she was born in 1908 and the tiny baby was forced to sleep in a shoe box on the oven door of the wood burning cook stove. A makeshift incubator of the era. The children of Della McPherson and William Beightol - Grace Viola Beightol and her sisters, Clara and Alice, and brothers, Clarence, Orville, Carl and a baby brother who died as a toddler. Alice later died of appendicitis at 18 and Carl came to visit his sisters after they moved and married in Wyoming. He decided to ride his horse into the Saloon. It was one of those decisions which change everything. Arrested and told he either enlisted or served prison time, Carl chose to enlist and served prison hard time by completing the Bataan Death March, only to die afterward in a hospital in the Philippines.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;">Clarence stayed in the family farm with his parents and Orville married a school teacher and lived nearby and continued working on the farm. Orville and Lucille adopted a 5 year old German boy, Freddy. Fred was killed in a car accident when he just finished a stint in the marines and was driving home from the farm in the dark of a moonless countryside and slammed into a car parked in a crossroads intersection with no lights on. After his death, one of his birth siblings came to visit while we were there too.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;">The two remaining sisters, after Alice died, had moved to Wyoming and married two brothers. Clara answered an ad for a mail order bride and went to Wyoming. She didn’t fall in love with the man whose ad she had answered but fell for his brother. Grace came to their wedding and ended up marrying the original brother. Those two couples produced my mom, and her four male cousins. Grace and Lawrence had Priscilla Slack, while Clarence and Clara Slack had Roger, Terry, Donald and James.</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;">The family farm outside of Polo and Lanark Illinois, became one of my favorite places as a child. Mom would bring her mom, and once my great aunt Clara as well. They would give the farmhouse a deep cleaning while my brothers and I climbed the cedar trees and played in the hayloft and “helped” feed the piglets and calves and begged to drink glasses of cream straight from the cow to the separator. I would get up early, but they would be up at 4 and milk the cows, eat breakfast and take a nap before 6 AM. My great grandma Della was still working hard but her spine had give up on staying straight and her eyes were weak. At night she climbed the stairs to bed by putting her water glass a couple steps above her. Climbing up to that level, moving it higher and repeat. Her bedroom was filled with Christmas cactus in old tin cans and she loved to have me read to her before bed. </span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3AQ_VsYAM0E0U8Ezzz8NR5DApBSEcZ1Z8vIq1Rhu9OBgYzeUGLHgCZiAzDdyRfxQEI_Jc8KDDiq4Le7U0Z07aAYTCpcMNcvXMXOSkPeKNXITmO14mTHxvbCIs5HRtsHUo3HcsN8_kF1_vigfyb7MAss3eGMN6cBSvfN1F_7Yx8S7WQWfwxfu6ptpcQ/s4032/2B471BB3-2F41-4E7D-90F0-D1FE48FE74CC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3AQ_VsYAM0E0U8Ezzz8NR5DApBSEcZ1Z8vIq1Rhu9OBgYzeUGLHgCZiAzDdyRfxQEI_Jc8KDDiq4Le7U0Z07aAYTCpcMNcvXMXOSkPeKNXITmO14mTHxvbCIs5HRtsHUo3HcsN8_kF1_vigfyb7MAss3eGMN6cBSvfN1F_7Yx8S7WQWfwxfu6ptpcQ/s320/2B471BB3-2F41-4E7D-90F0-D1FE48FE74CC.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14u6QH9Wv2ovRmSkYT4j35GjtceJtPrMVU3QvhMswLAwI_KDo8-_wsKhJFcaT31IfzfKoL5jtpIKORnmOd7OpqKteAWF6cmp5bJVab3T1LQ8nW-7bB_Dk-qdgFmJl-xNIcOUnaDo5hhxNI_sTGWsJYLi_kIo1PCK3_BdfQ-UcYC_fzaCJDZ6tCi1u_A/s3410/2EB33E25-9E7D-4FB2-93C2-5BFF27DB0DF7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3410" data-original-width="2777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14u6QH9Wv2ovRmSkYT4j35GjtceJtPrMVU3QvhMswLAwI_KDo8-_wsKhJFcaT31IfzfKoL5jtpIKORnmOd7OpqKteAWF6cmp5bJVab3T1LQ8nW-7bB_Dk-qdgFmJl-xNIcOUnaDo5hhxNI_sTGWsJYLi_kIo1PCK3_BdfQ-UcYC_fzaCJDZ6tCi1u_A/s320/2EB33E25-9E7D-4FB2-93C2-5BFF27DB0DF7.jpeg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8ljpeV8vlSR8_l56zQDrb70-KALwzBatG1JhB6HjElKvcylw5m3A9BAo_WYr-PNYrYu_BldjLt0gv-djOtB8xhS6N-IkD102WN8CGdzEEklPzgmbyVO1WhWu7tc0r1fQmuLN3s3ceIVKbfl9KWMmJPdxiJyX5_cFR34pym3B4YZqmt8rLRR8_ubJJQ/s2907/4D8B23D3-0525-4A2F-B41E-0BE8C8786058.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2907" data-original-width="2321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8ljpeV8vlSR8_l56zQDrb70-KALwzBatG1JhB6HjElKvcylw5m3A9BAo_WYr-PNYrYu_BldjLt0gv-djOtB8xhS6N-IkD102WN8CGdzEEklPzgmbyVO1WhWu7tc0r1fQmuLN3s3ceIVKbfl9KWMmJPdxiJyX5_cFR34pym3B4YZqmt8rLRR8_ubJJQ/s320/4D8B23D3-0525-4A2F-B41E-0BE8C8786058.jpeg" width="255" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZfE7VOT_LhfaVZa5To8MBDCpx52T-HykFJWHtFrME46enhud4Gc-oWS-9uj7MaoUJ1Q845HlkD5-LIedQN3CoScr5qzuWQdb8FmQUOAOVQ_v1IL2wKQvcM8T9Z1pl24tWw3yhd1fa73j2rd5DWSp3zrh8CQqAK4L-IipdGPqOQ2NwBFwhqFkEEyL0g/s3366/4E98D237-105A-4D2E-AC71-DA95340A853D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="3366" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZfE7VOT_LhfaVZa5To8MBDCpx52T-HykFJWHtFrME46enhud4Gc-oWS-9uj7MaoUJ1Q845HlkD5-LIedQN3CoScr5qzuWQdb8FmQUOAOVQ_v1IL2wKQvcM8T9Z1pl24tWw3yhd1fa73j2rd5DWSp3zrh8CQqAK4L-IipdGPqOQ2NwBFwhqFkEEyL0g/s320/4E98D237-105A-4D2E-AC71-DA95340A853D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_yLQMyXhDaBM-APLIRwV505CB1qkR7iim08E-AxsocvTJpZAlHS1Tf73ofmE9JIQgoxGbkxiG1DF3FZiSmv93f3sUC4g8Q7ubLsHrYRlNxFXn6CBejYl04fu5_SBZhSWnDXhJr45JynFFxQpxT9zb_FzP6WLWxuwebeDCawApeO-0MFF_4Lxqzn9XQ/s2999/6C04BB23-43D8-4015-B9FA-3A415FA6D15B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2991" data-original-width="2999" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_yLQMyXhDaBM-APLIRwV505CB1qkR7iim08E-AxsocvTJpZAlHS1Tf73ofmE9JIQgoxGbkxiG1DF3FZiSmv93f3sUC4g8Q7ubLsHrYRlNxFXn6CBejYl04fu5_SBZhSWnDXhJr45JynFFxQpxT9zb_FzP6WLWxuwebeDCawApeO-0MFF_4Lxqzn9XQ/s320/6C04BB23-43D8-4015-B9FA-3A415FA6D15B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsCwBdi38z2H7Pglo_voUnBaJQXdGV_OTSL0QZgTkEfX2IFKVGZuTLNZri7Ep0rX4IdelSgji1A3Jbud99RxaLlAAdjd-Ltl40l1JVV14bSpdBTLP0a8lkmEvEtUXd2pn1YLzhbNn7R-ERczUNnvm3ETYEZwnhoM8Iwbv7e4cr4crdugdSXgIbbjp6A/s3559/7BDC69CA-B25A-4D36-A800-3E8BBCD31F6D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3559" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsCwBdi38z2H7Pglo_voUnBaJQXdGV_OTSL0QZgTkEfX2IFKVGZuTLNZri7Ep0rX4IdelSgji1A3Jbud99RxaLlAAdjd-Ltl40l1JVV14bSpdBTLP0a8lkmEvEtUXd2pn1YLzhbNn7R-ERczUNnvm3ETYEZwnhoM8Iwbv7e4cr4crdugdSXgIbbjp6A/s320/7BDC69CA-B25A-4D36-A800-3E8BBCD31F6D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOIRpmdBF9waconNg5gAAKMKqQ8YGzkKxUTXotJyNkTsxficeNLQrFs7B4aaXnJQKFnrmbiCEI9lrKdC9yjnir1TQpBwywt2zJyi_5G0NIcjCTXbSCke-co0zGGdyJd2QPbMq4ngaXbgRTOJW73Apd6CrHQabMwG9BcVXGrLagcbgNuu4UYxe7avZtw/s3107/7CBEA0CC-4EE0-4394-9306-E6EC45C42F25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3107" data-original-width="3022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOIRpmdBF9waconNg5gAAKMKqQ8YGzkKxUTXotJyNkTsxficeNLQrFs7B4aaXnJQKFnrmbiCEI9lrKdC9yjnir1TQpBwywt2zJyi_5G0NIcjCTXbSCke-co0zGGdyJd2QPbMq4ngaXbgRTOJW73Apd6CrHQabMwG9BcVXGrLagcbgNuu4UYxe7avZtw/s320/7CBEA0CC-4EE0-4394-9306-E6EC45C42F25.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQBsvJQJEt39XRaWjnMpClscDu5tZ3NUp4Pga_-M6b0Xo8a3KRzQtn-SGLc8QyqcyRv58ggFedfeE1Kk2634ay6epxs5bHORwzqTYDt6lAXHuoDu0BlLUzzAsZNls8DvgAblILY9y7q_WeyN0pRmExyqVzqCMCqsI1RKVcDaQDVeOdbp3d68ZS5GS_Q/s3023/9BF5EA4D-C1EA-4902-9AA6-13E88B9C54ED.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="2882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQBsvJQJEt39XRaWjnMpClscDu5tZ3NUp4Pga_-M6b0Xo8a3KRzQtn-SGLc8QyqcyRv58ggFedfeE1Kk2634ay6epxs5bHORwzqTYDt6lAXHuoDu0BlLUzzAsZNls8DvgAblILY9y7q_WeyN0pRmExyqVzqCMCqsI1RKVcDaQDVeOdbp3d68ZS5GS_Q/s320/9BF5EA4D-C1EA-4902-9AA6-13E88B9C54ED.jpeg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaC2zaNL_S88Qb842MUVDna3GrSQWCMFiwUjOfqlx8nGgs87Z1GTx0nDLMgDvOgcvw9o88W60AZFbKNdv2HKvKleON9N5urMhOI6rs-enqoSvRKEXhinp-3P4YXU4u1c-1U_FRgqMs0zinVeUuMCbHUJ3XUCjC9Ihiv5pU3Vi_qb-d_Y3zptP5r_DFg/s4032/36B7592D-F1A7-4B5A-97A8-1C33807856F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaC2zaNL_S88Qb842MUVDna3GrSQWCMFiwUjOfqlx8nGgs87Z1GTx0nDLMgDvOgcvw9o88W60AZFbKNdv2HKvKleON9N5urMhOI6rs-enqoSvRKEXhinp-3P4YXU4u1c-1U_FRgqMs0zinVeUuMCbHUJ3XUCjC9Ihiv5pU3Vi_qb-d_Y3zptP5r_DFg/s320/36B7592D-F1A7-4B5A-97A8-1C33807856F9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n_F8RZ8dsbpK389P4aLR6kvzivUXUejgxi_FjqxPfLC3ka83Fs2Lf-joJcma0lpzbih8tKp4ZPism3mG0leKPix531XB7VB0Qm98wPQJJAu8l7NiS5Ks_r7pNJ913Bi2QeLF3WWqSnCkk7aQox-9ZZFbscAtTrlyN8rmRd-GDfnf35dj8v4MP0VZvg/s2898/66F2082C-3B31-4BBA-A9DD-EF163C4AF083.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2898" data-original-width="2864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n_F8RZ8dsbpK389P4aLR6kvzivUXUejgxi_FjqxPfLC3ka83Fs2Lf-joJcma0lpzbih8tKp4ZPism3mG0leKPix531XB7VB0Qm98wPQJJAu8l7NiS5Ks_r7pNJ913Bi2QeLF3WWqSnCkk7aQox-9ZZFbscAtTrlyN8rmRd-GDfnf35dj8v4MP0VZvg/s320/66F2082C-3B31-4BBA-A9DD-EF163C4AF083.jpeg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODigzHx4Q_dc5MnK_q13uFn2B_nhv04gWf2_up4YVJr58AtPXQFGLrSxa1s26EXaWl_roXjZ-goLXYFrpSNrIlGIV3qUclnyzNxiT_oxMxElzcFQxFD5dBtRKg0Ix9B1QFKM-gVfBKsYomye9tadO9XHeyfdHz1e0j20mmEQ7No4R7-lua9YoaYAJeg/s3022/082DC44B-4CEA-4419-9C8C-581495EB087C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="3022" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODigzHx4Q_dc5MnK_q13uFn2B_nhv04gWf2_up4YVJr58AtPXQFGLrSxa1s26EXaWl_roXjZ-goLXYFrpSNrIlGIV3qUclnyzNxiT_oxMxElzcFQxFD5dBtRKg0Ix9B1QFKM-gVfBKsYomye9tadO9XHeyfdHz1e0j20mmEQ7No4R7-lua9YoaYAJeg/s320/082DC44B-4CEA-4419-9C8C-581495EB087C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk73a47HIpvPxxpKuSbE70-oquvgDumLFprYqAOZdpYb056gHwE9Rms89wRzKMAsMvAWr1tfSxokdpdLan0-jt1E_axsYI1vjNtMF1szCkbcTCpCrGsYv0AK6y5eZMJccEb-6DQYnOqkCI-IAiFufGahj2rTwq7_DU3fyz3sJGrVZwFcWF9XbB1Bv4Kg/s2285/9187E318-2F17-4887-A740-9180F8FA36C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2285" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk73a47HIpvPxxpKuSbE70-oquvgDumLFprYqAOZdpYb056gHwE9Rms89wRzKMAsMvAWr1tfSxokdpdLan0-jt1E_axsYI1vjNtMF1szCkbcTCpCrGsYv0AK6y5eZMJccEb-6DQYnOqkCI-IAiFufGahj2rTwq7_DU3fyz3sJGrVZwFcWF9XbB1Bv4Kg/s320/9187E318-2F17-4887-A740-9180F8FA36C2.jpeg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt3MUcNAVTCccAMKGghpft55fomCKkUkLtV_WGC-P1m0HixA2KTKbU825LzyeRpjmNj3rBqLOtIx8kaMZNsdIXn3gzH8RCjnmbQuM-987TcXA7YbcLNzHDvJ6zrehuoej5YomoIRvvdblAKUvXJVHmcz1zntGU5jN8IxsspeVdaeSl2OmaChQ8frAtg/s4032/92459BF5-E0BB-47FF-B8B0-26BD87105B1A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt3MUcNAVTCccAMKGghpft55fomCKkUkLtV_WGC-P1m0HixA2KTKbU825LzyeRpjmNj3rBqLOtIx8kaMZNsdIXn3gzH8RCjnmbQuM-987TcXA7YbcLNzHDvJ6zrehuoej5YomoIRvvdblAKUvXJVHmcz1zntGU5jN8IxsspeVdaeSl2OmaChQ8frAtg/s320/92459BF5-E0BB-47FF-B8B0-26BD87105B1A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb0g1B8rEqg1o1vrCf5u_o4mRdZBDAirI_0o8BnqXdiwiLYkOJFbgrGzKtWI0Niv7mb0JeBoA9pr7MpFszj_lChM0GpOa2dMp3ymHlXT61OycqXKBcPCmus7gLmMIlOyOdIZOyTuqVC5ex7TcYaJ058Nc8dJ-5nkeknKIpNqbFyYPDDcyJ1iAuIj6qQ/s3176/767520F5-E364-4677-96CD-25EF032293D4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3176" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzb0g1B8rEqg1o1vrCf5u_o4mRdZBDAirI_0o8BnqXdiwiLYkOJFbgrGzKtWI0Niv7mb0JeBoA9pr7MpFszj_lChM0GpOa2dMp3ymHlXT61OycqXKBcPCmus7gLmMIlOyOdIZOyTuqVC5ex7TcYaJ058Nc8dJ-5nkeknKIpNqbFyYPDDcyJ1iAuIj6qQ/s320/767520F5-E364-4677-96CD-25EF032293D4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeefpbSHeZK5yUSe_noLibuu0pbinYdiEiFIyFLkOlIBOou9ygwPoDpLFdpFcKMV07V2-4Gs6YgruQcsAJxAvychVtrxO-LjPBF1SWsyuAT3vjVRJdwlmh6FO7Vnj-voWdNzdymh57-rGmtlMEKFtIesYL54PvUsu-PtVE74f7RJvwUR1f9aGwgxRfA/s2957/86826614-51CA-447B-B364-28409955B4C6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2842" data-original-width="2957" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeefpbSHeZK5yUSe_noLibuu0pbinYdiEiFIyFLkOlIBOou9ygwPoDpLFdpFcKMV07V2-4Gs6YgruQcsAJxAvychVtrxO-LjPBF1SWsyuAT3vjVRJdwlmh6FO7Vnj-voWdNzdymh57-rGmtlMEKFtIesYL54PvUsu-PtVE74f7RJvwUR1f9aGwgxRfA/s320/86826614-51CA-447B-B364-28409955B4C6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW0_9ARZyVX3BZ1k5knH-Swl0IxZOtvI9bfUbVnY5KSDOfZntzuifwtEvCC-KdIzIIJQUk_WFsuZAMZBu5HOd3xxVNngrIV41IIWFyzKECpk7cSPnlHquO31rvlHSQz556gtwgoT3SR8ugVpRuOuG4eCb_RI2ADw6BkIOzMKC1e7uercl1Vn31dE_5g/s2008/B0A8223A-789E-4734-AB31-7E0399735AEC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="2008" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW0_9ARZyVX3BZ1k5knH-Swl0IxZOtvI9bfUbVnY5KSDOfZntzuifwtEvCC-KdIzIIJQUk_WFsuZAMZBu5HOd3xxVNngrIV41IIWFyzKECpk7cSPnlHquO31rvlHSQz556gtwgoT3SR8ugVpRuOuG4eCb_RI2ADw6BkIOzMKC1e7uercl1Vn31dE_5g/s320/B0A8223A-789E-4734-AB31-7E0399735AEC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHi62ia8OSZNKGOvDFTmMsBTvvDyBD41iULM_-1ORq4MDB1EVWyjkBjk01opUqtKaxkkBE_ZmIcwotfgrPEdxkES5AbuVa0ahmtdYqeNrPVE28_yhW9vR-yc4h9W2Jk8KZ_USNnRPO6SVa9ShjqMT56Ka4QITZdgfhKQdwJWasL7eyJo8cX-Uuu6rGA/s2957/E4FCB5F3-83E1-432E-83D2-A36C60F0E169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2528" data-original-width="2957" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHi62ia8OSZNKGOvDFTmMsBTvvDyBD41iULM_-1ORq4MDB1EVWyjkBjk01opUqtKaxkkBE_ZmIcwotfgrPEdxkES5AbuVa0ahmtdYqeNrPVE28_yhW9vR-yc4h9W2Jk8KZ_USNnRPO6SVa9ShjqMT56Ka4QITZdgfhKQdwJWasL7eyJo8cX-Uuu6rGA/s320/E4FCB5F3-83E1-432E-83D2-A36C60F0E169.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjt0PM9K-EfPamT0FEhEIp1n9kZ66KzFYlsjxXFfZwy1JhSizmPIglP7Zv1CyRkVuPGelmBUmS30IuQag-WmZukF3hfQ-55qj-q2nFnfStY_fSqOigKIAgRauFWGwfdEKpFHkLx5O53FVIfyPUCOuyEgaaCb1_1Np8bDBLpNUlVCQ8ao_Ve2kSzSLXw/s3236/EA65639C-4BF9-454D-8041-74578F5F8D1E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="3236" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjt0PM9K-EfPamT0FEhEIp1n9kZ66KzFYlsjxXFfZwy1JhSizmPIglP7Zv1CyRkVuPGelmBUmS30IuQag-WmZukF3hfQ-55qj-q2nFnfStY_fSqOigKIAgRauFWGwfdEKpFHkLx5O53FVIfyPUCOuyEgaaCb1_1Np8bDBLpNUlVCQ8ao_Ve2kSzSLXw/s320/EA65639C-4BF9-454D-8041-74578F5F8D1E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEV65_LUkvlBtWbCW3TvK0kA4YDGEhqpiKiH4gorB78ggpxQFeY7CXLB7AB6axgi1_eNIGIF9CW_teY9oHO5ibFkiGb70mnSBo4B7J_TE7okmWG6Hxt506TbLqVezpI5dvQZWG4XWQZ4CoQm2N7CH45GncuYP4p2bSFa7yAnKqGNO-UCao0pHiJBvIg/s3169/F9009F77-8EDD-4B32-95FE-39F5285DB00D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3169" data-original-width="3017" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEV65_LUkvlBtWbCW3TvK0kA4YDGEhqpiKiH4gorB78ggpxQFeY7CXLB7AB6axgi1_eNIGIF9CW_teY9oHO5ibFkiGb70mnSBo4B7J_TE7okmWG6Hxt506TbLqVezpI5dvQZWG4XWQZ4CoQm2N7CH45GncuYP4p2bSFa7yAnKqGNO-UCao0pHiJBvIg/s320/F9009F77-8EDD-4B32-95FE-39F5285DB00D.jpeg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;"><br /></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-88036155580438920152022-05-19T11:42:00.005-07:002022-05-19T13:34:29.246-07:00Your Earliest Memory<p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your Earliest Memory?</span></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular;"></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">by Dixie Dawn Miller Goode on May 19, 2022</span></span></li></ul><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.1px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21.13px;">I have scattered childhood memories, a dog, an airedale, that we lived <br />next to in Cheyenne that “guarded me from my parents in our front yard, <br />until the owner came home. We moved from there when I was two. <br />I remember going to the house I mainly grew up in in Cody, when <br />it wasn’t our house yet, and playing with a boy and girl who lived there, <br />and I remember a blue plastic pool filled with stuffed animals in the red <br />house we rented in between Cheyenne and home owning in Cody. <br />But those are brief and tied only to places or times I can use to anchor<br /> when the memory is from.<br />Do you ever remember, remembering something and yet, <br />no longer remember the actual event?<br /> When I was very young, my grandfather’s brother, Clarence,<br /> was grilling chicken on a backyard BBQ grill and we smelled it <br />as we arrived, and instead of going through the house as we usually did, <br />I ran around to the side gate and entered the backyard <br />with wet laundry billowing on the clothes line, and he turned<br /> from the Smokey grill and shouted, “it’s the birthday girl!”<br />Years later, watching my moms silent, black and white 8mm home movies,<br /> “You won’t remember my Uncle Clarence, because he died when you <br />were too young.”<br /> I argued with her, describing all those details I just mentioned, while her<br /> little movie only showed him bringing a platter of chicken over<br /> to the table. But a couple years after that, I remembered watching<br /> the movie, and the words I had used to tell her about that early birthday, <br />but I no longer actually remembered that backyard picnic,<br /> or that strong man who I knew was happy to see me.<br />Now my only memories of him are of the fast moving cancer. <br />I remember riding along when Mom picked him up and drove him to Dr. appointments. I remember when he was too weak to shift his legs and he asked my Dad to cross his legs for him because he’d been in the same position too long and was hurting.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoCMf19wfa4MjoYZhw2FwT7IDLs-_8UVOxv9MW_0upj1l_r2QvmJuU2DA7jvsLNo0l9jGg9I2HklEQ6H3AiTcNB9eYWiBQDWYAZE1IEEgoHD0XDcMQKRvrUJJp9g7DrP8bNlb6By-TwA5gSeCGdX7yPZT4mSaWJreJ45vnGK1z7pmXpMnt9D5_xML9Q/s2320/5CC3ADDF-D2B2-4E48-A0FD-E849AB31A911.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoCMf19wfa4MjoYZhw2FwT7IDLs-_8UVOxv9MW_0upj1l_r2QvmJuU2DA7jvsLNo0l9jGg9I2HklEQ6H3AiTcNB9eYWiBQDWYAZE1IEEgoHD0XDcMQKRvrUJJp9g7DrP8bNlb6By-TwA5gSeCGdX7yPZT4mSaWJreJ45vnGK1z7pmXpMnt9D5_xML9Q/s320/5CC3ADDF-D2B2-4E48-A0FD-E849AB31A911.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_ao905wy6KRLeyir0Eo8f-3D8AuFfYWsvSTu0OQ0iyFVDOfoakKzLOvxnVk5ABVdtSlkqtCtHHbVpDapPUbxR3mBhkdJNFTcuyGvbQziaidRLhYaZqOm1ZXBCYl1HnIcViTpgsip82aQ_mCOxBEF4JVFv1Sr-DIuBDKOUt5ETrfMqA2bVzKX127fPA/s4032/6D3D38AB-72D8-4478-9ED8-6C6697B1ED15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_ao905wy6KRLeyir0Eo8f-3D8AuFfYWsvSTu0OQ0iyFVDOfoakKzLOvxnVk5ABVdtSlkqtCtHHbVpDapPUbxR3mBhkdJNFTcuyGvbQziaidRLhYaZqOm1ZXBCYl1HnIcViTpgsip82aQ_mCOxBEF4JVFv1Sr-DIuBDKOUt5ETrfMqA2bVzKX127fPA/s320/6D3D38AB-72D8-4478-9ED8-6C6697B1ED15.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmlsoUgXSKTt9wuyapr6mw5s1qeKAzTmRqOG7nAH0NMnYmq6rY0jTzg1UiCTHjja7zpF00nBTyhI4u6gRtNgNsTZdYGpbbFggzyZYYeurLC-CKIq8LIPux0mDMmSTfe73WP1MdgLbs6ieXFjTeMAp5z74XBCi_48hwI4pNugxxrGog6ViB7TOvN4Qig/s3043/17A5C334-A8CF-4370-89C6-02A471851C90.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3043" data-original-width="2533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmlsoUgXSKTt9wuyapr6mw5s1qeKAzTmRqOG7nAH0NMnYmq6rY0jTzg1UiCTHjja7zpF00nBTyhI4u6gRtNgNsTZdYGpbbFggzyZYYeurLC-CKIq8LIPux0mDMmSTfe73WP1MdgLbs6ieXFjTeMAp5z74XBCi_48hwI4pNugxxrGog6ViB7TOvN4Qig/s320/17A5C334-A8CF-4370-89C6-02A471851C90.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALgai35jeOa2bzXj1dWgD57c1cZ5wJLV13_-2gWwOyTgH88QYzZaUgQjmQpRNQM9oIVILBsjGK69ySSvjfP3_fkQGI33yHMvWGftnpLRVodsupppeMXnwsgWnFuZpZ-PDHGGrp4kXpAYpWocFyt4GGiVScrHWnFNQQkCdhY2zvwvWCrMYVCo2Kx-IgA/s807/276F8C85-87A1-4C3C-808E-1EBFC9B7F182.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="787" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALgai35jeOa2bzXj1dWgD57c1cZ5wJLV13_-2gWwOyTgH88QYzZaUgQjmQpRNQM9oIVILBsjGK69ySSvjfP3_fkQGI33yHMvWGftnpLRVodsupppeMXnwsgWnFuZpZ-PDHGGrp4kXpAYpWocFyt4GGiVScrHWnFNQQkCdhY2zvwvWCrMYVCo2Kx-IgA/s320/276F8C85-87A1-4C3C-808E-1EBFC9B7F182.jpeg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi59dHQalSoDio7Hl4QxH4kfJ9IFeSmVPeq4_e3XbNM4jKz_SHx97MeAq_z3gpFnQ-AU4llwLU58FfcoIReQHNGB2DHLe7N3f0XSsKhsH_ii5jXyjjDA78ybY1IId5ICQ93DYPLd2xoaWGkNTK__CsK5oM16T4VqJq6i7ht51n8xa9ojx8Jp4M31Jiw/s852/468C8CAB-C63D-4E37-9D6B-78A8F54E5E04.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="851" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi59dHQalSoDio7Hl4QxH4kfJ9IFeSmVPeq4_e3XbNM4jKz_SHx97MeAq_z3gpFnQ-AU4llwLU58FfcoIReQHNGB2DHLe7N3f0XSsKhsH_ii5jXyjjDA78ybY1IId5ICQ93DYPLd2xoaWGkNTK__CsK5oM16T4VqJq6i7ht51n8xa9ojx8Jp4M31Jiw/s320/468C8CAB-C63D-4E37-9D6B-78A8F54E5E04.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMjqYcBblz4hgbP5xtQIM_HiWc5iJUxBxCuH0jc-qNtucw65_3B-t4KAhwIuSR9InzqtSSAgLTnuKFIBd0oksBTNmTn-gSylIinpz5boZjTeul1XI5kOtRi7mhGAYetorljTiKfMr6FULx1sCveAljbEtO0O_Je5Mn0WuIhxi8BSqCRPwnAcic4n3Kw/s835/B99F1AC0-8E33-47A5-BC26-515B93C23B51.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMjqYcBblz4hgbP5xtQIM_HiWc5iJUxBxCuH0jc-qNtucw65_3B-t4KAhwIuSR9InzqtSSAgLTnuKFIBd0oksBTNmTn-gSylIinpz5boZjTeul1XI5kOtRi7mhGAYetorljTiKfMr6FULx1sCveAljbEtO0O_Je5Mn0WuIhxi8BSqCRPwnAcic4n3Kw/s320/B99F1AC0-8E33-47A5-BC26-515B93C23B51.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQKBXgJGRiBpjaI8SiCcn7P_nvIbKRJtmWxR7wvkshsvu9ibFEwLGMC1G4lNZ2d0OPVLiRD6TnwbpvF00w5thynAHnXnF9zD5RoMXYSpJJ_8UzITt6UD0KkGFaMUotWeS2I1u5okHvgRurPsJNUt-058n7Xbu1kL68pwogMCodnfJ4iMtWgv2ppzI4g/s2867/BFE0A3FC-7344-4599-BAF5-ADB059198459.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2693" data-original-width="2867" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQKBXgJGRiBpjaI8SiCcn7P_nvIbKRJtmWxR7wvkshsvu9ibFEwLGMC1G4lNZ2d0OPVLiRD6TnwbpvF00w5thynAHnXnF9zD5RoMXYSpJJ_8UzITt6UD0KkGFaMUotWeS2I1u5okHvgRurPsJNUt-058n7Xbu1kL68pwogMCodnfJ4iMtWgv2ppzI4g/s320/BFE0A3FC-7344-4599-BAF5-ADB059198459.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjG7UESqHsyiJZRVLfI6r4TJWG9VJtFzNdVV1i5ORlC2L3DyRKPnmfH4mdih3t7Ye3qvmpkTTcYq8B8ZqmG1EgsskuQNFUckiGwRiViSeWdgcomd3QZgfpWv6Q2NoMIQ36NzEsYZzg78txjBJ4effhlbC7859MjihAumULCkzagWwCkX9ICPq1PKRgg/s2805/E951D3BE-4112-4F61-9260-01405E299F31.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2805" data-original-width="2534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjG7UESqHsyiJZRVLfI6r4TJWG9VJtFzNdVV1i5ORlC2L3DyRKPnmfH4mdih3t7Ye3qvmpkTTcYq8B8ZqmG1EgsskuQNFUckiGwRiViSeWdgcomd3QZgfpWv6Q2NoMIQ36NzEsYZzg78txjBJ4effhlbC7859MjihAumULCkzagWwCkX9ICPq1PKRgg/s320/E951D3BE-4112-4F61-9260-01405E299F31.jpeg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br />Thinking back, from this aged place of 58, to that early, probably about age three, birthday, and the people who always have surrounded me each year, with love and fun times and celebrating my birth. I realize that I’ve been so blessed. My family members here today, and those back then are all different people, but that thread of family that connects us, is a thread of love generations long.</span><p></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-49095043832087557092022-05-11T19:37:00.000-07:002022-05-11T19:37:11.017-07:00Grandparent Memories <p> <span style="caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">I’m glad I was raised with grandparents who were born in 1875 and 1879(both great grandmas) and 1898 (both grandpas) and 1908 (mom’s mom) they didn’t change much in the things they considered essential as they aged. The never had, so why do I need now list; included electricity, and indoor plumbing, and a phone, or TV. There was a wood cook stove with a built in rectangular reservoir for hot water, coal burner for heat, outhouse, thunder mug under the bed, and buckets of water with a washboard and wringer for laundry. Gardening and bartering and auctions and canning and drying and sewing and quilting were daily things. I thought it was weird but nowadays my own list of never had, don’t need dates me just as completely - no dishwasher in this house. </span></p><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">My grandpa was born in 1898 and my grandma in 1908 and this is how my grandma responded to everything. Show her some gloom and doom prediction and she’d list several other times people thought the world was ending. Laugh at a haircut and she reminded my mom that she once cut her hair into a Mohawk and dyed it red with mercurochrome. Show her the Pacific Ocean and she says Yellowstone Lake is about the same thing, take her to the redwoods and she grumps, “they don’t look red to me.” If I ever said “I wish it was the weekend (or my birthday, summer or Christmas)” she would counter with, “don’t wish your life away.”<br id="isPasted" style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />And now she has been dead since 1989 and I still hear her voice telling me there is nothing new under the sun and this too, will pass, faster than you want it to.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One morning when I was about four I went out to the rabbit hutch we had next to the kitchen porch for my pet bunnies. The rabbits were gone and our American badger was inside snarling. At me. I ran inside, my grandpa went out, and somehow, for the rest of my childhood there was a tanned badger pelt with long claws clicking against the wood on my child sized rocking chair’s back spindles.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">My mom’s paternal grandmother was born among the Sioux in 1875 and died in 1973 when I was ten after sharing my bedroom the last two years of her life. The family talked much about her and her husband homesteading and driving stage for Buffalo Bill but I never even heard about the Pine Ridge Reservation relatives until they came for her funeral. I can’t imagine the changes in her life, but since no one talked, I have to. Born and living there through both Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee, then married at 17 to a white stage driver and disowned by her dad for marrying a white man, so unable to visit her mom until she was 57 and her Dad died. Moving to Cody, Wyoming before there was a town and raising four sons and living to be 98. How different the world she arrived in than the one she left.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />My maternal grandmother never got over growing up in a farm family of eight kids, all born around 1898 to 1908. And never forgot storing things when they were abundant, to use year round. So when the fields were bursting, she had her own crops but teamed up with mom and her cousins to share their crops and labor.</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"33A01EF4-FC43-4D9A-8A9A-5C265348508A.jpeg","handle":"JQF885MQRnKQb06gcpEe","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"33A01EF4-FC43-4D9A-8A9A-5C265348508A.jpeg","size":2638218,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/JQF885MQRnKQb06gcpEe","uploadId":"fSd8S59n9uuPYncq","originalFile":{"name":"33A01EF4-FC43-4D9A-8A9A-5C265348508A.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2638218},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/7mILIJBHTUqyGlnwCOlc_33A01EF4-FC43-4D9A-8A9A-5C265348508A.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="swb28a1" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="swb28a1i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/JQF885MQRnKQb06gcpEe" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"2A70B461-2AC3-42DC-BAD6-ECA54AFA5A09.jpeg","handle":"hAQNeY9jR3WtJWF508Rk","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"2A70B461-2AC3-42DC-BAD6-ECA54AFA5A09.jpeg","size":2600863,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/hAQNeY9jR3WtJWF508Rk","uploadId":"5fuArzA7Qvw4pDuy","originalFile":{"name":"2A70B461-2AC3-42DC-BAD6-ECA54AFA5A09.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2600863},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/vtMnk5RT6ihY6unD1euo_2A70B461-2AC3-42DC-BAD6-ECA54AFA5A09.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="swa9c22" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="swa9c22i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/hAQNeY9jR3WtJWF508Rk" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Emma Belle Lafferty and Frances Ralbon Slack</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"9606C70A-8A3A-4566-BD92-48FEAB259A86.jpeg","handle":"aL1ZGgESSOEHpUBtdnNJ","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"9606C70A-8A3A-4566-BD92-48FEAB259A86.jpeg","size":2237008,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/aL1ZGgESSOEHpUBtdnNJ","uploadId":"gO60vp4Sas8kCSSX","originalFile":{"name":"9606C70A-8A3A-4566-BD92-48FEAB259A86.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2237008},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/RDFz3I4NSvWYZ6kpsvvy_9606C70A-8A3A-4566-BD92-48FEAB259A86.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw3e6a3" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw3e6a3i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/aL1ZGgESSOEHpUBtdnNJ" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lawrence Slack</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"8DA32D1F-0B9D-44C5-A53A-6F47264F8C96.jpeg","handle":"tyHfV3PTQfOH8sNOMBcL","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"8DA32D1F-0B9D-44C5-A53A-6F47264F8C96.jpeg","size":902460,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/tyHfV3PTQfOH8sNOMBcL","uploadId":"vsp8mr2oo3ObICjQ","originalFile":{"name":"8DA32D1F-0B9D-44C5-A53A-6F47264F8C96.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":902460},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/9R9tYKydQFaTub5bPIcW_8DA32D1F-0B9D-44C5-A53A-6F47264F8C96.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw873a4" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw873a4i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/tyHfV3PTQfOH8sNOMBcL" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Emerson Miller and my brother Lance</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"3289CF77-6360-4A9C-8FF2-01C69111B307.jpeg","handle":"NniY92poTUyATcPlATed","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"3289CF77-6360-4A9C-8FF2-01C69111B307.jpeg","size":1968447,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/NniY92poTUyATcPlATed","uploadId":"I88nSQkrv07t6q1M","originalFile":{"name":"3289CF77-6360-4A9C-8FF2-01C69111B307.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":1968447},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/mrGDsRURXaehbT1o2d65_3289CF77-6360-4A9C-8FF2-01C69111B307.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw2d745" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw2d745i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/NniY92poTUyATcPlATed" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lawrence Slack T age 17</div><div class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We made sauerkraut, braided onions and garlic, canned so many types of beans, corn, pickles and tomato. And then everyone had more than what they had grown themselves in their “root cellar.” They didn’t dry or smoke much when I was a child. And I’m not sure why, but suspect they felt indulgent using the freezer for those items like meat and fruit. Or canning jelly, and applesauce and pie cherries. I don’t do anything like the volume they did, but we trade our apples and pears and plums for garden goods and can some things. And keeping water here is essential as power cuts my well, many times we’ve figured out a way to get water from the well without the pump but never installed a hand pump on the kitchen sink which several of my family members had. Here we closed schools a month ago, and people shopped like it was tsunami season, and a bunch of items haven’t come back yet, but I have a big order in for today at curbside pickup and we could have gone another month before filling that if I wasn’t getting specifics for three birthdays and Easter. Ugh, sorry. Once again I’m rambling.</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"DE75AA65-B950-4A98-8544-74B65A88017E.jpeg","handle":"uU5nk4QRTWGmf0SctNi4","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"DE75AA65-B950-4A98-8544-74B65A88017E.jpeg","size":226613,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/uU5nk4QRTWGmf0SctNi4","uploadId":"wO3RGx8sHHa4DDQP","originalFile":{"name":"DE75AA65-B950-4A98-8544-74B65A88017E.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":226613},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/ZLxqGVTYTz2eAvGKYJyA_DE75AA65-B950-4A98-8544-74B65A88017E.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw0c9c6" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw0c9c6i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/uU5nk4QRTWGmf0SctNi4" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"EB5344F2-C168-4781-908B-BC7B258FD8B9.jpeg","handle":"6NECJ1uUSDioWPe84ieB","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"EB5344F2-C168-4781-908B-BC7B258FD8B9.jpeg","size":135404,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/6NECJ1uUSDioWPe84ieB","uploadId":"VEB3HNStDFmcD97X","originalFile":{"name":"EB5344F2-C168-4781-908B-BC7B258FD8B9.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":135404},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/2fqZqwFjTsCPrp5ywe4Y_EB5344F2-C168-4781-908B-BC7B258FD8B9.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw9e247" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw9e247i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/6NECJ1uUSDioWPe84ieB" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"071A4468-3BDA-4EB5-A5EF-27CA86402761.jpeg","handle":"L2eKLPz0SeaU9i9lNVnS","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"071A4468-3BDA-4EB5-A5EF-27CA86402761.jpeg","size":100487,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/L2eKLPz0SeaU9i9lNVnS","uploadId":"x8D8WbOectt3XSap","originalFile":{"name":"071A4468-3BDA-4EB5-A5EF-27CA86402761.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":100487},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/H6EoLqecTrefXlQWtEFU_071A4468-3BDA-4EB5-A5EF-27CA86402761.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw4e0e8" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw4e0e8i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/L2eKLPz0SeaU9i9lNVnS" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-41960689838413390672022-05-06T10:13:00.002-07:002022-05-06T10:13:42.590-07:00“What Was Your Mom Like When,. . .?”<p> </p><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"3CBDF743-2E11-4E37-ABA0-8CE54F93653F.jpeg","handle":"YpBLoxBPS3eiLnlFitCb","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"3CBDF743-2E11-4E37-ABA0-8CE54F93653F.jpeg","size":2323614,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/YpBLoxBPS3eiLnlFitCb","uploadId":"y9UP03N5221dhvGC","originalFile":{"name":"3CBDF743-2E11-4E37-ABA0-8CE54F93653F.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2323614},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/JYAU9YdPROZDThkq5MDA_3CBDF743-2E11-4E37-ABA0-8CE54F93653F.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="swd5d71" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="swd5d71i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/YpBLoxBPS3eiLnlFitCb" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"F4EDD792-E95E-4F8C-A999-272EF62B6092.jpeg","handle":"3YuB173TfCSJ3KwKw0B6","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"F4EDD792-E95E-4F8C-A999-272EF62B6092.jpeg","size":842600,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/3YuB173TfCSJ3KwKw0B6","uploadId":"NN0Xn8vW43t2HB4j","originalFile":{"name":"F4EDD792-E95E-4F8C-A999-272EF62B6092.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":842600},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/bNtsXM40Qre6s5yW9Rnm_F4EDD792-E95E-4F8C-A999-272EF62B6092.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw0e302" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw0e302i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/3YuB173TfCSJ3KwKw0B6" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I’ve never known anyone who was so compartmentalized in my life, as my Mom. When I think of her, it is with intense love, and great regret. I miss her, but I always felt conflicted. We were best at getting along once we lived a thousand miles apart. She was a loving person who had trouble believing she was worth loving and I wish I had understood her more when I was younger. She changed a lot, so that when I remember my Mom, who was 24 when I was born, I remember a different woman than my brother, who was adopted only 4 1/2 years later, remembers. My youngest brother, born when my first brother was 8 and I was 12, had a different mom altogether, even though to the world we all had Priscilla June Miller as our mother. </div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When I was a child, Mom was loving, demanding, scary, and unpredictable. She was Eleanor Rigby from the Beatles song, “wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door.”</div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I understood that line as soon as I heard the song, instantly remembering the screaming woman who had out “the board” to spank me, dropping it in the potato bin when the doorbell rang, the furious scowl transformed into a delighted, welcoming smile as she smoothly pulled open the inner door, unlatched the screen door and beamed, “come in, come in.” to the Avon lady or neighbor who had just “popped in for a visit.”</div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">She might drag me from bed in the middle of the night to beat me with every hanger I had left on the floor of my closet, or to hug me and cry that I had never loved her. But she always smoothed on some lipstick, pulled a precurled wig over her hair, donned a dress with a big twirly skirt and high heels before taking me to school or church. She always kissed me goodbye at the door or before letting me out of the car. </div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" height="421" id="swd1d13i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/qgojUw9JTKSoGMAEJpua" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" width="564" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I didn’t understand as a child, the damage done to her soul by being the odd one out in school. I heard the stories of having to wear two pink Terry cloth towels her mom had sewn together into a “dress” and having to wear thick woolen stockings and a crown of long braids wrapped around her head when the popular girls wore Bobby socks and saddle shoes and a high, short pony tail dancing with every movement. I saw her make excuses to avoid meeting my friends moms, and missed the “they won’t like me” behind the excuses. I knew that her friends were mostly poorer, needier, happy to have her bring groceries and canned food when we came to visit. I missed the belief that no one would like her if they didn’t need something from her. She couldn’t trust friendship without strings attached. </div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /></div><div class="attachment text_plain text" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"3204C089-3839-4DFA-AE47-01450DA38116.jpeg","handle":"CY3JAtTbR1OBfwZRLfc1","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"3204C089-3839-4DFA-AE47-01450DA38116.jpeg","size":2305291,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/CY3JAtTbR1OBfwZRLfc1","uploadId":"sRcH1TepWchOma9S","originalFile":{"name":"3204C089-3839-4DFA-AE47-01450DA38116.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2305291},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/yX094mLyQgGxs3aBLGjW_3204C089-3839-4DFA-AE47-01450DA38116.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw9c7c5" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw9c7c5i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/CY3JAtTbR1OBfwZRLfc1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Later, through my Dad’s devotion and my brother’s needing an advocate, and being there for my Dad during a drawn out cancer battle, she began to see her own worth, but by then I had moved away, and then dementia set in and I was missing her, even if I was in the room with her, and again, I didn’t really understand how her stiffening body betrayed her, and made her need support, until she was gone and I found her in my own aches and fears. Now sometimes I cry or scream for my mama - missing the woman I never really convinced that I loved her and wishing there could be another opportunity to tell her she was enough for me.</div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"068F30A2-1F81-4F12-AE20-6563DEF35093.jpeg","handle":"qzvxNifWTD2s9FvwjDw4","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"068F30A2-1F81-4F12-AE20-6563DEF35093.jpeg","size":2345514,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/qzvxNifWTD2s9FvwjDw4","uploadId":"hNFxd9SFu6vebaD5","originalFile":{"name":"068F30A2-1F81-4F12-AE20-6563DEF35093.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":2345514},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/C4zXmFK9TKOdorQOmksQ_068F30A2-1F81-4F12-AE20-6563DEF35093.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="sw429b6" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="sw429b6i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/qzvxNifWTD2s9FvwjDw4" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div></div><div class="attachment image_jpeg image" data-attachment="{"filename":"12B32A1B-2A9D-44B2-AD21-13059DBB1113.jpeg","handle":"WLk5YXUsTfG6fbqwgx6M","mimetype":"image/jpeg","originalPath":"12B32A1B-2A9D-44B2-AD21-13059DBB1113.jpeg","size":1631571,"source":"local_file_system","url":"https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/WLk5YXUsTfG6fbqwgx6M","uploadId":"yUqXrW7T68l9s550","originalFile":{"name":"12B32A1B-2A9D-44B2-AD21-13059DBB1113.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","size":1631571},"status":"Stored","key":"user/61c6126c4452953abf4481ae/jZ4USwtLTcwHxyQmuaDy_12B32A1B-2A9D-44B2-AD21-13059DBB1113.jpeg","container":"storyworth-images"}" id="swee6e4" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img class="sw-parsed fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" id="swee6e4i" src="https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/WLk5YXUsTfG6fbqwgx6M" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 1em auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;" /></div></div>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-86427038373268182802022-04-18T11:11:00.000-07:002022-04-18T11:11:01.029-07:00My First Big Trip<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px;">My first big trip is one I never have remembered. I wouldn’t know about it except that it was a favorite memory of my Mom and Dad and one they told me about several times.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="indent" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span>We went across the country from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh on Amtrak. Or the other direction. My Dad grew up in the Pittsburgh area and most of his siblings were still in that area, but his Dad and the oldest Sister (Dorothy, who had raised him after his Mom died when he was seven) had moved to Orange, CA and another sister lived in Anaheim. I was only 6 months old. They got lucky and their sleeper was in the forward facing nose of the train so they looked out from bed, over the empty tracks in front of them. I think that view at night with the stars and moon and ever changing landscape must have felt like having their own private universe </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="indent" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span>The one thing that they loved was a young boy named Anthony Bonaducci who was about three. The boy was fascinated by their baby with red hair like his and he kept coming back to talk. He also had a scam going that made them laugh. He would drop a piece of paper in the aisle and then tap the shoulder of a man sitting near by. “Hey mister, there is garbage by you. If you give me a dime, I’ll throw it away for you.”</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="indent" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span>It was many years later when I was playing the Partridge Family album that my cousin gave me for Christmas. My Dad pointed at one of the pictures on the cover and said, “He looks like what Anthony Bonaducci would look like if he has been older.”</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="indent" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span>Of course, Danny Bonaducci did look a lot like his big brother. That was confirmed later in a Tiger Beat Magazine story. Back then I couldn’t just Google the info I wanted.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="indent" style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </span>Then in 2017, we booked tickets on Amtrak for my husband, youngest son, his daughter and I to go from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Denver, Colorado to visit my Father in Law for Christmas. But Papa Harvey died on December 4 and we ended up traveling via Amtrak for his funeral and a family reunion instead. Now my granddaughter can’t remember that trip but my stories remind her. During the journey she was enthralled the the beautiful views and enjoyed meeting new people and never bored of snuggling with her Grandpa and her Dad and for once getting as much of their attention as she wanted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyukHYbUCEDU13ZIQBTLnOmcBfmOlfjU3PzRa98itoxrKoY6O9b4Ijtjm0JxGOQX6qZUIJ7KUGR65-SMxsfLMoYbA4rFU6D1HHypdqvfT6qwfL0J_yf0qd6yBrm-lBAU1ZrHckf60WZWDev8Cx5JJLU-qwEVrSaGnMHBuFvcFMbcVTH6NRiMqY0rWvyw/s4032/E0B18506-4742-451B-B12D-8B097EDF4A79.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyukHYbUCEDU13ZIQBTLnOmcBfmOlfjU3PzRa98itoxrKoY6O9b4Ijtjm0JxGOQX6qZUIJ7KUGR65-SMxsfLMoYbA4rFU6D1HHypdqvfT6qwfL0J_yf0qd6yBrm-lBAU1ZrHckf60WZWDev8Cx5JJLU-qwEVrSaGnMHBuFvcFMbcVTH6NRiMqY0rWvyw/s320/E0B18506-4742-451B-B12D-8B097EDF4A79.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEairbP5iA1CWC6hXMbFdiuOARkeKfFeEnTXw6Km7wkb3nqlIu4S9wD5HkRPXb81pvrsrl15sYbaczU8q7uoFukvekBXgH1AO3mqTy80Gle0j5BCylfB1pm42L09N1wgc1QRU9x5DkhIvN494eLg_Ls1KxyZ0Cr8jYOMB9RSkS0YLi1V0Gb2k03fB6lA/s4032/D88DA046-A917-4CC6-B21F-A43B58BC8E9F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEairbP5iA1CWC6hXMbFdiuOARkeKfFeEnTXw6Km7wkb3nqlIu4S9wD5HkRPXb81pvrsrl15sYbaczU8q7uoFukvekBXgH1AO3mqTy80Gle0j5BCylfB1pm42L09N1wgc1QRU9x5DkhIvN494eLg_Ls1KxyZ0Cr8jYOMB9RSkS0YLi1V0Gb2k03fB6lA/s320/D88DA046-A917-4CC6-B21F-A43B58BC8E9F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnl3deCgmpAaC7DoVeQiCPAE8SHMZmbp8QtYalRdaoKS_jt5F52xgSPHUzV6gM90F75IGCRI5zXNolVle0Q2wAuQ7DAsl641u0eMVXuwja3H-Dl0Un7bDG8FjX8iTvT0J-AZ1i28YMRbM-3j-2FjL9yNHZdouhT1padDTQ2u6m5KiAJJ188vEQdYqnw/s3088/449A2F77-23F1-44B6-9630-9BB38EE97F1B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnl3deCgmpAaC7DoVeQiCPAE8SHMZmbp8QtYalRdaoKS_jt5F52xgSPHUzV6gM90F75IGCRI5zXNolVle0Q2wAuQ7DAsl641u0eMVXuwja3H-Dl0Un7bDG8FjX8iTvT0J-AZ1i28YMRbM-3j-2FjL9yNHZdouhT1padDTQ2u6m5KiAJJ188vEQdYqnw/s320/449A2F77-23F1-44B6-9630-9BB38EE97F1B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocAVGIh1OYuyOJ1ROI6zAv_dbag1hd0jASLJkiuze6X-3_mjEX0fnfDJsjoiZqa_DNlfdPditCfKAgb6ZPpnPlPlvIzKiHvzlxlCtnGHV1PopoCaf4__RdmDPCU8M_aHICJvgS2gqErUeIg-1k0V-gb7SJF84_mCwDjL8sDdGRyx9xkJXm4I76XqTZw/s4032/99AFBE89-0CBD-40C2-8C1A-A050621E81E4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocAVGIh1OYuyOJ1ROI6zAv_dbag1hd0jASLJkiuze6X-3_mjEX0fnfDJsjoiZqa_DNlfdPditCfKAgb6ZPpnPlPlvIzKiHvzlxlCtnGHV1PopoCaf4__RdmDPCU8M_aHICJvgS2gqErUeIg-1k0V-gb7SJF84_mCwDjL8sDdGRyx9xkJXm4I76XqTZw/s320/99AFBE89-0CBD-40C2-8C1A-A050621E81E4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="caption" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; break-inside: avoid; color: #61706f; display: inline-block; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: auto;"><img src="https://process.filestackapi.com/Ai3B5YJwSuyaXbwhz5Zxzz/rotate=deg:exif/resize=fit:max,width:1274,height:2100/https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/cEQTNmXKTg2veAvUpZcB" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="320" /></p></div><div class="caption" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; break-inside: avoid; color: #61706f; display: inline-block; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: auto;"><img src="https://process.filestackapi.com/Ai3B5YJwSuyaXbwhz5Zxzz/rotate=deg:exif/resize=fit:max,width:1274,height:2100/https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/jBU96GUXQG2GHbjPyMr9" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="240" /></p></div>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-48202378728133482542022-03-20T17:41:00.003-07:002022-03-22T09:24:53.629-07:00Laura Goode, Dec. 15, 1953 - March 7, 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMeyUXPzf7zoFT5rY6CNjJkL--BcGSsttdwJMX3q6zANPL1o5FU4OLICuh9H4ieV3actG1_EZ-fg_6_odvPX2ulXZAnB2ZJKb2LPMmUxfZyoS_A42TDxXHkfK8l5flIj1t72vn6ijsT0N1ehsEjJruBM5-4bcxdhjju1hUsVruig5GagdtzS7F7K7tA/s1600/8C674722-98FD-431D-9526-ADB9A71DF1FD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2shB2qLSu-LbuP5mp0d_BcAg5B9ByHpjA5qtzEfh4NfgdvuS0NAHjXrAl0Syu5K9iKplom6j1JiJhIE1PsfFo2uDNn34pJkBUav17oxosVfXXRrCYEk49f0IV2YVnba_R7Rir0DD-1ppzVv3AMKQaz677kdjX3Re5SWZcaKbANKks8uGeZxKkwniX7w/s3072/96DD96A0-45C7-458D-B7BC-D7C9DC31E7A9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2shB2qLSu-LbuP5mp0d_BcAg5B9ByHpjA5qtzEfh4NfgdvuS0NAHjXrAl0Syu5K9iKplom6j1JiJhIE1PsfFo2uDNn34pJkBUav17oxosVfXXRrCYEk49f0IV2YVnba_R7Rir0DD-1ppzVv3AMKQaz677kdjX3Re5SWZcaKbANKks8uGeZxKkwniX7w/s320/96DD96A0-45C7-458D-B7BC-D7C9DC31E7A9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlqahXInEK4xhQ1y6m8iRoTCPpS3w1ONnOhxJpNCiID-BGCH6U-3Tqf9gVPNX7BktcWtfcInFAa8pNdi1r8jRANEuihEpXPbwnMp1YGMTpQqMXhDhlqftLNbM0vkVcvzvtF3vzeUlajRoSRmfIPHa7bUn6pqIrAdWPH4QjDLHjZpoeOMwn2VI3D_ChQ/s2224/590C7D03-306C-4557-B560-850786E7F8DB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2224" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlqahXInEK4xhQ1y6m8iRoTCPpS3w1ONnOhxJpNCiID-BGCH6U-3Tqf9gVPNX7BktcWtfcInFAa8pNdi1r8jRANEuihEpXPbwnMp1YGMTpQqMXhDhlqftLNbM0vkVcvzvtF3vzeUlajRoSRmfIPHa7bUn6pqIrAdWPH4QjDLHjZpoeOMwn2VI3D_ChQ/s320/590C7D03-306C-4557-B560-850786E7F8DB.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYo_B0rYNZHV-wRIjiljjQLtCQeCCr6aryqNyku3yRKba0lj2zQhb1XsDQxxeDnb3xA0FYp3xS2wSQ6nzI3_z7k0Cfu3QOmxw4H__4mPTRtqbNeB0SRpxSDfxAqTVY6T1tMRxaQSqnSkYIg5pwmmuubT1FkPAGDFMr8YY_CW92xukkdcpz2QTTMAiCw/s4032/5403AEFB-CFD6-4657-925A-6793E744D0ED.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYo_B0rYNZHV-wRIjiljjQLtCQeCCr6aryqNyku3yRKba0lj2zQhb1XsDQxxeDnb3xA0FYp3xS2wSQ6nzI3_z7k0Cfu3QOmxw4H__4mPTRtqbNeB0SRpxSDfxAqTVY6T1tMRxaQSqnSkYIg5pwmmuubT1FkPAGDFMr8YY_CW92xukkdcpz2QTTMAiCw/s320/5403AEFB-CFD6-4657-925A-6793E744D0ED.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj-YeoBrm1r9BjSZTEmvkm7jkQHBAnVIWlwELY0lHxY_eybonZufGU7KspTUtMlXSqlSdA4HLMI8vGNlfG4_hxG1KUmJA57hgeseOh8ZKff12uT-0xjK9he4Q7gx3zM8xr7Mp07J0ZrubKTG5_yqtAn3O0zvtEZ0vo878Yv4km1p-qJ12WlvYJ8Vtcg/s4328/54239C1A-3085-4E07-BBD7-B911D5FF4037.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3148" data-original-width="4328" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj-YeoBrm1r9BjSZTEmvkm7jkQHBAnVIWlwELY0lHxY_eybonZufGU7KspTUtMlXSqlSdA4HLMI8vGNlfG4_hxG1KUmJA57hgeseOh8ZKff12uT-0xjK9he4Q7gx3zM8xr7Mp07J0ZrubKTG5_yqtAn3O0zvtEZ0vo878Yv4km1p-qJ12WlvYJ8Vtcg/s320/54239C1A-3085-4E07-BBD7-B911D5FF4037.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431ewmFRdEDNXuXM1MvUrF7bveku20Ko5fXRZCSAUQRQOgkU9az--kclSrPIhuU3-xp9rePGc9t5VUhwp6Vra0EjT_N1LiwRbJqaYr2FlpykRkvTPp40sP0PiaZsGLbuKks6db_FlYOCAVOleCw3j7ZiY_9-HaxY-gvcqGRF2RfcKE78o4fNSotKK5Q/s4608/A4A00811-775A-4ED8-8CB7-37345C7413CC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi431ewmFRdEDNXuXM1MvUrF7bveku20Ko5fXRZCSAUQRQOgkU9az--kclSrPIhuU3-xp9rePGc9t5VUhwp6Vra0EjT_N1LiwRbJqaYr2FlpykRkvTPp40sP0PiaZsGLbuKks6db_FlYOCAVOleCw3j7ZiY_9-HaxY-gvcqGRF2RfcKE78o4fNSotKK5Q/s320/A4A00811-775A-4ED8-8CB7-37345C7413CC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQ89bLVCK3KKLJH_UyUJKcRm-9hmxUrKurq2J3guL7gfNuqzYfoawwIuLty642oQMZ-85uF9Eu7ye7hzHM5ESxhY20rpk0kklU0MB9QWS_aKyhyDb7uMnscYvuhr58Z5o9BR2PFi-gcmwQIeUx7klStIC8kYGqmckH51IPr5kxLAi6ZG1Yb2ZZEVk4Q=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggQ89bLVCK3KKLJH_UyUJKcRm-9hmxUrKurq2J3guL7gfNuqzYfoawwIuLty642oQMZ-85uF9Eu7ye7hzHM5ESxhY20rpk0kklU0MB9QWS_aKyhyDb7uMnscYvuhr58Z5o9BR2PFi-gcmwQIeUx7klStIC8kYGqmckH51IPr5kxLAi6ZG1Yb2ZZEVk4Q=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT3PGnAkF0Nv4ZVCC1TeghT43KBiuZNpRKRisRCTSKwyZOwhBZR2-1qC3o69zHXaY7AllFjop45TAJXcgV3Hc4D91ZvzL2ZlxiM3juJpEij7wnUnfbO_uHXDTzuC97CRHYuiZJ-HSeg9aOrVKGP82XoUG-ePOGK6Su_2K0tBDuipOecDhkdmaWY7mx4g=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiT3PGnAkF0Nv4ZVCC1TeghT43KBiuZNpRKRisRCTSKwyZOwhBZR2-1qC3o69zHXaY7AllFjop45TAJXcgV3Hc4D91ZvzL2ZlxiM3juJpEij7wnUnfbO_uHXDTzuC97CRHYuiZJ-HSeg9aOrVKGP82XoUG-ePOGK6Su_2K0tBDuipOecDhkdmaWY7mx4g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHNWmd2poLRN3HFWAf3FPXUO8OsS3ws1k8lgsR48_drdwzproHp4JTBCJVM9q1mAJccVUGNsYqGZhBEFg1wjnjG_NvitMikEDwLxhW0XhQLQzNLTtVIOanvyfZSZ2ZyqW6lQpkfT9QdJSbFGIrhI34DpIsYf10pzCPJ5bcpDnegT2jDvEkCMh5UY-lvQ=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHNWmd2poLRN3HFWAf3FPXUO8OsS3ws1k8lgsR48_drdwzproHp4JTBCJVM9q1mAJccVUGNsYqGZhBEFg1wjnjG_NvitMikEDwLxhW0XhQLQzNLTtVIOanvyfZSZ2ZyqW6lQpkfT9QdJSbFGIrhI34DpIsYf10pzCPJ5bcpDnegT2jDvEkCMh5UY-lvQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3M_c03xtPdsQAqMZYEN4Em_bmcbqA1ILZ6pxKwI7gpVk4YsYqFs02waLakSgxJpjSSkyNBDxMv3EXIODTFd4VGDjEwa0x4APSoWLV31tQa5JzyPyf0K3AJDpSXiu_SCwziNvHLcemKJ0bBJ-_gAiiCYBTMH2EfKga3mIVTD6R0jlp7-O8rV4w-flsaA=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3M_c03xtPdsQAqMZYEN4Em_bmcbqA1ILZ6pxKwI7gpVk4YsYqFs02waLakSgxJpjSSkyNBDxMv3EXIODTFd4VGDjEwa0x4APSoWLV31tQa5JzyPyf0K3AJDpSXiu_SCwziNvHLcemKJ0bBJ-_gAiiCYBTMH2EfKga3mIVTD6R0jlp7-O8rV4w-flsaA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijV3d845lzcxbm8DuiRbRypYnwc1VU9tH-wtT3egHRL7D0tmmetLSlCJIPtDAyrzCtW9tsRQmIcPpOfysNoCY8kvM83B3O3dNZFXUrBMqgQpGbWGvfwEo_HxwfbVWAZCQfcOpg8RLIC9zfDvbv6uZaLKh-9ZYghtcKIFFArqTj91IIZIA40TFvvzqy1g=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijV3d845lzcxbm8DuiRbRypYnwc1VU9tH-wtT3egHRL7D0tmmetLSlCJIPtDAyrzCtW9tsRQmIcPpOfysNoCY8kvM83B3O3dNZFXUrBMqgQpGbWGvfwEo_HxwfbVWAZCQfcOpg8RLIC9zfDvbv6uZaLKh-9ZYghtcKIFFArqTj91IIZIA40TFvvzqy1g=s320" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP7nsUK1po1f8WzVmE7RoIyzHLbAznsZHLRziXYsUB6d5R8MMty7-D4Pmn862qalB9WIFsqqm-YjE5JZgDUuKFa75WVTF5S4jn4GtSrhg3arUYoFhf4jKxua_DUtJWPl8Ol_5-TCvLKKHcCzWAKTrYe-C4AYJ71hN4NdVtG7N9jn6Fp7_oG8uwAO-ffA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP7nsUK1po1f8WzVmE7RoIyzHLbAznsZHLRziXYsUB6d5R8MMty7-D4Pmn862qalB9WIFsqqm-YjE5JZgDUuKFa75WVTF5S4jn4GtSrhg3arUYoFhf4jKxua_DUtJWPl8Ol_5-TCvLKKHcCzWAKTrYe-C4AYJ71hN4NdVtG7N9jn6Fp7_oG8uwAO-ffA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbK7lyOXv4WLK5xlwRxOQdo_qSXQLn_jccUPNtjbzLtKUVrQmKqEi3jIHYivrObzXe9wqg_vtzzseYcNBO0IM_1vk3qSyusfahgTMICSz9Qdm_m_p9ZIN7fBTDKMWS4EOHaY1XT8CHM7DY-1KHXD1W7tNs6SAjxpmAQXUt-dxqQLbjwpAQWsl1hgum6A=s2147" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2147" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbK7lyOXv4WLK5xlwRxOQdo_qSXQLn_jccUPNtjbzLtKUVrQmKqEi3jIHYivrObzXe9wqg_vtzzseYcNBO0IM_1vk3qSyusfahgTMICSz9Qdm_m_p9ZIN7fBTDKMWS4EOHaY1XT8CHM7DY-1KHXD1W7tNs6SAjxpmAQXUt-dxqQLbjwpAQWsl1hgum6A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0uBgXgL4ZH5Rq5xeLMAgdiOmaVONb-y1KWXA17ZkftZmz4xIoLlMrub5ogd0CEnd2_KqyY4M2JVweKwZ7cdhd5rC7PC-ydcKL04x-vXtxnB0fNJHaFOHH7BSp3w03H1L9hO6UPePi4xJ5qUHWRGglS97AGiu8VSPcUW6WDtzqwONQZRKJeyONuhnzuA=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0uBgXgL4ZH5Rq5xeLMAgdiOmaVONb-y1KWXA17ZkftZmz4xIoLlMrub5ogd0CEnd2_KqyY4M2JVweKwZ7cdhd5rC7PC-ydcKL04x-vXtxnB0fNJHaFOHH7BSp3w03H1L9hO6UPePi4xJ5qUHWRGglS97AGiu8VSPcUW6WDtzqwONQZRKJeyONuhnzuA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtvRcKfoRm-i8GS8UeUgYVXlzzfNZChlfz8CoThhJlzy-TQ0r-TQ-yyheMBhCm4v94p6E4GA4bJrfZktmqb3dQ2spw7cwebzp2iY2ydUTlY33LZHYHKVpuy7oe2XuAa6-iFIX981ngP9JTIBOKJ-6u4pi6fV87iylwCLP5gZn0bxGCaBhGnRV56ReyMA=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtvRcKfoRm-i8GS8UeUgYVXlzzfNZChlfz8CoThhJlzy-TQ0r-TQ-yyheMBhCm4v94p6E4GA4bJrfZktmqb3dQ2spw7cwebzp2iY2ydUTlY33LZHYHKVpuy7oe2XuAa6-iFIX981ngP9JTIBOKJ-6u4pi6fV87iylwCLP5gZn0bxGCaBhGnRV56ReyMA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilO5GRdxHr3oqtBYyWRox-HhS26P15ky9A_2no85oLqWfRLmp2fGeq10txquil6P5x7mMAaEIXyD6U167NHdZ0_ZXGjUqEOihsb8iIvP-ODRoHHSApvlDLaxn1Gc3RQ9FAaZYomcWGLEbNfGJ-x6D8uwwCltcbKHyBmXg3TiXGWz_6SwZQVvAjtO3wjg=s3072" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilO5GRdxHr3oqtBYyWRox-HhS26P15ky9A_2no85oLqWfRLmp2fGeq10txquil6P5x7mMAaEIXyD6U167NHdZ0_ZXGjUqEOihsb8iIvP-ODRoHHSApvlDLaxn1Gc3RQ9FAaZYomcWGLEbNfGJ-x6D8uwwCltcbKHyBmXg3TiXGWz_6SwZQVvAjtO3wjg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I learned of the death of Laura Dee Goode. She died 1600 miles away, and nearly two weeks ago but until today her family did not know it. On March 6 my husband talked to her, and she responded with shock and irritation when he said she was nearly 70. She won’t get there now, not with her 69th birthday still nine months in the future she will never see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I was 18, I met her youngest brother and once we were dating, I decided to travel with him to visit his family. She told us we could stay in her house but she would be out of town for that weekend. We got there to open doors and a welcoming note and that is exactly who she was back then. Generous, welcoming, the life of any party. My husband assured me, well not yet my husband, that “she will love you because I love you.” And she did. Even when we lost a python in her house that first visit and had to leave her a note of warning as we left. (Greg’s roommate had asked us to take it to the Reptile Gardens near her home because it had gone nine months without eating after being bitten by its last meal. She found it in her dryer months later and sold it.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we grew older and I got to know her, she became a bit more unstable. Life wasn’t kind to her. Her only son died when he was in a custody battle for her grandkids. He stepped in front of a moving train and she lost him, and any chance of every seeing those beloved grandkids again. She also suffered from chronic pain and tried about every thing from pain clinics and drugs to meditation and acupuncture but always the pain shaped her life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She also was not exactly smart or stupid, but she didn’t think the same way other people do. She wasn’t cruel on purpose, but she said whatever she was thinking, and it was often harsh. She didn’t think people should be offended if she meant to honestly let them know something they could fix, but still people would resent being told their sink was stained, their shirt was threadbare, their recipe needed more of this and less of that and they really needed to take a shower and pick up their crap. Why does everyone get so upset? She did think differently, so she was always repeating the punchline of a joke, and then frowning and saying, “I don’t get it?”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That was life for Laura, a joke she didn’t quite understand told by family members who talked too loud and too much but always were welcomed in her kitchen to a big pot of spaghetti sauce and a lot of love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But she was eternally naïve, she wanted to be loved and she wanted to help people, and she gave everything, over and over, not just to stray cats, and homeless women and the men she let in her heart and home until once again her mental issues chased them away. She picked up people from anywhere and when she was used and abused, she did it again. This life tested her and has finally left her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I’m so sorry, that it wasn’t easier for her, but I’m grateful for the way she opened her door and her heart and welcomed me into her family. </div><br /><p></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-72530539364014951352022-03-17T10:54:00.039-07:002022-03-17T11:05:22.353-07:00Dad, as I knew him when I was a child. <div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />This year I got a gift, which is also a challenge. It is a year of writing the answers to Storyworth questions which will be assembled in a book after a year </div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Paul Edward Miller was 27 when I was born. He had survived a stint in the Army as a Morse code operator in Manila. He had relocated from the Pittsburgh, PA area where he had been one of the youngest of more than a dozen siblings and nieces and nephews raised jointly by his Dad, Brother-in-law and oldest sister after his mother died when he was 7. He married my mom, and they had a difficult time conceiving and then had miscarried a baby boy before I showed up in the 4th year they were together.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>Dad loved kids, and he was a playful and energetic companion. He had nicknames for me, the neighbor kids and my cousins that made us laugh and feel special. He worked hard and came home to scoop me up and onto his shoulders, but after playing he wanted to sit down, put up his feet, drink a beer and watch the news. “Hey kid, you make a better door than you do a window.” Meant we were blocking his tv view. Kids were fun, but blood made him faint and he only ever changed one diaper. He had iron clad ideas, he had gender roles, boys got motorcycles and had to mow the lawn, girls helped their mom and never got the motorcycle. No wife of his was going to keep working once there were kids to raise. He didn’t have kids so he could go out and party or leave them behind on a vacation, but his equal share in raising us was bringing home the check and being there when he wasn’t at work. Mom never really got a break.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />When we adopted my first brother, I was almost 5, and then 12 when my brother Lance was born. Dad did learn to be softer with having a Down’s syndrome baby, he loved all three of us intently and would have easily given us everything he had. He was smart, maybe the smartest man I ever met, certainly could have been a Jeopardy champion. As a child, his family financial status meant he had been tracked to a technical high school and never allowed to consider college. His first new pair of pants were for 8th grade graduation and he tore them that same day, scrambling over a chain link fence. His sister who was only a year younger than he was, never let him forget that he had dropped her only doll in a bucket of water, which made her go bald.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />He was raised in a prejudiced time and place but saw people as individuals and was often amazed that the people he made friends with were always exceptions, “he’s not like a real Mexican” to the stereotypes he didn’t question. He used words like “Hunkie, Wop, Nigger, and Polock” in the jokes he repeated and as the term used to name items like Brazil nuts and cabbage rolls. I don’t think he ever questioned that until he had kids in Jr. High, and by then he had met enough exceptions to begin to change his language. He never really met a stranger, just friends he didn’t know yet. He taught me to love people and to have an obnoxious sense of humor and I miss him every day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />When I became a mom he loved being a grandpa. He played tirelessly with my boys and my brother’s three children, but that was cut short when esophageal cancer killed him just before his first two grandchildren turned 4 and only 5 months before the birth of his 5th and final grandchild. I often made decisions on how I was going to parent by reminding myself that he would have given anything to be able to say, “yes, I’ll take you fishing. Or Yes, I’ll play with you and read to you.” So I said “Yes” a lot more. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />when I cried my three year old assured me, “the part of us that is the strongest, never dies, and the part of Papa Paul that loved us was the strongest part of him.” He was a complicated, loving human born in complicated times and nearly impossible poverty, but he grew to be a generous and wonderful man. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><img src="https://process.filestackapi.com/Ai3B5YJwSuyaXbwhz5Zxzz/rotate=deg:exif/resize=fit:max,width:1274,height:2100/https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/ylsbu1dSKq7akmj8hLdw" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="677" /><br /><img src="https://process.filestackapi.com/Ai3B5YJwSuyaXbwhz5Zxzz/rotate=deg:exif/resize=fit:max,width:1274,height:2100/https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/0pzNcShQlqZVC2DiSBbG" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="677" /><br /><img src="https://process.filestackapi.com/Ai3B5YJwSuyaXbwhz5Zxzz/rotate=deg:exif/resize=fit:max,width:1274,height:2100/https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/WkoKe8WTSdEcgR3P96wQ" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="677" /></span><div class="small-12 medium-4 columns" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; display: flex; flex-direction: column; float: right; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2rem; position: relative; width: 370.65625px;"></div></div><div class="small-12 medium-8 columns" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; display: flex; flex-direction: column; float: left; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2rem; position: relative; width: 741.328125px;"><div class="sub-text author" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #61706f; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dixie Dawn Miller Goode, January 03, 2022</span></div></div><div class="small-12 medium-4 columns" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(4, 42, 33); color: #042a21; display: flex; flex-direction: column; float: right; font-family: GTSuperTextBook, Georgia, serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2rem; position: relative; width: 370.65625px;"><ul class="meta hide-on-print" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #61706f; font-family: GTAmericaStandardRegular, Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-action="edit" href="https://www.storyworth.com/user/dixie-dawn-miller-goode/story/what-was-your-dad-like-when-you-were-a-child#" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #06666c; cursor: pointer; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px;"><span class="fi-pencil action-icon" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-flex; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit; width: 16px;"></span></a></li></ul></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-52597808027650900862021-12-02T10:25:00.002-08:002021-12-02T10:25:24.649-08:00Nostalgic Christmas 1987<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvW8oE786X8/YakPMVhrxMI/AAAAAAAAM7c/bnnh76n4k900iQ4N1rhnI265r5bwN-kzwCNcBGAsYHQ/s950/874F5D2E-A4F5-4B52-8445-085368CCD1D7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="950" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvW8oE786X8/YakPMVhrxMI/AAAAAAAAM7c/bnnh76n4k900iQ4N1rhnI265r5bwN-kzwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/874F5D2E-A4F5-4B52-8445-085368CCD1D7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lESqMlQeiwM/YakPMpwrKWI/AAAAAAAAM7g/FDyx0lhKyncMEb1k8THY_2EjnT723A72ACNcBGAsYHQ/s976/F2EE13D2-B8EC-4700-98E2-C9ECF658FA83.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="976" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lESqMlQeiwM/YakPMpwrKWI/AAAAAAAAM7g/FDyx0lhKyncMEb1k8THY_2EjnT723A72ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/F2EE13D2-B8EC-4700-98E2-C9ECF658FA83.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In 1987, Greg and I went to China as exchange students from Oregon. We went with about 15 other Oregon Students and 30 from SUNY. It was challenging and life changing. When we came home at Christmas time we really felt like Santa and the Mrs., because we had gone with two suitcases and came home with 14. Mostly filled with gifts. We were blessed to have both of our families close enough to each other that we could spend Christmas with one set, drive seven hours and spend Christmas with the other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Back then it felt like we would have these wonderful homes to return to every Christmas. Now of course they are both gone, and the memories are tinted with the knowledge of what and who has been lost, but even in the sadness is a new understanding of how lucky we were to have the older generations- missing their own childhood families and homes, but still recreating the magic for us. </div></div>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-56492759219904675652021-11-26T21:52:00.001-08:002021-11-26T21:52:43.277-08:00Christmas Letter, 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPraKOWHvZY/YZqSEcwQD9I/AAAAAAAAM6o/ByDucv-aYYg-NHbJ88G5vTPKiI-ZLxbHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1723/FD0AA86C-6721-465A-B238-9C71A1A93430.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="1265" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPraKOWHvZY/YZqSEcwQD9I/AAAAAAAAM6o/ByDucv-aYYg-NHbJ88G5vTPKiI-ZLxbHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/FD0AA86C-6721-465A-B238-9C71A1A93430.jpeg" width="235" /></a></div>Greg and Dixie Goode<p></p><p>Crescent City, CA</p><p>2021 Holidays<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xxTjxgQR6Q/YZqSDo_6UYI/AAAAAAAAM6k/nxluR3-yw40BUhvBTAbqVzLWsliZgIbkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1800/D03BA556-0348-4365-89EE-D9A421BF1059.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4xxTjxgQR6Q/YZqSDo_6UYI/AAAAAAAAM6k/nxluR3-yw40BUhvBTAbqVzLWsliZgIbkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D03BA556-0348-4365-89EE-D9A421BF1059.jpeg" width="214" /></a> Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving, delightful Birthday, Happy New Year! May you have something to celebrate and someone to love in 2022.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xy2xswGXKc/YZqSC3RVQOI/AAAAAAAAM6c/c4QjV01psTIdd2OfG1jvyYsl-BlwoPFYACLcBGAsYHQ/s1708/157C6D38-1AFA-40BA-9658-9E5F70A4A7F9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1708" data-original-width="1161" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xy2xswGXKc/YZqSC3RVQOI/AAAAAAAAM6c/c4QjV01psTIdd2OfG1jvyYsl-BlwoPFYACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/157C6D38-1AFA-40BA-9658-9E5F70A4A7F9.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div>My something to celebrate and someone to love is still the same people. The last couple of years have been filled with their share of problems and worries, but every day has also been filled with people I love. My family and my friends are amazing to me and I think that they make every day Thanksgiving. <p></p><p>This year all of my grandkids are back to in person in school, or preschool. The youngest in preschool, the middle in Kindergarten and the oldest in Second Grade. Of course the whole, in person or distance learning, to vaccinate or not, to enforce a mask mandate or not, is not just a political issue - but to the kids it is almost a non issue. They just want to feel secure and to have a predictable routine, and to have people around them who are friendly and caring. For them, school is school. They were too young to really remember it any way but how it is. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFaVPJ43-FA/YZqSC4kDtyI/AAAAAAAAM6g/GkpLqErVxygrorm-Jd57uccGMokAJs62ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1723/72D3DB65-702D-4DBB-B737-2DA7FAA391B2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1723" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFaVPJ43-FA/YZqSC4kDtyI/AAAAAAAAM6g/GkpLqErVxygrorm-Jd57uccGMokAJs62ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/72D3DB65-702D-4DBB-B737-2DA7FAA391B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Greg and I are still struggling with health issues, but the masking and hand sanitizers and distancing has made it one of the healthiest years ever as far as the bronchitis and ear infections, colds and flu that normally plague the families of school teachers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Greg managed to squeeze three surgeries into one insurance year, so hit his maximum out of pocket early with a knee replacement on June 30, a carpal tunnel surgery in early November and the other knee replacement scheduled for Dec. 16th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two he has had already were both successful and he is getting around so much better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I still don’t have a diagnosis but I do have an appointment with a UCSF motion disorder neurologist. Not until January 10, and this first one via zoom, so I don’t have to drive to San Francisco. That is a very good thing because it can take me ten hours or more, especially now when not moving causes stiffness and PAIN The general issues I have all seem to circle around Parkinson’s type motion disorders. There is one I think it might be but I haven’t had it diagnosed yet, “Stiff Person Syndrome” which is a boring but descriptive name that makes most people laugh and say, “oh, I have that too.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I move like the tin man, except when someone touches me, or I’m cold, or I haven’t moved in a long time, like 20 minutes. Then I startle, jump, shake and all my muscles spasm so hard that they injure my hip or my knee or my shoulder. I used to be able to hide the pain if Daisy climbed on my lap, or Greg reached to hand me a cup of coffee and I started to lean forward, but now it’s progressed to these spasms where my face twists, I scream and everything goes rigid and shakes. It feels ridiculous. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QB1Cl_F9Dqc/YZqSC_3qN9I/AAAAAAAAM6Y/ZPrZfK1nr-EEd9oEqKAMqCceGYGoh9-LACLcBGAsYHQ/s1648/5AF59931-1704-4715-8BD6-07A41DEF0E4A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="1128" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QB1Cl_F9Dqc/YZqSC_3qN9I/AAAAAAAAM6Y/ZPrZfK1nr-EEd9oEqKAMqCceGYGoh9-LACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/5AF59931-1704-4715-8BD6-07A41DEF0E4A.jpeg" width="219" /></a></div>Anyway, there are less and less things I am capable of doing, but the things I can do, I still consider myself blessed with. I have my grown up children and young grandchildren and my crazy partner who has always been my favorite and now I have an enforced abundance of time with my family by virtue of being unable to teach. Though I am depriving my students. I can just see the delight they could take in knowing that if they startled me, or even just approached in plain sight and put a hand on my arm, I’d twitch like a marionette. No snakes or bugs or tacs on my chair, required. <p></p><p>I’m hoping that my referral to UCSF leads to answers which let me announce I’m doing much better by the next Holiday Letter you receive. I hope you also have a better year in 2022. I hope we all find health and happiness in the coming year </p><p><br /></p><p>Much Love,</p><p><br /></p><p>Dixie and Greg</p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-65715119856017299722020-12-13T18:12:00.001-08:002020-12-13T22:33:38.046-08:00Merry Christmas 2020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLHXXZrg6uM/X9bIPLsBipI/AAAAAAAAMkE/ljB4aQjijjc_bRaRcUEHcav-rq7TK6AzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1800/18021B75-F161-4F2C-9495-F83DA9362CBE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="1800" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLHXXZrg6uM/X9bIPLsBipI/AAAAAAAAMkE/ljB4aQjijjc_bRaRcUEHcav-rq7TK6AzwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h283/18021B75-F161-4F2C-9495-F83DA9362CBE.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5ThwZR-g9s/X9bIPjS7v7I/AAAAAAAAMkI/4zlymLk0qAIB00K4zMLM7Gc4_Mx5P50twCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BBF77B73-E48A-4191-9E4B-C5F65C053016.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5ThwZR-g9s/X9bIPjS7v7I/AAAAAAAAMkI/4zlymLk0qAIB00K4zMLM7Gc4_Mx5P50twCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/BBF77B73-E48A-4191-9E4B-C5F65C053016.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtvMBRabZgw/X9bISMG5ggI/AAAAAAAAMkM/6Fjya7G-I3I4x63AZzmzgG7eMSXHU-AeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D4D3FD0A-7827-4C6E-9B1A-4418940F4189.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtvMBRabZgw/X9bISMG5ggI/AAAAAAAAMkM/6Fjya7G-I3I4x63AZzmzgG7eMSXHU-AeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D4D3FD0A-7827-4C6E-9B1A-4418940F4189.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTIAWXpQOE4/X9bIUJoW93I/AAAAAAAAMkQ/qbnThM6ipsESZ1XYlXrKgV3Uf9kit_F8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DBB98300-3F20-456C-9390-4DC8C4EC1348.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="2048" height="201" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTIAWXpQOE4/X9bIUJoW93I/AAAAAAAAMkQ/qbnThM6ipsESZ1XYlXrKgV3Uf9kit_F8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h201/DBB98300-3F20-456C-9390-4DC8C4EC1348.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Greg and Dixie Goode<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Crescent City, CA </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Merry Christmas 2020 and We Wish You a Blessed and Happier 2021</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Just listen to the sound of that! Happy New Year 2021!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There has been so much about 2020 that we will all be glad to see in hind sight. Most of us could not have predicted last Christmas, what we would experience before the next Christmas rolled around. It was a roller coaster of a year.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Before mid March, we were having a good year, Daisy was in Basketball on Saturdays and loving Kindergarten during the week. She is very social and loved the class full of kids as well as the teacher. I loved volunteering in the class and working with the same teacher who had been teaching Austin and then Emerson 20 years ago. The class loaded an incubator with chicken eggs and began to plan St. Patrick's Day activities. And then between Friday March 13, when things were quite normal, and Monday when schools were closed and Daisy has never returned to in person classes. I've enjoyed having her here with me, teaching her and working with her as she learns to read and write and do all kinds of math and science and creative things is fun, but we both miss other people.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Emerson got promoted to manager where he works at New Dawn, which is good, but just as hard on Daisy as on him, when he has to work double shifts or gets called to leave town, or has to have his day off interrupted to take a client to the hospital. He works in homes with handicapped people and with them out in the community at large, and since his job is essential, the state closing down for a pandemic hasn't effected his hours at all.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For Greg, his students at the prison were already doing college work and he was the intermediary between getting the work to them and getting it back to the colleges, so he changed to doing what he could from home, with limited at the prison time each week. Now he just got out of the college position which he wasn't too fond of, and back into a classroom of academic work. He much prefers the business of actually having student time.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Also for Greg, one of the joys of life is his music, and having to indefinitely close down his children's choir has been so very sad for him. I hope that he will be able to restart it once children are able to be vaccinated. He did throw himself into designing a choir t-shirt logo, and that fed the creative need briefly, but he still misses both his kid choir, and the local community choir he sings in.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My health hasn't improved, the more staying at home I do, the stiffer and more awkwardly I move, and the more basic abilities I see falling away. I did manage to see two neurologists this year. The cognitive specialist evaluated me with five hours of testing and declared that there were no problems there, which is a relief, but the motion specialist did a few simple tests, talked rudely to Greg and I, and said to come back in 4 months. I tried getting a referral to a different one, but they are few around here, and Portland says they have closed down to new patients living more than 100 miles away. I know I couldn't be teaching anymore, even if I wasn't staying at home with Daisy, so of course the schools are having such a substitute shortage that they bumped up the sub daily rate by $50 a day through the end of this year.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm trying to think of the highlights of 2020. There were some parts that were worth the struggle. The Grandkids of course are high on my list of worth it, so one of my favorite memories is the day Trisha and Austin were camping up at Dry Lake and invited us to meet them there. We got to walk around the lake, watch Austin and Gavin Kayaking, push Gavin in a huge swing and snuggle Trinity. We got lots of sunshine and flowers and hugs. Speaking of the Goode-Pitt branch of the family. They got new truck and a new camper (well both in nice, used but new to them, shape) and they got deer tags, and went camping and hunting. Trisha got a deer. Gavin is going back to in person school and so far the county hasn't had ay school to home Coronavirus transmission. Some people at the in person classes have tested positive but gotten it elsewhere so the school precautions seem effective. I think Daisy would do ok going back as well, but she does well on Zoom and I would be high risk if she brought it home.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Because the idea of her having a 6<sup>th</sup> birthday party during lockdown, was so sad, a Redwood School teacher, who is also a fireman, brought a big firetruck to our house for Daisy's Birthday. Then for the summer we did sign her into swimming lessons and she made great progress. It was in the outdoor, chlorinated pool in Brookings with one teacher and three students, so there wasn't a very high risk, especially since all summer Del Norte and Curry Counties had almost no Covid cases. Sadly that is no longer true. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This year, more even than most, Consider this letter as a paper hug. I wish I could hug you in person.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-1779292321153176072020-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:002020-09-03T10:21:08.629-07:00Virtually a New Year<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCCoIEFIq0E/X1Ec_ZV2yTI/AAAAAAAAMfs/T3n6hUd0mpYhr4IdoULpbCgXHXUabilxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ED2A8A5C-2607-466E-8165-700EC2362414_1_102_o.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1078" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCQAm_3mQhQ/X1Ec_WZXQsI/AAAAAAAAMfo/mRQ-lcbkCZIPdDFu1q3Ly5de97pCYWz0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DD5DC29E-7736-4F5B-824C-58C064E8E3E0.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello, And so here we are, from New Year 2020 to the New Year of the 20-21 school year has been a wild ride that I never would have predicted. I don't think the January me would even believe if she could read a letter describing the last 8 months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My prediction or "closing" at the end of my New Year Post makes me want to either laugh or cry. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(41, 48, 59); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"2020 looks like more swimming, acrobatics, soccer and basketball with the granddaughter. Praying for peace and health for you and for the world. Remember to look for the good in each day."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(41, 48, 59); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(41, 48, 59); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMIvUZHr9EU/X1Ec-BcljwI/AAAAAAAAMfQ/2eBblywHqIQwM9abfHzgIcUihVP0_28aACLcBGAsYHQ/s1668/2CB3BFB9-CCE8-4C63-9166-5CD610463AB8_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="1246" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gMIvUZHr9EU/X1Ec-BcljwI/AAAAAAAAMfQ/2eBblywHqIQwM9abfHzgIcUihVP0_28aACLcBGAsYHQ/w239-h320/2CB3BFB9-CCE8-4C63-9166-5CD610463AB8_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Swim Lessons" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't have to tell you about the isolation and loss of income that has been the truth world wide under the Covid-19 pandemic. I don't need to think there are any Americans who haven't heard about the divisions between people of various races and political and religious views. It's stressful and heartbreaking to be sure. I love my country and I love our world. There is so much beauty that it makes my heart break to not be able to get into school and share it with my students, and get out of school and be able to share it with my grandkids.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6PCnqyVdIA/X1Ec-JenBZI/AAAAAAAAMfU/Trr7XRps6DIuxDFA9jCvoBkm7Qjfjt-RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1327/40DB4997-BBBE-4A58-B46C-07A9DC0E188D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="995" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6PCnqyVdIA/X1Ec-JenBZI/AAAAAAAAMfU/Trr7XRps6DIuxDFA9jCvoBkm7Qjfjt-RwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/40DB4997-BBBE-4A58-B46C-07A9DC0E188D.jpeg" /></a></div>I have three, three wonderful, deserving, grandchildren. One who lives with me so I see her every day, and two I've never seen enough of even pre lockdowns and this year without birthday parties and holiday celebrations I miss them beyond words.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVvlXpmjJj8/X1Ec-uiwu3I/AAAAAAAAMfc/d6AUYjMTN10gH-0Ofb-L9X5SR2Jq_pXEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AC6E6837-5317-432B-83D1-E0CB0A8221FC.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btWZZdgOfzg/X1EknFHcm5I/AAAAAAAAMgE/Hglia0pW80gzBisMxo_VLnCk23Is_xD9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_2392.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRA-xv_uP2Q/X1Ec-XMk5zI/AAAAAAAAMfY/dYJhO4sjtlwsVEsv3pPYQHwgjDaMpFxHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1723/221FFC47-C89E-4478-82C8-5D34A66F5D75_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRA-xv_uP2Q/X1Ec-XMk5zI/AAAAAAAAMfY/dYJhO4sjtlwsVEsv3pPYQHwgjDaMpFxHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/221FFC47-C89E-4478-82C8-5D34A66F5D75_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I've also been dying. My Dr.'s haven't come out and said that, but honestly they have never seen anything close to my daily degeneration. I finally get to an appointment and don't look too bad. It takes energy to dress and drive there (often a couple hours drive) and nerves and hopes add adrenalin, and I function better, then get home and pay for it with three days as an invalid. My brain and my husband's face tell me I'm dying. (every time I need to adjust my body in any position) but I hope I'm wrong. The love and trust in my granddaughters face tells me I need to be around to be her safe place. She has no idea how many times I've shielded her from the ravages of a meth addicted mom, and I don't want her to know. Life is scary enough just hearing the news in the background, as she tries to master learning via zoom. As a first grader, with a wonderful, but older teacher, she and her teacher are learning together and it's hard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lS4f8ikhAns/X1Ec-3wRZ5I/AAAAAAAAMfg/ZJ6bH_B2LAQme7OAj0SHqus_4EP3OhtgACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/CB93F622-BB8F-4E0F-BD85-C9B7EE1A06BE_1_101_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lS4f8ikhAns/X1Ec-3wRZ5I/AAAAAAAAMfg/ZJ6bH_B2LAQme7OAj0SHqus_4EP3OhtgACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/CB93F622-BB8F-4E0F-BD85-C9B7EE1A06BE_1_101_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't want to complain. I know that living in a rural place, with low covid numbers and empty areas where we can get out snd play means we are among the lucky ones this year. I know that we have an old house but we have one, we have lost income but still have enough to get by, we have each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We Have Each Other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just Breathe that in.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIbGkettQYU/X1Ec_LzPZlI/AAAAAAAAMfk/bROj6U0DFQkogCVOCr7BTo4oZqB8jIJuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/D651D77B-2BD4-4FF3-98DE-B596F093475A_1_101_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIbGkettQYU/X1Ec_LzPZlI/AAAAAAAAMfk/bROj6U0DFQkogCVOCr7BTo4oZqB8jIJuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/D651D77B-2BD4-4FF3-98DE-B596F093475A_1_101_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Sending you love and the reminder that we are not done yet. Hang in there and I will too, even if it tears a couple finger nails loose to maintain the grip.<br /> <p></p>echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-49572360715928611192020-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:002020-01-06T08:36:43.030-08:00Happy New Year, I finally see 2020<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srRvT-dwQ6I/XhNhqypj5xI/AAAAAAAAMWY/sG3KXpFW4xEkvRrSMx0WdT7XJQcomQK7wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srRvT-dwQ6I/XhNhqypj5xI/AAAAAAAAMWY/sG3KXpFW4xEkvRrSMx0WdT7XJQcomQK7wCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1123.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I Hope You Had a </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Merry Christmas 201</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">9</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We Wish You</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> a Blessed and Happy 20</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">20</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Just listen to the sound of that! Happy New Year 2020!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I keep thinking, “now I have finally managed to see 2020, why am I still so grateful for my eyeglasses?” but things look quite as foggy and out of focus as they always have, or at least since I first got glasses back in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I’ve always been near sighted and this is very much how the year seems too. If I look at the distant pictures and news, everything is confusing and unclear, but when I focus on the close to me, every day life, things get clear and beautiful and filled with love.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Greg and I celebrated our 35<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary in May, just 12 days after our only grandson turned 3. Of course that brought a lot of nostalgia and the memories of people who were around when we married, but are gone from this world now. It’s unreal to me that this year our 36<sup>th</sup> will equal as long as my Mom and Dad were married before he died. They would have loved my grandbabies and Brett’s. It’s just how my brain has always worked and sometimes it annoys Greg that anniversaries never go unthought of, and days and years since or until something are something I’m always aware of. I didn’t even consciously count it out, but I knew and was sadly aware that Epiphany Day in 2019 was the Day Greg was exactly as old as his oldest sister, April, on the day she died in the Grand Canyon. It feels so eerie to me that now April is younger than all the other 5 siblings. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have had trouble with my brain this last year. While the exact diagnosis of what is going on with my health has passed through from possible Fibromyalgia, to Rheumatoid arthritis, to Lupus, to Inclusion Body Myositis, and now the investigation seems to be looking more like Parkinson’s, and that is scary on it’s own, but more so knowing how my mom went through hallucinations and dementia, and a gradual freezing of her muscles in a Lewy Body Dementia which is closely related to Parkinson’s.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I keep finding that I can’t focus for long, I start books but never finish them unless I’m reading them to Daisy. I don’t really write anymore, although I’ve had a book partway finished for about 5 years. I couldn’t get started on this letter for the longest time, and I read very little so even the Christmas cards We received are sitting in a basket, unopened, waiting for me to find the energy to read them. I have been on Facebook and a photo a day project online, plus having two blogs I <strike>write,</strike> wrote but for quite a while now I mostly read what others post and reshare that if it interests me. Or share the pictures I take without writing much about them. On the photo project I used to write about each picture with several paragraphs and comment on other people’s pictures, but now sometimes I just put up three days photo’s with titles at one go, scroll through the other pictures without commenting and fall asleep in my chair.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We got a new van and the backup camera helps me still be able to drive safely, but sometimes I have to circle a block because I can’t turn my head enough to see the traffic coming from the other direction. And one scary moment, I was driving to pick up Daisy from daycare, like I had done hundreds of times, and there are two long streets in part of the route. Suddenly I knew where I was going, but nothing looked familiar, and I couldn’t tell which of the long streets I was on, so I had to pull over and park until my heart stopped racing and it passed. Then I was fine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Austin and Trisha’s daughter Trinity turned one in August, and she is so happy, and smiley. It’s a delight to have her around. Gavin at three is wonderful, high energy and curious, and difficult for me to keep up with, but every time he turns to me for a hug I just melt. They have my heart so enamored with their children. I have always loved preschool children, but this grandmother connection is the purest joy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Greg still likes working at the prison but they just changed his job, so instead of being a classroom teacher, he is going to start being the college co-ordinator. Helping inmates register for classes, getting the materials they need as it comes into the prison, and then verifying that the work is done and returned to the college. He doesn’t even grade it. He thinks it might make for longer feeling days, to not have the actual students but hasn’t begun in that position yet. He is still active in the community Chorale and has the Youth Choir that practices once a week, so the touch of music hasn’t quite left the family. Daisy loves to sing and always gets annoyed at grandpa for not inviting her up on stage at his concerts to sing a solo. At 5 she has to wait until 10 to audition. That doesn’t sit well. I tell her that when he was finally old enough to audition, her Dad didn’t get in the first time he auditioned and had to wait until he was 11.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Daisy started in the same room, with the same kindergarten teacher where both her Dad and Uncle Austin went to kindergarten. She has loved it every moment, but even though I hope I’m wrong, the Del Norte schools look to be heading into their first teacher strike, starting as early as Jan. 15<sup>th </sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DqqyrRBgaP4/XhNhx-mq26I/AAAAAAAAMWg/m7MSjQiCVHAPFwpQTXl_hiFAqkrBWi9zQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_1651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DqqyrRBgaP4/XhNhx-mq26I/AAAAAAAAMWg/m7MSjQiCVHAPFwpQTXl_hiFAqkrBWi9zQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_1651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5600004196167px;">Frozen 2 in Brookings, OR</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Greg had inherited some money from his parents, and decided to use part of it to treat the family to an amusement park filled December. Austin and Trisha wisely chose to pass and maybe come when their two are older, and it was an exhausting trip, even without carrying toddlers and chasing three year olds. We had a great time but We still missed them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We flew Medford, Oregon to Seattle, WA To John Wayne airport in Santa Ana. Daisy loved the planes and boats on this trip. We spent two days in Legoland and the Legoland hotel was amazingly designed with kids in every step. Enough that Daisy’s favorite part of Legoland was the dance party in the elevator every time you got on. There was even a whoopie cushion printed on the hall carpet that farted if you jumped on it. Also she loved the kid only peephole on the bedroom door and the fact that every night two small bags of legos were locked in the safe in each room, with a scavenger hunt around the motel leading the kids to the combination for the safe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We did Disneyland for four days, well, I took one day off and stayed in bed in the motel, and Universal Studios for one and flew home on the 22nd but didn’t even get a tree. It felt like we had already done Christmas. Certainly the theme parks had overwhelmed themselves with decorations.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2020 looks like more swimming, acrobatics, soccer and basketball with the granddaughter. Praying for peace and health for you and for the world. Remember to look for the good in each day.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dixie and Greg</div>
echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-29037169874190315862019-08-02T14:51:00.001-07:002019-08-02T14:51:49.123-07:00Summer 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQcKrad2d1c/XUStEtvi2VI/AAAAAAAAMP8/Duzkg4rGRpgzkI7g6VlRGTX6e8Rb7N6pACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1b3f1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1401" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQcKrad2d1c/XUStEtvi2VI/AAAAAAAAMP8/Duzkg4rGRpgzkI7g6VlRGTX6e8Rb7N6pACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_1b3f1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After 35 years together, my husband and I have a lot of the routines down as routine, and it's easy to go along thinking that summers will always mean the same thing. Teaching some summer school, doing some maintenance and driving back to Wyoming to visit the grandparents. Somehow, even 7 years after the youngest child graduated high school, 5 year old granddaughter having led the way to tree grandkids so far, it took the death of our final parent, my Mom last November to really convince me that going to visit the grandparents has become being the grandparents.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQOkG4fQvZ0/XUStFVJxsKI/AAAAAAAAMQE/oIVF7ESOglMm3sNj6KBYNynHfQRczgSRgCLcBGAs/s1600/gIhV2iAsTSeOxb0ZHWsDFg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQOkG4fQvZ0/XUStFVJxsKI/AAAAAAAAMQE/oIVF7ESOglMm3sNj6KBYNynHfQRczgSRgCLcBGAs/s320/gIhV2iAsTSeOxb0ZHWsDFg.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
My husband has been in a new job for a year now and no longer gets summers off, and my health has deteriorated to the point where this summer I have been in a foggy state induced by trying various medications to see if my racing heart and high blood pressure and painful joints and muscles can be less disabling. So fr I'm not sure which handicaps me more, the ailments or the treatment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YsBiZq1TeM/XUStEl8sKVI/AAAAAAAAMQA/MfTaRr-jk3w4r2QRzluNcwny6Z2nM3zNwCLcBGAs/s1600/GrFt9721T2qurmDf%252BbfOng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YsBiZq1TeM/XUStEl8sKVI/AAAAAAAAMQA/MfTaRr-jk3w4r2QRzluNcwny6Z2nM3zNwCLcBGAs/s320/GrFt9721T2qurmDf%252BbfOng.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNTgSIO245o/XUStEX1YUnI/AAAAAAAAMP4/ZU3TGBYAuv415kosf76yD3CB5ENgNIt-wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_7308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1177" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNTgSIO245o/XUStEX1YUnI/AAAAAAAAMP4/ZU3TGBYAuv415kosf76yD3CB5ENgNIt-wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_7308.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
but summer, I'm a summer baby who has always loved summer more than any season, and yet this summer even our coastal cool, feels like a steamy heat wave and I'm sweating an complaining at 68* and my cat died, leaving me with two parrots I've had for 30 years and am not sure I can keep cleaning their cages and feeding them. I love them but they get ignored when I'm feeling too sick to stand and the granddaughter needs must come first I don't want to sell them to someone who will quickly tire of their noise and mess and realize they don't make good pets, but if I could find a good parrot sanctuary, I might be giving them up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGmJPDZjkVo/XUStGEHxGtI/AAAAAAAAMQM/EBzpfFOfvmIvsSw6zriA5CALGwCfE9d2gCLcBGAs/s1600/jBwD8HXsQLKFolFEmu5mGw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGmJPDZjkVo/XUStGEHxGtI/AAAAAAAAMQM/EBzpfFOfvmIvsSw6zriA5CALGwCfE9d2gCLcBGAs/s320/jBwD8HXsQLKFolFEmu5mGw.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I have been reviewing my writing and writing something every day, and I think the medications are finally almost at the right balance. I'm feeling better and hope it continues as the weather gets colder again. My fear is that the warmth is really all that is soothing me at the moment <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBOF3vSmjng/XUStF5kskJI/AAAAAAAAMQI/SA6spxPD2hsW-3jNNYkdbY1JciI7s4N0ACLcBGAs/s1600/zSxTD8KFRE6oVvzcVZVWow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OBOF3vSmjng/XUStF5kskJI/AAAAAAAAMQI/SA6spxPD2hsW-3jNNYkdbY1JciI7s4N0ACLcBGAs/s320/zSxTD8KFRE6oVvzcVZVWow.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-84555261267709876262019-07-19T11:06:00.000-07:002019-07-19T11:06:25.991-07:00Don't talk about . . .but I am<br />
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Talking religion, politics and money</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Feel free to answer any questions in the comments</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkEbE_5p4fA/XTIGntodxNI/AAAAAAAAMO4/XoEEjgo9K3gm7rw8AhZCHng6rDaknYyPgCKgBGAs/s1600/P1220251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkEbE_5p4fA/XTIGntodxNI/AAAAAAAAMO4/XoEEjgo9K3gm7rw8AhZCHng6rDaknYyPgCKgBGAs/s320/P1220251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Religion</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
1. What was the first “religious” story you remember being told? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Probably Noah’s ark. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
2. Did you accept the same beliefs as the adults who raised you?</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Yes, kind of, my Dad never went to church with us, so as a young person I did go with mom and grandma and my brothers, although by high school I was in youth for Christ and my mom was not certain she still believed. She later returned to the church. Before she got dementia we went together on a mission trip to Guatemala and as we talked I realized she was much more open minded (yes, read “like me” if you choose) than I had thought. She believed in Christ with a blend of other wisdom from various cultures. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
3. Did you have a time when you were super religious or super anti religion? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Was it a phase or did it become part of who you are now? From about 4th grade until I was in my mid twenties I very much believed the teachings of the Anderson Church of God, basically Nazarene, I thought we were right and everyone else was wrong, but that the others were hungry for the truth of Jesus, so if we told it they would welcome it. I was republican, anti abortion, and believed God never gave us more than we could handle and that if we had enough faith God would give us what we needed.<br />As it became clear that good people are given way more than they can handle, and perfectly fine, faith filled prayers still let babies be abandoned naked under bridges in Wyoming winters and wonderful people die in anguish. I became more convinced that the Bible was a big Santa Claus story made to calm the nervous children.<br />I found my way back to a bigger belief, that lets other people have their own journey. I still believe most of us are trying to reach the same destination, but some have leaky storm tossed rafts and some private jets. I believe love is more powerful than hate and in a perfect world I wouldn’t believed in abortion, but until there is food and family enough to care for every child who is here, I don’t believe in making more babies be born only to be unwanted, neglected or tortured. God can judge that.</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
4. Have you ever lived somewhere where yours was a minority faith? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
yes, when we were living in China, not long after the cultural revolution and just before Tian and Men square massacre.</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
5. Have you ever served in a church or on a mission and what part of that meant the most to you? 2002, I got to go to Santiago Atitilan in Guatemala. We were there to build cinder block houses, but it was in between projects, so after a couple days clearing stones from the lot and sawing rebar into set lengths, we were asked to work at the Mayan Grade School instead. Seeing my children and the Mayan children communicate without words and teach each other games and songs was the best at communicating to me that these children and mine are connected.</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
6. Does your religion still matter to you? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
If so, what is the most important part of it in your opinion? Yes it does, And if I’m wrong and never know it, I’ll be happier for having lived like it’s true anyway. I believe in a God of love, a God who wants us to love one another as we love ourselves. A God who wants us to say Yes to helping when we can and to sympathize when we can’t. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Politics</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
1. What do you think is the most important thing a government needs to do? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
To give the people it represents the freedom to live their life and have their homes unfettered by most interference until the point where their freedom is used to hurt and abuse someone else’s. The my freedom ends where my neighbors begins idea. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />2. How important is it that your friends politics agree with yours?</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I love having friends who don’t think like me, who challenge my thinking and keep me awake.</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />3. Do you have a deal breaker issue that means you can’t be friends with someone due to their politics?<br />Of the big, most talked about issues, which are the three that will most likely get you to jump into the conversation? Kid’s rights I guess, maybe all my issues center around kids. The right to a free, public, meaningful education that prepares them for adulthood. The right to accessible, affordable, healthcare and food and housing. A basic level of living for the citizens. The right to protect their safety, to be held to standards before you can drive or own a gun, the right to know you can defend against a police force filled with white supremacists or against a public whipped up to an anti police frenzy if you are one of the many good Law Enforcement Officers, the right to know their highways and schools and public buildings are held to safety codes. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />4. Of the most important (to you) issues, have you done anything more than talk about it on social media? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Maybe, hopefully. I work with kids, volunteer, donate plasma, write and try to help but probably less than I should</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />5. If you could convince everyone of one thing about Donald Trump, what would you want them to know for sure? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I can’t stand him, so I’d say the one thing is that he’s really bad for America, he divides and manipulates and abuses and lies. But I guess I’d say it isn’t DT I need to convince them about at all. He’s just a symptom. I think we need to convince everyone to look for the helpers and to be one. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Money</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
1. What is your biggest fear about your current finances? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
That it won’t be able to handle an unexpected emergency. </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />2. What is something about how you have handled money in your life that you feel proud of?</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
I’ve handled it with trust that it will work out, enough that I’ve been able to enjoy raising my kids and grandkids without too much panic.</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />3. What lesson about money would you most want your children to learn? </div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
That you don’t need as much as the ads make you think you do, that no matter how much money you have, you can be miserable, and the best things in life are free all around you. Yes, you have to earn a living, but then you have to live.<br />4. What would be the top five priorities you think government money should be used for?<br />World security, global environment protection and shared resources (being able to survive climate change)<br />Education<br />Healthcare (and mental health included in that)<br />Cooperation and care of public lands and highways and buildings</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
learning to adapt to change</div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />5. If you had extra money, is there a charity or two that you think would be deserving of your help?<br />Habitat for humanities<br />World vision</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpKKGwqv6h8/XTIGayn6eeI/AAAAAAAAMO0/ypVFbkH-TyowKaW_QcIN7VYoCihDHozdACKgBGAs/s1600/P1220517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RpKKGwqv6h8/XTIGayn6eeI/AAAAAAAAMO0/ypVFbkH-TyowKaW_QcIN7VYoCihDHozdACKgBGAs/s320/P1220517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
6. Can you live as you normally do, on the money you have coming in from working each month, and if not do you dig into credit cards, or savings or borrow, or share expenses? </div>
<div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
Yes, mainly, but usually something like new tires or car repairs and a dental root canal can make us need to access a payment plan.</div>
</div>
echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-78328785385872412002019-03-27T11:58:00.001-07:002019-03-27T11:58:19.745-07:00Not for Wimps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y9nZLS4XYA/XJvBr9gtxqI/AAAAAAAAMKY/A98KKWwyS50wQdLj6IvO0EtrXZsqFT1oACLcBGAs/s1600/4He3mV4SRjatst44K%252BKE%2525g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4y9nZLS4XYA/XJvBr9gtxqI/AAAAAAAAMKY/A98KKWwyS50wQdLj6IvO0EtrXZsqFT1oACLcBGAs/s320/4He3mV4SRjatst44K%252BKE%2525g.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
When I bought this house 23 years ago, I was a young Mom of two busy preschool boys and looking for a good place for them to get outside and enjoy being children. I was impressed with my wonderful, old but never elderly, neighbors who, in their early nineties still had more energy than my husband and I ever had. Hr helped us out many times and was about as perfect a neighbor as one could hope for - and the closest he ever came to complaining to us was when he would sigh, "this getting old isn't for wimps!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BMlJaCm1vQ/XJvBtfJRyQI/AAAAAAAAMKk/PaD8-cag4t8Fl6PukOg1MdfpFR8Y2tDXQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1948a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BMlJaCm1vQ/XJvBtfJRyQI/AAAAAAAAMKk/PaD8-cag4t8Fl6PukOg1MdfpFR8Y2tDXQCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_1948a.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
of course, as happens, the years flew past, and we lost our neighbors and the kids grew up and moved out, then one moved back in with his daughter and the fishing poles and legos were replaced by a flood of pink toys.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I started to feel the wear and tear of aging in my bones and tendons and in the little things that were suddenly huge aches to do, if I could still do them at all.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'd cuss under my breath and remember, "It's not for wimps."</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDJV6X9K3Lw/XJvBrxKplfI/AAAAAAAAMKc/IGnVQpOp5KM2nPsEAhkHlYZs0BxzKXNZwCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19417.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1600" height="275" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDJV6X9K3Lw/XJvBrxKplfI/AAAAAAAAMKc/IGnVQpOp5KM2nPsEAhkHlYZs0BxzKXNZwCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19417.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
but then I started to look at people who were a lot older than me and who acted much younger, and I started to think, wait, I'm only 55, that isn't "old, old" yet I feel closer to 100 than my neighbors ever acted. That's when I started trying to seek answers.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-8RwWohNt8/XJvBrXqzmzI/AAAAAAAAMKU/U3E_pqhWVLkMgpFsD_hXqG82wuEm-ZNbgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19471.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1106" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-8RwWohNt8/XJvBrXqzmzI/AAAAAAAAMKU/U3E_pqhWVLkMgpFsD_hXqG82wuEm-ZNbgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19471.jpeg" width="223" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been to Dr. after Dr. and had biopsies, blood tests, scans and scopes. I've been paying off bill after bill. Every appointment seems to result in further referrals to places where I will be charged more and know less.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SOfkoszSP64/XJvBsI5pBTI/AAAAAAAAMKg/Im3VagJbBwMyCEjiv3uOw85GKeIcOA1mQCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19489.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1159" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SOfkoszSP64/XJvBsI5pBTI/AAAAAAAAMKg/Im3VagJbBwMyCEjiv3uOw85GKeIcOA1mQCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19489.jpeg" width="231" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am never without pain, I've stopped buying shoes with laces because most days I can't bend to tie them. I only cut my toenails when I'm having an exceptionally good day, and I can't get out of the ben bag or the hot bath that used to be my two places of solace. I can sleep, and usually do, often beating the 4 year old on total numbers spent unconscious each night. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3VLygzqfi8/XJvBq1LAqrI/AAAAAAAAMKQ/K29pC6nJyacVRsBJ2FqLFGjbUMNsw88TgCLcBGAs/s1600/T98mnH9iQmWWwnVWHdlDpQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3VLygzqfi8/XJvBq1LAqrI/AAAAAAAAMKQ/K29pC6nJyacVRsBJ2FqLFGjbUMNsw88TgCLcBGAs/s320/T98mnH9iQmWWwnVWHdlDpQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
But when people ask how I'm doing I usually smile and say, "Fine. How are you?" I don't think they believe me anymore. I see them holding doors, offering to open jars, trying to be subtle about making sure I don't fall. I guess in that way, I am still fine. I sure am surrounded by good people. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JN4GJ54pACM/XJvC75yu7JI/AAAAAAAAMLE/MrYl96QzFrclPBAtc7TaKBERo4mlNHNvQCLcBGAs/s1600/3oZ01PukRlKPK0FGfeai%252Bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JN4GJ54pACM/XJvC75yu7JI/AAAAAAAAMLE/MrYl96QzFrclPBAtc7TaKBERo4mlNHNvQCLcBGAs/s320/3oZ01PukRlKPK0FGfeai%252Bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgQwlPKCQGA/XJvC72Fzl8I/AAAAAAAAMLI/N_vonsY008s_c4ewgzrkjybrRVvMj06sgCLcBGAs/s1600/FptEIArYTdmFwUYdR8nlIQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgQwlPKCQGA/XJvC72Fzl8I/AAAAAAAAMLI/N_vonsY008s_c4ewgzrkjybrRVvMj06sgCLcBGAs/s320/FptEIArYTdmFwUYdR8nlIQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
and Beauty. I'm surrounded by beauty everywhere I go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AefjGv-lMEA/XJvC8xv6WgI/AAAAAAAAMLQ/C58NZuFVTkkvmZ4LuVvApwZwGDpjTO21QCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_193da.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AefjGv-lMEA/XJvC8xv6WgI/AAAAAAAAMLQ/C58NZuFVTkkvmZ4LuVvApwZwGDpjTO21QCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_193da.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
but when I google my symptoms and search medical sites, I see a bunch of other people just like me. Waiting five year for a diagnosis, and maybe hoping not to get one, because then you enter that scary realm of, pre-existing condition, and no one wanting to insure you. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I wish I could wake up feeling strong again, but when I do get advice and suggestion, they so often are contradictory. no one seems to know and I often go to bed wondering if this will be the night I just can't wake up again. then I remember the grandkids, an I know, I have to keep searching for answers because I want to be here for them for years to come.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZpucAIwxIU/XJvC7i2TKkI/AAAAAAAAMLA/NTSnrDBcxjELjn_nwKpecFd-C_PjkoQrACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19339.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1600" height="196" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZpucAIwxIU/XJvC7i2TKkI/AAAAAAAAMLA/NTSnrDBcxjELjn_nwKpecFd-C_PjkoQrACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19339.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKrpcwhWitQ/XJvC8VylJwI/AAAAAAAAMLM/7OEc0LNS9-gSOrG6PncMVh4aAI_c2HqjgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_19349.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKrpcwhWitQ/XJvC8VylJwI/AAAAAAAAMLM/7OEc0LNS9-gSOrG6PncMVh4aAI_c2HqjgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_19349.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-8005178716694337152019-01-23T09:30:00.001-08:002019-01-23T09:30:09.884-08:00Not Giving Up, Today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ9LYt802Hs/XEihF2agHyI/AAAAAAAAMGU/vYhSVoInBjgkhZESD3AuodqgWFsk-ciQgCLcBGAs/s1600/%2525e7e%2525ejZSkOndojZ8qVB8A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ9LYt802Hs/XEihF2agHyI/AAAAAAAAMGU/vYhSVoInBjgkhZESD3AuodqgWFsk-ciQgCLcBGAs/s320/%2525e7e%2525ejZSkOndojZ8qVB8A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mouth of Smith River<br />Seals on far shore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13fuddAZ4G0/XEihGdFsXxI/AAAAAAAAMGc/wcRwW9X1veolAu2JA6mFvmPJdZi-ji93gCLcBGAs/s1600/0QZrpgNrQyKqHI72kjctNg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-13fuddAZ4G0/XEihGdFsXxI/AAAAAAAAMGc/wcRwW9X1veolAu2JA6mFvmPJdZi-ji93gCLcBGAs/s320/0QZrpgNrQyKqHI72kjctNg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyNNGrAtwpg/XEihFZSCFCI/AAAAAAAAMGQ/HEtjsqjzDkQMV053T9AhJgBF4TqNjyqDwCLcBGAs/s1600/4jpplm89ToKKCZdXz1UyQg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyNNGrAtwpg/XEihFZSCFCI/AAAAAAAAMGQ/HEtjsqjzDkQMV053T9AhJgBF4TqNjyqDwCLcBGAs/s320/4jpplm89ToKKCZdXz1UyQg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oma2-uCHygQ/XEihGGeszII/AAAAAAAAMGY/MP0UIxljacYHZOfratVeUBUELaTXcBcfgCLcBGAs/s1600/D08TeDuDTgSsP%252BVWpkpkbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oma2-uCHygQ/XEihGGeszII/AAAAAAAAMGY/MP0UIxljacYHZOfratVeUBUELaTXcBcfgCLcBGAs/s320/D08TeDuDTgSsP%252BVWpkpkbg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sun through Amber pendant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6y6e1CBKrg/XEihH1wnLGI/AAAAAAAAMGw/ML8IPF5fpoMLizY7mBxIYOFbUuqp7xJNgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_18f7b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1600" height="229" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--6y6e1CBKrg/XEihH1wnLGI/AAAAAAAAMGw/ML8IPF5fpoMLizY7mBxIYOFbUuqp7xJNgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_18f7b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y63iY5OquwI/XEihG_7UWeI/AAAAAAAAMGg/JiTzIK1OjVs7HI21ME6KNiyw_bx_bZ61QCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_18f66.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1052" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y63iY5OquwI/XEihG_7UWeI/AAAAAAAAMGg/JiTzIK1OjVs7HI21ME6KNiyw_bx_bZ61QCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_18f66.jpeg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan 19 and already flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I<i>'ve been feeling sad and small lately, I know it is partly the post holiday, exhaustion and the seasonal lack of light blues. It is also largely the fact that I'm hurting all the time. The first thought in my mind is often the thought that, "I'm dying" or "I can't take being this person anymore!"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> Depression? Yes, but suicidal, no. The only oblivion I'm seeking lately is the oblivion of 12 hours of sleep every day. If I don't sleep that long at night, and I easily can unless my alarm goes off, then I fall asleep, mug of coffee just drunk, and second one in my hand, right after coming home from work.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> To try to make myself feel better, I've bern forcing activity, going outside and taking photographs, playing with editing them, and accepting every substitute job I get offered with preschool through first grade. The little kids cheer me even as I know I'll need two days of recovery from the physical wear and tear.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>when I'm lucky, I get to paint with them, directing their art lessons cheers my soul.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I can't seem to focus long enough to write a blog, or caption a picture most days, and I had a six month wait between Dr. Appointments, so I still have to wait until Feb. 21 to see the Rheumatologist again.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>what have I had suggested and eliminated so fat? Lyme Disease, Diabetes, Lupus. Possible that this is RA but the specialist doesn't think so. Right now he is suspecting IBM disease. Yuck, but livable </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I'm not giving up today. Not while there is so much beauty I've yet to explore</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgFU2qiPuHM/XEihHiw8NdI/AAAAAAAAMGs/KsZDQKmVapcMuHERT16dfP36mSi7tmv2gCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_18f74.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgFU2qiPuHM/XEihHiw8NdI/AAAAAAAAMGs/KsZDQKmVapcMuHERT16dfP36mSi7tmv2gCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_18f74.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTdd0V5I0eg/XEihHVBomLI/AAAAAAAAMGo/0yn1aMctsw4mQKdcSLwjJ3GoCPcMcT7vgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_18f78.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTdd0V5I0eg/XEihHVBomLI/AAAAAAAAMGo/0yn1aMctsw4mQKdcSLwjJ3GoCPcMcT7vgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_18f78.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6W1NgbdjSQ/XEihIBW8-KI/AAAAAAAAMG0/zx_bxER1rv8p_VFJjxH-926Ps-Lw3qrdQCLcBGAs/s1600/iXwJvQw9TSaTJciepLtH4g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6W1NgbdjSQ/XEihIBW8-KI/AAAAAAAAMG0/zx_bxER1rv8p_VFJjxH-926Ps-Lw3qrdQCLcBGAs/s320/iXwJvQw9TSaTJciepLtH4g.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWkRMaDyV2A/XEihG19bWYI/AAAAAAAAMGk/wvC7T2uySZ0QoUOLKYgS0m4k26TdLqfTwCLcBGAs/s1600/JxfgJ%25258BT8OnbgpCzluWIQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWkRMaDyV2A/XEihG19bWYI/AAAAAAAAMGk/wvC7T2uySZ0QoUOLKYgS0m4k26TdLqfTwCLcBGAs/s320/JxfgJ%25258BT8OnbgpCzluWIQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-41273643335760233482018-12-03T12:54:00.001-08:002018-12-03T12:54:42.331-08:00Christmas 2018<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas 2018 and May you have a Blessed and Happy 2019</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qv40MhfZsE/XAWXDaa6oZI/AAAAAAAAMEQ/oBy6JWiIaDUx3_YNYeG9UBfq_XOpKqG3wCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_182df.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1128" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qv40MhfZsE/XAWXDaa6oZI/AAAAAAAAMEQ/oBy6JWiIaDUx3_YNYeG9UBfq_XOpKqG3wCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_182df.jpeg" width="225" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZTRDGRBElg/XAWXEozLNMI/AAAAAAAAMEY/GKtNimEezhcrJ4ob_DWyAHCvb9pu6I1QgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_182eb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZTRDGRBElg/XAWXEozLNMI/AAAAAAAAMEY/GKtNimEezhcrJ4ob_DWyAHCvb9pu6I1QgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_182eb.jpeg" width="210" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And yeah, Wow! 2019 does mean we are only one year away from 2020</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
which sounds more like a vision test result and less like a year I ever even imagined</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cn1-S7Dezw/XAWXEyvkdOI/AAAAAAAAMEc/ZZbYCnkSbKwxQtbsbC_UsQgDqJPucfeBACLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_182e9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1153" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7cn1-S7Dezw/XAWXEyvkdOI/AAAAAAAAMEc/ZZbYCnkSbKwxQtbsbC_UsQgDqJPucfeBACLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_182e9.jpeg" width="230" /></a>I'm going to start by saying that I sincerely hope that the old tale that things happen in threes, is correct, because I'm ready for the end of this current cycle of three Holiday seasons. For the third Thanksgiving/Christmas season in a row, Greg and I have lost one of our parents. His Mom died The day after election day in 2016 and Greg and I spent Thanksgiving with the Goode family in Newcastle, Wyoming having a memorial get together and laughing that this life long Democrat just didn't want to hang around for the next term of Republican presidents. Then after we bought train tickets to spend Christmas with Greg's Dad in 2017, he passed away unexpectedly of pneumonia on December 4<sup>th</sup>and our Christmas visit featured his celebration of Life service as well as a chance for Daisy to meet more Goode's and go out in the Black Hills in the snow to get her Christmas Tree with Uncle Harv and her Dad. Then this October, Mom, who was weakened already and wheelchair bound, but content in her assisted living center near Brett and Lance, developed Pneumonia herself and never recovered, so on November 4<sup>th</sup>we lost her as well.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0VppTd_UXM/XAWXDdlXJBI/AAAAAAAAMEU/ls5j2P9ROG0qVQoJ2jfv_V6btxNuhWj6wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0VppTd_UXM/XAWXDdlXJBI/AAAAAAAAMEU/ls5j2P9ROG0qVQoJ2jfv_V6btxNuhWj6wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4603.JPG" width="213" /></a>We traveled by car this time, only Greg and Daisy and I, meeting my brothers and nephew, nieces, sister-in-law and cousins aplenty. The family gathered in Cody, Wyoming and laid Mom to rest beside Dad, in the same Riverside Cemetery where her parents and several other family members are. So I'm officially an orphan at 55 and it's strange and sad. I don't like it. But there were some really sweet, happy moments in the celebration of Priscilla Slack Miller. We had a wonderful feast in the Cody Club, with the cousins and friends, laughter and conversation and food always being a part of every good moment with Mom. We even found that one of the murals there featured her uncle Clarence wearing her Dad's wooly chaps in a snowy landscape. With a four year old with us we did a lot of the very things Mom most enjoyed, hot tubs and Motels, waterpark, and the Oregon Zoo and Multnomah Falls. People ask how the trip home was, and it feels odd to say, but all three trips home for funerals have been good, happy, family filled visits. I just hope that the next time I get together with family, it isn't for a funeral.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Right after we got home, Greg joined the Crescent City Chorale for a two week tour of Italy, Germany and Poland, so Daisy and I left him at the Portland Airport and stopped at a waterpark in Springfield on our way home for Thanksgiving. That was a dud holiday, the power went out so we had no cooking, or water, or lights and ended up waiting for Emerson to get off work and eat Dinner at Denny's</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It has been a year of both loss and births, so Mom will be missed, but the family has a new Granddaughter, Trinity Revae was born on August 3<sup>rd</sup>to Austin and Trisha, and joined our grandson Gavin who had just turned two in May. Trinity is beautiful, alert and has an adorable laugh and smile. Gavin is sturdy and strong willed and a real charmer. I don't see them as much as Daisy, and can tell you that living with one granddaughter is such a delight, I'd never known how wonderful being a grandmother could be before her. She is in preschool and is smart and kind and funny. This year she has done swimming lessons and soccer and a lot of art and playgrounds.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfmhIKheShc/XAWXDF0Sd_I/AAAAAAAAMEM/62TJdDmvBAQcocUg5_hghIE8mtHBEy02ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfmhIKheShc/XAWXDF0Sd_I/AAAAAAAAMEM/62TJdDmvBAQcocUg5_hghIE8mtHBEy02ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4595.JPG" width="213" /></a>The extended family is growing too, so Daisy had a couple new cousins born this year and my niece has another due early next year. I guess that is good, if I don't watch too much news and get too fearful of the future this world holds for today's children. I reassure myself by remembering all the times that I heard my Grandmother, Grace laugh at the fears of parents when I was a child, in that good old days of the Vietnam era. She swore that parents are always convince that te world is a dangerous place and ending soon and that this is the worst time ever to have a child and that children themselves are much more horrid, but they have been saying all those things since Socrates at least and probably since cave men days.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had a couple of long term sub jobs where I had a class of my own for months, and in June Greg finished 27 years teaching music and started teaching basic skills, GED prep skills, to inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison. I'm liking the fact that he no longer commutes to the next state to teach, as the prison is only 4 miles from our house, nor does he have to be out of town many weekends and evenings at various competitions and concerts. It isn't a job with summers off however, as the prison of course, runs year round.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Healthwise, I haven't been doing very well. And as of yet I've only been eliminating possibilities rather than finding answers. Negative tests and a lot of time between visits make it a slow process, but I'm moving slowly and stiffly and things happen like popping my achilles tendon and tearing my rotator cuff. It isn't Lupus but may be some form of Rheumatoid arthritis, but even more likely not, and may be IBM (the disease, not the big company) which is a type of muscular dystrophy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Anyway, this aging time of life isn't for whimps, but I guess it's undeniable when you are a grandmother, with no parents of your own left above the surface of this beautiful planet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm still writing my books and doodling in my free time and most of all helping raise a wonderful girl who adds so much joy to my life, but really misses her own Mom and doesn't understand that, but then neither do we. If you are one who prays, as I am. Pray for the children and this wonderful, troubled world and every now and then, remember us.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“God Bless us, everyone!”</div>
echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276571876498887461.post-3250218811650503642018-11-05T08:57:00.000-08:002018-11-05T15:36:37.979-08:00Priscilla June Slack Miller. Goodnight Mom.<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rnBNaPlD9Yc/W-B2AOGltcI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/v161F0Sf-3Aqxhen-piSEGFp8aPIebfQgCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_17b6e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1280" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rnBNaPlD9Yc/W-B2AOGltcI/AAAAAAAAMCQ/v161F0Sf-3Aqxhen-piSEGFp8aPIebfQgCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_17b6e.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZcIEqU2mYU/W-DT8tBWjLI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/qoX43fiBeBoLvnPGArDbKe9wKBVVhG77QCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_17bb8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZcIEqU2mYU/W-DT8tBWjLI/AAAAAAAAMDQ/qoX43fiBeBoLvnPGArDbKe9wKBVVhG77QCLcBGAs/s400/fullsizeoutput_17bb8.jpeg" width="260" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">She was born on June 30, 1939, Priscilla June Slack; daughter of one of the three sons (Lawrence Slack) born to Francis Slack, a stage driver who worked for Buffalo Bill Cody, and his Wife, Emma Belle Lafferty Slack. Priscilla told stories of how she grew up riding a white cow and creating Jackalopes and running on the bank of the Greybull River in Meeteetse, Wyoming. Her parents ran Slack Salvage, in Cody for many years. She had four male cousins who were more like brothers to her, their Dad (Clarence Slack) was another of the three sons raised up along Trout Creek above Cody, Wyoming in the 1890’s before the families moved to Meeteetse in 1902. Their Mom, Clara and her Mom, Grace Beightol were sisters from Illinois who came out to Wyoming because of an ad in a Chicago Newspaper looking for someone who could love both a Wyoming winter and a Wyoming cattleman. </span><br />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">When she was eleven she moved to Cody, and spent most of her life there. She went to college in Powell and in Laramie. In 1960 she got married To an Army Veteran from Pittsburgh, PA named Paul Miller. He worked and she taught second grade in Cheyenne, Wyoming but when they had children they moved back to Cody and raised their daughter and two sons there where they could be close to her parents and cousins. Along with Paul, she spent a lot of time exploring the area around Yellowstone and the Beartooths. They loved the rugged beauty of the Park and surrounding mountains. Whenever they could get a few weeks off, they loved to travel, usually to places where they had family and friends, so often it was to Pittsburgh, PA or Anaheim, CA both places where Paul’s large family lived, or to Illinois to visit her Mother’s extended family. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">She was a Philanthropist, Priscilla Miller. Most often the name attached to the descriptive word "Philanthropist"will be found for a prominent family or well known wealthy individual. Priscilla Miller learned from her parents, Lawrence and Grace the true meaning of philanthropy. I call it being "other oriented" and putting others welfare above your own. Priscilla very quietly gave far more to community, family, friends and strangers than she ever kept for herself. It is very important to me that her community remember her for those silent acts of kindness and generosity beyond description.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">She was a nurse who nursed so many people through sickness, although she never received training as a nurse, she was one by nature and compassion. She cared for friends, uncles, parents and her husband through cancer and other difficult times, and though it was brutally hard at times, she did it out of love. After Paul died of esophageal cancer in Feb. of 1997, she and her youngest son, Lance - traveled to California to visit grandkids, and to Guatemala on a mission to help build cinderblock homes. She took Lance to Washington DC to visit her son, Brett and his family and she reached out to friends and kept both herself and Lance active in the church, the senior center and in the community. </span><br />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">As she grew older and health issues slowed her down, she and Lance moved to Middleburg, VA where they could be close to Brett and his family. She had many good times there even as her health continued to decline. Right to the end she could enjoy a good meal or a visit from friends with a welcoming smile. She is survived by her daughter, Dixie (Greg Goode) and Her son, Brett (Emily Richter Miller) Her son, Lance and Five Grandchildren; Austin Goode, Lacy Miller, Emerson Goode, Luke Miller and Elise Miller, as well as two Step- Grandchildren, Caitlin Tabachka and Patrick Tabachka. She also leaves behind four Great-Grandchildren, Daisy Goode, Gavin Goode-Pitt, Trinity Goode-Pitt and Lincoln Tabachka. She is also survived by three of her close cousins, Roger Slack (Louise), James Slack and Donald Slack (Marion) and by the wife of her cousin Terry who preceded her in death (Patty), as well as by many well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";">She will be interred at Riverside Cemetery in Cody, Wyoming as she wished, joining her husband and Parents and many family and friends within view of Heart Mountain. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f30-ZYpZwE0/W-B2AXtpKII/AAAAAAAAMCU/aJ9SHbAO3EAzx5DdGIAVN4byv1r-vXZ1gCLcBGAs/s1600/fullsizeoutput_17b6f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f30-ZYpZwE0/W-B2AXtpKII/AAAAAAAAMCU/aJ9SHbAO3EAzx5DdGIAVN4byv1r-vXZ1gCLcBGAs/s320/fullsizeoutput_17b6f.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ttxigg56jGI/W-B19P7IzJI/AAAAAAAAMBs/gk6utMk4D6UgcObMlp2h2n560Zr_qb2pgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="716" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ttxigg56jGI/W-B19P7IzJI/AAAAAAAAMBs/gk6utMk4D6UgcObMlp2h2n560Zr_qb2pgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ScH_0kZ78k/W-B19AP8I_I/AAAAAAAAMB0/1RtgpNHY49gwEMiaOPNPXnV7y5XD-ik3gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="960" height="182" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ScH_0kZ78k/W-B19AP8I_I/AAAAAAAAMB0/1RtgpNHY49gwEMiaOPNPXnV7y5XD-ik3gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LF7vA03q2Xg/W-B19F8CihI/AAAAAAAAMBw/OGYLsWOWY20lrSLulU3jJBV-ZRrkp3ofQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LF7vA03q2Xg/W-B19F8CihI/AAAAAAAAMBw/OGYLsWOWY20lrSLulU3jJBV-ZRrkp3ofQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zNKjL82LLg/W-B19heIl1I/AAAAAAAAMB4/5QFXW_3BdI48SF8f3q-O8P0QUFtR1GFGACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="960" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zNKjL82LLg/W-B19heIl1I/AAAAAAAAMB4/5QFXW_3BdI48SF8f3q-O8P0QUFtR1GFGACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2sqdJ1H-rs/W-B19kSWH2I/AAAAAAAAMB8/_SiSouziCu8vbqY-SsTe2oFLL_4QepZWwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2sqdJ1H-rs/W-B19kSWH2I/AAAAAAAAMB8/_SiSouziCu8vbqY-SsTe2oFLL_4QepZWwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVsIpHpvFCk/W-B1-O_vbCI/AAAAAAAAMCA/5mWR4qAhbK4Z9v9vDKaJ1H4Lgiuc7UDPwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dVsIpHpvFCk/W-B1-O_vbCI/AAAAAAAAMCA/5mWR4qAhbK4Z9v9vDKaJ1H4Lgiuc7UDPwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XFa1O58p28/W-B1-qkDg6I/AAAAAAAAMCE/_NZBU9xHCQ0x20A5hC0YciuCqS_9riGQACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XFa1O58p28/W-B1-qkDg6I/AAAAAAAAMCE/_NZBU9xHCQ0x20A5hC0YciuCqS_9riGQACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2jn3KJSamo/W-B1_KltcRI/AAAAAAAAMCI/S5i9daZwpM0YoeSm0KhuWEZ81-xlInP_ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2jn3KJSamo/W-B1_KltcRI/AAAAAAAAMCI/S5i9daZwpM0YoeSm0KhuWEZ81-xlInP_ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2494.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HokDwm6jips/W-B1_l-dkOI/AAAAAAAAMCM/0VQTn67HW1w4XpWpAPF6GbDgqLrOS-MAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HokDwm6jips/W-B1_l-dkOI/AAAAAAAAMCM/0VQTn67HW1w4XpWpAPF6GbDgqLrOS-MAgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2495.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px;">I'm really going to miss you. Goodnight Mom. </span><br />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />
<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" />echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161069949227164302noreply@blogger.com2