Gallimaufry

RANDOM THOUGHTS

       Yesterday I went to a luncheon and style show to benefit the Peoria Historical Society,  Lovely historical clothing, terrible cold chicken and a good and lively mix of women at our table.  The best thing was spending time with someone I most admire, Gloria LaHood.  Gloria is the person who got me involved in Peoria history and what adventures we've had, from hand kissing Frenchman to voyageur re-enactors in loin cloths.  She and I were introduced to the table as "The Godmothers of the Trolley Tours".  About 12 years or so, Steve Tartar, the PR person for City Link, the bus company,  drove us to Moline and we took one of their trolley tours.  On the way back to Peoria we decided that our city's history was so rich that we should propose the same type of bus tour to the Historical Society and City Link.  It was slow starting, just three of us did tours, but now it's a must-do for tourists in the summer in Peoria.  The best part was what we learned from those taking the tours.  Some of the new tours, written by others, are wonderful and it makes me proud to have been there in the beginning.
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        While I was waiting for Gloria in the lobby of the Sheraton downtown, a young black man came walking out with his little daughter, she was obviously under two years old, so precious.  He was all dressed in black and at one point he bent down to pick up her up and he was wearing his pants so low - as some tend to do - that his pants fell down.  Here was this handsome young man, holding his daughter with one arm and his pants up with the other.  You can not believe the urge I had  - or maybe you can -  to take that little girl and tell him to pull his pants up and tighten his belt!!     
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 I got this picture in the mail yesterday of great granddaughter, Edie, age three.  This is her first school picture - nursery school.
Isn't she pretty?  Maybe there is a little bit "Mall girl" there but she really looks like her dad.









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        Tomorrow I am having a CT scan of my lung.  They suspect "increased activity in the base of the lung" so whatever happens I am ready.  I asked Father Taylor this morning to pray for me tomorrow and he said: "Would you like to be anointed?"  I answered: "Absolutely!"  He anointed my hands and head and as usual my Catholic Faith sustains me.

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      By the way, the title of this piece, Gallimaufry,  is a Shakespearean word that means hodge-podge.  It's a good title for my random thoughts so  I'll probably use it again, when I have odds and ends to say.