Davy Jones

I talked to Maureen this morning and she told me Davy Jones of The Monkees had died. My first question was whether she had told Alissa. She suggested I call her and I refused so she said she would. Why all of this conern for Alissa's welfare over the death of the leader of a 60's Rock Group? The plot thickens!

When each of the daughters was ready to celebrate her fortieth Birthday, they, all five, got together for a Sisters Weekend - Leah had died when she was thirty-eight - and the Birthday girl got to choose the place. Lora had chosen The Mall of America, Alissa chose Las Vegas. Before Lora's birthday, they bought five rings with stones that spelled Sister. Six stones, six sisters. I don't remember what they all were, but Iolite and Saphire were two of them. The rings were presented in some way to the sister being honored in a unique way. Lora's had been presented by the waiter at dinner when he whipped off the cover on a serving platter and the ring was inside.

Sometime during the preparation for Alissa's celebration, it was discovered that Davy Jones would be performing in Sin City. Maureen knew people who knew people who knew hotel people who knew Davy Jones people and he agreed that sometime during his performance on a certain night, he would surprise her and present her with her Sister Ring. When the daughters arrived for the show, they were given seats in one of the horseshoe booths about halfway back in the theater.

During the show, he paused his singing and began talking about family and traditions and the importance of both and he continued: "Speaking of traditions and family, is Alissa Adams here?" Well, sweet, shy Alissa jumps up and runs squealing and hollering down to the stage almost before he got the words completely out. She jumped up on the stage and pulled him down beside her so that they were both sitting on the edge of the stage. I believe one of her sisters said he began to sing a song to her and she casually threw her leg over his knees. He presented her with her ring and explained to the assembly what the ring was about and she reached over and gave him a big kiss. He then invited her sisters down front and invited them all to dance in front of the stage during his next number. Needless to say, she was surprised but being herself had great fun with the opportunity. The crowd loved her reaction and several people asked if it was a regular part of the show. I may have some of the details wrong but this is the gist of the story that she and her sisters laughingly told me.

Alissa called this evening to assure me she had taken his demise from a heart attack in good stead. She had gotten calls of condolence from three of her siblings and wondered aloud if he died of a broken heart because they never kissed again!

Comfort Food

Yesterday on our way to "From Olives and Grapes" (olivesandgrapes.com) in Cocoa, we stopped at a shop we had passed a couple of times previously, called "Grimaldi Candy and Gifts " (grimaldicandies.com). What drew Judy to the place was that out front is a 1955/56 Turquoise Ford Thunderbird - Judy is a car nut. Great store, they make their chocolates right there and they are known for chocolate covered potato chips. The owner, by the way, was born in El Paso, Il. I bought a box of chocolate covered cherries - my favorite. The chocolate covering is about an eighth of an inch thick over a cherry and enough liquid to actually take a sip. After the first one that ran down my fingers onto the arm of a leather chair, We learned to bite off the top, suck out the juice, and nibble around the edge until the cherry can be eaten and then the rest of the chocolate. (Have I peaked your interest?)

We were on our way to "From Olives and Grapes" because recently on Facebook they showed them harvesting olive oil from the land at the villa - Villa Gioanna - in Umbria where we stayed last April. Alas, the oil is not available yet, it has not been shipped from Italy. Love those Italians, they are in no rush. We did taste some chocolate flavored balsamic vinegar while there. It is supposed to be good on ice cream or cheesecake. (is there a chocolate theme going here? Only a coincidence.)

After tasting and smelling chocolate, we were ready for lunch, and stopped at a restaurant beachside on the Intercoastal and ordered potato and bacon soup and conch fritters. The soup was the way our mother made it. Chunks of potatoes, lots of bacon in a milk base - no thickening that you most often see today. Very good and it got us thinking about foods that give good memories from childhood - Comfort Food.

Chocolate covered cherries, homemade potato soup, Campbells tomato soup with soda crackers in it, paired with French fries or grilled cheese sandwiches - every Catholic family's Friday meal, tuna cassarole made with tuna, noodles, cream of mushroom soup (canned peas sometimes) and covered with crushed potato chips and baked - the other Catholic family Friday night staple.

Hot Campbell's chicken noodle soup and a glass of milk so cold that your teeth feel funny because of the hot and cold contrast, biscuits and gravy - Vern always said Hardees was the best after mine, chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a glass of ice cold milk, and of course, in our family, Swiss Steak and pea gravy.

When my stomach feels queasy, I want a Milky Way candy bar. I had them a lot when I was going through Chemo. Judy and I had fun yesterday reminiscing about what we liked/still like and I am sure you have your favorites too. Aren't we blessed to be able to eat what we are supposed to but when the need arises, have those things that make us feel satisfied. Life is good!

Animal Tales - Charlie

One day a young Beagle appeared in the yard. He was the handsomest fellow, good coloring, nice disposition and we were between pets at the time and he was encouraged to stay. We named him Charlie. This dog obviously had good breeding, loved being cuddled by various daughters and he loved to chase rabbits. And there is nothing quite like the sound of a Beagle calling and howling while chasing his prey. We had him for several years.

But the bad thing about having Charlie for a pet, was at hunting season, he would disappear. Most nights he would sleep with one of the daughters but he would just as often stay outside because at bedtime he was out chasing. Vern figured out after awhile that someone was taking him to hunt whatever was in season and when that season was over, they brought Charlie home. One time he came home with a chewed rope around his neck. And then he just never came home again.

Fast forward a few years, the daughters were in school or working. Lora was through school and working in the Marketing Department at Commercial Bank. One cold winter evening she came home all excited. When she got in the house, she told her Dad that she had found Charlie. He was in the trunk of her car. Vern went out to the driveway and sure enough, there in the trunk of the car was a dog's frozen carcass. The snow had recently melted and as she was driving along she noticed the body in the ditch, picked it up and put it in her trunk. (Now Lora really dressed up for work and I can picture her in heels and a silk dress and her good coat picking up this stiff animal). Vern looked at the dog and said: "Lora, this is not Charlie, I don't know who this dog is but the ground is as frozen as he is. I don't mind burying our pets but I refuse to bury a dog I don't know so take it back to the ditch you found him". He went with her and that's exactly what they did.

We don't know what happened to this dear fellow but on bright moonlit nights as we would sit on the back porch, Vern would say: "This is the kind of night, if I try real hard, I can still hear Charlie on the trail of a rabbit".

Family and Friends

This has been the best weekend. It started Friday morning when we drove toward Tampa to meet youngest sister, Suzanne, at the Hard Rock Casino. I lost but had a lot of fun, and the children's inheritance is still intact. We then drove South to Sarasota and youngest brother Dave's beautiful home. Suzanne came down with Judy and I and When she called to tell him,he suggested he better get more wine.

When we had been in Savannah in December on the roof of the Bohemia Hotel, we had a really good wine but as the evening wore on, we had a better one. We likened it to the wedding in Cana. I had asked David if we could have that good wine this weekend and he said he already had some laid by. On arrival, he very proudly showed us that he had found Mother's hand written Pizza recipe and he told us he was going to prepare it from scratch for the first time. So while we enjoyed Rombauer on the lanai, little brother fixed supper. His wife, Joanne, came home from work and brother, Richard, came by with Karen. And at one point David brought the completed Pizza out for us to ooh and aah over and when it was done it tasted as good as it looked. We sat at the kitchen table eating David's first Wanda's Pizza, drinking Rombauer, laughing, ragging on each other and reminiscing as only siblings can.

On Saturday while Suzanne and Joanne went to an estate sale, Judy and I drove over to Bradenton to meet a high school classmate of mine, Elaine Bianchi Rosier. She has not changed. Okay, she's fifty-eight years older, but the voice is the same and that great laugh still rolls out of her toes. At this age, she is taking piano lessons again, playing duets with one granddaughter and accompanying a grandson, who is a violinist, when he performs. How cool is that?

Saturday evening we all went to a wonderful Italian restaurant and had dinner with Peoria legend, Pete Vonachen, who if you don't know who he is, is a great storyteller. We heard how he became a baseball team owner, and how he met Harry Carey and other stories. A fun evening. And on the way home we stopped at nephew, Zach's condo. Zachary moved out on his own this year. A nice place and he reassured me that I am still his favorite Aunt. Suzi and Judy just rolled their eyes. If Carol is reading this, she's rolling her eyes too.

This afternoon after a stop at an estate sale - things were half priced today, - we drove down to Fort Myers to visit our cousin, Chuck Martin. Chuck had a light heart attack about a month ago. They put a stint in a blocked vein. He is feeling and looks great, and has a very nice condo. He took us on a tour downtown, - we saw some beautiful homes on the river, we ate at a sidewalk cafe and just enjoyed a couple of hours with him. About five we headed home. Family and friends and a good wine. What could be better than that?

Animal Tales - Ralph.

Shortly after Sam, the last great dog in America disappeared, a white short haired puppy came into the yard one day. He looked like his ancestry might be a white German shepherd. Now, so help me, this dog did not "arf, arf" or "wuff, wuff, when he barked it sounded like "ralf, ralf", hence we named him Ralph. He was a nice dog, he played well with children and cats. He was basically an outside dog which meant he only came into the house when the mom was gone.

One afternoon, the older girls were in school. Maureen was home from Kindergarten and playing on the family room floor and I was on the couch dozing/watching my soap opera and Maureen said: "Mama, there's a man in our living room". I jumped up and went into the front room and just inside the door was a young bushy haired man wearing an Army overcoat, his right hand in his pocket - we never locked our doors except at night. I said: "can I help you?". He said: "Mam, I'm hungry, would you have something to eat?". His right hand was still in his pocket. I told him to come around to the back door with the idea of locking both doors before he could get in. He just looked unsavory. I locked the front door and before I could run to the back one, he was inside the back porch and in the kitchen, right hand in pocket. The thought of what was in that right hand, concerned me. He must have bolted around the house because at this time there was a small porch so he had to go through two doors - outside and kitchen. I remember that it was winter and their was snow on the ground. I opened the refrigerator door and saw their wasn't much inside and told him that I didn't have much in the house to eat but I gave him a glass of milk and and an apple in a bowl on the counter. He never took his hand out of his pocket. Maureen had followed me into the kitchen and was standing next to me.

Now I am not known for being the sharpest card in the deck - I may be mixing metaphors here - but from somewhere came: "Maureen, where's Ralph?". "Outside," she answered, "Do you want me to call him?" I looked down at her and told her: "No, it's okay." Before I looked up again, Mr. Bushy hair, Army coat wearing, hand in pocket was out the kitchen door and down the driveway. I ran to lock the porch door and felt my knees go weak. Maureen said: "Mom, I see Ralph coming from Hesses" and she ran to the front door to call him. I told her to wait as our visitor was still walking around the curve on Cruger Road heading towards Peoria.

I don't know if our intruder meant us harm or really was just hungry. I don't know what was in his pocket but he sure scared me. Did we lock our doors after that? No, only in later years if I was there alone. Did I like that dog named Ralph? You betcha!!!

Animal Tales - Chickens

     One day, the family drove to Morton to the feed store and bought six baby chicks - one for each daughter.  Vern rigged up a brooder house to keep them warm at first.  It was really fun watching them grow from hatchlings to chickens.  Of course, the girls had to name them.  They can probably remember their names but the only one I remember was Henrietta, Lora's pet.   It wasn't long, however, that we realized that Henrietta was in reality a Henry.  In fact two of the six were roosters and those four hens never had a feather on their back because the male of the species was always jumping on - which was a good topic for sex education.  As Henrietta/Henry got older he became more agressive.  He went from  jumping hens (while mating they jump on the female's back and hold on and peck) to chasing humans.  He would peck at cats, dogs and an occasional pony or human, but the person he attacked most was Mary.  She would come down the back steps and H/H would be laying in wait behind the propane tank or a car parked in the driveway.  Mary would look around, feel it was okay to proceed and whammo! here came H/H, beak extended.  Mary would run back inside or jump behind someone else.  I have to admit the family - since he didn't bother any of us - thought it was pretty funny and began to call her "Birdie" or "Birdlegs."  It's tough being the middle child in a large family.
      At this time, my parents had sold their home in Morton and were living and traveling in their motorhome.  In the summers they came and parked the motorhome in our yard.  Vern hooked them up to the barn for electricity and the well house for water.  My dad noticed H/H's assault's on Mary and one  day when all of the kids and animals plus the four year old son of a friend were playing in the yard, Dad got out a pistol he kept in the motorhome and shot H/H as many times as possible
      When Vern came home he went ballistic.  He wouldn't say anything to Dad but I heard:  "Your father is the most irresponsible person I know, what was he thinking of, shooting off a gun in a yard full of kids?"  Believe me, I heard about this several times.
      Mother cleaned and dressed the chicken, made home made noodles - her specialty - and we had H/H for dinner.  We asked Donnie Montgomery, ouryoung  guest, what he thought of the experience.  He said that seeing the chicken being shot was pretty cool but that it tasted like glue (and it really did).

      One of the chickens sat on eggs and raised chicks that slowly disappeared.  Probably due to Princess and the other barn cats.  On a Sunday afternoon, the daughters were now teenagers, Lisa and Karen Epperly came for a visit with the daughters while their parents, Mary Lou and Russ and Vern and I drove up to Toluca for a meal at Caponis.  While we were gone the last one of the chickens was walking around acting strange and the kids decided it must be sick, so they fed it an aspirin and shortly thereafter the fowl clucked it's last breath.
       Being the good Catholic girls that they were, they decided to give it a funeral.  They dug a shallow grave out behind the corn crib, wrapped the chicken in a paper towel and buried it.  They stood around the grave, holding hands.  They sang a hymn, said a prayer and as a final gesture, they all took one step onto the grave.  They were stunned and scared when from the grave came a 'Braaack!"  They all ran away as they thought they had buried a live chicken.  In reality when they had stepped on the grave, they pushed out the air that was still in it's throat.
       By the time we got home, they were laughing hysterically and when Mall and Epperly daughters get together,  they still laugh uproariously about the last chicken's funeral.

Animal Tales - Part V

      Over almost forty years of living in the country, we had many animals come and go. Our daughters rode the school bus with the Otten families on Spring Creek Road. One year the Jerry Otten Family got ducks for Easter. The ducks were messy and noisy and Jerry was not happy and he called them the dam ducks. So the children named the last two Damn and Dux. Dux died. They must have told the story to one of our kids - probably Angela - and somehow we inherited Damn. Damn was around until he died or was eaten by coyotes.

Lambs: One of Lora's friends, Joanne Felmey, dated a fellow named Alan who raised sheep. Ewes sometimes have twins or they will not accept their offspring and the lambs have to be bottle fed. Lora offered to take the lambs who needed to be hand fed. So Vern built a pen in the cellar to keep them. Whenever their friends would come over, they would bring them upstairs to show them off. Sometimes the little lambs would get excited and pee - on the carpet. This usually happened when Vern and I were out. The lambs would eventually be sent baaack to Alan's farm.

     Alissa dated a boy named Brian who gave her a bunny for Easter. Vern built him a pen in the corn crib attached to the barn. I don't remember what happened to the bunny (Alissa?) but I remember going out to the pen and it just sat there munching on whatever Dit fed him. I've never understood why anyone would want to raise rabbits, not much excitement.

      I would never allow gerbils or any other small animal, we had so many field mice in the house. One night Leah trapped nine. I hated those mice but it comes with living in an old house in the country. Another animal that we had in the neighborhood were coyotes. I truly believe they took care of a lot of our animals. It's a natural occurrence. Coyotes in the Midwest are beautiful animals, sleek and well fed and there is nothing quite like sitting on the screened in back porch late at night and hearing them call to each other.

      We had calves for a short time once. The Donnoe family were building a house in the country. Something happened about fencing and Vern put their few calves into the pony yard. Eventually they took back their calves and the ponies too.

      Next time I'll tell chicken stories.

Gallimaufry

This morning we went to 6:15 Mass, which would be 5:15 at home. The Church we have been going to is St. Lucies in Port St. Lucie. It was dark when we arrived, and as the sun came up it illuminated the window on the Northeast side of the Church. The Crucifixion appeared as in a slide show, a little bit at a time. Over forty minutes time the whole window was revealed. Isn't out God awesome the way he makes us appreciate sunrises inside and out of a church.

After church we went to Jan's in Jensen's Beach for breakfast. Great eggs Benedict and Judy had a Mexican omelet that she said was excellent. Then we drove to Fort Pierce along the Indian River Road. it is just the best drive. A narrow road but some really beautiful homes on one side and then this really pretty river on the other and an occasional glimpse of the ocean in the distance. If you are in this area, remember Jan's for breakfast, Mulligan's - across the street - for lunch (try the conch fritters) and a drive along the river road.

Friday evening we drove over to Orlando to see a concert by Celtic Women.(and our sister Suzanne and her husband, Jim of course). A couple of times I had seen them briefly on PBS, but was not too impressed and never watched more than a couple of minutes. Bill had given Judy the tickets for her and I as a Christmas gift and it wasn't a performance I was looking forward too. Wow! Was I wrong, they are amazing, their voices were so pure and the sprite who plays the fiddle and dances was unbelievable. She never missed a note as she skipped and danced around the stage. The band that supports them is genius, especially the drummers and the pipers. Some of the highlights were the fiddler and a male Irish step dancer(think Riverdance) dancing together, she playing the whole time, one of the singers singing "You'll Never Walk Alone and a Scottish and Irish bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace.". If they come to your town GO.

Saturday morning, niece Mary joined the three sisters on a Boat ride through the lakes at Winter Park. Another must-do. Beautiful, relaxing and informational. We then went to one of my favorite stores: Pottery Barn. Lovely. As we were walking there, we saw a Bentley Automobile. This is not a car but an automobile. Very enjoyable day.

One day last week, we were driving through Fort Pierce on a detour when we saw a sign that said: Lipschitz and DiMaggio. Which made me consider what is "Lipschitz", someone who is a 'potty mouth', tells dirty stories, uses brown lipstick, or possibly just a Jewish attorney? I know I have a weird sense-of-humor and my mind sometimes wanders onto strange ideas, but it keeps my mind active and at this stage any little thing helps!

Animal Tales - Ponies

I asked the daughters for imput on this blog.  I am using the comments of three of them.  Lora, Alissa and Maureen,  otherwise referred to as L,A and M.  An occasional N is me adding my two cents.   All of these memories of theirs started when Lora was 12, Alissa 11, and Maureen, 4. 
N:      We took possession of the house on Cruger road in November, 1969 and moved in in August, 1970.  During that time  we cleaned and painted bedrooms and tried to make the house livable
A:      Dad didn't want the ponies but Grandpa insisted.
N:      My father worked with someone who had ponies and wanted to sell them and so he thought it would be wonderful if we had ponies.  He called one day to say he had bought them.  So in the middle of  trying to get the house and grounds ready, Vern had to stop and put up a fence, clean out a barn, and prepare it.  He was not happy and I heard often about the impetuousness of my parent.
L:      I remember how proud Grandpa Russ was that he bought his granddaughters 2 1/2 ponies - I'm sure that a lot of Knights heard about his generosity.
A:     I remember helping put up the fence and then expanding the pasture later on.
L:      I remember that the previous owners had named Pepper, Glory and Glory, Pepper but somehow the names were switched on the ride over to Washington
A:     When we went out to the farm the day after the ponies were delivered we found Truman (named by Mom after her favorite president).  They didn't even know Glory was pregnant.  Glory wouldn't let Dad near Truman to see what sex he was.  One day when the Lees were over, Truman got stuck in the barbed wire fance. Dad ran out to get him loose.  He had him in his arms but in all the excitement, didn't check to see if he was male or not.
A:     I remember putting my fingers under Glory near where he was nursing and he would suck our fingers.
M:     I remember that they escaped a lot and we had to go down to that weird lady's trailer on the corner to bring them home.
N:      Remember that we were still living in Peoria and we would go over to Washington most evenings after Vern got home from work to work on the house.  I would get a phone call that the ponies were out and I would gather up kids and we would  go flying over to Cruger Road and gather them up, repair the fence, get them back in the barnyard and go back home, only to come back in the evening to work.
M:     I remember picketing them out in the lawn and letting them eat big circles of grass and then moving them to a different spot and having to pick up poop.
N:     Anything to avoid mowing.
M:     I remember brushing and grooming and watching Dad trim their feet and teaching me about the anatomy of a  horse's hoof'
M:     I remember one of them got into the corn once and someone had to stay up all night and walk her around so she wouldn't flounder.
M:     Didn't Mary lead one of them into the house?
N:      Unbeknownst to me, until years later.
M.     I remember getting up on cold, dark, snowy winter mornings and trudging out to the barn wearing a hand-me-down coat, boots that were too big, and no hat or gloves to break the ice on the water trough, and throw them some corn and hay.
A:      We used to tie them to the apple trees so they could 'clean up' all the fallen apples.
M:      I remember feeding them apples over the fence, or any leftovers from canning (especially corn husks) and Grandpa would give them beer from a can.
A:       Pepper used to like to drink iced tea out of a glass.
A:       She also used to run to the fence to see what we were going to throw over to her.
M:       I remember getting yelled at because someone left the light on in the barn, and then I'd have to trudge back out in the cold, dark, snowy night wearing a hand-me-down coat, boots that were too big, and no hat or gloves to go turn off the light.
L:        Yeah, I remembered all that stuff too - except the part where you had to pick up the poop, feed them on frosty mornings, turn out the barn light and collect the stray ponies (usually from the Harris' subdivision).  I'm pretty sure it was the big girls who handled those chores most often along with the anti-foundering walks, repairing the fence, mucking out the barn, stacking hay, and lifting one of the little girls up onto a pony.
N:      The coat Maureen talks about was Vern's and his boots that were always just inside the cellar door.  Lora's talk of 'big girls' were the first three, Leah, Lora and Alissa.  The 'little girls', were Mary, Angela and Maureen.
M:      I remember spending autumn afternoons walking through the fields after Hess' picked the corn to gather food for them for the winter.
L:       When picking up corn in Hess' field, I remember Dad calling that "gleaning the field" and explaing the new vocabulary word to us.
M:      I remember eating the corn....the grain...and licking the salt block
M:      I remember inviting my first grade class out for pony rides and a picnic....and starting a trend.
N:      That first spring we invited the first grade class from St. Patricks/St Marys in Peoria over for pony rides and the next year when Maureen was in first grade, she invited her class.  The Peoria St. Pat's kids came until they closed the school but first graders from St. Pat's in Washington came for several years until we gave the ponies away.
M:     I remember playing cowboys and indians with Angela, and she always got to be the cowboy and ride the pony and I had to be the swarthy indian that got persecuted and sent to the reservation.
M:     I remember Angela teaching Pepper to jump over a 2x4 laid across concrete blocks about 2 feet off the ground.  She fell off once and Pepper landed on her chest.
L:      Before Ang put the 2x4 on cement blocks, she started out with it flat on the ground then progressively rose it up a few inches at a time before Pepper staged her rebellion at the cinder blocks.
M:     I remember hearing Mom yell: "someone get that animal out of the garden/my flower bed".
M:     I remember laying on Pepper's back in the sunshine watching the clouds float by while she munched on grass.
M:     But my favorite memory is during the Washington Sesquicentennial celebration and a promotion for Deadwood Dick where John Bearce rode his pretty full-size horse (that they trailered there) and Dad rode little Pepper into the town square and they acted out a scene from the play or a shootout.  I remember walking Pepper all the way home.
N:      Deadwood Dick was a play put on by St. Patricks.  John played the villain, Vern the sheriff.
A:      When we sold the ponies, Dad gave the money to Grandpa and he bouht us a croquet set and a tether ball and pole.
L:       And much later, a piece of that tether ball pole became a replacement muffler pipe on my 1971 Toyota Corolla.  The mechanic?  Dad, of course.

Gallimaufry

I have been doing absolutely nothing since I have been in Florida. And it's great! After talking with my sisters and weighing options, right now I'm considering trying a chemo cocktail Dr. G has recommended. He said if I didn't like it, we'd stop. So pray that it's the right decision. I take a pain pill each night and the pain in my underarm and the itching at my waist have for the most part ceased. We bought a small pillow to put behind my back when we ride in the truck and that has made traveling so much more comfortable. I still have some pain in my chest - this may be more information than you need - but have stopped wearing bras and am wearing Spanx. Much more comfortable and they keep the 'girls' stabilized.
*  * * * *
We are still waiting to hear the results of our sister,Carol's biopsy. Last Saturday after her dialysis treatment, her daughter, Angela and D-I-L, Kelly packed her up and moved her to Virginia to live with Angela and family. At this time she is just not well enough to live on her own. Prayers needed there as well.
*  * * *  *
This morning, Judy and I were sitting here about 6:15 and Judy said very quietly: "Look outside". And just on the other side of the hedge, walking slowly along looking for breakfast, was a bobcat! Pretty cool!
*  * * * *
When I came to Florida, I brought my cell phone which I seldom use at home.  B-I-L, Bill came over to show us his new car last weekend and I left the phone in it and he is back in Ormond Beach.  So if you've been trying to contact me, and I am not answering, I will get the phone Friday,  as we travel to Orlando for a Celtic Women concert.   Life is good but some times I make it challenging!

Animal Tales - Cats

When we lived on Martin Street, we acquired a cat that someone named Jefferson. It was a Tom cat so hence the name.. Leah loved animals, all animals but especially cats, so when she asked to keep him we reluctantly said yes. Our kids were all pretty good with animals - meaning no one abused them (right, Daughters?), so the fact was that this cat was just out and out mean. I had sheer curtains on the dining room windows, this cat would jump up on the curtains, hang on with his nails and slide down. I would knock him down and when he thought I wasn't looking, back on the curtains. It wasn't long before they were in shreds. I then put up cafe curtains, he couldn't hang on and that's when he started attacking Leah. She would be sitting on the floor playing - Leah didn't move as quickly as the others - and he would jump on her back and dig in his claws. It wasn't long before Vern took Jefferson for a ride.

When we moved to the country, we inherited a menagerie of barn cats. They came and went, some got hit by cars - Cruger Road at the time was a short cut to Peoria - and some just disappeared. But one remained for several years, Princess, a white female, who was more prolific than I was. Every summer, old Mr. Yellow Tom, would come "cattin'" around, and weeks later a new litter. I suggested we have her neutered, but Vern didn't believe in it, so more and more kittens. I can't remember what happened to Princess, she probably died from being worn out.

Another cat appeared in the yard one day. It looked like a pure bred Siamese, beautiful blue eyes and the kids fell in love until it bit one of them and then did it's favorite cat trick, jumping on the back and digging in. When Vern came home from work, the cat went for a ride. As the car came off the McClugage Bridge, and takes the exit for Adams Street, Vern opened the door and let the cat out. A few days later, there was a small article in the newspaper, that the police had to be called because a Siamese looking cat was biting and jumping on kids on the Nortside of Peoria.

Animal Tales Part II

We had only lived in our house on Maxwell Road a few months and I was pregnant with Leah when Vern decided we needed a dog. So one day we went to the dog pound and there was a cute medium sized mixed breed female who had just had a litter and because she was a good size we decided to bring home one of her pups. We chose a male puppy, all black, with brown spots above his eyes and a brown bow tie on his chest, just the cutest little pup. We decided on the name of Sam. Right from the start, Vern said that we had to be strict with him and he had to stay in the kitchen, so he fixed a box by the kitchen table for him to sleep in. We lined the bed with an old bath towel Vern had had at the boarding house - we had not been married long enough to accumulate rags - and settled in for our first night as a "family". The usual sad puppy noises came from the kitchen, and Vern would go in and calm him down and he would be quiet and Vern would come back to bed and then sad puppy noises, Vern would go in and quiet, calm,back to bed over and over - just as all new parents do. Finally Vern became resigned and took his pillow and blanket and laid beside him. And that is how we got Sam to sleep in the kitchen while we were in the bedroom two rooms away. When he would start to wail, Vern would go into the kitchen, pillow and quilt in hand and he slowly moved closer to the kitchen door, and if Sam would moan Vern would reassure him that he was right there. Eventually Vern moved into the living room, always when the yipping started, assuring Sam all was well until finally the dog slept through the night. Vern, the great disciplinarian, did train him to stay in the kitchen and Sam never came past the door into the living room. As the years went by, Sam stayed behind the door sill, then his nose was on th carpet, then his paws, and eventually there was a throw rug in the doorway but he never came off the rug unless he was invited in. Sam,at full growth, was the size of a German Shepherd.

We never kept Sam on a leash, but he stayed pretty close to home. When we moved to the area, we were the first house on our side of the street. There were a couple of houses on Fairview Road, and a farmhouse beyond some trees. Now one of the neighbors on the side street had a female dog and she and Sam played together. Vern got worried because when Sam would urinate, he squatted like the female did. He just didn't think it was right that a male dog would relieve himself that way. So there was a cottonwood tree in the backyard and no neighbors close by, and Vern would go stand next to the tree, raise his leg against it, and pee, and so help me, Sam got the idea and peed the same way. Vern was satisfied that his dog, was totally male.

Our daughter, Leah was born in September, 1957, Lora was born in September, 1958, Alissa, in August of 1959 and Mary in September,1961. I don't remember Sam's reaction to Leah but as each subsequent daughter was born, Vern, would place the new baby down for Sam to see and he would look, sniff and turn his head, as if to say "not another one!" and sigh. By the time Angela and Maureen came along in 1963 and 1965, and Vern showed Sam the new baby, I swear before he turned his head, he rolled his eyes. You see, he believed that those children were his to take care of. Where ever you saw our little girls, there was this huge dog with the wagging tail right along side. When we moved back to Martin Street on Peoria's Southside when Leah was ready for Kindergarten, one of the neighbors said if you wanted to know whose house where the neighborhood kids were playing just look for Sam. Another neighbor told about tying Lora's shoe laces one time, and Sam walked between Him and Lora the whole time, which made it pretty difficult to tie a shoe. But our dog was protecting his kid.

We still had Sam when we moved to the country in rural Washington. That was in August of 1970. That Thanksgiving we went to Missouri to visit Vern's family and Keith and Marge offered to feed him while we were gone. Sam slept on a pallet in the barn. Keith said they came out to feed him and he was gone. We don't know if he came looking for us at the old house or had gone some place to die. We never found his body and all of us felt that some how we had let this great protector, friend, first 'child' down. He was the best.

Animal Tales. Part I

Judy was showing me the Savannah State Park which is just a little in back of us. It is true savannah, lots of high grass and because it's Florida, it is also somewhat swampy. She was discussing that people like to hike into this area in which alligators and snakes thrive. She (or I) have no idea why someone would like to do this, and this led to a discussion on why anyone would like to be around these or any animals. Among my friends and cohorts, I am known as a person who hates animals. I do not hate animals, I just hate them in my house! I did not come upon this decision overnight but through years of animal abuse. Animals - and children - abusing my sensibilities!!!

My first memory of an animal in my life is on either my second or third birthday, I was given a red furry Chow puppy- there's a picture someplace, if I ever find it I will post it - and when I named it, because I was two or three, I named it, what else, but Chow! I don't know what happened to him, but we lived in a house off the alley behind Nevada and Norman Sellar's house on Hurlbert and Cedar Street. Cedar Street is now MacArthur Highway and even for the end of the 1930s, a busy street, so I think maybe Chow was hit by a car. There were no other animal's in our family that I can remember - siblings can add something if they can remember others - until we moved to the house on Howett and we had a big dog named Tippy. I don't recollect what happened to Ole Tip, but probably the same fate as Chow as Howett Street was also Illinois Route 116 and very busy despite WWII, gas rationing and few tires available.

When Vern and I married, we moved into a brand new house on Maxwell Road, out by the Airport on our first anniversary in January. That April we obtained Sam, the Last Great Dog in America, from the pound, but that is another story or Part II.

TRAINS

On the other side of the fairway behind the house is a railroad track (this makes me think of one of Vern's old jokes. How do you know if a train just went by. you can see his tracks). - I didn't say it was a good joke, just one of his old ones. In the morning,shortly after dawn, a train whistle bales it's mournful sound as it comes to a crossing somewhere along the route behind us. I love that sound. It makes me think of places to see and somewhere deep inside I get this feeling, I 'd like to hop on board and start a new adventure.

I grew up in a time when trains were the best way to travel - so glamourous! In movies of the time, a lot of action took place on trains. In dining cars, the hero and heroine traded 'snappy' dialogue to move the action along. And, of course, there usually was the obligatory scene in a stateroom or a made up bed in the Pullman car. Even my favorite genre of movies - Westerns - had train scenes usually involving a hold up or the villain in his luxurious private car.

When we were In Europe last spring, we took the train from Rome to Panicale and back and Mary and I took the train in London. I wish our government would invest more money in Rail Travel. The high speed trains we took, were clean, fun and fast.

The first "train" journey, I remember, was taking the Interurban between Peoria and Decatur. The Interurban was a series of trolleys that ran between our Hometown and other downstate cities. Judy and I don't remember who we went to see but only that Mom took us to get a permanent wave. Judy says all that she can remember is that the perm turned her hair blonde for several weeks. I recollect a trip that several friends took on The Peoria Rocket to Chicago to see a matinee and lunch at Berghoff's Restaurant. Vern's Uncle Bob was a Conductor on that train. One time I asked another conductor if he knew him. He answered yes and asked me if I knew Bob was a Nudist.....but, that's another story.

I love traveling by train. Vern and I traveled that way several times. The first time we went West, we went by Coach. After that, we got a roomette. The thing about seeing the Country this way is that there are places where the tracks go that are inaccessible by auto. Some tracks were laid before roads were built. Another thing we like about trains is that on most Routes, someone from a local Historical Society will get on board and tell the happenings in a certain area. We have heard about the Donner Party as we traveled through snow melting mountains one Spring in Northern California. We heard about The Louis and Clark Expedition twice, each guide telling their versions. On a ride down the coast of California, a Magician Was on board to entertain.

Love, love, love traveling by train. I am looking forward to my next Rail adventure which, by the way, has already been set in (loco) motion!

Sisters

It's just breaking dawn here in Fort pierce, Judy has gone for her morning walk to the Clubhouse to get a newspaper. I am sitting on the sun porch listening to the early morning sounds of birds and bugs. Behind me is a box hedge and beyond that is the seventh fairway of a golf course. The edge of the course itself is lined with mature palm trees that are close enough to each other that the palm fronds are touching. Quite a nice view and different than the one in my small backyard in Illinois.

This my third day here in Sunny Florida. It rained the first two days, and the same forecast today. This afternoon we are driving up to Orlando to say good bye to our sister, Carol. Her health is at a point where right now she needs to have someone with her. Her daughter, Angela - one of Vern and my favorite people - is taking her back to live with her in Virginia. Her D-I-L, Kelly has come down from Connecticut to follow them in Carol's car. So tonight will be a "Sisters Night Out" with a couple of nieces thrown in for good measure. The four of us don't get together too often so be on your toes, Orlando, the Scovil girls are in town.

Can Certainly

     Earlier this evening, I went over to Church to spend some time  in front of the Blessed Sacrament to say thank you for nephew, Chris's good test results.  They removed 28 lymph nodes and he is cancer free.   I took some reading material along, specifically my copy of Daily Word, a little booklet I have a subscription for.
      There was a story written by a man named Don Rogers, who was diagnosed with male breast cancer.  He went through surgery and chemo.  he writes: "I knew that cancer was not a death sentence, but simply the mention of cancer strikes fear into almost everyone.  I began", he continues, "to search for a word to replace the ugly and terrifying word cancer.  Through prayer and meditation the answer came:  Cancer is an abbreviation, a contraction.  The complete phrase is CAN CERTAINLY!"
     "I can certainly be the child of God I am meant to be.  With God's help, I can certainly  overcome any health challenge.  I can certainly experience absolute good!"
      He talks a little about the side effects of cancer treatment and finishes the article with this paragraph: "Side effects are temporary but spirit endures.......... I can certainly say my prognosis is absolute good.  I may not be the man I used to be, but I am more of the spiritual self I am meant to be".

      I am constantly amazed that The Lone Arranger, puts the right people, or the right words for us when we need them.  Don Rogers' article was in between the Daily Word readings for January and February.  Tonight was the first time I had picked the book up this month.  His prognosis was perfect for the gratefulness we all feel for Chris's good news and also, gives me something to ponder these next few weeks as I decide what's next in my cancer battle.  But most of all it reminds me that I, with God's help,  can certainly overcome any challenge!

Masterpiece Theatre

     Back in the early 70s, I got hooked on a show called Upstairs, Downstairs, a story about a wealthy London family and their servants.  Oh, my Gosh,  the kids were in bed or at least put in their cages so I could have the quiet time to watch every Sunday night at 8:00.  This was before DVRs.  I fell in love with Captain James Bellamy and Rose, the upstairs parlor maid.  And that started me on a Sunday night television quest.  I took command of the TV from 8 to 10 on that night.  Now some of the series they presented, I didn't watch,  shows about war or mysteries, not for me, I'm too much of a whoops, woos, wuss - one of those words - I'm a scardy cat, don't like scary shows.  But it did make me in love with all things English.  I would pick up a magazine about Britain and day dream about going there.  I was thrilled when daughter, Angela, got an opportunity to study a semester in Brighton.  (actually it was cheaper for us than her living in the Chi O house at ISU)
      Then in 1993, Angela and I were able to go to England with some of her friends and I got to actually see Eaton Place  - where my favorite show took place - and other sights around  London and Great Britain.  We even crossed the English Channel  and I visited Ireland for the first time.....but that's another story.
       Last year they brought a new version of Upstairs, Downstairs back to Masterpiece and when Jean Marsh who portrays Rose came back to Eaton Place this time as Housekeeper, as she walked through those rooms again, again I was ver klempt.
       Also last year, a new upstairs, downstairs type show started, Downton Abbey.  Here I go again getting involved in the goings on of an English family and their servants.  Love Maggie Smith, as the dowager.  She has the best lines.  And those of you,  who are watchers, did you notice the gleam in Lord Crowley's eye when he saw the new maid, his wife has been pretty busy lately, hmmmmm!  new storyline there?
      I read recently that Shirley MacLaine is going to join the show next year as Lady Cora's American mother.  Oh my gosh, can you imagine the dialogue between she and Maggie?  It almost makes me want to do chemo again, if they could assure me, I'd be around for year three. 
     Love, love love television and especially Masterpiece Theatre.

      It was bound to happen.  For the last year, every time I would have a meeting with the doctor,  the diagnosis was always the same: a little more activity in the plura (lining) of the lung but nothing to be concerned about at this time.  Because I wanted to talk to him about maybe not coming out to see him anymore - I felt that I was wasting his time and it's a long way out to Route 91 - I decided to go to my appointment alone.
      Well, so much for making plans.  I had had a PET Scan on the 17th of the month and when he began to talk to me this time, I stopped him and asked if he would tell all of this to Maureen - the only daughter who has a Peoria phone line.  He dialed and when she answered he put her on the speaker phone.  The three of us discussed options and other things.  She wrote about our conversation in an e-mail to her sisters.  It follows:

I just spoke with Mom and Dr. Gerstner.
 There is some thickening of the pleural lining and increased activity compared to the PET scan she had a year ago.  The thickening is significant.  But according to Dr. Gerstner, the cancer "is not going gangbusters and it hasn't spread outside the lung."

Her option is more chemo.  They're looking into the tablet chemo, which allows her a little more freedom to travel.  Side effects are minimal (acne, diarrhea).  She can also do IV chemo again, but she didn't like the side effects (lethargy and weakness) from that.  He's suggesting a different IV cocktail, and thinks it's a good option because she had such great success with the first round.  He feels her "slow-growing variety of cancer"  is a good thing that allows us to fight it.

      So now I have to decide what to do.  I really hated the lethargy with the chemo treatment.  I missed concert dates and going out with friends, I just had no energy.  But I have had a year of good times.  Trips to the West Coast, Hawaii, Italy and getting more active in the Church Community here at St. Thomas.  I love traveling and being involved in Parish life.  If I go back to the treatments, I will have to depend on family and friends again.  The daughters were so wonderful through everything in 2010.  They took time out from their lives to be here with me.  As did my sister, Judy.  I really don't feel comfortable asking for all that time again. Yes, as they read this they are protesting, that they would do it again gladly, but all of them have other people in their lives to think about and they all have careers to consider.
      I am so blessed, I've had a wonderful life.  I cannot believe the opportunities I've had, the things I've seen and done.  And the people God has put in my life have been amazing.  I told the doctor I would let him know what I plan to do March 6.  Right now, I'm thinking to just do nothing and spend what time I have easing out with dignity. I'm much more concerned with my sister, Carol, who is having a biopsy this week because they have found a mass in her pelvis and in nephew, Chris, who had surgery earlier this week for cancer.  Chris has two darling daughters, is 45 and a firefighter and has a lot to do.  There should be our focus right now.