Margaret Clerk

While working at the Paper Mill I typed 90 words per minute; my short hand was a pretty good speed too. I kept my hands soft and my fingernails clean. That black and red ribbon could be an awful mess.

The typing pool girls were always busy with gossip. They learned quick. If a woman was talked about, then you could be the next subject.

Gossip was not for me. The girls knew that too. I kept to myself. 

The office emptied shortly after the mid-day whistle blew. Lunch was the only time our office was quiet.  I could sit, eat my cheese sandwich and put a little whisky in my coke.

The day I needed a touch more libation than lunch was unfortunate. 

It is quiet here. No clacking 90 words per minute. No chatting among the women around me. Just quiet, almost like lunch time but no noises beyond this space. 

Tea Party

I FORGOT THE DANISH 

My tea party was great but, I forgot the Danish. The full pastry box was found unopened, inside  the refrigerator. 

..
I looked around the table of 8 women  and Miss Scarlett. Everything seemed to come together.

My menu was what would be found at tea rooms near me.

Chicken salad on small roll/bun, ham salad on bread (crust cut), sweet bread of lemon or banana, fruit, mini size pastries.

OK. I was confident. What fun mixing place settings and never matching China. Crystal stemware  was ready for freshly squeezed lemon-lime water. The clear glass pitcher displayed the  slices of lemon and lime fruit coloring the iced beverage.

So what was off ?

The salad size plates looked bare. Miniature pastries and strawberries did not fill the space..triangle shape, no crust, ham salad tea size sandwiches were dwarfed.  Small bun chicken salad sandwiches did not help much.

I kept feeling like my friends were starving !

Is this how British woman eat ? How can they all not be skinny as a bird ?

Forget the Danish.  Slap down some American potato salad, bring on the pickles, chips and bake beans. Grab an apple, banana or whole pineapple.

China place settings, dainty tea cups and crystal was fun. Tea party fun.  But, oh my.. We are American Girls !

Come on Trisha Yearwood...Sing it !

Little Girl Fancy

I loved to dance, twirl and prance. 

My pink ballet slippers were a favorite of mine. Lace trimmed the ankle opening where my tiny foot slipped into the soft, leather  shoe. My legs were gently wrapped to my knees by the smoothest silk ribbon. 

As I danced I could here music where there was none. My twirling showed my gracefulness.

I lie here still wishing that my legs could have help me out of that wheelchair.

Will heaven be as wonderful as I wish? Will my pink ribboned ballet slippers be waiting for me ?

Arro Gantly

I worked long hours; like a race horse with blinders. At one point the work was recognized, my telephone did not stop ringing. Little by little co-workers stopped relying on me.

I spent more time with my knurled hands around a pen and telephone while listening to reports. 

They all told me to work less, they all told me to excersize. My family wanted my brief weekend time. That was my day to recharge.

I look around me. Ken who clocked in and  out minutes befor and after the end of the work day.  Sally that spent more time fixing coffee and sharpening penciles than work. Bruce, buried with a beer inside a hard hat, is  lying beside me. Daily He slipped out and arranged to have his time card punched out at day's end. 

I worked harder than them all.  I died walking down the hallway on my way to the copy machine.  Why did Ken, Sally and Bruce get pins for their effort while on the job. My pin is the same as theirs!

Thomas Daily

I was bored. My physics class students were bored and boring. I needed a change. How was I to find change while living and working in a village, population 705. 

Friday entertainment always meant a party at one house on another. Alcoholism was widespread in the town. I joined in self-medicating.

After warming up, past a couple of  beers, a few of us looked through VHS movie tapes.  . Green Beret-John Wayne was popped in the vidio player.   We moved the couch front row seating style. All that was missing was the pop corn.

John Wayne made that movie ! He was a tough, corageous, hard character. I sat up straight, watching and thinking. Once the song Ballad of the Green Berets finish the movie I had the answer to my boredom, Special Forces.

After talking with a recruiter I looked eagerly to training. My college football muscles got a little week teaching and drinking. All that had to be done was wakup the muscles and train !

Adventure, risk, bravo, and kinship with my team replaced the chalkboard and fellow teachers. Each assignment meant adrenalin rush with each overseas assignment.

How did a local county traffic accident finish me. Why not a firefight with men bent on killing me.

I lay here a disappointed man.  Death after a traffic accident does not sit well. I am back to a boring hand that was dealt.

Lulu Byrde

 The big city overwhelmed me. I never imagined leaving home. I was not prepared for a life living in urban sprawl.

My adventure was maybe a bit of a rebellion. I spent hours researching birds; their habits,  best tools for feeding and watering, how to slow their flight and what was the best habitat.

The application was 7 pages long. A city official was to review the application. After a home visit the process began.

I wrote in a diary. My notes were not all feeding and cleaning. Oh my, the trouble those girls would get in. They were clowns- fun to watch.

I enjoyed Sally, Grettle, Ellie and Bernice. Joy always made me giggle watching her waddle while running. Grettle was the only one that flew over our fence.

What a sight for the neighbors to watch us chase our chicken!

Amy McBride

I was a 22 year-old bride. 

No father to walk me down the isle, instead I held the arm of my groom's friend. 

Most of the ceremony was insignificant; not my dream wedding. I did not have a dream of a wedding. 

Father of the bride is a big image. Tears come from Mother with pride. Fathers support the nervous bride. This is the symbol giving a daughter to a man who will love and take care of his daughter. My family adjusted without a father. This wedding could not be an adjustment.

I  can't remember why the wedding was so important. Was I in love? Possibility of a family? Possibility of a man wanting me?

I should have been shaking. I should have hesitated with the thought of eternal love. Marriage was a one time bond. I should have had a groom that took me as his family.

I lay here, in this box wondering. Bride in a white dress, candelabras flanking the pastors pulpet.  Maybe all the flowers in a wedding are significant. At the end of the Brides lifespan  she awaits between candelabras, flowers and a new stage of existence. Eternal life. 

Next posts idea of spoon river

Spoon River Anthology has been a curious book.

The aim of the poems is to demystify the rural, small town American life. ... and a tour of graveyards in both towns, especially Oak Hill Cemetery, reveals most of the ... In 1943, the book

Copy clipped 

My next posts will mirror this book's idea.

Pneumonia

Glad to hear that you two are in route to your Winter visits away from the very cold temperatures. The southern states are getting hit hard with lower than normal temperatures. Stay warm. Enjoy the temperatures not near the Zero degrees. Sounds like you both are having a good time.

Pneumonia, crazy.

Susan, I have never had pneumonia. My cough killed my throat to not talking, I felt as though I was suffocating while lying down. I visited urgent care , after EKG and chest X-ray I was armed with antibiotic and codeine expectorant cough meds. 

Not answering the phone, too sick. Not answering phone if I did not recognize number..needing rest. 2 weeks later gave into one number that kept popping up, the caller never left a message.

Answering January 1st the urgent Care center had been trying to get hold of me, my x-Ray showed pneumonia. 

Good night! 2 weeks later I find why I felt like I was breathing under water-wanting to cancel Christmas.

Lesson learned.. When your body can't get out of bed, there is a reason. When drinking noodle free chicken soup unwillingly, there is a reason. When "you " can only sleep at a 90 degree angle to the bed, there is a reason.....

Much like blood clots to both legs... The reason is we do not listen to our bodies. And... Now we will.

👍  

Write to me as you can. It would be fun to hear about your southern visit.

Love you, 
Kris




Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone

All in one minute

Got one for you... Nothing like real life better than fiction.

Started when Zander was on antibiotic-not long enough for school -strep. My every one in nine days babysitting/grandma visit with Scarlett. Having both Eli's one day':
Gary away from home office at physical therapy -traction and TENs unit.
CNN releases sightings of UFO's
Leigh calls to talk about Aliens from outer space. Looking for information validating her own High School with friend experience. Scarlett is screaming, "Don't hug me I'll get your sick !"  Catch Zander with hands around Scarlett's neck wrestling, doggie barking, my 80 year old, non-speaking English, Grandma neighbor is knocking at front door. This is the one second I know I experiencing life in an insane asylum !


• Gary away getting hung and electrocuted
•Conversation involving Aliens from outer space
•High scream - little girl's voice
•Boy wrestling(causing little girl's voice to scream)
•Dog barking
•Non English speaking Grandma at door

All at once !!

= learning this did not break me to a blithering idiot.  I am one tough gal !


Sent from my iPhone

You must let your skin drink

Got one for you... Nothing like real life better than fiction.

Started when Zander was on antibiotic-not long enough for school -strep. My every one in nine days babysitting/grandma visit with Scarlett. Having both Eli's one day':
Gary away from home office at physical therapy -traction and TENs unit.
CNN releases sightings of UFO's
Leigh calls to talk about Aliens from outer space. Looking for information validating her own High School with friend experience. Scarlett is screaming, "Don't hug me I'll get your sick !"  Catch Zander with hands around Scarlett's neck wrestling, doggie barking, my 80 year old, non-speaking English, Grandma neighbor is knocking at front door. This is the one second I know I experiencing life in an insane asylum !


• Gary away getting hung and electrocuted
•Conversation involving Aliens from outer space
•High scream - little girl's voice
•Boy wrestling(causing little girl's voice to scream)
•Dog barking
•Non English speaking Grandma at door

All at once !!

= learning this did not break me to a blithering idiot.  I am one tough gal !

Sent from my iPhone

I forgot the Danish

I FORGOT THE DANISH 

My tea party was great but, I forgot the Danish. The full pastry box was found unopened, inside  the refrigerator. 

..
I looked around the table of 8 women  and Miss Scarlett. Everything seemed to come together.

My menu was what would be found at tea rooms near me.

Chicken salad on small roll/bun, ham salad on bread (crust cut), sweet bread of lemon or banana, fruit, mini size pastries.

OK. I was confident. What fun mixing place settings and never matching China. Crystal stemware  was ready for freshly squeezed lemon-lime water. The clear glass pitcher displayed the  slices of lemon and lime fruit coloring the iced beverage.

So what was off ?

The salad size plates looked bare. Miniature pastries and strawberries did not fill the space..triangle shape, no crust, ham salad tea size sandwiches were dwarfed.  Small bun chicken salad sandwiches did not help much.

I kept feeling like my friends were starving !

Is this how British woman eat ? How can they all not be skinny as a bird ?

Forget the Danish.  Slap down some American potato salad, bring on the pickles, chips and bake beans. Grab an apple, banana or whole pineapple.

China place settings, dainty tea cups and crystal was fun. Tea party fun.  But, oh my.. We are American Girls !

Come on Trisha Yearwood...Sing it !

Sent from my iPhone

All at once

Got one for you... Nothing like real life better than fiction.

Started when Zander was on antibiotic-not long enough for school -strep. My every one in nine days babysitting/grandma visit with Scarlett. Having both Eli's one day':
Gary away from home office at physical therapy -traction and TENs unit.
CNN releases sightings of UFO's
Leigh calls to talk about Aliens from outer space. Looking for information validating her own High School with friend experience. Scarlett is screaming, "Don't hug me I'll get your sick !"  Catch Zander with hands around Scarlett's neck wrestling, doggie barking, my 80 year old, non-speaking English, Grandma neighbor is knocking at front door. This is the one second I know I experiencing life in an insane asylum !


• Gary away getting hung and electrocuted
•Conversation involving Aliens from outer space
•High scream - little girl's voice
•Boy wrestling(causing little girl's voice to scream)
•Dog barking
•Non English speaking Grandma at door

All at once !!

= learning this did not break me to a blithering idiot.  I am one tough gal !


Sent from my iPhone

End of school 2015

Good morning!

We are nearing summer's schedule. Countdown-6 days until school ends. You will hear me dance. Lol

Boys arrive @ 6:00 AM. At this point I prepare for them. I sneak up , unlock front door, light the hall and TV room. Lastly back to bed, throw covers over my head and ignore a new early morning.

All that activity, why don't I just stay up.

Staying up requires getting dressed, hair, and smooth makeup over a morning face. All this makes me feel good,  

Looking in my mirror is pleasing. I am ready for my day; walk up the steps to top level looking forward to greet our 2 grandlings.  

The noise sharply hit my ears, they  fight, no fists-just pick at each other. They too are ready for the end of school. 

Behavior modification:

Jacob: I can threaten to sit in a lawn chair placed at the corner sidewalk, sip morning tea  and wait for the middle school bus. The image of Jacobs total mortifying embarrassment is not pleasing but, it is delightful to watch his face shocked with horror. His quiet voice begins. Preteen grumpiness drains away. Jacob is back to a wonderful boy before hormones. 

Michael's threat; having to sit in Scarlett's lion lawn chair, watching his friends play football or tag until the bus arrives. Quickly our delightful Michael returns and he is ready to help cook eggs.

I miss my hens. There was no lazy choice. I could not cover my head and  ignore morning activities.
I had to wake, feed my little ones, change their water and  gather eggs. I freed my little hens from their coop for a brief walkabout. Their antics gave me joy !

My bib overalls and muck boots were easy; nightgown shoved into overalls. Bare feet easily slip into farm muck boots.

I so get Mr. Green from Captain Kangeroo. Even a pretend farmer starts a morning happy.

Back to the house, dress, gently sipping tea from a China cup. Boys or no boys -what a morning!

Summer will start differently.  I think I will grab my Christmas gift super camera. I'd like to start a morning journal. Days wakening during each season in Ohio. 
This is OHIO, we can count each day will be different. 

I write to you. My own journaling the wackiness that unfold during my day.

Days can span from crises turning 60 to ending the school year and ...whatever comes along. As in the book of James "...call  it all joy," Beyond the book's  context his phrase is perfect for life's activity.

Joy-a wonderful life !

Love you, I do hope your days are full of friends, busy schedule and smiles.
Kris




Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone

So Dementia is a Diagnosis

So Dementia is a diagnosis

It started out slowly. "I can't smell. ". A child like sentence but accurate in ability. No longer could I detect or enjoy the sent of flowers while bending over my flower bed.  I remember the aroma of rich dirt.  Pulling weeds out of my tulip bed , root and all,  gave me joy.  Snow kept the flower bed safe from the coldest temperatures and moistened the dirt and flowers as Spring announced it's arrival.

No alarm, this change of no sent would pass.. I imagined that I was starting a cold.  "I can't smell" stayed. OK, odd but I was too busy for such a small change.

Musical and reading music was shocking. Sunday afternoons  playing hymns sung during church was difficult than impossible. Math was frustrating.  Neccessary physics formulas