Monthly Archives:September 2006

whatis

What is it?????

we don’t like our politics.

signed

I LOVE small town living!

My Aunt called me from Ohio today. She called me while I was at work and it was delightful to take some time to chat with her. We laughed and we struggled to remember family stuff together. I have some things and she has some things and maybe someday we will be able to make a whole from them.

Time may be running out on us, though. She is in her 70’s and, while I know that is not old – especially to those of us nearing 60 (ouch!) – we still have to think of such things. Hubby moose said tonight “it’s too bad you didn’t start asking questions when there were more of them alive.” Ah, yes – throw THAT up to me. 🙁 I mean, really who thinks of this stuff when you are young and marrying and making babies? Yup, not too many.

And, besides, I was always “too busy” to listen when my grandmother would start one of her histories. Sure wish I hadn’t been so dratted impatient.

Anyway, my aunt mentioned some information that she wanted and it turns out I have it so will be making some copies for her and sending them on. It got me to digging – through piles of stuff to find the notebook I knew it was in. And, though I dug through piles of piles – it was right out in plain sight the whole time. Go figure.

Then, I got to thinking about all the other info my uncle had sent me before he passed away. I am so grateful to have my great, great grandfather’s Bible. It is musty and dank and mildewed. It is falling apart at the seams – who knew that Proverbs came before Joshua? And Galatians was in the Old Testament mix, too. Something tells me that somebody has restrung/hand stitched the segments of this particular Bible – and whoever it was didn’t know the books very well – or they couldn’t read those tell-tale NUMBERS at the bottom of the pages. 😉

At any rate – I knew there were some handwritten geneology type pages in it, so opened it up and typed what I could read so that I can send it also to my aunt. The Bible is mine – my uncle entrusted it to me so I am keeping it – unless, of course, she requests it. IT’s an 1871 version, btw. I feel blessed to have it.

Not sure who will receive it when I am gone. Guess the girls can think about it and let me know who it will mean more to – of course, it may also go to one of the grands depending on their temperment and wishes as well.

I’m also sending a copy of the 1910 census records I found online – showing my grandmother’s name to be something entirely different than what we had always known. In addition a copy of my mother’s birth certificate which lists an entirely OTHER name for my grandmother.

Well, she WAS born in Kentucky, after all. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Which reminds me – growing up in Ohio, we were always telling West Virginia jokes. It just goes with the territory – hillbilly jokes and W VA jokes. My grandmother told us to NEVER call her a hillbilly. She would put her nose up into the air, sniff and say –

I’m a Hill WILLIAM, thank you!

Gosh I miss her – she was some sort of character that one.

What family memories do YOU have?

I am going in to work an hour or so late today – the agency has its monthly board meeting tonight and, as we are saying goodbye to a very hard working board member who we hate to see leave, I am attending the meeting. Boss reminds us all that said attendance is to be on “company time” so I have to adjust it early in the day.

There will be cake.

When I leave that party I will be going to evening prayer services at my church. Afterwards we are having a goodbye party for one of our young men who is leaving Sunday for the Marines. We wish him Godspeed and all good health while he is gone. And, yes

there will be cake.

Somewhere in between I need to get some FOOD into me – to offset all that sugar – because we all know that I will eat some – because, after all

there will be cake.

erp! ‘scuse me. Have a wonderful day, everyone.

:moose:

One of our Board members, and a writing compatriot, came into work yesterday and told me she really liked my poem. Oh? I asked. You know, the one in Alaska Women Speak (that website is TERRIBLY outdated, btw).

I hadn’t been able to check my mail yet, but was pleased to get the current magazine when I came home. They had held a contest for this issue – subject for poems “Brisk” – first line for articles/stories “A brisk wind blew . . . ” Entries were in several categories – poems of one line, 3 lines, 14-18 lines, etc. I sent in a 3 line poem and it was the only one they published of that length. There were several other poems published, however, of varying lengths. They also published the 98 word piece I wrote (categories were 0-100 words, 100-200 words, etc.)

The judging team, however, was out of state at publishing time, so we won’t know the winners until next issue (winter issue), but this is giving them a chance to open the judging to the readers – with a couple of extra winning categories – crowd favorites, so to speak.

I really enjoy writing for AWS – they print most of what I send them, not all, but most. It is such a great venue for Alaska women writers. There is no pay, of course, as it is a non-profit entity. They do sometimes send an extra copy, but not always. Not this time.

My aunt in Ohio even subscribes because she says she likes to see my stuff in print – but she also enjoys the writing of the other women featured in the magazine. As do I. It is a nice, well-rounded, well-versed group of women and I am thrilled to be considered a part of them.

In other writing news, I did three interviews for the column today. All younger folks – two 18 year olds and one 16 year old. And, the coming week’s interview is a 16 year old. Looks like I am going to have to go out and find some old fogies like me, now. Heh.

 

guys – you might not want to go to the following link – and if you do, I warned you, okay?

And – in other news – have you women ever considered just how much money you spend on and landfills you fill with monthly feminine products? Meredith writes of alternatives. Good information. Sorry it has come too late for this old moose. No, not really sorry at all. I am  THRILLED to be past all that. Yay!