ELM CREEK DAM

Recognize this? I don't know how many of you know, but we had a record rainfall in Runnels County this past spring and summer. This photo of the dam at Ballinger City Park will give you an idea of the flooding we experienced. At one point the park was closed due to the water spilling over into the park.

This reminds me of a talk I was listening to this morning regarding the Tao Te Ching. I was reminded that within each flood therein lies a drought. Within each storm, there is a calm. Nothing lasts forever. Something to remember when we are going through difficult times. Or even when times are very good. Another reason to be grateful.

I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but I heard last night that our former classmate Barbara Ferguson Rollwitz finally lost her battle with cancer. I was hopeful when I saw her a few days after our class reunion. I stopped by to deliver her handbook and remarked on how good she looked. She seemed in good spirits and even answered the door herself. There will be a graveside funeral service for her this Sunday at the Old Runnels Cemetery.

Better news... Nancy Thompson Baker's husband Jake came through his "shocking" experience really well yesterday and was back at work at the County Jail this morning. He literally had the paddles put to him to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm.

Irene Piel Batts' husband David came home from the hospital this morning after being confined there for 10 days with a fractured pelvic bone. He will be recovering at home for several weeks. He really wanted to take that little red button home with him that he used to call the nurses. However, Irene assured them that they had a cow bell at home awaiting his use!

Peggy Virden Sharp has really enjoyed her daughter Tammy visiting her this week from Houston. After a trip to her cardiologist, she was given the go-ahead to drive her car next week. She is amazing in her recovery! You cannot keep some of these Texas women down for long!

I heard from Merry Lou and Buddy Wilkins that they are still guest hosts at the San Angelo State Park. At least they will be until this next Wednesday when they will go to spend Thanksgiving with their children. Then they will join the other "snowbirds" to spend three winter months in Mission, Texas. Due to the threatened rising price of diesel fuel, they say they will probably spend most of 2008 in Texas.

I'd like to hear from some of our other RVers out there. I've wondered how the rising fuel costs are affecting your lifestyle. If you end up having to stay put somewhere, doesn't that mean you will no longer be considered footloose and fancy-free? Does that mean you will have to do mundane things again ~~ like mow the plot around your semi-permanent RV? Does that put you at the mercy of the park owners who might wish to raise the lot rents? Let us hear about it... the good, the bad, the ugly!

I'm still waiting on all that talent I recognized when I was working on our handbook!

'Til next time,
Marilyn