A FEW CHRISTMAS MEMORIES 2007

A few photos from Ballinger and the Moragne household. Travis and Kelly Rider visited Grandmommy overnight. Travis made that night memorable by waking up at 1:30 in the morning throwing up!

Christmas Eve at the Bethel Community Church Candlelight Service, and Christmas Day at Peggy (Virden) and Bobby Sharp's home. Lots of good food, presents, babies, teenagers, dogs, and even horses. Let's not forget the grandmothers, who were in abundance that day. Peggy has six children and all but one of them were there. I lost track of how many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in attendance. Her brother Robert Virden and his wife Bonnie were also there with their family. The White Elephant gift exchange was a riot -- no one really wanted Santa's bloomers!

The highlight had to have been Christmas Eve at the small Bethel Church, where Peggy and Bobby's grandson Tyce Green sang the solo, "O Holy Night". As we exited the church with candles in hand, the haunting sounds of "Silent Night" played on a trumpet drifted over the surrounding countryside. It was played by June (Harris) Koch's grandson.

This is the Jerry (Jake) Baker family Christmas Day. That's classmate Nancy (Thompson) Baker peeking out from behind her daughter-in-law. Their three children, Phyllis Lynn, Russ, and Melissa were there with four of their grandchildren and three of their great-grandchildren. Their younger son Rodger is in Bahrain this Christmas, however, he called Christmas Day and got to speak to his parents and siblings.

To see or even speak with our loved ones on this wonderful holiday is always such a blessing. If any of you would like to share your favorite Christmas photos or stories with us, just send them to me and I'll do my best to post them here.

This last photo I took early this morning from my back door. It was very cloudy and cold -- below freezing, when I spotted these adorable Inca Doves huddled together on a branch. I said to myself, "They have learned the secret of staying warm.... Love One Another!!"

My love to all of you!
Marilyn

GREETINGS

"I took these this morning, looks like Lenna and I will have a white Christmas. Please tell everyone hello and Merry Christmas for me. I am doing well and I wish good health to all."
Sincerely,
Gene Routh

A FEW NEWS NOTES:

"Kay and I went to Houston Friday for her son's graduation from Physician Assistant's school. He received a Masters Degree and will work for an orthopedic surgeon in that area. He was a Special Forces medic and retired after 22 years in the army. I closed my medical office in Brownwood in October after 38 years of full time private practice and now work in Coleman on Tuesdays and Wednesdays ONLY with the other two physicians in Coleman. Hopefully I will start enjoying semi-retirement soon if I ever catch up."
James

"Merry Christmas to everyone. How blessed we are to have Christ in our lives!! To June and Chris-our prayers will be with you and how thankful we are you are okay. About the house-my bad! That is the house on Broadway. The one Darrell's uncle lived in was on the hill on 6th Street, I think. They are similar, but (it) was not a boarding house. Aren't we glad Marilyn does this for us? Thanks, girl, and how glad we are you are doing so well."

Love you all,
Dottie (Bishop)

On Nydah's recovery, June (Harris) Koch wrote: "Talked to her a few days ago and she is home and doing well. Sounds like she really had a rough time of it. I think she must have had a reaction to some of the pain meds..."

"I'm in Lafayette, LA. I will have Christmas with my Mom, daughter, and wife. Mom is in a retirement home. Lost my Dad January 1, 2007. I had to put my Aunt in the Nursing Home last month. So this has been a rough year."
Neil Broussard

I had a really nice visit with Jerry and Shirley Eoff, and Jerry's sister Bobbie at the Beefmaster last night. They gave me lots of information about the bridge I photographed. The one in City Park. Nancy's husband Jake also gave me information. It seems the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) was busy in this park during the Depression years, building many structures. A few are still standing, as is this bridge. I was told there was once a long shuffleboard table with benches alongside adjacent to this bridge. Apparently, the water and years of dirt washing under the bridge in the draw have covered these up. Shirley (Fry) Eoff told me that there had been a caretaker's cottage across the road from the bridge, and that her grandfather was caretaker of the park for years.

There is also a long concrete table still standing in a rather secluded part of the park that was called The Nook. This area is to the left at the bottom of the steep hill going into the park. Bobbie Eoff said she had her wedding rehearsal dinner in this nook. Nearby there still stands a spooky stone building, now filled with nothing but graffiti. Jerry said this used to be the water works building when Ballinger's water supply came from this area. (Surely not Elm Creek?)

I leave you tonight with a little snapshot of a house on the Bronte Highway. The lights are really unusually pretty in Ballinger. We may be a small town, but we're mighty big on decorations!

'Til next time....
Marilyn

ANONYMOUS POEM

The following was sent to me by June Curry. I wish I knew the author of the poem, but decided it was so worth reading I will post it anyway. Marilyn

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away.

This is the poem:

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
...............Anonymous

"Remember to always say what you mean.
If you love someone, tell them.
Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
Because when you decide that it is the right time, it might be too late.
Seize the day. Never have regrets.
And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped."

Thank you, June, for sharing these poignant sentiments. Merry Christmas, everyone!

IN AND AROUND BALLINGER

You know, I fully intended to write something for this blog from December 13th until Christmas. I was thinking "Twelve Days of Christmas" at the time. Then I remembered that those twelve days are really from Christmas Day (when Christ was supposedly born) until January 5th -- the length of time it would have taken the Wise Men to make the journey to Bethlehem.

I don't know where my mind was.. I was thinking "gifts". My gift to all of you for the Christmas season. Pretty conceited of me when I think about it. The photographs (with some exceptions -- like the Hill House) that I find pleasing and that create nostalgic memories of this area for me, may not do the same for you. That's why I really would like your input. What do you remember that might still be here? What would you enjoy seeing and hearing about from the past?

Yesterday I got a call from my trusty on-the-spot reporter, Nancy Baker (who works for free, I might add), that she and hubby Jake had spotted "50 wild turkeys!" in City Park (she's been known to exaggerate a little at times). I grabbed my camera and rushed to what I thought would be my "turkey shoot".. I'm thinking, "These are escapees from Thanksgiving perhaps looking for a place to hide until after Christmas." After searching the City Park and the streets all along the bluff, I was disappointed that the only creatures I saw were the geese at the duck pond and a few goats that ignored me when they discovered I didn't have any food for them when I approached their pen.

On my little tour of that side of Broadway, I discovered the little gem of a footbridge pictured below. It looks so ancient, however, I don't remember seeing it during the 50s. Of course, I wasn't that interested in rock structures of any kind back then. I got enough talk about "rocks" at home, as my dad owned the local sand and gravel business.

Do any of you remember this bridge? Know where it is located? Did you ever walk across it? I must admit, it is so old I wasn't too sure it would be safe to walk across now.

Happy Holidays from Ballinger.........
Marilyn

CLASSMATE SUFFERS HOUSE FIRE

I received this at 6:00 pm from June Curry. I thought we all would want to send her good wishes. It could have been a very tragic story, but thank goodness everyone got out okay.

"As of last night Chris and I will be residing at the Clarion Hotel courtesy of State Farm Insurance for at least the next four weeks. This hotel is located at the corner of Aspen and the Broken Arrow Expressway in Broken Arrow. We also have our pets with us with the hotel's blessing and a slight surcharge.

After spending four miserable ice laden days without power and heat in our house, the power finally returned at 12:30 pm yesterday. We immediately showered, starting washing clothes and made a trip to the grocery store to restock all the food lost in the frig and freezer without power for so long. At about 8:00 that night we had a fire in the fireplace and were sitting watching TV when we both noticed smoke coming from the bottom and around the fireplace screen. Chris went out to the front porch and came back shouting for me to call the fire department and to get out of the house--that we were on fire (which we very much were). I grabbed my wallet, my dog and my cell phone and ran for the car, dialing 911 at the same time. He ran upstairs for his cat and his wallet and cell phone and came running out to move the car away from the house. Then he tried to fight the flames with our little fire extinguisher, bless his heart. Within 4 minutes of my call to the emergency center, three fire trucks were at our front curb and shortly after were fighting a raging fire which rather badly damaged our townhouse but could have totally destroyed it had they not gotten the fire under control very quickly. We have a restoration company already on the scene who has taken our belongings to their warehouse for cleaning and restoration (even steam cleaning our clothes and delivering of Chris's uniforms to our hotel today). State Farm is totally fantastic--have already been out to the house and have written us a generous expense voucher. They have arranged for us to live here at the Clarion for at least the next four weeks at their expense.

So, God has beautifully taken care of our needs, expressed and unexpressed, during yet another crisis. You cannot reach us at our home phone but must call either the Clarion Hotel or my cell phone. If possible, please call on the Hotel line to save my anytime minutes.

Our kitty had disappeared this morning, and half the hotel management and maids have been joining us in a search for her. I just got a call from Chris in our room saying she just appeared at her litter box as he walked back into the room. We had literally torn the place up inside and outside searching for her--I have no idea where she has been or if one of the maids found her and returned to the room when we were gone--we're just grateful to have her back--she is Chris's absolute love. SIDNEY IS FOUND!!!"

THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Was there ever any doubt in your mind that the American cowboy is still alive and well? This sign appeared a couple of weeks ago in front of the San Angelo Feed Yard between Miles and San Angelo. A little over a week later it was gone! One cowboy hired, I guess. To be politically correct, it probably should have read "One Cowboy/Cowgirl".

Shortly after that picture was taken, June Hash Curry was in Ballinger for the funeral of her beloved mother-in-law Kathleen. She and I had a wonderful, though brief, visit at the new Heritage Funeral Home. She told me that the two beautiful round stained glass windows on the building were made by her sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and J.B. Terry. The weather was in the 80s for a couple of days and the night we visited, it was still warm outdoors. I looked out the window into the parking lot and commented on a cute miniature dachshund walking with a man across the lot. June said that they better be careful... that a four-foot long rattlesnake had been killed in that lot that very afternoon!

Texas!! 80 degree weather, snowfall, and rattlesnakes in the parking lot -- all within a two week period in December. Nothing dull about it for sure.

The blog about the Broadway Hill House has stirred a few more memories. This one came from Barbara Sharpes Brooks:

"The house in the picture belonged to a woman named Jewel Cooper. She ran the house as a room and board place. My mother worked for her in the kitchen for a while as did Ruth Jarrett. She rented to single men only, I think, and always had a table full at lunch. I've sat on that front porch a many a time. This was in the early 50s. I remember I thought it was a huge old house at the time. I don't remember the garage apartment though. In its time it was a really grand house. I also worked at Keel drug for a short time and then at the drive-in at the y, can't remember the name of the place. (Editor: Was this the Dairy Barn?) Gail Kirk and I were working together one night and it was time to slide the awning back. Welllllll, the rope we were pulling got caught on a tray that was in a car window and spilled everything in the lap of the driver! I took off and poor Gail was blamed for the whole thing. I was scared to death and Gail laughed it off. Just a little trivia..."

Charles Fikes had this to say:

"I have really enjoyed the blog for our class. I am learning things about good old Ballinger that I didn't know. Sue Herring is right, Chock and Jeep did live in that house. Am looking forward to more input on the blog."

I don't know how many of you paid attention to the weather news this week, but parts of the Midwest had horrendous ice storms that left many folks without power for days. Our own classmate June Curry was one of them. She sent this to me yesterday:

"We finally got power (we're total electric at 12:30 pm today). We could not go to a hotel or motel as all were immediately booked--no vacancies anywhere. No one had any wood for fireplaces to sell, and we only had enough for two fires as we had not ordered expecting to move at any time. We had no power from early Monday morning (pre-dawn) until after noon today. May I NEVER take warmth for granted again. It was 27 degrees here last night and almost that cold each night with little or no warming up in the daytime. We wanted to kiss on both cheeks the Public Service people who poured in here by the hundreds. I have never before been so grateful for a HOT shower and shampoo as I was today. Wow. What an ordeal! Glad to have it back!"

I leave you today -- this Second Day of Christmas with another little scene from the Concho River Light Tour. Sorry I don't have a shot of the "turtle doves". Last winter I had a live pair of them that ate from the bird feeders in my back yard. Wish I had photographed them! They were magnificent.

Let me know what/who you'd like to hear about or see photos of. I thought I would try to keep this up for the entire "Twelve Days of Christmas".
Marilyn

THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Recently we had a "real snowstorm" as you can see in the photo. Yes, that's Glenn Smith waving at the camera. I forwarded this picture to a few friends here in Ballinger, and received two surprising responses. One of them was from Dot Schroeder who said it looked like her deceased brother! But most surprising was the following statement from Nancy Thompson Baker: "Looks like a ghost on your film, looks like Santa Claus.....on purpose?"

"Look right beside Glenn where the BIG snowflake is.... the tree trunk makes the ghost's arms, the beard is heavy snow in between Glenn and the car... Santa Claus? The limb above the heart looks like Santa's hat.... concentrate on the heart and use imagination. I've never seen a snowflake as big as that 'heart' one! I'm sure it's Santa!!!"

Does anyone else see this "ghost" in the above photo?? I finally did, and it spooked me.

The recent blog on the "hill house" sparked a few responses, but only added to my confusion. Who rented the garage apartment to Wesley Stokes.... and fed him his meals?

Here they are:

From Jerry Eoff: "You are doing a good thing with the blog spot. Keep it going. I never knew of this about Wesley. Wonder what else slid by over my head?"

From Susan Herring Stahl: "Just caught up with the blog...I think I remember that Jeep and Chock Jackson lived in the house on the hill during our high school days. Maybe we could learn more about the Wesley Stokes mystery from Jeep."

From Dorothy Bishop Rogers: "Yes, this picture was a blast from the past! My first husband's great aunt and uncle, Robert Lee, lived here and we visited often. As for Gene Keel, he was my first boss. In the summer after 8th grade, I went to work for Gene at the drugstore. I worked there several summers. I think Danny Baker and Ter also worked there one summer. Nice work, Marilyn, you have no idea how much we all look forward to your blog!"

Ter Cothran told a funny story on himself about his brief stint as an employee of Gene Keel. Maybe someday we can coax him into writing about it on the blog. Had something to do with a box of candy and Tommye Lou Curry.

Irene Piel Batts was also a long-time Keel Drug employee. Which reminds me. Her husband David is in the Community Hospital in San Angelo. I need to wrap this up for now, as I am going with a friend to visit him.

Stay tuned for more tales of the "wild west". Rattlesnakes and cowboys instead of football players!

Marilyn

BROADWAY HILL HOUSE

I feel certain all of you recognize this house, located on Broadway across from the Presbyterian Church. The second photo is of the old garage apartment on the property.

I've always been fascinated by this house, but every time I see it I remember a story from high school. I think it was in our Sophomore year that a 14-year old Freshman football player from Talpa moved into the garage apartment. His name was Wesley Stokes, and he was supposed to be the answer to the football team's prayers. It seems a local businessman -- and perhaps more than one, rented this garage apartment and moved Wesley from Talpa into his new home just in time for football season. I was very curious. How could a 14-year old boy take care of himself? Who would cook for him? I was told there had been an arrangement with the owner of the house that meals would be provided to him as part of the deal.

Gee! How lucky can you get? A private apartment with no parents overlooking your every move! Someone would cook for you and not expect you to wash the dishes afterwards. I was in awe, and did not understand how this came about. When I asked questions about it, I was told in hushed tones that this was not to be widely discussed.

Recently a friend of mine was reading a book many here in Ballinger have been discussing. Gene Keel (of Keel Drug) is written about in the book as a member of a Masonic orphanage football team. The book is titled, "Twelve Mighty Orphans" and is written by Jim Dent. The following excerpt peaked my interest, and reminded me of the time Wesley Stokes was recruited to play for the Bearcats:

“In some respects, Texas was still a raw and rowdy frontier in the 1930s, and the high school kids in shoulder pads and leather helmets furthered that tough image. Stadiums started filling up right after the end of the Big War. West Texans would soon go gaga over football…”

“In the Oil Belt, the roughnecks, speculators, wildcatters, and toolpushers had money to wager and an insatiable appetite for winning. Recruiters combed the countryside searching out the best football talent. So hungry were the little towns for a state championship that football fans went to any length to lure a top prospect into their school district. One of the most popular tricks was hiring away any father with talented football-playing sons. A roughneck making a couple of bucks a day in Mineral Wells would gladly take five bucks to pack up and move his family to Breckenridge. That is, if he brought along his sons…”

And sometimes, as was the case in Ballinger in the 1950s, they just moved the football-playing son!

Marilyn

'TIS THE SEASON

The holidays are upon us and the lights are spectacular! If some of you haven't been to Ballinger at this time of year, you may not have seen the beautiful lights on the Runnels County Courthouse. A sorority in town has been doing this for several years. Irene Piel Batts' daughter Amy is on the committee of young women (and some of their husbands) that actually climbs to the roof of the courthouse and lowers each individual strand of lights every year. This year the weather was very warm as they were installing them, but the weather does not always cooperate in Texas and sometimes Irene worries when Amy is climbing around up there in cold rain or worse.

Driving down the hill on Broadway, the view almost takes one's breath away. I wanted to capture that photo, too, but strung across the front of the courthouse lawn is a huge sign that says, "Welcome Hunters". Somehow that did not seem in the spirit of things.

The bottom two photos are from the San Angelo "Tour of Lights" along the Concho River. Santa Claus fishing on the Concho... he even catches a huge fish. Then there is Santa Claus arriving in a small airplane near the Santa Fe Depot. I know children must be delighted to take this two and a half mile tour of over a million Christmas lights on display. There is even a living nativity, complete with llamas (camels?) and sheep. I know this "big kid" really loved every minute of it.

Good news to report. Last Monday, Pat Smith Mullins, Glenn Smith, and I helped Peggy Virden Sharp celebrate with lunch the excellent report she got on her latest checkup. She got a clean bill of health, and the doctor even took her off three medications she had been taking. The heart valve repair has been successful, her heart rhythm is regular now, and the only thing to slow her down is the wait for the bones in her rib cage to heal.

I was very pleased to get a response from Gene Routh. I had inquired about his foot, and began to worry when I did not get a reply. Nearly two weeks ago, he wrote me the following email:

"Sorry I haven't answered before now. I have been going to Physical Therapy twice a week trying to loosen the ankle up and regain some strength. Seems to be helping, but recovery is a lot slower than I had hoped. I suppose I'm just impatient for things to be back to normal. I'm still so sorry I didn't get to come for the 50th reunion, but that's the breaks (no pun intended) I guess." "...Please tell all that you see hello and Merry Christmas for me. I hope to see everyone at the next school reunion." ...Gene

Nydah Ellet successfully underwent total knee replacement surgery December 3rd in Ohio. I've been getting updates on her progress this week. Two days after surgery, they had her get out of bed three times. She was on a lot of pain medication at first, but was finally able to relay some information. She had blood clots in both lower legs, so she's on anticoagulants now and this is slowing her physical therapy down some. She will go to a rehabilitation hospital shortly, depending on the blood clots. She "prepped" herself well before this surgery, and the dancing she has done has helped a lot with her therapy so far.

The Sunday before her surgery was Nydah's birthday, and she also sang in a Christmas cantata with the Kent State choir. This is one active, talented lady. I know she will be back on her feet soon and showing those young dance students she takes lessons with how to stay young.

Rosalyn Urbantke Hoelscher called me this week to inquire about the heart attack I had. We talked a good while, and she was to go for a checkup the following day. She was a little concerned about a weight gain. I'm hoping no news is good news. If you remember, Rosalyn was in the hospital during the 50th Reunion with heart problems -- much to her dismay. She also was hospitalized since then with more problems. She told me that she was grateful for every morning she wakes up and there is not a paramedic or nurse staring her in the face. Here's wishing you the best of health for the upcoming holidays, Rosalyn.

Rosalyn asked me questions about how a heart attack feels. I realized a lot of folks who have had cardiac problems... even bypass surgeries, have never had a heart attack. I felt a steady crushing pain in my chest that would not let up when I tried to get in a comfortable position. I thought it might be a really bad case of indigestion or heartburn, so I took Tums. When it continued longer than five minutes, I took two regular 325 mg. aspirin. That didn't help the pain, either, and I began to feel numbness and tingling in both arms -- especially from the elbows down. When I began to experience a blurry tunnel vision of sorts, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I could not drive myself to the hospital -- only four blocks away! While I waited for Nancy to arrive and whisk me off to the hospital, I remembered hearing somewhere that you should force yourself to cough deeply if you suspected a heart attack. I kept doing that on the way to the hospital.

I don't mean this to be a dreary, depressing tale, but rather a really uplifting story of overcoming some of the effects of ill health and hopefully, passing on information that might assist you in saving your own life or the life of someone you love.

My own health is very, very good. I don't go in for my first checkup (and a stress test) until December 17th. However, except for more shortness of breath than usual (I think the medication causes it), I am able to do most of what I've always done in the past. My house now has Christmas decorations up, even though I decided to go with the tiny Gatlinburg pine Christmas tree this year rather than a big one. The two little munchkins that will be here for one night on their way to Aunt Carrie's in Amarillo are so little anyway, it will be eye level for them. The homemade Kahlua is curing in the jar, and I've gone so far as to get the gingerbread man (and woman) cookie cutters out. I'm really in the mood for the holidays.

The story of Mary giving birth reminds me that this time of year is pregnant with possibilities. Think how creative we all get when we decorate our homes and yards.. and presents. I don't know about you, but my mind is filled with many, many ideas I want to see come to fruition! I want to make gifts, candies, cookies... I think of all the things I wish to tell the people I love when I send them letters or emails or Christmas cards. I am filled to overflowing with the spirit of the season. May all this joy and wonder be a part of all your lives, too. Let me hear about it.

If you wish to send a comment, just double click on the "Comments" at the bottom of this message. If you'd rather, you may send me an email and I will post it for you. I'll have more photos and news to share again shortly!

Marilyn