THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN...

ANDREW JACKSON SWEARING IN ~ 1829

The above painting depicts the very first Capitol Inauguration. History will be marked again by the swearing in of Barack Obama this coming Tuesday. No matter what your political leaning, you must admit there has been nothing like this in our lifetime. My grandchildren ~ other than the older two, have the attitude, "what's the big deal?" And, indeed, to them it is not a big deal. A black president doesn't appear to be anything special. Ahhhh. The blessing of non-prejudice in most of our grandchildren is readily apparent. The next generation of children will be appalled to read in their history books about all the dissension this country experienced over race. And right they should be!

I still remember waiting in our living room to catch a ride on the school bus in the 50s... watching in anguish the images on TV of young black teenagers being escorted to school by the National Guard in Arkansas or Alabama. I was horrified that this was happening, and my dad could not or would not give me an answer as to why it was! 

By this time we had lived in several parts of the country, and I had experienced different views and prejudices. As a young girl in San Antonio, I was extremely curious about the ways in which black people were treated. I would often sneak a drink of water at the "Colored" water fountains to see if their water was different than ours. I would sit at the last row on the bus before the "colored" section, hoping I could listen in on their conversations. I thought they spoke another language. I thought maybe it was a language they brought with them from Africa, and I was a little in awe of them. Not fearful, but very curious. I truly thought at that time that they were being given "special" treatment. I later learned what "discrimination" meant.

I had several experiences with older black people in my very young childhood. One was when we lived in Arkansas and I was 4 or 5 years old. My dad was stationed at Fort Chaffee, and only visited us on weekends. I must have been a lonely child, because I sought out older folks who were like grandparents. I do not remember where I met them, but there was a wonderful old black couple who lived in a garage apartment at the rear of a big house near our apartment. Looking back, I think they must have worked for the owners of the house. These were what were known then as "servant quarters".

I would go visit them in their apartment, and the old man was always delighted to see me! His wife would be upset from the time I arrived. I remember he and I would play dominoes or cards at the kitchen table. She would be banging pots and pans around the stove and sink, carrying on something fierce about how much trouble they would be in if I were found in their home! I would worriedly look at the old man, he would wink and grin at me, and tell her to stop her fussing so we could continue our game. I didn't understand at that time what she meant when she said they would "be in big trouble", but looking back, I know what a risk they took during the 1940s in Little Rock, Arkansas! I just know that I loved that old, graying black man and the card games he taught me to play. Treating me like a big girl, and his co-conspirator! I have indelible images of his kind, smiling face to this day.

I had more experiences with kind, wonderful black folks while I was growing up. Here in Ballinger, we had an old black woman Mother used to bring to the house to help her with housework and ironing. I remember visiting her home. Her house was immaculate, and my mother used to ask her if she got mad at my dad, could she come stay in her guest room? She (her name was Irene) was so fussy about cleanliness, she even took her own sheets with her when she visited relatives! My first child, Craig, loved her, too. I can remember watching him at about a year and a half of age run into her arms when we took him to visit her after she was too old to work for us anymore. She was such a dear, interesting woman. I remember her telling me she played the drums in her church here. At that time, I had never heard of drums played in a church! I longed to go and hear her play, but that was so taboo here in Ballinger at the time. It may still be, I don't know. If that Irene were still alive and playing her drums at her church, you can bet I would now go to hear her play, and stay for the sermon, too!

My children grew up in a home that was as liberal as I could make it in a conservative place like Texas. I was really happy to live in Albuquerque, where I didn't have to work so hard at practicing the beliefs I wanted them to share. I remember a funny incidence that happened when we lived in Midland. My daughter Carajean was only three when we were driving down the street. She had the window down in back, and suddenly leaned out, pointed her finger, and started yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, look ~ a chocolate man!" Her dad and I looked at each other and laughed. She had never seen a black person before! It was also while we were living in Midland that my husband was overheard explaining to a friend that our son Craig was "the only 6-year-old in Midland, Texas who had a slingshot instead of a n*** shooter"! A word that was not allowed in my home ~ ever! I still squirm when I hear people use the word.

It's a brand new world....

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I recently received the following email from GLENN SMITH:

"This afternoon I was in Ballinger for the funeral of my father's youngest brother, Neuman E. Smith. I knew him as Scooter. He died quietly at age 92. He was married twice but had no children. In my youth I thought him intelligent because he worked only 'til noon on Saturdays, then took a bath and went to town for a strawberry milkshake. Neuman was a peanut and watermelon farmer in South Ballinger but always thought of himself as a cowboy. He liked riding his horse in parades and loved telling stories of his early days as a ranch hand. The only music at today's service was an a capella rendition of Home on the Range. That song was arranged and made famous by David Guion who was born in Ballinger and grew up there. He and Neuman knew each other.

Neuman's body was cremated, but there was a ceremony in Evergreen Cemetery in which his cowboy hat and handmade boots were buried. Neuman was said to have requested that everyone let the Noyes monument on the Ballinger courthouse lawn remind them not only of Charles Noyes but also of Neuman. (He and Noyes knew each other also).

Something about the simplicity, authenticity, and sincerity of the afternoon's events left me with a smile. Not many funerals are such happy celebrations."...GLENN
(Photo of Noyes Statue by Glenn Smith)


IRENE PIEL BATTS recently wrote the following:"..it's such good news! Almost out of the blue Dr. Huchton said, "We all (the doctors) consider you cured." Coulda knocked me over with a feather and I said, "You do?" And then he talked about the five year period before they could really say "cured." Will be seeing him every few months for the next five years. On Monday, the radiologist said that he was very pleased with my progress and I won't have to see him again, but "call if you need anything or have any questions". He thinks my sense of taste will return 6 to 7 months after the last treatment. That should be April or May. I can't help but wonder if Dr. Cummins (oncologist) agrees with this optimistic prognosis -- he's the one who put my chances at 50--50 if I did it all - surgery, radiation and chemo?"...IRENE

I say, "A pox on that oncologist!!" I know doctors worry about liability these days, but I cannot imagine a doctor giving such an unsolicited pessimistic outlook to a patient. If it's true that "we are what we believe" and I believe it is... then I would think doctors would want to give as much hope as possible to patients. And then, there are always "miracles". Which I believe we had a part in while praying for IRENE'S wonderful recovery. She came to my home recently - even drove herself! It's almost like old times. Once she's able to comfortably eat solid food, we will have a feast of a celebration!

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From NYDAH ELLET: "Greetings from the Northland! I love the snow, but the really cold weather is not fun. It is too cold to do almost anything outside! Certainly no naked snow angels... It was -8 degrees when I got up this morning. Now at noon, it is up to -2. My bedroom windows were frosted on the inside when I got up!!!!! I sleep with even my head covered up with the blankets, quilt and feder decke. (a German feather comforter). I also have the intermittent help of my 4 kitties too. The sun is shining, so when it gets to 0 degrees, Pepper and I will try a walk. Probably a very short walk through the deep beautiful snow."...NYDAH

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The beautiful bride to the right is JUNE HASH CURRY'S granddaughter who married in December. (I'm sorry, JUNE, that I didn't ask her name!) The lovely silver haired lady in the long black dress to the bride's right is none other than our JUNE!

I am still awaiting photos of BARBARA SHARPES BROOKS' granddaughter's wedding, also held in December. I know that BARBARA planned to dance at that wedding!!


The young man on the left is the new Potter County, Texas Junior Spelling Bee Champ. Otherwise known as my grandson, Tanner! He will compete for the Senior Spelling Bee Championship the 30th of January. Way to go, Tanner!

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I don't know how many of you listen to the music on the blog, but you might be wondering about the current selections. Some are musical artists who passed on this past year... Isaac Hayes, BoDiddley, Eartha Kitt, and Odetta. I also put some by artists who were honored recently at the Kennedy Center. Who can ever forget George Jones and his "The Race is On"?? Or Barbara Streisand's "The Way We Were"? Ah, yes... the way we were.

Lots of "good stuff" happened between then and now. Let me know your latest. And send pictures!

Peace and Love,
Marilyn

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Please turn your speakers on and take a few minutes to listen to Kenny G's version of Auld Lang Syne. The overlay is a chilling history of the last 60 or so years. We have certainly experienced unforgettable events in our time here in the United States. May the next 60 years be filled with better memories for our grandchildren.

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I hope all of you had your fill of Christmas/Hanukkah meals. Maybe you had your fill of family, too! At any rate, may all of you be full of good feelings and thankfulness for the blessings you received this past year. A few of you have more to be thankful for than the rest of us.

IRENE PIEL BATTS has had recent checkups with both the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor and the plastic surgeon in San Antonio. Both are very pleased with the outcome of her lengthy surgery as well as the results of the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She doesn't appear to need any more surgery, and the treatments have been successful in eradicating any signs of the original cancer! She is eating some soft foods now. Hurray! The feeding tube is not nearly as satisfying as the taste of real food, although the doctor told her it might be a while before her taste buds are back to normal. When I saw her shortly before Christmas, she had a smile as big as Texas. What a wonderful Christmas present for her and her family!

JAMES HAYS may not be an angel, however he recently got his "wings":

"I got my Christmas gift early, my new flight physical arrived Friday in the mail, renewable annually with a stress test and other stuff for six years. Then they will need a re-evaluation, all just because I had my chest cracked 8 months ago. I celebrated Friday by boring holes all over the sky."

I hope you are very careful, JAMES, as I don't want to hear another story like the following.

BILL KING had a family "incident" that reminded me of the scary events of last Christmas, when my daughter and her family skidded on ice in Colorado and flipped their car into a ditch. BILL sent me the following email:

"Reflecting back to about 24 hours ago to a time that could have been one of the worst times of my life that turned out to be one of the best times of my life... On the morning of Friday December 26, 2008 my youngest son Keith, his wife Lea Ann, and my little 8-year-old granddaughter Bailey headed out to Albuquerque, NM in his 4-place Mooney airplane. My oldest son Terry, his wife Catherine, and my grandson Michael live in Albuquerque. I was at my farm in Ballinger when I received a brief call from Terry that Keith had crash landed his airplane 20 or so miles out of Albuquerque and everyone was fine and they were headed out to the scene of the crash. A few minutes later I received a text message from Keith assuring me everyone was fine and he would contact me as soon as rescue found them. Needless to say I burned a lot of cell phone minutes over the next few hours. Keith and his family were checked out at the scene and had no bad injuries, just sore all over from the bouncing around during the crash landing. They were transported out of the crash area where Terry and Catherine picked them up and headed back to their house.

Talking to Keith later I found out the crash landing was in a small field free of trees in an area that is almost all forest. Anyone familiar with the area east of Albuquerque knows about the heavy forest type area and high mountains. Keith told me he was flying on instruments and was over a mountainous area when his engine failed. He was able to back away from the mountains and started to look for open sky to find a landing site. When he was no more that 500 feet above the ground he broke out into clear skies and all he could see was trees and a small open area a short distance in front of them. His approach to the open area was too fast but he was able to force the airplane down and skid to a stop before he reached the trees in front of them. Take a look at the attached pictures Keith took at the crash site. Might have to work on that propeller just a little.

On this trip Lea Ann was sitting in the back seat with Bailey. Keith was flying the airplane with a vacant seat next to him, or was it vacant? I am not sure if Keith was the pilot or the copilot. For anyone that says there are no guardian angels looking over us I would have to disagree with you. Oh, by the way, I broke my foot on that same day while at the farm, but what a very minor happening compared to what could have been.

Everyone stay safe, and count your blessings."

BILL, I am so happy to hear that everyone came through this horrific ordeal unhurt! Also, we hope your foot heals quickly!

Not everyone celebrates the holidays in the same manner. NANCY THOMPSON BAKER and hubby Jake (Class of '54) decided to hold their Christmas with their family the weekend before Christmas. Everyone was there except their son Rodger (and his wife and children) who is stationed in Spain. We celebrated Jake's 70-something birthday at the same time. Two days before Christmas NANCY and Jake left on a road trip to Tunica, Mississippi, where they had a good time playing the slot machines. NANCY said they won enough to come home with as much as they left with, plus all of their expenses were paid for! Another plus: the temperature was 70 degrees on Christmas Day in Tunica!

I shared a wonderful Christmas with all my children and all but one of my grandchildren in Amarillo at my daughter and son-in-law's home. The kitchen was the busiest place in the house, with three gourmet cooks on hand -- my daughter Carajean, my daughter-in-law Amy, and BOB BURTON, my daughter's dad. There was plenty of food all day long every day we were there. The children had the most wonderful time before and after "Santa". There were five children under 10 and three teens. Unfortunately, so many either had a cold when they got there or took cold when they were exposed, that we didn't get to hear the singing of carols as usual. But we made up for it in lots of domino games, while the children played with the Wii they got for Christmas. It filled the house with music from the "Rock Star" game. (Not exactly Christmas music!) Although Cameron's voice was suffering from a cold, he played a piece or two for Grandmama on the piano. The youngest child there was Kelly, who turned three last month. I really believe she played the hardest.. and possibly ate the most Christmas gingerbread men. As you can see in the photo on the right, she didn't want to give in or give up her cookie, even when she was so tired she couldn't stay awake any longer!

All in all, it was a good time for everyone. As usual, Carajean (and husband Branch) was the "hostess with the mostest". The only thing that could have made it better would have been to have her housekeeper Graciela on hand to help with the cleanup. She was on vacation!

I feel certain all of you remember BOB BURTON's sister Emilie. She was a BHS cheerleader for four years. She and her husband "Doc" live in Amarillo. Emilie stopped by for a visit with us on Christmas Eve. She looks the same as always, with just the addition of silver in her hair.

One can take dozens of pictures at a family Christmas, but still not capture all the memories that we will hold in our hearts forever. I feel more than ever the need to treasure each little memory, as we never know when this will be the last Christmas we share with our loved ones.

The years are slipping away too quickly. Remember when the year 2000 seemed eons away? Everyone was fearing the worst from the Y2K bug. May all of our fears of the passing of time be as pointless as the Y2K scare! And may you all be blessed with the very best in the coming year.

Let me hear all the "good stuff" that happened to your and yours over the holidays! And share your pictures with us.

Peace and love to you all,

Marilyn

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LET'S CELEBRATE!

If any of you have checked the blog lately, you may have heard a song playing that does not fall under "traditional" Christmas music. Of course, it's not. It's a traditional Jewish folk song. ~ one you even may have danced to if you have been fortunate enough to attend any Jewish celebration. I went to an engagement party in Brooklyn one year, and had a wonderful time dancing to Hava Nagila!

You may or may not know that the Jewish holiday, Chanukah (or Hanukkah) begins at sundown on the 21st of December this year. At that time, the first candle of the menorah will be lit. Each night during the next eight days, another candle will be lit. There are beautiful Jewish songs that are sung before and after the lighting of the menorah, however, I was unable to put them on the playlist of music that I have on this site -- they just weren't available there. I did find a wonderful website that explains a lot about Chanukah, it's meaning, prayers, songs, and sacred traditions:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/104620/jewish/Ner-Rishon.htm

I encourage you to visit this site. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. There are many delightful songs and a wealth of information about the Jewish faith. I have bookmarked it for my personal perusal in the coming year. I am woefully ignorant of this faith, as I am of so many others in the world. I remember when I was young I felt sorry for the Jewish children, as they did not celebrate Christmas, i.e., get all the presents!! Then I was told that during Chanukah each child was given presents every night during the eight-day celebration. Wow! A whole week of receiving gifts! My bubble burst when I was told that only one present per night was given, and that might be one of a pair of gloves one night, and its mate the next!

I am reminded of the first time I experienced religious ignorance as a young child. I was seven and attending a (protestant) church with my great-grandmother in San Antonio. A little boy in my Sunday School class was extolling about the beautiful interior of a church he had seen while passing by when the doors were open. He told of many candles lit, and described an altar with a cross and statues. I was frightened by the reaction of our teacher that morning. She immediately scolded him and told him to never go into such a church -- to pass it by quickly, as they were "idol worshipers", and God would be angry with them and him, too, if he ever went inside. I was more than a little confused, as I had been so enthralled with a loving God -- one who loved all the little children, "red and yellow, black or white, they are precious in His sight" -- an all-encompassing, forgiving, loving Father. How could this same God not be proud to have a pretty church in which we could worship Him? I struggled with many similar questions for years in my youth.

One of my favorite memories of Christmas is of trying to "catch" Santa in the act! I was determined this could be done if I could only stay awake! One year we spent Christmas at my paternal grandparents who lived on a ranch in Miles at the time. This was the first time in my memory that there was an actual fireplace in the living room, with the Christmas tree standing beside it. Santa would surely come down that chimney! That night my sister and I were to sleep in twin beds in the guest room. I had the ingenious idea that if we tied a string to our big toes and stretched it from one bed to the other, we could keep each other awake by pulling on the string when we thought the other was falling asleep! So much for that good idea. After several tugs, we both fell asleep at the same time!

I got a few responses after the Thanksgiving blog. PAUL MOTA wrote this:

"My daughter and the grandchildren spent a few days over Thanksgiving and even our son-in-law managed to arrive on Wednesday after dealing with pet problems in Houston. But we all had a great time and at our age, we have to cherish all the good times available to us. Our plans are to spend a few days in Houston over the Christmas holidays. I hope all of the Class of '57 have a great Christmas."

"Merry Christmas and a Harley New Year!" wrote TER COTHRAN. He was to take his lady friend (not on the Harley, I hope) this weekend to the Glendale Police Association's annual Christmas party, which he attends as often as he can. Then he is delivering Christmas gifts to his daughter and her husband, Amy and Paul.

Someone asked me what my Christmas plans are this year. Whoa! Do we have plans!! This year most of the family will meet at my daughter Carajean's home in Amarillo. I got a tentative count of around twenty who will be in attendance. My sister is too ill to travel, so her family won't be represented. One year we had over 30 sleep over. There were beds everywhere! I went to let the dog out through the laundry room, and discovered an air mattress next to the dog's bed. My great-nephew Justin had decided to come at the last minute, so he got the "dog house"! This was in 2000, and the year a lot of us got snowed in! It was also the year that the day everyone finally started to leave, a vicious stomach virus began to make the rounds. It was a memorable Christmas for many reasons!

My daughter's home is extremely large. So large that when they moved in, my granddaughter Ashlyn, who was only three years old, complained loudly about how far it was from her room in one wing to the kitchen, family room, and Mom and Dad's room in the other wing. She shortened that distance by riding her tricycle to get from one room to the other! In 2000, my dear mother who was suffering early stages of Alzheimer's kept getting lost trying to find her room. Once we found her at the door to the garage. She was puzzling over the Security Alarm buttons by the door. When I asked her what she was doing there, she said she was trying to open the door to her room! When I told her where she was, she said, "Oh! I thought this was a hotel."

There are five (5) fireplaces in their home. How confused Santa must be when he delivers the goods to that family! In 2000 he made a personal appearance on Christmas Eve, but the two youngest children were frightened by him, so he was asked to keep his visit secret in the future!

So many in the family are musical, that we started a tradition of singing Christmas carols and having everyone who plays an instrument perform for us when we are together.. Usually on Christmas Eve. Since we started this tradition, there are six more grandchildren (two are BOB and Ann's) added to our family. Carajean and her family play stringed instruments ~ Carrie plays viola, the two girls play violin, and her son plays cello. Her husband Branch took piano lessons, so maybe he will accompany us this year. My son Craig, who played guitar at Carajean and Branch's wedding, always delights us with Christmas music. Now his son Cameron plays guitar also, and has been requested to sing some operatic music (not accompanied by his guitar!) for his Aunt Carrie this Christmas. I remember the first Christmas he performed. Not having discovered his "voice" yet, he played a short piece for us on his harmonica! I'm not certain what the other "little" ones will do this year, but I'm certain they will perform in one way or another. I hear that Travis (age 6) and his little sister Kelly (age 3) have been learning a piece to play on the piano for us. The ones of us who are musically challenged will be more than happy to join in the chorus when the carols are sung!

During all the celebrations, BOB (BURTON) reigns king over Carrie's kitchen. (Although, Ann is the reigning queen of omelets, even flipping them into the air!) He is quite the gourmet cook, and most of the women are happy to relinquish the cooking to him. We do join in for cleanups, however, and I can be talked into making a salad or two, and maybe a vegetable casserole. I will bring my gingerbread men and decorated Christmas cookies for the little ones, fudge for the big boys, and we all usually join in to help create a gingerbread house for the annual contest held by the Archer clan. I am really looking forward to this family get-together, as you can probably tell.

One more thing before I close. DORIS (STOKES) AND DON WHITE have twin grandsons who are five months old now. When I went to get the flu vaccine in September, I ran into DORIS. Her daughter and those adorable twins, three months old at the time, were in the car. DORIS told me at the time that one of the babies had a stroke shortly after being born, but no effects had shown up yet. She recently emailed me the following: "My new grandsons will be five months old the seventeenth. Garison and Graham are their names. Garison had a stroke ~ we are not sure when, but we discovered it when he was three weeks old. He is doing okay for now, so please keep him in your prayers. We are doing fine. Hope you are the same. MERRY CHRISTMAS." May these beautiful babes be happy and healthy.

And may you all be happy and healthy now and throughout the coming year. As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us everyone."

Marilyn

POST-THANKSGIVING GREETINGS

I hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as I did. However, I hope you didn't put on the pounds like I did! I was so glad I took a pair of my "fat" jeans with me to Austin. As I prepared to make the trek home, those "fat" jeans were the only ones that I could button! I know I gained at least five pounds. Everywhere I went the desserts were so tempting. I ate pumpkin pie, French silk pie, peach cobbler, chocolate cloud cookies, and oh, so divine New York cheesecake. All in more than one sitting, of course. I also put away an inordinate amount of ham, turkey and dressing, sweet potato and apple casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, and assorted other vegetable casseroles. You know, it's fun being the guest at such feasts. That means you rarely do much of the cooking or planning. And sometimes you even miss the cleanup! More time to relax and eat.

We had some pretty big eaters at my son's house, as is evident from the following photo:

Here are some of the latest medical updates:

“I have not had any more heart problems; the monitor is in there just waiting for something to go wrong. Thank goodness I have had no problems. The battery is good for 3 years, so they plan to leave it in..”…ROSALYN URBANTKE HOELSCHER

"I will be dancing at my first granddaughter's wedding in December! The leg is doing great. Glad to hear all the rest are doing well, too."...BARB SHARPES BROOKS

JERLENE PIEL STEEL has also had good health news for two members of her family in recent months. One has had successful cancer treatment, and the other surgery on his knee. She had requested prayers for them.

In a recent blog post I wrote about WALTER and Diana THOMAS'S son, Gregory, undergoing treatment for a malignant pancreatic tumor. I am so happy to report that he has had successful surgery. Diana forwarded an email that Gregory's wife, Imelda, wrote to all their family and friends. It was a lengthy, heartwarming story of the events leading up to his hospital stay and the surgery. I want to share a small portion of what she wrote about their wait during the surgery:

“..And then I prayed. And then I texted most of you all to help me pray. And then guess what? God heard us all! His (the surgeon’s) assistant came back an hour or so later and said ‘They got it out! All of it!! It just slipped off the artery!!’ A miracle had been granted to us! I couldn’t believe it!! …Greg is in recovery now and will be for six weeks. It’s not been easy for him so far but I know we’ll get through it. The doctors think that this operation may have been curative for him. I witnessed a miracle!! I live with one!”…Imelda Thomas

I know all of you have been concerned about IRENE PIEL BATTS. I have good news to report. Not only is she feeling much better -- no longer feeling the side effects of the chemotherapy or radiation, but she is now buzzing around her house making plans for Christmas. There is only a small place that hasn't completely healed on her leg from the transplant area. This week, the best news of all -- she had the tracheotomy tube removed and they tested her swallowing of food-like substances. By the time you read this, she may be eating small amounts of food for the first time since her surgery. So far, she has been amazing in her ability to cope with all of this, and seems to be healing at a rapid pace. She will undergo more oral surgery, but it will be nothing like the major ordeal she went through in the last one. Please keep her in your prayers, and of course send thanks for all of the prayers answered thus far.

Well, guys, you know what's coming up next! I wish I could say I am prepared, but I'm afraid this year I am woefully behind on my Christmas preparations. I'm still in the afterglow of a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

It just keeps getting better and better. Keep the good stuff coming...and enjoy the holiday season we are about to experience!

Peace on earth,

Marilyn

ARMISTICE DAY 2008 -A.K.A. VETERANS DAY

J.F.Moragne (2nd from left) May 1952
San Antonio, TX

November 4th ~ Election Day ~ happened to be my dad's 90th birthday. I made the 3-hour drive to Mineral Wells to spend the day with him, and to reminisce about his 90 years on this earth. My daughter wanted me to take him to lunch on her credit card, so I asked where he would like to eat. Of all places, his favorite is Long John Silver in Weatherford. As we got settled into our booth to eat, we chit-chatted a bit. Toward dessert, I made the comment that I don't know how he keeps from being a butterball the way he eats anything he wants -- especially fried foods, and never gains weight. He informed me that he weighed the same now that he did when he was 18 years old and boxing for the Army. 137 pounds!

That started my questions. I knew he had some kind of title, but not what. It seems he was Lightweight Boxing Champ for his Regiment at Ft. Sam Houston. Somewhere in all my boxes of photos and memorabilia are some better pictures than what I have put on the blog this time, but these will suffice. Sorry, Dad. Wish I had planned this sooner. The pictures below were taken during his first tour of duty with the U.S. Army. He joined when he was only 17 years old. I'm not certain what the "uniform" on the left was for, surely it was not regulation! During this time, Dad said he weighed every morning. He couldn't afford to gain a pound. He did not want to be bumped into the Welterweight Division! Those guys were big!

He finished that three year stint, then married my mother and they had me and my sister before the Big War, WWII.

1st Tour of Duty ~ Ft. Sam Houston ~ Regimental Lightweight Boxing Champ

One thing led to another, and I remembered photos like these below from World War II. I think I mentioned in another blog that Dad never really wanted to talk about his war experiences when we were young. I thought this was a good time to ask. I knew he was a paratrooper, but didn't know the whole story. Really funny incidents took place when he was sent to Ft. Meade, Maryland waiting for deployment to the South Pacific. To entertain the soldiers, they held boxing matches. The winner would get a 3-day pass. Well, Dad's experience when he was a young soldier champion boxer served him well. He said he kept winning matches. He would have weekends off, then add on the 3-day pass for five days in a row. When he returned, he boxed for the next couple of days, won again, and again. He said the whole time he was there all he did was box and take leave.

Although Dad's Unit never made a combat jump, after paratrooper training in New Guinea they made a jump onto Okinawa, where they did a cleanup action on the caves in the mountains. Looking for anti-aircraft guns. They were there when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Japanese surrendered. His Unit was the second one sent into Japan for the Occupation.

With Occupation Forces ~ Japan 1945
First Sergeant Jarvis F. Moragne

At this point Dad was naming the villages they covered in the mountains. Good memory for 90 years old! I really wished I had had a tape recorder so I could get this straight. They sent patrols into the villages to destroy all the guns. As Dad was the oldest in his group of men, he was given the noncom rank of First Sergeant. Dad started grinning as he remembered how the Japanese didn't show any respect at all for the military unless they were officers. Noncoms didn't count. In order to get the cooperation of the villagers, the sergeants like my dad were given lieutenant bars to wear. He said as soon as the Japanese spotted bars on his shoulders, they began to bow and nod in deference to his "rank".

As you can see from the pictures, it was snowing heavily at the time they were there. At one village they met with the villagers at the public school. The village officials adamantly denied they had any guns at all. However, tracks in the snow led Dad and his men to the huge anti-aircraft gun they had just moved to hide from the Americans. He still laughs about that. The Kamikaze glider pilots trained in these same mountains, so another one of Dad's duties there was to destroy any of the gliders still around. They also went into the schools and looked for books on aerodynamics and destroyed them, too.

Suddenly Dad looked at me and said, "You know there were concentration camps there, too." Yes, I knew, because as a young child I had seen lots of photographs in his scrapbook of piles of pitiful looking bodies as well as bones and skulls. There were mass graves being dug in these pictures. Dad said only one of the camps had American POWs, and the first Unit to go into Japan released them and they were already gone when Dad's Unit arrived. There were four more -- all containing Chinese and Koreans in terrible physical condition. (Images of the Holocaust came to mind.) I said that must have been horrible! He looked at me and said, "Yes, but we had a job to do." (They had to release the prisoners and bury bodies.) I said, "What a terrible thing to witness at such a young age".. He proudly said, "I was 26 years old!" At that moment, I knew it was that young 26-year-old man in charge of men in their teens that spoke to me. "But Dad, think about it. Your grandsons are all older than that! You were just a kid!" He lowered his head, and those frail shoulders began to shake. I think for the first time, in that near empty fast food restaurant, my father allowed himself to feel what he really must have gone through at that terrible time. He and I both shed silent tears for that young man, who was strong and courageous for the sake of the younger men under his command at the time.

(Below) Master Sergeant Jarvis F. Moragne ~ 4th Army HQ ~ Ft. Sam Houston, TX
Exercise Long Horn ~ 3 April 1952

Dad was called up to serve his country one more time during the Korean Conflict. A small Army Reserve Unit in Bronte, Texas got him to join them - really against his wishes. Naturally, they were the first to be called up when fighting broke out. This time he spent his tour of duty at 4th Army Headquarters in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Although most of his work was Top Secret, I did learn many years later that he was one of only three Master Sergeants that General Eisenhower recruited to be on his staff when SHAPE was formed in Europe in 1951. My mother threw such a fit because we couldn't join Dad for a year (I think it was in Paris), that he turned it down. Of course, it also meant he would have had to sign on for more years of duty. He was anxious by now (at 33) to start his own business.

I know you all could tell stories of your fathers' military service to our country, and many of you have your own stories to relate. Here's a salute to all of them and all of you! We honor you. We love the soldiers, but I think we all can agree, we hate the wars!

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

I'd like to close this with a quote I stole from my son Craig's blog:

"The United States of America is still run by its citizens. The government works for us. Rank imperialism and warmongering are not American traditions or values. We do not need to dominate the world. We want and need to work with other nations. We want to find solutions other than killing people. Not in our name, not with our money, not with our children's blood." ~ Molly Ivins

Nor our husbands' nor our fathers'..
Marilyn

GOOD NEWS TIME

JIM & BETTY COWLISHAW
November 7, 2008

Every now and then we need to remember all the things we have overcome at our age. As our bodies “out-age” our minds, it’s easy to become a little negative and worry that we might be falling apart. Especially when we have suffered some tragic losses among our friends and family members. There have been many success stories among us over the past year or so. Here’s some of the “good stuff” that’s been happening:

NYDAH ELLET had knee surgery shortly after the reunion in ’07. Here’s what she has to say today about having had a double knee replacement: “Yes, I am dancing and my teacher says that I look stronger than ever. Also Yoga is in my life. I would recommend the surgery but only if one totally commits to the immediate walking and physical therapy. Otherwise, you had the surgery for nothing.”

JAMES HAYS had heart bypass surgery and may already have his pilot’s license back. This is what he recently wrote: “The ticker keeps on ticking like the Duracell bunny. Actually, I'm fixed for quite a while, probably years. I'm in more danger from jealous husbands (dream on).” James’s wife Kay also had a successful hip replacement not too long back.

JUNE HASH CURRY underwent back surgery last year that caused her to miss the reunion. This year she has undergone wonderfully successful physical therapy that has kept her from having to have additional surgery for upper back pain. She can now enjoy playing hours of bridge!

PEGGY VIRDEN SHARP had heart valve repair surgery shortly after the reunion last year. The last we talked, she had been taken off nearly all medication, and except for being slowed down a little, she is back to her normal, busy lifestyle.

JANICE AMARINE suffered from a fractured hip this past summer that crimped her style for a while, but she told me that has healed now.

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PEGGY BRANHAM KRUMLINDE had a brief scare with a health checkup a few months

ago that turned out to be nothing to worry about. More of her “good stuff” was a lucky “little” win on a slot machine.

ROSALYN URBANTKE HOELSCHER was in the hospital at the time of our Class Reunion with heart problems. Some of us spoke with her by telephone at that time. Since then, in spite of a couple of scary episodes, ROSALYN had a monitor implanted to regulate her heart rhythm. The last we spoke she felt this would be the resolution of some of the episodes she had suffered. She was well enough to celebrate her and Nolan’s 50^th Wedding Anniversary at the end of August, looking beautiful and healthy!

GENE ROUTH missed the reunion last year due to a broken ankle. The last report I had from him, he had mended nicely.

I’ve made inquiries of RODNEY FLANAGAN and BARBARA SHARPES BROOKS in regards to their respective knee surgeries. I am assuming “no news is good news” and they have put their new knees to good use!

IRENE PIEL BATTS is still being challenged by the treatments she has undergone in recent months. However, she is courageously fighting the good fight, and I feel she will head the next list of our success stories. Keep sending her loving energy and prayers.

While we’re at it, now is a really good time to count our blessings and give gratitude for all of the above successes. Who says “good stuff” doesn’t happen?

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Two remarkable things in the news recently left me in awe of where modern science is taking us. The first thing was last Sunday on 60 Minutes. Researchers have developed a way to put electrodes on the brain of patients who are paralyzed that enable them to actually use a computer by THINKING!! In one instance, they have actually surgically implanted the electrodes into a woman's brain. Still in a developmental stage, but already working, is a small computer on a wheelchair. They showed the woman able to operate the wheelchair with her thoughts from a distance! Soon she will be able to use it and get around unaided.

The possibilities of enabling paralyzed people to lead useful lives again - in some cases, walk again, and amazingly, in the future for amputees to be able to operate artificial limbs by thinking... Wellll, let me say I think this is nothing short of miraculous.

The next item that amazed me was this: “Scientists reported decoding the entire genetics of a cancer cell.” By doing this, they are looking at personalizing treatment for an individual's DNA makeup (one size does NOT fit all) and cure more cancers than ever. It is going to happen in our lifetime, folks!

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Election Day I set out early for Mineral Wells to spend the day with my dad, who turned 90 years of age. I want to tell you in another blog about that poignant visit. For now, let me say it was a magical day for me, and I kept getting sidetracked to take photos of all the beauty in our little part of the world. Here is one of my favorites: (Who needs New England?)

Bayou Road One Lane Bridge

Burkett, Texas

Oh yes, before I forget... The episode I had last November and the trip I took by helicopter are only a distant memory now. I take my daily aspirin and exercise more than I used to. More of a hindrance to my everyday life has been the horrendous reaction I had to the chemicals used for ridding the orphan kittens and then my house of fleas this past summer. I just finished the third round of steroids. I'm happy to report that I no longer have to wear gloves to carry out my everyday activities! I'm tempted to try to catch up on all I had to leave undone, but will be more than satisfied to be able to do this blog and type answers to my emails without the gloves! The work will be there another day. Thanks to those of you who sent me such good wishes for my recovery. JUNE, you in particular!

A side note: My beautiful ballerina granddaughter Audrey who also plays the violin so sweetly I cry, has decided to major in "Environmental Science" and pre-med. Environmental illnesses are causing more of our ills than ever before, according to my Dr. McKinnon.

Before I go, I want to send condolences to NANCY THOMPSON BAKER, who lost an older brother this week. She is in Houston for his funeral as I write this.

Let me hear from all of you. I know there has been a lot of "good stuff" going on in YOUR lives ~ hasn't there?

Peace and love,

Marilyn