TEACHERS, PADDLES, WET PANTS & MORE ~ PART I

EDITOR’S NOTE: The last blog post generated a lot of comments from the guys. Since I am not sure how many of you read the “Comments” on the blog, I thought you might like to read some of the emails I’ve received . First I received the following from JIM COWLISHAW:

"Times have changed. I remember growing up also in a family that considered the *colored* families a different class. We had a couple of folks that helped us. One was a grand old woman that helped mother with the kids and housework. I was really young, about four or five, we called her n***Polly. Her husband helped dad round the house. We called him n***Jessie. What a put down, now that I recall. Wasn't that a shame?

When I was moved to Winters, I had two black men working in the lumber yard. R.L. Johnson and Lewis Johnson. They were paid $100 a month. This was 1971. After I got the feel of the operation, I was to report the changes that should be made to make the operation productive. One, and the first request, was to double their salary. This caused some concern with the upper management, but was allowed. I told them that these two men were so poor and downbeaten that they couldn't even look for other work. I recall going into the back room of the cafe, having coffee with R.L. because he was not allowed in the front.

Times have changed, my upbringing taught me to look down on these folks, and it is a daily reminder to change.

Good work on the blog. Good things are happening. Thanks!"...JIM

EDITOR: I replied to JIM that it took a lot of good people committing acts like his that helped create the United States we live in today. Thanks, JIM, for being conscientious during a time that it was not popular to do so. Especially in small town Texas.

Somehow, some of you have had memories of your elementary school days surface ,and started an ongoing dialogue. I am posting the first of these now. Believe me when I say, there are more to come! If any of you wish to join them, and share your childhood memories of going to school in Ballinger, please feel free to do so.

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JAMES HAYS sent the following email:
“Great to hear of IRENE's progress and good news. Perhaps our prayers have been answered. I know that it has been a tough row to hoe, and I know that Irene must be relieved. About ten years ago, I got word from medical news channels that now (then) over 50% of malignancies had been cured and that’s excluding skin cancer. (I fix one of these every month or so and that’s on a part-time basis.) I hope Irene will continue to heal and stay in that top 50%.

Good to hear from JUNE and her family. I wish the newlyweds all the happiness.

GLENN, I’m sorry to hear about Neuman Smith. Grider thought a lot of him, and he was a storehouse of information on Runnels County history. Perhaps they are comparing historical notes now and looking down on us and laughing at our feeble efforts.

BILL, give us an update on your broken foot. I hope you heal it up OK. As I told you, my earliest recollection of you was the second grade, and you were stumping around on crutches and braces from polio – so you don’t need too much damage to your legs!” JAMES 

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The following subsequently came in from BILL KING: 

”I agree it is great to hear about IRENE's positive progress in her battle. Isn't it great to live in a time where progress is being made in the treatment of most all cancers? IRENE, do you remember Emmitt Eggemeyer? He remembers you well. I see him and talk with him a couple of times a month and just talked with him tonight. He went through cancer treatment in his mouth about four years ago and is doing fine now. Just as JAMES said, I also hope you stay in that top 50%.

I didn't know Neuman Smith very well, but we never like to hear about the loss of someone's relative. The one thing I do remember about him was him burning up the road at about 30- or 40-mph in his old car that he had for so many years. I think the car was about a 1950 Plymouth, wasn't it GLENN?

My old broken foot is doing great and never hurt as much as I expected. I have ditched the crutches, but will have to wear the boot for another three or so weeks.

JAMES, I think it was the third grade when I had polio and had the braces and crutches. I think it was in Mrs. Williams' class. I had polio in about late August of 1948 and didn't get to go back to school until somewhere around November, just a short time before my tenth birthday. After going back to school I had my own personal servant by the name of JERRY EOFF. JERRY was working on a scout merit badge, so every day just before lunch he would go get my food tray and bring it back to the room for me, and I would eat in the classroom while everyone else went to lunchroom. Thanks to JERRY for his help. Later, as I could walk on the crutches better I would play baseball by batting and having someone run the bases for me. Just enjoyed batting and didn't have to put out all of the effort to run. 

I don't have anything but good memories as to how I was treated by my teachers and classmates during those times.”…BILL KING

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This came in from JERRY EOFF:

“To cousin (she's Shirley's cousin-in-law removed) IRENE: Glad to hear you have the beast on the run.

I suppose I should likewise pass on a good word for our bunch. 

Mother warned me early on that I would likely get some teasing, and (said to) just say that the scar was "from my second operation" whatever that was. I didn't know what she was talking about. However I never had to use the ammunition. I can remember no time in the entire Ballinger school experience that the subject was ever brought up by a classmate, or school mate either. I have talked to and heard about others elsewhere with much different stories. Of course I also had a better "2nd operation" than many. My dad scrubbed in on it. He used to do them at the Shriner Hospital in Dallas.

A pretty good place to grow up and a good bunch to do it with.”…JLE 

P.S. BILL, 'twern't no merit badge involved, just doin' my good turn, daily as it turned out, and felt important to boot. Quite welcome. That bug hit a lot of kids back then and was feared nearly as much as cancer. You happened on a worse dose than many did and not as bad as a few.”…JERRY

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Now it’s GLENN SMITH’S turn to jump in:

“JAMES, thanks for the kind words about Neuman. You too, BILL. ‘Til you reminded me, I had forgotten about Neuman's '50 Plymouth. He always kept it waxed and drove slowly. I think he drove it about 25 years, and that it met some sort of untimely end. 

BILL, I had Mrs. Williams for 2nd grade. She made me sit in the back of the room because I talked too much. Were we in the same class? Hope I didn't get you in trouble. 

I’m so glad you recounted how JERRY brought you lunch. JERRY was such a Zane Grey quiet hero – always doing the right thing, watching and helping out when no one knew.

IRENE, keep getting well and feeling better and better.”…GLENN

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To which BILL KING responded:

“OK, JAMES, JERRY, GLENN, and IRENE, I need for all you to help me shake the cobwebs out of my brain. I went to the first grade in the Blanton country school where we had 8 grades in the one room. DORIS STOKES (WHITE) and I were the only first graders along with a few others scattered across the other grades. DORIS and I had a lot of recess time. Now here is where I need your help. If Mrs. Williams was the second grade teacher, who were the third, fourth and fifth grade teachers? Was Mrs. Loika the third grade teacher? You don't have to remind me who Mrs. Bridwell (spelling?) was! She was the grade school principal that ruled the lunch room by twisting ears. I remember her twisting my ear in the lunch room for talking and I would almost bet that each and every one of you had the same experience. I think it only happened to me once and I thought I had lost an ear so I was very careful from then on. Remember we could not talk a lot at the lunch table except to ask for something to be passed to us and when we did talk it was in a quite voice. Haven't things changed? 

GLENN, I don't know if we were in the same class or not. If you talked too much in Mrs. Williams class I know you received an ear twisting in the lunch room. 

JERRY, you and I had to deal with our own situation that could have been very devastating to either of us if others had chosen to make it so. I guess neither of us gave it a lot of thought since no big deal was made of it. Aren't you grateful we went to a small town school with schoolmates that were understanding? I know I am. GLENN, I agree with you about the type person JERRY is. 

Looking forward to your answers.”…BILL

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JAMES HAYS responds:

“BILL, as I remember it, there were three first, second, and third grade classrooms and we were shuffled like a box of dominoes every year. We only got together at recess or lunch. I don’t remember who I had in the first grade, but I had Mrs. Johnson for the 2nd grade; she advised me to study medicine because of poor handwriting. I finally followed her advice. I think I had Mrs. Loika in the 3rd(?) grade.

I had contracted polio in June 1949, and my dad and I went in the same ambulance to Shannon Hospital, where Grider was convalescing -- all three of us at the same time. Grider came close to dying, but he recovered faster. I missed the first 6 weeks of the fifth grade and went mornings only the second six weeks. I recovered enough that one day that spring I got tired of SANDRA PATTERSON’s pigtails knocking my pencils off of the desk. One Friday, just before school was out, one of her pigtails somehow entered the inkwell. It was a magnificent study in capillary action. She said her mother was not amused. Sandra turned out to be a very attractive lady.”…JAMES

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Then I heard from GLENN SMITH again:

”BILL, I had Miss Dimmer for first grade. I believe that Mrs. Bridwell was not only the Principal but that she also taught first grade. I don't remember getting any ear twist from Mrs. Bridwell, although I do remember fearing her. 

I don't recall who the other first grade teacher was, and I don't remember any of the other pupils in Miss Dimmer's room. One afternoon a month or two before the year ended, we were each to cut out a small figure from a page in our workbooks and paste it onto a spot on a different page. I had my cutout on the desk. When I reached for it to do the pasting, it was gone. Of course I should have told Miss Dimmer and I thought about it, got up to go tell her--but fear stopped me. In desperation I decided that since someone had stolen my cutout that I'd steal one. I sneaked one from the desktop of a girl. She did what I should have--she told the teacher, who flew into a tirade of generalized reprimand with an endless commentary about the horrible person who did the unthinkable and unforgivable theft. I was soooo ashamed, wanted to confess and beg for mercy, but it was obvious that would lead to Miss Dimmer's dragging me down the hall to Mrs. Bridwell's office. Rumor had it that the Principal had an enormous paddle--with big holes in it to cut down on drag--that could flatten a grown up. I didn’t breathe easy ‘til the year ended.

(My belated apologies to the classmate whose cutout I swiped. And no hard feelings to the one who took mine.) 

Mrs. Williams in second grade seemed less threatening to me. She did move me to the back of the room, and I believe another boy with me. Then she dragged me by the ear into the hallway and left me there to think about talking in class. She dragged the other boy out also. I keep thinking that was you, BILL, but I am not at all certain that it was. I got taken or sent to the hallway several times that year. 

Third grade was a really bad experience for me. Miss Loika was in her first or second year of teaching. I had ridden the bus during the first and second grades, but at the beginning of third grade, my father drove to town every morning with the milk from about ten cows. He took me to school but only after he left the milk at the creamery. I was late every morning by about ten minutes. "WELL!!!!!!!! Old Grandpa has decided to grace us with his presence," was Miss Loika's loud greeting as I tried to slip into my seat. "We're so glad you decided to join us, Grandpa." Some variant of that comment, in a sarcastic voice, greeted me every morning. That year lasted forever. I so feared Miss Loika that I wet my pants rather than ask to go to the bathroom. I started developing pretend stomachaches after lunch. I walked to my Grandmother's house on 7th street, and enjoyed her stories until late in the afternoon. "Glenn needs to apply himself more" was in the report card comment section nearly every grading period. 

Fourth grade was with Mrs. Caskey, the Superintendent's wife. She saved my life. She approved of me, asked me questions that I knew the answers to, and let me flourish. It was enough to get me through the next thirteen years of schooling. I don't remember much of the fifth and sixth grades or of junior high, except for the commanding figure of Mr. Funderburk. He put on a gruff exterior, but I always thought he was kind and a gentleman. Of course there were some very good teachers in BHS. I got through college on what several of them taught us.

BILL, I remember being with my father at Curt Bedoe's service station in August before third grade. Someone told him about you having polio. I remember feeling scared for you. I was afraid you were not going to make it. I was happy to see you when you finally got back to school. Of course you were quite a figure with your braces and crutches. 

JAMES, I suppose you and I must have met in Miss Loika's room. I was so traumatized that I don't remember.”…GLENN 

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EDITOR'S NOTE: By now I could see these guys were really getting into this trip down memory lane. This is when I asked them if they minded if I posted this lengthy back and forth discussion on the blog. All agreed, except for this humble statement from JERRY EOFF: 

"I'm not sure about exposing my apparent nomination to sainthood to the world on the 'net though". 

BILL KING quickly shot back: 

"Maybe the nomination to sainthood came a little too quickly. I had this vision of 2 or 3 guys lowering the air pressure on a 1955 or so Buick and putting it on the railroad track with success less than expected. Sure glad the Abilene Southern didn't appear on the horizon. Do you recall anything about that incident?"...BK 

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JERRY: “I remember less about that than Ronald Funderburk and me in his Model A. We got about halfway from the 4-mile crossing road of the railroad near GLENN's, and none closer to town before we lost it. Even bounding the ties, I suspect the Abilene Southern Bullet Express would 

never have caught us. I think the Buick ('53 actually) experience was so much a flop that the details escape me. I think we just made a few feet in it, and never even cleared the road??? 

Several things like that, handed down in tales from preceding generations, never seemed to work the way they were presented ~ such as methylene blue and others."...JLE 

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BILL: "I guess I never heard about the Model A incident. 

I don't remember who was the third person with you and me when we had the hair-brained idea to put that Buick on the railroad tracks. I remember letting a little amount of air out of the tires so they would conform to the rails and proceeded to line up for the coming disaster. We were at the first railroad crossing just down the road from the one-mile crossing. The first few feet went well, probably less than 50 feet but it all fell apart. I think we just cleared the louvered cattle guard on the track when the car fell from the rails. That Buick was very heavy and low to the ground and we thought we were stuck. We were able to push and drive the car off of the rails without tearing out the undercarriage and came out of a gate to get back on the road. If the car had fallen off of the rails over the cattle guard area I think we would have waited for the Abilene Southern to remove it.

If our parents had found out about this we would not have lived to write about it."...BILL

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TO BE CONTINUED 

Tell me this is not "good stuff"! 

MARILYN

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