Memories

Every once in a while I look at the family picture taken as we celebrated a lot of October birthdays and anniversaries on October 8, 2005. Betty (the wife) and Jimmy (son) were still living, and we had a glorious celebration with all the family and many extended family. Betty died shortly after in December of leukemia, and Jimmy died from a lung cancer he had been fighting for a number of years the following August.

I have spent most of this morning listening to a couple of CD's nephew Mark made at the time of our birthdays in October (mine on the 15th hers on the 16th), and in late November in the Hospital. (Less than a week before her death.) I listen to these recordings from time to time just to hear that beautiful well modulated voice, and to hear her chuckle and at times laugh uproariously. I often think of that voice when I have to listen to some female TV announcer with a high pitched nasal twang.

I can listen now without to much grief, but I do miss her. Just today I noticed how many blooms are on the roses in front of the house. I can't bring you a rose, my dear. "Oh, relax," I hear her say. "I can see them from up here. They are lovely," And last night I noticed the single bloom on one of her African Violets. A single bloom just as she was the single beauty in my own life. I love you, dear, and I miss you still.

Reading

I've been enjoying my Amazon Kindle reader. So far I've been able to read Moby Dick, Misquoting Jesus, 100 Years of Solitude, and Undres Me in the Temple of Heaven. I'm beginning to read "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" which was suggested by Christopher (grandson). I got the Kindle toward the end of June. The most frustrating part of it is that it list percent read, but no page numbers. I did learn the "search" technique the other day so if I know what I'm looking for it can be found. I'm sure there is a lot more about it I will find out, but at the present it does provide a "lightweight" source to hold and read. Some older books can be downloaded for 99 cents. Others have cost me $9.99. Two of my children gave me Amazon Gift cards for Father's day. There is still some money left in that till. Any suggestions for good reads?

Dances With Wolves

Instead of turning off the TV tonight after the evening news and Jeopardy I looked at the schedule and decided to watch Dances With Wolves. I'd seen this when it first came out, and remembered that it was pretty much set in territory I'm familiar with. Costner plays an Army officer who is assigned to a wilderness post. When he gets there it is vacant. There is a Sioux tribe nearby and he eventually makes friends with them, and pretty much abandons his post since no one else ever shows up. He learns Lakota and eventually meets up with a "white" gal who has been adopted into the tribe. She is in mourning and cannot accept any expressed interested from Dances With Wolves until her adopted father (the Chief) says that she no longer has to mourn. To shorten my point they marry and he returns to the Post to recover his journal. It is now fully occupied by an advance group preparing to attack Natives. They take Dances With Wolves hostage, but are essentially wiped out by Sioux who come there to rescue their friend. Dances With Wolves decides that he had better leave the tribe as the US soldiers will be looking for both him and the tribe. He talks with his wife about her choice. She essentially says that he has made the choice and that "my place is with you." Here's the point: When I decided that I must leave Iowa and go to Seminary in Massachusetts I talk with my dear wife about this and all she said was, "You'd better take me with you." It is easy to see that I truly related to that part of the movie.

I can also recommend it as well worth watching.

Farmer's Market

Saturday morning is when the Billings family gets together for breakfast and visit. This is typically at brother John and Jean's place. Today (8/1/09) we gathered here for sourdough waffles. My starter needed to be "started" for renewal, and everyone seems to enjoy the waffles. In addition to John and Jean, Mark and Rosanna and their dogs were here. This gave me a chance to show-off my new Kimble. It got a good workout. I had set the sourdough Thursday afternoon so it had a chance to renew well. I put some pecan chips in, but for the most part they were to small to be noticed. Next week I'll be going over to visit with Ann and Bill. Pete will be west of town (Molt) participating in the NAMI bike ride raising funds for the National Association for Mental Illness.

Right now I'm doing the dishes and washing the sheets off my bed. They are silky and won't stay on. I wake up in the middle of the night with no cover save the PJ's. The blanket has slid off to the floor and then the top sheet. I'll put the old ripped cotton one on now. Betty repaired the rips many years ago. It stays!