Life is for the Living

This country is in deep trouble because of unwise moves insisted on by our current President. Nevertheless as I watched the Senate and the House yesterday two items were being argued neither of which are of earth shaking importance. The house defeated a Resolution calling for a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex unions. The Senate and the House have both agreed to the use of frozen embryo’s for stem-cell research. So today Bush vetoed legislation which a majority of our Congress approved. I find it hard to accept a man talking about protecting life of the embryo as if it were already a living being when he sends young men and women into harm’s way on the false belief that the US is in danger from a foreign power.

Early in our marriage my wife had a miscarriage before the 2nd month. I can’t tell you what happened to the lost tissue, but we never thought of it as losing a child. At about the 8th year of marriage she lost twins at 6 months. They survived about 24 hours and were properly buried with Christian burial conducted by a Pastor friend. These two had breathed the breath of life. I guess that my belief is that LIFE begins with that first breath. In Genesis we read: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7 KJV) Up to that point there is only possibility. I admit I was a bit surprised yesterday to hear Orrin Hatch supporting the Bill. Basically he seemed to be saying that we need to deal with life as we here on earth have it. Children and others who have need of great medical discoveries are certainly as important as an embryo which may end up discarded. To call for the “adoption “ of thousands of such cells is preposterous.

Mr. President, let science and medicine alone.

Love Letter Number One

Last night I looked through some old letters Betty and I had saved over the years. Here is the first one I wrote to her from Cincinnati, OH after I had gone to the University for some graduate study - pre-planned. This picture was taken that same time period by her cousin. Good things do happen on first dates. (Betty and Harriet are the same gal - Harriet Elizabeth)

July 26. 1948

Dearest Harriet:-

Here I am the 1st day after our 1st date a thousand miles away and only the opportunity to write you. But letters are better than nothing; and after all two weeks are not really such a long time except in a relative sense. And relatively speaking it ‘peers like about an eon or two.

It was wonderful being last night with you and learning for sure that which I’d already suspected. Honestly, I didn’t think it could happen to me. Since a none to happy high school experience I’d tho”t myself immune. Women were lovely playthings, but, oh, the change a wonderful girl like you can bring about,. To toy with you would be sacrilege, to forget you would be akin to forgetting that there is a God, or that I had a mother. And I don’t forget important things easily. (Of course I locked the car last night with the key in-side. I left the house today without my checkbook, and it’’s a mile and a half from here to the University. ) It’s pretty big, but at least the Psychology Dept. will know me. Also left my pen at home - or lost it so this is a 98 cent Special ball point. (I’m in the bathtub under water writing this.) [Joke]

Classes start tomorrow - if I start writing Psychology to you it’ll just be an excuse to review the stuff while also writing you. Conscientious Student, you know. Besides there’s a greater incentive to make good now.

Oh, Harriet, Harriet, I love you
Love you more than pen and ink can tell.
Love that smile, those bright and
sparkling eyes.
Love the things you stand for,
purity and light
And love you because of them.

And when your soft, low voice,
The voice angels must speak with,
Says “Jim” I thrill within my soul
For low and sweet it says also
“I love you.”

Well, that wasn’t supposed to be a poem, but it expresses me tho’ts to youward.
I’ve written John & Jean and told them that we plan eventually to be wed, but told them to keep it under their hats for a while; not that I care who knows, but would like to hear your reaction to any publicity.

Am enclosing a picture I happen to have with me, with the fervent hope that you will do the same. It isn’t to good. I think it flatters me, but Aunt Bertha says I’m better looking that that. (God bless her.)

It’s 5 PM and I must shower and shave before 6 as Joe Litchenstein is coming by for dinner. He’s my colleague at Marshall in Psychology. So I’ll close for today.

Love you, Jim

A Poem

I was looking for something else months ago and found this poem. I think it might have been something to do with Grant Wood. Anyway the thing takes true meaning for me now.


A World of Seeming

It is a world of seeming:
The changeless moon seems changing ever,
The sun sets daily, but sets never.
So near the stars and yet so far;
So small they seem, so large they are;
It is a world of seeming.
And so it seems that she is dead,
Yet so seems only; for instead,
Her life is just begun; and this -
Is but an empty chrysalis
While she, unseen to mortal eyes,
Now wins her way in brighter skies -
Beyond this world of seeming.
- H. A. Blood in the Century.

DAILY NEBRASKA STATE JOURNAL, LINCOLN, SUNDAY 5 JUNE 1887

Musings

Well, it has been a tough week here both in regards to the heat and the bullish attitude in the Stock Market. The former has been well above average all week, and the latter has sunk. I really only keep track of the Market on weekend my portfolio is down about $3400 since last Friday. Interestingly enough it is slightly above what is was 2 weeks ago. This afternoon the temperature was at 96 with humidity at 11%. I’ve spent most of the week in the basement, and for the last couple of nights I’ve pull the light cover up before morning.

I’ve just finished watching the evening news, got some supper (do I ever miss the cook), ate while watching Jeopardy and then turned to the Seattle Mariners baseball game until Monk came on. Now I have an hour or so until Becker. Don’t really watch much else on TV these summer nights.

Between bouts of updating my Quicken data I have read further in Yancy’s “Disappointment with God.” His main point at this time seems to be that in our hurt it is not that God is not fair, it is simply that life is not fair. Good people die sometimes painful death and good people have their houses burn down as we are witnessing now in much of the West including Montana. Years ago I was teaching a class which I labeled Healthy Personality. One Spring Semester there was a hugh fire just north of Billings in the Roundup area. One of the students had her house and all her belongings destroyed. After dealing with the shock of the loss she told me that it was the best thing that ever happened to her. “Now I don’t have any reason to stay . I have the freedom to move on with my life.”

I suppose that that is the attitude we all need to have. --Move On --

Live Baseball

It was a good outing last night with Pete. We went to one of his favoriate eateries - the Rock Pile, and then to the Mustangs baseball game against Idaho Falls. (Free tickets from the Manager of the restaurant) It was a close game and tied at the end of 9. We left at that point, but listened on the radio as the Ponies got the win in the bottom of the 10th. Billings leads the Northern Division of the Pioneer League and Idaho Falls leads the Southern Division. Pete saw a number of people he knows, I saw only one. I had pretty much forgotten about all of the young kids who are at these games with their parents and in some cases Grandparents. And I found out that I am not able to follow the ball as well as I used to. Probably to much TV and instant replays.

I am still having trouble with my Quicken software. After re-entering all my 2006 data for both checking accounts and for the credit cards the damn thing screwed up again and I am not able to find the update. Maybe I’ ll give it one more try and then try some other program. It does fill in the hours - and I do mean hours.

Maddening Monday

Now to more mundane matters. Last night I found a skinless chicken breast in the freezer. That in the rotisserie plus a can of green beans, some lettuce/tomato salad and some packaged rice made dinner for Pete and myself - with his help. Tonight we are planning on going to watch our local pro-baseball team. For those who who don't know the Billings Mustangs are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. They are playing some pretty nice winning ball this season.

The most mundane is the fact that I somehow screwed up my financial program again and have spent most of the day re-entering date from hard copies. I have the checking accounts up to date at least.

Oh well. So much for the computer age!!##**@@@!!^

I wrote something the other day about how some of the songs from South Pacific had reminded me so much of the loss of my wife, Betty. My brother-in-law responded later that this also happens to him in remembrance of his sister who had died 25 years ago. Its only been 7 months, so it doesn’t take much for me to remember the good times and all that we meant to each other. Near the end of Tim Russert’s book about his Father and his own journey into TV he tells of the death of the 17 year old adopted son of his former boss at NBC. Russert called the man to express his sympathy. The father is reported as saying: “I don’t know how to deal with it. I had a wonderful, robust, healthy boy on Tuesday he got sick on Wednesday, and he died on Thursday.” Since the lad was adopted Russert at one point in the conversation said: “What if God had come to you and said, ‘Michael, I’m going to make you an offer. I will give you a . . . son for 17 years then it will be time for him to come home.” You would have made that deal in a second, right?”

I then thought of the over 56 years of the gift of love which was mine, and I wouldn’t exchange them for anything. To quote Russert further (he had a strong Roman Catholic upbringing) death “is God’s design, God’s plan.” He blessed me for longer than the lifetime of many including two of my own brothers. Today I picked up Philip Yancy’s book “Disappointment with God”. He starts with a visit with a young man who is giving up on God because “life isn’t fair.” I will have to admit that in my grief I have had the same thoughts. I remember being reminded of the wedding script where the clergy says “What God has joined together let no man put asunder.” And I railed within myself to the effect that while no man should separate the two God had, himself, done it. “It is God’s design, God’s plan.” I find it hard to believe that this old guy lives on in spite of having had a heart attack at 33 years of age and by-pass surgery twice. And Betty says to me one Sunday morning “Take me to the Clinic”. And in two weeks she is dead. My comfort is that she did not suffer long and most of our family were here to visit her at the hospital. 80 beautiful years and including our engagement over 56 of them I was privileged to share.

Sesame Steet

This is supposed to come up readable. Let's see!

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Another Monday

Not a lot going on in this life since brother Lee and his wife visited in mid-June. It was good to see them again this summer after our periodic Family Reunion last Summer. I am reminded that this time last year I was on the road coming back to Billings with Pete and Betty after the Reunion and a short visit with her family in Ceredo, WV. Traveling across the West on a holiday week-end did not prove to be all that bad. We stopped in Des Moines, IA one night, visited the Amana Colonies on the way there. The next night we were in Mitchell, SD and visited the Corn Palace. On the way to Gillette, WY we stopped at Rapid City for a short trip up the mountan to visit the "Presidents". What a rude awakening. The place has now been throughly commercialized.

The last few days I've managed to finish "The Secret Supper" by Javier Sierra and the "Wisdom of our Fathers" by Tim Russert. I am also almost through "Big Russ and Me" by little Timmy. It is amazing how much the upbringing of that kid in an Irish Roman Catholic setting reminds me of my own childhood in a Conversative West Virginia Baptist environment.

Tonight Pete is getting supper. I took him out last night rather than do the cooking myself.

Peace!

Visionary Betty

Shortly after our first child, Ken, was born in February 1950 I went off to graduate school at Penn State. In the past week I find that I am inordinately glad of that fact. I have found a small suitcase full of letters which we wrote back and forth that year. As a matter of fact there are numerous such letters from B. Clarkson to James R. Taylor which were sent to me in Cincinnati, OH just after we were engaged and I was studying at the University there the summer of 1948. There are also letter from Harriet (that was what I first knew her as and what I continued to use in personal contact) Taylor to James R. [Her family called her Betty to distinguish her from her Granny, Harriet, and her Grandma Clarkson - Lizzie.] Most every body else called her Betty and she was somewhat more comfortable with that name when addressed by others. The point is I have those letters now to bring me closer to her in my time of sorrow.

One I read today is particularly remarkable. It was written November 29, 1950. She talks about picking up “a couple of those house plans at the bank the other day. There was a wonderful few hours of dreaming. Someday -- maybe one like this. This one is mostly windows-particularly the Living room. A nice fire place, big windows, a compact kitchen, and a possible 3 bedrooms, and the big terrace makes it attractive. Pick us a Sate, a county, a city, and here we go.” What is so remarkable is that in November 1964 we were in Montana, in Yellowstone County, and in the city of Billings when we actually bought that house. Fourteen years later. There it is, above. Taken October 9, 2005 with family visiting as we celebrated Betty’s 80th birthday, my 81st, Paul’s and Louise’s 10th Anniversary and Jim and Cec’s 20th Anniversary. Along with Pete, Lisa’s and Cecilia’s birthdays also in October.

Concert

Some how or other there is supposed to be a picture here. I've just looked at the 'Preview" and indeed it is there twice. This is at Pioneer Park and is a picture of part of the thousands who were at the Symphony in the Park yesterday in Billings. Pete tells me that he was down near the yellow tent. I never would have found him as I was way up above. The picture was taken with the telephoto option. I didn't stay much because I saw no one I know and could enjoy the concert with, and the first number really sounded like the Orchestra was still warming up. That is probably a poor thing to say just because it wasn't what I was expecting to hear, but that was the impression I was getting. At any rate I had to park at least a half mile from the Park and just went on back to the car and went on home to read, and to watch Becker at 9:30 pm. Then the news and then to bed.

I'm reading Tim Russert''s latest book with notes from many people giving their memories of their fathers. My last memory of my father who died while I was in Basic Training in 1943. He was 59. The last thing I remember his saying at the depot as we prepared to leave was some regret about sending his twin sons off to war, bu that one "must render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

Letters

Wonder of wonders! I have been cleaning out the garage trying to decide what might be eligible for a garage sale, and what could be thrown in the trash. In the process I have come across a small overnight case which is full of letters from the past. I found one set that I wrote to Betty from Cincinnati right after we were engaged. I had gone to do some grad study at the University to support my teaching at Marshall. That was 58 years ago this July. I also came across an invitation to my ordination to the Christian Ministry on June 27, 1958 That is tomorrow - 48 years ago. I remember saying once to Betty that she should not be surprised if she woke up some day and found that she was married to a preacher and not a teacher. It took 3 years as an Instructor in Psychology at Marshall, 1 1/2 years of graduate study at Penn State and 4 years as a Clinical Psychologist in Iowa before I answered that call and enrolled at Andover-Newton Theological School. A quick look at the letters show that she was a regular correspondent while I was at Cincy, and when she was staying with her parents while I was at Penn State. Later when she was able to visit family and I had to stay on the job we wrote our love to each other often and with passion. I’ve been able to read some of the letters today, and will look them over from time to time. I suspect that my sense of organization will find me organizing them into some sort of “time frame”. It didn’t help my composure this afternoon when I read Tim Russert’s paragraphs about his mother’s death just a few months before Betty died. At least he and his siblings had a chance to tell her good-bye.

South Pacific

Several weeks ago I caught the tail end of a Carnegie Hall Concert presentation of South Pacific with Reba McIntire, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Alex Baldwin in lead roles. It was delightful and I learned that it would be out on DVD in June. The original production was apparently done in June 2005. Well, I finally tracked it down and last night (6/21/06) I watched it. It is certainly worth the price of admission, but I never thought that an old Rogers and Hammerstein musical would bring tears to my eyes. Two songs in particular caught me right in the heart. “Some Enchanted Evening.” Find a stranger - no. But an enchanted evening, yes! We ate supper at Grandmother Taylor’s house with a bunch of relatives including Aunt Bertha who, as we left to go to Church that Sunday evening, assured me that the family found her “likable”. “We like her, Jim,” she said. When I took her home we sat on the porch and when the fire whistle blew we somehow had to go out and find the fire. It was a lumber yard in the next town. When we got back we talked some more and when I finally kissed her I blurted out: “You are going to marry me, aren’t you?” That was in July and we were married the following April. “When you have found her, never let her go.” That lasted for over 54 years, but she is gone. Gone from this life, but not from my heart.

The second song was near the end of the second act when Emile sings “This Nearly Was Mine.” “One love to be living for, one girl for my dreams, one partner in paradise” Yes. If there is paradise we had to have a share of it. But then the words sung is deep sorrow: “Close to me heart she came, only to fly away. Now I am alone still dreaming of paradise.”

The play, of course, ends well and Emile and Nellie are together. I’m sure that I’ll have more to say about eternity some time in the future.

MARYLAND VISITORS

Interesting past few days. Last Saturday we met brother Lee and his wife, Irene, at the airport. They had flown in from the Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport to Billings. The two hour time delay has been with them all week. Since they plan to be here only for one week they don’t seem to be inclined to adjust to Mountain Time. Sunday evening our Mark and Rosanna (nephew) invited all to their place for a cookout. A number of my own children were in town to visit with their distant relative so there was a nice crowd out on Blue Creek. Jim and Cec with Natalie were in from Dickinson, ND; Annie and Bill were here from over in Powder River County (130 miles to the East); and Ken came down late from Helena MT. Pete, of course, lives here in Billings with me. In addition brother John and Jean were with us along with their daughter, Lisa and her husband, Dennis. It was a good family gathering.

Monday many of us were able to go visit the new Visitor’s Center at Pompey’s Pillar which is about 40 miles east of Billings. Most of them climbed the stair case past William Clark’s signature and some to the top of the sandstone rock pillar which Clark named. On Tuesday John and Jean took the Marylanders to the Big Horn Battlefield where Custer met his demise. That evening was able to take them out to the Feedlot Restaurant in Shepherd which is about 20 miles from my driveway. Betty and I had taken Sister Dorothy Ann and Edward there a few years ago.

I’m looking forward to being with the visitors tomorrow and showing them some of Billings which is now over 100,000 population. It was interesting seeing in the Huntington WV newspaper this morning that the hometown is losing population and is now around 49,000.

Memories

Every once in a while someone will say something to me that reminds me of how much Betty meant to them and why. I have no reason to be surprised that her life touched so many. Usually it was because of the joy she had in living. Yesterday a former collegue in the Psych Department at Rocky simply stated that when we finishing a brief visit. Linda simply said: “I truly miss Betty. You know, the kind of person it was fun to be with.” Last week a young mother from the Church told me that it was Betty who first made her feel welcome. Another friend wrote after I had given a donation in honor of her mother who was also a long time friend of ours. Bonnie wrote: “She always loved you and Betty and loved to work in the kitchen with Betty. She would often remark that Betty was always singing and happy . . . .” That, of course, called to mind that the kitchen wasn’t the only place she sang. She was constantily hummning or “singing” as we walked through the Mall or the grocery store. I wasn’t always accepting of that wondering what other people would think. Now I know.

I looked, again, through the over 100 cards people sent after her death. Many of them spoke of how open and loving she was to them and how much it meant to them. A good friend from politics wrote: “Kindness radiated from her, Jim. She as kind and sweet and supportive and I never fel anything negative coming from Betty. Never.” Another spoke of how she always had a smile.

Son, Jim, had a T-Shirt with her picture on it. I haven’t been up to wearng it yet. But his note with the gift is testimony to her humor. “When I asked Mom about making a t-shirt for you, she said to make it an x-large so that she would not be stretched.” And then he commented to what we all have experienced: “She will be missed greatly.”

Joke

It’s an oldie, but I found it the other day in a file labeled Eucunet Jokes. It was worth a new laugh, at least for me. Enjoy. You don’t have to pass it on or else.


Mahatma Gandhi walked everywhere barefoot, and so his feet were quite thick
and hard. He also was a very spiritual person. Because of his many hunger
strikes, he was very thin and frail. Furthermore, due to his poor diet, he
wound up with very bad breath. Therefore, Gandhi came to be known as a....
(are you ready?)

"Super callous fragile mystic plagued by halitosis."

Sociable Jim

Well, maybe not to socialble. Breakfast this a.m. with brother John"s family -Jean, Mark, Lisa, Rosanna, after which we had a delightful slide show of photos taken during John and Jean's recent trip to the great southwest. It is good to see them home after more than a month of absence.

This afternoon daughter Annie with husband Bill came in and we went to dinner at the Golden Corral. Before that I made a necessary appearance at the Church as a long time couple celebrated a wedding anniversary, the birth of their daughter and the wedding anniversary of their, I think, grandson. After dinner I drove the 34 miles out to Joliet, MT for the 50th wedding anniversary of a long time collegue at Rocky Mountain College. Jim McDowell and wife Roberta (Bert) have been good friends for many years as Betty and I joined with them in a Faculty Bridge Club sometime ago. Jim tells me that he is on the schedule for next year, but does not yet have a contract. He believes that the new administration is trying to get older faculty to retire in an effort to cut the budget.

Many of the people present at the McDowell function were not only their children, but numerous Rocky Students who were also students and advisees of mine. It was great seeing many of them again. Bill Hope always tells me that I was the first person he met on campus. He showed up in the office and I was stitting there with my legs stretched out on the desk drawer. 'I'm Bill Hope" he said; and allegedly said to him: "Hello! Where have you been? I've been waiting for you." And that I had his file on the desk at the time. It is good to be long-time appreciated. Others greeted me warmly as an old friend and not as a former Dean or Administrator.

I didn't stay at many of these functions long, but it has been satisfying to have been in attendance.

Pussycats

Another think that both Feller and Bednarik mentioned in their talks was the currrent state of todays so-called athletes. I have, myself, often wondered how any body who is paid as much as many of those guys are paid could be so often on the DL (disabled list). Now a football player plays either offense or defense. Bednarik went both ways. Sometimes a guy will be paid well for appearing only on "special teams": kickoff or punt return. Bednarik went both ways. Feller usually pitched a full game without relief. Nowadays we have pitchers who are "good" if they go a full seven innings. A player strains a muscle sliding into base or reaching for a fly in some unnatural way and he's out for a few days or longer. How is it that Cal Ripkin could set a record of games started and today's "stars" aren't apt to come near it. They don't take good care of themselves in the off season and they still demand high salaries whether they are capable or not. The owners are nuts to keep them, and the players union is out of line to support the woosies. As one of the guests suggested: to much pay and to little play.

Incredible Night

Last night was incredible. My nephew, Mark, invited me to attend a fund raiser dinner for an organization of which he is President - PLUK, Parents Let’s Unite for Kids. It is a program designed basically to help parents and teachers deal effectively with kids who are in some way “handicapped”. When I got there Mark took me to the “head table” where the two speakers were seated. One of these men I have known of it seems forever. Bob Feller began to pitch baseball with the Cleveland Indians while I was still in college. During WW 2 he entered the U.S.Navy. He was chief of an anti-aircraft crew on the USS Alabama. After the war he went back to Cleveland and continue to make his mark in Major League Baseball as “Rapid Robert” until his retirement in 19516. By that time I had my Master’s Degree and had moved to Iowa, Feller’s home state, and from there on to Seminary in Massachusetts. Feller not only knew of Marshall (my alma mater), but also knew that a movie of a tragic airplane accident involving the football team was being produced. The man is in his late 80’s and still sharp. The second speaker was Chuck Bednarik. I had heard the name, but was unaware of one of his famous tackles as he played for the Philadelphia Eagles. I introduced myself to him as “Jim Taylor”, and got an appreciative response. Sorry, but you will have to read the following to understand that.

"With the Eagles leading the Packers 17-13 late in the game, Bart Starr moved the Packers down the field. The ball was on the Eagles 22 when Starr threw a swing pass to Taylor, who was heading to the end zone.

"Enter Bednarik. At 35, he was the oldest player on the field. But even after playing 58? minutes and leaving the frozen field only for his team's kickoffs, Bednarik still had enough left to get to Taylor. "He got through a couple of our defenders," Bednarik said, "but he had to go through me. That wasn't going to happen."

"Bednarik met Taylor at the nine-yard line, and in the words of sportswriter Bill Lyon, "wrestled him to the cold, hard ground like a rodeo cowboy bulldogs a steer and then sat on the squirming, seething Taylor until the clock blinked down to all zeroes."

Bednarik punctuated the moment with a verbal exclamation point, telling Taylor, "You can get up now, Jim. The game's over." It was the Eagles' last NFL championship and the only time Vince Lombardi lost a title game as head coach."

For his whole career Bednarik played both ways and was often known as “Concrete Charlie” It was a delight to sit beside his wife, Emma with Chuck on the other side. Both of these guys were there to make money for PLUK. They were down to earth essentially humble every day guys

Thanks, Mark, for a great evening.

WATER PROBLEMS

I've played around with ideas from time to time the last few days about something which might be worth putting on this Blog, but have tended to reject all of them. Today my dear niece wrote of a potential water tragedy at their home when the water hose on the washing machine broke while they slept. The noise of running water did not attract enough suspicion until things had gotten pretty much soaked. For one thing she commented how the newly laid and admired laminate was now squishy and would likely need to be replaced. It reminded me of the time I was out of town and Pete came by early one morning to pick up the paper and found that a hose at the bathroom sink was split and water had soaked the run and through the floor to basement. The tiles on the ceiling of the lower bathroom had been “washed” away. At the time I though of replacing the bathroom run with laminate until I read somewhere how unwise it would be to put laminate where it might get wet. The rug was dried and then left in the garage for a time until I finally decided that it didn’t look that bad and it may as well go back in its place. After all it had already be cut to fit around the toilet and the lavatory cabinet. How glad I am that Pete decided to come by in the morning on his way to a work out rather than after he had been to 24/7.

Another interesting bit had to do with Betty. A picture of the daughter of the Art professor who worked with her as she was into clay was in the paper the other day. My almost immediate thought was to cut it out and send it to her. Unfortunately heaven doesn't have either an 800 number or a Box Number and Zip code.

Another graduate

A number of years ago I asked my Cardiologist to keep me alive at least until my first grandchild graduated from high school. That would be Stephanie who has now graduated from College and was married last month. Since then her brothers, Christopher, Nathan, and this year Geoff, have all graduated from high school. The first two are all but finished with thier Bachelor's degrees. Andrew has graduated and Brandon graduated last year. Betty and I were able to attend Stephanie, Chris, Andrew and Brandon'sgraduations. I have just returned from Dickinson, ND following Jonathan's graduation. He and Geoff are the latest of the 7 who have crossed that line. That leaves Larry for next year, Natalie in three years, and Will's three to follow. Since the families are scattered from ND, TX, OR and WA we thought that if we got to one in a family that that would be the goal. That has been pretty much accomplished now except for the three in Portland. Who is to know if Grandfather will still be around when Caleb hits the boards. Much less Luke and Zack.

Anyway, I'm proud of them all, and I'm sure that Betty has told everyone in heaven what joy she shared with them all, even as she told all the nurses who tended to her in those last two weeks.

Memory Lane

Last night it was Memory Lane. I began the evening watching the Boston Red Sox at home against Tampa Bay. When in Seminary at Andover Newton I was able on a few occasions to go to Fenway Park and watch the Sox. I vaguely remember watching Ted Williams. My full intention was to watch “Lincoln Center Live” from 8 pm to 10 pm. Of course there were moments I could flash back to Boston as the Sox won. Then there was the opening round of basketball. That didn’t demand much attention until the final minute or so.

The really significant memory of the whole night had to do with the music. In the opening piece Zubin Mehta was conducting and Pavoratti as singing. They were doing a collage of numbers from the past 30 years and both of these gentlemen were young. I first saw Mehta direct the Los Angeles Symphony in Seattle probably in the early - mid 70’s. He conducted that group from 1962 to 1978. I don’t remember what they played, but I do remember the excitement with which he conducted. It was still there as he was involved in a number of the presentations last night. On leaving LA Mehta went on to conduct the New York Philharmonic for many years.

Then there was one of Betty’s favorite artists, James Galway. He introduced his selection as being by the outstanding composer, Mr. Traditional, and then proceeded to play a very beautiful rendition of “Danny Boy”. As he stated: A lot of guys could wish they had composed it. I could only wish that Betty was hearing it all. If I ever had any question of what to get her for some special occasion Galway would do the trick.

Later in the program Leonard Bernstein was presented conducting Aaron Copeland. Again I can remember being at the Tanglewood Music Festival in the summer of 1947 and hearing the Boston Symphony under the direction of Serge Koussivitsky play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Late in the concert a young Bernstein was presented and while I don’t remember what he conducted I do remember that this was very early in his career. Mehta, Galway, Pavoratti, Bernstein. Who needs baseball or basketball?

Weather

Cold and windy today in Billings, MT. I guess that it would'nt be cold if it were not windy. I just looked at the web page of the Billings Gazette and it listed the temp as 69 degrees. For a lark I checked the Huntington , WV Herald Dispatch and in my old home town it is 70 degrees. We are having off and on traces of rain. Huntington is listed as 'warm and sunny". I'd still rather live in the Yellowtone River Valley than the Ohio River Valley.

Flowers

I've been thinking "flowers" this week. Of course there are the dandelions. It seemed to me for many years when RMC had graduation at the end of May that the campus was appropriately decorated with the College colors of green and gold. I seem to have more this year than in the past. Perhaps because I'm not spraying them and thus killing the grass as well. Better a bit of gold than those brown spots.

What started this was a look across the street mid-week. There is a large spirea bush which is in full bloom. When I was growing up back in West Virginia those bushes were all over town. Dad had three or four of them in front of the porch and we knew that Spring had arrived when they came in bloom. Last fall I cut my three rose bushes in the front yard back to the ground. They have renewed themselves and are showing some buds in promise of flowers later. The tulips have long since come and gone, but the guys next door still have some in bloom. With the sprinkler system put in a couple of years ago the front yard (a hill) now has a healthy growth of grass. For many years it was next to impossible to get enough water on it to keep the lower parts toward the sidewalk green.

History

An interesting bit of Billings history in this morning’s paper. It seems that about a year before our house was built there was a plane crash apparently right in this area of town. Of course in December 1945 the College subdivision was not yet. Today’s paper indicates that the crash was in the 800-900 block of what is now Harvard Avenue. This house sits at 917 Harvard. The area then was a large field. I’ve seen pictures of this part of town taken in relation to Billings Polytechnic Institute (now Rocky Mountain College). The pictures show an area from the campus at 1500 Poly Drive to 5th Street and from Poly Drive to the rimrocks (an area of about 8-10 blocks) as nothing but farm land. This particular subdivision was built in 1946 and later. I'm not sure when the "Poet's Subdivision" east of us came into existence.

The plane was some sort of military flight and a number of soldiers were killed. While none of the men were citizens of Billings the local American Legion is placing a plaque in remembrance this coming September at the flagpole located on the corner of Poly Drive and 13th Street.

Incidentally, when Betty and I first moved to Billings in 1961 13th Street between Poly Drive and Rimrock Road was known as Iowa. This completed the names of the various streets and avenues in the College Subdivision. Streets running north and south beginning with 9th: Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. Avenues from Poly Drive and running East and West: Harvard, Princeton, Yale. Poly Drive named, of course for the Polytechnic Institute which took up residence on the current campus around 1908. But that it a whole other story.

Housework

I laid around in bed yesterday morning and didn’t make it to Church. I started to say “didn’t make it to Worship”, but I do that on my own anyway. Actually the format of our standard morning service is pretty loose with a 30-40 minute sermon, and quiet piety is not the order of the day. My main purpose anymore is to greet friends of long standing who I am not apt to see otherwise. At any rate, as I mentioned to Pete - I wasn’t going on Mother’s Day as a way of “protecting” myself. Annie has mention how much the ads have kept reminding her that she has no one now to shop for. And I have enough experiences every day that remind me of her absence.

For example, today I defrosted the freezer in the basement. A job that probably had not been done for several months. Betty most often did that. The thing was filled with Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice. Things I have bought often as I have found them on sale. I also found a plastic keeper which was filled with some sort of treat. An Oatmeal menage with a chocolate cover. And there is a sheet cake which I may take with me along to Jon’s graduation so that the North Dakotans can share in some of the last of Gramma’s baking.

The job of carrying stuff upstairs to the refrigerator and getting the Kooler out of the garage made for more trips up and down than usual. The heart is doing better than the knees. I saw an old friend at the grocers today. He looked older than I do, and tells me that he has been diagnosed with diabetes.

God bless us everyone.

Waffles Again

Nephew Mark asked about Saturday breakfast the other night and I invited him and family over for Sour Dough waffles. I had been renewing my starter so was ready for a bit of company. Actually I had set the batter mid-week and put most of it aside as a one cup and a two cup starter. (More about that later)

Mark,Rosanna, and Ambrose showed up around 9:30 and I was ready for them with fresh coffee and the first waffle hot off the griddle. I'd gone earlier to the store to get some syrup since I was almost out, but Rosanna brought a bottle along so mine didn't need to be opened this time. Everybody declared that the waffles were very good and didn't need any pecans, blueberries or any other decoration. Good thing. I didn't have any. They really were good and we had a good visit for the balance of the morning.

I've had this particular starter since 1966. It claims to be original from Sour Dough Jack of Alaskan fame. Anyway it has traveled to Texas and I gave some to Granddaughter, Stephanie to take back with her to Minnesota. Mark declared that he has no been able to keep one for very long. I was showing him the jelly/jam jars I store mine in and found that it is indeed "alive". Both starters had continued to work in the refrigerator and had spilled over to the shelf. The two cup was really working. When I took them out to clean up and ran some hot water over the jars they cleaned up a bit. I decided to relieve some of the pressure and tried to remove the lid. It wouldn't budge. I put it in the jar opener to no avail. I finally took a screwdriver and lifted up the lid when it promptly exploded and shot batter all over the kitchen window. Thank goodness I was at that place instead of in the center of the living room. Never had that happen before. The two cup is gone, but easily replaced the next time if decide to bake.

It has indeed been a good, eventful day.

The Old Man

This old guy was up every three hours last night. I keep thinking that it won't be smart to become dehydrated. The only problem is that I need to time the drinking to earlier in the day. Anyhoo! I went back to bed each time and managed to go on back to sleep. That, in itself, hasn't always been easy these past few months. The last time up was around 6:30 a.m. Do I stay up, get dressed and have breakfast or do I go back under the covers. (It's been pretty cool in Billings this month.) I go back to bed and the next think I know it is 8:45, Pete has long since gone to Albertson's, and I better get up, take my morning meds and have that breakfast so I can be ready for my chicken sandwich for lunch. This evening I have been invited by Mark to go to the Parents Lets Unite for Kids (PLUK) event where they promise "heavy hors d'ourves."

The Chicken Sandwich demaned a trip to the store for Mircle Whip so I get the three M's that we need. Margine, Mircle Whip and Marmalade. I forgot the tomato. Ugh!

A World of Seeming:

Every once in a while I turn my thoughts to the question of Eternity. I've just been listening to a recording made in 1972 of Betty singing the first verse of "How Great Thou Art". It is extraordinary! Such a beautiful young voice. She resisted singing solo in later years because of a feeling that her voice was no longer strong enough. If she is now singing in some heavenly choir they are one lucky group of people.

I ran across the following poem the other day when I was seeking the one found on the immediate previous Blog. How about that line? "The sun sets daily, but sets never." If God is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever, and if we share His immortaity that must mean that those who have gone before us in death still share with us in that "eternal now" in ways we on earth do not share with them. It may only "seem" to us that they are gone. Their lives "set", but "set never". Yet there are tears of sweet remembrance. "It is a world of seeming. And so it seems that she is dead, Yet so seems only; for instead,
Her life is just begun; and this - Is but an empty chrysalis While she, unseen to mortal eyes, Now wins her way in brighter skies - Beyond this world of seeming.

A World of Seeming:
It is a world of seeming:
The changeless moon seems changing ever,
The sun sets daily, but sets never.
So near the stars and yet so far;
So small they seem, so large they are;
It is a world of seeming.
And so it seems that she is dead,
Yet so seems only; for instead,
Her life is just begun; and this -
Is but an empty chrysalis
While she, unseen to mortal eyes,
Now wins her way in brighter skies -
Beyond this world of seeming.
            - H. A. Blood in the Century.

DAILY NEBRASKA STATE JOURNAL, LINCOLN, SUNDAY 5 JUNE 1887

New opportunities

       Not as I Will
Helen Hunt Jackson

Blindfolded and alone I stand,
With unknown threshold on each hand:
The darkness deepens as I grope -
Afraid to fear, afraid to hope;
Yet this one thing I learn to know
Each day more surely as I go,
That doors are opened, ways are made,
Burdens are lifted or are laid
By some great law unseen and still
Unfathomed purpose to fulfill,
     "Not as I will"

I was Editor of the Marshall College yearbook, The Chief Justice, in 1946. The above lines were a salute to the graduating Class, entering on a new plain of their lives. I also noted a line from Revelation: “Behold, I set before you an open door . . . “

These lines have been recalled as I have been aware of many “Open Doors” in my family these past few months. The door of heaven opened and my dear wife entered. Annie has had to choose between contract offers at both the Ashland, MT public school and the Lame Deer public school. She has chosen to stay with Lame Deer having been promised the High School Library. David writes that he has taken a new job -leaving public education in Tyler, TX and moving to Denton to work as an IT specialist with the Sally Beauty Company. He notes: ”I am happy and I am scared. I may even get used to things and start to sleep better in a few days.” His son, Chris, has been working as a baker, a task he loves, but this particular situation has not worked out so he is going back to a previous job with Starbucks. Two grandsons are graduating from high school this month and will be stepping through new doors “with unknown thresholds on each hand.” A granddaughter has just married. Kenneth has bought a Condo and enters to world of home ownership. And so it goes. Open doors. New challenges. New opportunities to fail or to succeed. May it be true in all our lives that each new day “Burdens are lifted or are laid by some great law unseen and still unfathomed purpose to fulfill.”

School's Out

The Billings voters have done it again, and again, and again. Three levies, one for high school, one for Elementary, and one for general maintenance have gone down again at the polls. It is no surprise, but I do wish that more members of the City would realize how important it is for our schools to be well staffed, that our classes should not be over populated, and that the kids in our schools would find the necessary attention and challenge to finish at least their high school education. Montana and the nation are both at risk when students cum adults turn to some form of crime to sustain themselves because they are not able to get a decent job without a decent education. And there is no question that buildings need regular repair and upkeep if they are to be satisfactory venues of education. Perhaps if more people voted instead of the paltry percentage that turns out for school elections we would have a more positive result. But it is obvious that to many voters don't really care about the state of education in this town.

GONE

Maybe the title isn't the correct word. We had a great dinner last night with Stephanie and John. Annie brought in some bakes beans, potato salad and a chocalate cake. Pete and I barbequed the London Broil. We thought that it was pretty much done at medium , but on slicing it proved to be more rare than we wanted. It was such a great piece of meat, however, that warm was done enough. Tonight we will have leftovers and maybe "warm" up the meat a bit more.

This morning Pete and I took them up to the airport for their 10:30 flight back home. I was able to wrap a small jar with a cup of sourdough starter in a cold wrap and place it in a padded carrier. Maybe it will get back to Minnesota still usable. It was great to have them with us overnight on Friday and then for dinner Sunday night. In the meantime Steph got to introduce her new husband to many of the Klein relatives, and to visit with her mother Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

It is a beautiful day in Billings, but I have much laundry to get done and other household chores. Peace!

VISITORS

The newly weds, Stephanie and John came in early this monring at Billings Logan Field on Horizon Air. The flight was a few minutes late, but not much. They arrived at about 12:10 a.m. Pete and I met them and after the baggage arrived we came on home. It was a real good feeling to see the Grand Daughter, get a big hug and to meet John Huss. Turns out there is a connection I'd not heard about before - or missed. John grew up in Davenport, IA, and his father-in-law, son David, got his start in life in Davenport. Of course he didn't take his first breath until we had moved to Massachusetts for Seminary.

I was up early to get the batter ready for sour dough waffles for breakfast. After breakfast it was time to take the visitors down to Stephanie's other Grandpa - Grandpa Klein. From there they are to meet with various friends and then drive on over to Western Montana to visit her mother. I don't expect to see them until sometime Sunday afternoon. Annie is coming over to meet the newest family member and to share in getting supper. Pete has a beautiful London Broil which we will barbeque. He also managed to bring a big tub of marinade home from Jake's. Sounds delicious.

Remembrance of things past

April 26, 2006

When I woke up this morning I put on a robe which had been made by my Mother many years ago. It has my initials embroidered on it, and was quite comfortable for a cool morning. I’m to see my Internist later in the morning and did not want to get fully dressed until after a shave and shower. I said something to Pete about the robe and indicated that it had to be pretty old since his grandmother Taylor had made it. A grandmother none of our children ever knew since she died in 1946 and Betty and I were not married until 1949. Our first son, Ken, was born in 1950. An appropriate number of months after our marriage. I remembered that Mother had died in the Spring. A quick check of the genealogy file shows that it was on this day, April 26th, that she died. Sixty years ago today.

An interesting sidelight for those readers who might not know. Clarence and Lulu raised seven kids: one girl and 6 boys. Betty and I raised 7 kids: one girl and 6 boys. We were lucky to have faithful and committed parents, and my kids were lucky to have had their Mother who was the primary caregiver while the old man was busy making a living, and using every opportunity he found to get out of town on some business trip or Church related meeting. Of course, as the children got older and were able to be left on their own I took her with me as much as possible.

School Days

Watching CBS News Friday night brought back some memories of my own. The story was of a 90 year old English teacher who had been teaching since certification in the same high school from which she graduated. She was now teaching the grandchildren of her former students. And I’m not sure, it may have been some great grandchildren as well. She was still teaching Shakespeare, but the her State office had declared that she should now retire from teaching.

I don’t know how old Miss Alice Freeman was when she retired, but she was the principal of Emmons Elementary school in Huntington, WV when I first started school. She had been in that job as far as I know from before my oldest brother, Norman, started School. He was eleven years older than my twin brother, John and me. The more interesting part is that she was my father’s Second Grade teacher, probably back in 1892 or 1893. I entered elementary school in the fall of 1930. Miss Alice was still Principal at Emmons in the early 1940’s when my Nephew, Clarence Moses, entered that school. Miss Alice retired in the Spring of the year before he was to enter. The story goes that having had the father and seven of his children it was to much to begin with the grandchildren. She was probably in her late 60’s by that time.

Another memory is of my own first day of school. There had been a rainy period and the school sat on ground that was above the street. Actually later in life we used the hill to slide down own our sleds when it was snowy. Anyhow, a group of us found a hill at the back of the school which was muddy and just slick enough to slide down. My memory is not of how muddy I may have gotten, but that Miss Alice found out what was going on and spanked us with a metal can (the kind cookies or candy may have come in), and sent us home to get a change of clothes.

Shopping

A few weeks ago I had the TV on and was flipping channels when one of those “paid programs” came on with a guy selling something called “MyRotisserie”. It looked fascinating to this newly single male so I watched, got the web address and ordered one of them. They promptly replied to my order and regular checking showed that they did not charge my American Express until they had notified me that it was being shipped. I checked the FedEx number and found that it had arrived in Billings on April 11th. It was finally delivered on the 18th as promised. I confronted the delivery guy and he hotly denied that it had been here in town for a week before delivery. No matter. I finally used the thing tonight. 20 minutes is not long enough to cook sliced (french fry style) potatoes. They were edible, but probably need twice that long. There is a recipe book for meats, vegetables, fish, etc. but none for French Fries. I’ll be frying things now that I seem to have found out what all the parts are for.

I went shopping at Costco and filled up the gas tank against the sons travel to St. Paul this week end for their nieces wedding. I’m hoping that the roads in Eastern Montana are clear by tomorrow afternoon after a pretty heavy spring blizzard. And I am glad that here in Billings we only got a little bit along with a nice moisture rich rain. .93 inches is a lot of rain for one day in these parts. But -- back to Costco. Some paper products, some household needs like laundry soap, and some groceries. The ready-made hamburgers were to much to resist. A dozen of them at about 6 oz each for about $1.25 each. There is a way to cook them in the Rotisserie, but I’ll probably use the George Forman. Pete will probably use a skillet.

Easter Sunday

The week-end has gone pretty well in spite of the fact that Betty and I would have celebrated our 57 Wedding Anniversary on Friday. Beautiful yellow roses were on the altar at Church today in loving memory of that occasion. Hymns about death and resurrection are not easy to sing these days. I am assured by those who have been through this experience that it becomes easier as time goes by.

Annie and Bill came in yesterday. I took them out to Famous Dave's for supper and she and Pete are currently cooking Easter Dinner. Ham and whatever. We have usually gone out for breakfast or an Easter Buffet, but not this year.

While the roses were beautiful, and can be kept cool and used for at least a couple of more Sundays by our Decorations Chairman. She's an expert at that sort of thing. The other flower news is that the dozen or so tulips which had bloomed at the top of our driveway have been stolen by someone. It wasn't an animal since the plants are still in good shape it is just the bloom which have been neatly cut from the stem. At least Ann's Civic is still out front. There has been a rash of news about stolen Civic's in our part of town this past week.

Full Moon

Last night as I was taking some trash out I noticed how bright and full the moon looked. When I came in the house I checked and found it would not be truly full until tonight. Then the idea come “of course, dummy. It will be full before Easter." That feast has been designated as being on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. In the next 18 years Easter will occur any time from March 23d (2008) to April 24th (2013). In both 2009 and 2020 it will happen on my daughter’s birthday - April 12th, which happens also to be the birthdate of my youngest brother. Not until 2022 does Easter fall on the same date it did in 1949 the year Betty and I were married. We were both teachers at the time and got married on Maundy Thursday so we would have a few days off for our honeymoon in Cincinnati, OH. Our 57th Anniverary would have been tomorrow.

And to all a Happy Easter.

Life Goes On!

Life goes on. Pete was up early this morning to report for his new part-time job with Albertson’s grocery. In addition to evenings waiting tables at Jake's he will be learning to Meat and Deli operations at one of the west end Albertson’s. Ken writes that he is in the process of buying a Condo in Helena. I’ ll see him next week when he comes down to Billings to leave with Pete for St. Paul where they will represent me and the rest of the family at granddaughter Stephanie’s wedding to John Huss. It is likely that Jimmy and his family will also be there. Annie’s Blog (http://bloggersall.blogspot.com/) tells us that while she has tenure with the Lame Deer school district she may very well be offered a job as librarian/English teacher back at Ashland where she started 25 or so years ago. It will be closer home and will involve less treacherous winter driving. Will and Karyn will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary tomorrow(4/!2) and Willie will be home rather than at the office working on other people’s Income Taxes as he has just started a new job which will give them that privilege and joy. David will soon be a father-in-law for the second time. While Paul and Louise are pretty much in settled jobs life still poses its challenges.

I cleaned out some of the basement again today. It is amazing still to find the kinds of things my dear wife kept against the possibility of maybe using them someday. Since they haven’t been used and they simply remind me of my loss they are out of here. She is still everywhere in this house - she is simply not here for a hug.

The tulips are up and blooming as you can see below where David has added the picture I e-mailed him yesterday. Against the possibility that it might rain I did get some yard work done this morning. Namely spreading some fertilizer so that Pete will have some grass to cut later on. It is still a bit early to have the sprinkler system turned on. It will wait for about another month.

Betty's thoughts

4/10/2006 I found the following thoughts today whie cleaning out the garage and deciding which books could be thrown away. One was a diary which had not entries, but these words were written in Betty’s hand. I had inscribed a date on them as written in June 1957. This would be just after twins were born 3 months prematurly and survived less than 24 hours.


“We give friendship, love, we are helpful; we laugh with others and are happy. But when God’s plan of things enters our life in what to me are the most dramatic ways, how do we feel? Friends & relations rejoice and who is prouder than poppa at the birth of a child? Momma wonders about the miracle in which she has just had the leading role. Those of us who have been privileged to have children know that if we choose we can escape from most of the unpleasantness. Tho’ I wonder if we haven’t really cheated our-selves of the full impact when we choose to escape from God’s plan for this part of our life. But, no matter, how many of us remember heartache, sorrow and loneliness which we experience? We seem to be wrung of all emotions and human feeling. Doubts and fears arise. This is God’s plan also. In there not somewhere in his plan an intangible something He gives us after the miracle has passed? One miracle brings us untold happiness, the other untold sorrow, but both are God’s plan. If we ask him He gives to us as much faith and courage to accept them both gracefully. Not that we are not to sorrow , but not as they who have no hope. Help us not to forget the experiences with a sweet sorrow. Help us to remember those expressions of faith and courage which we expressed. Help us to bear under the words of encouragement that we have planned to say to others. Help us when the miracles of God are most manifest in our lives.”


Can you wonder how I loved her so much? And here she gives me the right to sorrow.

Anniversaries

Blogging will not be easy this week. Betty and I would have been married 57 years come Friday the 14th. I find that even in singing of heaven in the various hymns of Easter that my tears well up and I'd just as soon not put myself through that. She meant so much to me, as I'm sure she did to many who read this. While I may be convinced that she is at peace with Father God and Brother Jesus I can only pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit while I come to terms with her absence. It ain't easy.

Musings

I’ve had Rocky Mountain College on my mind recently. For one thing I missed a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Institute for Peace Studies last week. It completely slipped my mind, although we did have a funeral of a long time member of the Church that afternoon. There was plenty of time after that to get to the meeting. The Administrator was not happy since she had to take minutes. I’d best not let that happen again. Then, on Monday of this week I saw in one of the funeral homes listing the name of the woman who was my first assistant in the office when I came to work at RMC in August of 1961. She worked the Admissions Office and was later moved to the Office of the President. She worked for at least 3 of our Presidents before taking retirement. Sylvia was an important part of the life of Rocky for many years. Yesterday the City Administrator of Billings finally announced her choice for Police Chief. It was Rich St. John who is a Rocky Grad, and one whom I have know quite well over the years since his graduation. It then occurred to me that the United States Marshall for Montana, Dwight McKay, is also a Rocky Grad, and one who I had in Psych class and have had occasional contact with since his graduation. Then, today in the entertainment section of the Billings Gazette a current student was highlighted as a country music singer who has been on the stage since she was 10 years old having won some kind of contest in Dickinson, ND. She is going to China this year for some sort of gathering. I am rather proud that I played a part in the education of two of our “finest”, and that Rocky is alive and well at this point in her history. As the words of the Alma Mater say:
“Rocky Mountain we all love you
Alma Mater of the West.”

Spring Rain

It happened. We did get rain as the TV weather guys announced. As I sat by my front window late afternoon yesterday There were threatening clouds to the south. I’ve often been surprised that such phenomena does not necessarily mean that it is going to rain. It almost always meant rain as I was growing up in West Virginia. This time, it did, and according to the weather channel we got .14 inches yesterday. This will make a total this year of 3.09 for the year in Billings. My relatives in the East and in Texas will not think that is very much, but to the farmers in this area it is a “Godsend”. The best part is that there has been very little wind and the moisture has had a good chance to sink in. We have had a fairly warm spring and as I went to the mail box this morning I noticed that my tulips are now in full bloom. I guess one could say in this case that April showers bring April flowers. The grass is beginning to turn green and there is a brave leaf on one of the lilac limbs which did not get cut off during the big trim in December. I can only hope that the apple tree will hold up blossoming until the danger of frost is past. Last year it was in full bloom when a late frost came along and pretty much did in the apple crop for 2005.

Tech boobie

The Chronicles of Narnia hit the stores today for the first time. I had a couple of gift cards from dear daughter which I’ve been saving against that time. Mid-morning I left the house and went to Hastings to use them. When I got there and looked around, there it was. A sealed package with the goods inside. At that point I realized I had gotten the cards out to look them over to see if there was any penalty since I’d had them since Christmas. None. But they were still on the computer desk at home. A quick drive home and back and I had the goods. When Pete came home his first question was something to effect that you can’t play this on your TV. It’s for a PSP (or something like that). It probably wasn’t even the movie. I had just seen “Narnia” on the rack and assumed it was what I was looking for. So much for my technology IQ! Fortunatly I hadn’t opened the goods so I took it back, the sales lady (girl) asked if she could help and I explained what had happened and that I wanted a CD. The next question was - “Music or movie” and then - “Wide screen or full screen?” I got the full screen and now am waiiting for the spirit to move as to the right time to sit down and watch it. Pete has already seen in at the theater so I don't have to wait for him.

Health Insurance

By mid-February I recognized that my monthly health insurance premium had not been taken from my Medicare allotment, and had not been charged to my credit card. A contact with the home office assured me that I was still insured and that due to the foul ups at the Government level the fee should come out of my March Social Security. Didn't happen! It didn't happen today either. I talked with John Morrison at the Democrat dinner Saturday night and he gave me a number to call if there was further need to straighten things out. I called and then called New West again. This time the gal who anwered me told me that I could change the option of taking things from Social Security to charging it to my American Express. Now I can check that account come mid-month and see that the $328 due has been credited. At any rate I am still insured and have no fear of seeing my Internist come the middle of April.

Eclipse

Pete commented yesterday after hearing some TV report on yesterday's eclipse of the sun across Africa, etc that we couldn't drive north to Roundup and see this one. Several years ago I took him and Paul out of school and we drove that route so that they could experience a full eclipse. I had seen a few in my lifetime, and this was not be be missed even tho' school was in session. I continue to be amazed at the silence which occurred when the final phase of the eclipse took place. There were many people at the place at the time. Every noise stopped. Even the sounds of animals and birds were silenced. It was a remarkable experience. Some might say Holy.

Bill and Ann drove further north in Montana that day and we have a picture of the corona which Bill took and give us, I believe at Christmas that year. The picture was taken 2/26/1979

Long Distance

The Technology columnist in the local paper has written recently about is wife’s use of her TracPhone. This is a cell phone service where one buy units as needed. Cards for this service can be bought at various stores including Radio Shack and Wal-Mart. A couple of years ago daughter Ann gave me a Nokia with minutes available. Later I added 300 units so that I could use the phone on a cross country trip. I had used a phone from a motel in Bismarck once to report on son Jim’s surgery and it cost the proverbial arm and leg. Calls on the TracPhone cost around 33 cents per unit. One unit local and two units long distance. I called Portland last night from my basement office and the connection was very good.

The reason for this Blog is to report my recent experience in loading new units. I get an e-mail from TracPhone occasionally offering a deal to add units. One needs to do this in order to preserve one’s call number - not that I expect people to call me using that number. It MAY come in handy someday. Anyway I went through the procedure from my G4 dial-up as previously, but nothing was added to the Nokia. I decided to give it another go, but was told that the Promotional Code granting additional free units had already been used. I did a few more operations, but still no more units.

I regularly check my credit card accounts and found that TracPhone had charged me twice at $99.99 for units not received. I e-mailed them twice at about 5-7 day intervals and got no response. Yesterday I called their 800 number and got a very pleasant lady with the typical accent (thing India) who said that her name was Cynthia. She walked me through the process (time consuming) and lo and behold there are the additional units. She then transferred me to their credit card section and I talked with another lady who said her name was Lisa. She asked a few questions, assured me that the second charge would be removed and gave me a confirmation number. I have to say that I was pleased with the response I got with the phone call, but I still wonder if they every answer their e-mail.

Enough already. I’ll talk more about the flat world we live in later.

That Phone # by the way is: 208-3279. Not that it is turned on with any regularity.

The threat of death

I was just reading in USA Today about a time a film-star, singer was threaten with death before a concert in Central Park. Of course the news is full of the Iraqi who converted to Christianity and who has been threaten with execution on the one hand and now that he is released he had been condemned by the Islamic Clergy and has to be protected.

Several years ago when I was on the Billings School Board I moved to take the name "Christmas Holiday" out of the Calendar. I believe that I've told that story in my blog on Fiddler on the Roof. At any rate the town was in an uproar. People accused me of taking Christ out of public life, etc., etc. AND I got a letter through the US Mail threatening my life. I took said letter to the Billings Police Department and then acknowledge it and assured me that this sort of thing seldom had any real meaning. As far as I know there was not followup on their part as to who had written the letter. And nothing did come of it. What got me to thinking about this episode again was that fact that the last two Sundays I've gone by Billings Senior High School on my way to Church there have been many cars in the parking lot as if something was going on and the people there were not in Church. I know that at least on one of the Sundays the lot was filled to capacity and a wrestling program was going on. Not to many years ago the School in Billings were even careful about scheduling events on Wednesday nights because many of the Churches had traditional Wednesday night activities. So much for public outrage over a simple change in a calendar to give credence to the fact that Billings is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith based community.

The threat of death

I was just reading in USA Today about a time a film-star, singer was threaten with death before a concert in Central Park. Of course the news is full of the Iraqi who converted to Christianity and who has been threaten with execution on the one hand and now that he is released he had been condemned by the Islamic Clergy and has to be protected.

Several years ago when I was on the Billings School Board I moved to take the name "Christmas Holiday" out of the Calendar. I believe that I've told that story in my blog on Fiddler on the Roof. At any rate the town was in an uproar. People accused me of taking Christ out of public life, etc., etc. AND I got a letter through the US Mail threatening my life. I took said letter to the Billings Police Department and then acknowledge it and assured me that this sort of thing seldom had any real meaning. As far as I know there was not followup on their part as to who had written the letter. And nothing did come of it. What got me to thinking about this episode again was that fact that the last two Sundays I've gone by Billings Senior High School on my way to Church there have been many cars in the parking lot as if something was going on and the people there were not in Church. I know that at least on one of the Sundays the lot was filled to capacity and a wrestling program was going on. Not to many years ago the School in Billings were even careful about scheduling events on Wednesday nights because many of the Churches had traditional Wednesday night activities. So much for public outrage over a simple change in a calendar to give credence to the fact that Billings is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith based community.

Lewis and Clark

Interesting morning and early afternoon. I had breakfast this morning with brother John and his family. John mentioned several weeks ago tht we ought to go to Pompey's Pillar and have our pictures taken wearing our Marshall University hats. I mentioned it again today and the decision was made that this was the day. John drove us out - about 40-45 miles from Billings. The gate at entrance was shut so we walked back in. It could be 3/4s of a mile. Maybe a bit less, but it's been so long since I've been for a long walk it seemed that far. Then to get to the signature which Clark carved into the rock we had to ascend a long multi-level staircase. We did that and had pictures taken in front of the glassed in signature. I got a picture of the signature which can be read if blown up enough. Then there was another series of steps and ramps to the top of the pillar. John and I went that route and saw the whole valley which Clark would have seen and he deterrmined their futher route to the Missouri River to meet up with the rest of the party. It is one magnificant valley and well worth the climb. The only "pain" I felt was to the knees. The heart behaved itself.

The picture will, hopefully, be published in the Marshall alumni news at some point. I graduated a couple of years ahead of John since I was discharged early from the Air Force in WW II. I graduated in 1946 and was the first grad to receive a diploma from the hands of the new President, Stewart H. Smith. This resulted from a mix up between the Registrar's Office and the Dean's Office when an Incomplete which was made up and not recorded prevented me from participating in the Spring Commencement. When Dr. Smith heard of this he promply invited me into his Office and presented me with my diploma with due ceremony. I then went on to take a Master's Degree in Psychology and was invitedto stay and teach in the Department the Fall of 1947. But that is another story.

A day in the life of . . . .

As I sat in front of the TV last night I began to wonder what I had accomplished during the past few hours. What is a day like in the life of an 81 year old widower?

I got up around 7:30 a.m., dressed, went to the kitchen and took my pre-breakfast pills. Then it was a half-hour spent reading the comics and looking at the obituary page. At this age one does have a tendency to check on one’s friends. Then it was time to get breakfast (a bowl of shredded wheat with banana and coffee), and finish reading the paper. By this time one can check to see how the financial markets are doing, check the weather channel, and then get some cleaning up done. Like, run the sweeper. Nothing like a little exercise. I Then remembered that there was laundry to be done. I went to the basement, made my bed and did two loads of laundry. My usual pattern is to make sure that I am around when the dryer stops so that the clothes can be folded and put away with a minimum of wrinkles. Ironing is not my thing so most of the shirts, etc. are permanent press. Since the computer is in the basement there is time to check a couple of out-of-town newspapers, e-mail, and some financial records. Then it is time to get my lunch and take a short nap. The mail came with the latest copy of my news magazine so time is spent reading that, then checking the market close. That is 2 p.m. local time. Time fritters away. I check my mutual funds at 4 pm and then watch Lou Dobbs for a while. By this time it is time to begin thinking about supper. In the past Betty took care of that while I watched the local and national news programs. We sat down for supper in front of the TV and watched Jeopardy together. Last night I watched the news and during commercial breaks prepared a broccoli soup from a mix. When it was nearly done I added some frozen broccoli spears. A couple of large bowls of that and some ice cream and a cookie filled me up. The rest of the evening was spent watching the aforementioned TV. Actually I usually skip Tuesday night TV until Boston Legal comes on.

When I stopped to think about it the day wasn’t all that different from most days in the past few years. For a long time now Betty and I have gotten our own breakfasts and lunches, and done our own laundry. It just worked out that way. And it certainly was no big deal. I (along with my siblings) grew up doing laundry and house keeping. We had a wise mother who made sure that her sons would be “good” husbands.

History lesson - don't be bored!

History often takes a strange twist. I have recently finished reading “Team of Rivals” which relates the history of Abraham Lincoln’s succession as President of the U.S. and of the Civil War. The following is excerpted from a document entitled “The Tragic Fate of Guyandotte”. This area was a part of Huntington, WV as I was growing up. It’s history is that of a separate community with secession tendencies as a part of Virginia. The raid spoken of below was not a major battle of the War, but it certainly has an interesting history in my own family. The Colonel John Clarkson who led the raid was a Great Uncle of my wife, Harriet Elizabeth Clarkson of Ceredo, WV. The Baptist Church which was burned by Union troops was pastored by my Great Grandfather and my mother’s father, Grandpa Petit, sued the federal Government long after the war and got recompense for the damage. How interesting! My wife’s relative is a Confederate Army officer and his action results in blatant destruction by Union soldiers of a Church which has a long history in my own family. And neither of us had any knowledge of this until many years after our marriage. Not that it would have mattered.

“Although Confederate cavalry raids were frequent and discouraging to Union supporters. One such raid, carried out on November 10, 1861, targeted the town of Guyandotte, Virginia, which served as the hostile host of a Union recruit camp. While successful, this action precipitated the burning of the town by Union troops and sympathizers in one of the Civil War's early acts of retaliatory destruction. These events foreshadowed the increasingly harsh nature of the Civil War, reflecting the hardships suffered by the soldiers of both sides, as well as the civilian population and local communities. Guyandotte's fate was a result of the residents' suspected collaboration with the Confederate raiders and the town's established reputation as a "hot bed of secession."

“In 1857, Eli Thayer, a United States congressman from Massachusetts, unveiled his plans for founding a colony in the region. After a brief visit to the area in May 1857, Thayer selected a site ten miles west of Guyandotte for his fledgling community, which he named Ceredo.

“Regional tension was exacerbated as a result of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, which strengthened support for secession in Guyandotte. Although few of the town's citizens were slave holders, they protested against Northern sympathy for Brown and vowed "to repel at all hazards" any further encroachment upon their right as Virginians to own slaves.

“In the first week of November (1861), Confederate General John B. Floyd ordered a cavalry force to "proceed in the direction of the Ohio River, and to strike the enemy a blow. . . ." The raid was led by Colonel John Clarkson, whose force numbered about seven hundred horsemen from the Fifth and Eighth Virginia Cavalry regiments. . . The Confederate cavalry charged into town at full speed, capturing several Union sympathizers before crossing the Mud River and moving toward Guyandotte.

“As the triumphant Confederates withdrew from Guyandotte with their prisoners in tow, the steamer SS Boston appeared, moving slowly up the Ohio River. Aboard were approximately two hundred Union soldiers from the Fifth Virginia Infantry, who had advanced from their camp in Ceredo after learning of the attack.

“The business section of Guyandotte was completely gutted, purportedly to prevent the Confederates from returning for supplies. The Buffington Mill was burned, as was the Forest Hotel. Even churches were not immune from the torch. The Guyandotte Baptist Church was burned after two unsuccessful attempts when Union soldiers tore off the shutters and stuffed them with straw before setting them alight in the church belfry.

“In 1909, the Guyandotte Baptist Church was awarded $2,500 by the United States government for wartime damage.”

Memories

This Blog is getting to be more of a personal diary that I anticipated it would be. Today I was looking through a bookcase and found a book with the signatures a and memories of many people who attended our 50th wedding anniversary gathering at First Baptist. All of the children and most of the grandchildren were present and took part in the Morning Worship Service with David doing the sermon. The ladies of the Church had a great reception following the service, There are over 100 names signed in the Memory Book. As of this date (less that 7 years later) over 10% of those who signed have died. Two long time members of the Church passed on just this week. Their spouses now share my sorrow. The caption on the first page reads:

“Do you not see that you and I are as the branches in one tree? With your rejoicing comes my laughter; with your sadness start my tears. Love, could life be otherwise with You and Me?”

It doesn’t take much to “start my tears” these days. A lovely Niece calls this “joyful sorrow”, and I guess it is. The memories of ones love are so precious that there are tears of joy for having shared ones life with her for so many years.

This has been a week of joy as four of our seven have been present at one time or other to share our time together. Peter and I took David to the plane this morning for his return trip to Texas. He got to share some Montana Spring snow as he left since we had about 5 inches on the ground over night. The roads were slick so I ducked out going to Church and did some cleaning up after the visits. And, of course, there were some basketball games to be watched.

Fiddler on the Roof

Last night son David and I were watching the 1971 movie of “Fiddler on the Roof”. He along with Pete and Will were in the Billings Studio Theatre production with me back in January 1980. I played the Rabbi. At the time I was the Representative of the Big Sky Area Baptists on the national board and was a member of the Billings School Board. (This is an aside.) The Calendar for the coming school year was presented to the Board during the production and I moved that the year end Christmas Vacation by deleted and that it be called “winter break” or something similar. The Conductor of the orchestra for the play was Jewish and many of the kids in the cast were also Jewish. As “Rabbi” and as an American Baptist Clergyman I felt that the seperation of Church and State is important. The motion Passed and the Roman Catholic Education reporter for the Billings Gazette made a big issue of this in the paper the next day. Later my collegue at Rocky Mountain Colleger who was also on the Board labelled me as the Grinch who stole Christmas. That appeared in a bold headline on the story the next month that that some of the Board were going to move to rescind the previous action. The Chairman of the Board stopped me one day at the local Osco Drug Store and implored me to reconsider. I knew that I had at least 3 votes on the Board to retain my motion and a local Congregational Pastor spoke to one of the members who belong to his Church and she agreed to vote to sustain the previous action. Needless to say I was not re-elected to the School Board the next year, but a woman who was a member of the local Temple Beth Aaron was. The Superintendent dealt with the whole question by listing “holidays” at the end of the Calendar rather than throughout the list.

I’m not sure that it is right for me to share my grief with my readers, but there is something I have to share in some way and I have not been able to speak it to anyone. And sitting her at the keyboard it is not easy.

When Tevya learned of one of the daughters desire to marry he finally relented and in a following scene speaks to his wife that they love each other. I anticiapted the next line from my memory as he began to sing the lovely “Do you love me?” I could not keep the tears away as I thought of the many years Betty and I were able to speak our love to each other, and when her heart was near its last beat she looked up at me with eyes wide open as if to say - “I love you.” and “Good-bye.” We never really got that last chance to say out loud to each other “I love you.” But I find myself remembering that last moment and say again and again - “i love you, Dear. Sweetheart, I have loved you so much.”

Security problem??

I suppose one ought to be thankful that Banks are very careful with their customer accounts. Nevertheless, I am truly upset with the recent action of USBank in regard to my ATM card. I last used it on March 1st without problem. Today (3/13/06) I went to the ATM to get some cash and the maching returned the card with a notice - “This Card is not valid.’” I, of course, thought I’d entered the wrong pen so started over with care. Same result. When I went into the Bank I was informed that the Card had been cancelled. Further exploration indicated that when I had reported Betty’s death that her card and mine had the same number so the card was cancelled. Never mind that for the last several years the Account has been in the name of the Taylor Family Trust, and that only one of the Trustees had been reported deceased. I let the Branch Manager know that I was thoroughly upset with the action of the Bank and that I hoped she would let the home office know. Betty Sanderson (Phil’s wife) said that she would certainly do so. They did give me a temporary card and will expidite a regular card in my name only. I only hope that successor trustees will not have this kind of problem in the future.

Retirement planning??

When I first came to Rocky Mountain College in August 1961 I had been under the Ministers and Missionaries retirement plan of the American Baptist Churches as well as their health plan. Betty was pregnant at the time so M&M agreed to keep the medial plan current until Peter was born in late October. Since RMC was not a ABC organization I was not eligible to remain on that retirement plan, and the rubric at Rocky was 3 years of employment before one was able to enter their retirement plan with TIAA-CREF. Under the circumstances Dr. Phil Widenhouse, President, decreed that I would be immediately eligible for the retirement program and the medical insurance as soon as the M&M was no longer available. I have been eternally thankful for Phil’s thoughtfulness. Today’s PARADE magazine made be again grateful. I toted up my income from TIAA-CREF and Social Security and to falls in the mid range of the income of currently employed Americans. This does not include some minimal income from various bonds and a lifetime Annuity with the College which will become the Jim and Betty Taylor Scholarship program at my death.

I can only encourage those who read this blog to be thoughtful of the future as you reach retirement age. I retired just short of 70 and have already been retired nearly 12 years. It is well to think ahead since over half of our 7 children are already over 50. And I am looking forward to a visit from the latest half-century kid later this week. The article in PARADE is fascinating and can be read on the WEB at parade.com after Wednesday of this week.

Voices in the night!

When was the last time you changed the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide alarm? I hadn’t thought about that for a long time. If someone had asked me I would say that it probably needed changing, but I didn’t have a 9-volt battery handy. A few years ago I had bought a combination smoke/monoxide detector and installed it just outside the gas furnace and near the downstairs bedroom. (That is where I am sleeping now since the bedroom upstairs still contains to many memories.) Around 4:30 a.m. I heard a strange sound and could not place it. Cats? What? It was sort of: “sptt, blabber, blabber” , and no yowling followed. I finally got out of bed and began to explore and listen more carefully. Turned out to be the Alarm saying “low battery”. I took it off the wall and removed - not a 9 volt, but 3 double A’s. I thought to go on back to bed and became concerned that the thing wouldn’t be any good without batteries in case something unfortunate happened. I did have a package of double A’s so went upstairs, got them, and things are now back in quiet working order. I guess that I finally got back to sleep since I didn’t get up again until 7 a.m.

I guess I can be thankful for an expensive, talkative wall fixture.

Cell Phone appears

When we returned from the family reunion last summer I somehow misplaced the cell phone Annie had given me. I looked high and low for it. All the places I had "stored" it previously. Yesterday I dropped something and got down on the floor to find it, took a flashlight and looked under my desk. I had looked under that area before for dropped peanuts, etc., but not finding what I was looking for I shone the light clearn back. There was the cell phone back against the wall. How it got there will remain a mystery. It still had nearly 360minutes on it as it is a Tracphone where one buys the minutes instead of having some sort of contract. It works. I talked with son Jim in Dickinson this morning to cancel plans for a visit there next week. Other visits have somehow gotten in the way. I'll be going over there the end of May for Jon's high school graduation.

Son Ken was in on business yesterday. He works with the State Department of Health and Human Services. He called around 6 pm and we went out to dinner at The Outback. He came by this morning early so that he and Pete can get their plans in order for going over to St. Paul in April for Stephanie's wedding. Grandfather will not be going. Next week we are looking forward to David's visit. Ann will be in Friday (St. Patrick's Day) so we will all probably go out to dinner that evening.

Erin go bragh!

Dental Visit & Shopping

It’s been kind of a strange day weather wise. When I took the garbage out early this morning it was comfortable to have on a jacket and cap. Later in the morning I went to the hardware store to get a light switch in a failed attempt to fix the basement steps light so that it would work at both levels. When I came out I took the jacket off an it was comfortable as I went to the Credit Union to deposit a dividend check from one of the Bonds. I then had an appointment with my Dentist. Called this morning due to the fact that over the weekend one of the lower right molars was giving me some pain and I wanted to make sure that there was no infection in process. An x-ray proved negative, but Greg still ground away on the tooth to do some alignment. It isn’t still perfect, but there is no “ache”. Just some sensitivity. By mid-day it had warmed up quite a bit. Pete was doing some yard work at their house. He talked about taking clothes off as he worked and by putting them back on gradually as the afternoon wore on.

After my mid-day nap I went to Sears and bought a rug cleaner. They had some of the better Hoover’s on sale. Pete has the job of putting it together. Tomorrow I’ll run the sweeper and then later give the steamer a try.

It was good to talk some with Irene and Lee this morning her birthday being tomorrow. Lee said there was some talk about their coming west this summer. Do hope that they are able to follow through. It will be great to see them. Ken is coming in tomorrow as far as I know. Then David next week. Maybe we will be able to have some sort of family gathering a week from Friday with Ann, Pete, David and myself. Ken will need to be in Helena on the 17th for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Not much else from here. I’ll send this to Generation One on my list and then post it on the Blog where the younger generation can read it.

Love to all readers. -J-

Long ago relatives

It was interesting to read in today’s paper that cousin Zachary was inaugurated as President of the United States on this date in 1849. Back in those days inauguration was set for March 4th, but that being a Sunday it was delayed to Monday. According to my Reunion software President Taylor is a first cousin four time removed. We are both direct decendents of The Rev. Rowland Taylor of Rothbury, England who was born 10/6/1510, and who died a martyrs death in Feb. 1555 under the reign of Bloody Mary. Known to his troops as “Old Rough and Ready”, General Taylor was a major figure in the war with Mexico which resulted in the addition of Texas to the Union. He was nominated by the Whigs. Millard Fillmore was his Vice President,and was probably less well prepared to be President that Taylor. The Party refused to nominate him for President the next time around.

So much for history.

Lazy Saturday

I was up early this morning to turn on the oil heater in the basement so that it would be warm when the gals came to help box up stuff for a pending Spring Garage Sale. Janie came around 10:30 and was alone. I let her go to work and she boxed up a lot of the stuff. Maybe the others will be able to join her come next Saturday. Pete has brought a lot of boxes from the restaurant - Jakes - mostly beer and wine containers.

I read and watch TV. On one of the news programs a couple of guys were discussing the Anna Nicole Smith hearing before the Supreme Court. They couldn't help themselves laughing and and taking about the "large ASSets" and the "Bottom line" related to the case. One should be so well endowed.

Tonight I have listened again to a CD Mark made of Mom and me on her 80th birthday. There are such wonderful memories and I love to hear her laugh again and again. I know that that is one of the things I will always cherish about my memory of her.

Memories

Last night I finally decided to look through some letters to my high school sweetheart that I had written after I was drafted out of my second semester in college in April 1943. Somehow when we finally “broke up” I talked her out of the letters she had saved so that I would have some record of those days away from home. I was going to try my best to arrange them in chronological order and then read them. What I found was a lot of letters from various people over the years which I had stored away. Mostly from girls, but also from various members of the family - even brother Bill’s first wife, Helen.

The find of the night was a group of letters that Betty had written to me while I was doing graduate study at the U. of Cincinnati the summer before we were married. I have often thought about that night of our first date when I blurted out “you are going to marry me, aren’t you?” And she did! I’ve wondered from time to time what the date of that “engagement” was. One of the letters answered that question. Dated August 24, 1948 it began:

“Happy Anniversary, dear Jim, Happy anniversary to you. July 25, 1948-August 25, 1948.” She went on: “A month ago I scarcely thought I’d be writing you. Scarcely thought that so much could happen in one short month. . . . Last month, I never dreamed I’d be planning a wonderful new life with you. A life of joy and happiness with our share of sorrow. But together, even sorrow can be sweet.”

But we are not “together” and now the sorrow is not sweet. In another six weeks we would have been married 57 years. Shakespeare had it wrong. Parting is not “such sweet sorrow.” But the memories of such precious years together are, and they bring their tears from time to time. Please know that I am growing stronger in those memories, and am doing well.