This past Friday - I had our regional Road-e-o. For the bus drivers. I came in third. Seems to be my place. I come in third a lot. I was happy with what I did.
So Matt came in first and I came in third.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Matt is number one
This past Friday - I had our regional Road-e-o. For the bus drivers. I came in third. Seems to be my place. I come in third a lot. I was happy with what I did.
So Matt came in first and I came in third.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Define your life
Go ahead define your life in seven letters or less. Not seven words but seven letters. That is what I have chosen to do this past month. Believe me it is a lot harder than it sounds.
You see - here in Idaho - you have to have a licence plate on your car. You can choose from a variety of styles - regular scenic , wild life, an air plane, different state school logos - even the armed forces - all can be random numbers and letters or you can personalize them. My old plates had a school bus on them.
It even stated my pet peeve - cars not stopping for the red lights. I thought it fit me and even made my husband get them for his car. These special plates are fund raisers for their different causes or schools. This campaign was to raise money for student safety regarding busing. It failed. Only 90 plates were sold state wide. So they discontinued these plates and when the time came to get new tags we had to get new plates.
I didn't want to just get a random number that was hard to memorize and besides - I have grown accustomed to looking at the plate - to make sure it was my car that I was headed for. You would be surprised at how many white Buick's there are out there.
So I decided to get a personalized plate. Since my last plate was a school bus I had a mind set at staying with my job. I drove "bus 59" - so I thought that would be cool. But I was not guaranteed to keep that bus so I thought "route 17" would be better. Turns out just last month they gave me a new bus - glad I didn't get that on my plate. As far as "route17" - Mandy didn't like that. She thought that my life shouldn't be defined by my job. That got me to thinking.
What does define your life. OK - this is just a license plate - it shouldn't get so philosophical.
So now what? I started to think of things I liked - crafts - sewing - grand kids - not in that order. Then there was my faith. A big part of my life is my faith. I made the decision to stay away from that for my plate and just keep it light. "Engage" "Lv2sew" "Busdrvr" "MattSue" Were all ideas that I kicked around. I looked to see if these were even available - most were not. Back to the drawing board.
I finally figured it out. My family was the most important thing to me. So that is what I went with.
I did wrestle with putting "DCAMGD" on the plate but we never call Mo - Amanda unless we're mad at her and well, Miranda is always in my heart and I didn't want to explain over and over again why the extra "M". - So this is how I define my life in five letters.
I am well pleased with Damon, Cristy, Mandy, Grant and Darren.
You see - here in Idaho - you have to have a licence plate on your car. You can choose from a variety of styles - regular scenic , wild life, an air plane, different state school logos - even the armed forces - all can be random numbers and letters or you can personalize them. My old plates had a school bus on them.
I didn't want to just get a random number that was hard to memorize and besides - I have grown accustomed to looking at the plate - to make sure it was my car that I was headed for. You would be surprised at how many white Buick's there are out there.
So I decided to get a personalized plate. Since my last plate was a school bus I had a mind set at staying with my job. I drove "bus 59" - so I thought that would be cool. But I was not guaranteed to keep that bus so I thought "route 17" would be better. Turns out just last month they gave me a new bus - glad I didn't get that on my plate. As far as "route17" - Mandy didn't like that. She thought that my life shouldn't be defined by my job. That got me to thinking.
What does define your life. OK - this is just a license plate - it shouldn't get so philosophical.
So now what? I started to think of things I liked - crafts - sewing - grand kids - not in that order. Then there was my faith. A big part of my life is my faith. I made the decision to stay away from that for my plate and just keep it light. "Engage" "Lv2sew" "Busdrvr" "MattSue" Were all ideas that I kicked around. I looked to see if these were even available - most were not. Back to the drawing board.
I finally figured it out. My family was the most important thing to me. So that is what I went with.
I am well pleased with Damon, Cristy, Mandy, Grant and Darren.
Friday, March 23, 2012
19 years six months and counting
This week I have been thinking of all the things that I have experienced in the 19 years I have been driving school bus. So should I start with the big things or the small? How about I just put them in the order they come into my brain. If you don't like that - oh well - that is what I am doing.
I have always said that you are not an official bus driver until a child pukes on the bus. I am an official bus driver - at least 4 times over. I will not give you an account of each time for I do not wish to gross you out. I will say that I do know of one driver who has been driving for 17 years and is still not an official bus driver.
I have had a child have a seizure on the bus and a child choke. The first was not a grand mall seizure but I do remember botching the whole - taking care of the kid - thing. I was young. The child who choked - I did help. Thanks to our training of the Heimlich maneuver. I had a small second grader come up and tap me on the shoulder - I quickly yelled at her - "what are you doing out of your seat?" she quietly told me that "Tony" couldn't breath. UGH!!!! I helped him - The next day I got this note written on a torn piece of paper that read "Thanks for helping me to breath" Cute!
I have been in a couple of accidents on the bus. Both of them were not my fault. First one - I was stopped letting off a child when a 15 year old girl put her car into a 360 spin and stopped as she creamed the side of my bus. The other accident - I was hit by a house. Yes - I was hit by a HOUSE. One of those mobile homes - a double wide. So actually I was hit by half a house. That was a fun radio call - "Base - I just got hit by a house" I was called a home wrecker for months.
I did a 360 on ice in a bus. Big area - no one around. Don't really want to do that again.
I sank the bus in mud - up to the step. That too was a fun radio call too-
"Base - I'm Stuck"
"What do you mean - stuck"
"I'm in the mud and I can't move"
Took three pick-ups to get me out. The road was closed for two weeks after that and the next year they paved the road.
I have had to chain up the bus 3 times in 19 years. The first and third times I chained up all by myself.
The second time it was because I got stuck in the snow going up a hill. That made me mad because I have been driving that hill for years and I just let some radio talk get to me and - well - it was my fault that I got stuck. Our great mechanics came and chained me up and I got up the hill after that. Ice is no fun to drive on.
I wiped out a mail box once backing up. We won't talk about that.
I had a kindergarten kid bring a hundred dollar bill to school. Back when the drivers seats were not tall - this kid was tapping the bill on my shoulder saying -"look at my funny dollar" I grabbed it and put it on my lap. As I looked down - I gasped - that was a "funny" dollar. Turns out this kid wanted a quarter to buy popcorn and his Mom said no. He just went into her purse and got a "dollar" anyway. It was rent money and she was thankful I got it back for her.
I have had only one fist fight on the bus that I can think of right now. And I had a child -"Bill"- threaten me. Had a second child - "Sally"-offer to pay "Bill" twenty dollars to do what he threatened. I never saw "Bill" again and "Sally" learned a lesson she will never forget. Thanks to her mother.
I have had the news crews come out and film me over a child bringing a scope on the bus. That has to be the biggest most stupid thing ever. I had a child - "Steve"- bring a scope to school. The day before another child brought a pair of binoculars to school and he was the center of attention. The kids on the bus were all asking to look through them and he was "popular" for that ride. So "Steve" brought the only thing he had - a scope of a rifle - to show off. Only the kids didn't pay that much attention to him. He made the mistake of looking through it as a little girl was getting on the bus. Her mother noticed "Steve" looking at her daughter. All was OK until the mother kept thinking of what she saw. The more she thought, the more her imagination took over and the more scared she got. She called the school - the principal came out when I got to the school and took the scope. But the Mother was not satisfied. She called the district office. That day the district office were holding meetings of greater importance and she couldn't talk to anyone she liked. So she called the news station. Lucky for her it was a slow news day. Of course, it was only a few weeks after one of the school shootings and this news station went with it. They filmed the mother standing at her daughters bus stop - me driving up - her daughter getting off the bus - me driving away. Don't worry - "Steve" was protected through all this stupidness. But that was one boring, hyped up news story.
I am known as the meanest bus driver at my school. I am proud of that title. My kids are safe!!
I have been reminded that I have also given blood for my job. So my two "accidents" left me without any cuts or bruises but I did slip in the bus parking lot - leaving much DNA behind. I slipped on some ice doing what we call a walk around- checking tires, lights, oil leaks, broken windows, or anything out of the ordinary. I went flat on my back and my head snapped back. I never knew what hit me - it was that fast. I split my head open - lots of blood. My boss called 911 and a very nice mechanic sat in the snow with me till they came. They strapped me onto a board-neck brace and all - and off to the hospital we went. I will say right here and now - that will never happen again! The board strapping thing. They strapped my head down onto the board and that is where I split my head - OUCH!!!! I ended up with two staples and a few days off of work. Lets here it for workman's comp. People were nice to me for awhile after that. I still get offers to help me across the ice.
Out side of all the little everyday things - "Mrs. Durtschi - Tommy's looking at me!" "Mrs. Durtschi - I'm squished!" That is my favorite. Three kindergarten kids sitting on a bench made for 3 kindergarten kids and they are complaining that they are - squished! I tell them - wait until they are in high school - then they will know what - squished - is. I wish I could recall some of the funny things I get to listen to. Guess I'll have to start writing that stuff down.
I have also been asked to include my bus Road-e-o record. This is a fun competition that most school districts across the United States participate in. Ten driving skills are tested - Parallel parking (in a bus of course) - backing up into a narrow area - turning right without creaming anything - picking up kids properly - driving straight - offset alley - railroad crossing - diminishing clearance - curb line - stop line-some of these may sound easy but believe me they are not. I have earned my first trophy - ever - by participating in the Road-e-o. I have come in third in State and have taken a couple of seconds in regionals. I even came in first one year locally but because of budget cuts I have nothing to show for that. It is fun to compete and improves my driving skills in the process.
So now to my latest adventure. We are two days into spring - spring - you know the time of year when we get rid of snow and things start to bloom. Well, when you live in North Idaho, you learn that winter doesn't give up easy. So two days into spring we have a snow storm. As I am driving on my route I am stopped by a tree. A tree hanging over the road.
No real place to turn around . I call into our base - and I am told to wait for the highway district to come and clear the tree.
I only had to wait about fifteen to twenty minutes - but the hard thing to watch was three cars that just went around me and under the tree and on their way. This tree would have creamed my windshield if I kept going. Sometimes being a big rig isn't a good thing.
But you have to admit - snow is pretty.
I have always said that you are not an official bus driver until a child pukes on the bus. I am an official bus driver - at least 4 times over. I will not give you an account of each time for I do not wish to gross you out. I will say that I do know of one driver who has been driving for 17 years and is still not an official bus driver.
I have had a child have a seizure on the bus and a child choke. The first was not a grand mall seizure but I do remember botching the whole - taking care of the kid - thing. I was young. The child who choked - I did help. Thanks to our training of the Heimlich maneuver. I had a small second grader come up and tap me on the shoulder - I quickly yelled at her - "what are you doing out of your seat?" she quietly told me that "Tony" couldn't breath. UGH!!!! I helped him - The next day I got this note written on a torn piece of paper that read "Thanks for helping me to breath" Cute!
I have been in a couple of accidents on the bus. Both of them were not my fault. First one - I was stopped letting off a child when a 15 year old girl put her car into a 360 spin and stopped as she creamed the side of my bus. The other accident - I was hit by a house. Yes - I was hit by a HOUSE. One of those mobile homes - a double wide. So actually I was hit by half a house. That was a fun radio call - "Base - I just got hit by a house" I was called a home wrecker for months.
I did a 360 on ice in a bus. Big area - no one around. Don't really want to do that again.
I sank the bus in mud - up to the step. That too was a fun radio call too-
"Base - I'm Stuck"
"What do you mean - stuck"
"I'm in the mud and I can't move"
Took three pick-ups to get me out. The road was closed for two weeks after that and the next year they paved the road.
I have had to chain up the bus 3 times in 19 years. The first and third times I chained up all by myself.
The second time it was because I got stuck in the snow going up a hill. That made me mad because I have been driving that hill for years and I just let some radio talk get to me and - well - it was my fault that I got stuck. Our great mechanics came and chained me up and I got up the hill after that. Ice is no fun to drive on.
I wiped out a mail box once backing up. We won't talk about that.
I had a kindergarten kid bring a hundred dollar bill to school. Back when the drivers seats were not tall - this kid was tapping the bill on my shoulder saying -"look at my funny dollar" I grabbed it and put it on my lap. As I looked down - I gasped - that was a "funny" dollar. Turns out this kid wanted a quarter to buy popcorn and his Mom said no. He just went into her purse and got a "dollar" anyway. It was rent money and she was thankful I got it back for her.
I have had only one fist fight on the bus that I can think of right now. And I had a child -"Bill"- threaten me. Had a second child - "Sally"-offer to pay "Bill" twenty dollars to do what he threatened. I never saw "Bill" again and "Sally" learned a lesson she will never forget. Thanks to her mother.
I have had the news crews come out and film me over a child bringing a scope on the bus. That has to be the biggest most stupid thing ever. I had a child - "Steve"- bring a scope to school. The day before another child brought a pair of binoculars to school and he was the center of attention. The kids on the bus were all asking to look through them and he was "popular" for that ride. So "Steve" brought the only thing he had - a scope of a rifle - to show off. Only the kids didn't pay that much attention to him. He made the mistake of looking through it as a little girl was getting on the bus. Her mother noticed "Steve" looking at her daughter. All was OK until the mother kept thinking of what she saw. The more she thought, the more her imagination took over and the more scared she got. She called the school - the principal came out when I got to the school and took the scope. But the Mother was not satisfied. She called the district office. That day the district office were holding meetings of greater importance and she couldn't talk to anyone she liked. So she called the news station. Lucky for her it was a slow news day. Of course, it was only a few weeks after one of the school shootings and this news station went with it. They filmed the mother standing at her daughters bus stop - me driving up - her daughter getting off the bus - me driving away. Don't worry - "Steve" was protected through all this stupidness. But that was one boring, hyped up news story.
I am known as the meanest bus driver at my school. I am proud of that title. My kids are safe!!
I have been reminded that I have also given blood for my job. So my two "accidents" left me without any cuts or bruises but I did slip in the bus parking lot - leaving much DNA behind. I slipped on some ice doing what we call a walk around- checking tires, lights, oil leaks, broken windows, or anything out of the ordinary. I went flat on my back and my head snapped back. I never knew what hit me - it was that fast. I split my head open - lots of blood. My boss called 911 and a very nice mechanic sat in the snow with me till they came. They strapped me onto a board-neck brace and all - and off to the hospital we went. I will say right here and now - that will never happen again! The board strapping thing. They strapped my head down onto the board and that is where I split my head - OUCH!!!! I ended up with two staples and a few days off of work. Lets here it for workman's comp. People were nice to me for awhile after that. I still get offers to help me across the ice.
Out side of all the little everyday things - "Mrs. Durtschi - Tommy's looking at me!" "Mrs. Durtschi - I'm squished!" That is my favorite. Three kindergarten kids sitting on a bench made for 3 kindergarten kids and they are complaining that they are - squished! I tell them - wait until they are in high school - then they will know what - squished - is. I wish I could recall some of the funny things I get to listen to. Guess I'll have to start writing that stuff down.
I have also been asked to include my bus Road-e-o record. This is a fun competition that most school districts across the United States participate in. Ten driving skills are tested - Parallel parking (in a bus of course) - backing up into a narrow area - turning right without creaming anything - picking up kids properly - driving straight - offset alley - railroad crossing - diminishing clearance - curb line - stop line-some of these may sound easy but believe me they are not. I have earned my first trophy - ever - by participating in the Road-e-o. I have come in third in State and have taken a couple of seconds in regionals. I even came in first one year locally but because of budget cuts I have nothing to show for that. It is fun to compete and improves my driving skills in the process.
So now to my latest adventure. We are two days into spring - spring - you know the time of year when we get rid of snow and things start to bloom. Well, when you live in North Idaho, you learn that winter doesn't give up easy. So two days into spring we have a snow storm. As I am driving on my route I am stopped by a tree. A tree hanging over the road.
But you have to admit - snow is pretty.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
My first Quilt
So this is my first quilt. I just had to brag a bit. Looking for compliments in case you haven't figured that out. Well............... :)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Christmas memories
Christmas is a time for love - understanding - giving - family - helping - shopping - driving - hustling - spending too much - eating too much - asking "What should I get them?" -stress - sending packages on time - decorating - looking at lights - baking cookies - making chocolates - shopping - listening to Christmas music - wrapping presents - waiting for the snow - cooking and Christ.
When I was a kid - it was always easy to get into the spirit and to feel the spirit. Excitement as to what I was going to get along with the thought that maybe this year I would be old enough to keep a secret. I would spent time shopping with my Mom for my brothers and get so excited as I wrapped those presents. I would just tell myself "this year I will not tell them what I was giving them" but I do believe I was a teenager before I actually made it to Christmas without telling my brothers what I got them. To this day, a Christmas doesn't go by without my Dad saying those famous words "And I got you a DJ game". Teasing me again. But Christmas was a time to really show our love for each other. Presents were personal and worked for. I remember buying my brother Tom a pocket watch. He wanted one and well, I wanted to be the one to get it for him. I went to the jewelers and basically put that watch on layaway. I went every week for two months putting money down on that watch. I think I was more excited than Tom when he opened that present. Tom gave me my guitar - I still have it.
When I got older - teenager years - I think it was more the Music and baking all the cookies that brought the Christmas spirit to me. I also learned that I preferred snow in December. I lived in California my teenage years and we didn't have snow. I hated that - and at times I would drive up to the mountains just to feel the cold and see the snow. I remember one very lean Christmas as a teenager. Dad had just purchased a house and a business and there wasn't any money for Christmas. In fact - I think I was the only one who bought presents that year. We were watching something on TV and when a commercial came on I made everyone go into the living room for presents - we were done and back to the TV before the commercial break was over. But that year was great - we were all together and had a day of games and good eats!
Getting married brought more adjustments. Now I had two families to go to. How do you choose who's house to eat at and when to see which parent? I know every new couple has to go through this but it was not my most favorite thing. But then it got easier because I moved away from family and didn't have to worry about that anymore. So I started my own family traditions with my own little family of 5 children. I was always very grateful to my father who always made sure I had enough money to have a nice Christmas. My Dad is a great man. Christmas when the kids were little was fun. The main thing was that I had to make sure everyone had the same number of presents. Didn't matter how much money was spent - just that they each got the same number. This caused a problem because it always seemed that each year it was easy to buy for one kid and really hard to figure out what another needed or wanted. My favorite time was on Christmas Eve when the kids were little and we would act out the Christmas story. Darren - my baby - got to be baby Jesus twice. But as the kids grew we did that less and less. We had a couple of years of adopting a family or getting names off a helping tree. Those times were special - placing gifts on a porch and running. Picking out a present for - a boy , age 9, - wrapping it and bringing it back to the tree. I just wish we did that every year - made that the main tradition at Christmas. Regrets are hard.
Christmas was always hectic. I had to do all the shopping and decorating and cooking and wrapping and...... Well, you get the picture. But even through all the craziness I could always find the Spirit sooner or later. Sometimes it wasn't until the Sunday before Christmas at church. Listening to the choir, hearing the Christmas story "And there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed"
I could find my peace and feel the spirit. Then on Christmas morning all the kids would unwrap their presents. I would make them unwrap them one at a time - everyone had to watch and I remember that one year it took almost 3 hours to unwrap all the presents that way. Thank-you and hugs had to be given out and you had to love what ever you got for at least one hour. Then when the hour was up you could come and tell me that shirt was gross and you would like to exchange it. I also hated waisting money and didn't want anything to just rot in the closet. I remember one year I didn't put any tags on the presents - just wrapped each kids' present in their own paper. Thought this would stop them from handling the presents - didn't work. They knew which presents were theirs - I only gave them a puzzle to solve - and they solved it.
As my children grew - things changed. Christmas has always been a day of games and a puzzle but the first year we were one child short was different. We looked forward to a long distant phone call instead of presents. Presents and food were there but the conversation was about that missing child and what he told us and what we forgot to ask him. Those that went off to college always seemed to make it home for Christmas. That was and is great. Then came the first marriage. Flash backs of when I first got married and being torn as to which parents house should I go to - haunted me. So I have always just told my kids to plan some time with me and I will be happy. I have always been happy with the time I have had with my kids - their spouses - and my grandchildren.
Now most of my children live on the wrong side of the Mississippi River. My parents live across the street and Christmas is still a juggling act. Parents who have a hard time being around very active great grandchildren but want to see them - gives me a new challenge. But we figure it all out and spend what time we have together. Christmas this year was quiet. I still had a lot of cooking and cleaning to do. But it only took two dishwasher loads to get everything clean instead of the usual 3 or 4. Activities are more centered around my parents who are 85 and 83 years old, instead of kids who are 8 or 3 years old. Things are different but different is good - nice! Christmas with service - love - understanding - even forgiveness. I think I may finally be getting this Christmas thing right - Christ first.
So this year Darren came home from school. Mandy and her family live here - at least I have some grandchildren close. We all had breakfast together and opened presents. I didn't get any pictures but I did take a few special shots during the week. Here they are -
Gibson found one of my dolls and was even feeding it pancakes - it was very sweet but I missed the picture and got this one.
Darren learning how to make chocolate covered caramel.
Uncle Darren is the greatest. This is Mandy's house
Well, Christmas is over - Darren is back to school and I have actually cleaned up my house. Now I get to work on my new hobby - quilting. More on that later - Love to all.
When I was a kid - it was always easy to get into the spirit and to feel the spirit. Excitement as to what I was going to get along with the thought that maybe this year I would be old enough to keep a secret. I would spent time shopping with my Mom for my brothers and get so excited as I wrapped those presents. I would just tell myself "this year I will not tell them what I was giving them" but I do believe I was a teenager before I actually made it to Christmas without telling my brothers what I got them. To this day, a Christmas doesn't go by without my Dad saying those famous words "And I got you a DJ game". Teasing me again. But Christmas was a time to really show our love for each other. Presents were personal and worked for. I remember buying my brother Tom a pocket watch. He wanted one and well, I wanted to be the one to get it for him. I went to the jewelers and basically put that watch on layaway. I went every week for two months putting money down on that watch. I think I was more excited than Tom when he opened that present. Tom gave me my guitar - I still have it.
When I got older - teenager years - I think it was more the Music and baking all the cookies that brought the Christmas spirit to me. I also learned that I preferred snow in December. I lived in California my teenage years and we didn't have snow. I hated that - and at times I would drive up to the mountains just to feel the cold and see the snow. I remember one very lean Christmas as a teenager. Dad had just purchased a house and a business and there wasn't any money for Christmas. In fact - I think I was the only one who bought presents that year. We were watching something on TV and when a commercial came on I made everyone go into the living room for presents - we were done and back to the TV before the commercial break was over. But that year was great - we were all together and had a day of games and good eats!
Getting married brought more adjustments. Now I had two families to go to. How do you choose who's house to eat at and when to see which parent? I know every new couple has to go through this but it was not my most favorite thing. But then it got easier because I moved away from family and didn't have to worry about that anymore. So I started my own family traditions with my own little family of 5 children. I was always very grateful to my father who always made sure I had enough money to have a nice Christmas. My Dad is a great man. Christmas when the kids were little was fun. The main thing was that I had to make sure everyone had the same number of presents. Didn't matter how much money was spent - just that they each got the same number. This caused a problem because it always seemed that each year it was easy to buy for one kid and really hard to figure out what another needed or wanted. My favorite time was on Christmas Eve when the kids were little and we would act out the Christmas story. Darren - my baby - got to be baby Jesus twice. But as the kids grew we did that less and less. We had a couple of years of adopting a family or getting names off a helping tree. Those times were special - placing gifts on a porch and running. Picking out a present for - a boy , age 9, - wrapping it and bringing it back to the tree. I just wish we did that every year - made that the main tradition at Christmas. Regrets are hard.
Christmas was always hectic. I had to do all the shopping and decorating and cooking and wrapping and...... Well, you get the picture. But even through all the craziness I could always find the Spirit sooner or later. Sometimes it wasn't until the Sunday before Christmas at church. Listening to the choir, hearing the Christmas story "And there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed"
I could find my peace and feel the spirit. Then on Christmas morning all the kids would unwrap their presents. I would make them unwrap them one at a time - everyone had to watch and I remember that one year it took almost 3 hours to unwrap all the presents that way. Thank-you and hugs had to be given out and you had to love what ever you got for at least one hour. Then when the hour was up you could come and tell me that shirt was gross and you would like to exchange it. I also hated waisting money and didn't want anything to just rot in the closet. I remember one year I didn't put any tags on the presents - just wrapped each kids' present in their own paper. Thought this would stop them from handling the presents - didn't work. They knew which presents were theirs - I only gave them a puzzle to solve - and they solved it.
As my children grew - things changed. Christmas has always been a day of games and a puzzle but the first year we were one child short was different. We looked forward to a long distant phone call instead of presents. Presents and food were there but the conversation was about that missing child and what he told us and what we forgot to ask him. Those that went off to college always seemed to make it home for Christmas. That was and is great. Then came the first marriage. Flash backs of when I first got married and being torn as to which parents house should I go to - haunted me. So I have always just told my kids to plan some time with me and I will be happy. I have always been happy with the time I have had with my kids - their spouses - and my grandchildren.
Now most of my children live on the wrong side of the Mississippi River. My parents live across the street and Christmas is still a juggling act. Parents who have a hard time being around very active great grandchildren but want to see them - gives me a new challenge. But we figure it all out and spend what time we have together. Christmas this year was quiet. I still had a lot of cooking and cleaning to do. But it only took two dishwasher loads to get everything clean instead of the usual 3 or 4. Activities are more centered around my parents who are 85 and 83 years old, instead of kids who are 8 or 3 years old. Things are different but different is good - nice! Christmas with service - love - understanding - even forgiveness. I think I may finally be getting this Christmas thing right - Christ first.
So this year Darren came home from school. Mandy and her family live here - at least I have some grandchildren close. We all had breakfast together and opened presents. I didn't get any pictures but I did take a few special shots during the week. Here they are -
Well, Christmas is over - Darren is back to school and I have actually cleaned up my house. Now I get to work on my new hobby - quilting. More on that later - Love to all.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sixty - five years and counting
I have the privilege of living across the street from my folks - John and Lorna. We eat together at least 5 nights a week and sometimes 6. I had the opportunity to talk with them about their wedding and what happened 65 years ago and this is what I have learned. I should have asked these questions 10 years ago - it is hard for them to remember now. But this is what I did get.
Everything happened in 1946. Dad got out of the army - sometime in the spring of that year. Mom and Dad met on a blind date. It was love at first sight. They sent every day together. They loved to go dancing. They went to all the different dance halls in or around Chicago. It was a great summer. Then Grandpa Somes made plans for Mom to go to an all girl school in Tennessee. Before Mom left - Dad sold his car to buy Mom her engagement ring and a new suit. Neither one could remember how Dad proposed but it did happen before Mom went off to school.
Then in October of that year Dad with a couple of good friends went down to Tennessee to see Mom. I asked how did he get there since he sold his car and he doesn't remember. I'm betting Bill and Gloria's car. (The good friends) Sometime during this visit they decided to just get married now and they eloped. Dad and Mom spent the week-end together - short honeymoon - before Dad went back to Chicago and Mom went back to class. Dad didn't remember the honeymoon and Mom just said "Thanks". It was a good thing that Dad was on one side of the table and Mom the other because I think Mom would have hit Dad. Sixty-five years is a long time but you should never forget your honeymoon.
They didn't tell their families. They just went on with their lives. Mom didn't tell her roommates at school or anyone but somehow her Father found out. They remember that whoever told Grandpa - they went to see him at his office. My memory of Grandpa is a very stern man that hardly smiled. Dad said that he had to go face the music and doesn't remember what happened but in our imagination it couldn't have been good.
Mom and Dad lived apart for the first 8 months of their marriage. Dad said that they saw each other at Christmas and that was it. They were not allowed to stay together over the Christmas holiday and they had to sneak away to be together. Needless to say the parents were not happy. Sometime in here - Dad's folks sold their house and moved into an apartment. There wasn't any room for Dad so he had to find his own place. He lived at the YMCA for awhile - until he got kicked out. The Y is a temporary housing facility. Grandma Somes found Dad a room at a boarding house. It was just a bedroom in a big house and he had to share the bathroom with everyone else.
When Mom finished her first year in school they got married again - by a Priest - in the Priest's home - on June 21, 1947. All the parents were there and much happier. Mom then moved in with Dad - in that one bedroom - no private bath for the first year of their marriage.
Mom has two wedding bands. She wore them on both sides of her engagement ring for over 50 years. She has never taken the first wedding band off her finger in 65 years. She has argued with Doctors before surgery and won - she wore a bandaged over her ring during these times. She almost had to get it cut off during her "fat" years but she endured that. Maybe that was her motivation to loose the weight.
During their first year - they tell stories of working during the day. Mom's only job ever - a file clerk. Going dancing at night and keeping milk outside on the window sill to keep it cold. A hot plate they had to hide because it wasn't allowed. Their second place was a real apartment - one bedroom. They didn't start their family until they were married for 3 years.
Sixty-five years - 3 children - 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren and counting. Only one word comes to mind - WOW!!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Twenty-first Century
So I am not as old as my parents - good thing - but I have seen a lot of changes in this world. Gasoline used to be 35 cents a gallon. We didn't have video games in the home. We didn't have video games. We had pinball machines. We had to go to the bowling alley to bowl. Our arms got sore from throwing a 12 pound ball, not because we WII'd for 4 hours. (I had to make up a word right there) We didn't have VSH or DVR. We didn't have cable - I remember when they first started talking about pay TV. No way would anyone pay when you could get it for free. How stupid!! Well, here I am paying. Stupid!!!
Computers - wow - now I think even 6 year old kids can talk about the changes in this area. I remember going to college in the late 70's and taking a computer language course. The computers were big and we had to wait - I mean wait -up to two minutes - for the computer to do it's thing. No Internet
Phones are another area of change. House phones only. Today we call it land line. The receiver was tethered to the main unit by a cord that kinda stretched. Was wound up like a spring or a slinky and would stretch out so you could stir something on the stove while you talked. Teenagers would stretch it to the closet to have privacy during their conversations. We had a rotary dial. I bet some kids have never seen a phone like this. Then came the push button phone. Then the cordless phone. Then the cordless phone with a finder beep so you could find the receiver. Then the cell phone. The first ones were pretty big and as time went on they got smaller and smaller. Then they put cameras on the phone. Then they made the phone a computer too. All in the palm of your hand. Crazy - just crazy!!
I held out for quite some time before I got a cell phone. I liked not being reached at the store. But with most modern conveniences I caved and got one for emergencies. Then I got into all the "fun" of a cell phone. They added texting. What a fun thing this is. It can also be a bad thing but I won't go into that right now. Quick little questions can get answered without long conversations. Pictures can be sent to let people know you are thinking of them at this moment. I love this!!! It really helps when the grandchildren are so far away. I still have no desire to get a "smart phone". The idea of my pocket being smarter than I - me - oh whatever - is something I don't want to deal with right now. And when my phone dies I will have to upgrade but for now I am happy with my phone.
Tonight I spent 2 and a half hours transferring pictures in my phone to the memory card in my phone. Then pictures that were texted to me from the text folder to the memory card in my phone. Then the videos I have to my memory card. Then I had to remember how to take that memory card out - remember were the adapter was - put the card into the adapter and then put the card into my new computer. I did that ALL BY MYSELF. I transferred all the pictures and videos to my computer. I had to - my memory was filling up. So now I will share some of the memories that were in my phone.
Sa just got her ears pierced.
Cristy with Troy during those first bad hours.
Maddie saying Hi
Georgey lost another tooth
Don't know if Jack is too happy to say Hi
Kevin is growing.
When you can't find your camera - grab the phone then send it to me.
This is for Grant - I win.
Troy smiles!!
Hallie growing
One chunky Gibson!!!
This video is one I took a long time ago and yes, I used my phone. Can't you tell by the quality of this show. This is Maddie - hard to tell - but she was having fun!!!
Now that I have deleted all my photos and videos I need more. So get to it kids. You know my number.
Computers - wow - now I think even 6 year old kids can talk about the changes in this area. I remember going to college in the late 70's and taking a computer language course. The computers were big and we had to wait - I mean wait -up to two minutes - for the computer to do it's thing. No Internet
Phones are another area of change. House phones only. Today we call it land line. The receiver was tethered to the main unit by a cord that kinda stretched. Was wound up like a spring or a slinky and would stretch out so you could stir something on the stove while you talked. Teenagers would stretch it to the closet to have privacy during their conversations. We had a rotary dial. I bet some kids have never seen a phone like this. Then came the push button phone. Then the cordless phone. Then the cordless phone with a finder beep so you could find the receiver. Then the cell phone. The first ones were pretty big and as time went on they got smaller and smaller. Then they put cameras on the phone. Then they made the phone a computer too. All in the palm of your hand. Crazy - just crazy!!
I held out for quite some time before I got a cell phone. I liked not being reached at the store. But with most modern conveniences I caved and got one for emergencies. Then I got into all the "fun" of a cell phone. They added texting. What a fun thing this is. It can also be a bad thing but I won't go into that right now. Quick little questions can get answered without long conversations. Pictures can be sent to let people know you are thinking of them at this moment. I love this!!! It really helps when the grandchildren are so far away. I still have no desire to get a "smart phone". The idea of my pocket being smarter than I - me - oh whatever - is something I don't want to deal with right now. And when my phone dies I will have to upgrade but for now I am happy with my phone.
Tonight I spent 2 and a half hours transferring pictures in my phone to the memory card in my phone. Then pictures that were texted to me from the text folder to the memory card in my phone. Then the videos I have to my memory card. Then I had to remember how to take that memory card out - remember were the adapter was - put the card into the adapter and then put the card into my new computer. I did that ALL BY MYSELF. I transferred all the pictures and videos to my computer. I had to - my memory was filling up. So now I will share some of the memories that were in my phone.
This video is one I took a long time ago and yes, I used my phone. Can't you tell by the quality of this show. This is Maddie - hard to tell - but she was having fun!!!
Now that I have deleted all my photos and videos I need more. So get to it kids. You know my number.
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