Our Un-normal Normal

 A friend told me about a sermon that was titled, "The New Norm". The family had an Autistic child and their life was changed. The idea got me to thinking about our life and how it had changed in the last few months.

Our old normal life was like this:  Get up at six A.M., Read our devotions and pray. We would get ready for golf and have breakfast then hit the golf course at eight or eight-thirty. We would come home for lunch or stop in the club house to socialize with friends. The next step was to get in the pool to swim for twenty to thirty minutes and lay on the raft and float for an hour. Then we would take a leisurely nap before dinner.

Now our new un-normal life goes like this: Get up at five-thirty, get dressed for the day, read our devotions and pray, eat breakfast, and leave for the "Wound Care" at seven, get there at seven-thirty and Keith dives at eight. Before he dives he has to change to scrubs, get blood pressure taken, temperature taken, blood sugar taken and the doctor checks ears and heart. He stays in the Hyperbaric Oxygen tank for almost two hours. When he comes out the same routine is repeated with the exception of the doctor. Once a week he sees the doctor for a cast removable and a new one.

So far he has dived seventeen times and has three more to go. This breathing of one hundred per cent oxygen is to help the diabetic ulcer on his foot heal.

We go home or stop and do chores afterward. We have lunch and then we are so exhausted from getting up so early that we nap in the recliner. I am blessed because Keith is insisting that I play golf two days while he goes to the Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. He can drive since the ulcer is on the left foot. I am going with him three days each week.

Another thing to help healing is the Angioplasty Surgery of the leg, which he had yesterday. We went to Orlando for the surgery. Keith had previously had catherization of his leg and one stent in abdomen. This surgery was to open several clogged arteries to get blood flow to the foot to help with healing. The surgery went well as the doctor used stents, balloons, and catheter to open vessels. It was a three hour surgery.

After surgery Keith's blood pressure started to elevate. No amount of medication seemed to bring it down. Although he was out of surgery at four, I couldn't be with him until five due to the rise in blood pressure. Our doctors went home thinking, he was going to be fine as his pressure fell some. At seven P. M. The nurse in charge called the doctor as the pressure rose again.  One of the doctors, Brandon, returned and worked and sat with us until the blood pressure was acceptable at eleven P.M. He asked us to stay overnight in a motel close to the hospital and see the surgeon the next morning, to which we agreed.

When we got to the motel and checked in, Keith said, "I feel a little dizzy". We were going up in the elevator and he said, "I feel sick and am about to pass out". I quickly pushed the elevator button to the first floor, because Keith was passed out leaning against the wall over his knee walker. As the elevator door opened, I yelled, "Help, Rick." (The name of the night clerk). He came running as I held the elevator door and told him what happened. He said, "I'm calling 911".  I said, "I'm calling the doctor." Amongst all this Keith revived enough to say he would be okay if he could only get to a bed and lie down. I took him to our room and got him in bed as I spoke with the doctor on the phone .  The doctor said, "I'll be right there. What is the room number?" There was a knock at the door and three EMS workers were there with medical tools. The doctor asked to talk to one of them as they took blood pressure, did EKG, and so on. The EMS guys assured the doctor he was in no  immediate distress. What a blessing they were.

In a few minutes Dr. Brandon arrived along with the surgeon. They checked Keith over and made sure everything was fine, as they said goodnight about midnight, we were ready for some rest. 

Keith said, "I think this was a bad omen ." "What?" I asked. "To bring the doctor brownies". Keith had told the doctor about my baking brownies and he was probably going to gain weight and the doctor said he liked brownies and Keith could share, therefore I took them lots of brownies.

In the morning we saw the doctor and Keith got the okay to come home, so here we are safe and sound. Praise the Lord for all the prayers going up yesterday, as it was touch and go for awhile.

We hope to get our normal life back when Keith heals, whereas the other family will continue in their new normal. We wish them God's blessings.

An Unperfected Day

AN UNPERFECT DAY

Keith is continuing with his Hyberbaric Oxygen treatments and we were so in hopes that his ulcer was going to be much improved when his cast was removed on Wednesday.
We patiently waited while the nurse removed the cast, which she had a difficult time doing and Keith was in some pain.
Keith wanted a photo of the ulcer as he couldn't see it on the bottom of his foot. I snapped the photo which I am sorry I did because it was bigger and worse than the week before. I had to show it to him and he was discouraged immediately.
The doctor ordered new medication for the wound and a different antibiotic. He also took a culture of the wound to see if it contained infection. After digging the dead skin out he rebandaged the wound and put on a new cast. He asked Keith to stay off of his foot as much as possible. All of this took from 7:30 A.M. until noon.

When we arrived home a half hour later, we saw that our mailbox had been torn off the post which it occupied with our neighbor. I went out to the street to investigate and asked Keith not to come as he was to stay off his foot. He couldn't contain himself so he used his walker and strode out to the mailbox. The entire board that held the box was stripped off and the box mashed and crooked in spots. There was no note of whom had done the damage. After several minutes of looking the box over and deliberating about what to do we started back to the house. Keith said, "I'll just let you push me in the walker back to the house as I am tired." I started pushing and hit a groove in the road and down he went, walker and all with me on the concrete, also. I looked and he was bleeding from the elbow, also both my knees were skinned and bleeding. I asked if he was hurt badly, but nothing
appeared broken or hurt too badly, so I tried pulling him up. It was difficult with his cast on for him to get a grip on the concrete and get himself up, not to mention the hot concrete where his hands were pushing. Finally we got him up and into the house to clean his wound on his elbow. His back was bruised but no blood. I cleaned my knees after I bandaged his elbow.
 I called our neighbor who told me the person had stopped and said he would take care of the damage to the mailboxes. He had met a golf cart and thought it was cutting into him, therefore he cut to the right and the mirror of his SUV took our mailbox out.

We know the gentleman very well who had the accident.. He came to our door and we weren't home. I got a text from his daughter saying he would pay for the damages. I felt bad for him because I know he didn't mean to do it. It was an accident.
Since it wasWednesday, it was church night and I am the teacher so I had to go, although we were having a gigantic rain storm. Keith decided he was worn out after all the days excitement so I went to church without him and let him rest.

After church I had a "handy-man" from church come to look at putting the mail box back on its post. He said he would do it the next day. I went to Home Depot the next day and got the mail box. He came in the afternoon and put it on its post. The man who had the ;accident stopped the next day and asked for the bill. I told him what it cost and he paid.

Some days are better than others. Praise God no one was injured. All is right with the world right now.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

When I began writing a blog, I planned to reminence about things that had affected me previously, but this year has been a challenge. Therefore, I would like to tell you about somethings which have affected us.

In February Keith was stricken with sciatic nerve problems. There were doctor visits with pain medication which did not help. Friends suggested many over the counter drugs or apparatuses to ease the pain. He continued to play golf and suffer the consequence of pain. 

Eventually he went to Therapy for relief. He went three times a week for a month. At times the pain was better, but mostly he continued to suffer. At one point he had no pain for a couple weeks. After therapy the pain began again.

In May he had a "crack"on his foot and we treated it but it did not get well. We went to Wound Care on the advice of a friend. For four weeks he was treated for the injury and it healed on the outside. We thought we were out of the woods then.

We went for lunch with our church friends on Sunday a week before Memorial Day. Keith came down with diarrhea and feeling sick. I took him to the Emergency room and they treated him for dehydration and sent him home. The next morning, at 4 a.m. I called 911 as Keith was passing out and still severe diarrhea. They took him to the hospital.  He was diagnosed with Salmonella Poisoning. He spent four days in the hospital. Fortunately the Sciatic didn't bother him too much while he was in the hospital, but enough for pain meds sometimes.

Keith was released on Sunday at noon before Memorial Day. We left for KY and Ohio at 3 p.m. That afternoon. Keith drove to Ocalla and I drove into Georgia where we spent the night. He wanted to make it to Ohio and his Union meeting by Tuesday, which he did and our family reunion on Sunday.

We had a great two weeks seeing family and friends. We got home and returned to normal activities of golf and church.

The Wound Center had asked me to put cream on Keith's feet each night, which I did. I noticed a tiny sore spot near where the other ulcer had been. I put Neosporian on it several nights. It did not get better. Keith went for a check up at the family doctor and he sent him back to the Wound Center. As soon as the dr. Saw him he said, "I'm sending you to the hospital." The foot was infected, but it had not reached the bone. Keith spent six days in the hospital taking antibiotics interveniously.  He Had surgery on the foot.  He was blessed with seven doctors.

When he was released from the hospital he was sent back to the Wound Center who planned to put his foot in a cast in order to keep his weight off his foot. The cast had to wait as Keith was going to his cardiologist, who did an angiogram on his leg and put one stent in his abdomen. Scheduling the next surgery on that leg for September 10, which will be a three hour surgery. The poor circulation is what causes the foot to not heal properly.

The foot was put in a cast and Hyperbaric Oxygen ordered. As I sit here writing, Keith is in the chamber, where he breathes 100% oxygen for one hundred ten minutes. It is supposed to make the healing faster. This is his sixth treatment in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. He is scheduled for twenty. He can gist eighteen in before his next surgery.  The only adverse affect has been his ears. He had loss of hearing previously, but now his hearing is practically gone. They tell us it will return after treatment. 

I am not complaining, but informing how life can change in a flash.

Fear Of The Unknown

It all started on April 27th when I received a letter from a collection agency, Global Credit Collection, saying I had opened a credit card with J C Penney in 2012 and that I had not paid the bill. They were insisting that I pay $174.62. I knew I had not charged that amount. I responded with a phone call and asked for a review of where, when, and what the amount was charged. I was told by Calvin that I would receive my answer in a week. A month later I received a packet with the original $27.58 charge and the remainder of the $174.62 was interest. Calvin also said I had moved in 2012 and therefore maybe I didn't get the bill from J C Penney. I informed him that first class mail was forwarded for a year and I never received a bill.

In the meantime, I checked my records and found that I had paid the original amount with a check the same month I opened the charge. I wrote a letter to the collector on May 6th stating that he charge had been paid. I sent the check number with which I paid.

I received another notice from Global. I decided to visit the J C Penney store and speak with a manager. I was able to tell my story to a supervisor. I took a copy of the letter I had written to Global. Proof of forwarded mail where we had moved and she made notes on all of those, plus copies. She said she would speak with her manager and get back to me or I could call her in a few days. I called her after several days and she had not gotten with her manager. She would call when she got with her manager. I made several attempts to reach her and left messages. The last message I left was to let her know I would not call again as I was contacting the FL Attorney General regarding this issue.

I asked my cell phone for the number for the FL Attorney General. I got a number and called. That's when more trouble started. The phone was answered by a foreign speaking female who said she would put me through to her senior officer. This senior officer, James Jordan, a foreign speaking man,said he was in Washington, D C and I was being investigated on three charges: 

1. Suspicion of violation of U S immigration in 1989.

2. My taxes were not properly filed in 2012 and 2013 and I owed the government money.

3. I had taken a loan out and had not repaid it.

He said I was going to be arrested in 17 hours and all of my bank accounts and credit cards would be lost to me, unless I paid the amount owed for taxes,$1,286.85. I told him I never heard from the IRS about being in arrears. He assured me they had sent mail and I ignored it.

Being caught up in the moment, thinking this is a legitimate call, I offered to pay taxes with a credit card. He said that would not work because it had to be paid in cash today to avoid the arrest. Then my brain kicked in and I realized I was with a scammer. He said I should go to WallMart and get a government form. I asked for the form number and he said I should call him when I get in the parking lot with the cash.

I informed him the Federal Government did not work like that. He hung up, as I told him my daughter was on the phone.  I was trying to call her on the cell.

Paulita got the real number for the FL Attorney General. I told my story to them regarding the scam plus the Global Collection. I spent two hours filling out forms for all of this trouble.

What a mess I got myself into. I'm glad we have agencies to help us. Global is not licensed to collect in FL or in MI where they were billing me. I had just planned to relax in the pool all day. Life has surprises. Today I'm going to Verizon to find out why I got the scam number instead of the real one.

Fantastic Week-End

What a delight to have all three of our children together! On Saturday we gathered at Kevin's for a cook out and games with the children and two in-laws. We were blessed to have three of our grandchildren join us plus our granddaughter -in-law (our grandson was deployed, Navy) and our great granddaughter.

On Sunday we gathered in Miamisburg for the family reunion. It was such a pleasure to see my two sisters and two brothers. Although the health of one brother and one sister is not the best, they were ready for visiting with all the in-laws, nieces and nephews plus the great nieces and nephews that attended. There were over fifty in attendance for the carry-in dinner and getting reacquainted with each other since last year or maybe the Christmas get-to-gather. 

We are from a large family and we continue to meet regularly since the early 1950's. Our dad saw the need for our family to stay in close connection and communication with each other. He went to Heaven in 1963 and we still carry on the tradition he started. We hope our children and grandchildren will continue the tradition long afterwards.

It is impossible to express in words the enjoyment of this great week-end. Keith had just gotten released from a hospital stay due to food poisoning and was feeling well enough to make the trip to Ohio. We had such fun visiting and catching up on all the latest with each other. We keep in touch with text and phone but there is nothing like real life visits, hugs, and kisses.

On Monday we said "good-bye" to Craig as we left him at the Cincinnati airport and headed to Columbus, where we would go to the airport with Paulita to meet Grace, getting home from Europe after five weeks. Grace was ecstatic to be home. We enjoyed seeing her and learning all about her travels.

On our return trip we visited Nana in the Nursing Home in KY. We were happy that we could see Maxine and Dolly also. One of our happiest moments with them was being able to bring each of them a chocolate milk shake. Such a small gesture on our behalf meant so much to them. It was a pleasure to see their eyes light up and their mouths turn into smiles. What a blessed safe trip!

Spring Cleaning Interupted

I had a marvelous plan for doing my spring cleaning. I started upstairs in the bedrooms, wiping every wall from top to bottom, cleaning the ceiling fans, dusting the furniture, cleaning the mirrors and vacuuming the floors. I began my plan on Tuesday evening when Keith was golfing in the Men's Golf League. I did get all the bedrooms cleaned and the bathrooms swept.  I dusted and washed all the decorative rugs.

I was making such good progress and decided to start downstairs Wednesday morning when Keith golfed with the Pro-Am group, but Keith came home from League play very sick. I attended him the rest of the evening.

Wednesday morning Keith said he was too sick to golf and I should call and take him off the play list. When he got up at eight thirty, he was so sick, I told him we needed to go to E R. I tried calling the doctor but only got the answering service. Off to the E R we went.

He was treated for dehydration and diarrhea for four hours and then sent home. I spent the rest of the day taking care of him and getting his antibiotics. Also running necessary errands.

This morning, due to passing out, temperature, and diarrhea I called 911 to take him to the hospital. When the EMS arrived I opened the door. Suddenly the siren began to go off and I thought, "Why are they starting the siren." Then it dawned on me, I had forgotten to turn the alarm off. It was my siren screaming, awakening the neighborhood. Our next door neighbor ran to see what was going on. The EMS workers went about their business by going upstairs after Keith, while I shut the alarm off. They put him in their vehicle and took him to the hospital.

I followed after I collected my senses and got myself together. Oh, did I mention it was 4 A M? Keith was admitted to the hospital, where he will get well in a couple of days. I will concentrate on him and his health until he is back to normal.

In the meantime my bucket of cleaning tools sits in the Game Room waiting to get the spring cleaning going. I realize our plans get interrupted sometimes. My most important goal is to get Keith well and then the spring cleaning will get done. What does it matter if it is summer when spring cleaning gets done.

Our plans are not always God's plans. They will work out for our good.

Sleep In Peace

Did you ever go to bed angry? Maybe you went to bed with an argument unsettled and sleep did not come. The Bible tells us together rid of our anger before the sun goes down. I also think we should settle all disagreements before retiring for the night.
Why do we have arguments or disagreements? Is it because we each want our way? Is it because we think our opinion is the best? Is it because we fail to openly look at the other point of view? There are so many factors to think about. Why is my opinion or idea better? Have I considered the way the other person feels? Why is the other persons idea better?  Is it a personal, that I just want to win?
Try to consider all available options, before disagreeing point blank. Let your mind think about the other ideas. Maybe there is some validity in their idea. Come to a conclusion that you can both agree with and go to bed without anger or disagreement . By having your disagreement settled you can sleep peacefully.

MOTHERS

Being a mother is the most responsible job there is. I have found that being a mother is very fulfilling. As a mother, you provide a home filled with love for your children. You prepare their food and make sure they are well nourished. You make  sure they are clothed for the weather. It is important to provide them security.

As I recall my mother, I think of all the sacrifices she made for us children. We were her pride and joy. There were nine of us but we were each made to feel like an only child. We were all special in her eyes. Our birthdays were very special. If we were sick she made sure we were treated with  special care.

My mother was an excellent seamstress. I could show her a photo of a dress, skirt or blouse in a magazine or catalog and she could make one just like it for me. She spent her evenings sewing clothes, embroidering, or making quilts. Her days were filled with keeping the house and cooking for work hands and the family. She also tended her garden, chickens, and cows.

Mother always managed to save money from her business ventures, sellings eggs, cream from the milk, or sewing for others. She was always redoing some room in the house with her money.

She always made sure we did our homework and had a proper place to study. She attended our school functions when we were in plays or special events.

Most of all our mother taught us responsibility. Be responsible for what you do. Take claim of your actions. If you make a mistake own up to it and move on without continuing in guilt. Always tell the truth and you will not have to remember a lie. Truth is justice.

I must have instilled some very good practices in all of our children. They have all remembered me on Mother's Day. They always treat me with respect and love. They have all become responsible adults. I am very proud of all of them. No one could have better children. I am truly blessed. God bless all of you.

May 9, 2015

Pain

Lately my husband has been dealing with a lot of severe physical pain. 

There are so many types of pain. There is emotional pain when we experience the breakup of a relationship. There is heartbreaking pain when our parents die because we know they loved us and now are gone. There is unbearable pain of anxiety when we lose a child to death. Your children should outlive you.

The most physical pain I have felt personally, is the pain of childbirth. However that pain is soon gone because we have that precious baby and it is easy to forget how we suffered. 

I have seen my husband suffer such pain since February. It began with pain in his lower back. We went to the family doctor who checked him thoroughly and sent him for an x-Ray which showed arthritis.

Next he went for an MRI which showed nerves being pinched by deteriorating discs. He was given a prescription of Predison which escalated his sugar. We knew the high sugar was temporary. The pain continued so another prescription of Predison was taken. Pain medication was prescribed. None seemed to help. He has tried twelve hour Aleve which takes an hour to kick in and only lasts three or four hours. Tylenol or Advil seem to work best. He hates to take medicine but has to in order to get relief.

The next step was to find a  Chiropratic Health Center. Our friend recommended one that had helped her. The records were sent and after two visits my husband was let go.

We were sent to a Therapy Consultant, who came with high recommendations. The records were sent and as of now he has had four treatments and eight more to go. The pain is still there. We are hopeful that it is going to be cured.

My husband can stand more pain than anyone I know, but he has suffered so much. I have been in tears for him as he cries out in pain. For him to complain, I know it is bad. He cannot sit in his recliner without pain. Standing is less painful. He is able to sleep at night without much pain.

If you have answers to this pain problem, we would entertain them. 

Yes, we are praying.

Quilts

Our oldest son mentioned that he wanted me to make him a quilt a couple years ago. I planned a quilt of blocks with different items appliqued on them. I wanted to include items that the children would relate to from their childhood. I am not a professional seamstress so I had to make it simple.

I had watched my mom cut and sew tiny pieces of triangles, squares, circles, and octagons together with no problems. I had tried but failed to make successful tiny pieces, so I had to make something I could accomplish without too much trouble.

With my decision to make three quilts, I started the appliqué in early spring. I worked after golf or on days off from golf or partying. By October I had all the quilt tops finished. They all ended up being king size to get all my plans included. First of all I made a star because they are all stars in my eyes. Next I made a heart because they are always in my heart. I made a Dutch Girl in remembrance of my mom and it was the first quilt I made when they were small. Christmas is so special, I had to put a Christmas tree. The plan went on to include dancing girls, a boy, pets, a book, UK, as they were raised on UK basketball games and we took them whenever we could. I included flowers as they often brought me flowers from dandelions to roses.

By the first of November I had not begun to put the quilts together and my friends said I would never get them done by Christmas. That gave me motivation to get started. I rushed to the store to get the fillings and linings. In the middle of November I put the first quilt together and started quilting it on the sewing machine. I must admit, I had lots of crooked seams, but I got the first one done which had to be mailed to Texas. I had plenty of time since it was the first of December. The second quilt was prepared and machine quilted with more crooked seams. The third quilt had to be prepared as everything else was getting ready for Christmas. I wondered how I would ever get it done. One week before Christmas, the night  Paulita's family was arriving, I got it done . It also had those crooked seams, which I described as my life with some straight seams with smooth going and the crooked seams as when things weren't going as well.

The quilts were made with love and for warmth. I enjoyed making them in my own simple way. My love is forever for them all.

FROM LETTER WRITING TO TEXTING

FROM LETTER WRITING TO TEXTING

Our son from Texas faced-time us the other night and it was so good to see him and know that his family was fine. Our daughter called and we could talk about her family and how they were doing. I began to think about the time my brothers and sisters left home and the only way my parents had to be in contact with them was to write letters. There were no phones in the country, only in towns, which were from twelve to fifteen miles away. Those phones were party lines and usually it was very expensive to call from a pay phone.

Every Sunday night my mother got her stationary pad and pen to write to her children. My dad would tell her some information to tell them. Sometimes he would add a note, but was reluctant to do so as he was left handed and his teachers back then, forced him to write with his right hand, therefore his hand writing was very poor. He used his left hand after he got out of school.

She would ask if we wanted to add a note to our older siblings. We would scribble a few words about school or something exciting that happened on the farm or some new products in the store. Often our older sisters and brothers would send pictures of their families in the letters. That was exxciting as my parents could see how the grandchildren had grown or what activities they were participating in at school or the community.

When I went to college, I still had to write my parents each week. They would write me to tell me what time they were picking me up to come home. since I was the youngest, they expected me to come home almost every week-end to help with the store or written work for the business.

Today, parents are so blessed because they can keep in contact with their children by texting, cell phones, or face-time. I wonder what it would have been like when I was young to have had those conveniences. However I would not trade my letter writing for anything. 

I love the convenience of keeping in touch with our children and grandchildren through the modern media. My, how times have changed!  I remember the discussion of how one day we would be able to talk on the phone and see the person with whom we were talking. It is a reality and I have lived to experience it.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL


As school begins a new year, I remember when I first started school at the age of five. I was in first grade because we had no Kindergarten. I felt so excited to get to go to school with my two older brothers and my older sister. We had to walk to school which was a litle over a mile. It seemed a lot longer to me. My sister was in third grade and my brothers were in fifth and seventh.
The school was a two room schoolhouse with two teachers. One for grades one through four and the other for grades five through eight. We had to take our lunch as there was no cafeteria. Theres was no refrigration so we had to take lunch which would not spoil in the late July heat. Which meant we took peanut butter and crackers or biscuit and jelly with some kind of fruit or vegetable, if in season. Mama always had cookies baked for our sweets. In the winter we could take ham, bologna, or egg sandwiches.
I was anxious to learn but I loved to play at recess. We had a short morning recess and an hour at lunch time. In the afternoon we had a short break. The school was surrounded by large oak trees, which provided us with plenty of shade for playing tag, red-rover or house. Because I was one of the youngest, I got to be the baby of the family when we played house. The older boys and some girls played solftball or kick ball. We were a close knit group with the older children always looking out for the younger ones. In the winter we played games inside at recess.
The restroom facilites were outside. One for the girls and one for the boys. At recess we were to take advantage of the facilities. Sometimes we were excused to take a necessary break.
In the winter the schoolhouse was heated with a coal or wood stove. The older boys were usually paid a small fee for getting the fire started and cleaning the building. Each one had chores to do as assigned by the teacher or chosen by the students. Everyone took turns doing a job. There was a well for getting drinking water. Each one brought their own private cup for drinking.
The school day lasted from eight until four. It was a long day for a five year old. We were always looking down the road toward the post office to see if our dad was on his way home when scool was about to be dismissed. We liked the ride back home becasue it was up a long hill.
 Often we would meet strange dogs on our way to or from school and the fear of one being rabid was always present, as we had been taught to avoid the dogs which we were not familiar with. Sometimes the older boys would scare us by saying a dog was rabid or it was going to bite us
There were several house along our walk to school. We lived at the top of the hill, which was the farthest away. The Baker's lived at the bottom of the hill. They had a boy and girl who were in school. Sometimes we walked with them. Aunt Stella lived down the road from the Baker's. All of  her children were grown and she lived alone. Sometimes there was a rental house on the road, which was usually empty. The Climax Store and Post Office was next. We went to the right there and passed the Mullins' home and the cemetery. There were lots of children in the last house across from the school, but most were too young to go to school. Some children came from every direction. There were probably twenty to thirty students in each room.
We all had our books assigned to us. We were given instructions and the teacher used the blackboard for directions, tests, math, and whatever they needed to do. We did not have a copy machine. The older students helped the younger ones with reading and math.
This was how I got my start in public education. I feel like I had a pretty good background for learning to be able to go on to college and get my Degree in Education as well as a Master's Degree. I thank the Lord for schools and teachers. I was blessed to be able to teach thirty years and retire.

HOSPITAL

Recently, as I was going into the hospital for a test, I remembered the first time I was admitted into the hospital. I was eight years old and very scared.

It all started with a headache and a temperature. It was a very nice summer day and I didn't feel like going out to play. Mom helped me get a bath and put on a cute frilly dress and she braided my hair and put ribbons  on my braids. She thought it would make me feel like playing, but I only wanted to lay in the chair and do nothing. She gave me aspirins for my headache and some kind of tea, but I didn't get better. The next morning my mom and dad took me to see Dr. Baker. He was the best doctor around and they didn't make appointments. People came from long distances to be treated by him. He examined me after a lengthy wait in the crowded waiting room. He said I should go to the hospital because I had a kidney infection and they could better treat me with Penicillin shots in the hospital.
 
The hospital seemed so huge to me. It was my first visit to a hospital. They put me in a private room. After I was settled in, my parents said they had to leave. I cried because I had never been by myself . I begged mom to stay, but the staff insisted she could not stay the night with me. She agreed to stay in town with my dad's sister, Aunt Rose. My dad had to go home to the other children and to the chores of the farm. Mom would visit me in the morning and dad would come later in the afternoon. We lived twelve miles from town. Half of the roads were narrow gravel roads, therefore the travel time took at least half an hour or more.

I was given shots every three or four hours. They were given in the thighs alternating with the butt. They were very painful to me as I have a low tolerance of pain anyway, even then. I felt afraid all night. I had a nightmare or a bad drem. I thought a black cat was in the room with me. I thought it was trying to attack me. I was trying to escape from it. I tried to scream but nothing came out. I managed to call the nurse and asked her to leave a light on for me. It must have been the effects of the medicine. You can imagine how an eight year old would feel, being alone with strangers.

Mom came the next morning and sat with me until my dad came. They both went home that day and the doctor thought I could go home the next day. I was in a hurry to get back to my house with my brothers and sisters. Two nights in the hospital seemed like a long time but I was getting better and anxious to get back to playing again. I had been confined long enough. I was released the third day with a perscription for medication.  Thankfully, I recovered and haven't had a kidney problem since.

BATTERY OPERATED

One morning when we awoke to play golf, the coffe pot, which had been set to come on at six o'clock in the morning had been shut off during the night as well as the other clocks. The electricity had gone off during th night, so everything went off for a few seconds or minutes. I called the electric company, Duke Energy, as this had happened several times, with no storm or hurricanes. They drilled me on exactly what had happened. I relayed my story to two individuals. They said they could see nothing wrong but would send someone in the morning to check. At five o'clock in the evening a Duke Energy repairman appeared, I said, "Good Morning". He apologized. Said he had checked and there was no problem to be found. A few days later, a female called me from the Duke Energy Office, inquiring about the power outage. Again, I retold my story of the power just going out at night between midnight and six in the morning and shutting everything off.  She said they did not find a problem, so she suggested that I get a battery back-up. I laughed and said, "That's why I'm paying these expensive Duke Energy bills, so I can have a battery back-up when there is no storm?" Yes, that was her suggestion. With that I hung up and remembered living in those days when we had no electricity. Everything was battery operated or kerosene for lights.

At first my family had a small table model battery operated radio, but when my brothers went into the service in World War II, my parents got a big floor model radio which took one huge battery. The reception was better and they listened to the news every night to try and find out where my brothers were serving. They listened to the news on WLW in Cincinnati, as well as WJJD, I believe, in Chicago, and WHAS in Louisville. We were told to be quite when the news was on. Our brothers were not allowed to tell where they were but by listening to the news and knowing what batillion they were with, gave my parents a good idea of there whereabouts. One evening I was making a lot of noise, arguing with my sister, Lorena or playing with my dog too loudly, and my dad threatened to whip me if I didn't quite down so he could hear the news. Often the stations were very staticy because of being so far away as well as the poor reception.

The radios were good entertainment. We listened to the "Mid-Day Merry-Go Round" from Knoxville TN each day. We listened to "The Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville on Saturday nights. We listened to some comical shows, such as "Lum And Abner".  We had to be careful and not waste the battery too much. Therefore our programs were selective. Mom and Dad listened tosome gospel music in the mornings.

We also had battery powered flash lights. But if we were on a walk to our grandmothers or friends at night we would use a lantern powered by kerosene. Our lights for reading were kerosene powered. My mom had a special lamp which gave more light than normal that she used for quilting and sewing. Those days seems remote and unmodern but they were fun and I am glad I have experienced them. I don't want to go back to those battery powered days, so I hope Duke Energy gets their wires straightened out soon.

PAPER DOLLS AND LOVE

                                                                   PAPER DOLLS

When I was a little girl I loved to play with paper dolls. My first dolls were cut out of catalogs which came in the mail.We would find the people with underwear and cut them out. Then we would match the dresses, pants, coats and what other clothes we wanted to those models.

My older sisters bought me some Dagwood and Blondie paper dolls, which were a delight. I started a collection of paper dolls from catalogs as well as store bought. I loved the Lana Turner doll as well as Gene Tierney. I also had a book of paper doll babies. I loved babies, whether real, dolls, or paper.

The dolls I liked the most were the ones I cut from catalogs. I always named my paper dolls. I  pretended to have twins, a boy and a girl. My favorite names for the twins were, Judith Kay and Johnny Keith. I thought if I ever had twins, I'd name them that. 

What a surprise it was, when I went to high school and met a handsome red head with a fantastic physique, whose name was Johnny Keith. I thought it must have been a sign. At first we just talked and walked from the restaurant, where everyone gathered before school, to school. He was a basketball player and when I could get to the games, I was thrilled to watch and maybe we could have some time after the game to be together. It all depended on how late it was and how I was going to get home. We would sit in the restaurant and have a coke or go for a ride in someone's car.

We began going steady when I was fourteen and he was fifteen. We had a study hall together and we would  hold hands and whisper. The teacher, an old maid, fussed at us and said we should be doing somethin beneficial. She wanted me to go practice typing and him to go practice basketball. After that semester we were never together in any class or study hall. I guess they didn't fancy first love.

There were many ups and downs in our relationship, which will be in a later blog, but true love won, even though it could have started from an imaginary paper doll, named Johnny Keith.

Sweet Memories of Fritzie

One of my first memories is receiving a gift from two of my older cousins, Claude and Blufford Sexton. Claude and Bluff were in their twenties and regarded me as a special little girl. They were the sons of my Dad's sister who lived two miles away. I always thought of them as the best cousins because they came to visit and teased me. When I was two they brought me the cutest and smallest puppy. I fell in love with her immediately. I carried her everywhere refusing to let her go. Eventually she used the bathroom on my bare foot. I decided it was time to let her down when she wiggled uncomfortably. We named her Fritzie. She proved to be the best friend I ever had. She was not only a friend to me but to the entire family.

Fritzie barked to alert us of people coming into the yard. She did not like mice, so she chased them out of the corn crib. She hated snakes. She learned to grab them by the neck and shake them and bite up and down their spine until they were dead. She was an asset on the farm as she went with us to the barn to do the milking or care for the horses. She always went with the workers to the tobacco or corn fields. She loved to go to the garden with Mama and me. She was always with those picking blackberries in the wild. She would watch for snakes or anything that might harm the pickers. Her favorite thing was to curl up in a chair on the porch and take a nap after her work on the farm.

In those days we did not keep our dogs in the house at night. They slept on the porch or in the barn. Fritzie loved to sneak under our bed and try to outsmart Mama to sleep inside. Mama would catch her and put her out.

As I grew older, I loved to roam the woods and fields. Fritzie was always with me.  I was the youngest, and  I was often left to play alone or with my dog. In the winter, Fritzie and I would sit under the quilt Mama was quilting. I would play paperdolls and Fritzie would sleep or dream of what excitement she might encounter later.

When I was in High School, I had less time to spend with Fritzie. She always welcomed me as I got off the school bus at 4 in the afternoon and was usually there to see me off in the mornings at 6:45. All day she would go to the field with the work hands or to the garden with mama,  then spend her time on the porch of the house or the store. 

One afternoon we missed Fritzie. We called and called and she did not come. We searched everywhere in clouding the barns, corn cribs and the smoke house, but Fritzie wasn't to be found.  I cried and was worried thinking someone had taken her, because people were always wanting a dog like her. I thought she may have been run over by a car somewhere because she would go in the road from the a house to the barn which was about five hundred feet apart. Searching a left us helpless and me almost hopeless. She had never run away before.  The word got out that my dog was missing. All the neighbors were alerted.

Finally word came that a dog of her description was at a grocery store about ten miles away.  My dad went to see and it really was her.  She had crawled into a grocery delivery truck that was backed up to our store to unload groceries. Evidently she fell asleep on that cold day and got a ride to the next delivery stop. I was so happy to get here back.

On a spring day when I was sixteen and had gone to school, Fritzie passed away.  My dad awaited my arrival home and told me the sad news. I missed my wonderful friend who had been such a loyal friend tome as well as to the family.

High School Graduation

At this time of year as graduations are taking place, I can't help remembering my High School Graduation. I was only sixteen, as I started school at the age of five and skipped the eight grade. I took the test to go to high school after seventh grade and all of my scores were in the eleventh and twelfth grades. My parents assumed I was ready to go to high school. I may have been ready mentally, but physically I was not ready, but I would never admit it at that time. I was sad to leave my friends because we were all going in different directions. Some we're going to work, others were getting married, and a few we're going to college. 

I had enjoyed high school very much and my life was built around school, reading,  friends, and learning. Four of us girls were good friends. We had done everything together. We even bought matching outfits for our Junior class trip with our initials on them. Dot and Lorene were getting married right away. Flo was going to Ohio to work as a secretary. I was going to college. Dot met a musician who lived in Northern Kentucky so she would move there. Lorene was marrying our class mate, Fred. They would live in the county.

I had seen a beautiful white dress in Seventeen Magazine and I wanted it for graduation so my parents got it for me. We ordered it by mail. My sister, Lorena got the same dress in blue for the event. We felt so fashionable to think that we were wearing dresses pictured in Seventeen. I bought rhinestone earrings and a necklace for the occasion. I got white pumps to dress up my outfit.

My parents planned a big dinner the day of the Baccalaureate. All of my brothers and sisters from Ohio were in attendance with their children. They had come for the Baccalaureate  on Sunday night. We lived fifteen miles out in the country on a gravel road which was narrow in many places. As Ruby and Ves were going to the Baccalaureate they had a minor accident but no one was injured. They could not all come back the next week on Friday for the graduation. We celebrated with them before graduation. It was a delight to have their support. 

I was very sad and cried almost uncontrollably as my name was called and I received my diploma. It meant my current life style was over and a new one must begin.

The saddest part was that Keith and I had broken up a month earlier and he was dating another girl. He came through the reception line and told me he missed me. My heart rejoiced momentarily but then I felt the let down. Life was definitely changing. On Monday I would start my college career. I was excited about that but uneasy about the unknown.

MY OLDEST SISTER

Things were not always perfect on the farm. There were lots of trials and disappointments. As a child I didn't realize the mental frustrations my parents endured as they raised us nine children. My mother related the story of my oldest sister to me when she felt like I was old enough to handle the problems they had dealt with as she was growing up. All of this happened before I was born.
My parents had been married over two years and no sign of a child. They began to think that they would not have children. My mother became pregnant and just before their third anniversary she gave birth to this beautiful  curly black haired, green eyed, full of energy baby girl, Lou. They were so blessed and she was so cute that they admired everything she did. From the beginnig she learned how to twist them around her finger. Eighteen months later another baby girl was born. She was fair skinned with blue eyes and not nearly as energetic or out going. Therefore she did not try ot compete with her older sister but quietly took on her own personality.
Lou loved people. She began dating at an early age. She met boys at church and at school. She was dating a very nice boy whose parents were well respected in the community and my parents expected she would marry him eventually. Some of the boys from our area had gone to Ohio to find work and would come home on the week-end driving a nice car. One of the boys, Wil, was wanting to date Lou but my parents objected because he had a bad reputation of drinking, fighting and causing trouble. Lou began to sneak and see him on the week-ends when he came home.
One Sunday after my parents and siblings attended church, my aunt and uncle and their children came home with them for lunch. My mother was busy cooking for the big families. The children were out playing. The men were talking farming, economy or politics. When dinner was ready and mom called everyone to eat, Lou did not show up. After much inquiry and probing from all those present, it was revealed that Lou had left for Ohio with Wil. Mom was so upset she ordered my dad to get in the truck and go after her. The two cousins who had helped her hide her secret and get away, said it was too late, he would never catch them as they had been gone an hour and  would be well on their way to Ohio. This devestated my mom. She was heart broken. She had such hope for her oldest daughter and now she had eloped with someone who had a bad reputation. She was only sixteen and gone with a man of worldy wisdom.
Lou left Wil after four months of being married. She eventually wrote home. Things were not going well. Wil would not work. He would not let her go shopping. She didn't even get a new dress. She didn't know what to do. She went to the Miami River and thought of drowning herself. She was so miserable and realized she had made a dreadful mistake. Mom and dad wrote her and asked her to come home. They told her how much they loved her and wanted her back with the family. She was able to get a divorce from Wil without too much trouble. 
Lou came home and later got a job in town. She would visit on the week-ends.
Lou was twenty when I was born. She came home after my birth. My mom turned me over to let her look at me and she said, "I did not come home to see that little baby, I came to see how you were!" Later Lou learned to love me and we were close. She was like a second mother to me.
Lou went to Ohio to work and met a nice man, whom she married and they had three sons. She was an excellent mother but never told her children about her teen age escapade.

Moving

My husband and I have purchased a new home and are getting ready to move again. This move caused me to remember the first move of my life.
When I was five my parents bought another farm. We moved about two miles from where I was born. The new farm house was a one story home upon a hill. I thought you could see  forever. It was fun to look down in the valley at the land, the other farms and a few houses.
At this time there were only five children left at home as my two oldest sisters were married and my oldest brother was in the Army and the second brother had joined the Navy. My dad was self employed as a "Huckester". (He traveled the country roads buying produce, animals, cream, and butter, which he took to town and sold.) We still farmed, growing tobacco, hay, and corn. Mom still raised a great garden which she canned the excess vegetables. We had a huge apple orchard so there was plenty of fruit in the summer and the excess was put aside for the winter. Apples could be stored in a barrel of hay for winter days.
We had honey bees. When it was time for the bees to swarm and the other family members were working in the fields my sister and I had to watch the bees. If they started to swarm, we were to beat on a big galvanized tub with a spoon so they could hear and come catch the bees before they flew away. The new bees were put into a new hive which meant more honey.
In the summer the cows were kept outside in the pasture and we walked about a fourth of a mile to the milk gap. It was fun to tag along with mom as she carried her milk pails. After milking and straining the milk it was put in a huge limestone hole to keep cold until needed the next morning. It was a lot of work to walk to the cold storage to get the milk but it worked.
I started to school that fall when I was five. There was no kindergarten so I was in first grade. The walk was about a mile or more. I was accompanied by my sister and two brothers. The school was a two room school house. Grades one through four were in one room with their teacher while grades five through eight were in the second room with another teacher. We all had lunch and recess at the same time. So we interacted with each other. We played ball, tag, house, or other games. My favorite was "Red Rover".
I loved school but didn't like the walk home. It was a joy when we could get a ride with a neighbor or family member.
My mom got her first washing machine with a gasoline motor at this farm. She kept it on the back porch. On wash day, the water was brought out of the well and heated over an open fire then put into the washer. The motor was started and it began washing. This was a great help to mom. She had a rinse tub with a ringer to get the water out of the clothes. The clothes were then hung on the line.
There were advantages to this farm but I missed the old house.