Things Change

Ingrid and Astrid made the paper again.  They are famous...well, at least to "Gigi".

Why the Sister go blogging!
 Our missions change as we age.  When my sisters started blogging in 2006, our purpose was to share our lives.  Patsy had retired and had learned to use a computer.  This was a feat in itself.  Patsy spent her life toiling on assembly lines in garment plants and chicken processing plants.  She also cooked in nursing homes.  She had a really hard existence and her last years were her easiest except for a open hernia that had been repaired with mesh.  The mess grew into her gut.  The last time she went to the hospital they just left her with an open wound.  It oozed and was a constant annoyance.   She is the one who got the rest of us "blogging".  She passed away November 28, 2014.

Sister Helen lived in Arizona.  She was the second to have a Blog.  Since 2006 she has survived breast cancer and a divorce.  Last year she moved to Arkansas and lives in our parent's old home. She also visits her children around the country and helps with others she connects with along the way.  I am sure the blogging helped her feel connected to her roots.  Now, blogging is sort of a chore for Helen, but she continues to put something up weekly at least.

Sister Fleta has always worked and her job involves computers.  At first, she thought the blogging was sort of dumb, but she participated because she is a sister first!  Since 2006, she has taken on two young grandchildren to help raise.  The children's parents were divorced and their mother died in a house fire in January of 2014.  Fleta's son lives with her and his Dad, but he works away mostly for he is a welder and the union jobs pay so much more.  So much of the day to day care of the two children falls to her and her husband, George.  She uses the blog to record when and how somethings happen.  She has become a "goat" farmer too. Sister Patsy bought her a few goats and she still has some of them.  Fleta still works a full time job.  She walks for her health as she realizes that to stay alive and help get the two children raised she needs to be healthy.  Our brother lived in Mom and Dad's house next to her for over 25 years.  July 2, 2014, he had a massive heart attack and passed away.  He did not blog but read what we posted daily.

In 2006, I was still teaching at Russellville Middle School.  I started blogging and once removed the entire thing and then started over.  I enjoy sharing pictures.  I have read some of my early posts and they all sound "syrupy" to me.  I looked daily on my computer at school to see what Patsy and Helen had posted as they posted daily and sometimes more than once a day.  I did my posting at home.  In 2012, I retired and a large part of what I had been involved in all my life was over.  I have had to reinvent myself.  My new title is "Gigi" and for me the blog now is a record of my Grandchildren's lives.

Our cousin from Kansas City, MO started blogging with us.  We have been able to watch her grandson, Sam, grow into a fine young man--all from afar.  Winnie still shares with us what is going on in Missouri.  Her first blog got "hung" and she could not post from it.  It is still there and we can see all her marvelous old posts.  She scanned in 100's of pictures of our family and posted them there and we can enjoy them even today.

Several of the next generation tried blogging but they were soon blogged out and now it is just Fleta, Helen, myself, and our sweet cousin!  The Sister's plan to continue as long a google lets us have free space.  We can go back to Patsy's Blog and read her thoughts.  It means a lot.  Maybe, someone will read ours.  The Sisters all have cell phones today and we can talk and text all we want, but that does not leave a foot print.  We have found that foot prints of where we have been and where we are going are important.

Fleta gave me advice today about raising kids.  She said we should strive to teach our children that it is not okay to look for hand-outs.  They need to be taught to earn what they get.  She said that the low economic part of our society has taught their children to look for a free ride and not a job.  If they can earn money by sleeping late and watching tv, why go to work?  I read a book about this recently.   I think it was called "you are helping us too much".  Well, that is Fleta's advice for today!  While I was walking my four miles, Fleta and I talked on the cell phone.  Sometimes, I talk to Helen that way too, but she is in Washington state and they are two hours behind us.  If I walk at 7, it is 5 Helen time and I don't want to keep her away from her chores with the 4 grandkids there.  Helen's daughter is a kindergarten teacher and has a new job at a school there.  She had taught in AZ but after her husband took the better job building jets in Washington, she only substituted for teachers there.  Now, her children are all in school and she is teaching kindergarten again.  Helen is playing "Granny in Charge" of all the day to day chores.  It will help Kristina get back into the swing of working full time.  Sister Helen does have plans to return to the home place to live.

Some folks go jogging but the Sisters go blogging!

Great Company

 Yesterday, we had a visit by Greta and Clayton.  It was inservice day at their school and Greg was sleeping (he works 12 hour night shifts) so Erin drove down.  It was so nice to see them.  Clayton and Greta and I stayed outside.  Greta has a soccer game Saturday and I am planning to drive up to see her game!

Old Friend

Today, I woke about 6 A. M.  I made my coffee and sat on the back porch drinking 3 cups.  I watched the birds and got in the mood to go to Bona Dea trail for my morning walk.  I decided to walk only two miles.  I walked over 3 yesterday and 3 and a 1/2 the day before.  I am writing an article for the Searcy County Exchange and want to get it wrapped up today and I had ripe bananas and wanted to get back home and make Lois Rudd's recipe.

Well, I ran into an old friend at the trail.  He was finishing a mile on his new "legs".  When I saw him coming down the trail, I thought I recognized him.  When I got close, I asked "remember me?"  He did and we talked for a few minutes.  He apologized for not being able to stand still as his new blades are for walking and running not standing still!  As we parted, I tried to remember his age.  I guess he is 20 or maybe a few years more.  He was born in Russia.  His mother lived in the area of the Chernobyl disaster.  That disaster was in 1986 and he was not born until later but the damage to his mother ovaries happened because she lived in the area. He was born with no legs and only one arm   and was put in an orphanage in Russia.  When he was about 3 or 4 a family from the US adopted him.  He told me that he did not like his new home.  He would hide from them.  Sometimes he would crawl into a small space and hide. I remember him saying "under the house".  They turned him over to a home and a couple from Russellville brought him here from the home.  Nothing is wrong with his mind.  He said he had been in college but dropped out.  The couple in Russellville adopted him.  They usually had 10 to 20 children.  They were all children who were considered "unadoptable".   He liked his home here and he is really a neat kid.   When he was at our school, he got "legs" but they were for walking not running and they made him only a little taller.  He always wanted to be as tall as the other kids, but he wanted to navigate and he could get around better on his "stubs" than in the legs he had.  Well, I know he was proud to get these blades.

When I finished my two miles, I felt pretty good about having two legs and two arms even if I am pretty chubby and have bad knees.  I sure can move around better than my old sweet friend.  I hope the Lord blesses his life and he finds meaningful things to do.

Ron Remembers

 One of Ingrid's teachers at RJH remembered who Ingrid belonged to and shared these pictures with Laura.  Ron also sponsors the Yearbook, I think, so Ingrid may have a few pictures there.  I am so old I recall Ron as a young student teacher under Vera Clack at RMS.  Well, now Ron is an old man....and I am a very old woman!  Ron takes a group of kids to New York each summer.  Astrid went and now Ingrid is making plans to go.

 I guess we could call Ingie Bean--"Bow Head".

 This is my favorite of Ron's pictures.  Right over Ingrid's left shoulder I see someone keeping an eye on her!

Sigrid Gets Around

Sigrid gallivants too!  She stayed overnight with her friend Kenzi Johnson and went to the Tech Football game.  

She Danced

 Astrid went to the RHS Homecoming Dance with her friend, William.  Sophie and she are in the top picture.  They have been friends since 6th grade.  

Roll Cyclones!

 Ingrid is playing in a Volleyball tournament in North Little Rock.  She is number 12.  Hope they do great.

 Astrid had a Cross Country Meet.  Boys ran first so she did not run until after 11 o'clock.  It was really hot!  She finished 9th.  Probably over 100 in race.

 Here she is coming in to finish.  She is first on her team again.

 When she finished she rested a minute or so and then ran a mile up the road to ref soccer because she gets paid for that.  Others who finished after her, were falling out and emergency techs were attending them or Dad's carrying them to the shade.  Mean while, Astrid is sprinting up the highway so she won't miss out on making extra money.  What a girl!

 Look who was there watching...my old buddy, Coach T.  He said Astrid was doing great.  He has asked about her!  He said "Roll, Cyclones" as she ran by....I liked the sound of it!  Coach said he had good days and bad days.  I told him I did too!

I love A Parade!

When Ingie is in the parade, it is all smiles and bows.

Red & Black Day

 Astrid is with her friend, Alyssa dressed for red and black day at RHS.  Looks like she got all that red out of her hair!

At the Pep Ralley Today with friend, Haley

 With Bailey Nufer at School

I taught Bailey's Mom

I see William in the background.

I wanted this one because it shows Astrid's neat shoes!

Character Day

 Today is character day at RHS.  Astrid is dressed as Cherry Valance who was played by Diane Lane in the movie, "The Outsiders"!!  William is Ponyboy.

I ran into Astird this morning at Walmart.  She needed more red temporary hair dye.  The white truck is the ride her Pop picked for her.  This week we have heard of two early drivers (both girls) having a bad wreck.  Astrid has to concentrate when she is driving the little truck as she has to change gears.  Her Pop thought it would be more safe for her.  Sure hope so.

Astrid said Laura read the "outsiders" to them at night, chapter at a time.  She used to read to them from a book each night.  I guess they are too big for that now.  But I think she still reads to Sigrid.  

In 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greasers are a gang of tough, low-income working-class teens. They include Ponyboy Curtis (Howell) and his two older brothers, Sodapop (Lowe) and Darrel (Swayze), as well as Johnny Cade (Macchio), Dallas Winston (Dillon), Two-Bit Matthews (Estevez), and Steve Randle (Cruise). Their rivalry is with the Socs (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/ soh-shiz), a gang of wealthier kids from the other side of town. Two Socs, Bob Sheldon (Garrett) and Randy Adderson (Dalton), confront Johnny, Ponyboy, and Two-Bit, who are talking to the Socs' girlfriends, Cherry (Lane) and Marcia (Meyrink), at a drive-in theater. The girls defuse the situation by going home with the Socs. Later that night, Ponyboy and Johnny are attacked in a park by Bob, Randy, and three other Socs. They begin dunking Ponyboy in a fountain, but Johnny pulls out his switchblade and stabs Bob, accidentally killing him.
On the advice of Dallas, Ponyboy and Johnny leave town, and hide out in an abandoned church in Windrixville. Ponyboy bleaches his hair with peroxide in case anybody spots him. He reads Gone with the Wind and quotes the Robert Frost poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay". Dallas arrives with news that Cherry has offered to support the boys in court, that he told the police that Johnny and Pony were in Texas, and gives Pony a note from Sodapop. They go out for food, then return to find the church on fire with children trapped inside. The Greasers turn into heroes as they rescue the kids from the burning church. It doesn't take long for Ponyboy and Dally to heal up. Johnny, on the other hand, ends up with a broken back and severe burns. The boys are praised for their heroism, but Johnny is charged with manslaughter for killing Bob, while Ponyboy may be sent to a boys' home.
Bob's death has sparked calls from the Socs for "a rumble," which the Greasers win. Dallas drives Ponyboy to the hospital to visit Johnny. Johnny is unimpressed by the victory, and dies after telling Ponyboy to "stay gold," referring to the Frost poem. Unable to bear Johnny's death, Dallas wanders through the hospital, pretending to shoot a doctor with his unloaded gun, which clicks harmlessly. He then robs a grocery store with the same gun, but he is shot and wounded by the owner as he flees. Pursued by the police, Dallas is surrounded in a park and the police kill him after he repeatedly refuses to drop his unloaded gun. Ponyboy is eventually cleared of wrongdoing in Bob's death and allowed to stay with his brothers. Turning the pages of Johnny's copy of Gone with the Wind, Ponyboy finds a letter from Johnny saying that saving the children was worth sacrificing his own life. The story ends as it began, with Ponyboy writing a school report about his experiences.
Ponyboy and Cherry Valance!

Ponyboy and Cherry Valance!

Fall Is Here

 Sigrid posts pictures to a site with the Ipad I gave her and Ingrid for making all A's last year.  I look and if I want to I keep the picture.  She is growing up.  I told Pop probably only one more year and she will not have time for us.

 In the above photo, you can see one of Greta's "ears".  Well, the little soccer ref saw them and showed Greta that she had "ears" too.  I thought it was neat.

 Greta is only 4.  Most 4 year olds don't even understand about scoring and defense, but Greta already does. She scored in her game last night.  October 3, she plays on Saturday and I hope to see her for myself!

 It was Hawaiian Day at RHS.  Here is Astrid and her friend, Jen.  Astrid has her bathing suit on over her clothes.  Isn't she pretty?  Each

day of the week will have a different theme.  It is homecoming week.

Yesterday, Ingrid got her information about her trip to New York in June.  I am excited for her.  

Searching

 I looked into one box of pictures today and scanned some.  Above if Richard, Frankie and Clayton.
Below, Debbie and Clayton 1972.

 Grandma and Clayton 1967

 Me and Marie Powell 1972--on the teeter totter at Pottsville Elementary

Determination

 At the end of her race Saturday, Astrid passed this girl and took 8th place in the meet.  We are so proud of her hard work in cross country.  If you have never ran and felt blood in your mouth and throat at the end of race, you don't understand how hard it is!  Way to go, Astrid.

 Ingrid's Dance Group posed for this photo.  She is on the front row second from the left!

 Clayton loves his bike!  Guess he gets it from Auntie Laura!

 Greta showed me how she ran in the soccer game.

 Greta still has training wheels, but I bet next summer they are off of that pink bike.

 Clayton and Greta both showed me how they can flip on the rings  of their gym.  Clayton is too tall to go across the bars without bending his knees up!