Angelil Adventures

2 Scuba Buddies Visit

2012-02-10T21:40:00.011-05:00

The Under Sea Adventurers Dive Club, is one of my long-term and most cherished clubs. I joined in 1980 and the friendships I made there have lasted all these years.

Linda Caldwell and Sue Revie came for the day to visit. I also gave them a tour of our little abode and Savanna Club.

Linda was a first grade teacher in a school in the same school system where I taught in Ft. Lauderdale. Sue was one of my dive buddies and friend for many, many years.

I felt honored by their visit and we shared a lot of news and laughs! Friends mean so much to me, particularly special ones like Sue and Linda.

Moving More, Mostly

2012-01-30T17:52:00.004-05:00

Does this sound familiar? "My New Year's resolutions are to lose weight and to exercise." Yep, as with MANY folks, that's my mantra AGAIN this year but this time I am determined to "just do it!"
"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional and mental states." ~Carol Welch

One of the main focuses in Weight Watcher's to help with weight loss is to MOVE MORE. I have to tell you that I do NOT like exercise and have never found anything that I could stick with. Also, the pain from my fibromyalgia is always there. Nevertheless, I started at Curves a few weeks ago.

Thanks to my scuba dive buddy and friend, Chris Guld, Curves sounds realistic for me. As she said, "You're in and out in 30 minutes."

Some things I like so far are that it's only women (no men to gawk at you), it's 30 minutes, it's very near our house in Florida, the workout includes cardiovascular and resistance training, and the background music is peppy.
Another motivator is that it's covered by my health insurance under the Silver Sneakers program. As long as I go at least twice a week, it's free!!

The set-up is a circle of alternating machines and platforms. You do a machine for 30 seconds, the PA system tells you when to move on, you stand on a little square platform and jog or move 30 seconds, then move to the next machine, etc.

Sally is our trainer. She stays busy at teaching newbies and making sure we don't slide into bad habits by using a machine incorrectly.

I notice she doesn't bug people though.

Let's work on those "bat wing" upper arms, OK?

You can see by my "bed-head" hairdo that whenever I wake up, I just get up, put on my clothes, and GO.

It's Cool Down Time

If the beach scene on the wall is to help us feel like we're somewhere else, then I've got news for them --- it ain't working for MaryMay!

In closing, let me quote Anonymous, who said, "The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility and pushing their luck." Here's hoping I can do better than that in 2012.

Rocking or Not

2012-01-21T19:38:00.002-05:00

Here are some thoughts that are rattling around in my brain and hopefully they'll make sense to you:

Ed came up with an idea that might make us rich --- we'll open a retirement center where the focus is rocking chairs. At the clubhouse, there'll be no tennis courts, pools, or exercise classes…. just TVs with lots of rocking chairs!

Seriously, when one retires, it would be easy to slip into a pattern of just sitting and rocking. But, that would bring on health problems and shorten one's life.

I bought this print in Silver City and read it most every day:

“Most people don't know that there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don't get too comfortable and fall sleep and miss your life.”

I mentioned in my last post about the Denim and Diamonds Dinner that it was silly to be creating rhinestone shirts, shiny ties, etc. Well, it’s not really silly because it is important for people to have something to look forward to and plan for.

We purposely bought our winter abode in a larger 55+ community (there are over 1,900 homes here) because there would be a variety of activities and resources with busy, active people. Also, people here are very involved in serving others in many ways.

When I saw all the people (many of them quite elderly) dancing on Saturday night, I admired them so much. They could be in rocking chairs! Instead, they "rock" on the dance floor.

Each of us must find our own way to "rock" and keep active, whether we're retired or not. Life can be a dismal experience or a glorious time, filled with interesting, fulfilling activities.

May your angel keep you awake so you won’t miss your life and may you LIVE all the days of your life! Rock on!

Denim and Diamonds Dinner Dance

2012-01-16T22:04:00.002-05:00

Saturday night we went to the annual party of the American Jewish Friendship Club with over a hundred Savanna Club residents. The theme was Denim and Diamonds, which left the field wide open as to what to wear.

I had fun shopping for some silly rhinestone jewelry, etc. Jane Roy loaned me a hat and sparkly tank top. I bought some rhinestones that I sewed onto a denim shirt that I found in my closet.

I had 5 "diamonds" left so added a "flower" on the back of the shirt. I know......I'm so silly! (More thoughts "silliness" in another post.)

I even found "blingy" shoes!

Most challenging was making Ed a blingy, shiny tie. I bought a tie at the dollar store and tore it apart to use for a pattern. I also added some rhinestones to his shirt pocket.

You know Ed's not into wearing ties so I let him off easy. He wore it with the collar unbuttoned.

The Critters, the band for the evening, played a great variety of songs, including a couple of their own hits from the 60s. I was in awe at seeing the dance floor full most of the evening.

Bobbie and Ron Steinberg are the couple who visited us in Virginia last summer. Their "adopted" son, Seth, is visiting them. He's a professional musician on cruise ships and was impressed with the band, too.

Below is another one of my new SC friends, Suzanne Gibbs. We "met" on Facebook and have emailed quite a bit. That good old internet is my social network, for sure!

Here's the dynamic denim and diamond duo!

May your days be filled with fun and plenty of "bling."

A Year Ago

2012-01-16T10:05:00.012-05:00

It's hard to believe that my dear Mother went to heaven on a rush of angels' wings a year ago. It is reassuring to know where she is but oh, how I do miss her!

This song was sung in church the following morning and really touched my heart. Please take a meditation moment and listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD2Q-S1tI0Y&feature=related

"Surely the Presence of the Lord"

by Lanny Wolfe

"Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,
I can feel His mighty power and his grace.

I can feel the rush of angels' wings,
I see glory on each face,
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place."

Different Focus for a Ft. Lauderdale Trip

2012-01-10T21:19:00.010-05:00

This weekend we went to Ft. Lauderdale to see some of Ed's family. We stayed with his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Ray Barkett.


Lorraine and Ray Barkett 2012

We also spent some time with Ed's son, grandson, and daughter-in-law. I had fun reading with Sean and am pleased at his progress as a second grader.

I don't think of "Lorraine" as a common name. What are the chances his sister and daughter-in-law are both named Lorraine?


Sean (7), MaryMay, Ed, Lorraine, and Steve Angelil 2012

3 Generations: Ed, Sean, and Steve Angelil 2012

Sean Angelil and Tom Barkett (Ray's brother) 2011

I enjoyed helping Ray with Facebook and Lorraine with how to copy and paste.

When we would go to Ft. Lauderdale after being in Virginia, shopping was a main focus. Now we live in Port St. Lucie 7 months of the year, where we have almost all the stores you can think of, so shopping isn't a strong reason to travel South.

Being with family IS a good reason to make the 2 hour journey. It was a fun and relaxing weekend. Thank you, Lorraine and Ray!

p.s. One of the highlights of the weekend was getting the painting that I had commissioned my art teacher friend, Anita Orlando, to paint. I will show it to you as soon as we get it from the framer.

Women's Club of Savanna Club Celebration Lunch

2011-12-30T17:50:00.002-05:00

The Women's Club of Savanna Club had their annual holiday luncheon this December.

This month we each brought canned tuna, which is donated to a food bank.

I enjoyed all the festive clothing and bright colors.

The table and room decorations were lovely with many detailed touches, which women notice and appreciate.

There were over 60 door prizes, including lots of coupons for local restaurants and services.

Bonnie and I were "The Gift Girls." Our job was to take the ten dollar gift each lady brought and give her a ticket for it.

It's amazing to see almost 180 gifts on 2 tables!

At the end of the event, our volunteer waiters from the Men's Club delivered the gifts at random.

The "waiters" were also called upon to sing and dance for us. However, I think that next year they need a few tips from the Rockettes and a LOT more rehearsals!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T09:11:00.001-05:00

We met our friends Phyllis and Bob Brandt in a rather unique way. One day last year our doorbell rang and there was a nice lady. She and her husband were staying with her mother (Evie Schaaf, who lives two doors down from our house in FL) while they were waiting for their house in New York to sell.

They invited us to dinner and put on a very lovely dinner party just for us. We felt very honored!

To simplify a complicated story, their house finally sold and they moved a few miles away to a rental house until they decide where they want to settle.

(On Christmas eve we went to church with George, Ed's bro, and Kay. They were tied up on Christmas Day with her kids and grandchildren.)

Phyllis and Bob invited us for Christmas dinner and we were delighted. That was a much better option than our plans for the two of us to go out for Chinese food!

Left: Ed and Evie (Evelyn) Schaaf, our neighbor and Phyllis's mom

Evie recently celebrated her 90th birthday. I hope I look half that good at 90!!

Evie and Phyllis bring on the food!

MaryMay, Ed, Phyllis, Bob, Evie, and their son, Alex.

Bob is a retired Episcopalian minister and he helps in a church here. They invited Father Ken, one of his co-workers, to join us. Alex, goes to college in South Carolina.

Phyllis made a standing rib roast that was totally tender. Ed couldn't finish his so asked for a doggie bag, which he ate later and it was still delicious.

Evie gave her grand-cats, Sherlock and Sebastian, a laser light for Christmas. That provided the after-dinner entertainment!

Christmas Day 2011 turned out to be a great day with a great dinner with great friends.

"To Me, From Me"

2011-12-25T10:47:00.003-05:00

This is a Christmas gift "To Me, From Me," Actually, it's from Mother since it's cash from her estate that made this possible so, "Thanks, Mom!"

I sewed draperies for the living room of my first apartment, using orange burlap with bamboo poles from a carpet store for rods.

Since then, every place I've lived already had window treatments. When we built in Virginia, Aunt Lib (who was an interior designer) had draperies made for us.

So, it was a new and scary experience to order custom draperies. Here's the "Before" view:

A gal who lives here in Savanna Club works for a business in Stuart called In the Shade. She was so patient and it worked well that she could stop by on her way to and from work.

The installers came on Christmas eve eve, which was nice timing for Christmas.

Much to my delight, the TV didn't have to be moved.

But that meant that they did have to assemble everything on the floor.

Heave ho, up we go!

Just as Sandi predicted, the shiny strip added interest and draped beautifully.

What a great addition to our little Florida abode!

Bye, bye brown valences and hello light teal draperies! The color blends perfectly with our teal sofa. Moving the rods to the ceiling also makes the room look more elegant.

What a difference wonderful window treatments make!!

Craft Club Christmas at Savanna Club

2011-12-22T17:11:00.003-05:00

The Craft Club meets monthly and is open-ended, which I like. Our leader proposes a project for the upcoming month. You can gather the materials she suggests or you can show up with a project of your own.

Plus, Lois, our faithful leader, always has extra materials to add to things we bring.

It's two hours of time where our hands are busy but we can visit while we create. Sometimes we have 6 people, sometimes 12 people with different ones showing up each month.

Today we had a Christmas project and a small-scale cookie exchange. The suggested project was a long, wide ribbon with 3 small wreathes on it. Linda Hoolihan's turned out really nice.

Shelley and Doris created holiday decorations of their own.

Linda Ricioppo is my new friend. We keep running into each other everywhere we go. She has a great smile and an upbeat attitude.

I had a wreath with lights that I hadn't been able to get working properly....directions? There were none. Half the circle (like a "C") came on in the morning, the whole wreath in the afternoon, and it went off at night.

I did find some switches on the 2 battery packs so I had high hopes I could get the lights to sync - didn't happen. But, at least I can turn off the half when it's on by itself.

My wreath looked great until I hung it. The top half of our door is a window, so from the inside, it looked awful. I had some old greens that I stuck in to cover the wires on the back. Of course, they’ll probably fall out if anyone shuts the door too hard. Once I’m sure it’s like I want, I’ll wrap the branches around the wires and/or use my trusty, dusty glue gun.

Then came my favorite part of the day---

COOKIES!

Bury Your Head In...

2011-12-19T10:55:00.002-05:00

You've heard of "burying your head in the sand" but we saw a different interpretation of this saying....

I looked out into the back yard and saw two sandhill cranes napping. They stayed like this for over an hour.

One would sleep and the other one would look up, preen a bit, then go back to sleep.

So, the saying about "burying your head..." has been altered for today to:

"Bury your head in your wing to take a nap."

Sleep well, my sweet Sandhill crane.

Hattitudes

2011-12-12T18:42:00.031-05:00

This post is dedicated to my "daughter", Christie R.:

The Red Hatters victoriously celebrate turning 50 and entering into the next phase of their lives.

Mission Statement of the Red Hat Society

We are a global society of women that supports:

Fun – we celebrate life at every age
Friendship – we solidify and expand the bonds of sisterhood
Freedom – we discover and explore new interests
Fulfillment – we realize our personal potential
Fitness – we embrace healthy, life-lengthening lifestyles

Our Christmas luncheon was a delicious meal at one of the clubhouses in our community. It's always a treat to have catering and not have to bring anything.

Pat, Kathy, Kathy and Ellie were at my table....or I was at their table....or we sat together.

Mollie, the gal in the middle is over 90 and comes every month.

Elise,our queen (leader) is the one in purple and red....ha, ha! She's the 4th from the left.

In all our purple and red glory - over 50 and loving life!

Each group has their own name and we're called the "HATTITUDES!"

Some ladies wear the same outfit every month but I enjoy mixing and matching various items that I find in my closet. I was surprised at how many red and purple items were in there. Adding more purple and red "bling" to each outfit is especially fun!

Go frivolously forth into your fifties and beyond!!!

Christmas Tree 2011

2011-12-05T21:08:00.014-05:00

Hello, I'm Blanche Devereaux, one of the Cornish Rex cats in the Angelil's home. I've been after my parents to get a Christmas tree so, after many hours of shopping in many stores, they finally brought one home.

I'd prefer a 7' 6" tree but this 5 foot one will DO, I suppose.

OK folks, let's get this show on the road! Dad, you don't have to read all the pages of instructions, do you?

OK, part A into base. That wasn't so hard, was it? Next....

Here, let me move this packing ribbon over.....I'll play with it a bit on the way.

What!!!! You're going to TAKE IT BACK to Sears after all that? So you're tired, it's hot, and the tree is heavy and clumsy....so? OK, guys, hurry back!

2 Hours Later:

Well, a 4 foot tree in a pot doesn't sound as dramatic as a larger one but it's better than none. I'll help you, Dad.

This isn't exactly what I had in mind but it does look like a tree, small though it is.

Hey, folks, I've got the table and the tree skirt all set.

Will someone please help me get the tree up here?

Dad, the football game can wait!

Hmmnn, let me check.....what ornaments did I bring from Virginia?

Mom, will you please get over here and help?

I'll give Mom and Dad credit --- this is rather clever and attractive.

Instead of just a brown pot, there's a see-through design with lights that shine through the pot.

Nice touch!

I see that Mom brought some angels from her mother's angel tree (May Grandmother May rest in peace. I know she's happy to see her angels continue to bring joy to people.)

And what a stroke of luck that in the box with the regular tree-topper angel, there was a small angel that is the right proportion for this little tree. Dad even figured out how to plug it in so that the light on her candle turns on when the tree lights are on.

Voilà, I finished decorating the Christmas tree!

Half the ornaments are angels and half are souvenirs from trips that Dad and Mom have gone on together.

Pepper and I love playing hide-and-go-seek under the tree skirt.

I can sit here in my favorite warm spot and look at the tree.

Daddy keeps a spray bottle of water on the coffee table and sprays me if I touch it! Why would they put up all these dangling toys but not let me touch them?

What, I can't play with the angels, nativity scenes and garland on the buffet either?

In that case, I'll just get up on the cat tree that Dad made us and take a nap with Pepper.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Bonnie's Big 6-0

2011-11-29T20:20:00.013-05:00

My gal pal, Bonnie McDonnell, and I celebrated her Big 6-0 birthday with a little day-trip to Melbourne, which is an hour north of Port St. Lucie.

Melbourne is about half the size of Port St. Lucie (PSL was about 155,000 as of 2009). It has a street of quaint shops with a variety of merchandise mixed in with some high-end restaurants.

Bonnie and I dined (and for once, I do mean "dined") at Continental Flambe.

We both had potato encrusted snapper with Bearnaise sauce, a salad, vegetables, and coffee. As they say these days, "It was all good!"

The photos of the lights don't do them justice.

Bonnie went out to dinner last night with a friend, her husband took her out to brunch, her children all called her, and we ate out this evening, so she had several celebrations.

It was a great afternoon with a great gal. And it was an honor to share her big day. (No, I haven't gained a ton of weight, I have my waist purse under my jacket.)

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Bonnie!

You're still great....even if you are really, really OLD!!!

40 Years for Undersea Adventurers!!!

2011-11-27T10:09:00.001-05:00

What a milestone.....my scuba club in Ft. Lauderdale celebrated 40 years of being an active diving club this month. I joined in 1980. How I treasure the memories made and cherish my many dive buddies.

Click on each photo for a larger version.

Dear Clare, Julie, and Russ,

Well, you three did it again! What a totally divine divers’ Reunion and Anniversary celebration you pulled off.

The details you thought of were over the top..... everything from having the numerous scrapbooks there WITH lamps so they could be seen, to professional looking table nametags, to newsletters, to really delicious food as provided by Ellie's Diner.

MaryMay, Sue Revie, Tommy Younger, and Joe DellaFerra were impressed with the little tablets AND pencils on the tables for exchanging emails, etc. with friends.

The ongoing slide-show throughout the evening represented countless hours of scanning and organizing 40 years worth of photos.

There were 90 people present and everyone was in the show more than once. What a fine production it was!

The “dive flag chairs”, red balloons, centerpieces of tiny red roses on mirrors, and tons of other decorations transformed an average room into one with festive ambiance.

Linda Ianniello and Robert Weybrecht have been active members for many years and have contributed greatly to the club.

Katie Scott and John Fusco now live in the Keys. We share some special memories. For example, John was the favorite speaker at my school's Career Day for several years. He was a pet groomer and the kids loved him and the dogs he brought.

Tommy Younger also was a speaker at Career Day as a scuba diver. He's just a great guy.

Meeting Deborah Linker in person was a joy. I've been reading her blog, Rocky Road Adventures, for some time now and I'm one of her "groupies" (followers).

The magician show was a surprise and it was "Las Vegas quality." When I see magic acts on a big stage, I always feel there are tricks and hidden props we can’t see. However, when the guy is right there in front of you, it’s mind-blowing!

I was convinced that wasn’t a real bird until he handed it to Marie. (I’m still not sure how many birds he had.)

The bunny in his grand finale was real, too!

The Hall of Fame is composed of members who held an active office for 7 years.

It is an honor for me to be a part of this group. I served as promotions person, membership chairman, social chairman (with Alan Barrows, my deceased 1st husband), and secretary.

I won a door prize!!! The Revensburger puzzle, an underwater scene with 3000 pieces, is awesome. Ed is figuring out where we can set it up to work. First we must find a roll-up puzzle mat so as to store it away from Pepper and Blanche (our kitties).

It is always joyful for me to be with Sue Revie, one of my dearest dive buddies.

Thank you, Julie, Clare, and Russ for planning and hosting a fantastically awesome 40th Anniversary and Reunion party for this magnificent Undersea Adventurers Dive Club!

With admiration,

MaryMay (Barrows) Angelil

p.s. I say that you saved the club from “going under” and disappearing several years ago. When I joined in 1980, there were about 200 members, a number which has waxed and waned through the years. You’ve lured back long-term dive buddies and generated new members with an unbelievable variety of impeccably planned activities.

Visit the club's website at: http://www.usadiveclub.com/index.html

Ed's New Oncologist

2011-11-24T09:37:00.001-05:00

Ed doesn't like for me to "talk" about him on this blog. Nevertheless, I want to give a short update because I know many people are wondering....

His scan this fall showed a slight increase in the size of the three main tumors in his lungs. He decided to go to a local oncologist here in Port St. Lucie. During his first visit with Dr. Bellam he learned things we didn’t know.

After 2 courses, Ed had stopped chemo because it didn’t shrink the tumors very much. Dr. Bellam said the purpose of chemo isn’t to make the tumors disappear but to kill them and make them stop growing. When the growth stops, it’s called remission. We had been under the impression that the goal was to make the tumors go away.

Ed has decided to try more chemo. Dr. Bellam will give him only one drug at a time and something that’s not known to cause major fatigue like when he had chemo before.

It was in October, 2008 that Ed was told he had only 3-6 months to live. We're greatly encouraged by Dr. Bellam's prediction that, with Ed's good general health, he will likely die from something besides cancer one of these years.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Kiss 3 K Goodbye!

2011-11-16T13:03:00.001-05:00

I started with an intermittent toothache a few days ago, which showed up as an abscess. This morning I got 2 temporary crowns to the tune of almost $2,000.00, and that's WITH dental insurance. Ed just went to get my prescriptions filled, one for an antibiotic and one for pain (Whoo, hoo, bring on the pain pills!). Monday I go for a root canal for a mere $1,300.00.

I mustn't complain......my dentist in Ft.Lauderdale told me years ago that I needed to replace those crowns. So I got an extra 10+ years out of them! I do remember reading that fillings and crowns only last about 20 years or so.

Getting old is the pits --- yeah, filling the money pits of dentists and doctors!

Mini Taste Party

2011-11-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I attended yet another lovely party at the Savanna Club. This one was called "Mini Taste of Savanna." The ladies at each table planned their own menu and decorations.

I'll not try to come up with any brilliant comments.....the tables will speak for themselves!

Click on any photo for a larger view.

Naturally, women always have something to talk about.

Even the prizes were beautifully presented!

Doesn't it look like there's a crown on Margaret's head? Is she giving a Queen's wave or saying "How" as an Indian maiden?

Who wouldn't succumb to the charms of Santa's elf?

Thus begins the 2011-12 year with my Savanna Club Women's Club.

TaTa Toyota and TaDa.....

2011-11-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

The time has arrived that we're saying "ta ta" to our 2002 Toyota Highlander. It served us well (98,000 miles worth) but we decided a change was in order.

We went to see a Kia SUV and pretty much expected to drive home in it that very day. Thank heavens Ed insisted on a test drive that included getting up to Interstate speeds. That entailed a bit longer distance, which was a good thing. When going about 30-40 mph, it seemed quiet. However, when we reached 65 mph, the road noise was loud.

Also, the longer we drove, the harder the seats felt. Turns out that our top priority of dual control AC was ONLY available with leather seats. Leather is hot in summer and cold in winter but we decided that maybe we could deal with it. That longer ride allowed me to realize how sweaty I was in a short time! (Hey, you can't put a middle-aged woman on leather seats in summer, OK?)

Our friends asked if we'd looked at the Chrysler Town and Country Minivan. We did and found a 2012 that had every imaginable feature, including comfortable seats.

Watching Ed negotiate was fascinating. He didn't raise his voice or just demand a lower price. He'd gently point out that he didn't think the dealer fee was fair, then that he'd like a hitch thrown in, etc. Much to my shock and delight, they just kept coming down.

TaDa, in a matter of about 4 hours, we were owners of a Town and Country Minivan!

Mall-mania

2011-11-06T21:54:00.084-05:00

Some Thoughts....

Saturday we went to the Treasure Coast mall to Macy's and Dillard's to look for a square frying pan (perfect for frying four eggs) like Ed has in Virginia.

I spent the summer in a rural area with calm, quiet malls. The mall here was such a contrast....it was a madhouse filled with noisy people who were just buying, buying, buying. I felt like I was in the middle of a busy ant hill filled with ants in a frenzy.

I've read that shopping and buying things gives people a "rush" or a "high" almost like taking drugs. I couldn't help but wonder if all those people could afford their purchases. I've also read that people have trouble separating "Needs" from "Wants."

I couldn't wait to get out of that mall where people were buying like maniacs!

Misinformation Melodrama

2011-11-05T17:36:00.000-04:00

We're back in Florida after a busy summer preparing Mother's farmhouse and farm for sale. Now it's time to contribute to the coffers of our doctors and dentists. Our doctor isn't taking our insurance next year so we're trying a different doctor.

The following is a true story....it seems that in these huge companies, the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. Here's what happened:

I have seen several friends and relatives suffer horribly with shingles so I decided I'd best get my once-in-a-lifetime shingles vaccination. My new doctor, Dr. Pinto, agreed and wrote the prescription, saying I could pick it up from the local Walgreens and bring it to them.

This was VERY appealing to me because I have a phobia about shots and Sherry, Dr. Pinto's "Shotgiver", gave me the easiest flu shot I've EVER had. Already, much of the apprehension about the shingles shot was lessened because I knew Sherry would make it quick and easy.

1. Insurance covered shingles shot with no co-pay -- NOT!

I first called my insurance company and was told in no uncertain terms that, not only did they cover it, but there was not even a co-pay. If Walgreens had any problem, they should call for confirmation on that. When Walgreens did call, they were told there was a $75 co-pay -- that the person I had talked to was misinformed.

2. Walgreens called to let me know the vaccine had arrived at their store -- NOT!

When I went to pick it up, I was told that I was misinformed -- it hadn't been transferred from their other store yet. (I'm still scratching my head over that recorded call!)

3. I could pick up the shingles shot for my doctor to administer it -- NOT!
Walgreens said that yes, I could do what my doctor said -- come pick it up but I should bring a little cooler with an ice pack because it needed to be kept frozen. When I went to pick it up, I was told that they had misinformed me and either my doctor's office had to pick it up or I had to go to their clinic on the other side of town on November 9th. (Pharmacists can give flu shots but only this certain nurse can administer the shingles shot.)

3. My doctor could pick up the shingles shot -- NOT!

When my doctor's office called to explain their patients had been picking up the shingles shots like this for some time, they were told by a supervisor that I had to go to their nurse on November 9th. They said I was misinformed about me being able to pick it up or the doctor being able to pick it up instead of me.

I thought maybe I could start fresh with CVS, only to be informed that they don't carry shingles vaccine. So, hopefully, one of these weeks, I'll get a shingles shot.

This post could go on and on with the many other medical comedies of misinformation this week but I don't have the patience to even tell you about them. It's all aggravating but must be dealt with one step at a time - whether I get information or misinformation!

"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." Guess all three will come into play, especially with so much misinformation to wade through.

I do have to give Walgreen's a little credit. They are giving me a $25 gift card that will be applied towards my $75 co-pay and they made the appointment for me to go to their nurse on the other side of town next Wednesday. Now I have 4 more days to dread the ordeal of getting a shot.

p.s. It appears that "misinformation" is the politically correct term to use these days. Heaven forbid that we should say someone was wrong!

Country Music

2011-11-02T10:07:00.057-04:00

(I am posting my little essay by special request of my brother, Philip May.)

April, 2002

The unexpected warm weather motivates us to open all the windows in the house and a whole new world of “country music” begins. It has been thirty years since I have experienced Spring, with all its wondrous sights and sounds, so I am acutely aware of things I probably took for granted when I was growing up. Also, having Ed, the city dude, here makes me notice things I’ve never noticed before. There is quadraphonic sound featuring birds, farm machinery and the mooing of many cows.

The morning concert begins precisely at 6:45 a.m. when the banty rooster gives his first LOUD crow - - right under our open window. (We are living with Mother while having our house built.) How does HE know it’s 6:45??? He is like a snooze alarm and continues with this cacophony throughout the morning. My mornings of sleeping in until 7:30 or 8:00 are over for now!

The mockingbird is the most entertaining bird as he loudly and cheerfully imitates every bird’s song imaginable. The crows grating “ca-ca” is quite distinctive and the turtle doves with their soft cooing are soothing to the ears and nerves. The noisy blue jays seem to always be arguing about something! The nuthatches, snow birds, sparrows and bluebirds chirp cheerfully. It is a never ending concert throughout the day with birds from all sides of the house.

Every so often we hear the unmistakable sounds of farm machinery rumbling by. I can often identify which are tractors or four wheelers. The man who rents Mother’s farm, Linden Rhodes, has been busy moving cows around into the various pastures. First, he brings them from his farm, takes them into the barnyard and vaccinates them - that causes one type of mooing. Then he puts the new mothers with their calves (Ed calls them “little cows”) out in the pasture. Instead of having a sheep dog to herd the cows or using the old fashioned method of running after them, Linden uses his four- wheeler to guide the cows and calves into the place he wants them. It is frightful to hear (and see) him back up full speed and zip around to achieve his goal.

There are now about 25 sets of cows and calves in the field right behind Mother’s house. Linden has 25 more cows, which he calls “springers”, ready to give birth at another farm. After he gets the cows into the desired pasture, much mooing begins. Sometimes, it seems to be the mother calling her calf to “get its little self across the field” for lunch. Other times it seems to be conversation among several cows. At times, it seems they are mooing to cows in another field. Then there are those who just moo and moo and moo for no apparent reason.

The toughest time is later in the summer when he separates the cows and calves - that always causes several nights and days of desperate bawling from many distressed mothers and babies - all at the same time. That’s enough to make you feel so sorry for them in spite of being annoyed at all the noise when you’re trying to sleep!

Experiencing this forgotten country music is proving to be a great joy for me. I awoke at 3 a.m. and experienced yet another sound sensation of the country - absolute quiet - no cows, cars or birds. We seldom experience silence in this day and age.

This has been a revelation to me. Just think, all those years I thought I didn’t like “country music”!!

Fun Family Photos

2011-10-26T21:25:00.000-04:00

Family funny - Notice their expressions, especially Peter's.
Do click on this one to see a larger view. Bet you'll laugh!

This is my great grandmother, Emma Swank May (above on the right). Isn't her hairdo (below) interesting? Daddy always said he liked her little earrings and it does appear she's wearing them, which was rather unusual for those days.

I haven't figured out when people started smiling for photos. All the really old ones have people with very stern expressions.

Walker H. May's baby picture. Different, huh?

Will Walker ever get a break? Notice the lace collar and bow.

Walker and Clarence went "fishing". Looks more like frogs to me! I think this picture is neato!

Walker Henton May, Jr.

He was a darling, red-headed, freckled little boy and.....

I'd say this little cutie pie turned into quite a "fox"! Wouldn't you agree?

Little M.E. (I was always called Mary Elizabeth when I was young) looking puzzled as to why Cousin Stashia Ann was crying. I can almost hear Grandmother laughing.

Talk about a shy, little cutie pie! Oh, Anita!

Just let it all hang out and get comfy, OK?

Anita at attention as a youngster.

Anita in college!

The May summer "swimming pool". What could be more fun than swimming in a tub?

Speaking of cute, let's hear it now, "Awwww".

Daddy, Phil, and Perky enjoy some TV.

The studious one.

You can wear whatever you like as long as you practice!

A Teddy Bear (Phil) holding a teddy bear! 1972

Philip's wild perm days!

Phil, The Ham

Ed was very impressed when Phil shot out the window behind the lunch table one Sunday and within 10 minutes got 3 groundhogs!

Like mother, like daughter?

Look at "Legs" here!

One reason I moved to Puerto Rico was so I could play tennis every day, which I did! Were my legs really that slim?

Cousin Stashia in her silly stage!

Ellen and April Krull with Aunt Mary

Auntie Mary being a good sport.

"Perchers" at the May picnic

We used to fight to have a turn to comb Grandmother Freeman's hair. She was a good sport, wasn't she?

Aunt Mary, hitting the bottle again?

When Levi was about 3, we went out to eat. When the waitress asked him what he wanted, he said, "I'll have the American fish." We'll never know how he came up with that!

Photoshop Fun

Uncle Bob's boyhood suit.

Levi in Uncle Bob's suit.
He appears to be thinking, "Ok, I've done my duty. Can I get out of Uncle Bob's %#$ suit now?"

My two personal favorites are saved till last!

Cousin Bobz Freeman entertained us as kids with his monster walk. We're glad to see that he hasn't lost his special talent!

A May family "fun album" would not be complete without this world-famous shot.

The names have been omitted to protect the innocent!

Forgotten Photos

2011-10-21T01:01:00.000-04:00

......this post could also be called "New-to-Me Photos"....either I'd seen them before and forgotten or I have never seen them. Nevertheless, I hope you will be entertained.

My paternal great grandfather, Henry Franklin May

Grandmother was always shy in public and quite particular about dressing "so as not to call attention to herself." Seeing her various fashion statements in the photos below were unexpected and delightful!

Those glasses are pretty wild, aren't they?

Grandmother was a small, high-strung, hard-working lady but even then, it appears she was hiding behind Grandaddy.

I had to look twice at this one to see if it was really Grandmother! Wasn't "Junior" (Daddy) a cute little thing with his soup-bowl haircut?

She was always slim.

Pretty snazzy, huh? She probably made all these outfits herself.

A Mother with her baby boys.

Cutie pie, Daddy, with his cousin, Lois Ritchie.

Here's a photo I've never seen. It's Grandaddy and Grandmother Freeman with Mother and Aunt Mary. It was in 1942 and just might be the day he took them to college at Mars Hill. As always, he looked away from the camera.

The Freeman home was started before the Civil War and finished after the war ended.

We loved coming here to spend a week or two each summer. The steps in the front hallway creaked so it was nearly impossible to sneak around in that house!

The library is the room people like the best.

The books were mostly Grandaddy's law books. We called that fainting couch a psychiatrist's couch.

Grandmother Freeman, Aunt Pat, Aunt Callie with Cousin Bets Norman the day she married Buck Miller.

Cousin Bobz and Marilyn Freeman visiting Aunt Mary in 2005.

Here's another surprise picture....Philip with Uncle Robert.

Uncle Robert almost always wore a hat.

A cute pic of Mother and Aunt Mary having fun -- maybe it's their high school graduation?

I did not remember that Stashia and Aunt Ginny visited in North Carolina. But, here's Stashia getting a pony ride from Cousins Bill and Bobz (then called Alex).

Those granite front steps were the social hub for family and visitors during the summer. Below - Aunt Ruth, Aunt Ginny May, Aunt Pat, Aunt Mary, and Grandmother Freeman.

Back on the farm when Anita was an infant. I guess the man beside Daddy was Uncle Bob but I thought they were about the same height. (About 1950)

The Mays always took family pictures at our annual Christmas Day gathering. Philip and William (Bill) must have been playing the part of Napoleon.

Oh, the hours we did spend playing in the sand-pile, which was made out of an old tractor tire.

The May grandchildren had some good fun at sleep-overs!

We always had our birthday parties together.

I remember the parties but not this one with the hats. Weren't we cute?

Here's a picture of Uncle Bob, Aunt Ginny, Stashia, William, and Patty that I'd never seen. Notice Patty's doll dress matches hers and obviously Patty is quite proud of her.

2nd Grade at Mt. Clinton School.

Mrs. Chappell, my mentor, innovated many new activities. I'd forgotten that we were in the newspaper!

It was fun to see Mother and Daddy through the years.
We found this pink hat when we were going through things. Now I wish we'd saved it but we couldn't keep everything! 1967

This was at my first wedding in 1979. I made Mother's dress.

Mother and Daddy came to visit us in Florida. I was always dieting because I thought I was fat. I'd love to be that slim again!

When I lived in Puerto Rico, Anita and Phil came to visit (about 1972). I don't remember where we were going but we surely were gussied up!

Too bad this wasn't in color. I had an orange blouse, Mother had a dark red dress and Anita's dress was aqua. I remember they had Daddy stand on a book so he would be taller than me.

Even though clearing out the farmhouse and buildings was a lot of work, all the trips down memory lane were a lot of fun and made it all worthwhile.

OOps, 9 (not 10) Good Years

2011-10-19T11:35:00.001-04:00

Happy 9th Anniversary to my dearly beloved husband, Edmond Angelil (my "Angel Man").

Life with Ed is always "interesting"!

.....and we're still on our honeymoon!

Fond Memory Photos

2011-10-16T21:00:00.001-04:00

Granddaddy May was known to be a ladies' man -- meaning handsome, a real looker, and easy on the eyes. He was 18 in this picture in 1915.

Grandmother surely was pretty at age 17. This was about 1918.

When Uncle Clarence (Granddaddy's brother) and Aunt Nellie came to visit, I used to ask permission to just sit in the room. They laughed and told such funny stories about their lives. Here are Grandmother and Granddaddy in that room in the 1950s.

I'll bet Grandmother made the drapes and matching pillows. She was quite an accomplished seamstress.

Grandmother Freeman was a Southern Lady, as was Mother. This was in the early 1960s.

Grandaddy Robert Alexander Freeman as a young man.

We always wondered why Aunt Lib looked away from the camera 99% of the time. It looks like she might have learned that from her father.

Mary Elizabeth May, the little lass with red ringlets. About 1949 at age two.

A Four Generation Picture
Great Grandfather Eli Bowman, Grandmother Ruth Bowman May, Walker May, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth. 1948

Mary E. rocking her new "doll baby". 1950

Such innocence! Oh, the hours we spent on those swings that Daddy built. About 1953.

The height of femininity -- my sister, Anita Frances May in 1959.

Anita was always known to have a soft and caring nature.

Is this precious or what? Anita made this in second grade.

Anita in the "hatching jacket" that I made for her in 1980.

Philip loved to be with Daddy.

Granddaddy spent a lot of time with him, too.

This is how I remember my Grandparents. Grandmother's probably working a crossword puzzle. 1960

Grandaddy had a heart attack in his fifties so went into semi-retirement. Most of the time he had young Philip on his lap instead of kittens. Philip told his first grade teacher that he didn't need to go to school because his grandfather could teach him everything!

Family picnics were always fun. 1953

We always took family photos at Christmas. 1972

Going to Grandmother's for Christmas was fun. 1996

Anita, April, and Ellen Krull wearing the dresses I made for them.

I think this is the only photo I have of Aunt Lib where she looked at the camera. 1999

Aunt Mary, another Southern Lady

We thought cousin Bill was hot stuff when he owned a horse and let us ride it. This was Saxon, a Tennessee walking horse.

Cousin Bobz treated his dogs like children. He and Marilyn tucked them in their beds each night. They even had pillows, which they used! 1995

Cousin Marilyn Freeman, yet another Southern Lady in 2011.

Christmas at the Condo in Greensboro in 1999. Bill and Corty, Aunt Lib, Mother, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Mary, and me.

Maribeth May collects dolls. A gal who was a former nun helped me make this authentic nun doll. It made my day that Maribeth was so happy with it.

Mother and her best friend, Lois Swank Myers in 1994.

Mother always loved babies, especially her grandchildren. This was April at the Freeman reunion in 1987.

The title of this photo would surely be:

JOY!

A Treasure Trove

2011-10-11T00:08:00.000-04:00

We kidded Mother and Grandmother for being pack-rats but, as I discovered the memorabilia that gave glimpses into our family's history, I came to appreciate their efforts in keeping all these treasures.

Valedictory speech by Grandmother May from 1917.

Someone, probably Mother, typed it out for her.

Ledgers

A Ledger from 1917, which was started on Grandaddy May's 21st birthday, showed Expense items such as:

Suitcase for $3.50,
Pair of overalls for $1.75
Haircut for $.40
Horse shoeing for $5.35
6 chairs for $19.00
Looking glass for $2.00
On May 10, 1919, he bought a "License to get married" for $1.00. (They got married May 11, 1919.)

Under Income in 1917, Grandaddy documented: 2 rabbits for $.32
2 muscrats, 1 polecat (skunk) for $2.50
Sold horse I bought of Uncle Charlie for $125.00
Sold turtle to W.J. Hollar for $.25,
Took Bob Swope to town for $2.00
24 lb. wool to Don Ruddle for $10.35
In Sept. 1918 first pay in army for $18.50
Sold 67 doz. eggs to E.P.Lee for $14.71
Sold 25 pounds wool for $9.25

I remember that Grandmother and Grandaddy lived in D.C. for a year or so and these entries reminded me that one job he had was driving a street car:
Bought Motorman's cap for $1.00,
First pay at Street Car Co. for $1.00
Run 7th Pa. Ave. for $4.86
Run 14th St. $4.32

Daddy with his cig in hand

The other Ledger in 1947
was from my parents, the year I was born. They went to the "show" (movies) most every week and usually put the name of the movie. The price was $1.00 and some weeks it said "Show and Eats" for $1.25. A haircut was $.50, "cigs" were $.35 (Daddy always smoked Lucky Strikes until he quit years later at the persistent requests of his 3 children), baby shoes (for me!) $1.19, a wooden high chair (which is still intact) for $16.50, and sweater for M.E. (Mary Elizabeth, that's me) for $2.29.

I can hardly stop reading these ledgers....they're just mesmerizing!

Hair

Some folks might think this creepy, but I was thrilled to discover hair from Daddy, my sister, and me. The round ringlets are from when I was very young. It was interesting to note that Daddy's hair was a brighter red than mine. Anita really was a bright blonde and her hairdresser knew for sure!

Millions of Cats book

I was so excited that I had to call my sister when I found this book. I didn't remember that this old version even existed. The copyright is 1928 and it came from Dobson School Library, which means it was from Mother's childhood.

We always loved hearing Millions of Cats and looking at the beautiful black and white drawings over and over. Learning place value in math was easy because of this story.

Report cards

How many people do you know who have all their report cards?

I found grades one through 12 for Anita, Phil, and me. Plus, most of the grades for Daddy and Mother.

If you enlarge this photo, you can see who my teachers were in grades 1-7 at Mt. Clinton Elementary School.

Mother even saved my grades from Madison College (now known as James Madison University in Harrisonburg) and from my master's work at the University of Virginia.

Rocking Horse
Some family member made this rocking horse but I don't know who. It was used when Daddy and Uncle Bob were little and for the grandchildren and great grandchildren. This was my niece, April, when she was small. Mother repainted it some years ago.

If this sled could talk, it would have some tales to tell!

We had some big snows when we were young and it got a real work out. What great memories of night sledding parties with a big bonfire.

A couple of times snow drifts closed the roads and the milkman had to bring cans to the foot of the hill to be hauled up with a tractor.

Ask any of the six May grandchildren about the night we each had to drag a milkcan up the hill. It wasn't too bad for the 4 small kids but Stashia and I broke through the crust into waist high snow at each step! I remember there was a full moon because Stashia and I looked at it as we laid on our backs several times to rest during that long climb.

THE Brown Chair

Mother always hated brown. When it was time for school, they got Aunt Mary the prettiest little blue raincoat with red lining, trim and buttons. They got Mother a BROWN raincoat.

When they were young, people who sold baskets and other handmade items came from down in the country in the summer . Mother's parents got Aunt Mary a little green chair. It was sooo pretty and it had flowers on it! They got Mom a BROWN chair.

Here is that famous BROWN chair with one of Mother's first dolls.

********************************************
This next item is one of my very favorite pieces of our family's history and it has fascinated me since I was a child.

"This molasses pitcher belonged to my mother's parents, David and Catherine Hollar. During the Civil War, they buried their best dishes so that the Yankees would not destroy them as they passed through the (Shenandoah) Valley of Virginia. When the war was over, they dug up the dishes and in so doing, the handle of the pitcher was broken off. It was repaired with white lead." --Ruth Bowman May, Grandmother of Mary May Angelil

I say, "Thank you!" to all the Mays, Bowmans, and Freemans for being pack-rats through the years!

Historical Hats and More

2011-10-04T10:08:00.001-04:00

Grandaddy May's hat from World War I
It's amazing what good shape it's in!

This picture looks like it might have been taken from a calendar and is an antique in itself.

Helmet
We found this out in the workshop and wonder if it was Daddy's from World War II.

Mother's "Going Away" (leaving after the wedding) hat and purse. Both the velvet hat and the knit purse are in surprisingly good condition.

We found other hats but realized we just can't keep everything. So, we donated some of them and gave some to other family members.

Purse
Maybe this belonged Betty Young Hiter Willis, my great grandmother?

Doesn't it look like the purse above went with the dress below? This is Bessie Willis Freeman, my grandmother, wearing a dress of Betty Hiter Willis, my great grandmother. Betty Willis wore this when she gave a musical concert. (She sang, as did Grandmother Freeman.)

My crown from when I was the Queen of the Prom

Mayday Dress from 2nd Grade. I think our class did the minuet.

Grandmother May made this as a long dress for the Mayday program. Then she cut it off for a Sunday-Go-To-Meetin' dress.

The organdy fabric is still crisp. It has a few stains but I am not going to wash it for fear of messing it up.

Below was yours truly entering the festivities. I think my escort in the background was Don (Feezer) Carver.

Aunt Mary and Aunt Lib sent us muffs for Christmas and we always thought they were so elegant. They were more fun to wear than gloves and we did treasure them. I can see I wrote my name on the box to be sure my sister didn't get mine! A bit of sibling rivalry, maybe?

I think I found a picture of where they got the idea for the muff!
or
Did they use this skin to make the muff? Sorry, I'm being morbid here!

I've always thought hats and fashion tell so much about culture and about events in a person's life. What a fun trip down the memory lane of the May family via hats!

Shoebox Surprises

2011-09-28T10:04:00.001-04:00

In going through things from Mother's farmhouse, I came across a little old shoebox that obviously came from Mother's home in Dobson, N.C.

What a wealth of surprises!

An invitation to the wedding of my maternal grandparents in 1915. Fox Neck was the name of the family home, which is near Lignum in Culpeper County, VA.

The wedding write-up in the newspaper.

List of wedding gifts - maybe the ones marked are those who had been sent thank you notes.

Then the 1916 telegram welcoming Uncle Robert, the first child for Bessie and Bob Freeman (Grandmother and Grandaddy Freeman).

Granddaddy Freeman's schedule cards from law school at the University of North Carolina in 1911.

Ration Book from WWI

"To Do" lists have been around for many years.

I recognize Grandmother Freeman's handwriting on this list.

The Most Exciting Surprise in the Shoebox!
I'm so glad I took the time to look at these loose sheets. I almost moved on but once I saw the date of 1864, I was intrigued. These were written during the Civil War by my great grandmother when she was 14 years old!! Maybe I can publish and make my millions???

Millions or not, I think this will be of interest to the members of the Willis family AND their reunion is next summer in Culpeper.

My great grandmother (the "journal" writer) was Betty Young Hiter.

She married Eugene Harris Willis and was later called Bessie, as in "Bessie Hiter Willis."

My red hair came from my father, my Aunt Lib, Grandaddy Freeman, and now I've discovered another ancestor with red hair -- Bessie Hiter Willis. More on Bessie Hiter Willis later.....

Who would have guessed what great surprises could come from one small shoebox!

Wonderful Wedding of Mo and Danny

2011-09-24T15:46:00.000-04:00

Cousin Hunter and Mary Margeret's daughter, Maureen (Mo) Hollar, got married Friday evening to Danny McKenna.

(This overview was "borrowed" from my cousin's FB wall. Thanks, Quentin!)

The wedding was held at the King Family Vinyards in Crozet (about 15 miles west of Charlottesville), Virginia.

It rained most of the day so they decided to be safe and put up a tent. Thankfully, the rain stopped and the weather was lovely.

Click on any photo for a larger version.

I knew the bride would be beautiful.

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Danny McKenna

The back of Maureen's dress was beautiful, too.

The simplicity reminded me of the good taste and simplicity of Kate Middleton's dress in the recent royal wedding.

The bride's mother, Mary Margaret, dancing the night away.

Isn't there a nursery rhyme about "Pretty girls all in a row..."

Ed and I were honored to be invited.

The Father's Toast

Parents of the bride, Hunter and Mary Margaret Hollar with the bride's grandmother, Thelma Hollar

After a luscious dinner of roast duck and steak, the cake was cut and the dancing continued.

Mike and Sarah Hill Buczynski, Mo's sister


Barry & Jane Hollar, Mo's uncle

Sharon Harman and Bo, her beau

Lee and Brenda Branner

Bob Ring, Hunter's high school friend. I hadn't seen him for about 40 years!

The show stealer of the evening was Mo's little niece who was the flower girl. She was so intense about dropping every petal in her basket. She got to the front and had some petals left over so she walked back and forth a bit until that last petal was gone.

She also made a grand entrance into the reception.

It's such a joy to watch a child before they become self-conscious.

A picturesque setting, charming people, delectable food, and a rockin' live band created a wedding that was a true celebration

of the GREAT LOVE

of Maureen and Danny McKenna.

Best wishes for a joyful life together!

Farm is Finally For Sale!

2011-09-20T09:45:00.148-04:00

Our farm is officially on the market!
Walker May Farm, 7321 Greenmount Road, Singers Glen, VA 22850

I think the realtor's photographer did a great job.
Here are some of the photos:
(Click on any photo for a larger version.)


The views are beautiful in every direction.

Mockingbird Hill Farm has been in the May family for over 90 years. Our grandparents moved here in 1920 and our father was born in this house. My brother, sister, and I agree that we want it to stay together as a farm and we hope this will happen. This is where we grew up so we are rather sentimental about it.

For "official" information, please go to Kline-May Realty at:

http://www.klinemay.com/77210?fromSearch=results&szPropertyClass=Farm&pageNumber=1&sort=priceDesc

Where Were YOU on 9-11-01?

2011-09-11T20:30:00.000-04:00

We remember. We honor. We pay tribute. And we will never forget. -author unknown

I was living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and was coming out of my appointment with the neurologist, who had just told me I have fibromyalgia. I went to the counter to pay my co-pay and the receptionist was on the phone with her sister, saying things like, “Calm down! What happened? A plane what?” I then drove to the nursing home to visit Alan, my first husband who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. The nurses had the TV in the day-room on and all of us were trying to make heads or tales of it. I remember thinking that we were near Miami, a large city and possible target. I had the feeling I should duck or cover my head because I wondered if a bomb was coming at any moment as I was driving home.

We must be aware that our 9-11 remembrance is not just sentimental. This brought to our attention the great struggle between good and evil.

"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world is for enough good men to do nothing." - Edmond Burke 1729-1797

September 11, 2001 will always be a day to remember. And each time we remember, let us resolve again to honor those who sacrificed so much, to honor them not merely with our tears, not merely with our memorials or sadness, but with the way we live. — Ralph Marston

Childlike Enthusiasm for Cows

2011-09-06T21:10:00.000-04:00

Our New York friends (who live full-time in Savanna Club, our retirement community in Florida) went to New York to see their family this summer. On their way back to Florida, they stopped to visit us in Virginia. Bobbie and Ron Steinberg grew up in the city and had never really been on a farm.

"Childlike enthusiasm" is something my family read about years ago and we use this expression to describe a person who is excited about life and its experiences. Well, Bobbie definitely has childlike enthusiasm! She couldn't get over our view of rolling hills and took lots of pictures.

There are cows grazing on three sides of us and it was the greatest thing that every time a cow mooed, she laughed. Now, every time I hear a moo, which is quite frequently, I chuckle inside and think of Bobbie.

Bobbie, Christie & Leonard as she gets an up-close and personal view of milking.

Christie Rhodes explains how the milk goes in a glass tube to another room with a bulk tank. The milk truck picks up twice a week.


Ron had seen milking before and stayed on the upper level. I thought he was bored but later learned he had childlike enthusiasm as he watched the expressions on the cows' faces.

They use chopped corn as food for the cows and it is blown into these silos.

Lorena showed us a sample of silage. It smelled sour, not rotten but kind of pickled.


People in the Shenandoah Valley have green thumbs, raising lots of vegetables and beautiful flowers. Cheri (my weeding assistant) and Christie in front of some of their flowers.


MaryMay with her adopted family -- Cheri, Christie, Lorena, and Grant Rhodes. Morgan and Linden were off to buy a stronger blower for the silos.

Horses? Yes we saw horses, too.

On to see the chicken house where their 6,000 hens, with the help of 600 roosters, produce fertile eggs.

Cousin Stashia's hands were busy sorting, even while she explained and answered questions.

During the peak, Stashia gathers eggs at least 6 times a day.

She had sorted upteen thousand eggs that day...so far.


Bobbie and Ron took us to the Blue Stone Inn, a unique restaurant with delicious food, where you can always eat under a buck. It is with childlike enthusiasm that I can say we really enjoyed Bobbie and Ron's visit and we were honored that they came to see us.