Blog rating so there will be no suprises:
B - (Senseless, silly, words of babel.)
H - (Humor or laughter might come from reading. At least a smile.)
I - (Informative. Just for information and pleasure of reading.)
T - (Probability of tears.)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Beautiful Girls (Part One)
I have always been blessed to be surrounded by beautiful women.
One of the everyday activities during High School was what we called "dragging main." No, we did not drag race and the street was our main street, but the street's name was State Street. So I do not know where the term came from. Well, most of the time my car was full of people. Sometimes my guy friends and sometimes girls who were my friends. Up and down "Main" we would go. Talking, laughing, honking at others who were doing the same thing and just having a good time. A big part of the time I had a car load of girls.
On some evenings while at college I would get a phone call while I was "studying" in my dorm room. The sweet voice on the other end would say, "Robert, could you take us to Taco Grande? Or, "Would you take us to A&W for a chile pie?" That made me feel pretty special, so I would go down and hop in my powder blue 1972 Plymouth Duster and drive over to McMindes Hall. When I parked at the front door out would come 4 or 5 girls and away we would go. People would wonder what I was doing in the booth at Taco Grande with 5 girls and myself but I was fine with it.
Eight years ago I became part of another group of very special women. The Kansas Register of Deeds Association is made up of the Register of Deeds from each county in the state of Kansas. For those of you who do not remember your Kansas History, there are 105 counties in Kansas. I was one of 3 males at that time in the whole state who occupied the office of Register of Deeds. The first state meeting that I attended was kind of overwhelming. Most of you know how outgoing and dynamic I am. I think the ladies sensed my insecurity for I was greeted with warmth and kindness. I have never been in any organization where I have been so accepted for what I am. They have helped me grow.
Back to my reason for this post. Once again I am surrounded by beautiful women each day. They are all different. They all make me feel very special.
One of the everyday activities during High School was what we called "dragging main." No, we did not drag race and the street was our main street, but the street's name was State Street. So I do not know where the term came from. Well, most of the time my car was full of people. Sometimes my guy friends and sometimes girls who were my friends. Up and down "Main" we would go. Talking, laughing, honking at others who were doing the same thing and just having a good time. A big part of the time I had a car load of girls.
On some evenings while at college I would get a phone call while I was "studying" in my dorm room. The sweet voice on the other end would say, "Robert, could you take us to Taco Grande? Or, "Would you take us to A&W for a chile pie?" That made me feel pretty special, so I would go down and hop in my powder blue 1972 Plymouth Duster and drive over to McMindes Hall. When I parked at the front door out would come 4 or 5 girls and away we would go. People would wonder what I was doing in the booth at Taco Grande with 5 girls and myself but I was fine with it.
Eight years ago I became part of another group of very special women. The Kansas Register of Deeds Association is made up of the Register of Deeds from each county in the state of Kansas. For those of you who do not remember your Kansas History, there are 105 counties in Kansas. I was one of 3 males at that time in the whole state who occupied the office of Register of Deeds. The first state meeting that I attended was kind of overwhelming. Most of you know how outgoing and dynamic I am. I think the ladies sensed my insecurity for I was greeted with warmth and kindness. I have never been in any organization where I have been so accepted for what I am. They have helped me grow.
Back to my reason for this post. Once again I am surrounded by beautiful women each day. They are all different. They all make me feel very special.
When I was elected Register of Deeds eight years ago I also was introduced to another group of beautiful women at the Phillips County Courthouse. I have had the privilege ( I really mean that) to work with 10-12 (depending on the day) special ladies that also work there. It is hard to explain, but they each have a very special place in my heart. Seeing them at work, which is what I did for many years when I worked across the street , was different than working with them as I do now. They know their jobs and do them well. The personalities may differ but they are all professional. I am proud to work with them. These gals are special, beautiful women to me. Their bright eyes and warm smiles make my day better.
Many times I am sure they do not know what to do with that Robert, Bob, Bobby, Mister Bob across the hall but I have a good time just being in that courthouse.
I love my job. I love the history that is told from the records in my office. I love helping fit pieces together that pertain to the story of the ownership of the land of Phillips County. I also love my job because of the beautiful "inside and out" women that I have the privilege to work with each day.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Best Friends
When I was young, up to about 8th grade, my best friend was my cousin Mirvin. We were only a year apart in age and he only lived a few blocks down the street. Seems like he would spend friday night at my house one weekend and I would be at his the next. We rode our bikes everywhere. He could always get there faster, it seemed. I always blamed it on my bike, but it was probably because he was in better shape than me
High school came and I had many friends. Two of my best ones were Wayne Schneider and Jon Weinman. Wayne was a little on the wild side, but at times I suppose so was I. For many years and even now when we run into each other, he is still very genuine and is special to me. Jon was a year younger than me. We raced cars together. Went hunting. He was my roomate at college for one semester and is still a friend.
When college came I had a friend named Steve Sprague. We lived in the same dorm together at Fort Hays. We were very close. We always thought that we thought alike, we liked the same things. We went fishing together. We were just very close. I even overheard his beautiful wife Bev tell someone that when she married Steve she did not know that I came with the package. I never had a friend like Steve.
Someone else was my best friend of all. He and I could talk politics. We could talk religion. We could share home challenges. We loved the Phillips County countryside. I was able to go to work with him every working day for over 20 years. We went to church together everytime the doors were open. He was my mentor. He was the one I looked up to in spite of his faults. He loved me in spite of mine. He was my Dad.
Ten weeks ago tonight I lost him. We all lost him. I still have a treasure in my friend and wife Sharlene. But he was my man friend. The early days after he left us have been kind of a blur. But now memories are coming back. When the phone rings in the afternoon, I know it is not him, but I think, "Well, this is about the time Dad would call." When I look at the wheat crop, I think, I would be telling Dad about how good the wheat looks. We then might go up to look at his wheat, just to know. We had home made ice cream last weekend. Boy, there were few things Dad liked better than home made ice cream. I could always count on him for at least two dishes. Man, I miss him. The numbness is wearing off. He would have loved being able to hold his my new grandbaby and his new great-grandbaby last weekend. He would have loved the dogs too.
I wish I would have asked him more questions. I wish I would have paid closer attention to the things he told me. I knew his time was getting shorter, I just thought I would have more time to do those things. It just does not always work the way we think we have it figured out.
It is just another reminder of who is really in charge.
Like the song Willie Nelson sings, he is always on my mind, he is always on my mind.
I just miss my Dad.
High school came and I had many friends. Two of my best ones were Wayne Schneider and Jon Weinman. Wayne was a little on the wild side, but at times I suppose so was I. For many years and even now when we run into each other, he is still very genuine and is special to me. Jon was a year younger than me. We raced cars together. Went hunting. He was my roomate at college for one semester and is still a friend.
When college came I had a friend named Steve Sprague. We lived in the same dorm together at Fort Hays. We were very close. We always thought that we thought alike, we liked the same things. We went fishing together. We were just very close. I even overheard his beautiful wife Bev tell someone that when she married Steve she did not know that I came with the package. I never had a friend like Steve.
Someone else was my best friend of all. He and I could talk politics. We could talk religion. We could share home challenges. We loved the Phillips County countryside. I was able to go to work with him every working day for over 20 years. We went to church together everytime the doors were open. He was my mentor. He was the one I looked up to in spite of his faults. He loved me in spite of mine. He was my Dad.
Ten weeks ago tonight I lost him. We all lost him. I still have a treasure in my friend and wife Sharlene. But he was my man friend. The early days after he left us have been kind of a blur. But now memories are coming back. When the phone rings in the afternoon, I know it is not him, but I think, "Well, this is about the time Dad would call." When I look at the wheat crop, I think, I would be telling Dad about how good the wheat looks. We then might go up to look at his wheat, just to know. We had home made ice cream last weekend. Boy, there were few things Dad liked better than home made ice cream. I could always count on him for at least two dishes. Man, I miss him. The numbness is wearing off. He would have loved being able to hold his my new grandbaby and his new great-grandbaby last weekend. He would have loved the dogs too.
I wish I would have asked him more questions. I wish I would have paid closer attention to the things he told me. I knew his time was getting shorter, I just thought I would have more time to do those things. It just does not always work the way we think we have it figured out.
It is just another reminder of who is really in charge.
Like the song Willie Nelson sings, he is always on my mind, he is always on my mind.
I just miss my Dad.
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