Those Neat Bags

Have you got any of those neat little bags to use instead of plastic or paper from the grocery store? They are supposed to keep us from using so much oil or cutting down so many trees. I have found them to be useful in many other ways.
Many of the ladies where I work use them to carry things to and from their car. So I use one of my green ones for a briefcase. My blue bag is just right for paying bills because there are so many and they make me feel that color. My other green bag is really used for shopping. It takes a lot of green when you buy groceries. The dignified black bag is used when I really feel "dressed up." And when I go on long walks I take my red bag so my friends can ride along too. And of course, since they come in so many different colors you can match your accessories with the color of the bags. I sure do love them!

Gifts

This was an interesting holiday season. The weather was terrible cold. We had a blizzard just days before and while family were travelling here. A big majority of those that came got the flu. In spite of all of that, I think we had a pretty good time. Lots of food. Time together. And a time of giving.
This year I was overwhelmed by gifts I received.
One of the young ladies that I work with had a very nice camera that she let me borrow once and offered to sell me a couple of months ago. I was telling her that I loved it, but I would have to convince Sharlene that it was something "we" wanted to get. We had talked about getting a new camera but nothing had been decided. Well, I was telling Teena (the young lady) that I was working on Sharlene, but I did not think the job was going to get done. Little did I know, but she had been talking to Teena too. And on Christmas morning there next to my stocking was this beautiful camera. I was shocked. I still am. It is so beautiful. Thank you so much Sharlene!
I also got quite a gift from Becky. Each year I give many in my family a corn cob. Dad had told me many years ago that his father had given him and his brother Vaughn a corn cob or a lump of coal at Christmas. So, several years ago I began to give corn cobs. Then I changed things and began to not just wrap up a cob and put it under the tree. Now, I am not an artist, and my creatations are maybe even crude, but I have made Barbie and Ken Cobs, corn cob light houses, corn cob christmas trees, corn cob flag poles, corn cobs commerating engagements with little rings on each cob and several other things. My niece Becky usually has a special cob to give back to me. I have been given a cob family, a koozie cob and other things. This year Becky and Jason got me an ear of corn that had been carved from a log with a chain saw. It is about 3 feet tall and is amazing. What a gift!

My Mom worked hard to give everyone a gift that was something from Grandpa. She put a lot of thought and love in each gift.
Because many were sick, I think I got another gift of being able to get to do a little extra in the kitchen for our Christmas dinner. I really enjoyed being in the kitchen.
It was a gift for my Mom to have as many as possible home with her this year. She had a great time having all around.
I had a very special gift to have a little granddaughter for the first time at my house at Christmas. She brings so much happiness to her Mommy and Dad and all of us who get to touch and be touched by her.
I think we had a gift from God that Jordan made it to us safely. The weather as I said was not cooperating and we thought his journey would be "iffy." Well, he was doing pretty well until he hit some ice near Stockton and slid off the road. Everyone, including the car was fine, just needed to be pulled back on the road and set on his way.
"Things" sometimes make the vision cloudy. When that vision is clear we understand that the things, the gifts, that are so special are those safe journeys, the blessing of family near and being able to give to someone else.
Thanks everyone for a wonderful time and your generousity and to God for blessing us all with more than we know.

I did't get to take him home

The other day when it was terrible cold (like it was all over the country) we were bringing Mom home from some outing. Mom is pretty independent so I don't remember why we were taking here anywhere, but we were coming home. The driveway was icy (maybe that is why we had her) so I told her I would help her back to the house. So we stepped out of the car and started up the sidewalk to the front steps. Right then I realized that I had not thought about taking Dad up that sidewalk for quite some time. He is always on my mind, but some specifics only pop in now and then. Well we were walking up that sidewalk and Mom was being pretty careful, but it reminded me of those walks up the sidewalk with Dad. Her steps were careful, but Dad's were small. His knees hurt so bad each step was very careful. I would say about 6 to 8 inches was his gait. I remember last year about this time seeing the itty bitty steps in the snow from his car to the front door. It was a trail of footprints only a few inches apart.
Thinking of our walks to the house reminded me of quite a few memories with Dad. This last week has been so hard. There seems to be many stresses around me and I want to go run them by my Dad. Even if we would not talk about some things, just to be with him would help. It has been 10 months now but it seems a new wave of sorrow and missing him has come.
I have thought many times this last week about finding him that afternoon. I question things that happened. I question if I did everything I should have. In my mind I am sure that I did, but it has been a week of questions.
After walking up that walk with Mom the other day I thought to myself. You thought you would take Dad up this sidewalk many more times, didn't you? I had never thought about it until this week, but I did not get to take him home. Guess he got there o.k. without me.

Here we go again.

I guess this is not a radio talk show or a newspaper column but I feel that I am neglecting something because I have not posted here in a long time. Part of the reason IS time. - - Taking it and making it for this blog. Secondly is my frame of mind. My mind has to be just right (boy that is a feat) to put something in words. I also have the concern that the main thing I feel from my heart to write about is my Dad. I believe that I am o.k. about dealing with the loss of him. When I feel like writing the things many times that are deeply on my heart concern Dad and that may get tiring for people to read.

However, I just want you all to know that I do have happy things in my life. I have a wife who loves me much more than I deserve. I love her smile, and so much more because of what she has brought to my life. I have three daughters who truly fill my heart and life with pride and joy. I am blessed to know that my three daughters have three great men to make their lives complete. I have this cute little black and white dog. ......I have not forgotten or purposely left this last one at the end ..... I have a new little granddaughter. What a joy she is! I just sit and wonder in anticipation what her life will bring to those around her. It will be fun to watch her grow.
There... Those are my happy thoughts.
As I said before there is still one person who is still in my thoughts. Not all of those thoughts about Dad are sad however. Some are fun. Most are just warm remembrances.
I am going to try to write on a more regular basis. I will try to not just have warm and happy remembrances. I will try to get pictures (if I ever get this picture thing fine tuned). By writing I will help myself remember and record here thoughts that are special to me.
One thing I regret is that I did not ask my Dad more questions about lots of things. So, sometimes I am going to write about my life experiences. Many will include my growing up experiences. These will be shared to tell my kids and whoever else happens to read this about things from my past.
That is all for now. And so as Vicki Overly used to say,"I'll talk to you again later on this week."

Love You,
Dad
(and whatever other title you may have for me.)

Rodeo Time

Rodeo time in Phillipsburg, Kansas, has always been a special time for me. I remember at least six of us getting into the car and going to the rodeo with my Grandpa Keesee on a hot Sunday afternoon in about 1960 or 1961. He always liked to sit up on the top row of the east grandstand. The town is always more alive during the week of rodeo. There used to be a sidewalk sale on the Saturday of rodeo week. Businesses encouraged their employees to dress "western" during rodeo week. There used to be two parades during rodeo week. For our town the rodeo has been a very special time of the year.

When the rodeo used to have special entertainers come to perform, several of them stayed at my Mom and Dad's motel. That was extra special for us. I often tell people that I sold Lynn Anderson a horse. I really did! It was a plastic souvenir horse, but it was a horse. Festus and Sam the Bartender from Gunsmoke stayed with us, as well as the Haggar twins from Hee Haw. I know that will really impress some of you!

Our family usually sets on the North side of the building that we own along the parade route. It is usually hot but there is a little shade there. The parade is fun. We wave at our friends that ride in the parade on horseback, on a float or some other mode of movement. The kids gather in candy thrown to the crowd by people in the parade. The parade is a time of family and community gathering. For many it is a time of reunion. There is also ice cream being sold on the corner, which is also very important.

Bill Clarke was the Grand Marshall of the parade this year. That designation seems to go to someone in the community who through age, admiration, and or just plain hard work has a special spot in the hearts of many of the community. Lee Matteson was Grand Marshall in recent years. He rode in his last parade last year at the age of 108, I think.

As I began, the rodeo is a special time for our family. Since that Sunday afternoon in about 1960, I only remember missing going to the rodeo only 5 or 6 years. When we owned the motel, our family took turns watching the office so that everyone in the family would get to go to at least one performance. My Mom even usually goes, just to be with the family.

This year things were different. First, Saturday afternoon at parade time it was only about 80 degrees. Usually the temperature is hovering in the high 90's or low 100's. Most years we go to the rodeo on Thursday night because there is a free meal consisting of hamburgers and beans that is served. This year we went on Saturday because Jacqueline and Jordan (and Chloe) were coming but not until Saturday.

This year was also different because some things were missing. First the parade did not have Lee Matteson. Lee rode his horse for many years after he reached 100 and only the last couple of years did he ride in a vehicle. It was different because my Mom did not go to the rodeo. It was also different because my Dad was not there. He enjoyed the parade. Many of the horses reminded him of working with horses when he grew up on the farm. We talked about the horses. We talked about the old wagons. We enjoyed the old cars that would drive by. He would sometimes have a story to tell about what was passing by. We would also have to sample the ice cream. Dad enjoyed the rodeo. He would see many friends, business acquaintances and just anyone who liked to visit. Usually someone from our family would come home so that they could go to the rodeo with Mom and Dad. The rodeo had horses that he loved. He loved the silly jokes the clowns told. The bucking horses, bulls and barrel racers all were part of the thrill. He just loved the rodeo and the time. It was a time for my Dad to relax and enjoy, which was something he did not always get to do. This was a time when you would always see a smile on his face. I can't think of the rodeo without thinking about how special of a time it was for him and how much he is missed.

Moving On

Sharlene and I have been very blessed to have been given the three daughters that we have. Each one is her own person. I feel that I have a special closeness that I treasure with each one.

When your children are growing up you know that the time will come when they will move out of the nest of home and live a life on their own. Even though I know moving away is a part of life it was such a special blessing to have Annie move back home when she taught school in Agra. She is such a ray of sunshine. She brightens the room and the day. It was just very nice to have one of our girls home for a while.

After Annie moved to Great Bend, she would go to Wichita now and then, but she did not say much about other things going on in Wichita. One Saturday afternoon she called me and told me she was going to Hutchinson. "Dad," she said, "I think it is a date!" She was so excited. I wondered how she did not know if it was a date.

As nice as it was to have Annie home for a while with us, there was a greater wish we had for her. That wish was that some fine young man would find what we believe is our special jewel. That guy from the, "I think this is a date!" Saturday afternoon turned out to be Jared Johnson. He has found our jewel. Annie is so happy. He is who she was waiting for. He is who we were waiting for. God blessed Annie and God blessed our family when he brought them together.

When I was teaching Annie to ride her bike, the learning took place on the little lane that led to our house when we lived out on the farm. She would sit on her bike. I would hold on to the bicycle behind her and we would start down the little decline that let to the house. With that slight decline I thought that if she ever started going on her own it would help her keep going without worrying too much about running the pedals.

So we would go down, walk back about 100 feet to our starting point and do it all over again. We had done this several times when Annie got a little discouraged. She wanted to quit. It seems like I said, "Annie, can't never did anything." Well, she kept at it. Soon she was riding on her own. Later when we rode our bikes together, I usually had to tell her to slow down because I had to work hard to keep up.

There are few things that Annie has taken on and not mastered. (With the exception of the basketball thing. I just know she could have!) She is a leader. She is not a quitter. She is a truster. Even though she may have wondered why God was taking so long in showing her who this Saturday afternoon date guy was going to be, she always believed that there was going to be someone for her.

Annie's blog used to be titled, "Moving On" She is moving on again. With her marriage to Jared she is moving on to a bigger, brighter, new, level of life. She is so happy. We are all very happy. Our life is moving on too. Life is full of changes. You all know how well I love change (Ha) but this is a good change. We, (I) am moving to a new level, too.

Soothing Saturday

Today was a beautiful day. The weather has been hovering around 100 for the past few days and today it was in the mid 80's. It was partly cloudy and the sky was blue. There was an Ansel Adams photograph display at the Hansen Museum in Logan so I decided to drive over to take it in. I was driving my age with my window down. I drove by a field where someone was turning fresh cut alfalfa. I don't know if you know that smell, but it is a good smell. It also reminded me of time with my Dad.

Alfalfa was feed for my Dad's cattle. When I was very young, around 8-10 years old, Dad needed help picking up hay bales that were in the field. This involved stacking the bales on the pickup and driving to the location where the cattle would later be fed and making a large stack of bales there. Well it is time comsuming to drive 25 feet, stop, get out, throw on a bale, get back in the truck, drive 25 feet, get out, and do the whole process again. I guess Dad thought if I could reach the pedals, it was a stick shift, I could be helpful by being his driver. The first gear was geared so that you could not go very fast and even if you let the clutch out too fast the truck would probably go along o.k. The biggest challenge was driving it straight. I remember feeling like pretty hot stuff. Dad would set on the tailgate, I would get it started chugging along, and he would walk along and pick up the bales and throw them on the truck. Pretty young? Probably. Pretty special? You bet.

Right now the countryside is just beautiful. We have had many rains and the grass and crops are green.

On the way back from Logan I saw a doe and twin fawns at the edge of a milo field.
This evening Maddie and I went for a ride to Republican City. I had thought about watching the sun go down at the lake. When we got there it was still pretty early and the place I wanted to stop and soak in the evening was occupied. The lake is nearly full and people were enjoying the water, the beach and fun machines on the water. I did not stay until sundown, but it was a nice drive.


The wheat is just about ready to cut. I am sorry, but right now there are few things that do not remind me of my Dad. Harvest was a big time for him. We always talked about the wheat crop. We talked about the combines. Seeing the golden fileds today just reminded me of cutting wheat with my Dad.



It was just a peaceful relaxing day. Got to see some world renown photographs. Got to see some of, in my opinion, the most beautiful country in the world. Got to think about good times in the past. Got to think that God made it and to count the blessing of being able to be a part of it all.