I wrote this column for Thanksgiving forty years ago. The size of the tractors have gotten larger, but most of the rest has stayed the same.
Farmers find beauty in the barn, in the field, and standing next to a cow. It’s all there for them to appreciate. I hope you enjoy my musings from November 1980.
Hoping you too find beauty in different places.
Maybe it’s a sparkly rock, or a child’s toothless grin, or a kitten getting into trouble again, there’s beauty and fun found in the oddest places.
Some people may remember my friend, Wendel. He was my constant companion in the late 80s and 1990s.
I hope you enjoy hearing about Wendel today.
Wendel is still a good friend, even if he hasn’t seen the light of day for a while.
Maybe our friendship will become a book. I’ve been thinking about a picture book about Wendel for a long time. I’ll ask him if he’s ready. If Wendel agrees, I’ll start working on a new project with my friend, Wendel.
This newspaper clipping was taken at Ann Rutledge elementary school in Lincoln Estates in the 1960s.
I’m in the big hat in front and to the left of the nun. To the left of me is my friend, Marilyn. John was Little Bo Peep next to the gorilla, far left. Cousin Chris is a scarecrow on the floor to the right.
I believe we dunked for apples, which meant if you weren’t first, a lot of makeup was floating on the water by the time it was your turn.
My sister remembers winning a whistling contest. You had to eat a cracker and then see who could whistle first. Karen Won!
As entertainment, they had a talent show that night. My sister and her friend Janie made up a skit involving what they thought was a pineapple and ended up being a wasp nest.
Since I had on a long dress, for the talent show, I sang Daisy (A Bicycle Built for Two). I did it but was so scared and quiet, no one heard me. I remember hearing people say, “Louder.”
Now, to scare you for Halloween what follows is my current rendition of Daisy which I remember word for word–odd how something sticks in your mind.
Don’t blame me if you can’t sleep tonight after hearing this.
For a long time, Bob was invisible, working too much so he wasn’t seen by friends and family.
For once, it looked liked he’d be able to join the family for an Illinois wedding. Too bad for us something out of our control happened.
It wasn’t easy leaving Bob home. More was on my shoulders, but most of all I missed him.
Bob was not alone. I hear from other women who married a man like Bob, a workaholic. It’s a tough life for all, but we all continue to honor all those hardworking men.
