IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER 67

Last Sunday it was so cold here in Arkansas that I had to wear my winter coat, something I have not done thus far. When I was in Pennsylvania whenever I wore it I received so many compliments. I bought this coat out of  one of the many catalogs we had coming to us in the mail. Carl loved to get mail even if is what I call “junk Mail”. This stemmed way back to his Alzheimer's and with that I had to intercept his not sending checks. I have had to return many items.

I’m getting the catalogs still because some just refuse to stop. I needed a warmer coat so I started looking at the catalogs and I saw this beautiful blue coat and decided it would perk me up a little because I never had a blue coat. Well it did because whenever I wore it with the hat and scarf the same color I received many compliments. One of my friends took a picture and this is what I looked like three years ago.

Well I wore it for the first time here in Arkansas and I received the compliments about the color and how nice it looked and I thanked the Lord for His blessing.

When we lived in Dallas Carl traveled to visit the men who worked the territory he had to supervise and was gone Monday thru Thursday. Our kids were in college and/or married and I had nothing to do. I started looking for work that did not require to work weekends.

I began working for an insurance agency.  The agency had several agents who worked out of the main agency. One of these men raised German Shepherd dogs and he was selling the last litter of dogs and asked if I wanted one. He knew I liked dogs because that is the place Carl gave me Sandy the Smooth Hair Fox Terrier as a gift and I shared this bit of news with the agency. I asked him the amount he wanted? His answer surprised me when he said  he wanted to give me the mother because he needed to close down his kennel. I told him just as long as I could have her spayed. He said that is okay he just wanted to find a home that would love her . This dog had been more of a pet.

We did take her  because we had our small back yard all fenced in because of Sandy.  This dog was so laid back that  she tolerated Sandy as the alpha dog. Going to dog training was an unique experience.  Carl and I took them to training class and had lots of fun. Our family increased.We named the dog Nitch.

I want to mention a little  bit about insurance. If you have children old enough to marry please encourage them to take out whole life insurance on each other as a safe guard. I know it was a godsend for me when Carl died. If they have children then especially on the children as they are born because the premium is smaller. As the policy comes of age you can cash it in or leave it  on file and keep on paying for their life. Or give it to them and they can reinvest it as owners and they get to name their own beneficiary. The younger age you are makes the premium cheaper.

I noticed an ad in the newspaper to buy insurance for your pet. I am afraid I draw the line on that. not that I don’t value my pets life but that opens up a can of worms, Can you imagine getting  a death certificate for a dog or cat. I just snicker at the cost. I just finished paying a funeral home for my own demise for when it happens, Funerals are not cheap even when you don’t want  anything but a cheap, cheap funeral.

When I was driving to church Sunday I want to tell you I felt I was driving on the Lord’s canvas of beautiful color. We have blooming at this time Bradford Pear tree, the Redbud trees and bushes, yellow forsythia bushes and yellow daffodils and a blue ground cover I don’t know. It is beautiful picture as I drove.

Daylight saving time was yesterday and jumping forward doesn’t give us any more time like some people think it just a push and pull of the mechanism of the clock. I see I am near the end  and want to say, until next time I am, Immigrant Daughter.

IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER 66

I have been putting a  Thomas Kinkade  1000 piece puzzle  together that is a beautiful winter scene in the alps of a whole village. I will admit that it is very challenging because as you know Thomas Kinkade paints with so many colors and shades that it is hard to separate in colors in groups. I have received this for Christmas and really enjoy  putting  it together. I just finished it.  This is what it looks like.

                                                                                    

I remember many years ago we sent my sister and her husband a puzzle that was a picture of the four of us. It is amazing what they reproduce in a puzzle format. I love Blue Birds and think the picture of the Blue Bird that looks mad and frumpy is one of my favorites because Carl and I had a birdhouse for them when we first moved here. We use to sit on the porch and watch them come and go building their nest. 

                                                                         

Country life can be very relaxing but you have to like being alone. I have been asked; “How can you stand it away from people? “ I know we like it because we had each other. I am still having to adjust being alone. Now dogs take up the slack.

I am glad The Kings Speech won best picture, and best actor and actress Oscar awards last night. I don’t see many movies but when I do I am glad they were good choices.

I have been watching some very old movies on cable and I am surprised that there are so many I haven’t seen. The war movies are always good. It seems to me there won’t be any of todays crop that will be memorable.

I have two grandsons who have birthdays this month and it turns out it’s the oldest 30 and the youngest 16, of different children. If I hadn’t felt old before I do now. I told the youngest I can remember my 16th birthday very well because I received a gold stretch band that was a Lily that circled around my wrist that I still have. On my 30th Carl took me out to dinner and gave me a gold horse pin which I still have. I must admit I don’t remember many of the in-between  birthdays.

My father gave me a locket that mom wore that  he had given her. It is a gold heart shape that opens up and had his picture on one side and moms on the other.You can’t see it, but Mom is wearing the locket in the picture below.   I still have it also. Memories are so good to remember when the individuals have passed on.

        

Also this February my oldest sister who is living, she and her husband celebrated their 61st wedding  anniversary. From the picture it indicates the weather was warm for February in New Jersey way back then. They still live in the same house.  

A friend sent an email with pictures of ice burgs on lake  Michigan were beautiful and huge.   Here are a few of them below.

I went also and had my tax return done and filed electronically.  It cost almost same as last year.

I have seen many winter pictures but the one that wins the prize was an Amish farmer pulled an empty milk container truck out of a ditch that he slid in.   He was very skeptical and when the farmer hitched his four horse team to the truck and pulled it out. They were large like the AnHauser Bush Clydesdales.

I am enjoying life even though it is not quite the way I would   say is ideal but God knows what’s best for me, I want to get his posted so Until next time, I am Immigrant Daughter.

IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER 65

I have witnessed more snow this past week in Arkansas than I ever saw before. It made me think I was back in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I had 8 inches on the porch. Growing up I would have loved it. I remember my dad throwing snowballs at us while we were playing out back of the restaurant. those were fun days.

Carl told me they use to play ice hockey on Lake Michigan every chance they could sneak away from school. Of course they always got caught and hauled back to school. We never sneaked out because our fathers punishment was worse than the schools.

C’s dog Chili was fun to watch in the snow. He would put his head down in the snow and push until he had snow on his snout and then shake his head trying to get it off. Animals are great entertainment. The other day I tried to go to bible study and couldn’t get off my porch. It was so slippery I couldn’t get any traction on the bottom of my shoes to make the steps down. I do have a ramp but that was also icy.

When we had our Chris craft boat on Lake Texoma it got so cold one night that no matter what we did we couldn’t get warm enough so the next day when we got in port we made arrangements for winter storage. It is really something to watch how they hoist the large boats out of the water for winter storage. Most boats need to be cleaned and the bottoms painted with anti fowling paint. I was told this past week that they have discovered a coating that will keep the barnacles off the bottom of the boat. I bet a lot of boat owners are happy about that. Boating was a new experience for me but to Carl it was old hat.

The news of the day with violence in Egypt and other parts od the Middle East sure makes me thankful I live in America brought to mind how nothing changed much since my father’ mother hid him so the Turks would take him from her to fight. They still are fighting. There is no place like America.

I had to stop because my computer was acting up to renew  things I didn’t want to renew, and it was showing the bar with  things that were not familiar to me. C told me every time the machine updates familiar things change and I have to get accustomed with the new bar all over again. I do not like the changes and I wish they wouldn’t do it. It takes me for ever to complete a new post as it is. I see I just wiped out a whole paragraph I had just written so here I go again as I am learning to be patient with myself,

I went to the medical doctor yesterday and found out I am healthy because the blood work reveals that I am. It is very satisfying that they agree with me. I do have to admit I hate growing older. I am hearing so much how to stay healthy that I could have told them, everything in moderation and you don’t need to deny yourself anything. It worked for me.

Carl loved to eat and I loved to cook and we both like to enjoy food. He also like to make gumbo (without Okra). and Last week I was invited out and enjoyed some of the best gumbo with okra and it made me remember my honey. I am so happy that he is not living to hear of all the evil that is going on in the world today. 

The weather these past days have been pleasant. It is nice not having to wear a heavy coat. I let chili inside and he doesn’t last long because he get too warm. I can take the warm weather better than the cold.

There appeared on my email inbox with the name of a close friend, but the email was gobbled goop That didn’t make sense and come to find out they didn’t send it so I deleted it. Boy you can’t be to careful.

One day while living in Muncie Carl and I supported a political  candidate who was running for congress and I hope he makes a run for the white house. He is young, honest and conservative that is making his mark for the betterment of our nation. I hope all of you out there are keeping up with the world situation. Our men need to stand up and be counted. We are getting too many females in our leadership position and I am sorry ladies, I don’t like it. My church denomination went down the tubes when the women got in the priesthood. They weren’t satisfied just to be a part of the body they just plain took over and many people left.  I was  one who left. The denomination is still floundering.

I am happy to say I walk with God daily. He supplies my need and helps me through my sorrows and I can’t ask for more than that.

Until next time, I am Immigrant Daughter

Immigrant daughter 64

Back to a glimpse of another memory of my past. Carl and I had so many good years and I remember that one day a voice from his past came calling. We were living in Muncie at the time and the phone rang and I said hello this is the Moody residence and there was a hesitant voice asking “Is this where Conrad  lives?”. And after a few questions back and forth I put Carl on the phone to talk. When Carl finished talking he had such a glow on his face when he sat down and told me this.

When growing up in one of the foster homes he was befriended by another foster child who was adopted. This boy lost touch with the others because his new parents moved out of the mid west to another region. He, like Carl, never forgot his past and he was  trying to find some of the other kids he remembered growing up with. When checking back with the Children’s  Aid Society and other agencies he found out about Carl who was also inquiring about his past. I am not sure about all the particulars but he found out that Carl lived in Muncie. He made a phone call to find out if the Carl who lived here was the Conrad who lived at a particular place many years ago. And from there this voice of the past came alive and brought a flood of tears and remembrance of part of his life he had long forgotten.

Carl told me he had forgotten this, because this boy was adopted and he had not because Carl was unruly and wild and did not take correction well. Carl told me all this was true because he was told nobody cared whether he lived or died. This man who called was a  boy who befriended when Carl  when they growing up and he remembered him after all these many years wondering what happened to him. Isn’t it strange how the Lord brings to light things long forgotten?

Carl invited him to come out to the house for a visit after finding out he was passing through on his way to California. This young man grew up and became successful in engineering with a large firm. He stopped  by for a minute on his way to California which turned out to be quite an enlightening visit. The visit lasted several hours filling in some of Carl’s past.

It was great for me because I heard things that are not written in any of Carl’s record.

When we lived in Little Rock while our kids were growing up we lived there right before the eruption of the school system between blacks and whites. We lived on the outskirts of town and sort of missed all the problems of the inner schools. There were blacks in the school but not that many and all kids were treated the same at least where we lived.

Some of the things they are showing  in the news we lived through them without any mishaps. My DIL and her mother and I went to see The Kings Speech and it was excellent. There again her mother and I remembered very well living at the time of  this crisis  England was having with the King giving up the throne to marry  a divorced woman.

If you have not seen it you a missing some history  very well done, because the movie casting was excellent and the story true.

I haven’t been to see many movies because there are very few worth seeing. They just don’t make the westerns as they used to be and when they remake any movies too much garbage is added. I realize this is kind of short and sweet But its raining and it is getting dark outside even though it is in the afternoon.

This new month was Carl's’  birthday month and one birthday I gave him a surprise party even though he is gone he is not forgotten at least by me.

Well this weekend is super bowl time and I will enjoy watching and eating popcorn having as good a time by myself as best as I can. So until next time, I am Immigrant Daughter.

IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER 63

It has been a week since I last posted and weather wise a lot has happened. Here in Arkansas we have had freezing weather and six inches of snow and for me that is more than I have seen since living up north.

It is a bit of  an in convenience  for me for me not being able to drive myself around and therefore I am a shut in. I really don’t mind being alone but I must tell you of an incident I experienced this  past holiday.

Since my better half passed on three years ago it really hit me low. I became very depressed and not liking myself at all. When I snapped out of it after going to the doctor and asking for some help just to get over the bumps in the road. I am not a willing pill taker. I did not get to see my regular doctor and had to see an associate in the clinic. Not liking it but accepting it. The doctor was either Indian or or Hindu and I had to give him a complete run down of my medical history. This is why I want to stick to just one doctor. Even though my medical history is in the computer he asked me all the usual questions because he was too lazy to read it ahead of time.

I can go on about what a bummer this visit turned out to be but I took the script he prescribed and left. I mailed it in to my mail order pharmacy and when I got it back I started taking it. I never read the contra indications of the drug just the directions of when and how to take it. That was my first mistake. Mistake number two would show my prejudices and that is not good.

One day while getting bills ready to be paid I all ways go through the the extra junk paper to throw away so it won’t pile up. I started to read the rest of the information that came with the drug he prescribed and realized this is an indicative drug you can never stop and my brain went WHOA and no wine or drink of any kind. I immediately weaned myself off this off this by cutting the pill in half and taking it every other day until it was gone.

I am not a habitual drinker but I do like a glass of wine or even two and for me not to be able to indulge at all would be adding to the problem I went to eliminate. I can remember my better half was a pill pusher selling drugs to the doctors and hospitals and he told me so many things to avoid and drugs like this was one of them.

I called my mail order pharmacy and had to go through the rigger  ma roll of trying to talk to a real person and not a machine. That is another pet peeve I have calling and trying to reach someone to talk to and being told don’t hang up you call is important to us and leave us hanging on to battle the machine and finally get the “leave you name, age and why you are calling and someone will get back to0 you”. This makes you having to stay glued to the house until they call back like my time is not important as important as theirs.

When I did get a call back and was put through to a person I told them not to send this drug to me ever again and explained to them why.  They said they understand and would wipe it from my record. They did confirm the danger of  the addict ion to this drug.  Most of my life has been spent of having to take insulin to live and I wasn’t needing another crutch to live on. I know people that think pills are the answer, but I do not

Well I am over the depression state now that the holidays are over and I feel great not perfect but just great.

I received four puzzles for Christmas all different and I started to put one together. A thousand pieces will keep me busy for several weeks. In between I am enjoying the sports and getting ready for March madness in college basketball. I do have a couple of favorites.

Carl and I loved to watch all the teams play but we did want the favorites end the year in the top so we could root root for the home team. He always like the big ten schools and I always liked Pennsylvania and East Coast teams. We would have lots of fun kidding each other while enjoying our beer and popcorn watching the game. I can’t explain the inner pleasure we had but I can tell you I miss that when I am watching the games by myself. The weekends were relaxing times for us because it was special.

My home is small but comfortable and the saying “a place for everything and everything in its’ place. I have a small plastic tool box on my two drawer file cabinet that has wheels I have the small tools like hammer, pliers, level and the like. They all have my initials on the handle. I had to do this because Carl was great for not being able to find his tools half of the time because he would lend them out to  anyone and never get them back. So I kept my own tool for the house so  that I could find what I needed to hang a picture or what ever I needed a tool for.

We really were compatible and blessed that the Lord Jesus put us together to share our lives. I know this more now that he is gone and I am still here. And yes, I am not in the state of depression.

Without the Lord I would be. Until next time I am Immigrant Daughter.

IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER 62

  It has been a long time since I posted and I didn’t want let it go too long since I got back into the swing of things. I noticed that blogging has a way of going to the back burner during the holidays.

My youngest  came to spend Christmas with me and it was a special treat for me because she lives in Virginia and that is a bit far for them to drive. She has three boys and one girl  and it is amazing to me how much they changed in one year. I must brag a bit because I think they are good looking. The boys are all over six feet plus tall and the my granddaughter wears high heels to keep up in height, I could remember wearing high heels but never that high. It was encouraging to see young people with lots of life. I couldn’t house them all in my two bedroom Mobil home so the boys stayed down with daughter-in-law and daughter and granddaughter stayed with me. I had one folding bed and rented one so they were at least up from the floor. They had their own bath so that worked out fine.

I had gotten into a state where I didn’t want to cook or if I did nothing tasted good. You know it is easy to slip into depression. And I made up my mind that was not going to happen  after I went through two weeks of it. So at this point I want to tell you I will continue about my life.

My daughter in law tells me about some of the sad tales of families breaking up with the lame excuse we fell out of love and don’t want to live together any more. and when finding out more there is always an involvement of a girl friend or boy friend. They think  that when trials come on they can just walk away. Vows made meant  nothing. It seems to me upon hearing some of the stories the couples left God out of their lives. I know even those who know the Lord and strayed like my son did  is heart breaking. Lust plays a big part in wanderers.

No marriage doesn’t have problems but when you learn to give more than take it seems to get you over the bumps. Lord know none of us are perfect.

We  were discussing the whys of this and came up to the conclusion that the moral teaching has disappeared from families and schools. Without morality people live without rules and the we have to have them. Not just for a few but for all of us.

I can remember growing up we always ate our meals together on the weekend. In the restaurant during the week we ate while working but we did have a family booth where the family sat. It is amazing how much you can say while eating. When C was coming to the restaurant he graduated from the counter to our booth rapidly. I can still remember the look dad gave him the first time. It is a shame today that we eat more drive in food than meals made from scratch. It the sign of the times and the beginning of family break down. Of course this is just my opinion.

My dad was the center of our holidays. When he was living we always made the trip home. That was one of the things we gave up was family holidays in our own home. And you know we gained more from that because it gave dad something to expect. I can better appreciate now because when I know any of the family is coming I mark the days off on the calendar.

I want to say that now the holidays are over I had the delightful experience of the special feeling that dad had after we visited him. I was so thankful after their visit.

A week later I had gone through a sort of rescue situation with Scout the Sheltie that DIL owns. She always followed DIL home when she came home from work after spending the day with me. One night she followed her home but wouldn’t go in when she opened the door and DIL couldn’t catch he to make her go in.

She disappeared  for two days and we just assumed she went off to die. She wasn’t eating and was a shekel walking around. In the meantime AR got a snow storm that brought freezing weather more than I have ever seen. I had attempted to sweep off the porch and ramp and when I did there was nothing but ice left. So I knew I would stay put for awhile.

I was ready to stop when I noticed Scout came scrawling out from under the ramp next to my steps I was cleaning. Now here is where the rescue begins. Scout was covered with snow that was stuck to her. I went down  the steps I cleared off and tried to pick her up which I couldn’t because I can’t bend that far down.You can imagine what a sight I was trying to pick her up by the scruff of her neck and hold on to the rail and cane at the same time. She was too heavy for my one hand I would get her front feet up the step and then try to lift her bottom up the step trying now to let her fall or myself either. I was near the top and I just couldn’t reach up from where I was and had to come holding her bottom on the step and to keep me from falling. I thought I might do well by sitting down the step and then scoot up step by step, You can imagine my surprise to find out I sat too low to be of any use to finish the job. Here I was stuck on the steps and not being able to get up myself. I prayed and asked the Lord for the skill to get her to the top and me too. It took me one hour to get her and me up five steps. When I got to the top I still couldn’t lift her and had to drag her one step at a time across the porch that is 14 by 16. Fortunately I left the door ajar and I was able  to drag her into the living room where I had a sheep skin to put her on. I only was able to get her head and shoulders on. I left her to get a towel so I could dry some. She was so cold she was shivering. When I got a large thick towel and threw it over her she looked up as if to say thank you.  As bet as we could determine she was out under the ramp the three days it was 18 to 25 degrees with weather people saying keep your pet in out of the cold. C and I felt awful but in all fairness she wouldn’t come in when we called. And by this time her back legs couldn’t work. C came from work and brought a small can of dog food and fed her and she ate it all.

After discussing  the situating she decided to put her down and I agreed because I couldn’t be of much help. We both knew the Vet would try to talk her out of it but the decision was best for the dog because she works all day and I am handicapped. So she wrapped her with the towel and took her home. She put her in her very large bathroom to lock her in for the night and its a good thing she did because she let go both ends scooting all over the floor. It broke both our hearts she had to suffer.

Until next time, I am Immigrant Daughter.

Immigrant Daughter 6I

Here it is December already and I am wondering what happened to Thanksgiving, the expression “time flies” really is a truism. I never let the passing of time bother me before and I don’t know why I should let it do so now.

Getting back to my story, I know I mentioned St. Judes’  Ranch for children before but I want to tell how how working there blessed our life. We had just returned from our trip to Germany from visiting our daughter and son in law. We had been there almost two years enjoying the birth of their first child John. We learned to adjust to the cold winters and the countryside. But it was time that we got on with finding a place to settle down.

We were visiting our son and daughter in law having the comfort of bed and bath on the lower level of their tri-level home with all kinds of privacy. After not being able to decide where we wanted to live Carl came out of the shower,  he told me we couldn’t move  as yet because he contacted St. Judes and I assumed it was the St Judes in Memphis, Tennessee, but it wasn’t, it was Boulder City, Nevada.  That is why I told you we went back and forth over Hoover Dam many times coming East to see the kids.

So while in the shower he said he prayed to the Lord that he really didn’t want to retire and asked for help to find a place where we could help others because we were too young to retire. When he stepped out of the bathroom the phone rang and it was for Carl. (Isn’t that just like God to answer immediately.)  The caller said he was impressed with his resume and wanted  us come there so they could interview us . They paid our expenses for the trip. They hired us on the spot and gave us our own cottage up on a hill away from the 4 cottages where the children stayed with their cottage parents.

Here is what we found out about the place: St Judes was started by an Episcopal Priest that was not connected to the diocese as working priest but one who was not doing priestly duties because his heart was for neglected children. These children had parents that kind of shunned them because they were too busy and didn’t want to care for them. These were not poor or disadvantaged kids just  ones with selfish parents who showed no love  to them. Most of these kids were very smart and knew how to get around the rules so when you escorted them to doctors or other activities you really had to watch them closely.

One day Carl and I took two of them fishing and all they wanted was to try  hide from authority and perhaps do what they shouldn’t like spend money buying candy or playing pinball machines. One occasion we took them bowling and we knew we couldn’t do that anymore. Too many places to hide in the bowling alleys like having to go to the bathroom too many times.  They use to say I can go by myself and we learned the hard way to never to let them out of our sight.

Father Bert ---- was really a pastor that could demand respect and get it from them. They knew right off they would not be allowed to stay at the ranch and they also knew what awaited them if expelled from the Ranch. Some would have been put in detention homes they knew their parent didn’t want them home all the time. Here at the Ranch they knew they were loved and people cared for them and they were never were left alone.

Once a year the celebrities in Vegas had a dinner and fashion show to raise money for the ranch. The one year we were there the dinner host was Ed McMan and whatever stars were appearing in Las Vegas at the time. The Kids, Cottage Parents and volunteers were also invited. It was a great night out giving the kids and opportunity to dress up for the night out. The dinner was either steak or lobster with all the trimmings. The stars made people aware of the ranch and its’ needs.

The Ranch used the front of Christmas cards and pasted them on of  blank cards with the information printed on the back telling about the Ranch. They still do this so if you care to send card fronts in their address is:

St. Judes Ranch for Children

P. O. Box 985, Boulder City

Nevada 89005-o985.

The sales also helps to pay expenses. Their budget depends on contributions.

When Carl and I were there we were called resident grandparents. We did whatever was needed. Every day we opened mail separating, the cards and the money it took us all morning just to open mail.  I understand now it has grown from three bags of mail to a truck full of mail. They now have to hire  people open mail. It was a rewarding  job to us because we didn’t have to punch a clock.

We we went to Nevada the first time Carl had just purchased a Large panel Vanguard Chevy van that had a bed across the back that we slept in often. It kept us from having to worry about motels. We saw the desert in bloom and let me tell you it is a sight to behold. As far as the eye can see was color everywhere. It was amazing to see large cactus in bloom no one can paint like the Lord.

As I write about the different time in our life of what I can remember I am so thankful the Lord gave allowed us to have a memory. It gives me an opportunity to understand how frustrating it was for Carl when he lost that part of his brain. Someone mentioned I should volunteer in that area, but you know I don’t think I could do that family is the only connection the patient has to life they can remember.

Christmas time was a difficult time for the kids at the Ranch. Most of them went home but there were some that couldn’t because of conditions at home. Their parents did not care anything about the  real meaning of Christmas. Now the Ranch was definitely started on a religious base and Christmas was a  glorious time having many religious  services. Of course we fit right in because we were of the same faith as Fr. B….    You know your Christmas memories play big roll  in your expectations of the present Christmas.   

 

Until next time, Immigrant Daughter