Getting My Act Together...Again

2012-01-30T09:30:00.001-06:00

A few years ago, Ruedi and Diana and I hiked the hill from our back yard through the Corp of Engineer's property to the lake. Upon our return we lost our way and landed not quite a mile at some neighbor's house. It is tricky terrain, and looking at the sun's, stars or moon's position would not have helped us at all. My having no sense of direction whatsoever, it's easy to misplace which way is straight up.

Today, I'm trying to teach our "Killer Dog" to wander down the hill for the lions, tigers and bears and leave the poor Chihuahua alone at the top where our road is. It's not Schatzie that hungers for the Chihuahua; it's this Chihuahua that thinks he can rough and tough it with Schatzie. He wants to take her on, so not a good idea. (What a disaster it would be if he had romantic intentions.)

In the last five years, I have picked up a fear of traveling downhill vertically. I hug the tree, vines, fighting the temptation of bumping down on my hind side. I felt ashamed, for the “Last of the Mohicans” would have scampered down with bare feet. Luckily, I found a rope that someone had attached to a tree trunk a long time ago. Painstakingly, I furthered myself another 50 feet. Schatzie looked down at me, as she stood of the edge of the vertical drop off , glanced back up to our asphalt driveway toward her little friend and barked, “Adios, Amiga.” She left me with the lions, tigers and bears.

RSVP By Deadline

2011-09-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

Reprinted
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Invitation to all
Please
RSVP by deadline.

(Originally posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008)

The Choice.

God created animals; God created man. God gave man the unique ability to make a choice: a choice to love God; a choice to accept; a choice to refuse but undeniably a choice. For God to have true companions, He gave us freedom to choose.

Before sin touched the lives of Adam & Eve, we saw how they had been designed to fit together perfectly. Bodies curvaceous, strong and lean... no flabby fat for these two...only joyful love making ...tireless bodies, moving to the music of two becoming one...

Lucifer, the cast out angel by God, was livid, venomously livid. It sickened him to watch Adam and Eve singing praises to their Lord...their voices melodious in perfect harmony... full of grace and worship.

Lucifer knew the difference between the beasts of the field and Adam and Eve, God's companions. Adam and Eve loved their Heavenly Father. It was their choice.

THE DAY A CHOICE WAS MADE.

Eve chose to disobey God; she chose to accept Lucifer's scam. Using her womanly charm, Eve convinced Adam; he chose as well. They made their choice. What Adam and Eve chose was to open Pandora's box, and, to their horror, inside lay Death. Death is the penalty for sin, in the worse, most horrid, torturous way. A total separation of God...our God who cannot look at sin...

DEATH and DESTRUCTION HAND-in-HAND

The Prince of darkness prepared his army, as Adam and Eve fled. From the Garden of Eden to Pandora's Box, the children of God were led. As the lid closed, God's tears rained down. A choice, a done deal...how tragic...how sad...

Quickly, the soldiers of darkness struck, showing no mercy. Lucifer smiled and danced his victory dance. A sibling murdered his brother: a victory dance. No sin was left untouched: Corruption, chaos, greed, once more, a victory dance! Incest, slavery, rape...Lucifer is light on his feet. Innocent children, abusive parents, no security blanket to keep the children safe...

Anxiousness and fear of abandonment and worse yet, pain...a victory dance again... Gone was the perfect union of a married man and woman. Confusion, fornication to homosexuality, lesbians quickens Lucifer's steps. Blatant gluttony and alcoholic binges, marital affairs to add insult...desperate despair and ultimate sadness and abject loneliness while Lucifer gloats...

Hatred for fellow mankind, war, selfishness and incredible DISBELIEF...Mental illness and crippling diseases all ending in death... Encore, Lucifer, encore, more dancing please..! The woes of the people mounted, their cries "Where is God; where is our Lord?" How quick for them to forget...It wasn't He who walked away, but they, who turned their backs.

IT WAS THEIR CHOICE.

God never stopped loving us. We made the decision not to trust His wisdom; we left His embrace. God never, ever abandoned us; His love stayed steadfast. His tears, his compassion never ceased. Who would pay for Lucifer's ransom? The penalty of sin was steep. Who would pay the price for God's people? The Holy Son of God, perfect and blameless and cherished by all the angels...God's only son, Jesus, left His Heavenly throne and lifted the lid of Pandora's Box. And as the lid closed, God's tears rained down.

ALWAYS THE CHOICE

The price for sin was paid in full. Salvation is at hand! Jesus conquered Death, and Jesus rose again. Eternal life is our choice. God stands outside our door. Will we choose to answer His knock? God's gift to us was CHOICE.

The earth remains corrupt and vile. The Prince of Darkness can claim you as his. Damnation forever is Lucifer's goal, for he holds God's children in utter contempt.
Open the door; open the door; the choice is yours to make! From the old rugged cross, the Lamb of God, the King of Kings, our Heavenly Father tenderly waits!

YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

Driving Miss Daisy the Swiss Way

2011-01-12T17:00:00.015-06:00

Looking cocky, the Swiss Mountain man snorted, "Do you really think you can drive up our driveway?" What sounds simplistic isn't. When once in awhile we can capture a snow fall or freezing rain, our very steep driveway becomes a mini mini glacier. When we know weather is coming, we'll park our vehicles up at the top where our driveway meets the road. Our bungalow can't be seen from the road. All one sees is our lonely mailbox and our driveway disappearing down the hill.

In Switzerland, it snows; here it sputters although we have had our moments. (See the picture of our snow in January 2010!) The sun had softened the snow enough for Ruedi to bring the cars back down; later the freezing weather gave us two big ice patches on the driveway. Since he drives those big old buses, I drive the vehicles for "fun".

*****

So with a smile I stomped on Daisy Mae's pedal (our old beat up 1996 suburban) to shoot up the driveway. On the second ice patch, Ruedi hollered so loudly I let up on the accelerator. When one is "sledding" down backwards on our skinny little driveway, one has to be mindful of the boulders on the left and the deep, deep ravine on the right and the lake far down below. Missing the house as a braking device, I slowed down to a stop.

*****

With a smirk on his face, the ice man again asked, "Are you ready for the expert to take over?" That sounded like in invitation to me, and once again I put the pedal to the metal. Upward bound did Daisy Mae charge the incline! By the time we made it up to the road, I believe Ruedi was praying in his native tongue. Don't mess with a Tennessean who lives in the Ozarks. :-)

Nose to Nose I Suppose!

2010-11-16T17:31:00.018-06:00

It was tough; I wasn't quite sure I could pull it off .

My reflection begins. In 1998, after some discussion, my sister and I agreed to have sinus operations. We both have been plagued with sinus problems most of our lives. Having a chronic sinus condition was an annoying problem that, well, annoyed us. :-0

Diana made the dates; she picked a well known doctor. Within a few days we both had had a sinus operation. My sister's procedure turned out fine, but, oh my goodness, I suffered a nose collapse. This was not at all my sister's fault, as she, at times, has blamed herself. "It was the luck of the Irish draw.", I would quip to myself.

As denial turned to realization that my face had changed, I jettison my emotions toward wacky humor. I announced that I was moving to Alaska, to live in an igloo and be among my brethren. What really happened slowly and insidiously was my onset not wanting to be with people. New people that I met after 1998, wasn't too bad; they thought I was a distant cousin to Owen Wilson. Those that I have known all my life presented a conflict to me. I didn't want for them to see " the change." My weight fluctuations have been part of my life for all my life, and that was part of me. This nose was not mine. I truly disliked my nose.

I wanted to shoot myself in the "nose" for those thoughts. Many of our soldiers returning from war were maimed. Many had multiple disfigurements, and here I was obsessing over my dent in nose. I watched soldiers get on with their lives in spite of carrying the knowledge it was war and not birth that had altered them. I wanted to be magnanimous about myself, but it wasn't happening. I felt small. I didn't look small, but I felt small inside.

My 1965 high school reunion was coming up soon. My sister wanted to attend the reunion, and it was so, so important for her that we go together. I thought how she probably is not aware that twelve years, of being different than I was, had affected me internally and socially. Unlike her I was not in the public; it had become easy to stay out of the public eye.

This was difficult, for I hate to disappoint a sister who has done a great deal for me these many years. I kept thinking about our soldiers' determination. With reluctance I said to Diana, "Let's go for it." I attended, but my heart was heavy.

The reunion turned out fine. Diana crowed, "No one mentioned your nose, Charlene?"
"No one did."
"No one asked if you've had an encounter with the boxer, Tyson?"
"No, and my ears are fine, thank you."
"No comments?"
"No comments."
"And why do you suppose?"
"I suppose they didn't recognize me!" (;-)

The reunion was fun. Many people I didn't recognize either.

In a way, I came out of the closet of insecurity nose first; it's all I can do not to turn around and follow my nose back inside. It's tough. And I'm still not sure why.

The Day I Met Him October 1973

2010-11-12T20:30:00.014-06:00

As an airline employee, flying on standby is a maybe yes, maybe no constant factor. It becomes part of our life style.
***
When he saw me coming on board Western Airlines, he had no idea who I was. Dressed in jeans torn and patched way before that was the "in" style, he glanced up at me walking down the airplane aisle. With long brown hair, an old T-shirt completed my wardrobe. If he thought I was a hippie, I wasn't. Heck, I graduated from Ole Miss in '69. Archie Manning was our man, and beer bust parties were the school politics of the day. He may have thought I was a hippie. All I needed was a flower necklace around my head, but I can assure you underneath those grubs was a Tennessee Southern Belle.
***
There was one available seat on Western Airlines that day. It was a short flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco, but this seat saved my waiting a couple of extra hours for the next flight. Not that would have made a great difference to me, being a TWA flight attendant I took the perks with the disadvantages.
***
I smiled at him when I asked if the seat beside him was free. There he was dressed in a suit, black framed glasses...very formal looking. He wasn't my type. The flight was less than an hour. I could engage in pleasant conversation for that length of time. In the seventy's, even on short flights, champagne was being served, and the minutes passed by quickly. As the airplane began to descend, out of the blue he said to me, "I know where there is the best Italian restaurant in San Francisco." The one and only line that rang my bell, he had nailed it.
***
He gave me his business card, telling me he would call later. I gave him my telephone number. As I did, I said I hope I have enough gas to get home. I wasn't sure I did. He'll remember that statement later. He soon lost me at the airport, as I had vanished into the bowels of the airport where employees go.
***
In an apartment on California St., in San Francisco, I was telling my roommate this guy might call to take me out to dinner sometime. The phone begins to ring; I knew it was he..I just knew it and so soon too. My roommate, Christa, lifts up an eyebrow. "Are you going to answer?"
"Not today!"
***
That was the day Swiss man met Southern Belle camouflaged as a hippie. Five years later, my email address would read "MrsSwiss". Who would have "thunk" it? :-)

The Tongue in Cheek Gothic Style Escapades of a TWA Flight Attendant

2010-11-11T18:44:00.026-06:00

Part A: "The Lighthouse"

**************

If there is one thing I like to do is to drive. I'm not talking about boring interstate driving. I'm talking about driving when the knuckles on the steering wheel are white. The time period is early '70's.

***********

On a cliff at the North side of an island in the state of Hawaii, stands a lighthouse. My two fellow flight attendant friends and I contemplated a fragile trail that lay before us. Years of erosion had not only gutted the surface of the dirt road, it was listing toward the menacing waves of the Pacific Ocean. The treacherous track braced itself on the rocky hillside, hoping that by hanging on to its edge, it could prevent its very existence from slipping into the reaching arms of the violent pool below. Yeah, it seemed like a fun road. I, the elected driver, pressed forward, not quite convinced the road's width would sustain us, but what the heck...

*************

Around a bend and then another, we felt the beckoning call of the lighthouse. We teetered, tottered struggling to answer. Another corner executed, we burst upon a automobile hanging precariously on the side of the cliff. The left front wheel of the vehicle was spinning midair readying itself to dive into creamy white foam while hungry peaks stretched to grant its wish. A six pack of beer in the car confirmed that a bumbling buffoon and his comrads were aching to swim.

**************

Turning our auto around was an advent! We inched ourselves carefully toward the opposite direction. Although the hillock staunchly stood its ground, the mischievous mist teased us with spray. White knuckles withstanding , we prevailed, and the three of us cheered.

**************

Later in time, I would try to convince my husband, who was on a business trip in Honolulu, to invade the elusive lighthouse on the north side of the island. Albeit, I received a lecture on his being responsible for the rental car, bla, bla, bla. One of us has to be practical; so let it be Ruedi. If there is a thrill driving on the interstate, let him do that too.

***************

Over these years, my thoughts have intermittently returned to a lighthouse and a beat up road in Oahu. I wonder...are they still there? The old lighthouse...is whispering!

;-)

Heading down to Florida

2010-08-01T13:28:00.019-05:00

I have hinted before that when my sister and I travel together, "things" happen. What are rare bumps in the road for others are common hits for us. We're use to it.

The big plan: I left with my middle daughter on the morning of the 29th of July, from Mountain Home, AR, to Memphis, TN. At Diana's home we changed cars and transferred luggage to her Town and Country. (bigger vehicle) Off to Clarksville, TN, to Annaliese's and Bret's home, we drove to deposit Robin. Robin will be staying with one sister, then the other, Haley, in Mount Juliet, TN, with the "feels like" a dozen or so children. Andrew's and Haley's four are all adorable and all energetic. (I hope Robin takes her vitamins.)

We left Clarksville, TN, at 19:20 to begin our non stop drive to Long Key Boat, FL. Yes, it was still on the 29th of July. We talked about how grateful the cop did not give my sister a ticket for speeding on the way to Clarksville, TN, and for the most part we expected a routine drive.

A few hours later, leaving the gas station, I returned onto the ramp of Interstate 75 heading NORTH. Fortunately, the GPS lady hooted and hollered that now we had to travel 12 miles before turning around. Okay.

We stopped at another gas station at the turn around because we had not gotten gas at the other gas station where I had miss directed myself. Car fueled, we fired up Diana's car, and it only sputtered. It was getting morning, so the AAA tow truck found us easy and booted the battery.

We were on the road again. So excited were we that two senior citizens could pull an all nighter. The all nighter was going to continue, as our hotel room was not ready.

All right, we'll do lunch; Diana realized one of her sandals had been left at one of the gas stations. No "problemo"...; she had her bed room slippers. After lunch at the Colombian Restaurant at Sarasota Beach, FL, our car barely started, and we began thinking oh, oh.

At the hotel, it died again. With the help of a good Samaritan with battery cables, we headed to Wally World, (Walmart). We laughed that we drove many hours just to shop at Walmart because that is what we do...just one of those little bumps in our road. And, yes, we have a new battery. Thank you, Walmart!

At 18:00, we scrambled toward the ocean. Talking to each other while briskly walking to the bridge that connects to the beach, we nearly became part of a bride's entourage for her wedding. As the wedding planner signalled the bride to cross the bridge, we backed away carefully and quickly. That was almost an oops!

The good news...

No sharks at the beach... :-)

Tired and grateful that we could sit down at the hotel's restaurant, the server informed us that the hotel's restaurant had closed for the evening. Oh, another litte mole hill on our fun road of life...

Diana's car, (thanks to Wally World), was drivable. We found a place to eat supper at 21:45, returning to the hotel at 23:00.

***

We sisters were grooving!!!
***

We also slept until 11:15 AM the next day.
:-D

If You Love Cats!

2010-05-27T14:15:00.007-05:00

My sister, Diana, has a cat that she just found out has cancer of the ear drum. It would be a $1500.00 bill on his surgery, and she' s facing a choice.

This is a picture of her cat, Cassius Clay.
*

*
That reminds me of another poem I wrote way back when. I thought about my cat, and as I sometimes do, I write down my feelings, so here it goes.

This poem, written April 20, 1981, is titled

***

"MIDNIGHT"

***

In memory of my old, grey cat,

For when she was angry

Oh how she would spat!

Quite independent she was her own boss.

Majestically her head she would toss.

***

Though she loved me

She would strive not to show

That behind her lioness roar

Was a kitten kind of love.

No begging, no pleading, she demanded respect.

Certainly not, was she a plain, old cat.

***

Oh how I loved her!

I miss her so.

I miss her growl, her courage, her purr.

Midnight, please won't you come back?

Show me that nine lives

Is a matter of fact?

***

Show me with those daring eyes

That you dare to live,

Oh not to die!

But alas, my old cat, you really have gone,

Gone from the homestead,

Gone from my arms.

***

Watch out Cat Heaven for my old cat.

She'll be a queen; I'm sure of that.

Good-bye Midnight; I loved you

Did you not know?

I wish I could have shown you

Those times before.

***

Later years, I shall often smile

When I think of you, full of life,

Those old angry eyes.

You were my incredibly fearless cat.

Oh yes, and, Midnight,

I can still hear that spat!

The end.

The Blessings of a Sister

2010-05-19T11:22:00.007-05:00

A quote from former First Lady, Laura Bush in her book, Spoken from the Heart...

"I remember as a small girl looking up at the darkening night sky, waiting for the stars to pop out one by one. I would watch for that first star, for its faint glow., because then I could make my wish. And my wish on a star any time that I wished on a star was that I would have brothers and sisters."

In the 1970's I wrote this little poem about my sister. Our father had passed away in 1949 at the age of 25, so it was only our working mother, my baby sister and me.

"SISTER"

To the gentleness soul I'll ever know,

To the one I love so much.

Of all the souls in the Universe

I know whose soul would care the most.

That of my sweet sister, that of my closest kin.

And no matter what I've ever done;

No matter what I'll do,

I know whose love will stay with me,

When all the trials are through.

This gentle soul will hold my hand

Until Heaven opens its door,

And only then will I leave her side

Because I already know.

We'll see each other at our Heavenly home

By our Father's welcoming arms!

****

The end.

Sisters stand up for each other.

2009-10-06T12:29:00.022-05:00

A note I wrote to my sister when she was having a tough day:

Your instructions for today...

Remember that time at church when your puppet, Bernard, and Annaliese, as a little girl, sang, "You're special. God made you that way?" Hum or sing that tune ALL day for yourself.

You are on a DIFFERENT plane than others.

You are walking on a clear plane of glass, and down below you see hypocrites, morons and the common low class mentality of people. You are genuinely first class: loving, caring, watching out for others.

Hug yourself several times and say this, "God, family and myself LOVE me. AND many, many people love you for who you are. Focus on them.

You do not need approval from short sighted mediocre, self serving nefarious fellow humans. You have God's blessings. That's all. "You're one of a kind", sister of mine.

You are worth your weight in solid gold.

I have more gold than you. :-)

Always loving my sister,

Charlene

This is an imperfect world.

In Heaven, you'll be treated like a saint (because you will be a saint.) So duke it out while you are down here. God has your soul safe and sound; I have your back.

SISTERS!

Old Glory, how long will we have her?

2009-08-24T13:58:00.016-05:00

I was thinking how this courageous flag has fought for my rights. Throughout its history, our flag has been engaged in battles to keep us free from the very censorship that is threatening us now. Understanding that this nation holds out a welcoming hand to all does not translate eradicating "In God We Trust" from our coins or in our pledge, "One Nation under God", our allegiance to this flag. Why are we so fearful to step on some adversarial toes who wish to down trod the virtues of our American flag?

One of our rights is the freedom of speech. Albeit verbal complaints are allowed,as it should be allowed, but this "allowance" should not dictate changing our basic American principles for these few dissidents! The foundation to our Christian nation has begun crumbling. Are we not aware?

Consider the Americans who currently live in China, do they demand Buddha statues to be removed from their presence? In Saudi Arabia, a cousin of mine who lived there for a few years, was restricted driving a car, and she was expected to follow Saudi Arabia's dress code. She did not raise her hand to challenge its culture. But look at us! What has happened? Is our nation becoming a wuss?

We are not a barbaric nation because America's governing guidelines and our principles were based on the ten commandments. The Ten Commandments should have its rightful place in our courts anywhere. What our founding fathers have created, let us not alter, for it is that creation that has made this nation grand. If we stand firm, no "Hitler to be" can harm us. No confusion of what we are can erupt or corrupt us. To all and to one, do not mess with this nation's foundation. We are a Christian nation first and foremost. For the sake of our children's children, for all creeds and all nationalities to prosper in this beloved country, our respect, our loyalty, to old Glory's heritage will keep her flying forever until the end of time.

The Sequel from sinking the fishingboat to the next project: DAD DOO II, our ski boat :-)

2009-05-25T14:56:00.024-05:00

I love our family. We can never, ever make life simple. There is nothing out there that I can recall that we were able to perform a simple transaction or function in our daily activities.

But we try.

I'll give you an example: Memorial Day Week-end, May 2009

Goal: To take the boat to the water and go boating.....a simple transaction...

It started well. Thursday, Ruedi and I removed our crusty, algae ridden boat out of storage to the car wash. After three hours of labor,we restored our 1996 Chris Craft back to her old glory days. In other words, we got the algae off. With permission from Ed and Joan, we parked Dad Doo II on the vacant lot next to our neighbors' home. We removed the plug for all the water to drain from the car wash.

Friday, Ruedi drove on a one day bus trip, and Diana, my sister, drove up from Memphis. Robin was at a state Special Olympics event in Searcy, AR. So far, simple transactions... then...

Saturday was delivery day, the day we headed out to the lake with our sparkling boat. The sun was out; the day was good. We drove down to George's Cove to launch the boat, a very short distance from our home. Ruedi backed the boat trailer into the water. I, the first mate, was already on board, and our second mate, Diana, climbed into the boat from the water while Ruedi parked Daisy Mae and the trailer.

A somewhat submerged dock was at George's Cove. Ruedi, not wanting to go into the cold water with tennis shoes and keys, managed to get on this dock for his pick up.

He forgot. First mate has never driven a boat to park at a dock. Second mate knows less than the first mate. I was ready to give it a try. I was anxious anyway. Dad Doo was acting sluggish and was sitting down into the water. We needed our captain.

I putt putt over to the semi submerged dock and right pass the Captain. He told me to go around and try again, and being a good first mate, I said, "YES, SIR", and gunned the boat for a second try. I killed the boat. It's beginning to sit even lower in the water, and the engine wouldn't turned over. I yelled to the Captain to swim over, but I was a fairly good distance away, and he said no. The second mate was waving to another boat in the lake for 911 assistance. Meanwhile I'm pushing buttons and inadvertently turned on the bilger pump that drains the water out of the engine compartment. Just as the good Samaritan rescue boat came closer, I was able to restart Dad Doo, and we waved to them good-bye. (This was after they got off their tubes where they were sunbathing, climbed into their boat, hauled up their tubes, secured their tubes, to start their boat, to come rescue us.)

Back to the Captain at a putt putt best speed, close enough that Ruedi could perform a Navy Seal maneuver to land inside the boat. (Don't let a real Navy Seal read this.) We had our captain!

Ah, the captain is remembering Dad Doo unexpectedly acting strangely the previous summer when he, Andrew, his son-in-law, and Bret, his future son-in-law, had gone evening fishing. It had taken them hours to return to the dock. Yep, Ruedi's memory flooded back.

Putting close to shore so that the captain with the tennis shoes could vacate his ship, the first mate and second mate, both in water, helped reload Dad Doo onto the trailer. The day and the evening passed on Memorial Day Saturday without our boating. Ah, But, Hey, there was SUNDAY!

Ruedi repaired the problem. An unattached hose to the engine was reattached. Tomorrow, Sunday, would be smooth sailing. We're ready to go! Because there was so much water in the engine compartment, Ruedi removed the plug placing it on the trailer. We waited for Sunday.

Sunday arrived and with its arrival came the rain. It rained and rained and rained. 4:00 PM the rain stopped and out the door we ran. Dad Doo, Dad Doo we're coming! Robin had returned from the state special Olympics, and she was with us to celebrate the first boating of the season.

Looking at the weather it showed signs the rain would be returning; we determined to make use of its temporary halt. Robin, Diana and I in the boat and Ruedi pushing Daisy Mae down to George's Cove fast and furiously. What could go wrong with this simple transaction?

THE PLUG sitting on the trailer bouncing where ever AND no where to be found....The day and evening passed on Memorial Day Sunday without our boating. Monday arrived. Ruedi left for his 6 day trip; Diana returned to Memphis. Robin is at her apartment, and I'm sitting at the computer pondering about that plug. It's a simple piece of equipment that keeps the boat afloat, but, you see, it belongs to a boat owned by the Imholzes. Enough said.

Next year on Memorial Day Week-end....BOATING for sure........or is that a maybe? :-)

It's God's rain; today is the day to remember the bravery and the sacrifice of our soldiers and the first mate's courage on Dad Doo II.

A Rainy Day @ Mountain Home, AR

2009-03-24T19:12:00.012-05:00

A damaged branch hanging from a tree due to an earlier ice storm came crashing down on our steep, narrow driveway. Our neighbors on top of the hill, who know and see all, gave us a call. Since Ruedi leaves tomorrow morning in the wee morning hours, we were grateful our neighbors gave us a holler. We enjoyed seeing a beautiful rainbow later. It reminds us of God's promise.

The beautiful engagement ring and whom it belongs to

2009-03-04T12:20:00.008-06:00

Whose ring???

Elegant

Exquisite

That ring belongs to my baby daughter, Annaliese Mae Imholz.
Bret proposed to Annaliese on December 20, 2008. We knew Bret was going to ask Annaliese since July, 2008. I had to keep my mouth zipped. Do you know that was a challenge?
Obviously, Bret has superb taste.

And, obviously, so does Annaliese. We LOVE Bret; he has horses. :-)
They plan to marry September 19, 2009, in Florida. That doesn't give me much time to diet. BUT the focus won't be on me. And when I get emotional, anxious, happy, I'll be by the wedding cake.... just in case.

The ICE STORM January 27, 2009

2009-02-06T15:45:00.008-06:00

So many times before I have heard bad weather is coming in from Oklahoma. It would turn out to be spit. I believed we were going to get some winter weather, so I was thinking spit and a half. I dutifully went to the grocery store, as did the 11,000 citizens of Mountain Home, AR.

Robin is staying with us temporarily until she moves into her apartment February 12. Ruedi is on a bus assignment down in Florida for a few weeks.

As the weather approached, I felt confident that Robin and I would stay comfortable in our Swiss Hideaway. Our driveway is steep and narrow and tends to become quite icy, so we parked Daisy Mae, our suburban, up on top of the driveway.

The ice storm arrived. Limbs broke off in abundance from the weight of the ice. We could hear the snapping of the trees. I had just finished cooking lunch when our power went out. Here's my mistake. The neighbors knew to fill their tubs with water in case there was an outage. I didn't. Everyone here has well water with electrical pumps. Although I had bought drinking water for Robin and me, it did not occur to me that there would be no water in the toilets, no water in the faucets, no water in the showers, no water.

That night Robin and I stayed nice and warm under many blankets in our respective beds. When we awoke in the morning. we could see our breaths, as we talked. The night before Robin and I enjoyed playing cards by candle light. Admittedly, it was not as much fun the next day. No way to cook the food I had bought, our food source was peanut butter and bread. My family all knows I am for adventure. I said to Robin let's go to our refugee camp: my sister's comfortable, warm, home with great tasting Memphis water and restaurants.

Walking up the driveway wasn't too bad; the snow was on top on the ice allowed us to walk up. Daisy Mae was a different matter. She had about one half inch of solid ice on her. It took neighbors with knives to cut through the ice on the door handles and another 45 minutes to melt enough ice to see out. The road was a toboggan run, sheer ice. I put Daisy Mae into gear. Earlier, neighbors of ours, attempting to escape, had driven up a rather steep hill only to slide back down into a ditch.

I told Robin to hang on; with accelerator pressed down, we gave it the old heave, hove.

Daisy Mae isn't Knight Rider, but she charged up the hill gallantly; we were up and over.

It took nine days for the power to be restored. Meanwhile, at the Refugee Camp, Diana and Robin and I struggled which movies we were going to see, which restaurant we were to pick for that evening. And the toilets worked, and the showers worked. What a great adventure...!

THE CHOICE!

2008-12-28T17:15:00.036-06:00

In December 2008, my pastor, Sam Bailey, gave his congregation a quote. As if this quote were a riveter that had repositioned my very bones, I saw plainly the answer to a aged old common question, "Why did God allow this to happen? "Right in my face was the answer: It was our choice.

What I wrote is reposted on February 16, 2010. The title is "Homeward Bound for Heaven...It's your Choice."

Below is the quote that caused my bones to be refastened. Pastor Bailey had told us who the author was, but I don't have the author's name.

"When man opted to disobey God,

he opted to live in an environment

that would yield death dealing circumstances."

********

When you have read what I wrote, your finger won't be pointing at God. Your hands will be clasped in prayer. How much does God love you? Read and find out. :-) Then contact a preacher, someone like Pastor Sam, (Twin Lakes Baptist Church at Mountain Home, Arkansas). He gets a real joy trying to fill up Heaven.

Opa and the Little Muchins

2008-11-01T20:46:00.017-05:00

Opa met Beau; it was a match made in heaven. We think all God's angels are at the Littleton house!

Gibson, the oldest angel, is multi-tasked. Can you tell?

Although we had to leave the morning October 31st for Arkansas, we got to see the grandchildren's costumes. :-)

Okay, when they're not angels, they're Power Ranger, Ariel, a Pirate and a tiny little pumpkin.

Beau Ryder Littleton and "Grandpa"

2008-10-17T09:39:00.017-05:00

The day was sweet and sad. It was a day of new life and the passing of another. Everyone in the Littleton family and the Imholz family were thrilled about the impending arrival of Beau. As the due date came and went, all waited patiently.

Andrew's grandfather who all called "Grandpa" was a Godly man, a devoted husband and Dad. He and "Grandma" watched their great grandchildren every Tuesday. The last time I saw Grandpa was at Gibson's soccer game. I was so sick I waved at him from afar while I cough through out the whole game. I have always held him in such high esteem.

The morning of the 3rd of October, he was rushed to the Mercy Hospital by ambulance where he passed away. As the Littleton family embraced each other that morning, Haley felt pains which she attributed to the grieving that morning. Just the same, after lunch, she and Andrew returned to Mercy Hospital. Not only was Haley checked out, she was checked in being informed the baby cometh. I think she barely had time to ask about her epidermal. The answer was NO TIME!

A picture of Grandpa with Elam, now the "3rd child" of Haley and Andrew.

Bill Joe Littleton must be smiling so big in Heaven! Grandpa has passed on a wonderful legacy.

Grandpa's great grandchildren!

The Littleton Family and newest member, Beau Ryder Littleton

2008-10-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

Haley and Andrew welcomed a brand new member to their family. His name is Beau. He was born October 3, weighing in at 8 lbs. 10 oz with a height of 20". He was born at 1:30 PM.

We do not know why Haley and Andrew plan to replenish the earth with little people, but their little people are quite cute.

Cute, cute, cute! They can thank Oma for that. :-)

Okay, a few more people might have had a hand in the cuteness factor.

Here We Go.....Again

2008-03-08T10:51:00.015-06:00

If you take a quick look at my blog that is titled Happy Halloween 2007, you'll read about how Haley's maternity clothes were, sadly, gathering dust at our home.

(Time and time and time again those clothes had been put to use.)

Then Robin and I came up with a brilliant suggestion of letting our "family friend" (whom we take out of the box every Halloween) wear Haley's maternity clothes. Our "family friend" looked radiant. (Check out the "family friend's" picture from the Halloween article.)

Well, Haley needs her clothes back. :-) And, yes, Haley looks "blissful", doesn't she? Andrew seems rather proud.

It's that time again........Congratulations!

Leave it to my husband, Ruedi

2008-02-09T19:43:00.001-06:00

We held our breath looking outside our bedroom window. The oversized mucho fat perpetrator was daring once again to attack our sanctuary. Being unsuccessful to stop his uninvited presence in the past, we had become desparate avengers to decimate this desperado.

Researching defense moves to counter-act our adversary's offense, we drove to our main research center in Mountain Home, AR., WALMART.

Choosing our ultimate weapon, we put out the green bucks necessary to protect our homestead.

And we waited.

Sure enough he approched, his corpulent body confident he would score again. And, then, it happened. The newly chosen bird seed feeder closed down its gates because of this squirrel's chubby wubby weight triggered the defense system. The menancing squirrel was powerless. The bird seed was saved!

I jumped in victory; we hugged each other for this compelling success of competitive playing against a conniving opponent who had beaten us so many times before. We were the Giants, and we had won victory! Dejected, rejected, the squirrel, glancing back with a small tear in his eye, vanished.

The squirrel had been conquered, and I laughed with glee. My husband was more quiet. I assumed he was exhausted from all our previous attempts to get rid of this varmint.

Minutes later, as I walked into the family room to watch TV, I discovered my husband outside on the balcony. He was carefully pouring birdseed on the balcony's railing.

Nov. 2007, HIKING IN SWITZERLAND, ok, PRETENDING TO HIKE IN SWITZERLAND

2008-01-13T15:27:00.000-06:00

See the little town way down in the valley between the mountains?
It was quite a hike! My husband says, "In your dreams..."
Okay, it was in my dreams, but I was exhausted when I woke up.

Here are a few pictures of us cruising Ruedi's "backyard". :-)

There are people who live beyond the "end of this road". As in a couple of these pictures, they park their cars and proceed hiking to their homes.

And I thought walking up my driveway was hiking. HA!

We walked into the town of Altdorf. I love the town of Altdorf. Ruedi enjoys being on his native turf. This was a fun trip.

Brunnital,a nearby town!

Imholz Christmas in 2007

2007-12-23T01:14:00.000-06:00

Haven Littleton, 4 years old,

God's Christmas angel

Welcoming the New Year

Ho,Ho Ho Everyone!

Maybe an Elizabeth Taylor perfume or an outfit from Victoria Secrets....? I saw its show the other day. I thought the wings some of the models were wearing were a cute touch.

SO, as I was fine tuning my wish list, the computer died, and my dish washer sprung a major leak. My crumpled-up wish list has found its way to the waste basket.

FOR MY CHRISTMAS NEWS

Haley, my oldest daughter, mother of three, five years and younger, is currently not pregnant this season. She teaches dance, but it's her three children who keep her in shape. Andrew cheerfully continues to work at Dell while singing a Christmas tune about college tuitions and a mortgage pear tree.

Remember my telling you Ruedi was a bus driver last Christmas season? Ditto this one as well...
Robin, who participated so beautifully in a church Christmas program, was as equally radiant this year.
My college graduate baby daughter gave her honey, Bret, a chocolate lab, named Maddux. Bret insisted that Annaliese and he sould have joint custody. After 25 accidents in Annaliese's apartment, Maddux has been declared potty trained. They're SO proud!

NEW NEWS...!

My sister, Diana, landed a decent role in "The Singing Christmas Tree" at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. Playing a bossy Italian character, Angelina, she was a FUNNY lady! There she was in her element: acting, running around the stage chasing Luegi, her "stage" brother, with a wooden spoon, e-v-e-r-y-b-i-t the professional.

Last month Ruedi and I flew to Switzerland, to visit his family in Atldorf. Ruedi turned 70 in November, and it was a fabulous family reunion. Oh his family love to cook! As we visited family members, they did not hold back. They brought out the best of the best. Of course, they run up and down mountains daily and inbetween walked to and from town. I would utter softly "yummy" and look for the closest chair.

That's what New Year Resolutions are for. And...as soon as I move next to a mountain...

Christmas 2007 is a reminder to count my blessings, as we face 2008. My granddaughter, Haven, put all the pieces of life in perspective for me. She looked up to me and exclaimed,
" Oma, you have a big tummy." An emormous smile took hold of her face, and as her eyes sparkled, "Are you carrying a baby in your tummy?'

"No, Haven, Oma is simply full of joy, love for her family and friends, and grateful for life." (Note: albeit the Swiss cuisine may have been a small contributing factor...)

It's my Christmas wish that your tummies be full of glad tidings and most of all, God's richest blessings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,
Ruedi & Charlene

FACING THE NEW YEAR BRAVELY

Elam James Littleton,

16 months

Five years old,

Gibson Littleton,

I mean,

Buzz Light Year,

Opa leading his grandchidren into the new year with great anticipation for a prosperous 2008.

& Cousin Bernard, 4 yrs. old

Ruedi's 70th Birthday! WHOA!

2007-11-12T11:47:00.000-06:00

On Ruedi's last bus tour, the Church of the Nazarene gave Ruedi a surprised birthday party. He received such cute gag gifts, I had to share. These people have a sense of humor!

Ruedi and I are leaving for Switzerland on the 15th this month. Ruedi will celebrate his 70th birthday with his brother and family on the 17th. I'm going because my children and sister pitched in and bought my ticket. Because it was a surprise, I have had no time to exercise, lose weight (as if I would) or ask for an emergency extreme make-over. I have to go AS IS.

Thank the good Lord for my magnanimous personality! ;-)

Blind Leading the Blind

2007-11-08T15:16:00.000-06:00

It was all set up; nothing could possibly go wrong..............unless you are who you are.

Every month, the neighborhood ladies have a luncheon together the second Thursday. I was feeling pretty good, had gotten my hair cut. I had used some make-up my daughter, Annaliese, had given me. I was ready to go!

All I had to do was pick up Frances and be on my way. Everything was timed perfectly.

A young couple had completed building their home in the Sycamore Highlands where I live. Living with them was Holt's mom, Frances. Frances is so nice! Having to deal with Alzheimer's, she is so amazing, and we had chemistry!

Last month I went with a neighbor, Shelly, to pick up Frances because Frances doesn't drive. Today, I was picking up Frances by myself.

"No problem!"

Frances' daughter-in-law called me this morning to confirm my picking her mother-in-law up at exactly 12:00 noon. (Maggie is one of these precise people.) I said that's correct. Maggie informs me that she will be eating with the ladies today, and she'll meet Frances and me there; then Frances can return home with her.

"No problem."

At precisely Noon, I was at Frances' home; we were on our way to the ladies' luncheon at the country club by the golf course. "No problem"

We drove up to the Elk's Restaurant by the golf course. Frances said, "This looks familiar."

We walked in with a couple who had to use a key to get in. I chuckled to Frances, "One of our ladies must have a membership here." I walked up to the hostess and replied we were with the neighborhood ladies' luncheon. She picked up two menus and headed to a group of ladies in the back. The hostess said as we neared the party, "You'll be joining The Ladies' Investment Group." I said, "No, we're joining the neighborhood eat and yak, yak group."

As Frances and I left the Elk's Club, I looked at my watch. It was 12:30, and we were lost, and we definitely were no longer precise. I said to Frances that this is the only golf course I know. She said, "It did look familiar."

I said we should try the other side of the golf course. As we flew by a building, Frances said, "That looks familiar." That's First Baptist Church.

Later, she said, "This road looks familiar." I know; we've been on it twice.

I picked up my cell phone to call my husband to call Ed, a neighbor, in hopes we could be given directions. My cell phone was dead.

I stopped at two places where both people said, "We have a Country Club in Mountain Home?"

Finally told where another golf course was, we flew to 62W for Big Creek. "This looks familiar." says Frances. It doesn't look familiar to me.

We found them! Obviously, Maggie was overjoyed (relieved, a better word?) and later thanked me for having taken her mother-in-law on an impromptu tour of this fair city. And I have learned an important lesson. When the blind is leading the blind,----------- have a cell phone ready!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2007

2007-10-29T15:09:00.001-05:00

My daughter, Robin, was at my home helping me take a "family friend" out of the box for Halloween. Close by were Haley's maternity clothes lying in a pile....collecting dust.

"It is SO different that my sister is not having a baby this year," Robin muses.

"Tell me about it. For years, my Christmas letters sang out Haley's pregnant or has had the baby!"

"What are you going to do about all these maternity clothes? Give them to Annaliese?" asked Robin.

"No, they'll be relics by then. She is buying a pink jacket for her puppy, though..... Naw, we can't count on it, Robin."

A light bulb clicked inside our heads.

Friends and Family! Happy Halloween from Robin and me, Ruedi and our newly pregnant Family Friend!

She looks blissful, doesn't she? :-)

My daughter is 28 years old. What happened?

2007-10-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

Frances Haley Imholz Littleton will be 28 years old on October 24, 2007. When I was 28, I was immature, enjoying my life as a flight attendant; I was single and living with 5 other roommates in Hermosa Beach, CA. Whoa!

My daughter married a great, great guy, Andrew, when she was 20. Boomer, her pug, was her first "child" followed shortly by three children. The oldest is now five. I think she said whoa too. :-)

We have had different life styles, but through all of my mistakes I have made in my life, I have done a few things right. Ruedi and I have these unbelievable, fantastic children.

Well, of course my grandchildren are the source of my smiles, and I want them to grow up every bit as grand as my three children have. This is where I say God is wonderful. GOD IS WONDERFUL. God has blessed little ole me. ( I wish I could use the word, "little" literally.)

My youngest, a cum laude graduate, this past May, for the nonce, is dating her beau, Bret. (He's the one with the horses.) Annaliese will marry in a few years probably when I'm 82, but that's okay. I just hope it's Bret b-e-c-a-u-s-e I have adopted him in my heart......,and he has horses.

My middle child Robin is doing fabulously well at the assisted living apartments for those who need a little help. She works hard at the warehouse. The staff at the apartments make sure the clients have activities each week. They're involved in bowling and participating in the Special Olympics. Robin has a couple of gold medals in her pocket to boot. Of the three children, she dares to live in the same town, as Ma & Pa.

To see the others I must travel to Clarksville, TN, or Oklahoma City, OK. It's worth the trip. Annaliese's newest addition to her family is a chocolate lab named Maddux. So my family is growing and getting older. I'm mighty proud of them. I hope they know.

Annaliese on the left...

Haley in the center...

Robin on the right...

"Sing Her That Song You Sang To Me"

2006-06-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

(A poem I wrote years and years ago as a tribute to my sister's and my mother,

Dorothy L. Chiles, 1920-2001.)
When I was in Heaven before I was born,
God saw I was lonely & oft looked fore-longed.

He looked down on earth to see what He had
And sure enough there was Mom & Dad.

"Okay, my little angel, it’s time to go.
You’re due there in spring right after the snow."

The earth was full of a very strange noise,
But this little kid darn kept her poise.

I looked into the eyes of Mom & Dad,
And I saw in his eyes something sad.

As if he would shortly say good-bye,
And take my place in the Heavens up high.

But in my mom’s eyes I saw strength & courage.
I knew she would nev’r let me be discouraged.

And just before my father went
From Heaven above a package was sent.

Bald headed, chubby, big eyes of blue,
She looked up & smiled; she was too good to be true!

And then Father left us so terribly alone,
But God sent me a message by a whispering song.

He sang low & deep enough for me to hear.
He told me that Di & I shall have nothing to fear.

“I left a mother strong & capable.
She will bring you up right as best as she’s able."

Now that Diana & I are out on our own.
I remember long ago the words of that song.

"She’ll give & give until her heart will break.
You’ll never be lonely, for She I won’t take.”

Through all the years that have passed by,
Mother has steadfastly stayed by our side.

The greatest Christmas gift that God could give
Was given to us that Mother would live.

And now I pray for a gift from above
That there will be grandchildren soon for her to love.

And, God, here is a little song to You.
All You said about Mother was all quite true.

She has shown us love more than any other.
We can proudly say she is our dear Mother.

Now keep her in health & happy too.
Never let her be lonely I pray to You.

And when the gates of Heaven welcome her above,
Make sure she knows, how much, she was loved.

(The good Lord sent three grandchildren: a brunette, 1979, a blonde,1984, and a strawberry blonde, 1985!)

"Hum, What is Happening to the Imholzes?"

2006-03-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

“T-H-E... A-P-P-R-O-A-C-H!”

Traveling from Oklahoma City, OK, to Mountain Home, Arkansas, isn’t complicated. There is my bright college graduate, married daughter up in Missouri asking herself, “And Arkansas is….?” Okay, the turnpike conspiringly took a different direction using a long bridge to jump over Arkansas, maybe, but there was Haley with her daughter, Haven, in Branson, MO. The next day tornadoes hit Missouri where Haley had traveled….dancing tornadoes.

The first part of March, Haven's, (Andrew and Haley’s youngest child), eye glued shut due to a cold. It was nasty. A couple of days later, Haley’s eye glued shut; plus Haley was quite sick with a cold. Gibson managed to qualify for sick bay as well.
His daddy wasn’t affected. Andrew drinks enough Dr. Pepper that I think all his organs will be preserved long after Andrew's soul leaves this earth.

Oma, that’s I, drives to Oklahoma City on the week-end of the 4th & 5th to stay with the children while Haley and Andrew did some odds and ends. Haley is pregnant with child #3. Since she’s planning to see me in a few days, Robin and I take Gibson, her oldest at 3 years old, with us to Arkansas on March 6th.

Ah, but of course, Oma begins to cough, to sneeze, to have a tickled throat and a chest that is wheezing. The cough worsens until I’m hacking with these bizarre sounds. Gibson says to me as I’m gasping and hacking and blowing my nose, “Oma, it's okay.” His sweet concern did make me feel better in theory, not in reality. I was sick!

Robin, my middle child, begins to have problems with her right eye becoming sensitive to the light, but it wasn’t similar to Haley's or Haven's eye. In a couple of days we called the doctor, as Robin's eye was weeping as well. She had contacted a viral infection in her eye, but we had caught it soon enough before complications.
Phew, what’s next?

When I returned to Arkansas on the 6th of March, I was excited to see my youngest baby, (20 & ½ years old). Annaliese was on Spring break! Healthy, vibrant she had Gibson swinging on swings in parks and sliding on the slides. They both whipped up furious energy especially together. And I kept up with them in a wheezy sort of way. Saturday, Annaliese left for college. In a few days in the wee morning hours, Annaliese would find herself at the ER sicker than a dog. A good dose of antibiotics saved her hindy.

Fortunately, Haley and Haven made it down to Arkansas (after their brief tour of Branson, MO), to see Annaliese before she left. In between my coughs and wheezing I told everyone how it meant to me to have my whole family under one roof. The first two nights Haven was suffering from fever and these strange little bumps…oh, oh, yea, good, old chicken pox. Neither Haven nor her mother slept very well those first couple of days. This was supposed to be Haley’s down time, a little vacation, before having her third child in August… (a little boy by the way).
I think God is preparing her.

In a few days, Haley, Gibson and Haven leave for their home in Oklahoma City; Ruedi leaves to drive a charter bus to Colorado for 6 days. Our cat, Little Bit is missing and had been for two days. The weather had turned cold and ugly, so on Sunday, the 19th, Robin sets out to look for her. Robin finds her down the ravine beside our steep driveway. We had the vet meet us on a Sunday at the animal hospital. It was obvious her injuries were fairly serious, but her core temperature had dropped perilously low.
Our Little Bit didn’t make it that night.

I sit here writing about these last few weeks. And a thought came to me. People were injured in the tornadoes that hit Missouri; my daughter missed the tornadoes by a day. What‘s a little detour?

Oma could have been coughing and wheezing all by her little self, but she had family surrounding her. Annaliese's return trip to college was accident free. Haven’s chicken pox was mild. When she felt better, she slid down the big slide and touched a cold, cold lake and hugged her big brother, Gibson. Gibson threw rocks; he’s happy. He also saw “Toy Story” eight times. When could he do that at home?

Robin’s eye responded well to treatment and quickly too. Our Little Bit knew before she died that we had found her, and I think she fought death until we did. Today is March 24, 2006; I’m coughing and wheezing. I can hear Gibson say, “It’s okay. It's okay, Oma!”
It is.

New Year's letter 2006/ Belated Christmas 2005

2006-01-16T15:38:00.000-06:00

I'm running so late with my Christmas greetings because I suffer from my fatal disease: PROCRASTINATION. It's progressive I am afraid. Already my New Year's resolutions are backed up to February 29th, 2006,...7... or 8 whenever Leap Year is. The good news is I have declared my New Year's salutations in 2006! Yea!

This is the time to think about family and friends and what they mean to us. Hold on! "I'm thinking!" Now about us...

Ruedi is enjoying driving for Mountain Home Charter Bus Company. Having watched the Andy William's show in Branson, five times now, Ruedi's rendition of "Moon River" has his family praying he'll spread his wings out and beyond... shortly. (Truthfully, he has spread his wings. Lately, he's been thinking about playing the violin!) :-)

Reflecting on my past Christmas letters, I have depicted my oldest as either pregnant or giving birth. This Christmas is a DITTO! Haley is expecting her third child! Her oldest, Gibson, is 3 years old. Haven turned 2 on the 23rd of December. The good news since Haley and Andrew have one boy and one girl, she'll have clothes for either/or on this third one. God's little gift is due in August; Andrew is picking up the pace at the Dell Company for his growing family.

My baby daughter, Annaliese, is on true love boyfriend # 3, Bret. He's truly a nice guy! His family owns horses! I've already named them in my mind: Flicker, Black Beauty, and Trigger. (However, if I see them, I'll be good and call them by their real names.) Annaliese is a Junior at Austin Peay State University. She plans to be on TV as a reporter or hostess. And she would be great! If she'd ever becomes famous, I have all those tapes when she was little and burping-ready to go!

Robin is staying with us. We're encouraging her to obtain her driver's license. Her last driver's test she flunked every point except directional signalling. The officer giving her the test returned with white knuckles, white hair and a ghostly, petrified look on his face. We've put a temporary halt to this goal. Robin sang last month in two Christmas programs and looked radiant.

For me, I am not going to say the word "diet" for having overused the word in the past. Besides no one believes any more. Thank goodness my New Year's Resolutions are far enough away that I can take a break regarding that "d" word.

Family and friends, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
May the New Year be your best yet, and may Christ be in your hearts!

The Day I lost my Sister at the Nudist Camp

2005-12-06T13:19:00.000-06:00

There goes my sister up and out of the car before I could shut off the engine. I can see the last traces of her as she bounded down this unknown trail with this perfect stranger. I’m sitting there with my mouth open flabbergasted at her impulsive nature. I shouldn’t be; she’s been that way all her life.

A few years into flying as a TWA flight attendant in the 70’s, I took a vacation in Hawaii along with my mother and my sister. The second day we flew in a small airplane to the big island to swim on the black sandy beach that the island was known for. Diana and I, with our one float, climbed down to the beach area; my mother stayed up on top of a rocky ledge. As some guy was hiking by, my mother asked him if it were safe for Diana and me to swim at this particular beach. He replied that the area was known for its rip tides. By that time we were far enough away to see our mother jumping and waving, but not to hear what she was saying. So, with a hoot and a holler, Diana and tore into the water with our float, and sure enough the waves quickly took us away. We were too stupid to realize what was happening. We just knew the waves were cool and big! Eventually, we got back to land. (No problem!)

To return to the original point where we embarked, was quite a hike, as we walked along the beach. At places, we had to climb over rocks, when the beach would disappear. The waves would crash upon us covering us with tons of black sand that the water carried. After the waves receded, we spat out a couple of mouthfuls of black course sand and continued with float in hand moving over the rocks. At last, we could see our mother up on top of the rocky edge. She had her hands clasped as if praying, and when she saw us, I think she jumped ten feet. Seeing her wave furiously, we waved gallantly back, and, then, 1, 2, 3, we bolted into the ocean again.

The next day our Mother rested at the hotel, and Diana and I explored another island. With a rented car, we set out on our next adventure. A young lady was hitch hiking, and Diana demanded that we should pick her up. When this young lady explained she lived in a “tree camp” of sorts, Diana jumped enthusiastically to the opportunity of exploring this idea of living in the trees, and asked our hitch hiker if we could see it. The young lady obligingly replied yes which leads me to my first paragraph.

As Diana scampered off, I took the time to put personal items in the trunk of the car, locked the car securely, and sauntered down this pathway. I had not gone more than fifty feet when I bumped into a gentleman without one stitch of clothing on him. Making eye to eye contact with this guy, I asked if he knew which direction my sister had taken. He pointed at some passageway, and off I went. Meanwhile my sister returned to the car and finding I wasn’t there, she headed back into the camp. I landed at the beach, saw some “free souls” working on their tans, and asked if they had seen this "dressed" person wandering around, and they pointed me to another foot path. How long were we at the Taylor Tree Camp? About an hour…It got to where I didn’t even have to ask, these laughing people just pointed. Finally finding each other, we managed a good laugh ourselves! To this day, I don’t remember the trees.

My Daughter Is OVER A Quarter of a Century Old!

2005-10-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

On the 24th of October, Haley celebrated her 26th birthday with her husband and two children and one dog.
I could rehash all those overused phrases: "How time flies!", "It was just the other day when she was so little.", "My oldest baby is all grown up!", "In a blink of an eye, she's out of the nest; she's flown the coup. She's......"
You get the idea without me saying any of those cliches? Good!
Having a 26 year old daughter makes me feel as if I should check into the Smithsonian Museum as an ancient parent.
We're mighty proud of our oldest "baby".
As I have said in the beginning, our children are our jewels from God.
Wild Thing is six years younger than Haley; No sweetheart, no spouse, no children, no college education, he sits today in our rocking chair. Wild Thing doesn't rock much, and he keeps to himself. One thing I can tell you about dear old Wild Thing, he has not flown the coup!
:-)

2005-10-18T13:23:00.000-05:00

TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF MARRIAGE!
Our annivesary was on October 15th, 2005. We choose which road to take in life, and I guess we've chosen the one with the bumps, the rocks, the pits, the mud, the hills, the valleys. Driving on the edge of a mountainous pathway, we have found ourselves lost a few dozen times. Yep!
And just about the time we are considering the option of hiking, the good Lord locks the doors tight, and He reminds us to stay inside the vehicle. So here we go down this bumpy road of life. The tires are holding up.....so far.

2005-10-11T12:33:00.000-05:00

I said to the Lord, "Lord, I need to start exercising, but my get up and go has gotten up and went. My soul is willing, but this whittle body is on hiatus. Help me." And He did.
He did all right. Driving on the gravel road from George's Cove, He zapped that left front tire flatter than a pancake. All righty, uh, thanks...., I think! At dusk, Robin and I locked the doors to Daisy Mae, our Suburban, and as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we stepped on to the yellow brick road to complete our journey....up, up, up hill....to our home.
With us were our dogs, Moses and Charlie. We had no leashes, so we used bungy cords. Why? Because our dogs are untrained, wild animals; our Moses, the Labrador, weighing in at 97 pounds, flunked obedience school twice. He assumes one position: CHARGE! It doesn't matter that his collar is pulled back to his tail bone, and his air passage is blocked. He's dragging my body as if I were a little powder puff. (Yea, I wish.) Robin handled Charlie, our Heinz 57 breed. And it wasn't bad! It took an hour. It could have taken longer, but, remember, we were in the CHARGE position.
Could we have changed the tire? No, the spare was on the right rear tire, having taken the place of a tire that had exploded on the interstate when I was traveling to Memphis a few weeks back. No walk was involved on that one, just me and the chiggers waiting patiently on the side of the interstate for four hours.
The good news is that Daisy Mae was rescued by Ruedi this evening on the 12th, after working a 15 hour shift. What has this self proclaimed procrastinator learned as a valuable lesson, family and friends?
Be cautious what you pray for, and wear tennis shoes. :-) THE END

2005-10-03T21:58:00.000-05:00

Mr. And Mrs. Imholz, yours truly...

The phone rings, and it's one of my daughters. I'm hungry for all information updating what's been happening in her life. We talk about five minutes when our conversation is shattered by this deep voice from across the room. Ruedi has no idea what Mom and her baby child's (adult that she may actually be) subject matter is; he commences to shout out off the cuff remarks. He offers advice, his opinion and his funny one liners. Remind you, he has no idea the topic of the conversation. Consequently, I and my adult child are saying, "Huh?"
Finally, it dawned on me why we are having so many of these episodes. My husband is really wishing to hear this line. " She's asking to speak to you, dear." I tried that today, and, my goodness, it worked! Once he has had his turn on the telephone, the three way conversation ceases, and I can focus on the topic at hand. So, dear family, when you call, and you hear this deep voice vibrating close by, please ask to speak to it. ( I don't mind taking the second turn.) Thanks, sweeties!

2005-09-27T21:07:00.000-05:00

Should I confess how old this picture is? Of course not! That's my husband, Ruedi, who's from Aldorf, Switzerland. He still has a Swiss-German accent! Ruedi has been with me give or take a hundred years...a long time! Maybe too long--the other day someone asked, "You have an accent, sir. Are you from Texas?"
Now he's telling everyone he's from the southern part of Switzerland. Ha, ha, ha..

2005-09-26T21:01:00.000-05:00

I've never done this before, so I'll start off easy.
We're not interesting, not famous, not wealthy; mom's body, (moi), is unhealthy, but I have a lively spirit. It sprints on ahead of me most of the time. Children are great. They're fascinating, individual people. If God did not do another thing for us, it would be enough that He gave us our children.
Ruedi's has a Swiss brother he adores, and I have my Tennessean sister who is the Felix to my Oscar. God is wise. :-)