Nose to Nose I Suppose!

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

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

Part A: "The Lighthouse"

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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

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!

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.
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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

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.

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?

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 :-)

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

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

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

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!

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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