Monday, June 14, 2004
THE FIRST HALF OF 1963...
January started out with a bang. John came down with mumps and really got a good dose of them…..he looked like he had a goiter. That extended his time at home after the Christmas holidays. In March we celebrated his sixth birthday with a black cat cake inspired by our Spooky cat. It was chocolate with chocolate icing and did ole’ Spooky proud.
Becky decided she wanted a ‘real’ party that year so I fussed around with crepe paper streamers hanging down from the overhead light and attached to the table. There were bows at the corners and a nice centerpiece…..all of the Bluebirds were invited and she had a banner good time. George and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary that evening by going out to eat.
Before school was out that Spring, Mrs. Salter asked if my husband and I would accompany her class to visit the Swope Park Zoo. Of course I gave her an affirmative answer. Mrs. Jones (who I believe was the cafeteria lady), and Mrs. Salter rode over in the school’s bus with the children while George and I drove over in our station wagon. I have written on the back of the picture the names of the Kindergarten classmates. Kirk, Cecil, John, Davey, Marsha, Mike and Dexter.
Now you may think it odd that blind children and those with serious eye defects would be taken to the city zoo. When you stop to think of it though, what would normal kids like to do? Go to the zoo? Yes. I am so thankful the kids were continually introduced to sights and sounds…..Mrs. Salter’s approach was genuine and unique. I never heard her say, “Oh, I wish I could see your new purse,” or whatever. She would say, “Oh, may I ‘see’ it?” Then she would take (whatever) in her hands, feeling over the textures, the snaps, the zipper, the lid, buttons…. The item was gracefully inspected with her fingers as a broad smile registered on her face and she would exclaim…. “Oh, this is beautiful.” I never felt pity or sympathy for her because she didn’t require it. I looked upon her as I would with any teacher looking after a class….utmost respect.
The day at the zoo was a wonderful experience for the children. First we went to the Petting Zoo and were allowed to pet the rabbits, lambs, baby goats, kittens, ducklings and all the rest. We felt the different types of fencing used to keep the animals separated (wood, chain link etc;) and we also got to feel what a snake feels like. The reaction by the children was so uplifting to watch….they were having the time of their life.
Mrs. Jones had made up some sandwiches to bring along and they were delicious. It was some kind of a pimento cheese spread along with some chips and cold drinks. After roaming around the park everyone was hungry, including the adults…..and then Mrs. Salter announced they would get to ride the pony’s next. George walked beside the ones who were blind so they didn’t become disoriented and fall off. It was such an experience for them all it just did your heart good. Before leaving the park they were introduced to Snow Cones which brought happy smiles. Visiting the zoo was then talked about later that week at school to get everyone’s impression and favorite memory of their trip.
When school was out Becky wanted to go to Camp Towanyak which was the Campfire/Bluebird camp. I always felt camp was a good thing for kids. It teaches them to work in groups and think about partnerships rather than doing things your own way all the time. George and George Jr. went with the Scout Troop to the Boy Scout Ranch near Cimerron, New Mexico. They took a train to Cimerron and then were transported to Waite Phillips Ranch that he donated to the Boy Scouts of America. It was a major trip for our troop and had been financed by chili suppers, bake sales and the like. George was becoming more involved in the Scouts all the time as we felt with two boys it would benefit them more than anything else. I am thankful that at that time we didn’t have the social problems that have plagued the Scouts in recent years.
When the troop arrived there had been heavy rains and major clean-up due to flooding and high water. The troop was dispatched to an area and they worked hard to bring the camp back into shape. Before leaving they got to hike up Waite Phillips Mountain where you can look back East and see several States. Waite Phillips was the Phillips 66 tycoon and was giving back to a worthy organization.
Before the summer was over we went to mom and dad’s to see the Powell family who were coming to visit before going on to Blair to visit family there. It was a yearly thing for them to come back to the Midwest (from Washington D.C. area) and we never failed to connect with them one place or the other. Sometimes they even visited us….which they did on their way to Blair.
We squeezed in another little jaunt with the Bryant family before it was time for school. We drove out to the Tuttle Creek Dam for the day and enjoyed the area and scenery. It was mighty windy the day we were there and I imagine it’s always that way. Not much to break the wind in Kansas.
Before we knew it, school bells would be ringing and this year I was going to school myself. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out about that……….
Until then,
Essentially Esther
Becky decided she wanted a ‘real’ party that year so I fussed around with crepe paper streamers hanging down from the overhead light and attached to the table. There were bows at the corners and a nice centerpiece…..all of the Bluebirds were invited and she had a banner good time. George and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary that evening by going out to eat.
Before school was out that Spring, Mrs. Salter asked if my husband and I would accompany her class to visit the Swope Park Zoo. Of course I gave her an affirmative answer. Mrs. Jones (who I believe was the cafeteria lady), and Mrs. Salter rode over in the school’s bus with the children while George and I drove over in our station wagon. I have written on the back of the picture the names of the Kindergarten classmates. Kirk, Cecil, John, Davey, Marsha, Mike and Dexter.
Now you may think it odd that blind children and those with serious eye defects would be taken to the city zoo. When you stop to think of it though, what would normal kids like to do? Go to the zoo? Yes. I am so thankful the kids were continually introduced to sights and sounds…..Mrs. Salter’s approach was genuine and unique. I never heard her say, “Oh, I wish I could see your new purse,” or whatever. She would say, “Oh, may I ‘see’ it?” Then she would take (whatever) in her hands, feeling over the textures, the snaps, the zipper, the lid, buttons…. The item was gracefully inspected with her fingers as a broad smile registered on her face and she would exclaim…. “Oh, this is beautiful.” I never felt pity or sympathy for her because she didn’t require it. I looked upon her as I would with any teacher looking after a class….utmost respect.
The day at the zoo was a wonderful experience for the children. First we went to the Petting Zoo and were allowed to pet the rabbits, lambs, baby goats, kittens, ducklings and all the rest. We felt the different types of fencing used to keep the animals separated (wood, chain link etc;) and we also got to feel what a snake feels like. The reaction by the children was so uplifting to watch….they were having the time of their life.
Mrs. Jones had made up some sandwiches to bring along and they were delicious. It was some kind of a pimento cheese spread along with some chips and cold drinks. After roaming around the park everyone was hungry, including the adults…..and then Mrs. Salter announced they would get to ride the pony’s next. George walked beside the ones who were blind so they didn’t become disoriented and fall off. It was such an experience for them all it just did your heart good. Before leaving the park they were introduced to Snow Cones which brought happy smiles. Visiting the zoo was then talked about later that week at school to get everyone’s impression and favorite memory of their trip.
When school was out Becky wanted to go to Camp Towanyak which was the Campfire/Bluebird camp. I always felt camp was a good thing for kids. It teaches them to work in groups and think about partnerships rather than doing things your own way all the time. George and George Jr. went with the Scout Troop to the Boy Scout Ranch near Cimerron, New Mexico. They took a train to Cimerron and then were transported to Waite Phillips Ranch that he donated to the Boy Scouts of America. It was a major trip for our troop and had been financed by chili suppers, bake sales and the like. George was becoming more involved in the Scouts all the time as we felt with two boys it would benefit them more than anything else. I am thankful that at that time we didn’t have the social problems that have plagued the Scouts in recent years.
When the troop arrived there had been heavy rains and major clean-up due to flooding and high water. The troop was dispatched to an area and they worked hard to bring the camp back into shape. Before leaving they got to hike up Waite Phillips Mountain where you can look back East and see several States. Waite Phillips was the Phillips 66 tycoon and was giving back to a worthy organization.
Before the summer was over we went to mom and dad’s to see the Powell family who were coming to visit before going on to Blair to visit family there. It was a yearly thing for them to come back to the Midwest (from Washington D.C. area) and we never failed to connect with them one place or the other. Sometimes they even visited us….which they did on their way to Blair.
We squeezed in another little jaunt with the Bryant family before it was time for school. We drove out to the Tuttle Creek Dam for the day and enjoyed the area and scenery. It was mighty windy the day we were there and I imagine it’s always that way. Not much to break the wind in Kansas.
Before we knew it, school bells would be ringing and this year I was going to school myself. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out about that……….
Until then,
Essentially Esther
