Tuesday, January 18, 2005
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER....1985
Labor Day came and went without much fanfare except to give me a day off work. I always appreciated an extra day to get things done at home. We did our traveling last month and mom had stayed in Blair to return with the Powell’s when they headed back to Virginia. There were always friends, church, dinners and so on that filled our days to the brim. One sad thing…..we were made aware of…. Bill Shelton, a good friend, had cancer and it wasn’t going well for him. We went to see him at the hospital and were told it was terminal.
Bill was a neat guy. He had been a teacher and a good one. He was retired and had been working part time at the small Post Office where they lived. He and his wife, Billie, had well trained voices and sang in the choir at our church. He was always willing to sing a solo for any program I might be in charge of. When our pastor and wife returned from a visit to Israel I asked him to sing, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” for a missionary program…. but in their honor. I never heard anyone sing it more beautifully.
On September 11th, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s record in Cincinnati…..he received the largest ovation I’ve ever witnessed. I’m still bothered by the way he ended up and is not allowed in the Hall of Fame. I have mixed feelings about it. He earned the right by his good playing but I do not think rules are made to be broken. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the call on the outcome of it all.
Mom and the Powell’s came home on the 13th of the month and we had cake and coffee waiting when they arrived. They were here for a day and left the next morning. It was still a long drive for them from Willow Springs to Virginia. They made that trip for many years, every August, to be at the Stricklett Reunion. It was always held in that month for aunt Mary and grandma both had birthdays in August.
The 29th of September was very special. John, Barbara, little John and Barbara’s parents, Bob and Mary arrived by 7:30pm. Becky and family and mom joined us and we had lots to eat and lots of visiting. I had a sign with balloons to greet Mary….it was her birthday. They were a tired bunch as they had packed and loaded John and Barbara’s things in Rock Island to move back to New Orleans. It had been a long hard day for all. They stayed one day and we certainly enjoyed having them. Becky and her family were moving to Ozark, MO. so we had two big moves going on at the same time. They left early the next morning and we sure hated to see them go. It seems we never get to visit enough with any of them.
Mom came for lunch with us on the days I didn’t work….it was always nice to have her…..we quite often did some stitching together and shared coffee for an afternoon break. Living next door meant we could run back and forth and it is something I still miss. I don’t think we ever get over missing our mothers.
We received news that Bill Shelton died on October 13th. We knew it was coming but never ready for the final call. Heaven got a really nice guy when Bill went ‘home.’ We had enjoyed many dinners back and forth and it was nice in another way because Billie’s sister, Blanche and my mother were old friends and always joined our dinners. We had shared many Christmas times back and forth along with gift giving. A part of our life that had a big hole in it now.
John, Barb and Becky were all looking for work in their new surroundings and we stayed in touch enough to see how it was going with them. We didn’t want to be a distraction, for their lives were picking up speed and ours were beginning to slow down…..well…..maybe a little.
October in the Ozarks makes every artist reach for the pallet and brushes. With a sky as blue as tropical waters and big, puffy white clouds, leaves of all colors to dazzle the hillsides…. and a date that will live with infamy in George and John’s minds. The Royals won the pennant….October 27th….the famous Series of I-70 between St. Louis and Kansas City. The month ended and left everyone happy….at least those of us who love the Royals. We still talk about the hoopla when the subject comes up……..and sadly, memories is all we have to talk about. The poor Royals have had it tough ever since. I wonder….did the Cardinals put a curse on us??? I think I’ll have to think about this………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
Bill was a neat guy. He had been a teacher and a good one. He was retired and had been working part time at the small Post Office where they lived. He and his wife, Billie, had well trained voices and sang in the choir at our church. He was always willing to sing a solo for any program I might be in charge of. When our pastor and wife returned from a visit to Israel I asked him to sing, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” for a missionary program…. but in their honor. I never heard anyone sing it more beautifully.
On September 11th, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s record in Cincinnati…..he received the largest ovation I’ve ever witnessed. I’m still bothered by the way he ended up and is not allowed in the Hall of Fame. I have mixed feelings about it. He earned the right by his good playing but I do not think rules are made to be broken. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the call on the outcome of it all.
Mom and the Powell’s came home on the 13th of the month and we had cake and coffee waiting when they arrived. They were here for a day and left the next morning. It was still a long drive for them from Willow Springs to Virginia. They made that trip for many years, every August, to be at the Stricklett Reunion. It was always held in that month for aunt Mary and grandma both had birthdays in August.
The 29th of September was very special. John, Barbara, little John and Barbara’s parents, Bob and Mary arrived by 7:30pm. Becky and family and mom joined us and we had lots to eat and lots of visiting. I had a sign with balloons to greet Mary….it was her birthday. They were a tired bunch as they had packed and loaded John and Barbara’s things in Rock Island to move back to New Orleans. It had been a long hard day for all. They stayed one day and we certainly enjoyed having them. Becky and her family were moving to Ozark, MO. so we had two big moves going on at the same time. They left early the next morning and we sure hated to see them go. It seems we never get to visit enough with any of them.
Mom came for lunch with us on the days I didn’t work….it was always nice to have her…..we quite often did some stitching together and shared coffee for an afternoon break. Living next door meant we could run back and forth and it is something I still miss. I don’t think we ever get over missing our mothers.
We received news that Bill Shelton died on October 13th. We knew it was coming but never ready for the final call. Heaven got a really nice guy when Bill went ‘home.’ We had enjoyed many dinners back and forth and it was nice in another way because Billie’s sister, Blanche and my mother were old friends and always joined our dinners. We had shared many Christmas times back and forth along with gift giving. A part of our life that had a big hole in it now.
John, Barb and Becky were all looking for work in their new surroundings and we stayed in touch enough to see how it was going with them. We didn’t want to be a distraction, for their lives were picking up speed and ours were beginning to slow down…..well…..maybe a little.
October in the Ozarks makes every artist reach for the pallet and brushes. With a sky as blue as tropical waters and big, puffy white clouds, leaves of all colors to dazzle the hillsides…. and a date that will live with infamy in George and John’s minds. The Royals won the pennant….October 27th….the famous Series of I-70 between St. Louis and Kansas City. The month ended and left everyone happy….at least those of us who love the Royals. We still talk about the hoopla when the subject comes up……..and sadly, memories is all we have to talk about. The poor Royals have had it tough ever since. I wonder….did the Cardinals put a curse on us??? I think I’ll have to think about this………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
