Thursday, July 21, 2005
MAY....1995
Bear loaded the car during the day on Friday the 5th of May and when I came home from work we made ready to close the house down and drive to Shawnee for a long week-end trip. State workers always get Truman’s birthday off so it made an extra day and a perfect opportunity to make a visit to George.
We had to make it possible for a mama wren to get into the garage while we were gone because she made a nest in a flower bucket hanging on one of the walls. We had been concerned that it would give undue panic to her when we closed the doors so we made sure she could get in. We had been watching her efforts for several days and hoped to be here when the babies hatched.
Becky had already taken all of our critters out to the vet for boarding so we were on the road by 5:00pm. We made a quick stop at Clinton to get a sandwich and we were easily at George’s by 9:30pm. The next morning we headed out for our usual rounds…..shopping, of course, and good lunch stops. I like our small town living but I do miss the specialty restaurants. We quit eating at Fast Food places long ago and that is our only option. Evenings were spent visiting old friends or settling down on George’s deck while he grilled burgers.
George has a lawn to die for. He was always interested in yard work and certainly did a lot of it while at home, being the oldest boy. He used the Scott Plan and with the good dirt it didn’t take long to see an improvement in his yard. He made some attractive plantings and investigated each addition before he put them in the ground. The results were picture perfect. The deck provides a wonderful place to relax and take in the beauty while we visit and sniff the aroma coming from the grill. Life is good in his back yard.
We left Monday morning and had a routine drive home. Becky unloaded first and then it was our turn. Becky and Bear went after the pets and I got ready to go back to work the next day. The following Wednesday I was working in the Houston Court House, a couple of towns away……when we were informed someone in the Court House received a bomb threat over the phone. The building was evacuated and we were all standing a good distance away while the building was searched. There is always the possibility that it’s a hoax but in view of the Oklahoma bombing the law enforcement folks were taking no chances. It was an uneasy and nervous wait which turned up nothing.
I need to take a moment to editorialize about law enforcement people. I have worked around them a great deal and I have the highest regard for them. While some people complain about being stopped for a traffic ticket or a tail light that doesn’t work……even some rough handling after a half-hour fast chase which endangered the lives of many, I commend them for taking their lives in hand to protect the general public. I have seen private moments of them helping folks who don’t deserve a kindness and overheard stories of them nearly being killed in the line of duty. All this for poor pay, poor retirements and a lot of times…..no respect. Yet in times of peril like the Oklahoma bombing or 9-11 they are the first responders who most of the time don’t live to tell it. These guys are dads, husbands, sons…….yes, mothers, wives and daughters. They work the dregs of the earth and at quitting time go home to try and forget the ingratitude and reasons why they should find another vocation. They are my hero‘s……..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
We had to make it possible for a mama wren to get into the garage while we were gone because she made a nest in a flower bucket hanging on one of the walls. We had been concerned that it would give undue panic to her when we closed the doors so we made sure she could get in. We had been watching her efforts for several days and hoped to be here when the babies hatched.
Becky had already taken all of our critters out to the vet for boarding so we were on the road by 5:00pm. We made a quick stop at Clinton to get a sandwich and we were easily at George’s by 9:30pm. The next morning we headed out for our usual rounds…..shopping, of course, and good lunch stops. I like our small town living but I do miss the specialty restaurants. We quit eating at Fast Food places long ago and that is our only option. Evenings were spent visiting old friends or settling down on George’s deck while he grilled burgers.
George has a lawn to die for. He was always interested in yard work and certainly did a lot of it while at home, being the oldest boy. He used the Scott Plan and with the good dirt it didn’t take long to see an improvement in his yard. He made some attractive plantings and investigated each addition before he put them in the ground. The results were picture perfect. The deck provides a wonderful place to relax and take in the beauty while we visit and sniff the aroma coming from the grill. Life is good in his back yard.
We left Monday morning and had a routine drive home. Becky unloaded first and then it was our turn. Becky and Bear went after the pets and I got ready to go back to work the next day. The following Wednesday I was working in the Houston Court House, a couple of towns away……when we were informed someone in the Court House received a bomb threat over the phone. The building was evacuated and we were all standing a good distance away while the building was searched. There is always the possibility that it’s a hoax but in view of the Oklahoma bombing the law enforcement folks were taking no chances. It was an uneasy and nervous wait which turned up nothing.
I need to take a moment to editorialize about law enforcement people. I have worked around them a great deal and I have the highest regard for them. While some people complain about being stopped for a traffic ticket or a tail light that doesn’t work……even some rough handling after a half-hour fast chase which endangered the lives of many, I commend them for taking their lives in hand to protect the general public. I have seen private moments of them helping folks who don’t deserve a kindness and overheard stories of them nearly being killed in the line of duty. All this for poor pay, poor retirements and a lot of times…..no respect. Yet in times of peril like the Oklahoma bombing or 9-11 they are the first responders who most of the time don’t live to tell it. These guys are dads, husbands, sons…….yes, mothers, wives and daughters. They work the dregs of the earth and at quitting time go home to try and forget the ingratitude and reasons why they should find another vocation. They are my hero‘s……..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
