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Monday, August 08, 2005

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER....1995 

September came in on a Friday. Becky and I both worked at Eminence, and hurried home as fast as we could. It didn’t take long to load the critters up and take them to the boarding so we could leave town. We were taking a long Labor Day weekend to spend with George. We arrived safe and sound without a problem.

We were up early the next day to hit as many of our favorite shopping places as we could on a Saturday. We did lots of driving, walking and looking….and enjoyed several Malls at different locations. I think you could live in a Mall…..they have everything a person needs to get through each day…nights too. With the live plantings and tinkling fountains there is even a sense of the outdoors. The only necessary thing you would lack…..privacy. The hoards of people milling about would literally drive me crazy. One day of shopping is quite enough for me.

That evening we met DiDi and her family at the Shawnee Pizza Shoppe for a lot of visiting and, of course, lots of pizza. It’s become a tradition to do this for two good reasons….the pizza is the best in the country and we love DiDi, Chris and Julie. Diane and Becky have been friends since Junior High days.

On Sunday we went back for some things we decided we wanted and looked around until late afternoon. George cranked up his Webber and fixed grilled burgers with all the trimmings. Later, we walked over to the Wades, home……..George and Dennis had gone all through school together and now lived across the street from each other in their own homes. It’s fun for me to see the kids who used to spend a lot of time at our house when they were growing up. They have all done well and turned out to be just as nice an adult as they were a teen-ager. Friends for life.

We had a nice day on Monday and left for home on Tuesday. We were back early enough that we could retrieve our animals from the Vet so they wouldn’t have to stay another night. They were happy to get back home. Becky had to go back to work the next day but I took the rest of the week off. Bear and I got into some heavy garage cleaning and did away with a lot of stuff. On the 8th we took Becky to Springfield for her check-up with Dr. Powell, her internist. He was pleased with her progress and released her to test in vehicles but not CDL yet. There would be too much stress on her climbing into the semi’s. We dropped by to see Dr. Buckner, her surgeon, for him to sign some papers for her insurance. It was good to see him again.

The first part of September was dry and hot but later in the month we had a record breaking cool front. The rains began in earnest after our usual dry summer. You could almost hear the grass and the vegetation drinking it up and in a few days everything looked green once again. The last of the gardens were brought in and I worked in my flower garden, pulling out the spent foliage and clipping back some of the bushes. With the weeds pulled and the garden laid to rest, I could look forward to leaf raking time. It’s a lot of work but with the cooler temperatures and color everywhere you may look, it is a beautiful time of year. Bear always did the lion's share of the leaf removal but I liked to help when I could. I just liked doing it. October 3rd O.J. Simpson received a “not guilty” verdict in the case that seemed to go on forever. Emotions ran high and most still thought he was guilty. At the least, we are glad it was finally over after a long run on TV and the subject of all the talk shows.

Becky and I worked together a lot during the month. Ron had hurt his leg working cattle, Pete had another heart attack, Joe’s mother was sick so he took off and Corky was off a few days. We were short handed on both crews but there were always two of us so we got by. Bear finished the leaves up and everything was finished for the year. Football reigned supreme and we enjoyed the games on the week-end and Monday nights.

I found a recipe for a delicious pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing and made several of those to eat and to share. October and her blue sky with the changing colors of the leaves provided a beautiful backdrop for outdoor activities. I love to hang clothes on the line when it’s so pretty out. It was easy to look around at all of the hues and feel blessed to live in such a pretty section of the country.

When I focus on the earth we live in and the ever changing sky above I find it hard to believe that heaven is going to be even more beautiful……still, I know it will be because God said so…..and that’s enough for me……..

Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther