I never missed a word of Ken Burns show on the Roosevelt's because this was my childhood. At many dinner tables, I heard the names of Woodrow Wilson, who was president while Dad was in World War I. I also heard Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. I won't say whether good or bad; but Roosevelt scared him, I know. He finally settled into a begrudging respect. For many years, my dad was a county assessor besides farming. My mom was on the county School Board. Far down the political scale, but both were intensely interested.
Now, I see so much pain and sickness, death and chemo around, that I feel guilty about how smoothly it's going for me. Then, in a quiet moment, it comes to me that I have been in all of those situations myself many times and maybe this is my R and R time.
While driving on Hudson Road a police car several lengths back turns on his lights and siren. Oh, No! What have I done now? Hey fella, that light was still yellow when I went under it at Avoca this morning! Slowing and looking for a pull off place and after he flashed past me, another came off Dixieland the same way. I know we were all relieved and sorry that someone down the road had a serious problem, but still glad it wasn't any of us. Now, shall I go on or go home for dry underwear? Just kidding! I'm country so any time in town that I hear an ambulance, I quickly calculate where all my family is.
While sitting at a luncheon with 80 people, I noticed how many men still had their hats on. Later in the entry waiting for a ride, I saw several men pull their ball cap style hats from their rear pockets and put them on. I figured they had been in the military. As a kid, I was often put in charge of my dad's dress hat at a function when he was busy. Of course,it was a nice one, but even his old straw one would have never been on his head while inside of a building. Times change and so do hats!
Three women my age were sitting out on a patio. Talk had died to nothing and after a silence, one of the women said, "What candy do the kids want on the playground?" All were stunned, not knowing if it was a joke or a new conversation. She said, "Recess pieces!"
It was so sudden and so outlandish that three old women about fell out of their chairs laughing. Who says we can't have a good time being silly? It's allowed!
Brightwater United Methodist annual Harvest Bazaar is Oct. 15-126. See you there!
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Editors note: Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. She can be contacted through The Times at 451-1196 or [email protected].
Editorial on 09/24/2014