Yes, I was invited, coaxed even, to attend the Iowa State Fair. I have enjoyed hearing what awards, ribbons, prizes and the shows they've seen and how lonesome it was without her. Several of her sons, grandsons and in-laws are involved in transportation and security. She could could ride the shuttles and use the power wheel chair. They told that they would catch themselves watching for her before they'd remembered they didn't need to this year!
I give credit for this poem to my hometown newspaper but they didn't give any credit for it.
Said Grandfather Gray on Thanksgiving Day, "If you want to be happy, give something away."
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price.
The shoemaker said, "What a big bird, how nice. With such a good dinner before me I ought to give Sweet Widow Lee the small chicken I bought."
"This is a fine chicken -- oh, yes," said sweet widow Lee. "And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me. I'll give wash woman Biddy my big pumpkin pie."
"Oh my," Biddy said, "'Tis the queen of all pies, just look at its big yellow face -- it gladdens my eyes. Now it's my turn I think and I've made a sweet ginger cake for the motherless Finnegan light."
"It smells sweet of spice -- and we'll carry a slice," said Rose, Danny and Hugh, "to little lame Jake who has nothing new."
"What a beautiful cake and oh, my such a big slice," said Little Lame Jake. "I'll save all the crumbs and give them to each sparrow that comes."
And the sparrows, they twittered as if to say, "If you want to be happy, give something away!"
Labor Day is on us! Where did I misplace my summer? At least there is no rain forecast so I can put the flag out.
The Halloween candy is already displayed in the store. The candy corn is always so pretty and so colorful. It's tempting but I think in must be almost pure sugar.
Craft fair time is coming up! School settled in nicely, but football practices were getting harder for me to keep track of and now finally we have the pay off -- those games they did all that practicing for.
They are still letting me in the game with my grandma's ticket from last year. Don't know if they should, but when they see the color of my hair, they wave me on in.
'Till next time!
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Editors note: Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. She can be contacted through The TIMES at 451-1196 or [email protected].
Editorial on 09/07/2016