Porthouse Theater

Went to see "Pump Boys and Dinettes" last night at Porthouse. What a wonderful show. It just amazes me at how many wonderfully talented people there are. I am so grateful they share their talent with us. The next show is "Peter Pan" . Not from the stage play, it goes back to the original book as it's source - so should be fun.

Balloon Over Johnnycake

This is a common sight in Portage County, yet when I hear that familar "whoosh whoosh", I can't help but run out to see. I used to have the kids to point it out to - now I only have the dogs and they don't seem to much care. There is just something about all those bright colors floating in the air.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Retirement Roger

You will be missed!

Happy Birthday David!

Have a great day and keep on smiling!

It's Great to have Friends

We went over to Tom & Patty's last night so Chet could help them with some landscaping of their new condo.





You wouldn't know it - but Patty had asked Chet for his advice - here she is in typical "instruction" pose.


Tom doesn't even try to tell Chet how to do it - he just makes sure the deck doesn't fall on Chet's head.




Even Rudy got her two sense worth in as to how she thought it should look!

Rudy enjoys the view off of their deck - the lights in the background are of Kent State's Dix Stadium.

Book Sale Time!

The Friends of the Brimfield Library had their first book sale of the summer last weekend. Carol (otherwise known as the cookie lady) & Dick are helping their grandson Nick look for books. He hit the jackpot when he found a whole set of Star Wars Books! For my Ohio friends - we are having sales July 14th and August 4th, as well as during Brimfest. Come and buy some books!

The Boss

Through high school and college, I worked in a garden store. The man who owned it got his start in business pushing a vegetable cart. He also had a large landscaping company and a lawn spraying company. There was a glass door between the offices and the store, where he would watch what was going on. Two incidents stick out in my mine.



One day a man came in and purchased some small plants. We had pop boxes and cut off bags that we could pack them in - depending on how many the customer had. I was putting his purchases in a bag when he began to complain that it was awful flimsy to carry the plants in. So, I got out a box and started to put them in there. He proceeded to complain that the box was too big - the plants would fall over. I explained that those were the only options I had. He grumbled and as I finished the sale, I said I was sorry for his inconvenience. He harrumphed that he was sorry, too (not meaning it). Under my breath I said you certainly are. I looked up and saw my boss. I thought for sure I was in trouble for being rude - until I saw that he was laughing.



Another time I was working the register a large white Cadillac with New York plates pulled into the parking lot quickly. It wasn't parked straight and the passenger left her door open. The man and woman from the car started going through the yard - being very demanding of the employees working with them. They then came into the store, being very loud the whole time. Their whole attitude was one of wanting to be waited upon. My boss "invited" them to leave the store. That only made them angrier - they had a lot of money to spend! He didn't care - he told them he didn't need their money, so finally they left without purchasing anything.



We were expected to treat our customers with repect - but it was expected that the customers treat us with respect as well. You can do a good job and work hard, without letting people take advantage of you

The Religion Teacher

There was a nun at my high school who was very tall and skinny. Her hair was short and stringy, and she had a name that was dorky - all perfect fodder for teenaged wit. She played the organ and piano, so sang and played at most of our masses. I didn't think she was very good. During class one day, she described her vision of heaven. It would be a perfect place, were we would all be perfect too. We would be able to do well whatever we wanted. She envisioned herself as a concert pianist. I don't recall what I thought of the story at the time, but it stuck with me. I realized later that when she was in church, she wasn't worried about being a great singer or pianist - she was offering up praise to God, and what He heard was perfect. I don't pretend to understand the mysteries of life or heaven, but I do believe in God. Not everything we do needs to be done perfectly - sometime perfect intent is enough.

There was a discussion on the radio about people who have affected our lives, which got me to thinking . Whether a chance encounter or part of my life, many have formed the way I see the world. I decided to write about a few of those people. It seems appropriate, sandwiched as we are between Mother's and Father's Day, to start with those who started me.

My Mom

John McCain once made a comment that we use the words "hero" and "courageous" too often. The implication was that only those who face death in war are truly courageous. While I agree we use those words too much, there are many forms of courage. I always thought of Mom in that catagory. I was 5 when she first got cancer, and 29 when she died from it. In between there was alot of love and living. Though I'm sure she had her moments, I never heard her say "why me"? In some respects she faced her health like a new adventure. I saw her scars from her first surgery and when she was in the hospital for her first hip replacement, she showed me the rod running through her leg holding everything together as if to say "look what I got!" She taught me not to be afraid of what life has to offer, but embrace it - the good and the bad. I miss her smile, her wisdom and most especially her idiosyncracies!

My Dad

When I think of Dad I see the juxtaposition of his physical strength and his inner gentleness, his inner strength and his heart on his sleeve. Dad was one of those people for whom family meant everything and I knew that he would do whatever he needed to take care of us. When I was in high school both Dad and a friend's father were out of work. Dad did whatever he could to bring in a wage until he found a permanant job - pumped gas, cleaned bathrooms, whatever. My friend's father turned down positions he felt that were beneath him. Dad taught me that no job done well is shameful. There is no doubt in my mind that if he needed to cross a border to provide for his family - he would. I also remember Dad getting his GED. Some men may have done it quietly - but Dad was open about it - teaching me the value of life long learning. Another memory I have is us watching the movie "Shenandoah" - tears running down Dad's face at the end when Jimmy Stewart is in church w/what is left of his family. His youngest son comes walking down the aisle, home alive from war. Dad taught me that it's okay to show emotion. I miss Dad - I miss watching him with his grandchildren, I miss his strength, I miss his love.