94

On January 7, 2011, Mother turned 94 years old! She enjoyed opening her presents, a bit of cake and ice cream (which I managed to resist) and a few laughs. We put the number 94 on her cake, but when the mention of lighting the candles, it was Mother who reminded me of the oxygen use on her floor! Her faculties are pretty much intact and she sure does enjoy having visitors. I am always amazed when she will tell me who was there, what they talked about and sometimes, what they were wearing. The clothing part usually refers to her sisters, who always dress the the "nines". It's cute how much attention Mother pays to these details.
With my Mother's family longevity, I hope to celebrate many more.

A letter to Ma

The letter was addressed to Lois V. Brown with the return address, PFC Walter Brown 36500163 Hq Det 2nd Bn 87 Mtn Inf Regt US Army Amphibian Training Force 9, Fort Ord,
Calif.

The letter read:

July 1, 1943
Dear Mother & All,
Received your letter and every thing is O.K.
We got our new dog tags today and we are still getting more
new equipment.
I got a letter from Dad the other day with a five in it, today
is pay day but we won't get paid for a few days. I'm allright I've
got some money.
Ma, Amphibian Training is training on land and sea. What we
probably will be doing is attacking islands that the Japs have taken
from us, and were going to get them back, and again we may go to Europe
we don't know yet. We have been practicing attacking our own bech out
here, we go out in small barges or attacking boats then attack at
a certain time and things like that, we went out the other day and
the other night and went under heavy artillery fire, boy is it
noisy. It sure makes a guy feel funny with those big shells going
over head and landing close by.
We got some new over seas fighting clothes coming but dont' worry
about me I'll come back.
Ma, I feel good about going across because some one has to go,
even fellow in here with children feel the same way.
And after I get out I wouldn't want people saying I was a
draft dodger, that one thing I'll be able to say.
Tell Jack to keep out as long as he can because there are to
many draft dodgers in that town yet.
Well Ma, I'll close.
Love,
Walter

This is the second Christmas I spend without my Dad. I've been cleaning up papers and I came across this letter. Unfortunately, my Mother never kept one letter from Dad that he wrote while in the service. I have only found two letters and it is sad to think she didn't keep these reflections of the war and the times. I suppose, since Mother had a large family, she might have been afraid her sisters or someone else might read her love letters from my Dad.
I miss my Dad and I cherish all of the fond memories. Discovery of this letter makes me feel close. Sometimes, I just pick up his "rule" or his hammer and it somehow brings me peace to know how much we loved each other.
So often I think WWWD? Dad was so filled with common sense and grass-root knowledge of how to do or figure out anything. He was and will always be my hero.

Field Trip

It was Tuesday, December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day and the day my Mother went on a field trip. The nursing home schedules a variety of field trips for the residents and Meadowbrook Hall was today's destination.
Upon arrival at the nursing home, we found Mother wasn't ready, thought the trip was cancelled and it was my fault. O.K. Let's rewind a minute and start over.
After much persuasion, a change of clothes, make-up and lipstick, she was ready to get on the little short bus. Toni, the nursing home activities director, drove the bus and somehow managed to load and unload this precious cargo.
Once inside the mansion, I spoke with Doug Thorpe, who was a greeter. I told him that Mother had worked for Mrs. Wilson in the 1930's and she was going to take the tour. Mr. Thorpe thought that my Mother might remember his wife, who was born on the property, Barbara Gay. The Gay family had the family farm on Squirrel Road and raised cattle at that time. Unfortunately, Mrs. Thorpe passed last year.
When Mother came in, I asked her about remembering the Gay family and she promptly recalled Barbara and said,"They were a nice family". Where was the bit of dementia from about an hour ago?
I pointed to a large oil painting of a young lady on a horse and asked, "Mother, who is that?" Again, a prompt reply,"Oh, that is Francis on one of her horses".
"Over there", I asked, again pointing to a larger oil painting. "That's Danny and Francis", she replied.
We took a small group photograph in front of that fireplace. That is Mother on the left, seated in the wheelchair, wearing the maroon jacket. Mother doesn't really smile for pictures.
I wheeled Mother through the entrance to the right of the fireplace (the only area where pictures can be taken)and she told me we were going to the living room and the sun room was on the other side. So much for needing the tour person.
"They have changed a few things here", she said. "Mrs. Wilson didn't put the tree (Christmas tree) over there".
Mother remembered the beautiful organ and the tiffany lamp, as we rolled by and went into the library area. This room contained and large table, which Mother remembered, but added, "Mrs. Wilson would not have had this rug on the floor."
As we proceeded through the mansion, there were areas where I could feel the presense of my Dad, whose hammer and hands touched many a piece of wood in the mansion.
Mother's job for Mrs. Wilson was the switchboard and other secretarial tasks she requested. We have photographs that Mother took in the late 1930's of the mansion, Mrs. Wilson's deer and horses. She worked there about five years.
The area of the mansion referred to as "Danny Dodge's wing" was intersting, as well.
When the man stationed in the upstairs area pointed to a bedroom and said, "This was the room where Danny Dodge's friends would stay when they spent the night." Quietly, Mother replied, "He didn't have many friends". This drew a facial expression of question from the tour person. I then told him that Mother had worked there. He was impressed.
Mother told the tour guides how nice Mrs. Wilson was to work for and each morning she would come to the "morning room" and have her coffee and discuss things with the staff. This was a room unknown to the tour guides, but Mother said it was off from the kitchen.
As we went down the elevator, Mother wanted to go down to the Ball Room. I think she must have seen many functions in that area during her time. Remembering as she did on this day was so much fun for those who were listening to this bit of history.

I was amazed how the tour guides and staff at Meadowbrook Hall treated Mother. She could have been the Queen Mum.

Lili Von Shtupp

She is a funny little 6 pound cat my friend Donna and I trapped outside her door in Washington Township. This little black and white cat looked as though someone put a blob of black dirt on her nose and slapped it sideways. Dear Donna thought she might find a good home for this kitty and our barn tack room was a "holding facility" until such time as a new permanent home could be located. That was three years ago.

We needed a name for this tall thin cat with her black hosery covered legs and slinky walk. A flashback to the movie Blazing Saddles came to mind and a scene where Harvey Korman (Hedley Lamarr) walked into the dressing room (or dwessing woom) of the femme fatale, Lili Von Shtupp. All Lemar could say was "Lili, Lili, legs Lili". So, our sultry kitty took that name Lili Von Shtupp.

We learned that Lili had at least two ferral litters in her short life, so the name seemed even more fitting for this four-legged seductress-for-hire.

Tomorrow, Lili goes to Cat Care for her yearly check and as always, a few laughs from the staff.

Almost Done

The restoration of "Big Red" is nearly complete. The Ziebart store in Utica gave the underside a nice coat of protection as well as the addition of a Rhino Liner spray-on bedlining. Greg, their ace at Ziebart, came up with a great idea for the nerf bars, which were slightly pitted with rust and chips. Why not give them a coat of Rhino too? After much strain to remove the bars and lots of sanding, the nerf bars were ready for their coating. The original paint was spruced up with a paint protector and we were getting closer to completion before the weather turns cold.
A new truck cover was ordered, since the original one was shredded to pieces by our "boys" in the vehicle storage building. Upon arrival, it was unveiled only to find it was a "cab forward" cover. O.K. Who in the heck orders a truck cover for JUST the cab? The order form asked the size of the truck, bed length and the other important questions. Back went the cover and "Big Red" had to sit outside.
Next it was time to mount the spare wheel. Do we put it on the front, in the bed behind the driver or just forget carrying the extra wheel altogether. While discussing our dilemma with our neighbor and his wife, who are extreme mudboggers, the wife made a comment which put to rest the problem. She suggested that if we were to mount the tire in the conventional manner, "it would look like an old person's truck". As a result, a "Fabtech" angle bed mount was ordered. Those who know me, can understand why it took three hours to drill four holes into the bed of "Big Red". Sweating bullets and making darn sure not to hit either gas tank, made for some white knuckles. There is no feeling quite like drilling that hole in the bed of a truck. Whew. It was worse than drilling for the gigantic mudflaps!
Today, we drove to Lake Orion Truck Accessories to pick up a crossover style tool box for the truck bed, just behind the cab. The color needed to be black diamond plate with a low profile, as not to block the rear window. Ron had ordered the perfect fit and carefully installed it. This was the second trip for the tool box, as the first one arrived with a small dent. It was noticed prior to the installation and Ron was happy to take care of the return. The new tool box looks great. (not pictured)
Tomorrow, just might be the day that "Big Red" gets tucked in for the winter. This time, I hope the cover fits. Afterall, why would anyone want to drive a 4x4 F250in the winter and get it dirty.

Deer Rescue?

Today we drove the MINI over to Lexington just to give her some exercise and us a break. Upon arrival, we were delighted to see a small local classic car show closed off the main drag. It was fun to see the 1959 Edsel Wagon and the 1960 Chevy, both classics in their own right.

A walk on the breakwall seemed like fun and then we heard sirens. Despite the fact that it was Sunday, I looked at my watch and thought it just couldn't be the first Saturday of the month, so the fire department must have a run.

A woman standing next to us pointed to a small fire department boat with one of the crew hanging from the port side holding what I first thought was a dog. It was a deer. The crewman had the deer by the horns and was attempting to get this poor creature to return to shore. It appears the deer ran out into the water and was headed for Canada!

The boat headed in, but they were only able to come in aproximately 200 feet from the shore. The waves had a pretty good swell and we hoped the deer would simply surf his way to shore once they set him free.

Unfortunately, people gathered along the breakwall close to the area where the deer needed to go. The members of the FD on shore did not take charge and direct the morons to a location where they would not disturb the rescue. The deer actually came close to the rocks along the breakwall, where it may have been able to make his way to shore, BUT along comes the young fireman with his girlfriend up the breakwall to gauwk causing the deer to head back out toward the Canadian side! It was really a cluster. Meanwhile, the deer is cold and nearly drowning!

Finally, the poor creature manages to get to shore where one of the firefighter pulls him by the antlers and drags him onto the beach. The deer held his head up, but he was so tired. I only pray the people left him alone so he might have gained back his strength.

I'm normally not one to Monday morning quarterback, but this really upset me. No one took charge, cleared the people back or made an attempt to come from the shore to get the deer. The water was not over waist deep where the deer had been freed and it seems as though a rescue donut could have been used or something similar to pull him in from the shore. Heck, a rubber raft or a small row boat would have really been the best.

Deer are very dangerous to rescue, but this deer was clearly very tired and didn't seem to be much of a risk. I was so happy he finally made it to shore. The Lexington Fire Department needs additional training for this type of rescue.

BIG RED

The old red truck came out of the "weakie barn" (named after the kittens who reside inside) last week. Nicknamed Big Red, he hauled our beloved Byron to Mackinaw Island and Apple Pi Sir Joshua to Virginia, both trips filled with cherished memories.

Never driven in the snow and garage kept, he just turned over 16,270 miles...not bad for a 1988. Removing the old Duraliner was filled with suspense since we were a bit worried about the condition of the truck bed underneath. It was great, just some scuff marks.

New tires was the first expense for Big Red, since he still had the original "shoes", which are no longer in production. They still held air, but looked a bit dry. Down to Belle Tire and we replaced the 16" with 18" chrome. Wow. Instead of "lfiting" the truck, the new wheels and tires or "tars" if you are from Virginia,
make it look very tough.

Driving BR home, he didn't feel right. A trip to Fix n' Go was my next stop. Told Joe that it felt like the rear brake calipers were not working. Sure enough, not bad for a girl, right on the money.

It's Sunday and two drive-by welfare checks have been made to be sure my truck is safe at the repair shop. I can't wait to get him back.