Posts Tagged ‘Family’

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Remembering Happy Days

January 30, 2012

Dad, Virginia Smith and Mom, Boonville, Indiana. October 5, 2006.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

One advantage of cold, wet winter days is that I have more time to work at my computer.

I recently came across some pictures that I took back in October, 2006.  Betsy and I had driven Mom and Dad up to Mom’s hometown of Winslow, Indiana.  On the way we stopped in Boonville, Indiana, to visit their friend, Virginia Smith.

Virginia was Mom’s best friend in school.  When they were seniors, Virginia started dating Leonard Smith, who was Dad’s best friend in the CCC.  Dad and Leonard were stationed at a CCC camp outside Winslow, working on what would become a state park.  Needless to say, it wasn’t long before Virginia and Leonard and Mom and Dad were double dating.

Virginia and Leonard got married shortly after Virginia graduated from high school, but my grandmother made Mom wait until she was twenty before she married.  Mom was a good daughter and didn’t get married until three days after she turned twenty.

Mom and Dad and the Smiths remained friends through the years.  Leonard died in the mid 1980s, but Mom, Dad and Virginia remained in touch and visited whenever possible.

Virginia died in 2010, and Mom died last year.  Now Dad — 99 years young — is the only one left.  But it was a blessing back in 2006 for Betsy and me to be there as these three remembered the happy days gone by.

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Posted in American Life | 20 Comments »

Our World: High School Football Game — Half-Time Show

November 1, 2011

Landon during the half-time show. Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

I’ve done two posts about the football game Betsy and I attended in early October.  The first post was about the pre-game festivities, the second was about the game itself.  This post is about the half-time show.  It’s really appropriate that I’m sharing the half-time show after every thing else, because we had to wait until after the game to see the show.  The visiting band’s program lasted too long for Bearden’s program to be completed during half-time, so it was postponed until after the game.

Betsy’s grandson, Landon, is the drummer in the middle of the picture above.

Half-time show, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

The band’s program was based on Clockworks.  I must admit that I’m not familiar with that work, but I enjoyed the band’s playing and marching.

Half-time show, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

Of course we tried to keep an eye on Landon during all the evolutions.

Flag-bearers during the half-time show. October 6, 2011.

The flag bearers  put on quite a display as well.

Majorette, Bearden High School. October 6, 2011.

During the show one of the majorettes did her thing with three flaming batons.

Majorette, Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

I was frankly amazed that she didn’t get burned.

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Posted in Our World | 17 Comments »

Our World: High School Football Game

October 25, 2011

Bearden High School football game. Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

As I mentioned in last week’s post for this meme, Betsy and I attended a high school football game earlier this month so that we could see Landon, Betsy’s grandson, perform as a member of his school’s marching band.

Bearden High School football game, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

My children were in their high school band, so I know all to well, that you need to sit through a football game if you want to see the band.  Some things never change.  The boys for Bearden, Landon’s school, played hard.  They’re the team in the dark jerseys.  Unfortunately, the other team was much better.

Fireworks celebrating a Bearden touchdown. October 6, 2011.

Still, the Bearden boys didn’t give up, and we had to admire the school spirit.  A Bearden touchdown was celebrated with fireworks.

Bearden High School cheerleaders, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

But I have a confession to make.  After sitting through the entire game I came to the conclusion that some of the best athletes on the field were the Bearden cheerleaders.

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Posted in Our World | 13 Comments »

Our World: High School Football Preliminaries

October 18, 2011

Betsy's grandson Landon (middle drummer) at the high school game. October 6, 2011.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Earlier this month we went Knoxville to see a high school football game.  Betsy’s grandson, is a drummer in his high school band.  That’s Landon in the middle in the picture above.

Both of my children were in the band during their high school years, so it was interesting to see how the pre-game activities have changed since my kids were in school.

Bearden Bulldog banner at the game. October 6, 2011.

Things got started with a group of students bring a large banner out to midfield.

Cheerleaders leading the team out onto the field.

The cheerleaders burst through the banner . . .

The football team arrives on the field. October 6, 2011.

. . . followed by the football team.

Fireworks welcome the team onto the field. Bearden High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. October 6, 2011.

The fireworks reminded me of an NFL playoff game.  But everyone (except perhaps the visiting team) seemed to enjoy the excitement and soon it was time to play football.

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Posted in American Life | 17 Comments »

The Women In My Life

October 13, 2011

Betsy and Kelly at Dale Hollow State Park, Kentucky. August 25, 2007.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

I was going through some old pictures recently and came upon this picture of Betsy and my daughter Kelly.  It was taken back in August, 2007, at Dale Hollow State Park in Kentucky.  Kelly and her husband, Chuck, were getting ready to move to Buffalo, so we met them at the Dale Hollow Lodge for a dinner and some time together.

All I wanted was a picture of these two women together.  I thought it was a simple request and could be easily done.  Obviously, I was wrong.

I just can’t take these two any where!

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Posted in Family | 22 Comments »

My Daughter, the Photographer

September 29, 2011

Kelly capturing the scenery at Whirlpool State Park, New York. September 10, 2011.

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.  Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I went to Buffalo earlier this month to visit my daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Chuck.  Although they both have full-time jobs, Kelly is trying to get established as a photographer.

I’m not prejudiced, of course, but I think she’s pretty good — even if she does use a Nikon.  She’s shot several concerts, and was sent to San Diego in August by a record label to shoot a concert out there.  Kelly has already had a couple of shows, and she will have a show in Nashville in November, at the time of the CMA (Country Music Association) awards.

Chuck is a supportive husband in these endeavors, and serves as her manager.  They also make a pretty good-looking couple.  (Again I’m not the least bit prejudiced).

Kelly and Chuck, Whirlpool State Park, New York. September 10, 2011.

You can see a sample of Kelly’s work at

http://www.kellyeschultz.smugmug.com/.

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Posted in Travels | 17 Comments »

Our World: Lewiston Peach Festival

September 27, 2011

The Sweet Spot, Peach Festival, Lewiston, New York. September 10, 2011. (Photo by Betsy).

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

When we visited my daughter and her husband a couple of weeks ago, they took us to the Peach Festival in Lewiston, New York.  The Peach Festival was interesting, and is fairly typical of small-town American festivals.

One thing Americans like to do is eat, and the Peach Festival had a wide variety of different foods for just about every conceivable taste.  The Sweet Spot (above) had things for those with a sweet tooth.

This booth would have been as much at home in Louisiana as it was in New York. Peach Festival, Lewiston, New York. September 10, 2011.

Some places offered a wide variety of different foods.

I didn't see anyone ordering the Garlic Meatloaf Sandwich. Peach Festival, Lewiston, New York. September 10, 2011.

I’m not sure I want to try that Garlic Meatloaf Sandwich!

Barbecued turkey legs and corn on the cob. Peach Festival, Lewiston, New York. September 10, 2011.

Barbecued turkey legs and grilled corn on the cob are uniquely American treats.

Preparing Italian sausages. September 10, 2011.

The booth selling Italian sausages was busy preparing for a lot of customers.  The aroma started to make me hungry.

Peppers and onions. Peach Festival, Lewiston, New York. September 10, 2011.

Stir-fried onions and peppers were available as garnishes for the sausages.

Did you note anything strange about this visit to the Peach Festival?  There are no pictures of peaches.  I saw only one booth with peaches, and I didn’t get a picture!

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Posted in Our World | 18 Comments »

99 Years Young

September 1, 2011

Dad, my sister-in-law Bonnie and brother Ken. August 31, 2011.

My Dad turned 99 on Monday.  He’s still in relatively good health, although he has gone down since my Mother died in June.  He suffered a small stroke about three weeks ago, but is much better than when we last saw him a couple of weeks ago.

My brother and sister-in-law came down from Indiana this week, so we all got together last night to celebrate Dad’s birthday.  Cracker Barrel is one of Dad’s favorite places so we got together to celebrate.  All three of his children (do I qualify as a child when I’m pushing 70?) and our spouses were there.

Betsy, my sister Janet, brother-in-law Charlie, George, Dad, sister-in-law Bonnie and brother Ken. August 31, 2011.

The Cracker Barrel staff came to the table and sang Happy Birthday to Dad and presented him with some apple cobbler and ice cream.  I think that was Dad’s favorite part of the meal.

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Posted in Family | 20 Comments »

In Honor and Memory

June 6, 2011

Kay Adams. May 2, 1920 - June 6, 2011.

My mother died this morning at my sister’s home.  She  had been in declining health, but apparently had a massive heart attack and died quickly.  Betsy and I had seen her (and Dad) on Thursday and I talked with her on the phone Saturday.  She sounded very chipper and in good spirits.  She had just had some ice cream before I called, which was her favorite snack.

The feature of Mom that most people commented on was her smile.  When my parents moved to Tennessee, the children in their new neighborhood called her the “Smile Lady”.

Now she’s smiling in heaven — it must be a brighter place today.

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Posted in Family | 32 Comments »

My World: Relieved, Not Happy

February 8, 2011

Mom, Dad and me, Crown Point, Indiana. October, 1943.

This is my post for the My World meme.  It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, and Fishing Guy.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

As you may know, Betsy and I have spent the last couple of years helping my parents at their home in Hendersonville.  Dad is 98, Mom is 90 and they are both legally blind.

They are also very stubborn and have insisted that they can get along just fine at home by themselves.  After much pleading they finally agreed to let Meals on Wheels bring them meals, and a caregiver visit them three times a week.  Although this was an improvement, it still left them alone much too often as far as my sister, Betsy and I were concerned.  Both Mom and Dad have fallen and have needed help getting up.

My sister Janet has been trying for several years to get Mom and Dad to move to Tullahoma and live with her.  She has a little area in her home fixed up for them.  Her husband has to have a full-time sitter, who can also keep an eye on the folks.

Mom and Dad have resisted moving, but after many discussions with us, their doctor, and members of their church, they have agreed to try living down there.  Janet took them home with her this past Friday, and if things go well, we’ll move some of their furniture down next week.

I know that encouraging them to move to Janet’s home was the right thing to do, but doing it wasn’t easy and didn’t make me feel especially happy.  Please keep these two wonderful people (and the rest of us) in your prayers.

The picture above was taken in 1943.  I had much more hair back then!

 

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Posted in American Life | 24 Comments »

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