Those 70ish Girls

I am so anxious to tell all of you what Kipper and I are up to, but I promised I wouldn’t leak a word until after January 1st. In the meantime, I am taking lots of step by step pictures. You are dying to know, aren’t you? You might… no you will… think we are crazy. Maybe we are, but we’re not certifiable…yet.

On another note…

We’re getting new flooring put in our kitchen and living room next week. They said it will take four to five days, so we’re going to fire up the RV and go to the place we went on our maiden RV voyage… Canton, TX. (It’s about 18 miles from here.) We have to move all of the furniture from both rooms and get all of the nicky nack’s out of the living room to prepare for the floor people. We decided this would be a good time to go through our whole house and get rid of “stuff.”

Well, the whole thing has gotten out of control. We were horrified at all the things we, (okay I), have collected in the three years we have lived in this house. I feel sorry for all of you out there who have decades of accumulated treasures that you will one day have to go through.

My brother, Billy, convinced his wife, Liz, to go through everything in the garage and get rid of the things they no longer needed, so they could maybe put a car in there. He said three hours later she was still reading all of the kid’s school papers that were in the first box. He couldn’t take it, so he called the project off.

I am so proud of Kip and me. We have sorted through everything that has been stored in the attic, and we are continuing to go through every room in the house. We are so determined to be, what do they call it? Oh, yeah…minimalistic.

Hold that thought. We now are the proud renters of a storage space. We have hauled box after box and even some furniture and exercise equipment over there. I know what you’re thinking. We aren’t brave at all. You are right.

I am a little bit like my mother. She was not attached to anything of the material nature. She gave away my grandmother’s (on Dad’s side) silver, piece by piece, in exchange for hard labor. The hired help would agree to complete a certain task like clean the basement or take everything out of the furnace room, clean it, and then reorganize it. When it came time for them to be paid, she said she didn’t have the cash, but would they like a piece of silver? Do you think I’m making this up? Well I’m not. I recently received this silver ladle in the mail from my cousin who felt guilty about having accepted several things that should have been handed down to Billy and Me.

Don’t tell him this, but that silver ladle is now somewhere in a rented storage unit. I did keep the Francis Plumbing and Heating ceramic toilet. The same cousin sent Billy our grandfather’s (on Dad’s side) watch. He even put it in a display dome for him. It’s probably in a box in the garage.

I found myself going through my most recent collection. I was trying to decide if I should continue collecting hats, store them in the storage unit, or give them away.

What do you think dogs and cats?

A terrible thing has happened. I think Kip took my chest full of crowns to the storage unit. I wonder what that’s all about!

Kip has a collection of CD’s and several country western albums. Some of them he purchased back in the 60’s. He hardly ever listens to them. I’m thinking storage unit.

 

I was daydreaming today when I should have been paying attention. I try with little success not to do that. I was thinking about small town life.

Mabank, TX, where we live now, could be considered a small town, but it’s still many times larger in population than Murdo, SD. I can go into a store or cafe and not know a single person in there. I can’t tell you who lives in every house in town. I haven’t lived in Murdo for decades, yet on our recent visit, we drove through the neighborhoods looking at the houses and I could remember who lived there fifty years ago. My husband, Kip, couldn’t believe it. He grew up in the big city of Laramie, Wyoming.

Back to discussing the small town connection. Where does the time go?

While in Murdo, we went to visit Tammy Van Dam at the grade school and she told us they were going to build a new elementary school. I said, “Huh? This school is new!” We moved into it when I was halfway through the eighth grade. When I stopped to think about it, I realized that was in 1966…51 or so years ago. My school is old and shabby. They are going to tear it down. It’s enough to give me nightmares.

I went to the first elementary school until the 2nd semester of 8th grade, which is when we moved to the new school. Tammy Lindquist Van Dam,(in the next photo), the day we visited and she gave me the shocking news.

Does that mean I’m old and shabby? I don’t think anyone mocked us when cousin Val and I rode down Murdo’s Main St. in a convertible. I went to see the red convertible when Kip and I visited last summer. It’s in a museum for old cars. Everyone has heard about the Pioneer Auto Museum. Museums are for old, outdated, antique cars. People live longer now. They might start calling old people antiques. It will be senior, elderly and then antique.

Is that an antique person sitting in the car on top of the sign?

Every time I visit home, I find myself a little more removed from the people. I used to see families and classmates I knew. Now I don’t recognize some of the names, and I get confused looks when I ask about someone who I think is related to the one I’m talking to. I’ll ask, “Are you so and so’s youngster?” They will say, “No, I’m his grandson, and I’m 45. My mind is a generation behind.

I am comforted by the fact that a lot of things are the same. The auditorium looks like it was just built yesterday, and it’s still the center of everything. Cafe 16 is now the Star Cafe, but the inside is very much the same. Kip and I had a great breakfast there.

The home we moved to when I was eleven is still there, although it’s buried under the trees at the Range Country Motel. How many people can say their childhood home is buried? “Yikes!”

The motel back in the 70’s when it was the Chalet. The motel now…my house is under that tree.

The Frosty Freeze is gone, but what used to be Super Value is still there and when I walked in, Ruth Daum called me by name. (I hope I have her name right. If not, please correct me.)

Someone posted a picture of Main St. back in the 40’s. There was a restaurant where the dry cleaners used to be. I’m not sure what is there now. Robin Cromwell and Butch Rada listed several businesses that are north of old Hwy 16, and on or near Main St. I like knowing it’s thriving.

Getting older isn’t all bad. I don’t have to fill out anymore employment applications or punch a time clock. I don’t have to worry about kids misbehaving or cooking big meals. I think I was about 40 when I stopped trying to figure out what I was going to be when I grew up. I was a mortgage loan underwriter. I don’t remember telling everyone that’s what I wanted to be when I was planning my future.

I’m probably not going to get back home this year, but I’m looking forward to a trip to Phoenix, AZ in February. My brother, Billy, our step-father, Gus, and our cousin, Valerie, are going to the Jones County Reunion. I don’t think they have a parade, or a Pioneer Auto Museum with a red convertible. I do know a lot of the people from Murdo who moved to AZ when they retired. Most of them are a little older than Valerie and I are. I wonder if they have a Pioneer People Museum there yet…

Do you think Valerie and I should take our crowns? I’m not wearing my long red Kitty Reynolds formal if I have to walk everywhere.

 Here we come Phoenix!

I’m taking some blog breaks over the holidays. I have a big birthday on New Year’s Eve to plan for. My soon to be 8 yr. old granddaughter was born on my birthday and we usually celebrate together.

After the first of the year, I will be taking you on an adventure of a different kind. I can’t wait to tell you about it.

I hope everyone had a glorious Christmas. Here are a few of our Christmas pictures.

The above pics were taken Christmas Eve at daughter Heidi’s home. She is a born entertainer. Christmas day, we helped at a local restaurant. They served a free Christmas dinner to over 300 people. Vicky, who owns Vicky’s BBQ is a genuine community supporter. She accepted donations, but that all went to the Fire Department.

Kip got me an intensive pulsed light hair removal system. I don’t know what it is for sure, but unlike my grandson, I don’t think I’ll have to buy anymore razors. The 3rd picture is of our son, Mason and his family hunkering down in cold Wyoming. The picture below is of Daughter Heidi with her granddaughter, our GGD, Ryan Constance.

I love to look at pictures. It doesn’t matter if I know the people in them or where they were taken.

I have been in awe today by some pictures from the past and some recent photos of beautiful skies. I can’t ever get through all of the Facebook feed, because I spend too much time enjoying everyone’s photographs.

My cousin, Sue, posted some pics of our family from back in the 40’s during wartime. I remember Mom telling me she and Aunt Ella (Valerie’s mom), lived together in an apartment in California. My dad and Uncle Al were overseas. Grandma Sanderson couldn’t get to California in time to see Uncle Jeff before he shipped out. Mom said she wouldn’t look at the ocean the whole time she was there, because it took her Jeff away.

Jeff Sanderson with Bob Haverberg. Jeff is Mom and Helen’s brother. Bob is Helen’s husband.

It was really fun to look at the picture of Mom’s sister, Helen. She was a beauty inside and out. All four girls were pretty. Grandpa Sanderson said when he had one of the girls with him, people would remark that his daughter was beautiful. He always told them he had three more just as beautiful at home. Aunt Elna was the youngest by five or six years.

 

Aunt Ella on the left…Mom and Aunt Ella on the right.

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Sue also ran across a photo of Grandma and Grandpa, and Mom at our house. They often came after church for Sunday dinner. It was usually fried chicken. Grandma always left a dime tip by her plate.

Grandma and Grandpa Sanderson….my mother, Loretta Gustafson

Below, is a picture of Grandpa’s Jeep that looked just like Uncle Jeff’s 51 Willy. Beside the Jeep, is Grandpa’s Ford. Valerie insists Grandpa had the roof painted dark blue so if he ever got lost in a snowstorm people could find him. (I believe you Val. I know I always expect you to believe everything I say.) If we believe it, then it has to be true. This is the car that had the buzzer that warned Grandpa when he was exceeding the speed limit, which he always was. Some of those rides to the cabin were really nerve wracking.

I also look on Facebook every day for the sunrise and sunset pictures Dianna Kenobbie Diehm always posts. She catches the sun barely peeking over the landscape, or fading out of sight. Sometimes she catches fast-moving clouds. You can feel the quiet calm or the energy in that moment in time, Dianna captures so well.

These are photographs taken by Dianna Kenobbie Diehm. Aren’t they awesome? (By the way…You can see many of Dianna’s photographs in my new book, Dakota’s Story. It’s on Amazon and is available in black and white, full color, and e-book format. More on that tomorrow.)

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Seeing families together for holidays and reunions are also some of my favorites. You can almost feel the joy they’re experiencing.

(top left)…sisters Ella Leckey, Helen Haverberg, and Loretta Gustafson. The bottom photo is of Grandma Sanderson (with beads on as always). Bob Haverberg, Al Leckey, Ella Leckey and Helen Haverberg..This was taken at the Nemo cabin. The other picture was taken recently. I threw it in because I thought it was cute. My granddaughters are looking at the beautiful Christmas tree from underneath.

God bless the picture takers who capture precious moments in time, so we can go back and relive good memories.

This blog was also prompted by the photographs I found looking through boxes of pictures while I was supposed to be packing and sorting. The room you saw in last night’s blog looks a little better, but not much.

I hope some of you missed my blog last night. I didn’t write one. This will probably be brief as well for two reasons.

I am working on the roll-out of Dakotah’s Story. It is now available on Amazon in black and white, full color, and ebook format. I will give you all the details, Tuesday.

It was a tricky story to convert but I think it was worth the extra time and headaches. Let’s just say I learned a lot. I included many of Dianna’s and Amber’s photographs, which wasn’t as easy as you might think. I learned a lot in the “art” of formating. The sunrise/sunset photos are beautiful, and we get to see Soo’-tah in action.

I still intend to donate the proceeds to cancer research. I found out that Amazon will take care of it for me. As I said before, I know it won’t be a significant amount, but It will be from us, right?

Here is an excerpt…This part was not in the original story.

I made my way to Deadwood by train. I was fortunate because this was the first year the railway came to the growing town. My first impression was that it was a pretty rugged mining town.

I knew I would have to be there at least overnight, so I secured a small inexpensive room, in what seemed to be a reasonably safe hotel, before going in search of the Lawrence County Courthouse.

I found everything to be in order just as my father said it would be. While at the courthouse, I inquired about where I might be able to purchase a horse and wagon. The kind gentleman I talked to wrote down a name and showed me where I could find everything I needed. I was able to get a good horse and a wagon that was old but suited my needs. I hurried to purchase my supplies before heading toward Ft. Meade which was about fifteen miles east of Deadwood. The farmhouse was another ten miles north. I figured I should be able to make it to the property before dark. I was pleased that so far, everything had gone as planned.

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Now to the second reason I have been and will be a little hit and miss until after Christmas.

It all started when I was looking for my checkbook. Truthfully, I’m not sure I even have one anymore. It’s been so long since I have used anything but a debit card, and I can’t remember the last time I wrote a check.

It wasn’t in my office. I can’t believe how much stuff I had in a medium-sized closet. I was trying to find my checkbook, but I am also taking all of my Christmas decorations down because we decided to put in new flooring and the flooring people can do it next week. Everything in the living room and kitchen has to be moved and tearing out the old flooring will create a lot of dust. We’re not going to be home anyway, so I decided to take the time to sort through stuff and if I find my checks in the meantime, that will be an added bonus.

I also decided to show you a few cute pics of some of our grandkids.

Guess Santa wasn’t so scary last year. (Skyler and Ryan Constance)

Seamus and Hudson rode on the Polar Express!

Did someone say, (smile!)

Maybe tomorrow we will check in on Pearl’s Busy Nest.

Something happened to me today that has never happened before. Maybe it was a good thing…, Maybe not.

Growing up in Murdo, I never found myself in a situation where I felt real fear of another person. In the first place it would have been strange not to know someone living in Murdo or at least heard about any new folks. Well, there were the tourists, but you could spot them a mile away.

I had to mail a Christmas gift today so prepared to stand in a long line, I drove over to the PO around three o’clock. There were only four or five people in line in front of me. I was thinking about all the things I had to do and trying to decide when I was going to do them.

A man walked in and normally I wouldn’t have paid any attention, except he didn’t go to the back of the line, which was behind me. Instead, he kind of walked around, I guess you might say he paced around. He was of average height, probably in his mid thirty’s, and average to slim build. He seemed rather nervous, and as I was trying to size him up without staring, I noticed his jacket was protruding in front. It was really noticeable. It almost looked like he had a basketball under there. Or could it be something more sinister?

No one else seemed to be paying any attention to him, so I felt it was my duty to watch in case he made any sudden moves. All kinds of things went through my mind. If this guy was someone who wanted to do us in, I needed to be prepared. I don’t know why, but it never occurred to me to leave. I guess I thought it was my moral obligation to remain watchful, since no one else seemed to pick on the little subtleties he was exhibiting.

Then I started to worry a little. Not so much about what he might do to us, but I was trying to remember if I made my bed. I was wishing I had picked up the house a little before I left. I mean if something happened to me, throngs of people would be coming to my house. They would be bringing hot dishes to Kip. Oh, man…my refrigerator was full of leftovers that I should have thrown out days ago. The only bright side was the fact that I hadn’t done all the mundane things, because now it seemed it would have been a waste of time. I really did want to mail my package, though.

Then I heard, “Mam, Mam!!” It was my turn. The basketball man was standing over by the mail boxes, so I took my eyes off of him for just a minute or two to while the post office person took my package. She said, “It will be there by Tuesday.” I wondered if the mail would still go out…

While I was contemplating all of this, the half door to the side of the mail boxes came open. The clerk stuck his head out and said, “I’m sorry sir…I just got back from lunch. The basketball guy reached in his pocket and I held my breath. He pulled out a notice that he had a package to pick up, which he did and then he left.

As I drove home, I convinced myself that it is always a good thing to be aware of your surroundings. Maybe he just had a few too many Christmas cookies under his jacket. Oh, I forgot to tell you, as I saw him get into the car, he pulled out a pair of huge gloves from his front pocket and threw them in the seat beside him when he got in.

I’m sure glad this story had a happy ending, because when I got home, the mailman had delivered the best packages ever. I have incorporated the contents into my Beastertown Christmas display. I’m still smiling and having fun with them.

I am so glad I lived to tell this story, and I’m especially happy the mail came. Thank you my photographic drawer, (Sherri). You must have sensed I needed to be reminded of how much you and all those I have come to know and love through the Murdo Girl blog mean to me. I will keep the card forever and read it often.

 

 

 

 

Nothing like a water tower and a crown to cheer a girl up. Right Queen E?

It occurred with me today that we haven’t had fun with Queen E. in a while. As far as Queens go, she is the best of the best. Look how long she has kept the hat makers and suit-makers busy. They must make a fortune designing just the right apparel for just the right occasion. I don’t know how she keeps up with her social calendar. It must be grueling. She has all of these events to attend and still have time to play with George and what’s her name. Now another what’s her name or what’s his name is on the way. No wonder she spends so much time across the pond in Murdo.

They call me Peppy…That’s Pepto Bismol to you…

Hey bloke!! The sign says no cell phones

Did I get it all?

Barney Fife friended me

I dare say Mum it’s either raining or a bird flew over  our heads. Don’t they know royalty when they see me?

You ruined my best hat you dodo bird.

Philip!! I dare say…were we supposed to catch these bouquets?…Lovely couple beside us don’t you agree?  

Too much Pepto-Bismol…

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I saved the best for you…or you can come up with something better for my quips. I need a laugh.

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I’m on my way to pick up Pearl the dog. I’m early because Pearl the human said we were going to have an employee meeting at 8:00 sharp. It’s okay with me, ’cause I can’t wait to see our beautiful Christmas tree. You should have heard Pearl wheel the deal. That Super Value guy had to hold up every one of those trees for Pearl to inspect. She wanted it to be perfect.Then she made him tie it on top of the clunky old Jeep, ride with us to the Nest and bring it in. He also went and got us a tree stand, because we forgot we needed one. It turns out Pearl had two big boxes of decorations in the cat room, and all of them are shiny gold. We put every one of them on the tree or hung them up somewhere. It’s just dazzling.

When I got to Pearl’s to pick up Pearl, there was a note on the door saying Pearl and Grace and Pearl the dog were already at the Nest and to hurry and get there. People were waiting for the meeting to get started.

Sometimes Pearl thinks strange. There’s only the three of us currently employed there. Maybe she was just practicing for when she gets chains of Pearl’s Busy Nests.

I’m not there yet, but I almost am.

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“Hi Pearl, Hi Grace, Hi Pearl the dog. I’m here are you?”

All I heard was sobbing and one little “ruff.” I could see Grace standing there flailing her arms. She was saying, “Oh my, Oh my, Land Sakes, Oh my.” She even said her only swear word. “Joodust Preast.”

When I walked around the corner, I saw a terrible seen, scene. And it didn’t look good for Pearl the dog. She was standing beside the tree whimpering. The tree was NOT standing. It was crashed on the floor. Broken shiny gold balls were everywhere. I did not know what to say, which is unusual for me.

“I’m sure Pearl didn’t mean to wreck the Christmas tree. Um, She just thought it was pretty and wanted to get closer to the shiny gold decorations.”

Pearl the human jumped up. “What are you talking about Essie? Pearl didn’t do anything to that tree. It’s a wonder she didn’t get hurt when it fell over. Go take a close look at the perrrrrfect tree that Stupid Value guy sold us. It looked fine didn’t it? Each branch the exact right distance from the trunk that looks like a serpentine. It winds around so much, why if it was straight that thing would be ten feet tall! Come on Essie,” she said. “We’re going to see that tree guy and he better make this right or that tree trunk won’t be the only twisted thing around.”

The tree guy

Well, I prayed all the way down the hill to the Super Value Store. I might be the deadest one of all if Pearl finds out I told Grace to call the store and warn them what was coming their way.

We walked inside, me behind Pearl. We didn’t get a chance to say anything because the phone hanging on the wall next to where we were standing was ringing and the cashier answered it. “Please, please, please, don’t let that be Grace. I knew Grace wouldn’t be able to word what she needed to say so the checker would know not to say anything that would give us away. It wasn’t Grace on the phone though. It was the store manager.

We heard the clerk say, “Really Mr. King? You and Bruno will be gone all day? Okay…bye.”

“Might I help you?” She said to us.

“Was that the boss and the tree guy you were talking to?” Pearl asked.

“Yes,” said the checker. “It appears they will be out for the rest of the day.”

“Would you mind if I smoked an air cigarette before we leave?” Pearl asked. “My throat is dry, is your’s Essie? Might we have a coca cola on ice, please. I fear I’m so parched I won’t be able to talk to your boss and the tree guy. I see them walking up right now. I believe they’re slapping each other on the back. Hm…curious,” she said. “It appears up to now, they have been enjoying a beautiful day. ”

Pearl snubbed out her air cigarette and stood up to confrunt, confront the two sneaks.

Well, I won’t tell you everything that was said, but we got a beautiful new tree, and Super Value told us to go to the Gamble’s store and get all the decorations we needed. We got green this time because Pearl says she has more green outfits and she doesn’t look particularly good in gold tones.

The employee meeting was put off until tomorrow.