some days....

my sister's facebook post today:

I've lost several friends and acquaintances to suicide. I've talked to people who had failed suicide attempts. I myself once almost ended my life - thankfully I talked myself out of it. I've been shocked by people who seem to have it all together that fight depression and self esteem issues. You just never know what inner demons a person is struggling with. Don't assume the public face a person wears is their true self. Be kind. Give out smiles. Pray for people. Try to be that one bright spot in someone's day that gives them the motivation to try to get through just one more day. And don't joke about people's appearances, actions, etc or about mental illness unless you know your audience well enough to know it won't push them farther into a pit of despair.

facebook post by Vicki

I thought I'd post this picture of my husband, Kent Doze, who taught 8th grade and coached for 6 years, was acting principal for four years and vice-principal for one year in the Carbondale Grade School. It is a nice picture of the old high school building, too. This was taken around 1967.

1958 Tawana & 1962 Tawana.

did a google search looking for old Trenton yearbooks to find a pic of my dad on track team. found 1958 and 1962, he was in neither. also no track pictures in either, just football and basetball. so, this called for some edits...found Aunt Chardy, Aunt Mary, Mom, AND Aunt Freeda....

Aunt Mary was a senior in 1958 yearbook, it was star theme, her star was Susan Hayward, her activities were: FHA 2,3,4; Dramatics 4; Girls Glee Club 1,2,3,4.

"I knew Dad ran in track in high school. He used to race us kids and was FAST. But I just learned he also did the pole vault! That shocks me as he always had a bad back. Maybe that's why?! He got hurt somehow (Mom doesn't remember how) and was on crutches for on a pole vault injury when they started dating."

Lisa posted this on facebook today. Aunt Mary had also recently wrote me this. will have to try to find a Trenton yearbook with a pic of him on the track team.....I thought he dropped out of school relatively young. or I assumed, I guess. I do know he didn't graduate.

Lisa commented: Mom got her alumni newsletter today and Aunt Mary had a blurb in there about dad hobbling on crutches from a pole vault injury. Mom read it to me! Then Brenda added: Dad told me about it last summer when we would sit & talk outside at night. He also told me he was in organized boxing matches too. (That was during his high school years, if memory serves me correctly) Amazing just how many cool things a person can find out about a loved one later on in life when they slow down enough to listen.

The Axsom girls hanging out at the home place

Ashley's facebook post.....she graduated from Mizzou with a double major and spent the summer working with her dad on the road crew.

Well, seeing as today is my first day on contract, it seems like a good time to announce that I am going to be teaching at Atchison High School this year!! I will teach journalism, junior English and manage the yearbook and school newspaper. The position fell into my lap amidst other plans I had, as all great opportunities do! All the pieces just fell into place and I'm very excited for the year to come.