the lights flickered and there in the dull glow of a single lamp....

this reminds me of my dad and his cb radio...except the falling asleep at the wheel and gone to be with Jesus part, obviously....deb

The lights flickered and there in the dull glow of a single lamp was grandpa sitting in his old chair beside the radio turning the dial. Hat could hear the sound of him flicking from one channel to the next and then tuning in to one particular station.

Every friday night Hat would climb up on grandpa's lap, the sweet aroma of his pipe lingering in the air and they would listen to The Shadow radio drama together. Hat heard the announcer saying the familiar words: "The Shadow knows ... "

And then, Grandpa patted his knee. He was still dressed in bib overalls and his face was weathered from years of working in the fields in the hot sun and wind. Hat loved each wrinkle, each blemish. His was a kind face, the face of a man who had given his life in service for others.

Hat ran to him and climbed up on his lap, resting his head on grandpa's shoulder, the sound of the radio fading in and out. It had been years since he had sat with gramps and listened to The Shadow. Years since grandpa had fallen asleep at the wheel and left them to be with Jesus.

~ excerpt from the book "The Backroads: Long Road to Lancaster" by Traveler

a limb has fallen from the family tree....

from Ashley's facebook.....

flashback to my creation from freshman year. It's not as bad this year as it was back then, thankfully.

The 12 Steps of Finals. An original composition:

12- Facebook checks

11- Text messages

10- Page papers

9- Unread textbooks

8- Packs of notecards

7-Visits to Ellis

6- Hours sleep

<

5- FINALLLLS TO COMPLEEETTTEEEE

4- Bags packed

3- Last minute essays

2- Pots of coffee

and 1 eager to go home college studentttttt!!!

(I love to read her writing! deb)

well it is raining like Hell out here now and probly will all nite...

letter from Tech. 5th Grade Cpl. John Maxwell

stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas during WWII to his sister Minerva Maxwell, 1004 Rural St. Trenton MO

postmarked May 2 1942 Fort Leavenworth Kans. 1130PM

Dear Sis

well it is raining like Hell out here now and probly will all nite I have worked yesterday afternoon and today the first time since Monday Have fun in bed the rest of time with Sinus trouble it got so bad my eyes swell almost shut.

They have put enough medican in my nose and head to Keep it from Spoaling for a a long time and probly will put a lot more before I get over it but am about all right. I got home last Sunday about 1am oclock and Slept until time to go to work Monday.

Don't think I will try to come home any more until last of the month they get pass I am planning on going to K.C. Monday afternoon and see the ball game I have got two letters from Garnett Moore this week she is over at Princeton and Surely can't not find her a boy friend to be writing so much well I will have to quit for a while and fix our lunches now is I am letting in the office at the mess hall and being telephone boy.

well I have got that done now and went down it the basement and got a lot of dry towels to wipe plates it still is raining so hard you can't see very far but let it rain no lady is out.

I think will go to bed Just as Soon as get down to the barracks and shave for will work again tomorrow but Shorty will be back Sunday nite to work Monday

well I had better close for it is about time to go and it is getting brighter now.

John

deb's note: these letters are fascinating, since they were written by people I met but didn't really know....Uncle John was just the really tall thin guy that came to family stuff sometimes....now I know he was funny! and I also know that Aunt Minerva not only kept all these letters, but she tallied a bunch of sums on the back of one page of this letter and made a list on the back of the envelope.....

12.50

2.00 Hose

65 books

60 paper

30 pencils

1.00 Twanata

1.50 Defense Stamp

10 Observer school paper

.35 picnic

90 show bill

10 ink

25 Wared Majs

35 yarn

60 scratched out

.20 can't read

10 anklets

30 Cap Charlene

10 rattle

20 envelopes

2.70 sugar for home

20 salt

30 candy

45 Hamburger

If I were back home now I probably would be in the city of Trenton this afternoon but here this is just another day for me.

letter from Cpl Lawrence D. Brown

stationed in Albuquerque New Mexico during WWII

to his girlfriend, Miss Minerva Maxwell of Brimson Missouri

Sat. afternoon

July 21, 1945

Dear Minerva

If I were back home now I probably would be in the city of Trenton this afternoon but out here this is just another day for me. If a person goes down town here on Sat. afternoon he can sure tell it because all the Spicks & Indians come to town.

I have been looking for a letter from Fern today but all of the mail has been put Up (?I'm guessing, maybe it is Deep?) for today so I guess maybe I won't receive any. I though maybe she would write & tell me when you & her could come out for a week or two. I guess I should have told your folks & mine what we planned to do but I guess I lost my nerve so you will half to for give me. I don't see why it should shock anyone because that is the question they all ask. I am not going to make many plans or arrangements till yuou get here because I probably would just make a mess out of it so you can just boss the whole deal & they you will be more satisfied.

They have put us on 12 hr shifts for a few days untill we got some more of our planes in flying condition. There has been so many engine changes the last two week that we have fell behind in teh number of planes we are to have for the combat crews.

I sure have done my share of sleeping since I came back. It was 3:00A> when I got in bed this morning & at 11:30 I got up. The flies woke me up once so I covered my head up & went back to sleep. You sure was a sleepy gal the morning I got you up when we were over to Scotts but you had a good reason to be. I feel like I could go to sleep again but it is almost time for me to go to work.

From about 10:00AM till the sun goes down it is plenty warm here I sure hate to work the graveyard shift because it is so hard to get any sleep here in the daytime.

I never have heard a word about not being here for work last Sunday evening & I think it is to late now for them to say anything. I was just lucky by having the flight chief to cover up for me that show me he appreciated the way I took care of & rant my plane in the air when he needed it. There just isn't much I wouldn't do for him except loan him money & I refused him on that but I had a good excuse.

I have a few more things to do before I go to work so will close.

With All My Love

Dale

meanwhile....at Ed & Norma's house....

our daughter's second home....