Sunday, January 22, 2006

Up In The Attic ...


We started off the new year involved in a much needed project. After settling in our home for nearly 17 years it was time to go through the “treasures” we have stored in the attic. The boxes are falling apart and it’s time to decide what to keep and what to part with.
Today I’m going through a box containing things we brought home from my dad’s “estate” after he passed away in 1988. He died at age 54 of a massive heart attack at work … there were no opportunities for a “last visit” or “goodbyes.”
It looks as if the box includes things from his parents so it was filled with many yellowed books, old newspapers and car magazines, a stack of old 78’s and an old box camera – the only possessions I have that remind me of my dad and grandparents.
I started by going through the old 78’s. I tend to think most of them may have belonged to his parents … music I don’t remember my dad listening to when I was young … artists I’ve near heard of. Some include a few familiar names … Gene Autry, Mitch Miller, Fat’s Domino, Dorothy Lamour. A few have his name written on them … some are priced at 29 cents … most are worn and scratched showing their age. We no longer have a turntable to play them but for some reason it’s hard to part with them.
It’s fun to go through some of the old “Hop Up,” Your Car,” and “Hop Up and Motor Life” magazines from 1953. One magazine featured a column titled, New Products and featured the new Saf-Tee Belt. Barbara Hale from Perry Mason is modeling the latest in automotive safety. One incentive to invest in this product …. “even the strongest man can’t brace himself well enough to escape sometimes fatal injury.” Today’s generation would find it hard to imagine any car without this safety feature!
There were several old hymnbooks from the 1930’s. As I flipped through the yellowed pages I recognized some of the old hymns … Love Lifted Me … When the Roll is Called Up Yonder … Near the Cross … Since Jesus Came Into My Heart … In My Heart There Rings a Melody … songs we haven’t heard in quite awhile … songs my kids have never heard or don’t remember. One thing that came to mind as I scanned through the books – many songs are about Heaven and going “Home.” It made we wonder if that generation thought about it more then than we do today.
One thing that brought back special memories from my childhood – a red bowtie from the Oregon Centennial in 1959. Our family attended this event on the grounds that are now the Portland Expo Center. I remember meeting someone famous there … the star of the TV program, Romper Room. (see picture above) It first aired in Portland on KGW (8) on May 26, 1958, with Miss Patty as teacher. It ran for an hour and featured six children in the classroom. Miss Dorothy starred in the show in the fall of’59. I’m not sure which of these women I met but it left an impression on me. I remember at the end of each show she would look through a magic mirror and say she could see Johnny, Suzie, Linda etc. You would wait in anticipation to see if she would mention your name thinking she could actually see you! Television was quite a magical thing to a preschooler in the 50’s.
There are very few things stored in this box and I doubt that it contains anything of monetary value but I do know it’s a connection to past generations of those I loved and looked up to.
I will continue to share “attic stories” …. each box holds some treasure or memory!

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Mmmmmmm ....


I found a new treat at Trader Joes .... Fruit Floes. Only 80 calories and 1 point if your doing Weight Watchers. What a delicious, healthy treat! If you head over to Trader Joes, make sure you leave a box for me. I need to stock up!

Remembering Bob


Christmas Eve 1978 -- a birthday party for Jesus with dear friends










In Memory of Our Friend, Bob
April 23, 1947 - January 9, 2006
Yesterday we attended the memorial service for our friend Bob who after a 7-month battle with lung cancer had his "homecoming" Monday morning. The service brought back so many memories ... some that were tucked in the corners of my heart and mind.
I remember the first time I met Bob. It was a Sunday Evening service at Englewood. He was there with 3 Emanuel Nursing School students .... one would later become his wife. Dorral introduced us after the service and we easily became acquainted -- we were all college age kids back then -- with free time to meet for coffee etc. at a local restaurant and just hang out. In 1974 the weddings started ... we got married in June; they married in November. Not long after that we became neighbors and lived nearby for 12 years. Pregnancies and babies followed. We shared each others sorrows and joys. No matter how many changes took place over the last 17 years .... moving, new churches, etc. .... the bond remained.
Yesterday our Englewood group filled 4 pews at his service. This is the second time in a year that we have met to say "goodbye" to one of our dear friends. I remember Dorral saying that in all the churches where he ministered over the years, none compare to the bond and community at Englewood. All of us are now scattered all over the Portland/Vancouver area and attend other churches but whenever we get together we are instantly transported back to that deep level of love and friendship. I am so thankful for how they have journeyed with me over the years.
I think at a memorial service you learn something about the person that you hadn't realized before. I didn't know Bob had lived in a houseboat on the Willamette as a child or that he spent a lot of time in New Orleans visiting family as a young boy. But I also think we learn a lot about ourselves at these services. There was an "open mike" to share memories of Bob during the service and we found it impossible to go up front even though we had so much to share. I realized then that in life you can't wait for an "open mike" opportunity to let someone know how they have impacted your life ... work at doing it now.
When we left the service and said our "goodbyes" there were more hugs, more "I love you-s", and tears this time.
Thank you, Bob for reminding us to "live like there's no tomorrow."
If you stop by and knew Bob, feel free to post a memory .....

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Starting Off 2006 -- Sick : (



Not how I planned starting off my new year …. sick in bed for 3 days … and with my least favorite kind of illness : ( It isn’t exactly how I like to take off those holiday pounds! Yet during it all …. I felt blessed. My family checked in on me, my Ladies Bible study group was praying for me, Walt did a great job of keeping me and the house in order …
AND I had a crockpot of Kim’s turkey soup. The medical field should put a patent on this as a cure for colds/flu. I make soup but it tastes nothing like this! I feel so much better. Thank you, Kim for your kindness and thoughtfulness. I feel like a different person this evening : )
My other cure was spending a few hours with Colin (and Brian & Michelle too) this evening. How could anyone not feel better with such a cute little guy! What good medicine!

Monday, January 02, 2006

Season 4


"I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life." If you've watched any of the the "24" series, you know what this means ...........
We are more than half way through "24" Season 4 and have not been disappointed yet ... thrills, spills and cliff hangers. We have been "addicted" since starting this series after Christmas. We're trying to get caught up before season 5 starts in a few weeks. So if you try to call us, we may not even hear the phone ring!

New Year ... New Thoughts ... New Goals



The new year gives an opportunity to set new goals, new attitudes. Something we want to work together on is: eating healthier . I think we would be great at holding each other accountable. We found this book after Christmas. It includes weekly support, eating suggestions and recipes. I especially like the idea of recording each day -- what I ate, what I wish I hadn't, what I did for exercise. I think it's a common sense year long approach to healthier living.
Check in with us off and on to see how we're doing ... we could use the encouragement : )

About the Author
Chef Kathleen Daelemans is the host of Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen, a nationally broadcast weekly show on the Food Network. She is a regular contributor to The Today Show. Her weekly newspaper column, "Ask Chef Kathleen," is syndicated across the Gannett Wire Service.

Book Description
Like a combination personal trainer and nutrition coach, this engaging, dateless weekly planner is designed to help create a new eating and exercise plan that can be embraced for life. For each week, Kathleen offers quick meal ideas and streamlined recipes, nutrition facts, and motivational quotes. There"s space for a diet and exercise log and plenty of room to record goals, setbacks, solutions, and triumphs.

Other books by the author
Getting Thin and Loving Food : 200 Easy Recipes to Take You Where You Want to Be
Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen: 200 Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss