1) While up for a Sunday ride, brother Alan told me that he had been practicing "stalls" in the ultra light plane with the Velcro closing doors. I asked him to show me but he wouldn't.
2) In high school, I played in a clarinet quartet for the VFW and other community meetings. I played the alto clarinet. Mr. Sutton, my instrument instructor, could only say "you have a good ear" . . . because I knew when I was playing wrong. (Yes, father of Anne Sutton.)
3) In Junior High at Arispe, the girl in front of me in chorus was asked by the vocal teacher to "mouth" the song. I knew it should have been me. In church or at funerals, I try to find someone singing bass to sing with.
4) To get even with Linda for popping her gum, I would breathe peanut butter in her face.
5) I used to "borrow" Linda's blouses to wear to school. I was usually sorry as she had really sharp finger nails.
6) I flew, at age 18, all by myself and even changed airlines in Chicago, to Baltimore, Maryland to visit Linda and Denny. They lived on Easter Egg Hill. I probably would have stayed there the rest of my life in that little one-bedroom trailer. I could have been the oldest daughter. Denny finally suggested I call the airline for my ticket home. Flew into Des Moines in an ice storm. Gee, thanks, Denny!
7) Once at Riverview Park in Des Moines (a long lost amusement park where the East Union band got to go every summer) I was riding the roller coaster barefooted and got the _ _ _ _ shocked out of me! My bare feet on a box under the seat ahead of me and the metal bar I gripped for dear life was a dangerous electrical combination. I felt "funny" for about 3 days, after. However, I always did and still do ride the roller coaster every chance I get.
8) While in Junior High, I am now convinced, I had "Petit mal" seizures -- probably a half dozen or so. If your pre teen child ever sits and "zones", you might want to have him/her checked. Usually children grow out of the "little" seizures. I evidently did. or not.
9) When small, only half of our large family went to “town” on Saturday night. Kathryn was the “sitter” on my nights to stay home. This meant we only went to Creston every two weeks!
10) When I was first married and moved to Sioux City, I found a job at Good Will, typing envelopes for the donation request letters. I was brighter than I looked and soon learned to pick out the small town lists. Back then the little Iowa towns didn’t even need a post office box number to be delivered. I could type a whole lot more envelopes with only a person’s name and a town and a state. The Des Moines envelopes required at least three complete lines, sometimes four. Soon I had brushed up my typing skills and was ready to look for another job.
11) I worked in a political campaign office in 1968, my first job. Some dude running for Iowa guv. He lost to Robert D Ray. My big sister may have gotten me the job. Thanks, Beth! Beth used to work in the Iowa legislature (who did you work for?) and probably should be writing her 25 things. It was all I could do to stay away from home for 5 days and rode the bus back and forth on the weekends. I would get right off at Sheets Drug Store "on the square" in Afton.
12) My senior year of high school, I had 13 adopted "children" . . . all in 9th through 12th grades. I also had two official self-appointed "body guards" ??
13) while trying to leave the nuclear plant after visiting Prairie Island one time, I tested positive for radioactivity. I thought I was going to have to get a job and live there at the plant! Thanks, again, Denny! (is there a pattern here? I end up in dangerous situations! oh yeah! and if this was "26 things", I could tell you about the time he dragged me behind the boat on the Mississippi River. I have pictures!)
14) I helped sell VFW poppies as a young girl . . . so I always buy them to this day when I see them. And you should too! Veterans of Foreign Wars.
15) I have loved babies ever since Gramps and Granny brought Mary home from the hospital. I was only two years, but remember it. My next real baby was C. E. Gray III. and boy did we dote on him! Then Ritchie, Sheila, K'Lea and a little bit of Janie before I grew up and had to go off and get a job.
16) Some of my children call me "Nance" about as often as they call me Mom. My Dad called me Nance.
17) I have split an 8' log with a mallet and wedges -- the long way. It wasn't very big around . . . but still!
18) I asked for an adze for a gift once -- and got it. As your Granny would say . . . look it up in the dictionary! I did NOT ask for a reciprocating saw once . . . and got it.
19) I can rough it, with no bathroom, running water or electricity. I come from pioneer stock.
20) I counted the mosquito bites on my little sister Mary while camping in Louisiana one year -- over 100! maybe 200. and no Lime disease.
21) I have been to Ireland once for work . . . and would go back at the drop of a hat. I was met in the airport by someone from the company with a cardboard sign "Hofmeister, arrival" -- like in a movie.
22) As young children, we were allowed one candy bar a week and one bottle of pop. Of course, if we had our allowance we could buy more but that one bottle of coke a week was the BEST tasting pop I ever did have.
23) I can still hang by my knees and skin the cat. 2 or 3 years ago I could still stand on my head. I might be able to now, if I just got practiced up.
24) I have four loving and beloved children and I could (and should!) write 25 things about each of them! And now I am so much enjoying my grandchildren.
25) I have been married going on 39 years to a very strong willed and handsome man who can cook with the best of them!
PS: I have delayed posting this. I think I'm afraid I'll remember one more thing that I wish I would have said. Oh well, I can always post 26 through 50, right?
2) In high school, I played in a clarinet quartet for the VFW and other community meetings. I played the alto clarinet. Mr. Sutton, my instrument instructor, could only say "you have a good ear" . . . because I knew when I was playing wrong. (Yes, father of Anne Sutton.)
3) In Junior High at Arispe, the girl in front of me in chorus was asked by the vocal teacher to "mouth" the song. I knew it should have been me. In church or at funerals, I try to find someone singing bass to sing with.
4) To get even with Linda for popping her gum, I would breathe peanut butter in her face.
5) I used to "borrow" Linda's blouses to wear to school. I was usually sorry as she had really sharp finger nails.
6) I flew, at age 18, all by myself and even changed airlines in Chicago, to Baltimore, Maryland to visit Linda and Denny. They lived on Easter Egg Hill. I probably would have stayed there the rest of my life in that little one-bedroom trailer. I could have been the oldest daughter. Denny finally suggested I call the airline for my ticket home. Flew into Des Moines in an ice storm. Gee, thanks, Denny!
7) Once at Riverview Park in Des Moines (a long lost amusement park where the East Union band got to go every summer) I was riding the roller coaster barefooted and got the _ _ _ _ shocked out of me! My bare feet on a box under the seat ahead of me and the metal bar I gripped for dear life was a dangerous electrical combination. I felt "funny" for about 3 days, after. However, I always did and still do ride the roller coaster every chance I get.
8) While in Junior High, I am now convinced, I had "Petit mal" seizures -- probably a half dozen or so. If your pre teen child ever sits and "zones", you might want to have him/her checked. Usually children grow out of the "little" seizures. I evidently did. or not.
9) When small, only half of our large family went to “town” on Saturday night. Kathryn was the “sitter” on my nights to stay home. This meant we only went to Creston every two weeks!
10) When I was first married and moved to Sioux City, I found a job at Good Will, typing envelopes for the donation request letters. I was brighter than I looked and soon learned to pick out the small town lists. Back then the little Iowa towns didn’t even need a post office box number to be delivered. I could type a whole lot more envelopes with only a person’s name and a town and a state. The Des Moines envelopes required at least three complete lines, sometimes four. Soon I had brushed up my typing skills and was ready to look for another job.
11) I worked in a political campaign office in 1968, my first job. Some dude running for Iowa guv. He lost to Robert D Ray. My big sister may have gotten me the job. Thanks, Beth! Beth used to work in the Iowa legislature (who did you work for?) and probably should be writing her 25 things. It was all I could do to stay away from home for 5 days and rode the bus back and forth on the weekends. I would get right off at Sheets Drug Store "on the square" in Afton.
12) My senior year of high school, I had 13 adopted "children" . . . all in 9th through 12th grades. I also had two official self-appointed "body guards" ??
13) while trying to leave the nuclear plant after visiting Prairie Island one time, I tested positive for radioactivity. I thought I was going to have to get a job and live there at the plant! Thanks, again, Denny! (is there a pattern here? I end up in dangerous situations! oh yeah! and if this was "26 things", I could tell you about the time he dragged me behind the boat on the Mississippi River. I have pictures!)
14) I helped sell VFW poppies as a young girl . . . so I always buy them to this day when I see them. And you should too! Veterans of Foreign Wars.
15) I have loved babies ever since Gramps and Granny brought Mary home from the hospital. I was only two years, but remember it. My next real baby was C. E. Gray III. and boy did we dote on him! Then Ritchie, Sheila, K'Lea and a little bit of Janie before I grew up and had to go off and get a job.
16) Some of my children call me "Nance" about as often as they call me Mom. My Dad called me Nance.
17) I have split an 8' log with a mallet and wedges -- the long way. It wasn't very big around . . . but still!
18) I asked for an adze for a gift once -- and got it. As your Granny would say . . . look it up in the dictionary! I did NOT ask for a reciprocating saw once . . . and got it.
19) I can rough it, with no bathroom, running water or electricity. I come from pioneer stock.
20) I counted the mosquito bites on my little sister Mary while camping in Louisiana one year -- over 100! maybe 200. and no Lime disease.
21) I have been to Ireland once for work . . . and would go back at the drop of a hat. I was met in the airport by someone from the company with a cardboard sign "Hofmeister, arrival" -- like in a movie.
22) As young children, we were allowed one candy bar a week and one bottle of pop. Of course, if we had our allowance we could buy more but that one bottle of coke a week was the BEST tasting pop I ever did have.
23) I can still hang by my knees and skin the cat. 2 or 3 years ago I could still stand on my head. I might be able to now, if I just got practiced up.
24) I have four loving and beloved children and I could (and should!) write 25 things about each of them! And now I am so much enjoying my grandchildren.
25) I have been married going on 39 years to a very strong willed and handsome man who can cook with the best of them!
PS: I have delayed posting this. I think I'm afraid I'll remember one more thing that I wish I would have said. Oh well, I can always post 26 through 50, right?
