Sitting around the kitchen table in Knoxville, Tennessee drinking coffee and visiting with my aunt and cousins. . . Once I told my 91 year old aunt that she was my favorite aunt and she laughed, "I am the only aunt you have left!" It's true; there were other aunts of whom I was quite fond. We try to get to Tennessee once a year to keep up because this one is special.
We were telling her of a friend who continues to work at age 80.
"So, what is 80?" she said. Conversations flow easily between the generations and
we love to visit with their family.
Aunt Jo is treated with great respect and kindness by her daughters and sons-in-law.
If only more older people could have the quality of life that she enjoys. Thank you, God, for families.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Election 2008
I voted for Barack Obama because he seems to be a statesman. I was impressed with his ability to express complex ideas, his unflappable calmness and his listening skills. I believe he has an open-ness to different ways of thinking and that he can see the “big picture”. He may lack experience, but I believe he will create a team which will work together for the good of the nation.
Race counted for little for me in this situation. In the aftermath of
the election, I was taken back by the rejoicing of the media in the historical
moment of an African-American president and by the rejoicing of the international community. (See my blog - London newspapers, July 22)
Looking back, I remember the “second table” for the hired man, and the hired girl who always sat in the back seat even when my mother was the only person in front. It is hard to imagine that teen-agers found it necessary to ride a bus 30 miles to go to the black high school. Our African-American neighbors sat in the balcony of the church at my wedding. Looking back at the photographs, my children accused me of being “racist.” I try to tell them that it was all we knew. Fish cannot look at the water in which they swim.
In the morass of bad news about the economy, crime, et cetera, our election process is a beacon of light. America can truly re-invent itself. I am proud!
Race counted for little for me in this situation. In the aftermath of
the election, I was taken back by the rejoicing of the media in the historical
moment of an African-American president and by the rejoicing of the international community. (See my blog - London newspapers, July 22)
Looking back, I remember the “second table” for the hired man, and the hired girl who always sat in the back seat even when my mother was the only person in front. It is hard to imagine that teen-agers found it necessary to ride a bus 30 miles to go to the black high school. Our African-American neighbors sat in the balcony of the church at my wedding. Looking back at the photographs, my children accused me of being “racist.” I try to tell them that it was all we knew. Fish cannot look at the water in which they swim.
In the morass of bad news about the economy, crime, et cetera, our election process is a beacon of light. America can truly re-invent itself. I am proud!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Correction
The e-mail address for ordering "Skip-Come-A-Lou" should be kborgman@iland.net
The book is $18 plus $5 shipping.
The book is $18 plus $5 shipping.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
News Release for "Skip-Come-A-Lou", historic children's book
Friends of Arrow Rock have released a reprint of the popular 1928 children’s book, Skip-Come-A-Lou, “Medora Mehitable Green was eight years old when she rode behind her father on his horse all the way from St. Louis to Arrow Rock. Nathaniel Green arranged with the Sivier family, operators of the Arrow Rock Tavern, to care for Medora while he went west to Santa Fe , New Mexico , to become a trader.
Medora’s mother had died from “the fever”, malaria, in St. Louis . Medora was a spirited, mischievous child whose adventures in the book, "Skip-Come-A-Lou", give a picture of Santa Fe Trail times in Arrow Rock during the early 1800s.
Medora and her experiences are fiction, but Ada Claire Darby, the author, used accurate historical details when she wrote the book in 1928.
As a child at Jester R-9, a country school, I read and loved Skip-Come-a-Lou. When Jester eventually closed, the book went to the Eastwood School library. My children checked it out, and we read it together.
Copies became more and more scarce. The former elementary librarian for Marshall Public Schools said that fourth grade teachers passed the copy around to read the book aloud during the Missouri history unit. Eventually, Skip-Come-A-Lou became too tattered and worn to be used in the classroom.
A retired third grade Marshall Public Schools teacher recalled the book with fondness. “The kids really identified with Medora, and when we went to Arrow Rock on field trips, they remembered details from the book.” Medora is a strong female character; Mrs. Sivier described her as “a piece of thistledown”. . .difficult to keep out of trouble.
Medora tells about a hole in one of the Tavern doors for cats to come and go. For decades, that cat entry really did exist in one of the doors, and children always looked for it. Restoration of the Tavern eventually did away with the cat door, but visitors can still imagine Medora and Jinny, the little slave girl, going about their days in the tavern setting.
Several years ago, I began to pursue ways that the book might be re-published. Friends of Arrow Rock expressed an interest if we could find a publisher. I mailed out dozens of letters to publishing companies, none of whom had interest in an old book. Then one day, we found an ad from Applewood Books saying that they would re-publish historical books if an organization would agree to sell them in their gift shop.
I had researched the copyright and had evidence that we could legally reproduce the book. The publishing process went on for almost three years, and I felt despair that anything would come of our efforts. However, in early October, the promotional book arrived at the Friends of Arrow Rock office. We had located a color-plate from an early edition of Medora sitting on the lap of Washington Irving with her playmate, Jinny, nearby. Applewood Books incorporated the illustration into the cover of the new book.
Skip-Come-A-Lou gives today’s children an interesting and entertaining glimpse into the past. As Ada Claire Darby writes, “Nowadays we never hear of gritting meal (from corn). When everything comes put up in paper sacks or neat little boxes, we are not apt to think of its original form. But in those early days in Missouri , people had to do many things for themselves that are done for us today. They spun their own linen, wove their own woolens, cured their own meat, and all the other things that are done in great factories nowadays.”
Ada Claire Darby was born in Fayette , Missouri , and lived in St. Joseph as an adult. She was described in the 1914 Women’s Who’s Who in America as “interested in church work, club work, and the YWCA. Favors women’s suffrage. Episcopalian, Republican, plays bridge.” Obviously this description was written before Ms. Darby wrote several popular children’s books with historical themes.
"Skip-Come-A-Lou" can be ordered from the Friends of Arrow Rock office, www.friendsar.org The cost is $18.00 plus $5.00 shipping. All profits go to Friends of Arrow Rock.
Medora’s mother had died from “the fever”, malaria, in St. Louis . Medora was a spirited, mischievous child whose adventures in the book, "Skip-Come-A-Lou", give a picture of Santa Fe Trail times in Arrow Rock during the early 1800s.
Medora and her experiences are fiction, but Ada Claire Darby, the author, used accurate historical details when she wrote the book in 1928.
As a child at Jester R-9, a country school, I read and loved Skip-Come-a-Lou. When Jester eventually closed, the book went to the Eastwood School library. My children checked it out, and we read it together.
Copies became more and more scarce. The former elementary librarian for Marshall Public Schools said that fourth grade teachers passed the copy around to read the book aloud during the Missouri history unit. Eventually, Skip-Come-A-Lou became too tattered and worn to be used in the classroom.
A retired third grade Marshall Public Schools teacher recalled the book with fondness. “The kids really identified with Medora, and when we went to Arrow Rock on field trips, they remembered details from the book.” Medora is a strong female character; Mrs. Sivier described her as “a piece of thistledown”. . .difficult to keep out of trouble.
Medora tells about a hole in one of the Tavern doors for cats to come and go. For decades, that cat entry really did exist in one of the doors, and children always looked for it. Restoration of the Tavern eventually did away with the cat door, but visitors can still imagine Medora and Jinny, the little slave girl, going about their days in the tavern setting.
Several years ago, I began to pursue ways that the book might be re-published. Friends of Arrow Rock expressed an interest if we could find a publisher. I mailed out dozens of letters to publishing companies, none of whom had interest in an old book. Then one day, we found an ad from Applewood Books saying that they would re-publish historical books if an organization would agree to sell them in their gift shop.
I had researched the copyright and had evidence that we could legally reproduce the book. The publishing process went on for almost three years, and I felt despair that anything would come of our efforts. However, in early October, the promotional book arrived at the Friends of Arrow Rock office. We had located a color-plate from an early edition of Medora sitting on the lap of Washington Irving with her playmate, Jinny, nearby. Applewood Books incorporated the illustration into the cover of the new book.
Skip-Come-A-Lou gives today’s children an interesting and entertaining glimpse into the past. As Ada Claire Darby writes, “Nowadays we never hear of gritting meal (from corn). When everything comes put up in paper sacks or neat little boxes, we are not apt to think of its original form. But in those early days in Missouri , people had to do many things for themselves that are done for us today. They spun their own linen, wove their own woolens, cured their own meat, and all the other things that are done in great factories nowadays.”
Ada Claire Darby was born in Fayette , Missouri , and lived in St. Joseph as an adult. She was described in the 1914 Women’s Who’s Who in America as “interested in church work, club work, and the YWCA. Favors women’s suffrage. Episcopalian, Republican, plays bridge.” Obviously this description was written before Ms. Darby wrote several popular children’s books with historical themes.
"Skip-Come-A-Lou" can be ordered from the Friends of Arrow Rock office, www.friendsar.org The cost is $18.00 plus $5.00 shipping. All profits go to Friends of Arrow Rock.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
My Father's Notebook
Today while searching for a phone number, I came across a small notebook in which my father had copied thoughts he wanted to remember. Mouse-eaten pages held statements in his own script. The process of handwriting was not his strong suit; a teacher in his early grades forced him to write with his right hand when his left was more natural for him. Then, too, he was not usually given to express serious thinking, though he was a sterling person. Different colors of ink indicate that he wrote at different times. Interspersed with Bible verses were quotes from "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peal (1952). A sample:
The man who is self-reliant, positive and optimistic and undertakes his work with the assurance of success, magnetizes his condition. He draws to himself the creative powers of the universe.
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.
Forget those things which are behind, and reach forward to those things which are before you.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
My father would have been 100 years old this month; he led a productive life until age 88. I feel as if I have had a visit with him once again.
The man who is self-reliant, positive and optimistic and undertakes his work with the assurance of success, magnetizes his condition. He draws to himself the creative powers of the universe.
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.
Forget those things which are behind, and reach forward to those things which are before you.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
My father would have been 100 years old this month; he led a productive life until age 88. I feel as if I have had a visit with him once again.
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Heartwarming Moment
Last week-end we attended my husband's 45th year reunion of his medical school class.
Following the brunch before the football game, the 25 to 30 returning members of his class had an "open mike" for their group. Some told funny stories from med school days, others spoke of their favorite professor or what had inspired them to pursue their specialty. Richard is never one to be serious and he does not like public speaking. I expected him to pass. But he went to the microphone and said, "The most important thing that happened to me in medical school was when Temp (his classmate) and Corrine (a sorority sister) fixed me up with my wife, Carol." I was dumfounded! I will certainly forgive him for not remembering anniversaries and passing over Valentine's Day every year!
Following the brunch before the football game, the 25 to 30 returning members of his class had an "open mike" for their group. Some told funny stories from med school days, others spoke of their favorite professor or what had inspired them to pursue their specialty. Richard is never one to be serious and he does not like public speaking. I expected him to pass. But he went to the microphone and said, "The most important thing that happened to me in medical school was when Temp (his classmate) and Corrine (a sorority sister) fixed me up with my wife, Carol." I was dumfounded! I will certainly forgive him for not remembering anniversaries and passing over Valentine's Day every year!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Harvest
My grandfathers (maternal and paternal), whose land we farm, would be aghast at learning that the corn yield in one of our fields was over 200 bushels per acre in 2008.
A few acres even made as high as 250 bushels! My ancestors drove their workhorses and did cornhusking by hand for a yield of 40 to 50 bushels an acre on this very same ground. Our season of excess rain played a part in the excellent crop.
Jane and I read our books in the pick-up trucks, while Richard and Nelson, my cousin and the farmer who does the row crops, went to check a small section which suffered from chemical drift from the crop-duster spraying a neighbor's field. Richard climbed the steep ladder and joined Nelson in the eye of the great green monster whose teeth gobble up ten rows of corn on each circuit.
Indian summer and a late frost bless us with an abundant crop. A covey of quail has moved into the area carefully prepared to increase their kind. In a world of bad news and insecurities, our corn field is a gift of God's grace.
A few acres even made as high as 250 bushels! My ancestors drove their workhorses and did cornhusking by hand for a yield of 40 to 50 bushels an acre on this very same ground. Our season of excess rain played a part in the excellent crop.
Jane and I read our books in the pick-up trucks, while Richard and Nelson, my cousin and the farmer who does the row crops, went to check a small section which suffered from chemical drift from the crop-duster spraying a neighbor's field. Richard climbed the steep ladder and joined Nelson in the eye of the great green monster whose teeth gobble up ten rows of corn on each circuit.
Indian summer and a late frost bless us with an abundant crop. A covey of quail has moved into the area carefully prepared to increase their kind. In a world of bad news and insecurities, our corn field is a gift of God's grace.
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