My birthday present

Before I came up to Virginia, David told me that my birthday present was a trip to Washington D.C. Nothing could have pleased me more. I have only been there one other time, and that was in June about sixteen years ago. It was so hot, yes, hotter than Florida, that I became ill from the heat. But what a wonderful trip it was. I'm sure that he must have heard me say, somewhere in time, that I would love to go back when the weather was cooler.

We left on Friday evening after they got home from work, stayed in a hotel in Fairf*x, traveled by Metro into the city. What a wonderful way to get around. On Saturday we spent time at the monuments and memorials on the mall and then came back to the hotel in time to see Penn State beat Michigan, and then I watched the sixth game of the ALCS series. Photos and thoughts about all this in another post.

I had mentioned that I wanted to go to the zoo, and so that was our destination on Sunday The weather could not have been better...clear and crisp. Sabrina had warned me that starting at the top, it was a downhill trip. That wasn't so bad, but then we had to come back up, but again, the zoo will be another post.

Before our trek to the zoo, we stopped for lunch at Californ*a Tortilla for lunch. Their specials right now are the O-Chili-Bam* Burrito and the McCain-chil*da Burrito. The restaurant is guaranteeing that whichever Presidential Burrito is ordered the most wins the election...not too scientific, like a lot of the other polls we read.

I receive e-mails regularly from Pastor Tim at Cybersalt, and he had a little political humor and a quote in his post the other day. Here are some of the quotes that he listed:

"I resent your insinuendoes."
"If we don't make some changes, the status quo will remain the same."
"If Lincoln were alive today, he'd roll over in his grave."
"We do not have censorship. What we have is a limitation on what newspapers can report."
"Candidly, I cannot answer that. The question is too suppository."
"Let's jump off that bridge when we come to it."
"To be demeanered like that is an exercise in fertility."
"I deny the allegations, and I defy the allegators."
"If somebody's gonna stab me in the back, I want to be there."
"When you're talking to me, keep your mouth shut."
"Let's do this in one foul swoop."
"I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves in this session."
"We'll run it up the flagpole and see who salutes that booger."
"I would like to take this time to reirritate my remarks."
"The average age of a 7 year old in this state is 13."
"I hate to confuse myself with the facts."
"We have a permanent plan for the time being."
"Family planning has many misconceptions."
"The people in my district do not want this highway bypass, no matter if it goes through or around the city."
"My knowledge is no match for his ignorance."
"As long as I am in the Senate, there will not be a nuclear suppository in our state."
"These numbers are not my own; they are from someone who knows what he's talking about."
"People planning on getting into serious accidents should have their seat belts on."
"In 1994, Americans stand on the horns of an enema."

And then this quote: "An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry."- T.S. Eliot

I read this statement in a blog post, and it is the conclusion that I had come to a few days earlier.

"No matter what the results of this election, life will go on. We will still get out of bed each day to work, to love our families, and to serve and love others, helping this country continue to be the great country that it is." May it be so.

Carmi's theme - losing focus

I took my new camera with me to the county fair, determined to get some good shots. As Carmi said, these are the kinds of photos our parents would have thrown out, and I almost deleted it, but here it is. Visit Carmi's site to see others' offerings of this week's photographic theme - blur.

Today in Virginia

One of the things I enjoy about being in Virginia now is that it is October. The mornings are crisp and cool, and the days have been just wonderful. Being outside is one of Ella's favorite things to do is to be outside. My son and his wife have a nice neighborhood with a couple three doors down who have a little girl just a couple of weeks younger than Ella.

At lunch we enjoyed our lunch with Ella's daddy. He works close by so he gets home for lunch. I mentioned that on my way to Virginia I stopped by Mount Olive, North Carolina. Sarah graduated from Mount Olive College, Mount Olive also happens to be the home of Mount Olive Pickles. The company supports the college, and so every year in November at Homecoming, the college has a Pickle Classic, a tournament of basketball games between nearby colleges.

During this weekend there is also a walk for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. That makes me happy to know that the life of a former student with CF made an impact on those at the school and they honor her in this way.

Mount Olive College is proud of the fact that their baseball team was the NCAA Division II baseball champs this year. That was a wonderful accomplishment for them.

The college is a Baptist school, which is supported also by the Free Will Baptists in North Carolina. On Monday night I went to a dinner with my friend, who heads up alumni activities for the school. The churches in the different counties raise money for the school, and at these dinners, they bring their gifts. At each table was a jar of pickles, given by the pickle company. Since our jar was opened, I brought them along to Virginia, and Ella and I have finished them rather quickly.

By the way, if you ever pass through Mount Olive, you can visit Mount Olive Pickles at the corner of Cucumber and Vine.

Bella

I arrived in Virginia on Tuesday this past week. Leaving home on Sunday, I stopped in South Carolina in time to watch most of the Rays game, drove on to Mount Olive, North Carolina where I spent the night with a friend. On Tuesday morning I met with a lady, who with her husband, went as missionaries to Haiti just after I returned home from there. Their son was born in 1970, diagnosed with CF when he was around four. Doctors told them he might live until he was twelve. He's 38 now, and he is an almost ten-year survivor of a double lung transplant. His path has not been an easy one, but he has an interesting story to tell. Perhaps at some time I will share it with you.

I left Mount Olive just before noon on Tuesday and drove on up to Waynesboro, where I'll be for the rest of the month. The leaves are changing. Mornings and evenings are cool, and during the day it is perfect. This is a wonderful time for me to be able to come.

I last saw Ella in August, when Sarah and I came up for her second birthday. What a difference a couple of months makes. At her two-year pediatric checkup, the doctor asked Sabrina if she was putting two word sentences together. Does she ever...more like paragraphs. The other day she watched an episode of D*ra, and when her daddy came home at lunch, she told him in about four sentences what had happened to the little fish who got swallowed by the big fish. I told Sarah about that, and she said, "She has my genes." Sarah can see a movie one time and remember in great detail dialog and scenes. She didn't get that from me.

So I've been watching the lovely one for three days. She is a busy girl, and I love every minute of it. (By the way, the photo above was taken by Ginny, one of Ella's caregivers.
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I receive on occasion e-mails from Steve Goodier, at Life Support System. He shared a story this week that I thought I'd pass along. As you read blogs, you find those who share their heartaches and burdens, and I thought of some of them as I read this.

GOOD FRIENDS ARE GOOD MEDICINE

Our news is constantly filled with the reality of death and dying. And each of us, if we live long enough, experiences the loss of persons we loved.

Children ages eight through ten were asked what they thought about death, and these are some of their answers:

"When you die, God takes care of you like your mother did when you were alive - only God doesn't yell at you all the time." (Beth, 9)

"When you die, they bury you in the ground and your soul goes to heaven, but your body can't go to heaven because it's too crowded up there already." (Jimmy, 8)

"Only the good people go to heaven. The other people go where it's hot all the time like in Florida." (Judy, 9)

"Maybe I'll die someday, but I hope I don't die on my birthday because it's no fun to celebrate your birthday if you're dead." (Jon, 9)

"I'm not afraid to die because I'm a Boy Scout." (Kevin, 10)

"Doctors help you so you won't die until you pay their bills." (Stephanie, 9)

I've observed that the loss of a loved one can be one of the most difficult things we humans can face. And one of our greatest needs as we experience such a loss is for simple, human comfort. I've known friends of sick and dying people to sit by a bedside or in a hospital room for hours, even days, at a time. I've sometimes heard them offer words of prayer. I've seen food in homes of people who are dying overflow from kitchen to dining room - food brought by comforting friends from church and concerned neighbors. And I've observed friends to just listen for as long as it takes. Caring friends are needed medicine in such times.

When U.S. Congressman Sam Rayburn (1882-1961) discovered that he was ill, he announced to the House of Representatives he was going back home to Bonham, Texas for medical tests. Some wondered why he did not stay in Washington D. C. where there were excellent medical facilities -- probably some of the best in the world. His answer was a beautiful tribute to friendship: "Bonham is a place where people know it when you're sick, and where they care when you die."No one wants to go through difficult times alone. So Rayburn traded the best of medical technology for the closeness of loving friends. He knew that good friends are good medicine. Sometimes the best medicine there is.-- Steve Goodier

Kids - Carmi's theme

Our church has a program called Upwards. In the fall, flag football is the sport, along with cheer leading. After football comes basketball and then soccer. I arrived on a Saturday morning when the little guys were playing. Family gathers to watch and cheer on the team to victory.

Well, what is a football game without cheerleaders! Go, team, go!

Too much cheering makes one tired. Go visit Carmi's blog to get his take on kids. You'll be glad you did.

Meet my cousin

My weekend turned out to be different what what I had planned. Sometime ago I received a postcard reminding me that this past weekend there was a Lacoochee Reunion. This takes place every year on the last Saturday in September. My mother used to go to it all the time and come home and tell me about all the people she had seen. For some reason she never mentioned my going along, and I never pushed the point.

A few years ago, I realized I needed to reconnect, and so I asked my friend, Lorette, to go along with me and we went. I walked around, asking people if they knew my parents. Some did. They asked if my daddy was the man who rode his bicycle from Trilby to the lumber mill on his bicycle. I wasn't sure about that, but it was a logical assumption.

I went again a couple of years ago as I was on my way to Virginia for October. My cousin was there, as she was when I went before. And she was there on Saturday. When I first had gotten the invitation, I laid it aside because I had made plans to go to a Saturday with Sweet Adelines in Brandon. When I woke up Saturday morning, I had overslept, and when I woke up, something said to me, "Beverly, go to the reunion and see your cousin."

So I did. We had a good visit. My cousin turned 80 in February. When I was a girl, my mother worked in a drug store in Bradenton where the owner never closed. Mother had to work on holidays, yes, Thanksgiving and Christmas, New Years, and on and on. She got one day off during the week, but rarely had those holidays off, and so I often spent time at my cousin's house during the holidays. She had married right out of high school and had a son just six years younger than me.

I was always welcome in her home. She bears my mother's name, and my mother often helped her when when she was in need. Over the years she had a difficult life, worked so hard, and never failed to help her neighbor when in need.

My cousin is a wonderful cook. Her father was the brother of the gentleman who is in the photo at top of my blog. They were immigrants from Syria who came to the States and made a new life. Her daddy died when she was young, but my aunt learned to cook some wonderful Syrian dishes, and my cousin did as well. After she retired from the business world, she began cleaning houses and doing some catering.

While we were talking, I asked her if she still cooked a lot. She looked at me and sort of smiled. "Oh, yes," she said. "I cook for some older people because they get tired of eating out." Then I asked her if she still cleaned. "Oh, yes," she said, "but not as much as I used to." I got tired just listening to her activities.

My time spent with her was wonderful. I love her so much, and I'm so glad we had the chance to get together. I have so much more to write about this past weekend, but that will have to wait for another day. I'm in the process of getting ready to leave for Virginia. I have about 10 people coming for a lunch on Thursday and a couple of appointments before I leave on Sunday. I'm also attending a 50th high school class reunion with my friend and going to a play at the Manatee Players on Friday night. So I may not post again until I get to Virginia next week.

Angles and Nature

I was out one evening after church with some friends at a local frozen custard place. Out back is a patio which has open latticework around it. Since I've learned to always have my camera with me, I couldn't resist this lizard. Florida is full of them. When my son was at Pe*n State, the first year he called to ask if some of his friends could come over spring break and sleep here while they went around the area. I was happy to have them. One morning when they walked outside, they were thrilled with sunshine and amazed at all the lizards. I was amused.

For a long time there was a chameleon who lived on my front porch. My mailbox is on the wall, and he stayed behind it much of the time. However, if I went out at night and turned on the porch light, he would be out, looking for food. What always interested me was that with the white walls, he was almost transparent. You could see his insides as he was on the wall. I haven't seen him in a long time.

We had a cat for eighteen years. When we caged in our pool, it became a playpen for the cat. She loved to be out by the pool, and she loved to chase lizards. One day, in a chase, however, the lizard caught her, latched on to her paw, and when we looked out, we saw our cat shaking her paw, trying to free herself of the lizard.

Carmi's theme this week is angles; last week was nature, so I've combined the two. To see more angles, visit his site.

Come on over!

My doorbell rang a few minutes ago, and when I answered it, a very nice gentleman was there with a cooler. He asked me if I was indeed Beverly, and when I said yes, he said that he had something very nice for me. He came in, took it out of the cooler, and here is the lovely edible arrangement that was in the box.

Friday was my birthday. My son forgot. He called last night, horrified that he had forgotten and all apologetic. I told him not to worry, that I hadn't been sitting by the phone waiting for his call. I knew he would remember sooner or later. He told me that he had talked to Sarah yesterday, and while they were talking, it struck him that he had forgotten. When we finally did connect by phone, we had a nice conversation. Ella even said, "Happy birthday, Grammy!" He tried to get her to sing "Happy birthday," but after a while she ended up singing "Baa-baa, black sheep."

Then this morning I was out and about, and my phone rang. It was my friend Peg, calling. She, too, had forgotten. She said she was trying so hard not to forget her new daughter-in-law's birthday that she overlooked mine.

We had a long chat about this and that. I came on home and started doing stuff. Power went off for about an hour. I was sitting here like a trapped animal...no lights, no internet. My car is in the garage, and I don't think I have the strength to raise it up manually. Anyway, after about an hour, the lights came on and then the doorbell rang.

I first of all thought that David had sent the arrangement, but he told me last night that they have my present in Virginia, and if this had been from them, it would have been way too much. They're going to take me to Washington D.C. for a weekend when I go up in October. I am so excited about that. I've only been once, and it was in the summer when I thought I would perish in the heat. So I can hardly wait to go in cooler weather.

When I turned the card over and saw it was from Peg, I was so pleased. She really shouldn't have, but it's so nice that she did. So now I have all this luscious fruit. It's much too much for me. I wish you all could come over and help me eat it.

Carmi's New Theme - Nature

Carmi has a new theme this week - nature. I love this one. I particularly love our Florida birds, and one can see them almost anywhere. This morning as I parked at a local restaurant for breakfast, there sitting on top of a car with this little guy. A street cleaner was going around the parking lot, making all kinds of noise, and he placidly sat there while the sweeper passed by and as people came and went to and from their cars.

Another day I stopped to get gas. Across the street is a Catholic church that has a pond in front. In the pond are beautiful water lilies, and this particular day this egret was carefully guarding this spot...looking for lunch, I guess. Sometimes people have fake ones in their yards, and it is often hard to tell which ones are real and which ones aren't.

Finally, on the way to a friend's home in a mobile home park were these ibis. They seem to be ubiquitous. Often seen in groups of eight or ten, they can be found looking for their lunch as well.

If you want to see some beautiful photos of nature, go to this blog, Kayak Paddle Tales. The blog author kayaks regular on the Wacissa River in north Florida, and she captures a Florida that most people don't truly think of. Go there and you will so marvelous photos of birds, turtles, and alligators. Her bird photos are exquisite.

Thematic Photographic - Closeup

Seeing Carmi's post of his daughter tonight reminded me of this photo of my granddaughter. She is very intently watching a program on TV, probably Dora, while her parents are doing her chest percussions. This therapy is a daily routine, morning and night, which is done to keep mucus loosened up in the lungs and airways...all a part of living with cystic fibrosis. This photo was taken in June when the family came to Florida.

The aftermath of Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike

I wrote briefly about Haiti this past week and the devastation of the four storms on this very poor island nation. I received an e-mail that contained a link to a video journal from the Miami Herald. I challenge you to watch it. It is not for the faint of heart.


Another blogger posted this.


Besides showing the sorrow and feeling of hopelessness of these people, the photographer has work here that, if I were nominating for an award, he would surely win it.


I think of the people in Texas today who are steeling themselves for Ike, either by fleeing or hunkering down. I know how I feel whenever the season starts and that first storm starts to form in the Atlantic, wondering what its path will be. It isn't a good feeling.


My heart breaks for these dear souls in the Caribbean who lose everything they have during the storms...homes, food, means of livelihood, and lives.

Remembering

It's amazing how this date, 9/11, brings back vivid memories of the happenings of that day. The emotions that are stirred today are not unlike those of 2001.

On another note, the photo in the post below is that of a little girl my friend takes care of. She was sitting at the table at Bob Evans the other day, looking so intently at the book. I caught a shot of her without the pacifier, but I thought this one was better. It's never too early for books, is it.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday evening

When I looked at my last post, I see that it has been almost a week since I posted. A couple of you have commented and asked the hurricanes and Florida. As I've mentioned, I live on the west coast of Florida below Tampa, and we have had just a little rain and wind from the storms that have passed by.

TS Fay was headed for us, but it went inland further south, as Charlie did back in 2005. Some of the photos from the east coast showed quite a bit of flooding. One blogger who lives above Tallahassee in the panhandle said that they got 21.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. So while Fay was not a hurricane, it brought a LOT of rain.

Gustav, as you know, passed us by and went on to Louisiana and Jamie wrote about Gustav in Arkansas. Hanna also made her appearance, but again, here where I live, we were not affected at all. We are now watching Hurricane Ike which has caused evacuations down in the keys. It has weakened some to a category three (still a very strong storm, but now as I look at the map, it looks like it could head toward Louisiana as well.

When you look at those maps, the storms look they cover such a wide area, but the outer parts of the pictures might mean a little wind. David called me once a year or so ago and asked if we were having a tropical storm because it looked that way on the map. I looked out the window, and there was not a leaf moving...so goes life in Florida. It's a waiting game and always causes some anxiety, I must confess.

Not so fortunate are the islands in the Caribbean. As you know, I lived and worked in Haiti for three and a half years before I was married, and while I never experienced a hurricane, I saw devastation that heavy rains could cause there. I have been receiving e-mails from there which have been telling about the deaths and destruction from Fay, Gustav, and Hanna.

This photo was sent to me in an e-mail from Haiti. I think this is the town of Gonaives toward the north of the country of Haiti. Three years ago, this city was flooded like this. Trucks could not get in with aid. The bodies of animals were floating in the water, and sometimes, even bodies. I'm reading the same thing about these storms that have hit recently.

Compassion is an organization which helps provide relief to countries like this. One can sponsor a child through this organization for $32 a month. This helps to provide food for the child and helps with the schooling. My son and his wife sponsor a child in Uganda. I sponsor a little girl in Haiti. Vicki is an advocate for Compassion. Visit her blog and you can read her heart. Compassion has made a plea for funds for relief for countries like Haiti where food prices have soared in recent days, and incomes have not.

When you look at the weather maps and read about the storms here, think about those poor people in Haiti who really have no place to go from the storm. Have a good week.

Puddles

In keeping with Carmi's theme, water, I thought of these photos that I took one morning when I drove to my church's office to volunteer. As I was getting ready to leave, I looked out and saw a flock of ibis. (I assume they're a flock...not sure of the word for this group.) It had rained quite hard the day before, leaving puddles here and there. This ibis stood by himself in this particular puddle, doing his morning toilette.

As we read about the storms that are hitting and look at the flooding that takes place, I was thinking back today when I was a little girl, playing and splashing in the puddles in front of my house. We lived just inside the city limits, which, as one of my high school classmates said to me at lunch one day, "Beverly, you really lived way out of town." And I guess we did. I'm not sure about the storm sewers, but our street did not drain very quickly. I can remember sitting in the water, even pretending to swim. And I survived. I guess we weren't aware of pollution and all the concerns that we have today...easier times, they were...for kids anyway.

Water - Carmi's Theme

Carmi posted his new theme last Wednesday, but I've yet to post. As you might be able to tell, water is this week's theme. He has some unusual photos on his blog of water. I live about ten minutes away from beautiful beaches here on the west coast of Florida. In my opinion, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the beaches are much nicer than the ocean side.

I don't go to the beach very much because of my freckled, sun-damaged skin, but whenever I do go, I wonder why I don't go more often. Although the barrier islands are terribly overbuilt, in the summer, it is not quite as busy as it is during tourist season, and if one goes early, the beaches aren't crowded at all. When my son came in June, with his wife and my beautiful granddaughter, we did spend one morning there.

We were only going to stay a little while, but everyone was having such a good time, we ended up staying much longer. Thanks to sunscreen, no one got burned. I'm sure that if it had not been for having access to a pool at my house, more time would have been spent there.

I'm sure that the waters might be churning a bit this afternoon as Gustav makes his way across the gulf. While we are grateful we're not getting hit, thoughts and prayers are going out to those on the gulf coast to the north.

Colorful -3

In the fall last year I made a visit to the vet's office with my daughter. Sitting on the counter at the office was this pumpkin with the Penn State Nittany Lion painted on it. In looking through some photos today, I came across this and it was a gentle (well, not so gentle) reminder to me that college football is getting ready to start. Yippee!

When my cat was still alive, at a visit to the vet, I mentioned to her that David was a student at Penn State. She stopped examining the cat, looked at me, and told me that she had done her undergraduate work there. The cat's exam was over. She told me about her experiences on campus. She happens to be a native of Florida as David is, and she, like David, wanted to go out of state for university.
Upon visiting campuses elsewhere, she commented that Penn State was the friendliest campus outside of the South that she visited.

Carmi, at Written, Inc., is hosting a colorful theme through today. If you visit his blog, you'll find many others who have taken part.

Let's Go, State!

Colorful - Take 2

Carmi is doing a "colorful" theme this week over at his blog. In looking through my files, I came across this photo. My cousin, who lives in north Florida, have a log cabin that was moved to their property several years ago. Her husband's employer was going to tear it down, so he asked if he moved it, could he have it.

This has been a labor of love that they have worked on together. After moving it, they added on a couple of rooms, built a chimney, and have made it fully functional. In the back is a pond. I'm not sure if they have it stocked with fish or not. They even built an outhouse...although it is not functional...which is probably a good thing.

Inside, you will find quilts that my cousin has either made or bought. In this particular room, as you can see, there are many Raggedy Anns and Andys. I asked her once what she was going to do with them all. Her comment? "After I'm gone, the kids can figure out what to do with them. If I see it, want it, and can afford it, I'll have it." (O.K., tell me, English teachers, is the plural of Ann and Andy the way I wrote it, or what is correct? Thanks in advance for your answer.)

She and her two sisters and a cousin in Leesburg are all that are left of my mother's side of the family. Although I don't see them often, I love the times that we are able to be together.

Colorful

Carmi's photo theme this week is "colorful." If yhou visit his blog, he has the perfect photo - a bowl of m&m's. My offering is my granddaughter's beach blanket along with one of the W*nder Pets. Before Ella came in June, I had lots of fun buying a few things for her to use while she was here. This towel caught my eye at T*rget. What fun to buy for this little girl!

PostScript

When I woke up this morning, there was no rain. Tropical Storm Fay went inland further south, as did Charlie in 2004. It's 2 in the afternoon right now, and the sun is shining. She's on her way across the state and may come back in further north.

Debra, over at Manx Mnews, is in the path of the storm should it follow its projected path. If you read her comment in the post down below, you will see why she is a bit anxious.

Thanks for you concern.

When all else fails...

I bought this sign for one of my teacher friends a few years ago. We both got a laugh out of it. The other day when I was at my old school, I entered a teacher's room who had all sorts of neat "teacher" stuff on her wall. I smiled again as I thought of Dot.

School started today, and there is a day off tomorrow. Why, you say? Tropical Storm Fay is on its way to our area, so schools will be closed tomorrow. Thankfully, at this point, it isn't expected to turn into a hurricane. We will have lots of rain and wind. I'm just now listening to the governor who said, "Stay calm, be smart, and use common sense." That does make sense.

I remember when I was still teaching we postponed school's opening on the first day because Andrew was to come across the state and hit us. Instead, you might recall that it did major, major damage in south Florida, particularly Homestead. We didn't have a drop of rain, not did a leaf blow.

During the time that I was in Haiti, I never experienced a hurricane, but the missionary kids that I taught loved to get off subject in class and talk about all their remembrances of the storms. I was advised when I went to Haiti to pack some of my belongings in a steel drum so that it could be used to store valuables in case of storm. Fortunately, I never had to use it for that.

I grew up here in Florida, and except for the summer of 2004 (I think) when hurricane Charlie and three others devastated the state, I don't remember a major storm. Hurricane Donna did come through in 1962, but I was away in college. I live in a somewhat protected area, or so it seems. The summer of Charlie and the others was horrific for people in the state. However, the storms skirted our area, and we had no major damage. I read and heard that the Indians knew something that we didn't know. It is reported that when they knew that a storm was coming, they would come to this area of west Florida.

So...a storm is on its way. Shelters will be open for those who need a safe place. In many counties, people who live in mobile homes, and there are many, are required to evacuate. Many folks who live on the barrier islands are encouraged to leave as well, and there is a large population who lives there.

One thing about hurricanes...we have all kinds of warnings. Anyone who doesn't take precaution is indeed foolish.

Not the best way to get a school holiday...especially right when school is starting.

Back to School

During the past year or so, I've become a fan of CaliforniaTeacher Guy's blog. He takes great photos and then writes haiku which so aptly fits his picture. Last year he shared his experiences at the Jewel School in Dirty Little Desert Town. Because of cutbacks, his position was not filled this year, and he is on his way to northern California for a new experience. Another teacher, Bellezza, wrote of soon having to go back to her unair-conditioned classroom to get ready for the new year. She teaches third grade, and I am sure that the children who come to her class develop a love of reading if they did not already have that love.

Visiting their blogs brings back memories of my own experiences in the classroom. I started teaching in the fall of 1963...wow, forty-five years ago. To look at me you'd never think I'm that old...just kidding. I went to a small private school in Ohio where I taught a combination second/third grade classroom. The children were lovely, as well as the parents. Many of these parents were in their early thirties, and when I would say "yes ma'am" to them, they would look at me sort of funny. It wasn't their practice. I still say "yes ma'am."

While I was in Ohio, I got my master's degree from Miami University, and then I went to Haiti and taught children of missionaries for three and a half years. I arrived in January, so I finished that school year and continued for three more. There I taught a group of sixth through ninth graders. Now that they are in their fifties, those that I've seen frequently call me Bev, rather than Miss Wright.

Then I came back to Florida, met the gentleman whom I would soon marry and taught for twenty-six years in the same school until I took the early retirement package that was offered in 1999. Times surely changed from 1973 until 1999. When I first started teaching at my local school, air-conditioning was unheard of; we had no carpet anywhere. Copies of work papers for the children were done on the old duplicators that produced a purple product while the fumes from the fluid made you a little funny. If you've taught for any time, you know what I mean.

When we put up bulletin boards, we used stencils to trace the letters that we needed for captions. The day that we got the Ell*son press that would stamp out letters and shapes for us, we were ecstatic. We used to have to make all our visuals, and then when we began getting money to use in our classes, companies sprang up who made lovely visuals that we could buy instead of creating ourselves. Then the laminating machine was a favorite tool to use to preserve those products.

That last two days I've spent at my old school in the classroom of a friend, helping her get ready for the new year. We put up background paper for the bulletin boards; I used letters that had been stamped from the Ell*son press to put up the captions. While I did that she was working on her home page for the school website. Every child has a laptop computer for his personal use at school. There is air-conditioning and carpet, white boards instead of black boards...no more chalk dust.

I stopped and looked in my classroom that I was last in. A first-grade teacher is in there now, and I would love to see the children as they walk in Monday morning for the first day of school. Her walls were adorned with all the things that one would expect...color words, number words, alphabet, classroom duty chart, and on and on. I wanted to take some pictures, but because I didn't know her at all, I didn't ask.

There is something about the beginning of a new school year. You get to get a fresh start with a new group of children. People have asked me if I miss teaching. I miss my comrades, and I miss the children...some of them. I'm glad I was able to go and help and then come home and take a nap. More on another day.

Doesn't this look good!

Last week Sarah and I drove to Virginia to be with Ella for her second birthday. Her mother and daddy invited friends over from work, their church, and their neighborhood for a later afternoon of dessert and activities inside and out. Behold the lovely table that was set. If you couldn't find something that would satisfy your sweet tooth, there was just something wrong with you. From left to right you see a carrot cake, phyllo cups filled with chocolate mousse topped with whipped topping, a lime cheesecake, and a black forest trifle.

When we arrived on Saturday afternoon, Sabrina said to me, "I need your help." She had made the cheesecake the day before, and it had cracked. She wanted to know if I had ever made a ganache. I hadn't, but I had watched Ina make it many times on the Barefoot Cont*ssa. So with a recipe in hand we made a white chocolate ganache and filled in the cracks. I don't believe anyone knew any better. The cheesecake was one of the first desserts that was eaten up.

Ella's parents hadn't wanted this to be a time when everyone brought presents for Ella, so she invited her babysitter over the next day, and that was when we had cake. A slice of the carrot cake served as Ella's cake. You can see that in the post further down.

Everyone loved the party on Saturday. One gentleman said, "Sabrina, is this going to become an annual event?" The neighbors have already planned the next evening when they'll get together and play games outdoors. The party was indeed a great success. A good time was had by all.