DAY 15: Francene

Francene died today.

DIED!

She hosted a lively talk show from 9 - 12 every week day on WHAS radio, and her death has her fans, friends, and even casual listeners - reeling.

I think her passing was shocking not only because she was only 43 and it was so unexpected - but also because she was just SO ALIVE.

It is hard to fathom that such a life force can be snuffed out in an instant.  But Francene's life on this earth ended abruptly today. There was no tapering off. This person who was SO ALIVE...just DIED.

Just like that.

She closed each of her shows with this: "Life is short, so make the most of your time."

Okay Francene. I get the message. I will try to do that better...

RIP Francene+  

My photo is from the ceiling of St. Vincent DePaul Church in New Hope - one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches in Kentucky. 

DAY 14: THINKING OF NORMA

THINKING OF NORMA...

 

Miss Norma Allen and her dog Spottie Ann lived across the street from me for several years.

After her mother died, Norma’s family thought it best that she move to town from the country home she shared with her mother in Jessetown.

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My children and I visited Norma and her mother in Jessetown once – I sought them out, trying to learn more about the history of my house. It was a delightful visit. Norma’s elderly mother was bed-ridden at that time, but she had us bring her portable keyboard to her bed so she could play us a few old tunes. It was wonderful.

Before they lived in Jessetown, my house was their family home place.  Norma would rather have been here in my house when she moved back to town, but since that was not possible she was quite excited that she could at least look out her front window and gaze upon the home of her youth.

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She would often call me on the phone. “What are YOU doin’ today?” she’d always ask. Once we got the weather and current events covered… and after she’d told me what Spottie Ann had done that day… and what dear brother or sister had visited or sent a letter…and after she had spoken about how nice the people at Pic-Pac were to her… or how much our neighbor Byron Lyvers had helped her that day - Norma would invariably ask me about some aspect of my house/her house.

I always wanted to have Norma over, but we never could accomplish a visit.

But Norma visited every day - in her mind. I guess over the years I described every nook and cranny in this house to Norma – more than once.

I would tell her what it looks like now and she would tell me what it looked like then. There was always conveyed to me a sweet memory from her family’s life in this house. When Norma lived here, her mother “took in boarders”.  She liked all the boarders, but their quarters were separate from her family’s quarters, though they would often share meals.

We would take Norma a plate of food every once in awhile, but she especially liked it when we’d bring her a jar of homemade Squash Pickles or Strawberry Jam.

One day Norma called me and told me I needed to come over - it was important. When I got there, I learned she had decided she wanted some certain items from her china cabinet to come “back home”. She gave me four lovely little glass dishes that had once been in the built-in china cabinet in my house/her house. She was sending them back home. If/when I ever sell this house I will leave those little dishes here for the next owner, in honor of Norma. Thinking back on it, I should have realized what was about to happen. But really, I was oblivious.

Not long after that day, I was startled to see a moving van backed up to Norma’s house. It was almost dark and I had walked to Pic-Pac to get something; on the way home I noticed the unusual activity.

 Norma hadn’t told me she was moving to a nursing home - one quite far away from here.  But it was a home close to her favorite brother. I can’t believe I can’t recall that brother’s name right now. How could I forget? Norma spoke of him so often. But I have forgotten…

Norma’s best friend Spottie Ann was nearly as disabled as Norma. Spottie Ann was one of the fattest little dogs I ever saw, and elderly and incontinent. Norma couldn’t take him to the nursing home, and I am sure it must have been a heartbreaking event for everyone involved when Norma had to leave Spottie Ann behind.

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We got a letter from Norma after that. She said that one of her home health friends had taken Spottie Ann in and she was sad about it but felt good that Spottie Ann had such a good home.

We sent Norma some Strawberry Jam and Squash Pickles.

Our correspondence eventually dropped off as it always does when life intervenes...but tonight...?

 I would really like to know how Norma is doing today.

DAY 13: PUNXSATAWNEY MILLS!

                                                   Photo courtesy of Billie Jo Clark - Baby Groundhogs in her Care

Punxsutawney Mills!

Vote Mills on Groundhog Day - February 2nd

We’ve just returned from a well attended chili supper/fundraiser at the St. Joe Community Center, in support of the Democratic candidate for State Representative of the 24^th District, Mr. Terry Mills.

He spoke at length about the fiascos with KACO and the Kentucky League of Cities – and his disgust of those in positions of trust who take advantage of us and our tax payer dollars because of their own personal greed.  Boy – am I on the same page with him there!

I believe Terry would represent us well. He is all about honesty and integrity and doing the right thing, and his life and track record back that up. He is retired, so he would be able to dedicate himself to his goal of representing us well in Frankfort.  He is accustomed to dealing with bureaucracy and cutting through the red tape, having worked with the Social Security Administration for over thirty years.

The voters of Marion County may be weary of politics, having just weathered a fiercely competitive campaign to fill our vacated State Senate seat. However, it takes a lot of courage and effort to run for any political office these days – especially for someone new to the political arena.  When a good person steps up to the plate, exercising our right to vote is the least we can do!

Speaking of weather…the election will be held on February 2^nd – Ground Hog Day!

If we don’t all get together on this we may be in for a looooooong political winter (the worst kind!)...And we’ll wake up the next day and the next and the next, regretfully locked into the same old thing…day after day….just like in the movie.

We can do better!

Please Vote for Terry Mills on Groundhog Day!

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All of Terry's family was in attendance tonight. Here he is with his wife, Patty Lee Mills; their children and their spouses, and all their little grandchildren - nice family!

DAY 12: LET'S GO KROGERING!

Let’s Go Krogering!

But not in the cereal aisle!

This picture I snapped of a young lady shopping at Kroger reminds me of something I hadn’t thought of in awhile.

A few years ago, area stores were baffled by what was happening in their cereal aisles. Every day all over town, grocers were discovering open boxes of cereal on their shelves.  Nothing was stolen – but certain boxes were being regularly tampered with and no one could figure out what was going on.  

The mystery deepened when the same thing began happening in neighboring communities – Campbellsville Wal-Mart….Bardstown Wal-Mart…all the groceries in surrounding counties… were experiencing an inexplicable rash of cereal box tampering. Baffling!

It became obvious to law enforcement that the phenomenon was so widespread it had risen to the level of a “serial crime” (pun intended).

The public record reflects details of what I affectionately call “The Bobble-Head Case”.

Bobble-Heads were toys offered back then as prizes in boxes of cereal, with the aim of promoting brisk sales of the product. It was a great promotion, and sales WERE brisk!  The more avid collectors bought lots and lots of cereal in their insatiable quest to obtain the most rare and sought-after Bobble-Heads.

The VERY most avid collectors were a sweet young couple of friends who’d bought all the cereal they could possibly afford and more than they could ever consume in a year --- but, alas --- all they kept getting over and over were duplicate Bobble Heads. One can imagine their dismay after buying boxes and boxes of cereal only to be met with such disappointment every time. : (

With their Bobble-Head frenzy in high gear and their bank account nearly depleted, the desperate couple formulated an ingenious plan: they would surreptitiously open the boxes at the stores, furtively examine the contents, and save themselves the agony of any further disappointing purchases. If the box did not contain the sought-after prize, back on the shelf it went. Nothing was stolen, and they were not further “ripped off” in their search for the illusive Bobble-Heads so desperately needed to finally complete their collection.

They may never have been discovered had it not been for a competing (and jealous) Bobble-Head collector who tipped the police off about a certain kitchen in her neighborhood that had every cupboard and kitchen counter brimming with cereal boxes. That was exactly the “lead” local law enforcement needed to solve the mystery.

I’m sure the young couple of friends learned valuable lessons from their Bobble-Head experience. I never knew whether they were ever able to complete their collection after law enforcement became involved. But I sure hope they did! To me, it was the sweetest “crime” ever committed here. It was like something straight out of Mayberry.

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More Kroger Pictures....

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 Mary Ann Peake...some will remember her as a greeter at Wal-Mart. I remember her best from when she was our neighbor in Loretto. I could not get over how cute she looked this day shopping. Love the hat!

Mr. Charles Brady...a great shopper! He was so good with coupons that he could get to the checkout counter and they'd almost have to pay HIM! haha

One of my daughter's numerous after school jobs was her stint at Kroger. She is shown here, checking out customers. She and one of her workers almost got into trouble because they laughed so much!

I would love to know the identity of this sweet little girl with her kitten. It was the cutest thing to see her standing up through the sun roof of the car with her kitty, presumably waiting for mom to get finished shopping...

And here is a closer look at the little girl and her cat....if anyone knows who she is - please email me! Precious.

DAY 11: UFO

Only eleven days into this project and I am getting desperate. But I am not giving up.

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Sometimes it’s fun to try taking close-up pictures of insects. It’s hard to do without a tripod, which is pretty much out of the question when you’re photographing tiny moving creatures. You just have to hold your breath, keep the camera as still as possible and hope for the best.

This mysterious insect landed on one of my yellow tomatoes on a sultry summer afternoon.  It was SO hot out that day, but I temporarily forgot the heat (a biggie for me) because I was just fascinated with him – he looked  like he was wearing a welding mask - and was getting seriously down to business.

That black probe-like tentacle extending from his welding mask seemed like it should be a stinger – but it wasn’t very sharp. The little fellow kept trying to pierce the tomato with his probe thing but couldn’t manage to do it. I could see the tomato skin denting in a little as he pushed, but no matter how hard he tried he just couldn’t manage to insert his prong into the object of his affection. I felt sorry for him.

So I caught him in a jar and sliced a little cube of tomato for him. He seemed to enjoy it, but it turned out to be his last meal, as he died shortly after that.  

I still have him in that jar, hoping I’ll someday meet an entomologist who can identify him. I labeled the top of the jar with this picture cut into a circular shape to fit the lid. It's not a quart jar or anything...just one of those tiny little jelly jars.

You know, the thought just occured to me that if - no WHEN - "something" happens to me and people are left with the chore of sorting through my meager earthly possessions...they might ponder the significance of this bug in a jar - especially since I thought so much of it I took a picture of it in life. All the more reason it would really be nice if I could learn the official name of this little guy.