Saturday, February 27, 2016

Those Were the Days

My brother emailed me a photo taken sometime in the 1930's. (He's the one on the right). Ah, yes, those were the "good ol' days"! If you look at the photo, it was a time of innocence. The boys were skinny dipping and were told to put the branches in front before they posed for the picture.

I don't even want to begin to think about today, definitely not a time of innocence. We, both youth and adults, are very aware of the dangers surrounding us, imaginary or otherwise. We are inundated with the news, detailed and gritty. It is difficult for us to escape the bombardment of the sensational and exploitive news. From the politicians to the media, care givers, neighbors, friends, enemies alike, we are saturated with FEAR, DANGER,WARNING, WARNING, BE ON ALERT, THE WORLD IS A SCARY PLACE, ALONG WITH THE NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET.

There is a time to fear and be wary, but for our youth? Ah, yes, I remember a time when the main fears were the boogey man under the bed, a stern note from the teacher, a possible spanking, a cold shoulder from the group, or listening to Inner Sanctum on the radio.

Those were our fears, but as far as the rest of the world? Well, look at this photo and it says it all.



Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Justice. Sweet, Sweet Justice!

There are those times when some of us believe that there is no justice in this world. Crooks go free, leaders send the youth to fight and die, the rich protect their assets from the IRS, the rich get richer and ......etc. etc.

There you have it. The world is not fair, never is and never was.

But then, once in a while, justice has a say. You can sense a sigh of relief. Finally, finally some get their dues. Yesterday in nearby Custer, South Dakota, the leader of the FLDS cult was arrested on charge of money laundering and fraud in regard to food stamp money. Hundreds of federal agents in Utah and Arizona were breaking down doors and arresting cult members in those compounds, while in our next door county a lone Custer County Sheriff was quietly arresting the leader of the FLDS compound near Pringle, SD.

I need write no more. You can google it for yourself. It is quite a story. But here in our neck of the woods, folks are rejoicing and saying, "Finally. Finally they got the goods on a cult that lives tax free, obtains water rights for more members (and they won't say how many), obtain services illegally from the federal government, live secretly with the older men marrying many young women who often get pregnant in their early teens and live their lives in servitude to the authoritarian elders, and who eject any of the younger men who may interfere with their polygamous life style. And, they do all of this in the name of "religion" and keep the women behind walls of ignorance, obedience and fear.

We can only speculate about the outcomes of these arrests. Maybe new leaders will rise up and the cults will continue as before, but they won't be stealing millions of dollars from taxpayers and diverting the money into enriching their pockets through aliases, disguises, false identifications, moving and hiding members from one compound to another. Well, at least not for the time being.

So secrets are revealed and justice, wonderful justice is in the works for a group, that in the name of religion, abuses and uses. How sweet the word sounds....justice. At long last there is a wind of justice blowing through our land. And none too soon. It is needed today, more than ever.

Meanwhile in our neighboring county we have a sheriff who, on his own, with no impressive backup, quietly arrested the man who a short time before, was in our state capital, requesting more water rights for his group of "he didn't know how many", and he got it! Unbelievable, but he did. Now he is in jail. The sighs of many funnel the comfort of a justice, long overdue. At long last!

Friday, February 19, 2016

The Best Facelift!

Oh, yeah, our municipal pool, Evans Plunge, has a new look after the annual two-week closure. Long time members say that never have they seen so many improvements after a yearly closure. In addition to the yearly pool cleaning, new non-slip flooring has been installed around the pool, new flooring in the lobby and gift shop, new ceiling tiles, separate showers in men's and women's locker rooms, private dressing rooms in the men's locker, new paint, mirrors, counters, sinks and many other additions.

There will be more improvements to come as finances allow, but for now we members are delighted. This was all done under government ownership! The city of Hot Springs appears to be more interested in the safety and health of members and visitors than making a bundle. They are close to breaking even and that is in the best interests of those using a facility dedicated to maintaining good health through its exercise equipment, renewing chlorine-free spring water and a rejuvenating health club with steam room, sauna and hot tubs.

The best news is that the city is keeping the facility open year round, unlike under private ownership. The city maintains a public library to nourish the mind, a convention center to facilitate meetings and cultural events and a public pool and health club to promote a healthy lifestyle for its citizens. This is of special importance to those of us who may not be able to keep our bodies fit without the healing waters.

We are extremely fortunate to have the world's largest indoor mineral spring water pool in our back yard, and available to us all year round. Ah.....as I write these words I can feel the soothing heat of the sauna, wiping away the stresses and arthritis that come with daily living.

More improvements to come. Stay tuned!

Men' lockers with private dressing rooms and showers, new paint, sinks and ceiling tiles.

And the turtle still swims in the river!












Women's locker room has new mirrors, counters, paint, ceiling tiles and.....





Private showers!
And the mermaid still graces the wall!

Come on in to Evans Plunge and exercise in the chlorine-free mineral spring waters of the pool. Your body will thank you as you soak in the steam room or relax in the hot tubs and your kids will have a ball! Open year round....closed on Tuesdays during the winter season. Check out their website for many more photos, history, hours, etc. Google Evans Plunge.




Saturday, February 13, 2016

A Lingering Goodbye

Early January and a Christmas card was returned. That began my journey into tracking down a long-time hometown friend. We had been through over 60 years of sharing laughter, tears, hopes, dreams, illnesses and deaths of loved ones. How could she disappear from the face of my earth?

I made the usual phone calls to her new apartment. No answer. After a few times I let the phone ring and ring. What was wrong? Where was she? I didn't know the last names of her two daughters so that was a dead end. The Internet offered no hope. Where was my oldest friend?  At long last a classmate emailed me with her whereabouts.

My heart dropped a beat. Her new home was an assisted living facility in her home town. I was informed that she had a fall and now was suffering from dementia and may not know who I was. How could that be? We had a long conversation....when was it? Could it have been a year ago?

She did not use the Internet so over the years we had made our visits in person, but after my move to South Dakota we mainly used the telephone to keep in touch. We shared so much. We were like sisters.

We met when I was a freshman and she was in Junior High School. Age difference did not matter. We were kindred spirits. She was sweet, kind and an only child who was adored by her parents. She was a majorette for the popular Drum and Bugle Corp, travelling to state and national competitions. She dated my cousin who was visiting for the summer. He fell head-over-heals for her, but it was not to be. She went on to college and became a much-loved kindergarten teacher, married and raised two beautiful, talented daughters. She had her own television show, using her teaching skills to educate generations of pre-school age children. After retirement she continued teaching by volunteering for an ESL program, assisting immigrants in perfecting their English skills.

Whatever she did, she did to the best of her ability. She was a caring, devoted daughter, mother, wife and teacher. She told me once, "I am not the smartest of people. I know that, but I work hard and make the best of situations." She knew herself, with her weaknesses, but accepted herself as well as others who came into her life.

She was in a terrible car accident, recovering after many plastic surgeries. She looked after her mother when she entered a nursing home and spent many hours with her father, including him in her life even after his many failures had caused her ridicule and rejection while she was in high school.

One of her dreams she shared with me was to write a book for teachers, using many materials she had developed over the years for her television show. That dream was put aside as she focused on her daughters, grandchildren, parents and the early death of her husband to cancer. As far as I know she never had time to pursue that dream. Today I wonder what happened to all of those materials?

Her home was sold and today she is in the assisted living facility. I called and was told they would connect me to her room. We talked at length. She sounded her usual cheerful self. It was great to hear her voice, but there was a difference. After talking for a while she said, "I hate to say this, but who are you again?" I don't know if she remembers me even after we talked about her family, our hometown (not the same), and how she liked her new home. Of course, she said she loved it there. No surprise. She always has accepted her life situations, even when difficult. She has not lost her generous spirit. But as of now, the February of 2016, she has lost memories of me and our friendship.

I sent chocolates for Valentine's day and I will call again, and again. She asked me to. My call seemed to cheer her up and maybe, just maybe, the next time I call she will remember me. Perhaps the next time we talk I will not have a sleepless night, crying for a loss - a loss of a closeness we shared for so very many years, since first we met and became instant friends in the summer of 1946. It was that long ago, but it seems like yesterday.

Over the years friends have come and gone from my life. A few steadfastly remained. She was one. And now she is leaving me, slowly, but surely. My heart is aching. Goodbyes are never easy, no matter how or when, swiftly or slowly, expected or sudden. How can anyone replace someone who accepted you, warts and all, with unconditional love?

Of course I know that answer, but slowly, over time I will have to learn to let go and be grateful that even if I am lost to her, I will keep the precious memories of a special, loving friend.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Hello Again

Today, five days after his disappearance, our alley cat re-appeared. We were leaving the house to meet a friend for a meal, and there he was, meowing at our back door. Now I know he did not vanish because of "catting around" since he is now an "it."

So the mystery remains. Where was he for almost a week? Bob believes that he was locked accidentally in someone's garage. Could be. I know for now it will remain a mystery, but thank you to my friend who emailed me that he would return. You were right D......He returned, for better or worse. He is back in our lives once again.

Welcome back, mysterious cat!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Those Mysterious Cats

It is the first day of February and the sun is rising as I raise the shades in the bathroom window facing the back deck. The black and white cat is not peeking in the window.

"Where is he?" I wonder. Every morning for the past year and a half, rain or snow, he has greeted me impatiently on the railing overlooking that window. "Meow, meow. Feed me, feed me."

When I got to the back door he would be scratching on the screen, "meow, meow, meow." After he downed his bowl of food he would follow me out to the chicken coop, whining for attention, jumping over the wooden fence, perching on the gate, harassing the chickens, then retreating between my feet when one of the hens would chase after him and give him a peck on the nose.

He would follow me back to the house, circling around, blocking my path by stopping in front of me, slowing my progress toward the house. Morning, noon and night he would be there to greet me, arriving or leaving. He was our "porch cat" ever since his mother, Skitty, never returned for her daily food.

He was a constant companion when Bob was out weeding the lawn or clipping the bushes, rubbing against his legs, crying for attention, when not otherwise occupied with chasing leaves or mice.

He was not a nice cat, bullying his mother and other strays from coming to our door. Our yard had become his territory for stalking birds, mice and squirrels who dared to venture too close. But I was responsible, after all, for his very existence since I had neglected to spade his mother in time and she delivered him to our back door in late Spring of 2014.

As to his mother, she vanished from our lives a few months after bringing us her baby and this last Monday, Muddy, as we named her baby, also disappeared. I can only suppose as to his certain demise. Was it the dogs let loose after dark by careless owners, too preoccupied to walk them on leash, another cat, tougher and more brutal, a trap set out in the neighborhood, or a car racing thoughtlessly through the night?

I drove around the neighborhood that day, searching. He never wandered far from our block. I guess alley cats have a way of appearing, then disappearing as secretly as they come, never to be seen again.

I can only hope that his ending was not lengthy or painful. Muddy was not a very pleasant cat as his mother was, or loving or gentle. He was demanding, pushy and self-centered, but he was there each day when I raised the shades and there each evening meowing for food. He would follow me on my walk, but only to the edge of his turf which amounted to a block. His absence is felt, and this surprised me. I never thought I would miss an alley cat, but I do, just as I missed his mother when she vanished from her daily visits to our back door.


This morning I saw cat prints in the light drifting of snow in our back yard. Just guessing, but I suppose I will be greeting another new arrival seeking food and a friendly greeting. After all, our territory has opened up and there are fat, furry mice lying in wait.
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