A Tribute to a Friend

In Loving Memory of Blanche

Yesterday my husband and I joined a church full of friends and family in tribute to our friend Blanche who passed away on Wednesday. She was a wonderful friend, loved by everyone who knew her. She fought a hard battle with the big C, and she didn’t let it get her down. She was very strong and very brave in her battle. It was because of her faith, her husband, and her family, that she was able to fight for 3 years and it was a good fight. She always said, even when she knew she would eventually lose her battle, that she was not afraid to die, she just wanted to put it off as long as possible, and that she did. Her friends and family all had the time to visit her and to say their goodbyes. I’m glad I visited with her two times in the last month, but regret that the week before last, when I was planning to stop to see her, that I didn’t, next thing I knew she was much worse. I didn’t see her the last few days of her life, but I know we said our goodbyes on my last visit, and she knew how much I loved her. I felt the last few days, belonged to her family. She passed away peacefully, as her sister was reading to her from the book of Psalms.

A few weeks ago, her family hosted a Wedding Anniversary Party and Birthday Party for her (they both fell on the same day) and LeRoy. Early in their marriage, her husband underwent a heart transplant, and Blanche stood by him through his health struggles, and now, he has stood by her in her struggles. They had a wonderful party, she was her usual cheerful, funny and lovely self that day. We will remember her that way, and remember the courage and faith that she had these last 3 years. We will all miss her and keep her in our hearts.

Record Broke in Duluth

I haven’t written all week because it’s been too hot in our house. We don’t have an air conditioner; we have fans that we have been using to try to cool us. It was in the 90’s just about all week and on Friday the temperature downtown hit 102degrees. It was 100 on the temperature in my car, showing the outside temperature on my way home on Friday evening. I’ve not been liking the heat and humidity…it doesn’t agree with me. Friday’s temperature broke a record. This is also the 3rd hottest July in Duluth’s history, and the 9th driest July. Yes, we are also having a drought. If the farms in the southern Minnesota don’t soon get rain, their crops will be jeopardized.

Yesterday it finally cooled off … the temperature in the afternoon was 77 and the humidity was down to 43%. What a relief! Last night we got some substantial rain, and thunderstorms through this morning. I haven’t heard how much we got, but I know it will be a big help. The northern forests have been having fires due to the dryness, and all the green is looking brown these days.

Today is much more comfortable, we will have to enjoy it while we have it, because tomorrow’s high is to be 95 again!

Highlights of the Week

-- The Duluth Relay For Life event raises over $100,000!
-- Our Hope UMC Relay Team raises over $7,000 toward the event!
-- Excitement from my team members for next years event
-- Wrapping up 4 area Relay’s at my job
-- Relaxing and meaningful supper with my UMC Covenant Group at
Sara's Table Restaurant.
-- Relaxing supper with my husband at air-conditioned Applebees,
during the heat wave
-- Lunch with my son Scott
-- Visiting on the telephone with my daughter
-- My decision to make a trip to Pennsylvania to be with my family
for a wedding celebration next month. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
-- Hearing from my relatives that they are excited about my coming
home for a visit (I feel so loved!)
-- Making arrangements with a second cousin, to get together with my
Mother’s cousins that I haven’t seen in over 40 years or more
(except briefly at my Mother's funeral)when I go home
-- Lunch with two great Relay For Life volunteers and friends
-- Cooler weather yesterday and today
-- Sunday worship at Hope UMC outside on the parking lot,
with trees and sky for the backdrop. The Scripture and sermon text
was about Jesus feeding the 5,000. Pastor Michelle reminding us that
Jesus takes what we give to make miracles. (The little boy who gave
the loaves and fishes).
-- 5 loaves and 2 fishes divided into baskets and passed to the
congregation, symbolic of the Sermon on the Mount feeding
-- Great music at the worship service, including two of my very favorite hymns.
-- My best friend, who I missed while they were in Florida, returning home
today, and visiting with her about their trip
-- Our house being cool and comfortable!
-- Knowing I'm part of a loving family and faith community
Life is Good!

A Quick Decision

My youngest cousin on my Dad’s side just got married when she and her boyfriend of 7 years were away on vacation. Jessica is the youngest Ebersole cousin and I am the oldest, with a lot of cousins in between us. She and I have always thought that was special. I’ve only seen Jessica about 2 times since she’s grown up, but I still feel a special connection to her. She is now 34. Her Mother told me they didn’t think she and Joseph would ever get married, so in celebration of their marriage her Mother and Dad are having a wedding reception gathering to honor them the evening of Aug. 11th. Aunt Peggy e mailed me a few weeks ago and said “maybe you could be there”. I was too busy with my job and the relay preparations to even think about it. On Sunday I talked to my brother, he asked if I was coming home for the party, said it would be a good time to see all the family. Then my sister e mailed me over the weekend and told me the same thing. Since I hadn’t made my plans for my ’06 visit home, I finally took some time on Tuesday evening to consider going home at that time. The question wasn’t “do I want to go”, the question was “do I have the money for a ticket?” Air fares have been very high and when I looked on line the fare was still higher than I’ve ever paid for a 21 day advance ticket. Then I realized, 21 day advance…the party is August 11…I counted backward, and realized I needed to make my decision quickly, in fact by Thursday if I was to get the lower 21 day fare! This was Wednesday! So, talked it over with Bob, he said, buy only one ticket, we can’t afford two, then Thursday morning I asked my supervisor for vacation during that time, she approved, and I knew if I wanted to make the party I needed to make the decision Thursday night! All the signs were there that I should go. (I always look for signs). SO…Thursday night, I sat down at the computer and purchased my ticket. I will be leaving from Minneapolis, since it’s almost $130 more to leave from Duluth. I didn’t even have time to confer with Dawn, who would be shuttling me to and from the airport from Hudson. When I told her my plane leaves at 6 am, she asked me “what were you thinking…6 am, that early?!” I laughed and told her I guess the only thing I was thinking was that I would arrive at noon, and I thought noon was good, it meant I’d have a whole ½ day more with my family!

One disappointment, my grandson really wanted to go with me the next trip home, but he is so busy with teen activities and work, that he would not be able to clear his calendar to go along. Too short of notice for Rob, Dawn and Scott, so I will be going by myself. (which in some ways is good, because I don’t have to try to please anyone else, while I’m there). One bonus of making the plans so near to the date, is that I don’t have long to wait for my trip home. I was so excited about going on Thursday night, that I couldn't sleep! Yeah . . . August 10th will be here before I know it! Sometimes, quick decisions are good.

Much More Comfortable!

A beautiful Duluth Day! It was hot all week, as you read on my post on Tuesday. The humidity and heat was bad. What a relief it is today! I noticed right away this morning that it is much more comfortable in our house. It's noon and the temperature is 74 degrees...now that's
my kind of temperature! Also, the humidity is down, it's only at 48 %, another reason that the day is comfortable. I love this weather!

Heat Wave

This heat wave reminds me of the past heat waves we’ve had in July. The most memorable ones are those that happened when we had company from out of state. I always told everyone from Pennsylvania, “come to the air-conditioned city of Duluth, it’s so nice here in the summer, temps in the 70’s.” So, what happens almost every time that company comes from there? A heat wave! Granted, it’s usually July when they come, and July is when we get our heat waves…but does it have to happen when our company comes? Each one of those years, the heat only happened while the company was here!

They, of course, did not mind the heat. But, I am the hostess, and the heat and humidity did not go well with me. When my best girlfriend and her husband from New Jersey came in July, I was so miserable, we went to Park Point to the beach and I just about died. They couldn’t understand why I was complaining so much about the heat, it didn’t bother them!

A cousin and her husband, the same thing….so hot I couldn’t stand it. At 11 pm we walked around Canal Park by the waterfront, trying to cool off…it was still hot.

Bob’s cousins from Maryland, 6 of them came one July. I wanted to fix a big Italian meal to impress them at our home. Boy, cooking a big meal, at 96 degrees was no fun. One of the women sat on the front porch and kept telling me she was waiting for the north breeze. I had told her that our temperature could often change at a drop of a hat, when the wind would change over Lake Superior, so she was on the porch waiting for that change! (It never came).

Then there was that first summer after I was married, when Mom and Dad came. That was the first heat wave I experienced. The windows in our apartment were all old and painted shut, only one small window in the bathroom would open. My Mother kept saying that we “HAD” to get windows open to get some air. The next day she insisted on going to a store to buy a fan. Every store we went to, the fans were sold out. We had to put our name on a list for the shipment to come in the next day! We got the fan…I still have it! And to think, up until that time, I complained all May and June about how cold it was in Duluth!

One good thing about heat waves in Duluth, they don’t last more than a week, usually. Most times, it cools off at night, not always (like Friday and Saturday of this past week, it didn’t), so when it cools at night, at least you get a good nights sleep. I notice that after a stretch of a few days of heat, people in Duluth start getting grumpy. We just aren’t used to the heat, and when it affects people’s sleep, they get grumpy.

The funny thing with our company being here during the heat wave is that I would always tell them “it’s usually not like this”, and I would tell them that they “brought the heat from the east”. Of course, you know that as soon as they left Duluth….the heat wave let up! I can’t blame anyone from back home for bringing us this heat wave we’ve just had…I don’t have any company right now.

By the way, the heat improved yesterday, it was only in the 80’s instead of 90’s, we had a breeze yesterday (though not a cool one), and last night the temperature dropped, this morning it is 57 degrees, so much more pleasant! I think we've now had our July heat wave for 2006 and today will be cooler.

Just a Little Bit Cooler

I posted this photo in hopes that it would make me feel cooler...

As I’ve probably mentioned before, I don’t take the heat and humidity well. I will say though, that I don’t think I’m the only one in Duluth that doesn’t take it well. This afternoon I went to Target, and it was very crowded there. The lady behind me at the checkout counter commented that it must be busy here because everyone came to get out of the heat into the air-conditioned. I quickly admitted that was why I was there. I took my time, shopping around, picking up needed items, laundry soap, soap, toilet paper, and of course some items that weren’t really needed. But then, I found myself getting very, very warm again and sweaty…oh my, time to quit shopping and get to the air in the car! From there, going the long way, I went to the grocery store, where it was also nice and cool. When I came home, it was hard to be in the hot house. I noticed that the porch was cooler than inside.

About an hour ago we noted that it is a bit cooler. A little bit of a breeze, so I re-opened the windows.

Remember, my pledge about two weeks ago to only drink water, it’s really been hard with this heat to stick to water! I have been drinking a lot of water the last few days, and feel that I’m being really disciplined, because what I really want to drink is “soda” pop, tall glass of coke or diet coke with ice, or a tall glass of iced tea. But, I have resisted, and keeping to the water. I’ve also done well staying away from the Seroogy’s Chocolate bars this weekend. Small steps.

95 Degrees in Duluth at Noon

I just came home from church. It is noon and 95 degrees. Unusual for Duluth, but if we are going to get a heat wave this is the time of year we get it, always in July. It is so hot in our house, the fans just seem to be blowing the hot air around. I have everything closed up, to keep the “heat out”, but to no avail. It was very hard sleeping last night in the heat.

I have been putting off going to the grocery store for more than a few quick items, but yesterday was pay day, and I’m miserable in this heat, so think I will now go to the grocery store where it is air conditioned! Thankfully, my car is also air conditioned. I don’t think they make cars anymore without air, thank goodness!

Off to find the air condition!

3:10 pm, 96 degrees & Melting Chocolate

Last night from 6 pm until 6 am this morning was our Duluth Relay For Life Event. The temperature Thursday and Friday in Duluth was in the 90’s. I came home Wednesday night at 7 pm and my car temp said the outside temp was 90, it went higher on Thursday and Friday! The heat made it really hard to walk the track but the track was walked all night by close to 40 dedicated teams! There were 15 members plus supporters on our HOPE UMC Team. One of the members went to bed at usual time and came to the track at 4 am and walked till the opening ceremony at 5:30, steady. So she was fresh when the rest of us were pretty worn. (Thank you Becca!). Peggy and Jim, who were instrumental and dedicated in our team sales for team money, went home, showered and came right back! Peggy and Jim took on team sales all by themselves at the downtown Sidewalk Days Sale, Wednesday through yesterday afternoon, selling items for our team, and encouraging people to sign our WALL of HOPE Banner that they will be taking to Washington, DC in September, as part of the National Relay there. The heat was brutal for them sitting outside. (Thank you Peggy and Jim).

I can’t take the heat and humidity. By midnight I was feeling sick. I went home, took a shower, set the alarm for 5 am, to go back for the last hour. I had a hard time getting to sleep, thinking of the relay I was missing, I have always stayed all night. The reason we call it a relay and have teams is to have one person on the track all night, so if we aren’t walking all the time, we don’t feel guilty, that’s why it’s a team event. So I rested for awhile, got dressed and went back to the relay! My son pointed out to me, when I came back, that the relay has been “my baby for 15 years”, I couldn’t just walk away from it! He knows that I was on the first planning committee for the first Relay For Life event 15 years ago (as a volunteer). He's right...it is very close to my heart. It was great to see the sun rise, and to walk the final lap with my friend Becca. Thank you to Jeff, Joe for providing us our tent, and to Joe, Rosemary and Doug for putting it up and taking it down.

I came home at 7, took my morning medicines, along with some Tylenol, and went back to bed. I awoke about 9 with a terrible “charley horse” in my thigh. Read the paper and went back to bed. I couldn’t believe it, the next thing I knew it was 3:10 in the afternoon! I think the 96 degree heat woke me. Today is the hottest of the week and of our summer! The first thing I had to do, was put all of the candy that was left from our candy sales into the refrigerator! Two flavors were especially vulnerable to the heat and were melting fast - (don’t want to lose our profits!).

I know some of my team members read my blog, so I want to take this opportunity to thank each one for their help, their support and their fundraising. Through everyone’s effort, our team raised over $5,000… double what we made last year! The final figure isn’t in, as we were raising money at our tent all night, with selling cute little knick knacks that kids like, relay related items, chocolate bars and pop and water. Can't believe how those sales added up. The preliminary figure for the amount the whole event raised is $100,000! Awesome!!! I also want to thank all those that weren’t on the team, that came out and supported us, our pastor, Michelle, many friends from church, my husband, the cancer survivors from Hope that came to be honored (the ones for who we walked). The luminaries were lit all night, in honor and in memory of those loved ones touched by cancer. The luminary and the Survivors First Lap ceremonies were inspirational!

I especially enjoyed this year’s relay because it’s the first one in the 8 years that I worked at ACS, that I did not have to work as an ACS Staff person at the event. I was allowed this year, to only function as a team captain, allowing me to be with my team all night. (Thank you Suzanne!).

One disappointment for us, two dear friends Blanche and Bill, who were determined to come and particpate in the Survivor's ceremony and lap, did not make it. I'm sure it was because of the heat. I need to give them a call this evening and let them know they were missed! I was thrilled though that two of my friends, one a year survivor of Breast Cancer and another a 10 month survivor of Breast Cancer were on our team, for the first time they experienced Relay For Life. Especially
thankful that they are well again. Barbara, another friend from Hope, is in the middle of her treatments for Breast Cancer, and I know she will be part of our team next year! Celebrating Cancer Survivors, that's what The American Cancer Society's
Relay For Life is all about!

Its to be cooler tomorrow, (yea!) The relay is over for another year, it was a successful relay thanks to the Co/chairs, committee and volunteers. By the end of next week, after wrapping up 4 area relays, I should be able to relax more at my job. Life is good!

"Pinky Lee"

Do you remember Pinky Lee and his TV show? I write in my blog below about the time my cousins and I saw Pinky Lee in person. Here's a photo of him and his theme song to bring back memories for baby boomers. (sing along....)

Yoo-hoo, it's me
My name is Pinky Lee
I skip and run with lots of fun
For every he and she.
It's plain to see
That you can tell it's me
With my checkered hat and my checkered coat
The funny giggle in my throat
My funny laugh like a billy goat.
That's it's whooooo
PINKY!

Arizona Cousins

I had a surprise phone call on Monday evening from a cousin in Arizona who I have not talked to in 40 years or more. When I was growing up, one of my Mother’s brothers lived in Arizona. We had three cousins there, Ronnie, Tiffany and Daphne. We didn’t see them but maybe once every 4 or 5 years, and saw their Dad on trips in to PA in between those years. Very much like the cousins in PA would say about how often they have seen my children. I go home to PA from Minnesota alone, more often than with my children.

There was always a lot of excitement on the part of us Pennsylvania cousins, when the cousins from Arizona arrived in town! Ronnie was much older than I was. My memories are more of wit was just my Aunt and Uncle and two girls that came, after Ronnie was grown. On my Mom’s side us cousins were girls with the exception of Ronnie and my brothers. Us girls would get together at Grandma’s house and see “Tif” and “Daf” while they were at Grandma’s. Grandma would be brave and let us stay overnight for a few nights, there were 5 of us girls (wasn't that brave!) We do have 2 more girl cousins, but they were too young at the time to hang with us. We always had so much fun. The girls lived in the city in Arizona, so coming to Grandma’s farm was always exciting for them. They always wanted to play in the barn and in the hay mow (loft). We would play “house”, set up our house with our dolls in the hay loft and play, play, play! Those were the days when paper dolls were popular and we would play paper dolls too in the house.

One thing that all of us remembered into adulthood was the time that we broke Grandma’s bed. She had a spare bedroom where we stayed, it had two beds. We used to play in there too. You know how kids jump on beds, when they aren’t supposed to. She often caught us “jumping” and would tell us not to jump. Well, you guessed it, one time we were jumping and the bed broke. We were afraid to tell Grandma. Eventually we had to, and though Grandma wasn’t happy with us, she was not the type to punish us severely; she was a darling Grandma and under-stood “kids”, thankfully. But we did get “hollered” (as we say in PA) at! And, we never forgot the day we broke her bed!

Another time Grandma took us to an amusement park for the day. There was a show there called “The Pinky Lee” Show. Now, I don’t know if you remember Pinky Lee or not, but at the time, he was a TV star to us, a show we watched on TV. Gee, that was fun. I even did something out of my comfort zone, that when I think back, I can’t believe that I did. He invited kids to come to the stage to sing and dance with him during one number. I know, if you know me now, you’d never believe it, but I was a very, very shy girl. One of the girls (don’t remember which one) encouraged me to go to the stage with her. We sang and danced with Pinky Lee. What a time that was!

Daphne is the cousin that called me Monday. The last time I saw her in PA, she was about 16 years old. She was the same age as one of my brothers. During that visit, our 4-H club was hosting a group of 4-H’ers from Tennessee, and she went with me to a picnic that we had for them. Both being teens then, we talked about boys. That is really all the memory I have of that last visit with her and her sister. Daphne, if you are reading this (I told her about my blog), feel free to post a comment or two of your memories.

It was always one of my dreams to visit my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Arizona. One of the things we talked about on our phone visit was how hard it is to not have our parents anymore. Her Mother and Dad were a very special Aunt and Uncle to me, and I miss them, even though I didn’t see them very often. Only one of her Dad and my Mother’s siblings are left, and she and I also talked about making a real effort to stay in touch with Uncle Gilbert and Aunt Mae as much as we can.

The cousins from Arizona were very special, and Daphne and I decided to stay in touch more closely. About 2 years ago I talked with another cousin who had talked with Daphne’s sister, and they had an idea that we girl cousins should all meet somewhere for a get together retreat. I thought it was a great idea; we need to make that happen, and not put it off before more years pass. In the meantime, perhaps Bob and I can plan a visit to see the Arizona cousins in 2007. He also has a cousin with a family who live very near my cousins. We need to intentionally plan, not just talk about it!

Relay Week

Last Wed. through yesterday, I’ve been too busy with Relay to write. Busy at work, helping to get ready for four relays being held in Duluth and three near by communities this Friday, the 14th. (See my relay link for more info). I am also captain for a relay team for the Duluth event. Most of our team members are from my church, but also have some friends from the community. I keep getting more members, and I think I will end up with the limit of 15. I had a call last night from a friend who decided at the last minute to join. We have many people in our church battling cancer right now, and many that are cancer survivors. We will be walking the track Friday night, 6 pm to 6 am Saturday morning, in their honor, and in memory of those who lost their battle.

My team members that are from the church, we got together and planned a breakfast, as a fundraiser, that we held on Sunday morning. We worked on Saturday morning to set everything up. We had a “Baggy” Omelet Breakfast. Everyone received a zip lock bag, put their name on it, chose from our assortment of ingredients, what they wanted in their omelet, and they placed the ingredients in the bag, and we had one gal who did the “cooking”, placed the bags in the boiling water for 15 minutes, and out came a beautiful omelet, onto their plate, placed on their plate by one of our members, who absolutely cannot stand eggs! We served coffee bread, muffins, fruit salsa with cinnamon tortilla “chips”, orange juice and coffee. While they waited for their omelet to cook, we had a few silent auction items for them to bid on. Everyone said they enjoyed their breakfast, and it was good fellowship for us all.

We each donated the ingredients, therefore everything was profit. Between the breakfast and the auction we made $537.00 … not bad for the first time trying something like this. We are grateful to all who were brave enough to try the “baggy” omelet. When one of the women suggested it, we looked at her like she was crazy. She insisted she did it before and that it worked. Two of our group went home and tried it before believing her!

We were all tired when we left about noon, but had a real sense of accomplishment, and $537 more, plus 37.00 worth of candy bars sold (remember I told you about the candy before), for our team contribution to fighting cancer. I also set up an educational table about early detection, and our ACS programs.

Speaking of candy – our chocolates are selling like crazy. Two members picked up almost 200 more bars over the weekend to sell, and last evening one member turned in money for 150 bars. As I said before, the most delicious chocolate bars you ever had!

I was awake early today because I’ve had “relay” on my mind. I will have a lot of work to do today, and maybe will go in a bit early.

Tonight I want to write about the great surprise phone call I received last evening from someone I’ve not talked to in at least 40 years or more! Hopefully I won’t be too "relayed out" to blog tonight.

Hospice Care

When I was growing up we never heard about "hospice". Today I learned why I probably never heard of it in the 50 or 60’s. The hospice movement was pioneered by Dr. Cicely Saunders and started first in London in 1967.

Hospice definition: program of humane and supportive care for the terminally ill and their families; providing palliative care and attending to emotional and spiritual needs of the terminally ill patient. The term also applies to a professional facility that provides care to dying patients who can no longer be cared for at home. Hospice is an alternative to hospitalization that emphasizes home care for as long as possible; relief from pain; an attractive, non-institutional environment if the patient can no longer be cared for at home; and personal and family counseling. The hospice movement was pioneered by Dr. Cicely Saunders, founder of St. Christopher's Hospice (opened 1967), London, and furthered by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work with the dying.

I heard on public radio today that Zelda Foster, MSW, passed away yesterday and is also credited with having much to do with introducing Hospice to the US. The first Hospice was not established until 1974, in New Haven, CT. The news said that Foster was instrumental in getting insurance to cover for hospice care. Insurance coverage did not happen until 1984 (that wasn’t that long ago!).

Zelda Foster, MSW, is the former director of a large social work Department in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She was a co-Founder and first president of the New York State Hospice Association. As a young worker in 1965, at the same V.A. Medical Center, she wrote an article considered seminal, dealing with the “conspiracy of silence” facing dying patients. Zelda Foster remained committed to improving the care of the dying and the role of health professionals in challenging and impacting the quality of patient care. She wrote many articles on a range of social work contributions and lectured widely on hospice and end-of-life care. (resource taken from – Columbia University Alumini Association Hall of Fame Inductee 2005 bio.) Zelda Foster has battled ovarian cancer, and she died in her home, with hospice care. Her daughter said it was appropriate that she died on “Independence Day”.

In the late 70’s , I helped with a group of us women from church, to assist St. Luke’s Hospice team to provide care at the home of a loved woman from our congregation. We took turns going in with meals for her and sitting with her. She was in the end stages of cancer. That is the first I ever heard about hospice.

In the early 90’s, one of my dear friends from University UMC was receiving hospice care at St. Luke’s Hospital.

In 2003 my brother was moved to a nursing home and given hospice care for his lung cancer. 2004 and 2005 both of my parents received hospice care, and at the present time, one of my dear friends is in hospice care at Lakeshore (Nursing) Home.

Seeing the good care they have all received and are receiving, I am truly thankful for our women who led the way for the hospice movement, and for what it provides to terminally ill patients and their families.

Independence Day - America 230 years

Our country is 230 years old today. Gosh, I remember when we celebrated our 200th Birthday!
Could 30 years have passed this quickly? In thinking about our country the prayer that we opened service with on Sunday seems very appropriate to the thoughts I have today:

Prayer for 4th of July:

“In singing the old songs and celebrating our history, our hearts swell with emotion for our country and our home. We both love America and we worry about its future. We are thankful for our freedom yet reluctant to work actively to protect them. We are grateful for our prosperity yet concerned of what we do to those around the world who are not as privileged. Forgive us, God, for all the ways we fail to trust in Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God. Forgive us for being afraid and for losing hope. Give us courage and wisdom to live with justice, to do what is right, and to open our hearts to love that does not see borders. Shape us into your people as we put ourselves into your hands, O Holy One. Amen.”
Opening Prayer – Hope United Methodist Church, Duluth, MN
July 2, 2006 Worship. – Rev. Michelle Hargrave, Pastor

Memories of the Fourth? Not Many..

Today I was trying to think of memories of The Fourth of July Holiday when I was growing up. Ummm…funny, but I really can’t think of any except a few times that Grandma G. and Maurice took me along to a local amusement park on the 4th for a “Harvest Show”. It was a display of many old tractors, farm equipment and harvesters that were used in the early days of agriculture to farm. There was one of them every year at the Williams Grove Amusement Park. I would walk around with Grandma and Maurice and they would talk about how much more modern equipment was compared to the “old days”. The old farmers always liked looking at the equipment that their ancestors had to farm with. The show would end with fireworks over the lake there at the park. That was the real reason I liked to go, was so I could see the fireworks. It was the only place I ever saw fireworks when I was growing up. Our small communities around our farm did not have fireworks displays like they do here in Duluth.

I guess my Dad was always busy farming when the 4th of July holiday came, and he didn’t stop farming or take the day off. We didn’t have a family get together for the holiday, and I really can’t think that we did anything special except Daddy would light some “sparklers” in the yard that night. That was about it.

More important to our family than any 4th of July celebration was the Sunday after the 4th of July, it was always the family reunion of my Mother’s side of the family. It was held at a church hall that had a pretty grove of trees by it. Always at the same place, all Mom’s aunts and uncles and cousins, second cousins would be there, at least 50 or more people. There was a picnic lunch, games for us kids, and one of the uncles always brought ice cream Dixie cups for everyone, we always had to wait until later in the afternoon for the treat. This annual reunion gave us cousins an opportunity to get to play with and know our 2nd and third cousins, as well as our 1st cousins, and our Great Aunts and Uncles. It was great. I always loved it. A few years ago, the family reunion celebrated their 50th year of getting together. Every year I say that next year I should plan my trip home around the Wiley Reunion. Some year I will.

Pile or File

On my drive to work sometimes I listen to the “Today Show” on the FM radio dial. Last week there was a segment about people who tend to accumulate piles around their home.
You know what I mean, piles of magazines you intend to read some day, piles of bills, piles of mail, piles of photos, and even worse, piles with a variety of things on it! They said that people are either “pilers” or “filers”, and we each know which one we are! Well, that’s right, I know which one I am. I am a “piler”, I have piles of every kind that I mentioned earlier. Each weekend, if I am lucky, I get rid of the piles and tell myself I will not be having any more piles, and the following weekend, I’m sorting piles once again! I guess it’s because I am also a “saver”. I have trouble parting with things. I try to use the philosophy I once heard about keeping control of the paper chase “throw or file”, that we are to look at each piece of paper and take action immediately, either throwing it out or filing it away…dealing with it only once (definitely not piling it away!)
I’m getting better at sorting the mail using that method, however, I tend to pile things instead of filing things. I always think I will file it away later when I have more time. Why do I think there will come a time when I have “time” to deal with that? Then there I am, dealing with the paper a second time, when I finally do get to it!

My Mother used to comment that she came to the conclusion that women who have “perfect” houses had the “thrower” personality rather than the “saver” personality. It wasn’t that the “savers” didn’t clean or try to keep their houses looking great, it’s that they were savers and therefore, their houses look messier. I think she was correct, because my Mother in Law had the “perfect clean house” at all times, she constantly threw things away, and our daughter is not a saver, and she throws things away,and her house always looks great too.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, my 4 day holiday (we have tomorrow off of work and then the 4th holiday), will be spent doing a lot of “sorting, cleaning and throwing” piles! I have done some yesterday, but still have more piles to tackle. My husband is NOT a piler, or a saver, so he finds it hard to understand why I am always working on sorting a pile or a box of things thrown together. He’s been doing a great job, since he retired, keeping the house neat, except for my “areas” that I won’t allow him to sort or clean (because I KNOW he will just throw it all away!... yikes…I wouldn’t want that!)
I’m working on losing my saver and piler personality, but oh my gosh, it’s hard!

Anyone else care to admit to this problem?

Summer's Here

Summer has come to Duluth! It takes longer for us to get it, but it’s here. The last few days have been very warm. Yesterday the humidity was high. I hate the humidity. I sometimes think when we have 90 degrees with humidity and I’m so uncomfortable, that I could probably never survive a summer in SE PA anymore. The humidity in the summer there is bad. Days like yesterday remind me of home. It was very uncomfortable, and the sleeping was not good. Now, usually when we have a hot, humid day, it cools off for night sleeping...but not always. Most of us in Duluth do not have central air. Some have air conditioners for one or two rooms, but I can never convince my husband to purchase a window air conditioner. Every summer when we get weather like yesterday, I threaten to go and buy one. Sometime I will! That’s what I did to get us a ceiling fan in our living room. I always wanted one and he said we didn’t need one.
When the electrician was here to do our kitchen remodeling, I had him bring a ceiling fan and install it. He came home from work and there was the ceiling fan. Of course, he wasn’t happy with me at the time, but he got over it. Now, he admits, the fan is really nice and makes our room much more comfortable on hot days!

Today’s humidity was much better. We have a beautiful breeze with our 90 degree temp. The breeze really helps, and it seems when we have a breeze the humidity is lower, or we don’t mind it as much. The lake is a beautiful shade of deep blue, the flowers blooming in the parks and yards, and everyone out enjoying this great summer day. I started to go for a walk, but it was just too hot. I sat out on the deck and enjoyed the sun and the breeze.

A beautiful summer day!

1956 - Highways of the Future

This is an example of the pictures we were shown back in the late 50's, we had trouble understanding what the future was going to be with highways and traffic. The future came, and today, we take these inter-state highways for granted!

Reflections on the Inter-State Anniversary

It interested me to hear on Thursday that it has been 50 years since the beginnings of the Inter-State Highway system. In some ways, it seems we have always had these highways, but then I remember in school that they talked about what our highways would look like in the future, and we kids could not imagine what they were telling us. The teacher talked about “clover leafs” to manage traffic, and “exits”. It didn’t make much sense to us. I was 9 when President Eisenhower (who always seemed to be president, we couldn’t imagine anyone else being President back then either!), signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 that created what we have today.

A few years later, the Inter-State highway came to our area. Inter-State Route 15 was built from Harrisburg, PA right past our little towns, one town our high school was located. I remember when they were building it; it went through farm land, passing Dillsburg, York Springs and past Gettysburg going down into Maryland.
We would come to find out what they meant by “clover leafs”, as we starting using the clover leaf to go a faster way to Harrisburg and Gettysburg. After I had my license I drove Inter-State Route 15 quite frequently!

When I came to Minnesota in 1969, the Inter-State had not made its way up to Northern Minnesota yet. It’s kind of neat to think that I also watched that highway being built here a few years later. Our first few trips to Minneapolis after our marriage took a lot longer, going through all the towns, than it did after Inter-State 35 was built. Now we can hop on I-35 and drive the whole way to Texas if we want!

At first I-35 was built only to Mesaba Avenue, just at the edge of the city. I remember the fuss this city had about that “freeway” being built. There was an organization called “Stop the Freeway”. The construction was stopped at Mesaba because there was so much division over where the route should go after it got to Duluth ... over the hill, by the lake, or not at all? Thankfully, the “not at all” was not the winner. It was quite a few years later, a compromise was finally made and after two extensions, we now have the highway going through Duluth to 26th Avenue East, running along Lake Superior. I’m glad it is by the lake because it is a beautiful sight to see the lake when we are driving. I drive 26th to downtown everyday and I love the route and the view!

Also, I’m sure I’m not the only one to say it is very nice to be able to drive I-35 from Duluth to St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2 ½ hours!

50th Anniversary - Interstate Hwy System 6/29/56

"Persons traveling through the United States today may find it difficult to imagine our country without the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. It was not until June 29, 1956, when President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, that interstate highways began to meet the challenge of the growing number of automobiles on the nation’s highways. While in Europe during World War II, then General Eisenhower viewed the ease of travel on the German autobahns. That, coupled with the experiences of a young Lt. Col. Eisenhower in the 1919 Transcontinental Convoy convinced the President of the overwhelming need for safer and speedier highways. The President also felt that the newer, multi-lane highways were essential to a strong national defense."
-- from Eisenhower archives.gov
Interstate facts:--An inter-state highway system was first considered in the 1930's. President Roosevelt expressed interest in the idea as a way of providing jobs.
--The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1952 authorized funds on a 50/50 state/federal matching level. These were the first funds dedicated to this cause. But even then, the amount ($25 million) was not enough. When President Eisenhower assumed office in 1953, only 6,000 miles had been completed at a cost of $955 million.
--The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, created today's Interstate system and was signed by President Eisenhower on June 29, 1956 in a hospital room without any fanfare. (He was recovering from illness.) The federal government would pay 90% of the cost, because it was realized now that this project was national in scope.
--Initially, the system was to cover 41,000 miles of road, including 2,000 miles of existing toll roads. It was to be completed in 1975. As time passed it became obvious that goal would not be reached. We came close though; by then the system had about 35,000 miles of roadway.
--In February 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers declared the Interstate system one of the "Seven Wonders of the United States." Other wonders include the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.
--The economic impact of this, the world's largest public works project, is incalculable. There is hardly one aspect of American society that hasn't been affected by the Interstates.
--The longest Interstate is I-90, which runs from Boston to Seattle, a distance of 3,081 miles. At 75 mph it would take you 41 hours to cover that distance non-stop. The second longest is I-80, which covers the 2,907 miles between New York City and San Francisco.
--Interstates 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 40, 70, 75, 80, 90, 94 and 95 are all more than 1,000 miles long.
--Interstates carry nearly 60,000 people per route-mile per day, 26 times the amount of all other roads, and 22 times the amount of rail passenger services. Over the past 40 years, that's the equivalent of a trip to the moon for every person in California, New York, Texas, and New Jersey combined.
--Over 55,000 bridges had to be built.
--The only state without any Interstate routes is Alaska.

Resource: excerpts from -
www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate