Cool in Kansas Today

It's almost noon and I have yet to get dressed or see the sun.  Today is 'Theresa Day'.  We will walk the three or four blocks to her home.  We are now at Brians (headquarters).  The neighborhood sits on a hill.  The homes are pretty much all built around the 40s. Really looking forward to spending the day with Theresa's five boys.

Bleak Possibilties

Growing up in Kenmare, North Dakota came with 'bleak possibilties' as far as I was concerned: not enough clothes; not enough money, just 'not enough'.  I wanted to matter, make a difference, be 'in' with the 'in crowd'.  There was a heirarchy in Kenmare:  The biggest farms, the nicest cars, the prettiest houses, the most money; the children of those families were popular. Period.

My mother was sensible and wanted for nothing.  Not because she had it all but she didn't want for anything special.  My dad was extremely hard working; he was a mechanic (the best) and farmed his family's farm on the week-ends.  We went to the Lutheran Church every single Sunday.

I was the second oldest and my older sister Colleen and I would lament:  Why is she having another baby?  Five more came.  Then we moved to California and my world changed: Lot's of friends, dancing, there was no heirarchy that I knew of.  My biggest problem in life was my little brother throwing his toys at my dates!

Now today we are in Kansas.  I think that my husband wants to move here.  The midwest gives me claustrophobia.  My children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in CA, NV and AZ.  I'm thinking 'bleak possibilities'.

We're Still In Kansas

So wonderful to be here in Kansas with Frank's six children and their familes.  Everything taken care of:  Transportation; where we shall sleep; eat and drink; plenty of grandchildren to treat and to love.  Weather is good. No snow.  Bright and clear and sunny.  Not missing the Nevada high desert

Connections

I look to connect with my family; those I knew in the small town of my birth and childhood in Kenmare, N. Dakota; people we met in Greenacres when we moved there for a couple of years from Kenmare.   The kids from Fremont/Newark area where I lived out my teen-age years; friends from Electronic firms I worked at in the 60s; the great real estate community of Silicon Valley I worked in in the 70s, 80s, and 90s;
Home Savings of America in the mid 90s; and last but not least The Santa Clara County Public Administrator/Guardian/Conservator's Office where I worked until the end of 2000.

WHY?   I don't know

"Put another leg on the Big Board"-For my California Realty Brothers

California Realty
Blossom Hill Office
San Jose, Ca
1970's

 TO THE TUNE OF  "PUT ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE"

Put another leg on the Big Board
Write me up some listings and some sales

Go out to the homes and knock some front doors
Write those deals and keep me out of jails

Come on baby

You can write those deals
And work for 50/50
Then boil me up another sale or two


Now ain't I kinda nice to your good buyers
Don't I take 'em showin' every night

So come here by my feet
Cause I love you when you're beat
And you know that it ain't ethical to fight

So put another leg on the Big Board Babe
And come and tell me why you're leavin' me!

her Daddy lives today

           what really can I say
            her Daddy passed on
            he lives today
         
            at our age
            born in the 40s and 50s
            we pretty much know
            what it is like, for us when a
            a parent passes away

            but what do we feel
            when we have a friend
            who's also a best
            sister-in-law
            and her Daddy passed today

            I want to tell her
            how much I love her
            and how good she's been
            to me

            I want to tell her that
            her love shines brightly
            for all of us to see

            I want to tell her that the love
            she gave to her parents
            was wonderful and free
     
            I want to tell her that although
            his love was quiet and steadfast
            it was no less there
            for her now and in the past
      
            her Daddy was extraordinarily loved
            blessed with a long marriage
            and a long long lfe.

            his children lived near him
            and graced his entire life

           be comforted my dear Linda

           that he was a very blessed man
           because he lived a decent life
           and was surrounded by a
           large and decent family
           and now he joins his wife
          
         
           and because he had his family's prayers
           his entire life
           her Daddy lives today