back then

I remember thanksgivng 1967.

I had finish my schooling in June of 1967 and was recruited to work for a company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. So in July of that year, my very pregnant wife and our 2 cats left Milwaukee, Wisconsin to start our new life

We found a place to live and then one day in September I received a call at work that Sandra was in labor and in the hospital. The day was here! i would become a dad. Late that night, as I waited in the waiting room the doctor came up to me and told me to sit down. I knew then that something was wrong. I can recall his words to this day. He said " I hate this part of my job. I know you have been trying for sometime to have a child." Then he told me that my son may not live the night. He had an encelfliseal. (sp) Travis had a bag on the back of his head, as big as his head. What was in that seal we did not know. I could be part of his brain or spinal fluid. Either way, it was not good. As he went back to take care of him and Sandra I felt as if a tree had fallen on me. I remember reading somewhere that in a dream things don't hurt. So I bit myself, it hurt. I was not dreaming.

A few hours later, after tell us the risks they went and removed the seal, it had been filled with spinal fluid and he would most likely be what is called a "waterhead" Now back in 1968 shunts were just coming out. They were new and had not yet come to Cedar Rapids but they could send for one from the Mayo clinic. Of course we said yes.

Then we waited for weeks,

Just before Thanksgiving we were glad to be able to take our son home. But life, being life, found me on strike. Just enough money to buy food and a few other things. But we were to happy to worry about that. We took our son home for the first time. One day, still on strike Sandra and I took our son and went to town to window shop. We were not thinking that Thanksgiving was just a couple of days away. We walked to town, window shopped, then went back home to our apartment.

As we walked to our door, we saw a box on the step. We took Travis in and I went for the box. Surprise! There was a big turkey and all the other things that make a thanksgiving dinner. Pie! Rolls! Veggies! Butter! Punch! Every think a king would have had. We had a great dinner and you know what? To this day I have no idea who gave it to us. Did not know who to thank. But we were thankfull.

As a post script, my son Travis lived for one year and 29 days. Enough time to meet my mom and dad and his other grandma. He lives in our heart and he shared that special thaksgiving with us.

bakeing time

Today I made cookies. Not really a big deal but these were special cookies. Made with love and care. You see, I didn't make them by myself. Lianna, my granddaughter helped me.

Today was a holiday at her school and she had been around all day. She had been gone over the weekend. To her other grandma's house so I really missed her. We played games, she made me angry now and then but I just remind myself, she is what we made her. So in the evening, I said. 'let's make cookies." Boy was she excited! She ran around getting the mixing bowl, the cookie sheets, etc. Then of course she had to help. I had to keep reminding myself, i am not making cookies. I am making a young lady. I waited as she rolled the dough into little balls, we were making peanut better cookies. Then I let her flatten then down with a fork and had to tell her how. Took a little longer then I expected but the joy will live with me forever.

Soon the cookies were done and she was so proud! She took some to her mom, her dad and me. Then she told me, "don't move the napkin on the table, it's hiding a cookie for Sophie. ( her baby sister)

All in all, a fun way to spend some time with a 4 year old, soon to be 5. I hope that someday she will remember when she had to help "grandpa" make cookies.

She laughed, she kept asking if they were done. Wanted to take them out of the oven but I didn't let her. She understood that she could get burned if she did it wrong but as soon as I told her it was okay, those cookies came of the sheets in a hurry.

You know, I think making them was more fun then eating them.

vets day

We sure had a loud weekend Nov. first and second. I live about a mile and a half from the an airbase. They have a great runway and this past weekend they hosted an air show.

Starting last Thursday the Blue Angels flew in and started practcing. I guess they were using the north/south runway. We had lots of noise but not to bad. Now on the days of the air show they used the East/West runway and they maded their turns right over my house. Some time east and some times just west of my house. All the families in the area were out in the street watching them fly over. BUT man they are loud when they go over that low. Wht a sight to see them turn together and then shoot up. But when they shot up they went to a higher power setting and it made the baby jump in my arms!

Took me back to my days as a young navy man. I read something in the base paper about a lady calling the base and asking to speak to the base commander. When he came on line she started chewing him out saying "Your planes are flying over my house and making lots of noise". He asked " Are you sure they are our planes?".. She said "Of course!" Then he answered "Thank God." I say, Thank God too. May they always be "our planes"

Have a great veterans day. Monday Nov 11. Long live the U.S. A.