tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89296590552978774492024-03-12T23:03:17.422-07:00The ChatterboxThis blog is coming to you from Cottage Grove, Oregon where I am a columnist for the local newspaper. My 'Chatterbox' column is about reminiscing the experiences of real life in the 1950s to the present. The 'Cook's Corner' segment features updated, country-style cooking.
Real life. Real food. Enjoy!Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-17866403164651214542021-10-23T11:26:00.000-07:002021-10-23T11:26:39.419-07:00WHY I CHOSE THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS<p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i> </i></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">10/21/21
Chatterbox</span></i></span></b></span><span style="color: #990000;"></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">by Betty
Kaiser</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Cottage Grove Sentinel <br /></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I hate
being sick! So, I was surprised at the controversy over the prevention of this
horrible Covid-19 virus by vaccination. “Just do it and get it over!” was my
thinking. So, as soon as it was available, my husband and I did.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Why?
Because I have had mumps, measles, chicken pox, yearly colds, chronic
bronchitis and every seasonal flu that came around (until the flu shots). But
not everyone feels the same way. The vaccinations were immediately controversial.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In
fact, wherever I go, the vaccine is the biggest topic of conversation. Many
people still don’t find it acceptable for reasons that range from “it won’t
happen to me” to “I don’t believe in the science.” </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I agree
that science is not always perfect. Sometimes things don’t work but this is a dangerous,
worldwide virus we’re dealing with— over 700,000 people have died from this
virus just in the United States. And no problem can be solved if it’s ignored. </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Fortunately,
there’s been a lot of trial and error to get this vaccination<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the public. Labs have done due diligence
in their research and decided that this will save lives.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Now, we
have a choice to trust them or not. I chose to believe the scientists are
correct. The main reason is because over 6.6 billion shots have been given and
lives saved. Amazing! </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I grew
up in an era when my grandparents and parents, watched loved ones die from
health issues that are now treatable. They knew some illnesses were
transferrable, often non-curable and the only way to protect themselves was to
stay away from those who were sick. Hard to do!</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">My
mother didn’t talk very much about her childhood illnesses. My <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grandmother, however, often told the story of her
only child catching whooping cough in the 1920s from neighbor kids. Some died.
There was no treatment and mom coughed violently for weeks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She eventually recovered and today there is a
vaccine. But not everyone takes it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2019
there was an estimated 21 million cases and 160,000 deaths worldwide. </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Another
example is my dad. He was born in 1908. He was a Missouri country boy, the
firstborn in a family of six that included him, mom, dad, one sister and two
brothers. He was still a bachelor during the early 1930s when his mother and
sister both died of tuberculosis.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Later,
he met my mother when she was visiting relatives in Missouri. They fell in
love, eloped and got married! They then got on a train and came to California
where her parents (my grandparents) lived.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">A year
later, a baby boy was born to them but dad was very ill. One day at work, he
was found sitting on a curb, unable to move during the 1933 Long Beach
earthquake. Soon, he was hospitalized, diagnosed as having tuberculosis and sent
to a sanitarium! The lung with tuberculosis was collapsed. He was hospitalized and
isolated for 3 years.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">During
that time, mother and dad’s little 3-year-old boy died of tubercular
meningitis. It was a heartache from which they never recovered. Today, there is
a vaccine for it but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in some countries,
it is still a problem.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Many of
you remember the dreaded Polio paralysis epidemic of the 1950s. History will
tell you that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was crippled by it as well as
thousands of others. Thankfully, science came to the rescue in 1955 with the
polio vaccine.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">However,
polio still roams the world. I personally, knew a woman who was disabled by it
in the late 1960s. while a missionary in Africa. The natives kept her alive in
the jungle by peddling a makeshift contraption that helped her breathe. She
lived but she never walked again. </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So,
dear readers, I hope that you make the right choice in this life-or-death
situation. The decision to invest in a Covid-19 vaccination is yours. </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
</i><i>
</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> God
bless you all and stay healthy!</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contact Betty at bchatty@bettykaiser.com </span><br /></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
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</i></span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><i>
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{page:WordSection1;}</i></span></style></span></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-31251277585774353082021-08-29T12:27:00.000-07:002021-08-29T12:27:46.397-07:00Leave Sooner. Drive Slower. Live Longer.<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9/19/21 The Chatterbox</span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty Kaiser</span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">After 32 years of driving the beautiful <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>London Road into town, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thrilled to see the new “Safety
Corridor” and “Fees Double” slow down signs that were recently<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>installed. Over the years, our country road
had become dangerous because of some drivers .Hopefully, the new signs will
help,</span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>However,
a recent trip from home to Cottage Grove and back, left me wondering if anyone was
paying attention to them. They don’t know that accidents have happened and
people have died in that area. Be cautious.</span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">My first scary accident happened a couple of
years ago when I stopped to make a left turn onto Reservoir Rd. Rocks from a
speeding dump truck took out the windshield on my car. Ouch!</span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Last month, coming home from Cottage Grove, I
suddenly had two cars playing tag behind me. For a few minutes a woman would
ride my bumper in her white car while a man trailed her in a black car. Then
they would change places at a high rate of speed still trailing me. </span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Finally, they screeched around me, and
seconds later turned onto Reservoir Rd. and immediately turned into a
Weyerhaeuser side road where they met a group of several other cars. Whew.
Whatever their hurry it was nerve racking and I was glad to get up the hill. </span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">My most recent incident began when I turned right
from Reservoir Rd. onto London Rd. It’s one of those intersections that you
feel like you’re taking your life into your hands when you turn. I stop at the
sign and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>look left to see if any traffic
is coming around the curve from London. It’s a dangerous place because they
can’t see me and I can’t see them until the last minute. </span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">All was clear as I turned onto London Rd when
the car in front of me slowed down to enjoy the scenery. So, I slowed down too.
Suddenly, a blue car came roaring up behind me. He was on my tail and I had nowhere
to go. The driver then decided to pass the two of us, going about 80 mph across
double lines on a curve! Whew. </span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">He didn’t see the oncoming car in the other
lane. The two vehicles missed each other by inches! He could have wiped out
lives in four different cars just because he was in a hurry. Scary stuff.</span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="normallatenHelvitica14pt"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Erratic speed kills, but obeying laws can save
lives. If you drive Interstate 5 you know it can be like a speedway. I know
that I can get pushed and drive too fast to get out of someone’s way. So here
are some reminders from ODOT:</span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“State statutes give Oregon motorists
the following speed zone standards especially on places like I5 and in towns. Other
posted speeds will override statutory standards.</span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15 mph - Alleys, narrow
residential roadways.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20 mph - Business districts,
school zones and some residential.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25 mph - Residential districts,
public parks, ocean shores.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">55 mph - Most rural highways;
trucks on most interstates.</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">65 mph - Passenger vehicles, light
trucks, motor homes and light duty commercial vehicles on most
interstates.”</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span></span></li></ul><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lately, I have noticed that it is not unusual
to be pushed off a lane by vehicles large and small, some going 85 mph. It’s
hard to stay calm. So, I try to pick a lane and stay with it. I don’t try to be
the fasted car on the road because it’s not a race. The goal is to get <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>home safely.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contact Betty by email: bchattybetty@bettykaiser.com </span></span></i></li></ul><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-88111997842741239342021-08-06T19:48:00.002-07:002021-08-06T19:48:41.482-07:00Dealing with deer in Oregon<p><span style="color: #bf9000;"><i> </i></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">7/22/21
CHATTERBOX</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">by Betty
Kaiser</span></i><i>
</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">DEALING WITH DEER </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">🦌🦌🦌</span></span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">After many years of flower bed and vegetable garden destruction
by deer, you would think that my husband and I would be used to it. We are not. However,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this year we softened a little when a mama
deer <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>brought her two tiny twin fawns to
the property. So there were now 3 adorable, flower eating,part-time residents.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">I was a
city girl when we moved here and I thought that the deer would only be
interested in eating meadow grass. Wrong! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We quickly became aware that anything that we
planted was fair game. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer after
summer, night after night, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plants were
wiped out completely.</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
2001, I even posted some chomping rules in the newspaper. I know that deer
can’t read but it made me feel better. It went like this:</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Now,
Dancer and Prancer, we are reasonable landlords. We are willing to share five
of our six-acre meadow with you. The catch being that we maintain complete
control over the one-acre that includes all of our flower and vegetable beds.
The roses and all other edibles are mine! Got it? </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">If, my
‘deer’ friends, you don’t agree, it’s time for you to move on. You need to
dance and prance off to the nearby parks where the campers will appreciate you.
Blackberry season is right around the corner so you won’t go hungry. And don’t
forget to visit our neighbors. Some of them are very generous and probably
still serving USDA approved deer food. </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Despite
our persistence, nothing worked to deter their destructive rounds. Not blood
meal, deodorant soap, hair clippings, bright lights, clanging bells or barking
dogs worked. They would even walk up our deck to devour hanging plants. Each flower
bed massacre really ticked us off!</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
dogs barking in the middle of night were of no help. The electric fence didn’t
always work, automatic lights made eating easier and they seemed to like the
sprinkler system. “Deer Away” was our best bet but putting it out nightly was a
nuisance. </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, I
proposed a truce. “We do have other offerings, you know. How about this: I’ll
smell the roses while you munch the meadow. Deal or no deal? It’s your choice.
(Signed) Your rosy landlords.” There was no answer.</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
year, when the young Mama Deer with tiny spotted twins, started visiting us,
they didn’t eat the roses! Instead, they would have breakfast next door and
then jump the fence to our “deer forest.” Mom would leave her babies here while
she went looking for food and then return to pick them up and all would disappear
for the night. </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">It was
a fine arrangement. Normally, healthy fawns are left alone during the day by
their mothers while she forages for food. Mom will stay away from them during
daylight hours<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to avoid leading
predators to her young. She <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will return
and always gather her babies together unless she senses some kind of danger. </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last
week, however, for several days in a row, one baby deer disappeared. And there
were only 2 of them. We were terrified. After all, there are cougars and bears
up the hill! Finally, last Sunday, the three of them surprised us in the middle
of the day by tearing through the property and jumped the fence to safety
elsewhere.</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">What a
relief! They are all together again. It was a safe, mom leadership arrangement
and they didn’t eat the roses!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must
know how to read after all! Now I may now have to eat my words and let them
have a few flowers to nibble on. I'm such a sucker for babies!<br /></span></i></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><i>
</i></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i>Contact betty at <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span></li></ul><p><style><span style="color: rgb(191, 144, 0);"><i>@font-face
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</p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-13468072521863728062021-07-12T09:27:00.002-07:002021-07-12T09:50:16.083-07:00<div><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> <i>
</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">6/24/21
The Chatterbox</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Betty
Kaiser</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Because Life is hard for everyone: Bring Back the Golden Rule! </span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><br /></span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i></i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The
television news hour at our house is hard to watch. Day after day it is head
lined with mass shootings and other killings by deranged individuals. Halfway
through this year there have been more than 28 mass shootings in the USA, plus
other violent attempts to mow down victims by cars and trucks.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Why in
the world are these senseless mass killings going on all over our country? No
one really seems to know. All kinds of people in all kinds of places are being
attacked. The targets are in rich, poor and middle-class areas where people of
all colors, race, incomes and beliefs live. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It
seems that here in the land of the free and the brave we have developed a killing
culture. If you don’t like someone’s color, the way they look, think, walk, talk,
where they live, or for no reason at all—Kill them!</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Today’s
mass shooters are now being joined by drivers in cars mowing down people in the
street. Such actions defy understanding. Each incident seems to come from angry,
petty cowards willing to destroy anyone that gets in their way. Their targets are
varied— family, friends, fellow workers, strangers or people of a different
color or religion. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I don’t
get it. Whatever happened to the Golden Rule that we learned as children saying,
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” As I recall, killing others
wasn’t included!</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So,
what can you and I do to stop all this violence? Not much. Our good intentions
seldom rub off on angry people. We could start by making certain automatic
weapons illegal and used only for military purposes. But that’s just the tip of
the iceberg. What about cars as weapons?</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Violence
is not tolerated or expected in a peaceful, civilized society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those of us who want it stopped, need
help to be agents of peace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a
communicator of peaceful thinking and living is easier said than done. We need
help from a higher power.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">As a
Christian, I believe in prayer—communicating with God for His help. And I also
believe that whatever your religion or theology, we can all pray for peace and
then follow instructions. God listens to a sincere heart. </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I
recently found the following prayer tucked away in a column fiIe. I don’t know
who the author is but I sure agree with the reasons for loving and respecting
each other. It reminds us to treat one another kindly because of our shared
humanity—the good days and the bad—because life is hard for everyone. Check it
out:</span></i></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dear God, </span></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Help us remember that the jerk who cut us
off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours
that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do
the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Help us to remember that
the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't
make change correctly is a worried19 year old student, balancing his
apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting
his student loans for next semester.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Remind us, Lord, that the scary
looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really
ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only
imagine in our worst nightmares.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Help us to remember that the old
couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our
shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based
on the biopsy report she got back last week; this will be the last
year that they go shopping together.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Heavenly Father, remind us each
day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> It is not enough to
share that love with those we hold dear.</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> <br /></span></i></span></p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Open our hearts not to just those who
are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience,</span></i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> empathy and love.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMEN!</span></i></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></span></p> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></i></span><br /></div><div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p></div></div>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-31978288747797194392021-05-31T09:26:00.001-07:002021-05-31T09:26:19.231-07:00<p><span style="color: #990000;"><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Memorial Day: Honor, Remember, Never Forget! <br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">5/27/21
Chatterbo</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">x by Betty
Kaiser<span> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <br /></span></span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Memorial
Day is coming up! This year the bittersweet holiday falls on Monday May 31. All
together, on this one day of the year, we can gratefully honor the tens of
thousands of men and women who fought and died for our country in approximately
93 wars and rebellions. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It is our
yearly opportunity to say “thank you” to those guardians of peace. It is a day
of remembrance and sorrow mixed with pride and appreciation and hope that
someday the madness will stop. A day to reflect and remember that those heroes
died for you and me.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Memorial
Day’s history is about 160 years old. After the Civil War, it began as a grass
roots occasion called National Decoration Day. On May 20, 1868 over 5,000
people decorated the graves of the 29,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who
were buried at Arlington National Ceremony. A tribute to both the North and
South sides of the conflict.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In
1968, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Memorial Day </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">was
declared a national holiday by an act of Congress</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">May 30 was the official date until 1971 when
Congress changed it to the last</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Monday in May. Now it is celebrated in almost every
country where American soldiers are buried. Flags on government buildings and
ships throughout the world are lowered to half-mast, as a tribute to those who
lost their lives.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">This
weekend, prior to the holiday, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment will honor America's fallen heroes by placing
American flags at thousands of gravesites for service members buried at
Arlington National Cemetery and at the Airmen's Home National Cemetery. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
most solemn Memorial Day ceremony is when the President of the United States
lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Other dignitaries also pay
their formal respects. All flags will be removed after Memorial Day, before the
cemetery opens to the public.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">To
remember military sacrifices is a sacred charge. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks to the Covid-19 situation,
things will be a little different around the country this year. There will be
fewer parades and public gatherings. But there is one thing that we can stop
and do together wherever we are:</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they
are at 3:00 pm local time on Memorial Day for one minute of silence to remember
and honor those who have died in service to the US.</span></b></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">There
are also other things that we can do to honor those who died serving our
country. The following suggestions come from a variety of sources including Military.com
USO. Pay special attention to the timing of flying the flag. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Do this:</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> Display the flag—the U.S. flag
is flown at half-staff from dawn until noon on Memorial Day. Raise it again to
the peak after noon.</span></span></span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Call a friend or loved one who
has lost someone during a war.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Visit a cemetery and honor the
memory of a family member or other veteran by putting flowers on their grave. </span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Watch the National Memorial Day
Concert on your local PBS station.</span></span></span></li></ol><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Here
are some reminders of things not to do:</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;">Don’t wish anyone a Happy
Memorial Day. This is not Christmas.<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t thank the current troops.
Veteran’s Day is coming up!</span></span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t let politics keep you from
rendering respect.</span></span></span></li></ol><span style="color: #990000;"><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;"> God
bless America! Let freedom ring!</span></span></b>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"> <span><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span>
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{margin-bottom:0in;}</style></span></span></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-81155339125233628832021-05-27T09:04:00.000-07:002021-05-27T09:04:03.588-07:00 "Jeopardy for Seniors” Email questions brighten the day<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Chatterbox 4/22/21</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Betty Kaiser</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello, everyone! Today’s column is mostly just for fun. And
heaven only knows we need a little fun to counter some of today’s horrible
news. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As of April 18, 2021, deaths in the U.S. from the Covid-19
pandemic had exceeded 567,000 people. These horrendous numbers are heartbreaking.
Fortunately, there is hope </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of
slowing or stopping the virus with a vaccine as we all cooperate with sensible
prevention measures. Keep up the good work everyone! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately, killings, via mass shootings, continue to plague this
country. According to forbes.com more than one mass shooting per day has occurred
already in 2021. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t get it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
are all born with the ability to know the difference between right and wrong. Wanton
murder is wrong. Working together we should be able to control this awful, on-going,
senseless killing of the innocent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the midst of all this bad news, a friend sent me an email questionnaire.
It’s called “Jeopardy for Seniors.” AKA a test for older kids. That would be
me. These simple questions from my childhood were harder than I thought. It tested
my memory and confused my brain. I also giggled a lot. Try it!</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jeopardy for Seniors<u> </u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The answers are printed below
(after the questions) </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have fun but don’t cheat! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into
the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Who was that masked man?"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Invariably, someone would answer, "I don't know, but
he left this behind."</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What did he leave behind? A ______ ______.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. In early 1964,
we all watched them on The __ ________ Show.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. "Get your kicks, __ _____ __!"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. The story you are about to see is true. The names have
been changed to _______ ___ _______.'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. 'In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ___ ____ ______
_______.'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. After the Twist, The Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we
'danced' under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called
the '_____.'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. Nestle's makes the very best... _________.'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. Satchmo was America's 'Ambassador of Goodwill.' Our
parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was ____
_________.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? ___ _____
_____.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. Red Skeleton's hobo character was named ______ ___
__________ and Red always ended his television show by saying, 'Good Night, and
'___ ____ .'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by
burning their _____ _____.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and
the trunk in the front was called the VW. What other names did it go by?
______ or ___.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, 'the day
the music died.' This was a tribute to _____ _____.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit.
The Russians did it. It was called _______.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a
large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist. It was called the
_____-____.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16. Remember LS/MFT _____ ______ /_____ ____ _______.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17. Hey Kids! What time is it? It's _____ _____ ____!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18. Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts of men? Only
The ______ Knows!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19. There was a song that came out in the 60's that was
"a grave yard smash. Its name was the _______ ____!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20. Alka Seltzer used a "boy with a tablet on his
head" as its Logo/Representative. The boy's name was ______.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ANSWERS:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">01. The Lone Ranger left behind... A <u>silver bullet</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 02. The <u>Ed Sullivan</u> Show</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 03. <u>On Route 66</u> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">04. To <u>protect the innocent</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 05. <u>The Lion Sleeps Tonight</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 06. The <u>limbo</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 07. <u>Chocolate</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 08. <u>Louis Armstrong</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 09.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>The Timex Watch</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 10. <u>Freddy, The Freeloader</u> and 'Good
Night and <u>God Bless</u>.'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 11. <u>Draft Cards</u> (Bras were also burned.
Not flags, as some have guessed)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 12. <u>Beetle</u> or <u>Bug</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 13. <u>Buddy Holly</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 14. <u>Sputnik</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 15. <u>Hoola-hoop</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 16. <u>Lucky Strike</u>/<u>Means Fine Tobacco</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 17.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <u>Howdy Doody Time</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 18. <u>Shadow</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 19. <u>Monster Mash</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 20. <u>Speedy</u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> P.S. Send this to your 'older' friends (better known as
Seniors) and let me know how you do.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText">Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox by email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-83816665737200550862021-04-20T10:45:00.001-07:002021-05-27T08:57:28.229-07:00Cottage Grove makes the news of "charming towns"
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">3/25/21
The Chatterbox</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Betty
Kaiser</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Hey,
Grovers! We’re Famous!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Did you
know that our “quaint, charming village” of Cottage Grove, has been discovered and
is receiving rave reviews in magazines and travel articles across the country? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I
didn’t, until someone showed me an article in Oprah Winfrey’s “O Magazine.” In
it, she rates our Cottage Grove as #2 </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">on her Top 10 'charming’ towns to visit ASAP in the country.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hmm.
What do you think? Did Oprah visit the Grove or send someone to check us out?
Just wondering.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then
I saw another travel entry from a 2019 House Beautiful magazine under the
heading of “60 Charming American Towns You Haven’t Heard of But Should Visit
ASAP.” They also rate the Grove as #2 on a travel list for the following
reasons: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
town, is known as the Covered Bridge Capital, it offers a trail studded with
seven covered bridges that connect the village across rolling hillside and a
series of waterfalls and rivers. The delightful setting is home to plenty of
great hiking and bicycling spots, as well as several cozy B&B retreats.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sounds
good, doesn’t it? Now aren’t you glad you live here? So, I’m wondering—did you
move here for any of the above reasons? Or were you just born here, know it’s a
great place to live and stayed here?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our C.G. adventure began in 1987. Chuck and I
had no intention of moving anywhere from Ventura, Calif. when we first crossed over
the Oregon border. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We had sold our
business and were touring Oregon in our Tioga RV with a motorcycle on a rack in
the back. We both thought of our visit as a tourist stopover on the road of
life. What we didn’t know was that this place would capture our hearts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We discovered C.G. by
pure happenstance. We were camping at Crater Lake with no agenda. After a
couple of weeks on the road, we needed a good meal, a shoe store for new
motorcycle boots and a place to spend the night. Our AAA map said C.G. had it
all. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The next day, we drove into
town, passed the historic Dr. Pierce Barn, then the Village Shopping Center. It
housed a Hub clothing store, Tiffany’s Pharmacy and a grocery store. Sadly, all
of those places are now history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We continued on to the Main
St. shopping area. Downtown was bustling with business. There were antique
stores, hardware stores, banks, gift shops, Ruth and Elsie’s Dress Shop, a
jewelry store, The Bookmine, Schweitzer’s Men’s Wear, Homestead Furniture, two
shoe stores owned by the Hoover family and more! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">At that time Safeway
was also downtown, where the Community Center is now. Across the street was a
Cornet store (the local five & dime). </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">There were no
McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc. But there were other places to eat, including the
wonderful (but now long-gone) Copper Rooster coffee shop at the Village Green </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So, we ate at a tiny café
near the post office: “Tilly’s Top Hat Pies.” Oh, my! Talk about great home
cooking! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband said that tears ran
down my face after just one bite of Margaret Tilly’s apple pie a la mode. Yum!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">After lunch, we went to
Self-Selecto-Shoes. There, manager Mike Thiess found us just the boots that we
needed and then asked where we were spending the night. He suggested that we
head out to C.G. Lake and Pine Meadows Campground. We did and that is where we
fell in love with the house that we now call home. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It was only later that
we would discover the many other places this area is known for, including the
area’s lumber and mining history. We went to Bohemia Mining Days, drove through
the covered bridges, rode the Blue Goose Row River train, camped, and enjoyed the
lakes. The Grove and its people had stolen our hearts. We decided to move.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">As we said goodbye to
our lifelong Calif. neighbors, family and friends, I remember describing the
town of Cottage Grove with words like “beautiful, quaint and charming but just
a temporary stopover on the road of life.” What I didn’t know was that this
place would capture our hearts. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">We, our moving van,
cats and dogs, 2 cars and a 1941 pickup, arrived here in in a pouring rain on March
3, 1989. Our temporary stay became permanent. And every spring on our moving
anniversary, as the rains come down, the flowers bloom and the grass turns
green, we feel blessed that we heeded the call to a new adventure and moved to
The Grove. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So, welcome, visitors!
You’re gonna like it here!</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style: normal;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"> email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-34789355211050212662021-03-30T15:16:00.000-07:002021-03-30T15:16:38.119-07:00Doggie Dementia means Sleepless Nights<p style="margin-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghfbsx0WcjzmeceVd9DDb_7cmrxSPQ4r40wNzjZ_okQr2lcnF35hrRW_zjP-1Cs3RifHCWTEeZrt90wkUect5PaTvUjyVbgJXVPoIkalEc3XtBJj1wuALlHC1gX5yojRVTAgQ3iSREYU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghfbsx0WcjzmeceVd9DDb_7cmrxSPQ4r40wNzjZ_okQr2lcnF35hrRW_zjP-1Cs3RifHCWTEeZrt90wkUect5PaTvUjyVbgJXVPoIkalEc3XtBJj1wuALlHC1gX5yojRVTAgQ3iSREYU/w150-h200/Sleepy+Sammy.jpg" width="150" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">2/25/21
Chatterbox<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Betty Kaiser </span></span></i></span> </div><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Hey,
everyone, if you’re not a dog or cat person, you can skip today’s column
because it’s all about an old couple and their equally old barking dog. On the
other hand, if you fall into either of those categories—read on!</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Readers
of my Critter Chatter column for the Humane Society CG, know that I love dogs. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">After
Chuck and I married and started our family, we included cats and dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our kids would tell you that Cinder, a Schnauzer-Cocker
mix, helped raise them and the entire neighborhood of 30 kids. Those were the
days when dogs went off the property to wherever the kids were. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I have
lost count, but over the years our menagerie probably numbers 25 household pets
plus boarding a few horses and ponies for friends.</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The
Beagles were our most difficult dogs—they loved to roam our California
neighborhood or run a few miles away to a nearby Country Club golf course. They
drove me nuts! </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The big
dogs (Doberman and German Shepherds) were the easiest to care for. Eventually,
we added a Dachshund as companions for them and the real fun began.</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Along
the way, we discovered that cats and dogs do best if there are two of them to keep
each other company. It’s also best if you bring all of them inside before it
gets dark at night. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dogs
and cats are like kids. No two are alike and there’s always something to learn
from them and about them. Our current Dachshunds are a study in differences. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sammy
is pedigreed and brown in color. He is nearly 14 years old and our security
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one can get on the property
without being announced by him and he really doesn’t like men with hats. Now,
in his old age, he’s certainly not going to let you pet him until he gets to
know you. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sweety
is a 7 year old, red sweetheart. No pedigree, 13 pounds, cleans both of their
dishes every night and is our hospitality dog. She welcomes visitors with a
wagging tail and kisses and will gladly sit on your lap. She can, however, hold
her own with her bully brother. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This
year, things were going well in our dog kingdom </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">u</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ntil early January. One night I was jolted awake at 1:15 a.m. by Sammy
barking and barking and barking. He didn’t stop. Chuck slept on as I stumbled
downstairs, opened his crate and he dashed to the back door. He wanted out! </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He
came back in, after canvassing the entire property and I put him back to bed.
More barking and agitation. I finally gave up, sat down on the recliner with
him and a blanket while he went to sleep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was really annoyed and frustrated. This was
not normal. What was going on? </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">My
reasoning was this: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s not unusual for
us to have wildlife circle the house at night. We have a variety of critters
from raccoons to skunks that call us home. The dogs ignore the deer family even
when they trigger the motion lights. But up the hill recently, there’s been a
lot of cougar and bear sightings. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I
was wrong. The next night it started all over again. Suddenly, agitated barking
all night and running around became the norm. </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Sweety
had to sleep upstairs in our bedroom while Chuck and I took turns getting up,
letting him out and trying to analyze the situation. Some nights Chuck would
just sleep with him in the recliner until morning! </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Nothing
worked. Finally, I took Sammy to his veterinarian for a check-up. what could
the problem be? Well, in a nutshell, I interpreted his diagnosis and medication
as “Doggie Dementia.”</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Who
knew? The kid’s dog Cinder had dementia but she just stood in a corner until
someone rescued her!</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">So, I
went home and Googled dementia symptoms. They included barking without reason,
vocalizing more than usual, aggressive behavior (he growls now when I clean his
paws), anxiety with unknown people, irregular sleeping patterns and… more!</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">For
some reason, I decided that claustrophobia played a part in his night time
barking so we bought him a larger, roomy, new sleeping crate with extra fluffy
bedding. That, plus some meds from the doctor and an OTC calming aid did the
trick. Well, at least for awhile.</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">At
bedtime, right now, we are turning on a small light and some soft music in
another room. It takes a few minutes for Sammy’s pills to work and then some nights
he sleeps until nearly 7 a.m. Others he’s up at 3 a.m.!</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Our job
is to treat him with kindness, patience and lots of love. Keeping him calm and
happy during the day is easy to do but not when he becomes anxious, stressed or
confused at night.</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Bottom
line: It turns out that managing Sammy’s dementia is not going to be easy. There
is no cure. There are times when he’s going to be stressed without a remedy and
we become as confused as he is. It’s frustrating!</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It
looks like this is an on-going battle that we won’t win. If you have gone down
this road and have some suggestions, please let me know.</span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
</span><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #666666;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></span></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-66156668156899173772021-02-08T10:32:00.001-08:002021-02-08T10:38:23.889-08:00HERE"S TO MORE BIRTHDAYS AND A HAPPIER NEW YEAR!<p><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">1/21/21 The Chatterbox</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Betty
Kaiser </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">I had a
birthday last week and by all standards, I am now officially old. Living 82
years will give you that reputation. I have previously written nostalgic birthday
columns but never one during a pandemic of bad news—especially one that doesn’t
include friends, parties, hugging, laughter and a birthday cake!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">In 2009
I wrote about the excitement of childhood birthdays. My favorite memories are
the ones in elementary school. They are sprinkled with fairy dust. Mother
braided my hair and I carefully chose the dress that I wore to school. Later in
the day, mom brought homemade cupcakes and Kool-Aid for the class to enjoy. It
was a tradition.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">That weekend,
my best friends came to my house for a party. Dressed in our frilly party
dresses and Mary Jane shoes, we played games and I opened my gifts. Some of my
favorites were paper dolls, coloring books, jump ropes, baby dolls and jacks.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Then,
mother brought out her delicious buttermilk cake, layered and spread with a
fluffy boiled frosting that was topped with coconut. Ablaze with candles, I
closed my eyes and made a wish. Then, the candles were blown out, the cake cut
and served with giggles, ice cream and lemonade.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Each
departing guest was given a party favor and this birthday girl stored enough
happy memories in my heart to last a lifetime. Birthday celebrations changed as
I got older but I carried out similar celebrations with my children for their memory
bank.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">My
favorite, “I can’t believe I’m an old lady” birthday story happened when I
turned 65. That day I left the Sentinel office to go to lunch at Taco Bell.
After I ordered, the clerk leaned over the counter, smiled and said, “Are you
eligible for a senior discount?” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Yikes!
Was it that obvious that I was “older”? Evidently it was and I graciously owned
up to being a senior and enjoyed my free diet Pepsi.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Thanks
to the Covid-19 Pandemic, this year’s birthday story is pretty boring. There
were no luncheons or parties to attend and report on. However, the mailbox
overflowed with cards, the phone rang with good wishes and there were lots of
texts to be answered. It was all good. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Coincidentally,
there were several emails bluntly reminding me that at my age, I am in a very
special age group—a Senager (aka a senior teenager) because I have everything
that I wanted as a teenage…. just 60 years later. Think about it and then
laugh.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">One of
my recent emails was a lighthearted commentary on the year 2020. It was a horrible
year like none of us have ever known—even the elderly like me. We all had new
and constantly changing rules to abide by thanks to the awful Covid-19 virus. And
sometimes we thought we were going to cry or go crazy. Right? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Well, I
finally calmed down, got enough toilet paper and settled into the “masks are
going to save us” mind set. Not everyone was happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lifestyle changed so abruptly that it was
depressing. Some were really grouchy! Then, this New Year’s email arrived. Read
the comments below, laugh and you’ll know we’re all in this together:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner. </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to
a bank teller wearing a mask & ask for money. </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">*The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of
the house & their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors! </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">*This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious
she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house & told my cat. We
laughed a lot. </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit.
Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.</span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just
keep washing our hands? </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel
sports, shut down all bars & keep men at home! </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a
6-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are! </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* I need to practice social-distancing from the
refrigerator. </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span>
</span><span>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">* I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to the Backyard.
I’m getting tired of the Living Room.</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Now you know that you’re not alone. Laugh and
the world laughs with you! Stay well, wear your masks, keep social distancing
and please…let me know when you find the Covid-19 vaccine injections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">Remember—times have been tough before. This
too, shall pass,,, so keep looking up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
help us all!</span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">P.S. Happy Birthday to my fellow Capricorns! </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><p class="MsoBodyText"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox @ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span></span>bchatty@bettykaiser.com</span></a></i></span><span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #0b5394;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-47705278389983724742020-12-26T16:32:00.003-08:002020-12-26T16:33:34.194-08:00Santa Needs Helpers by Betty Kaiser<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>Dear Readers, </i><br />
<i>For the last 20 years, it has been my tradition to share an old-fashioned
holiday story in this column. This year’s story is a repeat from an anonymous
reader in 2009. The premise is simple: we’re never too young (or too old) to
practice a random act of kindness and be Santa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></p><span style="color: #3d85c6;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
setting is small town America, about 1950. Our narrator is an eight-year-old
youngster. He begins </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">“I was just a kid when I had my Christmas adventure with Grandma. I remember
tearing across town on my bike to visit her one December day. Before I left, my
big sister had dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. “Even
dummies know that!”<br />
<br />
I immediately fled to my grandmother because I knew she would be straight with
me. Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. She always told the truth
and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed
with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns. (I knew they were world-famous because
she said so.)<br />
<br />
Grandma was home and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her
everything. She was ready for me. <br />
<br />
“No Santa Claus?” she snorted. “Ridiculous! Don’t you believe it! That rumor
has been going around for years and it makes me mad; just plain mad!<br />
<br />
“Now, put on your coat and let’s go.” “Go? Go where, Grandma?” I asked. I
hadn’t even finished the last of her world-famous cinnamon buns. <br />
<br />
‘Where’ turned out to be Kerby’s General Store, the one store in town that had
a little bit of everything. As we walked through the store’s door, Grandma
handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. <br />
<br />
“Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll
wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s.<br />
<br />
I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother but I had
never shopped for anything all by myself. The store was big and crowded, full
of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. <br />
<br />
For a few moments, I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar
bill, wondering what to buy and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of
everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and
the people who went to my church. <br />
<br />
I was just about thought out when I suddenly remembered Bobby Decker. He was a
kid with bad breath and messy hair and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock’s
grade-two class.<br />
<br />
Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to
recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher
that he had a cough. All of us kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough;
he didn’t have a good coat!<br />
<br />
I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby
Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked
real warm. He would like that. <br />
<br />
“Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked
kindly as I laid my ten dollars down. “Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for
Bobby.” <br />
<br />
The nice lady smiled at me as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good
winter coat. I didn’t get any change but she put the coat in a bag, smiled
again and wished me a “Merry Christmas.”<br />
<br />
That evening when Grandma helped me wrap the coat, a little tag fell out and
she tucked it in her Bible. We wrapped the coat up real pretty with paper and
ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, from Santa Claus,” on a gift tag.<br />
<br />
Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to
Bobby Decker’s house. She explained as we went, that I was now and forever,
officially, one of Santa’s helpers.<br />
<br />
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house and we got out of the car.
She and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then she
gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”<br />
<br />
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his
step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.
Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness.</span></span></p><span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Finally,
the door opened and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of
those moments spent beside my Grandma, shivering in Bobby Decker’s bushes
delivering his gift. <br />
<br />
That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what
Grandma said they were — ridiculous! Santa was alive and well. We were on his
team. And to prove it, I still have Grandma’s Bible with the coat tag tucked
inside: $19.95.”<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>Well, that’s it for this year, folks. As we pray for peace on earth and good
health around the world, let’s also be alert if we see someone who needs a
Santa’s helper. It might be you — whatever your age may be. Merry Christmas and </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i>God Bless you all!</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span><span></span>Betty Kaiser's </span></span></span></span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">12/23/09 Chatterbox</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">Cottage Grove Sentinel<span> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Contact by email bchatty@bettykaiser.com <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span></span> <br /></span></span></span></p><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span><span> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> <br /></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><i> </i></span></span></p><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-56617119346040733262020-12-19T15:06:00.000-08:002020-12-19T15:06:10.736-08:00Giving Thanks in Tough Times!<p><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"> 11/19/20 Chatterbox<br />Betty Kaiser <span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span><br /><br />Here in the USA we happily set aside one day every year to join with family and friends, eat too much and count our blessings. Normally, there’s a whole lotta cooking going on, grandkids to be hugged, family gossip to be caught up with and blessings to be shared. It’s called Thanksgiving<br /><br />This year is a little different. The meaning of the day is the same but this time, for many people, it’s hard to find a blessing to count.<br /><br />Early this year, a previously unknown killer virus —Covid-19— began making its way around the world. In spite of masks and social distancing, things have not gotten better. People are still getting sick, dying and fearful uncertainty abounds.<br /><br />Then, to top it off, hanging over our heads is the most controversial Presidential Election—ever! Tempers are hot, name calling is rampant and common sense is ignored. What a year!<br /><br />Looking back, I imagine that’s how the Pilgrims felt in 1621. They were pretty excited as they arrived on the shores of the New World in 1620. However, after they endured the trip across the ocean on the Mayflower, more challenges and grief awaited them than expected.<br /><br />That first winter more than half of the new Plymouth colonists died from malnutrition, disease and exposure to the harsh weather. The others were helped to survive by the Wampanoag Native Americans who taught them how to grow food and later made a peace pact with them.<br /><br />The Pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving is believed to be in the autumn of 1621. After a horrible year of deaths and near survivor starvation, the remaining Pilgrims celebrated their harvest with a festival as was the custom in England. The now 50 colonists were joined by about 90 Wampanoag tribesmen. <br />Historical accounts are sketchy but it seems that they celebrated together with joy. For 3 days, they ate their harvested crops and venison from the tribesman. They played ball games, sang, danced and ate along with the Native Americans who had helped them survive.<br /><br />Each side prayed and thanked their gods during the three-day celebration. The Pilgrims were religious separatists from the Church of England and worshipped one God. The native tribe of Wampanoag was also deeply religious.They worshipped idols and paid homage to more than one God.<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span><br />We celebrate this well known story as the first Thanksgiving in the New World. Unfortunately, peace didn’t last between the English settlers and their one-time Wampanoag allies. There was a horrible war in 1675 and the natives were massacred.<br /><br />A yearly blessing of gratitude for harvested crops has been in place in most countries of the world for centuries and remains so today. However, it took the United States awhile to make it a federal holiday.<br /><br />A woman is credited with making Thanksgiving happen. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s Lady Book —a colonial women’s magazine—wrote letters over 36 years to five presidents requesting the holiday to unify the northern and southern parts of the country. <br /><br />But it was her letter to President Abraham Lincoln that convinced him to support legislation establishing the holiday. In 1863, he proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day each November. <br /><br />Later, President Franklin Roosevelt, signed a resolution making the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving holiday. The date was formally approved by Congress in 1941.<br /><br />So, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Some years it’s harder than others to be thankful: Times of war, the loss of loved ones and lingering illness, are especially hard. Perhaps we should think like Pilgrims. <br /><span></span><br />This year, for our protection, Governor Brown has imposed rules to keep us healthy to slow down the coronavirus pandemic. Restrictions have been put on everyday activities like shopping and dining out. Limited socialization with friends and family is especially hard to cooperate with. Isolation is never fun on holidays.<span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><br /><br />At our house there will just be two of us and the Dachshunds to celebrate Thanksgiving. There will be no large family gatherings or feasting for three days. Probably no games will be played unless it’s Pinocle or UNO. <br /><br />However, life will go on. Dinner will be topped off with pumpkin pie. A deer or two will wander around looking for roses in the garden. Squirrels will chase each other up the trees; birds will empty their feeders and raccoons do whatever they do!<br /><br />Our gratitude will be all about the basics. We have each other, good friends and neighbors, live in a warm house, have food to eat and wildlife to entertain us. Family will check in from all over the country. Just hearing their voices will bring smiles.<br /><br />Our biggest blessing will be the ones that we don’t have—like the Covid virus. And our most fervent prayers will be for those who are lying in a hospital bed fighting for their lives, mourning the loss of loved ones or homeless in the cold.<br /><br />God help us all! We can do this! Have a happy memories Thanksgiving!<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox by email bchatty@bettykaisr.com</span></span><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;"><br /></span></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-69410015689229627002020-10-26T12:56:00.001-07:002020-10-26T12:56:41.037-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Betty Kaiser's Chatterbox</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>CG Sentinel <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>October 22, 2020</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>VOTE! <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm1N6TI7qtBicXNkWyRk1xgwxGWL4h60d111DEPcRMTL4ruA8G6Hi0eL159Hbk624Tf0mPIzMaHSwCNCQBiRwIU-weaTKLYNHkhAvFkbZ5SlHjz3ewrokmpR79rDbZgJvic1NB3THYec/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><img alt="" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm1N6TI7qtBicXNkWyRk1xgwxGWL4h60d111DEPcRMTL4ruA8G6Hi0eL159Hbk624Tf0mPIzMaHSwCNCQBiRwIU-weaTKLYNHkhAvFkbZ5SlHjz3ewrokmpR79rDbZgJvic1NB3THYec/" width="250" /></a><br /><span style="color: #444444;">
</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Greetings,
fellow voters! Four years have gone by since our last presidential election and
it’s time to vote again. To say the least, this year of a deadly pandemic and
politics has been overwhelmingly exhausting. I will be so glad when both of
them are over.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Since</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> the office of president in the United
States was established in 1789, forty-five men have served as president. The
first, George Washington, won a unanimous vote of the Electoral College. It has
not happened since.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
other day I sat down and read the presidential list, beginning with Washington
and ending with Trump. What an interesting and diverse group of 45 individuals
have served in the same governing position!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I was
21 years old when I cast my first presidential vote in 1960. I grew up in a
politically divided family. Discussions were heated. I vividly remember
watching conventions on television with my grandfather. So, I registered as a
Republican because my mother’s family were dogmatic Republicans.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dad was
an equally dogmatic Democrat from Missouri like Harry S. Truman. He and ‘his’
president were both “The buck stops here” kind of men. However, dad later voted
for, praised and supported Ronald Reagan! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Along
the voting path, I became an Independent voter. I vote for the person that I
feel is most qualified, honest, has the country’s best interests at heart and is
experienced enough to run the country. I am still a registered Republican, but misguided
party lines or candidates don’t buy my vote. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Since my
first vote, no two elections have been alike. Some results I agreed with. Others
I didn’t. What I do agree with is the system. It’s the only way to make your
voice heard and it mostly works.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">One of
my voting adventures was after Chuck and I moved our little family of five to
Ventura, California, in 1964. At that time polling places were sometimes held
in homes on the outskirts of town.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">I volunteered our garage. A couple of other
neighbors and I went to training classes and on election day we opened the
garage door at 8 a.m. and worked steadily until the “polls” closed at 8 p.m.
Then we counted the votes!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">After
we moved to Oregon in 1989, I remember voting at the Cottage Grove Grange until
vote by mail began in 2005. Yea! As far as I’m concerned, that was the greatest
thing since sliced bread, and I think most Oregonians agree. Hopefully, the
rest of the country will get on the band wagon soon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ballots
have been mailed for next month’s election and soon we’ll know which candidate
has won. Who will win? Who knows? Let’s be honest, as we rush to the finish
line, it’s been a nasty campaign trail, complicated by the horrible Covid virus
and more. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Historically
(minus a pandemic), this is not unusual. Almost anyone can run for President
and say what they want to. Running for the highest office in the land has few qualifications.
If I read the Constitution correctly, you and I could run for president. It
says:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the
United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be
eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to
that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and
been fourteen years a resident within the United States." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Term limits were added later.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The
result has been a mixed bag of outstanding, good, bad and mediocre presidents. I
read somewhere that four years in the Oval Office is a bit of a fruit salad of
domestic, foreign, political and personal activity. You must be prepared
because you never know what will be in the bowl. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">The following
names are often listed as the top 10 rated (or Great) presidents. Most of the
lists I saw based their decisions on leadership qualities; closely followed by education,
morals, lawfulness.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">George Washington and Abraham Lincoln often
vie for the first spot. Sometimes (but not always!) they are listed in this
order:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Abraham
Lincoln</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Franklin
D. Roosevelt</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">George
Washington</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Theodore
Roosevelt</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Thomas
Jefferson</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Harry
S. Truman</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Woodrow
Wilson</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Dwight
D. Eisenhower</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ronald
Reagan</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">There
are also lists of what are called “forgotten presidents.” These presidents
usually served early on for only one term and/or died in office.They
are rated as average or poor by scholars suggesting that people are more likely
to remember “the greats.” </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">In no
particular order they are:</span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Millard
Fillmore</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Franklin
Pierce</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Warren
G. Harding</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Chester
A. Arthur </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Rutherford
B. Hayes </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">James
Buchanan, </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Martin
Van Buren, </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Zachary
Taylor, </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">James
Garfield</span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">William
McKinley </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Soon we
will know who has inherited the #46 fruit bowl. So, if you haven't already, agree with the system and VOTE!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">P.S. Still
unsure who to vote for? Check out some online quizzes like:</span></span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/who-should-you-vote-2020-presidential-election-this-quiz-will-tell-you-1491318"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.newsweek.com/who-should-you-vote-2020-presidential-election-this-quiz-will-tell-you-1491318</span></a></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by email at: </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>
</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="color: #444444;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></span>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-20348427752586132932020-09-20T17:28:00.000-07:002020-09-20T17:28:03.004-07:00HONORING COL. KIRSTEN M. PALMER<p><span style="color: #444444;"><i>The Chatterbox </i></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><i>September 10, 2020 <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Cottage Grove Sentinel <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbgpnle0K5cn4Hio9hozZxQo3hsMER_yE_hXZm7loEhKa8abhzsl8P2-9dYq0lfmSRBk3c-M9qw0rbWuwlr4f8Z3cXfV2-01WD2JG2QIxQdrB8q7vRMAuIvWFkBPDUWK0X-SUpH02ZNE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="837" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbgpnle0K5cn4Hio9hozZxQo3hsMER_yE_hXZm7loEhKa8abhzsl8P2-9dYq0lfmSRBk3c-M9qw0rbWuwlr4f8Z3cXfV2-01WD2JG2QIxQdrB8q7vRMAuIvWFkBPDUWK0X-SUpH02ZNE/" width="157" />“</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Things can get tough but persevere. <br />You never know what opportunity is around the corner.”<br />Col. Kirsten M. Palmer</span><br /></i></div><i></i><br /><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br />A United States Air Force retirement ceremony was held August 2, 2020, at McChord Field, Washington, in honor of Colonel Kirsten M. Palmer for her 25 years of service. <br /><br />In attendance were her husband, retired Lt. Col. Roger Lang, her daughter Addyson (11), son Archer (18 mo.), her parents Ron and Linda Palmer, brother Matt Palmer and multiple Air Force members who had recently served with her at McChord Field. <br /><br />Kirsten’s career dreams began in an 8th grade science class at Lincoln Middle School. Studying the stars and planets of our solar system, installed in her a desire for space travel as an astronaut.<br /><br />Her retired Air Force uncle recommended the following path to follow after graduating from CGHS in 1991: “First, become a pilot. Do that by joining the Air Force and attending the Air Force Academy.” Kirsten set the plan in motion, applied and was accepted at the Academy.<br /><br />At a summer program at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, Kirsten changed her mind about being a pilot. She spent three weeks shadowing young officers in different career fields that increased her horizons. <br /><br />She says, “I spent a day with an aircraft maintenance officer and immediately knew that was the career path I wanted. Not only are you around aircraft all day but you get to lead the incredibly skilled aircraft maintainers and resolve issues that are impediments to making the mission happen.”<br /><br />She earned her commission from the Academy in May 1995 but the learning never stopped. In layman’s terms, as an officer, her crew’s job was to keep the airplanes flying—to get the mission done and every Airmen home. So as she mentored, gave directions and coached others, she was always taking classes too.<br /><br />During her 25 year career, Palmer served in a variety of assignments in various locations, including 11 years at the Pentagon. She finished at Lewis-McChord Field, Washington<br /><br />One of her favorite assignments was at Spangdahlem Air Base and Ramstein Air Base in Germany where she met her husband Roger. They were in the same squadron. He flew the C-9 aircraft and her maintainers fixed and serviced the aircraft. <br /><br />In Germany she not only met her future husband but became fast friends with several women who remain in contact today. There was also time to ski the Alps and see the sites all around Europe. <br /><br />As an officer, she was always appreciative of those who worked with her. Her squadron commander at Charleston Air Force Base SC was deployed for 6 months. As second in command, she stepped in as acting commander of a 600 person unit. <br /><br />She says, “It was a huge responsibility for a 32-year old but I was surrounded by a great group of officers and my Airmen flourished! We ended up winning an Air Force and Department of Defense level award for outstanding maintenance during that time period.<br /><br />Later, at McChord Field, two of my Airmen had a great idea to create a tool that would maintain batteries for a C-17 easier, more cost effective and safer. They pitched the idea to Air Force leadership and 500 Airmen at a convention center. It was approved and now the base will receive a state of the art 3D printer to help Airmen do their jobs.”<br /><br />The Air Force has been a rewarding profession for Col. Palmer in many ways. In addition to the satisfaction of serving her country at the different assignments, she has earned multiple education degrees (including the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy), many other major awards and decorations, as well as promotion to Colonel. <br /><br />Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end. I asked Kirsten why she was retiring now and she said:<br /><br />“I figured a quarter of a century is a nice round number of years to serve my country. My priorities in life have changed. I want to spend more time with my family and be there more for my kids. They are only young once and I want to create amazing memories like I have of my Mom when I was a child.<br /><br />“At some point I’ll probably get back into the job market with a part-time job. Until then, I’m going to enjoy being a Mom, catching my breath and reflect on the eventful last 25 years—the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been and the things I’ve gotten to do that I never imagined when I left Cottage Grove in 1991 and headed to the Air Force Academy.”<br /><br />Thank you, Kirsten, for a job well done serving your country and being an inspiration for all young people to follow their dreams. Enjoy the memories. A new life of opportunities and challenges await. You are an inspiration.<br /> <br /></i></span><span style="color: #444444;"><i> Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox at email bchatty@bettykaiser.com</i></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /></i></span><p></p>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-63375923729942730032020-09-20T17:07:00.000-07:002020-09-20T17:07:04.117-07:00GOOD NEWS: TEENAGER FINDS/RETURNS A LOST WALLET
<p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>7/2/2020 The Chatterbox</i><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Cottage Grove Sentinel <br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Betty Kaiser
</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>For many years I wrote a weekly “Neighborhood News”
column.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was always a high point in my
day when readers would call, email or write me notes about good things that
were happening in their lives and neighborhoods. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>I have one of those good news columns today. I heard the
following story somewhat belatedly and tucked it away in my memory bank only to
lose it! I remembered it this week and asked the family to share it with you.
This local heartwarming<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>story began in
Creswell, in April 2018. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>One Saturday morning, Kaila Ollivant (a then 16 year old
sophomore at Cottage Grove High School) and two friends pulled into the
Creswell Coffee Shop* for some breakfast before going shopping. As they parked,
Kaila felt the car run over something. Getting out of the car she discovered the
“something” was a smashed wallet. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>She took pictures of the wallet that contained the usual
stuff plus a family heirloom money clip and a significant amount of money. It
also contained a school ID of a young teen, Keaton S., in the 7<sup>th</sup>
grade in North Hollywood, California. The distance didn’t discourage Kaila. She
was determined to find him and return the wallet and its contents. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>She began at the Creswell Police Dept. but they are closed
on weekends. She then left a note at the Coffee Shop and took the wallet home
where she and her mom Tracy brainstormed. So many questions. North Hollywood is
a long ways away and it was Spring Break. How did the wallet end up in a
Creswell parking lot? Perhaps, he and his family were passing through the area
on vacation? They called the Creswell hotels with no success. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The following Monday Tracy called the student’s school<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and inquired if he still attended there. Eventually,
someone said yes and they would contact his family. Within minutes, she
received a call from Keaton’s dad. He couldn’t believe that the wallet had been
found and that everything was intact. He called Kaila their “Angel” and filled
in the blanks on how the wallet got there.</i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Keaton’s grandparents live in Creswell and he came up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to visit during Spring Break. He had been
staying there and doing chores to earn money to open his first bank account. Ironically,
he had gone on a bike ride with his now missing wallet and lost all his hard
earned money.</i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>When he discovered it was gone and told his grandmother, she
said (as all good grandmothers do), “That is why I told you to put your money
in your suitcase until you get home so you won’t lose it!” A lesson learned like
most of us do—the hard way.</i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>After Keaton’s dad told him that his wallet had been found, his
parents said he was on Cloud 9! “He spent the night singing the praises of
Kaila and the entire state of Oregon. He even talked of attending the
University of Oregon!” Now that’s joy and gratitude!</i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The wallet was soon sent from Oregon to a grateful Keaton in
Calif. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, both families
had discussions about the wallet’s journey and life’s learning experiences of
character building, including responsibility, ethics and treating people as you
want to be treated. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>But the story continues. A sum of money had been offered to
Kaila as a finder’s fee but she declined. Keaton wrote Kaila thanking her for
being so kind and awesome. He was so grateful to have the money and items
returned. He wanted to repay her in some way so he purchased a gift card at the
coffee shop for her and her friends to go for breakfast! He specifically
recommended his favorite, the Florentine Crepe. Kaila thought that was very
cool but her real reward was his joy in the returned wallet. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>After many exchanges of emails, pictures and notes, the families
had become friends. They made a date to meet. Keaton’s family came to Oregon over
July Fourth where they met for lunch. They seem to have bonded over more than a
lost wallet and a good Samaritan named Kaila. The knowledge that good people
still exist in this crazy world warmed all of their hearts. </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoNormal"><i>In closing, I’m quoting a note from Keaton’s aunt that speaks
from her heart for most of us:</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“My heart filled with joy when I got this news. I’m relieved
my nephew will be reunited with his belongings. But I’m more relieved to know
that in a society full of hostility and self-entitlement there are still people
(a teenager no less) who will do the right thing and prioritize kindness above
personal gain. She restored some of my ever decreasing faith in humanity and
taught my nephew a valuable lesson.” </i></p><i>
</i><p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by <span><br /></span></span></i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">email at <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span></i><style>
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Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-43446060209792159402020-06-15T09:47:00.001-07:002020-06-15T09:47:25.666-07:00Our Dogs Miss A Social Life!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">6/4/2020
Chatterbox</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLN6YHPMHCCwtEI59pfl3EuM91GRGfTK10I99nCDuPfeiqJ1aiFdM6Heb_TLpg8m_XcazrKAT2MBUbC2WsStjIBnoZN_Gs6GQXCg9ICpfja-Y13NhcZ6VvoB7_Zh8SpbEyFsrKGgSwZw/s1600/Sammy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLN6YHPMHCCwtEI59pfl3EuM91GRGfTK10I99nCDuPfeiqJ1aiFdM6Heb_TLpg8m_XcazrKAT2MBUbC2WsStjIBnoZN_Gs6GQXCg9ICpfja-Y13NhcZ6VvoB7_Zh8SpbEyFsrKGgSwZw/s1600/Sammy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammy as a puppy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"></span><span style="color: #666666;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone in our house—even the dogs. No,
they’re not wearing masks or washing their paws as they go in or out of the back
door. But they have a social problem. Our feisty little Dachshunds are great watch
dog companions that are always on alert for people and predators. They take
their jobs seriously. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">They
are the welcoming party to the Kaiser household and nothing comes onto the
property without being greeted. During wet weather, they stay inside and guard
their domain through the French doors. In warm weather they go outside in the
sunshine and wait for company to come calling so they can announce their
arrival.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
thanks to Covid-19, traffic has slowed down and welcoming barks are strangely
quiet. You might say they are not happy campers. So, Sammy has taken up whining
as a new hobby.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last
week, he literally nearly drove me crazy—in the house. The weather was nice but
he didn’t want to stay outside. Wherever I went. He went. If I was in the
laundry room. He was there. If I went upstairs, so did he.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even came into the bathroom with me. And
the whining never stopped. Step after step, room after room, I worked and he
whined. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
desperation, I sat down, gave him my undivided attention, petted, murmured
sweet words, massaged and hugged him. More whining. I tried coaxing him with
his favorite chew treat—a bacon flavored Nyla Bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would have none of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he looked at the door and…whined!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">During
that time, his little housemate Sweetie ignored us! It was the perfect
opportunity for her to sleep in Sammy’s bed and play with his toys. But she was
also getting anxious. She wanted to go in and out the back door every few
minutes. If only she knew how to turn the doorknob!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
went on all week. I was really annoyed until I figured out the problem.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
already knew that our dogs could sense tension in the air. As a puppy, during
any household disagreement (even on the television!) Sammy would go into my
office, climb into Sweetie’s bed and go to sleep. He only comes out when the
noise calms down!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then I
read that other pets across the country have become unhappy during this
pandemic situation. Two reasons: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1.
Their daily life routines have been turned upside down. 2. If their human is
anxious, they are too. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Huh.
What a concept. Anxious? Tense? Me? During Covid-19? Yep.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> That's me! </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">For
weeks, I would get uptight just thinking about going to the store. First, I
would read the latest <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>socializing restrictions.
I’d make my list and check it twice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
I’d check the car for hand sanitizer, put on my mask and gloves and go back
into the house to check one more thing and leave. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">All the
while, the dogs would be watching, dogging me and trying to get in the car and
go with me. They’re spoiled. When they go with dad, his “people” give them
treats. Not me.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sammy
and Sweetie live for company. But for months (per CDC guidelines), human visitors
have been few and far between. Thank goodness for neighborly conversations across
the fence, USPS and UPS.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some
days, I also feel like whining. A worldwide pandemic that’s killing thousands
of people calls for fear, heartache and extreme changes in lifestyle. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Physical
distancing, no church, haircuts or dining out and staying home are a small
price to pay to save lives. But it took awhile to realize how important seeing
our friends and hugging them on a regular basis is important emotionally.
Sometimes I feel like I am in prison!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like
us, our dogs have been missing their people, running around the property and
having fun. Playing catch or tag with a squeaky toy in the house just doesn’t
cut it. They quickly tire of ordinary games and get bored.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, we
have a new routine. Daily, I snap on Sammy’s leash to go out to the mailbox (about
a ¼ mile walk) and pick up the mail. Then I unleash him and we walk around our
wooded acreage and wave at the neighbors driving by. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes
Sweetie joins us. Then both of them get a chance to investigate new squirrel
holes, chase birds, bark at any motorcycles that zoom past their territory and
greet Bella (the dog next door). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">At
home, we get a drink of water, sit down and kibbutz while Sammy gets a massage
and Sweetie takes a nap. It’s a new normal but it works for the time-being. No
whining allowed. Yea!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thankfully,
hope is on the horizon. Virus numbers are down. Community doors are opening
again and yesterday, a car drove down our driveway. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hallelujah!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox</span><span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></div>
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-47803228704652574382020-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:002020-05-14T16:10:15.013-07:00SURVIVING "SHELTERING IN PLACE"<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNnuT110yWvts4mG1hYuOSL_vMTjqhqDpbQJt9C3cSdIxhjH3xwtEODcJORgghFRy-5f6kKdO0lNvEGKzt6vK6YsnC1-U8n5ri7NQK3iVuoD18MJibZHgirEv_-ZutzVZg1M0yJXn9JE/s1600/IMG_2434.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNnuT110yWvts4mG1hYuOSL_vMTjqhqDpbQJt9C3cSdIxhjH3xwtEODcJORgghFRy-5f6kKdO0lNvEGKzt6vK6YsnC1-U8n5ri7NQK3iVuoD18MJibZHgirEv_-ZutzVZg1M0yJXn9JE/s400/IMG_2434.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Betty needs a haircut!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">5/7/2020 Chatterbox</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">CG Sentinel </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Betty Kaiser</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">That crazy lady photo in today’s column is me—needing a haircut! And today’s column is a rambling description of the new Shelter in Place lifestyle that we’re all living. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I agree with Tom Hanks who said, “There’s no such thing as a Saturday anymore. Every day is just today.”</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">In this pandemic era, every day seems like the one before. Time is running them all together. News flashes are constant and contradictory. The government rules to protect us from the coronavirus often change from day to day. The truth is that sometimes, I am overwhelmed knowing what to do and when to do it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Do I agree with the need for restrictions? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">You bet I do! Anything that keeps people from catching COVID-19 and saves thousands of lives is a good thing. I support the rules wholeheartedly. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">But do I like the rules on a minute-by-minute, day-by-day, week-by-week basis? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nope. Not at all. Especially when it means staying home 24/7. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">At first, staying home and sheltering, didn’t bother me. I could find plenty to do around the house (organize photos, clean closets, sweep the garage) and a weekly search for groceries kept me busy (and uptight) at the stores. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I learned how to wear a mask and gloves while shopping and to stay six feet away from other shoppers and neighbors. I made hand sanitizer and use lots of hand soap while washing my hands and singing “Happy Birthday.” Until now, I never knew how often I touched my face. Now I know not to do that! </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">But…once the food cupboards were full, new recipes tried, and phone calls made, I tired of cleaning house and I missed driving into town, entertaining my friends, going to church and visiting my favorite Eugene haunts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Boredom started setting in. And let me tell you, it’s not easy to get bored around my house. There’s always something to do. Six manicured acres of rose bushes, vegetable gardens, trees and meadow grass will keep you busier than a bee. Just trying to keep the weeds from taking over the property is exhausting. It’s also not fun and I need fun! </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Between the cold, blustery, rainy days and our advanced ages we limit the time we spend working outside. A couple of hours and it’s back into the house to catch up with emails, phone calls, texts from the kids, laundry, bills, naps, reading or TV. That’s it! Day after day after day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Fortunately, Chuck and I are used to working together and that’s a good thing! He likes to help—on his terms. And my idea of household chores is way different from his. An example: He’s still surprised that doing the dishes includes cleaning off the stove and counter tops every day! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">So sometimes a little togetherness feels like too much and I’m sure he feels the same way!</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Shelter in Place at our house includes us and two Dachshunds. And right now we’re all feeling stressed and a little claustrophobic . The dogs sense our agitation and can’t settle down. They walk around whining for attention or sit at the back door barking to go out and chase a squirrel. They quickly come back inside and start all over again. It’s a merry-go-round.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">But last week, I had a revelation. Everyone was in the kitchen. The dogs were sitting on their cushions in front of the French doors, guarding the property. I was gathering ingredients and putting together a spaghetti sauce for dinner and Chuck was making doggie meatballs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">As I looked around, I realized that while the house was eerily quiet, everyone was at peace. We were safe, happy and healthy. “Aha!” I thought, “This new normal is working.” But it was almost too quiet. So I went over and turned on the TV so we could all watch the depressing morning news while doing our part to shelter in place. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">So, yes! We can do this! But…I'm sure looking forward to a haircut!</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">One final thought: As we mourn all of those who have lost their lives in this pandemic, we do not know what the future holds for us. Our future is limited by the guidelines we’ve been given. Cooperation is a good thing. Our job is to trust those making decisions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">They are literally a matter of life or death. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Please join me in praying regularly for those who have COVID-19 and those who care for them: healing, endurance and peace for the patients; wisdom, compassion, energy, rest and protection for first responders and medical personnel. Also, for the virus to stop spreading and the researchers to create vaccines to prevent it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">And one more thing—let’s all be grateful for our blessings. Looking at some parts of the world we know that it could be worse. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Can I get an Amen?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox by email bchatty@bettykaiser.com</span></span><br />
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<br />Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-12758709206497271332020-04-06T11:59:00.000-07:002020-04-06T12:08:31.648-07:00SURVIVING THE UNEXPECTED (with prayer and toilet paper)<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>4/2/2020 The Chatterbox<br />Betty Kaiser<br /><br />Hello, Grovers! The Chatterbox is back! After 22 years of conversing with my CG Sentinel readers, I had to stop writing for awhile and I missed you. Today’s column is a short update of my unbelievably crazy life these past months.<br /><br />It all began with a dog attack. One year ago, on March 30, a large dog tried to take off my right arm. I was taken by ambulance to RiverBend, met by a trauma surgeon and informed that my wound could not be closed with simple stitching. I couldn’t see that there was no skin covering the raw flesh because I was wearing two sweatshirts. I quietly heard the surgeon say, “It’s serious and requires an immediate debridement surgery, another surgery and eventually a skin graft.” <br /><br />In other words, It was a gory mess.<br /><br />My healthy, happy self was changed in an instant. I was in shock. There are pictures of me just looking bewildered as I jumped through all the necessary hoops to restore my arm function. I truly feared that healing and restoration wasn’t possible. <br /><br />Family, friends and strangers prayed.<br /><br />I was in shock for weeks. My condition was described as “fragile.” The first two surgeries I barely knew what was happening. The skin graft was a real eye opener. I always wondered how they transferred skin from one place to another. In layman’s terms, they shaved a large area of skin off my thigh and stitched it over the skinless wound. Both the leg and arm were bandaged and the healing began. <br /><br />I wore a wound vacuum attached to my arm and around my neck 24 hours a day for weeks. Eventually, it and the stitches were removed from the arm. I wore a compression sleeve for months to continue the healing. The thigh skin removal was like a severe sunburn as it slowly healed. The ugly, crater-like hole of the arm wound area looks and feels like shoe leather.<br /><br />Many thanks to modern medicine and an army of medical personnel who did everything they could to restore my arm. Along the way, I learned how to be brave and calm; to follow directions, endure multiple procedures, operate a wound vac machine and trust my husband to change bandages. One of the frustrating parts? It was two months before I could take a shower. Chuck washed my hair in the sink and I took sponge baths. Oy!<br /><br />So much tissue was lost that I remained under the surgeon’s care until this year. The wound area is still tender and ugly as sin and there is residual nerve damage. Everyday life is hard on the arm and wrist: lifting, typing, stirring, opening jars, digging in the garden are all painful. But thanks to great care and hundreds of prayers, I survived and I am a grateful woman.<br /><br />Now, you would think that would be enough medical trauma and drama for a little old lady in one year. But there’s more. In August, a routine exam showed that I had a non-malignant tumor of the parotid gland. The tumor was sitting on the facial nerve making it difficult surgery to remove. More prayers were sent up and thanks to God and a great surgeon, I again survived the unexpected.<br /><br />Finally, just before Christmas, when life was starting to get normal, more trouble was brewing. My husband has a long history of heart disease dating back to a 5-way bypass in 2003. In Dec. he began having difficulty breathing outside in cold air. No one thought that was a problem. “They” were wrong. He ended up at RiverBend, after a heart attack and stroke that resulted in more surgeries and weeks of Home Health Care. Many tears were shed and prayers were offered. Chuck survived the unexpected.<br /><br />This year, for one brief month in January, life was looking up. Then came another surprise. A coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) arrived in America. <br /><br />Unexpected? You bet.<br /><br />Now, to everyone out there who is wondering what the world is coming to…I don’t know either. Only God knows. And so we pray. Please know that I’m following the rules and worrying right along with you and we will get though this. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>However, we are just about out of toilet paper. Kleenex, anyone?<br /><br />Many thanks to all of you for your encouragement and friendship though-out my journalism years. May God bless you with hope, joy and good health as we plow through the year 2020! Keep looking up, praying and believing that we will survive.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><br />Remember: This, too, shall pass!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>P.S. After this went to press, a large box of toilet paper arrived in the mail from my sweet, thoughtful daughter who lives in Calif. Thank you, Kathryn! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox by email bchatty@bettykaiser.com</i><br /><i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></i></span></div>
Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-685339999087378402019-07-25T15:20:00.000-07:002019-07-25T15:20:23.493-07:00Athletics Coach Janice Jean Neely was a pistol!
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">7/17/19
The Chatterbox</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today’s column is one
of fond remembrances of Jan Neely, a beloved girls Athletic Coach and teacher who
taught at Cottage Grove High School from 1952-1987. A Christian, she passed
from this world into heaven on June 16, at the age of 92. Her former students
and co-workers will tell you that she is gone but not forgotten. Their memories
inspired this column. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">She still means a lot
to her students and coworkers. For-instance, if you walk around the Cottage
Grove High School campus, you will find yourself on the Coach Neely Fitness
Trail. A plaque was placed there in 2012 in honor of this very respected
teacher by a group of her former students. At the dedication, she had a
personal tour of the trail in a golf cart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Janice Jean and her
twin sister Jean Janice were born on June 16, 1927 in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. They
both graduated from the University of Oregon and later earned master’s degrees from
the University of Washington. They both taught women’s physical education. Jean
lived in La Grande for 30 years where she was a teacher at Eastern Oregon
College until she retired and moved to Cottage Grove with Jan. She passed away
in 2009.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Former Athletics
Director Jerry Braunberger was fresh out of college when he came to CGHS in
1961. He and his wife Sherrie fondly remember Jan’s warm greeting and
acceptance of them. Soon Jan was organizing activities for the faculty
wives—most memorably, a weekly badminton group that continued for years. Sherrie
remembers that “Jan set up the group and taught us how to play but she was
heard to beat!”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jerry said he really
got to know her when they coached track together (along with softball, soccer, Lacrosse,
etc.) He stressed that she was well-liked and developed strong relationships
with her students. Whatever she did, her emphasis was always on the importance
of physical activity for all ages. She would encourage all ages to exercise by
saying, “You need to be active for a busy life,” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jerry said that Miss
Neely was an equal opportunist for women in sports—even in an era when girls’
sports in school were far less important than the boys, He added that “She was
an excellent teacher and extremely dedicated. She was a dynamo!”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">After hearing from
graduates of several CGHS eras, it’s evident she coached, taught, mentored, encouraged,
supported and motivated her students all while teaching them new skills. I
think it’s fair to say that she was a super star teacher to her students. One
with a sense of humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">As you will learn from
the following comments about their “Miss Neely,” you might also say that she taught
with love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cheryl R. from the
class of 1966 says:<b> “</b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Growing up there were three
women who deeply influenced me: my mother, my paternal grandmother and Miss
Neely. She was not only a wonderful teacher, coach and advisor, but also a
wonderful role model to me and to hundreds of young women. She always inspired
us to do our best and be our best version of ourselves. I know I am a better person
for having her in my life."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Janece N., also from the Class of 1966, said..."I have
wonderful memories of Miss Neely...definitely a woman before her time!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jan S., also from the Class of 1966 says: “My memories
include powerful words to describe the role model she was for me...dedicated,
motivational, positive influence, genuine, caring, and she paved the way for girls’
athletics by the way she positively interacted with people. She provided an
unbelievable experience in physical education with curriculum involving
basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, gymnastics, fencing, archery, etc. I
chose elementary teaching for my life long career and Miss Neely was
a definite inspiration and role model in my life!”</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One member of the class of 1959 recalls how kind and caring Miss
Neely was while her PE teacher. It was this teenager’s senior year. She fell in
love, got married and became pregnant. Morning sickness made it impossible for
her to keep up in soccer. Miss Neely noticed, didn’t ask questions but
suggested that her student “Go sit on the sidelines and learn by
watching.” Now that’s teaching with compassion.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Finally, Marie L. (class of 1957), has some hilarious
stories of trips that the various teams took to out of town sporting events.
There were no buses for girl athletes so parents and Miss Neely did the driving. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To pass the time, the girls would come prepared with prankster
signs to flash out the back window. A couple of their favorites read, “Help!
We’re being Kidnapped!” or “Single Driver.” They were afraid to put up the one
that said, “Drunk Driver.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As they giggled, Miss Neely would just say, “What are you
girls doing now?” and keep on driving to the next GAA meet.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today, all agree that they are grateful for having known
her. She was an excellent teacher, mentor, role model and friend who greatly
influenced their lives forever. There were many formal accolades and awards for
her but as one former student said, “She was a pistol and got things done! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now you have to wonder what kind of athletics she is
organizing in heaven!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">There will be a Celebration
of Life service for Miss Janice Jean Neely at Riverside Community Church of
God, Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 2 pm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-style: normal;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
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</style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-9788341735869776772019-07-25T15:09:00.002-07:002019-07-25T15:09:28.144-07:00Cottage Grove historian shares 4th of July celebration memories
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">7/3/19
The Chatterbox</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: This column is being published a little late. Sorry</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tomorrow
is the 4<sup>th</sup> of July. Are you ready to celebrate? Well, the Colonists
certainly were after signing the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain
in 1776. But first, they had to get hostility out of the way. King George III
bore the brunt of their actions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Newspapers
of the time describe how the military tore down a statue of the King in the
Bowling Green section of Manhattan and later melted it into bullets. In
Philadelphia, the King’s coat of arms was used as bonfire kindling. The
citizens of Savannah, Georgia, burned the King in effigy and held a mock
funeral to put him away forever. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
following year, the Virginia Gazette, dated July 5, described a more civilized
celebration: “Armed ships and gallies were drawn up before the city, dressed
with the colours of the U.S and began the celebration by a discharge of 13
cannon from each of them. The day was closed with the ringing of bells and at
night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and ended with 13
rockets on the commons, illuminating the city.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
year we will celebrate 243 years of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. In many ways, our celebration hasn’t changed very much. For most of
us, it will be a day off work, family reunions, parades, backyard barbecues and
lots of fireworks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">In 2007,
I wrote a column in which I asked readers to share their childhood memories of July
4<sup>th</sup> celebrations. The response was not overwhelming. In fact, I only
received two emails. One was from Marcia Allen, now 96 years old, whom I
consider to be the queen of Cottage Grove history. </span></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marcia has been my
go-to-person for 20 years as a reporter and columnist. She has also been a driving
force, along with many others, to preserve and celebrate the history and
heritage of Cottage Grove’s people and buildings and culture. The Marcia E.
Allen Historical Research Library is named in her honor. Got questions? Stop
and see them @ 308 So. 10<sup>th</sup> St.</span></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here are Marcia’s
childhood recollections of celebrating the 4<sup>th</sup> of July in the mid-1930s:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I have several memories of my childhood and how I
celebrated the 4th of July. My folks were always very patriotic, and
displayed a very large flag hung on the clothesline in the big front porch,
where clothes dried in the wind in winter time. Every store downtown had
bunting draped under roofs and windows, businesses were closed for the day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">We began at the Cottage Grove Armory, with a speaker and
a HS student reciting the Gettysburg address. The <b>Civil War Vets</b>
were always proudly in uniform and honored as the oldest group. Seems like
there were still about 8-10 who were able to come. Kelly Field is named
for a hometown boy lost in WWI, and the Calvin Funk Post of the American Legion
is also named for a CG boy lost in
action. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Armory was built early in the 1930's because Cottage
Grove was noted for its group of National Guardsmen who were crack shots with
their rifles. They needed a place to practice inside so as to be ready for
competition when they reported annually to "Camp Lewis" in Washington
to camp and compete with all others in the Northwest. (see the story of the
Armory in the Golden Was the Past II - page 65). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was usually a parade because veterans from the
Civil War were still alive and the first World War had been over about ten years,
and patriotic fever was high.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The way I remember CG parades used to be with the High
School Band always involved as well as the CG Band of men - most of whom were
WWI vets and businessmen. The parade led to the bridge, and on to the Fir
Grove cemetery - to honor the dead after the service.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes our
family went by car over to Siuslaw Falls, down past Lorane to the west and had
a picnic with friends from the Masonic lodge or others from the business
community. A special treat of the day was the food - always watermelon and
fried chicken- not usually enjoyed at other times. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes Dad drove Mother and I to Florence where his
uncle and aunt and some of their grown children lived. We drove down the twisty
2 lane highway along the Umpqua river to Glenada and boarded a ferry to cross
over to Florence. The big bridge over the bay was not built until 1936, so
travel over any river near the ocean was all done by ferries. The first
rhododendron parade was done on boats along where Old Town Florence is
today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">There were never any children my age to play with, but I
usually had a package or two of firecrackers and a punk to light them and had a
good time in the sand dune behind the house.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">One time I lit a firecracker that burned its
fuse and didn't go off. When I picked it up, it did go off and burned my
fingers very painfully. I was about 9 years old and had started
taking piano lessons that constituted an hour's practice every day.
Needless to say, the practice sessions were on hold for about a week! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">May we never forget the “good ole days” and what our
country stands for!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank you, Marcia and God bless the U.S.A.!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">
</span><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></div>
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</span></style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-5295085128820595062019-06-07T08:25:00.000-07:002019-06-07T08:25:23.110-07:00Oregon: Now is the time to reduce Wildfire Risk!
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">6/5/19 The Chatterbox</span></div>
Betty Kaiser
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Last month the London
Grange hosted a presentation on preparing our homes and properties for summer’s
upcoming wildfire conditions. It was followed by a pulled pork sandwich meal
and scrumptious desserts— so you know I just had to go. The Grange is only a
few miles down the road from us so Chuck and I showed up, paper and pencil in
hand, promptly at 5 p.m. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Speaker Justin Patten
from the Oregon Dept of Forestry was introduced to the group by Grange
President Alice Nowicki. For an hour, Patten shared some helpful Firewise
information for those of us who live in wooded areas and then took questions on
specific local problem areas.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Until a couple of years
ago, the possibility of a forest fire in our area had never entered our minds. We
love living in the forested area across from C.G. Lake, where wildlife <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>roam
and silence is golden. We were oblivious to the fact that there were no fire
hydrants or an escape route around the lake in case of fire. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Previously we had lived
in cities where there were no wildfire worries. We grew up in Los Angeles in an
era of vacant lots and citrus groves. Large, out-of-control fires were
practically unheard of and if perchance one broke out, there was a firehouse
nearby. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Later, we lived in
Ventura, Ca. It sits near the ocean, has sunny and foggy days; citrus groves
and strawberry patches. Again, fire was not a big worry. Fire hydrants were on
every block and the kids were drilled at school to come home and teach their
parents to put up fire alarms and agree on meeting places in emergencies. Nothing
about wildfires.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The last couple of
summers, it seemed that the whole West Coast was on fire. This year’s
Snowmageddon really got our attention. Dangerously dry, huge debris piles are everywhere
around us—forests, campgrounds and homes. Suddenly we realized that wildfires are
possible in our own backyard. Scary stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Our daughter Kathy, her
husband, their two sons and daughter-in-law live in East Ventura. There are
many houses some near lemon and orange groves. Tim is a 30-year veteran of the
Oxnard Fire Dept. and he was on duty the night that the largest fire in the
state’s history broke out—a few short miles from their home. The Thomas Fire ultimately
burned 282,000 acres and was fought by an army of 8,000 firefighters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Thomas started in Santa
Paula’s Steckel Park, south of Aquinas College. It soon spread west along the
foothills powered by the dreaded Santa Ana winds. It quickly reached the city
of Ventura where it destroyed neighborhoods in the hills above City Hall. The
fire kept going and didn’t stop for weeks, until it reached Santa Barbara. Lives
were lost and properties destroyed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">That fire and others
caused us to look around and plan how we could lower our own fire danger. We
have a sprinkler system, have knocked down our tall weeds, keep our perimeters
mowed, taken junk to the dump and removed flammable debris. But it takes the
cooperation of everyone in the neighborhood to also keep their properties
cleaned up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Lightning strikes and other forces of nature are beyond our control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Forester Justin Patten (at his
Grange talk) pointed out these important reminders:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">#1 The leading cause of
human-caused wildfires in Oregon is escaped debris from backyard burning.…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Check the weather
forecast and call your local fire agency before burning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">° Clear a 10-ft radius
around your burn pile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">° Burn yard debris only
and always stay by your burn pile with tools on site</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Make sure your burn
pile is completely out when you leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">#2 Equipment fires are
the second leading cause of wildfires on state-protected lands in Oregon.
Spring is the time to clean up excess vegetation, not summer. Use the right
tool for the job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">° Call first to find out
if equipment use is restricted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Use gas-powered
equipment early in the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Use a weed trimmer with
plastic line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Be sure your tools are
in good working order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Keep a fire
extinguisher or water hose nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">#3 Create a defensible
space around your home free of combustible material: Fire follows fuel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Clean up dead or dying
plans, branches, leaves and needles everywhere—decks too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Move wood pile 30 feet
from the home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Remove flammable plants
and replace with fire-resistant species.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Prune tree branches to a
height of 6-10 ft to remove ladder fuels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Cut grass to less than
4 inches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Keep shrubs low and
away from the drip line of house foundations and trees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°Maintain driveway
clearance that is free of flammable debris to allow fire engine access.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">°More information at firewise.org
or www.keeporegongreen.com/preventwildfires/at home/.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Now we are praying for
an uneventful summer. But just in case… I would appreciate it if someone would
tell us an emergency escape route to London Rd. and the freeway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">by email </span><a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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</style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-760494595538293772019-05-11T17:35:00.002-07:002019-05-11T17:35:47.378-07:00Mother's Day Memories
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>5/8/19 The Chatterbox</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Betty Kaiser </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Head’s up everyone! This weekend is Mother’s Day. Now
that you’ve been warned, there’s no excuse if you forget your wife, mother,
mother-in-law, grandmother or anyone dear to your heart that you call “mother.”
Mothers of all ages appreciate being remembered on their special day. So start
planning now to celebrate them on Sunday. You’ll be glad you did.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Most moms are easy to please. Think about it. They raised
you, didn’t they? At some point they must have told you how special you are to
them. Maybe it was that primitive watercolor painting that you brought home
from kindergarten and she framed. Or the Mother’s Day poem in your childish
scrawl that still hangs above her desk. She loves you.</i></span></div>
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</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>It takes so little to touch a mother’s heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fughetta about the expensive stuff on the TV
ads. Moms are just thrilled if you’re there. Flowers? Buy a single potted
petunia to plant in the garden. Forget to send a fancy card? No worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just pick up the phone and tell her that you
love her. No money for a fancy dinner? Show up on her doorstep with her
favorite chocolates wrapped in a ribbon and a great big hug. You’ll make her
day. </i></span></div>
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</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>And if your mom has gone to her heavenly reward, say a
little prayer of gratitude.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>How do I know all of these things? Because I’m a mother and
it was the best job that I ever had. A mother’s love and caring instincts
kicked in quickly for me and knew no bounds. I worked 24 hours a day for 20+
years and was paid in hugs and kisses. Still, from the day a baby is born and
brought home until they fly away on their own, it’s work, work, work. But I
always thought that was why we had kids. Their wants and needs ordered my
days—from dawn to dusk and often, all night. Some people complain about the
teenage years but I thought they were a walk in the park compared to infancy,
toddlers and elementary school.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Actually, looking back, I sometimes wonder how I survived. My
husband worked long hours, six days a week, often until midnight. He was also
in the US Army Reserve. We had been married one year when our daughter Kathy
was born. Jeff came 2 years later and John a mere 13 months after that. Money
was scarce and so were creature comforts. No dishwashers or new-fangled clothes
dryers. I spent most of my time feeding and burping babies, sterilizing bottles
and formula, changing diapers, doing laundry by hand, ironing, hanging diapers
on the clothes line and folding clothes after everyone went to bed. </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>I was young and energetic enough to cope with chaos. Most of
the time. There were days when I was sure that I was going crazy. When the kids
were toddlers, I really looked forward to naptime. But they all slept in the
same room. Kathy dozed right off. Jeff was not so cooperative. One day he was very
quiet. I looked in and he was gone! I found him outside in his underwear riding
up and down the street on the neighbor kid’s tricycle! John never slept at
naptime. His favorite trick was to empty out all the dresser drawers—every day.
There was never a dull moment and lots of joy as their growing stages and
harmless mischief kept me smiling along with the exhaustion. </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>In my childhood, Mother’s Day celebrations were a big deal
and very formal. Growing up, the day revolved around my mother and grandmother’s
wishes. Sunday was church day. Everyone dressed in their Sunday best—suits and
hats—orchid corsages were mandatory! And dinner at the steak house with three well-behaved
children was a must.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>My Mother’s Day morning as a mom of three kids under the age
of four years old was a little wilder. I would coax the kids out of bed and feed
them cold cereal for breakfast. Sticky hands and faces were washed before they
were dressed in their Sunday best; hair was combed and kids were plopped down in
front of TV cartoons while I got dressed. </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Then, between the time I ironed my dress and put on my stylish
hat, an argument would break out. “Mom, he hit me!” And inevitably, one of the
boys would run outside, fall down and rip out the knees of his new Sunday suit.
Kathy stayed in her room just to avoid the commotion.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Somehow all five of us got out the door and into the car. As
my husband drove, I would pull out a bottle of nail polish and paint my nails—praying
they would be dry by the time we got to church. After church we all went out to
supper (where the boys climbed under the table!) and then home for a nap! </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Mother’s Day always began with chaos but was rewarded with
hugs and kisses.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Happy Mother’s Day to moms of all eras! May all your
memories be sweet. And if you’re a new, overwhelmed mom, remember that childhood
is fleeting but love endures forever. </i></span></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span>Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox
is about people, places, family</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span> and other matters of the heart. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span>Contact her by email
@ bchatty@bettykaiser.com</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</i></span></style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-88614454506454530242019-04-20T12:41:00.000-07:002019-04-20T12:41:25.430-07:00Surviving "Oregon Snowpocalypse 2019”
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">3/27/19
Chatterbox</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
snow may have melted, and the power restored to everyone but everywhere I go, people
are telling their 2019 snow storm stories. Mother Nature really outdid herself last
month and when she goes wild, the results are good, bad and ugly. </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let’s
start with the good. It snowed! In the beginning, snow is beautiful. We ooh and
ahh as the miracle white stuff coats everything. Snow is beneficial. and Planet
Earth needs it to regulate the temperature of its surface. When it melts, the
water helps fill our rivers and reservoirs. A couple of years ago it didn’t snow,
and we lost dozens of trees on our property. Snow is good. </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The bad?
It snowed! And it kept snowing. Few of us were prepared for a heavy, wet snow
to blanket everything. In taking down our power lines, it shut off our heaters
and heated up our refrigeration. The snow plows opened up our main roads but
closed off driveway entrances to and from our properties with three-foot-tall berms.
We were totally isolated on our property.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sun.
Feb. 25, we were snowbound by late afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">No electricity in an
all-electric house means no heat, water, refrigeration, flushing toilets, cooking
facilities, lights, internet, cell or land phones. Monday, we woke up to
crashing trees, 15” of wet snow on rooftops and ground. We turned on the
generator intermittently to use the water, stovetop or microwave but we were
very low on fuel and using it sparingly. Then the Jeep got stuck in the snow
trying to get out of the garage.</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
next 10 days I put in the ugly category. Thank goodness for a wood stove, a
generator and angels of mercy.</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Monday morning, we put on our boots and trudged out to the gate in
about ¼ mile of deep snow. It doesn’t sound like much until you walk it several
times in freezing weather. The gate was frozen shut. We needed gas for the generator,
but no cars were traveling our roads, and neither were pedestrians. Our ATT
cell phones neither received nor sent. It’s scary to be out of contact with
everyone.</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Chuck is still recovering from two heart surgeries and we needed
help. But where would it come from? Miraculously, prayers were answered and
miracles happened. Tuesday, our next-door neighbor, Aaron, jumped the fence and
forged a path across the acres of deep snow. (He had power lines down across
his driveway.) He daily stacked our firewood, shoveled snow, and was our
contact with the outside world. His wife, Tanya (home with a toddler and baby)
was able to contact our worried out-of-state family. Amazing!</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Originally, we only had enough gas to minimally work our generator
for one day. It consumes about 5 gallons a day. Every day someone supplied the
basics we needed. Many thanks to Steve who lives nearby, neighbors Clint and
Donna, friends Sella and Morrie in C.G. for bringing us gas, groceries and
more. All were answers to prayer.</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, we couldn’t leave
the property. And then the Marines landed! Clint and his monster truck knocked
down an opening to the road and flattened our icy driveway. We were finally
able to leave our property on Friday, March 1, but didn’t have power until 6
p.m. Wed. Mar. 6. </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">You can be sure that the busy EPUD and Tillamook Electric crews
were a welcome sight as they strung wire and installed new poles for three days.
I don’t know who was happiest to have heat again—us or our dogs Sweetie and
Sammy. Thank you!</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, a
word about on-going electrical problems. This was not our first rodeo. At C.G.
Lake, Dorena and other outlying areas, we have frequent power interruptions. We
understand that we live in heavily wooded, rural areas. Transformers blow up
and trees come down on the lines. But in 30 years, as the population has grown,
we have seen little progress or changes to stop our long-term electric outages.
</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">We have
new meters to calculate usage and dedicated workers when something happens. But
we also need communication and preventative action. Oregon’s electric companies
tell us that underground lines are too expensive. Isn’t it expensive to keep
replacing lines and equipment and pay over-time? </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">And what
about the homeowners? It’s more expensive to NOT have electricity than it is to
have it. Most households in our area do not have generators. They huddle in
front of fireplaces and cook on camp stoves. Others spend hundreds of dollars
on gas for small generators. Some stay in hotels at reduced rates worrying
about pets and property. The system needs to be upgraded to the 21<sup>st</sup>
century.</span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">One final good thought. In spite of the inconvenience and
frustration, we have much to be grateful for. One only has to read the news
about droughts, famines, floods, wars and destruction in other areas of our
country and world to know that we get off pretty easy here. So, I’m sure you will
join me in counting our blessings and praying that another snowpocalypse doesn’t
visit us again any time soon!</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by <span><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: blue;">
</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> email <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span></i></span></div>
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</span></i></style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-45435151134838073232019-03-07T17:13:00.000-08:002019-03-07T17:13:42.404-08:00They meet at the U.S. Mexico border: The needy, the helpers and the guards
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">2/27/19
The Chatterbox </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cottage Grove, Oregon</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Chris
Heritage is a born helper and she is one busy lady. I first got to know her as the talented bell choir
director at 1<sup>st</sup> Presbyterian Church. She’s also a loving wife,
mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Plus, as a PeaceHealth Certified
Midwife, she has always felt a call to help refugees around the world. But most of the places
she hoped to go were too far away. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
she heard about the Humanitarian Respite Center run by Catholic Charities of
the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Texas—across from Reynosa, Mexico. The Center
was started in 2014 in response to exhausted Central America refugees arriving
in the U.S. to escape violence and poverty. They were alone and bewildered upon
arrival.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enter
the church nuns. Their missions statement says in part: “We believe that human
beings who have no food, no security, no access to shower, etc. are people in
crisis. We will continue responding to the needs of these families in crisis as
long as there is a need.”</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last
year a request went out from the clinic for help from Spanish speaking medical
volunteers. Dr. Lauren Herbert, M.D., a PeaceHealth pediatrician, answered the
call and invited Chris to come along. This was an opportunity not to be missed.
Travel to a crisis at our own border was reasonable, people were suffering, she
speaks Spanish and the timing was good. She thought, “I can do this.” Another
nurse from Bellingham, WA joined them.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Upon
arrival at the clinic on Jan. 13, they were put to work immediately. Buses
arrive daily from the ICE detention facility with several hundred refugees who
have been released to enter the country. Here, they are greeted by the
volunteers with smiles and given help in connecting with their U.S. sponsors, a
hot meal, warm showers and bathrooms, beds, clothing, shoes, medical help, phone
services and safety courses.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris
says, “Most of them are headed east. They stay for a day or two before
continuing on their journey. People who felt especially sick came right away to
the clinic for medical help. There was usually a surge of children and adults
needing our help in the afternoon and into the evening. We would go to bed and
the next morning there was a line again. We took care of everything from minor
colds to bruises, scrapes, headaches, stomach aches, athletes’ foot and
occasionally more serious illnesses. People with life threatening problems are
sent to the local hospital ER.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">“They have so much hope,” she says. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Even the ones with ankle monitors who would
likely be sent back to the dangerous situations they are trying to escape. I
have met and worked with similar families here in Oregon. They are hardworking,
kind, hopeful. They have strong family values, are attentive to their children.
So happy to be here. Now, having worked in Texas, I have a new respect for their
struggles.”</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
volunteers occasionally had opportunities to take a break around lunch time to
learn firsthand about the border situation. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“One
day we visited La Posada, a place where Catholic nuns provide longer term
housing and support for refuges that don’t have an immediate place to go.
Another time we visited a 19<sup>th</sup> century chapel that will be torn down
if the wall is built. Then, the next group would arrive, and the work would
start again until the early evening.”</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris’
stories about the common humanity of the people she encountered are
heartwarming. There were the needy, the helpers and the guards. The needy, of
course, were the most obvious. There was a 12-year-old boy, separated (and
later united) with his father in a truck accident, where people were killed crossing the
border. Another boy had an infected leg from the wreck. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
woman who was 6-1/2 months pregnant fell in the Rio Grande River and was tossed
about by the current. She was worried about her baby. Chris got out her
stethoscope and they both laughed out loud as they heard the baby’s heartbeat.
There were tears of happiness.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">
</span></i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People
from all walks of life come to help. There are clothes to be sorted, floors to
be mopped, meals to be prepared and cleaning of all kinds to be done. A group of
Mennonite men and women come regularly and prepare the soup of the day. A local
church group comes often as does a church from Iowa. A Facebook group helps
people in the McAllen area to donate pizza dinners to the Respite Center.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
day, Chris observed some official looking men with clipboards watching the children
play. She was suspicious. Turns out they were sketching plans to build a
playground. Kindness abounds.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
then there was an hour-long discussion with a border guard. The government was
shut down, but this man was working without a paycheck for his family. Chris
began their conversation by thanking him. The guard’s response was, “If I was
not working, people would die. I could not live with myself if that happened.” </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So,
what can we do? These are not illegal immigrants. They are legal. They had a destination.
Still, they are needy. Getting from their country to ours is not easy even when
they’ve done the paperwork. Of course, the easiest way to help is by direct
donations to organizations like the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Advocating
for just treatment of the immigrants is another way to help. Sometimes
government needs a little nudge to tell them that what they’re doing is kinda
crazy. Here’s an example from Chris:</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When
people cross the border and turn themselves into the border patrol, they are
sent to ICE detention. Their shoelaces are removed and taken away. Everyone
needs a new pair of shoelaces when they arrive at the Center. One of the
volunteers tried to get the shoelaces back from ICE, but so far, ‘NO” is the
answer. There may be a logical reason for this, but to have them replaced days
later by donations and volunteers seems pretty inefficient.” Betty sez, “That’s
government for you.”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
thanks to Chris for sharing her story and to all who care for these newcomers
with open minds, hearts and expertise.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox by email <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com"><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">@ </span></i>bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span></i></div>
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</span></i></style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-31194298851841000112019-02-23T10:45:00.002-08:002019-02-23T10:45:34.384-08:00SENIOR CITIZEN JOKES<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">1/23/19
Chatterbox</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Laughter
cures the winter blues for this senior citizen</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">One of
the reasons that my husband and I moved to Oregon was to experience “the
seasons.” You know, spring, summer, fall and winter. The latter, however, is my
least favorite season. It’s cold, wet and dark and as I sit down at my computer
to write this column, it’s another dreary winter day. True-blue, born and bred
Oregonians revel in this weather. You can tell by my grumpy attitude, I’m an
import waiting for spring. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Fortunately,
my family, friends and readers have been cheering me up with lots of crazy computer
cartoons, jokes and words of wisdom. Most are for senior citizens. And since my
birthday this month, they have been working overtime to send me words of cheer
that begin with “You know you’re a senior citizen when…”</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some of
them are only too happy to add, “Of course, you’re older that I am!” So, just
exactly what age is considered a senior citizen? Well, various sources say the
age of a senior citizen begins at 60- 65. The Social Security Administration
says that 67 is the age of retirement. I was about 60 when Taco Bell asked me
if I was a senior. So, I guess anyone with gray hair is fair game to be elderly.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last
month my daughter Kathy started a flurry of senior jokes and advice with a “Welcome
to the Golden Years” dialog. Someone passed it on to her, to pass on to me. It
sounds like a mom and dad conversation because I am prone to lose keys. Visualize
Chuck and me and prepare to laugh.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The keys weren’t in my pocket. Suddenly I
realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the
parking lot. My husband has scolded me many times for leaving my keys in the
car’s ignition. He’s afraid that the car could be stolen.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">As I
looked around the parking lot, I realized he was right. The parking lot was
empty. It was gone. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location,
confessed that I had left my keys in the car and that it had been stolen. Then I
made the most difficult call of all to my husband. ‘I left my keys in the car
and it’s been stolen.’</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
was a moment of silence. I thought the call had been disconnected but then I
heard his voice. ‘Are you kidding me?’ he barked! I dropped you off at the mall!’
Now it was my turn to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, Well, come and get me. He
retorted, ‘I will. Just as soon as I convince the police that I didn’t steal
your dang car!’”</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
following senior citizen quotes are mostly one-liners with attitude. My friends
and I don’t like to waste words explaining ourselves. We tend to be bluntly
truthful and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">After you read the following quips ask yourself, if maybe, you
too are a senior citizen.<br />
<br />
Today I was in a store that sells sunglasses, and only sunglasses. A young lady
walked over to me and asked, "What brings you in today? I looked at her
and said, "I'm interested in buying a refrigerator. " She
didn't quite know how to respond!<br />
<br />
When people see a cat's litter box they always say, "Oh, have you got a
cat?" Just once I want to say, "No, it's for company!" </span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">It’s okay if you disagree with me. I
can’t force you to be right.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"> <br />
Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your
age and start bragging about it. </span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Hospital and medical forms always ask
who is to be called in case of an emergency. I think you should write, "An
ambulance.”<br />
<br />
The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body
and your fat have gotten to be really good friends. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Being young is beautiful but being
old is comfortable.<br />
<br />
Some people try to turn back their "odometers." Not me. I want people
to know <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">WHY</span> I look
this way. I've traveled a long way and a lot of the roads were not paved.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Reporters interviewed a 104-year old
woman. ‘What do you think is the best thing about being 104?” “No peer
pressure” she answered.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">Ann Landers said: “At age 20, we
worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think
of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” </span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;">That’s it for now. Thanks for making
me laugh and forgetting it isn’t springtime. May your troubles be less, your
blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door. </span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox <span> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> by email @ <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>
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Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929659055297877449.post-36351440498144850912019-01-06T12:34:00.001-08:002019-01-06T12:34:54.463-08:002018 Family Memories of Christmas Past
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">12/19/18
Chatterbox</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Betty
Kaiser</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
older I get, the more reflective I become during the Christmas season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this stage of my life, the joyful ghosts of
Christmas past bring me great joy and fill me with gratitude. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
heart of the season—the birth of Jesus— has not changed. But everything else
has. Especially gift giving. I miss the old days of fulfilling childhood dreams
with big and small surprises. Today we buy gift cards. Come along with me on a
trip down memory lane and see if you can relate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My family’s
early history (both sides) was one of poverty. An orange in the toe of a
stocking was a big deal. It also became a tradition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
parents were born at the turn of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. My dad’s family of
seven was dirt poor in Missouri. I don’t remember him ever talking about
receiving a gift. He and his siblings were barefoot and wore dirty hand-me down
clothes. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was in the 6<sup>th</sup>
grade and he quit school to go to work to put food on the table. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mother
was an only child and her dad originally was a roughneck in the oil fields of
Mexico. Early pictures of her show a barefoot girl in a dirty dress in the
blowing desert sand. Later, things picked up rather dramatically for her family
and I now have her beautiful French china doll. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mom and
dad met and married in Missouri and moved to California near her parents during
the Great Depression. Grandpa established a business and by the grace of God
they all survived and went on to buy houses and live the American dream. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chuck’s
family immigrated from Wisconsin to Calif., during WWII. In Long Beach, his dad
welded the Victory Ships. It was a dangerous job but it both helped the war
effort and put food on the table for his family. Later, his job at Sears bought
Christmas gifts for his three sons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One
year when Chuck was about 8 or 9 Santa brought him his favorite gift ever—a
Gilbert Erector Set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spent hours
building cars and even a motorized roller coaster. It foretold his future as a
craftsman extraordinaire. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In my family,
I remember what seemed like lavish Christmases. Oranges and apples were in
stockings. Under the tree were new clothes and a toy. I still have my Madame
Alexander bride doll. My favorite was a Schwinn bicycle. The same one that I
would later fall off while racing the boy down the street. It put me in the
hospital with a compound fracture of my left arm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
kids were blessed with toys. Their dad managed stores for Toy World! A
childhood dream world. They always knew what the latest and greatest toys were.
Chuck would put them on lay-away to be brought home and wrapped at midnight after
the store closed on Christmas Eve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kathy, our
oldest, was an avid doll collector and had her own dad-built playhouse in the
backyard. Her favorite? “My bike,” she said. “In the pre-car, parents drive the
kids to a million activities days…bikes were our freedom, our connection with
our friends, the beach, shopping and more!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Son Jeff
was all about speed and music: skateboards, model cars, model airplanes and
trumpets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandson Matthew says, “My absolute favorite
gift was a used MacBook when I was in middle school. This gift allowed me to
have something to create music on; illustrate and sketch out ideas; learn about
things through sources like YouTube. It was an incredible gift that allowed me
to learn everything from music mixing to video editing and graphic design. It is
something that will forever stick out in my mind and I am super grateful for.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ashley,
our granddaughter-in-law remembers her family’s on-going puzzle tradition. Every
Christmas morning there’s a new puzzle for everyone to enjoy. She says it keeps
them connected and doing something together with very little effort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally,
John, our youngest son, passes on a lesson learned: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When I
was 13, I wanted a 12-string guitar more than anything in the world. Knowing
that no one would buy me a brand new 12 string guitar for Christmas—too expensive,
too extravagant—I put a janky, used,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"trampoline
action" 12 string guitar on layaway at Heck Music in Ventura.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When
my mom heard about it, she drove me to Heck Music, demanded they give my money
back, and lectured me all the way home saying, ‘Never buy yourself something
before Christmas!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I was
humiliated, and angry. I knew darned well I wasn't getting a 12-string guitar
for Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“On Christmas
day, my grandparents arrived. Grandpa tossed me the car keys and said, "Well,
you better get the presents out of the trunk." I opened the trunk, and
sitting right on top was a guitar case! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I had
to wait until all the other presents were opened before I opened that guitar
case. Inside was a brand new, beautiful Yamaha FG312 12 string guitar. I played
that guitar for decades, until it was (sadly) stolen from my office about 10 years
ago. Best gift ever!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
moral of the story is, never buy yourself something before Christmas...because
you never know what you might get!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Merry
Christmas, everyone! And may all your memories be ones of joy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #c00000;">Contact
Betty Kaiser’s Chatterbox at </span><span style="color: #c00000;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #c00000;"> <a href="mailto:bchatty@bettykaiser.com"><span style="color: #c00000;">bchatty@bettykaiser.com</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-style: normal;"></span></div>
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</style>Betty Kaiser, columnisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02443553014457840750noreply@blogger.com0