Saturday, October 20, 2018

A nice postal package from Erlene

Day 14, "Every picture has a story"

I received an envelope from Erlene who lives in CA.  Her mom Ruth, is the daughter of the oldest Sampson clan Ansel.  I believe Ansel was maybe 20+ years older than Mom.  Terry and I visited Ruth, who lived with Erlene, in CA several years ago.  Ruth was in Mom and Dad's wedding.  This postcard was among several pictures Erlene sent.  It is in Mom's handwriting and it is hilarious to note the address sent to, the postage and the way Mom signed it!  It appears that Mom and Dad spent their honeymoon in the Twin Cities as it is postmarked July 1st 1935 and they were married June 25th.  I wonder what Mom meant by "I spend evenings making whoopee???  Also I think she was talking about Dad when she marked that she did not fish much but she landed a dandy!  A side note about when Terry and I visited.  Ruth, at the time was in her early 90s, asked if we would like something to drink.  Terry said a glass of wine would be great.  Ruth said something like this: Great, I enjoy a glass of wine unlike most of the Sampsons!"  She then went into the kitchen and poured the wine.  She came out empty handed.  We asked about the wine and she said, "Oh, I forgot!"  Maybe a couple of years ago Erlene moved Ruth into a home where she would get good care.  I am guessing she is pretty near 100 now.  

Yesterday was one of those days when at days end you say, "I accomplished almost nothing!"  I did get a new tube for the rear wheel of my bike and I picked up 3 books at the library.  Finally at about 6:45 I went into the garage and put the new tube in and the tire back on.  Funny how when you do something for the second time it is so much easier!  Other than the tire NO work was accomplished by me yesterday.  I did get in a couple of swims but that is not classified as work.

Age continues to show it's way of being.  Kent Carpenter, who was in my HS class, died last Sunday.  He was only 70 and had farmed near Cogswell all his life.  I was not a close friend but of course in a class of 65 you pretty much knew everyone.  Kent was not in sports so that is why I did not hang around with him.  His obituary was in the paper and it sounded like he was into cars etc.  Also ended up as a great neighbor and friend of many.  It always hits home to some degree when I find out someone I knew and about my age dies.  It sounded like he suffered from cancer and was in some kind of care unit when he died.  I am not sure how many of our classmates have pasted away but I think several.

The pictures that arrived yesterday of course bring back many memories and often provide insights into family.  

I had breakfast and then finished my FP coffee this morning.  I did bike over to the courts and hit about 50 serves.  I will return to the courts in about a half hour as court times are 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30.  I would like to pick up a game with some of the better players but I guess one has to bide their time and hope that someone else does not show up.  I have been playing with guys that I would say are a bit less skilled.  Yesterday we changed partners every set and I was on the good side of 6-2, 6-1 and 5-3.  I need to be on the end of something like 4-6 or 5-7 or 3-6 but against better players.  That is about the only way to improve.  At my age and having started playing not that long ago I think my game still has an up side, at least for a few years.  I know, age has a way of telling you that the UP side is now pointing DOWN!!!

Enough for this Saturday.

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