Some progress

I am not sure if I should laugh or cry!!!  Elspeth brought out these dolls and kind of said they represented Grandpa and Grandma Terry!  Yikes!  Of course we laughed and even now when I look at the picture I can't help laughing.  BUT really, I do not think I look anything like that!

We did make some progress in getting things unpacked yesterday.  I make more progress than Terry as she bought a bouquet of flowers to a friend down the street who had surgery this summer.  While she was there I unpacked several things.

I had another one of those "kicks in the stomach" episodes yesterday.  I walked over to the courts to say hi to our two pros.  They were busy with a clinic for other pros but on the erase board there was a written message, "Rest in peace to our beloved Mary Ann Branard.(sp)  Mary Ann was a tennis player who captained a team for the last few years.  She and Joe spent the winter months here.  She did not play last year because of some health issue BUT I had no idea it was serious.  Terry actually saw a post on Facebook and it looked like she died only a few days ago.  Oh my those deaths just throw me for a loop.  I am guessing Mary Ann was in her mid 70s but still that kind of news just hits me so hard.  I know Terry and I are 72 so many of our friends are in the so called "old age' category.

I actually accomplished much yestereday.  I unpacked the car in the morning and then thought it would be a good idea to get it washed.  I drove to a "self" car wash which usually costs about $10.  There was a sign that showed "free".  It is under new management and they are having free car washes through Wednesday.  A short time after I arrived home Terry and I did a Costco run.  We did not go crazy with buying food but did get some things so we would have food in the house.  

That darn mail.  I did the address change and I am SURE I changed only Terry and Carmen but we got a letter to Travis forwarded from St. Paul.  DARN!!!

I received a bit of the "living the good life" yesterday.  I used our pool twice.  The first time it was chilly so I turned the heater on and the second time it was great.  I almost feel guilty when I go swimming as it just seems so "over the top" to do that this time of the year and then I only have to step about 3 steps out of our bedroom to jump into the pool.  A far far departure from jumping on the little bike and riding up to Lake Tewaukon and then jumping in the green algae water!  Don't get me wrong, Lake Tewaukon was a grand place to swim, especially when the wind was from the east!

October 6, 1953

It has been a fun day.  I love the fall when we pick corn.  I, so far, have enjoyed being in 1st grade at Wood Lake School.  I have a classmate and in the 8 grades there are all of 15 kids.  I found out today that I am bigger than most kids my age.  My classmate Keith is half a head shorter than I.  Today was fun because I knew Dad would be picking corn and because of that Joan, Dave and I ran home.  Actually Joan walked part of the way but Dave and I really wanted to get in on some of the corn field work.  I wanted to get out in the field right away but Mom insisted I change clothes but the good part was I had real pants to wear, not those darn bib overalls.  I don't know WHY Mom and Dad have those darn things for me as I have NEVER seen Dad wear them and I want to be just like Dad.  I think real men wear a belt.  Anyway as I raced across the dried up creek and up to the field west of the house Dad was unhitching the wagon from the corn picker to the Ford tractor so he could drive the wagon home.  Lucky for me I got there just in time to ride in the corn wagon.  Dad said he wanted to get his camera and take a picture before we unloaded the wagon of corn into the corn crib.  Later we would shell the corn and the corn cobs would be used for fire in the cook stove.  I could almost smell the thin sliced potatoes frying in butter on the stove in January.  Anyway it has been a fun day.  I like to see the corn cobs tumble into the elevator and then take the journey up up to the top and then into the corn crib.  Later we will open up the door on the bottom to get the corn out to shell it but that will not happen for a few weeks.  AT THIS TIME OF MY LIFE I THINK MY LIFE IS GREAT!  AND maybe, just maybe we will get a big box of clothes from Aunt Ragna soon!  That is always a fun day as we dump out the box of clothes and see if there is anything that fits!  I especially would like some small socks so I would not have to turn over the end of the socks under my toes.  That often makes me think I am walking uphill!  Anyway the end of a fun filled day!