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 DECEMBER 7, 1957

As I woke up this morning I felt as if the world was against me.  Here I was in grade 5 and it seemed as if I would forever be required to do things that I did not really enjoy!  As I got out of bed I was hoping that Mom had something good for breakfast.  I knew I would be milking the cows first but after that maybe some pancakes with chokecherry syrup would make my life better.  Yes, Mom informed Dave and I that this would be our first Sunday school program practice today.  I mean those programs were not a lot of fun and to add to the misery I NEVER got to be an important person in the program.  Last year I was assigned to be a stupid angel with those goofy wings that flopped all over the place.  Really I felt I should be Joseph this year but that went to Chuckie as Mom felt she could not give it to one of her kids!!!  Then to make the day even less inviting there would be church tomorrow.  We had church every other Sunday as the pastor had 3 churches and the two country ones traded Sundays.  I just really never got anything out of his sermon BUT Chuckie and I did have kind of a fun time seeing who could get closest to open the hymn book to the correct song!  Anyway I had many thoughts in my mind as I went downstairs to meet the day.  The first thing Mom said after saying good morning was make sure you are careful when milking so the cow does not kick over the milk pail.  I mean really!  I think it only happened once a month or so and when it did the cats had a great time licking up the milk so it did not go to waste.  But just to be sure I would put the "kickers" on Betsy as she was the worst.  

Well as the afternoon came and the practice was in the rear view mirror the day was actually not so bad.  Dave and I had fun playing marbles in the living room.  That is marbles in knocking down empty shells from across the room. Well Dave won but then he was older so that should happen most of the time.  Then after that we were able to play table tennis as Mom did not need the kitchen and Dad had left to run an errand so the kitchen table was free.  Dave and I were pretty close in skill or lack of skill as one might say and in 6 games the score was 3-3.  We decided to leave it at that as with a tie score we both cold feel good.

As evening came we settled into a Touring Card game before bed.  We knew that tomorrow, with church and Sunday school, we would be home by noon so that Mom could make our regular Sunday lunch of fried egg sandwiches with dill pickles.  It would then be more games as the weekend counted down to school on Monday.  Yes, there were times during those years that I felt sorry for myself and times that I wanted to be someplace else but as time marched on I came to realize that my growing up years were neat and much much better than many kids had it.  In the middle of life one tends to down play the present but then as one matures you focus on the positive, the good and the blessing that one had.  As I think about my childhood today I often say IF I could go back and change things I would leave then just as they happened.  Now when I got into high school and FRIENDS I may change some of that but that could be for another day!