Frank and Rose Schwab

If ever something happens to the “Newborn’s” parents,   there is the  good and faithful “Godparents!”  These are the next in line to take care of you,   and especially –  they signed up to be sure  you find   your way and walk   in life with God, Your Father in Heaven!   My Godparents were at my Baptismal, 21 days, after my birth, ceremony in the Perpetual Help Church, St.Louis, Missouri.

When I was getting old enough to know Frank and Rose Schwab, my Godparents, I found myself liking to be with them. They were absolutely terrific!   “Why?”   “Because they were always giving me gifts!”   I don’t know,   but when you are a little kid and no matter what happens in life,  when you are with these certain family, friends, you receive unexpected  love, care, feelings  of friendship  –  you seem to be in a perfect world!

One memory,   whenever we would visit at their home,   they would always have a new “Doll-set” (male and female) dressed in the native custom of the country, they represented, boxed  just for me.   My “Godparents”  are no longer here,   so,  my prayer   for them is to be blessed   exceedingly more   than they ever expected,   since they were truly a wonderful blessing to me!


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Be a “Shower Guest” Winner!

Seems like when you are finished with education and schools, you grab a position with a large company, hoping  everything  you were taught in school, will now push you up the ladder of life. You are young making new friends, and are finding new friends ready to take that next step,  a walk down the aisle at church. But, before that happens, all new friends are invited to the “Shower!”

You really don’t know this person, but as a fellow-employee, you accept the invite and show up with one of the preferred gifts, from  the list attached to the invite. Here’s the  “BEST Part” –  the games that are played  –  you could win  – you may even win a prize! One of the  “Games” – each invited guest counts the number of buttons on the clothing you are wearing. The one with the highest number of buttons  – “Wins a Prize!” Who in the world ever dreamt that up as a “Party Game?”

Usually, or maybe back in the day, then, we would dress in just a so proper fashion for a “Shower Party” but  “Today” – if you dress like a contestant on the “Let’s Make A Deal Show”  and carry a very large purse/bag, with every and any conceivable item  pertaining to the type of “Shower” invite  – you just received  – You will “WIN”  all the prizes!

What brought all this silly stuff to mind? Cleaning out a closet, the other day, I found a “skirt with 26 buttons” down the front.  That skirt is a “Prize Winner”  all by it’s self!


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Dolls – live, small & talk!

When I was maybe “5 years old” and this was in the early 40’s,  I especially liked to rock myself , in my mother’s “Boston Rocker.” That’s the best kind of rocker to have. For the adult person, you sit so securely in the barrel forming  halfway around you, with armrests just at the right height.  Your arms rest so well and with a baby in your arms, you could rock peaceably,  forever.

This rocker was so sturdy, because  I would rock and rock,  with such power,  I was able to turn it over a couple of times without , killing myself!  Those armrests   were just at the right space and length,  with my arms stretched out, I was secure.

Here’s what turned on the energy. We had a radio sitting on a shelf, and out of my reach, in my mother’s bedroom, that looked like a little house to me?  The top tapered  up to a point roof  – making it look like a two-story type house  –  center and lower dials, windows  –  knobs, door  – the area for the stations, more windows, to my way  of thinking.

My Mother,  would turn the radio on for me to listen to as I would be rocking, and  -Here’s the   SECRET!   The radio did not come on immediately like today, the bulbs and stuff had to warm up. Then , only me  and that radio  and all of a sudden all these voices, singing and performing, or  a story and all just for me! How could I get these little live dolls to talk with and play with, since my dolls did not sing and talk to me?

So, as I rocked, and enjoyed listening to the radio, I was trying to think of a way to rescue those talking small people , so they would be the best toys I ever had! I could put them in my pocket and take them outside to play in the sandbox,  and everywhere I would go, they would get to go, too!


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Gorgeous October!

Last week, (mark your calendar )  was a most magnificent view of our  “out door” world, hurry now,  for a front row seat with full color array of the “Autumn Season,” at her best!

Earlier, this year I stuck  a 6 inch  ‘Jobe’s Fertilizer Spike’  in the ground around  each of the evergreens and also around this tree at the north corner of our property. In the Spring this tree has a most beautiful  pinkish-white flower, and now is showing off with the grandest purple-reddish color. So full and thick  are the leaves and branches, home  for so many birds. When there is no room in the “Bird House” –  the extra birds  find free room and board  in this  “beautiful tree” and the evergreens.

So, here I am,  just can not imagine a more beautiful time of the year. My dark red tree is “outstanding” against the trees behind and all  around her, the yellows, pinkish-oranges, oranges, and all shades of reds, taller and shorter. And when the “Sun” shines on these colorful trees, they look like,  “bright diamonds ,” all sparkling! All the birds are talking with chirps to me,  and I just don’t  do the bird chirping talk too well! At least they come up on the deck to see me and get a free handout!

It is really amazing , when  you give thought to “Our Creator” for making this world so full of  panoramic color  – for you and me  –  to enjoy!


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We Are – No More –

Is a First child   –  glad or sad  –  lucky  or unlucky  –  to be the “Gift” of a “Lifetime search” for a married man and woman? No real book of instructions comes with newborn babies and children, and, if, a child is adopted by this married man and woman, wanting to start a “Family”  –  there has been lots of investigations of the child, and of a possible matching set of  parents, and still no book of instructions?

One should never think, just to try to figure out how will  “Life” continue if  a man marries a man, or if a woman marries a woman?  And, with no book of instructions, and of course I am too old , probably to be asking  questions about “Life”  –  but, how will babies continue  to come in this scenario if all the “States” in “America” pass this   NEW WAY      to   marry same sex?

Something  is missing  –  no book of instructions?   Has the  Insurance Companies done an “Analysis”  of this situation, married families who cannot create new children? No more being a “First Child”  –  No more  being the “Baby,  the  ‘One’  who gets to be Spoiled”   – and that ‘s   –  Just for being the Last!


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Sister Margaret Mary – Remembered

When,  Sister Margaret Mary was stationed  as a teaching Nun at German St.Vincent Orphanage in the 40’s , her name was Sister Mary Gilbert, and she taught the 7th and 8th grades. There were four (4) large classrooms and each of the four (4)  teaching Nuns taught two (2)  grades  per  classroom. Thinking back now,  on the 2-grade classrooms, helps the learning process.

As Sister Mary Gilbert would be teaching  the 8th graders, and just as you  let your mind wonder you hear what the 8th graders are discussing and  or a student having a problem with the subject and all of this  is registering in your brain, ready for recall!

Next year, when you are in the 8th grade, you can “ACE” right on through! It also works the other way, too!  What  you did not learn or understand last year, here’s your refresher course.

Sister Mary Gilbert taught us , when I was in the 7th grade, a short prayer, that I never forgot! “Grant, O Lord, that I may know They will, and do it!”  I can still see her writing that prayer on the blackboard to copy in our note books, so as to “remember,” forever!


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