“There were REWARDS then and even TODAY we have REWARDS”

Aug 20th “There were REWARDS then and even TODAY we have REWARDS”

Today it is almost impossible to “SHOP” or even open an “ACCOUNT” that you are also handed paper work to fill out – – to join in this organisation’s … “REWARD” program!

Back in the 1940’s as a small child – – I did know that if you bought your merchandise at this location you would receive “Eagle Stamps” which later on you would use to buy whatever you wanted. ( A Reward for shopping there.)

Today – collecting “stamps” – – forget that… too much TIME wasted – – things move faster – – it is all fast and furious with “REWARDS” for merchandise NOW!

And so… thinking back in time…

Sometimes, I have a wild imagination, realized that in the 3rd and 4th grades. Sister Florence taught the 3rd and 4th grades, and from what I remember when she would talk about her life before becoming a “Nun”, that as a young girl she never smelt any unpleasant smells? It is odd the stuff you remember someone saying. She was writing a book, “Topsy”, and every so often she would read a chapter to us in class, as a special treat! Sister Florence may have studied art, because she seem to have lots of natural talent and ability, as in her class room we had an “art table” she had lots of paints and colored pencils to do almost anything in the creative field.

For every “Holiday”, she would have each of us students make something for our “Parents”, and since my Mother saved everything that I and my brothers made, I now, still have some of “our Prize works of Art”!

My big break for writing came when Sister Florence, opened a box of “Pictures” cut out from magazines and other sources in the 1940’s; she had announced that we should take a picture from the box and write a story – something interesting and long enough to be of interest to our parents and all those who would be reading it on “Anniversary Day.”

Sister Florence also said – – the magic words that I like to hear – – even TODAY – – there would be a “Prize”! That’s all I needed to hear! So I went to that “BOX” and looked through those pictures and pulled out several that just seem to grab me… by the hand. To me, “A picture is worth a “Thousand Words”, – – so carried away – – I could come up with a story of at least 200 hundred words – – some more or less – – but a good picture that can call out a “STORY” to me… as to why that PHOTO was taken or why that scene was there – – for what purpose – – so many questions – – calling out to be answered – – so much so that I still “TODAY” – LOVE putting that answer to the PHOTOS, that I post!

“My imagination just ran away with me – – I wrote “32” stories and won the “Prize” – – I can not remember what the “PRIZE” was – – but, on that “Anniversary Day” – I had more FUN than anyone – – bringing my FAMILY and Friends to our class room – – just to show off all those stories hanging all over our class room!”

NOW… that is what I call a “REWARD” – – and one to remember for ever and always! Thanking the Almighty Yahweh for His good gifts to us – – and the talents to use them – – and, it is in the remembering of those good TIMES – – that are worth more than any thing you could have otherwise received! D.V.