“Happy Birthday Darlene and Miss Rainbow”

 

         *******   Happy Birthday “Darlene!”  *******

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“Happy Birthday Darlene”  – Happy Birthday “Rainbow” one year old today! Today is a wonderful day to be alive! One of the best things in life is to be able to have what you like and to be able to work at that… which  is really “FUN”  especially when you are “WORKING!”…..  Or should I say  – hardly working?  “Since when you are working with your FRIENDS – – your very best FRIENDS – – your horses and other animals – – which are FAMILY – – and they are all the best of FAMILY – –   your     animals show their LOVE to you every minute of the day – – every day of the week – – and  those weeks  start adding into years – – you always have a FRIEND when you are with the animals you LOVE!

Everyone knows that working a farm  – is round the clock work – up early to take care of the animals – but the joy you receive from the animals  – makes all the hard work  – worth it and more! I feel that “HEAVEN” will have lots of animals – for all those who love their animals here on earth – to continue loving them – for all eternity!

Isn’t it wonderful  for your favorite horse  “RAINBOW” … to have a “BIRTHDAY on your “BIRTHDAY”  too!  There is only  one that can make things like that happen – – and we give THANKS to “Almighty Yahweh” – – the great maker of all the very best of gifts – – He gives to us here on EARTH – – to enjoy all the while we are caring for them – – they return that LOVE – – with even more LOVE right back for us to enjoy them with!

There certainly is something very special about “LOVE”  – – It is best when shared and  also  remembering to share more LOVE back – – I believe that this   is called… Living in the  “CIRCLE of LOVE” – – And for as long as I live – – that is the “circle”  that I want to be a member of… forever!     D.V.


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“WOW” – “My FIRST GRAND-SON”

“Pictures taken  immediately   upon receiving your FIRST GRAND-Son,Lex – – into your arms – -just capture everything!”   It is when a new set of arms  will hold the new-born baby, Lex – – that has  some mystery of expression on faces – – the new way of holding baby – – and more than anything else – – warmth!

 For a  surprise visit – -no special occasion – – just  a “let’s get together” for a few hours – – and for the best part of the afternoon – – little baby,Lex receives some undivided time in the arms of all those that are around. This could develop into a game to be played – – by some big “Game Making Co.” – – as there are not enough Families having new-born  babies – – and “FIRST” new-born babies – –  to share the FUN and Excitement of getting to hold a brand new baby.

Each person sitting around and watching the reaction of the “baby and the new holder”  – – the way the baby is being held – – and my concern may have bugged some holders – – as I did have to put in my two cents of  information – – that the baby should be held this way and more care needs to be for the head and position in the arms – – as I still feel that…  that the “NEW-BORN” needs extra special attention – –  “I’m guessing that I just have too much of the old school stuff – – and today… they have all new ways to do stuff – – and no one making the NEW RULES – –  bothered to  ask “ME”  – – and did not get my permission to change” – – that is  because I am stuck in the ways that I was taught!  “A small change may be made – – but it will be small!

What I just LOVE is the connection between  baby,Lex – – and his new “GRAND- DADDIO,  Al”  – something in the singing and or the words  spoken directly and only to baby,Lex  – – along with the way “Lex” was being  held – – little “Lex” looks like a “real-live baby doll” – – to look at this picture – – such a perfect  face of  full understanding and interest in what is being said and or sung – –  the connection  would have lasted for a LIFE-TIME – – if it were not for someone else wanting to hold baby,Lex!

Is this that perfect picture of LIFE – – for a FAMILY get-together – – just something about having  a brand new  “GRAND-SON” come for an afternoon visit- – –  there is just something extra  special about having more Family Visits – – and mote frequently – – so that “New-Born” – – is  enjoyed from day one – – and for ever – – THANKS be to our CREATOR – – for the best of best gifts!     D.V.


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“True LOVE” “YOUR Security Blanket”

              “Gargantuan Love” … Affair!

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Is this   “LOVE”   or is this … an enormous and tremendous “Security Blanket” – – a  huge “bed of protection”  – – that only the giant “Troy” can give  our little  baby “Miss Minnie” –  – the above picture is truly called “LIFE is LOVE” for one and all!

In LIFE – we all – or  – should I say –  all of us little people  – need a “giant”  – someone that is very big and “kind”  to our every need – – and maybe someone…   that we can depend  upon  –  at all …  of  those  times  – which we “little ones” would maybe find ourselves in some  kind  of  very serious   trouble –  – – if  – it were not for our having   – –  the  very best of best type of   – a very  true –   “FRIENDSHIP!”

Just looking at little “Miss Minnie” stretch and move in such a way as to get her little “backside” itched and roll around and have all of her fine “fur” fluff and puffed – so as to feel as if in the “beauty shop  arms”  of her own “mama” who would give her little baby all the special attention that a little baby “Kitty” needs …

Everyone knows  – – that the giant “TROY” has a “sixth” sense of   – – what  is going on –  – even though it may look as if he is sound asleep – but he is so happy and proud to be the biggest of big  –  and the one and only  protector that little”Miss Minnie” will ever need!

Everyone…  should be so   “LUCKY”  … so as  to have their very own – – always most  faithful – –  full of LOVE and  and such a wonderful  “PROTECTOR!!!   “Life is Love and  a wonderful  LOVE”  – –  and just seems to be the best kind of a LIFE – – for all of  us to have… and  is… all free from our most WONDERFUL Creator… Himself!     D.V.


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“Are We the Last Ones” – “that lived in the best of time”

“Sometimes  items of real interest  come to me   – – and this is one that I feel expresses – – all of what I have been writing about – – since I was living back then – – and  did  my part for WWII  – – that which  we called the  “WAR Effort” – – as well as all of my  childhood friends!”

 

THE CHILDREN OF THE SILENT GENERATION…

(and for their children – so they will understand)

Born in the 1930s and early 40s, we exist as a very special age cohort. We are the Silent Generation.

We are the smallest number of children born since the early 1900s. We are the “last ones.”

We are the last generation, climbing out of the depression, that can remember the winds of war and the impact of a world at war which rattled the structure of our daily lives for years.

We are also the last to remember ration books for everything from gas to sugar to lard to shoes to stoves.

We saved tin foil and poured fat into tin cans for the war effort.

We collected scrap iron and old clothing to support the troops.

We hand mixed ‘white stuff’ with ‘yellow stuff’ to make fake butter.

We saw cars up on blocks because tires weren’t available.

We can remember milk being delivered to our house early in the morning and placed in the “milk box” on the porch. [A friend’s mother delivered milk in a horse drawn cart.]

We are the last to hear Roosevelt ‘s radio “fireside chat” assurances and to see gold stars in the front windows of our grieving neighbors.

We can also remember the parades on August 15, 1945; VJ Day.

We saw the ‘boys’ home from the war, build their Cape Cod style houses, some pouring their cellar, tar papering it over and living there ‘til they could afford the time and money to build it out.

We remember trying to buy a new car after the war. Some new cars were coming through with wooden bumpers.

We are the last generation who spent childhood without television; instead we imagined what we heard on the radio.

As we all like to brag, with no TV, we spent our childhood “playing outside ‘til the street lights came on.”

We did play outside and we did play on our own with neighbors.

There was no little league.

There was no city playground for kids.

To play in the water, we turned the fire hydrants on and ran through the spray–or swam in the nearby creeks and lakes.

The lack of television in our early years meant, for most of us, that we had little real understanding of what the world was really like.

Our Saturday afternoons though, if at the movies (which cost a dime), gave us newsreels of the war sandwiched in between cowboys and cartoons.

Telephones were one to a house, often shared and hung on the wall.

Computers were called calculators, they only added and were hand cranked; typewriters were driven by pounding fingers, throwing the carriage, and changing the ribbon.

The ‘internet’ and ‘GOOGLE’ were words that didn’t exist.

Newspapers and magazines were written for adults and news was broadcast on our table radio in the evening by H.V Kaltenborne and Gabriel Heatter.

We are the last group who had to find so much out for ourselves.

As we grew up, the country was exploding with growth.

The G.I. Bill gave returning veterans the means to get an education and spurred colleges to grow.

Veterans Administration loans fanned a housing boom.

Pent up demand coupled with new installment payment plans put factories to work.

New highways would bring jobs and mobility.

The military veterans joined civic clubs and became active in politics.

In the late 40’s and early 50’s the country seemed to lie in the embrace of brisk but quiet order as it gave birth to its new middle class (which became known as ‘Baby Boomers’).

The radio network expanded from three stations to thousands of stations.

The telephone started to become a common method of communication and “faxes” sent hard copy electronically around the world.

Our parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war and they threw themselves into exploring opportunities they had never imagined.

We weren’t neglected, but we weren’t today’s all-consuming family focus.

They were glad we played outdoors by ourselves ‘til the street lights came on.

They were busy discovering the post-war world.

Most of us had no life plan, but with the unexpected virtue of ignorance and an economic rising tide we simply stepped into the world and started to find out what the world was about.

We entered a world with overflowing goods and opportunities; a world where we were welcomed.

Based on our naive belief that there was more where this came from, we shaped life as we went.

We enjoyed some luxury; we were at peace and felt secure in our future. Of course, just as today, not all Canadians shared in this experience.

Depression poverty was deep rooted.

Polio was still a crippler.

Then came the Korean War which was a dark presage in the early 50s and by mid-decade school children were ducking under desks–just as we did in the 1940s.

Russia built the “Iron Curtain” and China became Red China.

Eisenhower sent the first ‘advisors’ to Vietnam; and years later, Johnson invented a war there.

Castro set up camp in Cuba and Khrushchev came to power in Russia.

We are the last generation to experience an interlude when there were no existential threats to our homeland.

We came of age in the 40s and early 50s. The war was over and the cold war, terrorism, technological upheaval, “global warming”, and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life with insistent unease.

Only our generation can remember both a time of apocalyptic war and a time when our world was at peace, security, and full of bright promise and plenty. We have lived through both.

We grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better not worse. “Worse” came later.

We are the Silent Generation — “The Last Ones”.

I feel privileged to have lived in the best of times!


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“It says daddy’s little guitar man 😊”

“When you take a  “LOOK” at the writing on my “BABY SHIRT”  – –  YOU may not be able to clearly read all the words – – that kind of spell out – – what I may just be in a couple of years. Sometimes – – one has to think about what they may like – – and then some things require lots of  study and work – – the ‘work’   that I  am talking  about… is to be practicing the instrument that makes the kind of MUSIC – – that my FAMILY likes – – and what I will LIKE… and what we  can play together and enjoy – – just having lots of FUN… doing  IT!

“DADDY’s big boy” – – that is what I am  – – and each day I am doing exactly what the “Doctor” ordered for  little ole me, Lex!”

 

“WOW”  “Is this a bright eye and ready to go on “STAGE” to entertain the millions – – a brand new entertainer,  “Lex” himself!

“I just LOVE this outfit – – this sure is  of the high quality   and     entertaining style that – –  a little guy like me, Lex needs to give a top drawer  performance in!”

“Every “Entertainer”  needs a Grey Top Hat – – fancy mustache     and a fancy “RED” bow tie – – which will  get the attention of the audience immediately – – if not sooner!”  “I can hardly wait till I get my  “Tap Dancing Shoes” and maybe even good  old G- Grandma’s   dancing cane – –  – – just know  that I can do some “soft-shoe”  just like…  I know everyone will love to see me dancing    just  for them!”

“Just looking at this PHOTO – – I do believe that I could pass for being maybe even a “six-month” old baby – – what do you think – – It  seems to me  – – that it is…  all in the wonderful  outfit that  the  man  will wear!”    D.V.


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“WHO” – “Goes there” – “We SEE YOU”

** “As young as I am… and sitting way down here in my stroller – – I can see YOU… and so does my fierce protector,  my very special one and only… “Teddy BEAR!”

 

88  “My eyes are wide open… and I have my very favorite  “Teddy BEAR” in my arms  – – and if you look at him and then look at me – – you will see us watching “your” every move – – as my “GREAT-Grandma” told me to be on the watch for people who just might like to take me  to their house – – when she  also  wants to do the same thing… herself!”

“Great – G” said that she has  lots of children’s books that belong to all of my older relatives – – and lots of old time music – to be played on the  old time “record-player” – – and even some of the old “records” that are still in good shape and she will  put on the record-player and sing along to little ole me, LEX.”

So… pretty soon – – I am planing on going to the “GREAT-G’s”  home and see  what I can get my hands on – – and  sit back in “Great-G’s” arms while she rocks me – – which will not be as fast as  she rocked  – – my  MOM, ALYSSA – – because that was a hundred years ago – – and “Great-G” moved like one of the fastest of  “FAST  MOVERS and Shakers”  there ever did live in MISSOURI!  Just heard someone saying something  about the good “old-timers” – – that they would dance past MID-NIGHT – – sometimes into the early “day – light” – –  – – they just seem to have  more “get-up and go” – – back then – – and did not save any for … tomorrow!

“So with our eyes… wide open… – –  little ole TEDDY  BEAR and me, Lex – – are just hanging around to see what happens – – when the “MUSIC” starts to Play – – and I  am  in the arms of the  one and only “Great-G” … herself!   D.V.


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