When I was little, I lived in a house with NO air conditioning. . .

When I was little, the house I lived in had NO air conditioning. We had no internet. We had one TV, and for many years it was just a black and white TV. Yes, we had it rough.

When I was little, my parents could not afford an Atari. There were no Nintendos. We had a Texas Instrument Computer that my parents used for the budget and taxes. My poor siblings and I had to find other ways to entertain ourselves. So, we played outside.  We played in the barn, we played in the creek, we played in the trees.

We used to take old sleds and use the underside as ladders to climb trees. We had buckets that we used to hoist things up the trees so we could pretend to be tree people. We never had a tree house, but we had fun in the trees.

When I was little, my parents thought we should raise livestock. They were not full time farmers. My dad was a teacher. My mom was a chemist. But, my siblings and I became farmers. We milked Guernsey cows by hand. We raised lambs and hogs to slaughter. We also raised chickens for both eggs and meat. Yes, we worked hard, when I was little. And, we knew where our food came from.

When I was little, things were different in the world. The US still remembered Vietnam, Korea, and the World Wars. When I was little, people saluted the American Flag. We shook the hands of soldiers. When I was little, I said the Pledge of Allegiance each morning at school. And, we all prayed during the "moment of silence" at school.

When I was little, my friends and I thought our dads were invincible. We thought the US was invincible. We did not know that our dads would grow old. And, we did not know that by the time we had children of our own that the US would suffer attacks on US soil. Yes, things are sure different from when I was little.

Maybe air conditioning is not all that great because when I was little we did not have air conditioning in our house, and I think we turned out fine.

Did I mention that Dennis and I did not intend to become farmers?  Our daughters have pulled us back to our roots. They are now raising chickens and sheep with a little help from us.

And, I may pull out an old sled today to see if the girls can figure out how to climb a tree because that is what I did when I was little, when we had no air conditioning. . .

Friend, I will remember you. . .

"Friend, I will remember you, think of you, and pray for you, and when another day is through, I'll still be friends with you."

The words of an old 4-H camp song have been echoing through my mind for the past week as local 4-H members have travelled to 4-H Camp Clifton. I recently decided that I would love to rewind my life to my 4-H days so that I can go to camp.  Maybe this is because I am jealous that my ten year old daughter is enjoying herself at 4-H Camp this week.

But, this morning, I was jolted back to the cold, hard reality that I really am in my 30s. I cannot turn back the clock. And, time stands still for no one.

A few years ago, a very good friend passed away during the 4-H camp week for Union County.  Each year when Union County 4-H migrates to Yellow Springs, I stop and think of my friend.  She was a strong supporter of the 4-H and FFA programs. She had served on the Union County Fairboards for many years. She also was an advisor for the Union County Junior Fairboard for a long time. She embodied the persona of the Union County Fair.

I am not sure when I first met Kay Griffith, but I know that it was at the Union County Fair. My first year on the Union County Junior Fairboard was 1991. I was one of only two eighth graders on the junion fairboard that year. And, I remember how enthusiastic Kay was about the fair. I can remember Kay zipping all over the fairgrounds, both on foot and by golf cart, so that she could attend as many fair events as possible. No one loved the fair more than Kay.

After I graduated from high school, I spent less and less time at the fair. By 2009, I did not even make it to the fair for the parade and style revue. So, it was quite a surprise in November of 2009 when I saw Kay one Sunday afternoon at a restaurant in Columbus. I threw my arms around her, ecstatic to see my friend and mentor. But, it was obvious that she was not well. Time and illnesses had aged her so much. 

And, then I was angry at myself. Why didn't I try to keep in touch with Kay? Who else have I neglected in my life? It seems like I have a lot of old friends that I rarely see. Are these friends just a memory?

Again, the song echoes through my mind, "I will remember you, . . ." I will remember my friends. "Think of you, and pray for you, . . ." Each night I pray for everyone who has touched my life. "And, when another day is through, I will still by friends with you."

Kay, I still consider you a friend. I look forward to the day that I can see your face again, in heaven. You will forever be in my memories. "Friend, I WILL remember you."

Make new friends, but keep the old

I think it was just the day before yesterday that my parents dropped me off at 4-H camp.  I was nervous.  my friend was supposed to be my bunk buddy, but she was in the hospital with appendicitis.  So, I was going to be in a cabin with people that I did not know.  I was shaking with fear.

Fast forward to yesterday, when I drove myself and my four siblings to 4-H camp.  My parents no longer felt the need to drive us down.  Two of us were counselors, two of us were counselors-in-training, and the youngest was a camper with four older siblings who could look out for her.

So, how is it today that I am leaving my soon-to-be ten year old daughter at camp?  What happened to all of the years?  Has it really been nineteen years since I have been to 4-H camp?

My daughter confidently strutted into her cabin.  She had not signed up to have a bunk buddy because she wanted to "make new friends."  After all, isn't that the point of camp?  WOW!  Such confidence!  It is hard to believe that my "baby" will celebrate her tenth birthday tomorrow, at camp, and without me.

Happy birthday, Little One!  You go and make new friends!  Your father and I love you bunches, even if you do make us feel old!

Welcome to Summer!

It's summer!  Well. . . summer according to the school calendar.  I know that summer does not officially start for a few weeks.  But, in the eyes of my girls, it is summer!  For them, summer means lazy mornings and late nights.  Summer means chasing fireflies and playing sparklers.  For me summer means I have become a short order chef.  Laundry will increase significantly.  But, I do have my girls at  home to help.  Right?  So, let us see where this summer adventure takes us.  Today we are off to the ball fields!  In fact, I think that is where we were every night last week.  And, it looks like that is where we are headed nearly every night through the end of June.