Norm Passes Away!

When I was a Sophomore in high school, I sort of liked Norm Anderson, #83 and we dated some.  He was a very likeable, fun, and kind guy.  When Harry moved to town, it was soon over but I stayed good friends with Norm.

He passed away this month from lung cancer.  So many of my friends are gone. Sad.

This was the Jr. Prom when I was a Senior and Harry was away at college.   

My date was actually Lee B. the dark haired boy on my right who had always had a locker next to me and I did date some, but Norm "Andy" was standing behind me when Deloris (his date) took the picture and it looks like I am with him. 

We surely didn't know what to do with our hair!!!

At the 2000 Dawson High School Reunion for the classes of 49, 50, and 51 Norm's wife was not there and of course, I was alone, so we spent a lot of time talking and catching up on the last 50 years. Norm was one of the "good guys".  I went around and had my picture taken with every guy in high school that I had ever dated, even once,  thus this picture.  Even at that time, two, Dean and Lee, had passed away and George was not there, but it was a fun thing to do.

I just remembered, one of them, Don B. laughed when I wanted to take his pix and said, "What, I never dated you, you were way out of my league."  So I took his picture alone, but I thought it was funny, true we did not date, but I never knew he thought that way except he was quite a drinker, even though he was a super runner on the football field.  And I stayed away from drinkers.

But I had this memory of sitting next to him at some place when I was home from college, guess there was just a group of us getting together at a nightclub, because I remember Harry coming in (we were broken up) and as he sat at another table his chair broke and he landed on the floor and I so remember Don "Poot" looking at me and really laughing, his whole face crinkled up when he laughed.

Funny the memories we have...I did feel sorry for Harry.

Amy's Wedding

I was very fortunate to be able to fly home for Amy and Joe's wedding.  It was a great week!

As soon as I got off the plane, I called Nadine and she was able to take me in the next day and cut my hair, it was a real mess, Marilyn and I had both been chopping at it.

The Temple Ceremony was lovely and I especially loved the way the light shone on the chandelier, there was about 60 there and Amy and Joe looked so happy.

Amy and Joe had planned this reception at the Warehouse in downtown San Diego and I rode with Maria, Johnny and Matt.  In front of the Warehouse was the Food Truck parked and the food turned out to be wonderful sausage, potatoes etc.  Great food, wonderful cake, delicious homemade lemonade.  There were 18 tables of 8 so lots of seating and in front for the "Ring Ceremony" there were chairs to sit, I think she just had a few friends and family to that.

The dancing was especially fun to watch and I got to see Meagan and Matt's new Nico and watch Keira and Eden really having fun dancing.  I was so afraid Eden would get her bare toes stepped on!!

But I did not take any pictures, I keep hoping I will find some more on line or on someone's blog, but so far, no luck.

Anyway loved having my pix taken with my beautiful daughters, I am so lucky to have them in my life.  We tried to track James down and get us all together but it never happened.

Oh, yes, one of the funnest part of the reception was the Photo booth, I did not go but they really had fun taking a lot of funny pictures.

Congratulations to Amy and Joe, they will be living in Henderson.  Amy is a Traveling Nurse and Joe has some schooling to finish, they will be living near Kristi!!!

P S - (written later) The Denver airport is so big and I had two big bags!!!  My legs ached for weeks after I got home.

Things to Remember in the New Year

1. Vida used to send us genealogies and family histories from every reunion.  She saw that each of her boys received every one and paid for them all.  I doubt we thanked her as we should have.  It was years later when I came to appreciate them.

2. No matter what, no matter how much luggage, always pay for a cart to carry the luggage in no matter what airport you might be in because you never know how far you might have to walk with it and your legs, feet, arms and back cannot handle the strain anymore.

3. Never buy anything you do not have cash for...no matter what.

4. It's you and you alone who is going to have to take care of you, so be careful...take care of yourself, don't do anything that might make you strain your back, slip and fall, get too tired, get an upset tummy, strain your pocket book, damage your car or house, etc. etc. etc.  Be very kind to yourself and your stuff, you are all you got...

5. Do the things that bring you joy and don't expect anyone else to appreciate that what that is or thank you for it.  Appreciate whatever communication you get from family, there lives are very busy, as yours once was.

6.  Always get enough sleep, eat when you need to eat, drink when you need to drink, nap when you need to nap.  Treat yourself as well as you would your baby.

7. Get out of debt, don't buy anything but food and necessities until you do.

8. Smile and think of a happy thought first thing every morning and last thing every night.  Be grateful for your family, home, car, health, your body, your sight, your hearing, read, listen, enjoy. Gratitude, positive, love...

9. Walk every day with Sadie, she needs it, you need it.

10. Get the oil changed on your car the first time you drive it again.  Pay the other half of the insurance!!!

11. Don't forget your taxes are due February lst...pray James pays you off before...

12. Watch the Test Kitchen and make at least one meal a week from their directions...

13. Exercise more, dance, sit less...

"So This Is Christmas" 2015

"And what have we learned, another year older....." can't remember the next line.  I do remember the first time I heard that song in 2005, working in Texas after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, driving back to the SBA office after lunch.  I asked my music and computer guru (ITA guy) about it when I got back and he said it was a John Lennon song and not new at all.  I then learned over the next week or so about John Lennon and bought a CD and listened and realized I liked his music. Probably first heard it when John was laying on the couch listening to his music in the 70's.  Anyway what have I learned?..same thing every year I guess,  I just read my post from last year and I could say, ditto, so I will...Ditto to this...

December, 2014 

I enjoy watching all the Hallmark Christmas movies each year, happy endings only!  I like happy endings but old age doesn't seem to be a very happy ending.

I wish I had more energy,

I wish my memory was sharper,

I wish I could move faster,

I wish my shape was better,

I wish I had money,

I wish my hearing was better,

I wish my eyes didn't get so tired,

I wish my hands were more dexterous,

I wish I didn't ache at all.

I wish I didn't have so many wrinkles.

All the things we could do at 25 we just took for granted and never even thought about a day when we could not do them.

The year is almost over.  I had hopes of being totally out of debt and in a more comfortable financial situation, It is not going to happen.  Do I believe in miracles?  I have had a few miracles in my life.  I guess the fact I have a home I was able to buy on my own when I did not even have secure employment is one miracle for sure.  The fact I have a new, safe car to take through my aged years is probably another kind of miracle.  The fact I can get by month after month without enough money is probably another miracle.  I have always wondered if those people who have always had lots of money know what it is like to not have enough?  I doubt they think about it anymore than I thought about wrinkles and loss of energy at 25.

Ha, I remember even at 25 I never had enough money to make it through the month it seemed.  The only time I seemed to have an abundance of money was in the 70's and when I was working for the SBA in my 70's.  I should have saved more or paid off my house as I planned.  Not too smart, Janet.

So shall I wish for a miracle for Christmas?  Why Not?  My life continues to be a Catch 22.  But one can always hope.  No one can take that away.

December 2015

Too late for a miracle for Christmas, maybe for the New Year.  Last year I did not make any resolutions, this year I will. 

Eat less, move more, give up sugar again, smile more, think positive, get out of debt, find joy wherever, "live a life of no regret"...and never give up hope on a miracle!

Back to my music...that always gives me joy.

Christmas Texts and Calls, 2015

Loved getting texts and pictures on my Smart Phone, I have really appreciated that phone this year and thank to James and Camber so much for providing, I did not dream I would enjoy it so much.


It is easier for everyone to just text me a message and send quick pictures and now thanks to the Masseys I have finally learned how to talk on Hang Out and see them and talk.  So enjoyed talking while seeing Meagan and the baby, Keira, Matt and Eden.


Baby's full name is Nico Liam...I thought they would name him Liam, Matt's middle name, Granddad's name, I like it...Nico Liam. Meagan explained why Liam was middle and not first...Matt did not want it as a first name.

Anyway I sent a Christmas message from my phone with this pix and heard back from many.  Seems I am always away at Christmas but Marilyn and I enjoyed a lovely Christmas Eve dinner with Holly, such a lovely lady, granddaughter of Marilyn.  She works a few days a week as the Head Resident of a home for ladies from 18-29 recovering from addiction.  She explained her role and I can see why she would be very good at it though she is about the same age as some of them, I am sure.  Forgot to take her picture!!!

Some pictures I captured from phone and internet of Christmas Fun.  I am sure I will capture some more.

The Bishops

The Hardy Boys

Pulsiphers and Rasimas and Valkos

Pulsiphers and Joe

Brusehaver Family

 

Chris Fuqua

The Diedes

Carole and Len 

Chris Fuqua again.

Carole and Twinnies

Megan and Maddie

Steph with twins and Finn.

So fun to keep up with growing families.  Mom and Dad would be proud of all their descendants and it keeps multiplying.

Fun at the Mall

Today we had fun at the Colorado Mills Mall.  Marilyn wanted to get some exercise so before getting some food at Target we looked for Marilyn's perfume Ombre Rose.  The first place said it was $49 but Marilyn remembered the little kiosk a few weeks ago that had told her it was $35 so she passed it up.  Marilyn is very thrifty.  We walked and walked and walked and finally found the girl in the kiosk.  They had one bottle left and it was $45.  Marilyn asked if that was the best she could do?  I said she had quoted $35 a few weeks ago, could she do that? If you buy it right now, she said.  So that made Marilyn happy.  That perfume has a lovely smell!!!


Then we went into Dress Barn.  I couldn't find anything but they had some really cheap earrings, so I bought them.  Then we went to Christopher ? and Marilyn found three jackets for $19.99 while the same jackets in different colors were $49.99.  She bought the purple and I bought the grey and I have so much I can wear with it,  Good shopping day!!!


I also figured out how to make pictures from the movies.  I can do it on my Windows Movie Maker or in Picassa.  I just download the movie but putting ss before the address after the Http business and then I can capture screen shots.  It was fun capturing some pictures from 1959 which I had never seen before.  We did not take many pictures at that time and they were all in black and white.  I have very pix of Richard at that time and none with Mom and Dad so that is good.  Carole wants me to make a pix of her with Poika...just need to find which movie she is talking about.


Sadie is always begging Marilyn to play with her by throwing the ball.  She never bothers me.  I guess she is used to me always being busy doing something but she has been getting her walks and that makes her happy.  She likes to sit on Marilyn's lap the same way she sat on Jeanne's, in their lounge chairs and then Marilyn rubs her back and she loves that.


Jeanne called today and she was happy to get the goodies.  Steve had found that she had never retrieved the package from her mailbox but she said it was all fresh and good.  She thought I had sent the "Montana" book this year and so read it all she said.  She said it was like reading a good novel!!!!  Anyway I decided I would read it again and it took a looooong time but it was fund to read all that stuff about my first 22 years of life, I am not sure how many people have bothered to read it but I did get some good laughs as well as fun memories revived.  I had a great childhood, high school and college, very lucky in that area.

Pictures With Mom and Dad in Early Summer 1959

These pictures are snapshots from old films that Steve T put on You Tube.  These are from early summer 1959.  I had never seen them.  Bill and I were going to get married and then called it off and he went back home.  My Mom and Dad came to visit me.  This was at the apartment I lived in with other gals in the Hillcrest part of San Diego.

Dad Opens My Car Door, a True Gentleman

I thought it was fun to find these pix on the films Steve T uploaded to YouTube.  All men used to do this for us.  I really liked.

You do not see this very much any more, I cannot remember the last time some guy opened the car door for me.

At the Beach in 1959 with Mom and Dad

I did not remember that Mom and Dad went to the beach with me in early summer 1959 when they came down after I broke up with Bill.  I think they were trying to cheer me up!!!

Dad even went in to the ocean, I did not remember seeing him in a swim suit!

We must have gone at least twice because I am in two different swim suits.

 In the movie, Mom throws sand at Dad when he takes her picture.

Richard and Janet in 1959

I have very few pictures of Richard and I in the first year of our marriage.  We did not buy a movie camera until after John was born in 1960.  I am not sure what kind of camera we had.  But these pictures were taken in December 1959 when Mom and Dad came to visit.   We had eloped on October 23 after knowing each other since the Sunday before Labor Day 1959.  These pix have been captured from the movie film Steve T put on YouTube so they are not very good.

These two pictures are with my Mom.

 This picture has one of my favorite outfits.  I had made the skirt and had a sweater to match with a wide belt.

Christmas Luau, Golden, Colorado, 2015

The Foothills Ward had a Christmas Luau tonight and the food was prepared by a Samoan family in the ward.  There was a tuna cream cheese mixture wrapped in a green leaf which was excellent, yellow potatoes, a pineapple and meat sauce over rice, oranges, pineapple.  I thought the food was excellent but no dessert.  No problem, Marilyn and I have so many goodies at home, we do not need more.

 For entertainment a couple who recently came back from Fiji had people use the sticks to make music (Jingle Bells) and then the larger sticks for people to dance in between and outside.  They enjoyed that a lot.  Bobby, the organist, also had a kind of karaoke that worked well.  She walked around with a mike and had people since part of the song "Feliz Navidad".  We went home before they started the dancing to a DJ but he had good music all evening long.  There was a huge turnout, filled about 30 or more tables.

BabyBoy Massey

Today Meagan and Matt's baby boy was born.  8 lbs 2 oz.  Later named Nico Liam.

There's that John grin.

Sisters in awe of little brother.

With Grandma Jennifer.

Daddy does diaper duty.