Monday, January 20, 2014

My Friend Myrna

I wrote the following in 2007 about my childhood friend Myrna Graves Conner.  We met when I was in second grade and our family had moved from the south side to the Heights of Glendive, Montana.  She passed away Saturday, January 18th.  She was 81 years old.  I will miss talking to Myrna--we would sometimes chat for an hour about the old times and our current families.  Seems the end of an era for sure without her.


Her nephew Kent said there was probably not a day in her life that she didn't laugh and enjoy life.  I think that is true.  Always when we would talk and commiserate about being alone, she would always express thanks to God for all the many blessings in her life.  She will be missed.

 ;

The word "Heartaches" 
reminded me of my friend Myrna who I stay with when I travel back and forth to San Diego. She lives just off the freeway in a beautiful home in Manhattan Beach. This song
"Heartaches" was one of her favorites in high school when she was going through a heartbreak romance. She also loved "My Blue Heaven". Funny how songs remind you of people and places. Here she is with Eddie, a neighbor in Glendive, at our 2000 high school reunion. They were not a romantic couple but were the best jitter buggers in our high school!

Myrna had to work from an early age in Kaplan's, the dress shop next to our store Anderson's, so she missed out on a lot of the after school happenings. She was such a great clerk because she is a people person and took an interest in all of their customers. Myrna is such a people person that she had and still has friends of every age. She is everyone's best friend, with a very compassionate heart and kindness for all. She has a fantastic memory and knows all about each of us. We all think she is our best friend... and she is!

Myrna had some heartbreaking moments in her life but persevered over all. Unfortunately the "love of her life" passed away in 1993 and they did not have enough years but she was so happy those years together in Manhattan Beach. Now she lives alone with a daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters near and two stepsons and their wives and two grandsons a little further away.

Myrna had the smallest waist of all of us. We made these ballernina skirts that were a full circle and so fun to dance in. Myrna's mother worked but I remember her being so fun to be around, always laughing and joking. Myrna and her mother made this fabulous boiled white frosting and chocolate cake and the best divinity. Myrna is still a great chef today and it is always a pleasure to eat whatever she is dishing up. My favorite outing with Myrna at her church was Easter Sunrise Service and then to the basement of the church for scrambled eggs, sausage, hot cross buns and orange juice and then we would go wake up our Catholic friends...Even though we had our own church in our home on Sunday nights, I went to the Methodist Church with Myrna. Her aunt was our Sunday School teacher when we were in grade school.

A really fun adventure in junior high was to travel by open truck (We were all in the back--against the law today) all the way from Glendive across Montana to Livingston for a Church Camp.




















It was really fun--here we are discussing the weighty things of the world, Raine, Myrna, Myself  and
 Eddie. On the way back to Glendive the back of my jeans came unstitched at the back seam and so I tied my fringe jacket around my waist and said I was too hot to wear it--actually it was freezing in the open truck!

We also joined LTL (Loyal Temperance League) and signed our names that we would not smoke or drink. I was probably one of the few who never did.


Written later...


Myrna called me to tell me that she never signed the LTL pledge to not smoke or drink! I didn't remember this. Mrs. Lowe, a church biddy, called and reported to Myrna's mother that Myrna had refused to sign the pledge. Her mother asked if Myrna had said why. "She said she didn't know what she was going to do when she grew up." "There's your answer!" her Mom said and that was that. And Mrs. Lowe never spoke to Myrna's mother again.

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Sadie Gets Groomed for the City Life





All in the Family



Great picture after a great party--Happy 2014!  Missing is Mike in Baltimore, Matt in Tahoe, Tanner in Philippines, Craig in Santa Monica, Kristi, Mike, Kate, Ryan, Brynn and Molly in Henderson

Posing with Grandma Janet


Grandma and Amy


 Melissa, Amy, and Lea



 Peek a boo with Kelsi and Sadi--Sarah, Lea, and Keira and my childten Maria, Linda and James.







The Grandchildren and Keira






Having fun striking poses--

Some Pictures from Family Party

On Sunday January 5, 2014 we gathered at the home of Linda and Gary for supper.


Meagan, (wife, mom and Medical Journal Editor) and daughter Keira, (preschool)


Jacob, (surfer, soccer and football player at Torrey Pines High)


Amy, (Trauma Nurse at Sharp Hospital), Meagan


 Maria, (wife, mom and Budget Analyst at Cal St at San Marcos)


 Melissa, (Accounting Assistant and student at Chico State)  Kelly, Ortho Assistant and student at Mesa College


Sarah and Lea, California Surfing Girls as well as students, dance, cheer, etc. etc. 


 Gary,Orthodontist, and Linda, Office Manager


Kelsi, (dancer and cheer)


Jimmy, (golfer and tennis player)


Mitch and Hana, (met in Montana doing Conservation work last summer)
Geology student and Graduate
Pizza maker


James, (Insurance and Financial Services)



 Maria and Meagan


Keira and Kelsi

In other words, everybody has something important to be doing but me, I just walk the dog and read and read etc. and watch TV.

Monday, January 06, 2014

Meet Sadie's Brother


On the day when I chose Sadie we also met her brother Snack.  This week one of the volunteers reached out for a picture of Sadie to send to Snack's parents and vice versa.  They looked totally different then and they still do.  Later this month Sadie is due for a grooming for a wire-haired dog so we will see how she looks then--right now she is quite a ragatag.

Thursday, January 02, 2014

New Year Resolution?

Of all the New Year Resolutions I have heard the one I like best is "I plan to eat more jelly beans this year."

Other than that, I did not do a resolution, hey I am just doing the best I can, everyday, as it is!


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Kindle and Tablet

I can see that 2014 will be filled with reading and listening.  I mostly use the San Diego County Library To Go because they remember my passwords, check out books for two weeks, lend 10 books at a time and let me put lots of books on hold.  But I also have accounts at Plumas and Lassen and I can change them to two week loans also.

I generally have several books on my Kindle to read and lately have read two of J. Courtney Sullivan and listened to the other one on my Tablet.  Great new author!  I also have enjoyed several this year of Louanne Rice and her latest one "Last Kiss" was a great mystery as well as love story.  I like to listen to the audio ones on my Samsung tablet and do all the ebooks on my Kindle.  I look online for great new books to look for and get reviews on favorite authors.  The good ones have to be put on hold but since I always have several to read this is not a problem to wait.

The one problem with listening late at night is I tend to fall asleep before my timer goes off and then I have to find where I left off the next day.  Fortunately with the Overdrive system this is not hard.

I keep trying to convince people to use Library to Go but most people will not listen or stubbornly insist they need the book in their hand or the actual library experience--they don't know how great it is, I swear.

It is so nice to not have to go to the library.  I occasionally buy one from Amazon as well which I had to do with one of Sullivans as I could not find it in the libraries.  Thankfully I had gift money left from Maria for just that amount.

Books, the story of my old age.  The problem is I forget what I have read and often read the same one twice because I don't remember the ending anyway.   Bad memory can be such a good thing sometimes.

On to 2014 and the joy of reading (and listening).

Christmas Pictures from Friends, 2013

Not many pictures from friends this year from Christmas but I so appreciate the pictures that do come.


Former Clear Creek member Ramona Lyddon and her family from Arizona.

Forner North San Diego 13th Ward member Marion Naylor from Utah.

Forner North San Diego 13th Ward Members Kaye and Bishop Hunsaker from Utah.

Former Glendive High School Friends Kay and Al Schock from Colorado.

Former Glendive next door neighbor Shirley and her husband from Illinois.

Family Christmas Pictures, 2013

Unfortunately not many family members send physical pictures at Christmas anymore but here are a few who did for which I am thankful!!


Niece Becky and husband Tim and children from Oregon.

Nephew Chris Fuqua from Montana.

Great Granddaughter Keria from San Diego.

Granddaughter Meagan, husband Matt and daughter Keira from San Diego.

Niece Stephanie and husband Dustin from Montana.

Grandma Marti sent pix of Keira and her cousin Molly.

Nephew Jon and wife Heather sent pix of twinnies Sage and Raina and son Finn from Montana.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Jacob in the Surf


Jacob gets a new camera and can record hismself riding his boogie board.  Neat!

Christmas, Lake Almanor, 2013


On Monday the 23rd Matt arrived from Tahoe and we drove to Chico and brought back Melissa.  We had to have shakes and tacos from Jack in the Box as we left.  That will probably be my last pumpkin shake till next year, so good.
 Sadly the tree is sitting out on the deck to keep my allergies in line!!

Matt gets a good fire going!


Sadie is so happy to see Bruce!

On Christmas Eve we had ham, au gratin potatoes, creamed corn, green bean casserole, Susie Rasimas' spring mix salad, rolls (I even made gluten free rolls, too) and Melissa's delicious cookies.

We unwrapped presents and tried on the gifts!


Cute mittens from Matt!


Matt made a terrific holder for my sunglasses so they don't get broken.


Matt likes his Chico shirt from Melissa.


Melissa likes her Starbucks cash card.

 


Some funky baking items to try.


Marilyn Monroe calendar from Matt and a new sweatshirt.


We move on to Monopoly which I haven't played in years and Matt scalps both Melissa and me!

 

I bankrupted out--story of my life!
We actually stayed up to past midnight.


On Christmas Day we had lots of left overs plus updated pistachio salad and goodies some friends had brought over and Matt and Melissa had brought and Matt and Melissa drove to Susanville and reminisced a little.  We also watched two parts of  "Bonnie and Clyde" and Matt and Melissa fell asleep before it was finished.

Thursday we saw a raunchy movie in Susanville and had delicious Mexican layer dip and chips and played a little Bop It.  It will be my new exercise for coordination.  We left Matt in Susanville with his friends for the night.

With so many left overs to eat we still haven't had the chicken enchildadas, buffalo wings, water chestnut appetizers or rocky road ice cream--guess that will be for New Years.  Bruce and Sadie love the walks and exercise Melissa gives them.  On Friday it is time to take Melissa home. Matt and I have strawberry ice cream when we return.

On Saturday Matt fills up the wood on the deck, attaches all the vent covers and checks out under the house and puts a hose away.  I pack up as much food for Matt as I can and finally the Christmas holiday is over when his friend meets him at the gas station and the sun is set and I am alone again.  It has been a great week with Melissa and Matt to share Christmas.  Lots of fun. 



John Hardy Memorial Hike 2015

My Life So Far