Monthly Archives: May 2010

When we lived in Des Moines back in the 1950’s, it was Christmas time, Mom was taking my brother and I to see Santa Clause. My Mom didn’t drive, we took a bus and then we got on a trolley downtown. Then I didn’t know what it was, but I remember looking up and seeing sparks fly as we moved down the track. The trolley was crowded, I remember getting out and walking with my Mom, going to the Woolworths 5 and dime store. Inside there was a line, when I finally had the opportunity to see this Santa Clause I remember breaking down in tears, throwing a screaming fit, there was no way I was going near this person. Mom waited with me off in the distance while my brother sat on Santa’s lap and told him what he would like for Christmas. This Santa must have been a forgiving soul, because I still got something for Christmas

When I was in fourth grade my Mom liked to watch wrestling. She was a big fan of “Mad Dog”. On weekends, Dad would make her watch her wrestling matches on the little 10 inch black and white in the bedroom.

I grew up and found a love for Wrestling shows. I started watching the WCW (World Championship Wrestling) Hulk Hogan, Rick Flair, Arn Andersen, Sting, Kevin Nash, Chris Jericho, Jeff Jarrett, just to name a few. When I met my husband Bob, we started watching Raw which is now the ever popular WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). It has become a Phenomenon, with ever more daring matches, These New Age Wrestlers which many consist of children of already famous wrestlers of the past. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, The Heart Dynasty. Those that had never been heard of before that came and conquered the square ring, such as John Cena, becoming champions. I am enthralled by the stamina and dedication these young and old wrestlers bring to the ring, as well as what they do for our soldiers and charities.

One in every 3500 children are born with Cystic Fibrosis

My Grandson was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis right after he was born. It meant special foods, little to no contact with the public. Staying indoors during cold and flu seasons, RSV Shots (Synagis) monthly, to the tune of $1,000 each charged by the pharmaceutical company. It had gotten to the point that none of the childrens health programs would pay for it, the pharmaceutical company was willing to reimburse for it, but who has that kind of money? He received a Smart Vest that performed Palpitations twice daily on his chest and back. These vests range from $10,000 – $16,000 per unit.

At the last appointment, while we had Payton to his Cystic Fibrosis appointment in Atlanta, Georgia. His Doctor informed us of some new development in Payton’s case. Every child that has CF has a mutated gene, They have discovered that my grandsons gene has an additional type of mutation, Which means he will not be as bad off as most kids that have CF. On a scale of 1-100 with one being worse Payton is about a 70. They are not totally sure how this will affect Payton in the long run, But his Prognosis looks better than most.

After Dad sold that old powder blue Chevy for a dollar to the boy across the street, I was so mad I could spit nails. In my senior year of high school in 1973 I got myself a full time job at General tire and rubber. I attended school every day and worked eight hours every night.  Before I knew it, I was putting a down payment on my first car, I purchased and drove home a 1969 Chrysler Newport. It was sweet, it was a beautiful dark blue, all power, four door with a 440 engine. It had a little more power than an 18 year old female needed (more than I needed) but  what was so great about it was that it was a year newer than my Dads car sitting in the driveway.

Monster Trucks is one of our favorite Motor Sports we love to follow, both on Television and at the Phillips Arena when they are in town. My Favorite the Grave Digger, along with all of the other greats come to Atlanta, Georgia Phillips Arena in January of every year. My husband and I live eighty miles north of Metro Atlanta, and not wanting to get tangled up in all the traffic downtown. We usually drive to the Doraville MARTA Train Transit. Park our Van in the Garage, catch the Transit Train and ride it to the Phillips Arena. The Arena was packed and the nights events were awesome, the Races through the special tracks, Free-styling, Catching Air, drove the crowd wild all night long. Dads had their kids on their shoulders, cheers went on until we were hoarse. After the event, waiting out the crowd that was in line to catch the Marta Transit home, with the drive after retrieving our van, we got home and fell into our bed at three A.M. Was it worth it? You bet it was!

My favorite car would have to be the one my Dad taught me how to drive in. It was a 1959 powder blue four door Chevy, straight six. I liked it a lot, it was solid, pretty and already paid for. I learned how to drive, turn, park, parallel park, back up. My Dad used to let me drive it around the block by myself for practice. All the teens on the block liked the car too. I thought my Dad would give it to me or at least let me buy it from him when I got my Drivers License. The day had finally arrived, I went down and took the written test and driving test and got my license! I went home, I was so excited. That weekend, my Dad sold the Chevy to the boy across the street for a dollar. When I asked Dad why, all he said was, he didn’t want me driving it. Two weeks later, the engine was blown up on it. I couldn’t explain how I felt by using words. (Without getting my mouth washed out with soap.)

One of the  Theaters we liked to see  movies at is the Fox Theater, at the Chris Town Mall in Phoenix, Arizona. They also had Live  Shows  where  they did a skit and give away a prize bag stuffed with all kinds of goodies that delighted kids.  Three different times a person  I would  be with would win the  Ladmo bag.  Cartoons would come on, a movie would play, we would see a movie clip from sequel  of the  Rocket Man.  Those were some great days

Endurance is developed when kids regularly engage in aerobic activity. During aerobic exercise, the heart beats faster and a person breathes harder. When done regularly and for continuous periods of time, aerobic activity strengthens the heart and improves the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to all its cells. Aerobic exercise can be fun for both adults and kids. Examples of aerobic activities include basketball, bicycling, ice-skating, inline skating, soccer, swimming, tennis, walking, jogging, running.

My Grand Son Dyvon, participates, in baseball, basketball, archery skate boarding and riding bikes and atv’s.. He loves running and jumping and is a very healthy happy child. He does well in school and is very outgoing, and is strong as an ox.  A great part is due  to all the exercise he gets

Yesterday we shared in a best friends little boys birthday party. He turned three years old. As usual our grand kids were there, there was a rented jumpy building, dinosoaur cupcakes, the regular yard toys and loads of happy kids.  It was supposed to be  a swim party, but the  sky hadn’t cleared off and it was not too warm outside. All the kids were just as happy as they could be. There was great conversation with the adults. Plenty of pizza and drinks. It got time to watch Damon open his presents and as usual there were the ooo’s and the ahhhs coming from the group of kids attending the party. We always look forward to seeing the kids grow and enjoy all the parties, next month my baby girl will be thirty three. I doubt there will be a party, but it is a pleasure to see her get older and grow and learn every day, just like it is with  your child

I was born in West Des Moines, Iowa back in the early 1950s.  My family moved to phoenix Arizona when I was five years old. Indian School rd was the  northern most road in Phoenix at the time.  We soon moved to Santa Barbara , California. It was a big city, we had a house that had an overlook from the deck, you could see for miles out to the beach and pacific ocean.  We lived in Carterlake , Iowa after that. We could go to anybodys  house, I was in just about everybodys house, we didn’t worry about being kidnapped, raped or murdered, you didn’t have to stay in the yard, could play at the park or in the woods, I have lived in many big cities as an adult and a child. I have found that personally, I prefer living in small towns myself.  The town my husband and I live in has little over 2,000 people in and around it. It has two gas stations, a post office, city hall, police station, dollar general store, and a recently installed flashing light. The air is sweeter and fresher and people are friendly generally as a rule