Mama Jo's Young America HS Reunion

Sunday we went to Mom's annual HS reunion. This is a reunion that's celebrated every year and is for all graduates of Young America High School. The school closed in 1963 and since the average class was around 20 pupils, it was decided to have one big gathering per year. The oldest was 104 and the youngest graduate was 63.

Scooter and I love these gatherings because it's just about as close to all-American as can be. We've attended the last five reunions and the events are pretty standard. We stand and pledge the allegiance, pray, sing the school song, have roll call, remember the ones who died this past year, listen to entertainment (Capt Stubby of Chicago fame was a YA grad and did his stand-up comedy routine until he died 3 years ago) (this year we had a harmonica player), socialize and eat. The feast is incredible. Everyone brings a dish or two and the hosting church takes the food as you walk in and completely organizes and displays the goodies. Their teenagers come around as you eat to fill your beverage cup or take away the dirty dishes. Bessie (secretary/treasurer) MC's the event and I swear she remembers every person in the room and can name them plus all their siblings and acquaintances. The last event is door prizes and this is the first year any of our family has won something-yellow and white mum.

When you leave, you feel good about life in general and feel refreshed that you have been among down-to-earth Americana. Young America, my dear old high school... Rah! Rah!

Part of the gathering-not a dark hair in the group. Can you guess the school colors?

Larry Jo Segraves (1958 grad)

Mom and Rosie Harness (Wayne's sister) ('63)

Sally (Wayne's daughter), Wayne, Mama Jo ('40) and me

Thanks Max!

More pics of our fun at the Purdue game. Max, Scooter's brother, is one of the bandleaders of the famous Purdue band and he called and asked if we wanted tickets to the game. He provided tickets and amenities and we got to hang out with the "VIP." Thanks Max!

Purdue Do

Saturday, we dropped Mama Jo off at Wesley Manor with Mary and proceeded to Purdue to watch the Purdue vs Central Michigan football game. Max was there leading the marching band. He provided the tickets, free food, entrance into the press box and an incredible view from the outdoor observation deck where the TV cameras are located. It was great grins! Oh, Purdue won in the last minute!

Busy as Bees

Busy as a bee around here today. Deke and Farmer Bob rototilled a portion of our side yard to be reseeded. At the same time, a neighboring farmer showed up and mowed our hay. Ah, the fragrance of new-mown hay! Glorious days. Glorious God. Glory!

For No Particular Reason

Eat your heart out ladies!

Whirlwind of activity

Wow! These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and stress. In preparation for the activities, I developed a horrendous cold that should have put me in bed. However, I was too busy to crawl in my cave so I pressed forward. Last Friday kicked off our church's first-ever women's ministry. I was in charge. In fact I am the Director of Women's Ministry so in addition to being Director of Adult Education, my duties have expanded. We held our first ever get-together with Scooter, Mama Jo and me hosting, at our home, the two guest speakers. You can imagine the whirlwind of activities surrounding that event.

Just as that event was put to bed, last night brought our fall semester of "Family Night Live" and of course you know who does the organizing and implementing of that event. It's our 4th year so it's not as if this is something I have to invent. However, along with all the other teachers, I am teaching a class for women called The New Eve and 59 women showed up. It was a hoot! We are going to have so much fun but getting off the ground was an experience.

Today I plan on vegging. Poor Mama Jo; she doesn't have time to catch up before we go off again. I probably won't see her before noon today. She's a real trooper but she does get tired. I think she had a mini-stroke this past week. She first shows it in her eyes-gets incredibly droopy and looks as if she hasn't had any sleep for a very long time. I asked her if her eyes hurt her and she said she knew something wasn't right but "It's OK." She has definitely dropped down another notch.

Tomorrow I meet with our realtor to put Mama Jo's house up for sale. Saturday, we are driving up north again to sell her car to her original dealership. To all of it she is very agreeable. She's happy.

So no pictures this post. I'll try to do better in the coming days and weeks. But until then, let me sleep.

No More Black Eyes

So sad to see the flowers die. It always makes me sad to see summer wane because the robins disappear and the color goes away. Today Mom, Deke and I cut down the black-eyed susans. They have been magnificent this year!