July '23 Book List

 Eight and a half* books read this month.

The Wind Knows My Name is the latest novel by Isabel Allende. This author is always worth reading, especially for insight on why and how so many risk their lives trying to enter our country. I particularly found this book interesting by the way the author intertwines the lives of a young Jewish boy escaping Nazi-occupied Europe and a mother and daughter fleeing present day El Salvador.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a number one Sunday Times Bestseller that I first heard of on CBS Sunday Morning. Set in the 1960's when women were still so objectified, Elizabeth Zott was a young educated woman who wanted nothing less than being the chemist she longed to be and trained for. When she is allowed to be no more than an assistant at the lab where she works and cannot support herself and her young daughter on that salary, she accepts the job of hosting a TV cooking show. She gets off on the wrong foot on the first on air show by telling the audience that all cooking is chemistry. Along the way she empowers not only herself, but other women as well. I really liked this book and easily identified with it.

The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag is the second book in her Elena Estes series.

Moscow Rules, The Rembrandt Affair, Portrait of a Spy and The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva are the next four books in the Gabriel Allon series that I've been reading my way through. In addition to the solving of crimes, the spying, mystery and thriller aspects of these books, I really like the references to art and all the art stolen by the Nazi's in WWII - much of which has never been recovered.

Long Shadows by David Baldacci is #7 in his Amos Decker/Memory Man series. I love this writer, this series and the damaged main character. Amos has a new partner and neither of them is thrilled about it. But they learn to get along, appreciate the other's strengths and solve all the murders of this particular case. 

I've had this book on my list since last fall, but never found it in on the new books shelves. Finally I checked the library's website and found that it had already been moved to the regular book shelves. Duh. I could have read it much sooner. But it is always worth the wait for one of Baldacci's titles. 

Night of Miracles is the latest Elizabeth Berg offering. I have been a fan of this author since reading her very first book, Talk Before Sleep, in 1995. For a long time she was one of my adopted authors at the library but after several years with no new titles, I thought she had quit writing and replaced her with a different adopted author. 

This is a follow up of Berg's The Story of Arthur Truluv which I read in 2017. Some of the same characters are featured as well as several new ones. Every few pages begins a new 'chapter' about one or more of the characters and their interactions. I love the way Berg illustrates each character and all the positive ways their lives entwine in the small town of Mason, Missouri. It is impossible to read a Berg book and not feel good about life.

(* Mentioned as a half book read this month because I am only half way through it - but I will have finished it by tonight.) 😉

Today's Word of the Day and My Brothers

 

It will soon be fifty one years since I loaded up my old station wagon with my brother, his friend and their possessions and moved them to Central Missouri State College* in Warrensburg, MO.

At the time I assumed he would make his way back home to Iowa, at least I hoped so. 

But his life choices saw him becoming a Missourian for another 40+ years until moving and becoming a Kansan. This has translated to not seeing him in person as often as I thought we would. And even less often after our parents died and we ourselves aged.

So it was great news when he said they would be passing through the old hometown on their way north this weekend. It meant a short, but welcome, family reunion with both my brothers and their wives.

Oh, boy, are we aging. Les, on the left, is still the baby and always will be - 10 years younger than me. Between us is his wife Susan, then my older brother Ron - 3-1/2 years older than me - and his wife, Marge.

It was a short visit, but very nice to be together again.

Now, that word of the day from the online Merriam-Webster dictionary - filch. As soon as I saw it I thought of my brother Ron because he was the first person I remember ever using the word - though I do not recall the context.

Quoting M-W: "To filch something is to secretly or casually steal it. The word filch also usually, but not always, implies that what has been stolen is small or of little monetary value." As in: "My brother saw me filch a cookie from the cookie jar."

So why not just say steal? Because, also according to M-W: "There's often a distinct twang of humor or mischievousness in filch that's not inherent in steal, and that reflects a casualness or nonchalance on the part of the one doing the snatching."

If my memory banks serve, the term filch was used often during the years I was in highschool. "Did you filch my pen?" sounded much less accusatory than asking someone if they stole your pen. 

Or maybe in those days we were just more polite?

(* Now known as University of Central Missouri.)

Were The 1960's REALLY 60+ Years Ago?!

 I was reminded the other day just how ancient I am. The physical therapist I've been seeing for my ongoing dizziness had me walking the long hallways at the hospital. We came to a corner where we turned back to the PT area at the same time as a few other people. I stopped to let them pass before turning. I made the remark "I feel like I should signal my intention to turn." The therapist looked at me questioningly. I held my arm out to show her the sign for a right turn. Then laughed at myself because I realized of course she had no idea of signaling before turn signals were invented. So I told her how we had to roll down the window and hang our arm out to let those behind us know we were going to turn or stop and tried to show her the motions.

I mentioned that she had probably seen bicyclists signal that way. It often seems amusing to me what the younger generations don't understand. (I had also had a conversation with her about what it was like to be a woman in those days before most women had any autonomy.)

For some reason thinking about using hands out the window to signal turning reminded me of Driver's Education classes when I was a highschool junior. Our driver's ed car was a new 1959 Studebaker Lark similar to the one above. The color is right, but it was a four door and, I think, had white sidewall tires. It came with standard manual transmission and was equipped with dual controls so the DE teacher could take control if necessary. I do not remember if it had turn signals which were optional and weren't standard on most cars until in the 1960's. But I do remember using the hand signals when turning or stopping. And I remember acing stopping on a hill and then proceeding by letting the clutch out, taking my foot off the brake and giving it some gas all in one smooth motion - no coasting backwards or stalling the engine for me. I had learned to drive the family car with column stick shift and the pickup with a floor stick shift. 

I also remember that Mr. Boston was the teacher, that there were a number of students in the class and we took turns with three students at a time going out to drive. The other two I remember most often driving with were my friend, Ellen Sullivan, and a sophomore, Steve Currie. 

Mr. Boston also taught Physical Education, but I only had him for Driver's Education. He was a kind and patient teacher - one of my favorites. Just thinking about him made me wonder about the rest of his life. Thanks to the internet I found his obituary.

Lawrence Boston was born September 12, 1926 to Lawrence I. and Anna (Small) Boston in Keokuk, Iowa. He attended school in Keokuk, enjoying athletic events, especially football and golf. He continued his education at Simpson College, but this was extended because he was drafted into the U.S. Army on September 16, 1946 and served in Korea prior to his discharge on June 3, 1947. Lawrence returned to Simpson where he was a member of Kappa Theta Psi and graduated in 1950. He was again drafted into the Army and served two years at Camp Fort Riley in Kansas. After being discharged, he lived for one year in Des Moines.

Lawrence and Ila Mae Lundquist were married on June 21, 1952 in Corning, Iowa. In the fall of 1953, they moved to Melvin, Iowa and began their teaching careers. Wanting to teach driver's education, they spent two summers at Iowa State University.

In 1955, they moved to Corning where Lawrence taught and he spent his next three summers at Colorado State University College of Education and earned a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education. While at Colorado State, he was initiated into Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity in education. His three children, Loren, Jill and Thomas, were born while living in Corning.

They moved to Huxley in 1961 after Lawrence took a job teaching elementary physical education in the Ames school district. They moved to Ames in 1966 and most of his 28 years in Ames were spent at Sawyer Elementary. Retiring in 1989, he enjoyed so much his time golfing, bowling, and traveling all over Europe. Lawrence was a member at First United Methodist Church in Ames.

Lawrence died July 11, 2017 at 90 years of age.

He is survived by his children, Loren (Susan) Boston of New Canaan, Conn. and their children, Alex, Tyler, Morgan and Sydney, Jill (Mark) Noah of Springfield, Mo. and their children, Luke Daniel and Emily, and Thomas Boston of Ames.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ila Mae Boston; and his brother, Raymond Boston from Keokuk, Iowa.

Which was accompanied by this photo. It looks just as I remember him only with a little less hair and a little older, but still the same smile.

What I did not know (or forgot) was that his wife and her family were from Adams County and neighbors of my parents. I did know her sister Rowena and her family who attended the same church as we did.

I don't have a picture of Mrs. Boston, though there is one of her and her family in the Adams County History Book, but here is her obituary, too:

Ila Mae Boston was born July 17, 1927 to Arthur and Grace (Walter) Lundquist in Adams County, Iowa. She attended a rural elementary school and graduated from Corning High School. She went on to Simpson College where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. After graduating in 1948, she started her teaching career in Des Moines for 5 years as an elementary teacher.

She married Lawrence Boston on June 21, 1952. In the fall of 1953, they both taught in Melvin, Iowa. In 1955, they moved to Corning and it was there had their three children, Loren, Jill and Thomas. The family moved to Huxley in 1961 when Lawrence took a teaching job at Sawyer School in Ames. They moved again in 1966 after building a home in Ames.

Ila worked at a teacher's aide at Crawford Elementary School from 1969 to 1989. After retirement, she became active in the United Methodist Women, Church Women United, and as a volunteer. Ila and Lawrence loved to travel visiting many places in the world.

Ila passed away November 1, 2016 at 89 years of age.

Ila is survived by her husband, Lawrence Boston; her children, Loren Boston of New Canaan, Conn., Jill Noah of Springfield, Mo. and Thomas Boston of Ames; seven grandchildren; and three sisters, Rowena Milliken, Velva Allison and Arleta Westbay.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

I did not mean to go down any rabbit holes when I started this post, but I'm gratified that I did.

Clouds From A Thunderstorm Morning

My photos do not accurately portray how the skies looked early last Monday morning when we were under a severe thunderstorm warning. The colors were more the sickly yellow-green which can denote that conditions are right for a tornado. There was thunder in the distance and radar showed storms moving in our direction. These are the cloud photos I in the order taken:

Possibly mammaus clouds but already showing some separation. These are usually found under thunderstorm anvil clouds.

Cirrocumulus - also known as popcorn clouds - for obvious reasons.

Undulatus clouds in wavy rows.

Cumulonimbus rain clouds still in the far distance looking northwest over the pond.

As ominous as the sky looked, the storms moved to the southeast before they got here. We had a little wind and a smattering of rain, but not enough to measure. So far the lawns are still green. Today is supposed to be the last one of oppressive heat - at least for awhile. 

Teach Your Children Well

 

"Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness.

Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears.

Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand.

And make the ordinary come alive for them.  The extraordinary will take care of itself."  

(William Martin)

Terrorism Designated As "Having Fun"

This week I read of the death of one of the 'neighbor girls' from my youth. I hadn't thought about her in years and last saw her when she came back for her mother's funeral. I should amend that - I hadn't thought about her until a few months ago when I read of the death of one of her classmates. Both were 80 years old at the times of their death. Both will forever be entwined in my mind as the instigators of one of my most shameful memories.

It was the fall of my junior year in highschool. Our class play rehearsals were in full swing. I hadn't gotten a part in the play, Our Town, but I was one of the prompters. My neighbor, who was a senior was in town for some other reason but had agreed to take me home after play practice as we only lived about a half mile apart.

When I got in her car another of her classmates, a townie, was with her in the front and I sat in back. We scooped the loop a few times when townie came up with the idea for a prank. She happened to know where one of the freshman girls was going to be babysitting. I don't know nor remember if it had anything to do with the seniors iniating the freshman as they did every year, but she and my neighbor both thought it would be a hoot.

They drove to the south side of town, parked near the house where the freshman was babysitting and proceeded to pound on the door, go around tapping on windows and rapping on the back door. I'm sure they were making weird noises, too. The upshot was the young babysitter was terrified. She was scared and crying but had the presence of mind to call the police. The town marshall soon showed up but by the time he got there, the townie had called through the door laughing and identifying herself. The police officer read the riot act to both girls and told them to go home.

All that time I was still in the back seat disgusted with what they were doing and feeling ashamed that even though I had nothing to do with what was happening I was still there and by association part of it. I never got over feeling that way. I never thought well of those two girls again.

That neighbor girl was one of the ones my dad was referring to when he asked me "Why can't you be more like?" and then named her and her sister. I wonder what he would have thought of her if I had told him what she had done. If those two senior girls ever thought about or talked about that night again they probably still laughed and thought it was a funny prank. I thought then, and still do, that their behavior was disgusting. 

One Month Ago This Morning

The morning of June 6 began much like this morning - beautiful weather, sunny skies, a perfect summer day - that went terribly wrong in a matter of seconds. 

But first, a little back story. Near the end of April I had a regular six month meeting with my primary physician. All was as usual, nothing of note. Except - I mentioned feeling dizzy often. Not enough that it stopped me from my normal routines; just bothersome. Dr. K. asked if I would like to try some therapy to see if that helped. Therapy for dizziness? That was a new one for me. I said "sure". So in April I had my first session and then three more in May. I felt so much better. So much so that on that first Tuesday in June I decided it was time to get back into walking outside. Lake McKinley here my camera and I come.

It was only going to be a short walk to ease back into a daily routine.

The first photo I took was of a nice patch of lamb's quarters, aka, wild spinach. I remembered fondly years ago when my mother subscribed to organic gardening magazines and had read about foraging for edible wild plants. 

Lamb's quarters were on that list and she wanted to try them so one weekend when I was there, we did. This picture was in homage to my adventurous Mom.

Next was a patch of, what I think is, Boneset.

This was on the north end of the lake.

Which is also where this Red-winged Blackbird was singing.

All the time I was walking, taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful morning, I was also composing a blog post in my mind.

This photo of yellow sweet clover was the last one I took before my life took a huge turn.

Bud had walked up to and around the lake and was ready to start back home before he met up with me. We started walking together - something we hardly ever do - but on this day it turned out to be quite provident.

Talking and walking side by side until I stepped off the pavement onto the gravel and started falling, doing that fast foot movement you do to try and catch yourself. I faceplanted into the gravel and that was the last thing I remembered until at some point realizing I was in a helicopter.

The next thing was being in an exam room with Bud as a doctor came in to stitch me up. I had my first, and I hope only, helicopter ride via life flight straight to the trauma center at Unity Point (Iowa Methodist) in Des Moines. I came home with pain meds, antibiotics and instructions to go back a week later to the Iowa Clinic ENT department.

We didn't even tell my children about it until a couple of days later. 

I kidded that I could have starred in a horror movie without even having any special effects make up.

This picture was taken a couple days after the fall - after I had managed to wash some of the dried blood off.

Bud said I didn't lose consciousness, but I have no memory of the CT scans, etc. I had at the trauma center.

Nine days after the accident I went back to therapy. My dizziness was even worse than it was originally. And we've been working on it ever since.

Today is the first day I feel as though we're making progress. I have been using my walker so I don't fall but I am able to walk some in the house w/o it. 

There have been days when I've been really down, but generally I am staying positive, believing that the dizziness will get better, though my face is permanently scarred. My nose was broken and I have opted not to go through surgery, though that is open if I change my mind. 

With Bud's excellent help, we have managed to keep the flowers watered and blooming beautifully. I have been out and pulled weeds once. I am doing laundry, cooking and for the first time today actually vaccumed! In the interim, my sweet granddaughter Katrina came down and did some thorough cleaning for me. 

And now, with the exception of June's end of the month book report, I have posted a new blog. It has to be uphill all the way from here. Besides, after I hit 'publish' on this report, I only have seventeen posts to go before I hit number 2,000. Incentive. 😄