VARGA FAMILY STORIES - NUMBER I

I have recently heard from my late mother's half-brother I call Uncle Bobby - even though he is much younger than I. My mother's parents divorced when she was very young, and both remarried. My grandfather, Paul Varga, married a woman named Neva (I called her Aunt Neva as a child). They had four children and Bobby was the youngest. James Vernon was their oldest. My mother Viola, and her brother Bill were Granddaddy's first children.

My mother and dad separated and divorced when my sister and I were young. At those times, Mother would send us to live with relatives. Very few wanted to take on two small children at the same time. Granddaddy and Neva agreed two different times in my childhood. They lived at Mt. Shasta, California at the time. 

I have a few memories of those times, and I shared what I remembered with my Uncle Bobby. I told him I feel I don't know enough about my Granddaddy. Bobby answered me with many wonderful stories about him and their lives. I know my children will enjoy hearing about such a different way of life and a great-grandfather that only one of them ever met. This is Story Number One:

GENTLEMAN GRANDDADDY

"Your Granddaddy was the nicest, gentlest man I have ever known. He was polite and respectful to everyone, especially towards all women. However, he demanded respect from other men. The only time I can remember him cussing around Mother was when James Vernon came out of the bedroom into the living room on New Year’s Day, 1953 with your Granddaddy’s old 12-gauge shotgun. Mother, Dad, Evelyn, the cat and I were all lounging around the living room after eating New Year's Dinner, waiting on Mother to get our pie. She had made four different pies that morning and they were all lined up on one of the countertops in the kitchen. 

James Vernon Varga

"James Vernon stood there in the living room by the wood stove, which was burning really good because of the cold weather, and said, 'Well, I’ve got it fixed Dad!' He pumped a round into the chamber and the gun went off! What a loud BLAST!! The cat, which had been sitting on my lap, climbed up my chest, on up my face, launched itself off the top of my head to the ceiling, ran across the ceiling and came down somewhere in the kitchen, and it was GONE! Your Granddaddy said, 'Well, I’ll be God Dammed, James!!'  We all looked at Dad and it got real quiet as the living room started filling up with black soot and smoke, then we all burst out laughing, including your Granddaddy!

"James had shot a big hole through the stove pipe! The blast made a hole through the living room wall, came out the kitchen wall, sprayed all the pies with sheetrock, went through the kitchen ceiling, into the attic and out the roof! 

"Dad got up from his chair and put out the wood stove and went outside in the snow to get new stove pipe and put a tarp on the roof. Mom went into the kitchen and started cleaning up the pies and the mess. James sneaked back into his bedroom to put away his tools and the shotgun, Evelyn and I looked at each other and laughed until we cried. What a wonderful day after eating all that pie!

The highlight really was the cat!"

Uncle Bobby

I laughed quite a bit myself! Thanks a lot, Uncle Bobby.

Stay tuned for Story Number Two.

Peace and love,

Marilyn

SYNCHRONICITY II

It has only been in recent years that I started noticing a unique – to me anyway – series of “synchronicities” in my life. I first wrote about them in 2015. SYNCHRONICITY Some of those I repeat here.

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When I moved to Burnet, Texas in 2009 I met my delightful new neighbors. One family in particular captured my attention when I discovered that the wife, Audrey, had the same name as my first granddaughter Audrey. Then to my surprise it turned out that her husband had the same birthday as mine! November 11. Not the same year of course, as they were a young couple with two little boys close in age to my youngest grandchildren, who often stayed with me and developed a friendship with them. They also had two big Great Danes named Jade and Piper.  I had not heard that name used since the 1950s when a movie star name Piper Laurie was popular.

Vince and Audrey were good neighbors, their children adorable, and the Great Dane Piper and I became great buddies. 

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I moved to Austin in 2012. Imagine my surprise to find out my new landlord’s wife’s name is Piper. They have three beautiful children, and the youngest one’s name is Truman.

I have known of only two others named Truman that I can recall. The first we all know – the former President Harry S. Truman. After living here in Austin for a few years, I found out that one of my former classmates lived nearby in San Antonio. When I was working on a biographical handbook to give to my 1957 high school classmates at our 50th class reunion, there were several that we could not locate after so many years. The one I finally located in San Antonio was named (you guessed it) Truman! We have developed a friendship closer than when we had in high school.

About a month ago, new neighbors moved in next door to me. The husband’s name is Erick and his wife's name is Michelle. It just so happens that of my two oldest granddaughters, one is married to an Erick and the other one is in a loving relationship with her Erik.

A couple of years ago I connected with a distant relative from the Moragne side of my family who lives here in Austin. I discovered her by accident on the internet. Last month I got an email from her telling me that her family was going to celebrate on April 13th, the anniversary of the first Pierre Moragne arriving in the Americas. See AN EASTER BLESSING. This cousin’s name is  Michelle.

(Is the Universe telling me to expect good things from these new neighbors?)

I'm certain there have been many more "coincidences" that I cannot recall at the moment, but one last one.. Until my newest neighbors

moved in next door, I had a delightful friend live there, April is her name. I knew there had to be something synchronous about our friendship when we hit it off so soon after her arrival. Recently, it dawned on me. April's beau is named Oliver.  It just so happens, my first grandchild's middle name is  Oliver!  Now how many people do you know named Oliver?

I know that this is just light-hearted fun for most people. However, I have given thought to my own coincidences and why they might have occurred. Always, they have been accompanied by a blessing or blessings of some kind. Some I may not have recognized at the time, but looking back it's much easier. One of the most recent ones is from my friendship with April. She works from home, and is a gifted technical writer for a government agency. Not very long after we met, she got in a bind with a work overload and needed someone to help out. Just to check her work and do some light proofreading, which I was happy to do. I tried to resist any payment, as being needed for something at my age was really a boost to my self-esteem. However, she paid me generously as well as becoming a dear friend. I really did need the money, and it has enabled me to be something of a blessing to others at times.

Searching for memes regarding synchronicity to accompany this post, all of a sudden one appeared with only the numerals 11:11. As that is my birthday I had to go to the site and read an article regarding it. In all my years, I've never heard that this is supposedly a "spiritual" number. My mind is still trying to absorb some of what I read. This is definitely illuminating, and may be the source for another blog post. 

Happy coincidences,
Marilyn

Springtime During COVID-19

Yours Truly

Son Craig

Last month my family that has descended from the first Pierre Moragne to arrive in early America toasted at the same time the anniversary of that date even though we were all in lockdown mode due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We took these photos to share with other Moragnes across the U.S., each toasting in our own way! Water, iced tea, wine, and beer!

Daughter Carajean

Son Matthew

Yesterday, which was Mother's Day, I was tickled to have all of them show up with their families for porch visits. (Well, almost all of them - minus three of the grandchildren who were not available). They staggered the visits so there was room for all to stay comfortably socially distant. There were lovely flowers and gifts, one of which would surprise most folks.. Son Matthew has turned out to be a fine cook, and for Mother's Day the entree happened to be filet mignon. He surprised me with one of them right off the grill in time for dinner! Matt knows I am complaining of late about having to cook for one... His delicious treat will actually be enough for me to have at least two or three meals! Hint: you don't have to wait for a special occasion to share one of your grilled treats, Matt.

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This is the second year in a row that birds have inhabited the same nest in the eave of my front porch. It's above my front door and visible through a high window in my living room. I've read that birds nesting over your front door means "good luck"! This year as I have been sitting on my sofa more than usual, I watched a pair of little birds coming and going for a few weeks. I was so excited when I saw tiny heads pop up over the edge of the nest. I took the following photo through the glass on the day after Easter. These sweet little ones flew away from their nest one at a time over the next three days.

I searched the bird books in my library without success, seeking to find my resident birds. A Google search of images was of no help either. The nearest to resemble them were barn swallows. Mostly because their nests were similar. When my granddaughter visited yesterday I asked her help on identification. You see, Audrey - among her many talents - is a "birder"! Here's a photo of her in 2013 with bird in hand!

As we all sat on my front porch yesterday, the little mama bird flew from one tree to another in the yard. She was visibly upset that we were so close to her nest, and she was fearful to approach it until after everyone left. Audrey had easily identified it as an Eastern Phoebe! This is what the adult looks like.

 

(I wish I had been able to photograph it, but when I took my photo for the family toast I dropped my camera and broke it!!)

She was obviously nesting again. Imagine my surprise this morning when I saw a little head pop up as the adult bird flew up to the nest.. bug in beak! She already has another brood. Less than a month after the first ones fledged, there is at least one new chick in the same nest. 

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I love to see the significance of events relating to the circumstances of our lives. As so much sickness and death happening in the world today tends to depress us, how life-affirming it is to watch new birth occurring in nature. Trees and flowers budding and birds hatching in the tiny world I'm confined to lift my spirits. 

Celebrating ancestors and family and sharing so much love, it's almost impossible to believe anything so catastrophic as the COVID-19 pandemic is swirling around us. Believe it we must. At least until a cure or vaccine is available. Until then, treasure your porch or yard visits, stay home if at all possible, and when you must go out, wear your masks and keep a safe distance as required. 

Look for the goodness surrounding us on a daily basis. You cannot help but notice the kindness being demonstrated by so many. Even commercials have a quiet peacefulness to them (except for a few loud insurance, car, attorney, and pharmaceutical ads - one really cannot miss them). The generosity of so many corporations and individuals, both private and celebrities is heartwarming. The creativity exhibited by people stuck at home gives one faith that we will survive and be better for the isolation. Everything is changing, and will be permanently changed, I think for the better. 

(New Scientist)

While we count our blessings living in the United States, let's don't forget the third-world countries. I fear that we have not been shown enough of their sufferings. Imagine not having running water, much less enough food to eat. They need more than our prayers, they need as much in the way of donations as we can spare.

Share your thoughts of your experiences during this time of difficulty. This may be the most historical event you will live through. Write them down - the good and the bad. You'll feel better for it. In the meantime, smell the flowers and listen to the birds sing.

Peace, love, and good health,

Marilyn

AN EASTER BLESSING

Easter Morning over Lake Travis

Before I got out of bed Sunday morning, my daughter sent me a text with these photos, taken from her deck. What an inspiration,  so badly needed today - the day of resurrection celebrated by Christians the world over. The rainbow is a symbol of hope and healing in many cultures.

As our family is closely following shelter-in-place guidelines, we wished each other a Happy Easter via texts and emails. I watched a church service on TV. It happened to be a "rerun", but it was all about surviving difficult challenges in life. A good topic for now. As I was busy with church, then more texts and emails, I missed someone sneaking onto my porch. A little later I saw through the blinds a blue cup. I darted out quickly (as I was still in my pajamas) and retrieved the object. I was surprised to see it was filled with candy and a small book. I washed my hands carefully after taking the book out. There was no name attached or written on the book to indicate my secret admirer.

I spent some time contacting all of my children to see if they had left it...no. I asked one of my neighbors if she left it...no. All efforts exhausted, I have come to the conclusion that it was left by a child.

The top two candies are Ring Pops - something a child might receive in his or her Easter basket.  A mama must have assisted by putting

in the small book. It happens to be an excerpt of a book on near-death experiences (NDEs) by NYT best-selling author John Burke, from his book Imagine Heaven. Don't you just love the synchronicities of life? A book on people who have experienced death and come back, given to me on "resurrection" Sunday. John also happens to be a minister here in Austin.

Maybe the gift is from my new neighbors next door who have two little  boys ages 4-years and 7-years. Or the two little girls down the block who last fall sold me candy to help their school. I may not find out until we are freed from the fear of COVID-19, as I have no way of contacting them. At any rate, I thank them very much for sharing their Easter goodies with me.

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Speaking of the dreadful Coronavirus spreading around the globe, we are blessed with so many people pitching in to help any way they can. Medical professionals, grocers and the myriad of people getting the food to our tables - farmers, truckers, cashiers, delivery people - all putting their own lives at risk. My daughter-in-law Amy and my youngest granddaughter Kelly have been staying busy making face masks for the following group:

I am so proud of both of them for thinking of others in this difficult
time we are experiencing. These will be good memories of "paying it forward" for young Kelly years from now. She will always remember being a "Covid Ranger".

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A couple of years ago I discovered a distant relative on my father's Moragne side of the family. She lives here in Austin, and although we haven't met in person yet, we have shared a bit of family history. She sent me the following:

"My dad isn't too happy with his current cognitive decline, but at 98 - and turning 99 in June - I think he's doing pretty well! He dictated this to me so I could set it up on the page well and send it out to our immediate family. Enjoy!

Moragné History Alert

"On July 30, 1763, Pierre Moragné of St. Avit de Tizac in the Montravel area near St. Foy on the Dordogne River traveled in the middle of the night to Royan on the coast of France with approximately 200 fellow Huguenots. They caught a ship to England where they stayed until they could get passage across the Atlantic to the Americas. They arrived on the rising tide in Charleston, SC on April 14, 1764.

"So, this coming Tuesday, April 14th will be the 256th anniversary of the arrival of the first Moragné in the New World.

"I suggest we all savor a decent French wine at some time on that date. That area of the Dordogne is primarily a red wine appellation, but I feel sure the old Huguenot would not be offended if you prefer a white, rosé, or champagne."

Signed,

"Candidate Presumptive for Eldest New World Moragné"

AKA John Hutchins Moragne

I think he is doing very well, indeed!

To which my oldest child, Craig, responded:

"I would actually prefer a nice dry Beaujolais if I was forced to drink wine. I'll raise my tea glass, nevertheless."

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(Capt. CSA) Isaac Pierre Moragne - Father of John William Moragne (My Great-Great-Grandfather)

It is pleasing to me to note that he was "..a Democrat..and quite a politician (who) took an active part in everything connected with his state and locality. ..he went twice to the (Alabama) Legislature."..."Moragnes in America".. Howard and Quinn

His political nature has passed down to more than one of my children and grandchildren!

Cheers!

Marilyn

Stories we tell..

Recently I ran across two terms that were used to relate to our past what the world is currently experiencing. One was "societal shocks" and the other "historical convulsions". Both might well be used in the future to accurately describe what happened as the COVID-19 Pandemic continued to spread across the globe. My generation is now old enough to have witnessed or actually participated in more than one of  these events. I remember some of them.

WORLD WAR II  (Historical Convulsion)

One of my earliest childhood memories left me with a vivid picture in my mind. It is nighttime and moonlight shines down on the street and the taxi at the curb. My grandfather held me in his arms, with my grandmother and mother standing beside us. I sensed that everyone was sad as my dad was saying goodbye, standing there with a duffel bag on his back. He was leaving for his second tour of duty with the U.S. Army to serve in World War II, which was well under way. I was about three years old at the time. Dad was a paratrooper during this deployment. More about this here: WWII

I have other memories from those war years. I remember my mother used to keep a "ration book" on top of our refrigerator. I wanted that book for some reason. That prompted her to put it out of my reach. I later learned what rationing meant. (We are being "rationed" today by some stores limiting the number of certain items purchased.) Tires and gasoline were luxuries back then that were definitely rationed. Many a car trip I spent on the floor of the back seat, with my head on the "hump". The car was always crowded, especially on long trips, as we always picked up hitchhikers - usually young soldiers, who were welcomed as they would always take turns driving. Everyone shared in the gas ration.

When I was six years old, we had a "familial shock". The apartment building, which was a former mansion in San Antonio converted to one- and two-room apartments during the war that my grandmother managed, suffered a tremendous fire. Many residents lost most of their belongings by going in and out trying to save them, thus fanning the flames. Due to a flashback, one elderly woman was killed when she went back into her apartment. 

My mother was considered a heroine for waking so many of the residents that early morning. There was a write-up on the front page of the newspaper about her courage as well as a photo of my little sister standing on the sidewalk, head down, and several coats someone had wrapped around her tiny body. Our apartment was the only one with no fire damage (only lots of smoke and water damage) because Mother shut all windows and our door before exiting with my young sister and knocking on other doors waking and telling people to get out. 

(L.A. Times)

I was in school when a classmate arrived late and told me my house was on fire! I immediately ran the several blocks to home. Stumbling over huge fire hoses and crying, I saw so many fire trucks towering over me that it was terrifying. When I found my mother, she scolded me and made me return to school. Though frightened, I got a lot of attention and questions from the other students that day. I think I liked that.

The building was unliveable for quite some time, so my sister and I were sent to relatives while repairs were made. I went to stay with my great-grandmother who lived in San Antonio as well. While there, I stored another shocking memory.

POLIO IN THE U.S. (Societal Shock)

I had my seventh birthday while at my MawMaw's. One of my gifts was a scrapbook. I had been - as a lot of young children in those years were - looking at the newspapers. (After all, there were no televisions.) Mostly at the comics section. Particularly on Sunday mornings when I lay on the floor in front of our radio listening to someone read the Sunday funnies to an enthralled audience of kids. I must have heard more than the funnies on the news, as well as looking at the paper, because on the first page of my new scrapbook was a photo jaggedly cut from a newspaper of a woman with polio in an iron lung. Perhaps it was on the front page because there was an uptake in the paralyzing disease in 1946.

Polio patients were dependent on the iron lungs to breathe. The old iron lungs were gradually replaced with modern ventilators. Ventilators are being used today in intensive care units and emergency wards. They are especially needed for the victims of COVID-19. The drastic shortage today of these ventilators will increase and result in many unnecessary deaths unless more can be produced quickly.

"The fight against infantile paralysis (polio) cannot be a local war," Truman declared in a speech broadcast from the White House. "It must be nationwide. It must be total war in every city, town and village throughout the land. For only with a united front can we ever hope to win any war."  Wiping Out Polio  Sound familiar?

When Jonas Salk had his polio vaccine approved in 1955, we all breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly let ourselves be injected. We finally could do the things young people loved to do without the fear we had been infused with. We could now swim all summer. My parents took us to the opening of Disneyland that year  - no longer fearful of crowds as in the past. 

Polio was a terrible disease, as it left crippling limbs behind. Thousands died before the vaccines were introduced, but quarantines were never enforced. Some patients were destined to spend the rest of their lives in an iron lung. Polio was also highly communicable. Even our President Roosevelt was afflicted and crippled forever. It is yet to be discovered the lasting effects of COVID-19 on one's health other than lingering damage to lungs. The severity is yet to be known.  

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS (Historical Convulsion)
"On October 14, a U-2 spy plane overflight confirmed the presence of Soviet missiles on Cuba. For thirteen days, October 16 - 28, 1962, the U.S. and Soviet Union faced each other down in a confrontation that would be the closest the world came to nuclear annihilation during the Cold War."Offensive Missile Sites in Cuba

Everyone who heard the news that day in 1962 was scared that "this is it", nuclear war, and most of us were not prepared to survive an attack. I was married with two small children at home in Roswell, New Mexico when this happened. 

Imagine my shock when my next-door neighbor called me almost hysterical. She and her husband had two infants still in diapers. Her husband was an engineer working in one of the Nike missile sites protecting Walker Air Force Base near Roswell. Against all regulations, he managed to call her at home from one of the silos. He told her to load the car with as much food, water, and baby supplies as she could as fast as she could, and be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Walker AFB and the sites protecting it would be one of the first targets if we were attacked by Soviet missiles in Cuba. He thought it was imminent - as apparently much of the government did. Until that time, I didn't know how close we lived to the Nike sites. (I immediately called my husband, who wisely assured me that there was nothing to worry about. Turns out there wasn't.)

We dodged the bullet that time, but I doubt most Americans really knew or believe how close we came to an all-out nuclear war.

Although afterwards, there was a feverish surge in building "bomb shelters" in many homes. When my family moved to Houston in 1970, the house we bought had one in our back yard. It reminded me of the old-time root cellars, but I never ventured into it to view the interior. I vowed to myself I would never go down those steps no matter what! I am a victim of severe claustrophobia. 

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What so many of us are going through today with self-isolation or quarantines, limited food supplies and items we need to protect ourselves like hand sanitizers, disinfectants, face masks, etc. is very stressful. However humor and laughter are known stress relievers. So many funny stories and memes are being bounced around it's hard not to laugh! Particularly the toilet paper shortages.

I worked for an international company in Dallas during the mid-70s. Our District Manager really didn't like to be tied down to an office, and put off many things the home office asked of him as much as he could. I remember once he was being pressured to turn in his annual budgetary needs for our office. Now this office only had 10-people onsite regularly, counting warehouse personnel. When Dennis (not his real name) got to the end of his budget, he found he still had $2,000 available to our office he had not requisitioned. He finally entered "toilet paper". $2,000 a year for toilet paper for our ten employees! Shortly after he submitted this, he got the following communication regarding this from the home office. "I always knew that Texans were full of s***, but this is ridiculous!"

I've pondered over the current lack of toilet paper on the shelves of stores and found myself wondering what was used in its place in years past. What did the pioneers going West use? Even when they settled in their log homes? I had two elderly relatives who had outdoor privies. I was staying with great-grandparents in Missouri when I was 5-years old. Not only did they still have a water pump in the kitchen sink, they had the outdoor facility. They forbid me to use it. Of course, that's the wrong thing to tell a little headstrong 5-year old. I discovered they did not have toilet paper. In its place, was a Sears catalogue with pages missing. Now what do the natives in the jungles of South America use? 

I've always loved the FDR quote, "You have nothing to fear but fear itself." However the following seems more apropos to our time:

"Fear has only two causes: the thought of losing what you have or the thought of not getting what you want." – Byron Katie

I keep thinking of quotes for our current situation. One last one before I close. We keep hearing newscasters speak of the "chaos" we are experiencing as a country. My favorite definition of  chaos:
"A system rearranging itself to attain a higher sense of order." Chaos, a result of the pandemic, such as we are currently experiencing. Now we wait for the higher sense of order to appear.

Take care of yourself, and the vulnerable ones you love.
Marilyn

POLITICS AND PANDEMIC

Yesterday I received the following email from a friend and former classmate, Martha Northington.  I feel that many of us will agree with her on this topic.

"I’m writing this to friends in lieu of attacking NYT, Austin Statesman and Houston Chronicle columnists.  Forgive my apoplexy.

"I am really weary of columnists all over America writing that because Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the Presidential race and thus won’t compete with two men, we are forever doomed to have only male Presidents. If memory serves, Americans HAVE elected a woman President.  Does no one remember all the work many of us devoted to Hillary’s campaign?  Have we all forgotten her brave performance in debates with the bully of all time?  And have so many columnists in America forgotten that she received 3 million more votes than Donald Trump?  Not exactly proof that all those voters are guilty of misogyny.  As we all know the problem there was the electoral college, which is obviously outdated.

"As to Elizabeth Warren, the candidate:

 *There are many women -- certainly not misogynists -- who voted for someone other than Warren simply because they liked another candidate better.

 *There are those who respected her good mind and broad knowledge of economics and public policy.

 *Many liked her pugnacious attacks on the men in the race.  Others totally agreed with all her many 'plans.'

  

 *Then there are thousands of women as well as men who didn’t respond well to her finger-wagging; her 'about to cry' voice.  Bernie Sanders uses the same accusatory gestures.

"And, many of us, who respected her 'smarts,' made the practical decision when she fell so far behind that we would vote for someone who could possibly win the nomination.  One more time, a majority of Americans elected a woman in 2016, and they will again."

Addendum (from Martha):  "And then there was Eleanor Tinsley, my old boss, who broke the woman barrier at City Hall in 1981 and served 7 terms as Houston City Councilmember-at-Large. Thus CouncilMEN became Councilmembers."

Hear! Hear! Martha.

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(NASA)

"NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) pollution monitoring satellites have detected significant decreases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over China. There is evidence that the change is at least partly related to the economic slowdown following the outbreak of coronavirus." NO2 Plummets

If one is not careful, the media coverage of the latest worldwide epidemic might make one wish to leave the planet. The above NASA satellite photo indicates there is one positive outcome of the Coronavirus in China. The economic slowdown caused by the quarantine of millions of people, closing of factories, and limited transportation has resulted in the decrease of nitrogen dioxide - a gas emitted by motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities which makes China the biggest contributer to climate change.  Too bad they will all be up and running again as soon as the epidemic runs its course and the quarantines are lifted.

"..in 2014, when Ebola tore through West Africa..President Barack Obama created a new office and established a special emergency fund to improve federal response efforts. His administration also launched a global initiative meant to help high-risk, low-income countries prepare for future outbreaks." Here Comes the Coronavirus Recent reports indicate that by 2018 the current administration dismantled and defunded this office as Trump has been prone to do to anything he thinks Obama established. Trump has yet to implement a suitable response to the current outbreak of the Coronavirus.

All of the misinformation put out by Trump and FOX News aside, it is prudent to believe we must take precautions to prevent the spread of this new virus, COVID-19. As one of the vulnerable ones due to my age and health, my grown children are already preparing to protect me as well as their own families. One has even gone so far as to stock up on food, water, etc. for his family in the event our area schools are canceled and they might be confined to home. He told me that he remembers the shelves being emptied at our favorite grocery store when Hurricane Rita was headed for landfall in 2005. 

I am mostly confined to home anyway, but I'm going to listen to the experts to ensure I'm doing my part. There are simple recipes online for making hand sanitizer much cheaper than the commercial ones.  My daughter suggested I put a large bottle of it at my front door.  Will do, CJ.  

One television pundit compared the impending "pandemic" to the fear generated by 9-11.  Not so.  The coming election?  Hmmmm.

"What you hold in your thoughts, you create in your world".. We all must overcome our fears and keep a positive outlook.  Meanwhile, be sure to wash your hands, and don't touch your face!

Peace and good health,

Marilyn

Would You Rather Be a Fish?

Remember the old Bing Crosby hit "Swinging on a Star"? Part of the lyrics go "..a fish is an animal that swims in a brook..He can't write his name or read a book.." Well, that certainly doesn't explain the subject of today's post. Not only can he write his name and read a book, but he has more degrees than I can count on one hand! Three of my grandchildren call him "Dad". And boy, can he swim - like a fish.

I brag on my grandchildren frequently, but I like to brag on the "grown-ups" in my family as well. My son-in-law Branch is a dedicated swimmer, arising early for a 5:30 am Masters swim class at the University of Texas, where he attends when he is not in Amarillo at his medical practice. I went with daughter Carajean to see him swim in a small tournament at UT a few years back. He had just started taking up serious swimming again. He didn't win then unlike his current races. He is ever the example of "practice makes perfect"- and an inspiration to our family. He's modest, but I talked him out of information on the National tournament he entered held in California this past summer. His results are listed below:

2019 USMS Summer Nationals Final Results, 8/7 - 8/11

Marguerite Aquatic Center, Mission Viejo, CA

Results

Men 60-64 1500-Meter Free  

Archer, Branch T.  Age 60   1st Place   (TXLA-43)   Time 19.54.21 Min.

Men 60-64  200-Meter Fly

Archer, Branch T.  Age 60   2nd Place   (TXLA-43)    Time 2.39.29 Min.

Men 60-64  400-Meter IM*

Archer, Branch T. Age 60   3rd Place    (TXLA-43)     Time 5.43.78 Min.

Men 60-64 400-Meter Free

Archer, Branch T.   Age 60   4th Place  (TXLA-43)  Time 5.00.21 Min.

Men 60-64  200-Meter Breast

Archer, Branch T.   Age 60   4th Place   (TXLA-43)   Time 3.08.99 Min.

Men 60-64 200-Meter Back

Archer, Branch T.   Age  60  7th Place  (TXLA-43)   Time 2.42.82 Min.

The TXLA-43 stands for Texas Longhorns Aquatics, Region 43.

*The IM stands for Individual Medley, which is a combination of equal parts butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and free style. (I had to ask this!) Winners receive patches to sew on clothing as well as medals. Each contestant is only allowed to swim in at most, six races. There were nearly 20 swimmers in each of his races.

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Writing about Branch's swimming prowess reminds me of a cruise he and Carajean took me on in 2006. I wrote about the following incident on my Class of '57 blog, but I don't believe I told the story on this blog.  Here goes:

"By the time we got to St. Maarten, our final stop before returning home, we were all having a great time. Branch booked us on a catamaran tour that would anchor at a couple of places allowing folks to swim and snorkel. Having had a delicious rum punch onboard the Golden Eagle, I let the grandchildren talk Grandmama into getting into the water with one of the 'noodles' that they assured me would keep me afloat. It was such a beautiful day and the beach seemed very close. I thought I could mosey on over to the beach on my 'noodle', dog paddling as I went.

"Wrong! The waves were much stronger than they looked and I had not been in an ocean since being diagnosed with 'mild' emphysema. When the waves would hit me, I felt like the breath was being knocked out of me. Of course, that made me panic, which made it even harder to catch my breath. I captured my granddaughter’s eye and waved her over. She tried to pull me to shore, with no success. Then she said she would swim to the boat and get my emergency inhaler. 

"As she left me there with a second 'noodle', some young men playing touch football on the beach spotted my dilemma. One swam over and asked if he could help. God bless him, he was a medical student and thrilled at the prospect of 'saving' someone! He got me to shore, told me to do deep breathing, and ran to get me a bottle of water. 

"By now, I was thoroughly embarrassed and beginning to attract a lot of attention. I told him Audrey went for my inhaler and soon we saw my son-in-law Branch swimming towards us with one hand in the air, holding a plastic bag containing the inhaler. The young medical student asked me if he should swim after it. Between big gulps of air, I told him my son-in-law was not only a physician but also had been a competition swimmer! I hated to burst his bubble, as he was so kind and helpful.

"By the time I was using the inhaler, Carajean swam over and told us that the catamaran crew was putting a rubber dinghy into the water to come rescue me! We watched as two good-looking, tanned young men dropped the dinghy over the side and did a few figure 8s with it in the water before getting down to the business of rescuing me. When C.J. saw them her eyes got big and she said, 'I think I’d better go with you, Mom. This looks like fun!'

"I was treated to a shower to get the sand off and then a few minutes on the oxygen tank. My humiliation was complete, but I was one grateful grandmother for all the assistance!" 

That trip was full of "fun" experiences. You can read about it if you wish..CJ, We Don't Want To Cruise With You

I've never been in a body of water larger than a hot tub since then. I'd rather not be a fish - or swim with them!

I hope your summer was full of fun experiences.

Marilyn