Monday, February 29, 2016

COUSINS

February 29, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

Tam's beloved dad passed away a few days ago.  She will mourn for him the rest of her life, but time will soften the pain.  Tam told me that she and her brother Mike were discussing the many cousins who had come to the funeral home to pay their respect.  And Tam and Mike both agreed they should have a cousin reunion.

Thinking of cousins, I remembered how many first cousins I had and Lord only knows the second and third ones.  I was close to only two cousins who were my age.

The cousin on my mother's side of the family was called "brother" by most relatives.  His older sister had given him that name when he was a toddler and the entire family called him that.  I was his age and only had sisters so this cousin and I became "buddies".

When brother and I were about 10 years old our families gave each of us 50 cents on Saturday mornings.  This was indeed the innocent age.  Brother's family lived in Rossville which adjoins Chattanooga, Tennessee.  My family were one of the first to buy lots in East Ridge, which is also on the outskirts of Chattanooga.

On Saturday morning, I would take a bus ride to downtown Chattanooga near the grand Tivoli Theater.  Brother took a bus from Rossville and joined me near the theater.  We would go to a small lunch shop and order hot dogs and a "double cola" as it was a larger bottle than coca cola.  Then we went to a dime store and purchased small bags of candy.  Then we went to the movies at the Tivoli, and stayed until it was time for us to go home.

As we grew older, we still were close.  Brother went into the US Army and when I married, he got a weekend pass to attend my wedding.  I wrote him often.  Later he lived in Indiana.  He and his wife had several children who he loved very much.  When he passed away, I grieved for him.

On my daddy's side, there were many cousins, I was close to a girl my age.  Our families visited our grandparent's farm in Middle Tennessee often.  The outhouse was a long distance from the farm house.  There were delicious grapes on grapevines along the way which we sampled often.  When my 13 year old female cousin and I would go together to the outhouse, we would tell each other the latest "dirty jokes" we had heard in the previous weeks.  We were innocent young girls and our jokes were pretty silly.

But, looking back, there were a lot of good times with my cousins.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

OLD TREASURES

February 17, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

Just a whiff of memory can send you on a nostalgia trip.  This happened to me recently.  Barry had the TV in my room on which was showing available movies and I spotted a movie of my favorite childhood book, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.  I plan to watch this movie soon.  The famous book was given to me by a friend for my birthday in 1936.

I read the book over the years many times.  But, I didn't know the location of the book in my office library.  I asked Tam to try to find the book.  She found it after a short search.  The hard cover book is still in good condition with 630 pages.

While Tam was looking for my book she also found some old treasures I had saved - a World War II ration book, a 1944 high school football game ticket, and an autograph book of 1939 which was interesting to say the least.

I have a large metal filing cabinet in my office which holds a lot of article research papers and more.  The large space above held an old scrapbook and some very old books.  I had been planning to clean the cabinet out but, I never did.  So Tam decided to take on the job.  She's still in the process but making progress.  She's had about half a dozen bags of shredded documents.

To move back to the present, Barry recently purchased a beautiful new stainless steel sink for our kitchen.  We had it installed and it dominates that part of the kitchen.  The old porcelain sink had became rusty and looked awful.  Barry is really proud of it and so am I.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

ANOTHER FDR?

February 9, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

For several years I've prayed that the good Lord would send the United States another Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Now, from what I've been hearing, Bernie Sanders may be that man.

Reading in the newspaper the political news has sent me back to the day when I saw FDR in person in Chattanooga.  His caravan included the great man in an open limousine with secret service men running along side the limousine.  My mother had driven me and my sisters to an isolated spot on Missionary Ridge.

The limousine slowed down as they approached our spot.  While my mother and sisters and I stood on the side of the road FDR flashed us his famous smile and waved at us.  I think that ranks with one of the most vivid memories of my childhood.

I also remember when FDR passed away.  Radio stations played only chamber music for about a week as the nation mourned the passing of such a great man.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)

Friday, February 05, 2016

OUR TRIP TO CALHOUN

February 5, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

As we drove from the blood doctor's office in Calhoun, Georgia, Barry said to me, "You don't have a speck of psyche, do you?"  I replied that I didn't as it had been a total surprise when the doctor told me my blood test showed that I needed a booster shot!  I knew I had been feeling poorly but for a couple of years my blood tests have been very good.  I take a daily multi-vitamin and a B12 tablet and the doctor told me to continue with that.

I've had booster shots in the past and for me the first few days after I've had the shot, I feel pretty dang bad.  But, then I begin to revive and feel great for awhile.

One reason why I feel bad is that the trip exhausts me.  As my former neighbor and friend, Genevelyn says, "There just isn't a good way to get to Calhoun from our house".  I have had an upset stomach and haven't been worth a flip since I've been home.

I'll be glad when I become more energetic and hope to feel chipper by spring, my favorite season of the year.

About that psyche bit, everything that's ever happened to me, good or bad, have been a total surprise.  I guess I just live in the present.  As Kristofferson wrote in a song, "Yesterday is dead and gone, and tomorrow never comes".

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)

Monday, February 01, 2016

FEBRUARY AGAIN

February 1, 2016

By Olivene Godfrey

I am writing this on the last day of January, 2016.  Yesterday, Barry saw a flock of robin's on our front yard, a sign (perhaps) that we'll have an early spring.  First, we have to get through February, which in the past, hasn't been a good month for me.

My beloved daddy, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65 in February.  I've read that more elderly people die during the month of February than at any other month.  Since I'm 88 years old that makes me uneasy.  And a few years ago I was very ill with pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days in February.

I am going to continue to pray and be very careful that I survive through February.  I'll think positive and look forward to a beautiful spring.  In the spring and summer our yard, thanks to my late husband, looks like a pretty park.  Barry stays busy with his yard work and keeps it looking lovely.

I wrote recently that Barry had been exercising his wrist and arm due to a cyst on his wrist with a tension ball I gave him for his December birthday.  The result has been amazing.  He is now able to play his guitar again without pain.  It's good to hear his guitar blues coming from his media room.

These tension exercise balls develop finger, hand and forearm strength, flexibility and coordination.  I have two balls and use them regularly for my arthritic hands and they seem to be helping them.

I received a nice New Year's card from my Aunt Willowdean who is ten years older than me and her daughter, Lillian Ann.  They live on historic Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a beautiful home.

I have a trip to Calhoun, Georgia this week to see my blood doctor.  Barry will be taking me and the trip is always very tiring for me.

See you next time.  Comments welcome.  (Edited and typed by Tam.)