Artsy

Do you consider yourself to be an "artsy" person? My text string with friends recently devolved in to talk about art. One of my friends plans to take online drawing lessons. How cool is that? I must admit, the texting chatter had initially started with a rundown of our ailments - including hand arthritis! But it evolved to art talk. That's how our strings go. They are such therapy for me, especially in this isolated time.  

These texts are with my friends from childhood. At one point I lamented about how our conversations have evolved through the years! Starting with toys and playing, to boys, school ("Mrs. Harter was mean today!"), and makeup - onto relationships and then kids for some of us. We talk about lots of things nowadays like weather, family, the state of the world, and health.  Don't forget pets! It's nice that they share their furbaby pics with me.  

This week it was fun to be on a message string about hobbies that feed our creative selves. As friends of 40, 50, and for a couple even 60 years, we know each others' family trees. We talked about where in our family trees those art genes may have come from. I've got some serious art genes. Please note: I don't really know if there are "art" genes. Maybe it's nature plus nurture. I do know that some of us enjoy things that others don't. It's it grand that we're not all the same? 

 

My grandfather, Wallace Orville Bullock (we called him Bubba) was the first generation artist that I know about. As an older man, Bubba took up oil painting as a hobby. He and a friend, Louis Reinig, traveled to Omaha for art classes. I am fortunate to have one of the first paintings he did - plus two others. He was a prolific painter as his children and grandchildren all ended up with one or more of his lovely works. He painted landscapes. I remember him using pictures in magazines as models/inspiration. A whole room in their home at 909 Poplar in Atlantic served as his painting spot. It was filled with easels, canvasses and paint.  

One of Bubba's later works

Bubba's daughter, my Aunt Marty is very artsy and creative. She's collected art from around the world as she traveled with my Uncle Bill and served as a docent at the Denver Art Museum for years. Her sis, my Aunt Jeanie is a talented cross-stitcher and I remember her sewing too. 

Aunt Jeanie, Bubba, Momo with Charlie the dog

                                                                                                   Dad with Marty and Jean

I don't remember Dad (Marty and Jean's older brother) displayed any artsy talents. I fondly recall that during my folks' Florida years, he helped collect shells to spray and personalize with sharpies for each of Jud and Amy's classmates. He certainly was a snazzy dresser. And he was funny and had a way with words - crafting them into things still say today. For example, I just saw Pontiac (car) the other day and I caught myself chanting Pontiaciaciac. Why? Because that's what Dad would say. That makes me smile. 

Dad with his girls

Of my siblings, sister Cindy was identified early as the artistic one. You can bet she lorded her artsiness over me, one of little patience (and skill) for coloring and drawing. Later she majored in art education at Drake, and I benefitted from some of the projects she completed - jewelry and clay pots. Cindy still has a great sense of style that I admire - she got the gift. 

Amy did this award winning watercolor in high school

In our own family, Amy self-identified as an artist at an early age. She cranked out drawings on recycled computer paper from Paul's office from the time she could hold a marker. Amy loved creating books - she'd illustrate and I'd fill in the text. Her creativity throughout childhood was amazing. When others made posters for the science fair, she "created" one with fonts, backgrounds, and colors. It was her destiny to become some type of artist in life. Amy's fluorishing graphic design business keeps growing and changing as she adds skills. Jud has the talent of absorbing information in spongelike fashion - you want him on your trivia team. 

When my homie friends and I were texting about artistic talents, we agreed that even though some of us are not as talented when it comes to drawing or painting - that doesn't mean we shouldn't try! And, we know that everyone has talents - some are just more subtle. The nice thing is when you reach a certain age you finally have time to nurture your creative side - flower arranging, wood-working, photography, cooking, music, sewing, painting, writing, and many more that I haven't even considered. 

Or you can calm your soul by completing jigsaw puzzles while listening to books. Have a great Thanksgiving dear readers. It may not be the one you had hoped and planned for, but there is much to be thankful for. Stay safe and healthy! 

Old Green

I got a new chair. That's big for me - change is hard. If you've been to our house both before our move to West Des Moines and after, then you've seen me sitting in my chair - Old Green. It wasn't always old, but earned the moniker because we purchased it many years ago from Coen's Furniture, Creston's wonderful local store - owned by a great family.

I've never been a recliner fan. That probably comes from my incompetence in working the mechanisms to make recliners comfy. Mom always had a chair with an ottoman in their second Atlantic home, a nifty condo on the Back 9 at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. That chair was so comfortable through the years it influenced my chair choice. Mom lives on through me in picture placement (don't hang them high and be eclectic) and furniture.

Because Paul and I lived close to Atlantic and because we weren't rolling in $$, we were fortunate (or cursed) to be the furniture hand-down recipients. Early in our marriage, sadly, my Atlantic grandparents passed away. They had just outfitted an apartment at Heritage House, an Atlantic retirement home, with furniture from their condominium (my grandpa, Bubba never mastered the pronunciation of that word, "condoninium?")

Thanks to proximity and my grandparents, Paul and I received a colonial-style plaid couch with blue tones (my grandmother, Momo, and I share a love of blue), and several Ethan Allen pieces including a dining room table with chairs, and the cabinets that we still have today. We sold the table/chairs with our Creston home. The couch - a heavy fold-out wore out long ago. Sorry to our buddies that helped carry it into and out of our basement on Port Road. That was a labor of like and pizza payment! 

Dad's chair looked like this when we got it. We recovered in a darker red stripe

As I mentioned, Creston has a great family-owned furniture store that we were happy to support. They always had plenty of stock to pick from and competed with the big city stores on price. After we moved to our second Creston home, the time came to replace Dad's old chair (yes we got hand-me-downs from my parents too). I'd had it re-upholstered once, but the springs were poking - the cushions were finally shot after 50 years of use.

Old Green was wide enough for both pets

That's when I picked out my green chair with a matching ottoman. That chair hugged me through many highs and lows in my life:

• When I took on increased job responsibilities as the landfill director in Union County, that led to some insomnia. Middle of the night chair sitting was required. 
• I created Amy and Jud graduation slide shows sitting in the chair, occasionally shedding sentimental Mom tears carefully selecting photos and music. 
• The chair soaked up many grief tears especially when Dad died - leaving me parentless. Hard even at age 50. 
• Countless hours of watching TV, movies, funny, sad, educational, scary....transitioning from watching kid shows to binge-watching things like Entourage with our kids - to today's Netflix  
• Genealogy work - tracing my roots online never leaving my living room
• Real work as I was fortunate to be allowed to telecommute nearly every Friday during the eleven years I worked for DNR, even after we moved to West Des Moines from Creston eight years ago. 
• The chair was a comfort during illness - migraines, shoulder, issues, and more. When I couldn't get comfortable in bed it was a comfy alternative.
• The pets loved the chair too. Odie and Kitty (real name Samantha) would lay across the back or on/by my lap. They loved it too. So much the Odie dug and snagged the cushions for that "lived in" look. 
• I could go on but you get the idea. I'm willing to bet you have a piece of furniture you connect with like that too. 

So why replace it? We are updating our living space and it was "one of these things is not like the others". My new chair is lovely and well made. It doesn't yet fit me like a glove and we haven't bonded. Perhaps that's for the good because I really don't need to spend my days and nights in a chair! These days I stand up at our kitchen bar and sit there for some of my work. In nice weather, I can even be found under an umbrella at our deck table. 

I hope you have someplace comfy to settle in/on at your place. Especially in these unsettled times, we all need some comfort. 

 

New chair has no name yet. A little stiff - needs to warm up to my buns...

I hope Old Green goes to a good home who will enjoy her comfort as I did. Not college dudes! haha. 

Super game?

I was raised on football. Today is Super Bowl day. I don't have a favorite but will pull for the underdog Eagles. Paul and I listened to the audiobook "Silver Linings Playbook" recently. You may have seen the movie the book was based on. The main character in the book is a huge Eagles fan, which encourages me to appreciate the team, its fans and the "Fly Eagles Fly" song.

I grew up watching football on TV and at the Trojan Bowl, where our school team played. Sure insert condom jokes if you want to. We Trojan fans are used to it! The Atlantic Trojans were good at football - especially in the 60's and 70's. In the 60's, our team featured the great Eddie Podolak, who went on to star for the Iowa Hawkeyes (I cheered for them too, once upon a time). Then he went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. He now does color for the Hawkeye football games - wearing his black and gold heart on his sleeve (tongue).

AHS teams seemed to always be at the top of the conference. Coaches sent players went on to college teams. Just this year, I read that our former A-town neighbor Tom Hayes is retiring as defensive coordinator at Kansas State University, after a long career as a player and coach. Football was in the Atlantic water. 

So proud of my football jersey

I don't have any brothers but was (am?) what used to be called a "tomboy".  I'm not sure that term is even proper anymore. I knew that beyond the backyard and Powder Puff variety, I'd never get to play the game in any real sense. That didn't stop me from asking for a football for my birthday. I'd punt it in my backyard and run and catch it! Behind Tyler's house, up the hill from Buck's, there was an open space where we used to put together neighborhood games. I liked being the wide receiver. Sue Tyler made a good QB. 

My family worshipped television. When I see homes where the TV isn't a main feature in the living room, I think, "whaaaat is this about?" Sure, an office or library without a television - makes perfect sense. But the room where one lives? No way. Our own home features a big TV, just how we like it.

I have fond memories of watching football with my family - including my grandparents Momo and Bubba. They too worshipped the TV god. We'd go to their place for "drinks". I remember watching the Dolphins vs. the Chiefs when Eddie played. The Fins came out on top of the longest NFL game ever played. My grandma, Momo loved the Viking's Fran Tarkenton and Roger Staubach of the Cowboys. Had a thing for the QBs, I guess. 

I don't know what the future of football is. Head injuries are a major concern. How can some players go through life not showing the trauma from head injuries, yet other are so damaged? More work needs to be done to change the game - or it may just fade away as parents quit funneling their boys into it. And Millennials paying for cable TV.

Meanwhile, I continue to be a fan. College football is my passion. And tailgating! I'm a winner at that - thanks to our Cyclone tailgating pals.

Go team! 

Dad's apple, Jackson Browne

It's hard to break old habits. I was brought up in a house where my father commented on looks and bodies. It was his business after all - he sold lady's underwear! "Hmm...that fanny looks like a size 5" I can just picture thoughts like this going through his head. When he was older, he had no filter - a woman would walk by and he'd blurt out - "her rear-end is wider than two axe handles!" A bit too loudly! Or, "that chick is sure tall like her daddy!"

He came by it naturally. His father, my grandpa Wally (we called him Bubba) used to keep watch over my weight while I was in college. "How much you weigh now, honey?" he'd ask while I was on break from ISU. Yep, I get it Bubba, I'm eating a too much pizza and drinking lots of beer.

So I've had a tenancy to notice bodies. I'm the apple that didn't fall too far. I hope I'm better at not blurting out comments than the men in my family. Our fam isn't alone. People in our country are body obsessed. The craziest thing to me is how openly folks feel they can comment about other people's bodies.

I thought of this today when I went through the check out line at the supermarket. The young woman bagging the groceries was tiny! She was so petite that I watched to make sure she could load the heavy cloth bags into the cart. Then I thought - I bet she gets all sorts of comments on her size throughout the day. Old guys (like my dad) saying, "You're a pip of a girl, aren't you?" I'm sure it gets old! I told her "good job!" and left it at that.

Let's stop bugging people about how they look (in person and the coward's method - online) and concentrate on what is inside. I need to do better at this - and want to constantly remind myself to compliment others more. I'm not good at it. I often think compliments and then don't verbalize them. Dumb, I know. Maybe I should put a string on my finger as a reminder...

Okay, rant over.

Paul and I had fun last night - we tried out a new restaurant (Eatery A) and attended the Jackson Browne concert. The restaurant is owned by the folks who operate Alba - a fave of ours in the East Village. This one is on 29th and Ingersoll. Paul wasn't ready to try Pork Cheeks, so we went with oven fired pizza - chorizo, pineapple and jelly. We also had a baked endive salad. It was loud in there - cool place though.

We headed over to Hoyt Sherman for the concert and ran into some former workmates of Paul's. Sometimes DSM seems like a small town. Jackson Brown was really good and his music is so timeless! The last time I saw him was 1977 or '78 at Hilton Coliseum. He's put out a lot of music since then. The man is quite an environmentalist and is an advocate for those less fortunate than himself. His music reflects as much. My favorites were from the past though - reminiscent of that first concert I saw all those years ago in the '70s - "Runnin' On Empty". The place started rocking when they played that song.

I had a great birthday week and feel so thankful to be 58. Last year wasn't my best - I felt awful, was diagnosed with Graves Disease, had a very painful frozen shoulder and later broke my other shoulder. Ugh. I'm looking for better things this year. All of your greetings, cards and flowers from my cherubs and beloved help!

It's starting out well. My doc's office called to report that my most recent blood work shows me to be in remission. That means I don't have to take the thyroid blocking medication for Graves right now. Do I feel perfect? Nope, but I'm doing just fine. Woohoo!

Making a statement

I thought of my Grandpa, Wallace Orville Bullock - Bubba-  tonight while watching American Pickers. The boys, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, made a stop at a place where there were a bunch of VW "bones". Volkswagens - including the classic Bugs. Bubba loved VWs.

Bubba

Mike said people purchased Volkswagons to make a statement. Yep, that was Bubba. His nickname for me was Yogi. I was his favorite grandchild. (I'm sure each of his seven grandkids could make a case...).

similar to Bub's first VW

Bubba was a unique guy. He was a successful salesman. When he retired he took up oil painting - lessons in Omaha. He did well at that and won local awards. In his spare time, he would take us for rides in his VW Bug. He smoked a pipe. I remember each VW he had, including the last one - a Rabbit. The tan one had a really difficult parking break to disengage. My Aunt Jeanie and I had to use both our thumbs to get 'er done!

In the early 1970's, Bubba went to Omaha and came home with a new model - light blue, all the bells and whistles. With a Bug, that means it had an engine! Those things were bare bones man. I should know - I benefitted in the mid-70's. I got to drive that sweet thing while my grandparents, Momo and Bubba were in St. Petersburg, Florida for the winter. The motor in the rear end of the car helped me make it up the hill to the High School. My HS homies loved riding around in the Love Bug - scooping the loop! It was a cool ride.

A car very similar to Bubba's Love Bug

  I'd love a chance to talk to Bub now - all growed up as I am. It would be an interesting visit.

Happy Book Lover's Day!

August 9th is when America celebrates Book Lover's Day - but that's really every day for me. And it has been ever since Miss Casey introduced me to my first Dick and Jane book in first grade at Washington Elementary in Atlantic, Iowa. I recall how delighted I was to take control of those letters - making them into words and finding meaning in them. Reading opened a whole new world for me!

The world was first - our little library of books at the Bullock house - some of the books gleaned from Momo and Bubba's attic, from the stash that had been Dads, and my Aunt Jean and Aunt Marty's.

• Happy Hollisters
• Bobbsey Twins
• Nancy Drew
• Oz Books - by Frank L. Baum
• and other assorted books - like the Grimm Fairy Tales - those were some dark stories!
• Black Beauty

After I exhausted our supply of reading material, I began to order paperbacks from the school program. They probably made a bit of money on each paperback they sold for $.45. Mom was generous - I'd get up to 10 books sometimes. I loved Encyclopedia Brown - were I got to try to solve the crime along with the boy detective.

 

Then it was on to the Atlantic Memorial Library. I'd go with Mom, who was also an avid reader, or during summer months, I enjoyed walking downtown. I'd stop at the various dime stores for candy - enough to get a big canker sore later! Pixie sticks, purple bubble gum, Lemonheads, Pez - I liked it all! Even Giant Sweet Tarts - the kind that made your tongue bleed. It's no wonder I didn't go into a diabetic coma.

Once I had my little paper sack full of sugary goodness, I'd walk a block over to the library and load up on books. They'd only let me get four, but that was about as many as I could carry! I'd plod up three blocks to 909 Poplar, where my grandparents lived. Momo would be watching her soap opera - sitting in her wingback chair. If I was lucky she'd get me an RC Cola (I'm not sure why they didn't like Coke or Pepsi), and some ice milk with Hersey Syrup from a can. Yum.

If Bubba wasn't home (he was often out putzing around the county), I might entertain myself by looking at books in the bookshelf that was built into the wall as you walked up to the scary attic. (It was scary because I was told the insulation could kill me - I thought if I stepped in it I would sink like quicksand...I know now I was probably asbestos-containing). When Bub got home, he'd drive me up Chestnut Street to our house, where I could lay on my twin bed with a reading light and eat my candy and read. Or I could sit in our formal living room that nobody used...except when Mom had bridge club. Oh, and Betsy used it for tumbling. Cindy practiced cheerleading there, and we put our Christmas tree there too. Don't get me wrong - I wasn't a total bookworm! I liked to get out and do stuff - but just like these days, I can pick up a book almost any time and be a happy girl!

My other book memories are -

• Mrs. Tibben (4th grade) and Mrs. Kluever (5th grade) reading to us after lunch - I fell in love with listening to stories thanks to them. The Secret Garden is one of my all time faves from that era.
• My Aunt Jean gave my Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (aka Willy Wonka) which also became a beloved book of mine.
• When I went to Junior High, the library there opened up my world to a new genre of book - the "Young Reader". Gwen Kluever was the librarian - she was a friend of mom's. I was a little embarrassed but still found a way to check out "My Darling My Hamburger" and other books that clued me in on what teens my age were doing and thinking (I was quite naive). Heady stuff!
• In High School, I took a course where I got points for the books I read - with more points for classics. This was when I read books like 1984.

Deb with Thea

I can't think about books without thinking of my friend Thea Applegate who passed away just over a year ago. I met her through book club more than ten years ago, and we grew to be close friends through the years. I've thought of her often this past year, and miss her laugh and her insight. She was a social worker, and was very good at reading situations and people. She also was great seeing humor in her own laugh. Here's to you booklover lady.

Want to shout out to my former book club mate (and St. Malachy mom and sports mom mate) Barb Coenen as well. Barb donated a kidney this week to a stranger, as part of a deal to allow someone she knows from Creston to get a new kidney. I've known Barb for over 20 years - she volunteers for Appalachia Service Project and makes people happy with scrapbooking. I'm proud to say she's a friend!

I went to the West DM library today to refill my supply. I get a little jittery when I'm out - books are like crack to me! I started reading a book tonight called "No Regrets Coyote". I noticed on the cover it says "A novel so good you will want to throw a party for it" - it's a quote from one of my other fave authors, Dennis Lahane (of Shutter Island fame). Liked that!

I'm going to read now...

Biker chick

Bubba (my grandpa) ran over my first bike with his VW bug. The VW was a '60's model, beige. And my bike was technically a trike - green with a white seat. It was the old kind of tricycle - the way the used to make them, out of metal.

My trike was similar to this one

It was my fault - I parked the trike right behind his car. Bub used to stop by our house at 202 Crombie for a cocktail on Friday nights when Dad got home from his week on the road. He probably wanted to hear about the Dad's sales gig - since he too was once a salesman.

The trike was okay with a little bending. But there was always a mark on the seat after that. I learned my lesson!

I must have had a "hand-me-down" bike after that. I remember training wheels. It was BIG when I got my next bike - a Sting Ray. It was so 70's cool. Mine was turquoise blue with a white basket on the front with plastic flowers. Useful for things like music books for riding to my piano lessons at Mrs. Sandhorst's house. I felt like a rebel on that bike. My friends (Robyn, Theresa, Lee Van Nostrand, Jill Grayson to name a few) and I rode around in little packs - taking up half of the streets of A-town.

Picture this in greenish blue with a basket

After I got to junior high age, I felt I had outgrown my bike. Then, the 10 Speed bike became popular. My parents took me to the Best Western Store in downtown Atlantic, I got a blue Western Flyer 10-Speed, with turned under racing handle bars.

My bike was blue with white tape

The first day I had it, I rode to Chris Deardorff's house to show it off. Riding down the big hill on 14th Street, I heard a big BANG. The tire went flat. On my NEW bike. How could it? Chris was watching for me to ride up, and I had to walk it. How embarrassing. Mom had to come get me so we could take it back and get it fixed.

I got a lot of use out of that bike. I rode it to softball practice, and when I got that job "pumping ethel" (working at Harry Hjortshoj's gas station pumping gas and doing the books), I rode it there too. I'm not sure what happened to it. I suppose Mom sold it at the garage sale when they sold the house.

My next bike was a Raleigh 18 speed (guess what color - right again, blue) from the Ames Bike store. Paul and I got the bikes in Ames - a matching set - a couple years after we got married. We rode them around the flattest town in Iowa - Osage. We lived there from 1984 - 1986. When we moved to Creston, since we had a bambino, we got a child carrier and a helmet and Paul hauled Amy around on the back of his. Of course Paul and I still didn't wear helmets - our heads weren't precious like our little angel's...

We kept those bikes for a long time. When we decided to "trade them in" on new bikes at a Bike World warehouse sale, they said they'd allow $15! Woohoo! So we took them home. Paul got his first good bike then at Bike World, since he was going on RAGBRAI. I didn't get a better bike until a few years ago when I purchased my brother-in-law Bud's bike  - a blue Trek crosstrainer - from sister Carol, after Bud passed away. It's a nice bike - but it's a guy's bike - a little too tall for me.

The pic doesn't do Whitey justice...can't wait to get her outside this weekend!

Now we live on a bike trail! So Monday I got my very own new bike at Bike World West. A white Trek crosstrainer. Not blue! I shall call her (it's a chick bike - but it doesn't look too girlie) Whitie. I won't be able to keep up with Pablo on his road bike - but it should be better than before. And I don't expect to be buying another bike for a long time.

Tuesday, my co-worker Scott and I walked to the State Library to pick up our Bike Passports and Des Moines area bike maps. Scott just got a new bike too, and he's now biking from his home on 31st Street in Des Moines to the Wallace Building each day. May is Bike month around here. I've been challenged to get stamps on my passport at various sites around the city. I may need to put a headlight on the new bike. A woman at work has talked about doing a bike ride together sometime.

I'm glad my long relationship with two (and three) wheels is continuing!

Zapped

At left - my Grandma - we called her Momo. Her real name was Zora - cool name huh? As you can see she has a very fair complexion. Why couldn't I get my grandpa's (Wally aka, Buba)skin? He's the handsome dude with the pipe and bolo tie sitting in the rocker on the right. And my Uncle (my Dad's brother Charlie) is the Schnauzer on the floor.

This pic was taken the day I got the card saying my parents were giving me a horse for my birthday - my mom wrote it out in a little corny poem. I cried I was so happy. Note I have on my favorite Bar-L-Ranch (Guthrie Center, IA) sweatshirt with a horse on the front.

Back to my real topic...I visited my friendly dermo today for my annual skin check. I had a few spots on my face zapped by Dr. Ava Feldman with liquid nitrogen. Here's to you Lifeguard Leslie who had to try to tan with the other guards who were actually tannable. You were no bronze goddess - you nincompoop! Why did you think you could smear Baby Oil on and fry with no repercussions?

Once, in college on an early warm sunny day, my roomies and I laid out in the sun near our dorm, Maple Hall. If a little sun is good, a lot is great right? I fried so bad I couldn't even drink beer that night - my legs swelled up. Sun poisoning. And skiing both Paul (another Casper skin) and I burned so bad we blistered.

I'm paying for it now boy. I've had pre-cancerous spots removed from several areas - most recently under and beside my eye. A lesson for all of you out there in tanning bed land!

My love affair

I confess I’ve had a lifelong love affair – with books. We had many books when I was growing up. Our house, which was built by my mom’s father, had built-in bookcases and they were filled with the things. Mom made a practice of giving us books she had loved in her childhood. Her special favorites were L. Frank Baum books, the most famous was The Wizard of Oz. Oz characters Dorothy, Toto, Button Bright, Tik Tok, Woozy, and the Wizard were good and loyal friends of mine. I read those books time and time again. The beautiful ink-drawing artwork helped me bond with my friends.

My mother and many other moms took advantage of “story time” at the Atlantic library. The librarian read or played LP recordings of books like Dr. Suess’s Yertle the Turtle and other classics. When I was a kid, my neighbor Laurie and I would walk downtown – some 7 blocks all downhill. We’d stop at Bonneson’s Five & Dime or Ben Franklin to select candy. For less than a dollar I’d get bag of purple gumballs, PixieStix, Lemonheads, little wax bottles of colored sugar water, Sweet Tarts - and canker sores.

Then we’d walk to the library where I’d get my limit of 4 books. (That was before backpacks were invented so I had to carry them stacked on my arm.) I’d often then walk to my grandparent’s house, just 3 blocks from the library. My grandma, who we called Momo, would make me ice milk (fewer calories than ice cream?) with Hershey’s syrup. Grandpa (Bubba) would deliver me home in his VW Beetle. I’d read my books and eat candy – talk about hog heaven!

Each week I’d scope out the Nancy Drew books - the ones with the yellow jackets – at Rex Pharmacy downtown. My grandparents had Dad’s sisters (my aunts’) old books at my grandparent’s house – stored in their scary attic. Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys and more. I wanted to be one of the Happy Hollisters.

Except for my college years, when I kept busy reading text books and drinking beer, I've had a novel or two to read at all times. Then a few years ago, Deb and I decided we wanted to start a reading discussion group. Not the kind of book club that reports to the newspaperlisting who gave book reports. The fun kind where you meet other people who also have an on-going love affair with books.

So I put a couple fliers up at Matilda Gibson. It's our library in Creston. I know - most people have a Carnegie. We have Matilda. A few people called and slowly we put together a fine group of ladies I have grown to love. Not one guy yet, but who knows~!

Thea has named herself permanent hostess, which is grand because she lives in a grand house with three grand dames - dogs who greet us like long lost friends each time we visit. Peaches is crotch high which makes greetings quite intimate. Thea's house has a pool, which is lovely to sit by, or even get in, during summer months. Sometimes we even talk about books!

We mostly get them through the library via inter-library loan. It costs each of us $1.25 each month. I try to find discussion questions to get us started on discussions at meetings. We all suggest books to get, and I keep a spreadsheet to get to the library ladies to order. There have been some gems through the years and some bombs. Nobody feels bad if they didn't read the book. They come anyway, just to hang out with the cool book ladies!

Gotta go - there are so many books, so little time!