Everyone should have a Robbie Dob

So many memories over our nearly 60-year friendship. It's Robbie Dob's (Robyn Bredensteiner Uehling) birthday today. Saturday birthdays are fun - even when you are our age! She tells me she has plans to see Tony Bennett. No panty tossing Rob!

How does one stay friends with someone for this long? Especially when, except for a brief time in our mid 20's, we haven't lived in the same town since our first 18 years. 

It takes work! 

Robyn and I lived in the same neighborhood growing up. Our parents were in the same loose-knit friends group. We went to each other's birthday parties and had play dates. Later, when we were "free range" kids, out in the neighborhood on our own, we ran together in a pack.

One of Robyn's birthday parties sticks out in my mind. Back then, we had huge parties, inviting all of our little pals. Our moms were in charge of making sure we had a fabulous gift to take to the child of honor. We'd shop downtown Atlantic - so the pickings were limited. One year for my birthday I got three of the same piggy banks - 2 blue and one red! Other present ideas included games, coin purses and for me - horse figurines - porcelain. Rex Pharmacy, Ben Franklin, Bonnesons - those were all good places to score presents.

Anyway, this year, Mom must have either - been sick of running downtown or she plum forgot. She turned to Dad for a gift. Yep, lingerie! If you don't know me, this might sound kinky. Relax! Dad was a sales rep and when we were young, he repped lines that included kiddie clothes. I don't know if I even knew what the gift was when at the birthday party, the kids gathered around for gift opening time. She ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal: a kid-sized red peignoir set (silky red PJs). Op! I was so embarrassed WTF was this? As a tomboy, I could not imagine wanting jammies like this. I don't think my parents ever got me into such things. Robyn still teases me about this today. She swears she loved it and wore it proudly.

My bachelorette party - Omaha

There were many parties throughout the years. Including some of the first times, I drank beer (underaged, of course). We took advantage of the keg on tap at her mom and Tom's house. And when her dad was out of town, his apartment was a great place to gather. Later, when I was in college, Robyn visited Sal, Julia and me at ISU a few times. She settled back in Atlantic, working with Dr. Trewet, a dentist and tending bar at the Country Club. We vacationed together one summer - driving to Vail to stay with my sis Cindo. (I drove the whole way out - she slept, haha)

Marco Island 

After college and a brief stint during my first job in Sioux Falls, I moved to Omaha. Fate brought Paul to Oakland, Iowa - nearby. It was such a bonus that my friends Robyn and Chris Deardorff moved to Omaha then too. We had a couple years together - meeting up for Aerobics and weekly home-cooked meals together. Plus who could forget Friday night drinks at the Rusty Scupper in West Omaha. During our time there, I became engaged to Paul and Robyn to Glenn, her beau from Griswold. We both married in 1982. Paul and I moved north to Osage - and Rob eventually moved much farther, to Orlando! Her marriage to Glenn eventually ended, but both still live in FL. Rob keeps us up-to-date on that kind man and his family.

Omaha

We may not have seen each other every year, but somehow, my girl and I have stayed close. She came to Marco Island one year when we visited Mom and Dad. She made the drive to Creston when we lived in our first house, and left one of her mother's Tervis Tumblers. I treasured that cup and used it often, thinking of her. (yeah I probably should have returned it to Jody, but I loved it so...). She came back for family visits, and for class reunions. We found our ways to see each other.

So glad Amy and Jud have met Robyn

Many people know what a special person Robyn is. She shined from childhood. My dad, who was known to give people nicknames, called her Robbie Dob. He'd tell the story of how he'd be taking a nap on our couch in the living room, only to wake up with Rob's smiling 5-year-old face in his. She'd offer a cheery, "Hi, Daddy Dave!" Then she'd see my mom in her everyday knock around the house clothes and say, "Mrs. Bullock, I love your shoes!" What a character!

As an introvert, I have always admired how easily Robyn makes friends. I take time to assess people before letting them into my world. That can make it a lonely place. Not Robyn. When we both lived in Omaha, one time she told me she was going out to supper with a gal she'd met in a laundromat. Doing laundry! Take that in. I read and put out my "don't talk to me vibes"!

When our son Patrick lived his brief life in 1991, Robyn was one of the first people to call. Again when my parents passed - all the way from Orlando, she reached out to comfort me. On random birthdays - we'll spend an hour on the phone, laughing and sharing our lives.

Rob hugs Julia

Robyn looks for ways to build others up. She's told me things about myself that I never saw from the inside of this skin. Things that she admires about me. I never knew that when I acted like somewhat of an old lady even when I was young, it was cool. haha That my parenting skills were looked upon positively. That encouragement means the world. Plus she's funny as hell!

Robyn isn't perfect - nobody is. Building everyone else up all the time is hard. We need to support her too. I'm glad she has so many friends and family members who love her as much as I do.

In honor of my friend Robyn, let's all try to be more like her. Verbalize those uplifting things you think about others - right to their faces. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable to others. Laugh and cry together. Life can be messy - we're in it together. Friends make all the difference.

Carrying the Bags

We came together in Arizona - carrying our baggage. Beat up old bags and newer ones, Some were big and others small. We came together to help each other carry our baggage. Sharing the load makes all the difference, yes? Yes.

I first saw Robyn and Paula at the rental car depot in Phoenix, after leaving frigid Des Moines at 5:30 that morning before the Martin Luther King holiday. Thanks to all the TSA employees at the airports I flew through for cheerfully sending me on my way while working with no pay. I thanked them in person too.

We hopped into the rental van and took off to meet the rest of our gal pals for this year's rendezvous. We are a ragtag group of friends who reestablished our friendship that started in our hometown of Atlantic, Iowa. I like to brag about the fact that my friendship with Robyn and Paula has lasted 57 years or so - but there were some long breaks in there. I've known Watson, Julia, Sally, and Pam for much less time - only 45 to 50 years.

This group of us reconnected around ten years ago and a strong bond formed - even closer than our childhood friendship. We discovered at age 50 that we love each other and have very similar world views. We fill each others' buckets - and mostly we think we're funny.

Watson moved to the Phoenix area a couple years ago. Sal and Julia flew in on Thursday and stayed with her. The van girls had a mission before we met at a Mexican restaurant. To pick up a tall can of Pam - to represent our missing pal Pam who stayed home to support a loved one with health issues. Hugs all around as we joined together. Laughter filled the air around the outdoor table where we sat. (Meanwhile, snowy and cold in Iowa).

The trip south to our Oro Valley (near Tucson) condo took just over an hour. Watson had done a great job preparing for the trip - purchasing food, booze and she even made soup! We were set. That night we just hung out enjoying each other's company. That was when we started unpacking our bags.

These girls are my loves in a way I can't explain. Their friendship is a very safe place that boosts me. It picks me up when I'm down. If I'm having a bad day - I can start a text message with them and soon, I'm feeling better.

On Saturday after we arrived in AZ, we visited the Tohono Chul Garden. I didn't know there were so many types of cacti! One even shot a sticker ball out at Robyn. We enjoyed a lovely brunch at the bistro there. That night we visited Robyn's brother's place. Mike and Kathy Henningsen kindly invited us over for a drink. Mike's grandparents were friends with my grandparents. My dad was a pal of Tom Henningsen - who called Dad "Bullock" to the end. Mike and Kathy have a beautiful winter home to go with their summer place in Atlantic. Son Brad now runs Henningsen Construction. It was fun to catch up with them and talk about the old hometown.

View at Henningsen's home

On Sunday we traveled to downtown Tucson for the Women's March. It was a group decision to participate in this event. Why? Women are making progress - but there still is a long way to go to continue the work done by those who went before us. Paul and I attended the Ruth Bader Ginsberg based movie "On The Basis of Sex" Saturday night. It reminds me how far we've come.

It was a wonderful group of progressive people with interesting signs. I especially appreciated seeing the indigenous people of the area, some in their native clothing demonstrating a field hockey type game. It was a gorgeous day in the low 70's. We listened to speakers and walked together with many, circling city blocks. One water stop featured glass jelly jars instead of plastic. Yay!

We headed back towards the van - hitting the jackpot by finding an artisan area with a bar. Drinks and food were in order - along with a bit of shopping. It was game night - NFL playoffs. We stopped at the store to pick up supplies for the game watch - wings and stuff.

I'd been in contact with homies from my other hometown - Creston. Dwight and Marilyn Conover, now of Okoboji, who also winter in Oro Valley. I first met Dwight when I took a job as a bookkeeper at First National Bank in Creston. DC was the bank pres. I was the lowly lippy help. Marilyn aka Merle and I were in a women's sorority together and became friends. Later, we moved next door to the Conovers. They didn't keep us awake at night with loud music or anything! Dwight's work took them to NW Iowa so they eventually moved, but we still see them frequently at ISU events - mostly tailgating. I invited them over for a drink - our condo was a short drive from their home. My A-town friends were delighted to meet them, and besides, they know our pal Roger Underwood, who has served on ISU fundraising boards with Dwight.

Later that night we Facetimed Pammie, who couldn't be with us. I really missed that girl. She is one who I have really gotten to know better as an old lady than I did as a youngster. She's so open, fun, and funny. We celebrated renewal after a tough health year by a couple of us. And Watson's birthday.

A gift of infinity bracelets

French Silk! 

Then we played Left, Right, Center - an easy dice game that even I can play (no real skill is required). After, we sat around and chatted - dragging out some of our baggage and other things going on in our lives. Those are our gathering times I love the best. The support and unconditional love pours out and surrounds us. We laugh, we cry. We share personal care and health tips. Girlie stuff! Some of us sat in the hot tub overlooking the beautiful mountains. The blood moon wolf moon solar eclipse was just starting. I was tired - I had to see it via photo the next day. What a great day!

Marilyn, Watson and me

Marilyn had offered to take us on a hike to Honey Bee Canyon on Monday to hike to see petroglyphs. It was Robyn's first excursion test driving the new hip - walking in a sandy wash. We all made it! Got some good pics and a feeling of accomplishment.  Paula and I got a tour of the Conover home - Dwight says it a view with a home - the back window framing up the area mountains.

When we got back to the condo, the gang was starting to pack up as Sal had a Monday evening flight. It was a flurry of activity that involved packing up most of the food, bevs and their belongings. Jules and Rob were going too - leaving only Paula and me in the condo. Parting was hard - especially this year. We're tough old coots. Hmm, where to next year?

There was a snafu with the rental van keys. They disappeared. Oops. Paula stepped into biz mode and dispatched the van. We arranged for a shuttle to Phoenix. Thanks to Dwight and Merle for driving us to the pickup site. Nothing like old friends! Goodbye to Paula - it was fun to see her twice these past few months.

I kick myself for scheduling my flight through Detroit. What a dumbass. It was fall when I booked the ticket - and I was trying to coordinate with others. Still, bad plan. I ran through the Detroit airport and got to my seat just in time for the airport to be shut down due to ice. First for an hour, then for the night. I considered getting a hotel but just didn't want to spend $130 for a night of non-sleep. So I slept at the airport. The next morning my flight finally took off at 10:30 a.m. I do know how to stretch out a vacation! My honey picked me up.

Another bucket filling vacation was in the books. Time to put those bags away. Until next time.

Language of Love

Bundled with my baby

Paul and I attended a Marc Cohn concert Thursday - he of "Walking in Memphis" fame. He is a singer-songwriter whose songs tell stories - about his family, career and what else - love. One love song, "Perfect Love" is about his brother and wife who have been married for over fifty years. Marc says his brother tells him the song should be entitled something more like "Enduring Love" - because no love is perfect - especially love in marriage. True dat.

Marc Cohn Temple of Performing Arts

pre-concert martini

It may be hard for newlyweds to believe, but that giddy romantic love doesn't last. Not for 36 years anyway. It takes perseverance and some laughter. My honey and I had that this past week....he's been bowhunting. It's that time of year - when I usually start feeling a little cranky. It's my birthday dammit, and he spends days at a time in a tree. I don't mind alone time - but it can get old.

So last Friday I got a "take and bake" HyVee pizza that we ate after he rolled in from his tree down in southern Iowa. I ate a couple pieces sitting my comfy chair. When I went to put my plate in the dishwasher, I saw a black thing on the floor by my ottoman. Hmmm - sock fuzz? I picked it up and immediately recoiled - flinging it to the ground - it was squishy and warm. Worm! I appealed to Paul to save me. He picked it up - putting it right up to his face. Olive - he declared. We had a good laughed! He wished he would have popped it into his mouth.

On Sunday I was getting ready for a nice warm bath when I noticed a bug in my happy place - my tub. "Bug in the Tub", I yelled. Paul appeared in the blink of an eye. "Backrub?" he inquired (that's what he thought he heard), always hopeful, he. I pointed to the offending critter. The perks of marriage - bug removal. Yes, I'm a bug wimp.

What does the Internet think of you? Judging from the advertisements I see when I'm online, it's got me pegged as someone who really needs old lady slippers, pee proof underwear. I've tried to click on the slippers to get rid of the ad that hounds me on the New York Times. Even if I wanted slippers, now that they are trolling me, I refuse to consider Mahabis brand. Ever. And I'm not in need of pee proof undies - unless my girls make me belly laugh with a full bladder (bladder weakness courtesy of 2 9 pounder babies I believe).

huddled in the trailer - pregame

Yesterday's ISU game was one of the coldest I've attended. Big shout out to our fave tailgater host/engineer Kevin. He rigged up the generator to 2 heaters and we sat inside the small trailer eating soup, drinking beer. I suited up in ski pants and many layers with HotHands, toe warmers. Ugly but functional. Still, I shivered. Clones are now bowl eligible! This team just keeps winning. After the game we sat in the trailer again. McKims and Ehreckes are just fun to hang with. We laugh so hard - mostly at ourselves (but I didn't need the pee panties). Phew! Paul and I are off to visit our pal Paula Bacon in Austin for the Texas game next weekend. WooHoo. Hope there are no bugs there. 

Robyn sent me this pic on my bday. Friends for going on 58 years. We were adorable. Wonder who cut our bangs? Mom always put me in cute dresses for parties.

Continuous Improvement, Lady Bird

Do you remember when you learned how to line up? I mean form a line with other people. If you're like me, it seems like I always knew. My first memory was of standing in line after recess at Washington Elementary School, waiting to go back into the school. Everyone would wiggle around and be loud. You know who you are Robyn, Paula, and Sally. Then the teacher would blow the whistle, indicating we should straighten up.

I'd never thought about lining up as a skill. Then one of my friends became a Kindergarten teacher. She explained that she had to teach the students how to line up. I think me and my pals were precocious learners - but we did have the benefit of Mrs. Luin's awesome Nursery School, when I learned to sing "Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch" and ate sugar cubes and graham crackers with Kool-Aid.

When I attended LSI Refugee Community Services (LSI) training last Saturday, the instructor explained the literacy challenges refugees face. We learned about the "intake" process when refugees visit LSI Community Services.

Volunteers were told there are different learning styles for literate and non-literate students. Just because a person has not attended organized school or a certain level of school, that doesn't mean they lack intelligence - just opportunity. Refugees from countries with different types of alphabets and pronunciations have a variety of challenges when learning English - from making rounded letters to how they hold their mouth and tongue when speaking. Some students don't understand that when given a worksheet, you write on the lines provided. They must be taught all of these things. The adult brain does not learn as quickly as the child's, providing additional barriers. Despite all these things, LSI does this training and many other great things in our community.

I volunteer as a classroom assistant with an Intermediate group. Most likely the students I work with have had the opportunity to go to school in their country of origin, as they have met a certain testing level to attend this class. We started a new semester after Christmas and have seen an influx of students.

Sue, our instructor, amazes me with her kindness and flexibility as she works the new people into the classroom. They appear at any time, while the class is in the midst of an activity. Sue brings the new students up to speed as much as she can, making them feel welcome, at the same time, assessing their skill level.

By the end of class Tuesday, there were eighteen students. Thankfully, we also had five volunteers, unlike the week before when I was the only one. We worked on describing people - hair, height, weight, age. It was a cold-hard reality to see that my age group is "old'. They needed to figure out when to use a or an or nothing.

List of words students practice

For example: Leslie has a blondish (or is it gray? only my hairdresser knows) hair. Sue would ask them if that sentence is proper. Most would say NO! (Some can be very dramatic) There is no a. Then when they do worksheets, some get it wrong, and I ask them to say the sentence out loud - would you say "He has a brown hair"? No, they agree. They erase the a.

On Tuesday, the students had a worksheet with adjectives and their assignment was to identify those types of words in a short story. I find that at times, I'm unsure what the right answer is. Did you know that when saying "football player", even though football is usually a noun, together with player it becomes an adjective? It is good to show students that we make mistakes too.

Many times the volunteers look for examples on our phones to show students, as even simple things we understand, they may not. For example the word "unusual". Sue is good at coming up with ways to describe words like that. She said our usual days for class our Tuesday and Thursday. If we came on Wednesday, it would be unusual.

I continue to struggle with ways to assist students with the worksheets without blurting out answers! I feel I'm making progress, but it's so much harder than I ever thought this would be. Add in my lack of knowledge of each student's culture. Sue has been very encouraging after my individual/small group work with students during the second hour of class. I tell her what happened and how I reacted. Last week she told me I have good instincts. That made me feel really good.

Just like the program I oversee at DNR, Environmental Management Systems, I'm striving for continuous improvement in this volunteer role. Wish me luck!

 I've seen so much about the movie Lady Bird and wanted to see it before it disappeared from area theaters. I knew it wasn't likely one Paul would want to see - so decided to go by myself. That was probably only the second time I've gone to a movie alone, and I enjoyed my company.

The movie was super! I laughed out loud, chuckled, teared up and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The movie is about a high school girl in 2003 in Sacramento, California coming of age. She goes to a Catholic school, so those scenes brought back childhood memories. Though Atlantic didn't have parochial school, the mass scenes were great. Lady Bird's angst to "get away" was not something I could identify with, but I knew kids who felt that way. Actress Saoirse Ronan was cast perfectly as Lady Bird, as was Laurie Metcalf as her unique "good mom/bad mom" mother. I loved the movie.

I have something in my pocket

It belongs across my face. I keep it very close at hand in a most convenient place. I'm sure you cannot guess it if you guess a long, long while so I'll take it out and put it on it's a great big Brownie smile!

I think those are the words to one of the many Brownie and Girl Scout songs I learned in my scouting days. It is Girl Scout cookie time. I've only purchased one box, but I tipped extra. I don't really need to eat cookies, but do wish to support the scouts.

Back in the day, when I was tasked with selling the cookies, we actually went door-to-door to take orders, like little vacuum cleaner salesmen. "Yes, ma'am, can I interest you in some Thin Mints?" Check. "Gimme 2". They were all of $.75 back then.

I loved scouts. First we met in the gym at our school, Washington Elementary. On meeting days I would get to wear my little tan Brownie dress and sash. So cute! We'd say our Brownie pledge, do an activity, have a treat and play with our pals.

At one meeting, Robyn and I raced in the gym - she forgot to put on the brakes - plunging through a plate glass window. That look inside her knee made me feel faint. I think I earned a "guts" badge. Robyn earned stitches.

After that, we "flew up" into Girl Scouts where the uniforms were green (a premonition of my future career perhaps?) - green sashes too. I didn't get the beanie! We met at the Christian Church up above Robyn's house. Cindy Peterson's mom was the leader of our "troop". I remember going to Day Camp one summer - out near Sunnyside. I got to take a pocket knife and we cooked over a fire.

My sisters, Susi and Cindy stuck with GS (Girl Scouts) longer than I did. Susi got to go to Washington, D.C. I don't remember if Cindy did. I ended up switching to 4-H  - because I got a horse and wanted to attend the county fair and show him off. No DC trip for me. My sister Susi has stayed active in her support of the Girl Scouts and a I admire her for it.

Tomorrow is my pal Robyn's birthday. That makes about 54 or 55 years we've known each other - our friendship gets better each and every year. Here's to you my friend!

DSM fun, five day work week

This was my first full work week back after vacation. Reality bites! I'm of the opinion the good 'ol US of A should consider going the European route - work less. Enjoy living more. But so far employers are stuck on 40 hours (or more) for full time. So we need to make the best of our lives - in between that work stuff.

When Paul and I moved to the DSM area, one of my goals was to try to enjoy life more during the week. It's tough in the winter - all I want to do is hunker down in our place when we get home. But now that it's starting to get nicer out...we're doing more! Weather didn't cooperate for outdoors activities (except for a few lunch walks), so our activities were indoors. I don't like to be cold.

We were watching the nightly news on Wednesday when I got a text from my pal Robyn in Orlando. "Hey Pal! Turn on Food Channel...Triple D is featuring (George the) Chili King...I want to go there when all of us do the Iowa reunion!"
I reported the text to Paul. We switched channels and watched George finish up making a yummy pork tenderloin.
Hmmm. We'd never been there. Sure sounded better than the leftover salmon and green beans I planned to zap in the microwave. Google location - and we were off - to Hickman and Merle Hay. We sat at the counter by a nice couple a bit older than we are. They had rushed over after the show too and were Chili King virgins, despite being from the neighborhood.

Service was, um, interesting. We saw four staffers - all busy, none was George of TV fame ( George looked to be about 80 years old). None of them was interested in taking our order, but we just sat and watched the show. One cooked loins, the others shuffled around (one big guy had some low-rider jeans with a view, ugh). There is an outside area - for car-side service - I'm not sure how many were serving those customers.

We enjoyed sharing stories with the couple next to us as we awaited our pork loins. Their daughter had been with Cirque Du Soleil for a while, but has "aged out" and is using her degree from ISU to do something with biochemistry. The man is an architect whose firm has looked at the locking system at the Wallace Building. We bragged about our children. As you can tell - it was a fairly long wait...but the loins were very good. I saved half of my sannie for lunch Thursday. Not gristly. Good breading. It was a fun outing!

RoCa - craft beverage

After another long day of work Thursday, we deserved a break at Team Building at a new place called RoCa on Court Avenue with federal retirees and Jim G. from the Department of Ag. Paul has fun talking hunting with Jim (a Creston native), and we even discussed where all those dead chickens and turkeys from the flu outbreak. How will they be disposed of? Hey...what a fun convo! We did eat the leftover salmon that night.

Friday Paul took the morning off to hunt turkeys near Creston. His decoy - Suzi Snood, was quite seductive once again. He double dipped by having a filling re-done at Buck Dentistry and was back in time to work half the day. Meanwhile, I got to go to the dermo for my annual skin check. They zapped one place on my leg - but I'm so proud of the job I did protecting my skin while I was in Florida. Sadly...the skin damage I have is from years ago - before sunscreen.

That night, we tried out DSM's only brew pub theater - Flix Brewhouse. It's located at Merle Hay Mall. We saw The Age of Adaline - a movie about a woman who experiences an accident that prevents her from aging for 100+ years. It was kinda sappy, but we enjoyed it and the Flix experience - burgers, brews. Next time we'll buy our tickets earlier so we aren't seated so close to the screen.

Merle Hay Plaza - pic thanks to Lost Des Moines Facebook webpage

Being at Merle Hay Mall brings back memories. While the Bullocks did most of our shopping in Omaha when I was growing up. Downtown and Crossroads first - and then Westroads. We did go to DSM occasionally. I remember Merle Hay when it was a shopping plaza - not even covered. Mom had promised me a new turtle as a pet, but when we stopped at the store - there were none available. As a substitute, I ended up with some type of pink foam goop from a toy store. (I was gypped - not as good as a turtle!). I'm sure we went to Bishops Buffet while we were there too - and I got chocolate pie and a balloon with feet.

Now today I was watching a moving there and sipping suds. Go figure. My pal Jennifer said I'd likely sipped beer at a movie before - only it was from cans snuck in. Righto! The Atlantic Drive-In was the site of many beers and movies. In college we took beer to the Indian Hills theater in DSM to watch Sound of Music when it came back out again. That empty bottle made a lot of noise when it rolled to the front of the theater during the movie...legal movie beers aren't quite the same....

Derby Dance School of Psychotherapy

I took another water class at the Healthy Living YMCA this week. I do my best reminiscing in water. Go figure!

It was a type of yoga/stretch/dance class. While I was in an aqua ballet position, the song "It's a Beautiful Morning" came on the boom box the instructor, Yvette, had set up. It reminded me of a time I danced to that song in a leotard with a whole host of others. Prior to the dance recital performance I had trained under the gracious tutelage of Janice Derby who ran a successful dance school in my hometown of Atlantic, Iowa.

I don't recall exactly why I signed up to be in dance in around eighth grade - ninth grade(?) I suppose it was because my friends decided to dance. And just like lemmings had they jumped off a cliff, I would have done so too. I signed up for ballet and tumbling along with my friends Robyn, Sherry and Theresa. I'm sure there were others but the 'ol memory machine can't bring them forth. During this time, sister Betsy also took lessons. There's a lovely picture of the two of us in our recital costumes posing - alas I can't find it. I wonder if Betso has something to do with that.

What I do remember is the classes. Janice Derby was a good listening ear, and my friends and I were full of teen angst. Some of our sessions ended up full of drama as one person or another (Sherry Smith) explained to Jan what the current goings-on were. I was more of an "onlooker" to the drama, but definitely was there. Who said what to whom and how high.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

The big excitement was the annual Dance Recital. I only made it through one. Our group had two numbers. "It's a Beautiful Morning" and the tumbling routine was to the theme from Mission Impossible, where we wore a black leotard with a pink sequin belt and mask - hooha! Whenever I hear those songs I feel like breaking into those dances. I only know the beginning steps.

Of course the real star at the dance recital was older (a whole year) - someone who had been dancing for years - Pat Riggs. She did a solo dance to Witchy Woman. (I might have made song name up but it seems right...she was a graceful dancer, that girl.)

As I completed my water class Wednesday, I thought too of my friend Theresa who is no longer with us. What a kind soul she was - and I feel I didn't really get a chance to know her. Because I was such a kid when I was around her - and she was just there. I took her for granted like I did all my friends back then.

Today I know better. I cherish my friends and am not afraid to admit it. I don't have Janice Derby in my life as a therapist - but those friends - they do pretty well!

Giving is the best feeling

Sure, I remember going with Mom to purchase birthday gifts for my friends' parties. Piggy banks, porcelain cats and horses, toys - we bought it all. Sometimes we forgot to get a gift and at the last minute, Dad would produce a little robe/nighty combo from his lingerie sample bag. No, my father wasn't a cross-dresser. He was a lingerie salesman. Robyn recalls receiving such a nighty. I wonder if we gave her a pack of cigarettes to go with it? haha

But the first actual gift I remember buying all by myself was a Christmas gift for my mother. I must have been around 12 years old - at the age when I realized I could do this. She had mentioned that she needed a new wallet and I wanted to get it for her - without help!

In my hometown, there weren't many options for wallets. I decided to go to Rex Pharmacy, right on Chestnut Street, to see what they had. The place had it all! Laundry soap, Playboy magazine (Laurie Reinertson and I had checked those out to see what the big deal was), perfume, electronics, jewelry and wallets. Plus medicine.

A sales clerk very carefully showed me the selection of wallets. I knew what Mom's present wallet looked like. I wanted to get one shaped like that. I had my eye on one that was made of real "kid" goat skin. It was something like $15 - a lot of money back then. But I was a miser and had been saving up. I purchased the wallet and had the clerk gift wrap it. (I'd not yet met Mr. Paul Goldsmith, gift wrapper, supreme).

I was so excited for her to open the gift - so proud of myself and my purchase. Pleased that I would finally be able to show Mom how much I care for her and how much I appreciated all she did for us.

I don't really remember her reaction when she opened the gift. I wasn't adept enough at reading others' reactions to know whether or not I'd chosen wisely or not back then. So maybe I blocked it out because she didn't. Or maybe I just got carried away with my own gifts in the moment. But I do know that Mom used that wallet for years to come, and that made me happy.

Giving - the gift that keeps on giving!

What a Circus

The Ringling Brothers Circus was in Des Moines last week. I saw pictures of my grandparent pals on Facebook with their grandkids - smiling and enjoying themselves. It made me think back on my experience with circuses. (real ones - not my life)

When I was a youngster, the Atlantic Girl Scouts took me to see the Shrine Circus in Des Moines - the Big City! We had to hold onto a rope on our way into Vets Auditorium. I believe my friend Robbie Dob was also there in her little Brownie dress. Sure there were elephants and flying acrobats. My most exciting moment? Purchasing a little plastic "zip" gun. You pulled the trigger and it looked sparky at the barrel and went zing, zing, zing! I loved it.

When I was about 10, our family went to Florida a couple summers to visit my mom's parents who had retired to Dunedin, Florida from Cedar Rapids. Mom took us to see the Ringling Brothers Circus Museum in Sarasota. I don't remember much about it except it was big and interesting. I probably had a sloppy snow cone and cotton candy too.

Doesn't Paul look dapper with a sweater around his shoulders?

Then next circus I attended was years later. The Carson and Barnes Circus was making the rounds in Iowa. Dad ran right out and got tickets for our fam - but not for him. So we drove to Atlantic and attended the circus. The tents were pitched at the airport. Amazingly, it was good - not rinkydink as I was expecting. Amy and Jud enjoyed it too.

How about clown cars? I don't really like/appreciate clowns. They're creepy. When the kids were young there was a nun in Creston that would dress up as a clown. Nice try Sister JoAnn. Your heart was in the right place but...creepy. Clowns at circuses are creepy x10 or more...

May in the next couple decades I'll make it to another circus.

Felix the Cat - AHS football memories

I love football. I have since I was a little tyke. My parents would take us to watch the Atlantic Trojans play on Friday nights. They were perfect fall evenings when we'd put on our fall jackets and Mom would get out the black and gold wool Iowa Hawkeyes blanket. We'd walk the five blocks between our home and the Trojan Bowl by the high school. The smell of burning leaves hung in the air.

Oh the excitement! The marching band in all their finery - all green and white. What? For some reason the early band uniforms in Atlantic were green - not the black and gold team colors. Blue light special? I don't know. They sure sounded good though - director Art Meyer made sure of that.

I was happy to see some of my little friends, like Robyn (aka Robbie Dob). She would watch the cheerleaders - older girls like Barbie Freese doing cheers like:
Felix the cat the cat the cat
Felix the cat the cat
He wants to know
he wants to know are we going to win, Yes! What Felix, the cartoon cat, had to do with football...hmm, not sure.

And I would watch the game. My dad must have explained what was going on, because at some point I was even trying to explain the game to Robyn according to a new clipping in the Atlantic News Telegraph. I feel like I've always understood the game of football. Not like my husband and son - who both played the game - but more than most chicks.

Atlantic was good. Future Hawkeye player Ed Podolak (and Kansas City Chief) played along with several other good athletes. Later Ed's brother Charlie played. Did Tom Hayes play at Kansas? The team was fun to watch - even for a little tomboy.

A few years later, this Scorpio birthday girl got to load up the station wagon with all my little friends for a road trip to an away football game for my very special day. It was 7th grade because I remember singing music we'd learned in mixed choir that year. Mom made up "snack" bags for each of us - she always did the little things. We all just piled into the back of the wagon - loose, no seat belts, singing our lungs out. Good thing that wasn't enough to make my father crash the car!

Football has been a big part of my life - since childhood. I hope ESPN and dirty rat bastard wife beaters don't wreck it.

Kukie Robbie and Ollie (I know it's not Kukla, Fran and Ollie - weak)

Amy, Rob and me last summer

My real BFF (cuz I truly have know her forever) Robbie Dob (Robyn Bredensteiner Uehling - Atlantic home girl now living in Florida) has adopted a new family member. Her loyal friend Nhoj (John backwards)...no that isn't it. Nhoj was the name of the Bredensteiner dog when they lived in Fairlawns. He was named after the guy they got him from. I remember him well - because he used to hump my back when we'd sit on the floor to play board games. Bad Nhoj! What is he doing Mommy?

No, Robyn's recent doggy friend was Trebor - named, of course, after her daddy Robert Bredensteiner. I bet you can understand why she didn't name him Renietsnederb. After Treb passed over the Rainbow Bridge (I know, it's kind of a silly thing to say, but that poem people send after your pet passes away always makes me cry...) Rob gave herself time to grieve. She didn't rush into adopting another pet. That was wise!

Just a few weeks ago I saw on Facebook that there is a new guy in Robyn's life. The 4-legged kind. Oliver - I'm not sure why his name isn't Eilsel. Puzzling...But Oliver is adorable and she reports that he is adapting quite well to her weirdness. I'm pleased and am really happy for her. She has always been a doggy person - just like her momma - who had a dog named ToJo (for Tom and Jody). I called that dog Toe Jam just for fun. I think Oliver will be Ollie. That IS how Robyn became Robbie Dob after all, my father. It's a Bullock tradition to change names.

He's smiling at you. This photo warms my heart.

More Characterization in the Big O

I'm digging up some Blogger posts I wrote when I first started - back in 2009. When I had 5 whole readers...Paul and Amy. And I don't know who else. People who mistakenly came upon the blog thinking it was porn? I didn't know how to use labels then...so who knows...

This one continues my current theme - about characters in my life through the years...

In 2009 I had just begun working in Des Moines after making a big change in my life. I had accepted a job at the Department of Natural Resources (I'm not blogging about any of those DNR characters for a long time!).

A friend, Joan McFee, had graciously agreed to allow me to live at her place part time - so I didn't have to drive back and forth to our home in Creston. Joan's niece Krissy (Amy's age - grew up in Creston) was living with Joan too. During our shared evenings, Kristina would describe to me the angst of her first job post-college. The discussion helped dredge up memories of "My First Job".

I recently posted about my first job in Sioux Falls, SD at a grocery wholesaler - and the interesting boss, Kermet. What an education! The mechanic, a guy probably in his upper 50's, who worked on the delivery trucks was also quite a character. His name was Laurence. Laurence liked to take a nip or two while he worked. I couldn't complain though - he helped advise me on the care and maintenance of my 1977 Chevy Monza 4 speed. I didn't know a soul in that town except for the people at work. I valued their advice - liquor soaked or not.

After I worked in Sioux Falls for a mere 8 months, I was asked if I'd like to transfer to the Omaha branch of the company as Office Manager there. Let's see - more money and closer to home? Would I? In a heartbeat! It just so happened that my cute boyfriend had taken a job in Oakland, IA - some 20 miles from Omaha. And my baby sis, Betso was attending Creighton University in Omaha. Ah fate and destiny!

With the help of my high school friend Chris Deardorff, I found a great apartment out near Boy's Town that was bright and airy. I visited the famed Nebraska Furniture Mart and purchased a couch, bed and bedroom furniture, and butcher block kitchen table with chairs. On moving day, there was a mix up and it took Betsy's fierce call to the Mart to get the stuff delivered. It took a few more years for me to get the confidence to do my own bitching at people. (Though I still don't like to)

Pic from Vic's bachelorette Party in Omaha 1981 - Wild Night...looks like I had a head start

Once I moved, I was overjoyed to find out that two of my Atlantic friends were also coming to town. Robyn (of Robbie Dob fame) and Chris Deardorff were making the move for love (Robyn was moving with her husband to be Glenn) and jobs. What fun! The 3 amigos got together nearly every week to cook a meal. On Fridays we'd meet at the Rusty Scupper, a bar/restaurant in West O. It was a fun time in my life. Talk about characters - Robyn and Chris. Love 'em!

Oh yeah...the job. The Omaha branch of Gamble Robinson was located in the Old Market (it's now a parking lot near the brew pub). It was a very old building (read dump) that was below street level - you parked and walked down metal steps to the warehouse. But the location was great - the Old Market is one of my favorite places in the world! I loved lunchtime walks.

The branch manager in Omaha was Ron Nearman, a very nice straight-laced guy. No weapons in his desk! The rest of the staff was a lesson in diversity for me!

• Executive Secretary Pat - the 50ish spinster with a boyfriend. Gruff, crusty exterior. Creston, IA native.
• Lila - 40ish lesbian bookkeeper, quirky and nice once she learned to trust me
• Nedda - 300 pound Italian lady with bouffant hair, married, one child - tender heart
• Karen, the cute blond Unwed mother. Hooked up with a truck driver who delivered to our company long enough to get preggers
• And me - the office manager, by then all of 23 - supposed to be in charge of everyone but Pat.

Then there were the salesmen:

• Pete, a kindly older gentleman who traveled in SW Iowa
• Ed a nice guy who traveled the Council Bluffs area
• Dan, a groovy divorcee
• Lester "Red" Eymann - the most homely man you've ever seen who was lewd and crude and you had to love him! In today's world Red would be a walking sexual harassment poster boy! When I would walk through the sales office sometimes Red would make a slurping noise and say, " I could just eat you up or slurp you." There were many more. I learned to deflect comments like that. Today comments like that wouldn't be tolerated!

Last but not least was Jackson - the lumper. Lumpers were not employed by GR, but they were necessary! They hung around to help unload semis as they arrived, and were paid in cash by truck drivers. Jackson was a large black man with a friendly personality. He liked to gamble and drink. When he was flush, he would head to Sioux City to the dog track. There weren't any casinos in Council Bluffs back then and that was the closest track. I heard that after I left, Jackson appeared in the picture window into the manager's office, buck naked after one bender....guess he was on a hot streak....

Out in the warehouse there were lots of good guys. They taught me things about bananas (get your mind out of the gutter). Bananas arrive in the country Kelly green. They must be ripened in special rooms with gas before you get them. Other refrigerated rooms in our warehouse were damp and some were dry. GR employed a crew of mainly African American women who prepared the chopped veggies/lettuce etc. that the company sold to restaurants.

My desk in Omaha was an old wooden one - I pulled it out in the morning and pushed it back in each night. I worked long hours, and worked early every Saturday morning to complete a report. Those were the days of early IBM mainframes so I learned to run the computer with its tiny little LED screen. I "Balanced" the books each month, which was a huge challenge since it seemed huge amounts of produce seemed to disappear. Then I'd be out in the warehouse quizzing the staff.

They must have liked me, because when Paul and I moved (we were married in 1982) to Osage, IA in 1984 they created a job for me, traveling up to Wisconsin to do training in small branches up there. I do love my Snoboy (Gamble Robinson's brand) stuff! I found an old Snoboy wood box in an Atlantic antique store and a Snoboy cranberry ad in Valley Junction. Maybe first jobs aren't so bad after all...

Jody joins her Tom Tom

Robyn with Amy and me this summer

My memories of Jody date back to their first house on Oak Street, nestled up against a hill. I spent a lot of time in that home playing with my friend Robyn and of course her momma Jody was there. I got word today that Jody passed away yesterday January 1, at the age of 83. Obituary

Robyn is my oldest (or should I say mostest longest) friends. I'm not sure how our parents got to know each other - back when Jody was married to Robyn's dad Bob Bredensteiner, who worked at the Atlantic News Telegraph (or the ANT as we called it). Dad's buddy Fritz Simpson was the publisher, so perhaps that was connection. In small towns we all know each other, I guess.

My Mom and Jody were not very much alike, but hung in the same circle. They connected enough to make sure Robyn and I played together. The Bredensteiners had a bar in their basement, which was perfect for pretending we were in the wild, wild west! Robyn was Honey West to my Maverick when we played pretend. Sometimes Jody would come singing down the stairs with a snack for us while we were playing. I still remember listening to the record story of "Hansel and Gretel" at their house. That was scary as hell! "Stick out your finger so I can see if you're fat enough to eat." Speaking of scary - the sound of Jody's voice yelling "Robyn Lee!" is embedded into my memory. It was never good when she rolled out the middle name...

Around the time we were in 6th grade, Bob and Jody's marriage broke up. She found the love of her life - Tom Henningsen - her Tom Tom. It wasn't an easy time for the kids involved - the Henningsens and Robyn and her sis Karla. Back then divorce wasn't common like it is today. But through the years, the new families gradually emerged. Today, all the kids are as close as siblings.

I believe Tom and Jody enjoyed over 30 years of marriage. They had a great life together - enjoying winters in the Bahamas, trips, golf, building homes together and more. Tom, an Atlantic native like Dad was one of my father's longtime friends. They loved to fish together and Tom had his pilot's license. He probably flew much longer than he should have. My fave story was when they flew somewhere without a flight plan...was it Canada? Officials were freaking out. Then they saw it was old guys and just laughed. Jody and Tom were perfect for each other.

Jody was dramatic and had great pipes (voice) and legs. It seems like she was always dressed up too - but that's probably just my memory bank. I think Jody even appeared in Atlantic musicals and seem to recall her sitting on a piano singing. She loved her dogs - she had miniature schnauzers. One was named "ToJo" for Tom and Jody. Hmm how about our next dog to be named LePa! (Kinda like leper) haha. Jody was a great cook and entertainer, much like her daughter Robyn, and she even ran a little antique store in Atlantic for a while. Her homes were awesome - she had great (and expensive) taste!

For the past few years, since Tom's death, Jody has lived at Heritage House, the retirement home in Atlantic. Her health has not been good. Still Robyn has been upbeat when talking about the care she has received and the conversations she's had when visiting her mom, which involved a flight from Rob's home in Orlando - most recently in November.

Yesterday I was texting Happy New Years to my high school buddies, and my concerns about my dog and her surgery scheduled for today. Rob didn't say a thing about her mom and her health. She said she didn't wish to text about it - understandable.

Jody's passing is a blessing. Her quality of life here on earth was dwindling and now she joins her beloved Tom - who passed a few years ago. Eagle's wings Jody!

I will see Robyn and the rest of the family at the visitation Monday afternoon. I am looking forward to it.

Finally a Winner

We got up early Sunday to head back north to Iowa. We were on a mission - to attend the ISU basketball game at 4 p.m. We arrived at home about 1:15 p.m. Odie was happy to see us. Our new pretend dog sitter Jordan did a fine job as she was alive and everything! I say pretend because Jordan refused to accept payment for her services, ruling out a repeat performance. What a nice kid!

We took off about an hour later to head to Hilton Coliseum where Dickie V. (ESPN's Dick Vitale) would be appearing for the very first time to call the a game here. Michigan, ranked number 7 was coming to town. I could feel the excitement as soon as I set foot in the building! We ran into Crestonian Bill Kunert on our way to our seats in section 217. Then we made our way to the cheap seats - but still a pretty good view.

Dick V. made nice with the students - bald guy by the poster

 As an added bonus, the 'ol coach - one of my favorite guys Johnny Orr was in the house. He has history with both these program - as the winningest coach with each program. Johnny is now 86 years old - but he's still got it. The band played "Here's Johnny" the theme from the Tonight Show, just like the did back in the day. His former player - now Coach, Fred Hoiberg got a little teary-eyed they say when both men appeared on the floor together. And then he said we wasn't sure Johnny was ever going to leave. It was a touching moment.

The great Johnny Orr

The game was a back and forth affair with lots of drama. When it was over, the good guys came out on top! Just what the doctor ordered for the win-starved Cyclone fans. The students rushed the floor and soon the joyful sounds of Neil Diamond singing Sweet Caroline rang out over the sound system. Love was in the air. Clone love. We have ourselves a basketball team to watch this winter!

Students rush the court - we did not

Paul and I hustled out the door toward our next appointment. High School friends Robyn and Julia were awaiting at the airport Fairfield Inn, after spending a few days in Iowa with friends and family. Love seeing my gals. Rob made me a nice drink, and then we went out to eat at Johnny's Steakhouse (no relation to Johnny Orr) next door. I was pooped ladies and gents. I could barely keep my itty bitty eyes open. Somehow a lovely birthday cheesecake appeared before me before we said goodbye. Wish I had more time with the girls, but Paul and I had to work Monday. And I'm old. I wish I would have taken a pic of Jules and Rob. Duh.

It was a wonderful way to end a great weekend! I can't stress it enough - we are very blessed.

My baby has gone south...

After the wedding we had a visitor. No...not really. Amy can't be called a visitor, since she's our kid. But I didn't want to sit around blogging while she was at our house. After Amy left, Cindo and Bonnie arrived. So I'm a bit behind on my writing - and my Aunt Martha texted me to let me know!

Tonight, I'm in Spencer, Iowa - near Iowa's Great Lakes. If you're not from Iowa, you probably don't ever realize we have lakes that are great - natural glacial. I spent some time at the lakes (aka Okoboji) when I was a kid, at my relative's lake place - the Stewarts. Tomorrow - I won't be at the lake. I'll be at City Hall and the landfill. Not quite the same - still, I'll be digging it! Because I love my job.

My workmates - Scott, Jeff and Becky and I all went out to eat with my longtime friend Mary Faber tonight. She lives in Emmetsburg and works here in Spencer. It's always fun the see Mar - one of my fave people. Of course she won the hearts of the staties I was with!

Back to last week. Amy was hanging in WDM with us, preparing for her 5 week trip to South and Central America. She quit her job of 2 years, ready for a new challenge. The kid has been saving her cash, because she works to live - and to her livin' is travelin'! It makes her daddy and me nervous - hell yes. But we don't want her to stop being Amy. We so proud that she is brave enough to travel far and wide, and in this case - by herself for much of the trip. She is a smart traveler, and I tell myself - she could get hit by a bus in Denver, right?

With 2 of my fave peeps

On Monday, I had such a pleasant lunch when Amy and my longtime pal Robyn joined me in the East Village. She was back in Iowa from her home in Florida, visiting her Momma at Heritage House in Atlantic. I'm so pleased she takes time to see me! Such a bonus that Amy was available too! We had lunch at the Continental.

Do I look proud of my girls?

Chiya looks a little scared...we had the owner cook for us - he had a cute giggle!

I ask my Lil Sis Chiya to go out to eat with us at O'Hana's last Tuesday night. I wanted her to meet Amy, because I can't think of a better role model for her. Chiya's Grandma had her all dressed up for the occasion. While she likes Chinese food, I don't think the Japanese fare was her fave - especially when I explained to her that Amy was eating squid. She tried the shrimp appetizer, but Paul quickly got the rest. Amy was the recipient of most of her veggies. Chiya did like the virgin strawberry daiquiris, salad, rice, noodles and sesame chicken. For dessert - a chocolate shake. Amy liked it all - including her Templeton Rye Manhattan.

A couple nights Amy got together with her college pals Rachelle and Jenna. It makes my heart happy to hear those gals laugh so heartily. At one point they took photos downstairs under Paul's antlers - like they were coming out of their heads. Too funny.

All too soon, it was 4 a.m. Thursday - time to take Amy to the airport for her flight. She has texted, emailed and even blogged since she left - so that helps. Amy even met up with a friend of a friend Saturday night, in Cusco Peru, which was nice, because she sounded like she felt a bit down and lonely. The report so far - she loved Machu Picchu. She's in Lima tonight and tomorrow night - I know because she sent me the "where Amy rests her noggin" spreadsheet. I'm not sure I needed to know the names of the hostels she staying in though - like "Supertramp". Sound icky to me...

If you want to keep up on her blog: http://amygizzle.blogspot.com/

Time to get to bed - I have an audit to do tomorrow!

Red Magic and Cappel's Ace Hardware

Everett "Red" Faust of Atlantic passed away this past week. He was the father of my longtime friend Theresa, who passed away several years ago, much before her time. The Fausts lived down the hill and around the corner from us. Graysons were next door and the Weresh's across the street. Bredensteiners lived a half block away - scant seconds by bicycle. The Bucks were close by too.

Red Faust was quite a guy - larger than life, which was hard because he was like 6 foot 7 inches tall! His obituary is linked here: Red Faust Obit

Red was a radio guy by the time I knew him. Back then KJAN was Atlantic's only radio station - the one to listen to when one wanted to know what was happening in town. Were we having a snow day, released from school prison? Was our lost dog found? Red had a great radio voice.

Red could perform magic. When Theresa had slumber parties - which included ten or more of her closest friends, he would pull quarters our of our ears and do card tricks. He was game for anything. Robyn reminds me that he even played along with our "Lift" game. It was the usual slumber party thing to do. It went like this:

The volunteer. In this case - long, tall Red Faust lay on his back on the floor. The girls sat around him, each with 2 fingers under his body. The lead girl at his head said the words:
"He's looking ill." then everyone repeated that back, going around in order - clockwise. "He's looking worse" - everyone repeats. "He's dying" repeat and finally, "he is dead." Then everyone begins to chant: "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." (this was before we might have gotten a chuckle out of the subtext of that line...)
and they begin to lift the prone body with their fingers.

I'm not sure we got Red too far in the air! Red and Mary Jane, his wife agreed to judge a dance contest at the party too, as I recall. Later Chris Deardorff and I retired to sleep under the ping pong table. I couldn't handle the hazing that would befall others who fell asleep early - freezing bras, toothpaste on the legs, and the worst - a hand in the warm water, hoping the sleeper would wet the sleeping bag!

Rest in Peace Red. I am comforted with the thought that you are now with your beloved daughter Theresa.

Paul and I were shopping today and instead of purchasing 20 feet of chain for an antique paper press at Lowe's we decided to visit the Ace Hardware we spied on 50th and EP True. I like hardware stores - so full of cool stuff, with real people ready to assist you! As we walked in I noticed something I never had before - it said Cappel's Ace Hardware. Just like the store in Atlantic! Hmmm I wondered - are they related?

Connie Nixon - secretary of our townhouse association knows the Cappels in Atlantic. Before she retired she worked for an association for independent hardware stores. We selected a couple items and found the type of chain we wanted. Paul asked a guy working there to cut it for him, and they chatted. Turns out it was Dougie Cappel - no doubt now known as Doug.

In the small world department, Doug said he was just talking about me with my college roomie Jane Flack Conn. Their children attend Des Moines Christian School together. I taught swimming lessons to Doug (then known to me as Dougie) some 35 years ago at the Country Club pool. He remembers that.

It was so nice talking to Doug, the grown up man. He said such complementary things about our dad, Dave Bullock. He said his father Dick had attended Kemper Military School because of Dad, and that his dad thought the world of our dad. Doug also said he thought highly of Dad. It made me feel really good. I'll be buying local from that store again! You know, Des Moines isn't such a big place after all.

Dad 2002 - with his girls