Our Family

Last weekend, on the occasion of the purchase of a new TV and surround sound system, we watched Star Wars as a family. Only very, very rarely do the boys get to watch a PG movie (Incredibles, Ants, maybe one or two others). Even many of the G movies are out of bounds in our household with violence or excessive negativity. Obviously, we decided to make an exception last weekend. It was funny how much of the story they already knew from miscellaneous kids books. Also, Elliot was very interested in categorizing each character as good or bad...as he has always wanted to do with my old Star Wars action figures that they play with. I remember going to see Star Wars in the theater. I was 5. When my mom asked me if I wanted to go, I remember that it was kind of a shock that going to the movie theater to see a movie like Star Wars was something I could do. I also remember that we had recently been to the beach, and my back was pealing.

A couple weekends ago when I was cleaning out the basement, I came across an old Bible of mine and found a letter from my paternal grandmother. It's dated August 26, 1990 (the summer between my senior year in high school and freshman year at Lipscomb). It's written on one of those "Footprints" cards. Below I've typed out the letter in case the images are hard to read.

Hello, Again! It was so good to see you in passing! So thank goodness, for small favors! Now, one more week 'til we'll be able to see you a little longer! Hope you had a safe trip back up the mountain. Thanks for the beautiful for letter. I was so pleased that you took the time to write me. I'm sure you will do well in your studies -- you are college material, you know; and as long as you keep your priorities in order you'll see. I know it will be harder than high school but shucks, man! You're an adult now -- You can handle it. Right? I'm going to Connecticut to see Alice next month. My flight reservations are for Sept 15th-22nd -- Sat. to Sat. I'm really looking forward to going, especially since I didn't get up there last year. I'm feeling better this year if Old Man Arthur(itis) will co-operate. Friday Richard and I were sitting here at my dining table playing Battleship -- just happened to look out and there was a groundhog playing around on the patio! He seemed perfectly at home; in fact he went in a hole at the edge of the slab, so he may have a home under my patio. I'm not sure it's safe (?) to sit out there -- never know what will pop up. I've had cats, dogs, chip-monks, squirrels and all kinds of birds in and out. Birds even fly into the glass doors and injure themselves and need doctoring etc! Oh well! I may turn out to be a bird watcher! I keep busy sewing and reading. I've just re-read Tony Hillerman's "A Thief of Time." Tony writes a lot about Navajo tribal police -- novels on a police line and also lots about the Indian way. Pretty interesting and cleaner than most -- once in a while a few four letter words -- novels. "The Fly on the Wall" by Tony is good, too; about a reporter uncovering scams in gov't in Washington. I really do like to read good human interest fiction. The new Gospel Advocate is out -- all about "One Nation Under God." Some very interesting articles -- I even learned something about God Bless America by Irving Berlin. This whole week-end has been a little quiet with most everyone in Raleigh. I kept Kathryn Fri. p.m. and Sat. p.m. since Jeannie was working. She had fun -- dressing in my "older" clothes and putting on fashion shows, etc. You know her gift of imagination. She says when she grows up she wants to be pretty like Laura and smart like Jonathan! When Jeannie got home we sent shopping and then went to The Grecian House for dinnah! I had never eaten there and found the food very good (I loved their swordfish) so a good time was had by all. You might want to keep the poem on this card to read and re-read. It's one of my favorites. Let me hear again. Take good care and God bless! I love you, Ma-maw

A couple recent face drawings by EJ:

We concluded our Cincinnati vacation by attending the opening day Cubs/Reds game. We were in the nosebleed seats, but the weather was great, and we had a good time. We missed the chance to boo GWB by a year. Here are some photos: