Anna's Echos

Anna, soon it will be for first birthday. I think of a year ago when our footsteps must have sounded like
enormous echos entering the room  where you slept tucked in mothers arms, then changing to Daddy's hands. You were so quiet. We bent to see your tiny face and nose and say that you were the prettiest baby in the world. Soon we heard your cry-your first important echo, saying that you wanted to eat-that you were wet.-that you were sleepy-The echo etched; onto our hearts each in different ways.

Now months later the echos have grown-they the landmarks-Down crawling with grandpa, cutting two teeth, crawling over and batting on the stereo, then swaying for an entire minute, your bottom stuck up in the air going from side to side to the beat...oblivious of all else.

As of now, at ten months you stand erect and walk. You toss cell phones down and bang cups at parties, and give wet teething slobbers for kisses. You look at us and imitate our every move. There was the day you stuck out that tongue and tasted the air.; and the delightful belly laugh, like how daddy did; now stranger anxiety where you get furious and cry real tears that stop like that! when Mommy comes into sight. It's not that you are the only baby but that you are the only baby to us. Your echos are unique and beautiful to those who love you...Echo honest echos, big echos, echos of integrity.,We Love You -Dear Little Echo...Anna from Grandma

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echos: Mother of the Groom-blues

echos: Mother of the Groom-blues: I don't know about you, but for me there were some messy hormone days following the birth of our only child. It was "back then" and my Docto...

Mother of the Groom-Blues

I don't know about you, but for me there were some messy hormone days following the birth of our only child. It was "back then" and my Doctor said I could gain no more than 15 pounds. I gained 13lbs. As soon as we got home I went down to 105-The sun came out three months later, but there were some cloudy days.Following the rain, I loved motherhood passionately. I wish I could have had eight; nevertheless I became close to the one God gave us-There was just one  problem...It was waiting for him to find he one compatible girl for the ring. Finally, after college-followed by a masters-followed by 14 years of  his coaching I gave up. I would never be a grandmother or have that daughter-in -law "daughter" relationship I craved. After suggesting he try a dating service-the town had run out of single woman to date-he said, "No need. I know who she is. We've found one another." I met her six months later when I knew it was for real. She was a winner-lovely, intelligent-mature and kind. We were sailing toward a wedding. Then crash! Someone told me to say goodbye to my our son-as did another and another-It was like they were trying to torment me. It isn't just fathers that grow sad. I finally broke down and wept.  Upon seeing our son I cried, "Please come home to visit,. He laughed as I dried my eyes with the glue gun. I was using it to make rehearsal dinner decorations. I had tried to counter my friends by saying both sets of parents could share a holiday meal together. They shook their heads. No-It didn't work that way, they said. Now six years later and with a grandchild- I can say 'they were wrong.' We share Easter and other times together and they invite us up for branding. Don't buy it. There's plenty of love and alot of chairs and food for everyone. Step out of the box and look for alternatives. Why be lonely and miserable?  Get together as needed. Tour children will love having you together rather than worrying about you home alone and put out...Smile...

echos: Echos At Fifty and Over

echos: Echos At Fifty and Over: Barb Franzen- My son is now close to forty and someone I admire a great deal. One day back when he was in high school he surprised my h...

Echos At Fifty and Over

Barb Franzen-
   My son is now close to forty and someone I admire a great deal. One day back when he was in high school  he surprised my husband and I. He wanted to share his favorite quote-Perhaps you have heard it. It goes: Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion; you must set yourself on fire. I liked the words. Apparently he decided to live by them as today he is a head college football coach who has said-"It's about more that winning a game. The other task is getting rhese young men ready for the adult world; it's preparing  tham to lead productive and responsible lives". I agree. And what is our task as women in middle life?
-   In order to be successful we must be and act responsibly. This doesn't mean we can't paint rainbows or do some scribble art or bat a balloon around. What does responsible mean? It means that as women we take charge of our health, guard our finances act with integrity and tthoughtfulness, give to charities-mine is veterans and abused animals-volunteer...It means that we take time to know ourselves and our needs and while developing our skills. Most importantly ...we do not sit and wait for the world to come to us with open arms-it doesn't work like that. We must spontaneously combust; thereby taking sn aactive role in fulfilling our goals. if  you aren't on fire by fifty, it's time to strike the match and get out of the nest. Ask yourself this? What are the echos I want to leave behind so that I will have made a difference for those who follow in my footsteps? It might be a roomful of quilts, a book, recipes you wrote, research that was done by you, a colorful family tree, the worlds most creative scrapbook, becoming a senator? Whatever it is, act...light the match  to combustion and live...Leave echos. Fifty or over...you are nowhere near done. Enjoy life.

Doing by Fifty-One

Angus Nebr.-Fuller Car 1909-

I was researching for Candleglow Dreams, my book. I wanted to know about early cars that we might have driven going back to the 1900's. Boy! Did I hit the Jack pot! I had my husband reading to me from
Dorothy Weyer Craig's book, "Ne. Where Dreams Grow" On page 100 she talks about the horse less carriage and then she comes to 1909 Angus Automobile Co, and the Fuller Car. built in a factory near The Little Blue- My ears were burning hot- Back when I was a therapist in Hastings Ne. I explored everywhere from Red Cloud-Home of Willa Cather to towns that were no longer towns. One day going east from lovely little Hill town Nelson, Co. seat I came to a bend in the road and thought I had stepped into another world. I was in Angus. There was a little brick sidewalk, a stream, some old abandoned houses, old mechanics garages, and simply loveliness and charm. It was like stepping onto a movie screen and having nothing but the landscape and buildings present. I had no idea they made Fuller Cars there. I read here that the factory was in Angus itself. Charles M. Fuller was the VIP. the car had a motor with a chain drive in a buggy frame., a hand brake, and a steering tiller. He left then returned and did a model A one for $2,500-Eventually stockholders had their differences-after thirteen of these-But- and guess what? He sold the early model to Dr. Robert Redford...Hey...I wish I had been present to go on a house call-Visit Angus-Ne.You willl love the charm!