Update on my Dad

My Dad was taken by ambulance this morning because of a high fever and weakness.

I knew he was very ill when he didn't have the strength to press the TV remote.

Pneumonia was ruled out.

Then the doctor came in and said he has a "rip roaring UTI"

I asked my sister in law Kim to hurry over and stand by Scott before he hid his face. 

Uh, too late.

He humors my Dad though, so that's good enough.

Dad is still in ER and since they are packed, he may not get a room till morning. 

But he didn't want to marry her!

I thought about not posting this because of its scandalous nature.
However, I work on family history every day lately, and we take the good with the bad, right?

Besides, this so clearly illustrates the thinking of 1894, over a hundred years ago.
I thought it interesting this story was all deemed the man's fault.

So she "wins" his hand in marriage after trying to get him arrested
and in prison because he didn't want to get married.

And why would this woman.....who happens to be the sister of my Great Grandmother....
why would she even want to be married to a man who didn't want her? 

A 12 day trial? And how in the world did they come up with the 50 witnesses to testify?

I found the above article in one of my Mom's binders just recently. 

They went on to have 5 children, and she died at the age of 42.
 I have no idea what kind of marriage they had, but I can guess.

I am so very curious about this trial.
I'm trying to think of a way to learn more about it....
I would especially like to know what those 50 witnesses had to say.

This is my Grandpa Slinkard.
Laura Slinkard in the article above, was his Aunt.

I never noticed it before, but this young Grandpa Slinkard looks similar to my brother Chris.

Some things never change

Den says I'm obsessed with family history lately. He's right.
And in the process I am running into little treasures,
like this letter my mother wrote in 1957. Nothing too remarkable about it....
but notice what she says about me in the 3rd paragraph. Den says I am the same now.

 My Mom had 3 little kids at the time yet somehow she still found time for family history,

and visiting my Dad's sick or lonely relatives. 

By the time she had 8, same thing, only more of it.

Here we are, same year...1957.

Richard, Johnny, and Jill

Someone else in  our family loves to talk. Take a look here. 

If I didn't know Tyler so well I would say he is exaggerating a bit here, but I know he doesn't do that. 
So it really was 25 minutes!

Did you like Gone with the WInd?

Den and I have been watching this movie through 4 dinners so far and we are half way through. 

The last time I saw it, I was 17 and I quite loved it! 

It is so historical....not only the time period of 1865, 

but also the time period it was actually made in, 1939.

But guess what? So far Dennis doesn't like it.

I am totally gripped by it, while he is watching the clock.

I love the drama of it all, and the drama is constant. I had forgotten how constant.

Did you enjoy this movie once upon a time?

Or were you the only other person (besides Dennis) who hadn't seen it?

Together again!

In beautiful Portland together for 3 months.....

Aunt "Kenna" with Grant and his cousin Richie.

McKay and Tyler just like old times.

Richie!

Grant!

Karen with her Rich boy.

And look what the Heasley men made for dinner tonight:

Tyler and McKay go off to work together tomorrow, as Tyler begins his actuarial internship. 

Their wives both enter week 30 of their pregnancies.

Oh what a life.

Life doesn't come with a manual.

This was only released 5 days ago and the viewing is climbing.

Just in case you haven't seen it, here it is. I love it!

As I watch it, all I can think of is all that my mother has done for me.

I still remember when my Mom use to do this.....

Modesto

While growing up, when someone would ask me,
"So, have you lived in this town all of your life?" 
I would say, "No, I use to live in Modesto." 

I was only 3 months old at the time and we lived there for one summer.
But I still clung to that fact. I didn't want anyone thinking I had not been anywhere.

So this week when Dennis took my Dad to his Dr appt in, of all places... Modesto,

they went looking for that house on Floto Way.....and found it!

Seems like it should look older than that. 

But it's kind of cute.

We had the bottom apartment with the porch.

All these years later, and now I know what it looks like.

Just my Mom, Dad, my 2 year old brother, and baby me.

We were such a small little family back then.

Who would have thought 94 people would later join our family?

Watch Jo pack

Den and I have a good friend who travels a lot.
She has been just about everywhere and anywhere.
I know she packs light because we often pick her up from the airport.
So I was curious, and asked if we could come see how she does it.

This time she is going to Ohio for 2 weeks. And this is all she is bringing with her.

  So I can't quite adopt her ways. 

However, there is something she also does that I have done the past  few trips. 

She uses her guest bedroom to pack in and begins about 2 weeks before she leaves. 

That way she can have her "suitcase" open and add to it as she thinks of things she needs. 

Which in her case is very little, and in my case is very much!

Two More Books

I've read these both recently and really enjoyed them...

I've read all of her other books, and I admit I rolled my eyes and shook my head at times. 

But not at this one. She is nearly as old as I am, and she has a life perspective. 

I was surprised at how honest she was....admitting her failures and regrets. 

We all have them. 

I was especially surprised by the conversation between her and one of her daughters in the last chapter.

But I have a warning. I could have done without Chapter One. 

It's like the first chapter was written by a different author. 

There was nothing wrong with it per say...I even agreed with it,  just draggy. 

The rest of the book to me was a page turner.

And this one...

I don't usually read children's literature.

So I only read this one because it was recommended by a good friend who knows me well. 

She said I would love this book and I did! I fell in love with the characters, 

and especially the relationship between this very awkward child and his parents.

It all just left me with this huge desire to be kinder and gentler, with everyone.

I can't explain it very well, so take a look at this little trailer about it:

 

Thank you!

I really appreciate all of you who took the time to comment on my last post. Now we have a big list of ideas of to watch during dinner. We have decided to watch the first episode of each show, and then see which one will work best for us. If you think of anymore, please do let me know so I can put it on my list!

So thanks to all of you, this is what we get to choose from...(and many I have not even heard of before)

A Touch of Frost
Little House on the Prairie
Granite Flats
Waltons
Cheers
Magnum PI
Friday Night Lights  (Den already vetoed this one)
Veronica Mars
Tales of Avonlea
Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman
The Rifleman
Highway to Heaven  (this was Bill's favorite program ever so I've had my fill of it)
Rockford Files
Christy
Downton Abbey (I know SO many LOVE this one, so I don't know why we didn't.)
Rosemary and Thyme
Seinfeld (Even though the Romneys love this, I can still hear my Mom telling me it was not for us.)
             

This should be fun while we decide. Thank you again so very much!