Kid's Corner
with Caitlin
Back to School:
I'm in fourth grade this year and on the School Patrol. It's my job to look after the little kids when they're crossing the street. You know how youngsters are, not always paying attention. I also have to watch out for adults who are driving and not paying attention either. If you're around a school, slow down and be alert or you'll hurt someone. Slowing down won't take much of your time and it will make my job easier and safer for everyone.
Get involved in your school.
It's great to have other adults around in the school. Guest readers, mentors, aides, helpers, whatever, talk to your school principle or a member of your PTA. If you're a Grandma or Grandpa and retired, getting involved with your neighborhood school will be rewarding for everyone. We appreciate all your years of experience and knowledge and you're usually a bit more tolerant with our behavior.
"We Can Make a Difference"
Yes, we're still doing our school program. Books, school supplies, winter clothes, sporting equipment are accepted. Call us with questions or for pick ups.
This program has been successful
because of the help from you and your friends.
Our Four Year Anniversary.
We just celebrated our official four year anniversary as a family. It's been a good four plus years of being together. We celebrated with dinner, flowers, friends and exchanged presents. Joe gave Mom a zirconium inlaid microwave and Mom gave Joe a really cool chain saw. I got a "Life is Good" cap and some other cool stuff. Having friends celebrate with us in June and then now was the best. We really do have a large family of friends. We missed having Herschel here to celebrate with us. He loved parties, Christmas, all the holidays and just being with us. He and I used to hang out in my room, play ball or just watch TV together. I remember one Christmas Eve night I saw him take a rice crispy bar right out of Santa's hand. Guess he figured Santa couldn't eat it with his beard and all and Santa didn't seem to mind. It's sad that he's gone but it made me realize how much I love everyone in our family and how we should appreciate each other and celebrate every day as an anniversary.
Friends
Friends are probably the nicest gifts we ever receive. They're there with us to celebrate or cry and they rarely ask for anything. They're just friends. We have some friends who are doing battle with cancer and one friend who just lost his wife of many years. We can't do a lot to ease their pain but we can say a prayer for them. So when you think about it; Jean, Tony and Don could use your prayers and best wishes. If you don't pray a lot maybe you could just think a nice thought for them and wish them well in your heart.
Have a Great Day and go hug your family and a friend!
| Caitlin |
Herschel came to me when he was a kitten, a gift from my friends Terry & Penny. We took to each other right off the bat, needed each other I guess. Through thick and thin he was always there, a totally unconditional relationship.
When I started in the real estate business and things were slower he'd sit with me and let me know that everything would be just fine. He'd say, "Hug the cat and don't worry."
He met Martha when she was a kitten and he was a year older. They became the best of friends and he looked after her. She scares easily and Herschel would be there to protect her from shadows. He would defer to her at meal time, except when Nancy's sister made spaghetti and meatballs.Then it was everyone for himself. He walked around the kitchen begging Virginia, 'feed me please, give me one of those meatballs, please, please please!" She does make THE BEST spaghetti and meatballs!
Herschel was always at the door to greet you when you came home and walked you to the door to say goodbye. He wouldn't let you come or go without a hug. Affection and tenderness were his strongest attributes and hopefully he taught me well.
When he met Nancy and Caitlin he was absolutely thrilled. He figured he had plenty of love and affection to go around and knew he'd get that much more in return. He loved to snuggle up to Nancy and I suspect he also liked her cooking better then mine.
He was protective too. One morning I heard Nancy calling me from the bedroom. When I went in there Nancy was standing on the bed, Caitlin was laughing and Herschel was playing with this little mouse. The mouse was pretty quick and got away. Nancy left for work with instructions that the mouse would be gone prior to her return home, so the hunt was on. Herschel chased it into a corner where he promptly turned around, sat on it and looked at us as if to say, " I got it, now what?" Stunned the tiny creature was removed to the outdoors.
He also loved to hang out in Caitlin's play room in the basement with her stuffed animals and toys. A year ago we had to have some work done to our drain tile and they had to break out the cement along two walls of the playroom and redo it. Later that day we went downstairs to find his footprints along the whole wall. He thought it was pretty funny.
Herschel had simple priorities in life: Love, Affection, Playfulness, Gentleness, Eating, More Affection, Sleeping and
Living one day at a time.
Herschel was a gift, a joy, a great teacher and my best friend for seventeen plus years.
Herschel died in our arms or August 8th. 1999.
He is missed by all of us.