Vacation time in Iowa

Hi neighbors. I've been in Iowa for a week and have enjoyed the cool weather! Mornings are still cool enough for sweaters or jackets and stay cool 'till almost noon. I also got to go to three of my granddaughter's soft ball games and saw her team win!

My daughter came to Nevada on June 20 to attend my son's wedding. After the wedding she stayed a week with me to care for Bill's Corgi, Zeus, and Bill and Amber's cats while they were gone on their honeymoon to Branson. They were back by the next Saturday and we all attended the Malcom family reunion. The reunion was held this year at The Gathering Place, a quiet log cabin out east of town.

There were many families in attendance from several states. A good time was had by all, with videos of now elderly cousins when they were children. There was a pond with boats for rides, swings and games outside for the children. Some of the younger generation played some nice soft jazz music for our outdoor entertainment on the large veranda.

Some brought old photographs to share and scan onto Facebook for all to download. That, of course, started conversations about who lived where, who they married, when they died, etc.

I was pleased to find a member of the younger generation busy with genealogy research! She had only been at it for a year and a half, so I gladly shared research tips with her. I gave her my card so she could email me and I could send what info I have on the Malcom/Manley Dotson/Henderson families.

This was the first reunion without the matriarch of the Malcom family in Vernon County: Leta Bell Malcom. It was also the first time Gentry Malcom wasn't there to play cards, marbles, horseshoes or story swapping. Both Leta and Gentry passed away in 2014.

Another elder member celebrated a birthday and best wishes were offered to him by all present.

So time, and family, goes onward.

The day after the reunion, Jennifer returned to her home in Des Moines, Iowa, and I came along for a two-week trip. I had planned on visiting a writer's group in Des Moines, but we changed our plans and decided to come home a couple of days early.

I also missed my own Creative Writers group here in Nevada held the first Monday of each month. Fellow member, Doris Quackenbush was left to take over. A job I'm sure she handled well.

It seems that the days, weeks, months and years all go flying by. This is made more evident every time we see pictures of the past, or hear songs or stories of our pasts.

It seems more and more people are interested in genealogy these days, and all of our mundane chores, occupations and hobbies may be held in high interest in years to come. I know I enjoy reading diaries and journals of people from two to three generations past in my own family. Their day-to-day lives were simple, but still different from ours today.

One ancestor told of having the only telephone in the community when she was middle-aged. People came to their home/store every day to call someone. If they received a call, someone was sent running to tell them to hurry to the store; or a message was taken, written down, and hand delivered.

In these days of cell phones, text messages and Internet chats and social media, it's difficult to imagine people waiting days to walk to the store to make a phone call. Or have to get to the store to return a call they had gotten a message (hand written on paper) to call a friend or relative from another community or another state.

Of course, phone calls from other states were not as rare as we might think. And it seems all the news was spread to any one who came into the store. Having a phone, much less having the ONLY phone, was a big responsibility back then.

Having a radio was another responsibility. There were few radios, and few radio stations. If you had a radio, you were obligated to share the news or to even invite folks over to hear certain shows or political speeches. These radios ran on batteries and sometimes batteries could only be bought in places like Kansas City or Springfield. A buggy trip that might take a few days.

Nothing was easy back then. I think genealogy has taught me that things don't always change for the better, but every aspect of people's lives change with time.

Until the next time folks, remember to enjoy the cool weather if you have it. August heat is only a blink away!