“Aw sugar” My mother would say when she was upset when one of her wonderful cakes did not rise properly in our kerosene stove that we used in the summer until we got electricity in our house at the Wayside. That was about as harsh a swear word that Mama ever said. ...

One of the good things about living in an Assisted Living Facility is that most of the residents are in the same general age group. That makes it easy to have the conversation because you can usually start it by saying, “When you were little did your mother play games with you?” if the answer is yes you can learn about some new games and get to know other residents better. At this time of the summer, it is easy to listen to or share your own memories about the fourth of July...

Recently I had the experience of telling a newcomer to our town about some of the many good things going on in all of Vernon County. I realize that those who have always lived in a big city might easily overlook many of the gifts of Nevada and Vernon County...

A little wicker baby buggy took me around the house and even short shopping trips when I was quite young. This baby buggy had a top on it that covered just half of the buggy but could be turned to cover the half that needed shelter at any given time. This buggy had four wheels, two in front and two at the back. I believe that it was my first means of transportation...

My father liked cats and often for some reason when we didn’t have one he would suggest that we go looking for one so we eagerly set out to a home near El Dorado Springs where we heard a lady had some cats for sale. When we got there we found a litter just ready to be separated from their mother and they were all red beautiful Persian kittens. ...

When I was a little girl I saw my grandmother only a few times a year. I was excited and pleased when she came to our house for a short vacation. I was so excited and pleased that I ran around whistling. Grandma did not think it was proper for a girl to whistle. ...

Eenie, meenie, miney, moe. One potato, two potato, three potato. You’re it. These are all childish ways to make a choice. Other ways to make a choice might be to check the knowledge or other attributes of the people who are wanting to be chosen. All of these methods have problems but using any of these methods may come closer to the truth than we could imagine...

If you have been in my apartment recently you know that I have pictures everywhere. I start out with each of the four children at six months old and those same children in the same order as they graduated from high school. The oldest three graduated from Butler but the youngest graduated further north at Savanah. ...

When newspapers were scarce sometimes it would be several days before we could get a current newspaper. Grit was one of the papers that was usually on time and full of news. Since adults had very few opportunities for news they were very appreciative of finding the news...

When I was killing time in the doctor‘s office I found a yearbook about 1930 or 40. Some of the pictures are very interesting. The girls are all wearing bobby socks and saddle shoes and most of them were wearing either jackets or light coats in the pictures. When they were changing classes the girls were also wearing head scarfs. They all were wearing dresses along with their wraps...

Many of us remember the movie called “The King and I.” The king had a strong feeling for the teacher who had come for the education of his children. He tried to keep up with the things the children were learning but instead, he found himself frequently saying “It’s a puzzlement.” This was when some of the facts the children were learning did not agree with his way of life. ...

Dorothy was the first baby doll I remember. She was waiting for me in the rocking chair where I soon put her to use. Of course, there were lots of other presents for other family members but this is the one that was just for me and I was proud of her. As the years went on my dolls became fancier and with hair on their heads. But no other doll meant the same to me as my Dorothy...

This January has given us a sizable amount of snow; however, those who are middle age plus can remember much deeper snowfalls. Some of my happiest days occurred when the snow was several inches deep. When I told my mother how much fun it was to play in the snow she replied that when she was a girl in Iowa sometimes for weeks at a time we would walk to school on top of the snow fences that separated the various animals. ...

Most of us have finished our celebrations for this holiday season. We had about 25 relatives in our dining room but that was for a belated Christmas instead of New Years. When our children were little we would stay up until midnight eating lots of good things, playing games around the table. ...

I have enjoyed every type of music this season. We have heard the Mennonite singers of all ages when they cane to share their talents with us at Morningside. These included infants, young boys and girls, their parents and grandparents. With no accompaniment except a hum from one of the men, they helped us start off the season with their visit...

This year much of my cash will be going to buy pretty wrapping paper and ribbons. But the most important item I will need is an ample roll of Scotch Tape. Remember those nights trying to make a pretty present with ordinary tape, string and GLUE. The glue was the important item, because when we folded the paper at the end, we needed something to hold things in place...

I was looking at the December calendar and suddenly remembered that it was past time to send out my Christmas cards. We had always sent a Christmas letter with perhaps a picture or two. It was too late for that now. It has been so hectic this fall we never even got the letter written. ...

One of the disappointing thing about living in Morningside is that most of the residents are at least middle age plus. That means that several are in their nineties. Also since the residence is in Nevada it also means that I have known some for a good many years...

I have always liked to have a cat. Morningside allows pets if they stay in your apartment and you pay a deposit. My niece, Dr. Ruth Massey, DVM works with some animals who need a home and they thought a calico they were caring for would fit in nicely with me. ...

This week one of my sons and two daughters returned to the Thornton home area in Taney County to attend the funeral of Lester’s brother Paul Thornton who had died at 99 years of age in the Veteran’s Home at Mt. Vernon. Mo. His death left only their sister, Opal, from the Harve and Jenny Thornton family that farmed near Ocie, Mo., in the early 1900s...

We have five phones that sit on stands or can be taken off and used separately. I also have a small phone I can carry. It has a different number and the ring sounds different also. My iPod can be used as a phone as well, if I can ever figure out how to do it...

For some odd reason, I have been getting up very early lately. I’m often the first one in the dining room for breakfast. I don’t know the reason for this. I suppose it’s partly due to the fact 1 don’t have a partner in the bed with me, but I will wake up and don’t want to go to the dining area before 7 because they’re not ready for me...

The following column originally ran in the June 2, 2005 edition of the Daily Mail. Summertime and the living is easy. This favorite tune from Porgy and Bess keeps popping into my mind as I look out my window at the abundant grass that needs mowing, the sprouting trees that need to be clipped off and the cluttered sidewalks and decks that summertime ease has created. ...

This column originally ran in the March 5, 2005 edition of the Daily Mail. There is nothing quite as appealing or cute as a very young animal or fowl. We are blessed with many opportunities this time of year to see this miracle unfold. Each year we enjoy watching our Canada Geese as they fight to maintain our pond for their exclusive nesting spot, and see the alertness with which the gander protects his lady during the incubation period...

The following column originally ran in the April 21, 2005 edition of the Daily Mail. I received a map of Nevada that had been provided by Adams and Associates and printed by Star Business Graphics at El Dorado Springs. It is good to have a map to help find some of those hard to find locations like Hoffman Street that only covers a few blocks and then is seen no more...

Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the Jan. 27, 2005 edition of the Daily Mail. You should always open your mail. You might be surprised at what is inside. Recently I was in a hurry when the mail was delivered to our house. I glanced through the collection quickly. ...

Editor’s note: The following column originally appeared in the Aug. 23, 2002 edition of the Daily Mail. With school starting this week, hundreds of children will be getting on the big yellow buses to take a ride to their school. In the Nevada school system the first school buses were used in 1931. ...

The following column originally ran in the Sept. 16, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. While I am waiting for my laundry to get done, I thought I would while away the time for a while. Since our society is letting the Internet take over these days, I thought that instead of turning to my trusted dictionary for a while, I would see what the Internet says about a much-used word...

Editor’s note: The following column originally ran in the Sept. 23, 2010 edition. When I talk to some of my younger relatives I keep hearing them refer to their Kindles. Of course I don’t want to appear out of date, so I mention that I haven’t gotten one of them yet, but would like to know why they like them so much. ...

Editor’s note: This column originally ran in the Aug. 1, 2002 edition of the Daily Mail. This has been a week of renewed friendships for me. Since I have begun writing these columns, and had books published from the columns, I have enjoyed making many new friends. ...

Editor’s note: The following column originally ran in the Sept. 30, 2010, edition of the Daily Mail. There are many places in my life that I remember vividly. I can picture each wall of a certain building, remember the houses on a certain street, or walk in memory down several miles of country roads without ever feeling confused. But put me in those same places after there has been a remodeling or road changes and I get disturbed by trying to remember just how it used to be...

Editor’s note: The follow column originally appeared in the July 28, 2011 edition of the Daily Mail. I have reached the age where I am not eager for any time period to end. Days and hours are becoming a scarce commodity so I want to use them to full advantage. But there are some time periods I don’t mind seeing pass by. This July is one of those times...

The following column originally ran in the June 10, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. Do you ever think that we have too many choices today? Tonight I had a new book I wanted to read. But I was also tired from doing some deep housecleaning that I am not used to doing. I decided that it would be more relaxing to just get in the lounge chair and watch TV. I wouldn’t have to think about much of anything, and could maybe even doze off a little...

Editor’s note: The following column originally ran in the June 18, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. Carol Ann Winburn lives in Butler, Mo., but is well-known to those of us in Vernon County, especially in banking and financial circles. Her latest project has been creating a beautiful book telling the story of her unique childhood, along with her seven siblings, as part of the Browning Family Show. ...

Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the July 22, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. My fellow columnists have written their memories and appreciation of Pat Brophy, who died last week. I was not able to attend the service for him, but wanted to express some personal thoughts about our resident historian and self-proclaimed curmudgeon...

Editor’s note: The following column originally appeared in the Oct. 16, 2009 edition of the Daily Mail. Eighty-five years ago tomorrow, Lester I. Thornton was born in a log cabin in Taney County, Mo., a few miles north of the Arkansas state line. He was the youngest of four children born to Ruic Harve and Smitha Jane Thornton. ...

Editor’s note: This column originally ran in the July 8, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. House cleaning is not one of my favorite things, in fact it comes way down on my list of chores that I like to do. Come to think of it, there are not very many chores that I really like to do. I wouldn’t call them chores if they were something I wanted to do for pleasure. However, there are some that do give me some pleasure...

Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the July 1, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail I have several local friends who are in the psychiatry profession. Some of them have told me that they read my columns and articles. I hope they don’t read this one. I’m afraid of what their conclusion might be...

Editor’s note: The following column originally ran in the Aug. 19, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. I think I have written about this before but I am going to risk boring you with it again. I feel so strongly about this subject that l have to get it out of my system. My problem is that I am bored with hearing children and youth telling each other, and their adult companions that they are bored...

Editor’s Note: The following column originally appeared in the July 29, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. Many of us watch birds flying around in the sky and envy their freedom. It seems that the ability to just take off from the ground or a tree, and soar up into the wild blue yonder would be a wondrous thing. There would be no constraints to keep you earthbound. “The sky’s the limit!”...

Editor’s Note: This column originally ran in the July 15, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. What is your reaction when you hear the word “old”? Is there an immediateate positive thought, or an immediate negative thought? For most of us it depends upon the topic of conversation. For an antique dealer old can be a very beneficial adjective. But for the person looking into the mirror, it can be quite the opposite...

Editor’s Note: The following column originally appeared in the July 8, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. House cleaning is not one of my favorite things, in fact it comes way down on my list of chores that I like to do. Come to think of it, there are not very many chores that I really like to do. I wouldn’t call them chores if they were something I wanted to do for pleasure. However, there are some that do give me some pleasure...

Editor’s note: This column originally ran in the June 17, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail, As I am writing this column two of my pre-school aged great-grandchildren are playing with a box of toys that we have moved from home to home since the grandfather of those children was small. Of course there have been some new additions. A wonderful marble construction toy was added by our youngest child. It was replacing a similar wooden one that her older brother loved even into his teens...

The following column originally appeared in the April 22, 2004 edition of the Daily Mail. Sometimes we get so concerned with all the bad news in the papers and on television that we forget that this is the BAD news. We need to look more often at the GOOD news...

Editor’s Note: The following column originally ran in the Feb. 26, 2004 edition of the Daily Mail. We live on a crushed rock road about one and a half miles from the highway. Even though the township maintains it and new gravel is spread on it fairly often, there are definite places where the tires of a car will sink in deeper and even swerve a little from side to side...

Hi neighbors. I’ve spent this last week in Des Moines visiting my daughter and her family. On Thursday I got to go see my granddaughter’s class perform their second play of this year. The play is titled “Twelve Angry Jurors” and first appeared in the mid-1950s as “Twelve Angry Men.”...

Editor's Note: The following column originally appeared in the Feb. 19, 2004 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. I hated to see another store leave the Square when the Shoe Wearhouse went out of business. I didn't buy very many pairs of shoes there, because I don't buy very many pairs of shoes. I seem to have feet that are hard to fit and if I find a pair that fits well, then I wear them until they are an embarrassment...

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and gasp, "I forgot to --?" Or, if that isn't the question maybe it is, "Did I remember to --?" Sleep disappears the instant you ask the question and you begin to think of all the dire scenarios that will occur if you don't get whatever it was taken care of immediately...

When we think of different ways we have traveled in our lifetime we often neglect to remember the travels we did on foot. Physical fitness experts now push the benefits of walking for health. They suggest going to a gym to walk the suggested miles. Or some are eager to sell us walking machines so we can get our exercise without going anywhere...

Editor's Note: The following column originally appeared in the Sept. 17, 1999 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. On March 15, 2000, the Nevada Elks Lodge No. 564 will commemorate its 100th anniversary with celebrations and historical notices. The anniversary cannot be much more exciting than its origin, which was written up in the March 16, 1900, edition of the Nevada Daily Mail as follows:...

Editor's Note: The following column originally appeared in the July 26, 2002 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. A story that has no satisfactory ending remains in the memories of those who have heard it as a haunting mystery. This is the case of the unknown grave near Ellis that has been written about, put on national TV and discussed over many a cup of coffee. ...

With school starting next week those of us who are "middle age" plus have memories of days when we carried a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school in a brown bag or dashed home for a quick lunch. Some of our richer friends even hurried uptown to buy a hamburger or some other treat...

Editor's note: This column originally ran in the Aug. 19, 1999 edition of the Daily Mail. I am really enjoying the melons and tomatoes fresh from the garden at this time of year. Or course, they are fresh from someone else's garden since we didn't get a garden put out this year. But with generous offerings on the sharing table at church, the Farmer's Market and good neighbors, we usually get many good tastes of my favorites...

Editor's note: This column originally appeared in the July 8, 1999 edition of the Daily Mail. I am preparing to teach a series of studies on Humanity Comes of Age this summer. This course is concerned with the plight of older people around the world as our populations grow older, and some of the economic systems to protect older people have been cut back. ...

Editor's note: The following column originally ran in the June 17, 1999 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. I have a glass of water here by the computer because I have heard that you are supposed to drink eight glasses of water each day. That is a lot of water. ...

My youngest daughter and family recently moved into their new farmhouse near Columbia, Mo. In a recent phone conversation she was telling me about all the details of moving and also about something she had not anticipated, the open country winds! This led me to tell her the same story I will relate here...

Editors note: This column originally appeared in the Oct. 28, 1999 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. My husband and I were sitting in a restaurant recently when a woman walked in alone. The hostess asked her, "Only one?" The woman nodded yes and was seated...

Editor's Note: This column originally appeared in the March 1, 2012 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail I can't resist. After Richard Carpenter wrote such a nostalgic column about the pavilion at Radio Springs and Donna Logan followed up with a Letter to the Editor on the same subject, I wanted to put in my slightly older two cents' worth about one of my favorite spots in Nevada...

Editor's Note: This column original appeared in the Feb. 23, 2012 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. We had all been rejoicing that the winter months had not been very cold and we hadn't had any real snow. But the snow that fell last week caused some schools to close and caused me to have vivid memories of the snow days of my childhood...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a reprint of a column that previously ran in the May 17, 2012 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. I have spent several days on the road again. Every early morning drive causes me to be a very careful driver. I try very hard not to hit any of the turtles/terrapins (I'm never sure which name is correct) which are constantly crossing the road. ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a reprint of a column that previously ran in the Nevada Daily Mail. How old were you when you first carried a key to your home? I was reading recently about the present day "latch-key children." These are the ones who arrive home before any of the adults in the family are present, so they wear a key on a string around their neck so that they can open up the door to their own home...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This column originally appeared in the September 19, 2002 edition of The Daily Mail. I have been blessed. For more than 75 years, I have had a hero who has never let me down. I could always look up to my hero for support, love and leadership. ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This column originally appeared in the August 8, 2002 edition of The Daily Mail. I have mentioned recently how I enjoy making new friends. This week, I made another new friend. She had known who I was, but I didn't know her. When I met her, I realized she looked very familiar, but I really didn't know who she was...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This column originally appeared in the July 5, 2012 edition of The Daily Mail. We have a new minister at the Nevada United Methodist Church. Lester and I know some of the things she must be feeling since we have been the new people in a church several times when Lester was the new minister on his first day. ...

This column originally ran in the October 14, 1999 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. I have occasionally used this column to share the sad news about the loss of a friend or a loved one. Today, I would like to share the good news about a birth. You see, even in the middle age plus, I have given birth. The labor was quite long for a birth, but it was a pleasurable labor and the only pain, as in many births, was at the very end when the exact arrival was uncertain...

This column originally ran in the July 23, 1999 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. In each Daily Mail we have the opportunity to learn about people and things from the past in Huell Warren's columns from 100, 75 and 50 years ago. But how many know that this 35-year veteran of the Associated Press began his newspaper career right here with the Nevada Daily Mail?...

The following column originally appeared in the Oct. 4, 2013 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. I have not liked what I am hearing on the news these days so I have switched channels to other programs. That has given me a new problem. There are different commercials on these channels than the ones I had been watching. The problem isn't that I am tempted to buy more things. The problem is that I can't understand the commercials...

Editor's Note: The following column originally ran in the July 19, 2012 edition of the Daily Mail. Last Sunday a gentleman came through the front doors of our church wearing a hat. He looked very spiffy and since it was an extremely hot day and he had a fair complexion, it was a good idea to be wearing a hat. ...

Editor's note: This column originally appeared in the Oct. 11, 2012, edition of the Nevada Daily Mail We have often said that our family make-up has provided good experiences for each family member. For example, I learned much about taking care of babies before I had my own little ones to care for. ...

Editor's Note: The following column originally ran in the Oct. 25, 2013, edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. The word great has many meanings. In the dictionary one definition is big or large. Another meaning implies more than usual. Other synonyms are: important, remarkable, famous, most important and favorite. And then there is the one meaning that applies to me. That meaning is, divided by a generation...

Editor's Note: This column originally was published in the Jan. 12, 2013 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. Games are great to play with other people. They help you get to know each other. You have fun. You learn things about each other when you are having fun together and laughing...

We all remember the saying, "He's so weak he couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag." I relive that saying each day except that the bags I am trying to get open are usually not paper, but plastic. In our zeal to keep everything sanitary and fresh we are buying prepackaged foods more and more. ...

Editors note: This column originally ran in the Nov. 22, 2013 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. Probably many of you readers at some time in your life have been a caregiver to a relative or a friend. Maybe it was even your profession. I know it is a never-ending job and having a little relief now and then can be a big help...

The following column originally appeared in the Oct. 18, 2013 edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. After having a 9-year old in our home for a week I find myself really longing for the old-style movies for children. Every TV show, every borrowed film, tape and many of the advertisements on TV had cartoon-like characters that were either grotesque, frightening or unattractive portrayals of humans. ...

Editor's Note: This column originally ran in the Dec. 27, 2013, edition of the Daily Mail. The more pluses I put on my middle age plus, the more I am aware of how many times, some little incident has changed my life. And then I try to remember why I chose to be where the incident happened, or wonder why any of the other people involved happened to be there. Somebody had to have made a decision...

Editor's Note: This column originally ran in the Jan. 21, 2010, edition of the Daily Mail. If this column sounds familiar to you, it might be because I have written similar ones before. I couldn't find one that I wrote for the paper, but I know I have included these thoughts in many e-mails and conversations I have had in the past few years...

Editors Note: This column originally ran in the Dec. 2, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. Have you ever planned a perfect day where you had no commitments? You were delighted to know that you could just do whatever you wanted, read a book, watch a DVD, take a nap or even clean out the refrigerator. Somehow those days don't materialize for me very often...

Editor's note: This column originally ran in the April 29, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail. The nice thing about traveling in the spring is that you can see spring arrive several different times. Even though I only drove just across our own state, I noticed daffodils blooming in one part of the state, while none were showing in another section. The same was true for forsythia blooms. But the biggest joy was driving in the Ozarks and seeing the dogwood and red bud in bloom at the same time...

Editor's Note: This column originally ran in the Feb. 25, 2010, edition of the Daily Mail. I was recovering from a bad cold for several days last week. I didn't have too many responsibilities and the weather wasn't inviting to be outside, so I decided to really take good care of myself and stay inside and rest. I was disappointed that I didn't have any good books to read as I had neglected to pick up some from the library, so I turned to the TV for entertainment...

Editor's Note: This column was originally published in the May 5, 2011 edition of the Daily Mail. Some family members have told me that I am a joiner. I have joined many organizations throughout the years. I have enjoyed most of them, but some were things I supported but didn't really enjoy attending the meetings. ...

Editor's Note: This column was originally published in the Nov.4, 1999 edition of the Daily Mail. I recently attended a meeting where Dr. Terry Loney talked to the group about stress and how to deal with it. A little questionnaire was distributed which gave symptoms you might show if you are dealing with stress. Scores of seven or below showed you either had very little stress in your life or you were handling it well...

Editors note: this column originally ran in the Dec. 9, 1999 edition of the Daily Mail. I recently spent parts of two days at a book signing in Branson. I have been in Branson hundreds of times because my mother-in-law and others of the Thornton family have lived in Branson for yams. ...

Editor's note: This column was originally published in 1999. I ate a couple of eggs yesterday without feeling that I was risking my good health. A recent article in the paper said that the harm from cholesterol in eggs had been exaggerated. It went on to say that eggs had some very important health benefits...

It is with regret I inform my readers this will be my last Middle Age Plus column. Due to my health limitations, I am no longer able to maintain the level I have tried to maintain in my writing. Coordination of eyes, fingers and thoughts has become more difficult...

Ever since I was a small child when we lived on what was then Route 1, Nevada, I had a nice pleasant walk up to the mailbox. From The Wayside it was 1/4 mile. From "By the Wayside" it was probably a few hundred yards. Now at Bronze Pond it is 1/8 of a mile. Later I explain that it is not always a pleasant walk. Sometimes it gets quite windy. Sometimes the temperature is over 100 degrees, and sometimes we just plain get tired...

The sign which proclaims that this is the Neighbors, the Center for Adult Day Care, has replaced the formerly attractive sign placed there when the Moss Trust, as part of their plans to make this attractive, practical building a place for adults to enjoy, had shown some signs from the daily coming and going of participants volunteers, employees and caregivers who spend each day with those friends who need a cheerful, care-given spot to spent their days while their main caregivers are busy at work or other activities.. ...

Everything is always kept in complete order in our home. It is especially true in my office, I have a special file for each topic. For example, there is a file for my Middle Age Plus columns, as well as one for each article. Since each article has a different topic, that makes a lot of files...

Forty years ago last Christmas we visited Michael and his girlfriend on our way to our Christmas gathering at The Wayside. Michael couldn't join us because of an ailment. We opened presents there and Jenny, who I hardly knew at the time, gave me a beautiful large plate of the painting, "The Touch of God's Hand."...

You have often read my reports on how I, as the youngest of eight children, felt blessed by the nurture that was shared with me and each other. It will remain a blessing forever for me. But I have also shared that one of the sorrows of being the youngest of eight children is that I have felt the loss, one-by-one, of each of my siblings and continue to feel those losses day-by-day, even back to the early memories of our times together...

I am sitting at my computer where I can look in three directions outside. Usually in one of those directions there will eventually be something going by on wheels. Today I saw the dust of the school bus, but didn't actually see the bus. For heaven's sake it was 7 a.m. ...

The grass is getting greener, the wheat is wonderful. Flowers are beginning and somehow we get the idea that yesterday was that cherished day, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. I had always been proud of the fact that both Lester's and my families were Irish (with a little Scotch thrown in there also). ...

Pat and Wes Haggans have been the perfect examples of a dedicated couple. Lester and I have been privileged to be their friends since we first met at the Centenary Methodist Church when our children were little. However, our histories really go back beyond that time in that we were all on the campus of the University of Missouri during the years when there were many more girls than boys on campus, but the Army had sent soldiers onto the campus to be trained. ...

Small towns are wonderful. I am reading a series about a small town in Virginia that reminds me of Nevada, except that we don't seem to have a murder every chapter. Or maybe we do? We just don't spend much time at the post office talking about it or letting our cats, dogs, mice and possums help us spy on the villains...

When Lester and I returned "home" in 1988, I had come from a background in social work and in writing columns. My first column was in 1962 called "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" which was a newcomer's humorous look at her little town, Archie. Next came my column written for C.A. ...

I was watching the polls about the New Hampshire primaries and somehow in my make shift desk arrangement I hit the remote button. Maybe I just dozed off a bit, or had just tuned out mentally what was going on, when I realized that I was no longer watching the news channel, but the TV had been turned somehow to the Game Show Network...

Many of you probably spent a good deal of the time Tuesday watching what was going on Iowa. Even though it was the state that my Welch ancestors settled in years ago, I had no really important reason to watch their returns except that the media has been telling us for weeks how important this caucus will be. ...

My oldest sister, Miriam, taught me many things during my life. Even though she has been gone for 30 some years, she is still teaching me. There was nearly 20 years difference in our ages, but I was her closest neighbor, and nearest relative during her last years. I was impressed by her interest in what was happening to her body. It wasn't so much vanity as it was scientific...

When I was a child there were very few Saturday afternoons that I didn't go to the old Star Theater to watch a movie. I very seldom went to the Arbo, but sometimes also went there. With the money left over from the ticket and the snack I shared in the theater I tried to have enough to go buy an ice cream cone across the street. ...

Obviously, since I am over 90 and have several medial problems to deal with, I know that I am in my last few years of existence. Maybe 10, maybe less. However, if you believe everything the computer tells you I will live to Oct. 13, 2025. Whatever is the true figure I do know that I am spending some precious last years...

These months some things can seem very important to you. The weather is getting colder. Are we ready for the cold weather? Taxes will be due before long. Do we have enough for that? I don't have something new to wear to a party? What will others wear? But right now, primary in everyone's mind is Christmas. Are you ready for Christmas is almost sung in the Christmas songs?...

I have been slightly home bound lately. I can go somewhere if someone else drives me and will walk with me, but unless it is for medical reasons I hate to ask anyone. That doesn't matter usually because I am so busy with my newspaper work, Facebook, reading, playing Scrabble and maybe just a bit of housework, that I don't have much time for going places. But recently, I think it was a Sunday, I don't always know, I decided to watch television for a while...

One of my favorite poets, Mary Elizabeth Mahnkey, a former newspaper columnist for a Springfield, Mo., newspaper, wrote little common sense poems about women's lives in the Ozarks. One of her poems dedicated to a discontented wife gave the remedy for her unhappiness this way, "raise some guineas, grow some gourds."...

For the first time in several years I am getting excited about Christmas shopping. I think it will be a good experience for me and I hope it will be also for those who will receive our gifts. We cannot spend very much money this year because the medicines we are both taking now are so expensive and we've had some unexpected medical costs not covered by Uncle Sam or our insurance. ...

This week many of us will be gathering together to not only ask the Lord's Blessings. We will be gathering together to exchange stories about our grandparents. If we're lucky enough to have our grandparents at the meal with us, then we will encourage them to share memories with us about their Thanksgivings (with the Indians??) and store up those stories for times when they will not be present...

As I have become older I realize that I am no longer as vain as I used to be. I can ignore a sore spot on my face without half of the worry the teen aged Carolyn used to have over the tiniest pimple. (Of course we used to call them Hickies until my kids laughed me out of the house!) As long as the doctor says it isn't one of the dangerous types, I can let it continue and shine on wherever it takes a notion. ...

Even though I consider The Wayside and its environs my lifetime home, I have moved many times in my life. I could give you the house plans of everyplace we lived (especially the ones that only had three rooms) That doesn't sound interesting to my readers, but maybe you would be interested in hearing about my recent move. You didn't know that I had moved?...

1915 will probably not get into the history books as a historic year. Of course every year is a historic year for some people if there has been a birth, death, anniversary or big achievement of some type. But 1915 has been an historic year for me. Two anniversaries of 100 years each were meaningful to me because of my parents. ...

Not many years ago I could tell the nurse who was preparing me for the doctor to come in that I didn't bring a list of all my meds because I wasn't taking any. She would be surprised and instantly tell the doctor that I was one of the rare ones who at my age didn't take any medicines. That has changed along with a lot of other things about me. But I am still grateful for all the great things that our doctors have been able to prescribe for us that kept us going, a bit slower, but going...

Sometimes in my life I have looked forward to some event so much that I was disappointed when it finally happened and it wasn't as fantastic as I thought it would be. It might have been great, but I had imagined it to be even greater. I am trying to think of an example of this that I can tell without hurting someone's feelings. One example I remember had me hurting my sister's feelings...

During the school Christmas vacation in 1942 I was one of the 20 or so students chosen from the Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., to go across town to the Navy Department to do some paper work for the Navy. We were to be paid $40 for those two weeks of work...

There are many articles and books on aging. In fact I added to that supply myself, but I wasn't really OLD when I wrote those articles that became books. No, remember I was just middle age plus. But now, at 90 I guess you would have to say that I am old. Using a cane helps that image, but I just use it to please my family. They think I need to have it in case I start to fall. The first time I used it I did need to have something to stop my fall. I had tripped over the cane...

In the East schools formerly didn't start until the middle of September, so the month always meant big changes for me. We went back to D.C. for the school year. We settled back in our former home. The weather usually changed enough that I had to get out fall clothing, at least for the first day of school...

Our church, the Nevada United Methodist Church, is having a Basement Sale today and tomorrow. We do this twice a year, to benefit different projects. The one going on today will be for Habitat for Humanity right here in Nevada. Since I worked for Habitat for Humanity for several years when I was only in my 80s, I wanted to really support this sale...

I have received several emails from friends from former churches where Lester served. That is great. But most of them are for several other people as well as for me, so it isn't quite as special as it could be. But I wouldn't want to miss them for the world...

Since I have a few ailments these days I sometimes don't get to church regularly. But recently I went to church right here in my own home. In fact I was lying in bed with my feet elevated. I was feeling very comfy and as it was getting dark I watched out the window for a while to see the different colors hit the pond through the trees. Then I decided to see what was on TV that evening...

Last weekend we enjoyed a visit from our great-granddaughter Marilyn and her family. Avery, her daughter, is almost three now and a very happy little girl who likes to play games and visit with the "old folks." Dennis and Lester usually have something to discuss that they liked or didn't like about something on TV. And of course Sponge Bob was constantly entertaining us from that TV while we tried to talk...

Do you remember the old movies, like the ones where Jeannette McDonald sang into the face of Nelson Eddy? These movies tried to let the audience know that time had passed by changing the blossoms on the apple tree into the apples themselves. If that did not tell how much time had passed in the plot, perhaps the apple tree would be covered with snow in another shot and possibly back to blossoms again, if Nelson Eddy had gone to war...

When I was 11 years old my sister Ellen taught me to drive. She wasn't at the legal age to drive but had been driving quite a while, even in Nevada. At that time the cars had clutches, which you had to learn to use in connection with the accelerator to keep from lurching down the road. ...

If you have been avoiding getting a smart phone because you were afraid you couldn't learn to use it, I can tell you from firsthand experience not to be afraid. From my experience let me list the things I learned that you need. A magnifying glass so that you can read all of the many pages of instructions in the manual...

When I wrote the headline for this article, I was remembering the children's puzzle, which I heard again this past weekend. "Why is six afraid to get bigger?" Because 789. If you don't get it, ask someone who has been a child once. But my thoughts were really with all the activities of the past week and how busy I was in spite of them telling me to go sit down. ...

When July Fourth is nearing, most children watch the weather reports daily. They do not want it to rain the night of July 4th. I used to spend hours reading about ways to prevent a light rain, or any rain for that matter. But I also didn't mind if there was some rain on the days leading up to the Fourth. ...

Almost every group that I spend time with has become mainly senior citizens. Of course the faithful members from years past have been getting years older. But it seems that the new members we attract are not the young people anymore. However, we will keep these organizations alive and well for them when they become seniors, because then they will enjoy the same musical programs we hear now at every meeting...

During the next two years of political speeches and candidates' pledges and arguments with their party and with the other party, more than once someone will say, "Something doesn't smell right." I would more likely say that something doesn't sound right, I don't like to smell something that doesn't smell right...

Some people have said that Thanksgiving comes in November, but I have been experiencing it daily lately. Today I am most thankful for my son, Michael and Jenny the girl he married. Between them, with some help from his sisters, they have taken both Lester and me to numerous doctor appointments in Fort Scott, Joplin and Nevada. ...

As I am writing this column today we are celebrating our romantic 69th wedding anniversary. I am munching breakfast bars as I drink my morning juice and work at the computer. Lester is asleep in the lounge chair and "watching" news on TV while he rests. I am trying to ignore the news and concentrate on this romantic morning...

If that question was asked the major cook in a home, the answer would probably be, "I want ideas for what to have." If the question was aimed at the breadwinner the answer might be, "Oh, just anything. I'm not very hungry." If you are eating out, you will have to be more specific about your wants. The Menu is designed to help you make this decision. Often you will have a favorite dish that you order in specific restaurants...

Several years ago I wrote an essay about how similar senility is to puberty. I was talking to some sixth grade girls at a program and we came up with several things that both situations have. First, the bodies are changing and the girls or women have trouble sometimes getting used to things that happen without their knowing it...

During my years as the wife of a minister and as a leader in local, district and Conference United Methodist Women I had many times when I was responsible for organizing a small committee meeting, or a large convention so it would go smoothly. I prided myself that with lists of duties and list of members I could match them up and make anything turn out wonderfully. ...

I've heard so much bad about veteran's treatment in the United States that I had become even more upset about our government. But three experiments lately have changed my mind about the whole picture of medical treatment anyway. First, our son went to the Veterans Affairs hospitals for his regular medical checkup and received some discouraging news. ...

A recent experience helped me to renew my life-long thoughts that most things do work out for the good, even if we have to wait a long time before we see the good. My recent example happened fairly soon and it was spelled out to me so I couldn't have missed the point...

The first time I ate in a cafeteria without one of my siblings or my mother supervising my choices was in the employee cafeteria at the Woodward and Lothrop Department Store in Washington, D.C., on F Street. My sister Kathryn, a recent graduate of Georgetown University's Home Economics Department was the "boss" of the cafeteria. One Saturday she had invited my sister Ellen and me to come eat our lunch there before some other activity later in the day...

I am getting along pretty good these days. I have two specialists caring for me, another doctor in between those two and lots of family members and friends who give me all sorts of good advice. I don't resent this at all because many of these people have had similar ailments, or have read an article, or looked it up in the Internet so they are well informed. ...

On Easter Sunday I had the pleasure of going to church with several generations of my family. They ranged in age from 18 month old Aubrie, all prettied up in her pink dress, to 90-year-old Lester who was not so prettied up since he decided against shirt and tie. ...

After the winter we have had, this spring has really been welcomed with open arms. Each age has activities looked forward to doing when it gets actually warm in the spring. One of the first things people think of is their clothing. "Is this jacket going to be warm enough without an additional wrap?" Of course that question comes from an adult...

One of the lucky things about my place at the end of eight children was to have siblings of every age to provide a role model for me when I reached that age. With Ellen, it was to show me how to make the most of the experiences just around the corner for me. She knew. She was in the midst of it...

Not many people have the privilege of knowing and visiting with a woman who lived 105 years and had memories so clear that a visit with her was like a short version of the history textbook. Mary Ellen Liter, who was married to W.H. (Bill) on July 19, 1928, worked with her husband on the farm, at the Nevada State Hospital No. 3, and in his barbering business. This was in addition to the usual responsibilities of raising Joyce and Wilson and keeping a nice home for them all...

At the memorial services for Bill Hensley last Friday I could see almost every family that lives on South 1000 Rd, the section between U.S. 54 and Moundville. One young man had obviously returned home in order to attend; other families had more than one generation attending. But they all represented the respect and appreciation we neighbors felt for one who represented the best that neighbors could do...

I have always loved eating hard boiled eggs. Actually I like eggs in any form, but some recipes call specifically for hard boiled eggs. Can you imagine trying to make deviled eggs if the eggs were not hard boiled in the first place? My children liked them in their school lunches and I like to take one or two at the Chinese buffets in town. But there is one bad thing about them. The chickens don't lay them hard boiled. You have some work to do before you can eat a hard boiled egg...

Recently I have been a little awkward when cooking due to tremors and being unsteady on my feet. To help us out with this situation, many of our church family, club members, neighbors, and relatives have helped out by bringing food occasionally. Often the dish brought to us was some type of casserole. They are so good, easy to transport, and usually have meat, potatoes or rice, and some vegetables so very little more is needed for a balanced meal. We appreciated them very much...

My friends have noticed that lately I haven't been going out as often as I formerly did. Even trips to the grocery store or to refill the gasoline in the car haven't happened as often anymore. I really haven't minded very much because I have various ways to increase my partnership in a mature conversation even when I am alone, at home...

Remember the old saying, "He's so weak he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag?' That now needs to be changed to a plastic bag. Even though the packagers try very hard to make the bags easy to open, they need to try harder. Some of them want us to tear across a certain line. Maybe you could if you had strong wrists and can grasp the bag tightly where you are directed. Older hands seem to have slippery fingers and trying to hold tight to a slick piece of plastic is quite a challenge...

One of our great-granddaughters went to a birthday party on Saturday night. It wasn't just a party with ice cream and cake and a few games. This party was to be an overnight party, a sleep over. I'm sure the little girls had a good time. I hope the parents of the birthday girls also had fun...

It's true, many United Methodist minister's wives know to expect a move about every five or six years. It often was heartbreaking, even though the next place had better facilities and more members. But that didn't make up for the good friends we'd made in the past few years. But I didn't think that after Lester retired we would have to move anymore. I thought that now that we were on my family's home place and had our own house that I was through with moving...

I enjoy sharing memories from my childhood. You readers have probably already realized that. I enjoy telling about some incident, then realize that most of my readers weren't even born yet. I had that experience in reverse once when I was visiting with a wonderful older lady who sang in the choir at the Mt. ...

I asked my retired son when he first remembered any talk about recycling. He replied that he thought it was called "hand me downs." Since he was the oldest son in our family he only received the best hand me downs from cousins. But he saw his own clothes being used on his younger brother a few years later. He then added with the wisdom of a great grandparent that it was only when we became a throw-away society that he ever heard it called recycling...

How many conversations started this holiday season with, "When I was a child?" I know I heard it at least once and I probably said it myself sometime recently. I have an excuse, however. I am the only one left in our big family that remembers any of the things about our family life when I was a child. I feel it is my duty to keep the stories going. So, here I go again.....

We are still in the midst of Christmas giving. Many families postponed their family day to the weekend so that they could go to the "other" family on the actual date. Others chose to stay home with their immediate family to enjoy a quiet Christmas before the one shared by many aunts, uncles and cousins. ...

When someone announces that there are only six more days, we can be filled with anxiety, or we can be impatient with anticipation. I haven't said what will happen on the sixth day, but right now we are thinking about Christmas. Hearing this proclamation we immediately think about Christmas gifts, programs, church services, cards to be written and decorations to be finished. ...

As a person gets older it would seem that every choice made would be very important. Time may be running out sooner than expected, or abilities to participate in some activities might become more limited as age passes. Therefore it seems logical that each choice would be very important and undertaken with much thought and deliberation...

The magazine that gives all the offerings on television for the month of December has arrived. I glanced through the complex printing and decided it was easier to wait until the day and then scan the different stations to take my pick. If you are a sports fan there are many possibilities...

Last week I heard about the death of our friend, neighbor and my editor of the Butler newspaper, C.A. Moore. During the years that Lester was minister of the Ohio Street and Mt. Zion United Methodist Churches, C.A. and his wife, Ann, were neighbors across the street. His mother, Bea Moore, was a member of our church, but C.A. and his wife were good Presbyterians where he sang in the choir among other responsibilities...

I have a favorite meal I put together when I have unexpected guests. Since unexpected guests at meal time are always family members, I sometimes even make them cook their own meal. I ask them to choose a favorite pizza from my freezer and bake it when they are ready to eat. The younger guests enjoy it more than some of my more time consuming recipes, and I don't have to spend all my time cooking or cleaning up when we have company here...

When I was not even middle age plus I would look at some older person and wonder why they didn't hurry up and finish something they really wanted to get done. I reasoned that they knew that their time was limited and their abilities might lessen. So why didn't they go ahead and just do it. ...

From early spring until October many people are focused on baseball. Kids play it on Little League teams or on their school teams. Adults sometimes play it at company picnics and neighborhood gatherings, but many of us hear the results over the 10 o'clock news and haven't paid much attention to the game during the summer...

For years I have been telling my readers about all the good things about being Middle Age Plus. I have insisted that it wasn't being old, just becoming a little past middle age. Using middle as a synonym for half, I figured that if you were 50 or older you were past the middle. Not too many people survive past 100, so I felt safe in using that guideline...

This calendar year will always be remembered in my family. First, it was the year that we had a most memorable family reunion. We had almost as many young people under 25 as we had of the older group. All 84 of us had a great time. Second, sadly it was the year that my last, and nearest sister died. ...

If you look in any modern gift catalog and see a heading similar to my headline, you will find opportunities to buy many types of handheld devices where children or adults can become immersed in a game or puzzle all by themselves. The scenery passes by quickly as the miles pass and there are no disruptive noises in the car to bother the driver. In fact, the driver may well have on earphones and be listening to his special station or tapes playing in the car...

How do you answer a question like that? In some cases the same thing would fit both categories. Some people who had problems or troubles with new things would think they were certainly not on the good side. Yet others who caught on quickly felt there had never been anything better. I am interested in what you as an individual would chose for each category. To be fair about it, I, must make some choices...

Many of us spent Sunday night watching the documentary about the Roosevelts. I believe there will be another section that will dwell more on the couple some of us actually remember. I began wondering how much I had shared with my readers about my association with Mrs. ...

I've been thinking about changing my profile on Facebook. I know probably at least half of my readers are not on Facebook so you may not want to read about my problems there. But for you two who are on Facebook, do you have trouble making your profile sound like you think you should sound?...

I remember various Labor Day weekends in my life. It was never a biggie in our family, and I don't remember doing anything really special when I was a child. But in adulthood, I remember trying to get in one more trip to the river, or hosting some family members who were en route back to their jobs or schools in the East...

Rural children grew up being warned about the Dog Days of summer. Adults didn't want the children to go swimming in the creeks or ponds. Some insisted that the children wear shoes during these days. Others tried to keep the children indoors as much as possible...

What do you do to pass the time when you are seated on the examining table in a doctor's office waiting for the doctor or nurse to appear? There are magazines that you could read, but they are usually out of reach without leaving the table. I would feel awkward if one of the professionals came in and found me somewhere different than they had left me. In fact, sometimes you might not be suitably clothed to go wandering around...

I fondly remember two old women who spent their later days listening in to the party line phone calls. When we received a telegram that was phoned out to our home from the Nevada Western Union Office telling us when and where we were to meet our father who was traveling as part of his job, we often didn't get all the details straight...

We've all heard about the baby that was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Well, that was not me. But I did have a very privileged childhood. I was privileged to have had nine parents. Two of them were called Mama and Papa. The other seven were my seven older brothers and sisters who guided me, bossed me, included me, taught me, played with me, shared with me, maybe very rarely argued with me, and were proud of me...

When I was a child my mother was always cautioning me to leave early so that I wouldn't be late. That influenced me so that I was never tardy to school, work, or social events. She was particularly urgent about being early for a train connection. When she took my sister Ellen and me to the Union Station in Washington to spend our Easter holiday visiting our sister, Kathryn in suburban New York City, we usually had at least a half hour wait on the shiny wooden benches before we were even allowed to go down the stairs to get on the train. ...

This last week has been one of the most exciting, sad, fun, emotional, extraordinary, meaningful, devastating, historic, confusing, appreciative, and unforgettable weeks of my life. I had more fun and felt more grief than can be imagined within minutes of each other. But through it all, I felt both physically and emotionally supported by my family and friends...

For several weeks each of our local families has been measuring time by "until the reunion" or "after the reunion" when making any plans or appointments. This year, our quadrennial reunion will be different in many ways. One of the best things is that the younger generation is taking over...

It is very appropriate that during this holiday celebrating our country's independence that we are also celebrating the life of our friend, George Wallis Graham. Although most of us have associations with him that are more about farming, cows, fairs, hunting, dogs, fishing, church, families and even motorcycles, a big part of this man was his love of his country...

The big emphasis in Nevada now is to do healthy things. We are supposed to eat better, lose our bad habits and get more exercise. Even in church we are being urged to get into this movement. About the same time as health was filling all the headlines, I became a friend to more people than I thought I knew by making friends on Facebook. The two things went together nicely because I read many helpful hints from my friends about how to be healthy...

My headline sounds odd, doesn't it? Who is Baby Ray and why do you need to know anything about him? My answer is, he was very important to me in my preschool years. My mother taught me to read before I went to kindergarten. She used "The Child's World Primer" published by the Johnson Publishing Company in 1917. ...

Each night when I go to bed, I try to stay awake until the weather person gives the report. I don't always make it, but I always try. Why should I care so much about what the weather is going to be like? Sometimes, it is to think about what clothes I should wear the next day. Sure, it's June, so I want to wear summery clothes. But will the weather be too cold for that tomorrow?...

Last week when friends and relatives joined for a celebration of the life of Doradee Kelso, there were not many tears. Doradee didn't want tears. She wanted joy, so as the minister retold some of the family stories each member of the congregation that had come to honor her had individual memories of this tiny lady who brought laughter and love to the whole community...

When I am looking at Facebook on the Internet I get dismayed at the number of four letter words that very nice people use in their messages. I'm not just talking about the misused religious words, but words that to me were considered "not nice in polite company." But lately I have been dismayed at some three letter words...

Lately I have been listening to two different television shows that feature young people singing and trying for the big prize. The prize includes money, but the best thing is that it helps them get ahead in the musical world. I try my best to like the songs they are singing but it's hard for me to even distinguish the words of most of the songs. ...

Just as the news has come that Dr. Thompson is retiring, we are welcoming a new doctor into our family. Our grandson, Jonathan Thornton, today will officially become a doctor as he graduates from medical school. He has been selected to do his residency at Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minn., so we won't be able to use his skills personally very often, but he has already kept abreast of medical situations in both of his paternal grandparents...

I used to like to shop when Papa was paying the bill. I would have permission to buy maybe one dress, or one pair of shoes for example. I couldn't buy shoes in Nevada because my feet were too big for the styles I wanted. This was when I was a little girl. Little girl shoes didn't come in my long narrow sizes here, so I had to wait until we returned to Washington, D.C., for the school year to get what I liked...

From Friday through Sunday we enjoyed seeing, eating and visiting with 17 relatives to celebrate the birthday of one grandson, Easter and spring. Some came from a short distance, some from farther away and some live nearby all of the time. We weren't with each other all of that time, but we saw most of them several times and a few for the entire weekend. I kept remembering similar weekends several generations back where we were the visiting family to our parents at the Wayside...

I remember that when I was little I argued with my mother about what I was wearing. The first thing we fought about was bloomers. You know, those underpants with elastic at the end of the legs. My mother made mine and she made them roomy enough to have another child in there with me. The idea was, I was supposed to pull the legs down closer to my knees. This was not just for modesty, but also for warmth when I got too big to wear leggings or snow pants...

This week we rode up to Kansas City. The weather was good and we didn't have to go at the crack of dawn and all the doctor reports were positive. Since I was sitting in the back seat I could look outside from a different angle than my usual driver seat. We have lived around Highway 71, (It still is 71 in addition to the Interstate number) most of our married lives and know all the towns along the way fairly well...

A young child starting in pre-school or kindergarten will often have a cute name tag pinned on his/her shirt and the student's name in big letters printed on the inside of any outerwear so that the child soon learns to identify his name on sight. And the teacher has a handy aid to recognize which child is called Madison and which one is Agnes. ...

I have heard many people who are middle age plus professing such things as: "I never sleep in the day time." Or, "I never sleep in the car." I always wonder why they are so intent on making these claims. Do they think that sleeping when there is a possibility to do so is being lazy? Or do they think it shows a weakness that they might be a little sleepy sometimes other than nighttime? Usually the reason given is that they have too much they need to be doing, or that they would miss some of the scenery if they fell asleep.. ...

One of the drawers in my kitchen is so full that I cannot get another dish towel in it. I pushed and pushed but nothing more would fit if the drawer was closed. Reluctantly I took everything out to see what could be discarded or stored elsewhere. I discovered that what I actually use was only a small part of what was clogging up the drawer...

It's the New Year. And along with the New Year I am experiencing changes, good and bad, that seem to be here too early. Today (Jan. 13) I am the great-great-grandmother of our second great-great-granddaughter. I am rejoicing with all the others in her families that she is here, perfectly healthy, exceptionally pretty and undoubtedly very smart. ...

When I was small my mother often read poems to me as I was taking my nap. There was one that started the same way I titled this essay. But since my bedroom was on the second floor of a house that had a full basement, I never got to see a birdie on my window sill. ...

The more pluses I put on my middle age plus, the more I am aware of how many times, some little incident has changed my life. And then I try to remember why I chose to be where the incident happened, or wonder why any of the other people involved happened to be there. Somebody had to have made a decision...

All along the highways there are signs warning against littering the roads. There is a fine if you are caught, but I have never noticed anyone being pulled over for tossing a paper cup out the window. On the county roads there are not even any signs against littering, and on parts of the roads where there are no houses, there is much evidence that no one worries about the messes they make. ...

Now that Thanksgiving's gatherings are over, many of us are looking forward to other gatherings of friends and relatives in the Christmas season. As the family spreads to two, three, four and even five generations it is sometimes hard to remember which generation a certain child belongs in. Sometimes the youngest of one generation is only a few years older, or maybe even younger than the first of the next generation...

When I started writing these columns, I had a large tablet with lined yellow pages. I wrote with a pencil so I could erase mistakes. When I finished the column, I would go back and decide if I wanted a certain paragraph to be later in the essay. If so, I would draw brackets around that part with an arrow to indicate where I wanted to replace it. Sometimes I would use the eraser so often that the paper developed a hole under the word and I had to rewrite the word in tiny letters above the hole...

By Carolyn Gray Thornton Probably many of you readers at some time in your life have been a caregiver to a relative or a friend. Maybe it was even your profession. I know it is a never ending job and having a little relief now and then can be a big help...

The more pluses I need to put on "Middle Age Plus" the more I appreciate each season. This fall was remarkable for us here in Vernon County. I heard a remark from one who had taken a trip throughout Missouri to see the leaves' coloring who said that when she returned home she saw as many pretty trees as she had seen in other parts of our colorful state...

By Carolyn Thornton I have been given two little books called "Hugs." These books explain the value of giving and receiving hugs. It also has illustrations about different types of hugs. These go from bear hugs to group hugs, from side hugs to from-the-back hugs. The premise is that any hug is helpful for both the hugger and the hugee. I have used these books often and find them very useful since I seem to do a lot of hugging...

Last week I ended two decades of being an instructor at Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) programs. Most of these had been at the YMCA of the Ozarks near Potosi. I had enjoyed doing these in this resort setting by a lake, in the woods, and having my bed made every day. Oh yes, I also got paid...

When I was growing up I remember hearing two phrases quite often from my mother and some of her friends. The first was, "Don't air your dirty linen in public." Of course that referred to the age where almost all homes had a clothesline in the backyard and the housewife was very careful to have the wash look nice, to hide the personal items in between the lines with the sheets or some other large materials so that the neighbors wouldn't know what your unmentionables looked like. ...

After having a 9 year old in our home for a week I find myself really longing for the old-style movies for children. Every TV show, every borrowed film, tape and many of the advertisements on TV had cartoon-like characters that were either grotesque, frightening or unattractive portrayals of humans. ...

Have you noticed the scarcity of my favorite wild flower, the Spanish Blossom, this year? Every year I look forward to seeing fields of the little yellow blossoms before the winter wheat preparations plow up the growths from the summer. If there were no actual fields with the blooms, there were plenty in the road ditches and right-of ways. I considered the treat of all that cheerful yellow as my "fix" for the winter which will be without much color...

I have not liked what I am hearing on the news these days so I have switched channels to other programs. That has given me a new problem. There are different commercials on these channels than the ones I had been watching. The problem isn't that I am tempted to buy more things. The problem is that I can't understand the commercials...

I recognize the fact that I am an old fogey in some aspects. I like to see people sit down together to eat a meal. I prefer that four letter words are restricted to ones like love, read, work, and play. I resisted using the computer years ago but now I spend half my time on one. So I decided maybe I should quit resisting getting on Facebook...

With school just started again for the new year I can imagine that there have been several students of all ages who were a little anxious on the first day about finding their place. The teachers probably assigned seats in some of the public school class rooms, but during lunch periods I am sure that there was some concern felt by any new students about where they should sit. Will anyone sit by me? Will I choose to sit by someone who wouldn't want me to sit there?...

We remember the quotation by Will Rogers, "Well, all I know is what I read in the papers." I have a friend who claims that all we need to know we can learn from the funny papers. Some of you may be too young to realize that the comic page used to be called the funny papers, or the funnies. ...