Losses and Gains

This past week has given me many different experiences that point out the varied gifts of life.

First, we were saddened by the death of Mary Armitage. She was an inspiration to many people, and certainly was to me. We knew her when we lived here in Vernon County in the 50s/60s when she and Everett were in business on the square. She was also active in other organizations that either Lester or I were also involved in. We learned to rely on her opinions and knew we could count on her support. When we returned here, in retirement, in the late 80s, Mary and Everett were living down at Shell Knob, Missouri, on the lake. Soon after Everett's death, Mary returned to Nevada and we were happy to resume our friendship.

The death of someone gives us an opportunity to review our relationship and to cherish special memories. As we are each busy living our lives we sometimes forget to remember how important are the ties that we share.

At her service, the congregation sang two of Mary's favorite great hymns of faith. I felt her pleasure in having her family and friends be lifted up through sharing music, one of her greatest joys.

The afternoon following the service we had a different type of pleasure. We had our grandson, his wife, and two very young sons come visit us for a long weekend. The new young active lives shown in the two little boys reminded us of the circle of life. New ones are born, others leave, but life goes on.

Nathan, the little student who is not quite three, and Austin, a perpetual motion machine of one and one half, kept these great grandparents very aware of the stages of life and the joys of each stage. The weekend was also enriched by the visits of our neighbor grandson's three elementary school age children who helped us entertain our guests. Those three were five, nine and almost eleven (going on sixteen!) We realize that we wouldn't have these opportunities to be with our little ones so often if our daughter Shirley, the grandmother of the two little ones, wasn't another close neighbor.

The third thing that has been on my mind this week is the financial situation in the Nevada School District.

I am sure other schools are facing similar problems, but since we are in the Nevada School District that is where I feel responsibility.

I have been so pleased with our local school and the distinction it rates among other towns the size of Nevada. When our two other great granddaughters lived here I was impressed with the opportunities offered by the school. They profited by Parents as Teachers, Bryan School's Pre-School, the caring teachers and administrators at Bryan and Truman School and two great years in the Store Front School. No amount of money could repay these experiences. Hundreds of other families could cite similar benefits.

But sadly because some of our citizens think a few extra dollars a year is too much to spend to continue the excellence we have become accustomed to, our good school may have to lose or at least cut back on some essentials.

No matter how old we are, or where our own children, grandchildren or great grandchildren live, the children in our own local school district are our responsibility and worth every cent we give through taxes.