History smistory

Whoops - my bad! Every word of my last post is true, but appariently I put too much signifigance on the fact that Granny had included Sadie's name in the "list of relatives". I went to Dad yesterday with a listing of the people I couldn't place. Some of them he would say something like, "Oh, that's Aunt Nan's husband's cousin", so I would decide I didn't care about him, and would mark him off the list.

But then Dad started saying things like, "Fred Dorcas? Oh, he was the neighbor man." Which at first inspired salicious fantasies, since Granny included him on the list of fasmily members. But then I'd ask about Peg Dorcas, and Dad would say, "Fred's wife. I think they were in Mom's Sunday School class." So apparently Granny just wrote the names of anyone she had a nodding aquaintance with in her list of family members.

It's entirely posible that I might just give up on this. I don't really care about my family background. I think Dad might, but maybe he'd like stories about the place the family immigrated from or what they did in the war - there was some of that stuff in the documents, and it seems more fun than just a list of names. I even have some Civil War info.

Dialogue overheard at dinner:

OLD LADY: (to unrelated old man sitting across from her) I think my son'n may come tonight.

OLD MAN: What about tonight?

OLD LADY: Is my son coming?

OLD MAN: No, your socks didn't fall down.


I shouldn't make fun, but I hate that obnoxious old man.

Heartbreaking family history

Dad's 82nd birthday happened the other day, He says he wants no gifts, so, instead, I've been working on the family history which I promised to do years ado. Because of this, I have been reminded of a really tragically homophobic incident in my family history.

My granny's sister, Laura, was apparently a lesbian, I infer this because she never married, and she had a devoted female companion all her life. The companion's name was Sadie. Apparently they had lots of fun times together all through the years that Dad was growing up. There are, or were, many photos of Laura and Sadie wearing men's suits and engaging in comical activities.

At this point I sort of lose track of what happened. I'm going to try to find out when I go "home" tomorrow afternoon. What I do know is that Granny moved in with us, and then off to live with Aunt Judy.

Then, years later, she moved in with Aunt Laura, and Sadie was suddenly was no longer part of the picture. I seem to remember stories of Sadie being sent away to some kind of aged paupers' home.

I won't indulge in a lot of the commentary I'm tempted to make at this point, because it would be nothing but hurtful speculation.

I do know for a fact, though, that Granny went through Laura's house after moving in and cut Sadie's face out of every single photo of Sadie with Laura.

The odd thing is that I have a "family history" list that Granny put together when she was wotking on the family history. On it she lists each family member. She has Sadie listed.

Away we go

I just read an article on Yahoo news about younger people living in nursing homes. It seems such most people find that such a situation sucks, as do I, and that a lot of people have it a lot worse than I have it. I guess I really have a lot of stuff going for me: * I'm healthy enough to get around * Metro Access will take me * I live in an area that's vibrant enough that there is always somewhere to go * I have a wonderful family * I have a computer, so if I'm lonely, I can talk to my blog * I bought the maximum allowable amount of long term care insurance before I lost my job. I think it's enough to last for 10 years, so can y'all get on the stick and help me find someone rich to marry before then?

Yesterday was actually a busy day. I did my volunteer work at church in the AM, which was just the same old same old. In the afternoon I went to Clarendon to Spanish, and that was fun. I hadn't studied nearly enough last week, so I'm inspired to do better. REALLY! It was sad how much I didn't know. But, I noticed on the way in to Clarendon that Hard Times Cafe is just a couple blocks away. so I went there and ate wonderful "Cincinnati chili" with cheese and sour cream and onions and cornbread and drank a great big Sam Adams on tap and watched activities at the metro station across the street before class started.

The problem is that not everyone can do things like that, When I got back here, my stomache just fell, I have no idea how I'd stay sane if I actually had to stay here all the time. I think that society really needs to invest in deveoping assisted living facilities which do more to help people live, and aren't just geared toward giving them a place to wait to die.

Last one - promise

Sue and I once rapped for our telephone answering machine message. The message was.

Sorry we can't come to the phone.
Just leave your message at the tone.
We'll call you back when we get in
Just as fast as we possbibly ken,
That's rap! rap! rap!
TELEPHONE RAP!

We had lots of hang-ups! I know neither David nor Dad would leave a message just on principle. Bob once left a message, saying, "telephone rap!! That's telephone crap!"

this is indeed a long card

This next poem was written to tease David, who did not feel at all that ours was the best bell choir in the land. The "MJ" mentioned was the Dulin clergyman at the time who once, when Lloyd was visiting me, came up quite politically and introduced himself to us, shaking our hands vigorously. I said, "I GO to this church." Actually, HECK, I used to live in the parsonage! "This is my friend, Lloyd." Once again he shook out hands vigorously, "GOOD," to Lloyd. "And next week you bring a friend, and the next week they bring a friend! And Lloyd and I are thinking, "Hey, man - we're just here with the band!"
TO: Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Handbells ring are you listnin'?
In the pews, eyes are glistenin',
A beautiful sound that echos around
'Cause we're the best bell choir in the land.

In the hallway we may meet a preacher.
A skinny dude who goes by MJ Kim.
He'll say, "Are you members?", we'll say, "Gee, sir
We are but it is sure no thanks to him!"

Later on we'll conspire
'omngst our tiny bell choir
To find a good time when bells we can shine.
We're the best bell choir in the land!

Even more Chrstmas carrd

Before I start, let me mention that I just saw a woman on TV who says that the world will end on May 21st. My birthday is May 24th. If you are planning on sending a card or anything, you might want to get it in the mail early... Just thought you'd want to know!

TO: O Little Town of Bethlehem
(NOTE: The Falls Church Police department used to drive Volvos. Really!)

O little town of Falls Church
How sleepily you lie.
In your small streets the Volvo cops
Keep out a watchful eye.
You like to think you're crimeless,
But on this very night
Around our 7-11 store
You will see quite a fright.

The bums who hang out there at Mings
Have started to push and shove.
A woman with a bloated face
Begs coins for a child she loves.
The hooker's inside flirting
With every man on earth.
And watch out for the cashier, he'll
Take you for what you're worth.

How silently, how silently
The bag of dope is giv'n
Across the ice cream freezer here
At our dear 7-11.
One wonders what will happen
In this small world of sin.
No telling 'cause the Volvo cops
Do not dare venture in.


TO: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, thou long expected pizza.
We called for you at quarter 'til three.
We've been waiting for over an hour.
Where, oh where, can that pizza be?
I am dying of starvation.
Haven't got the strength to fart.
I know a pizza will be my salvation
As soon as to eat I can start.

More Christmas card

TO: Let it Snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
'Cause the sun is so delightful
And to work I don't want to go!
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Oh, I wanna stay home and watch movies.
That would sure be groovy.
But the wind doesn't even blow,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Well, Bob Ryan said late last night
There was 10 percent chance of a storm.
And Bob Ryan is usually right.
So why the heck is it so warm?

Well. I guess the old bastard was lying.
God, I feel like crying.
This is three days of work in a row.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!


This next song comes from the time period in which we converted the dining room of our 1 bedroom apartment into a 2nd bedroom. I slept in the dining room, adjacent to the kitchen.

TO: Away in a Manger

Away in the kitchen,
No place for her bed,
The poor Debbie Taylor
Lays down her sweet head.

The garbage disposal
Upstairs grinds away.
And our ice box engine
Keeps running til day.

I love this apartment,
But I'd like to lay
Where nocturnal hampsters
Don't bang as they play,

Where coffee ain't brewing
As dawn breaks the sky.
Oh maybe, oh maybe
I'll sleep by and by.


TO: Silver Bells

Tysons Corners, Seven Corners
Full of holiday sales.
Im the mall there's a feeling of Christmas.

Forty dollars, fifty dollars
Can these price tags be real?
So I look in my purse and find...

...silver coins, silver coins,
Goodness, but it is a pity.
Clink, clink, clank.
My piggy bank
Can afford no presents today.