Woo Hoo! I am no longer typing a finger at a time on a 2″ x 3″ phone screen! I am actually using a keyboard attached to a computer! And – if everything works out right – the computer will even be hooked into the Internet in time to send my articles in this week! I have officially re-entered the 21st Century!
It struck me this weekend that Sunday/Easter was the 32nd anniversary of my father’s passing. It also struck me that I have always considered my Father as “old” when he died. But surely, I was wrong on that fact because a quick check of dates reveal that I am only one year younger than my Dad was when he passed. Oops! Reality check!
I had another wonderful Easter. After Mass on Sunday morning, I was invited to the home of Anthony and Mary Christiani to partake of still another traditional Polish meal. Somewhere in my lineage there must be some Polish but the meal is most definitely the best I’ve ever had and somehow each year, it seems Mary is able to make it even better. Tony and Mary shared their home and their table with John Kniola also.
So very glad to hear that my buddy Bruce Hutcherson made it through his surgery so well and has already returned home. Prayers for a speedy recovery, my friend. Also prayers for Bill Levell, Sharon’s husband; and Wayne Dawson, Sandy’s husband please.
I’m still celebrating my recently acquired position as Retired Person. It’s not been three weeks and yet my house and yard are already beginning to show improvement. My skills as housekeeper and cook are being honed – the later unfortunately resulting in an addition of three very unwanted pounds. My first Sunday as a Free Person, I cooked all day. My little four-legged critters have never eaten better in their lives. I found out that six-pound Princess Xenia is a pizza crust eating maniac when given the chance and a tiny bit of Canadian bacon and cheese as topping. Even my Two Terrible Tomcats are enjoying the improved cuisine when they are not busy falling out of trees in the yard. I watched Very Special Agent Gibbs nearly master a mimosa tree until unfortunately he ventured too far out on a too small limb about eight foot off of the ground. VSA Tony DiNozzo tried his paw at the climbing adventure but unlike his very agile brother, he fell out…of a lilac bush…about 2 feet off the ground: definitely not ready to conquer the great outdoors.
My yard work was consuming the majority of my time until I discovered that the “safe” decorative iron burn vessel that I purchased for the debris and sticks in my yard has a tendency to burn people too if they are not careful. I was unfortunately a bit too close to my project and managed to burn my arms as well as the debris. Almost healed, I’ll soon be out there finishing the job. It seems my back yard was a poke field in its past life. Given the opportunity, I have poke plants that can and have reached heights of over ten feet so the battle is never ending. Add to that the weeds, the grass and the bamboo that manages to grow wild in the rear of my property and I will never run out of things to do. Never. This week I hope to thin the Lilies of the Valley, some hostas and my Mother’s peonies. I just love playing in the dirt!
I am so sorry to hear that Penny Fisk passed away recently. My sincere condolences to her family. To know her was to know how much she loved animals and likewise her dedication to the Dearborn County P.A.W.S. organization.
After speaking with some of my neighbors here in Patriot, I am continuing to make plans for a multi-family yard/garage/carport/alley sale in and about the alley that runs between Highway 156 and Front Street in Patriot and beside the Patriot Baptist Church on the last Friday of the month, April 28th and the last Saturday of the month, April 29th. Friday hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to Noon. Hopefully, we can do this monthly through the summer. There are four residences, three garages, a carport and the church that utilize that alley. My garage is already full of goodies to be sorted and priced. Any Patriot resident who wishes to join in is more that welcome too. Whether you set up in or about the alley or in your own front yard, this could be a fun way to make some spare change this summer. I personally have some furniture, some antiques, some clothes, some shoes and a whole lot of stuff. In addition, I will have paid advertising for the event. Any Patriot Baptist Church people reading this are encouraged to join in. We could put tents and tables outside, on the sidewalk or in the back of the church. Feel free to contact me at (812) 594-2281 with suggestions or questions.
Next week we’ll have a recipe but this week, we have a poem by Claudia Minden Weisz:
AND GOD SAID
I asked God to take away my pride,
and God said “No”.
He said it was not up to Him to take away
but for me to give up.
I asked God to grant me patience,
and God said “No.”
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn’t granted, it’s earned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
and God said “No”.
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to Me.”
I asked God if He loved me,
and God said “Yes”.
He gave me His only Son who died for me,
and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.
I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me
and God said, “Ah, finally, you have the right idea.”
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If you have anything for me to include in this article, please send it to me. Information can be received any day of the week but normally my deadline is Sunday at noon for that week’s issue of the paper. Any news received later will appear in the following week’s article. If you need something in on a particular date be sure and give it to me early. Thank you for sending me what you do every week – I couldn’t do this without you!
You may contact me several ways: by leaving a note of message inside the cat mailbox in front of 1995 Front Street in Patriot; or by calling my home at (812) 594-2281; or dropping me a note at P.O. Box #01, Patriot, Indiana, 47038. In addition, contact KAY E COOK on Facebook or online at PatriotNews1995@gmail.com.