the first time we flew

in was 1970.  my dad had died that september.  my mother's son lived in Florida.... and that was where we flew to.  my dad never flew in any type of flying machine, not helicopter (though it was offered to him), nor hot air balloon, nor bi-plane.  (He was born before the Wright brothers flew.)

We were off for a Christmas adventure.  My mother and I.  

I am not sure which us was more excited by the idea of flying in an airplane.  

My mother was very nervous, but as a 10 year old, I was not nervous at all. 

Someone dropped us off at O'Hare International Airport.  I am sure that we were quite early.  We had brand new luggage, and one carry on bag for the two of us, and mother's purse.  There was no TSA security queue.  Our bags were checked in and we sat in chairs in the lobby of Terminal 2. 

The airline?  Eastern Airlines, The Wings of Man....  I believe they were the "official airline" of Walt Disney World at one point.  

At that time people dressed in their Sunday "best" -- nice outfits, to fly on airplanes.  It was a big deal.  They served decent meals too, and didn't charge extra for that.  There was usually a choice of two different meals.  They gave away Eastern Airlines playing cards, or a little die-cast airplane, or a pin shaped like wings and embossed: "Eastern Airlines" .... someone gave me a carry bag with the Eastern Airlines logo on it. (That was not free.)

Coach featured much wider seats than airlines now days.  The plane was very clean, comfortable, and smelled nice, however, smoking was allowed throughout the plane.  

We changed planes at Atlanta, which had my mom all freaked out.  I had it figured out pretty quick, though, and hollered for her to stand still for a minute and look up --at the tv screen with the list of flights and gates on it.  She was all in a panic, until I read the flight number for the rest of our trip, and the gate, which was directly across the way from the plane we had just exited.  That calmed her right down.  (nevertheless she panicked every time we got to Atlanta,... by my best memory a total of 12 times -6 times to and from Florida, and she could not get the hang of switching planes).

As an aside here: the summer after that first winter trip we flew to California! for a wedding... on a real 747!! The original fleet 747s that were HUGE and very roomy on the inside.  These were kind of promotional flights meant to show off the roominess and get more people to fly more often.  I have never seen such a plane since.
I swear you could have played full court basketball in the coach section....  3 seat on the sides and a full 5 seats across the middle of the plane! I know that because there were 6 of us and we all sat side by side, with my uncle across the aisle.

Anyway, flying sure ain't what it used to be! packed in like a bunch of sardines! It's hell for taller people to fly on cram-packed airplanes now days.

spring morning after fog

today is one of those early spring mornings
the damp brought on heavy fog, 
low clouds, as it were...

the sun breaks through to reveal a bright
blue sky and green, green grass
trees popping bud-lets that will bring on 
allergy season in full force...

but for the moment
it is a beautiful
spring morning

....
...
..
.

The Twenty-third Psalm

I remember how I felt the first time I heard and read the 23rd Psalm. 

It was at my Aunt Mae's funeral.  I was 12 years old.  I was becoming aware. Aware of so many things. The sobering reality of death. 

My Aunt Mae was sick for a long time.  She had cancer.  I never really had any other details about that, and I never will.  My mother was Mae's younger sister.  Another sister, Emma, and my mother took care of Mae for more than a year.  They knew she was dying.  They did what they could for her as she grew weaker.

At my Aunt Mae's funeral the pastor read Psalm 23, and I grasped the beauty of that passage, the love, the depth.  
I cried harder as he read....

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lorne Greene reads The Twenty Third Psalm


wiki/Psalm_23




God Bless.
Amen.



....
...
..
.

market or grocery...

I got into a little discussion about grocery stores,...actually "supermarkets" vs smaller markets...  For the purpose of explaining the discussion a market is a smaller shop, and there would be a separate butcher shop for meats, a baker for bread and cookies or biscuits, etc.  

When I say "grocery store" I mean what some people call a 'supermarket' meaning that it is all inclusive, with over-the-counter pharmacy type items, soaps, miscellaneous cleaners, pet food, and a liquor department. 

Not far from where I live is a fantastic "supermarket" called Woodman's Markets.  These are a chain of just 17 grocery stores.  All inclusive, but no actual pharmacy.  They are, as I said, Fantastic! 

Yes, technically they are supermarkets.  They have a wonderful selection of anything you would expect to find in a supermarket.  They have reasonable prices too.  That is a benefit of being employee owned.  If something does not sell well enough it won't be there for long.  

I had been in a few different Woodman's Markets in Wisconsin (their headquarters is in Janesville), and northern Illinois.  At first I did not like the sheer enormity of their stores... but then,... I was diagnosed with an illness that requires avoiding a specific food ingredient... I need to shop in the "Natural/Organic" food aisles.  At the time of my diagnosis my local Woodman's was in the process of doubling the size of their "Natural/Organic" department.  What a bonus for me! Immediately Woodman's became my main grocery stop, and in short order my ONLY grocery stop.

There is something about their stores.... to a new visitor they appear to be like a lot of other supermarkets...  But to me, they are unique.  I have spoken with their employees, and witnessed the staff in action. Including the managerial staff... stocking shelves, and helping customers locate items... and I have asked about certain items... and always the staff either knows the answer or very quickly finds the answer.

This may not be my parents market, which was a small grocer with a butcher counter in the back....
Raffetto's Market on Ellinwood Street in Des Plaines, Illinois,....  
I am fairly certain that my parents would like Woodman's despite it's size.

....
...
..
.

hints of spring

If you look you can
still find a patch
of snow here and there.




Blue sky, 
clear and sunny.



Pleasantly above freezing.


Not warm, exactly,...
but after 130 days 
of a lot of COLD,
it feels good in the warm sun.


Damp in low-lying areas.
Flooding near rivers and streams.
Very much snow melt in
very few days....


Thoughts turn to warmer day ahead.
Pleasant springs of memories past....



A song of Springtime... and love....

an ode to Spring....

....
...
..
.

street lights

sweet memories
from early childhood

visiting Uncle Carl and Aunt Eleanor
in their warm living room

The Tortoise and The Hare book
with a record... turn the page when the 
funny car horn honks "aaooga"

on the way home
from Rose Street,
lying on the backseat
looking up as the street lights 
rush past.... on Mannheim....
by the airport....

asleep before we make the 
seven mile trip home.....

like children often do......

counting cars......
what if....


....
...
..
.

...in the sky,... what do you see....

It was many years ago.
In my childhood.
One of those lazy days, sunny, some clouds drifting ....

On my father's property, at the greenhouse....
a few will understand where.

With my older niece... Bonnie...
She leads, as we lay down on the ground,
heads close together, 
we gaze skyward.

Bonnie points out a cloud,...
asks me if it looks like Snoopy...
yes! I see that!

We continue to look at clouds and guess at what they look like.

It is warm in the sun.
I feel loved.


....
...
..
.
Thank you, Bonnie Sue, for your kindness.