Sorting Through Pictures

When I was a little girl, my mom had a single shoebox of pictures that I use to love to go through and look at.  I have 7 boxes of pictures that I chose not to put in my albums.  They just didn't take many pictures back then.  The earliest one I have of my mom was when she graduated high school and I only have one of my dad as a child before his graduation picture.  There are a few of my McCoy grandparents that are pretty good but I'd love to have a good photo of my Cloud grandparents.  There really are not very many of me as child either - lots of Nancy and Jimmy though :)

I can remember taking pictures of my own kids and just hoping I got a half way decent shot because I only had a few more frames left and I might need those shots for something else that might happen that day.

Today we have digital and I love it because you don't have to worry about using up too much film for a single shot - you can take 20 of the same moment and still have plenty left on your little card - whatever it's called.

But that also means when my kids give me over 500 pictures to choose from for my own albums - I end up with lots of pictures.  In 2007 when we had 3 grandkids born  - I have four albums for the one year.  Before digital I could have 2 years of pictures in one album.  But I still love the digital - even if I can't fit them all in my albums - I have boxes!  There are some pictures that just highlight a certain personality that I want to keep even if I don't put them in my album.

For example:

What we like to call Spencer's 'Chandler' smile

Coen's innocent look 

The Gracie Stare - she can outstare anyone.

Ayden's 'I'm not sure I like this' expression

And I have no idea what expressions we'll be getting from Jackson in the future

 - but he even sleeps cute.

Remember all those old war movies and stories where they had a single photo of their family or 'true love' - I don't know but I'm guessing that the new technology allows our heroes to carry several family pictures on little key ring size albums.  I guess it's kinda like the difference between getting a letter and a dozen emails today - I still miss letters but that's a whole different story.

5 Things

I have been tagged.

10 Years ago I was:

1.-Missing Jen away at Mizzou but knew she was having fun.

2.- Missing Becky away at DLU and very sad because I knew she was terribly homesick.

3.- Keeping track of Stevie and going to his basketball games. (this is the right season isn't it, Stevie?)

4.- Just recently went to Edward & Karen's wedding.

5.- Working as church secretary.

5 things on today's 'to do' list:

1.- Do my physical therapy exercises and take a walk.

2.- Run errands to Walgreens, Schnucks, bookstore,  Target.

3.- Catch up on my bible reading and my 2 & 3 year old bible lessons.

4.- Clean off my desk!

5.- The usual laundry and kitchen duties.

5 snacks I enjoy:

1.- coffee & biscotti

2,- ice cream

3.- anything cheesy

4.- chocolate cookies and milk

5.- chips and dip

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1.-3 -  Give some to my kids for house payments or bills

4.- give to church and charities

5. - save for my old folks home so I don't have to go to the one Nate picked out for me.

5 places I have lived:

1.- South St. Louis with parents

2.- OCC - Oklahoma

3.- South county with Steve & Jen

4.- present home with Steve & kids - and now just Steve again

5.- TBA in about 40 years

5 jobs I have had:

1.- bus girl/cashier at Miss Hullings

2.- check out at Bettendorf's/Schnucks

3.- payroll, cost acct., and acct.s rec. at Alumax foils

4.- part time work with a temp service and at Rotolite

5.- secretary at McKnight

OK - now I tag Sherri and Lindsey because they desperately need to change their blogs!

When I was in 8th grade I had one of my favorite all time teachers who was also a close friend of my mom's from church- Mrs. Flowers.  She always made us reach beyond what we thought we could do.  One of the things we had to do since it was an election year was to give a speech to support a candidate we chose.  On graduation day she gave us all little diplomas with her predictions of what we would become in life.  Mine said (I still have it): "Ann McCoy is the first woman mayor of St. Louis.  She became interested in politics while making speeches at Oak Hill during the 1964 Presidential Campaign."

And then when I decided to take Paralegal courses, the only avenue was to major in Political Science.

I find this all very amusing because in truth I have a very strong dislike for politics!

Basically it's the constant bickering and mud slinging I hate so much. I've always avoided confrontations and debates.  I was tired of the commercials after the first week they began and I've quit answering the phone or the doorbell unless I'm sure of who it is.  But of course I cannot truly escape the election.  It's discussed within the family, who all have different ideas and reasons as to who should be president.  I hear it whenever we're with friends or neighbors - it even got more discussion at my book club last night than the book we were suppose to discuss!!

Now before you start lecturing me about how I should be informed and appreciate my freedoms - let me make it clear that I find all this campaigning very annoying but fully realize how necessary it is.  And I am deeply appreciative of my freedoms - I thank God everyday for allowing me to live in the USA.  I admit I kinda wish God would just give us a president like when He had David anointed but that's not the way it works these days.  I will vote on election day but I am waiting until most of you are done 'campaigning' and the dust has settled before I make my choice.

The bible says that we are to obey and show respect to our rulers as long as their laws don't contradict God's laws.  I can do that.  Even if I don't believe in their policies that might support abortion, gay rights, give us lousy medical choices, ruin our economy, keep us in the war or pull us out too soon - whatever - I can be a law abiding citizen and still retain my own personal beliefs and remain faithful to God.  God's people have been doing that from the start.

So, I look forward to the day this is all settled and for four more years we just move on.  I just hope most everyone can 'just move on'.  (I hear that there are some who still fight the Civil War.)   Here is a quote from a book I liked (Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate) that I hope can be taken to heart.

"What we cannot change, we must endure without bitterness.  Sometimes we must try to view the actions of those around us with forgiveness.  We must realize that they are going on the only road they can see.  Sometimes we cannot raise our chins and see eye to eye, so we must bow our heads and have faith in one another."

Memory of a Doctor

Last night as I was leaving my bible class I saw Dr. J taking one of his young patients aside for a quick check on something - I know he's good about that and my daughters love that he is the pediatrician for their kids.  Our family doctor is great about that also.  Dr. C has checked on me a number of times and I often see him taking others aside for a quick 'office' visit.  It is nice having Christian doctors who feel more like family than doctor.

But for some reason I had a back flash of the doctor of my youth - Dr. S.

I really only remember 3 incidents about Dr. S but it's enough to be extra thankful for people like Dr. C and Dr. J.

The first thing I remember about him was when I was about 5 years old.  I played with the 2 boys down the block and one night Davey tried to jump over the fire hydrant and was badly hurt.  Now why I thought I could jump over the fire hydrant after watching Davey get hurt is beyond me.  I was never considered the brains in the family.   So, I tried the same trick the next night and split my head open.  I remember 3 things (aren't you proud of me Uncle Ed - three points within my three points!!)

1- I remember my brother Joe scooping me up and placing me on the kitchen table - which I just couldn't believe I was laying on the kitchen table bleeding all over.

2- I remember my mom crying - and I guess it must have been the first time I had seen her cry.  After all, she was always telling me that if I didn't hush my crying she would give me something to cry about.   I was a very sensitive and emotional child but I knew she never hesitated when she started swinging that hairbrush.

3- And I'm not sure if I really remember this or just the retelling of this - but Dr. S yelling at mama for bringing me to City Hospital.

The second Dr. S incident was an office visit.  Again - I'm not sure if I really witnessed this or just remember the story.  But mama was taking either Jimmy or I for a doctor visit and we were the next ones to be called into his office.  The door opened and this kid came out screaming and holding his face - and his mother was furious!  When we walked into the office Dr. S said "the kid kicked me so I slapped him" and he seemed to think that slapping a young child was quite all right.  Today he would be sued if not worse.

The third incident was one I remember quite well.  I was in high school and had a plantar's wart on my foot.  He began by telling me that he would burn it out and of course this sounds scary to me.  So I ask if it will hurt and he fumed a little and said I wouldn't feel a thing.  I was doubtful but I let him do it and it really wasn't too bad.  After I had this open wound he told me he was going to pour alcohol over it.  Worried about the pain, I pulled back my foot and he lost it.  Went ballistic!  He ripped off a bandage on his hand and poured the bottle of alcohol over it and yelled, "see it doesn't hurt - I didn't even wince!!!"  I actually doubt if he would have winced no matter how much it might hurt.   I couldn't wait to get out of there and I'm pretty sure that was the last time I went to him.

Shortly after that we heard he had a major stroke and our records were passed on to another doctor who was a bit of a quack but at least he didn't scare me.  REALLY makes me appreciate Dr. C and glad the kids have Dr. J!!