Grade School, Girl Scouts & High School

What a trip down memory lane last night........literally!
Friend, Barb and I drove down many familiar roads.


It was great seeing familiar faces (and some, not so familiar) at a high school reunion that almost turned out to be more about our grade school and girl scout friends!


Let's see......how about some Number One songs from 1967:

Groovin' -- by The (Young) Rascals
Happy Together -- by The Turtles
Light My Fire -- by The Doors


And.....Number One songs from 1971:
My Sweet Lord -- by George Harrison (The Beatles had broken up)
Maggie May -- by Rod Stewart
It's Too Late -- by Carole King (Her album, Tapestry, was a huge hit. I almost wore mine out!)

It was too bad more people didn't or couldn't attend, but we're already talking about our next get-together.....probably in 2 years,

which will be our 40th High School Reunion!!!

Acccckkkkk.....that number does not compute! I refuse to believe it!

** Life Is Wonderful **

While driving to meet a friend for lunch today, I listened to a Jason Mraz CD. One of the songs on it is one I really love: Life is Wonderful. I always play it loud and sing along at the top of my lungs. (it's included in one or two of my playlists. maybe I'll add it to the newest one, too....I think it would fit quite nicely!)

It was a beautiful day......
blue skies, white puffy clouds, 76 degrees
Awww.......Life really is wonderful!

And to quote Jason Mraz......

"la la la la la la la life is wonderful
ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
ah la la la la la la life is meaningful"

* Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest *

Don't you just love the title of this humorous poetry contest?? It sounds like some of those goofy words that I like to make up!

I found this contest on the Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop web site. It's from Winning Writers.

There is no fee to enter, the winning prizes are nice chunks of change and there's plenty of time to enter. Good Luck!

http//www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php

Oops...re: Year of the Piper Cub

I just discovered that I've been saying the wrong year for the Yellow Piper Cub airplane I took a ride in last month. I thought it was a 1949, but fortunately someone at the Iowa Aviation Museum corrected me.

It's a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub.

(I have corrected it on the post for Wednesday, July 22, 2009.)

Thanks, Lee Ann!

Writer Friend Published in New Anthology

Congratulations to Tricia Grissom!

Tricia has a story included in a new anthology:

Dirt is Good for You: True Stories of Surviving Parenthood.

Great title, don't you think?

It is due out on September 9th.

Go to Tricia's blog to find out more about the book and about Tricia herself.

"Parks Today" Alumni News

I finally received my Parks College of Engineering, Aviation & Technology alumni newsletter today. I had checked my (snail) mail box daily for its arrival. I felt like a kid, waiting for a special present to show up, and was so disappointed every day when it wasn't there.

But it was definitely worth the wait. All I can say is: WOW! They did a fantastic job with my article about my dad's years there as a student and teacher. The layout with the photos I provided is just perfect. I will treasure it always.

As soon as the newsletter is available online, I'll include a link for it.

I've already heard from a couple of alumni, and I hope to hear from many more!

** THIS AND THAT **

I scrolled through my blog posts and photos a few minutes ago and was reminded once again how much my writer-friends mean to me.

Not too many years ago, I lamented that I "had no talent". I always spoke of one sister as "the artistic one". She could paint, draw, sketch, sculpt, etc. My other sister could whip up clothes on her sewing machine that looked as well as, or better than, the ones in the department stores. My brother played the banjo, had a talent for comedy, and could take slabs of wood and make beautiful furniture out of them.....Then there was me. I hadn't discovered anything that I was really good at.....that I could develop a passion for.

That all changed when I realized I was a writer.....that I loved to write....I wanted to write.....I had to write. Writing has brought many new friends into my life. We encourage each other, we cheer for each other, we grumble a little together.

I can't imagine what my life would be like right now, today, August 14, 2009, if I wasn't thinking about writing continually, from the moment I wake up til I finally fall asleep at night......and speaking of falling asleep, I need to close up the laptop for tonight and.....zzzzzzzzz

** MY BEAUTIFUL WIND CHIMES **

Here's a photo of my wind chimes that I've written about. They hang right outside the window over my kitchen sink......Lovely to look at, even lovlier to hear!