My Week

Wednesday I went to the funeral of George H. "Nib" Roberts.  I didn't know him personally but respected the fact that he was a charter member of the Chatham American Legion.  As I got to know him through the Eulogy, I felt closer and also met a few common friends.
I stopped by the Salvation Army store since Wednesday is senior discount day.

Thursday morning I made a trip to the drive up window at IDOT to renew my license sticker on Wheezer.  After that I rode over to the airport for Austin's homecoming from the Middle East.   That was a happy event indeed.

On my way home, I stopped by Advanced Auto to get help with an amber lamp fixed on my bike.  The man who helped me change it was also a biker.  I figured that Capitol City Motorsports may be busy with the upcoming Springfield Mile track races.  I'm sure it was much cheaper this way too.

Then I went to a "members only" preview of a Boy In Blue Part 4 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Friday I went to the Old State Capitol.  I snuck out to see the 114th color guard open a new exhibit a the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.   In the evening I got a call that Dan had finished fixing my wooden trunk latch so I picked it up and ended up staying for dinner.

Saturday I did my chores.  The biggest was way overdue and that was vacuuming my car.  I went to a poet presentation at the Vachel Lindsey Home Historic site.  Then stopped by the my son to pick up his amplifier and microphone of Memorial Day.

Sunday I read the second reading.  I rode my motorcycle witt he big flags up.  I left church before the closing song and went to Rock N Roll Hardy's but the bikers had already left for Camp Butler.   I sped down the interstate and found them at the flag pole.  They hadn't started yet.  In fact there was a 45 minute wait.  After the ceremony there was a 40 minute wait to leave for a wreath laying at the memorials in Oakridge.  There we waited a half hour too before it was underway.

Here I am at Lincoln's Thunder Road Motorcycle Ride with the Gold Star Families, Jerry Young, father of Chad, and Ava and Richard Tomson, parents of Lucas Strarcevich of Savoy, who laid the wreath in honor of their son (s) killed in action.

 Donna Catlin took these pictures.

I came home hungry and ate.  I checked a few emails and realized there was a potluck at the VFW.  I stopped for a little desert before going to the Memorial Balloon Launch. 

Our Mistress of Ceremony did not show up which I later learned she fell ill.  The microphone did not work, and the Amazing Grace didn't play. I was later told that they ran the battery down playing patriotic music.  I gave the speech without the microphone and here is my transcript.

Balloon Launch Speech.

We are gathered here today to memorialize a loved one.  The cause of death no longer matters.   It’s how they lived. Think for a moment, how did the name that this balloon make you miss them so much? 

As for those who served in the military, they lived as patriots to our country’s call.  We often talk of “OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS GOING OFF TO WAR”

Who are we?

Are we a parent in part of these sons and daughters?  I say yes.  If I am truly and American, they are MINE too in part.  My maternal instinct tells me so.  The word, love, can be a strong and misleading term.  Each of these balloons is an outward expression of real, genuine love.

My balloon today is for my husband whom I lost in a car accident 6 years ago.  Frank had served 3 tours in Vietnam and has an eternal resting place at Camp B. 

I too was injured but survived.  I miss him dearly and when I ask myself why not me? It’s because God needs me still.  God needs all of us survivors.  We are His children and we were given a special gift of life by those whose names these balloons are dedicated. 

We must resolve to keep active for those living.  I send packages to those serving in harms way through Soldiers Angels, I learned to ride in 2006 as part of the Patriot Guard Riders, and participate at ceremonies.  Yes, participate at ceremonies.  What good is a balloon launch, the Vietnam Vigil, Veterans Day Parade, without the bystanders?  It is empty.  

I chuckle when I think of the old movie, “Support Your Local Sherriff” but that is so true for events and ceremonies that invite the public to attend.

During military funerals, a flag is presented to the next of kin on behalf of a grateful nation.  One person says this and turns over our flag.   Please raise your hand if you are the grateful nation!

These are outward signs that tell everyone I am part of the “grateful nation” who places a flag on the top of that casket during military funerals.  You are giving that to the survivors “on behalf of a grateful nation.  Someone else just presents it on YOUR behalf.  It is 100 percent you and 100 percent of  me.

I prefer to think of memorials as a close one who is holding a place in a long line at the movies or show for us while we are taking care of business here on Earth.

My favorite quote, which has now become my prayer, is from Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Lest I keep my complacent way I must remember somewhere out there a person died for me today. As long as there must be war, I ask and I must answer was I worth dying for?”

Some of the participants of the 2d Annual Balloon Launch:

Monday I went to the Chatham Square for Memorial Day ceremony.   I got there early and put up flags along the easement of the Chatham square along Route 4.  I put a small rose from my flower bed on my husband's brick in the square.  I came home and fixed some asparagus from the garden. I returned for color guard duty and stood next to Les Morgan standing there with other flag bearers and heard him as he looked over the crowd (and right over my head) and said "I need two more flag bearers".   The speeches given by the Legion and VFW commanders, as well as the police officer, were very moving and not as typically canned speeches.

I had a few donuts at the post.  I rode home through my neighborhood the roundabout way and parked in front of my house since I'll be leaving again for a ceremony at Camp Butler later.

 

At Camp Butler, I placed one of my peonies on my husband's grave and parked the motorcycle there.  I walked to the pavilion.  A portion of the ceremony includes a flower placed on the vacant chair by the ladies which I accepted.  The speech given by Tammy Duckworth was great.  She wore her uniform as a Lt Col.   She spoke of an NCO named Bill Chaney that trained her (link is to the newspaper and that's my son's loaned amplifier and microphone).  He was a Vietnam vet and taught her how to cuss.  He smoked and enjoyed a brewsky.   He didn't have to go because he served his time and did not return alive.  That was so moving coming from a congress woman who lost both legs.  Afterward I waited in line to salute and greet her.  I reminded her we met before at a Veterans Day parade in Quincy.  She said that was a long time ago and wished it again.  I kept it brief since there was a line.

I stopped by and let my son's dog out.  Moe peed gallons.  Then he just looked at the gate hoping his master would show up.  Not that he didn't like me.  Moe gave me a kiss. He just wanted his master so I let him back in the house.  

I went to the retreat ceremony at the DAV.  For such a lovely day in which I had my first sunburn, it rained.  Not before or after the retreat.  Only during.  After the retreat, I came back to Chatham to retrieve  the 3 by 5 flags on the square where we had the 10AM ceremony.   

Exhausted!

My Week

Workers from Lowes started installing ceramic tile on Monday.  Half the house has it so now it will be completely tiled.  I figure if tile lasts in Europe, are dust free, then I'll never replace flooring besides throw rugs.  I'm sleeping fine...on the floor in cuddle spot.  I almost like it.  It's like camping.  It's hard to get to the kitchen sink and microwave.  This was taken from the no-cross line.

Here is the before photo with splits.

after

Monday evening I left at 4PM in my pink ball gown to go to Rosewood senior home in E. Peoria to dance.  Before the dance, Jean Meyer had me share a picture viewer with the audience as part of the warm up.  I was to ask the seniors if the children in the photo were good or bad. One was crying another was getting a spanking etc.  There were about 65 people there and only 4 said they were being bad.  The rest insisted that children were good.  One old lady pushed me away.

The workers left about 5.  I left abt 5:30 for a meeting with the Soldiers Aid Society. We had a great discussion about the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition that wants to charge 'volunteers' $20 to participate.  It's more for the extreme die hard reenactors (mostly easterners) not us.  How can they control those reenactor participants that have paid from those that have not.  Organizers cannot turn guests away based on attire.   I've never paid to volunteer except maybe for the honor flight.  The Old State Capitol is not participating and that was the place of his funeral so it will pass out side from it.  Since veterans have been invited to line the street, maybe that will be a better way to participate. 

I then stopped by the regiment house to pick up a copy of the book to scan the governor's reactivation proclamation.  I could not  get to my scanner until the flooring was complete and I could move around.  But it is now on their website.  http://114thillinois.yolasite.com/

Wednesday evening I went to Fat Willys for our AmVets meeting.  We had barely a quorum due to illnesses.  Besides that, the room we usually meet in was down for flooring so we had to meet in the bar area.  It was so noisy.  I suggest we meet next time at Edgar's Coffee House.   I was getting ready to shower and it was cold.  Workers used a fan and that probably blew out the pilot.  I had to relight it and had my shower before bed.  Thank goodness for that.  While they worked, I couldn't clean house so I did outside chores. I cut the grass and cleaned the gutters.  There were so clogged that when I freed that clog, a gush of water and twirlly gigs came flowing out.  Since I could only use the back door, I did slip on the wet grass and got a mark on my arm.

Thursday evening I went to an ABATE meeting.  Afterward I stopped by Walmart since there was word on the street they had ammo in stock.

 It rained off and on for my garage sale from Thursday through Saturday while staying for the workers on my floor.  At least it was very cold and damp. So damp that I slipped in the wet grass going to the back door and fell against my trailer.  That left a mark.  The low Saturday morning was 38 degrees but the sun came out and dried things up.  I had closed my garage sale that morning when I went to the Celtic Festival in Chatham and was a proud member of the color guard.

It was the first time I wore the harness to carry the flag.  I told our honor guard commander it felt like a sports bra.  Just being honest.  I believe we did a great job this time and the singer was awesome too.  I had to pick up my feet a little higher on that soft muddy ground to keep in step. After that I got my purse from my car and bought some haggis and fries.  I had half for lunch and reheated it for dinner.

After that I came back home and changed into my camp dress for my presentation of Belle Reynolds at the Lincoln Home Historic Site's theater.  The workers were still grouting the tile so I signed off on the job and they locked up.  I think there may have been about 40 in the audience.  

Here is the park ranger, Laura Gundrum.

Sunday morning I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans. I missed the meeting that we had the week before.  I had a lot on my mind so I didn't want to forget the Memorial Mass.  I picked up some breakfast sandwiches at Hardees because I was expecting my sons to help move furniture by 10AM. 

I'm thankful for my sons who helped move furniture.  By doing so, they also helped me de-clutter -- which was one of their biggest critiques of me.  It had not been easy since loosing my husband and being injured, surgery, and housing them one by one on their own transitions toward greater independence.  I love them with all my heart. 

Monday night I went to the VFW meeting.  I met a service dog named Comet belonging to a man with the Purple Heart Chapter.  After the meeting, a group stayed to stuff envelopes for the semi-annual newsletter and raffle tickets.  

Now to finish putting the little things back in place on dusted shelves.  I also have to prepare a short speech for a memorial balloon launch on Sunday.

My garden is coming along.  I see carrots, beans, green beans; yellow peppers, cucumber, cantaloupe and radish growing after the recent rain. 

My Week

Wednesday morning I took my mower over to Kunz Mowing because I couldn't start it.  He told me that it had bad gas in it (from over winter without stabilizer).  The man got it running so I brought it home and cut my grass.  Thursday I smelled gas in the garage.  I pulled my red gas can out of the garage onto the porch to air it out.  Friday I still smelled gas in the garage and it was coming from the mower.  Saturday morning I took it back and they kept it for a few days.

Ok, so I need a step ladder to pull down my attic ladder in the garage.

I got my US Sanitary Commission ping and Reproduction Lincoln 1864 Campaign/Mourning Pin that I ordered in the mail

this will be a great addition to my reenacting.

My sons gave me flowers for Mother's Day.

 I was in the mood for a cup of hot tea. Was about to add honey and the jar was full of ants. Note that the bag of artificial sweetener that was in an open zip bag untouched by ants.

I took time out from moving furniture to ride my motorcycle to the airport for a homecoming of 5 airman from Afghanistan.  

Here is a link to the program I'll star in. http://www.nps.gov/liho/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?eventID=442865-206081

I've been smelling gas in the garage and took the tank out. Still smelled it and noticed a puddle of gas under the mower. I cleaned it up with a paper towel under the empty valve. I noticed a fine tube which could be a relief valve pointing down. I tucked it into what looked like holes for it.

I happened to have need to go to the Dollar General Store and all they had was "weed and grass" killer. So I go to ACE Hardware for weed killer. They have rows of "weed and grass" killer. I've made that mistake before. Very little dedicated to just weeds. I picked up some foaming Sure Shot. I got you now you weedy bastards.  I also picked up a garage sale sign.  Some items I've been posting on eBayClassifieds.

http://www.ebayclassifieds.com/user/toga42


I couldn't sleep worrying about the gas leak on my mower, the furniture moving, garage sale, and lines for next week at the Lincoln Home Living History presentation.  So I got up and had coffee, moved a few more things around, found a dead mouse in my trap, and got on the computer and downloaded a free program for genealogy. 

I have been having trouble with my Family Treemaker software so I downloaded freeware from MyHeritage and imported my data file.  It does require a password which it said my email existed so I needed to click on "forgot" password. I imported my data file (names, dates etc of family members). 

Saturday evening I took a little break from preparing for the new floor and went to Justin Antwieller's birthday.  He fixed smoked turkey and roasted a hog.  I had a nice chat with a WW2 veteran named Jim.  He was on the April Honor Flight.

My son stayed over night so we could tear down the beds Sunday for the flooring.

Sunday I went to Mass and substituted for Suz on Eucharistic Minister since she made a trip to the hospital in an ambulance with a case of Bell's palsy.  After church I got the call from Lowes that the tile and grout are ready to be dropped off. I have been moving stuff around all last week.  In fact it was stressful. I had was wide awake at 3AM on Saturday morning worrying about the floor, my mower, and my lines for next Saturday's first person presentation of Belle Reynolds at the Lincoln Home Historic site.   While my son did laundry, we moved furniture.  I ate leftovers and my sons went to Head West sub shop.  In the evening I rested up and had dinner with Sean at Red Robin.  I've never been there before.  I had a glass of wine and a guacamole bacon burger on a gluten free bun.

As I prepare to move things for new flooring, I am also going to have a yard sale.  I put an ad in the Chatham Clarion.  I slept on the floor on my foam mattress pad.  Floor workers are starting with the living room and move to the back so that the tile will match the squares there and less likely with the bathroom. 


 

My Week

I don't know if it's just me or if people are less than friendly lately.  I tried to be kind and ask a man "What do you think?" while pointing to the major work done on his neighboring house that was foreclosed.  He relied "I don't".  Then I came home on Tuesday to a bag of poo on my front porch.  I normally carry a bag.

Last week, you may recall, my son caught a coon in a trap in his back yard.  Today he called and has a possum.  

On Thursday I joined a group of seniors calling themselves "Young At Heart" from Little Flower Church to tour Peoria's Wheels 'O Time Museum and the Caterpillar Center.  It was the same group that I went to Ste. Genevieve, MO with the month before. It was the first day the Wheels 'O Time opened for the season.

I'll be grounded to the house the week of May 12th for flooring. Good time for a garage sale.
I'd like to hold it on Thurs and Fri because on Sat (17th) I have Honor guard for the Celtic games and then later reenact as Belle Reynolds for the Lincoln home at 3pm.
Then I'll sleep in the kitchen for a week while the floors are being done.

I have a busy weekend. American Legion Riders fun ride to Alton on Saturday.  The weather was real pleasant.  I have not been to Fast Eddies Bon Air in Alton in over 15 years.  Buck had 63 miles per gallon from Alton to Virden.

Then Civil War dance in Delavan Saturday night. I changed and made it there just in time for the dance.  Last year it rained hard and I danced in my blue jeans.  I danced in my dress this year.  However, that dress is one that I like but a youth dress.  That's because it has short sleeves but full neckline.  I'm too old to be wearing a youth dress by Victorian standards.  Afterward there were fireworks shot from cannons.

Sunday I went to Mass and was a Eucharistic Minister then I went to the ABATE Ride to the capitol opening Motorcycle awareness month.

Well I've been retired now for 4 months and I just got my state retiree ID Card.
 
I didn't know I'd get this card.

Monday night I went to the American Legion Meeting.  My service flags were returned that I had donated dedicated to Wreaths Across America at the other post.  I was told they were lost but the person who told me this had pictures of them taken the same day at another ceremony as the National Cemetery Wreaths Across America.  I'm over that now and really faced the fact not to expect them returned.  I will not forget the unacknowledged lie though.