Memories! [of Nampa, circa 1948]

Feb 26, 2007

Dear Judi, Lee & Nita, and Ruth,

This morning as Sophi and I stepped outdoors for her potty break, MEMORIES flooded over me! It’s a gray, (high) overcast day, 32 degrees & 64% humidity, and I remember when Daddy, Honey, Norma and I came to Idaho to ‘check things out’ before we moved here from Albany Oregon!

You know how smells stick with you, associated with memories for a hundred years--often, a lifetime, anyway? Well, the ‘feel’ of the outdoors, sometimes, is closely associated with memories, too!

That first morning as we got ready to go places, I remember Honey observed, “It’s going to rain--we need to take our umbrellas…” So we did, and people looked at us strangely! It turned out that the overcast ‘burned off’ as the morning progressed, and we had dry, beautiful sunshine!

Later, after we moved to Idaho, we sometimes discussed that incident [Snickering, pointing, whispering: "Those people must be from Oregon! Ha! Ha!"] and realized that, yes, if we had been in Oregon, it would have rained, but in Idaho, the clouds often dissipate to reveal sunshine a bit later in the day! We decided we really LIKED that!

As you might remember, Honey suffered terribly from the Oregon climate, and Daddy always said it was because of her that we ended up moving here. I don’t know to what extent that is true, because you know he always had a way of teasing about things, and sometimes it was hard to tell when he was stating a fact, or was more likely jesting a bit!

We know a lot these days about S.A.D., a very real ailment, so I can understand that, along with a lot of other stuff for her during that time, she had a pretty rough three (?) years living in Oregon. We are undoubtedly bless to have had a mother for all our growing up years and way into adulthood!

Anyway, isn’t CHILDHOOD great, when you are unaware of much of what’s happening with adults?? As long as we were comfortable, fed, and safe, which we were! Well, except the time that Lee drank kerosene from the glass Coke bottle out by the side of the house… A VERY SCARY INCIDENT!!!! ...another story...

Back to our trip to Nampa in 1949, we stayed in a motel built of block... there were strange, unfamiliar smells from THAT place! At the front of the motel was a slight incline down to the sidewalk along the street… I don’t remember that we ‘hung out’ at the motel much, but the folks seemed to have a lot of things to do, so Norma and I were ‘just along for the ride’ … I remember that we prepared a picnic meal or two from the car on that trip; no eating out! I don’t remember that I knew much of anything about their business while here, but I’m sure it included school (NNC Grade School), and probably checking out housing in that area, and, of course, the Friends Church.

It IS interesting living here now--things have CHANGED so much, there is little resemblance of Nampa in the years we lived here (1949-1953), but I keep my eyes open for the ‘familiar’ that jumps out at me from time to time--especially downtown! I’m pretty sure that as I experience this first year of SEASONS back here, that things, like today, will pop out at me!

Something else that I’ve thought about for a couple of weeks is when winter was trying to be over, and spring trying to arrive, how ANXIOUS I was to rollerskate!!! I had a metal pair of clamp-on skates that Daddy picked up at auction, and I was trying to rollerskate when the ground really wasn’t quite ready, and the sidewalks were still dirty from winter… So frustrating, as I stumbled over bits and pieces of debris, but I just couldn’t WAIT!!!! The type of shoes I had weren't very good for holding the skates on, either--I can remember YEARNING for the right type of shoe!!! Ha!

That’s it for today!

Love, Linda

My Perfect Journaling Spot (Borrowed!)

POSTS from Amy, and Lyn's response:

"Amy" wrote: It's by the ocean. I need to hear the sounds of nature. No cars, TVs or people, but seagulls, waves crashing, looking out along the mudflats and watching bird life. I love birds. My parents were bird watchers and I know almost all of Florida's birds.

But along with my perfect spot on the ocean I would need my writers desk. perferable under a big Australian pine tree. When the wind blows through the needles of this tree it sounds like an eerie whistle. I grew up with the sound down in the Keys when we would go camping, so I love the sound.

I would need a few raccoons around hunting up horseshoe crabs and mucking about. I love those little critters. Then, if you have never seen on, they are incredible--The Rosette Spoonbill. This is a big pink/rose colored bird like the flamingo except his bill is long with a spoon at the end to eat small water animals in the mudflats. They are very cool to watch. Bird watching takes a lot of patience, and silence. You must communicate with hand signals, like the navy seals do. I have found that people who respect wildlife and quietly watch rather than talk are some of the best folks around. You can be with 30 people and not a soul will speak.

So, I would be by the ocean, have my desk, all the wildlife and trees and the wind blowing gently, and then last, I would need my paints and paper and pens. Oh, and my Bible. Yep. I figure I can make this happen after my kids leave home for college. HA, I bet you all that have no kids are laughing at me and saying, "Yeah, right".

Amy in Florida

====================

Posted by: "Lyn Wynters" to a Yahoo Group to which I belong...

Amy, a WAVE (huge, tidal wave!) of nostalgia swept over me with your description of a Florida beach! I used to frequently take a briefcase of books and my journal(s) down to the nearest beach, Hudson Beach (NOT Florida's finest!!!) when I was living in Port Richey, to escape for a quiet morning or afternoon of study and writing, and there's NOTHING like a Florida beach to 'get away' ... In the winter there were few people, and yet the weather was perfectly pleasant, and oh, so, COMFORTABLE to this old Alaska gal!!!

Well, here in Idaho, I am having to re-group and still haven't found my perfect journaling spot, so for now I'm just gonna 'adopt' yours, Amy, -- or, at least, say, "Amen!" to your 'perfect journaling spot' description! Okay?

Blessings, Lyn

Changes...

Sat Feb 10, 2007

Dear Family & Friends,

Another BUSY week! I’m settling into a routine … and that’s good! Sundays, of course, are full with Sunday school, morning worship, lunch with Esther (usually), and then evening worship. My Tuesdays are the busiest--Bible study/TOPS/Mary Kay meeting!

I begin Tuesday with an early morning Bible study… In January we began an 8-week study, titled: In the Beginning, a study of the first eleven chapters of Genesis. It is EXCELLENT, thought-provoking, insightful, and requires plenty of homework that really digs into Scripture! [When this study is done, I plan to get into another on a different day.]

My weekly TOPS Club meeting meets midday Tuesday with weigh-in, a helpful program with challenges, encouragement, and accountability, and a short business meeting! It’s a great group of about 30 women, some who are also in the Bible study that I attend! It’s been really fantastic in a town of nearly 80,000 people to run across the same people in my small world since I returned!

Some of those women are also active in Nampa Christian Women’s Connection (CWC), associated with Stonecroft Ministries, International. Meeting at the Nampa Civic Center the first Monday of every month, CWC has a luncheon event, an outreach program for all area women. Table settings and decorations are first class, and the buffet-style meal is always good! A special interest feature, good music, and an excellent speaker are also highlighted. For $10, it’s ALWAYS a special treat. In fact, it was at an evening event for Stonecroft’s Christian Business & Professional Women’s Club (then), back in 1968, that I rededicated my life to the Lord, and made the decision to live for the Lord and attend church after being eight-long-years away! So, although the organization has changed to host only luncheons (??at least, here in Nampa), it is dear to my heart!

These women’s luncheons are held all over the nation, and the Stonecroft organization supports village missions throughout the USA. Since I’ve been away for quite awhile, I’m learning more, and have, in fact, already been appointed as Vice Chair for one year (Apr 2007 through Mar 2008). I will be working closely with a gal named Delores. The board meets every quarter for planning sessions. I am pleased that guidelines are well laid out by Stonecroft. Primarily responsible for publications, advertising, etc., I am discovering my position entails quite a lot of other work, and above all, TEAM-work! I feel that my work in the past has groomed me well for what’s ahead, and I know that I will find it a rewarding, rich experience! Delores and I have met for some orientation, and a group of us will be driving to Ontario Oregon for a day of training on Saturday, March 31. Of course, anymore, I have to preface everything with: “The Lord’s will be done” or “The Lord helping me!” Otherwise, if it’s all about ‘me,‘ it doesn’t ‘work’!!

Another huge thing in my life is that, in January, I launched my Mary Kay career, and I’m really EXCITED about that! It’s plenty of work getting started, and it’s a giant test of my self-discipline! But what worthwhile career isn’t?? I’m very pleased with all I’m learning, and I’m so impressed with the MK company, and all the folks that I’m meeting! My recruiter/director and good friend, Barb Och, is from Anchorage, but I’ve been ‘adopted’ by a Sr. Director here in Nampa, and I attend meetings in Meridian (30 miles round trip) every Tuesday evening. I can’t tell you how helpful those training sessions have been, and how exciting it is to find my mindset shifting in good directions! I believe, this is something that is ‘just right’ for me, especially at this particular time! I certainly believe in the PRODUCT, which I‘ve used for many years!

Strange thing… I’ve been ‘coasting’ for quite awhile! Well, since I had such health problems in Alaska about 12 years ago… NOT that I haven’t been busy these years--quite the contrary! But, especially thinking about work or a job, it seems like the Lord is telling me it’s time, along with better health, to get OFF MY DUFF and GET BACK TO WORK! My temporary job at Henny Penny Produce when we moved here showed me that it‘s good to be back in the ‘work world!‘… Even then, I was thinking about Mary Kay as I knew I was at Henny Penny for just the busy, fall harvest. Things are falling into place, and I’m confident that it’s where I should be, need to be!

This isn’t a blow-by-blow of my daily/weekly schedule, which is changing considerably as I am making major adjustments and using time/energy with consideration of my new goals. Especially, I’ve been looking at my time wasters (ouch!), such as puttering--I’m gonna MISS that one! Ha! Also, I’m suddenly seeing TV, computer, email, etc., in a whole different light! It’s turned out to be a positive, not-so-painful experience for me to become discerning about anything that would rob me of achieving goals that I’ve set for myself!

Bottom Line: It all comes down to BALANCE! I’ve been a very ‘free-spirit’ for about 12 years (some would say, all my life!), but now it’s time to buckle down, BALANCE my life again with the changes that have come with this excellent move to Idaho, and put the drifting-along lifestyle behind me. I DO have a Purpose! It’s exhilarating!

And, to all the people I’ve encouraged to SLOW DOWN, it’s good for awhile, but don’t stay there too long!

Love, Linda

Catching Up!

Oh, my! It's been awhile since I've been here, but now, I'm back! In a nutshell, my son and two grandchildren and I packed up last summer and left Florida in early August 2006, moving (lock, stock and barrel) to the Treasure Valley in Idaho! WOW! Will provide more details later!

We're in seperate homes now, and I'm contented in my own little place in a retirement park! I'm still 'settling in' and don't feel very 'put together' yet, but I'm working on it! I'm positively delighted to be back in the area where I grew up and lived my early adult life. It's a GREAT place for me to finish writing my LifeStory! That is, IF I can find time!

More later!
Lyn