Transportation!

I went to pick up Kirstin this afternoon to take her to work at McDonald's. Parked in the driveway was a beautiful bike. I knew I was a little late, but when I saw the bike I thought

"Oh no, she has found different transportation".

While I waited, the door opened and out came Jayde. Well that explained the bike. Jayde had ridden over to visit with Kert after school. I made the comment that it looks like she has a new bike. Her response was "yeah, and it goes 21". Well since I don't think 'young' as everyone is aware of, I had to ask "21?" Jayde responded with "it goes 21 speeds. Well, I am impressed - that is soooome bike.






Being a Grandma, I had to take a picture. Here is Jayde, our granddaughter, with her 21 speed bike. Terrific looking girl on a great bike!

Bette's Dead Van - on I-465 this time!

It seems when what my mind considers a "traumatic event" lessens, I can write about the event. Yesterday one of those times occurred.

As I have mentioned once in a previous post, it is not a "good thing" to see my red van going down the driveway on the back of a tow truck. Well Wednesday afternoon I learned something that is worse than seeing that van going down the driveway at home on the back of tow truck.

It is much worse to be in Indianapolis, on I-465, in the middle lane ( of a three lane interstate), during rush hour and realize your car has stopped running. Wow, thoughts started scrambling through my head for attention first. Three choices seemed to be the most prominent ---
1. Do I call Lee and YELL.
2. Do I do a woman thing and start crying.
3. Do I think fast - like how to get out of this jam - what is the quickest way to the shoulder of the interstate.

I opted for #3 first. No traffic in the right lane for 10 cars back or so -- Thank you Lord -- and I made for the right. Then I realized the power steering wasn't on either (Duh, Bette - no power, no power steering). that wasn't one of the things clamouring for my attention. But I gave it an extra turn as only a 65 year-old woman can do and ended up as far to the right of the shoulder as I could get. Than I put on the brake and thought, now what do I do. Well I thought what do I do after I put on the hazard lights. Is that what they are called? I don't know. I just hoped they would keep people from slamming into the red van I was stranded in.

Then I tried #1. But Lee wasn't answering his cell. Smart Man. Besides what could he do? I really didn't know, I just wanted to hear a friendly voice.

I then talked to the husband of my best friend and Don told they would come and get me if I needed them to. So I calmed down inside and decided to try and find Brett with his trusty tow truck.

It all turned out okay. Brett said "Stay in the car, I will come and get you and the car". Okay, I could do that quite well. I certainly wasn't going anywhere. I entertained myself with looking in my left mirror and seeing just how many cars and trucks actually drive with their right wheels over the line toward the shoulder and hoping as they saw me they would move over. They all did, thank the Lord again!

After 30 minutes a CVS-pharmacy emergency van stopped and asked if I was alright, did I need anything. I assured him my Brett was on the way. So he gave me a couple of waters and went on to help any other stranded motorists.

And then as I kept watching the west bound traffic, I saw the best sight I could have seen. I saw that red tow truck with my Brett driving going west. He immediately called me to assure me he saw where I was and he would be there soon.

After 1 1/2 hours in 90+ degrees of an Indiana afternoon on the Interstate, what I had been waiting for arrived. Brett pulled up in front of me, helped me into the truck, put the van on the flat bed and we started for home. Well it wasn't quite that quick for Brett loading the van, but his mother was willing to wait for as long as it took.

Brett - "My Knight in Shining Armor"

The pictures are not real good - taken with my cell phone when I was stuck in the front of a truck while all the action was happening in the rear. But I did the best I could with the equipment I had. My car is now at Turner Automotive for repair - AGAIN! How many repairs does a van need when it only has 97,000+ miles on it? Haven't had any answers to that question yet.......

I am sooooooo glad to be home. Thank you Brett!

New Grandchild is expected!

This is Nathan our youngest son and his wife Stephanie. They are expecting a child in January. Nathan called to let us know that this expected grandchild is a little girl. How exciting. We are thrilled with anticipation of another little girl in our family.

Celebrating Grandpa's Birthday - just a little late!

We went to a local restaurant to eat and used the excuse that we were celebrating Lee's birthday. When the girls heard that we were going they wanted to join us. Since their parents were both at work, they went with us to eat dinner.

It keeps grandparents young keeping up with the conversation between 13 & 16 year old girls and the older grandparents. We had a fun time delivered the girls home and came home to rest. I told you it is challenging keeping up with teen granddaughters.

Lee with Kirstin

Cindy and I

Didn't plan on doing that (adding my picture to my blog), but was forced to this time since I don't have any other picture of Cindy at this dinner event.

"Older Than Life"

Taking some grandchildren to school along with one of their friends, I was reminded that I am really not as old as I sometimes think I am.

They all wanted to go to McDonald's on the way to school, so the van seemed to find its way there without any difficulty. Two of the girls came out rather quickly and I inquired as to where the other one was. She was still getting her 'stuff'.

I made the comment that I suppose I could apply for a job there, since I observed some older women entering wearing a McDonald's uniform. One girl ( my granddaughter, Cindy ) said "Sure Grandma - you aren't older than life". I agreed with that comment. Then Randi ( Cindy's friend ) asked "Can you walk faster than 1/2 centimeter an hour?" I feel confident I could accomplish that to which both girls agreed that I could definitely work at McDonald's. Apparently Kirstin was being served by an elderly female (older than life - and only walking 1/2 centimeter an hour ) which is why she wasn't out in the car yet.

Cindy is on the left and Randi on the right.

Finally Kirstin arrived and we all went off to the High School and Greenfield Middle School to deliver these young ladies to their place of learning for the day.

Soccer - Paige Style

Went to Paige's first soccer game this season. Soccer - actually any kind of sports - are more fun to watch when the people playing are 'little people'.

For instance ... little girls will do hand stands when it seems like the game is somewhat slowed down. Hand stands are more fun than waiting for direction from the coach. Girls have a 'cute little dance step type move' they perform when stepping over a fallen player on the court. Court - I'm not sure that is the correct word for where they play soccer, but it is the best I can come up with. I guess it could probably be a field, but then that sort of sounds like football. Football brings all sorts of visions to my mind, and 'cute little dance step type moves' don't fit with football images very well. Wherever soccer is played girls do the dance step over fallen players - boys are a bit more aggressive in their style of play and fall over those fallen players with a look that says "what ARE you doing?" Boys and girls alike when they realize they are thirsty will make a run to Mom and Dad for the all important water bottle. It doesn't matter if the game is moving ahead - if you are thirsty, get a drink!

When the game is over, one of the highlights of playing a game, you get your treat for having played a good game. Yeah, watching 4 & 5 year olds play soccer is definitely a fun time.

Paige Photo Op!

Paige posing for Grandma in the Towle Back Yard.

Happy Birthday Lee!

August 15, 1934 was a special day in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. That was the day that Lee Robert Towle arrived. For the record Lee was a cute little kid in those early days.

At Age 4

Lee at age 8 with his dog!

Lee today putting together a birtday present in one of his favorite spots - his woodworking shop "Ye Ole' Mill Woodworks"

Happy 73rd Birthday, Lee!

Vans, Trucks or Cars - Which is best?

We normally drive a mini-van. This Chrysler van has served us well. I feel comfortable driving it and generally it fits our need completely.

Two days ago, we went out to go to church and the van wouldn't start. That is not a "good thing".


And a red mini-van going down the driveway attached to a wrecker is definitely NOT a good thing!!


Derek owns a small white pickup that Lana's Dad gave to them a few years ago. When the mini-van died - I thought - I'll call Derek. Maybe we can use his truck. I called, Derek's answer was yes and we started using the white pickup.

I went to the hospital on Monday for a physical therapy session and parking at the hospital, the white pickup responded by letting off clouds of steam or smoke - but something blowing out from under the hood. and that is not a good thing.

I called Derek. Isn't it wonderful that cell phones were invented. If not, I would have had a problem talking to Derek at the Police Dept while walking into my therapy session for which I was approximately 3 minutes late. Derek said he would come by the hospital on his way home at 3PM and check out the smoke or steam emitting from the white pickup.

After my therapy, the engine had cooled down, Derek added some anti-freeze-water mixture to it and told me to drive to his house. I did and when I parked the truck - plumes (not just clouds - but plumes) of smoke, steam or whatever was the answer to my drive from the hospital to Cranberry. Worse than what I saw originally at the hospital.



Plumes or clouds of smoke coming out from under the hood
of a small white truck is definitely NOT a "good thing"!


So since my friend Dorris Leonard had offered the use of her car to me while repairs are being completed, I called her and now we are driving a car. This is the third vehicle for my hands to pilot around town in as many days.


A "car" sitting in my driveway, functioning as vehicles are suppose to function and ready for me whenever I need to use it is definitely a "Good Thing"!



I guess the moral of this little story is vans, trucks or cars - which is best???? I haven't been very successful with vans and trucks. so for this week in my life "Cars are Best!!!

Incident - Occurence, episode, or maybe Adventure!

Helping Lee paint the north side of the house on Saturday, we were trying to figure out how to get Lee high enough on this ladder to paint above the air-conditioner!

Wellll ...... there was just a little bit of a problem. As we have established previously, Lee is blind, hard of hearing and moves slower than he has in previous years.

I suggested that we put the ladder over the air-conditioner. That was a perfect solution to the problem....the difficulty came with two older people trying to place this 16 ft. wooden ladder over a 4 ft. air-conditioner. Okay, I am not sure it was 4 ft high, but it was high, shorter than me (and I am 5'2"), but higher than I want to remember trying to lift that wooden ladder over.

Long story short it sort of was a problem all in itself and Mr. Comedian Himself (Lee Towle) gave me reason for this post.

Lee was moving faster than Bette - isn't that a switch and he is older - and the ladder slipped and hit Bette in the forehead. The air-conditioner was running, so hearing was a problem, and with Bette shouting "Wait, help, Leeeeeeee!!! - Lee pulled the top of the ladder and then it slid down and whacked Bette in the forehead a second time sliding down and bending the glasses that make it possible for one of us to have reasonably good eyesight. Well finally success, the ladder was moved and over the air-conditioner.

A comment made by Lee's son was "Why didn't you duck, Mom?". I am not sure how I could have ducked when Lee was moving faster than his usual slowness that I have become accustomed to. And when I showed Lee the bump on my forehead and the bent glasses he said "At least I didn't knock your lights out". This picture shows Mr. Comedian's amusement when I asked for a picture of him with the 16 ft. wooden ladder that "didn't knock my lights out". Wow do I ever feel good this Monday morning. At least I will after Michelle at Dr. Scott's office adjusts my glasses and I can see straight again.



Lee shows his reaction to my "distress" . Thanks Lee
But, all's well that ends well, and we are all well!

A New Skateboard Champion at the Towle House

When Brendon first received his skateboard ramp for his birthday in June, his younger brother Bryce wasn't as into the whole thing as Brendon was. Well this weekend apparently was the time for Bryce to enter the arena as skateboard champion! Way to go Bryce!

Brendon and Bryce were joined at Grandma & Grandpa's back yard and the skateboard ramp with two friends, Michael and his cousin, (I think his name is Justin). I may have to come back later today and correct that name. I don't think Lana would appreciate me calling this early to check on the name of one of the kids that visited the Towle Skateboard Park. I do remember that he and Michael's mothers are sisters and he lives down the road from the Cranberry Towle House.

The Skateboarding Kids..........

l -r ..... Justin (?), Bryce

Brendon and

Michael!

Bryce had one practice " drop in " that ended somewhat askew! Bryce recovered quickly and went on to victory!

Bryce was having difficulty "dropping in", but with expert advise and encouragement from his brother and friends, was quickly mastering the moves and by the end of the evening skateboarding time was pronounced a champion by his grandmother! What are grandmothers for anyway!!!!! Great job Bryce, Brendon, Michael and Justin.

.... This was a perfect stand for a "drop in" ....

Voila!

Another Towle Champion!

Just an explanation!

In my last post of "House Painting", I called Lee the 'blind man' and myself the 'old lady'. I guess what I would call myself doesn't really matter as much as what I might say about Lee or anyone else.

Calling Lee the 'blind man' in many ways for me is such a compliment. Lee hasn't had eyesight for over 13 years now, but you would never know it the way he continues to live his life to the fullest and I am so very proud of him. He has accomplished so many things since losing his eyesight and is a constant inspiration to me. When I think I can't stand the pain I have any more, I think of my Lee and I realize, I must - because I can see the beautiful things God gives us every day.

One day Lee said to me 'Bette do you realize that I have never seen any of our grand children's faces except Kirstin, Brendon & Cindy when she was only a few months old". Wow - what a wake up call.

Back to calling him the 'blind man' - he lives, accomplishes things and conducts himself as if everything is normal and I affectionately say "That is really good for a Blind Man".....that's my Lee, the 'blind man'.

Still House Painting!

I wonder - will it ever end. This painting of the house. We started painting July 12th and we are still at it. I guess when you reach a certain age, it just takes longer to do everything that needs to be done.

Lee informed me last night we had to get up and 6:30 this morning and get started, so I rolled out at 5:12am to do my 40 minutes of stretching and exercises before breakfast. At 6:55am we were outside getting the paint out - and then we painted and painted and painted.

Made some good progress - we finished the north end of the house, painted around the back door, and touched up the west side of the house where someone (? - not naming any names ) missed some spots. And seeing as how confession might be good for the soul, it wasn't only the blind man at 3216 that missed some spots. We also completed the east end of the shop. I also mowed the front lawn in between.

While I was painting I thought of our friend from church, Mike Greenwood who is painting the house of a sort of near by neighbor/local businessman that Mike knows and all the difficulties he has been having doing that. There have been problems and I think it is definitely taking longer that he planned. So I guess the blind man/old lady combo aren't doing too bad.

I hear Lee. I think he must be up from resting his eyes. He says the plan for this afternoon is to work on the house/shop shutters. Will it ever end? Guess not yet ! Sunday - a day of rest - will be here soon and I can rest.

Thought for Today

God is too wise to be mistaken.

God is too good to be unkind.

So when you don't understand,

when you don't see His plan,

when you can't trace His hand,

trust His heart!

Legally a Senior Citizen!

It is somewhat amazing when a person reaches a milestone. Today is one of those days. I am finally legally ( in the government's eyes) a 'Senior Citizen'. Probably to my children and grandchildren I have been a 'Senior' forever. I am not so sure about the citizen part to my kids.

August 7, 1942 to this present August 7th is that milestone of 65 years. I am thankful to be here enjoying my family - watching my grandchildren grow up. God has been so very good to me these 65 years and I marvel at His loving kindness to me. Today is another beautiful day He has given me to enjoy!

Ye Ole' Mill Woodworks - Attic Tenant Relocation

Lee has been frustrated for many months with some unknown attic tenants in his woodworking shop. He was unsure of what the critters actually were until 2 days ago when he was able to trap Mr. & Mrs. ChipMunker.

He asked Bette to provide transportation for the family to their new home on 300 North in Hancock County. I agreed to act as taxi driver and we set out on Saturday to take the family to their new home in the woods south and east of 3216 N. 50 East.

As you can see, they were quickly out of the transportation vehicle and not seen again. I think they really didn't want Lee to find out where they were going as he has become handy with a trap. He has set it up to find out if they left any other family members in Ye Ole' Mill. So far everything sounds quiet. But I am sure he will be asking for more transportation if he finds more. He has found out I am able to perform that duty as well as others assigned to me.

Bette's Buttons

While going through my mother-in-law's things several years ago, I found a lot of sewing notions, which now reside in my sewing room. Well sewing 'room' doesn't really describe the area. I guess it is more like a sewing corner. That doesn't sound nearly as elaborate as 'sewing room' sounds, but it is probably more accurate. The sewing corner is part of our exercise/storage/sewing room. Wow - Bette, that sounds really impressive - NOT.


Anyway back to what I found while going through Mildred's things. She had buttons, lots of buttons in the neatest box. Well that box resides on a shelf in my 'sewing corner'.

Last year when Derek, my second son ran for political office, I saved everything in the paper, took tons of pictures and that resulted in making him a scrapbook. I had advice, hints and help from some experienced scrapbookers, Martha Going and Ginny Moon who attend our church.


Well I now have the scrapbooking bug - big time. I have started a scrapbook of my grandchildren and am making preparations to make a scrapbook of our oldest grandson's recent wedding. Jason & Jenny were married in Savannah, GA and that in itself has the making of a great scrapbook.


So back to Mildred's 'button box'. Buttons are used quite frequently in scrapbooking, and I pulled out the 'box' the other day and started to look through the buttons.

Sorting the buttons. I'll have buttons for my scrapbooks for ever ! Thank you Mildred!

Indianapolis

I am sufficiently calmed down today and able to write this little story, well possibly longer than little. So if you don't take time to read it, that is fine. I will feel better just putting it all down in black and white.

If you have ever been a patient at Indiana Dental School at Indiana University in Indy, you wouldn't need to know this part of the story. But for those of you who aren't familiar with the Dental School... Patients at the Dental School are able to get their dental care at half the cost of a private Dentist. There is one drawback of being a patient there. It takes a looooooooong time for each visit. I guess that is the benefit of not paying full price - a dental student, under the watchful eye of a Staff Dentist, does your care and they are slower for obvious reasons - they are learning - and I suppose they figure if they do it slowly enough, the staff won't notice any mistakes. That probably isn't completely accurate, but it makes for good reading, don't you think?

Lee had an appointment at the Dental School on Tuesday of this week. I had arranged with Kirstin to take her to work at 6PM. I was to pick her up at 5:45PM. I thought no problem - Lee's appointment is at 1:30 and it takes 45 minutes to travel from the IUPUI campus to Greenfield - no problem. Yeah, right! The only problem was Taite Anderson wasn't aware of my time constraints.

The other background of this story is the Super 70 project, they are doing major work on I-70 through town and many exits are closed, it is down to 2 lanes (sometimes 3 lanes if you are lucky) and is a major headache for anyone who works in Indy, or travels I-70 during this time. And traveling I-70 during rush hour with Super 70, is definitely not a good thing.

We arrived at the clinic at 1:15pm, Taite Anderson, Lee's student, took him back at 1:30! 2:30, 3:20, 4:00, 4:10 and 4:30 were all times I looked at my watch. I was getting a little worried, but I stayed patient until 4:55 when I got my things together and walked over to look down the hall. Like looking down the hall would make Lee and Taite appear any sooner. No!! No Lee, No Taite. At 5:00 they finally came out, I went to the cashier to pay and finally at 5:05PM we started for the car. At 5:15 we were behind traffic at West & 10 Sts. I saw ahead that the traffic for I-70 East was sitting perfectly still on the interstate.

I wasn't where I could turn and avoid the interstate, so I switched lanes and went north on I-65 up to Methodist, got off and started back downtown where I had just left. By this time I am really panicking because with the Super 70 project I knew I couldn't get on the interstate until the Eastside of Indy. So I started asking Lee, "where should I get off New York St to get on the interstate". We all know Lee is getting older and he thinks and speaks and reacts slower. By the time he would answer, we would be past a road I thought would work. I would ask again. Finally he came up with "go north on Emerson, to 16th St and east to Post Rd. to the Interstate". This came in time for me to actually do that.











Lee was telling me which way to go in the left picture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I got the right picture when I didn't respond as quickly as he thought I should. But thanks for your all your help, Lee!


I finally got on the interstate at 5:30pm. I knew Kert would be calling by 5:45pm to see where I was, so I handed Lee the phone and said, "You are in charge of answering the phone, I can't drive faster than the speed limit, keep an eye out for the cops, watch the traffic and-oh yeah, answer the phone when it rings". We made record time, from Post Rd. to the Greenfield exit by 5:41PM. All the time I am saying stuff like, "I can't believe I am driving this fast", "Why do they have to have interstate repairs when I need to move along", "Why doesn't she get over if she is going to drive that slow", "He should get off the road, if he thinks that is the way to drive", "I sure am glad I don't have to drive this every day" and on and on (a different side of Bette, huh?). Lee patiently held the phone and quietly sat in his seat.

The phone rang at 5:44 when we were almost to the Marsh-CVS light on State St. Greenfield, When Kirstin asked for me (I guess that's what she said), Lee grew humorous and said "She is flapping her wings, trying to get the van to go faster", then when he hung up after talking to her, he told me, I should have told her you finally figured out how to flap fast, so we could make it.

Well I picked Kirstin up, took her to McDonald's and was home cooking our dinner by 6:05PM. What an afternoon. Glad it isn't like that every day!!!

PS...I found out this morning that they were changing the west bound traffic lanes yesterday afternoon and it took longer than they anticipated. Plus, there was an accident that slowed everyone down. What I saw was stopped - not slowed down! I guess all is well than ends well!