HISTORICAL ANECDOTES

Date: 2004-04-25 23:18:59 - Oliver wrote: Been five days since I reported on the WILD THING. Love that song Kelly. Cards, shrimp and Grandma were all good for everybody Saturday night. Grandma figured out she could turn her pill boxes sideways and stick her cards in the cracks so she didn't have to hold them with the arthritis!!! They make card holders but that costs money!!!!!!! Shot of cortisone is wearing off so sure Rich will take her tomorrow for another. Since it is a steroid she can only have one per week. Ruth is checking her this evening. Put in almost two full days work last week so I may take off Monday. Donna and Marvin Tuesday!! Kim graduates the 22nd of May!! We leave for Vegas with Jessica the 23rd of May. Staying at some dump called the Excalibur for 5 days. Our Cindy will have Kiana by c-section this Tuesday. Art and Cheri June 1st!! LITTLE Will Oliver Gavin took his first steps to the NFL last week!!! Aaron promised he would help Rich while I was gone to Vegas. Won't put in print Rich's response to that arrangement. Will say, it WASNT a compliment to either of us. Pictures were great! Thanks Jim and the senders. Grandma is ok and loves you all as you know.

Date: 2004-04-27 00:45:29 - Oliver wrote: Wish I was as good as Dorth at story telling. Rich took Grandma to the Dr for her arthritis in the shoulders this afternoon. As they walked in the door of the hospital with several people around Grandma was ask, "How are you doing Isabelle?" Grandma replied, "I am doing fine if it wasn't for these ACKY BREAKY shoulders!" They laughed their asses off!!! Kelly, that is a classic from an 87 year old LADY!!!

Date: 2004-05-01 15:24:08 - Oliver wrote: Donna and Marvin were Great! Tired of people looking so fit! Think Ill have a couple of hotdogs and some cheese dip. Heard a couple of new ones for me. Grandma went to confession and the priest had the audacity to ask if she was using birth control. Grandma said " No, I'm pregnant." Well, the priest said how many do you have. Grandma, 'this will be my eighth" Priest responds, that is a good start. Guess that wasn't unusual at that time. Me, do I go to hell for what I did or lying in the confessional? Might be more interesting to listen to the priests confessions today. Donna was telling how Joann was fearless and she was the chicken. Milking, Joann would put her head in the cow's side to show who was boss and to keep warm. Got her ass kicked clear across the barn and Grandma said she saw it. Joann got up and kicked the shit out of the cow!!!!!!! Grandma is looking forward to Mary Lou [the foxy lady] today. Grandma is concerned about spending 4200 on new hearing aids. I said it would be worth it for me so I didn't have to yell at her. Donna was also very supportive.

Date: 2004-05-03 03:07:18 - Oliver wrote: Got my rear kicked at cards this Sunday night!!! Grandma was mean and Mary Ellen was.... I said every dog has its day. Grandma,' Some dogs have had it too often!" Doing real well and loves the dresser Marvin put together for her. Grandma gave me a hug to console me as we left and I pass it on to all of you. Mary Lou, thank you!

Date: 2004-05-09 16:47:58 - Oliver wrote: Just talked to sister [the nun} Dorth and she is doing fantastic. Mary Lou and Pat are closing on their house as are Rex and Dorth. Dorth sounded WOW on the phone. Story: Ray Smith asks Grandma if father Walsh left anything out on the grace before a meal. Grandma, "He could of left a lot out so our meal wouldn't get cold!!!!" Kelly, Grandma wants times and everything. It's the pits to have someone worry about you and look forward to you.

Date: 2004-05-10 19:33:23 - Steve wrote: Hey b.k., is Cole a good enough shot for a rain gauge? Hey lance, if you and Max get together again, I might have some bad news. I haven't seen Old Milwaukee light sold in liquor stores lately. Lucky for me, I discovered other brands of beer on my own. That experience was not only my first time drinking beer with "the boys", but it was darn near my last. I remember my bladder was much smaller than you more experienced beer drinkers at the time and I was too chicken to say anything. Thankfully, we found a country road rather quickly.

Date: 2004-05-12 00:01:31 - Ruth wrote: Sad to relay that Mom has had a stroke. She is currently on her way to Colby for a CAT Scan. She had lost use of her limbs, but feeling and some movement has returned to them. Her speech is slurred but she is very much aware and coherent in what we can understand. The CAT scan will tell us whether there is bleeding in the brain or whether the stroke was caused by deprivation of blood to the brain. The stroke occurred around 2 this afternoon, but she was unable to sound her lifeline until around 4:30. If they could have transported her to Hays within 3 hours of the stroke, they could have given her some medication that would have reduced the severity and likelihood of another occurrence. I will give an update later this evening (10:00 or so) when we have more information.

Date: 2004-05-12 02:24:26 - Ruth wrote: Mom's CAT scan showed no blood on the brain. Her speech is somewhat better, and her range of motion has improved on the effected right side. They will put her on a blood thinner and will do an echocardiogram, an MRI, and another test to locate the source of the clot that caused the stroke. She will also receive OT and PT. She knows that it is Tuesday and asked for her glasses, toiletries and her book (to keep her mind sharp, she said). Love to all.

Date: 2004-05-12 16:51:34 - Oliver wrote: I ask Ruth to do the home page, thank you Ruth! She is more precise than me. Grandma is doing as well as can be expected this morning. She has movement in her right leg and at times can squeeze with her right hand. How far she will progress is not predictable. Main thing is her mind is good, the physical can be dealt with. Grandma asks Ruth this morning, "Aren't you going to school?" and Rich said she knew what day it was and was fairly coherent. The Story: Lifeline called us at 4:26 yesterday afternoon. They don't show it is them on caller ID!! Mary Ellen answered anyway thank god. I was there in 3 minutes scared as hell! She was setting in her chair and told me she couldn't feel anything in her right side. I had rehearsed 911 and the address on the way over there. Our hospital and EMTS were fantastic!!! Grandma told Ruth that at 2 she felt funny and lay down in bed. How she got to the chair and had her sweater on when I got there we will never know. Ruth thought she had to drag herself. Similar to when she fell and broke a rib and when I got there that Sunday morning she was in her chair!! Humor: As soon as she was in the ambulance I ran home to call Ruth and Rich, put on some underwear, socks and got out of my slippers and headed back to the hospital. Had to sign some papers for the move to Colby and back. With the oxygen mask on Mom in ICU she was hard to understand. I leaned down close to mom, holding her left hand, so I could hear and Grandma said, "They took all my clothes OFF!" Grandma was scared when I got there yesterday but who in the hell wouldn't be! Guarantee you she is not ready to give up!!!!! LOL to you all, Oliver Speechless is still at it: Anybody with lifeline should wear it around their neck!! Grandma had it on her right wrist, if it had been on her left she couldn't have punched the button as her right arm was immobile.

Date: 2004-05-13 01:20:14 - Oliver wrote: Ruth and I were both there this afternoon. Ruth was told by Grandma she brought the wrong robe!! Grandma was cold so I had them bring another blanket and heating pad. Dr Ofoma thought she was doing well for only 24 hrs and had slept most of the day. Two weeks till we know anything on the physical end. As Rich said, "we will cross that bridge when we have to" Made several phone calls this morning to moms friends and family. Stories: Called Harriet Richardson, "Oliver, Lorena Summerson was always SO Jealous of your mom because you kids did things for her and came to see her from so far away, keep up the good work!" Lorena, 'My boys might buy me a bus ticket!" Grandma said this afternoon, "Oliver, I can't make my mouth move the way I want it to." I know some don't get on the Jim home page but it is so much easier for us! Please call each other, I remember Dorth, Rich, Ruth and I deciding who to call. I will let you know if there is a major change with Grandma and I gave her a kiss this evening for ALL of you and she understood. She is so proud of all her family and she should be. Some of you can't be here like us but DAMN, don't feel guilty because of it, Grandma understands!!!!! LOL, Olv

Date: 2004-05-13 19:27:36 - Ruth wrote: Things are going downhill for Mom. Lungs are filling with fluid - pneumonia. She has quite a bit of pain in her shoulder from arthritis again. They're giving her some Tylenol for the pain. She appears listless and very tired, but could suggest Vioxx for the pain. We may need

to get more forceful about something stronger for her if this doesn't help, but she's allergic to so many things. Cold and dreary all around today!!!! Date: 2004-05-13 23:43:08 - Oliver wrote: Spent the afternoon with Grandma. Ken is out and sure Grandma recognized him. Ruth's summation of the situation was Excellent. Grandma has come back several times in the past but this is a tough one. If she does I have to be blunt and wonder about her quality of life. Being redundant, but as long as her cognitive skills are there I want her humor! Bridget Koster was there with Ken and I, speech pathologist, she is afraid the stroke affected Grandmas ability to swallow. Sure Steve and Amanda understand this much better than I. We don't want to give Grandma up and I'm still optimistic but we also need to prepare ourselves that Grandma might die. Earlier, I gave her another kiss and told her it was from BK and all of her family!!! Grandma nodded her head yes!!! LOL Olv

Date: 2004-05-14 05:21:22 - Ken wrote: Became a bit more optimistic about Izzy this evening. What I describe is quite different from the way she was yesterday according to Oliver and the staff and no one knows for sure what caused the change. Could be the meds, more brain involvement, pneumonia, who knows. She seemed so tired but had a rough night last night and needed to sleep. She did respond appropriately to some questions that demanded a one word response and did call me by name when I asked. She did not initiate communication. Her general facial expression is blank and her eyes are fairly glassy and she does not look at you when you talk to her. She does not move any part of her body but did open her mouth on command when being fed. Her thinking and reasoning capacities are intact. She indicated that she was comfortable. Her blood pressure has been fluctuating dramatically but it seemed to be leveling out later today. The aid managed to sit her up and feed her some fruit. Many stroke patients' valves in their throats are out of whack and let food down into the lungs instead of the stomach. Will have an MRI (portable rig) tomorrow-at least she won't have to go to Colby. Perhaps this will locate the affected area of the brain. She has taken some antibiotics for the pneumonia. I think she receives adequate attention from the hospital staff.

Date: 2004-05-14 14:49:43 - Oliver wrote: Thanks Ken! Rich reported more good news this morning but doesn't want us to get overly optimistic. Still on antibiotics. Eyes were much clearer. Had her on pain meds last night but the side effect was little sleep. Another roller coaster ride with Grandma. Eating was a big plus to me. The physical end of this is a "wait and see" as Rich said. That means it may be 2 weeks before we know about what Grandma can do with her right arm and leg. I am more optimistic with the leg than arm. Rich said she was able to use her whole mouth better this morning to try and talk but her jabber was hard to understand. He was telling me on his cell phone that she was much better and she shook her head yes and Rich told me and chuckled. She was probably jabbering about how she was going to beat me at cards!!! Will report the test results of the MRI as soon as we know.

Date: 2004-05-15 00:07:24 - Oliver wrote: Grandma was ok this afternoon and made it through the MRI. Probably won't know results till next week. I fed her and she did pretty well. Going to have a bath and Ruth is going up later. Movement in the right side, I could get no response in the arm or leg. Grandma using her left hand drank several sips of coffee by herself. She coughs some but that is good to clear the lungs. Grandma tries to talk in complete sentences which is great except trying to understand her, that will drive you crazy. Tell myself it has to be even more frustrating to her when as I'm saying "yow" and shaking my head yes and didn't understand a damn thing she said. Humor: Only pain Grandma had was her tush area. When the nurse came to put some lotion on her butt as I requested I said it was payback time and that I had spanked her. Grandma, "Yow, but you deserved It!" That statement was very plain. The matriarch of the family has a lot of fight in her.

Date: 2004-05-15 01:50:36 - Kelly Krannawitter wrote: As Singer Isaac Hayes Said In His Hit Recording Of SHAFT You Damn Right She Does Big O!!

Date: 2004-05-15 22:47:57 - Oliver wrote: Left Grandma at 4:15 this afternoon. After the rally yesterday she has gone backwards. Grandma just has so many things to cope with [blood pressure, heart rate, lungs, thyroid, kidneys, stroke, age, birthing ten kids!!!!] her body seems to be wearing out. Predicting the future is not my business but looks like she has a tough road ahead of her.

Date: 2004-05-16 15:48:32 - Oliver wrote: No change this morning. Gave Grandma meds to help her kidneys and they worked but also know that has side effects on some of her other problems. Dr. Ofoma pretty much confirmed what I wrote yesterday. Scary to tell you all things and be wrong. May not be verbatim but the Dr. said, "She has a lot of things working against her, the next 2-3 days will be crucial." I insisted that I did not want her to be in pain no matter what happened but that also has side effects. When ask questions she tries to respond but only with her head movement. Not a fun situation but GRANDMA KNOWS how much you ALL care about that little lady. Eloise, she so much enjoyed your visit. Marvin's work, etc. I can't thank you all enough!

Date: 2004-05-18 02:31:27 - Oliver wrote: Same story tonight. Know the MRI results are here but nobody has called to give me any concrete information and can't get a hold of anybody. Just being with her tonight I would say she might be worse.

Date: 2004-05-19 00:37:19 - Oliver wrote: Grandma died at about 11:20 this morning. Grandma died very peacefully and without pain. No words can describe what she meant to all of us. I think Al, Grandpa was tired of her being away from him but left her here to take care of us. Grandma talked a lot more about "DAD" the last few weeks. Think it was time for them to get back together and us suffer the loss. The doctor was ready to cut mom off some meds and let nature take its course, Grandma had her own solution.

Date: 2004-05-19 02:13:39 - Kelly Krannawitter wrote: I know this is a tough time for everyone right now & all I can say is I loved that lady!! Date: 2004-05-23 17:43:05 - Oliver wrote: I promised I would keep writing about Al and Izzy to the rest of the family. Kelly, the whole clan thought about you and the rest who couldn't be here through this process. I was told there were 11 who couldn't make it. Just love your good memories all of you. I was so proud of my family and getting the stuff out of the pad and everybody agreeing on what the wanted. Can't believe all the shit Grandma had!!! I have two truck loads at my house of things for good will. Grandma said "I have everything labeled and after that just sell it at auction" Well Mom, Rich and I disobeyed you again. There is nothing left to auction off! Elizabeth Koster called me and said "I feel like I lost my best friend". Grandma touched so many people in her way, she was a LADY! But most of all she was a great mother and wife & Grandma! Grandma was so good to Eva and all her grandkids. She made us better people.

Date: 2004-05-23 21:52:45 - Curtis wrote: We made it home about 3pm on Sunday. We left from Colorado Springs. Made good time; it seemed like the more the kids started fighting, that the foot got heavier on the gas pedal!!! It was great to see so many people make it to grandma's funeral. I must echo similar thoughts that have already been expressed, but she was one of the best grandmothers a person could have. In all the time I was around her, I always remember her acting as a lady. She is sadly missed by all; I just think Al was getting a little antsy to get her back for himself! Fortunately, I got to spend a lot of time around grandma, even though I did not live in Hoxie. All I can remember about her are fond memories that I will never forget. I am sure there are many more like me. It was sad to see the matriarch of the family go, but she went with dignity and class having touched everyone's life one way or another. Take care on your travels home who hade to come from far away.

Date: 2004-05-24 22:41:27 - Marvin wrote: Left Hoxie at 10:15 AM on Sunday and got into Durango at 8:30 PM. Donna is busy getting us caught up around the house and I have been working on a recording I am doing for the Children's Museum, as we try to get life here back to normal; however, it will never be the same. We realized with Cheri's passing that trying to forget brought no comfort in knowing she was gone, nor did remembering and talking about her. We have no secret for making our losses easier to bear. We do know that a loss makes loving each other and family togetherness more important than ever.

Date: 2004-05-26 01:57:56 - Oliver wrote: Ed Pratt told me at the funeral that his sister was going through Alice's stuff and found a letter Grandma wrote to all of Al's brothers and sisters after Dad died. Grandma thanked them for being so good to her and to Al. What a LADY.

Date: 2004-05-29 05:39:13 - Lance wrote: Among the countless memories I have of Grandma, this is one that sticks out in my mind as to what kind of lady she was and epitomizes her graciousness and love. If memory serves me right, Grandpa and Grandma purchased a brand new Lincoln Mark 5 during my junior year in high school, 1983. Maybe you remember it-burgundy in color, leather seats, electronic everything, digital speedometer, kickass stereo, computer controlled trip log-hell it even indicated digitally how many miles you could drive before you ran out of gas. Anyway, in 1983 it was a car ahead of its time. Max Koster and I thought it would be great if we could take a car like that out on prom and we decided that I would ask Grandpa. Quite frankly I didn't think I had a snowball's chance in hell. So, before asking Grandpa I offered to mow their yard and do some errands for them to butter them up all the while never letting on to the both of them my hidden agenda. After finishing this, I went inside and started asking Grandpa about his new car- pointless questions about gas mileage, and how many cars he looked at before this one and so on. I also subtly threw in a reference to prom night coming up in hopes that Grandpa would take the hint and offer the car for that night-but no offers came during the conversation. At one point, Grandpa got up to go take one of his 2 hour long craps. After he left the room, Grandma started chuckling quietly in the kitchen area. I asked her what she thought was so funny and she replied,' Lance, if you want to take the car on prom night, you'll just have to come right out and ask Grandpa because he won't get it!" We had a good laugh, I wussed out, and Grandma asked Grandpa for me. What a beautiful soul. I'd like to thank all the Hoxie folks for their hospitality and memories. Hoxie will always be "home".

Date: 2004-05-29 15:29:39 - Oliver wrote: For an instant this morning I thought about running over to Grandmas. Lance, Grandpa never caught on when I mentioned I had a date and it was Saturday night! Al, "Well when you get that field finished..." Hell, that was going to take till 8!!! Al should have been given masters in psychology and math with an 8th grade diploma and Grandmas English, WOW. Story: A neighbor asks Al to help him set his drill for milo at 5- 16ths population ratio from wheat which he did. Neighbor, "Sumballabitch, Al, its not putting on enough seed!" It was.

Date: 2004-06-07 23:18:25 - Oliver wrote: Kate, Jessica was thrilled. Beautiful early June day in Western Kansas. Like shit! As Art said at 5:20 with the temp at 98, wind 35, dirt [Mary Ellen already dusting] "This is depressing". Ah, Chris, think you could come out to my home with some beer? I'll pay; just don't want to leave the damn house. What is the load limit on a Toyota pickup? We had a similar day earlier and Grandma said "This weather is the shits! It about blew me over!" Was told Gary Meier is buying a walk in cooler after today with room for a card table!!! MAY BE just gossip but the thought may make me sleep better. Could even reconsider taking him goose hunting. Ken, did you play golf today? I'm turning down the ac another degree and grabbing a blanket!

Date: 2004-06-10 19:50:28 - Ruth wrote: Thought you might be interested to know that the library and the hospital each received $830 in memorial money and $275 was given for masses for Mom. After enjoying Madison, Nicole, and Parents I thought I'd better get that taken care of. Love to you all!

Date: 2004-06-10 22:24:12 - Oliver wrote: Thanks Ruth for taking care of the memorial money! Think just on the mass money I could take Kelly out to eat! Don't think Grandma needed any help to go to heaven, SHE WOULD RATHER KELLY HAVE PANCAKES AT VILLAGE INN AT HAYS!!! Hey Kel, NO double order of hash browns though and the waitress is married with children!! Bundy Bundy Bundy! With this weather, I'm thinking about being a shoe sales person, may dress up in drag once in a while. Drove by the Meier place today, no walk in COOLER! What am I going to do with the truck load of beer Chris is bringing for our one and a half days wheat harvest??? Dang, every day is a challenge. Thank you Sheila and Rich for two nights at your place. Mom must have had a premonition when she put on that deck and she sure covered up some ugly cement! When I hauled off a truck load of pots for plants, Mom,' I had no idea I had that many, where did they all come from?" "Well, do you think I should keep those two?" Grandma was talking as I pulled away. That is when I broke the speed limit getting the hell out of town! No bull shit, true story.

Date: 2004-06-12 22:53:24 - Oliver wrote: I promised stories. Grandma told me she was pregnant with Rich, I guess I said, "But Mom, we already have Ruthie Ann!!" None of you kids will be left out of my stories, like it or not! You younger ones, I was always called "Charlie Atlas" by the older ones. He was a body builder. Guess they thought I was too proud of myself, well they spoiled me!!! I would get so pissed, I would cry and kick and scream when they called me that! Ken would then kick my ass! It is so funny now. Oh, but when Ken came back from college I got to kick his butt on the living room floor wrestling. Actually, I was impressed with Ken's strength and endurance. Grandma was yelling for us to stop wrestling "You guys quit that, you are going to break something!" and Grandpa was laughing setting on the couch.

Date: 2004-06-13 14:10:00 - Eva wrote: I've got a story. On my weekends home from KSU Grandma and I would have some very lengthy conversations over lunch. She was the first person I told about dating Brian. I knew that once my family got to know him, they'd see why I was dating him, but I was not ready to deal with the reactions yet. And I especially didn't want to go through dealing with the reactions if it wasn't going to become serious anyway. I talked to her about my fears of prejudice, experiences where I had already been prejudiced against since dating him. I remember telling her a specific experience with friends and she flat out told me that if they would treat me that way, then they weren't really my friends. Over many visits she helped me work through the pros and cons of choosing to continue on with the relationship. She was never judgmental and taught me a lot. She was an amazing lady.

Date: 2004-06-13 21:02:03 - Oliver wrote: Grandma, "I was afraid she was going to die!" She was talking about her first born Joann. Don't recall what Joann had as an infant but it was serious. Will try to pick on myself so my siblings don't feel so bad when I nail them. Grandma, "Those older girls spoiled you to death!" Well, why not I was so cute. I was the sixth child and every damn one in front and after me was smart. I had trouble reading. Joann won some science award. Donna left me in front of a stampede of cattle! I was too stupid to run. Donna could outrun a horse but not Grandpa. Art helped soften the grades some and got on the chain gang for smoking in school. Eloise and Cheri stole signs off the doors at school. Ruth's drunken girlfriend tried to crawl in bed with Rich and me! Dorth and friends thought school would be more exciting if they had a pint of schnapps before school. Rich got called in because Ed Miller threw a beer bottle on the principal's yard from Rich's car. Mary Lou would impersonate Grandma and call in sick to the school. And then there was Ken, who was supposed to pick me up at the Ostmeyers one night. It was 3 in the morning when two cars pulled up. There was my brother standing in the street with his buddies with NOTHING on but his underwear and his shoes and socks! Ken, "Well Olv, guess you are going to have to drive home." So there I was, driving down Main Street with a nearly nude intoxicated brother at 3 in the morning and I was only in the 7th grade!! YEARS later I ratted on Ken on how he barfed on his clothes and just threw them away. Grandmas only reaction, "I always wondered what happened to that set of clothes".

Date: 2004-06-14 22:08:44 - Oliver wrote: Have had no death threats yet so here I go again. Mom was at a parent teacher conference with Virginia Leopold. She was told that her son was an excellent student and so well behaved and polite. Mom said, "That isn't the same guy who lives at my house!" The session was about Rich! Mom said often that even though Mary Lou was a surprise at 43 "That girl always kept Al and me young!" Dad and I came in one evening and Mom and ML were having an argument. Mom, 'I do not want you to quit band!" ML "I am not putting up with that fat sob any longer!!!" She quit band. The ONLY arguments I remember Al and Izzy having was about their relatives who married who or when or who their children were or married, etc. It was funnier than hell. To be honest, most of the time Al was right unless it dealt with dates of when. I wont be always accurate so I may need some help but wasn't it Jim who wouldn't sleep with me because I sweat too much?! Give up one third of my bed and get bitched at! Donna bringing Marvin home the first time in an old Plymouth car to meet the family. I was going to be judgmental because it was My SISTER. When I noticed how nervous Marvin was and Donna Scared as always when they drove in and got out I said to myself, "Oh hell, if he's good enough for her, he is good enough for me and I will not be an ass hole!" Good choice Donna. Larry and Joann, coming to Hoxie from Spalding, Nebraska with kids, then Sargent with more kids in a big Chevy station wagon. I couldn't wait for them to get to the farm even though Larry OD'd the dog. Mark was so big for his age we treated him like he was 12 and he was only 7! Ann was always a little doll. Art! Ford Fairlane, 1956, V8, blue and white, dual mirrors, dual antennas, fender skirts, glass packs, and a continental kit on the back you got from Gary Baalman. Why did you have to rack off those glass packs when you finally got home and wake me up!!! Damn, wish you still had that car.

Date: 2004-06-15 13:38:43 - Aaron wrote: Alright, if we're going to exchange stories...I went to lunch with Grandma a couple of years ago back at the old Sheridan Inn. Somehow or another we started to talk about birth control. She told me, "I grew up Catholic, so all we had was the rhythm method, don't ever try that, I have 6 rhythm method children."

Date: 2004-06-15 23:37:47 - Oliver wrote: Aaron, Grandma always told me 5 which made me the first she didn't plan on. My picks Kelly are Frank Lechliter III, Erica Sorenson or Billy Jean King Stories: As with most kids my favorite time was Xmas. Not because of presents {never got that daisy BB gun} but because everybody came home. We would give up our beds to the married ones and sleep on the floor at the farm with the grandkids. There were people everywhere! Donna would play piano and we would sing after Santa and a few toties on Xmas Eve. Mom's meat balls after midnight mass. Earlier there was Bill Vickers as Santa about 8 in the evening, "Is this the Axel Johonason place?" He seemed to always pick out a present and then say, "No that has to be a mistake" and put it back in the sack. Finally at the end he had only the one present left. Santa, "Is there an Eloise here?" "I think Mrs. Claus made a mistake." "Vie had some BAD reports on this girl!" "Oh, there she is, Eloise have you been a good girl?" It was a blast. Bill always used our full names and even some middle names: Dorothea, Richard, Donna May, Ruth Ann, Arthur, Joann, Mary Lou, Kenneth, and he never left out Eloise, but waited till last!!! The last time Bill did it Al and Izzy were in town and I went and picked him up at Jeans moms place, 5 below 0. Don't know who was all old enough to remember Santa of the grandkids. Can't imagine how much time Grandma spent buying and wrapping presents in her life. Aaron found Sheila's hiding place [I think under the tree] and decided to have Xmas early, opened every damn present he had. Recently Grandma, "Wish that Aaron would get his own phone number, getting tired of these girls calling late at night!" I said, "Mom what do you expect, it says A Krannawitter in the phone book and your name is Isabelle." Until Al died, Mom never signed a check that wasn't "Mrs. Al Krannawitter" It was nice to see her writing Isabelle, especially if the check was to ME! Sorry, sometimes my chronology of events is pathetic but I'm not rewriting the whole damn thing for intelligent people! Love, Oliver, Ollie, Swensky, Allie, Olv, Ass Hole! Thanks Chris for coming out and helping cleaning the shop. Hope Adam wasn't too bored. Think Art felt guilty showing up late, worked his butt off after he finally got there and we were wore out! Not that he has much to work off. Butt like Grandpas.

Date: 2004-06-16 18:26:58 - Eloise wrote: Oliver, when you told the story about Bill Vickers, it brought to mind another Bill Vickers story I like to tell. When Bill and Jean came to Hawaii with Mom and Dad, Kate was 4 and Kristine was 11. After they arrived and we chatted a little, Kristine said to Kate "Can you believe that he drove Mom's school bus when she was little and he's not even dead yet?" You can imagine how that cracked up Al.

Date: 2004-06-17 15:10:30 - Oliver wrote: Gained my most respect and fear of Eloise when she twisted an arm of a boy on the bus till he cried because he was picking on Ruth. I had a similar experience later [same people] but this time the mother called the principal [Willis Neal] who called Dad [who was on the school board] Al, "Of all the damn people you had to get in a fight with!" End of conversation. Dad was always brief but to the point. Both ordeals dealt with our neighbors just a half mile away.

Date: 2004-06-17 15:30:34 - Oliver wrote: Al and Izzy were going on vacation. Think Rich was involved. Dad told us to farm a field northeast of town. I farmed the wrong field. Al when he got home, "Do I have to draw you a damn picture!" A couple of years later he was giving me his vague instructions as I probably did Mark and Chris and I said, "Draw me a picture." He was a little pissed but drew me a picture.

Date: 2004-06-17 16:53:08 - Oliver wrote: Ken and Jim Rogers: Jim came out to the field to ride in the truck with Ken during wheat harvest. Al gave them instructions and that they could charge a case of beer at Spresser's on the way out of town. They didn't forget the beer but forgot to fill gas in the truck!!! Jim and Ken were in a much better mood with the case of beer than Al when he found them an hour later stalled and out of gas.

Date: 2004-06-27 14:34:35 - Oliver wrote: Wish I had Mom and Mary Ellen's memory for dates. Long time ago Mark, Chris and I picked up Kelly at Mom and Dads to go harvest but I needed parts at now Case IH. On the way there Mark and Chris were trashing Kelly something awful, probably dealt with women. Anyway, when I pulled up and got out I heard Kelly say, "I have put up with you ASS HOLES all I'm going to!" Kelly proceeded to walk home in his floppy sandals, red shorts and hat across the highway. He made it. Not near as big a feat as driving from Kens in the thunderstorm to Mom and Dads!

Date: 2004-06-28 21:53:53 - Oliver wrote: Ken and Eloise decided it was time to try smoking. 1958: So they persuaded me into [dumb as I was} stealing a pack of Kents from Mom and matches and I did. I Ran them outside and upstairs in the barn scared to death. They each had a smoke and refused to let ME have one!!!! Think I was about 9 years old. Think Grandma knew but said nothing.

Date: 2004-06-29 14:41:39 - Oliver wrote: Dad was a little ticked at me for something one evening feeding cattle [I left a gate open} so he decided to feed the calves. I had the feed truck ready with silage and grain. When Dad backed out of the Quonset he hit the shed door. As he was feeding he ran into the bunks. I was laughing to myself. When he backed out of the ally he ran into the ford truck but I acted like I didn't see. I just turned and walked to the house laughing so hard there were tears but didn't want him to see me laugh. I was still laughing as I entered the house and Izzy asked what was so funny. I said nothing. I was 14.

Date: 2004-06-29 15:19:36 - Oliver wrote: Not smart enough to make up these stories: The very next day when I got off the bus Mom said, "Bill Richardson just called and our cows are out!" We got in the black mercury car and headed northeast. Mom helping get the cows in was like having Donna around. Anyway, I ran my ass off and finally got them in. I was pissed and tired. What was funnier than shit was that it was obvious to Mom that when Dad changed fields he didn't shut the damn gate! I so wanted to rub this in but being 14, I said nothing.

Date: 2004-06-29 17:46:33 - Eloise wrote: I want to tell one on Joann, but probably need Donna or Art to correct the details as I was pretty small. The folks were gone somewhere and Joann and Donna were our sitters. Someone knocked on the door and Joann answered it to find one of the Bowens on our doorstep. He said our cattle got out and were in his field (planted with a crop of some sort). Joann said "Will it hurt the cows?" I don't remember what Bowen's response was. At any rate, Al got a good laugh out of it when he got home.

Date: 2004-06-29 21:35:06 - Oliver wrote: Earlier in my life the Bowens also ask us to help cut their wheat one year, I think 1957. They were cutting with a 6 foot header on an Oliver combine, antique, cutting damn good wheat. Think Art or Dad drove our combine with a 16 foot header. They were amazed at what we could cut. Scooped the grain out of their truck into the auger!! We had a 1948 ford truck with a hoist to lift up the box and dump the grain so we didn't have to scoop! That truck was still big time then at 10 years of age. I said nothing, I was 10, I just scooped. The Bowens actually scared me. Bowen Scout House and churches in Hoxie have benefited from their frugal ways. People who went to an outhouse, pumped their water by hand, killed their daily meal and read by lantern had a POLAROID CAMERA AND REGISTERD SHORTHORN CATTLE! It has been an interesting life out here in Hoxie, America. The correct name may be NorE Bowen. For you young ones their farm is just west of what Mom and Dad have west of the highway. The old house is still there. Nora was not a good housekeeper! They had magazines and newspapers from 1896 in stacks. Wish I had them!!!

Date: 2004-06-29 23:45:00 - Ken wrote: Oliver and I were taking turns farming on the section. During my turn on the tractor I watched Olv approach an old, no longer used, Lister drill. This was used to plant corn and had three canisters on top (as I can best remember) that held the seed corn. Olv opened the lid on one of the canisters and to my amazement, he took off running and rolling on the ground like a maniac! You guessed it, there was a hornet's nest in that canister and they nailed him. He can fill you in on the details and the severity of the attack. All I know is it was funnier than hell watching him run around flailing like crazy and rolling on the ground!

Date: 2004-06-30 01:11:38 - Oliver wrote: Bet it was funny to see Ken. I can remember it like it was yesterday. You are exact. I got bit so many times that by time I got in the pickup I got sick and had to get out, threw up and had the runs. Was told that one sting today could make me deathly ill because of all those bites. My curiosity cost my ass that day. Ken and I would put calves in the barn and then ride them out the door. Great fun till Al caught us, "How in the hell do you guys expect them to gain any weight?!"

Date: 2004-06-30 01:48:16 - Oliver wrote: Dad and I got two horses from Fred Pratt to move cows. After a half mile my horse refused to go anywhere. I kicked her, beat her with the reins, cursed her! Exhausted, I got off and let the ____ stand there and walked the rest of the way. Later I bitched to Lester Munk about the horse. His reply, "Well hell, I could have told you that horse wont do nothin without spurs." I told him thank you in my tactful way for not giving me this vital bit of information. The damn horse was still standing in the same spot 3 hours later when Dad and I pulled up in the trailer, she was more than happy to get in.

Date: 2004-06-30 03:14:31 - Oliver wrote: When Ken and I got home from school we had cattle out. In the process of putting them in Ken tried to jump the fence. He misjudged and landed in the middle of the fence and the fence threw him up in the air like a trampoline and he bounced when he hit the ground. I ran over to him and he said, "I'm alright, I'm alright" and then his eyes rolled up in the top of his head and he was out cold. It was a little scary till he came to. Ken holding his head, "Damn, guess I shouldn't have tried that!" Oliver says,' Goodnight folks" especially to you John Olson students of the past.

Date: 2004-06-30 13:05:13 - Kevin wrote: Cousin Story. I think I was about 7 maybe 8 years old. As usual we were out for harvest and I was riding in the truck with Mitch. Of course he was giving me a bunch of sh&%$t and he bet me I couldn't slam a Coors tall boy in one shot. Being the dumbass little kid I was I of course took the bet. All I remember was my head spinning on the way in from the field, puking in the car, and Mitch getting his ass chewed out by Grandma! I still can't drink Coors till this day. Those were the days.

Date: 2004-06-30 15:04:26 - Brian wrote: Here's another cousin story. I could not have been more than 9 years old or so. Lance, Kevin, Kelly, and I took a little walk over to the Stop 2 from Grandma's house. On the way back, we decided to take a trek through the mud and wing some very muddy dirt balls at each other. Well after our mud fight was over with, we noticed Kelly wasn't exactly in a presentable condition given his abundance of mud coverage from head to toe. So we put our heads together and decided Kelly should use Olv's shower down in his basement before going back to Grandma's. In the process of the captain getting cleaned up somehow like magic mud was spread throughout Olv's basement. It goes without saying, that a few hours afterwards, Grandma, Paulette, Anita, and Cheri chewed our ass up one side and down the other.

Date: 2004-06-30 15:27:48 - Oliver wrote: We were cutting out northeast on Minnie's when I heard a loud bang in the combine and everything stopped. The secondary main shaft had broken off the engine. It was starting to rain so I moved the combine to Richardson's. I had 100 bushels in the bin so Kevin and I went out the next morning and bucketed the grain out of the bin into the truck. Hot sultry mother that morning. We spent two hours sweating our asses off. Priding myself in the ability to fix things I was extremely humbled to realize that the shaft to the unloading auger was not broke. I could have unloaded that bin in 2 minutes by pulling a leaver the night before!!!! Kevin as a little guy, "Oliver, don't you think we should get some "woook" done!" Loved the way he pronounced work!

Date: 2004-06-30 19:45:30 - Dorth wrote: Speaking of Kevin's famous speech - he went back with me for the night shift at Cooper Grain during harvest when Fred Crome pulled on the scales with his "farm trucks" that were no bigger than a pickup. Kevin said, "Hey mistow, where did you get those little bittie twucks? My gwampa has big ones!

Date: 2004-07-01 00:55:55 - Oliver wrote: Eloise was the scariest person I ever knew, got your attention didn't I, not because of her strength or anything else but because of how she drove!!! Worst driver I ever knew. OK, be pissed at me Eloise but it was true at the time. Us boys had the opportunity to drive young with Dad but you were OLD ENOUGH. Once you got me to the swimming pool, I wasn't afraid of anything, I was just glad to be alive!! Thank you Eloise for all those trips to the pool! I can still swim like a fish. Thank you all for the care and love that we have for each other that was instilled in us by our Al and Izzy. Now, Joann is the matriarch of the family and how can I not love her when Grandma said how she and Donna spoiled me rotten!! I'm still spoiled!! And intend to stay that way!! Oliver

Date: 2004-07-01 16:30:54 - Eloise wrote: Probably learned to drive from my mother...does anyone remember that she took two doors (one on two different occasions) off of that tan mercury with the maroon top? The one time I remember, she was going to take us fishing over at the dam and backed out of the garage when one of the doors was still open. I think the second time was a similar incident but can't remember the details. If I remember correctly, this is the same car that the chicken coop roof landed on during one of the storms when we were down in the basement kneeling on the cement saying the rosary.

Date: 2004-07-01 17:23:24 - Brian wrote: Here's a funny story that involves Grandpa and good friend Brian Leopold. We were probably 11 years old or so at the time. Brian and I happened to catch a ride to our house on Main Street (by the apartments that are now a church - what an irony that is!) from the Richard's girls from across the street. Now the Richards girls would never be mistaken for Playboy material or for being thin. Before they dropped off us, Leo made some goofy remark that got Teresa (the oldest and largest of the Richards girls) fired up. She stopped the car and kicked us out. Once Leo got out he said something else and got Teresa so mad at him that she jumped out and literally began chasing the both of us around her car. After several trips dodging Teresa around the car she finally gave up and we saw Grandpa witnessing the whole ordeal from the top window in the apartments. He was grinning and laughing his ass off. When we entered the apartments I'll never ever forget Granddad remarking, "Well boys, I assume those lovely young ladies aren't your girlfriends."

Date: 2004-07-02 02:10:19 - Ken wrote: Am guessing I was around ten and Olv was 7 or so. After coming home from shopping, Izzy told us to bring the groceries in the house from the car. It was a fairly warm day. We got to goofing around (I think with a BB gun) and put off the grocery chore. We were reminded by Izzy once more. Unfortunately we didn't get after it right away. It wasn't long before Izzy charges out of the house with a belt in one hand, grabbed Olv with the other hand and wailed his ass. I witnessed this for about one second and took off running. To my surprise she ran me down and really laid the wood to me. I think being caught was more of a shock than the whipping. Believe the melted ice cream in the grocery bag was the proverbial straw.

Date: 2004-07-02 21:47:21 - Oliver wrote: I babied Mary Lou and looked out for her similar to the older ones for me. Little red headed fart. Mary Lou was born in 59 I think so almost 11 years my junior. I taught her to say her prayers at night, the old,' now I lay me down to sleep..." Lot of good that did! One night after getting her to bed I got scared after the prayer that Mom and Dad might die. Couldn't sleep! So I crawled through the living room and into their bedroom and waited till I could hear them both breath. No, no hanky panky was going on! What is ironic is that 45 years later I was doing almost the exact same thing with Mom! She breathed so quietly sleeping you had to get very close to tell if she was alive! Scared me every time I checked her as I am sure it did you others. Not a humorous story but life isn't that way. Oh, Ken has that last story all screwed up! Mom gave me a kiss and beat the hell out of Ken because he wouldn't help me carry in the groceries, I was only 7!!!

Date: 2004-07-05 22:36:51 - Oliver wrote: No, I didn't walk like Mom or ride a horse to school like Dad. But to you young ones my stories might be interesting or remind the old ones of the old days of when we first got telephone. I'm going to tell this in a way that your folks have to explain to you young ones: A five family party line. Different rings on the phone for each. Listen to others conversations. Beth Weeks!!!!!!!! Big foot, Alex, coming over to use OUR telephone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Al was very progressive, some were not. Alex, "Sumbelabitch, I don't want those telephone poles on my land, I don't need a telephone!!" So Dad let them put the poles on his land. Now we have phones, cell phones and internet! I don't want to go back to the old days.

Date: 2004-07-06 12:17:22 - Eloise wrote: Ken, Oliver and Ryn (he'll never be James to me) asked Al if they could go fishing at Webster (I think) and spend the night if I would drive them. Al said yes, and then they came to me and said "Dad said we can go, but only if you'll take us." So I took them in that black Ford pick-up and we all slept in the back. I caught one scrawny fish that they insisted on bringing home to show. Do you boys remember this?

Date: 2004-07-06 14:55:10 - Oliver wrote: Well, I always remember your driving Eloise, the rest is vague. I haven't called Jim Ryn for years. Rich {Red} called him James R. I'm called Oliver, Olv Ollie, Allie, Kran, Swensky, Mr. K and ass hole among other things. Eva, we have had the most beautiful rains imaginable. After the last three years this year LOOKS like it could be a complete opposite. Our farming is strung out for 37 miles so we have had some variation in rainfall. Guessing we have had 6-7 inches everywhere in the last 30 days. Damn, our yard is too big. No irrigation wells running in Sheridan County, like to know what that saves in fuel and water supply for just a day. Looking forward to you Kelly. I want another profile shot of our bellies after the mashed potatoes and we have to let it all hang out, our bellies that is! Chris, may need you to be sick for a week to drive truck if this crop comes in and Cheri to run grain cart and Fensky to send down a semi because all we have is little "twukes". Art to pick some corn. I have enough movies for your lesson plans Chris, may get you fired but what the hell, the kids will love you.

Date: 2004-07-06 16:30:56 - Oliver wrote: We were cutting wheat on what we call the Mickey ground late one night with two combines. The final truck pulled in and everybody went home except Ken and I on the combines. Think we were 14 and 17 at the time, so around 1963. It took 4 bins full to fill the truck and then we could go home! I got full first and unloaded in the truck on the front as Dad taught us and then Ken unloaded on the truck. Cutting one more bin full at 11:30 at night and I was done, tired. I cut my bin full and went to the truck in the dark. Glad the damn day was over. Started unloading and the truck wasn't getting full, "What in the hell is going on!" I said to myself. "Did Ken not have a full bin, am I going to have to cut some more!" I was empty by then and backed the combine up so the combine lights hit the truck. There, behind the truck was a big pile of wheat. One of De Kratzer's sons [Berry, Bruce, Dick, I can't remember] at the elevator did not shut the damn end gate on the truck. The next morning Al was not a happy camper with them and I hate a scoop shovel!

Date: 2004-07-07 01:13:35 - Oliver wrote: Shouldn't tell this story but what the hell. Got home late, wedding dance, had too much beer and it was hot. Soon after sneaking to bed my bladder was screaming. Long way downstairs to the bathroom. Creative as several of us boys were the open window in the upstairs bedroom was only 6 feet away!! Mom, "Dad, what is causing that yellow streak down the side of the house?" Being a young boy once, he said nothing. End of story. In the Salina Journal Kelly they are outraged that it isn't showing there. Those people are driving to Wichita claiming in editorials that the conservatives want as few people to see it as possible before the election. The conservatives are claiming it is an election movie to hurt Bush. I don't give a damn, My slogan Kelly for Pres and Rex vice president. What an interesting news conference you two could make. You could make Dorth your first lady but everybody would know who was actually running the country!!! You know, that might not be too bad.

Date: 2004-07-09 22:03:05 Oliver wrote: By knowing him [Kelly} too well, I meant Kelly would give the shirt off his back and all the cash he had to a total stranger in the middle of winter and feel bad that he couldn't give more as he walked home. Kelly, " Well hell Dad, what was I supposed to do, the guy needed Help!!" What a guy, heart bigger than the moon. Now some BS. Kelly, my 4 grandsons and one granddaughter will be here for the fair. Can you spare a couple hundred to help old grandpa out? Kenny and Isaiah better get their punches in now or hope they can outrun Will when they get older! Actually, they are so good to him it is a joy to see and Will has Ethan's temperament.

Date: 2004-07-11 23:03:11 Oliver wrote: Think it was 1956, I was 8. I had noticed this tarp on the north side of the house but Mom and Dad were always remodeling and they put in this door out of the living room to the north when they remodeled so I thought maybe they were putting in steps. What a great surprise!! It was the concrete foundation for a TV tower!! It was our Xmas present!!! TVVVV! Thought we were top dogs with 2, I said 2 channels and it was hard to see either. Sylvania TV that had a light up around the edges that Dad got from Jerome Heim. Before that it was radio. Yes, and some of the radio shows were great. Maybe someone older can fill in here. Why it seemed like the best show and the clearest TV ALWAYS was on when Mom thought it was time to say a rosary, I have no answers. I said nothing, I was only eight. If you believe that.... We never used that door to the north as far as I know.

Date: 2004-07-12 22:41:00 Oliver wrote: Eva, the door was to the west or left of the picture window in the living room and was later closed in. Story: It was so damn hot upstairs in the summer. All we had was a window water-cooled ac in the girls' room to the east. We boys got the shaft and the girls would shut the damn door all the time or the air would blow the door shut! Honestly, I got up many mornings and felt more tired than when I went to bed. Now they are just good memories. After we got 220 refrigerated ac in the breakfast room Rich and I slept there on the floor a few times after coming in from harvest late and never even took a shower.

Date: 2004-07-14 22:21:39 Oliver wrote: Eloise and I fought over the TV channel often. Seemed like she lived by the ironing board in the archway between the dinning and living room so she could see TV. The ironed clothes were hung above the archway. Yes, we only had one TV. Dick Clark and American Bandstand or the Three Stooges!!! Not to be biased, but who would chose the make up cosmetic surgery queen over the intellectual conversations between Moe, Larry and Curly?! I lost. Was only 10. Got my ass kicked but I aggravated the HELL out of Eloise. Lucky I'm alive.

Date: 2004-07-14 00:26:53 Oliver wrote: Kelly will say, "Oh, god Oliver!" after this story. I was in the bathroom taking a dump at age 7 and noticed this box beside the toilet so I investigated. Looked expensive and nothing I had ever seen before. Must be something special for only women. Dang, why don't we boys get to use these?! So I proceeded to wipe my ass with one of Moms sanitary napkins. Thank god it flushed down the stool, I said nothing, I was 7.

Date: 2004-07-15 17:14:07 Brian wrote: Have to tell a funny one about Uncle Red. Red traveled many a mile with Mom, Dad, and Olv when were growing up playing sports. Red even stuck out the horrendous basketball teams from Lance's era. One time at the Oberlin tourney when Lance was a senior, I think they were playing for 7th or 8th place in that old gym that is smaller than the one at Hoxie grade school. The patented Hoxie offense of passing it 43 times and then throwing up an air ball was in full force. By the second half Red had seen enough. Keep in mind that sound carried very well in that gym. After Hoxie had passed it around a few dozen times, Red explodes (and it's really quiet at the time) "Goddammit! Shoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!! I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.

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Date: 2004-07-15 04:10:24 Oliver wrote: Thank you Marvin and Donna. My best try at an impersonation of Uncle Elmer, "Well you know got damit Ollie, I mean you know got damit the ass hole stepped on the line, I mean got damit what was I supposed to call? I mean the stupid shit was out of bounds got damit! I should have thrown the ass hole out of the game got damit I mean, son of a bitch it was plain as day got damit! The stupid shit looked at me like I was blind got damit. Well hell, he isn't the first person I pissed off got damit!"

Date: 2004-07-15 03:48:19 Marvin wrote: One other experience I want to share. Again, I was wanting to make a good impression and blew it. Al and several of you boys were helping him dig up the water line to the bathroom when we arrived. I'm not sure what the problem was, but I made it a bigger one by saying, "Let me dig a while." I drove the spade down into the trench and instead of it landing to the side of the plastic water line I hit it dead center and cut it in half. Al says, "Now what in the hell are we going to do?" I'm not sure I ever made the impression with Al that I wanted in my first few visits to the farm. I am surprised, but so thankful, that he let me have his daughter.

Date: 2004-07-15 03:38:50 Marvin wrote: Have not been on the home page since June 29. Really enjoyed reading the stories. When Donna and I were dating and during our first year of marriage, I had 3 experiences with Al and mud. Once when we were coming home we got stuck at the bottom of the hill near Kennedy's. This was before they raised and crowned the road. We walked to the house. Al said "Ah Hell, I can get it out. I walked back with him and he got in my 52 Chevy. I thought I would have a hole in the block for sure. I never heard an engine wrapped up so high in my life and the gears were shifted faster from forward to backward faster than I knew was possible. He got it out. Some time later, I got stuck right in the front yard of the home place. I tried unsuccessfully to get out and I looked up and here was Al motioning for me to slide over. I knew what was coming. After these two experiences, I can't believe that Al asked me one rainy day to drive the pickup home from the pasture over west. You guessed it, I got stuck. Trying to make a good impression and show that I had learned something, I gave the engine and gears hell. No success. I look up and here comes Al with some comment like, "I knew you'd be in trouble!" To my memory, he never asked me to drive for him again, and I was so thankful when they improved that road to the house.

Date: 2004-07-15 02:15:59 Donna wrote: We are heading for Hoxie in the morning. Will spend a couple of nights with Art and Cheri and hope to see the rest of the family in Hoxie. Friends in Norton are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, the Wiltfongs. We will attend their celebration Saturday then go to Russell to see Chris and family, to Hutchinson to see Marvin's sister, to Texas to visit friends and to New Mexico to visit friends. Will seem very different without mom in Hoxie. Eloise, I am wearing your latest gift to mom to the anniversary celebration. Thanks!! I want to add that besides thinking Ann was the most beautiful child ever, we also thought no one would ever have legs as great as hers. The first niece was very special. I think you younger ones had too many things to fight about; we didn't have TV until I was at Hays. Joann and I didn't fight. You younger ones were just nuisances we had to take care of. Glad you all grew up to be wonderful human beings. The reason Joann and I didn't fight is because she has such a laid back personality.

Date: 2004-07-15 01:04:38 Oliver wrote: Damn, you are right that Ann was a doll Eloise and she still is today! Makes me more fond of her knowing she pooped on Art. He was so picky about his clothes! Ken just threw them out the damn window of the car! Mitch wore some unusual attire to work at the Mosier farm. Ben Mosier, "That damn Mitch...." I will say nothing more; I'm near 56 and want to get there.

Date: 2004-07-15 00:17:03 Eloise wrote: When Ann Mosier was born, we all thought she was the most beautiful and smartest baby in the world. All fought over who got to hold her. She proved she was the smartest one Saturday night when Art decided to hold her when he was all dressed up to go to a dance in his his pink corduroy pants and black shirt with pink trim. Little Annie chose this moment to have a major case of diarrhea. I think Art decided to change clothes. I shouldn't have laughed because I probably had to iron all of it that next week after kicking Olv off the TV.

Date: 2004-07-15 22:11:39 Oliver wrote: Brian that was funny as hell and so true! You get my little brother pissed, you got a problem. I can remember at a game when your dad said to Rich, "Now just calm down, it will be alright." Rich, "Yow, but that stupid SOB called the foul on the wrong F___ player! Brian didn't even touch his ass the stupid SOB!" Elmer Berens was not the referee, thank god. Think it was Sonny Weinheart, or Norm Cleaver, or Ralph Ostmeyer, wasn't me!!

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Date: 2004-07-15 20:46:19 Oliver wrote: Actually Eva, we were working on the combine in front of the shed and I could see you from the top. Art was there pretty sure. Laughed my ass off. The California Mazda 5 speed. That was one hell of a tough little pickup. Lance remembers. In the end, No muffler, no brakes, no windows, no bumper, no grill, no lights, beat to hell with hail and three flat tires when Rich and I pulled it in the draw over west. Rich had been driving it in a similar condition for 3 years! I could be at the farm and hear him coming from the redline a mile away! Rich always had an air bubble in the back. Inside it looked like he had changed oil on the irrigation engines inside the pickup! We finally put it to rest this spring. Think I detected a small tear in Rich's eye as we drove away after unhooking it in the draw. They had been a lot of miles together. Don't want to know all the places Eva took it!!! Fenske, you want to buy a good used pickup? I think Tim can drive it with your help! Sealed bids. No delivery. Seller reserves the right to reject any or all bids under a dollar.

Date: 2004-07-15 18:15:51 Eva wrote: I'm sure a lot of us got our first driving experiences on the farm. I think my first times ever driving were in a tan Bronco of Grandpa's? Memories are fuzzy. I know I learned how to drive a stick at the farm. I got a little confident and decided to leave the comfort of the yard and venture a mile or so down the road. From where I was at I think my dad, Rich and Chris could stand on the pickup and watch me. I'm horrible at trying to say where I was, the road just east of the house going south. I saw a car coming on the road up ahead and decided to turn around right where I was instead of meeting another car. I of course ended up rolling backwards down into the ditch. Pickup coming was Pat Kennedy. I think she started to give me a ride back to the farm, but the guys had seen me and come to get me out. I was so nervous I left the ignition on, door open and radio blaring. I was so embarrassed. Kathleen {Smith} Taylor and Mary Ellen are distant blood cousins through the Popes. We are probably related to people in Austria who still believe the holocaust didn't happen. We have several Kronawiter, Kranwitter, Kronwiter relatives in Austria. NOW: Kelly, 6 o'clock sat night at your folks. Rex and Dorth also. Got a big hug saved up for you dude! Boys and Eva Tues aft. Mashed potatoes with Kelly and Eva's crew! Hope Will lets us have some Kelly! Brian B. and kids Friday. Oliver Sunday afternoon, nap, don't call.

Date: 2004-07-16 22:31:46 209.240.207.44 Kelly Krannawitter wrote: My Only Memory of Hoxie High Sports Was Watching Red Lead Hoxie to an OT Win over Those Dreaded Cowboys from Goodland & Red Was Awesome That Night & He Was Larry Bird Before Anybody Had Heard Of Mr. Bird.

Date: 2004-07-16 20:47:18 Oliver wrote: It was 10:37 PM on a Friday, 1961, weighed 89 pounds and 14 ounces. I reached puberty! Bet you all wanted to hear that crap! Had a picture of Mary Lou holding Eva in my classroom. One of the students looked at the picture and said, "Who is Eva holding?" Mom told me, "One night at church I looked over and said to myself what is Mary Lou doing here, she didn't call and tell me she was coming!!?" It was Eva. Damn glad she didn't think it was Steve, Aaron or Eric!!! It was church, she knew it wasn't me.

Date: 2004-07-16 15:42:22 Oliver wrote: Rich, Ken and I had a lot of fun and did a lot of work creating the hot tub on wheels. Les Pratt took it to Tasco home for hunters for a few days. Think him and Barb got a divorce soon after that. Sure Rich saw him more often but I only saw Lance run once in a track meet. Awesome stride. I got to go to Wichita for the state meet with a Bechard kid from Grinnell who ran the mile. Saw Nolan Cromwell run the quarter. Lance had the same beautiful stride. They looked like they just gilded. Rich crow hopped in long jump three times and had the best jump in the state going in. I went out for track one year and said to myself "this is too much work, rather drive tractor and drink beer, wrestling was over!" Went from wrestling 133 pounds my senior year to 150 in a week.

Date: 2004-07-16 03:05:46 Kevin wrote: Believe it or not I think Hoxie won the sportsmanship award at that State Tourney if my memory serves me correct. Not because of Rich of course! I am sure Rich's ears are burning but if you ever catch him in a bad mood and want to cheer him up, start talking about the old HOT TUB days! Christ I think we rehashed every Hoxie sporting event in that disgusting cesspool. If that Hot Tub could talk we would all be in heap of trouble. BK, I am sure you remember this quote "Geeeeez Manute!" Inside Joke, Thank God it blew up. Must be a sign!

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Date: 2004-07-16 01:52:17 Dorth wrote: Rich is getting bad press about his temper during athletic events. I think his best line was at State Basketball when someone tried to calm the crowd and Rich remarked that we weren't there to win the ##+! sportsmanship award. Hey Aaron, like father, like son?

Date: 2004-07-17 22:04:30 Oliver wrote: Amanda and Eva in their very first real 7th grade basketball game against Goodland at the Edson gym. At the end of the first half we had Goodland's score doubled and Eva had half our points! The score was four to two. The turnover chart was six pages long. One of the funniest damn things I ever saw. The Rich Shoooooot story reminded me of this. Well 7th grade girls need to get past half court first. We won but don't remember the score.

Date: 2004-07-17 23:10:29 Oliver wrote: We locals and Donna and Marvin had a great time at Art and Cheri's last night. Lots of stories, great food and good wine! What life is about. Art brought up Gaylord Schaffer, was an old bachelor friend of Dads who, like Dad, was a big democrat and read like Dad. We were one of the very few who got the Topeka Daily Capital in the mail and Gaylord and Dad both got Newsweek. This is one of the earliest memories I have maybe because of Moms reaction so guessing it was 1952. Gaylord came in and it seemed every guest sat in the chair by the piano. I crawled on this old mans lap and proceeded to take his pipe and smoke it. Mom, "Oh my god!" Gaylord was old, unclean, not shaven, brilliant and no or few teeth! To remedy his lack of teeth he wrapped numerous rubber bands around his old pipe. Mom was totally grossed out by me sticking his pipe in my mouth. Dad said, "Hell, it won't kill him". Gaylord could not hear the exchange but I did! Art should be writing on here, he told some great stories and has a better memory for detail than I.

Date: 2004-07-19 18:32:07 Eloise wrote:

ALSO, who remembers the one and only time Mom tried to ride the bicycle...and the time Grandma Krannawitter tried to drive? Date: 2004-07-19 18:30:19 Eloise wrote: We have to get Donna to tell the story of the Holstein cow kicking Joann when she was milking it. This would have been one to have on video. Art may remember the story also. I only heard it so I want one of the witnesses to tell it.

Date: 2004-07-21 22:46:12 Eva wrote: I have a Richard and basketball story. I was 12 and watching substate basketball when I got my first chickenpox. By the first game at state I was covered from head to toe. I didn't get to go to Hutch, instead listened with Grandma lying on the floor in front of the big radio in the front room. Much to my excitement, they won and I was no loner contagious but still covered in scabs. When I got to Hutch, Rich told me not to worry, everyone would just think I had really bad zits. Made me feel much better, NOT!!!

Date: 2004-07-21 21:48:43 Brian wrote: Well said Red. Manute certainly graced all of us with her presence in the "tub." As far as Grandpa goes, I don't think any of us ever ever had one bad sporting event in our life! I'll never forget him saying to me after probably one of the worst basketball games I ever played (I could not have hit water if I fell out of a boat this particular game against Atwood), "Good job out there Brian. Just make sure you get at least two or three fouls." As far as Delmar Foster goes, he was the eternal optimist: "If the ball's in the air there's hope."

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Date: 2004-07-21 17:38:24 Richard wrote: I can say without reservation that with the help of al, your uncles and Delmar F, Brian and Kevin would have won at least two state championships. We won every game we lost after we replayed it in that hot tub. That hot tub should have read "enter at your own risk." by the way Kevin and BK, I remember "Manute" quite well--the blonde with the enlarged hoots. Still have fond memories of the "good old days."

Date: 2004-07-21 15:38:47 Ken wrote: I recall one milking incident but it involved Al. (For those that might not know-the cows were milked by hand. We sat on a stump of wood that had a leather strap for a handle. The bucket was held between the knees while sitting which allowed both hands free to milk.) This one cow kept kicking so Al put the hobbles on her. About halfway through the milking process, the cow started kicking again, the hobbles came off and the bucket of milk got kicked and spilled. Big Al went ballistic on that cow. He took that stump with the leather handle and beat the hell out of that cow along with some major swearing!! Didn't do any good but I think it made him feel better.

Date: 2004-07-21 04:26:17 Curtis wrote: I know mom has told me the story, but it has been awhile ago. The thing I recall mom telling about the story is that Joann got a board with a few nails in it and gave it back to the Holstein! If my memory of this story is way off, someone please correct me. I remember mom saying that there was no way they were going to tell Al about it. I recall a few Hoxie sport stories but not too many. We busy with school ourselves. The one I recall, if correct, that we were in town when Kevin hurt his shoulder badly and they were playing one of the biggest rivals of the year! Kev, if you recall what I am trying to recall, please let me know the story. I remember many memorable rounds of golf at the Elk's golf course. Too many good memories to tell all. Chris and I shared a lot of those with Rich, Olv and Rex. Many good times!

Date: 2004-07-22 22:36:24 Oliver wrote: Some like to talk about how terrible dysfunctional families are. If you look at everybody's history you find families that were dysfunctional. If all the kids of dysfunctional families turned out bad? Grandpa John Krannawitter was suckled by a Hispanic lady in New Mexico after his mom died while birthing him, had a half brother Joe. Mom had a half sister and then 9 other siblings. I could go on and on but now the humor and I might get killed for this. Mary Ellen's grandfather had 9 kids and then his wife died. He remarried and had six more kids of which one was Mary Ellen's dad. Then he and Mary Ellen's grandma got a divorce [rare at that time in history] and he remarried to a gal that had two kids. Then he died. Mary Ellen's dad thought the third one killed his ass!!! Poisoned him!!! No remorse. Think that adds up to 17 kids. These genealogies are interesting.

Date: 2004-07-28 16:01:13 Aaron wrote: I was in Hays the other day and remembered what I thought was a Grandma story. Anybody remember Ann's dress shop on 8th Street? From what I remember, Grandma accidentally went into the wrong building and ended up in an adult novelties store. Not sure if this really happened, but I still laughed when I drove by Ann's.

Date: 2004-07-31 15:46:40 Curtis wrote: Kel, hope your stay in Hoxie is going well. I am anxiously awaiting the Giersch gang from Russell. Should be here today. I remember a grandpa Al story. Grandpa and I had gone to town to run a few errands and I played tag along. I couldn't have been more than 10. We were heading home when the pickup started making a clump, clump noise. Grandpa stops and says "one of the damn tires went out"! I was getting nervous that we may actually have to walk home. But, before leaving Hoxie, Al bought a six pack of those tiny miller 6 packs you could buy. He opened one than another and handed me one. He said, this is going to take a little longer to get back home riding a flat tire and that was how Al and I shared our first beer together as we slowly drove to the farmhouse on a flat tire.

Date: 2004-08-10 16:49:24 Eloise wrote: Where's Oliver...we haven't had any stories lately. I have an Isabelle story that came to mind recently. She was bent over the dishwasher either stacking or unstacking the dishes when tiny little Richard toddled up behind her and bit her on the back of her leg. Her instinctive move was to take a swing, which she did, and Richard went flying across the kitchen floor. Isabelle felt terrible about clobbering the little guy, but didn't want to un-do what good it might have done to clobber him, so she went into the bathroom and cried. It would make a good story to say her never bit anyone again, but I can't say that's what happened!!!

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Date: 2004-08-11 13:39:59 Eloise wrote: I think you flatter me, Ken. Dad always said he thought Mary was most like Mom, especially the hair, although I don't remember Mom's being as light as Min's hair is. Does anyone know if this is the picture of Mom and Dad that was doctored to replace the actual picture of Dad because the original was too stone faced??? I seem to remember that's what happened, but Donna and Joann could probably verify. No camera ever caught the real Al.

Date: 2004-08-12 06:31:20 Marvin wrote: One night when several of us married ones were home, Isabelle, as usual, assigned where we were to sleep. I did not pay a lot of attention. Later, the women went to bed and the men stayed up playing cards in the back room. Some time later, I got too tired to stay up and went to the front bedroom, disrobed and crawled in bed. The problem was, that was not the bed that had been assigned to Donna and I. Right Cheri.

Date: 2004-08-12 04:59:23 Cheri wrote: I got tickled all over again remembering the time Al and I "lost it" in church after Father Vinnie pigged out on the communion crumbs. Izzy and Art thought we were going to be asked to leave we were laughing so hard. It was the snort that did it.

Date: 2004-08-13 01:50:59 Curtis wrote: This is kind of a grandma and grandpa story, but I need others to fill in the details, which mom told me but forgot. When Mary Lou and pat got married, looking back, Mary probably kicks herself to this day for asking Chris and I to be alter servers during her wedding ceremony at the church. I can't remember what exactly got me going, but I started laughing so hard that I couldn't stop. I thought I was being sneaky and laughing to myself. Every time I looked at Mary Lou, I would laugh harder. When they were on the alter, and Chris and I were on either side of the priest, Mary gave me a look I remember to this day. Her look told me if I didn't stop laughing, she was going to kill me. However, the look just made me want to laugh harder. My question is, what were Isabelle and Al's reaction. I have to apologize to Mary after all these years, I'm sorry if I ruined your wedding. But I must confess, I am laughing to myself as I write this and remember the look Mary gave me over 20 years ago!!

Date: 2004-08-14 17:21:16 Oliver wrote: To make a long long story short. We had a 5 hour delay in Denver getting to Vegas. Returning, we were there for our shuttle at 7:00 AM that came with the package and it didn't show up so I paid another. We were to fly Frontier but finally got off the ground at 6:00 PM on a United flight. It was 3:00 AM when I drove into Hoxie and our luggage was still in Vegas! Eighteen hours to get from Vegas to Hoxie and Jessica didn't have her MAKEUP! Had a great time though. Story: 1972 It was so dry Al used a lister planter to get 80 acres of milo to moisture on the half section. Caught some rains but in the fall the milo wouldn't dry down. In November it froze, rained and snowed. This also laid much of the milo over so on Saturday when I wasn't teaching at Grinnell we mounted heston headers on the combine and started to cut. Al was very nervous about getting the crop in so we went like crazy sat and sun but didn't get through. Monday morning we got a call from the school that the boiler broke down and there was no school. When I called Al and told him I would be over I wish you could all have heard the happiness in his voice. Anyway, we started cutting at ten. It was 18 degrees and no cab on the combine. By 3:00 I knew we could finish as Al drove in with the empty truck. He came to the combine with that smile as I was unloading on the truck with a 5th of scotch and a coke. Precious memories. Milo made 81 bushels per acre. We finished and both went home very happy. I was a little nummmm in more than one way and Al just had that big grin on his face.

Date: 2004-08-25 22:53:31 Oliver wrote: From Stella, great story. Izzy and four other gals went to Atwood for an arts production. Got there early so they went to an antique store. When they got back to the car they ask why she didn't get out and come in? Mom, "I was afraid they would put a price tag on me." If that doesn't sound like Mom nothing does, she was so sharp.

Date: 2004-08-25 13:04:41 Oliver wrote: Deb talked extensively about the good times at the farm growing up. When Elmer would say "Hell, let's run up and see Al and Izzy." she was the first one in the car. Elmer drove our combine a Super 27 Massy during harvest till us boys got old enough. Then he helped Ales S. Elmer always had some good stories about his experiences with Alex's temper like when Leona pulled in the field with the pickup and started the field on fire and Alex getting down in the pit of his bin and couldn't get out for two hours till Leona finally went looking. Dad telling how he forgot and only filled one half of the drill with seed. He borrowed our plow and when it got back the blades were shot! So much for Alex.

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Date: 2004-08-28 23:06:21 Oliver wrote: Donna and all. Couldn't get a hold of any of the Berens kids so I called Via Christie in Wichita and he was released yesterday and assume he is in Hays now. That is good news. Mom: One morning after I jabbed her about gaining weight on the net she was setting on the bed trying to get her slacks on and she said to herself, "My gosh I must be gaining weight!" When she looked down she had both legs in one pant leg. Mom said, "Boy, I felt stupid." I was thinking seriously about a diet one morning when I attempted to put on a pair of Mary Ellen's jeans. Everything was going on ok but snug till it got to buttoning the pants and I said to myself "No this can't be true!" Sure many of you have had similar experiences. I was sure glad I could wear Ken's shirts. He had a light yellow one I loved and wore all the time. He probably thought it was the one he barfed on and threw away! No, he knew and was not happy with me.

Date: 2004-08-28 23:21:28 Oliver wrote: One last story for the day. Am sure Rich was considered the least wild of us boys but he is the only one who invited a girl to stay over night in the 4th grade!!! Think her name was Rita Popp. She was cute. Mom, being a little puritanical discouraged the arrangement.

Date: 2004-09-01 19:08:04 Donna wrote: Another bathroom story. I was in first grade attending country school, went to the outdoor toilet during recess. The latch on the outside of the door was up when I went in and fell down when I shut the door and locked me in. Scared me to death. Now you all know why I have been such a scardy cat all my life and why I can outrun horses.

Date: 2004-09-01 00:33:08 Oliver wrote: Eloise's story on Jim: Boys and I in the hotel in KC this last trip. When we shut the door to go swim the safety latch that you swing over on the inside so the door will only let the door open a couple inches swung into place. I couldn't get in. We went to the front desk and in 1 minute the female engineer opened the door with a special tool. Was damn glad one of the boys wasn't still in the room while I got them to open it. Not near as funny as Jim's story. Kind of old to lock yourself in the bathroom Jim. You probably didn't even have a Victoria's Secrets catalog to look at, no cigar and no beer. Face it like me Jim, Nate has a better life but maybe you can afford the cigar and share with your wonderful brother in law. After a few drags we can imitate Cheech and Chong! Saw them live in Vegas 16 years ago; laughed till I hurt and wished Rex was there. We saw the musical "Mama Mia" this last trip at Mandalay Bay in Vegas If you like music by ABBA spend the bucks, one of the best shows I ever saw, fantastic acting and singing. They travel to many cities. Getting the combine out but not doing much work on the unloading auger. In a lot of fields in the county the crops can't go backwards anymore. Ours are good enough we have to cut it all with $2 diesel. Not complaining, that is just farming. Beats the hell out of brat kids and parents.

Date: 2004-09-02 15:03:07 Eloise wrote: Donna, your story wins, hands down! I can give evidence as to how wimpy she was/is. When Joann left for nursing school, Donna let me move upstairs with her and then made a mad dash for the bed every night so I would have to turn out the light. I also had to sleep on the side of the bed by the attic door. I don't think I was ever scared of anything till I started hanging around with her!

Date: 2004-09-07 23:44:39 Oliver wrote: Eloise, talking about Donna being scared. Remember the bus ride by Kennedy's, skinny little Charlie Follis driving, water running across the road after a big rain, Eloise screaming, "Let me out of here, I'm not going through that!" It was not very deep and we made it easily, Eloise went straight to the bathroom when we got home a quarter of a mile later.

Date: 2004-09-10 01:51:36 Dorth wrote: Won't have computer access on your birthday Eva so have a Happy 30th. Heading back to Manhattan for the game. Mary said Pat will be in attendance with his friend John Kruse. Hopefully will see them (but not on the Jumbotron.) Have a story on Pat and John. They were drinking bloody Mary's one week-end acting as one does when getting drunk. What they didn't know was that John's son Jeremy (friend of Nate's) had helped himself to the vodka at an earlier time and replaced it with water.

Date: 2004-09-24 17:41:22 Oliver wrote: Can't get some of these thoughts out of my head so I will write them down. Elmer: "You know Ollie some of these sobs just think the world should be handed to them! I mean you know the basterds have never done a days work in their life and Ollie the ass holes expect us to take care of them. I mean you know why in the hell should I have to take care of them? Look at your folks Ollie and the work they did and how they have taken care of you kids! Got damit!! Sometimes it just pisses me off. I was just telling Agnes the other day that Al and Izzy have done quite a job with their kids and grandkids, except you, you little shit!" Am I close to what you all remember?

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Date: 2004-10-14 12:01:49 Ken wrote: Maybe most of you don't know but Russell could not hire a school psychologist so I got a call. Went back to work 3 days a week. So far it isn't too bad. Sounds like Dorth is jumping into the frying pan-congrats and good luck. Had a call from Leo Berens. He just wanted to chat. Is doing well except for his vision. He gets to drive in town during daylight. Lizzy is slipping badly and Jay is getting big. Leo spends about 7 hrs. A day helping out at the rest home. He told quite a story-His buddy Raymond, a diabetic, drove Leo to Hays for a Dr. appt. Just east of Quinter Leo noticed the van they were in was weaving back and forth. He asked Raymond if he was ok and he said he was but Leo knew better. Leo reached over with his left arm and steered the damn vehicle all the way to Hays from the passenger side. The cruise was on and Leo couldn't reach any of the pedals, etc. Raymond was in and out of a diabetic coma but woke up enough to get stopped at the off ramp at Hays where Leo took over! Leo talked like it was no big deal. What a guy. Can't believe what he has gone through and never complains-part of that greatest generation indeed! Kelly probably is getting satellite radio so he can listen to Howard Stern after he leaves the regular airwaves. As for football, I feel your pain Eva, but eventually the cream rises to the top!!

Date: 2004-10-18 01:09:37 Oliver wrote: Glad for you Dorth if that is what you want? Just want you to be happy. Proud of you! Mary Ellen is the budget person in my family. I am the spend and pay taxes person. Kelly, that reminds me that I could use a sizable loan to cover a few incidental monetary problems at the farm due to Kirk and your dad's arrival. Would 5 or 10 bucks be out of reason? Pay you 1.0375% interest till after harvest! Rich could use a minimum of $50 but no guarantee on interest or repayment until he gets to hug you Big Guy! Kirk is a hell of a nice guy. STORY: Fred Pratt bought a new stock tank and had it delivered to his sale barn. Ding Storer and Al needed one at the time for some cows on stalks so they loaded it up and used it! Three months later they ask him if he was missing a stock tank. Fred, "You damn thieves, you're the ones who took my tank, Ill turn you into the law." I was there when they told him and it was very very funny.

Date: 2004-10-26 23:45:12 Oliver wrote: Izzy was a conniving genius getting us locals over to see her except Dorth who went a bunch. Typical conversation for me and am sure similar for Rich and Ruth. Izzy, " Say, if you have time my light bulb went out in the hall and I just get to dizzy if I look up." After I get there and fix whatever. Izzy, "Oh, by the way I got something in the mail maybe you should look at for me." "Let's see, where did I put that?" After she putters around forty five minutes later after much conversation she finds this form letter that means nothing to her business. Izzy, "Well I didn't think it was to important but wanted one of you to read it." Hell, I think she liked having car problems. I had to pick it up and return! There was an obituary in the paper this morning who I thought might be a relative and I instantly thought of calling Mom. I miss her and LOL to you all!

Date: 2004-11-30 22:02:14 Ken wrote: I knew I had it wrong mentioning Larry and Jim as the culprits on the pickup heist. I remember back about 30 years ago Grandpa and I were over west and some cows were out of the pasture. We got out of the pickup and started chasing them on foot. We about had them back in the pasture when all of a sudden the pickup goes flying by and starts making a wide circle. Lance was in the back and he looked like a basketball going up and down while the pickup was rolling on. Guess who the driver was--none other than' Captain pickup stealer himself-Kelly'!! Not sure how that pickup got stopped other than Kelly stopping it. Grandpa told us not to tell Grandma about what happened! That's not the end of the vehicle stealing business though. Paulette and I were at Izzy's one summer day. Kelly went to our house on foot to see the boys. A storm came up and the next thing we knew, Kelly drove up at Izzy's house in one of our cars in a downpour!! Grandma about dropped her teeth. So there you have it Marvin, Kelly the vehicle thief got your pickup and was trying to get back to California.

Date: 2005-01-05 00:31:35 Oliver wrote: Set you up with the bs Vegas vomit story for a true one. Was taking Mom to Colby for just a check up after her eye surgery in Oakley so she was in a good mood because everything was going well with her eye and she knew we would eat at Village Inn. On our way shuffling to the car Mom was letting off gas at every step as she was becoming more incontinent. Suddenly she just stopped me and looking up to me and grinned and said, "Sorry about that, but you ought to understand, being Al's son!" Dad could rip some good ones.

Date: 2005-01-14 19:15:36 Oliver wrote: Mom was born in Hyacinth parish in Ellis County, Ks. We took Mom to hays and met Elmer and Otto at Holiday Inn for a little reunion about 5 years ago. It was a blast to listen to them talk. Ott could still put the shit on Mom and she told stories about what a jerk he could be but all in good fun. Elmer told how Mom raised him. The next morning we got in our car and went to find Hyacinth church, cemetary and the farm where Mom was born. Ott was sure he knew were to go. Go to Yocemento road west of hays and north about 5 miles. Ott, "I can remember hauling wheat in a wagon down this road to Yocemento." We were lost and drove for 30 minutes with Mom and Ott arguing about where the hell we were at! It was funnier than hell! Out of nowhere we were at a cemetary in the middle of a pasture on the east side of the road that read "Hyacinth" We spent some time finding Moms sisters grave who I didnt know existed. Think she was six when she died. Damn, I wish I had a tape recorder. Mom remembered her dad had made a cross out of iron about 4 feet tall and we found it in the back of the cemetary. Very rustic or gothic, very eerie! From there we found the remnants of the church about half mile away that burned down and then the old farmstead that Mom was born at. Mom walked to school at the church every day 3 miles from the farm and got home to change Elmer's dirty diapers! The farm was 1 mile south of the church and 2 miles east as I remember. All that was left of the farm Mom was born at was trees and and an old foundation and a celler. Ott, "Dad always planted feed in that field." Ott's daughter Jan was with us. She is a very nice gal. After we got back to the hotel, Mom, "I knew Ott was wrong on the directions!" This may be redundant but what the hell! One of the best things I ever did for Mom was this little trip.

Date: 2005-01-15 15:09:27Ken wrote: Thanks for the link, Eva. Nice article on the Mosiers. Steve did a lot of work on Paulette's mother's cats. She thought the world of him. Steve and Stan were in Eloise's class and pretty good athletes. I was a freshman when they were seniors and for some reason they were always friendly to me and I never forgot it. The Mosiers would always let us fish the river and shoot bullfrogs on their land. One day Steve and Stan showed me how to bank fish which involves getting in the water and trying to pull out fish from the holes in the river bank. No way in hell was I going to do that. Doubt if there is a drop of water in that river today. Hey, ol' Larry is a pretty good guy too! He played a lot of table tennis with us in the basement on the farm but he had to watch his head with the ceiling so low. Come to think of it, in order to get the table to fit, a hole in the bottom step had to be cut out for one of the legs. Believe Art made the table. Dad even played at times and usually beat us. The other major use for the basement was shelter when thunderstorms came up. Usually we had to kneel and say the Rosary to ward off tornadoes and hail. During the rosary, one of us tried to get someone laughing, which often worked, and they would get in a lot of trouble with mom or dad. Kneeling on concrete for an entire rosary was tough. Kind of went off on a tangent but the article tweeked some memories. Congrats to the Mosiers!

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Date: 2005-01-28 23:48:02 Oliver wrote: Hope this doesnt bore you young ones but try to explain enough so you might understand. Got my first experience driving as most of us kids with Dad feeding cattle. He would put the truck in gear and get out and tell me to drive in a circle while he threw out the bundles of feed. The rule was one bundle per cow. After a few times at this Al,"Hell, you know what to do, put it in grandma and drive around in a circle!" To me the language is a little funny today. The low gear in a four speed transmission was also called supper low. Top speed was about 5 mph. Three years later "Red" was driving and Dad and I throwing of the bundles but he had figured out the accelerator! He hit the gas pedal a little hard and about threw Dad and I out of the truck. Being the understanding brother I said "What in the blank are you doing? Slow down!" Dad laughed.

Date: 2005-01-29 16:57:59 Oliver wrote: One of Dads sayings: When we milked, the cows would come in the barn and go to their stantion. I milked only the gernsy cow. She was a gentle little brown cow. My main job was to give them grain out of the northwest ben in the barn. The cows put off enough heat to make it comfy in the barn. Only problem was coming out of the cold the cows got warm and proceeded to relieve their bladders much like us in the gutter that drained out of the east end of the barn. A Cows urination on a cold concrete floor created steem, odor and warmth. Girls hated they might stink going to school. Now to the crux of the story. Years later Dad and I got caught in a rainstorm over west so strong that we had to stop because we couldnt see. Dad was overjoyed by the rain. Dad, "Oliver, it is raining like a cow pissing on a hard rock!"

Date: 2005-02-07 00:25:05 Oliver wrote: Had a great time in Nebraska as normal and got to see almost all of the locals plus Steph and daughter Brianna and Keri! Checked cows with Larry. He has about 50 babys so about half done. They were all great. Joann has lost 25 pounds and looks great! Ate at the Dempster House sat night and had a humerous time. Looking forward to a picture of Madalins, Ashley in Moms wedding dress. I will let you be the judge. Mom was so tiny. Larry said, "Look at Al, what did he weigh? 125 lbs when they got married?" Drove in 4 wheel from Lexington home today and we had 6 inches here in Hoxie and some rain Rich said first. Love the moisture.

Date: 2005-02-12 00:49:19 Oliver wrote: I see humor in the city time business of travel. Cant help myself and hope I dont bore to many of you. Al, "I need you to help me move. Go east of Hoxie to the junkyard road Monty Jessis Christ Dillon hauled his cart and dogs on. Dont stop at the Morty Campbell place or you will be late. When you get to the Sealock feedlot you will also see the Bill Schaffer farm to the west. When you get to the Bill Weeks farm it will be only a quarter mile to Axel 'Sweed' Johonasons place where we get the mail and the farm is to the west. If Eloise is driving to get the mail get the hell out of the way in the ditch or something, stay out of her way! Go another mile to the redline. If there are cows out go get Joann to help and dont take Donna! Keep going south by the 'poor farm' where the old boy use to sell bootleg whisky. Go another south after the corner to Arts well and hang a left. After you get by the old Crotchet place turn south again. Albinus Zerr has his combine with the 8 foot header parked there. Go two miles south and you are at Grandpa Johns half section. Hang another left and I am just a half mile east on the old 99 propane Oliver tractor. We need to move to the Adams place by the old house. Did Eva spray paint 'love shack' on the old house? Oliver, dont be late and bring some beer" Lot of bs but the names and places remain the same. LOL

Date: 2005-02-12 17:07:33 Oliver wrote: Oh Kev, your dad has some stories on Albinus as a bus driver that would bring tears to your eyes with laughter. Probably repeat but... Albinus bound feed for us with me driving our tractor and Mom would feed us at noon. One morning he just walked in the house without knocking at the farm and Mom was not properly attired by her standards. Mom, "Al, I dont care what it costs have Oliver take him to town to eat, I dont want him around here!" Dad laughed his ass off as he was giving me cash to take Albius to the Bowling Alley to eat. I said "Thanks a lot!!" At ten in the morning Albinus would yell at me to stop from his seat on the binder. He would go get his pickup and get out his grease gun and turn on KXXX Colby for the poka music. If Albinus liked the song he would take the grease gun and hold out the pump handle and dance in the field with his grease gun as his partner.

Date: 2005-02-12 23:23:42 Oliver wrote: No Lance, that was Alex Schwarzenberger who used sumbelabitch. Albinus couldnt pronounce any word that long. Alex came to the house for some reason and him and Al were setting there on the couch with their legs crossed and one of us kids said, "Do you see how much bigger his foot is than Dads!!!!!" Thereafter"BIG FOOT" Think it was Dorth that coined that word. Think Dorth actually said, "Jesus Christ did you see how big his ------- feet are, hell they make two of Dads!" She sounded like she was related to Uncle Elmer

Date: 2005-02-13 03:29:54 Lance wrote: That would sound like Elmer. I remember being over at the Berens' house when we lived in G-field. Agnes was telling a story about falling down and landing on her ass. Elmer says, "Jesus, your whole body must hurt then." Agnes popped him on the shoulder. Don't know why I remember that one-I must have been in middle school but I remember Greg and I laughing our asses off.

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Date: 2005-02-27 19:48:50 Oliver wrote: Will be gone for several days so will give you relief from my bs. Have to tell a story , factual, not exaggerated, maybe redundant. In 1963 Ken was a senior and I a freshman [he got to initiate me for a week, onions around my neck, broken eggs in me boots, carry their books, Terry Diebert, Jim Rogers, Gary Reitcheck] and we were both out for wrestling. We went clear to Garden City for a match. Ken was ahead in his match with a figure four on, in contol, and the guy rolled and with Ken still in control the ref hit the mat and said Ken was pinned with no reversal points! Can remember Ken left the mat docile and well composed. Our team was livid as was I. Steve Scott, "Im going to kick that refs ass when this match is over!!!" We find out later the ref was married to Larry Mosiers sister, his name is Stan Fancher[sp]. Ken was getting a lot of empathy after the match was over but he came up to me and said, "Olv, you looked pretty good out there". I had won my match. Best compliment I ever got from my ass hole brother for my self esteem as a wrestler. Thanks Ken. When we were in Neb Larry told me about Stan Fancher, "Hell Ollie, he could buy and sell us all but you would never know it he drives a 12 yr old cadilac!" Brookover Feedyards, umpteen circles, high school wrestling referee!!!!!! Somebody write on here besides me!! I want to know about You, your kids and families. KU at 3 CBS. Got to pack now for my long trip to KC. Curt, will spot you three strokes on my course. Winner buys the beer or a better idea, we will charge it to Rich! LOL, WOOF WOOF KELLY!

Date: 2005-03-09 02:36:25 Oliver wrote: Brian you are funny!!! After games at Grandpas: Brian, "Well Granapa what did you think, I played like shit". Kev, "That was a bunch of shit Grandpa!" Lance, "Well hell, what do you think Grandpa?" Steve, "Boy, I screwed that one play up Grandpa!" I could go on and on with the rest but to Grandpa you could do no wrong and he was so very very protective and proud of us all. From Vietnam to law school to teachers to engineers to whatever, Mom and Dad were extremly proud of their family as Mom told me several times. "Oliver, you kids have done great and the grandkids are wonderful!" "Why dont you go to church with Mary Ellen and I?" I told Mom I practiced abstinance. Mom kind of laughed and gave me a hug. LOL and a hug from Oliver

Date: 2005-03-23 17:19:10 Oliver wrote: Story: Mom and Dad were flying to Cal to get on the LOVE BOAT with Bill and Jean Vickers and Dave and Shirley Cooper. Dad was seated away from Mom. Chatting with his male seatmate about family the guy was complaining about his 7 kids. Dad said, "I wish I had 7 kids". The guy said, "You dont know what you're wishing for!" Dad replied, "Yes I do, I have ten."

Date: 2005-03-26 19:27:39 Oliver wrote: Story: Mom was stressed after Dad died about finances and had reason to be. The farm economy was at a low. Mom became so tight she squeeked. Hard to believe she later gave away money. She wasnt happy unless she had enough money to pay all the farm bills for a year in her checking account even though she was going to have income. Mom,"But what if...? Was so much fun when we could convince her to spend her money on house projects or clothes. Jim Rogers after putting his mom in LTC, "Hell Olv, they brought this snak tray around and she thought it was great because they didnt even charge her!" "It would kill her to know what it costs to be up here." Crux of the story. Mary Ellens mom in LTC is very similar to Mom and Gladys when it comes to money. Teddy will be 95 in a few months. Teddy, "Well what am I going to do after I run out of money?" "Are they going to kick me out of here?" With her dementia she is sometimes with it and yesterday she was 15. I tried to console her by telling her she had enough money to keep her there about 10 more years. Teddy, "Yes, but what am I going to do after that!!!!????" Shure you can all relate to parts of this story. I laughed my ass off at Teddys comment but as tough as she is she might live to be 106 but her quality of life is going down.

Date: 2005-04-24 22:21:48 Oliver wrote: Working on sunday reminded me of Mom telling how she protested cutting wheat on sunday. They had a beautiful crop and even custom cutters lined up to help. Dad had bought a new combine Super 27 Massy. They had about 550 acres of wheat which was a bunch at that time. Sunday night the WHOLE crop got hailed out. Mom. "I never said anything again about working on Sunday to Al." Dad took advantage of the situation. On Good Friday us guys worked cattle while the girls and Mom spent 3 HOURS at church!

Date: 2005-05-17 23:26:01 - Oliver wrote: Was reminiscing in my mind about Jim and Eloise coming to the farm the first time like Marvin. Mom, " He is from Chicago" I had this vision of this mafia type guy in dark glasses and slicked back hair in tight pants!!I was going to kick his ass if he wasn't good to my sister!!!!!!! Then I met Jim and have felt sorry for him ever since. Don't be pissed Eloise! Eva said you look so much like Mom, what a compliment.

Date: 2005-05-19 22:48:21 - Oliver wrote: I'm with Ethan on the dancers Laura! To say Pete looks good goes a little beyond my imagination. Like to take him and Chris on in another challenge game of "horse" at the farm one of these days and would allow Curt to open the beer for us. Jim has sent a resume for the same job Curt. When I play by myself, I always win and that gets boring. I can remember Donna and Eloise trying to make a basket with Dad out there in the Quonset, NBA potential they were not! Donna, "Olv at least I hit the rim!" Think she was making a snide ref to Eloise's shooting, Larry Mosier shot a basketball like a 16lb shot, not good, Marvin shot like a swimmer, good form but missed and Art, hell he wouldn't waste the effort shooting, it wasn't making him any money! My only real competition was Rich and now Kenny. If you think I'm taking on the MOOSE in a wrestling match forget it, IQ is above 2. The K boys and Steve, they are not invited to this match and Gavin, get real!!! I can take you anytime anywhere!!!!! In golf.

Date: 2005-05-20 22:32:05 - Oliver wrote: Picture this: Winter time in the evening and the calves are fed. Us boys are shooting baskets and Al walks in. There he is in his lace up boots with the metal clips, coveralls, a hat that had flaps to cover his ears with strings to tie under your chin and these ugly yellow mittens on with no fingers. When he clapped his mittens together we knew to throw him the ball. Sometimes he would take his gloves off to shoot. He would take a step and let loose with a two handed push shot - swish {only in his dreams}. You knew Al was in a good mood when he shot the basketball. I knew he would pinch Mom on the butt when he got in the house! Eloise, I never carried a cow but had a few run over me. Wasn't as smart as Donna. Joann probably got run over to, she wasn't afraid of anything but I was afraid of her! When Joann said something it was like Dad, you knew there was no bull shit and you better do what they said! I never listened to Donna, she was a push over like Mom. Joann used terms like "kick your ass!" Donna, " Now Oliver, don't do that again." When Rich got mad it was "^&%*&^!" Art," Get out of my face you little ass hole." Eloise, I can't remember us ever having a cross word! I will go to confession in the morning on that one. Ruth never said much, she just kicked, bit and spilled her milk on me at every damn meal! Dorth and Mary Lou were no problem to me. They were just these two little dolls that I was proud of and protective of.

Date: 2005-05-20 18:50:41 - Brian wrote: I remember those horse games too and the rim. Could have sworn the rim was 11 feet high. For whatever reason - maybe it was the psychological warfare Red, Olv, and Dad employed, but I could never shoot worth a damn on that goal. In today's terms, one would call that trash talking!!

Date: 2005-05-20 15:22:25 - Lance wrote: Olv, I sorta remember those horse games. Shots from behind the combine header, behind the toolbox, behind the pile of wheat, etc. Could have been state champs if Hoxie could've played out at the farm.

Date: 2005-05-23 23:53:15 - Oliver wrote: Damn it is fun to read somebody else's story! Thank you much. New the goal was arts project and the bogy man is why rich was so damn good in track. Wish I had a penny for every shot taken at that basket. Had to weld and replace that goal. One of the Newman boys broke one with his head, think it was Bob. Mom told me I was four when they built the shed and I was always in their way.Would have made it 1951-2. Archie Edgel ring a bell? He died about a year ago at hill city but thought he was on the construction crew? I can remember the granary. The cement is still there and think there were two bins on both sides and the truck was parked in the middle. Also reminds me of a damn shovel at the granary at Grandpa Johns north of the house located just north of the high school where Cindy Schnelle lives now. Last time Rich and I scooped out the bins into the auger at the farm with milo he said, "Lets drag that damn auger down and push it in the silo, then we wont use it again!"

Date: 2005-05-23 17:01:42 - Art wrote: Joann and Donna may remember it differently but my recollection is that the barn was built mostly by Dad and Grandpa Berens in 1948. I think the year before we got the tank house, wash house, car garage, electricity generator/wiring (Gabe Denning), gravity flow water/drain (Carrol Jameson) and first inside bathroom/Westinghouse Laundromat clothes washer. The shed (Chief) was built by an Oakley construction company (Schwartz) in 1951. The shed was specially useful in that the ribs went up before they started inward (unlike a Quonset) and was insulated. Before the shed there was a government instigated, (Ever Normal) green lumber pre-fab granary just southeast of the shed site that had a basketball goal that Dad mounted on the east side and a lean-to garage he built onto the west. Joann, Donna, Dad and I used that goal many, many times. The goal wasn’t and isn’t standard circumference and would bend some over time. It didn’t have net mountings underneath so we taped the net on and this could slightly distort the path of the ball ... but this is an equal opportunity hazard. Using leftover brackets from shed construction and the 1948 Ford truck/bed hoist, Dad and I mounted the backboard and goal which were cut out as a unit from the side of the granary. (don’t think the height is official spec) Both the granary and the lean-to were torn down after the shed was completed and the wood was used for various purposes.

Date: 2005-05-23 14:07:54 - Ken wrote: I believe the backboard and goal in the shed was one of Art's projects. Maybe he could fill us in. STORY-Richard was about 10 years old at the time as I remember. He and Olv and I got into some games of HORSE in the shed after dark. It was amazing how many games of HORSE were lost on a lay-up and how many millions of dollars were won and lost. Anyway, one of the stipulations was the loser had to turn off the lights after the last game was over. I'm not sure why that was such a big deal, maybe we were all afraid of the dark. Rich lost the last game so Olv and I immediately ran to the house. Richard shut off the lights in the shed and started walking toward the house. We yelled at him "Run Red, there's a guy in the barn"!!. Richard started to look around a little nervously and quickened his pace. Then we hollered "He's right behind you"!!! Rich went from 0 to 90 in about 2 seconds, blew by us and flew in the front door of the house. We got a good sampling of his sailor's vocabulary from that ordeal.

Date: 2005-05-24 19:40:11 - Donna wrote: Dorth, I will be in Russell the evening of May 28th until June 5 when we travel to Hoxie. Chris and Marvin will be on their fishing trip the 30th through the 2nd. They will drive back from Texas on the 3rd. Would be great if you could stop in Russell either on your way to Hoxie or on your way back home. I don't know if that is on your route. We are staying with Art and Cheri in Hoxie. Yes, Art has a tremendous memory but I told him I wasn't that interested in the things he mentioned except the automatic washing machine. One of Joann and my jobs was to clean the washing machine and tubs on wash day. I think that is the only time she and I had an argument and that was on who's turn it was to clean the washing machine. I, of course, won the argument.

Date: 2005-05-26 20:35:10 - Amy wrote: I still have that vision of Grandpa. We would be playing pinball and pool and running around screaming. There was Grandpa, sound asleep, laying on the couch right in the middle of it snoring away!

Date: 2005-05-26 15:08:50 - Oliver wrote: Date: 2005-05-27 18:50:13 - Eloise wrote: The horse was Shoshone and Art got it from Don Reuschoff, I believe. It was beautiful and Art wore a RED satin western shirt and black cowboy hat, right Art? We also had an old black plug at the same time that Donna could outrun - Art and I are witnesses to the fact.

Date: 2005-05-27 16:47:49 - Oliver wrote: Kel, can you believe your dad was damn good on a horse. Think he won some ribbon at the county fair. Cant remember the name of the horse. Al loved horses. I hated the damn things, they would try to rub me off, wouldn't move!

Date: 2005-05-27 14:30:25 - Ken wrote: I am not sure about the 'kick in the head from a horse' but as I recall, Dad had the ear problem as a result of simply blowing his nose one time. Like it blew out his ear drum. They tried to repair it in KC but it did not work. As a matter of fact, his bandage went around his head and when they removed it they discovered they had folded over the top of his ear lobe. Once the bandage was removed, Dad said he about passed out from the pain. The doctor did some major ass chewing when he saw that.

Date: 2005-05-27 12:28:42 - Eloise wrote: Al also had a built-in alarm clock. He'd say "I'm going to lie down for a little while, wake me in 1/2 hour." A half hour later you'd be reaching out to give him a little shake and he'd jump up and scare the ____ out of you. Grandpa Berens could sleep anywhere also. Joann, Donna and Art can tell you lots of stories about him, but I remember going with Mom to take dinner out to the field during harvest and Grandpa would be sound asleep in the wheat stubbles under the shade of the combine. Art, I wish you would post the story of Grandpa Berens' method of repairing the combine with the sledge hammer. I didn't witness that action; only heard about it.

Date: 2005-05-26 15:08:50 - Oliver wrote: Eloise, did I ever tell you I was in love with Patty Yowell as a young boy. Dorth, Art may have the memory but NOT Kel's voice! Question: Was the kick by a horse? to the back of Dads head, where no hair grew the cause of him having all his hearing extracted in KC on the one ear? Was it his right ear? Do remember looking in that ear as a young boy and the wad of cotton he would always put in there. I can remember seeing him take out the cotton, It was gross how much it drained. Also think I recall Mom saying how it would drain out on his pillow at night. If Dad took a nap with his good ear down the grandkids could be raising complete hell and he could sleep!!! Oh, they never did that.

Date: 2005-05-27 22:35:56 - Oliver wrote: M E came to see why I was laughing so damn hard Art. Think Grandpa Berens did us all a favor. After Al put up with him he thought we were good help. It pissed Mom off that G Berens acted like it was his farm. G Berens always sat in the same chair.

Date: 2005-05-27 21:38:16 - Art wrote: Eloise, I can remember details of what I have directly witnessed or heard. Dad was driving a little model Z Minneapolis tractor, pulling the old Baldwin/Waukesha combine from home to one of the fields over west. It seems like this was the good wheat/wheat price year of 1947 which a hail storm around the home place partially ruined ... just as harvest was to begin. Mom had us pray in the basement, but it stormed anyway and cost Dad and Mom dearly in a year when many others made very good money. Whatever the exact year, the wheat was on rented bottom land/pasture land mostly south of the Mosier place. (some years later, it was sold and lost to us, I think first maybe to Shaw and later/now to Schamberger... even though they wanted the land, Dad and Mom couldn’t buy it because they were overloaded with schooling and other expenses of raising us kids) Anyway, when our crew, including Mom, arrived at the field, Grandpa Berens crawled up on the platform, Dad saw this and warne d Grandpa to stay away from the platform height control lever which Dad had set where he wanted it. (Grandpa saw it as his duty to change cut height frequently, Dad knew this... thus the warning was more about leaving the cut height alone than any foreseen safety issue) As in other instances too numerous to mention, Grandpa didn’t take good advice ... he had grabbed the angle iron safety surround with both hands, the ground was rough, and as Dad was cutting, Grandpa lost his footing. He accidentally stepped on the release for the platform control lever. The lever instantly raked Grandpas fingers as it flew back past the lowest notched position, this must have hurt like hell because it was the first time I ever heard Grandpa yell ... from pain. The combine platform hit the ground. Dad stopped the tractor before it killed from the jolt. Then Grandpa picked up a sledge hammer laying in a tool tray and started beating on the angle iron .... sparks flew into the dusk, cuss words came by me fast an furiously as I watched in fear and awe from my perch on the step we used to crawl into the bin. It was quite a while later before the hammering stopped and the sparks quit flying. Dad tried to hide his laughing and Mom started out angry but then couldn’t help laughing at what we all knew was instant justice. ps. Shoshone was a leggy, beautiful, young and spirited buckskin (black mane and tail with palomino like coloring) mare. Dorothy Schlageck had her trained as a three gaited proper riding horse. My first ride was with a smooth bit. I couldn't control her and she ran under the clothes line and stripped me off bang to the ground, flat on my back. She could do a beautiful semi-side-wise prance and otherwise presented herself quite arrogantly at shows, so all I needed to do to win was to calm or at least control her, which wasn't easy even with a radical bit. She was scary fast and you couldn't stop her from jumping at full gallop, unbelievably wide washouts in the pasture, eh Donna... Almost broke my heart but she was no good with cattle and had to go.

Date: 2005-05-28 02:26:55 - Oliver wrote: I witnessed Mom giving Monte Jesus Christ Dillon a hair cut by the tank house. He had lice so she would only do it outside. Rich and I leased that quarter for oil exploration today. It is just north of the Bill Weeks home. Chris, Rich and I had some great times digging up some of his treasures he hauled on his wagon from town with his dogs {lunch} following him down the junkyard road.

Date: 2005-05-28 01:53:21 - Eloise wrote: Wonderful story Art. Tremendous memory you have. There are many stories to be told about Grandpa Berens and I'm hoping Donna and Joann will add some here on the home page for the younger sibs and grandchildren. I was in fifth grade when Grandpa died and have a few memories of him...bouncing Oliver on his knee singing his favorite song (Hi di di de di di di, or something like that) with either a toothpick or lemon drop in his mouth. I'm sure the older ones remember watching the ritual of Grandpa sitting on the cellar door cutting his toenails with the tinships and then powdering his feet with some smelly talcum of sorts. Art probably remembers the name of it. Joann please email the picture to us. And please tell the story of riding with Grandpa Berens in his old car over the terraces. After many years, he never did master the clutch did he?

Date: 2005-05-28 01:41:17 - Joann wrote: I was lucky enough to sign on to the Internet and check out the web!! I have to add to your horse story Art, we not only had Shoshone which you and I both rode but we also had Stonewall which was a five gated horse I rode. Hoxie had a Saddle Club which also performed in Oakley the summer I rode with the Rueshoff Kids. It was a lot of fun! Some of the best times were when Kyle Andregg left us keep his big black horse and we had the "little black" I believe if I search I can find the picture of Art on Shoshone and myself on Stonewall! Dad did get kicked by a horse in the back of his head!! Only a small patch of hair missing to show for what must of been a terrible "Accident" We could tell Monte Dillon and G Berens stories and even Axel J non stop, couldn't we?? Love to all.

Date: 2005-06-03 22:29:37 - Oliver wrote: Ken's story from Uncle Elmer. Can't do this justice but will try. Elmer, "You know Ken back in the prohibition days, hell we would go clear the hell to McCook Nebraska to buy our damn bootleg whisky. But hell, you know got damn it Ken I had to go up there anyway. Hell, Agnes's feet were so got damn big it was the only damn place we could find shoes that fit her!" Story was told in front of Agnes. Did I laugh? I'm still laughing. Kleenex in hand wiping tears from my eyes. LOL Oliver.

Date: 2005-06-09 11:45:56 - Eloise wrote: Mom gave me my copy of the interview with Grandpa John just before she moved. I'll see if I can find it and get it scanned. I'll tell a little story that isn't in the interview. Our professor told us to be sure we were alone in the room with our subject because if someone else was in the room, they would probably make comments or arguments and the interview would go downhill. When I went to interview Grandpa, I told him that it would be best if we were alone and suggested we go in the kitchen by the table because there wasn't room for anyone else (Grandma). Grandpa told about his early history as a cowboy, then went on to relate how he ended up in Kansas and bought the farm...that's when Grandma couldn't stand it any longer and started adding her 2 cents from the other room. Grandpa and I just looked at each other and he had to chuckle.