Cousins
11 November 2009
The youngest of four children all born in Tonawanda, New York, my mother and her siblings lived within walking distance of each other their entire lives. That has not been the pattern for their children, as many of “the cousins” have moved away from the Buffalo area In part because of the lack of proximity, we have not kept in close contact, and regrettably, there are few occasions when the family members connect with each other. As the last remaining sibling of the Hodge family, my mother keeps us informed of weddings, births, and new jobs, but most of the cousins of my generation haven’t seen each other since my dad’s funeral.
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A Return to Cleveland Hough
3 November 2009
We recently returned to the Hough neighborhood in Cleveland for the 40th anniversary of that Salvation Army center’s opening, where we had served from 1990-1995. This long-awaited reunion provided plenty of time for telling stories, from the tragic to the triumphant, sprinkled generously with tears and laughter. We chuckled about the snowy day someone stole the lawnmower, leaving tracks right into the projects. We remembered how Larry discovered a nest of baby mice in the drawer of the reception desk – the scream heard round the world. Then there was the time Marilyn Quayle came to visit with an entourage of Secret Service, commandeering a third floor surveillance spot across the street from the center and making us very nervous.
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Cleveland Browns Football
3 November 2009
When the Browns played the Bills last week, I thought – there’s no way I can lose. If the Browns won I could count myself as a Browns fan, and if the Bills won, I’d claim my fan club membership as a Western New York native. However, after I catnapped through the debacle they dared call a professional football game, I decided: I’m done with the NFL – it’s Ohio high school football for me.
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Thriving Despite a Difficult Marriage Seminar
20 October 2009
Dr. Michael Misja, author of the recently released book,“Thriving Despite a Difficult Marriage,” will present a seminar on that topic on Monday, October 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 527 E. Liberty St., Ashland, Ohio.
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Ashland County Fair 2009
12 October 2009
Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair; said Simple Simon to the pieman, “Let me taste your ware.” I felt like Simple Simon as I wandered through the Ashland County Fair, tempted to eat my way from one end of the midway to the other. I love fair food, otherwise known as anything deep-fried or dipped in sugar. It’s pretty pathetic – if I had a choice between a prime rib dinner and a funnel cake, I’d take the funnel cake hands down.
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Live United 2009
12 October 2009
As a Salvation Army officer, I’m expected to wear a uniform to work and to public events in the community, as it identifies me as a representative of the Salvation Army and, by extension, the gospel. While navy and white does get boring, I’m spared the “what should I wear today?,” and Larry is spared having to answer the question husbands dread: “does this outfit make me look fat?” The choice is simple: navy blue skirt and the required off-black panty-hose or navy blue slacks.
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Celebrations
9 September 2009
I overheard a teen-aged friend talking about her anniversary the other day. I knew she wasn’t married – in fact, I wasn’t even sure if she was “going steady.” Do they even call it that anymore? When I inquired about the anniversary, she replied, “It’s been a month since our first kiss!” I guess that is something to celebrate!
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Funeral
7 September 2009
The ritual of saying good-bye to someone we love, generally known as a funeral, has once again caught our public attention as Senator Edward Moore Kennedy was mourned and buried. I was in elementary school when his brother John was assassinated, and I remember through the eyes of a child the days of shock and grief sweeping across our country. The continuous news coverage filled all of the channels on the television, and we watched the pomp and ceremony as a nation bid farewell to her president.
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Lasbor Day
6 September 2009
“This work is hard.” We were moving tables and chairs, and after three trips my ten year old helper was tired. After all, it was a Saturday morning, and his agenda had been cartoons and Gameboy, not moving tables and chairs. “Yes, my friend, work is hard,” I thought, as I watched him plop under the tree for a few minutes of needed rest.
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Congratulations Trevor Bell
25 August 2009
Congratulations are in order for Mr. Trevor Bell, who received a 2009 Red Cross Real Hero award fir his volunteer work at the Ashland Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. You make Ashland proud, Trevor!
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