Grandma

Grandma Lavy - she's about as different from Grandpa as can be. But, can you imagine them not together? What word describes her? Hmmm...might be the same word we used for Grandpa. Consistent. Maybe not the first thing that comes to mind, but she's just the same most of the time.

I talked about Dad coming home at 5:30 every night, and he did. But, Mother had supper ready every night at 5:30. If you came to visit and it was bedtime, you might as well get ready to go home or she would get ready for bed and you would be leaving anyhow. Wasn't quite like that, but she did pretty much everything on her schedule day after day. So, she has been "consistent" in her own way for a long time.

She never thought much of mustaches and beards. She is pretty constant in reminding me that mine could go away at any time and she would be happy. She always enjoys company, and wants us back soon! Even wants me to come back with my mustache!

Stop by and see her when you get the chance. She won't let you out of her room unless you sign her guestbook, even if you were there the day before.

Thanks, Mother, for being a Godly, consistent woman for those many years.

It's 30 Minutes From Troy

Dad, Dudley and Dumbo

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How do I know it's thirty minutes from Troy to 9163 Neff Rd.? Because almost every weekday from as early in my life as I can remember until Dad retired from Hobart Brothers in Troy, Ohio, he got home at 5:30 P.M. He worked 8-5, I believe. I think the word here is "consistent". I knew he was coming home at that time every night, and many times I would ride my green 3-speed bike to the end of Neff Road, turn right on Red River West Grove and meet him at about 5:27. I'd grab hold of the door handle and get a helping hand all the way home at about 35 m.p.h., just in time for a 5:30 arrival.

I couldn't believe it one time when my sister-in-law, Connie Lavy, drove from near our house to Troy in about twenty minutes. I told her that I knew it was thirty because Dad got home at 5:30. Oh, well, not everyone drove like my dad. And, certainly not everyone drives like my sister-in-law!

What is the meaning of this blog entry? Just a small compliment to my father, I guess. He won't be around forever - just like the rest of us, actually. But, he is 88 and still going....not real strong. However, I think consistent is about the perfect word to describe Victor Lavy.

One more memory of Dad for you. This really doesn't follow the theme of consistency...well, maybe it does. Many years ago, I was travelling with Dad to Messiah College in Pennsylvania to pick up my dear sister, Marilyn, from school. I was lying on the back seat half asleep when from the front seat I heard a chorus sung by my father. He was never a soloist, but there was no mistaking the sincerity of the words:

Take this whole world but give me Jesus

Take this whole world but give me Jesus

Take this whole world but give me Jesus

I won't turn back, I won't turn back

Ev'ry bridge is burned behind me

Ev'ry bridge is burned behind me

Ev'ry bridge is burned behind me

I won't turn back, I won't turn back

I'm sure he wouldn't remember that, but I do. Stop in and see him if you get the chance and tell him what he meant to you.

Next time we'll try to talk about Mother and see if there is a word that might best describe her.

10 Reasons

Rena gave me this list of reasons why the English language can be so hard to learn.

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The farm was used to produce produce.

3. The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.

4. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

5. He would lead if he could get the lead out.

6. They were too close to the door to close it.

7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10.I did not object to the object.

Marilyn

I met a friend and colleague of my sister, Marilyn, on Facebook recently. In corresponding with her, some old memories of Marilyn came back. Marilyn died on September 29, 1985. I remember thinking that a good title for her biography would have been "Life Begins at 40", for she was forty years of age when she passed away.

I never had a whole lot of time with her - she was away to college when I was quite young and then on to New Guinea and other parts of the world. She had a great laugh and was a great writer, teacher and friend to many people.

Here's the poem entitled To My Sister that I wrote in her honor in October, 1985.

From the mountains of Adirondack

To the plains of the Midwest

There you found your loved one

The ending of your quest

Then came two beautiful young ones

They came your lives to bless

They were full of life

And perhaps some mischievousness

Then you made your way across the sea

To a different kind of land

And certainly through it all

You could see God's leading hand

You helped many a lost one

And we know you did your best

The lost multitudes to aid

And from Satan's dark hand wrest

Now you've made your greatest journey yet

You'll travel past the farthest star

And we are here left behind

To mourn but from afar

But while we mourn we'll not forget

That while we here remain

Some day we'll cross to be with you

And together with Him we'll reign

So now we make this solemn vow

We'll neither stop nor hesitate

We'll stay true to His dear name

And meet you by the Eastern Gate

Thanks, Linda, for bringing back some memories of my sister.

Together Again

Unfortunately, things like this happen when they are together.

Here is a rare picture of Ally when she is not blabbing.

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These two sisters will be together in sunny Florida for a few days. I think they both are a little excited about seeing each other. If anyone in Florida sees them, please try to make sure they behave. They are not known for being especially well-behaved.

Pharaoh the Comedian

I have been reading in Exodus recently, and have been observing a little of the dialogue between Pharaoh and Moses. I chuckled a bit this morning when reading about the seventh judgment against Egypt. There had been flies and frogs and lice and now it was hail like never before. What made me laugh was Pharaoh's statement after the hail. I'm guessing one of the softball-sized hailstones hit him on the noggin. He said, "I have sinned this time." Ya think so, Big P?

He had already started the comedy stuff, though, after the frog plague. He had had enough of the green pests in his bed, kitchen and outhouse, and Moses asked him when he would like them to be taken away. He answers in a typical comedic way, "Tomorrow." One more night with the frogs... you have probably heard Ernie Philips of the Kingsmen with the song of that title.

You know the end of the story. You may have heard of the learned man who was telling a little old Christian lady that the part of the Red Sea where the Israelites escaped was only about eighteen inches deep.

She thought on that a minute, and then began rejoicing. The man, thinking she was daft, asked her what she was doing.

She said, "I just got blessed knowing that God drowned the entire Egyptian army in eighteen inches of water!"

I still think Pharaoh should win "Comedian of the Year" for 1491B.C.

Kids, Pets and ?.

" Don't worry, no one will even notice us here in the gazebo at The Apple Barn."

Only about 50% of us are really happy to be here at this moment.

" Ya know what, Belle, that will most definitely be the last time you and I will ride the Slingshot together!"

" Hey, Regi, I thought you said 1:30. Do I just go on with the ceremony until you get here?"

Dave Hilligoss and his stupid ideas... I am tellin' you, there's somethin' wrong with that boy.

For those of you who aren't aware of it, I have a personal hairdresser.

" Belle, you promised me this would never see the light of day. I don't look too bad, though, do I?"

"Hold on a sec, I think I can put the rest of this sandwich in, too."

Jessica coming in for a landing after a cross-yard flight.

Dudley, wishing he was back in his favorite....

chair by the window looking out at the white stuff instead of in it up to his royal Rastafarian neenies.

"Last but not least, this is my mean look that I save up for Lowell when he dares get close to my stall."