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Lessons in the
Key of Life
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!!! I was painting the bumper of my son's camper when I was told
that my Dad's now-deceased friend's son had been looking for me and was
there to see me. I found him leaning against an SUV. His Mother was in
the passenger's seat. I went to her side of the SUV and thus began the
reminiscing.
As we scrolled backwards through the years - laughing at the good
memories and knowing they and the bad times had kept us friends - a
couple of thoughts gelled in our minds. I wanted to share a couple of
stories with you.
BamBam and his Mother, Betty were my visitors. I knew Barney before he
met and married Betty. I was probably four. Barney would visit my Dad
and take me to the old Diana's Pizza on what is now Wagner Avenue. He
would ask me what kind of pop I wanted that day. I watched the pop
swirl in the big glass tank (It was fountain pop.). I always chose
orange - it just looked prettier than the cola. I thought I was "big
stuff" because he treated me "not like a child" - but like an adult
with important decisions to make.
One time at their house, Betty let me stir the pizza sauce while she
added the herbs and spices. I was really "an adult" - and she made the
best pizza - from scratch!!
When I was ten or so - my Dad's Dad had died. I was standing in
Grandma's kitchen with Mary Pickford. The table, stove, and counters
were filled with food. She asked me if I wanted something to eat. I
said I did not think we should. She said we could eat what she brought
- Cherry Crunch. We leaned against the kitchen counter eating and
talking like adults. When I was eleven or so - I started sending
flowers to people. Guess whose flower shop I chose. Yup - Mary
Pickford's.
Betty and I spoke of many things. When Barney (her husband) was alive,
he would never have considered cheating on her. He was too busy
helping to raise three kiddies and give them a good life. By some sweat
and long hours, the kiddies have grown, graduated high school, and
landed jobs they love.
Then we wondered: Is this why we have the disease rate we have now? Is
being in the air-conditioning all the time really healthy? When you
sweat (really sweat), does the body rid itself of toxins, etc? (The
armed forces did carry two shots with them into war situations. If you
were caught in fallout, you injected yourself with Shot A and counted
to 100 or some number. Then you injected yourself with Shot B. You then
sweated the proverbial buckets.).
For me: being treated like an adult was everything and I have turned to
those same people for business advice. I've held long-standing business
arrangements with a couple of them. It's been profitable for all
concerned.
Lastly - I was listening to a couple of young guys that were set up in
front of a local business. They were collecting money for the homeless.
They said there were "facilities" in California, Texas, and Georgia.
Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio were mentioned. The thing here is that
Darke County was never mentioned. Your donation might end up in
California. And the DumDum lollipop you can have for your donation
might make you feel just like that when you find out the truth. Be
careful - ask questions. It's easy to toss money to a problem but, it
is rarely the answer.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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