Letters From Home
When I Was Just a Little Girl
Originally WrittenFebruary 17, 2015 When I was just a little girl I asked my mother, what will I be Will I be pretty, will I be rich Here’s what she said to me…. Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be The future’s not ours, to see Que Sera, Sera What will be, will be […]
17Feb2024 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
There’s Moving and Then There is MOVING
There’s Moving and Then There’s ‘MOVING’ Started; June 22,2021, Finished; December 9, 2023 A friend recently told me that statistically most people move about 10 or 11 times in their lifetime. Wow! Once I started to put the facts together, there was no doubt I had that beat by over a mile. I was born […]
9Dec2023 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
A Sketch or Memorandom of Old Mr Thomas Capps
Just a small microcosm of my paternal family history. Only wish it was also audio.
15Apr2022 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Slavery Was Not About Race!
From my Father’s line I have a 5th Great Grandfather John Cooke. He along with Nellie (his future wife) were kidnapped from London, as young teens. Both were promised a fun day aboard a ship sailing down and back again on the Thames River. They never saw London or their families ever again. They were […]
25Jul2021 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Lost Family
I have an Aunt (I never met her) Grandpa Clark’s oldest daughter Mary Elizabeth Clark b. November 3, 1904 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. I haven’t found records that state when she began working for American Reduction Company in Pittsburgh, but I do know she worked there because her occupation and place of work are on […]
12Aug2020 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Born White
I have lived going on 71 years. Life has been tough with most accomplishments, good or bad, having been a hard row to hoe. I can say, I never thought I would see the day that so many things that people do or claim to be, is because ‘They were born that way’. I’ve always […]
3Aug2019 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Formal vs Self Education
Not many days ago… I was engaged in political debate with a person, who was quick to point out their higher learning and acquisition of a Bachelors and Masters, in something or other fields. I’m next to sure this was done to show their opinion was better formed and backed up because of same. I […]
27Jan2019 | Nancy Belle | 3 comments | Continued
Implication vs Assurance
I’m addicted to Facebook, no point in denying it! All my friends and family see me there everyday. Mostly I’m addicted to sharing my thoughts on anything and everything. Social media has given me an opportunity to not leave this world without showing out. I know you think I said that wrong and it should […]
9Jan2019 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Free Ranging Kids
The Clark Station on Mitchell, this was ‘Our Gangs’ pit stop on the way home from playing at Devil’s Backbone. My cousins and I would spend the day playing dirt clod war at ‘Bird Heaven’ or playing at mountain climbing on the 12th street side or sliding down the grassy steep hill on cardboard or […]
10Jun2018 | Nancy Belle | 2 comments | Continued
There you are Spot!!
Just saw this image of a beautiful pup on Facebook today and thought “There you are Spot!! and was immediately taken back to 58 years ago. I was between 11 and twelve when Spot came into my life for a short little while. The sweetest and neatest little black and white dog, ever! My step […]
23May2018 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Almost a Certainty
William Merritt Scotton, Sr. and Genevieve (Clark) Scotton, were married Wednesday, August 24, 1938 in St. Joseph, MO. She was a few months from 18 years and he was a couple of months into 21 years. They met by chance because he and Dorothy Castile were cousins and Genevieve and Dorothy were best friends. Merritt […]
23Jan2018 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
How Cold is the Family Fold?
I come from a large family. Six women and two men make up the living siblings that all came from the same maternal loins. I am the oldest of this clan. My mother traditionally made me her helpmate in all things. I mean ALL things. For her I was the live in Nanny who brushed […]
13Dec2017 | Nancy Belle | 4 comments | Continued
Postcards From the RNC, Robo Calls That Is!
I keep getting robo calls from the RNC…. They desperately need $75 from me to fight the biased media and drain the swamp. What?? That is roughly 1/12th of my total monthly income. I have no problem telling them I am living on Social Security and not much of that, but I’m talking to deaf […]
21Nov2017 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Equality Is Not Tangible
I am all for equality between the sexes. Always have been, I guess. As a Baby Boomer, I have seen a whole lot of it not being that way. Equality is easily defined on paper and somehow in life it gets spread out, the lines get blurred and more difficult to find the easy divisions […]
16Nov2017 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
Curiosity is Not Alone in Killing the Cat
A curiosity moment led me to wonder, “Just what are the most probable causes of the Apocalypse and if any, the percentages of certainty?” I found many articles and many opinions on the subject and very little speculation or mathematics on how to rate each catastrophe with a percentage of ‘Most Likely’ to happen. What […]
12Oct2017 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
It’s a Cat’s Life
I have a barn/porch cat, her name is Skeeter aka Trouble, who would dearly love to be an indoor/outdoor cat. Especially on cold days, 60 degrees appears to be her cue to want in. She is in this predicament, because after being in the house for several months, or a year, I forget, she became […]
10Sep2017 | Nancy Belle | 0 comments | Continued
A 1964 Christmas Story
It was 1964. Life hadn’t been great. This particular year had been mostly a nightmare. My Mother and Stepfather had separated. Finances were next to non-existent. Me being able to attend school became a burden for my Mother. At only fifteen, I was resigned to possibly, never finishing high school. I was the oldest of, […]
12Dec2016 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
Does Race Really Matter?
Transcript from Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Walla Walla, Washington December 20, 1950 Seattle (AP) – A blow on the head with a baseball bat in a neighborhood altercation was fatal Tuesday to Merritt Scotten, 33 year old Seattle pipe fitter. He died of a skull fracture Saturday night. Leon W. Venson 28 a neighbor has […]
25Nov2015 | Nancy Belle | 1 comment | Continued
“Let It Begin With Me”
Occasionally we hear quotes, slogans, sayings, something that seems innocuous on the surface, but resonates with wisdom upon further inspection. Al-Anon, a program for the families and friends of Alcoholics, has official slogans which are raised to the level of proverb, of wisdom, of scripture in the program. One such saying is “Let It Begin […]
8Dec2014 | Gary Clark | 4 comments | Continued
U. S. Postal Stamp Price Increase – Who Suffers?
This past week the United States Postal Service announced plans to raise the price of a postage stamp by $.02. What is two cents? Two Cents is virtually nothing to most of us. But to those who depend on the Postal Service that two cents can be an increasing burden on an already difficult life. […]
9Jul2010 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on U. S. Postal Stamp Price Increase – Who Suffers? | Continued
Drug Court – Systemically Flawed
A quick check of the court briefs in the local newspaper gives startling evidence of losing the war on drugs. The paper reported six people sentenced to prison – all for drug charges – five methamphetamine and one cocaine. We are talking about rural northwest Missouri. The first Drug Court was established in Dade County […]
21Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Everything Happens for A Reason
Son, “Everything happens for a reason.” How many times have we heard that? And how many smart people have we heard make that comment? The statement is usually made in the context of spirituality or religion – seldom in the context of science. But the statement is only true in the context of science. And […]
16Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Everything Happens for A Reason | Continued
Ron Paul – the Physician Metaphor
Son, Ron Paul is a physician, a doctor, a M. D. Some folks think that qualifies him to be President. He is obviously very intelligent and very well educated. I suspect he knows a thing or two about health care issues. His physician experience is as a flight surgeon in the U. S. Air Force […]
29Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Piling Snow on Snow
Son, I live in the Midwest. We have been in the bullseye of weather systems for several weeks. The Great Ice Storm of 2007 took away our electrical power. Now we are inundated with snow on snow. I have about 250 feet of sidewalks to be shoveled. And I shovel with my little red […]
29Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Piling Snow on Snow | Continued
The Point of Leadership
Son, Leadership is not personal. Leadership is not about what I do at home in the evening, when no one is watching. Leadership is about what one does when everyone is watching. I really don’t care about the televangelist who privately has a couple of mistresses on the side. Who cares – what is the […]
29Dec2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Point of Leadership | Continued
The Christams Aftermath…
Dad, Christmas is over, and my house is a wreck. I have been doing laps around the kitchen and living room with my son getting geared up to clean. I have had two cups of coffee and have checked my email twice, trying to get through the neglected part of my inbox. I started some […]
27Dec2007 | bryan | Comments Off on The Christams Aftermath… | Continued
Chris Matthews on Morning Joe
Son, Chris Matthews has lost complete touch with reality. Matthews is the host of the MSNBC program Hardball. They call it Hardball because Matthews is supposed to be asking the hard questions. That was probably true – a couple of years ago. On Morning Joe this morning, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, Joe and Matthews were talking […]
29Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Chris Matthews on Morning Joe | Continued
Creativity, Spirituality, and the Golden Compass
Dad, I believe that creativity is a natural result of spirituality. The two are intrinsically linked, and you can’t have one without the other. The creative process, though, much like lifestyle choices or world views and paradigms, is a result of a lifetime of experiences and degrees of nurturing. Everyone has a different life experience, […]
28Nov2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Family Life and Family Values
Son, I respect the values you and your spouse have adopted. But life is not all or nothing – your choices have actually provided your family opportunities that others will not have. This is not criticism, this is a compliment. The ideas of no debt, of frugal money management, of thrift store shopping, of minimal […]
27Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Family Life and Family Values | Continued
Simplicity and the Five Person Family
Dad, As you now know, my wife and I are having another baby. We are leaving the two child paradigm and entering into a new phase of family life. The idea of three children is a little daunting, but I think it will be good for us. The question becomes, “How do we maintain a […]
27Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Simplicity and the Five Person Family | Continued
MU and OU – A Trail of Tears to the Dust Bowl
Missou went into hostile territory a few weeks ago without their star running back – and with their weakened offense took the game to the Sooners. Mizzou is on the march, they are stepping in cadence, they are at full strength.
26Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on MU and OU – A Trail of Tears to the Dust Bowl | Continued
Philip Pullman – The Golden Compass
Son, Get ready for another wave of hoopla about literature and Christianity. Philip Pullman is a writer. He makes up stories. Like C. S. Lewis, he has written children’s stories of other parallel worlds. His trilogy, “His Dark Materials,” is viewed by many as a response to “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by Lewis. One of […]
26Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Cronyism – It Never Works
Son, Good Old Boys, buddies, cronies, buds – terms of endearment. Harry Truman had a bunch of cronies. He gave some of them jobs in the White House. Not important jobs, just a paycheck to hang around and play poker at night. The important jobs of Vice President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense […]
26Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Cronyism – It Never Works | Continued
Old Dogs and Progress
Son, Your sister had a dog, Sadie. Sadie is half schnauzer and half cocker spaniel. A pain in the ass combination. At 14 pounds that dog thought she was the boss of the world. She had springs for legs and was always jumping around, growling and barking at something – she had the disposition of […]
26Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Economies of Scale and Dumpster Diving
Son, There is great interest in recycling. And there should be – we are probably experiencing the most wasteful society in history. Global views of business and economy have distracted us from understanding individual need. But mass production outweighs, or at least minimizes, waste. I remember when I went to work in the world of […]
23Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Freegans and Hippies: Counter Culture Movements
Son, I read your post on Freegans with great interest. The interest of a father and grandfather, and the interest of one who was once called a hippie. Back in my hippie days many of us thought of ourselves as the first great generation to “change the way we think about our culture,” to quote […]
19Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Cabela’s Deer Camp – no Assault Rifles
Son, There is a big advertisement inserted into this morning’s newspaper. The title is catching: Cabela’s countdown to Deer Camp. Cabela’s is a big outdoor paraphernalia producer and marketer. The colorful ad is four full pages. One entire page is dedicated to arming oneself for the foray into the wild – the firearm must be […]
25Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Electoral College: Protecting Minorities
Son, The race is heating up. The next year will see more debate on the value of the Electoral College, the process of electing the President of the United States of America. It is sort of a big deal. The Founding Fathers established a process based on their immense knowledge and understanding of history. They […]
24Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Electoral College: Protecting Minorities | Continued
Hicks visit Manhattan
Son, I had my first paper delivery route exactly forty-four years ago next month. I took over the route two days after John Kennedy was assassinated – I remember both events very well. Forty-four years of work history and my place of employment was never more than two miles from my home. If I drove […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hicks visit Manhattan | Continued
Fathers and cloth diapers
Son, You are bringing back some really old memories. I changed your cloth diapers, and those of your older sister. When your younger sister came along we had pretty much made the transition to disposables. I read your commentary and pondered your financial analysis of cloth versus disposables. The idea of our throw away society […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fathers and cloth diapers | Continued
Ghost in Your Genes
Son, I like to watch NOVA, a PBS program on public TV. Last evening they had a program on called Epigenetics, Ghost in Your Genes. It was funny that I was thinking of home made baby wipes while watching the program. Just before I sat down to watch the program I had been looking at […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
To the solicitors of pornography: What do you want with us?
Dad, So far, we have managed to create a nice blog that people read, without soliciting the help of sex or pornography. We talk about issues, faith, about our children and our family, we even share recipes and kitchen tips. We seem to be able to manage our blog with a reasonable readership without prostituting […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Visiting the doctor
Son, Do you remember Dr. Peterson? He was our family physician for about twenty years. Years ago I was standing at the top of a ladder, trimming a tree with a hand ax, when the ax slipped and I cut my knee. I went to see Dr. Pete. He walked into the exam room and […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Visiting the doctor | Continued
Old Sayings – and thoughts
Son, I am still cleaning my office. I found this paper that I will share. I don’t know who wrote these things – some are cute – some are profound. Here goes: To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world. Going to church does not make […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Old Sayings – and thoughts | Continued
Ben Afleck on Hardball
Son, Writer, actor, director – So he gets to comment on world events. Chris Matthews is asking him about Senator’s votes for or against the Iraq War. Afleck notes the Youtube video about Cheney arguing against an invasion of Iraq. So Chris Matthews plays some clips from the Republican debate and the authority of the […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 9 comments | Continued
Barack Obama – Mr. Cool
Son, I’m watching Morning Joe again. They are talking about Barack Obama – Mr. Cool. The reference is to his image versus the manner he is displaying. Barack Obama hit the national scene with the stature of remembered charismatic leaders of the past. People talked about the intelligence of Bill Clinton, the charm of John […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Garth Brooks on Ebay
Son, We have watched the interest in Garth Brooks with mild fascination. I just went to ebay and entered ‘Garth Brooks Concert Tickets.’ There are 1043 items. So I clicked on ‘1 lower level ticket.’ The bid started at $35 and after eight bids was up to $46.00. So I went to another item – […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Garth Brooks on Ebay | Continued
Terrorism disguised as intelligence
Dad, This morning I read an article on what is being called Islamo-fascism Awareness week and is being put on by the Terrorism Awareness Project. I was interested because I thought that understanding the difference between an Islamic Extremist and and Islamic Pacifist would be valuable, and that Terrorism Awareness could be a helpful conversation […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
Fred Thompson, typical modern conservative
Son, Fred Thompson smugly announced his candidacy for president on the Jay Leno Show. I think he was expecting a coronation the next day. It did not happen. I don’t know a great deal about him – mostly what the talking heads report. I do know that he was a United States Senator and then […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fred Thompson, typical modern conservative | Continued
Parenting – locker rooms and restrooms
Son, Public restrooms are again in the headlines – they are seldom in the headlines to reveal their innate cleanliness. The whole Senator Larry Craig-in-public caused me to reflect back on raising-children-in-public. As you know I have always been a big YMCA supporter. You and your sisters learned basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and swimming at the […]
8Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued