The Gors Connection…

The Gors Connection…  

Mary.. or better known to most, by the name of MOMA GORS..  when she passed, we had to put in the title part..  Mary L. (MOMA) Gors… 

Mary had an interesting life.. before she met her husband, she sang on the radio.. an almost operatic like voice. She also worked for Levi, making jeans.  

She married her husband and live in California for several years.  Then he wanted to move North. So they moved to Oregon, then on to Spokane and then on to Vay in Idaho.

They raised 4 boys and one girl.   Sadly there is only two boys left.

I met Moma before my husband Marv had passed. Her second oldest son was Marv’s best friend. We would go to their house to have dinner and watch movies.  Moma’s husband had passed a year before we settled in Idaho.  Then Marv passed… so the kids and I would go over to their house for dinner and movies.. as well as Moma and her son Ken would come to our house.   As time went by Moma would move into town, with her 3^rd son, who was mentally challenged.

It would be hard to find anyone who went to the IGA store that did not know Moma …  as she would hold court at the restaurant there for many years.. her son worked for the Spokane International/Union Pacific railroad across the street from the IGA. Before I got my job, he would take her in twice a week and drop her off, on his way to work..  After I got my job, I would take her in..  She was my friend.

And you didn’t need to be right there to know she was in the store, as she had a laugh that everyone would recognize. She was a very proud Portuguese woman.  All 4 foot 8 inches of her..  Her laughter was contagious.   But she was no one’s fool.. and if she had something on her mind, you knew it fast.  

Her daughter was her pride and joy…  and she loved her son’s but she never let them get away with anything..  It was funny to see her get on to…. especially number 2 son… (who I came to marry) as he is 6 feet tall, and remember I told you, she was 4’8”… and she would stand toe to toe with him, ripping him up one side and down the other, while punching him …  But she totally loved her sons and daughter more than life itself..  God bless… Moma, hope you and your sons and daughter are together up there watching over us.

 

 

 

The Hughes connection

The Hughes connection

Her name was Vera… When I met her, she had just hours before, became a widow.  As my first meeting with most of the Hughes family was with at a funeral in Minnesota.  After a hair raising ride from Washington state to Minnesota and back 4 days later… during one of the worse snow storms that was going across the mid western states to the coast. I had met one sister and one brother.. out of Washington state where we all lived..  Marv and his brother hunted quite a bit.. and that is how I met his brother..   The sister lived about 10 miles from us.. so got to visit her as well.. The rest of the family lived in Minnesota.  Vera and her husband too, had 8 children..  4 boys and 4 girls.  

Vera was also an amazing woman..  She became engaged to her husband.. but before they got married.. he was injured in a dynamite accident when he worked for the county… building roads.  Because of the losing his sight, he told Vera that they were NOT to be married.  That he was releasing her for a normal life, and not be tied down to a blind man.  Breaking her heart.. and his family moved to Iowa.   With in a year, her to be father in law, came to visit her and to ask how she was doing.. and found out that she missed his son as much as his son was missing her. So the family agreed to let them get married.  It was a wonderful marriage..  Full of unconditional love. They ran a restaurant, he went hunting.. and learn to run any kind of equipment .. even a band saw, (article in a paper about it) even tho he was blind. The boys learn to drive a car from his lap… steering as he gave the gas and brake.  They learn to hunt as well, pretty much the same way.. Being behind their dad, as he held the gun, and they line up the gun.  All 8 children grew up to be wonderful adults.  Inspite of having a renegade son, that I would later marry.  He was seen by his mother, riding a motorcycle at full pore, laying crosswise on the seat.  He also got drunk coming back from town from cashing in his mother’s sugar rations tickets.. only to crash the car, and ruining the sugar..  Word is.. it is still called Sugar Hill…   After her husband passed away… Vera would go and visit each child and their families.  She was a delight to be around.  She so amazed me that she not only married a blind man, but they prospered during those times, with 8 children..  Even in the hardest of times.(the depression years) . As the county pension was a mere $25 a month.  So garden and hunting and fishing were ever so important.  They never lost faith. I think reading the bible after dinner each night, had a lot to do with that.   Also the girls playing piano and father, the accordion… help with their attitude of life.    

Vera was greatly loved and respected by all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and daughter in laws and son in laws.   She was a great woman and a very strong woman.. who dealt with what ever life sent her way, with a great deal of love.  And brought the words in a the marriage ceremony… IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH, UNTIL DEATH DO US PART

The Worel connection….

The Worel connection….

Her name was Josephine…  she was just a tiny thing…  Part English and part Chowtaw… she was born without a first name for the first several months of her life.. She was born in Oklahoma. With the last name of Cornish.  Her English father.  Her mother was the daughter of a Indian chief is the story that I was told.

Josephine didn’t say much about her childhood..  and sadly I had not asked.   I heard more of her marriage life. Which was not an easy one.  She had 7 boys and one daughter..  A daughter she let go live with an acquaintance to protect her from her father… as he was so mean.  

In those days … women did not leave their husbands. They traveled from Oklahoma to Washington state and to Florida.  Not sure in what order or if there were repeats. Oh, yes, in Arkansas as well, as that is where my husband Bill was born. Huntsville.  There were stories of the father being a drinker, and when he was coming home, the boys would sing SHRIMP BOATS ARE COMING… which was a signal of the old man coming.. and to work hard …. Usually weeding the garden or some such task. There were

stories of older boys waiting for him to come home, standing behind the door…. As he use to beat their mother. 

I tell you this, so you will understand that the tiny woman of 5 foot,  if that… was a strong woman. And during a separation (not sure by whose choice) the father died. Which gave Josephine freedom. Her sons were adults except for the last one.   The ..oldest had gone into the Navy… to be followed by 3 more…  the second oldest was a Marine..and one of them went into the Army.  All were out of the service except for 2, I believe.. when the father died.  Which with the son’s living in different states for so many different years.. Josephine traveled to each one, with the youngest.  Oklahoma with the second oldest… California with the rest of the boys and Washington State with her daughter.   She spend many years traveling back and forth among the boys. When most of the sons settled in Washington state, she got her own apartment in Longview, Wa.  

I never knew if Josephine ever worked.. she didn’t when I was in the family.   She was greatly loved by her sons, daughter and grandchildren.  . She was a tough woman.. took no nonsense from any one.. not even her sons,   we daughter in laws made a joking reference of a MA BARKER, type of personality… while we didn’t agree with her from time to time, we all respected her.  She didn’t always side with her sons and would call them out .. if she thought they were out of line. 

I went to her daughter’s house one time after I had dropped off the kids at her son’s house…. Had not seen her in a couple years and was wondering what kind of reception I would get. She was wonderful… she gave me a hug and told me she missed me.  I had the greatest respect for her.. and she taught me how to cut up a chicken..  So GOD BLESS.. you Josephine… hope heaven is treating you well.. and hope the boys that have joined you, are treating you well.

 

 

 

Mother in laws…

Mother in laws…

This week, I am highlighting Mother-in-laws..  As we celebrate Mother’s Day,  we forget to remember Mother in laws.. and like Mothers, they come in different styles. Tough, rough, kind, loving.. and some with indifference.  I was lucky in that draw. From them I learn to be a pretty good mother in law…  meaning minding our own business and letting your kids fall on their faces on their own.. or rise up and fly well with a good woman by their sides. I lucked out in the daughter in laws ..  ALL of them.. even those who moved on to find another…   And being we raised perfect daughters… we knew they would be fine.  And I was lucky in the son-in-laws department. 

 

Keeping me younger…

Keeping me younger…

Younger as oppose to young..

Don’t do this as much as I use to…

Use to take care of his oldest brother

Many times a week when Mom worked

But that was 3 years ago.  Before Lil’ Dude

Was born.. Now it is just occasionally.

We had a great time while mom and grandma

Went shopping and big brother was at school.

But I can see that I am slowing down from the time

Of his brother, when he was this age.

Use to run races down the walk way.. with his

Brother yelling out.. I BEAT YOU.. I WIN…

But now I am lucky if I can walk down that walk

Way with any kind of walking speed.. but we dug

In the dirt.  Ate French toast for breakfast and ate

Chicken nuggets the shape of dinosaurs. Played

Kick ball.. and check out the toys after being put

away for the winter..  So ended up washing said

toys as the box leaked..  but all in all a good day, … 

until big brother got here after school..  

then the competition started.

 

 

 

Life as it comes..

Life as it comes..

I decided to accept life for what it is for me…

The far future is gone for people my age. So do you fret for the amount of time you have left? No. 

Do you have regrets for the past? No, not really. After all..why? Self indulgence? That is a waster. The longer you worry about the past that you can’t change, the less time you have for now.

So why waste it.

Same with worrying about the far future. Wasted time. Stealing your time from now. Use your now time wisely. Have fun with it. You rarely get a second chance. And there no second time around. So have fun .. enjoy and let go. For gosh sakes, don’t waste your time with the  shoulda .. coulda… woulda.. or even the  ”if only”.. I did or didn’t do.

Total waste of time…  you are missing now. The view,… children playing.. animals.. scenery.. mountains. lakes, sunsets, or sunrise and  birds flying, or chirping in the trees. A child at play, with so much imagination. Lovers holding hands, walking and talking.. especially if those lovers are over 60.   So much more to enjoy NOW..  Don’t let it pass you by.

Accept what you have, instead of wishing for something that can’t be.. do what you can for now.

Who knows how long that will be..

 

OUR NEXT PROJECT…

OUR NEXT PROJECT…

When we walked around our house a few weeks back, to see what snow damage the winter did.

What we saw was peeling paint… and even peeling cedar shakes/shingles…  The bottom line is the house needs to be redone outside…. All the way around the house.  We have known for years about the deck area.

We have owned the house for 24 some odd years. We have repainted it 2 or 3 times.  Last one about 6 years ago.. maybe 7.

So we had to make a decision.. what do we do about it? Paint again?  With the King turning 70 this year.. we were not looking forward to repainting it again.. and him doing it in about 7 more years or less. Or we would have to bite the bullet…. And come up with siding.

After pro’s and con’s we came up with metal siding. Something we both can still do at our age.. with help from our family.  Saving labor cost.

Now, we got to measure the house to see how many panels we need….. and how many packages of wrap we need to put on the house after we remove the shingles.  And then there is the trim…. As they say the devil in the details…  And this is where we call in our marker… our grandson… who is a contractor… to do the measuring …. So we know how much panels, wrap, and trim…. We are going to need.  AND then.. we go and find out how much all of this is going to cost us.   

So that is our project for this coming month.. get information.. order it.. and hope we can get it in a timely manner..  And then late May…. IF the weather co-operates  with us.  We start peeling off shingles.. which to me, is going to be the longest and hardest part of the job..

Wish I was a rich woman… la tat ta….                             Fiddler on the Roof ……    I could either hire it out.. or live in a condo…where the maintenance  crew do that… but NOT A RICH WOMAN..  so  depending on a few good friends, family and us (God Willing)…   stay tune to pictures in a month or so..

 

 

Heading on the downside of April….

Heading on the downside of April….

Here we are more than half way across April.  Normally called April showers for May flowers..

I don’t know how much May flowers we are going to get with SNOW in April.. 

Could not believe, waking up Easter morning with SNOW!!!   Luckily not much..  not sticking to most stuff… but still SNOW..  I think my daughter got a inch but she always gets more than us.

And the good news is.. she did Easter on Saturday, so the kids got to find eggs in GRASS and not snow berms.

Definitely a different year, weather wise.  She got about 4 feet of snow between January and March.. we got 11 inches one time.. with a couple of inches that would come and go, with few more coming off and on.  By mid March, ours were all gone.. Yet she, who lived just 12 miles from us still had 3 feet to melt. Only grass showing was in the paths they snowblew the months before.

Makes we wonder, what May and June is going to bring… and in July and August will we once again feel like we are practicing for Hell.. with the heat?

Guess only time will tell.. but we have almost half of April left and lots more showers coming… I am sure. Hopefully now white showers.  

Online with the Government… not good for me

Online … not good for me

It is time for the King to sign up for his Social Security.

I tried to get an appointment with the SS office. After all the covid deal is over enough that they should have the office open again…NOT…

When I called to get an appt. I was told I would have to make an appt. for a phone interview.  Or go online. Told her that my husband did not do computers at all.

And he isn’t good with filing papers, so I have to help him.  And I am hard of hearing so that doesn’t work out well either.  It took her 3 times to keep her voice up so I can hear her… also I asked her to slow down, as it was hard to understand while I am trying to hear.

But even figuring it out, unless she thought I was faking it..  she would not change her mind.  So I said. Ok we will try our best…  THEN she tells me it will be 2 more months before I could even get on the call list. I told her.. wow.. 2 months… and as she was talking.. I thought who can I get to help us.  So finally I told her we would try to get our family to help us.  It would be faster to do it online..  She said, yes, it would be faster. So told her that is what we would do.

Two days later???  I get an email.. confirming our PHONE APPT 2 months out…. what???  So decided after we get the online done, I would cancel it.. In case it didn’t go well.

So had a talk with our daughter.. and she gets off work half hour before our SS office closes… (then I found out we don’t have to worry about that, as it goes to some office SOMEWHERE) who knows where.

 

So today, she came over, 45 minutes later we had it taken care of…  so now we wait until they tell us to send more paper work…  THANK GOD FOR KIDS.. adult ones anyway…   Thank you … JC Because when it comes go government stuff.. I hate to do online.

 

Update on IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

Update on IT TAKES A VILLAGE. 

David has come a long way.. we have been getting almost daily updates..  and then he was moved to St. Lukes Rehab.

In Spokane…and this is his second day… Sio here is the word from David’s mom…  

 

I am enjoying my day with David! It's so great seeing all the improvements he's made in the past week. The rehab allowed both Patrick (my husband) and I to visit at the same time, which has been so nice! We both or rather all three of us are impressed with St Luke's. Today we saw an OT session. David was able with a little assistance to transfer from bed to chair. The therapist worked on stretching his right arm. Due to scar tissue and tight ligaments they are working on increasing his ROM (range of motion). They started his night feeds again to increase his calorie intake. We are very happy with all the improvements he keeps making.

 

 

This is a picture taken today…  he has lost a lot of weigh.. with time, that too shall come back.

 

So many people have come together.. helping with the go fund me type of a site…  others bringing meals. And the amazing prayer chain that goes from here to back East… R.I.  N.C. S.C. and Missouri.

And so many more states.. say nothing about the local.