Lifes rules

Life rules and observations according to Karen:

 

 Check the toilet paper before you sit down.

 Always take a Kleenex. Your nose will run.

 Carry a hundred dollar bill in your wallet for shopping emergencies and donations to the less fortunate.

 Never burn a book. It carries someone's soul.

 You can't have too many books. You can have too little space. Move.

 A true best friend loves you without bias and encourages you to be wild.

 Anything you make is art. Express yourself. Keep paint on your hands and lyrics on your tongue.

 Listen to the cicadas in August. They sing the summer away.

 Your sister loves you when your mother has passed.

 Cousins are the best playmates and always have a connection to you.

 Grandmothers love unconditionally.

 Reunions recall childhood.

 Smoke on the Water makes you dance.

 Write your story a sentence at a time. A grandchild will memorize your words.

 Your mother is always with you as you parent and love and rejoice. Sometimes she is in your face.

 Buy red lipstick for your granddaughter.

 Let your oldest granddaughter be the boss.

 Grandsons don't give kisses but they like snuggles and hugs.

 Boys talk farts, poop and mine craft.

 The mountains call to me.

 Old enemies become your best old friends.

 At 60, it's okay to wear your Jammie's all day.

 Retirement means you no longer work. STOP. Enjoy the leaves in the breeze.

 Listen to others. They need a shoulder for caring.

 When you are lost, pray to God. You will find your purpose.

Don’t waste time on apostrphes.

I am sure theres more.CC

Candy Time

As a young child., I went to Jackson Local School in Jackson County in southern Ohio. The school and our home were located in the rolling foothills of Appalachia. We lived in the country far apart from other families on Tick Ridge. The school was our social life. The friends were great, and I loved the writing and math workbooks. Before I started 1st grade, I was allowed to go on a one day trial for the first grade with my older sisters. A high point in my life was the day when Mrs. Gahm opened the Big Look and See reader on the easel, and I learned to read the word "look". The world was opened. One day, Mrs. Gahm asked me to write my name on the blackboard. To me, writing meant cursive versus printing, and I wrote Sue in cursive. She was displeased but I had practiced with my sisters and knew how to do it. I quickly found that 1st graders only print their words. We practiced our printing on squares of paper cut from grocery bags. Although most students had yellow tablets, that paper was saved for important work. The teacher gave us stamps and stickers according to the seasons for excellent work. Mrs. Gahm kept her handkerchief down the front of her dress.

 In 2nd grade, I had Mrs. Essex as a teacher. We learned counting to 1000 and adding and subtraction. I used to take my workbook home on the weekends to do pages ahead. Recess also became important as I learned to socialize with other kids. Mrs. Essex had a daughter, Nancy, one year older than me whose dresses were passed to me. Jackpot for pretty dresses with under slips with bells. I still have the dresses in a trunk.

 In 3rd grade, I was taught geography, health and multiplication by Mrs. Betz who was short and stern. In geography, we studied Eskimos and became familiar with China on the other side of the world. As we stood in line for the bus, I became adept at the memorization of the times tables. 3rd graders were eligible for candy time after afternoon recess. In the principal’s office, candies and snacks were displayed on a wooden rack. For a dime, I bought small boxes of stick pretzels wrapped in cellophane. The first time I ate pretzels.

 Although shy, I was a good student. The reading and math and pretzels were the beginning of me knowing the world.