Thirty-five years ago

The year was 1971, I was living back in the States right in my old neighborhood of Queens.  I had picked that area because my folks lived not too far from me, little did I know that they would soon be transferred by Air France to a little town called Humble in Texas.

My youngest sister Barbie had adjusted pretty well to the move to Texas, she was enrolled in a good high school and was making friends. 

All this was brought back home to me in full force tonight when I read AOL's story about the "cold case" of the missing boys in Texas.  How they have not identified three of the victims as yet.

Barbie had a friend named Beth who was dating a young man and very much in love with him.  He was about eighteen a little older that the girls.  One night he was supposed to show up for a date, he never showed up. They tried calling him, no answer. They went to his apartment and found his wallet, money and all his possessions there but not him. It's like he disappeared off the face of the earth.  So it stayed for several years...terrible fears, anxiety, anyone who knew him felt it.

Until August 8th,1973....Elmer Wayne Henly killed Dean Coril and confessed to the police about massive horrendous murders. They doubted him until he showed them where the bodies were.

There are some very evil people, filled with nothing but pure hatred for everyone...Henly, Coril and Brooks were such vermin.

Twenty-seven boys and young men all under the age of twenty-one.  The way they were slain is beyond brutal. There should be a special place in Hell for Henly, Coril and Brooks, I hope.

Unfortunately my sister and her friend had the answer to the whereabouts of their missing friend.  How they managed to entrap him is something that has never been answered. 

Shortly after all this my Dad was transferred back to Kennedy Airport and they bought a house not too far from me.  We all settled in, feeling safe in our old neighborhood....until..."The Son of Sam" arrived in town.  We had brunettes afraid to go out at night, some dyed their hair blond...men with long hair were targeted too.  I can remember the fear, we only lived a short distance from Kew Gardens one of his "strike zones". 

It's a helluva life if we all don't weaken folks.... 

Unwelcomed Surprise

 So much has changed since my last entry in this journal.

At the very last minute my son's girlfriend backed out of the plans to move to Portland, Oregon.  Evidently she is/was scared of traveling so far from her family, even to follow someone that she professed to love.  It was needlessly cruel to wait till the last moment to back out.  My son just walked away from everything, took his knapsack, laptop - a few personal items - bought a ticket and flew out by himself.

He was determined to follow his dream.  Florida has never suited him, he hated the heat, the humidity,  the boredom that besets most of the youth down here. There is no "living on the edge" in Saint Petersburg..most of the sidewalks are pulled in after 9 P.M.  Some of his happiest memories are of visiting his big sister in New York City, awestruck by the complexity of the "big City". 

He tells me he has given up on love and I know that he says that because he is hurting.  Love hurts.  He's a fine young man, no longer my baby...but he grew up well into a caring, wonderful human being who, I hope, one day will find his one true love, the forever love that never leaves.  I want that for him so much.

He seems to be adapting. My brother in law took him to the local union and believe it or not he wound up finding a terrific job, at almost double what he was making here!  I realize how hard it is to go from a committed relationship to being alone in a strange city...so my thoughts are with him throughout my day.

I know he will make friends out there and, of course, my sister and her husband have been wonderfully helpful. 

I still wish we had teleportation for real.  Zip...in...Zip out....I'd be a fast moving Momma......

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day to reflect, remember, honor our present and past warriors.  We've come a long way since the sign above was posted on a Norfolk, Virginia lawn.  I can remember growing up and having my Grandma tell me stories of how rowdy the sailors were when they came into the port of Norfolk. In all my youthful innocence I just shook my head and agreed with her.  Grandma Lee had told me about the lawn signs and I had never seen one until a few months ago...one was for sale on of all things..Ebay!

But it made me stop and think.  Imagine being 18 or l9 full of piss and vinegar, taught how to fight, survive, knowing you are going into battle...and you are told to "stay off the damn grass?"  The temptation to run barefoot through that grass would of been all consuming till mission accomplished.  Imagine...you are to risk your life to preserve home, Mom and apple pie...but stay off the grass! Unbelievable.

Well, fast forward sixty-five years and at least our troops are getting the attention they deserve.  Our boys and girls are over there fighting for us, whether we agree with how they were sent, or who they were sent by.  Wishing they could all just be safe and out of harm's way till they plant their feet firmly on American soil once again.

Love and respect all you guys.......

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

Dreams and such stuff that dreams are made of...

We just celebrated a small farewell dinner at my sister's new house to say goodbye to my youngest son and his girlfriend. They are going to be driving cross country, actually from the lowest part of the US to the upper Northwestern tip...heck throw a stone and I think you can hit Canada up there!

I have to make myself remember how I felt when I left the states for Japan, a totally radical adventure in those days. Yet, I was all for it - young, full of life and wanting to see everything, feel everything.  So, as I look my young son in his eyes I see the wanderlust there, I do know it well. A deep  yearning within for something different, a need to know what's over the horizon.  I guess that's what the pioneers felt too.

I looked at Joe and Holly so much ahead of them, so many adventures, roads to travel down...and I have to be happy for them.   Even though my heart is breaking.

My son's answer to me is "Move too...come on up there", easier said than done.  Yes, I'm playing the age card...it' s hard to start over in your mid sixties.  Although, it may come to that.

After all I really hate Florida, the humidity arrived yesterday with a bit of rain. The trick will be to get hubby to travel out west...I think once he got a look at the majestic mountains, the winding river, especially the Columbia and the good, dark, rich soil as a gardener he would probably freak.

My sister lives up near Portland so the kids will have someone there for moral support, which is great. She's letting them stay with her until they get an apartment. I appreciate it so much I would be a bit more frantic without her & her hubby's involvement. 

I think they are going to have fun getting out there, even with the high cost of gas. So many states to travel through and they are planning on taking their time. That way they can sight see too.   I think triple A is plotting a course for them.

It will be the first time in forty-three years that I haven't at least had a child of mine in the same state as I was. Oh, well I know I will adjust.....

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_1

just testing

<center><a href="http://www.sparkletags.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z195/sparkletags4/Tags%20By%20Lesia/DareToDream.gif" alt="Best images, comment images, layouts and more for your profile on SparkleTags.com" border="0"><br><font size="-2"><b>Best graphics, layouts, and more for your profiles!  Click Here!<b></font></a></center><br>

Ode to Green

Green, so softly green does my garden grow
Dew drops in the morning mist appear to shimmer
captured exquisitely on a spider's spun web
Prisms of light dance in the sunlight that shows through
Sparkling diamond like across the lush growth as if
painted by glimmer.

Green, so softly green does my garden grow
Little gray green frogs playing hopscotch on
the fallen tree limbs
A baby Opposum has lost it's way...seeking
safe haven in my green heaven
Creatures big and small are drawn into my
little world of green only on a whim
Little green Lizards lie lazily in the sun's heat
As a little feral black cat tries to play cat and mouse
almost by my feet.

My friend the Peacock suddenly strolls by
causing the little cat to jump and fly
A Bluebird lands on a hanging basket, looking
for worms it seems.
Butterflies flit in and out - my little green haven
with life just teems.

I sit in meditation surrounded by nature's glorious beauty
Relaxed, refreshed beyond all imaginings....
Thank you Mother Earth.

 

Sandi/2008

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_2

Super Delegates

We walk a fine line in defense of our country, yearning for peace but ready to fight.

The following is a letter that I sent to my State's non committed Super Delegates...

Dear Super Delegate,

 

I am writing to you with the hope that I can persuade you to cast your vote for Hillary Clinton.  I've been voting for forty-six years...as a Republican. But, not this year.  I'm going to be a cross over voter and I believe there are a lot of us out there. My own father, at 91, changed his registration from Republican to Democrat because he felt so strongly for Hillary.  Can you imagine how many disenfranchised Republicans are out there? This upcoming election is going to be one to watch.

 

 This year is different, our country needs determined, knowledgeable leadership. We face such awful economic problems something has to change. Too many good people are hurting we need someone who does care.  Someone who has been fine tuned and weathered the slings that politics can throw at one. That person is Hillary.

 

We need to regain the respect of the world and conduct ourselves with proper diplomacy, yet still showing our steely strength of resolve.  Hillary has been through the fire only to come out stronger.

 

I believe Senator Obama is a fine person and will be an excellent politician but he needs growth and experience in so many areas. Now is not the time to use an untried novice as our helmsman.  I personally would favor a Clinton/Obama ticket...if that could ever happen the election would be in the bag!

 

I know the race is close and it may come down to your vote being the one to make the difference.  Please consider what I have said today and I appreciate your time and effort in this race.

 

                                                  Sincerely,

                                                  

                                                   Sandra Lee Doscher

 

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_3