Pictures...part 2

Doesn't Bob look happy here?  We were very active in Camp Fire when the girls were little.  Camp Fire had a carnival each year as a way for the clubs to raise money.  Bob came up with the scathingly brilliant idea to win prizes at the fair.  You need to understand that my dad was an OKCPD and he worked the fair each and every year when I was little.  Each year, my snow cone buddy and I would go to the fair with dad and win at every single game there was.  I did not realize that we weren't really winning until I started dating Bob and we went to the fair and I could not win a single thing.  Bob could not convince me that dad being in a police uniform had anything to do with my winning. So when Bob came up with this plan, I thought he had lost his marbles.  Little did I know that he was practicing each and every day.  You know that game where there is a long stick with a string and on the bottom of the string is a hoop and you have to get the hoop around a pop bottle and stand up the bottle?  That is what Bob figured he could do.  The first year, Bob and a friend of his went to the fair each day and won each day. They even went to the Tulsa state fair a couple of years and the Dallas state fair one year.   There were multiple booths and they were raking it in.    (At that time there was only a limit of 1 per day.)  It got to the point that the carnies would just ask what toy we wanted.  Bob did this year after year.  Finally the fair folks figured it out and the prizes were limited to 1 per fair, and the booths were cut down to 1 or 2.    This picture is of Bob winning his one big toy at the fair one year.  He loved showing off for the folks watching him win and loved giving the toys away.  Some years, we stopped families on the midway and gave them the toy.  Some we sent to the grand kids, some to school for the Christmas party for the elementary kids.   When I look at this picture, I see a man who was having a good time and enjoying life. 

The Pictures; Part I

Bob's service was this past Saturday.  It was very unconventional and very much Bob.  I have had some interesting comments about the songs.  People have asked about the  pictures, so I decided I would give you a history of the 3 pictures that were at the front of the auditorium.

The picture above was taken at a butterfly garden in Branson, Missouri.  Bob rode his scooter in and we were ohhing and aweing over the butterflies, when this parrot swooped in and landed on Bob.  As Bob rode through the garden, the bird hung on.  A couple of times, the workers would come take the parrot and go to somewhere else.  Shortly, we would hear the flapping wings and he would be back.  I would estimate that we were there about an hour.  When we got ready to leave, the worker put his fingers under the birds feet and tried to lift him off of Bob, but the bird would climb right back on.  They finally had to take the bird to a whole other area so we could leave. 

I think that Bob's expression is classic.  He enjoyed the butterflies, but he loved his passenger.

Bob and Cindy History

With all that is going on in our lives at the moment, I have been reflecting on the good and not so good times of our lives.

It occurred to me that most of you don't know how Bob and I came to be a couple.

We met when I was 10 and Bob was 11. (For those math challenged, that was 51 years ago.)  Our parents worked together and we just kept running into each other at different events.  During summer,  my parents worked the softball diamond at night.  I sold tickets, mom ran the concession and dad was the umpire.  Bob would ride with the man that collected the money from all the ball parks and he would come each night.  Yes, the rumor is true...I tried to have the park policeman arrest Bob.  He just walked by me without buying a ticket.  Everyone HAD to buy a ticket.  That is, everyone but the bosses son.  Who knew??  Needless to say, I thought Bob was a jerk.

The summer I turned 15, Bob (who was 16 and could drive) would come to the park with a friend of his and Bob's girlfriend.  His friend asked me out on a double date with Bob and what's her name.  Part way through the evening, Bob and I were laughing and talking and having a great ole time while our dates were steaming.  I never when with what's his name again and Bob broke up with what's her name, and we began dating.  (Math help:  46 years ago).  We dated, Bob went to college, I followed him to college and in 1972 we were married.  (Math clue: We have been married 41 years).

I will be the first to admit that not all of that time has been all honey and roses.  Like any couple, we have had our ups and downs.  We have fought each other and loved each other.  I have wanted to shoot Bob, but I am sure he never wanted to shoot me. :-)  But I can honestly tell you, NEVER, EVER did we consider divorce.  That was never an option.

Bob has had a rough year.  As I am taking care of him, and being flooded with memories,  I know that  I am so very grateful to have had him as my best friend, my husband, and the father of our children.

As we continue this journey that we are now on, I am going to write about what is going on.  I don't expect anyone to read the blog and maybe I am being selfish for writing them.  I just know that I cannot let this man leave this earth without shouting to one and all that Bob is a tremendous person.  We are all lucky to have been around him.

Doctor visit gone awry!

Most of you know that my honey has been really sick.  In fact, he was in the hospital for 40 days.  Several of those days were spent in ICU.  During this whole adventure with him, there were moments,  times, well maybe days that I kinda, sorta neglected to take care of myself.  I stayed in the hospital with honey and was very lax about taking my daily medications.

Well, all of that caught up with me. 

My doctor is very sneaky, good about refilling medications.  He will hold them hostage until you make an appointment for either a visit with him or with his resident vampire (AKA lab lady).  I had to go in last month to get my scripts refilled.  Everything was off.  Some stuff was high, some was low and some was just off the charts.  I was only given meds for one month and today had to go back and visit the vampire again.

I arrived promptly at 7.  There was a woman and two guys ahead of me.  They called "Cynthia" and I started to get up.  So did the other lady.  I sat back down thinking that she was there first so it had to be her appointment.  Both guys were called back and then they called for me.

I went back and the nurse had me weigh.  I asked if there was a new procedure as I was only there for lab.  She grinned and said something that I could not hear understand. Then  she took my blood pressure, temp and the finger thingy.  I still was asking what was the new procedure.  Again, she mumbled something and smiled at me.

We walked back and instead of turning towards the lab, she was leading me towards the examine rooms.  I stopped and grabbed her arm and said (very politely).  WHOA!!!  You are lost.  I am going for lab!  She said " Aren't you Cynthia"  Yes, I am.  " Cynthia M****...right" NO, I am Cynthia E*******.  She then looked at me and said "no  you aren't, you are Ms. M***".  I told her I knew who I was and turned around and went to the lab. 

The other Cynthia was sitting there.  When I came up, she asked if I were Cynthia too and I told her I was when I walked in, but I had no clue who I was now.  She said that she was here for an examine with the doctor and they would not listen to her and were trying to get her to see the vampire.  She then left with the nurse. I shouted out to be sure she had them erase my weight and BP as I was pretty sure I weighed more than her.

I sat down outside the lab and waited for the vampire.  When she came out and said "Who are you?" I told her Cynthia and she told me I was not Cynthia. Good Grief, here we go again!   I have never spent so much time trying to tell people who I am!

I finally got into the lab.  I would not let them draw blood until I knew they were testing for the right stuff. 

The way this whole trip turned out, I may get a call Monday for Roberta telling her that she is pregnant!

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

I am proud to be an American.  I don't understand those folks who are constantly complaining about America. 

When I was a  kid in school, I was taught the Pledge of Allegiance, the 23rd Psalm and the Lords Prayer.  All three of these were said, loudly and proudly, in the classroom each and every day.  At sporting events, everyone would stand, the men would remove their hats and everyone would recite the pledge.

It makes me madder than a wet hen to see people refuse to even stand when others are reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  I understand their right to not have to say the words, but what gives them the right to disrespect our flag?


I grew up watching Red Skelton and loved his humor.  However, when I heard his explaination of the Pledge of Allegiance I was amazed.  Here I had been saying these words for years, but had never thought of the meaning of the words.  Yes, I knew of the many sacrifices men and women had made for us to be able to say the words...but what do the words mean?

Read these words and next time you recite the Pledge of Allegiance, I promise you, you will say them with a renewed sense of awareness.


I--Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge--Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance--My love and my devotion.

To The Flag--Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

Of the United--That means that we have all come together.

States of America--Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states.  Forty-eight individual communitites with pride and dignity and purpose.  All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic for Which it Stands--Republic, a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern.  And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

One Nation--One Nation --meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible--Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty--Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice--The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All--For All, which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.




After you read the words, listen to Red Skelton.



Be proud of being an American.

Happy Birthday U.S. A.

Wine And Palette

I have discovered the best activity in the whole wide world. Painting, with a friend, while drinking wine. The name of the company is "Wine and Palette" I have been "painting" for several months now. I have had so much fun at these events, that I wanted to share with you. Be prepared to be amazed and/or horrified!

We began painting on November 5, 2011.  The title of this is "Sugar Skull".  We were at Boleros downtown.  My excuse for the way this painting turned out is simple.  I had just had my eye surgery and couldn't see well.  (That is my story and I am sticking to it!).  Everyone needs a skull with earrings...right? This is hanging in the garage.  Every time I pull in, it makes me laugh.

Next came "Tree of Dreams" on December 8, 2011.

We went to Kamps, midtown.  This one turned out not bad.  Again, I need to stress that I  do not attend these because of my artistic talent.  They are so much fun.

Cherry Blossom Bliss was done on January 11, 2012.  What a way to bring in the new year.

This was done at a restaurant on the Curve.  They have awesome Apple drinks.  Beware, you can not tell there is any alcohol in them at all!  Maybe, that is why my blossoms look so weird.

Peacock Feathers was done on February 6, 2012 at Mama Roja's.  This painting may actually be framed and hung inside the house.  I love peacocks anyway and this reminds me of picking up the feathers when I was growing up.  We had a pet peacock, named Petey.  I was so original with naming him.

The next one is titled "The Giving Tree" and was done on February 16, 2012.  I have renamed mine.  It is now titled "The Claw coming out of the ground for you".  Appropriate, don't you think?

"Waves of Color" was done on February 25, 2012.  I am still trying to figure out how to put a sail boat on this.  We were at Bolero's again.  Love that place.

"Where the Red Tree Grows" was done on March 6, 2012.  We were at Tony's Island Grill in Mustang.  It was an adventure getting there, but well worth it.  Food was great and, as always, the evening was awesome.

"Flowers in the Rain" was done on March 12, 2012.  Know how you do something that is so horribly bad that you are both embarrassed and tickled?  This is it.  This is so bad it won't even be hung in garage.  It will probably be decorating big blue trash can very soon.

The best part of this who piece is my signature, which is barely visible on the picture.

It is almost time to schedule my painting for the month of April.  I can't wait!! 

Come on guys, sign up and have a good time with friends.  Who cares if you can't draw a straight line?  It is about having fun!