Every afternoon about 4 o'clock I retreat to my second floor deck in the shade of my beautiful Maple tree. It reminds me of my forth grade experience. My family moved around a lot when I was in elementary school. I went to kindergarten in Gravity, Iowa-the nearest school to our farm. My dad was elected to the state legislature so during the time when legislature was in session I went to school for first grade in Des Moines. When legislature was dismissed we came back to our farm for a short time when my dad became seriously ill with asthma- an illness he had off and on all his life. He and my mother traveled to Los Angeles where my uncle ran a large medical lab for tests. I was left with my grandmother in the town of Bedford, Iowa near our farm and went to school there for awhile. Meanwhile my parents decided our family would move to L.A. I was now to go to Commonwealth Elementary School for forth grade. In the Spring, my school- Commonwealth Elementary- was given a tree to plant on the grounds. It was Arbor Day. I was chosen to recite Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" for the dedication ceremony. I was to memorize the poem and my mother was invited to attend. The school was dismissed to the grounds for the planting and I was I to give my recital without notes in front of a microphone before the croud. I was so nervous (scared- really) as I had never done this before. I got through it to my great releaf!

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast

A tree that looks at God all day

and lift's her leafy arms to pray

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimatelly lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me

But only God can make a tree.  

  

                                                         

    

 

An Independence Day Story from the Past 

Edgar King was the doctor for most residents of Blockton, Iowa in the year 1908.   He was known affectionately as "Doc" by most who lived in Blockton.   He had two children, Cecil and Ruth.  Independence Day was a day he dreaded.  He had treated many (mostly children) from injuries that occured on the Forth of July.  Often these injuries were caused by fireworks that resulted in a maimed hand or arm.  How could he protect his own children from setting off fireworks when it was a anccepted and legal way of celebrating our countries independence from England?  

He devised a plan.  He told Cecil and Ruth that if they agreed not to take part in playing with fireworks he would open a charge account for each of them at the local ice cream store for all day on the Forth of July.  They both agreed.  Cecil charge and ate 49 ice cream cones that day and Ruth ate 24.  

Ruth was my mother.  She was never very fond of ice cream after that day.  Uncle Cecil, however was often heard saying, "You always have room for ice cream because it runs through the cracks in your body.