I LOST A GOOD FRIEND THIS WEEK

I lost a good friend this week. He was not on my best
buddy list, because he was always too busy to do the
things that many of our other guys could do. We would take off
and go fishing or hunting, but he had to FLY.
He would fly for Gran-Aire, or he would fly for Blommer, but he would fly.

I have my original log book. We bought it at the Gran-Aire counter for one dollar. The first entries were Gene taking me on my first flights in a single engine plane. The first spins, the first stalls, and the first time I had control at takeoff. The log is dated 1960.

It was the thrill of my life and, reflecting back, the shove that allowed me to earn my pilot’s license and give the exact same thrill to others. Let’s not be confused. I have a license, but……Gene is a pilot. He will carry that rating no matter where he goes.

Gene Walenton is the guy I will always want in the LEFT SEAT…..and he rates a high spot on both lists.

IMAGINATION IS A WONDERFUL THING

“IMAGINATION IS A WONDERFUL THING. IT WILL ENABLE A CHILD TO TURN A GROUND BALL INTO A HOME RUN OR DREAMS INTO REALITY.”

The progression from PICTURE book to CHAPTER book is normal and effective in enhancing the use of IMAGINATION. Imagination eliminates the initial necessary crutch that pictures provided. Once the picture is planted in the mind, our children will be able to devote their concentration to the written word without the distraction of the picture. Illustrations, of course, are very effective in initially approaching a new subject, but the reading skills will hopefully develop more rapidly while concentrating on the written word.

In developing the new readers’ vocabulary, we should remember that a DICTIONARY or THESAURUS provides definitions and synonyms of WORDS not PICTURES, and will be often used tools in the future of our kids.

Therein lies the primary goal in the evolution from picture book into chapter book format, while embracing the necessity of introducing the love of nature and science into our “GEE! A STORY FROM A FOREST” series of books.

My kids taught me that.

Grandpa Hill

When Is A Blessing, A Blessing, A Blessing...........

June 2, 2014

When Is A Blessing, A Blessing, A Blessing……..

The answer is when it involves a gathering of the Family.  Now, I mean the WHOLE family.  This past week, we celebrated our Granddaughter, Alyssa’s graduation from Medical school.  That, of course, is a terrific reason for a celebration, and she retains her position on the pedestal upon which all of our children, grandchildren, and  great-grandchildren have been duly placed, by us, of course. 

But what constitutes a “multiple BLESSING”?  It is absolutely overwhelming, when  such a gathering includes “all” of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at one gathering and simultaneously.  Enhanced by the presence of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, seldom seen but always missed, it was a communion of the scattered, all of whom made extraordinary effort to attend and share. 

For those of you who found it impossible to attend, you were all there in our hearts and

thoughts. 

Thank you all for helping us celebrate, and ……

                        May the road rise to meet you.  May the wind be always at

                        your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains

                        fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God

                        hold you in the palm of his hand.

Earl and Dolores

a cabin-muse post