The Farmer's Wife: Taking a trip down memory lane as new year begins

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Brrr! That was one deep freeze we experienced over the New Year weekend. Fortunately, not as much snow as forecast, but the wind chill was COLD!!

I had not seen the New Year in for decades, but could not get to sleep last Friday eve and was treated to  the firecrackers that were going off at midnight, even in the cold. I wonder if they actually keep some over from the Fourth, or where do they get them? I never thought ahead that well.

We had a fun gathering at Kay's in her new abode. It's an excuse to get out all the decorations, the good china and glassware, and the nice tablecloths. Anymore, it takes two long tables, and the cousins all ate  at the one in the basement. There was a good amount of hilarity from there.

Right now, I'm listening to a Christmas cantata by the choir of St. Paul's, Winside,from sometime in the Seventies. The quality of the recording is not that great, but it certainly brings back memories. G W Gottberg was our pastor and his wife was the organist. Most of the choir consisted of couples, and we had a good time. Our kids were young enough we had to have a babysitter; the Big Farmer and I called it our one night out a week! 

In fact, when the choir sang for Sunday morning services, we needed someone to ride herd, also; C O and Jane Witt volunteered. They sat upstairs because they left early to get the Sunday dinners ready at the cafe. And those were real Sunday dinners, complete with homemade pie! A few years ago, Kim Leighton hosted a gathering of former Winside folks who now lived in Lincoln and Jane Witt, Jr, came in a Tshirt that read, Witt's Cafe.  

When I keep things like that, I can't find them when I want them! One time, at our high school alumni affair, friend Don displayed one that said Waco Little League. His father, our rural mailman, coached those kids and he had managed to keep one of the shirts. He had dug it out because some organization had been on their phone asking about the oldest T-shirt in the house! It was probably forty years old by then. I think the caller was surprised; I know I was!  

I got a gift for Christmas I have already tried out and enjoyed; car seat warmers! I drove to PT today and that heat felt so good; I'm not sure how I got along this long without one. I also received one of the weekly memo calendars Elkhorn Valley Bank has provided for ages. Mike kept one on his desk, and in later years, on the end table by his recliner. Such data as the high and low temps, the rainfall amounts, and other items were duly recorded. When we were still on the farm, he wrote how many hours were spent on such things as fencing, livestock feeding, and all other chores. I think he had some plans for computing the numbers by the end of the year, but that never happened. Regardless, he had to have one of those calendars near by. Sometimes, while preparing taxes, it helped us to recall some hours spent volunteering, for instance, which were deductible. Believe me, he was an expert at things that were deductible!  

It sounds like I'm nostalgic this eve, and I am! I think seeing the old year out causes it; there have been so many collections of events in the papers, deaths of famous folks, and such that make us aware of just how much time has past.  

Hopefully, 2022 will see the end of the pandemic; we should be so fortunate.