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Deanna Murdock In tenth grade I found myself failing in school, learning hard lessons in life, hanging around the wrong crowd of people, and having some problems in my relationships with my family. I felt like an outcast, and I was confused on how things had gotten so bad. I became a loner and dropped out of school - something I knew would be a huge mistake - and started working full time at menial jobs close to home. I realized that life was going to be so much harder now and I was going to be going down the path that would ultimately lead to poverty, times of struggle and painful memories. A lot of others didn’t have to go through the trials and tribulations as I had and I had trouble understanding why. In time I learned why I had to endure everything I had. It taught me not to take anything for granted, because it may be the only chance you get. I met my husband Rickey when I was seventeen and we have been there for each other through some very trying ti8mes. Together we discovered a succession of hard times, but in the long run our love for one another always found its way to those brighter days. (Like Romeo and Juliet only with a less tragic ending.) I found myself, at eighteen, being pregnant. Although I was not ready to become a mother, I vowed that I wouold change my ways and start preparing. With the help of my husband (who was my boyufriend at the time) I began to avoid the problematic crowd I once hung around. And I also stopped doing the irresponsible things that I once engaged in. Our son Daniel was a blessing to me - even though I wasn’t ready - and it appeared that God had a different plan in mind for me. I restarted schooling and I began practicing for my G.E.D test in 2001. I took half of it before finding out that I was pregnant with Jack. I was twenty, and I was twenty-one when I had him. I now had two wonderful little boys and I also became Rickey’s wife. Schooling and my G.E.D. were put on hold again. We moved to Oregon first and later moved to California. We were way over our heads with debt and ended up moving back to MN where I had some supportive and helpful family. I became pregnant with our final child in 2004. This was the daughter I had always wanted and I was eager for her arrival. Trinity arrived in 2005. I started studying for my GE.D. again and failed it the first time around, but I was persistent and after brushing up on a few things I took it again and passed. I accomplished a dream I had harnessed for a while. The kind of fulfillment and happiness I had longed for became a part of my life. In my twenty-four years of trying to find myself, it has finally happened. I have learned never to give up on the important things - even when the world seems like it has gone upside down. Life is what you make of it. May 2, 2006 |
Godson #2 |
Jim Slivka It was his first solo overnight and that was the longest time he has spent away from his family. He has spent time at his grandparents’ in Rhode Island but both siblings were there. I took him to Jenny Lee's Bakery in downtown Pittsburgh so I could get the thumb print cookies for myself that my Grandmother used to buy and they gave him the pick of the store for a free sample. I also took him to Candy-rama where they give you a lunch bag and you fill it with individually wrapped candies. He had a blast. He is so quiet and introspective I have no idea what he really thought - think it was on toxic overload, but on the bus after the All Star game he told me he would like to come back to Pittsburgh and take in Pirate games with me. We hit FanFest (twice), Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. Worth every cent and the lack of sleep. I still have contacts in da 'burgh who got us into the "invitation only" MLB Party after Home Run Derby at FanFest on Monday night (started at 10:30 PM). Jake got to talk to Jim Leyland (Detroit manager and Pittsburgher). He was great - autographed a ball each for Jake and my friend's grandson. We didn't get out of there till 1:15 AM and were back at the FanFest before 10 AM Tuesday. It was a great time. He got to meet kids from all over the country and challenged a lot of them to computer baseball games - he challenged me and I gave up after 5 innings, 21-1! No mercy to the benevolent godfather! :) His parents have a condo at Deep Creek, 80 miles south of Pittsburgh, so they drove him up Monday morning to meet me. Monday afternoon after his parents, siblings, and Jake and I ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack (and Jake got abused by the restaurant staff as I told them it was his birthday), I ran into Zach Duke (Pirate starting pitcher) at Station Square (like Harbor Place) Starbuck's and asked him if he would mind talking to the Godson and Nate, his older brother, as they are both pitchers. Zach was great - he spent about 5 minutes talking to them. I have some of my grandmother in me - she would take me places just because, or do what I did and talk to Zach. I figured the worst that could happen was he would say no. He actually was really great and said that "we can use all the fans we can get!" We skipped the Red Carpet parade Tuesday at 3 PM as Jake was whipped and I wanted him not to be tired for the game. I gave the kid a crash course in Pirates history - we were staying near Pitt in Oakland (university and medical center district 2 miles east of Downtown). I took him over to the rehabbed Forbes Field wall and we then found home plate in a Pitt classroom building foyer (actual location and actual plate). I told him about Maz's walk off home run and we found that plaque in the sidewalk where the wall tracery was. That night, Jake got to see a replay (or two) of Maz's 1960 World Series winning Home Run on the scoreboard at PNC and it all made sense for him. The youngest Godson (7 year old Sean) called me while I was up there. He reached me while we were on the bus to the All Star game. This was funny - Tim (Godson #1) called me Monday while I was showing Jake's family Point State Park. I told him the "competition" (Tim's mother's pet code word for the other 2 Godsons) was with me. He laughed, but Jake's older sister got bent out of shape at that term. I tried to explain it to her; his Mom and Dad got it, though. What I really felt bad about is that I have a soft spot for this older brother and could not convince his parents to let me take him to Fan Fest Monday. Tim, my oldest Godson, and Jill, his latest girl friend, are visiting now. They were in Pittsburgh last week and went to a Pirate game. Last Saturday evening I got a call from Tim asking me to help him find the Bucco block! July 27: At PNC I had bought a commemorative brick or block with the funds going to help youth baseball. It has all 3 godsons and me listed. That was the first thing Jake wanted to find when we got to the stadium. Sean was shown it a couple of years ago and asked what the numbers meant - he did not realize that I had 2 other Godsons and listed them in order of age. I have a copy of the brick in my family room. [Ed. Note: Jim is a longtime friend and Muse reader. Lynda Brugge introduced us many years ago at work, after they met in computer programming classes.] |
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Bob Murdock We visited with plenty of Howletts at the July 1 Reunion, and briefly saw Priscilla (my cousin) and Roy at the Farmer’s Market in Concord. Then we managed to drive a rented car to Gardner, MA to see my sister Dotty and niece Teddie. The same day we went out to dinner with Nan’s brother Steve and Terry. But this time around we missed seeing Art and Lorraine, Margery and Jack, any of the Schlickes, Donna and Chris, and various nieces and nephews on both sides. I had hoped to patronize the Barre Mill again, and partake of the great Italian entrees! At the Howlett Reunion, Shannon Leary told me that she will soon be a sophomore at Worcester Tech, my alma mater. Not surprisingly, she will be majoring in electrical engineering. She hasn’t chosen one of the 11 disciplines yet. Shannon’s dad, Rennie, said that he and Dianna do work for a maintenance contractor. They currently maintain ten buildings, doing restoration on some. It’s a family-owned business, and they may be able to buy part of it. In addition, they do work for a lighting company. “We have five or six contracts lined up,” he said. “Go down to Boston and see the Hyatt Regency hotel at night - we did the outdoor lighting.” Sarah Bergeron displayed an awesome photograph album she made for her dad. On the cover of the hard-bound volume, engraved in gold, are the Army seal and John’s name and Vietnam duty dates (March 1968-69 and August 1970-1971). At King Phillip’s Inn (Phillipston, MA) I told Steve and Terry that we are thinking about buying a hybrid car, the Toyota Prius. “Good idea,” said Steve. Terry said she knows someone who has a Prius, and is very happy with it. That’s what we keep hearing. Dotty said that Randy and Gloria’s daughter, Chantal, has been accepted as a member of the dance troupe of the Boston Celtics basketball team. (Teddie e-mailed a glowing article from the Gardner News describing Chantal’s accomplishment.) Randy’s eldest son Logan will be getting married in January - on a cruise ship! He and his bride-to-be graduated from MWCC this year. Dillon and Tucker are both very active in sports, and both made the honor roll. So did Casey and Scott (Viki’s sons) and Mykaela, Teddie’s granddaughter! Dotty’s youngest daughter Penny is still with Dunkin’ Donuts at Stop and Shop in Gardner. I remember how polite and efficient she was last year when I stopped by. Teddy informed us that Billy’s business, the W.C. Doane Fence Company, is doing well. (‘Doane Fence Me In”) Teddie is office manager, and “domestic engineer in my free time.” Ben is in the sales dept. at Pullman Industries in Worcester. They make modular homes. Ben’s girlfriend, Jaime Cesnickas, is an RN. Michael is in heating and plumbing installation. His mate, Stefanie Cassin, is the manager of a CVS pharmacy in Worcester. Bill Hiscock We have unpacked some of the sewing machines and Sandra's quilting materials and she is working on some easy quilts. She's actually doing some interesting work on several quilts. That gives her something to do that keeps her mind off of waiting for a contract. I'm doing some hardanger and strip-piecing some quilted jackets for her. All in all, things are pretty boring right now, but we manage to keep getting up each day and making it through the day. The most interesting thing we do right now is an occasional trip to Gainesville for me to go Shands Hospital. I've done that quite a bit lately. In fact, I'm about ready to write a new chapter for the Book of Job: April 8th I injured my back; spent 3 weeks in a wheel chair and 5 weeks on a walker; then have used a cane since then. On May 1st I suffered severe chest pains and spent 4 days in Shands Hospital in Gainesville while the doctors determined that it had nothing to do with my heart; but the back injury complicated the testing at Shands and delayed things some. On May 31st the contract fell through on the house. Then on July 1st I found out that I had Shingles! They have been treated and are all healed now. I can't wait to see what tomorrow (August 1st) brings! It's good to hear from you and I hope that some time after we are settled in our new abode we can make a trip up your way and visit a little. Thanks for continuing the Muse! Margery Aukstikalnis We lost electricity to an electrical short about 3 AM last Friday (July 28). The house was popping like a corn popper! Before we managed to shut down the circuit breaker (and save the house from burning down) the short burned out our Microwave, Satellite Dish Receiver, stereo system, furnace, VCR, telephone system, and my blood pressure cuff. My BRAND NEW computer and printer were saved by the surge protector! And Jack's BRAND NEW DVD recorder was saved by procrastination. It was still in the box, unopened. And our house insurers that covered Howeville won't insure this type of building, so we were without coverage. Oh, well. WE still have our lives, our pets and the house is still standing and now, repaired. The electrical problem originated in the box outside the house! And the HEAT! Fortunately we recently acquired, at minimal cost, a nice wooden screen house. So I grab my latest favorite crossword book, Sudoku, a bottle of cold water and a some for the dog, and I sit and watch Jack do the landscaping with his tractor. What a life! Nancy Murdock What is that I seem to see, Possibly a bumblebee? Standing here in Hubbardston, Not too strange at all to find one. Sitting on its sunflower perch Digging in as if for dirt, The bee looks like a piece of fuzz - I wonder what it is she does. Is she picking up some food All to feed her hungry brood Or is it humans who will feed On tasty salted sunflower seed? No matter what she does today We know that she will earn her pay, She leaves no harm to flower or me But still I’m ever set to flee. I will not disturb her travel Or let my peaceful mood unravel I have her in the camera’s eye And snap the flower against the sky. The sunflower has a sturdy petal In paint, or fabric quilt, or metal. I celebrate the gold and green And hope this rhyme is fit for a queen. I wrote the above poem as part of a birthday quilt of the same name for my quilting friend Deborah. I knew that Deborah was the name of a queen, but it was a real surprise to learn that her name also means "Bee." Click here to view the quilt. It has several of my hand-dyed fabrics, and two of my photos (taken at Calico n' Cream in Hubbardston) printed on fabric. |
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