262 Sentimental journey

A Sentimental Journey

I recently pulled out an old T-shirt to wear around the house and it took me on a sentimental journey.

More than 20 years ago, I took a trip with my Dad to investigate his (and my) family history. We flew to Wichita, Kansas, and then rented a car to take us to Sedan (see pronunciation below), which is located in south-central Kansas.

Our ultimate destination was Peru, Kansas (also has pronunciation below). 

The folks at the Chautauqua County Historical Society informed us that there were no motels or other lodgings available in Peru and that the motels in Sedan were not recommended either.  They referred us to a local family who had an apartment attached to their house that they rented by the week. I knew then that this was going to be an experience!

It turned out that the apartment was nice and the people in Sedan were even nicer! Sedan is the county seat but its population as of the last census was at 1,124.  The town's claim to fame is the Emmett Kelly Museum, located in the historic Sedan Opera House. Kelly grew up in Sedan. 

Sedan also has yellow brick road sidewalks. Dorothy, of course, was from Kansas, and Sedan isn't the only Kansas town to have a yellow brick road. The bricks are not a vibrant yellow anymore, but you can still buy a brick to have it placed on the 11,786 brick "road." The surrounding natural areas also draw tourists to Sedan that has some wonderful old storefronts with cute shops within.

So much for my chamber-of-commerce description of Sedan. We enjoyed it but ran out of restaurants and shops to try long before our week was over.

Peru in 1905 during the boom days

Peru is smaller (139 people in the 2010 census) although it was once a booming oil town. When we visited, it had not achieved its claim to fame: Madelyn Dunham, 1922-2008, the maternal grandmother of Barack Obama was born in Peru. She died shortly before he was elected.

My father being held his great-

grandfather, Samuel Druley.

The main thing we saw in Peru was the Peru Cemetery, where my father's mother, Esther Blanche Moore--the picture at the top--is buried. She died in 1928 when Dad was six years old. Also in the cemetery are his maternal grandparents and his paternal great-grandparents. Samuel Druley, his great-grandfather,  fought for Indiana in the Civil War. We had no one to ask to locate the graves but wanders around and eventually discovered the family area.

We visited the Peru church that my dad's grandparents had attended, and then we drove around town to see if we could locate his grandparents' house, but nothing seemed familiar to him. Funny thing, ten years later he and I drove around the Charlestown neighborhood where we had lived in the 1960s and could not locate the house!

Here is a picture of my dad, Fred
Moore, and me from a much earlier time!

We did find much good information back in Sedan in the county courthouse records and at the historical society offices--they had microfilm but no microfilm printers (that was tedious). It was a step back in time in more ways than one and I am so glad my Dad and I could share it!   Trish

                                                      

261 Becoming my mother!

A Touch of Humor--Or I ThinkI Am Becoming My Mother!!

Hi, dear readers--thought maybe we all use a little humor this week! Here’s a bit of background. Dear husband and I were binge-watching old TV shows one evening last week. 

We were both a little punchy and should have gone to bed an hour or two earlier. Inertia had set in--I think we were too tired to head upstairs. We started just laughing and making silly, inane remarks back to the tv. 

Then, daring man that he sometimes is, the dear man looked at me and said, “YOU SOUND JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER!” You can tell from this remark we have been married for at least “forever” or 43 years--whichever comes first--and Mom passed away at age 92 ten years ago. This should help you get the evening in perspective.

My mother was a fun person in many ways, but she was also of the “old school” that she got in the last word--NO MATTER WHAT! I fear that sometimes I do the same thing. I don’t even realize what I said 'til I hear myself say it. Then, I must admit, I do sound like my mother. So, apologies to all of you who think--but are too polite to say--just stop talking now! (or as is no longer polite or politically correct--“just shut up!”) 

Here, then, is my list of “momisms” that have somehow attached themselves to my “savvy” (yes, eye roll here) neurons!

• Don’t use that tone with me!
• I would NEVER have talked to my mother like that!
• Because I said so.
• Don’t sit that close to the tv--it will hurt your eyes.
• If you can stay out late on Saturday night, you can be ready for church on time on Sunday!
• Who told you that life was fair?
• Pretty is as pretty does.
• If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!
• Bless her heart!
• Jane, Mary, Lucy…which ever one you are?
• Nothing to do? I’ll find you something to do.
• Manners! Always use your manners.
• You’re barking up the wrong tree.
• Eat your breakfast--it’s the most important meal of the day!
• Clean your plate! Think of all the starving children in China.
• You’d lose your head if it weren’t attached.
• Who are their people? Who will be there?
• “I don’t know” is not an answer.
• Put your sweater on--I’m chilly.
• Get off the phone--now!
• I don’t care whether you like it or not--eat it.
• Rules are rules. They are not made for you to break them.
• Go to your room.
• Get your ducks in a row!
• Keep it up and you’ll be grounded till you’re 21.
• No, curfew is curfew--not a suggestion.

• Always wear clean underwear – you might get into an accident. [parenthetically, I got in trouble for this one upon retorting that if I am in an accident there is no way my underwear will be clean. Mom did NOT find this funny!]
• Turn it down! I said, “Turn it down.”
• I don’t care if Jane’s mother is going to let her do it. If Jane’s mother let her jump off the Empire State Building, should I let you do that, too?
• If you’re running away, I can help you pack.
• Running away, hum? Will you be back for dinner?
• Running away--don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
• Keep making that face and it will freeze like that!
• As long as you live under this roof, you will do as I say.
• Look at me when I’m talking to you!

Okay--I know--enough is enough. Once I got started making this list, I just kept hearing my mother’s voice in my head. Maybe it’s wine time!

Hope you recognized some of these sayings and enjoyed recalling your momisms! And--now--how many of them do you admit to using?

Stay safe, Savvy Glenne             

260 Surviving pandemic times

Surviving in a time of a pandemic 

It’s July and we are still held hostage by a pandemic. It came on fast but doesn’t want to leave quickly. Experts say it will be here for quite some time. Although some restrictions have lifted, the comfort level has been compromised.

So we can’t ignore it but must learn to live with it in the best way possible. Each day we come up with more survival techniques. The following are some tips we have learned to help us cope.

• Go to stores such as variety stores, drug stores, and dollar stores as soon as they open – 8 a.m. or sooner. It is less crowded and easier to navigate. You don’t have to put up with as many people who don’t wear masks and want to talk. My husband prefers going a little before closing time.

• Suit up--in mask and gloves and carry a shopping bag. Put items in your own bag while moving through the aisles. Then empty items on the counter and then repack your bag after items are scanned. I don’t know why I do this with a shopping bag but somehow it seems safer. Really whatever works for you.

• When you get home, leave purchases in front hall or similar area out of the way for at least 24 hours and wipe down after that and put them away. Don’t put them away until some time has passed.

• Grocery stores are trickier. We do mask and glove up but use a shopping cart that has been wiped down – again we don’t use store bags. We take items out to our vehicle and put them in boxes or bags we brought.

• We are also finding out we can buy basics at small stores and convenience stops so grocery trips are less frequent.

• Enjoying the outdoors is vital to survival. My daisies and daylilies are especially gorgeous this year as well as hydrangeas (I don’t have any but enjoy them in other yards.)

• Whatever outside space is available, make the most of it. Soak in the fresh air and enjoy the trees forming a natural shade.

• Solar lights add a nice dimension in the yard—really inexpensive but lots of enjoyment in the evening hours. 

• Ordering has taken on a new mission and has become critical. We even ordered a dehumidifier for the basement. Arrived promptly at the front door and works great.

• Also when toilet paper is available – buy it. Not sure why it is in short supply. Also buy paper towels, tissues, wipes, sanitizer whenever you see them. Be prepared!

My last blog was a poem and some of you encouraged me to write some more. So here it is--you asked for it and you got it. You may be sorry.

Pandemic

What a time
this has been.
Like no other
we have lived.

No visits, no trips--
Everything screeched to a halt
Everything paused.

Imagine Wolf Trap with no concerts,
The Kennedy Center
without “The Nutcracker,”
Broadway theaters
with no shows.

Ballfields
with no games.
Bleachers empty
of spectators.

U.S. citizens have even been
banned from traveling
to EU countries for now.

Warm weather was thought
to maybe slow or stop the spread
but it hasn’t.

Sometimes I forget
what was the norm.
Sometimes I am
shocked by where we are.

Some restrictions have been lifted
but we don’t always feel safe
going back.

Where will it end
no one knows
so be careful, stay safe,
and love your family and friends. 

                             Frances

259 Manipulated by color

I am fascinated by advertising and marketing--you may have noticed a few other blogs on the topic! In this time of home hibernation, I find myself watching a lot of television.

I have started watching the color in ads. One commercial that grabbed my attention used the colors in the products logo on many different items in the commercial--even the model's hair matched. Not sure that the ad was effective because I couldn't remember the name of the product but thought it was for psoriasis. 

You realize that for this blog topic, I am now going to see ads for psoriasis products all over FaceBook and everything else for who knows how long. Anyway is was for 

Notice the colors in the ad. I especially see this kind of repetition in drug ads. Are the colors there to help you remember the product. Although about 90+ percent of people buy products based upon their appearance, individuals are not pulling these prescription-only items off the shelf. They must ask their doctor to prescribe. So these colors must be an attempt to evoke positive emotions--enough to drive you to your physician?

There are lots of handy-dandy do-it-yourself guides to color marketing as well as a lot of scholarly research. Some graphics seem to repeat frequently. One site that has most and much useful information is https://coschedule.com/blog/color-psychology-marketing/

It seems that blue is the favorite color of both men and women. It suggests trust and reliability. This ad uses lighter blues because dark blues can signify stodginess. The yellow/orange hues suggest vibrancy and fun. Perhaps you get rid of psoriasis and have a fun and vibrant life! This particular commercial certainly suggests that.

Here is a color association chart from the above site:

Red is associated with action and excitement. All the experts suggested Action Buttons on webpages should have some red. Here how some famous logos use color emotions (from the same site):

As I was contemplating this blog, I noticed eharmony's logo. I also went to their page (more FaceBook ads for me!) and pulled some other graphics. How would you interpret their color message?

Hey, I'm just an amateur (this like interpreting dreams!), but I think their multi-color heart-shaped logo implies inclusiveness but also relies on warm colors, which most people prefer. And there is another blue background for trust and reliability. [An aside, did you know that Mark Zuckerman is red-green colorblind--perhaps why FaceBook has a blue background.] So not only is blue the color most preferred by men and women but is also friendly for the color-blind.

Another interesting fact about blue. Although men prefer it in higher numbers than women, they don't do much differentiation between shades of blue--think royal, cobalt, and all the other crayon box hues. My husband has three names for blue: Carolina blue (N.C. Tar Hills), Duke blue, and navy. No matter what blue it is--he labels it one of those three!

Green implies natural and organic, which may help a website seem less alien and therefore better? 

The action buttons go from red to yellow--Excitement to Fun! The buttons are on different sections of the page, and one has the blue background, which may be reassuring to one contemplating a free trial.  

So if you are in the TV doldrums, here is a great new game to play with commercials!

Color-Savvy Trish