Goodbye To Kids Without Stuff

I have just said goodbye to the school for disadvantaged children, where I have volunteered for the past seven years.

The school is closing and my heart goes out to all the children whose lives intersected with mine. It is hard to think that I won’t see them again, but then, who really knows. “Life is stranger than fiction” and our paths may cross again.

The young, kindergarten through sixth grade, children were so special to me. I treasure the time I spent reading and sharing books with them. The high school girls I came to know and love. I treasure the hours I spent teaching them etiquette and fashion secrets, earning their trust, then hearing their stories. On my birthday in May I received “Happy Birthday” wishes from three graduates. How great is that?

 As I look back on the students and wonderful teachers I knew so well, there is a sort of sadness, but also a sense of contentment. I am thankful that I was a part of their lives for awhile. Did I make a difference? I don’t know and probably never will. What I do know is they made a very important difference in my life. I found that happiness lies in making others happy, to bring joy and love to others. Especially to children who are Kids Without Stuff. Thank you, children, and God bless.

A Note About Phoebe

by Lois Jamieson

I am very sorry to report that my blog partner and dear friend, Phoebe Maurer, has had some setbacks in her health. She hasn’t

been able to write her great blog posts for a few weeks. She will be back with us shortly. I talked to her yesterday, and I can report to you that she hasn’t lost her wonderful writing spirit. She is talking about writing a sequel to her first book “Circle of Acceptance”. This book came out of a short writing she did when we were attending the Via Linda Writer’s Workshop. We met at the workshop, and despite our many differences in background, we became fond friends that has lasted for these many years. We have critiqued each other’s writing over coffee at the book store.

We have spent many moments sharing our life stories. It was when I turned 80 that we came up with the idea of writing a book together. Of course it is about the perils and joys of aging. When I suggested we start with a blog, she was all for it even though she was not knowledgeable about the internet and cyber space.

I had a good laugh, while talking to her, when she told me she has spent her ‘resting’ time re-reading “War and Peace” and planning her 90^th birthday party in July. It is a real joy to know this bright talented lady. She is a better writer than I am, and she has encouraged me along the way. She also told me that she had bought some painting supplies. No, not to paint her kitchen, although, that wouldn’t surprise me.  Phoebe is a very accomplished artist. She hasn’t painted for a few years because of her arthritic hands, but that won’t stop her. She’ll figure a way to paint once again.

So, I am ‘holding down the fort’ so to speak, but soon she’ll be back on the blog writing her stories.

Remembering D-Day

By Lois Jamieson

June 6^th is a very special day to my generation. This is the anniversary, of the very day in 1944, that was the beginning of the end of the Second World War.

In June of 1944, the largest amphibious invasion in world history took place. The allied forces invaded Normandy, France. It was called D- Day, also known by its code name ‘Operation Neptune’. The landings were conducted in two phases, an airborne assault of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French paratroopers and the amphibious landing of allied infantry and armored divisions. There were two airborne  divisions, the 101^st and the 82^nd , numbering 13,000 paratroopers delivered by 12 troop carriers. 

Among the beaches in Normandy, Omaha Beach was the most heavily fortified. Hundreds of the invading soldiers were killed. These beaches are still referred to on maps by their invasion code names. Many of the courageous men of that generation, who were part of that fateful day, were either killed in action or have since passed away.

I have the privilege of having a good friend that survived the war and is still in fit condition at the age of 88. His name is Richard ‘Dick’ Saggau. Dick, a member of the 101^st Airborne Division, dropped behind enemy lines into Normandy at 1:22AM on June 6^th, 1944. He is one of the few paratroopers who survived. He was later recognized for his heroism by receiving the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star as well as other medals.

 I hope Americans will always remember and honor men like Dick.

Dick lost his wife a few years ago and has become a regular at the Jamieson dinner table every Monday evening. He doesn’t talk much about D-Day, but I know he remembers it quite well. So, thank you to Dick, and the very few survivors, for the bravery you displayed on D-Day.

This article has also been published on my blog kidswithoutstuff.com

I'm Beginning to Like Facebook!

by Lois Jamieson 

A year ago I wrote a post called “Do I Really Need to Know”. In it I asked myself this question. Do I really need to know about Facebook, Twitter, I-Pods, I-Phones, I-Pads and all the rest? And then I wrote about my struggles to master Facebook. The biggest problem I had was remembering my password. Well, in the next few months, I began writing all my passwords in a little blue notebook. That helped a lot, because I have a lot of passwords.

 I have an e-mail password, a computer password, a Facebook password, a cell phone password, an Amazon password, a Shutterfly password, a Web e-mail password, a password for my blog Kids Without Stuff, and a password for this blog – Ageless at 80. Now you know why I can’t remember a password and need my little blue notebook. I try to make them all the same, but it doesn’t always work that way, some have to be shorter and some longer. I’m beginning to think my partner, Phoebe, has the right idea. I think she has only three passwords, if that many.

 But, back to Facebook.  As I have mentioned to you before, I have volunteered at a school for disadvantaged kids, for the past seven years. Once the students graduate from high school, I lose track of them. BUT….I discovered I can keep in touch with them on Facebook and now I regularly ‘chat’ with several of them on the internet. As a matter of fact, just this week I celebrated my eighty third birthday, and I received three best wishes from the graduates, plus eleven from friends, and even received a beautiful card from one – all on Facebook.

I’ll admit, I still love going to the mail box and finding birthday cards, and I did receive many that way.

I also find that I can keep in better touch with my grandchildren via the internet. 

So, you might say I’m beginning to like Facebook!

A Friend is a Friend, is a Friend, is a Friend

A Friend is a Friend, is a Friend, is a Friend

What is a friend? I’ll tell you. It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can go naked with him. He seems to ask you to put on nothing. Only to be what you really are. He does not want you to be better or worse. When you are with him, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on guard. You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you. He understands those contradictions in your nature that cause others to misjudge you. With him you breathe free – you can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to him they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty.

He understands. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse him, neglect him, tolerate him. Best of all, you can keep still with him. It makes no difference. He loves you. He is like fire that purges all you do. He is like water that cleanses all that you say. He is like wine that warms you to the bone. He understands. You can weep with him, laugh with him, pray with him.

Through and underneath it all he sees, knows and loves you. A friend, I repeat, is one with whom you dare to be yourself.

This definition of a friend comes from an unknown author. I found it in the 1975 Farmers’ Almanac.

I will add a question and an answer to it.  Do you have just such a friend? I do, and it is my husband of fifty-nine years.