Ruth

She is my sister in law; she was married to my oldest brother. She has out lived her husband and three sons. One tough cookie, approaching 90 this lady was a picture of a pioneer. After WWII they bought a lot in the country, about a mile and a half from where they were renting. Odis bought some brick molds from Sears and Roebuck and they started making brick. After work they would make sometimes up to 24 brick, To be stacked and cured. Then in a homemade wheel barrow hauled them to the lot. (cutting up as young people do, he would push her part way back in the wheel barrow).

Together they built a beautiful two story three bedroom home. They cut the trees, traded trees for the cutting for lumber. Working they built a home that is standing today, but of course it is no longer in the woods. The town has grown around it.

(Background is Helen (The daughter in law) foreground is Ruth at our 50th anniversary)

But, when I drive by there, I can still remember as a boy of 6-7 yrs old, the two rut road running out to the house in the woods. I am sure it was their love nest. At the time they already had one boy. Howard was more like a brother than a nephew. We played together when I would go stay all summer with Ruth’s family. She was a pioneer cook. She could make a meal out of about nothing, and it was always delicious. She had never seen a pizza. Her sons told her about them, and she made them.

(Ruth and her first-born, Howard, 1950's)

I’ll never forget her biscuits, the best in the world. Great for the delicious gravy she made. But there she is in the nursing home. Old, but not broken. We outlive our families and peers sometime. Then we will be placed with folks our age that we do not know, they too have outlived their friends. There are so many folks there who just exist; looking for someone familiar to visit.

(Ruth 1940's)
She is blessed with a beautiful daughter in law who visits three times a week, and takes care of any and everything she needs. It was good to see Ruth. Shirl and I were late children (mistakes? Nah), so My brother was just about old enough to be my daddy. So Ruth was like a mama. She treated me and her sons the same. She said today that I ran off a lot, I probably did.
WE see old folk and we never know what that old woman (or old man) has done in their lives. To us they are just old people. But at one time that was someone’s dearly loved son or daughter, mother or father or grandparent.
But plain folks, Scientists, Doctors, politicians, preachers, welders, farmers, ranchers, etc. all get old if they live long enough. (Don’t we?)
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Some people try to turn back their odometers.. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.

Ruth is now the oldest member of the family. We lost the other Sis. in law, Mozelle, earlier this year while we were in Arkansas.