mangos hand delivered from Florida and new friends in common

New friends in common. We met at Cheddars today for lunch. Sherry and her new friend Doris worked this out. Doris said I will try to get Shirley and Gerald to come. They also lived in that Chicken coop in Moberly. What a great treat. Once it was arrange, Sherry received a call from Glenda, saying she was going to pick up her Mom in MOberly (over 180 miles) and drive over to deliver the mangos (She and her brother DAvid Luke, had started from Okeechobee, FL Monday morning).

Since Eileen had been a leading member of our little church, and the most beautiful soloist, Sherry knew right off that the other four would love this surprise. AND THEY DID.

Here is Glenda delivering the mangos to Sherry (who is clutching them).

Glenda is remembering the other pastors wives, and re introducing her mom. Now in Cheddars, after a little while Eileen was convinced to sing 'The Love of God', Glenda joined in in the harmony. Everyone loved it.

You have to understand, all three of us 'pastors' were young, in our early 20's when we pastored this little church. It was such a thrill to share history with John and Gerald. They both continued to preach and pastor. Both were successful in the mid western states before retiring. I was the only who gave up that calling or profession and headed back to the military.

After lunch we drove out to AOK RV park to a table by the lake. Glenda cut and served some more mangos that she had brought. John had never had mango, he liked it. Here they are smiling.

Before they left, we got a picture of Gerald and Shirley. You should have heard Glenda when she realized which one was Shirley. She and Shirley had been good friends even though Glenda was a teenager. Glenda said with such a grin, "Shirley fixed my hair for my 8th grad graduation!" For the farm girl, that was something.

I did learn something else, John informed me I just 'thought' I had seen the Pony Express Museum, I missed it by a block. So now we go back to fix that little mistake tomorrow.

Back to the Patee House Museum. I must mention, if you did not read the comments, Lucy and Paula also operated the old switch board. Also Lindie gave us something in a comment that was unique. Walter Croncite's aunt was the principal of the school Lindie attended. Also that St. Joe is the home of Cherry Crush candy. Lindie lived here for awhile in her youth.

These little slippers belonged to Lilly Pons, famous opearetic Soprano. She appeared 300 times at the Met. She died in Dallas at age 77.

Of course no one reading this blog is old enough to recognize a wood stove. Mama never had a pink or beige one. I think the porcelain on mama's was green. We never had a pump inside either!

Or an Ice Box. (Even though this is a more elaborate one than we had.)

Okay this is not a pot belly, but close.

Just wanted you to know this hit a cord with me. Remember those paper rolls, I always wanted to tear a strip of that and never go to. It looked so neat when the butcher or grocer would rip a piece off, wrap something and then tie it with string. (remember the scales and the jokes about the butchers thumb?) About the paper rolls, I think the upper roll was for meat? But then both were for meat right? what else did they wrap?

It has been another 'Red Letter' day as mama used to say. Did you ever hear that statement? It was years latere that I learned all special days on the calendar were in RED. That is what she meant.

Having a chance to talk to John and Gerald was a treat. Sherry has soul mates in Shirley and Doris. And seeing Glenda, getting my hugs, and hearing Eileen sing again, like I said, "A red Letter Day".

Thanks for coming bythe blog,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Aspire to inspire before you expire.