Tripping Over Relatives Again

On Saturday Kara and crew came by to get Sam and they got on their way at noon heading to the Wright Patterson Air Force museum in Dayton OH.  We had lunch and didn't do much until it was time for church.  As we pulled up, Barb and Kevin, Ted's brother, were walking in and we honked.  They waited for us and we sat together.  Barb pointed out my cousin Paul and his wife Janet in the congregation.  It has been decades since I have seen them.  I recognized Paul but not Janet.  I caught up with them to say hello.  He and my mother were first cousins so he knew who I was when I mentioned her name.  They are both past 80 and appear to be in frail health.  Barb said Paul was a pall bearer for her father.  Westside Cincinnati is really a small town.

We went to their new house to visit for awhile.  They have a house where they can live on one floor but has a finished walk out basement for crowds or overnight company.  You just don't buy a house in this area without a basement and it provides oodles of living space.  It was a great house and beautifully decorated of course.

Megan and Greg dropped 2 year old Leo off for the night and he entertained us for some time.  He was just into everything and messed up Grandma's perfect order in no time.  We were glad to see him and his parents too if only to say hello and goodbye.  We stopped at Skyline Chili on the way home.  Now we have that and LaRosa's taken care of.  Next up, a United Dairy Farmer malt.

Ted went shooting Sunday morning and when he came back we went to Sam's for the rest of our food cravings - goetta, Skyline, brats and turtle soup.  We are well stocked now!

We had planned to go to the movies Saturday night but spent the time with his family so we went late afternoon on Sunday.  We saw The Heat with Sandra Bullock.  It was a funny movie but the language was terrible.  If you took all the curse words out, especially the F word, there would have been no dialogue.  For this reason alone I would say skip it.  The story and acting were fine and would have been a good movie otherwise.  

We were astonished at movie prices.  With the kids in Bowling Green it was $44 for 2 kid and 2 senior tickets plus 2 medium slushes!  Yesterday was just $12 for 2 senior tickets.  I refuse to be gouged with their refreshment prices but people were lined up 6 deep to pay such outrageous sums for what you get.  Oh for the days of West Hills theater where you could see a double feature, cartoon, previews and a serial for a quarter and candy was six cents, pop and popcorn a dime each.  I am showing my age!!

Today is Ted's Enquirer retiree luncheon and tomorrow I have lunch with the St. Bonnie's girls.  I hope there is a good turnout at both places.  It is so much fun to visit with these folks that we have known for so long.  Mine go back to kindergarten (1950) and Ted's to the early 60's.  Like I said, westside Cincinnati is a small town.

Wednesday we will drive to Elk Lake in KY for the July 4 celebrations and stay until Friday.  There are two more family cabins bought this past year for us to see.  Karen's daughter and Danny's son are both busy building docks at their new vacation homes.  Karen and Ron just sold theirs to their son Terry (after 30+ years) so the four of us will have to finagle places to stay from now on!  For now we will all be staying in Terry's newly purchased cabin.  Karen and Ron of course have an open invitation to stay there whenever they want.

We are attending Mass and having dinner with our maid of honor and best man on Saturday.  They just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.  This is another relationship that goes back to the early 60's.  We so enjoy catching up with them on our visits to this area.  

Then on Sunday we move on to Grand Lake in St. Mary OH for some shooting, fishing and time visiting my brother Dan and Sue.  She enjoyed our trip to Shipshewana last year so much she asked if we could go again.  So Tuesday we'll do just that.  We love visiting the Amish country.

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~ Erma Bombeck

Fishing Grandma

Thursday dawned bright and sunny.  Too bright and sunny for the kids to be in the outside pool with their fair skin all day.  So we decided to go to Tom's home to feed the ducks and fish.  Little did I know I was with a bunch of squeamish fishermen!

We fed the ducks and found the white ones very aggressive towards the one Canada goose and the half dozen Mallards.  Until the white ones were finished, the others didn't even come around,  then there was lots of honking and chasing until the white ones all swam away like a little army.

Bill had borrowed some fishing gear up at the house.  While waiting, I used the remaining bread to make dough balls using soda as the moistener.  Ted no sooner put his line in the water while helping Morgan than he had a fish.  But they all stood around looking at it!  I told them to take it off and throw it back and they asked how.  Ted wanted something to hold it with.  So I went over, grabbed the poor little fish, took the hook out of its mouth and tossed it back.

Sam wasn't having any luck so I suggested we use worms Bill brought down.  I grossed him out cutting the worm in two with my fingernail and threading it on the hook.  Sam did catch a fish but the hook was through its gills.  So after washing the worm mess off my hands I now had fish blood on them getting the fish off the hook.  I knew it wouldn't make it but didn't want to cut it up for bait in front of the kids so I tossed it off to the side.  After several nibbles it disappeared under the water and they didn't notice. 

Ted's big catch of the day!  

I think we caught about a dozen 5 inch bluegills or sunfish, not sure which.  But the kids had fun and learned a little something in the process about fishing - and Grandma's hidden talents!  I didn't spend   summers at Grand Lake as a kid and not learn a few things.

We stopped to meet Tom's very extended family and they were the nicest folks.  Later we went to dinner at the Mellow Mushroom then headed home to prepare for our Friday departure.

Our trip to Cincinnati was uneventful with no construction or Nascar race traffic delays.  Jim was glad to see us and had our spot ready.  We had settled in and were cleaning up from lunch when there was a knock on the door.  Sherry, Wyatt and Amanda stopped by on their way home from the vet.  They couldn't  stay long because all three dogs were in the car.  It was great to see them.  Our time here is short and we won't have time to see everyone so I am glad they stopped by.

When the Kara entourage arrived, we went to LaRosa's for pizza.  It was after 8:00 and we were all starving.  We drove past the two houses Kara lived in here as a child to show Bill.  She was entering Middle School when we moved to Michigan.

Sam spent the night with us and they will be by soon to get him.  The kids will spend the next 10 days with their father and then we will be there for almost three weeks to help out while they are out of school.

Our friends Jay and Stella will be at the Michigan campground while we are there.  We haven't seen them since February when they left the Rio Grande valley.  We are looking forward to spending time with them.  I want to try some of the Facebook recipes and hopefully they will be my test subjects since Ted won't!

Rolling in Bowling Green

Today we met the kids at their motel and drove to Mammoth Cave National Park.  We had tickets purchased on line for the New Entrance Tour.  We had done the Historic Tour two years ago while in the area.  Despite the warnings we had no problems negotiating this tour either.

Tour Description

This trip begins with a bus ride over the top of the cave to the New Entrance. Discovered in the 1920's it opened a whole new opportunity for visitors to see Mammoth Cave.

Tour Details

• Duration: 2 hr. 00 min.
• Distance: .75 miles
• Number of Steps: 500
• Accessible: No
• Effort: Moderate

Know Before You Go

This trip will have an elevation change of 250 feet and you will descend and climb a total of 500 steps.

Accessibility

Not accessible.

Amenities

No restrooms.

The Frozen Niagara area at the end of this tour was spectacular.   It was worth all the steps and walking  to get there.

We parted company and went to lunch while they all headed back to the motel to swim.  At 5:00 the kids were  brought back to the park and we took them to see Monster U followed by a trip to McDonald's for them.  Ted had a cone while they ate but I didn't order anything.  Our lunch had been about 2:30 and I wasn't hungry.

While we had the kids Bill and Kara took his friends and their wives to dinner.  I am sure they enjoyed their time out with just adults.

After we came back to the park, they came for the kids and took our laundry back with them.  They have access at night to the commercial laundry at the motel and said they would do what I had.  We have nine days worth plus the bedclothes so it will be a big help.

Not sure what is up for tomorrow.  We have storm warnings for tonight and it has started raining.  We will regroup in the morning

 

Back in Central Time

I didn't leave the RV all day on Monday.  By the time I slept in, got things put where they belonged, took a shower and dressed, it was raining pretty hard outside.  I said a quiet "thank you" for the great weather we had all weekend during the reunion.  Taking it easy the rest of the day was just what I needed.  The owner finally stopped by to get his check and had no idea how many nights we had stayed.  Crazy way to run a business.

On Tuesday we headed south to Bowling Green where we are in a KOA because it is at the same exit as the motel that Bill's friend owns where he, Kara and the kids are staying.  Two free rooms are hard to pass up.  They came down Sunday and spent the day at Lost Cave yesterday.  Ted and I visited it two years ago so they went before our arrival.

The whole bunch of them arrived at the KOA park and we took a ride to Bill's friends' house and visited an Aviation Park.  You can sit in your car and listen to a description of the planes and the Kentuckians who flew them.  Then we got out to look at them up close.

We stopped at JCP to return Ted's Father's Day gift and then stopped at Brands where he got something else.   

Next we went over to the motel pool for a picnic.  Because we are close to Camping World we went there to get toilet chemicals before we started swimming.  Finally we went back and went swimming until early evening.

Tomorrow we are going to Mammoth Cave.  We took the Historical tour two years ago.  I think we are doing the Entrance tour tomorrow if Kara got a reservation.  Otherwise we will take what is available.

At 18 our convictions are hills from which we look; at 45 they are caves in which we hide.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

All Quiet in Bardstown

We spent Wednesday night in Hurricane Mills, TN, home of the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch.  There is a campground there but we stayed at a KOA near the interstate.  However, we did ride through the area and it is quite nice.  Maybe next time.

Our arrival in Bardstown coincided with a few others arriving early so once we were set up we met up with Keith, Steve and Marge and walked into town to browse.  We visited the Talbot Tavern where we decided to partake of the bourbon sauce over bread pudding.  In this town, bourbon is king!  Later on we ate dinner at Mammy's, the old five and dime turned into a restaurant.  I had a Kentucky Hot Brown, indigenous to this area - first made at the Brown Hotel in Louisville - and it was the best one I have ever had.  It is ham and turkey over toast, covered with a cheese sauce and topped off with a tomato and bacon slices then broiled.  Yummy!

On Friday morning we returned to the hotel and helped Charles get the goody bags, shirts, name tags, etc. ready for everyone who would be arriving later in the day.  We had a total of 96 participants this year, down from the 133 in 2011.  We lost a whole family who had another gathering out west to attend.

Once finished, Ted returned to the trailer to wash the rig and windows.  He also had to get our propane tanks filled.  I chose to take the trolley ride through town and visit the Barton Distillery with Keith, Steve and Marge.  They can keep their bourbon tastings and just go straight to the bourbon candy for me!  But the science of making bourbon is very interesting.  There are some new machines and things but the technique remains the same.  I learned President Johnson had a law passed stating that bourbon 1) has to be made in the US; 2) it must be at least 51% and no more than 80% corn with the remaining ingredients being rye or wheat (never both) and barley.  Others outside the US can make bourbon, they just can't call it bourbon.  All bourbon is whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon.

Bardstown was voted the most beautiful small town by Conde Nast this past year.  Beautiful rolling hill, horses and constant employment distilling bourbon has made a wonderful life for the folks in the area.  We ate lunch at Hurst Drug Store's original soda and lunch counter.  We missed the crowd because on weekends it really gets packed.

By late afternoon everyone had arrived and we had a light dinner and "meet and greet" for everyone followed by an evening in the pool.

On Saturday everyone scattered in different directions.  Ted and Brandon went to Brooks, KY to shoot.  I spent the day with Kara, Bill, Morgan, Sam, Karen and Ron.  I took another trolley ride with the kids and saw and learned a few more things about the area and making bourbon.  Your tour guide makes a big difference and the route was different the second time.

We separated and had lunch again at Mammy's so Karen could have a Hot Brown, a favorite of hers too.  Ronnie had a special dinner companion.  The inside of the restaurant has changed little from its five and dime days and the old tin ceiling is original.

Saturday night we all gathered at the Carriage House and had our big dinner.  Cousin Dave welcomed everyone and asked that people check the accuracy of their personal information on the Family Tree I had worked on.  Charles did a terrific book of old photos (I was 2.5 years old and 10 years old in some of them) and he has a photo of my great-grandparents' wedding in January 1907.  I still have no official documentation for this and the date is handwritten but I asked for a copy to put with the Census Reports that list their years married.  I attended their 50th wedding anniversary in 1957 so I know the date is right but I would like to have it in a legal document.

 

 

 

After a big dinner the card games started while others went outside for a night time swim.  We closed up the pool and the hall except there were three players left playing Texas Hold 'Em when we left.  I don't know how long they kept the employees waiting to close up shop.  Ronnie eventually won when Brian went "all in" just to end the game.

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning was goodbye to most folks.  We all had breakfast in the Carriage House and those of us left went to St. Joseph Cathedral for Mass at 11:30.  Afterwards we drove to Shepherdsville to the Zappo's 6 PM shoe outlet.  Our lucky day!  Not only were the shoes 50% off, there was an additional 40% off the total!  We bought five pairs of shoes (Ted 2, Me 3) for $117.  They are brand name, expensive shoes but at really good prices.  Karen bought a pair and so did Ron.

We returned to the hotel and went swimming in an uncrowded, quiet pool.  Later Ted and I treated the 10 of us still there to dinner at the Stephen Foster restaurant next door.  Everyone had been buying us things all weekend and this gave us a chance to reciprocate.

I had purchased tickets for all of us to see The Stephen Foster Story, an outdoor production performed at My Old Kentucky Home state park amphitheater.  It had been really hot but the temperature dropped about 10 degrees and the humidity is nothing like we are used to so it was quite comfortable.

The production was very well done and of course listening to Beautiful Dreamer, Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Camptown Races, Oh Suzanna, My Old Kentucky Home and many others was so enjoyable.  How the play ends and what is written about Stephen Foster in the program has made me want to read his biography.  Of course the play had a happy ending when Jeannie agrees to marry him but he died at age 37 after a fall "in his room in the Bowery."  It sounds as if he was alone.  Now I am curious what happened after they married.  Stay tuned.

It was goodbye and hugs at the hotel when we got back to get our truck to come back to the campground.  We will see Ron and Karen at the lake and Keith, Steve and Marge in February for the wedding.  It will probably be two years before we see Lisa, Marshall and Brandon again.

Today we slept in and are just trying to get things caught up and back in order.  We have been gone so much that we still haven't paid for our spot.  The fact that there is no office or employees here hasn't helped.  If they don't come by for their money before tomorrow morning, I will mail the check to this address.  Not a great way to run a business!

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, everybody needs one. ~ Jane Howard.

From Arkansas

Good news!  I found my Michael Kors sunglasses in the console of my car.  I guess I should look in there every now and then.

We have found another spot for the wedding and are checking on hotels.  We did not have to change dates.  Things are calm there for the time being.   

We made it to Texarkana last night and left there this morning at 7:30.  We are now east of Little Rock approaching construction on I-40.  Just passed a bridge being built, no delay!

We will stop short of Nashville this afternoon and finish up tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing the 90 relatives able to make the reunion this year.

   ~   Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then neither does milk.

Hitting The Road

Things were going along pretty well until I tried to block rooms for the wedding.  That is when I learned the wedding is the day before the Daytona 500.  Rooms were hard to come by and very expensive but I had a block at two hotels and just needed their final choice to lock them in.

Then I was ready to walk out the door on Monday morning.  Ted brought me my phone, he said I had a voicemail.  It must have rung while I was in the shower.

It was from Kristin informing me she received an email from Maison and Jardon saying they were losing their lease the end of October and were not renewing.  Therefore the February wedding reservation was cancelled.  They have been in business since 1972 and choose to close four months before the wedding!

I had to go to bunco but she and I spent most of the day on the phone.  There were so many variables.  If we moved the date up, could we pull it together?  Could we move it up a day to Friday?  Were the church, photographer and DJ available the day before?  Should we move it to spring?  There are no weddings in Catholic Churches during Lent so it was 3/1 at the latest or wait until the first Saturday in May.  We have an Ohio wedding April 26 so that pushed us back even further.

When we lived in Florida we were members of the DeBary Golf and Country Club which gave us access to the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando.  It was a shot in the dark but we called them. Today they got back to us and they have the date open!  All right!

Now we are back to finding a block of rooms in downtown Orlando.  I don't want any more surprises with this wedding.  Let's hope it is smooth sailing at least for awhile.

We left this morning and are in Texarkana, Arkansas for the night.  We will hit somewhere between Memphis and Nashville tomorrow with a push into Bardstown on Thursday.  

Take care and have a cool summer.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

~ Germaine Greer 

NOT Cruising

All of a sudden everything seemed to be creeping up on me and I found myself with a lot to get done.  I made a nail appointment, hair appointment and dentist appointment.  I arranged for my hanging baskets to be taken care of for the summer since Chris "doesn't do flowers."  There were so many phone calls to make - reservations for some of the campgrounds we are going to, our mail service, hotel block for the wedding, CD rollover (laughable situation if it wasn't so sad!), etc., etc., etc.  Where was all this coming from at the last minute????

I cleaned the house top to bottom last Thursday and Friday.  I wore myself out but I certainly did sleep well those two nights.  After church on Saturday we went to Terry and Carol's for dinner because their daughter and son-in-law were in for a visit.  They have hosted three of their four kids the past month.  Plus they were in Illinois last month for a First Communion and are going to New York for a graduation.  It seems everyone is on the go.

Monday night I had them over for dinner and we played cards afterwards.  We were teaching Shanghai to Sharon and Don so they could play Wednesday night with our group.

I put in four hours at the Thrift Shop on Tuesday so I have 8 of my 50 hours done so far.  Considering that's all I will have until September, it isn't a very big number but with good planning and sign-up help from my friends I should be OK by next May when the year ends.

I went from there to the dentist and had planned to meet Gerre for dinner but such a terrible thunderstorm rolled through we decided not to meet.  The next day she dropped off a beautiful pendant made of sea glass for me for watching Tucker.  It wasn't necessary but certainly is appreciated.

Wednesday was our buffet dinner and card night at the golf course clubhouse.  They do a nice job of dinner for a good price.  I came in second at my table by one point and Ted lost second place by one point at his table!  My dime purse was getting low so I was glad to get some back.  Of course they will sit now until we return in September.

I attended my last neighborhood luncheon until the Fall.  The one person I wanted to talk to had a funeral to attend so I didn't get to ask her about having her master bath redone.  Her husband is also on the water board and I wanted to know if we are allowed to go to three days watering.  Two days is OK now because we've had rain but the temperatures are going to increase and the rains come less so I will have to instruct Chris on how to add a day to the timer if they lift the restriction while we are gone.  I don't want a $100 fine every week for watering one day too many.  Big Brother is watching everywhere it seems!

I have turned our Mi-Fi back on for the summer.  It is our Internet connection while we are gone.  I love being able to use my computer and I-Pad in the car while traveling.  We have two plugs also if the batteries wear down.  Such advancement in technology. 

We are packing and loading this weekend.  Besides church tomorrow evening, we have no social plans.  Ted will shoot on Sunday.  I am playing bunco on Monday.  Tuesday we head out with an expected arrival in Bardstown, KY on Thursday.

Next time you hear from me it should be from the Bourbon Trail.  What an appropriate place for my family to meet.  If you gave my kids a sniff of bourbon and asked them what it reminded them of they would say Uncle Ray and Uncle Bill.  God rest their souls.

“Tough girls come from New York. Sweet girls, they're from Georgia. But us Kentucky girls, we have fire and ice in our blood. We can ride horses, be a debutante, throw left hooks, and drink with the boys, all the while making sweet tea, darlin'. And if we have an opinion, you know you're gonna hear it.”


  ~ Ashley Judd







  

Just Cruising

Well the Feds never did come arrest me but I told my niece they had and I was communicating on the  computer in my shoe just like Maxwell Smart.  I hope she is old enough to remember him.  It took Alison an hour and a half and $90 to clear up that mess.  I really need a new computer but I use my IPad so much I don't know if I want to bother.  Some junk can get through firewalls no matter what I guess.

Yesterday I worked at the thrift store.  After three hours of hauling bags, bending and sorting, I chose to sit down and cut off buttons.  No one seems to like to do that but I was able to empty the basket.  Who knew there was such a big market for buttons?

Today I am going to look for a dress for the wedding.  If it takes 3-4 months to come in as I have been advised it may, I will have time in the fall to get it altered (I know it will need to be hemmed since God built me so close to the ground).  Wish me luck!

Another niece and her husband are coming in from Alabama this weekend so we may have more family time visiting with them.  My sister-in-law Carol is not getting a lot of breathing room between house guests.

Tucker went home yesterday after spending the week.  We both missed him immediately.  It takes a day or two to stop looking around for him.  He is such a good dog, no trouble at all and is welcome back anytime.

I did reserve our Eastern European Riverboat cruise for August of 2014.  These ships are small and rooms fill up fast.  There are 70 cabins on this ship so it is the same size as the one we took to do western Europe.  Our France trip only had  39 passengers.  Keith, Steve and Marge are onboard (pun intended) and will make their reservations today.  They were waiting for me to get a group name and number.  If anyone is interested in joining us, let me know.  This will be our fourth trip with Grand Circle Tours and we have loved them all.  After our 12 day cruise we are going to Prague for four days.

I am confident and optimistic about the future but that did not stop me from buying the Cancel For Any Reason insurance.  It also covers a multitude of other things including the medical insurance the Czech Republic demands you carry.  Medicare does not pay outside the U.S. and is a consideration when traveling.  Because GCT has our records they reminded me both our passports expire in 2014 and that needs to be tended to also.  We will do that after February when we will be finished going over to Mexico.  Paperwork!!!

Before I get bombarded with "there is so much to see right here" comments I want to state we have been from Anchorage to Tijuana, Nova Scotia to Key West, San Diego to Jacksonville and most places in between.  We have visited most large cities and a multitude of small towns USA; national parks in the west and the height of Mount Ranier in the north.  We've seen the power of Niagara Falls and the majesty of Saguaro cacti in the desert.  The history to be seen in Europe is of great interest to us and we enjoy it. 

I have had no more moving experience than to visit the Battle of the Bulge cemetery in Luxembourg.  I have  been to Arlington and to the beaches of Normandy but I was moved beyond belief as I listened to the carillon play America the Beautiful, God Bless America, The Battle Hymn of the Republic in a foreign country that has given that land to us in perpetuity for what our country did for them.  The meticulously kept crosses and grounds are so beautiful.  George Patton is buried there.  He wanted to be buried with his men.  

Notable Quotations from George Santayana:

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' 

 Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense, Scribner's, 1905, page 284

Starting the Countdown

I hosted Shanghai Thursday but didn't win.  We are watching Tucker this week but even his sitting in my lap didn't bring me any luck.  My snacks were all from HEB since I just didn't have time to make things but they were well received.

Friday we had three generations for dinner - Ted's brother and wife, their son and his wife and their son's daughter and her husband.  They were visiting from Alabama.  We had a fun evening and I was glad we were able to have them over.

I was glad we had no social engagement for the weekend but when Terry brought us some Vidalia onions he suggested we join them for dinner at a local restaurant after church.  So we spent a second night visiting with them all.  Dinner was great but the company was even better.  It was raining Sunday morning and I felt bad they had to drive home in the rain.  Hopefully as they drove east they got out of it.  

I did laundry Sunday and used the time to catch up with an old friend by phone that I haven't seen in some time.  Our earliest camping experiences were with her and her family.  We had six kids between us from ages 3-12 when we hooked up and we had some great times.  But the kids are all grown.  The grandkids are graduating college, in the armed services, getting married and unfortunately her husband has passed on.  But she and I can talk like we just saw each other yesterday.  I am working on a way to see her on our way home from Virginia this year.

Alison is coming to fix my computer that is infected with malware.  According to the screen the Department of Justice has locked it down because of viewing child pornography!!  Really?  I have to buy a $450 Money Pak at Walmart or 7-11 for cash and enter the money order number for the computer to be released.  Yeah right!  And if I don't, criminal proceedings will start in 48 hours.  And if I try to unlock it myself my hard drive will lose all data.  Boy they covered all the bases.  My 48 hours are up and so far no knocks on the door.  I guess some poor schmuck who actually visits those sites and isn't too smart besides could fall for that. I was born at night but it wasn't last night.  If they accused me of visiting financial, travel or mother of the bride sites I may have had to give this more thought!

This would be even funnier if the things coming to light out of Washington weren't so scary.  I only hope someone sends a copy of this poem to remind those who are stomping on our rights that "might does not make right" and just because you can be a bully in a situation, you shouldn't.  I feel like we are becoming a Banana Republic.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Catholic.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.