Crickets and Choir

     Crickets and Choir 

Long time ago there lived a little old couple who lived out in the country..  One evening after dinner the husband invited his wife to sit with him on the back porch to watch the sun set.  The elderly wife hung up her apron, pour a glass of lemonaid for the both of them, and headed out the back door to join her husband in watching the day sky end.  They both sat in silence, sipping their lemonaid, rocking back and forth on their rockers up on the porch overlooking a beautiful field.  The sky went from a sparkling blue to dazzling shades of pink, orange and lavender as the sun was setting over the horizon.

Crickets from out in the field started to chirp out in the distance.  The wife closes her eyes and rests her head on the back of the chair.  A small smile emerges from her lips as she listens to the sweet melody of crickets in the evening air.  She invisions them chirping a song  picked out special  just for her husband and herself out in the field. 

"My goodness!  Would you listen to that."  the husband chimes in.

"Oh yes!"  the wife whispers back opening her eyes reaching out her hand to her husband still rocking in the chair next to hers.

Not noticing his wifes hand stretched out to him he barks back, "HOW CAN ONE RELAX OUT HERE WITH ALL THAT NOISE!  I really need to do something about all those crickets.  They are making such a loud racket that it is hard for me to think!"



     This story isn't about right or wrong.  It is about how different two people can view the same thing and both be correct.  The old lady was mesmerised by the sounds of the night while the husband was annoyed by the loud interrupting noise that came out of the field. Even though they are one in marriage they still have their own view on a situtation.

     My husband and I use the phrase "Crickets and Choir" often in our lives.  When we debate why we like something one way and not the other we usually end the debate by saying "Crickets and Choir" to remind ourselves that we are both right.  It is about learning about each other and their point of view.  At times we can get so wrapped up in how we see something that we don't look at how our spouse can see it differently.  Perhaps seeing a situtation differently can open our eyes to learn and understand our spouse's view on things. 

     The other night my husband and I were watching Bram Stoker's Dracula.  He views that movie as a horror movie with blood and death.  I viewed it as a love story of a husband who was trying to reconnect his soul to that of his late wife (see February's blog on my complete thoughts on the movie).  Neither one of us was wrong.  It was just how in our mind we pictured the movie differently. 

     My husband and I differ on how we like our goulash.  I like mine a little liquidly while he enjoys his goulash thick and hearty.  Again, neither one of us is wrong but I now know how he likes it.  When he is home I will fix goulash the way he likes it, thick and hearty, because I know that makes him happy.  When he is out working I can add more liquid to the mix for the way I like it.  It is a compromise we nonverbally agreed with and we are both happy.

     I believe everyone should have the story of "Crickets and Choir" tucked away in their hearts.  It teaches couples to accept differences in each other and learning to compromise on those differences.  That is what helps make a marriage work.   

                      God's Cricket Choir

See for yourself.  Music or just noise?

The Birth of Ashton



After Ashton was born we used 3 different
size of diapers for our 3 children.



     A few weeks before I turned 23 I found out we were expecting our third child.  We were happy.  We just bought our first home on Bond St. in Allegan and Brian was working at B&B Trucking over in Kalamazoo.  We had a three year old boy and a two year old girl still running around in diapers but I guess we were going to add another one to the mix. 

     Our neighbor was also expecting.  She was due October 14 and my due date was set at October 7th.  We would talk, during the summer, of our pregnancies and how they are both developing.  She found out she was having a girl and my doctor didn't see a need in having an ultrasound so it was going to be a suprise for us.  We guessed our first two children correctly and I was thinking this was going to be a boy.  It didn't matter to us if we had a boy or a girl.  We already had one of each so we just focused on having a healthy baby. 

     Our last two children were born in Grand Rapids and we decided to have our next baby born at Allegan General Hospital.  We were maybe two miles from the hospital and it would be easier to deliver there instead trying to get the children ready and find a babysitter and drive 50+ minutes to Grand Rapids when we both know my labors are quick.  I told my doctor that both my last two children were induced and I wanted to go into labor naturally.  He knew my requests and worked with me on it. 

     Our due date came.  Later on in the afternoon I was outside playing around with the kids.  Our neighbor pulls into the driveway all excited.  He said his wife had her baby earlier that morning and they are both doing great.  I rubbed my bellying thinking I was supposed to have this baby first.   A few days later they all came home and I was able to see the new baby.  It was so odd looking at this baby, who wasn't supposed to be due until a week later, who was perfect in every way a baby can be perfect and imagined that right now my baby is fully developed the same way.  She can now hold her little one and mine is still incubating on the inside not wanting to come out.   I was happy for them all yet a little jealous that her pregnancy pains and labor are all done and over with and she can now enjoy her daughter.

Our neighbor's daughter (just turned 1) on the left and her sister in the middle. 
Ashton, on the right, was just a week before turning 1 year old.

     The waiting after the due date is the worst.  Every ache and pain you wonder if this is going to be the big one to set me off into labor.  At one doctor visit he mentioned that we really shouldn't go too much longer after the due date.  I pleaded with him that I wanted to experience going into labor naturally.  I took a stress test and all was well.  So he said we will talk about it more at the next appointment. 

     Sunday, October 15 started out like any other day.  I remember it was a warm day outside.  We did some grocery shopping and even bought a cake to be made praising the republicians to be given to my mom the next day at her office in honor of the Bush vs. Gore presidental election coming up in a few weeks.  She is a democrat and we always taunt each other during elections.  This was going to be our prank to her.  A few people had yard sales going and we stopped and looked around.  Later on that evening my sister came down from Grand Rapids with her almost 5 year old and her one year old twin boys.  Her husband and Brian went to Brian's mom's house to work on a car.  Everyone was having a good time.

     It was getting late and my sister was packing up to head home.  She looks at me, "Are you okay?"

     "Yea, I feel great."  I replied.

     "You are not going to go into labor now, are you?"  she asks.

     "No!  I am fine.  Just sore from running around all day.  I am good.  You can go home.  Brian and your husband are over at his mom's."

     Lisa gave me a weird look and figured I was doing okay so she left.  Christian and Elizabeth were winding down watching a taped Blue Clues on the VCR and I was picking up all the toys and putting them away.  Suddenly and without warning it hit.  CONTRACTION!  It brought me down to my knees.  I was doing good then all of the sudden there it was.  I looked up at the clock so I could time them.  It was exactly 9pm.  It lasted for a short moment.  I looked at the kids.  Their backs were to me so they didn't see me drop down.  They looked so precious just sitting there side by side.  In a few hours they are going to have a sibiling and they don't even know it yet, I thought to myself.  I stood up and a quick moment later another contraction hit.  Okay, this time I knew for certain I was in labor.  I needed Brian.

     I managed to get to the phone and called Brian.  "Hi hun, Can I give you a call right back?  I am waiting for a phone call from Mark about advice on the car." 

     I thought for a moment, "Sure.  Call me when you are done."  The words slipped out of my mouth.  There are times when I can be too polite and this was one of those moments.  I should of told him I was in labor but I didn't want to disturb him if he was busy.  I started getting things ready to head out to the hospital and waited for Brian to return my call.

     Twenty minutes goes by.  Contractions were coming and going.  The phone finally rings.  "Hey hun, what did you need."  It was my husband's voice.

     "ummm, I am in labor.  I kinda would like to go to the hospital now." I said patiently.

     Brian stumbled over the phone and said he would be right home.  Soon Brian and Doug entered the doorway.  I was in the diningroom on my hands and knees breathing hard.  Doug takes one look and says, "Yep, she is certainly in labor."

     Doug stayed with the kids and we went straight to the hospital.  We must of got there shortly after 10pm.  Labor was fast and hard.  Suddenly I had to use the bathroom.  I needed to sit.  I was scared to.  I didn't want to push the baby out thinking it was a bowel movement.  I told the nurse my fears.  She asked if I wanted something to make using the bathroom easier.  I agreed.  She gave me an enema.  Trying to use the bathroom and having hard contractions was not an easy task even with the enema but boy oh boy did that ever clean my backside out.  Brian, who is very sensitive to smells, could not handle the poisonous gas that was escaping from the bathroom.  It was so bad he had to leave the room.  Brian was out in the hallway, bending over, gagging ready to throw-up.  A nurse approached him and patted him on the back, "Is this your first baby?"

     "No, it's our third.  My wife just used the bathroom."  Brian said without looking up dry heaving.  The nurse started to laugh. 

     We ended up moving to another room to ease my husband, and probably the nursing staff and doctors, sense of smell.  I do not remember what I ate that day or the day before but it was taking its vengeance out.

     The rest of the labor went smoothly as much as labor could.  At 11:43pm a new Moyer entered the world.  "Congratulations!  It's a girl!"  said the doctor. 

     "A girl?"  Brian and I said at the same time.  We both were thinking this was going to be a boy.  She was going to be called James Reagan.  We even called her James when she was developing in my belly.  We did think of a girls name but we put that name in the back burner of our brains.  For a moment we didn't remember what we agreed upon.  Finally we remembered it.  Ashton Kae.



North and South's naughty southern belle Ashton Main with Bent.



     We chose Ashton from one of our favorite books and TV series that we both enjoy, North and South by John Jakes.  We both enjoy learning about the civil war and even though the character Ashton in the book was something of a not nice southern lady, we still thought the name was pretty.  Kae is from Brian's mom's middle name but we changed the spelling to adapt it to a part of my maiden last name.  It sounded nice together.

     As soon as my sister made it back to her apartment my mom called her to let her know I was in labor.  They immediatly drove back down to Allegan to the hospital to see the new baby.  They arrived  at a set of doors and there was a security guard sitting there in a chair.  The hospital was in the middle of a make-over and there was a lot of the hospital torn up and you had to take different ways to get to certain parts of the hospital.  "Are you here for the lady that was having a baby?"  he asks my mom and my sister.

     Bewildered that he knew that was the reason of their visit they responded, "yes, we are."

     "I think she just had it.  There was a lot of noise coming from that window," he points to an opening in the wall to where a window should be a few floors up, "then I just heard a baby cry."

     "That must be Jill." my mom says and the guard showed them how to get to my room. 

     They enter the room and I was already holding Ashton.  My sister looks at me, then around the room.  "Do you realize there are not window's in your room?!"  All I could do was laugh.  The whole floor was turned around due to the renovations. 

     Ashton's entrance to the world was nothing short of a comedy.  Personally, I like things quiet and private when I am in labor and this was so far from it.  Part of me expected Candid Camera to come around the corner to let me know this portion of my life was a joke and I can redo it to the way I wanted it to happen.  A week later we still ended up bringing my mom her political republician cake to her office but I also got to show off my sweet little new daughter along with it. 



Ashton Kae just a few weeks old.



Scared Stiff - Literally!

     It was a warm summer night.  I think I was around 9 years old, give or take a year.  We lived in Saginw Township on a busy street.  My mom was out on a date, my brother was at a friend's house for the night so my older sister had to babysit me.  There is a seven year age difference between us.  At my age I was normally the pesky little brat and she was the annoying teenage sister.  There were times we bickered but there were times we enjoyed being sisters.  This was a moment that we were enjoying our sisterhood.

     My sister Lisa and I were watching the horror movie Friday the 13th on TV.  It was one we had seen before.  I don't recall which Friday the 13th movie we were watching but we were curled up on the couch liking the movie.  There was a window next to the tv that was open to let the night air in.  The couch was across the room from that window.  At one killing scene I heard a strange sound coming from the window in a light whisper, "Jason, Jason, Jason....ah, ah, ah, ahhhh.."  Without moving my head I glanced my eyes over to the window.  I didn't see anything.  Just blackness.  Maybe I am just hearing things,  I thought and continued watching the movie.  Then a moment later the same sound was coming from the window.  "Jason, Jason, Jason...ah, ah, ah, ahhh..."   It was odd because I always thought the sound when Jason Voorheis was about to strike was, "ch, ch, ch, ch.   Ah, ah, ah, ahhh.".  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed my sister turned her head towards the window.  Oh my gosh!  She heard something too!

     "Why don't you go shut and lock the front door."  Lisa said casually.  The main door was located behind the wall that the tv was on just in another room.  We could not see the front door from where we were sitting.  The wooden door was open leaving just a metal screen door to protect us from what is outside.

     My eyes popped out of my head.  "NO!  You go shut and lock the door!  You are older!"  I snapped back.

     "But you need to mind and I told YOU to do something!"  she piped back. 

     As we continued our arguing the screen door started opening and closing really fast.  We knew someone was there at the door.  Fear like I had never experienced flooded over my body.  My sister stands up abruptly and hollars, "QUICK!  FOLLOW ME!" and she dashes to the left to my brothers bedroom door(which was next to the couch), through his bedroom and out the other door in his room (which led to the kitchen) and out the kitchen back door to the outside.  She achieved freedom. 

     I think we both stood up at the same time but my brain lost all communication to my muscles.  They didn't want to move.  I had no feeling, at all, in my entire body.  I looked over and my sister was gone.  GONE!  SHE LEFT ME ALONE TO FACE THIS TERROR ENTERING OUR HOME!  I couldn't follow.  I couldn't move.  All I could do was think. Run to the bathroom, I would say to myself, No!  Then I would have to run past the door and whoever was breaking in would see me.  Our bathroom had the only interior door that locked.  A sure safety but too risky.  Hide underneath the computer table!  No!  To obvious.  Hide behind the tv.  No!  He would see me for sure.  Hide behind the curtain.  No!  It would puff out to where I was standing.  Nothing I could think of would be a safe hiding place.  Even if I could think of a safe place to hide I don't think my legs would be able to take me there.  Oh how I wished I was able to move and dash out the back like my sister did.

     I looked down at the coffee table and there was a glass cermanic gray elephant.  It was poised with the trunk curled up around to the top of the head, mouth open and one leg up in a prance.  Somehow, for a brief moment, my brain had a small communication with my upper half of my body and  I was able to reach down and grab this elephant by his trunk and raise it above my head.  I still could not move my lower half of my body.  This ceramic gray elephant was going to save me from whatever was behind the door trying to make its way inside to kill me.  I envisioned myself using this elephant to beat this person over and over until they were knocked out or dead. 

     The door stopped opening and closing.  I held my breath not knowing what to expect next.  My fingers tightened around the ceramic trunk of the elephant preparing myself to use it violently.  I closed my eyes for a moment.  All was silent.  An eerie silent.  I was as still as the statue I was holding.  It felt like an eternity had passed.  I strained hard to open my eyes.  I seen some movement.  Then my brain registered what I was seeing.  Shoes!  Shoes were being kicked off.  I looked harder.  I know those shoes.  Then a familar face appears from around the corner.  MATT!  It was my sister's boyfriend.  He looked over at me with a huge grin on his face amused that I was standing there with a ceramic elephant held high above my head. 

     Looking around he asks, "Where's your sister?"
 
     "She ran out the back." 

     He laughs and starts to put his shoes back on.  "Play along." he says and gives a wink. 

     Finally, my brain starts the communication process up with all my muscles and I was able to move again.  It was such a great feeling to be able to move and knowing that I was not about to be a worm's meal.  But now I was on the other side of the playing field, against my sister, who left me to die.  It was my turn to help her get scared.  I roamed around the house yelling out the dark windows, "Lisa!  I'm scared!  Help me!"  I would shout out while roaming around the house.

     A familar voice from the outside answered, "Go to our bedroom and open the window so I can climb back inside."

     I dashed to our bedroom, unlocked the latch and popped out the screen.  We gently placed our desk chair out the window so she can use that to step up and into the window.  She finally makes her way in the bedroom and hugs me tightly.  I remember thinking, she is probably sooo lucky I am not dead she knows mom would seriously go psycho on you if I were!

     Suddenly there was a slam at the back door.  This time she grabs my hand to make sure I stay with her and we go steadly towards the back door.  Knowing that I know it was Matt I was able to move along and play the part.  We proceed cautiously and carefully.  We pass through the kitchen, pass my brother's door, to the back door.  Lisa turns on the garage light, locks the door, and looks around through the glass in the door.  While we were busy looking to see if we can see anything in the garage Matt jumps out from our brother's bedroom and gives a loud roar.  Lisa jumps practically out of her skin and falls to the floor hysterically crying.  I jump sideways against the wall scrapping my back on the lightswitch.  Laughter came from my lips. 

     Over 25 years have passed but we still look back at this moment and remember the fear and laughter that came with it.  It may have not been our best sister/sister moment but it was a moment we shared and now laugh together.

A Memory of the Green Acres Haunted House

     It was the autumn of 1991. I was a freshman at Nouvel Catholic High School.  Part of our school requirements was volunteering so many hours per year depending on what grade you are in.  I think as freshmen we had to volunteer 20 hours with something during the school year.  An organization was putting together a community haunted house in a vacant store set in Green Acres Plaza in Saginaw, Michigan.  He called the local private schools and put the word out that he needed volunteers.  This was a great opportunity for students to get their volunteer hours. 

     The building was the corner store in the plaza.  I remember at one time it was a restaurant called the Sweden House Buffet.  Shortly after that it was called Duffy's Buffet.  For the longest time it would stand empty.  Last I knew it was a Powerhouse Gym but I think that even closed down.  The whole strip mall which used to be packed with businesses is slowly dying but that is a different story.

     On a particular day a crowd of people showed up to help volunteer from all different schools across Saginaw.  Most of the haunted house was already set up.  There was different stations where people would walk past in a dark labyrinth going from one side of the building to the other side led by zombie butler-type of people.  We had to audition for different scenes set up in the haunted house.  We had to scream in terror and cackle like a witch.  Some, I must say, were impressing to hear. 

     The haunted house was 2 weekends long and I think it was even every night during the week around Halloween.  It was a huge production.  I played in several different scenes on different nights.  One scene was a "live wall".  Basically it was a canvas that was camouflaged with imatition vines and leaves.  There was 8 of us working the wall, 4 on each side.  When a group of people would pass through we would moan and groan while pushing the wall forward.  The group of people really didn't expect that and we could hear them scream and scamper further forward to pass the area. 

     I was also a zombie monster.  I had a scary rubber mask and dark trench coat.  I sat in a corner almost invisible.  When a group of people would pass on by I would follow them quietly.  We weren't allowed to touch the people so I couldn't tap anyone on the shoulder.  The "Butler" would give clues outloud telling people to be careful; that things can lurk up behind them.  I would be there, arms stretched out in front like I was about to grab someone.  The group would quickly turn the corner and another scary scene would begin for them.

    The famous shower scene was another skit I worked on.  We would listen for the cue of another scene going off.  Then I hopped in a bathtub with the shower curtain around me.  My killer would turn on the strobe lights.  He would walk across the room, with his mask on, and act like he is stabbing me through the shower curtain.  I, of course, would scream and fall down in the tub sticking my arm out with fake blood running down my arm.  During one performance the killer tripped over something and fell into me causing us to fall in the tub and the shower curtain  broke off from above.  I was still covered with the shower curtain and I screamed because I did not expect that but afterwards it was hard to hold in our laughter. 

     One of my favorite scenes was the jungle girl.  I had to wear a leaf style bikini top with a grass skirt.  It had a cute leafy head wreath to complete the outfit.  I stood on a four and a half foot platform tied up with vines to a leafy wall.  I was able to tie myself up in the vines so it wasn't anything too restrictive.  A man dressed up like an ape hid in the platform under me.  As the line of people pass by I would scream out, "HELP ME!  THE APE MAN IS GOING TO GET ME!  I NEED SOMEONE TO SAVE ME!" and I would shriek out in bewteen while twisting and turning around in the ivy vines.   Then the ape would jump out from under the platform and scare the crowd.  I knew being up higher that there wasn't going to be any mishaps. 

     There were two scenes that stood out as really lame to me.  One was the washing machine monster.  There was a washing machine in the backgroud and pipes and rubber hoses were coming out of it.  I would tangle myself in the hoses, and with strobe lights, I would act like I was being pulled into the washing machine.  I remember wiggling around thinking how stupid I feel.  No one is scared of washing machines.  But I still played the part, screaming away. 

     The other scene was a radiation leak.  I would wear one of those white radiation suits.  There was a black light above to help cast off an eerie look.  When the people were coming close I would hit a button which gave off a loud beeping warning.  I would start trying to pull off the radiation uniform screaming, "THERE IS A CONTAMINATION LEAK!  RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!  WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!"  I would drop to the floor, act like I was in agony and then die.  Deep down I would think This is Saginaw.  It is already contaminated with bad things.  Radiation wouldn't seem so bad.

     There were other scenes that I was not in but it was still fun to watch.  One was the swinging ax pendulum.  A woman would wear an outfit that looked like Princess Jasmine in the Dinsey cartoon Aladin.  She was strapped down and the pendulum would swing back and forth.  Of course she would scream out for help from those who passed by. 

     The witches scene from Shakespeare's MacBeth, although not scary, was one of the cues to listen to to know where the crowd is and when to set up certain scenes.  Standing around a kettle stirring with a long wooden stick the three witches would chant, "Double, Double, Toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"  and then cackle.  It was so catchy of a rhyme it was stuck in most of our heads for the longest time.

     Every night there was a line of people waiting to get in.  Half way through the night there would be an intermission and we would take a break, grab a bite to eat, fix some of the props and some would even switch scenes.  Everyone had their own way of putting the scene to life.  It was very interesting to be a part of it. 

The Chase

     It was the summer of 1991.  I was between my eighth grade and ninth grade year of high school.  There was one thing I enjoyed doing and that was spending my summers at the cabin up at Houghton Lake.  It was my playground.  If I wasn't swimming or boating then I was biking or walking up and down the road.  There was always putt putt golf, The Pines Movie Theater or Playland with the famous "Haunted House" to keep us occupied.  Neighbors knew neighbors and everyone knew each other's children.  It was a time where children were safe to be children.  But sometimes we are a little naive to the dangers in life.

     My mother just had a hysterectomy and needed a little relaxation.  My brother was entering college and my sister was already out on her own.  It was just mom and I in the household.  She decided to head up to Houghton Lake for some rest.  She said I could bring a friend and I decided to bring Amy, a close friend at the time.  We did all the normal young teen things.  We swam.  We tanned at the "premium sun time" which was 3pm, so she told me.  She tanned, I burned.  We took long walks up and down M-55 browsing in the different stores set up for tourists.  At night we would talk about music and boys.  It was normally fun. 

     On one particular day my mom needed some extra rest.  She was having her friend and her friends boyfriend coming up later on that day and she wanted to rest up before they arrived.  Amy and I decided to go for another walk.  As we walked we came upon the troll bridge.  As a child my grandpa would tell us that trolls lived under the bridge like in the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.  The small bridge went over a small canal that connected Houghton Lake to smaller channels of water for the vacationers that wanted to live on water in a small subdivision.  We knew trolls really didn't live under the bridge but it was fun pretending with grandpa.  The name stuck.  From then on we always called it the troll bridge. 

     As we approached there was a young man fishing.  It wasn't anything out of the ordinary to see people fishing from the troll bridge.  It was a good fishing spot.  It has deep water so boats can get through but it is very weedy.  You knew that area was off limits to swimming but great for fish.  As we passed by we gave a smiling head-nod greeting to the young man.  It was just a passing greeting.  Amy and I didn't even stop.  We just casually continued on our way talking about whatever it was we were discussing. 

     We walked past more houses and around a small bend.  We started to get an uneasy feeling but we didn't know why.  As we walked we slowly glanced behind us and noticed that young man was walking behind us a few houses back.  He was not holding fishing equipment that he had at the troll bridge.  We gave a nervous smile, still acting casual, and returned facing forward.  I think our hearts started working at a faster pace.  We were uneasy.  We tried to tell ourselves that perhaps he ran out of bait and was on his way to the gas station up the road.  Lots of people walk up and down this road so maybe we were making a big deal out of nothing.  We didn't want to falsely accuse. 

     There was a small dirt road that went left.  The gas station was straight ahead.  We decided to take the road to the left.  If this young man was going to the gas station he would go straight and our fears would be proved false.  Walking a bit down the road, after we made the left, we looked back to check.  He was there.  He made the left too.  We faced forward again.  There was a resort hotel nearby.  Perhaps, we thought, he is a tourist and needed to run back to the hotel for something.  Deep down we knew this young man was stalking us but we felt some comfort lying to each other hoping our lies would become true.  We stepped up a walking pace a bit faster.  We wanted to pass the resort quickly in hopes that he was just heading back to his room. 

     We decided to cross to the south side of M-55.  We started walking east a little bit and looked behind us.  The young man was waiting for traffic to clear so he can cross the road.  Finally Amy revealed what I didn't want to hear.  "Jill, He is following us."

     A numbing feeling came across me.  I could tell from Amy's words that she was scared too.  "Come on," I said.  "There is a Dairy Queen just a bit up the road.  Let's hide behind the building.  Maybe we can lose him."  We didn't walk this time.  We ran and we ran hard.  Neither of us were much of runners but on that day we both could of broke some records with our speed.  We ran past the Dairy Queen and came around the other side of the building and angled ourselves so we can see M-55.  We didn't see anything for a moment.  Our hearts were pounding out of our bodies.  We waited.  "Maybe we lost him." I mumbled.

     We slowly came out from behind the building making our way to the front.  Standing there was the young man waiting.  It was like he knew we were hiding and he was waiting for us to reveal ourselves.  We took off.  I think we screamed or at least we thought we screamed.  I am not sure.  All I did know was that we were terrified.  We continued running east.  We needed help.   I knew Our Lady Of The Lake Catholic Church was just up the road.   I ran up to the doors and it was locked.  Drats!  Thinking fast, and wanting to be in the safety of home, I knew we had to head back in that direction.  We zigzagged around some more buildings with this young man still in hot pursuit a little bit behind us. 

     We crossed back to the north side of M-55 and ran into Oliver's Furniture.  The building was surrounded with tinted windows so we could see if the young man was coming.   We had to catch our breath.  We didn't even notice anyone else in the store.  We didn't want to take our eyes away from the road in case he would pop out at us from somewhere.  A lady in the store must of known we were in some kind of distress.  It isn't everyday where young teen girls want to check out a furniture store.  We told her our dilemma and she escorted us to the break room and gave us a glass of water.  We felt safe but we didn't know what to do next.  Neither of us wanted to leave that break room. 

     A short time later the same kind lady opens the door.  "We just seen him peeking in through the glass windows.  He does look creepy.  I have called the police."  We felt relieved of emotion.  We thanked her greatly.  We knew then things were going to be alright. 

     The police officer arrived and we told him the whole story.  He told us he looked around the area and didn't see the young man.  We did the right thing by coming into the store for safety and that he would take us home.  Those were the best sounding words I wanted to hear.  Take us home!  "Keep your eyes open in case you see him."  the officer told us.  We were both in the back seat, our first time in a police car. She was looking out her side of the window and I was looking out my side of the window.  Even though we didn't do anything wrong just sitting in the back seat of a police car made us feel guilty, like we did something wrong.  It was uncomfortable feeling but somehow knowing we were heading home made it a bit easier.

     We were coming up to the troll bridge when Amy and I noticed a young man standing near the top of the bridge with his fishing pole in the water.  "THAT'S HIM!  THAT'S HIM!"  we both shouted.   Our hearts started to beat faster with adrenaline. 

     The officer pulled over, got out and talked with the young man.  Feeling safe in the police car we were able to get a closer look at this young man.  He looked like he was in his early 20's.  He was a little unshaven, hat on, and unappealing.  He was denying everything the police officer was questioning him on.  We felt anger towards him for lying to the police officer.  There was nothing much more the police officer could do.  He told the guy to keep his nose clean and stay away from us.  The police officer started pulling away. 

     Suddenly, and without warning, the officer slams on the breaks and throws the car into reverse and speeds backwards.  It caught Amy and I by suprise.  The officer storms out of the car very angry.  He starts yelling at the young man.  "DO YOU FIND THIS FUNNY?!  THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER...." and on and on he yelled.  Amy and I looked at each other in shock.  The young man looked as if he was about to pee himself he was so scared.  The young man's eyes didn't want to make eye contact with the officer.  He just kept mumbling no and shaking his head.  After the officer was done chewing out this guy he gets back into the car and drives off.  Amy and I hid our excitment of the cop getting after the young man.  We didn't want the cop to go off on us like that.  Neither of us spoke a word until we pulled into the drive.

     "I want to talk with your mother to let her know what happened and to assure her you girls are safe."  the police officer told us.  I invited him up to the house.

     I motioned to him to wait outside because I knew my mom was resting.  I went into her bedroom and gently tried to wake her up.  "Mom," I lightly whispered, "there is a police officer here to talk with you."

     "Oh, it's just John.  Tell him I am resting and he can welcome himself into the living room" she mumbles.  My mom's friend, Patty's boyfriend, little did I know, was a police officer in another town and was meeting Patty there at the cabin. 

     I shook my mom's arm.  "No, mom, this is not John.  This is a real police officer here to talk with you."

     "Ma'am"  he entered her bedroom and jiggled her foot.  I don't know if it was his deep voice or him shaking her foot that made her suddenly wake up.  "I want to let you know the girls are okay." 

     My mom, fully awake now,  tried to utter a few words but could hardly speak.  "who....what....girls are okay?..."

     The officer filled her in on the whole story.  Amy and I just stood there at the foot of her bed with our heads down gazing at the floor.  The officer instructed my mom that we should probably stick close to home for the rest of the day.  No arguing with that one.  I think Amy and I already knew we didn't want to head back out for a walk.  That was too much excitment for us for one day.

     After the officer left, and my mom still in shock over the whole ordeal, wanted more details from us on what happened.  Over something to eat in the kitchen we shared everything that happened, again, with my mom.

     Looking back I realized that Amy and I probably did the right thing but it just took us longer to do it.  We should of went looking for help right away instead of running away in hopes of getting the young man off our trail. 

    

My Performance In GVSU's Renaissance Festival

     As a teen I fell in love with the theater.  I got my first taste of acting as a freshman in high school and embraced it.  I did a few plays in high school and performed in dinner theaters for the church I went to.  In my Senior year of high school I earned enough points to gain the rank of a lifetime thespian (an actor after the Greek actor and playwright Thespis), including a free one year subscription to some drama magazine.  There is something about stepping up on stage and putting a piece of yourself to make the character come to life.  I thought after high school my acting days were over even though I still had the love for the theater. 

My outfit for the ball scene

     Early in the summer of 1995, after I graduated, I got a call from the director of the Drama Department at Grand Valley State University.  She read my transcripts and was interested in having me be a part of the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet for the Renaissance festival.  I was more than thrilled to be part of a University production.  She told me practices were the following week and if I was interested in being a part of the play to show up.  I told her I would be happy to be there. 

     I walked along the buildings at Grand Valley State University realizing that in about 6 weeks I would be going from building to building hurrying myself along with a crowd of other people going from class to class.  The campus looked so big and I seemed so small.  I finally located the theater.  Older classmen were already there rehearsing part of their lines up on stage.  Incoming freshman were scattered along the front few rows of the seats watching the stage.  An older lady approached me and asked me who I was.  I gave her my name and she flips through a clipboard with several names on it.  She introduced herself as the head of the drama department.  For the life of me I cannot remember her name.  She told me the freshman are sitting up front and that as freshman we will be the extra's and a few will have small speaking parts.  I smiled and shook her hand as she passed me a copy of the play Romeo and Juliet and I made my way to sit among the other nervous looking incoming freshman.

     


I am the the second from the left.

Romeo with
the backstage director

     Over the summer the cast grew together as a family.  We would  share our frustrations, laugh about the guys wearing the cod piece, and tease a few of the ladies that had to dress like a harlot.  We would wrestle around the green room or stand just outside the doors talking and smoking.  When work was to be done, we did it but most of the time we just goofed off. 



     I did get a small speaking role as one of the watchmen.  It was only one or two lines which I forgot what they were but nonetheless I was happy as I can be about it.  I learned that play inside and out.  I read it once as a freshman in high school but I never let the story sink in.  Doing the play over and over it became a part of me and understanding the Elizabethan language.  We had a choreographer come in and teach us the dances in that time period for the ball scene.  I was one of the 8 couples up on stage dancing around and twilling.  It was a very graceful style of dance.  I stood in front of my partner.  Our right palms touched at face level as we spun around 3/4th of a circle.  Then we switched hand and were now palm to palm with our left hand and spun the other direction 3/4th of a circle.  I would lower my head in a curtsey and he would bow in my direction.  I loved it all. 

     There was a team of seamstresses that came in to fit us for our different costumes.  The gowns were beautiful.  There was a large room off the side of the theater that had sewing machines dotted over every table, pieces of cloth strung everywhere, a large closet filled with outfits and so much more.  These ladies did a great job at what they did.  At the time I never even touched a sewing machine and here these young ladies were designing these wonderful outfits.  I was impressed.

Prince of Verona

     One day we were told to wear our costumes and do some small skits at the over by the clock tower at GVSU.  I remember doing the dance scene outside feeling like I was in that time period.  People gathered around and watched us perform.  It was a fun experience walking around in costume playing the part.  The circle of people clapped for us as we bowed. 
     Soon it was show time.  We performed several shows throughout the week.  We even did one for local school children.  We had to edit some of the scenes, like the bedroom scene of Romeo and Juliet, for it to be child appropriate. I was in the opening scene as an extra.  I remember the curtain being raised, looking at my theater family with looks of excitement in their faces.  There was a moment of intense pause.  Then as if a magical moment happened we all came to life in character.  I was quietly chatting away with another extra, fawning over Benvolio and ooohing as Tybalt comes walking by.  Even now thinking about the lights shining down on us, the hush of the crowd and the words that were being said, I still get exciting chills about the whole thing.



One of the actors goofing off in the green room.
You can see the monitor and stage in the background.

     At one of the plays I forgot to go onstage during one of my scenes.  A few of us were goofing off in the green room.  There was a TV with sound in there so we can tell what scene the play is at.  We were not paying attention.  One of the directors pops her head into the green room to tell us to get ready for the next scene.  I looked over at her like a deer in headlights, then over to the monitor and realized I was supposed to be up on the balcony of the stage saying my one line!  I was so upset with myself.  The other two "watchmen" covered up for me but I felt horrible. 

Some of the actors

More extras in the play

Montague and an extra

Lounging out before a show.  I am sitting in the
middle and J.J. is laying across us.

A few of the actresses in the make-up room getting ready.



.

Some actresses before the show having fun.

    

A few of the actors showing off their tights.



Before a performance.  I am on the right.
 

Relaxing in the Green Room.



Juliet's Nurse ~ one of the paid actors for the play.



J.J. with one of the actors.

The Friar with an actor waiting to go on stage in the Green Room.



Another actress back in the Green Room waiting to go on stage.





JJ in the lower left.
We were signing advertising
posters during one performance.

     After the plays came the cast parties.  They realized I had never been drunk before.  It was their goal to see me wasted.  After the first show we went to someone's house and I was liquored up.  Yes, I was three sheets to the wind.  JJ, one of the extras, read out a 500 question purity test for everyone to take.  She was quite proud she had the lowest score.  There were some things that I didn't want to know about people that I learned that night.  The next morning we had an early practice for the next show later on that night.  Most of the cast and crew crawled in with hangovers.  I came skipping along.  They gave me looks of disgust.  "Don't you have a hangover?" they asked.

     "Nope!  I feel great!  On with the show!"  I would happily prance along. 

     In 1996, Hollywood remade the movie Romeo and Juliet staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.  Right away I fell in love with the movie.  We own the movie and my children love watching it as well.  I like how Hollywood adapted it to modern times.  When I hear the words it takes me back to when I was 18 again, up on stage, seeing everyone from the cast saying the same lines and going through the motions. 

     That was the last time I was on stage.  I would love to get back into the theater but not at this time in my life.  Someday....someday. 

    



The Day The World Stopped

     Unless you are very young of age or have lived in a cave, everyone knows about the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.  It was a day that has changed the way American's look at things, the way American's feel about things, and the way American's live.  11 years later and American's still walk around looking over their shoulder's wondering when the next attack will take place.  We may not think about September 11 every day but no one can forget what happened.  I am not going into details of what happened in New York, Washington D.C., or Pennsylvania.  I am telling the story from my life.

     It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  The sun was shinning and it was going to be a beautiful day.  My oldest son, Christian (age 4) was taking speech therapy classes in the afternoon and they were taking a field trip to the Allegan County Fair that day.  Brian and I agreed to take all the kids to the fair later on that evening.  I was getting our daughters, Elizabeth (age 3) and Ashton (a month before her first birthday) ready for a playgroup with other mom's at a castle park in Plainwell, Mi.  Brian had a job interview at Sara Lee Bakery that morning (and he did get the job).  In the background Blue's Clue's was playing on the tv.   I was taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College but I didn't have class that day.  We were all happily busy.  It was just like any other morning.

     Brian ran to the corner store to get me a gallon of milk before he drove to Grand Rapids.  As he was approaching our house he kept beeping the horn to our van.  I was under the impression that he was running late and he wanted me to meet him in the driveway so he can take off quickly.  Brian flys out of the car with a look of urgency upon his face.  Our neighbor, Buzz, opens his front door and hollars out to Brian, "Did you hear about the World Trade Center?

     I was thinking this was an opening line to a funny joke.  Brian replies back, "Yes, I just heard about it on the radio.  I am going to go check out the tv."  and Brian heads inside.

     As he walks closer me I asked, "What is going on?"

     And as he passed by me without even glancing in my direction he states, "America is being attacked!"

     I stood there, outside, for a moment.  Did I hear that right?  America is under attack?  I went inside.

     We turned the channel to the news and it was already on that a plane struck one of the towers.  You can see smoke coming out from the towers but America was still confused.  At that time we didn't really know what kind of plane it was or if it was deliberate or by accident.  Brian was certain that this was not an accident.  This was done on purpose.  But no one really thought who would do something as awful as this.  It was hard to pull your eyes away from the tv.  Eventually Brian had to because of his job interview.  He kissed us all and was on his way.  The excitment of the interview somehow didn't seem to matter at this point. 

     I looked at our children, who were more upset because Blue's Clue's was interrupted, and thought that even though they do not realize what is happening their lives are about to change forever.  I didn't want them to see images of what was going on so I turned Blue's Clue's back on and called my friend, Deana.  She was watching the whole thing and we were trying to make heads or tails out of the whole situtation.  Suddenly I hear her shout, "Oh my God!  There's a plane!  That plane is gonna hit!  It just crashed into the building!"  There was a shakiness to her voice.

     "What?!" I was hoping the news was doing a recap of what was happening, "What happened?"

     "While on TV I seen another plane go into the other building!"  We were both silent for a moment.  I ran with the portable phone upstairs to the tv in our bedroom and turned it on.  There on the screen was a gapping hole in the building of where the plane entered the building.  We both watched on our own tv's, in silence, grasping tightly to the phone.  Neither one of us made it to playgroup that day.

     On the tv reports we heard about the Pentagon and the United Flight Airlines 93 that went down in Pennsylvania.  I just wondered how much more do we have to see!  What building will be next?!  We were certainly under attack.  You couldn't help but think of the people on board those flights.  You knew there had to be children, and there were.  Did the passengers know?  Could they see the buildings approaching?  Tears for those people and their families were unstoppable.

     Then the unthinkable happened.  The towers collaspe.  At 9:59am the south tower went down first.  It was very hard to watch.  At 10:28am the other town collasped.  All those people in a matter on seconds were gone.  The police, fire department and recuse teams were great at getting out many people.  So many more lives could of ended that day if not for the brave men and women who went into those towers.  I don't think people realized the towers would of collasped.  Most thought several floors would be damaged, obviously, but it did not cross anyone's mind that these towers were coming down.  All around the area soot, ash, rubble blanketed the earth.  It looked like the aftermath of a war scene after a volcano spewed it's ash.  Papers from people's desks fluttered down what looked like a mean spirited ticker tape festival.  This was not a festival.  Those papers were like tears falling from those who lost their lives.  American's were sad and we were getting upset. 

     It was hard being a parent that day.   All I wanted to do was scoop them up and hold them yet, with them being young, they didn't want to sit in my lap all day watching the horror that is unfolding in America right before our eyes.  They still wanted to play.  They still wanted lunch.  They still wanted to be read to.  I played out the roll of mommy threw my actions but my heart and my thoughts went to those suffering from these vicious attacks. 

     Later on that evening we debated on going to the fair.  Neither Brian or I were in the mood.  The kids were wanting to go and we did promise them.  The Allegan County Fair, one of the largest county fair's in the state is also known for it's largest county fair parade in the country, is normally a wonderful place to visit.  They have a historical village complete with a working blacksmith shop, a church, a school where the local schools even use it for a day and homes set in the 1800's time period.  The barns are full of animals you would expect to see at the fair and then the midway that is chock full of rides for all ages.  On this day it was very somber.  There were young kids and teens riding rides having fun.  The adults, however, looked sad.  I don't remember seeing a smile on anyone's faces, even the carnival workers.  Usually in the aisle of games the carnival workers push parents into playing a game.  It was quiet today.  Radio's were on all over the place with coverage of the attacks.  In the exhibition booths where people are showing off their wares and their small businesses it was quiet.  Some had tv's playing at their stations.  The Kalamazoo Gazette had a special edition paper already there for people to take.  I was impressed how quickly it was in the papers.  I still have my copy. 

     Eariler that day President Bush ordered all planes down for several days.  I remember looking up at the sky and just seeing traces of clouds.  No contrails left over for passing airplanes.  I kept my gaze upon the sky.  So this is how it looked before the invention of the airplace.  I tried hard to memorize what was in my vision.  I knew people haven't seen a sky like this in about 100 years and I may never see a sky again without airplanes.  Even at night looking at the stars above it was peacefully quiet.  No moving blinking lights from a passing plane.  Everything was still.  Everything needed to be. 

         The next day I went to college.  Our English class was a big group discussion about what happened the day before.  Everyone was still walking around in a daze.  The little things in life didn't matter.  People were hurting, people were missing, and a lot of people died that day.  Nothing else was on people's minds.  The world seemed like it stopped and the focus was on New York, Washington D.C., and the crash site in Pennsylvania.  People could not stop talking about it.  There was a blood donation site set up at the campus.  There was a long line for people wanted to give.  This was the least American's could do at this moment.  I stood in line waiting for my turn.  No one worried about how they would feel giving blood.  There were people who might need it desperately.  It was the American duty to give.

     A few days later there was a vigil at the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mi. that my sister, our children and I went.  Some people gave speeches and prayers to those families affected by this terrorist attact.  We held candles and songs were sang.   I tried to tell my children the best I could about what was going on, that we were to remember those who died in the attacks.  We, as a city, all became like one.  As a nation we were as one during that time.  It didn't matter if you were rich or poor, republician or democrat, black or white, christian or athesist, young or old.  We all came untied as a country. 

      We found out al-Qaeda was responsible for planning and delivering out the attacks.  On tv you can see them jumping for joy and celebrating the collaspe of the towers.  These muslim terrorists, on this day, took away a bit of our freedom.  But as a country we united as a whole and didn't sit back for long.  On that day thousands were injured and 2,973 people have died.  There were only 20 people that were pulled out from the rubble from the World Trade Towers.  20!   There were 372 foreign fatalities that represented over 80 nations.  From the south tower (the one that collasped first) one 4 people above the 81st floor survived.  The fires from the towers burned for 99 days, finally being put out on December 19.  This didn't just effect a City.  This effected the world!

     Today when we watch movies, and if they are older, the kids point out the twin towers.  Just yesterday we watched the cartoon Ants and at the end the camera pans out to reveal Central Park in New York City.  The camera still pans out over the city.  Standing tall in the backgroud was the World Trade Towers.  They would be too young to remember the day but I am glad to know my children know about the terrorist attack and what the World Trade Towers are.