Salut Senegal! Martha's 2008 African Adventure

Hi Marti,

Greetings from the desert. It's 72 here and I was out to the Rancho de Tia Rosa -lunch with the snowbirds. Rosa would be proud to have a classy place like that named after her.

I noted that Carrie and Hal have signed on. Carrie is a neat person, a teacher, possibly a Great Teacher. Teachers are rnaked as follows; The Mediocre Teacher, Tells. The Good Teacher, Explains. The Superior Teacher, Demonstrates. The Great Teacher, Inspires.

William Arthur Ward

Dottie was a Great Teacher.

I learned a lot from her. I couldn't believe my ears when, on 3 March 1946 when she turned to me and said,"When are we getting married?" I answere that I had spent the past five years learning how to kill people and hadn't given it any thought. Well we were married on 3 August that year and I learned. Jon just called. He is coming home and I said we'd go to Red Stone Piza for supper. His Birthday is on the Sixth- same as yours. So Happy Birthday, Kiddo. My Love to you. G'Pa

Dear Martha, Happy Leap Day!I'm really enjoying your blog! You write as though you are really having a great experience!! It is warm here in Feenicks; high 70's, low 80's everyday with mucho del sol. I'm going to see if G'Pa wants to go with me to the AZ Scandinavian Fest on Saturday. Lots of dancing and good food served by folks in traditional costumes. He might enjoy that. I just got off of the fone with your Uncle Bill, and he's feeling quite a bit better after his surgery. He is not as sore as he was, but he must be careful to not lift too much, and take care climbing stairs, etc. The mortgage business is finally picking up as the firm I work for is now FHA and VA approved. That gives me many new avenues to help people that are in trouble with their mortgages. Love you, Dear, and have fun and be safe! Love, U. John

Hello Martha - G'Pa sent us a snail mail copy of your blog. Thank you G'Pa! We were thrilled to read about your experiences and look forward to exploring the world through your eyes.

Hi Marthenson,

Today with the Snowbirds and when Beth asked for a place for next week, one of the gang said," That Steak place on Southern and where the Shopping center is". In chorus they all said,"Orv's favorite place. Black Angus." Yeah! I haven't heard from Uncle Bill, I call his cell every evening and get his voice mail. He doesn't answer back, so I guess I must have missed something. Oh Well. Tomorrow Marit will be here and we'll oick her up and she will be with us for a while and it will be fun to have her here. Yesterday I did my laundry and today I cleaned the house and oiled all the teak furniture. Right now Jon is making chili and it smells so very good. We shopped for groceries and herbs and we are all set for a few days. Enjoyed Feb 10 message you wrote on your Blog. Love to you, G'Pa

Hey there Martha.

It was great to talk to you today. I forgot to tell you we went out with Jane Reilly for Valentines day. It was alot of fun catching up. she is a Pilotes teacher around the city. She looks great. WE are very happy that our Bayside mural is completed. Well actually, there is still more to paint. It is great to be back home inspite of the snowy weather. Have a great week.

love mom

Hey there Martha.

It was great to talk to you today. I forgot to tell you we went out with Jane Reilly for Valentines day. It was alot of fun catching up. she is a Pilotes teacher around the city. She looks great. WE are very happy that our Bayside mural is completed. Well actually, there is still more to paint. It is great to be back home inspite of the snowy weather. Have a great week.

love mom

We had a hectic week with 'Uncle Bill' here. Jon and I picked him up at the PHX airport and took him here for a bit and fed him, then took him to his hotel where he unpacked and freshened up. Jon went to work and later Bill called and I picked him up and we came here. Tuesday he went with me to be with the snowbird group and we all enjoyed his company. He knew the gang and it was like old times On Friday I took him out to Peoria to visit the Feigals. We went to miMi's and had lunch, then over to Feigal's apt for a visit. Bill Feigal was the doctor who delivered yo' Moma. Today he left for Albuquerque, then to Louisville. Then on the 20th Marit will arrive.
Getting out of the cold arctic weather. So much for that. And how are you doing? I got all chocked up about your comments about Granny Svien. I agree. And I miss her terribly.Next Sunday Jon and I are the guests of Jane and Bob Kolbe. Jon is to make a chocolate pie for the occasion. As I type this I am reading Jon's story about "Love" The answers are pretty funny and original. So, take care my dear girl. See you soon, Love, G'Pa

What does Love mean

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could haveimagined. See what you think:

____

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his handsgot arthritis too. That's love."Rebecca- age 8_____"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."Billy - age 4 (I love this one)_____"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."Karl - age 5_____"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."Chrissy - age 6 ___"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."Terri - age 4 (How true) _____"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."Danny - age 7_____"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"Emily - age 8_____"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)_____"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"Nikka - age 6(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)_____"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."Noelle - age 7_____"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."Tommy - age 6_____"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."Elaine-age 5_____"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."Chris - age 7_____"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."Mary Ann - age 4_____"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."Lauren - age 4_____"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)Karen - age 7_____"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."Jessica - age 8 ( I think we just assume people know we love them )


_____And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor wasan elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"______When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.Then send it on to five other people. Within hours you caused a multitude of people to pray for other people.Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life.P. S. Five is good, but more is better.

Dear Martha, I drove your grand-uncle Bill to the airport this morning. He flew in from Louisville, and "boy, his arms were tired!" Actually, he arrived at 10 AM, and I drove to Sky Harbor with your Grandpa. Uncle Bill and Dad had a good week, BS-ing and telling each other stories.

They went out to eat any day that I didn't have time to cook, which was quite a few. Your cousin Marit will arrive here next Wednesday to visit for five days; that'll be fun. She is a "talking machine", according to your Grandpa. She always treats me so well. AND, she can cook!!:) It rained today here, fairly hard this morning, and now it is cold (60F):) Anyone in Visconsin would think it's a heat-wave! Most folks I talk with up there are either freezing, or frozen. South WI got blasted this winter, and it ain't over yet. It sure was nice to read about your host family's grandmother, and your reaction to her loving ways. I miss your Grandmother. She knew what true love was all about. Love you, darling, Uncle John

Dearest Martha, I am grading essays as I browse around the internet. I visited Brian's website at www.untoldvoyage.com and now here I am in Africa with you. The world seems to be a small house with many rooms. Thank you for describing your life. I wish I could be there. We have had 75 days of snow fall and only 31 days this winter without snow. Of that we have seen the sun only 9 days, and that's just for a few minutes at a time. We had another snowday on February 6th after a snowfall of 14 inches. I-90 had over 859 cars stalled for 12 hours when two semi trucks could not get up and incline and blocked the highway. People had to either sit in their cars while the National Guard brought them food and hot drinks, or some of them left their cars to stay in a hotel until the highway could be cleared. This has been quote a winter to remember. We have had 74 inches of snow total and will probably beat the record of 76 inches before the winter is finished. Enjoy the sun. Please give your host family our greetings, love and blessings from your Anut Suzanne and Uncle Rick. Tell them we send them our thanks, too.

Martha!

I finally got to sit down and read about all of your adventures!!! It sounds like you're having an amazing experience! It's freezing here but you did such a great job of describing it there that I can almost picture myself on the beach :) I miss you tons but am sooo excited for you!!! Love you, take care!

Jasmine

Hi Rosebud,

I am sitting in my basement office. The little dial on the heater tells me it is 60 degrees down here! And that's warm compared to the great outdoors! We were under a winter strom watch all day yesterday, and, at times, the highway was a complete white-out while I was driving to the UW. all students made it to class, but once they got there, they wanted me to cancel class. No WAY! I am enjoying your messages --blogs--so much. It does seem like you are in another world, completely. Now, Brian is off to Australia. what wonderful adventures you both are having. We know you are safe in God's hands and that you are a wise young woman. Is there any way you can take pictures by asking permission and giving people a copy? I loved the pic of the village around the tree. I wanted to jump right into the picture. How is school going? Are there other anglo students or are you the only one? Has your house mom taught you any baking skills? Yum. I have to get ready to teach, so bye for now. Love and hugs,

Aunt Mare

Dear Martha,Your cuz Brian is now down under in Middle Earth. he sends his greetings. I am glad to read your blogs. WE had MORE snow again this weekend. We are setting a new record this year, first in December and again in January. Believe me but we are tired of shovelling snow. The Super Bowl is tonight, Patriots v. Giants. I do not really care who wins. OUr foster son, Boan, did not get into the UW Madison, so now he is looking for a plan B. He wants to go to Georgetown or U of TExas or U of Virginia and has applied at all three. I hope your Mom and Lauren come to visit me soon.

Martha, It is so great to hear of your internship. I know the young women you teach will be affected for the rest of their lives, even as they touch your own life. We had the day off school yesterday because it was SO COLD -14 with a wind chill of -40. Blessings.

G'Pa

30 Jan 2008

Sent you an email and this is the first I've tried this. Hope all is well with you. All OK here Jon feeds me well and we are doing OK. Bill Glye will come here on 11 Feb and will stay at a nearby hotel. Have fun, Dear Martha and be careful. Love to you G'Pa

Martha,

I hope you are well. It sounds wonderful, all the new experiences and activities. Take it all in and enjoy. You are in our prayers. Blessings!

Good evening martha.We went skiing today. Judy, david and I , skied 7 miles on the Holtz trail. Talk about wiggly legs! Where is the part about the bucket shower? I could not find that part. Going to Don Bumpus birhtday party. He is 60!love Mom

Martha aka Amanita :)

So glad to hear everything is even better than you KNEW it would be! question though...how are the stars ? :)

TJ

It would help to check my spelling before I send--still typing with one hand--anyway that;s LA not LW!! Also the bit about baking was a question--looks like your mom wonders the same thing. I bet folks turn their heads when you walk through town. Do you go alone? You are so brave and adventurous. Off to school. Love and love,

Me

Hi Amanita!

Very happy to hear you are learning your way around! I wrote you yesterday,but I think that was just a regular email so it didnt get posted. Are you near the ocean? Is it "Swimable" (new English word) So your host mom bakes--what types of goodies. I loved the story of the bucket shower and the cocroaches! Reminds me of living in Alaska--the bucket shower and living in LW--the roaches--bothersome things for sure. Very cold here--we had minus 18 two nights ago and last night minus 11. Your place sounds like paradise in comparison. I start teaching next week, so am heading up to school to work on printing up syllabi and handouts. Au revoir,

Love and hugs and more love,Aunt Mare