submitted by Fred
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I
found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with
the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just
ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy
about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and
heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more
food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean
without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way
that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the
world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the
hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be
upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained
firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish
the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will
come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell
phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that
are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, overfed, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great
disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people
in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we
hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to
get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this
the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The
President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be
the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in
keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you
and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did
this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look
around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you
personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your
sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to
serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no
draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an
''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable''
discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and
they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and
guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows
this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and
when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or
another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write
a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it
this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV,
burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially
more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several
times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Seventy Five Years +
Submitted by
Fred McCaleb
What A Difference 75 Years Can Make!
A sure sign that you're getting "up there" is that you can remember back
when things were different . . . A LOT Different!
Consider some of the changes that we have witnessed!!!
We were born before the PILL and the population explosion.
We were born before TV, penicillin, polio shots, antibiotics, frisbees,
frozen food, nylon, dacron, Xerox and contact lenses.
We were before radar, flourescent lights, credit cards, split atoms,
laser beams, and ball-point pens.
For us, time-sharing meant togetherness ... not computers or condominiums.
A "chip" meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware, and software
wasn't even a word!
In our time, closets were for clothes, not for "coming out of," and being
gay meant you were happy and carefree.
In those days, bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagons.
We were before Batman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Snoopy.
We were before DDT, vitamin pills, disposable diapers, Jeeps, and the Jefferson
nickel.
We preceded Scotch Tape, the Grand Coulee Dam, M&M's, automatic
transmissions, and Lincoln Continentals.
When we were in school ... pizzas, Cheerios, frozen orange juice, instant
coffee and McDonald's were unheard of. We thought fast food was what you
ate during Lent and Outer Space was the back of the Riviera Theater.
We never heard of FM radio, tape recorders, electric typewriters, word
processors, electronic music, digital clocks, artificial hearts and guys
wearing earrings.
We were before pantyhose and drip-dry clothes, ice makers, dishwashers,
clothes dryers, freezers, electric blankets, air conditioners and before
Hawaii and Alaska became states.
We were before yogurt, Ann Landers, plastics, hair spray, the forty-hour
week and the minimum wage and before man walked on the moon.
We got married first ...and then lived together afterward. How quaint
can you be?
In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable, "grass" was mowed, "coke"
was something you drank, "pot" was something you cooked in, "rock music" was
a grandmother's lullaby and AIDS were helpers in the Principal's office.
We were before coin-operated vending machines, jet planes, helicopters,
and interstate highways. "Made in Japan" meant junk and the term "making
out" referred to how you did on your exam.
We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers,
and computer marriages. We were also before day-care centers, group therapy
and nursing homes.
We had fountain pens with bottles of real ink. We had stockings made of
real silk with seams up the back that were never straight. We had saddle
shoes and cars with rumble seats. We had corner ice-cream parlors with
little tables and wire-back chairs where we had a choice of three flavors.
We hit the scene when there were 5-cent and 10-cent stores where you
bought things for five and ten cents. You could buy ice cream cones for a
nickel or a dime.
For one nickel you could ride a street car, make a phone
call,buy a Pepsi, or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards.
You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 ... but who could afford one? A
pity, too, because gas was only 11-cents a gallon.
We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was
discovered, but we were surely before the sex change ... we made do with what
we had.
And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a
husband to have a baby! Can you imagine that?
Fred McCaleb
What A Difference 75 Years Can Make!
A sure sign that you're getting "up there" is that you can remember back
when things were different . . . A LOT Different!
Consider some of the changes that we have witnessed!!!
We were born before the PILL and the population explosion.
We were born before TV, penicillin, polio shots, antibiotics, frisbees,
frozen food, nylon, dacron, Xerox and contact lenses.
We were before radar, flourescent lights, credit cards, split atoms,
laser beams, and ball-point pens.
For us, time-sharing meant togetherness ... not computers or condominiums.
A "chip" meant a piece of wood, hardware meant hardware, and software
wasn't even a word!
In our time, closets were for clothes, not for "coming out of," and being
gay meant you were happy and carefree.
In those days, bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagons.
We were before Batman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Snoopy.
We were before DDT, vitamin pills, disposable diapers, Jeeps, and the Jefferson
nickel.
We preceded Scotch Tape, the Grand Coulee Dam, M&M's, automatic
transmissions, and Lincoln Continentals.
When we were in school ... pizzas, Cheerios, frozen orange juice, instant
coffee and McDonald's were unheard of. We thought fast food was what you
ate during Lent and Outer Space was the back of the Riviera Theater.
We never heard of FM radio, tape recorders, electric typewriters, word
processors, electronic music, digital clocks, artificial hearts and guys
wearing earrings.
We were before pantyhose and drip-dry clothes, ice makers, dishwashers,
clothes dryers, freezers, electric blankets, air conditioners and before
Hawaii and Alaska became states.
We were before yogurt, Ann Landers, plastics, hair spray, the forty-hour
week and the minimum wage and before man walked on the moon.
We got married first ...and then lived together afterward. How quaint
can you be?
In our day, cigarette smoking was fashionable, "grass" was mowed, "coke"
was something you drank, "pot" was something you cooked in, "rock music" was
a grandmother's lullaby and AIDS were helpers in the Principal's office.
We were before coin-operated vending machines, jet planes, helicopters,
and interstate highways. "Made in Japan" meant junk and the term "making
out" referred to how you did on your exam.
We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers,
and computer marriages. We were also before day-care centers, group therapy
and nursing homes.
We had fountain pens with bottles of real ink. We had stockings made of
real silk with seams up the back that were never straight. We had saddle
shoes and cars with rumble seats. We had corner ice-cream parlors with
little tables and wire-back chairs where we had a choice of three flavors.
We hit the scene when there were 5-cent and 10-cent stores where you
bought things for five and ten cents. You could buy ice cream cones for a
nickel or a dime.
For one nickel you could ride a street car, make a phone
call,buy a Pepsi, or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards.
You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 ... but who could afford one? A
pity, too, because gas was only 11-cents a gallon.
We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was
discovered, but we were surely before the sex change ... we made do with what
we had.
And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a
husband to have a baby! Can you imagine that?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hallmark Postcard 1877
by
Fred McCaleb
Dear Brother,
In answer to your inquiry of family relations I will give you a few members. My
great grand father came from England. His name was George and grandfather was
named George Father’s name is James. I will give you the names of a few of
grandfather’s brothers names on the back side. Yours, W.H. Hallmark
On the other side of the card were listed these brothers and a sister of George
Hallmark Jr namely Tom (ours), Williiam, Jessie, John, Minet, Cummings,,
Richard, & sister Polly. So at least these and some more were the children of
George Hallmark Sr of England.
I listed part of James Washington Hallmarks children tnat were in the family
Bible on a
previous page. Here is a letter that was written to his sister Polly (Mrs.
Daniel Henderson) at Alto, Cherokee County, Texas by A.J. Hallmark.
Wetumpkia, Ala. Sept. 25, 1859 Dear Sister and Bros
I have just received yours, of the 9th inst I was truly glad to see it for it is
the first letter I have got from you since you left here. I wrote you three
letters and received no answer. Since you left here we have passed through
severe series of affliction. The tenth of October was a year ago our only
daughter Bettie died. She was just grown. Beautiful and intelligerit---wel1
educated. We had spent most all we made upon her, but its God knows what is
best and I try to submit to his providence. We have only two children. They are
boys, one about 15 and the other about 13 years of age both very well educated
good English scholars and now studying "Latin". I am getting along tolerable
well so as to live very comfortable. As you see I am living in Wetumpkia
keeping a large hotel, the principal one of the place, but I have been selling
goods most of the time since you left. Business is good here. Crops are
generally good. Well, you wanted to know where all the connections were in the
first place I could say that I am here all alone from connections. They are all
gone from this country but Claiborn he is still livinagCoosa. Fatherr living
louisaia up on Red River near a little place by the name of Montgomery, La,
near all of his wifes relations asc there too. Uricle Evans Gaskills family are
all living in Louisiana at a post office by the name of Rose Hill in Union
Parish except Sarrah. She married a man by the name of Williams and lives in
Memphis,. Tenn. Uncle Charles & Ryan and aII their family are out in Texas Some
where about the Basos River-there is but fear of the old settlers about
Sylacauga now all gone. My wifes motner and father are both dead.Wm. Bulgar is
preaching. He is at this time President of the Louisiana Conference of the
Protestant Church . He is married, he married very well. I was at Dr. Elisha
Wlilsons a few days ago he is livin g in Shell County near Wilsonville but is
now fixing to move West to Louisiana. Has a farm and some hands there now. I
saw aunt Sally. She looks well for her age. Several of their family are living
in Bibb about the same old places. Uncle John Cottingham and his family are
living in Lowndes Co of this state down below Montgomery –Have not seen any
of them for some time. Uncle Elisha and a part of his family are still living
in Bibb at the same old place that Grandfather used to live at. So you se we
are very much scattered and no probability that we will ever live so close
together again as we once did (all of us). My dear sister and brother and
family there is a place where we may all meet again that place is Heaven and by
the Grace of God I am determined to try and go there when I leave this world. I
hope you all enjoy religion, live so that at last we may meet in that Happ
World if we never see each other here. I would like to seel you still hope that
I may. Jane and the boys send their loves,
Your brother,
A J Hallmark
Application for land in Madison County Ala 1809
George Hallmark Sr No 206 Aldreds Creek 1 R 54 150 205 8 George Hallmark Jr,
Indian Creek 100 27 150 228 8
The 1809 census of Madison Coumty, Ala (Mississippi Territory) Jan 1800
George Hallmark 3r 3 white males imder 21 and 1 over 21 2 white females over 21
George Hallmark Jr 2 white males under 21 and I over 21, 4 white females under
21 and 2 over 21
William Hallmark 3 white males under 21 and 1 over 21, 3 white females under 21
and 1 over-21
Richard Hallmark I male over 21 , and I female over 21 Must have just got
married
The last 3 Hallmarks are Georae Hallmark Sr children and brothers of our Thomas
Fred McCaleb
Dear Brother,
In answer to your inquiry of family relations I will give you a few members. My
great grand father came from England. His name was George and grandfather was
named George Father’s name is James. I will give you the names of a few of
grandfather’s brothers names on the back side. Yours, W.H. Hallmark
On the other side of the card were listed these brothers and a sister of George
Hallmark Jr namely Tom (ours), Williiam, Jessie, John, Minet, Cummings,,
Richard, & sister Polly. So at least these and some more were the children of
George Hallmark Sr of England.
I listed part of James Washington Hallmarks children tnat were in the family
Bible on a
previous page. Here is a letter that was written to his sister Polly (Mrs.
Daniel Henderson) at Alto, Cherokee County, Texas by A.J. Hallmark.
Wetumpkia, Ala. Sept. 25, 1859 Dear Sister and Bros
I have just received yours, of the 9th inst I was truly glad to see it for it is
the first letter I have got from you since you left here. I wrote you three
letters and received no answer. Since you left here we have passed through
severe series of affliction. The tenth of October was a year ago our only
daughter Bettie died. She was just grown. Beautiful and intelligerit---wel1
educated. We had spent most all we made upon her, but its God knows what is
best and I try to submit to his providence. We have only two children. They are
boys, one about 15 and the other about 13 years of age both very well educated
good English scholars and now studying "Latin". I am getting along tolerable
well so as to live very comfortable. As you see I am living in Wetumpkia
keeping a large hotel, the principal one of the place, but I have been selling
goods most of the time since you left. Business is good here. Crops are
generally good. Well, you wanted to know where all the connections were in the
first place I could say that I am here all alone from connections. They are all
gone from this country but Claiborn he is still livinagCoosa. Fatherr living
louisaia up on Red River near a little place by the name of Montgomery, La,
near all of his wifes relations asc there too. Uricle Evans Gaskills family are
all living in Louisiana at a post office by the name of Rose Hill in Union
Parish except Sarrah. She married a man by the name of Williams and lives in
Memphis,. Tenn. Uncle Charles & Ryan and aII their family are out in Texas Some
where about the Basos River-there is but fear of the old settlers about
Sylacauga now all gone. My wifes motner and father are both dead.Wm. Bulgar is
preaching. He is at this time President of the Louisiana Conference of the
Protestant Church . He is married, he married very well. I was at Dr. Elisha
Wlilsons a few days ago he is livin g in Shell County near Wilsonville but is
now fixing to move West to Louisiana. Has a farm and some hands there now. I
saw aunt Sally. She looks well for her age. Several of their family are living
in Bibb about the same old places. Uncle John Cottingham and his family are
living in Lowndes Co of this state down below Montgomery –Have not seen any
of them for some time. Uncle Elisha and a part of his family are still living
in Bibb at the same old place that Grandfather used to live at. So you se we
are very much scattered and no probability that we will ever live so close
together again as we once did (all of us). My dear sister and brother and
family there is a place where we may all meet again that place is Heaven and by
the Grace of God I am determined to try and go there when I leave this world. I
hope you all enjoy religion, live so that at last we may meet in that Happ
World if we never see each other here. I would like to seel you still hope that
I may. Jane and the boys send their loves,
Your brother,
A J Hallmark
Application for land in Madison County Ala 1809
George Hallmark Sr No 206 Aldreds Creek 1 R 54 150 205 8 George Hallmark Jr,
Indian Creek 100 27 150 228 8
The 1809 census of Madison Coumty, Ala (Mississippi Territory) Jan 1800
George Hallmark 3r 3 white males imder 21 and 1 over 21 2 white females over 21
George Hallmark Jr 2 white males under 21 and I over 21, 4 white females under
21 and 2 over 21
William Hallmark 3 white males under 21 and 1 over 21, 3 white females under 21
and 1 over-21
Richard Hallmark I male over 21 , and I female over 21 Must have just got
married
The last 3 Hallmarks are Georae Hallmark Sr children and brothers of our Thomas
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Letter to Dr. Howell ll
Plastic Surgery, Dr. Howell II
Dear Sir,
All the cancer tests I have ever taken have turned out positive. The Dr. here in
Fayette gave me a PSA test for prostate and it registered 12 about 15 years ago
and said I better come in and get it treated before it killed me. I came in
and he sent me to Tuscaloosa and I got it tested and they said it was OK. He
tested 3 or 4 more times and it was always positive. And tried to send me
again. I didn’t go. Test worthless on me.
I year or two ago he tested a bump on face for skin cancer. I believed that test
and let him cut it out. Then there was a spot on head he tested. I went back for
treatment and he said wait and see what happens. Nothing happened.
I scratched a place and went to him again this year. He tested me for skin
cancer. I told him I didn’t need the test but he paid me no attention. The
place he tested was trying to bleed me to death that night and the nurse here
at Morningside assisted living called an ambulance to take me 1 ½ miles to
Fayette Hospital. Dr there got blood stopped with gauze and bandage around
head. The place healed up in about a week. It seems to be completely healed.
I have been waiting on younger sister to come and take to different Dr. and see
if I need operation. I am determined not to have it myself. If it kills me I
will just die happy and go on to the great beyond. I am 91 years old and have
lived mostly a long and happy life. Sorry If I have inconvenienced you. But I
am not coming unless someone drags me.
Yours Truly Fred McCaleb
My Daughter called this afternoon and said she would go by my decision.
Dear Sir,
All the cancer tests I have ever taken have turned out positive. The Dr. here in
Fayette gave me a PSA test for prostate and it registered 12 about 15 years ago
and said I better come in and get it treated before it killed me. I came in
and he sent me to Tuscaloosa and I got it tested and they said it was OK. He
tested 3 or 4 more times and it was always positive. And tried to send me
again. I didn’t go. Test worthless on me.
I year or two ago he tested a bump on face for skin cancer. I believed that test
and let him cut it out. Then there was a spot on head he tested. I went back for
treatment and he said wait and see what happens. Nothing happened.
I scratched a place and went to him again this year. He tested me for skin
cancer. I told him I didn’t need the test but he paid me no attention. The
place he tested was trying to bleed me to death that night and the nurse here
at Morningside assisted living called an ambulance to take me 1 ½ miles to
Fayette Hospital. Dr there got blood stopped with gauze and bandage around
head. The place healed up in about a week. It seems to be completely healed.
I have been waiting on younger sister to come and take to different Dr. and see
if I need operation. I am determined not to have it myself. If it kills me I
will just die happy and go on to the great beyond. I am 91 years old and have
lived mostly a long and happy life. Sorry If I have inconvenienced you. But I
am not coming unless someone drags me.
Yours Truly Fred McCaleb
My Daughter called this afternoon and said she would go by my decision.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hymn Designations
Submitted by Fred
The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn: There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
The Contractor's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn: There is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn: Standing On The Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn: Open My Eyes That I May See
The IRS Agent's Hymn: I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn: Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn: Send Out Thy Light
The Shopper's Hymn: Sweet By And By
For those of you who drive, if you must speed on the highway, please
sing these......
45 mph: God Will Take Care Of You
55 mph: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
65 mph: Nearer My God To Thee
75 mph: Nearer Still Nearer
85 mph: This World Is Not My Home
95 mph: Lord, I'm Coming Home
Over 100 mph: Precious Memories
The Dentist's Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns
The Weatherman's Hymn: There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
The Contractor's Hymn: The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn: There is A Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn: Standing On The Promises
The Optometrist's Hymn: Open My Eyes That I May See
The IRS Agent's Hymn: I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn: Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn: Send Out Thy Light
The Shopper's Hymn: Sweet By And By
For those of you who drive, if you must speed on the highway, please
sing these......
45 mph: God Will Take Care Of You
55 mph: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
65 mph: Nearer My God To Thee
75 mph: Nearer Still Nearer
85 mph: This World Is Not My Home
95 mph: Lord, I'm Coming Home
Over 100 mph: Precious Memories
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Letter from Fred
Dear Clancy & Tom, Jean & Ardell,
I am lazy today and am making this letter cover more than one address. I hope no
one minds. You asked if I got over my skinned forehead in January. I did do
that. It seemed to heal faster than usual and the bad looks of it was gone in
about a week or little over. The Psychological effects of the fall are not
gone yet however. I have been fearful of walking for fear of falling again.
Seems I have just about got my courage back. Probably about ready for another
fall. It is bad to have to try to walk again. I never realized I would get in
the position of 2nd childhood.
My second eye operation turned out to be 20/30 vision. Not quite as good as the
first which turned out a perfect 20/20. I was a little disappointed in that. But
I shouldn’t complain since 20/30 was as good as I ever had before. The costs
of the 2 eye operations was approximately $10,000, $4000 for the doctors 40
minutes work, and $6000 for 4 hrs outpatient stay at the hospital. Somebody is
as great an expert stealing as Clinton’s expertise at lying. The 2nd eye was
a little red when you were here but cleared up OK. Clinton has done lyed twice
in last 2 wks, once about dope peddling from Mexico and once about bombing
Cosovo or whatever Yugoslav fighting is called. Trying to tell rest of world
what to do and its none of our business. Let them kill each other and settle
their troubles themselves.
Bettie is up in the world now. She got an 80th birthday card from Hillary and
Billary Clinton. Am sure she really has their sympahies. I got one from them 2
½ years ago. I saved it in my miscellaneous notebook and labeled it “from
the champion liar of the world”. How cruel to treat a beloved president that
way!
We have had 2 letters from Jean since her and Ardell went to Fla. to spend the
bad part of the winter. They’re down there eating oranges and grapefruit and
basking in the sun. Enjoying living in their mobile travel home whichever spot
they choose to live. Sound like aristocrats.
This is Tuesday and it has been cold here for a couple of days. 21 degrees
yesterday morning and 35 this morning and spit a little snow. Guess the
roughest part of winter is coming up. Pear trees are starting to bloom and
ready for som 10 degree weather to kill the blooms. Then after that the spring
tornado blow away.
I am on the internet now and my e mail address is n4eb@fayette.net. Got a
little genealogy about the daughter of 1st Hugh of Fayette County, Barbary
McCaleb Lauderdale. Got it from a girl in Ca. I may become addicted to this
internet mess. You can even find out what your latitude and longitude is.
Pretty well got one placed. I even find my own name on there in the
genealogical field. Billary knows all about you. Got your number.
Jean Ellen, Timm & Brooke are coming to see us March 20th. Grandson Bradley
Boswell is coming to see us by himself on his spring break Mar.7th. So I guess
we will have a little Company in March. Will be glad to see anyone that comes.
We are still taking aquatic exercise. I try to walk and do the equivalent of
about a mile of exercise on other days. Am not sure its worth anything. Have
arthritis of the neck and right arm. I guess this is enough of my complaints.
Hope everybody is well and will write me if they ever get time.
With love, from Fred McCaleb
I am lazy today and am making this letter cover more than one address. I hope no
one minds. You asked if I got over my skinned forehead in January. I did do
that. It seemed to heal faster than usual and the bad looks of it was gone in
about a week or little over. The Psychological effects of the fall are not
gone yet however. I have been fearful of walking for fear of falling again.
Seems I have just about got my courage back. Probably about ready for another
fall. It is bad to have to try to walk again. I never realized I would get in
the position of 2nd childhood.
My second eye operation turned out to be 20/30 vision. Not quite as good as the
first which turned out a perfect 20/20. I was a little disappointed in that. But
I shouldn’t complain since 20/30 was as good as I ever had before. The costs
of the 2 eye operations was approximately $10,000, $4000 for the doctors 40
minutes work, and $6000 for 4 hrs outpatient stay at the hospital. Somebody is
as great an expert stealing as Clinton’s expertise at lying. The 2nd eye was
a little red when you were here but cleared up OK. Clinton has done lyed twice
in last 2 wks, once about dope peddling from Mexico and once about bombing
Cosovo or whatever Yugoslav fighting is called. Trying to tell rest of world
what to do and its none of our business. Let them kill each other and settle
their troubles themselves.
Bettie is up in the world now. She got an 80th birthday card from Hillary and
Billary Clinton. Am sure she really has their sympahies. I got one from them 2
½ years ago. I saved it in my miscellaneous notebook and labeled it “from
the champion liar of the world”. How cruel to treat a beloved president that
way!
We have had 2 letters from Jean since her and Ardell went to Fla. to spend the
bad part of the winter. They’re down there eating oranges and grapefruit and
basking in the sun. Enjoying living in their mobile travel home whichever spot
they choose to live. Sound like aristocrats.
This is Tuesday and it has been cold here for a couple of days. 21 degrees
yesterday morning and 35 this morning and spit a little snow. Guess the
roughest part of winter is coming up. Pear trees are starting to bloom and
ready for som 10 degree weather to kill the blooms. Then after that the spring
tornado blow away.
I am on the internet now and my e mail address is n4eb@fayette.net. Got a
little genealogy about the daughter of 1st Hugh of Fayette County, Barbary
McCaleb Lauderdale. Got it from a girl in Ca. I may become addicted to this
internet mess. You can even find out what your latitude and longitude is.
Pretty well got one placed. I even find my own name on there in the
genealogical field. Billary knows all about you. Got your number.
Jean Ellen, Timm & Brooke are coming to see us March 20th. Grandson Bradley
Boswell is coming to see us by himself on his spring break Mar.7th. So I guess
we will have a little Company in March. Will be glad to see anyone that comes.
We are still taking aquatic exercise. I try to walk and do the equivalent of
about a mile of exercise on other days. Am not sure its worth anything. Have
arthritis of the neck and right arm. I guess this is enough of my complaints.
Hope everybody is well and will write me if they ever get time.
With love, from Fred McCaleb
Letter to Clancy from Fred 1997
4146 county Rd.51
Fayette,Al. 35555
November 8,1997
Dear Clancy and Tom,
I got your nice letter today. I wish I could write one that good. As far as I
can tell you do a perfect job of writing letters. We were glad to have all of
you here, and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks for all your nice comments.
You will be welcome to come here for another reunion next year if I am alive
and welcome to come visiting any time you wish.
I am trying to take Lucille’s advice and not talk of being old and disabled
but find it sort of hard to do. The general trend of my thinking has been to
assume that tomorrow will be just the same kind of day as today, but that is
somewhat false thinking. Tomorrow can bring most anything to one, good or bad.
I try not to worry much about the future and find absolutely no reason to worry
about the past. We have only today, and have to do the best we can with it.
We went to the genealogy society meeting in Winfield Monday night and to
Tuscaloosa Thursday morning. We ate lunch with some of the old ladies at
Tuscaloosa. I told one I hoped to make it to 2000. She said she didn’t know
if she wanted to make it that long or not. Said they would have the world in
such a mess by then that she didn’t know if she would want to be around. So
some people have my kind of young outlook or worse. Poor things. Ha!
I have been searching the other CD rom disks I have for our genealogy and have
found a few pages more.
I am about fed up with genealogy. Need to get my mind on something else. About
as far or further than anybody has ever got anyway, and its very hard to find
the ancestors of wives of husbands where their only last name is their
husband’s. I will just have to pat myself on the back and admit I have done
the best I could. Some of it may not be exactly right, but I will let others
prove the mistakes. I have put? marks in most all places where unsure.
Momma told me I might find something I didn’t want to know if I went too far
with the ancestors. She was right on that. I guess none of them have measured
up to being perfect as I might have expected, but one has to take them as they
were. There is no changing of the past. Momma might have meant I might find
something about daddy we didn’t want to know. Best I can find out he was at
least a better man after he got momma but not perfect. I haven’t found faults
with momma except she did some extra worrying that was probably unnecessary.
Their combination produced good children. We are proud to be who we are.
Dad’s favorite song was “Love Lifted Me.” He used to try to sing that
sometimes when we were plowing. He may have been lifted by momma’s love and
Christianity. Lets hope so.
Guess I had better quit rambling around in my thoughts and quit for this time.
With Love,
Fred McCaleb
Fayette,Al. 35555
November 8,1997
Dear Clancy and Tom,
I got your nice letter today. I wish I could write one that good. As far as I
can tell you do a perfect job of writing letters. We were glad to have all of
you here, and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks for all your nice comments.
You will be welcome to come here for another reunion next year if I am alive
and welcome to come visiting any time you wish.
I am trying to take Lucille’s advice and not talk of being old and disabled
but find it sort of hard to do. The general trend of my thinking has been to
assume that tomorrow will be just the same kind of day as today, but that is
somewhat false thinking. Tomorrow can bring most anything to one, good or bad.
I try not to worry much about the future and find absolutely no reason to worry
about the past. We have only today, and have to do the best we can with it.
We went to the genealogy society meeting in Winfield Monday night and to
Tuscaloosa Thursday morning. We ate lunch with some of the old ladies at
Tuscaloosa. I told one I hoped to make it to 2000. She said she didn’t know
if she wanted to make it that long or not. Said they would have the world in
such a mess by then that she didn’t know if she would want to be around. So
some people have my kind of young outlook or worse. Poor things. Ha!
I have been searching the other CD rom disks I have for our genealogy and have
found a few pages more.
I am about fed up with genealogy. Need to get my mind on something else. About
as far or further than anybody has ever got anyway, and its very hard to find
the ancestors of wives of husbands where their only last name is their
husband’s. I will just have to pat myself on the back and admit I have done
the best I could. Some of it may not be exactly right, but I will let others
prove the mistakes. I have put? marks in most all places where unsure.
Momma told me I might find something I didn’t want to know if I went too far
with the ancestors. She was right on that. I guess none of them have measured
up to being perfect as I might have expected, but one has to take them as they
were. There is no changing of the past. Momma might have meant I might find
something about daddy we didn’t want to know. Best I can find out he was at
least a better man after he got momma but not perfect. I haven’t found faults
with momma except she did some extra worrying that was probably unnecessary.
Their combination produced good children. We are proud to be who we are.
Dad’s favorite song was “Love Lifted Me.” He used to try to sing that
sometimes when we were plowing. He may have been lifted by momma’s love and
Christianity. Lets hope so.
Guess I had better quit rambling around in my thoughts and quit for this time.
With Love,
Fred McCaleb
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