(p. 160) WHAT BIBLE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE PUZZLES YOU THE MOST? WHICH BLESSES YOU THE MOST? WHY?

John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” (puzzles)

I Corinthians 13:12 (look it up) Much of the Bible and life is a mystery or a conflict now. But someday we will understand the big picture.

(p. 161) HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAD SURGERY, OR A LONG ILLNESS?

The first surgery was having my tonsils out in second grade. I felt violated when they had to prick my finger to draw blood, and when I didn't get the ice cream they promised afterward. The ether stunk. I think I screamed when they put the mask over my face. Trauma from this surely was a factor in my wanting to have control over my next hospital experience, labor and delivery. I asked my obstetrician when I was pregnant with Andy if I could deliver at home. As it was, I didn't get to the hospital until I was 6-7 cm. dilated. That was such a triumph that I was determined to have you at home, a most treasured experience! It wasn't until I was 41,. when I had my second surgery, the breast reduction, that I had my first IV. At the time, I felt like I was willingly giving up my virginity. Now, with all that has happened diagnosing and treating amyloidosis, getting stuck is just not a big deal.
My significant accident happened when I was ten. Leaving school on my bike, I fell and broke my upper front tooth. My regular dentist was not available and I had to go to a guy who had never heard of Novocain. It took a long time to trust dentists after that Dr. Holt, but dentistry has come a long way. I just found the best one of all, Dr. Babington here in Chantilly.

(p. 162) WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DID YOUR PARENTS REQUIRE OF YOU AS A CHILD? EXPLAIN HOW THIS AFFECTED YOUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

The usual clean my room and clean the kitchen every night. Pick up dog poop and mushy mangos.

The problem was, Mom always had a housekeeper, so she didn’t teach me how to do things because we were working side by side, day in and day out. You missed that too.

I think we become responsible for real when we move out on our own.

(p. 163) NAME YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY. WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU START DOING IT? WHY DO YOU ENJOY IT?

I have three hobbies that alternate being my favorite - quiltmaking, gardening, and playing bridge.

I started sewing in the summer probably after 7th grade when I took a class at the junior high. We made clothes, like circle skirts and blouses with darts. Mom was a good seamstress, making costumes and formal dresses for me in Florida. Her sister Aunt Helen was talented too. She would send me dresses that she made.

I had a quilt on my bed, a double wedding ring pattern. It may have been made by someone in the family, but I never knew Mom to make a quilt. I was fascinated by all the different calico fabrics, and imagined that they all came from young girls' dresses.

When Andy was in elementary school, he had a project that required him to make a Maryland state flag. I ended up doing much of it with him. Since it was pieced, I consider that my first quilt. Maybe it's still around here in his stuff; I'm not sure. In 1989 I bought a book from JoAnn Fabrics in Fort Washington which gave directions for a sampler quilt. It is still here. I followed it step by step, block by block. When Aunt Mary Nell came to visit us for the first time in the spring, I was working on it. You know all about it; it hung in your room when you were young, and now it's in the American room. It's very faded from having sun shine on it, and it has no label, as all quilts should. It is for you whenever you want it.

Mom always like to work in the yard, as you know. I got into it big time when we bought the orange house in 1970. The neighbors there still remember. I learned all about azaleas first. I planted five plants of a variety called Mrs. George Lindley Tabor on the north side of the house by the front door, back when Meadows Farms used to sell young azaleas for very cheap. Then I found out that it was hardy only in Zone 8 or higher. So I built walls of chicken wire around each plant in the fall and surrounded them with fallen leaves to protect them, and they thrived.

At the Fort Washington house we had that gorgeous azalea hill in the front yard. Anyway, gardening is great exercise. I can easily lose myself in it, even now when moving around is painful. My portable benches help. The enemy this year has been mosquitoes.

Bridge is my current obsession. I played in college, then with Mom, Eeper, and Aunt Mary Nell, and with Allen after we were married. We played at lunch at IBM. After Allen and I split, I played at PWP. But your dad refused to play. I think the basic reason is that he doesn't enjoy games at all. So I didn't play for 25 years, until a year ago I took a class and have been trying to improve enough to play duplicate (competitive) bridge. I have a friend Nancy Baird, who lives in Greenbriar, who is my partner. Also I have met Chieko Franck, from Japan, married to an American Dad's age, who was in Japan as a teacher. Small world.
Bridge is a good mental exercise. I really started it to postpone Alzheimer's. I have met delightful mostly older people. Since I am not good at social small talk, and have physical limitations, I love the bridge table where everyone is seated and the activity is structured. No one can walk away from you because you are boring or not sexy. Eventually everyone gets well acquainted and has a good time.

(p. 164) WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU BUY YOUR FIRST HOUSE? DESCRIBE THE HOUSE AND ANY SIGNIFICANCE IT HAD FOR YOU.

4706 Richmarr Place, Alexandria. Allen and I bought it in 1970 when I was 23. We put $10k down. The house cost $33k. good old days? In 1971 we painted the wood part orange to blend with the bricks, and called it the Orange House.

Have you been through Calista’s house? The O.H. was the same model with an addition in the back. There are pictures in Andy’s early picture books.

I learned to garden there. Calista decorated and cleaned inside her house I loved to work in the yard.

(p. 165) WHAT IS THE STRANGEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN?

The pumpkin puddle.

(p. 166) TELL ABOUT A MEMORABLE HOTEL OR RESORT YOU HAVE VISITED. DESCRIBE THE LOCATION AND TELL ABOUT EXPERIENCES THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT.

Have I ever been to a resort?

In late summer of 1974, Grand Bear rented a vacation condo at South Padre Island for a week. Allen and I were still married, but it turned out to be the beginning of our breakup, and some of that was messy.

You are right to be very selective about your husband. Ordinary things like what you like to do and eat, how messy you are, how much conversation you need, are important as well as big things like sex, money, and core values. If you are making a lifetime commitment, you both need to be able to negotiate with love, humor, and respect.

Anyway, the place at South Padre Island was really cool - fully furnished in aqua beachy decor, right on the Gulf, lots of tropical flowers blooming. There are some pictures around here of the town but not inside the condo. I always wanted to go back.

(p. 167) DID YOU EVER GO ON A HAYRIDE OR BOB FOR APPLES? TELL ABOUT FUN HARVEST ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOYED WITH OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

In Miami Springs our church youth group did hayrides in the fall, using the back of an open truck filled with hay. We would drive out in the country, sing songs, and then go somewhere inside to eat and continue partying.

I remember one Halloween party where we bobbed for apples, but I saw the big fun in that. While we were still in Florida the threat of hidden razor blades began, and the need to examine all the treat or treat loot.

As for actual harvesting, I think shopping at roadside stands coming back from the beach or Shenandoah is about as close as I've come. And pick your own pumpkin places when you were a kid, and Oxon Hill Farm. I still like the picture of you and Robin and her mom when you were about a year old.

(p. 168) AS A TEENAGER DID YOU BELONG TO A CLUB OR CHURCH YOUTH GROUP? TELL ME ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE GROUP WHO MOST SIGNIFICANT TO YOU.

If I haven’t answered this already, please ask.

(p. 169) SHARE SOME HELPFUL HOME REMEDIES OR TIPS FOR GOOD HEALTH.

I wonder if this question is in your Dad's book! I will be much briefer-

Walk 20 miles a week for as long as you are able. With someone you love is even better.

Take a gram of Vitamin C morning and evening; increase to every 1-2 hours if you start to get a cold.

Gargle with Listerine-equivalent mouthwash twice a day, more like every hour if you get a sore throat.

When you are pregnant, eat 100 grams of protein a day once you are into your second trimester. As much as possible, enjoy your pregnancy and take control of your labor and delivery.

(p. 173) WHAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE? HOW DID THEY IMPACT YOUR LIFE?

Rev. Nelson (Ronnie’s dad)
Rev. Bill Graber - youth minister - in college - always there when I needed advice - wonderful tenor.

Charles Merritt - organist and choir director at West End Methodist Church (college) - taught me to love classical music.

And all my close friends, in their many acts of kindness.

(p. 174) WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION AND WHY?

Number one - your and Andy's baby books and picture albums
2. Christmas ornaments, especially the dated ones
3.. sterling silver flatware (Old Maryland Engraved) There is enough for you and Andy to divide it.

This is all stuff that I've collected all my life, and full of memories of you all.

(p. 175) WHAT BIBLE CHARACTER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET? WHY?

Jesus. Because He is God in human form. He came down here to demonstrate love and obedience. In the Bible He comes across as tough and demanding sometimes, very compassionate at other times. Like the best earthly fathers. If I truly met Him spiritually He would either heal my body or empower me to live more fully with it.

(p. 176) WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID MEMORY OF BEING PREGNANT?

I enjoyed being pregnant. One of the old guys at IBM said I was built to be pregnant. It turned out that I had a “roomy pelvis” as they say in obstetrics, and had easy deliveries.

The deliveries were the most vivid memories. The best part, the reward! I’ve told you both how I would go to work on your birthdays and relive the labor and delivery events throughout the day. After the nurses got wise, they would try to schedule me off on your birthdays. With both of you I started labor on a Friday morning and you were born in the afternoon. I asked Dr. Schwab if I could deliver Andy at home. He said no, not for a first baby. But we have the parking ticket for arriving at Georgetown Hospital at 4:00 pm and Andy was born at 5:34! The idea was planted for Bethany. We had a wonderful midwife group for prenatal care and Beth was born at home! We have the videotape, but don’t watch the repair of the perineum (I swear!)

(p. 177) HOW DID YOU CHOOSE MY NAME AND WHY?

Beth gave me this book, so she’s first. My mother’s name is Elizabeth. She was called Beth; she did NOT like to be called Liz. In college I met a girl named Bethany. Immediately, I decided it was the perfect name for a girl. Beth, not Liz. One of my coworkers at IBM was married to Joyce. They named their girl Aimee Joy. I loved the Joy and the future baby girl’s name became Bethany Joy. Mom was a little disappointed that I didn’t choose Elizabeth, but I loved the way she called my Beth “Bethany Joyful.”

When Allen and I were expecting, we visited Sara and Guild. Guild had named his first son after himself, “Albert Guild Riley III.” Andy’s dad Allen had been a third himself, “Allen Clark Johnson III.” He was called “Clark,” his middle name, to differentiate for his father who was called Allen. I first knew Allen as Clark. When he moved away to go to University of Maryland graduate school, he started going by Allen. He was never going to name his son the exact same name. He was nicknamed Andy by his coworkers because he was from Tennessee; that’s how we got Andy.

(p 178) WHAT WAS THE MOST POIGNANT MEMORY ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD?

Daddy’s death.

(p. 179) WHAT WAS A FAVORITE THANKSGIVING TRADITION IN YOUR FAMILY?

It was a big formal dinner, but not lots of people. In Florida usually just Aunt Mary Nell, Mom, the two kids. Always the silver and china. Always whipped sweet potatoes in orange halves scooped out and trimmed with points around the top, and a melted broiled marshmallow on top. The turkey had aluminum foil decorations on the ends of the drumsticks. Usually creamed pearl onions. Usually a salad layered with green Jell-O and cream cheese. The weird ingredients (e. g. chestnuts) in the stuffing would vary from year to year. I never liked pumpkin or mincemeat pie, since desserts are supposed to be sweet, but pecan pie was a favorite. We all remember after Andy became a vegetarian and I tried to make a sietan substitute turkey. Yuk! I don’t think Andy liked it even.

Now we usually go the Bruce and Janet’s. They have the best dining room table and we aren’t at all formal. I like having lots of people and no one has to do all the cooking.

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