2021

I believe it was 2007 when I last wrote any update. Since then:

I think I'm getting stronger and more successful at trusting God to meet my needs.

My dog who was barely a year old back then passed away April 13, 2020. She has yet to be replaced. We miss having the companionship, but I have to admit what I miss most is the free service we got. Our home is a 3-story Victorian home, and if I was on the 3rd floor needing something, and Ron was on the first floor where the object was located, I'd call down to him and ask him to SEND it to me whereupon Ron would call the dog and hand it to her who in turn carried it up. The very next day after she died, I was on the 3rd floor needing something from the first where Ron was and realized that one of us would have to make the trip. There's more, such as bringing my bath towel to me when finished in the tub among other things. If I get another moment, I'll try adding some pictures. One of these days we'll have another and I'll busy myself with dog training once again. I probably spent close to an hour a day for about 3 years working diligently with Shiloh.

We've flourished and aged another 14 years..

I've spent a lot of time with the younger generation. Ron and I never had children, but things developed to where I was spending a great deal of time with a number of pre-teen girls. That grew into girls' brothers and then the brothers' friends, so for awhile we had quite a family. They've pretty much outgrown spending time with Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron, but we used to go to places such as the Aviary or the zoo. Or we'd go walking the dog at our county park. And they loved us taking them out to eat. Most of these kids lived at one of the local government housing projects, so we were a welcome outlet. One of the girls actually moved in with us for a short term shortly after her mother died.

Now we're looking forward to the 60th WLHS reunion.

2007

Howdy! So you’d like to know a bit about me. I’m gun-ho for the following: canoeing, especially white water; hiking, uphill is a better work-out than down; cooking, meat and veggies (not baking), the more unusual the better; and hearing the voice of the Lord, especially when I get a specific instruction to do something that will bless someone else.

After leaving high school I earned a B.S. (math) from Purdue June 1964. (I went to summer schools). The day before graduation I became Mrs. Oscar Weh....... That name got perverted into all sorts of things, the most memorable being: “Mrs. Wait-a-Minute.” The college classroom continued to be my career until 1968 when we took a teaching position at Haille Sellassie I University in Ethiopia. By then I had a Masters + extra course work. Two years in Ethiopia was fantastic with sites and camping galore. [We actually saw 3 lions on our first camping trip.]

For three years after Ethiopia I taught at Norfolk State College. By 1970 I had greatly questioned our marriage and leaped at the chance to remain employed while Oscar moved on to Texas to earn a doctorate. However, my teaching era ended after that 3rd year, and I began what I call my “hippie phase.” My grandparents in Michigan had been deceased for awhile and their home needed an owner. I proceeded to purchase it on land contract, rented out the home for payments, remodeled the barn into some sort of dwelling, put a kitchen and ½ bath in the basement of the house, hiked the 100 feet between buildings to go from bedroom to kitchen. I also hand dug a trench one shovel-width wide and 2 feet deep in which to run electric and phone wires in conduit from the house to the barn. It was during that time that I sought a deeper and richer meaning to life. I was rewarded with new friends and a new life-style involving up to 4 hours a day of Biblical studies. I’ll never regret that period in my life, because I learned much about the scriptures, and that has kept me from getting too entangled with any one church or doctrinal system. The greatest thing about my spiritual growth has been to realize a genuine communication with the Lord above which is TWO-way, not one only. I especially love it when He gives me poems to write down. I’m including one below, and I’m declaring that I could not have produced it without spiritual help.

Through my Biblical interests I met Ron Gordon whom I married in 1986. He’s a piano tuner. Growing up we had two grand pianos in the living room, and finding a decent tuner was always a challenge. Now I’m married to one. His website is www.gordonpianoservice.com, in case you’re interested.

Here’s a sample poem; maybe you know someone like the described. The poem came as part of an answer when I asked for help to forgive such a person.

There was this guy I met;
Obnoxious was his name.
No matter what I said or meant,
His reply was near the same.

An answer always ready,
A dissertation of length
Such to rob my very life
Of time as well as strength.

Though intent was good at least
And content full of worth,
The delivery droned on and on
Of those who’d hear—a dearth.

For my thought or comment
Or occasional full sentence
Was returned a presentation
Of words without relentence.

Oh, if this man could hear
His own voice at times,
Would he alter his reply
Or change the way he chimes?

The one who has the power
Is one who hears a line.
For then he knows the thoughts
That are his and also mine!

If you’re interested in the scoop about this poem, read on. Such a guy as described in the poem had been at our house on Saturday, and we couldn’t get him to leave (on a friendly basis). The following Monday was Feb 26, 2007 and here’s what took place. I picked up my journal and wrote: “Jesus, help me forgive S_____.” Immediately I got the word “obnoxious.” That sent me sailing in laughter. As annoyed as I was with S_____’s behavior the previous Saturday, the idea of calling him obnoxious had NEVER even crossed my mind. So when I heard “obnoxious” in my spirit, I guffawed! If our Lord saw him as obnoxious, then I had no trouble forgiving him. What a riot! What happened next amazed me even more. After acknowledging in my journal that I’d most likely been obnoxious a time or two, the following poem simply flowed onto the page.

Lord, you are rich with humor.
You can make me smile.
You can give me lightness,
Show me joy for awhile.

You are rich with love;
Your humble ways escort me
Into your mind of compassion
Which kindness does support me.

You are easy to be heard;
You speak so very clear.
Your voice is sweet and lovely;
Your lips so very near.

You’re the master of my life,
Father of every thought,
The savior of my being
Showing me what I ought.

Lord, stay close beside me;
Never let me go.
Always hold me tightly
So my life will surely flow.

Guide me to my destiny;
Sweep me off my feet.
Then my life will glow
Under the force of Your heat.

You are rich in goodness
And mighty is Your hand.
You are rich in power;
Oh, fill this place, our land!

Wow, I was thrilled with that. Then I decided to get up and do laundry and be about the business of the day, but I swear, this jingle kept going through my mind. The jingle was: There was this guy I met; obnoxious was his name.” And again: “There was this guy I met; obnoxious was his name.” Over and over it went through my head, until I finally sat down and put it on paper. The resulting poem is what’s recorded above which you’ve already seen.