Nancy's Notes

I just read Drifter’s beautiful lens, Pink Floyd And Time where he shares his life’s story through the words of this song. It is so interesting how we can read about someone else’s life and it remind us about something in our life. That is exactly what happened to me. Alex told of a rough and pivotal time in his life during 1971 when he was in middle school. Since reading his story, I have been reflecting on that year and thought I would share my memories with you.

I graduated from college in December of 1970 and at that time my parents were living in Greenville, South Carolina. I went home after graduation and during the holidays I began my search to find my first job. I was hired to teach Physical Education at Sans Souci Junior High School in Greenville. I was well trained and full of ideas and ideals. Little did I know what this one semester had in store for me.

Sans Souci is French for “without care” or “no worries” and my first year of teaching could not have been further from that. It was the year of the state’s worst racial riots and across the nation tension was mounting. I was so naive to think that I could actually make a difference during this time.

I went to work scared every day and dreading what the day might bring. Teachers were met in the parking lot by Ombudsmen who would escort us to our classroom. These were people who were designated to protect the students and faculty.

Most of the students were as afraid and confused as I was. I didn’t understand the hatred and anger that I saw in the other student’s eyes. I am talking both white and black. My stomach is knotting up as I am remembering this time. My dreams of being a great teacher were the last thing on my mind. Protecting and surviving were my only thoughts and I was not trained in either.

At some point during this awful semester, I wrote a “nonsense poem” which was something that my brother and I often did. The title of it was “Over The Underpass” and it ended with these words.

Yes, the time will come when you will see
A Teacher is a great person to be
Maybe for you but not for me
Not even here at Sans Souci.
Could this all be madness? – Insanity, pure insanity! -
Well, Over The Underpass!

I remember sitting at my parents home and crying about my day and my dad told me that one thing was for sure: “My career as a teacher had to get better and that it would definitely be an uphill climb from there.”

I moved back to Pendleton, SC the next year and enjoyed two wonderful years of teaching before going to graduate school at nearby Clemson University but will never forget that semester at Sans Souci in 1971. I wish I could.

I just can’t decide what to do. Should I or shouldn’t I? I sure don’t want to appear needy but we are needy. I sure don’t want to come across as begging and I know it is all in the approach. What is the best approach? Lensmasters have been so good to me and most generous so how in the world do I bring up this request. I fear that readers may roll their eyes and think “Oh no, not ohme again” so how in the world do I handle this situation.

Here is my situation:
Our organization “Friends of the Park” is working hard on a “Step Up To The Plate” fundraising campaign for our ballfields at Veterans Park because they are in dire need of being totally re-worked. We are now proudly an official Squidoo Partner Non Profit and join over 100 such charity organizations. This means that Friends of the Park is one of the options for setting a percentage of a lensmaster’s royalties and that is what I want to ask.

If you don’t already have a favorite charity that you give to, would you consider our Friends of the Park? I have already heard from several generous lensmasters who are setting their lenses to give to Friends of the Park and we greatly appreciate it! Even 1% or 2% would make a difference. Those pennies add up!

Ok. I did it. I hope you are not put off by my request and of course, you can just ignore it if you want to. If you choose to opt for Friends of the Park, please know that your donations will be put to good use to benefit the children of Pendleton SC.

Miss PittyPat, our 11 year old English Bulldog, passed away today February 23, 2010. We were blessed to have her with us for these past 11 years and now she is joining her parent’s Bruno and Penny and her brother “Little Bruno”.

Goodbye PittyPat

Who is my Linchpin? Well, it is the love of my life – my hubby. My dear husband has been practicing medicine in our little town of Pendleton SC for 50 years this year and this lens is a tribute to him. He is an amazing man and will be 79 years old this year. He still works and runs circles around me and I am 17 years younger.

The first thing that attracted me to him was his Blue eyes but then I was just in the 8th grade and he was stitching up a cut in my hand. I told my mother that I was going to marry him. I had to wait until I grew up and then wait for him to go through 2 failed marriages but eventually we came together. We will be married for 32 wonderful years this May.

I remember when he discussed the possibility of marrying me with my dad. He was concerned about the age difference and my dad’s response was that very few people actually experienced true love and that if we could be together for one year, it would be worth it.

So, without further ado, I present to you my Linchpin, my hubby, my friend, and my hero
Tribute to Doc Hellams
This Linchpin lens is part of the Giant/Giant 100 challenge and is on the plexo for voting on Linchpin Lens Challenge

Doc Hellams

I am so excited and want to shout it to the world, so thought I would start at CrabbysBeach.
Back when I first started with Squidoo (thanks to my sister, Joan4) in July 2008, I had big plans of getting our Friends of the Park organization approved as a Squidoo Charity. I made a Friends of the Park lens and at that time we were governed by another organization, Pendleton Pride In Motion, who held the 501c3 status. I serve on the Executive Board of both organizations and knew that Friends of the Park would soon be a strong enough organization to become independent with it’s own 501c3 status.
After much work on the part of both organizations, we now have our own 501c3 status and I will begin this weekend completing all the necessary requirements to be considered for an approved Squidoo Charity.
I can’t believe this day has finally arrived. I will be telling you more about our organization in the near future.
Friends of the Park at Veterans Park in Pendleton SC

Friends of the Park at Veterans Park in Pendleton SC

It’s true, folks. There are some angry looking animals protesting in my front yard because they were not chosen for the Squidoo Pets lens.
Here, see for yourself or go to Squidoo Pets

Shelby doesn't look too happy with me, does she?

One week from Monday, the United States of America will be celebrating Presidents Day.

I started thinking about when I was a kid and how much I loved to read about the Presidents. Our little school library had a row of orange colored books with each one about a different President. By the time I was in the 5th grade, I had read all of them. Of course, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the President then so there were only 34 books.

Our family loved Board Games and the one that I most enjoyed was Meet The Presidents. It came with a round spinner question and answer board filled with all kinds of questions about our Presidents. A few years ago, Joan found me one of those old games on eBay so I have enjoyed seeing what I remembered.

Years do funny things to the mind. Of all the wonderful information on that game, the one that immediately comes to mind is “How many children did Tyler have”. Now, I don’t know why but I will probably go to my grave knowing that Tyler had 14 kids. I keep waiting for that question to pop up on Jeopardy or somewhere so I can boost that I know the answer, but it never has.

If you are a history buff, you will probably pass my President’s Day Quiz with flying colors. I put it together but I am not sure I could pass it. Give it a try and let me know how you do.

Enjoy The Simple Things In Life

Enjoy The Simple Things In Life!

Make a wish on a Dandelion and blow it to the wind.
Make a necklace with a yellow Dandelion and dance away.
What other plant can bring so much joy to young ones on a summer’s day?
It is just an old weed but it is so much more
Bringing pleasure to many while others abhor
Dandelion, I thank you for being you
and reminding me to
Enjoy the simple things in life.
And forgetting the troubles and strife.

Dandelions

Sorry, you aren’t invited unless you are directly descended from AB and Minnie Tate or have one of the very special “UnTate Invitations”. You see, this family does reunions like probably no one else has ever seen. There is a parade with family flags and participants wearing their family color. There is Tate Trivia, Tate Talk, Tate Bingo, Tate Talent, Communi-Tate-tion, and much much more.

We also have our Squidoo Lens called Our Tate Family Reunion. You are more than welcome to come visit our lens and leave us a comment but please don’t take this as an invitation.

I know that all of you would love to come and be a part of this very sophisticated and entertaining group of Tates but let’s face it – Ya’ll don’t qualify.

There are two other people on CrabbysBeach that do qualify and will be at the reunion proudly holding their Family Flag. Do you know who they are?

I am sure you have seen this title of the debate cobrand on Squidoo. What did you think the first time you saw it? You open a lens and there it is “Hey Monkey Brain” or you receive an email that says “Hey Monkey Brain” followed with a comment that you aren’t really being called a Monkey Brain but rather they were just trying to get your attention.

I wrote the lens Who Are You Calling A Monkey Brain? to be funny but have really received some interesting comments on the plexo. The side that chose the option that the name didn’t bother them is winning but the other side with the option that the reader thinks it is an insult is very close.

I remember the first time I came across a Hey Monkey Brain lens and wondered Who Are You Calling A Monkey Brain? I like to think of myself as a clever person so there was a part of me who appreciated the humor in this title but there was another part that questioned how readers may react.

I am always trying to keep my local readers in mind when I create a lens since I depend on them for the traffic to my niche lenses about my hometown of Pendleton SC. I guess that is the reason that I haven’t made a HeyMonkeyBrain lens before now. I could just hear the reaction of some of them.

Regardless of how you feel about it, this lens is intended to be fun and funny but I have been accused of having a warped sense of humor. I guess I am just a Monkey Brain, for sure!

What do you think?
Who Are You Calling A Monkey Brain?

Who Are You Calling A Monkey Brain?