Three Score and Two

Today is Kristi’s birthday – 32 years old! When Henri and I married, Kristi was 12 and beginning 7th grade. Now, she is married and the mother of two little boys. Things do change in twenty years!

Kristi was born in Fargo, North Dakota and moved to Illinois with her family when she was five years old. Kristi attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Marion followed by classes at John A. Logan College and Lewis and Clark College where she received her dental hygiene degree. Kristi had many friends, participated in school activities, and worked at various jobs during her high school and college years. Part-time employment at Taco Bell (the ice machine incident), Cracker Barrel (getting stiffed), and a local dentist’s office (little pay) possibly provided some incentive to pursue a professional career that would be more lucrative. Currently, Kristi’s days are filled in the roles of wife, mother, and part-time dental hygienist. Her biggest challenge now, however, is trying to keep up with her two sons.

The pictures show Kristi has changed over the years. One of her license plates from years ago was BABY OF 6. She’s no longer a baby, but she still is and will always be the youngest of our six children. Happy 32nd Birthday, Kristi. We hope you have a great day and a wonderful year. Love from Henri and Ginger.

Diversity

Diversity, a popular buzz word in today’s society, usually refers to differences in race, culture, ethnicity, and religion. Of the many adjectives one might use to describe Ginger, diverse is not a top contender. Although I have traveled many places, I have lived in Southern Illinois all my life. My home town is a small community about 30 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. It is typical of many Midwestern small towns with little or no racial, cultural, or ethnic diversity. The one example of religious diversity I remember occurred when the Pentecostals came to town and held services in a storefront building. My friends and I, curious elementary school students, could only imagine what the “holy rollers” were doing behind the curtained windows!

What inspired my thoughts on the topic of diversity is an article I read recently regarding the alleged violation of prisoners’ rights at the Marion (IL) and Terre Haute (IN) federal prisons. My first thought was, “What rights?” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an attorney group representing the prisoners, allege the prison Communications Management Units (CMUs) place draconian restrictions on inmates’ contact with the outside world and even their own families without offering any reason.

The main reason for the intensity of this issue is that 60-70% of the affected inmates are Muslims. Apparently, the ACLU doesn’t care that many of these inmates are probably terrorists themselves or have connections to terrorists. ACLU attorneys are well-known to deal with bizarre cases that supposedly infringe on the freedom of others, e.g., nativity scenes on the courthouse lawn at Christmas. I personally think most ACLU attorneys are those who graduated in the lower half of their law school classes and can’t find a job with a real law firm. I do not number any Muslims among my friends or acquaintances although I once met an Imam (Muslim religious leader) at the DuQuoin State Fair. I guess if I were truly a diverse person, I would champion the cause of these Muslim inmates. Instead, I think they should be thankful no one is burning splinters under their fingernails!

In regard to diversity, I have a “long way to go and a short time to get there.” The only support I will give these Muslim prisoners is to pay my mandated federal taxes which provide their meals and housing. Take it or leave it!

Party Time

On June 14, 2004, Flag Day, the first of our granddaughters, Emma Marie, was born. Henri and I thought Betsy would be an appropriate name (in honor of Betsy Ross), but Emma’s parents thought otherwise. Emma lives with Dad Kip, Mom Angie, and Little Sister Savanah, who is 3½ years old.

Yesterday, we attended Emma’s 6th birthday party. We almost traveled to the party a day early because Dad Kip told us the party was on Saturday, and we didn’t pay attention to the date on the invitation. Emma completed her kindergarten year at St. Boniface School several weeks ago, and this year’s party included family and also some of Emma’s classmates and their parents. The day was perfect for a swim party – sunshine, a temperature about 95º, and a heat index between 100º and 105º. The children enjoyed the pool, and, thankfully, Henri and Ginger had the shade of a patio umbrella and fans to provide relief from the heat. After about an hour of swimming, Emma opened LOTS of gifts and everyone enjoyed ice cream and the “Barbie” birthday cake.

Emma, you’re a sweet little girl, and we are glad we could come to your birthday party. We wish you many more happy birthdays, and we hope you have a great summer and a wonderful 6th year.

Love from Grandpa Henri and Grandma Ginger

Flyin’ High

One question adults often ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In today’s world, a child might answer that he/she wants to be an astronaut. When I was a child, there were no astronauts. My “space” was wherever my feet were planted on terra firma.

I never had a great desire to travel in space, but I am taking advantage of the opportunity to make a trip to the International Space Station in several months. On September 16, 2010, I will be a passenger on the space shuttle Discovery, mission STS-133. The point of origin and return is Cape Kennedy, Florida, and the trip’s duration is eight days. This is the 39th and final Discovery flight, 26 years after its inaugural flight on August 30, 1984. On this trip, I will accompany six crew members: the commander, the pilot, and four mission specialists.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has made it possible for anyone (13 years of age or older) to be a “passenger” on one of the final two shuttle flights, STS-133 and STS-134. If you would like your name and/or image aboard the shuttle, click on the NASA web site, http://faceinspace.nasa.gov/index.aspx, and follow the simple directions. The site requests name and zip code, and an uploaded picture (optional) may also be added. I included a picture because I want anyone I meet in space to recognize me as well as know my name. When the information has been added, a confirmation can be printed. According to the confirmation I received, my flight certificate will be available on September 25. This will probably be my first and last trip into space. Ginger Devereaux, a pioneer exploring the frontier of outer space, is never too old for new adventures.

The Youngest Grandchild

Happy 1st Birthday, Kace!

Kristi, the youngest of our six children, is the mother of Kace, the youngest grandchild of Henri and Ginger. Kace, who was one year old on May 26, 2010, lives with Mom Kristi, Dad Cole, Big Brother Kale, and Gunner, their German Shepherd. Kace celebrated his first birthday with a party at his home on May 29. As the picture shows, his own personal cake was a highlight of his day. Children change so quickly, and we especially enjoyed the birthday party invitation which included pictures of Kace at different times during his first year. Thanks, Kristi, for taking the time to create this special keepsake of Kace’s first year.

Kace, a happy and smiling child, is a 25-pound, high-speed crawler. He’s starting to take a few steps but finds crawling is still the most effective way to get to his destination. It’s also the best way to get away from his brother, Kale, who sometimes likes to sit on him. Henri is very proud that Kace’s middle name, Henri, is in honor of Grandpa. Kace may be known by his first name to everyone else, but he is Little Henri to us.

This is the first of many more birthdays Kace will celebrate, and we’re glad we could share his special day.

Love to Little Henri from Grandpa Henri and Grandma Ginger.

Now in Pink!

Store circulars can be entertaining. Manufacturers are becoming more innovative in naming their products. This week’s Rural King circular advertises a 6 ounce container of “Anti-Monkey Butt Powder” at the sale price of $3.99. Anti-Monkey Butt Powder is available in regular, lady, and baby versions. The baby version is used for diaper rash.

According to the Anti-Monkey Butt Corporation web site, the regular formula is “ideal for butt busting activities such as truck driving, motorcycling, bicycling, horseback riding, and extreme sports...work or play, or on occasions when you sit on your butt all day....”

Pink Anti-Monkey Butt Powder is the formula for women and promises those who use it can “say good-bye to chafed thighs!” The product description also states, “Lady Anti-Monkey Butt Powder is specially formulated with patented satiny smooth powder to minimize the frictional discomfort that women often experience when using exercise equipment, running, driving, cycling, or just walking. Its unique ingredients work quickly to absorb sweat and provide cooling effective relief of irritation on the inner thighs and other areas of the skin prone to rubbing.”

Marketing is key to the success of a product’s sales. Marketing depends largely on advertising to get the attention of potential consumers. This can be in the form of a product name, jingle, or packaging. I don’t plan to purchase Anti-Monkey Butt Powder because I don’t have any of the discomforting symptoms listed. I, however, will give credit to the manufacturer of Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. The creative and original product name got my attention.

For more information, click on http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/.

Coops du Jour – Update

The blog has been absent for several days because of a busy schedule this week, but don’t give up. The blog will continue, but it may not always be on a daily basis.

The June 2 blog described a new event in Southern Illinois, the first Coops du Jour. Some readers may think Ginger’s imagination works overtime, but this was a real happening. I did not attend because I traveled in another direction that day, but the news article in Monday’s paper indicated it was a success. The weather was perfect, and nearly 100 people participated in the four-hour excursion which featured a wide variety of chicken coops. The tourists visited 13 sites in three counties. One of the coop owners commented, “We didn’t realize how many chicken people are out there.” Another said chickens are wonderful pets and keeping chickens on her property has been a pleasant experience. At the end of the afternoon, the guests enjoyed a fried chicken dinner. Hopefully, the Coops du Jour tour chickens were not the main course!

One who is tempted to belittle chicken coops and consider them only as examples of rural husbandry might consider a statement by Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous American architect: “Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.” I will definitely plan ahead next year and add the Coops du Jour as a priority event on my June 2011 calendar.