Villagers didn’t hear one firecracker on the 4th of July, but we did hear the clap of thunder and the flash of lightning as winds blew, pounding the rains against the window. In the morning there were branches to pick up and a tree was blocking the park street but the sun came out and the Inwood parade went on as scheduled. Berdella and Signe went with family and Bud drove down, all returning to the Village to report on the parade’s success. Here the tables in the dining area were appropriately decorated and we had a picnic dinner of hot dogs, potato salad, calico beans and ice cream cones. There were visitors. Martha’s family, Linda and Richard, Peter and Carrie, Eli and Makayla. The Olson’s company, along with son Miles and Arla were Delmer and Lavonne Johnson of Beresford, S.D., and Iona and Margaret Scholten of Valley Springs, S.D. Lavonne and Iona are David’s sisters. Margaret is Arnold’s sister. Margaret and Arnold are a sister and brother who married a sister and brother. Vic and Fran Sandager were guests of Carolyn C. Arnold S. had two young visitors along with Joan and Segundo. They were Segundo’s brother’s children from California. Joan told they were their grandchildren who came to spend two weeks in the summer. Nicholas and Siana love Minnesota and are especially fond of Village food. They did not like leaving for they would like to live with Arnold S. all the time. The children enjoy hearing Arnold’s stories of the past. Joan tells of visiting her Dad every two weeks or so and they always make a trip to Sioux Falls. Each time he tells a different story of family or friends living along the way.Caregiver Deb requested baby pictures. She said she’d not hurt them but display them on bulletin board and allow us to guess who they are. To date no one’s been very successful. Age changes you but we are the "Same Old Me."I Am The Same Old MeWhen I was in my younger days, I weighed a few pounds less,I needn’t hold my tummy in to wear a belted dress.But now that I am older, I’ve set my body free;There’s comfort of elastic, where once my waist would be.Inventor of those high-heeled shoes, my feet have not forgiven:I have to wear a nine now; but used to wear a seven. And how about those pantyhose- they’re sized by weight, you see,So how come when I put them on, the crotch is at my knees?I need to wear these glasses, as the prints were getting smaller;And it wasn’t very long ago, I know that I was taller.Though my hair has turned to silver and my skin no longer fits:On the inside I’m the same old me, just the outside’s changed a bit. Arnold T. spent the weekend in Austin with his sister Maxine and family. Signe’s been gadding about with her son from Philadelphia here for his Larchwood class reunion. Miles Olson is entertaining us each dinner hour with the toe tapping organ music playing from memory not a song book. The weather has allowed us to sit outside. A young lady from Brandon, S.D., doing community service is weeding our garden. Joan Berdahl came one night to play "Whist" with us.I’ll keep you posted!
