Unidentified waifs

This photo is a mystery to me. No names. No date.

Reading

In preparation for tomorrow's church service, I have been reading an article from an old issue of UU World. The author quotes religious historian Karen Armstrong saying,

I have discovered that the religious quest is not about discovering "the truth" or "the meaning of life," but about living as intensely as possible here and now. The idea is not to latch onto some superhuman personality or to "get to heaven" but to discover how to be fully human.

Poetry Group

I was feeling a lot better after getting two epidural steroid injections in May. But lately, the pain came back. We went grocery shopping today, and I found it necessary to sit down and rest after being on my feet for about 20 minutes.

The last time I visited my back surgeon he said to let him know if the pain came back and he would phone in a prescription. I phoned his office yesterday and they phoned in a prescription for a pain killer to my pharmacy. After finishing the grocery shopping, we went by the pharmacy and picked up the prescription. I took the first tablet about 2 pm. The drug took effect immediately, and the pain completely left my body. For the remainder of the afternoon, I was floating on Cloud Nine. The drug gave me the ultimate in relaxation.

At 7:00 that evening, J and I went to the Poetry Group which meets at Border's Bookstore. There were six people there. We each brought a few poems which we read to the group. The poems I brought are: "Silver Jack", an anonymous poem about a conflict on a cattle drive; "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes" by Billy Collins; and "Harlem Sweeties" by Langston Hughes. Next month we will look at the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley.

The effect of that drug is still with me eight hours later. I should sleep well tonight.

Mother and son

On the left is my Mother; on the right is myself. This picture was taken in the late 60s.

On the Ferris wheel

Don and I riding a Ferris wheel. July 1952

Whirling around - Aug. 1952

Eating ice cream

My cousin Don and I are enjoying ice cream cones.

Strange photo

I found this picture to be strange. First, my mother looks more like my sister than herself. I look a bit odd myself. And look at my mother's right hand. Date: June 1953

Sybil Bass and Martha Walker

That is Sybil on the left and Martha Walker on the right. Martha Walker is my great great grandmother.

Not any too happy

This picture was taken in March 1952. That is my sister on my back. Need I say more?

In the sandbox

Here I am playing in my sandbox. This picture was taken in Aug. 1952.

In the Smokey Mountains

August 1961. That would make me 13 years old. In the picture from left to right are Diane Grisham, Jean Nerren, Paul Nerren, Danny Nerren. Paula might have been taking this picture.

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Diane was my next door neighbor ever since we lived in Amory. She was a year younger than I. I don't remember why my parents invited her to go on a week's vacation with us. My Dad drove the entire trip, pulling a homemade camper that you unfolded once you reached your destination. That is where we all slept.

Video link to Ave Maria Grotto

The two pictures which follow this entry were taken at Ave Maria Grotto. To see a five-minute video about this place, also known as Jerusalem in Miniature, click on the link below:

http://www.avemariagrotto.com/

At Little Jerusalem

Here I stand in front of a shrine just outside of the town of Cullman, Alabama. On four acres, a monk constructed a collection of 125 miniatures, everything from the Spanish Missions in California to the Holy Land in the Middle East. We were here visiting circa 1953-54. It is a great place to visit. I hope to return here again before I die.

Mother and I at Ave Maria Grotto

At first glance you might think this picture was taken somewhere in Europe. The locale is actually northern Alabama. This picture was taken on the grounds of Ave Maria Grotto. A Benedictine monk built this garden of four acres. He was known as Brother Joseph Zoettl, and was still working on the miniatures (125 in all) when we first visited the site over a half century ago.

With dog

Written on the back: "Danny Nerren - April 26 - 51

Danny really enjoys playing with Linda's dogs. These pictures were made with your new camera. Hope you can adjust it better than I did."

In yard

This picture was taken in May 1952.

On stool

This photo is partially obscured by a finger near the lens. This photo dates back to March 1952.

Rankin Elementary School

I attended Rankin Elementary School in Tupelo, Mississippi grades 1 through 5 before moving to Amory, Mississippi, where I attended the public schools grades 6 through 11. Then we moved to Springfield, Missouri where I attended grade 12. After graduation from high school, I went to Glorieta, New Mexico for 12 weeks.

At home in Tupelo, Mississippi

Taking a break from yard work to look at something in the newspaper.

Mary Nerren close up

This is Mary Nerren, mother of G. L. Nerren Sr.

Erasmus close up

This is a close up view of E. L. Nerren.

Erasmus Lafayette Nerren and family

Erasmus Lafayette Nerren and his wife Mary Nerren with their children. E.L. Nerren was the father of George Luther Nerren Sr., my grandfather.

Distressed picture

This is my mother and myself posing for a picture. Do you remember when cars had fog lights? Our hands are too quick for the shutter speed.

Between giants

On my right is my Uncle Floyd and on my left is PaPa.

Two boys

This photo was taken in Carbon Hill, but I do not know the boy standing across from me. I am standing on the right.

Mother, Paula, and myself

This photo was taken in November of 1954. It looks like I am groping my sister. In all likelihood, I had to be threatened or cajoled to stand that close to her.

With woman and boy

Here is am on the right (or as the back of the photo says, third from the left). I have no idea who the woman or the other boy are. I have no idea where this picture was taken.

Mother and I

Undated photo

Cap on backwards

Here I am in overalls again. Date: Unknown

With Uncle Floyd

Here I am with my Uncle Floyd who liked to play tennis. Date: August 1950

Family picture

The three individuals in this picture are my grandmother (on my Dad's side), my cousin Don, and myself. Why is that car door left open? I appear somewhat uncooperative here.

Calendar of Activities for Freethinkers

July 2010 Calendar of Activities for Freethinkers

Sat., July 3, 7:00 pm
Movie Night at the Bradleys, 5607 E. 54th St.

Tues., July 13, 7:00 pm
Tulsa Atheists Mid-Month Social, Campus Grill, 3148 E. 11th St.

Sat., July 17, 2:00 pm
HAT Chapter Meeting at Genealogy Center, 2901 S. Harvard.

Sat., July 24, 11:30 am
Food & Fellowship at Lanna Thai, 7227 S. Memorial.

Sun., July 25, 1:00 pm
Tulsa Atheists Meetup, at Agora Coffee House in Fontana Center.

Fri. & Sat., July 30 and 31
Free Tulsa Music Festival, tabling at. Volunteers needed. Call Kenny Nipp if you can work.


Questions? Call Randy (622-6975) or Dan (798-3629)

With my sister Paula and Hal, my cat

We named the cat Hal; a shortening of Halloween. The left side of his face was black and the right side was orange. One day Hal disappeared and never returned home. I don't know whether he ran away or if he got run over by a vehicle.

Boxing

Here I am boxing with my grandfather, Nov. 1950.

Taken Sept. 17, 1950

This is a portion of the following picture.

With Don and dog

This photo was taken September 17, 1950. Holding the dog is my cousin Don Nerren.

Age two

Here I am at age two. This photo was taken on March 8, 1950.

Intransigent

This picture was taken in November 1951. Written on the back is "Danny decided he didn't want his picture took and when I said "Look this way" he said "No" and turned around. Smart ???"

Three cousins and grandfather

Here I am once again with my tongue hanging out. Also in the picture are my two cousins, Don (on left) and Bobby (on right). That is my grandfather in the center.

PaPa, Mother, and me

Noticed the wild shirt I have on behind the overalls.

4th of July

The day began with the service at Church of the Restoration. I arrived at the church about 10:30; Gail arrived about 10:35. We were the first people there. We sat on a bench outside the church and talked waiting on someone with a key to show up. We became concerned as the time got to be 10:55 and no one else was there. I had my cell phone with me and decided to call a church member, Joy Avery, to see if the service had been canceled. I phoned Joy but she did not answer. We decided to wait until 11:00 am and then leave if no one else was there by that time.

At about two minutes before 11 am the church pianist drives up. She had with her two 10-year old boys from Dallas, her grandsons, who were visiting her. After another couple more minutes Rosemary arrived. A few more people trickled in during the next few minutes. Janet, now celebrating her 80th birthday, as she has been for the last two months, was there, and next to her was a Muslim woman. Two of my friends from HAT also were there. In all we had eight people there for the service. Gail and I played "Stars and Stripes Forever," an appropriate piece for the Fourth of July. The next all Humanist service will be on August 1.

In the afternoon, we went over to the home of the Dobbs (Nick's in laws), who live just outside the city limits of Sand Springs. Fireworks are prohibited within city limits (unless you have a permit), but outside the city it's OK to shoot fireworks. Someone brought three buckets of chicken from KFC, J brought three kinds of ice cream and brownies and cookies. Someone else brought cucumber salad and potato salad. We all ate a big meal. I managed to watch the evening news while there. The oil spill in the Gulf may have further long range consequences that are not anticipated at this time.

We went out to the large driveway awning to keep out of the light drizzle and watch the fireworks. Nick and his family were there plus Adra's sister and her husband.

Concert then movie

Today J mentioned something about her drivers' license being due for renewal in July, which caused me to remember that mine was due for renewal in June. I went down to the tag agency and got it renewed for $12.50. Then I got back home in time to get ready for our concert at the Wildwood Care Center - a nursing home for the elderly. This is where Gail's mother-in-law went, and still is. We had an audience of about eight people. We had prepared ten pieces and played all ten. It took about 40 minutes.

The next event was Movie Night at the Bradleys. A member of HAT had high praise for the movie The Boys of Baraka. Randy obtained the movie from NetFlix. The six of us there watched it. J stayed home with Ayla. The movie is a documentary about a group of boys from the projects in Baltimore. If you are born in this enviroment, you are born at a disadvantage. Drug dealers and crime is everywhere. The movie tells the story about a select group of boys (12-14 years old) who were taken out of this environment and sent to Africa (Kenya) to a camp called Baraka. Life in the camp had a positive influence on the boys. It is a two-year program, but due to current conditions in the world, funding was cut after the first year. The boys had to return to the USA.

Tomorrow at church Gail and I will play "Stars and Stripes Forever" as the special music.

In the swing

This is my mother, myself, and my grandmother. This picture was taken when my mother was pregnant with Paula. On the back is written: "I don't want her you can have her, she's to[o] fat for me. Remember?"

Unknown relatives

I came across this photo from the box of pictures I have been going through. I think this photo comes from my father's side of the family. Here we have a group of seven people: three women and four men. Ages range from, I would estimate, 15 (boy on back left) to 70 (the two older women). This appears to be a professionally taken photo. Hands appear to be carefully, if awkwardly, placed. There is no hint from the back of the photo. I can't tell when this photo was taken. I would guess it was sometime between 1890 and 1925.

Holding a ball (1949)

Here I am wearing a crocheted jacket.

Newspaper clipping

Here I am (lower left) searching the stacks in a bookmobile.

On the porch at Nettleton

This photo was taken on February 17, 1949.

Carbon Hill photo

I posted a picture similar to this one a few days ago.

Fireworks images, 7.1.10

Here are some scenes from last night's fireworks display at Word of Life Church.

Lunch at Rib Crib

The day began with Gail coming over for a final practice before our concert tomorrow at Wildwood Care Center. We went through the ten pieces we will play, plus we went through a new arrangement of "Silent Night." We both like the new arrangement. It is maybe the third or fourth arrangement of the traditional Christmas Carol that we have played.

Today we had lunch at Rib Crib. They have a two-for-one special going on right now through the Fifth of July. You will need a coupon, which you can print from the link below. We both got a plate of baby back ribs. You will have to hurry. This offer expires next Monday.

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001oBPX2EUZHJM7jl1iUOUHtNGgC4vCWKXSeX16vHHs14uXaxIoab8wBTtgdxMJhal6ISX4EAsxTg_ZCABCY-oW5o4DNPiPmT8zQ7qHhjymwaQn0YAaQL9r8c_3s5PJ8HmJPNj_g_JaO5o%3D

On the way back from lunch we went by the library. J got a book there. I browsed the "card catalog" and requested more books.

We noticed that business appears to be good at the new "Speedy Gonzalez" restaurant. There were several cars parked outside. Speedy Gonzales is now in the building formerly occupied by Burger King. The building has been vacant for years.

Playing football with Daddy

This photo was taken in May 1952.

Look what I caught

I don't remember this picture at all, but as you can see, I am holding up a stringer of fish on a creek bank somewhere.

Fireworks show

Tonight we went to a fireworks show in Sand Springs. It was held at a church, Word of Life. Word of Life is a charmastic, non-denominational church. Frankly, I was not expecting a lot. But the show turned out to be quite good.

I took several pictures, and I might post some tomorrow. We took lawn chairs and got a front row seat. Some of the fireworks even exploded directly over our heads. It was as good a show as the city puts on. (Actually, there was a mishap with last year's city show, and it was cut short.) The display lasted, I would guess, for 20 minutes or more.

The crowd was very friendly. The minister's wife came by and touched me on the shoulder; then the minister came by and shook my hand. The event was not publicized widely. I suspect most of the people there were members of the congregation.

Prior to the fireworks show, there was free ice cream and cake and cookies. It was easy getting into and out of the parking lot.

At lock and dam

This picture was taken somewhere along the Tennessee River, but that is just a guess. I can't recall the name of the friend next to me. I am holding a booklet titled TVA Power. TVA stands for Tennessee Valley Authority, a government program to provide electricity to areas in the South.