Walwood Press

Just Being Me

Leo

(and, I hope, Patricia Walworth Wood)

HI friends. I finally think I’ve gotten Mom to write my thoughts. I don’t understand why it takes her so long. She claims to be a writer but I sure haven’t seen her writing. In fact many days I don’t even see her much at all.

At least she took me with her one day. The trouble is she took me to that man who washes me and cuts my hair so I still didn’t get to be with her. I haven’t been sure about seeing him but maybe it is okay. I do look good, Mom says so. And I feel good too.

It has been hot so I guess that is why she hasn’t taken me to that Bagel place (Eínstein’s Brother’s Bagels) I did get to go one day but I don’t remember whenn but it wasn’t real hot. People smiled and petted me. Mom says that’s my job!

One time since I last wrote Mom and Dad were gone a long time. I stayed with Karen and the guys, three four leggers like me, but they are a lot bigger and look different from me, and her husband who doesn’t say much. I finally got to be in the bed room to sleep where they guys are but two of them on the bed ís plenty. There wouldn’t me any room for me so I sleep in my crate but at least I’m with them instead of stuck in some room far away.

Mom insists on typing up her on thoughts so I will be nice to her and rest while she writes for herself.

I’m glad. John and I had a great time on our two week trip to this 60th reunion at Wesleyan University in Middletown CT. We have gone every five years although we might have missed one time since his 10th reunion, the first one after we married. His class has magnificent reunions; my college could learn a lot about how to do reunions.

On the way we, includes Kate Wood, 22 new college graduate, stopped to see friends and family.

Our first stop was a suburb of Cleveland with Dona Wood Vernon. Kate has a friend in Cleveland whom she was able to spend several hours with. From there we went to Syracuse, NY with college friend of mine, Margì Hoyt Nasermann, then to upstate New York with Marta Wood in the hospital; she died a few days later, cancer.

We spent two nights with Yous Khieu and family in Lind, MA. We are You’s American family because he, a Cambodian refugee lived with us for a couple of years. Kate spent one ofthe nights with a long time friend whom she hadn’t seen for four years. Between Linn and Middletown we spent a couple of hours with friends and writers John and Elizabeth Sherrill. After the reunion we spent an hour with Richard (also a writer friend) and wife Betty Schneider.

The reunion was great as always. Afterwards we spent a night with Ann and Terry McGurk, Litchfield, CT, college friends but since they had lived in Indianapolis a year when we got married they are also John’s friends. Next we spent the night with Becky Brewer/Greg Phister.

While there, their good friend and my cousin, Joan Walworth Sommers, was able to join us for a short visit. Our last two nights visiting were spent with John’s cousin Bob Brewer and son John in Virgina Beach. While there we had dinner with more college friends of mine. Dick and Marcia MacCallugh.

On the way home we spent the night in the most beautiful state and Capitol City anywhere. For all who know where I’m from it is obvious l’m talking about Charleston, West Virginia. l feel so good, warm, comforted being in the arms of the hills and blessed by the Kanawha River and the smaller river, the Elk.

Having Kate with us was marvelous. She helped John drive and in general was neat to have along with us. We were happy, too, that she got to see two friends.

Leo tells me, enough is enough. Stop.

Okay until next month.

I’m back again—I hope Mom sticks with this. But I don’t know she seems to be busy doing something with paper a lot. (I’m trying to get our Christmas cards out!)

Mom sure does get tired awfully quickly when I want to play. She does run a few minutes in the house with me but then just stops. She does take me for a very short walk almost every day so I like that. I get so very, very excited when she says “walk.” She is also nice to me. She gives me lots of treats and I can play to get them; I like that. She puts them inside of something which I can chew on. I like that. And I can get the treats.

Something else she did was to buy me a little white soft bed for her office. I have a nice place to rest while she works.

Dad and Mom went away again. I went back to Karen’s. I like playing with those dogs (but I like being with Mom better). I don’t like sleeping in a room alone so I found a way out of the room and went upstairs to Karen’s room. She didn’t let me in. She took me back but I got out again and she took me back again and closed the door of my crate. Oh well, Karen is nice anyway and if Mom and Dad are going to go away that is a nice place to go.
March 18, 2012

Can you believe it has taken Mom this long to write down by fantastic thoughts and experiences. I told her I wouldn’t kiss her good night if she didn’t finish this now; no more doing something else.

Back to staying with Karen. I have been two more times. She has taken me to her office. I really like that. She takes me for walks and then she lets me walk around her office and see some other people. They are all very nice.

The weather is very warm. Mom took me to a big space, a Dog Park she told me.. She took my leash off and let me go anywhere I wanted. There were other four leggers there. They were all different sizes. l smelled a lot of them and they smelled me. That is how we learn about each other. After that Mom and I walked a few blocks to that nice place where Mom goes inside and ties me up outside. She sits by the window. were I can keep an eye on her.

Well Mom has been nice to type up my adventures so I’ll let her write some about her adventures.

Thank you, Leo. And I have had some wonderful days. On May 7 I was interviewed for an ad for Senator Dick Lugar who is being challenged by someone who doesn’t know how to think about people and their needs. For instance I was responding to his plan to cut everyone’s social security by $3,000. He probably has so much money he won’t miss it, if he is taking it yet. It will hurt two friends of mine very much because they only have S.S. to live on and whatever they can earn to supplement it. The one friend can’t pay her mortgages and her household bills (ie electricity). They filmed two other people,. We were interviewed separately. I don’t know when it will be put together and put on the air. It is a 30 second ad. I haven’t a clue as to how much, if at all, I’ll be shown and heard.

That same day a royalty check arrived in the mail! After the deduction of $7 for taxes I received $18. 37. WOW!

If you haven’t ordered Rive’s book yet please do so from an on-line book store. Rive was Leo’s predecessor who wrote Thoughts,Oughts,Naughts, Poems from the Heart of a Special Dog by Rivé Wood as told to Patricia Walworth Wood. It’s illustrated too and not by me so it is beautifully and cleverly done.

I wonder if I can get back to writing once a month. We’ll see. 

Just Being Me

9/29/11

At last here I am once again.  I’ve had so many thoughts to share but I don’t have to choose now!  Leo is telling me—oooops

Dear Diary,

I have finally gotten Mom to listen to me and write what I want her to write about.  You don’t even know me and you need to because I now live with a writer who will help me be heard.  I know that Rive’ wrote poetry but I want to be different.  I’m afraid everyone will compare me to her and I don’t want that.  I want my new mom, actually my third mom, to have separate memories of us.

Oh, you still don’t know who I am.  I am Leo.  I will be seven on November 27.  I am, of course, a Bichon Frise.  My new mom tells me I am smaller than Rive’, that I am six or eight pounds less.  I know her jacket was way too big for me.

I am a very good boy, loving and obedient.  The first mom had some children in the home.  I had a lot of fun with them.  I don’t remember much before I became a part of that family.  That mom took me to obedience school.  I was a star pupil.

But then something happened after my sixth birthday.  I didn’t understand but my mom looked so sad all the time.  She didn’t go to work but just stayed at home.  She did a lot of crying.  I was worried about her.  I kept kissing her but I couldn’t help her.  She worried about money, I know that she quit brushing, giving me a bath, and cutting my hair.  I was looking pretty awful.  Then one day a man came to the door.  Mom had my suitcase packed.  She cried and the children cried and I cried.  I didn’t’ want to go.  What was going on?

This man took me on a car trip.  Then a few days later he took me on another car trip.  He first made sure I was cleaned up with nicely thinned and trimmed hair.  He gave me to some lady with a boy and girl.  The girl was the older child.

Every time this mom left the house I cried.  I was scared.  What was happening to me.  But then every evening she came back. I finally decided everything was okay and she wasn’t going to leave me.  Her name was Christine and she was my second mom.  She had some other Bichons who lived there so I thought I would get to live there too.  But I didn’t.

I was having such a good time with that family but then all changed again.  She and her daughter took me on a car trip. They stopped the car and left me inside the car when they got out.  After they were gone for awhile they came back an older lady with them.

Now who is this, I wondered.  Another lady drove up and got out of the car.  Christine had packed a suitcase so I should have known this was going to happen.  The first older lady held me on her lap, patting me all the time, while the other lady drove me away from Christine.  I was sad.  I cried.

I found out this older lady, who really isn’t old at all, is my new mom.  Her name is Patricia or Pat.  I know she likes to be called “Patricia.”  I’ll just call her Mom.  After a few days a man came in the house to sleep.  His name is John He is now Dad.

Mom didn’t leave me alone much which was good.  I was scared and not sure if I were staying or not.  She took me on a walk to a place, a corner, where she got a case of some kind open and put me inside it.  I kept trying to get back out.  She finally got my head pushed down and closed it.  I couldn’t get out.  We got on to what I learned was a bus.  We rode in that bus a short time.  When we got out Mom opened the case and I jumped out.  We walked across a street.  She tied me up outside.  She went inside and sat by a window where she could see me and I could see her.  We go to that place (Einstein Brother Bagels) lots of days.  Many people smile at me and pat my head after I sniff their hand.

Well, I’m tired out.  I hope you will want to hear more from me.  If you do maybe I’ll just take over this site.

Leo 

p.s. If any words aren’t spelled correctly or if a word is left out or any other mess-ups please remember Mom did the typing.

Just Being Me
9/29/11

At last here I am once again. I’ve had so many thoughts to share but I don’t have to choose now! Leo is telling me—oooops

Dear Diary,

I have finally gotten Mom to listen to me and write what I want her to write about. You don’t even know me and you need to because I now live with a writer who will help me be heard. I know that Rive’ wrote poetry but I want to be different. I’m afraid everyone will compare me to her and I don’t want that. I want my new mom, actually my third mom, to have separate memories of us.

Oh, you still don’t know who I am. I am Leo. I will be seven on November 27. I am, of course, a Bichon Frise. My new mom tells me I am smaller than Rive’, that I am six or eight pounds less. I know her jacket was way too big for me.

I am a very good boy, loving and obedient. The first mom had some children in the home. I had a lot of fun with them. I don’t remember much before I became a part of that family. That mom took me to obedience school. I was a star pupil.

But then something happened after my sixth birthday. I didn’t understand but my mom looked so sad all the time. She didn’t go to work but just stayed at home. She did a lot of crying. I was worried about her. I kept kissing her but I couldn’t help her. She worried about money, I know that she quit brushing, giving me a bath, and cutting my hair. I was looking pretty awful. Then one day a man came to the door. Mom had my suitcase packed. She cried and the children cried and I cried. I didn’t’ want to go. What was going on?

This man took me on a car trip. Then a few days later he took me on another car trip. He first made sure I was cleaned up with nicely thinned and trimmed hair. He gave me to some lady with a boy and girl. The girl was the older child.

Every time this mom left the house I cried. I was scared. What was happening to me. But then every evening she came back. I finally decided everything was okay and she wasn’t going to leave me. Her name was Christine and she was my second mom. She had some other Bichons who lived there so I thought I would get to live there too. But I didn’t.

I was having such a good time with that family but then all changed again. She and her daughter took me on a car trip. They stopped the car and left me inside the car when they got out. After they were gone for awhile they came back an older lady with them.

Now who is this, I wondered. Another lady drove up and got out of the car. Christine had packed a suitcase so I should have known this was going to happen. The first older lady held me on her lap, patting me all the time, while the other lady drove me away from Christine. I was sad. I cried.

I found out this older lady, who really isn’t old at all, is my new mom. Her name is Patricia or Pat. I know she likes to be called “Patricia.” I’ll just call her Mom. After a few days a man came in the house to sleep. His name is John He is now Dad.

Mom didn’t leave me alone much which was good. I was scared and not sure if I were staying or not. She took me on a walk to a place, a corner, where she got a case of some kind open and put me inside it. I kept trying to get back out. She finally got my head pushed down and closed it. I couldn’t get out. We got on to what I learned was a bus. We rode in that bus a short time. When we got out Mom opened the case and I jumped out. We walked across a street. She tied me up outside. She went inside and sat by a window where she could see me and I could see her. We go to that place (Einstein Brother Bagels) lots of days. Many people smile at me and pat my head after I sniff their hand.

Well, I’m tired out. I hope you will want to hear more from me. If you do maybe I’ll just take over this site.

Leo

p.s. If any words aren’t spelled correctly or if a word is left out or any other mess-ups please remember Mom did the typing.

July 19, 2011

Just Being Me Endings and Beginnings,

One beginning is my trying to learn to use Microsoft Word when I have always used Word Perfect. I’m experimenting on you.

A very sad ending for me took place June 22^nd when my precious, loving Rivé needed to be put to sleep. She was warmth and light in my life. You dog lovers know (and lovers too about cats) that our pets have a pure unconditional love for us imperfect two leggers. She was a little more than two weeks away from fourteen. But she had been in poor health for five years. I had known she wouldn’t live as long as most small dogs do, that is 16-18 years but I miss her.

She died just when I had a final chance to make changes to or add to her manuscript: Thoughts, Oughts, Naughts/ Poems from the Heart of a Special Dog, by Rive’ Wood as told to Patricia Walworth Wood, Illustrated by Laura Hildreth. I was able to change the dedication to the Indianapolis Society to be in Rive’ s memory and to add an Afterward and one final poem.

We are now beginning the ending of the book publication. It will be available for the (estimated) retail price of $10.95. E-books will sell for $9.99. This will be available from the iUniverse on line bookstore and eventually from all on line book stores. In order to have an autographed copy you would need to order from me.

Our oldest grandchild’s senior year of college is preparing to begin whereas our second grandchild is leaving the teens to enter into the twenties in August. She is also beginning a step up on the campus magazine to being the Writers’ Editor.

I so much want to adopt a middle-aged Bichon but there is more but my husband isn’t enthused about having another dog even though I would adopt an older dog. He will accept cats at our age. We will begin with new pets. I want to have two so they always have . My first choice still is a Bichon but, compromise is always good, always beginning a smooth relationship.

It would be nice if I could say the heat is ending but I can’t. At least it’s not beginning, it just is.

WATCH THIS SPACE to know when the book is available for purchase from your nearest source.

Until another beginning “I am Just Being Me” always.

May Day, 2011
Just Being Me

Faith and Family

Last night John and I attended the movie, Soul Surfing based on the true story of Beth (I can’t come with her last name). She was a champion teen-age surfer whose left arm was torn off by a shark. This is a movie of faith and family, a powerful movie. I came home, signed on line and ordered the book from Amazon.
Our society is built on faith and family. Not every one has the same belief’s that I have, my belief being that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and walked this earth then died and was raised again to show us the way. BUT the faith of other people is interwoven with all. Rope is stronger when three strands have been woven rather being one strand. Thus it is with life.

For those who have just come to this sight my husband and I have been married 50 years, our daughter, Margaret, lives and works in suburbs of Minneapolis in the financial area for a large real estate firm. Our son Chris, the younger of the two, is a family practice doctor in Evansville,IN. He and his wife of 20 plus years have six children from almost 21 to almost four. We were blessed that all except for the oldest grandchild came for Easter. I love having our family all together and I love to see extended family too. Today John and I met his cousin and her husband after church to eat and visit.

Now for an aside. May Day. When a neighbor child (not a child now) was in the primary grades she delivered May Flower baskets to the neighbors.
When my brother was in the sixth grade his class did the Maypole Dance on May 1. They had multi-colored streamers attached to the top of the pole hanging to the ground. The children, holding their streamers did a rhythmic dance weaving the streamers around the pole. My dad took a home movie of the dance which is where my memory comes from.

Check in next month, or the end of this one for another subject or subjects.

Addendum: Growing up all our family wore flowers; my mother wore a white flower from the garden because her mother was deceased. The rest of us had living mothers and so we wored red flowers, my brother and dad as a boutonniere.

Just Being Me Journal Patricia Walworth Wood
March 31, 2011

Technically I’m writing on March 31 but that is only because I haven’t been to bed since arising in the morning of the 31st. I tend to do a lot of writing after midnight. I’m never sure, therefore, if I should consider myself writing on March 31st or April 1st. What is your opinion?
My dad was born April 1, 1898. He lived in two centuries but my mother lived only in the 20th century. Both, however are connected to 3 centuries through family members they knew. Mother’s parents were born in the 19th century and she has her children and grandchildren living in the 21st century and the same is true for Dad.
Their connections tell you my connections with the two previous centuries. I won’t know for awhile is if I will also be connected to the 22nd century. Our six grandchildren’s birth years range from 1990-2007. I think it is quite likely I will know great-grandchildren who would likely live into the 22nd century.
None of this is of earth shaking importance and maybe not important enough to note but I like thinking about being connected to more than one century. Connections are important to me, not connections to people in high places but just touching stones. In other words something of my father’s parents (I didn’t know my mother’s parents) lives on as long as my brother and I are living.
I don’t know why I am fascinated by recognizing the coverage of the centuries by one generation of a family but I am. I’m also intrigued by graduation dates being separated by precise decades. Our son Chris graduated from high school in 1983 and college in 1987, exactly 30 years after my graduations. Chris’ daughter Megan will graduate from highschool in 2013, 30 years after Chris, 60 after me. Our oldest Kate graduated from high school 60 years after John (my husband) and thus it will be after college.
Is this earth shaking knowlege? No. Some kind of necessary revelation? No. So why write about it? I’m just being me, writing about what fascinates me.

Be sure to watch this space for the revelation of the date Rivེ’s book, Thoughts ,Oughts, Naeughts, from the Heart of a Special Dog. And all of you know who that special dog is. The release date will be in about 8 weeks.
I love to brag about grandchildren: Kate has a piece in University of Evansville Magazine about April Fool’s Day: uecrescentmagazine.com

Just Being Me Journal Patricia Walworth Wood
February 24, 2011
I had a marvelous Valentine Birthday at Taino Beach, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. The temperature wasn’t what it should have been for it was lower than normal (but higher than Indianapolis and no ice on the ground), like about 70 but I went swimming in the pool anyway. Our daughter Margaret was with us as were friends. We at a lovely restaurant and I had my steak dinner, cooked the way I like it, practically not cooked at all! A few years ago the heroine of one my mystery books ordered her steak, “cook 30 seconds a side and if you can’t do that bring me the steak and a match.” Ever since I’ve asked for my stead to be cooked 30 seconds a side, adding nothing is too rare for me, I have received it that way. Asking for rare steak doesn’t do it.
John and our friends like sight seeing, I don’t so stayed “back at the ranch” while they went off in the car Kim and Joe rented to see what they could see. I slept, read, shopped in Port Lacaya a ferry boat ride away and swam although only three days a week. Our last day I think the temperature high reached 80. While we saw the son every day this was the very best.
I was never keen on Facebook, not really understanding it and I still wouldn’t put anything personal or for a specific person, but I do get a kick out of seeing, for instance, what our grandchildren are thinking about and speaking of, such as activities, I wouldn’t be likely to know otherwise.
I love being at Taino Beach, it is gorgeous but we have only been there 3 times since we bought into their Vacation Plan (for some legal reason in Bahamas Time Share is not used but it is the same difference.) We have flext time and a very reasonable maintenance fee.
As I look out my window I see a bleak winter days but I always know the sun is shining (as is the Son) whether or not se see it (Him.) I rejoice always in that knowledge.
Rive’ wrote a new poem which will be in her forthcoming illustrated book: Rive’s Thoughts, Oughts and Naughts which will be published by IUniverse this summer and available from on-line stores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Ice
I went out
first thing to
potty
but my paws
went this way and that
and then
splat
my body hit the ground.
WHY?
By Rive’ Wood 2/4/11

I think a New Year’s resolution needs to be that I at least keep my Just Being Me Journal in one section of my documents even if I can’t get my office organized.

Another resolution is to be self-disciplined in use of time. At least my computer game playing, Boggle is my game, has become limited. I have tennis elbow and should not be playing at all but I do play four or five games. I can’t do any more because of the pain from the repetitious mouse movement. I need to get to bed at least by one am. Midnight would be better because I do best with ten hours of sleep. Sleeping seems such a waste of time but without time gets wasted anyway when I doze off.
.
And then there is time spent at my “office” as one friend calls Einstein Brothers’ Bagels. If you don’t have an Einsteins where you are it is a chain restaurant. We have a bunch of them here but my “office” is the best one in terms of lighting and having booths, both with nmy experience of going to a couple of other ones and being told that by the people (i.e. employees) in the know. I love the bagels. My always meal, morning or afternoon, cream cheese on a potato bagel then put in the microwave, chocolate chunk cookie which I have warmed up in the microwave when I’m ready to eat it, and Spontenaite (sp?) iced tea, a green tea. When an employee who knows me, that is who has been there a week or more, sees me if it is not a busy time my food is ready by the time I put my bag and coat down and get to the counter. They keep a very clean store and give great service. Our manager, Laura and assistant manager Nina, keep the store going well, have done quite well with hiring. DeJuan the cook is super. I enjoy all the employees but the ones I’ve known the longest and who help new people to know me and they take good care of me are Shay and Folonda. I have also made friends with other regulars such as Ron Berry who is my webmaster.

My friend calls it my office because I pay bills and worl on my check book as well as read while I’m there. At Christmas time, before and after, I stuffed Christmas cards and prepared for mailing. Einstein’s has many regulars and is a very pleasant and restful place to read and work in.
The good month of February is fast approaching. I’m determined to let you know about our activities then including the celebration of my 75th birthday on the “heart” day, the day everybody celebrates during Feb.

Thanks for dropping in.

Just Being Me Journal 1-5 December 6, 2009
Patricia Walworth Wood

Friends

Happy Birthday (12/2 or 3) David Freeman wherever you are. I’m sad we lost connection. I met David when I was 9, I think We were in dance class together, tap and ballet. He is a year older than I. David has an older brother, whom I don’t know, and a sister, Libby. David and I played at each other’s house. This was during war time so one of our activities was to slash through the “jungle” near his home fighting the Japanese and on the Bataan Death March. We also played with the bombers, fighting planes and battleships, which where in cereal boxes.
But then David’s father was transferred, his job was with the State Liquor Commission. I was sad. I daydreamed that his family would return to Charleston. My day dream did come true,
One summer day before my sophomore year in high school Mother came in from riding the bus home, “Guess who I ran into on the bus?”
David was the answer but I didn’t guess it. They were back to live. He now lived in a community up river from our home. Mother told me, “He wants you to call him.” We met at the baseball game that night. This was the summer before my 10th and David’s 11th grade years. We both played in the band at Charleston High School.
There are a number of people I wish I could be in touch with. Among them are Robert Lollo moved to Hershey,PA when we were in the fourth grade, Carol Bewely moved to Roanoke,VA (I think) when we were in Junior High, Bobby Hall, Nicky (David) Beranek and Dick Morgan. The last three were part of my neighborhood “gang”; we played , sports at the corner empty lot, ping pong at my house and other games outside.
I care about anyone I have ever known. I use my maiden name with my writing because Walworth is unusual, Wood is not. Since I am published in national magazines I have been contacted a couple of times because of name recognition.
I ha ve friends from birth, grade school, junior and high school days as well as my fifty year college friends. We send out approximately 150 Christmas cards, including in town friends because I write a Christmas song, lyrics and music, every year for our card. We are in touch with people we have met on various trips. Sometimes those people quit staying in touch with us but I still send them cards for a couple of years after they stop reciprocating. But I have lost addresses and hope those people will try again to connect.
With the greatest birth celebration of all fast approaching I’ve been behind since before Thanksgiving. Anybody out there also behind?