July 2005                                                       The Megaphone                                                       Page 2

Sisters 

by Cindy (Benedict) Odom

When we were five and four
we believed we could fly.
With branches from stately elm
we climbed so very high -- and
jumped and flapped our make-believe wings,
certain we would rise up to the heavens,
and sail along the clouds.

When we were five and four
we baked mud pies and cakes.
With flowers, leaves, sticks and stones
we graced our offerings to the fairies unseen - but believed.
And at the break of day, arose and ran out to see
if they were borne away as breakfast for a queen.
And finding not, unconcerned, swept them away to start anew.

When we were five and four
we lived in a world peopled with dolls.
We journeyed to far away places, from ocean to mountaintop,
our families in tow, acting out our futures -- unknown.
For we believed that time went on forever,
that we would always be the same tomorrow, as yesterday,
when we were five and four.
    
by Cindy (Benedict) Odom '69

Power Surge

by Louise (Mountcastle) Romine

We had a power surge here a couple of nights ago. Thank God I have power surge protection for my computer. We were not so fortunate for a borrowed fan and my 5" black & white TV. I don't think the kids lost anything downstairs.  

About 11 p.m. the lights inside were starting to get brighter and brighter and Zindy said she thought the bulb was going to explode. Then the light went normal but only for a second. Instantly sparks began to fly from the line about 10 ft. from the house attached to the pole across the street at Edgewood. The lights were going out inside the house and it got so bad, Zindy began screaming at Monte, "I don't know what to do."

He yelled back, "Call the Light Company." With phone in hand, she said, "The Light Company, the Light Company." She yelled back, " I don't know the number." 

He yelled, "Go to Mary's." On her way out the door, Monte starts screaming, "Oooooh no, not the pond!" The electric wire had burned in-two and the longest end dropped and landed on the deck just missing Monte's fish pond. Two screaming adults and no one seemed to hear a thing at that hour.

Being on oxygen, Mary has to have emergency numbers and the Light Company is one of them.

Monte's quick thinking kept 2 automobiles from driving across the live wire which was now lying across No. J St. He had a roll of Yellow Caution tape from when he worked on construction and stretched it from the pole across the street pole on our side.

Coming up J about midnight, I could see the line and thought there'd been an accident. The Electric power company truck pulled up just before I got there, and in about 45 minutes, we had lights again.  

After the kids told me what had happened in detail, all I could say was, "If I had been home, there would have been 3 screaming adults!"

Submitted by . . .
Louise (Mountcastle) Romine '56    
Elwood, IN

An Ol' Farmer's Advice
  
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee  is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your  ears are whispered...not yelled.
Meanness doesn't just happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It doesn't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot "unsay" a cruel word.
Every path has a few  puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Don't judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable  life. Then when you get older and think back,  you'll enjoy it a second  time.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad  judgment.
Lettin'  the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back  in.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. 

Leave the rest to God.
    

Submitted by Gertha Cabbage

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