Goldfinch

perches in downtown tree

revels in sunrise

Wherever the just exchange their messages

This picture was hung on the basement stairwell for years. The children have sprung up and down those stairs for most of their years. The theme of course is communication.

That is what we look forward to as they sally forth into their respective worlds. The Raccoon News will be delighted when we get ensuing installments on Lee's new blog, 'Dixie in Dixie', http://leezor.blogspot.com/ and other communiques as they are able.

WH Auden:

Defenseless under the night

Our world in stupor lies;

Yet, dotted everywhere,

Ironic points of light

Flash out wherever the Just

Exchange their messages:

May I, composed like them

Of Eros and of dust,

Beleaguered by the same

Negation and despair,

Show an affirming flame.

Precious Cargo / Leland ropes his way

As Lee heads out

to his first post-UW Madison job

as an elementary teacher

with Teach For America

in Houston

we are reminded of his stick-to-it-ive-ness

and beauty

through the years.

Making his mark


WHS Marching band

Age 2 with his namesake, Uncle Lee

Courage in defeat

Sharing his percussion with his fellow church members

Waves while roping his way

Norman Pripps: MEMORIES OF SPRINGSTEAD

We received the other day
a gift from our old friend and UW Madison college-mate, David James of Tucson AZ., formerly of Fox Point (Milw). We'd mentioned a subject recently that interested him in the SRN about morel mushrooms and the wooden tray we still have, made by Norman Pripps and decorated by his wife Joan Beringer Pripps.

The Pripps lived for years in Springstead WI and eventually operated a renowned little cottage industry called Studio in the Woods. Norman, a woodworker, grew up in the northern Wisconsin lumber trade. We made the Pripps' acquaintance in the 1950s when David took us to his parents' cabin on Stone Lake near Springstead. We bought some Pripps wares then, now collectors items.

Pictured above, Norman Pripps, 89 in 1999.

This little book, written in 1999 is about Norman's early days in Springstead at the turn of the 20th century. It was published by MacGregor Litho, Park Falls, WI. It may be out of print. David sent me this copy from a few that had purchased at its issue, so it is especially appreciated and treasured.

This is an example to my recently graduated children from the University of WI Madison, about to sail out into the next chapters of their lives, of a lasting friendship that was forged inexorably at their alma mater, UW Madison University, many years ago.

We've included one chapter of Pripps' book: OLD GODFREY.

Normie Pripps, lower right


Last chapter in the book:

ONCE, upon a time

when recent grads from UW Madison

were in about fifth and sixth grade

we took a little holiday to Port Washington WI.

We stayed in the motel next to Smith Brothers Restaurant

in our favorite room that overlooked from high up the

Lake Michigan harbor.

Our overnight weekend had us stopping first

for dinner at The Alpine Retreat

in Hubertus, in the shadow of Holy Hill.

There we partook of delightful fare,

and the children had entrees of their choice:

cheeseburgers.

Continuing on our drive, Lee became ill

and felt he was going to throw up.

We stopped and quickly bought a roll of paper towels

in a town on our route to Port Washington.

Lee did indeed vomit and disserted on

the likelihood that he had gotten E Coli

from that cheeseburger.

We think he must have just gotten some learning

about food poisoning in school.

He was insistent that he had that ailment.

His sister Erin, in the next grade up at Hadfield Elementary,

pooh-poohed the idea.

Additionally, she has a tremendous

Aversion

to anyone or anything vomiting.

The exclamatory "E-o-o-o-o"

issued from the back seat

as the learned Lee moaned of E-coli.

The spell of illness quickly dissipated and

we went on to have a lovely stay

on the Lake Michigan shore.

All was well.

We had dinner at Smith Brothers

the next day: planked walleye with their famed

lemon meringue pie, a tradition.

Now the two little travelers continue

their journeys as college graduates.

This memory came to me early this morning

in our new place at old the Putney building

in Waukesha,

as I watched seagulls making circles past our windows,

skimming the nearby Fox River for treasure.

Gulls were a main feature at that Port Washington hotel.

Chief Seattle once said:

All things are connected.

.....................

See Lee's further enunciations on his new blog

'Dixie n Dixie'

as he heads to Houston TX soon.

http://leezor.blogspot.com/

M Day plus one

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

....

On Sunday we trekked with a friend to St. Paul's UCC in Colgate WI for that church's services. Old friend Rev. John Helt led the magnificent patriotically-themed service, featuring long-time St. Paul's member, Arnold Dieball, a WW II veteran who served on the US Randolph.

Mr. Dieball spoke eloquently of his inclusion on the recent honor flight to Washington DC to visit the monuments etc and receive so many cheers and warm wishes from the veteran-appreciators assembled where-ere they went, he on the arm of a solicitous guide. He softly declared with some modesty that he did complete the all the stair flights and walks, altho he had been offered a wheelchair. There were evident eye-dabbings as he spoke to the congregation.

John Helt opened the service with singing from the small rear balcony, leading the congregation in 'God Bless America' and then followed that with some of his not terribly-wavering trumpet solos in patriotic theme, then descended from the balcony and bore the American Flag in his arms down the center aisle to the stand at the side of the altar.

The names of the war dead were read by John from the pulpit, and veteran Arnold Dieball tolled the old church bell at each honored name. Many of the former St. Paulers' remains are interred in the carefully-tended cemetery in back of the church, where my friend and I strolled in silence after the service. (See earlier SRN posting: http://raccoonnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-want-cemetery-with-that.html)

Toward the end of the service, John took up his guitar and sang Woody Guthrie's THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND.....The congregation sang and clapped in time to the music. Ala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s

....

Yesterday, we watched our first parade from the 3rd floor of the Putney Building, our new home. In honor of our Uncle Lee, we placed his oft-worn ceremonial American Legion hat on the masonry ledge of the window, in memory of him, and of my late father and his other two two now gone brothers, Maynard and Meredith. The four Dix men, they who all survived WW II. They were paid a tribute during the war years - from 1941 to 1945 - by our granddparents, their mother and father, who hung the small but proud banner with four stars on it in the window at 2009 Clay Street, Cedar Falls IA, proclaiming the sacrifice that was being made.

....

During the parade we saw the new mayor of Waukesha shaking hands with children and citizens as he extended his hand in all directions to any takers.

He wore a somber plain white shirt and ordinary necktie, AND plain shoes, as seems to befit the bulk of the electorate, who ousted his sometimes orange-clogged artful - and Democratic-leaning - predecessor.

Close behind strode a more flamboyantly-clad cardinal mascot accompanying the highly revered Waukesha Blackshirt marching band.

Note that on the other side of the cardinal mascot and the banner-bearers marched band director Sarah Wehmeier. (Lower right corner, wearing the black shirt, behind the white streetlight globe.)

....

On the down side of the weekend, the honeymoon is over at the Putney Building for us, at least tempoarily. Although we have requested more than once that the ledge air-conditioner be installed, the management did not get it in as they had hoped.

Waukesha has had unseasonably hot weather, and we have sweated it out accordingly. When we took the lease here we had been told that contrary to the original announcement by the agent, there was indeed no central air. There had been central air, but it was broken and was unrepairable. (Old bldg) They would, however, furnish a window unit for us, for a fee. We loved the architecture of the dwelling so much that we rationalized that we could augment such a solitary window machine with fans during the really hot spells.

That eventuality will happen soon, we hope. Our plans presently are to spend the night in an air-conditioned motel nearby.

Meanwhile, we hydrate our old friend Mona out an antique crystal bowl of Grandma Ruth's that we cool with ice cubes. The thermometer read 92 degrees last night, unsleepable. Dee spread out on the love seat behind the temperature gauge, while an oscillating fan battled losingly trying to circulate the still air.

....

Yesterday in the cemetery behind St. Pauls we photoed the grave of a member

and we'd received via Email this photo of our father's headstone in Arlington National Cemetery taken by a visiting friend Saturday. Brother Les said that next time he visits from his home in Johnstown PA he will take some cleaning materials and spiff up the marker.

We offered to chip in for the Brillo pads. (Offer denied.)

A WALK ALONG THE FOX

This morning took me,

after breakfasting with Mark D at Dave's

on the Five Points

down to the banks of the mighty Fox

where I surveyed the scene;

the water presently rushes through

the lovely-landscaped disclosure.

A mother duck had some ducklings

in her custody

and intermittently lept from shoreline rocks,

maintaining her place in the swiftly flowing stream

by timing the water with her webbed feet.

The ducklings tried it and they bobbed their heads

under the water like their mother.

Then they all scrambled out for a sunny rest......