A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-11-03...Moments of Our Lives

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

<

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

The "Bucket Brigade", Klamath Falls, Oregon, May, 2001 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moments of Our Lives

AuntB, circa 1949

Though she's changed a bit since this photo was taken, many of you will recognize our Finest FReeper today, as she's been an active FReeper since October 15, 1998.   AuntB (aka Billie) and I share the same given name,  but it's not the only thing she and I have in common:  both of us love the beauty of flowers, and one of her many interests  (outside of politics)  is flower arranging:

"I've done the weddings for every kid that grew up around here and made some pretty good money at it too!  That business kind of went by the wayside when I got buried in this land rights mess and my health went to heck."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love the way she starts her story;  it begins:
"It is said there are 'moments' that define our lives.
I’ve given that some thought and believe it’s true,
and in those 'moments',  there are often people."

Here are some of those moments, and people, who touched her life.

Free Republic Washington DC Rally
Fall, 1998

I’m a certified information junkie. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing;   I’ve got a radio on, or I’m peeking at a book, researching a report, or watching C-Span ... as I was that day when there flashed on the screen a gorgeous creature named Connie Hair (Clinton's A Liar) reading an essay from some internet group named Free Republic. Shortly she introduced Jesse Peterson, a familiar face. Five years earlier, Jesse, some other good citizens, and I joined in a protest in my home town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t like computers, but I was obliged to get one to do medical research, and when the person who helped me set it up asked if I’d like a "news chat", I declined. I had no need for a bunch of geeks with nothing better to do than talk to strangers about current events that they probably didn’t understand. For my needs, a group of like-minded activists in my area, my typewriter, my telephone, and my fax machine had always served me well - until I saw that rally on TV that quiet Sunday afternoon.

I made a lot of mistakes when I first joined FR - on a machine that I had no idea how to operate! (I hope the posters who suffered them have forgiven me; I didn’t read the rules until about a month ago.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve never had any complaints about my behavior in public. My Mama taught me the kind of manners that don’t need policy rules; they're good enough anywhere. I've used the ones she learned from her God and the ones I've learned along the way so far.

These are the Rules:   A Baker's Dozen

Many are borrowed; it's hard to improve on perfection. I'm pulling a Ghandi here as well. He once said to judge him by his most recent comments; that he, too, may learn some things and change his mind on a given subject!

1. Protect the innocent.
2. Never ask someone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself.
3. Leave it like you found it, or make it better.
4. Keep your promises and pay your bills - on time.
5. Silence IS consent.
6. Slavery didn’t happen because people are black or white. Evil isn’t particular about color.
7. Be careful what you wish for.
8. NEVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
9. Greed is more devastating than poverty.
10. Your rights stop where my nose starts.
11. You are only as strong as what you stand next to, that from which you draw your strength.
12. Youth and strength are no match for old age and treachery.
13. Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig!! (this is the one I can't seem to get right!)

Mr. Larry Brunette
McLoughlin Junior High
Medford, Oregon, 1961

Mr. Brunette was my seventh grade American History teacher. He was a reserved, distinguished man, until he came alive with the very spirit of the founding fathers. Losing his wife and son several years before in an auto accident, he dedicated the rest of his life to teaching American History. I can still close my eyes and smile as I see him standing there, looking every bit the 19th Century English butler - complete with tie, vest, watch fob, and manicured mustache. Mr. Brunette made "How A Bill Becomes A Law" almost a spiritual experience.

William Cicero Nix

I didn’t appreciate the political genius that my father was until a few years ago, and I am thankful for the 15 short years that I spent knowing him. Somehow, in spite of being a precocious child, I managed to listen and remember much of what he tried to teach me. I never met anyone who read to the extent he did. There was much I couldn’t absorb at the time, and he would say, "You’ll understand someday." He was mostly correct, but I fail yet to understand any man’s subjugation of another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TV came to Southern Oregon in 1954, and our family was one of the first in line to haul the monster home. (Yes, Ronald Reagan really did sell soap.)  It was the first I saw of the Jewish Holocaust by Nazi Germany. I asked my father to tell me why people would walk silently to their death and not fight for freedom. The one thing he could not do was assure me it couldn't happen again if we failed to learn anything from it.

Politics and history were the passion and conversation in our home, with Mama to balance it out with a good dose of "ol’ time religion" and compassion. Vacations were cultural tours, whether it was the desert in New Mexico, the OK Corral, or a State Capitol.

Daddy was raised by his Cherokee Indian grandmother, and one of the values he learned from her was to love and respect the land, all it’s creatures, and other people's rights. He instilled these values in me as well. My father was laid to rest only two weeks before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

My Brother Bill

I don’t have a brother named Bill, but there have been times when I imagined such a scenario. Daddy was a salesman and he was charming.  I started doing some research on my family around 1990, and to my surprise, Daddy often seemed to be in the same places as Bill Clinton’s mother. I even have relatives from Malvern, Arkansas, named Kelly. I asked a nephew once what he would do if he found out he was related to Bill Clinton. He said he would slit his own throat. That’s about the reaction I felt, so I never carried the investigation very far.

I had done so much better in my life than poor ol’ Bubba that I’d hate to make him feel like the black sheep of the family. Bill Clinton didn’t own a home until someone bought him one. I worked and paid mine off by the time I was 45. I’ve never been accused of a crime, much less lied under oath. I had much better looking kids. I gave blood, Bill sold other people’s, after it was contaminated. I divorced a much nicer person than the one he’s stuck with. If I shake my finger at you and say, "I never had sexual relations with that woman!", it’s the truth! And I was never impeached.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daddy said you couldn’t pick your relatives anyway and sometimes you were better off leaving them behind and never looking back. I wouldn’t speak to Bill Clinton if he were my twin. I decided, why bother?

There is an old fable about the tree of life. Each of us is a leaf. You can trade your leaf for any other leaf on the tree; trade lives with any one you could imagine. If I ever start feeling sorry for myself, I stop and realize that I’m blessed to have my leaf; I've never found another I’d be willing to exchange it for. Brother Bill needs to finally shut up and get a life.

Apprenticeship

Our high school had a "scholarship" for juniors, created by a local couple for a student nominated by teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Ray paid me to work in their insurance/real estate office. They were in reality, retired, with a few select clients. Most of the hours of that year were spent with me reading out loud or typing script of books written by Will Rogers, Emerson, Ayn Rand, the founders of our nation, just to name a few.

I got to meet Wayne Morse, the outspoken Senator, and learned about government. The depth of knowledge of those two fine people cannot be properly expressed. They taught me more church history than most people ever learn outside a religious institution; not just theirs, but all of them. To my knowledge, only three girls got to experience this tutorage before Mr. Ray died suddenly at the end of that year. I claim, with pride, membership to that fraternity and have wished that such an education were available to more. Mostly, they taught me that there really are "good" souls out there.

Conrad

At 24 years of age, after a few years of hit and miss college classes and starting a family, I landed a job at our local Credit Bureau. It was there I cultivated an addiction as an information junkie and became active in politics. You can thank Senator William Proxmire for making paper work impossible and no longer being able to collect a legitimate bill.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The FBI would come to me and my staff when they couldn’t find someone. For those of you suddenly concerned about Law Enforcement and the Patriot Act getting into your financial records, there's nothing new here.

We got it right. We had to. When an occasional fanatic had an application turned down because he had a lousy credit history, I was the person who dealt with him face to face; more than once I engaged someone with a gun and a BAD attitude. Still we managed to respect the privacy of all concerned. We got it right and we did it without computers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My interest continued into more of the consumer advocacy realm. For a time I wrote a column in a small local newspaper. I was Conrad - an acronym for CONsumerRightsADvocate. This advocacy has followed me through every job and endeavor. People in need usually found me. It didn’t pay the bills, but I’m gratified for the opportunity to set things right once in a while. Sometimes the little guy wins.

The Dumpster

Museum in Papeete',Tahiti, March 1985

A church in Papette', March 1985

I spent 1985 and 1986 in Portland being the good corporate wife; entertaining foreign businessmen and CEO’s, opening retail stores, hosting conventions, and traveling to places like Tahiti and Puerto Villarta.
A medical clinic asked me to be their credit manager; one day I was eating lunch on the outside patio lounge of the clinic when another employee informed me that the dumpster four feet away was full of aborted fetus's.

For the first time, I had to leave a job for ethical reasons. They thought I was deranged; it was just business, after all. There are more abortions performed than are reported or that most people realize; also a common practice is to use another diagnosis so the insurance companies might more readily pay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before long, it was time to come home to Southern Oregon, where - in just a few short years - many things had changed. Thousands had moved into this beautiful area; they wanted to make new rules about who the rest of us are and how we should live our lives and how to use our land. They brought with them their crime and their enlightened notions.

We’ll be fighting that battle for a while longer, but we’ve also made some headway with the help of good citizens such as I found on Free Republic: the good stewards of our nation. Every time (and there were many) in the past four-plus years that I've put out the call for help for my neighbors, so many of you answered again and again. You know who you are, and I will be forever grateful to have been a part of it all. ~AuntB

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Klamath Falls, Oregon, May, 2001 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most all of us share our home and our hearts with at least one little four-legged critter, and AuntB said hers is the "greatest little mutt anyone ever shared a home with!" This photo was taken in the Fall of 2000, in her backyard. Please meet Regis Halfling:

And finally, if you will, step back a "Moment in Time" and imagine meeting AuntB in the 19th Century. No Shrinking Violet, as you can see! But would you want her any other way? :)

Costume Party, Halloween, 2000

Congratulations, AuntB!
Today's Finest FReeper

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-10-03 Dog Gone

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[WVNan]

Whew, hi Billie. I hope you are still around to see this. I just was able to read the profiles for yesterday and today. I feel so left out not getting to talk to the honorees. Beautiful job on both of them. I've gotten so busy lately. The funerals are coming every week. Another one to do Thurs. I hope you all won't forget me while I have to be gone so much. Miss you all.

[Mo1]

Oh WOW. .. I so enjoyed reading AuntB's story

Thank You

Congrats AuntB

[WVNan]

AuntB, I'm so glad that you are in the spotlight today. Sorry I was so late getting here. I was so proud of all the hard work you did for the Klamath farmers. That was one cause I got involved in. I took the petition to my county fair and got signatures. I hate to think of you leaving after the fight you put up, but I can understand you not wanting to go through all that again. This is the way I see you. As one of America's "can-do" spirits.

[WVNan]

Hey hey Mo! Did you get all wired up today?

[FreeTheHostages]

I love the background for this profile. It's "quilt-like."

[WVNan]

Hi FTH! You remember me. You know, the one who used to hang out here all the time? Did you go freep at Hillary's tonight?

[LadyX]

Gosh, Nan - hope things get better soon ---

[LadyX]

We love ya, too, Nan!!!

[FreeTheHostages]

My, you DO look familiar! :)

Hey, WvNan. Yes, I went to the corner of Whitehaven and Mass tonight, which isn't Sen. Clinton's house -- it's at the other end of the block. So I'm OK with that. Now, *some* would say that I arrived early, went home to my warm house and cooked a meal for my boyfriend, and then reappeared for the last 20 minutes, inasmuch as the rally site isn't that far from my home.

This would make me feel very guilty as a general rule, but actually I'm weirdly OK with it. Sigh, LOL. I think I'm still a little burnt out. My fellow chapter members were there the whole time though in the cold. Those guys are *so* seriously committed it scares me some times. I'm pretty sure Tgsltakoma was tired from having been called up to work in the middle of the night too much this week, and there she was, tired but there. Very series.

I did drag my boyfriend along and we held up "VIVA ESTRADA" signs.

We had a new Freeper join us, AlwaysFree. Hey, AlwaysFree, it was great to see you again! Great sign too!

[WVNan]

Awwwwwww...I love that kitty, and I love you. I miss being here every day. I can't believe the bad form of all these people dying and interferring with my freeping..(just kidding. Lost a good friend yesterday and have to preach her funeral Thurs. It will be a hard one. Guess I joke to keep from crying). Jack was not good yesterday because he overdid it with the exercise. I made him rest today. How's the arm?

[FreeTheHostages]

{{{WVNan}}} Wow, too many funerals in a row, that can be tough. Here's another hug. {{{WVNan}}}

[WVNan]

Well looky there. The whole gang!

[WVNan]

I haven't seen an after freep report. Did Hillary know you all were there? Any reaction?

[WVNan]

Thank you for the hugs. I need them. I can't remember when we've had so many dying at one time. It's been one or two a week since before Christmas. I know it's the "Greatest Generation" checking out and I feel a lot of sadness about that. They were the best people this country ever produced.

[FreeTheHostages]

I'm sure they're in the process of writing an after action now. Or not. I think there was another errand some went on. Here's a brief summary of what I know:

Sen. Daschle saw us, we know. He came, as did Terry McAwful. Terry McAwful, as we fondly call him, actually did a bit of a u-turn to get a good look at the signs.

As per usually, our leaders had great signs there. Doctor Raoul had some great "viva Estrada" posters that we held. Taxman held a big sign that said "RACIST DEMOCRATS TURN HERE" with an arrow to where you turn to go up Sen. Clinton's street. There were two amiable cops watching the whole thing. No problems, no trouble. Sympathetic drivers honked their horns. Massachusetts Avenue is well-travelled that time of day, so I'm sure the signs were seen by many.

I really did not see most of the Freep. I fully confess to fixing dinner for my beau. I'd want to say after a long day's work, but that was true for others and they stood out in the cold for some time. It's 37 degrees outside. Oh, and let's see, Sauropod had on his Sen. Clinton mask for part of the Freep. At least when I was there, didn't see much media.

[LadyX]

The arm is fine, other than itching..:))
Return to doctor Thursday of next week.

Spring HAS sprung here, thousands of Bradford pear trees all over town with their beautiful white blossoms - Japanese tulip trees with lavender flowers - dogwood ends fattening, on the brink!
Tomorrow is supposed to be 78 degrees.

Special sustaining prayers for you and Jack going forth.....

[FreeTheHostages]

Oh, and continuing my personal after-action report for you! -- it should cheer you up I hope -- I note that at the end of the Freep Kristinn pointed to the sky and we saw three perfectly-spaced comtrails above us. Like 3 jet fighters in formation, patrolling the skies of Washington? There's definitely security in the air nowadays here.

[WVNan]

I love it! The D.C. Chapter keeps us inspired with their stamina and courage. Lucky beau.

[WVNan]

Did you get that knitting needle for scratching? AND...I do not wish to hear about your spring. Here we sit in all this bleakness and cold, with the forests looking like a 100 mile wide tornado had gone through and striped all the trees and toppled over millions of them. We should have been declared a disaster area but we weren't. LOL. I'm sure all the politicians figure that WV is always a disaster and this time was no big deal. I'm longing for spring. I have seen one robin, so that's a good sign.

[FreeTheHostages]

LOL, well, not me, it's them. They're crazy. I really think I'm coming down with a cold, working this hard and Freeping this hard. But those guys are totally booked.

That's the trick, though: it's unclear we can actually do a rally on March 22nd weekend. We're just all so tired. It's very unclear we can do a Rally for America.