By Brooke's Books. Currently available:A through the new Y. Check out her other free and charity projects then scroll down for the Alphabet freebies.
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Stitchers Alphabet Freebies
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Teacup Posies Freebies and ?? re Machine Embroidery?
Vermillion has completed posting all 12 of it's 2011 Teacup Posies freebies. They also currently have 50% off their machine embroidery digital downloads through Monday, February 26th.
Anyone ever do any machine embroidery? I don't know that I've ever seen a finished piece. Does it look like cross stitch or other machine embroidered items?
Anyone ever do any machine embroidery? I don't know that I've ever seen a finished piece. Does it look like cross stitch or other machine embroidered items?
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Santa Update
After diligently stitching on this for a couple of weeks, I hit a wall when I realized there's a little error in the bag around his waist and can't figure out why it's not matching up right. Don't you hate when that happens? I haven't stitched on it or anything else since.
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Upgraded My Ham Radio License
Haven't been stitching lately, but I have been doing a lot of recent volunteer work and just passed the exam to upgrade my amateur ("ham") radio license from Technician to General. That required I learn a bit about circuits and electricity and electronics and antennas, etc. Absolutely NO background in any of those and wasn't sure my old brain would appreciate the tough work out! I didn't really expect to pass the first time, but YEAH!!! I actually didn't need to upgrade my license because nothing I do requires it, but after 6 years I thought it was about time - and to hopefully give me a bit more credibility with the radio guys I'm frequently around. But here is the most amazing part: When the husband of my BFF heard I'd passed it, he personally emailed to offer me his father's shortwave receiver. I was stunned, humbled and honored. After checking out what it was he wanted to send me I said; YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! It's on it's way. I met my BFF on a prodigy BB in the late 80's and we've been friends and "sisters" ever since. She had her husband have been kind, caring and very generous over the past 25 years. (Wow, 25 years!!) Whoever alleges that you can not possibly meet and make lifelong friends via the internet just doesn't understand the real connections that bring people together in true friendship. I'll probably need help getting an antenna set up properly, but I know a bunch of radio guys ... :D One doesn't NEED a radio license just to listen, but it's a start on something I NEVER EVER thought about EVER doing.
As I've gotten older and my younger professional life is long behind me I've truly pondered to the point of worry about what I'm supposed to do with the rest of it. Guess volunteerism and radio stuff is going to be it - for now anyway.
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In the meantime, I put in 32 volunteer hours last weekend between handling radio traffic at the March for Babies and assisting at theEmergency Operations Center, which ramped up for a couple of public events because of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Will be doing similar this weekend as well. I'd like to officially report that other than meeting and talking with a bunch of very nice other volunteers and with some great police and fire officers, it was pretty boring. Which is a really good thing! Next time I'm taking some stitching with me!
As I've gotten older and my younger professional life is long behind me I've truly pondered to the point of worry about what I'm supposed to do with the rest of it. Guess volunteerism and radio stuff is going to be it - for now anyway.
In the meantime, I put in 32 volunteer hours last weekend between handling radio traffic at the March for Babies and assisting at theEmergency Operations Center, which ramped up for a couple of public events because of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Will be doing similar this weekend as well. I'd like to officially report that other than meeting and talking with a bunch of very nice other volunteers and with some great police and fire officers, it was pretty boring. Which is a really good thing! Next time I'm taking some stitching with me!
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Another new start
After applying for 2 part-time positions in the past month let me observe that being over 60 and instantly deemed vastly over-qualified for the types of positions that I'd even want to take on at this stage of life equates with being 16 and experienced at nothing - totally pointless. Everyone is very happy and pleased with the knowledge and breadth of experience I bring to my volunteer activities, but no one will hire or pay me. It's very demoralizing.
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Happy to Recommend New Blog
It's not cross stitch or needlework, but our 123MB friend, Rowland Cole, an amateur but professional quality wildlife photographer from England, has just started a blog: Through My Lens. He takes beautiful photographs and tells wonderful stories about his photography adventures. He has the most amazing way with both wild and domestic creatures. Even baby squirrels want to go home with him. Check out his new blog!
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WIP Update
Current status of Welcome Friends. I knew I wouldn't like stitching on the Aida 14, and I definitely do NOT, but by the time I was hating it I just didn't want to start over. It's so stiff that in trying to "sew" a few of the stitches the needle bent. Ive decided to omit the top and bottom sections and just stitch the area including and between the horizontal vines above and below the grapes. I may leave out those horizontal vines as well and end up with an oval or circular design instead.
A very sad day for my family. Mother died two years ago today. I miss her more than ever. I remember clearly that last Sunday I visited her. If there is one day in my entire life I could do over it would be that one day. I would really LISTEN to what she was really trying to tell me then rather than being cheerily upbeat when she suddenly got uncharacteristically serious, only realizing in retrospect why she was being serious and loving her so much more for trying to make me understand. When I obviously didn't, she said nothing more. I so so wish she had. My failure to really listen and understand, and spend so much more time talking to and comforting her is a regret I will always carry with me. I would give everything but my family just to have a few more hours or days to be with and really listen to and talk with and hold my Mom.
My Dad tripped on the step of a porch and took a flying hard fall on to the driveway in mid-May. He claimed, only half in jest, that someone was trying to keep him from driving back to Kansas City (he's almost 89) the next day. How he did NOT break something even the doctor doesn't know, but he was badly skinned, bruised and swollen for over a month as a result and is still having some issues. Had he left when intended he'd have been in the middle of the Oklahoma/Kansas tornado outbreak, so I guess the fall was probably a good thing. However, he's decided he's healed enough and is once again driving over the objections of EVERYONE back to KC. My sister is trying to get him to promise this will be the last time. As he told me the trip last fall was the last time, I don't hold out much hope. If you can spare a prayer for his safe journey, it would be appreciated.
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Wichelt freebies / More Printer Woes
Just a reminder that Wichelt and many of the other designers listed on the Freebie page put out new charts on a regular basis. Wichelt's July free graph is a patriotic bird house.
Had lunch with my Dad and sister at Jason's Deli on the anniversary of my Mother's death last week. I don't understand my family. Everyone knew it what day it was, but I was the only one who brought it up asking my sister, when he went to get an ice cream cone, if Dad had said anything about = a restaurant being not a good place to do so. She said he knew but hadn't said anything. My family goes out of the way to hide grief. There are times I really wish I could wail uncontrollably and rend clothing. But no, watery eyes and a few quiet tears permitted, however deep sobs and talking to the departed only in private. Maybe this is the way of most American families. I don't know. None of it changes a thing. We did have a group hug at his house later.
From there I had to drive across town to return last year's new printer back to Frye's for repair or replacement. This makes 3 returned printers in 3 years! I intended to change brands (again) and thinking laser jet but instead came home with a newer model of returned Canon printer, in part because I had just recently replaced the expensive cartridge of black ink and could use it with this one, and in part because I was told it had a $50 rebate, so I'd be making $$ on the deal. When I got home and read the rebate slip, only available at check out, turns out you had to buy a refurbished something else AND the printer at the same time to get the rebate. Because the cost of last printer was just over what they could do an even swap for, they gave me a credit slip for whatever I wanted to get (NEW PRINTER!!) and allowed me to take out another extended warranty for $20. At this rate I've really only been paying for that extended warranty each return, plus maybe $5 or $10 more for each brand new printer. AND, I get new ink with each printer. : ( I saved the new black cartridge for later. That alone would cost $25.
Re: printers - What I really want is for my decade plus year old HPLaserJet6L to work again!! Which after many years of reliable printing -and well out of warranty - quit working, of course, right after I bought a new cartridge for it. : (
Had lunch with my Dad and sister at Jason's Deli on the anniversary of my Mother's death last week. I don't understand my family. Everyone knew it what day it was, but I was the only one who brought it up asking my sister, when he went to get an ice cream cone, if Dad had said anything about = a restaurant being not a good place to do so. She said he knew but hadn't said anything. My family goes out of the way to hide grief. There are times I really wish I could wail uncontrollably and rend clothing. But no, watery eyes and a few quiet tears permitted, however deep sobs and talking to the departed only in private. Maybe this is the way of most American families. I don't know. None of it changes a thing. We did have a group hug at his house later.
From there I had to drive across town to return last year's new printer back to Frye's for repair or replacement. This makes 3 returned printers in 3 years! I intended to change brands (again) and thinking laser jet but instead came home with a newer model of returned Canon printer, in part because I had just recently replaced the expensive cartridge of black ink and could use it with this one, and in part because I was told it had a $50 rebate, so I'd be making $$ on the deal. When I got home and read the rebate slip, only available at check out, turns out you had to buy a refurbished something else AND the printer at the same time to get the rebate. Because the cost of last printer was just over what they could do an even swap for, they gave me a credit slip for whatever I wanted to get (NEW PRINTER!!) and allowed me to take out another extended warranty for $20. At this rate I've really only been paying for that extended warranty each return, plus maybe $5 or $10 more for each brand new printer. AND, I get new ink with each printer. : ( I saved the new black cartridge for later. That alone would cost $25.
Re: printers - What I really want is for my decade plus year old HPLaserJet6L to work again!! Which after many years of reliable printing -and well out of warranty - quit working, of course, right after I bought a new cartridge for it. : (
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WIP Update
When I tried to scan the progress of the grapes with the new all-in-one printer 1) I couldn't find the scanned image, and 2) in trying to find how to find it, my computer froze and I had to do a hard shut down. There are no instructions for using the scanner in the manual. NOOOO!!! I'm already considering returning the !@##!@ thing.
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New Prairie Schooler Freebie Finish
After 30 minutes I managed to scan and finally find this one .jpg. When I tried to scan the progress on my grape wreath project the program and my computer froze - AGAIN!! At least this time I didn't have do to a hard shut down to get the frozen scan program to FINALLY end! But after 5 minutes I was just about to.
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Halloween Biscornu Freebie - 2013 Update
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| Copyright 2011-2013 LMc Designs / Bits of Floss All Rights Reserved |
See the original design and charts HERE
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Patriotic Freebie Stitched by Cathryn of Blueladie Designs!
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Dad to Receive 25-year Library Volunteer Recognition
Rather than stitching the past couple of weeks I've been reading cozy mysteries (it's stitch or read - read or stitch), am working on certification in Auxiliary Emergency Communications (ham radio operators to assist in disaster situations where most or all public service, relief agency and general communications are down), working on a couple of FEMA Independent Study courses, and MAY be taking a 3-day Train the Trainer class the end of this month. By the time I found out the dates registration had closed, but there may still be a couple of openings. I go from plenty of time to stitch or read to a LOT of things I need to get done in a short time frame, and back again! What I REALLY should be doing is cleaning house!
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Autor Lea Wait left a comment on my Reading List!
What a pleasant surprise! Not sure how she found it since almost no one has visited that page, but I am indeed happy she took her time to post. She writes in the genre known as "cozy mysteries," and her Antique Print Mysteries weave a current mystery with well-crafted characters and her interest in antique prints and illustrations together in interesting stories that take place in Maine. I'm really looking forward to reading them!
- So happy you've been reading my Shadows Antique Print Mysteries, Linda! Next year, fall of 2014, I'll be starting a new mystery series with Kensington, set in Haven Harbor Maine, with a background of stitchery. I'll let you know when I have an exact publication date. Lea Wait
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New Frimousse Freebies
Frimousse is one extremely creative (and busy) designer/stitcher who freely shares her designs and projects. Do check out her website! Her site is in French, but if necessary take the time to translate.
Poppy pattern on 15-face biscornu, needle book and scissor case.
Very creative and interesting project that resembles perhaps a sugar bowl - with lid - with ribbon embroidery roses and beads, but suitable for any type of stitching. She calls it "a little thing." I think this is a technique that Frimousse may have created herself. Regardless, it is very interesting and worth a look.
Fabric bags and here
This fabric bag holds a tea cup, bag of tea AND sewing supplies.
Measuring tape holders. and Here.
Poppy pattern on 15-face biscornu, needle book and scissor case.
Very creative and interesting project that resembles perhaps a sugar bowl - with lid - with ribbon embroidery roses and beads, but suitable for any type of stitching. She calls it "a little thing." I think this is a technique that Frimousse may have created herself. Regardless, it is very interesting and worth a look.
Fabric bags and here
This fabric bag holds a tea cup, bag of tea AND sewing supplies.
Measuring tape holders. and Here.
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I Miss Her
Today would have been Mother's 87th birthday. My Dad's 89th was last week. We always celebrated them together over Labor Day Weekend. She's been gone 26 months and each day
hurts just as much as that first one.
hurts just as much as that first one.
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Live moves on
As it always does. Thank you for your kind comments. The 2nd was another sad Anniversary - the last night I saw Brulet. I heard a cat meowing outside yesterday. I stuck my head out the window and called to him, then sat down and cried a while. Later I took Dad and met with my sister to visit a senior residence center much closer to her house than mine, and only 4 blocks from one her son's home. St. Joseph's Village is a very nice place with nice amenities. Just who are these people who can afford between $36,000 and $50,000 a year? If I hadn't sunk every spare penny I had into paying off my house 10 years ago, today I wouldn't be able to afford a standard 1-bedroom apartment around here. If it comes to it, I may have to move overseas. I've been invited to come to teach in Thailand for at least 30 years. Who knows, give me another year and maybe I will. Cost of living is certainly a LOT less.
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In a Stitching & Blogging Funk
But I've read 13 novels in the past 2 months, all but 1 a cozy mystery. I go in spurts: either stitch or read. I logged in this morning to update my Reading List but instead inadvertently managed to delete the entire contents going back to 2009 or 2010. I'm naturally upset. I MAY try to reconstruct a partial list based on the "Reading History" from my Library Account, but that only goes back to November 2011. Few people even visited that Page, The only comments I've received, those from author Lea Wait, did not disappear. That, at least, is a relief!
I THINK about stitching and I've gone through some of the gallon plastic bags I keep WIP's in, but that's pretty much as far as it's gotten in the past 6 or 8 weeks. I haven't touched the Welcome Friends grapevine project since June or July, even though it's probably 80% complete. The only recent finish was the small PS halloween freebie - in July. I need to turn that into something to send to my DD before Halloween. I've still a few stitches left on the 3rd Patriotic Santa, also not touched in maybe 6 months. In early September I did briefly pick up my Lizzie Kate ABC's of Aging that I started in May or June of LAST year and has been sitting for almost a year. Does just one wrong color just completely stop you in your tracks? I thought I'd FINALLY found a workable substitute. Did maybe 10 or 20 stitches recently- BUT NO, that won't work either. I could probably finish the stitching in less than a week, but I'm stuck! And then there are multiple-year's worth of WIP's still waiting for renewed attention.
There is a North Texas GTG scheduled for November 1 & 2nd in north Dallas. Many out of area stitchers are coming and rooms are or were available at very reasonable rates. But since it's less than a hour's drive, I'll probably just drive over for one of those days - most likely Saturday. Looks like it will be fun, and it'll be good to get to put some faces with stitchers from the 123MB. The cost is $20 to offset meeting room rental fees. If anyone is interested, let me know IMMEDIATELY and I'll direct you to the organizers. Lots of goodies and some designer freebies to be passed around.
Found out last week that Henna, my 17-year-old ginger cat, probably has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - an incurable heart problem that involves thickening of the heart muscle thus a "gallop" rhythm and restricted blood flow and all that eventually portends. In fact, the vet now tells me she had the same "gallop" issues last year but I understood the rapid rate to be related to anxiety about the visit to the vet - who certainly didn't make a big deal over it at the time. The other possibility is pericardial effusion, excess fluid in the sac around the heart. For treatment either has to be formally diagnosed, which requires an echocardiogram thus a veterinary cardiologist, which I'm sure is very expensive. She also has peridontal disease, but at her age the risk of anesthesia is too high. Otherwise she is in remarkably good health for a cat of any age. For now the doctor suggested a baby-aspirin therapy to help with blood flow, and antibiotics for her dental issues. Something I can do.
Like Dixieland jazz? Here's something UPBEAT. My brother's Dixieland Band recently played at what is the new incarnation of the former Crystal Cathedral congregation. Here's the current link. At the bottom of the video player, move your pointer to 29:29. The tune is "Washington and Lee" and he has no idea how it fit into the theme of the sermon either. But it's GREAT Dixieland jazz!
I THINK about stitching and I've gone through some of the gallon plastic bags I keep WIP's in, but that's pretty much as far as it's gotten in the past 6 or 8 weeks. I haven't touched the Welcome Friends grapevine project since June or July, even though it's probably 80% complete. The only recent finish was the small PS halloween freebie - in July. I need to turn that into something to send to my DD before Halloween. I've still a few stitches left on the 3rd Patriotic Santa, also not touched in maybe 6 months. In early September I did briefly pick up my Lizzie Kate ABC's of Aging that I started in May or June of LAST year and has been sitting for almost a year. Does just one wrong color just completely stop you in your tracks? I thought I'd FINALLY found a workable substitute. Did maybe 10 or 20 stitches recently- BUT NO, that won't work either. I could probably finish the stitching in less than a week, but I'm stuck! And then there are multiple-year's worth of WIP's still waiting for renewed attention.
There is a North Texas GTG scheduled for November 1 & 2nd in north Dallas. Many out of area stitchers are coming and rooms are or were available at very reasonable rates. But since it's less than a hour's drive, I'll probably just drive over for one of those days - most likely Saturday. Looks like it will be fun, and it'll be good to get to put some faces with stitchers from the 123MB. The cost is $20 to offset meeting room rental fees. If anyone is interested, let me know IMMEDIATELY and I'll direct you to the organizers. Lots of goodies and some designer freebies to be passed around.
Found out last week that Henna, my 17-year-old ginger cat, probably has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - an incurable heart problem that involves thickening of the heart muscle thus a "gallop" rhythm and restricted blood flow and all that eventually portends. In fact, the vet now tells me she had the same "gallop" issues last year but I understood the rapid rate to be related to anxiety about the visit to the vet - who certainly didn't make a big deal over it at the time. The other possibility is pericardial effusion, excess fluid in the sac around the heart. For treatment either has to be formally diagnosed, which requires an echocardiogram thus a veterinary cardiologist, which I'm sure is very expensive. She also has peridontal disease, but at her age the risk of anesthesia is too high. Otherwise she is in remarkably good health for a cat of any age. For now the doctor suggested a baby-aspirin therapy to help with blood flow, and antibiotics for her dental issues. Something I can do.
Like Dixieland jazz? Here's something UPBEAT. My brother's Dixieland Band recently played at what is the new incarnation of the former Crystal Cathedral congregation. Here's the current link. At the bottom of the video player, move your pointer to 29:29. The tune is "Washington and Lee" and he has no idea how it fit into the theme of the sermon either. But it's GREAT Dixieland jazz!
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Updated my EMVolunteer Blog
Way past due as I haven't posted there since May. You might find it interesting.
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Nov 22, 1963 - Has It Really Been 50 Years?
Because someone asked on the 123MB and since I took the time to put my memories together, I thought I'd go ahead and post this. Some are still very precise and distinct (I think anyway), some are a bit muddled due to the impact of the Kennedy Assignation, but probably no more so than they when this happened.
Memory of a local teenager:
I was a sophomore in high school in Arlington, Texas - Fort Worth 10 minutes to the west, Dallas 15 minutes to the east. It was Home Coming Friday with our short but enthusiastic Parade with floats made out of chicken wire, tissues and crepe paper to start at 4:00 or maybe 4:30, the game and a dance scheduled later that evening. We were waiting in the choir room for our after-lunch choir class to begin. There was a Pep Rally scheduled for sometime that day but I frankly have no memory of when it was or was supposed to be. Some of our classmates skipped school and had been in Fort Worth earlier to see Kennedy live and had just returned or hadn't arrived back yet. Some played hookey to go to Dallas to watch the Presidential parade. At 12:35 the bells rang but our always waiting teacher still hadn't appeared. Some students were missing as well. After a few minutes it was obvious something was definitely wrong but no one knew what. This was the era of the cold war and only 13 months after the Cuban Missile crisis. Speculative murmurs of possible nuclear war could be heard and we were getting really nervous. No portable transistor radios were allowed in class. No cell phones, no nothings back in 1963. I think last period had already been cut for early Parade dismissal. It was already 10 or 15 minutes into the class period (it seemed a lot longer) and some people were talking about just leaving when finally a classmate who had been in the office ran in crying and told us Kennedy had been shot. Utter shock and disbelief. A moment later Miss Ellis came in, about the same time as the principal Mr. Webb came on the intercom to announce what had happened. The lights were never turned on. I remember on a clear bright Autumn day how dark the classrooms, the entire school felt. Hardly anyone said a word. There were a lot of silent tears or quiet sobbing. The principal left the radio and intercom on so we could hear what was happening. Role was quickly taken then the bell rang early for next period.
Everything was cancelled. School was dismissed even earlier than originally scheduled but students couldn't leave unless a parent arrived or they had a car. Bus students had to wait until the buses could get there. I don't remember the next teacher even coming to the class room, or maybe she just took role. We either left the classroom or she let us go before the dismissal bell even rang. Some parents were already waiting. We rushed home to watch our local reporters (Dan Rather for one) become instantaneous national correspondents. We were home to watch the confusion and speculation, both live and immediately aired unedited 8mm or 16mm rushes, the first interviews with witnesses in Dealey Plaza or on the Grassy Knoll, and then to hear Walter Cronkite and the others formally announce Kennedy was dead. At some point we learned Officer Tibbets had been killed and it might be related to the assassination, then that someone had been captured in a Theater not far from downtown Dallas. About the time the Homecoming Queen would have been crowned, President Johnson was taking his Oath of Office on Air Force One. We watched into the night to see the plane land in DC, Jacqueline come down the steps in her blood-spattered suit, the casket being removed and placed in the hearse.
We were driving home from church on Sunday listening to a live radio broadcast from the basement of the Dallas Jail and heard Oswell get shot. School was dismissed the day of the Funeral. Whose heart didn't break when John John saluted the caisson? I think most everyone in the nation and perhaps the world, watched it on TV.
I don't recall whether our high school ever had another Homecoming Parade or not.
Fast forward 8 years. My Ex and I were living in a rent house a block from Rose Hill Cemetery (where Lee Harvey Oswald is buried) and both worked in the Dallas County Records Building which is catty-cornered across the intersection from the Texas School Book Depository. Every day I walked in front of it past tens of gawking but usually quiet tourists in Dealy Plaza to get to my car parked just behind the Grassy Knoll. I drove under the Triple Underpass twice each day, on the way home directly over the X on the street which still marks the spot Kennedy and Gov. Connolly were shot. It always seemed surreal, and I still think about it every time I go to downtown Dallas and pass by and over those same locations these 50 years later. It's all still there. Except for the Texas School Book Depository, since spruced up and now home to The Sixth Floor Museum, it all still looks the same. I think somewhere I still have the yellowed copy of the Extra Edition of the FW Star Telegram.
Memory of a local teenager:
I was a sophomore in high school in Arlington, Texas - Fort Worth 10 minutes to the west, Dallas 15 minutes to the east. It was Home Coming Friday with our short but enthusiastic Parade with floats made out of chicken wire, tissues and crepe paper to start at 4:00 or maybe 4:30, the game and a dance scheduled later that evening. We were waiting in the choir room for our after-lunch choir class to begin. There was a Pep Rally scheduled for sometime that day but I frankly have no memory of when it was or was supposed to be. Some of our classmates skipped school and had been in Fort Worth earlier to see Kennedy live and had just returned or hadn't arrived back yet. Some played hookey to go to Dallas to watch the Presidential parade. At 12:35 the bells rang but our always waiting teacher still hadn't appeared. Some students were missing as well. After a few minutes it was obvious something was definitely wrong but no one knew what. This was the era of the cold war and only 13 months after the Cuban Missile crisis. Speculative murmurs of possible nuclear war could be heard and we were getting really nervous. No portable transistor radios were allowed in class. No cell phones, no nothings back in 1963. I think last period had already been cut for early Parade dismissal. It was already 10 or 15 minutes into the class period (it seemed a lot longer) and some people were talking about just leaving when finally a classmate who had been in the office ran in crying and told us Kennedy had been shot. Utter shock and disbelief. A moment later Miss Ellis came in, about the same time as the principal Mr. Webb came on the intercom to announce what had happened. The lights were never turned on. I remember on a clear bright Autumn day how dark the classrooms, the entire school felt. Hardly anyone said a word. There were a lot of silent tears or quiet sobbing. The principal left the radio and intercom on so we could hear what was happening. Role was quickly taken then the bell rang early for next period.
Everything was cancelled. School was dismissed even earlier than originally scheduled but students couldn't leave unless a parent arrived or they had a car. Bus students had to wait until the buses could get there. I don't remember the next teacher even coming to the class room, or maybe she just took role. We either left the classroom or she let us go before the dismissal bell even rang. Some parents were already waiting. We rushed home to watch our local reporters (Dan Rather for one) become instantaneous national correspondents. We were home to watch the confusion and speculation, both live and immediately aired unedited 8mm or 16mm rushes, the first interviews with witnesses in Dealey Plaza or on the Grassy Knoll, and then to hear Walter Cronkite and the others formally announce Kennedy was dead. At some point we learned Officer Tibbets had been killed and it might be related to the assassination, then that someone had been captured in a Theater not far from downtown Dallas. About the time the Homecoming Queen would have been crowned, President Johnson was taking his Oath of Office on Air Force One. We watched into the night to see the plane land in DC, Jacqueline come down the steps in her blood-spattered suit, the casket being removed and placed in the hearse.
We were driving home from church on Sunday listening to a live radio broadcast from the basement of the Dallas Jail and heard Oswell get shot. School was dismissed the day of the Funeral. Whose heart didn't break when John John saluted the caisson? I think most everyone in the nation and perhaps the world, watched it on TV.
I don't recall whether our high school ever had another Homecoming Parade or not.
Fast forward 8 years. My Ex and I were living in a rent house a block from Rose Hill Cemetery (where Lee Harvey Oswald is buried) and both worked in the Dallas County Records Building which is catty-cornered across the intersection from the Texas School Book Depository. Every day I walked in front of it past tens of gawking but usually quiet tourists in Dealy Plaza to get to my car parked just behind the Grassy Knoll. I drove under the Triple Underpass twice each day, on the way home directly over the X on the street which still marks the spot Kennedy and Gov. Connolly were shot. It always seemed surreal, and I still think about it every time I go to downtown Dallas and pass by and over those same locations these 50 years later. It's all still there. Except for the Texas School Book Depository, since spruced up and now home to The Sixth Floor Museum, it all still looks the same. I think somewhere I still have the yellowed copy of the Extra Edition of the FW Star Telegram.
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