Pat's Pen

By Pat Larkin

Pats Pen

This book is filled with short articles published through 15 years in a small country town newspaper. Weekly throughout the year Pat would give her thoughts and opinions on different subjects. They would vary from the weather at the time to concern for children, school, the area, or other subjects. Not one to pull punches she told it as she saw it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483681825

Pat Larkin

Pat Larkin attended Corder Public School in Corder, Missouri for 11 years. She graduated high school at Higginsville C-1 due to the consolidation of Higginsville and Corder schools in 1966-67 school year. She never went to collage, but instead went right into the work force at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. She married Pete Larkin in May of 1968, the couple had four children, one son, Kelly, and three daughters, Kim, Tamie, and April. The couple still live in the cedar log home they built on the Larkin family farm. Pat has held many jobs over the years, but the two that lasted the longest was her photography business, L & L Photography. She spent eight years working as an ad salesperson for three different newspapers. Before retiring in 2012, she had spent 15 1/2 years as General Manager at the Santa Fe Times in Alma, Missouri. It was at this paper she started her opinion article titled ‘Pat’s Pen’.

Book preview

Pat’s Pen

Pat Larkin

Copyright © 2013 by Pat Larkin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 08/22/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

138662

Contents

1. Family

2. Kids

3. Weather

4. Nature

5. Holidays

6. Politics

7. Technology

8. School

9. Special Events

10. Life

11. General

12. The last

Prelude

About the author

Chapter One

I suppose I could write forever about my family. Because there are so many members, there will always be a story to be told. The following are a few of my articles about my family.

Pat_s_Pen_graphic_3.jpg

Family

12-1998

Once a Mom always a Mom!

T HE PAST WEEK was both fun and tiring. I had a few nights home, or should I say I had some nights I didn’t have to be somewhere. I wasn’t home because I was busy Christmas shopping. I finished up in two nights. Best I’ve ever done. That doesn’t mean the best shopping I’ve ever done. I mean the fastest I’ve ever done it. I’m one of those who waits until the last minute. Not this year, I knew I only had a couple chances to get it done so I just did it. Who knows if anyone will like what they get, at least I did think of them and they did get something (besides they can always exchange it, right?).

We had our first Christmas gathering this past weekend and will have another the 19th. The first was held at my daughters home. This was her and her husband’s first Christmas together. She was a bit nervous about it, but she did good and it went well.

She stayed up the night before putting the finishing touches on the house to make it look just right. At 2:30 a.m. she started her meat for the noon meal. At 2:45 a.m. I got a call! I leaped from the bed and ran to the phone. I’m thinking as I rush to the phone, Is April home, has she been in some kind of accident? I don’t remember hearing her come in. What time is it, maybe it’s Kelly, better get wide awake. I answer the phone and this soft sweet voice says Mom… I knew then there was no emergency, it was Kim. She was fixing her meat and had a question for me about cooking it. Once a Mom always a Mom!

My youngest daughter is a very good poet. A couple of years ago she wrote a poem that has impressed a lot of people, no one more than myself. I am very proud of her. At Christmas time we give more to others than at any other time of the year. To help us remember others, not as well off as we are, I want to print a copy of April’s poem. She wrote this in Jan. of ’96. I’ve shown it to several of you, and a copy hangs on my bulletin board here in the office, but I wanted more of you to read it. It tells of unselfish love. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I can’t read it without shedding a tear, can you?

The Dream

by April Larkin

Last night I had a dream about a little girl.

She had no family, except a lonely squirrel.

All she ever wanted was a place to rest her head.

And maybe a nice person to tuck her into bed.

She read her worn out Bible, and curled up in a box.

She couldn’t understand why they left her by the docks.

I heard her say a prayer that made me want to cry.

"Lord thank you for the people that have kept me dry.

They gave me this box and a great book about you.

It told of how you died for me and of your love too.

All I ask is that you help those less fortunate than me.

Who don’t believe in the things that they cannot see."

When I awoke I realized that no matter what I had

Nothing was more special, and nothing quite as sad

Than the sacrifice of Jesus upon the rugged cross

And of the Christian’s glory and of the sinner’s loss.

I believe that in the end, an unnoticed girl like her

Will have something more precious, than any silk or fur.

1999

No Way!

Twenty-nine days to go! To what you ask. Twenty-nine days until our son, Kelly, comes home on leave. He is getting excited about it too. He can’t wait to get home and see all his friends and family.

What is the first thing he asked us to do for him when he gets here? He wanted to know if he would have a vehicle to drive. Now, before he went into the Navy he wasn’t someone I would want to ride with. I’ll leave it at that. Now that he’s been in the Navy for awhile, he has gotten to be Master Helmsman and the Captains Coxswain. For those of you who don’t know those terms (I didn’t either before he became a Navy man), a Master Helmsman is the only one allowed to drive the ship into striates, tight places, or during war. The Captains Coxswain is the Captain’s personal driver of his boat. Whenever he goes somewhere (or the Admiral) the Coxswain is who drives their boat for them. As I said I would never ride with Kelly before, but now he has this great driving record at sea. Would I ride with him now in a car? No! Are you kidding, he hasn’t driven a land vehicle in two years! I’m not crazy. I’ll wait and see if he can keep it going in a straight line first. The ocean is big, sure he can be trusted there, he doesn’t have 65 mph vehicles coming at him!

To Kelly’s credit, he worked hard to get the titles he has earned in the Navy. I am very proud of him! He has to drive that big ship along side one just as big and only a few hundred feet apart while a cable connects them and unloads supplies, that takes a very good driver.

No! I still won’t ride with him!

1-14-2000

Gone but not forgotten

Last week was one of the toughest weeks I had in a long time. I didn’t work as hard as I’ve know to do, even though I did have ball games each night.

I lost a loved one last week and it took it’s toll on me. Those of you who work understand the kind of torment I’m talking about. Work goes on no matter what happens in our lives. I had people who helped me out, to allow me the time I needed to have off, and I want to say thank you to everyone for that help.

It’s at times like these that we slow down a bit and take time to reflect on the past. The time we had with our loved ones, and the joy they brought into our lives. There are good times and bad times that are shared. We tend to think our family will always be there. Then when something happens to change that, we get a rude awaking. We realize we and they won’t always be together. A time will come when we must part. No one is really ever ready for that time to come. Even like in our case, we knew it wasn’t far away. We still can’t believe it has happened.

Death is so final. Many times, most times, we don’t get to say good-by. I sometimes think that is the part we regret the most. There seems to be something we think of that we wish we had done, like a hug, kind words, a picture taken together, whatever, we always seem to think of something we wish we had done or said.

We shouldn’t live with regrets. We should live with the good memories. As long as we replay those in our minds we still have that person with us. We may not hear their voice aloud, but we hear it inside our heads, and it rings out clear. The sound and tone of their voice never leave us. We may not see them anymore, but when we close our eyes and look into our thoughts they are there.

Our family said good-by to a wonderful gal. She will be sorely missed. She had an infectious laugh that just made everyone happy. She loved sports, even played into her 40’s on a town softball team. She loved life and it showed. She had a love for flowers that was unmatched.

She liked to do puzzles, and was good at them. Once I gave her a puzzle I got when I was working at Hallmark Cards. I bought it because I didn’t think she could possibly put it together. It was black and white checkered. There was no real pattern to it. I knew it would be a tough one to do. I bought it as a joke, never thinking she would really put it together. One day she called me and told me to come see the puzzle. She had finished it! She said it was the worst one she had ever done. She never took it apart. it remained together for years until one day water was spilled on it and ruined it, but I will never forget how she stayed with that hard puzzle until she was successful in completing it. My cousin kept her supplied with puzzles these past few years, and finally came up with one she just couldn’t do. it was a 3-D tower puzzle. I believe if she had been in good health she, someday, would have conquered it as well.

Take time this week to reflect back on those you have lost, but don’t stay there, do something fun with your loved ones who are still around you. Be happy, have a great week.

3-3-2000

Proud parent

As parents, we tend to swell up with pride whenever one of our offspring does something that is really good.

We will go around showing off pictures of our kids’ first haircut, their first steps, and so on. When our kids win an award or play well in a ball game, we usually find ourselves telling everyone around us about the great thing our kid did. We just can’t help ourselves. That’s okay. We should be proud when they do something, but we shouldn’t go around bragging about it to everyone, and then not say anything to our kid. We need to let them know how proud we are of them.

My youngest daughter is a very hard worker. We are very proud of her. She has three jobs. Several times a week, she will work 15-hour days. She doesn’t slack on any of her jobs. She always gives 100% to her employers.

She is working at all those jobs to earn money for a couple of reasons. One reason is to help pay for a mission trip this next week to Cambodia. She will be leaving March 5th. It will be a 12-day trip. While there, she will go to nine orphanages, checking on the welfare of the children, and take part in the filming of a promotional video for Children of Promise.

April has never flown in a jet or plane before, and her first flight will last about 14 hours. Now, in my book, that takes nerve. I don’t believe I could do that. I would have turned down that job. Not her. She feels this is a good thing she is about to do, and that she should do it. She will be in a country that isn’t safe. It isn’t a tourist country. She will have to stay with her group, never stray off the main road, and never enter the jungle. There are still lots of land mines everywhere, which is why you stay on the main road.

This is not a place I want to see my daughter go, but we are very proud of her for wanting to go and help these children. My first reaction to her going wasn’t good. I kept saying no, go somewhere else. Then I realized that she needed to go and that this would be a great experience for her. She will go with our blessings and our prayers.

We are proud of all our kids, but right now, we are feeling extra proud of April and all her hard work to make this trip possible. We are proud of her for wanting to help children she has never met. We are proud of her for wanting to show those kids so far away that God loves them and cares about them, and so does she.

April, we love you, and we are very proud of you! I just wanted to tell you here in front of everyone just how I feel. Be careful. Bring back many wonderful memories.

3-23-07

Those little guys!

I haven’t spoken with you lately about the grandkids. I don’t want to be one of those grandparents who flash pictures and long winded stories in everyone’s face. I do hear from some of you from time to time. When I do you tell me you enjoy hearing about the kids. I hope that is so, because I just have that need to update you from time to time.

My publisher recently had a story in his weekly column about a baby-sitting event he had with his twin 3 year old nephews. He was telling how it didn’t take long to discover his house wasn’t child proof.

I just want to say this, Frank, no one has a child proof house. I know what he means though. Young parents do their best to put locks on cabinet doors, and they do their best to keep things up high out of little people’s reach. Those of us with grown children or teenagers don’t have that. So, when we baby-sit we find out really quick that those toddlers can find (and do) everything is within their reach.

I have two grandsons ages 2 years, and one 1 year old. The older children are seven and six. Sundays are a real challenge some weeks.

Dakota (the one year old) is a short guy with a long reach. I didn’t think it was possible for him to reach the dinning room table, he has proven me wrong several times. We forget how well he can reach above his head. He finds a handle to a glass of tea and soon has it on his head, and all over the floor.

Hunter and Colt (the two year olds—by the way terrible two’s is so true!) are into everything too. The difference between them and Dakota is they are taller. The two are only a couple months apart in age, and like, and do the same things. This past Sunday, they wondered off into the other room (grandma’s office) and the next thing we know we are hearing what sounds like a cat fight. I run in and find them at each other. They were having a knock down drag out fight. Slapping each other in the face, grabbing the others face (nose, eyes, ears, etc.). Whoa, boys! I split them up, and they are best friends again. It happened again later in the day outside. It only takes one wanting what the other has, and then just taking it. They don’t back down from each other, and so we end up with a whale of a fight. I have to admit it was cute, but I did break it up quickly each time.

The older kids have learned to go off to themselves and play. Alexa does feel like the older sister-governor. She tries her best to help us keep control over the three toddlers. (It must be a girl thing). Tanner just ignores them, goes off on his own, and plays. He doesn’t want those little guys messing with his stuff.

All I can say is I am glad the weather is starting to allow us to go outside and play now. The winter was long having them indoors, trying to keep them out of trouble.

We now can swing, ride the bikes, and etc. Sunday, both Hunter and Colt insisted I take them for a ride on the bike. I’d forgotten how tall the bike is, and how hard it is to get on with a child in the seat behind me. Then there is the soft dirt and thin tires. That bike is defiantly a city bike! I got a good work out.

It is fun, but I am usually very worn out by the time the day ends, and everyone has gone home. The thing is it won’t be long and we will be adding two more to the group! Can you imagine what next winter will be like in that