Campbell 66 Express Reunion

Last night my husband, Bruce, attended a dinner with former employees of Campbell 66 Express. Campbell 66 Express was a freight company that was headquartered in Springfield, MO. Bruce had a great time visiting with people he had not seen in years. He was surprised that there were almost 200 people there. It was held in a local Golden Corral, and the group completely filled the back area
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Bruce loves the old Campbell 66 Express company, especially all the people who worked there; they were family. The people were what made the company successful. He was happy to visit with so many Campbell people in one sitting, to share stories of the “good old days”, and to remember those no longer living. They all worn name-tags, but he said he recognized several. Of course, there have been other get-togethers through the years, however none this large.

He was delighted to see some of the “girls”. Remember in the 40’s-60’s we did not have equal rights in the office place. The women were called girls, the men “Mr.” or by name. Bruce was in management; he was called Mr. Crim. (And he always wore a business suit, white shirt, and tie.) Last night he got hugs from the “girls”.

One of the women was excited to see him and after the hugs and "so glad you came" talk ask Bruce a question. She said, "Do you know you've been googled?" This brought laughs, then she explained she had googled his name and found among other things our daughter's blog. To read the blog and see the photo, click here.

Bruce retired from Campbell 66 when it closed in 1986, one of the last officers to remain. He had been with the company for 30 years, starting work immediately after his Army Reserve basic training days. He likes to tell the story about being in training in HOT Louisiana when he got the letter inviting him to join Campbell 66 in its management-training program. He thought that sounded like a better career path than 2 years in a pup tent. (He served in the USA Army Reserves for 6 ½ years, plus 2 years ROTC while in school.)

After finishing the management training, Bruce became the manager of various terminals, moving as needed to different cities. Finally, he was transferred back to the home office here in Springfield, MO and later he became VP of Sales-Marketing.

Campbell 66 Express had offices across the country. Several times when we travel, we look up the old Campbell locations and go back to see what is in the building now. Sometimes the building is gone, but several are still used for trucking terminals.

Bruce has a very large collection of Campbell 66 Express collectibles and is always looking for more. He has donated several items to the Springfield Library Station for a permanent display. He wants to get a website started, has one page so far. Campbell 66 Express

Childhood Food Memories

I suppose it is natural to remember certain foods and dishes from our early childhood, after all, we all ate immediately after birth. I was a bottle baby; I think it was the new thing in the forties. My mother had me on a strict schedule of having a bottle every 3 hours. I am now 67 years old and I still eat every 3 hours. (Often with snacks in between)

My Mother was not a good cook. Although she cooked three meals a day, she just did the basics. My Dad was allergy to milk and dairy products, except ice cream, so Mother was limited on how she cooked. Ever eat gravy made with water? My folks grew up in the country in the ‘20’s, life was hard, and women made do with what they had. They were married in the depression, raised a family during WWII. Mother used several recipes from that era. I can remember she had recipes for cakes that were made without milk or butter, one without sugar.

However, I do have some fond memories of a few things. My earliest food memory is of her making homemade donuts on a snow day when I was in the early grades. I also remember that my birthday cake each year was a chocolate and white marble cake. I think all meats were fried. (Daddy had oatmeal every morning for breakfast.)

It’s funny how our memories can be triggered about long ago things. A friend of mine has a new online journal called “A Better Cook Journal” In one post she gave a recipe for succotash. I commented that when Mother combined any vegetables, she called it succotash. If she had pasta combined with anything at all it was call goulash.

Another post in this journal talks about bologna sandwiches. (Here in the Ozarks we pronounced it baloney) Vannie remembers they were always made with white bread. You know, I don’t remember any other kind except homemade bread and biscuits until 30 years or so when Roman Meal bread came along. It has been that long since I’ve eaten white bread. When I was a kid my Grandma ran a little country story, much like Ike’s on the “Walton’s”, and there was a big hulk of bologna and cheese in a glass case. Grandma could slice them with the sharpest butcher knife and get the customer exactly the amount they ask for. That was usually enough for one sandwich for then and a half-pound to take home to the family. Others ate their bologna and/or cheese on the saltines that were sold by the cracker or the pound.

Below are links to A Better Cook Journal. Please let her know MissDazey sent you, please and thank-you.

A Better Cook Journal
Fried Bologna Sandwich Anyone?
Quick And Easy Succotash Recipe

New Computer, New Challenges

It has been just about a week since my new computer arrived. I have wanted this one since I first saw it in Best Buy, almost 2 years ago. It is a Sony All-In-One, middle of the line, and has a 19-inch screen. I am like a little kid with a new toy.

I am the first one to admit I don’t know much about computers other than how to turn them on. I do great on the Internet, spending most of my day on and off line. (Even more now that I discovered Twitter) The computer itself, I am not comfortable at all. I don’t understand the terms, software is puzzling, and how-to’s written for IT experts. I also am afraid I will do something wrong and destroy the whole computer with one quick click.

Speaking of learning to use the new computer, the manual and tutorials are online. Now what if the thing is not working, how do I read the manual? Guess it doesn’t matter since I wouldn’t know what those big words mean anyway.

I am still getting things set up, that is a challenge. You know how new computers come with all the preloaded trial offers? Those “offers” are just nuisance and I am getting them off one at a time. As I told someone yesterday there are many glitches, but I’m not sure why. It could be me who has the glitch.

Yesterday Bruce and I finally got up the courage to hook up the new printer. Talk about a challenge! We had wanted to use it wireless, but could not figure that one out at all. The setup screen kept asking for a “key-code” and we have no idea what that is. I think that maybe our wireless doodad isn’t strong enough also. I finally said let’s just use a cord.

Got to run now, time to play some more on my new toy.

Leroy, A Lifetime of Giving

Leroy lives in the small town of Clinton, MO, but his generosity spreads across the USA, especially to Memphis, TN. Over 50 years ago Leroy attended a show by Danny Thomas in Kansas City where Danny announced his dream of building a research hospital for children with cancer. As we know that dream came true as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Leroy was moved by this and signed up to be a charter member of the supporters group. He has continued to give throughout these years, especially a gift of his time and talents.

Leroy largest and main gift are birdhouses that he lovingly builds. Over the years, Leroy has donated thousands of beautiful, colorful wren houses to St. Jude. He said they could use them anyway they wanted, but he especially wanted them to go to the kids, staff, and visitors at the hospital.

Leroy has made numerous trips to Memphis and through the years met Danny and his family. He carries a photo of himself with Phil Donahue and Danny’s son Tony. He always ate and visited with the kids, they are his kids too. Even at the age of 85 Leroy stills builds the birdhouses, however most years now someone from the St. Jude’s foundation stops by Clinton and picks them up. This year, 2009, he gave over 600.

MissDazey Personal Story:

The story of how Bruce and I met these adorable gentlemen is definitely a nice story, but one we always call a “God Wink”. They are those serendipity type things that always seem like a blessing. We like to stop at the Arby’s in Clinton, MO on our way to Kansas City. I told Bruce to time it so we would be there about 11 when they were opening. Sure enough, almost 11 exactly we are there. I walked over to get a table while Bruce was ordering and this nice older man said hello. Of course, I said hello back and we got into the typical “how’s the weather” conversation.

Soon he was telling us about his garden, giving green beans and other vegetables away, and typical old man stuff. He told us his name is Leroy and that he had worked at Hallmark of many years, and now lived in Clinton. He also told us he was almost 86, had been in WWII, and how he was part of the troops that first went into the death camps at the end of the war.

About this time, Leroy switched the conversation to his passion and you could tell, favorite subject, building birdhouses for St. Jude. He told us all about meeting Danny Thomas and his family, the trips to Memphis, and how many birdhouses he gave away each year. (I think everyone in Clinton has one or more too)

We were just about to leave the parking lot when Bruce said, “Oh, my, you are going to get a birdhouse”. Bruce spotted Leroy coming across the parking lot. Leroy got a bright red wren house out of his car and came over to give it to us. Isn’t that the kindest thing ever! He told us to hang it out April 1, and take it in the end of October. We are big bird lovers and next April Fool’s day, we will hang out our red wren house and think of Leroy. He is no fool…but a loving, old sweetheart of a man sharing with sick kids, one bird house at a time.

The History Detectives

I always watch the PBS show “The History Detectives.” I think it is one of most educational, interesting, and must-see shows ever. They make history come alive as they explain how they research and investigate every small detail of whatever they are working on for each segment. They have resources that the average person does not have access to or maybe don’t know about. I don’t remember them telling how long each story actually takes to research, but I’m sure it’s hours and weeks of information gathering and interviews.

Tonight they did a piece about Duke Ellington and the song “Take the A Train.” Someone had found the original plates for the song’s printing. I found it fascinating probably because I love music so much. To learn more about the show in general and the story of “Take the A Train” please click here to visit the PBS site.

PBS has featured Duke Ellington on their American Masters series. For more on that click here.

Wild Hoofbeats

Retweet Story #2

MissDazey personal story:
This the second of my posts about what I am discovering on Twitter. I still have not thought of a good title for this series, does anyone have a suggestion?
You can follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/MissDazey42

Wild Hoofbeats

Devoted to keeping America’s wild horses wild and free

I followed a twitter link to a blog written by Carol Walker. Carol is devoted to protecting the beautiful wild horses in the west. Her twitter profile reads, Carol Walker, equine & wildlife photographer, wild horse advocate, author of Wild Hoofbeats. Please take time to read the blog and look at the photos. Click here Using her skills as a professional photographer and brilliant storyteller, Carol documents the story of the horses and their fate if they are not protected.

A link on the blog took me to Carol site, “Living Images by Carol Walker.” I know I use the word WOW too often, but that is what I said... A BIG WOW! The photos are so life like, I swear I saw the horses running and heard them whinny. I especially like the photos of the baby colts. I have visited the site several times and still have not picked out a favorite shot.

Last night Bruce and I looked together at the horses. He is the big horse lover in the family, although I am pretty well hooked too. (We neither one ride and live in the city, but so admire beautiful horses) We are going order the book and calendar for a birthday present in November for a nephew’s 16th birthday. He has a horse that he shows and this is a perfect gift. For more information on the book, click here.