3 September 2012 (Labor Day)
Papa's Pittance: I haven't written anything on the blog for several months. But, today, I wanted to write to say "Thank You" to all who are working today and especially to our military troops wherever they are stationed this day. We appreciate your service whether you are active or retired. Thanks for keeping our freedoms for us to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known or will know. Thanks, too, to doctors and nurses and hospital staffs; to firemen and police personnel; to pilots who are transporting passengers to and from vacation sites or back from duty in a foreign place. We couldn't do it all without your help.

It brings me back, too, to days long gone by, when I was growing up in western Kansas and holidays were big days for the DuBois side of my family. We would get together at someone's home, my grandmothers, an uncle's or aunt's house and play cards from sunup to sunset and take time to eat and then go back to playing cards or some other game. These days were full of laughter and happiness and were always eagerly awaited. I can still remember my grandmother's apple dumplings, Aunt Elsie's fried chicken, my mom's waldorf salad, and all the wonderful scents of all the food cooking. But these three items seem to linger more than others. Although I must say that all the various dishes were very good.

Some years we would meet with the Gentzler side of the family, in Liberal or Dodge City, or Cimarron. Sometimes, in Wichita at my Uncle Luther's house. His wife, Addie, was a marvelous cook. She ran a rooming house and her meals were always good. One year, I remember, we were there along with several other uncles, aunts, and cousins, and Aunt Addie said I have a surprise for dinner today. She was always cooking surprises for us kids. Well, it turned out that there were more people there than she had counted on and so she turned to a "last resort." Spam, which was developed during WW2,  was available. If you haven't had fried Spam and fried potatoes for dinner, you don't know what you've missed. It comes in a self open can and can be sliced, chunked, or cooked with beans or whatever dish you can think of basically. Anyway, her surprise was two platters of fried Spam and a huge skillet of fried potatoes, and green beans and graham crackers made into sort of Smores with icing between them. There were other dishes as well but I remember well the Spam. It's still one of my favorite meals.

Those were good times. Mostly after the war because of gas rationing, and food rationing. We didn't get together so much then especially if we had to travel far. Those of us in Liberal and areas around Liberal could get together but it wasn't possible to if we had to go out of town. My Dad, because he worked for the Rock Island Railroad, could get a little more gas than some because his job was considered essential to the war effort and he sometimes had to travel to assist with railroad problems. So, once in awhile we would drive to Dodge City, approximately a hundred miles for dinner. But those days were rare.

My Grandmother DuBois was a character. She was the only grandmother I remember, for Dad's parents died when I was a year or so old. But, I spoke of her apple dumplings. She fixed lots of "goodies". But, for some reason I remember more those dumplings full of apple and spices and they were yummy. I, too, enjoyed Elsie's fried chicken. Mom could fix fried chicken well, but NOBODY could fry it like Elsie. I loved going to her house and having fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pie or cake. I still think she made the best fried chicken. Even better than KFC. My Mom had a wonderful Waldorf Salad recipe and she could make it better than anybody that I knew, I think. It was so full of apples, spices, celery and a mayonnaise dressing. YUM! She was a good cook, too.

I just thought some of you might like to know what life was like back in the good old days, or as some refer to them as the dark days because of the war. But, despite the war we still managed to have fun and even though our traveling was limited, we got together for days of reminiscing and fun and food. Oh, how I long for the times to get together. We are all so spread apart by reason of age or distance that it seems like we just don't, or can't, see each other as we should. Anyway, I love you all. Each and everyone, as Tiny Tim said in Christmas Carol. Hope all is well with each of you and our prayers are daily for each and everyone. I'm a little misty eyed right now.

God Bless All, Richly.

Dad, Papa, Rolland