All right already...

Natives are getting restless, so I guess I'd better post SOMETHING...

Love the Roomba Clan name, JJ. Sort of fits, doesn't it?

One of the reasons I decided to do this is to get some of the clan stories down in print before I go to that big vacuum store in the sky. Over the past few years,I've found myself thinking occasionally, "I'll just ask _________ (Mama Steve, Papa Steve, Grandma Skip, Grandpa Dick, Mama Hallie...take your pick)about that." Bummer.

Let's start with how Mama and Papa Steve met. They lived on farms in the SE part of the state, but went to different schools. They met at a dance/party at someone's house during high school. There was a guessing game popular back then. You would stand behind someone, hold an object over his/her head, and say "Heavy, heavy hangs over thy head". The "someone" would ask "Is it fine or super fine?" (I have no idea what that meant and they never explained it, just giggled...well, she would giggle and he would just smile. What do you suppose they weren't telling us?) Then, the "someone" had to ask questions and guess the object. So, it's Papa's turn, Mama Steve holds a heavy vase over his head, says "Heavy heavy hangs over thy head" and before he can ask "Is it fine or super fine?" she drops it on his head! But it all turned out OK...he walked her home from the party. Which meant he walked six miles to her house and six miles back to his. He didn't get home until just before dawn. What a way to start a 70 year marriage!

I also know they would room in town during the winter to go to school, because education was so important to both families. Mama Steve's moved back from Arkansas because of the condition of the schools...they wanted their kids (5 boys and her) to get through a good high school. She worked as an assistant to a photographer and he manned a lunch counter to make extra money until they graduated.

And that's enough for now. Hope you enjoy these.