For our grandchildren, grasping our family is a daunting task. So on one of our Gria and Grandpa days, we had those who live here in Arkansas create a family tree. What you see above is Robbie’s work that got crumpled before we could record it for y’all. As you can see, it’s many limbs are rich with the ones we love.
Alice Mae
Alison Mae Clapper Minutes after she was born, her father told us her name and her mother declared, “Her name is Alison Mae, but all her friends call her Alice Mae.” We are birthday twins, Alice Mae and I. She was born on my 70th birthday. My hope is that I will dance with her on her wedding ...Read morePayton and Alex fly
Payton Kashmier Alex Kashmier This morning I bolted awake with a frightening thought: In just a few hours my grandsons Payton and Alex will be at the airport looking forward to their first flying lesson. And they’re expecting me to be their instructor. Gulp. Yes, I’ve been flying for more than fifty years. Yes, I’ve logged five ...Read moreChristmas in the Time of Covid
Christmas season began with a bang. Or should I say a doorbell. When we opened the door, what to our wondering eyes should appear but an elf and two pair of jammies. It was The Elf on the Shelf. And he was especially exciting for us, having previously met his mates Noggin and Wooden Christmas ...Read moreShamu and Scott
Scott in my arms in Urbana, Illinois Nearly 57 years ago on the eve of my 23rd birthday, I was blessed with my first child, John Scott Clapper – to be called Scotty. One of my favorite pictures is of me dressed for graduation in cap and gown and holding this marvelous creature in my arms. As ...Read moreSkinny Pancakes for Four Generations
Sunday morning text from Jeff, “Wanna join us for virtual church and skinny pancakes?” For the uninitiated, this was not about praying for a trim waistline. Jeff was offering to continue a tradition begun by his grandma more than fifty years ago. Skinny pancakes (actually, we all simply call them skinnies) are as large as a ...Read more