The Nancy Hunter chapter of the Cape Girardeau Daughters of the American Revolution invited me to speak on the topic “Fifty Years of Looking Through a Lens.” After it was over, one of the members snatched my camera out of my hands and turned it on Mother and me. I feel much more comfortable on the taking end of pictures, but I actually like this photo. The publications in the foreground are some of the works I’ve produced in the past two years.
Certificate and pin
Regent Charlotte Slinkard presented me with a Certificate of Award for an Outstanding Program. (She had it made up in advance, which indicates she had a higher level of confidence in my abilities than I have.) She also gave me a Bicentennial of the War of 1812 American Flag pin. Regent Slinkard is second from the right in this photo.
She should save something for the funeral
LaFern Stiver, center, introduced me. She’s Friend Shari’s mother. If I had known she was going to say so many nice things, I’d have asked her to save some of them back for my funeral. You really shouldn’t shoot up all your fireworks at the beginning of the evening. You need to hold something back for the grand finale. (Click on any photo to make it larger.)
Ancestors fought in the Revolution
Mother is sitting at the far end of the table. To her left is Mary Lee Rassmussen who is her second cousin (I think). She had done research on the Adkins side of Mother’s family that goes all the way back to Scotland. A couple of our ancestors were slain by Indians shortly before the Revolution, and we had relatives who fought in the war. She didn’t find any of the horse thieves that Mother has always been afraid would turn up if we too highly up the family tree.
Library has great facilities
The Cape library has some of the best facilities I’ve seen. I always bring all of the equipment I need to put on a show without relying on screens, projectors, sound systems and the like to be there and to work. The library was great: they had shades that darkened the room; the screen came down from the ceiling with the push of a button. All I had to do was to plug my laptop computer into a jack that connected to a ceiling-mounted projector and to connect another wire to the audio output. It was the cleanest and fastest setup I’ve ever had.
I’m sorry to say that I missed getting a photo of a woman who claimed she taught me to swim when I was four years old. Mother and I compared notes later and think she may have been thinking about Brothers Mark and David. I clearly remember taking swimming lessons at the Capaha Pool when I was about 10, not four. I knew from the moment that my skin touched that early June pool water that this boy was not cut out for any sport that requires you to crack the ice before you can participate in it. I finally learned how to swim at Boy Scout Camp Lewellen when I was about 13. The water in the St. Francis River in mid-summer was acceptably warm.
Ever the self-deprecating humorist, aren’t you, Ken?
Where can we peons purchase some of those beautiful “published works” on the table?
I attended a library seminar at the Cape library a while back and spent a good deal of time taking pictures of all the many splendors. We copied their idea of colorful bean bag chairs for the children’s section, though our Advance library is sooo teeny that we had to scale everything down. Beautiful library!
I also learned to swim at Girl Scout Camp Latonka at Wappapello. Our teacher had no sympathy for our squeamishness at putting our face down in water littered with little dead fish!
You can see ordering and pricing info at the bottom of this story. If you haven’t been to see the museum, you could wound a whole bunch of birds with one rock: see my exhibit, buy copies of all of my books and calendars and get an easy column for the paper about “I knew him when…”
Option Two: I’m going to be in Advance at least once before I head back south.
Great picture of you and your mother.
Congratulations! Great picture of you and your Mom. I recognized Catherine Gaither Allison (Central class of ’52) in the second picture – second from left.
Great picture of you and your Mom!
I am a member of the historical Arrow Rock, MO, DAR Chapter. Nice to see the Cape G. Nancy Hunter chapter.
Ken,did you get to meet Betty Martin? (I’m name dropping here)She is the library’s Director, a long time good friend and instrumental in the new library’s appearance and facilities. Mention my name if you want to be treated like a celebrity. The Daughters of the American Revolution has done so much for those of us trying to capture and share our history. I’m glad you and they found one another.
I didn’t meet Betty Martin, but I DID enlist the help of Linda Baliff. She knew her stuff and told me everything I needed to know about getting my equipment hooked up to their goodies.
Know you did a great talk indeed! I am a member of the Fairfax County DAR and we are always busy with various programs and working downtown at Constitution Hall. Our daughter, Suzannah Ancell Weir, was the 200th member at her induction a few years ago. Know the Cape chapter…..relatives would be there……..are busy too!!!!!!!!! We all work SO hard for various programs!!!!! Love to all sisters and thanks to you for your help making their meeting so special.
Perfect photo of you and your mom.
ImHotep,
It’s kind of weird Ken. All this time I was thinking you were still the slender kid with Brown hair and glasses.
I guess that is because I haven’t seen you to know you since high school. 🙂 Maybe I’ll recognize you now if I see you in Schnucks, or Sams. You are still aging well. You look very healthy and content. with how things have turned out for you. 🙂
I’m still that kid until I look in the mirror.