An Amazing First Day Back for GPS

Today was the first day back for all of the teachers in the district.    We had two "convocations" at Gilbert High to welcome everyone back.   It was the most amazing day and I am so proud to be a GPS Governing Board member.

 

Suzanne Zentner, our interim superintendent, did a fabulous job of recreating the feeling of community and caring.   She asked our former superintendent, Wally Delecki, to be the keynote speaker.  He is and will always be one of the most influential people in my life.  He said that this was the first time he had been really back in the district since he retired 16 years ago.  At both convocations, he got a standing ovation and well that he should.

 

Nick Cornell, the GPS teacher of the year, started it off with a great speech.   I was able to speak for the Governing Board.   Between Dr. D, Nick, Suzanne and I, one would have thought that we had talked about what we were going to say and we didn't.  But the them was the same--caring about people and relationships.    It was AMAZING.    

 

Here is my speech just for posterity:

 

On behalf of the Gilbert Unified School Board, I would like to welcome you back for the 2017-18 school year!

Martin Luther King once said, “No work is insignificant.  All labor that lifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

Each and everyone one of us in this auditorium today works to lift humanity because we work for the future of this great country and the promise of a better tomorrow.   There is no more important job than being an educator.    And when I use the term educator, I mean everyone involved the education of our children!

Several years ago I was able to welcome back all of the GPS teachers.     I told a story that most of you probably cannot even imagine.   When I started teaching at Gilbert, there were only about 800 students in K-8.    I usually drove down Elliot Road which was a two lane road with only stop signs.   There was no housing, only fields.   In the winter, the sheep herders from northern Arizona brought their sheep to Gilbert.   Every now and then they we herd them down Elliot.   One time, I got caught in the middle of the sheep herd.   If you have ever experienced anything like this, it can be a bit scary.   However, for me the scariest  part is that I knew I was going to be late for school because there were a lot of sheep.   We had no cell phones to call and let the school now.   I was about 15 minutes late and someone was covering my class. This happened every now then so they were prepared.

That is hard to imagine today when we have 40 schools.   Growth has brought change.   In addition, teaching has changed with so many mandates coming from both the federal and state levels.    The one constant no matter what happens with growth or mandates, no one can take away the caring for children and the importance of relationships.     I absolutely believe that all children can be successful and building relationships is the single most important thing that educators can do to make that happen.

Helen Keller said, “Once I knew only darkness and stillness…my life was without a past or a future…but a little word from the fingers of a teacher fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living!

Each of you have the power to ensure the rapture of living and what can be more powerful than that?

I know how important your time is and that you all want to get back to your schools to get ready for the students.

So I will end with a quote from Kid President (I had never heard about Kid President until learning about him from Chip Pettit.)

“You don’t need a cape to be a hero; you just need to care.”

Each morning you put on your “invisible” cape and set off to “care” for your kiddos and make a difference. You are all heroes in my book!!

Thank you to the new employees for choosing Gilbert Public Schools and thank you to all of the loyal employees who continue to help make this the best District anywhere!

 

94 Years Remembered in 94 Posts-Post 24 (Funeral at St. Mary's/pictures)

This is the beautiful collage of pictures of Teresa that Kerri and her friend, Shea, put together.   They tried to get as many pictures of Teresa with someone from each family.    It really came out nice and they got a lot of compliments on it.

The funeral mass at St. Mary's was beautiful.   The music and the cantor did an amazing job.   Ken, Ryan, Cameron and Patrick were the pall bearers who walked her urn up the aisle.   Our whole family followed.    

The church was very full.  Our family alone can do that, but I was so touched that so many of my friends were there.    Gilbert Public Schools was very well represented.   Friends of Judy's, friends of mine, and friends of Kerri's were there.   Most of them knew Teresa through the years.  There were also a number of people from Douglas whose parents were Teresa's friends.   Some even flew in from other places and that was so much appreciated.

I knew I had to hold myself together to do the eulogy.   Fortunately (or unfortunately), I have had to do many eulogies through the years for dear friends and family.   This one was probably the hardest one I have ever had to do.

The one song that always gets to me is the Ave Maria.   I was able to hold myself together, though.  Kerri went up with me to stand by me when I spoke.  I did fine until I got to the part about the relationship between Teresa and Cameron, but I made it through it.  I will post the eulogy later this week.

Ken went up after I did and thanked many people for what they have done to help these past few years.   What touched me a lot was the fact that he acknowledged Gilbert Public Schools for their support.

We walked out of the church together to the "Catholic" version of Danny Boy.   It was so perfect!!

The reception following was well attended and fun.  We played Irish music in the background.   

After the reception was over, most of us stayed around the lobby, did a few toasts to Teresa, and visited with family.   We spent the night at the Sheraton, which made it nice.

I have heard from so many people how beautiful the Mass was and how great the music was.   It was a tribute to a great lady.   It is truly the end of an era and I miss her!!!

Still have one service to go as we need to celebrate her life in Douglas at St. Luke's next Saturday.

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 23 (Teresa getting her hair cut here in Gilbert)

Yesterday was the funeral at St. Mary's for our dear Aunt Teresa.   I will be posting more later about all of the events.  It is too emotional for me to write about it now.  I need to process some things.

I went to get my hair cut on Friday and Jen, our hairdresser, also cut Teresa's hair after she moved up her with us.   

She loved Teresa and Teresa loved her.   Jen reminded me about one of the first times I brought her to get her haircut and Jen asked her if she would like something to drink.   She told Jen that she would.   She ordered a vodka tonic!!   Jen obviously is in the hair business, not the bar business and offered her some water instead.   We had a good laugh about it.

When I was telling Kerri about this after I got home, she reminded me of the time when her class came to Douglas for their field trip.  It was the beginning of her really starting to slip.   All the fourth graders were there, and Teresa asked one of Kerri's kids to please fix her a vodka tonic.   I had forgotten that story.

So many great and fun memories that can never be taken away!! 

And today would have been Teresa's 95th birthday.   I am hoping she is having a great celebration with all of her family and friends who were there to greet her a few weeks ago.    I am a bit sad that we aren't going out for her birthday dinner tonight.

94 Years Rememered in 94 Days-Post 22 (D.T. Living in Douglas)

This will be a short post.  But one of the many Tweets that our idiot president did today reminded me of something that happened last summer.   Teresa was starting to really decline mentally.   We were watching the news   and there was a story about Trump.

She looked at me and she said she remembered when he lived down the street from us on 14th Street in the 800 block.  She said to me, "I didn't like him as a neighbor, and I don't like him now either."  

I still laugh about this.  Because there is no way in hell that Trump would ever live in Douglas and especially on the 800 block!!

Maybe that is when he was planning  the wall!!  Who knows?? But I still love this story!! 

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 21 (Birthday Cards)

One of the many things that Teresa and my mom did for all of the kids in the family was to send each of them a card on their birthdays with  $1.00 in each card.   Sometimes the cousins were young adults and still got the card.   Although my mom supported doing this and loved it, Teresa was the one who made sure the cards were sent.

The most important reason for her to do that was so that all of the little kiddos would know who they were and that they were loved.   I could try to count how many but I know it was a lot because we have such a large, extended family.

After my mom died in 2002, I believe she stopped soon after.     I can't remember exactly when it was.   But often one of the younger cousins will say something to me about how much they appreciated getting the birthday cards.   

We even had family calendars made with birthdays on them.   Mike O'Connell and Tom Park helped get that done because they were in the printing business.

She always tried to call her nieces and nephews on their birthdays.    In 2009, I told her that I would do a blogpost about each one of her nieces and nephews on their birthdays.   I actually started in December, 2008.   I wrote something  about each one our cousins on their birthdays and it is still on my blog.

Teresa read each one and loved that I did this for her.   It meant a lot.  As I have mentioned so many times, family was the most important thing to her.    She will be missed by so many of us.   But we have been so blessed by her.

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 20 (Teresa's Love of Trains)

Teresa always loved trains.   She always talked about how her dad was a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad.  I remember as a small child, our grandmother would go on trips as she had a lifetime pass.

I also remember my mom and I going out to California one time on the train and I loved it.

Our grandfather's route was between Douglas and El Paso.   I am not sure if he had a freight train, but I think it was.

There were two trains that came through Douglas every day.  One came around 11:00 a.m. and the other around 7:00 p.m.  I believe the morning one was called The Golden State and the evening one I know was called The Sunset Limited.

I think many of our cousins will remember riding our bikes down to watch the evening train come in during the summer.  At that time, the depot was a bustling place.  It was so fun to watch all of the people get off and on the train.

After the railroad pulled out, the depot was neglected.   My mom was instrumental in getting it for the City of Douglas.  It is now the police department and has been beautifully refurbished.   Her name is on the plaque as a member of the City of Douglas Council.

So many memories have been coming back as I try to do these posts!!!

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 19 (Gadsden Hotel Burning--1929)

One of the stories that I remember Teresa telling often was about watching the Gadsden Hotel burn down from the upstairs window.   She said how scary it was and she was just a little girl.    I looked up the  history today and it burned down in 1929.    She would have been about seven years old then.

She always loved to go into the Gadsden.   She loved the beauty of the lobby.  I know she was sad that it had declined so much.   However, the good news is that a young couple have bought it and are living in it.   They are really trying to get it going again.

When we have the Mass in Douglas on August 5, we are going to invite any family and friends to join us at the Gadsden around 4 to have a toast to Teresa.    She would have loved that.

Here is some history that I found about the hotel and the fire:

This grand hotel was named after the historically significant Gadsden Purchase. The purchase of 30,000 square miles from Mexico in 1853 for 10 million dollars was negotiated by John Gadsden the American Ambassador to Mexico. The land was purchased to ensure territorial rights for a practical southern railroad route to the pacific coast.

The Gadsden Hotel was designed by famed architect Henry Trost. Trost dominated the architectural scene in the southwest and designed hundreds of buildings in El Paso, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson and San Angelo including the University of Texas El Paso. He was from the Chicago School of Architecture and specialized in designing what he referred to as “arid America”.

The hotel opened for business in November 1907. Imagine Arizona before it was a state and at a time when Wyatt Earp, Geronimo and Pancho Villa rode rough shod over the west. The hotel provided gracious hospitality to the growing business brought in by nearby mines and the settling of the territory. The hotel soon became a meeting place for cattlemen, ranchers, miners and businessmen.

On February 7, 1929, fire ripped through the hotel leaving nothing but the marble staircase. Like much of Arizona’s old west figures and culture, it was just too tough to die. The hotel was immediately rebuilt but on a grander scale with no expense spared.

Not many hotels of the day could boast about having an electric lift to reach one of its 4 floors. Travelers were amazed at the modern accommodations. The lift, still in use, is one of the oldest manually operated elevators west of the Mississippi. The hotel was one of the first to feature individual bathrooms in all 160 air cooled rooms. The hotel still has the original 1929 telephone switchboard; reportedly the first of its kind to be used in Arizona. Plans are under way to create a hotel museum highlighting the many historical and cultural aspects of the hotel. 

The picture below is after the Gadsden burned.

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 18 (Grandma and Grandpa Roughan and Some Family Information)

Teresa talked often through the years of her grandmother, Ellen Roughan.    She loved her dearly and it sounds from the stories that I heard that she was much like Teresa in her personality.

She and our great grandfather were both from Ireland.   Matthew Roughan was from County Cork and Grandma Roughan was from County Mayo, God help  us.   That phrase was always added after County Mayo.

I am not sure when they emigrated to the U.S. but they lived in Easton, Pennsylvania as that is where our grandmother Katie was born.  

Grandpa Roughan was a miner and they lived in Leadville, Colorado.   I believe that is where Grandma Scott me and married our grandfather, E.A. Scott.   He worked for the railroad.

Grandma and Grandpa Roughan moved to Bisbee in 1903 when the copper mines were doing well.   They homestead in the valley near Double Adobe.   I think Grandpa Roughan stayed in Bisbee when he worked and came home on his days off.  Although it is not that far, it would have taken a lot of time during those days.

Grandma Roughan had a cow and the cow had twins a couple of times.  There was a farmer who really wanted to buy the cow because of the fact that it had twins, so Grandma Roughan finally sold it to him.   According to Teresa, the cow never had twins again.

Grandpa Roughan died in 1912 and so she became a midwife.   I remember Teresa telling stories about how she would go live with a family and take care of them, help clean and then deliver the baby.   She did this for many years and was well loved.   By this time, she was living in Douglas.

Our grandparents moved to Douglas in 1912.  I am not sure if that was one of the reasons or not, but that is for a later post. 

One of our cousins who was actually the grand daughter  of my grandmother's sister, Annie, sent me this information recently.  I did not know this.

Our great grandmother, Ellen, had several children who died young.  This is what Margaret Bayne sent me:
  
John, born 1850 Tommy, born 1883; died 1886 Catherine, born 1884 Mary, born December 1885, died November 1886 Annie, 1889 Margaret, born 1895, died same day Elizabeth, born July 1900, died Oct 1900  

The only ones who lived to adulthood were John, Catherine and Annie.   John died young and is buried in Bisbee.  

I am going to try to share a link on their gravesite if I can.   

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Roughan&GSfn=Ellen&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1949&GSdyrel=in&GSst=5&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=43939900&df=all&  

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 17 (Teresa's last trip--to see Patrick's new home)

As I am staying here in Oakland while Patrick and Eduardo are in Cuba, it has brought back memories of Teresa's last trip.  Kerri, Cameron and I had taken her to Virginia for the Scott Family Reunion at the Farm over the 4th of July weekend.   I thought that would probably be her last trip as it was very hard on her.

However, it was very important to me for her to see Patrick's house in Oakland.  I had helped him buy it the previous March.   I knew that it would have been very important to her before the dementia started to kick in so much.  At that point, she was in and out of it depending on the day.

We planned a weekend.   Judy, Kerri, and Cameron came with us.   They stayed at a hotel and Teresa and I stayed with Patrick.   Saturday night we had a barbecue and invited the many family members who live in the Bay Area.   Most of them came and Teresa had a wonderful time.   For many of them, it was their last time to see her.   

Several of the cousins who weren't able to come Saturday came on Sunday and spent a few hours with her.

We stayed a few extra days after Kerri, Judy and Cameron went home.   The trip was a bit hard on her.   Although I am really glad that we came so that the cousins could visit with her, it was really so important to me to have her see Patrick's house.

He has overcome a lot of issues.   We are so proud of him and what he is doing with his life.   

I thought I had taken pictures, but I apparently didn't so I am just posting pictures of the outside of his house, the side yard that was filled with tables and chairs (and family) in September and the living room.   What touches my heart is the picture in the top right hand corner of the living room picture.   It is a sketch of 858 in Douglas.

Being here is so relaxing and peaceful for me right now.   I will be going back the 25th for the start of the school year where I have to welcome new teachers one day, do Teresa's eulogy at St. Mary's, welcome back all Gilbert teachers (in two sessions) with a lighthearted speech and the the eulogy again at St. Luke's.     I know I can do it!  I am trying to get my crying out of the way here remembering her and remembering how much she loved to travel for family events.   It means a lot that this was her last trip!!

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 16 (Giving up driving)

 When I got to Patrick's house in Oakland, I took a picture of his car. This car belonged to my mom and Teresa. It is a 1998 Oldsmobile. When Teresa finally quit driving in about 2014 because "people kept running into the car and denting it," she gave it to Cameron. He didn't get his license so Patrick took it to California. 

At the time, it only had about 50,000 miles on it. It is still running great. He picked me up at the airport in it. Still has cigarette burns from my mom smoking in it on the seats and all of the dents that it acquired through the years. It is almost 20 years old and still getting around. Teresa was happy for Patrick to have it and I know both she and my mom would love that he is using it. 

Funny story--some of his kids that he taught made fun of the car with all of the dents!!! Dents or not, it still runs fine.

I think the final straw was the day that I found out the front headlight was hanging down. Not sure how long it had been that way, but she had no idea what had happened. I think when an old person can't drive anymore, it has to be so very difficult. 

Good thing I was there to take her places and Douglas is small so we had many others who helped!

Oakland Trip Made Special with Dear, "Old" Friends

Patrick asked me if I would like to go to Cuba with him  a few months ago.    The last two summers we spent a week in the Caribbean, which was really fun.    However, Cuba is not a place that I really want to visit so I said no.   With all that has happened over the last month and with the passing of Teresa, it is better that I didn't go.

However, he did ask if I would stay at his house while he is  gone and take care of my grandpug, Paco.   I did that last March and it turned out to be a great getaway for me.

This time I asked my friends, Elise and Jessie, if they would like to join me.  So they got airplane tickets and flew out on Thursday.

Yesterday we went into San Francisco and spent the day walking around Chinatown, walking down to Fisherman's Wharf and then meeting a friend from Douglas who we hadn't seen in years.  

We  found an Irish Pub, BarNua where they have Magners.   Elise and Jessie had to drag me out of there.  But we did have a toast to my Aunt Teresa.   I love this sign that was in the bar.

And here is a picture of Elise and I enjoying ourselves.

We then went to eat at the Stinking Rose and met our friend from high school in Douglas, Pam Stine.  She and Elise were very close and I always liked her.   She was a few years behind me in school.   The Stinking Rose is a garlic restaurant and is probably my favorite restaurant ever.

That was followed by Beach Blanket Babylon.  It is a musical parody and I have seen it so many times.  The last time was in March.  I think I could go to it once a month.   They make fun of politicians and public figures in a very hilarious way.

Today we are headed to Jack London Square.   We will walk around and find a good place for sea food or whatever we can find.

I love having Jessie and Elise here.   They have been such great friends to me for several years and I can never thank them enough for their friendship.

94 Years Remembered in 94 days-Post 15 (Teresa's 90th Birthday)

I got to Oakland to stay at Patrick's while he and Eduardo go to Cuba.  I arrived on July 18 and will be here until Tuesday, July 25.    While I am here, I remembered that July 19-23, 2012 was our last family reunion in Douglas.   It was also to celebrate Teresa's 90th birthday which was July 30.   It is exactly five years ago.

The picture of the house is what I used for a blog to let family know about different things to do in southeastern Arizona while they were there.  Lots of history and great places to visit.  I also included a lot of information about the reunion.   The grandchildren of Katie and E. A. Scott were very generous in making this happen for all of the family, especially the younger members.

Teresa wanted to do something for all of the grandkids and the great grandkids.  So we ordered glasses from Tervis in her honor with each person's name on it.   This is a picture of Patrick's that he has at his house.  We have Kerri's and Cameron's at our house in Gilbert.

We had 175 family and close friends for the first night in Douglas.   I had made red and green chili meat, beans, salsa and fresh tortillas in the backyard at 858.  Of course, we had plenty of beer in ice chests as well as a bar set up on the patio.    I had been able to get tables, chairs and a nice canopy for the backyard.   Some family came early and that was great.

On Saturday, we did a family picture.  We were able to use Douglas High School Stadium (home of the Bulldogs) for the picture.   It was the only venue that could hold all of our family.   

We then had a dinner at the Elks Club.   I remember having to tell the guys at the last minute how many people would be there.  My final count was "I have no "frigging" idea how many people will be there because Teresa kept inviting people.    

Everything ended up wonderful.   Lots of people from Douglas came.  We had a banner with her picture on it and saying it was her 90th.  It flew on the flagpole in front of the Elks Club.   Before that it was on the front of the house at 858.

Sunday, everyone went to Mass at St. Luke's and Teresa was honored there.  Most of the family attended.  

Those who stayed, went back to the Elk's Club for dinner on Sunday.  It was a much smaller crowd and was hosted by the Reidy's.   That had been the tradition for the last few reunions.

I remember my Elk's friends asking if we could have a reunion every summer because it generated so much money for them (at the bar, especially) that they had a great year financially!!!

During this time of mourning, it is so nice to remember the two very important events that happened--her 85th and 90th birthday celebrations.    I wonder if it is just a coincidence that it happened during this time exactly five and ten years ago??????  I don't think so.

But the memories that were created for all of our family and friends can never be taken away.   And these were all about family which was what Teresa was all about.  

I love these memories and I am loving sharing them.      

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 14 (Teresa's 85th Birthday)

This koozie was sitting on our kitchen counter on Monday night.  Kerri had used it.   I see them often around the house as we have several.  Although I see it often, that night I looked at it a bit more closely for some reason.   I then realized that it has been exactly 10 years since we celebrated Teresa's 85th birthday.   

Judy and I planned for it to be here in Gilbert.   The first night would be at my house and the second would be at Judy's.   Many of our family came from all over to celebrate her 85th.   We got these as a memento for the family.   Ours are used quite often and as I said, I see them all of the time.   What struck me now was that it was July 20 and 21, 2007 which is exactly 10 years ago.

Gilbert isn't the best place to have a family gathering in July because of the heat.     We were able to rent some outdoor coolers, which helped to a certain extent.  Also, both of us have pools and that made it easier for the little kids (and some big ones, too).

The first night at my house I made red and green chili meat and beans.   I had everything set up to serve in the garage.   The afternoon before, I tried it out and it overloaded our circuits.   I was so thankful that  our cousin, Neil Feldman (Judy's husband) had flown in a few days earlier on his private plane and I had picked him up at the airport.   Neil was one of those guys who could do anything.  So he rigged up additional outlets and fixed it so we could use as many roasters as needed.  I don't know what I would have done if it had happened.   We still have Neil's handiwork if ever needed again.

Everything went fairly smoothly considering all of the people at the house.   Of course, Teresa was thrilled that so many family and friends came to celebrate with her.

The next night was at Judy's.   Her backyard is much bigger and we had more people that night.   Everything was set up and we had it catered by a barbecue place.   All turned out well.  At that time, Judy lived about two blocks away from us.

Several of our San Francisco cousins couldn't come that weekend because of a previous commitment.  So we did a "trial" run the week before here at my house.    We had red and green chili and beans.   Some of our family friends, the Donahues, came that night.  Their dad and our Uncle Bill were great friends and it was nice to have a smaller group. And of course, Teresa loved that.    She was always in the middle of everyone talking, laughing, having a vodka tonic, and finding a baby to hold.

Every time our family has a fun and positive event, so many try to be there. I sincerely hope that with Teresa now being gone, that all of us will continue to do our best to get together for the happy times.   I think we will.   We certainly had good role models in our "greatest generation!"

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 13 (Elks Club and other stories)

I remember hearing so many stories as I was growing up about different events during the years.    Some of my information is completely accurate.   Others are just what I can remember.   I know they happened, but I don't know the exact circumstances.

Teresa always liked to tell stories about her dad and her grandma, Ellen Roughan.   I think Teresa was a bit of a daddy's girl from things she has told me through the years.

When I moved to Douglas, I decided to join the Elks Club.   This was for a variety of reasons.   Our grandfather was very involved the Elks and became one in 1905 in Leadville, Colorado.    The other reasons is it gave me a "safe" place to go that wasn't really in public when I was a small town superintendent.  And third, I got a great deal on renting it for our family reunion by being a member.  So I went through the initiation and I am officially an Elk.

Sometimes Teresa and I went to Taco Tuesday or the Friday fish fry.    She always loved to go there and she knew several people there.   They were always glad to see her.

The Elks Club is about six blocks from 858.   Teresa said there were times when she was a little girl that she would have to go to the Elks to let her dad know it was time for dinner.   She said he always liked to go there and enjoy a few drinks, play a bit of poker and just talk to his friends.  Teresa said sometimes she had to stay for awhile.  But she always loved going to the Elks Club.

Our grandfather's name is in the "big" room and he was one of the early members of the Douglas Elks.

The other story I remember Teresa telling me was about at one time when the Pancho Villa era was happening, our grandfather's train was hijacked by Pancho Villa's forces.  He was a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad and his route was between Douglas and El Paso.      So that would make sense that it could have happened.    Fortunately, no one was hurt that I was ever told.   

Like everything else, I wish I had asked more questions.    That was one of the great things being in Douglas with her those five years.  She reminisced a lot.   I know how hard it was on her to be the only one left of her seven beloved siblings.   But what a blessing for us to have had her for so many years!!

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 12 (Elenor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhardt)

One of the stories Teresa told quite often were the times that she got to go the airport with her dad to see Eleanor Roosevelt and then Amelia Earhardt.    She always said she was just a little kid and didn't realize who she was seeing.  But her dad felt it was very important to take his kids to historical events.

I found the following article in the Douglas Dispatch.    Just think, our grandfather and Teresa were at both of these events!!

A group of airport supporters, city staff and Mayor and Council were on hand Thursday afternoon to commemorate the stopover of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Douglas Airport, located at the end of 10th Street.

The event was marked with a plaque which will be placed in a small garden near the Airport Museum.

In December 1928, Douglas’ airport became the first international airport in the Americas, and was dedicated as such by Eleanor Roosevelt on June 5, 1933 by striking a bottle of water (remember it was still Prohibition) against a flagpole at the site.

Roosevelt decided to make a last minute stop in Douglas to dedicate the airport on a trip to California. She spent 20 minutes in Douglas before continuing her trip.

Chris Overlock of the Cochise County Historical Society, spoke about Roosevelt’s brief stopover during the dedication ceremony.

Liz Ames dedicated the plaque in much the same manner as Roosevelt breaking a bottle of sparkling cider against the rock the plaque will be placed on.

The plaque reads: “At this location on June 5, 1933, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, dedicated Douglas International Airport as the first international airport in the United States.

Designed by J.P. Sexton as the first and only truly international airport in the Americas, Douglas International Airport began operations in 1929. The Douglas airfield was connected with the Agua Prieta, Mexico, airport by a common north-south runway.

“Early air travel between the United States and Mexico required plans to be cleared both for entry and exit of their respective counties. In other border cities, that meant a “hop and a skip” from one country’s airport to another country’s airfield. With DIA, planes could land in one country , pull back the wide gate on the barbed wire fence at the border, and taxi across to the other country. Then, after clearing customs, pilots and passengers could resume the flight to their destination.

In 1929, the first Women’s Air Derby, a transcontinental air race for woman pilots (Amelia Earhart, among them) included Douglas as one of its stops. In October, 1930, Douglas was a stop on the first transcontinental airmail route. Douglas International Airport became a successful commercial airport with regular airline service.

“By the late 1940s, most commercial traffic went through Bisbee-Douglas International Airport, about nine miles north of Douglas. Douglas International Airport lost its international designation, and became Douglas Municipal Airport.

On December 30, 1975, Douglas International Airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Cochise County Historical Society, June 5, 2008.

Host of firsts

The Douglas International Airport has been the home of a  host of firsts including being the first airport in the state, first involved in military maneuvers and bombings and Douglas was on the route of the first regularly scheduled coast-to-coast airmail service, said Les Stimac, Airport Museum volunteer.

On Oct. 15, 1930, two of the three inaugural airmail flights landed at Douglas airport.

In 1933, Douglas airport was ranked as one of the 10 best in the country.

The nod goes to Douglas Airport for being involved in the first aerial military missions as  a plane leaving the airport was conducting spy missions for General Pershing against Pancho Villa in Mexico. Pershing later used aerial bombing on railroad tracks in Mexico using buckets filled with lard, metal pieces and explosives.

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 11 (858-Just a house, but a HOME)

I know that it is just a house.   But it is so much more than that.   I hope I can explain this.

This house was built in 1915.   Our grandfather, E.A. Scott, had his eye on it from the time it was being built.  It went up for sale and he was able to buy it in 1918.   I don't know what month, but I always remember my mom saying that she was  born on 9th Street but raised at 858.   And Teresa and Bill were both born at 858.    Teresa was so proud of that.

Judy and I had the privilege of growing up at 858 14th St., Douglas, Arizona.    We had a great childhood and so many of our cousins spent time with us here with my mom and Teresa.

I lived at 858 for 18 years.  I went to ASU but returned every summer but my last to work at the smelter.    After I was divorced, I took my kids to Douglas every summer  I think we spent every summer there from 1979-87 (although the last few years it was just the kids as I was going to graduate school.).

After my mom died in 2002, the first time I went down after her funeral was over, it was so hard.   But I just needed a first.       It became much easier after that.

We tried to take Cameron down as much as possible.   One of my favorite stories about him and my mom and Teresa was his third birthday.   He absolutely wanted to go to Douglas for his birthday to spend it with Great and Tia.    So we went to Douglas over Labor Day weekend.    

Cameron had a bunch of presents on the table in the house, but he waited for it to be okay.  It still amazes me how much he connected with both of them from the first.

In 2010 when I moved back there, it was still home.   I had the "front" bedroom and Teresa was down stairs.   I loved living in that house with her for the five years I was there.   It is such a beautiful HOME with so many memories.

We had so many things go on through the years at 858.   I remember having two floats in the backyard for homecoming    And then the wonderful pool Johnny built for Judy and I.   And the four family reunions.   They were in 1977, 1992, 1998 and 2012 (Teresa's 90th birthday).  And then Kerri's kids from Gilbert came for their southeastern Arizona field trip and Teresa loved being there and telling about the house.

I know we have to sell it.  And that is probably going to be one of the hardest days of my life!  It is closure for the physical part of the wonderful life, but nothing can take away the memories.   I dread that day!!!

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 10 (Going home for lunch every day)

As unbelievable as it may seem, I never in my entire school years in Douglas ever at lunch at school.  I don't know about Judy after I left to go to ASU, but we always went home for lunch.

My mom and Teresa both had their lunch hours from 12 until 1.   I guess we did at school, too.

I remember that at noon a whistle would blow and the entire town could hear it.  

I would walk home from Loretto and when I went to high school, my mom picked me up until I got my driver's license.  

Mary always had our lunch ready for us and it was ALWAYS something very good.   If it was a special day (like red chili burros), I got to bring friends with me and they always looked forward to that.

In this very busy day and age, it is hard to imagine that a family would have lunch together every day.

At dinner time, we always sat at the kitchen table.  Johnny was with us, depending on his work schedule at the smelter.   He did shift work and changed every two weeks.

My mom and Teresa always did the dishes because we had to do homework and that was most important.   

After we got a television, I sometimes was allowed to go watch cartoons in the living room.   As soon as I would ask and get permission, Judy also wanted to go with me.

As I have mentioned previously, ours was a very different family for the 50's, but it was a very happy and loving family.  I will always be grateful for the life I was given and the loving examples of Johnny, my mom, and Teresa.

94 Years Remembered in 94 Days-Post 9 (Our Mary)

In 1946 when our Aunt Dot had her twin girls, Jean and Jan, they were coming to spend some time in Douglas.   As a result, my grandfather hired a young girl from Agua Prieta to work for the family.   Her name was Maria Berumen, but we called her Mary.

Mary was born in the U.S. but lived with her parents in Mexico.  She came across the border every day which was very easy in those days.  

I was born in 1949 and Mary was a "third" mother to me.   And I absolutely know that Judy felt the same way about her.

She was a part of our family from 1946 until her death in 2008.    We loved her dearly and she was a big part of who we are today.

When I spent summers down in Douglas when my kids were little, Mary took care of them as well.   They both loved her like a grandmother.   When she died, Patrick was a pallbearer at her funeral.

Mary was so important to our family.  And her family continues to be a part of ours.  They have taken care of the house since we have been back in the valley and have been to see Teresa several times.   When we first moved back up here, Mary's sister, Consuelo and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.   Teresa and I went to Douglas for that celebration.

I learned from a very early age the importance of taking care of the people who matter in your life.   I learned this from how my mom and Teresa treated Mary.   She was a part of our family.

They always paid social security for her so that when she retired, she had a monthly social security check.   After Judy got older and I was gone, she didn't work every day at our house.   She also worked at St. Luke's so she was able to have medical insurance and some type of retirement from the Diocese.

I remember when my children went to a babysitter, my mom and Teresa told me to pay our sitter when they were sick and when we had a break.  I always paid for spring break and I believe Christmas.   And my kids were very well taken care of by Christine, the wonderful lady who was their babysitter.

The lessons I learned about how to treat people have done me well through my career.   I have always believed that everyone's job is of significant importance, no matter what.     It was from the example that was set by Teresa and my mom.

These past several days when I have been thinking about what I am going to write, a lot has occurred to me that I hadn't thought of before.   I have been jotting down notes about things to write and then reflecting on them.  

We have been very blessed with our wonderful family and I am so appreciative for what I have been given!!!