Ann Herman Beatty

Ann Herman Beatty gave us this news last week (12/04/09). See medical reports from Linda Little Strickland at the end of Ann's initial message.  

 

I am set up for left knee replacement surgery on Monday, Dec. 7.  My knees have been bothering me for many years and it is past time I take care of myself. The biggest problems with my knees is that I have a difference of 20 degrees in the lower leg and upper leg and it makes it painful to walk (goes outward).   Also have long since been bone on bone and now the kneecap is disintegrating and a piece of it has moved up to my thigh.  This is past “want to” and needs to be done.  Orthopedic surgeon says I will be in hospital for 3-5 days, depending on progress, healing, and/or complications.  Then I go to the Rehab Hospital for 7-10 days depending on progress and then home and on my own.  Will have to go to orthopedic clinic for therapy lasting about 1 hr. per day for the remaining time of a total of six weeks of therapy.  With God's blessing I will be walking much better at the reunion. 

 

I will also have to have the other knee replaced and surgery on both feet as problem with knees has affected feet also.  Many of you, especially the Park Place Bunch  will remember that I am also a  Polio survivor from 1952.  This also predisposes me to hip problems and possible hip replacement down the line, if indeed, it has not already affected it.  I hope to be home by or before Christmas Eve. 

I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  I am not looking forward to this, but am looking forward to having had it done and Feb. 1, by which time I should be walking fairly well.  Have been told that rehab is not fun and painful.  Past patients refer to the therapy room as the torture chamber.  Within 5 years, I should have all surgery done and will either be the Bionic Woman or the $6 million woman.  Keep the e-mails coming,  as they will encourage me when I get home.  My home land line is 432-699-6350.

Have a blessed Christmas.  Ann Herman Beatty

 

Linda Little Strickland gave us this report on 12/08/09. Thanks, Linda!!!

 

Just got off the phone with Ann (Herman) Beatty. Had a successful knee replacement and at present time numb from waist to toes on left side.  Will be put in a "rocker" tomorrow to keep the knee from getting stiff and to exercise the leg.  In hospital in Midland, Texas.  Sounded good.  Will let you know how she is when I talk to her again.

 

Linda talked to Ann again on 12/10/09:

 

Karla, I talked with Ann today. She is improving.  Due to living alone she is going to be admitted to Rehab Hospital for  1-2 weeks. By Feb.1st she will be walking without a walker .  Looking forward to the reunion.  I told her I  wanted her to take a spin on the dance floor. Linda

 

10/06/07   I got a wonderful e-mail from Ann Herman Beatty the other day. Through it we hear both memories and up-to-the-minute biographical information. Regarding “wrapping houses”

Ann wrote: I did not ever think of “borrowing" TP from service stations, but my mother read every ad in the paper and my crew and I would get it when it was on sale at 10 rolls for a dollar. I remember one night papering a house on a guy one of the crew had a crush on. We went in the back yard and all. Then we would be bold enough to find the nearest convenience store, spend a nickel and phone them. We’d casually drive by to watch the household admire our handiwork. On Monday one of the crew talked to the guy. He said they heard jingling and thought it was a neighborhood dog running loose, but later figured out it was the jingling of a charm bracelet. Also got a horrid case of chigger bites while papering one house as it was very near a school and was well patrolled. We always wore dark clothes.

Regarding Park Place shared memories, Ann wrote: I am trying to remember if you were in our Brownie and G. S. troop. Think so. [Yes re Brownies, no re continuing into Girl Scouts. KD] I remember being in your Dad's bookstore on Broadway--think it was in the next block from Lang's pharmacy. Between Lang's, Bennett's Variety, and your Dad's store, I got every school supply imaginable. I think your dad was one of the few that carried poster board. I also remember my dad saying, "How can a Scandinavian be a Baptist--they should be Lutheran." [I’ll comment on that at the end. KD] Of her father, Ann wrote: The Park Place Lutheran Church is being sold because every one has moved off or died. My dad was pastor there for 19.5 yrs. An oddity. He is still going at 92, albeit slowly. I usually drive him on errands and do his grocery shopping for him. When my younger sister is here from Ruidoso she gets him really stocked up and makes tons of soup and homemade TV dinners. He does not want anyone else in to clean or do meals or other things he would be eligible for at no charge. We compromise and do it his way. He still insists on taking bulletins to the Senior Citizens Day Care and to a nursing home. He also stops at a home where the man is on home hospice for private communion. I asked him one day how long he intended to do this and his answer was "as long as I can walk" His steps are about 2/3 the length of his foot.

My Mother died of what the neurologist called an unsurvivable stroke in April, 2001. The funeral was the day before Easter, so Easter is now a difficult holiday for me. She never regained conciousness and I would not want her back for 2 seconds in that condition. She was almost 83.

Of her own life and career, Ann said: I retired in June after 19.5 years as an Adult Basic Education and GED prep. teacher. I spent 17.5 of those years either at the county jail or at the court ordered Rehab and Treatment center. Going to this class while in jail was a privilege, and at the center it was mandatory for anyone who did not have a GED, diploma, or proof of a secondario certificate from Mexico. In Mexico primero (through 6th grade) is mandatory but one pays tuition for 7- 9. They are probably better educated after ninth grade than I was from H.S. They take at least a year of Algebra and Geometry, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I had one guy who had secondario and he chose to get the GED so he could improve himself and go on to trade school at Midland College. He took it in English and stated that he probably would not have passed it in Spanish. He was a citizen and proud of his voter registration card. Prior to my jail experience… I started teaching after getting a degree from Texas Lutheran College (now University) in Midland. I taught in elementary schools for six years, moving up to Lubbock to go to TTU for a Masters. My late husband also taught H.S. math and science, so it was all but mandatory for him to go on. That made for a long three years. We taught during the school year, then went to Grad school in the summer. After I went on the mommy track, I subbed for 2 years to try to get back into regular education teaching. I suppose I was too expensive with 6 years experience and a Master of Education. The GED job found me so I guess that was the way things were supposed to be. I am probably the only person I have heard of who worked with the incarcerated or (in case of rehab) convicted felons without being connected in any way, shape, or form with law enforcement. We were all part time with no benefits.

I have lived in Midland since June of '64 and in the same house for 34 yrs. 3 or 4 families on the block of 12 houses had lived there longer than I. The President lived on the next block and they are renovating and making a museum of it. We often saw him walking the twins when they were still in strollers and anyone outside greeted him with "Hi George". For all I know he may have walked the girls down my street and spit on my sidewalk.

After being widowed in June 2001 I decided to take the sage advice of not making major decisions for at least a year. That was a traumatic time. I was having surgery in Dallas (bariatric--or stomach stapling) and Jim went down to the parking lot and collapsed there. He was revived and on life supports for 4 days. It was a particularly traumatic time as my mother had died April 10th, I had the surgery (43 staples down tummy) and Jim crashed on June 19, and then died on June 23.  I had self administered morphine for about 3 days and I checked out during that time.  I started understanding drug use (was teaching at the Drug Treatment Center at the time).  It hurt my tummy too much to cry.  All this happened in about 11 weeks. 

I eventually sold the house. Unfortunately, my house sale was hurt by several houses in the neighborhood going on sale in a brief period of time and one was really ratty. No refrig. air, no sprinkler system, no paint inside or out for over 20 years. Someone bought it and redid it and was updated from 63k to 149k. Housing has gone up immensely in the last 2 years because of oil. I have too much house (2140 sq feet) and definitely too much yard (100 x 110 ft), but apartment rates are astronomical. I am paying $250 less than the same apt. would now rent for (2 bdrm. 2 bath--1100 sq. ft).

I am going to need two knee replacements. However, I want to hold off on that. Beverly was right about the Medicare deal. I have bone scan and mammogram today and consult for the colon deal next week. I have shrunk almost 3.5 inches. Very common in persons having bariatric surgery. If I shrink much more my hip bones and rib cage will overlap.

My "boys" are 37 and 34. The oldest is teaching math in Van Horn. The youngest spent 5.5 yrs in army and is now making a career of school. The 10 year plan. He is now ABD for Phd. in computer science. He also had a double major on bachelors and even got two diplomas - one in Electrical Engineering and the other in Computer Science. His decisions. His student loans. I am out of time, long since out of anything interesting to say, and about out of space. If anyone is inclined to get in touch with me, they can find my e-mail address at the Milbyalum.org website. Ann Beatty

[Karla here re Ann's dad's remark about my Scandinavian father and the Lutheran/Baptist question: My dad was raised as a Lutheran in a mostly Swedish community in Illinois. All 4 of his grandparents immigrated from Sweden with their families. He was confirmed in the Lutheran church - learning his required material in Swedish. It was spoken in his home, but almost all he remembered of the language as an adult was what he had memorized in confirmation classes. He even went to a Lutheran Theological Seminary for a while in preparation for ministry. However, that thought went by the wayside and later he made his way to Houston where he met and married my Baptist mother. So much for his Lutheran up-bringing! She was VERY strong willed, and a VERY serious BAPTIST. I think Ann's dad and my dad had conversations about this - good natured discussions I am sure!!! I do remember that when my very Lutheran grandmother visited us from Illinois she visited Ann's father's church a number of times. She could take just so much of the Baptist form of worship without getting a little Lutheranism in to balance things out!!! KD]

Miscellaneous Musings and Thoughts (submitted June 12, 2008)

After reading about Linda Little Strickland's husband’s adventures, I thought I would add a few stories that my long since deceased father-in-law told me. He grew up in western Nebraska and at one time drove dynamite. He said pay was excellent, but many were killed. I have no idea how he met my mother-in-law as she grew up in Gulfport Mississippi. My late husband and his two older brothers were born in Nebraska, but his younger brother and only sister were born in Gulfport or Biloxi. They were living in a highly forested area (half of Miss. is national forest) rent free on the land in exchange for clearing it. This was during the middle to late 30's and early 40's. Most of the woods was pine.

Many women still ironed with charcoal irons and they made charcoal out of the cut trees to sell for money to buy what they could not grow. They said they did have the law around on occasion. Mississippi did not go "wet" until 66 and Jim's dad said there has not been any good stuff since. Guess he lost track of his previous sources. Word got around and the moonshiners came visiting. They would leave burlap bags and ask to have the cooled charcoal placed close to the fence and they would get it between dark and daylight. Never saw or heard the shiners. One day, a man came by and wanted the charcoal now. Dad said it had not cooled and would ruin his truck. The guy was insistent it was NOW. They paid him, took it, and Dad waited to see the outcome. Found out later from the looks and smell of the fire that they also had a goodly amount of sugar in the truck. (This was during W. W. II and sugar was rationed). Said they had a good laugh as the shiner lost his sugar, charcoal and truck and billows of black smoke were very visible.

He also worked for the Civil Conservation Corps and was delighted to have a job. Most of his work was putting asphalt on top of gravel or shell roads. When W. W. II got going good he was fortunate to get a job with Civil Service. He had 2 years of college which was a rarity in that time. The "kids" thought war was a wonderful game to play and an area close to them was used for maneuver [evidently the soldiers left some of the “prop” weapons behind]. He had a 2 door car and one day had all four boys (born from ‘29 to ‘34) pick up all the sabers, fake guns, non-working grenades, helmets, and any other stuff they had brought home. He loaded them in the car trunk, back seat-up to top of front seat, and a little more on front seat floor and passenger seat. As he approached Keesler AFB gate, he told the guard he should get someone to unload it. He threatened to sell it for scrap metal if not unloaded. He had a clean inside of the car after work. Don't think they paid him for any subsequent loads.

Another time he found out the neighbor’s boar was digging through their sweet potatoes. They grew well and Jim told me his mother usually cooked double the amount needed for supper and a cold sweet potato was their snack as they came in from school. Dad sat up with a shotgun and took down the pig. By dawn it was all canned and the kids were threatened that if they told they would also be like the pig.

They had critters and found out that ducks were more valuable than chickens – particularly the eggs. Many southern women (especially black cooks) said that duck eggs made a much better cake - especially Angel Food, Chiffon, and Sponge cake. Makes sense, as the egg was bigger and one got more whipped egg white. If we look back at our parents living through the depression and W. W. II, it is a wonder they made it. Houses in the first area of tract housing in Levvittown, New York had less than 800 sq. feet, and everyone thought they were prosperous. Now the habitat houses are larger than that. My own Dad will be 93 on July 26. Slowing down by the day. AHB

Ann, enjoyed your story about moonshine. My husband read it and backed you up. Sonny related Mississippi moonshiners used coal not like other states in making shine. He cracks me up with the escapades he experienced. When we go out and he starts on his moonshine story it is like he is the only one in the room people are fascinated to hear what he has to say. I have invited him to our next reunion I know he would be a hoot, but he has just in the last few months had his second open heart surgery. Thanks for the good read Ann. Linda Little Strickland

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Comments

[Dogfights, Whuppins and Pant Creases]

I'm loving all of these stories about the old days. On our Kenney adventure we spent the evening swappin' stories with our cousin Mike Little (see the Kenney photo album narrative, Photos O through T). Mike spins a yarn as good as the best of them, and he told about his paternal grandfather (not related to us) who must have been quite a colorful character.

Seems the old man was a fairly well known Fire Chief in a small Texas town back in the 40s and 50's. He was also a dogfight enthusiast, and he frequently had one of his own dogs in the fight. (Mike digressed to explain the origins of the remark "I don't have a dog in this fight").

Sam was also known for giving the firemen a good whuppin' back of the firehouse if they had not performed their job admirably at a particular fire. He evidently engendered a great deal of respect from his men in this way, as if the fear of the fire itself were not sufficient motivation to do their job well.

Mike gave a number of examples of how his grandfather was known around town, then concluded with this, "But he was always a gentleman. He always carried a fresh pair of trousers in his car, and when he traveled to see his mother and sisters he would stop just before he arrived to change into that extra pair of trousers so the crease would be fresh in his pants when he arrived".

I wonder what our grandkids and great grandkids will remember about us when we are long gone but not quite forgotten. Karla

[Glenda Burns Minniece]

Hey Ann,

What an amazing memory you have!! Such details about catching that shuttle. I do not remember a shuttle bus. What I remember is having to catch a city bus, which of course had to be paid for out of our own pockets.

I have loved reading about your life story. I remember you fondly anyway and am pleased to learn about your life as an adult.

My husband has Nebraska AND Mississippi connections. His dad was from Meridian, Mississippi, who went to West Point (class of '29), and was then stationed at Fort D. A. Russell in Marfa, Texas where he met and married John's mother. They were posted to Fort Robinson in Nebraska for several years when John was small. What John remembers perhaps most vividly about Fort Robinson is waiting for the school bus on a cold morning and while he was waiting he touched his tongue to a metal post to lick the frost off. We all know why he remembers that! When Hurricane Rita came through John and I were on a trip to Fort Robinson, his first trip back since he left as a child. The eye of the storm went right over my mother's home in San Augustine County and I was so worried about her, of course. We had to go into town (Crawford) to a bar to watch weather reports. No one up there was concerned about the storm and everyone in the bar was only interested in watching football games, but they were kind enough to turn to the weather channel for a few minutes - a very few minutes!

About teaching in the prison system: When I taught in middle school, one of the young women teachers had taught in Hunstville State Prison. She was so young and pretty, we all thought she must have been concerned for her safety, but she said absolutely not, that the inmates treated her like a lady and made sure no one would "mess with" her!

[Linda Strickland]

Glenda,

My family traveled the road from Meridian, Mississippi, in covered wagons. As I traveled the same road in a car, thoughts of the hardships of our forefathers flooded my mind. Seems their eyes were looking for that special place, like us now that we are retired. Glad to read many in our herd have come to that place in life when a sunset, a cup of coffee with a loved one, a good e-mail from a friend is enough to be happy.

Being a Psych nurse I was behind locked doors. I had the privilege of meeting some of the most creative, intellectual, funny people in the world. Due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, their life journey was put on hold, like a bird with a broken wing. Healing can come slow but when that day comes to leave they once again continue , given the tools that medical teaching/medication can provide. People can't or do not want to understand mental illness. Stress can cause anyone to have a mental break. I would tell my patients the only difference between us is I have the keys. Hey group, pardon my rambling. I get to thinking about life as my thoughts flash back to family and patients. Linda