Wish I could see your home! You beat my record for doing without a dishwasher. We went for only four years, handwashing everything for only six people. I found that episode more difficult to endure than the four years that we went without any heating downstairs. (Upstairs, where the children's rooms were, did not break down.)

No family heritage for me, apart from the generalization that most here of "WASP" background arrived from Western Europe at some point. I was just a "plain U.S." kid who found the books in the Houston Public Library locations and snapped them up to read. They seemed so much more interesting than Nancy Drew and the ilk, even though they, too, were "chain fiction"!

Lord have mercy!

Some discussion of this question appears up-thread.

How well known is Enid Blyton in the U.S.? In the early 1960s (born in 1955) I read many of her "_______ of Adventure" books but none of my friends had heard of them. I never heard of the "Famous Five" books until a few years ago, and never have seen one. OP's son is ready, or soon will be, for Edward Eager's books.

I don't remember. At the time, we were two parents and four children still at home (including three sons in their late teens). The awful loads were sheets, towels, and men's bluejeans. I remember posting somewhere on WTM to enquire if anyone knew where I could buy an affordable mangle to squeeze out the excess water. (the stomping routine quickly lost its entertainment value)

Everyone whom I know who lives in McKinney likes it there a lot. I have not gone over there much, but always hear good things about the city. Congratulations to you!

Ha! I know very well how labor-intensive a task laundry is. We went some months without a washing machine, so I was washing everything by hand -- by foot, rather, as I did the "grape stomp" routine in the bathtub -- rinsing all after round one with bar soap and a wash board.

Can't. I wasn't there! :D P.S. Did you ever read "The Road Home" at the end of which the young Armenian woman was betrothed, by proxy, to a man living in the United States?

There have been PBS reality shows of this type, although I don't remember the names of them. Fun? Probably. At least in part. Self-centered? Very much so, I can't help thinking.. (I guess the Internet access is via hand-cranked generator?)

Oh dear. Now you both have me inclining toward fear of this having been the case.

This sounds like the old hoax about the real-life Ima Hogg and her mythical sister, Eura.

:confused1: :crying: :glare: :mad: I hope there is video evidence from the bank site that might lead to the arrest of these monsters. This is the kind of deserving individual who merits a "Go Fund Me" rally, or something similar. Bothers me to hear of such a happening. Praying for this young man.

Thanks! Now, without wishing to annoy the assembly . . . I recited wedding vows. I did not recite wedding vows. Other: I have no idea whether I recited vows or not because I was (a) in an overpowering delirium of joy, (b) three sheets to the wind from nervousness, © trying not to catch my veil on fire from the wedding candle, (d) married by proxy, . . . (e) etc. What options fall in the category of "other"? [This is only the second week of school for us, and my mind clearly has wrinkled.]

I don't know how to "erase" and "re-vote".

Thank you, Melinda. I appreciate your taking the time.

If this is not a "prying" question, why do you regret not having spoken formal vows? As EO, it never occurred to me to want (or miss) them. I am interested in your thoughts from your own situation. Thanks!

Your age is not at all a problem. Your uterine health may be in the danger zone. Sounds like a high-risk pregnancy, if one occurs, that would require close monitoring and very careful management. Mine were born when I was 31, 34, 39, and 44. All healthy. Miscarriage at age 45.

"Other", across the board. There are no "vows" in the Eastern Orthodox Christian sacrament of marriage service. Married for thirty-one years so far.

Beautiful, Bill. Just beautiful.

Regarding whether or not a person with dementia actually knows who is visiting. . . I can reply only as an Eastern Orthodox Christian. Hence this is not an argument. Only my understanding of how the world works. We believe that each human being has an eternal soul that has its own processes for understanding which are distinct from those belonging to the body. The body can break down from illness but the soul remains unimpaired. Consequently, my mother knew exactly what was going on around her even though her physical abilities could not respond as before. Six weeks before her death, on two separate days, my mother unexpectedly and miraculously had a clear, unambiguous return of her mental faculties and speech abilities. Just out of the blue. An unforgettable gift even though each incident lasted only about an hour. Several people witnessed this.

Laminate for kitchen and utility room. There now are laminates of such good quality that the eye truly is fooled. Hardwood in other rooms, and high quality tile for bathrooms.

We all are happy that our children continued to visit their grandmother even during final of her many years with Alzheimer's. This was real life. Illness and death are realities. The experiences made a deep impression on our children, each of whom often, and voluntarily, would speak of their firm intent to care for DH and me in our old age. What always will bother me is my father's refusal to visit his wife during her last two years. I believe that he was wrong. This is a man who loved her intensely and cherished their marriage which lasted for over seventy years. DH, DD and I were with my mother when she died, holding my hand and looking straight into my eyes. I am grateful to have this memory. OP, your daughter is an adult so all you can do is to encourage her, but can't force a visit. People develop their responses to dementia, illness, and death by individual timetable.

. . . and Gus is an invalid nickname for Constantine. Found only in the U.S., where Gus has a brother Vasilios with the equally invalid nickname of Bill ! Yes. The old joke. Shout "Niko!" "Yianni !" "Yiorgi !" in a packed movie theatre . . . And every single male in the place runs to the lobby to see who wants him.

That would work when the child grows up and can choose for himself, or if he petitions the court while a minor to allow his choice of name. Meanwhile, there are doctor appointments, school registrations, sports team memberships, and so forth, all of which require a surname.