My 2nd great-grandfather

If you have men that only know if there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no good road at all.
David Livingstone

Pierre Constant Mathey was born March 4, 1819 at 4:oo p.m. to Jean Baptiste Mathey and his wife Marie Magdeleine Quenet. Jean Baptiste was a Swiss border guard in the town of Dampierre, France along the Doubs River. This was only about twenty years after the French Revolution and only four year after the final exile of Napolean. France was still in recovery of the previous turmoil. I have a certified copy of Pierre's birth certificate, dated October 10, 1824.

I also have an original certificate dated March 18, 1846. At this time, he lived in Paris. All men were required to serve in the army. However, in lieu of service, he could participate in a lottery. If chosen, he would be allowed to emigrate to the United States. Pierre had a lottery number ninety-eight, which permitted him to depart.

According to his original passport, dated March 20, 1946, he was about five feet, five inches tall with dark brown hair and blue-grey eyes. He had a high forhead and an ordinary nose, round chin with and oval face and he was olive-complected. He was bound for New Orleans.

From the time of his arrival in New Orleans until his arrival in Abbeville, Louisiana, nothing is known. I do have questions, though. Did he have siblings? If so, how many and did they stay in France or did they come to America? If so, where did they go? The only information available to me are the land grants that he purchased, of which I am in possession.

One of the land grants, signed by James Buchannan, originally granted to Alexander Hollinger, as payment for his military service in the War of 1812. Circumstances for acquisition of this property on the Vermilion River in Abbeville are unknown. It is here that the property was cleared, his home was built and the land was farmed. I am in possession of this document as well.

So, the word of the day "rusticate" (to go into or to reside in the country) was the impetus for this journal entry.

1 year ago today....

I can't wait to see you, Daddy. We'll be together forevermore.
Me

Today, my aunt sent this poem to me. Long ago, I adopted this attitude about life and I pray to never forget it.

THE RACE

"QUIT! GIVE UP! YOU'RE BEATEN!" They shout out and plead,

There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed

And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face.

My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.

For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.

A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.

Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that race

Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.

And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.

And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire.

To win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire.

And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,

Was running near the lead and thought, "My Dad will be so proud."

But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip,

The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.

Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace.

And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.

So down he fell and with him hope. He couldn't win it now.

Embarrassed, sad he only wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face.

Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win that race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done - behind a bit, that's all,

And ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.

So anxious to restore himself to catch up and to win,

His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.

He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.

I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race.

But, in a laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face

That steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race."

So, he jumped up to try again. Ten yards behind the last.

If I'm to gain those yards, he thought, I've got to run real fast.

Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,

But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.

Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.

There's no sense running anymore - three strikes I'm out - why try?

The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.

So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.

I've lost, so what's the use, he thought, I'll live with my disgrace.

But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.

"Get up," an echo sounded low. "Get up and take your place.

You were not meant for failure here, get up and win the race."

With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "Your haven't lost at all

For winning is not more than this: to rise each time you fall."

So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,

He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.

So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.

Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.

Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he'd rose again.

Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner as he crossed first place.

Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.

But when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place,

The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.

And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud;

You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.

And to his Dad he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."

"To me you won," his father said, "You rose each time you fell."

And when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,

The memory of that little boy - helps me in my race.

For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all,

And all you have to do to win - is rise each time you fall.

"QUITE! GIVE UP! YOU'RE BEATEN!" they still shout in my face

But another voice within me says, "GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!"

The only relief from the heat is rain....

I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap.
Rodney Dangerfield
I got an updated program of Family Tree Maker. Recently, I found all of the research I had done many years ago at the library (without computers). I started entering the information into the program. I'm having such a good time. My daddy's mother was always interested in geneology. She was handed the bible that her grandfather brought over from Ireland in the great diaspora that was the Irish potato famine. She was the most wonderful woman. I loved her with all my heart. I have such fond memories of her and, I think that she is the person who is responsible for all that is good in me. After 38 years, I still miss her. We had such fun together. She was the most literate person I know and, she was smart as a whip. She is the only person in the world that I know that could finish the Sunday crossword puzzle. She loved her family and was immensely curious. She did have a temper but only when provoked. She was decended from the Irish (Ire-angry, land) hmmmm. The land of the angry. Just thought of that..maybee that's why it is said that people from there have Irish tempers...
Gotta go, running late........

My previous waning inspiration...

I want to be the kind of woman that when my feet hit the floor, the Devil says, "Oh, crap!"
Anonymus

Well, I've been busy with my husband and his pressing post surgical needs. Don't get me wrong; I feel that it is a blessing to take care of him because, he has brought immeasurable joy into my life throughout the years. Yes, there have been curses, but they tend to make the blessings that much sweeter.

The work, recently, has been cursed with this weather that reminds me of Hades. It is so blasted hot, well, it just makes me mad. When I read the above quote I thought, "Yeah, that's how I feel!" So much so, that the words began to spring forth with such a force it's hard to figure out what to write about first.

My husband is in physical theray for his shoulder so, I thought that I would join the adjacent health center, because I have to bring him--he is not yet ready to drive. I could stand being a little more healthy. Right now I am using the recumbent cross trainer for twenty minutes a day. Tomorrow, I will have a fitness evaluation and will be assigned a trainer to give me more strength and hopefully more stamina. Also I was informed that I could work on any areas of my body about which I have concerns., (i.e., the ever increasing length of my "wings", my sagging abdomen, those muscles between my thighs that hum a tune when I walk, etc.) I really am excited about the anticipated benefits of my physical condition. Excersize is so adventageous for us on so many levels, not only does it increase physical strength and endurance but, in boosts our immune system, strengthens our bones, and gives us a general increased sense of well-being...

Unexpected company...later...

We're havin' a heat wave...

If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?
Steven Wright

It's hot; I mean really hot. We are breaking records here. For while it was really cool, for longer than usual. Well, I think the weather is making up for lost time. The forecast for tomorrow is 102. The air conditioning went on about 10:00 a.m. and didn't turn off 'til 9:30 p.m. I know it's hard to believe but, we go to the gym to cool off.

Tomorrow, hunny is getting his staples removed from his surgery 3 weeks ago. It will surely be a help because he will now be able to shower. He is doing better but, for him, not fast enough.

I can't think any more--I'm too hot.

Convalescence....

Marriage has no guarantees. If that's what you're looking for, go live with a car battery.
Erma Bombeck

He is recovering much better than I had ever expected. He does his physical therapy religiously, he is taking nothing for pain (unbelieveable). The fact of the matter is that he WANTS to get better ASAP. I do find that he is a little too glib in his actions becuse, if he is a little too careless he could do irreparable damage to his shouder. There is a delicate balance that must be achieved to create the optium results. I must realize that my control is extremely limited and that I am only a loving caretaker.

It's HOT outside. The A/C in the hurricane hut is not functioning so Mandy and sweetie-pie are shopping for a new one. Predictions for storms in the Gulf say that there will be few storms (let's hope). When I was younger, I liked storms because we got out of school (youth is self-centred). As I get older, storms make me more aware of how little control we actually have. The only thing that makes us feel better is to prepare. I've been called an alarmist before but, I think under dire conditions, those very people will be knocking on our door.

If it's not the cat, it's the dog

About the time we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.
Herbert Hoover

Surgery was a success but, it's perplexing that some people can be told a thing and the next day they'll say you didn't tell 'um. My husband said,"I wish you would have told me it was going to be this painful." What???????????? I told him often that total joint replacement surgery and rehab are extremely painful and time consuming (and so did everyon else) but, as mentioned before, rules don't apply to him. He is on pain medication which causes a slowing of the digestive system and therefore another issue has "popped" out. I told him not to just sit on the john all day but, what do I know? After trying to treat his blossom at home, to no avail, we are seeing another doctor this afternoon. He is soooooooo happy (extreme sarcasm.)

Physically, today I feel really good, thank you Jesus. I received my infusion this a.m. Sweetie-pie came with me and went to the physical therapy department to get some rehab coaching. I was really happy about that.

We are also trying to sell one of our properties. The tenants are a pain. We want to "cash in" so to speak. We got a call from our realtor and said that they don't want to open the house for showing. They haven't even paid all of last month's rent!!!!!!!!! The nerve!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I could get my panties in a wad but that would be just too uncomfortable.

Just when I think things are about to calm down, it's something else--called life.

T minus 12 hours and counting....

Patience is the companion of wisdom.
Saint Augustine

Well, I have finally arrived. No worry, no concern, this is totally out of my hands. The only thing I want to be now is loving caretaker. Today, he is wishing he didn't have to have the surgery so, I asked him if he was willing to live with the consequences, which are worsening pain and shoulder immobility. He said he knew but that didn't console him much so I said, "Tomorrow, you will be one day closer to not having any more pain."

He said, "I don't want to stay more than one day."

I said, "If the doctor says you can go, we'll come home."

I don't have to be the bad guy, just a loving wife. Funny how the Holy Spirit took over today and gave me such calm. Prayer works!!!!!!!!!

T minus 36 hours and counting....

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
Samuel Butler

Today my husband and I had more hospital preparations to do. He had to be typed and cross-matched for one more unit of blood for his surgery Wednesday. We were to attend a little education class for patients who are to receive total joint replacements. He didn't want to go, thinking, of course, that it was unnecessary. I said that I would go alone because I have been retired from the hospital for thirteen years and I wanted to make myself aware of any changes instituted since my departure. A few things have changed. The technology has improved some but basically everthing is the same.

Well, I declare, in walks my husband, espousing how he will be ready to go home the next day (he really is superman, you know) and that, for him all exceptions will apply to all rules. I hope for him that I am completely surprised and his recovery will be as miraculous as he has foretold. I really hope that I will seem like an embecile because the alternative is a cranky, demanding, old cuss. He has no patience with slow convalecense and total shoulder joint replacements are renown for slow recovery. But I keep forgetting that he is a man and real men don't have pain. Silly me...

I will be praying oftener, which is a good thing anyway.

T minus 3 days and counting....

A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Mark Twain

Well, day before yesterday my friend gave me a gallon and one half of blackberries. I was really excited to do some canning. Yesterday, I began the process (remember, I haven't done blackberries since I helped Pearl (my grandmother) way back.

My problem is that I had not ever done this on my own before. I juiced the berries with the old juicer. I then strained the juice to get the remaining seeds out of the juice. I washed my jars. Then I began to cook the jelly. I followed the directions that were written down, but the missing direction was my grandmother.

The juice was cooked, I skimmed the foam, and began to fill the jars. My husband helped (bless his heart but, that may have been part of the problem.) He freely offered his opinion about my errors (remember, he's never done this before) and so I was very nervous. Canning really is an art--you have to get the proportions exactly correct and then you have to know (and I mean just know) when to stop the cooking process. Too little--syrup. Too much--blackberry bricks. After I filled the jars and put on the lids, I gave them a bath. Yes, they all sealed properly. Success!!! Set them to cool.

I remember how Granma's jelly would turn so pretty in the jars. This morning, I turned the jars--syrup. I could have cried. I read on the internet that sometimes it takes two weeks for the jelly to turn. My mom called this morning and I asked her if it took two weeks for Granma's jelly to turn and she said, "Hmmm, I think when the lids popped, the jelly had already turned." Oh, well, I'll wait a couple of weeks but, I'm doubtful; I think I made canned syrup. Next time, I think I'll choose another partner to help...my mom.

There are just some things you have to learn on your own, with prayers, of course...

It's been too long....

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me".
Erma Bombeck
It has been entirely too long since the last time I posted. Albiet, I have been very busy with one project after another.
The longest of the projects was converting one of our buildings into three businesses. The business that I took was, starting from scratch, the beauty salon. I think I worked everyday for about four months.
The second was refurbishing a rental property that was badly abused. It still amazes me what some people leave behind for others to clean--esp. in the bathroom. Now, I think that we have really good tenants. I'm learning that with each lease signing, to be a little more strick.
All the while that I was doing the above two projects, I taught school and we graduated two students last week. I get so emotional when we have graduations. It feels like the graduates are almost like my children because we invest so much of our time and effort as teachers with them.
Then last week, my son and his adorable wife, made the announcement that we were going to have another grandchild (#6). I am so happy but, more than that, I am so happy for her parents. It's their first. I am sure that they are so excited. It is amazing how God always makes room in one's heart to love one more child.
Anyway, next week my sweetie pie will have surgery and will have a long rehab period. I will be very busy this summer. There is still so much to do...

The infamous event...

And the terror itself is an example of the world's uncontrollability.
Ulrich Beck

My fear of some things is completely irrational. Take for instance, would it be rational to be afraid of a mammal that is approximately 1100 times smaller than I? The answer is--no. Would it be rational to say that I'm about 1100 times smarter? Well, of course it would be. Then why in the world am I afraid of such an intruder into my life? The answer is totally irrational. The answer is--because. That's it--just because. These creatures are opportunists. They don't hunt--they steal. That's offensive enough. But, they will bring the whole family too, so that all can enjoy warmth and the food they steal. Oh, did I mention, they don't use the bathroom facilities. If they need to "go" it will be right where they are (how rude). They don't wipe their feet either and they harbor all sorts of diseases.

The rest of the story...
I baked some cookies for my honey. I took them out of the oven. He enjoyed few and then left the rest on the glass cook top. I then became hungry for cornbread. I made a good ole southern cornbread (w/o flour) with cheese and baked in an iron skillet. After it was baked, I immediately enjoyed a slice. It was so good, I went back for seconds. As I was eating, my Sweetie-pie entered the kitchen and said, "Well, I'll be damned--a mouse." I nearly choked and immediately became hysterical. I had to throw away the cookies and the cornbread. There was a MOUSE in my kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The nerve of that animal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was without a clue as to what to do. That type of behavior, for me, is very unusual. I can usually react appropriately to almost any emergency situation. In this situation, I was a complete buffoon. It was a true blonde moment. Ken went to the store and bought those sticky trap things but they didn't work. Can't say as I blame the mouse, I wouldn't eat that crap either.

So, I went about my business the next day with some trepidation. I began to prepare dinner and behind the control panel of the stove, I SAW HIS TAIL!!!!!! My immediate return to hysteria began. My knight in shining armor appeared and decided to set a mouse trap. He loaded it with cheese and in less than a minute the trap worked. Death to the intruder. My Hero slayed him!!!!!!!!!!! The babbling moron (me) began to return to normal. Though, the question still remains. After such moronic behavior, is normal possible for me?

Persistance.......

...if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
How many time have I begun a project and then grown tired of it and quit. I must confess; it is more than I would like to admit. So begins my resolution for the year. I will begin not another project until all of the ones I have begun are finished. Can you believe it? I am still not finished with the bathroom. Oh, cleverly, I have blamed it on the busy-ness of the holiday season but, no more excuses. Clearly, Paul, in the above scripture, is speaking of good works--continuing in them so as to reap a good harvest. But these wise word can be used everyday for the smallest of things. Mohammad Ali, the greatest boxer, wisely said, "The will must be stronger than the skill." Well, that's where I am today. My "New Year's resolution is to use my skills wisely and with persistance. I must bounce back or run the risk of "drying out and becomming brittle." Happy New Year....