Skeet at LA Fashion Week

I found this picture which I like. Thought I would post for your enjoyment.

This is Spring 2006.

The Arrangement

Cheers to all! We are treated with a new story from Mandeh, something we are all needing at the moment--thank you!

The Arrangement, part 1
Livy’s Story

It was late May 1944. Livy awoke at 9:15. She’d overslept. Her father would have left the house already. Rev Dunne had busy long days attending to church meetings, and breakfast and supper time were usually the only times they could discuss their plans for the day. Livy didn’t feel well. It was an unusual feeling, so she just lay in bed thinking about what might be happening to her that was making her feel unwell.

As she lay there, her thoughts drifted back to the fall of 1943. Her mother had become ill, and was diagnosed with cancer. It was early October, and Livy had just started a semester at the University of Denver. She was taking a full load of graduate classes in archeology. She loved the program and was already deeply into the classes, reading her books, going to the library, doing the research for her thesis and loving every minute of it.

When she arrived home one cool afternoon in early October, her parents were sitting in her father’s home office. As she took off her coat and hung it up in the hall closet she could hear her mother sniffing, and her father talking to her. As she was about to pass the door, her mother called to her. Livy went into the office. There was great concern on their faces. Alarmed Livy asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

Her father said, ‘Your mother has been diagnosed with cancer.’

Before he could say more, Livy gasped and ran to her mother. She sat down beside her and put her arm around her at which her mother said, ‘Livy, it’s all right. I’ve had a wonderful life, and maybe its God’s will that I’m,’ and here her voice trailed off.

Again Livy’s father was speaking, ‘Livy, since Abby is married, your mother and I have been talking about you quitting your studies and staying home to look after her.’

Livy reeled at the thought of quitting university. She loved her mother very much, but giving up her education would the last thing on her mother’s mind. Without any words being said, she knew her father put more value in a woman marrying well than going to university. Her mother protested and said, ‘Really, the housekeeper is here every day, surely she can attend to my needs.’

Rev Dunne said sternly, ‘Nonsense! She has enough to do! Livy, you will quit your studies immediately, and stay home to look after your mother.’ Livy knew well enough not to cross her father, he could be very firm with his women folk. At her mother’s insistence, and over Rev Dunne’s protestations, Livy dropped her morning classes, and kept up with her two afternoon classes for the fall term. This arrangement worked out well for both mother and daughter because Mrs Dunne usually slept in the afternoon.

By December they knew that Mrs Dunne was too ill to be left alone, so Livy would not be able to continue her course work in January. Livy looked after her mother around the clock after that. Toward the end of her life, her mother was only awake a few minutes a day, and Livy missed her so much. She died in early February. Livy was beside herself with grief. Even though she knew her mother was dying, it still came almost as a shock to her.

Livy’s support system was gone. She had spent many happy hours beside her mother in the garden listening to her stories, and learning about looking after the vegetable garden and her beloved flowers. Her mother had encouraged her to go to university, and then graduate school. She wanted her daughters to have the opportunity of post secondary education, something she wished she had been able to do.

By early March Livy’s friend Dot started to encourage her to go out, but Livy protested. Since she had not been able to enroll at the university in early January, time hung heavy on her hands during February and March. She usually just moped around the house, missing her mother.

Finally in late March, at Dot’s urging, Livy accepted an invitation to volunteer at a dance for the enlisted men. That’s where she met and fell for Edward. He was on furlough, and was an air force training officer at Corpus Christi. She was startled that he would even notice her because she thought her friend Dot was more outgoing, and much prettier. But he singled her out, and they danced, and then spent the next couple of days together, culminating in their sleeping together the night before he went back to the base. Livy had had a few boyfriends, but no one affected her like Edward. He literally swept her off her feet and encouraged her to do things she’d never done with a man before. She thought he loved her. Why else would he make love to her? She said she’d write to him. He said he didn’t know where he would be, and was not much of a letter writer anyway.

Livy’s period was late. It was almost the end of April, but she was not worried. She knew from past experience that there were several factors that could delay her cycle, and stress was one of them. This often happened around exam time, and from the stress of taking care of her mother, and then her mother’s recent death.

Her cycle still had not happened by early May, and now Livy was getting worried. By late May she was beginning to suspect that she might be pregnant. There were a few noticeable body changes, and still no period. Since she was always quite slim, she noticed a slight thickening around her waist and abdomen, food cravings, tiredness, and mood swings.

Many nights Livy cried herself to sleep, and often woke up in the middle of the night from terrible nightmares, and crying out for her momma. Her mother, the person who had been her rock, her best supporter was not here to advise her, to help her, to comfort her. She wished that her mother was here. She would know what to do.

Ray and Livy Video

Hello TMoODers --

Our first Ray and Livy Video.

I've been working on this for quite sometime. I am finally got it done and sharing it with you all. Enjoy!

To the tune of Lobo's - "I'd Want You to Love Me"

Prairie Fire

Background for story: In Texas, we suffered from wildfire brought on by drought. Recently, wildfires in Texas have burned more than a million acres since Dec. 1, 2005, including about 40,000 acres in the Panhandle. About 431 homes have been lost in fires since Dec. 27.

Several weeks ago, I watch on TV as a volunteer fire department took a brave stand between a huge wildfire and a farm house. A news crew was there to capture this and I was taken at the bravery of these people. The person named Sam Hampton in this story was taken from an actual occurrence as was the cattle in this story. Around me, most of the small towns only have volunteer fire departments (some of my friends are on them) and I know that is what Wilson would have had in the 40's. If this had happened in Wilson in the 40's, Ray and Hank would have been there. This is a tribute to those brave people I saw as well as an opportunity to do something I had wanted to do for a while.

We TMoOD's have discussed relationships in this film. I wanted to explore more closely the relationship between Martha and Livy and, in turn, Ray and Hank. I think this will be in three parts. I'd love to hear your thoughts on their relationships as I try to write parts two and three. I also borrowed from some of the relationships already written about.

By the way, in summer of 1946, there was drought and wildfire in Idaho and several other surrounding states. That is why I chose this time period.

Setting: September 1946. Colorado, as well as other western states have experienced a very dry summer and now high winds and lightening are setting fires.

Part One

Livy tried to appear calm like all the other farm wives. She had lived in Wilson long enough to now know these women all shared her anxiety for the safety of their men- you just never show it. Martha was probably the best example of this quiet strength that she knew. She looked over at Martha, who was organizing the new food brought in from the church’s kitchen. Martha felt Livy’s eyes on her and she looked up and gave Livy a reassuring, “don’t worry, they’re fine” look that Livy realizes she’s come to count on.

She and Martha had become close over the last two years. Martha meant it when she said that she always wanted a sister and she took Livy under her wing in that quiet, unobtrusive way of hers. Livy tried to smile back her own version of “I’m not worried”. For a moment their eyes told each what both was thinking. This exchange was more real than their words and both women gained strength from knowing they were not alone.

At that moment, a group of tired men came in for food. Livy and Martha search their faces for Ray and Hank, but their husbands weren’t among them. They both looked back at each other as if to say, “don’t worry, they’ll be in the next group” but behind it was the fear both let go unnamed, but not unprayed, “Dear God, please let them come back safely.”

The crew chief called for a rest period and Ray and Hank sat down for the first time in almost six hours. They were fighting a grass fire that started in a large space of prairie that backed up to the Hampton farm. They had managed to bring this fire under containment but not before the fire took the northern portion of the Hampton place where Sam Hampton grazed his cattle this time of year. The smell of their flesh was thick in the air. There was occasional gun fire as animals still found alive were put out of their misery.

Ray was exhausted, but he was worried about Hank. Hank labored breath reminded Ray that Hank wasn't as young as he used to be. Ray pulled out a sandwich that Livy had insisted he take with him from the inside pocket of this overshirt. He opened the paper it was wrapped in and offered half of it Hank.

“Hank, how bout a bite. Livy made this.” Hank grinned. Ray smiled back. When Livy first came to Wilson she couldn’t cook. In fact, her shortcomings in this area had become legendary and although she was now a decent cook, it would probably be a joked that followed Livy’s culinary work forever. Livy didn’t mind. It had become a quiet family joke. The kind that people who love you use. For Livy, it was a history, her history with this family that she had come to love so much. She knew the kidding was from love so she played along, but Ray often felt the need to defend her.

“It’s a roast beef sandwich Hank, nobody could mess that up. Besides, she’s a good cook now.”

Hank looked at Ray with a twinkle in his eye and said, “You, bet.” Ray shot him a look, but couldn’t sustain the seriousness and both laughed. They ate in silence for a moment as both were reminded of the grimness of the situation.

Hank looked down at the field that lay before them.“Sam’s lost his entire heard, I imagine.”

Both looked at each other then away. Sam had died yesterday trying to till up a dirt fire stop between the range grass and the field where he grazed his cattle. His body was discovered next to his fire gutted tractor. Sometimes, it's hard to estimate the actual speed of the fire. Both Ray and Hank knew Sam was a practical man. He wouldn't have attempted this unless he thought he had the time. It made them both feel their mortality as men who made their living from the land.

Sam had always been happy to “borrow” part of this prairie area to graze this cattle and that’s why he and his cattle were so far out. Both Hank and Ray knew this as the price you paid to live this life. Nature could give you a bountiful harvest or could set your world on fire.

The Stewarts and the Singletons had been on this land for a long time. They had seen good years, even great years, and they had seen heartbreak. Sometimes, it was more than a family could fight back from and they would leave. Both wondered about Sam’s wife and children. Both thought about their own families. Everyone in Wilson would do what they could to help, but everyone had their own farms to run.

For a fleeting moment, Ray wondered what Livy would do without him. Would she stay and try to run the farm or would she take Danny back to Denver? That thought hurt him. He imagined Livy trying to raise Danny in that environment. Her family, although somewhat soften since the time he and Livy married, still treated her as the family shame.

And what would that do to Danny? At over a year and a half old now, he had become quite the handful. Ray smiled as he thought of how smart and fast Danny was. And stubborn, just like his mother. How would Livy’s father treat Danny? Ray doubted that Livy’s father would nurture Danny’s sense of himself. Instead, he would more likely try to instill that shame that the Reverend Dunne seemed so intent that Livy should wear. That thought made Ray shiver even in the heat of this September afternoon.

Ray smiled at the thought about how Livy often remarked on Danny’s stubbornness as she tired to disciple him. Ray knew that Danny's "willfullness" came directly from Livy so he loved it in Danny. He was always amused that Livy didn’t seem to see this same trait in herself.

Ray would gently wonder aloud, “Where could Danny have gotten that?” Livy would blush and playfully nudge him and say something like, “Don’t blame this on me, you spoil him.” But then she’d look at Ray with so much love, it hurt.

No doubt, Danny was head strong, but that just meant he had a good sense of himself. Ray had a way of handling that; he could steer Danny into minding without having to discipline him too much. He had learned how to manage a head strong child early on when he was left to raise his own brother Danny. In fact, Ray had often thought, how much his son Danny was like his brother.

Ray felt panic at the thought of Livy and Danny alone. He prayed to himself, “Please God, don’t take me away from them. They need me.” Then a calmness settled on Ray. They wouldn’t be alone. There was Hank and Martha and the kids. And there was Livy herself. That stubbornness was really her inner strength. Livy would survive and she would make sure Danny’s life was good, too. She wouldn’t let anyone take away Danny’s self confidence. He could count on that.

Still, he thought, I should prepare so that she has options. He realized he didn’t even have a life insurance policy or a will. He’d never needed one. Until now, the land-long paid for-would have gone to Martha and Hank and they knew where Ray wanted to be buried—next to his brother Danny and their parents. He realized at that moment, he had so much more he needed to take care of.

Ray looked up from his thoughts and realized that Hank was studying his face. “She and Danny would always have a place with us just as I know you’d take care of Martha and the kids.”

Ray nodded to the man who had taught him so much and had become his best friend. “I know, I know that Hank and you know I would be there for Martha and the kids, no question.” Hank winked because neither wanted to maintain the seriousness. Hank sniffed the smoke filled air, “Well now, that almost smells like dinner at your house.”

Do you see Ray when you hear this song...I Do

I tried to learn how to post the song, and in my head; I saw the pictures I wanted to post with this, but I'm just not sophisticated enough with the equipment yet. But then I thought, hey they see the pictures just like I do and they'll get it just like they get the movie. So I decided to go ahead and post the words. You've probably already heard the song. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the words.

Skeetrfan, thanks for all the advice on this. It just wasn't meant to be.(By the way, I'm not sure about the spacing on this, so again, please forgive me, I'm still learning).

For me, this is what Ray did for Livy: He earned her trust making memories of them. By the way, the line,"I'm gonna steal you're attention like a bad outlaw," I dedicate to all of us from Skeet cause he certainly did!

Making Memories of Us

Keith Urban

I'm gonna be here for you baby

I'll be a man of my word

Speak the language

in a voice you have never heard

I want to sleep with you forever

And I want to die in your arms

In a cabin by a meadow

where the wild bees swarm

I'm gonna love you

like nobody loves you

and I'll earn your trust

making memories of us

I want to honor you mother

and I want to learn from you pa

and I want to steal your attention

like a bad outlaw

I want to stand out in a crowd for you

A man among men

I want to make your world better than it's ever been

I'm gonna love you

like nobody loves you

and I'll earn your trust making

memories of us

We'll follow the rainbow

where ever the four winds blow

There'll be a new day

Come your way

I'm gonna be here from now on

This you know somehow

You've been stretched to the limit

but it's alright now

And I'm gonna make you a promise

If there's life after this

I'm gonna be there to meet you

with a warm wet kiss

I'm gonna love you

Like nobody loves you

and I'll earn you trust

making memories of us