Nancy's Notes

Many people like to read, but few enjoy writing. That’s probably because most of our writing experiences have centered around undesirable projects, such as research papers in school. (Guess what? I LOVED writing research papers in school!!) But here’s a fact: When you express yourself through writing, you reveal more about yourself than you ever could by talking, even if you aren’t writing about yourself. Writing forces you to choose your words more carefully because it forces you to think more deeply. That “thinking more deeply” part is what trips me up every time.

Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. In fact, cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. Besides all that, they are inexpensive; they certainly cost less than all those vitamins!

One minute 13 seconds 57 milliseconds: that’s the length of the longest burp on record, achieved by Italian Michele Forgione in 2009. My sons used to be really good at this when they were young. I always wished for a musical child; I just wasn’t expecting that kind of music.

Just in case you’ve wondered: “Belching” is when you expel air from your stomach; whereas “hiccups” are contractions or spasms in the diaphragm. The sudden contraction of the diaphragm causes air to be drawn into the back of the throat with a sudden closure of the vocal cords, causing the classic “hic” sound, according to a gastroenterologist. Both may be caused by eating or drinking too fast. (That amazing information came from one of my readers! Thank you, Linda!)

What are the chances? Two Atwood men are serving as Electronic Warfare Officers on the EA-18-G Growler jet, Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island, Washington. U.S. Navy Commander Jacob Vrbas, a 1999 graduate of Atwood High School, is currently assigned as Executive Officer to VAQ-139. Air Force Captain Kevin Wolters, a 2010 graduate of Rawlins County High School, is currently assigned to VAQ-135. Vrbas is the son of Kathy Davis-Vrbas of Atwood and the late Jerry Vrbas. Wolters is the son of Mark and Brenda Wolters of Atwood.

You’ve heard the old saying, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” Brothers Richard and Maurice Walsh lived in Rawlins County near the Walsh School their children attended. None of their descendants have lived in Rawlins County for decades; however, destruction of the school in a recent tornado has saddened family members from coast to coast and sparked memories of their visits to the school over many years. The Walshes have been impressed by the lack of vandalism over the years. Even names and dates written on the chalkboard had remained undisturbed for years.

I almost hate to say this out loud because then it might be true; but I think I’ve got a birthday coming up this month. Another trip around the sun. A new number rolls over on the body-odometer. But here’s some advice I am giving myself: “Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down, and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now.” a The average number of pipes in a church pipe organ, if so equipped, is 1,500 to 3,000. I read recently that the pipe organ in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. has 10,647 pipes. I heard an organist practicing on that organ on one of our trips to D.C. with Lakeside students. Everyone in our group was outside, waiting on me, but I was inside, listening to the organ and was too spellbound to move. Since then, I’ve listened to several You-Tube recordings of organ recitals there. Even though the sound is amazing, it’s nothing like hearing it “live.”

I like this suggestion: “Don’t just GO to church; BE the church.”