by Cindy

Do you like to go exploring? When I was a girl, we lived right by a creek that meandered many miles in the south side of Indianapolis. My sister and I explored every inch of Lick Creek in our large subdivision. There were parts that we had “jumping over” contests. Sometimes we landed IN the creek, but we didn’t care. There were small fish in the creek, and water striders floated on top. At first we thought they were SPIDERS, but luckily they weren’t and they never bothered us. My sister liked to capture crawdads (crayfish) and keep them as pets at home, but she always returned them to the creek. We took lots of hikes and had many picnics along the creek. We even made friends with other kids we met during our hikes! But one of our favorite parts of the creek was right by our own house, under our own street. The creek ran through some HUGE pipes under the road, and it was very shallow there. Sometimes this part dried up in summer and we could play in there for hours, pretending it was our cave. Boy, those were good times!

Have you ever visited a REAL cave? Over spring break my granddaughters visited Marengo Cave in southern Indiana, Mammoth Cave in central Kentucky, and Ruby Falls in Tennessee. They saw some amazing sites!

by Mrs. Clark

Teens what do you plan to do with your summer? Fun with friends and time in the sun are most likely at the top of your list. Have you thought about how you will have money to spend for the fun your wanting?

Is a summer job in your near future?

If so now is the time to plan. If you wait until school is out to begin looking for a job you may be missing out on a job. Check out some of the resources at the library. Employment books are found in the non-fiction section in the 650’s. Sign in at the computer lab and search available jobs from a reputable local source.

Even before you have a lead you need to think about collecting the information that will be needed to complete a job application. It may look easy at first but the application asks you to supply a lot of information and most applications are now completed on-line so there’s no going home and looking for the answers or asking Mom or Dad to answer for you. Plan ahead and have all the information you will need written down neatly and bring it with you. While you’re thinking ahead begin to think about what adults you have had experience with over the years that might be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. Be sure the person you’re asking has a positive perception of you and/or your work. Contact these adults now and let them know you would like to use their name as a reference on job applications for this summer. It is up to you to ask and remember that adult can say no. Don’t fret just move on.

One last thought do you want to work outside or inside? Outside sounds wonderful on nice weather days but can be terrible on hot humid summer days. Does a climate controlled store sound more your style? Think about all the locations people go for goods and services. What type of work appeals to you? Do you have the clothes you will need or will they be supplied to you?

By looking ahead now you will be getting ahead this summer and have the money to fund your summer fun.

by Mrs. Clark

In an earlier post, I talked about my very early memories of spending time with my mom as she read so many wonderful books to me. It’s time now to mention Dad.

Dad wasn’t one to read much. He read the newspaper every morning and every evening when we had two paper subscriptions and once in a while I would see him reading a western novel. What Dad did was sing to me. He had a beautiful voice and loved any kind of music. He would sing nursery rhymes, country-western songs, ballads, gospel, and rock and roll. He always had a song in his heart.

Singing and chanting nursery rhymes and talking to your child way before than can talk for themselves are ways of introducing literacy skills. Vocabulary is developed. Recognition of rhyming words and of syllables in words is developed. Even sequential order is developed, for songs and nursery rhymes have definite beginnings, middles and ends. I doubt that Dad knew that he was helping me to become a successful reader by singing to me.

The added bonus for me was every Sunday morning when Dad took it upon himself to read me the “funnies” from the newspaper. Known now as the comics, this was my favorite part of the newspaper. There were several large sheets just waiting to be read! Popeye, Dagwood, Little Lulu, and Beetle Bailey were just a few of the characters we read about. We would sit on the porch swing and listen to the birds as we read or we would sit on the porch steps and greet our neighbors in between reading. We would sit in Dad’s big overstuffed and read. For that time, I had my dad’s full attention and he had mine.

Dad is no longer living, but if I am very quiet and if I close my eyes, I can smell his Old Spice After Shave. I can hear his big wrist watch ticking and I can smell his Juicy Fruit Gum that was his favorite. I can remember being curled up next to him and feeling like the most important person in the world. Thanks for the memories, Dad.