Eras at an End

I love fall mornings when Jack Frost has visited and the landscape has been painted with touches of ice. I was telling the kids about all the interesting patterns I saw on frost coated windows when I was a kid. Double-paned windows have robbed them of that experience (not that I would trade them for the old drafty ones).

MRS. KRANTZ. A few days after I wrote last I got an email telling me that Mrs. Mildred Krantz had passed away. You may recall that Vicki and I went to Mr. Krantz' funeral back in the spring. We were unable to make it to her funeral but did visit the Krantz family back on the 6th.

I know this is bittersweet for them as Mrs. Krantz was such a fine lady. Whenever I was around her she simply exuded love. Both of them did. I thinks I've said this before, but I got the opportunity to watch this in action at the 73rd Bomb Wing reunions as they would simply meet people where they were and offer their friendship. I watched them both place great value on every person they met. It was a quality and a skill that I want to capture. They leave such a strong legacy.

Another thing that always struck me about Mrs. Krantz (and Mr. Krantz as well) was her trust in God. It was strong, unwavering, and overflowing. You came away feeling spiritually topped off after seeing her.

A generation is now gone for the Krantz family. I understand where their daughter, Cathy, is coming from when she said to me that it feels like the end of an era. Mr. and Mrs. Krantz leave big shoes to fill. Their family has also had a couple other deaths making this year a most difficult one for them. Please keep them in your prayers.

SPEAKING OF ERAS ENDING. This item is not on the same level as the passing of Mrs. Krantz, but I do want to note it here. Mom noticed in the paper that the Nashville Sash and Door Company has closed it's doors. I am not surprised as I have missed seeing their yellow trucks making deliveries the last few years.

I mention this because Nashville Sash is one of three places where Mom worked long-term in her career. She was employed there from the late 40s through the early 60s. At that time they were located on Second Avenue in downtown Nashville where the Spaghetti Factory is currently located, and I remember visiting when I was a boy and getting to see where they made all the windows and doors. The freight elevator really sticks out in my mind because neither the shaft nor the car had solid walls so you could see all around as you traveled up and down. This ride brought home the fact that you needed to keep arms and legs inside the car when it was moving.

Mom has regaled us with many stories over the years of working there in Nashville. Her tales cover things happening in the office to quick shopping trips over her lunch hour and of course, all the good places to eat and the desserts they served.

The owners of Nashville Sash were very good to Mom. They let her have a month off back in the 50s to go to Europe to visit Uncle Bob and Aunt Linda when Uncle Bob was stationed on France. (This was a rarity as people just didn't get a month off for a vacation back then.) They also offered Mom her old job back at double the salary after Dad passed away. She was grateful but declined so she could stay home with me.

FITTING IN SOME ENTERTAINMENT. Last weekend Vicki and Jenna went to see Phillips, Craig, and Dean in concert. They both said it was very good. While they were there the boys and I went to see Wreck It Ralph which is a cute flick. We recommend it. Then last night Vicki and I went to see Skyfall, the latest 007 installment. Being Bond fans we enjoyed this one as well.

You want cheap entertainment? Get a laser pointer and a kitten (I'm sure a puppy would do just as well). This is better than anything on TV! Okay, I know this is nothing new, but we’ve never had a cat and a laser pointer at the same time.

Speaking of cats, Dusty does something I would never have dreamed of. He perches atop the handrail of our back steps in the mornings waiting for someone to come out and get the paper and hopefully feed him (he's never disappointed). It's a great place for a cat to sit and look for movement inside.

Joe