The Red, White and Blue

Starting with Memorial Day and going on to July 4, Old Glory gets some much deserved attention this time of year. June 14 is Flag Day and is a day to honor the symbol of our country. It really irks me how irreverant many people have become about this flag, which proudly waved over our country for over 200 years. From the original 13 stars and stripes - to now 50 stars and the original 13 stripes (representing the original 13 states) - our flag has been at the head of victories and defeats and all over the world it shows who we are.

Of course, the DAR is an organization who focuses on promoting patriotism and a love of country. It was a special occasion earlier this month when my chapter - the Capt. Peter Ankeny Chapter joined with the Tulsa Chapter DAR, the Tulsa Chapter of the SAR, the local CAR and Boy and Girl Scouts to conduct a proper Flag Retirement Ceremony.

I remember learning in school that our flag should be burned if it becomes old and worn. I never actually participated in that event. It was very moving. I had the honor of cutting out the stripe for the Commonwealth of Virginia and placing that stripe in the fire.



The "field of stars" are cut out and burned last.

Over 100 people attended the event, and many people brought flags to be ceremonially retired. This is one of my favorite moments. Isn't this a beautiful symbol of what is great about this country??



I was a participant in the proper folding of the flag ceremony - I spent a while with the Boy Scouts practicing the folding. They were such nice young men.


We invited our local Civil Air Patrol post to demonstrate the "POW/MIA Remembrance" ceremony they did for us earlier in the year. It is a lovely depiction of the love and sacrifice made not only by members of the armed forces, but also their families. Each statement is ended with -- REMEMBER!! We must never forget.



When I think about how much I love the Florida Gators and how proudly I fly a Gator Flag and have a sticker on my car, etc. it makes me think - what if everyone were that big a fan of our Country. No -- I'm not saying let's be a fan of what goes on in Washington - but let's be proud to be Americans - let's remember the sacrifice and loss that happened so that we have the opportunity to be who we are and where we are. As bad as things are - oil spills by greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, unknown health care in our future - this is still MY COUNTRY. And, I love Her. God BLESS AMERICA!! Fly your flags for all to see.

Dell Tech Support 2010

Oh Lordy - here comes a rant. First, let me explain. I used to work for Dell as a phone technical support person. Therefore, I believe I am entitled to have a wee bit of an opinion about what decent support looks and feels like. You won't find it these days, I am afraid. As with most other hardware/software/banks, etc. - it's all outsourced. I truly believe the people taking our calls on the other side of the world have all great intentions of doing a good job. But, somewhere along the line, it falls short. Here's my example.

My laptop was overheating - it was just getting so hot when I was using it I couldn't even hold it ON MY LAP. I called tech support. Caveat - I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE FAN MYSELF.

Three calls later I was promised on-site service (which I have already paid for up front for 3 years) with a new mother board, power adapter and fan. Service man shows up with 2 out of 3. Puts the new fan on - same thing - spins up and shuts down. He calls Dell. They want me to send my laptop to the "depot" to be repaired.

Hand me the phone, I request in my sweetest voice (you can read between the lines here). Look, I tell the nice man on the other end. First of all - you were supposed to be sending a new mother board per the last call I had. Second, I have paid for on-site service. I am NOT sending my laptop in - you are sending a mother board out. He agrees. (Why do we have to get testy sometimes for people to do what they are supposed to do???)

When I worked on the phones at Dell, I averaged between 45-72 calls per day (eight hour shift). My success rate in troubleshooting and sending correct parts was almost 100%. I have spent over 2 hours on the phone so far for a very simple hardware issue. So, while they may be spending less per hour per support technician, it doesn't take a math genius to conclude they are probably spending as much - or more - overall for technical support due to the low volume of calls these people are capable of handling.

Oh, if I ruled the world...... Hey, Michael Dell - remember me - I had lunch with you one time back in 1995 (LOL). I have a few suggestions....

Memorial Day 2010

Sixty years ago, a young man from Tulsa found himself in the USMC and deployed to Korea. He married his sweetheart shortly before deploying - they had 10 days together before he left. He would never return.

His unit was assigned to the attack at Inchon - which proved to be a difficult landing under enemy fire. Think D-Day on a smaller, but no less horrendous scale. PFC Albert Collins took a mortal wound to his chest while running with his machine gun to the position assigned him by his platoon leader. Despite this wound, Albert continued to crawl until he reached his position. Once there, he continued to fire his machine gun accurately into the enemy position until he was found by a medic.

In 1951, Albert's remains were returned to Tulsa where he was buried at Memorial Park. Albert was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). He was twenty years old when he gave his life in service to his country.

Today, the Tulsa Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, along with local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) gathered to honor PFC Collins. A proclamation honoring him from the Oklahoma State Legislature was read. Members of the Oklahoma State Marine Corp Veterans, Albert's class of 1949 Central High classmates, and other dignitaries paid tribute to this forgotten hero.




Some of Albert's classmates from the Central High School Class of 1949.

Albert was awarded a Purple Heart, the Navy Cross (which was awarded to his widow following the war on the steps of the Tulsa County Courthouse) and many other medals for his service. Today, he received a grave marker designating him as a member of the SAR, and a beautiful wreath depicting the Navy Cross was laid by the DAR.




The USMC JROTC of Sapulpa High school closed the ceremony with the 21 gun salute - 7 guns firing 3 volleys. Taps was played. PFC Albert Collins was remembered.

Little Bunny Phoo Phoo?

Did you or your kids ever sing that song? I remember learning it when my daughter was in Girl Scouts. It is the kind of semi-cruel song that kids just love. But, it also has a bit of a redemptive message.

I've been seeing a few wild bunnies around my neighborhood - which is rather amazing since I live smack-dab in the middle of a mid-size city - Tulsa, OK. This morning I looked out and there was one of them grazing on the front lawn. Granted this lawn is more weeds than grass, and maybe he finds some tender flowers on the weeds there!



I got my camera and took a few shots through the big front window - I feared if I went outside my presence would scare him away. He continued his grazing and hopping until he was a bit closer to me (yes, that was a human behind the curtain - lol).



I think Little Bunny Phoo Phoo looks a wee bit raggedy in this picture. I hope he isn't sick and is finding enough food to forage around the Turner Park neighborhood.

In a couple of minutes he decided that the grass might be greener on the other side of the street, so he hopped on down the Bunny Trail (sorry for all the puns - I just can't help myself).



So long, Little Bunny Phoo Phoo!! See you around the neighborhood.


Little bunny phoo phoo - author unknown


Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!
Down came the Good Fairy and she said -
"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"
I'll give you THREE MORE CHANCES!

Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!
Down came the Good Fairy and she said -
"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"
I'll give you TWO MORE CHANCES!

Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!
Down came the Good Fairy and she said -
"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"
I'll give you ONE MORE CHANCE!

Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest
Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!
Down came the Good Fairy and she said -
"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I Gave you THREE CHANCES -
Poof, you're a field mouse"

My talented grandson

Well, that could be an ambiguous title, since I have THREE very talented grandsons. But in this case, I am speaking of Michael Edward Davis - age nine. Michael loves to dance. One of the first things he did when he could walk was make up his own little dance. It wasn't random steps - because he would do the same little series of steps over and over.

Michael is in the cast of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival this year - in the dance troupe.


He tried out for the talent show at his elementary school and his "folk dancing to traditional Irish music" was selected. The talent show was today - two performances. I went to the 1pm show and he was so great. I had to sit through 32 other not so great performances (ha!!) to get to him - but it was worth it.


I have posted his dance on YouTube and here is a link for you to go watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtOn1djZq4.

Not only is Michael a very talented dancer - he is also a wonderful artist. Here is a picture he made in art class at school which was selected to be submitted to the Tulsa School District competition. I think it is really cool (well, duh).


Getting back to dancing - as part of the dance troupe at Faire, he is required to ask patrons to join him in the dances - AND - teach them the dances. Some adults have demurred and commented, he's just a kid! Well, not only can he do the dances, he also has led many other people as his partner.



I wasn't at the Masqued Ball, but apparently he danced a number of ladies around the ball doing a fine waltz! Boy, is he going to be a popular prom date - LOL!!

That's the end of this Mima bragfest.

Florida and....back to Texas

Well, as you know if you've been reading this thread, my mother was born in Texas and moved to Florida in the mid-1930's. The story I heard was they first went to Belle Glade and at some point ended up in Gainesville. I have to say a BIG Thank You to divine providence, fate, because that allowed me to claim heritage from two fantastic places and - best of all - to be a FLORIDA GATOR!

Here's a picture of Nana around the time she moved to Florida with my mother, Gladys and my Uncle Joe.



My Nana met my Grandaddy (Furman Lee Stokes) and they were married in 1938. He was in a grocery business - back when there were still such things as neighborhood grocery stores. He had been born and raised around Worthington Springs - which is near Lake Butler, if you know north-central Florida.

Here are a couple of picture of Nana and Granddaddy from the old days.




My mother and uncle attended Gainesville High School in the 1940's. Grandaddy was a good man who never had any children of his own. He "adopted" my mother and uncle and they changed their names from Camp to Stokes. I have found during my genealogy research that the "adoption" probably never took place, or certainly was not legal. In spite of the fact that Nana married Grandaddy, and there are court records to prove it, in 1938 - she was not divorced from her first husband until 1952. Oh - the plot thickens then, does it not? Granddaddy Stokes was a wonderful man and a loving father and grandfather until his death in 1987. I could not have asked for sweeter man to be my grandfather.

I recently made contact with one of my relatives on the Camp side over in east Texas when I was searching for what ever had happened to my biological grandfather, Jim Camp. The story told in Florida was that he abandoned his wife and children and was never heard from again. I have now heard from the "other side" that he told everyone that "Margie took the kids and moved to California". Since all parties are deceased at this time, I don't supposed I'll ever know the actual facts. But I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the two opposite stories. Here is a picture of my grandfather Jim Camp with his brothers a long time ago.


I am sorry I never got to know Jim Camp. I hope to meet his niece, and my mother's first cousin, Christine, in the near future and get to know that side of my family tree better. It turns out to be a very old limb in American history.

Well, of course, my mother met my dad right after World War II, they got married, I was born into the huge and wonderful Benton clan, and I grew up knowing that family was the most important thing, surrounded by loving uncles, aunts and cousins. I graduated from Gainesville High in 1965 and from Santa Fe CC in 1967. I married Chuck Davis in 1967 and our first child - Katherine Anne - was born at Alachua General on June 21 1970. You don't have to be very good at math to know that means she is going to be 40 soon - HOLY COW!



Son Jeffrey came along - another Alachua General baby - in 1974, and here is a picture of our little family that Christmas.


Unfortunately - we had to leave Florida because my "ex" had lost his job and we ended up - of course - in Texas in 1977. So, that was a little bit of a full-circle for my life. I spent the next 18 years in Texas and after a brief time in Nashville, another few years in Dallas. I think that I feel very much a part of both states. I was fortunate to always know my Texas heritage - Nana and Mother brought me to big family reunions around East Texas every two years from the time I was a toddler until I was about to graduate from high school. So - while I definitely will always bleed ORANGE AND BLUE - the sight of Texas bluebonnets waving in a breeze can bring me to tears. I really can't think of two greater heritages to have than to be a Florida Cracker and a Texas Pioneer. I am twice blessed.

Texas to Florida and back....

So, I am a 5th generation Floridian - on my daddy's side. On my mother's side, I am a Texan. Times were very hard in the 1930's. At some point, my maternal grandmother, Margie Carter Camp (Nana), decided that Florida was the land of opportunity. She and two of her three children (my mother, Gladys and my uncle Joe) headed that way for a better life. Her oldest son, James Earl Camp, decided he'd rather stay on her parents' farm with his grandmother Lilian, who had mostly raised him for a few years. I believe he was around 13 or 14 years old at the time.

Here is a picture of my mother, Gladys Lorraine Camp (Stokes) Benton and her two brothers in the early 1930's. My grandmother and her parents lived just outside Jefferson, Texas which is in far northeast Texas.


I am not sure of all the details on how or why Nana's ancestors moved into Texas. Most likely, they were in search of a better opportunity - is there a theme here? After the War between the States, many people from the south went west in search of new land and new chances. Nana's father was born in Georgia and her mother in Alabama. Charlie T. Carter was born around Doraville, GA in 1871. His father dies in Cass County, TX in 1875. Charlie (my great-grandfather) married Lilian Fason and together they raised nine children on a 400 acre cotton farm.

Here is a picture of Charlie with his youngest daughter, Lillie Mae Carter. It was taken some time before he died in 1931.


On Lilian's side, her father (William Duffy Fason)was born in Georgia and lived around Ashland County, Alabama for a few years. Sometime between the 1880 census and the 1900 census, they arrive in northeast Texas. His occupation on census records is listed as farmer. Lilian lived until 1942, and from my mother's accounts, was a wonderful grandmother and person. I did get to meet her brother, Travis, when I was a child, and he was a fun, eccentric fellow.


My uncle who stayed behind, James Earl Camp, passed away suddenly when he was only sixteen years old. Nana never quite got over that - having left him in Texas. Apparently he had a congenital heart defect and then he came down with pneumonia. It's hard to imagine, but in the 1930's they did not know penicillin would cure pneumonia! Here is a picture of my mother and Uncle Joe on the trip back to Texas for Earl's funeral. I found a letter he had written to mother and Uncle Joe among old pictures of Nana's when she died. It was such a sweet letter, and Earl talked about going to church. So, I'm looking forward to meeting him in Heaven one day.


Another find among Nana's old pictures were two very old photos of people I did not know. When I removed them from being glued to the page of an old album, I discovered one was of "Mr. Jim". That would be my mother's father, James Daniel Camp. The story I was told was that he had abandoned Nana and his children at some point, and they did not know what happened to him. I don't know the circumstances of the family separating, but I have recently learned more about what happened to him.

Through Ancestry.com I made a connection with Christine who is my mother's first cousin on the Camp side. She was always told that "Margie took the children to California". Grandfather Jim remarried, had two more children, James Leland Camp and Elizabeth Camp. He died in Shreveport, LA in 1963. James Leland is still alive and I may get to meet him this summer at the Camp Family reunion, which I have been invited to attend. I sure hope I get to meet him - my long-lost uncle! And, there sure were two sides to the story of my grandfather.

Here is a picture of James Daniel Camp with his brother Frank (Christine's father).


I've learned some interesting things through Christine and her husband. They've sent me records of Jim's grandfather, Daniel W. Johnston's service in the 2nd Mississipi Cavalry during the Civil War. I just love family history.

I think that's all the room I have for this time.