It started way back in 1972 after Carol (Moore) had moved with her family from St. Louis Park to Green Isle, MN. She went to 8th grade in GI and in 9th came on over to what was then known as the home of the Arlington-GI high school and the A-GI Indians. Being the lockers were assigned alphabetically, fate had it that with the names Meyer and Moore, the lockers that housed our educational treasures were nearly side by side. It wasn't long before we made a bond that would forever hold. We talked and talked and then when we got home we would call each other on the phone and talk some more. Carol had what was called a "party line" back then, so nothing could be shared that couldn't be shared with all! Our parents couldn't quite figure out what we had to talk about since we had just spent the entire day together!! Her phone number I still remember 326-7034 and she remembers mine 964-5195. We spent 9th and 10th grade without the third piece of our puzzle - Robin. She was going to school in Gaylord home of the Gaylord Spartans. Carol and I signed up for classes at the Sibley County Vocational School (which was housed at the fairgrounds) in 1976 our junior year. The class was called "model office" and was quite state of the art back then. We liked it so much (along with a few other things we liked i.e. the Gaylord BOYS who came over for small engines or auto shop) that we signed up again for our senior year. Unbeknown to us at the time Robin was also signing up for her junior year at model office, and we would meet her at this time. She recalls not liking us at all when she first saw us - Carol and I had already known some people from Gaylord. Being a year older than Robin, we could drive and we often checked out their main streets along with Arlington's main street which we referred to as "cruisin' main". "Cruisin' Main was a process where you made a U-turn just before the railroad tracks and drove the four blocks back to the gas station and made a U-turn through their lot. People came from surrounding towns to cruise our main and it was a long parade of cars up and back, up and back for hours on end. I can't remember exactly when Robin's "dislike" became "like" but we soon became fast friends and the three of us could not be separated. Our senior year was spent with Robin and other friends, all from Gaylord. Some of the details from these years have long been forgotten, but what we do we recall is that we were always there for each other even way back then. Our fights were few and forgiveness was fast, our love of life was contagious! Carol and Robin moved in together first, approximately summer of 1979 after Robin graduated. They shared the first floor of a big old house on Highway 5 that is now "This Old House". When a church bought the house they moved out and moved above Morriems Drug Store apartments until they moved out one by one and got married. During this time I lived in Mankato and then in Arlington in the town houses down on 7th street until I was married.
Emily was our first born baby - and it was truly felt that she belonged to ALL of us. Robin and Carol were right there with us, our first outing after bringing her home was the Oktoberfest in GI. It was 24 years later when Emily had the first grand baby and Robin and Carol were right there with us... celebrating life.
Now it is 9 years and 7 more babies later and we are still celebrating and loving life with all of you.
When we were young mothers we gathered together often. We gathered at each others houses, our parents houses, the Sibley County Fair, Flandrau State Park, Henderson State Park, actually all over is where we gathered! Remember the time on Carol and Du's farm when the baby pigs were being born? Your dads became friends also, making it perfect for all of us. We were family. Many many times... I only wish we would have kept track of all of our times together - who would have ever thought? Now that we are all grandmothers, we continue to "gather" when ever we can.
In approximately 1992 we started what was known back then as a winter vacation. Grandpa Moose started it and our first SHAG family outing was to the "Thunderbird Motel" in Mpls. Since that time we have tried to go each winter. The last two winters it has been only the adults. We also for many years - went to Tofte in the summer with all of our families. Then it was Grand Marais for three years when Nick was living there. Robin has most of these dates journaled and one day we will sit down and compile all her information so it is down in our history. These were all such special times, any time we were together - it was family. We often joked that we wished we could have a big ole farm place with lots of houses on that we could all "live together" and help each other.
Robin was to be the organizer and the keeper of records.
Carol was going to do the shopping and crafting.
I was going to be in charge of the cleaning.
We changed these jobs from time to time in our imagination as we would laugh and talk about life. One of the favorite changes was when we were going to buy the big house next to Robin and Al. There is a beauty shop on the side - so we thought Duane could go to school to be a barber and we could call it "Duey's Do's", then Grannie was going to bake pies, Carol was going to run a clothing shop, and I believe I was going to do massage... we were laughing so hard - just us three on our back patio (Veranda) - you would have thought we would soon need medical help! I believe in my heart that our friendship is what has made life so special, what has made our families so special...
we always had each other.
The year we turned 50 Carol found three pairs of yellow boots, at this time we decided rather than be like everyone else and be a red hatter or a pink hat lady we would be the YELLOW BOOTZIES.
In the last years, a new tradition began and the name SHAG was formally assigned to our clan. This does include Doris and Jeff (Meyer) so in actuality, we could be the SHAGeMs.
Year one: CRAZY HAT (1/30/10)
Year two: CRAZY SOCKS (2/12/11)
Year three: CRAZY PAJAMA (2/25/12)
Now we are on year four and we will celebrate the 23rd of March, 2013...
CRAZY CLASH BASH.
Some things we have learned along the way we would like to share with you, the children shags, and the grandchildren shags. (Now each yellow bootzie girl is a grandma!)
1. We hope everyone thinks we are as funny as we think we are ( our NewYears toast in 2010) has now become our toast every year. Pam Carol and Robin
2. Promptness shows respect - Robin has always been the prompt one, the organizer of the paper work. She is the one who keeps track of details.
3. Shop the sale isles - Carol is our shopper and gift giver. She makes each event special with
her ideas and craftiness.
4. Keep laughter on the front burner always - Pam is the one who most likes to laugh, and enjoys
laughing with the yellow bootzie families.
5. It is better to sing off key than to not sing at all.
6. Be fair. Be honest. Be trustworthy. Be generous. Respect others.
7. What ever your passion is - pursue it as if your days are numbered, because they are.
8. Life is a series of events that sometimes require us to dig deep and let go. Let go of hurt, anger
sadness and insecurity. It will not always be easy but do it anyway.
9. You can't please everyone, dont try... follow Christ and please Him - others will then follow.
10. Don't miss your life by looking for the big events, the mountain top experiences - enjoy the
small things, the sunsets, company of family and good friends, laughter, green grass, the feel
of water washing over your skin after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day, the warmth of
your home after shoveling snow in March... all these small events - don't miss them - they are
what will make you who you will become.
11. Always listen, learn the skill early in life. Sometimes people don't need you to fix anything they
just need you to hear their heart.
12. Practice unconditional love. Parental love...
- the kind of love you feel is different than any other love, it changes who you are just
as each one of you changed who we are. You are all loved unconditionally with a love that can
never be described only felt with the heart. And, do not forget to let others know of the love
you have for them. You may not have the chance to tell them tomorrow
13. Everyone on the face of the earth makes mistakes, we are all human. There is nothing in life
that is perfect, only moments that you decide are the best will stay with you. Jesus is perfect...
His love is unconditional, follow Him, allow forgiveness to yourself and to others always. As
He forgave us so must we forgive others.
14. Learn to care. Do not be afraid of the responsibility that comes with caring for other people.
What we do for love will endure forever, even if the people you do it for don't.
15. It may not always feel like it, but life is a Blessing.
16. Be thankful for unanswered prayers ... there is a reason that the unanswered prayer didn't come to fruition and it is usually because there is a better answer coming for your prayer.
17. Let them take pictures of you ... you may never look younger than you do right now.
These are just a few "thoughts" for your 2013 letter. When we think of a song written by Martina McBride - it brings to mind what we want you to gain this year from your rich family history. (words changed by the bootzie's)
IT IS THROUGH YOUR EYES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE FUTURE
WE CAN SEE THE REFLECTION OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO YOU WILL BE
YOU HAVE ALL GROWN NOW AND HAVE LEFT OUR HOMES
MANY OF YOU ARE RAISING FAMILIES OF YOUR OWN.
AND SOMEDAY WHEN WE ARE GONE
WE HOPE YOU WILL SEE THE REFLECTION WE SEE IN YOU
HOW HAPPY YOU HAVE MADE ALL OF US
HOW VERY MUCH YOU ARE ALL LOVED, UNCONDITIONALLY, FOREVER...
CONTINUE -
AS WE WILL LIVE ON THROUGH YOU.
EVEN WHEN SCHEDULES GET IN YOUR WAY...
CONTINUE THE TRADITION, THE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER THAT WE STARTED.
NEVER STOP CARING ABOUT EACH OTHER
NEVER LET ANGER OR HURT STOP YOU FROM LOVE
AND WHILE WE ARE STILL ALL HERE TOGETHER -
LAUGH WITH US, AS WE STILL THINK WE ARE AS FUNNY, AS WE THINK WE ARE!!
With much love,
The Yellow Bootzies and their soon to be "double nickles"!!
Oh, my, how we love you all! Thanks for the good time!
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