Random Thoughts As I Return From California

One common thing about us: we are all different. Quote by student journalist on KOMU.

For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sancity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discovering my true self. Thomas Merton, quoted in My Life With The Saints, by James Martin, S.J.

I had a great time in California with Jane and David. We ate, drank, played games, and explored many topics with wonderful conversation. Jane sent me home with the above book. I haven't finished it, but I can already recommend it. It follows the reconversion of a luke warm Catholic through his accidental encounters with lives of the saints. The communion of saints is one of the things that keeps me Catholic, so I am really enjoying his perspective of their influence on his life and spiritual journey. I am also receiving many insights into the lives of these companions on the way.

The summer lies ahead, I have a new grandchild to play with, Becca and Andy will be here soon and we will all be togther for a while, and I am surrounded by family and friends, the two greatest blessings of all. Thanks be to God.

Welcome To The Family III

Welcome Aiden Joseph, our new sweet boy.

Random Thoughts As I Head For California

Sometime it is easier to believe in God than to find Him. Greg Higley, Sunday homily


Religion is flawed because men are flawed. Angels and Demons.


The easiest way to catch a knuckle ball is to let it stop rolling, then pick it up.
Bob Ucher.


California, here I come. Jane is too busy with pastor retirements and the state financial crises to come to Missouri, so the mountain is going to the Muhammed. See you all in a week.

More Florida Pictures

Here are some more pictures from our great 35th anniversary trip. (I am still working on the self portraits with a camera so that one isn't so great!) We had so much fun in this beautiful resort and we are already talking about when we can go back.

Patio, anyone?

These are pictures of our new back patio. Brian Jolly, the husband of our Special Ed. teacher, built this for us in March. It has been cold until about a week ago to sit out on it, but we are making up for lost time now. Come join us for Memorial Day Monday to officially open the patio, so save the date. We are also working on a planting plan from the landscaper at Linn Tech that will take years and most of our retirement money to put in.

Out With Old, In With New Old

Like Kay, I have a new car also. It must be something in the spring air. We have had a cold, dreary spring and I guess we have to do something to cheer things up. That, and my old car was one step away from what the Car Guys call Catastrophic Ball Joints. I just can't get away from the Sebring. We test drove a hard top convertible Mazda Miata, but it was just too small. I wouldn't have been able to get
Dan and my purse in at the same time. So I am back with a new, old car and I love it!

Welcome To The Family II

Tonight Andy will be received as a Catholic at Easter Vigil at St. Patrick's Church, Anchorage. He has been going through RCIA since last fall and tonight will be confirmed and receive first communion. We are so happy for the whole Puckett family on this night. Our shared faith experience is such an important part of our marrioage and our family and we rejoice that Andy, Becca, Maia, and "Tiny" will also be able to have that experience as a family. Easter Vigil is my favorite liturgy of the year. Parts are so brazenly pagan and other parts so beautiful and ancient. For many years I have visualzed the Catholic community as this ancient caravan, winding through the ages, people together on the journey. Tonight Andy joins this particular group of people on the way. Again, welcome to the family.

Quote of Last Week

You know, you really do seem smarter than the things you say.

David Letterman to Bill O'Reilly last week.

I wonder what the poor people are doing?

One of my dad's favorite expressions really applied to our week at "The Don" in St. Pete Beach, Florida. We had a wonderful, relaxing four days on the beach, in the pool, in the bar, back on the beach, you get the idea. More pictures to follow.

Quote of the Week

If God had wanted me to bend over, He would have covered the floor with diamonds.

Comment on exercising, courtesy of Jane Johnson.

Happy Birthday, Erin

Pucketts Versus The Volcano!

About 100 miles south of Anchorage in a spectacular range of mountains ( in Alaska the mountains are all spectacular!)is the Redoubt Volcano that is imminent danger of erupting. This is why there was a 5.7 earthquake last week, felt in Anchorage, but not by the Pucketts. Locals are being warned to prepare for an ashfall, if the volcano blows. When I last talked to Becca, she was on her to buy water and facemasks! For information go to Anchorage Daily News and the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Google both for the web address. The picture above is not from the current activity. It is from the last time Redoubt had an eruption in the 90s that blanketed Anchorage for weeks with ash. Becca said she had also almost hit a moose the day I talked to her. Ain't Alaska fun? Stay tuned for further details.

Happy Birthday, Dan!

January is the new fall for Ramsay clan birthdays. Happy Birthday, Dan. We have celebrated for almost a week now, and finally the Dan Ramsay birthday season has come to an end. Here are some pictures of the celebration and other memorable moments through the year. And yes, Dan does dress like a pirate more often than you realize, and like an Irish rebel, and a mariachi player. Life for Dan is just one big costume party! Happy birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday, Maia!

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Happy birthday, sweet girl. We sure wish we could be there to celebrate with you. At least you are hopefully back in your own apartment! Mommy said you were going to have donuts for breakfast. Yum! Mommy also said she was giving you a new president for your birthday. Wow!, what a great Mommy! Remember, a lot of the stuff is for Obama, but the 21 gun salute is for you! Here are some pictures from your visit with us in December. Happy Birthday!!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Cousins

Nancy, Marsha, Deana, and I spent last weekend in St. Louis, eating, shopping, drinking, and going the see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show at the Fox. What a great time we had! We started at the Galleria, ate a huge lunch at the Cheese Cake Factory, shopped a lot!, and them proceeded to get lost in the mess that is the "Big Dig" on Hwy 64/40. Through the kindness of strangers, we managed to find our hotel at Union Staion. Harold Glenn met us for dinner Saturday night and drove us to dinner at Vito's. What a great name! He then drove us to the theater, where we walked in just as the first number was beginning. We had "golden circle" seats, and it was a wonderful show. I would like to take the grandkids next time. After, we caught a cab back to the hotel. Next morning we met David and Kathy and their daught Kelly and family for breakfast. More shopping at Bordes and Trader Joes (which is my new favorite store) and then home. We had to come home, there was no more room in the car for shopping! One of the next trips on the list for the cousins is a tour of the wine country around St. Genevieve.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pucketts!

Happy Thanksgiving to you in the frozen north! Hope your Thanksgiving dinner with a vegetarian host goes well! We are having a beautiful day in the 50s. Hope yours is as warm with memories and thoughts from us. We will all be together in one month!

Quote of the Week

I have heard these words out loud in my head for two weeks: "It's all a plot to make a $1.49 look good." John Neudecker, two or three years ago, when gas first started climbing from $.99 a gallon, where it had settled for years after the big bump in the 90s. I never thought we would ever see $1.49 again, but that was the going price in Columiba this morning. Thank you, NostraJohnus.

Keepin' The Faith

I took this picture off our local news last week. The story being covered was about demonstrations and rallies in opposition to Prop. 8 in California. I took the picture because the person holding the sign is possibly David Haproff. I had talked to my friend Jane the day before and she had told me that she and David, along with their daughter and future son-in-law, had attended this rally and that David had made such a sign. They are also part of a group from their local church that is working to have Prop 8 reversed. It makes me proud to know people like this, people who will stand up for an injustice, even when there are people telling them to behave themselves. Decisions on issues like this have to be thought through, prayed over, and then acted on, none of which is, or should be, easy. Of course, the Haproff family has a vested interest in all of this. Their son David has also made a decision after thought and prayer: he and his partner Scott leave for Swaziland, South Africa the end of the month. Scott is a registered nurse and the two of them have been accepted by the Catholic Medical Mission board to serve for three years. David will be working in administration in the hospital where Scott will be a nurse. They all make me proud to know them.