'Emerge and See' a bright new year in Ramona
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Meeting at Marge Hanschu's on Jan. 2 was a charming way to start the New Year. Marge invited the ladies of Ramona to come to her home, on the corner of 4th and B, for their weekly coffee gathering.
When we entered her home, the kitchen counter was filled with tempting treats: tiny quiches, meatballs and sausages, fresh fruit, blueberry muffins, a tray of three different breakfast breads, and of course, coffee!
Internally I was moaning — what a time to be on a water fast and cleansing diet. But I had resolved to take a break from food for a few days — a little birthday gift to my body for supporting me so beautifully all these years.
So I sat with my herb tea in hand, smelling the yummy food and focused instead on the company and watching other folks — Myrna Eskeldson, Naomi Fike, Gertie Schubert, Frances Buxman, Leona Deines, Orvell Brunner, Treva Schneider, Betty Ohm, and Paula Fike — enjoying Marge's culinary endeavors.
Instead of a traditional blessing on the food, Marge gave a blessing of a different sort. "When I was a child our family had a New Year's tradition," explained Marge. "Our family would go to visit friends and upon entering the house my mother would recite a blessing in German."
Marge shared the blessing — in German — then gave us the English translation: "I wish you a prosperous new year, health and happiness and contentment, a long life, and after your death, eternity, good luck."
Tidbits I heard around the table were that Frances Buxman got a grandfather clock for Christmas from all of her children and it was built by her youngest son, Scott.
And on New Year's Day, Orvell Brunner celebrated her birthday with her family. "Jill brought pizza and a cake and the family gathered to help me celebrate," said Orvell. Well, almost the whole family — Yvonne was in Arizona visiting her family.
Later Marge said that having this coffee gathering was her way of thanking the ladies of Ramona for being so kind to her when she and Lowell moved here from Missouri.
"I didn't grow up here, and the only way I knew some of the ladies in the community was because I met them over the years when we'd come back to visit. They've been so supportive in helping me get settled in Ramona — I appreciate everyone being so wonderful!"
Later that Thursday afternoon, a couple Ramona residents had a gathering of another sort in the Herington hospital emergency room. Not quite as much fun as having a tea party, I can assure you.
Tooltime Tim and I had just wheeled my sister Pat into an emergency room for a D&C procedure when somebody called out my name.
There, in the opposite room, sat Deborah and Robert Hare with Deb's daughter and grandbaby there, too. It was clear that Deb was the patient as she sat in the wheelchair. Her eyes still looked "misty" as though it hadn't been too long ago that tears filled them, due to a knee that went out on her.
"I was just helping a patient when my knee gave out," said Deb, who works at the Herington nursing home. The injury means that Deborah won't be back to work for a bit.
When I called the Hare home just a couple of days ago, her husband Robert said that Deb would be seeing the orthopedic surgeon on Thursday this week and the outcome of that visit will determine whether she needs surgery on her knee.
Suddenly Robert said, "I gotta go — Deb's calling!" When you're "down for the count" isn't it grand to have somebody you love there for you?
As for my dear sister, she kept her sense of humor and wit throughout the whole emergency room — except when she passed out a couple of times. I'd never seen anybody pass out before so I had no idea what it looked like.
When her eyes rolled back in her head as Tooltime Tim and I were driving her to the hospital, we were still in Ramona and I yelled to Tim turn around and go home so I could call 911. Neither of us was certain what was happening, so I was going to turn it over to professionals who had some equipment.
I'd barely gotten the 911 operator on the line, and the ambulance summoned, when Pat "came to" and said, "No! I don't want an ambulance." So Tim turned on his "flashers" and we headed for the hospital.
Little did we know that once an ambulance is summoned, it comes whether you cancel it or not — they're being thorough and faithful. (Thanks!) And when I heard later that the ambulance had arrived in front of our house, I knew that folks would be wondering what had happened — if they're anything like us, when we hear the siren.
On Thursday around 5 p.m., Pat was leaving the emergency room for surgery and Tooltime Tim and I were standing in the hall to cheer her on as they wheeled her by.
"This is like a bad B-rated movie!" she said, playfully chastising us for our sentimentality.
As for the care she received — that was definitely NOT B-rated. This is the first time we've used emergency services in Kansas and everybody from the 911 operator to Pat's fine physician and the hospital staff were tremendous.
Even the room they put Pat in after surgery seemed tailor made — above the bed was a little plaque that said "Trinity Lutheran Church, Ramona." I figured it meant that the church helped fund that particular room or equipment in the hospital. But for us, it just felt like we were being held in the arms of our Ramona family as Pat recovered.
By the time you read this column, Pat will have undergone one more surgery at Herington hospital on Wednesday — a hysterectomy. "You might as well tell people so they know," said Pat as I began writing my column.
This surgery has been something that Pat has been expecting for several years. And on New Year's Eve, Pat's body sent a very convincing "telegram" that said "NOW! Do it NOW!"
I've been playing "secretary" and talking to friends and family who have called — your love, hugs, and prayers have been lovely. Thanks!
This past Sunday, Butch's Diner in Tampa was filled to overflowing and several of the groups were from Ramona. "I felt guilty afterwards," said Paula Fike, "because when our family left the restaurant there were several more families waiting. And here we all were just having fun visiting."
I felt the very same way because some of our family members were perched at a table next to the Mueller family and we were having so much fun sharing stories, we didn't think about other folks who might want to do the same.
The Muellers always gather the first Sunday after the New Year. Where they gather depends on who is hosting the event. This year's hosts were Edna Mueller and Maxine Mueller, who carry on the tradition for their husbands who were Mueller brothers, but are deceased.
Two long tables were filled with Mueller siblings and spouses: Edwin and Alice Winter and Agnes Steinert of Hillsboro, Phyllis Mueller along with Art and Betty Mueller of Tampa, Paula and Warren Fike of Ramona, Lawrence and Ruth Mueller from Iola, and Richard and Doris Ott from Golden, Mo.
The Mueller reunion continued after lunch when the group went to Edna's home north of Tampa, and played cards.
The family gathering I was a part of included three names that are familiar to the Ramona area: Schimming, Schubert, and Plank. Instigating and hosting the lunch at Butch's was my cousin Janice Schimming-Plank, who along with her husband Arnold was visiting from California.
Janice's mother Anna Schubert-Schimming, along with Janice's brother Jim Schimming and wife Jan, came from Herington to meet up with Hank and Gertie Schubert and Pat and me for a yummy chicken dinner.
After lunch the group met at our Cousin's Corner house where we were joined by our mom Martha, who hadn't seen her niece Janice in over 15 years. Half the fun of these gatherings is watching Anna, Hank, and my mom look at the old pictures hanging on the walls around the house — the pictures spark such fantastic memories and stories.
Last Thursday I ran into Marianne Prine in Herington. "So what's happening at your house?" I asked, forever the snoopy reporter.
"It's for C.J. He's leaving on Sunday for the military," and her eyes brimmed with tears. Then she smiled and shook her head. "I knew you'd call — and I didn't want to cry. And here I meet you in the store!"
Marianne said that C.J.'s eager to go for his 14 weeks of training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Mom, of course, isn't quite so eager to see her son go, but is ever so supportive of her son. "I'm buying a flag and flying it!" she said proudly.
And speaking of the military, Ron and Marvena Cheever were expecting a visit from their son-in-law Scotty, who is in the Navy. He's being shipped out (location not disclosed) Jan. 10th and couldn't come with his wife Chrissy and their daughter Alexia for the New Year's visit.
Chrissy and daughter arrived in Ramona Dec. 28 and immediately began visiting family. "We were in Arkansas City on the 29th seeing my folks," said Marvena, "but there were so many people there and my mom didn't get to see enough of Chrissy and the baby, so she begged us to come back the next weekend."
Not only did they go to Arkansas City, they stopped in Ellsworth to see Jimmy, then on to Wichita for a visit with Ron's brother Dennis and Karen, his wife.
When I asked how her granddaughter had changed since she saw her last, Marvena said chuckling, "Alexia chatters more and she's definitely figured out how to say 'no' and knows what it means!"
Ramona's postmaster, Kathy Wertz, has decided to make Ramona her home. We're delighted! Kathy recently sold her home in Salina and is moving as quickly as possible to Ramona so that her daughter Jenny can start school at Centre High School.
"We're renting the Stroda farmhouse just south of town for the time being," said Kathy, "so Jenny can start school next week." Wow! Ramona's population increases by two more — before long we'll be a metropolis!
Reign and Marlene Anduss, part-time Ramona residents, and owners of the Ramona Café, report they'll be open in a couple of weeks. "This weekend we were carpeting the store and our Ramona home, too" said Marlene. "The inspector comes this week to inspect the café and we have a couple more touch-ups we need to finish before we're ready to open."
The Schuberts are excited because their granddaughters took off for Hollywood on Monday. Gary's daughters Tara and Kristina have been taking modeling instructions at the International Modeling and Talent Association in Denver for the last several months.
Twenty-six young women were chosen from the Denver area to go to Hollywood and meet with talent scouts, advertisers, and modeling agencies. "Kristina said that there would be a total of 1,500 girls who are coming from all over the country for this event," said Gertie Schubert.
When the girls were here at Thanksgiving they showed us their modeling portfolios — amazing and stunning. You know those pretty young things you see in Sears catalogues and Target TV ads? Well, in the future you just might be looking at one of Gertie's granddaughters.
The girls are in California for a week, accompanied by their mother Carol and Carol's sister.
"I'll know more next week," said Gertie with excitement and anticipation.
The Schuberts also had a visit this last Tuesday from Linda Diepenbrock, who has been the interim pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Herington where Gertie and Hank attend church.
"We have a new pastor now," said Gertie, "and since we didn't get to attend Linda's farewell this past Sunday, she stopped by to say goodbye on her way home to McPherson."
Marion County Fire District #3 met Saturday evening at the Ramona Senior Center and had elections. Mark Heiser, who has served on the board, was re-elected to his position for another term. How wonderful to have folks who are willing to volunteer and serve us in times of emergency.
I've been pondering the word "emergency" lately, since I've been involved in a couple. I found myself taking the word apart — e merge n cy — emerge and see. One emerges from normal existence and sees another layer of life — what you've put off, what's truly important, how much you love, what you wish you'd known, said, or done.
When a friend heard about Pat's emergency on New Year's she said, "I hope this doesn't portend the rest of the year."
"Oh, no!" I replied. "To us it's like Pat's body gave her a gift — signaling it was time for action — so the year 2003 can be more joyful than all the others."
So that's the news from Ramona where we "emerge and see," take action, and create a year ahead filled with promise, and a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
