Another Honor

Well, I have not posted in a month, the time goes by fast and so much happens.

My cold came back and was worse and I actually called in sick to work Tuesday.

They have been changing our benefits at work, and may I say not for the better.

Seems to add to my insecurity of how life will be the next few years.

I had 520 hours of Extended Illness time banked, well they have taken the banks away from us.

All those years I had it, never calling in ill or being out for a extended time over the last 30 years.

I find it very sad.

The month was also personally sad for me. When i was a Head Nurse I had the same Assistant Nurse Manager, my dear Minnie.

I use to kid Minnie and tell her "I know how long you have been at the hospital because it is the same age I am"

Yes she came to the hospital as a 18 year old and retired in 2004 after 44 years.

She passed away, and it was hard to realize someone I shared all the happy and sad things of managing 125 employees was gone from my life.

Not only that but the twins (Susan and Sheryl) lost a young man who they treated as a son.

He was only 33 and had a allergic reaction to a antibotic and just dropped dead after telling his wife he did not feel well. He has 6 year old twins that Susan and Sheryl treat like Grandchildren.

So I keep hoping March delivers more happy times for those I love.

So here is the happy news!

yesterday I received a letter from the IL State Historical Society that 

The Charleston Riot Committee is being honored at the annual awards luncheon, held at the Old IL State Capital.

The play that was written for our event also is being recognized with a award.

Speaking of the Charleston Riot

In February my friend Harold Holzer, Lincoln Scholar was at the St. Louis Civil War Roundtable.

So I was able to go hear him speak.

Was so glad to see him and we did my first ever "selfie"

I need not to put my chin down but UP next time!

Harold recently received the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize for his outstanding work and recently published book "Lincoln and the Power of the Press"

Hope this find you all well, have missed you and hope to be back to catching up with all of you.

I need to pull myself up and dust myself off.

Yard Sale Finds and More

Last weekend I was at 1515 for a long weekend.

No cousins in town..just me so I had to make my own fun.

Yard sale down the street from a sweet retired couple, cousin Marty and I had been there in October a couple years ago, and they had antiques.

they are selling their home and moving to Florida so everything was 

50% off...so this tray was $1

I love this lemon wedge plate with pink roses and white hydrangea's.

so it was $5

Bavarian

a bone dish marked $1 so it was 50 cents

I use them to put my reading glasses in

It was a busy weekend

New Farmers market to visit

Friday cousin Fred and I went driving through the country and to a state park for lunch

We went to a cemetery where my 3rd Great Grandmother is buried

My Father's side of the family starting in 1836

my cousin who came to the Riot her ancestors

But NO

I looked just past it and saw this, screamed and scared cousin Fred

Jane Devers in my Maternal 3rd Great Grandmother

and there she was.....all by herself next to my Paternal family members?

I had her will, but she died in a neighboring county. Would of NEVER thought to look her.

The twins were in Canada but I had to call and tell them.

If you genealogy you know I just crashed through a huge brick wall.

This was Friday the 13th

another weird thing

Fred told me he had just restored my Great Grandparents

cylinder phonograph, "I wish I had the receipt" he said.

15 minutes before he picked me up I was going through one of their boxes..

you know what I am going to say?

I found the receipt for that phonograph from 1916 

right before Fred came, so you can imagine how astounded he was when I pulled it out and said

"here it is"

(I will save for another post)

Saturday I attended a encore performance of the play from the Riot

"A Question of Loyalty" at Lincoln Log Cabin.

Standing room only!

Sunday Fred and I went out for Fathers Day

Monday was lunch with cousin Karen

To end the weekend on Monday I was able to attend the 

Historical Society Founders Day Dinner

and accept an award for our work on the Charleston Riot

It was a great night.

Even better my Paternal Grandfather's 93 yr old Doctor was there.

He said "your Grandfather would be so proud of you"

It meant alot because of my Grandad Winkler I did the Riot Commemoration

Another blessed weekend

and this one was too!

My nephew got married

My husband is so happy when he is with his brothers.

Mr is on the rt and is the baby boy

Thanks for going with me on the journey of the last week!

Ann

Day #3 The Reenactment

After Saturday's event, Sunday was not as busy with events.

And might I say......... the weather was beautiful.

early breakfast and time to get the info booth up!

people were out and about early

the courthouse was suppose to be closed but they had so many come on Sat they decided to open and give more tours. I wanted to go thank the vendors I never saw on Saturday.

This is Professor Farquar and Pole Cat Annie who had a old time Medicine Man show.

loved these, I bought one to thank the twins and cousin Marty and one for myself.

they had pizza in 1864..didn't they! 

Mr., Sheryl and I went to get Harold Holzer for lunch and as soon as we were done it was time for the speaker series at the courthouse.

what a distinguished group we had 

people were beginning to gather

My brother even showed up!

It meant so much he was there.

TV stations and our documentary crew were discussing filming

the crowds were beginning to gather

VIP section for the committee

Mr visiting with Harold and a old friend from HS taking my picture

But I spotted our 2 Abe Lincoln's taking the day off!

the crowd went down the west side of the square, and 1/2 way around the south and north side too!

the Director of the Historical Society and committee member was situated in the 

bell tower to ring the bell for each person killed and wounded after the reenactment.

yes, I had a lump in my throat when they said my ancestors name.

I told myself I was not going to take pictures of the Riot and I did not.

I wanted to take it all in.

They did great.

Many videos have been loaded on You tube

Video

This one is from someone from Chicago who contacted me.

I see I am in it yuck! She had the camera right in my face.

But she gives us credit at the end and I thank her.

There are many on their now if you want to see other parts of the weekend.

The end of her video shows a man with the "I had a Riot in Charleston IL" tee shirt.

I have to laugh it is cousin Fred........the first person to purchase a tee shirt months ago!

Well,

After the riot I just had to walk around, it was almost too much for me, but Mr,

had a tight grip on me. I think it was knowing years of planning were now over.

we asked all the reenactors to get together for a picture.

the man who played my GG Uncle Robert Winkler

he is Chad the Colonel of Western Federal Blues

cousins...Karen here with the cousin who played her GGGrandfather

a mini Galbreath reunion

the twins celebrating our conclusion

the evening ended with the presentation of our play

"A Question of Loyalty" 

Took Harold to Dirty's for supper.

We shared some pinot nior and a toast.

Then he talked me into another project!

I have until 2019 for this one, but when he said he wanted me to explore Sarah Bush Lincoln and commemorated the anniversary of her death......I could not say no!

When we left he gave the twins a hug and a kiss,

he did the same to me as I dropped him off at his hotel.

Then he told me I was a amazing person.

It was a truly memorable day

Day # 2

Saturday the 29th was suppose to be sunny and in the 50's

RIGHT..............

It was one thing after another

3 out of my 4 food vendors cancelled

the wind broke one of the vendors tents

I had to head out to the Fairgrounds for our

troop arrival and political rally

the "Irish Lady' Sutler

she called from Arkansas on Wednesday and wanted to know if she could come

Why not!

She arrived on Thursday and people were already buying from her.

Every time I saw her she had a different dress on. 

the tents for the encampment were up and the horses were out and about

I made my cousin pose with one of the race trophy's!

the mayor and wife arrived and we were taking refuge from the wind!

President Lincoln and cousin Fred

(abe is his wifes cousin!)

I felt like a true "wrangler" getting the mayor, US Congressman and State Rep all there in place

the 33rd IL Volunteer Regiment Band played for their arrival

I was very pleased the EIU ROTC joined them

we honored those who serve and those who had served from 150yrs ago

Time to run back downtown, but not until some lady starts yelling at me about the shuttle bus

I wanted to say "the free shuttle bus we are providing to all the FREE venues?'

I offer to personally drive her and her mother downtown, so I did.

She complained because I did not have seat warmers in the back seat of my BMW like her Volvo"

I wanted to say "you can get out now!"

I got them downtown and they did not even bother to say "thank you"

As they walked away I shouted "remember all events are FREE"

But it got better

My cousin Judy from SD whom I have never met but have

written to her for 15 years!

then cousin Greg from Indiana found me

he was portraying our GGUncle for the weekend

It was too cold at the gazebo for the band so we moved them to the library

The speaker series was going on at a packed courthouse!

they had over 500 people go through

And the House tour was in full swing

this courthouse is where my Great Grandfather was the County Clerk

Then I ran to the Moose to decorate and just as I was a block from there

I saw my friends who had gone to get Harold Holzer.

There was Harold Holzer, the best known Lincoln Scholar and someone I admired for years

waving at me from the car!

I was in awe, it was like meeting a star to me!

Got him settled at his bed and breakfast and told him I would be back to get him for the dinner at 4:45

Are you tired yet!?

Got the place decorated

After that.......I do not remember

but Mr. had arrived and was my backbone!

Home to get ready for the dinner

Harold with the man he knows so well

Mr and Harold

we sold the dinner out and ended up with 216 people

Harold was shocked so many came to hear him speak!

Well, we do not get authors like him in Charleston very often.

a great moment when the band played

"rally round the flag boys"

everyone got on their feet and sang

Harold is the nicest person, so congenial, willing to speak to everyone, give a handshake a autograph.

He was easy to talk to and he and Mr. became quick friends, you see his Grandfather was a painter like Mr. who is 3rd generation.

Got back home by 10

what a day

A day I will never forget, some ups and downs but mostly ups!