12 \”Fighting-Flanigans\” CAMPIN\’ IN CHICAGO

THE ZINNIAS -  Zinnias grow  In dirty earth   Crumbly wormy   Soil of worth.
 Not only zinnias   Apple trees   And dirt dams up   Our open seas.
Earth’s dirt   Keeps us firmly anchored   When even wars   Her surface cankered.
But joyful souls   Who trust stay meek  From earth’s dirt see…   The zinnias peak!
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cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 53)
 
After supper Mom would go to the Kroger store for her weekly shopping, while we
washed and dried the dishes. She and Dad would arrive home just as we were finishing
up and for about an hour after that we would put away brown paper bags of groceries,
after groceries, after [...]

 cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 52)
Coming out of the tent I went over and sat in the lawn chair next to Michael in front of
the campfire. He opened another beer for me.
“You’re going to get me drunk.” I said, happily taking it from him.
“Everything in moderation,” he said, lighting up a cigar.
“And moderation [...]

 cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 51)
Moved by the Holy Ghost, everyone
grabbed whatever they could. Jack and James each stomped on my feet as they stood up
to lean over the table to reach for tomatoes. Oh, the heaven of motherhood!
“Father, Son, Holy Ghost, who eats the fastest…gets the most” is a humorous prayer
that has [...]

 cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 50)
“Bridget, your face is weird.” Said Nora.
“Idiotic!” Bridget replied.
“That’s enough!” I demanded.
“Mom…’hello’…it’s called a loaf of ‘bread’ and a gallon of ‘milk’…what’s wrong with
you?” corrected Kathleen.
“What’s wrong with her? What’s wrong with her? You kids are what’s wrong with
her.” Michael was defending me. Call the governor!
“Nora, your breath [...]

 cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 49)
Now Jack and James BOTH hated me. That’s what good parenting techniques (and a
stab with fork prongs) can do, unite.
“Get him off, get him off!” Kathleen screeched.
Gregor was still sitting in Kathleen’s lap pretending she wasn’t even in the lawn chair.
Then it happened, a loud clap of – [...]

 cont…IT’S A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, I AM!
cont…Chapter 2
(Page 48)
I threatened as Michael grabbed Jack and swatted him on his behind.
“Knock it off, Jack, and behave yourself.” Michael admonished. “You sit on your
brother’s head again and you won’t be sittin’ for a week!” Michael roundly smacked his
behind, again, and dragged him by one arm over to the [...]

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(Page 47)
The boys were back from their bike ride, the girls set out a wild-flower centerpiece
and I got up and attached Paddy to the end of the table in his portable high chair.
Michael lit the Coleman lantern and hung it from a nail sticking out of a tree to [...]

IN
EDEN’S
GARDENThey only had to
Wear some clothes,
That covered them
Since Adam’s woes. 

The banquet table
Was all set,
Nourishment
All free from debt.

Not the best,
Nor what’s called shoddy.
A sheath for soul
Which follows body.
But necks all stiff,
Backs, ram-rod straight,
They shrugged and said,
“Can’t make that date.”
And this from mothers,
Daughters, hapless,
Demanding Eves,
Who wear skins strapless.
No mea culpas,
Pleas for pardon…
But bob for apples
In Eden’s Garden!

IN
EDEN’S
GARDEN
The banquet table
Was all set,
Nourishment
All free from debt.
They only had to
Wear some clothes,
That covered them
Since Adam’s woes.
Not the best,
Nor what’s called shoddy.
A sheath for soul
Which follows body.
But necks all stiff,
Backs, ram-rod straight,
They shrugged and said,
“Can’t make that date.”
And this from mothers,
Daughters, hapless,
Demanding Eves,
Who wear skins strapless.
No mea culpas,
Pleas for pardon…
But bob for apples
In Eden’s Garden!