Outhouses

It is cold winter night. Everybody in the house is asleep. I woke up, because I had to use a restroom. It was warm under the comforter and I didn't feel like to crawl out. If I will ignore it, maybe I will not have to go. That didn't work. It was getting stronger and stronger. "Sandy, Sandy", I call my older sister. "I have to go." "So go, you don't have to wake me up." "Come with me, I know you have to go also." "I am not going anywhere. Go by yourself." "I am scared." After long time, when my sister found out she will be not able to get rid of me, she moved out of the bed, and both of us, in the cold night, just in our nightgowns, walked outside. The outhouse was a part of a storage shed and the laundry building. Sandy used her right of an older sister and was first inside. I waited outside, jumped on one and then another leg, tried to keep myself warm and a need to use a restroom was becoming unbearable. Finally my sister was done and I could get inside. Sister waited for me outside,and when I was done, we ran back to the house and under the warmth of our comforters. I remembered this story when I visited coal mine village not far from Hazelton. There were abandoned outhouses behind the row of old houses. Nobody used them for long time. In the Schuylkill County I met my first doubleseeter. I liked it very much. I wouldn't have to wait outside in those cold winter nights of my childhood. The outhouses are part of our history also. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville 11/30/2009

Milch cows

In Erath County there was one wise farmer who came up with the idea do not keep milch cows in the shed all day long but let them out. He built tall iron fence and placed feeders outside of the fence. The cows could walk freely around, chew on their cud, watch the cars passing on the road (my friend told I am wrong, when I said the cows actually count the cars), congregate and gossip as much as they liked. Anytime, when they were hungry, they could walk to the feeders and have a snack. Feeders also attracted wild animals. The cows were eating on one side of the fence and deer, rabbits, and other critters were dining on the other side. Everybody was happy. What about farmer's expenses? I didn't ask. Copyright 11/30/09 Pottsville, Marie Neumann

Christmas and Jesus

In Czechoslovakia it is Baby Jesus who brings Christmas presents. The delivery time is Christmas Eve. Also Christmas Eve is main holiday with Holy Supper. The night has magic. Evening is full of expectations and soon to be fulfilled wishes. Children believe in Baby Jesus the same way as we believe in Santa. He is real. The statues of Virgin Mary holding her baby are in each Catholic church. First years after we came to United States we celebrated Christmas like in Czechoslovakia. We still celebrate Christmas Eve today. One Christmas the older child wished we could celebrate the same way like in the old country. Baby Jesus flew over the ocean to bring Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Younger child, born in U.S.A., accepted presents, but wanted to be sure Santa is also coming and he will not skip our house. He will be here. What now? The presents were already delivered, opened, and enjoyed. Older child excused himself, went to visit freshly separated father and came back with the box full of gifts for children. We didn't have time to wrap them up in to nice packages with the name and ribbon on. Children dug out their presents. Grouchy younger child also took from the box what was hers and then complained: "Why Santa brought this year so little and that Czech guy who was here yesterday, brought much more?" Since that Christmas the presents brings only Santa. Children do not get their presents twice and everybody is happy. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 11/15/09

Risk

Don't take a risk, you will ruin your disk. Avoid phishing, spoofing, and spam. Don't take a risk. Tell me how? Have your firewall on all the time. Install all protection against hackers and viruses. Avoid the spam. Lock your laptop or computer. Dumpster diving: I shred everything I have. I have no personal memories, not a scrap of a paper. Don't take a risk. My identity was stolen. I had to call my credit company for the bills I didn't receive. I don't have a single credit card. I don't need it. Don't take a risk. I had a shadow copy once from my employer. It asked me for my mother's maiden name. I used a state agency computer that day. I gave it away. How should I treat a fishing source? Delete? Is it enough? Don't take a risk. I behave as an ostrich, the head in the sand and a behind sticking out. Can you draw me a picture of one with the arrows in his bum? Don't take a risk. I have a follower on my blog. He deletes words: death and blood. What can I do with him? One day he will die, the same as I. Copyright (c) Marie Neumannm 11/9/09 Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 10/18/2009

November

It's raining, it's November. It's gloomy day. He walks under the wet trees, shaking off the rain and leaves, feeling like a shadow of somebody's cold hand is touching his face. It's November. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Translated by memory Geza Vcelicka. Listopad. October 2009

A barrel organ

Thousand times played organ hic-ups and screeches: Sima, it was Sima, who hurt me so much. It was Sima, Sima, who took mine children away. I do not know a cure. I run away. Behind me the barrel organ plays its sad tune. Copyright (c)October 2009 Marie Neumann, Pottsville, PA

How I robbed the bank

It was four o'clock morning and I found out I ran out of the cigarettes. My valet, all my pockets were also empty. All my money was in the bank and it was now closed, but children have their piggy banks. I sneaked into child's bedroom. Pink piggy bank stood quietly on the desk dreaming it's wealthy dreams with blue eyes open. I took it softly into my hands and tiptoed out of the room and to the kitchen. I shook it. The change was jiggling. I knew money was there: weekly allowances, pocket money, tooth fairy presents... I will be not able to get out dollar notes. I turned the pig upside down in the hope some change will fall out. Nothing happened. The opening on the top is quite narrow. It's meant for putting money in, not digging them out. I didn't want to destroy the piggy bank. It's such cute little piggy with turn-up sweet snout and long eyelashes. The child even took it to the bed with her for a while. I didn't want to steel money, only borrow enough for a pack of cigarettes. I used a kitchen knife to get out enough of coins for one pack, than returned the piggy back on the desk in the child's bedroom. The piggy bank was facing the bed without expression. When I smoked the first cigarette I comforted myself: I will return everything back with some interest. The child will not notice anything and the pig will not tell. It's morning and time to wake up the child. I enter her bedroom. She is standing in her pajamas at the desk holding so much lighter piggy bank in her arms and both of them are silently looking at me with their blue eyes. That night I robbed the piggy-bank. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann, 10/30/2009