Gone Fishing!

We'll be back on Thursday.
You all behave yourselves while we're gone,
you hear?

Love, Margie and Edna

Visit Your Relatives Day

Margie: Edna, I have good news and bad news. Well, maybe it's all bad news. I suppose it depends on who's involved. Yes, since you and I are involved then it's all bad news. Do you understand, Edna?

Cousin T called with family intelligence and you know how he finds out all the gossip. Come have coffee, Edna, so I can tell you what's going on. Where is Superman when we need him?

Edna: My lands, you're starting to give me fits with all your hemming and hawing. Just spill it already! What did Cousin T have to say? And do I need my nerve pills?

Margie: Yes, you need a nerve pill and I just took 2 with some Special tea.

Cousin T says Aunt Hattie Mae told Cousin Beau that she and her kids, Bess, Fess, and Tess, are coming to visit us today. Seems today is a holiday called Visit Your Relatives Day. We've got to keep them away from here, Edna.

Edna: Oh my stars and garters, we'd best lock up the good silver! I used to think there wasn't any bunch worse than Itty-biddy and her brood, but I plumb forgot about the terrible triplets and their crazy mama. Do you suppose we can just pretend not to be home when they come knocking?

Margie: That sounds like a plan, Edna. Let's lock all the doors and windows then shut all the curtains and blinds. We can hunker down in the parlor and be quiet and still.

Can you think of anything we need to bring in from outside so they don't steal it?

Edna: Hmm, I don't know. It's a good thing the still is in the basement already, at least we don't have to worry about them carting that away. We should bring in our rocking chairs, though; all we'd need is to go out to sit a spell on the porch after they leave and only find the seat cushions. Lordy, with that bunch, they're apt to dig up our rose bushes!

Margie, you'd best call Cousin T to come hide out with us, because you know if we don't answer the door they'll head straight to his place. And tell him to pick up some supplies on the way over, we should probably prepare for a multi-day siege. That group may be dumber than stumps, but they sure are stubborn.

Margie: Edna, I called Cousin T and he's on the way. He's bringing locks and chains to tie down everything outside.

He also had a good suggestion for us. He says we should put a note on the door saying we've gone to see the Biddy Bunch then Hattie Mae and her brood will surely light out for Biddy's.

Edna: For once, that boy had a corker of an idea! I'll go write that note so it will be all ready to go when Cousin T gets here. When you see his truck pull up, you go out and help him, and then the two of you get inside quick. We don't want to be caught unawares.

Margie: Aye, aye to you, Edna. Party time tonight.

Sunday Funnies

Edna's Fun Friday: Gene Kelly

Edna: Those of you who have been paying attention lately know that I have a soft spot for men who are light on their feet. And in my opinion, few have been lighter on their feet than Mr. Gene Kelly. My lands, but that man could dance! But did you know that he could dance on roller skates?

Gene Kelly appeared on skates in two movies that I know of: 1980's Xanadu and below, in 1955's It's Always Fair Weather. Watch this clip, and I guarantee that you'll be marveling at how he did it! (The best stuff happens from around the 2-minute mark on to the end.) Oh, and kids? Don't try this at home!

Reading Is Fun Week

Margie: Edna, get your lazy rear out of that bed. You don't want to disappoint the children. Remember this is Reading Is Fun Week and we volunteered to help at the library.

I'm going to say something, Edna, but I'll deny it if you tell anybody. The children loved you last year and thought you were funny. You got quite a few of them interested in reading and I was happy to see that. Please try to act human today too.

Edna: As usual, Margie, I'm going to be gracious and accept the compliment while ignoring the insult. And I will say this: when you put your mind to it, you have a lovely reading voice. I know the children will enjoy having both of us read to them. I just love seeing all those little faces looking up at me, spellbound.

Margie: Edna, I know what you mean about those little faces. They do love a good story. I'm a firm believer in starting children as readers as early as possible.

Remember how Mama always read us a bedtime story, Edna? I do believe that's why we both love to read.

Edna: I think you're right, and we were truly blessed. Reading to these young children makes me think of Mama and how an adult can transfer a love of reading to a child. It sure would be nice if every child has someone in their life who would read to them.

All right, let's get going to the library, we've got young book-lovers to read to!

Bravery without bounds: Irena Sendler

Anna Paquin as Irena Sendler in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

Edna: Margie, I saw a movie on the television a couple weeks ago, and I just have to tell you, it was the most wonderfully done and moving thing I have seen in a very long time. It was about a Polish woman named Irena Sendler, have you ever heard of her?

Margie: Wasn't she involved in helping people during the Holocaust, Edna? I know that movie was on TV and I had planned to watch it then my TV messed up.

You probably did something to it because I really did want to see that movie. Go ahead and tell me about the movie and her.

Edna: Well, the movie is available for free on CBS' website for anyone who hasn't seen it, and I urge all of you to go watch it. But don't forget the tissues, this is a very emotional movie.

Margie, you are indeed correct. Irena Sendler was a Polish Catholic woman who risked her own life to help thousands of Jewish children to avoid Nazi concentration camps during the German occupation of Poland in World War II. She worked tirelessy and carefully, but she was eventually caught by the Nazis. However, her story has a (relatively) happy ending, since she escaped from the Nazis and spent the remainder of the war in hiding. She lived until 2008, and she was 98 years old when she died.

Folks, I will tell you this: she had tremendous courage in the face of terrible and horrific odds. I do not know whether I would have had the same kind of courage, although I would like to think so.

Margie: Edna, you've got as much courage as Courage The Cowardly Dog.

It takes a special person to do what she did. I am so happy to hear that she managed to get out and live a long life. I best go watch that movie. I'll get tissue from your room first.

Edna: Margie, you go right ahead and use all of my tissues that you want. I'm feeling charitable after talking about Irena.

There is also a wonderful story about how four Kansas high school students in 1999 reached out to Mrs. Sendler, resulting in an unlikely but wonderful friendship. You can read more about it here: Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.

We should all take a page from Irena Sendler's book, and always look outwards to help others, no matter what the personal cost. She has become my hero, and I'm so glad to have learned about her.

The real Irena Sendler
(1910-2008)

Eat What You Want

Margie: Edna, today is a holiday. Yes, it's Eat What You Want Day. I know that today is not intended to mean you eat as much as you want. Rather, the goal is to eat something you otherwise wouldn't have. Well, that's a dumb holiday so I say let's eat as much as we want.

What would you like to eat today, Edna?

Edna: Well, I'm not an adventurous eater, so I definitely don't cotton to eating something I haven't before. I have spent my life avoiding strange foods, thank you very much. But Margie, I don't know about eating as much as I want of something, either. My digestive system just can't handle that kind of abuse these days.

So maybe I'll just eat something fun for me, but in moderation. That would have to be chocolate mousse--my lands, I sure do love that stuff! What about you, Margie, what are you going to eat?

Margie: Edna, you will never grow up. I've never seen such a big baby. There is nothing strange in this life but you.

Well, Cousin T said he's bringing over a mess of catfish so I found this Paula Deen recipe that I'm making.

You'll never guess what else I'm making, Edna. It'll make your mouth water.

Edna: First of all, don't you start with me, you're the one who said this was a dumb holiday! I was just going along with you and making conversation.

You can make your stupid catfish and whatever else you want for Cousin T, I'm sure he'll love it, that boy will eat anything. As for me, I'm sticking with my chocolate mousse. At least I know that won't give me the ptomaine poisoning like your lasagna did last month.

You may as well tell our readers what else you're making. They're more willing to tolerate your hot air than I am, bless their hearts.

Margie: Lord, help me stop myself from strangling this nitwit. Edna, you won't admit it but you know good and well that Mama made a dessert you loved pert near better than chocolate.

I wouldn't dream of offering you any so Cousin T and I will eat in the kitchen and we'd appreciate it if you'd go eat your moose in your room. I never have liked wild game.

Edna: "Wild game"? And you call ME a nitwit?

Margie: Oh good, Edna, you heard me. Yes, nitwit, dimwit, fruit loop. I'm going to my room before I slug you.

Edna: Big baby.