Comments on: My Finger is Purple

By: Janice Voorhies

Janice Voorhies — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 17:40:34 +0000

In reply to Fred Loeper. I would have never guessed you were raised in Massachusetts. Gives me a whole new slant on your life!

By: Janice Voorhies

Janice Voorhies — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 17:38:05 +0000

In reply to Mark Voorhies. I love this. ALL GOD'S CHILDREN HAVE A PLACE IN THE CHOIR.

By: Mark Voorhies

Mark Voorhies — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 14:09:37 +0000

My next door neighbor in Canada was for Iraq . They brought brought us delicious food all the time. One day at Christmas Even though they weren’t Christian they brought us a picture of their grandmother sitting on a chair being held up by several people as if she just want a soccer game. Proudly displaying her purple finger. In the summer I mowed their lawn, because I had a lawn mower. In the winter they plowed our driveway because they had a snow blower. We love them they loved us we called the neighbors.

By: Fred Loeper

Fred Loeper — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 18:30:40 +0000

I grew up in the very small, very white town of Hopedale, MA. It was town that was about as Rockwellesque as one can get. And, truth to tell, I don’t think we minded much the lack of ethnic and/or racial diversity. The next town over was Milford, my mother’s hometown and the nearest place for any real services. It had the only movie theater for miles around and oh the memories of that place which sadly was torn down and turned into a parking lot. Go figure. Milford had some ethnic diversity. The Italians went to Scared Heart and were consequently buried in Sacred Heart cemetery. The Irish went to St. Mary’s and were likewise buried in St. Mary’s. There were the “plains” as it was known where a lot of Puerto Ricans lived. My grandmother told us to stay away from there. She was, none the less, a marvelous cook and was forever cooking something. Family history takes note of the time when my very Italian great aunt, Susie, married the very Irish Joe Burns. Oh, the scandal, the scandal!
I generally like ethnic food. And yet I can not remember anything like Taco Time or Taco Bell. There were McDonalds everywhere, of course. I guess it fit as neatly into New England as frustrated Red Sox fans. As Orwell might say, “Such, such, were the joys!”

By: Janice Voorhies

Janice Voorhies — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:39:08 +0000

In reply to Barbara Blackburn. In my experience, the more we know about most people, the more we value them. Ministering can make all the difference!

By: Barbara Blackburn

Barbara Blackburn — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:36:43 +0000

Hi Janice! My son in law is a cousin of Mitt Romney, so I get glimpses of things he did as a bishop and Stake Pres. Wonderful uplifting tales of helping new members who converted from staunch Baptist families. Very heartwarming and far reaching.
You lived in a diversity of places. I was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it was very diverse. I learned so much watching neighbors and friends. Their customs, music, dance, clothing, language. The industres around us offered glimpses of life as people lived and struggled to go forward after the war. My step father was of Italian descent and much rubbed off on me as I grew up. I did not realize much of it until I was older. He had a saying I picked up and later found out it as not nice at all. Italian friends wouldn’t give the meaning, but let me know it was awful. I laugh today at my innocense.
Everyone in and out of the church helped each other. We watched out and pitched in where we knew help was needed. Great lessons learned as part of life. To look for ways to serve. Helping was anticipated making life easier and teaching skills.
Today I am in touch with friends of 70+ years and cherish them.
We are of the human race and do want the same things. Food, warmth, safety, love, security, education, etc.
I am grateful for all people. As a result our children learned much on an everyday basis. It was just who we were and are. They are incredible, and boggle my mind how service oriented they are.
The call to love .each other is so needed today. To be Ministers and search for ways to serve!