Stan and Ann's Ramblings

Saturday, June 14, 2008

His funeral was Friday, June 13th.

Stillwater Oklahoma native son Army Major Scott Hagerty was killed in action in Afghanistan last Tuesday, June 3, when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, killing Scott and 20-year-old Pfc. Derek Holland of Wind Gap, PA.

Scott's parents Don and Shirley Hagerty are longtime Stillwater residents.

Also living in Stillwater are Scott's wife Daphne and sons Jonathan (age 10) and Samuel (20 months), Samuel is named after a civilian contractor Scott worked with in Iraq who was later killed by an IED.

Scott graduated from Stillwater High School in 1984 and earned a bachelor's degree in 1993 in political science, pre-law, and international relations from Oklahoma State University.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Multimedia message

Video of Austyn's Patches.. this season...

It's very windy and unfortunately you hear it more than Austyn in this video, but we are very proud of him and he will explain them to you. Don't turn up sound too loud or all you will hear is the wind.. sorry... you think I would know better... sigh... haha..

from Heather... comes this ditty..

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

F OR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE ? IT MEANS
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

This and that....

Had a great day today...

Saw some dear friends this evening that we had not seen in years.... Kind of renews one's spirit to run into friends you have missed for a long time... We saw Richard and Lu Norman of Tulsa who Jaycee'd with me in Stillwater a few days back... haha....

and then we say Russell Thurman... who was my Sgt. At Arms in the Jaycees... when I was President of the Oklahoma Jaycees... a dear friend... they all are dear friends...

and Lu and Russell's daughter Quinn too.... Like I said, it's old home week... Then Phil told me about a mother of one of the players on Austyn's team being from Lexington and knowing the Rowlands... and Moffat's there... and then he discovered he went to school with her till the third grade.. wow....

Tomorrow will be a day of mixed feelings... We are going to bury a young Stillwater man who was fighting the war .... and lost his life over there, leaving behind 2 young children here and a wife as well... Stillwater is hoping to line the five miles to the cemetery by us with flags and people in respect for this fallen hero... I was at the ball games tonight and there was a flag pole... empty.. no flag... sigh, wonder what respect we are teaching our young... by not displaying the flag...

I am very proud to be an American, very proud to have young men who still believe enough to fight and risk their lives so we can enjoy the simple things like ball games, and five dollar gas...

and I believe in God, and am sure He is smiling down on this mess wondering how in the world something He created could be so dumb!!!

My father said that many of life's problems could easily be solved if only folks would let go and let God! He was a simple man who had simple ways, but in many ways, he was the tallest of the giants, cuz of his simpleness, he saw the greatness in others, and knew in his heart that if one only had in their hearts in this order.... Jesus, Others, and then yourself.... you would have "JOY" beyond all measure... and he gave his offering .. his 10% to God before the family ate... before the cows were fed.... when he earned he gave to God his... and in this simple way ... he taught me more about arithmetic... and economics, than anyone ever did!

sorry.... got side tracked... just remembering when....

as I stated.. this and that.. haha...

have a great day... and remember, smile and tell someone else you love them today....