THE BAILEYS 2004 NEW YEARS LETTER
with ROYCE, JUDY , JILLIONNA AGE 14 AND
JOSIANNE AGE 13
JANUARY 2003 January found us
in California celebrating Harold Bailey’s 80th birthday. (Royce’s
father). He looks great and must be feeling well, too, as he and Doralee
energetically celebrated the big event. Royce’s extended family
was there, also, and after experiencing the stomach flu together we
feel bonded for good. Upon returning home, Judy told Royce to watch
her purse, while in the airport. “I still have prunes in there.” We’re
to the age that that is funny.
Judy tries to find good hiding places to keep the girls from eating
the gingerbread candy. “Josee come quick,” cried Jillee, “I’ve
found the jackpot.” The girls (Jillee and Josee) had again found
where Judy had hidden the many assortments of colorful candy.
Judy recounts the story of being tired and Royce just says, “A-huh.” So
she creates a word picture for him. Royce comes into the office and
opens the exam door and Judy is sitting inside. She tells him she’s
tired and wonders why? “You need more Synthroid,” he immediately
responds. (Judy’s had most of her thyroid removed for cancer
in 1984.) “So why didn’t you tell me that months ago,” Judy
retorted. Royce just looked blank. Judy related this story to Doralee
and Harold Bailey (Royce’s parents). Doralee turns to Harold
(retired surgeon) and says, “Why am I so tired?” He says, “Because
you’re old.”
FEBRUARY We had twin baby goats, “Junior” and “Magee.” The
girls wasted no time dressing them up in their baby clothes and wheeling
them around in a baby buggy and taking them for tractor rides.
Royce is still learning the southern way of speaking. He over heard a nurse
say in the Operating Room, “Bless your heart and other vital parts.” The
patient was getting his prostate removed.
The animals needed to be fed on a snowy day. Josee said, ”Don’t
make Daddy go down to the barn, He’s too old,”
Royce says he has too much gray in his hair. Judy replies, “Oh no,
I love the ‘extinguished’ look. No dusting required.”
One of Royce’s patients commenting on losing his memory, said, “My
mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it’s gone.”
MARCH Rosco, our hunting dog, killed Junior (the goat). We had to put
Rosco to sleep the next day. All of us were in mourning. Once a dog gets the
taste of blood...
One of Royce’s patients complained that her husband always has a phone
attached to his ear. During a family picture he was told to look natural, so
he put his hand up to his ear and smiled.
Our Pastor’s wife, Sharon, broke her leg skiing. Her three year old grand
daughter said she would read to her, during her recovery, from the Bible. Sharon
knowing she can’t read yet, asked where she was reading from? “I’m
reading from George 1:9,” she proudly said.
Medical literature reports that having a pet dog can add years to your life.
One of Royce’s staff at the office has a Rat Terrier. She says this dog
has taken years off her life.
APRIL We went looking for a new dog for Jillee and
came home with a male husky mix. Jillee named him “skipper.” But
when we got him home we found that he was a she! So Jillee
named her, “Skip-her.” We also found, for Judy,
a beautiful one year old golden retriever that needed a new
home. Judy has always wanted a “golden.” Her
name is Isabel, because she acts so royal.
“Do you get fur from skunks?” “Sure do,
as ‘fur’ as possible.”
Josee beat Judy in arm wrestling for the first time. Maybe
Judy needs more ‘prunes’.
The girls advance to adult bell choir and traveled to Florida
for a concert. They traveled with some dear friends and they
all wore their matching army fatigue outfits. As the girls
walked down the street the girls were saluted many times
and many comments were overheard such as, “my, the
military is taking them younger and younger.” One convenience
store clerk asked Judy, “are they on active duty?” Judy
responded, “they are all very active.”
We’re having strange weather here in Western North
Carolina: Snow in the second week of April, an earthquake
is felt from 280 miles away, originating in AL, six inches
of hail come rolled off our roof, accumulating by our kitchen
window, in one storm, and ten inches of rain fell the same
week.
We adventured on a canoe trip and managed not to tip over,
but Royce and Judy ended up with all kinds of interesting,
natural paraphernalia in their canoe (tree branches, lizards,
mud bank, etc.) Our wonderful friends were very patient with
our inexperience. Grandma and Grandpa Wolter tipped over
in waist deep water. We were thankful Grandma had removed
her hearing aids before the trip or we’d have never
found them. They were good sports. Soaked to the skin they
got back in the canoe and continued. Jillee and Josee showed
courage and strength with their canoeing endeavor.
The end of April took us to Chicago where Royce attended
the American College for Cardiology Meetings and we dropped
off Judy’s harp to be regulated. Royce attended the
seminars while the three girls toured Lyon and Healy (the
world headquarters of the harp manufacturer) and Judy pursued
the music department for literally hours. They had lunch
at the American Girl Place, which was an experience long
to be remembered, everything was perfect. They visited the
Oceanarium and the Chicago museum. At the end of the meetings
we picked up the harp and headed the 13 hours for home.
We returned home to throw a birthday party for Josee’s
Appaloosa yearling, Cassy. It was complete with homemade
horse biscuits (for humans or for animals) and a cake with
a molasses topping.
MAY Grandpa Wolter commented on Jillee’s and Josee’s dessert
after dinner one night, “It’s musty.” To the relief of Jillee
and Josee, he continued, “I musty have more.”
Sam Caldemeyer, age 8, told his mom that he liked her strawberry jam best. When
asked why, he said, “because you put little nuts in your jam.” (Those
are strawberry seeds.)
The girls voice teacher, Mr. Don, whom the girls love and adore, asked his students,
(that includes: Jillee, Josee, Laricia, Michael and Matthew--all Seventh-day
Adventists) to sing for his Sunday Church; on that day they “read everyone’s
name who has died and gone to heaven,(so they say).” Josee turned to Laricia
and said, “Well, that will be zero.” Eccl 9:5; II Thess 4:13-17 (in
other words; the dead are asleep, not in heaven, until Jesus comes again.)
We celebrated Josee’s horse turning a year old, so we followed suit for
Jillee’s yearling. Ginger had a great party complete with “bales
of hay” treats made out of Rice Krispies and tied with red licorice. Jillionna
braided Ginger’s mane and decorated it with pink and purple flowers.
Jillionna and Josianne played hand bells in the Western North Carolina Bell Festival.
What a fabulous sound with over 200 hand bells ringing together.
The family ventured to West Frankfurt, Illinois again for the Three Angel’s
Broadcasting (3ABN) camp meeting special. The three girls were involved in an
hour long “Kid’s Time,” live television performance. The harp,
dulcimer and flute were part of the cargo. With some of their friends they praised
the Lord with singing and instruments.
Jillee and Josee are in a photo club and are admiring the ability of photographers,
as they see some of the challenges in taking pictures. Of course, their first
love for subject matter is their animals, which, by nature, do not cooperate
well. The girls especially enjoy the finished product and are developing a love
for the art of photography.
JUNE Jillee had her 14th birthday party on the 19th. She celebrated
it with a few friends and a swimming party.
Swimming lessons begin and so do rehearsals for Royce’s surprise 50th birthday
celebration. A wonderful friend, Dianne Wagner wrote a script for “A Time
Line Through History” which culminated in 1953, Royce’s appearance
on the scene of this world. The children depicted each part of history in full
costume: pilgrims/Indians, Williamsburg, river people, pioneers and wagons west,
Civil War, Statue of Liberty, Uncle Sam, and Ellen White. Royce was truly surprised
with the big bash which was decorated in Western style and celebrated with 130
friends. Grandma Wolter made Twenty bales of hay were brought into the fellowship
hall, of our church, to serve the food on, a stage was built and decorated with
split rale fencing by Dr. David Wagner. Grandpa Wolter brought all his father’s
antique items which added charm to the usually bare hall. Fifty poster size pictures
of Royce from age one to present, decorated the walls, along with, at least,
a hundred and fifty ribbons which Royce won as a teenager, showing horses. As
the comments went, “It was the party of the century!”
Royce asked “Bea,” a six year old party goer, if she would ever keep
a secret from him again? She put her hands on her hips and said, “Only
if it is important.”
Royce asked Jillee how the book “Black Stallion” compared to the
video. “In the book,” Jillee said,”the Black Stallion is placed
back in his stall and lives happily until the next book.”
Nelly, part Belgium and part quarter horse, comes to join our two pregnant mares
and two yearlings.
The girls were telling Grandma Wolter about the western saddle. Grandma Wolter
said, “I thought you liked the eastern saddle the best.” “That’s
the ‘English’ saddle, Grandma,” Jillee said.
JULY The airlines take us to California to celebrate
Royce’s 50th with his family. Doralee gave Royce a party
by their lovely pool, complete with beautiful decorations and a catered
veggie barbeque. All of Royce’s brothers and sister with their
children, and close friends, were there to celebrate. It was a fabulous
party! Yes, we are happy that Royce has been with us for fifty years
despite his Crohn’s disease and ileostomy. God is so good.
A busy Sabbath on the 26th. The three girls played 2 harps, flute and
hammered dulcimer for prelude music for church at 9:10-9:30am. Judy told
her weekly “Mrs White felt story,” in Young Disciples Sabbath
School class (ages 10-14) and Royce taught the lesson. Judy and Alicia
Crabtree played piano and organ duets before church, during offertory
and for the postlude. We then had an Elder’s potluck. During the
afternoon we celebrated Judy’s Birthday at the Crabtree’s
home. Then back to church for vespers at sunset (8:39pm), where Jillee
and Josee lead the song service. Then we loaded up the four instruments
in our harp mobile (15 seater van without three of the benches) and headed
home by 9:30pm.
Royce had placed in the church bulletin, for the weekend of Judy’s
birthday, that we were celebrating Judy’s 29th birthday, again.
Wayne Whary from church said, “29th to what power, Judy?”
The girls are developing their teaching skills as they each assume responsibility
for a group of children at Vacation Bible School.
AUGUST
We celebrated Josee’s 13th birthday with a swimming party with all
her friends.
We went to Orlando, Fl to check out all the water parks. Wet and Wild,
Water Mania and the two Disney parks. We visited Arabian Nights (home of
the black stallion) and Dixie Stampede. Royce and Judy got home thoroughly
tired and the girls were ready for more.
Royce commenting to one of his heart failure patients, said, “How’s
your breathing?” The patient answered,”I’m still doing
it!” This same patient was told to watch his food intake and he said, “I
watch every bite I eat, as it goes in my mouth.”
The girls let the birds out of their chicken pen during the day to peck
around the barnyard. We put them back at night to prevent the foxes from
getting them. The male peacock usually doesn’t want to go back in
the pen. So Jillee began, daily, catching him by his long tail feathers
and dragging him backwards into the enclosure. Until one day, she grabbed
him and only got a hand full of tail feathers. After that the poor peacock
would strut and fan his five remaining tail feathers and would cause laughter
from whomever saw him. Our Christmas decoration theme this year is patterned
after those peacock feathers.
One of the girl’s friends said, “Never fight with a woman,
because you’ll always lose,”-- John Wagner, age 14.
SEPTEMBER The Hendersonville Church Youth, entered
a float in the “King Apple Festival Parade,” inspired by
Dianne Wagner and won first place. Jillee was dressed as a pioneer lady
in the covered wagon and Josee as a Southern Civil War soldier. Josee
was in the scene with her friend Dianne Michelle dressed as a Northern
soldier. Someone asked them why they were together since the north and
south are such enemies. Josee answered that the war was over and the
North and South are friends.
An 80 year old patient told Royce about a encounter with her primary
care doctor. She told him that her left arm hurt. The doctor told her, “it
was old age” that caused her left arm to hurt. She replied, “But
Doc, my right arm is the same age and it doesn’t hurt?”
Grandma Wolter has two hearing aids. They work pretty well most of the
time. Grandpa Wolter has two hives of honey bees. He said he was going
to, “rob the bees” and collect some of the honey. Grandma
answered, “Why are you going to hug the trees.”
The girls start their 8th home schooled year, with Grandma Wolter and
Judy again sharing classes.
We spend our annual week with the Crabtrees at Sea Pines, Hilton Head,
SC. Everything was perfect about the vacation except that Grandma Wolter
again declared that she had ridden a bike for the last time. She lost
her balance, fell off her bike on uneven pavement and scraped the skin
off her knee. Once home, Grandpa Wolter dressed her knee, because she
was so stiff. Upon placing the ointment on the raw skin abrasion Grandma
started to scream. “It didn’t hurt like that the last time
you dressed my knee,” Grandma cried. After Grandpa had removed
the cream and the pain had subsided, they looked at the ingredients that
had caused so much distress and discovered that he had used “anti-wrinkle” cream,
not antibiotic cream. Her knee miraculously healed in two days and to
this day there are no wrinkles on that knee.
We went back to Port Royal on Hilton Head Island for a weekend retreat
for Park Ridge Hospital two weeks later. Before leaving we took Judy’s
Golden Retriever to be bred for the first time.
Royce overheard on talk radio that a man is considered #1 in the life
of his woman, but women rate from 1 to 5 in a man’s priority, because
of job and other stressors. Judy accepts that because she realizes the
public gets the best part of Royce and she gets what is left over. The
next day, Judy bought a $400 dress, that had been marked down several
times, for $75. When showing it to Royce, she said, “Isn’t
it pretty?”  Royce very tired from work, replied, “Did you
need it?” Later, wanting confirmation, Judy said again, “Isn’t
this new dress beautiful.” Royce had seen the tag on the dress
and said, ”Can you get in it.” Now, Royce is really in the
dog house. Royce’s comment was because the tag said “size
5" and Judy has always, for over 20 years, worn a size 8. Judy was
upset at him and said, “I wouldn’t have bought it if I couldn’t
get into it.!” Judy said that the tag says “S” for
small. You tell us what you think?
The next day Judy entered five photo prints of the family into different
categories in the North Carolina Mountain State Fair. Later that evening
Royce came home from the hospital and reported that Dr. Steve Bonney
(a relative by marriage) had entered five pictures too, and that would
knock Judy down a notch in the standings for a ribbon. “Excuse
me,” Judy says. “Steve’s a great photographer and has
all the newest toys,” Royce replied. Judy was telling these stories
to some of her friends and one said, ”so when is the divorce?” Another
one said, “forget the divorce, when’s his funeral?” Judy
won three blue ribbons and one second place.
OCTOBER
On the 6th, Royce and Judy celebrated their 6574th day of marriage. Yes,
their 18th anniversary. Judy forgivingly and lovingly remarked to Royce, “and
we’ve never had a fight.” Royce replied,”none that I
have ever won.”
Grandma Wolter was overheard explaining to a friend, “I need some
flatware for the computer so that I can design my own dress patterns.” “I
think you mean - software.” Josee said.
We’re cleaning out the craft drawer and have passed a new rule: no
new projects, until all of the paint-by number, bead pictures, hooked rugs,
etc are completed. Since then the kitchen table is so full we have no place
to eat.
Royce was calling for the offering in church and telling everyone how we
should be thankful--“Our two horses are pregnant, our golden retriever
is pregnant and Judy isn’t.”
Royce was the guest speaker at the Physician’s Retreat for the Michigan
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at Camp Sable in Grayling, MI.. The
three girls provided lovely music for the weekend and we all were rejuvenated
by the beautiful surroundings.
We had two sets of twin goats on October 19 (Grandpa Wolter’s Birthday).
That swells the goat population at the Bailey farm to 12. Other animals
include: rabbits 16, chickens 32, turkeys 3, peacocks 4, guineas 5, dogs
3. Our last pair of guinea pigs didn’t make it through the summer.
Isabel, our Golden Retriever, ate half a pound of rat poison. Royce was
putting the other half of the poison up in the attic for the little pattering
of feet (mice) we keep hearing at night. Isabel got 75 mg of vitamin K
twice a day, for 21 days–what will this do to the puppies? -- One
eye and three tails?
NOVEMBER The girls (the three J’s) went to a birthday party at Hollywild
Animal Park in Inman, SC. Royce was on call and can’t go that far away.
Josee said, “But it won’t be any fun without you, Daddy!” I
thought teenagers didn’t want parents to be around their friends at this
age?
We now have four riding horses with the addition of “Easy,” a buckskin
gelding, from the Hildebrands (Royce’s partner). The girls have taken riding
lessons on “Easy” several years ago. Easy is actually for Judy. We
got him for her, even though she says she didn’t want a horse, so we could
all ride together. Royce said, “He’s pretty short.” (About
13-3 hands) Josee added, “That’s good, because it’s not as
far for Mommy to fall.”
We had our Bailey sponsored Annual Thanksgiving Potluck at Church with over 50
people attending. Judy, as usual, made her veggie turkey (looks like a real cooked
bird) for everyone to enjoy.
DECEMBER The girls traveled to Hollywild with friends again, to feed the
animals and see the pretty lights. Royce got to go this time, too. Jillee and
Josee have grown taller than Grandma Wolter. Jillee is 5'3¾”and
Josee is 5'4" tall.
Royce was scrapping the ice/snow off the windshield of the harp mobile (two harps
were going to church) and slipped on the ice and cracked his head. Only a concussion
and whiplash ensued, no stitches. Judy kept wanting to shine a bright light into
his eyes to check his pupils, asked questions to ascertain his level of consciousness,
along with regularly checking his hand grips. Once a nurse always a nurse..
Isabel gave birth to nine normal golden retriever babies on the 20th, just before
Christmas--what were we thinking when we bred her? The puppies are all normal
and healthy, with sweet little pink, plump bellies.
Judy played the harp more than usual this season and tried to get things done
around the house in between concerts, but was seen mostly holding puppies and
watching admiringly God’s natural instincts placed in these animals.
This New Year please remember with us to, “Rejoice always, pray constantly,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ
for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Contact us at: http://members.aol.com/harpists4u
THE BAILEY BUNCH
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