SHOWTIMES

SHOWTIMES MAGAZINE

Summer 2009 
 
 

New Look

     Well, I decided it was time to make some changes.  I thought you might appreciate a new format for a change.  You may express your opinions in Letters to the Editor …Oh,,, wait ,,, there isn’t one!  Really, no one edits what I write.  How great is that for freedom of the press?

     On second thought, I have received corrections from several of you over the years, so that means, I guess, that you are my editors.  And good luck with that.  Let me know how it goes!

     Now that you are totally distracted from whatever it was that you were doing, and I do know that it was very important, especially those of you who read this on line version at work, I will make an effort to give you something valuable to read.  Articles that are worthy of your time.  Information that frolics in the diversity of our family, that flies in the face of tradition, and fascinates every gray cell in your brain.

     It is with little wit and no apology that I prepare this magazine for you to read.  After finishing my current novel, the first in a murder mystery series, look out Janet Evanovich, and completing some on-line college courses for movement on the pay scale…that is if my school district still offers pay….and digging a garden for flowers and vegetables in my yard, I have found myself with time on my hands.  And as I have been reminded more than once, the Showtimes hasn’t been hasn’t been put to bed, fed, or out there to play in quite awhile.

     I have collected few pieces of input from my family, so once again, I may have to make things up as I go.  I’m pretty good at that.

    Those of you with the internet, can find this document at the family website: http://www.freewebs.com/theshowtimes/    as soon as Beth has time to post it.  You can also post news there, blog, and post pictures.  If you haven’t been there, please go.  I know lots of us are trying to stay abreast of facebook and myspace, but this would be a great place to stay in touch with your family members. 

    Notes from home  

Just wanted to let everyone know that Evan Deroy was born on 29 Mar 2009.

Erik and I are in route back to Florida to finish out our time in the Air Force.  We hope to be settled in around the mid of July 2009. Our new address is 6997 Gandy Drive, Navarre FL 32566.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Please pass on the information to everyone for us.  

Thanks,

Erik, Ann-Marie and Evan McNabb 

Brent Showalter (this is old and may be out of date but very interesting)

- son of Stephen and Marcia Showalter, grandson of Duanne and Joanne Showalter

- relocated to Chicago, IL in July, currently employed as the Research Coordinator for the Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline

  --- doing urban education advocacy work, studying recruitment and retention for teachers within Chicago Public Schools

- B.A. Psychology, University of Missouri - Columbia; M.S. Industrial/Organizational Psychology

- visited Cindy Showalter on 9/19 in Aurora

FYI:  Commuting on CTA train to work daily, living right off Lake Michigan,

current add: 
426 W. Briar, 2F

Chicago, IL  60657

 
This next letter is old but informational.  David responded last year after I commanded news from you all.  Since I received it, David and Teresa have started a new church near Craig,Mo. They moved in with Kelly, David’s sister and her son.  I here they have a big home.

 
My name is David Bryan Showalter 
I am the son of Duane & Jo Ann Showalter, and the grandson of David M & Ruth E. Showalter  I have been happily married to Teresa Marie Thurnau since 1976.  We have 3 wonderful children and one daughter in law 
 
Joshua is 28 and lives in Denver with his wife Rachel.  They were married 5/20/06 in Lansing Michigan.  Joshua is in college full time working on a history degree, he works part time for the VA as he was in the Marines for 4 years.  Rachel works for the State of Colorado, her degree relates to child legislation.   
address  1315 Poplar 
              Denver Co. 80220 
303 284 6545  email showalter37@hotmail.com 
 
Jennifer is 26 living in Garden City and  is sub -teaching.  She finished all her course work at Emporia last May and is working on passing her Praxis exams.  Her address is 1608 N 11th 
    Garden City, Ks. 67846          785 691 7997  showjenn@yahoo.com 
 
her address will probably change sometime this year. 
 
Emily is 18 and at her first year out at Fort Hays, she thinks she wants to be a nurse.  Her and Teresa & I are having a bit of trouble adjusting to this empty nest thing as she was the last one out the door.  
 
FHSU 
McMindes Hall 
600 Park St. 
Hays, Ks. 67601    785 917 0046    eashowalter21@yahoo.com 
 
Teresa and I have been here in McLouth for 10 years and do not know what the future holds.  Things are going pretty well, our church opened a daycare center a couple years ago and it consumes lots of my time.  We have between 80 -90 children enrolled. 
Our church is not growing numerically, but we appear to be healthy.  Our community stopped growing as soon as the price of gas begin moving upward, so it's a bit depressing out this way. The vast majority of our folks drive into K.C. or Topeka to work and lots of them are weary of the $3.00 gas, several  talk about moving back in, we'll see. 
 
Teresa and I both turned 50 years old this past Spring and Summer, and unfortunately are feeling our age.  We both have some health issues.  We were given a 10 week Sabbatical this past Summer and spent almost all of it just being with our two daughters before they moved on.  Teresa works at the local school full time as a music para.  She does it mainly for the health insurance benefits.  She works lots of evenings and Saturdays as she has to accompany all the music stuff, and travels with our bands, choirs, etc.  She also is involved in all the plays at the school. 
 
We have 19 Angus cows, one Angus bull, and just sold 18 calves the past few weeks.  We have one little calf left who was born later on and is only 2 months old.  Emily was my free hired hand and I am not looking forward to calving this winter without her help in the middle of the cold icy nights.  We have 3 horses, somebody shoot me please, one dog, and more cats than I can count. BUT NO MICE! 
 
Sometimes I long for the "good ole" days of just relaxing and  eating venison at your house in Savannah, were those days more laid back, was life slower paced or am I just getting nostalgic? It seems like things were simpler back then anyway.  I just don't see folks being as  content or happy, or fulfilled as I seem to remember those days of old being. 
 
Please use my email to keep us in the loop on any events, news, etc. on our family, I appreciate all you, and your siblings, do to keep us connected. 
 
God bless you and yours, 
 
David

Now, just so you know, the rest of this news is from me, my point of view and what I’ve remembered, if anything.  You’d better read it.  If you aren’t happy then send me your own news!  HA! HA!  Or as my kids say, lol.

Cindy Lou Showalter -  Last news on Cindy was that she is still employed, bought a house near Chicago, and continues to travel with her job more than she likes.  She continues to get more beautiful every year.

Donna Belle Barratt – Calvin and Donna continue to live in Kansas City, in a house they bought last year.  It’s a 1941 model and quaint.  After putting almost 200,000 miles on our two Toyotas, we sold one and bought a Honda Civic.  I completed the first novel in a series of mysteries, and am hoping to find an agent soon.  But then so are 250,000 other writers.  I start school Aug. 7 in Olathe, KS(That is part of the KC Metro area) where I continue to teach grade 7 learning disabled students.  I am quite happy there.  Of course when the novel takes off, I’ll be retiring……….

     Calvin is flying to Palm Springs for two weeks with his mother and sister this month.  My son John, and his wife Sara, who live in Springfield, Mo., just completed and filed the paperwork to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. We’re hoping they get the go ahead by the first of the year.  John manages several phone/tech stores and Sara is a social worker who manages a grant for working with homeless women. Carrie and Brian married last fall and now live in St. Louis.  Brian works for Dell, Carrie is very artsy crafty and is hoping to sell her wares on line.  She works mostly in paper and fabric.  Beth and her boys, Trent(13) and Cody (10) are thriving in Arkansas City, Ks where Beth is a computer tech for the school district.

Deborah Kay Showalter-Johnson – Deborah and Brad have learned the art of living without teens in the house.  James and Carla live in Iowa City, where They both work for a child care operation while continue higher education.  James also is a very talented musician and pursues music in his spare time.  Annie graduated from MU and lives in Columbia where she works at a bank managing loans.  Deborah continues to work on the 9^th floor of the Federal Building in downtown KC.  Her glassed in office has views of the Mo. River.  Brad continues to work for, (OK I can’t remember which dairy company)…..He also is known around here as the tomato King…This is true..his tomatoes are 6 feet tall and delicious.  They live in Kansas City, Mo.  near the Redbridge area.  They traveled to the Great Lakes area and enjoyed hiking and the cool temps.

Terry Dean Showalter -  Terry and Diana have put their wonderful house, that sits atop a hill and has a dramatic view of a country valley, up for sale.  It is near Tonganoxie, KS., which is about 20 miles from KCK.  Terry supposedly retired, but he hasn’t slowed down.  He has been working on their home, landscaping, building rock walls, and mowing and mowing and mowing.  Diana and Terry find lots of days filled with grandparenting and they enjoy it.  Alexis and Jason Meredith and Ellie live in the KC area and are hoping their adoption of a young boy from China gets the green light very soon.  Jason owns his own business.  He makes special front doors that are shipped everywhere.  I hear he is more than an expert carpenter and businessman, he is an artist.  Lexi practices medicine with a small group of doctors in the KC Area.  (You can follow Alexis & family on their adoption journey by visiting www.bringinghomedidi.blogspot.com.)  Kirk and his wife Quinn also live in the KC area.  Kirk is a nurse in the ICU at St. Luke’s hospital and Quinn teaches science in DeSota, KS, which is in the metro area.  They enjoy Christian and Stella who teach them daily what it means to be a parent.

Connie Jo Renne – Connie and Virgil also live in the KC area.  Connie is retired, but is always on the go.  Virgil did retire but went back to work.  I think he decided he couldn’t keep up with Connie.  They travel often to golf.  Connie also spends lots of the winter on skis in Colorado.  So if you see a petite silver haired lady flying across the paths, wave.  It might be her.  I know Connie has done some volunteer work locally, has helped friends and family deal with many issues where her business expertise and her interior decorating skills have been called upon.  Thank’s Connie!  I know personally that when you’re in need of an electric screw driver or a staple gun, she’s the one to call. 

Peggy Sue Snyder – Peggy and Robert made a big move this year to a new home they had built on a farm in Nebraska.  They were down for a cookout in my backyard a few weeks ago and they seem to love where they are now.  Both looked great and healthy.  I think they sold their other farm and have downsized.   Calvin and I hope to visit them this fall.  I can’t begin to know much about all their kids, but I know that Lee, Ralph, Ryan and Barbie all live in the Lincoln area.  Their kids are all growing and getting married and …well..you know how that goes!!

Billy Kirk Showalter – I hear from Kirk and Marjorie on e-mail occasionally.  Kirk continues to write and blog and Marjorie is gardening.  Allison lives near them in Oregon and Amy lives with her husband in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Allison has two daughters and Amy has one.

I’d be willing to bet that Kirk has an old car in his garage that he is fixing up or maybe one that he is actually puttering around town in, showing off to all his buds….  They get back to the Midwest a couple of times a year, but you have to watch for them.  I heard that they just returned from a Tennessee Car Tour and are recovering.

Lynn Showalter – Lynn has spent his summer working in Beth’s garden that’s in his back yard….. I hear… spending time with Beth and Tracey’s boys and keeping Mary company since she broke her leg.  Lynn enjoys eating lunch at the Senior Center and spending time with his dog, whose name I don’t know.  Probably something like Spot or whitey or blackie or ………why don’t you just call him up and ask him…

And he is another who has spent much of this wet summer mowing.  But if it’s not wet and cool, it’s hot and dry…I personally choose wet and cool.

Deroy Beeney – I called Deroy and got the latest scoop from him.  Pam Beeney, his daughter was just up to see him with her son and his wife and that new great-grandbaby named after him.  I could actually hear his smile through the phone.  Deroy is employed by the State of Oregon and works part-time at the Visitor’s Center lcated in town.  They just had their Kite Festival and are looking forward to the Arts Festival in Aug.  He said they’ve had cool weather but not much rain.  His Mistic Mustard is still selling well.  If you want a jar or two, it’s $3. per jar and you just order it from his home address.  If you want a case(12 jars) then it’s $33. with $10. for shipping.  He sends it everywhere. 

98633 Camellia Dr.

Brookings, OR  97415-9318

(541) 469-1985

He is healthy and happy and staying very busy.  Said he hasn’t painted in awhile but might get back in to it.

Al and Gwen Langosch – I spoke with Lisa since I had the wrong area code for Al and Gwen.  Their biggest news is that Laurinda’s daughter, Elizabeth is getting married Aug. 1^st on cannon beach in Oregon.  They are all headed up this weekend to celebrate.  Gwen and Al won’t make it since Al does pretty well as long as Gwen is with him and he is having more difficulty functioning when they go out.  Lisa said she’ll be glad when the tent is removed from their house and her kitchen remodeling is completed, then they can resume having Gwen and Al over on the weekends.  Lisa reports that all of their families are well and thriving.

It was so nice to visit with her. I don’t know why I wait so long to call.

Mary Howes – If you haven’t heard, our Mary broke her ankle, however she’s a stubborn one and is healing as predicted.  Yesterday, I visited and she had a good command of the wheelchair.  She will be laid up for another 3-4 weeks before she’s allowed to do much walking. She is currently back in her home apartment, but will continue to use a wheel chair for a time. She said the pain pills worked wonders and in my opinion, she looked amazing!  Chris and Teresa flew in to be with her for awhile.

Darlene LaBorde -  With Caroline and Lyle taking the reins, Darlene is fairing well.  It was so great to see Chet and Rieko here in KC for Jerry’s memorial service.  It was very nice.  We had a pot luck in the Sharp’s Grove Church and enjoyed visiting with everyone who came. 

Nadine Hendrix – Nadine’s birthday bash was celebrated by hundreds I think.   It was wonderful and Vicky did a nice job putting it all together.  Nadine and Harold continue to keep the roads hot between St. Joe and South Mo. where they meet with friends to play music, sing and dance.  All that evil stuff!  I saw Doug and Leslie while visiting Mary.  They live in St. Joe and Doug continues to fly back and forth between his company’s offices on a regular basis. 

Ralph W.’s Kids – I saw Rebecca at Jerry’s service at Craig and she looked great.  Phillip’s family was there as well.  I see Stephen on facebook or is it myspace…ok..you guys need to send me some news as you can see I’m reaching here….You know I’m good at fiction. HA!  I know that David’s daughter and her husband moved to Kansas City this past year after doing some mission work overseas…Phillip and Lisa celebrated Arianna Belle’s official adoption this summer.  Welcome to the family.  I love you name Arianna.

Family favs

Banana Salad

     Bananas sliced long ways

     Peanuts, chopped

     1 egg

     3 T. sugar

     Dash salt

     1 T. flour

     1 C. milk

     1 T. mayonnaise

      Dressing:  Beat egg; add sugar, salt, flour, then heat until smooth.  Add milk then cook over low heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Stir in mayonnaise (you might put in more sugar to taste)

      Salad:  Layer bananas, then dressing, then peanuts; repeat.

    * Please write and tell if you know the origination of this recipe.  Cindy put it in the Showalter Cookbook. I remember eating it and loving it.

REUNION 2011

Not to put anybody on the spot here, but I do recall pushing the Lynn Showalter “children” into planning the next big one J.

Let’s get it out early so people can begin to prepare.  I suggest that you open you savings accounts now just for that affair.  Don’t wait.  Set aside some money each month so you will be ready when it is announced.

Also let Lynn’s kids know if you have good ideas, like another cookbook, t-shirts, children’s activities, talent shows, music jamboree’s, ballgames, historical family member look alike contest, family tree updates, etc.

Maybe we can get the website up at the reunion and get everybody familiar with it.

Do we have any cousin look-a-likes?  Strange experiences?  WRITE TO ME!!!!! donna