The Hullinger Ranch from Google Earth
2010 Reunion
5/8/13
4/14/13
JENNY COMES CLEAN
JENNY COMES CLEAN
Far out in the country, miles from town
Where few passers-by see her ranch
Jenny hangs laundry on wires stretched taut
And held up in the air with a branch.
There she hangs coveralls, blue denim shirts,
Scrubbed clean with ashes and lye
Neatly she clothes-pins them, all in a row
And waits for the hot winds to dry.
Primly she hangs things, precisely arranges
Dresses and aprons, so colors won't fade
Gracing the line next, a young child's clothing
Rompers, and blouses and items handmade.
Then she hies to the attic, with girdles and slips
(And items she couldn't discuss)
She hangs them with care lest a male dare stare
Snatch a peek, sneak a look, raise a fuss.
Causing Jennie to blush.
Louise Hullinger Copyright
More poetry and stories by Louise Liffengren Hullinger at:
THE MODEL T "GRAVITY FEED" FORD
THE MODEL T "GRAVITY FEED" FORD
I still have a recurring dream (nightmare?) about a car that couldn't quite make it back up a steep, winding hill which led down into the valley where my grandparents lived.
They had emigrated to central South Dakota from Norway and chose to locate in a spot that reminded them of their homeland. We children were always eager to go "down to Grandmothers" (for wondrous it was with chokecherry bushes, wild cherries and cutbanks to climb).
When it was time to go home Mom piled us back into the Model T, and amid waves and shouts of goodbye, we settled down and headed out for the long trek home. We were out of the valley and part way up the long precipitous hill before the car began to sputter and then, finally, came to a complete stop, and it could not be coerced into climbing any further.
Designed with the gas tank under the front seat the Model T boasted a gravity feed which allowed the gas to flow into the carburetor. When the rear end of the car was lower than the front end for any length of time the car would not budge.
Finally, in desperation, Mom, who had no towing service available (!) directed us 3 children to sit alongside the grassy edge of the rutted road while she maneuvered the car around and managed to back it all the way up the hill!
The car was a model T Ford with a gravity feed. The year was 1929 and I was 5 years old.
Louise Hullinger Copyright
More poetry and stories by Louise Liffengren Hullinger at:
4/13/13
Louise Hullinger Photo in the Chicago Tribune
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| Louise Hullinger First Row, Third From Left |
Smith Village Ladies Book Club
Clif Hullinger Photo in the Chicago Tribune
Many romanticize the idea of retirement and look forward to being able to rekindle their relationship and spend more time doing the things they enjoy as a couple. At the same time, there is concern that all that time together will result in the other becoming annoyed with every little quirk.
An AARP survey of married couples ages 55 to 74, however, showed the opposite. The study showed that, overall, dual retirees are happier, less stressed, and spend more time with their spouse.
For most, the survey found, retirement together was as they expected. Dual retirement, says the study, has a positive impact on the frequency of travel, eating out, exercising, volunteering, and engaging in hobbies.
Moving forward together Keeping busy, together and separately, has been a key to a successful relationship in retirement, say Jack and Nancy Graves. and Nancy was a teacher's aide.
But, really, the couple has never stopped working — they are just working on other things.
Nancy volunteered for the Infant Welfare Society for many years and runs The Village Store at Smith Village in Chicago. Jack jokes that he is Nancy's gopher for the store and he also does projects and volunteer work around the retirement community like driving other residents to their appointments. They both are active in their church and are in the fitness
center regularly. Nancy says it helps that they have common interests as well, such as following local teams and watching their grandson who plays baseball in a nearby suburb.
center regularly. Nancy says it helps that they have common interests as well, such as following local teams and watching their grandson who plays baseball in a nearby suburb.
They didn't know what to expect out of dual retirement, but the couple says they just jumped in.
"I was in the Army during World War II. I learned you better adapt or you are going to get lost in the shuffle," Jack says.
"I got so busy (at Smith Village) it really was never a problem," Nancy says.
Mark Bilkey, director of the Master of Arts program in Gerontological Counseling at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, calls retirement "repriorment." He says it can be a wonderful time for couples if they have a flexible plan as they move closer to the goal.
plan as they move closer to the goal.
"Most people know what they are retiring from, however, many do not know what they are retiring to," he says.
Properly prepared
Bilkey says a common pitfall in dual retirement is when old patterns of relating and communicating are not updated and improved.
"Retiring couples are perhaps not used to spending this amount of time together ... let alone in the same place," he says.
The Graves say having a two-bedroom apartment and "community" space in Smith Village gives them plenty of opportunity to be alone when they want to, spend time together or to mingle with others if they feel like company.
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| Jack Graves On The Left, Clif Hullinger On The Right |
Married 63 years, the Graves say the only differences of opinion they can think of since retiring involves what they want to watch on TV. They solved that by having two TVs, Nancy says with a laugh.
Bilkey says as life changes, the way a couple relates, talks and cooperates must change as well.
"This is a time which calls for interdependence," he says. "I want you to do the things you are passionate about and desire and I will do the same. Then I also want our time to do the things we love or want to explore together."
According to AARP's "Retirement Planning Tips for Couples," one of the most helpful things couples can do to prepare for retirement is talk. Couples often assume their spouse has the same expectations in retirement. Topics such as where to live and how to manage money are important topics to address before retirement to avoid conflict down the road.
If communicating has been difficult for a couple in the past, Bilkey says to consider a couples counselor or life coach specializing in couples who can help smooth the road ahead.
Paving the way
Bilkey says at a recent American Society on Aging conference in Chicago Ken Dychtwald of Age Wave, a company that researches the "maturing maketplace," related five stages or thoughts in retirement:
1. Imagination — 5 to 15 years before retirement
2. Anticipation — 5 years before retirement
3. Liberation — The honeymoon after retirement up to 1 year
4. Reorientation — 1 to 15 years after retirement
5. Reconciliation — 15 years after retirement and beyond
Some may romanticize retirement thinking it will be all travel, hobbies and fun and, according to Dychtwald, that is often the liberation or honeymoon stage. But, budgets and everyday tasks like doctor's appointments round out the rest.
Bilkey says people remain pretty consistent in their lives and that carries into retirement as well.
Spouses shouldn't expect the other to be completely different in retirement than they have been throughout their marriage.
"Romanticizing retirement is good when there is a dash of adventure and both feet are on the ground," Bilkey says.
Since people are creatures of routine, he says to create a new routine in retirement that is enjoyable and feels comfortable.
For couples, reaching retirement together is a source for celebration all its own.
"Know and remember that you have gotten through everything in life so far — that's 100 percent success. It usually is a good indication of how you will manage what the future may bring," Bilkey says.4/12/13
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