December is so hectic.  There is much to do and so little time:  there is the shopping for gifts in stores that are full of nothing; or surfing cyberspace for just the right deal without having to spend a fortune in shipping;  there is the shopping for food . . . buying up candy-making supplies, and just the right snacks and crafts for Sunday School class, and groceries for all the Christmas dinners and parties.

Then, we must put up our ugly little tree (for me, lol; most others, I am sure, have a big and beautiful tree) and buy at least a few new decorations.  All the wrapping paper and bows and bags must be bought, and don’t forget the tags and tape and tissue paper . . . then there is the job of getting everything wrapped, and in the process forgetting exactly who one of those gifts is for (??) and realizing you neglected to buy something for someone else!  Oh yes, and the joy of tracking errant packages to discover that one you have been waiting for was delivered to your front door six days ago!! (Now, you all know that I don’t like dogs anyway, right?  So, how do you imagine I feel about them after searching and finding my errant package with absolutely no packaging on it at all and the contents ground in the dirt and chewed and wallowed until it is mistaken for another object!  NOT LOL ing).

The house must be cleaned, and cleaned again, and cleaned again – - after the tree-trimming, and after the gift wrappings, and after the candy-making, well, you get the idea.  The Christmas cards must be bought and signed and sealed and mailed or hand-delivered.  There are the parties, pre-Christmas family or friend gatherings and dinners, and school programs and plays.  By the way, Larry’s company Christmas party was fabulous fun!  It was a semi-formal affair at the London Country Club (which of course entailed buying a new outfit!) with great food, generous gifts (all the ladies received Bath & Body Works gift cards, and all the men a coat with the company name on it), and uninhibited (thanks to an open bar) karaoke and dancing – - as you can imagine, I DID NOT participate in either of those three activities.  Vickie said she was very glad I did not drink, dance or sing, and I said, “Yes, and most especially we are all thankful I did not sing” – - although my dancing would have been a feat as well!” – lol.

Did you notice the common denominator in all those paragraphs – - words like ’shopping’ and ‘buying’?  And besides all the money spent, there are countless decisions to be made (and since I am a bit obsessive-compulsive, decisions come very slowly to me) and the numerous plans to be laid.  And somehow (??), I am the party-planner/organizer for our family!  Plus, all this must be done in addition to all the other obligations and tasks that one must regularly do from day to day, and the church functions – - buying and filling of food boxes for the needy, buying and filling of fruit and candy bags for the children, church dinners and open houses (for you Vickie).

Oh yes, did I mention that December is hectic? (lol)  But, it is fun and filled with warmth and love and doing good.  It is a time of closeness with family and friends and reaching out across the miles with letters and cards and pictures.  It is sad and heartbreaking because of the ones that are missing, and sometimes can be difficult to get through, but that same sadness brings us closer to each other and makes us realize how much we love each other and want to be together.  The gifts are secondary.  However, snow would be nice!  The fun part about all this hecticity  (new word?) is our wonderful family!  Hope to see many of you at Mom’s this saturday the 19th.  Travel safely and may God bless each of you!

We had a nice Thanksgiving.  As is our tradition, we went to Larry’s sister, Janice’s and enjoyed the holiday with his family.  My mom and Bev usually go with us, but they are battling upper respiratory infections and as Janice is undergoing chemo, they did not go with us this year.  They came to Renda’s and I got to visit with them on Friday afternoon and Saturday.  Riley was also home for nine days, and that meant Natasha was around more.  To me, that is always what makes a wonderful holiday – - family.

Larry, Riley and I had an evening out at the movies.  We watched 2012.  Very good graphics and action and some symbolism to the first time the world was destroyed by water.  We enjoyed it.  Riley preached on Sunday and we had a pizza hut lunch with Renda and her family, then Riley gathered all the clothes that was in his room – - floor, chair, bed, etc. , crammed it in a bag, stuffed his books and computer in his backpack and was ready to go – lol.

Hope everyone else had a great thanksgiving as well!

September 5, 2009

This past Sunday another of our neighbors passed away – - David Lewis who was married to Joann Pace Lewis.  He had cancer and died within days or weeks of finding out (I haven’t been able to ascertain how long he has known, but it was a very short time).

I remember when the Lewis boys first crossed our path; I think I was twelve years old and still employed by my parents as Vickie’s chaperone (LOL).  David and his two brothers came to Hurricane on their motorcycles and ended up connecting with some of the girls.  At that time, Bobby, the youngest was smitten with Kathy and Paul was head over heels for Vickie.  Mom always joked that Vickie’s first boyfriend (referring to Paul – - was he the first, Vic?) carried her Barbie dolls home for her (in an overnight case so he had no idea what he was transporting).  Later, Paul married another ‘Hurricane Girl,’ and David married Joann.  Before that, though, they livened up some of our Hurricane parties.  That was back in the day when kids did not automatically get cars at age sixteen, nor did they have to have movies, roller-skating, etc. for entertainment.  Most young people socialized with those on their particular ‘creek.’  Thus, all the young people that lived on Hurricane Creek would get together for wiener roasts at the abandoned one-room school building, or parties at various locations on the creek.  The majority of us were cousins so we were thrilled to have boys from another area come to join us.

I have fond memories of those times and of David.  My sympathy goes out to Joann, one of the sweetest, friendliest people I have ever known.  She was Riley’s Algebra teacher throughout middle school and is exceptional at her job.  They had four children – - JP, Jed, Rebecca and Sarah.

Bowling      Family            Reunion
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Richard Nixon Center Picnic Shelter
Hyden, KY
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(Lunch: 12:00 ish)
Bring a couple of covered dishes and drinks
Also, Pass the word to other family members!
(Please bring a couple of your favorite recipes for inclusion in a

Bowling Family Cookbook)

We look forward to seeing you there!

For further information you may contact us through this site or through e-mail:    vicky_1202@yahoo.com    or    dorothy.gail@yahoo.com

It has been a while as most of us have just been dealing with life and its curves. Our dear mother has been coping with the effects of a mini-stroke (or two) and vascular dementia so we have been caring for her.  It is a joy to report that at present she is much better, and in many ways, has returned to her normal state of health and cognizance, although still unable to return to her home.  Renda is making long-term plans to keep her, and I too will open hearth and home to her.

Our mother’s only sister, Dorothy, is also facing serious health issues including heart problems, for which she had a pace-maker implanted on Monday (6th), and also some loss of short-term memory, probably a result of vascular dementia, but possibly something more as hers is different than Mom’s.  They are now 73 (Mom) and 75 (Dorothy)(or will be in June).  Dorothy’s daughter, Sandy, a victim of RA, is in a very serious state of health.  She was in hospital for about ten days (just getting home at the end of last week) due to infections and vomiting which threw her diabetes out of control.  While hospitalized, they had to give her blood and much antibiotics, one of which caused a severe reaction restricting her breathing to the very edge of death before they could resuscitate her.  Also, Dorothy’s daughter-in-law, Ellen, is waiting for test results of a biopsy.

It feels very strange to report all these things and to realize that we are the older generation now (at least, the middle-aged group).  Our parents have become our grandparents, and we have become our parents.  Mom said to me, “I thought I would be older when I took my mother’s place.”  I think all of us can relate to that thought.

I was thinking of our many illnesses today and it led me to the memory path and all the ways our grand-parents and their fore-fathers battled disease.  Here is just a sampling of some things our grandfather, Ott Bowling, listed in an interview in the mid to late eighties:

1.  For blood poison (gangrene) we used peach tree bark boiled to strong ooze made in a poultice with corn meal bound to the wound.

2.  Black tea root was used for kidney and heart disease.

3.  Gold Seal (Yellow Root) teas were used for mouth ulcers, throat ulcers, stomach ulcers, and internal bleeding.

4.  Fried onions and camphorated oil poultice was rubbed on back and chest for Pneumonia.

5.  Bone set and Burvine teas were for colds.

6.  Wild cherry tree bark soaked in water with small amount of whiskey and honey for coughs.

7.  Brown paper soaked in vinegar bound around sprains.

8.  Pine rosin plaster for common back ache – cloth between rosin & skin.

9.  We used a salve made of lard, sugar, and turpentine for fresh cuts (they’d never get sore); and salve made of tallow and burnt alum for external sores.

10. [We] chewed root of ginseng for stomach cramps and swallowed the juice.

11. For lack of iron the old timers would go to the black smith shop and get the dust of iron that collected on the anvilblack, tie it up in a cloth and boil it, strain it, then drink the tea.

12.  Black root (Indian hemp, heart plant, north and south plant):  Wash the roots and shave inch long pieces of bark off the roots, enough to make heaping tablespoon and put in a vessel with one pint of water. Let simmer, not boil, and take one tablespoon full three times a day; at first, it has a strong laxative effect, then settles down to a mild action.   “I know of one man turned out of the hospital with a hopeless case.  He had swelling feet, legs, abdomen, face, and was cured with this and lived 25 years after, and [then] died of cancer.”

Submitted by Gail

We would like to send out a ‘Happy Birthday’ to several family members with birthdays in January.  Aunt Jewel (6th) has always been very special.  She has never seemed like an older aunt, but more like a close friend.  At the same time, she has always provided wisdom and a Christian perspective when going to her for advice.  She is our ‘double’ Aunt being both our dad’s sister and our mom’s brother’s wife; thus, she is doubly loved and appreciated.  By the same token, we have a closeness to her girls, our double-first cousins.  This unique family relationship creates a bond that is closer than average cousins.  Teresa (11th) and Sonya (25th) hold a special place in our hearts almost as intrinsic as  natural sisters.  Teresa is loving and kind, generous and good-humored. With her, you never have to guess where you stand because she is open and honest – - even about the bad things.    Sonya is quieter, keeping things a little closer to the vest, as the saying is, but just as warm and giving and fun-loving.  Another cousin, Sandy, celebrates her birthday on the 28th.  Sandy bears the cross of her debilitating rheumatoid arthritis and all the side effects this disease and its medications bring; yet, one never hears her complain.  She faces life with joy, laughter, and much patience.  Lastly, Larry Cole’s birthday is the 20th.  He became a part of an all female family (except for our dad) in the early seventies and has been a true brother and son ever since.  He fills a role for us that we never even knew we missed.  To all of these, our loved ones, and to any other that we may have neglected to mention, we wish you the greatest of birthdays, and many, many, many, many more!

One year ago tomorrow, 2008 was new, clean, and empty; there were 365 days to fill with living.  They passed, however, in the blink of an eye.  Those days are gone forever and the words and deeds of each are stamped in history.  Looking back, we see so many wonderful things, yet some sorrowful.  We think  of our failures, but also our successes; our wasted time, yet also the profitable hours; our tears and laughter, heartache and humor, despair and hope, darkness and light, sickness and health, death and life, and many God-given blessings.

The year began on a sad note when Gail’s sister-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  However, we are blessed to have her with us still, and although her prognosis continues to be bleak, she is living life to the fullest. The early months also brought the loss of three family members:  Aunt Nola passed away suddenly in February, Uncle Len lost his battle with age and Alzheimer’s in March, and Tommy succumbed to Lou Gehrig’s in April.  The blessing is found in the fact that all three were faithful Christians and now are at peace and rest.

There is a portion of scripture that says in essence that we have life backwards.  We rejoice at the birth of a baby and mourn at the death of a loved one; however, it should be the other way around.  The death of a saint is precious and a babe is born into a world of adversity, trouble, and woe.  Still, we rejoiced at the births of several new additions to our family:  Kira Lin Sizemore made her entrance on January 22; Taylon Karoline Pennington arrived on April 24; Baylee Camren Beckner’s advent was August 21; and October brought the births of Kayden Nichole Hurt (15th) and Sean Dawson Baker (25th).

We were also blessed in 2008 to have Sandy, Carolyn, and Lindsey overcome serious illnesses, and to have Judy and Sonya survive a potentially fatal car accident.  Gail and Maggie both sailed through (sort of) gall bladder surgery, and Glenna had knee surgery.

Several family members embarked on new pathways:  In February, Vickie took on a new job working for a real estate appraiser.  In May, Olivia graduated with a BSN from East TN State University, moved to Chattanooga, and began her career as an RN.  In May, Riley spent two weeks doing mission work in Brazil.  This was his second mission trip, so not necessarily a new pathway, but it was a totally unique and exceptional experience.  In July, Natasha opened her own beauty salon and in five months has developed it into a thriving, competitive business.  In September, Sheena married Shannon Hurt and the two began preparing for their new family.  In December, Zac graduated with a BS in education from TN Tech University and is now considering options (Middle School) while Kristin continues to pursue her education major as well.

In June, we canceled our Bowling reunion due to the loss of loved ones and the difficult treatment Lindsey was undergoing, but in September we had the Stidham reunion as always.  Because of our losses and difficult times, we were expecting a smaller crowd than usual, but were pleasantly surprised to have over 70 people gathered for a day of family, fun, and feasting.  In the past, we have had various extended family members, but this year, all but two were direct descendants of  Harrison Stidham and Mallie Lewis.  There was at least a score of small children present making us feel secure in the future of the Stidham clan (lol).

It is not really possible to reduce a year of life to a few paragraphs.  There have been a thousand bounties, some that we appreciated and savored, others that we barely noticed, some that slipped by unseen.  As we look back and reflect, there are only two things that really matter:  did we live each day as a blessing from God and fill it with the best we had to offer, and did we treat each other with love, compassion, and kindness?  Of course we made mistakes.  We are a family and with that comes problems, personality differences, pet peeves,  etc.  That is what unconditional love is for (lol).  We just incorporate certain things into our traditions – - sitting up too late the night before reunions and other celebrations, stressing out during the final preparations for Christmas and birthday dinners, smiling and shrugging behind the backs of those who complain that we take too many pictures, sneaking off to vent our frustrations with our dear and wonderful mother.  With all its flaws, our family is still the best in the world and we are thankful for every day we are given to be together!

**Submitted by Vickie and Gail

Vickie and I were discussing the fact that we had neglected the 4 Sisters Remembering page of late, so even though the last post was some time ago, I promised to follow it up:

The Bollings, being an aristocratic family in fourteenth century England, created a coat of arms, which now is a permanent part of the Bradford Church in England.  Existing records define the Bolling arms as “Sable, an inescutcheon ermine within an orle of eight marlets argent.”  Each word has meaning and significance.  “Sable” indicates that the shield (escutcheon) is black.  The color represents either repentance or vengeance – - it is not known which the original user of the arms intended.  An “inescutcheon” is a small shield in the center of the main shield, or escutcheon.  The word “ermine” is an adjective which described the texture of the inescutcheon and is always shown as a white field with black tails.  Use of ermine (the signal for “dignity” or “nobility”) as a covering indicates that the original user had reached a very high position in the English social structure.  This, plus the use of sable as the background on the escutcheon, lends credibility to the theory that the third Robert Bolling, oldest son of the avaricious Robert Bolling who built Bolling Hall, might have been the first individual to use the Bolling arms sometime in the fourteenth century.

The “orle” in the description of the Bolling arms is normally defined in heraldry as a “subordinary bearing consisting of a band extending round the shield near the edge.”  In the case of the Bolling arms, the word pertains to the eight silver (“argent”) birds which form a border around the inescutcheon.  The birds are called “marlets”, the heraldic term for “swallow”.   The swallow is most frequently shown without feet and with long wings.  (The marlet was a favorite arms symbol of Edward IV, who, after the Battle of Towton in 1461 confiscated all of Robert Bolling’s property and then returned it fourteen years later following a lengthy plea for forgiveness – - he had been charged with treason – - by the aging Bolling.)

In more modern terms, the prestigious coat of arms is a “black shield which has in its center a smaller shield covered with ermine and surrounded by eight silver heraldic swallows”.  The helmet depicts a gentleman and should face to the right with the visor down, for only barnets and knights could display a helmet with visor up.  Helmets facing to the left side of the arms denote illegitimacy.

This coat of arms is the one accepted by both British and American records of heraldy, the one displayed at Bolling Hall in England, the one brought to the new world by the immigrant in 1660, the one used on family silver at “Centre Hill” and the one passed down to each first son.

- – by Alexander R. Bolling, Jr.

***Submitted by Gail

The Bowlings are a very old and illustrious people.  The Bowling name is a very ancient one, getting its origins from the Boulaines, which became the Welsh “Boleyns” and later the “Bollings” of England.  The spelling was changed to B-O-W-L-I-N-G sometime after 1865.  It is not known when, why, or by whom the spelling was changed.

The Bollings came out of Wales and into England almost a thousand years ago with William the Conquerer in 1066. 

During the reign of King Edward IV (1461-1485), Robert Bolling, esq. resided at “Bolling Hall,” a grand estate located less than a mile from the city of Bradford in Yorkshire, England.  Bolling Hall was the family home for more than five centuries.  Many of his ancestors had lived there, and at his death in 1485, it was passed on to his son Tristam.  Both Robert and Tristam fought at Towton with the Lancastrians in 1461.  Robert was later charged with high treason, but was pardoned on January 26, 1475.  He is buried in the family vault at Bradford.  Bolling Hall is now one of England’s great tourist attractions and at least one of the rooms is reported to be haunted. 

The most notable Bolling was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn (1477-1539), Anne (1507-1536), and her sister who is the subject of a movie that is out right now, “The Other Boleyn Girl” and a book by the same title.  I think everyone knows that Anne was the second wife of King Henry VIII, and from their union came a daughter, Elizabeth (1533-1603), who later became known as England’s ‘Virgin Queen’ and who is also the subject of many movies and books.  The state of Virginia gets its name from her title of ‘Virgin Queen.’

*Submitted by Gail*