Hello Greenfield

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Well I am back, so to speak.  You see I am really not back.  Oh I am in spirit but not in body.  Actually, I am pretty far away.  About 7,000 miles away to be exact.  You see I now live in Jeonju City, South Korea and teach English at Jeonju University.  Last summer I visited Greenfield for a week and this got me to thinking about my life growing up in Greenfield.  I have to confess that I am a very sentimental person and I look back on those times with a smile.  Greenfield has changed since I graduated 15 years ago.  But in my heart it is still a special place.  Each week I hope to send you an article about some of those special times and special people that I remember. 

For example, when I was a kid there were two clothing stores, two grocery stores, two newspapers, two hardware stores, two pool halls, Jimmy Adams had the Sears catalogue store, Siders Shoes Store was in business, Hadly Poe had a barber shop (where my brother got his hair buzz cut every summer) and Jack Gamble had a soda fountain in his drug store.  I remember when the Lewis Store and Rubensteins went out of business.    I also remember walking down the sidewalk next to a pool hall and my mother getting a call from someone telling her that they had seen me do that.  I got in trouble for even walking on the same street as a pool hall.  My parents, especially my dad, were pretty strict. 

I also remember a lot of the people.  Today I was thinking about Laverne Jones.  My mother always shopped there.  Laverne was almost always there and he always greeted us with a smile and talked with us too.  He was always kind and I remember the layout of that store as if it were still there today.  I remember all the high school boys who bagged groceries, Greg Friend, (Dr. Friend now if I am not mistaken), Greg Killingsworth, Roger Freeze, Brent Sullivan and Phillip Montgomery (Coach Montgomery now).  I remember the two great ladies who ran the check out but I must confess I am a little blurry on the names.  I believe one was Mae and the other was Mary. 

People are what make small towns great.  It is not just businesses or government.  I learned how to treat people by watching these people and people like you the reader.  Nest week I want to talk to you about some of the great teachers I had while going to school in Greenfield.  People like Princess Reeves, Roy Ellen Poindexter and Andrea Cross.  People who changed my life.  Until then God bless and keep you.

Hello Again

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading last weeks article.  Some of you remember me and some of you are scratching your head and wondering who I am.  So lets get reacquainted.   I was a not so great basketball player for four years.  I felt an incredible sense of duty to not only warm the bench but to also entertain the bench.  I created such wonderful characters as Ricky Retardo and other a sundry personalities to help pass the time for myself and my fellow bench warmers (you know how you are).  I never did quite figure out why our coach did not like being called Sybil.  Ah, such mysteries are too great for me.  Anyway, I think my greatest exposure came from the plays.  My friend Scott Long and I enjoyed playing bit parts and comic relief.  These smaller parts were actually good because it meant we could goof off more while everyone else was rehearsing.  I developed such a love for theatre that I graduated with a BA in theatre and produced some shows while living in St. Louis.  I also auditioned for shows making the final cut of production of Steel Magnolias.  I had a screen test and they offered to sign me that week.  I prayed about it and did not have peace so I put it on hold.  I still have the letter of acceptance and they told me I could start when I am ready.  I do not follow the expected path, I never have.  I prefer the adventure.  Now some of you are starting to remember.

I also hope you do not think I over glamorized life in a small town.  Sometimes it was boring.  Trust me even living in another country can be boring.  At least you can go and visit people and you do not have to worry about trying to communicate in two languages.  I am learning Korean but they say it takes 20 years to master the language.  Right now I am happy being able to tell the taxi driver where to take me.  The Korean language uses a unique system called Hangul.  It is not the Roman alphabet that we use in English.

I like being a teacher and I think it has to do with the teachers I have had.  Like many of you my kindergarten teacher was Princess Reeves.  I remember her for her kindness.  I have to confess I was quite shy.  I remember very few awkward moments in her class.  There are teachers who really do not like what they do.  They should not be in the classroom.  I had one of those teachers for a brief period while my family lived in Mt. Vernon.  I believe Mrs. Reeves (I still cannot call my teachers by their first names, it does not seem right) really loved her students even though there probably were days she wanted to pull her hair out.  Thank you Mrs. Reeves.  When I was in kindergarten the classroom was where the library is now.  I remember it vividly.   I loved the days we played inside.  There were so many creative toys.  Plus it seemed like such a big room.

For seventh grade I had Miss Roy Ellen Poindexter.  I liked her because it meant no research paper!  All we had to do was keep a journal.  Now that I am a teacher, I think that is a great idea, easier to grade.  The world lost a great person when they lost her.

Finally I want to mention Andrea Cross.  I think she is a hidden treasure in the Greenfield school system.  She really impacted me as a student.  She was so real and honest.  I spent a lot of time talking to her when she would sell tickets at the ball games.  She really is interesting.  She is very logical and yet she understood me as a teenager.  Her sense of humor is wonderful.  If you do not know her, take the time to get to know her, especially if you are her student.  I had a couple of teachers who seemed to specialize in telling me what I could not do or be. When I wanted to study journalism, a substitute teacher told me it was too tough and I could not make it.  I had a counselor who told me I could not become a psychologist because it would take 11 years.  My answer to those people are quite simply, do not underestimate your students potential.  Maybe my becoming an English teacher sends a clear message, people who are inspirational do not have to do anything except be.  Thank you Mrs. Cross.

Thanks to all of you who read last weeks article and said hello to my mother.  I have one small correction to make.  Thankfully the memory still works.  After some thinking I remembered the correct names of the women who worked for Laverne Jones.  It was Mae and Betty not Mary. 

Well, folks, so ends another chapter in the sentimental journey of my life.  Thank you for taking yet another ride with me and I will see you next week when I tell you about my Aunt Hazel and Uncle Clyde Purdy.  Until then God bless and keep you all.

Hello Greenfield

by Tammy Fisher-Heldenbrand

Of all the things that make a place great, people are the greatest resource.  This week I want to talk about two great people I know.   Their greatness does not come in the form of fame or fortune, not in politics or science.  Their greatness simply comes from being.  They are who they are.  I am talking about my Aunt Hazel and Uncle Clyde Purdy.  Aunt Hazel is my grandmothers sister so I suppose that makes her and Uncle Clyde doubly great as a result of relationship as well.

Most of you know my aunt and uncle.  They have cleaned the banks for years.  They are two of the hardest working people I know.  Only after Uncle Clydes health weakened did he stop working.  Knowing Uncle Clyde I am sure he would be working if he could. 

My Aunt Hazel is the frankest person I know.  If you want an honest opinion, ask Aunt Hazel.  I like that about her. She calls it as it is.

My Uncle Clyde has a signature greeting and you will know it when you hear it.  As long as I have know him he always greets people with a warm “Howdy, Howdy” and a handshake.  There is nobody like him.

I have only seen my uncle angry one time.  It was when my brother, sister, my cousins and I went into a pasture we should not have.  When Uncle Clyde found out he was fuming.  The reason he was angry was not so much because we disobeyed but because little to our knowledge that pasture was governed by a very angry and dangerous bull.  We had put ourselves at great risk.  I can still see Uncle Clyde approaching us with that angry look on his face.

That was a long time ago.  Over the years my aunt and uncle have given me so much support and help.  My senior year of high school I lived alone.  There were times when there was not enough money for food or gas.  Aunt Hazel and Uncle Clyde were always there to help me.    If it snowed they took me to church.  They have always been there for me and I can never say thank you enough.

Over the last few years Uncle Clydes health has weakened and he has not been able to get out as much.  When the weather is right and Uncle Clyde is feeling well you might see him and Aunt Hazel having lunch at “The Cross Roads."  Be sure to say hello and I bet he will greet you with his famous “Howdy, howdy!”

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for reading my articles.  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.  If you would like to contact me I have set up an email address just for those of you who are reading my articles.  I would love to hear from my old friends and acquaintances.  The email address is tvmicah1@hotmail.com.  Next week my article will be about what I call “genuinely nice people."  It is about some more of the people I have met in Greenfield who are truly a joy to know.    Until then God bless and keep you.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Have you ever met someone who was genuinely nice?  There is just no other word to describe them.  That is how it is with Karen Hudsbeth-Gardner.  I have to confess I have only met Karen once or twice and it was a long time ago.  I remember Karen as a cheerleader and a  homecoming queen.  She was ahead of me in school by about six years.

There was something else about Karen that I remember.  It was her kindness.  One time I was at a basketball game and I had a bad headache.  I was in the bathroom with a friend of mine and I was complaining about it.  Karen was also in the bathroom and before leaving, she asked me if I was okay.  She really cared and I am sure she would not have left if she were not convinced I was okay.  I was so intimidated but flattered.  Here I was a junior high kid and this big important senior cheerleader cared about me.  For a second I forgot about my headache and tried to look cool even through I was scared to death.

That memory has been with me my whole life.  Her kindness made me feel like maybe when I made it to high school I would fit in.

That is not all I remember about Karen.  Karen has always been beautiful and has a great smile.  But there is an inner beauty and peace that governs her life.  It is not forced or awkward.  It is simply who she is.  I think if you ask Karen about it she can give you a hint to her Source.

I like people who are real.  That is how I live my life.  What you see is what you get.  After graduating high school and going to university I learned a few things about people.  The first thing I learned is that the world I lived in while going to high school was small.  There are so many people in the world and you have to remember this is not all there is.  I learned that most people accept you just the way you are.  In high school we so want to fit in.  We buy the right clothes, listen to the right music, make sure we have the right friends etc. and for what?  Most of us never make the “in” crowd and we end up miserable by trying so hard.  I never worried whether or not I was popular.  I stayed with the people I liked, regardless of their social status and I had a lot of fun.  I still laugh about things that happened during high school.  I still have a couple of friends that I treasure because of my willingness to accept people the way they are. 

I have some special people that I briefly want to mention.  There were some girls that I knew in high school and have, over the years, often thought about.  I remember them because they were real and I always felt I could talk to them. 

The first one is Angela McGuire.  There was so much more to Angela than most people ever knew.  Many people saw the exterior but few people really knew  what was going on inside.  Even though she was a good athlete, popular and our senior prom queen, she never seemed to feel deserving of the things she had.  She did deserve them.  She was never hurtful or cruel.  She never made people feel like anything less than they were.  I enjoyed making Angela laugh; she was one of my best audiences.  So many times over the years I have thought about her.

I also want to mention Allison Payne.  She is another person on my list of real people.  She has a great laugh and I really liked talking to her.  Allison was a year behind me in high school but she was ahead of me in basketball (alas, like so many others).  The school mascot was ahead of me in basketball now that I think of it.  By the time I was a senior, I was demoted to B team.  Partly because we finally had enough girls to have a B team.  I spent more time at the ball games taking pictures for the school newspaper than actually playing.  As I have told you before, I was not exactly a stellar athlete.  Anyway, Allison was so real, even though she moved ahead of me in basketball she seemed truly humble about it.  She was always approachable and fun.  Allison new exactly who she was and she did not get swept away by the popularity hype.   Like Angela, I have thought of Allison many times over the years. 

I truly considered these two women my friends and over the years have never forgotten them.  As God has put them on my mind, they have been in my prayers as well.

Well folks, it is time to say good-bye for another week.  Last week I gave you my email address, this week I want to give you my snail mail address.  It is long so you might just want to clip the article.  I would love to hear from you.  I am horrible about answering snail mail but am pretty good about the email. Here is my snail mail address.  (Girl Scout cookies can be mailed to this address as well).

Tammy V. Fisher

Jeonju University

Language Educ. Center

1200 Hyoja Dong. 3-ga.

Wansangu, Chonju

Chollabuk-do, 560-759

South Korea

I go by my maiden name in Korea because it is easier to write in Korean etc. 

Next week I will be writing about things to do in Greenfield and tossing out some ideas for new and fun things to do.  If you are not having fun, you are not living.

God bless you all.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Dear friends,

I know it has been a while since you have heard from me.  There was a problem with my sending articles via email.  I either did not do it correctly or the information would not reach its destination so I am trying this one more time. I am re-sending the last eight of the original 12 articles I wrote.  This article was originally written February 26, 2000.

This article is about fun things to do in Greenfield.  I would like for you to bear in mind that I do not think like your average person so you might question my sanity on a couple of these.

Lets start with the cemeteries.  Greenfield and the surrounding areas are full of interesting tombstones.  For example, in the Greenfield cemetery there is a tombstone with the photograph of a civil war soldier on it.  That may not sound so remarkable but what is remarkable is that the picture is in mint condition.  Usually photos left in the sun or the weather will quickly ruin but not this one.  Also, there are beautiful epitaphs on many of the older stones.  Some are badly deteriorated by weather and age but still they should not be forgotten.  There are poems and lovely words dedicated to the memory of a loved one.  If you do decide to visit the cemeteries remember to show respect.  Do not walk on the graves or be too loud.  It is one of the saddest places on earth and it houses many memories.  Do take some charcoal and some paper and do some rubbings of some of the beautiful writings.  Preserve them before it is too late.  If you are sincere, be prepared to spend an afternoon or a whole day at one cemetery.  There is a lot of reading to do.  If there is a funeral going on stay away from the area.  Allow the grieving to have their privacy.  Some of the more industrious people might want to study about preservation of tombstones and do something to insure the future of the stones.  Cleaning off moss and lichens does not always mean you are preserving the tombstone so do your homework.  If you do decide to clean off a tombstone make sure you are gentle and that you use the correct procedures.  You are supposed to be improving and protecting these memorials not destroying them.

Next I recommend creating a history tour for yourself.  For example, walk around the square and look at all the buildings.  Try to visualize what they originally looked like.  What kind of business did they originally house?  What were people doing on the day that building was dedicated?  If you look inside some of the older buildings you will notice that the electrical wiring was installed along the outside of the interior walls.  That is because there was no electricity at the time the building was constructed.  It was added later.  Also, notice the ceilings.  They are beautifully done.  You will not find that kind of work in newer buildings.  I love old buildings and think it is a tragedy when one is destroyed.  It broke my heart to see the condition of the old Washington Hotel.  It was once a building of splendor and now it is left to ruin.  My great-grandmother lived in one of the apartments at the back of the building and I remember as a child visiting my grandfather in one of the rooms.

After you have asked all of these questions about the buildings, go to the library and try to find the answers.  It may not be easy but you should try.  Also, the courthouse has some records about these buildings.  Do not forget the Historical Society, which is a valuable resource.  After you have done your research, write an article about each building.  Put it in a journal or take a photo of the building and frame the two together.  

If you are a native of Dade County you might enjoy doing some research on your family history.  Last summer I spent a week doing research on my family and found about 400 names in the archives of the library.  I was surprised to find that the last entry for my family was at my great-grandfather.  I have many answers for that branch of the family and am in the process of compiling the information for the Genealogical Society.  Upon completion, I will send a copy to them.

The Library also has decades of the Vedette and Advertiser on file.  Try spending a day reading old articles or looking at how cheap the prices were.  There is much interesting information in those old newspapers.

Here is a little trivia for you.  Did you know that in the 1930’s there was stoplight on the square between the Rubenstein building and the opera house?  The adventures you have are the ones you will create.  Enjoy your history tour.

Next I would suggest interviewing some of the long time residents of Greenfield.  I am sure they can tell you stories that no one else knows.  I took the train from St. Louis to Kansas City a couple of years ago.   I wanted to experience a passenger train ride before the opportunity became extinct.  I met a nice elderly couple at the train station and they appeared to be seasoned train passengers.  I was right.  They were very surprised to find it was my first ride.  It did not take long before we were in full conversation about their lives.  They told me how they had been refuges in Europe during WWII.  They told about being separated  and finally reunited.  It was wonderful to talk to them.  We talked all the way to Kansas City and other passengers were listening and asking questions as well.  I never would have had such an enriching experience if I had not have taken a few moments to say hello and to get to know them.  Is there someone you are wanting to get to know?   Introduce yourself and get to know them.  I love elderly people because they have so much to offer and to say.

I hope that you will try some of these things for yourself.  You never know what you are over looking.  Life goes by and then when you are far removed from a situation you realize what it is that you wish you would have done.

Until next week, take care and God bless.

Hello Greenfield

By

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

In recent months I have heard from six former Greenfieldians.  It has been good to reminisce with them.  If you want to find old school friends you might try a web site called highschoolalumni.com.  You can go and register your email to the high school you graduated from and then you can connect to your fellow graduates.  It is a great way to renew old friendships.

This week I want to “tell on” my brother.  I have one sister and one brother and both are older than I. Because my brother was the lone male child he had to play with me.  We would play baseball and basketball but it was a little difficult with only two people.  We also like to play “cowboys and Indians."  We had holsters, cowboy hats and best of all cowboy boots.  We were always on the same side so we had imaginary enemies.  That was so like my brother, to put me on the same side.  My brother has always been very protective of his sisters.  I remember one time around 1974, we were going to get into a Saturday morning BB gun fight with Mark Butterworth.  We did not have a BB gun and we were scared but my sister, brother and I all showed.  Mark showed up with his gun and a couple of friends.  The only was problem that  he did not have any BB’s.  I guess that would constitute a forfeit.

Even though my brother was my protector, he was also a pest.  He used to tell me there were mice in my cowboy boots so I was afraid to wear them.  On one occasion he tied me under the covers of the bed and started hitting me.  When I asked him what he was doing he told me it was the arrows from the Indians.  You get the idea.

I was very introverted in first grade.  I preferred to walk around the playground and watch everyone play verses participating in the activity.  I enjoyed people watching.  Well, my brother took it as no one wanting to play with me so he decided he would play with me.  So every day for about a week my brother would find me at recess and we would play together.  Then one day he approached me and told me that he could not play with me because the other kids were making fun of him.  Now that I am older I get a chuckle from that but I have never forgotten that event.  He was and has always been the kindest and best big brother.  My brother and I have always been close and I am so thankful for that relationship.

Living overseas and not being able to have those times with people has caused me to appreciate the time we do have together.  People do not know what they are missing when they do not get to know each other.  In high school we classify people, in, out, nerd and so forth.  We decide whom we will and will not socialize with but then five years later we find ourselves talking to those same people at the post office or in the grocery store, etc.  We sometimes realize too late what we have missed.  I used to be intimidated by people who were only a year or two older than I. Ironically, in my 20’s and 30’s I found myself supervising people 10, 20 or 30 years older than me.  I always felt in my heart of hearts that I was the same as my older classmates but never crossed the barrier to get to know them.  It was their choice as well as mine.  It is difficult to see whom we really are when we are in the heat of the battle.  It is only later that we realize how ridiculous the in/out system is.

Funny how retrospect teaches us so much.

Until next week, God bless you all.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Having grown up in Greenfield and gone to Southwest Baptist University, in Bolivar, I was more than ready to move to the city after graduation.  I moved to St. Louis in January of 1991.  When I first moved to St. Louis I left my car behind because it needed a major repair.  I had gone from being a poor college student to being a poor civilian.  As a result of not having my car I found myself riding the bus to work.  My first day on the bus I was nervous.  I sat next to the drivers seat on the passenger side as a precaution.  I immediately started to speak with the driver.  After a few minutes of conversation he said to me, “You are not from here are you?”

I was a little surprised and answered, “No, why do you ask?” 

His answer, “Because you are so friendly.”  He warned me to be careful because in the city it can be dangerous if you are too friendly.  He then proceeded to ask me where I was from and I told him.  He could not believe I had left southwest Missouri to live in St. Louis!  As he put it, “Why would you leave Gods country to live in St. Louis?”  Although he had been in St. Louis most of his life he could not wait to retire and move to the Branson area.  We both had wanted to leave our worlds behind for another.  Both envisioned the other to be better.  I have often thought about the irony of the situation.  We both made decisions that were right for us even though they were opposite in nature.

There are many differences between southwest Missouri and St. Louis.  For example, people are friendlier in southwest Missouri.  You can drive down the road and a complete stranger will wave.  You can strike up a conversation with almost anyone and not have to worry.  There are a lot of private schools in St. Louis and the school you attend tells people how wealthy your family is.  Therefore, a common question is “What high school did you go to?”  It also causes a problem because St. Louis is very closed.  Outsiders find it difficult to make friends.  I went to a wonderful church and did not just find friendship, I found a family that loves and cares about me.  Whenever I met “outsiders” like myself I always encouraged them to find a good church.

Manners are different also.  In 1996 my grandfather died and I returned to Greenfield and southwest Missouri for the first time in five years.  As we were going to the cemetery I noticed people were pulling off to the side of the road.  I ask my cousin Conita what was happening, why were they doing that?  She simply answered, “It is because we are in a funeral procession.”  I had forgotten this fact.  In St. Louis people are supposed to stop for funeral processions.  Each car in the procession has a sticker in the window.  The sticker is supposed to tell people to get out of the way and to allow the members of the procession to go through red lights.  Unfortunately people in St. Louis just do not practice the same good manners that we have learned in southwest Missouri.  Even being in traffic and wanting to stop you cannot because everyone will get angry and it can cause a mess.  You have to be cautious because of road rage, etc.

I am truly thankful for my heritage and experiences growing up in southwest Missouri.  That is really what this article is about.  Its about all the things that have effected me and how they formed me.  It is also about how those things are still a part of my life today. 

When I left southwest Missouri I was so happy to be going to a city.  Although I enjoyed the convenience of the city I can honestly say there are more important things than drive through dry cleaners and pharmacies.  People are what matter.  I hope you appreciate those around you and the heritage you have.

Take care,

Tammy

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

It is good to feel the warmth of spring coming.  Winter is so stark and cold.  It seems more so in Korea.  The weather pretty much stays the same here.  We do not have much snow.  We seem to have plenty of cold.  Korea does not have central heat or air.  They have modern digital heaters but you have to carry your heating oil in a jug and fill a tank in order to use the system.  Most of my classrooms do not have heat and I wear my coat to teach.  In many ways, Korea is today where the United States was 50 years ago.  In other ways, the country is very advanced.  I used to compare Korea to the US and Korea always came up short.  Then it occurred to me.  The United States is the only first world country left on the planet.

People often ask me, “What is spring like in Korea?” 

The answer, “It is a beautiful two weeks.”

Spring is very short here.  The humidity you experience in late July begins to show itself in Korea in early to mid-June.  I was thinking about the seasons in Korea and it reminded me of how beautiful things are in southwest Missouri. 

When we are children, we are not governed by the regular calendar but rather by the school calendar. 

The other day I was thinking about how the seasons looked from the perspective of a child at Greenfield Elementary.  I remember how the elementary school looked before the renovation in the mid-1980’s.  It had these wonderful big windows that you could use to look out at the playground and see everything starting to turn green in the spring.  When I was in Mrs. Godfrey’s first grade class, we had plants growing in those windows and we would check on them every day.  Those windows seemed so high then.

It was also through those windows that we would watch the fall rain and winter snow arrive.  If it was raining,  it meant one of two things was going to happen.  Play in our room or face going to the gym where you might have to run relay races.  I hated relay races.  I was always the slowest kid and I knew it.  I could care less about running, logrolling or doing the wheelbarrow.  Give me a book and let me be.  Sometimes we had a choice; relay races or Four Square on the stage.  I think there is some kind of cruel seed living in the heart of any person who thinks to have children run relay races.  Maybe that is what Hell is, one big relay race.  I do not plan on finding out if this is true.  The thought makes me run to the altar and repent again, just in case.

The school calendar was always on the heart of children.  Every holiday meant a party.  One year for our Valentine’s party my mom made her and me matching silver pantsuits.  I was mortified.  I was in third grade and being humiliated was not on my list of fun things to do.  I was sure everyone would make fun of my mom and me.  The big day came and no one said anything about my pantsuit.  I knew my mom would be coming that afternoon and that would surely seal my fate.  I waited in nervous anticipation. When my mother did arrive, to my surprise, everyone thought it was neat that my mom had made us matching pantsuits. The day was saved and that was probably one of the best holiday parties I attended.

We also looked forward to Open House and the Christmas program.  We lived for Christmas break and by mid-break, we could not wait to get back to school.  I think my best memory was of the spring weather.  It gave us so much hope.  We knew that everything was coming to life.  We could not wait to get outside.  We also knew that it meant summer would be coming and we would again be out of school!

I really enjoyed elementary school.  It was such a simple time.  All I had to do was have fun.  I enjoyed my schoolwork and remember when Mrs. Patsy Pierce gave us math homework in the third grade.  It was the first time we had ever had homework and we could not believe it was happening to us.  It was long addition problems.  I remember the book was gold and black and well worn.  I loved it.  I loved the homework because I was always good at math (until high school).  When we had math relays, people always wanted me on their team.  Maybe it was God’s way of making up for the misery I suffered through running relay races on those rainy days.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

I have recently been reflecting on my life and the things that have formed it.  I remember the most strongly, my high school days.  I went through a lot of changes at that time.  Two major things happened to me.  First I became a Christian and second my parents got a divorce.  Those two things totally changed and shaped my life forever.  They also went hand in hand.  I could not have gotten through my parents divorce without the church.  Both events happened around the same time.

I went to Glad Tidings Assembly of God on Main Street.  The old timers will remember it as the “Rock Church".  Even now, when I return for a visit, I attend there.  My mom will ask me, “Are you going to the Rock Church?” Without blinking I will answer, “Yes.”

How did Glad Tidings Assembly of God get the name “The Rock Church?”  Before the existing building was erected, there was another older sanctuary built out of, you guessed it, rock.  I do not know how long that church stood there but I do remember Howard Bennett teaching Sunday school and the basement walls leaking when it rained.  My parents did not attend church very often but George Bennett and Diana Shepard would come and get my brother, sister and me.  My dad was a non-practicing Catholic.  On the days my mother went to The Rock Church and we did not choose to go he would make us sit in a chair until she returned.  It only took one Sunday for me to realize church was definitely a better alternative. 

Eventually my mother stopped going to church and for several years after we did not attend.  Except for brief stints in 1976 and 1979 I never went to church.  God never gave up on me and He kept calling me.  I started to read a family Bible the day after Christmas 1981. Finally in the spring of 1982 I could not deny His call any longer.  I knew I was going to hell and I did not have a chance without Him.  I went to church a few times but each time the preacher gave the altar call I sat in the back with white knuckles. 

Finally I made the step and before I got halfway to the front I burst into tears.  I had no idea how to pray or what to say.  There at the altar I met Jesus Christ and realized what a woman of prayer Evelina Bennett is.  I remember her saying, “Did you get what you came for?”  I said, “Yes.”  Her answer, “Then thank Him.”

That was the beginning of my life as I know it now.  Shortly after I became a Christian my parents marriage fell apart.  It was a terrible and dark time in my life but somewhere in the midst of all that  I found joy.  I could really laugh and enjoy life even though I should have been walking around in a dark cloud and tears.  After I became a Christian I started attending church regularly and in a few short months I started playing my flute and saxophone for every service.  I went from a C in band to an A.  I found joy in living and I wanted to get up and get started every day.  I had purpose and meaning in my life.  The church was a haven for me.  That is exactly what the church should be.  You get out of church what you put into it.  The church can give you friends and relationships that you crave.  It gives you something to do so you can fight boredom.  It teaches you about the strength available to you through Christ.  I did not take a drink of alcohol in high school. I did not need it.  I had a lot of fun in high school and was really involved.  I did not worry about what people thought. I was living the life that I wanted and having a good time.  That is what it is all about, finding joy in living.

I have a lot of fond memories of living in Greenfield.  My lifestyle was different from a lot of peoples.  I still  made it even though I chose to be different.  I was not an outcast or a freak that walked alone.  I had a lot of friends.  I was myself and people usually liked that person.  There were enough people who liked me for who I was that I did not worry about those who did not like me.  I know this is not my typical article but I want people to know the secret to really enjoying life.  Living in a small town can be difficult.  There is a lot of pressure.  It can be boring if you do not figure out how to make life fun.  It is so easy to become stuck in a rut and do the same thing day in and day out, week after week.  You need an alternative to existing, you need to live.

Well, this is my article for this week.  If you have any ideas or things you would like me to write about you can send me an email at tvmicah1@hotmail.com or send me a letter at the following address:

Tammy V. Fisher

Jeonju University L.E.C.

1200 Hyoja Dong. 3-ga

Wansangu, Jeonju

Chollabuk-do, 560-759

South Korea

Until next week I hope you have lots of beautiful spring sunshine and warm days.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Last summer I spent about a week in the Dade County Library doing research on my family tree.  I have found over 550 descendants as a result of that search.  I want to take a moment and tell you about one of those people, my grandfather, Clarence Conard Jones.

People measure success many ways.  They measure it by fame or money, the car they drive or the house they own.  My grandfather was not a rich man in that sense.  He was rich in other ways.  He was a good man and his heart was in everything he did.  He was always so kind to his grandchildren.  He was really good at coming up with nicknames.  My Aunt Connie Jones-Daniel was “Catsup," my Aunt Joyce Jones-Campbell was “Joy-bell” and my mother Mae Jones-Fisher was nicknamed “Tree Frog."  He also called my sister Theresa Fisher-Tonasket “Baldy” because she did not start growing her hair until she was about a year old.

He worked for Mr. Howser who used to  own the Western Auto in Greenfield.  My grandfather used to feed cattle on Mr. Howser's farms.  On Saturday morning my grandpa would come and get my brother and I and let us go along.  My brother was help to my grandpa but I usually sat in the pickup because I was afraid of the cows.  I enjoyed watching them work with the cattle but the real fun came for me after they were finished.  You see, my grandpa would stop off at the Neola grocery store and we would get an icy cold Coke and a candy bar.  They had one of those old fashioned coolers that held ice and you lifted the top to pick your Coke.  Usually, by the time we got there, the ice was well on its way to being melted.  It was so cold reaching into that cooler and so much fun.  We would always wipe the bottom of the bottle on the edge of the cooler to remove the excess water but we still got it everywhere.  Grandpa did not mind.  My grandfather did not achieve much worldly wealth but I believe he enjoyed his life.  There truly was no one like him.

The research I did last summer helped me find out a lot about my family.  I have researched back to Burkett Jones, 1 (1807-1897) and his wife, Fances D. Edge (1811-1894).  I found a lot of information and now have a lot of questions.  I plan to return to the library this summer for more research.  If you have any information on my family I would love to hear about it

The library is a great place to go.  I want to do a lot of research on Greenfield and hope to publish some articles in the future about the history of Greenfield and Dade County.   I have found a few miscellaneous things on the Internet and have enjoyed reading those articles.  I really miss the freedom of going to the library.  98% of the library books in Korea are in Korean.  There is some English text but not enough.

Also, while I am Greenfield I would like to renew acquaintances with many of you.

A few weeks ago I gave my email address and as a result have established contact with several of my friends from Greenfield.  I would like to leave that with you one more time and hope to hear from some of you.  My email address is tvmicah1@hotmail.com.

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather that southwest Missouri is famous for and until my next article, God bless and keep you.

Hello Greenfield

by

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

It is funny how I come up with the ideas for my articles.  Usually the basis for my articles are memories.  I will see something that makes me think of something from my past or maybe I miss something.  From those thoughts come most of my article ideas.

Today I was walking to class with my husband and another teacher and I was thinking about lunch.  I am getting tired of the same thing all the time.  It is a typical thing for us to experience.  Then I remembered that I had a 16oz. package of bologna in my freezer.  Now that may not seem like a big deal to you and definitely may not sound like much of a change.  For us, that is a big deal.  You see, they do not have bologna in Korea.  This bologna was imported, probably to the military base in Seoul, and then I bought it.  When I say it was probably from the military base, I mean I bought black market bologna.  The “black market” is a real grocery store in Seoul.  I did not sneak around at night or fear for my life while obtaining this bologna.  The Korean people buy the bologna from the military base and then it is sold again for a much greater price to civilians, Korean or otherwise.

I have to take a bus three hours to Seoul and then spend about 45 minutes on the subway and in a taxi to get to the store.  We have stores in our city but they do not have a lot of western things.  It is getting better and I am thankful for what we have.  After I finish my shopping I take the same trip home.  So in order to get things like bologna, refried beans, Kit Kat bars and tortillas I take about a seven and a half hour trip (and you thought it was inconvenient to go to Springfield).  Not only is it a major trip to get these things it is also expensive.  The bologna cost me about .00 and a can of refried beans cost about .00. 

Most of you eat potatoes on a regular basis, at least once a week.  You can buy a 10lb. bag of potatoes for a few dollars.  Rice is the main food in Korea and many people do not eat potatoes so I have to select my potatoes and put them in your basic produce bag.  I buy 7 - 10 potatoes each time.  It cost about $1.00 for a potato.  I get them in our town.  We also have a hard time getting salad dressing.  The Koreans mix catsup and mayonnaise together and use that for salad dressing.  They also use cabbage instead of lettuce.  I stock up on dry mixes when I am in the states.  I buy things like salad dressing and quick mixes. 

Before I got married I rarely cooked.  Right after I got married I joined my husband in Korea.   While we were on our honeymoon in New York we bought a cookbook.  I am so glad we did!  My husband is too!  When I got to Korea it did not take long for me to realize they did not have the spices I needed.  Thankfully we had to go to Japan for my work visa and I was able to pick up some spices there.  In the last year and a half of marriage I have learned to cook from scratch.  I make many things from scratch because they do not have mixes, especially western mixes here.  I learned to make things you take for granted,  things like chocolate cake or cream of chicken soup.  Most of the time I meet with success.

My husband was sharing with me his memories of going to the store in Cameron, Missouri as a child.  He talked about how the butcher always wrapped the meat in white paper and wrote on the package in red pen.  We all have those memories.  I can go to a place in Seoul and get cheese and deli meats but I usually buy most of the meat in the town where we live.  We go downtown to one particular department store that has a grocery in the basement.  That is where we buy our cheese.  We can get mild cheddar or sandwich slices from America.  We pay about .00 for a small brick of cheese and a little less  for a package of 16 slices of sandwich cheese.  This weekend my husband and I will treat ourselves to a picnic.  The delicacy of the day will be bologna sandwiches and a good salad with ranch dressing courteous of the United States.

The next time you enjoy a bologna sandwich, be thankful for what you have.

Until next week God bless and keep you.

Hello Greenfield

By

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Well folks, it is true.  I am a dreamer.  My latest dreams have again turned to the future of Greenfield.  You see I have a vision for Greenfield.  I believe it can be a haven for families and people who truly want the “good life”.  I see so much potential.  Most people look around and see empty buildings and what once was.  I see what can be.  If I were a millionaire I would invest my money in Greenfield.  I just went to a realty site and found an empty business building on the square for ,500.00!  That is a steal.  I see so much potential.

I love history, I have shared that in the past.  Did you know that on October 6, 1863 the second courthouse was destroyed in a civil war battle?  Do you know what I would like to do?  I would like to have a Dade County History Festival.  It would have booths that make all kinds of old-fashioned candies and food.  I would have old-fashioned games that people could play.  There would be a costume booth so people could dress up and have a tintype or modern picture made.  There would be horse drawn buggies and wagons that would take you on a history tour of the town.  I would have a narrator at every home and building over 100 years old to tell about the history of that particular location.  They would be dressed in period clothing. I would invite politicians to have old-fashioned tree stump debates.  To cap the festivities off I would invite the ladies for an old-fashioned bake off.  The deserts could be sold afterwards. 

I would hold the festival on the square and I would challenge every town and city in Dade County to have a booth to tell about their towns history.  I would give a big blue ribbon for the top booths.  Every year a different era or time period could be the theme.  You could start with the Civil War, another year you could do the “Roaring Twenties”, etc.  You get the idea.

You would need volunteers to do research and prepare dialogues for the narrators as well as volunteers to serve as narrators for the buildings.  Finding the costumes would require calling Springfield and arranging for rentals.  The volunteers would need to be willing to pay for their own rentals.  You would need volunteers to bring their wagons, buggies and horses into town.  There could be blue ribbons for the best team, wagon and/or buggy.  The cost would be relatively low with the goal being people willing to volunteer for most of the work and getting most of the supplies donated.  The food booths, photo booth, etc. would charge for their products but also pay the city for the privilege of having a paying concession.

Unfortunately I am not in Greenfield or even in the country.  So I need some one else to take my dream and run with it.  My only request is that you hold the festival during July or early to mid-August (unless it is too hot) so I can attend.   If you need to hold it at another time send me photos.  I am proud of Greenfield and you should be too.

If you want to know more about Dade County history, please, log onto my web site at http://dadecountymissouri.20m.com.  This page is dedicated solely to the history of Dade County and you can find old photos and links to other Dade County pages.

Hello Greenfield

In the still of the night the phone rings and I am awaken from a deep sleep.  I hear my husbands voice and after a few moments I am awake enough to know that he is grave.  I get up and go to his side.   Still on the phone, he looks at me and says the World Trade Center has been hit by a plane.  One has fallen and the other may go too.  We turn on the TV.  Although the voice-over is in Korean, the footage is CNN and if we turn the TV up enough we can hear the CNN announcers.

We are so shocked.  My blood runs cold and I begin to chill even though the night air is warm.  My heart beats quickly and I tremble.  It seems the whole world is shaken and I will be shaken with it. 

The scenes are fresh.  The middle of the night Tuesday in Korea was Tuesday morning in New York.

Our thoughts go to our family and friends and we are thankful that all are away from the area.  In moments like these you want to be with your family, you want that human contact.

For an hour we watch TV.  The next day all I can think of is coming home and watching TV, listening to live broadcast over the Internet.  I stay glued to the computer for three days, only answering email now and then.

This feels like fiction, like Orson Wells and the “War of the Worlds.”

On the weekend I called my family and they were so relieved to hear my voice.  I found comfort in hearing theirs as well. 

My mother seems radically changed by the events.  She has a renewed awareness of God and speaks so boldly of  Him.  My sister seems about the same, but as a mother of five sons, she is not.  My brother tells me a day or two later three Stealth Bombers flew over his house while they were outside.

The world is different now.  My generation has its Pearl Harbor.  It is another day for Infamy. 

I do not know what the future holds but today I am more aware of life than ever before.  I do not know what size this war will be or who will be involved.  I pray for all the leaders of the world, not just America.  I had hoped that we would not see a great war in this life.  Our forefathers saw wars and we have seen wars. 

A friend of mine told me that attendance in her church was up the Sunday after the attack.  I would dare say that is true of most churches.  God has sounded the alarm to our hearts.  We must pray and seek Him in this hour.  We need His help and His guidance, above all else we need His peace.

My God grant you His peace now and always.

Sincerely,

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Jeonju City, South Korea

Hello Greenfield

About a week ago we had a very cool and beautiful day.  With all that is going on in the world I had forgotten that autumn was coming, and there it was.  The day was cool and although the sun was bright is was not hot.  The sky took on that beautiful rich blue hue and you wish you could snuggle up in it and then wrap a warm blanket around yourself and sleep peacefully.  I love fall.

I love the colors of the leaves and cool crisp mornings and evenings.  I love all the excitement in the air as football season gets underway.  I remember those cool Halloween nights.

My memories surround me like a warm blanket and I find comfort in them.

Although I am half a world away, in my mind I am there with you.  I love those beautiful southwest Missouri autumns.  The city in autumn always seemed rainy and cold, not like my beloved Greenfield.  Life was always full in the city, but the simplicity was gone.  I grew up and had to take on those adult habits.  I got home around 5:30 p.m. when the sky had grow dark for the night.  There were no walks through my parents big yard, no wondering around and daydreaming.

Being in school was also fun on those days.  When I was in seventh grade we would all get to school around 8:00 a.m. and have to wait in the foyer area in the far corner of the school.  I remember Brian Stack and Gayle Shouse, but my memory fails me as to who else stood there with us.  I remember making wise cracks and all of us laughing.  How simple it was and yet how I looked forward to seeing everyone.

I rarely missed a day of high school because I wanted to see those people, I wanted to laugh and have fun.  It is funny how we had all those laughs but rarely talked.  We all had our reasons for not getting to know people…each other.  We had different circles and groups.  I think Gayle was a really nice person.  When we were younger we both had really great Barbie collections and my mother would allow me to go to Gayle’s and play.  I only had two friends that my mother would allow me to spend time with in their homes, Michelle Wilkerson and Gayle.  I was not always kind and have one memory to apologize to Gayle for.  We were riding the bus back from a ball game and it was late…  I think you remember what I did, I am sorry.  I miss understood the situation and your laughter.  I thought you had spit on me intentionally.  You get the idea.

Many of my classmates have left the area, some are in Arizona, Texas, some in neighboring towns or cities, and some have stayed.  We did not have a 15-year reunion but I would like for us to have a 20-year reunion.  If you are interested in doing so, please contact me.  I want to do something special.  I still have our senior prophecies.  Lets read them and see how we did. We do not look the same.  I have gained weight and the wrinkles are starting to show (just a little).  Do not worry about your successes or failures, lets just talk and get to know each other, again or for the first time.  We came from a very special world and no matter where we go we are still affected by it.

If you are interested in a 20-year reunion, drop me a post card.  Perhaps we could do something less normal and have a 17-year reunion.  Why wait? 

My email is tvmicah1@hotmail.com and my mailing address is P. O. Box 122, Greenfield, MO  65661.  Let me know if you want a 17-year or 20 year reunion and send me an address and phone number.

God bless you all,

Tammy V. Fisher-Heldenbrand

Greenfield High School, Senior, 1985