Did you spring ahead? Anticipating Easter, spring and brighter weather

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Barbara Kay Woods.

Happy birthday this week to Katie Pfefferkorn, Ken Schlitt, David Anthony, Charlene Johnson, Jim Haney, Freddie Wicker, Mayme Cobb, Ronnie Senciboy, Jeannie Chapman, Sheila Gilmer, Betty Sides, Brianna Hibdon, Melanie Clubb, GP Glueck, Johnny King, Chris Kirn, Ruth Anne Glency, Harry Imhoff, Ruth B. Welborn, Bobby Sexton, Dale Tenkhoff, David Tuller, Don Johnson, Frances White, Sean Hampton, Linda Lowery, Glen Crites, Emily Siebert, Alan Hamm, Bernadean Kerley, Connie Spane, Maxine Pepple, Michael McIntosh, Phyllis Glueck and Kathie Razer.

Happy anniversary to Ron and Tammy Eifert, Butch and Lisa Davis and Danny and Sarah Gordon.

Did you set your clocks ahead an hour to spring forward and welcome back Daylight Saving Time?

We have been enjoying the full moon of March, which is known as Sleepy Moon, Windy Moon, Fish Moon and Moon When Eyes are Sore from Bright Snow.

Easter candy is out, and do you realize that Easter is the first weekend in April? That is also spring break at Chaffee High School, which has been shortened because of snow days.

Scholarship deadlines

We would like to remind parents (and students) that deadlines for most scholarship applications are in April. The Briggs Foundation scholarship deadline in April 17. We cannot stress enough how important it is for every graduating Chaffee High senior to apply if they have any intention of attending a trade/technical school or college. It is a terrific opportunity for students to learn a trade or get a degree, with a major part of their education paid for by this scholarship.

Every student who applies and submits a complete application is almost guaranteed to receive funds. Combined with the A+ program, it takes a lot of financial pressure off the student and their parents.

Also available again this year is the Ruth A. Buckhannon Memorial RN Scholarship for those of the Class of 2015 who attend a public school in Scott County and plan to become a registered nurse. The total amount is $4,000, which is divided over the course of the studies. The deadline is April 20. For scholarship forms, please contact Meleia Sides at Chaffee High School, 573-887-3226.

Throughout this inclement weather, we would like to thank our mail and newspaper carriers who didn't miss a beat. We are all hopeful that Ole Man Winter loosens his grip and we can move on to spring activities. I always think about the friend who said amidst a very long hot, humid spell in Southeast Missouri that he would never again complain about cold weather. I am wondering how he did with that.

Losing a mother

Lately, several of our readers lost their mothers. It is always hard to lose a parent, but losing our mother is especially devastating. After all, she was always there to kiss our boo-boos, comfort us through our heartbreaks, share our joys and was always our biggest fan, supporting us during our challenges, whether she agreed with our decisions or not. My mother and I used to have those heart-to-heart talks, especially during those last years of her life. She'd say, "Honey, I am going to have to go sometime, I can't live forever." And I would respond almost pleadingly, "But I want you to." Those of us who have experienced such a great loss can tell you that there comes a time when the intense pain eases and you know in your heart that although they are not here physically, they are always with you.

I was informed of Carol Goodwin's passing seconds before I turned in last week's column. She taught at Chaffee Elementary in the 1950s and was the wife of longtime CHS coach Bob Goodwin, who died last summer. We knew them from school and from First Baptist Church of Chaffee. Most of us remember their two young children, Teresa and Rob -- my sister, Ruth, and I often babysat for them. After they moved to Cape, we got to see the Goodwins at many of the annual alumni banquets. We will always remember Carol's gentle ways and her soft laughter.

Katy Proctor died and we had just mentioned her and her husband, Woody, when we were talking about the Dairy Queen in Chaffee back in the 1950s. Many of us remember them standing at the DQ service window eagerly awaiting our orders. The Proctors and their two children, Brenda and David, were also members of the First Baptist Church of Chaffee. We were fond of them as well and missed them when they, too, moved to Cape. The Proctors stayed in touch from time to time and we often saw them at the alumni banquet.

Special words

Remember to tell those special people in your life you love them -- those three words mean so very much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with missing loved ones, with our homebound, those in hospitals and nursing homes. Email your news and comments to darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at 573-887-6430 or 214-207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was the faux fur that was not faux.