Rickie Joel Streetman - May 24, 1950

Today, Rickie turns 67, and it is only fitting that I do a post about him. It did take some thought on how to write this, knowing that he would eventually see this. Many things come to my mind when I think of Rick, so these points are in NO order - just random thoughts of the man that took my heart after a difficult time in my life.

• Rick is a hard-working man. He believes in work from sun-up to sun-down. If he does not have something to do, he will make something to do. 
• Rick is a classic. He loves music and knows the words to many songs from the 60's and 70's. Also he loves classic cars from this time period. His dream car is a 67 GTO that he had when he was young. He has a vet from this time period, but he still wants the GTO.
• Rick is a good, kind, simple man. He helps those in need and is kind to animals and bugs. He likes his cows and the land. He does not like those people that think they are important. He likes to wear faded blue jeans, plain t-shirts with small decals or logos - nothing flashy. He wears only a few colors - blue, grays, and greens ( all muted colors). He likes his food simple and plain, not too many seasonings or spices. 
• Rick is proud of his heritage. He loves old "Gunter" and has lots of great stories of when his family had the hardware store. He knows the Bible. He listens to it by audio everyday. This year is the about the fourth time he has listened to the entire Bible read to him as he goes to work each day.
• Rick loves and enjoys his girls and grandchildren. He likes to watch the sports they are involved in. He sometimes may be critical - the coach in him comes out. He sometimes acts like his mother and Jack at ballgames.
• Rick is in great physical shape. He can outwork, move, climb, jump, run, etc better than men half his age. He thinks he is indestructible.  
• Rick hates change - mainly technology. He does not like phone updates, new operating systems, or new printers. Passwords drive him crazy (and me, trying to keep up with his banking passwords). However, he does love some aspects of technology and gadgets. We have all kinds of surveillance cameras and high tech toys that must be working or he goes crazy. LOL 

However, there is one driving source behind Rickie Streetman that can be summed up in Alabama's song:

"I'm In A Hurry (And Don't Know Why)"

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Don't know why
I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
It's not new
But it'll do 0 to 60 in 5.2.

Can't be late
I leave plenty of time
Shaking hands with the clock
I can't stop
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock.

I hear a voice
That say's I'm running behind
I better pick up my pace
It's a race
And there ain't no room
For someone in second place.

The song mentions a few other characteristics of Rick. He is always in a hurry, whether he is at work at TMC, the farm, or home. He drives fast and if you are in front of him, he will ride your bumper until you pull over or he can pass. Last, he does not like second place in anything. He believes in winning - whatever it is.

If you work with him, there are several sayings that you will hear from him that also goes with these other themes:

• "Hurry every chance you get!"
• "Can't see it from my house!"
• I will end with the third one, "It's good enough for who it is for!"

Thanks for loving me and making me smile. I love you, Rick Streetman. 

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Jackson - 2 weeks

Last week Diana and I had the opportunity to go spend the night with Jenna and Jared to help take this little guy to some doctor appointments. We had a mini-vacation for 30 hours. We had three great meals, a foot massage, and great family time. I also got to take my camera to take some shots of Jackson. He was a perfect model.

Jackson is having to see specialist because he has been diagnosed has having kidney reflux. More tests and doctor appointments are in the very near future.

The Great Hanging at Gainesville

A unionist "peace party plot" aimed at revolt against the 
Confederate government in Texas was discovered in Sep- 
tember, 1862, in the North Texas area including Cooke, 
Grayson, Wise, Denton, and Collin counties. Prompt action by 
local authorities broke up the organization in October, 1862. 
Following a declaration of martial law in Cooke County, a "Cit- 
izens Court," or jury, of twelve men composed of army officers 
and civilians was formed at Gainesville. It found thirty-nine of 
the participants guilty and sentenced them to be hanged for con- 
spiracy and insurrection. Three other prisoners who were members 
of military units were permitted trial by court martial as they 
requested and were subsequently hanged by its order. 

This was copied from a document about an event that was hidden for many years or not talked about. However, in my genealogy research I came across this and was greatly fascinated by this. The reason being that it is so intriguing is that my third great grandfather Arphax Dawson was one of the 42 men hung in Gainesville.

The State 

vs. 

Curd Goss, Wm Anderson 

John Miller, Ar[phax] Dawson, 

and M. W. Morris. 



Disloyalty & 
Treason. 



These prisoners all acknowledged their guilt, giving the signs, 
grip, and password, and were active members of Capt Ramey 
Dye's company. 

All found guilty and hung. 

"There are signs, grips and passwords in the Order which will 
afford protection when the Northern Army comes in, and by which 
the members know each other ["].

Arphax had three sons who fought in Confederate units.  According to a descendant, Ephriam A. Dawson was serving in a Confederate Texas Cavalry unit on the very day that his father was hanged by the confederates in Gainesville . Ephiriam is my second great grandfather. 


Here is a great blog that has many resources about this event:  http://gainesvilletx1862.blogspot.com

It looks like we missed an opportunity to go to a dedication for the memorial in Gainesville. On a side note one of the speakers at the ceremony was a History teacher Diana had at Cook County College back in 1976. (Her husband taught my History class.) We will be going to Gainesville to get pictures of the memorial site.

Jackson Joseph Hermann

May 2, 2017

1:47 PM

7 Pounds 11 Ounces

20 Inches in length

Less than an hour old - both mother and son- Beautiful!!

He is perfect in everyway. 

Dad, Mom, and sister are doing great!

Thanks for letting me be a part of this birth and family time.

28 hours old and headed home!

Lawrence Welk : a-one and a-two - Revisited at a Concert

     Rick and I went to a concert last week; and it was very nostalgic for both of us, since we both grew up watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday night. We went to a Paul Anka concert, which took us back in time. When I first saw the stage, I knew we were in for a treat because of all the music stands. I am thinking a big band. The stands were just like Lawrence Welk had on his show, but instead of the LW on the front these had PA on them. When the band came out to start the concert, I then noticed not our typical band. The men all had suits and ties, and the women were in long black dresses.
      The start of the show started with a video on the big screen with old black and white clips from the Ed Sullivan shows, American Bandstand, and Johnny Carson shows introducing Paul Anka and giving a little history of the "kid". When he started singing his first hit, "Diana", we knew immediately that we were in for a treat. It was not a band, but an orchestra with a very big sound that was going to provide us with great entertainment.
     Throughout the two hours, he told stories of working with the Rat Pack and other stars. He had clips from the different shows he did and told stories of how and why he wrote many of the songs. One of my favorite stories was how Frank Sinatra was getting ready to retire. He called Paul to come to Vegas that he wanted him to write a song for him before he quit. Paul went home and wrote a song for Frank. He went back to Frank and said I got it for you. He started singing "My Way". This became Frank's signature song. Elvis used it, and this year President Trump used it at his inauguration.
    Another favorite of mine was the song he wrote for Kodak, "The Times of Your Life", with a video of his life and family. Several times during the night he directed the orchestra with a little wood stick just like Lawrence Weld used for his show.
     This was just a feel-good nostalgic concert that I felt a little guilty for enjoying in my blue jeans and loafers. Rick and I both left going, WOW! what an experience!