Favorite Aunt
"Dot" with Mother (right) 2013 |
Building large
model of Old Bert for Parade 2015 |
My mother passed away recently, after 93 years. As we reminisced about her life, I was made aware by my children, grandchildren, other family members, friends and myself how important her stories were to everyone. I thought of how significant it is, not only to remember those who are elderly but to share our lives with them. Not so much as a favor to them but to enhance our lives as well. I believe it is very important that we, our children, grandchildren and generations to come, hear the stories of our family heritage.
As I was pondering the creation of “old Bert” I began to remember my feelings when I first learned my son, Dan, had been told he was being shipped out to serve in the Gulf war. I have always respected and prayed for “Our Troops” but when my son became involved it was no longer “the troops” but it was now a group of individual people. Each one was a son, daughter, husband, wife, father or mother; all individual beings who were just as important to someone as my son is to me. No longer were they an ambiguous group called our troops but each one became extremely significant. It is so important that we always remember what our freedom has cost through the years and those who have fought and died and continue to risk their lives and perform their duties daily to protect it. Old Bert was a product of this heartfelt thought process for me.
I pray the readers of this little book will be inspired to spend more time with the elderly and be more aware and thankful for the people who serve our great Country to protect our liberty.
Arnold and I sincerely appreciate and are humbled by the positive responses we have received from the readers of our first two books, “Arnold’s First Flight” and “Billy the Bully”. I hope you enjoy reading this third little book as much as I enjoyed creating Arnold’s newest friend “old Bert”.
Bill Slentz
As I was pondering the creation of “old Bert” I began to remember my feelings when I first learned my son, Dan, had been told he was being shipped out to serve in the Gulf war. I have always respected and prayed for “Our Troops” but when my son became involved it was no longer “the troops” but it was now a group of individual people. Each one was a son, daughter, husband, wife, father or mother; all individual beings who were just as important to someone as my son is to me. No longer were they an ambiguous group called our troops but each one became extremely significant. It is so important that we always remember what our freedom has cost through the years and those who have fought and died and continue to risk their lives and perform their duties daily to protect it. Old Bert was a product of this heartfelt thought process for me.
I pray the readers of this little book will be inspired to spend more time with the elderly and be more aware and thankful for the people who serve our great Country to protect our liberty.
Arnold and I sincerely appreciate and are humbled by the positive responses we have received from the readers of our first two books, “Arnold’s First Flight” and “Billy the Bully”. I hope you enjoy reading this third little book as much as I enjoyed creating Arnold’s newest friend “old Bert”.
Bill Slentz
