The Strand Theatre

Last night I went walking at Dusk. My favorite time. The full moon was rising and I decided to go towards the town as opposed to walking by the University. The two small theatres were lit up with their marquee's and there were a few folks strolling in town. I stopped in at The Strand Theatre to check on the time of the movie, The Women, as several of us are going tonight. The ownerr was there, as he always is, and we started talking about the town politics. I felt like a politician as well as a writer as I listened to his complaints and thoughts. I was in tears at one point thinking about the possibilities. The County Council Members walked by as we were talking.

As for my articles? He loves them, but they aren't enough, he said, they aren't enough.

So how do we save small towns in Indiana? I like to think my weekly column makes a bit of a difference, but maybe he is right. Maybe it is not enough.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red fringed lamp in Angola, Indiana.

Hurrican Ike and Rain in Indiana

My family is in the midst of Hurricane Ike with my parents an hour north of Houston and Leslie and Jack, brother and sister, in Houston. I can't even begin to know where the clean up should begin as I have been watching the news, as I am sure you have as well. Mom and Dad are without electricity, and I wish they would come north to Indiana. They could have stay in my lovely old house or in Fort Wayne with my sister, even if she is in Greece!!

We had six inches of rain ourselves and the above is a lull in the rain as Jonah and Matthew were out with their umbrellas! They did, indeed, find every puddle!!

I can only send thoughts of recovery and patience to my family and others who will have weeks of work ahead of them.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

Adam and Tonya

The past five days have been filled with family, friends and a bursting house. Adam and Tonya flew up for a five day week end from St. Petersburg to enjoy Indiana in the late summer. They were not disappointed with the warm days and cool nights...nights cool enough to toss on a quilt or two.

I am always so happy to have my children sleeping under my roof. I love hearing their voices and just spending time with them. Aaron and Karen and the boys spent time here with meals as well.

Tonya and I spent time choosing house colors for the old house restoration and colors for the inside as well. Adam and I set up a movie screen for my out door movie theatre which began last Saturday evening with all the children in the neighborhood! We sat out under the stars eating popcorn and watching an old Don Knotts movie. Neighbors kept strolling over to enjoy the movie as well. I think it will become a regular here in the neighborhood.

So, tonight it is quiet with house chores and my column to keep me occupied.

Lou Ann

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

Pop's Weiner Shop and Wax Lips

On Friday afternoon Jonah and I took a field trip down into our small town...it was fun to be back visiting the shops and my friends after my summer on the Island.



We had 'coffee' at Rachael's, bought candles at Tracy's, and just strolled the walks visiting. We were, of course, curious about the new shop, Pop's Weiner Stand. The store is just wonderful. We strolled in and enjoyed all the art work from the 50's including Betty Boop and 57 Chevy's! The floor is a great linoleum from the 50's as well with black and white checks. We sat on the stools and swirled around while visiting with Greg, the new shop keeper.



We ordered coney dogs and Orange crush off the menu! It was a great lunch and very inexpensive. After lunch Jonah used his pocket money to buy penny candy, that is now a nickel, and I bought the red wax lips. I had to lift him up to the mirror so he could see how he looked!



We bid farewell to Greg and visited several other shops in which Jonah would not take off the lips! He was the town entertainer for the afternoon. By the time we got home, they were soggy and he just chewed them up!



Lou Ann Homan

Lou Ann Homan is a storyteller, teacher, writer, and dreamer of dreams. She can be found writing late into the night under the light of her red scarlet lamp in Indiana or in the wee small cottage on Ocracoke Island.

IndyFringe

Friday night at 5:00, I drove to spend the week end in Indianapolis with Ellen and a few other friends to attend the Fringe Festival.

I was not disappointed.

We started out Friday night watching All About Eve, an old black and white movie (filmed sometime in the 50's). We sat outside on the canal in downtown Indy with a large screen on the lawn. We drank wine, ate popcorn, and spent a lovely evening watching a movie and the sky grow dark with evening stars.

By Saturday morning, Ellen and I were downtown for a fairy tale workshop and perusing the schedule for the Fringe Festival. We parked the car for the day, and walked up and down Massachusetts Avenue watching shows, having lunch (and dinner as well.) We were still enjoying the evening and attended the 10:30 show by storyteller friends of ours from Minneapolis. It was a great way to end the evening, although we did find a late night bar to rehash the show and more stories..always stories.

Sunday we were back at the Fringe and enjoying all of the events.

I drove back late Sunday afternoon and was greeted by a bat which had just been waiting for me!

If you get the chance, the fringe is still going on through Sunday...maybe next year I will have my own show there!

Lou Ann Homan

Happy Anniversary!

This week end was just wonderful as my sisters and brothers surprised our parents with our visits and with a lovely anniversary party! The airport was busy with our arrivals and it was so fun to watch Mom and Dad's reactions as we one by one settled into their Texan home!
The party was full of friends and laughter, and we ended this week end with tears and airport runs. It is difficult to have families spread all over the globe, but when we are together, time stands still. My Dad summed it up beautifully when he came into the kitchen on Sunday morning. He said, "How wonderful to wake up to hear my daughters laughing in the kitchen."

Getting ready to say good bye!

Just like it was 60 years ago!

The food and cake were delicious!

Three proud and happy daughters!

Happy Birthday Adam and Aaron...

Today is the birthday of my twin sons.

I cannot believe they are grown up and well, kind of old! I so remember the day they were born, every moment of that day that they were born. First of all, I didn't know twins were coming, or should I say no one else believed me, I knew it all along! Didn't know they were boys either!

It was the happiest day of my entire life with only the birth of Abe to match it. I loved those days. I look back over their childhood as my happiest, sweetest days. There are times I would like to go back and visit those days...to read to them, watch the stars come out with them, tuck them in at night. Life is so short..enjoy each moment.

Happy Birthday my sons!