"What? Slow down…sorry for what?" I asked.

"Craig, do you remember me getting in that wreck in front of your shop? The one where I foolishly hit that truck? Well, you know it was about a month ago. I..." Her nerves were getting the best of her.

"Heck, it's hardly worth mentioning that little scrape. You should see my car from all the things that don't move fast enough when I drive," I replied.

"Well, Craig I was pretty upset and you came out and told me it would be okay, nobody was hurt, just a couple of old cars. But I didn't think it would be okay and… and you know what, it wasn't so bad and I just wanted to say thanks." Her tiny little hands held out an offering of thank-you-so-much cookies.

I thanked her, gave her a hug and she was gone. She handed me a card as she left. "Thank you for being so calm when I wasn't."

Thank you for your cookies and for letting me know you.

POP TOPS
The Ronald McDonald House greatly appreciates all the pop tops you guys have saved. If you and your children would like a container, just ask. It's a great kid-friendly project.

ANNA
My great aunt died last week. She was related to me like most relatives seem to be. "Craig, you know she was Bernice's oldest daughter, married to your Grandfather's sister's step-brother. Remember Clarence, yeah the one with the funny mustache-that was her father."

"Thanks, Ma." How could I understand the rules of genealogy? I have a hard time remembering to put the seat down. Well anyway, Anna, my great aunt was really a great aunt. You hardly got to see her, she lived in a place I never saw. It was like a lot of things your parents told you, you just had to believe it was so. You see those kind of relatives at obligatory family life celebrations: joinings, new beginnings and endings, which, if you believe like I do, is a beginning. When you did see her, she always wore a very flattering genuine smile, her eyes had that twinkle that let you know there was life inside.

When she passed away, her family printed up a very touching funeral card about her. Her portrait was on the front cover, adorned in one of her ever-present flower dresses and that beautiful smile. Inside, a picture of her children, all sporting Anna's passed-down smile, a few touching words written about her love of family and friends. The back fold featured three of Anna's favorite recipes. What a special way to celebrate one's life. Sharing the mixtures of a loved one's favorite foods for others to enjoy. When I die, I'd like something similar, or maybe three of my favorite jokes.

GARDEN TIPS I
We have bags of hair available - a great protein supplement for your garden. If you would like one, let us know.

ACHMED - OR WHY I DRIVE
120 MILES
Last month, at my moonlight haircutting job at the Ronald McDonald House, I met this very small boy I was told was called Achmed. I'm usually a very good judge of children's ages, but at the House, my guesses aren't always so accurate, many of the children are smaller than average. Illness has a way of not letting bodies grow the way they should. Achmed was very quiet. He nor his parents spoke English, so I spoke the universal language and held up fingers. Eight, he was eight. Sometimes I figure not talking is good, cause I can cut hair the way I want.

I went about putting a cutting cape on my little customer when I noticed my little boy recently had some serious cutting done. I stuck my head out the hallway to see if a haircut was okay. The house manager said not only would it be okay, but very much needed. You see, Achmed had been cooped up since his heart transplant three weeks prior.

As my fingers were busy doing what they were trained to do, my mind filled with awe and wonderment. How wonderful to live in a time when this kind of medicine is available for a boy who has traveled so far to be given a new life by people he does not know.

As I cut, Achmed suddenly began coughing, almost uncontrollably. His padré sounded the parent alarm and both were immediately tending their treasure. As I stepped back to watch, the scene became timeless and again, the language universal. Here were two concerned parents minding their loved one, as their parents did for them and hopefully Achmed will do for his children. Words were not needed to convey the concern and love those three people felt. My heart felt connected to the earth and all its different, yet so similar inhabitants as I drove home to little Batavia.

COLOR PURPLE
Each month we have been providing the children with coloring books and crayons while they wait. It has been tons of fun and gives us beautiful art to adorn the shop with. Take a look next time you're in. If you have something you want colored, bring it in.

GARDEN TIPS II
OR DEER OH DEER
For the past several years, the local deer population has turned my 'field of dreams' into a 'field of screams.' They go through green faster than my Uncle Tom at a Craps table. If you or anyone in your family knows a deer, give them fair warning - step back and nobody has to get hurt. If they set one hoof in my garden, I've several venison recipes I'm dying to try.

I didn't spend hours dreaming, sod bustin', planting, watering and weeding for Thumper's relatives to come along uninvited and make slobs of themselves in my garden. There are rules about sharing and living together, getting along is a lot easier if we follow them. There must be order. If I must, I will stand tall by the fence and proclaim, "The buck stops here!"

GARDEN TIPS III
Forget gardening, go pick up your mitt and play catch with someone you're going to really miss one day.

CLOTHING DRIVE
If during your spring cleaning, you find yourself with unwanted, unused clothing or you just want a whole new wardrobe, you can drop off your old duds at Foltos. We'll make sure an appreciative home will be found, via the Clothes Closet.

GRISWOLD 9"
When my grandmother was living, I spent many hours of my life in her company. If your Grammy was like mine, you know a good deal of time was spent fixing and eating food. She had a great old iron skillet she cooked darned near everything in. She said it was her mother's before hers. When she passed away, I inherited 'black beauty,' her 9-inch Griswold fry pan.

I now use this maker of merriment as often as I can. I see and feel my grandma when I use it. I also think of her raising her children with this pan, how many eggs and pancakes and hamburgers and broken hearts this pan fixed and how much love this pan prepared. I think how odd, almost anyone who has cooked with this pan or ate from it is now dead. One day, when someone else holds this pan to the fire, I hope they will appreciate it's rich history.

THE ROAD TO JERICHO OR
GREAT FISHING SPOT
The county opened up a former gravel pit now serving as a great fishing lake. The lake is very accessible, no motorized boats, lots of fish, lots of spots for safe family fishing. The lake is on Jericho Road, a few miles west of Route 47. Big Rock Forest Preserve sign marks the entrance.

OLÉ
A great new Mexican place I recently encountered is El Huichol, on Route 31 in North Aurora. It's in the old Tastee Freeze building. Everything is homemade, including the tortillas. The prices are very reasonable. Walk on the wild side, give it a try.

FRIENDSHIPS
The 'Jackson' was sitting there with my name on it, just waiting for me to finish and put it with the rest of my 'stored presidents'.

"Craig, this is really nice of you."

"What, this? It's nothing."

"No, really. I appreciate you taking time to visit." My friend's voice was soft, sounding so painful, so unlike his normal banter. I figured I'd better soon fill the air or he'd keep trying.

"Really, it's nothing. Besides, I like you and I'm getting paid." My mind raced back to my new-found treasure laying on the counter.

"Craig, I just wanted to feel human again. I needed this haircut." I heard his effort to converse straining.

"I know, buddy. I do like making house calls."

"You know we didn't want to bother you, but…"

"Really, it's no bother. I'm glad you called and I wanted to make sure myself that you hadn't died."

"No, I came close, but I'm here for a while."

My fingers snipped as my mind kept making me think of times I went with my dad, the first Foltos owner, when he would make house calls. As a young boy, I didn't understand his thinking, but I do now. "That about does it."

"Thanks, buddy. How much do I owe you?"

Again, Jackson's picture flirted with me as did scenes play out of 35 years ago with the original Foltos.

I heard my appreciative friend say "See you in the shop next time." Our friendships are not to be purchased.

TIP TOE
THROUGH THE TULIPS
Ball Seed has invited Batavia to participate in its America In Bloom program. It's a great way to decorate our town. If you or your organization would like to get involved, call me at 879-5253.

OPEN MIC
Great times, great talent, great opportunity to be discovered. Poetry, music, comedy, short stories, long stories. Come bring your talent to the stage. You know you've spent a lot of mirror time doing it, now try real people.
Saturday, April 27
7:30 p.m.
and
Friday, May 31
8:30 p.m.
(during Chop Around the Clock)

GARDEN TIPS
March 1st, we planted several seedlings of flowers and vegetables. They should be ready to take home by May. If you would like to give a plant a home, let us know.

COOKING TIPS
When cooking saltwater fish over a grill, never cook over too hot a fire. The object is to roast the fish, not burn it. Also, before roasting, lightly score the filet with vertical cuttings every 2 inches and insert herbs and seasonings.

THE BEST
Horseradish and Maple Syrup
Haubrich Bros.
68-18 Street
Clintonville, WI

Honey
Clarence Zellmer
309 S. Main Street
Clintonville, WI

Smoked Fish
Call me, when this went to press, the address was sitting on my kitchen table.

Fun for Women
Eileen at Get Up And Go, 3 E. Wilson in Batavia - kayaking, yoga, hiking, biking, FUN.

MORE CHANGES
I decided that I hadn't added enough new to my life lately besides a wife and two young stepchildren, so we got a dog named Chloe. She came from the Kendall County Animal Shelter (I recommend them highly). She's a mix, kind of like me. I like it best that way. She can sometimes truly be man's best friend, but not when she takes a poop in the middle of dog obedience class and has an encore performance the next week. "There's the people who have the poodle, there's the people with the yellow dog and there's the people with the dog that poops."

An excited dog greeting you at the end of your day makes you forget a lot of the stuff you should. We've had a great experience learning how to incorporate a dog into our life with Dana Nelson of Affinity Dog Training, Inc. Give her a call at 630-762-9271.

HELP IS ON THE WAY
BIOELEMENTS skin care has remarkable products. If you have skin concerns, talk to your stylist for recommendations. They have a great new line for acne.

Nioxin has a great product, Scalp Therapy for aiding dry scalp and several products for thinning hair.

RHU RHU RHUBARB
We are looking for your favorite recipe with Rhubarb, please submit yours.

LOYALTY DAY
Loyalty Day Parade in Batavia on Sunday, May 5, 2002 is a great time for all. If you want to march, we've got a spot for you. Call us at 879-5253.

CHOP, CHOP, CHOP
Over 60,000 thank-yous, one for each dollar you've contributed to our Chop Around the Clock. This year marks the 13th time we have produced this wonderful event. If you are a novice to this event, it's simple, beginning Friday, May 31st at 10:00 a.m., all the way through to Saturday, June 1st at 4:00 p.m., we will be cutting hair and donating all the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald's Children's Charities.

I know that sounds like fun, but wait, there's more: balloon blowing, a pie eating contest (my favorite), hip-hop dancing, karaoke, open mic, poetry, hot dogs, Ronald McDonald, Batavia's longest bunny hop, magic show… The fun never stops! Last year we raised a record $7,600.00!! We need bakers, dancers, entertainers, people to get haircuts, anything you can think of. We cannot thank you enough for your continued support of this worthwhile event. Thank you so very much!

CHOP SCHEDULE
Haircutting, stories, hot dogs, balloon blowing and music throughout.

FRIDAY
Magic Show - 7:00 p.m.

Hip Hop - 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Open Mic and Karaoke with Jeff "I was born to sing" Price - 8:30 p.m. 'til ?

SATURDAY
Bake Sale - 8:00 a.m.

Pie Eating Contest - 12:00 noon

Bunny Hop - 1:00 p.m.

Surprise Guest - 1:30 p.m.

And much more…

GRACIAS
We never tire of cutting your smiling heads of hair, we're glad you never tire of growing it. Thank you for your patronage and friendship.