Recipes for Living Cathie Grimm Johnson

I am Cathie Rene Grimm, and began a wonderful life on a farm north of Woodburn, the youngest of four children born to Roger Boyd Grimm and Kathryn Lorinda (McBroom) Grimm. Charles Bradley Grimm was four when I was born on October 3, 1960. Cynthia Lynn and Cristy Cay were born between Brad and me. When I was 13, the family moved to another farm just outside of Woodburn. This is my story:

My parents are the hardest working set of people, and we kids are very ambitious also. For the first five years of my life, Dad worked at Firestone, and then farmed 2,000 acres with his father. Mom stayed at home and constantly had hired hands to cook for. We kids worked like farm hands doing every farm related job - cutting weeds, sorting cows, scooping barn lots- a daily job, but picking up rocks was my least favorite. I didn't stay in the house with mom and could have castrated a hog more easily than frying a hamburger.

Ours was a very strict household. Dad was a disciplinarian. He expected a lot out of us kids. Of all the family, my brother and I liked farming the least, but when I look back on my childhood, I don't think it could have been better. We were well provided for and probably all of this contributed to our being such a close knit family now.

Both sets of my grandparents lived close by, so we were fortunate to be able to get together often. Dad has one brother, and most of our family get-togethers were with the Grimms. They are wonderful people, and we felt especially close to our grandparents. Grandpa Grimm seemed like another member of our family. He ate a lot of his meals with us and was always with us kids, playing endless card games, baseball in yard, or we would have contests counting cars and trucks that went by. One of us would take cats, the other trucks and see who got the most. More highlights from my childhood were watching "Heehaw," and the "Sonny and Cher" show on color TV at Grandparents Grimm's house.

All four of us went to school in Woodburn. That school was closed at the end of my fourth grade and all the Woodburn kids were bussed to Osceola. I went to North Elementary. I loved the transfer because there were more kids. But there were and are ties to Woodburn that will always be part of my life - the school, the church (both of my sisters and I were married in the Christian Church), Cottrell's gas station, the Spot, playing Bingo on Sunday nights, and Woodburn Homecoming. There were also trips to Riverview Park and the July 4th floats we made, thanks to Aunt Marge and Uncle Jake. I bought three homes in Woodburn and my sisters and I still own property there. I met a lot of fine people in Woodburn and I love people. I will always have special memories of that community.

As a teen ager, I was definitely the most mischievous child of the four. In high school I was a social butterfly. I thought I had to be in town with friends on Saturday nights. I was the one of the four that couldn't get off the phone. I nearly drove my parents crazy with phone conversations, but there was a lot to talk about! I was involved in cheerleading for wrestling, football, and basketball. I was a class officer and on the Student Council. I loved school. I loved all of it. Some of the people I ran around with in high school are still some of my best friends. I am fortunate to have long lasting friendships.

During my senior year I was in a work program (COE) and worked afternoons in the office at Snowdon's lingerie factory. My mom and brother were employed there also. I graduated at semester - rather than year-end and as soon as I graduated, I went to Snowdon's full time. Betty Powell was my boss. I loved that job but I only worked there for two years before they closed. I went to work for Auto Assemblies in Lucas for four years, where both of my sisters worked, then transferred to their Osceola plant and worked there for two years. Because I'd loved my job at Snowdons, I applied for an office job. We were told it would be filled within the company so I thought I had a good shot at it but they hired outside. My irritation showed, and I was laid off soon after because of my attitude. That turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, because I went back to school. One of main reasons I chose the career I did was because of my brother, who is in the same profession. He is the most inspirational person in my life. We could do a whole story about what I think of him.

I attended Hair-Tech in Creston for 13 months and received my cosmetology license in 1987. I immediately went to work for Kathy's Stylon and worked for her for seven years, first in the brick building behind the post office, then at the new salon by Osceola Veterinary Clinic. In 1994 I went on my own, which was a smart business choice. Those who work with me and I are called "Express Yourself," a name suggested by my brother, but we are independent contractors.

I have worked with several people - Mona Davison the longest. Liz Oehlert worked with us until a few months before she married Charlie Harger and moved to Des Moines. Liz and I have spent many hours together through the years. She is one of the best friends I've ever had. We've gone many places together. When my kids were little, she used to come over every night when she got off work and cuddle them. When my daughter was in first or second grade, I told her she could have one of her friends come to stay overnight, and she chose Liz.

In 1994, I also bought the home I live in now. I love living in Osceola. I love my house. I love planting flowers and home improvement. I love my neighborhood, where everyone takes pride in their property. My closest neighbors are my parents. My mom and dad both still like to stay busy. My dad, at 73, farms some and has about 100 head of cattle. Mom likes to work with pictures and her love for country western music could consume all of her time if she would allow it. Both are very organized people and particular about everything. They take the best care of everything they own. They used to dance a lot, and so many people have told me how talented they are on the dance floor. This is true. My brother is also a very good dancer.

At 42, I feel that I have lived a very full life and am very lucky. My biggest downfall has been in relationships. My oldest son was from a high school relationship that didn’t work out. I've been divorced since 1994, and I'll probably never marry again. I confess that I am independent. I want to do what I want to do and when. I have been mother and father to my kids and I have trouble letting someone else discipline them. Laura Haines, with whom I have been friends for 32 years, said that I carry a cloud around me that says, "Don't mess with my kids." I didn't know it was there, but it is accurate.

Being a single mom hasn't always been easy. Being there for my kids 24/7 without help financially, physically, or emotionally, sometimes is wearing. Working 12 hours a day isn't always easy, and sometimes I get a little bitter. But then I realize this is the result of some bad choices I made. I am determined that my kids are going to have a great life because they deserve it. They have had many opportunities. I want it that way for them. Drew has been more places than I've ever been and I'm happy about that and hope he gets to go a lot more.

People sometimes remark that I am too young to think of going through life alone, but I'm not sad about that because of all the people in my life. My biggest complaint is that there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to do all that I want to do. Some day I want to share a vegetable garden with my dad. I want more time to read, I want to travel with my mom, I want to do things with a first cousin on the Grimm side - Kim and I would have been friends even if she were not my cousin. My brother and I have been to Las Vegas three times together. I love Las Vegas weather, the flowers, and going to the shows and restaurants. We actually gamble very little. I'd love to go again, and to spend more time with Liz, and both of my sisters.

I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful business. Working long hours are pleasant because of my great clientele. In some cases, I've been doing their hair ever since I started, to the point that they are no longer customers. They have become my close friends.

I want to tell you about my kids. My oldest son, Kyle Kristopher Grimm, was born August 13, 1978. I was still living at home when he was born, so when Kyle and I came home from the hospital, he belonged to all of us. My mother, father, and sisters, all fought over who got to hold him. He couldn't have had more love than he was given. Because of that first year when we lived with them, Kyle has a special bond with my parents. Additionally, he was the first grandchild. Kyle's biggest love was farming with my dad. Dad loved that because they worked together. My brother wasn't interested in farming, so Kyle was the son my father never had, and my dad was the father Kyle never had.

Kyle was the sweetest, most quiet, cutest child there ever was. People stopped me on the street to comment on what a beautiful child I had. We could put him in the sandbox with a truck, and he would play for hours and hours by himself. He loved the dirt and sand and being outside, and he still does to this day. When I think back on the lives of my kids, I see him making ramps for his bicycle, riding a little motorcycle and four-wheelers, and watching cartoons for hours at a time. He loved his John Deere equipment. He was very sweet.

Kyle went to Kiddie Karousel for two years, but he didn't like school from the first day I dropped him off. Had I known that he would continue disliking it for the next 13 years of his life, I might not have started him that soon. He went all through Clarke Community Schools and graduated in 1997. His only extra-curricular activity was that he was involved in football a couple years in high school

Kyle has a special talent for painting, welding, and auto body work, and has been involved in all those areas. He will be 25 in August and lived at home until about the last six months. He moved out several times but he always came back. This time he is doing well and he may continue to live "on his own," working at Palleton. Kyle has been dating a girl for whom he has bought a ring but no date has been set and things could change. His girlfriend is very nice and has three lovely children. Kyle is doing wonderfully well with his life now. I am very proud of him.

Drew Derek Johnson was born September 20, 1984. Where to start? It may explain a lot about him to say that while Kyle was playing in the sandbox, Drew would be at the kitchen table putting puzzles together or playing with an educational toy. Drew was the most affectionate, and I took advantage of all the hugs and kisses I could get.

He loved school and excelled. He was put in the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program when he was in second grade. Drew's friendships are like mine. The kids he ran around with as a high school senior are the same as in elementary. Probably the best compliment I ever had was about my son Drew. It was when he was in the fourth grade and Linda Abbott was his teacher. She said, "What I hope for in my life is that my two sons will grow up to be like Drew." He has been a wonderful son, a total delight. He makes good choices - in fact, at his age, Drew has made better choices in his life than I made in mine.

Drew has kept me very busy attending his sports. He started playing baseball in Woodburn in first grade. They allowed him to play in order to have enough kids for a team. Now he golfs, plays basketball, football, and his favorite is baseball. He has had a lot of injuries - has broken both wrists, bruised ribs, and has had a hyper-extended wrist. He has had to have physical therapy because of a strained muscle; he has had numerous sprained ankles, and this year he broke a bone on the top of his hand, which cut short his baseball season.

In spite of all that, sports have been his #1 love, and he hopes to become a coach. He will graduate in 2003, and has been accepted at Northwest Missouri State, in Maryville, Missouri. I don't know what my life will be like with Kyle gone and Drew at college. As it is now, when my days' work is done, I'm off to one of Drew's functions at school. It is 97 miles from my house to Maryville, so I may make the trip often.

Meghan Monique Johnson was born September 8, 1988. To tell the truth, I was absolutely shocked the day she was born. I was 100% sure she would be a boy. My life hasn't been the same since. Meghan was an extremely colicky baby and kept our lives miserable for five months, bawling day and night. Meghan didn't entertain herself like the boys, and was definitely the most mischievous of the three children. She was very spoiled and pulled things that the boys never thought of. I had to have the plumber come three times because of what she threw down the stool - apple cores and a jewelry box lid, to mention a couple. She poured milk in the back of the Bunn coffee pot,and constantly took off her clothes and ran outside.

Meghan usually had a doll in her arms and had a very vivid imagination. She was quite a character and still is. She is by far the most outgoing of the three. She is very social. There has never been a report card that didn't have a check beside, "Talks too much." She is very energetic. Now in eighth grade, she is involved in volley ball, softball, tennis, and plays saxophone in the band. She wants to be on the go all the time. She has started babysitting and would like to get a part time job this summer. I thought having three boys would be just fine, but I am so glad that have a daughter who has a special place in my heart and in my life.

I wouldn't have known what I was missing if I hadn't had Meghan. There is evidence of that every day because I am never without a yarn necklace that she made for me when she was in third grade. I vowed to wear this necklace until it unraveled, thinking that would be a couple weeks. Now it has been six years and it is still firm. I can explain this to my customers when it shows over my t-shirt, but unfortunately, when professional pictures were taken at my niece's wedding, they show my lovely lilac suit and white blouse and there was no way to cover the necklace.

And then there's my dog, Madeline, a four year old basset hound. She's been a joy to all of us. Drew is thinking of taking her to college with him, even though there are no dogs allowed. She is a good friend.

My two nieces and five nephews are all special people in my life, too. I have a relationship with every one of them. My oldest niece, Stephanie and my oldest nephew Joseph are both married and doing well. I will be a super great-aunt because I love kids. It is very seldom that the kids and I are alone. We always have others there and that's okay. Two of Kyle's high school friends lived with us for a short time. My home is their home. All three of the kids have had a lot of special friends and they have been wonderful.

We have had some health scares with my brother and my dad. Both turned out to be false diagnoses, but when you hear something like that, you do a reality check on what is important in your life. I can't say enough good things about my family. Whatever I would say would be an understatement. Yesterday I had a barbecue with my mom and dad, Cris and her family. On March 28, my brother and sister-in-law, Utahna, came and we went to the boat to hear KC and the Sunshine Band. In April, eight of my family members are going to Council Bluffs to see Cher and we'll stay overnight. We do so many things together. Every year at Christmas, my brother, sister Cris, and I go to Minneapolis to shop and stay overnight. These are the things I love to do, spending time with family and friends. I love flowers. I love all kinds of music and movies. I don't understand why some people find life boring - there are so many things I want to do now and can't imagine what it will be like to be a grandmother.