You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


We have heard from many of the family this week. Pete and Janet arrived home safe and sound after driving through a blizzard part of the way. Bernie and Maudie left Thursday morning to head home after spending a few days camping with the Abbott's. Tammy called to say she is safe and is looking forward to that Chicago weekend we are cooking up. I had an especially poignant e-mail from Sandi. Here is a portion of it:

"I got to spend the next morning with Shirley's daughters Carrie and Monica, and Tyson. They came over for breakfast the next day and we watched Chris' CD (slide show) from Sue's party. I offered a disclaimer to the "girls" before I started it b/c of the stark resemblance Shirley had to Sue. Carrie has especially been affected by it and has had a very difficult couple of years. But, they both wanted to watch it - especially b/c of the likeness to their mom. So we all sat in the family room holding hands and watching it - several times. (Tyson hadn't gotten there yet.) One picture is so much like Shirley that Monica yells, " Yikes! That one gave me goose bumps!" We were all teary and enjoying it at the same time."

Like Sandi, Carrie, and Monica, Rose and I were both teary and enjoying that e-mail at the same time. [For those of you who may not know, Shirley, aka 'Peggy', is Bernie and Maudie's daughter who died last year after a difficult bout with cancer. She was only 49 and was one beautiful young woman. All of us were mindful of her absence when we gathered as family last weekend.]

Today, Brother Bob's granddaughter (daughter of Bob's son who died suddenly a few years ago) is in St. Louis looking for an apartment. She graduated this spring from Kansas State University in Manhatten and has taken a job in St. Louis. Lucky for us! She and fiance' John are coming for dinner this evening with Rose and me. Shirley is in Chicago this week and will miss getting to meet this member of the family whom we hope to see a lot of once she is settled in St. Louis.

It is Derby Weekend in Louisville, and Scott is hosting some out-of-town friends for the event. This weekend is a particularly busy one for Scott and his business. On our refrigerator is Jalen's latest artwork. Anyone who has been in our kitchen has oohed and aahed over his amazing portrayal of characters and the talent he shows at age six. Of course, we leave his artwork up until it turns yellow.

We are off to the grocery store and have a busy weekend upon us.