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


It has been a busy week, and we haven't had time to update. On Saturday Rose and I drove to Chicago. Rose and Shirley went to the Chicago Jung Institute Christmas Party on Saturday evening. On Sunday the three of us spent almost the entire day looking for a new sofa to replace the threadbare one in their apartment. Finally, after an exhausting day, we decided the best bet was to try to get the old recovered.

On Monday Rose worked, Shirley flew home to St. Louis, and I saw my acupuncturist. On Tuesday I had appointments with Drs. Costas and O'Brien who are recommending I have another round of immuno-globulin infusions in January. The results of the first round were disappointing, but perhaps it is still too soon for any improvements to make their appearance. Both physicians were wonderful. O'Brien must be taking communications lessons from Costas or maybe he is just different when he isn't being tailed by half a dozen interns, hanging onto his every word.

Right after those appointments, Rose and I headed by car home to St. Louis. We went immediately to St. Mary's Rehab to visit with Den who continues to benefit from his physical and speech therapies. Kim and Sydney were there, visitors who always cheer Den and lift his spirits.

Today Den was transferred from St. Mary's a few blocks away to the Barnes-Jewish Extended Care Facility where he will continue to get therapy but not the intense nursing care he needed up til now. He was exhausted when we arrived there but rallied after a short rest and a good lunch. We don't yet know how long he will be in this facility. It looks to be a very good one and was highly recommended by the staff at St. Mary's.

Den is in Room 229, Barnes-Jewish Extended Care Facility, 401 Corporate Park Drive, St. Louis, 63105; Phone (314) 746-4242.

Shirley, Rose, and I found time this afternoon to buy our Christmas tree, a tall, slender, beautiful Frasier Fir. It is in the living room now, shaking out its limbs and drinking deeply from the tree stand.

We are really into Christmas this year, perhaps because we know better its meaning and perhaps circumstances help us to appreciate the season and our wondrous family all the more. In some ways it will be a 'scrimpy' year; in others the richest ever.

We are happy to report that Catrina's daughter Lizzie is much improved and is being treated for underlying asthma that was the cause of her symptoms, not pneumonia as was first thought. Catrina and Robbie are much relieved because they know exactly what they are dealing with so it is not so scary. Sam, too, suffers from asthma as so many young children do these days. Robbie's two fine sons will come in from Arizona over the holidays.

I've heard from Joe, Pete, and Bernie in recent days. Of course, we talk with Margaret almost daily and with her kids, my kids, and Den's kids almost daily.