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


For Christmas, Chris and Shelly got us an eyeglass cleaner from Sharper Image. It was missing the solution, so Shelly got that for us. Quickly this gadget has turned from a luxury into a necessity. All of us clean our glasses in it at least once a day. While we were taking Rose to the airport last Saturday, we both told Chris how much we like the thing. This was our conversation:

Rose: Chris, be sure to tell Shelly that the eyeglass cleaner you two got us is a marvel. We can't do without it now.

Chris: I'll tell her, Auntie, but it's going to hurt.

Mama: Why?

Chris: Well, when Shelly suggested we order one for the "Ladies Over There," you three, I said, 'Trust me, Shelly. That is not a good idea. For years Scott and I gave Mama gadgets that she oohed and aahed over, then stuck up in the pantry forever. This is just such a gadget. I suggest we get them a box of Kleenex.' So, you see, I'm going to have to eat some crow."

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Chris and I had breakfast after we dropped Rose off that morning, then he left me at the facility to spend some time with Den. Later in the day, Margaret and Norm, after getting lost for 45 minutes, called for me, and we went directly to Catrina and Robbie's for dinner. And for Trivial Pursuit. The dinner was delicious. Catrina is her mother's daughter, and Robbie is not Norm's son! The two of them put on a feast. I surely enjoyed my time with the Abbotts and their family!

Sunday Den's daughter Kim picked him up and he spent the day with her and her family. I had the day off.

Monday Kim and I took Den for his routine appointment with the gastroenterologist, Dr. Bacon. No news there. It is looking more and more like Den will be in line for a liver transplant. Den goes back in 30 days for a test to determine the size of the spot on his liver and to assess its growth rate. On Wednesday Den came down with a bad cold so he is staying in and skipping his rehab appointments until he's better and not contagious. There is some kind of bug going around the extended care facility, so it's no surprise Den got it.

Shirley came home from Chicago on Monday, Rose on Tuesday. Things are pretty much back to normal here but not for long. Shirley leaves for Louisiana on Friday, and will return with her sister Loretta on Sunday. Loretta will spend a week with us, and the four of us will go for our annual trip to the Lake during that time.

I heard from Scott this week about his next trip to St. Louis. Jalen is on Spring Break in early April. Scott will come in on Saturday, April 2, and stay until that Monday when Shirley returns from Chicago. We will keep Jalen and Brayden until Saturday. We had the boys early in February, so it will be several weeks until we get them again. At his age, two years plus, Brayden will be a changed boy. Even as a six-month old, we think he remembered us. [That's what we LIKE to think.] Now, for sure, he does. Scott said that Jalen got a great report card and is reading at a third grade level.