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 are still looking for a way to get the sofa to the lake. We've had some volunteers--Doug with his flatbed trailer, Dave Smith with his truck--but our problem is RAIN. This is going to be a stormy week, it is looking like. We'll see what the week brings. I continue to marvel at the way time presents solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

NEWS FLASH: Margaret Anne just now called. She has cooked up THE SOLUTION. She and I will take the sofa in their covered truck on Wednesday afternoon and return on Thursday morning. Thanks, Margaret!!!! We'll find help on either end for the loading and unloading.

Dave is hobbling on crutches right now because of a knee problem. He sees an orthopedic specialist today, and we hope the knee problem is soon history. About 20 years ago he had orthrascopic surgery on the same knee so has an idea of what is in store.

Chris and Shelly hosted a birthday barbeque for me yesterday. Rose, Shirley, and I called for Den, and the four of us went to the Spreitlers via the Bass Pro Shop in the afternoon. Sabrina and Family, Catrina and Family, Mark and Karen, and Margaret and Norman came.

The first clue that there was a Spreitler Party in store were the dozens of balloons floating in front of the house. Shelly, with the aid of her mother and aunt, had decorated. All told, there were more balloons than my age--a lot of balloons! I had a wonderful time and deeply appreciate all the thoughtfulness of people about my birthday, especially my son and daughter-in-law.

This was the first time we had seen Mark since he 'went under the knife.' He is doing great! The surgery was three weeks ago, and he has been working full time for the past two weeks. Next week he returns to biking. He said he will have a consult with an oncologist, but no further treatment is necessary.

On Saturday, the actual day of my birthday, Rose and I made a whirlwind trip to the Lake to check progress on the updating projects. Also, Candace and her friend Mark were there. We hadn't seen Candace in six years, so seeing her was a treat. She is still the same vivacious, friendly, loving, and competent young woman who was married to Scott. Candace has a housecleaning business in Columbia, and I had asked her to come do the spring cleaning of the lake house, which she was there to do. Now I am very eager to get back to see the transformation that I am sure she wrought. It was one holy mess after the work we've had done.

While at the lake, Rose and I ate lunch at Ruthie D's, a wonderful new restaurant just about two miles from the house. It was much like the place where we had dinner with Joe except it is closer, the food better and prices more reasonable. Alas! We had no big brother to pick up the tab this time. It would have been nice to have had Pete's credit card or Joe's debit card. With the current price of gasoline, we could have used such a card more than once!

Pete called yesterday to wish me a happy birthday. He had returned from the Brothers' Annual Fishing Trip to Florida. He said that their group of six 'great guys' caught 98 pounds of red snapper and had a wonderful time.

It has been over a week now since I had the second immuno-globulin infusion. The last one brought noticeable improvements in my balance and strength about three weeks after I had it, so it's too soon to tell about this one. Dr. Dooley has scheduled my next round already. I will have it in his office rather than in the hospital on May 17.