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


NEWS FLASH: Brother Joe had a heart attack yesterday morning and is in Cox Medical Center in Springfield, MO. His symptoms started Wednesday morning and became severe enough that he called his daughter, Beth. Beth went to his house immediately and took him to the hospital because he refused to let her call an ambulance. Shortly after arriving at the Emergency Room, Joe received treatment that relieved the symptoms and stabilized him. After some tests, doctors determined that he has blockage in three arteries and will require bypass surgery.

Joe is in the cardiac intensive care unit at Cox South. The number for Cox is 417 269-6000.

Lisa, Joe's other daughter, called last night to fill us in on this development. Rose and I talked with Joe this morning. He sounded like himself, inquiring about everybody else. His surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and one troubling question, his platelet count from an existing condition, is settled. The count is fine and poses no issues for surgery. Joe is eager to get the whole thing over with.

We'll update as we get new information.

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 a lot of news to report, some good, some not so good.

First of all, Margaret was hospitalized briefly for chest pains. She was in intensive care for three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of this week), completed a series of tests, and is now home. The tests showed that her heart is functioning very well, and the problem she experienced has nothing to do with her heart. Her primary care physician will recommend a neurologist for Margaret to consult for further examination. She feels much better, and we are all very relieved.

Bernie and Maudie at last report were leaving their daughter Kaye in Mesa, AZ, to travel north. They were to meet Pete and Janet for a couple of days. Pete and Janet returned earlier in March to Idaho Falls, and Janet is scheduled for shoulder surgery in April. We are happy to hear that Bernie is up and about and once again able to travel.

Mark, Chris, and I (sometimes joined by Shelly, Karen, and Rose) continue our weekly luncheon outings. We have developed an international taste, trying Thai, Greek, and of course good old American food. Surely a long way from Turnbow not to mention Miss Muzzie's Cafe.

I continue to battle problems with getting lake house up and running for the upcoming season. Right now, the downstairs bedroom is torn up due to the leak from the new bathroom above it. Now I'm told it will be another 20 to 30 days before all the repair and replacement is complete. Thank goodness, my bathroom contractor's insurance is covering the costs of this work!

Rose and I made a whirlwind trip to the lake on Tuesday-Wednesday of this week and lighted fires under the insurance company agent and his contractor. [We invited brother Joe to join us for dinner, but he was busy with overseeing work on the rental house and couldn't come. Too bad, because we had a fabulous dinner at HK's, Lodge of the Four Seasons. We could have used one of our brother's credit cards for sure!] Mark Goldman and I will return next Tuesday to look over the estimate, select the carpet and paint colors, and light some more fires.

In spite of the upheaval, several fine young men will be at the lake house beginning March 30th for their annual show-up-for-work-and-play trip. I think if they don't come, the others shame them into it the next year. Of course, it is purely wonderful that they do so much and are so good to me. These are the same young people I ran off when they partied at our house when they were all teenagers and in high school. I've forgiven them and obviously they've forgiven me.

Many of you know that our great niece Jana and her husband John now live in the St. Louis area. They are expecting their first child April 1, and we three old ladies are eager to have a new baby near us. Jana is our late brother Bob's granddaughter. Rose, Shirley, and I (with a lot of help from Shelly) hosted a brunch/shower for Jana and John last Sunday. It was great to bring far-flung family together even though some didn't quite know how Jana and John fit into the family and vice versa.

On a more somber note, Jana's mother, Cindy, (widow of our late nephew Bobby) is at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where she had surgery on Monday. Jana e-mailed us a report about her mother. The surgeons were not able to remove all the tumor (colon cancer) but were able to get most of it. Cindy will be at the clinic for 10-14 days and after that will have a four-week recovery at home. If anyone wishes to send a note or card, send it to Cindy Parr, Rochester Methodist Hospital, 201 West Center Street, Patient Care Unit Station 5-2, Room 215A, Rochester, MN, 55902.

My Springfield former neighbor, Leslie, who is newly-married to "that King Boy, Sam," phoned me about her days in Marshfield recently. Sam's grandmother, Lena King, died on Saturday, March 18. Visitation was at the Fraker Funeral Home in Marshfield with burial in the Marshfield Cemetery. The service was at a country church on Highway A near the same road on which Mrs. King lived her entire live. Leslie spoke with some of Sam's relatives, including Shirley Felin (wife of Red Felin). All remembered the Felins and Mother's store on the square. After the burial, Leslie visited our family plot in the cemetery.

Today Chris and I travel midway to Louisville to meet Scott and bring Brayden and Jalen home with us for the weekend. Tomorrow Sabrina's boys have a big basketball game which we plan to attend. Brayden and Jalen will have to go home on Sunday, but we will again have them in two weeks for a longer period. I doubt if they are as excited as we are.

I haven't bought a car yet. In fact, I am approaching Joe's record time for THINKING about buying a new vehicle. Meanwhile I continue to drive Rose's fancy Lexus. Once I find someone to help me at the lake house this summer, I'll go ahead with the purchase. The way things stand now, it looks like Maddog (Chris Lynch) will spend the summer at the lake house with me, and I am looking for a woman who could come for an hour or so daily to help. If any Dear Reader knows someone who is looking for a small part-time job, please contact me.

PLANS FOR THE FAMILY REUNION THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 3-4 are moving slowly. Pete will be our M.C. Chris and Shelly have reserved their subdivision club house for Saturday evening, June 3. Stephanie is gathering and scanning a number of old photos for the event, and Chris will be making a slide-show video of other photos. We need feedback and some idea of who will be attending. The Saturday evening dinner will be catered, so we will be asking for exact numbers later on, but a ballpark figure would help us now. Of course, we are open to suggestions for making this a memorable occasion.

Mark, Chris, and I had one of our Friday luncheon dates this past week. We went to Madison's on Manchester. A good time was had by all. As we reported earlier, Mark and Karen have bought a house together in Kirkwood. Friday Mark told Chris and me that he has already sold his house in Fenton for the asking price, first time I've ever heard of that. And the house sold in two days! Mark and Karen are looking forward to getting moved and settling into their new home.

Friday evening Shirley, Rose, and I stopped by Our Lady of Presentation Parish Hall to pick up Lenten fish. Chris, Shelly, Shelly's mother and aunt were there, waiting in line for their Lenten fish. We had a great visit with them. Our Lady of Presentation is the church where Donald and Vita were married and where Vita's mother Leah is a member. I looked around for her but didn't see her.

We talked to Pete on Saturday. He and Janet are heading home to Idaho Falls today. They are returning a week or so early this year because Janet has to have surgery on her shoulder. Meanwhile Bernie and Maudie are headed south to Mesa, AZ, where their daughter Kaye lives. It is awfully good news that Bernie is now able to travel again. They are taking their Fifth Wheel, their home away from home, so they will have a luxurious trip.

In anticipation of my summer at the lake, I have been looking at new cars. The Chevrolet Aveo has caught my eye and was my choice until Shirley got me to go look at Saturns. Now I'm confused and leaning toward a Saturn but afraid to go to a Hummer dealer.

We heard from Joe Felin this week. His new car fever may have passed. Seems he is investing in family travel rather than in new vans these days. We had hoped Joe could meet us at the lake for one of our great dinners and visits, but guess he couldn't get Pete's credit card. [Actually he was booked with appointments and family commitments.]

Rose is off to Chicago tomorrow for a special teaching gig. She will return Wednesday, the day Shirley goes to Chicago. Rose returns to Chicago on Saturday. This is going to be a whirlwind week. Next weekend I plan to stay with Chris and Shelly on Saturday night and with Margaret and Norm on Sunday. Chris and Shelly have said they want to test my new-found long distance walking abilities on the Katy Trail. I hope the weather permits.

This is all the new news from Lake Woebegone. REMEMBER THE FAMILY REUNION. MAKE PLANS TODAY.

After talking with Chris and Shelly about the blog entry in which I am seeking someone to stay with me at the lake this summer, they urged me to make it clear that the person would have her own room and would not be displaced when other guests are there.

Rose and I made a quick trip to the lake on Tuesday to check out the new shower in the master bath. It is nearly complete and is very beautiful. However, the shower controls had a drip that had gone undetected by the two men who did all the work. On Wednesday morning Rose and I discovered that the leak had damaged the ceiling in the downstairs bedroom and had soaked some of the carpet. I immediately called the contractor who arrived at the door in about ten minutes. After a brief investigation he discovered the problem and set about fixing it.

When Rose and I left in the late morning, two guys were busy with a wet vac and saws. They were so sorry for the problem (which was theirs) and so quick to respond that we didn't even get too upset. They promised to make the situation right, fix all the ceiling and wall that had to be removed, and repair the leak.

I would like to spend as much of the coming summer at the lake as I can. However, I can't stay alone yet and still need help with bathing, toilet, dressing, shopping, cooking, etc., because of the limited use of my hands. I don't need somebody 24/7. I'm looking for someone, perhaps a student, who would spend part of the summer with me but could be free most weekends when I have other guests. I can pay a small stipend plus room and board, and the person can always find a job in the lake area since the time I would require her would be rather minimal.

I am posting this so that any Dear Reader who knows someone who might be interested in the position can have them call me.