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


Plans for the Family Reunion are shaping up nicely. On Saturday, June 3, we will all gather at Chris and Shelly's home in St. Charles for a catered dinner and program. On Sunday Stephanie and Dan are hosting all of us for an afternoon barbeque and swim at their home in Troy. [To help cover expenses, we will ask everyone to chip in some fair share.] Chris, who is good at this sort of thing, is preparing a flyer and will provide driving instructions.

PLEASE!!! KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY MADDEN-FELIN-LAFOE BLOOD IN YOU OR HAVE MARRIED INTO THE BLOODLINE, YOU ARE INVITED. If you don't get an invitation, either we didn't have your address or it was simply an oversight. DO COME. If you read this, and need additional information, call: (314) 726-2032 or (636) 936-0494; or e-mail: MarthaBoaz@aol.com or dingspreitler@hotmail.com

Margaret and Norm, Rose and Shirley, Chris and Shelly, and I have lots of extra room to put up out-of-towners. Also Bernie and Maudie are bringing their travel trailer which they will park at Cuivre River State Park, just north of Troy. Margaret and Norm plan to place their travel trailer at the park if additional room is needed. Altogether, we should have sufficient room to accomodate everyone.

Please bring photos, memorabilia, and stories to share. We've cajoled Pete into being the M.C. for Saturday evening and we will count on him for some level of organization. On Sunday we hope Margaret and Norm will lead us all in an old-fashioned hootenany. For those of you who haven't been to one of these Abbott events, it is indeed a wonderful hoot.

Of course, over the two-three days we will all comingle and get acquainted and reacquainted. Truly, we are a blessed bunch, and this occasion is primarily one of GRATITUDE.

Enough about the family reunion for now. Other news:

Joe Felin continues to mend. He is doing cardiac rehab three days a week, is back to driving (his new wheels), and is walking two miles everyday. I am spending next week and the Memorial Day weekend at the lake. Joe may come for a visit on one of these days. I haven't seen him since he had the heart attack and went under the knife, so this will be a special pleasure.

One reason for the long delay in updating the blog is that I got my new Saturn Ion, a green one, and have been keeping the roads hot. Rose and I had some difficulties in making the purchase. When Pete goes in to buy a car, the first thing he tells the salespeople is that he's been supporting car salesmen all his life. That sets the tone. He taught us well. The Saturn salesman was very happy when we finally drove away after at least six different negotiating visits. He has even promised to wash my car every day if I bring it in.

Margaret, Norman, and I went to the lake this week. Norman, who only likes to drive his own truck, reluctantly admitted that he enjoyed driving my Ion. It may have something to do with the price of gasoline and 30 miles per gallon fuel economy. Norman, bless his heart, rigged the key for me so I can handle it readily with my diminished dexterity. [I paid $95 to a technician when I had a key rigged for Rose's car.] THANKS, NORMAN!

Catrina and Robbie's Sam is a budding baseball star. He is on a Troy team which his father coaches and his mother cheers on with a website. If you are interested in investing in a farm team of a farm team of a farm team for the major league, this young team could use some donations toward uniforms and equipment. Their address is: Sam King, 585 Cap au Gris, Troy, MO 63379. We will ask Catrina to put the website address on this blog so that team supporters can keep up with the news.

With Catrina's help and input from Shirley, Brother Joe, and Marilyn Smith, I am signed up for a supplemental health policy and for Humana prescription drug coverage. My total costs, as of July 1, will be about $200/month as opposed to about $2000 per month now. This is one big relief!

My next immuno-globulin injection is scheduled for June 8. This one will be done in Dr. Dooley's office. It takes all day to drip the stuff into my vein, and it will be a long, boring ordeal. However, after each treatment (this will be #5) I have added strength, especially in my legs, so it is worth the one day of dis-ease.