There is so much news that we just can't keep up.

The big Bernie and Maudie 55th wedding anniversary celebration is this Saturday in Spokane. Sue and I are flying out Friday late afternoon, and Pete will pick us up at the airport. He arrives there that afternoon. We are still thinking Joe will drive to St. Louis and fly with Sue and me for the event.

Joe was through St. Louis yesterday, returning from the Big Guys' Fishing Trip in Florida this past weekend. I called for him at the airport then the two of us stopped for breakfast. From his account, and from Pete's by phone this morning, it was a good, good trip. [To us Old Ladies, that would mean they caught few fish, but they catch only big fish. Pete caught a really big one, somewhere between 12 and 30 pounds and growing.] Den always said that all fishermen aren't necessarily liars, but a lot of liars fish.

Other big news:

Clint, grandson of Bob, son of Kathey, is a new father. Baby's name is Fain James Johnson, born 8/28/06 at 11:24 am, weighing in at 7 lbs 6 oz.

Leslie's son Jeff is in a Stryker Unit in Baghdad. Leslie is able to instant message with him almost daily and feels reassured when she hears from him regularly. Baghdad is not exactly a popular assignment these days.

This weekend at the Lake Sue hosted John and Jana with six-month-old Ellie; Jana's sister Tricia and her friend Walter. John and Jana live in Ballwin and Tricia and Walter are students at Kansas State. [Jana and Tricia are Brother Bob's granddaughters.] These young people love the wave runner. The weather was perfect, just as you would expect for Fall. Trees turning, colors bright, that wondrous luminous October light, and the continuing daily changing. It is a great time to be there, almost as fine as those long summer days.