Just this morning Pete was asking about news from the Washington wing of the family. Then I got this e-mail from niece Tammy who lives in Olympia, WA:

Yeah! Happy birthday to Aunt Rose! How funny about the senior discount. It seems you had a senior moment in putting it on the blog. It’s funny to me to think that Aunt Rose will go back to being carded. She certainly doesn’t look 65!

I know that Sandi, the west coast contributor to the blog, has been completely preoccupied with her backyard. She’s had an earthmover come in to terrace the thing, then had a rock wall built. Meanwhile, she’s enlisted our brothers and lots of friends to help dig trenches to install a sprinkler system and electricity for lights. Of course, it rains this time of year in Portland, so they’ve been up to their ankles in mud while working. She’s certainly getting closer to putting in sod, building the fence, and having us all over for a barbecue. It’s going to be gorgeous when she finishes. And, she’s started a new job at BPA. I’ll give her a nudge to provide an update soon.

I think I mentioned that we celebrated Mom’s, Steve’s, and Sandi’s September birthdays at Dick’s house. Yakima is about the middle of the state, so was very central for everyone. Dick barbecued for all of us, and we took a tour in his land yacht - his 1976 Cadillac Convertible. He loves that thing. We managed to put 6 of us in it for a tour of his city. Mom was a good sport through the whole thing, and just needed a long scarf to completely carry of the image of a rock star with her dark glasses in the back of the convertible. Next year is Sandi’s 50th, but at least one of our brothers (not to mention any names, but DOUG) jumped the gun and mailed her an over the hill card. Sandi didn’t appreciate the humor much!

I’m sure Sandi will have more news…

Love,

Tammy

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Rock star? We imagine your mother looked more like Valerie Pflame in the Vanity Fair photo.

Catrina, that birthday banner is very impressive!