These are photos from Lynn's Birthday Party on October 1. More about the party further down on this post.

Stephanie














Chris, Rose, Sabrina, and Barry















Norman and Randy
















Lynn, A Friend, and Margaret














We are happy to report that Norman is much improved, actually back to his old self. You can see photos here that will prove it!

Chris and Rose attended Lynn's birthday party, her 40th, on Saturday. Lynn is Margaret and Norman's daughter-in-law and is a dear. Rose met Chris in St. Charles and they bicycled together on the Katy Trail along the Missouri River to Defiance, MO, where the party was going on at a beautiful winery overlooking the river valley. I was at the Lake for Girls' Weekend as was Shelly, Chris' wife. Otherwise we would have been at the party too. I would not, however, have ridden there on a bicycle!

Here are some phtos from the birthday party.

Two more photos from the Birthday Party. Sabrina, thank you for sending the photos!


Norman, who hasn't changed in 50 years!
















Lauren, Sabrina's step-daughter

The Railroad Club Dinner at which Brother Joe will receive their "Man of the Year" award is next Monday. We are looking forward to the event, especially because Joe will be giving a speech. Rose intends to take her tape recorder and camer. With some luck, technological luck that is, we will post photos and a podcast of portions of the program. Joe will be coming with his wife and two daughters. David, his son, and Lydia, his granddaughter, won't be able to attend.

On Thursday of this week, Scott and Brayden are coming from Louisville, Scott to Guys' Lake Weekend and Brayden to stay with us for eight days. We were hoping Jalen would come for a few of the days, but that looks like it won't happen because he would miss some school.

Our Louisiana Evacuees are still in St. Louis. They are truly making the best of a bad situation. In fact, Regina, Shirley's grand niece, has dubbed the whole thing their "Evacation," and they are taking in all of St. Louis. Two days at the Art Museum, two days at the zoo, the Arch, the Science Center, the Magic House, and the City Museum. The children are learning a lot on this Evacation and their missing school turns out to be a blessing. The family will be able to return to their Lake Charles, LA, home some time this week. While here, they have even been able to go to the local Red Cross office and apply for some benefits.

With some help from Rose and Chris, I readied the Oakland House so our Louisiana Family have a comfortable place while they are displaced. We've had several visits and meals with them while they've been here. This arrangement works out great as Rose and Shirley have clients who come and go from the 905 Barnard College Lane house. Our Oakland house guests can come and go as they please.

Other news of note is that I've been driving quite a lot. Rose and I took the Lexus today to have the key modified so that I can drive without assistance. This whole evaluation and modification project has been very reassuring. I probably needn't have gone through it, but having done so, I can now drive without hesitation or concern.

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


Here is the latest news about Bernie:

" Rose, Sue and all. this was on the computer when I came home a bit ago. It was sent 9-21 about 7:30 PM. In the meantime, I had a call from Bernie - connection was bad and they did make it home yesterday. Will forward anything else I get.
Auntie M"

And here is the e-mail Margaret forwarded from Doug



"Hi Auntie M.

Well, I patted Dad on the po-po and sent him and Mom on their way today. I just heard from them at about 4:30 pm. They are just about 20 miles away from where they will stop for the night, Ginko State Park, in the Columbia Gorge. They called just before they lost cell phone contact and won't be reachable again until they make their way out tomorrow.

Dad said he was getting used to the truck again and was doing fine. It looks like he has turned the corner - World look out!

Bye,

Doug"



In other developments, Norman landed in the hospital on Thursday. After a very worrisome 24 hours or so, the docs decided to let him come home Saturday morning. Turns out, and we pray is the case, he may be having some drug interaction problems. Margaret says he will go for more testing next week, but in the meantime is taking a much reduced level of his various medications. This morning he is better, and was working on the furnace. It sound like good news that Norman is in his Mr. Fix-It mode.

I am in Chicago for the weekend. It is overcast and rainy here, more effects of our weather down south. Shirley has considerable family in Lake Charles, LA, and the surrounding area where Hurricane Rita spent her fury. In fact, Shirley's New Orleans brother who evacuated to Lake Charles has now moved on to Shreveport. The phone has been ringing off the hook as family members report on their flooding and damage. Many have had to evacuate and can't even get back in to know the extent of the damage yet.

Six of my wonderful adopted sons are at the Lake this weekend, working on various house projects. I am not even sure what all they are doing but am eternally grateful for their hard work.

Christopher dropped Rose and me off at the airport yesterday morning and was headed to the Oakland house with a handyman he has hired. Their task was to ready the house for winter.

While waiting for our flight, Brayden called me. He always asks, "What are you doing?" When I told him we were going to Chicago on an airplane, he said, "I want to go to Chicago on an airplane and see Shirley." He associates Shirley and Chicago. Scott then got on the phone and said earlier Brayden was in his room making a loud banging noise. Scott went to check and found him with a hammer, pounding away at a switch place. He had pounded it to pieces.

For our Dear Readers who don't know our family well, a word of explanation about Doug's e-mail. Bernie and Maudie have nine adult offspring; once ten, but their beloved second daughter, Peggy, died far too early more than two years ago. As you can tell from the communications from that family, they are a close-knit and loving bunch even if they did use up all the oxygen in Bernie's room. The situation with Bernie would be so much more worrisome were it not for all the support he and Maudie receive.

Here is an update on Bernie from his son Doug. It comes to us via Margaret:
"Hi Auntie M,

Not much to report today. Dad is doing pretty well. He is getting up three times a day now and walking around the hallways on the third floor of the VA hospital. I see him eyeing the elevators pretty heavy as we walk by.... His legs are working great and they have taken him off the pain medication. So he is otherwise pretty much back to his old self except for some swelling that needs to come down before he is released.

The nurses say that he would be already moved to an intermediate care room except they are full, so he stays in the ICU. He does have the most private room available there and they allow all the visitors Dad can handle. Today we made the most of it by cramming 7 of us in the 10' by 10' room with him. We rotated out when we ran out of oxygen to breathe.

We are hopeful that Dad will be released to go home by the middle of next week. Everyone is doing their parts to see that it happens.

-more later.

Doug"

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


Scott called last evening to tell us that Jalen broke the little finger on his left hand, the hand he writes with, while playing on the playground at his school. Jalen's mother and grandmother (who is a nurse) were with him at the hospital where a hand specialist was determining the best treatment.

Some time over the summer, we noticed Brayden learned the proper use of pronouns. For example, he at one time referred to himself as "Baby," but now knows the correct use of "I." Scott says he has a new expression, "Where you got that?" meaning "Where did you get that?" We figure he's working on his verb tenses. It's amazing to observe how the little guy learns. His main teacher is imitation and mimicry. And having a big brother to mimic surely helps a lot.

This is Catrina - my many thanks to the Auntie's for allowing me to be a "guest blogger" and post the pictures for our Katrina relief efforts. And yes, I have taken alot of flack because of my name, but remember, they spell it wrong anyway.

This is at RiverOaks Church in Wentzville, loading up Sunday September 11th. Enough was donated to fill this BIG budget truck and two more vans!

Here are our guys loaded, ready and giving the thumb's up! Randy is second from the left, Randy's friend Matt Gross is in the middle and that's Barry on then end. I'm not sure of the other two guys' names.

Here they are unloading the stuff at Life Spring Church in Southaven Mississippi, which if you don't know is immediately below Memphis across the Mississippi state line.

Hard to get everything in one picture, there was so much stuff donated!

The whole crew in Mississippi.

There are more picture posted on www.rivoakschurch.com. Just click on 'Drive For Disaster Relief'.

We are supporting the needs of LifeSpring Church over the coming months. They do not need clothing at this time since so much was donated this past week, so they are mainly accepting toiletry items and cleaning supplies. Other items can include baby items, diapers, wet wipes, etc. I peronsally plan on keeping a box at my work and an open trunk if anyone wishes to help out!

Also wishing a speedy recovery to Uncle Bernie!

Margaret just forwarded this update e-mail from Bernie's and Maudie's son, Doug:

"Dad had a little better day today. He is being kept in the ICU because the doctors have found a chemical in his blood (no not WD40) that usually suggests a recent heart attack. After an ultrasound, though, they have almost ruled that out. Dad is much more lucid and is picking on the nurses so it looks like steady improvement. He tried to plot an escape today but the nurses got wind of it and loaded him up with pain medication until he forgot what he was up to.

Sandi had to get home tonight since she works again tomorrow, but Tammy is coming back through again - so we'll keep the ICU room full of family. Mom is staying in the parking lot of my church and so has power and a safe place to park the 5th wheel. She seems comfortable and is close. Every now and then she stays the night with us just to make us feel like we are doing something."


Also, Catrina (Niece Catrina, not Hurrican Katrina) sent some utterly amazing photos of all the stuff donated to the hurricane relief effort. TRUCKLOADS!!! She has spearheaded a drive to collect items for Randy, his partner Barry, and others from their church to take to Mississippi. Catrina, would you PLEASE blog those photos and some summary comments about the work you are doing? [For all Dear Readers who are not already aware of it, Catrina is as knowledgeable about computers as she is about insurance.]

Bernie's daughter sent this update for the Blog. I have been away from my e-mail for a few day so her e-mail was delayed getting posted.

"Hi Aunt Sue (or Rose, whomever is editing today!) This is Cyndi, Bernie's youngest.
I just got home from the hospital, (today is Sunday, September 11). Dad had a rough night and has slept most of today.

Doug couldn't get his laptop to connect to the internet from the hospital, so I told them I would update you when I got home.

Dad had a bypass in his legs. It's the same idea as the heart bypass, but to open clogged arteries in his legs instead. His surgery was supposed to be about an hour and a half long, but it ended up being a little over 5 hours. When the doctors got all of the bypass work done, they opened up the clamp on his artery, but nothing changed. They followed the artery up to the place where the clamp was and the artery was just mush. (Doug said that one doctor said it was turned to mush by the clamp, but the other doctor said they couldn't be sure of that.) They had to run a balloon up his artery passed the damage and reconstruct the artery with webbing. He slept through most of Friday. Saturday morning they changed from giving him morphine every 8 min. intravenously, to percocet by mouth. By about 3 or 4 in the afternoon he seemed very much more himself. He sat up and watch the Mariner's lose (again) with us and about 8 was ready for bed.

This morning when we got to the hospital (well, really about noon) he was out of it again. The nurses said he had a rough night with chest pain and wasn't able to sleep until about 2 o'clock. They had to go back to morphine, so he was pretty out of it today. I left him about 3 and he wasn't awake. When Mom had to keep waking him up to take another bite of food (about 1 o'clock) and he snapped at her to quit bugging him we figured he'd had enough lunch and needed sleep more.

I wish I could tell you he had another day like yesterday afternoon, but the nurses said they expected it, it's usually one good day and then one day to recoup from the good day. Yesterday he was very much like himself, he found out what it would take to get out of ICU and decided he could do it (three times over!) as long as the cute nurse would hold his hand! She was a good sport.

We'll update as soon as there's news. Please email me if I left any details out and any of this doesn't make sense!!

Thanks!
Cyndi"


Thanks, Cyndi. If you'll update again, I'll try to be more timely with 'editing.' Also, to All Our Dear Readers, you may also add comments directly to the Blog.

Margaret sent this e-mail from Bernie and Maudie's son and daughter for posting:

" Rose, here is the long awaited update from Bernie's family:



'Hi Auntie M!

We couldn't make the phone lines work for us at the hospital yesterday, so I'm writing you this from home today.

Dad had a really rough day yesterday. We weren't very happy with the staff (especially Nurse "Prickly" Bob). They didn't inform us that it is very common for these minor set-backs. Dad was so tired he was hallucinating most of the day. He was able to wolf down the watermelon we smuggled in, though. And I think he was winning at most of the Skipbo games he was playing in his head....

Anyway, Sandi called the hospital at 6:45 this morning. Dad was already taking laps around the ward and had slept very well. He was lucid and even accused the nurse of being a slave driver. So he sounds like he is back to his old self. They are talking about moving him out of ICU as soon as today.

Mom stayed last night in the trailer. We set her up at Lake Pleasant, an RV park about 5 miles away from our place. She alternates from staying with us and sleeping "at home". Yesterday took a lot out of her (and out of us all).

We're praying for Uncle Norm, too. Thanks for the updates.

Doug


...Sandi just asked me to give an overview of Dad's operation in case anyone missed it. So I'll include it here.

Dad had bypass surgery for blockages in both legs on Thursday 9/8. The stint that was previously put in his left leg was never opened all the way and was mostly blocked. The right leg was closing up as well.

The doctors hooked in to his Iliac artery and grafted on some tubing to bypass the blockage in his right leg, then they patched into that bypass and bridged across to the left leg (I think duct tape was involved as well). Some of the arteries needed repair so the doctors were at it for about 5 hours . They told us, on average, that this is a 11/2 hour operation....

Long story short, Dad's blood pressure in his legs has improved from 55 in the left leg and 75 in the right, to 95 in both legs. The doctors are pleased and Dad is now talking about how warm his feet are. That's something I've never heard him say before. We are all very encouraged.

-more later."'"

Hi, it's Rose here, parttime editor of this Blog. As Sue reminded me by phone today, we have left our Dear Readers with the information that Bernie was about to go into surgery for several days now. Margaret has talked with Maudie and sent the following e-mail report: "Talked to Maudie a bit ago and she said Bernie had been up and taken about 3 turns around the room. Expects him to be out of the intensive care department soon. Also talked to Doug who says he will e-mail a complete report and we can then post it on the blog. Thought I would just update with what I knew and will forward the Email from Doug as soon as I get it. I sent him a link to the blog but he said would email it to me and I could forward it.

Things are good here. Norman is still pretty weak and he does not make a very good patient nor is he very patient. I don't believe patient is in his vocabulary. He goes back for more blood tests the first of the week so the medicine to clot his blood (or unclot it?) can be regulated.

It is about time I make my Sunday afternoon call to Mary Pauline. Take care and like I said will email anymore info as soon as I receive it.

Love, M"

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



Margaret forwarded this e-mail from Doug, Bernie and Maudie's son:


"Hi Aunt Margaret and Uncle Norm,

It sounds like surgery is the trendy thing to be doing right now. I hope your recovery is going well Uncle Norm. You're in our prayers.

Dad (Bernie) is going in for surgery on Thursday. He decided to have the Seattle VA operate on his legs to fix the blockages that have kept him from getting around like he wants to. It looks like they will keep him for at least one week, maybe two. The doctor says that he will be able to tap dance when he is done (or at least play the piano) like he has been wanting all his life.

We'll keep you up to date.

Love,
Doug"



So, today is the day Bernie is having the surgery. When we get news, we will 'blog' it here.

Margaret tells us that Bernie and Maudie took their camper over to Seattle (from Spokane) last weekend to be ready for the surgery. She thinks they can park it right on the hospital lot so that Maudie has a 'home away from home,' and it will be there for the both of them when he is released but not yet ready to travel back home.

Norm went for a follow-up check with his physician yesterday. He got a blood sugar monitor and a preliminary check shows his blood sugar is normal. Diabetes seems NOT to be a problem.

In other family news, Brother Joe has been nominated by the St. Louis Railway Club as their "Man of the Year." There will be a big dinner at some fancy hotel in St. Louis in early October where he will be celebrated. We don't know exactly what all this means because Joe is so modest and unwilling to toot his own horn. So, we've decided to go to the dinner to see for ourselves. All Joe's family will be attending. I think his cheering section will be large and loud.

We had an e-mail from Marilyn Smith, a longtime friend who, with her husband Jim, retired to Florida a couple of years ago. The two of them chose to move to a place that has been hit with some horrendous hurricanes in the short time they have been there. This week, after various summer travels, they were in Memphis, waiting out Hurricane Ophelia before returning home. Marilyn, who is also from a large family, said she loves the Blog and, because of it, knows more about our family than she does her own!

Once again, we want all our Dear Readers, friends and family alike, to know that we like to post news--the good and the bad, especially the good--to keep everyone abreast. Keep those cards and letters (and e-mails) coming!

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



I am back from the Lake after a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. All the children, Josie, Lucas, Jalen and Brayden played well together which made the weekend such a pleasure for us. A lot of our fun is watching this next generation of beautiful children enjoy themselves. We'll post some photos when Scott C. e-mails them to us.

Jalen had a great time and thought riding the tube behind the wave runner was the most fun he had ever had. Brayden LOVED the wave runner, which he called "Daddy's boat." He overcame a lot of his shyness this weekend, so much so that today he went to the swimming pool with Goldman. Brayden also thought Maddog was Uncle Norm and could not be convinced otherwise. Quite a compliment to Norm since he is about 50 years older than Maddog!

Goldman and I rode home together this afternoon when Scott and his sons headed home to Louisville.

The Abbott Clan had a gathering at Stef and Dan's yesterday. We hope they send some photos to post here. Norm seems to be recovering nicely although Margaret says he remains tired.

We've been thinking a lot about our 'baby brother,' who turns 60 on Wednesday. Imagine that, Donald is 60! What happened to all these decades. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Dornald. We hope it is a really great one for you.

I'm all tuckered out from having such a great time over these three days. It's early to bed tonight.

Brett, Alex, and John on the wave runner, August 2005


Dave, Brett and Alex at the Lake, August 2005

Nephew Alex at the Lake, August 2005

Margaret, Alex, Brett, and Norm at the Lake, August 2005

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


Hello, it's rose here with a quick update. I had a wonderful conversation today with Pete and Janet. Pete had left a message on my voice mail that he was very concerned about Dick Cheney, Cheney not having been seen since he appeared in Springfield a couple of weeks ago. Janet is doing a lot of canning, and, according to Pete, refers to herself as "The Little Red Hen" these days. I do remember well Janet's delicious pickles!

One of the things Pete told me is that there is an interesting biography and photo of Brother Joe at: http://home.sport.rr.com/nikeajax/502.htm From reading it, I surmise that Joe prepared it for some publication about his days in the military and his life since. Interesting reading and very well done!

Sue and Rose at the Lake, August 2005














Niece Jana at the Lake, August 2005

















Nephew Brett at the Lake, August 2005

Norman at the Lake in August 2005

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


Here is an update from Sabrina about her Dad:

"Just an update on my Dad. The doctors found blockages in two areas of a bypass that he had 12 years ago. Both areas were 70% blocked. He had 2 stints put in to open them up, and they are now down to 10% and 30% blocked. He is in the ICU, with close monitoring. If he continues to do well, he may be able to come home tomorrow. There is some concern about his kidneys because they have shown some damage due to the medicines he is on, but we are praying that the medicine they are giving him now for his kidneys will correct this new situation. Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers. I do appreciate them, as does my family. Sabrina"

Norman has been in the hospital since a week ago Monday. That is a long, long hospital stay these days. The only good thing about it is that all the Abbott offspring hover and shower him and Margaret with loving attention. It was only a year ago this August that Margaret spent so much time in the same hospital!

Catrina called just now to say Norman is on his way home.

In our household, we have been watching with anxiety the developments in New Orleans. Shirley's brother Frank lives (perhaps now 'lived') in the French Quarter and had decided to ride out Katrina. He is fine, and as of Wednesday morning, the water was only lapping at his garage. However, he and a friend decided it was time to leave, so set out by car. Shirley could not imagine how they could find their way out of that place, given the flooding and rampant crime. Late yesterday, she got word that he is safe and was on his way to Lake Charles where the Fontenots have considerable extended family.

Shirley's sister, Loretta, and her husband live in Covington. They had evacuated last Sunday and returned yesterday to find their home very damaged. Two trees had fallen on the house; many windows gone; and water damage everywhere. Their son Michael stayed in that house during the storm and narrowly escaped serious injury.

Yvonne, Loretta's daughter, was with her parents north of Baton Rouge, waiting out the storm with the family dog population. Yvonne may be the worst hit by losses from the hurricane because she owns a comedy club and some rental properties in New Orleans. Now that all members of the family are safe and sound, attention is turning to the enormity of the loss and damage they have incurred.

I just had an e-mail from Catrina who is asking for help for Randy and a group of his friends who have decided to travel to Louisiana to assist in recovery efforts. Those of you who know Randy probably agree with us that if you are in need of help in a dire situation, Randy is exactly the kind of person you would pray that God send. If you want to help, just e-mail Catrina at cking@langinsurance.com [Corrected as Catrina pointed out in her comment to this entry. We have removed the www.]

Plans are in place for the Labor Day Weekend at the Lake. Scott and sons will be there along with various other friends. One very sour note is the high price of gasoline!!!

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


Hi, it's Rose with a brief update. Margaret called this morning to say Norman's medical problem, the one that landed him in hospital on Monday, is congestive heart failure. Fortunately, it is treatable with medication. He will probably come home on Monday. There is also the possibility that he has developed diabetes. More about all this as Margaret updates us.

On the other 'bad news' front, Robbie's mother is still in the hospital but seems to be doing o.k. The problem with her sounds more like hospital/medical ineptitude and inefficiency than some kind of life-threatening injury.

Sue is at the lake this weekend with various friends and family. She and Doug drove there together yesterday morning, and Stef and family went after Jacob got out of school. When I talked with Sue and Stef this morning, they were on that beautiful deck enjoying their morning coffee and some great weather.

We have some great photos to post as time permits. The uploading of each one is slow, hence the delay in getting them 'blogged.'

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



A quick update. This has been another whirlwind period. For those who haven't heard, Norman is in the hospital with pneumonia. He went in through the ER on Monday night and was admitted. He is receiving lots of IV antibiotics and will probably go home on Friday.

In other breaking news, Dan, Stephanie's husband, had some kind of allergic reaction, and he, too, was taken to the ER in an ambulance on Tuesday. Fortunately, he was treated immediately and released. Stephanie is now equipped with some kind injection treatment should Dan have this happen again.

Still other news, not good, is that Robbie's mother was in a serious accident and is in intensive care in Arizona where she lives. Robbie is Catrina's husband. We got this news only this evening, and haven't heard any updates yet.

Monday as Shirley was traveling from their apartment to the Chicago Midway Airport by train, a couple took her purse by opening her suitcase while the three of them were on an escalator. Shirley confronted them, but they still escaped. Fortunately, Shirley had her airline info and identification in a pocket so she was able to get on her flight to St. Louis. She has spent the last two days cancelling and replacing all the things she lost. The man of the thieving couple had only one foot. Chris, when he and I called for Shirley at the airport, immediately likened her situation to the Fugitive. Rose, who was still in Chicago, spent her train trip to Midway on Tuesday looking at men's feet. Alas, the thieves got away! So far, all they managed to accomplish was buying a tank of gas (big bucks these days!) on Shirley's debit card.

On a lighter note, last week at the lake was one wonderful time. Sabrina, Dave, Brett, and Alex were there all week. Rose came for a couple of days. Joe Felin and the great dog Pepper came for dinner a week ago Saturday. Jana and John were there the first weekend. Margaret and Norm came on Tuesday and stayed until Friday. Maddog was there off and all for the entire ten days. Doug, Suzanne, Lucas, and Josie came for this past weekend. Needless to say, it was a full and richly rewarding time. I enjoyed it immensely! The new wave runner is a running machine and was well broken in by the time we left.

On Sunday I went to Catrina's for a dinner she and Robbie had in celebration of Margaret and Norm's wedding anniversary. I went home with the Abbott's where Chris called for me on Monday.

The plan for the coming weekend is that Dan and Stef, Nathan, Jacob, and Nicole will spend the weekend at the lake. We will go there on Friday. Doug and Maddog will be there both nights and will participate in a "Toys for Tots" golf benefit on Saturday.

This is a photo Sabrina sent us of her mother. The date is incorrect.

















Norm's sister Emma and their niece Joyce














Erica, Lizzie, and Amanda

Brayden and Jalen 

Jalen who loves music  

Brayden 

Jalen and Brayden 

Jalen and Brayden 

Scott called just now to clarify my account of his and his sons' near-miss disaster. In both cases it was a full tree that fell over. The first tree narrowly missed their tent while the three of them were riding out the storm at the campground clubhouse. Later, during a second storm while they were IN THEIR TENT, another tree broke off nearby. Fortunately, it splintered high enough that their tent was in the triangle formed by the trunk of the tree and the broken part. Had the break been lower or higher, they would have been crushed. Both trees were about 2 1/2 feet in diameter--no twigs, for sure! [Jalen, in his account to Sue, told her, "They were 80 to 60 feet high!"] Scott said a man camping nearby came over after both incidents. The first time, he told Scott it was a miracle they were spared. The second time, the guy helped Scott get himself and the kids out of the tent, then went back to pack up his own family and get out of there. Jalen has declared he is NEVER going camping again.

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


It's Rose here with a brief update. We've had several people ask about the blog, why there have been no entries for so long. All I can say is that we have been extremely busy here in the heartland.

Sue spent several days at the lake for the annual "Kids' Week" gathering. She and I returned to the Lake last Friday evening (August 12) where she is now with Sabrina and Family for this coming week. On Saturday Jana and John, newly-wed over the Fourth of July Weekend, came for two days. Jana is the daughter of Bobby, our nephew who died suddenly and far too young 13 years ago. Bobby was the son of our brother Bob. Jana and John both live in the St. Louis area where she works for a recruiting firm and he for Cooper Industries.

The wave runner proved to be a popular 'toy.' John is a great guy with kids, so he and Sabrina's sons, Brett and Alex, spent a lot of time in the lake running about about on and behind the thing. Jana and John went out on it and got lost just as a big rain storm moved in. Luckily, they found their way home safely because Jana knew the mile marker where the house is located.

Brother Joe came to the Lake to have dinner with us Saturday evening. We had a great catch-up visit with him. Joe told us Brother Donald was in a car accident recently and, luckily, escaped uninjured even though the car did not. All the airbags inflated which may have been the saving grace.

Margaret and Norm will spend some time mid-week at the Lake. The anticipation for Margaret's fried chicken is running high.

Shirley was in Louisiana for her family's annual reunion. I came home from the lake in time to call for her at the airport. We have had stormy, rainy weather here for two days now which has provided some much-needed water for the area. My drive yesterday, which normally takes 2 1/2 hrs (for everybody but Chris' Shelly!), took me almost four because of the rain and some accidents. Margaret called me as I was driving to tell me she had heard reports of huge slow-downs on Hiway 70. I was in one of them when she called. There was so much traffic yesterday that I actually had to wait in line to buy gasoline at Kingdom City--even with the price at an all-time high. It is one of those curious ironies that I, who have had small cars my entire life, should buy a gas-guzzling SUV at the precise moment gasoline prices skyrocket!

Chris and Shelly and two of their friends went to Chicago this past weekend where they stayed in our apartment. They went to a Cardinals-Cubs game on Saturday and got to see the Cards win one. [Truth is, the Cards rarely lose but did drop three of the four against the Cubs in this most recent series.] Chris and Shelly are great bikers so they took their bicycles to ride on the Lake Michigan stretch of park which runs miles south of our apartment and is breathtakingly beautiful. It is also very, very flat! I took my bike to the Lake where it is also breathtakingly beautiful AND breathtakingly hilly! There are now biking/hiking trails alongside the roads at Sue's house which make the riding safe and provide some of the most glorious biking I've enjoyed yet.

Scott called last evening to report a harrowing experience he and his sons had. They were camping at a park in Kentucky when a storm came through. Scott took the boys to the camp clubhouse to wait out the storm. When they returned to their site after the storm passed, they discovered a huge tree had fallen, narrowly missing their tent. Later another storm came through. The three went into the tent to escape the rain. A huge limb broke off a tree nearby and fell OVER THEIR TENT. The great fortune, truly a saving grace, was that the limb formed a triange over the tent, otherwise they would have been crushed. Scott said he put the boys in their truck, gathered all the wet gear, threw it in the back, and headed home. When he called 15 minutes later, he was still quite shaken. I am shaken now, just writing about it!

We certainly appreciate receiving family news to post here. If anyone provides e-mail updates for us, I'll post them even in Sue's absence. Sabrina has photos which she has promised for blog-posting, and I'll add some from Jalen and Braden's recent visit when I get time.

Lizzie 

Lizzie playing on the beach 

Lizzie playing on the beach in chicago 

Our building in Chicago--a view of it from the beach. 

Lizzie in Chicago 

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


Last Friday was the beginning of Girls' Weekend, our tenth annual, at the Lake. I drove myself over to Suzanne's house, and the two of us rode down together. There were ten or eleven of us, a house full, although several people couldn't make it. Some of the girls are planning another weekend in the Fall. We ate, lay in the sun, rode the wave runner, ate some more, and generally had a good time in each other's company.

August is filling up. I go to the Lake for Kids' week, our 15th annual such event, on Friday morning. Scott will fly into St. Louis that evening, stay for a few days, fly home, then turn around and drive back with the boys on Wednesday, the 3rd. The boys will stay with Rose and Shirley so Scott can have some free days at the lake.

Lizzie, Catrina's daughter, will go with Rose and Shirley for a weekend in Chicago this coming Friday. That trip will include, among other things, a trip to the American Girl Store.

Our friends, Jim and Marilyn Smith, will be here on the 2nd. They are enroute from New York, via Chicago, to various points south.

I probably will come home for a couple of days next week, but will return to the lake to be there over the latter part of Kids' Week.

We will have Jalen and Brayden as much as we can during the next couple of weeks. Later in August we will have Shirley's young friends Jamil and Layla over a weekend. Some time in this busy period, Shirley travels to Louisiana for her family reunion.

Shirley, Rose, and I sat down with a calendar to get all this activity straight and scheduled without conflict. If all of this sounds disjointed and confusing, it is because it IS
disjointed and confusing.

In our all-woman household here, we have an intense interest in, of all things, BASEBALL. Shirley and Rose continue to root for the Cubs in spite of all evidence that they really should be Cardinal fans. I, of course, root, root, root for the old home team--which is doing mighty well. The Cubs were just here for a three-game series. Interesting times at 905 Barnard College Lane. Last night when Perez, a CUB, hit a grand slam to win the game in the 9th inning, it was tense around here. Chris and Shelly were at the game. This morning Chris called, and Rose asked him if they had stayed for the big home run. His answer, a terse, "Yes."

Another interesting development around here is our "garden." We have three, yes, THREE tomato plants. We watch them intently for new green tomatoes. Right now, there are three the size of marbles and a whole lot of little ones.

A note on the various sizes of the photos we post here: Depending upon their origin, it takes different programs to get them to 'stick' here. Rose, who hasn't totally mastered this bit of technical wizardy, runs into limits that she doesn't understand. Hence, we often take what we can get.

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


It's Rose and Sue here with a quick update. There is little to add since these are the dog days of summer, and not much is going on beyond the usual travel to Chicago. I spent the past weekend at Sabrina's, and had a really fine time. We shopped til we dropped on Sunday. On Saturday Sabrina hosted Norm's visiting relatives (his sister Emma, his niece and nephew Joyce and Charles) and various Abbott Clan to a dinner of brisket and goodies. It was a fine occasion. We had some tomatoes and cucumbers from Norm's garden.

Scott and Sherry and Chris and Shelly and various of their friends made their 15th annual float trip/wiffle ball game weekend on some Missouri river this past weekend. The wiffle ball game is the highlight and the reason for the gathering.

This coming weekend is Girls' Weekend at the Lake. There will be twelve of us. I plan on going with some of the bunch on Friday morning.

All this year, I've been slowly working to update the Lake House. Of course, with tons of help. The last pieces are coming together--painting (which Dave Smith has been doing on weekends with Maddog's help), new linens, bathroom accessories, etc. The final, final piece is a new waverunner which Doug delivered to the lake on Sunday. Scott and Chris and Doug at one time owned two such vehicles, but they outgrew them. This one is more for the next generation who are counting the days until they turn 14 and can ride alone. Naturally we girls, who hardly got to ride the old ones, will take it for a lake spin or two next weekend.

Shirley picked up her new Harry Potter book on Saturday, and we've hardly seen her since. As Mother would say, "She has had her nose stuck in that book." I have a new device for my own reading--a Apple ipod. Rose found this miracle contraption, and we have learned how to download some of my favorite authors.

I am seeing a new hand therapist--two visits now. She seems wonderful and has many innovative ideas that are of help, one of which is to have the car adapted so I can drive again. Turns out that after I saw her the first time, I did drive and found it quite do-able. In the past two weeks now Rose and Chris have found numerous occasions when they've needed me to get behind the wheel. I have trouble with the doors and the key on Rose's Lexus SUV. Other than that I can drive as well as I ever did [thanks to Pete who taught me how a very long time ago and probably thought I would never learn to shift and use the clutch.] It's like riding a bicycle. I hadn't driven for over a year, so this is a welcome development. We are looking into having the car rigged to solve the door and ignition issues. There are companies that specialize in modifying automobiles for handicapped, and we have found one here.

The plans for the 100th birthday party, aka Family Reunion, haven't progressed much. We lean toward the first weekend in June, the one after Labor Day. Our hosts, Chris and Shelly, and we need some feedback. I think there is sufficient enthusiasm to make the event happen and for it to be as good as the one we had in Springfield in 1997. Sandi's research in Salt Lake City in the Mormon archives has made us more than a little curious. And Brother Joe continues to glean information about the burial sites and histories of some ancestors. He and Harriet (a cousin on the Lafoe side) visited Welch cemetery to see the new tombstones, then went on to Northview where the two of them reminisced and shared the information they had. Harriet was one of the people who contributed to the tombstone fund. She also did a lot of research into geneology for the '97 reunion.

Joe has written to an old woman, age 96 now, who lived in Northview in 1921 to try to get her remembrances of the people and the place during that period. Rose and I can recall going with Mother to Northview to get groceries at the Willis' store. The store actually belonged to us, and a Willis ran it. [We hope we got these facts straight, but would welcome any elaboration/correction/clarification any of our Dear Readers might have.]

Come to think of it, considering that last week is already a blur in my mind, how we ever construct what happened in the eartly 1900's is beyond me.

Sue's Journey Back to Health

This is Ding checking in. We have narrowed the dates for grandma's 100th birthday party to either next Memorial Day or the weekend after. Please contact Mama or Auntie with your preference. I don't mean to be critical of my elders, but they were supposed to have posted this in their last post. They have a history of gambling away large sums of money to Shirleys family. Perhaps our party has been canceled due to this transfer of funds. It wouldn't surprise me now if the Fontenot's were having a family renunion next year.....If only they would have accepted Uncle Pete's credit card.

Loretta, Shirley's sister 

The Ya-Ya's: Rose, Shirley, Loretta, Sue 

Loretta's son, Michael 

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


Several people have asked to read the eulogy that Mark Goldman delivered at Den's service. Here it is:

"As many of you know, we have a very tight group offriends and we all consider mom and Denny as family. Since 1978 I have observed Denny as the boy friend and husband of my friends’ mom, a father, Grandfather, step father, son, brother, uncle, baseball coach, friend, and self appointed guardian of the no wake zone at the Lake. Looking at all of the pictures yesterday, reminded me of seeing him perform these roles through out most of my life.

Denny loved to tell stories, he loved bragging about his kids, and he would light up when ever his grandkids were around. He would spend hours at the lake telling us about his fishing adventures with his brothers, about playing baseball in his younger days, or his army stories. He also was not shy about sharing his opinions on any subject. Some of his stories could easily be classified as tall tales but we loved hearing them

I had the pleasure of riding to the lake with Denny several times over the years and he would make the 3hour drive seem like it only lasted a few minutesbecause we would be talking the entire way. He would always want to know what was happening with me and he would listen with genuine interest. For the past couple of years he was very concerned with mom’s health and he would share his worries with me along with the many lighter moments.

Denny had a very unique laugh we can all remember. And as much as heloved telling funny stories, he also loved to laugh at our stories and jokes. Scott and I have talked during the last month about how Denny like to act like a tough and gruff guy, yet we all knew what a softie he really was. Scott said he would tell friends he was bringing to the lake for the first time that Den’s bark was worse then his bite. Simply put, that was Denny--the tall tales, the laugh, the bark with no bite.

We will all remember Denny in our own ways. I know I will think of my friend and old baseball coach often and the first time I see a boat or wave runner speed by too close to the docks I will probably scream an obscenity or two in Denny’s honor."

Thank you, Mark Goldman. You did a fine job!

It has been a while since we've updated. Much has happened. We have a lovely e-mail from Cynthia Langston, Bernie and Maudie's daughter, which we will post soon. [We love the newsy e-mails we get from various family, so please write early and often!] Speaking of Bernie, he called today. He and Maudie had travelled to Seattle recently for an assessment about a procedure to improve the circulation in his legs. His Seattle physician said he could not do the procedure, so Bernie is checking about having it done in Spokane.

I also talked with Joe and Pete last week. Joe thought Pete was trying to sell a tractor on e-Bay and had been watching for it, but Pete said he was out of the e-Bay business. Pete also said Joe had been knocked out of the sailboat twice by the boom, but Joe didn't mention it.

Some of Norm's relatives are visiting from North Carolina. All the Abbott Clan were gathering at Catrina and Robbie's today for a cookout.

Shirley's sister Loretta and Loretta's son, Michael, were visiting from New Orleans until yesterday. They had planned to stay longer, but concern about the hurricane cut their visit short.

Yesterday, Shirley, Rose, and I drove to the Mt. Pleasant Winery in Augusta for a surprise birthday party for Chris. [Mike Madden, if you read this, plan on coming to this area some time to tour the wine country just west of here. You will get ideas for your new venture.] The birthday party was in a beautiful garden, overlooking the Missouri River Valley. There were vineyards all around us. It was a swell party and a good time was had by all. However, it did get get pretty warm.

The Fourth of July weekend is always a big one at the Lake. Den especially enjoyed the fireworks. We had another incredible display, and they guys ended it with a tribute to Den.

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




The long-awaited photos from Sandi.

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


Sandi resent the photos that didn't copy to this blog with her recent e-mail. Along with the photos, she sent this update:

"Hi Sue!

What is with these pictures?! I'll send them again as an attachment this time. Hope that works better.

I love the idea of the birthday bash for Grammie! Let's talk more about how I can help. I'm just hesitant to take a lead on something if I'm really too far away to contribute affectively. I'll email Shelly and see what she thinks...

Well, today is the Old Guy's 77th birthday. I haven't called him yet. When I talked to him on Sunday, he was fighting a cold. I hope he didn't get the flu/cold bug I had. It's three weeks later and I'm still not 100%. We should hear today whether the doctors feel Dad is a candidate for this bypass surgery. I looked on the web and it's amazing what they can do with this bypass surgery. I hope they decide to help Dad by doing it. We'll pass on the word when we hear more.

I'm off to work in the garden. Love you guys!
Talk to you soon!
Sandi"

Whoops! Still can't get the photos to Blog. I'll have to go back to the drawing board OR, better still, consult with Chris.

As for the 100th birthday celebration next year, there appears to be a growing interest in such a gathering. Chris and Shelly will host at their home in St. Charles. Brother Joe and Sandi are doing further research into our family history. Pete and Janet are enthusiastic. If any of our Dear Readers have suggestions or want to help with the organization, jump right in.

Sandi, I'm sure that you can be of great help in working up an agenda and helping make sure the occasion is richly rewarding for all who attend. Joe has been sharing some of his findings about ancestors, and it is very interesting. I just wish that now I had paid more attention to Mother when she talked about some of this stuff.

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

Here are two e-mails from Sandi Fellin [Bernie and Maudie's daughter] that we want to share. The second e-mail has photos embedded in it, but they did not copy and paste in this translation:

"Hi Rose and Sue and Shirley,

Got your message about the lost email. Here it is again at the end of this note.

How are you all holding up? I'm sure it's been a very long week for you. I am so sorry not to have made it to Uncle Denny's service. I really wanted to be there for Aunt Sue and family, but I'm afraid I couldn't pull it off. What a great loss we feel here and our hearts go out to you.

I just returned from Salt Lake City where I was working for a week. I spent some time in their Geneology Library collecting some more family history. It was fun. I found census records from 1920 showing Jacob Felin and sons James and Edward as a family and another one with Louis Felin, wife Mary (?) and son William.

I think I found Grandma's census records from 1930 which showed her as the oldest of several children - birthdate 5/1/1901, from but I'm not sure it's correct because I didn't see Uncle Kent's name on anything.

I also found where Giacomo Feelin came in on the ship from Austria (he actually left from Belguim.) Anyway, lots of information that others may already have, but I was facinated by it. I'll have to compare notes with Aunt Marg and Uncle Joe.

Mom and Dad were in Seattle again this week for another evaluation for Dad's leg artery surgery. They will decide next Tuesday (Dad's birthday, BTW), whether they will do a bypass surgery from the aorta down to both legs. Doug told me Dad said it was a minor surgery, but sure doesn't sound that way to me. I'm going to get on the internet and see what I can find out. It is truly amazing what they can do with laproscopy (spelling?) these days. We'll hear more next week.

Keeping you all in my prayers.

Love,
Sandi

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: safelli@comcast.net To: MBoaz35150@aol.com (Aunt Sue Boaz) Subject: Greetings! Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 23:18:48 +0000
Hi folks!

Greetings from Portland! I'm home today and trying to get caught up on things before heading out of town again next week.

So sorry for the sad news about Uncle Den. I remember so well the heaviness that you all must be carrying and I'm there with you. I loved the caring people from Hospice. They are wonderful. Give Uncle Den a hug for me.

I hope he enjoyed the movie "The Aviator". Personally, I hated that movie. It was boring to me and went on and on. My brother Glenn was repeating some annoying thing that Howard Hughes kept saying over and over in his compulsive way in the movie, just to torment me. So, hopefully Uncle Den will enjoy it more than I did.

Glenn came over a couple of weeks ago now to help me with a project in my back yard. He put a garden shed in last year that could double as a guest house. We laid the water pipe, power cable, the phone cable and the t.v. cable in the ground this last time. I had to say no to the computer cable. Glenn wanted me to put a web cam in so I could log in from work to watch my garden grow. I think he was disappointed that I thought this was over the top. We had fun digging a trench and laying the pipes. I can't wait to get power out there. We need another work day to get it hooked up at both ends.

Gardening is my therapy these days. I need to get out today and pick the raspberries, strawberries and yellow zucchini. I've been fighting a bug, so I haven't been able to get out there as much as I want to.

I wanted to share a couple of pictures from my recent visit to Spokane and Seattle. The first one is from a nice dinner out that Dad treated us to in Spokane at the Black Angus. Mom and Dad, Mike and his girlfriend, Rose, Anna and I enjoyed a yummy dinner and a fun time together.

The second picture is in Seattle (Edmonds), right on the Puget Sound with all sorts of ferry and sailboat and other ocean traffic. Again, Mom and Dad treated us to a wonderful dinner. (We sure could have used Pete's credit card!) We were laughing about the Felin family's reference to Turnbow Creek and wanted to start the next generation from our neck of the woods and start referring to the Jamieson Creek gang.

I left my camera in the car, but Doug took this picture of Mom and Cecile and I outside the restaurant as we walked off some of our dinner and enjoyed the sunset over the Sound.

I emailed Uncle Joe, Doug and Aunt Margret about a business trip to Salt Lake City. I wanted to go to the huge Geneology Library there. Maybe I can help in the family history search. I'm looking forward to getting involved. I need some direction from them for what next to look for.

Mom and Dad and Doug and Cecile and I were also talking about Sue's idea of celebrating Grandma's 100th birthday bash. What a wonderful idea! We were wishing we were closer so we knew how to pitch in. Got any ideas?

Give Catrina hugs for us. We are all thinking about her.
I'll sign off for now. It was fun "chatting".

Keeping all of you close in our hearts,
Sandi"

---------------------------
Our mother's birthdate was May 1, 1906. As Sandi mentioned in her second e-mail, next year is the 100th anniversary of her birth. We are tentatively planning a big family gathering in celebration. However, to allow school folk to attend, we will hold it in June rather than on her actual birthday. Chris and Shelly, our local hosts with the mosts, have volunteered to open their home for the event. It surely will be grand to have the kind of information Sandi gathered in Salt Lake City as well as the info Brother Joe has found in his research.

Perhaps to make the event more meaningful and organized, we need a Program Director and a Family Historian. Any volunteers among our Dear Readers? Rose and I are thinking that a caravan around all the local cemeteries might be of interest and/or a slide show of old sights (e.g. The Old Good Place and Crown Store and Turnbo Creek and Lacy Branch) as well as the cemetery plots.

When Chris and Shelly settle on possible dates, we will post more information.

----------------------

I am faring alright, surrounded by loving family and friends. Over the weekend, Sabrina, Dave, Brett, Alex and two friends, and I spent the weekend at the Lake House. We had a glorious time. Maddog joined us for part of the time there and pitched in with cooking and cleaning up. Dave and the boys were enormously helpful, too. I, of course, have limited use of my hands and Sabrina had surgery on her right hand just Wednesday for carpal tunnel so we were not in first form. However, our afflictions did not interfere with our good time. Sabrina and I managed to shop til we dropped--even though we never made it to Target.

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


Den's funeral was Monday. I want to thank all who expressed their condolences at the visitation on Sunday and on Monday. Especially: thanks to:

* Mark Goldman for his wonderful eulogy

* Jack Delaney for his singing

* those who served as pallbearers Chris Groves (from Louisville), Joe Felin (from Springfield), Mark Goldman, Mark Spreitler, Randy Abbott, and Dane Slayton

* My son Chris and his wife Shelly who put together a DVD of photos from Denny's life with accompanying music, who designed and printed the program for the service, and who opened their home to so many after the service

* Again Chris and Shelly and Shelly's mother, Joann, and Shelly's aunt, Kathleen, for the beautiful luncheon and their gracious, unstinting service to all who came

* All who donated to the Hope Happens Foundation and all who sent flowers and plants

* The staff at Barnes-Jewish Extended Care who made Den's stay there a comfortable and comforting time for him and gave us such peace of mind to know that he was receiving such outstanding care

I'm sure I've missed a number of people who made the weekend more bearable.

The photos on this section of the Blog are from Monday, June 20.