Sam
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
We left our Dear Readers hanging about Rose's cataract surgery. The operation was a success and the patient lived. She is very happy to have it over and have it turn out so well. Her vision in her left eye is keener than before, and she is eager now to get the right eye corrected. That surgery is scheduled for November 6. Actually, she says the procedure is so simple and quick that to call it "surgery" is a vast overstatement.
I am in St. Louis this week, chauffering Shirley and Rose about. Both, happily, are now back to driving. My plan is to go to the Lake for the weekend for "Old Girls' Weekend."
Saturday is Stephanie and Dan's 25th wedding anniversary. Amazing! Their son Nathan is hosting a bash, to which Shirley and Rose will go. Alas, Old Girls' Weekend was set up a long time ago, and I had to decline Nathan's invitation. On my 60th birthday, Stephanie put together a big photo album of the party, and did it overnight. I hate missing this event.
Scott and Sherry got to attend a great ballgame, the Cardinals and the Mets Game 5 in which the Cardinals cleaned the Mets' plow. Monday was a rainout, but the game was not called until Scott and Sherry were within 80 miles of St. Louis. They had to turn around, go home, rearrange their Tuesday, and then come in for that game. Bless their hearts, they had to be two tired travelers by the time they got back to Louisville in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Margaret and Norman have been spending a lot of time at their lake lot. Catrina, Robbie, Sam, and Lizzie come for the weekends and are busy building their own cabin on a lot Margaret and Norman gave them.
Pete and Janet's long-time friend, "Slim" Day died on Sunday. He had been ill for over a year, so the death was not unexpected. He and Pete had been friends since childhood.
Shirley continues to mend. She is going to physical therapy once a week now, can drive, and is able to sleep better. This is one grueling recovery as Janet warned her.
Brayden calls me occasionally. He is at the literal age, as this little conversation will demonstrate:
Me: Brayden, can I come visit you?
B: Yes, Granny. You can sleep with me.
Me: Should I drive my green car or should I come in an orange airplane? [Orange to Brayden is Southwest Airlines.]
B: [In an aside to his Dad and brother]: Did you know Granny can drive an airplane?!
Scott and Chris' long-time (since Kindergarten at least) friend Mark Goldman is writing a novel based on factual family history that he is using as his frame. I have been 'editing' for him and enjoying immensely. I think the thing is going to be a best-seller. Mark teaches middle school English in the Ritenour School District, but his real vocation is Writer.
Dave and Judy Meisel, my lake neighbors, continue to be a godsend. They open the house, set the thermostat for my arrival, and welcome both Maddog and me to dinner often. They are wonderful neighbors.
Maddog's father had surgery on Tuesday to improve the circulation to his legs. He may be released from the hospital in Jefferson City tomorrow. Maddog has been caring for him in recent weeks. I can attest to Maddog's very caring ways.
Our Family Gazette could use Greenwood Items from other places. Please, post tidbits and photos early and often!
I am in St. Louis this week, chauffering Shirley and Rose about. Both, happily, are now back to driving. My plan is to go to the Lake for the weekend for "Old Girls' Weekend."
Saturday is Stephanie and Dan's 25th wedding anniversary. Amazing! Their son Nathan is hosting a bash, to which Shirley and Rose will go. Alas, Old Girls' Weekend was set up a long time ago, and I had to decline Nathan's invitation. On my 60th birthday, Stephanie put together a big photo album of the party, and did it overnight. I hate missing this event.
Scott and Sherry got to attend a great ballgame, the Cardinals and the Mets Game 5 in which the Cardinals cleaned the Mets' plow. Monday was a rainout, but the game was not called until Scott and Sherry were within 80 miles of St. Louis. They had to turn around, go home, rearrange their Tuesday, and then come in for that game. Bless their hearts, they had to be two tired travelers by the time they got back to Louisville in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Margaret and Norman have been spending a lot of time at their lake lot. Catrina, Robbie, Sam, and Lizzie come for the weekends and are busy building their own cabin on a lot Margaret and Norman gave them.
Pete and Janet's long-time friend, "Slim" Day died on Sunday. He had been ill for over a year, so the death was not unexpected. He and Pete had been friends since childhood.
Shirley continues to mend. She is going to physical therapy once a week now, can drive, and is able to sleep better. This is one grueling recovery as Janet warned her.
Brayden calls me occasionally. He is at the literal age, as this little conversation will demonstrate:
Me: Brayden, can I come visit you?
B: Yes, Granny. You can sleep with me.
Me: Should I drive my green car or should I come in an orange airplane? [Orange to Brayden is Southwest Airlines.]
B: [In an aside to his Dad and brother]: Did you know Granny can drive an airplane?!
Scott and Chris' long-time (since Kindergarten at least) friend Mark Goldman is writing a novel based on factual family history that he is using as his frame. I have been 'editing' for him and enjoying immensely. I think the thing is going to be a best-seller. Mark teaches middle school English in the Ritenour School District, but his real vocation is Writer.
Dave and Judy Meisel, my lake neighbors, continue to be a godsend. They open the house, set the thermostat for my arrival, and welcome both Maddog and me to dinner often. They are wonderful neighbors.
Maddog's father had surgery on Tuesday to improve the circulation to his legs. He may be released from the hospital in Jefferson City tomorrow. Maddog has been caring for him in recent weeks. I can attest to Maddog's very caring ways.
Our Family Gazette could use Greenwood Items from other places. Please, post tidbits and photos early and often!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Sue and I flew from Spokane to Chicago on Monday, arriving at the apartment around 10:00 pm. It was one long day of travel for us. Turns out Brother Joe was on the same plane from Spokane to Seattle. From Seattle, Joe flew to Kansas City where he had left his car, and Sue and I caught a Southwest flight to Chicago. Pete, who left Spokane a couple of hours before Joe, Sue, and I, also had a long day of travel, AND his Delta flight was two hours delayed getting him to Idaho Fall. Pete is going to buy Delta a watch, he says.
On Sunday evening in Spokane, Bernie, Maudie, Anna, Joe, Pete, Sue, and I had dinner at Anthony's, a lovely restaurant overlooking Spokane Falls. IMonday morning I struck out for a walk before Bernie and Maudie called for us for the trip to the airport. Serendipitously, I found myself walking through a business section of Spokane an began wondering where the Felin print shop might be. Maudie had described a very unique awning that hangs over the front of the shop. A few seconds after my wonderment began, I looked across the street, and there was AB Printing. I took myself there immediately, and Mike gave me a tour of the place. Very interesting! Anna came in while we were touring, and we chatted briefly until I had to rush back to meet the group to go to the airport. It was easy to see how Mike and Anna have continued the success of the print shop begun by Bernie and Maudie. This tour was a highlight of the day for me.
I worked Tuesday in Chicago, then Sue and I returned to St. Louis on Wednesday. Chris called for us at the airport. He is always a breath of fresh air, full of fun, news, and good cheer. He told us about the Guys' Weekend at the lake then left to go do one of his long jogs.
As Sue was readying to drive to the Lake on Thursday morning, St. Luke's Infusion Services called to ask why she hadn't shown up for her IVIG treatment. She hadn't shown up because she didn't know about it! Scrambling to get there in time, she spent Thursday and Friday all day getting the treatment. She left directly from St. Luke's on Friday to drive to the lake and will return tomorrow (Sunday).
Shirley is progressing in her recovery and has had the two best days yesterday and today since the surgery almost four weeks ago.
Monday I am having cataract surgery on my left eye. On November 6 I will have surgery on the other eye. I was hoping to put off dealing with all this, but a second opinion from a really good specialist convinced me to go ahead. It's a nuisance but a necessary nuisance.
We are hoping to see a lot of photos from the anniversary weekend in Spokane get posted here. We will post more when we get time.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Sunday, October 08, 2006
O.K. More from Spokane.
We went to the Grange this afternoon for the anniversary celebration. Bernie and Maudie had a receiving line, and greeted loads of people--family, friends, neighbors, and relatives. There was live music, a great trio that played a whole lot of Johnny Cash and other old favorites. Bernie greeted everyone in the upstairs hall. There was some music playing. Then Doug, the son with the booming voice, returned thanks. He invoked "The Father," for his prayer, but Rose and I, looking on, felt that in his case with his mother, he might have more properly invoked "The Father and The Mother."
After Doug's invocation, we all trooped downstairs to the dining hall and had a feast. There are some really good things about travelling so far and being so old. The young'uns set the "Easterners" at Bernie and Maudie's table and brought us food from the buffet. It was a feast!
Joe, who was best man at the wedding 55 years ago, again gave a moving talk. He gently recalled his last big Fellin gathering in Spokane when he came for Shirley's memorial. He also shared memories of the joyous occasion of Bernie and Maudie's vows. He still remembers the fabulous breakfast Maudie's mother prepared for the attendees following the Mass.
Then more visiting, meeting delightful and interesting family and neighbors and more music by the trio. Joe, Pete, Rose, and I had a marvelous time.
Rose and I have again discovered that Joe and Pete are fabulous company. Both have a wry wit and both are very thoughtful. When I noticed that the gas gauge on Pete's car was very low, I pointed it out to him. He said, "I know, but I'm trying to get my money's worth out of this tank."
Tomorrow we go again to the farm where Bernie and Maudie are hosting a breakfast. Rose has taken dozens of photos (which we'll post soon), and we've asked Sandi to post info and photos on the blog when she has time. We are hoping that by posting a lot of identified photographs we can help keep our far-flung relatives better acquainted. At least, they will know what we all look like.
We went to the Grange this afternoon for the anniversary celebration. Bernie and Maudie had a receiving line, and greeted loads of people--family, friends, neighbors, and relatives. There was live music, a great trio that played a whole lot of Johnny Cash and other old favorites. Bernie greeted everyone in the upstairs hall. There was some music playing. Then Doug, the son with the booming voice, returned thanks. He invoked "The Father," for his prayer, but Rose and I, looking on, felt that in his case with his mother, he might have more properly invoked "The Father and The Mother."
After Doug's invocation, we all trooped downstairs to the dining hall and had a feast. There are some really good things about travelling so far and being so old. The young'uns set the "Easterners" at Bernie and Maudie's table and brought us food from the buffet. It was a feast!
Joe, who was best man at the wedding 55 years ago, again gave a moving talk. He gently recalled his last big Fellin gathering in Spokane when he came for Shirley's memorial. He also shared memories of the joyous occasion of Bernie and Maudie's vows. He still remembers the fabulous breakfast Maudie's mother prepared for the attendees following the Mass.
Then more visiting, meeting delightful and interesting family and neighbors and more music by the trio. Joe, Pete, Rose, and I had a marvelous time.
Rose and I have again discovered that Joe and Pete are fabulous company. Both have a wry wit and both are very thoughtful. When I noticed that the gas gauge on Pete's car was very low, I pointed it out to him. He said, "I know, but I'm trying to get my money's worth out of this tank."
Tomorrow we go again to the farm where Bernie and Maudie are hosting a breakfast. Rose has taken dozens of photos (which we'll post soon), and we've asked Sandi to post info and photos on the blog when she has time. We are hoping that by posting a lot of identified photographs we can help keep our far-flung relatives better acquainted. At least, they will know what we all look like.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Hello, from Spokane, Washington.
It is one beautiful day here; not a cloud in the sky; temperature is about 68 degrees F. Sue, Rose, Pete, and Joe are having a wonderful time with the Fellin Clan. Sue and Rose arrived about 9:00 pm, half hour early. We were standing at the baggage claim, looking to see when Joe's flight would arrive, when Maudie, Anna, Sandi, Tammy, and Cindy saw us from down the hall and came running up to greet us. Hardly ever have we felt so welcome. Minutes later Pete and Bernie walked in and minutes after that Joe Felin arrived. We chattered and visited and took about a million photos, then went our separate ways until this morning.
Sue, Rose, Joe, and Pete checked into the Shiloh Inn. This morning about 25 of us met at a local restaurant for a family breakfast. After that we drove out to the Fellin Farm to visit for a while. Sue, Rose, Joe, and Pete returned here to the Shiloh to change for the party later this afternoon. It was wonderful getting a tour of the farm that Bernie and Maudie and children have called home since 1972. Quite an interesting tour it was. Maudie has a fabulous new kitchen. Bernie sped around in his electric go-cart to show us the out buildings. There is even a refrigeration unit where the Family has prepared the meat (which they raised, slaughtered, and butchered themselves) for many years. Pete and Bernie had lots of stories about this piece of equipment that the two of them somehow found, bought, bartered for, repaired, and used around the place.
Pete has an impressive bit of technology that utterly amazed us. It is a GPS device, about the size of a deck of cards. He programs in our destination, then "Simone" gives directions to that destination as we drive along, and a changing map on a small screen shows where we are. Amazing. Pete calls Simone his "other woman." Says he paid good money for a backseat driver.
Truly, truly, we have come a long way from Turnbo.
Yesterday on the airplane, Sue and Rose explored Sue's new computer. We found photos, programs, games, all sorts of things we didn't know were on it. With some luck, we should be able to put some of the photos below:
It is one beautiful day here; not a cloud in the sky; temperature is about 68 degrees F. Sue, Rose, Pete, and Joe are having a wonderful time with the Fellin Clan. Sue and Rose arrived about 9:00 pm, half hour early. We were standing at the baggage claim, looking to see when Joe's flight would arrive, when Maudie, Anna, Sandi, Tammy, and Cindy saw us from down the hall and came running up to greet us. Hardly ever have we felt so welcome. Minutes later Pete and Bernie walked in and minutes after that Joe Felin arrived. We chattered and visited and took about a million photos, then went our separate ways until this morning.
Sue, Rose, Joe, and Pete checked into the Shiloh Inn. This morning about 25 of us met at a local restaurant for a family breakfast. After that we drove out to the Fellin Farm to visit for a while. Sue, Rose, Joe, and Pete returned here to the Shiloh to change for the party later this afternoon. It was wonderful getting a tour of the farm that Bernie and Maudie and children have called home since 1972. Quite an interesting tour it was. Maudie has a fabulous new kitchen. Bernie sped around in his electric go-cart to show us the out buildings. There is even a refrigeration unit where the Family has prepared the meat (which they raised, slaughtered, and butchered themselves) for many years. Pete and Bernie had lots of stories about this piece of equipment that the two of them somehow found, bought, bartered for, repaired, and used around the place.
Pete has an impressive bit of technology that utterly amazed us. It is a GPS device, about the size of a deck of cards. He programs in our destination, then "Simone" gives directions to that destination as we drive along, and a changing map on a small screen shows where we are. Amazing. Pete calls Simone his "other woman." Says he paid good money for a backseat driver.
Truly, truly, we have come a long way from Turnbo.
Yesterday on the airplane, Sue and Rose explored Sue's new computer. We found photos, programs, games, all sorts of things we didn't know were on it. With some luck, we should be able to put some of the photos below:
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Shirley had her rotator cuff surgery on Tuesday, September 19. The surgeon discovered that the tear was worse than expected, and he found two tendons which were damaged. As a result, Shirley's post-surgery recovery has been extremely painful and miserable. She had a good talk with Janet and was reassured about all the bruising, swelling, and pain she is enduring. It is NORMAL???? Her first physical therapy session was Thursday, and she will have two sessions per week for a while, the next one tomorrow. Her black and blue condition extends over most of the upper right side of her torso and has spread, something Janet experienced too. Shirley has a lot of sympathy for what Janet went through, and Janet's surgery required muscle repair and days in hospital.
Shirley has called upon Mark Goldman, who now rents the Oakland House, during recent days to come move a reclining chair for her. He first brought it up from the basement office to the first floor. A few days later she had him come move it to the second floor bedroom. Thank goodness for Mark! This one chair is the only place Shirley has been able to sleep or rest since last Tuesday. For those of you who know Mark, he has moved a lot of stuff for Rose and Shirley in the past, including his favorite--their concrete garden bench. The first time he tried to lift the top slab, he said, "What in hell is this??" And Mark seldom swears.
Donald and Vita's daughters, Julie and Jennier, own a restaurant/catering business in Plattsburg, MO. Here is the link to their website: http://www.cateringbyjjs.com/ We hope sometime this winter to make a trip to Plattsburg to see the girls, their families, and their business. Jennifer, as a child, always wanted to be Florence Jean Castleberry, a character on the TV show "Alice." She wrote me in a recent e-mail that she still does.
My son, Chris, for most of his life a 'couch potato,' ran a half-marathon last Sunday. His time was 2:17, most respectable for his first long race. He looks like the athlete he has become in these photos: http://www.backprint.com/go.asp?13634221 Click on this link to see by "Baby Boy." Needless to say, I am extremely proud of his achievement.
Chris has also given Maddog and me untold hours of computer help by phone. Maddog and I are such novices, and Chris, the expert, is very patient and NEVER puts us down because we are sooooo dumb about this stuff. My new computer has almost hit the lake several times. [I have no idea why they call it 'high speed.']
I came to St. Louis on Friday, September 15, to attend the St. Louis Jung Society Analysts' Panel Discussion that evening. Of course, Rose and Shirley gave the best of the four talks, and I'm not prejudiced, at least not much. I returned to the lake on Saturday to be with my weekend guests, Leslie and Sam, and Liz and Dave. Leslie was my neighbor in Springfield, and Liz is someone I worked with at GMAC. Sam brought a load of firewood for this winter. Sam is that "King Boy" whose relatives both Joe and Pete remember, hence Sam's nickname. In fact Pete told Leslie that he used to run Hugh King's hounddogs over by the James River, for which Hugh King paid him $.50. I'm not sure of the relationship between this man and Sam, father, grandfather, uncle?
More later. We are out of time right now.
Shirley has called upon Mark Goldman, who now rents the Oakland House, during recent days to come move a reclining chair for her. He first brought it up from the basement office to the first floor. A few days later she had him come move it to the second floor bedroom. Thank goodness for Mark! This one chair is the only place Shirley has been able to sleep or rest since last Tuesday. For those of you who know Mark, he has moved a lot of stuff for Rose and Shirley in the past, including his favorite--their concrete garden bench. The first time he tried to lift the top slab, he said, "What in hell is this??" And Mark seldom swears.
Donald and Vita's daughters, Julie and Jennier, own a restaurant/catering business in Plattsburg, MO. Here is the link to their website: http://www.cateringbyjjs.com/ We hope sometime this winter to make a trip to Plattsburg to see the girls, their families, and their business. Jennifer, as a child, always wanted to be Florence Jean Castleberry, a character on the TV show "Alice." She wrote me in a recent e-mail that she still does.
My son, Chris, for most of his life a 'couch potato,' ran a half-marathon last Sunday. His time was 2:17, most respectable for his first long race. He looks like the athlete he has become in these photos: http://www.backprint.com/go.asp?13634221 Click on this link to see by "Baby Boy." Needless to say, I am extremely proud of his achievement.
Chris has also given Maddog and me untold hours of computer help by phone. Maddog and I are such novices, and Chris, the expert, is very patient and NEVER puts us down because we are sooooo dumb about this stuff. My new computer has almost hit the lake several times. [I have no idea why they call it 'high speed.']
I came to St. Louis on Friday, September 15, to attend the St. Louis Jung Society Analysts' Panel Discussion that evening. Of course, Rose and Shirley gave the best of the four talks, and I'm not prejudiced, at least not much. I returned to the lake on Saturday to be with my weekend guests, Leslie and Sam, and Liz and Dave. Leslie was my neighbor in Springfield, and Liz is someone I worked with at GMAC. Sam brought a load of firewood for this winter. Sam is that "King Boy" whose relatives both Joe and Pete remember, hence Sam's nickname. In fact Pete told Leslie that he used to run Hugh King's hounddogs over by the James River, for which Hugh King paid him $.50. I'm not sure of the relationship between this man and Sam, father, grandfather, uncle?
More later. We are out of time right now.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Labor Day company - Suzanne, Doug, Josie,lucas, Goldman, Maddog, Mike Lynch, Derrington, Stacy, Riley, Eric Julie and boys, and Scott and his boys. Eric and Julie are interested in the house next door. It is a smart time of year to be buying a house in this area.
Scott went to Steely Dan concert Labor Day night and Shirley, Rose, and I got to keep the Brayden and Jalen.
Abbotts have been camping for weeks and only come home for laundry and grass mowing. [Probably tomatoes out of their garden if Sabrina hasn't beat them to it.]
Joe and his dog, Pepper, came for lunch one day. He didn't have pete's credit card so we had to eat in.
Sweat shhirt weather arrived this morning.
When something isn't quite right with the computer, Maddog accuses me of right-clicking.
Rose is in chicago. Shirley came back yestrerday. Goldman picked her up at the airport. Je was concerned about she would think of his car. Goldman left his car at Rose and Shirley's for a few days, and Rose caught a dog trying to hump it.
Jana and John took baby Ellie back to Kansas over Labor Day for christening. Cindy spent most of the weekend holding Ellie.
Sunday was grandparents day. I didn't hear from my grandchildren. Guess they forgot, or like me had never heard of grandparents day until today.
Joe sent us an obituary notice for Eddie LaFoe, who lived in El Paso. He died in July. When someone of us, probably Chris, figures out how, we'll post it on the Blog. Eddie LaFoe was the son of our paternal grandmother's brother. Eddie LaFoe's brother was the brother of Harry LaFoe who is Harriet LaFoe Natale's father. [Joe, let me know if I got this right, please.]
Scott went to Steely Dan concert Labor Day night and Shirley, Rose, and I got to keep the Brayden and Jalen.
Abbotts have been camping for weeks and only come home for laundry and grass mowing. [Probably tomatoes out of their garden if Sabrina hasn't beat them to it.]
Joe and his dog, Pepper, came for lunch one day. He didn't have pete's credit card so we had to eat in.
Sweat shhirt weather arrived this morning.
When something isn't quite right with the computer, Maddog accuses me of right-clicking.
Rose is in chicago. Shirley came back yestrerday. Goldman picked her up at the airport. Je was concerned about she would think of his car. Goldman left his car at Rose and Shirley's for a few days, and Rose caught a dog trying to hump it.
Jana and John took baby Ellie back to Kansas over Labor Day for christening. Cindy spent most of the weekend holding Ellie.
Sunday was grandparents day. I didn't hear from my grandchildren. Guess they forgot, or like me had never heard of grandparents day until today.
Joe sent us an obituary notice for Eddie LaFoe, who lived in El Paso. He died in July. When someone of us, probably Chris, figures out how, we'll post it on the Blog. Eddie LaFoe was the son of our paternal grandmother's brother. Eddie LaFoe's brother was the brother of Harry LaFoe who is Harriet LaFoe Natale's father. [Joe, let me know if I got this right, please.]
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