More news from our far-flung family. Harriet Natale (nee LaFoe) called from Fort Myer, FL, to say she received her invitation but would note be able to attend. Joe had called her some time ago to tell her of the upcoming event. Some of you will remember that Harriet and her late husband came to our last reunion and that Harriet shared with us the geneology research she had done.

During our conversation, Harriet told me she has a half-brother, Harry LaFoe, who lives with his wife, Marian, in Cape Girardeau, MO. They have two sons, William (wife, Tricia) and Edward (wife, Bonnie). William and Tricia live in Cape Girardeau, and Edward and Bonnie live in Ballwin, MO.

My paternal grandfather, Giacomo Felin, married Katie LaFoe. I believe (Brother Joe, please correct me if I'm wrong) Katie had a brother Edward LaFoe who was the father of the first Harry LaFoe. This Harry LaFoe is the one who, with his wife, had a grocery store in Springfield, MO. He was married twice. With his first wife, they had Lorraine, Frieda May, and Harry. With his second wife, they had Harriet, the cousin who called me.

After talking with Harriet, I called Edward (the one who lives in Ballwin) and gave him information about the reunion as well as the address of this weblog. He told me his father had done some research into the family geneology and would be interested in the reunion. So I then called Harry in Cape Girardeau and talked with him. After trying to figure out just how he and I are related, we quickly concluded that our family history is a complicated one!

At any rate, I am hopeful some of these LaFoe connections will join us next Saturday.

It's Rose here with a quick update. I just had a wonderful conversation with Elaine, our first cousin, daughter of Uncle Kent and Aunt Paula. [Uncle Kent was mother's youngest brother.] Elaine lives near Atlanta and has a grown son and a granddaughter. She may make it to the reunion but isn't sure yet. I assured her that we could find a bed for her if she can get here. Elaine, there are so many questions I neglected to ask while we were on the phone. Would you please click on the 'comments' icon and fill all of us in about your married name, your family, where you live, and any other details you might wish to share. Especially include your e-mail address Also, when your travel plans are set, someone of us will call for you at the airport.

Shelly has provided detailed driving instructions to her and Chris' house. Here they are:

"From 70: either East or West - Take the Hwy 94 Exit, which is the second exit West of the Blanchette Bridge. Head South remaining on 94 until an electrical light at Harvester. Directions continued from asterisks bolded below.


From 270 North to 40 West: Go over MO River Bridge, 1st exit is HWY 94, take a right - continue through several lights to Kisker Road electrical light (Dirt Cheap on right), take a right - go almost 2 miles and take a left on Towers Road. Head another 2 miles (you will past Lakeview Farms - Sampson on left). Our subdivision is the Vineyards on the right Napa Lane - go past the clubhouse and tennis courts - second left - French Oak Lane. Go around the curve - we are 4011- Trailblazer will probably be in the driveway.

{I have found that Page is quicker, since both 40 and 94 are a pain - Your choice}

From 270 North to Page/364 West: Take Page west until the first electrical light - *****Harvester Road, take a left. Go right around the corner to the next light, Caulk's Hill (Walgreens on rt./Shell on lt.) Take a left. Continue a few miles until the first Stop sign - Towers road - Take a right. The second left will be the Vineyards Subdivision - Napa Lane - go past the clubhouse and tennis courts - second left - French Oak Lane. Go around the curve - we are 4011- Trailblazer will probably be in the driveway.

Be prepared for crazy, HUGE puppy to greet you!!!!

REMEMBER: 4011 FRENCH OAK COURT. If the instructions above don't do it for you, try Mapquest."

Sue called a bit ago to say she is at the lake, has had dinner, done some shopping, had the air conditioner fixed, and was planning on staying up for the arrival of Scott and sons.

It's Sue here, and I am home. My physician released me this morning with no restrictions but with instructions to drink Gatorade. My plan is to get packed and drive to the lake this afternoon where I will meet up with Maddog to do get-ready-for-the-holiday-weekend things.

We had a temporary miscommunication about the Family Reunion. We will gather at Chris and Shelly's at 3:00 pm on Saturday, June 3. Chris will post a map here. Will all Dear Readers please make note and tell anyone else that you know plans to attend. It will be Saturday at Chris and Shelly's and Sunday afternoon at Dan and Stephanie's.

Bernie and Maudie's daughter Sandy called last night. She and one sister, Cindy, will be arriving late on Thursday night, June 1. Then Bernie called to say they are RV'ing here slowly and will arrive sometime next week. Margaret, Sue, and I have been consulting about details all along. Please bring any old photos that you might think would be of interest.

Joe and family are driving from Springfield, and the word from Joe is that Brian Madden may be able to make it. Pete and Janet are driving from Idaho Falls and will arrive on June 1 in the evening.

We need more RSVP's! On Friday we are considering making a reservation for (????) at a restaurant where anyone who wishes can gather.

Sue called me just now, very upset that she is to remain in the hospital. Her sodium level is still low, and the doctor won't let her come home until it is normal. She feels fine, so being confined like this is very, very trying. Her hospital phone number is 314 523 2796. She is in St. Luke's Hospital, 232 South Woods Mill, Chesterfield, 63017, Room 7623, Bed 1.

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


Sue is still in St. Luke's Hospital. Her physician is keeping her another day because her sodium level is still low. Yesterday the level was o.k. Today it is down again. The doctor is thinking that some medication her neurologist recently increased might be the cause as reduced sodium level is one side effect.

Since recovering from the flu-like symptoms, Sue feels fine. Yesterday she probably walked a couple of miles. As you might guess, being stuck another day at that place has her depressed, especially since this was the week she had planned on being at the lake.

More when there is more to report.

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


This is Rose with a quick update. Sue fell ill during the night Saturday with severe flu-like symptoms. Sunday morning, following instructions of the on-call physician, Shirley and I took her to the emergency room at St. Luke's. The team there got her on in IV drip quickly, and that started making her feel better. Blood tests showed her sodium level was low, so that meant an overnight stay in the hospital. She may come home today or may have to stay until tomorrow. She called this morning to say she feels much better, stomach settled down, no nausea, and only a mild headache. Looks like an old-fashioned case of viral flu from which she is recovering quickly.

The timing is terrible as Sue was all set to go the lake on Sunday to be there through the Memorial Day weekend. That trip is now delayed at least until Wednesday. The best laid plans . . . .

More when we know more.

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.

Shelly, my daughter-in-law and our co-host for the family reunion, is organizing to send out invitations this weekend. We will send to all the family members we have addresses for, but we will surely miss some who will want to come. PLEASE ALERT US AND SEND ADDRESSES ASAP. You can e-mail to me (MarthaBoaz@aol.com) or to Chris and Shelly (dingspreitler@hotmail.com).

Joe Felin has bought his new van, a Chevrolet Uplander, an excellent choice we think. Also a sign that Brother Joe is returning to normal after his hair-raising heart surgery. I am about to purchase a Saturn Ion. Brayden, with whom I have consulted, insists that I get a "geen color one." Turns out the green (a cypress green) is very pretty and would be my choice. However, there is not one to be found with the accessories I require. This is model change so the pickins' are slim for what I'm after. Looks like cherry red will be the color.

Doug and Suzanne had me over for dinner last night. When I was telling them about my car and about getting the key modified for my hands, Doug said, "What! Don't pay for that. Bring me the key, and I'll do it for nothing." So, that's what I am going to do. They surely make me feel welcome and take extra pains to care for me.

Shirley is slowly improving from the effects of her fall five weeks ago. She will undoubtedly have to have that rotator cuff surgery before all is said and done. She's resigned to it and wants to get it behind her. She will see her physician/surgeon on Monday.

Margaret Ann is doing some doctoring as a follow-up to her recent hospital stay. She saw her neurologist this week and will have an MRI and some blood tests next week. Still no explaination for the dizzy spells she has suffered. The good news is that her heart is fine.

I never thought I would look forward to the day when I would be eligible for Medicare, but that day has come. On July 1 I will get Medicare coverage and can drop the very expensive ($1900/month) health insurance I have now. All things considered, I've been lucky to have insurance at all. Catrina, my most important health care provider, is fixing me up with a supplemental policy and is suggesting Humana for prescription drug coverage. Anyone else have input on this subject? When I last saw my neurologist he suggested I have the immuno-globulin treatments about every six months. I should have the next one in June. Shirley's sister has this kind of treatment regularly, but she is required to stay in the hospital overnight for it because of a Medicare requirement. I surely don't want to have to do that, but will if necessary.

Remember the word for today: ADDRESSES!

Shirley, Rose, and I returned to St. Louis last night. Mark Goldman called for us at the airport. We were three old bedraggled ladies by the time we got home. Quickly, though, we have settled into our regular routines.

We had a updating e-mail from Brother Joe about his doctor visit today, which we are happy to post here:

"X-ray showed completely clear, lungs & heart continue to sound good. In my analysis, things are going as good as can be expected, probably even better than expected!

I will be going back on May 2nd & 3rd, to see the heart Dr. and get going on some monitored
cardiac rehab. Probably 3 days per week.

Weight limitations will continue through June, to insure nothing is pulled loose in the chest surgery area.

He said this type operation uses up all the reserves & I will also be building them back, as
progress continues.

Love, bro Joe"

We neglected to mention to Joe that Rose and I stopped by a Chevrolet dealer in Covington, KY, to see what the Uplander (the van he is considering) looks like. I went with Joe several years ago when he purchased his current van and helped his choose it--a task I enjoyed immensely. From what we saw of the Uplander, he did very well this time without my input.

Tomorrow Rose and I will make a quick trip to the lake to make sure all the work was done to my satisfaction--this from the leaky faucet in the new bathroom that did so much damage. The new whole house water filter is in, but still the shower doors are not installed. It surely takes a act of god to have anything happen when you are 150 miles from the scene. Rose and I will go to Home Depot this time since Lowe's completely dropped the ball on my order. Lowe's even lost the order completely. After some argument with the store manager, he did refund the monies I had already paid.

Speaking of home repair, Rose and Shirley noticed some lifted shingles on the roof of their house last week. Today the Farmer's Insurance adjuster came to take a look and determined the house had $6500 of hail damage! Looks like a new roof, siding repair, and other stuff will get done here to the complete surprise of all three of us.

Yesterday Shirley, Shirley's sister, Sue, and I drove from Covington, LA, here to Lake Charles, LA. The devastation we have seen during our trip south has been awesome. You can't believe how much worse things look first-hand from the impressions you get from television.

On Friday we drove through the Lower Ninth Ward and through St. Bernard Parish. Unbelievable! After all these months there is debris everywhere, houses collapsed or heavily damaged, huge trees lying on the ground, whole areas seemingly untouched since Katrina blew through. We drove past the school where Shirley's sister, Loretta, taught for years. She pointed out how it was then because now it is a pile of rubble.

Here in Lake Charles where Rita struck the hardest conditions are better, but evidence of the storm is everywhere.

It is horrific, horrific. And we have seen only a small fraction of the horror--and that eight months past the event.

At one point Sue asked who would want to live in such a god-forsaken place, especially after god left such a mess in his wake. As it turns out, lots of people must want to live here because property values are soaring and the traffic is something to behold. There is a lot of construction in the areas north of New Orleans, especially on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain in Covington and Slidell.

Yesterday was Sue's birthday. Shirley dropped the two of us at a new and luxurious casino where we gambled for a while (lost everything), then had a grand dinner in a fabulous restaurant next door (charged everything). It was a nice way to spend this birthday. We both reminisced about this day 20 years ago when we saw "Cats" in London followed by a birthday dinner, also at a nice restaurant. The other birthdays are mostly a fog--except of course for the big 60 bash when Sue was so ill.

Now we are about to check out of this hotel and head south again. More later.

Hello from Sue and Rose in Louisiana. We flew into New Orleans yesterday afternoon, rented a car, shopped at Whole Foods, then drove across Lake Ponchatrain (sp?) to Shirley's sister and brother-in-law's home here in Covington. Rose and I came here to Barnes and Noble Bookseller this morning to sign on to the internet and do a brief update.

We haven't seen a lot of Katrina damage yet, but we haven't yet visited any areas that were devastated. Last night we drove to Slidell, about 30 minutes from here, to visit Shirley's niece and her new baby. The child, Savanna, is beautiful! In Slidell we could see a whole lot of debris still along side the streets, but it was too dark to see more.

More about our trip later. We return to St. Louis on Tuesday.

Shirley saw her orthopedic specialist on Tuesday and is scheduled to see another specialist (this about her ankle) and to have an MRI of her shoulder next week. It is too soon to know the extent of injuries or the required fix. She is still in a lot of pain and favors her right shoulder by wearing a sling.

Chris and Shelly are having a big garage sale on May 6. Rose, Shirley, and I have been gathering stuff for the event. Mark Goldman, one of my favorite sons, has been helping with the loading and ferrying to the Spreitlers' house.

We had a great chat with Brother Joe on-line Monday evening. He sounded just great, but his typing is still slow. Poor guy, he had a hard time responding to our lightning fast old-secretarial skill. Joe has to see his doctor before he will be allowed to drive. The new car fever was unaffected by his hospital stay. He is thinking of buying a Chevrolet Uplander--whatever that is. Rose and I have been looking for one on the road. They must be rare.

Brayden just called his Granny to say thank you for his and Jalen's Easter Cards with money enclosed. I think his father twisted his arm to get him to talk because he sounded like he was doing the obligatory thing.

Brayden is into his bathroom-humor state. Just now he said something about 'poo poo' and laughed loudly, then repeated himself several times. God knows what he was telling me.

Dear Readers, if you think we are going on and on here, it is because we had to pay for two hours of internet access, and we are determined to get our money's worth--especially since we don't have Pete's credit card. And Pete has put a lien on Joe's.

We are awaiting word from all folk who plan to attend the family reunion JUNE 3-4 in St. Louis. Also, we need stories to help put together an informative evening. Mark Goldman has offered to gather any material into book form for us.

We are tracking Brother Joe's progress. He went home from the hospital on Thursday, April 7, and is progressing nicely. Pete told us he talked with Joe yesterday, and Joe is now able to walk two blocks but is not driving yet. His family is taking excellent care of him.

Pete also told us that Janet had her rotater cuff (shoulder) surgery on Tuesday and is recovering, albeit with a lot of pain. Daughter Merri, who several weeks ago had a similar surgery, has been helping out with Janet's care.

Shirley is on the mend, slowly, from the awful fall she took on our stairway two weeks ago. She is doing lots of physical therapy, wearing her right arm in a sling, and taking lots of pain killers. She will see the orthopedic specialist on Tuesday and hopefully will get good new then.

Bernie called today. He and Maudie had gone to son Mike's birthday celebration, along with most of the other family. Bernie and Maudie are making plans to come to the family reunion as is part of their family. They are going to drive and bring their mobile home.

Rose and I talked with Chris and Shelly a bit today about reunion plans. This should be a nice event. One of Chris and Scott's friends, Mark Goldman who is a writer and an English teacher, has volunteered to put together a "Family Story Book" if we provide the content. If any of our Dear Readers are so inclined, we would love to get your stories--happy, sad, historical, or otherwise. We'll hand them over to Goldman for putting into book form.

Mark and Karen had a luncheon today at their new house in Kirkwood. We got to meet some of Karen's family and had a wonderful time. Their home is stunning even though they are not nearly settled in yet.

Rose has now found that she can post video on the internet. We did a small film (art?). Should you wish to view it, simply click on the "Felin Family News" link on the upper right hand of this page. The link will take you to Podomatic where you can click on (small tab at bottom left of post) "Sue, Talking about the Recent Trip to Louisville." This first video podcast is a test. Let us know what you think. The possibilities for sharing family news are great.

We are happy to report that Joe is recovering nicely from his surgery. He had a four-way bypass on Friday, will be in the intensive care unit for two-three days, then in a regular room for a few days more. Margaret has been talking with Mary to get updates, and Lisa has checked in with us.Lisa told us she knew her father was fine when the nurse reported to her that she had told him to keep his covers on, that he was exposing his 'privates.' Joe responded, "You're lucky. Usually I charge a dollar for that."

On the other news front, Shirley took a terrific head-first fall on the front stairway Friday afternoon. She refused a call to 911, so Rose took her to the St. Mary's Emergency Room where she waited in the "Fast Track" for 5 1/2 hours to be examined. [God help those on the slow track!] After x-rays of her right arm, hand, and shoulder, and a cat scan of her face, the doctors determined she had no broken bones and no damage to her face or her eye. However, she has some torn ligaments. She has a very black eye and very sore arm and shoulder. The emergency room staff rigged her up with a temporary splint and sling to help relieve the pain and pressure and sent her home with instructions to see her primary care physician on Monday or Tuesday.

Jana and John had a beautiful, almost eight pound baby girl Friday evening. Jana's mother and step-father drove all night to greet this new grandchild. Her name is Ellie Lyn, and mother and daughter are doing fine. We plan to visit them this afternoon.

This is Guys' Work/Play Weekend at the Lake. Their project this year was to power wash and stain the deck. Chris called this morning to report Mission Accomplished. They worked hard and they played hard, and they ate a lot. As usual, Doug provided guidance and leadership and prodding for the project to Chris, Scott, Mark Goldman, Maddog, and Danny.

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


NEWS FLASH: Brother Joe had a heart attack yesterday morning and is in Cox Medical Center in Springfield, MO. His symptoms started Wednesday morning and became severe enough that he called his daughter, Beth. Beth went to his house immediately and took him to the hospital because he refused to let her call an ambulance. Shortly after arriving at the Emergency Room, Joe received treatment that relieved the symptoms and stabilized him. After some tests, doctors determined that he has blockage in three arteries and will require bypass surgery.

Joe is in the cardiac intensive care unit at Cox South. The number for Cox is 417 269-6000.

Lisa, Joe's other daughter, called last night to fill us in on this development. Rose and I talked with Joe this morning. He sounded like himself, inquiring about everybody else. His surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and one troubling question, his platelet count from an existing condition, is settled. The count is fine and poses no issues for surgery. Joe is eager to get the whole thing over with.

We'll update as we get new information.

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


We have a lot of news to report, some good, some not so good.

First of all, Margaret was hospitalized briefly for chest pains. She was in intensive care for three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of this week), completed a series of tests, and is now home. The tests showed that her heart is functioning very well, and the problem she experienced has nothing to do with her heart. Her primary care physician will recommend a neurologist for Margaret to consult for further examination. She feels much better, and we are all very relieved.

Bernie and Maudie at last report were leaving their daughter Kaye in Mesa, AZ, to travel north. They were to meet Pete and Janet for a couple of days. Pete and Janet returned earlier in March to Idaho Falls, and Janet is scheduled for shoulder surgery in April. We are happy to hear that Bernie is up and about and once again able to travel.

Mark, Chris, and I (sometimes joined by Shelly, Karen, and Rose) continue our weekly luncheon outings. We have developed an international taste, trying Thai, Greek, and of course good old American food. Surely a long way from Turnbow not to mention Miss Muzzie's Cafe.

I continue to battle problems with getting lake house up and running for the upcoming season. Right now, the downstairs bedroom is torn up due to the leak from the new bathroom above it. Now I'm told it will be another 20 to 30 days before all the repair and replacement is complete. Thank goodness, my bathroom contractor's insurance is covering the costs of this work!

Rose and I made a whirlwind trip to the lake on Tuesday-Wednesday of this week and lighted fires under the insurance company agent and his contractor. [We invited brother Joe to join us for dinner, but he was busy with overseeing work on the rental house and couldn't come. Too bad, because we had a fabulous dinner at HK's, Lodge of the Four Seasons. We could have used one of our brother's credit cards for sure!] Mark Goldman and I will return next Tuesday to look over the estimate, select the carpet and paint colors, and light some more fires.

In spite of the upheaval, several fine young men will be at the lake house beginning March 30th for their annual show-up-for-work-and-play trip. I think if they don't come, the others shame them into it the next year. Of course, it is purely wonderful that they do so much and are so good to me. These are the same young people I ran off when they partied at our house when they were all teenagers and in high school. I've forgiven them and obviously they've forgiven me.

Many of you know that our great niece Jana and her husband John now live in the St. Louis area. They are expecting their first child April 1, and we three old ladies are eager to have a new baby near us. Jana is our late brother Bob's granddaughter. Rose, Shirley, and I (with a lot of help from Shelly) hosted a brunch/shower for Jana and John last Sunday. It was great to bring far-flung family together even though some didn't quite know how Jana and John fit into the family and vice versa.

On a more somber note, Jana's mother, Cindy, (widow of our late nephew Bobby) is at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where she had surgery on Monday. Jana e-mailed us a report about her mother. The surgeons were not able to remove all the tumor (colon cancer) but were able to get most of it. Cindy will be at the clinic for 10-14 days and after that will have a four-week recovery at home. If anyone wishes to send a note or card, send it to Cindy Parr, Rochester Methodist Hospital, 201 West Center Street, Patient Care Unit Station 5-2, Room 215A, Rochester, MN, 55902.

My Springfield former neighbor, Leslie, who is newly-married to "that King Boy, Sam," phoned me about her days in Marshfield recently. Sam's grandmother, Lena King, died on Saturday, March 18. Visitation was at the Fraker Funeral Home in Marshfield with burial in the Marshfield Cemetery. The service was at a country church on Highway A near the same road on which Mrs. King lived her entire live. Leslie spoke with some of Sam's relatives, including Shirley Felin (wife of Red Felin). All remembered the Felins and Mother's store on the square. After the burial, Leslie visited our family plot in the cemetery.

Today Chris and I travel midway to Louisville to meet Scott and bring Brayden and Jalen home with us for the weekend. Tomorrow Sabrina's boys have a big basketball game which we plan to attend. Brayden and Jalen will have to go home on Sunday, but we will again have them in two weeks for a longer period. I doubt if they are as excited as we are.

I haven't bought a car yet. In fact, I am approaching Joe's record time for THINKING about buying a new vehicle. Meanwhile I continue to drive Rose's fancy Lexus. Once I find someone to help me at the lake house this summer, I'll go ahead with the purchase. The way things stand now, it looks like Maddog (Chris Lynch) will spend the summer at the lake house with me, and I am looking for a woman who could come for an hour or so daily to help. If any Dear Reader knows someone who is looking for a small part-time job, please contact me.

PLANS FOR THE FAMILY REUNION THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 3-4 are moving slowly. Pete will be our M.C. Chris and Shelly have reserved their subdivision club house for Saturday evening, June 3. Stephanie is gathering and scanning a number of old photos for the event, and Chris will be making a slide-show video of other photos. We need feedback and some idea of who will be attending. The Saturday evening dinner will be catered, so we will be asking for exact numbers later on, but a ballpark figure would help us now. Of course, we are open to suggestions for making this a memorable occasion.

Mark, Chris, and I had one of our Friday luncheon dates this past week. We went to Madison's on Manchester. A good time was had by all. As we reported earlier, Mark and Karen have bought a house together in Kirkwood. Friday Mark told Chris and me that he has already sold his house in Fenton for the asking price, first time I've ever heard of that. And the house sold in two days! Mark and Karen are looking forward to getting moved and settling into their new home.

Friday evening Shirley, Rose, and I stopped by Our Lady of Presentation Parish Hall to pick up Lenten fish. Chris, Shelly, Shelly's mother and aunt were there, waiting in line for their Lenten fish. We had a great visit with them. Our Lady of Presentation is the church where Donald and Vita were married and where Vita's mother Leah is a member. I looked around for her but didn't see her.

We talked to Pete on Saturday. He and Janet are heading home to Idaho Falls today. They are returning a week or so early this year because Janet has to have surgery on her shoulder. Meanwhile Bernie and Maudie are headed south to Mesa, AZ, where their daughter Kaye lives. It is awfully good news that Bernie is now able to travel again. They are taking their Fifth Wheel, their home away from home, so they will have a luxurious trip.

In anticipation of my summer at the lake, I have been looking at new cars. The Chevrolet Aveo has caught my eye and was my choice until Shirley got me to go look at Saturns. Now I'm confused and leaning toward a Saturn but afraid to go to a Hummer dealer.

We heard from Joe Felin this week. His new car fever may have passed. Seems he is investing in family travel rather than in new vans these days. We had hoped Joe could meet us at the lake for one of our great dinners and visits, but guess he couldn't get Pete's credit card. [Actually he was booked with appointments and family commitments.]

Rose is off to Chicago tomorrow for a special teaching gig. She will return Wednesday, the day Shirley goes to Chicago. Rose returns to Chicago on Saturday. This is going to be a whirlwind week. Next weekend I plan to stay with Chris and Shelly on Saturday night and with Margaret and Norm on Sunday. Chris and Shelly have said they want to test my new-found long distance walking abilities on the Katy Trail. I hope the weather permits.

This is all the new news from Lake Woebegone. REMEMBER THE FAMILY REUNION. MAKE PLANS TODAY.

After talking with Chris and Shelly about the blog entry in which I am seeking someone to stay with me at the lake this summer, they urged me to make it clear that the person would have her own room and would not be displaced when other guests are there.

Rose and I made a quick trip to the lake on Tuesday to check out the new shower in the master bath. It is nearly complete and is very beautiful. However, the shower controls had a drip that had gone undetected by the two men who did all the work. On Wednesday morning Rose and I discovered that the leak had damaged the ceiling in the downstairs bedroom and had soaked some of the carpet. I immediately called the contractor who arrived at the door in about ten minutes. After a brief investigation he discovered the problem and set about fixing it.

When Rose and I left in the late morning, two guys were busy with a wet vac and saws. They were so sorry for the problem (which was theirs) and so quick to respond that we didn't even get too upset. They promised to make the situation right, fix all the ceiling and wall that had to be removed, and repair the leak.

I would like to spend as much of the coming summer at the lake as I can. However, I can't stay alone yet and still need help with bathing, toilet, dressing, shopping, cooking, etc., because of the limited use of my hands. I don't need somebody 24/7. I'm looking for someone, perhaps a student, who would spend part of the summer with me but could be free most weekends when I have other guests. I can pay a small stipend plus room and board, and the person can always find a job in the lake area since the time I would require her would be rather minimal.

I am posting this so that any Dear Reader who knows someone who might be interested in the position can have them call me.

It has been a while since we updated this blog. We have been in Florida, basking in the sunshine. Truth to tell, we didn't give updating a lot of thought. Also, we didn't have access to the internet. Our weather for our twelve-day stay was spectacular, the best we ever had. It was about 80 degrees F max during the day and down to 50 or so at night. And not a cloud on any horizon. We played a lot of cards, walked our legs off, ate, and rested. I was most happy to discover than my walking has so improved that I actually got up to a four-mile distance on the last two days. Not four miles uninterrupted, but four miles total in a day.

We came home Wednesday night to cold, windy St. Louis. Nice to be home, but much nicer to be in Stef and Dan's Florida digs. THANKS, STEPHANIE AND DAN!!!!!

Brother Bernie is having his ups and downs, health-wise. I talked with both him and Maudie today. They, and some of their offspring, are planning on traveling to St. Louis in early June for the family reunion. Right now, though, Bernie is having to stay close to home because his heart has slowed down and may be having some effect on his liver and kidneys. He is tough as a boot so we fully expect him to travel here in June. He and Maudie plan to bring the Fifth Wheel (whatever that is!) to make their stay even more enjoyable.

Bernie and Maudie's oldest daughter, Anna, was in Florida in the Miami area at the same time we were across the state. The distance was too great for any visiting. Anna is studying at a university in Florida and travels there periodically.

I saw my neurologist, Dr. Dooley, on Thursday. He was delighted, DELIGHTED with my progress since my last IVIG treatment. He is a kindly old fella, but truth is I mostly tell him what I need and when I need it. It was in November 2004 that Chris Costas in Chicago arranged my first IVIG, which Dooley had previously pooh-poohed. Now, four treatments later, Dooley has come around but not without a lot of prodding and poking from me.

Jana (Bob's granddaughter) and her husband John are expecting their first child around April 1. They live in west St. Louis County, and we are hoping to develop a close relationship with this new baby as all three of us LOVE BABIES. We are working on plans for a Sunday brunch get-together for members of the St. Louis family branch to get better acquainted with Jana and John.

Today Chris, Mark, and I had one of our Friday luncheon dates. I must say it is a distinct pleasure to sashay out in public with two such good-looking and charming young men. I am reminded of how much Mother used to love to take Donald and Vita to church with her in Marshfield to "show them off." She said she sometimes felt guilty about her motivation.

We need more feedback about the family reunion so we can make more detailed plans. Pete has agreed to be our M.C. Joe is gathering family history. Stephanie has old photos to scan and copy. We are thinking that on Saturday evening, June 3rd, we would have the Big Gathering, probably at the clubhouse in Chris and Shelly's subdivision. If we can't get the clubhouse (and we won't know until a later date), we will move the gathering to the afternoon in a local park. Mainly, for now we need a ballpark figure on attendance and some volunteers to help organize some activities. For example, would a trip to Webster County and old historical family sites be of interest to anyone? And does anyone have suggestions for the weekend?

I went to Louisville on Saturday to spend a few days with Scott, Sherry, Jalen, and Brayden. It was a grand time for me. Brayden turns three on Sunday, February 12 (Abraham Lincoln's birthday as Jalen proudly points out). Brayden doesn't quite know what it all means but knows he will get presents. Scott is taking them to the circus on Sunday.

What was sad for me is that Brayden has turned from a little toddler into a "Big Boy" in the few weeks since he was here at Christmas. He has a new haircut, very modern, that makes him look extremely mature. Jalen, who is very agile and coordinated, serves as a fine role model older brother most of the time. Brayden tries to do everything Jalen does with a lot more scrapes and scratches than his brother suffers.

Jalen is an excellent student. His school is one of the better ones in Louisville and it shows from all the learning this little man does. He is learning English and math concepts that I didn't learn until Junior High School, and he is in the second grade!

I came home on Wednesday. Shirley and Rose were in Chicago, Shirley returned on Monday and Rose on Tuesday. Today Mark and Chris and I had lunch in Kirkwood after we toured the new old home that Mark and Karen are in the process of buying. It is in an old established part of Kirkwood, and is one fine residence.

Tomorrow Rose, Shirley, and I leave for Florida where we will stay almost two weeks in Stef and Dan's condo on Palm Island. Loretta, Shirley's sister, will meet us at the Tampa airport tomorrow. From there we will make our way south to paradise with numerous stops along the way to buy our provisions. Once on the island, we won't leave unless absolutely necessary. There is not much to be had there so we have to take all food and other luxuries with us. This is our favorite vacation, one we have had to miss for the past two years. Circumstances prevented us from going, so now we are four excited Ya-Yas.

We are awaiting word from Brother Bernie on February 13th after he has his doctor's visit. Although we will be somewhat out of touch, we will have our cell phones and voice mails.

Stephanie has taken a lot of old family photos home with her to scan and otherwise copy on her computer system. She is one organized young lady, so all of us can look forward to much family history available next June. She put together beautiful albums of photos she took at my 60th birthday party which I cherish and look at often.

We are taking the computer to Florida with us, but probably won't have much to write about because card hands make for boring reading. Sunsets too.