John-R also said he had lost 15 pounds in the past couple of months. He did it on purpose.....running on the flight deck in 80-90 degree weather. Where could he have spared 15 pounds on that string-bean body? I am so jealous!
Papa Paul says John-R has put in for shore duty in Silverdale, Washington, as a prison guard. Seems a tad out of character, but who would ever doubt what Paul says?
Molly has a job with Kit’s Camera at Northgate. Something in the film developing department. Sounds interesting. Kit’s has been at Northgate for many years.
Zoe says she has been asked by Heather to be a flower girl at the wedding coming up in August. She will be a very pretty one. That wedding gets lovelier sounding all the time.
Russ called us from Gunnerson, Colorado, where he has just signed up for classes this Fall. He has been living in Colorado long enough now to qualify as a resident, making his college expenses much less. He says he will be taking mostly History. Russ already has quite a few credits from when he was at the college in Alamosa, Colorado.
Meantime, before school starts, he plans to stay on at the hotel in Snowmass Village, where he has been working this past year.
Dave and Ryan came to see us this week. Ryan looks great.... as long as he keeps his cap on. He has a formidable incision across his scalp, just above his hairline, where the surgery was done. Good thing he has a headfull of heavy, black hair which will cover it up within weeks. Main thing is, he is getting along fine. We are so grateful.
Good
news on the “Eye” front, mine, that is. The second opinion I checked
out left me feeling much easier in my mind, although I am no closer to
making a decision whether or not to have surgery done. First of all, he
squashed the worry about general anesthetic, saying it could be done with
a local. Second, if I choose to let well enough alone, I may lose more
of my central vision, but it is not likely I will become completely blind
in that eye. Some of the other worries remain, but I need a few things
to stew about, don’t I?
Received another of Kirby’s great notes from
her home-away-from- home, Colima, Mexico. I haven’t decided whether she
has more interesting adventures than most of us, or if she just tells
about them better. This latest one about cleaning
the highway brought a chuckle worth sharing, if you want to explore
it.
Nan’s newest project is to intercept a mole,
who is “making a bee-line” into their yard, so she can transport him back
into the wilds (Lake Samammish Park), where he can dig tunnels all day
and all night without bothering decentfolks. Her latest plan entails sitting
outside in the wee hours with a flashlight to catch him in the act. She
has no plan to fill him full of buckshot... at this time.
Latest news from Jeremy; he is almost through
with his long trek with the group called Siamese, across the country and
back, playing gigs along the way. Mama Hildy asked him if he was
anxious to get home. His quick response was that they were not making
a lot of money but were having a ball! They are certainly racking up experience
and getting a lot of exposure for the group. Four young men, all their
instruments, and (I suspect) an accumulation of stuff to be laundered),
all enclosed in a tightly packed van, almost guarantees they will know
each other very well by the time they get home, next week.
Hildy and Dan took Vern and me out to
see Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville, yesterday. This is the venue
where Heather and Thomas will have their wedding, in August. Great
place! Beautiful yard where the ceremony will be performed, weather permitting.
If that isn’t possible, the indoor space is hardly second best, with its
own ambience. After taking our time exploring the building and seeing
the thousands of antiques (and much plain old stuff just like some I still
use at home), we had good grilled chicken sandwiches at a nearby cafe,
outside, under a dark green umbrella. Pleasant way to spend a day.
Russ is in the process of driving a U-haul full
of furnishings from Roanoake, Virginia, to Snowmass, Colorado, for one
of his fellow work-persons at the hotel he has been working for this year.
He was here last week, while Ryan was hospitalized. We were so
glad. It was a comfort to them both, and to Dave. Ryan was released
from Children’s on Thursday and seems to be getting along fine. We are
grateful.
Paul sent us a real estate flyer about the “Sarbacker
house”, which he has admired since he was little. It is an elderly white
house with a tower built onto one corner. “Sarbacker” was the name of
the family that lived there when he was a kid. The house faces Woodlawn,
behind us and to the left....across the alley. The flyer advertised the
sale price as $549,000.00. It is of about the same vintage as the house
I grew up in, next door to us.
Russ flew out this morning...back to Virginia, from whence he will be driving a U-Haul back to Colorado, helping a friend. It was great to see him, but hard to see him go.
Nancy and Vern are doing some intensive pattern making for a gazebo- shaped bird feeder for me. I sure hope my resident squirrels don’t like the taste of wood. We have scalloped and shredded plastic to prove they are definitely not gourmets.
Plans go on apace for the Wedding of the Year....Heather’s to Thomas, August 10th. The latest information to be shared: Her attendants will be wearing lavender gowns. Why are we not surprised? Since she was teeny-tiny, lavender/purple have been her favorite colors, a favorite shared by Mom Hildy and Dad Daniel, as well..
Your senior editor is trying, with some success, to learn to read without actually being able to see the words. Now, if I could just get the Post Intelligencer to print their news in #14 sized type, I wouldn’t have to guess at what is going on in the world.....or, maybe guessing is better than knowing, in this case. I can always check out “Lockhorns” (my favorite cartoon) with a magnifying glass. And Nan and John are always there to catch my typos.
Haven’t heard from John-Robin for some time, but understand his ship has its bow pointed in this direction.
Suzie, Gwen, Kurt, and Amina are back home after visiting Kirby in Colima. Kirby sends great e-mails. We will be using some quotes in the very near future.....with her permission.
Perfect weather....golden sunshine and blue sky, made even more lovely with a few puffy white clouds.
A beautiful natural log container, planted with an apricot and rose tipped begonia, surrounded with deep, velvety purple-rose impatients is new on our patio. The rough furred Teddy bear and the soft furred kitten are still sitting with their arms wrapped around each other, as they came into my life. Princess sniffs, but hasn’t attacked .
Paul came by on his way to History House, delivering a card and his own, special hug. I can’t describe that hug, but don’t ever want to be left on the outside of one, either.
Hildy and Dan will make their visit on Tuesday, which will be another special day....... On the 13th, Vern and I will celebrate our 59th Wedding Anniversary! 59 years! It seems only yesterday, until we think of all the things (and people) that happened during those years! Then, we know it is a momentous occasion. One heck of a lot of people can be grateful.
Our Wedding Day
It is also the day after a great party at Ralph and Nancy’s home in Mukilteo to celebrate Mel’s 90th birthday. Mel sat enthroned in a chair in their comfortable family room, and obviously enjoyed the attention. He said he felt about 65 and couldn’t believe he was 90. Many of us told him we couldn’t believe it, either. He is happy to be home with his family, although quick to say he was treated very well in the rehab. place.
Ralph & Mel
Mel
Mel & John
John, Dorothea & Vern
Fun Party
Liz
Mat, Melissa & Cissy
It was fun to see so many of Mel and Vern’s considerable family.
Vern and I, Dave, John and Nan, Hildy and Dan, Paul and Liz were
there, as were Mel’s Ralph and his Nancy, their daughter, Melissa,
their son, Matt and his friend, Cissy; Mel’s niece, Cathy and her husband,
James; Mel’s niece Linda and husband, Louie Mossano; his nephew, Duane
Bordvick and wife, Audrey; his brother-in-law, Ralph Nordsven and wife
Lillian. Very much a part of the party were the two dogs, Sally and
a darling new puppy, and three cats, Patches, Lightfoot, and Charley,
who live there.
We are grateful to be able to celebrate such a happy occasion, and glad
to see so many folks we haven’t seen for a very long time.
***
Also May 5...
Tonight Jeremy is slated to be playing with his group, Siamese,
at a club called Outer Banks Brew Station in a town named Kill Devil Hill,
North Carolina. There’s gotta be a story behind that town name.
***
Ryan will be coming home this week after completing his first year
at Washington State. He plans to find a summer job. He will be coming
to see his Gma and Gpa on Thursday. We look forward to his visit.
(Submitted by Jack's Mom)
Dixie-Dorothea, Senior Editor
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