Here are the SLGs, TCHS Class of '53. This picture was taken fifty years later in 2003. There are only nine of us here because of the others, one is down with a stroke, one was unable to make it here from Montana this year, and 2 have not come to any reunions although they do contribute to the Round Robin.From left to right: Betty, Nan G., Sandy N., Sandy M., Nola, June, Me, Freda, Mary.
The SLG Round Robin came today - such fun reading the letters and looking at all of the pictures! Here's the letter that I'm including this year:
Another year has gone by already. Doesn’t it seem like they go by faster these days? This has been a good year for us. It’s been a year of surprises, good luck, fun, and family contacts.
I finished the Kanitz Family Tree Project in time to hand out the books at the annual Kanitz Reunion in September. It was a huge project, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on it.
In September we drove to Washington, D.C. to be with daughter Jana on her birthday. Dick’s birthday is the day after hers, and we celebrated his birthday by packing up Jana’s office and putting everything in crates to be moved to her new office. We were just glad to be there to help out. Her boss gave her tickets for all of us to go to a Nationals baseball game. Our seats were really good, and it was an eventful evening. We sat by Tim Russert, James Carville, and Jesse Jackson, and we saw Barry Bonds hit a homerun. Not our typical T.C. type of evening!
Geocaching remains a big part of our lives - it’s a most satisfying hobby. It takes us to places we would never see otherwise and really helps us explore our world. One of the most interesting things we came across this year was in the Brundage Wilderness Cemetery in Benzie County. It’s accessible only by two-tracks, and way out in the middle of nowhere. We strolled around and came across the grave of Dr. Thomas C. Hall, class of ‘53. It was very strange coming upon his memorial by accident. He had a most unusual life, and his resting place is also most unusual.
Sometimes, visiting Mother can be a very interesting experience. She begins to reminisce about her childhood, and it’s just charming. My favorite is a story about the funeral of her Grandmother. All of the children in the family (her sibs and cousins) were seated on a stairway during the funeral, and they got the giggles. Mother says that they couldn’t help it, and the adults were mortified. She still feels awful about it after all these years. She would have been 13 or 14 at the time. Another memory was of the privy. It was completely surrounded by lilac bushes and really smelled terrific in the springtime when the lilacs were blooming. She can crack me up, too. During the Olympics, I asked her if she had watched the figure skating. She said, “Yes, and a lot of those girls are foreign.” So hard to keep a straight face!
This is the year that I made a quilt! It’s quite a joke, because I’m the furthest thing from a seamstress that you can imagine! We had all of Mother Gen’s living descendants provide quilt squares with their names on them, and my job was to sew them all together. It’s not perfect by a long shot, but it’s finished, and if you examine it from 20 feet away, it doesn’t look too bad. If it looks bad to you, just back up a little bit more.
Dick spent months helping seniors with the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit. He made presentations all over northern Michigan, and he did a great job if I do say so myself!
He became acquainted with some new doctors and every test known to modern man this year. We were very lucky because his heart problem could be treated with medication, and his latest echocardiogram was almost totally normal. (Big sigh of relief)
My health is stable - three chronic conditions, all under control. Of course I’m still way too big, but I can have a good time if I’ve a mind to (to borrow from an old country song).
In January, we visited son Tom in San Diego and had a marvelous time. We did all the San Diego things - Balboa Park, Old Town, GasLamp District, Wild Animal Park. Dick and I couldn’t decide which was the most fun. The whole trip was really delightful.
Laurie, Chip and Dylan are still in Florida. We haven’t seen Dylan for a year, but we talk to him every day on the phone, so we feel like we’re keeping up with him. He’s the best grandson that there ever was - he just can’t help it!
Soon the three of them will be arriving for the month of July - a month that all of us look forward to every year.
Today is the first day of the 80th National Cherry Festival. The Blue Angels were flying around all afternoon, and will again tomorrow. The town is all clean and shiny for visitors - the flower beds are all freshly weeded and the grass freshly mowed. Traverse City really does show itself off nicely.
Sandy N. - You look so great in your red hat! There’s a Red Hat Society in T.C., and one of their big events is a tea at the Opera House. They’re in the Cherry Festival Parade, too. Looks like a fun way to be social.
Nola - I always enjoy the pictures of your grandchildren. This time, the picture of Jacob and Caleb is priceless! Hope you’re enjoying your summer at the cottage.
Nan/Annie/Rosie - What could be better than a new grandchild! Congratulations! I understand that you’re sad that you’ll only have 5, but even though I understand, you’re not getting any sympathy from us, proud grandparents of one! So glad to hear that Jim is back in good shape. And you, too, of course.
Freda - How sad to lose Oskar…I know how much he meant to you. I’m sure it leaves a big hole in your life. “Quite a lot of travels” is putting it mildly! I think you win the “itchy feet” award! I love looking at your fabulous pictures. It’s great to see your Mom - and the last I heard from you, she’s improving - so hooray for her. (And for you, too!)
Donna - It sounds like you have made an interesting and exciting life for yourself! It’s wonderful to have companions to travel with and enjoy life with. I certainly do hope you get to Greece! Hope your health remains stable - we’re all pulling for you. Can you feel it?
June - Have you decided where to settle down yet? We’ve seen some spectacular log homes in this area. I kind of agree with you that having built 4 homes in your lifetime might be enough! But then Jerry has to follow his bliss too. Your grandchildren are adorable, and I loved the pics of Mitchells and Wetherbees at Griffiths. Looks like a great time.
Betty - So nice of you to mention our neighbors Tom and Mary. They speak highly of you also. Too bad that you were brought together by the passing of your friend Warren. I think you folks all have a mutual admiration society!
Margo - I still treasure Sherm’s last solo visit with us. We really hit it off, and we had so much in common. I value that memory. Your grandkids are so precious! Jackson is around Dylan’s age, isn’t he? Dylan is 8 ½. What a thrill for Jackson to be ball boy! He’ll remember that the rest of his life.
Mary - It’s comforting to see that other people have computer problems too! Sorry to say that, but we’ve had computer nightmares here ever since Christmas, and are just now getting back to normal. Your ultra-interesting life continues to be an inspiration! You went to Spain, Italy and France for your 70th? I went to the Hofbrau House in Interlochen! Thanks for telling us about Justin - none of us knows what may crop up in the future for any of us.
Sandy M. - We didn’t know Cuyler as well as your Western friends did, but we’re glad we had the chance to meet him at our SLG picnics. It’s nice to have good memories. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. He was lucky to have you be his nurse at the end of his days. I hope all is well with you and yours, and that you are getting stronger every day.
Yes it is fun going down memory lane - and it’s fun getting the Robin, and reading the letters and looking at the pictures. Seeing the grandchildren is like getting a peek at the future. So we’re at a great stage in life - we can look backwards with fondness, and forward with hope.
