A Bladder That Couldn't Be Gladder!

How many people can say that they "love" to visit their urologist??? (How many people HAVE a urologist??? I knew that I would never need one and then I had bladder cancer which changed that!) I love visiting the staff there because they are old friends: Kay (I had her kidlets in 1st grade and loved her way back then); Marcia (her kidlets grew up at CCC with my kids) and Toni (the dear nurse who always chats with me and makes me laugh as Dr. Fretz is looking for TTT's (teeny tiny tumors)).

Now, about my TTT count....here is the limerick for today's visit (which is always written before I go to the office. This is called "thinking positively".

A wonderful day it has been!
A "TTT" checkup.....again.
Dr. Fretz said, "It's ZERO"!
(You know, he's my hero.)
He's one of my favorite men!

My next checkup isn't until December! Merry Christmas to me!

Class of '63!!!

Depending on who you talk to, there were either 19 or 20 in our Tekonsha High School (Michigan) Class of '63. That was 49 years ago!!! We were asked why we celebrated 49 years and decided that the answer was: just because. Steve Miller, our valedictorian and president of our class, began the process of contacting people and it happened. This was the result:

Daryl Althaver, Mike Crawford, Reid Waffle, Bob Main, Bryan Katz, Bill Crawford, Steve Miller,
Rozanne Randall Thompson, DeAnne Warner Rumsey, Jill Walbeck Kattau, Shirley Trueblood Kempton

When we arrived at Rozanne's home in Clare, MI, it didn't take long before Steve hauled out his box of memorabilia that has been stored in his basement for 49 years. Steve, Reid, DeAnne and Shirley reminisced. Steve even gave each of us one of his name cards! Only Steve!!!

Reid holds copies of our Senior pictures. We were soooo cute, don't you think?

"On Tekonsha! On Tekonsha! Fight, fight for her fame!"

It was so good to see Bill Crawford again. Steve reminds Bill that he was president of the class AND valedictorian. Bill laughs!

Bill tells Reid a wild story as his brother Mike Crawford listens. The best memory I have of Mike is his constant, wonderful smile. He kept telling me that "nothing could be funny enough to cause these craters". He was still smiling!

We put Bill, Bob Main and Bryan Katz to work fixing our dinner.

Bryan lives in Sherwood, MI. He has been having health issues and is currently going through radiation so we were thrilled that he was able to make it.

Bob Main and I had fun catching up. His parents and my parents were best friends. His sister Pam and I loved getting together and playing duets. Those were great memories.

Here was our "hostess with the mostess". Rozanne will probably need a week to recover from this get-together. She spends a great amount of time in bed due to health problems but was gracious enough to let us come to her home. She had some wonderful help to prepare tons of food for all of us. One of those helpers was DeAnne is from Quincy, MI and visits Rozanne on a regular basis. She went to Clare a day early to help and will stay a couple of days to be sure that Rozanne is ok after this big day.

Thanks DeAnne!!!

Rozanne

We began to gather outside to say grace for the food. We thought that we might have to have Steve, Bill, and Reid draw straws to see who would do it.

I loved getting to meet Bob's wife, Nita. I need to sit down with Nita and listen to her stories of her yearly travels as she goes to bowling tournaments. What an interesting life she leads.

Mike and Daryl Althaver are happy to see each other again. Daryl arrived late from Oscoda, MI due to grandkids. (I know how that is.)

"Be sure and get everyone's email address!!!"

"Hey Jill! Do you remember that 'Waffle' comes before 'Walbeck' and that I sat in front of you in school for 12 years??? Huh! Do you? Do you?"

Time for a class photo!

"She is kidding. Right? Now everyone! Behave yourselves and look at the camera!!!"

"That's better!"

"Are we done yet? She keeps pointing that camera in our faces!!!"

Look at these handsome boys!

"Is it time for the girls picture?"

The poor spouses are left with trying to take the pictures.

Smile girls!

Shirley, DeAnne and Steve look at photos.
"Where's the 'delete' button???"

Shirley is happy! She found 'delete' on her camera!!!

Time has flown; stomachs are full; laughs are shared and now it is time to begin the goodbyes. This might take a while.

"It was soooo good to see everyone!"

"Now...which spouse is yours?"

Steve and Jonnie Lee Miller from Cumberland, WI

Bill and Dawn Crawford from Pittsford, MI

Mike and Sandy Crawford from Battle Creek, MI

Reid and Rose Marie Waffle from Burlington, MI

Bob and Nita Main from Marshall, MI

The goodbyes finally made it to the front of the house where the cars were actually parked. With a 3 hour trip back to Mother's in Battle Creek, I headed out. For all I know, they are all still saying goodbye. Maybe Steve is already planning our next reunion. He is the president you know.

Memories and Misery!

First...the Memories: Don't you think he looks like a judge? a lawyer? a member of Congress? a Superhero? I think so! And yesterday, as he walked through the halls of the Chicago Federal Courts Building (which he has done 10 times now with Concord students!!!) with his 53 little urchins following him, he is quite impressive. I have never gone with Tom before on the Concord Government summer school field trip. It is a long day and with the temperature at 95 degrees, it makes it even longer. The students see trials, talk with a judge, listen to other arranged speakers and in the afternoon, they have their own mock trial. Some kids will never forget it and then....there are others that will never appreciate the experience.

Tom is letting a "man upstairs" know that the kids have arrived.

"Hello sir! May I have your autograph? You look very smart!"

At the end of the day, we begin the walk (2 miles) to Navy Pier. It ends the day with a little fun time. Tom stops to take a picture of some of his kids.

I take a picture of Tom and me. (Time to move on.)

The kids will soon be boarding the school bus to return home. I'm enjoying the shade where it is only 94 degrees but beautiful!

Chicago is such a gorgeous city!

There is beauty everywhere!

I've taken several pictures of this building over the years but one can never take enough.

And then the misery:

On a sad note.....
our dear friends, Penny and Jerry Youngman leave for Louisville, KY tomorrow. And I do mean LEAVE! They are moving away!!! This makes me so sad though I keep telling myself that I am happy for them. I am happy for...I am happy...I am...I...I am very sad that they are moving away. Just knowing that they are down the street makes/made me happy.

We took them to Hacienda for their "last supper" with us tonight. I then had to make haste for choir practice so I dropped them off and took one last photo from my car.

Yup! They really are leaving....tomorrow.

Good bye Penny and Jerry! We have your address you know!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Brent had 2 bike races this weekend. Tom took Layla and Marley to South Bend after church today so that the girls could watch their daddy. They had fun running around and then got to go with PopPop to Wendy's. We all met back here at our house. It's always a good thing to have a few good pushes on the swing on a Father's Day afternoon. Of course, I made them stop for a photo.

Layla, Brent, Marley

"Whee!!!"

"Higher Daddy!!!" says Marley.

I love the expression on Marley's face! Layla isn't so sure about what's going on.

"Don't you wipe off my kisses young lady!!!" says Daddy.
Marley is ready to go inside for a game of Uno.

Marley thinks she has the game won but the others aren't so sure.
(Doesn't Brent look lovely with his headband ribbon on his head?
Marley thought he needed it.)

"UNO!!!"

"Can you help us make airplanes? Please?????"

We really did have a very nice afternoon. Now, if I would just remember to take a picture of my wonderful husband once in a while! When the grandkidlets are here, that's my focus instead of photos of my honey. I will do better. I promise!
Happy Father's Day to the man who was/is an incredible father to our children. They are who they are because of you.