WebWalker's Blog

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. David Whetstone

2011-11-11T23:58:00.003-07:00

Well, it's official. They are married. Dave and Kari moved their wedding date from March of next year to 11/11/11... they got married in Peoria AZ at a lovely venue called Old Town Wedding Center - a historical home converted to a wedding center. They were married in the backyard; the weather was beautiful; and everyone had a wonderful time. So many relatives came to town to celebrate the event it was awesome. Sherry and Vernon will be staying till nearly the end of November, then they will go to Virginia to visit (more) with Robin and Jerry, and of course to see Rick, before returning home to Israel. Here is a link to some photos on my Facebook page if you'd like to take a peek. If you are a Facebook user, just go to my page: www.Facebook.com/thewebwalker. Otherwise, you can use this public link to see the photos. (Just click on one of the thumbnail photos to see them in a larger size.)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150363394642687.345956.581387686&type=1&l=8f96577a4f

Misc New Updates

2011-05-14T12:24:00.006-07:00

Emily Tate is in Virginia visiting with daughter Robin and Jerry et al... will be back in Arizona probably this fall or early winter.
Matthew Walker (Jimmy's son) and Shasta Carlsen have had a baby boy.. born 5/11/11 in Phoenix AZ. Dreagen Carlsen Walker weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz, and is 20" tall.
David Whetstone (Susan's son) is engaged to Kari Billman; wedding date is set at 3/3/2012, in Peoria AZ.
Dave and Loni Tate have moved from Arizona to Oregon, son Mark is still in Arizona.
Dave Tate's son Nicholas is graduating from high school in American Fork, Utah, on June 3rd... spread your wings and fly, Nicholas!
Across the pond, Debora Whestone has earned her Bagrut certificate. This is a metriculation certificate, more than a high school diploma, and not everyone passes the certification. So congrats are in order! Debora is currently serving in the Israeli Army - Thank you for your service, Debora!
Also, Debora's dad Vernon Whetstone has started a health blog.. go check it out at www.honestabevernon.blogspot.com.

If anyone has more news or updates, be sure to post it or at least send me an email if you want me to post it for you!

Emily is back in Arizona

2011-01-11T23:00:00.003-07:00

I should have posted this a month ago... but Emily is back from her vacation in Virginia, and is back in Arizona. Robin came with her on December 11th and spent almost two weeks with her at her home in Mesa; then Tom came down from Denver and stayed till the first week of January. Tom had to go home to Denver so now Emily is visiting at Susan and Jimmy's home -- so everyone on this side of town is invited to drop by any time to visit!!

It's a Girl !

2010-09-02T11:46:00.001-07:00

It's a Girl !
With grateful thanks to Heaven, we joyfully announce the long-awaited arrival of a healthy little baby girl to Efrat and Ariel, sister to Eran and Adi, born at 2:14am on September 2, 2010. She weighed 3K 50 grams, has long fingernails and, according to Ariel, blue-green eyes. We will be visiting this afternoon and I'm sure pictures will be taken.
Sherry and Vernon, Daphna and Debora
P.S. UPDATE: photos are now available on Sherry's Facebook page. You may have to 'friend' her in order to view the photos...

Kyle's Mom Passed Away

2010-08-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Sad, sad news. Kyle Lowe's mom, Norma, passed away in Oklahoma on Sunday. Our prayers and thoughts are with Kyle and Kerry, as well as Kyle's sister and the rest of the extended family. It is awful to lose a parent, especially when you are as close as Kyle was to his mother. Condolences may be sent to:
Kyle Lowe
525 Sweetbough
Jones, OK 73049

Jennifer Gans is Engaged!

2010-08-21T23:40:00.002-07:00

Just got news from Rickey Lynn that her daughter Jennifer is now engaged to a young man named Joshua. Congratulations, Jen -- and we're waiting to hear more news as to a wedding date!

New Jobs, New Pics, and New Stories

2010-07-29T11:02:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a bit of a chuckle today, check out my blog here for a few funny pregnancy stories, as well as some new pics of Austin and an update on JR and I's new jobs! Love, Carrie.

4th of July Family Fun

2010-07-06T08:26:00.003-07:00

Hello Everyone! I've posted pics about my family's Independence Day celebrations on my blog, click here to check it out!

Also, I will be changing my blog address on Thursday, and will post the new address here on that day. If you are curious as to why I am changing it, it is because of privacy reasons, I explain more on my blog itself, k? Thanks y'all and Happy 4th of July!

Finally Legal!

2010-06-24T18:03:00.003-07:00

Click here to check out my post of the same name with before 'n' after pics of Austin in her car seat the day we brought her home and pics of her in her car seat one month later. The difference is amazing! Cheers!

-Carrie

That's my Man!

2010-06-16T16:51:00.002-07:00

Howdy, it's Carrie again! Just heard the good news- JR (my hubby) has passed all of his classes (B+ and above) and will graduate from his LPN program tomorrow! Yahoo!!!! Now he has only to pass his licensing test, the NCLEX, and then hopefully we'll finally be able to make a call as to whether I will have to return part-time to work at the end of my maternity leave (boo!!!!) or get to stay at home with lil' Austin (yay!!!!!) Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Oh- and Aunt Susan, JR and I's anniversary is June 3rd if you wanna add us to your list (we were married in 2005, Happy 5th Anniversary Husband!)

Photos from the Family in Israel

2010-06-15T16:42:00.003-07:00

Hello all,

Ariel sent me a bunch of photos of his family, and asked that I share them with you all... here is a link to the photo album on my Facebook page. You should not need to have a Facebook membership to view these photos when you use this link. If anyone has a problem, please let me know and I will make sure you get the photos.

Have a great day!

Susan

Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=184587&id=581387686&l=f4c3abf622

Rickey Lynn goes to Denver

2010-06-13T20:28:00.001-07:00

This report comes in from Rickey Lynn:

We're in Denver! It's cloudy, rainy, with a high of 60 degrees. What a wonderful relief from some of the heat of Phoenix. Tom and Jan and Jonathan and June have been wonderul hosts and hostesses, spoiling Jennifer and myself almost hourly. Today we visited the Butterfly Pavilion and got some fantastic photos. Tomorrow is the real reason we drove 900 miles - it's June's birthday. We're trying to make sneaky plans for a nice cake for her. She would normally be at work tomorrow, but she's entitled to take the day off, so she's going to go in for just an hour to let them know it's her birthday and to let them know she's going home. Then it's into downtown Denver to see what there is to see. That's going to be followed by a dinner in June's honor to celebrate her last birthday in her 20's. Too bad - so sad - many of us have already visited that time in our lives and lived to see another year, so she'll just have to get over it.

Unfortunately, we leave to go back to the heat of Phoenix on Wednesday and will, sadly, have to say our goodbye's.

Rickey Lynn

June Birthdays

2010-06-12T10:23:00.001-07:00

Here's the lineup of birthdays and memorable days in the Clan: (If I missed someone, let me know and we can add it to the list straight away!)

June 04 - Ariel and Efrat Whetstone, married 1996 (PS Efrat is pregnant!!)
June 10 - Thomas Marion Tate 1918-2006 (think of you every day, Daddy)
June 12 - Aubrey Tate born 1988
June 14 - June Tate born 1981
June 23 - Matt Walker born 1974
June 26 - Edith Casteel (Tate) Hern 1922-2008 (miss you all the time, Auntie)
June 30 - Daveena (Martinez) Walker born 1987

Baby Austin

2010-06-09T11:03:00.003-07:00

Hello! This is Carrie (David's oldest daughter) here. As my first contribution to the blog, I figured I'd tell y'all who don't already know about it about JR and I's big news. We had our first baby on April 28th, a beautiful lil' girl who we named Austin Keelee (She gets her first name from the song "Austin" by Blake Shelton, and her middle name from her Grandma Powell) Austin was a premie at 8 weeks early (32 weeks gestastion) but for a premie, she has done fantastic! The nurses in the NICU nick-named her "mighty-mite" and "rockstar" because from day one she did great: by the time she was 9 hours old, she on nothing but room air, and breathing just fine on her own (which was a HUGE relief to her daddy and I) . She also started to successfully coordinate the suck-swallow-breathe reflex within a few days after her sudden arrival (something we were told not to expect her to be able to do that for until she was closer to 34-35 weeks gestation, or 2-3 weeks old) and thus was able to begin feeding by mouth instead of thru her feeding tube all the time. After 3 weeks, Austin was able to come home, (best. day. EVER!) she's now been home almost 3 weeks and continues to do well. She's now almost 6 weeks old and is a little over 5lbs. (she was 3 lbs. 12oz. when she was born) and is a very laid-back, happy baby. About the only time we hear her cry is when she's being lifted out of her little bath tub! I will post a couple of pix of Austin here for y'all, Also, I've only given a condensed version of our story here, if you have questions or curiositys that are not addressed by this post, feel free to ask thru the comment button! Loves! -Carrie

Top Left: Soon after birth/intubation

Bottom Left: Austin was two days old before her daddy got to hold her

Top Right: Just before going home, first time we had seen Austin "wireless" since she was born

Bottom Right: Finally home (4 lbs. 6oz. and 29 days old)

Retraction

2010-06-08T23:20:00.004-07:00

Well, Carrie and Rickey Lynn have played the guilt card on me successfully... so I'll keep this blog going. But I do ask that others in the clan send me some info to post from time to time, okay? Let us know what is happening in your lives. Carrie volunteered to be a contributor. If anyone else wants to contribute, that's great. If you don't want to be a contributor but do have some news to tell, just send it to me in an email and I will post it for you. If we're gonna keep this up, let's do it up right. Hugs all around to all the family!!

Farewell to the blogosphere

2010-05-20T16:20:00.003-07:00

This will be my final post, I am afraid. I don't think anyone reads this blog anymore, so what's the point? It was to keep family and friends informed of events and happenings within the clan, but since nobody seems to check it anymore or contribute to it any longer, I will be closing it out at the end of this month. If there are any who want it continued, please let me know before then, okay? Take care all, and to all a good night.

Susan

Mary Borrelli Passed Away

2010-02-14T16:50:00.003-07:00

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I pass on the news that Mary (Rizzo) Borrelli passed away last night. Beloved mother of Don and Bill Borrelli, and sister to Carmella Emily (Rizzo) Tate, she will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing her vibrant personality. She was nearly 96 years old and still lived independently in her own apartment in Palos Hills, just outside Chicago, Illinois. I was fortunate to speak to her just hours before she died. She explained to me that she had not been feeling well for a couple of weeks, and her son Donnie took her to the E.R. yesterday when she complained of trouble breathing and heart palpitations. The hospital took multiple tests and said she would be fine, but they would keep her overnight "for observation." At around 10pm or 11pm Don and his wife Lupe kissed her goodnight and said they would see her in the morning; she said she was in a hurry to get back home "to clean house!" An hour later the hospital called Don and told him to come back; she had no pulse. Apparently she went to sleep and while asleep her heart simply stopped.

I am so very, very sad, and miss her deeply, as does everyone who knew her and was loved by her. She was a beautiful driving force who did not bow to convention but insisted on her own independence, and she was a success story from the beginning. Her life was an inspiration, and though we expected it for some time, her death is a blow to the senses.

An Open Letter to and about our Veterans

2009-11-11T12:32:00.003-07:00

It's Veterans Day 2009. I just returned from the cemetery where I visited the grave site of my father, a WWII Veteran. I'm sitting in my comfortable office in my comfortable home, in my comfortable, quiet neighborhood, in a state and nation that respects me and allows me to live freely, voicing my opinions as I like, whether or not those opinions agree or collide with the majority or the governing body. And I do this during a time of war, not peace. How is this possible? In a world where there is so much grief and strife, how is it that I can live such a comfortable existence, especially when our country is in the middle of a war, the loss of which would mean the annihilation of this type of existence?

The answer is our Armed Forces. It always has been. The men and women, who for over 233 years have put their lives on the line for the rest of us. All gave some, some gave all. From the men at Valley Forge to the men in Iraq, I owe gratitude. To every person who has ever served in the United States Armed Forces, I thank you. Your country thanks you. And to the men and women serving today in the War Against Terrorism, a special Thank You for every moment that you have sacrificed away from your family and loved ones, ensuring that our way of life will continue for future generations.

To everyone who reads this, I ask that you please, in your travels about town, stop and shake the hand of every veteran you see. If in doubt, ask. Many will quietly or shyly tell you yes, he or she is a veteran of Vietnam, or Korea, or WWII, or Desert Storm/Desert Shield, or Afghanistan, or Iraq. Sadly, many may also tell you that you are the first to thank him for his Service. Some will tell you they need no thanks, they had an "unimportant job" or did not Serve during a time of war.

But I say (and I am sure you join me) that every job in the Armed Forces is important, and each one of them Served nevertheless; each one stood ready to go into combat for our freedom, and for this they are every one a Hero in my book. And I thank you, each and every one.

If you are reading this and would like to learn about the history of Veterans Day and its meaning, I invite you to visit this website:

http://www.emotionscards.com/trivia/fourthofjuly/veteransday.html

Turn up your speakers, and prepare to be humbled.

Let's all say, "Thank you, Veterans. Not only today, but every day."

Gratefully yours,

Susan Walker

Glendale, Arizona

Veterans Day 2009

Goodbye, Dagesh, my dear friend and companion

2009-06-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

I'm so sad. Our dearly loved pet is gone. Dagesh was nearly 13 years old, a german shepherd and pointer mixed breed dog who grew up in our household, first as our youngest son's pet and then my husband's and mine when David joined the Air Force. She had a good life till her arthritis got so bad she could not stand up, and then she lost control of her bowels, and it went downhill rapidly from there. Today when the vet said he could do nothing more to ease her suffering, we finally said goodbye and she died peacefully in our arms, just like she was going to sleep. It broke my heart because I truly believe she was a sentient being, she understood things on the level of perhaps a 4 year old child, and she was a loved member of our household. My dad used to be awestruck by how much she understood, and how she developed her own little 'language' to communicate with us. Dad used to say that if he ever had a dog again, it would be her. No, not a dog LIKE her, it would be HER. Otherwise he would not have another dog, and to his dying day he did not. Dagesh gave us all so much love for all these years. I believe we gave her a good home and a good life, but I selfishly miss her already so much I think my heart will burst. I hope there is a Doggie Heaven, and if there is then I know she is there. Run and bark again, Dagesh, and maybe you will see Daddy and he will take you for a walk in that Heavenly Park.
Susan

My Papa's Waltz

2009-06-10T17:21:00.001-07:00

Today would be my dad's 91st birthday, if he were alive. Sadly, he passed away just before his 88th birthday. Today I saw this poem by Theodore Roethke and it made me smile and reminisce of so many times with my dad, I just had to post it. I hope it causes you to pause as well and have fond rembrances of your own Daddy and times you had with him. -- Susan

My Papa's Waltz
by Theodore Roethke

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.

We romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
My mother's countenance
Could not unfrown itself.

The hand that held my wrist
Was battered on one knuckle;
At every step you missed
My right ear scraped a buckle.

You beat time on my head
With a palm caked hard by dirt,
Then waltzed me off to bed
Still clinging to your shirt.
# # #

Why the Troops Support YOU

2009-05-25T00:01:00.001-07:00

Following is a letter I received from a soldier, a man I have never met but to whom I sent some care packages... It had quite an impact on me. As we remember our fallen Veterans this Memorial Day, I thought this would be appropriate to share. It gives an insight into WHY a serviceman is ready to risk his life, why they do what they do in spite of knowing it may require them to give the Ultimate Sacrifice.

I may go to a BBQ on Memorial Day, but not before I have attended the Memorial Service at the Veterans National Memorial Cemetery. If you have a National Memorial Cemetery in your town, I urge you to do likewise. If you do not, then please seek out people from the WWII generation, ask them if they Served, and if they did, be sure to shake their hand and say Thank You. Then and only then go out and enjoy those Freedoms which their sacrifices made possible. ~~ Susan

Susan,
I wanted to thank you for the continued support you send to my unit.

I am often asked by people back in the states why we do what we do. They ask me about being away from home, or the lack of comforts, or the mission usually couched with “I don’t know how (or why) you all do it.” I usually write back and tell them about the conditions here in Iraq, or tell them of the oppression I have seen or of the children’s faces filled with happiness and hope, or the trash and sewer in the streets. I tell them that we are winning this fight (because I truly believe we are!) and regardless of why people think we were sent here… we are here now and we are here to find terrorist and defeat them and we are here to leave Iraq better than when we found it. Nothing else matters to us now.

I want to share a story with you. This weekend I was sitting talking to one of my troopers about re-enlisting. He is a positive kid, 4 years in the Army, motivated to his task, dedicated to those around him. I expected he would re-enlist and would require little convincing. As we were talking about his options and his motivation to soldier he said “Sir, I am staying in the Army and I will be happy continuing to do what I do. But I am not motivated by the words you say, or the money in the bonus, of for my buddies, or by the feeling I have being a Paratrooper. I do it for my kids and my wife and what my job means to them and their future.”

He then handed me a tattered copy of the poem below. He said when he was here for the invasion he was a brand new private and it was sent to him in a forwarded e-mail. He has had it ever since and has not shown it to anybody but his wife. As I read it, it hit me like a bag of bricks. I thought I would share it with you. I have typed it exactly as it was on the copy he gave me and I have given credit to the author so I believe you would be free to share this story and poem with anyone you like.

I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to lead America’s Sons and Daughters and I pray I am doing it right. May God continue to bless the American Soldier!

All the Way... and then some!

CPT Jonathan L. Harvey
CDR, HHC/2BCT, 82d ABN DIV

-------------------

The things that make a Soldier great and send him out to die,
To face the flaming cannon’s mouth, nor ever question why,
Are lilacs by the little porch, the row of tulips red,
The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed,
The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the wall:
Tis these that make a Soldier great. He’s fighting for them all.
Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a Soldier brave;
Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave;
For Soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam
As when behind the cause they see the little place called home.
Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run –
You make a Soldier of the main who never bore a gun.
What is it through the battle smoke that valiant Soldiers sees?
The little garden far away, the budding apple trees.
The little patch of ground back there, the children at the play,
Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray.
The golden thread of courage isn’t linked to castle dome,
But to the spot, where’er it be – the humble spot called home.
And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there,
And homesick Soldiers far away know spring is in the air;
The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green,
And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been.
He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call,
And only death can stop him now – he’s fighting for them all.
Edgar A. Guest, ca. 1940

# # #

Joining the 21st century

2009-05-24T22:18:00.004-07:00

OK all, this is Sherry trying to enter the 21st century, with massive assistance and encouragement from Susan. First off I'll try to post a simple picture. This is another picture of my new kitchen -- if I did it right -- Debora is opening the fridge door. Love to all.

Sherry's New Kitchen

2009-05-24T12:19:00.004-07:00

Sherry and Vernon have finished the remodel of their kitchen, and all I can say is WOW. Isn't it beautiful?! Here's a pic of it. Congratulations, Vernon and Sherry! I understand they are now working on re-doing the living room. Can't wait to see pics of that!

I think you can click on the pic to see it in a larger format...
Of course, to really appreciate it, you have to realize what the kitchen looked like BEFORE renovations (Good pic of Vernon, but the kitchen needs some updating, wouldn't you say? I'm glad they finally realized their dream!):

Happy Birthday David Whetstone!

2009-05-24T08:24:00.005-07:00

It's my son's 27th birthday today... but he is in Korea, and I am in Arizona. Since he is on contract work, he does not have a physical address to which I can send mail, nor does he have a telephone which I can call. We had some email correspondence about it; it went something like this:

Me: This sucks. It's your birthday in a couple of days, and I cannot send you a birthday card, nor a gift, and not even a telephone call!

Dave: Mom, Don't worry about it, I'm a guy. I don't care about my birthday any more than I do the second Tuesday of the first month of the fiscal year.

Me: Wow, I had no idea that the second Tuesday of the first month of the fiscal year was so important to you!

One would think that would have gotten a response from him, but I haven't heard a peep.

Lake Tahoe

2009-05-14T18:43:00.004-07:00

Jimmy and I have been at Lake Tahoe now for 5 days, and I cannot accept that we will have to return home in just 3 more days. It is so beautiful here, and this is considered the OFF season! I've wanted to visit for years since Daddy and Mama visited here and raved about it so. Daddy kept telling me that Lake Tahoe CA and Angel Fire NM were two places that I 'must' visit. Daddy, it is 100% as gorgeous as you said, and I am sorry it took so many years for me to come and witness the beauty. I just wish you were still alive so I could share my thoughts with you in person. Mom would have come with us, but she is not up to the 14 hour drive to get here, so she has been re-visiting Lake Tahoe vicariously through my daily phone calls to her.

Just since arriving, we have watched an eagle swoop down from the sky to scoop up a vole for lunch; a black bear crossed the road right in front of us, looked at us and then ambled along his way; and then when we went out on a dinner cruise the Captain let me pilot the boat! It has been a wonderful, exciting time, and so full of beauty. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys nature to visit Lake Tahoe CA at least once in their lifetime.

Here is a link to a few photos I uploaded to my myspace page, for those who are interested: either click the beginning of this sentence, or copy and paste the url below:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=100465170&albumId=2741514&authKey=XSbA6FS85cqX9fKD3yJNsTBp3xKoT2OIBCW%2b43056JEA8tzzoWNjjvXGMSgBONS6f%2fLGt0nHLCGpyq8eEY8gpU6IMnbpI6mAPaF5dNndEGY%3d

Jimmy is recovering from a heart attack

2009-04-05T23:23:00.001-07:00

My beloved husband Jimmy had a heart attack on March 25th and we are grateful to God (that's an UNDERSTATEMENT !!) that there were no lasting effects from it. He is home now after a 5 day stay in the hospital, and is recovering nicely, other than tiring easily and still sore from all the poking and prodding. His previously-placed stents are not clogged, and that is a miracle in itself. The docs thought they'd have to do open heart surgery after this heart attack, but when they went in via angiogram, lo and behold, nothing beyond some minimal blockages. Nothing really to pinpoint as a culprit for the heart attack other than a branch vein that occluded and then sealed itself off... in effect the heart healed itself. Well, that's what the docs say. We and everyone else who was praying with us know that it was Someone at work. So Thank You Lord for your mercy. And thank you to everyone who was out there praying for Jimmy. God bless you all. All the time Jimmy was in the hospital, I was praying for the strength to help Jimmy, and for him to have the strength to accept whatever was happening to his body. It was very difficult not to pray, "Please God just HEAL him!" I figured that was very selfish and might even be contrary to God's will. So I prayed for strength to accept whatever was in our path, stifling that little voice that was trying to scream, "I don't care about anything else! Just heal Jimmy!" And amazingly, I was not shocked when the docs said they were dumbfounded because after nearly coding in the E.R., and watching his heart telemetry do acrobatics for 5 days, and after all the cat scans, MRIs etc. they fully expected to find his heart a mess when they went in with angiography... They could not give a reason why it looked so good, but I immediately knew why.
If Jimmy is recovered enough in a couple of weeks, we will go to Angelfire New Mexico to spend a week in a log cabin in the middle of the woods, just to "chill out" and take it completely easy. Maybe a little hiking (although it is 8500 ft eleveation, so maybe not, ha!) and maybe a little fishing (I hear there's a great trout lake there). The weather's still cool there so we are really looking forward to it, and especially to spending some time being quietly bored!

Welcome to the newest member of the Walker Clan

2009-03-17T18:22:00.002-07:00

Check it out -- I am now officially a Great Grandma, and it's awesome. Jezriell Malaya Walker-Jinnes was born today, March 17, 2009 to our granddaughter Acacia Walker and Andrew Jinnes. She was born at 7 am and weighed in at 7 lbs, 6 oz. She is 19 inches long. Both mom and daughter are doing fine, but Grandpa Randy Walker says he's worn out from the long night preceding Jazriell's birth! He and Grandma April were there for Acacia, along with Andrew. Jimmy and I went to the hospital to see Acacia and Jezriell today about 8 hours after the birth, and I got the honor of burping Jezriell for her very first time, ha! For more photos, check out my pics on my MySpace page -

www.myspace.com/thewebwalker

~~ Great Grandma Susan

P.S. While you're there, you can see some great pics of our other granddaughter Nakaia Walker at her recent high school concert. She's a violinist of no small talent, and we are so very proud of her! Go Nakaia!!

From Our Man in Korea...

2009-03-12T11:12:00.001-07:00

A note from our man in Korea (until May, anyway)...

Hey everybody! So here i am (okay, i'm no longer using capitalization because i am typing on this european pc of my roommate's and the keys are all different!) and all is well. the apartment is small and furnitureless, but will do fine as we start to stock it up. the surrounding area is easy to get around, with all the bulgogi i can eat!!! just finished my first day today - didn't go in on the first day since i got in so late and they weren't even there to pick me up! yeah. ahem, anyway, things are great now, the peeps here are great (if old!). i think i'm the youngest here by 20 years!! not much to tell right now other than i do not have internet yet on MY pc. again, this is my roomie's Dougie, who is a very good roomie from scotland. for some reason we cant get my pc to connect to the internet, but other pcs have been having this same trouble, so he (the IT guy) may end up getting a new router. so until that happens, no phone calls on skype from me any time soon! i will check this email address as often as i can (d_w_stone@yahoo.com), as well as myspace and maybe the dmw@webwalkerdesign.com address. alright, that's all for now. let me know what kind of worthless korean junk you guys want! peace.
-dave

Mary Borrelli

2009-03-11T17:33:00.003-07:00

Mary Borrelli (94 years old) has been visiting her 89 year old sister Emily Tate here in Arizona for the past couple of months, and now it looks like she is nearly ready to wend her way back to windy Chi-town. She will be here till April 12th so if anyone else wants to visit with her while she's still in the Wild West, better do it now. This weekend I'll be taking them to visit with Mary Wroten, and they are excited about that. Cheryl will be there too, and I'm looking forward to seeing her again. We live so near each other but somehow don't get to visit each other often enough. And the best treat of all is that Cheryl will have Melonie's twins, Robert and Brittany, with her - so Mom and Mary Borrelli will get to see them as well. Mel's funeral was the last time Mom saw them, and the Chicago reunion was the last time Mary Borrelli got to see them. So hopefully it will be a wonderful weekend... why not join us?

Bye, David!

2009-03-09T20:52:00.001-07:00

David left for Korea this morning and I miss him already. He won't be gone that long, the job contract is just through May with a possible extension til December. And besides, he doesn't even live in the same state as me any more, so what's the big deal? I think it's a Mom-Radar thing. He's flying out of my Mom Radar, and I won't be able to track him any longer, at least not as easily, ha! *sigh* Seems we can't wait for our kids to grow up and then when they do, it's WHAMMO we miss them so much.

Gloria (Moore) Roberts

2009-01-20T11:32:00.003-07:00

I received the very sad news from Janice Weston that her sister Gloria just passed away. The Moore clan are very good friends and as such are quasi-family members, and our hearts break with them at the loss of Gloria. Here is an excerpt of a message from Janice, for those who would like to send condolences or flowers.

It is with a broken heart that I tell you we lost our big sister Gloria on Friday evening. She was recovering nicely from open heart surgery but evidently had a blood clot that hit her heart. It was very sudden and completely unexpected. We are all saddened and grieving, especially our mother. This is the second child she has lost in less than two years and at her age it takes a great toll. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Gloria's will requested cremation so there will be no burial but there will be a service for her on Thursday the 22nd at 2:00 PM. The service will be held at Truth Tabernacle, 1232 Bingham Road, Boonville MO 65233.

Ron, Mom and I will be flying to Missouri on Wednesday, and Joyce and Les will be driving from Colorado to meet us there. Diana lives in Boonville and will host the family. It will be nice for all of us to be together but wish it wasn't under such circumstances.

I apologize for not making personal calls or sending personal emails but right now that would be too difficult for the emotions. Please keep us in your prayers and we will look forward to less painful days ahead. Love to everyone.

Janice

(( To send a condolence card to Janice or Ethel, please contact me (susan@ webwalkerdesign.com) and I will give you her address. ))

Mary Borrelli is Visiting Arizona

2009-01-16T14:56:00.003-07:00

Mary Borrelli has never been one to sit quietly and let the world pass by. She may be 94 years old, but she decided that Chicago is just too cold to stay there the rest of the winter. And not daunted by a recent hospital stay, she decided to fly out to Arizona to visit her sister Emily. So to all the extended family in Arizona: Call Mary at Emily's house, she'll be thrilled to hear from you, and hopefully to see you during her stay here. Hopefully she will stay through February or March, we'll see. (If you need the phone number, email me at susan@webwalkerdesign.com and I will send it to you.)

Thank God for Good Pilots

2009-01-16T14:53:00.001-07:00

As I listened to the news this morning about the "Miracle on the Hudson" I found myself reminiscing about my dad. He was a pilot as well as a copilot and navigator at different times throughout his career, and I remember a few stories he told about the awesome responsibility he felt up there in the cockpit. Responsibility for the lives of the people riding in the cabin of the airplane. Over the course of his career he had only one "belly-flop" landing, and even when the landing gear would not deploy he managed to bring the plane safely home with no injuries. He was rightly proud of that.

Today, Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, a former USAF F-4 pilot, is justly hailed as a hero for bringing his passengers down safely (albeit wetly) in the Hudson River, after a freak accident of two geese flying into his two engines and shutting them both down shortly after takeoff. Kudos to you, sir, and I join many other Americans in saluting you for a job well done.

(Read the full story at
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1369517.html

You are the Author of 2009

2009-01-02T17:32:00.007-07:00

A dear friend wrote the following essay, you can read more of his musings at http://www.mainstreetoutloud.com/. For that matter, listen to his radio show every Monday at 4pm on KFNX 1100AM radio. Enjoy, and I look forward to reading this Chapter of your Life, as Rudi put it.

You have been selected, by the publisher, to write a great novel. God is the publisher, your family and friends are the proofreaders, and you are the author.
We know the title of the book is "The Life of (insert your name here)." A new year is like a chapter in this great novel. We know this chapter is entitled "2009." Each day is a page that you write. We know... let me correct that... we think this particular chapter will contain 365 pages. Of course, the publisher does hold the exclusivity of a deadline, and this may alter the length.
What we don't know is how pivotal this chapter is to the entire novel, nor do we know how this chapter will end. Will this chapter be filled with such positive attitude, caring behavior and respected character that it will set the tone for more amazing chapters, and thereby turn this book into a best seller?
Or will the tone be such that this chapter will cause the proofreaders to abandon the project due to the amount of work required? Will the publisher ask for a re-write due to so many pages of deception, irresponsibility and hypocrisy?
Many books are written. Some become best sellers and are reprinted, again and again.
Some books don't sell, are shredded, and recycled -- as though they never were.
Some people have such positive effects on this world that their good is manifest through others, over and over.
Some people are so petty and selfish that they only take, contributing nothing and when gone, they aren't missed -- as though they never were.
As surely as time moves forward, the pages will be filled. You are the author, you control the message, and you determine the outcome -- best seller or recycled.

Source: http://www.mainstreetoutloud.com/2009.01.01_arch.html#1230942648220

Jasper and the Unbaked Thanksgiving Yeast Rolls

2008-11-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

This is the tale of Jasper and the Unbaked Yeast Rolls:
(author unknown)

We have a fox terrier by the name of Jasper. He came to us in the summer of 2001 from the fox terrier rescue program. For those of you, who are unfamiliar with this type of adoption, imagine taking in a 10 year old child about whom you know nothing and committing to doing your best to be a good parent.

Like a child, the dog came with his own idiosyncrasies. He will only sleep on the bed, on top of the covers, nuzzled as close to my face as he can get without actually performing a French kiss on me.

Lest you think this is a bad case of 'no discipline,' I should tell you that Perry and I tried every means to break him of this habit including locking him in a separate bedroom for several nights. The new door cost over $200. But I digress. Five weeks ago we began remodeling our house. Although the cost of the project is downright obnoxious, it was 20 years overdue AND it got me out of cooking Thanksgiving for family, extended family, and a lot of friends that I like more than family most of the time.

I was assigned the task of preparing 124 of my famous yeast dinner rolls for the two Thanksgiving feasts we did attend. I am still cursing the electrician for getting the new oven hooked up so quickly. It was the only appliance in the whole darn house that worked, thus the assignment.

I made the decision to cook the rolls on Wednesday evening to reheat Thursday am. Since the kitchen was freshly painted, you can imagine the odor. Not wanting the rolls to smell like Sherwin Williams #586, I put the rolls on baking sheets and set them in the living room to rise for a few hours. Perry and I decided to go out to eat, returning in about an hour. The rolls were ready to go in the oven.

It was 8:30 pm when I went to the living room to retrieve the pans, and much to my shock one whole pan of 12 rolls was empty. I called out to Jasper and my worst nightmare became a reality. He literally wobbled over to me. He looked like a combination of the Pillsbury dough boy and the Michelin Tire man wrapped up in fur. He groaned when he walked. I swear even his cheeks were bloated.

I ran to the phone and called our vet. After a few seconds of uproarious laughter, he told me the dog would probably be OK, however I needed to give him Pepto Bismol every 2 hours for the rest of the night. God only knows why I thought a dog would like Pepto Bismol any more than my kids did when they were sick. Suffice it to say that by the time we went to bed the dog was black, white and pink. He was so bloated we had to lift him onto the bed for the night.

We arose at 7:30, and as we always do first thing, we put the dog out to relieve himself. Well, the dog was as drunk as a sailor on his first leave. He was running into walls, falling flat on his butt and most of the time when he was walking his front half was going one direction and the other half was either dragging the grass or headed 90 degrees in another direction. He couldn't lift his leg to pee, so he would just walk and pee at the same time. When he ran down the small incline in our back yard he couldn't stop himself and nearly ended up running into the fence. His pupils were dilated and he was as dizzy as a loon.

I endured another few seconds of laughter from the vet (second call within 12 hours) before he explained that the yeast had fermented in his belly and that he was indeed drunk. The vet assured me that, not unlike most binges we humans go through, it would wear off after about 4 or 5 hours and to keep giving the dog Pepto Bismol.

Afraid to leave him by himself in the house, Perry and I loaded him up and took him with us to my sister's house for the first Thanksgiving meal of the day.

My sister lives outside of Muskogee on a ranch, (10 to 15 minute drive). Rolls firmly secured in the trunk (124 less 12) and drunk dog leaning from the back seat onto the console of the car between Perry and I, we took off.

Now I know you probably don't believe that dogs burp, but believe me when I say that after eating a tray of risen unbaked yeast rolls, DOGS WILL BURP. These burps were pure Old Charter. They would have matched or beat any smell in a drunk tank at the police station. But that's not the worst of it.

Now he was beginning to fart and they smelled like baked rolls. God strike me dead if I am not telling the truth! We endured this for the entire trip to Karen's, thankful she didn't live any further away than she did. Once Jasper was firmly placed in my sister's garage with the door locked, we finally sat down to enjoy our first Thanksgiving meal of the day.

The dog was the topic of conversation all morning long and everyone made trips to the garage to witness my drunken dog, each returning with a tale of Jasper's latest endeavor to walk without running into something.

Of course, as the old adage goes, 'what goes in must come out,' and Jasper was no exception. Granted if it had been me that had eaten 12 risen, unbaked yeast rolls, you might as well have put a concrete block up my behind, but alas a dog's digestive system is quite different from yours or mine. I discovered this was a mixed blessing when we prepared to leave Karen's house. Having discovered his 'packages' on the garage floor, we loaded him up in the car so we could hose down the floor. This was another naive decision on our part. The blast of water from the hose hit the poop on the floor and the poop on the floor withstood the blast from the hose. It was like Portland cement beginning to set up and cure.

We finally tried to remove it with a shovel. I (obviously no one else was going to offer their services) had to get on my hands and knees with a coarse brush to get the remnants off of the floor. And as if this wasn't degrading enough, the darn dog in his drunken state had walked through the poop and left paw prints all over the garage floor that had to be brushed too.

Well, by this time the dog was sobering up nicely so we took him home and dropped him off before we left for our second Thanksgiving dinner at Perry's sister's house.

I am happy to report that as of today (Monday) the dog is back to normal both in size and temperament. He has had a bath and is no longer tricolor. None the worse for wear I presume.

I am also happy to report that just this evening I found 2 risen unbaked yeast rolls hidden inside my closet door. It appears he must have come to his senses after eating 10 of them but decided hiding 2 of them for later would not be a bad idea. Now, I'm doing research on the computer as to 'How to clean unbaked dough from the carpet.'

...

...
...
And how was your day?

P.S. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL !!

White Guilt is Dead

2008-11-18T11:08:00.002-07:00

WOW - This guy says it all. Read on:

WHITE GUILT IS DEAD
Friday, November 7th, 2008
By Tom Adkins

Look at my fellow conservatives! There they go, glumly shuffling along, depressed by the election aftermath. Not me. I'm virtually euphoric. Don't get me wrong. I'm not thrilled with America 's flirtation with neo socialism. But there's a massive silver lining in those magical clouds that lofted Barak Obama to the Presidency. For today, without a shred of intellectually legitimate opposition, I can loudly proclaim to America : The Era of White Guilt is over.

This seemingly impossible event occurred because the vast majority of white Americans didn't give a fluff about skin color, and enthusiastically pulled the voting lever for a black man. Not just any black man. A very liberal black man who spent his early career race-hustling banks, praying in a racist church for 20 years, and actively worked with America-hatingdomestic terrorists. Wow! Some resume! Yet they made Barak Obama their leader.

Therefore, as of Nov 4th, 2008, white guilt is dead. For over a century, the millstone of white guilt hung around our necks, retribution for slave-owning predecessors. In the 60s, American liberals began yanking that millstone while sticking a fork in the eye of black Americans, exacerbating the racial divide to extort a socialist solution.

But if a black man can become President, exactly what significant barrier is left? The election of Barak Obama absolutely destroys the entire validation of liberal white guilt. The dragon is hereby slain.

So today, I'm feeling a little "uppity," if you will. From this day forward, my tolerance level for having my skin color hustled is now exactly ZERO. And it's time to clean house. No more Reverend Wright's "God Damn America ," Al Sharpton's Church of Perpetual Victimization , or Jesse Jackson's rainbow racism. Cornell West? You're a fraud. Go home. All those "black studies" programs that taught kids to hate whitey? You must now thank Whitey. And I want that on the final. Congressional Black Caucus? Irrelevant. Maxine Waters? Shut up. ACORN? Outlawed. Black Panthers? Go home and pet your kitty. Black separatists? Find another nation that offers better dreams. Go ahead. I'm waiting. Gangsta rappers? Start praising America. Begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. And please no more ebonics. Speak English, and who knows where you might end up? Oh, yeah, pull up your pants. Your underwear is showing. You look stupid.

To those Eurosnots who forged entire careers hating America? I'm still waiting for the first black French President.

And let me offer an equal opportunity whupping. I've always despised lazy white people. Now, I can talk smack about lazy black people. You're poor because you quit school, did drugs, had three kids with three different fathers, and refuse to work. So when you plop your Colt 45-swilling, Oprah watchin' butt on the couch and complain "Da Man is keepin' me down," allow me to inform you: Da Man is now black. You have no excuses.

No more quotas. No more handouts. No more stealing my money because someone's great-great-great-great grandparents suffered actual pain and misery at the hands of people I have no relation to, and personally revile.

It's time to toss that massive, obsolete race-hustle machine upon the heap of the other stupid 60s ideas. Drag it over there, by wife swapping, next to dope-smoking. Plenty of room right between free love and cop-killing. Careful, don't trip on streaking. There ya go, don't be gentle. Just dump it. Wash your hands. It's filthy.

In fact, Obama's ascension created a gargantuan irony. How can you sell class envy and American unfairness when you and your black wife went to Ivy League schools, got high-paying jobs, became millionaires, bought a mansion, and got elected President? How unfair is that??? Now, like a delicious O'Henry tale, Obama's spread-the-wealth campaign rendered itself moot by it's own victory! America is officially a meritocracy. Obama's election has validated American conservatism!

So, listen carefully. Wham!!! That's the sound of my foot kicking the door shut on the era of white guilt. The rites have been muttered, the carcass lowered, dirt shoveled, and tombstone erected. White guilt is dead and buried.

However, despite my glee, there's apparently one small, rabid bastion of American racism remaining. Black Americans voted 96% for Barak Obama. Hmmm. In a color-blind world, shouldn't that be 70-30 or 60-40, maybe 50-50? Tonight, every black person should ask forgiveness for their apparent racism and prejudice towards white people. Maybe it's time to start spreading the guilt around.

For Our Veterans of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War

2008-11-10T19:01:00.001-07:00

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood. And neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Florida eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event. He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you." Then the old soldier began to cry. "That really got to me," Bierstock says.

Cut to today.

Bierstock, now 59, and John Melnick, 55, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank these aging warriors before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them."

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren. "It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine could he discuss "the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."

Bierstock and Melnick had thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.

GOD BLESS EVERY VETERAN... and THANK YOU to those of you veterans who may read this!

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:

Before You Go - Tribute to WWI and Korean War Veterans:
http://www.managedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php

Before You Go - New version dedicated to Vietnam Veterans:
http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYGVN

Life Goes On... I Think

2008-11-06T21:24:00.005-07:00

The election is well over now, and I am among those licking my wounds. Majority Rules, and apparently I wasn't in the majority, or at least not in the voting majority. I will certainly be praying for our new President-Elect, not because I think he's some Great Hope, but because he is so completely unprepared and inexperienced for this job that I am afraid he will bollux our poor country. My only consolation is that our country survived the likes of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton... maybe we can survive Obama too. My greatest fear is for our allies, Israel especially. They are our only real ally in the middle east, and now they can kiss goodbye any assistance from Mr. Obama; Hamas poured so much money and support into Obama's campaign you'd think he was running for the leadership of the P.L.O. and they were sponsoring him. But I digress. We lost. I concede.

Fall in Flagstaff and family gossip

2008-10-16T19:03:00.002-07:00

Jimmy and I are in Flagstaff AZ and it is cool, colorful, and completely delightful. Drove up last Saturday and will stay till the end of this week at Dad and Mom's timeshare. The trees are changing their wardrobe and it is beautiful. At the beginning of the week we were visited by Randy and Nakaia for a couple of days, and then later Ernie and Sally came up and spent the night in the adjoining apartment. The weather has ranged from the 50s to the 70s, and it is such a wonderful change from the near-constant 100+ degree weather we were used to in the Valley. (Of course, my neighbor reports that it has cooled down since we left!) Today we drove to the SnowBowl to see the beautiful aspen in their golden splendor, and then went to Sunset Crater for a hike around the Bonita Lava Flow and realize once again how insignificant we are in the face of Mom Nature.

Speaking of moms, Emily went to Denver to visit Tom and Jan last week, and totally enjoyed herself. Tom was awesome, even flying out to AZ in order to fly back with her, so she would not have to travel alone, and of course did the same thing in reverse when it was time to send her home.

I hear that June has moved to the Seattle area because Google closed their local offices, and so now Rickey Lynn's house is too quiet according to her - she is experiencing Empty Nest syndrome. Maybe she and Jennifer should throw a big party to shake things up!

That's it for today, folks, I'm too tuckered to type. G'nite!

Almost Home

2008-10-16T18:46:00.002-07:00

Ariel and Efrat report they are in New York and still having a great time. After driving up the coast of California, they had a wonderful visit with the Whetstones in Washington, then flew to New York where they sub-let an apartment near the U.N. for a few days. They fly home tomorrow, but what great memories they will take with them. Ariel, we are all awaiting the upload of your latest photos of the trip! Safe flying, and hopefully next time WE can head EAST to your part of the world!

Word from the Road

2008-10-08T20:32:00.009-07:00

The latest word from Ariel:

We just pulled in to a campground in Maupin Oregon (wherever the hell that is..) - and got the last spot in the only [RV] park within fifty miles!!! We've been so lucky so far and always have a spot in any campground we pull into...we even spent the night in the Sequoia National Park! Can you believe finding a place THERE with no reservation?!

Spent this morning at Crater Lake - and since then have been hauling ass as fast as possible up thru Oregon - to start touring the Dalles in the morning (along the Columbia Gorge).
We are having a great time...
Love and thanks again.
Ariel, Efrat, Eran, and Adi

Update from the Road... in California

2008-10-06T21:25:00.004-07:00

Another note from Ariel:

Hi!
Just taking time to drop you a note while in McDonalds in Fort Brag... Most of the campgrounds boast WiFi - but most don't work.. so we have been out of touch for several days... anyway we are having a great time - enjoying the beutiful views along Highway #1!
Love to all..
Ariel

The Continuing Adventures of the Whetstones

2008-10-01T23:00:00.002-07:00

The following is just in from Ariel... [After a hectic but fabulous couple of days at Sea World, the family is setting out on an RV trip up the coast of California, headed for Washington State.]

Finally.....we made it to a campground
- for our first night in the RV!
we're just getting organized to go to bed..
Goodnight all.
zzzzzzzzzzzzz........
Ariel

The Continuing Adventures Of Ariel, Efrat, Eran and Adi

2008-10-01T22:00:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of the newly-uploaded pics from Ariel... They are (obviously) in California now. Visited Sea World and then OF COURSE Disneyland. Also had a nice visit with Larry, and they were able to give him some things from Beverly's estate, at Sherry's request.

Click on any pic to see it larger. Or, better yet, click on the link below to see the full slideshow. If you've already seen the previously posted photos and want only to see the NEW ones, go "Back to the Full Album" and then choose page #10 -- next click on a pic to highlight it, and last, click on the word "slideshow" in the right-hand column.

THANK YOU ARIEL for keeping us all posted, and for letting us share the vacation with you vicariously!!

P.S. The hat Eran is wearing is one Safta Emily gave him... it belonged to Saba Tom, and has a solar panel that operates a fan in the bill. Eran has hardly taken it off his head since Grandma gave it to him!

Here is the link for more photos, be sure to see the 'movie' clips near the end, with everyone screaming as they progress down a watery ride!

http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/567489981egxxNk

Empty Nest Syndrome

2008-09-29T21:28:00.002-07:00

Aaack, I've got Empty Nest Syndrome! Ariel, Efrat, Eran, and Adi left Arizona this morning and flew to California to continue their Adventure in America. The house is too quiet.

I miss Adi's lovely lilting songs that she made up each day, and Eran's soft-spoken but extremely intelligent comments about Life. I love the way he tries to help his younger sister learn English by making up games -- looking for English words on signs as we drive around town, first one with an A, then a B, then C, and so forth -- and the way she gets so excited when she finds the appropriate letter on a store or street sign.

Eran is keeping a record of everything they are doing on this vacation, to give a report to his school teacher when he gets back home to Israel. Mommy Efrat is helping him by keeping an outline (according to his dictation) of events. It's remarkable to listen to him dictate the extent of detail for each day!

Spending time with Ariel and Efrat has been a treat I have enjoyed more than words can say... rather, I should say WE have all enjoyed. They've been to visit as many relatives and friends as was humanly possible within the short week they were here, and everyone just wants to hug them and never let go. This is what Family and Friends are all about.

Jonathan and Eran, Adi and Alyssa have all become such good friends - there is NO language barrier, even if the two girls don't speak a word of each other's language, it's amazing to watch them play and UNDERSTAND each other completely!

Sunday, their last night in Arizona, Jan Weston hosted a delicious taco dinner in Ariel and Efrat's honor. There were 13 of us all crowded around, stuffing ourselves with Jan's yummy cooking, swapping stories, yakking, and generally having fun. There was so much love and laughter, it was a wonderful finish for Ariel and Efrat's visit, and a beautiful close for the year. Tonight starts the Jewish New Year, and as Ariel, Efrat, Eran, and Adi continue their vacation we all send them love and good wishes.

To check out some of Ariel's photos, don't forget to click on the link in the previous post!!

Ariel and Efrats Visit in the U.S.

2008-09-28T16:15:00.003-07:00

Hi All,
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone we have seen and stayed with... we are having a great time here - and are really enjoying ourselves.
We are taking a lot of pictures - and are posting them - as we go - on Webshots.com
So here is the link - check in now and then - as we post new pic's :
http://family.webshots.com/album/567489981egxxNk
love you all!
Bye for now..
Ariel, Efrat, Eran, and Adi

P.S. Click on the 'slideshow' button on the right hand side of the page to see the album in slideshow form...

Ariel, Efrat coming to visit!!

2008-09-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

Talk about excited. I'm as happy as a little kid getting ready to raid a candy store. Nephew Ariel [Sherry's eldest child], his wife Efrat, son Eran, and daughter Adi are coming to Arizona to visit next Saturday. It will be the first time the children have been to the U.S.

They will be staying in Arizona for 10 days, then will go to Disneyland (where else?!) for the kids to meet Mickey Mouse, and then they'll drive up the coast to Washington State. After a few days visit with the Whetstones there, they will fly back to New York and on to Tel Aviv again.

Mom [Emily] is even more excited than me I think, this will be the first time she will get to see her great-grandchildren. I understand Eran has been practicing English, and Sherry tells me that Adi has mastered the phrase, "Gramma, this tastes delicious!"

Anyone wanting to visit with them while they are in AZ are most welcome - please call or email either Ariel or me (or leave a comment to this post) and we'll make sure you get together while they are here. I know they want to see as many family and friends as possible while here; that is the whole point of the visit!

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T20:02:00.002-07:00

David survived Ike. It was degraded to "just" a tropical storm by the time it went over Marshall, Texas, where he is staying... He has no electricity in the hotel where he is living, and after the storm passed he drove around town but didn't see any physical damage. He said there was a lot of rain and a lot of wind, but other than the services outage, things seem to be okay. Of course, now he has to spend the night with no air conditioning and it is muggier than heck, but while uncomfortable it is liveable. Thank God for small favors.

Robin and Jerry in Arizona

2008-09-12T14:09:00.003-07:00

Robin and Jerry Dion are in Arizona on an all-too-infrequent vacation! Visiting with Mom Tate (Emily) and also with son Gary and his wife Jessica. Also helping Gary and Jessica to move from their Grandma Tate's house to an apartment they just rented - Congrats Gary and Jess! Robin and Jerry took Emily up to Sedona for an overnight at the L'Auberge Resort, they should be back sometime this afternoon. Poor things, they had to spend two days up in the cool pines with the clear running river, instead of being down here with us in the Valley of the Dust. I mean the Valley of the Sun. They totally missed the dust storm we had last night, what a pity. I'm purposefully NOT dusting my furniture again till they visit, so they can appreciate what they missed. *hee hee* ~~~ Emily was so excited, waiting for them to arrive, she was like a 5 year old. It's wonderful that they were able to take this vacation to see her. We all have appreciated seeing them and catching up, wouldn't it be wonderful if they could come every year?!

Sarah Palin

2008-09-12T13:56:00.005-07:00

Okay, yes, I am up on my political soapbox. Don't climb up here often, but the remarks about Sarah Palin "not being experienced enough to be a V.P. and thereby trusted with national secrets" prompted me to make the hike up to this dizzying peak. This does not by any means encompass ALL of her experience, but just cogitate on the few points garnered below:

Don't dismiss the fact that Sarah Palin is Commander of the Alaska National Guard-- consider this. Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It is on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.
As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's and certainly by far exceeds Obama's.
She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.
Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.
According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.
She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.

Now I will climb back down, and hopefully won't injure anything on the way...

Fly Your Flag on September 11

2008-09-11T00:01:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, we remember.

An American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States. Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.

In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.

Join with other patriots. Fly your American flag today, in remembrance of those who were murdered, and in solidarity against those who would destroy America.

Sam The Cooking Guy

2008-09-07T09:23:00.007-07:00

Gonna go see a live demonstration by Sam The Cooking Guy today. It will be at the Harrah's AkChin Casino, so who knows, maybe I will drop a quarter in a slot machine while we're there?? Probably not, but you never know!

I first saw Sam (last name Zein) on a local television show. He has a cooking show, with quick and easy recipes, kindof like a male Rachel Ray. Except he is waay funnier. He speaks in Real People terms instead of Master Chef Gobbledegook Language. He's known for making cooking UNscary for bachelors and the like, giving hints that other cooks don't and making the comment funny at the same time... for instance, "When you're scrambling eggs, the fork has to clink on the bottom of the bowl, otherwise you won't get the eggs properly scrambled!"

When I saw Sam make his 5 minute Omelet with goat cheese and spinach (on TV), I started watching him for hints to give my son - who has turned out to be a pretty darn good cook himself! Sam's TV show takes place in his own kitchen in his own home, and there's no TV over the stove, like on most professional chef's shows. He likes to keeps it real. He has also held shows in places like an office lunchroom, to show what you can cook with only plastic utensils and a microwave oven, and still have time on your lunch break to EAT it...

And then my hubby and I both got kindof hooked on watching Sam for the fun of it... and we've enjoyed several of his recipes in our own kitchen! So when I saw the $10 tickets to his show today, and it is less than an hour drive from our home... of COURSE I bought them. The demonstration is supposed to include tasting four of his recipes. Mmm I can't wait.

Bye for now, I've gotta go grab my apron and get in the car!!

6:00 pm UPDATE: OMG, if you ever get the chance to see this guy in person... DO IT. He is hilarious, and his cooking ain't bad, either! We were treated to a two hour impromptu comedy show with cooking highlights that tasted scrumptious. And till you see him in person, be sure to check out his show and/or look at his cookbook. Mm mmm good. His website is:
www.SamTheCookingGuy.com

My Answer to the Anti-Military Protesters in Denver

2008-08-24T11:56:00.009-07:00

I heard on the news that today, an alliance of radical idiots has converged upon Denver to stage anti-war, anti-military, and anti-American demonstrations. Starring lunatics like Cindy Sheehan and a recording from Black Panther terrorist Wesley Cook (currently on death row), they are hoping to violently "recreate 1968." They've chosen the DNC as their venue because of their far left wing Democratic Party leanings, and they are hoping for riots or the like to receive national media coverage.

My answer to these people with marbles for brains is to invite them to leave our great nation, since they so obviously hate us and wish nothing more than to destroy the virtues and values upon which America was built.

So instead of focusing on lunatics, I would like to give THANKS to the men and women who have worked, fought, been wounded, and died to preserve the freedom in which we live. Following are the words to a song written by Dr. Sam Bierstock which states most eloquently how I feel. The song was written to openly and vocally give tribute to veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, before there are none of them left to HEAR the thanks which they so richly deserve.

Before You Go
Quietly you've all turned gray
You did your job, You saved our way
Our life of freedom you preserved
We've thanked you less than you've deserved.
You never boasted, bragged or asked
For adulation for your past.
You sacrificed your youth to war.
We owe you more, we owe you more.
Thank you for your wondrous feats,
For open speech and quiet streets.
For worship as we choose to pray,
For preservation of our way.
You leave us blessed with every breath,
That cost you arms and legs and death.
You did the job you knew was right
And silently, you cry at night.
For bodies maimed and comrades lost,
For sights beyond our furthest thoughts.
For what you've lived and felt and seen,
For what the cost freedom means.
Before you go we need to show
That in your silence we still know
What you accomplished and what you did
For who we are and how we live.
So go with love from wives and sons
and daughters for a job well done.
From kids who've never seen a tank,
We give you thanks, we give you thanks.
For homes and jobs and baseball games,
For many colors, many names.
You saved our lives and we're still free
From shining sea to shining sea!
Thank you, Thank you
Thank you, Go in peace.

To see the photos and hear the song sung online for free, go to:
http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYGVN

My heartfelt thanks go to every Veteran who has served our country in war or peacetime -- and especially those currently serving in the mideast theater -- THANK YOU for all you have done to preserve our nation, right down to making it possible for idiots like those in Denver today to speak their minds freely without fear. It could happen only in America, where our cherished freedom is protected so vigilantly by men and women of honor.

Rick Tate moved to Virginia

2008-08-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

Today is Rick's birthday, and he celebrated by unpacking more boxes from their recent move from Kansas to Virginia. There are easier ways to celebrate, Cuz !!

It was a bittersweet move, leaving Kansas so soon after his mom was buried, but both Rick and Anthoney received great job offers, and as Rick put it, "Mom just looked down at us from Heaven and paved the way to make everything dovetail so smoothly."

Rick and Anthoney have a beautiful condo in Alexandria, in a pet-friendly environment complete with walking trails for their two dogs. I've been invited to visit next week, but it is dependent upon finding a decent air fare in time. Priceline, here I come!!

Catching up on several subjects

2008-08-18T13:39:00.004-07:00

I have been remiss. It's been months since I made a posting here, and some have lovingly called it to my attention. So here are a few pertinent updates - holler if you want more info on any of them, *grin* !!

Mary Wroten is home, and is steadily improving. She is still on oxygen 24/7, but at least she is moving around on her own now, no longer requiring a walker. In fact, just last week Cheryl brought her over to our house for lunch and a lovely visit! Cheryl is the consummate daughter, still devoting her time to her mom, just going to her own home to care for her animals and plants. They are both awesome ladies and I admire them both.
June Tate-Gans and Rickey Lynn Gans went to Japan and thoroughly fell in love with the country. June went for work, and Rickey tagged along for a week or so of sightseeing. They stayed in a condo in Tokyo and I think the part that intrigued Rickey the most was the wash-and-blow-dry toilets! Those people are CLEAN.
David Whetstone is out of the Air Force, although he will be serving in the inactive Reserves for a couple of more years. He has taken an EOD contract job in east Texas which should last until mid-fall, then he'll be given another contract elsewhere... Florida? Alaska? Timbuktoo? Who knows, but it's great to be young and ready to travel wherever Life takes you.
Emily Tate says she is 'staying put' this summer and will not travel around the country visiting children and relatives like she did last year. Robin will be coming to visit her next week, and will stay till Labor Day, which will be lovely!
Gary and Jessica Whetstone are still living with Emily, but are actively looking for a place of their own now... Emily says, "I guess Jessica wants her own kitchen" and Gary just smiles. Gary's getting quite proficient at his wine-making now. He makes wine about just any kind of fruit, and it is all delicious.

That's about all I can think of at the moment, if I've missed anything else, you can call or email me... or help me make these postings!! Hugs all around to all the Clan, I love you all!

Susan

Discharge Date in Sight

2008-05-18T14:26:00.003-07:00

The Powers That Be at the Hearthstone nursing facility have rumored that Mary just MIGHT be discharged tomorrow... so everybody keep your fingers crossed! Mary wants to try living at her own home, so Cheryl will be moving in with her on a temporary basis to see how she does. Mary will still require oxygen, a walker, etc. but I have never seen anyone with such a fantastic iron will as this woman. Go, Mary, Go!!

Going Home Soon

2008-05-15T16:47:00.002-07:00

Mary Wroten was transferred on May 10th from the hospital to a rehab facility (Hearthstone) and her progress has been nothing short of phenomenal. The woman is incredible. We are hopeful that she will be discharged to go home this weekend, so everybody keep your fingers crossed and keep those prayers going! She will still need oxygen and some home health care visits and meds of course, and will need to use a walker for a while yet to get around, but still, to have improved this much so quickly is amazing. She is going to try to eat 'real' food this evening (to be sure she can swallow properly rather than the food going into her lungs), and then they will do an x-ray to confirm that her lungs are okay enough that they can discharge her. You go, Mary!!

Mary Wroten - A Woman of Strength!

2008-05-04T18:01:00.005-07:00

Most of the readers of this blog already know that Mary (Sanphillip) Wroten was admitted to JC Lincoln Hospital ICU on Wednesday, April 30th. What they thought was a cold and an asthma attack turned out to be emphysema and pneumonia, among other things. She has been on a ventilator (breathing machine) for the past four days. She's also been receiving four different kinds of antibiotics, rehydration (she was very dehydrated), lots of sedation, etc. etc. Cheryl, Toni, and I have been standing watch in the ICU room and the care Mary has been receiving can be referred to as nothing short of excellent. Long story short... today the ventilator was successfully removed and that is a MAJOR step toward recovery. We are all shouting Hallelujah and doing the Happy Dance. Of course, she still has a long way to go, but getting the breathing tube removed from her throat is a huge relief... and now she will be able to talk, as soon as her throat heals a bit. She is receiving nutrition via a nasal feeding tube now, and that should help her stamina - but she has already shown herself to be a woman of IRON, to have fought and come through so much. Many, many thanks to everyone for their prayers, and all the phone calls of support to Cheryl - she has certainly needed them, and appreciated them. I am confident that tonight Cheryl will finally get a good night's sleep (versus the average of 2 hours per night she has been getting), now that her mom is improving. Love to all and keep Mary in your prayers!!

Thought for the Day

2008-04-25T09:48:00.002-07:00

No one falls in love by choice,
it is by CHANCE.
No one stays in love by chance,
it is by WORK.
And no one falls out of love by chance,
it is by CHOICE.

In Memory of Daddy

2008-04-22T21:51:00.001-07:00

Today is April 22, 2008... two years from the day Thomas Marion Tate departed this earth. He was our beloved father, our mom's devoted husband, he was uncle, brother, friend... he was loved and admired by many, and missed by all.

Mom, Gary (my nephew), and I went to the cemetery today. I think we were all feeling trepidatious, mom most of all. But it turned out to be a beautiful experience. We sang some songs, Mom recited The Lord's Prayer, I read a few passages out of one of Daddy's favorite books (Archy and Mehitabel). We sat and talked with each other and to Daddy. It was a beautiful day with a warm sun and a light breeze, and the Arizona sky was brilliant. And we felt like Daddy was right there with us, like we could just reach out and touch him. We knew he could hear us and we knew he would not want us to continue in sadness, but to go on with Life and to carry him in our hearts as we do so.

Just as we were leaving, Sherry called from Israel and got to talk with each of us. Then when we got back to Mom's house, Robin called from Virginia and so she also was able to give Mom some comfort. Then Jessica (Gary's wife) came home from work (they live with Mom) and we all sat down to have a round of Daddy's favorite beverage, root beer floats. We lifted our mugs and toasted a wonderful man with tears in our eyes but with hope in our hearts.

Here's to you, Daddy.

Anit-war Wounds

2008-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

I read this today and must share it. (The emphasis on certain paragraphs is mine.) She obviously loves her soldier even if she disagrees with the politics of everything. I loved her point that if EVERYONE in America were required to serve their country for a couple of years of their lives, the anti-war protestors would be supporters.. they would be part of "we."

Anti-war wounds
By Katie Dyer
For The Register-Guard
Published: April 20, 2008
We’ve marked the end of the fifth year of war in Iraq, and the 4,000th soldier killed there. They hold a peace rally downtown. There are dozens of people there. I’m sure many of them are the same people I see on the street corners — their signs say “Support the troops, not the war.” I watch them with tears in my eyes.
I believe in my heart that the demonstrators are good people. They want what I want: for the war to be over, and for all the soldiers fighting it to come home. They are hopeful, passionate, and they have no idea how much it hurts me to watch.
For some people, the war is a cause. It’s a chant, a picket sign, a march through town. For some it’s a political stance.
But I am the wife of a deployed soldier.
For me, the war is the reason I sleep alone every night. The reason that on most nights I’m not sleeping. It’s the strain in friendships that used to include both me and my husband, Paul. It’s the dinner invitations from other couples that no longer come. It’s learning to ride the tractor and unfreeze the well and remembering to start both cars on a regular basis so the batteries won’t die. It’s doing my chores, and his, and trying not to be lonely at night when the house is too quiet and there’s no one to talk to.
For me, the war is knowing that — best case scenario — these changes will define my life for the next year, and worst case, the changes will be permanent.
I want this war to be over more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life, but that’s not why I cry. I cry because I am so relieved that Paul isn’t home to see this.
My husband fights this war. He risks his life every day. We have both made sacrifices for it. And to hear them say that it’s “a waste of time,” that it “will never make a difference,” that “we should call the whole thing off” — well, if that’s true, I’m not sure I’ll get out of bed tomorrow morning. There has to be a reason that our family — and thousands of others — are enduring this.
Paul believes that he is making a difference in this world. I have to believe that, too. As an Oregon National Guard wife, there is an unspoken code that assumes you won’t participate in anti-war sentiment, but that’s not what stops me from joining them. As I watch, I feel anger, not kinship.
The fact is, I didn’t really understand war until I married someone who fought it.
When I met Paul, he was already a combat veteran. He had served peacekeeping tours in Egypt and Israel, and tours that were anything but peaceful in Iraq. When he flirted with me, I told him I didn’t date military guys. When I caught him reading “The Art of War,” I thought he was a barbarian. When I met his Army friends, I was disgusted by the glorified battle stories they told. When he quit his civilian job and started wearing a uniform every day, I was proud when people thanked him for his service.When he left for Afghanistan, I quit my job to start a military support business. Sometimes you don’t know how you’ll react to something until you live it.
Lately, I read blogs by soldiers on the front lines. It’s the fastest way I know to be depressed and inspired all in one sitting. One of them writes:
“It’s easy to say we shouldn’t be at war, when you’re not the ‘we.’ e_SEnS”
I didn’t become the “we” until Sept. 17, 2006, the day I married Paul, three years into the war in Iraq. And even then, I am only the “we” in the sense that I am joined legally and spiritually with a man who is. I’m the “we” beside the “we.”
The protesters say they support the troops, but not the war. To me, that’s impossible. I spent 10 years as a newscaster. If someone told me they supported newscasters but hated the news and thought it should be taken off the air, how supported would I feel? How can you say to someone, “I support your right to do your job — I even benefit when you do it well — but I think what you do is horrible and wrong and I’m resentful that it’s being done at all”?
How can we support the troops when we’re constantly telling them that what they do every day is wrong and they should be ashamed of doing it? How can we expect them to do their jobs well if by doing their jobs they are carrying out a war that we have labeled immoral? And if they don’t do their jobs well, don’t we all suffer?
Maybe what people really want is for the war to end — but for the protection our troops provide to continue. Without it, they may not have the right to speak out about the war, or the missions that comprise it, or the troops that carry out those missions.
Last summer we were in Ashland for a military ball. All of the soldiers and their dates were staying at the same hotel. When it was time for the party, we emerged from that hotel to a dozen female protesters, dressed in black and lining both sides of the sidewalk. They held hand-made signs about the body count in Iraq. We either had to cross the street, or walk right through them.
Paul and I were holding hands and looking forward to the evening. He was wearing his navy blue dress uniform and I had on a new white dress, strapless with a knee-length ruffled skirt. The air was comfortably warm and the sun had just started to set — the kind of summer evening in Oregon that makes you forget all the rain.
We walked through the protesters. They were silent. So were we. I shook my head in confusion. Why do people assume that if you wear a uniform, you’re in favor of the war? And how could they possibly think that 300 Oregon National Guard soldiers in town for a party had anything to do with planning the war they were protesting? These guys are just cogs in the wheel, following orders and hoping to come home alive.
“You’ll join us when your husband dies,” one of the protesters whispered.
I wheeled around, but felt Paul’s hand tighten sharply around mine before I could open my mouth. We kept walking. That night, we didn’t yet know about the deployment. What I did know was that my husband was a good man, and that neither of us wanted this war.
Paul joined the Army when he was a teenager — seven years before Sept. 11, 2001. He joined before we knew what the world would look like today. He joined because he feels that it is his duty to serve his country.
And thank God. Because what I now understand is this: The future of our country — our honor, our dignity, our freedom — rests on the shoulders of volunteers. Volunteers! And if my husband didn’t go to defend us, who would?
He didn’t have to go. His brother and father didn’t. My brother didn’t. (My father did, during Vietnam, but I never thought once about his service or sacrifice until I married Paul.)All of us could choose to stay home with our families and wait until the terrorists come to find us individually. I’m pretty sure that in Monroe, Ore., population 680, chances are good they never would.
But instead, Paul and thousands of men and women like him left their families, put their lives on hold, and went to meet the terrorists head on. And shouldn’t our reaction to that be solemn, tearful, overwhelming gratitude?
Forget “support.” We owe them our thanks.
There was a time I might have attended a peace rally. But that was before I became an Army wife. Before I understood the things that only become clear when your husband — or son, or brother, or father, or sister, or daughter, or wife, or mother — is the one fighting the war. When you are part of the “we.” When you have lent your loved one to Uncle Sam to fight for all of those who have their loved ones safe at home and out of harm’s way.
And here’s the dirtiest secret of all. I believe there should be mandatory military service for all of us. Maybe if every American served this country, we would all be in it together. We would all ride the wave of hope, fear, pride, panic, uncertainty and unconditional love that comes with being a military family in the middle of a deployment. We could all support each other.
And no one could condemn what my husband does for a living, because their husbands would be serving beside him. Freedom would cost each one of us exactly the same amount — instead of being a gift bestowed by a very few that pay a tremendous price. A gift that so many of us forget to say “thank you” for.
My husband has lost dozens of acquaintances and two very good friends to this war. One died in combat. The other returned safely from his tour of duty, but couldn’t forget the things he had seen. He killed himself a short time later. Paul thinks of the first every time he faces dangers on the battlefield. And he thinks of the second every time he does what he has to do to stay safe. The guilt from both is always with him.
I want my husband to come home. I want the war to be over, and for no other families to have to go through a deployment. But more than that, I want the 4,000 deaths that we have suffered in this war to mean something.
The truth is, I don’t care about life in Iraq or Afghanistan or what happens there. But I care very much that every American soldier who gave his or her life didn’t do it for nothing. I don’t want our country to make any more sacrifices for this war — but I want the sacrifices we have already made to matter. Unfortunately, I can’t see any way to have both.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

2008-04-19T10:29:00.007-07:00

The following video is of the United States Army Glee Club singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic on the White House lawn April 16, 2008 during the welcoming ceremonies for Pope Benedict XVI. This is one of the most moving renditions I have ever heard. I get goosebumps every time I hear it, thinking of all the men who have "died to make men free." During this War Against Terrorism, the thousands of men (and women) who have sacrificed life and the tens of thousands who have lost limbs should be remembered every day by all of us with the privilege of living in Freedom. This is one citizen who is humbly grateful for their sacrifice.

And following is another version, but with footage from WWII. Awesome footage; combined with this song it brings a lump to the throat of any American. May we always remember the sacrifices of these men and women.

Edith Marie Hern, aka One Classy Lady

2008-04-15T16:07:00.002-07:00

Ode to Auntie Edith

2008-04-14T16:03:00.008-07:00

Mom (Emily) and I returned to Arizona yesterday from a week in Kansas City with Rick and Anthoney. We cried together, hugged and reminisced together. On Thursday Tom and Robin and Jerry joined us, and on Friday the funeral was held and we all said our final farewells to Auntie. It was a heartbreaking week but I am so glad we were all there for Rick. In my last post I said I would post what I said at Auntie's funeral service. Here it is.

---------------------

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Susan Walker, and I am one of Edith's nieces.

Edith Marie Hern was known to many people by many different names. To some, she was Friend. To others, Confidant. To one - my cousin Rick - she was Mom. To Anthony she became mother as well, and she loved him as much as her natural born son. When she married Harry Hern she became step mom to a wonderful family who welcomed her into their arms and hearts, every one of whom she loved dearly. To others she was "Sister Edith," attending the same church with them for decades. She was beloved cousin to Florence.

She was an anonymous giver of charity. Unbeknownst to her friends or family, she would give to others who were needy when she herself could easily have been considered to be destitute. It was anonymous; she didn't do it for recognition or notoriety, she did it because she knew it was the right thing to do.

My own mother doesn't like to call her "sister-in-law," because they were friends long before they married their husbands. To my mom she has been Best Friend for nearly seventy years. And to my brothers and sisters and me, she always was and will be Auntie. We adored her for all the love and kindness she lavished upon us both as children and adults. As little kids we always looked forward to seeing her, as if some special treat lay in store, and as we developed into adults we found in her the role model of an elegant and dignified woman who weathered whatever Life handed her with strength and poise.

My elder sister Sherry and I remember Auntie Edith babysitting us when we were little kids in California and our families lived close together. She endured with such loving kindness all the pranks we pulled, and taught us valuable life lessons through it all. Sherry now lives in Israel and is unable to be here with us today, but she wrote to us and reminisced about our beloved Auntie Edith. Rick has requested I share a little of what she wrote, so the following is from Sherry:

"Dear Susan, I remember as a child sitting on the floor in Auntie Edith's living room, eons ago when we all lived in California, next to her beautiful couch with all the pretty braid on the bottom. And I braided all that decorative fringe on her couch, but Auntie never reprimanded me for that. We found out years later that Auntie spent a full hour on her hands and knees, patiently unbraiding all my hard work.

"I also remember she loved to take us to the zoo and to parks there in California for picnics - do you remember those trips? And remember those Neiman and Marcus dresses she bough for us one year? They were black and white checks, with little white Peter Pan collars and white belts and full skirts. I remember she paid the unbelievable price of $25 EACH for them. But they wore like iron. We wore them, then you [Susan] wore mine, then Robin went through both of them, then I think that some of the church people wore them, and finally years later they were sold in a rummage sale - still looking almost as good as the Christmas day we got them!

"And most of all - I remember the baths that she gave me. Instead of being lined up with al the rest of you kids at the cold, hard, metal sink in the kitchen - which was where Mom had to bathe us - at Auntie's house she would take me into her fancy bathroom, with all the wonderful scents, and give me a bath in hot water with bubbles… And the best of all was when I got out of the tub - because she would wrap me up in the biggest softest towel you ever saw… and she had heated it so that it was nice and warm and cuddly…Heaven. I felt like Queen of the May, so special, the only little girl in the universe… that's the way our Auntie made me feel."

Yes, Sherry, I remember those days, and those dresses. And I remember always looking forward to going to Auntie Edith's house. We and our siblings were very fortunate to have had wonderful role models in our lives. Our parents and our Auntie Edith were extremely positive influences in our lives for which we are all grateful. Auntie Edith was always grace and dignity personified.

As I said earlier, she was known to many people for many things and by many names. She will always be my Auntie. She will always be your mom, Rick. She will always be your friend, or your cousin. But it occurs to me today that there is one common thread throughout it all, one thing that Edith Marie Hern was to each and every one of us gathered here today. She was loved.

We will love you always, Auntie, and we will miss you forever.

Funeral Service for Edith Hern

2008-04-12T10:10:00.003-07:00

Well, yesterday was the funeral, and what a day. I am soooo glad that Rick had so much family support, it was so needed. He had been terrified of sitting in the front pew all by himself, feeling more alone than ever in his life. In the end the family section was full up. There was Rick, Anthoney, me, Emily, Robin, Jerry, Tom, Cheryl (Hern), Iris (Hern), Florence (Auntie's cousin on the Casteel side), and Florence's niece.

There was a big turnout, maybe 150 people or more, and tons of flowers. There were people from her church, a wealth of Edith's friends, Rick and Anthoney's friends, and even some of Rick's clients who have become close friends with Edith over the years.

Before she died, Auntie had agreed to a SHORT service (versus just a graveside prayer which is what she originally wanted) because the weather has been very inclement, and it was to be performed by her pastor, Brad Ratliff. She had made him promise he would 'keep it short' and then she wrote it down and even underlined it, ha! The lady knew what she wanted and she was always organized.

On Friday afternoon, 'Brother' Burns opened the service. His wife Avilee Burns and Edith were very close friends and in fact Avilee was with Rick when Edith passed. Then Jim Riggins spoke and he gave a beautiful tribute to her. He and his wife Ann had also become very close to Auntie since she moved to Kansas. Then it was my turn, and I will post what I said in a separate post. (I don't have a script of what the others said and I believe it was mostly extemporaneous, but if they send me a transcript I will post it.) After me, Brad gave a sermon which didn't quite fit Auntie's request of "short" but showed how much all the people in her church cared for her.

Then we went to the gravesite, and it was cooooold and terribly windy. I thought Mom and Florence would be swept away by the wind. Fortunately, at this point Brad DID keep it short, offering a bible reading and prayer. Then I gave Anthoney the box of 36 live butterflies we had in a white box, and he had Rick stand up and help him release the butterflies in Auntie's honor. (She absolutely adored butterflies for the last several years of her life.) Rick hadn't known about this part beforehand, and the result was that it put a big grin on his face, saying, "Mom would LOVE these butterflies, just look at these, Mom!!"

Then we went to the church for a reception dinner. Auntie had previously said she did NOT want them to have a dinner reception, but they insisted. So we drove the hour to the new Gospel Tablernacle in Belton MO for the dinner - which was actually very sweet of them to do, and it offered another opportunity for people to share memories of this wonderful lady. Then we went home to Rick's house, and Florence and her niece joined us for some reminiscing and family bonding. Anthoney made sour apple martinis for everyone, and we sat up till 2 or 2:30 a.m. drinking them and talking about Auntie.

Oh one last thing, we printed out all the guestbook entries (click here for a link) and gave them to Rick this morning, and he was so appreciative of everyone's condolences.. also, Ariel emailed not one but two absolutely beautiful letters to him, so eloquent and full of love, Rick bawled as he read them aloud to us.

Everyone who has had the fortune to have Edith Marie Hern in their life misses her. She was so full of elegance and class, dignity and uprightness. She was a jewel, a precious jewel.

Auntie Edith - the last farewell

2008-04-06T20:11:00.002-07:00

It is with tears and a heavy heart that I pass along to you the news that Edith Hern passed away this morning, at Rick's house where she has been living the past couple of months since being discharged from the hospital. She had congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and more, but was fighting valiantly until she contracted pneumonia last week.

My mother (Emily) and I will be flying to Kansas City early Monday morning to join Rick as he grieves for his mom. We do not yet know when the funeral service will be (a meeting with the funeral home is scheduled for tomorrow), but we hope it will be by Wednesday. For any who are interested, here is the funeral home information:
Maple Hill Funeral Home
3300 Shawnee Drive
Kansas City, Kansas 66106
(913)831-3345
email: support@maplehillfuneralhome.com
website: www.maplehillfuneralhome.com
Please pass along this information to anyone you know who cared for Auntie Edith. To send a card to Rick or to contact him, here is his info:
Rick Tate
8928 N Holmes St
Kansas City MO 64155
home phone: 816-359-3616
cell phone: 816-914-8839

We will always miss you, Auntie. Your light shone for so many to see, you will never be forgotten!
Love,
Susan

Article by Monte Tucker

2008-03-06T12:53:00.004-07:00

I thought some of you might enjoy this. A "good ol farm boy from western Oklahoma" writes a column like this each week.

"What's Under My Hat"
by Monte Tucker
January 28, 2008
----------

Howdy friends and neighbors. Come on first Tuesday in November! I have already had about all of the Presidential election I can stand. Surely, somewhere out there in this great nation is a "good ol' boy or gal," that is worth voting for. You know, someone that has actually done something, not ju st talked about what they think they have done. It's only the first quarter in the game between the R's and the D's. Both sides keep talking about time for change. Just what are they going to change? They obviously haven't changed the game of politics. Billary and Bama Lama Ding Dong boast the word "change" every time I see the media put their face on my boob tube.
The first place they could start changing things would be on the Senate floor that they're already on. Just go and look at their voting records for the last several months and you will find they aren't showing up to vote.You know, the job they campaigned so hard to get by promising "change," but they just don't have the time. McCain isn't immune from this either.

Let's talk "change." What in the world do these hot air compressors think they are going to change and why? Again, I'm just a professional bovine relocation specialist (it's the 21st century, we used to call them cowboys); But the way I see it from Sunny Point, Oklahoma, how are they going to change the greatest nation in the world? All of the candidates are demanding we must change! OK. I wake up a free man every morning and I'm free to do anything that is morally right or I can do nothing. If I choose to do something productive that day, well I can whistle at my dog, start up my ol' tan feed truck that I bought with the help of a free enterprising banking system I chose to use. Plus, there's the fact that other free Americans assembled this truck, and the companies that bought, sold and hauled parts and supplies to make that pickup possible. As I turn the key, ol' tan fires up on diesel fuel that a mean, nasty, big oil company conveniently made very accessible and affordable to me. I turn out of my land that I can freely own, onto a county maintained road that leads to any point in North America I would choose to go to that day. Also, in this country, I am free to own livestock and free to care for them so that the livestock will return a profit so I can repay my bank, buy my feed and fuel, and provide for my family. On Sunday Morning (or any other day that ends in "Y") my family is free to drive from our house on a ribbon of roads that lead to the Church of our choice and worship the real owner of all things we know, God. We can give praise to Him for all and especially for Jesus.

Why can't these hopefuls for the highest-ranking governmental seat see that it is just that simple? Provide me infrastructure and protect me from these knot-headed whacks that think they can take away our freedom. Billary, Bama Mama or McNobrain aren't going to change anything. The foundations of this great country can't be changed by one person, no matter how much they think they can. As Americans, we have the right to succeed or fail and try again as we please. As a free man, I'm getting good at failing but I get smarter when I try again.

When presidential candidates tout change, the only thing I see in this country that needs changing is them. Life in America is good and for those that don't think so, you're free to leave at any time, go to another country of your choice and try to change it.

I'm Monte Tucker, and that is what's under my professional bovine relocation specialist hat. Wait, I'm not changing, that is what's under my COWBOY hat.

Remembering the Marines of Iwo Jima

2008-02-20T15:46:00.003-07:00

Bruce sent this piece to me, and it is so important I would like to share it with all. Thank you, Bruce!

Remembering the Marines of Iwo Jima
Between February 19 and March 16, 1945, a battle raged on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima which claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 American Marines and left yet another 19,000 wounded. The anniversary this year is again in danger of passing largely unnoticed.

Occasionally, the History Channel will run a program on World War II, and you will see the brave young men with nervous, smiling faces preparing to assault some Japanese-held island. Then you hear the stories, often difficult to understand, of what happened next. Those same brave faces, suddenly shattered, their worst fears come true, locked forever in the memories of friends and fellow Marines who survived that living hell. Mental images so horrific, which after 62 years they still evoke tears among the “victors.” Memories so vivid that if you traveled there from this age of “Hey, look at me!” self-promoters, you would probably scream until your last breath, so no one should ever forget.It may be one of history’s supreme ironies those who benefited from such sacrifice, do not remember those who sacrificed so much. How can the talented but pathetic rock singer Kurt Cobain commit suicide and be revered by millions only 50 some odd years after thousands of inconceivably brave Marines, who stood between the aggressive Empire of Japan and us and died nobly, have been all but forgotten? Maybe next time pop singer Alanis Morisette, with all her teen-age angst, looks for an irony to sing about, she will start with this.

I suppose in the year of our Lord 2008, it is difficult to comprehend in 1945; some courageous, frightened 19-year old Marine stepped from his landing craft into Japanese machine gun fire and then slowly bled to death on the black sand of a beach you will never visit. Regardless of your race, creed or gender - or whether you are today a 55 year-old executive in an important board meeting, a 35-year old accountant waiting in traffic, a 26-year old sitcom cast member contemplating the day’s lines, or a 16-year old student on the way to a concert - he did this for you. He is a common thread which connects us all, and that is his lasting contribution, if we let it be.

We must live in our own time, just as the Marines of 1945 lived in theirs, but being aware of those who have gone before and the sacrifices they made connect us to them and sharpens the awareness of the responsibilities we have for each other. Those who are strongly connected with their history feel a sense of place that makes them less likely to throw away their future.

From my own experience, I am always more likely to write my congressional representatives or to speak up for what I believe in, to do something to help make this hard earned democracy work. No one is asking me to do anything, but I know some history and I must do something. I will make the time to be informed, dismiss common cynicism and assume the responsibility, which has been handed to me. We should give thanks this democracy no longer depends upon our ability to use a bayonet. It only asks us to be involved. Many do not feel hope; they feel alone.

If you are hopeless and alone, and if you cannot relate to your religion to help you understand your intrinsic value, then try this contemporary example: Sixty-three years ago, 7000 Marines gave their lives for you at a place called Iwo Jima. If you do not believe me, ask the families and friends who have grieved and missed them. In this age, when self-absorbed stars are paid millions and placed on pedestals, and vapid supermodels are idolized yet contribute nothing, it is almost incomprehensible that in this country we once had young men who, for almost no monetary consideration, laid their youths, their innocence and their very lives on the line.

From now until March 16, please remember them and, in doing so, remember the faith those young Marines had in us, the future, manifested by their sacrifice of everything they had or ever would have.

Melonie Schollmeyer

2008-01-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

Many have been asking if there is any word yet about what actually happened to our beloved Melonie. A few days ago Cheryl and Mary finally received notification from the Medical Examiner's Office about the results of the autopsy. It seems that Melonie had Deep Vein Thrombosis and did not know it, and what killed her was when a blood clot went to her lungs. We don't understand this completely as DVT is usually something that happens over a long period of inactivity such as a transatlantic airplane flight... and Melonie had not been on such a long flight, nor could she have ever been considered inactive or sedentary in any form. But that's what the ME's office says the tests concluded. About the only good news here is that it was something that NO ONE had any control over - no matter if anyone had stayed with her that fateful night, no one could have predicted nor prevented the tragedy from happening. I know that for all their brave fronts, both Mary and Cheryl have been struggling with self guilt and the feeling of "Would it have made a difference if I had stayed with her?" Our prayers are that everyone who has been feeling that way will be able to experience some comfort in knowing that no matter what anyone could or would have done, the Lord simply took her Home, and she is at Peace with Him now.

Edith Hern and Ethel Moore

2008-01-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

Monday was a weird day for two people close to our family - Aunt Edith (Tate) Hern, and Ethel Moore - a very close family friend for decades. These two ladies are the same age, but live in two different states. They've known each other for 50 years or more but have not seen each other in a couple of decades at least. Aunt Edith now lives in Missouri near her son Rick Tate; Ethel Moore lives in Israel but has been in Arizona visiting her daughter Janice Weston for the past couple of months.

On Monday, in both Missouri and Arizona, the scene played out like this: Each woman was taken by family members to a doctor for what they thought/hoped would be a fairly routine visit. Each one was told by the doctor that she needed to be admitted immediately to the Hospital. Each was sent to the local Hospital where they were NOT admitted immediately because there were no beds available; rather they each waited about a day and a half in the Emergency Room till a bed was available!

The stories have bittersweet endings: both ladies are now at home with their families. Ethel is still having problems but seems to be slowly improving. The medications or something seems to be interfering with her memory, and she is still very unsteady on her feet, but there is hope for the future. She was given a walker but at home is somewhat successfully trying to walk around just holding on to furniture and walls. Gloria has flown in from her home in Kansas to stay with their mom while her sister Janice is at work during the days. To send a get well card, please address it to:

Ethel Moore

c/o Janice Weston

9063 N 47th Drive

Glendale AZ 85302

Edith was not allowed to return to her own home as she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, some sort of pulmonary dysfunction, and severe diabetes. She was discharged into Rick's care and will now be living at his home, on a very strict diet, 24 hour oxygen, and medications. She has to use a walker to ambulate. They cannot give her dialysis due to her heart condition, so they are trying to manage the kidney failure with medications, but it is debatable as to how successful that will be. To send a get well card to her, please address it to:

Edith Marie Hern

c/o Rick Tate

8928 N Holmes St

Kansas City MO 64155

Everyone's prayers are with both these wonderful women who have played a large part in our lives. We love you both.

Thanks from Rickey

2008-01-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

Rickey sent this to me and asked me to post it... it is my sad pleasure. Susan

To all those family members and friends who have expressed your sympathy to us, thank you. Having the funeral for Lori was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. When you spend 35 years with someone, it's hard to say goodbye. Soooooo..... I have thought of some of Lori's favorite expressions and books.

Lori loved astronomy and science fiction. For her, "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" was almost real. Lori used to delight in telling people that she did not come from this world, but instead came from the planet Altair, and she was going to go back some day. She was always hoping for a breakthrough in teleportation or transfer booths so people could travel long distances quickly. For those who are familiar with the book, she used to say "So long, and thanks for the fish!", and then she would extend her thumb in the familiar hitchhikers manner saying she was hoping to hitch a ride back home to Altair.

I like to think that Lori didn't really die - instead she got a lift, and is on her way back to her original home on Altair. I hope she has a wonderful trip!

Rickey Lynn

Funeral Services for Lori Gans

2008-01-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of
Lori Gans – wife of Rickey Lynn Gans;
adoptive mother of June Tate-Gans

Lori passed away on January 1, 2008.
May her memory be a blessing.
Hamakom Yinechem etchem batoch Yisrael,
May G-d grant consolation to those who mourn.

Graveside funeral service will be on
Friday, January 4 at 9:00 a.m. at
Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery
401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale AZ 85257
Phone No:(480) 945-2654
Shiva services will be held at the Gans’ residence on
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evening at 7PM.

Condolences may be sent to:
Rickey Lynn Gans & family
1924 E. Wesleyan Dr.
Tempe AZ 85282

A Tearful Farewell to Lori

2008-01-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Rickey Lynn called me this evening at about 9:30 pm. Today was the first day of the year, and it was the saddest day for the Gans family. Lori passed away this evening a little after 5pm, and the family has lost their mother, wife, sister, friend. Lori finally succumbed to the long battle she has been battling for her life, and her body gave in to the final assault, liver failure.

The funeral will probably be on Friday morning, though the details have not yet been set. The family will be sitting 'shiva,' the proscribed days of mourning dictated by Jewish tradition, at the family home in Tempe. Friends and family traditionally visit the mourners at their home during these days. If you would like to honor Lori's memory by participating in this tradition, please call me (Susan) at 602-843-4049 and I'll give you the address and directions. (Or you can send me an email -- my email address is " thewebwalker @ cox. net " without the spaces.)

Lori is a beautiful woman, a gifted writer, kind, generous and giving, beloved by her family and cherished by a multitude of friends. We will miss you forever, Lori, more than words can say. And to Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, David, Kendell, June, and all of Lori's extended family, we offer love and compassion as you go through this terrible time of grief.

A note from Rickey Lynn:

The end has come. Lori is at peace finally. Around 5:00 p.m. they disconnected all the machines. Lori took about 5 breaths, and was gone. I cannot convey my sadness to you. After almost 35 years we are now apart for the first time. I know life must go on, but I'm just not sure how.

...

In the Jewish religion, there is no viewing or open casket. We will let everyone know the time of the internment which will take place on Friday morning. The place will be Green Acres Cemetery on Hayden Road and McKellips at the border of Tempe and Scottsdale.

Men will be offered a traditional yarmulke or hat to wear during the ceremony. Seating is minimal and usually provided just for the mourners. Anyone who wishes to speak of Lori will be welcome to. At the end of the ceremony, the coffin is lowered into the ground, and each person is invited to place a small shovel full of earth onto the casket as a symbolic honor of helping bury a friend or loved one.

We will then leave the cemetery and return to the house where we will sit shiva (mourn the person who died) for 3 days. At the end of the third day, we are no longer permitted to mourn and must get on with life, no matter how painful it is.

Sadly and with a great many tears,
Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Update on Lori Gans

2008-01-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sad, sad news. Lori's condition has not improved, and she's slipped into a coma. She is in near total liver failure. Here is the latest from Rickey Lynn:

Dear Family and Friends,

We met with the doctors this morning, and were told that there is no hope of saving Lori. She is deep in a coma with no digestive system left. The entire family was at our house for the day to help clean the house and get it ready for shiva (mourning).

Debbie and Vikki are staying with Lori while she is disconnected from all the machines so that she will not be alone when her time comes. I must admit, I could not do what they are doing, but they promised Lori that she would not be alone when it came her time to die, and they are
keeping their promise.

I know in my heart (what's left of it) that what we are doing is the right thing, yet it is so very hard to let go of almost 35 years. My eyes hurt so much from crying, yet what else is there to do? I've tried remembering all the good things, and there were lots of them, but then it all comes back, the sadness and the tears.

I know I will get a call from the hospital sometime in the next 24 hours that I am dreading getting - yet I will know that my Lori is finally at peace.

Sadly and with a great many tears,

Rickey Lynn

Ethel Moore is in Arizona

2007-12-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Ethel Moore (mom of Janice Weston) is in town! She came on a visit from faraway Jerusalem, thanks to the generosity of her children. She's been staying with Jan but on Wednesday she will leave for Kansas to see her children who live there; after a week or so she will be back in Arizona. Welcome, Ethel, and we hope you have a fabulous visit!!

Efrat Whetstone

2007-12-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

Not sure how many knew, but Efrat (Airel's wife, Sherrry and Vernon's daughter in law) was supposed to have made a trip to the States over Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Three days before departure she was on a bicycling trip with friends and took a fall. She ended up on the operating room table, and now sports a prosthetic radius head in her elbow plus some tendons that needed repair. **OUCH** End result is that she IS recuperating, but we did not get to see her, and it looks like prospects for her trip are completely out. We all send you our sympathy, Efrat, and wishes for a full and speedy recovery! And if you can't come to see us... maybe a bunch of us will have to get together and trek to your part of the world. Efrat is one of the absolute sweetest people on the face of the earth, and I think that everyone in the Family should meet her. Hopefully it will happen, someday...

Lori Gans in Hospital Again

2007-12-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

Rickey Lynn just sent me a note saying that Lori is in critical care at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. At this time she is allowed only one visitor at a time. She is in 2 West room 11 in the Critical Care area of the hospital. They are giving her blood at this time, as well as putting in a PIC line. They have her on I.V. fluids, and have scheduled her for an endoscopy of her stomach to check if she is bleeding internally. They are also scheduling her for a whole battery of other tests starting in the morning. Please continue holding her up in your prayers.

UPDATE on 12/6/07: Lori is not doing well, and no visitors or phone calls are allowed now. The tests are being postponed as they try to improve her condition before proceeding. Please continue praying.

Thank You to a Loving Community

2007-11-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday was probably the most difficult day ever in the lives of Robert, Brittany, Mary, and Cheryl, as the community paid its final respects to Melonie and she was laid to rest. But to watch how the family was so completely surrounded by LOVE and SUPPORT from so many, many people was an experience I shall never forget. So many friends and relatives came to pay their respects and say farewell to Melonie; each one speaking of how she had impacted their lives in such a positive way. The services themselves were emotionally moving, and it was augmented by the feeling that the family was tangibly wrapped in a cocoon of love by the whole community; every one who was there was emanating care and concern for the family even while they themselves mourned the loss of our dear Melonie. From the beautiful words spoken by the Pastor and Deacon, to the heartfelt eulogies, to the presentation of flowers at the cemetery, to the reception given by the Zuni School community, so many people were involved in announcing to the world how much we all love Melonie; so many people were involved in helping the family through this awful time. I would like to acknowledge each and every one of you and ask that God bless and keep you for your selflessness and your giving natures. I know Melonie is grateful to you all, as are we.

Obituary for Our Beloved Melonie

2007-11-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is being published in today's Arizona Republic:

View/Sign Guestbook
Melonie Schollmeyer
Melonie Schollmeyer, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away November 11, 2007. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 7, 1958. She is survived by her son, Robert; daughter, Brittany; their father, Thomas; mother, Mary Wroten; father, Leroy Wroten and sister, Cheryl Wroten. Visitation will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, November 17, 2007 at Hansen Desert Hills Chapel, 6500 E Bell Rd followed by Mass of the Resurrection at 12:30 PM at St Patrick's Church 10815 N 84th St, Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, her children will be setting up an account for donations to be given in her name to the Arizona Humane Society. Arrangements entrusted to Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary, 480-991-5800.
Published in The Arizona Republic on 11/16/2007.
Notice • Guest Book • Funeral home info

Confirmation of Memorial Service Date and Time

2007-11-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Some asked for confirmation of the funeral arrangements for Melonie. The Medical Examiner's Office released her body this afternoon, and the Mortuary has confirmed that the arrangements will indeed proceed as outlined in my previous post. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who has helped uphold Robert, Brittany, Mary, and Cheryl through this awful time. Keep the loving comments coming, it is a comfort to them to know they are surrounded by so much love.

UPDATE as of 11/15/07: LOCATION FOR THE RECEPTION - The reception will be held in the Zuni Elementary School cafeteria, not the Church. The Zuni Elementary School is located at 92nd Street and Raintree. Please scroll down to the Nov. 13th entry for full details of times and locations of the viewing and services for Melonie.

Note on Lori Gans

2007-11-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

This note just in from Rickey Lynn:

Lori starts her tests at the Mayo Clinic on Nov. 19 and 20th. They continue on the 26th, 27th, and 28th. The selection team meets the Wednesday after the 28th, and hopefully we will know sometime the first week in December if Lori is selected to receive a new liver. At this point, we aren't even discussing the possibility of her not being selected, because the result would be unthinkable.

As many of Lori's support team as can be there, will be at the Mayo Clinic for her first day of testing. They tell us that having lots of people showing support is one of the better ways of being selected, as it means there are lots of people willing to show their love and ability to be there for her in her times of need. So far, we have a small convoy of cars and trucks that will all be showing up at the clinic for her first day. The doctors and staff will be meeting with all of us to explain the entire process to us and to answer any questions.

If you are able to help out, please contact Rickey Lynn directly at rickey @ rickey-lynn.com (without the spaces). Bless you.

Funeral Arrangements for Melonie

2007-11-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

The arrangements for our beloved Melonie are now set. Please pass this information on to everyone you feel appropriate so we can get the word out quickly. Briefly, there will be a viewing at Hansen Mortuary, followed by a service at St Patrick's Church, then a procession to Paradise Gardens Cemetery for a brief internment ceremony, and then to Zuni Elementary School for a reception in their cafeteria, hosted by the loving community of Zuni Elementary School. Here are the full details, times and locations:

Memorial Arrangements for Melonie Ann Schollmeyer
on Saturday, November 17, 2007:

Location: Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary, 6500 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale AZ 85254 (480-991-5800)

Time: 09:00 am - 10:00 am: Private Viewing for family

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Public Viewing for friends

(Rosary will be conducted during the last portion of the public viewing, at 11:00 or 11:15 am)

We will then proceed to the Church for the formal Service.

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Memorial Service and Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Community Church, 10815 North 84th Street, Scottsdale AZ 85260 (480-998-3843).

Immediately following the Service, we will have a Police-escorted procession to Paradise Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 9300 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale. After the brief (15 minute) Internment Ceremony there, everyone is invited to ZUNI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA for a Reception, hosted by the loving and generous Zuni Elementary School community.

FLOWERS:
While the family certainly does NOT wish anyone to feel obligated, some people have expressed a desire to send flowers. If you do wish to send flowers, please send them to

Melonie Schollmeyer c/o Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary, 6500 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale AZ 85254 (telephone 480-991-5800) to arrive Friday evening or EARLY Saturday morning (by 08:00 am).

If you do not know a florist and want the name of one that is nearby, we used the Cactus Flower Store at 7077 E Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480-483-9200).

Saddest News - Melonie Schollmeyer

2007-11-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

I don't even know how to write this. We are all so very sad. Melonie Schollmeyer, a vibrant woman, our relative and friend, became suddenly ill over the weekend and passed away.

Details at this point are sketchy. **(The following is updated info as of noon Monday)**

Melonie's children, Brittany and Robert, just had their Confirmation on Saturday evening. Melonie was not feeling well enough to attend, and stayed at home with flu-like symptoms. Afterward the children, Mary, and Cheryl all visited with Mel before going taking the children to spend the night with Tom. The next day Cheryl and Mary could not raise Melonie by telephone and so asked Tom to go see how she was doing. He did so (thankfully the children stayed in the car) and found Melonie had passed away in the bedroom.

The Medical Examiner's Office is doing an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Mary Wroten, Mel's mom, and her sister Cheryl Wroten, are understandably still in somewhat of a shock today. I am on my way to Cheryl's now and then we will go to Mary's house. The funeral won't be able to be planned till after the M.E.'s Office releases Melonie (Wednesday afternoon), but as soon as I have any info for you I will post it here. If you want to send cards, the addresses are:

Cheryl Wroten
11116 W Mystic Sadie Dr
Surprise AZ 85374

and

Mary Wroten
902 Oraibi Dr
Phoenix AZ 85027

The children are in the care of their dad but they will receive any messages you send to Cheryl or Mary. I know Mary and Cheryl as well as the children will appreciate your prayers and thoughts through this most difficult time. They have us, their family, to lean on, and we are all here for them, whether we are in Illinois, Arizona, or elsewhere.

Melonie, we love you and we will always miss you.

Veterans Day 2007

2007-11-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in my comfortable office in my comfortable home, in my comfortable, quiet neighborhood, in a state and country that respects me and my opinion and allows me to live freely, voicing my opinions as I like, whether or not those opinions agree or collide with the majority or the governing body. And I do this during a time of war, not peace. How is this possible? In a world where there is so much grief and strife, how is it that I can live such a comfortable existence, especially when our country is in the middle of a war, the loss of which would mean the annihilation of this type of existence?

The answer is our Armed Forces. It always has been. The men and women, who for over 231 years have put their lives on the line for the rest of us. From the men at Valley Forge to the men in Iraq, I owe gratitude. To every person who has ever served in the United States Armed Forces, I thank you. Your country thanks you. And to the men and women serving today in the War Against Terrorism, a special Thank You for every moment that you have sacrificed away from your family and loved ones, ensuring that our way of life will continue for future generations.

Please, in your travels about town today, stop and shake the hand of every veteran you see. If in doubt, ask. Many will quietly or shyly tell you yes, he is a veteran of Vietnam, or Korea, or WWII, or Afghanistan, or Desert Storm, or Iraq. Sadly, many may also tell you that you are the first to thank him for his service. Some will tell you they did not serve during a time of war, but they served nevertheless, and stood ready to go into combat for our freedom, and for this they are just as great a Hero in my book.

If you would like to learn about the history of Veterans Day and its meaning, please visit this website:

http://www.emotionscards.com/trivia/fourthofjuly/veteransday.html

Turn up your speakers, and prepare to be humbled.

Thank you, Veterans. Not only today, but every day.

Corn maze

2007-10-27T14:22:00.001-07:00

Last night I went with my next door neighbor Lori Gray, her teenage son, and his friend to a local corn maze. It was FAB-O-LUS. There was a traditional corn maze - very large, over 3 miles of walking - as well as the farmer's famous "Fear Farm" corn maze, and several "haunted houses." The boys went through the Fear Farm maze and the haunted houses, while Lori and I tackled the much larger traditional corn maze. It was themed on the upcoming SuperBowl which will be held here in Glendale AZ on February 3 2008, and "tackled" is the word for the maze! Lori and I made it through in about 45 minutes, but met several people who had been "lost" in the area of the "football" for some time. Everyone who met anyone in the maze Of Course gave them wrong directions, plus it was night-time and the corn was waaaay over our heads, so it was really fun and challenging, trying to negotiate your way through the maze. On our ticket stub was a tiny "map" of the maze, but it was only about 2 inches square so it wasn't real readable, plus it was DARK except when you were in an area that the moonlight could reach you, so it wasn't much help during our travels. Click on the image to see the maze map larger... and if you decide to go (which I Highly Recommend) you may want to print out a LARGE version of the map to take with you, LOL! Entrance to the maze is $8, entrance to the Fear Farm and Haunted Houses is $17. Parking is free and there are several kiosks with food and drinks. (mmm Hot Dogs and Candy Corn!) Go and enjoy it - the fun ends on October 31st.

~~ Susan

PS To Sherry: I didn't take any pictures because (did I mention this already?) it was NIGHT !!
Directions if you want to go:
From the city of Glendale AZ, take Loop 101 south to Thomas Road. Turn west and go to 99th Avenue (the first light). Turn south and in about 1/2 mile you will see the Fear Farm entrance and parking on your left (east side of the street).

Updates on Mary Borrelli and Lori Gans

2007-10-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Mary is recuperating nicely and is no longer in the rehab facility. She is currently staying with son Don and daughter-in-law Lupe at their house, since she is still not able to negotiate the stairs to her own condo. She is taking several "tours" around the house using her walker, doing her rehab exercises, and generally in very good cheer... but then she always is in good cheer, bless her heart. May we all have her attitude when we are 93 years old!

The news about Lori is not quite so heartening, but our hopes are still up as she awaits the possibility of a liver transplant. There are endless ups and down, sometimes several in one day, as she and her family battle for her life. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers.

Updated Pics from Family Reunion in Chicago

2007-10-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hey, great news - Mary Wroten spent the afternoon with me updating the pictures taken at the Family Reunion in Chicago (July 1 2007). We labelled them, and at the bottom of the page we even put a little Who's Who legend to better discern who is attached to whom. Have fun checking it out - here is a link:

http://webwalkerdesign.com/Graphics/ChiTownReunion/index.htm

and if you have any photos to add to the collection, please send them to me - thewebwalker @ cox.net (no spaces in the actual email address, I just added spaces here to thwart spammers).

Lori may get a transplant

2007-10-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

The good news from Rickey Lynn is that Lori was recommended for referral to the liver transplant team and the surgeon. Apparently however there is a tremendous amount of testing to be gone through just to be put on the national transplant list, not to mention all the red tape or the huge financial burden. If you'd like full details of all that is involved, please leave a comment below this post and Rickey Lynn will add you to her mailing list for updates. Meantime, please continue to keep Lori and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Good news - Lori Gans is home

2007-10-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

News from Rickey Lynn:

Dear Family and Friends,

Lori is home! In truth - she came home late in the afternoon before yesterday, but in accordance with the decision that we came to some time ago, June and I were sent on a 2 day vacation as soon as we got her settled in the house. Next, Jennifer will be sent on a 2 day vacation as soon as she can make her arrangements. It may sound callous, but the stress levels had reached the point where we all needed some down time. June and I spend ours in a hot soaking spa, and doing a lot of sleeping.

Lori seems to be doing better now, partly with the help of 8 meds instead of 2, and partly with having been in a top notch hospital where she received excellent care. Our only problems have been with the insurance company, and they are always a pain in the tush! In our case, we had to fight for her meds, and they refused to pay for her rehab care in the hospital, but they will still pay for her physical therapist at the house, as well as a social worker to make sure she is being well taken care of and has her needs met.

Thank you to all who gave your prayers for her and well wishes. I can't tell you how much they meant to us, nor can I tell you just how close we came to losing her at one point. We are grateful to all our family and friends who tried to support all of us in this most difficult of times.Please keep your prayers and good thoughts coming - G-d hears them all, and listens.
As always,
Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Reunion Pics... at long last

2007-10-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

I know this is looong past due, but I have *finally* compiled a slideshow of some pics of the Family Reunion held in Chicago on July 1, 2007... here is a link:

http://webwalkerdesign.com/Graphics/ChiTownReunion/index.htm

The pics are not in any order, and some are of the Reunion Day, and some of the days leading up to the reunion. Right now none of them are labelled as to who is who, but I figure you know who you are, ha!

Seriously, I will be working to get them labelled soon. Meantime, enjoy the photos for a little trip down memory lane... or to "meet" some cousins if you didn't make it to the reunion! There are 80-odd pics in the slideshow, but it's the type where you can click the "next" button so you can go as fast or as slow as you want. I reduced the size of each pic so they would not take so long to load on the Internet, but if you want any of the photos in their original large size, just post a comment to this message (below, see where it says "comments") and let me know. Be sure to give me your email address and I will send you the photos requested.

Most of all, a HUGE THANK YOU to Bruce Koenig and Mary Wroten for putting the whole shindig together. It was wonderful fun for everyone who attended. And if you didn't, maybe you'll be inspired to attend next time.

Susan

Time for Summer Pictures

2007-10-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, now that all the serious illnesses and crises in the family seem to have abated for a little bit, I figured it is time to upload some of those photos everyone has been hollering for!

Click on this link for a few photos from our trout fishing trip to Lees Ferry with David in August:

http://webwalkerdesign.com/Graphics/DaveFishTrip/pages/P1030263_JPG.htm

Why I quit going to the gym

2007-10-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

I quit going to the gym after this happened...

LOL - just figured it was time for a little levity.
Have a great day, folks!
Susan

Hope for Lori

2007-10-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Finally, some good news from Rickey about Lori:

Dear Family and Friends,
Lori is doing much better than she has in a long time. Apparently, taking her to a different hospital has made a big difference, as they seem to know just what to do for her. Lori looks better than she has in probably 3 years. They not only have her kidneys pouring fluid out of her body, but she now has ankles instead of elephant feet, she no longer looks 20 months pregnant, and most important of all, she seems happy and able to comprehend what is said to her. It's hard to express our happiness. In addition to all of the above, she was seen twice by doctors from the liver transplant office today, will be seen by them again tomorrow, and will be seen by the actual transplant surgeon on Wednesday. We've tried for months to get to see these people, and now they are just coming out of the woodwork.

I think that if there is one thing that is a problem, it's that the rest of us are all suffering from exhaustion. Little things like driving down the wrong way on a one way street! Pulling over to the curb on the way home and catching some sleep at the wheel. Making supper and forgetting that you already had made supper, so you now have two suppers ready to eat at the same time. But this too, shall pass.

We thank all of you for your prayers and your kind wishes of support.
As always,
Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Update on Lori Gans - Part Two

2007-09-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

More from Rickey Lynn:

Dear Family and Friends,

Lori has been admitted to the hospital. The good news is that her kidneys are fine. The bad news is that the liver produces an enzyme which causes the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body. Lori's liver has stopped producing this enzyme which has caused the problem.

On the good side of things, she was out of the waiting room and moved to the back of the ER in 20 minutes from coming in the front door. Also on the good side of things, she was seen by the chief of staff, who apparently is familiar with this type of case, and seemed to know exactly what to do. Jennifer is very pleased with how they treated Lori, and feels Lori is in good hands now.

The hospital has made arrangements for the liver specialist (whom Lori was supposed to see on the 16th) to see her in the morning at the hospital. While going to the hospital is never a good thing, in this case, it may be good in that Lori is going to see him a lot sooner than she was supposed to.

Our phones have been ringing off the hook, so please folks - don't call. We know you all mean well, but we're getting the information out as soon as we know, and we aren't holding any info back. Jennifer has been up for more than 30 hours now, and we're all in similar shape. We will
always be sending the latest info out through the email.

As always, your prayers and good wishes are sincerely solicited.

Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Back to the E. R. for Lori

2007-09-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

This word just in from Rickey Lynn:

Dear Family and Friends,

Lori is on her way to the emergency room at Good Samaritan Hospital right now. In addition to having passed blood in her urine, today she has not been able to make any urine at all, which is potentially a serious situation.

In addition, she still has some bleeding from the intestinal area. On the positive side, the liver doctor's office is across the street from the hospital, and this is the primary hospital he works from.

As more news becomes available I will let everyone know. As always, your prayers and good wishes are sincerely solicited.

Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Mary now at a rehab facility

2007-09-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Mary Borrelli is now at a rehab facility, a sort of half-way point before they release her completely to home care. Here's the contact info:

Brentwood Rehab

5400 W 87th Street

Room 105, Bed 1

Burbank IL 60459

Direct telephone to Mary's room: 708-346-6531

Telephone for the rehab facility: 708-523-1200

I have the feeling they are not giving her the levels of pain medication that she was receiving in the hospital, because she was not feeling very chipper this morning. (When Aunt Mary does not want to talk, you KNOW she's in pain!) Plus, I am sure these first days of physical therapy are pretty painful, to say the least. Lupe, Don, and their children are all rallying around her with love. All prayers, good wishes, and happiness vibes will be greatly appreciated by her I am sure.

Good News - Mary Borrelli's Surgery a Success

2007-09-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Good news - Mary Borrelli had her hip replacement surgery around noon today, and is no resting comfortably in her hospital room. We are all grateful to the doctors and staff at Advocate Christ Hospital, and to all the family and friends who have been so supportive. Mary is happy it's over, and in typical good spirits. More later - I was on jury duty again today and just got home, gotta go get a bite to eat and call Aunt Mary again to celebrate!

Update on Lori Gans

2007-09-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

Received this update from Rickey Lynn last evening, about Lori:

Dear Family and Friends,

We had Lori at the doctor today, and so far, things could be a lot worse. The doctor thinks that the last time Lori was in the hospital, they damaged her bladder with the catheter, creating a massive infection in the area, which is causing bleeding in the bladder. They have put her
on large doses of Cipro to take care of this part of the problem.

The other source of bleeding seems to be somewhere in the intestines. Lori has an appointment with a gastroenterologist on Tuesday to have the other bleeding analyzed and hopefully stopped. We will keep you all updated as we have more information.

As always, your prayers and good wishes are sincerely solicited.

Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Another Problem for Lori Gans

2007-09-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,

It was found yesterday that Lori is having a problem with internal bleeding. She has a meeting this afternoon with the doctor to see what can be done about it. She is also having a problem holding any food down, so we will be discussing that as well. We will keep all of you posted as soon as we know anything.

As always, your prayers and good wishes are sincerely solicited.

Rickey Lynn, Jennifer, June, David, and Kendell

Cousins Forever

2007-09-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Found this pic of Mary Borrelli, flanked by her two cousins Louise and Mary, taken at the recent Family Reunion. Cousins rule!