Happy New Year

New Year, New Look. All the same info but this year instead of using quotes to express myself I am going to take pictures. I am going to take a picture every day of something that I am thankful for, or something that is beautiful, or something that I just find interesting. My resolution for 2009 therefore is to find something in everyday that is worth recording into a picture.

Happy New Year to everyone and may all your resolutions be achieved in 2009.

My December 31st picture to start my new year is of course my family.

Sunday night

Just following the flight tracker for Jessica's plane. She is on her way bacK to LA. We had a great time. It was a good Christmas. Life does go on and yet we still miss John. We will always miss John. But we will enjoy each other and we will continue to live the life we have. We are blessed to have many friends and family that continue to surround us with love and support. We hope that when we say "enjoy your family" as we have often this holiday season, you remember...they are what should be important in your life. Think about what you would want if those people weren't here next year. Hug your babies, love your parents, kiss your spouse. Life may be short, don't have any regrets.

A Day to Remember

We had a good Christmas. Keeping busy is a wonderful remedy to thinking. Jesi and AJ came over on Tuesday for Christmas celebration. Jesi wanted she and AJ not to have to make the multiple stops on Christmas day this year so we all got more time together even if it wasn't on Christmas day. On Christmas eve we went to Steve's sister Janet's after mass at the cathedral. Jan out did himself on a fabulous dinner. Judy and Chris came over with their whole family for dessert. It was fun to enjoy all of the families together. Having our Jessica home has been a blessing. She is so full of life and so much fun. She and Mike have insured that we followed some of the longstanding traditions and they lived with the changes that I made. That isn't to say there haven't been a few tears but we expected that.

And today is John's birthday. He would be 28. He should be 28. I still hate melanoma. I didn't know what to write today so I went back into the archives of this blog to read what I wrote last year. I read all of the posts from December. We lived in the moment last year and I guess that is what we still need to do this year. We have to live our lives through the good times and the bad times. We have to enjoy what we have have and not long for what we don't have. We have to believe that John is with us and he knows a greater joy. And that his wish for us would be to live a good life....and enjoy Ohio State football! So we will!

Enjoy some of the pictures from our Christmas and know that we have felt the love and support of our family and friends this year. Merry Christmas. Happy Birthday John.

Global Warming...not in Ohio!

I am having a hard time understanding global warming when it is 5 degrees at 3PM on December 21. Of course this is officially the first day of winter but the average low temperature is 27 for this date and the average low temperature in January is only 22. Checking the weather history I was surprised to see that many of the record low temperatures for Toledo have been set in the last 25 years. Maybe this global warming is regionally challenged but as for me I am all for global warming starting today! Thats my bah humbug for today! Now we are off to a party which means we have to go out in this weather.

Wow is Christmas coming fast

Well you will all be glad to know that neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can keep a mother from her daughter. Yesterday morning at 6:30 AM Jessica's plane arrived from LA. The pilot had to abort their initial landing because they closed the runway due to snow. That made them about 30 minutes late. Of course that didn't matter because when Jessica called to say she had landed, Steve and Linda weren't even to Monroe Michigan yet. (about half way between Detroit and Perrysburg) The weather conditions were terrible. The sleet started about 3:30 AM and had changed to snow about 4:30. The snow plows hadn't started and the usual 55 minute drive from Perrysburg to Detroit Metro took nearly 2 hours. But the drive back was a tiny bit better conditions and since Jessica was with us I was happy. We basically hunkered down for the rest of the day and just enjoyed each others company. Today we are beginning the final countdown to getting the details of Christmas figured out. What gets done will get done and what doesn't isn't going to matter. We are together. Life is good.

Belmont Children's Christmas Party

The Belmont Children's Christmas Party was today. We started with a brunch and then a visit with Santa followed by a project. Build a Bear brought in almost ready to go Christmas Moose for the kids (or Grandparents and Moms)to finish. AJ was great the whole day. He made a new friend while we enjoyed exploring the club while Jesi and Steve chatted. The Christmas decorations are beautiful and AJ pointed out all of of the Christmas colors by name.I was impressed by his counting skills as we navigated the stairs several times.

AJ was not too comfortable on Santa's lap but as he got to spend a little more time around him I think he was finally warming up. Actually he was fine with Santa as long as they didn't make any eye contact. We had a great visit with Jesi too and look forward to spending more time together over the holiday.

Just a quote to remember

"The very best thing we can do for a loved one who is lost, is to live a great life in their memory, not to suffer the rest of our days."

Something fun to share

This is the best Christmas video light display I have seen. It was first sent to me as a you tube video, (thank you Robin). I read some disbelievers comments on you tube and ran a search of the Holdman Christmas display and can comfirm that it is real.This is the link to this years light display.

http://www.holdman.com/christmas/video.asp

There are other years video on you tube and it is interesting to see how the scale has increased each year. There is even a video showing how he made the leaping aches.

This really put a smile on my face for some reason so I am sharing and hope it brightens your day.

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." ~Mark Twain

Last years repost

Sunday, December 2, 2007
Happy Birthday Jessica



December 2, 1982 was a very special day for us. Our daughter Jessica came into our lives. She is a very special young lady and we hope she is having a wonderful day in California. We will celebrate her 26th year later this month when she comes home for Christmas.

Black Friday

So I didn't get to the computer yesterday to update our Thanksgiving holiday. This has been kind of a rough week, leading into our first major holiday season without John. There were lots of memories this week including that I started this Blog one year ago. The premise of the blog was to bring our Stanford Times Christmas newsletter into the 21st century of instant computer updates. In reality we knew it was to keep our family and friends informed about John's melanoma status. I have enjoyed the blogging both as a way of expressing some of my own feelings and as a way of keeping in touch with friends. I love when you comment but I also know some of you enjoy lurking. That is fine too. Sometimes it has helped me to know you lurkers know what is going on but we don't have to talk about it. I continue to be amazed at how quickly life moves on and we return to a somewhat normal daily routine. It is wonderful to know we can laugh and enjoy life and friends and family. For that I am thankful. I am also amazed at how much John continues to be in our thoughts. For that I am thankful too. He needs to be remembered because he was a special part of our family and we do all miss him.

For now we are OK. The holiday itself was much easier than the week leading up to it. We enjoyed a brined turkey again this year that was the best ever. We were surrounded by friends and family. We are thankful to be here now and have our health (and jobs). Life goes on and it is good.

"We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may be the burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions."
Albert Barnes

A trip to Nashville

Steve had a meeting in Nashville this week so I tagged along. I was pleasantly surprised by Nashville. I started out Thursday morning on a walking tour I found online. Not being a huge country music fan I thought twice about visiting the Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame, but I paid the admission price and got the audio tour. It was delightful! Really much more of a history of country music and evolution of the genre than anything. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Nashville. My next stop was the Ryman Theater which was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. This too was a wonderful historical building with a self guided tour. Some of the other venues on this walking tour were Fort Nashbourgh, Tennessee Titans Stadium, the Tennessee War Memorial and Museum and the State Capital. I skipped over most of the Honky Tonks as the afternoon is probably not the best time to catch the latest new artists playing but that would be a great addition to a longer stay. We were staying at the Hermitage Hotel which is a historic building itself, built in 1910. Nashville is definitely a city I would recommend a visit to.


Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame






The stage at the Ryman Theater





Titans Stadium





City skyline





Fort Nashbourgh Cabin





The Tennessee War Memorial and Museum



ATT building downtown

November 14, 1984

On November 14th, 1984, my life changed. Michael Jeffrey Stanford came into our lives and we learned all about Down Syndrome. It was not the happy times usually associated with a birth but he was part of our family and we were all going to learn together how to proceed into this new adventure. He was kind of scrawny and had a hole in his heart but all the love and perhaps some prayer soon resolved that problem.


At Christmas that year he was doing well but still looked small compared to the popular Cabbage Patch Dolls that Grandma Stanford managed to find for all the granddaughters.



By the fall of 1986 Mike was already dressed to support Ohio State although I think it may have been a hand me down from John's wardrobe of baby shower gifts.



On his 10th birthday he recieved a trip to New York City with Dad. The rest of the family joined them for Thanksgiving with the NY relatives. Grandpa Stanford managed to get us Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tickets and it will remain a family vacation highlight. This photo was taken before mom arrived. Part of the 10th birthday trip with Dad was to spend special time alone with Dad and see that Dads do things differently than moms.



A solo trip to Los Angeles some years later had him persuading Jessica to take him to see the Walk of the Stars. Does it surprise anyone that knows Mike whose star he got photographed with.



He loved being in John's wedding with Annal as best man and Mike as best brother. The toast he gave at the wedding was special.



But most of all Mike likes being photgraphed with pretty girls. Here he is with his cousin Christine at her wedding.



Somewhere in my writings I think there is a book of Mike stories that will get published but for now here's to Mike today! He is 24 and a very accomplished young man. Someday we will all be dancing at his wedding. (but not too soon)

Happy Birthday Mike!

A Quick Trip to Key West

A change in plans meant Steve was able to take a few days off after his meeting in Fort Myers last week and we headed for Key West. Steve had never been to Key West and it had been about 33 years since I had visited. We enjoyed the drive from Fort Myers taking the old back roads across southern FLorida. The bridges from the mainland to Key West are not what they used to be. The drive is easy now with wide lanes and shoulders on all of the bridges. We stayed in a little Bed and Breakfast right on Duval Street in the old section of Key West, rode bikes around the island visiting the tourist sites and took a sunset sail. It was a relaxing mini vacation but both Steve and I agree that Key West is no Tortola and we will probably not make a return visit. Here we are at the Southern most point in the USA.

Interesting Week

My posting has not been as frequent. I am not particularly interested in commenting on politics or the stock market although they have held my interest this past week. Life is as normal as it can be.

But I did have an interesting event this week. I was cleaning the basement and re- organizing some of the "stuff" that all of us accumulate. I came across a folder that had obviously been misplaced years ago. It contained papers from the preschool that John and Jessica went to in 1985. There were papers from both John and Jessica. It was hard to look at them and not think about how unfair life has been. To John, to Jessica, to Mike, to Steve and I. And then oddly enough John's senior year book from St. Francis was under the stack of papers. I am sure everything had been in the same place since we moved into this house almost 8 years ago. I think John ask about the yearbook once but it was not an important possession to him. I re-read all of the
tributes to my son from 1999. I cried. I looked through the nursery school papers then and there was a Mothers Day card to me from John. It said "I love you Mom" .

Did he know how much I needed that? Was it purely circumstance? I think not. I still have to believe that there is a better place awaiting all of us. We miss John and I am sure he misses us but it is comforting to know he is there watching over us.



"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. "
(John 14:2,3)

Home Sweet Home

"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
John Howard Payne

Sometimes we have to get away from home to appreciate its benefits. I had the best time ever in Jacksonville with Rosemary and Bob but it was so good to get home. I missed Steve and Mike. I like the comfort of home. It still feels safe here. But the weather is not as good as Florida. Today snow flurries are being mentioned in the forecast for Sunday/Monday. OH NO!!

As we head into the holiday season I am trying not to focus on last year. It is hard sometimes but there is plenty to be thankful for and that is what I will try to remember. Hug you kids, call your parents, be thankful for good friends and remember to tell them how important they are in your life.

Jacksonville, Florida

“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”
Arnold Palmer


I have been on a little holiday this week starting Monday with a drive to Florida with my parents. I have offered this service of sharing the driving with my Dad for several years since my mom's broken hip but they have always declined. This year it worked out because I was able to have them drop me off in Gainesville where Rosemary picked me up. I have had the privilege of introducing Rosemary to the great sport of golf this week. Of course there has been a little shopping, tennis and drinking thrown into the mix of activities but that is all part of the plan. Today we are off to brunch and an ocean gambling day cruise.

My dear Spartans were a disappointment yesterday but if they had to lose I always feel better when it is to Ohio State. Those Buckeyes just seem to be able to keep squeaking along but hopefully are getting better and better. They face Penn State next week and that will probably be the big ten matchup this year.

A long weekend in California

When you can get an airfare of less than $100 round trip to California what better way to spend the weekend. We left Friday night and came home on the red eye Monday night. A few hours of sleep yesterday morning when we arrived back home and it was the perfect escape. We packed in many activities and had a great visit with Jessica.

We started on Saturday morning with a visit to the Getty Villa. The Getty Villa is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Antiquities arranged by themes including Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater, and Stories of the Trojan War are housed within Roman-inspired architecture and surrounded by Roman-style gardens. The new architectural plan surrounding the Villa is designed to simulate an archaeological dig. It was a beautiful way to display these artifacts in a natural setting. The pictures are of Steve and I in the outer peristyle and the herb gardens.





Dinner on Saturday was at the Stinking Rose Restaurant. I think Steve heard about this place on the food network and has wanted to try it ever since. Garlic is the theme and it was used in almost every manner. It was a great experience and I can now say I have eaten garlic ice cream. We have some souvenirs but not the garlic bulb hat.




Sunday was a gorgeous morning and we went to Venice beach to walk the beach and check out the boardwalk there. It remains an alternative lifestyle area. We then went up to the Griffith Park Observatory and saw the planatarium show. This is another basically free LA activity that is well worth the sight seeing time.






Jessica was able to take off work MOnday and we made the "Sideways" movie tour of Santa Barbara wine country. Well two wine tastings and lunch anyway. It was a perfect day and this area of the country is absolutely beautiful. Here we are finishing lunch in the picnic area at Gainey Winery.







It was a whirlwind of activity and it was nice to see Jessica but as always it is great to be back home.

Just a thought today

"If we study the lives of great men and women carefully and unemotionally we find that, invariably, greatness was developed, tested and revealed through the darker periods of their lives. One of the largest tributaries of the RIVER OF GREATNESS is always the STREAM OF ADVERSITY."
Cavett Robert

A melanoma patient's perspective

The melanoma community has been part of my social network for the last few years and I have followed other blogs to learn treatments options and just get support. Some of the bloggers became friends while others never knew I followed their fight. Unfortunately many of the patients have become melanoma angels just like John. I am posting a blog address that really touched me this week. Jeff Dodd was 37 with a family of 4 young children. He left a letter for his final blog entry after he died. His wife posted it this week. I found it helpful to read because it gave me a perspective that I hope John had for the final months of his life. It is worth the time to read. It is posted under September 25, after a short update by his wife.
http://jeffsdailyupdate.blogspot.com/

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. "

Galileo Galilei

I'll always listen

"Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them. "
Lou Holtz

Sometimes it is good to be in the 80%. When it seems like your problems are insurmountable along comes someone with problems of their own. I think occasionally it is good to hear the problems others have. Not so much to be glad they have those problems but to recognize how good our own lives are. We have to look for happiness in the life we have and not imagine that everyone else's life is better than ours. Knowing that many others would take my life and think they had made a vast improvement on their own fortunes has been helpful these last months.

My life is good!

That said, I am out to the golf course. Enjoy your life today and tell someone you love them.

Saturday Sports

I am sitting here this morning while Steve plays golf. The plan was to do some housework but instead I am watching the Ryder Cup. I have yesterday on the DVR and I am recording todays event so I can zip through the commercials later. We are going to the Toledo Football game tonight and will watch the Buckeyes and the Spartans today too. Ohio State will have a big game at noon against Troy. Hopefully they will have figured out last weeks loss. Michigan State is playing Notre Dame and this has always been a big rivalry. From television sports to live action as UT plays Fresno State tonight. It should be perfect football weather for an 8:15 PM game..

Fortunately we are not huge NFL fans so tomorrow we will be out on the golf course in a foursome with our neighbors. The fall weather here has been great for golfing. Cool crisp nights with warm sunny days. Layering has been a fashion necessity.

The next big chapter of interest in our lives will be written about Mike. He has decided he wants to get married to Kristen. They have been good friends for many years and we think they would make a good match. We will continue to promote independent living skills because the real test will be to see if they can manage to live together in an apartment. Both are high functioning Down syndrome individuals but the realities of independent life still remain a huge step. The "system" doesn't really recognize marriage as an option for handicapped individuals either. Both receive services from the county now and will continue to need those services in the future. For now Kristen has a lovely ring that Mike purchased for her and gave her on her birthday last week. Stay tuned for future details.

"The sweetest joy, the wildest woe is love. "
-Pearl Bailey

Politics

"If you believe everything you read, better not read." Proverb

I saw this quote today and it makes me wonder about the next 7 weeks of presidental campaigning. I like reading the papers but it seems so much of the information is so biased. Is it really the media that will elect the next president? How can we as individuals really get honest information about the candidates? And is it really the candidate themselves or the Party that will rule once elected. And will it really matter in four years which candidate wins. Change is good and I think that is all I can rely on now. Our forefathers were good to write into the constitution no more than 2 four year terms for a president.

I have likes and dislikes with both political party platforms and all four candidates. But I will vote in November and hopefully I will have garnered some truths over the next 7 weeks.

Where does the time go??

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."
Theophrastus

"If, before going to bed every night, you will tear a page from the calendar, and remark, ''there goes another day of my life, never to return,'' you will become time conscious."
A. B. Zu Tavern

"In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking." Sir John Lubbock

Three quotes on the use of time. My time this past week has been used uniquely. The ABC special Home Makeover was remodeling a house in Toledo this week and I had the opportunity to volunteer for a couple of days. What a heartwarming experience to see a community rise to the occasion of helping neighbors. See it on ABC sometime in November.

The second activity I had this week was two days of competitive golf. The fall weather was perfect and I enjoyed playing a different course. Shot a 92 at Sylvania Country Club. This coming week includes playing Inverness on Thursday. I am hoping to break 100 on this national level course. Yes, sometimes being a Belmont housewife has its advantages.

AJ is 2

Thomas the Train Cake

Last Thursday was AJ's second birthday. Jesi planned a party for Sunday so that was when we celebrated. I was excited to think about AJ turning 2 and yet I approached the birthday party with some trepidation. Memories of his first birthday party last year in Marysville with John are still so fresh. It is hard to think about what came so soon after the party. But again planning for the emotional aspects, made the event less stressful than I anticipated. It was especially good to see all of the loving people and support that Jesi and AJ have.

Dear "uncle" Annal surpassed last years present of a framed AJ Hawk picture. Annals inscription on the back of the picture said it could be hung in AJ's dorm room in 18 years as long as it wasn't at Michigan. This year he gave AJ an authentic Buckeye football helmet complete with a few buckeye stickers and the following inscribtion. "Dear A.J., Do you remember last year's present? Well here's (not-so) subliminal message # 2 for birthday #2. Please don't go to Michigan! Love you lots, "Uncle Annal" 8/28/08

Annal is the first to admit his photogenic qualities leave something to be desired but I had to share the picture anyway.

"The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life."
~ Edward Everett Hale

Thank you Annal for your friendship to John.

The last weekend of Summer

Memorial Day to Labor Day. Isn't that what we Midwesterners always thought of as summer? Although the weather hasn't indicated the end of summer, with schools starting and football on TV the transition is apparent in many ways. I will hate to see this summer end. The days of sunshine have been good for us. Being outside, combined with all of the summer activities has kept our bodies and minds busy. The goal now is to find something that works as well during the cooler, wetter days of Fall and especially Winter. I have been collecting my stories of Mike and with the naming of Sarah Palin as VP for McCain I am sure there will be a new awareness of Down Syndrome in the press and hence interest in the public. For those of you that didn't know yet Palin's son born in April 2008 has Down Syndrome. The timing is great to get some of the wonderful, funny, goofy stories Mike has provided into print.

And as a wrap up to the week I need to say that Steve and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary on Wednesday. And so in my continuing effort to digitalize all of our photos here are two from August 27, 1977. It has been a wild ride with many ups and downs, but every good time was better because Steve was by my side and every bad time was bearable because he was there too. I love you Steve!

"It's a wonderful thing, as time goes by, to be with someone who looks into your face, when you've gotten old, and still sees what you think you look like."

from the movie "The Bachelor"

Tuesday

"Let loose of what you can't control. Serenity will be yours."

I am sure that control has been one of my problems in life. I am a controlling personality. I feel that I am competent enough to control most situations. After Mike was born and I realized that I could not control the fact that he had Down Syndrome I took control of his life with Down Syndrome. With the help of our family Mike was going to be a high functioning successful young man. Control worked. I took on researching melanoma when John was first diagnosed and I learned everything I could. I wanted to be able to control the outcome by knowing the facts. We found all of the best therapies available. John followed every lead we offered. It just wasn't enough. Control didn't win that battle.

And now I am just trying to get control of my life and sometimes not doing a very good job of it. I can't control the past. I can't control the future. I can only control what I am going to do right now. So I am putting on the walking shoes and going for a walk. I am going to try to let loose of that which I can not control, in search of serenity.

Looking at the Labor Day Weekend seems like the end of summer. I have enjoyed summer this year. It has been healing to have sunshine and warmth. To be at the swimming pool with AJ has been a mental lift like no other. Ten days with Jessica went too quickly but generally life has been good. We need to bring those feelings into fall.

A better day

Ok to all of my friends and family, thank you for the support. I did feel it. Today was a better day. My neighbor called and we went out for a walk and a swim and I was busy all day. Steve returned from Philadelphia and everyone is home and safe again. I do not know this process of grieving but it is true that each day is different. I want to not show the fact that I am emotional or vulnerable. I sometimes wish I had better control. I wish it did not hurt so much. I wish I could tell everyone it is getting better. It is still just a day....no a minute at a time. There are so many things that remind me of John. I think so often of what was happening one year ago. It was at that time that I realized we were in a battle for his life. Every moment was precious and I tried to record it in my memory as such. But now to recall them is painful. I really do feel that as time continues they will be good memories but for now they are still tender to the heart. The hole in my heart is still there but I can feel all of my friends pushing it in and making sure the beat goes on.

"There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer. "

Waves of grief continue

I have been communicating with others who have endured grief and I have found that it is quite normal at the 5-7 month range to again be hit by the immensity of a loss. For some reason we are programmed to get through the immediate months after just by doing things that need to be done without thought. It is in this next stage that again the grief hits hard because it has finally had time to sink in. John will never be coming back. AJ will never know his Dad except through stories and pictures. Jesi will never grow old with her husband and celebrate anniversaries. Jessica does not have a big brother to call on. It has been a very hard week and then today while I am cleaning the laundry room shelves I find a copy of the funeral program. Of course I read it and remembered and doubled over in tears. I guess it is good they come out but the painfulness of grief is intense. I am glad to know it is "normal" to still feel such a loss and yet know I am basically OK. I can smile and enjoy life. I am happy to be alive and needed but I am still trying to figure out this new life without John. A part of my heart is missing.

Highs, lows, and in betweens

Don't know what to write. I miss Jessica. I miss John. Jessica and I talked alot about John over the past week. She misses him too. It is hard to realize all we have are the memories. We shared lots of good ones and some funny ones. But it was hard. I am finding tears easily again. I need to get busy with daily life. I am going to start with my pile of ironing and catch up on Micheal Phelps swimming at the Olympics on DVR.

"Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."

Two very special people

I can't believe that a week has passed already. Jessica is leaving to go to Boston and re-unite with Ben after his summer in Italy. She will return to LA next Tuesday. We had so much fun together. I am sad to see her go but I have really enjoyed seeing how much she is growing into a competent young woman. I know her visit was filled with many functions and it may not have been much of a "vacation" but hopefully she has enjoyed being away from work. We surely enjoyed our time with her. I wish we could have more of it.

Family at its best

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”
John Lennon



Today is a family day. Mom and Dad Cornell are coming to Perrysburg to see Jessica and Jesi and AJ and we will be celebrating their 60th wedding Anniversary with a dinner. On 8/8/48 they were married at home with an outdoor reception in the side yard of my mom's family farm in Kalamazoo. This is a picture of the happy couple, then and now. We actually celebrated with them in Kalamazoo last weekend too. Quite an example of a loving couple. Thanks for the inspiration mom and dad.

Just Monday

It was a busy week last week and promises to continue that pattern this week. I will be picking Jessica up early tomorrow morning as she is flying the red eye from LA tonight. I have cleared my schedule of any obligations so that we can do whatever strikes our fancy. Looks like it will great weather for any and all activities.

On Saturday Mike and I participated in the area Special Olympics Unified Golf tournament. This event brings teams from Northwest Ohio together in competition and establishes what division you will be placed in for the State tournament. We were fortunate to get a gold medal by shooting a score of 58 using an alternate stroke format. It was one of our higher scores but the course was tough and the heat on Saturday didn't help. We hope to be picked to attend the State tournament in September.

Sunday was family reunion in Kalamazoo. My mothers family has been getting together on the first Sunday in August for over 35 years. We couldn't come up with the exact date this tradition started but many anniversaries, births, and wedding showers have taken place at this party. We do not always get there every year anymore, but it was especially good to be with family yesterday.

Pottery 101

"There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it."
::: Henry Moore :::


So I am finally going to show my pottery. Here are 3 of my pieces. The first is my first project that was a hand molded object. Mine kept losing shape and I finally thought it looked a little like an old ballet slipper so that is what it became. It is good for holding miscellaneous stuff. There were a couple of projects in between the ballet slipper and my bowl but they didn't photograph well so I have not included them in my pictures. My bowl turned out quite well but the glazing is a bit uneven. All 10 students were trying to glaze all of their projects from the six week class at the same time and it made for a rather chaotic process.The last picture is an extruded piece which can be used as a funky vase or perhaps a pencil holder. I know that will be a very popular Christmas present this year. I am anxious to get back to the classroom and try my hand at some more projects but I just haven't found the time yet.I suspect that I will be spending much more time there this winter.






Just got a call from Jessica about the LA quake today. She said it was pretty impressive. There appeared to be no problems at the Fox Studio but she is anxious to get to her apartment and see if anything is damaged. Definitely the largest quake since she has been in LA.

Ups and downs

"Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell."
Edna St Vincent Millay

Thoughts of John have been close to the surface this week for no apparent reason. Some good and some still painful. I know life is going on at a pace we can't control but sometimes I find myself still wishing I could have just a little more time with him. He was such a great son and I was so proud of him. I just wish I had known that our time together would be so short.

I am looking forward to Jessica's visit next week and my time with her will be precious because of the lessons learned. You cannot go back in time. Spent it wisely.

After 3 consecutive days of golfing I guess cleaning the house is a nice change of activity. Friday I played at Fostoria Country Club in a Toledo District event, Saturday was the Belmont Founders Day event and Sunday was a friendly game with neighbors. Fortunately the weather has been delightful and the scores OK. I truly cannot believe that August begins this week. The summer is passing much too quickly.

I am sure the level of activity has helped to keep my mind occupied and out of the hole Edna Millay speaks of.

Ahh...summertime

"A life without love is like a year without summer." ~Swedish Proverb

As much as I love the seasonal weather of the Midwest I wonder if it is because of the wintertime that makes the summer so wonderful. Would sitting on the deck in the evening be quite as wonderful if it could be done all year long? Would we really want to play golf every week all year long? Would going to the swimming pool be quite as much fun if we did it everyday? Somehow I just don't think so. And as much as I am enamored with summertime right now, I know when the cool evenings come around and we get the jeans and sweaters out for football season, I will think perhaps fall is my favorite season. But for now I am surely enjoying my summertime.

Just one more...OK 2 or 3

I can't resist sharing my pictures of AJ. It just makes me smile to see him having so much fun.





One more thing I want to share is that my nephew Tim Bosserman (who caddied for Steve at the Jamie Farr) is on a mission trip with his church group to Gabon, Africa. He has arrived and will be there for about 2 weeks. They have set up a blog at http://theimageingabon.blogspot.com/. These are exceptional young people and I think many of my blog readers would enjoy reading about their mission in Gabon, as well as seeing pictures of Gabon. I know I am.