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I woke up early so decided to start a letter to all of you rather than just waiting for it to get time to get up. It isn't as early as some letters I've started but . . . .
Seemed like it had been a long time between our telephone calls, Catherine. Do hope that Wendy is feeling much better and over her scarletina and/or whatever else she had -- hopefully not strep throat but am sure they would have let you know if the culture had shown that.
We tried to get you by phone several times Saturday morning but no luck, Serena. Anxious to hear how the root canal work is progressing. You too, Roberta, if you have done anything about your dental problems. That is one thing you shouldn't let go, especially if you have dental insurance or can get it done very reasonably like at Northwestern Dental School or in your case, at ASU? What time do you leave for work on Saturdays? It seems either too early to call you or too late and then we are never sure of your schedule the rest of the time.
Hope things are ironing out on the difficulties at the Senior Center with the hassle over the meal reservations. The permanent people ought to rank above the winter visitors. The indigent over the affluent, etc.
John and Carol's letter brought a shock with the possibility of taking 13-month-old foster twin boys and I am sure whatever decision you make will be with much forethought and prayer. I mentioned it to Carol Wise and she said better 13 months than days or weeks. No doubt it is hard to place two but having older children would be a big help. Sorry that her (Carol's) grandmother Smith's eyesight is deteriorating. She has been so active and sight is the most valuable of your senses for sure.
Had church every night last week (except Saturday) and a very good speaker from Circleville Bible College. Friday night the Wises entertained him and the song leader for dinner and asked us to come too. Jim had done the cooking -- or so they said -- turkey, etc. It was the same night that MV had her friends in for dinner so worked out well.
Four young people have been coming down from Cedarville College to help with the youth program on Sundays so we had them for dinner yesterday and really had very little to do as MV had enough left from her dinner that all I did was make a salad and more mashed potatoes. She had swiss steak, broccoli with cheese sauce, fresh pineapple and a super delicious chocolate dessert she had gotten from Charlotte Hause.
Dad and I went to Wilmington yesterday afternoon -- Jane Allemang had a baby shower for Megan Curtis (Roseanna Wills and Bobby Curtis' baby). Dad did some studying at the law library and Wilmington College so I picked him up after going out to Extended Care. Mrs. McCoy has been awake and much more alert than she had been for months the last two times I have stopped. Invited Mrs. Matthews for Thanksgiving. She says Charles Matthews is so weak and so hard to get his breath. I wouldn't be surprised if she outlives him. [Charles died in December 1980 in Scottsdale, Mrs. Matthews (Blanche) died in May 1982.]
It is now Tuesday and we have had our first real snow yesterday with it sticking to the ground -- though not in the streets here but did go to Sabina last night and it was much worse there with cars off the road, etc. The Ohio Ministers (Methodist) Choir sang at the Sabina Methodist Church. Paul Steele, John Beers and Al Briggs were in it so got to talk to them afterwards and Maxine Steele was there also. John Beers says that Mark is taking driver's training and had gone to Toledo for part of it. Jeff plays basketball, Rebecca is active in everything. Wes Steele also sings with the group but wasn't there last night for some reason. Al Briggs said that Sharon is working with the Louisville Opera and Mary Ann is living in Maryland. The Sr. Briggs have a church between Urbana and Springfield in a town called Terre Haute, Mrs. Briggs has arthritis so hadn't come. Didn't recognize John Beers at first for his face is much fuller -- bigger jowls. They all asked about all of you. Wes Steele's wife got a degree in accounting and is working in a bank in Harrisburg, Ohio where his church is. I believe she works for Society Savings. Paul said we didn't pronounce "Newark" the way they do -- "Nerck", Newarksians, that is -- or is that the proper term for the natives?
Grandma shared a letter that she had just gotten from Aunt Mary and they have been in North Carolina helping Cris move into his newly acquired property which he has been very busy remodeling and has really made big changes in the place. It would be nice to see -- beautiful woodsy environment yet not far from a shopping center close to Statesville. I'm not sure how long they plan to be there -- think perhaps they left yesterday for Lake Worth but anyway will be there Saturday after Thanksgiving when G'ma is to arrive.
Elizabeth Johnson's father passed away last week -- there were no calling hours and only brief graveside services at the New Vienna Cemetery. June, Elizabeth's younger sister is so gray that she looks the oldest of the three. John, her brother was there but came with his wife, stood in the background and left as soon as it was over so obviously the family is not at one on some things. I had known they weren't too friendly when Oscar died but had thought they had patched up their difficulties, at least he and Elizabeth. Mr. Warren was 88 and in his condition that he passed away.
Kim called again this morning, there is always some more red tape concerning their daughter's arrival in this country. Hard to believe and frankly we are in doubt as to what is the right course.
We had our dental appoints this afternoon -- lucky, for all we needed was to have our teeth cleaned. Dr. Hause told me that a good brushing should take 3 or 4 minutes, so am going to try to improve this next six months. This was doctor's day as took Grandma to Wilmington for her two doctor appts., so she will be ready for the winter vacation. We were lucky as we did make it to all places on schedule, plus I had time in between for a trip to the library and the courthouse.
Tonight the local basketball schedule gets underway, with MV in the band . . . we are glad that the home games are still held in NV. Haven't heard anything about when the new school bldg. at Lees Creek will get underway. Just a few days there was an article in the paper where they are going to put up townhouses around the J-R Golf Course at the east edge of Wilmington. That will be interesting to see how that works out. This is the first year at NV that the school enrollment has turned up, after a 10 year decline. The student-teacher ration here is something like 20 to 1. MV is reading college catalogs in her spare time.
Sorry this letter has been so long in the writing but hopefully will get it on its way today. Joanne Rankin and I are to go over to the blood bank drawing today. Lena Sears Hess' little girl, 11, had open heart surgery in Cincinnati and needs blood donors. Some went down there to give but it hadn't been 8 weeks for me so waited til now -- I think they need 20 donors. Seems like there is always some member of their family in the hospital. One of Elizabeth's children is also in the hospital with a broken leg.
Read about more snow in the Cascades and low temperatures for Phoenix area so bundle up before you go swimming in the Kah-nee-tah pool again or cycling to work, Roberta. Did you get much of the Monday snow, Serena?
Always enjoy hearing from all of you and looking forward to seeing John and Carol next weekend. We go to see Dr. Schnebley for our physicals this Friday and back to Dayton Saturday for storytelling (demonstration for adults) with Jeanne Liggett, accompanying us.
With much love from all of us,
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