December 30, 1997: January, 1998, (almost) River Falls, WI
Note: Since I’m still getting two or three “Season’s Greetings” in the daily mail, I hope it’s not too late for mine!
This has been a year of visits, trips and family gatherings: JUNE: Merry comes from Medford, OR and we drive to Chicago to help Erik Webb get his Master’s from Northwestern. En route home we stop to visit my brother, Allison and Mary in Oshkosh - good visit!
JULY 5: Granddaughter Raina Harris drops in for a short visit after her semester in Spain, finds a job and stays two months: we renew our pleasant association of ‘93-94’ when she lived here and went to school in R.F. Raina explores my cookbooks (especially the Turkish ones) and takes over the kitchen with my complete approval.
AUGUST: Brother Robert McCain files in from Portland, OR and together we drive to Oshkosh for Allison (Spooey) and Mary’s 60th wedding anniversary - much merriment with all their clan, then Bob and I proceed to Madison to visit some of his grandchildren and also one “great”. We touch base with some friends of younger days in Milwaukee. STILL AUG! Bob repeats his trip from Portland. This time we trek to Shakopee and Chanhassen, MN for niece Darcy McCain and Dave McCutchen’s wedding (our youngest brother Leland and Lynette’s daughter). A short but good visit - long time “no see” these fine folks! (Enroute home we treat ourselves to the MALL OF AMERICA - once is enough!
SEPTEMBER: My good friend, Barb de Souza, missionary in Brazil, headquarters at my house for a month - good visiting with her and friends who drop in to see her (and me!).
OCTOBER: Merry flies in from Oregon. Again we drive to the Chicago area. Bruce goes along this trip for Kevin Webb and Shannon Dutton’s wedding on Oct 25. Welcome to the family, Shannon! Much fun and fellowship: and good food. Merry gets to make snowballs as we drive through the first snowfall of the season en route back to RF.
STILL OCT: I drive solo to Milwaukee and visit with long-time friends Lois and Tom Dean. Together we are guests of UW-Milwaukee for an observance in honor of the Milwaukee UW sponsored WPA Handicrafts Project. Lois and I both worked there after college in the 1930's. Enroute home I detour through Oshkosh for another chance to see Spooey and Mary.
NOVEMBER: Thanksgiving here. Kevin and Shannon are chief cooks - Bless them! Laurel can’t come so Erik brings the dog “Zoe”! Beetle, my cat, does a disappearing act pronto. Bruce, Darlene and Jeremy, also Jon and Lorraine Webb from Menomonie join the festivities. A good day.
DECEMBER: Again, Bob from Portland, as we learn of Spooey’s death on December 2nd at age 85. Allison, “Spooey”, he of the great heart, unfailing sense of humor and joility died in his sleep Dec. 2nd. Together with all their family present (except two grandsons who are abroad) we gather to celebrate a good life well lived.
One benefit Bob and I found from our three long car trips - a chance to chat and know each other better than we have since our youth - found we are good travelling companions. So I’ll close on this happy note and wish you all the best in 1998. Much love and may God bless!! Betty
