Elizabeth L. Harris 533 Linden St. River Falls, WI 54022
December, 1986
Greetings to Family and Friends:
“Almost boiling makes tea”, says my dear friend as she pours from the steaming kettle over the fragrant tea leaves. But there is nothing “almost” about our shared memories and warm feelings. Of course, a cup of tea thus made must be sipped slowly, with plenty of time for conversations, reflections, a few laughs and even the exchange of some new ideas.
And if we run out of topics for discussion, we can always explore the names of the blends: there’s Sweet Dreams (yawn), Chamomile-Mint (shades of Peter Rabbit and our childhood), Amaretto Nights (? ? ?), Constant Comment (which we do), and on and on. . . . .
Now while we have our second cup of tea, let me tell you the highlights of my 1986, hoping to hear the same from you.
JAN. Snow, snow snow * * * * * * * * total of 65 inches last winter.
FEB. A trip to Chicago to a national meeting of UNited Methodist Women Committees on Nominations. (I’m now on the Conference Team) and many good exchanges with women from across the country. I suppose you know that a committee is a group that meets for hours and records its actions in minutes.
APRIL To Annaheim for the 1986 UMW Assembly, theme: Into The Future With Faith. Again a time for inspiration, education, and friendships made and renewed.
MAY-JUNE To Oregon with son, Bruce, via AMTRAK - two days and nights - a new experience, very enjoyable. Erik Webb, Merry and Jon’s son, and my oldest grandchild, graduated from H.S with a list of honors and awards as long as his arm, warming the hearts and bursting the buttons off all his admiring family assembled.
AUG. Sadly and yet triumphantly Grandmother Harris was laid to rest in Milwaukee at age 101. Her long life has been an example to all of a steady and serene faith. She will be fondly remembered. A Good reunion with many of the Harris Family.
SEPT. Son, Doug, managed a get-away trip for the first time in years and spent a week with Mom. Highpoint: we saw and heard Garrison Keillor in person at the World Theatre in St.Paul. Our seats were front row center, it pays to be a member of your public radio station! We had a good week of visiting.
OCT. Wis. Conf. UMW Annual Meeting in Eau Claire this year-just 65 miles away. Usually we have to travel from here to the southern part of the state. Theme: Women Weaving One World. I was commissioned to make the centrepiece wall hanging and spent many a day and night planning and working. I also transported one of my 4-harness floor looms and gave a weaving demonstration during the meeting. That was the fun part.
NOV. Erik, now a student at Northwestern U. at Evanston, came over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, which we observed at Rochester, Minn. with a large segment of the McCain family in great glee. Mick having just returned from a three month sabbatical in Turkey had many tales to share. Brother Allison has recovered well from triple-by-pass surgery last summer, praise God, and brother Leland has moved to the twin cities area, much closer.
DEC. I leave for a month to visit children and spoil my grandkids. (You wouldn’t want them to grow up perfect would you?) And, on a more serious note, to celebrate the birth of the World’s Greatest Hope for Peace and Understanding.
Wishing for you and yours a happy productive NEW YEAR, 1987.
Love, as always, Betty