SNAIL MAIL
Was surprised/pleased to hear at long last from one of
my writing teachers/friends, Laurie Levy, Chgo.
Can�t remember how long it�s been! She as
always, is busy with her free-lance writing - a food
story for the Chgo. Trib, another for the wine column
(same paper), and an interview with the head of Mayor
Daley�s office of special events...and a duo
interview for the Valentine�s issue of Today�s
Chicago Woman! GREAT work! She�s enjoying her 3!
grandchildren, ages 7, 4 & 3. I only knew about two,
so guess it HAS been awhile!? Laurie is a 5-1/2 yr
survivor of ovarian cancer and feels terrific. She�s
finished one novel, is almost finished with the second.
FANtastic! She dropped her first agent, is looking for a
new one. Am SO glad she�s okay & that things are
clipping along. I enjoyed the article she sent - an
interview she did for the Chgo Trib. on "The
Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds.! EXCITING! I�d say!...
Heard from Julie Lea, Chgo - another
"among the missing" - though like Laurie,
she�s still in the workforce, so that keeps them
hopping. Gave me an update on the changes at Bj. Bjornson
S/N lodge. New Prez, my old buddy Bev Altern.
Julie is "cleaning house" this year - getting
rid of 2 cars, a time-share & a boyfriend. Right on!
Cuz Rosemary Stone wrote from her winter home
in Newton, MA. where she�s visiting with her
daughter & family, Patty, Fred & little Lucy
Green. Lucy gives her a run for her money, I�ll
bet! I really enjoyed the enclosure she sent - her
son-in-law Fred printed it for me...a bit too long to run
here, but I�m sure my "contacts" would
enjoy it - it rang a bell with me. Titled, "I Just
Have One Little Thing On My Christmas List This
Year" - I WANT TO SLAP MARTHA STEWART! ahahahaa what
a HOOT! Little Lucy goes to pre-school 3 half-days, then
spends lots more time with Grandma! She IS adorable -
Lucy, tho� so is Gram! (I have Lucy�s photo on
my fridge).
Lois Paul Sather, grade/H.S. friend wrote twice
in Jan. from AZ. She and Robert entertained
children/grands over the holidays, except for son Paul,
who being a Y2K expert, had to work over New Year�s
Eve! (My hats go off to him!) Lois had surgery on the
pinched nerve in her left arm, and after quite some
inconveniences (like being unable to fasten her bra -
UFF!) is doing well. I appreciate all the high marks she
gave me on "Croc..." - said I�d gotten the
Paul family down to a tee! That always makes me feel
good, as sometimes I wonder if my brain (memories) are on
track.
IL friends Dave/Brenda Miller, Homewood, report
the passing of Brenda�s dad in Phoenix on 12/26. Our
deepest sympathy to her and Dave. They spent a quiet
holiday season at home..
Thanks again Nia Johnson for the Holland
"thank you" card - that is, "dank je
wel!" Marie Panzika (long-ago bank
CO-worker), Mt Prospect, IL; wrote on 1/5 reporting on
all the entertaining she & Nick did...small
dinner parties. Her sister Ruth (& Jerry) were
in town, as well as sis-in-law Cora (& Dick).
|
� |
I�m sending along a
rather belated birthday HIP HIP HOORAY! to NICK
- sorry I missed your 1/7 birthday! Will mark my
calendar, now. He�s loving his retirement - bowling,
reading, traveling & working out. Meantime Marie
keeps busy with her garden club. They attended a
"Twelfth Night" potluck dinner, sponsored by
the Mt. Prospect Historical Society, with a sister-city
speaker from Sevres, France. Friend Jan Archie said
on 1/5: "I just finished your book & don�t
know the words to say how it touched me!" THANKS! -
Her daughter thought Jan was on the cover of the book,
Jan thought my friends looked like some of her childhood
friends! - ahaha - True true, if you�ve seen one
you�ve seen them all! - Same with baby pics, if you
ask me. Jan & Joe�s computer sons were all very
happy that their many hours of work preparing for Y2K
paid off & are expecting more work as problems crop
up! GOOD SHOW, GUYS! Her man Joe upgraded their computer
from Windows 95 to Windows 98. I wonder how he likes
it...I kinda like 95 better...
2nd cuz Patty Stone Green, Newton MA sent a
thanks note for little Lucy�s Christmas gift.
I�m SO glad she liked it so much AND thank HER for
the lovely refrigerator art, which is next to her
picture. And thanks for the other book order. Hope your
memoir writing friend enjoys it.
Cuz Ruth Wiberg, Iron River, WI; reported that
she and Aunt Millie Larson are enjoying the new
"Tea Shoppe" in Iron River, which besides tea,
has a wine cellar & wine tasting events, and Xerox
copying facilities and a gift sector. They had a nice
holiday, with children, grand and great-grandchildren
gathered round the hearth.
Connie Chellman Pedersen wrote (twice!) after
reading my book, with lots of praise, that made me blush
with pleasure. Connie, a retired teacher who substitutes
in the Eleva-Strum schools (Eleva, WI), has coffee with
friends in the village cafe (500 inhabitants in Eleva)
& picks up her mail at the local P.O. daily. She
mentioned lots of other high-school friends who she keeps
in touch with: Judy Barsten Nelson, Arlene Olson
Eaton, & Joan McKenzie Holbrook. Connie has four
sons and a dozen grandchildren, six of the grands live
within 3 miles of Eleva and six within four hours. Her
mom "Glady" lives in Eau Claire and is
still the "go-go-gal" we all know and love. She
& Connie did the Norse-treats thing at Christmas (I
empathize - me too!) Gladys & her sister Mae (age 88
& 94 respectively) took a Mississippi River cruise
last year! Bro. Chuck Chellman (class of �50)
& his wife Barbara Nordin Chellman (class of
�52), live in Green Valley AZ now. Connie & her
mom visit often. Last fall Connie attended the Norsk
Hostfest in Minot ND, & the Christmas Carol program
at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, last Dec. She still
is a "ding- -ling" (church handbell choir),
forces bulbs to bloom in the winter, tries to keep ahead
of the weeds in the summer & drops every hing to have
a cup of coffee with a friend. GREAT hearing from
Connie... 
continue
|
