Family News

Since my Hawaiian trip much has happened. Two granddaughters got married; three more, Terry, Sharon and Denise, graduated from college.

Joanne now works in the intensive care unit at Englewood Hospital. Terry is an English teacher in Montville, N.J. She doesn't live far from her Aunt Ann. Ann's children love to talk to Terry. Ann and Terry have a lot in common to talk about. They are both English teachers. Sharon is a physical therapist at Englewood Hospital. She likes her work. She feels very satisfied if her work helps someone walk better or move their arms.

Tony's family roundup Judy is head nurse in a hospital in California. She supervises over seven nurses. I gave Judy and her husband the oak dining room set I bought with my father's inheritance. It seats 20 people when it is opened up. Her father paid a moving company to take it to California. Last Thanksgiving many of Judy and Gary's friends brought something to a dinner at their house. Judy cooked two large turkeys. There were 20 people for dinner all together. That way Judy and Gary didn't miss home too much. They came east for Christmas. One day they took me to lunch. They always say, “We can't thank you enough for the lovely dining room set.” I am glad they are enjoying it.

Judy's sister Barbara is a junior in college at Russell Sage in Troy, N.Y., learning to be a nurse. She has a lot of friends in college; she is a good listener. She always has a good word for everyone. When she is home from college she often gives me a ride to town. When I write to her in college I send her a little gas money for her car.

Tony, her brother, graduates from college this coming May. He goes to Delaware Valley College in Pennsylvania. It is an agricultural college. They have acres and acres of land. He is following his grandfather's and father's steps. He is a very good fellow, considerate of everyone. His grandfather would be very proud of him if he were alive, but I'm sure he knows what's going on in heaven. Once, I went to his college with his parents on family day. They had many different events going on. We saw cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, greenhouses, everything all in top condition. We had fun watching the cow milking contest. It was boys versus girls. The girls won. There was also canoe racing which my grandson Tony was in.

Tony's brother Mark is a junior in high school. He will be 17 on May 20, 1979. He plans to go to a two year vocational school. He is also interested in agriculture, mostly with trees and lawns. He doesn't care for inside work in the greenhouses. Mark is a good worker. Every day at 3:00 p.m. his mother picks him up at school and takes him to work with his father. They enjoy doing lawn maintenance together. His latest project is to buy a car for himself. He is quite a mechanic. He worked on his grandfather's old car all last summer. He also likes motorcycles.

Mark is a very sociable boy. He helps whomever he can. I can see Mark and Tony in business together. Tony can take care of the greenhouse work, and Mark can take care of the trees and lawns. Of course, their father can help and keep an eye in what's going on. I wish them a lot of good luck. I wish I were younger; then I could help a little.

Linda, the youngest in Tony's family, is 14 years old. She takes a bus to Washington Township to go to Immaculate Heart Catholic High School, for girls. Linda is very tall and a pretty girl. She is taller than her three sisters. Linda cried a lot when she was a baby; her mother had her hands full. I'd go down the road, take Linda out for a walk in her stroller, and then feed her. As she grew older she was sweet little girl. She made friends with a little girl across the street. Her name was Kathy. They liked each other and got along fine. Now she has grown into a beautiful girl. She loves to do gymnastics; she goes disco dancing. She also rides her bicycle and helps her mother in the house. Tony and Lorraine have six lovely children.

Phyl's family roundup Mary, Phyl's oldest is 11 and in the sixth grade. She is a bright girl. She is a little shy. She has many friends but just one or two good friends she can share her thoughts with. I'm a little partial to her, because her name is Mary like mine. She is a loveable girl. She helps her mother and father around the house. She loves to bake cakes and make cookies. Since she is older, she tries to tell her younger sisters what to do. Sometimes the younger sisters rebel and then the arguments start and the Phyl has to step in and settle everything.

Joan and Carol are Phyl's twins. They are ten years old and in the fourth grade. They were cheerleaders for one year or so. They were adorable. They practiced with their pom-poms all over the house. The teachers at school separated them and put them in different classes. They claim the twins do better that way; it teaches them that they are individuals. Also, they can't compare notes and say one is smarter than the other. They are identical twins. I still can't always tell them apart. They both take piano lessons and they take violin lessons in school. They both love ice skating, roller skating and bicycle riding. They share a lovely big room with two closets. Sometimes the beds get made and sometimes not. They leave for school at 7:30 a.m. and get back at 2:30 p.m. Sometimes after school they go to girl scouts or C.C.D. They really don't have too much spare time for themselves.

Laura, Phyl's youngest, is eight years old. When I visit for a few days I watch her walk down the road to get the bus to school. She walks straight and proud. She has many little friends. They come to her house to play. Sometimes she goes to their house. She tries to imitate her sisters by dancing and playing the piano.