Some Observations from the Hill
 
Well my sister Lucille's and my joint birthdays have come and gone although Joe's family, down at the Parkview, are still planning on a smaller get-together this Friday night.  First, when the two brothers, sons of my oldest brother, one from California and one from Tampa, and their families arrived we had to meet at Joe's and hash things over and talk about old times. Then on Saturday the 14th, my sister's daughter and my granddaughter Karen had planned a joint party for the two of us. Because my 100th and Lutie's 90th come fairly close together, Lutie's daughter, Kim, picked a date in between the two. 

 So Lutie and Kim and Kim's husband, Nicola and their daughter Alexandra came out from Minneapolis. I had one niece from New Mexico. Jim's eldest son Jeff and their daughter and son from Colorado, Norma's daughter, Norene and her intended Chris from California, and Norene's four daughters from Eagle, Idaho. Bob Klink and wife Barb and daughter Caren from Florida and their son Chris who now works as an attorney in the office of the Attorney General of Florida, a niece and her husband, the Sturtevants from Georgia, Tony and Judy Eastwood, Tony is the one who played his keyboard all through last year's birthday party at Joes. Their son and daughter from Galway NY, Ag's niece Sandy from Binghamton and her daughter and boyfriend from Washington. 

 Shelby is Sandy's daughter but didn't get a chance to talk to her friend so will have to take a chance at Peter Hertan. Shelby and I usually work quite a bit of humor into our writing but I just have too many folks to try to remember now. 

 Two of my daughter, Norma's, children couldn't make it because Laurie had signed on to work in Antarctica so she was at the bottom of the world and her eldest son is finishing a course in college while working full time. 

 Looking over the guest list I learn the last name of people who have given me presents but folks I never knew their full names. My old buddy Bob's son and his wife's name topped the list and I had asked Betty to contact all her family which she did. 

 Lutie's and my jobs receiving and say Hello to all those guests had some surprising incidents. One was - did anyone ever see Dick Gumble so dressed up before? I think he probably had some place to go after he left our party!

 I wonder what happened to Ralph Walter who is one of Fritz's customers and who always showed great interest in things I wrote about. I think that spell of nasty freezing weather just as some local people would be leaving their homes was probably the reason for quite a few of the people that had said they were coming for not showing.  Everyone that I talked with thought it was a great party and I'm sorry and I'm speaking for Luty, too, that we can't personally thank each and everyone of you for all that you did. 

 A surprise, May Lisk who was a next door neighbor, made it to the party. Thanks to any of Fritz's customers who came too like Lynn and Joyce Bailey from Nichols, Pa. In short, I want to thank each and every one of you. That means you Father Bill Moorby, too. And Alfred Wagner and Joe and Louise and Dr. Mike Murphy and Joanne. 

 Too bad I don't have more room.