.....More Memories...(Remember ?)

Family Reunions

Yes, you're right, Anne! I should have guessed why it was such a great summer - it was for us, too!! I loved ALL of it - and now that we're back, it seems almost surreal! We packed so much in a relatively short time! Definitely, though, the highlights were the reunions we had with family and friends. I'm glad we were all able to get together in Reims - what fun it was to wander around the streets of the city, just the four of us! Though I'm still sorry that you got stuck with our breakfast bill!!! I got very emotional during our visit in Reims - (I'm sure because I was thinking of how much it's all a part of our family history). I even cried when I said goodbye to Jocelyne and Roger! I grew very fond of them while I was in France last time. Spent time in their vacation home in Bretagne and visited them several times in Reims....they even came to visit me in my tiny hamlet in Monnieres and then took me to La Rochelle. I also enjoyed visiting Colette and her brothers, my colleague Claudine (glad you liked her!), and Francoise and Pierre. By the way, I think it's wonderful that you and Chris get together as often as you do. And, Anne, you were a life-saver for me during the year I was in France - just as you've been to Chris. Your knowledge of European life is/was invaluable!

Family is very important to me, too, Anne, and I do understand how you feel since I also lived far way from the family for a good many years. While I'm on the topic of family, I'm beginning to see more and more the value of having this blog - a space "just for us" to communicate with each other! It's especially comforting to know that we are all here to support each other. So Chris, as Dad would say "this definitely is a winner!" : )

Sunday 02/08/08

Well, gee, I thought that was understood. Of course I 'm referring to Ralph's and your visit. You coming here...then meeting up with the French cousins in Reims (inspite of lesser culinary experiences ;-)and Chris and Emily being there so that I understand why that Philippe referred to it as the "reunion of the cousins"...Again meeting you in Noirmoutier, spending the afternoon there together...the meal, the island...too bad we hadn't coordinated the stop at Amboise. That would have been cool, too, I'm sure.It was all just so great, it measures for me as one of the "tops" of my summers ever. You know, I really am a "family-freak" type.
Maybe because, over all these years, I have not had so many opportunities to take part in vacations- family events etc. that for several of you were so.....normal or natural. I recall quite well, wishing to have be able to take part those summers that you all would spend, with nephews, nieces, mom and dad.. at the lakes of Brownwood(?) or wherever you guys were back then. So, yeah, I am thrilled when these things happen.
I loved that weekend in 2006 that we'd spent in Ruidoso as another example. I don't know how it is for others, I can only speak for me. And I certainly do hope that these kind of things keep "happening" as we all get older and have maybe more time for one another. Anne

Family Blog - comment

So good to see more and more family members posting! This might actually work, Chris!! And, Anne, I would love for you to write why "this was the best summer ever"! We don't need to write only about morose/stressful topics! : )

I am back in school now - kids start on Monday. Surprised to see how excited I am about going back to teaching!! Guess I missed it more than I realized! Yesterday, Ralph came and helped me set up my classroom so today we both have aching muscles! If he hadn't come, I'd have had to go back today (Saturday) as I could never have done it all in one day. Besides three 90 minute classes of French 1, every two weeks or so I will meet with an advisory class - that will give me lots of opportunities to share stuff from the college prep program I developed for NMSU.

I just hope and pray Mom gets used to having Petra with her...it will give me such peace of mind - not to mention how much it will help her!

...Mom And Dad....(Lil' Younger...When? Anyone?...)

....The Staffords Now (Few Years Later?)...

....This to me is much more accurate and I tend to favor this one myself; not to say I don't favor
the other more nostalgic version it does has its' place & importance...I guess what I'm trying to
put across here is that "time does change and so do people" (family here)... Is this not so, my dearest FAMILY members (brothers & sisters)...?
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(Anywho, I wish there was some way to put both of these side-by-side; if you know what I mean... Any suggestions/ideas?)
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PS (We actually look happier here, I think...don't you agree; if I recall right, we were forced
as younger siblings in the other portrait/photo...which wasn't the case here?)
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-Love-
-Bernard-

Hi, I hope this works since I'm not so well versed in the functioning of such here.
When Chris started this, I'd wanted to write about how wonderful this past summer...that's to say, I wanted to "classify" it as one of the best I've ever had since I came to live here.
But now the current events, though none too surprising...well......
I have had a numer of patients(elderly..and a few younger ones,too) who make their family and loved ones lives a hard course to follow. I am currently treating an 86 yr old woman with Alzheimer diagnostic...twice weekly(for just 45min per therapy)and I NEVER know what to expect when I ring the bell. She does have a young and quite pleasant Polish woman who takes care of her(roughly 16 hours a day)....She lets me in. What I'm saying, I've gotten used to it now. Some days Fr. G. will ask me what I want from her(like who are you type thing)and will let me know she doesn't want me there. She stays polite but trys to inch me towards the door,like, nonetheless. Two days later she'll welcome me with a bright smile and afterwards invites me to definitely come back for another"visit".The prescription calls for 20min physical and 20 min braingym(jogging...).So...

I, too, would like to know if Petra is the friend of Monika and is she of German origin such as Monika herself?Is there any way we can be in contact with her? I would like to talk/thank her...even on the phone, if thats the only way...

Robin returns tonight from his 6th "tour" in Sudtirol with the 300+children(ages 5 to 16) from all of our state(financed by the catholic church organization)for the underpriviledged.
For the first time he had a leadership-roll...thats to say, he had to work out the details, the finances, bus reservations etc. along with 2 other adults. Before he was just one of the 20 "chaperones"(Begleiter).I'm anxious to hear how it all went for him this time, of course.
Now I'll try giving dad and mom a ring...its Friday evening over here.

Anne