Bulletin 407 April 4, 2010

The Bulletin
Sunday, April 4, 2010

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Happy Easter!

Photo © Jerrianne Lowther
Spring tulips

Photo © Dan & Gina Henderson
Logan & Mason Henderson meet Pluto at Magic Kingdom.

UPDATE -- to Disney World and Florida beaches!
by Heather Overby Henderson
Minnetrista, MN

We had the most wonderful trip to Florida last week. Curt and Patty, Dan's and our family went to Orlando for the week and it was glorious!

The boys were so excited to go to Magic Kingdom and see all the Disney characters. Mason just took it all in!

Photo © Dan Henderson
Ben & Logan Henderson ride on the merry-go-round, with Gina behind.

We hit up a couple of beaches while we were there too. One day we went to Clearwater and the other day we went to Cocoa Beach. Both were amazing for different reasons. Clearwater was more of a tourist, busy beach and Cocoa was more laid back, I guess you could say.

Photos © Dan & Gina Henderson
Brienna, left; mostly rode in her stroller; Logan & Mason with Heather, right, took it all in.

I would have to say the best part of the trip, for me, was seeing Mason enjoy the pool and the ocean. I guess swimming lessons paid off! A month ago, he would barely get in the water, except for the hot tub. All in all, it was an amazing time and we can't wait to go back!

Photo © Dan & Gina Henderson
Heather, Ben, Mason, Logan, Curt, Patty, Gina, Abby & Dan Henderson with turtle.

Photo illustration © Kurt & Jennie Larson
Kurt & Jeni Larson family with Sami, Madi & baby Liam.

This past week, Wyatt Johnson, Eric Anderson and I enjoyed a vacation in (sometimes) sunny Fort Myers, Florida. We were joined by our friend Jim Pachan and Susan, a friend of his from St. Louis, Missouri.

For Jim and me, this trip has become a recurring tradition every March. The Minnesota Twins hold their Spring Training in Fort Myers and Jim has a friend who owns a house in neighboring Cape Coral. The combination of free lodging and the opportunity to watch outdoor baseball while our friends are shivering back in Minnesota and Missouri is just too good to pass up!

Every year, Jim and I try unsuccessfully to talk Wyatt and Eric into joining us on our trip. This year, after Wyatt and Jolene finally sold their old house, Wyatt decided to pull the trigger and join us. Not wanting to feel left out, Eric also made the last minute decision to participate.

We had a great trip, full of fun stories. Unfortunately, I didn't return until Monday night and have spent this week catching up on various tasks at work and home, so I haven't found time to write about much of it. In the coming weeks, I plan to revive my recently dormant Travelogue, spinning yarns of baseball, beaches, boats, alligators and our imaginary friend, Claire. So stay tuned to The Bulletin!

UPDATE -- birthday bash at the Ashby farm
by Carol Pokornowski
Hutchinson, MN

We all had a wonderful time up at Donna and Beaver's farm this weekend, celebrating Ashlee, Duane and Donna's birthdays. It was so nice to see Don, Patty, Charlie and Ardis on Friday night and the rest of the guests who joined us on Saturday for the surprise birthday party for Duane.

He had no clue -- until John, Penny, and the kids drove into the yard -- that everyone was there for his birthday. That turned out to be a surprise, thanks to Donna for all the help on getting it ready. Plenty of food, good company and lots of laughs. Thanks for all who brought food and for all who helped out in other ways, making this birthday bash a success.

Duane and Ashlee left this morning, leaving me in Ashby. He offered Donna one dollar to keep me and she accepted the offer but now she just remembered he never gave it to her. How is that!

UPDATE -- the "pumper" journey brings hopeful progress
by Lorraine C. Tabor
Northfield, MN

Dr. Salk's research and development of a polio vaccine had a huge impact on our nation and the whole world. However there were unforeseen difficulties ahead for polio survivors. Few had ever reached what they call a ripe old age. While some folks are waiting for something to happen that will take their breath away, a very few of us are waiting for a breakthrough that will just help us breathe!

Bulbar polio victims had to live in an iron lung, sometimes for several months and some even years! This life-saving machine did the breathing for those whose breathing muscles were impaired to a point that would mean certain death without the use of it.

Nowadays, when epidemic survivors reach middle age and older, most experience a relapse, or what is known as the "Post Polio Syndrome." A very few doctors exist who have have found a need to be concerned with polio and its long-range effects. And a very few survivors find themselves unable to breathe. When doctors prescribe oxygen, it really does not do the trick. Reason? The patients can inhale, but cannot exhale, so there is a buildup of carbon dioxide and a very compromised lifestyle (which the writer of this article is experiencing).

Realizing this situation, a friend consulted a doctor about an innovation that would help one exhale. This doctor answered that if anything is invented, he would like to know about it because there are a number of folks with other diagnoses who also could use it. So my friend Mark went to work and, with a couple of others for input and suggestions, embarked on what we have called "The Pumper Journey."

The first model was operated by me in my wheelchair ... and it exhales! The initial model is pumped by hand so we named it "Pumper" (patent pending) because it deserved a worthier name than "Contraption!"

Because it is pumped by my own weak arms, and doing so puts extra pressure on areas that have taken abuse from over 60 years of sitting in a wheelchair, I now am waiting for the real thing. That will be further documented by the persons who not only saw a need for such a breakthrough, but are making it a reality.

My friend Mark spent Monday till Friday here working on the prototype and we found out that it will work ... eventually! Every invention takes TIME. He gave the okay to write about the journey of the "Pumper" (with "patent pending" added to it). I think it should have "to be updated later as progress continues" mentioned also.

Photo © Rylie Johnson
Birthday celebrants Duane Miller & Donna Johnson. Duane's "shovel ready" cake is titled "Older than dirt."

It was the most lovely weekend. Starting Friday night with our guests: Charlie, Ardis, Don, Patty, Duane, Ashlee and Carol. Charlie and Ardis arrived later on, just a few minutes after we'd arrived back home from eating in town.

Saturday, people arrived throughout the day, with Don and Patty heading back home in the afternoon. Arriving in the afternoon were Lori and Shawn, McKenna, Kierra, Chris and Grady. Then, the rest of the day: Penny and John with Abigail and Carter, Peggy and Ed, Barb Dewey, Judy Bertram, Steve and Pauline Torgrimson, Ben and Ashley, Becky, Caity and Jayce. Jolene stopped by later in the evening with Rylie, Brooklynn, Camryn, Hannah Finkelson and Grace (Jolene's brother's girlfriend's child).

We did manage to surprise Duane with this being his birthday party, too; he didn't catch on until Penny and John arrived, so that was fun. We also celebrated Ashlee's (belated) 9th birthday, so she got a little cake of her own. As, did I. Carol brought those two cakes and I bought the "Older Than Dirt" cake for Duane.

Photos © Donna Johnson
Birthday girl Ashlee, left, with Abigail; Duane opens gifts with Sadee, right.

It was a very enjoyable time! Made turning over another big number not as painful!

Carol kept busy doing dishes and helping out wherever needed. She also, bless her heart, stayed to help clean today. She is the most thorough housekeeper!

Photo © Donna Johnson
The birthday gift I chose with the money my kids and grandkids so kindly gave me for my birthday. It adds a little color to my cupboard & table. Plus, the blues in it allow me to keep the same salad plates, bowls, mugs, etc. Worked out great. I thank you all, very much!

Photo © Lori Ostendorf
Dorothy turns 84 this week; youngest great grandson, Grady Chap, is 4 months.

The Matriarch and Grandpa Don had company last Saturday. Lori, Shawn, McKenna, and Kierra brought Chris and Grady and all came for a visit to the great grandparents. Grady had just been having a nice nap and wasn't too anxious to meet his oldest relatives. He is a love, though, and everyone had fun. Lori and Chris took turns getting some memory photos with Lori's camera.

Photo © Lori Ostendorf
Grady with cousins McKenna & Kierra Ostendorf & his daddy, Chris Chap.

Photos © Chris Chap
Grady with Auntie Becky Chap, left, & Auntie Lori Ostendorf, right.

Let's Play a Guessing Game: Whenever it is handy to do so, we will run a picture of someone of the subscribers or staff members of our e-magazine. Tell us who you think it is -- we will let you know who was the first to guess it right -- and the correct guess -- in the following week's Bulletin.

Editors' Note: Correct guesses appear in bold face type and incorrect guesses in normal type ... generally in the order we receive them, so the first guess received is on top.

The picture was taken at my house, at a party for our mother's 94th birthday, Our niece Ginny was holding the cake. But I cannot figure out who the boy and girl were.

Editor's comment: Yes, and the 95th birthday (the picture near the top of the page) was a large gathering held in a hall beside Waverly Lake. Both were family planned but the Guess picture event was just our family while the 95th was open house for anyone who wanted to come. The 95th birthday cake said Happy Birthday, Grandma; the guess picture cake said Happy Birthday, Mom.

This was taken at Grandma Dake's birthday celebration. My wonderful Grandma Dake, my cousin Virginia Dake McCorkell is ready to serve cake; in the background is our eldest son, Ben, and also my pretty niece Lexie Anderson.

That was Patty's, but this is my guess. That's definitely my son Ben, his cousin Lexie, along with Ginny McCorkell and Grandma Dake. Looks like it was her birthday. Was it at Gert's house?

Here is your guess for The Bulletin game this week. Looks like Ben Henderson and Lexi Anderson watching Ginny Dake McCorkell present my Grandma Amy Dake with her 94th birthday cake. Not sure where it's at -- possibly Gert and Don Pettit's?

The GUESS picture is only a guess, but could that be Don Anderson's mother? (Cleo Anderson.) Of course, we know that lady in blue, Virginia McCorkell! That was a few years ago. I haven't a guess about the children.

You asked if we caught the clue of last week's Guess picture, but I didn't. Even knowing there was one, I still don't see it.

Shari Miller Larson supplied last week's mystery photo.
Send us some mystery photos; we will line them up in our staging area to take their turn.

A series of recollections, of the five years when Bill and Lois Dake and their family lived in Minnesota, began with the episode in Bulletin 343. It's too soon to tell just how many parts there will be in this series, just after World War II. In Bulletin 349, I told more about polio (once called Infantile Paralysis) via two links, Polio and Sister Kenny, to minimize disruption of the narrative flow. Both documents are posted as a series of scanned images. We can't edit them or correct typos and they will not respond to font changes or printer settings as regular Bulletin pages do.

When I came home from work on Monday night Belle was at the door to greet me. She had gotten a call from Angie who had imparted good news. She had just met with the doctor who is caring for Bertha. The doctor said she is ready for company. He explained to Angie that the danger of further damage is balanced out by the need for her to get back to "normal."

Belle said she thought I needed to talk to Angie myself to get the explanation of the treatment and care that has been planned for Bertha, as Belle felt she did not quite understand all of the details, but she added that it sounded very encouraging.

So, after we had our supper, I did make a call to the nurses' station and asked them to tell Angie to call me as soon as she conveniently could. Then, while I waited for the call, Belle and I talked over how the next step of this episode in our lives should be handled. First, we needed to find if Bertha had need of anything from her apartment; second, when and how we should plan the first visit. And then Belle explained to me a couple of thoughts she wanted conveyed to Angie. And, of course, I was anxious to get details on the treatment being used and planned for Bertha.

I'm not so good at giving word for word what was said, so I am going to itemize the information.

First, the treatment: Bertha's doctor has a little different approach to treating a stroke than I have heard. He believes in using an aspirin a day, as he says some experiments have determined that it helps prevent a recurrence. He also believes in getting her up and into stimulating things. He does not want her to get depressed. So he has the nurses chatting with her and he thinks CHEERFUL company would be good medicine.

Problem: Bertha has not gotten out and about much since living here in Bemidji. She is a very friendly and caring person. Anybody once meeting her will certainly enjoy her visits, as she is one who listens and then responds, and she does like to talk about her own background. But she is not spending all of her time re-living her life, either. Now, the question is, who is going to help in her therapy of cheerfulness? We will have to work on that one.

It has been decided that Bertha will live with her niece, Angie, and her nephew, Patrick (they, too, are Whites) when she is released from the hospital here. They have a large farm home in the country near Osakis, Minnesota, and they have planned a sitting room-bedroom area there on the first floor for Bertha.

Problem: So then all of the things that are Bertha's must be packed and prepared for the move. It appears quite easy, as Bertha has a neat, tidy apartment BUT you must remember that part of the furniture is Belle's and part is Bertha's. Another problem is that Angie and Patrick have a farm to run, they have preparations to get a place ready for her, and they are anxious that Bertha have at least one of them with her most of the time. (Belle and I now completely understand that Bertha has, indeed, found a couple of lovely relatives with whom to spend the rest of her life -- and may it be long.) So then, this, too, will take some studying.

We ladies called a conference and made some decisions. When all was temporarily decided, I made the second call.

I rang up M&S Taxi Service. I got Max this time. I put before him the problem. We needed help; could he provide it? We needed someone who could help get Belle up to Bertha's hospital room. (I could have gone by bus and hiked up the steps, but she couldn't.) Max studied the situation and told me to give him a few minutes and he would get back to me. But I knew, and I am sure you do, too, that he would find a way. Now this time I am going to give you the gist of his solution, pretty much the way he told it to me.

"Yuh there, Girlie? Okay, I tell yuh what -- I have been takin' lessons from Skeet, and I got all that smooth talk down. I can say, 'Yes, Sir' and 'No, Ma'am' with the best of 'em, and I can even open the doors for the tourist ladies.

"So here is how we will handle this: Skeet will come in my cab and take yuh to visit. Then he can park by the hospital and wait fer yuh. My back won't allow me to help the Duchess ... and besides, she skeers me, so he can handle that part lots better. I WILL SET IT UP FER YOU. And Skeet has even told me I can drive his pretty cab fer a change while he's out with yuh two ladies -- so this should work just fine! Trust me."

Photo © Dorothy Dake Anderson
The house where I lived in Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1949.

Sunday morning started slow ... both of us were pretty exhausted from several short nights in a row. After seeing my friend off to the airport for his flights back to reality, I caught a night train to Nong Khai, a Thai town on the Thailand-Laos border in the northeast part of the country. My second class sleeper berth was quite comfy; I was blissfully asleep for almost the entire 13-hour ride.

The next morning, I discovered a great guesthouse right on the banks of the Mekong River. It was peaceful and pleasant and had perfect mango lassies at an open air café with views of the mighty river, so I decided to spend a pair of lazy days relaxing before crossing into Laos.

Having found bike exploration to be ideal in this part of the world, I once again set out on two wheels. A highlight of the area was a sculpture park, Sala Kaew Ku. It was filled with the creations of a a mystic from Laos who was exiled a few decades ago. His works represent figures from Buddhist and Hindu traditions in magnificent scale. Tiptoeing through the garden beneath the formidable gazes of towering nagas, it seemed as though I'd taken a trip to a mythical underworld.

Photos © Kjirsten Swenson
Nong Khai, left; naga guarding Buddha in sculpture garden, right.

Celebrations & Observances
From the Files of 5
Hetty Hooper

This Week's Birthdays
April 4---Meryl Hansey
April 4---Barb Dewey
April 6---Dusty Meyers
April 9---Richard Johnson (from Oregon)
April 9---Dorothy Dake Anderson
April 10---Brenda Anderson Hill
April 10---Lisa Kae Anderson
April 10---Shawn Ostendorf
Happy Birthday!

More April Birthdays
'
April 2---Duane Miller
April 2---Jess Cloyd

April 15---Melinda Miranowski
April 19---Levi Owen Steinhauer (5 years old)
April 23---Alyssa Lynn Freesemann
April 23---Miss Kitty (7 years old)
April 23---Mai Tai (3 years old)
April 25---Troy LaRon Freesemann
April 25---Mia Nelson
April 26---Heidi Johnson Henderson
April 27---Steve Rodriguez
April 27---Peggy McNeill
April 28---Justin Blackstone
April 29---Kelly Kay Larson Seaman
April 30---Kurtis James Larson

April Special Days
April 1---April Fools' Day
April 2---Good Friday
April 4---Easter Sunday
April 30---Arbor Day

Dear Miss Hetty,

Thanks for the birthday card! That was fun. Showed it to Carol, so she could get a laugh, too. Cute.

Please drop Miss Hetty a line and tell us who, and what, we've missed. And how about a report (photos welcome) of YOUR special celebration?

'Many Thankse
Everyone!

Miss Hetty

Thank you for reminding us that tomorrow is Grandma Dake’s birthday. I would have completely missed it. Several times today, while I went about my Saturday jobs, I have thought of her. Lots of wonderful memories. You know, just as we never know what our parents went through until we have raised our own kids, we never really know what our grandparents went through and did for us until we have grandkids of our own. I would love to be able to tell her now what a special grandma she was!

PS. You're correct, William Richard Dake won't be the newest great, great grandchild for long (besides Amy's, I mean). Sandy is due in August. That will be grandbaby #8 for Marian and me.

It was so nice to read about Amy Dake, a woman loved by so many. She was one of the kindest, hardest-working ladies I have ever met. When I see African violets, I think of her beautiful ones, and how she even pollinated them to make new varieties. My girls used to stay there with Patty and Marlene and they told me Grandma always had room for one more at her table, and room for one more in her heart. What nice memories we can have of her and the example she was.

Thanks for the memorial of your mom! We feel she was a special "Mom" to many of us and will always carry a special place in our hearts.

I have some more pictures and will try to get them on their way to you. The past two months have been very busy for me but things will start to slow little. Lou always did all of the bookwork for the Water Company but now I have given some of the responsibility to the Treasurer. However, there is a training program and he is catching on slowly.

I am in Portland for two weeks as we will have a family time next Sunday, April 4th. Grandchildren are coming in from Spokane tonight for the week -- spring break -- and I plan to start home on the 5th.

Thank you again for The Bulletin. I sure do look forward to getting it every week and reading all the great stories.

I am sure you have heard that I have been spending more and more time with Donna and Beaver. Once she got me to come up, after all those years, we missed spending time with each other. The only problem now is I do not know when to leave. I usually stay more days than I pack for, which is the opposite of most people. I think when I leave I need to start going home with an empty suitcase so when I decide to stay extra days I will have clothes to wear.

I have worked on the Chaney-Cheney family and placed information on Ancestry under Chaney Family Tree, but I had to stop for a while because it becomes an obsession and we were in the middle of selling one house, buying another, moving, and remodeling.

I enjoy receiving the newsletter and sincerely appreciate any information you can remember about the Cheney-Chaneys.

One issue is, where were Greenberry, Isom and William born? I have found references to Missouri, but their parent names are in question. Somehow, I know (or it is rumored) the parent was on both sides during the Civil War. The parent lived in Kentucky and was drafted into the Confederate Army, escaped (we think to Missouri) served in the Union and was injured (blinded) and received a small pension. Any ideas on this issue?

Kathy, I will have to admit I know very little about my Grandma’s family. She did tell us that she was born in Kentucky and their family came to Minnesota when she was just a child. Perhaps someone else could share some information. --Dorothy Dake Anderson

Editor's Note: Kathy has given me her address, so if you wish to contact her, just ask me for it.

That's right. Bulletin #406. That is not a misprint. The best part of it all is that we have the archives with every single Bulletin in them. All 406 of them. Ready to be read at a click of the key. So, to compare the original Bulletin with this #406 will be an eye opener to all who began with #1 and continued until #406. I think it would be so interesting to hear from anyone who would care to make a comment if they do dig back into the archives.

Thanks to Jerrianne, the photo editor, for her untiring work and expertise to put together the archives and web links.

I am not quite used to seeing the little caption by the Editor, and then a link to The Bulletin, but I am very glad it is so simple to just click on the link and up pops our regular, familiar Bulletin.

The first picture this time was astounding. Something about yellow that really catches the eye and attention, as with the beautiful Daffodils reminding us Spring is really here. As the days become more and more mild, we almost are beginning to believe the calendar. Daffodils are the flower for March, so that was a special tribute, being the first picture.

As I mentioned before, I print The Bulletin so I can share it with Roy and read it myself, slowly and thoroughly. I have this little routine or ritual that I discipline myself with, not to look ahead as it's printing, and read it one page after another. So, when I turned the page and saw that beautiful lovely photo of Amy, I gasped and just sat there looking at it for a long time. It is such a lovely picture of her. One of the nicest I remember seeing. I am so glad someone provided the huge birthday cake in her honor at 95 years old. I am so glad to have that picture. She was a dear and special friend from the first time I met her in about 19 -- woops, I can't remember the year. Maybe in the '60's. She truly was an honorable, respected and virtuous Matriarch.

We have to appreciate it anytime Bitzi gets the inspiration to write, and this time it was extra special with the photos she included and all the details of her time driving clear up to Brooks and Wannaska and back to Blaine all by herself.

That was news about Amy, and so we can look forward to events as they happen. Levi and Kira will be ecstatic to have cousins. Now we can hardly wait, either.

Thank you, Donna Mae, for another account of weekend visitors at the Johnson farm in Ashby. That seems to be a regular happening, and good you are young enough to really be able for all it means, as it will provide life-long memories for the children who can be together without the restraints of city life.

Oh dear -- the grand kittens are three years old now, and the Alaska celebrities will be having birthdays in April. How can we ever keep up with all these parties and excitement? Thank you for reminding us of these occasions. I wonder what Mai Tai's favorite color is, and what Miss Kitty's favorite toy is?

Diego won't get in on that celebration in Alaska this year. I know Miss Kathlyn will keenly miss it, too.

I looked at the link for kitty pictures from a photo contest. I can't say I would have chosen any of them. To me, the one of Oreo was cuter than any of them. Did you read the Dog's diary in comparison with the Cat's diary at the end of that article? That was pretty funny. Thanks, Miss Kitty, for drawing our attention to this. As I said before, YOU are still "top dog" in my estimation.

Memory Lane. Everything stops when I get to that chapter in Dorothy's life. I totally get involved in all she's writing, and all she's describing, forgetting I am in our own living room. The beginning and the ending kept our attention totally, as we read about Vonnie and LeRoy's move, and Vonnie's job offer.

Then the stroke Bertha had was about to make a major change for Dorothy and Belle. Things happen and times bring changes, so we almost have to just roll with the punches and accept them. Even the old house may have to go. We have gotten used to seeing it there at the end of the Memory Lane chapter.

The destiny of the precious loaned boots came to an end, too, and thankfully they were returned safely to the kind owner. That made quite a punch line in the story of Winter in Bemidji.

The Southeast Asia story by "Dr. Swenson" continues with more and more pictures of unbelievable things. The details and costly jewels and coatings is beyond description in a vocabulary. Such excellent photography, Kjirsten.

Then the Miss Hetty photo of Don and Dorothy a few years ago is a prize. That was almost a lifetime ago, and surely the beginning of a life of joys and sorrows interwoven, but LOVE in it all the whole way. The red boots and tie look like a masterpiece of Bitzi...

That was a fun read from Jim Miller about the car ride with Nels Curtis. Was that the first you heard about that part of the story, Dorothy? Jacking up the back tires was a common trick, evidently, as Roy tells about his brother, Louie, doing the same thing to an unwelcome visitor on their family farm.

Was that ever cute! The poetry by Gwen Stucker showed a talent she must have acquired from her mother, who was very artistic. I am sure many of us still have bookmarks her mother made with her special designs on. Glad Gwen is now a subscriber as there are so many things that will interest her about people she knows so well. Even many she is related to.

So, you found another CHUCKLES, Jerrianne. Good. That should make Krista happy again. I can see Ernie in Ethan's facial features. Or maybe I was just hoping to see it.

The Quotation for the day was so perfect for this issue with the dear Matriarch Amy featured. She is not only honored by a large family, but an endless amount of friends who will never forget her faithful life and kind hospitality.

This is only Saturday, and I am so glad for an opportunity to write this LTTE quite soon after reading The Bulletin.

Thanks for this #406, Editors, and hope you have much to choose from to include in #407 when that time comes.

To search a name in Who's Who or Who's Where: click on the link to open the page, then use CONTROL F on a PC or COMMAND F on a Mac. To search for a second occurrence of the name, use CONTROL G on a PC or COMMAND G on a Mac. (This works on ANY web page with text, unless the text is converted to an image. Chances are, it works in your e-mail, too.) HINT: Search by first name only, as most entries list the family name once but do not repeat the last name for each family member. In Who's Where you can search on state or city names, too.

Quotation for the day: An optimist is the human personification of spring. --Susan J. Bissonette

EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com

This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.

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