Has it been a year already? Here’s my update . . . July 19, 2008
Posted by Jackie Sampson in : All Posts, Reunion , trackbackWell, family, it has been almost a year ago when we all gathered in Colorado for the super fantastic Magnuson Family Reunion. So many memories, so little time, regrets that we didn’t personally visit more with each and every one of you. But, it was great and Pam and Frank Pecarich along with Stephanie and Kevin Shepherd saw to it that it was an event that was again, super, fantastic…!
Now if you all would be so kind as to update everyone on what the last year has been in your lives, it would make interesting reading.
Our email address changed to donsamp@q.com in case some of you need to change your address books. I’ve been in touch with some of you.
We will be going to Wisconsin in a week or two to visit Dave, Paulette, Cormac and Josie. Just ordered big fish pillows to take the little ones. If you want to see, go to www.cabelas.com and they are 4 feet long, pillow replicas of sunfish, walleye, marlin, and shark. Cormac has talked his Dad into fishing and they have been camping, fishing, etc. and I think will love these plush pillows to lounge around with while watching TV.
Rick and Katie just spent several days with us and we toured to Kearney college campus where Rick went to school and played basketball. It was fun for him to see all renovations, improvements, etc. from so many years ago.
Sarah, as we speak, is in Europe and touring for a couple weeks before she checks in for her UNL sponsored classes at Oxford University. She gets 6 credit hours and has loved sightseeing and now needs to settle down for what she has made the trip. Jack is working at Habitat for Humanity, driving materials, working in the warehouse etc.
Joe is enjoying the summer in New Hampshire. Just sadly lost his pet cat (19 years) which he is mourning, but visited the Humane Society and took home two 6 year olds that are settling in nicely. He thought he would just get one but couldn’t separate the two of them as they were litter mates and had been given up by a couple that couldn’t keep them any more.
Don and I are “maintaining” and pretty much enjoying life. Reading lots, using the computer lots, some golf (‘tho that is another story), involved with our church. I’m doing my weekly volunteer job at our hospital thrift shop – sorting, pricing, etc.
Bob, Dave, Rick and Don plan to get together in Lincoln for the Virginia Tech/Nebr. game later in September. First time for them all to sit together in the same 4 seats for many years.
Don and I plan to attend a Law School reunion in Lincoln in October. Not an exciting account of our doings, but lets hear from the rest of you!
I think about you all so much and send love to you.
Jackie
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Just an addition. Marty put in a picture of one of the fish pillows. Thanks Marty. The picture is better than any description I could make. You are the best – so smart to shape up my Post. All of you would be authors have Marty to help you, so plunge right in, please……
Not much exciting at the Boyer household. We returned from Yuma in early March and became “parents” to our grandson, Kelden from Alaska. He had fallen behind in school and so we got him registered for an alternative program and he is in his second summer school semester. He is enrolled for the fall, but is wavering now. He isn’t getting much support from home to continue and finish the program which would mean graduating next spring. We aren’t happy about the prospect of his leaving, but really can’t do much.
Rick is back working at the computer store he worked for last year and I am working one day a week for Liberty Tax. I will be teaching again this fall when we gear back up for tax season.
A couple of years ago I had a knee joint replacement on my right knee, next month I will get a matching one for the left knee. I can hardly wait as it has been very painful since my fall last winter. Hopefully it will go as well as the the previous one.
This morning we celebrated two birthdays at a birthday brunch. Our granddaughter Madison turned 18 on July 10th and Kelden turns 18 on July 24th. Jason did the cooking and we had a great time. Madison will be attending Boise State University this fall so hopefully we will get to see more of her.
Hope you are all well and happy…sending our love,
Natalie & Rick
Greeting from the Golden State . . .
Patty and I made a first week in July trip to Mendocino on the northern California coast. Stayed in a Bed & Breastfast called the Whitegate Inn. Mendocino is the small town that “Murder She Wrote”
was at least partly filmed in. Never watched it myself, but Patty so informs me. Beautiful country, great weather, parade on the 4th,
Bar B Q on the 5th benefiting the local school arts program. It was a very nice getaway.
We’ve been redesigning the front and back yards this year. Something like 80 new plants. Can’t tell where any of the bodies are buried. The yards are like children to Patty. As is our new dog. The card said dachsund mix. Patty had the genetic test done, no dachsund, beagle, lab and 4 other breeds, but no weiner dog. But she is smart and lovable and that is all that matters.
I am reading “War and Peace”. It was my Mother’s book. Has one of those Alozo of Aragon name plates in it,
“Old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, old books to read.” We are a family of readers and that is something worthy of passing on to future generations.
Love, King & Patty
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When Patty told me it was the Whitegate Inn I googled it and saw the room you would be in! Lovely. Glad it was such a good getaway time for you. Also loved the pictures you sent recently showing the lovely landscape you already have going on in the yard. I wondered what breed dog you got and sounds like you got a good mix. That Patty, had to have a genetic test done! Really…..
Also I love the book quote and have jotted it down on my book list. Don and I both keep lists of the books we read and it is quite interesting to look back on. I’ve just been compiling our new book schedule for the reading group I lead at our library. In case anyone is interested: Some are my choosing and some are suggestions from members.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Innocent Man by John Grisham
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (Frank Lloyd Wright)
Thanks King for checking in. This blog could be better than a Round Robin if people would just use it!
Hi all,
I have just bought a copy of The Other Boleyn Girl, as well as The Boleyn Inheritance. I hear that they are both good. I just reread The Dive from Claussen’s Pier, read Prep, and and now reading Mother and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. I love reading and am actually hosting one of my book clubs tonight.
Things are going well in Tampa. Bob has been working hard and doing some travelling around Florida for his job. We recently took a trip up to NJ for my sister’s college graduation party . It was nice to visit with my family. Bob is very excited to go back to NE for the football game in September, as Jackie mentioned.
Other than that, not much else is new around here. We have just been enjoying time with friends and time in the Florida sunshine.
Glad the blog got going again; thanks, Jackie! It’s a pleasure to read everyone’s news. This spring Danielle and her two girls, Naomi (4) and Leah (barely 2) made the long trip from Seattle to visit us. I found that I had totally forgotten the energy level that little ones require; they really kept us hopping. Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed these beautiful girls and their beautiful mom.
I’ve watched a lot of Little League baseball this summer. Eric’s boys, Lucas and Ian, just turned 13 and 8. Some nights when they had games scheduled at the same time, I wandered back and forth between ball fields. They’ve started football practice already. They’re both natural athletes and a joy to watch. Lucas and I play golf together in the Community League. Great fun.
In June, Vicki and I shared our birthday week in California. We golfed at four wonderful courses, took the 17-mile drive, stayed overnight at Asilomar, went to her amazing farmers’ market, ate out, ate in (she prepares great grilled salmon), enjoyed a fun visit with Pam who was on her way home from a visit with King & Patty, and had an altogether good time.
There was a 60th birthday celebration for Mike’s youngest sister, Sarah, in South Bend in July. Even though not all of the siblings were able to attend, it was a great reunion and an opportunity to catch up with the four generations that were there. Miki and I took a brief tour of Saint Mary’s College where I attended ’58-’62, and I shared several stories and fond memories with her. The campus itself is totally different with many new buildings, and the older buildings that constituted the entire college when I was there have fallen into disrepair, much to my dismay. I shouldn’t be surprised; I’ve kind of fallen into disrepair myself over the years!
Natalie, I hope your next knee replacement is highly successful and that you recover quickly. Miki has chronic problems with her right knee and will be seeing a doctor soon. Vicki has had her right hip replaced. I have trouble with my right knee because of an old volleyball injury. Mother used to experience pain in her right hip and called it “a hitch in my get-along”. Wonder if there is something genetic going on with a weakness on the right side?
Our golf course is doing okay, though the economy has affected us along with most other small businesses. Being at the mercy of the weather is always a factor, too. The month of May here was glorious; I wish the entire year could be like May of 2008. However, it was followed by a very wet June that caused severe flooding all around us, and now we have the typical heat and humidity of Indiana’s July and August. I stay inside and read a lot.
Thanks for the book lists, Jackie and Jennifer, and please keep recommending good books! I’m currently reading The Double Bind by Bohjalian, who’s one of my favorites. I’ve gotten into some very light but entertaining reading this summer, concentrating on the series by J.A. Jance and by Janet Evanovich. When I get serious again, I have Abundance by Naslund waiting in the wings. Love to all of you, Diane
Yesterday, I received a lovely birthday card from Aunt Jackie (a Mary Engelbreit, who we both enjoy!) … as an aside: we all laughed when Diane, Stephanie, Susan and I all visited in Nebraska, 10/06 … Jackie and I have the same kitchen magnet which sincerely states: “Oh I’m Fine. Just Fine. Perfectly Fine. Really, I’m Fine. FINE” (a popular Engelbreit quote). It’s always held such special meaning to me, as it is the story of my life. Anyway, Jackie voiced much disappointment that the Magnuson Blog isn’t as active as it could be. She just sent out a reminder that it’s still up and running, as it were ( sad participation ) … and what an excellent time for us all to bring everyone up-to-date at the anniversary of our reunion in Boulder, 07-07. I remember that Diane reminded all of us a few months back that this blog is such a wonderful open venue for us all to stay in communication. The RR was great, but had its slow way of coming around and although the written word is so nice, it just doesn’t fit any of our life-styles, anymore. (Who cares what you had for Easter dinner and who was in attendance? … when we read about it in late October?)
Admittedly I have been remiss myself, signing into the blog, so I’m the last to scold anybody! (Although I just got off the phone with Vicki who called to wish me a happy birthday, and I scolded her!) Our talks always end up talking about family and she is already planning her 70th-birthday year (yes, she plans to celebrate it, all year! but I’ll let her tell you about that). I challenged her saying that if I signed into the blog she had to! I hope she does; she leads such a full life, I love hearing the latest!
So, h’mmmm, since 07/28/07 reunion? I’m happy to have finally reached a point where I can get my arms around my pain management. Last year at this time, my doctors and I were experimenting treatment. (A caution to each and every one of you ::: do NOT start any new medication or change in medication when you are away from home. Anything new or different has to be in a controlled environment.) I just can’t begin to say how good it feels to be able to put five words together that make sense, and that I don’t occasionally drift into neverland; the ability to focus has been a really good thing. I feel much better that I’m not chasing the pain. I’m told that my very countenance is a distinguishable difference. That’s nice to hear.
Also some very good news from my cardiologist: on 5/2/06 my “ejection fraction” was 21% and is now 43% (which means that my heart isn’t working as hard). You won’t be seeing me on the ski slopes or river rafts or back-country hikes or mountain bikes … but you will see me. Just recently Bob and I lost his sister to cancer and it hit everyone in the family extremely hard. She was his little sister and my best friend. She would have turned 61 three days ago; I am 61 today.
This has been a strange year weather-wise, that’s for certain. We spent a couple of weeks in Arizona during spring training; and it was snowing here when we returned home. We will have 90 sultry days now (the humidity is unusual) then 51 degrees the next (and the furnace decides to turn on!) The winter was the very worst since we’ve lived here. Bob had to climb onto the roof to push off the hardened snow .. it melted then froze then melted, again .. and we had leaks in our master bathroom. We have a little “path” to our breezeway next to the garage, and one weekend when Bob wasn’t here the path became non-existent. This is a particularly bad thing because my UPS guy Dave and my Schwan’s guy Mike couldn’t get through!
All in all, it’s been a pretty good year. We’re happy, the dogs are getting older; Cat CleElum chases mice but it’s just a game for her at 3 am. We have 5 elk who choose their route right through the same place each year. We can’t fool the deer from getting into the garden, yet they have left some raspberries, each morning (maybe that’s the cat telling us to go pick he berries before the deer do. Anyway, all is well. Contentment is a good word. Hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to my life, right now.
You will all be hearing from me, shortly, re: the cookbook. The pictures are not turning out as I would like, so I may decide not to include them, at all. Pricing goes up, with how many and placement … and I somehow can’t get rid of a black band on the pages as they come through. I sent something out in March and hope you weren’t wringing your hands waiting at the mailbox. It looks like this may just be an item you can consider for Christmas gifts?
Did this go through? I need to sign off and send and don’t know how.
Bob wants to see if I can golf. With broken neck I figure I may just be good at this (because I will be able to keep my head down.) Ha.
Hi Everyone! And thank you Jackie and Diane for the reminder of the website address. I couldn’t remember what it was and I was trying to access with the old address…obviously without success.
We are doing well here. Kevin has sold his part of the energy company that he was involved in a year ago. I keep waiting for life to slow down for him. For sure, his stress level is diminished and he is playing more golf, but I had dreams of us “hanging out”…ok, I’ll be honest…I had dreams of him helping me put up Christmas decor, etc. He’s not that guy, and if he suddenly became that guy, I don’t think I would know what to do! Anyway, he is much more lighthearted, and that’s a good thing to see.
Riley is bussing tables at Brasserie TenTen. Many of you ate there when you were here last summer. It’s one of our favorites in Boulder. He and Kevin have been making a few trips this summer to check out college campuses. He really enjoyed the CA campuses, so perhaps I will have an opportunity to visit my west coast cousins in the future! I got a lump in my throat when I went with Riley for his Senior photo shoot. Isn’t it such a bitttersweet thing to watch our children grow?
Jake got through rugby season with no broken bones this summer and can hardly wait for football season! 8th grade is the first year you can play for your school, and his middle school has a great coach, so it should be lots of fun! He is looking forward to being “top dog” as an 8th grader. On a different note, Jake shot an elk back in the fall and the “mount” just arrived. Believe it or not, I am running out of wall space. It’s a good thing there are only 3 guys in this house. 3 dead animal heads are enough!
It’s funny how I always think summers will be “days in the hammock” and they end up being so busy. My friend Suzie and I are facilitating the Women’s Bible Study at our church that takes place during the school year. We’ve spent hours together planning brunches, developing the theme for the year, recruiting Bible Study leaders, choosing studies that are offered, etc. It’s been fun but also a lot of work. We have made some changes to the program, and are hoping they will be well received, but you never know. We are hoping people give us grace! Our desire is to be purposeful with the time we have each Wed. AM. and we hope to communicate that when we encounter the person of Jesus Christ, our lives are forever changed.
I had a fun trip with my sisters to Boston in June. None of us had ever been there before, so it was fun to explore the city together. We got to be pretty savvy about the subway system. (Can you use savvy and subway in the same sentence and get away with it?) The city is so much smaller than I expected! We covered a lot of territory in 3-1/2 days. One of the fun things we did was to have breakfast at a different neighborhood bakery each morning.
Thanks, Jackie, for getting this going. I hope your guys have good time at the football game this fall. It sounds like so much fun. Go Big Red!
Just checking in, here and am disappointed that there are so few posts. Maybe still another reminder should go out; I see that Stephanie had trouble signing in. I don’t know what an old address she had? I have just quite simply added it to my favorites. I think it is something that just needs to become a habit. Even once-a-week or twice a month or something. At first I thought the process was a little cumbersome … “threads” seem to attach to certain subjects, so I needed to figure out where things were posted and how and why. Now I know where I want to go. I think the authors have a hold on things because they are the only ones who can start a “thread” … is that correct? I got quite a nice email from Pam, the other day …. addressed to as many email addresses she had. It sounded like she wants to get the RR going again, inasmuch as she said she was mailing a hard copy to Barbara. I should just ask her. Was I confused that the RR is a thing to be laid to rest now that we’re all computer-minded and this blog takes its place? I think I’ll just email her back along with fwd to her recipients and maybe we can get a handle on this. One or the other. Well it is going to be in the triple digits today and going downtown will be nightmare. Everyone from Seattle wants to get away and this is a favorite place to come. More later. Teresa