The ol' ticker -

Since our family has such a rich heritage of heart and cholesterol problems, I thought it was time that I became proactive. Well, kind of - after a wake up call.
I started waking up in the middle of the night not being able to breath, it felt like someone put a pillow over my face and I couldn't catch my breath. I went in for a physical and they ran the entire gambit of every possible test. They checked the veins in my legs, they did a spiral cat scan, they injected me with nuclear dye took pictures at rest, put me on a tread mill got my heart rate up to 160 and then took after pictures. The technician showed me the pictures when I got done and it was awesome - my arteries and heart muscles looked really good. I couldn't believe that I didn't have a blockage since my cholesterol was over 300.
So now that I know that my heart is good, I am on a diet to get my cholesterol down - no more ice cream!
And as far as the original problem of not being able to breath, every one thinks that it might just be stress. Probably, so I told Steve to take a nice long vacation (just kidding, kind of).

A couple of birthdays & and anniversaries!

And today is Joe's birthday, lets see he is now 85 and looks like he is still going strong.

Joe and Betty at the reunion, enjoying their time visiting with everyone. I can remember how old he is by our anniversary, he turned 50 on the day we got married.

So that means that we have been married for 35 years - man is that a long time!!!!! Some days it seems like forever!

Yesterday, we were watching the Cubs play baseball and I mentioned "tomorrow is our 35th anniversary" and Steve sat there with this dumb founded look on his face and said, "I didn't realize that we got married on Memorial Day?" DUH

Artie and Mary are celebrating their anniversary as well and this is a wonderful picture of their wedding with Grandma. A bunch of us drove down in an RV to the wedding and it was so much fun! I can remember driving through the night to get there, some played cards for a while and then started drifting off to sleep. Frank was driving so I sat up front and kept him company for part of the way. It was great just sitting and talking, something we don't do enough of anymore.

Artie and Mary now with part of their family, it is such a joy to get to know everyone a little better and share some emails. I hope 5 years isn't too long for our reunions, it seems like forever already that we were together. I know it is a lot of work, but it so worth getting together.

Grandma's birthday was the 16th of this month, the youngest of 13 and just imagine she was born in 1901 and saw so many changes in her life time. She literally went from transportation by horses to putting a man on the moon. The technology and change was so great in her generation, can you imagine what will we see?

Kevin and Marcy were married on the 16th - the reception was in the basement of Boone Valley and it was fun. Wow, we have had some great times at weddings!

At the reception, they got a bouquet of flowers for Grandma since they married on her birthday and she was celebrating her 80th. It just seems like yesterday in so many ways and in others a life time ago. I'm sure Kevin and Marcy feel the same way.

Look who is 16 today!!!

Teresa, I hope your dad, Artie, is doing something special for you today - you certainly deserve to have a great party. I hear that you are a very strong individual and determined to make a difference in this world.
Teresa is involved in making her peers and community aware of the genocide going on in Africa. She also volunteers with Mary at the Alzheimer's Center, works long and hard on the school newspaper and still makes A's and B's throughout her Sophomore year. Not too shabby, young lady!

Teresa did take time out and enjoy the Prom with her date.


Teresa also sings regularly with her parents at church, leading the Youth Retreat Team, a member of J-Walkers learning about social justice and still enjoys time with good friends. It is such a pleasure to watch our next generation grow into beautiful, strong young people. Teresa, you are a rare jewel, stay beautiful inside and out. Enjoy your summer learning to drive and I hope you find a job.

Happy Birthday Cora -

Look at this most beautiful child - wow! Don you should be so proud of this little beauty - and I'm sure you are having a wonderful birthday today!!

Cora with her best friend and cousin, Nadia. How much fun to have a cousin the same age and able to share so many secrets. Matching outfits - I bet Connie and Chris remember when they and their cousins had dresses alike! Grandma was so proud of those dresses she made for you girls.


Natalia and Cora with matching bears, what fun!

Karate Kid Cora practicing her balance, next Don will having her practice "wax on - wax off" on his car.
Happy Birthday Cora and you need to thank your Aunt Chris for all these great pictures. It is such a joy to see all these special pictures from the ones who have moved far away. Don, you have a wonderful family, enjoy them!