The Takeover

  After the takeover Jane needed to send Jon a letter expressing her feelings about the wedding.  Jon replied but still did not fully understand how Joe Gerst had compromised any future relationship with his backwardness and our family.  After an e-mail from me Jon admitted to the ignorance of elder Gerst and how he damaged a meaningful or close relationship with the Pratts from Lansing.  Mr. Phillipich died at 90 and we visited with his family. Jim was the best man at our wedding and I always talked to Tony at church or at Meijers. Two members of the O'R class of 69 also died recently. They were Barb Spedoske and Janet Deibolt.  I have been subbing everyday but 2 snow days and holidays have made for short work weeks now for 5 straight weeks.  On Saturday our furnace quit and we braved house temperatures of  52-56 degrees until they came to fix it at 11;00 am today.  It was the gas valve and cost $600 but that's better than having to replace the 23 year old furnace.  Jane is still waiting for her extension pay and found out that she probably will not get any money due to the pending sequesterian budget cuts. Last Friday we went to the Foster Community Center and saw a play about Urbandale.  It brought back memories of her old neighborhood on Howard Street, and she got to talk to a cousin of the VanDousers there. Basil is still going for more testing on his lungs as the doctors are trying to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong. Life is a gift and we must cherish it and make good of our short time we are given on Earth.