My Family and Me

Graduation day, May 1999. I finally went back to school after my kids were grown to get a BA in English. I'm sandwiched here between my two older sisters (Carol on my right, Linda on my left). New update 2003!. Click here to see more.

My "big catch" of the day. This was probably taken in 1994 or thereabouts on West Crooked Lake near Nevis, MN. I love to go fishing on northern lakes, mostly for pan fish and bass because they taste great. I've never caught a fish worth mounting, but when I was eight, I caught a 10 lb. northern on a tiny hook with no bait; I thought this rather amusing, as my dad used all kinds of fancy lures that day and didn't catch anything.

Ah, I love this fish, he (she?) was so willing to pose for the camera! Caught it on the Mississippi near Anoka, probably around 1998. I put it back in the river after the picture. Nothing much is edible from the Mississippi around the cities, and this fish? Probably not too edible no matter where it is caught, since this kind of fish (sucker fish) feeds off the river bottom, and hmm, I can imagine what nasty edibles are laying down there. Hmm, a sip of beer from a discarded can from a fisherman, a taste of nicotine from a cigarette tossed into the river, and a dead minnow that died from the former. okay, off of my soap box, but it pisses me off how people pollute our environment in that way. And well, I've been guilty of that in the past also.

My two favorite people: my kids. On the right is Ryan, my oldest, on the left is my youngest, Beau. Ryan is into computer graphics (has a great fantasy football web page), not much of a talker, a great musican . . . man could he play the trumpet, and I love to hear him play piano. Beau is interested in psychology and a great talker, great philosopher, I could talk to him all day and never get bored. Both have a wonderful sense of humor. They love to play tricks on Mom because she is so gullible.

My kids' high school graduation pics. Ryan 1995 Beau 1999

MY THREE SONS and Pets Jason on the right is like my third son because he spent so much time with Ryan and Beau, still does. He's a technical sort of person, with a great and very dry sense of humor The cat is Normy, alias "Snotcat," named by the kids after Norm on Cheers. The dog is a pug named Oliver. Both animals are female, but I'm sure they don't mind the gender confusion regarding their names--they know what sex they are.

My mom, grandma, and me. This pic was taken in 1997, my grandma is 100 years old here, and still very much alive and kicking in 2001 at the young age of 103+. No pic of my dad yet, but he's very much around also.

Ryan with Heather. They've been dating since high school, and I'm looking forward to when they marry and give me grandchildren. Heather just finished her masters degree in social work (November 2001 as I update this), and Ryan very romantically popped the question to her shortly after by writing a song and singing it to her before giving her the engagment ring. They plan to marry in October 2003. New update 2003!. Click here to see more.

Finally a pic of my dad. On the left, Mom & Dad hanging out on Carol's porch. On the right, a celebration for their 55th wedding anniversary. Why the two cakes? Well, they don't eat sweets, so I picked up a traditional cake for their grandchildren. The other is a loaf of bread spread with salmon creme cheese and olives/pimento to spell out Happy 55. Whatever works. These pics were taken September 2001.

And finally, my grandma again. September 2001, celebrating her 104th birthday. She is still as witty and sharp of mind as ever. She is slowing down a bit physically (or so she says), but not so much that she can't wear my folks out shopping at Walmart, and I had a hard time keeping up with her when I recently visited her, when she gave me a tour of her apartment building. She's quite a lady.

Well, it has been almost a year since I last edited this page, and now it is August 2002, and my grandma is still as sharp as ever in mind, can still laugh a lot, and she still looks a lot younger than her years. Hmm, comparing this picture with the one above, I think Grandma looks younger and I look older! Now, September 2003, as I add once again a new picture of my grandma. I didn't see her on her 106th birthday this year, September 13, but a nurse took this picture on her birthday and sent it to my folks, who sent it on to me. Wow, she never seems to age appearance wise, although this past year, her health has gone down quite a bit. Thanks for hanging in there, Grandma! I'm writing this on April 30, 2004, the picture on the left is a copy of the funeral program, and I think the photo within was taken on her 90th birthday. My dear grandma finally passed away midway through her 106th year, and I guess I was kind of grateful for that, as in her last few weeks of life, she finally started going downhill to a point where I don't think she wanted to keep living anymore. Of course, "going down hill" for her wasn't bedridden or anything, she was still up and about the day she died, albet in a wheelchair versus walking, and she was still mentally sound as ever, and still visiting with fellow residents, but she wasn't independent anymore, and I know she hated that, having nurses take care of her daily needs like getting dressed and stuff. After being out and about, she was put to bed for the night, and she died in her sleep a few hours later. My grandma, still young until the very end. My one regret is that I couldn't get my grandma interested in talking much about the years she lived through, all the changes that someone who has lived that long, through parts of 3 centuries, would have lots to talk about. She was born before cars were on the road, before airplanes flew, way before TV, and it would have been fascinating to hear her talk about her younger years. But, well, she preferred to talk about current events and such, which she was still keen on even at age 106, much more than those a lot younger than she, including me. I'll miss ya', Grandma! And speaking of Grandma, I became one in 2005! Click on Luke to see some pics of my very cute grandson. I think is is time to start another site on my webpage, of my nieces, nephews, and such, but for now, I'll just include one very nice memorable picture of Tony and Jamie. My nephew Tony proposed to Jamie during our family Christmas get-together in 2004. It was so romantic, and so out of the blue, and I cry good-tears everytime I tell someone about it. It made my Christmas that year, and I'm getting out the Kleenex again as I add this picture to my website. I love you both, Tony and Jamie!