Message from Connie

From Connie:

I have asked a few of you over the years if you remember getting this letter from our Uncle Harold along with a check for $100.00. No one seems to remember it but me. Since I collect things written by family and friends, I thought I might still have the letter: here it is:

April 24, 1976

Dear Connie & David,

Enclosed please find a check for one hundred dollars from the estate of George E. and Maude Vogel, your grandparents. The check is made out to you individually. This is merely for convenience and is not meant to exclude nor ignore your spouse. Again, it is simply more convenient.

Since they were faced with rearing a large family during some lean years, there is no fine china, art glass nor silver to distribute among the family as remembrances. Therefore, their children, the stipulated heirs, wished each of the grandchildren to have a hundred dollars from the estate so that each could buy something to serve as a memento. However, this is only a suggestion. Use it anyway that seems best to you.

With over half the page left, I'd like to reminisce a bit for those of you who may not have had a chance to know them well. At this distance from my childhood, I think I can recall and see the things they were teaching us better than I could have seen it at the time. Some of the things that Dad seems to have impressed on me were:
To be honest. If you are weighing a peck of potatoes, set the scales at 16 pounds.
To "always be a gentleman", and that's a quote. Somehow I always knew he meant to be a gentle man.
When walking in a strange city at night, never walk up close to the buildings (self-preservation).
When contemplating a new venture always discuss it with your banker, but not to always take his advice. It is your idea and you have studied it, you really know more about it than he does.
To pay your bills. I saw him start a big store after the age of 50 and stock it completely when I knew he had only $40.00 cash. And he and I used half that living two weeks in a hotel (those were the days).
Not to worry overmuch. I've also heard him say on several occasions that, oh well, I started this business thirty years ago with $375.00 and I guess I could raise that much yet if I had to.
To read
To be informed
To enjoy a humorous story

Mom's message summed up is this:
To be of service to others
To be open and loving
To enjoy life and try to lift the spirit of others
And, right or wrong, always be for the under dog

Together they made a pretty good team with each retaining healthy individuality. Although you may have thought differently of us during your adolescence, they taught us (their children, your parents) fewer non-rational prejudices and a greater concern for objective reasoning than other members of the community at that time were teaching their children. In my thinking, they left us a really great legacy. But then, I'm prejudiced somewhat - they were my parents.

Sincerely, Harold Vogel, Administrator


From Niki:
I remember getting that $100. For most of my marriage we lived on the financial edge. I never had money and this was the first big check that had my name on it. At first I was just going to put it in the pot to help make ends meet, but then I decided not to do that. I decided to honor Grama Vogel by buying something that would remind me of her. It took a long while for me to find something. I ended up buying an antique lamp. It was a design from her era and it reminded me of her life.

Aunt Wilma

I have just heard from Lynne that Aunt Wilma lost her dancing partner, and life partner, Mac, a couple of weeks ago. June 1, 2009. Lynne said, "The were quite the couple!" Cuz Gene, & Cuz Lynne spent several days with their mom after his death.

Previously I had received an email from Connie saying she had heard that Mac had Lou Gehrig's disease, so I am assuming that was the cause of his death. All of it was too sudden...

Niki spring trip to Calif

Mom & me

In April I flew out to visit family in California.

We look so very much a like. All I have to do is
walk into the nursing home and everyone asks me
if I am Betty's daughter! Some of them ask me if
I'm Betty!...not sure how to take that...HA!

Anyway, it was a fine visit. Mom is very healthy. She
has absolutely no problems and hasn't had a sick day this
year. However, she doesn't know who I am, but that
doesn't really matter. I know who she is. She can't talk
so we look at the pictures in magazines for a while
and I talk about them. It is hard, but it felt good
to see her and to know that at least her body isn't in pain.
I don't know if there is pain in Alzheimer's, but I sometimes
think there is mental pain. However, mom is as content
as I have ever seen her.

After visiting with mom for a few days I drove
up to the mountains to visit with Jan, Allison, Tom & Mike.

Before spending time with them I felt like I needed a
break...a quiet time with God...so I took myself on
a hike into the hills....

Wildflowers all around...

There were wildflowers everywhere

I love the hills of California in the spring...round knolls
covered in a carpet of green shaded by oaks...so very
peaceful...

Neat rugged old tree

California Poppy...the state flower

The path back to the car.

It felt good to be in nature for awhile. The stress of
seeing mom and then making my way up to see Cheri's
family, knowing that Cheri is no longer there...well...it
just felt good to be quiet with God for a while.

Jan in her house with her cat

On the way up into the mountains to visit with
Allison's family and Tom & Mike I stopped by
and spent the night with Jan. The next day we
drove up together for a visit with everyone.

Our first stop was an afternoon with Allison...

Chloe and Matthew

Jan and Ethan

Allison with Emma
and no...Allison hasn't gained weight. She is
due with another beautiful child in October.

Lucie

Ross and Lucie

Allison, Jan and Emma playing Chinese checkers

The guys...Matthew, Ross, Ethan

The girls...Lucie, Emma, Chloe

Chloe, Niki, Ethan

Chole jumping rope

Lucie jumping rope

Matthew jumping rope

Matthew's feet almost reach the controls. He says as soon as

they reach his dad will let him mow. FUN!

Road into Tom's new house

This is the first time I've seen the new house after it has been
completed...of course Tom is always finding more to be done, so
it may never really be done to his satisfaction...however, what he
has built so far is absolutely beautiful!
Tom also has a new woman in his life, Kristi. When I heard about
it I was so happy for him. Tom is a great man, so I am glad he
isn't stopping his life. True it is hard not to see Cheri there, but
the joy I have for Tom in his effort to live life overcomes
that empty feeling of not seeing Cheri.
Kristi is a wonderful woman...just as I thought she would be.
Tom has good judgement...of course, he picked my sister! Sooo, I
knew Kristi would be just as great and she is. It was such fun
meeting her. I know they are going to have a wonderful
adventure together and for that I'm very happy.

Kristi cooking in the new kitchen

Gourmet Tom on his porch grilling salmon for dinner...yummmm!

A loving trip to visit family ending with a wonderful
dinner with Kristi, Tom, Jan and Mike