Children Living in the Garbage Dump in Guatemala

Years ago when I worked at Bloomington Junior High, I remember a book about the children living in a garbage dump in Guatemala.  At John Nicholson's funeral, I reconnected with Deb Walters, Megan's mother-in-law and she related what she has been doing for the past several years.  Dr. Deborah Waters kayaks from Main to Guatemala solo to raise money for these same children, the children who live in the garbage dump! The pictures in this book were taken by the children.  It is available through Amazon.

Dr. Deb Waters in her kayak  

 A Grandmother's Solo Paddling Expedition from Maine to Guatemala

On the above website you are able to follow Deb on her route.   

Vicki Threw a Never-Ending Party

Friday evening when people arrived, Vicki had mountains of food on her dining room table.  This was a time for everyone to gather before the memorial service the following day.  Cheeses, all kinds of cold cuts, veggies, sushi, and the list goes on.  After the memorial service at Christ Church, everyone was invited to lunch at a restaurant within walking distance of the Church.  Victoire Belgian Beer Bar & Bistro was perfect!  

What a spread of foods to include steamed mussels. 

Megan Nicholson asked people to send her pictures of John from bygone years because in the room where the buffet was located, was a large screen.  So there were never-ending photos of John and Vicki, Megan and Brian and their kids.  Brian and Allison (I officiated at their marriage in Salt Lake City years back in a botanical garden) have Liam and Morgan.  Megan and Thomas are parents to Henry and E.V.  (Eleanor Vivian) All four cousins are close in age -- about  6  to 8 years old.

Susie (Susan) Nicholson and her husband, John Siegel from Carmel, CA were there!  We haven't seen them since Megan and Thomas's wedding!  And other dear friends of the Nicholson's, Pat January, Don and Carol Hart from South Carolina, Miriam and her UU beau, and others.  

John Nicholson's Passing

We realize now, the trip out here and the trip to Michigan  was the calm before the storm for John.  He was doctoring the entire year with lung cancer, although they thought they had this under control because of a new kind of high tech radiation.   He used oxygen from time to time out here and also on the trip back home.  And John has this nifty scooter which was wonderful at the Lincoln Museum.  But it is heavy because of a large battery, and must be taken out of Odyssey and assembled before use.

John was hospitalized with Vicki calling daily to give us updates.  No good.  His passing was a blessing because he was so very ill.  He was ready.  He died on November 4th right before his birthday and Vicki and John's 50th anniversary.

The only way to describe the memorial service:  It was elegant in Christ Church, an old Episcopal congregation, with not one but two organs. The one up front is called the Choir Organ.  The one in the back is almost as large as the famous Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia.

The Craighead Saunders Organ in Christ Church

Much Going on In Meema and Oompa's Lives

All a part of life.  When Burnells and NIcholsons came out to visit in mid September in John and Vicki's state of the art Odyssey van with all the bells an whistles, Bill helped with the driving.  The plan for their return:    Bill and Kate had to leave a tad early so took the Prairieland Shuttle up to O'Hare to fly back to Clark's Summit.  John and Vicki wanted to drive up to Michigan to visit Nicholson relatives and do some stomping around at cemeteries, and then John and Vicki would drive back to Rochester alone.

Kate said -- "They can't do the trip home alone."  We agreed whole heartedly.    So Daad and I went with them and had a BLAST! 

In Springfield at the world-famous Lincoln Museum. 

At a Subway for lunch.  

Vicki had made a reservation at a B and B in South Haven where we stayed for one night.  Vicki and John like B and B's but because Meema has trouble falling to sleep, we opt to stay at  Marriott's.  But we slept great at this B and B called the Sand Castle in South Haven Michigan.  And the breakfast was wonderful.  I emailed them for an apple noodle casserole recipe but they never replied.  

Democratic Debate

Go, Hillary!  I like Bernie as well, but it is time for a woman to be president.  It is not good to hate anything or anyone, but in all honesty I hate the Republicans. 

My New Red Tulip Purse

When Gretchen and I flew to Uganda in 2011, we changed planes in Amsterdam at Schipohl Airport.  We had quite a bit of time before boarding the flight to the US so we went into many stores, one of which sold these tulip purses.  I wanted to buy one. So -- when I needed to replace my beloved red flower purse which is too small, immediately I thought of the tulip purses.  I googled tulip purse and they came right up just as I remembered them!  I ordered one!  Mailed from the Netherlands, it took about a week to arrive.  

Laurie and Girls in Seattle

Today, October 12, 2015,  Laurie is 48 years old!  Seems like yesterday our baby girl was born. 

First Baked Apples of the Year

As my Grandma used to say, baked apples 

need to be shiny.  And these are!

Core 6 apples and peel about 1/3 down.  Fill openings with raisins.

1 Cup brown sugar, 1 Cup water, 2 Tablespoons butter, 1/2 Teaspoon of both cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bring mixture to boil.  Poor over apples and 

bake for 1 hour.  Baste occasionally. Continue

basting when finished baking. 

A Horrible Day for Me and Little Red Car

I had an car accident.    As if the hole in the windshield in June wasn't enough.  I picked up a prescription at our Oakland Osco and used the drive thru.  Making the 180 degree turn to head out and turn left to get to Mercer, crash!  I stopped at the stop sign and meandered out because no car was coming but I was wrong.  A car sped by but I was committed and I hit the speeding car.  I was hardly moving but the other car was going so fast .....awful.  Little Red Car suffered a hole in her right fender and the turning light is damaged.   The lady driving the other car called 911 right away and was mean, truly a weird person.  She called her husband and when he arrived he was quite nice and said,  "accidents happen". Her bumper will need to be replaced.   LRC is at Kurts body shop and will be as good as new by this Thursday with the cost estimated at $3000.00 

Then the Water Came --July 8, 2015

The adventure began when Signy came upstairs to tell us she and the girls heard a beep.  Immediately we went down to the sump pump and found it to be working fine.  But it couldn't dispose of all the water and thus the pit overflowed.  See pictures below.   Wonderful Max Banks came up right away.  Water also seeped in the front of the house as well because of the gutter run off (erosion).  Signy and the girls had an adrenaline high because they had such a great time helping.  The next day we left for Springfield where they flew back home.   Such troopers!

Menold's, the premier restoration company in B/N did a wonderful job.   Remember the flood of September 14, 2008 where we had 6" of water? This was not nearly as bad.  And Menold's is so much better than Service Master -- no comparison.