On This Date in 1998

Dear Barb,

This note will probably arrive in Warren the same time we do. We’ll be pulling into my parents’ driveway sometime during the early evening of the 26th. Our present location is Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where we are enjoying the company of most of the Richard family. Only Larry, who will be retiring in February after 20 years of service in the Navy, wasn’t able to make the trip.

This vacation is unusual in that we aren’t staying in our usual locations. In the past we’ve always stayed with Larry and Alice but this time we’ve checked into the Cindy Richard bed and breakfast in Manitowoc, just a few miles down the highway along Lake Michigan. In Warren, we’ll stay at Larry and Kim’s cabin on Valentine Run.

Earlier this year, I decided to subscribe to the Times Observer. I’ve been able to read about the ongoing library controversy, news which makes me so thankful that Middleton is so supportive of its library. I’m tempted to write a letter to the editor encouraging voters to dump their county commissioners. Those guys are a sequel to a movie: Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest. I always scan the obituaries. At least two dozen of my high school classmates have lost a parent this year. A number of my paper route customers have also passed on. The letters to the editor always seem to be printed in full. Occasionally I see a familiar face in a photograph: Mike Curren, Lynn Nobles, Andy Yurick.

I missed my high school reunion this year due to Andy’s very busy baseball schedule (both league and tournament play), but Rick Dies sent me an unsolicited copy of the booklet that the planning committee published. I’m surprised at how many people still living in the Warren. How come I never run into anyone ? Maybe I do but I don’t recognize them!

I received a birthday card from Mardi but her brief note gave me no idea of what is going on in her life. I take it she’s still with Rocky? I hope we can all get together next week and catch up on the details of our lives.

On This Date in 1998

Dear Mary and Bob,

It was my intention, if not a resolution, to attend our 30th high school reunion this year. Baseball interfered. It seems like the summer before 5th grade is when sports for kids take a big step up nowadays. Andy played on two teams this year, one in a recreational league and another for which he had to try out. The second team involved not league play but tournaments and, of course, one of them was scheduled on the last weekend of July.

I heard through the grapevine, i.e., Larry and Kim, that attendance at the reunion was below expectations. Rick Dies sent me a copy of the booklet around the time I was thinking of writing him to ask if there might be any extra copies lying around. I had an enjoyable time browsing through it and reminiscing about our classmates, some of whom had drifted out of my consciousness to the point that I could barely remember what they looked like. (Unfortunately, my yearbooks disappeared years ago.) I was surprised at what a large percentage of our classmates still live in the Warren area. How come I never run into anyone at the mall or on Liberty Street or at the Dairy Queen when I’m there?

I started to subscribe to the Warren Times Observer this year so I’ve been able to read about all the problems the library is encountering. Makes me thankful that Middleton is so supportive of its library. We actually received a 10% increase in the budget for 1999, which means more staff and Sunday hours.

We’ll be in Warren from December 26th through the 31st. Visits home are bittersweet now that Dad is debilitated by Parkinson’s Disease. His mobility is limited to the first floor of the house, and Mom serves as his nurse and caretaker. Sometimes I wonder why my brothers and sister can’t do a little more, but – hey – this is Christmas. No time for family feuds.

We need to be on the road New Year’s Day since Andy’s basketball season begins at 9 a.m. on the 2nd. Two games each weekend through the end of February. We hope to be able to tune in the Rose Bowl game on the radio. (Go Badgers!) Best wishes to you and your families!