Category: Uncategorized

Duke Nursing Magazine story

Helen Gordon, a friend of my father’s in North Carolina (and a friend of ours, too) teaches a nursing class at Duke. And their fancy magazine asked if they could use some photos for a story they were featuring on her use of our blog in the classroom. Sure. And then I just got this thing in the mail from Helen. I’m so impressed with their choice in photos and the layout. Good photo editing! The story itself is fine (some typos–it’s not the first time Jessica has been called Jennifer), but who cares! It’s an honor to be in the magazine and especially to be useful to a class of near nurses. Here’s a link to the entire pdf of the magazine if you’d like to read the thing (page 18 & 19), or click the image below to enlarge it.

Dinner tonight?

Erin, Evva’s mother, called and proposed a meeting of families for dinner. YES, SURE, FUN. Having kids I think makes you inevitably spontaneous. Planning is so difficult, forethought is an afterthought. So having a friend call up and say ‘dinner tonight’? That’s a gift! Everyone has a playmate with they come over, too. The parents, Art and Evva & Lewis and Oscar. We had a lovely summer dinner and walk to the park. And Arthur and Evva are always good for some super cute photo. Here’s yesterday’s:

“So she didn’t actually eat all those noodles,” said Erin as she picked up Netta for the reveal.

Oscar, Evva, Arthur and Lewis.

Family of six.

We went to the zoo today, all six of us. As we were strolling around Jessica looked at me and said something about how she felt our family was complete. And it’s true, as we all piled in the minivan for our miniadventure there was a sense that nobody was missing. Arthur, Lewis, Netta, Bailey, me and Jessica. That’s a lot, but it’s also just right.

Here are some photos from our time at the zoo.

Blurry Lew on bear.

Super stroller.

We bought a stroller online in anticipation of our twins a long time ago. It was rickety, not so well made and the front wheel wobbled violently if it wasn’t locked straight. Our satisfaction was not guaranteed and we returned it for a full refund. And then bought this beautiful thing off craiglist for $150 yesterday (less than we paid for the cheap one!). I just love a good bargain (talked him down from $250)!

Anyway, I realize stroller talk is likely incredibly boring to just about everyone reading this blog so please feel free to skip along now. But this thing is so beautifully made and designed! The frame is made with some sort of super strong and light metal and it rolls with such ease. We could have never afforded such a fancy thing new and Jessica and I both admit we have judged folks strolling around in SUPER expensive strollers. But it really is nice to have a thing of such quality–it will last until the girls (and boys) are lots lots older. Good for jogging, too. Here’s Jessica at the zoo today with the thing loaded up.

Paula’s letter.

Paula Grill, Adria’s close cousin growing up in Chicago, wrote a wonderful heartfelt letter to Adria a couple weeks before she died. Jessica and Emily read it aloud to Bubbe in the hospice and she even made a funny face when Jess and Emily showed their shock at learning their mother, too, slide down the stairs on pillows (Something Jessica and Emily got in trouble for as kids). Jessica read the letter in full at Adria’s memorial service last week and I wanted to post it here for others to read.

———————-

Dear Adria,
I think it has been over 25 years since we’ve had any contact — a very long time. I am exceedingly grateful to have found you recently via the Internet through your son-in-law’s incredibly wonderful blog. In the many pictures posted of you it was easy to recognize the beauty you have always been, and I so  appreciated learning about the various activities and people in your life.

Adria, right, with her brother Zachary and cousin Paula.
I’m not sure you ever realized how important you were to me during our growing up years. I’ve got so very many precious memories: Movies together at the Northtown Theater where, ever the big responsible sister, you always held my hand securely walking home … Summers in South Haven at the beach and arcade all day eating Chef-Boy-Dee Spaghettios out of the can with white bread and cold butter chunks, going net smelt fishing and Bubby frying them up crispy, backbones and all, Zachary leaving cherry bombs in the toilets before we left for home … Countless hours spent at the Campbell house with the three of us and Boy, the parakeet that one day flew fatally into the long hallway mirror, fun times watching old Western movies in the basement and sliding down the basement stairs on the couch pillows, the family backyard barbeques.

Then later there were the all the Hollywood Tower times and you being the most lovely matron of honor at my wedding. It was such a joy to come and visit you when our children were very young. I recall one time in the winter months I was there, and while Jim babysat the babies we went for a walk to a grocery store about four blocks away. While being from Chicago I was pretty seasoned to the weather, but up there it was even more brutal. We left the house and you were wearing a simple zip up parka jacket but not all the way zipped up with a scarf just loosely tossed around your neck and no hat. Astonished, I said to you, “Aren’t you cold?” and you simply replied, “No, it’s only zero.” And would you believe it … I still have your pumpkin bread recipe — the original copy of it you penciled out on lined yellow legal pad paper!  It would take forever to relate all the wonderful experiences I’ve had with you as a part of them.

My dear and beautiful cousin Adria, I am inexpressibly glad to have this opportunity to share these things with you, and I’m thankful to your cherished daughters for delivering my message. Time, distance and other factors may have separated us over the many years, but you have always had a place in my heart that is extra special. Please believe me when I say you are dearer to me than can ever be adequately expressed in any words and I am praying for God’s very best for you at this time. Here’s a gentle kiss and hug, from my full heart to your fragile one.

I thank you, Adria, and I love you.

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