“Hey Robbie, I haven’t heard from you for a while. Where have you been?”
“You know, I should have got back sooner, but age does not make me quicker, and I take a lot more naps now than I used to. I am sorry, and will, as always, try to do better. The website participation is not moving along as fast as I had hoped, and probably because I expect too much, and haven’t yet been able to find the right places to get it underway. My contacts through Sally Dwyer don’t seem to be going anywhere. My other church contacts either, but Kathy McAlarney posted a nice story, and she, in due time, will be a catalyst. It will happen.
Meanwhile, I embarked on a fulfillment of an earlier set of contacts that I have deep hopes will encourage people to participate. It involves the earlier contact I talked to you about earlier with Ron Briggs, son of PFC Thomas E. Briggs, KIA in Kemper, Rhineland, April 13, 1945. I am of the opinion that once some of the family members who regularly support the 13th Armored Division Association learn more about a story I wrote concerning the Battle Jacket I was issued after the war in Europe ended in May 1945 that they will come forth and participate with some stories. To that end I located an Eisenhower Battle Jacket, decorated it with my insignia, and wrote a story. I am planning on providing it to those participants in the 2015 reunion in Washington this Fall. My hope is that they will find it of value in keeping the memories of their fathers alive. Here it is:
When I took Anne to lunch in early May, I picked it up at the tailor you used to use on Monroe Avenue. He put all my patches and stripes, and I finished it off with my Campaign Ribbons and Combat Infantry Badge.
Saw Sally on the 8th, and she had contacted some more ministers in the Victor area who might be willing to meet with me and discuss the benefits of Relighting Us. So far, I have not heard from them. I also attended a meeting of Lifespan and met Ann Marie Cook, their President. We may meet in the near future to explore how we could work with each other. Interestingly enough I sat with Bernie and Rina Barron at that that meeting. We had a nice visit.
Friday and/or Saturday lunches are a regular occurrence with Anne. She, and I don’t want to speak too soon, and she seems to have stabilized fairly. She is meeting regularly with Leanne and is in the process of applying for subsidized housing. We discussed her resuming Yoga exercise, and I staked her onto some clothes. She has lost a lot of weight and her old clothes did not fit any more.
Phil and I took in another Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta in downtown Rochester. I really do enjoy them, and have become a small-time patron of the amateur group that produces them. He has been out of town a lot, so my occasions of contact have been few.
The big New Horizons Band Concert went well on the 18th. Patty and Colleen came and they enjoyed our Concert Band the best. We played some Beatles tunes and a lot of music centered on late 20th Century adventure TV programs and movies – Batman, etc.
Birthday time for Jim, Colleen and me, was celebrated at Patty’s, and a couple days before, mine was celebrated at Mike’s at Keuka Lake. 90 years old, I can’t believe it. On my actual birthday I went to Fulton to meet with Ron and Anita Briggs. I took pictures at his Dad’s gravesite for my Battle Jacket story, and they had a nice birthday party for me, as well, with cake an ice cream.
On a less positive note, the air conditioner broke down and had to be replaced. $2,300. I’ll be eating baloney sandwiches for a while, but will be cool.
GCADA had its picnic today (June 7th). I took Phil and we had a gorgeous day. Talk to you later.”