I’ve not been able to spend much time here in the office lately.  That’s not apt to change a lot in the next few weeks.

I was looking through some old family photos when I came across this one  of me and my Uncle Jerry.  Jerry is an older, half-brother of my mother.

Another of my mother’s brothers also served in WWII.  Hence the two stars in the flag in my grandparent’s front window.

My mother had two had two older half-brothers.  Jerry, with whom she shared a father, and Edward, with whom she shared a  mother.  She also had two younger [full] brothers and a younger sister.

I always used to look to family gatherings.  They meant a chance to hang with cousins and grandma used to make real mincemeat pie.  I loved that.  It was actually made with meat.

Have you ever tried that kind of mincemeat?

On Monday of this week, I received an e-mail from England.  It was a distant cousin of Sylvia who had read the blog post I did on Mary Baxter Yallup in 2009.  Mary was Sylvia’s great great grandmother.  Distant cousin Carol Kimberley is researching the Baxter family, had found the blog post (actually there were four of them) and wanted to know if I had more info on Mary.  I sent her copies of what I had.

Mary, you may recall, was pregnant again when she took her daughters and went to visit her parents during the week of the fair.  Her husband, George, went with her, but quickly returned home “to work.”  He didn’t go home to work.  He left Mary a note and left for America.  Another account says he wrote from Cleveland, Ohio.

Shortly after posting my first story about George Yallup and Mary Baxter Yallup, I heard from [distant] cousin Peter Yallup.  He was able share some more of their story.  Later, a cousin whom we see about once a year, shared a 1913 newspaper account that reported on the family.

George and Mary showed a lot of grit and determination, characteristics which I see today in their great great granddaughter, Sylvia.  I’m so glad to have made contact with Carol and to be reminded of Mary Baxter Yallup, who ranks high in my short list of heroes.

Yesterday the funeral for my Aunt Marie Wyman was held in Leslie, Michigan.  Sylvia and I were there along with my sister, Clara, and her husband, Rick.

Marie Wyman 1925 – 2013

Marie married one of my mother’s younger brothers.  They had two daughters (Eleanor and Bev) and a son (Jerry).  For years, we’ve exchanged Christmas cards and a letter.  That’s how we kept up with each other.  In 2008, she left the home where she had lived for 62 years.  She moved to Negaunee in Michigan’s upper peninsula where she lived with her younger daughter.

Last month, I found that the cousin that my aunt lived with is on FaceBook.  We became FB “friends.”  At the funeral, when Cousin Jerry said, “Now we are the old folks,” Clara said, “What about Uncle John.”  Cousin Bobby reported that his father (Uncle John) had passed on December 27.  Cousin Jerry is correct.

Aunt Marie was suffering with Alzheimer’s and problems brought on my that.  As one daughter observed, “She had suffered enough.”  At least she lived to see a great great grandson.

And now . . . we are the old folks.

Bryant, Barbara, Briana, Sylvia and Chuck

Last Sunday afternoon, we had our family Christmas celebration.  Briana’s friend, Jake, was here for a while, but had to return to campus before we took pictures or ate.  He did take a piece of Sylvia’s cherry pie with him. :food:   The rest of us had ours after salads and baked potatoes.  Yum yum!

To me this is the best part of Christmas–those few hours that we enjoy each others company.  Unfortunately, Scott, our other son wasn’t able to be with us.  Nevertheless, it was fun as we talked about the things that we’ve been doing and that we plan to do.

Tomorrow, Saturday, we’ll go to Sylvia’s dad’s house for that family get together.  It is a big group and we’ll have some crazy fun.  If the past is any indication, we will survive. 😉

Christmas isn’t the same since we lost Sylvia’s mother.  She always made it such a special time for all.  She would spend half the year in planning and preparation for the Christmas celebration.  We try to keep the traditions alive, but it’s not the same.  Still, Christmas is all about family and I hope that never changes.

How do you keep in touch with family?  It is now the Christmas season, and if you’re like us, you are receiving Christmas cards and letters from friends and family.  To me, that is one of the best parts of this particular season.

Unfortunately, this year’s batch of letters was not all good news.  One of my good friends from college days is now a widower.  Shortly after returning from a cruise to celebrate their 50th anniversary, she suddenly passed away.  One of his photos hangs on the wall of the hotel where they were staying.  Underneath the photo, a plaque dedicates the image in memory of Beth.

At least the aunt that has Alzheimer’s disease is able to live at home with her daughter.  And while my cousin is working that aunt is able to go to a senior citizen center during the day.  Facebook has really been great for keeping me in touch with my cousins.  After I read about my aunt, I searched for the cousin with whom she is staying.  I thought I found her.  She did attend the same high school that I went to.  At least that’s what I thought.  Then I noticed… It was in Arkansas not in Michigan.  Drat!

It is not always easy to keep in touch with family.  But at least I’m trying.

Personal note

My hand is getting worse.  So I’m using Dragon Naturally Speaking to dictate this post.

First, the Family Friday meme has a new home.  You’ll find it here on Blogger.

This week, I want to tell you a bit about my my paternal grandmother, Margie Victoria Isham.  She was born December 3, 1895 at Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

The baby photo is dated 1896.  Margie’s parents didn’t stay together.  Her mom raised her with some financial help from her dad.

I suppose that if you gals had a dolly like this one, that you would not play with her.  You would not let children play with her.  You would protect her, for she would be valuable.  She probably was back then as well.

To provide income, Grandma Margie’s mother ran a millinery shop.  Don’t you suppose that explains such a fancy hat for a young lady?

Margie’s father bought a piano for her, and with lessons she became a very good player.  She even played piano at the movie theater.  That was a neat job, and she got to watch the movies!  I asked her, “Wasn’t that hard to do?”  Her answer?  “Aww, there’s nothing to it.  You just watch the screen and play something that goes with what you see.  If it’s a love scene, you play something sweet and soft.  If it’s a chase you play something fast and loud.  You could do it too!”  For my part, I’m not so sure.

In 1907, her mother married Alfred Weidler, a German immigrant.  The family moved to Missaukee County, Michigan near Lake City.  There they farmed and raised bees.  At one time Weidler was, according to family tradition, reported to be the largest bee keeper in all of North America.  While it may be a “family story,” it does play a role in my Grandma meeting my Grandpa.

Grandpa’s folks wanted to get into the “bee business.”  They had heard about the Weidler’s and their operation in the same county.  I’m not sure how the business aspects went, but two young people met.  They were married November 3, 1913 in Lake City.

Here’s a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Hutchinson that was taken of them in 1940 shortly after I was born.

Grandma Margie was always a favorite of us kids.  She could tell great stories and had a most infectious laugh.  She passed away in 1989 at age 93.  Her life wasn’t easy, but she took it in good stride.