24 June 2018

 Dear everybody,

   I know that some of you are on the road . . . quite a few of you, in fact. It's kind of fun to think of the places you're going and what you're seeing. We love the updates and pictures.    

   Yesterday, June 23rd, was my Nana's birthday. She passed away in about 1978, so none of you knew her. If she had lived a long time though, you might have had the chance; she and Grandma Christensen were born the same year, 1904. I wish I had known her better, myself. She lived in West Virginia, so I only got to see her every 2 or three years, and when I did it was very difficult to carry on a conversation; her hearing loss was much worse than mine. Anyhow, her name was Margot Frances Walker Haeberle Haines; she was Granddaddy's mother. She had two sons, my dad, and my uncle, Herman. Her husband passed away when her boys were only 1 and 3. She lived with her in-laws for several years, so they could help with the boys while she worked. Later on, she was able to get a place of their own, in the same town, Huntington, West Virginia. Ben, Lynsey, and Joseph shared some pictures of her home and that town from a trip they took there a few months back. Thank you so much for doing that. After her sons were grown, she remarried to a man named Curtis Haines. I remember Curtis as a kind and patient man. He served as her interpreter as well. She could read his lips and he would tell her what other people had said. She had never had any luck with hearing aids; I'm sure the technology was pretty poor back then. 

   Gran tells one of my favorite stories about Nana. Once, when Gran and Uncle Jim (about 1 year old), were living with Nana, while Granddaddy was out to sea (Navy), Nana and her cat, Butch, had the following conversation: Butch, who was so old he had lost his voice, came into the kitchen "meowing," silently. Nana saw him and knew he was letting her know he was hungry. She saw his mouth "meow," and said to him, "I hear you, Butch, I"ll get your supper!"

   Seems like I'm always telling about funerals, so here are the funerals for this week: Gran and I went to the viewing for Carol Orme; she used to live in Egin; she was Nick and Megan Orme's grandmother. Her husband, Robert, had been the Stake President here and later the Patriarch. Her youngest son, Todd, has sung in the Gladys Knight Choir for many years; they sang at the Priesthood Revelation 40th anniversary. 

   The other one was for Donna Ellis; her husband, Don, had worked in radio with Granddaddy for many years. When their daughter, Lisa, and I were just little girls, 7 or eight, our dads had us do radio spots at Christmas and other times, "Happy Holidays from everyone at KRXK," or things like that. The graveside service for her was really nice.  

   We had Naomi staying with us for a week or so . . . not as long as we had hoped, but we are so grateful for the time we got to spend with her. It's always fun to get to know one of the grandkids better, and they are always so patient with our lives. We love and miss you, Naomi! 

   Dad got to Nebraska this evening; I'll be giving him a call in just a bit, while Moose and I are out for our walk. He's there for the national 4H shooting competition. 

   I think that's all for this week. Oh, Stephen, did you get your wisdom teeth out? Seemed like that was coming up. Please keep us all posted on how your summer is going. 

   Love, 

     Mom/Johanna/Nana