Fourth Street Beat - June 1999

Update

On 5/15/99, Sharrie wrote: "Hi all…well the wake and funeral have passed….I couldn't write that Friday night….too fatigued….wake was Thursday night in Goffstown about 20 minutes from moi. Besides Aunt Betty, John, Susan, Pat, Jini…. Stephanie, Jesse and Brad, there was Ed Poltrack, Bev from CA, Carolyn, Barbara, daughter Sarah, Ed J/Aunt Lil, Cyn, who brought them plus Aunt Adeline from CT, thank you, Mike and Joan Janis from Dover, NH, Brad's friends, Aunt Betty's Sr. Citizens friends, new from New Boston, John's friends from work also. Nice crowd. Late Thursday night Andee and Steve arrived at my house. Friday, 11:a.m was the funeral. more people arrived….Jimmy, Terry, Steve and Gael. Funeral mass was lovely. It was a gloriously sunny, blue sky day….warm…..the whole week has been like that Andee sang and of course was great….we shed tears over words and music. Emily tried hard to read a poem she had written for her grandfather…..very well done….good job hon. we sang our Polish Hymn, Serdeczna Matko (Sacred or Holy Mother)…..a beautiful song. …traditional Polish and John P. remarked after that he hopes someone is left to sing it for him. To the cemetery in Goffstown also…..then to Traver's Tavern, an old tavern in Goffstown…… for a good luncheon. Home around 3….. the G's left for Ct A wonderful, sweet send off for a wonderful, sweet uncle."

5/30/99 Aunt Betty wrote, "Everyone home from college and dinner here last Sunday. Rachelle had cd
player so we dined to Bob's music! What a wonderful experience! Tell me, how can I get a copy for John and Pat? Love you". Stephanie took Betty to the Cape in May- they stayed at Carolyn's rental in Wellfleet since mid-week
was not occupied. Stef said it was great.. Betty hasn't been able to go for years.

6/15/99 Sharrie wrote that Amy and Steve were there from their home in Florida. They were doing alot of visiting and running around. Had a family thing at Mike's lots of fun… chicken kabobs and kickball, and wiffle ball games….lots of competition.

6/20/99 This from Deedee: We went to Great Adventure on Friday and had a fabulous time. What a wonderful park geared for kids. Stephen went on the rides for the first time, and thought he was at least four-years-old. Andrew and Jason thought it quite a hoot that their baby brother was with them, and Jim and I, through our cheers and waves, wanted to weep. It is true, they grow up too quickly. We enrolled Andrew in swimming camp--1 1/2 hours of swimming instruction, 1 1/2 hours of sports- oriented activities. He was bothered that Jason couldn't go with him, and after the first day, said, "They're are so many rules, my head is spinning, and I never want to ever go there again. I want to stay with you all day long." I'll remind him of that when he's sixteen, or twelve. My parents (Andee and Steve) arrive Tuesday, and I'm glad nothing happened with my grandmother while they were gone. I know they would have returned home, and this vacation to Rome (Florence and Siena), was what they needed physically, spiritually, emotionally.

6/20/99 Libby Wood performed for 2 days in end-of-year dance recital. Marilyn said it was "crazy, hectic and fun!".

Education Beat

5/9/99 Sarah comes home from PC tomorrow. I can't believe her first year of college is already over. We almost lost her last week, though. She was long jumping at the Big East at Villanova when a pole vaulter made an errant plant, fell the wrong way, and landed on top of her. Fortunately she wasn't hurt, and who knows, maybe she saved him from death or serious injury. Love to you all, Barb"

6/2/99 "well, i got my family folklore back 2 day- 4.2!!!!! thats the highest grade u can possibly get, so i thought i'd share it with ya since you were such a help!!!! thanx!!!! emma"

6/8/99 "Hello everybody! This is Emily Poltrack and I have great news: my graduation from Mascenic Regional High School is June 11th. I will be attending Champlain College in Burlington, VT this fall, majoring in Public Relations/Media Communications…. :) We are planning a graduation party for June 26th, for up here in New Hampshire. I am very excited to be graduating, and I know there are a lot of events and picnics, but it'd be great to see some of you all up here :) I was just wondering if I could maybe get a rough estimate of those who think they'd like to attend….I'm using Matt's account now…I am going to send out invitations, but if you could just respond a quick message, it would help a little…. So, invitations will be in the mail….Thanx!"

Editors Note: I think it's wonderful that Emily wanted to share this important occasion in her life with all of us.

from Marilyn, early June. "hi- we are back from Princeton with lots to tell- Chris really enjoyed, was awed by, and is seriously considering going! (to American Boys Choir School)… they go from Aug to June and then home for the summer unless on a tour- they can go home very wkend if want to but it is pretty far- we heard them singing as we approached- a beautiful place like Waveny and in a lovely safe setting- he is only 11 but so talented we had to consider this- a rare oppty will keep you posted."

Editors Note: after much soul searching, Marilyn and Rob decided they didn't want to "someone else to have him at this young age" and so, Chris will NOT go tot he American Boys Choir School. He has,
instead, at the moment, thrown himself into rehearsal for "Godspell".

Health Beat

In case you didn't ask, and I forgot to, Pat's been enjoying her laser surgery results: "It's great! I see 20/20 out of my left (or is it my right?) and 20/25 out of the other! I do need reading glasses (the 125X ones you can buy at the pharmacy) but that's because I'm over 40 and they can't correct both far and near vision….. would recommend it to anyone…..it was very easy to adapt to not having something hanging off my face all the time…..I had it done last August and it doesn't seem to have changed at all and I think they will do "adjustments" at a reduced rate if you need it."

6/8/99 Thanks for … your concern for my cough…. TOO BIZARRE - I have asthma!! For years growing up I would have bouts of bronchitis esp. in the winter… I wonder now if it was asthama then? I always thought that asthma was wheezing! I am on four medications that work wonders…absolutely no cough at all. The plan is to get down to one med. in about a month. I have a mild case I guess but it was a bit out of control. Ithink of your dad everytime I take the inhaler. and wonder how he is….. all sounds scary. So things are good here…. and having this under treatment is great… love - susan

Of Interest

In early June. Sharrie wrote: I just watched the end of a news special on the Kosovo refugees leaving for the unknown…they are given plastic bags with the name of the city they're going to, Boston, Atlanta, Rochester, Chicago, etc., and they have no idea what they're in for. Peter Jennings then said, the Albanians are being spread all over the world, or are they disappearing all over the world? I started to cry…it's so sad…they are beautiful people and their homes are gone…families…getting on buses with no belongings…so sad. I hope they find peace." Sharrie just wanted to express herself, as she was so moved by the story.

In case you aren't aware, and I've done my best to be sure you ARE aware, Bob Janis has a CD out.

Andee and Steve will tell you all about their trip to Italy.

Happy Jack n Jill shower to Woody and Stacey. Sorry to miss it. Next issue will have pictures and stories of this happy family occasion. I'll be in Maine with Debbie and those 3 great boys coming to CT the week after the shower! Then will go back to AZ with Debbie, then to St. Helena in the beautiful Napa Valley to visit with Bob and Cathy. They will then drive me (us) to Lake Tahoe for Deb's timeshare week at The Ridge (5) atop Heavenly Mountain (to give you an idea of the altitude, 8,000 ft above sea level - they had about 800 feet of snow this past winter)!! In mid-August, Andee/Steve and Sharrie will come to Coffee Pond.

August 30th I'm back on email and back at work! Happy summer, all.