It was nice of you to ask about Lucas and his baseball injury to his face. He still is wearing the Blue's Clues bandaid but he reports that he is fine, just no one is to look at him.

Charlie is coming over in a few minutes to borrow the Bounce Castle. There's something like a church picnic going on in his back yard this evening.

Sorry about your sister falling downstairs and breaking a bone in her arm as well as boinking herself on her head. These Memorial Days can be disastrous.

Happy Birthday, Shizuo! Watch for a new look to this website. Or maybe a disappearing website which wouldn't be half bad either.

40 Johanson Reunions

Now I think we can carry on for our lifetime anyway. I heard we had 43 there at one time and then of course people came and left and apparently a large group moved on to a better location on Sunday while the 19 of us stayed at the camp. I’m so glad all of the first cousins were together as I think we are the ones who will continue this tribute to the Johanson family.

The most fun was watching the children playing and enjoying the outdoors. It was also fun to visit with everyone and watch movies of previous reunions. The food was a little much this year and I should know as I’m still finishing up the Oreos and the Twinkies. Yuk.

Summer is upon us now and that is a good thing. Do you have your yard in perfect condition? Mine seems to be full of weeds but I’m working on it some. Maybe next week the swimming pool will get started and then the real work begins.

Here I am with no photos again so I’ll hope someone sends them along. Pat, that must be you. Diana and I like the group photos. Hope you had a good trip back to Chicago. Can you send some of us the details of the trip to Borneo?

It Won't Be Long Now

Yes, the parents held the screaming Miles and cut his hair. See how happy he was with it almost covering his eyes. He is still happy now though you can see much more of his forehead. I hope you will be helpful with child care this weekend. It will be hectic. I know I complained when no one from my family showed up for the reunion but me. This year I need lots of help as everyone is planning to be there except my mom. She has forgotten what Memorial is and why we would want to be together with so many strangers.

The three 2 year olds will need constant one-on-one adult supervision. That may be hard to come by. They all like to explore so I’m grateful there are no lakes or rivers nearby. They do move quickly and I’m thinking of bringing the small roller blades for Miles as he loves to wear them though he is not mobile in anyway while they’re on his feet. Where can I get a couple more pair so then we could all stay in one area?

Things are ready to go here as long as everyone remembers their sleeping bags and towels. I’m glad your sister is picking you up so you can enjoy a longer amount of family time. I want to know if there is a person who has not missed one reunion in forty years.

All the entertainment is left to Leslie, our cruise director, and I’m happy about that. I hope she gets her husband to bring his Guitar Hero. They can stay and entertain us when everyone leaves on Sunday night. We can hang in there with the best of them.

I can’t write any more or I’ll not have anything to tell you Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Yikes that’s a lot of family time. I think we will have to hike every day. I’m putting the link in for Brooks Memorial Park in case Shizuo wants to take a look.

Personal Diary May 10, 1958

Got up at 8. Hanna, Jane and I went to Judy’s and helped wax the car. At 11 we went to Moses Lake all by ourselves, shopping for about an hour. I got Momma a bottle of cologne that cost $5. Ate at the 3-Way. Went to the track meet. Got some dice for Judy’s car. Chased boys and said wise and silly things. Got the giggles but had a wonderful time. Ronnie and Dorena came. Went to Judy’s and put pin-striping on her car. I got my car and we rode around.

We thought we were cool and this is all we had to do? I decided to write a page out of my diary and now I can’t figure out why I put no subjects in my sentences. And they were such important facts. I wish I would have written the wise and silly things so I wouid remember just how wise we were. I’ll put the diary back on a shelf now that we recalled our early driving days when we were actually able to get out of Warden and head for bigger places.

Memorial Day is just around the corner and we need some razzamatazz to liven things up a bit so everyone can be enthusiastic about the reunion. I’m seriously wondering if we will just stop after the 40 years and count that good. So far I have you telling me I can’t keep my mouth shut but it’s only because you are neglecting to communicate with the rest of the family regarding your plans. I just know we will have a wonderful time.

ThIs will be in spite of the debate about the proper weekend to have the reunion along with the discussion about the type of beds, proximity to bathrooms, cost factors, and entertainment during the weekend. Mostly I like the memories we have though most of the younger folks have fewer memories and sometimes don’t even know some of the family members or the fact that we’re all JOHANSONS.

My FLW garden nymph was stolen from my yard last night. I’m devastated. Do you have a photo of your 1952 Mercury, with the dice and pin striping?

Beijing Airport

Thanks for sending the article about their new airport. It must be spectacular. In 1991 I landed at that same airport and it was basically a barracks type building with few lights. I remember the entire area surrounding as being dark and dim with no street lights anywhere. This country has really made some big changes. I liked Hank’s essay about the trip. It sounds like it was similar to ours and we too liked the visit in the local family’s home. Twenty of us crowded into their small home for a wonderful lunch though Betty and I used the edge of their bed for seating and later toured the hostess’ modern kitchen that was in a long hallway outside the main home.

It took a few days to get back to normal after our trip. I went to Cyd’s the day after I got home and then spent last week mostly trying to establish a sleep pattern. I think it is more difficult to ride a bus and a plane for a trip than it is to walk and be more active. I guess that’s why you prefer Earthwatch expeditions.

I just went to visit my mom and this 80 year old man visiting his wife asked me if I’d go on rides and to dinner with him occasionally as he misses the companionship of a woman. What am I supposed to say? I didn’t answer directly but I gave him my phone number as he whipped out his paper and pencil and now I’ll have to screen my calls and be mean when I don’t want to at all. Maybe I’ll just always be busy. I am sure I won’t be riding to see an old mine or a lake yet. I have lots of books to read right here while I wait for James Spader.

So there is little to say about Memorial Day. I think Nancy and Leslie will be coming through with some big, fun plans. So far all I know is that almost everyone is arriving late and leaving early. You and I will be there no matter what so maybe that’s what drives the others away. Brett and family are arriving Friday and leaving Sunday and Cyd has not committed yet. I think it depends on how her Boot Camp program is working for her. Send your itinerary so I can make sure you aren’t leaving on Sunday!