Hello from Las Vegas! We had a great trip to Cancun -- slipped out of town for a quiet "zero" birthday. We sat in the sun, read a few books, ate and drank way too much, and it was a great birthday trip. We did some scuba diving and toured the Mayan ruins and met some great new friends. Thank you all for your birthday wishes. I think I am on my way to accepting that the number of years has increased, but I refuse to grow up any more.....

A Beautiful Day At Dead Man's Bay!

Well, in case you haven't heard yet, Kate and I just spent a few days in the San Juan Islands North-West of Seattle where on a beautiful day in Dead man's Bay I asked Kate to marry me! Of course she said yes, and we are now celebrating in gorgeous Washington.

Also this is Mona and she likes apples.

Hello Hatterys

Suzi supplied me with the address and I'm sure no one has enjoyed it more. I've missed you all more than you'll know and it was wonderful seeing family pictures of your growing families.

I had a delightful visit with Mary and Don for a few minutes last summer and they haven't changed in the last ten years. I mourned the deaths of Jane and Tom from afar. That's the only downside of growing old - losing family and friends.

I'm grateful for my health and have a part-time job that keeps me active. I regret that I left my comfortable apartment in Indianola and bought a large house in Knoxville with two apartments upstairs -- I've learned that I don't like being a landlord but the market is slow and looks like I will be here forever.

My favorite activity is being with my grandchildren. Alissa still comes for long weekends and we have a very special relationship. Suzi continues to encourage me to keep young and be hip. My mind is young but the body just keeps aging. I've made a few great friends from church and still have lunch with high school friends often.

I miss you every Christmas. Christmas with the Hatterys were the greatest.

My email is sasha1@iowatelecom.net and address is 403 E. Montgomery, Knoxville, IA 50308.

Love,

Sherry

A Little Late...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We had a wonderful Christmas with Dad and Barb. It seems to go so fast. Dad's legs still are not so good so we got him...it looks like a foot stool but you put your legs IN it and it vibrates. It is supposed to help his legs, by the time we left I was wishing I had bought 2 so when it wears out I had an extra. Dad and Barb are going to Flordia 2 times this winter in Feb and March. I got to go to St Joe, Missouri on New Years, I know you all wish you were there. We bought a feed truck and went to the stock yards to watch a sale to find out cow are cheaper in Missouri!!! So a return trip will be planned. (I will let you all know so you can come :) ) Robert is taking care of lots of cows for his Uncle this winter, they will have babies in the Spring and our Sheep heard is back from the summer in southern Iowa and the will be have babies any time.

Alissa has taken the winter off sports and is looking forward to track to get in shape for softball. We are starting to look for 8th grade graduation dresses. That is a big deal in small schools with a dinner, program and then a dance for the kids. (she wears a homecoming dress kind of thing and boys wear suits) Joe is going to do 4 H this year with Alissa and he is starting to think about what he is wanting to do. Alissa is going to do Chickens again this year.

I started at the gym last week and have lost 10lbs. Does not sound like much but for me it is and I am very excited. I know many more to go, but the gym is small and I get lots of attention. I am already walking 1 mile riding 1.5 miles and doing what I call the devil .5 mile I hope it will continue to come off.

You know Dad has the Orr family Bible, with lot of interesting letters, pictures and other items if that would help on your information gathering. We just looked at it and Dad told lots of stories I had no idea about. Alissa found it very interesting and still asks Dad about things.

Well I guess that is our update...see you all soon.
Suzie

Family History

We have had a great weekend and Mom is recovering nicely from her surgery. However, we have started on a project that has been very interesting. My Dad has written his autobiography and I was reading the early years portion. In there, Dad wrote that he has his father's World War I uniform. Well, I asked to see it and one thing led to another and we started looking through boxes of family pictures. We found several interesting pictures, both old and not so old, and I thought I would share some with you. I have attempted to identify the people, but if you notice an error, please say so. ENJOY!

Once upon a time, Myron and Dorothy met each other and fell in love....

Here is the Newkirk family home in Delta, Iowa.

Dorothy's family lived in What Cheer, where she graduated from High School.

What a handsome man!!!

This is Harry and Mary Singer Orr, Myron's parents.

Here is a picture of the Orr family, including Mary, Jane and Dick.

Thought you might like to see the High School/College photos....still looking for Dick's.....

For more photos and/or information, please contact Mary Lou or Don!!!!

Vashon to Manhattan

Four country mice were spotted wandering cluelessly in midtown last week, including these three in the Rockefeller Center.  "There sure are a lot of people on this island," one was heard to remark.  Well, duh, it was the busiest week of the year and they went to all the touristy spots, like - 

Times Square and Broadway, where they were able to sneak into both A Chorus Line and Wicked, by cleverly agreeing to pay exorbitant prices.  The museums were jammed, which didn't stop them from admiring the old bones at the Natural History Museum, the impressionist's work at the Metropolitan and some of the more creative work at MOMA.

Frances discovered the answer to the puzzle of all of those headless sculptures in Greece - they're all at the Metropolitan in NYC!  Stolen fair and square.

Shopping was a big attraction, both at legitimate stores like Tiffany's and Bergdorfs:

and with the less established houses just off Fifth Avenue.

The view from the borrowed apartment wasn't half bad.

Now we're back on-island, with our perspective of the world rearranged.  Isn't that the point of going places?  Happy New Year to all!

.From GrandMary.......what Did we do?

We brought in the 2007 new year with the Sorensens, the Lawlers and other friends as we cruised the Caribbean. The farthest point south was Grenada and we renewed our good memories by visiting "Solemente". A quick visit to Las Vegas allowed us to personally welcome Trevor back home. At the end of February the bad knee finally got fixed. The usual meetings that keep us in touch with the world came along in regular clockwork style. Inga, Lynn and Mary Lou drove the new car to Keystone for a last look at 1159. Culver's helped us spiff up the front of the Rosedale house; meanwhile Sherry worked hard in the garden. We spent more time in McGregor and did a little spiffing up there. We went to Flagstaff to help Dan graduate. We celebrated Bets graduation from Washington; another Hattery on a firm foundation! Suzy had a great 70th birthday party for Dick. Over the internet Irishmen kept showing up with information and questions about the J J Orr family. Preparations for the first week end in August kicked into high gear........

We had a great family reunion in August ...........

and we were treated to a memorable dinner in Florence ...

We liked Cortona a lot ....the hotel was nice.

the town plaza was interesting........

We met friends in Paris and enjoyed a convivial week-long barge trip on the Seine.

We explored French markets

and looked at several castles. As always, it was good to get home!

Soon we found ourselves on that old doctor-lab-hospital merry-go-round that is so popular at our age; but "All's Well that Ends Well" and every day we know life is good.

We look forward with anticipation to the new year and send you our love and prayers for your health and happiness!