ARRIVED
Sarah Rose Bacon
Photo gallery
DEPARTED
Lorenza Soto
Memorial Web Page
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NEW GRANDCHILD
Sally Bacon
Sarah Rose Bacon was born 2/11/05 to Tricia and Eric Bacon. Now at nearly three months old, she is 12 pounds and 23 inches long. She is a very happy and contented baby. The parents and grandparents are very proud! Click here for picture in the May-June photo gallery.
I had my ankle fused on 4/11/05. I have 4 more weeks of non-weight bearing, then I can start to put some weight on it. The final outcome should be no more pain!
Since I am in a wheelchair or on a walker, I have been unable to get out in my gardens this spring. Ernie has brought me in some daffodils to enjoy. Barb DiStefano said she would plant tomatoes for me this month, so I can look forward to harvesting them this fall.
FOUR PASSINGS
Bob Murdock
We are saddened to report the deaths of four people in the extended Muse family.
Lorenza Soto left us on April 5, 2005. She lived in Downey, CA and was Sean Murdock's maternal grandmother. We have started a Muse
memorial web page
for her, and invite photos or remembrances from those who knew her.
Steven Schlicke departed March 11 at the age of 48 after a bout with pneumonia. The son of Bob and the late Lennie Schlicke, he outlived his mother by just three months. We will prepare a Muse memorial web page for Steve after we collect some photos and information.
Carol (Mannisto) Maicki was a Howlett cousin residing in South Dakota. She was the daughter of John and Emily (Bumpus) Mannisto and the granddaughter of Gladys Bumpus, Foster Howlett's sister. See Jane McCauley's report in
Part 2 of this newsletter, which has links to a photo and an obituary.
Alfred Doane passed away on April 9, 2005. We received this message from Bill and Teddie Doane: "Billy's Dad passed away this morning due to congestive heart failure. He was 87. He was a wonderful man and will be missed."
TIM'S PROM NIGHT
Becky Murdock
May 6: Well, it's the Friday before prom, and we are excited at the Murdock household. Last Sunday, Natt and I took Tim to the tux shop for a fitting on his tux. He picked a black one, with a gray tie and vest(sharp), and some nice black shoes for rental for the big night. He picks up the tux today.
Then off we went to the florist to pick his boutonniere, a small gray and white rose. I will pick that up tonite on my way home from work. Natt is taking Tim tonite to get his socks, and anything else he may need. Natt told me she got him a lint roller so he will have no cat hair on his tux. I think we are more nervous than he is.
Unfortunately, Ian and I won't be home when he leaves, but Natt will be there videotaping. We have to go to a goodbye barbeque for his boss. But we will make sure every detail is done so he will have a great time. When he was trying on his tux, I turned to Natt and commented on how grown up and handsome my son has become. I am very proud of him.
He is starting to get nervous now about leaving in July, and wants everyone to write to him. I hope you will be able to make his boot camp graduation if possible. I will really appreciate Mother's Day this year.
SHOPPING NOSTALGIA
Valerie Davidson
[Ed. Note: A friend sent me a great New York Times article by Letitia Baldridge on the wonderful old department stores that catered so well to their customers. I forwarded it to my eldest child, hoping she might recall a little of the shopping experience described so beautifully in the article, which was titled "I Shopped Them All." I added a few comments from my own memories, which didn't include quite such expensive stores, but nevertheless were indicative of the great service provided by those icons of the past. I hope you enjoy her response!--Nancy Murdock]
The nostalgia is, of course, different for me, and I don't have memories of
personalized service. In fact, for my generation, we resented a saleslady
poking her nose into the dressing room!
However, I do remember numerous shopping jaunts you and I made which
included lunch at a lunch counter, such as a drugstore or five-and-ten.
That's what I miss -- the five-and-ten. (The category itself has been
swallowed up.) I remember counters with lots of dividers, all made of dark
wood. Secretary supplies, like rolls of adding machine tape, or toys, like
individual green plastic army men, filled those slots with a fascinating
array of not-too-expensive merchandise. There was usually a lunch counter,
and they often had delicious hamburgers.
Oops! That just reminded me of the time when you and I were eating in a
department store lunch area, sitting in a small booth, when I was about
seven years old. I dropped something on the floor and had to go under the
table to retrieve it. Looking up, I saw yet another fascinating array -- of
wads of gum which had been left behind by previous patrons. I selected a
pretty purple one, big and also fresh-looking, peeled it off and popped it
into my mouth.
My first shopping experiences were in Glen Burnie, of course, and as I got
older, I would be allowed to go off on my own and meet back up at a certain
time. I always went to the dimestore. When we were about to move away, I was
dismayed, because I had finally learned my way around the little downtown
area. I remember your answer, that the next place probably wouldn't take as
long to learn, since I was older now. Another of those wise answers I've
carried through life!
CAREER PLANS
Timothy Murdock
April 5: Just about an hour ago, I received an e-mail from DodgerDugout.com stating that I have won a contest in which I receive a pair of tickets to the Dodger's Home Opener!!!!!! The contest had very simple rules: be a registered member of the message boards, and put your name as a current or former Dodger player -I chose Hershiser. The other rules were to type a sentence of ten word or less as to why you should go to the game; and only one entry per person.
I won it with a simple sentence that I joined the Army and that I leave in July. I actually leave July 14 for Fort Jackson, S.Carolina (for 9 weeks), so
I might be able to visit you guys after basic :).
I am very happy you guys are not disappointed but in fact somewhat happy with my decision (please tell me if I'm mistaken). After basic in S.Carolina I get a couple days off. On September 26 I report to Fort Huachuca Arizona for my intelligence training for 20 weeks.
Once again I am very happy to hear from you guys. If you are wondering what my job will be you can go online to goarmy.com and in the search option type 96b. You will be able to read about what an Intelligence Analyst does.
MEMORIAL DAY
Gene Murdock
Hello all!
We will be holding a memorial service for Lenore (Murdock) Schlicke on Sunday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m. in Hubbardston, Massachusetts. It will be held in the Senior Center on Main Street down behind the Library and City Hall.
Her funeral was held last year, but this will be a celebration of her life. Nancy (Howlett) Murdock has kindly agreed to hold a short service for those of us who were unable to attend the funeral. Coffee and cake will be served.
Bring your favorite stories and memories of "Lennie" as an adult, or "Lenny" as a child and share them with us.
The immediate families (brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, etc.) will gather for a supper at the Barre Mill Restaurant at 6:00 p.m., hosted by her daughter, Cindy. I will be responsible for the restaurant bill as my tribute to Lennie, but will not refuse donations.
Please tell your friends and relatives who might want to attend this gathering of remembrance and joy.
[Ed. Note: Please also bring any memento or photo of Lennie that you would like to share. I plan to bring the photo of Lennie's and my sophomore class at Athol High. --N. Murdock]
COOKING WIMP
Nancy Murdock
May 6: The food I made to take to a Seder dinner last Friday all turned out fine. But
I realized I was somewhat lacking in confidence, having not been doing
much cooking in the past few years. I made Bob's Three-Cheese Potatoes
(except with only two cheeses), but I had to keep asking him how to do it.
I made Smothered Potatoes but was really concerned about whether they
would have any flavor, since the last time I had made them (eons ago), we were
not vegetarians, and I had used the salt pork my mother always used.
We were
running late by the time I made the carrot cake from a small mix
designated "kosher for Passover," so I worried that the frosting wouldn't
get on right and wouldn't sink in (as I wanted it to do, since I had been
told the cake would be dry and hard), and I was concerned that the raisins in the cake
would be dry.
What a wimp! I am now declaring that I will cook something different from my usual dishes at least once each month, when I don't need to worry about
whether anyone else will like it. Actually, in the last two weeks we have
had company (which is very rare) twice, and taken food out to parties
three times. This is a good opening for my resolution! And next year, when we go to Kathy and Joe's for a Seder dinner, I will be confident about something in addition to Bob's deviled eggs.
TIM UPDATE
Ian Murdock
March 27: Greetin's from the cretins!
This morning the Easter Bunny left the usual baskets for the kids. Okay, they're 20 and 17 now, but they know a good thing when they see it so they still hint every year.
And speaking of the kids growing up, we went with Tim to the Army Recruiting Office yesterday and signed the papers that will allow him to enter counterintelligence training on the path to the 82nd (or maybe the 101st) Airborne and finally on to Special Forces. Opposed though I may be to the current state of Federal affairs, and in spite of my peacenik sensibilities, I can't think of any young person as unflappable, cool-headed and conscience-driven (besides myself, lol--or should I say Jason) to be able to represent the United (Blue) States in this crucial way. It isn't easy to see him go but we both know that he will adhere to the Constitution and bring respect and honor to his job.
He has stipulated that he does not want to leave home until after our birthdays in early August (and Beck is already crying about Thanksgiving). At that point he will likely go to Fort Jackson, S. C. for basic training, then to a high-security Arizona school for Advanced Individual Training.
Unclear thus far, however, is the location of his eventual deployment. Since he qualified for and requested Counterintel schooling, he will not be passing through the Army Infantry (his intial desire, and where Beck's dad excelled in WWII) but may end up instead in a permanent stateside position.
As for the rest of us, we have all of our limbs and plenty of free air to breathe, so life is good. To combine two ancient family mottoes: omine secundo, omnia pro bono... this juxtaposition could be taken to mean "with favorable guidance, all is for good", but with a little imagination it might also be interpreted as "under a righteous flag, everyone is free".
Peace.
March 30: Timbo Rimbo went to his overnight Army Orientation yesterday, and got a firmer idea of what he will be doing: working as an Intelligence Analyst, which can often lead to a career with CIA or NSA. You can Google goarmy 96B and click on the first result for details of the job, but be forewarned: like so many things I have encountered, I found it titillating but largely incomprehensible.
He didn't like getting up at 3 A.M. for a chance to turn his head and cough, but was warmer to the whole idea after his handlers (pardon the expression) presented him with a folder marked "TOP SECRET" for review. They also gave him an "Army of One" t-shirt, a matching backback, assorted bumper stickers, informational DVDs, etc., etc.
He also learned that he will be shipping off to South Carolina for nine weeks on 7/14, shortly before his poor, distraught parents' birthdays (8/2, 8/4), to be followed by 20 more weeks in far-southern Arizona, but he will be allowed home for Thanksgiving and Christmas--an equitable trade, methinks. Thus will begin his agreed-upon four-year hitch in the service of our Nation.
(pausing to breathe into paper bag)
I will continue to update Tim's epic via the Muse as developments unfold, as he himself is not given to lengthy dissertation, which is to put it somewhat mildly. Probably a desirable trait, considering! Anyone wanting to wish Tim well may email him at stemothy "AT" comcast.net [address edited for reasons of Internet security]--but please, no jokes containing the words "military", "intelligence" and "oxymoron".
I should say in closing that Becky could always use another kind shoulder to lean on--if there are Musers who might wish to share their tips or stories on parental survival of 'child induction', her email is angelbeck60 "AT" comcast.net. Sis and I remain the stoics for now, as the two of us are focused not on Tim's imminent departure but on his response to the call of duty and on his eventual return to civvies.
VIVA LA MUSE!!
Darrel Murdock
March 1: Hey, really nice job adding a couple links and the cool sidebar items. Don't ever underestimate the importance and relevance of the Murdock Muse. If only 6 people could love it like I do (and there are undoubtably more than that) it would be worth your effort. I am so pleased that 4 or 5 people I care about love my emails that I can't wait to send more.
But fer sher I've always been excited to get the Muse, when it was in print and now online. They were and are both cool ways to keep in touch when we are so many miles apart with busy lives. No busy signals, no bad-time-to-talk or any of that; just everyone's news sent in when they have the time (and reason) and everyone reading it when they have the time and desire. You can't beat that. Viva La Muse!! And thank you.
Grateful in MN
Click here for Part 2 of the May-June 2005 Muse.
Any comments? Contact the Muse editors at murmuse@comcast.net
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