November and December, 2005
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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: REUNION NOTES (Cathy Howlett) Click MESSAGE FROM MURDOCKS IN MINNESOTA (Deanna Murdock) Click MUSE READING (Polly Soberg) Click MUSE THANKS (Mary Cosgrove) Click TRIP TO TIM'S GRADUATION (Becky Murdock) Click SON OF THE SOUTH, PART ONE (Ian Murdock) Click ON THE ROAD AGAIN (Gene Murdock) Click BECKY'S HEART ATTACK (Meri Murdock) Click SAFE ARRIVAL IN IRELAND (Colleen McKay) Click Part 2 FALL COLOR 2005 (Darrel Murdock) Click BEAVER RIVER REVISITED (Darrel) Click FALL COLOR WEEKEND (Darrel) Click Part 1 - Gabbro Falls Part 2 - On the Road Part 3 - Lake of the Clouds Part 4 - More Porcupines Part 5 - The Montreal River Part 6 - Potato River Falls Park Missing Shots of Potato River Part 3 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS (Jason Murdock) Click ATTITASH REVISITED (Bob Murdock) Click NO GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR US (Nancy Murdock) Click AWARD-WINNING SCRABBLE (Nancy Murdock) Click VISITORS FROM JAPAN (Nancy Murdock) Click |
Muse Editors at the Howlett Reunion 1999  Nancy's quilt, "Pleasurable Poppies" Quilt Gallery |
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The children of Rickey and Deanna
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Deanna Murdock On the other hand, Jack started daycare and every morning is a chore to get him to let go of my leg and go play with kids. He's a momma's boy and he likes to be alone. He's like a professor sitting in the corner reading his book examining everyone and everything around him; he hates being in the middle of everyone. He's also like a Jack Rabbit, sly and quick at disappearing when you're not looking. That's why Rickey nicknamed him Jack Rabbit Jones. About Trinity and her experience at daycare - she isn't quite sure about the whole idea. She doesn't take naps often for them. She keeps her head up high and one eye at all times on everyone and what they're doing. She's very content and alert. She looks a lot like me and when she grows up she's gonna be very beautiful. Every day that passes she gets even more beautiful. I don't remember if I told you guys Trinity had surgery 2 weeks ago and is going in for her 2nd surgery in about another 1 and a half to 2 weeks. It was for a blood clot in her face that could cause a lot of damage if not taken care of correctly. She has laser surgery, so it leaves no scars. The blood clot has already gone down increasingly in size so I think this will hopefully be her last surgery. Well, I gotta get going to bed. I have a meeting to attend for work early in the morning and it's already midnight here. I hope to hear from you guys soon. PS:I have been reading the Murdock Muse a lot and learning a lot. I made that potato casserole again; I like it. I'm learning ways to improve my cooking skills. Polly Soberg Thank you for the great reading. Mary Cosgrove |
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Private Timothy C. Murdock
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Becky Murdock I had a very exciting weekend. On Friday, my girlfriend and I went to The California Tour for the Eagles. It was one of the best concerts I have been to. They sound better in person than on record, if that's possible. Then Sat. I went to a birthday party at my favorite watering hole, and enjoyed the company of all my friends. Sunday, it was Emmy day at last. After a relaxing day, Ian cooked up a great Emmy steak dinner with all the fixins. It was yummy!!!! Now it's time to get all my work done in 2 days so I don't have a huge mound of paperwork when I get back. So I'd better get back to it. We can't wait to see everyone, especially my son whom I miss beyond words. He called yesterday, and we missed the call, and he called Mer, and she missed the call. I know he can hardly wait, too. Sept. 26: We had a great time, and took home a lot of really fond memories that we will never forget. Ian and I had a lot of time to kill after hours, and did a lot of sightseeing, and eating munchies. We would take a short nap, and watch about the hurricane, wake up (3 hours makes a difference), and look at each other and say "let's go for a ride", and off we would go. I think we saw every inch of Columbia and Cayce, SC. I have never seen so many churches and car washes in my life. But the best part of the whole trip was seeing my son for the first, second, third etc. time again. I missed him more than words can say. I cried like a baby when I saw that young man standing before me. He was trimmer, standing straight, hair buzzed (almost bald actually), in his uniform, standing proud. I no longer saw a young boy; I saw a young man, who felt proud to be serving his country. At our hotel were evacuees from New Orleans that had many stories for us. It was a real life experience for us, one that we aren't soon to forget. So as Tim left for AZ and us for California, we vowed to meet up in AZ with more family in tow. I miss Tim but know that he made the right choice for himself. We are so proud of him. |
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At a lake on the base
Tim and Mom
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Ian Murdock Here, in words and pictures, is the chronicle of the trip that Becky and I made from SoCal to SoCarolina to attend Tim's Army basic training graduation ceremony. Ft. Jackson was a beautiful place; it's the world's largest military installation and most of it is virgin forest, home to many rare carnivorous plants. Of course, we also saw more than our share of fauna, including dozens of waddling Canada geese, a HUGE banana spider and a six-member 'deer train'. Deer crossing signs were ubiquitous at the fort, and we also spotted a duck-and-turtle crossing sign. Another sign, on the two-lane road leading in from Gate 4 in Columbia, advised visitors that their trucks could go 70 MPH, but their tanks had to stay below 50. The temp was in the mid-90s (as was the humidity) so naturally our eyes were a bit red and puffy when we saw Tim again for the first time. I seem to have gotten the worst of the puffy end of it. One photo shows Tim guarding our motel room and rented Chevy in suburban Cayce. Note puddle from overworked A/C unit. The motel owners took in several Katrina refugee families with harrowing tales of survival. One old gent, gesturing to his throat, said, "The water came right up to here." Another told of whisking his family to safety, then returning for supplies only to be trapped by fast-rising water and forced up to his roof, where he was rescued by National Guards in a small boat. And then there was Bill, who was ordered to leave behind his beloved cat--which served as his only family--in an empty apartment in New Orleans. He laid a bunch of food and water out and finally after three weeks was able to retrieve "Concat", frazzled but somewhat fatter for the buffet. Gene Murdock I will stay in the Holiday Inn Express-North in Wichita, KS on Thursday night, and will be at the Marriott Spring Hill Suites in Lawton, OK Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon. When I leave on Tuesday morning I will go to Oklahoma City, and then probably spend the night back in the H-I Express in Wichita. Besides visiting Rick and seeing the sights around Altus, OK, I will stop in at the Kansas Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame, the National Photography Museum and Hall of Fame, the 45th Infantry Division Museum with the big display of Bill Mauldin's WW II cartoons of "Willie and Joe," and the Kansas City Airline Historical Museum with the magnificent "Connie' aircraft. Then I will come home and collapse for a few days. Meri Murdock They said it looked like she was having a bad heart attack, but it stopped - or she could have been crippled. Oct. 12: I just talked to Ian, and he was feeding her lunch right now. You probably already know she had some surgery yesterday - stints put in the artery to strengthen it. She's at Downey Community because St. Jude's was full. Sounds like the doctors were happy with the surgery results. From Becky, Oct. 16: I am trying to catch up a little on my e-mails before I putter out. But, I thought I would write to the both of you, and say "thank you" for the uplifting call on Friday nite. I was actually a little sad, because the doctor had told me I had to leave on Sat. morning, instead of Friday. But your call cheered me up!!!! Tim, Ian, and Natt picked me up Sat. and we went to breakfast, and then to the pumpkin patch (I stayed in the car). Tim bought everyone pumpkins; he knows how much I love Halloween. Then when Ian stopped at Rite Aid to fill my perscriptions (all $105.00 worth of them), Tim bought me a Halloween chime for the door, and Ian bought me a regular one for the porch. That really made me smile. Natt has filled in for me, and taken over the laundry, shopping etc. What a lifesaver she has been. She is at the store with Mer right now buying all my restricted food. Tim left this morning, which left me with a heavy heart, but he will be back at Thanksgiving. (I can't wait!!!) I am on many medications, but I don't care; I will follow the doctor's advice to the tee. Becky, Oct.18: I must say I am already getting stir crazy sitting in this house, and not able to do much, but it could be a lot worse. I am feeling better, I still get tired very easily, but that is to be expected. I just want to get up and go, but find that it is not so easy right now. I went to the doctor yesterday, and he is keeping me off work until Dec. 9th to be sure I am all rested up. My work told me to take as long as I needed, and not to worry which makes things easier. I am following my strict diet, which is really a first for me, but this scared the wits out of me. I am sure when you see me again I will look like a different person. Tim called this morning before school to talk to me, which made me very happy. Sometimes I feel that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. Maybe he knew I was a strong person, and could teach others by this happening. So many people are coming up to me, saying this has made them want to get checked etc. Who knows why things happen like they do. |
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Colleen at Trinity College
Her shadow at Kilkenny Castle
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Colleen McKay [Ed. Note: Colleen is on a tour with the choir from the Baltimore Archdiocese. They had some spaces available, so she jumped at the chance to visit the land her family came from. She expected a lot of heavy mist, so she is lucky to be reporting the sunshine. It's a different world from the time her family emigrated to the U.S. Just think, she can send messages from wherever the bus stops in Ireland, and we can get her messages via email almost as fast as she sends them.--NAM] Oct. 25: I am in Dublin at Internet cafe, one Euro per 30 minutes. I have not used my umbrella yet and even have a picture of my shadow on the green grass of Kilkenny Castle, which we toured today. I am on my fifth roll of film. The first had 38 exposures;I have been getting 26 from the the others. We have seen rainbows. I took pictures on the bus while we were moving. I hope they come out. |
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