July and August, 2007
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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: CONGRATULATIONS TO JAYSON (Nancy Murdock) Click NEW GREAT-GRANDSON (Nancy Murdock) Click TREES IN MY LIFE (Gene Murdock) Click TIM'S NEWS (Becky Murdock) Click A CHEERFUL HELLO (SPC Timothy Murdock) Click SLIGHT HEART ATTACK (Steve Howlett) Click Part 2 WALK FOR CURE FOR AUTISM (Natalie Murdock) Click THANKS FOR THE MUSE (Priscilla Januskiewicz) Click CAT EXCITEMENT (Daniel Leskinen) Click GENE'S CHEESE (Gene Murdock) Click CHEESE GALORE (Nancy Murdock) Click UPDATE FROM ST. PAUL (Darrel Murdock) Click JASON, BEVIN AND OLIVIA (Bevin Hoffman) Click MISSI'S CD PROJECT (N. Murdock) Click LIFE IS FUN AT EIGHTY-ONE (Bob Murdock) Click Part 3 CINDERELLA (Claudia Lindsay) Click A CRASHING ENCOUNTER (Cathy Howlett) Click JUST A NOTE (Valerie Davidson) Click GENE THE SPY, Part 1 (Gene Murdock) Click TRIP TO WALES, 6/19-6/28/07 (Nancy Murdock) Click |
Howlett Reunion 2000
quilt, "A Little Night Music" Gallery photo Quilt index |
Caroline,2003
Anthony,2006 |
Nancy Murdock Robert Falconer Murdock was born to Robert and Caroline Murdock just before midnight on May 19. His dad says he is very healthy and weighed 8 lb. 8 oz. as he came into the world. The other children are all thriving. Robert passed on some great information: Anthony was given a Presidential Citation last year for being the top student in his school! There is a very good chance that he will receive the same honor this year. Now Robert and Caroline are looking for a slightly larger house to rent, and Robert is looking for a used truck in running condition to get him to and from work while Caroline and the children are doing all their errands in the family car. |
of a sugar maple |
Gene Murdock Trees have always played a significant part in my life. When we moved from the city to the country we had trees all around us. Just a little ways from one corner of the house were two stately spruce trees. Not much for climbing, but handy to hook one end of a hammock to. Grandpa showed us the little blobs of tree resin that he said could be chewed like gum. We tried it and quickly decided that a stick of Wrigley’s was much better. Down across the street in a swampy area were sugar maple trees, which we learned to harvest for their sweet sap which could be converted to maple sugar. Nearby were some small to medium birch trees which we could climb to the top, then holding on tightly, lean out and the birch bent over until we could touch our feet to the ground and step off. We called this “swinging a birch.” In the back yard at the rear of our rocky garden Dad planted a row of apple trees, all different varieties, and one for each child. We moved to this place in 1940, just two years after the devastating hurricane of 1938 (They didn’t name them in those days.) The woods were full of fallen trees all pointing in the same direction, in various stages of leaning over making for a lot of easy and fun climbing. Some fell tearing up the whole root structure, leaving a hole in the ground with the bottom of the root system serving as a wall on one side. These made great forts to play in. One of the real delights was the many large birch trees around, some big enough so we could cut and peel off a section of the papery bark without harming the tree, to take home and use to write on. The field next to the house was initially kept cleared for our baseball field and snow sliding hill, but rapidly grew up with pine trees when the baseball players moved out. But they became a place to play when I came back to visit with my two boys. I showed them how I used to play under pine trees, building houses and forts with the twigs, using the needles as roofs and walls. The boys spent many a happy hour there, referring to the location as “Fort Murdock.” Many years later I took the course to become a Master Gardener. Upon completion I decided to major in trees. So I did, and soon was appointed to the city Tree Commission, the group that satisfies the National Arbor Day requirements for fostering the city trees so it could be called a Tree City. I spent about fifteen years with these groups, serving several terms as president of the Master Gardener’s Association. I find that I have forgotten the names of many trees, and can’t identify them like I used to, but I still hug them occasionally. |
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Becky Murdock May 8: Tim called me last night and advised that he was called into a meeting yesterday and promoted to E4 specialist. This was not supposed to happen yet, but he was informed that he was the best in his platoon, and the higher ups took notice of this. They also said that when he goes to Kuwait, more than likely he will be quickly promoted to sergeant status, etc. He was so happy, and I think he's found a job that he really loves, so that makes me happy. I know we miss him terribly, but he is traveling and enjoying life. May 17: I wanted to give you a head's up on Tim. He just called home, and told us he is deploying in the morning for Kuwait for 15 months. He had to put all his stuff in storage because after that time he has to go back to Italy for 2 months, then hopes to come home to the States. He said he is definitely re-enlisting, so he has found his calling. They were having one big barbeque when he called, because they were all shipping out in the morning. He hopes to have more access to the computer over there, so he should be able to write. |
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SPC Timothy Murdock Hello there! June 22: I know I haven't written in some time, but I have been busy (as I still am). I don't know if you heard, but I was promoted to Specialist (SPC) on June 1st with a waiver (an early promotion - command driven). I am currently at Camp Arifjan Kuwait (sigh). It is soooooo hot, around 115f daily. Here is my mailing address: SPC Murdock, Timothy 14th TRANSPORTATION MCB APO AE 09366 SPC Murdock (#1!) |
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Steve Howlett June 3: I was in the hospital from May 25th through the 30th because of a slight heart attack. I had a cath done and it showed my bypasses from 1989 are still in good shape,...WOW ! :):) And they didn't have to do anything this time. Because it was such a small thing, they said it wouldn't need any stent,...another good thing. Terry didn't have a very good time visiting at the hospitals,...she didn't like the traffic part. June 20, Tom to Polly: This morning about 8:45 I got a call from Michelle that Steve was in ICU as he had congestive heart failure. All of his kids had been notified and told they probably should get there. He had a pulse rate of 180 and was put on some meds and intubated last night. I got there about 9:15 and was met by Terri,Denise, Michelle, Robbie and Heidi. Foster and Tim came later fully expecting bad news. Well, he of course could not speak with the tubes in place but he seemed to be doing better as his pulse hovered around 95. His tubes were removed at about 1:30 and his pulse was about high 80's and he started griping about being hungry etc. He appears to be ok and it is expected that he will stay in hospital (Henry Heywood) a day or so with close monitoring. It was good to see all his children and grandchildren but the circumstances stink. June 24, Tom to Polly: Just got back from hospital and Steve is on the way to St Vincent in Worcester for a defibrillator implant. He looked really good today and was giving himself a sponge bath before heading to the big town. Terri has promised to keep me up to date and I'll relay any info. Beautiful day, though a bit cool today. Hoping for warm weather to get the tomatoes going. June 24: Polly to Murmuse: Here's the latest on Steve. He's on his way to Worcester to have the implant. Remember him in your prayers, please. [Ed. Note: Bob and Colleen communicated through Yahoo to and from Wales, so I got updated in short order. Then Colleen shared the news with some of our fellow travelers at the far end of the table on the 27th, and they all prayed for Steve and expressed their concern to me.--NAM] June 27: Tom to Polly Just got off the phone with Terri, who told me that the implant went really well and Steve was eating his lunch shortly thereafter. She was also told that Steve might be released to go home to Baldwinville tomorrow and this is indeed good news. My day at work went well even though it was hot as Hell outside. The work was done inside, and I survived to fight another day. I think I'll treat myself to a large calzone on Friday to celebrate Steve's good fortune and my fatter wallet. Your gardening seems to be getting better to the point that next year you should be enjoying even greater success. Hang in there. June 28, Bob to Polly: Hello early bird, thanks for forwarding Tom's good news about Steve! This will be a good greeting for Nan when she gets home from Wales tonight, around dinner time. She has been kept up to date, so I'm sure there have been prayers on Steve's behalf from Europe along with those from Baltimore and New England! Once again, I am convinced of the power of prayer. I can tell that you are, too. |
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