April 16th, 2006 

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Dear Rick,Sharon,Connie, and Christina, I just want you to know how much we all love you. We're all cousins and I feel so blessed. I wish we could be there and give you all lots of hugs. Thanks to everyone who has kept us up to date with the blogs. I know how difficult that must be. The last time I saw Rick is at Grandma's house and he was, as usual, helping her with her T-bird convertible. Remember that car, Rick. I believe you were priming and painting any little rust spots. I just read my sister, Judi's comments and I too remember all those great times in Vermillion. She can write much better than I can. I do,however. remember all the free band concerts in Prentis Park and climbing the bandshell. I've been keeping close tabs on everyone as much as possible through Larry and Curtis. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We love you. Jane, Bob, and family

Dear Rick, Remember those fun days back in Vermillion in the summer time when we practically lived at the Prentis Park? We swam everyday and went to organized recreation programs sponsored by the city. I remember searching for empty pop bottles to cash in for two cents each. When we had a dime, we could buy a bottle of pop, or a popsicle or candy bar. We also could earn a nickel for picking up papers and other trash around the refreshment stand area. The owner would give us a stick with a nail in the end, which we used to pick up the papers on the ground. We were pretty creative when it came to earning a few cents to buy treats. Treats weren't very plentiful at home back in those days. It took everything Dad could earn just to keep us fed and clothed and a roof over our heads. I was so blessed to have such wonderful parents. I wish I had told them that more when I had the chance. Anyway, do you remember the minor league baseball games that were played at the Vermillion ball park? While Dad was the caretaker of the park, ball diamond and swimming pool, our family always got free season passes to the pool and the ball games each summer. I have vivid memories of getting our nickel bag of popcorn and taking it to the top of the grandstand to sit and watch those ball games. Dad did such a wonderful job of mowing, trimming, and lining the ball field. I was so proud of him. He was a true perfectionist. For many years after we moved from the park, people would comment about how perfectly trimmed the hedges were that went all around the perimeter of the park. He also built the first riding lawn mower ever used by the city. Too bad he didn't know about patents back then, right? Rick, do you remember how our moms used to make us cookies by putting home-made chocolate frosting between two graham crackers? Mom used to make those little cookie treats for us girls to serve, along with Kool Aid at our tea parties for our dolls. We always felt so special serving that "tea" and cookies on our little toy dishes. I guess you boys didn't care about that stuff, but you did enjoy picking mulberries off our trees and pelting us with them. :-) I recall a few times when the throws weren't very good, and the mulberries hit some of the clean clothes hanging on the clothes line in the yard. Boy was Mom mad! Ah, those memories. Sometimes it feels just like yesterday! Another memory, Rick, that we shared was those annual birthday parties for Grandma Millage. Remember the wonderful potluck meals and we always had homemade ice cream---all we could eat. We kids always hated the long photo sessions; but the group pictures are treasures now. What great times we had as kids back in the "good old days". There were lots of great family times. Remember the celebrations at Aunt Amy and Uncle Lee's house Rick? That big old house had so many rooms and fun hiding places. We loved playing hide-and-seek. Do you remember how Uncle Wayne used to pinch us kids and pull our ears? I always tried to keep at a safe distance, but I didn't always manage it. I also remember getting yelled at for running through Aunt Amy's beautiful flowers when we played tag or whatever. We did always manage to stay busy and had lots of fun, didn't we? I sometimes miss those happy times; but there have been so many other happy times since for which I am so grateful to have been blessed. I wish we could share a great big hug right now dear cousin. I'm sending you a huge hug anyway in this message and so much love that it just has to make you smile and warm your heart. You all are in my thoughts and prayers everyday. Love you so much! Judi

Hi there! I just wanted to share with everyone that I am graduating from nursing school in two weeks with my RN. I did not get here by myself. I took a long trip to a place far, far away, with my two babies. I did it only with the love and encouragement of all of you. I would never belittle what any one has done for me, but Rick & Sharon are the two people who have raised me like a daughter and talked me through along the way. I would never be here without God's help and their love. I wish Rick could be here to see his "Shotze" get her nursing pin. You are both in my daily prayers and my heart.....Love Always, Carol

Thanks Terry and Sandy...I am glad that your both able to be there for them both. We all had Easter lunch at Victoria's. We thought about Rick and what he has given us all. What an awesome gift....we ain't seen nothing yet is what Rick used to tell us....Give him a big hug from Ktown....Michael and Janet

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