May 2006 - January 2007

The Sherer party Wednesday evening (We picked Doris Ballard up) didn’t turn out too good, as turnout wasn’t as expected, we were about 18 people short this year, a lot due to sickness and old age of some of our people, I believe if my count was correct we had 20 people, all had a good time anyway, next year we will have the party some place different or if available in the basement of the Moonraker where it will be less noisy, people were playing pool in our room while we were eating and talking which was annoying to me, at least. The food and service was good however, most didn’t mind the noise.

Yesterday morning I had an appointment with Dr. Mahr for a checkup, all was OK, this morning I had an appointment for blood test, (may 4, 2006) and to determine the cloistral count and other things it tells the Doctor. The clock is striking noon, which means that its time for the Smith’s to head for McDonalds to have our ½ of a hamburger each and a drink, talk to ya later.

Hi Again, quite a lot has occurred since my last input, Jack and I didn’t play as much golf as we did last year, the weather didn’t cooperate well for us. However, I did not report on this before but it actually is a major accomplishment-------Here’s the story, I was going thru’ the VA news one niter and noticed that, the VA Administration had added THE LOSS OF HEARING to be eligible if service connected, for compensation, this was in 2005----I called the number it listed to apply and received the information on how to start----I e-mail a letter stating on how where and when my ear problem started, I was told that the situation causing my condition was established and entered into my army records in April of 1944 when I received the Bronze star medal in the area entering Countance France when the Half-Track I was driving was hit by a German 88 tank projectile. From there I followed procedures up until the present.

Resulting in unexpected compensation for my problem, much more than I ever imagined, However, it hasn’t been easy for me or for Ardis having to repeat most everything talked about.

This will be entered in its proper place in my autobiography, probably near the end as it is happening now (Oct.5th 2006) the first check will cause a

Family celebration somewhere you can count on that, maybe Shuler’s why not. I have not had a steak at Shuler’s since I retired 27 year’s ago.

Talk to ya later. This is (10-07-06) and I’m sending this to Karen to put in my story wherever she thinks it should go.

To further my investigation in the V.A. It was necessary to send them our marriage certificate to prove the marriage was legal for more compensation, as it turned out the entitlement was almost doubled, and I received the checks to prove it, however, it didn’t mention my wife concerning the benefits, so I am going to have to get in touch with Scott Losey to determine why. Scott is the Director for the VA in this area. This is 1-2-2007 of the new year (Not sure about Florida yet )

April 2006

THIS COULD BE THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE FRONTIER KID

This will not be an easy chapter to add to my autobiography, this April 30, 2006 to-day the kids had a wonderful party for our 65^th wedding anniversary at the Methodist Church in Marshall, Mi.-------More than 60 people attended including friends and relatives, this was beautiful, however, in the last five months we have had several disappointing news, first my long time deer hunting pardoner Clyle (Jake) Jacoby my nephew died in November (30^th) we hunted deer to-gather since 1936 mostly in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, plus my best friend in our Florida Mobil Home Park, Jim Crane my old golfing pardoner from Maryland died in December, we were about to depart for Florida when Ardis came down sick, had to take her to the Hospital, they found she had a ruptured ulcer and had to operate right away, this held us up for several weeks, finally we left for Florida the 28^th of January and arrived the first of February--------I’m going to hold up the story for the time being and will start it again when the notion alerts me. Ardis recuperated well in the Sunshine State, and I played golf with the park league about twice a week, this year we played at St. Leo course and Lake Bernnadette course.

Here’s the high light of the year, we sold our Mobil Home, with the idea that we

Were getting too old to drive the distance (1300 mile) through the big cities and on the inter-states, our health isn’t too good at times, however, if it improves considerably we will rent a home next year in the same park, in fact that was one of the option’s when we sold it, we would be first in line to rent it next year if we wanted it. Now here this, the time stayed at the park will not be the same without Jim.

We had a little bad luck with the car this year, when we pulled in to the Motel 6 in Tallahassee where we stay the second niter out, we took our bags in to the room and

Come out to go accost the road to eat dinner at Shoney’s and it started raining so

We went back to the car to drive to dinner, the car wouldn’t start, battery dead, which meant a real predicament as we were in a strange town on a rainy Sunday night. The car came equipped with On Star phone system and I had activated it just before we left for Florida, they became our Angel of Mercy, I called the number on the card that I had, explained the situation and was told to sit tight and not to worry, help was on the way, I might add fast help, as in about ten minutes there was

A fellow knocking on the door, he tried to start it with the jumper cable that he had but it didn’t work, so what did On Star do, they sent a flat bed to pick the car up and take it to the service garage to find the problem, this was around 11:00 pm so we went to bed and got a good nights sleep. Next morning I called the garage to find out if they had found the problem, they were working on it, so we grabbed a cab and went to the garage to wait for it there, in about 15 minutes a person came and told us the car was ready, in fact it was setting just outside the waiting room where we were. We were given a statement for the labor and parts that gave it a balance of 00. The car was still in warranty. A new battery was all that it needed, the old one had blown up. Due to On Star’s total reliability we were on our way early in the forenoon Monday morning and arrived at our destination almost on time.

This is the 2^nd of May, 2006, to-marrow evening we will have our annual old Sherer employee’s party, usually have around 30 to 35 people, it will be at the Moonraker Restaurant on old US 27 south of Marshall about 2 miles at 6:30 or thereabouts, dinner at 7:00 if all goes well.

I will be the host and MC, my helper Bill Lautenslager is up north to his cabin so

Will have to shovel it alone, think we will bring up the subject of new youngblood to handle it in the future, it is a good get-to-gather night for hashing over the past, everyone has a good time and a good meal.

Not much happening this time of year, except maybe getting ready to go fly-fishing for bluegills and hoping for better weather to play some golf.

I think that I mentioned our new great-granddaughter, Adrienne Grace Dysinger, she’s a beaut. Too I must mention that our other granddaughter, Carol Johnson will be having a baby sometime in October of this year, that will make two great grand children, how about that for a couple of 80 plus year old grandparents.

We intend to give each household a Thousand dollars for them to invest for there children’s college education, in 20 years the proceeds should help considerably

Providing its invested in the best of financial practice.

That all for now will catch you next time. As mentioned above our other granddaughter Carol Johnson had her baby Oct. 14^th 2006 and named him –him –him-----Alexander Thomas Johnson, a beautiful boy.

Getting back to the party at The Moonraker, we didn’t have the turnout we usually expected, about 16 people less than expected, these people are getting old and some don’t like to get out if it means going home in the dark, next year we will have it earlier to correct this problem, we lost two of our old members, Carl Green’s wife

Margaret, then in the winter sometime Bill Hammond died, Margaret was 89 years and Bill was 79 I believe. So much for the Party.