John and Mary Kay have reason to be very proud as Katie has been named President, Head of U.S. A&R by Sony Music Publishing. I'll always think of Katie as the adorable little girl who used to gather in the circle around Fr. Soleta to say the Our Father. No surprise that everyone commented on what a beautiful child she was....and, is! (January 2025)
January 2025 bright both boundless joy and deep pain as Soledad celebrated the arrival of grandchld, Isabella, and Denise bid farewell to her beloved sister, Donna. Inspired by Angie's own experience of loss, we gave Denise a blanket- in very Denise colors - in hopes she will feel her sister's warm embrace when she wraps herself in it.
What a wonderful time Mary Ann, Betsy, Susan, Peg and Eileen had on the 2023 Garden Walk. All agreed it was one of the best collection of gardens yet. Sadly, this was undoubtedly our last field trip - at least for a while - with Eileen who departs for North Carolina in a couple of weeks but, she will return and we promise a field trip when she does!
Round Two of tea at Apothica Teas, Feb. 3, 2023! We had such fun, undoubtedly overstayed our welcome. Can't wait for Round three.

From Betsy: Not exactly a picture of my life, but I loved this:
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favorite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.
Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.
The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter "written" by the doll saying "please don't cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures."
Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka's life.
During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.
Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.
"It doesn't look like my doll at all," said the girl.
Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: "my travels have changed me." the little girl hugged the new doll and brought her happy home.
A year later Kafka died.
Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:
"Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favorite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.
Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.
The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter "written" by the doll saying "please don't cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures."
Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka's life.
During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.
Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.
"It doesn't look like my doll at all," said the girl.
Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: "my travels have changed me." the little girl hugged the new doll and brought her happy home.
A year later Kafka died.
Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:
"Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."
A fun Christmas get together.
To honor November's book selection, "The Underground Railroad," six of us took a field trip to the sites (i.e. mostly signs) of the Vandalia underground railroad tour.
Dave and Denise with their new grandson, David Walter Brenner, born April 15, 2016.

Six sisters in South Africa, August, 2014 - fantastic vacation with six of my seven sisters (Suzie, Kate, Betsy, Jackie, Ellen, Peggy), pictured here at my sister Kate's beach house.
Denise's son's wedding:
Dave, our daughter, Cindy, Keri the bride, our son, Dave, Me, and our
daughter Marie and her husband, Jason. Taken 8/2/14 at the Basilica.
Denise's daughter's wedding:
Our son Dave, me, our daughter Marie and her husband, Jason, my husband,
Dave and our daughter, Cindy. This was taken May 25, 2013 at St.
Clement's Church in Chicago.
The Bookclub January, 2014
Grant & Courtney Canfield Oct 12, 2013
Danny & Jennifer Klee Oct 12, 2013
A very fond farewell to Mollie Bernard, July 1, 2013

I will always treasure the last week my sisters and I shared with my mother.
Cecilia Marie Mahoney

Granddaughter of Diane and Rick, cuddled by her dad, Josh, on her birthday, Aug 9th.
Zack Sweeney

Modeling his new sweater, made by Aunt Megan.