A Fun Indy Meet-up

On Saturday, March 30, Gretchen and I were in Indy and got to see Brian, Susan, TJ and John. The ostensible reason for the trip was a half-marathon I ran which began and ended about four blocks from the Dean’s home. So, Gretchen and I drove down early; Gretchen dropped me off at the race and watched the pack of us head out on the run. (Romantic note: She was standing about 100 yards up from the start line…as I ran past, I zipped over and gave her a big kiss. Other guys behind me asked her if THEY could have a kiss too…sorry, dudes…).

She then headed over to the Deans and had a nice couple of hours with all of them. Susan had to go to a Bridal Shower but the rest of the folks came up to see the end of my race. Unlike a baseball game, a road race has a much more predictable end time. They got to the finish line a few minutes before I got there…how fun it was for me to come around the corner to the finish line and see the four of them standing there cheering! (if your life is horribly boring, you can read my detailed race report here )

We all went back to the Deans, and Brian snapped this photo of John, TJ and me in their front yard. I took a shower and enjoyed more time with all of them. G and I then met some old friends for lunch, did some shopping in Indy, drove home and watched hoops, wondering how firmly cemented Carol will soon be in Marge’s hands.

I must publically apologize to John. The race course wound around the subdivision just next to theirs, with lots of turns. The race organizers recuited members of the local High School Cross Country team to help direct the tired, dazed runners the right way. Well, John went out on his bike, saw a bunch of folks running in the same direction with paper numbers pinned to their shirts and realized this was the course. He stopped his bike near one small group of the helpful direction-givers and waited for me. And waited. And waited. John got there when the leaders came through and it took a Very Long Time for me to get there. And, alas, when he did, he said "Hi Joe!" I was startled, not even thinking about John at the moment (hey, it was mile 10 at that point). I didn't recognize him and gave him a very odd reaction. Only after the race did I realize the doofus move I made there. I'm sorry John!!!!! My bad!!!!!

A great day, even if I did space on young John…enjoy the photo of these growing boys!!

Joe

What a Post Looks Like Via Email

If you have recently subscribed to our EFB via email, welcome!

This is a post to just plunk something into your email box so you can see what it looks like.

Note you can click on a link and go straight to the EFB to leave a comment, directly from the email.

Hope you enjoy this tool!

Joe

Welcome!!

If you just got an email from me inviting you to subscribe to the EFB, you are in the right place!!

Look to the right, type in your preferred email address(es) and follow the prompts.

Enjoy!!

125 Years Old

Today is March 8 and the 125th Birthday of Laura Sophia Kerns Ely--- Gene Ely's mother! Aren't you glad to know that? She was born, March 8, 1883, so do the math.


She was born "across the river" from Brownville in Phelps City, Missouri as the second child of James F. and Alice Kerns. Shortly thereafter they moved to Auburn where James founded the J.F. Kerns Lumber Company later in 1883. They were charter members of St. Joseph's Church. In Auburn they had 11 more children including Alice Flack (#10)!! So that is the family history lesson for today.

I celebrated by calling Aunt Mary Alice in Kentucky. Of course she was thinking of her mother on this day. We chatted about a lot of family things. She asked about all of you and wanted me to send you greetings via e-mail. I forgot to ask her if a note on the blog was OK, but I'm sure it is.

As my Grandma Ely (Laura) grew older, she lost her sight. I helped her write Christmas cards where she dictated the message to many of her relatives and friends. Later my mother (Marge) found out that I had misspelled Kerns on all of the addresses!! I hope both of these wonderful women have now forgiven me!

I'll invite Marge, Joe, and Anne to add a little memory of her to this post. The photo was taken in 1950 at our house on 15th Street. The curtains are a huge clue! So she was 67 years old in the photo.

Love to all of you, Karen