Post by Peter Kurz

Hi Wendy,

I am enjoying the comments about Doris out here in Cairo. This is a good thing you have done.

I remember my Mom (Bessie, as Doris called her) telling us about the tramps and Gypsies too. Also about using linen napkins to snap butterballs up onto the ceiling! There was a story too she told about a turkey landing on the floor, and Grandma or someone saying, "I'll go get the other one" and then marching right back in with the first one dusted off! Another story Bessie used to tell was about being admonished not to mention the unusually long nose of a guest who was about to arrive for dinner. She got so nervous about this, that when he came through the door she said "Good evening Mr. Nose!"

Last year while visiting Bessie at Heath Village, she suddenly asked me "Where's mother?" I told her "Your mother died 35 years ago" (which the Heath Village care-givers told me I should not have said). But Bessie was astonished to hear this and didn't seem to mind at all. Sometimes she talks about having to pack her things and get ready to go home, and one time she said that apparently she was in prison and didn't know what she had done wrong! But the fact is, the people there are wonderful, as they seem to be at Doris's place, and almost 100 percent of the time Bessie seems to be very content. One day as we sat in the dining room, one of the residents walked in and Bessie called out hello to her. She said to me, "She's such a nice lady."

It would be great if the two sisters could get together, but I wonder whether they would know each other! They might not recognize each other, but I am sure they would remember.

Just a word about Joan Curtain: I read the tributes to Michael on the fallen heroes memorial website and could see that he was a wonderful son. Just as we will not forget Joan's kindness to Doris, we will honor his memory and service to our country.

Regards to everyone, Peter Kurz