Doris Kerns Goodwin was the guest speaker at this year's fall convocation at Missouri Western State University. I wasn't able to attend the morning speech but did go to the luncheon. Goodwin is the author of "Team of Rivals," a biography of Abraham Lincoln. The Steven Spielberg film "Lincoln" was based on Goodwin's book.
My cousin in California, Donna Joyce Bush Karver, and her husband recently read a book about a Scottish family that immigrated to Utah in the 1800s. Her husband commented that the early McIntyre ancestors may have had a similar experience when coming to the United States. Knowing that I have been researching our family's history, Donna Joyce called me in late September and asked if she could visit me and discover her Missouri roots.
Donna Joyce and I have visited each other in the past so, of course, I said "sure," thinking that she meant to come next year in the spring or summer. But a few days later, she called again to ask when in THIS October would be the best time for her to come. *LOL* Actually, October is the best time to visit Northwest Missouri: crisp, clear mornings, pleasantly warm afternoons, and a hint of chill in the evenings. So, the timing was ideal for Joyce (as she is known in California) to connect with her Missouri cousins (me and sister Dot) and learn about her McIntyre ancestors.
The itinerary for the week focused on local and family history, including a trip to Dearborn, MO where our grandparents lived in the olden days. So, by the end of Donna Joyce's visit, we cousins had reinforced our shared connections.
Cousin Joyce, my friend Joyce, Dorothy, Barney and I attended the re-enactment of the wedding of Julia Comstock and Eugene Field at the Christ Episcopal Church.
Afterwards was a wedding reception/dinner during which the audience tried to solve the mystery of the missing gold jewelry Field had intended to present to his bride.
Barney and Dorothy came to my house later for a drink with Cousin Joyce.
Dorothy and Barney helped me celebrate my birthday with dinner Saturday at the Country Club (thank you, Barney) and chocolate cake afterwards (thank you, Dot). On Sunday,the actual date of my birth, I went to a PEO ice cream social and had more chocolate cake as well as a scoop of ice cream. Kelly called Sunday to sing "Happy Birthday."
Again I was invited to give a brief welcome at the new teacher's lunch sponsored by the Women's Chamber of Commerce. Among the new staff this year are two of my former students. One is the new Chief Financial Officer for the district and the other left a city inspector position to teach at Hillyard.
Fiftieth anniversary for the Mayor's Arts Awards. This was the first official event I attended as a council member after I was elected in 1998. I haven't missed one since then.
Mark is pictured in the program this year. He is in the one on the upper left and is standing on the far left.
Dot and I spent the week-end at Tan-Tar-A with our Missouri PEO sisters. Because Dorothy is our Chapter FL president, she served as a delegate for this state convention. I just went along to support her. Several other FL members made a special trip to southern Missouri for the Sunday meeting because Janet Steury, a member of our chapter, was installed that morning as state president.
