WLM Member Monday – Gramma Lupcho
Victoria Twead: We Love Memoirs
Welcome to Gramma Lupcho who has kindly agreed to be our Monday Member today, and answer all our questions. She’ll be along later, interesting lady! As always, two winners will be picked at the end of the day.
Elle Draper: Hi Gramma – so…what’s your secret? How do you look so great for 82? x
Charlotte Smith: Really looking forward to chatting later Gramma. Have to do an airport run first so will hurry back as fast as I can
Anne Chapman: What an interesting life you have had anything else you would like to do btw I am Anne from Scotland
Victoria Connelly: Hi Gramma! You’ve travelled so much – do you have any favourite countries/places you return to time and time again?
Angela Clifford: Hi Gramma forgive me for asking but what is your book called sounds like you have had a full life plenty if experiences to record x
John Searancke: Hi Gramma Lupcho! Thanks for joining in the fun yesterday. I just popped in to say hello, but will be out for most of the day today, though I will catch up a bit later. Where do you go for the wine festivals in the Rhine area? I have been too, to the Rheingau. Great fun! Have a great day.
Anne Chapman: Where do you live and where we’re you born
–What kind of music do you enjoy
Cherry Gregory: Good morning, Gramma! Hope you enjoy your day in the spotlight.
Kate Pill: Smuggling trips? Please tell
Frankie Knight: Morning Gramma! Sorry I won’t be with you for much of the day as off out to a lunch party! Enjoy yourself…..
Bambi Flanner: I agree with Anne, where have you settled, and where are you from originally?
–And with all that smuggling going on, have you ever been to prison? lol.
Valerie Robson: Please tell us some more about Cletus… xxx
Shirley Ledlie: Hello Gramma, I have to work this afternoon so will come back later. Looking forward to hearing about your smuggling. Drugs? People? I hope you enjoy your day and I would like to purchase from you a super large bottle of whatever moisturiser you use!
Anne Chapman: Yes please share some of your beauty tips
–How far back did you get with your genealogy and did you find any skeleton s in the cupboard
Terry Bryan: Patience folks…it’s early over here.
Terry Bryan: This should get us started…
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Hi Gramma Lupcho I will pop in and out today. Have a heat day. I also would like to know more about your smuggling trips.
Judi Bedford-Keogh: Hi Gramma, sorry I have been out all morning and now we are off to a party so apologise if this has already been asked. Is Gramma your name or a nickname (grandma?)? Catch you later if I stay sober enough
Julie Haigh: Hello Gramma, hope you enjoy being in the hot seat. I notice you played church organ-do you still play it? What were/are your favourite pieces/composers
–I’m really interested in tracing family history-I haven’t done it myself but one of our distant relatives turned up at my mum’s one day and she had already done lots of our family tree and found a few things that were a mystery. How long did it take you to trace your family history or is it something that’s still ongoing?
Rowena Cardwell: Hi birthday buddy, apart from the gardening, I also love photography, am very interested in genealogy and love many genres of music. What sort of photography are you interested in and are you self taught? Also, my amazing 75 year old mother loves genealogy but it never stops. Every time she discovers another person in the family tree, it leads to another branch and so it goes. So, Gramma Lupcho, where do you start on the family tree?
Gramma Lupcho: Good Morning World!! Its 9:00 a.m. in Georgia and I’m finally awake with my coffee eye opener
–Julie, I no longer have an organ; it was sold when I relocated to Georgia, however I do have an electronic key board. Of course Bach heads the list, but I love all the old classical composers. I did learn to do contemporary music also and even worked with the youngsters in their guitar Masses.
–Hi Birthday buddy Rowena: I am self taught photographer; first camera at 13; family and nature are best subjects. W
Julie Haigh: Glad to hear you’re still playing and enjoying music Gramma.
Gramma Lupcho: Did the Genealogy for about 8 years. Surprises along the way! I am a Chisum (Chisholm Clan) and back into 1400s there. Still working on my Mom’s side and am back to 1700s there.
–Hi Elle: Good photographer and makeup!! I’m really a mess n person!
Julie Haigh: Wow, 8 years, that’s a long time, must have been fascinating finding out all those surprises. Do you think you might put them in a memoir?
Gramma Lupcho: Anne from Scotland: Would liked to have spend more time in both England and Scotland, but my traveling days are finished internationally.
–Victoria, We were in Germany many times with what I call shirt tail relatives. My daughter’s first husband found his great Uncle when they were stationed in Germany at Ramstein. We were invited to visit them, bonded quickly in the little village of Morzheim-Landau and returned yearly for some time.
–Agnes, I haven’t written a book and have no desire to do so; however, I have written what I call ‘Memories” privately for a niece because my brother never talked about our family and/or history.
–John, we did the whole WeinStrasse at one time or another, but the villages in the Landau region primarily, Morzheim, Ingeheim, etc.
–I was born in Oklahoma and now in Columbus, Georgia. Relocated here to live with my daughter, Dr. Theresa, working at Ft.Benning, home of the Rangers.
–Terry: Thanks for the breakfast; I needed it!
Susan Joyce: Good morning Gramma Lupcho! I’m delighted to see you in the hot seat today. I’ll look over the many questions you’ve been asked and then ask you one. xo
Gramma Lupcho: You on the continent are about 6 or 7 hours ahead of me, but be patient and I’ll answer all your queries!
–Kate and Bambi: No prison record! In about 1983 we learned my husband had two Aunts still living in what was then Czechoslovakia.(his parents migrate to US in early 1900s). At that time our daughter lived near Ramstein and husband had her buy big boxes of various chocolates and liquors, mainly whiskey, Drove from Frankfurt, through Austria and across Czechoslovakia to a small village near Humenne. It was behind the Iron Curtain and we had not much problem because my husband’s family still spoke Slovak in their home and he was fluent. We had a ball, found cousins and the two precious Aunts, stayed a week and promised to return the following year.
–This is a bit of a long story; we returned the following year with 300 pounds luggage; fortunately my husband was still employed by American Airlines!! John took American blue jeans to every man cousin and boys; I took intimate lingerie to every lady because nothing nice was available to them and most sewed with muslin fabrics. We were there three weeks.
Susan Joyce: That’s a lovely story! Gramma, loved hearing about your “shirt tail” relatives. My mom had some interesting expressions about family relationships. Not all as kind as yours.
Gramma Lupcho: On our first visit I learned (we and they are Catholic) there were no religious goods available. The ladies asked Rosaries, prayer books, etc., all of which were forbidden. I hid these things in sleeves of jackets, in pockets of blue jeans, etc, If we had been found out, everything would have been confiscated, we would be fined and refused entry into the country. My husband did not know I had done this!!
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Did you ever tell him that you had? You were a brave woman.
Susan Joyce: You were smart not to let him know at the time.
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Totally agree with you Susan Joyce there are some things husbands don’t always need to know, at least not until after the event
Susan Joyce: I’d like to hear more about your work with Hospice.
Gramma Lupcho: BUT know the language helped immensely and my husband had cartons of cigarettes for the border guards which eased our way!
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Yes the hospice work sounds interesting.
Gramma Lupcho: Valerie, When my daughter settled and asked the Vet for a kitten, they had only two from the same litter and had to stay together because Cletus had no eyes and no one else wanted them. So they came to live with her and Cletus doesn’t know he’s blind! He tears through this house chasing Neal and they play together and climb the big thing in the corner. We live in a split level house and there’s seven steps up and down.
Susan Joyce: Ah, that’s so sweet!
Gramma Lupcho: LOL; Girls, I was blessed with a peaches and cream complexion when I was young, but alas age and working outside caught up with me. I’ve always used moisturizers and still do. Tried most of the commercial brands available and then Mary Kay and now the drugstore Olay, If you really saw me, I have tons of deep wrinkles!!
–Judi Bedford, yes I have a name – Rosalie. My Granddaughters call me Gramma and it stuck. When I started FB I used that and now really should change it, but old habits stick. The girls address cards to ‘Mrs. Gramma Lupcho’!
Susan Joyce: It’s the light in your eyes that makes you really shine. You remind me of the song, “When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.”
Gramma Lupcho: Anne I did turn up one thing that was a surprise. My Grandmother Snider was Grandfather’s second wife. We were told that his first wife had deserted with their baby son, that he had searched everywhere for them and even hired detectives, to no avail. When the son was 18 he showed up at their home saying he was Fenner and was looking for his Dad! My Mother was 13 and remembered the day vividly and there are photographs to record the event!! Well, with research I found Grandfather had left them in Texas with the wife’s family and he had come to what was then Indian Territory in Oklahoma, homesteaded and married my Grandmother May Fannie Wright!! Am assuming there was a divorce somewhere but haven’t found it! So the pitiful tale of the wife disappearing never to be found was a lie!! But everyone involved is dead, so there!
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Interesting tale.
Susan Joyce: Gramma, I traveled into the Iron Curtain countries around the same time you were there. With my husband I revisited several in 2004. What a difference!
Gramma Lupcho: We didn’t go back later when it was free, by then my husband was ill; however we do stay in touch. One young cousin immigrated to Canada and we were involved with them. This summer they are visiting Slovakia and I am anxious to hear from them.
–BTW Susan, I stayed up very late finishing your book and enjoyed it immensely, Your life is most interesting!!
Susan Joyce: Thank you Gramma! I appreciate your time. Glad you enjoyed it.
Lynne Cobine: I’m a new member, so wondering how this works?
Gramma Lupcho: On one of my daughter’s spring breaks from college, she and I went to Germany and worked in the vineyard with Robert and Annel. Robert had a huge vineyard, made wine and schnapps. While worked replacing some old vines with new, he kept going back to the auto! He finally invited Theresa to go with him and gave her a drink from his bottle! By the time the morning work finished she was giggly to say the least. Then for lunch Annel made Belgian waffles with wine sauce and nothing else! Robert and Theresa napped and Annel and I laughed the afternoon away. My kind of work!
–Lynne, you just ask me questions that I can hopefully answer!
Susan Joyce: Lynne Cobine, you’re on the thread with our special member guest, Gramma Lupcho. Read through the conversation and feel free to ask Gramma questions about her life/
Lynne Cobine: oh, ok, see how it works, thanks very much!
–You mention Genealogy, where do most of your family members come from?
Gramma Lupcho: Family from early England, Scotland and France.
–Someone earlier asked about my Hospice experience. After my husband died I was at loose ends and had always ben interested in the Hospice process. Our church had invited a Counselor to speak to a group of us to help us get through the holidays. I spoke privately with her and she put me in touch with the Volunteer director. who asked about my skills, and put me to work immediately in the filing dept.! I had told her I did not want to do patient care as I had just finished 3 years caring for my husband.
–I tend to get emotionally involved with people and at that point did not want to do patient care. I was a sissy to say the least, but I know me. I spent the rest of my 13 years doing various office procedures, met life long friends, and edited patient charts which went from ‘Dead, to Dead Dead, to Dead Dead Dead’ as we jokingly called them. But there is a long process before files can be placed in long term storage.
Lynne Cobine: a very worth while cause though – you probably helped them enormously!
Gramma Lupcho: My best friend was a retired Army Nurse, Eileen, who is still volunteering at age 93! No kidding. She has twice been our state’s Volunteer of the Year. She still very graciously sends me hearing aid battery coupons! She learned computer after age 90 as we switched from paper to electronic files! An amazing lady,
–I was a help to the organization, but not nearly as much as they helped me through some rough years.
–While in Grief Counseling at my church, I met a gentleman widowed also. He phoned me persistently and talked me into going flying in his small plane, and I was hooked..
Susan Joyce: Gramma, How lovely. I was getting ready to ask you about your love life. Hospice does more than care for the dying. We adopted our son, at age 11, when his mother was dying and under Hospice care. The Hospice volunteers helped her get her affairs in order and discovered that she had no one in her family willing to take her son. Knowing we were part of the Big Brother Big Sister mentoring program for kids, they asked us if we would be interested in taking him into our home. And we did.
Gramma Lupcho: We flew together for years all over the country. He raced his plane on both East and West Coasts, and I would fly commercially and meet him and fly back to Oklahoma with him.
–Sorry, my battery timed out and I had to reconnect!
Cherry Gregory: Your friend, Eileen, sounds amazing! I’m interested in how you investigated your family tree because I have spent some time investigating my own…then my husband wanted his side researched too, so I’ve done his. Very interesting to do and especially exciting when you get a lead into the unknown.
Gramma Lupcho: And Cherry, my life battery is slowing somewhat too..
Susan Joyce How so, Gramma?
Gramma Lupcho: Back problems surfaced in 2006 and then following back surgery in 1911, I fell backwards down a flight of 13 steps, broke my back and real trouble began. Sold my home (another long story) and relocated to live with daughter here in Georgia. Another back surgery, etc. Unable to walk w/o cane or walker, stand for about 10 minutes and its a bummer. However, two weeks ago I tried a spinal cord stimulator and had 3 heavenly days w/o pain! And now waiting for a surgeon to schedule a permanent implant – there’s light at the end of the tunnel!!
–Cherry, I dug into old state census records before computer savvy; helped by a dear friend with much experience. Documentations were difficult. And then about 4 years ago I tried Ancestry.com and their computers were great help.
Cherry Gregory: Those back injuries so dreadful, but so glad the spinal cord stimulator worked and you can get a permanent implant. Then you’ll have a new lease of life!
Charlotte Smith: Sorry Gramma – not been around for you today but will read the fred. Your little blind cat sounds amazing. I have had experience of several blind kittens (in the Middle East several lost their eyes to cat flu ) I am always amazed at how well animals cope with their disabilities. Good for you for having enough faith in Cletus to give him a chance
Susan Joyce: Good news Gramma! Hopefully you’ll feel better soon.
Gramma Lupcho: My husband’s family records were elusive, however a new friend found then In the Austria-Hungarian records which were written in Hungarian! I learned to recognize the names of villages, family names, etc. and combed through hundreds of Baptism records and finally found his parents and grandparents, and that’s as far back as his family is recorded. But what a treasure trove and my children and I are so pleased.
Cherry Gregory: It’s like being a detective, isn’t it! I was lucky because both my parents came from farming families and so had stayed pretty much in the area for centuries! When I got to the end of what the church records could unearth, I used the internet. Great fun, I found my husband’s paternal line had married into my maternal line about 600 years ago.
Gramma Lupcho: Not recorded is his father’s service in the Army, or if it is it is elusive. However Papa Lupcho told some stories that were hilarious. He was one of the company cooks as well as valet to an officer. One day while shinning the officer’s boots, he found his liquor and shared it with a buddy and they were rip roaring drunk! So much so that when they company returned from maneuvers, there was no food cooked! They were punished and tied to trees for the whole night. A little uncomfortable for them, but he made a good story of it.
Cherry Gregory: Well done for dealing with the Austro-Hungarian records! And a great story about your father-in-law. They seemed more able to get up to mischief in those days!
Gramma Lupcho: Papa was the village Romeo. Baba Ann was an old maid of 18! And one day the fathers met at the farmers’ market, drank some Slivovic (plum brandy) and decided their two children should marry and the deal was done! When Ann was told, she said she would die first rather than marry Steve; she tried to hang herself in the barn, but the knot didn’t hold!! So she resigned to marry Steve with the proviso that he come to America! And he did in 1909. He and friends walked to Hamburg sleeping in hay stacks, working for food along the way. Anna and 2 year old Mike followed in 1912, and the rest is history.
–I was the spoiled only daughter with a Grandmother born in Mississippi, raised to be a lady (laugh) and marry well. School teaching was the only allow profession and I wouldn’t do that.
Linda Kovic-Skow: Congratulations on your long, successful marriage Gramma Lupcho. I also admire your sense of adventure – 65 countries, Wow! Have you considered writing about your experiences? You’d have lots of material!
Gramma Lupcho: I was a tomboy always trying to keep up with two older brothers; I would rather ride horses and be with my Dad than practice piano and needlework with my Mama. We always had domestic help, so housework for me was dusting my Mama’s trinkets.
Cherry Gregory: I love it that you were a tomboy…your adventurous nature showed even then.
Gramma Lupcho: Linda, I have no desire to write my journey. My marriage was a bit rocky, a 60s rebellious daughter, etc. But happy to say we survived the 60s and the daughter became a bit of a traveler following her 2 husbands abroad. When they lived in Teheran she wall ill and I went to be with them to care for her. Marshall law existed and tanks and soldiers on every round about. I left to come home one week and the Shah left the country the following week. I’ve joked and said if I had stayed, he would probably still be there!!
–Whenever she phoned and I would hear that little voice say “Maaaama!” I knew she was terribly homesick and I packed and traveled to Iran, Germany, Sicily. Senegal, Chad in Central Africa. etc. She worked in the US Embassy in Senegal and met her 2nd hubby there. He now lives and works at the Embassy in Afghanistan and she is settled in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. She stays busy redecorating their home and when somewhat finished, she begins the process again over and over!
—My younger daughter, Dr. Theresa, is single and has had a varied career. She was one of the first women in the electricians union, was trained and worked as that for a few years, went back to school and degreed as robotics expert, worked for a national company and underwent unbelievable sexual harassment; returned to college for her Masters and Doctorate in Psychology. She now is at the hospital at Ft. Benning, Columbus, Georgia, and mostly counsel the soldiers with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and some who are just pretending that so they can be ushered out of the service!
–I would like to add, that as my children grew I recorded their nearly every sneeze with photos. After my John died and I was gifted with my first computer, I acquired a scanner and began copying my 43 photo albums, some with 300 pages. It took over 5 years, but now each of my 3 have CDs of every photo of our family. It was a labor of love and I learned a great deal about myself, memories and life in general, while at the same time flying with my friend. I would drop everything and off we would go. Our main Interstate Highway between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Joplin, Missouri, had the world’s largest at that time, McDonalds restaurant which saddled all four lanes of traffic. We could eat and sit high above the traffic watching the traffic below for hours while we chatted. There was a small airfield adjacent to this area, so we would fly up, walk over to the restaurant for my salads and his cheeseburgers and fries. His brother was a long-haul trucker and sometimes his schedule would be such that we could catch him for lunch too.
Nancy Gould Gomoll: Hi Gramma. I just read this very interesting fred. What an adventurous life you have had. Love all the genealogy you have done. My grandma got into that, and one of my cousins has picked up where she left off. How great that you have traveled so much. I feel like I have done a lot but when I look at it I have only been to 16 countries. I have dealt with back issues from time to time and know how miserable that can be. You are amazing that you stay so upbeat through it all. I will be praying that the implanted stimulator does the trick for you.
Susan Joyce: Here’s some bubbly for our bubbly Gramma and friends.
Gramma Lupcho: Oh thanks for the bubbly! A good refresher..
Susan Joyce: Gramma, hope you’re enjoying your day. I certainly am.
Gramma Lupcho: I have enjoyed it immensely, but taking a break now to post some mail. Back fairly soon to continue.
Jennifer Herrick-Weatherstone: I was so interested to see your remarks about supporting Hospice Care, I too feel it is such an important thing. I work a full day once a week on the fund raising side. I want to know how you find time when you have such a fantastic garden? Additionally you took the time to digitally record the family albums…I am very impressed!
Victoria Twead: Gramma Lupcho, just enjoyed myself reading every word of this Fred.
Jennifer Herrick-Weatherstone: Me too Victoria Twead, a special woman
Anne Chapman: Thanks Gramma very interesting. I also was into ancestry.com for a few years after i retired amazing what i found out as i had no knowledge of my background.
–Whats your favourite food
Gramma Lupcho: I’ve returned
Anne Chapman: Have you ever tried haggis
–welcome back gramma
Gramma Lupcho: No,Anne,no haggis. I like all foods – that’s a big problem since I gain weight too easily and now that I’ve picked up Diabetes in my old age, I have to be more careful!
Anne Chapman: Are you diet controlled or do you need insulin
–Or do you just take medication
Gramma Lupcho: And I also have to limit myself with my favorite fruity wines. I’m not a fan of the dry red wines.
— I am very fortunate not to be insulin dependent. I take one pill and watch what I eat. Luckily for me, my Theresa and I eat mostly fresh veggies with a little meat and fish.
Anne Chapman: Thats good
Gramma Lupcho: We eat lots of garden salads. I grow tomatoes in pots on our deck which sun most of the afternoon on the West side. Half has a roof and we eat some of our evening meals out there.
Anne Chapman: That sounds lovely we don’t get a lot of sunshine in Scotland
Gramma Lupcho: We had bad freezes here last winter which destroyed her banana trees and palms, but fortunately some are coming up again from the roots so the front of the house on one side is a bit bare.
Anne Chapman: Its been lovely today so i have been sitting in my garden reading.
Gramma Lupcho: How lovely Anne. It is hot and muggy here today and that is the usual for summer here, I don’t know centigrade, but it is 93 degrees F. here with 65% humidity! I am careful not to get too much sun.
Anne Chapman: I cant sit in the sun either to fair skinned with freckles but i love sitting in the shade
–93 too hot for me
Cherry Gregory: 93 degrees F!!! That’s VERY hot! I like the sun and hot weather, but I don’t think I could cope with that.
Gramma Lupcho: I am what I call a ‘jungle’ gardener – every bare spot needs flowers! My daughter is more restrained and wants everything neat and orderly. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, I had show place garden, many varieties and something blooming all the time, as well as my herb garden, but the soil was more loamy there and things just grew well. The Georgia soil is heavy clay and I have to augment it with other garden soil that I buy and carry in, Fortunately I have a young neighbor who helps with the heavy things.
Anne Chapman: sounds lovely
Cherry Gregory: What are your winters like, Gramma?
Gramma Lupcho: Well, Cherry, Oklahoma was hotter and just as humid because of all the man-made lakes. In Oklahoma it is not unusual to have many days over 100Degrees F, When I was young, we had no air conditioning and life went on. You do the best you can with what you have.
— We had a number of days below freezing here last winter, but that is unusual; however the weather everywhere on our continent seems changed. Last winter in my former home was the most severe since records recorded, so I was fortunate to be here in the deep South!.
— I have a son who is a PGA golfer at a club in Vero Beach, Florida, and it is much hotter there. He is Dad to my two granddaughters. For their first years they lived just a block from us, and then they were transferred to Tampa (his wife Jan was a city ticket clerk for Delta Airlines and their Tulsa office closed, so the transfer). I was lost w/o the little girls; because their Mama worked and I did not, we played in the park, rode bikes, visited museums, gave music lessons, etc., baked together and just had fun. But at the same time my hubby was ill and I was full time caretaker, but they moved in May and he died in August and the bottom dropped from my world for a time!.
–I spent a lot of time in Tampa that first year following; it was a rough adjustment for them and me. The girls are my pride and joy still; we attended the wedding of the younger one in March in Tampa and it was a joy to be with all my family together again.
–However to be totally truthful, life is not all joy. My older daughter has outgrown us and distanced herself from our family, in fact rejected us totally and it has been a painful transition for all of us. Thank God Theresa is Dr. of Psychology and has helped me with the adjustment which has been happening gradually over a period of recent years for she and I. Our own journey is to be lived as best we can and remain true to ourselves. It was more abrupt and hurtful for my son who truly treasurers family. But love continues as we give each other space.
Jennifer Herrick-Weatherstone: I think I speak for many of us when I say your honesty and then your practical approach to life are inspiring xx
Gramma Lupcho: To answer Jennifer, my Hospice volunteering was after my husband died. And the garden was a work of years. I was fortunate to live in one house, one church community, etc. for 55 years. One dear friend had a book and gift shop and I volunteered there occasionally; she was precious and let me read and review new volumes so she could recommend them to customers. Out of that developed a Bible Study group in our church that I taught for 12 years and made precious life-long friends.
–I am fortunate to be optimistic; when life gives you lemons, make lemonade (and spike it with vodka!).
Anne Chapman: That is sad she should be so thankful to be part of a family she will live to regret doing this life is too short for that type of thing
Susan Joyce: A toast to Gramma for living life to its fullest!
Anne Chapman: Nothing more important than family
–cheers gramma lang may your lum reek
Gramma Lupcho: No, Anne, family is everything, My parents died very young – Dad was 54 and Mama died 4 years later at just 53! John’s parents were 20 years older than mine, so preceded them in death. My Dad’s father was an old time minister in a small church in small communities in Arkansas. Dad was the oldest of 7 and helped raise his younger sisters especially as ministers in those days were paid with a chicken, some potatoes, etc. The family had a huge garden and survived scarcely.
Anne Chapman: Its her loss gramma she doesnt know what she is missing you are an amazing interesting lady
–Well gramma its 7 40 pm and i am off to have a shower dont think i will be back online but can i say thanks for answering all my questions its been very interesting hope you enjoy the rest of your day take care bye
Susan Joyce: Gramma, have you read any of Richard Bach’s books? My favorite of his is Illusions. He’s a pilot and writes about the magic of flying in small planes.
Gramma Lupcho: Bye Anne, today has been truly enjoyable for me. See you online soon!
–Years ago I read something by Richard Bach, but can’t remember what — I’m old, remember and my memory is sometimes spotted.
Susan Joyce: His best known book was Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Not my favorite. Illusions definitely is. So many fabulous quotes from that book. I’ll look one up for you and post it to the Fred.
Gramma Lupcho: As we fly in the huge airplane, we see so little! But in a small aircraft (Piper Warrior 180hp) you can see everything and I could see what a wonderful world is here for us to enjoy; I took many photos and one of my favorites is of plowed land areas which look like watered silk.
–Yes, Susan, I remember Jonathan Livingston Seagull so well and I loved it! Wasn’t that about 30 yeards ago?? It made quite a splash as I recall and was on the best seller list for some time.
Susan Joyce: “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.”
― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Gramma Lupcho: And that is so very true; I never had a sister biologically, but God has given me many true sisters that I treasure, and that holds true for daughters too. Some come for a season and some for a time and some for a life time, but all are no less treasured.
–One of my dearest was married to a Catholic priest – leaving his Episcopal church priesthood. Her journey is so amazing and inspirational. She has written two books of their journey. Just now thought, I should invite her here..she is a natural.
Susan Joyce: Oh please do.
Gramma Lupcho: I’ll call her this evening and tell her about this group and invite her to join.
–My older granddaughter is employed as patient advocate at the Lung Institute in Tampa. I have a friend in Tulsa whose Dr. husband has a lung problem, and I was permitted to be a link between them because the lady’s sister and I are still in touch, and I knew these girls when they were college age, and I attended a Bible study group their Rev. father conducted in his home for over 20 years. God indeed writes straight with crooked lines! Some would call it coincidence, but not I!
Dodie Shea: It has been so interesting reading your fred Gramma. You are an amazingly strong woman. Many of us could take note. Yes, sometimes family members can disappoint us and we have to be thankful for those who stand by our side.
Julie Haigh: This is an amazing member Monday Gramma, I’ve loved keep popping in and reading about you, what a wonderful woman you are and we’re so lucky to have you in our group.
Linda Kovic-Skow: Wow Gramma Lupcho, you’re an inspiration to all of us! My mantra is ‘Life’s for Living’ and I see that you believe this as well. Good for you!
Gramma Lupcho: Linda, you are right on! My lovely niece who is battling bone cancer was with us two weeks ago, and she has the most wonderful attitude and faith, She said, “Aunt Rosalie, I win, no matter which way it goes, if I live, I win and if I die I win because I’ll go home to the Father “. She is so serene that it blesses all who know her. We celebrated her 64th birthday and I gave her a huge box of books, many of them by WLM authors, and she was delighted.
Shirley Ledlie: Gramma I am so sorry to hear about your daughter my brother has done the same to us. It is very painful but I am sure worse for mum and dad. I have tried many times to reach out to him but he made it clear I am wasting my time. Mum says it is like he has died – that’s how she deals with it. His daughter is on facebook, I had a look at her page the other week and she had put a photo of him and her mum on for their WA and it was so upsetting to see that photo of him. I love gardening too, we get very hot summers in the midi-Pyrenees and I try to grow fruit from exotic fruit I buy!
Susan Joyce: Gramma, here’s that lemonade vodka drink you mentioned earlier.
Gramma Lupcho: I just spoke with Mary Dally who has written two books. I asked if she would like to join our group, but she is in process moving from Oregon to Nevada and asked me to give her until this fall to be settled again. So I shall.
Cherry Gregory: Just been cooking an evening meal and talking to my neighbours, but I’m back again now. You’re an inspiration, Gramma. I love your positive attitude (and your taste in drinks!)
Gramma Lupcho: Oh thank you, Susan I am thirsty, LOL
Cherry Gregory: You’ve travelled to a lot of different countries. Which did you find the most interesting?
Gramma Lupcho: Cherry, China comes first to mind because of the ancient culture, and then Russia as I’ve always been fascinated with its history and culture.
–My husband’s Slovak language dialect from their Eastern location, was partly Russian. We could not visit his Great Grandfather’s village because it was just over the border in Russia. When we visited Russia he was welcomed like a long=lost son because they understood him, and he they.
–I love pearls, and each time we were in Moscow I wanted to visit the Armory and see Catherine the Great’s 9 foot long string of natural pink pearls, but each time I was told it was closed for renovations!!
Cherry Gregory: Oh yes, Russia and China must be fascinating. I’ve always been interested in Russian history too and I like their music! A shame about Catherine the Great’s string of pearls!
Gramma Lupcho: On one of his solo journeys, my hubby John rode the Siberian Express Train from beginning to end of journey, I was weary of travel and remained home to play with the granddaughters!
Sue Clamp: A great fred, Gramma! Have had fun catching up with it! I am also into researching my family history and found the FamilySearch site very useful indeed. Have you ever looked on there? It’s run by the Mormons, is free to use and they have records from all over the world.
Gramma Lupcho: We were fairly early visitors to China (4 airline employees with spouses) and women on the streets would gingerly approach us and touch our faces gently, our skins were so different, and our guide could not believe our ages as compared to the Chinese women who had such hard lives. They also admired our shoes because theirs were so flimsy, and in hotels we quickly learned if our laundry went out, some of it would not return! They especially seemed to latch on to our lingerie.
Susan Joyce: Gramma, you’ve been so marvelous today! It’s been a joy getting to know you better.
Gramma Lupcho: It’s been my pleasure, Susan Joyce, and after reading your Lullaby Illusions, I feel I know you a little better too. You are a marvelous writer and I hope you do more I can read..
Susan Joyce: Gramma, I’m working on one now. Your words encourage me to keep writing, Many thanks!
Gramma Lupcho: Sue Clamp, yes I am very familiar with the Family Search Site and it is very useful; however, I found they do not have a lot of information I needed on domestic USA as it is a continuing process, and as we find more information they are eager to receive it from us.
Charlotte Smith: Three cheers for Gramma for a great Monday!
Frances S Harrison: Lovely smile.
Gramma Lupcho: Thank you, Charlotte. It has been an enjoyable day!
–Thank you, Frances, there is so much in life to keep us smiling..
Susan Joyce: And a bright rose for a bright and wonderful lady!
Cherry Gregory: What sort of music do you most enjoy, Gramma?
Gramma Lupcho: Thank you one and all; I hope I responded to all questions. Its been a long day of pleasure. Hope to see all again on WLM. XOXOXOXO
Cherry Gregory: Many thanks for a very interesting thread.
Kate Pill: I’ll have to have a proper read if this fred when I get home from work later today. From the bit I’ve read Gramma, it looks very interesting. Thank you
Nancy McBride: Sorry I missed it, but will get caught up from the weekend and today’s freds this week! XX
Terry Bryan: I really enjoyed your Fred, Gramma Lupcho.
Julia Merrick: Thank you so much gramma, it’s been fascinating to read about your life, God bless and your family
Wanda Lee Gallimore: I am late, but enjoyed getting caught up on all the comments. thanks for sharing with us Gramma Lupco
Gramma Lupcho: Shirley Ledle, my heart goes out to your Mom and Dad. And truly it can be as hurtful as death; but where there if life, there is hope!
The next day …
Betty Sue Brewster: I’m late, too, but have really enjoying reading all the questions and your answers – love your sense of humor, and your optimistic outlook
Frankie Knight: Have missed all this thread and will have to catch up later!
Victoria Twead: Gramma Lupcho, you are a truly amazing lady. Thank you so much for being our Monday Member, and I shall leave this pinned up a little longer so latecomers can enjoy the fred, too. When you have a moment, do choose two prizewinners.
Fran Macilvey: Enjoyed reading this thread. And the drinks. Thanks, everyone!
Judith Benson: Have missed most of this thread but what an amazing lady you are Gramma ! It is wonderful to hear about all the members of WIM and what they have done!xx
Gramma Lupcho: I chose Elle Draper and Anne Chapman..
Julie Haigh: Well done Elle Draper and Anne Chapman!-Enjoy your choice of prize book!
Anne Chapman: Oh thanks very much what a lovely surprise
— I would love Lullaby Illusions please
Susan Joyce: Congratulations to the winners, Elle Draper and Anne Chapman!
–Anne, thanks for choosing my book! Hope your enjoy it!
Cherry Gregory: Well done Elle Draper and Anne Chapman!
Sue Clamp: Congratulations, Elle and Anne!
Jacky Rolls: Enjoy, Elle and Anne
Terry Bryan: Elle Draper and Anne Chapman – congratulations!
Elle Draper: Ooh… how kind! Thank you so much. xxxxx I shall go look at the choices and see if there are any I HAVEN’T read yet
Nancy Gould Gomoll: Congrats Elle Draper and Anne Chapman. Enjoy your free read!!!
Elle Draper: May I possibly have a copy of “Dog Days in the Fortunate Islands”? Thanks! xxx
Julie Haigh: Great choice Elle, very enjoyable-I’m half way through this at the moment.
Elle Draper: It had “Dog” in the title Julie Haigh And I think I’ve read the other doggie ones x
–Victoria has my email address… but if a different Mod needs to send it, let me know and I shall pass on my contact info there instead xx
Susan Joyce: Elle, you’re in for a treat. A great read by John Searancke.
Victoria Twead: Elle Draper and Anne Chapman, congratulations! I shall send your prizes today.
Frankie Knight: Congrats to both Elle and Anne!
Elle Draper: Thank you! xxxxx
Sharon Carter Figueiredo: Congratulations Elle Draper and Anne Chapman
Anne Chapman: I just got an email to say this book couldn’t be delivered until i added victoria twead to my kindle address i have now done that could you please try sending me it again thanks very much x
Julie Haigh: Try syncing your Kindle-it will probably come through then anyway.
Anne Chapman: Tried that Julie but i don’t have the file for book yet
Elle Draper: Mine has arrived and is now in the reading queue. Thanks again everyone xx
Victoria Twead: Anne Chapman, I believe you have it now? I have sent it to all your 3 email addresses.
Anne Chapman: Thanks very much Victoria Twead for sorting it for me I have it now