1977

After the past few years, 1977 felt strange - pressures were off, we were able to take time off work and the work day was short and less hectic.

We started the year with a fun trip to DisneyWorld with Bill and Frances. Debbie became a 'fixture' each Sunday and other events to. She graduated from grade school this year. We had lost Andy the year before, he had been hit by a motorcycle by the office, and we wanted to get another companion for Taffy, and I remembered a dog we had when I was growing up that I really loved - an English Cocker Spaniel (blue roan). I did a lot of research (pre-internet days which makes it easy now), and finally located a breeder in Minnesota. They had puppies for sale, but since their blood line was so pure and with so many grand-champions, they were somewhat reluctant to just le me have one as a 'pet'. You would laugh to have heard me on the phone trying to sell the package of our great home and grounds (woods, lake), and another dog for companion. They finally relented and we had Taffy's Good Buddy (known simply as Buddy) shipped down. Debbie came with me to St. Louis to pick him up).

We had a lot of great family get togethers with Bill, Frances, their three boys, Mom Topper, Hazel, Keith, Cody, Karen and Jeremy all living close.

We worked a lot on our house and grounds - putting in a huge lawn in the front, Dick's lake and picnic area finalized with a deck and raft with electric motor. A rose garden near the master bedroom in the basement - a complete job done by Dick with a great bathroom with walk in shower with seats, a HUGE closet and a brick planter box along one wall (sun lamps above). It was quite a showplace.

I fulfilled another dream that year. When I was a teenager, I belonged to a youth club and participated in many of their activities. One of the leaders of the group that would take us hiking and mountain climbing had a Jaguar and my friend Sylvia and I often were lucky to be driven to the meeting spot with him. From then on I always dreamed of having a Jag and 1977 I got my Jaguar XKE. It was a bright yellow and looked like a sleek banana going down the road. I just loved it.

Bill, Frances, Dick and I also took a trip to the UK - going to my home town of Llandudno first, then on to Southport and up to Scotland. Stayed at York later on our way to rounding out the trip with a few days in London. Bill and Dick shared the driving and we have many a 'memory' from that!!!! Driving on the wrong side of the road has its scary moments.

I was busy with BPW still. I had been elected District Chairman so among other things went to a meeting at each of the clubs in our District 17. We had a great convention in Chicago that year. Looking at the photos of the convention events, I miss the glamor of those days. Women always dressed in evening gowns for any evening event, and I was fortunate in having a large selection of gowns. Fun to see. We even used to wear evening gowns when we went out to a fancy restaurant in those days too - what a comparison to seeing people in the best restaurants in teetops, short and the men with their caps on!!!!

Our own family was growing, we now had Suzanne, Becky and Marie and it was great to be able to visit them a couple of times during the year.

Alltogether, a fun year - and I'll leave the business side of it to Dick...........