Birthday Wishes

John and Sue,

 

I wish you both great birthdays. John you are probably unwinding nicely at this point. We miss you here at XL. Please keep in touch and we're interested in hearing about your next adventures. Hope to see you soon.

 

Tom Ferri

CONFIDENTIALITY: This communication, including attachments, is for exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, or distribution or the taking of any action in reliance upon this information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this communication and destroy all copies.

Best Wishes

I would just like to wish John and Sue a very happy birthday and hope you have a great party. I am sorry I cannot be with you but I'm sure it will be lots of fun. I hope John is enjoying his well deserved rest. Very best wishes and I hope to see you soon. Happy birthday!

Brian

**********************************************************************
CONFIDENTIALITY: This communication, including attachments, is for the exclusive use of the
addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, or distribution or the taking of any action in reliance upon this
information is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this communication and destroy all copies.
**********************************************************************

Best Parents Ever.

Growing up, I wanted to be a doctor.  My parents gave me an anatomy book.  At another time in my life I was interested in weather.  My parents gave me a book on weather. Whatever I dreamed of, my parents made me believe it was possible. 

They also have an incredible skill of making my childhood magical.  When I used to go to bed at night, I would squirm with excitement about the next days events, and with recapping all the great things I had done that day.  I consider my mom genius in creating fun activities on the spot -- I can remember spending hours with her learning to read with flashcards, having tons of fun.  My dad was always up for an adventure -- I loved the walks we went on and the trails we explored.

Today my parents are my best friends.  I get their advice on even the smallest of issues.  Whenever I have a hard decision to make, I consider what they would do in my position.  In my 24 years, the world has taught me that I would be extremely lucky to grow up to be just like them.


Vanessa Hodge
The Youngest Daughter

Claims to Fame

Growing up, there were a few facts about my family that I could always use to impress my friends. These facts include:

#1. We used to live in Bermuda. In fact, my sister was even born there.
#2. My mom used to work for the Queen of England. Yes, of course they were friends!
#3. I am a British citizen - that's right, NOT American!
#4. MY Dad once caught a Great White Shark.
#5. Both of my parents had their IQs tested in high school and both of them are geniuses.

Jane Hodge
The Middle Daughter

Favorite Memory

When we were growing up, we didn't have the money to eat at restaurants. One day my parents decided that they would give us each a special night out with them. First it was Louisa's turn - then mine - I think Vanessa might still be waiting for hers.

When it was my night out, I remember feeling so special. I can still remember the blue dress that I wore, and the shirley temples that we drank and using the cocktail sticks to have a sword fight with my dad. I felt so lucky to have both of my parents all to myself, wanting to spend time only with me.

Jane Hodge
The Middle Daughter

Happy Days

Growing up, some of my happiest memories involve swimming competitively. I loved it so much. My swimming years were a formative time in my life when I learned the value of hard work and learned how to believe in myself. Many of my teammates during that time had parents who pushed them so hard. We all knew who those swimmers were because they were always so much more stressed out and much more likely to burst into tears before or after a race or practice.

I took for granted the support I got from my parents, but looking back now I have nothing but gratitude and admiration. They got up with me at 5am to get me to swim practice; they drove me hours to weekend swim meets; they sat with me all day while we waited for my 2 minute race; they cheered for me and made me feel great about myself; when I swam slower than I would have liked, they let me know that there was always next time; and they never made me feel guilty for all the driving and hours of hard work that THEY put into my swimming.

I realize in looking back now that it wasn't just swimming that taught me so many things, but it was my parents' support and positive attitudes that gave me what I needed to face the world.

Jane Hodge
The Middle Daughter

Mom's Wisdom

For years, my sisters and I have talked about making a book called "Sue's Sayings." The book would be filled with the statements my mom would declare at us when making a point. The statements somehow ended all argument. Some examples of entries in "Sue's Sayings":
He who has a drink must put his cup in the dishwasher.
He who borrows my socks needs to wash them with bleach.
He who makes tofu for dinner has to be prepared if no one else wants to eat it.

Somehow, such statements can end all arguments.

Jane Hodge
The 2nd Daughter

Dad's wisdom

I recently found a journal that I kept when I was 7. In all my ponderings about life and the world, I questioned a recent statistic that I had come across. I had read that women's life expectancy is longer than men's.  According to my journal, with this question in mind, who else would I go to than the Ultimate Wisdom? Dad.  He knew the answers to everything, and I trusted him without end.  My wise Dad's response to my earnest 7-year-old question?  Men work harder than women.

Needless to say, Dad is no longer my Ultimate Wisdom for all things.

Jane Hodge
The 2nd daughter

Congratulations!

You are missed here at XL!

Best regards and warmes wishes,
Doreen Waver

Poem from Edna and John

We met the Hodges in eighty four

when we transferred from a distant shore.

They were our neighbors from down the street

and it was quite often that we would meet.

 

Our two youngest daughters became firm friends

and that cemented a life long trend.

We had so much in common right from the start

and did lots together, we were rarely apart.

 

On Fridays we began our regular routine,

searching the garage sales for bargains it would seem.

The theory of garage sales on us was lost

the objective was to get something good for the lowest cost.

 

Edna wanted  garden furniture made of wood

and bid and bid  until she understood

The highest bidder won the prize

and smiled with wonder and surprise

 

To get it home was the next chore

in the end became for the boys a real bore

They eventually did dump the chair at home,

it fell apart with, such a groan

 

It was not even worth moving from the curb

so we walked away mumbling some  indiscernible  blurb

We left it for the garbage man,

beside the other rubbish cans

 

That same  Friday Sue spied a freezer ,

she was beside herself and bought it from the geezer

I'll bake until the cows come home and fill that thing without a strain

John will be thrilled when he gets off the train

 

Sue couldn't get over her wonderful find

Such a bargain, she said, couldn't get it out of her mind

It will go in the garage there is plenty of room

So proceeded with delivery humming a merry tune

 

She plugged in the freezer and off with a "POP"

the Hodges house in total darkness did stop

John looked at the two of us with total disdain

the second hand freezer yet another bargain ?

 

The garage sales attendance were eventually banned

and we turned our attention to other events to be planned

Many a good night at the Country Club "Do's"

where we would let our hair down and kick off our shoes.  

 

These days we talk about replacement knees

and  how we can move now, simply a breeze

Bridge is played to keep our minds  active

But  reality is really not that attractive

 

We play three rounds of bridge and rotate each game

So partners change throughout and are not the same

Some times we forget and make some calls

as if we had not changed partners at all

 

It would be humorous if we really knew

All The bridge conventions we actually blew

But we just play on and sit right back

What does it matter if the card is red or black

 

Since we have all arrived at the same age together

We sympathize with  each other and say whatever

We can still  hold a glass and drink and boast

Happy 60^th to both of you , we make the toast

 

Love Edna and John

Your Partners in crime………….

 

 

 

Happy Birthday

Sue and John have taken me in as part of their family. They always include me in their very interesting, busy, and enjoyable life. They always make me feel welcome and comfortable. I love their girls and always enjoy spending time with the whole family. We have done so many terrific things together. To say Sue and John are wonderful is an understatement but...THEY ARE WONDERFUL!!!  So how come my most notable escapade with Sue makes me seem like the bad aunt? I joined Sue on a trip to California to visit with Louisa. It was an amazing and memorable trip but in our stories the Napa Valley Theft keeps popping up. Although I must say Sue chose to be NO part of this dismal moment.

While touring the Napa Valley wineries with Sue and Louisa, one winery gave out a glass as part of the tour. Louisa mentioned she needed wine glasses and I couldn't help but notice at the next winery there were many glasses just lying about and so I suggested to louisa that we take some. We even went to the Ladies Room to wash them out (again my suggestion). As we were boldly leaving the winery, smiles on our faces and glasses in hand, a VERY LARGE man with a VERY LOUD voice pointed at us and yelled STOP! Sue who wanted no part of this had already walked far ahead. I guess she knew what I had chosen to ignore. The glasses were not give aways. The VERY LARGE man strongly told us we could not take them and made us put them back. It was embarrassing but also pretty funny. In spite of my poor judgement it has provided us with a few good laughs and a day we will not forget. Our trip to California was awesome and a memory I will cherish always!                                      Diane DeGeorgia

Stories of John and Sue

Our couple friendship with John and Sue started when we were doing the group thing at the nursing home with the kids and making cards and cookies and singing. Sue and i were at my house with all the kids and they were getting together after making all the cookies and cards and were then practicing with the music for the nursing home. At the end of that Sue and I were discussing that we didn't want to make dinner that night and so she suggested we ask our husbands to take us out for dinner and that's how the guys met.

Sue had this idea that we were going to have a Christmas party instead of a book club meeting, because you couldn't read in December because you were too busy. but you weren't too busy to have a talent show. so we all had to go to Sue's house but we all had to do some talents, and i told her i have no talents, and she said "of course you have some talents" we'll think of something together. so the next thing i know a couple of days later i get a phone call from her and she says I've got the costumes for our talent show, i was in lord and taylors, we got these dressing gowns they are perfect, and we're going to do "it's raining men" and next thing i know she's at my house, she's taking out these gowns, that were reduced from god knows how much exhorbant price who knows why because no one would have worn them except for us, and she said we were going to practice. and she turned on the music and we had to practice except i couldn't follow anything so we did some sort of the Rockettes were envious i tell you. the precision was just unbelievable. you've never seen anything like it in your life. so then the night of the christmas party everyone is doing their talent and some people took it very seriously, mrs. meegan had this long robe on and she did something almost serious like drama from the spiritual religious, and someone else did something more like a poem, about the peacefulness of the brotherhood of christmas, and we follow it with this. we always thought that we had a different spirit of Christmas in our act. that was my take on it. Sue might have a different take.

- Angela Helenek, friend and fellow book club member