Today my darling grandson turns eight years old! Wow! The last eight years have sped by.
From the moment you were born, Quinn, and I held you in my arms my heart was full of love for you.
I love you to the moon and back!
I am the luckiest Oma in the entire world!
Today was a fun day for Heidi and me. She loves to go for car rides. She has her bed and blanket, and when I enter the Post Office, she will stand there and watch me walk across the street.
We finally had a little warmer weather. And although the skies were milky, they were slightly brighter.
My dental retainer arrived, and I need to start wearing it tonight. It is very tight. I’m a little concerned, but I should be okay.
So for now, things are looking up!
February 4th is my Grandma Honey’s 127th birthday. It isn’t easy to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next 41 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!
Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell, the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.
Here is a picture of Melodie and me with our much-loved Grandma Honey at Goodwill Park.
Grandma Honey and Papa Fred. Theirs was indeed an epic love story! They met when they were less than ten years old. Grandma was friends with Papa’s sister, Kätchen, and taught Kätchen to speak English at the house. The family had recently arrived from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, and aside from the eldest sister, Hedwig, who worked as a Nanny, no one spoke much English.
Papa always said he fell in love with Grandma then, and as a teenager, he would chase off any beau that tried to court her. My great-grandfather eventually allowed them to become engaged but insisted Mary finish college before marriage.
They were married until Mary eventually passed from one life to the next. He joined her 8 months later.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Honey!
Mary Francis. My Grandma Honey.
My late husband, Jack, was a pilot. He served in the Army and eventually went over to the airlines. He enjoyed flying, and he enjoyed talking. This brings me to the next part of this story.
Back in the early 1970s, Jack was flying for Pan Am and was based in Berlin, Germany. The Wall was still up, so if you wanted to get in or out of West Berlin easily, you flew out, and Pan Am had the best routes and permissions from the East German government.
As a flight engineer, Jack did all the weight and balances for the fuel and walked around looking for damage to the aircraft. They monitored aircraft systems, including engines and other critical flight systems. He joked he knew more about the A300, 727, and 737 systems than he did about either of his wives.
After all, he needed to memorize everything at the drop of a hat. I can’t even memorize a recipe!
I bring this up for two reasons. First, Jack had a mind that retained everything. And second, Jack loved to talk.
So, after taking off and reaching altitude, Jack turned his seat to talk to the pilot who was sitting in the jump seat. It was then he saw a plane heading for them.
“Captain, nine o’clock!”
The Captain took the yolk and pushed it forward. Then he leveled the plane, and the Captain got on the radio once the plane was secure.
He asked the air traffic controller what altitude the Pan Am Clipper had been cleared to. Then he asked about the other plane.
A long silence followed, and the German air traffic controller returned with, “I am so sorry, Clipper.”
“My dear boy, you certainly will be.”
In the end, the air traffic controller was very sorry. However, there was a plane full of people who made it to Frankfurt, Germany, in one piece, aside from thinking their ride was a bit bumpy.
Captain Jack
This was a quiet week. Severely cold and one of those weeks when you only want to snuggle up with a warm doggy. And so it was.
Have a great weekend, and stay warm!
I decided to sit down today to catch you up on all the happenings in my life. As you already know, I got sick on the cruise. I had three days of good health on the ship before the Norovirus hit.
I have only a few pictures of me that came out well instead of green and sick!
Yes, I was in isolation for eight days due to the Norovirus. You have never had real fun until you have had that! About a third of my ship had it. I slept, sipped ginger ale, and slept some more. I came home having lost six pounds.
No sooner had I returned than I started experiencing flu-like symptoms. I waited but eventually went to see my doctor. With her guidance, I started my recovery. So, what should have been a relaxing vacation turned into a fight for health.
I am so thankful to Hannaford for home delivery of groceries. I needed food, so I ordered everything from the comfort of my recliner with Heidi in my lap.
It is -10 this morning, and I think this winter will be a bear. Meanwhile, I am making some hot tea and snuggling with Heidi.
Everything changes.
What do they say about life? One minute, you are at your top peak; the next, it is gone. And so it is.
I used to tell Jack not to be so hard on me as he would pull me into the grave with him. It’s been close, but I’ve decided to travel only on land after three failed cruises.
I want to go and see more of my grandchildren. I want to see my sons in New Jersey, but I need to be in better shape to do that. I want to see my sister, Melodie, in Connecticut; again, I need strength. And I will rent a small place on Cape Cod for Heidi and me.
When Jack and I married, I was just twenty-nine years old. He was forty-nine. We ran road races. We traveled everywhere, and I could not keep up with him.
Then, one day, it all stopped. He sat down and didn’t get up, and my job became twenty-four hours daily. I even slept in the family room so when he fell I could reach him quickly.
I’m afraid this tired old body needs some rehabbing of its own.
So, dear friends and family, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year! 2025!
Well, here we are at the end of 2024. That sure went fast. I am posting this on the 21st, a Saturday, as I am going to Florida to hop on a ship!
I admit to a bit of surprise seeing myself for the first time with gray hair. It’s a good excuse to buy some silver jewelry.
Today is my daughter’s birthday. It was a special day for her, but in the beginning, it was a very special day for her father and me. Our first baby.
Me & Amanda
Amanda was the first child born to us. She was healthy and happy and amazingly beautiful! We both immediately fell in love with our girl.
Amanda made me a mother, and as I took care of her, I realized that as each day went by, she was teaching me so much. It continues to this day.
She was a bright and alert baby, who seemed to grow up very quickly. Always sweet and loving, yet determined to set the world on fire.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment is the fact that she is a wonderful mother to her two kids and their two dogs and a cat!
Savannah & Amanda.
Quinn and Amanda.
I am so proud of the woman she has become. She is a self-made woman who continues tackling challenges many would run from.
So, on this special birthday, I wish her good health, much happiness, and the fulfillment of all her dreams.
I love you so much, Amanda!