Letter to my Uncle Loyd

Dearest Uncle Loyd!

Well, first of all......I-L-L I-N-I!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still have a dollar bill that has traveled between
Illinois and Michigan AND Wisconsin!! Are you up to a little wager???

If you are reading this 'blog', you are enjoying your birthday

festivities and
'memory book / blog' with many family and friends helping you celebrate your
special day! What a wonderful thing!! We are sooo disappointed that we could not
attend 'the event'...something about our jobs and work and not a good impression if you
don't show up for scheduled shifts

....well, anyway....it would please us to no end to be there
with you and everyone else, so just try to imagine me / us giving you a big hug and kiss
and wishing you a VERY HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY

...and MANY MORE!!!!

Sharing memories of you to me means going back to spending time with Grandma Wicks,
Uncle Ore and Uncle Earl in Seneca, and having rare opportunity to share time with
my cousins and Aunts and Uncles...but when we DID get together there, they were FUN....the
marble pond, Grandma's flower gardens, the property out back...they were all areas to explore
and play ball in and run until we were exhausted

...but always happy exhausted. Grandma Wicks'
house was a constant in my growing up years as I spent many, many hours there.
When the extended family were there, it was truely magical to me....we were sooooo many!!!

As years past and everyone grows up and careers lead toward different paths and geographics,
the Wicks family has always had the wonderful knack to shorten any length that could be measured
on a map to mear 'that's not so far'.....mostly because of the strong 'family ties' that were instilled
in us all. You may not see one another for, literally, years....and when you meet again, it is easy and
exciting and .... well, family......

I did not know my Grandfather Wicks as he passed before I was even born. My Uncles, every one
of them, have always given me my bearings from the 'man's perspective' of being 'Wicks'...the stories of strengths and pride and commitment and love of country through the military perspective were
always brought home to me by listening to the stories told around Grandma Wicks' kitchen table or sitting out in the yards. Looking through pictures of 'days gone by', living with what the 'days were bringing' and dreaming of 'the days to come'. The oil painting of Grandpa Wicks from Grandma's living room wall was always such a wonderful thing for me to look at - a glimpse of the man who was a part of having you all in my life. I also have solid memory 'trails' of Uncle Noel and Uncle Gale that pretty much revolve around Grandma Wicks home.

I know, Uncle Loyd, that you have that picture of Grandpa hanging in your breezeway office, or that is where I remember you having it when we were there to visit those years ago on our trip through Michigan.
It was so wonderful to spend that time with you and Aunt Fran, getting to visit and play golf with you
was truely memorable to me! We have that 'duffer's connection', you know?? Uncle Earl and I had the 'bowlers connnection'....Uncle Kent and I have the 'Red Lobster' connection.....you will have to ask him about that! Ha.

I appreciate, more than you know, that you have continued to be a great part of my life by keeping our 'connection' active through letters and e-mail. It is wonderful to get your updates on yourself and Aunt Fran and the family!

I will sign off for now, but please PLEASE PLEASE enjoy yourself, take in the moments and
know that we love you very much!!!