bill and rosi

SMALL PLATES OF GRANDMA ROSI   #8  Woody

June 10, 2012

Dear Family,

Well, the week has flown by and my first week of summer vacation has gone with it.  I have had some students from school here helping me climb on top of the many house cleaning/yard things that go undone during the year.  I am paying them so that they can earn money to go on tour with us next April… three girls from the same family.  They really know how to work and I enjoy them.

As promised, I will share with you some of my memories of Woodrow George Mathews, Dad’s father.   He died of pulmonary thrombosis in 1972 when Luke was about 16 months old.  It was a sad day… very sad.  Grandpa Woody was busy packing for a fishing trip that he and Dad were going on.  Dad was excited.  It was going to be a great time.  They were headed for the Ruby Marshes by Elko, Nevada.  Instead, we got a telephone call early in the morning telling us that Grandpa was in the hospital.  He had a blood clot that had broken loose and had gone into his lungs.  Woody spoke with Bill and told him that it was okay, not to worry about him.  But a call a short time later from Lorraine, indicated that Woody was near death.  Dad drove 120 miles an hour from Reno to Carson City (about 30 miles) but his Dad was dead by the time he arrived.

Those were sad days.  All of our hearts were broken.

My memories of Woody the man:

I knew Woody for about two years.  I first met him when I went with Bill to meet Woody and Lorraine.  They lived in a big, white spacious home only a couple of blocks from the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, Nevada.  Each parent had a comfortable easy chair that sat in their living room along a set of big windows.  (It looked so comfortable that I just wanted to sit down and join them.)  Woody would be readying the newspaper and often having a cup of coffee.  He was a good cook.  After Bill and I were married we frequently went to their house on weekends to escape the pressure of life in Reno…school and opera performances.  It was a haven.  Woody would fix us big breakfasts, (his specialty was omelets) or for dinner it would usually be steak.  He was a generous man and never skimped on food. 

He and Lorraine really enjoyed a drive.  We went with them on occasion.  I remember how they were particularly interested in the birds that we would see.  (on fence posts or flying)  Generally there would be a stop for hamburgers and French fries.  (Notice the plural…  he would buy extra.  Extra fries, extra burgers.  (Tyler would like that!!!  He has a wooden leg.) )

Woody had had health issues in the past and he got his exercise by walking back and forth to his work at the Nevada State highway department.  He was a highway engineer and designed freeways.  Dad could tell you which freeways in Nevada that he had designed. 

Woody had a ready and loud laugh.  He would sometimes come up behind me and “yelp” loudly and I would jump out of my skin.  When we were there visiting we use to play pinochle.  It was a complicated card game, but I LOVED IT!!!  Lorraine did not, but we would coax her and she would play.    

When Luke was born, he was the apple of both Lorraine’s and Woody’s eye.  They would occasionally take him for a weekend.  After one weekend, we were given MANY pictures of Luke.  (Every pose imaginable, but generally it was Luke with a huge smile.)  They really dotted on him and treasured him.)

I am SAD that none of you knew Woody.  You would have loved him.  He was a caring and talented person. 

Love to all of you.

Have a wonderful Father’s Day.  

If you haven’t responded with some memories of Bill, and would like to be included in the booklet I am preparing for him, please try to do that in the next couple of days.

Mom 

tim and jill

Here is my favorite memory of DAD:
 
Last year when we experienced one of the most challenging times in our life, Dad really showed his LOVE for our family.  As soon as he heard the distressing news, he was on the next plane here to be with us.  He was here, through all the tears, chaos, and struggles.  I will always cherish the conversations I had with him that week and how he allowed me to just vent, feel safe, and be ME!  He was playful with Elle and Liam and made them smile and laugh during a time of stress and confusion. That week, we really needed support, and the way he reached out to us and showed his LOVE and support during that time made an impression in my heart forever. That week, “Bill” became someone in my life that I will call “DAD” with a meaning behind it.  That title is very dear to me because I thought no one could ever come close to being a dad to me besides my own dad.
 
Love, Jill

bill and rosi

Small Plates of Grandma Rosi   #7

June 3, 2012

Hello Everyone!

Well, June is here and it’s celebrate Father’s Month.  (Especially your Dad, Big Bill, as his birthday is the same day as Father’s Day.)

Dad bore his testimony in church today.  It was the first time in a long while.  He lumbered up to the podium and had the brightest light in his face…smiled and when he couldn’t remember words, he would wave his hands and ask for help from those around him.  He touched many people as he spoke of his children and how proud he was of all of you.  I cried and wiped tears for the rest of the meeting.  Many people jumped to their feet to bear their testimonies when he was finished.  It was a beautiful moment and wish that all of you could have been there.

I have decided to dedicate this month’s weekly thoughts to the Dad and Grandpa  --Big Bill--  in our lives.

Luke’s family and I held a surprise birthday party for Grandpa Bill today.  Emma made up a treasure hunt with notes for Grandpa to follow in order for him to find his presents.  She did a great job and was very patient until it became time to conduct the “hunt”.  We all followed Grandpa from note to note like the Pied Piper.  Emma was often out in head directing traffic.  She laughed the whole time and Grandpa was such a good guy to make a big deal out of it.  I made his favorite dessert, Applesauce Cake, and by the time I got home from church a huge chunk of it was missing.  I also made a banana cream pie that got wasted as well.

I want to tell you about Bill’s and my first date.  Many of you already know this story, but I am going to take the time to write it down.

THE HAND HOLDING EPISODE

While at the University of Nevada I spent considerable time at the LDS Institute.  Our branch meetings were held there and I was the Sacrament Meeting chorister.  One day, I arrived late and as I was walking down the center isle to go up to the podium area I happened to notice a new guy.  He was a big guy with red hair (the top part of the hair was missing …but that is another story…)  He was bent forward in his chair and sat alone.  When it was time to sing, I could definitely tell that he had a whale of a voice.  As time went on, I was in charge of the ward quartet festival and I took the opportunity to put together four men to form a quartet.  Bill was one of those guys.  Another was a young man that I had met at school in the music department.  Robert (Bob) it turned out was an inactive member of the church.  He was a heavyset man with a ready laugh, a fun personality and boy could he dance.   One night we had gathered for a rehearsal of the quartet and while there, Bill asked me if I might like to go to the movie with him after the rehearsal.  Well, I thought, yes but there was a problem that I did not share with Bill.  Bob had already asked me to go to the movie with him.  But not to be put off, I suggested that we could all go together and we could go home and pick up my roommate, Reneal, as I was sure she would also like to go.  So picture this:  we are at the movie…    we sat in this order 

       Bob            Rosi               Bill                 Reneal

Part way through the movie Bob reaches over and takes my hand.  I thought that was okay.  But a while later Bill reaches over and takes hold of my other hand.  Whoa, this is a bit strange.  It didn’t take long for Bill to notice that I was already holding hands with Bob.  He quickly tossed my hand away.  Embarrassing!!   Later, he told me that he took Reneal up the mountain to Lovers Point.  (I am not sure if he was telling the truth.)  But this is a fact, I married Bill and Reneal married Bob. 

So, here is the deal.  Would each of you please reply to this email with an experience or a memory that you have had of your Dad or Grandpa Bill (grandchildren).  I will put these memories in a book and give them to him for Father’s Day.  It doesn’t need to be lengthy.  Even a few sentences would be special.

Next week, I’d like to talk about Woody and Lloyd.  I will be trying to decide which story to tell you.

Recipe for the week:

Dad’s Favorite Potato Salad   (from Lorraine’s kitchen)

8 potatoes boiled with skins on, cooled, peeled and cubed

1/3 cup diced celery

¼ cup diced onion

6 boiled eggs, cooled, peeled and cubed.  (Save one for garnish)

Salt and pepper to taste

Best Foods Mayonaise

1/3 cup mustard

Stir all together.  (Add more mayo if needed.)   Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Word for the week:   Father   hmm    that's a very person word.   I think it has a different feel for all of us.  You define it.

Love you all.  Have a great week.

Mom