It was beautiful - to me anyway - a very vivid memory still.
Mike graduated from Key and went to Lycoming where Mac had finished his college years^{in '49} & where I'd finished my Hi School years^{at Dickinson Seminary in 47.} We would take him & get him along the Susquehanna trail in all kinds of weather. We found the right spot for a cup of coffee to keep us awake on the way home. The house was getting empty. Gabriel, the Siamese cat, died shortly^{after our move while Mike was still home.}It wasn't easy. Dr. Edwards did what he could. After he died I was sitting on the couch with Reuben & the cushion to my right felt like Gabriel^{or something}jumping up on it. So I was imagining things you'd say. So think what you'd like, I'm just telling what I remember :). Reuben became an ordinary cat - the house was not as interesting & Gabriel was gone. He Reuben was with us five more years and Joan blessed us with a tiny kitten when we visited her in PA named Gerdieff. We brought him home & when I opened the car door he was gone - but the next day our neighbor found him in the street. Traffic was not as heavy then & he made it ok. Reuben didn't seem to mind this new little pest. He was an even cat, a cool cat, nothing seemed to bother him, Ruben, that is.
I built up a piano teaching class again, enough to have recitals in the church. One was three years old. Her Mom, Ruth Ankerman, felt Miriam the middle child, needed some special attention & so we put her up on the piano bench. She was so precious and learned easily. The Ankermans have been friends ever since - a remarkable family. Dale, a very quiet soft spoken man is a Brethern minister who doesn't have a regular pulpit but fills in where needed. A very gentle person & author of a number of books, farmer, and is at present^{Aug '99}battling cancer of the lung*^{Dale died peacefully at home with his wife, Daniel, Miriam being with him early Sept. '99}. Ruth is an artist ^{& musician}and teaches^artin the schools close by. The three children all play instruments, Miriam went into^{before going to college} flute & double base, Maren, the youngest, plays viola. A few years ago^{before going to college in Mass. - we went thru there several times on our trips to N.H. in the 80's - 90's} she played