By MYRNA FAUSKA
If you’ve been wondering where this column has been the past two weeks, wonder no more. This feisty Fauska was in Barron, Wis., helping cousin Louise Kaus after she had surgery on her right foot. After a week of hopping like a bunny, she developed some complications, and despite my care, she needed to return to the hospital for further care. I returned home Wednesday evening, stopping in Black River Falls for a visit with in-laws Joe and Marg Collins and son Mike on my way south.
After returning home, I talked to Steve Schumann next door and learned that his mom, former resident Ruth Schumann, had broken her femur and is at the UW Rehabilitation Center in Madison. She lives at Milestone Assisted Living in Hillsboro.
Getting back in the swing of things, on Thursday evening, I picked up Christopher Young near Hillsboro, and we drove to the Rockton Bar and Grill for supper. On Friday evening, I joined Christopher and son Kit for supper at Tabor Bar and Grill. The next morning, Christopher and I breakfasted at the Pony Express Supper Club in Kendall. On Mother’s Day, he treated me to dinner at Marty’s Steakhouse in Reedsburg. Before coming home, we stopped at McDonald’s, where Kit was hard at work and enjoyed some ice cream. As you can see, I haven’t done much cooking since I’ve been home.
Up the valley, at Mary Parkhurst’s, she was pleased to receive some beautiful flowers on Thursday from Blossoms and Bouquets in Wonewoc.
At the end of the neighborhood, Lynette Vlasak has been recovering from her surgery from a few weeks ago, and on Tuesday she attended the visitation for Ivan Witt at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on South Ridge. Sally Dana and Ruth Steinke also were at Ivan’s funeral. On Wednesday, Sally joined Carol Fronk, Eileen Richie and Lori Bandle for their weekly game of mahjong. On Thursday, Sally lunched at the Kendall Senior Dining Center and attended the St. John’s Lutheran Church’s ladies’ aid meeting.
When the weekend came, cousins arrived at the Vlasak and Zellmer families. On Friday evening, they gathered at the Hillsboro Brewing Company for fish supper. Those who attended were Lynette and Sally, Allan and Heather Vlasak, Lowell and Arlys Zellmer, Craig Dasse of Texas, Geoff and Kristin Larcom of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Katie Dasse and Efmaeel Tirgardown of Iowa City, Iowa. The next day, the whole group gathered in La Crosse to help cousin Henry Leibl celebrate his 90th birthday.
What a blessing it is when families from near and far can gather together for fellowship and joy. God placed us on this earth to help and serve each other in our daily walks with Him. When we can take time from our busy lives to be together with loved ones, we are doubly blessed by each other’s presence. God is great, God is good, and He reigns in our neighborhood. Amen.