DAYS OF 47

Utah shuts down a lot during July. First there is the Fourth of
July celebration with days off work. The Salt Lake Temple shuts down for two weeks and we take our summer vacation during that time.

And then leading up to and including July 24th, there is the Days of 47 Holiday commemorating the first vanguard of
Mormon Pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. There then followed a steady stream of Pioneers from all over the world.

My Great Grandparents, Leopold and Anna Hirschi Wirthlin came from Switzerland in 1863 in a Pionner wagon train. But when the first group of pioneers came, there was very little in the Valley and the 24th of July Holiday celebrated this great event in the inter mountain west.

David, Richard Wirthlin and I got up for the sunrise service in the Tabernacle. There was a fine choir there, talks and tributes to the early pioneers. We did not stay for the parade. There are fireworks at night.

Douglas and his family, Emily and her family, Suz with her kids and Becca's kids, Al and her kids, Cathy and her family, Mom and I with several of Cheryl's kids all went to the Rodeo which is a classic. There was bronco riding, calf roping, steer busting, Brahman bull riding and Ladies barrel racing. And it was so much fun. We asked James what he liked best at the rodeo and he said, "I liked best when they showed a picture of Opa with his big cowboy hat on the large TV screen!" I missed that one.

There were non stop parties, get togethers, complicated sleep overs, spontaneous dinners or just any excuse to get together. Mom and I and Al and her kids visited the Church History Museum across from Temple Square. Here is the gang in front of a covered wagon.



Well it has also been a time of transition. Becca and her family moved to Heber and many helped with the move.

Al and Paul left for a non stop drive to Michigan. Suz will be here for a while longer and the summer is slipping away.

Oh Mom and I got airline tickets to Berlin in October. Steffi Meyne, another of our great sister missionaries is getting married and that is a real good reason to go back. We will probably spend most of the time in East Germany and it is only a few days.

Alles Gute und Alles Liebe...Oma u. Opa

MORE REUNION

Our reunion is winding down. They never suddenly end; celebration goes on and on. We had such a wonderful time and there was so much joy and happiness to be all together again.

We started with a pool party at Cheryl and Paul's new home on Thursday night. Hires Drive In came and cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs. Mom and I had our second date at the Hires that is still in Salt Lake, It was the most perfect party. At one point, I counted 45 people in the pool. It was great to greet all those who came from out of town

Friday, we had an afternoon Session in the Salt Lake Temple. That was such a great moment to be there with family in numbers. It was one of my highlights.

That evening, we had a dinner at the Lion House for our Children and their spouses. It was great! I spoke of Mom and what she went through to have all those children. I reminded all those who came after Cheryl that they were not supposed to come as we were told there would be no more children. When we were in London, Mom was pregnant with what we thought was child #9. She was sick and bled a lot and had to be hospitalized. There was one ultrasound machine in all of London at the time and that showed that this was a molar pregnancy. The material removed could not be distinguished from a Chorio-Carcinoma. A urine test was positive for HCG, the hormone secreted by this cancer.

When we returned to Boston, she saw the world's expert in this cancer and he developed a sensitive serum assay for the hormone. He called me one night and reported that the serum assay was strongly positive so now we had tissue, a urine assay and a very sensitive serum assay for HCG all positive. Dr. Goldstein outlined a program of radical surgery, radiation and chemotherapy which had a good chance of being successful. He asked, What should we do?" I replied, repeat the serum test. We remembered a blessing Mom had received in London which mentioned future children. A week later there was a call and a profuse apology. The repeat test was negative and they had never had a false positive. Mom was OK. We waited a year to be sure everything was ok and Rob came on the scene and we were so grateful.

I reviewed the subsequent deliveries and the drama including the surprise of having twins and Mom's bout with septicemia with Bina's delivery and reminded all they were there because of the great Mother they had; there is none like her anywhere.

Saturday, we all met at the park and there was a carnival, games, prizes, soccer (the adults won this time) block ice sledding, a feeding frenzy with Pzza, Pop and Popsicles. Alison designed the cutest T shirt with the names of all 104 family members which we wore to the park and you can see in the last post. It was fun to have the grandkids find their names on that shirt.

Saturday night was a total family dinner at the Empire room of the Joseph Smith building. 103 out of 104 were there. Rob and other organized this mega family get together. We took a family photo that you see above. Tourists took pictures of us as we posed in this garden. There was a picture and video presentation that Cathy put together. Rob organized a great dinner. There was dancing until the DJ caved in.

Sunday evening, we had a family dinner. Some had left but 94 were still there and came over. That was a record for the house. All brought food which was totally consumed. We had a family night in the backyard with 94 present. We had our usual format of singing "Love at Home" and Mom gave a lesson on what a great country we have and what it means to be free. She had some of the kids tie up the oldest two grandsons tightly with rope and sort of forgot how to tie in this objec lesson to the point. When I asked about the bound up grandsons, someone yelled out, "Get them!" and about forty little kids piled on the two who had lost there freedom. I guess when the strong are bound and fettered, the weaker can pounce and the family night fell apart a little then.

We got things quiet again and we all knelt down in our backyard in prayer and thanked Heaven for all our great blessings and for each other.

It was a great reunion!!!!

Love, Dad and Mom

THE BEST FAMIY REUNION

We just had our family reunion celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. `103 out of 104 were present for all the activities.

We are going to Bear Lake for a two week vacation; I have no internet there but will write more details of this event. It was just great and we are so happy to have had the family together with all the cousins. Write more later.."our cup runneth over"

love, Dad