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

FATHER'S DAY

I used to wonder about Father's Day. It was always low key which I think it should be compared to Mother' s Day which is a celebration. There was not very much in Church about it. In the not too distant past, Mother's Day was a big celebration with flowers for all mothers. In our ward in Bloomfield Hills, MI they even had prizes for various categories; youngest mother, mother with lots of kids; there was always some balking at the "Oldest Mother". But there was always a great Primary Program with songs and little talks by the kids.

Father's Day was always a little more low key which is appropriate, The Primary still gets up and sings, "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" and that brings a smile.

Yesterday, I was with Cheryl and her family. The photo shows Cheryl, little Johnny, Annabelle, Paul, Mary Clare, Madeline (who is now driving), Opa with Emily Eva and Olivia, Paul and Loren. It reminded me of days past with our little kids on our laps. It was a great time with Cheryl's gang.

I remember my Father who did more to shape my life and its direction. I used to carry his Doctor bag around when I was two and there was never much doubt in what direction I would plan a career. We had psychiatric interviews when I went t Harvard Med School and we discussed our parents. He said, "You identify with your Father a lot!" I asked, "Is there anyone else better I should identify with?"

Sons do not always agree with Fathers but I always wanted to be like my Father. He was always a great example and rock solid. He loved his Church callings and did volunteer work as well while he was in practice. I am not sure he understood how much he influenced my life but at these low key Father's Days, I do remember my Father and all he tried to teach me.

Well we are getting more excited by the minute as we get ready for the reunion. Mom had the upstairs painted. It looks great! Emily and her kids came up and helped Mom organize the downstairs. People will start arriving next week. Activities will include a get together at Cheryl's on Thursday night. More people will be coming in. Friday morning is free but Mom will get the final word out. Friday Afternoon there is a Temple Session in the Salt Lake Temple and Friday early evening is the Parents Dinner for the immediate family with spouses at the Lion House. Am not sure about Saturday but there will be a big Park activity at Bywater Park behnd Doug's house, crowned with a dinner for the entire family (104) at the Joseph Smith building that Rob and everyone has been carefully planning. There will be a family photo there as well at 5:00 PM in the Empire room. Sunday for those who are still here will be Church, Dinner and FHE at our house. I'll crank up the smoker! Monday some of us will go up to Bear Lake. We are so excited to see everyone together again.

Love, Dad

THE BLESSING OF MOISTURE

Dear Family,

We went up to Bear Lake again this weekend. It has always seemed to be an ordeal to drive up there but maybe because it was. We always went up in the big red pickup with the big diesel engine always pulling a double axle trailer hauling up cars, washers, driers, supplies, bikes and a lot of stuff. This time Mom and I decided to drive up in a car by ourselves , without a trailer, and it was pretty easy.

We got there and it was really overcast. The picture is a double rainbow at Bear Lake when we went up with Mike. There was no rainbow this time as there was no sun. It started to sprinkle.

They do not talk of rain up in Southern Idaho; they talk of "moisture". When there is a draught and things are very dry, the members of the Montpelier Stake are told to fast and pray for "The Blessing of Moisture". This is then discussed in Sacrament Meeting. Water is such an important thing in this usually arid climate, the person who regulates the time and amount of irrigation water is called the Water Master.

I heard a talk once in the St. Charles ward given by a High Councilman on "Why People do not Like Coming to Church". (I love those meetings). Reason #1, he said, was "Because they hate the Bishop!" and then went on to say that "That makes as much sense as saying you would not take water (for your fields) because you dislike the Water Master!" I thought that was pretty good!

Well it was totally clouded over, the wind was blowing and it was 39 degrees. I got the John Deere riding mower going and started on the front lawn which was high and thick. It came out in windrows and I could have baled it. Got pretty wet and went into the house. The repairman assured me that they had summer for at least a month at Bear Lake.

I put on my Carehart bib overalls, my oilskin Australian drover slicker and my cowboy hat that had never seen a drop of water and attacked the back lawn in the rain. Got pretty wet and when I learned that the next day was to be worse we packed up and drove back home in the pouring rain all in the same day.

As we drove we noticed how the wide open spaces of Wyoming desert was so green. It was like there had been a shift in longitude as this was something we saw in Germany, New England and the lush climate of Michigan. Here the foothills are green and the Wasatch mountains are green with snow still in the tops. It looks like the Bavarian Alps. The farmers should had a great hay crop this year and everywhere we drove, we marvelled of the "Blessing of Moisture"

Get ready for the reunion, love, Dad

LAID BACK MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Dear Family,

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was less laborious than the days when we had the farm in South Lyon, Michigan. That was the day when the entire family, without exception, went to the farm for the planting of our huge garden. We planted everything and all helped. It is interesting now to see most of the kids doing their own garden including Cheryl who has put in raised garden beds on her new home.

Mom and I rode up with Mike and his kids, Joseph, Caroline, Emma and Michael and Emily's boy Jake to Bear Lake. Here is a photo of Mike and the gang picking up fallen cotton wood branches on our place in St. Charles Idaho. That's Bear Lake in the background. I got all the toys registered in Idaho. Mike got on the Internet and figured out how to repair the valves on the tub, showers and sink. He went down to Home Depot in Logan and bought the parts and tools and did this plumbing repair. Mom was constantly working as well. The place is shaping up for the reunion. We drove back on Saturday morning.

Monday, Mom did some gardening at home and then we went to Cheryl and Paul who were up at Paul's parents home up the street from us. It was pool time and Mom took a siesta at poolside (with her Chinese hat purchased at the Great Wall of China) while I watched Johnny poolside. We went over to Paul's sister, Christina D. for a great barbecue and more poolside.

Mom and I then visited the graves of our parents and left flowers. It is always a moment of reflection and appreciation for all they had done for us.

We found the grave of my Great Grandmother, Anna Hirschi who was the first of our family to join the church in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863 and invited her boyfriend, Leopold Wirthlin, to come to church after which he joined the church as well.

they were pioneers who walked across the plains to Salt Lake where they were married. Iwould have loved to have known her. Their sacrifice and steadfastness in difficult times is an example to all generations that follow.

Mom and all are gearing up for the 50th wedding celebration and Reunion. There are some secret emails going around that we have not read but it is a sign everyone is getting into the spirit of the occasion.

We love you all...alles Gute, Mom and Dad

THE HARVARD ALUMNI CLUB OF UTAH

Dear Family,

Memorial weekend has always been big in our family. That was the weekend when we all went to the farm to plant our huge garden and all participated (with various degrees of enthusiasm) and ended it with a gigantic barbecue, Mike, his kids Mom and I will got to St. Charles, ID, for a couple of days to do repairs and get ready for the reunion,

It is also graduation time. We had lunch with Emily and her family as Josh graduated from high school and will attend BYU Idaho with a scholarship in the fall. Way to go Josh!

Al presented the Julie Wirthlin Scholarship at Andover High School graduation in Michigan. Read her post... it is great.

We belong to the Harvard Alumni Club of Utah but never went to a meeting. This time it was held at Steve Covey's mansion up east of the Provo Temple. That is Covey of Covey Franklin Corp. It was quite a place with a two story library and an indoor olympic pool and basketball court next to the family room.

We went to hear Gary Browning speak on his experiences in Russia. It was like stepping back in time 50 years! One gal came up to us and said, "I was the sister to your secretary Diane Higgenson; you operated on my foot and I baby-sat your kids and helped on one of your papers!" It was Julie Higginson and that memory came from a part of my brain that has not seen action for some time. Everyone remembered Mom from sitting with her in the nursery in the Cambridge Ward long ago.

Gary was getting his degree in Russian Studies at Harvard and became a prof at BYU. He was also the first mission president of the St. Petersburg Mission. Rob served under his sucessor, Tom Rogers.

Both these men and Manfred Schutze of East Germany were called toi be Patriarchs of the European East Area. Prof. Browning still goes over there and gives these blessings. He has been there 17 times and given > 1000 blessings, He discussed his experiences which I found particularly interesting as we shared some common things.

There were so many old friends.

The next day we went to another event held at the prestigious Alta Club in Salt Lake. It was a breakfast with Kim Clark as the speaker. Way back then as an undergraduate at Harvard, he was my Stake Young Adult Rep when I was on Richard Bushman's High Council.

Kim went on to become Dean of the Harvard Business School and now President of BYU Idaho. He spoke about the innovations in education that were going on up there and I am glad Josh will be a freshman there.

We have been blessed to know so many people who have gone on to do great things and it is a blessing to see them once again.

Have a good Memorial Weekend,

Love, Dad