Just when you think you've met them all...

I met some of the Arizona branch of your family today. Two of your great aunts, two great uncles, and a second cousin once removed (so confusing) were at your grandparents' house along with various members of the usual crowd. Oh, yeah - Jim and Tom were there, too. Sorry, guys. I didn't really get to talk to you. Hi! How's life? Jim, I trust your adventure in Minnesota went well. Tom, I hope to catch your show sometime this season.

Back to the party: I didn't meet everyone, but I did get to talk awhile to your Great Uncle Bruce and his daughter, Second-cousin-once-removed-whose-name-has-sadly-already-escaped-me. Both are really interesting people. Your uncle Bruce played and taught brass instruments until very recently. He substituted for an absent player for a summer in the Boston Pops, and he was offered a job in the Barnum & Bailey circus band in college. (He had to turn that down because he couldn't afford to take a year off of school.) His dad worked in a factory in Elkhart, Indiana, making brass instruments. (Holton brand, I think. But don't quote me on that.) Your uncle Bruce ended up in the printing business, but he continued to play and teach lessons. He has all kinds of good music related stories and advice.

Second-cousin-once-removed-whose-name-I-am-embarrassed-to-have-already-forgotten does research on diabetes. She used to be a nurse in the military, where she actually had to use leeches on patients! When she was just starting as a nurse, she treated AIDS patients. That was when AIDS was a newly discovered and mysterious disease. Since they weren't sure exactly how it was transmitted, the medical staff had to cover up head to toe. They were told to get in and out of the patients' rooms as fast as possible. That must have been a scary and heartbreaking job. As bad as AIDS still is today, it's good to realize that progress has been made. She has two daughters in college in Arizona, one in finance and the other in mechanical/aerospace engineering.

Oh, and apparently a long-time friend of your grandpa's, who is over 90 years old (I think his name is George), got thrown in jail for getting in a fight with someone. Your grandpa has to go to court as a character witness. Your uncle James and Uncle Tom thought that was hilarious. You'd have to ask your dad for the details - I didn't catch the whole story.

Almost everyone else seemed to be doing well. You probably all knew this, but Margaret is back in the US trying to recover from some nasty bug she caught in South America. I really hope she feels better soon!

Tina, your mom said she made you a bunch of vegetarian tamales, but then she proceeded to offer some of them to us next time we're over. I guess you didn't eat enough on Tuesday. I hope your first night of dorm life was OK.

In conclusion: Your family is full of interesting, friendly people. All administrators of this blog and their significant others included. Y'all have a good weekend in Louisiana, Minnesota, Urbana, Beaver Island, Knox, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, or wherever you are. That is all. Good night.