Change of Plans

June 3-6, 2002

June 3 - We left the north rim of the Grand Canyon this morning, headed for Bryce Canyon National Park. As we drove in to Fredonia, Arizona, we got sufficient cell phone signal strength  that we could access our cell phone voice mail. We found a message from my brother that my sister Gladys has died; the funeral is to be in San Jose in a few days. Hence we immediately canceled the trip to Bryce and our campsite reservation at Zion and headed for California. Bryce and Zion will have to wait for another day.

June 6 - Gladys' funeral was today. It was a very moving service. What I found especially touching was that the letters from Gladys' daughters and grandchildren that they had written about Gladys since her death; the pastor read them as part of the service. After the service we went to Gayle's house (one of Gladys' daughters) for a get together. It was a gathering of the Merced Emmert clan and gave me a chance to visit with relatives that I had not seen for about three years.

Photos from the get together at Gayle's house:

My sister Beryl and cousin Pat.

My nephew Jeff, sister-in-law Sissy, Ed (Pat's husband), Nancy, and brother-in-law Dick (Beryl's husband).

Dick and his grandson David.