Well, let's see - what is my excuse for being late with this August issue? Lightning! At least that's what Armin said! Willy and I had gone to the Binghamton, New York area to deal with Ed the mortgage broker and John, the real estate guy. When we came back a week later, I found that the modems on both my computers would not get a dial tone. That means I CAN'T get online! Armin said the building may have been struck by lightning, setting off all the fire alarms and knocking out power. Strange - HIS computer works! He just got a Compaq Presario Pentium III 500 Mhz, 19 gig hard drive, DVD with Rewritable CD-ROM. So, I had to craft this webpage with my old computer (where THAT software lives) after transferring the pictures from my new computer. Then I had to load all the pictures and the html files (TKU-899 and August) onto a diskette, which I then slipped into Armin's computer from which I can access the website file manager and upload the files AND the pictures! Whew! Sorry it's late!

Our Binghamton trip (we actually stayed in Vestal) was not as fruitful as I had hoped. I have a real estate tax lien against me dating from the time my mother died. It seems the tax wasn't paid between the time she died and the estate was settled. Although I was but one of twelve beneficiaries from the sale of the house, the tax man stuck me with the whole bill! Although I was contesting the fairness of that, I finally paid the damn bill so it would not interfere with getting MY mortgage approved. Now it's just a matter of getting everybody to have access to the same correct information. The quest for a house goes on!

My mother's house in Willits, California

The same house in 1963, with me standing in front of it. That fence, by the way, was lovingly handcrafted by my father, the pianist. Can you make out his equally crafted name sign?


While we're speaking of houses, here's one that has grown up nicely. It started out as a lowly pre-fab and is taking on grand dimensions with the addition of a fabulous wrap-around porch! It is cousin Tommy's digs in Michigan. THIS is the kind of home on 60 acres which would suit us to a tee!

Tommy Lee Keidel hits the double-nickel!

"Cousin" Tommy turned 55 in June! It looks like he had to be careful not to set his house on fire blowing out the surfeit of candles on his birthday cake!

Bro Tommy sent me a great many pictures taken around his 60 acre spread in Michigan. This is a superb example of what all you others should be doing - sending me pictures! It is my pleasure to feature the D-Branch in this edition. Yes, Lisa (Tommy's daughter) I'm still waiting for YOUR pix!

Tommy patrols his domain in his Mule! Does he have livestock? Of course:

Tommy raises rheas and emus! Perhaps not as dangerous as cattle, these BIG birds, ostrich cousins, can get plenty mean and territorial!

There is still room for Tommy's grandkids Richie and Anna to go horseback riding.

I don't know if this rabbit survived! THIS is living dangerously!

 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes go out this month to my first cousin Heino in Rosenheim, Germany, Wlifried Keidel's mom Katherine in Seifertshausen, Germany, Bill Stuck in Kansas, my former father-in -law Charlie in Johnson City, New York, as well as to my best friend in the United States, Sir George Threshman in Bergenfield, New Jersey. Oh yes, I too have a birthday this month!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Ron and Cindy in Myersville, Maryland and Volker and Kirsten in Bebra, Germany.

REMEMBERING also that this is the birth month of passed-on loved ones like my mother, my dear Aunt Tony, and my brother Willy.

Mom and I at the castle in Kufstein in 1957


This month in Keidel Family history ........August

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