This was the year of the infamous sail boat. Everyone was admiring the small individual sail boats that were being sailed around the lake at Waldenwoods. Basically Waldenwoods rented out these small sale boats that could hold one or two people. They offer a free training course that took 15 minutes, but the specific party involved had no interest in this and went along and rented the small craft proceeded to guide it into a swimming area of the lake, with small children dodging the incoming craft since the two people in the party did not know how to turn a sailboat into the wind.

Yes, the culprits were cousin Mark and James Dad. Shown on the left is James Dad and Aunt carrying the boat back to the rental place at Waldenwoods. Needless to say, lots of fun this year at Waldenwoods but unfortunately this might be our last time here as they are turning it into a golf resort.

Continue reading “Waldenwoods Vacation 1989” →

In the past Mark would set up his Christmas Train display in the living room, however this year the display was set up in the basement. This year Mark really outdid himself as the display was very elaborate. This year Mark is having a little fun with the billboards in his display as he placed a school picture of Criss in the billboard. These are strategically placed around the display because Mark has a video tape in his train engine so everytime it goes by the billboard, a picture of Criss (that she hates) is displayed on the TV.

Once again Christmas dinner was upstairs and put together by Aunt Louise and Ron. Ron is taking cooking classes in college and is making some excellent dishes for the holidays. A great time was had by all, but was their really any doubt.

Continue reading “Christmas 1988” →

Criss and Kenny Rae tied the knot on a very chilly day in October. Criss’s husband Kenny Rae is a country western singer and entertainer well known in the down river area. His family is from Indiana and his cousin in basketball star Larry Bird.

After the ceremony the party moved on to Trenton to celebrate the event in Aunt Louise’s basement (which had been used for many a celebration through the years). The party went into the wee hours of the night, the keg was tied down and taken with us, and a great time was had by everyone in attendance.

It was really good to see the whole family together, seeing cousin David and Patty Lou is beginning to be a rarity even though they live within an hour of us.

Continue reading “Criss Wedding to Kenny 1987” →

Another visit to Boblo which was without a doubt one of the best days of the summer. We used to leave for Boblo on the Detroit ships, which took over an hour to get to the island (but they did have a bar and dancing for the adults, which made them very popular on the way home). As a young boy I remember stairing at the huge engine that powered the Detroit boats.

While the Detroit boats were fun, it was a long trip and kids would eventually get bored. The adults enjoyed them because of the bar and dancing on the boat. However they did add a port in Gibraltar MI with smaller boats (similar to Mackinaw but not as fast) and all of a sudden the boat ride was only about a half hour. We certainly preferred this as it gave us more time on the island and more time to go on rides.

Continue reading “Boblo Island 1987” →

Ron Graduates from Trenton High School in 1987, following in the footsteps of his father.

The Trenton High School complex was constructed in 1953 on a plot bounded by West, Westfield and Charlton roads and Edsel Drive. The school was built to handle a surge in students following World War II and the expansion of western Trenton, which was quickly expanding. The building was known as West Road Elementary School and housed elementary school students until Hedke, Anderson, Foley and Owen elementary schools opened in the 1950s.

Loretta worked for Oakwood hospital until 1987 when she retired. She was a switchboard operator and worked the midnight shift, midnight till 8am, so she had lots of stories of the events that went on in the wee hours of a hospital. If you ever called Oakwood hospital between midnight and 8 am odds are that it was Loretta who you spoke to on the phone. When she retired they threw her a small retirement party at the hospital.

The family always thought that it was strange that someone who had such trouble with their hearing would be the one answering calls at a hospital. I think the headset made all the difference.

Continue reading “Loretta Kleiber’s Retirement Party at Oakwood Hospital 1987” →

Jimmy is the son of Howard and Judith, brother to Mary and Bill, and namesake and uncle to James. He passed away years before James was born.

For those who don’t know, both James’ namesakes were relatives who passed on before their time, Jimmy Landis and Raymond Kleiber both died at young ages and its hard to fathom such a loss and how the parents must have felt absorbing the brunt of that loss (the saying is there is nothing worse than a parent outliving their child).

We do not have many pictures of Jimmy or Raymond so if anyone can help that would certainly be appreciated.

Continue reading “Remembering Jimmy Landis 1955 – 1987” →

This was a very special Christmas as there was a surprise visitor who came to see Natalie. The visitors name was none other than Santa Clause and let me tell you, getting the one and only Santa to show up at a Christmas party on Christmas day is no easy feat. Santa had a very busy day yesterday (Christmas Eve) so that made this visit all the more special.

The Christmas day fun was only beginning as after Santa’s visit everyone opened up gifts and had a grand ol time. Natalie especially enjoyed the day and why not, its not every Christmas you get to see the one and only Santa Claus in person.

Continue reading “Christmas 1986” →

Marks 40th birthday party, nuff said (I do like the Markie birthday cake, nice touch). Mark would get his revenge for this insurrection a few years later during Christmas 1988.

Halloween costume parties have always been alot of fun and James Dad attended many of them in various outfits. In this one, he dressed up as a Keystone Cop with a mustache and dyed his hair black, the only time in his life he did not have blond hair.

The costume party was much fun, although James Dad did not win. The picture was taken by James Grandma when his dad came home after the party. Everyone liked the costume I think because they never saw me with anything other than light blond hair and got an idea what I would look like with dark hair, I think.