I, too, thank you for your devotion to these matters of Sue
I know you are hurting and yet you've come through
We all know, Oh yes, girl, we all really feel,
The shock and the pain, that your heart needs to heal.

I'm sure that Sue's family appreciates, too
That you went there because of your love for Sue.
You've been a shoulder to lean on for others, also
And you proably need one for yourself, is that so?

We really can't know what each one of us needs
How we are faring, what's our health, what do you feel?
We can only hope that someone will be there,
Like you were for Susan, a friend's true care.
                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have a difficult time because whenever I write something,
My tears just won't stop, altho my heart's getting better
You know that whenever I have great emotional feelings,
I always get them out with poetry, a verse or just a letter.

 After your first notification of Sue's passing, I started to write a poem
Starting with elementary school and then my pen went blank.
It's not that I don't have the memories, nope not at all
In fact, I think that I've just too many to recall.

 I was wondering, could anyone who wanted to - send to me a memory,
Something that made you laugh, something that made you cry,
A memory of Sue just a line or two,
If you can't do that, it can be three 
or whatever it takes for the memory.

Maybe I can put something together that we all then can keep
A keepsake of her love and laughter- that we all did reap
You may rather want to just keep each memory separate, Keep them all in a box
With pretty paper, some ribbon, colored pens to write, and a cute little lock

 Or put them all in a memory journal, I don't know
Oh Wow!  Look!  Just see my mind go !!
Well, on the twenty-ninth I started this poem
Here's what I wrote, Can you help make it grow?

 Memories of/with Sue Mathis.

Why, Thank you, Susan Jane Mathis, for being my friend,

For giving me memories, right to the end.

I remember back in the “good ‘ole days”

Those times, Yep, remember, our youthful ways

At first there were swings and that big tall slide,

Then choosing for games - you’re on my side.

Throwing the ball at the favorite guy on the playground tar,

Giggling ‘cause he’s upside down on the monkey bar.

Oh! An invitation, to whose house could it be?

Preparations to make, What fun. An invitation for me!

All gussied up in our favorite dress looking cute and girly,

So young, free, cute, running round, twirling, whirly.

Let’s call Randy. Mom, may we use the phone?

Let’s wait a minute, make sure she’ll be home.

She’s always such fun and ready to play,

We had imagination and could play all day.

Meetings at Suzy Palmer’s Weren’t you A Brownie, too?

I can’t remember exactly, but I can picture you…

In the little brown uniform, a little brown cap

With yellow gold braids going down your back.

Years pass

Then the ride on the big yellow bus

We were grown up then, wow what a fuss

To all of Susan's Friends and to all of my Friends:

This beautiful e-mail came from my friend, Susan Mathis Ferstler

Whom some of us have known since Elementary thru High School and until Susan passed away on April 23, 2010.

She is dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Her heart was as wide as the area these hummingbirds fly - throughout the beautiful land the God provided for them.

Feel the impact at the sight of their awesome beauty that He created and gentleness that He instilled in them,

It is as the impact of Susan's beauty inside and the gentleness of her heart that He instilled in her.

The warmth of her smile - Even as the warmth that one gets from the tiny little beating hearts of these cute friends, radiated from her into one's own heart.

The touch, as light as the flit of these small little birds, reminds you of her kindness.

She was always busy flitting here and there, helping anyone who needed her.

And the whirr of their amazing wings that God designed just for them, reminds you of Susan's many amazing accomplishments, the gifts God gave to her.

For she brought such great joy to the people in whose lives she was a part,

As the happiness brought by the gentle touch of one of these, God's beautiful creatures. . .

So Susan sent smiles and happiness with such wonderful contents of the e-mails to oohhh and awe over.

Please enjoy these pictures, Sonia

From: "SUSAN FERSTLER" <susanjane336@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 8:39:47 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

 This is something I have  never even heard of or seen before.   This woman lives in a Hummingbird fly zone.  As they migrated, about 20 of them were in her yard.  She took the little red dish, filled it with sugar water and this is the result.
The woman is Abagail  Alfano of Pine, Louisiana - she had been studying them daily and one morning put the cup from the feeder (with water in it) into her hand.  Since they had gotten used to her standing by the feeder they came over to her hand.   

She says in touching they are as light as a feather.  Abagail also said, 'if she had known her husband was taking pictures she  would have put on makeup.'
These pictures are amazing.   I hope you'll send these pictures to your Friends and  family

I send this to all of you.. 
In Loving Memory of Susan, 
With Warm Christian Affection, Sonia

Per Shari Dyer's e-mail and questions as to how I am doing with the recession and the economy plus what is going on in my life. To answer your request I am doing well but not great as I became disabled in January of 2008 due to combat injuries I had recieved in Vietnam. I have been 80% combat disabled for many years and as we get older it is harder to due what we could when we were younger. So to answer your question about the recession it is not really a big problem as I recieve Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability. I have been having a hard time with the Veterans Administration about making me 100% Combat Disabled. So what is going on in my life well it is on hold til the VA takes care of this beat-up old Marine who put his life on the line for this country's freedom. I had better stop now as this is a very up setting subject for all of us that Marines that were in Vietnam and see the same treatment of my Warrior Brothers today putting there lifes on the line for Freedom and they do not really know or care if this country is in a recession they would like to come home alive with out to much Brain Damage. Hope this answered some of your questions. Sorry about your job and all but as I have always lived by every thing happens for a reason and only the Big Guy knows the answers to all of our problems.

Mark  

What would you think of the proposal that all classes abandon plans for individual class reunions and

there be repeats of the January '09, All Class style every 5 years.  That way, everyone, from every class has an opportunity to meet up with not only fellow classmates and those from other classes and will accommodate those who endlessly ask, "Why can't we have a combo reunion and invite other classes".  If an alumni doesn't  make it sometime, it's a short wait till the next one.....everyone goes when they can.  Leave out the faculty

presentations and continue to rent the facility under the auspices of

the "Rossmoor Del Valle Club" using the clout of the Rossmoor resident

staff & alumni and it could be a great, on-going event! 

Spending time in Lafayette with family and old friends is always good for me. The reunion this time was an added perk – touching base with the community that produced me and rediscovering that I actually am fairly normal and at least somewhere there are normal people who understand my jokes. Don’t know if I’m surprised at how many people I recognized and how many recognized me – after all, we’re still the same people. But yes, we have changed. This was my first reunion in 40 years, and I enjoyed the challenge. I do know that I’m glad for each person I got to talk to and regret only that the time was so short.